6.26.2010

NBA Free Agent Madness v. 1

All of us hardcore hoops heads have been waiting for this week for at least two years now. I started thinking about it when Lebron and company historically signed shorter contract extensions in 2006. As someone who loves playing fantasy basketball, I knew 2010 could potentially be an interesting summer. I didn't realize until this passed trade deadline how many teams were actually going to try to do a complete overhaul of their rosters. Call me crazy, but I think that if I were Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, or any of the number of other marquee free agents, I would want to go to a roster that already had a sense of team chemistry in place. Currently, the Heat and Knicks have next to nothing of value under contract. Granted, we know the Heat are going to resign Wade and possibly get two other big names. But what do the Knicks have to offer from a basketball standpoint currently? Yes, New York is the biggest city in the US for many BUSINESS decisions, but he can still make business moves there (and anywhere else) and be one of the richest athletes of all time regardless of where he signs his next NBA contract. On the court however, the Knicks offer three or four decent prospects to build around Lebron. David Lee is a free agent too, so getting him back would cost a little bit more this time around. The four players the Knicks currently have under contract are: Eddy Curry, Wilson Chandler, Toney Douglas, and Danillo Galinari. Eddy Curry is the biggest draft bust of all time in my opinion, even more so than Kwame Brown and Sam Bowie. What do I know though? The other three players are all great prospects, but none would really make me want to come to New York if I were one of the 2010 free agents. There are a couple other teams that haven't been mentioned much with the teams that are under the cap that might make a little noise, mainly the Dallas Mavericks. Everything is all speculation at this point, but the possibility of Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, and Lebron James all in Dallas next year is ridiculous. All of the signings will beging at 12:00AM Thursday. Most people at this point seem to think that everything will start with what Lebron's decision ends up being. At least six teams plan to "wine and dine" the player in the coming days ( Nets, Clippers, Bulls, Heat, Knicks, and Cavs ) I think it is pretty ridiculous to think that a 25 year old is about to change the landscape of the NBA forever. I wonder who's had more blog articles written about them recently: Lebron or Stephen Strasburg. Anyway...

The other big non-free agent news this weekend is that Kendrick Perkins may have torn his ACL as well. Looks like Luke Harangody and Brian Scalabrine might get some serious burn next year! I wonder if any team has gone from the basement to the penthouse back to the basement in such a short span before. Now I realize that this team will be a lot better now than in 2006, even without Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kendrick Perkins. I really don't see why Paul Pierce would want to leave the Celtics though.

Sherron Collins is going to the Bobcats.

Cool cars

6.25.2010

Draft recap

I swear this is the last NBA draft post. There will be plenty of free agency posts next week though!

-Luke Babbitt was all over draft boards and eventually landed in Portland (Via Minnnesota). While Portland will be the better team by far, he pobably would have had more playing time in Minnesota. I guess this will give him time to season at the wing around a few veteran players.
- There seemed to be a bit more trading than usual. That is my excuse for doing such a horrible job on that mock draft. In all, eleven trades were made last night. Oklahoma City was involved in five of these trades. Already a team on the rise, I think the addition of Cole Aldrich will help them immensely on the defensive end. Also as a Kansas fan, I love pairing him with Nick Collison. From what I have seen, while they will have the flexibility for a marquee free agent this summer, Oklahoma is more likely to keep building from within the organization. Chicago also made out pretty well. By trading Kirk Hinrich and Kevin Serraphin to Washington, they now have enough money to find a Robin for Batman (Lebron). The Bulls are going to be my least favorite team again real soon. Miami is also very close to having the flexibility to sign THREE of the big time free agents next week. That would be insane.
-I was surprised Ed Davis slipped to Toronto, although I guess someone will have to help replace Chris Bosh this season.
-The Pacers may or may not have made the steals of the draft in Paul George and Lance Stephenson. They will be both likely become projects on a pretty bad Pacers roster. I wouldn't be all that surprised if neither ever averages more than 25 minutes in a season.
- Reporters from ESPN and Yahoo have already been comparing Luke Babbitt to Luke Jackson. I think a carreer change may be in order for Mr. Babbitt.
- So far to me, the steals of the draft are Devin Ebanks (the rich get richer?), all four of the Heat's picks (a player that skipped college and went to the NBDL for a season, a player that tore up his knee in the final four, and two potentially nasty big men), James Anderson (been high on this kid ever since I saw him light it up against Kansas. I know he can score), and Demarcus Cousins. Cousins easily could have been the first or second pick of the draft. He will be one of the top centers for many years to come. This is too weak of a draft in my opinion to list all of the potential busts. I don't see more than five or ten potential all stars here so anyone that has a full career in the NBA will not be a bust in my opinion.
- Interestingly enough, Luke Harangody goes from Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the Boston Celtics. Brian Scalabrine will no doubt teach him about the excitement of being an overpaid athlete that gets to sit on the sidelines in suits for 75 out of 82 games each season.
- The Bulls, Bobcats, Cavs, and Nuggets all failed to make an appearance in this draft. I guess technically the Bulls made an appearance.
- I would call the Kings, Bulls, and Thunders the winners of this draft. I think it is really too early to tell who the real losers of this draft are. I would like to say it's the Knicks, but I would rather see how everything plays out first.

Free agency starts next week. Things are going to get crazy. I will post a rumors recap on Monday morning.
In non-NBA news, I will be posting a bunch of reviews over the weekend. A few good new records have come out lately.

Medeski, Martin, Wood

I saw this band twice in 08 and once in 09 in Rochester. I am kind of surprised they aren't playing around here at all this summer. I plan to get a little bit closer to the stage when Jimmy Cliff plays here next month.












I will get a steadier hand when Jimmy plays here, too.

Bane/Cruel Hand tour, Agnostic Front/Mother of Mercy

Bane, Cruel Hand, Trapped Under Ice, and Alpha & Omega will be going out on the road together later this summer. This is four of the best bands in hardcore right now and this tour is hitting most areas so you have no excuse not to check it out!!!!

8/14 Philadelphia, PA @ Starlight Ballroom
8/15 Cleveland, OH @ Now That's Class
8/16 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
8/17 Traverse City, MI @ Inside Out Gallery
8/18 Chicago, IL @ Arlington Heights KofC Hall
8/19 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
8/20 Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot
8/21 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre w/ Bankrobber
8/23 San Diego, CA @ Ché w/ Bankrobber
8/24 San Jose, CA @ PBSJ w/ Bankrobber
8/25 San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside w/ Bankrobber
8/26 Canoga Park, CA @ Cobalt Café w/ Bankrobber
8/27 Tijuana, MX @ Sexta House of Music w/ Bankrobber
8/28 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction w/ Bankrobber
8/29 Phoenix, AZ @ The Underground
8/31 Austin, TX @ Red 7
9/1 Houston, TX @ Walters
9/2 Little Rock, AR @ Downtown Music Hall
9/3 Nashville, TN @ Rocketown
9/4 Atlanta, GA @ 585 Wells
9/5 Jacksonville, FL @ The Pit
9/6 Pembroke Pines, FL @ The Talent Farm
9/7 St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre
9/8 Charlotte, NC @ Casbah @ Tremont
9/9 Richmond, VA @ Professional Company
9/10 Baltimore, MD @ Otto Bar
9/11 Long Island, NY @ Ethical Humanist
9/12 Worcester, MA @ The Palladium



Hardcore godfathers Agnostic Front will be out on the Road with Mother of Mercy and New Lows this fall. Agnostic Front has been around longer than most hardcore kids these days.

9/30 Peekskill, NY @ Popeyes Pub
10/1 Albany, NY @ Bogies
10/2 Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
10/3 Cleveland, OH @ Now That's Class
10/4 Lansing, MI @ Macs
10/5 Toledo, OH @ Frankie's
10/6 Milwaukee, WI @ Mad Planet
10/8 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
10/9 Des Moines, IA @ House of Bricks
10/10 Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
10/13 St. Albans, WV @ The Brickhouse
10/14 Washington, DC @ DC9
10/15 Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar
10/16 New York, NY @ Santo's Party House



I am going to try to go to three of the Bane shows and one or two of the AF shows. We will see if I actually make it out to these. I haven't seen either band (and I've never seen TUI) in over six years though so it's about time.

6.24.2010

Rockets get Pat Patterson

This should help Houston add a little bit of depth in the paint. He will definitely help out in the rebounding and on defense, but I think we are all still quietly hoping Yao Ming puts a full season together, playoffs included.


Here is the rest of the first round. I will post some more of my own opinions in the morning.

15 Milwaukee- Larry Sanders
16 Minnesota- Luke Babbitt (I would call this the steal of the draft if it weren't the T'wolves)
17 Chicago- Kevin Seraphin
18 Oklahoma City- Eric Bledsoe
19 Boston- Avery Bradley
20 San Antonio- James Anderson
21 Oklahoma City- Craig Brackins
22 Portland- Elliot Williams
23 Minnesota- Trevor Booker
24 Atlanta- Damion James
25 Memphis- Dominique Jones
26 Oklahoma City- Quincy Pondexter
27 New Jersey- Jordan Crawford
28 Memphis- Greivis Vasquez
29 Orlando- Daniel Orton
30 Washington- Lazar Hayward

A few of these players have been traded. I will be updating all of that in the morning as well. So far I like the moves Oklahoma and Portland are making.

Picks 10-13

10) Indiana Pacers- Paul George
Stu Jackson just mentioned that a scout somewhere said they think George could be the best player in this draft. I guess that explains why his stock rose so high recently.



11) New Orleans Hornets- Cole Aldrich
Like I have said numerous times, I think Cole Aldrich will be a good center at best. I don't think he will ever be at the head of the class of big men in the NBA. Apparently this pick is going to be sent to Oklahoma City (they are now drafting for New Orleans at 18 and 21), which makes perfect sense for the Thunder.



So Far Ed Davis is making me look very stupid. I can now add Luke Babbitt to that list as well. I guess that is why I am writing this blog and not sitting behind the Houston Rockets phones like I should be.

12) Memphis Grizzlies- Xavier Henry
I had a feeling Aldrich and Henry might go back to back, but I thought that was too obvious to pick (sort of like the Lost finale). Anyway, the Grizzlies are becoming a very deep team. I hope Xavier learns not to shoot quite as much though.



13) Toronto Raptors- Ed Davis
Even though he said differently on Mike and Mike in the morning today, we all know that Chris Bosh will not be returning to Toronto next year. Might as well start planning ahead now while you still can.



LET'S GO ROCKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Live from New York...

Well Rochester, anyway. When viewing any of the videos below, keep in mind I merely took them off youtube. I didn't make any of them. If you want to contact anyone to tell them what great music that is playing in the background, I didn't make the video.

1) Washington Wizards- John Wall
Nobody was surprised to see John Wall go number one. He is going to be great in the NBA, although I'm not sure about the potential three to four guard rotation Washington seems to have right now. Possibly Mr. Arenas will be traded? I figure posting this video with this 50Game track behind it is kind of fitting when you consider the team Wall is about to join.

value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZfINBYmGD1A&hl=en_US&fs=1&">

2) Philadelphia 76ers- Evan Turner
Evan Turner looks a lot better dressed tonight than he did last night. I think Philadelphia should be excited to have him on their roster now. Like I have been saying for a few days, they just need a real big man now.



3) New Jersey Nets- Derrick Favors
The New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets are clearly on the rise. Whether or not they keep Derrick Favors or trade him for Danny Granger remains to be seen. I have been hyped on him since I read about him in Slam magazine a few years ago. He is definitely going to take a couple years to develop an NBA-ready offense, but when he does he will be an all star. The First Favors video is from High School, the second one (with closer competition level) is from college.





4) Minnesota Timberwolves- Wes Johnson
Wesley Johnson is going to Minnesota afterall. I think it would be even funnier now if Johnny Flynn gets traded, considering he left Syracuse just before Wesley got there last year. I doubt I will be taking Johnson in any fantasy drafts this year.



5) Sacramento Kings- Demarcus Cousins
The Kings continue to build for the future. Demarcus Cousins should get plenty of time to improve his game in Sacramento. This is one of the better situations Cousins could have found himself in my opinion. He will get minutes on what should be a much better Sacramento Kings team.



6) Golden State Warriors- Ekpe Udoh
I would have taken Greg Monroe with the sixth pick, but what do I know about running a basketball team? The Warriors selected Ekpe Udoh instead. Time will tell I guess. I think that implies that they are going to find a way to move Anthony Randolph out of town at some point. This team will remain in a state of disarray for another couple seasons at the least. I already feel sorry for Stephen Curry.



7) Detroit Pistons- Greg Monroe
An absolute steal for the Pistons if this can pan out. A big man with passing skills? Didn't a team just win a championship with a big man that possesses similar skills?



8) LA Clippers- Al-Farouq Aminu
If Blake Griffin, Baron Davis, and Chris Kaman are all healthy this year, this kid could ease his way into the league on a good up and coming team. This team could even win 35 games. Then again, the chances of all of these players playing a full season are very slim.



9) Utah Jazz- Gordon Heyward
Now my mock draft is starting to get a little messy. This kid has to have risen the most in this draft in the last couple months. If the Jazz lose Kyle Korver, this makes perfect sense. Not many videos online of this kid.




I'm taking another break. Obviously my mock is a little bit screwed up now. Rasheed Wallace is retiring.

So it begins....

Kirk Hinrich has finally been traded. I bet Luol Deng is next.

Danny Granger might be on his way to the Nets.

The draft is starting. I have been at work all day. I'm going to catch up on everything and post an update around 8:30. I hope the Rockets trade up.

2010 Mock Draft

This is the first annual 94FTG Mock. Come back in 12 hours and laugh at all of our mistakes.

1) Washington Wizards. John Wall, PG (Kentucky). All signs have pointed to this since the Wizards won the lottery last month.
2) Philadelphia 76ers. Evan Turner, SG (Ohio State). Should fit in, Philly is going to be thin down low after Brand.
3) New Jersey Nets. Derrick Favors, PF (Georgia Tech). Taking a project makes more sense here, especially if they get Joe Johnson.
4) Minnesota Timberwolves. Wesley Johnson, SF (Syracuse). You have to feel for the kid and HOPE that he doesn't end up here.
5) Sacramento Kings. Demarcus Cousins, PF/C (Kentucky). Sacramento all of a sudden becomes a great up and coming team.
6) Golden State Warriors. Greg Monroe C (Georgetown) Udoh is a good pick here too, but I think it would be hard to pass on Monroe here.
7) Detroit Pistons. Ed Davis, PF (North Carolina) I'm sure Joe Dumars would love to see Cosins or Monroe slip here, but Davis will be a nice talent to add.
8) LA Clippers. Al-Farouq Aminu, SF (Wake Forest) Maybe this is the Clippers year.
9) Utah Jazz. Luke Babbitt, SF/PF (Nevada). This kid could potentially be the steal of the draft, depending on where he drafts.
10) Indiana Pacers. Ekpe Udoh, PF (Baylor). I'm sure they want to go local with Hayward, but this is the better talent.
11) New Orleans Hornets. Paul George, SF (Fresno State). This pick could get traded with Chris Paul or Darren Collison.
12) Memphis Grizzlies. Patrick Patterson, PF (Kentucky). Planting him at the end of their rotation and watching him develop for the next couple years makes sense.
13) Toronto Raptors. Cole Aldrich, C (Kansas). This will be their first step in attempting to replace Chris Bosh.
14) Houston Rockets. Gordon Hayward, SF (Butler). While I would love to see Xavier Henry picked here, I know he wouldn't get any playing time.
15) Milwaukee Bucks. Avery Bradley, SG (Texas)
16) Minnesota Timberwolves. Xavier Henry, SG (Kansas)
17) Chicago Bulls. James Anderson, SG (Oklahoma State)
18) Oklahoma City Thunder. Larry Sanders, PF/C (VCU)
19) Boston Celtics. Eric Bledsoe PG/SG (Kentucky)
20) San Antonio Spurs. Daniel Orton, PF/C (Kentucky)
21) Oklahoma City. Hassan Whiteside, C (Marshall)
22) Portland. Damion James, SF (Texas)
23) Minnesota. Kevin Seraphin, PF/C (France)
24) Atlanta. Dominique Jones, SG (South Florida)
25) Memphis. Lance Stephenson, SG (Cincinnati)
26) Oklahoma City. Quincy Pondexter, SF (Washington)
27) New Jersey. Jordan Crawford, SG (Xavier)
28) Memphis. Devin Ebanks, SF (West Virginia)
29) Orlando. Gani Lawai PF (Georgia Tech)
30) Washington. Craig Brackins, PF (Iowa State)

I feel confident about a lot of the lottery picks, but the second half we'll see about as it all plays out.

Draft update #5


Today is officially the day! the 2010 NBA Draft is here and with it comes one of the most exciting offseasons in NBA history. Lebron James, Chris Bosh, Joe johnson, Dwyane Wade, and Dirk Nowitzki, and Kenyon Martin are just a sample of the some of the players that could potentially change teams this offseason. With that still being a week away, we will stick to what is going on now.
In a move that clears enough money for two max free agents, the Heat yesterday traded Daequan Cook and the 18th pick to the Thunder for the 32nd overall selection. As stated above, we know why the Heat make this trade. For the Thunder, it also makes sense. They now have three first round picks. That gives them a great opportunity to get a couple big men to work with over the next couple years. They add a great outside shooter in Cook and they don't really spend much to get him.

With the draft being tonight, I am going to finish team previews with the Houston Rockets. Sorry to all the teams that made the playoffs this season, you don't need my expert input as much as these other teams do!

In what was yet another injury plagued season, the Rockets actually performed above most people's expectations. Granted, they slowed down after the first couple months. They finished with the most improved player in Aaron Brooks. The addition of Kevin Martin didn't appear to help as much as some would have liked, but this is a team that already has a lot of guards to begin with. The Trevor Ariza experiment hasn't exactly panned out, but it could be a lot worse. Yao Ming has played the equivalent to just over three full seasons in the last five. That is obviously not good. As most people are aware, he missed this whole last season and probably won't be ready in time for the start of this coming season. As I have said for a few seasons now, his body clearly can't take the toll that an NBA season (and sometimes even a playoff run) puts on your body. With that in mind, I think it is time to cut losses and start drafting more big men. As I have mentioned before, I am a diehard Kansas Jayhawks fan. If Cole Aldrich were to still be available here, that would fit a lot of needs. He will never be a superstar NBA Center, but he should be serviceable for the next eight to ten years for an NBA franchise. Butler's Gordon Heyward is a name that has been attached to this pick a lot as well. I hope the Pacers get him so Houston can focus on a big man with this pick, even if it ends being a power forward. Currently, this is their only pick. I have read reports of them trying to move up in the draft though. They won't have any cap space this summer, so hopefully they can trade Trevor Ariza for Lebron James.

With the draft taking place in eleven hours, I am going to listen to a little bit more of this Chris Bosh interview on Mike and Mike before I finish my mock draft. I would also like to now point out that my roommate Brian last night yelled "Thank God tomorrow is Friday" last night.

6.23.2010

Corey Maggette is a Buck/Draft update #4

I liked it as a rumor yesterday and I love it as a trade now. The Warriors could have upwards of 25-30 million to work with next summer. Couple that with a lottery pick this year, probably next year, and a big time free agent or two next year, if they feel so inclined. In all seriousness, the Warriors probably won't be competitive again for a long time.
The Bucks were a time on the rise before this trade and this makes them even better. Most NBA fans know that Corey Maggette makes a bit more than he should. Getting rid of Dan Gadzuric's horrible contract outweighs the negative in Maggette's for this year. If they can unload Michael Redd before the season begins, this time will be headed for great things this season. Their rotation will feature Brandon Jennings, Carlos Delfino, Maggette, Andrew Bogut, and Ersan Ilyasova. Trading for Maggette makes even more sense with John Salmons opting out of his contract now. If they opt not to resign Salmons, the Bucks could go for a backup big man, in addition to whatever big man they are able to snag with the 15th pick. *Update* apparently, they are about to get Chris Douglas Roberts as well. This team is going for the gold.
A few players whose stock appears to have slipped in recent days leading up to the draft: Al Farouq-Aminu (wasn't he at one time a top 3 prospect for this draft) and Xavier Henry (I hope the Rockets roll the dice). Meanwhile, Luke Babbitt and Gordon Heyward's stock continue to rise. Lance Stephenson will be a highlight reel that will get taken by someone at some point. Whether or not he can do anything of value to teams besides create those 30 second highlights remains to be seen.
I am going to really cheat and post my full mock draft tomorrow morning. Until then, I will continue my team by team preview. I doubt I'm going to make it much passed the lottery.

The Indiana Pacers are a team that seems to me to be in a similar position to the Detroit Pistons. While they do have a superstar (when healthy) in Danny Granger, they also have players (Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy that are always rumored to be on their way out the door. They have needs at point guard and they could use some more depth at the forward position and the center position. They have been trying to acquire a point guard via trade the last few days, but nothing seems to be too close to happening yet. There doesn't appear to be a quality point guard available when they draft 10, either. Unless they trade these picks, the Pacers are likely to add depth in the middle with the 10th and 40th pick in this draft. Players that might potentially be available at 10 include Epke Udoh, Ed Davis, Pat Patterson, and Cole Aldrich. I think Ed Davis is the likely selection here.

The Hornets were an exciting team that was consistently improving the last few seasons. Then they traded Tyson Chandler for Emeka Okafor and Chris Paul got hurt. I think if they keep Paul and Collison at this point, they will ruin their chemistry. A lot of GMs can probably keep that in mind in future trades and lowball the shit out of them. The only really needs they possess right now would be at the wing position. Players that could be available when they pick here include Luke Babbitt, Paul George, and Gordon Heyward. I think they will choose from Babbitt and George here.

The Memphis Grizzlies currently possess one of the most promising rosters in the NBA, if not the most promising. Not only do they have a talented roster, but NONE of these players have contracts past 2011 currently. Of course, they will probably lock Rudy Gay up long term for a lot of money in this offseason. Even then, they will probably be right around the salary cap, with three or four pretty good players on the roster and just as many potentially good players. If this team sticks together and Zach Randolph can keep his act together, this team could finally pick up where they left off in the Pau Gasol era. They might even win a playoff game! Like I said, there is no real glaring need for this team in this draft. In fact, if I were the Grizzlies management, I would trade this pack for another future pick or two. If they don't do that, they are more than likely to take a guard/forward with this pick. Players avaialable could include Pat Patterson, Paul George, and Gordon Heyward. I doubt Heyward will still be available so they will probably end up with Pat Patterson.

Unless Lebron doesn't return to Cleveland, Toronto stands to lose the most this offseason. In fact, either way I would say they will witness the biggest win decline this coming season. They won 40 in 2010 and I would be shocked if they win half of that this coming season. Chris Bosh is not coming back and they are not going to have much to work with under the salary cap. Unless Jose Calderon can return to his form from a couple seasons ago, this team will have needs at every position. Andrea Bargnani will be their lone bright spot heading into the season, and even he is still somewhat questionable. To replace Chris Bosh they will more than likely draft Cole Aldrich. As a diehard KU fan, I can almost safely say Aldrich will not be great in the NBA. He will be a starting center for close to a decade, but more of the Greg Ostertag (coincidence, right?) variety. He is almost seven feet tall, afterall.

I will pick this up with my Houston Rockets later on. We are now only 33 hours away from the 2010 NBA Draft.

Such Gold headlining show at Dub Land next Tuesday


When I used to do a lot of shows around here, I loved mixing lineups up like this. While I would prefer a four band bill, this is still a good mix of bands for a Tuesday night. Check out this video flyer for the show (what an age we live in). Below that is a less technologically advanced copy of the flyer as well.

Video Flier for June 29th @ Dubland Underground. from Adam Scheffler on Vimeo.


6.22.2010

Draft update #3

Yes I know, I really need to get a REAL LIFE. This is it for now. Aside from the Chris Paul rumors, there hasn't been much of note in the last 24 hours. Of course there is a lot of talk. I like this Corey Maggette rumor.

We will pick right up where we left off with the Detroit Pistons. This is the part of the draft where teams really start to see what players are available and who is planning on doing what with their upcoming picks. The Pistons are going to be a hard team to nail down going into draft. As always, the Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince rumor mill is in full force. I think if they trade either of those players, they are likely to package this pick with the players in the trade. If they don't trade this pick away it appears as though they would draft whatever the best big man available at the point is. I would guess that they would take Ekpe Udoh from Baylor here, although it wouldn't completely shock me to see Demarcus Cousins or Greg Monroe to slip into the Pistons lap here. If that happens, I doubt they are trading this pick away. I would rather wait to see if they make any trades before I speculate on what the Pistons will do in the free agency period.

Most people know about the Clippers poor draft history. When I heard the rumor that David Geffen might try to buy the Clippers in order to recruit Lebron James this summer, I laughed. While they were getting close when Elton Brand was beasting, I just can't see the Clippers ever becoming a respectable NBA franchise, not at least as long as donald Sterling is owner. Who would be all of our collective punch lines at that point? Anyway, the Clippers have the eighth pick in this year's draft. Theoretically, one would assume they are going to be all set with their current backcourt (although this is Baron Davis we're talking about here) for at least the next couple seasons. I don't know how much Donald Sterling will spend this offseason, but the Clips will have around 20 million to work with two sign around four or five players after the draft. With all of that in mind, I think they will go the route of taking a wing player. I would think that would be Al-Farouq Aminu (Wake Forest, is it just me or has his stock slipped) or Luke Babbit (Nevada player whose stock in contrast to Aminu's seems to be rising.). While this team has the financial means to be much improved for next season, I would be suprised if they sign any of the top four or five free agents. Another season around the 34 win mark is a reasonable goal for this franchise as always.

The Utah Jazz got this unprotected gift from the Knicks at the ninth spot. It appears as though they will take whoever is the best available player here (Aminu or Babbitt would fit the bill here) but I could also see them thinking more long term in Xavier Henry or size in Cole Aldrich. I bet the Jazz officials wish that Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur were going to be free agents this summer and not Carlos Boozer. Even though Paul Millsap has emerged as a valuable commodity over the last few years, I think they should still be trying to keep Boozer. If they don't sign him, they will be a 45 win team with little cap room to work with until next offseason. They already have one of the best point guards in the NBA, it would only make sense to keep one of the better rebounders in the league as well.

Link trades!

Yes it is like 1998 all over again, only no geocities address! If anyone wants to trade links, hit me up. I am trying to get this out there to the masses as quickly as possible. ninetyfourfeettoglory@yahoo.com

Hulkamania will forever run wild



















6.21.2010

NBA Draft post #2

It wouldn't be draft week without some juicy trade rumors. As always, that is possibly all they are. Adrian Wojnarowski has been reporting that New Orleans has been fielding offers for Chris Paul. I like the idea of Paul in New Jersey with Favors and Lopez though. That would be nice.

As mentioned earlier, the Bobcats don't have any picks in this draft According to a recent Yahoo report, they are aggresively trying to change that.

Most reports I have read have Minnesota taking Wes Johnson with the fourth overall pick. Provided he doesn't get traded, it would be funny to see Wes and Johnny Flynn become teammates finally. Along with them, the Timberwolves would be featuring Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, and Kevin Love. They would also be able to pick up at least one or two project players with their multiple draft picks. They would then have just under 20 million to work with in the salary cap. It would be nice to see some top tier free agent go there, but I just don't see it happening. I am sure they will do their best though. And they do have Ricky Rubio and Al Jefferson or Kevin Love to offer in potential trades. Again, it would be nice to see a Lebron or a Bosh go there. I just don't see why they would leave cold climate cities for even colder climate cities. I hope they sign someone noteworthy though.

Sacramento will look to be a very different and (hopefully) improved team in 2011. On the last day of the finals, they unloaded Andres Nocioni and Spencer Hawes for Samuel Dalembert. I think if used properly, Dalembert will be more valuable to Sacamento than Hawes and Nocioni were COMBINED. Most draft experts have the Kings taking either Greg Monroe or Demarcus Cousins with the fifth overall pick. I hope they take Cousins with that pick With either player and Dalembert, they could potentially be all set inside. Add an improved Tyreke Evans and Omri Casspi to a mix that also features decent backups in Beno Udrih, Carl Landry, and Jason Thompson, The Kings would be a wing player or two away from competing heavily in the Western conference again in the next two or three years. They will have at least 20 million to work with, just like most of these early lottery pick teams seem to have. It will be interesting to see if they can lure a Joe Johnson or even a Ray Allen out to Norcal. That would potentially put them right back into the playoff mix in the Western Conference.

After shocking Dallas in the first round of the playoffs a few years ago, the Warriors have quickly become cellar dwellers once again. Obviously, they are set in their backcourt if Curry and Ellis can continue to coexist. While they could use a better wing player than Corey Maggette, they really need more depth in the paint. Since they are limited on cap space, I imagine they will mostly focus on big men with the 6th and possibly even the 34th pick. Most mock drafts I have seen have them taking a few different big men. I think this will also depend on who the Kings take with their pick. I think if Cousins goes there, the Warriors will almost definitely take the gamble on Greg Monroe. Other players that have been mentioned as possibly heading to the Warriors include Ekpe UDoh (baylor) and Al-Farouq Aminu (Wake Forest). While I am sure the Warriors front office would be more than excited to see Wes Johnson slip into their hands, I think a more likely scenario would involve them drafting Greg Monroe. This team will be another 30-35 win team next season.

Tomorrow morning I will be posting more draft updates (picks 7-10), as well as a MMW photo gallery, and possibly a few record reviews.

We are still seeking other contributors for this blog. E mail ninetyfourfeettoglory@yahoo.com for more info.

NBA Draft/ Free Agency period

By now most people that know me know that these two weeks are two of my favorite weeks of the year. As an NBA nerd, I love to watch rosters restructure at the end of the season. Something about all that change usually interests me. If you like change like I do, this is your year. There are more questions right now than there probably have been at this point in an NBA offseason, possibly ever.
I may be being pessimistic about this, but I think this is actually one of the worst drafts in years. There are a few good lottery prospects and then after that, it seems to be slim pickings to me. There's usually a few diamonds in the rough, but I can't see more than twenty legit prospects in this group. Obviously Washington, Philadelphia, and New Jersey SHOULD improve with the top three overall selections. Both Washington and New Jersey should also be able to use their other two picks for a couple decent prospects.
You can make the basic "Who will my team draft?" statement for pretty much any team, with the exception of the Washington Wizards. It has been a foregone conclusion since they won the lottery that they will take John Wall with the number one overall pick. One can only hope Gilbert Arenas comes back a changed man. That would be a ferocious backcourt, if only a little on the small side. If the Wizards resign Josh Howard, they will have around 6 or 7 million to work with. If they don't resign him, they would have closer to 18 million in cap space. Option one doesn't bring many free agents to the table. Option two brings the potential to sign more free agents. Given their recent track records, I think they might be better off playing it safe and resigning Josh Howard. That way, they could definitely have 20 million or more to work with next summer. Their main rotation would consist of Arenas, Wall, Howard, and Andray Blatche. They could be a decent run and gun team with a quick big man. Combine that with John Wall seasoning for a season or two and you have a bright future. John Wall and Stephen Strasburg are the future of Washington pro sports.
Philadelphia is a team that is looking to be much improved this season. They now have Doug Collins as their coach for this next season. It appears as though they plan to take Ohio State's Evan Turner with the second overall pick. After that, they are still easily over the salary cap for this season. So at most, they could hope to sign a veteran for a minimum deal or a mid-level player. Their rotation to start the season will looks to consist of Jrue Holiday, Turner, Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Marreese Speights, and Spencer Hawes. I think this team is once again headed for a 30 win season. They will need to trade Iguodala for a real big man at some point if they want to have any chance at really competing again in the next few years.
Most draft experts have Derrick Favors going to the Nets with the third pick. I have been high on him for a couple years now, so I am excited about this. I would rather see him go o Philadelphia though. New Jersey will also come out of this draft with around 22 million in salary cap space to work with on some of the big free agents this summer. With that money, they can either go all in for Lebron, or possibly sign two of the "other" free agents and a mid-level. It is hard to really speculate right now, but currently their rotation would feature Favors, Devin Harris, Brook Lopez, and Yi Jianlian. If I were the Nets front office, I would be targeting Joe Johnson, John Salmons, and possibly a Mike Miller or Raymond Felton to compliment one of the first two. Obviously if they can sign Wade, James, Bosh, or Johnson, I'm sure they will jump at the opportunity.
The Cleveland Cavaliers don't have a pick in this year's draft. They have a lot to take care of as it is anyway. The Nuggets and Bobcats don't have any picks in this draft either. With three teams not having picks in the draft, that obviously means a few teams have three or more picks in this draft. Those teams are Washington (#1, 30, 35), New Jersey (#3, 27, 31), Minnesota (#4, 16, 23, 45, 56), Indiana (#10, 40, 57), Memphis (#12, 25, 28), Miami (#18, 41, 42, 49), and Oklahoma City (21, 26, 32, 51).

I will be posting more draft projections and updates throughout the week.

Stephen Strasburg set to make fourth MLB start Wednesday.

Stephen Strasburg's first three major league starts have been nothing short of amazing. Baseball fans and non-baseball fans alike have been buzzing about this kid all year. What I think is crazy about this kid is that at only 21 years of age, the best is certainly still to come. He seems to make history every time he takes the mound. You have to wonder what amazing feat he will accomplish next time he pitches every time. By now you know that 32 strikeouts in his first three big league starts set a big league record for Strasburg. I don't know if any pitcher has been discussed as a potential All Star with only a month of MLB service prior to the event. But after three starts, a lot of media members have been praising him enough to warrant consideration for tghe annual game being played in Anaheim next month. By the time reserves are selected he will have made maybe six MLB starts. A lot of fans will probably think it is unfair if he gets sent to the game. I would not be a member of this group. I think it would be great for baseball and I think a lot of people would love to see him pitch to Derek Jeter, Justin Morneau, Evan Longoria, Joe Mauer, and Alex Rodriguez. I would love to see him strike them all out in succession. In case I didn't mention before, I took a lot of pictures of Strasburg when he pitched here last month and I plan to use them all here until I run out.



Summertime

Summer is officially here, and what better way to kick things off? Here's to BBQs, lemonade, fireworks, watermelon, back decks, LA Dodgers, outdoor basketball, the NBA free agency period, outdoor concerts, way too many tours, and of course....



Also, happy thirtieth birthday to Richard Jefferson. I will know the feeling in nine months.

6.20.2010

Tyler Flowers in the house, Dan Hudson MIA

I went to the Red Wings Game last night. I know the Red Wings themselves haven't been great and haven't produced too many great prospects in the last decade, but there are still a few players to watch on our team. Plus they have Jaques Jones and Jason Repko. Unfortunately, Repko didn't play last night. I was more there to see the opposition anyway. I had been hoping to see the future White Sox battery of Dan Hudson and Tyler Flowers in action. Unfortunately, I realized when I got to the park that Hudson's start had been pushed back to today (Flowers didn't play today either anyway. Husdon's line today: 5IP, 5H, 4BB, 2ER, 6K, 1HR). Hudson is the #3 prospect on the White Sox and #66 overall according to Baseball America's 2010 rankings. This was probably our last chance to see him in Rochester.
Anyway, I did get to see Tyler Flowers behind the plate last night. The way he bats, you can tell he is going to have to rely heavily on being a strong defensive catcher when he takes over for AJ Pierzynski. He went 0 for 3 last night to lower his batting average to .215. He has seemingly traded what was a good carreer average for more power numbers. After posting modest home run and RBI totals that last few seasons, he has 13 HR and 36 RBI currently. That would put him on a pace for eleven more home runs and sixteen more RBI than he had last season. While that is a decent growth in the power department, he will want to get that batting average into a more respectable neighborhood before too long. He also allowed two runners to steal bases while he was behind the plate. Below is somewhat of a scouting report on Tyler Flowers...

Tyler Flowers was the key piece in the Javier Vazquez deal 18 months ago. He bats and throws right handed. At 6'4", 245 he is big but kind of unassuming when you see him in person. Some scouts (myself included) say his defense will eventually cause him to shift to 1B. Again, I hope his overall hitting stays more consistent if that is the case. The power is definitely starting to come around. He is ranked anywhere from 1-3 on the White Sox prospect list, and he is #60 overall on Baseball America's 2010 top prospect list.

I was tired from working earlier in the day so I bummed out and left before the sixth inning, just in time to miss Pat the Vegan Neshek and his wild delivery take the hill.