NBA Offseason Flux Ultimately Won't Mean Much

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

THE BOSTON CELTICS PLAN TO ACQUIRE WALLACE. Rasheed Wallace enjoys a skill set rarely found in the NBA; the veteran-forward/center can score in the post, he can score from behind the arc and can cover some of the NBA’s best big men without help from a double-team.  However, Wallace will give the Celtics four perimeter-oriented starters in he, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Yes, Wallace, Garnett and Pierce have the ability to get to the cup, but all suffer bouts where they settle for jumpshots. Additionally, Wallace’s strong interior defense becomes a moot point when one realizes that the Celtics have both Kendrick Perkins and Glen “Big Baby” Davis on the roster.

THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS ACQUIRE O’NEAL. Cleveland’s acquisition of Shaq sounds good on paper – combine “The King” with one of the most dominant post players in League history. The problem is that despite LeBron’s brilliance, Cleveland hangs its hat on defense, and Shaq is now a defensive liability. Shaq doesn’t guard the pick and roll, which will mean trouble when the Cavs face the likes of Orlando. Yes, Shaq might be able to secure 20 points and 10 rebounds, but how do the Cavs expect to combat Boston’s depth or Orlando’s jumpshooting? I believe the Cavs will endure another fruitless postseason, which might mean LeBron’s departure from the franchise.

That leaves the San Antonio Spurs, which might be the team to beat in the West depending on whether the Lakers re-sign Lamar Odom. The Spurs acquired Richard Jefferson, a gifted swingman that may be able to frustrate Bryant, from the Milwaukee Bucks. Additionally, the Spurs’ second-round draft coup yielded DeJuan Blair and Jack McClinton. A healthy lineup of Jefferson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan has the experience and talent to win the West.

[Motown and the Mavericks: Other NBA acquisitions

I’ll express my thoughts on Dallas’ acquisition of Shawn Marion, in addition to the Detroit Pistons’ acquisitions of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, in short. 

Marion will likely flourish playing with a true point guard in Jason Kidd; however, the Mavericks will still flounder in the playoffs because they feature players that periodically disappear in the clutch (Dirk Nowitzki, Marion).  Kidd’s career is on the downturn, and the Mavericks’ roster, including Marion, still will not be able to contend with the likes of the Lakers, the Spurs, or even the Denver Nuggets.

I fear that Joe Dumars’ time as Detroit’s president of basketball operations may be coming to a close, especially with the team’s lackluster acquisitions of Gordon and Villanueva.  Here’s some ugly truth for Detroit fans – Dumars traded Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson last season; the Nuggets fielded a one-two punch in Billups and Carmelo Anthony that should have worn royal blue, red and white.

Iverson and Detroit appear to be parting ways, which in conjunction with Wallace’s departure means that the Pistons are not the dominant bunch of years past.  Gordon and Rip Hamilton are both two-guards, Villanueva and Jason Maxiell are both power forwards ; position battles were part of the strife that led to Detroit’s decline last season.  Add newly-acquired head coach John Kuester to the mix, and it appears to be a recipe for disaster, concocted by Dumars.]

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