Only 14 Days to Go

It seems like the lockout never happened.  Free agency started with a storm.  The Chris Paul trade fiasco is still lurking and David Stern has taken a lot of criticism but what he did was right.  The NBA is not a free market system like most businesses, this is a union--this is the downside. If the Hornets get back more youth from the new trade, Stern made the right call.  Bold move by the Lakers if this trade does go down....The Warriors need to call Otis Smith and get Dwight Howard.  How good would he look in a Ws uniform?  If they can get Dwight, they can seriously build a championship foundation.  They have young assets that the Magic might find attractive.  What about a package of Ellis, Lee, Udoh and Thompson for Dwight and some pieces.  Magic get young athletes that fit SVG's system and the Warriors get the top center in the NBA...One of the trades proposed by sports writer Brian Schmitz is LeBron for Dwight.  Pure genius.  Doubt this will happen but adding Howard next to Bosh and Wade is filthy.  Riley might be bold enough to even consider it but can you imagine if Lebron ends up in Orlando on a rebuilding team?  He can take his talents to Epcot...Someone needs to get an acupuncturist to the Blazers.  They have had the worst luck with injuries.  Roy is going to retire and Oden's knee is still acting up....The Knicks getting Chandler was a very solid move.  Who is going to play point?  Jamal Crawford is supposedly their new target and if they get him, the Knicks will be a dangerous team.  Jamal can play the point and should go nuts in D'Antoni's system.  MSG is definitely back....I don't understand why the Celtics are trying to get David West. Do they want to move him to the 5 spot?  Can he play next to KG?  Rivers is a genius and might be able to pull this off but so far, this move does not make a lot of sense...Rip Hamilton to the Bulls (said to be a lock) is a match made in heaven.  He plays tenacious D, a clutch shooter, and can help spread the floor.  If they can get Boozer more involved in the post, Rip can make teams pay if they double.  He also one of the last pure mid range shooters in the business that Rose can dish to.  Expect him to get back to his old form and light up the United Center ...How excited are you to see Ricky Rubio suit up?  The Wolves have a young and exciting team.  Kevin Love supposedly dropped some lbs...The Heat made two strong moves.  Battier is a great fit.  He will be a great addition their team and could become their glue guy.  Signing Eddy Curry was a very low risk move.  If he can go back to his old form, they may have found their center...Did the Mavs make the right decision to let Chandler walk?  Not sure what their strategy is right now but they always seem to make good moves.The Nets must be relieved that Deron wants to sign an extension.  Now all they need to do is focus on signing Kris "Kardashian"....Speaking of Kris Humphries, he should sign with the Lakers as payback to Kim..Only fourteen days to go until opening season.  Thank God basketball is back!

Locked Out Thoughts

At this time of the year, fans should be watching Dirk drain a 3, Blake Griffin jump over the entire NBA, or Kobe dominate a fourth quarter...and LeBron disappear when it matters.  Instead the best highlight we have is watching Durant play flag football with the Sigma Nu fraternity.  Yes, I am a fan and very frustrated by the way things have gone down...especially today. So  I have decided to "take my talents" to blogging and here are some thoughts on the Lockout:

1) As Deron Williams mentioned, why wait to decertify now?  Why didn't they do it earlier like July or August and at least have the chance to try to negotiate in good faith and have the possibility of a full season.  When the NFL made a similar move, they did it in March.  

2) Do the players realize the impact that this is going to have on their fan base?  In these tough economic times, how do they expect fans to empathize with them?  The average salary is over $5M, they get flown around the country in private jets, they have summers off, and live a great lifestyle.  I project empty arenas and a drop off that might last 3-5 years before the league (if ever) gets back to where it was.  

3) Would you want Derek Fisher in charge of your negotiation?  I would definitely want Fisher as my point guard in a basketball game, but not in charge of formal negotiations.  Fisher has no formal business training.  I am sure he has the players backs and is a great leader, but not sure he is the best possible choice. 

4) Why didn't the Union give the proposal to a full vote?  Isn't it in the best interests of their members to have them vote on it.  For every LeBron, there are three to four Keith Bogans. Do you think they would have voted to sit out the season?  The Union spent two long days negotiating last week so why not let their full members decide?  

5) How much damage is social media doing to either side?  I remember the '99 lockout well and sometimes not having access to real time information can be a good thing.  Right now, there has been so much information floating out there and it needs to be contained.  

6) The Union should play the owners.  Winner decides the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement.  MJ gets to put his team together for the owners and draft anyone in the world he wants.  Players can only put in one all-star to make it fair.  Fisher, Roger Mason and executive committee can play.  Who wins?  

7) When is Durant's team playing Lebron's Akron team in flag football?