Michael Beasley to Grizzlies, Elton Brand to 76ers: 2008 Free Agents and Trades

The offseason has started for all but the final four teams. The Lakers, Spurs, Celtics, and Pistons are all set.

There are 28 other teams who want to be where these teams are. Most of those teams want to win NOW and the only way to do that is make a trade or have a star fall to you in free agency.

There are many free agents, but there are the stars who stick out the most. Come on now, Baron Davis sticks out more than a Biedrins.

Here are my predictions on which teams need to make a run at a top free agent that can put them from watching the finals from home to actually living it in a year.

Josh Smith is an athletic freak who can become one of the greatest defenders all time. The Hawks are going to try everything to keep him. He is a franchise player. Talent like him does not come around often.

Elton Brand on the other hand, after sitting out practically all of last season, may want to head out and go to a contender. He is one of the top power forwards when healthy.

I can see Brand going to the 76ers, who have the money. They need a big body next to the promising Dalembert. Andre Miller, Iguodala, Brand, Dalembert, and Thadeus Young will make a threat in the East.

Gilbert Arenas, when healthy, is one of the best scorers in the NBA. The Wizards seem to be better without him, but they will keep Arenas around with Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison to make a run in the playoffs.

Baron Davis on the other hand had one heck of a year. The Warriors will need to sign and keep Monta Ellis. Baron Davis most likely then will be on the move.

The Sacramento Kings were surprising last year, even with the injuries. If they can keep Artest and get Baron Davis, the Kings could get back to their Bibby and Divac days. Davis, Kevin Martin, Garcia, Artest, and Miller, along with a deep bench will help the Kings return to the playoffs.

Shawn Marion is one of the best forwards in the game, well, fantasy wise. He defends every position and can run and fly. A team that needs him are the desperate Denver Nuggets. They need a defender and Marion is one of the best at it.

Marion needs to win now and cannot rebuild with the Heat. Marion, A.I., Melo, J.R. Smith, and Camby may get them into contention.

Jermaine O'Neal can opt out of his contract but will not. He will most likely stay due to the $20 million that he is owed next year. If he plays well, he can be traded to a contender.

Instead of drafting a young talent that will take years for them to develop, NBA GM's are under the pressure to get talent now. Free Agency is a big way to do that, but trades are another big way. 

The Raptors are in trouble as they have two starting point guards. T.J. Ford or Jose Calderon are going to have to leave. Calderon is a free agent and was very consistent all year. Expect him to stay.

The Raptors also need a star since Vince Carter has been gone. Allen Iverson is that man. AI has killed the team chemistry in Denver and he needs to move on. The Raptors would trade T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Maceo Baston, and Joey Graham for AI.

The Raptors also need a big man and as said earlier, might be able to convince Jermaine O'Neal to opt out. He would be a nice fit next to Bosh. These moves would make the Raptors a contender.

Michael Redd and Charlie Villanueva have been rumored as being on the trade market. The Utah Jazz can be a destination for these two. A possible trade would be Milwaukee trading Redd, Villanueva, and Storey for Kirilenko, Jason Collins, and Morris Almond.

The Bucks get a defender in Kirilenko and a future talent in Morris Almond. The Jazz get a versatile forward in Villanueva, who really is underrated, and a shooter in Redd, which will work well in the Jazz's system.

The Bulls are sitting there with the No. 1 pick. They are expected to take Rose, the hometown kid, which means Hinrich is on his way out.

The Kings would be a good fit for Hinrich. A possible trade would be Hinrich for Brad Miller, and cash. The Bulls would get a center they badly need and the Kings would get Hawes in the starting lineup with a legit starting PG.

That would put the Heat in a situation for a trade since they have shown they do not need Beasley. If Marion stays with Haslem, the Bulls would have two forwards that will help them build for the future. A center is what they need. Riley has always won with centers.

A trade with Memphis would work. They could swap picks with the Heat while giving up point guard in Javaris Crittenton. In the games he played for the Lakers and the Grizzlies last season he looked really impressive. He would work with the Heat.

In the draft, the Grizzlies can get their forward in Beasley, and the Heat could get project, DeAndre Jordan, who has the potential to be a Dwight Howard.

There are many opportunities in the offseason to get a team from the lottery to the Finals. Or even from just the brink of being a contender to over the hump.

Above I have listed some ideas where free agents should land or what teams should do in the trading market to get their teams into this contention.