Former UConn Huskies Reunite In Detroit

The Detroit Pistons have agree to sign former Bulls guard Ben Gordon and former Bucks forward Charlie Villianueva. Gordon will be getting $55 million over five years while Villianueva gets $35 million over five years.

Could these two players bring a ring back to Detroit?

I don't know, but the last time these two players were on the same team, they won the 2004 NCAA Championship with UConn. The Pistons last won a title in 2004 and the last time Detroit acquired a versatile power forward (Rasheed Wallace), they won the NBA Championship.

Could that really spell a championship for the Pistons?

Pistons Probable Lineup

PG—Stuckey

SG—Hamilton

SF—Prince

PF—Villianueva

C—Brown

Key Reserves

SG—Gordon

C—Oberto

SG—Afflalo

PG—Bynum

I'm sure that the Pistons aren't done this offseason as they attempt to re-sign forward Antoino McDyess. I could really see Detriot possibly getting the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference as it stands right now.

In other news, the Los Angeles Clippers agreed to trade power forward Zach Randolph to the Memphis Grizzles for Quentin Richardson. This trade allows the Clippers to put the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Blake Griffin, in the starting lineup and gives an expiring contract so they free up some cap space in 2010.

The Grizzles get an All-Star caliber player in Randolph to improve their team and possibly contend for a playoff spot.

I believe this was a steal for the Memphis Grizzles.

They get a player who can get you 20 points per game and they will add him in a lineup with Thabeet, Gay, Mayo and Conley. You have a great young core that can win 30 to 35 games right now and could contend for a playoff spot in the 2010-11 season.

I understand why the Clippers made the trade but they could have got a better deal. Quentin Richardson returns to Clippers and he gives them great shooting and depth at the wing positions.

Clippers Probable Lineup

PG—Davis

SG—Gordon

SF—Thornton

PF—Griffin

C—Camby

Key Reserves

C—Kaman

SF—Richardson

SF—Novak

Grizzles Probable Lineup

PG—Conley

SG—Mayo

SF—Gay

PF—Randolph

C—Thabeet

Key Reserves

C—Gasol

SF—Young

PF—Warrick

On June 25, the Orlando Magic traded shooting guard Courtney Lee, point guard Rafer Alston and forward/center Tony Battie for shooting guard Vince Carter and forward Ryan Anderson. This trade pretty much closes the door for Hedo Turkoglu in Orlando for next season.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors seem have lots of interest in Hedo.

If he goes to Toronto, he can help turn that team into a possible second round team in the East. He'll bring his great shooting as well as his ability to create shots for himself and others. He'll take pressure off of Bosh and DeRozan plus giving the Raptors that second scorer that Marion and O'Neal was unable to give them last season.

Toronto Probable Lineup (if they sign Turkoglu)

PG—Calderon

SG—DeRozan

SF—Turkoglu

PF—Bosh

C—Bargnani

Key Reserves

PF—Evans

SG—Graham

PG—Banks

Going to Portland may be a perfect fit for Turkoglu.

They could use another scorer to help out Roy and Aldridge. He can help Aldridge get easier shot attempts with his play-making ability. He can take some of the pressure off of Roy in the clutch and can take the ball out of Steve Blake's hands in crucial situations (Roy can also do this). He can create lots of match-up problems for the elite Western Conference teams (like the Spurs, Lakers, Rockets, Mavericks, Nuggets, Hornets, etc.) with his incredible size, ability to score off the dribble and ability to drive to the rim.

Portland Probable Lineup

PG—Blake

SG—Roy

SF—Turkoglu

PF—Aldridge

C—Oden

Key Reserves

C—Przybilla

SF—Outlaw

SG—Fernandez

SF—Batum

Over the past few days, we have heard a lot of rumors, injuries, possible free agents signings from the Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors. I was thinking about the possibility of a four-team trade between the teams. Now, this trade most likey won't happen but personally I would love for it to go down.

Knicks Get: SG Tracy McGrady, PG Steve Nash, PG/SG Stephen Curry

Warriors Get: PF Amare Stoudemire, PG Nate Robinson (sign and trade deal)

Suns Get: PF Brandan Wright, SF Wilson Chandler, SF Corey Maggette, PG Chris Duhon

Rockets Get: C Andris Biedrins, C Ben Wallace, SG Marco Belinelli

Knicks Probable Lineup

PG—Nash

SG—Curry

SF—McGrady

PF—Lee (if they re-sign him)

C—Hill

Key Reserves

SG—Larry Hughes

C—Milicic

SF—Gallinari

The Knicks can really make the postseason with this team (if everyone stays healthy) and possibly win a first round series. They will sell a lot of tickets with McGrady, Nash, and Curry on their team. McGrady, Nash, and Hughes all have expiring contracts and would free up a lot of cap space for 2010 to try to get LeBron and another superstar.

Warriors Probable Lineup

PG—Law

SG—Ellis

SF—Jackson

PF—Randolph

C— Stoudemire

Key Reserves

PG—Robinson

C—Turiaf

SG—Morrow

The departures of Maggette, Wright, Biedrins, Belinelli and Curry may seem like a lot just for Stoudemire and Robinson, but they could be just as good. This trade allows a lot of the Warriors' young players to get some playing time and begin to develop. They get Nate Robinson who has already prove to be one of the best sixth men in the NBA with his amazing scoring ability plus they add one of the best players in the NBA in Amare Stoudemire.

They can still contend for a playoff spot in the West.

Phoenix Suns Probable Lineup

PG—Duhon

SG—Richardson

SF—Chandler

PF—Clark

C—Lopez

Key Reserves

PG—Barbosa

SF—Maggette

C—Swift

This trade may not make the Suns better immediately but eventually they can become an elite team once again by 2010-11 season. They have a young core to build around with Duhon, Clark and Chandler, plus they have a quality go-to scorer in Richardson and an explosive bench led by Barbosa and Maggette. They can win 35 games next season and if they sign or trade for a superstar in 2010, they can become a 50-win team in two seasons.

Rockets Probable Lineup (if Yao is out for the season)

PG—Brooks

SG—Artest (if they re-sign him)

SF—Battier

PF—Scola

C—Biedris

Key Reserves

C—Wallace

PF—Landry

PG—Lowry

Rockets Probable Lineup (if Yao can play next season)

PG—Brooks

SG—Artest

SF—Battier

PF—Biedris

C—Yao

Key Reserves

PF—Scola

PF—Landry

C—Wallace

If the Rockets don't have Yao next season, they can still make the playoffs with this trade.

They get bigger up front and add depth to a team that already has a deep bench. They can get scoring from Wafer, Budinger or Belinelli on any given night off the bench. Artest may thrive on being the go-to scorer and the Rockets may surprise many in the postseason.

With Yao, the Rockets may be an early favorite along with the Lakers and Spurs to win the West.

As you see, the offseason has already proved to be exciting with big names like Shaq, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson who have already been traded to high-value rookies put in unique situations, and free agency changing the faces and directions of some franchises.

The best thing about it is that the offseason has just started and there are many more transactions yet to come. Hopefully, this coming season will prove to be a great one after these crazy moves of the 2009 off-season are finalized.