Kleeman's Jumphook: Wade On the Bulls, and Offseason Winners and Losers

Why critique some of the trades that happened weeks ago now?

I waited so I could critique the moves made to counteract those initial Richard Jefferson, Shaquille O' Neal, and Vince Carter deals.

Some have upgraded through free agency and trades, and a few selected steals in an otherwise porous draft.

With each team's plans becoming more apparent, it is not premature to begin talking training camp rosters. After weeks of wheeling and dealing, do the Jefferson, Carter and O'Neal acquisitions appear as impressive?

Before I examine that ... 

Understanding the Chicago Bulls not-so-strange offseason

If you walk or drive down Biscayne Boulevard toward American Airlines Center in Miami and see enormous puddles of water, it's not rain. That would be Heat president Pat Riley sweating at the thought of his franchise star bolting next summer.

"Sign that extension, sign that extension, oh please God, sign that extension!"

After bowing in the first round to the Boston Celtics in an epic, seven-game joust, new Bulls GM Gar Foreman called re-signing Ben Gordon—the undersized guard who shot poorly but scored a lot of points against the banged-up champs—his "top priority."

On July 2, the day after teams could begin contacting free agents, he let Gordon walk to sign with Detroit and join fellow Huskie Charlie Villanueva in a bid to revamp the washed-up Pistons.

Top priority, huh?

Do you buy that Foreman had no idea Gordon was talking with Joe Dumars in Motown?

I don't.

Now comes word from ESPN that the Bulls are discussing a three-team trade that would net them Carlos Boozer and send Tyrus Thomas to the Utah Jazz and Kirk Hinrich to the Portland Trail Blazers.

The deal looks like a logistical nightmare, but it would improve all three squads.

Getting Boozer coupled with last year's deadline deal for Brad Miller and John Salmons would almost make up for John Paxson not pursuing Pau Gasol and letting him go to the Los Angeles Lakers, and throwing desperate money at Luol Deng—$60 million worth.

Now you know why the Bulls inked backup point guard Jannero Pargo to a deal this week.

This three-way swap could bite the dust before details ever reach paper, but such a failure would not change what its proposal suggests about Chicago's future plans.

The Bulls likely never wanted Gordon back. He is an undersized, overpaid, defenseless, one-dimensional guard whose production can be temporarily supplemented by the cheaper John Salmons.

Management's long-term idea for a Gordon replacement: Dwyane Wade.

"Sign that extension, sign that extension, oh please God, sign that extension!"

How does this plan not make sense, even if it is my conjecture?

I wrote about this possibility in several other "Kleeman's Jumphook" pieces. I should also credit fellow B/R colleague Andrew Ungvari for floating the idea in one of his NNO columns.

That a double-digit number of teams would love to add Wade next summer is hardly a secret.

That the Bulls have emerged as the one team with a legitimate shot to snatch the former Finals MVP from South Beach is the news here.

While this proposed deal would give the Bulls a close impersonator of the inside scorer they have coveted in Boozer, it also sets the table for a roster that would be attractive to a superstar who just declared he will only re-sign with the Heat if the team can compete for a championship.

Who is the Heat's second best player? Michael Beasely? Udonis Haslem? Jermaine O'Neal? Mario Chalmers?

Does that team sound capable of winning four rounds of hard-nosed, postseason basketball anytime soon?

The Heat owe O'Neal $23 million next year in addition to Wade's $15 million, thereby slaughtering any chance to upgrade the roster without kicking fan favorite and veteran forward Haslem, Beasely or Chalmers to the curb.

What kind of scraps, spare parts or roster filler would Riley get back in a deal for one of those cogs?

Forman has some expiring deals at his disposal and the lure of Derrick Rose on a rookie contract. That alone should make Riley queasy.

"Sign that extension, sign that extension, oh please God, sign that extension!"

I am not suggesting that Miami has no chance of retaining Wade. Far from it.

Since Riley can offer Wade more money than anyone else for more years, the Heat should be the favorites to land his services.

Chicago can make it interesting.

Let's recap: your hometown team, which has lacked starpower since the departure of Michael Jordan but still ranks in top three yearly in attendance, Rose on a rookie deal, Boozer (maybe), Salmons and a nice mix of veterans and high-flyers.

Wade would be stupid not to consider such a scenario. I like Chicago's chances of contending for an East crown in the next two years better than Miami's.

To quote Chicago-based Bleacher writer Bob Warja, I'm just saying, is all...

The offseason winners—the Lakers, Spurs and Celtics

The three previous champions get the nod for their offseason work over the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers for that proven ability to win a title.

All three squads have the experience—and in the case of San Antonio and Boston, now the depth—to topple any of the other dangerous playoff threats. They also boast superstars who ache for more titles.

That these Hall of Famers already have rings means a lot.

Kevin Garnett urns for his second trophy as do Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo.

Kobe Bryant is done celebrating his first title sans Shaq. He'll help the Lakers chase a repeat like a bulldog trained for bloody murder.

Pau Gasol, another year acclimated into the triangle, will prove a grizzly bear for any opponent's defense. No one has figured out how to stop him in that system yet, surrounded by that caliber of talent.

The best defense on Gasol is hoping his teammates get selfish and deny him the ball.

Then, there's Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, as hungry a trio of wolves as you will find in pro sports. To underestimate or discount how much these should-be Hall of Famers want another title is to wish for a slow and painful death.

The Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns can tell you all about it.

The Lakers, Spurs and Celtics each made significant acquisitions in the last three weeks. Here is how I expect thing to pan out for each squad.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

The defending champions are the de facto winners of the summer, since it was already up to everybody else to come up to their elite level.

That was before GM Mitch Kupchak scored an upgrade over Trevor Ariza in Ron Artest.

When the mercurial forward isn't rambling about basketball-related fights he's been in or paying odd tribute to the King of Pop with a vulgar freestyle, he contributes on both ends of the floor like few ballers can.

His sheer strength, like that of a juiced NFL linebacker, will overpower defenders in the low block and overwhelm scorers from 20-feet out to the basket.

Artest's belligerent defense should markedly improve the often-absent screen-and-roll coverage that allowed opponents to shoot their way to triple digits.

If Ariza is quicker and better in the passing lanes, Artest is more dynamic with a broader skill set.

That said, he tends to run the Ron Ron, one-on-five offense and often strays from the defensive scheme his coach has designed.

No one can expect Bryant or Phil Jackson—or any combination of players and coaches with multiple rings—to reign in Artest to the point where he never hogs the ball, takes terrible shots or vacations from the blueprint to embark on an ill-advised tangent.

To sign Artest is to accept that you will lose a few regular-season games when stupidity and misguided confidence—you're not D-Wade, Ron—grip his competitive instincts.

Rockets TV play-by-play man Bill Worrell put it best. Artest sometimes "goes off the reservation."

When he is on it—and the chance to win a title with proven champions will make sure he is, most of the time—look out, rest of the league.

Any Laker fan on the fence about this signing should get off of it. By December, you will wonder why you ever questioned the acquisition.

If he "hoodalizes" the Lakers as promised, expect a blood bath from all of the foes the reigning champs will shoot up in a one-sided carnage.

Even with this upgrade, Kupchak still needs to re-sign Lamar Odom before anyone in L.A. can start using the "D" word. The candy-loving forward is a crucial part of any repeat hopes.

Also, Kobe Bryant has yet to suffer a major injury. Trust me, Lakers fans, he's due for one.

If sure-fire Hall of Famers Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kidd didn't get a pass, why should Bryant get one?

Father Time is undefeated, and he doesn't care who you are, what you've done or what team employs you.

If people incessantly talk about Duncan and Ginobili as injury-prone, it is only fair that they entertain the idea of Bryant as susceptible to one, too.

It's not like Yao Ming never took care of his body or fragile legs...

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Even without potential rotation players DeJuan Blair, Marcus Williams or Jack McClinton factored in, can you guess the average age of the 2009-2010 Spurs?

Try 27.5.

Would it surprise you to learn that the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics are now older in average age than the Spurs?

Why is it that San Antonio is the only franchise that has to answer questions about the ages of its players?

When skeptics cite the ages of Duncan and Ginobili, 33 and 32 respectively, they conveniently leave out that Parker—the best player on last year's squad—is only 26.

All three of Boston's stars are older than 30, and the Lakers (yep, those young whippersnappers) could have five or six major rotation players older than 30 by the start of the 2010 playoffs.

Believe it, folks.

That the Jefferson trade has already taken a backseat to more recent moves is why it will work seamlessly.

The Spurs don't plan to spend $14 million a year on a veteran who plays one end of the floor. R.C. Buford also never makes trades to generate empty hype.

He orchestrated this deal, with owner Peter Holt's approval of its luxury tax implications, to jimmy open Duncan's championship window.

Jefferson, 29 and still in the prime of his career, will boost a sagging roster in need of athleticism and production from the three spot.

He adds another capable 20-point scorer to a roster with three of them. His arrival also allows Ginobili to return to his invaluable role as the NBA's premiere super sub.

It could do wonders for sharpshooter Roger Mason Jr., 28, who will garner more open looks than he did against the Mavericks in this year's first round.

Jefferson is also a company man. He has been near the top of Gregg Popovich's wish list for years because of the loyalty, sportsmanship and competitiveness he showed in the 2004 Olympics.

For those who question his defensive prowess, consider this prediction: He will make one of the All-Defense teams. Voters will at least give him serious consideration.

That Buford turned three bit role players into Jefferson makes this a heist on the Gasol level. Maybe worse, since Milwaukee did not snag a contributor on Marc Gasol's level in its salary dump.

Whether Jefferson fits with the Spurs' established trio remains to be seen.

The Spurs may have landed the steal of the draft in 6'7" DeJuan Blair. His 7'2" wingspan makes height concerns irrelevant.

If you think a center/power forward has to be a certain height to be any good, please remember Shawn Bradley. Thanks.

Blair will need to prove he can contribute on the pro level and play team defense, two uncertainties any college standout must face. However, an absence of ACLs should not be a concern for a team that doesn't need him as a long-term star.

Popovich will ask him to hustle, throw in a few buckets and grab a few boards. For a rookie picked 37th, that would be plenty.

Antonio McDyessis far from a consolation prize after the Spurs lost out on the Rasheed Wallace sweepstakes.

Some cite his age, 35, as a concern. It won't be an issue.

The 14-year vet will take on Thomas' role as the team's primo post defender. He will provide Duncan with the most consistent help he's had on both ends since David Robinson.

If you were building a team to win a title now, and you needed a big guy to complete the roster, would you rather have Andrew Bynum or McDyess?

If you are grading potential and long-term viability, Bynum is the runaway choice. The kid still has a chance to be an elite center and perennial All-Star.

For now, McDyess' nine points and nine rebounds, loyalty and acumen will help the Spurs as much as anything Bynum does in L.A.

Barring an injury, count on it.

No team has done more in less time to return to title relevance than the Spurs.

To dismiss them as contenders would be an assault on logic.

BOSTON CELTICS

The "Need for 'Sheed" drove Boston's triumvirate of stars, Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers to Wallace's doorstep.

That heartfelt pitch was enough to sway the former Piston to sign with the Celtics.

"I'll come off the bench if Doc asks me to," he said. "I'll start if Doc asks me to."

Unlike with Allen Iverson in Detroit, the above statements are believable for Wallace in Boston.

His temper tantrums and questions of mental focus aside, he is a terrific, unselfish teammate with a championship fire that could ignite a cadre of veterans who need to win now.

His size and shooting range give the Celtics the most versatile front line in the league.

Dwight Howard, 5-22 against the Pistons while Wallace was there, will now have to face the forward on a much better squad.

Lottery-bound teams should not dare think of scoring in the paint against a Garnett and Wallace tandem.

With 'Sheed and the potential signing of Grant Hill, the Celtics are close to NBA's old folks home, with Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins and Leon Powe comprising the contingent of established youngsters. Glen Davis could return at a nice price.

With that supporting cast, and a healthy Garnett, Pierce, and Allen, the Celtics are also as close to the Larry O' Brien trophy as the Spurs or Lakers.

Maybe that promise to Wyc Grousbeck wasn't so foolish after all.

A quick look at the losers—the Magic, Cavaliers and Rockets

ORLANDO MAGIC

Are you Vinsane, Otis Smith?

Vince Carter, 34, is not an upgrade over Hedo Turkoglu, 30, who just jetted for Toronto.

The Magic lose a contributor as clutch as they come and perfect for Stan Van Gundy's offense in favor of a choke artist who has reached the second round once.

Carter will have plenty of chances to prove me wrong, but for now, I don't see how this makes the Finals runner-up any better than it already was.

He doesn't play defense, doesn't create high percentage shots for teammates the way Turkoglu did and rarely makes thoughtful decisions in the final minutes of big games, as in ones against title contenders.

The Magic also lose points since Smith had to give up promising rookie Courtney Lee.

The Lakers swapped Ariza for a superior Artest. The Spurs nabbed Jefferson for aging support players who would not have helped much next year. The Celtics landed Wallace without letting anyone go.

Plus, Artest will join the defending champs, Jefferson is a two-time Finalist and Wallace won a ring with Detroit.

Ryan Andersen is a nice pickup with reliable shooting range for a big guy. He lessens the blow of losing Lee.

Rafer Alston was expendable and his transfer will prove inconsequential.

Same with Tony Battie.

However, with Turkoglu gone, maybe the Magic will match the Mavericks full mid-level offer to reserve center Marcin Gortat.

That would be a positive step in a summer that was supposed to include many of them.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

I was not a fan of Steve Kerr's decision to swap Shawn Marion for an increasingly immobile Shaquille O'Neal.

I am a lesser fan of Danny Ferry's move to partner Shaq with LeBron James.

The Orlando Magic spanked the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals with a simple pick-and-roll play.

Ferry's solution to that: bring in the old, $20 million version of one of the worst pick-and-roll defenders in league history.

O'Neal couldn't guard the play when he was 23. He certainly cannot do it at 37.

His bulk will allow him to score on lesser opponents at will, but it will also clog the lane and limit the James' forays there, his best offense.

How the two share the paint will be a big part of whether this works on any level.

Can James develop a consistent enough jumpshot to overcome the decrease in open lanes to the hoop he'll have with O'Neal camping there?

Plus, at his age, O'Neal will hit the bench early with foul trouble against elite bigs, his slow feet will leave him without acceptable defense, and he will be hit with three second calls galore.

The Cavs have yet to add a frontcourt player who could guard the likes of Rashard Lewis. Until they do, this move is all hype with little substance.

It's a $20 million band-aid too small and inadequate to cover up the wound at hand.

It will sell a few more tickets, but it won't solve any defensive woes or inject the supporting cast with the offensive creativity and athleticism it needs.

Turning the expiring deals of Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic into O'Neal would be the steal of the decade if Cleveland was getting the 1999 Shaq, or even the 2004 one.

Prediction: by the end of the year, O'Neal will be forced to change his nickname from "the Big Eerie" to the "the Big Flop."

HOUSTON ROCKETS

No team has lost more this summer than the Rockets. With no need to go into detail, I'll leave you with this nugget from my earlier article on what the team might do after signing Trevor Ariza.

The team will spend nearly $40 million next year on two players who will not suit up until at least January.

That GM Daryl Morey asked for an injury exception to sign Ariza means he does not believe Yao Ming will play at all next year.

Add to that the departure of Ron Artest, and you have one of the worst offseasons since everyone before this one for the L.A. Clippers.

Read the Ariza piece if you want further details on the moribund situation in Houston.

A few final notes

The Dallas Mavericks completed a four-team deal to acquire former All-Star Shawn Marion and Kris Humphries, signed Quinton Ross, and could net Marcin Gortat if Orlando does not match the offer on the table.

Though these moves hardly guarantee that Dallas can compete for a title, they should be noted. If one team has amassed an underrated offseason, it's Mark Cuban's Mavs.

Criticize his sometimes childish fandom if you must, but celebrate that he is always willing to get out the checkbook if he thinks he can improve his team.

On that same note, the Lakers, Spurs and Celtics ownerships will each pay large luxury tax bills next year. In a time of cost cutting and frugal saving, it is refreshing to see squads willing to spend for the chance at a title.

To Jerry Buss, Peter Holt and Wyc Grousbeck, thank you. The NBA is better for your spending sprees.

To be fair, Magic and Rockets ownership should also be lauded for a willingness to pay for talent.

The Raptors will score a lot of points next year with Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani and Hedo Turkoglu. Problem is, they won't play any defense, the end of the floor where championships are won.

Reggie Evans alone cannot bring to Toronto the toughness and physicality required to challenge for the trophy.

However, Turkoglu's signing is a win for several reasons. His presence in Toronto will mean a lot to the huge Turkish population there.

He increases the likelihood that Bosh will not be dealt before next summer.

It will also be a victory lap for small market teams, showing that they can indeed convince big name free agents to come their way.

In the interest of space, I did not include analysis of smaller trades, such as the Washington Wizards and Minnesota Timberwolves exchange. If you have questions or comments about other transactions or the ones detailed above, please comment below.

This article was also published at www.needforsports.com.