Friday, February 1, 2008

Portland-New Jersey Revised

With the Nets-Grizzlies trade occuring today sending Jason Collins to Memphis for Stromile Swift, my Kidd-to-the-Blazers trade needs to be revised.

Here is the new version:

Nets receive:
Raef LaFrentz, $12,440,787, 2 Years Remaining
Jarrett Jack. $1,217,400, 2 Years Remaining
Channing Frye, $2,487,240, 2 Years Remaining
Sergio Rodriguez, $817,000, 2 Years Remaining
2008 First Round Pick

Portland receives:
Jason Kidd, $19,728,000, 2 Years Remaining
Malik Allen, $770,610, 1 Year Remaining
Darrell Armstrong, $770,610, 1 Year Remaining

Drafting Big Ten Talent for the NBA

Below is a list of each player drafted from a Big Ten school since the 2000 draft.

Northwestern and Penn State were the only schools that did not have a player selected in either round of the draft.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Trade Proposal: Cavs Add Talent, T'Wolves Dump Salaries

As Minnesota lingers with the worse record in the NBA and Cleveland tries to jump into the top of the East, it looks like it may be time for both teams to make a trade. Minnesota is looking to rid itself of some of their veteran players with long-term contracts and Cleveland is simply looking to upgrade their talent.

Minnesota gets:
Ira Newble, $3,441,900, 1 Year Remaining
Eric Snow, $6,703,125, 2 Years Remaining
Donyell Marshall, $5,566,965, 2 Years Remaining
Shannon Brown, $1,044,120, 1 Year Remaining
2008 First Round Pick

Cleveland gets:
Gerald Green, $1,440,960, 1 Year Remaining
Antoine Walker, $8,329,640, 4 Years Remaining
Marko Jaric, $6,050,000, 4 Years Remaining

In this trade, Minnesota would be ridding themselves of two of their largest player contracts. Green has also expressed displeasure with his playing time and it appears he has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff. At only 22 years old, and 6'8", Green certainly has potential to become a contributer in the NBA. The Timberwolves will receive two players whose contracts expire after this year. The other two - Snow and Marshall - have one more year after this upcoming season, but both may retire.

Cleveland would clearly be getting the better talent in this swap. Walker would immediately become the Cavaliers top big man-perimeter threat and could help take some of the scoring pressure off LeBron James. Jaric would compete for time with Larry Hughes, Daniel Gibson, and Devin Brown for time at either guard spot.

This trade would help both team achieve its current goals: Cleveland would add more talent, while Minnesota would improve their payroll flexibility for future seasons.

Monday, January 28, 2008

NBA/D-League Affiliation

Under the affiliation system with the D-League, NBA teams can assign up to two players who are rookies or in their second season to their D-League affiliate. Players can stay with the D-League team for as long as the team wishes, and be recalled back to the NBA at any time. A player can only be sent to the D-League a maximum of three times during the season.

More information:
http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/season_primer.html

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Breaking Up the Nets

After 44 games, the New Jersey Nets and Portland Trail Blazers have opposite records to most people's suprise, 18-26 for the Nets and 26-18 for the Blazers. As Jason Kidd and Vince Carter get older, the Nets need to make sure to move these players before their value dips too low.

Portland has a great deal of depth and nice, young players, but to really make a run in the playoffs they need a veteran. Jason Kidd, with two years remaining on his contract, would be the perfect fit to lead Portland into a decade of potential dominance.

This trade would allow the Nets to rebuild quickly before they move to Brooklyn and Portland would immediately become a legitimate contender this season.

Nets receive:
Raef LaFrentz, $12,440,787, 2 Years Remaining
Channing Frye, $2,487,240, 2 Years Remaining
Darius Miles, $8,250,000, 3 Years Remaining
Sergio Rodriguez, $817,000, 2 Years Remaining
2008 First Round Pick

Portland receives:
Jason Collins, $6,100,000, 2 Years Remaining
Jason Kidd, $19,728,000, 2 Years Remaining
Malik Allen, $770,610, 1 Year Remaining

This trade would give Portland a starting lineup of Jason Kidd at point guard, Brandon Roy at shooting guard, Martell Webster at small forward, LaMarcus Aldridge at power forward, and Joel Pryzbilla at center. With this trade, Portland's bench would get even deeper with Steve Blake and Jarrett Jack at guard; James Jones, Travis Outlaw, and Josh McRoberts at forward; and Malik Allen and Jason Collins at center. Portland would be two deep at each position and with Greg Oden coming back next year, they would certainly be one of the favorites going into the 2008-09 season.

For the Nets, more big talent would be the benefit of this trade. With Marcus Williams waiting in the wings, Kidd may be expendable. Plus, Rodriguez at 21 years old, has shown some flashes of brilliance at the point guard. Additionally, Frye is only 24 and has shown an ability to stand-out on the defensive end. Miles is coming off an injuy and could be a factor off the bench for the Nets. LaFrentz has two years left in his contract, and after this season, his contract could potentially become an asset to add another player down the line.

Although the Nets clearly would not get equal value for their best player, Jason Kidd, they would be moving him out to the Western Conference and would give themselves some future flexibility. If the Nets wait any longer, all they will have is a player with less value and a team that struggles to even make the playoffs.

Scouting Report: Rajon Rondo

Player Name: Rajon Rondo
Current Team: Boston Celtics
NBA Position: PG
Drafted: 21st (Phoenix Suns)
Height/Weight: 6'1"/171
Birthdate: 2/22/86
Hometown: Louisville, KY
College: Kentucky
Agent:

Notes:
Went to Louisville's Eastern High School for three years and then transferred to Virginia's Oak Hill Academy for his senior year; Played in the 2004 McDonald's All-American Team Originally committed to Louisivlle, but then changed to Kentucky; Played for the 2005 USA Men's Under-21 World Championship Team; Traded on draft night from the Suns to the Celtics along with Brian Grant for the Cleveland Cavaliers' first-round draft pick in the 2007 draft and cash considerations

Strengths:
Explosive first step; Tough defender on small guards; Knack for stealing passes; Pressuring ball-handler; Getting into the paint; Quick leaper; Great deal of energy; Improving in catch-and-shoot situations; Big hands; Great rebounder for his size; Large wingspan.

Weaknesses:
Shooting is clearly his biggest fault - both from the perimeter and free throw line; Opposing teams do not challenge Rondo in screen-and-rolls; No interest in finishing in the paint with his left hand; Bigger point guards can take advantage of him on the low block.

Outlook:
Rajon Rondo is an emerging point guard in the mold of a Tony Parker-type. Rondo is one of the best defensive point guards in the league, even though he is on the small side. He provides terrific ball pressure and plays with a great deal of energy. The offensive side of the ball is where Rondo still needs to make some strides. He is not a big enough threat when he does not have the ball in his hands, and teams can afford to give him space when he does have the ball because he is not a strong enough shooter. Also, he often forces himself into more difficult shots than necessary because he does not want to finish at the basket with his left hand. If Rondo can shoot a higher percentage from the field, then it will allow him to use his quickness much better. He certainly has the talent to be one of the best, young point guards in the league, right after Deron Williams and Chris Paul.

Video: