Bleacher Report - Articles by Monty Singh

NBA Rumors: Ben Gordon to the 76ers?

Monty Singh — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:22:11 -0400

"I guess it's safe to say I've played my last game in a Bulls uniform," Ben Gordon said on Friday. The frustrated restricted free agent is currently looking to get a move done as training camp is just a month away.

The Chicago Bulls are currently filled with a back court in Derrick Rose, Larry Hughes, Kirk Hinrich, and Thabo Sefolosha. The man left out is Gordon, who averaged 18 points for the Bulls last season.

Gordon is one of the best shooters in the game. His problem is consistency. With him coming off the bench he had his best production. There is no reason for any team not to want Gordon.

No team has yet expressed interest in him, but there is a possibility of a sign and trade or Gordon will end up going the European route and make more money than he would in the NBA.

If a team does make a sign and trade, I see Gordon going to the Cavaliers, Hornets, or the 76ers.

The Cavaliers are making their moves now in the summer by getting PG Maurice Williams from the Bucks. They are not done yet. Ben Gordon would be an ideal fit in Cleveland. He could spread the floor with LeBron finding him and he is the kind of scorer they need.

A trade scenario could be a sign and trade with Gordon by sending him for Wally Szczerbiak and a second round pick.

In Wally the Bulls would get a player who can come off the bench and shoot. They'd also look forward to his large expiring contract.

Last season the Hornets surprised many people as they put themselves out there as a contender in the West. Adding Gordon would add depth to the team and they'd have another shooter that can fit very well in a pick and roll system.

A scenario could work in which Gordon would be sent for a first round pick. In this situation Gordon would become Morris Peterson's back up as Gordon and James Posey could spark the bench.

The last place Gordon could end up is with the 76ers. They have had arguably the best offseason by adding Elton Brand to the young core of players. They are looking to be a contender next year in the East.

The addition of Gordon would give them an upgrade over Willie Green as a shooting guard. He can spread the floor and feed off of Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller. Adding Gordon would make them a better overall team and could even, in my opinion, make them the second best team in the East, behind the Celtics.

The 76ers could trade talented Reggie Evans for Gordon. Evans really had an effective year last year, especially in the playoffs against the Pistons. He is a PF who can be the post presence the Bulls need.

With Brand, Thadeus Young, impressive rookie Maureese Speights, and Jason Smith, the 76ers are full of forwards who can play.

Gordon is one of the best shooters in basketball and it is going to be a mistake for the Bulls to let him go. With Rose coming in and Hinrich likely to be the shooting guard, Gordon is the odd man out.

I see Gordon ending up with the 76ers. This would be the best fit for him where he does not have to be the star. He would give the 76ers the most balanced lineup in the NBA. If nothing works out, however, expect Gordon to being the highest paid overseas player ever.

NFL 2008-2009 Season Predictions

Monty Singh — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:21:49 -0400

If you told me Eli Manning and the New York Giants were going to win the Super Bowl last year, I would have thought you were crazy.

I called the Chargers defeating the Cowboys last year. Well, that did not go so well. So I will give it another shot this year. We all want to see the Packers versus the Jets in the Super Bowl, but here is what I think will happen:

AFC:

1. Chargers (14-2)

With a healthy Philip Rivers, the Chargers would have replaced the Patriots last season in the AFC Championship game.

The Chargers defense is, in my opinion the best in the NFL. They got a rough and fast defense that can stop anyone.

On the offensive end they got the best running back in the game with LaDanian Tomlinson (the new LT) and an impressive QB in Philip Rivers. They lost RB Michael Turner and Lorenzon Neal, who took pressure off LT, but Sproles is the speedy back that will be very effective with former LSU champion Jacob Hester paving the way.

The Chargers are deep and with Norv Turner getting this team off the pressure of not winning in the post season, they are on their way to leading the AFC.

2. Steelers (12-4)

The Steelers are my favorite to win the AFC North because they have one of the most balanced teams in the NFL. If Willie Parker was not out at the end of last season, who knows, the No. 1 defensive team could have made a run.

They lost Alan Faneca, who was the leader of the weak offensive line, but they have made moves to make the offensive line a strength in the offseason.

They had the best draft, including steals RB Rashard Mendenhall and Roethlisberger's new favorite target, Limas Sweed.

Big Ben was one of the most consistent quarterbacks last season and he will grow to get even better. He needs to learn to slide and not take hits so he can stay healthy. Expect a MVP caliber season from him.

3. Colts (12-4)

Payton Manning is still the best QB in the NFL right now. The defense for the Colts was banged up last season and WR Marvin Harrison was missed.

The Colts are fully healthy and brought back Dominic Rhodes to give the Colts a pounder that was effective when they won the Super Bowl in the 2006 season.

The Jaguars, Titans, and Texans are all getting better, but Manning is Manning. Freeney and Sanders on defense will also make sure they get back to that defense we saw in the playoffs that led to a Super Bowl.

4. New York Jets (10-6)

Wait, the Jets win the AFC East over the Patriots? No typo here. I had them finishing behind the Patriots before they brought the rejuvinated Brett Favre in with all of their key additions. Adding a QB that can take the Packers from 4-12 to the NFC Championship will bring the same luck for this 4-12 team.

The Jets have been built to win now. LB Faneca, TE Bubba Franks, LB Calvin Pace, and T Jenkins are all veterans who make this team much better. Also, first round pick Vernon Gholston is going to be a beast for the defense.

The Jets have an O-Line with Thomas Jones running behind it. Jones will get back to his old form he was at when he got the Bears to the Super Bowl. This team is too deep and talented not to like.

They do remind me of the Packers of last season and Favre happens to be the QB for this team too.

5. Browns (10-6)

The most surprising team last season will make sure that season was not a fluke.

Their question came on defense, where they added defensive tackles Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams. That just made them a whole lot better. They lacked players who can rush and now have a combo that will be a threat.

Their offense will put up huge numbers, headed by RB Jamal Lewis and QB Derek Anderson. WR Donte Stallworth was added to give them another team threat.

This will be the most exciting team to watch next season.

6. Jaguars (10-6)

They had a great year last season, but lacked a pass rush. Their secondary was amazing, but the rush was ok. Look out for rookie Derrick Harvey to make the Pro Bowl.

Another question was with the passing. Wide receivers Jerry Porter and Trow Williamson are the playmakers they need.

The fastest team in the NFL will make a run again next season and hope to get to the Super Bowl, which is not that far away from them in Tampa Bay.

What? Where are the Patriots? I do not think they will make the playoffs. They are older and that secondary is nothing special. I think they go 10-6, but still miss out.

People say their schedule is "easy" but every team they play gets better, like the Jets and Bills.

I see the Bills, Raiders, Texans, and Bengals getting .500 or better, but the AFC is a reason why they should extend the number of teams that make the playoffs.

NFC:

1. Vikings (14-2)

They finished the season strong last season and will carry that to this season.

Favre leaving the Packers makes their road easier. QB Tavaris Jackson is the big time player I saw in college. I am happy they are sticking with him. He was in his first official year starting last season. Give him time. He can be better than McNabb. He just needs to stay healthy.

Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor make up the best one-two punch in the NFL. The Vikings added Bernard Berrian from the Bears to be a playmaker for them on offense.

The defense has become the best in the NFC by adding S Michael Boulware and DE Jared Allen. They are too good all-around to not win at least 14 games. It does come down to Jackson, but trust me, he will impress you.

2. Cowboys (12-4)

The favorites to win are playing in the toughest division in football. They have enough talent to win it all, and adding speedsters RB Felix Jones and CB Adam Jones makes them that much better.

This is do or die for the Cowboys before they move to a new stadium. Jerry Jones put too much into this team to not win a Super Bowl.

I think Tony Romo is overrated since he has not risen in a big game, but this team is too deep to play in too many close games. Comes down to what they can do in the playoffs.

3. Saints (11-5)

Two years ago they were the best team in the NFC. The most electric offense was bruised up last season and the defense looked like it got washed up in the hurricane.

They are more talented now after adding to their defense LB Jonathan Vilma, CB Randal Gay, and LB Dan Morgan. Reggie Bush is also going to be a whole lot better with Deuce McAllister coming back. They also added another weapon in Jeremy Shockey, who can block and catch big passes up the middle.

The Saints will get back to that speedy lineup with QB Drew Brees leading the way. Expect them to have a big season and look to return to the NFC Championship game.

4. Eagles (11-5)

This was the best team in the NFC at the end of the season, aside from the Giants. McNabb was banged up as usual and if he can stay healthy this year, they will make big things happen.

Adding Deshawn Jackson on offense gives McNabb that deep threat he wanted. Jackson was great for Cal in college and you can expect big numbers for him this year.

CB Asante Samuel gives the Eagles arguably the best secondary in the NFL. The defense has always been good and it just got better this off season.

RB Brian Westbrook was the offense for the Eagles last year. Look for him to carry them again. He is in his prime right now and will continue to roll.

This team lived in the NFC Championship games and got to the Super Bowl, and you can look for them to get back there.

5. Cardinals (10-6)

They will win the NFC West, not with Matt Leinert, but with Kurt Warner running the team. Kevin Wisenhunt knows how to win and will most likely go with Warner.

This offense was one of the best last year with receivers Larry Fritzgerald and Anquan Boldin being the best combo in the NFL. The O-Line got stronger, which can help Edgerrin James get back to his old self.

The defense was sad to watch, but rookie CB Cromartie, LB Haggans, and rookie DE Campbell will lead this defense to get to playoff form.

They make many mental mistakes by getting flagged a lot, but Wisenhunt will make sure that does not happen this season.

Leinart is the starter now at QB, but Warner will take over the job and finally lead this team to the playoffs.

6. Packers (10-6)

No one has more pressure on him than QB Aaron Rodgers, but this team is too talented not to get back to the playoffs.

Rogers, in my opinion, should have been the No. 1 QB taken by the 49ers instead of Alex Smith. He impressed me in college and impressed me once again when he got in against the Cowboys last year.

Overall, the team's defense and offense have all the weapons there. They're very talented, but Rodgers' growth will hold them back a bit, but you should still expect big things from them.

Where are the Giants? Michael Strahan was more important than you think. That combo they had on the D-line got them to the Super Bowl. I think they go 10-6, but miss the playoffs. another reason why they should extend the playoffs.

So who wins?

MVP—Drew Brees

He put up big numbers last season. Expect him to do the same this year. Reggie Bush on the outside, Meachem, and Shockey will all play big roles that Brees did not have last season.

Defensive Player of the Year— Shaun Rogers

He was impressive for the Lions, and trading him to the Browns was a steal for them. Expect him to stack up huge numbers as he leads this defense.

Coach of the Year—Mike Tomlin

Did a great job last year and was not given enough credit. Well, if there was a coach that went 16-0 you would ignore all the other candidates yourself.

Most Improved Player—Tavaris Jackson

Again, expect big things from him. If he can stay healthy he can be an effective player. He is a running QB, which fits the speed on the offense. Look for him to get the respect he deserves.

Offensive Rookie of the Year—Matt Ryan

I expect him to start game one and take the Falcons to a 8-8 record. He will impress many people as he did for Boston College.

Defensive Rookie of the Year—Verson Gholston

A workout warrior will get the Jets defense paving the way to the playoffs.

Super Bowl Predictions

Eagles defeat Chargers

McNabb will finally get Philly a championship. They are deep and added key pieces this offseason to get them there.

The Chargers are also deep, but will come up short to the Eagles.

I am still not sold on Romo to bring home the big game. McNabb will get his ring and could retire.

Best of the Rest in NBA Free Agency

Monty Singh — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:33:17 -0400

With free agents like Elton Brand and Baron Davis making their movement this summer heard, there are a number of other free agents who are still waiting to sign.

Josh Smith and Ben Gordon are clearly the two most talented free agents right now, but their situations are a mess. The best of the rest are on the market and can make an impact for any NBA team.

JR Smith SG—Smith was drafted by the Hornets and moved to the Nuggets because of his troublesome personality, but the 22-year-old has matured since coming out of high school.

Smith is a player that can give any team 15 points and at least three 3-pointers a game, while shooting over 40 percent outside the arc. Those are numbers any team would like. He is starting to live up to his expectations.

He is a restricted free agent and the Nuggets can match any offer given to him. The Nuggets will match any reasonable offer because by trading Marcus Camby, they created some free cap space.

The only way I see Smith moving to another team is with a sign and trade. The teams interested are the Hornets, Spurs, and Cavaliers. I predict Smith will end up in Cleveland.

The Cavs needs another wing man and potential star next to LeBron. Smith is a player who can spread the floor and has great athleticism to get to the basketball.

A trade scenario would be a sign and trade with Smith for Anderson Verajao. The Cavs want to look to trade Verajao since they got Joe Smith and rookie JJ Hickson backing up Ben Wallace and Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

The Nuggets in return would get a hustle player who can play defense. They got rid of Camby and would use a defensive presence with Verajao who can also spark the bench.

Jannero Pargo PG—How come there has been no love for Pargo? He was as good as a back up any team could want. He is a unrestricted free agent who can sign any where, but no one has jumped out for him.

He is one of the fastest players in the league with the ball and a scoring point guard. A team I would like him to go to is the Miami Heat, but so far no offers have been made for him.

Pargo may just have to stick to being a backup to Chris Paul next season.

Delonte West PG/SG—The restricted free agent is having the Cavs play hardball with him. He was the most effective player in the 11 man blockbuster deal made last season and really showed up in the playoffs.

Since college, West has been underestimated for his abilities. He can score and be a contributor on any team. It would be embarrassing for the Cavs to not keep West.

West wants the money Daniel Gibson earned, but the Cavs are being careful on how much they spend because in 2010, LeBron is a free agent.

They are waiting for someone to offer him a deal so they can match it. That may take a while and is not fair to West. West stated before that he really is not greatly excited to play with LeBron, which is why he would not mind leaving.

Miami would be another good fit for West. He is the type of player who can take pressure off Wade and be an effective passer and scorer. With Mario Chalmers and Marcus Banks rising in Miami, West may find himself left out.

I see Cleveland giving him a one year deal so West can be a unrestricted free agent next season.

Shaun Livingston PG—Livingston is the most interesting free agent on the market. He was really showing promise coming out of high school before his almost career-ending knee injury he had while playing for the Clippers.

No one is sure how healthy he really is after sitting out a year. His knee bent in ways it was not supposed to bend. Any GM would be worried to sign him, but he still deserves a chance.

The teams who have at least expressed some interest are the Clippers in re-signing him, the Nuggets, 76ers, and the Heat.

I see Livingston re-building his career with the Nuggets. They need a perimeter defender and Livingston was a effective defender when healthy. This is a place for second chances, as they did with JR Smith. This is why Livingston will be playing in Denver.

Robert Horry—Big shot Bob has always been on the right team at the right time and now it looks like the Spurs have moved on from him.

The best scenario I see happening is Horry returning to where he started it all in Houston. He has seven rings and looks to join a championship team. With the addition of Ron Artest, the Rockets have to be a favorite to win in the West.

Another scenario is Horry going to Boston to replace James Posey, but a better scenario is ending his career where he started it.

Jason Williams PG—No team has been loving the White Chocolate, who has been a solid player past couple of seasons after winning the title with Miami.

Shaq recently expressed interest in getting reunited with Williams, which is why Phoenix is the best place for him. They need a backup point guard behind Steve Nash and Williams can do just that, as he is a poor man's Nash.

Williams lost some of his flare, but he got it back after hurt last season. The Suns are looking at next season as all or nothing, which is why they need the veteran.

There are many free agents on the market, but Smith, Pargo, West, Livingston, Horry, and Williams are the best of the rest. They can all make an impact for any team on their rebuilding process or if their looking to make a run at a title.

Either they get contract deals or they will do the more popular thing and go overseas.

Re-Doing The 2007 NBA Draft

Monty Singh — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 03:54:04 -0400

There were many ups and downs in the class of 2007. Kevin Durant landed on top with Rookie of the Year honors, but there were other notable rookies that had an impact on their team.

From the Trailblazers passing up on Jordan to the Pistons taking Darko Milicic, there were many decisions front offices have made that they would like back. The draft is an investment in something a team believes in and gamble that can make or break a franchise

Last year, the Trailblazers selected Greg Oden with the first pick. Even though at the time I believed they should have selected Durant and kept Zach Randolph, who was traded to the Knicks, we have not seen what Oden can do so this will have to wait.

The Sonics got two solid picks to build their franchise around; Kevin Durant at number two and Jeff Green at number five (after trading Ray Allen to the Celtics) are both going to be stars in the future. The Sonics would not redo this years draft.

Here are the teams that would love to go back in time and change their minds:

Grizzlies-

The pick that would have to be redone is with the Memphis Grizzlies taking Mike Conley, Jr. Conley was hurt most of last season so we really did not get a chance to see him play at his best, but the 4th pick seemed a bit high for him.

The Grizzlies have a back court and Kyle Lowry proved last year that he deserved to be the starting point guard. If the Grizzlies could get this pick again they would sure love Al Horford, but he fell to number three to the Hawks so they should have taken a big man.

The Grizzlies had no post presence and adding a big man who will be there for many years would have really helped them out.

Bucks-

With the sixth pick the Bucks took Yi Jianlian, who was really inconsistent and really did not do much for them. They traded him this summer for Richard Jefferson, since Jianlian really did not have the toughness the Bucks needed.

If the Bucks could choose again they would have chosen the player I thought was the biggest sleeper coming into the draft: Al Thornton. Thornton ended up with the Clippers at number 14, but the Bucks sure could have used an enforcer like Thornton.

Thornton can play small or power forward and score in the paint or on the perimeter. His versatility and athleticism has set him to be the future face of the Clippers.

Bulls-

With the 9th pick the Bulls took Joakim Noah to add to their load of forwards. The Bulls lacked, and still do, a true big man who can take the ball in the post and set up for all of the perimeter talent they had.

Noah was a solid contributor with his energy and defense, but really with Tyrus Thomas and Ben Wallace, who was there at the time, they did not need him. He averaged six points and five boards on his disappointing season.

He got into fights with the coaching staff and Ben Wallace, which was a part of the Bulls messy season.

They would surely take Spencer Hawes if they could redo the draft. Hawes was taken a pick later to the Kings and really looked good at the end of the season and in the Las Vegas Summer League.

Hawes is not near his potential yet, but is just what the Bulls needed. Hawes is an enforcer on the defensive end as he can block shots and he is a true low post scorer who has a lot of tools.

The perimeter based Bulls needed the big man to take control of the paint and kick it out. Hawes would have given little last year, but still more than Noah, and would be the future center for this troubled team for the upcoming years.

Hawks-

The past many seasons the Hawks made many questionable moves in the draft, including taking Marvin Williams over Chris Paul, but with the third pick they got a future star in Al Horford.

The 11th pick they got from the Suns was the questionable pick. Acie Law was a good college player, but really lacked a lot to be a legit NBA point guard. Reminded me of Salim Stoudamire.

If they could get this pick back they would sure take Pistons future star Rodney Stuckey. Joe Dumars knew a talent when he saw Stuckey and had his back all season. Stuckey proved in the playoffs last year that he can be a big time player in the league.

The Hawks lacked a point guard, even though they later traded for Mike Bibby. Stuckey could have been in the base for the young core to build on a championship team in the future.

The rest of the draft looked pretty solid as there were smart decisions. Most of the players taken still have potential, so we will have to wait.

The other top rookies that were under the radar were forward Jamario Moon and point guard Ramon Sessions. A number of teams who needed a forward or a point guard could have really used these two guys.

There are many decisions a GM wants to take back from the draft, but it is too late. The Hawks, Grizzlies, Bulls, and the Bucks are among the many teams in history who would like to go back in time and select again.

It is too early to tell but if these teams made the right decision who knows what would have happened.

USA Basketball: No Dream Team In Beijing

Monty Singh — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:08:01 -0400

USA Basketball in international competition used to be about the U.S. just making sure every country know this was our game. The Dream Team made other countries look like kids in an elementary school playground.

Basketball was invented in the USA and the best athletes lay here, but since those Dream Team days the rest of the world has been learning the game.

I was playing in a tournament with a bunch of top players from Italy and it just made my mouth drop on how well they knew the game. With most kids in the U.S., the best dunker is the best basketball player. To these Italians, it was about being the smartest basketball player on the court.

Fundamentals are what every person thinks about international players and they are right. At a young age they are taught and disciplined in schools of the game. That is why international players are flocking to the NBA. The play is not as physical as it is in the U.S., but they are catching up.

There have been no Dream Teams recently, since all the U.S. has been winning are silver and bronze medals. Even though the rest of the world is getting better at the game, the teams we have put out there have not been able to compete with them. There are no excuses for us to not win the gold.

This Olympics, to no surprise, we are the favorites again to win the gold. I disagreed with that four years ago and I disagree once again. We beat down Turkey today, but really how can they put up 87 points and make our defense look like Mike D'Antoni's Suns on pick and rolls?

Spain, Greece, and Argentina are all big competition as they all have made legit teams that have NBA talent. Spain is my favorite to win the gold this year as Argentina was mine the last Olympics.

Spain has the chemistry since they all play together and also have a pure international level team that will flourish in the Olympics.

The names you may know are Pau and Marc Gasol. The other names to look out for are Portland Trailblazer Rudy Fernandez (who I think will start next season), Ricky Rubio (who will be a favorite to be the No. 1 pick next year), and Raptors' starting point guard Jose Calderon.

Spain has the chemistry and a deep bench. They can take you in the post, run and guard the fast break, and hit outside shots. They are built for this kind of thing. It is their game.

Argentina is another favorite with the big men who can make it tough on the U.S. Luis Scola and Walter "Fabio" Hermann are no players to sleep on. Add Manu Ginobili and Andres Nocioni, and they are looking to repeat with the gold.

The U.S. could dominate if we had the best players out there. Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, and Amare Stoudamire are a number of players who would dominate but do not want to play.

Every team sees representing their country as a pride thing. The U.S. lacked that pride the past few years. This year I see it more, since they have something to prove.

Here is what I would change for the U.S. lineup (not considering players like Kevin Garnett and Amare Stoudamire who did not want to play):

PG: Chris Paul/Dwayne Wade

SG: Kobe Bryant/Michael Redd/Kyle Korver

SF: LeBron James/Ron Artest/Joe Johnson

PF: Carlos Boozer/David West

C: Dwight Howard/Rasheed Wallace

You might be saying, what am I thinking here? Jason Kidd is not here for a reason. Kidd is not his young self. Paul running the team has been exceptional. He runs the pick and roll better than anyone else in the NBA. This fits the international level.

Kobe is Kobe. He can score at will and set up any one. LeBron is the overall player who no country wants to see on a fast break. Boozer is the low post threat who can also spread the floor with his consistent mid range shot. Howard is an enforcer that no country, including the U.S., can cover.

With the paint in the international level play being more spread out, it is harder to work the post. That is where shooting and ball movement is important.

Kyle Korver is the pure international player. He can shoot lights out and the U.S. needs more of those players. Michael Redd was embarrassing Canada because he is pure two-point shooter that fits the international level.

David West is a perfect backup for Boozer since he mimics his play. He is an enforcer in the paint and can shoot mid-range shots with consistency.

Where is Carmelo Anthony? Hopefully in Denver working on his defense.

Ron Artest and Rasheed Wallace are the names that are a must on the list. They bring the swagger that the Dream Team had with a player like Charles Barkley. They can talk smack and play "dirty" against the "soft" international players. Teams don’t fear us anymore. Wait until they meet Artest and Wallace. They also bring a defensive toughness the team lacks.

I hope the U.S. wins the gold. It is embarrassing if we do not. Coach K is a perfect coach for this level of play. The rest of the world has improved in the game of basketball and we are playing on their level and not playing up to the competition.

Not every U.S. player wants to play since it is after a grueling long season, but if we get the right players we can win the gold easily. We are missing the defensive toughness and shooters. There will never be another Dream Team unless we do something about that.

Who Is Next to Get Moved This Summer?

Monty Singh — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:14:57 -0400

The NBA free agency kicked off on draft night when OJ Mayo went to the Grizzlies and Kevin Love with Mike Miller went to the Timberwolves. Even the day before Yi Jianlian of the Bucks and Richard Jefferson of the Nets swapped teams.

Since then big deals have been happening as teams are looking to win now with their rosters.

Baron Davis and Marcus Camby are Clippers, Elton Brand is a 76er, and Ron Artest is a Rocket. All of these moves, with other big moves this offseason, are making teams go from good to contenders.

So who is next to go?

Luol Deng is near a $70 million contract with the Bulls, which means Ben Gordon could be on his way out.

The Bulls loaded back court and really not having any cap space left will have Gordon on the move.

Gordon is a streaky shooter, but when he gets going he gets going. He was more effective coming off the bench, but he wants to try to get a starting job. Kirk Hinrich will most likely be moved from a point guard to shooting guard with Derrick Rose coming in, leaving Gordon out.

The Bulls are left to a decision to sign and trade Gordon. They would like to keep Gordon in the front office and trade Larry Hughes, but that cannot happen.

The possible trading destinations for Gordon are the Jazz, Cavaliers, and Philadelphia.

The Jazz with Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, and Coach Jerry Sloan have them as a top four team in the West. Corey Brewer did a great job as a defender and Kyle Korver did a great job coming off the bench, but getting a player in Gordon can really be effective in a pick and roll system.

The Jazz could add depth and be an effective team with Gordon. A possible trade scenario is the Bulls signing Gordon and trading him for Matt Harprings large expiring contract and a second round pick.

The Bulls get a small forward who can add depth and be an effective shooter behind Luol Deng and Andres Nocioni.

Delonte West is a player who has been unappreciated since he was at St Joes. He was overshadowed by Jameer Nelson and when he got to the league was never given a full opportunity to show what he had.

The Cleveland Cavaliers picking him up let West show his talent. He was the enforcer next to LeBron as a point guard. Only problem is that the Cavaliers are not near a deal and one of West's friend was reported saying he was not that excited playing next to LeBron James.

The Miami Heat has expressed interest, which is where I think he will land. Mario Chalmers needs to grow as a player and the Heat need a proven point guard.

West can set up Dwayne Wade, Michael Beasley, and Shawn Marion, but can also be an effective scorer.

Cleveland is an ideal fit, but if they do not look like they can keep him happy. He wants a contract like Daniel Gibson, which the Cavs are unlikely to do.

Josh Smith is the biggest free agent on the market. Since the season ended I believed Smith was on his way out. He did not get along with Mike Woodson and the organization and they were not too happy about his attitude.

The Clippers, Warriors, and 76ers, before they made their big moves and spent their money, were interested in Smith. He lucked out. Now the Memphis Grizzlies are the only real team with cap space, but I do not believe they will make the push to get him.

The Hawks are left with an option to sign and trade Smith. This works for both sides. The possibilities are with the Mavericks and Pistons.

The Mavericks can trade Josh Howard for Josh Smith to get the Mavericks that defender they needed. Imagining Jason Kidd with Josh Smith and Gerald Green running with will be similar to when he got the Nets to the finals twice.

The Hawks would get a scorer next to Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby with Howard to give them a more balanced offense.

The Mavericks have the offer on the table and it comes down to Mark Cuban on whether or not if he is up to the deal.

Joe Dumars said he was going to make a big move. He signed Kwame Brown. Yeah, that is not quite the big move we expected. They reportedly were looking at Smith where they can trade Tayshawn Prince.

Prince is the most underrated player in the NBA. He shuts down most of the players he covers and gives a consistency on scoring. However, adding an athletic force in Smith would be a boost for the Pistons. But how will his attitude fair with Rasheed Wallace? Unless Sheed is traded too it would not work.

The Hawks would get a consistent player who can defend and not take poor shots and be a distraction like Smith.

So far the offseason has been promising with a lot of big deals. Many teams are looking to win now and are building on that.

Gordon, West, and Smith are among the big talent looking to make an impact for another team in the Fall.

Ron Artest to The Rockets: Why They Will Win the NBA Championship in 2009

Monty Singh — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:22:43 -0400

It's about time! Ron Artest has officially moved from the Sacramento Kings to the Houston Rockets for veteran point guard Bobby Jackson, a player to be named (maybe potential star Donte Greene), and a future first-round pick, the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday.

The Houston Rockets, in my opinion, are one of the most talented teams in the NBA now. Artest is exactly what they needed. Shane Battier did a great job at small forward, but was not the scorer that Tracy McGrady needed next to him.

McGrady and Yao Ming are some of the best at what they do, but due to the fact both have failed to stay consistently healthy, they have not been able to play with each other much.

McGrady and Yao are good friends, but just could not get past the first round. Shane Battier, Luis Scola, and Rafer Alston were supposed to be the right mix of players to get this team to the finals. With Yao hurt, though, we never really got to see if it would have worked.

Artest is a scorer who is arguably the best defender in the NBA. He can defend multiple positions and top players, including Kobe Bryant, Manu Ginobili, and LeBron James. Battier did a great job as a defender, but the scoring was not consistent. Artest brings that to the Rockets.

McGrady was looking for another player to take pressure off him. Artest can provide 20 points a night. Only problem I see is the question of how he'll do in a Princeton-type of offense the Rockets run, with backdoor cuts and ball movement. Artest is more of a one-on-one player.

Rick Adelman coached Artest in Sacramento for 40 games, including a playoff run they had against the Spurs despite the loss. Artest was given the ball and was told to take control. That is why Artest loved Adelman.

In Houston now with a more balanced team and 2 stars in McGrady and Yao, Artest will have to adjust to the ball movement. He will learn though. He wanted to win, and here's his chance.

What does this mean for Battier? Right now they could trade Battier. If I were in the Rockets situation, I would keep Battier, unless they can manage to get a quality haul for him. Battier can be a sixth man who can hit big shots and be a defensive stopper off the bench.

The lineup for the Rockets, in my opinion, has them a favorite to win the West, over the Lakers. The depth chart looks like this:

PG: Alston/Aaron Brooks (who will be a scorer off the bench and a player to watch next season)

SG: McGrady/Brent Barry/Luther Head

SF: Artest/Battier/Steve Novak

PF: Scola/Carl Landry (if re-sign)/Chuck Hayes

C: Yao/Dikembe Mutombo/Joey Dorsey

They have the all the pieces. The veterans and the young talent.

The lineup is deep. Rick Adelman has a lineup where he can play a post-up game with Yao and a lineup that can run you with Scola moved to center and Artest moved to PF.

All of this is meant to take pressure off McGrady and Yao. They are deep and have one of the best coaching minds in the game.

The Kings, on the other end, get a veteran in Jackson, whom would make sense to keep around for leadership, and an extra first-round pick to build with. Donte Greene has abilities to develop into a star. Kevin Martin will also be the leader now and will not disappoint.

Overall, this deal works for everyone. As a McGrady fan, it makes me really happy. The team that won 22 straight last season will be the favorite to win it all next year. I called the Celtics winning it this year and I am going with the Rockets to take it next season.

Kwame Brown: Fourth Time The Charm?

Monty Singh — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 04:36:16 -0400

The Pistons have signed the former No.1 pick Kwame Brown to a two year $8 million deal. Joe Dumars was talking about making BIG moves at the end of last season. Is this supposed to be it?

In high school Kwame was a stud and Michael Jordan, who was selecting for the Wizards, made Brown the first high school player to go No.1. Kwame did tell the Wizards in 2001 "If you draft me, you'll never regret it." This gave David Stern a reason to put an age limit on the draft.

After being unsuccessful in DC, Kwame was traded to the Lakers. This was supposed to be his coming out party. Phil Jackson could fix him up.

Kwame did not perform too poorly in 2006 when he got the starting job. He averaged 12 points and nine boards.

After that Andrew Bynum developed into the man he is today, and Kwame was left on the bench with injuries. This was supposed to be his place to grow into the star he was supposed to be. Well, that did not work out.

Kwame was booed by the Laker fans as he lost all his confidence. One could tell how he was thinking too much when he was playing. He turned into a turnover machine.

Last season he was traded to a struggling Memphis Grizzlies team. Third time's the charm, right? The Grizzlies were a bad team without a big man. Kwame was supposed come in and be a force to show that the Wizards and Lakers made a mistake letting him go.

Well, that did not go as planned, again. He rarely played, and when he did the Grizzlies fans booed him as he turned over the ball and made poor plays.

Now the free agent is looking for another shot. The Detroit Pistons may be the place where he comes in to show his promise. It has been seven years. Maybe he just needed some time to grow.

Dumars wanted a powerful center to go along side Jason Maxiell, and Kwame may actually be the answer. He did show promise as a rebounder and defender for the Lakers in 2006 and 2007.

He may never live up to expectations as a scorer in the NBA, but with the team the Pistons have, assuming Dumars does not split up the team, he can fit right in and come off the bench.

Kwame would have no big pressure to perform to his old potential. Kwame can just be Kwame. He can get in and take minutes off Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace.

He can give the Pistons a physical player who would not need to score, but just get boards and block shots. Rip, Bullups, Prince, and Sheed will fair well with him.

Billups and Hamilton were not "studs" before they came to Detroit. Dumars gave them a shot and look how well that decision played out. Maybe the same might go for Kwame.

I look forward to seeing Kwame beoome a solid player for the rest of his career, posting 10 points, 8 boards, and 2 blocks a game. That is nowhere close to the expectations of him earlier being a 20 and 12 player, but both he and the fans need to accept that he is a bust.

Dumars is making a smart decision. Who knows maybe Kwame will explode with the Pistons? Worst case scenario they end up cutting him and he goes overseas to join the parade of NBA players going there.

Aaron Rodgers to Start in Green Bay: Why It Really Doesn't Sound That Bad

Monty Singh — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:30:54 -0400

"Aaron Rodgers is our starting quarterback." This is the statement the Packers organization is sounding to the media. Brett Favre has a legacy in Green Bay, but the team has officially moved on.

The Packers were an overtime away from making the Super Bowl under Favre's most successful season, but since the announcement of his retirement the Packers were ready to get Rodgers under center.

Why would the Packers choose an unproven player over their sure thing in Favre with the Super Bowl caliber team?

Rodgers was the 24th pick in the 2005 NFL Draft for the Packers. He was the second QB taken behind Alex Smith, who went to the San Francisco 49ers. The argument in the draft was about who the 49ers should take.

Rodgers was a standout for California in his college years. I always thought he should have been the No. 1 pick over the over-hyped Smith. The Golden Bears QB broke many school records and was ranked No. 4 in the polls in '04. This was the closest team in college to end the dynasty run of USC at the time

Anyone can see from his college numbers and team success how good Rodgers really is. It seems now that the 49ers made the wrong choice with Smith.

Rodgers only really got playing time in the preseason games since Favre was invincible and just could not miss a start. He had a few passes here and there but never a real opportunity to show his worth.

Last season, however, we got to see how good Rodgers really is. In the second quarter at Dallas Favre went down. Rodgers was in a situation where he was on the road with a 17-point deficit and Favre and his teammates got him in.

When everyone was getting ready to change the channel to avoid witnessing the embarrassment from Rodgers, he threw 201 yards, one TD, and did something Favre rarely did—he did not throw a single interception.

The Cowboys ended up winning by 10, but the Packers were within three near the end. If you did not see the game, Rodgers actually looked like a legit football player. He showed composure and made effective passes to put his team in a position to win.

Favre was able to run in the backfield to spike a risky, but effective pass. Rodgers is more of a Peyton Manning type of passer. Yes, Peyton Manning. He does not have the football IQ of Manning, but has the passing presence of him.

Rodgers has a big arm with very nice accuracy. What makes a NFL QB a legit star is mainly decision making. Rodgers has had that since I saw him in college. He knows how to read a defense to make the best possible pass.

By learning for three years under Favre and just getting his mind and body developed, Rodgers is all set for the spotlight to be on him. But if he does not make a pass or two, we will all hear them say, "Favre could have done that."

Since Rodgers was a junior at California I really had seen him play where he did not let me down. I am trying to get football fans ready to believe Rodgers is really not a bad option.

He has impressed in the offseason and will continue to grow. The level of talent is around him is high. It comes down to whether or not Rodgers can make it happen.

The only way for him to get Packer fans off his back is to bring a title or two to Green Bay. Favre only brought one title to Green Bay, and look how well he has been praised.

Is Leandro Barbosa Headed to the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Monty Singh — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 04:14:11 -0400

The Magic got Michael Pietrus, the Raptors got Jermaine O'Neal, the 76ers got Elton Brand, the Celtics are the Celtics, and the Cavaliers have only signed Daniel "Boobie" Gibson so far this summer.

The Eastern Conference is getting better. It's even starting to catch up with the west, and two years after LeBron James carried the Cavs to the finals, the team had failed to make any progress this summer.

During last season, the Cavs made a blockbuster deal, landing veterans Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, Ben Wallace, and Joe Smith, but the Cavaliers have done nothing since.

The Cavs did go seven games with the Celtics, but those veterans just got older, and the bench got shorter. This summer, they signed Gibson, but Devin Brown is most likely out and Delonte West is looking like he is going to Moscow.

The Cavaliers have to show LeBron they are willing to make moves to make him stay a Cavalier and to convince him not to become a Net or Knick. So far, they had failed to do that.

Before the draft, they were close, to trading Szczerbiak for Vince Carter, but the deal fell short. They also were looking to get Michael Redd, but the Bucks were not willing to part ways with him.

Right now, the Cavaliers are looking at making a blockbuster deal. I had talked with a person in the front office who said they are looking at various trades.

The biggest one is landing Leandro Barbosa. The Suns are interested in sending away Barbosa or Boris Diaw for some depth. They are looking to win the title next season, as they are all in at this point.

Barbosa would be the star player the Cavs need. He is arguably the fastest player in the NBA, who is also an overall talent. Imagine him and LeBron running down the court.

A trade scenario would be trading Joe Smith or Anderson Verajo and a first-round pick for Barbosa.

The Suns would get a veteran backup for Amare Stoudamire in Smith or just a hustle bench player in Verajo.

This would be the best option for the Cavs and Barbosa, who has an option to start since there's no Steve Nash is in Cleveland.

The most interesting deal I have been hearing about for a while has been that the Pistons are looking at adding veteran big man Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

The trade that would work is sending Rasheed Wallace and Arron Afflalo to the Cavs for Ilgauskas and Damon Jones.

For the Pistons, they would get the center they have been looking for. Ilgauskas is the most underrated center in the game. He gets boards and scores consistently.

They also are looking at trading Tayshaun Prince for Josh Smith, so the Pistons look like they are building a championship team again.

The Cavaliers would reunite friends and former teammates in the Wallace's. They won back-to-back titles, and since then, Ben has not looked the same. Maybe he will get back to his old form with Rasheed there.

So far, the Cavaliers are having a poor offseason. They have failed to get some free agents for the mid-level exception, and they have failed to make a trade to land another stud next to LeBron.

The east is getting better, but as long as LeBron is there, no team is safe. If the Cavaliers get a team together for the whole season, to let the chemistry blend in, they would be looking to get back to the finals.

Allen Iverson in Rumored Move to Bulls?

Monty Singh — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:27:28 -0400

Allen Iverson was traded a couple of seasons ago to the Denver Nuggets. Now that the experiment really has not worked out, the Nuggets are looking to shop around AI this offseason.

An inside source confirms that Iverson is having various teams look at his value. With the summer just heating up, this could be the biggest blockbuster deal.

The big place for Iverson to land is in Chicago. Imagine Derrick Rose and Iverson running the floor? That would be exciting.

A possible trade scenario would involve the Bulls to sign and trade Ben Gordon to the Nuggets with Kirk Hinrich and Joakim Noah for Iverson and Nene Hilario. A couple other players and draft picks could be put in to even out the trade, but this would be the best place for Iverson. Remember, the Nuggets have $10 million of space since trading Camby to the Clippers.

In Gordon the Nuggets would get a player who can spread the floor, in Hinrich a point guard, and Noah could be the big man to replace Marcus Camby.

This lineup would have them favored to make the playoffs. With Hinrich, Gordon, Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin, and Noah, Denver would have a more balanced squad that would allow Anthony to be the leader.

The Bulls, in my opinion, would be contenders in the East. Iverson had never really had a point guard like Rose next to him. A possible lineup could be Rose, Iverson, Deng, Drew Gooden, and Nene.

The Bulls' bench will also be deep—it would be headed by Tyrus Thomas and Larry Hughes. This is why I believe the move will get them over the top. They have not had a star since Jordan—Iverson would end that.

The Bulls would also have a low post threat. Noah was not a center and was a problem off the court. He would fit well in Denver. Nene, who is now healthy, can be a reliable post option for them.

The Bulls could be the best option, but there are others who could have Iverson fitting in well. The Mavericks with Kidd, AI, and Nowitzki would be intriguing. They would have to get rid of Josh Howard and Dampier, however.

Iverson is the greatest scorer in NBA history for his size. He took the 76ers on his back to championships, but could not find his way to finishing off that big win. Denver was supposed to allow him to do this, but Chicago may be his destiny.

The Mess the Chicago Bulls Are In

Monty Singh — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:36:30 -0400

The Bulls for the past few season have been made as a "young" team. Well they’re not young any more. Last season there were high expectations and then everything broke apart. Who is to blame for all of this? Simply John Paxson.

The talent with the guards and forwards has the Bulls among the top of the East, which is why they have no excuse for not making the playoffs. The team for many years has been missing a low post scorer who can control the paint and set up for the talented perimeter players.

This past draft they selected PG Derrick Rose, who has potential to do things like Chris Paul did this past season. I think this was their best option for the first overall pick. From an inside source, some scouts were intrigued to move back in the draft to target a Kevin Love or a Brook Lopez, but Paxson would not let that happen.

They have all the pieces and yet still no center. The big problem right now that will get Paxson fired by the fall is with the contract talks with Luol Deng and Ben Gordon. They are not even close to deals. Why? Deng and Gordon are 2 solid players who have all-star capabilities.

Deng is the definite player they need to keep. He has the tools and capabilities to be a legit star in the NBA. He wants to sign a contract in the next couple of weeks or he will leave. Gordon is in a crowded backcourt right now. Larry Hughes is favored over Gordon right now to stay in Chicago. Are you kidding me?

Hughes can rarely stay healthy and the idea of him coming off the bench behind Kirk Hinrich will not flow with him. Gordon proved he is a better player coming off the bench, like a Manu Ginobili, which is why they need to keep him. Nenad Kristic is on the market right now.

If the Bulls were smart, they would target a player who is now fully healthy. Kristic a couple of seasons ago was talked about being the future center in the NBA. They have to take their chances on him.

The line up for next year looks like Rose, Hinrich, Deng, Drew Gooden, and Joakhim Noah. The team was hit or miss from the three-point range with their small lineup. Next season is no different. Another problem that lies on the owner is with the coaching staff. They had Avery Johnson and then failed to bring him in.

Right now, the Bulls are a mess. They do not have their best player Deng yet and look; like they are coming up with the same problem, they have had the past couple of seasons, no true big man. Way I see it Bulls go 10 games under .500 and still may make the playoffs in the East, but are no where even close to getting to a championship.

NBA Rumors: Emeka Okafor Out of Charlotte?

Monty Singh — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:27:06 -0400

Michael Jordan should have been fired as making executive decisions in the NBA since he drafted Kwame Brown, but right now Emeka Okafor looks like he is on his way out of Charlotte.

This is Larry Brown's worst nightmare. Brown came into Charlotte expecting to have a solid line up behind big man Okafor.

Last season Okafor rejected a $12 million contract, and now this year the Bobcats are offering him less than last season. This does not make him happy. From an inside source, Okafor is getting frustrated with contract talks.

The Bobcats decided to pass up on Brook Lopez, which would have made Okafor and Lopez the smartest front court in the NBA, and they took DJ Augustine, even though they already have Raymond Felton.

With Okafor leaving, the Bobcats will be left in a horrible situation with no big man.

There are many teams that would like Okafor, but only a few that have enough money to land him.

The Clippers, since Elton Brand bolted from LA, would have been an ideal fit, but with Marcus Camby coming in they do not have enough money.

The main team out there that has cap space is the Memphis Grizzlies. This is where I think Okafor will have to land.

The Grizzlies are full of guards and are set with their forwards. Darko Milicic is their projected starting center for next season. Okafor would be a huge upside for this team.

The Grizzlies will be the fastest team in the NBA, and having Okafor as a defensive minded player would make them a team on the rise in the West.

A starting line up of Mike Conley Jr, OJ Mayo, Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol, and Emeka Okafor is really talented. They run an old-Suns type of offense, which is why I believe they will be a threat.

They have the money to land Okafor and a large need for a legit big man.

Besides Okafor going somewhere via free agent contract, he can be signed and traded.

The best possibility is with the Heat. A sign and trade situation could be with the Heat landing a much needed center in Okafor and the Bobcats getting Shawn Marion.

The Heat need a center. They even are as desperate as to signing Kwame Brown. A line up of Mario Chalmers, Dwayne Wade, Michael Beasley, Udonis Haslem, and Okafor would be a line up that could get to the finals in the future.

The Bobcats at least get something for Okafor. Marion can bring a defense to the Bobcats, and can play the small and power forward positions. A line up of Felton or Augustine, Jason Richardson, Gerald Wallace, Shawn Marion, and Nazr Mohammed may be good enough to actually make the playoffs in the East.

The Bobcats are making a huge mistake not giving full effort on keeping Okafor, which will pull them back even more years. In my opinion Okafor would be better off with the Grizzlies. If he does leave, Jordan needs to be fired.

Josh Smith in a Mavericks Uniform Would Be Ideal

Monty Singh — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:28:00 -0400

In my opinion, the best available free agent is rising star Josh Smith. He should already be on a roster, but there are various problems going on right now.

Smith recently stated he does not want to return to the Hawks because of coach Woodson. Smith and Woodson had many confrontations off and on the court last season. Woodson signed a two year extension, so he is sticking around.

Smith later denied that, saying he did not re-sign with the Hawks because of the low offer they gave him. He is already one of the best defenders in the NBA and has athleticism that every team should want.

The Hawks believe they actually could be better without him. He does have a lot of problems with his attitude, but just needs the right situation for him to blossom.

This is where the Dallas Mavericks come in. Remember Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin? Well now imagine Kidd and Smith on the fast break.

The Mavericks are a perfect fit for Smith. They need a defender and Smith is that man. He can run the floor and block shots as good as anyone in the league.

The scenario for Smith ending up in Dallas is to sign and trade him for Josh Howard.

Howard had a productive season, but disappeared in the playoffs. Maybe he should have laid off the weed. He has problems off the court and may have been a distraction for the team.

Rick Carlisle praises defense and Howard can disappear from that at times. With Kidd, Jason Terry, Smith, Dirk Nowitski, and Desagna Diop, the Mavericks would have a shot at returning to the championship.

Kidd had the ability to make Martin look like a top 10 player in the NBA and got to finals with the Nets. Smith would be able to do similar things Martin did in New Jersey.

The Hawks, on the other side of things, would get another scorer next to Joe Johnson. They would be better off without Josh Smith taking poor shots.

A lineup of Mike Bibby, Johnson, Howard, Marvin Williams, and Al Horford will have them as a team to look out for in the playoffs.

Williams will also I believe be more comfortable next season with Howard there. The floor will be more spread out with Howard creating a lot for the athletic lineup.

If the Hawks and Mavericks are smart they would get a deal like this done. Both will benefit and go from low playoff seeded teams to contenders.

Shaun Alexander, Where Are You?

Monty Singh — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:15:54 -0400

The former MVP and nine year veteran, Shaun Alexander, was cut by the Seahawks and finds himself without a job. He has been one of the most solid backs in the NFL for many years, but no team has grabbed him yet. Why?

Throughout last season Alexander had injury problems. It could have been the Madden curse or it just could have been the fact that his injuries did not allow him to play at his best.

The question arises whether or not he really was a great back or was it his offensive line that was so great? He is not a great pass blocker or receiver, and last season seemed a whole step off.

I do not think these are the reasons he has not been picked up. In the beginning of the season last year, when he was getting about 20 carries a game, he was pouring in about 100 effective yards for the Seahawks.

As his carries went down, so did the team production. They turned into a passing team when he was sidelined and fell in love with it. That is why they lost in the playoffs.

Alexander, especially after having a long offseason, will be ready to be an effective back for any team.

Why can't he get a job? It is simple. Almost every team has their set of backs and really would not have room for a running back who wants a high number of carries.

The Saints and Bengals were linked to Alexander, but those were just rumors. However, there are a number of teams that should get Alexander.

The Patriots are the best place for Alexander. Moroney is a good back and the Patriots are deep, but having a veteran behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL will make the Patriots just that much better.

The Bills are a team that needs to get Alexander. It would not only take pressure off the young Marshawn Lynch, but it would make the Bills a team to talk about making the playoffs.

The Bills have one of the best young defenses and a balanced offense. With Alexander getting 15 carries and being a veteran, the Bills, I believe, will be a playoff contender.

The Packers have Jackson and Grant, but without Favre will they be as effective as last season? I do not think so. I personally think Grant was a one hit wonder. If the Packers can get a veteran who they know has the ability to carry a load why would they not get Alexander?

The Panthers are the last team out there who could use a power back. DeAngelo Williams and Alexander would make a 1-2 punch in the backfield. If the Panthers want to get back to the Super Bowl they need that running game.

It is sad that Alexander, who a couple of seasons ago was the MVP and former TD record holder, is out of a job. There are many teams out there who should have already picked him up. With training camp on the way, Alexander should get a call. He will give a contending team a chance to go the distance.

NBA Rumors: Ron Artest a Laker?

Monty Singh — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:54:21 -0400

He said he wanted to stay in Sacramento, then he said he wanted to leave.

A few months later, he said wanted to sign a long-term deal with the Kings—and then regretted his decision to not opt out. Now, Ron Artest is flip-flopping his way out of Sacramento via trade this summer.

Artest is one of the best overall players in the league, regardless of whether or not you would like to believe it. It is rare to see a shut-down defender and a solid offensive scorer in one player

A number of teams have been linked to a trade for Artest. The Lakers, Mavericks, Heat, Suns, and Knicks are all at the top of the list of teams trying to acquire Artest.

After the Lakers fell to the Celtics in the Finals, the first thing brought up was acquiring a rigid defender. Lamar Odom has a good season and playoff run, but disappeared in the playoffs.

Phil Jackson had to deal with Dennis Rodman. Artest should not be a problem. A scenario that works is sending Kenny Thomas with Artest for Lamar Odom.

The Lakers get the defender and scorer next to Kobe, making them the favorite to win the championship, and the Kings get a solid veteran, and cap space after Odom's contract expires.

I can definitely see this scenario happen. The discussion earlier had the Lakers not wanting Thomas, but I think this issue could get resolved.

The Mavericks have been interested in Artest since Rick Carlisle was brought in. The former Indiana coach has made it clear he would not mind coaching Artest again.

Sending Artest with Shelden Williams for Josh Howard would be a fair trade for both teams.

The Mavericks get a lineup with Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Ron Artest, Dirk Nowitski, and Desagna Diop. This would give them a shot at getting back to the Finals. Williams also gives them much-needed depth.

The Kings get the outspoken Howard. Before the playoffs, he really played well. He is a little younger than Artest, and can fit well next to rising star Kevin Martin.

But the Mavericks seem happy with Howard, despite his off-court issues, which is why I think they will hang onto him for now.

The Heat have been interested in swapping Marion and Artest, but as an inside source told me, this was not even on the table to be discussed. Do not expect a scenario like this happening.

The Suns are the interesting team in all of these rumors. Grant Hill is the starting small forward, but his health issues have GM Steve Kerr worried.

Artest would bring the defensive attitude Kerr wants—but the Suns would have to give up Boris Diaw or Barbosa for Artest, which is not worth doing.

An interesting place for Artest to land is with the Knicks. He said last year he would not mind returning to NYC, where he grew up and played at St. Johns.

He is a player who can be a legit scorer and defender for the Knicks organization. But I cannot see this happening since Wilson Chandler and Danillo Gallinari play similar positions as Artest.

The best-case situation for Artest is in L.A. The Lakers need a Pippen-Rodman type of player in Artestm, and Artest wants to win. With the Lakers acquiring Artest, expect them to sweep the West, getting Jackson a 10th ring and Kobe one without Shaq.

NFL Rumor: Brett Favre To The Ravens?

Monty Singh — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:41:47 -0400

Brett Favre has let it be known that he still has it in him. Last season was arguably his best season of his career and he does not want it to end on an interception that led to a loss in the NFC Championship game.

Favre has asked to be released, but the Packers will not let him do that. This is because they do not want him in the NFC where he could potentially beat them in the playoffs.

A big possibility I have heard is Brett Favre to the Ravens. They could trade a draft pick as high as a third round pick. This is similar to when they received Steve McNair from the Titans.

The Ravens have been thinking about it, since Favre has not actually been reinstated yet, but if he does, they will be open to bringing him in.

Joe Flacco was drafted in the first round to be their future quarterback and they are looking at starting him game one. By bringing in Favre they would have less pressure to start Flacco right away.

Having a teacher like Favre for a year or two is really more of a positive for the Ravens.

The Ravens defense is still the most physical and best in the NFL, but the lack of offense has been affecting it.

Cam Cameron and the new coaching staff along with Favre will make the offense go from non- existent to a legit championship offense.

Willis McGahee has developed himself as a legit running back, but the only problem is the man handing the ball off to him. Neither Kyle Boller nor Troy Smith have been the answer at QB.

With a solid line, receivers, and running game, the Ravens are a Hall of Fame QB away from contending once again.

A couple seasons ago, McNair led the team to being one of the best teams in the AFC. Favre will most likely do the same.

Favre will end up being the Ravens greatest QB all time and if he is brought he is out of the NFC, which is good for the Packers, and he will end up on a contending team, which is good for him.

In a perfect world, Favre will end up with the Vikings, but with the Packers in control of Favre's destination, the Ravens are a good fit for both sides. Also, Ray Lewis would carry Favre's luggage for him to Baltimore.

The Return of Michael Vick?

Monty Singh — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 12:35:03 -0400

We went a whole year without the Michael Vick experience. Next season may be the last. He is due to be released, if he has good behavior, in 2009.

People are ripping Vick for a crime and yes he deserves it, but banning him from the game would be ridiculous.

There are a number of players who get caught with drugs, shooting incidents, and other crimes. A crime is a crime. Those players payed their dues to the community and Vick is doing the same.

He does something a number of athletes do, but unfortunately was caught. It was a cruel thing to do. He is paying the price in jail and has lost a large amount of money.

Roger Goodell should allow Vick back in the NFL. I'm sure he still works out every day in jail since he really has nothing else to do, unless they make him sew.

He was the most exciting player to watch. You never knew what was going to come next. His real QB skills of passing were questioned, but there were times when he looked like a Joe Montana.

There also were the many times he looked like Ryan Leaf, but he showed some promise in the season before he was charged.

If Vick is able to come back for the 2009 season, or even the 2010 season, I wonder where he would go?

He probably should have been a running back, wide receiver, and kick returner, but I am assuming he returns as a QB.

The Falcon fans would welcome Vick right back, especially if Matt Ryan is not the answer, but there is no chance the organization will allow him back.

Vick would have to go to a city with a more African American population since it seems a majority of white fans do not favor Vick at all. That is something that can not be changed.

The same goes for Barry Bonds; white players are shown more forgiveness than African American players. Bonds cannot find a job despite being one of the greatest hitters of all time.

Andy Petitte has been forgiven, Rick Ankiel is not even talked about, and fans all over Yankee stadium are wearing Jason Giambi mustaches. Even if Roger Clemens wanted to return I am sure more people would accept him over Bonds.

I could see Vick continuing in a city like Chicago. Grossman and Orton are not the answer at QB, unless one of them have a Tom Brady season. I am sure Bears' fans would like to bring in Vick. He would be the most exciting thing in Chicago since Jordan.

The New Orleans Saints may also be a good fit. Drew Brees is the starter and is doing one heck of a job. This is a place where Vick can maybe come in and be a backup or, even better, line up in a dual back system with Reggie Bush.

There is a long time between now and then, but let's not forget the Vick experience. He may not have been the greatest QB, but he reminds me of LeBron when he was in high school and during his early years in the NBA. He could not shoot, but you would do anything to see him play.

Vick seems like he has learned his lesson and it is up to society to forgive him.

NBA Rumors: Shawn Marion On The Move?

Monty Singh — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 06:05:11 -0400

Shawn Marion has been one of the more underrated players in the NBA for the past few years. His numbers and production have ranked up there with all the stars of the league.

Last season the Heat traded Shaq for Marion in a blockbuster deal, and after drafting Michael Beasley, Marion could be traded once again.

Riley wants to keep Marion so he can use his large expiring contract at seasons end, but Marion wants to go to a contender and sign a contract extension, and that is not with Miami.

The Heat have been drawing interests from the Lakers, Warriors, and Clippers.

The Lakers would be a nice fit for Marion. They need a defensive player, and Marion is one of the best. He can be able to run with Kobe and will be a nice asset to the triangle.

The Lakers would have been rumored to already offer Lamar Odom and Chris Mihm. I see this trade being fair for the Heat. In return they get Odom's large expiring contract and a solid center, in which they need, with Mihm.

The Warriors would be able to offer Al Harrington's expiring contract for Marion, who would fit right in with the running system of Don Nelson.

Monta Ellis recently expressed interest in wanting to play in Miami. A possibility is sign and trade deal with Ellis and Harrington for Marion, Marcus Banks, and a first round pick.

For the Heat, they get the point guard Riley wants, who can run and set up Dwayne Wade.

If Ellis wants to leave, they would sign and trade to get Marion, who can bring in a defensive attitude for the Warriors.

The Warriors are going to trying to keep Ellis, but Ellis has the attitude that he wants to move to another team. In that case, they would have a lot of extra cap space to sign a Emeka Okafor or a Josh Smith. After losing Baron Davis, they got in trouble.

The Clippers, who also have a lot of cap space, are interested in Marion. They want a fast paced line up with Davis, Eric Gordon, Marion, and Al Thornton.

A trade that possibly could work is if the Clippers send off a first round pick for Marion.

Since the Heat got Beasley, who will most likely be playing small forward, Marion has been rumored to being on the move.

The most likely scenario is Marion ending up with the Warriors if Ellis wants to go to Miami.

Any team can pick up free agents, but trades can make an even bigger difference. Just ask the Boston Celtics.

The Best Fit For Emeka Okafor

Monty Singh — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:01:26 -0400

Emeka Okafor, in my opinion, is the best free agent available now. He is a solid big man who has not had help next to him since he stepped into the league.

Josh Smith has a lot of flaws to his game, but Okafor is a player who can potentially give you 15, 10, and two blocks a night. He controls the paint, and any team would like that.

The Bobcats are reportedly are trying to re-sign Okafor, but teams like Golden State, Memphis, and the Clippers have the money to lure him in.

Okafor loves Charlotte, as he was their first player when the franchise was made, but their amount of money and length in years for a contract may not match those of others.

The Clippers are a team that was in the hunt to be a contender in the West before Elton Brand bolted to the East, which is why they are pursuing a big man in Okafor.

Okafor and Chris Kaman will be a threat down low, as both can dominate the paint. This is a place where Okafor can play his true position as a power forward.

I feel the Clippers would be a very nice fit after losing Brand. The only problem is Okafor is not a type of player who can spread the floor. Having two true big men down low may be something to work with, but I do not seeing it working out as well as maybe getting Josh Smith or Zach Randolph.

The Memphis Grizzlies are full of guards. With Darko Mililicic as your starting center for next season, the Grizzlies need to spend their money now.

Okafor is a player who can control the paint, get offensive boards, and post and kick to the guards. He is a young player with a young team, which really fits well with what they need to do.

For the Grizzlies this would be a great scenario, but for Okafor he would not get the help down low that he needed in Charlotte. If the price is right, however, it would be tough to pass up on.

The Golden State Warriors could use a big man. Okafor would be a huge asset for this team. Him and Biedrins, who they expect to re-sign, would be a nice duo down low.

Both can fit the fast pace system of Don Nelson because Okafor is a really solid rebounder. He would give them second chances.

A huge upgrade for the Warriors would be on the defensive end. Okafor will bring in a whole new attitude for them. He can have the biggest impact on a team if he goes to Golden State.

I would predict Okafor leaves Charlotte for the Clippers. Okafor may just go for the money here, but also he would be going to a place that fits him the best. He would be given less pressure next to Kaman, and a talented group of guys around him, led by Baron Davis.

For the Clippers, this actually is an upgrade over Brand, because this will let Davis, Al Thornton, and Eric Gordon be scorers. With Brand, it would have taken away from these talented players. Also, Okafor is younger. This move would make the Clipper fans forget about Brand.

Emeka Okafor is a player who is rarely mentioned in big free agency moves. But he is the type of player that can change a team in a real positive manner.

LA Clippers Mike Taylor: The Beginning of Something Big?

Monty Singh — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:13:11 -0400

One of the biggest stories in this years NBA draft was not Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose, but second round pick Mike Taylor. Who? Taylor is the first player to be drafted out of the NBDL. I think that is a big deal.

If you do not know who Taylor is, he is a 6'2" point guard from the Idaho Stampede (NBDL). He went to Iowa State before getting dismissed from the school. From a two-time Big-12 player of the week, to a D-League player, Taylor got drafted.

For the Stampede Taylor averaged 14.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists. He really was a solid player. He is real explosive and was one of the best athletes in the draft.

He still needs to develop his game and I think he is a steal in the draft for the LA Clippers. The D-League exposed him to NBA experience, which will give him more experience over most college players.

Taylor is the beginning of something that David Stern has been planning since he put the age limit on entering the NBA.

After the D-League was put into place Stern wanted high school players to not go into college, but go into the D-League where they can make money.

The average of 15 grand a season is not eye opening for any high school star to jump into the D-League for, but Stern is planning to raise the pay to compete with overseas teams.

The point of all of this is that the D-League will start to get top high school prospects who want to play in the NBA. This will get them pay checks, which the NCAA cannot give them.

By getting these stars, instead of seeing them in college, people will pay to go to their games and try to get a TV contract so they can be seen on national TV.

This way the NBA basically just finds a way to make more money.

For the players, this really is not a bad thing either. With the D-League, the players have a chance to play in an NBA environment and system. Besides the money, the experience and exposure is important.

Taylor may never end up being a Derrick Rose, but he started something of what is to come.

Players will realize that they can just make money and get exposure to the NBA level in the D-League, but after one year can get drafted as high as they would after playing in college. Best of all, no classes!

Did Elton Brand Just Pull a Carlos Boozer?

Monty Singh — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:56:08 -0400

Carlos Boozer told the Cavaliers he wanted to opt out of his contract so he can sign a long-term deal with the team. The Cavaliers got Punk'd while Boozer ran off to Utah.

Elton Brand, in a similar situation, made it clear he was staying with the Clippers. He even told executives to land Baron Davis.

The Clippers were on their way to becoming a top team in the West. All of a sudden, he bolted off to the 76ers.

The deal was for $82 million for 5 years. I do not blame him for taking that money, but the Clippers offered him $80 million and also 5 years. This tells us it had nothing to do with the money.

His agent said Brand wanted to play in the East and for a contender. In other words, he said Brand could not handle the West competition.

The Clippers were on their way to have the best possible off-season, but the Michael Olowokandi curse came into effect. Not only did they lose Brand, but also Corey Maggette left to Golden State.

What do the Clippers do now?

Davis is a good honest man, unlike Brand (no offense), so he will stick around. Josh Smith is the only hope for the Clippers to be an effective team next season. They have the money.

He could push them to be a playoff team. Davis, Mobley (or Gordon), Thornton, Smith, and Kaman would not be a bad lineup.

How will the 76ers do?

Well, this makes them the best team in the East. Yes, over the Celtics. The Sixers competed with the highest level of competition and even beat the Celts.

They have an athletic line up that is very well balanced.

Only problem was they had no low-post star. Brand is that man.

They can beat you many different ways. They also are a deep team now.

They will also sign some other free agents to fill up the roster like a Shaun Livingston.

Brand may get to the finals, but will he be able to sleep at night?

Yeah, but the Clippers front office won't be able to.

Business Week's Power-100 Sports Figures

Monty Singh — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:34:50 -0400

We're going to look at the past and current figures in sports that make the sports industry one of the most influential industries in the world.

Who are the most powerful individuals in the U.S. sports industry?

Tiger Woods in golf.

No one has made the sport any more popular than Tiger. He has changed the game forever, as he not only is the most dominant player in a sport, but he even made me pick up some golf clubs just so I can be like Tiger.

Serena and Venus Williams in tennis.

Not only are they the two most powerful female athletes of all time, they changed the way tennis is looked at. They have changed the sport not only for all female tennis players, but for African-Americans across the U.S.

Michael Jordan in basketball.

Who does not want to be "like Mike?" After a downfall in the game, Jordan rejuvenated the sport as he is one of the greatest ever to play the game. You cannot not see a kid sticking his tongue out and yelling "Jordan" when they go to the basket at any basketball court around the U.S.

Tom Brady is the most powerful figure in football today.

Not only has he taken over the GQ world, he has won multiple championships and is on his way to be the greatest QB in NFL history.

Jose Canseco is a powerful individual in baseball in a different way from the rest of the athletes. This is through more of his actions off the field than on the field.

His book Juiced has changed the whole way baseball has been looked at since its publication. He had brought up the Steroid Era, and the game of baseball has had an asterisk over it for all these past years. He has changed the way the game has been perceived.

Which woman deserves to be placed the highest on the list?

Serena and Venus Williams both put women's tennis on the map. They also changed the culture of tennis by being dominant African Americans. No other set of women in history has had more of an impact on their sport than these two sisters.

How about a commissioner who can impact the rules of how a sport is played, can decide whether or not a player should be suspended for off-field conduct, or can personally set the limits of a salary cap?

David Stern has to be the most powerful individual commissioner. If you look at the state of the NBA, it is in better condition than any other major sport in the U.S.

The NFL has drug and off the field problems, and the MLB is full of human-performance problems.

David Stern has been able to produce a league with nearly no problems. The dress code was set to keep the image up. No young player does not want to be like the guys in the NBA. The only scandal was with Tim Donaghy, but that had been played so well that in a couple of years, people will fully forget about it.

What about owners who decide to spend more money than others to ensure that a team is competitive?

The Rooney family has been the most solid group in any sport.

Considering it is a heir process to own the team, the tradition of Steeler football has been set since the beginning. The hard-nosed defense and solid running-game has been in the Steelers' culture.

Rooney also impacted the "Rooney rule", where all NFL owners need to interview at least one African-American coach. That has changed history. Many owners are hiring multiple coaches, but the Rooney family is with their third coach since 1968. The consistency of how the team is handled makes the Rooney family a model on how teams should be ran.

Where do agents fit in?

Agents are there to make money for themselves, more so than caring about any team. Drew Rosenhaus is an ideal agent who fits this role. They could care less if a team is good to a player. All they care about is making money. They can influence any player to make any decision for their own well being.

Are media members (newspaper and magazine columnists, bloggers, broadcast journalists, fan journalists) who have the ability to mold public perception on the topic of sports in the running on your list?

Media is what makes the image of any sport. If any one player does anything, it is blown out of proportion in the media. Even off the field issues. They take away from every sport by getting into more detail about everything. The media needs to go down.

The only reason there is media is because it gives an opportunity for any regular Joe who is not gifted enough to play sports a chance to feel "apart of the team," even though they are not.

What about CEO's who run many facets of professional franchises, or those who have become powerful through the sale of athletic equipment?

CEO's are just rich men who have nothing to do with their money. They really make no adjustments to effect the team. The GMs, presidents, and coaches are the ones who handle the team. CEOs just hand out the checks.

Brett Favre Is Overrated

Monty Singh — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:40:41 -0400

For the past five years, the talk after each Packer season ended was whether or not Brett Favre would return or retire. Finally, Favre had hanged it up...or did he? Rumors are flying whether or not he will make yet another return.

The Packers have moved on, so if Favre returns he will be playing for anther team. I cannot imagine that, but remember, he started his career with the Falcons.

Don't get me wrong, I love watching him play. He has fun out there, like every player should, and there is nothing to hate about him.

The only problem is, he is praised like he is Michael Jordan or something. I am getting pretty sick of it. His numbers say he is the greatest and he has one Super Bowl to add to his legacy, but he has been playing since they invented electricity and has really never missed a game.

One reason he is considered a fun player to watch is that he is a gunner, meaning he throws carelessly. There will be two defenders and a wideout in between. Sometimes he fits the pass between the window with his sling shot pass and there are times it is picked off.

Despite being the all-time touchdown leader, he has the most interceptions ever thrown. That is something that is never looked at.

There are times he makes great plays, but his last throw so far of his NFL career was a bad pass picked off by the Giants, which led to the Giants going to the Super Bowl. He won a lot of ball games, but with his mistakes and slips by throwing interceptions, cost some games.

A reason he has many of the passing records is that he has always been in an offense that lets him pass until his arm gets sore.

The, "west coach offense" is what it is called. It has been so throughout his Packer career, he had been the main factor in the offense. Ahmad Green was a good back, but that did not take away much from Favre throwing the ball.

Did he really win them the Super Bowl? Yeah, he was a good quarter back who made plays, but it has always been the defense. In the past four years, Brett Favre looked like Eli Manning before the playoffs of last year.

I wonder why. Well, not having any sort of defense to make up for his mistakes kind of hurts you. That is why the organization had been pressured to let Favre go.

I do not know if it was a coincidence, but the Packers defense was really good last season. One of the best in the NFL. Favre also happen to have one of his best seasons. Just saying.

His Super Bowl team was also stacked. Reggie White since he came to the Packers changed the whole organization around. Again, just saying.

Brett Favre did not even win MVP of the Super Bowl. Desmond Howard did.

He has the records and the one ring. Is he the greatest ever? I am saying no.

Only when on the topic that Favre is the greatest, is when I am saying he is overrated. People give him too much credit for things he has done.

He is a top five quarterback all time, but no way is he ahead of Joe Montana, Steve Young, Dan Marino, and Joe Montana. There are even other quarterbacks that can be put ahead.

No hate towards Favre, but fans drooling over him, saying he should come back because he is the greatest ever, need to stay back.

Philadelphia: How The 76ers Can Win The East

Monty Singh — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:16:42 -0400

If the 76ers had more experience last year in the playoffs, they would have beaten the Pistons. With the off-season going on and with solid cap space available, the 76ers are only a few moves away from winning the East.

Really? Yeah. They are the most athletic lineup in the NBA with the young wheels they have. They have a back court led by Andre Miller, who is the most underrated point guard in the NBA right now.

Andre Iguodala is the future star of the team who does sometimes disappear, but do not expect that this season. He has realized he is the leader and will step it up big time next season.

They are currently about $24 million under the cap, which gives them room to sign their own and available free agents.

The veteran point guard Miller led them to the playoffs, but a back up is needed. Shaun Livington would be a perfect fit. Before his leg bent in ways they are not supposed to, he was becoming that young star point.

After a season of recovering he was able to also develop a jump shot. By being a back up he can find his game once again and be an effective player. He could be a steal for the 76ers.

Louis Williams is a silent stud who after a season in the league will be a nice asset for them next season. Expect them to keep him. He can give them a real boost off the bench.

Iguodala is the future stud in the NBA. He has been working on his jump shot all off-season and will be a threat next year. They will re-sign him and make him the franchise player. The next AI if you will.

Ben Gordon is expected to be let go by the back court filled Bulls. He can come to the 76ers and be the much needed player they are looking for. He can spread the floor and is a play maker too.

This would be the huge move by the 76ers as Miller, Gordon, and Iguodala will be a fearful back court.

Samuel Dalembert is a solid double-double player who also is a nice shot blocker. He is an overall talented player who needs help next to him.

This is where Josh Smith comes in. His role for this team would be huge. He and Dalembert down low will make it tough to score near the rim with two fierce shot blockers.

They need a low post scorer besides Evans, and Nenad Kristic is that man. Before his injury he was developing into one of the best big men in the NBA. He got all of the post moves and can hit the 15-foot jumper.

The team would be full with depth as Jason Smith, Evans, rising star Thadeus Young, and Carney can step up to fill in the spots for the starters.

If the 76ers make these moves they may make a little over the luxury tax, which is not a problem since a lot of the league is, I can see them winning the East.

They would have too many weapons and a well balanced team to be able to beat out the Pistons, Celtics, and the Cavaliers. The 76er fans will have nothing to "boo" about next season.

What's Next? Ron Artest and Stephon Marbury's Future in the NBA

Monty Singh — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 03:40:39 -0400

Ron Artest regretted not opting out of his contract with the Kings, and with the Knicks bringing in Chris Duhon, Stephon Marbury is on his way out of New York. These two unappreciated players will have a new team to play for by the fall.

Artest recently said he will not want to remain in Sacramento after the '08-'09 season. He did not opt out, but a big reason was that he knew he was going to get traded, and he did not want the Kings to get nothing in return.

The Kings are on a rebuilding process. Artest is not in their future plans, which is why he will get traded this summer for some value players.

Artest is one of the best defenders in the NBA, and he can score at will. His drive to score at will did hurt the Kings, since he needs to work on that passing.

Artest most likely will want to go to a contender, and there is no team more in need of a player like Artest than the Lakers.

Phil Jackson has already had interest in acquiring Artest so he can bring a physical-minded presence to his "soft" team.

He is also a type of player that can take pressure off of Kobe. Artest can be Kobe's Scottie Pippen.

A scenario that would work is sending Artest with Kenny Thomas's large contract to the Lakers for Lamar Odom.

The Kings, in return, get a veteran who is unselfish and can blend in well with what they have. Odom's contract also expires at the end of the year, so it will give the Kings some cap space to work with.

Another possible destination for Artest is the Phoenix Suns. GM Steve Kerr has made it clear that he wants a defensive-minded team. With Grant Hill not always staying healthy, they need a sure thing, like Artest.

A trade scenario that works is sending Artest with Quincy Douby for Boris Diaw. This way the Suns get Artest and a backup point guard, and the Kings get a young, developed player who can play power forward.

The last place Artest could end up at is with the Dallas Mavericks. Coach Rick Carlisle already made it clear he would like to reunite with his old player from the Pacers.

A trade that may happen would send Artest and Shelden Williams to the Mavericks for Josh Howard and a second-round pick.

Howard has had problems off the court that have been a distraction for the team. Mark Cuban knows he has to win with veterans now rather than later. Artest does have his problems, but more on the court, which can be worked out.

With a team of Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, and Artest, the Mavericks will be able to get back into NBA Finals talks.

The Kings get a developed talent in return that they can move forward with. The deal would work for both sides very well.

Another player who is not given any credit is Stephon Marbury. He still is a playmaker and a scorer. His problems with Isiah Thomas made him look bad. "Starbury" can still play, and many teams should be looking at him if he is released.

A team I would like to see him go to is the Miami Heat. They need a playmaker that can set up Dwayne Wade. Pat Riley knows how to handle troublemaker players, so he would work for them.

Another place that could work out for him is if he returns to Phoenix. Steve Nash is aging and needs a player who can come off the bench and give them production.

With veterans like Shaq around, and with a chance to win a championship, believe me, Marbury will have his head on straight in Phoenix.

Artest and Marbury are two, talented veterans who are not really talked about enough for what they do for you on the court, rather for their problems off the court.

In the right situation, either of these players can help a team get over that hump to become champions.

What The Hawks Need to Do If Josh Smith Leaves

Monty Singh — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:39:53 -0400

Josh Smith, the restricted free agent, recently visited the 76ers and they could offer him money the Hawks just would not be able to afford.

Smith is one of the young bright stars in the league who is a fierce dunker and on his way to be one of the great defenders all time. Despite his attitude problems he is the hottest free agent right now.

The Hawks made the playoffs and had took the eventual champions of the Celtics to 7 games. They were marked as one of the teams to look out for this year.

The 76ers however, another young and talented team that will be in the run next year in the East, are ruining the Hawks chances of being a threat.

The 76ers have enough cap space to get Smith to a contract offer that the Hawks cannot possibly match. The Hawks need to consider in their future of re-signing stars Joe Johnson and Al Horford.

An inside source told me the 76ers are exploring other options, like Corey Maggette, before offering a contract to Smith, in which he most likely will accept. The 76ers getting him will make them the most athletic team in the NBA that will be a threat the East.

Another team in the mix for Smith are the Golden State Warriors who will also be able to offer a large contract, but Smith favors the 76ers over them.

The Hawks, however, will be losing one of their best assets, but they can overcome that to remain in the playoffs in the East.

Joe Johnson is a star in the league and proved that against the Celtics in the playoffs. Al Horford had also proven he can be a legit big man in the leauge just after his rookie season. He has shown he is a rebounding machine.

The two main stars of the team are helped by veteran point guard Mike Bibby and still waiting to be a factor Marvin Williams.

Keeping Bibby will be smart because of his large expiring contract at the end of the season. This will give them a lot of cap space to work with next summer.

If Smith decides to flee from Atlanta the Hawks new GM Sund would need to get to work this Summer.

Smith did have problems in the organization because of his attitude. A big problem was with coach Mike Woodson. With Smith gone all the distractions will not be a problem no more. The team can be more well balanced then.

With Smith also leaving the team will have cap space to get depth and future cap space to re-sign vital players.

Josh Childress, a sixth man of the year candidate, had a very solid season last year. He is a free agent that will expect to re-sign with the Hawks.

Childress can rebound and takes good shots, unlike Josh Smith. He should be bumped up to the starting lineup to help them out. He can also help them with his defense.

Salim Stoudamire is a restricted free agent who did not get too much of a chance to prove anything. Expect him to re-sign to help be a back up shooting guard.

If there is a sign and trade with the 76ers, the 76ers could send a guy like promising Reggie Evans to the Hawks to add depth to the front court.

A trade possibility is to trade for Al Harrington of the Warriors. They want to get rid of him and he would be able to fit the Hawks very well. A possibility is to send Speedy Claxton and a draft pick for Harrington.

This way Harrington can start and Childress can stick with his role coming off the bench. Harrington is a versatile player who can play in the post and on the perimeter. He actually can be an upgrade over Smith with his scoring ability.

Acie Law did not show much promise last season. After failing to take Chris Paul in the draft, by selecting Marvin Williams, they have lacked a point guard. Bibby is a player they need to keep for his expiring contract. He also is not a bad player.

A free agent for them to look at is Shaun Livingston. Before his injury he really was showing strides to living up to expectations. Without playing a season he developed a better jump shot and doctors say he is healthy.

The Hawks would need to take a chance on Livingston because it is one gamble they can afford.

Another free agent to grab is another player coming off a big injury, and that is Nenad Kristic. He is a player who can add depth to their front court. He can spread the floor with his sold jump shot or take someone on the post.

Josh Smith leaving actually can be a good thing for the Hawks. With him leaving they will lose a distraction and the players they expect more out of like Marvin Williams and Josh Childress can shine.

The Hawks will have a potentially more balanced lineup. With a full year under Bibby they will also have more chemistry.

If they make the right moves this off season, a lineup could look like Bibby, Johnson, Harrington (or Childress), Williams, and Horford.

By adding depth in the off season the team will find themselves back in the playoffs. Mike Woodson knows his job is on the line every game. The team will play well together and manage to make a playoff run.

Joe Johnson will show the league with Smith gone that he is a star that can carry a team. Maybe Marvin Williams will surprise some out there.

The 5 Possible Destinations For Brett Favre

Monty Singh — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:53:10 -0400

He thought he should retire and regrets his decision. Michael Jordan did the same and ended up with the Wizards to save them. Jordan failed, do not expect Favre to.

He is not yet officially back, but if he does return, expect him to be granted a release by the Packers. The organization understands it is time to move into the Aaron Rogers era.

Joe Montana and Joe Namath ended their legacies with different teams, and Favre will follow them.

Here are the five teams that Favre should go to:

Vikings—They are a quarterback away from winning a Super Bowl. Taylor and Peterson in the back field is the best combo in the NFL behind the best offensive line in the NFL. The defense also is one of the best in the NFL.

So what is the problem? Tavaris Jackson. He is an inconsistent and un-proven QB. They need a proven QB and Favre would be the best fit.

Favre wants to go off winning a Super Bowl and his wishes will come true in Minnesota. He will have pressure taken off of him by the running game and be protected by the fierce O-line.

First game of the season will be one heck of a game to watch for the Vikings as they play at Lambeau Field.

49ers—If Favre is available Mike Martz will personally drive to Favre's door steps and make him the Niners' gun-slinger. Alex Smith has not lived up to any expectation and the organization is losing patience.

If Favre is brought into the 49ers organization, they will be a favorite in the NFC. The O-line is very solid, Frank Gore is one of the best running backs in the league, and the defense is led by one of the best secondaries.

Martz's passing offense will make Favre excited to play football another year. The gun-slinger will get all the throws in the world to make plays.

This is where Favre can be that young kid again that we all love.

Jets—They arguably had the best off season in the NFL. The only problem is that they have a QB situation where Clemens and Pennington are 50/50 on who will start.

If Favre comes in, he will be the sure starter who can be the savior of this team.

Their offensive line is one of the best in the NFL and they have a core group of receivers lead by Coles who Favre will love.

The Jets are where the Packers could get him out of the NFC and this is a team that will get them able to compete to win the division against the Patriots.

Bears—The Bears and Packers are bitter rivals, but Favre may have to put that to a side.

Grossman and Orton are competing for the starting job, but with Favre there will be no competition.

They were in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago led by the defense, but the offense is not there.

They will be lead by rookie RB Matt Forte and really have no WR better than me and you, which will probably cause Favre to struggle.

This is not the best situation for Favre to win a Super Bowl, but if he gets the Bears to win a Super Bowl his legacy will be strengthened, possibly making him the greatest QB ever to play the game.

Ravens—This is a reach but I would like to see him here. This will be the last year most-likely for this team to be able to compete for a Super Bowl.

The defense is arguably the best, the running game is solid, the O-line is solid, and the WR is not bad. Only problem is that they do not have a QB.

Favre would help teach rookie QB Joe Flacco and help the Ravens get back to the playoffs.

Favre will be the best QB this team has ever had and with a defense like they have, there might be a shot for something special.

I hope Favre returns because he is one of the most entertaining guys to watch. If he returns and the Packers decide it is time to move on, these are the five best situations for him.

He's only won one Super Bowl with all of his other records. Another one would just add to his legacy.

He loves this game and we all love watching him.

Kevin Smith: Rookie Of The Year

Monty Singh — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:38:27 -0400

Darren McFadden, Jonathan Stewart, Felix Jones, Rashard Mendenhall, Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, and Ray Rice were all taken in front of the first pick in the third round by the Detriot Lions. Kevin Smith is the running back from Central Florida who flirted with breaking Barry Sanders rushing record.

Rookie of the year? Yes. The Lions fell in love with Smith's talent when they saw him, and so did I. The only players in college to impress me over the last three years have been Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, and Kevin Smith.

Darren McFadden has to be the favorite, but the Raiders are a mess right now. Their offensive line is as effective as putting Girl Scouts at the line.

Jamarcus Russel will get his first season to prove something, so defenses will blitz him to put pressure. The pocket for the Raiders offense will be limited, disabling Peterson to reach full potential.

Matt Ryan is the second favorite, but he will be throwing to guys who can't even catch a cold.

I know I am going on a limb, but Smith is a great runner who has great vision. He did play against talent not as good as there is in the SEC, but just watching him play makes him exciting.

Coach Marinelli is going to run the ball and use Smith as the starting running back. With Mike Martz out, the ball will actually be handed off to the running back. Smith's versatility will make him a key to the Lions next season.

He is a powerful inside runner who can also break tackles to burst passed the defense.

One thing that makes him a threat is that he is an effective player when he catches the ball in the backfield to make plays.

The offensive line actually is good too. Last year they were exposed because many defenses knew they were going to pass it more. The running game was ineffective, which made defenses expect what was going to happen.

With John Kitna having many targets to pass to, Kevin Smith will have at least that pressure taken off of him. The Lions offense will be effective because of this, which will get them to the playoffs. Their success will lead to Smith getting offensive rookie of the year.

I predict Smith will run 1200 yards and catch over 500 for a total of 11 touchdowns. This will take the Lions over the hump to the playoffs as he will be a household name for many years to come.

Make sure to keep your eyes on Kevin Smith of the Detroit Lions. He will surprise you.

How to Keep LeBron a Cavalier

Monty Singh — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:11:16 -0400

From the Yankee hat to saying his favorite city is Brooklyn, LeBron James has been making it look like he cannot wait to be a future Brooklyn Net. Also being good friends with part Net owner Jay-Z helps too.

The Cavaliers have been trying to get LeBron help, but just do not get it. The 11 player deal got them a washed up Ben Wallace, a solid player in Delonte West, a shooter in Wally Sczerbiak, and a decent low post scorer in Joe Smith. None of these players are the stars LeBron needs.

Every contender in the NBA has two or more stars on their team. The only player close to be being a star on Cleveland is Ilgauskas. Yeah, that is not good.

The Cavaliers let Baron Davis get away. Since he opted out they should have been the first ones to call him and forget about the cap. At least just for a couple of years.

Just pay it to keep LeBron happy. Unfortunately like all the other stars, Davis signed with another team (L.A. Clippers).

The Cavs were close to getting Vince Carter for Sczerbiak. I applaud them on that, but again they did not finish the deal.

They were also close on sending Anderson Varejao to the Warriors for Al Harrington. Well that failed too.

Monta Ellis is the big name out there right now. The Warriors will do all they can to keep Ellis, but if he feels that the Warriors are not going in the right direction, he may feel he wants to leave. The Warriors would then have to sign and trade Ellis.

A possibility is sending Ellis for Sczerbiak and Varejao. They can add Harrington with Ellis. This is unlikely to happen since the Warriors have Ellis as a main priority and that Ellis would probably rather play for Mike D'Antoni in New York or in South Beach.

A deal that I would like to see is the Cavs sending Ilgauskas and Damon Jones to the Pistons for Rasheed Wallace. This would reunite good friends Ben and Rasheed. Big Ben did play his best ball next to Sheed and this would be a good fit.

The Pistons need a center who can take ball down low and even hit a 15 foot jump shot. Ilgauskas is this man. Tough to part ways with the Cavs, but it is time to do so.

Another possibility is to seek a trade with the Bobcats. If the Bobcats seem to feel Raymond Felton is not the answer at point, since they got DJ Augustine via draft, the Cavs could send Varejao for Felton and Othella Harrington.

The Bobcats feel they can use Felton and Augustine together, but we saw how a dual PG system creates problems as seen with TJ Ford and Jose Calderon.

The other way to get some depth and talent is to look in the free agency market. A couple of players that have been shown some interest by the Cavs are Sebastian Telfair, James Posey, Mickael Pietrus, Jason Williams, and Nenad Krstic.

Sebastian Telfair is a silent pick for them here. He really had a solid season last year. He is a player who the Cavs need. He can get to the basket and create shots for other players. His inability to shoot does hurt him, but the Cavs need a guy who can penetrate and kick.

Mickael Pietrus is also very good to get. He is a lock down defender who can knock down threes. I would actually be surprised if he is not wearing a Cavs jersey in the fall. He fits in perfectly.

Krstic is the sleeper player here. Before his injury he had shown a lot of promise. After a lot of rest, he may be at his old form. If this is so, the Cavs could use him. He is a player who can post up and knock down jumpers. He would be a nice asset.

So far the Cavs have not been making all the right moves. If they do not get it right this year and contend for a title, LeBron will be on his way to his favorite city. Maybe the Cavs should be looking at trading LeBron because they are not doing enough to get pieces to surround him.