Some NBA Preview E-Mail Thoughts

Nick:

I just wanted to know everyone's thoughts on all the most recent free agent developments. Of course, I'm most interested in Boston's signing of Rasheed and the likely signing of Big Baby by the Spurs. Hedo to the Raptors and the Pistons signings are not as much of an issue in terms of turning them in to contenders in the short term.

I think Rasheed is a great fit for the Celtics off the bench—a huge upgrade over Big Baby Davis. Big Baby can hit the midrange, but Sheed can hit from just about anywhere on the floor.

Big Baby to the Spurs by itself is not a huge deal, but if the Spurs are healthy they have to be the favorites after the Lakers out of the West. They have a healthy big three and the new blood of Richard Jefferson, DaJuan Blair, Jack McClinton (a Eddie House-style player out of Miami) and Big Baby is pretty scary.

In light of all the movements, I'm warming up to Artest more and more—The Lakers couldn't have just stood still during this off season. If we keep Odom, this could be an amazing team.

What do you guys think about the other teams' moves?

Devinder:

Rasheed is 35 years old and the Celtics are betting on experience, which is crucial in the playoffs. This move is similar to the Lakers getting Gary Payton and karl Malone in the 2004 season.

I think age will (has) caught up with the Celtics, and the rigor of keeping up with Cleveland and Orlando will take its toll on the four 30-something stars that they have: Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace.

The Lakers probably have a deal with Lamar which will be announced on Wednesday. And with Artest, they get a good defender, a good three point shooter as well as someone who will use some technicals to intimidate opponents. Phil coming back is a huge deal, and he probably pushed for the Artest trade.

If Portland had landed Turkoglu, that would have been a definite upgrade for them. I am glad he went to Toronto. The Magic are weakened, and unless Dwight learns some other moves (and improves his free throw shooting), the Magic will not make it back to the Finals.

Shaq will disrupt :ebron's game too much and Cleveland will regret getting him. At 37, Shaq is too heavy to be effective on a consistent basis—expecially in seven game series that are played over 14 days. He helps them against other big men, but will not work out overall.

Finally, the Lakers (and Kobe) have to play just as hungry and motivated this year as they did this past year. Kobe has to enforce. Bynum has to come out strong and consistent.

Prashant:

The Spurs biggest knock has been their age but they just got a huge upgrade with Richard Jefferson. And if they get Big Baby or Shawn Marion, the Spurs they look scary out West. They could match the Lakers in shooting for a 70-win season if everyone stays healthy.

Ginobili is a scoring beast and any team is going to have difficulties matching up with both him and Jefferson on the wing—as well as with Duncan down low and a quick-as-hell Tony Parker.

Just looking at the Lakers, we are probably the only team in the league that can truly guard the Spurs' wings effectively—with both Kobe and Artest. But Los Angeles would still have trouble with Duncan and Parker.

I think the Lakers realized that they were good. But with Ginobili, Garnett, Nelson injured, they did have an easier time than they would have. With that said, the path was easier but we still struggled at times.

And the Artest upgrade merely matches the trades other teams have made, and the teams that have people coming back from injury. We need one more piece in ADDITION to Lamar Odom, in my opinion, to match all the improved and now-healthy teams out there.

That piece could be internal: Andrew Bynum being as dominant for a season as he is for certain stretches we have seen.

It could be Farmar taking over the point from Fisher and flourishing. It could be Vujacic returning to 2008 form.

But other than that, Kobe, Odom, and Gasol are basically playing the best they will play.

I think the Lakers will make one more move before the trade deadline involving Odom/Morrison/Yue/Farmar/Vujacic/Walton—and MAYBE, maybe, maybe even Bynum (even though he has been off-limits in the past) if they can convince themselves to part with him.