For years now the NBA has been as predictable as an episode of CSI: Miami. Same cast every time, and typical expected results. We all knew the Spurs would play a typical boring, yet efficient style to get past donut teams like Phoenix and Dallas on their way to face an untested Eastern Conference team. Sure, the Heat put together a good run and Golden State became the story for one week, but the playoffs always rewarded the teams with home court advantage. Something that had been established by Presidents Day.
What I could never understand was how teams would play the whole season knowing full well they could not match up with the elite teams, yet refused to shake things up. Much has been
written on this very topic, with General Managers afraid to mortgage the future for current success.
All in in '08 is a refreshing look at the deals that shook up a league that is up for
grabs.
Pau Gasol, 2010 second-round pick for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, Marc Gasol, and 1st round picks in 2008, 2010Lakers: A trade can be measured by the opinion of their
competition. In other words this was a
great trade. Pau is a Euro big man that fits well into the triangle offense. When, and if, my man crush Andrew Bynum gets healthy, they will have a formidable front line to get all Kobe's rebounds. Now, if they could just find a way to get Odom to play like a guy who has a lot of talent. Pau is under contract for another three years, so the future is bright in L.A.
Memphis: Do they care anymore? I guess if you aren't any good you should concentrate on trading salary for picks, although I feel late first rounders are more of a crap-shoot than franchise builders.
Van Horn, Devin Harris, Trenton Hassell, Maurice Ager, DeSagna Diop first-round picks in 2008, 2010 for Jason Kidd, Malik Allen, and Antoine WrightDallas: The team needed an infusion after suffering demoralizing defeats the last two years in the playoffs. Does adding a slow, offensive minded point guard help them against Tony Parker, Chris Paul, and Steve Nash? Devin Harris used to guard the other teams top perimeter player, so the result should be interesting.
New Jersey: If only they could have traded Vince Carter to the Knicks. Getting a younger floor general and Diop is a step in the right direction, but Richard Jefferson needs more help.
Shaquille O'Neal for Shawn Marion, and Marcus Banks
Phoenix: In a perfect world they would have picked up Garnett last summer for Amare Stoudemire, but the owner would not pick up the luxury tax (unlike Jerry Buss doing so to get Gasol.) In a near-perfect world they would have traded Marion for Marcus Camby, a great defender and rebounder who can run the floor. In the current world, they traded Marion for a slow and old center who put them over the cap anyway. The real winner is the owner who now has another marketable star to sell plenty of jerseys and increase other revenue to make up for the luxury tax hit. In the end it doesn't matter, because Phoenix can't guard anybody.
Miami: Shawn Marion clearly wanted out, and Marcus Banks wasn't getting any time behind Nash, and Barbosa (Brazilian Blur is a great nickname). Next year looks promising with Wade, Marion, and Michael Beasley.
Ira Newble, Adrian Griffen and Donyell Marshall to Seattle; Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Wally Szczerbiak, and Delante West and 2009 second-round pick to Cleveland; Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons and Shannon Brown to Chicago.
This is a handy breakdown.
Seattle: Received expiring contracts to prepare for a sure move out of town.
Chicago: Dumped Ben Wallace's horrible contract for another one in Hughes.
Cleveland: Danny Ferry is doing his best to keep LeBron James in Cleveland after his contract expires in 2010. Good luck. At least they now have a rebounder, and a shooter to lighten the load.
In unrelated news:
Man-ologue recommends that you know the answer before you ask the question.
I'm no Jazz fan, but this team looks really good. Solid interior play, a fantastic point guard, and a sharpshooter makes for a tough out in the playoffs. AK47 seems to be the piece that would really put them over the top.
This team just doesn't have the same inevitability they have had in previous years. I don't know if they are showing some wear and tear, or if it is the six legitimate contenders in the West that are displaying more resistance. Is it me, or does Manu not know how to dribble with his right hand? 
Why do I have them higher than the Suns? Because if these two teams meet in the playoffs, I would pick Golden State. This team would literally run Shaq off the court, and I loved the they way they played in the playoffs last year. Man-ologue fully endorses their point guard. 
