Sure glad I didn't draft Amare in fantasy b-ball this season. Yikes.

The Clippers are the greatest franchise in sports, proof.

Please let this be true.

The Clippers are the greatest franchise in sports, proof.

Please let this be true.

There is just no possible way they could really be that stupid.

Interesting Blog about how teams go about overpaying players because they don't know how to make proper comparisons of their value.

http://www.nbafocus.com/the-future-is-now

Pretty good article, although it felt a little unfinished. I totally agree with how horrible of an idea it is for teams with cap space to just throw money at whatever's available because they can.

And speaking of the Lebron/Wade/Bosh sweepstakes, it's looking more like Wade might be headed out. I think Chicago seems to be the most talked about destination and it seems to make sense. A Wade/Rose backcourt would look pretty good.

But maybe there will be an extended lockout and all the best players will go play for Greece.

What happens with Wade and Miami will determine the whole offseason. If Wade leaves, Miami has a boatload of cash. Of course, if Riley think Wade might leave, he might panic and dump his 2010 money on a trade for Amare Stoudamire or something to try and sway Wade. It is a fascinating and a horrifying time to be a Heat fan right now. They could look really awesome for 2010 or they could lose Wade and have it all fall apart.

I think its 50/50 at this point if Wade stays or not.

I love Steve Nash.

Top Ten Plays of the First Half of the Season


Some thoughts -

Lebron's block shouldn't be a top play because it should've been called for goaltending.

Brandon Jennings 55 point game isn't a play.

Wade's steal and dunk would've been the play of the year if their defense wasn't so atrocious on the next play.

Wade at 7 is a crime.

Caron and Haywood for Howard and Gooden? That's a steal. The Mavs are legit now, and if they pick up a big piece in the offseason? look out.

Big trade for Dallas.

Cuban basically is playing the current system to try and win this year and next and he doesn't care how much he spends in luxury tax to do it.

Dampier's contract can also be thought of as an expiring deal since next year isn't guaranteed and any team trading for him can just cut him loose in the off season so there's still a chance they make another move.

i'm just guessing here, but I would think they'd want that contract to expire so they mavs can sign a big free agent this summer.

It doesn't work that way.

Dallas is going to be way over the cap so they can't sign any free agents other than with the mid-level exemption or minimum contracts. What they can do is use Dampier's contract to trade for another player who is signed longer term and their team wants to save money.

Do i want the cavs to get Amare = haven't people been calling him overrated for a long time?

jesus the dunk contest is terrible now.

jesus the dunk contest is terrible now.

JJJ, Sideshow got it worse because he is bigger than Wade so it is more embarrassing.

If the Cavs get Stoudemire they're winning the East. If they do nothing to improve, they're not.

I like Stoudemire on the Cavs with Big Z because Z can step outside. How well did Shaq and Stoudemire work together in Phoenix?

But who do you think beats Cleveland unimproved? Orlando again? I think Boston is the team that needs a trade to get out of the east.

It looks like Z would go to Phoenix.

It looks like Z would go to Phoenix, so Stoudemire would be playing most of his minutes with Varejao. I like that frontcourt against anybody but the Lakers. You have to find a way to exploit Stoudemire defensively, but with Varejao playing at the same time the only team with the personnel to do that are the Lakers.

I think Orlando and Boston will beat them as they are now. I also think Atlanta can beat them if Woodson knows how to defend them properly.

I still like Boston to come out the East, although they might very well get worn down. They need that 2 seed more than anyone, so they can get somebody like Miami and have the possibility of 2 five-game series'. If they end up in the 4 spot and have to play two 6 or 7-game series', they might be cooked by ECF.

What the hell is Phoenix going to do with him?

What the hell is Phoenix going to do with him?

I liked the line that Charles Barkley had about Boston getting healthy. Something along the lines of old players don't get healthy.

Old people don't get healthy. They die.

If Boston gets the 2 seed, and Orlando is the 4, I'm betting all the money I have on Boston to win the East.

If Boston gets the 2 seed, and Orlando is the 4, I'm betting all the money I have on Boston to win the East.

Marcus Camby to the Blazers for Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw.

I think this makes the Blazers better, but certainly not enough to make them contenders.

All players are in the final year of their contracts, so this doesn't have any financial impact.

For the Blazers? This is huge. I wouldn't trust Juwan Howard(notes) to guard the front of the rim as a power forward in 1997, much less as a center in 2010. Nothing against the man's effort level. Howard's worked his tail off, but he's not going to help a team that was rather middling defensively last year and the year before without Greg Oden(notes). And, not sure you've heard, but the Blazers are without Greg Oden right now.

If Camby's effort level is on high — and considering his history and the trade's circumstances, this is far from a given — the Blazers could really make a run here. Marcus isn't going to move Andrew Bynum(notes) out of position or shove Nene out of the paint, but he does help. He will change shots and cover and he's the absolute best tonic (best deadline-available, tonic) I can think of for a team that badly needs help defending the paint. The Blazers had the best 1-2 center punch in the NBA heading into this season and lost both. A sickening blow, and the addition of a do-everything 7-footer with an expiring deal comes off as a needed bit of good luck.

The Clippers? There's no point to this deal. Basketball-wise, at least.



We knew Camby was gone as soon as Dunleavy retired to the front office. But for this? No prospects, no draft picks, the same amount of expiring money that Camby was going to provide had he stayed on? Just a little cash thrown Sterling's way? It's pathetic. It's so damn Clipper-y. I hate that. You should, too.

And it's only Dunleavy looking to save his gig. Essentially trading for his potential 2010-11 salary from Portland owner Paul Allen and dropping it in Sterling's lap. So stupefyingly transparent, something that could only happen in this league, and to this team.

The Blazers need a big man, and Mike Dunleavy needs to sell out. All over save the shouting. And the steak.

I'd have Durant number 2. But I'm huge on him.

You have watched KG play, right? Do you think he's saving something for the playoffs? Because from what we learned in the past is that he goes all out all the time and is usually worn down by the playoffs. I don't know how Boston gets out of the east with a mediocre Garnett.

I'm aware. I don't think they need Garnett at 100% if things break right for them. The guy they need to be all there is Pierce.