The 2009 Off-Season....So Far

The 2009 off-season was supposed to have NBA teams continuing to cut salaries so they can have more room to try and sign a LeBron, D-Wade, Bosh, Amare, etc. It was supposed to be the calm before the storm that is the 2010 free agent class. This theory was far from correct as teams were very, very active in the free agent market. The best teams went out to get better while the bottom tier of teams have continued to cut salaries and trade off their over priced stars. Maybe this is because the salary cap in 2010 has been lowered? One can only speculate. Whatever the reason is it has made the NBA even more top heavy then it has been in the past. The talented have gotten more talented and the least talented have....well....you get the point.

The Los Angeles Lakers the 2008-09 NBA Champions really could have just stayed put with their current roster and contended for another title. All L.A. had to do was re-sign Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom who were both key components to their ring. However, Jerry Buss one upped the league and went out and signed former All-Star/Bad Boy Ron Artest to a 5 year contract. This all but insured the Lakers another ring or 2 if they re-sign Odom and if Andrew Bynum continues to develop defensively. If everyone stays healthy they will probably go undefeated (just kidding). If not undefeated they will definitely contend for the all time wins record of 72 by the ‘95-‘96 Chicago Bulls, who were led by a guy named Michael.

The aforementioned Trevor Ariza who was not re-signed by the Los Angeles Lakers has signed with Artest’s fromer team the Houston Rockets. So in this trade (basically) the Houston Rockets get the defensive stud who plays big in big games and who can dunk on anybody and I mean ANYBODY. However, with Yao Ming’s career hanging in the ballets and T-Mac trying to play at least 30 games in a season the Ariza signing may not be a big deal. The Rockets have an up and coming star in Aaron Brooks and some other good pieces (Battier, Scola) but let’s be honest they aren’t going to make any significant noise in the playoffs next year (unless T-Mac goes back to being T-Mac).

Over to the East Coast where the Eastern Conference Champion Orlando Magic have made some noise acquiring Vince Carter for Rafer “Skip to My Lou” Alston and Courtney Lee (Ryan Anderson and Tony Battie were in the trade as well but does anybody really care besides their Moms?). Vince Carter comes home to Orlando where he grew up and replaces the most clutch man on the Magic roster last year Hedo Turkoglu. Vince may not be as clutch as Hedo but the bottom line is he is a WAY more talented the Hedo and Vince pared up with Jameer Nelson is dangerous. Think of this starting 5 a healthy Jameer Nelson, Mickael Peitrus, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, & of course Dwight Howard....scary.

Now over to Bron-Bron Land where the Cavs fell short in the playoffs to the deeper & bigger Magic team. What does Danny Ferry do? He re-signs Anderson “Side Show Bob” Varejao....now they will win the championship (just kidding). In a move that can single handedly make him “GM of the Year” Ferry rips off the worst GM in the league (Steve Kerr in Phoenix) and gets the Shaq-Daddy for next to nothing. All Ferry had to give up was the expiring contracts of an old/worn out Ben Wallace, an unused Sasha Pavlovic, a meaningless second round pick (which will probably be one of the last picks in the draft) and cash. Now come playoff time Shaq may not be able to stick with Dwight Howard when he is setting screens at the top of the key but Dwight vs. a motivated Shaq down low will be a battle for the ages. David Stern is already drooling at the possible Lakers-Cavs finals. However, with Vince in Orlando a Lakers-Magic re-match wouldn’t be too shabby. One thing is for sure it will be alot of fun to watch the Cavs play/put on a show.

The Celtics were going to be a title contender if the big 3 Hall of Fame combo of Garnett, Pierce, and Allen can stay healthy. So signing Rasheed Wallace only has made their team that much stronger. I have a question for Danny Ainge, why in the world would you disrespect your young talented starting point guard in Rajon Rondo and put him on the trade block? Now all that means is that once he is a free agent he is skipping town for sure. The window for another title is now closing so if they don’t steal another one from the Lakers within a year or 2 they are going to be done.

In another huuuuuuge deal the Spurs stole Richard Jefferson from the Bucks. The Bucks in a salary dumping move traded former All-Star Richard Jefferson to the Spurs for an old dirty defensive player Bruce Bowan, Kurt Thomas, and Francisco Oberto (Oberto was then traded to Detroit for Amir Johnson I know everybody couldn’t wait for an update on the status of Oberto.). The Spurs also went out and signed Antonio McDyess. So if San Antonio can stay healthy they will make some serious noise and challenge the Lakers for a spot in the Finals next year. Although they will probably not beat out the Lake show it will still be a grueling 7 game series when they meet each other. Think of this starting five Parker, Ginobili, Jefferson, McDyess, and Duncan not to mention they are coached by one of the greats Gregg Popovich.

Joe Dumars in Detroit continues to mess up his championship core. First he drafts Darko with the second pick in the draft over Carmello, D-Wade and Bosh. Then he trades away captain Billups for A.I. Then he lets Rasheed Wallace walk over to rival Boston for nothing and tries to counter it with the under achieving Charlie Villanueva. The final signing was a good one in getting the clutch Ben Gordon but where is he going to play? Is Rip Hamilton going to come off the bench? We all saw how that worked out last year. What’s their starting 5? Detroit is a mess now and Dumars may be on his last legs...he has just hired ANOTHER coach in Detroit the unknown long time assistant John Kuester. I know Joe-D won a title as a GM and two as a player and is a legend in Detroit, but how many coaches does a GM get to hire before the team goes in another direction?

Other smaller scale moves:

Atlanta re-signed Mike Bibby - can you believe Bibby has never been an All-Star?

The Knicks trade Q-Rich to Memphis for the shot blocking draft bust Darko. Memphis then traded Q-Rich back to where it all began in Clipper land for former teammate Zach Randolph.

The Magic matched an offer of the Dallas Mavericks and resign backup center Marcin Gortat. Since when does have a Jumpman Tattoo on your calf make you good?

In a 4 team trade Shawn Marion ends up in Dallas, Hedo Turkoglu ends up in Toronto, Orlando gets cash and a second round pick, and Memphis gets Jerry Stackhouse. There were more players in the trade but nobody would care about them. Dallas is the big winner in the trade, J-Kidd to Marion alley oops will be coming to a highlight reel near you.

Earl Watson was released by the Thunder. Watson is a good pick up for any team in need of a backup point guard.

Sam Cassell will end his playing career as he has signed a contract to be an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards.