Bleacher Report - Articles by Daniel Alvarez

Five Names To Know in The Pac-10 In 2008 (Offensive Edition)

Daniel Alvarez — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:39:55 -0400

With the start of the 2008 College Football season just around the corner, the Bleacher Report is here to fill you in on who you need to know in the Pac-10 this year. Every year, a new batch of stars and up-and-comers invade the media outlets and SportsCenter Top 10 lists. This year will be no exception. Here is the lowdown on five special talents ready to break out on the offensive side of the ball.

Jahvid Best
School: University of California Berkeley
Class: True Sophomore
Position: RB
Measurables: 5/10, 193 lb.
Hometown: Vallejo, CA

With incumbent tailback Justin Forsett off to back up fellow Pac-10 alum Maurice Morris in Seattle, the Bears depth chart is wide open at tailback. Forsett went for 1,546 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns last year, and someone will have to step up to replace that production. Enter Jahvid Best.

Last season, Best showed the flashes of brilliance that made him one of the top running back recruits in the country last year. Coaches like USC’s Pete Carroll and Notre Dame’s Charlie Weis recruited him heavily (even coming to see him play in person), but he spurned their advances and decided to stay close to home.

Best possesses a combination of track-star speed (his 20.65 in the 200 was good for second in the nation his senior year of high school) and better-than-average strength. His toughness and willingness to run between the tackles were both pleasant surprises. Though he only caught thirteen balls last year, he has the ability to get open and is exceptionally dangerous in space.

Also, with the departure of WR/PR DeSean Jackson to the Philadelphia Eagles, expect the bay area product to make big plays in the punt return game.

It’s no secret that Cal lost a lot of their most consistent (Forsett, WR Lavelle Hawkins) and explosive (Jackson) offensive weapons last year. The Bears will need someone to consistently carry the load, while providing the big plays that are necessary to succeed in the Pac-10. It’s obvious who is the Best man for the job.

(Sorry, I had to. It was too easy. Please don’t stop reading. No more puns, I promise.)

Damian Williams
School: Southern Cal
Position: WR
Class: Sophomore (Transfer)
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 190
Hometown: Springdale, AR

The biggest flaw in USC’s Rose Bowl winning 2007 was the inconsistency of their wide receiving corps. While they did not lose any receivers of consequence, the depth chart is wide open at that spot. Though Williams was forced to watch from the sidelines last year, his performance in practice and on the scout team turned heads on the coaching staff and in the locker room.

The best thing about Williams is his versatility. He is big enough to go over the middle, fast enough to be a deep threat, and elusive enough to catch screen passes and break them for big gains. He boasts the extremely good hands, which would be huge for a team who struggled with drops all season. His versatility and precise route running has drawn him comparisons to USC star and New York Giants wideout Steve Smith.

While his transfer was nationally perceived as an afterthought to his high-school teammate QB Mitch Mustain’s, it looks like D-Will may turn out to be the real star of Springdale High.

LeGarrette Blount
School: University of Oregon
Position: RB
Class: Junior (Transfer)
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 235 lb.
Hometown: Perry, FL

Before this offseason, not too many people inside or outside of Eugene, OR knew who LeGarrette Blount was. The bruising Blount made sure that people learned his name during the Ducks’ spring workouts. Coming from football powerhouse East Mississippi Community College, he passed up offers from Alabama and Florida State to come to play in Mike Bellotti’s spread offense.

He is an old-school power back, who reminds me of a more in-shape LenDale White. One of the things that made Jonathan Stewart so special is his combination of speed and power. While he is not as speedy as Stewart, Blount is just as powerful as his predecessor, while still being elusive.

Blount will be in a great spot to succeed because Oregon’s run-happy offense will have to rely on the backs even more this year because of Dennis Dixon’s departure. Blount figures to be the thunder to Senior Jeremiah Johnson’s lightning. The diminutive Johnson has not shown the ability to stay healthy for a whole season, so Blount will likely get more touches than the average second-string back.

Expect his blue-collar, SEC-style power running to be a big hit in Eugene this season.

Kristoffer O’Dowd
School: Southern Cal
Position: C
Class: True Sophomore
Measurables: 6-foot-5, 315 lb.
Hometown: Tucson, AZ

O’Dowd’s career started earlier than expected, when starting center Matt Spanos tore his triceps in practice. He was thrust into the starting role, and he did not disappoint. In the games that the five-star center played in, USC rushed for 214 (at Idaho), 313 (at Nebraska), and 207 yards (vs. Washington State). In SC’s fourth contest (at Washington), he dislocated his right knee on the same play as star guard Chilo Rachal sprained his knee.

While Rachal made it back on to the field later in the season, O’Dowd was not so lucky. To make matters worse, after the season, the NCAA decided that he had played just enough to be ineligible for a medical redshirt.

In their first game without him, the Trojans lost to Stanford at home, rushing for only 95 yards. For the rest of the season, the Trojan offensive line had difficulties consistently getting the push up the middle that they enjoyed with O’Dowd in the middle.

While he may still be an underclassman, expect him to be the top center in the Pac-10 this season (save Cal’s road-grading senior center Alex Mack). If he can stay healthy, he may even be the top lineman on the Trojan front five.

Willie Tuitama
School: University of Arizona
Position: QB
Class: True Senior
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 220 lb.
Hometown: Stockton, CA

While USC’s Mark Sanchez, ASU’s Rudy Carpenter, and Washington’s Jake Locker may get all the press, no quarterback is more poised for a monster year than Arizona’s three-year contributor Tuitama. He quietly had a fantastic season last year, throwing for 28 TD’s and 3,683 yards, good for first and second in the Pac-10 respectively.

He has improved his numbers every year and is among the preseason candidates for the 2008 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. While he won’t be mistaken for a pre-Bad Newz Kennels Michael Vick, he is mobile in the pocket and is tough enough to stand upright and take hit. He has a strong arm, and has shown the ability to make good decisions and look for his third and fourth options.

If he can stay concussion-free, expect Tuitama to have another huge year, and potentially be an early-round draft pick in 2009.

Look for the "Five Names to Know in the Pac-10 in 2008 (Defensive Edition)" next Monday.

No Baron? No Problem! Golden State Warriors Should Target Josh Smith

Daniel Alvarez — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:21:12 -0400

"Baron’s gone to Clips! We’re fuct. Same old Warriors." (A text I received last week from my buddy)

Because of their franchise's incompetent history, Warriors fans all over were sending similar texts to each other, when Davis, the catalyst for their turnaround, bolted the Bay for L.A. and a five-year, $65 million deal.

While losing an All-Star point guard—he was an All-Star last year, nobody can convince me otherwise—coming off the best year of his career hurts, the Warriors have many options to retool.

Mention the word rebuild to a die-hard W’s fan and you will likely be subject to an expletive-laced tirade aimed at owner Chris Cohan and GMs of the past and present (Mullin, St. Jean, etc.).

Throughout the '90s and 2000s, the Warriors were perpetually rebuilding. Whether it was smart drafting (Todd Fuller over Kobe, Mike Dunleavy over Amaré, Adonal Foyle over T-Mac), shrewd free agent signings (Derek Fisher: six years, $37 million), or frugal extensions for their existing players (Troy Murphy: five years, $58 million; Adonal Foyle: five years, $41.6 million), the Warriors’ front office found ways to stay in mid-lottery purgatory.

Excuse me, after writing that, I spent seven minutes fighting the urge to stab myself in the eyes with freshly sharpened pencils. Everything changed on February 24, 2005. On the day that brought Baron to Oakland in exchange for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis (and a season crappy enough to bring the Hornets Chris Paul), the Warriors' fortunes seemed to change.

That trade, along with moves for Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington, seemed to finally put the “build” back in rebuild.

With or without Davis, the Warriors have a strong young core of players to build around—Monta Ellis (age 22), Andris Biendris (22), and Brandan Wright (20). They must focus on this young trio, and add players that are going to be entering their primes around the same time.

Warriors fans and pundits have clamored for names like Brand and Iguodala—but there is one guy from the city of snap who would be the best fit for the new-look Dubs.

With some of the “old guard” Western powers (Spurs, Mavs, Rockets) starting to get older, the Warriors should focus on becoming a team who will peak around the start of 2010. The guy who would perfectly fit in with that schedule is Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith, also 22 years old. Smith would be a perfect fit for the up-tempo game that the Warriors play. He is an extremely versatile player, who can guard almost any position on the court. He is one of the game’s best shot-blockers (2.8 bpg) and is a solid rebounder at the forward spot (8.2 rpg). Though some question his ability to play the three, he has improved his outside shooting and ball handling. Though he is not a great outside shooter yet, Al Harrington will be able to stretch the floor enough for him to be effective.

It does not really matter who is technically the starting power forward. Smith is a versatile enough defender to guard the other team’s better forward, and a forward tandem with that kind of size and skill would create the mismatches Nellie covets. Some have questioned his character—but Nelson has been able to get the best out of guys like Davis, Jackson, and Harrington, who all had major character issues before their moves to the Bay. If the Warriors were to sign Smith to sign to a contract in the neighborhood of $12 million per year for five years, they would still need to address the point guard position. With the $18 million that Baron leaves them, they would be able to sign a mid-level point guard, while still being able to bring back Ellis and Biendris. There are two guys who could be had for the right price, who would fit well into their young nucleus. The first guy that they should look at is Louis Williams of the 76ers. Though there are questions about whether he is a “true point”, he is a supremely athletic, 6'2" youngster (21 years old), who still has time to learn the position.

Ironically, Williams has been compared to fellow Southern preps-to-pros star Monta Ellis. He has shown flashes of brilliance in Philly, and the Warriors up-tempo system built around versatility will be perfect for him. If he can develop his passing and decision making, he would be a great fit in Oakland. But the better option for the Warriors—health permitting—is unrestricted free-agent Shaun Livingston, formerly of the Clippers. He has been cleared for full-contact basketball, but his injury history makes many front-offices nervous.

When healthy, however, the 6'7" 22-year old has been fantastic during his short career. His size creates the kind of matchup problems Nelson loves, and it would allow Monta Ellis to play alongside him at the two.

Livingston is a true, pass-first point guard, who makes everyone around him better. While he has to prove that he is durable enough to play extended minutes, he is a low-risk, high-reward option for Mullin. Because of his youth, it is a decent bet that he will be able to return to full strength after that horrific knee injury. If they acquired Smith and either Williams or Livingston, while re-signing their free agents—I do not expect the Warriors to bring back both Barnes and Pietrus, with Barnes being the more likely player to return—their depth chart would look something like this:

PG: Ellis (22)/ Williams (21) or Livingston (21)/ C.J. Watson (24) SG: Jackson (30)/ Kelenna Azubuike (24)/ Marco Belinelli (22) F: Smith (22)/ Mickael Pietrus? (26)/ Matt Barnes? (28)/ Anthony Randolph (18) (R) F: Harrington (28)/ Wright (20)/ Richard Hendrix (21) (R) C: Biendris (22)/ Austin Croshere (63)/ Kosta Perovic (23)

While the point guard situation is worrisome, Monta Ellis’ passing and ball handling have improved massively. He should be able to make the transition to a scoring point guard who is still a playmaker, a la ex-Warrior Gilbert Arenas.

Jackson showed last season that he is capable of initiating the offense, if Ellis or Williams/Livingston is struggling. Watson, a D-League call-up from last year, also looked a competent NBA backup point last season. While the youth (read: inexperience) of this team may be terrifying next season, these moves would solidify the Warriors as one of the most exciting, talented young teams in the league. This is a team, if given time to grow together and mature, that could make a serious push around 2010, and be extremely exciting till then. Yeah, I wish Baron would come back. It would also be great to get Elton Brand, but I don’t see either of these things happening. Since the Warriors seem determined to blow big dollars on a free agent this summer, they should use them on J-Smoove.

Getting to Know the Premier League-Bound Stars of Euro 2008

Daniel Alvarez — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:57:48 -0400

With Spain and Germany about to put Euro 2008 to bed, the focus will soon return to the transfer window.

With English Premier League teams being linked with players left and right, the Bleacher Report wanted to shine the light on Euro 2008’s brightest stars who are set to enter the world’s best league.

Though rumors are swirling around the likes of David Villa, Andrei Arshavin, David Silva, and Lukas Podolski, this will focus on the three biggest stars of Euro 2008 who have already signed on for Premier League football.

Luka Modric
Age: 22
Country: Croatia
Former Club: Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
Current Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Price Tag: £15.8 million

Background: Luka Modric was very much the “hot name” floating around news sources and football fans. The diminutive (5-foot-8) central midfielder seemed destined to leave Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb, in search of greener pastures.

Modric was courted by Premier League heavyweights Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea but spurned them for a ticket to White Hart Lane. This move suits Modric well, because, at Spurs, he will be guaranteed a place and likely will grow into the maestro of Spurs’ midfield.

At the big three, he could have been one of many highly talented, inexperienced, and rarely used players.

Positives: As he has shown over his young career that he is one of the finest young, creative midfielders in the world. He has the ability to play just behind the forwards and feed them pinpoint, cutting passes.

He can also, as he does for Croatia, sit in just ahead of the fullbacks and use his quick touch, pace, and dribbling skills to control possession for his team. He also can be a lethal finisher, but I expect that he will be doing more creating for Keane, Bent (maybe), Berbatov (unlikely), and whichever new forward Juande Ramos brings in.

With top class strikers in front of him, expect Modric, if he stays healthy, to be one of the leading assist men in the EPL next year.

Negatives: Some worry that he is too small to excel in the physically demanding EPL. True, his build is more Terri Hatcher than John Terry, but there have been many undersized players to flourish at his position.

He’s about the same size as rival Arsenal playmaker Cesc Fabregas, as well as Liverpool’s tough tackling Javier Mascherano. However, these men have proven that they are tougher than their stature indicates, we’ll have to see if Luka can follow suit.

Performance at Euro 2008: Many have called him one of the players of the tournament. I agree. If it were not for a fluke loss against Turkey, Croatia would have tried their luck against Germany in the semis.

Also, if Croatia had any sort of quality in their strike force, Modric easily could have led the tournament in assists (i.e. the perfect ball he laid out to Ivica Olic against Turkey, right in front of goal, that he somehow put over the bar).

Coach Slaven Bilic was so pleased with his performance he claimed; “Only Kaka is better than Modric. He’s unstoppable, hard even to foul.”

The Bleacher Report is eagerly awaiting a response to Bilic from Cristiano Ronaldo. We hear he might be on permanent holiday in the Spanish capital….

Overall: While not likely on the same level as Ronaldo, Modric looks like a player who could pay serious dividends for Spurs next year. His ability to control a game from the midfield and his willingness to tackle will be vital if Spurs hope to challenge the "Big Four."

See Him in Action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZtYsLvRO1c&feature=related

Jose Bosingwa
Age: 25
Country: Portugal via Zaire
Former Club: FC Porto
Current Club: Chelsea
Price Tag: £16.3 million

Background: Bosingwa, a right back who loves to get forward, brings a winning pedigree to Stamford Bridge. He was a (small) part of the megalomaniacal Jose Mourinho’s F.C. Porto side that won the Champions League in 2003 and was, arguably, the best player in a side that won three straight Portuguese Championships.

He is also the first choice right back for Luis Felipe Scolari’s Portugal side. Bosingwa’s signing came as a surprise to most, as Chelsea had not even named their coach at the time. However, once Scolari was brought in, it all made sense.

Positives: He is a prototypical attacking right back. He loves to get up the flanks and can often cause match-up nightmares for opposing coaches. He is capable of pinpoint crosses stemming from his signature high-paced runs.

He also has outstanding ball skills for a defender and is capable of taking on opposing defenders. His ability to get forward is reminiscent of Sergio Ramos and Roberto Carlos. He also sports a phenomenal unibrow, which is reminiscent of the baby from the Simpsons and Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

Negatives: Like Ramos and Carlos, his propensity to go forward can often lead to problems in the back. He tends to get caught going too far forward, which can leave his club susceptible to the counter-attack. With counter-attacks being one of the trademarks of English football, he is going to have to be a little less selective with the runs he makes. Also, for a guy his size, I think he is a little soft.

He will have to prove his toughness, while not committing silly fouls, if he hopes to make regular appearances for Chelsea. Luckily, he will likely get lots of support from notorious “hard men” John Terry and Michael Essien and one of the classiest central defenders in the EPL, countryman Ricardo Carvalho.

With capable defenders like Juliano Belletti and Paulo Ferreira (don’t forget Essien can play right back) waiting in the wings, if Bosingwa does not produce early, expect him to be another star who is lost in the shuffle.

Performance at Euro 2008: I was highly disappointed with Bosingwa’s performance. In the group stage, he appeared solid, but that was only because he did not have to play a Premier League caliber striker (Nihat and Baros do not count). His first real test came against the Germans, where he was exposed. To be fair, the whole Portuguese back four was exposed (which is made up of three Chelsea players).

He was run ragged by Podolski and Klose, and was definitely at fault for the first goal. When he ventured forward he looked dynamic, but when called into defense he was inadequate. If that performance is any indication of how he does against classy strikers, Chelsea fans may be looking at another expensive disaster.

Overall: I just don’t think this will be a good fit. They already have Ashley Cole to fly up the left wing. They should have pursued a more defensive-minded right back. Chelsea has enjoyed its greatest success when they have played a more defensive minded game, and for that style, Bosingwa looks a square peg.

I think you will see more of Essien in the back, and I’d bet on Chelsea being in the market for a true right back come midseason.

See Him in Action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvjAirOULxc

Samir Nasri
Age: 20
Country: France
Former Club: Olympique de Marseille
Current Club: Arsenal
Price Tag: Around £13 million

Background: Nasri, a Marseille native, was another one of the most sought-after signatures in the EPL this year. At just age 20, the attacking midfielder oozes potential. He beat out French rising star, Karim Benzema, for French young player of the year in Ligue 1.

Though he has not technically signed for Arsenal, all sides claim that it is a done deal and has been for weeks. Arsenal was in need of help in the midfield after losing Alexander Hleb (probably to F.C. Barcelona) and Mathieu Flamini (AC Milan).

Nasri will be expected to help fill the hole left by the departing stars. Not to worry, though, he will still be aided by the services of Cesc Fabregas, who seems like a perfect mentor for the Frenchman.

Positives: Like Modric, Nasri is a wizard with the ball. In France, he constantly showed a deft touch, as well as the desire to make others around him better. He is a well-built kid, who will likely be unfazed by the tough tackles he will likely encounter.

He also gives Arsenal another player who can create chances by his own sheer brilliance, as he is adept at taking on defenders.

He is almost the prototypical Wenger midfielder, whose selfless attitude and deft touch should turn him into a hit at the Emirates. He also stopped bleaching that horrific, wannabe Beckham Mohawk into his hair, which rivaled David Bentley’s for the worst Mohawk in Europe.

Negatives: While he has done well at Marseille, he has yet to make a large impact on the senior French National Team. However, that is not necessarily his fault. Many in the French media were shouting for French coach Raymond Domenech to start Nasri over 68 year-old Claude Makelele.

However, Nasri only saw the field for 32 minutes, and was unable to make an impact. Also, some are worried that the media and fans have set expectations that are too lofty for a twenty year-old to achieve.

Replacing a guy like Hleb isn’t easy, especially for someone who can’t drink in the States. However, many think that the “new Zidane” will be up to the task.

Performance at Euro 2008: Thanks, Raymond… (see above).

Overall: This is another strong signing by Arsene’s men. Nasri, like Modric, will be playing against much stiffer competition than he faced in his domestic league, but I think that he will be a hit at the Emirates.

For the Gunners’ sake, let’s hope he shows The Emirates a little more loyalty than Flamini and Hleb.

See Him in Action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dmtNB61Vxc&feature=related

I will be back in the next couple of weeks, as guys like Villa, Podolski, and Polish keeper Artur Boruc sort out their futures. Until then, lets hope that the world’s second best midfielder, Roberto Carlos 2.0, and the “new Zidane” are as good as some claim them to be.

While reality rarely lives up to hype, an EPL fan can dream…right?

2007 NBA Draft: Assessing the Biggest Trades a Year Later

Daniel Alvarez — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:09:29 -0400

As the 2008 NBA Draft approaches, NBA fans are bombarded by trade rumors. Though most never happen (Warriors' fans are praying that Ford’s Brandan Wright and the No. 14 pick for Yi is one of those rumors), there seem to always be a few that do.

I thought I would take a look back at the three biggest of draft day trades of last year and try to find a winner and a loser for each deal. The draft saw three 20-plus per game scorers switch zip codes, so let’s get this started.

The Deal

The Charlotte Bobcats trade the rights to the No. 8 pick (Brandan Wright) for Jason Richardson and the rights to the No. 36 pick (Jermareo Davidson). The Golden State Warriors receive a $9.9 million trade exemption.

Why the Bobcats did it:

Michael. Jeffery. Jordan. Jordan’s track record for personnel decisions is about as good as Kwame Brown’s career has been. Besides drafting uber-bust Brown No. 1 (and subsequently killing his confidence by verbally abusing him in practice), he also traded a first-round pick for the mediocre, immature Brendon Haywood.

It also includes trading for an aging Jerry Stackhouse at the expense of an up-and-comer named Rip Hamilton. Let’s not forget about him drafting Jared Jeffries and Juan Dixon in the top 20 of the 2002 draft.

Before the draft, Jordan made it clear that he had no interest in waiting around for a project. So, he bit on the first offer for a proven veteran, even though it cost him a blue chip talent (from his Alma Mater).

Did I forget to mention that Richardson is owed roughly $40 mil over the next three years?

Why the Warriors did it:

As popular as Richardson was in Oakland, Mullin’s poor decisions to invest big money in Mike Dunleavy, Adonal Foyle, Troy Murphy, Derek Fisher, and Jason Richardson seemed destined to keep the Warriors in salary cap hell until, at least, 2010.

With promising young players Andris Biendris and Monta Ellis about to demand big contracts, Mullin was determined to open up the salary cap space necessary to resign them.

Amazingly, Mullin was able to move the contracts of Dunleavy, Murphy, and Fisher, but he knew that the only way he could stay under the cap and re-sign Ellis and Biendris was to move Richardson (and the $50 million he owed him).

He also felt Ellis and Kelenna Azubuike could fill the 20 ppg that they would lose without Richardson.

How the Deal looks a year later:

Michael Jordan was quoted as saying that he thought that Richardson’s “clutchness” would help the young Bobcats win the close games necessary to make them a contender for the Eastern Conference Playoffs. A closer look at the statistics shows that Richardson was below average in “clutch” situations (under five minutes, neither team ahead by more than five).

82games.com found that his replacement, Ellis, was a superior clutch performer, and even Azubuike, who made less than one-tenth of what Richardson makes, was an equally effective crunch time player.

To his credit, Richardson stayed healthy for all 82 games and scored over twenty points per game (21.2). However, his production did not equate to more wins for the Cats. They went 32-50, which was one game worse than their 33-49 last year.

The Warriors benefitted from this move for three reasons. First, with Richardson out of the way, Nelson could give the reigns to superstar in the making, Monta Ellis. Ellis started 72 games this year (his most ever) and was firmly entrenched as the Warriors top shooting guard.

He paid Nellie back by shooting 53.1 percent (as compared to Richardson’s 44 percent) and scoring over twenty per. Many Warriors' fans worried that Ellis wouldn’t get the touches necessary to bloom into a true star, but with Richardson gone he was able to do just that.

Secondly, Wright looks like a hell of a prospect. Though Nellie played him sparingly (go figure), while on the floor, Wright showed flashes of brilliance that has the Bay Area buzzing. Though he still has much to prove, he has won fans in the media, too.

ESPN Draft Guru David Thorpe had this to say about Wright during the season, “I watched Wright's entire pregame workout in Oakland last week, and I loved what I saw. The drills were spirited and smart, and Wright oozes skill and talent. On another team, I think he would stand out in this class.”

Though this seemed to be an excellent move from a basketball perspective, it was also a great move from a business angle. The trade exemption gives Mullin the luxury to be much more aggressive in this upcoming draft. He can use the exemption to take back a big, unattractive contract, which increases the likelihood of teams to deal with the Warriors.

An example of a potential deal would be, and this is pure speculation, Memphis trading the No. 5 pick and Brian Cardinal for either the Warriors first or second rounder. Since Memphis has struggled getting blue chip players to commit to coming, this trade could be attractive to both teams.

If Mullin elects not to use the exemption, he can just let it expire and use the extra salary cap space to re-sign existing free agents or sign new players.

Winner: Warriors. They get salary cap flexibility, a blue chip talent, and added touches for a rising star, while Charlotte gets an overpriced, aging spot-up shooter. This one was easy.

The Deal

The Seattle Supersonics trade Ray Allen and the rights to the No. 35 pick (Glen “Big Baby” Davis) to the Boston Celtics for the rights to Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, and the rights to the No. 5 pick (Jeff Green).

Why the Celtics Did It:

The Celtics were at a crossroads. They had enough young talent (Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo) and attractive contracts (Theo Ratliff, Szczerbiak) to make attractive trade partners for mediocre teams looking to dump their veteran superstars. On the other hand, Paul Pierce still had enough trade value for the Celtics to get quality young talent from.

Luckily for Celtics fans, Ainge chose the former and built around Pierce. Though Allen was 31 at the time and was owed almost 60 million, Ray Allen was still a fantastic shooter who could spread the floor. Glen Davis, while an afterthought, was a winner in college and displayed toughness and hustle at LSU.

Why the Sonics Did It:

The Sonics also had a decision to make. They could have kept Allen, tried to re-sign free agent Rashard Lewis (which we know now would have cost them over $100 million), draft Kevin Durant, and hope that this team could compete in the loaded Western Conference without a decent point guard or center.

GM Sam Presti decided that this wasn’t a good idea and decided to sell Allen while he still had value and let Lewis walk.

Though Szczerbiak and West are both decent players, the real allure of this deal was their price tags. They shipped Allen’s almost $60 mil for only about $30 mil back. Presti also decided that Jeff Green would be a great long-term sidekick for Durant.

Also, the departure of Allen told Durant that he would have to be the man for the Sonics.

How the Deal looks a year Later:

It is safe to say that it worked out pretty well for Boston. The prospect of playing with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce gave Kevin Garnett the incentive to come to Boston.

Once the KG trade happened and Ainge made a few smart signings (Eddie House, James Posey, P.J. Brown), Boston cruised to the best record in the league and made an incredible run to the NBA Championship. Glen Davis also turned out to be a solid contributor down low.

For the Sonics, I think Sam Presti will tell you this trade did exactly what he wanted it to. They traded Szczerbiak and West at the trade deadline for Donyell Marshall, Ira Newble, and Adrian Griffin. Though they will contribute nothing to the Sonics on the court, their miniscule, expiring contracts will help the Sonics cut salary even more (owed a combined $6 mil).

As for Jeff Green, he had a very solid rookie year. He was named to the 1st team all-rookie team. He had nice averages of 10.5 points and 4.7 boards per game. He also contributes hard-nosed defense. He does not look like a star in the making, but he looks like a solid contributor who will probably be about a 30/35 minute per game player for a long time.

Winner: Celtics. I think everyone knows why. However, I think this was still a good deal for Seattle. Though many of their fans did not support the move, the Sonics will be one of the only teams with significant cap space next season. However, the Sonics should have used the No. 5 pick on Brandan Wright, who is a better prospect at this point.

The Deal

The New York Knicks trade Steve Francis and Channing Frye to the Portland Trail Blazers for Zach Randolph, Dan Dickau, Fred Jones, and the rights to No. 53 pick (Demetris Nichols).

Why the Knicks did it:

Because, it’s the Knicks (at least, the Isaiah-led Knicks). Strangely, this trade was lauded by all the talking heads on ESPN, especially Stephen A. Smith, because the trade netted them a “superstar”.

Randolph’s statistics have been impressive throughout his career (16 and 8 for his career), and Isaiah stated that Randolph’s low post dominance would pay huge dividends in an Eastern Conference that was wide open.

If Randolph produced in the power forward heavy Western Conference, it seemed likely that he could continue his dominance in the East and potentially be New York’s first all-star since Patrick Ewing (not really, but it feels that way).

They only had to give up malcontent Steve Francis (and his two-year, roughly $40 million dollar deal) and somewhat promising, 2005 Lottery Pick Channing Frye. Thomas felt that even if Frye fulfilled his full potential, he likely wouldn’t be any better than Randolph was at the time of the trade.

Why the Blazers did it:

Zach Randolph was the last of the “Jail Blazers” (Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stoudamire, Ruben “No Means Yes” Patterson, Qyntel “Where Are They Now” Woods, Bonzi “The Fans Don’t Matter to Us” Wells, and, of course, Steve Kerr) who were wildly unpopular among Blazers fans and David Stern.

The idea of having a young, impressionable Greg Oden within shouting distance of Zach Randolph terrified Pritchard. Pritchard also wanted no part of paying Randolph the last four years of his six-year, $84 million dollar deal. Though the Blazers ended up buying out Francis for over $30 million, when your owner is $16.8 billion man Paul Allen, 30 mil is worth not having to deal with Francis’ crap.

Channing Frye was, and still is, an interesting prospect, but this deal was about finishing the overhaul that Pritchard and Allen started when Pritchard was signed in 2007.

How the Deal looks a year later:

Sorry Mr. Walsh, Isaiah left you with one more mess to clean up. Randolph, completely unsurprisingly, did not fit well together with incumbent big man Eddy Curry (except potentially at the Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Competition). The two New York bigs, who are owed a shocking $80 million over the next three years, were absolutely worthless defensively.

When your frontline averages .69 blocks per game, it is clear that you have a problem protecting the rim. The combo worked so horribly that backup David Lee averaged more minutes than Curry and almost as many as Randolph. Isaiah Thomas simply could not afford to play Curry and Z-Bo together, because of their defensive deficiencies.

Also, since Curry is worthless without the ball in his hands, he had his worst statistical season since 2002 (his second year). Things were so bad that Thomas was openly trying to trade one or both of his big men before the trade deadline. Walsh will have a hell of a time unloading either of these guys anytime soon.

For Portland, the deal worked out exactly how they expected. Though Oden was lost for the season, due to offseason micro fracture surgery, second-year man LaMarcus Aldridge flourished without Z-Bo, averaging 17.8 and 7.6 boards. With Oden coming back next year and Portland sporting a better image, Pritchard and Allen could not be happier about how things are going.

In the case of Frye, he had a sub-par year, and was stuck behind Joel Przybilla and Aldridge. With Oden coming back this year, expect Frye to find a new home when his contract is up.

Winner: Do I have to even say it? Isaiah gambles on another player with a big name and a massive contract, and it blows up in his face again. The Knicks will spend this summer begging teams to take either Randolph or Curry, while the Blazers look to a future full of hope.