Bleacher Report - Articles by Evan Einhorn

They Weren't Kidd-ing: Jason Kidd is Now a Maverick

Evan Einhorn — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 03:39:39 -0500

After almost a week of major talk, the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets have finally come up with a deal that will work.

The new re-worked deal has point guard Jason Kidd as well as forward Malik Allen traveling to Dallas, while point guard Devin Harris, center DeSagana Diop, and forward-guard Maurice Ager travel to New Jersey with a few new additions to the trade.

The Nets will also pick up forward Keith Van Horn (retired) and guard-forward Trenton Hassell. The Mavericks are also giving up two first-round draft picks and 3 million cash.

Mark Cuban has been looking at Kidd for a while and the Nets were looking to give up their 35 year-old point guard for a younger team. Well, they got 24 year-old Devin Harris.

The trade is probably going to be proposed for league approval today.

Looks like Mark Cuban cheering Jason Kidd on throughout All-Star weekend showed that something was brewing while the nation was focused on all the All-Star festivities.

NBA All-Star Game Predictions

Evan Einhorn — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:31:29 -0500

After watching Daniel Gibson drop eleven three-pointers on the rookies, Tim Duncan make a half-court shot during the Haier Shooting Contest, Deron Williams complete the Playstation Challenge in record time, Jason Kapono win the three-point contest again, and Dwight Howard dress up as superman and win the dunk contest, I am ready for the All-Star Game. I predict that...

1. Kobe Bryant will NOT be MVP.

Kobe's possible dislocated finger has him wanting to not play at all. But league rules say that if you are healthy enough to play the last game before the break and the first one after you cannot be excused from the game. For once in his life, he cares about his organization and does not want to risk dislocated his finger again.

2. Shaquille O'Neal will make sure his presence is known.

After 14 consecutive All-Star games (NBA record-tying streak), he will have to sit the 2008 NBA All Star game out. He has been all over New Orleans and the All-Star events, don't expect him to miss this one.

3. Dwight Howard will dunk, dunk, and...dunk.

He will not miss his chance of glammer. Howard won the dunk contest by a huge margin Saturday night, and will look to make himself look like a true All-Star during the game. Once Yao Ming and the West take a little break, he will have some fun with the basket.

4. Charles Barkley will make negative remarks about Steve Nash or the Suns.

Barkley, a former Sun, seems to always criticize the Suns and their style of play during a national broadcast. He did slip a little though, he said the Suns are a better team with Shaq. He is just jealous that they might win the championship and his team in Phoenix never won.

5. Everytime Kidd's name is announced Mark Cuban will get excited.

Mark Cuban loves Jason Kidd, and would love for Kidd to play for him and the Mavericks. Saturday night, at the Playstation Skills Challenge, Cuban was cheering for Kidd as he was announced and when he completed the challenge. The announcers called the competition an "audition" for Mark Cuban.

6. The West bench will outscore the East bench by at least 20 points.

First, Steve Nash shouldn't even be on the bench, he'll put on a little show probably including a few ally oops. Dirk, last year's MVP, will be coming off the bench and he'll make a few fade-aways. The West also has two electrifying players on the bench, Chris Paul and Amare Stoudemire. I don't think the East's bench matches up with the West bench.

7. The West will beat the East AGAIN (but only by a few points, not by 21).

The Western Conference is much better than the Eastern Conference in regard to players. Look at the rosters. Who do you think is going to win?

Eastern Conference:

Jason Kidd (NJ), Dwayne Wade (MIA), Lebron James (CLE), Dwight Howard (ORL), Ray Allen (BOS), Chauncey Billups (DET), Chris Bosh (TOR), Richard Hamilton (DET), Antwan Jamison (WAS), Joe Johnson (ATL), Paul Pierce (BOS), Rasheed Wallace (DET)

Western Conference:

Kobe Bryant (LA), Allen Iverson (DEN), Carmelo Anthony (DEN), Tim Duncan (SA), Yao Ming (HOU), Carlos Boozer (UTA), Steve Nash (PHX), Dirk Nowitzki (DAL), Chris Paul (NO), Brandon Roy (POR), Amare Stoudemire (PHX), David West (NO)

NBA All-Star Weekend: Rookies-Sophomores Game Preview

Evan Einhorn — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:02:36 -0500

It's officially the 2008 All-Star Weekend in New Orleans, a time where most players relax and a select few get to have some fun on the courts.

Friday night on TNT at 9:00 EST we'll have the Rookie Challenge, where this year’s rookie class will take on last year’s squad.

So who will win the game? Will it be a blowout like last year (155-114)?

In the past eight seasons, the rookies have only won twice: in 2000 and in 2003. This year the sophomores are favored by 12 points by many odd makers.

The rookies should put up a good fight though. They have Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Al Horford leading their team. Too bad Greg Oden was injured. His participation would have made for an even closer game, a far more exciting match.

Playing alongside Durant, Green, and Horford are Memphis' Mike Conley, Milwaukee's Yi Jianlian, Houston's Luis Scola, Toronto's Jamario Moon, Memphis' Juan Navarro, and New Jersey's Sean Williams.

Playing for the sophomores are Portland's Brandon Roy (the reigning rookie of the year), his teammate LaMarcus Aldridge, Toronto's Andrea Bargnani, Utah's Ronnie Brewer and Paul Millsap, LA's Jordan Farmar, Memphis' Rudy Gay, Cleveland's Daniel Gibson, and Boston's Rajon Rondo.

The sophomore team is packed with guards. I think this will put them at a disadvantage on the defensive end—being a little undersized—but we will see what happens.

Who do you think is going to win?

NBA Trade News: Jason Kidd on the Move?

Evan Einhorn — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:13:10 -0500

February 22nd, just a regular day for most Americans.

But for sports enthusiasts and general managers in the NBA, it is the deadline of making any big move for giving their team a chance at a playoff berth, getting rid of an overpaid player, or getting some potential, future stars for some older veteran.

The NBA trade deadline has caused trade rumor madness, but within this madness, there are a select few rumors that are seriously considered, and even a couple rumors that have actually been converted into official trades.

Currently, the biggest rumor that some say is likely to happen is the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets trade.

According to WFAN radio and sportsline.com, the trade has been made official. The New Jersey Nets would reportedly trade Jason Kidd and Malik Allen to the Mavericks for Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop, Devean George, possibly Maurice Ager, and probably two future draft picks with around three million in cash on top of it all.

All of this trade talk happens just three days after Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, was quoted by reporters saying, "For us to make the numbers work in a deal like that, we would have to trade away half the team...I just don't see anything happening."

Well, Mark, according to thousands of sports enthusiasts there will be something happening.

Teams and players are thinking of all possible trades. Even Lebron James is getting in on the action. According to the Associated Press, Lebron James urged the Cavaliers organization to make a trade for Jason Kidd, weeks ago.

All of this Kidd trade talk happens roughly a week after the Shaquille O'Neal and Shawn Marion trade that happened about five days after the Pau Gasol trade. The trades seem like they are working as a chain-reaction.

The Lakers get Pau Gasol, then the Suns, division rivals, get a big man in the post, then the Mavericks, a strong playoff competitor, have a trade in the making for Jason Kidd. Notice all of this action is strengthening the Western Conference playoff race.

Many sports analysts commented on how much stronger the Western Conference was compared to the Eastern Conference during last year's playoffs. Then, the draft seemed to make the Western Conference stronger, disregarding the Celtics, because the two star players, Durant and Oden, both ended up on the west-coast. Now, we have up to three big trades adding to the interest and strength of the Western Conference.

What will happen to the Eastern Conference in the playoffs this year with all this trade fuss?

Guaranteed NBA Champions: Shaq with Suns

Evan Einhorn — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:30:41 -0500

There have been rumors over the last hours of Shaquille O'Neal of the Miami Heat being traded to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion and possibly Marcus Banks.

If the trade happens, the Suns' starting five would be Steve Nash (two-time MVP), Raja Bell (2006-2007 All-Defensive 1st Team), Amare Stoudemire (three-time All-Star), Grant Hill, and Shaquille O'Neal (veteran and 14-time All-Star).

This starting five would demolish any team that gets in their way. Don't forget Leandro Barbosa (6th Man of the Year), Boris Diaw and, if they need another big man, Brian Skinner coming off the bench.

Amare Stoudemire would thrive with veteran advice and another big man in the game with him. This is similar to the Pau Gasol effect on Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Teams cannot guard Kobe as well because, when they are playing zone or other defenses, they can't forget about Pau in the middle. Amare would be a double threat, having Shaq take some of the attention in the post away from him.

Steve Nash has to be taken into consideration, also. His great ball-handling skills and awareness would have Shaq dunking over an undersized opponent whenever Nash sees a mismatch.

Some will speculate the Suns will lose their "fast break" effect. With Nash and Barbosa at guard, they will never lose all their speed. Now, with their speed, they will have power in the post.

They would be contenders with the Lakers their newly acquired Pau Gasol, the Spurs with Tim Duncan and the Mavericks with Dirk Nowitzki. Don't forget about that 5th ring for Shaq.

With Shaq, they would be able to also beat the Celtics with Kevin Garnett in the post. The Suns are a sure thing for a championship with Shaq.