Myths and Facts About Eastern Conference Post-Trades

Myth: Shaq will put the Cavs over the top

Fact: Vince Carter or Richard Jefferson would have put the Cavs over the top.

(Rationale: What do you think the Cavs organization has as their top agenda: 1)winning a championship or keeping Lebron? If it was really the first, they would have picked up Carter or Jefferson, as either would have given the Cavs the scoring balance they sorely needed in the playoffs this year. However, both Jefferson and Carter have contracts which go beyond 2010, while Shaq's contract conveniently expires right at that very time. The Cavs are hoping to keep Lebron by getting either Chris Bosh or Amare to join him there next year. Shaq is only a one year rental at this point in his career and he is too damaged and too out of shape to put the Cavs over the top. How ironic that if I have correctly assessed the Cavs logic, it would mean that they think getting a big name sidekick next year will compel Lebron to re-sign more than legitimately having a shot to win the championship this year.

Myth: The Clippers got the best player in the draft.

Fact: The Magic got the best player in the draft.

(Rationale: Okay, Vince Carter wasn't in the draft, but no team improved their team more on draft night in the immediate future than the Magic. Even if you want to hypothetically argue that Shaq was enough to push the Cavs past the Magic, Orlando raised the ante by getting Carter. Without Hedo, the Magic are still a better team than the one that was eliminated in the Finals, especially considering the Finals experience each player picked up. However, with Hedo, the Magic have the best offensive team in the East, and are deadly from every spot on the court. Not only does Carter's addition virtually force teams to single cover Howard, it also gives them an even better go-to scorer in the end of games.)

Myth: Magic are the best team in the East.

Fact: The Celtics are the best team in the East.

(Rationale: I can actually explain this in one simple sentence. Who is better-Carter or KG? Even though I hate him and I think he's a douchebag, it's KG. And after the Celtics forced the Magic to a game 7 in the playoffs without KG, I think KG's addition in next year's playoffs will offset Carter's. Plus, the Celtics play the best defense of any team in the East, and they may have the one and only guy that can force Howard into a bad game-Kendrick Perkins. Oh, and KG is out of his mind and Rondo looks like he could've played for Tupac's character Birdie in the Shoot-out tournament in the movie Above the Rim. Case in point-the Celts are still the class of the east).

Myth: Wizards helped themselves by trading the 5th pick in the draft.

Fact: The Wizards further messed themselves up by trading the 5th pick in the draft.

(Rationale: What I'm about to say is completely subjective and I truly hope you all love me for it. The Wolves got Rubio with the 5th pick, and Rubio is probably the most skilled point guard to come out of the draft since Chris Paul. His passing skills look about as good as Pauls and that certainly would have come in handy with a team that features Arenas, Butler, and Jamison. Say what you will about Arenas, but he is more of a scorer than a point guard. Foye isn't a bad addition, but you have to keep things relative. And relative in this situation, Rubio would have been a nice foundation to build a team full of scorers around.)

Myth: Atlanta will make it passed the 2nd round.

Fact: Atlanta needs to trade Josh Smith to make it passed the 2nd round.

(Rationale: As a Heat fan, no one outside of Atlanta can better assess the Hawks then I can. They are the most athletic team in the NBA, they have an underrated first option in Joe Johnson, and they lack more poise than any team in the NBA. No, I'm not being bitter, but I cannot in all good conscience ever convince myself that a team can rely on someone as emotionally unstable as Josh Smith. The worst thing about it is that Smith averages about 20 shots a game, and he has the worst jump shot in basketball!!!! I repeat, the worst!!!! The addition of Jamal Crawford will help the team, assuming they keep their floor leader Mike Bibby, but they have to get rid of Josh Smith and bring in a player that is more steady. This may sound a little ludicrous but what about a trade for Amare with a package starting with Josh Smith? It's something to think about.)

Myth: The Miami Heat need to make a move.

Fact: Trading Beasley for Rubio was the move!!!!

(Rationale: Miami is not making any trades this offseason and they are basically going to bank on next summer to completely transform the fortunes of the franchise. The only problem is that the East got a lot better and Miami is at a stalemate with Wade. Just like the Cavs did getting Shaq, Miami got their own O'neil in the middle of last season to give Wade a serviceable big man while giving the team tons of free agency in 2010 when his contract expires. The only problem is that Wade's team is going to suck this year if it stays this way and I think all the diehard heat fans (myself included) have to worry that it may be the straw that forces him to leave for a team like the Knicks next year. If only they traded Beasley for Rubio, Wade would finally have someone who could relieve him from the point guard duties that he so disdains, and Rubio would have been the perfect sidekick to add to an attacker like Wade. In a nutshell, the Wade leaving Miami alert got raised to "AYEEEEEE" after yesterday.)

Myth: The Knicks are going to stink next season.

Fact: The Knicks are going to stink next season, but...

(Rationale: But they are still riding in the bliss that Isiah Thomas is nowhere near the team. Also, they can keep busy next year hoping for the Cavs to fail, and subsequently hoping that Lebron gets fed up enough that he comes to play for his favorite city in the world.)