The Chicago Bulls did everything right during game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, demolishing the Miami heat championship-like fashion. The Bulls owned Miami in the 4th quarter, outscoring them 31-19 in crunch time.

The Bulls had everything going on all cylinders as Derrick Rose led the way for Chicago with 28 points and solid offensive and defensive support from Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, and Carlos Boozer, dominating over the Miami Heat, 103-82.

Luol Deng impressed defensively, impeding LeBron James from getting things going on offense. In total, the Bulls team defensive scheme limited the 1-2 punch duo of Dwyane Wade and James to 12-32 form the field, dispelling the mythological hype of their impending dominance that every major media outlet claimed would occur game 1.

In a game of match ups, the Bulls simply match up better against the Heat than most other teams do, and here is why we can expect to continue to see the Bulls keep the Heat on their toes for the duration of this series:

• League MVP Derrick Rose is a powerhouse who destroyed the Miami guards, and will continue to do so.
• Rose’s ascension into super-stardom is happening right now, and should not be underestimated.
• Joakim Noah will not have any serious competition from the Heat in the middle, and should be close to a double-double every game.
• Luol Deng is a far better defender than most people give him credit for being, and his offensive game is quite good. Oh yeah, and he can shoot the three these days, after not being able to do so his first 6 years in the NBA.
• Noah’s defensive presence in the middle allows the Bulls to play tougher defense knowing Noah is back there to help out.
• If Carlos Boozer can play the way he did in game 1, life for Rose and the Bulls looks much better than it did before.

If Miami can somehow find a way contain Rose (not likely), and then focus on Chicago’s supporting cast, they have a good shot to correct their own mission of a trip to the finals. It looks as though the Big Three left the Heat with salary cap deficiencies that are becoming evident as they travel further into the playoffs.

Obviously, Wade and James canot be expected to shoot this poorly every game. However, Chris Bosh is not going to reach the 30 point plateau in this series again. It seems that Bosh, Wade, and James have trouble to all have successful games during the same game. There is still a chemistry issue that the Heat must figure out, quickly I might add, in order to turn the tables against the Bulls.

If they can’t get “Big Three” to generate solid output simultaneously, the Bulls are simply too good of a basketball team to beat.

And if they continue playing like game 1, Chicago’s unsung heroes will start getting the credit they deserve, as NBA stars.

LeBron James returned home with all the hoopla and the hype in the world surrounding him. The entire basketball world was watching, but it was ultimately a snoozefest after the booing Cleveland fans gave him their best. As the noise subsided, so did Cleveland’s ability to play basketball, and the Miami Heat crushed the Cavaliers, 118-90.

The first thing I noticed about the Heat is that they are actually quite boring to watch. The predictability of the Miami offense becomes boring so fast that it is unbearable it at times.

The Heat need to start deferring more to Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and remove the ball from LeBron’s hands as much as possible.

LeBron stagnates the offensive scheme, and the shot clock erodes while LeBron holds or dribbles the ball pointlessly while the heat stand still and do nothing. More ball movement means more efficiency on offense, and less time for LeBron to hold onto the ball and do nothing. All of which will help the Heat become more exciting to watch.

James could easily get more assists by cutting, catching the rock, drawing a double team, and then dishing to an open Wade or Bosh than he will holding the ball incessantly while draining the shot clock almost every possession.

Sure this “LeBron-fense” strategy will work with horrible teams such as the Cavs, but it also highlights why the Heat are 12-8, rather than having a significantly better record. Don’t misinterpret what I am trying to say here, a 12-8 record is decent, but the Heat could be doing much better.

My line of thinking is as follows: Let Mario Chalmers start, and let the Big Three move without the ball more. Why not utilize the speed of Chalmers to allow the Big Three to fill lanes keep defenses guessing? Doing so they will bring excitement into the game as the Big Three attack the hoop.

Chalmers’s knowledge of how to get Wade the ball in the right spots can be extended to Bosh and James as well. Although the PG position is pretty much a patsy role in Miami, the Heat could be well to do using Chalmers’ defensive skills for 30-plus minutes a night.

No dig on Carlos Arroyo, but Mario Chalmers is a much better natural defender than Arroyo. Chalmers was the incumbent starter but after a devastating injury during the preseason that cost him his job, appears to have fully recovered. Maybe it is just me, but I want the best defense out there as possible surrounding the Miami Superfriends.

The Heat need to shake things up and inject more life and fluidity into their ball movement and overall mentality. Doing so will make the Heat fun to watch, and should immediately propel them into ownerships of the league leading records. Failure to do so will result in one of the most talented  teams wasting their talents while boring us all to death.

It was the game everyone has been waiting for: The reigning Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics would start the defense of their run to the NBA Final against the new look Miami Heat.

Supposedly LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh were going to easily trample everyone and anyone in their way. Things did not play out the way they thought, and Boston Celtics defeated the Miami “Super Friends” 88-80.

Wade committed a murderous 9 turnovers, and shot 25% on 4-16 from the field, Chris Bosh went 3-11, and while LeBron James managed to get his stats, he also committed a ghastly 8 turnovers as well. Only Wade has a legitimate excuse as he is recovering and playing his way back  into form after hamstring injury derailed his preseason.

Get it together fellas.

Rajon Rondo led Boston to victory with 17 assists to only 3 turnovers. While Kevin Garnett was committed 7 turnovers he managed to get a double double.

Don’t panic yet Miami fans, this is only the first game of a long season. However, if LeBron cannot find a way to get more people involved and futhermore realize he can create for others simply from the attention he draws from defenses, he might fail to get more of the non-stars involved and the Miami Heat will be facing more losses than anyone might imagine.

LeBron took 21 shots while committing 8 turnovers, but only finished with 3 assists. Something is wrong with this picture any way you look at it.

The media has officially been set ablaze after LeBron James and Chris Bosh agreed to join Dwyane Wade to form the Miami Heat troika.

The Miami Heat is about to conquer the world.

LeBron has been highly criticized by Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and the media for his decision.

I cannot see James making a better decision than he did. He wanted to win. NBA Players would rather play in Siberia than they would Cleveland. Cleveland should praise LeBron for not demanding a trade earlier.

But what does LeBron’s decision prove? It proves that he does value winning over everything else, especially his own self-love and his brand. He proves it by accepting less money in order to surround himself with better talent, and a better organization, and his first real chance at making a run at multiple championships.

And how do we know it is a better organization? Miami entered the league in 1988 and has already won a title. That settles any debate in my mind.

Or maybe it is the fact that Miami players stick with the organization after their careers are done, or that Wade could have left, but instead stayed and made this happen because the Miami organization instilled in Wade a sense of ultimate loyalty.

Fans in Cleveland have been burning his jersey to make their opinions known. I can’t really blame them, I do not really see any purpose to a Cavaliers Jersey or t shirt, other than kindle for the fire.

Nothing gets a fire going like Cleveland Cavaliers apparel!

But as time passes and wounds mend, and regardless of your disposition to James, you will have to marvel at watching the greatest combination of NBA players ever assembled on a single roster. It is going to be unfair for the rest of the league for a long time. Possibly the greatest run in NBA history since the Bill Russell Celtics era.

This decision by James paints him in an entirely different light to me. I have written about how he needed to make this move in order to truly grow his global brand, because everyone loves a winner. How can he possibly dilute his brand by winning multiple championships?

LeBron’s friendship with Wade and Bosh grew stronger with their experiences while winning the Gold Medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. It allowed them to foster a fellowship that has made this happen. They all sacrificed financial gain for the sake of winning. To me, that is what the game of basketball is all about.

We are going to be treated to the best basketball we have seen in a long time. Wade, James and Bosh are all unselfish team-oriented players. They are willing to make the extra pass, and work extremely hard on defense.

Wade will be able to terrorize teams on offense like never before. Expect Wade to surpass Kobe Bryant as the greatest shooting guard in the NBA. Due to Wades supporting cast, teams were able to limit his brilliance. Now we can finally see it because Wade will have great players around him, just like Kobe has always had during his career.

James will have the best drive and dish options he has ever seen. Expect James passing skills to lead to more comparisons to Magic Johnson. For the first time since Oscar Robertson, a season-long average of a triple double is very possible.

Bosh will have the best one-on-one options down low. Defenses will have to sacrifice the damage by Bosh in the paint to try and slow Wade and James. We will see massive increase in Bosh’s efficiency, and whatever two players  Miami puts out with the big three will have an easy night every night.

LeBron James has a twitter account. Heck, he even launched a Facebook profile page as well. What is LeBron James missing?
Oh yeah, it’s an NBA Championship ring.

Articles covering the destiny of King James continually focus about how LeBron will abandon $30 million if he heads to Miami and how he risks deluding his brand as a result of possessing a supporting cast featuring Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

How in the world could this combination of NBA All Stars do anything but be a marketing team’s dream? It’s enough to leave everyone, LeBron included, scratching their heads.

Seriously dude how much can somebody love themself?

Is LeBron self-absorbed to the degree that even he can’t fathom the fact that his best opportunity at winning multiple rings in rapid succession should automatically come second to any branding strategy? It should be nothing less than his prime directive focal point.

People love winners. When all else fails in someones life, people forget everything bad that was said, or even in extreme cases (cough cough), they forget something like a highly publicized rape case involving arguably the best player in the NBA.

Hint, he just won his fifth ring this year, and he has changed his jersey number twice. If you have not figured that out yet, you might be a member of LeBron’s marketing team.

LeBron should seriously question his brand marketing ideals. Either it’s marketing experts providing ill advice for their own greed and profit, or it’s James’ own gigantic ego overriding all wise and sensible moves to follow his narcissistic needs and desires to focus more on money and his own brand then on winning.

Either way they are eluding the main aspect of successfully branding a star athlete.

People love winners.

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh had dinner in Chicago Thursday night. Bosh tweeted about it.

He also provided a picture to prove it, and mentioned “Just had dinner w @dwadeofficial. Great way to end day 1 of #freeagency although it feels like someone is missing…… http://say.ly/FrP2L8″

Chicago fans are praying for this to happen.

Someone is missing? Could that be a less-than-subtle hint to LeBron James?

Bosh allegedly also met with Chicago late Friday night for the second time. If Chicago manages to land both Bosh and Wade what is to stop LeBron James, , other than his own stupidity, from hopping aboard to create arguably the best starting 5 in modern NBA history?

Bosh and Wade, if signed, will automatically augment a lineup featuring Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, and Taj GIbson. The Bulls have made the playoffs with their current lineup, so adding these two superstars will automatically make the Bulls title contenders.

Wade will join his hometown team and have the best guard playing alongside him in his entire career. Talk about inspiration.

Bosh will have the best center he has ever played with in his career.

Will they also get to play with the best small forward they have played with in their entire career? Apparently this is not going to happen, as Jalen Rose reports via twitter:

jalenrose

#NBA Breaking News(rumor has it)FA’s Wade/Bosh hv made up their minds to play AGAINST Lebron so don’t expect all 3 to play 2gether! WOW.

The verdict is not yet out on that one. Of course Pat Riley will do his absolute best to not allow this when Wade returns to Miami to meet with him.  But one can only wonder if Wade and Bosh have both made second trips, shared a dinner to discuss in Chicago, what sort of likelihood this has to happening.

However, if Wade and Bosh are are secured, Chicago fans will have a new slogan that can absolutely make Bucks fans go insane:

Fear the Steer!

We are now only weeks away from the NBA trade deadline. Rumors are circulating, and the buzzing trade chatter is heavily amassing.

Some teams will be mortgaging young talent in order to take on expiring contracts in hopes of clearing cap space for the free agency fiasco in 2010.

Other teams will be looking to capitalize, and claim talent while dumping salaries. Other teams, realizing that their season is all but lost, will break up rosters that have not been able to achieve what management had originally envisioned.

Here are the teams with the most to lose/gain from the fiasco.

Portland Trail Blazers

Who can fill in for Oden/Pryzbilla for Portland? (Credit:picapp.com)

The Trail Blazers obviously need help in the paint. They have had the fortune of Brandon Roy willing his team to wins, but it is unlikely he can carry them all year. Juwan Howard’s body, at age 37, will likely not be able to secure the center position for the rest of the year before wear and tear takes its toll. The saying “You can’t teach height” must be racing through Kevin Pritchard’s head as he diligently investigates potential acquisitions to help the Blazers in the middle.

The Blazers have a wealth of depth in the backcourt, and a plethora of athletic, defensive-minded young forwards. The issue is Joel Pryzbilla and Greg Oden have contracts running past next season, so the Blazers brass must consider the adverse effects of another long term contract vs. salary cap space.

Sacramento Kings

Will Martin mesh with Tyreke? (Credit: picapp.com)

Kevin Martin might return to the floor as early as Friday after missing the last 32 games after suffering a fractured left wrist. He has been practicing, and now coach Paul Westphal has a blessing of a dilemma in discovering if Martin and super rookie Tyreke Evans will be able to coexist in the backcourt.

There is zero chance Tyreke Evans is dealt anywhere. If there are any hiccups between the two stars having any negative impact upon team chemistry, look for Martin to be shipped out immediately. Look for Martin to be sought after by teams with inadequacies at the shooting guard position. Phoenix and Dallas immediately come to mind. Both teams are looking for a chance at contention this season, and would be willing to trade prospects and draft picks in order to land Martin’s scoring skills.

Toronto Raptors

I hear the weather is always nice in Los Angeles. (Credit:picapp.com)

Chris Bosh rumors are surfacing aplenty, with recent chatter mentioning Bosh heading to Los Angeles in exchange for Andrew Bynum. This deal would be a huge gamble for the Lakers, but Bosh puts L.A. over the top in the Western Conference.

It is hard to imagine Bosh signing elsewhere after winning an NBA Championship and tasting the Los Angeles lifestyle. He might even put his All Star promotional video production skills to use and land himself work during the off season.

Bynum would find himself in Toronto as a focal point of a rebuilding franchise with Hedo Turkoglu, Andrea Bargnani, and Jose Calderon. Bosh is a weak interior defender, so adding Bynum would give the Raptors a long-term defensive solution. Bynum tends to disappear when Pau Gasol is playing, so in terms of his career thriving, this could be a dream come true.

Chicago Bulls

Does anyone want Hinrich? (Credit: picapp.com)

You would have to be living under a rock to not know the Bulls are trying to unload Kirk Hinrich. Everyone and anyone knows this, to the point of detriment to his trade value. Hinrich is a solid defender, outside shooter, and an all around decent NBA player. The problem is Hinrich has 2 years remaining on his contract after this season, worth $17 million.

Also not boding well on his value is the fact that he is shooting a career-low 37% from the field and 71% from the line this season. When your specialty is shooting, and you are not shooting well, it is hard to retain trade value. The Bulls have indicated that everyone on the roster except Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah to be available, as long as Hinrich’s name is included potential deals.

Houston Rockets

Iggy could do this for the Rockets, instead of against them. (Credit: picapp.com)

The Tracy McGrady saga is difficult as he has the largest contract in the league ($23,239,561). This is the ultimate situation for teams looking to dump contracts and create salary cap space for the free agency fiasco of July 2010.

The teams falling into this category are: the Washington Wizards, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Chicago Bulls. Of these teams, Philadelphia has the best package to offer Houston in terms of immediate roster help.

Philadelphia could package Andre Iguodala with Samuel Dalembert in exchange for McGrady. This is the most logical deal for the Rockets who are without Yao Ming for the season (if not longer) and in need of a center who can rebound and block shots.

Iguodala is an immediate impact player for the Rockets. This deal could put the Rockets into contention this season. The Rockets can assign Ariza, Battier, or Iggy on any teams top offensive threat. Adding Iggy to the offensive attack of Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry will make life hell for opponents during the 4^th quarter.

]]> http://protectthepaint.com/2010/01/13/nba-trade-talk-chris-bosh-andrew-bynum-tracy-mcgrady-and-more/feed/ 0 http://protectthepaint.com/2009/08/20/amare-is-real-twitter-promotion-video-needs-help/ http://protectthepaint.com/2009/08/20/amare-is-real-twitter-promotion-video-needs-help/#comments Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:04:34 +0000 Adam Sedie http://protectthepaint.com/?p=2293

The most recent trend amongst NBA players is competing for the elite status of possessing the highest total of followers on twitter. Some players offer signed photos to the people helping them exceed  30,000 plus followers.

Some are even more creative.

Twitter is a useful form of communication, but shouldn’t people follow you sans the excessive motivation?

Allen Iverson  announced today he is close to signing with a team via twitter:

• If you think that I am just going away-Think again! I am getting ready for the NBA season. Waiting for the call. Charlotte, Miami, NY.5:04 AM Aug 18th from web

Amare Stoudamire’s futile attempt at a youtube promotional video for twitter is an insult to the more creative videos available by professional athletes.

Why can't I be the king of twitter? (Credit: picapp.com)

We laughed last year when the Chris Bosh produced an advertisement asking for support and votes for an All Star birth. It was well thought out, displaying creativity fans are unaccustomed to from NBA players.

Bosh had a solemn reason to create an ad. Playing in Toronto can lead to all star voting omissions. Canada is a no mans land up there.

Bosh is annually All Star worthy, but he needed a viral video to help thrust himself over the hump with votes.

In case you missed it, here it is:

This is where Amare misses the point. His twitter ad is so unequivocally unentertaining and unoriginal that it might just become viral based on how people will make fun of it. Like this article is doing right now.

Here is how I discovered it, following his twitter feed,  of course:

• Amareisreal25,000 + strong. Keep it going tweeps! Share this with your friends http://bit.ly/g07jJ Follow me!

They say any press is good press, so in some ways Amare wins:

The thing puzzling me is what do players gain from these followers?

Couldn’t they spend this time watching game tape? Reviewing the game that ended their season, watching what went wrong, and why? Preparing for the upcoming season, learning more weaknesses, examining play schematics, what spots a particular player runs to based within which offensive set?

You know, the basic things an eight-figure salary should require.

Maybe studying and working hard to better himself at his profession is an afterthought to making his fingers sore from tweeting madly.

Long live Amare, and his narcissism.

I might be wrong, but I would hope my thoroughbred athletes would spend more time becoming smarter and more knowledgeable about the competition within the industry.

Those qualities lead to championship-caliber basketball.

This past Thursday, Hedo Turkoglu–who opted out in Orlando after vastly improving his stock during the Magic’s run to the finals–announced he would sign a fat deal with the Portland Trailblazers, good for $50 million over 5 years. Sounds good.

Then on Friday, Turkoglu reneged on this agreement to come to the pacific northwest and decided to head about as far north as you can go in the NBA to the Toronto Raptors for $53 million over 5 years. Either way, these two offers for Hedo dwarf the Orlando offer ($35 million over 4 years).

The $3 million more Toronto is offering–which is nothing to sneeze at–may have more to do with placating Mrs. Turkoglu than anything else?

In Portland, Hedo would have joined All-Star Brandon Roy on the up and coming team in the super-competitive Western Conference. Instead, Hedo opted to join a far weaker Toronto Raptors team as part of Bryan Colangelo’s last ditch effort to retain Chris Bosh past 2010. Winning doesn’t appear to be priority number one for Hedo.

Hedo is joining a weaker team in a weaker division for $3 million more (Credit: streetball.com)

In being outbid for Hedo by teams with more cash to spend, and opting to allow Courtney Lee go in the deal that brought Vince Carter to Florida, Orlando has now lost two vital cogs in the rotation that got them to the finals. As a result, the Magic become slower and older. Rarely the elixir for NBA success.

Protect the Paint will now view the pros and cons of Turkoglu selecting Toronto over Portland.

PROS

Hedo's passing skills will be useful for Toronto (Credit: sportsagentblog.com)

Hedo is an amazing passer/ball-handler for a guy his size. There are very few 6’10” players who can drop in 20 points and 10+ assists on any given night. Hedo is one of the few.

Turkoglu will instantaneously make life easier on Chris Bosh. The floor spacing of Hedo, Jose Calderon, and Andrea Bargnani should allow Bosh to have more of an impact late in games when it really matters. Look for a huge spike in production and desire out of a rejuvenated Bosh. No one knows if this will this be enough to keep in him in Canada for years to come, but you have to give the Raptors’ front office and A for effort.

Turkoglu is one of the best at finishing games and his play in the 4th quarter should dramatically help Toronto in close games.

Brandon Roy almost had Turkoglu at his side (Credit: nike.com)

CONS

Adding Turkoglu to the team almost certainly results in Toronto not being able to retain Shawn Marion–a tireless rebounder and full of hustle. This results in the Raptors becoming a much weaker rebounding team.

Boozer started the trend of breaking verbal agreements (Credit: nike.com)

Turkoglu’s reputation takes a hit here. Hedo is now the latest to pull off a Carlos Boozer. It’s not quite the same scenario. Boozer was let of a deal and then hosed the Cavs. Hedo opted out. He’ll say he didn’t use the Blazers offer as leverage for something better. We’ll never know for sure.

Hedo will take extra money and justify it by saying he can be in a more international, multi-cultural city. Although there may be a Turkish community up there, there is no Championship-caliber basketball team. This indicates where Hedo’s head and heart are, or maybe better put, where they’re not–not concerned with winning. If they were, he would choose Portland by a landslide. Gotta keep the wife happy though.

SYNOPSIS

Hedo’s arrival in Toronto will result in a 7-8 playoff seed. That’s better than last year, but it is doubtful they will go any further as they will lose Marion, Anthony Parker, and possibly more in order to pay his salary, in addition to stockpiling the money needed to resign Bosh. The Raptors are now good enough to get in the playoffs, but will be ‘one and done’ once they get there as rebounding and tough defense keeps you alive in the post-season.

Bosh will have 1 year with Turkoglu to decide to stay in Toronto (Credit: cbcnews.com)

Bosh will not be able to carry this load. He will be frustrated his team won’t advance past the first round, and sign elsewhere (in America) in 2010. At least Hedo will have his international city, and Turkish community, and oh yeah, the $53 Million. That kind of coin always helps ease the sting of losing.

Seems like Portland managed to dodge the bullet of signing a player more focused on money and living situation over winning.

Click here to vote for the best free agent move of the summer!

This summer marks the continuation of major spending reform (and not for the better) in the NBA. The Vince Carter, Shaquille O’Neal, and Richard Jefferson deals exemplify that liquidating huge contracts for scrap (or crap) heaps, and aiming to win it all now, is THE popular trend–the rich getting richer. Ben Gordon, Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Kidd, and many other free agents will land large deals, but who can afford to pay them?

Teams are preparing for next summer by dangling expiring contracts via trade to desperate teams.  Assessing the chances to land a marquee name–LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Paul Pierce, Manu Ginobili–in 2010 is becoming commonplace, and as a result unthinkable trades are being made.

But let’s not forget, there is top-notch talent available this summer, and Protect the Paint will now evaluate who we think the most relevant free agent is for the teams with the most spending power. Lets face it, money talks, or else the free agent walks.

The teams with the most cap space are:

1. Memphis ($18 mil)
2. Detroit ($16.6 mil)
3. Atlanta ($14.8 mil)
4. Oklahoma City ($14.7 mil)

Other teams with significant room are:

1. Utah ($9.2 mil)
2. Portland ($8.1 mil)
3. Miami ($6.7 mil).

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Memphis is going to need every penny they have if they hope to lure a major free agent to play for the Grizzlies. We’re talking about a small market team and a perennial losing franchise. It is doubtful any free agent of substance would be willing go there. What’s the draw? Don’t say Mark Gasol. Beale Street is pretty nice though.

Whoever Memphis signs, they will likely pay more than that player’s true market value. Additional revenue is the only thing luring a player to the Grizzlies. The only destination less attractive may be Milwaukee where Brandon Jennings hardly looks (or sounds) like a savior.

BIGGEST NEED: New Location. If the Grizzlies were located in a larger market, we’ve got to believe more players would consider playing there. Until then, have your checkbook ready Griz. They do have the money to offer Hedo Turkoglu a salary he could not refuse. The combo of Turkoglu, OJ Mayo, and Rudy Gay is solid yet entirely unrealistic.

DETROIT PISTONS

Wednesday’s breaking news of head coach Michael Curry being fired implies Joe Dumars wants to insure free agents will want to come to Detroit. It is well documented that Curry ruffled more than just one player’s feathers. Apparently, Dumars plans to let Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace walk.

Iverson and Wallace are in the twilight of their careers, and locking either one of them into a long-term deal makes absolutely zero sense when the Pistons are building around Rodney Stuckey and Tayshaun Prince. Acquiring a third scoring option who is entering/closer to his prime is what Detroit needs.

Gordon's offensive skills would help Detroit (Credit: chi-ball.com)

GREATEST NEED: Ben Gordon or Hedo Turkoglu. Ben Gordon is ideal for Detroit. He is a young, capable scorer who would give the Pistons a solid trio of offensive weapons to build a bright future around. Turkoglu might not make sense with Rip Hamilton and Stuckey already there, but he is a major factor why Orlando went to the finals and the Pistons can afford him.

ATLANTA HAWKS

After recently acquiring Jamal Crawford from Golden State, it raises questions if Atlanta will re-sign Mike Bibby. Crawford gives Atlanta another 4th quarter scoring threat, easing the defensive pressure on Joe Johnson.

Atlanta can let 30-year-old Bibby walk, and re-sign key reserves Zaza Pachulia and Flip Murray. Retaining Pachulia gives Atlanta depth in the post, which is a necessity for playoff basketball.

Will Childress play another year in Greece? (Credit: lowposts.com)

GREATEST NEED: Keeping what they already have (re-signing Pachulia and Murray). These two players are too valuable and affordable not to re-sign and the Hawks need to save their coin for Johnson who can opt out next summer. Josh Childress returning from Greece would give them back-court flexibility.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

OKC cannot afford to spend too much on a major free agent. The Thunder need to spend frugally in order to retain the core of Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook. It is an unconditional must. This being said, signing a mid-level free agent would be the wise move for OKC and there are several available. One in particular would fit nicely with the Thunder’s nucleus.

Millsap would thrive playing with the Thunder (Credit: deseretnews.com)

BIGGEST NEED: Paul Millsap would immediately add a tough rebounding presence and the blue-collar attitude that the young Thunder need. Adding Millsap makes the playoffs a possibility, especially considering Yao Ming’s injury in Houston puts the Rockets 2010 playoff hopes in major jeopardy opening up a spot for another Western Conference team. Millsap gives any team he’s on many second (and often third) chance opportunities on the offensive end. If Boozer opts out of Utah, then expect the Jazz to match any offer made on Millsap.

UTAH JAZZ

The Jazz faced potential free agency disaster, but both Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur have decided against opting out and will stay. Luckily for Utah, Boozer’s injury-plagued 2008-09 season and lingering questions of his ability to stay healthy is most likely all that prevented him from bailing and receiving a large offer elsewhere. Does he care about money more than winning? He did bail on LeBron. That should answer that question.

Okur–a big man who can shoot–must believe his best chance for another title (he won a ring in Detroit) lies in Salt Lake City.

Mehmet Okur won't abandon the Jazz. (Credit: nba.com)

BIGGEST NEED: Staying healthy. A healthy Jazz are as good as any team in the NBA. Re-signing Milsap as insurance for the fragile Boozer would be huge, but chances are good a team with more cap room will nab him.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

Portland is a young team on the rise. They made the playoffs, and in doing so, exposed their greatest weakness.  Depending on which players they decide to retain the rights to, they could go as far as $15-30 million under the cap. They will not advance past the 1st round with Steve Blake as the starting PG. The Blazers have a solid leader in two time All-Star Brandon Roy, but they need a savvy veteran who can bring the ball up court.

Andre Miller is a massive ugrade to Steve Blake (Credit: ESPN)

BIGGEST NEED: Andre Miller or Jason Kidd. Miller would instantly bring leadership and make Portland a title contender as the Blazers mature. Miller has a lot of game left in the tank, and with $8 million to spend in cap space, they could afford to sign him.

With Jason Kidd coordinating the offense, there is no telling where the Blazers could go. Odds are Kidd remains in Dallas or signs with the New York Knicks. Kidd is already in New York and ready to begin negotiations.

MIAMI HEAT

Miami obviously has no interest in spending any money this summer. Their top priority is re-signing Dwyane Wade. The irony might end up being that in not making moves to secure talent around Wade they may lose him. Wade has made it abundantly clear in the media that he wants players provided for him now, not later. What Miami really needs is a low post presence. A solid center would immediately seal up a lot of loose ends for the Heat.

Marcin Gortat can start and make a difference in MIami (Credit: pablonasportowo)

BIGGEST NEED: Marcin Gortat or Anderson Varejao. With Orlando recently acquiring Vince Carter, Orlando will have trouble matching offers for Gortat. With Cleveland making the O’Neal trade they have no chance of paying Varajao the money he wants. Gortat has proven to be a solid performer when filling in for foul-prone Dwight Howard, and could be an affordable solution to fill the void in the middle in Miami. Varejao’s athleticism and defensive prowess might be the better move for Miami. He can give them what last year Jermaine O’Neal couldn’t.