NBA Free Agents Comings and Goings

The Detroit Pistons were in a state of flux last year, as Chauncy Billups was sent to the Nuggets for Allen Iverson.

We all know how that turned out and Joe Dumars was essentially left with picking up the pieces of a disastrous move that destroyed team chemistry. To top it off, Dumars seemed to be going through coaches like a dope addict goes through a dime bag.

Ben Gordon was the first rookie to win the Sixth Man of the year Award, narrowly edging out Ricky Davis of the Celtics for the honor.

Gordon is a prolific scorer and needs very little time to get his shot off. Gordon has had contract issues with the Bulls.

They gave Deng a significant amount of money on his new contract but felt that Gordon wasn't worth more than Deng.

He turned down the offer and took a one-year deal so he could become an unrestricted free agent this year. Gordon has reported that the Bulls never offered him a contract.

Villanueva had a less auspicious start. He left college after his sophomore year and was drafted by Toronto. No one could understand why Toronto took a flyer on him as he was not considered a top ten draft pick.

Halfway into his rookie season the love affair was over and he was traded to Milwaukee. His first few years were uneven, there were glimpses of his talent, but until last year he was very inconsistent.

It could have been because he was heading into his contract year. Either way the Bucks decided to part ways with Villanueva by not tendering him an offer.

The Pistons needs were scoring of the bench and help at the power forward position. Dumars addressed both needs with the signing of Gordon and Villanueva.

Both were members of the 2004 NCAA Conneticut Husky championship team. Villanueva was a freshman reserve, while Gordon played a significant part in the championship run.

Detroit now has three former Conneticut players with Hamilton, Villanueva and Gordon. The starting line-up will be: Stuckey, Hamilton, Prince, Villanueva, and possibly Kwame Brown. Gordon will be the instant offense off the bench that they needed.

The Pistons now have a blend of youth and experience in their core players. The one thing they may need is a small forward because Prince had significant back problems last year.

They need more heft at the position because it has become increasingly difficult for Prince to play the LeBrons and Paul Pierces of the world because of his slight build.

The Pistons will most likely make it to the second round of the playoffs but will not go any further.

The Pistons have no interest in re-signing Wallace, and the Celtics want to continue the tradition of signing veterans who have been through the gauntlet.

Wallace has been rumored to go to Cleveland, San Antonio and Boston.

He has already visited San Antonio and he left there without a deal in place. Boston media is reporting that Ainge, Doc Rivers Garnett and Celtic ownership are in Detroit speaking to Wallace.

Gary Tangauy of Sports Tonight, a Boston-based sports show has stated that it is just about a done deal.

For the past three years Wallace has averaged 12 PPG, 7 RPG and almost two blocks a game. He has anger issues on the court, but his teammates swear by him. It seems like Boston has the inside track because of Rasheed's friendship with Garnett.

Wallace will not be a starter in Boston but he will be the first big of the bench to spell Garnett or Perkins. The Celtics still have their own free agent issues with Glen Davis, but if Wallace comes on board it just might ease the burden of possibly losing Davis through free agency.

Nevertheless, if Wallace signs with Boston, they can be considered one of the favorites to come out of the East in 2010.

Randolph must be the first 20 and 10 guy to be continuously traded three times in his first 10 years in the NBA.

His two years in New york was not his fault. It was an impossible task to have him and Curry in the game together since the y both demanded the ball in the low post. Zach is not a face-up guy though he possesses a very good mid-range jumper.

He is not exactly fleet of foot, therefore he was made expendable when the Clippers drafted Blake Griffin number one overall in the 2009 draft. He may have found a home with this trade to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies had a pressing need to find a player that they could continuously pass the ball to in the low post. Randolph fits that bill.

He averaged 20 PPG and 9 RPG last year. Memphis can now have a starting five of: Conley, Gay, Mayo, Thabeet/Gasol, Randolph.

Memphis is nowhere near ready to make the playoffs but with a more balanced lineup they may just make some noise during the regular season.

Ariza is fresh off of playing a significant role in the Lakers 15th championship. During the Laker run, his timely steals helped save the Lakers when the game was in doubt.

Rumour has it now that Ariza feels insulted because the Lakers are refusing to offer him more than the mid-level exception. He is currently being courted by the Cavaliers, Portland and a few other teams.
Last year he averaged 8 PPG and 4 RPG.

Artest on the other hand, is an unrestricted free agent and can negotiate with other teams without having to compensate the Rockets for his loss.

The Rockets are a mess with the off-again, on-again injury problems of McGrady and Yao. Yao's injured foot may spell the end of his career and McGrady is being shopped around because of it.

Houston took the Lakers to a game seven without McGrady and Yao so Houston does have something to build on. Artest averaged 17 PPG and 5 RPG.

Neither Artest or Ariza are players you want to build your team around. they are just pieces to the puzzle. Both are being courted by Cleveland.

Artest seems to be an odd choice because he is a three and not a two. Cleveland already has a certain 'king' occupying that position. Ariza is the better fit because the ball won't stick in his hands and he is also younger than Artest.

The Cavaliers need a shooting guard, and with Ariza's recent championship experience it would seem like a perfect fit. in fact Ariza and not Shaq coming to Cleveland may just help LeBron stay in the wine and gold.

Cleveland could field a starting line-up off': Mo Williams, Ariza, James, Shaq, and if he comes back Varajao. They still lack offensive punch with this lineup, but with more shot opportunities Ariza may elevate his scoring total.

As long as King James rules Cleveland they will always be considered championship contenders.

When Sacramento traded Turkgolu and he ended up in Orlando no one thought that he would be a key factor in their quest to make a deep run into the playoffs.

Turkgolu's versatility was on full display throughout the playoffs. He gave the Celtics and Cavs fits because they could not match up with him.

His abilty to handle the ball, distribute it, and create his own shot has made him a prized acquisition for NBA teams.

Portland seems to be in the forefront for his services thought it has ruffled the feathers of Rudy Fernandez. Getting Hedo makes sense for Portland because they are on the cusp of becoming part of the elite in the West.

Turkgolu averaged 16 PPG, 5 RPG, 4 APG. He also shot 41% from beyond the arc.

If Portland was to pull this off they may just make it to the second round next season.

Danny Ainge has had a knack of finding more than serviceable players in the second round. Davis and Powe proved that talent is talent no matter where you are drafted.

Where the Boston Celtics book-end reserves end up is any ones guess. There are no rumors as to where Davis will end up as the Celtics have extended a qualifying offer to him.

Davis elevated his bargaining power by raising his average to 15 PPG in the playoffs. Davis even managed a game-winning shot against Orlando which prolonged the Celtics postseason.

The Celtics have the right of first refusal to Davis and because they own his Bird rights they do not have to use their mid-level exception to sign him.

Powe, on the other hand, has just been released by the Celtics. Ownership saw it as too high a risk in signing him because he is still rehabbing from his third knee injury.

Fans and the media are calling for Danny's head because he did not give Powe a qualifying offer. He has since went back to California to continue his rehab.

There may still be a chance that he could come back to Boston but it is anyone's guess at this point. No other team has extended an offer to him.

Davis is the one key for Boston because they can possibly get another player for him if he gets a better deal elsewhere. Either way Boston will still be part of the elite team conversation in the East.

The Lakers have a young nucleus with championship experience, as a result Kobe Bryant has opted to stay with the team. There is a three year extension on the table for him, but it would be wise if he waits to see what will happen with Odom and Ariza.

Ariza may be gone but Odom is the real key here. His length and multi-faceted game gives the Lakers options that no other team has. He can play all five positions on the court. Odom averaged 11 PPG and 8 RPG in the regular season. Like Turkgolu, he can play the point-forward position a la Scottie Pippen.

Odom is more critical to the Lakers repeat hopes. He can create his own shot as well as for his other teammates. Whereas Ariza is more of a spot up shooter.

If Ariza leaves it won't hurt them too much, as they can put Odom back in the starting lineup. A scary though since they will have three players on the court with seven foot wing-span.

Odom will remain with the team and the Lakers will remain the favorite to repeat next year.