Lindecision Watch: First Impressions

Last season here on Gym Class All Stars we shared our thoughts on Jeremy Lin's surprising success in the NBA and his impact on race and stereotypes in our nation. I even started a column about the New York Knicks and deemed them Asian America's team. Much has changed since the end of the season, including Jeremy Lin leaving for a lucrative contract in Houston.  The Knicks replaced him with three new point guards, with two of them in the tail ends of their basketball careers. Yet some things still remained the same: the Rockets still got the better of the Knicks again, the Knicks' success still lies on the shoulders of Carmelo Anthony, and James Dolan is still the worst owner in all of professional sports.

I personally was frustrated and bitter over the departure of Jeremy Lin from my beloved Knicks. What didn't make it any better was that it was the Rockets who used the poison pill strategy to pry him away, which led me to write a post about my dislike for the Houston Rockets. In the "Lindecision Watch," I will be following both Jeremy Lin's progress in Houston as well as the Knicks ability to succeed without him.

As the first week of the NBA season comes to an end, it is clear that both Houston and New York are off to a fast start.

Harden's arrival has already had a huge impact. After the huge trade for James Harden shocked the NBA world, Harden was given an $80 million contract. I am not going to talk about if I think the Rockets got the better end of the trade or if I think Harden is worth the 80 million -- I will let the Rocket fans interject on that topic -- instead I will say that this trade was maybe the second-best thing to happen so far in Jeremy Lin's young NBA career, second only to getting playing time in Mike D'Antoni's offensive system. Harden has taken on a lot of the burden that fell on Jeremy Lin.  James is now the star player, and Jeremy is more than capable of supporting him. Also the "713" connection as they are calling it in Houston has been clicking so far.  All I have to say is I didn't realize that the Thunder traded Michael Jordan to Houston, because James Harden has been ridiculous so far.

New York point guards have proven more than capable. New York now has three new players running the point: Jason Kidd, Raymond Felton, and Pablo Prigioni. Kidd is no stranger to NBA success, yet many people felt that his production would fall off this year due to Father Time. Kidd is the most important addition to the Knicks roster. Some may disagree, but everywhere Kidd goes, that team gets better. There is no doubt in my mind that Kidd will continue to adapt to any role he is in; Raymond has already come out to say how much Kidd's mentoring has helped his development this year. Felton might still look short and round, but one thing that's different from last year is that Felton is in shape. Raymond clearly took it personally when everyone in the media criticized his ability to play basketball and is currently putting up 13.7 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1.67 steals a game in only 28 minutes of playing time. These numbers are quite comparable to Jeremy Lin with about 9 minutes less in playing time. Felton played great for the Knicks before he was included in the Carmelo trade two years ago. He plays better in New York City because he enjoys playing here, and he's the main reason letting Jeremy Lin walk last summer wasn't as big of a blow as most people thought it would be. Lastly we have Pablo Prigioni, the 35-year-old rookie from Argentina. Pablo might be the oldest rookie in over 40 years, but this guy is as crafty as any veteran in the league. Pablo was the starting point guard that won the gold during the 2004 Olympics and has achieved every award in the Euro league. At times it does seem like Prigioni is allergic to shooting, but his ability to set up his teammates is supreme. While only averaging 4.3 points in 19 minutes, what is impressive is that he averages the same 4.3 in assists per game. Pablo helps Kidd stay fresh and gives Woodson the flexibility to play Kidd at shooting guard.

Improvement in the Knicks defense after a full training camp with Mike Woodson. The number one priority for the Knicks this year is defense. The team is aggressive and swarming all over the court. As a life-time Knicks fan, it is a pleasure to finally see defense again in MSG. I always felt that the biggest weakness of having Jeremy Lin, Carmelo Anthony, and Amar'e Stoudemire on the court together was how defensively inept they were. Now the current Knicks unit only has a few guys who lack on the defensive side of the ball; in that category I would include only Amar'e and Novak, as even Melo has figured it out after playing with team USA this summer. Carmelo has come back slimmer, stronger, and quicker. The best part of that is he is using these improvements on the defensive end and is setting a great example for guys like J.R. Smith and Felton. I hope this doesn't change with the return of Amar'e, but I will address that later on in this article. In their first game against Miami, the Knicks forced 21 turnovers.  In their second game against the 76ers, they forced another 18 turnovers. In their third game also against the 76ers, Philly only shot 33% from the field.

Jeremy Lin's consistent output has been positive for the Rockets. So far so good, as Lin seems to be earning his worth after receiving a contract close to $25 million over three years. Lin has been overshadowed by James Harden's brilliance, but his numbers have been solid. Lin's stat line reads 15.3 points, 7.3 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 steals. Also so far he only is committing 3.3 turnovers a game. Of course the season is still very young, but this is a promising sign and shows that Jeremy can contribute to this team in many different ways. I believe his steals and rebounds will dip, but I wouldn't be surprised to if points and assists see a small lift moving forward. I hope that Jeremy Lin will still find way to make a cultural impact like he did last year, but I still think that will be harder to do in Houston as opposed to New York City.

Omer Asik is the wild card for Houston's ability to compete. Harden and Lin will obviously be the main reasons why the Rockets have success this year and in years to come, but Omer Asik is critical in providing things for this team that Harden and Lin can not. Omer gets rebounds and plays solid interior defense, and his ability to do both of these things will give Harden and Lin the chance to take this team to the next level. It will be interesting to see if he can develop a low post offensive game which would open up things for the rest of the team as well, or run the pick and roll effectively with either Lin or Harden. If Asik can do these things, I believe Lin will benefit the most and will enjoy a successful career in Houston. Currently Omer is only averaging 5.3 points a game, but his 14.3 rebounds per game speaks volumes for how important he is to this team.

Stat's return is still the biggest question mark for the New York Knicks. Amar'e Stoudemire's absence in the Knicks lineup is easily forgotten; nevertheless Stat will be back before you know it, and the Knicks will need to figure out how he can fit into what they are doing. I want to believe that Carmelo and Stoudemire will be able to play together, but so far the numbers don't lie. The Knicks are a better team when only one of the two Knicks stars is on the floor. With Stat playing the four, Melo will be moved to the three, and either Brewer or Kidd will not be in the starting unit. This will drop their ability to defend and create mismatches on the offensive end. Woodson needs to find a way to make this work, unless by some miracle the Knicks could trade the untradable in Amar'e Stoudemire.

Overall, both Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks are doing just fine without one another. You could make an argument that the Knicks look better than ever while Jeremy Lin is just holding steady to his production last year. Or one could say that Jeremy Lin has not reached the same highs he had last year where for a 7-game stretch he was the focal point in New York City.  The verdict is still out, but so far it seems like everyone came out a winner after the summer of 2012. The Knicks, Jeremy Lin, Carmelo, Morey, and even James Dolan.

Photos courtesy of takingbadschotz.com, Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE,  Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE, and Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images 

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Eddy Curry: The Return

It has been 3 years since Eddy Curry played more than 10 minutes in a meaningful game. The previous time was Miami Heat's season finale which had no impact on playoff seeding and ended up in a 34-point loss. The stage was finally set for Curry to get playing time against one of the top front lines in the league, and he played 17 meaningful minutes in an opening day victory against the highly-hyped, new-look Lakers. He looked energized, and for the first time in years, he was enjoying playing basketball in the NBA again.

Dallas Mavericks are clearly in a time of transition with 9 new players to their roster. With injuries to Dirk Nowitzki and veteran center Chris Kaman, Dallas was forced to bring in more front court depth. Who knew Mark Cuban would take a chance on Eddy Curry, who was just released by the San Antonio Spurs. Last night Eddy Curry showed up and reminded the national audience of a time when he was the 4th pick in the 2001 draft full of promise and potential. 7 points and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes might not seem like much, but Curry was one of the most physical players on the court while going against Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol.

A year and a half ago I wrote a story about the fall of Eddy Curry. I was hopeful that one day he would finally get his life together and find success. Curry has taken the first step, and although Dallas Mavericks could release him shortly after Kaman and Nowitzki return, I think it’s safe to say that everyone watching last night’s game took notice. It’s been 11 years since Eddy Curry was drafted by the Chicago Bulls, but sometimes we forget that Curry is still only 29 with very little mileage on that oversized body.

Look how far he's come.

In the end, Eddy Curry passed the eye test -- he looked strong and agile for the first time in 5 years. Of course I am the first to admit that Eddy has a long way to go, but I will end with the words of Mark Cuban, "The Curri-nator!" Maybe, just maybe, the Curri-nator is finally back.

Photos courtesy of AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, and Noah Graham/Getty Images

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Ball So Harden University

I loved James Harden in college.  Even while donning that tacky maroon and gold Arizona State uniform, he played with the smoothness and savvy of a 10-year veteran instead of just an underaged sophomore.  Though his Sun Devils team exceeded expectations, they never made any serious noise in the madness that is March, but I had a sneaking suspicion that his game would translate perfectly into the NBA.

I hated James Harden last year.  The Miami Heat are my most hated team in all of sports, and I spent the first week of the 2012 playoffs crunching numbers trying to figure out which Western Conference team had the best shot at making sure LeBron James stayed crownless.  The Mavericks and the Jazz weren’t making it out of the first round.  The Nuggets were coached by George Karl.  The Clippers had no post presence and were coached by Vinny Del Negro.  The Lakers had no offensive identity, and the Thunder had zero offensive-minded bigs to attack Miami’s greatest weakness (and not to mention that OKC also had Russell Westbrook as a key decision-maker).  So all my hopes and dreams in the 2012 NBA season rested on the shoulders of the San Antonio Spurs and the Memphis Grizzlies.  The Spurs had the best coach in the league in Gregg Popovich, a young, lengthy defender in Kawhi Leonard, shooters at every position, and the often-overlooked Tim Duncan down low.  The Grizzlies had a pair of big men that would’ve thrown Chris Bosh around like a velociraptor chew toy.  Long story short, the Grizzlies lost a nail-biting series to the Clippers, and James Harden hit the biggest shot in the WC Finals against the Spurs with a cold-blooded three-pointer in the waning moments of game 5.

Of course, Harden went on to struggle mightily in the NBA Finals, but the defeat wasn’t his fault -- it was inevitable.   It definitely wasn’t his fault that he was often given the defensive assignment of LeBron.  For as much as I hate flopping, I can’t even blame Harden for trying, as it was truly his only option guarding the monster MVP in the post.  The Thunder had zero chance of beating the Heat; it was just a matter of how many games it would take before they folded.

But the writing was already on the wall, championship or not.  The timer was ticking down.  The Thunder had invested heavily in Westbrook and Durant, and you didn’t need a mathematician to tell you that GM Sam Presti would have to choose between James Harden or Serge Ibaka.  I started asking anyone who would respond for their thoughts on the matter.  If you were Presti and could only pay one, who would it be?

I said Serge Ibaka.  In a world where quality big men are so far and few between, I-blocka is only 23 and still raw.  The man only started playing basketball a few years ago.  Read that sentence again.  Most importantly, Serge fulfills a role on the Thunder that is harder to replace.  Don’t get me wrong, this is not taking anything away from James Harden as he was the best playmaker on the team, but it’s no secret that his playing style did not fit perfectly with OKC’s other two stars.  Harden excelled coming off the bench because he could run the show, and the bottom line for the Thunder was that it would be much more difficult to replicate everything that Serge brings to the table.  (Note: not a blanket statement for every team, just specifically the Thunder.)

Naturally, the Oklahoma City would have loved to keep both players, but where your treasure is, there your heart will be also, and the team showed its true colors by giving Serge Ibaka a 4-year, $48 million extension.

This is the part of the story where people chime in and blame James Harden for his selfish lack of loyalty to the team that drafted him.  Westbrook, Harden, and Durant were the most tight-knit trio of teammates in the NBA, so he should have sacrificed for the team, right?

Don’t make James Harden out to be the bad guy.  This is the abbreviated sequence of events:
 
1. The Thunder made it rain for everybody else on the team first, including the aforementioned deal for Ibaka and a 5-year, $79 million deal for Westbrook.  
2.  The Thunder approached Harden with a 4-year extension in the $54 million vicinity, knowing full well that he would get a max offer worth over $20 million more from multiple teams if he were to get traded or hit the open market.  
3.  Harden turned down the offer because it was less than his market value.  
4.  The Thunder traded Harden to Houston for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, and picks.

It’s important to note that we’re not just talking about a discount of a couple million dollars here.  We’re talking over $20 million.  And I hate to be repetitive, but that OKC team did not have a shred of a hope to ever beat the Heat, assuming they even made it back to the Finals again.

My thoughts on the trade?  Well, I’m a numbers guy, so let me try to explain it the way I see it.  Looking ahead to the 2013 summer free agent market, I am convinced that Daryl Morey and the Rockets would have offered James Harden a max deal regardless.  On the court, he should be a great fit with Jeremy Lin, as the two of them are two of the best pick-and-roll players in the game.  In addition to his offensive prowess is his defensive talent -- the Rockets were prepared to begin the season with a Lin/Martin backcourt; think about how every other team must have been salivating at that matchup.  Harden is not big enough to guard LeBron (who is?), but he holds his own against other wing players his size.

So let’s pretend it’s next summer, and the Rockets offer James Harden a max deal.  What are the odds he actually chooses Houston over the other suitors, notably the Phoenix Suns or the Dallas Mavericks?  Given our recent track record, I would say I’m being generous with a 30% probability, with a 50% chance of him landing in Dallas.

And now let’s rewind to the present day.  Morey has until the Wednesday deadline to sign Harden to a contract extension, which hopefully is in the 95% probability range.

The million dollar question: Is that extra 65% likelihood of James Harden being a long-term Houston Rocket worth losing Jeremy Lamb, a Toronto lottery pick, and a Dallas first round pick?  My mind wants to say yes, but my heart still longs for some Lamb.  The cynical side of me is thinking that the Thunder had all the leverage here.  They could have easily tried to make another deep playoff run this season with Harden and still had the same opportunities to sign-and-trade him next year, so the fact that Presti pulled the trigger on this deal days before the start of the regular season must mean that it was, in fact, a hell of a deal that the Thunder couldn’t pass up.

But then I remember my mantra when it comes to all things Houston Rockets: IN MOREY I TRUST.  Acquiring James Harden now should lock him up for years to come, and if all goes as planned, next summer Houston will still have enough money left over for a big splash in free agency.  It stings losing Jeremy Lamb, but like my elementary school PE teacher used to always say during a game of “around the world” on the blacktop: no guts, no glory.

Daryl Morey obviously has the guts.  Let’s hope that the glory will follow.

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Standing Ovation: Tracy McGrady

I would like to give a standing ovation to Tracy McGrady as he leaves for China. T-Mac is one of my favorite players of all-time. Even as a diehard Mavericks fan, I have no problem admitting that.

I've always admired his physical gifts and talents on the basketball court. McGrady, in his prime, was a 6' 8" forward with the court vision of a top point guard and the finishing ability of a dominant big man. I've always felt that his biggest attribute was his extremely high basketball IQ -- respectable basketball minds such as Jeff Van Gundy even alluded to the fact that it may have been too high for his own good and was ultimately, a detriment to his success.

To this day, I still firmly believe that his versatility is unmatched. He could either face you up out in the perimeter, where he had the ability to rise up and shoot over you, or back you down in the post, using his supreme footwork and knowledge of angles. He was unstoppable in the pick and roll game and his length allowed him to be an above average defender (when he wanted to be) and rebounder.

At the peak of his powers, you couldn't guard him with single coverage nor could you guard him by sending a double team because he would pick you apart with his anticipation and passing ability. Schematically on defense, he left coaches in a bind. Plus, his jab step power dribble to a reverse pivot to a spinning fadeaway jumper from 20 feet is still one of the most physically ridiculous go-to moves ever.

Undoubtedly, injuries robbed him from having one of the best careers in league history, but I don't want him to be remembered for "what could have been." I want people to focus on his off the court accomplishments as well as what he's meant for the game of basketball.

I leave you with his own words from his blog:

Goodbye NBA, Hello China

There are times in life that a new road presents itself and it appears this time has come for me now. I am so proud of what I have accomplished these past 15 years playing in the NBA. It was a dream entering the league as I just turned 18 years old. I worked hard and poured my heart and soul into this game. I consider myself a student of the game as I have watched, studied and played with and against the best players in the world. The NBA was my University and I learned so much. The gratitude I feel is really immeasurable. I have experienced the best moments a player can experience and have had some dark ones too. Both equally important in helping shape me into the man I am today.

As I leave the league for now, there have been so many profound people who inspired me along my way. I have to say thank you for guiding me and having an enormous influence on the way I played basketball. Isaiah Thomas, Rich Devos, Leslie Alexander and John Gabriel, you believed in me and I thank you. Jeff Van Gundy, you exemplified the brilliance of what a great coach is. Steven A. Smith, you gave us players a voice and for that I thank you. Doug Christy, Charles Oakley, Dee Brown, Mugsy Bogues, Antonio Davis, Dell Curry, Kevin Willis, you all showed a young kid from Auburndale Florida how to be a better player. Kobe, you made me work harder and it was an honor to play against you. And Yao, we shared an experience together that will always be with me, thank you. Sonny & Pam Vaccarro showed me how there is loyalty and genuine friendship in this business. Arn Tellem and Tim Hoy, 15 years and you are still my agents. Thank you for guiding me throughout my career. When all is said and done, there is so many that made an impact on my life. I am one blessed man to have the love and never ending support of my wife CleRenda and the best 4 kids a man can ask for. But most important, I give glory and thanks to God. It is thru Him that I have been so blessed and I am forever thankful.

As I enter this next chapter, I am excited to play for Qingdao Eagles in China. I have been to China several times in the last few years and I love the people and the country. It will be an honor to play for them. Thank you to every fan that has followed me and believed in me. Injuries and all, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I am proud of the mark I left on this game and am grateful to have been a part this league. It was a dream to play in front of all of you, each night, in every stadium. Thank you.

Tmac

Photo and video content courtesy of: images.google.com

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Blockbuster NBA Trade: Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard finally got his wish.

He is no longer a member of the Orlando Magic. It may look like the 2012 offseason is officially over. But unfortunately for all of us, this doesn't mean the rumors surrounding Dwight Howard is going to stop. Until he agrees to sign an extension with Los Angeles, he is still going to be the marquee free agent next year.

Orlando Magic in:
- G Aaron Afflalo
- G Christian Eyenga
- F Al Harrington
- F Moe Harkless
- F Josh McRoberts
- C Nikola Vucevic
- 2nd round pick from Denver in 2013
- 1st round pick from either Denver or New York in 2014
- 1st round pick from Philadelphia in 2014 (conditional)
- 2nd round pick from Los Angeles in 2014 (conditional)
- 1st round pick from Los Angeles in 2017 (conditional)
- $17.8 million trade exception

Los Angeles Lakers in:
- C Dwight Howard
- G Chris Duhon
- G/F Earl Clark

Philadelphia 76ers in:
- C Andrew Bynum
- G Jason Richardson

Denver Nuggets in:
- G/F Andre Iguodala

I realize these are the dog days of the summer and everyone is currently glued to the TV watching the U.S. dominate the Olympic games in London (for those wondering, we are #1 in gold medals with 41 and #1 in overall medals with 94), but don't take this trade lightly. This Dwight Howard trade could arguably go down as the biggest trade in the NBA in the last 10+ years. Bigger than Carmelo going to New York, bigger than Kevin Garnett going to Boston, and bigger than Tracy McGrady going to Houston.

Carmelo's trade was historic but swing players get traded all the time, whereas once-in-a-generation big men are rarely dealt because they only come around once in a generation. And although Dwight Howard's offensive game is not as refined as many would like, his impact on the game from the center position is second to none in the NBA today.

Garnett's trade obviously was critical in terms of re-writing the legacies of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Doc Rivers, the Boston Celtics, and that of his own -- but as an individual player, KG was already somewhat passed his prime. During the summer that sent KG and RayRay to Boston, Garnett was already 31 years old and was entering his 13th season in the NBA. D12, on the other hand, is currently only 26 and is just hitting his athletic prime.

T-Mac's trade was huge because he was joining forces with Yao Ming in Houston. They had the makings of becoming the 1-2 punch that would keep the Rockets contending for years. Unfortunately injuries got the better of both of them and this trade never lived up to its full potential.

Breakdown of the Trade:

What Orlando ended up acquiring in the trade is just straight up ridiculous. How do you give up your starting center without getting a legitimate big man in return? ESPECIALLY considering that Bynum, Gasol, Brook Lopez, and others were all rumored to be involved in the deal for the past 18 months. On top of that, all the first round picks involved are protected with many conditions. I still don't know what they were thinking. Ultimately, Stan Van Gundy wins.

For the Lakers, this trade catapults them to be heavy favorites to not only compete for a championship, but to win it all. The fact that they kept Pau Gasol, who even for all his flaws is still a top 3 guy at his position, is a hell of a steal for LA. Don't forget, they also have Antwan Jamison coming off the bench as the 6th man to provide the scoring punch in addition to the absurd starting line up of Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol, and Dwight Howard.

Somewhat flying under the radar, this trade gives the 76ers an all-star center and a serviceable wing player. The front office knew that if they were going to return with the same roster from a year ago, there was no way they were going to compete with Miami and Chicago in the Eastern Conference. Now their roster boasts a more complete team with legitimate options in the interior and on the perimeter. If Coach Doug Collins can get them to play together and gel, I can foresee Philadelphia finishing with a top 4 seed in the East. The biggest question mark is Bynum's maturity or more specifically, lack there of.

Denver is building the team that nobody wants to play. They have freakish athletes at every position, but with no real superstars or go-to players. Its much harder to coach and scheme against a team like this during the regular season. Of course, in a star-centric league like the NBA, they are never going to legitimately compete for a title but they are unquestionably a very tough out for any team that meets them in a 7-game series.

Personal Rant:

I absolutely hate the Los Angeles Lakers.

George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, and now Dwight Howard.

These are five of the greatest big men to ever live. Each were the transcendent center of their respective eras. Admittedly, putting Dwight Howard in that group may be a little premature but he's definitely on his way if he continues his current career arc. The worst part of the whole situation is the fact that the Lakers franchise only drafted one of them (Mikan). No other team has gotten this lucky. I'm not even going to get into how Kobe was also a trade, Pau was gifted to them by Memphis, and the NBA's documented rigging job during the Lakers and Kings series.

F LA.

Photo content courtesy of: www.ballerstatus.com, www.espn.com, www.philly.com

Connect with Albert Nguyen!

Bio: http://www.gymclassallstars.com/p/albert-nguyen_26.html

Email: albertn@gymclassallstars.com

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Linsanity Gone In a New York Minute

And the award for most interesting storyline in the NBA goes to...

The dust has finally settled, and Jeremy Lin is officially a Houston Rocket. When I wrote my last post, my emotions were running high -- I was upset with James Dolan, Daryl Morey, Jeremy Lin’s agent, Carmelo Anthony (for commenting), and Jeremy Lin himself.  I am not going to call Jeremy Lin a traitor or say he wasn’t that good. Jeremy Lin is a great offensive player and clearly an above average NBA point guard. I have idolized him for 5 years now and even remember praying that he would make a summer league team and find his way onto an NBA roster. It was like a dream watching Lin versus John Wall part 1.  I was upset when Golden State cut him, excited when Houston signed him, then upset again when he was cut again. I remember the moment I read that the Knicks had signed Lin and when he finally got solid minutes against the Rockets and Nets. Then there was Linsanity! We will never see something like it again; you can’t replicate the stage, the state of the Knicks, and how quickly it all happened. But as a Knicks fan, as painful as it may seem, it might have been the best situation for everyone involved. I am sure some New Yorkers and Houstonians will think my logic is ridiculous, but I am going to say it anyways. 

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks don’t care about money, and as much as people want to believe this was about money, let me tell you Dolan has more money than he will ever need. Also according to ESPN’s Larry Coon, there was a way out of the poison pill contract:

If worse comes to worst, another new rule can help the team out. The "stretch provision" allows a team to waive a player and extend his salary payments over twice the number of remaining seasons, plus one. So if Lin is waived with one season remaining on his contract, he would be paid his salary over three years.

Here's the important part -- teams also may elect to stretch a waived player's salary-cap hit over the same number of years. So if Lin proves to be a disaster over the next two seasons, the Knicks can waive him, stretch the payment of his $14.8 million salary over three years, and reduce his salary-cap amount to about $4.9 million in each season. This would reduce the team's tax bill significantly. If the Knicks are right at the tax line, a $4.9 million salary would translate to a $7.35 million tax bill. This is much more palatable.

If this was about money, the Knicks would have kept Jeremy Lin. MSG stock has already dropped over 100 million, and the TV money in China would be enormous. Jeremy Lin would be a money-making machine in New York. No, for James Dolan it was always about loyalty and feeling betrayed. Some say that the Knicks played their hand wrong by not setting the price for Lin, but Lin’s agent would have asked him to test the market regardless. I agree the Knicks should have never said they would match any offer. Reports say that the Knicks reassured Jeremy Lin they would match the first offer, not expecting Jeremy Lin to renegotiate the terms. Nevertheless, let us assume that the Knicks never opened their mouth, and they matched the 4 year $28.8 million contract. The Knicks would be set with a starting five of Lin, Shumpert, Carmelo, Amare, and Chandler. Knicks would have a bench of JR Smith, Novak, Camby, and Kidd. Although this team has potential, I don’t see championship potential. The New York Knicks are all-in, and when I say all-in, I am talking about trying to win a championship in the next three years. JR Smith just signed a $2.8 million contact.  He clearly took less to stay with a contender, and I am sure he would be lying if he said he wasn’t jealous of Jeremy Lin’s new contract. As much as I want to believe that Melo and Amare loved playing second fiddle to Linsanity, let’s be real -- THEY HATED IT.

Egos run this league, and the Knicks decided to try to win it all with Carmelo Anthony. Whether you like it or not, this team is going to go as far as Carmelo can take us. There are only maybe 10 players in the league that can be your best player and give you a shot at winning a championship. Melo is one of those players, and Jeremy Lin is not. Also the Knicks became hostages to Linsanity, and Woodson would have to start Jeremy Lin no matter how he was performing. Now the Knicks were able to get Raymond Felton at a bargain deal of $9 million over three years.  Felton has never been the same since he left the New York Knicks; I remember being angry that they included him in a trade in the first place. Not only did Denver take Gallo and Wilson Chandler, they took the cute, cubby point guard that had started a budding friendship with our star power forward. Let’s take a closer look at the numbers between Felton vs Lin as the Knicks starter. Felton averaged 17.1 points, 9.0 assists, 3.3 turnovers, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and a .423 field goal percentage over a 54 game period. Lin averaged 18.2 points, 7.7 assists, 4.7 turnovers, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and a .445 field goal percentage over a 25 game period. Both players did well in the Mike D’Antoni system, so I will not put too much weight into that. The numbers do not lie -- Felton is the better value at 3 years $9 million versus what Lin got in 3 years $25 million. Also in the end it is not about value to the Knicks profit line but the value to the team's salary cap.

Lastly Felton’s defense is a huge improvement over Jeremy Lin’s defense. Jeremy Lin can be a deserving All Star, but his defense resembles that of Steve Nash, and that is never a good thing. My last argument of why the Knicks ended up making the right basketball move is that a team with three defensive liabilities will never make it far in the playoffs. The Knicks need to follow the Dallas Mavericks model and have 3 solid to great defenders on the court at all times. Chandler is a great defender, and Iman is more than solid, but even the two of them could not make up the lack of defense from Amare, Melo , and yes, Jeremy Lin. The Knicks may never win it all, but I do believe they are closer today with Felton as their starter than they were yesterday. The Knicks also will have more financial flexibility to add pieces to their team as limited as it will be. Unless Jeremy Lin becomes Steve Nash in his prime, this looks like the right move was made since money was not the real motivation.

Houston Rockets

Daryl Morey seems to be a hero in Houston, but I want to be clear in saying that if Morey was in Boston, New York, or Los Angeles he would have been fired a year or two ago. I get it, the guy is brilliant -- I am sure he is managing the team very well, and every year is profitable for Houston Rocket management. Moreyball (NBA’s version of Moneyball) can only take you so far.  Most players in the NBA are overvalued, and every contender besides maybe the Spurs has overpaid at some point or another. With that being said, I believe the Rockets could easily turn things around if they get Dwight or Pau Gasol and one of these rookies turns into a stud scorer from the wing.

As a Knick fan, I think Morey personally wanted Lin back to rectify his mistake of cutting him in the first place. Daryl Morey is a man who prides himself in evaluating talent and even openly admitted his regret last season. I am sure when the Knicks came out saying they would match, Morey felt frustrated and thought he would go ahead and make it take much tougher on the Knicks. The time period of July 1st to July 11th is when teams can start talking to free agents but can't officially sign contracts. During this time period, it is expected that all verbal agreements and contracts remain as they are. It is more of a gentleman’s agreement; there are no rules that say you can’t change the term or retract the offer. I know the Toronto Raptors must wish they didn’t have to honor their verbal offer to Landry Fields of $20 million after missing out on Steve Nash, but that is neither here nor there. In the end, Morey may have changed the terms out of spite, since even up till yesterday night, Morey still thought the Knicks were going to match his offer of $25 million in guaranteed dollars.

The truth is Morey has been around for about 5 years, and things seem to be holding steady with his team annually ending up in the 9th seed. Interest in the team last year was at an all-time low, and more Houston fans I know were more interested in how Jeremy Lin was doing than their Houston Rockets. Morey has finally decided to completely gut his team, and if no big trades take place, he should have put his team in a good position for a solid draft pick. In today’s NBA, this may be the only way to build a solid team that is also financially responsible. But Morey doesn’t want to lose fan base while he begins the full-on rebuilding project, and this is where Jeremy Lin fits in. Jeremy Lin will bring more attention to this franchise than any other player in the NBA. Once again the Houston Rockets will become the darlings of China.  (Side note: I think now is the time to bring back the red and yellow jerseys for all home and away games.)  By being China’s team once again, the Rockets will bring in more money than ever before and maybe finally give Morey the flexibility to create a championship level squad. This also gives Morey time to build through the draft, and he will likely have two picks in the lottery next year in addition to his three first-round picks this year.

Jeremy Lin

Throughout this whole process, I felt the most disappointed in Jeremy Lin.  He never made his intentions clear, and as much as people want to blame the Knicks for not making an offer to start, Jeremy never said he really wanted to return to NY in the first place.  His actions actually seem to tell an entirely different story if it's true that he took the Knicks guarantee back to Houston in order to get $5 million more in guarantee money.  So the question I have here is this: what was Jeremy Lin’s motivation to go back to the table with the Houston Rockets?  Was it because he was greedy and actually thought that Marc Stein tweet about the Knicks matching anything up to $1 billion was true?  Or maybe the more likely scenario is that Jeremy Lin was worried that the Knicks would match and needed to get an offer that would make going to Houston possible.  If this is the case, I wonder why Jeremy Lin was so desperate to leave the city that made him and gave him the opportunity of a life time.  So many questions flood my mind when I think about this.  Did Melo and Lin really not get along?  Was there too much jealousy in the locker room over Linsanity?  Was Lin afraid of the pressure and constant press of New York City?  Or is Lin just like most basketball players in the NBA seeking more money and more shots?  Only Jeremy Lin really knows, so I will leave it at that.

If it was really for more money, then this whole situation really is "Linsatiate."  In that case, Jeremy Lin gambled against Dolan and lost.  My feeling is that greed wasn’t the main motivation.  Jeremy Lin is already the most sought-after athlete for endorsing products to sell to the most affluent group in the USA (Asian Americans).  He could have easily made millions more by staying in New York City.  I think it comes down to Jeremy Lin genuinely wanting to leave the bright lights of New York City.  As a current resident of NYC where I work and live (just moved into the city this month), I will agree that the Big Apple can be quite overwhelming at times.  This is a city of comparison, pressure, and status.  The media and residents aren’t always logical in their comments, and many seem to have an attitude of superiority.  That being said I am sure teammate chemistry, Landry Fields leaving, and limited minutes and shots to develop his game all played a part.

Take a bow -- last year was an amazing show!

Do I think this is a smart move for Jeremy Lin?  Of course not, but then again I am a Knick fan, so maybe you shouldn’t take my advice that seriously.  I think Jeremy Lin could be so much more on the grand stage of New York City.  Not because he would become a better basketball player, but he would have a larger platform to do what he was set on this earth to do: to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.  Jeremy used his platform to perfection last season to share his faith and uncover the racism that Asian Americans (especially men) still face today.  I also think Jeremy Lin undervalued the fact of being on a talented and competitive team.  This could change for the Rockets over time, but right now the Rockets look more like a 2011 college team than a championship contender.  In New York he had talent around him he could rely on;  last year when Linsanity began to die down, the Novak show picked up and kept Jeremy Lin out of headlines for his large amount of turnovers.  Now in Houston he will be like Brandon Jennings with the Bucks -- teams will be fully focused on Jeremy Lin and will throw pressure through double teams.  It was just yesterday that Jennings was a future star after he dropped 50 points in one game his rookie season, but the league took notice, and there hasn’t been much to mention about Jennings since.  I hope I am wrong, that Jeremy Lin will prevail and continue to be the pride and joy of every Asian American and underdog around the world.

What makes me feel the saddest is that I have come to the conclusion that Jeremy Lin wanted out of the New York Circus, I mean, the New York Knicks.  He decided to leave, so I have no right to be upset at the mad king James Dolan or at the wise GM Daryl Morey.  This is what Jeremy Lin wanted, and doesn’t every man deserve that choice to choose where they want to work?  I will always be thankful for what Jeremy Lin has given us over the years. He has given us the most exciting two weeks in sports, an Asian American to rally behind, and hope that anything and everything is possible through God.  Jeremy Lin, you are still the Great Asian American Hope and always will be.

Photos courtesy of Debby Wong/US Presswire, Getty Images, and NY Daily News.

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The Huddle: Jeremy Lin

If you haven't heard the news by now, get out from under the rock you're living under, and as soon as your eyes have adjusted to the light, listen to this news: the New York Knicks decided not to match the 3 year $25 million offer for Jeremy Lin, and Linsanity has landed (back) in Houston.  Everybody and their mother (literally) has an opinion about it, so we figured it was time for another Gym Class All Stars huddle.  Feel free to leave your own thoughts about the newest Rocket!

1. When did you become a Jeremy Lin fan?

Norman: I'll admit it. Wasn't a believer until Feb 4, 2012. Was at PVuong's bday bash and was reading ESPN on my phone when he broke out with 25pts against the Nets.

Leu: Had a little liking for him after his breakout game against UCONN in his Harvard days. Followed him here and there and then he showed up John Wall during the summer league a couple years ago, and well, the mancrushing was on!

Mok: I didn't believe in any of the hype til I actually got a chance to see him play a full game versus the Lakers. He still needs to work on his ballhandling, spot-up shooting, and defense, but he's a very heady player who excels at isolation and pick-and-roll plays.

Caleb: When he was playing in Harvard during his Junior year. 

Olivia: Impressed since his senior year of college, when I watched him play against Cornell.

Peter: Knew of him at Harvard but wasn't a fan until he started showing up in KevJumba videos.

Alby: I think he is a nice story. I am not a fan nor do I hate the guy. I hate the media, my friends, Facebook, Twitter, and everything else in between when he's playing. The NBA got much better for me when he went down (not because I wanted him to get injured -- I would never wish that on anyone) because I was finally able to hear/see/read about other players in the NBA.

2. What were the Knicks thinking? 

Norman: They're thinking short-term. Forgot how much more ticket prices jumped after Lin started winning (even after the spike with the Melo trade), how many jerseys sold, and how all Asian moms became Knicks fans overnight asking their husbands, sons, and daughters how basketball works.

Leu: They weren't.

Mok: It's all about the Benjamins, and I guess after Eddy Curry, Steve Francis, Stephon Marbury, etc, James Dolan finally decided he was done dishing it out so freely. I'm just glad I dropped my Madison Square Garden stock at the tail end of Linsanity because it's about to take a bigger hit than the lightpole that Jason Kidd rammed into.

Caleb: As a Knicks fan my whole life, I have learned to stop trying to figure out what the Knicks are thinking.

Olivia: Unclear. But it's too bad that Knicks fans keep on getting Dolan-ed.

Peter: This may be a telling sign of the financial troubles the Knicks/Dolan are in.  Keep a watch on this as the season develops.

Alby: Big mistake. Stupid decision. They weren't thinking. Unfortunately, the front office has held the best franchise in the NBA back for decades now and continues to do so with this shortsighted decision.

3. How many Rockets tickets are you buying for next season?

Norman: 0. Can't root for Houston after 1994.

Leu: None. I don't like the Rockets.

Mok: Sign me up for when the Knicks visit Houston. And the Clippers and Thunder so I can see the envy close-up on CP3's and Westbrook's faces at not starting at the All-Star game.

Caleb: None.

Olivia: I'd probably stop by when the Rockets swing through Boston.

Peter: Going to try to attend 2-3 when I come back to the USA later this year.

Alby: Zero. But I will go to Rockets Play Day and wave my finger in Dikembe's face. Oh, I already did that.

4. Can Jeremy Lin surpass Yao's legacy in Houston?

Norman: Think so... as long as he stays healthy and consistent. Yao was pretty much on the DL for most of his last few years, so not too too hard

Leu: I think he already has even though he'll never win a playoff series with Houston.

Mok: He already has in my book. F Yao.

Caleb: Already has.

Olivia: He's already endeared himself to the Asian-American population more than Yao ever could by virtue of the fact that he is far more relatable (read: not a non-English speaking giant). For the city at large, homeboy just needs to get the Rockets into the second round of the playoffs and he's golden.

Peter: The loss of Yao left a giant-sized hole in the Rockets lineup and marketing strategy. Lin should be more than enough to fill that hole.  In terms of legacy, still too early to crown him.

Alby: Yes. The hype machine is much bigger than it was 10 years ago, and it continues to grow exponentially each year.

5. New town. New team. Come up with a new Jeremy Lin slogan/nickname!

Norman: Texas gonna become the Lin Star State? Can't think of anything creative.

Leu: Jer-Dur.

Mok: Jeremy.

Caleb: Linsatiate.

Olivia: Houst-lin Rockets.

Peter: Linpossible is nothing. Linning is everything.

Alby: Starting point guard of the Houston Rockets.

Photo content courtesy of: postmediacanadadot.com, thedissnba.blogspot.com

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Why New York Knicks Fans Should Hate the Houston Rockets

(By a bitter Knicks fan)

My first memories of NBA basketball were Knicks versus Pacers in the 1994 NBA Playoffs. I didn’t know too much about the teams or the players, all I knew was that my sister wanted the local New York Knicks to keep on winning. I think I thought Reggie Miller was the greatest NBA player ever after watching that series, but somehow the Knicks won game 6 and 7 to advance to the NBA finals. At this age I didn’t understand the significance of the absence of Jordan and thought getting to the finals wasn’t that difficult. But like every new sports fan, you never forget the first time you heart gets broken by your new favorite team. For me, my enemy number one was the Houston Rockets. I still vividly remember Hakeem Olajuwon delivering the blow in game 6 with his block of John Starks' potential game-winner. I remember despising Robert Horry and the ugly face and head shape of Sam Cassell. Many of the writers on Gym Class All Stars will pick this series as their greatest sports moment, which only reminds me of the pain Houston caused me and my fellow Knicks fans 18 years ago. I hate the fact that Ewing was criticized for being dominated by Olajuwon. Ewing failed to score as much (was out scored 18.9 ppg to 26.9 ppg), but he still did enough to put his team in position to win a championship. People also don’t want to mention that Ewing out-rebounded Olajuwon 12.4 rpg to 9.1 rpg, or the fact that Ewing set a finals record with 30 blocks in the series.

As a kid I was set on hating the Rockets forever, but then something happened in 2001, when by some miracle the Rockets got the first pick in the draft. With that pick they took Yao Ming, and all my disdain for Houston disappeared. Looking back now, I realize how foolish I was to let myself support the same franchise that prevented my team from winning it all. I even purchased a Yao Ming Rockets jersey and paid to go to a playoff game in 2007 with Jonathan Mok to watch and cheer for the Houston Rockets. My love and admiration for Yao Ming is well-documented. That love blinded me from seeing the Rockets for who they really are -- a team that has abused the New York Knicks franchise over and over. Knicks always end up overpaying even when they seem to have leverage (I still miss Gallo and Wilson Chandler). Rockets took advantage of the Knicks when New York foolishly thought they had a shot at Lebron James, but instead just wasted a half year watch Tracy McGrady barely being able to stay on the court for a few games. Now we see the Knicks again overpay the Rockets in order to obtain Marcus Camby. In both cases you can make the argument that the Knicks had to pull the trigger, yet it pains me that both times the Rockets ended up milking the Knicks for far more than necessary.

This leads me to the most recent time the Rockets have screwed over the Knicks. Yesterday it was reported that Jeremy Lin signed a different offer sheet with the Houston Rockets than what was reported earlier this week. Instead of the 4-year $29 million contract, the Rockets gave him a 3-year $25 million contract. This puts the third year at $15 million, which would push the Knicks $5 million more over the cap. The estimated cost of having Lin on the team that third year with the additional luxury tax is over $40 million. This clearly was a move out of spite since New York had made it clear they would match any offer. I am sorry the Rockets still feel upset for not keeping Jeremy Lin last season, but this move is pretty childish to change up the terms. Well I guess the Rockets will have to live with giving Jeremy Lin $8 million for the next 3 season. Now the Houston Rockets will be the team that took Linsanity from New York City as well.

I don’t care if the Rockets end up with Jeremy Lin or a roster full of Asian Americans. I don’t even care if the Rockets resign Yao Ming. From this point forward, as a real Knicks fan I will never make the mistake of cheering for the Houston Rockets again. I wish the best for Jeremy Lin, but I could care less if the Rockets ever make the playoffs.

Photos courtesy of Ranker.com

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2012 NBA Offseason: The Winners, Losers, and Drawers

The NBA offseason is not only about acquiring guys through free agency but also via trades. Of course, the big domino everyone is waiting on is Dwight Howard, so there are still exciting times yet to come. A Dwight Howard trade could potentially include stars like Andrew Bynum, Al Horford, Josh Smith, James Harden, or Serge Ibaka, so be prepared to read hundreds of rumors each day until it happens.  Here are the winners (and subsequently, the losers) of the trades that have taken place so far:

1. The Atlanta Hawks traded Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets for Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar, Jordan Williams, DeShawn Stevenson, Johan Petro, and a 2017 second-round pick.

Albert: Winner – Atlanta Hawks

How did new GM Danny Ferry pull this deal off? He shipped off what is considered the NBA's worst contract ($90 million left for 4 years) and got back a couple rotational players and guys that will most likely be bought out. This also opens the door for Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Jeff Teague to really showcase their talents and audition to the organization if they are worth being kept or not. But ultimately, the amazing part of the trade is getting rid of that monstrosity of a contract. I still can't believe they pulled it off. From Brooklyn's point of view, it is clear that Mikhail Prokhorov is going all-in. It's a new franchise, new arena; they brought back Deron and Brook Lopez with max deals, and they signed Gerald to $40 million. Good luck.

Jonathan: Tie

I'll call this one a draw. Atlanta shed its payroll of one of the worst contracts in NBA history, and Brooklyn gained an all-star to its roster.  Yes, Joe Johnson is expensive, but the Nets may have 99 problems, but money ain't one.  Most importantly, the trade helped convince Deron Williams to stay on the team, instantly making Brooklyn a potential top-4 team in the East.

2. The Phoenix Suns signed and traded Steve Nash (3 years, $27 million) to the Los Angeles Lakers for two first-round draft picks (2013 & 2015) and two second-round draft picks (2013 & 2014).

Albert: Tie

I'm actually in the minority on this, but I don't think there is a clear-cut winner. The two-time MVP is a great player, and it is apparent that the Suns organization was doing him a favor by shipping him to Los Angeles. But the truth of the matter is he is 38 years old; his body has to break down sometime, right? Meanwhile, getting a total of 4 picks in the next 3 years may not sound too sexy, but it does give Phoenix the flexibility to potentially use them in future trades. Also, the Suns are currently in full cost-cutting, rebuilding mode, and the fastest way to do that is to trade your most valuable asset -- your superstar. The only beef I have with this move is that Phoenix could have made the Lakers pay more for Nash since he was offered $36 million for 3 years from the Raptors.

Jonathan: Winner – Los Angeles Lakers

Yes, Nash is pushing 40, but it's obvious that his quickness, vision, and shooting is still intact. This acquisition won't help the Lakers stop Russell Westbrook, but it gives them something Kobe has never had: a real point guard. Nash will not only help space the floor, but Lakers fans will finally start seeing some easy buckets for the first time in years.

3. The Houston Rockets traded Kyle Lowry to the Toronto Raptors for Gary Forbes and an unspecified first-round draft pick.

Albert: Winner – Toronto Raptors (but the Rockets have the potential to come out on top)

Forbes is a nice player, but Houston has a plethora of forwards, so I don't know what they are doing there. But depending on what that first-round pick ends up being, it may be all worth it because Lowry was already on his way out last year since he wasn't on the same page as Coach McHale. On the other hand, the Raptors have a legitimate point guard who can push the tempo, play in the half court, and defend. He won't have too much pressure on him to perform up in Canada, so he has the potential to thrive with guys like DeRozan and Bargnani. Remember, he was playing at an all-star level before he went down with his illness just a year ago.

Jonathan: Winner – Toronto Raptors

I love Daryl Morey, but I can't help but think the Rockets could have gotten more for Kyle Lowry. The way the deal is structured, the worst case scenario for Houston would be if Toronto makes the playoffs for the next 6 years and the Rockets end up with a low first round draft pick. And maybe it's just me, but Kyle Lowry might be exactly the type of player they need to do that. (Of course, this is all moot if Daryl ends up trading this pick.)  Oh, and the only point guard the Rockets have on their roster is Courtney Fortson.  It's only July, but still funny.

4. The Houston Rockets signed and traded Marcus Camby (3 years, $13.2 million) to the New York Knicks for Toney Douglas, Josh Harrellson, Jerome Jordan, and two unspecified second-round draft picks.

Albert: Winner – Houston Rockets

This is the epitome of a Daryl Morey deal -- he took the Knicks to the woodshed on this one. I realize that Camby is a nice piece to the Knicks' puzzle, but at the end of the day, he's just a backup center for them. Sorry New York fans, I'm just stating facts. They had to give up two contributors from a year ago, a young 7-footer in Jordan, and two picks. I can see their thought process -- maybe Toney Douglas was not going to see much time this year with the potential signing of Jeremy Lin and the newly acquired Jason Kidd. But I'm going to guarantee that Kidd will miss over 20+ games this year and only play around 20 minutes a game when he is healthy. And on top of that, Douglas is an expiring contract. Are we sure Isiah isn't back in New York? In a nutshell, they gave both Jason Kidd, 39, and Marcus Camby, 38, not 1, not 2, but 3-year deals.

Jonathan: Winner – Houston Rockets

Get a warrant for Madison Square Garden because it looks like Isiah Thomas is acting as GM again.  Aside from the fact that the Knicks overpaid for an aged backup center in a league where centers are becoming obsolete, they gave up far too much in this trade with Houston.  At first glance, it doesn't seem like much, but when you look deeper, you'll see two 2nd round draft picks, two unguaranteed contracts, and one expiring contract -- essentially, the only tradeable assets the team had.  Oh, and by the way, the Knicks will be paying the salary for that expiring contract.  All this for a player that the Rockets were not planning on bringing back anyway.  Have I mentioned that I love Daryl Morey?

5. The Dallas Mavericks signed and traded Ian Mahinmi (4 years, $16 million) to the Indiana Pacers for Darren Collison and Dahntay Jones.

Albert: Winner – Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs, after a disastrous start to free agency, basically traded their #3 center from a year ago for a starting point guard and a guard that will be in the top-8 of their rotation. Collison is not only an expiring contract, but he's also a young, up-and-coming guard who was Indiana's best player in the playoffs in 2012 (highest PER on the team). Since both guys have one year left on their contracts, Dallas still has the flexibility to go after a big free agent again next summer after striking out on Deron Williams this year. But seriously, why didn’t Indiana just sign Mahinmi outright? Instead, they GAVE the Mavericks a couple players? He was an unrestricted free agent and Dallas wasn’t going to pay that much for him. The departure of Bird has already negatively affected them. Ouch.

Jonathan: Winner – Dallas Mavericks

Dallas wins this one by default. I'm not impressed with either Darren Collison or Dahntay Jones, but the trade fulfills a couple of short-term needs for the Mavericks with the sudden absence of Jason Kidd and Jason Terry.  On the other hand, the Pacers shore up their frontcourt with Ian Mahinmi to back up the newly maxed-out Roy Hibbert, but you don't need to bring back Larry Legend to tell you that this guy isn't going to put your team over the top.  Word on the street is that the organization's next offseason goal is to ink Gerald Green to a deal, so... splash?

6. The Orlando Magic traded Ryan Anderson to the New Orleans Hornets for Gustavo Ayon.

Albert: Winner – New Orleans

To the casual fan, you may be asking yourself who the hell Gustavo Ayon is right now. Another cost-cutting move by new Magic GM, Rob Hennigan. It looks like he's trying to start over and rebuild from the ground floor. And for this very reason, he didn't want to ink Ryan Anderson to a long-term deal. Anderson, coming off a great season in which he shot the basketball extremely well from three-point territory, provides the Hornets with much-needed spacing and veteran leadership. With #1 overall pick, Anthony Davis, and fellow lottery pick, Austin Rivers, coming in, they need guys who have been around the block a few times. Ryan Anderson not only fits this mold, but can provide a lot from a basketball standpoint as well. This could end up being a great move if they are able to bring Eric Gordon back.

Jonathan: Winner – New Orleans

Does anybody realize that the Hornets are about to push out a lineup of Austin Rivers, Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, Ryan Anderson, and Anthony Davis a year after losing an MVP-caliber PG? Not bad, Stern. I mean, New Orleans. And the Magic continue to lose any remaining leverage they had in a possible Dwight deal by shipping off the team's best rebounder not named Howard.

7. The New Orleans Hornets traded Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor to the Washington Wizards for Rashard Lewis and the 46th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft.

Albert: Winner – Washington Wizards

The Hornets are welcoming in a new era in New Orleans. They shipped off veterans, Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor, to open the door for Austin Rivers and Anthony Davis, and they bought out the rest of Rashard's contract. Long-term, this may be turn into a good deal for the Hornets. As for short-term ramifications, this gives the Wizards a pretty good lineup that includes John Wall and Nene. I know that may not be enough to contend, but when you've been the bottom feeders of the NBA for so long, picking up known commodities is always a good thing. Ultimately, they got rid of head cases Javale McGee and Nick Young and replaced them with solid veterans in Ariza, Okafor, and Nene.

Jonathan: Tie
One glance at Emeka Okafor's contract, and you might burst out laughing.  Then you would probably question how this trade could be deemed a tie in any form or fashion.  But alas, imagine the potential New Orleans lineup noted two paragraphs above, and just think how much better it might look with Trevor Ariza in there as well.  (FYI -- Trevor Ariza is one of my top 10 favorite players.)  A tie is a tie.

8. The Golden State Warriors traded Dorell Wright to the Philadelphia 76ers for Edin Bavcic.

Albert: Winner – Philadelpha 76ers

Clearly a salary cap move by the Warriors. Edin Bavcic is playing in Europe, and there is no concrete evidence on when or if he’s even coming to the NBA. This opens up room for the newly drafted Harrison Barnes, who is also a wing player. The 76ers get a guy with some size (6' 8") that can shoot the ball and play defense. He had a breakout season two years ago and did not live up to his new contract last year, but he can be a nice rotational player for a playoff team. Along with their acquisition of Nick Young, they have bolstered their backcourt and made Iguodala even more expendable with each passing day (but he’s in trade rumors every year anyway).

Jonathan: Tie

The Warriors make room for Barnes, who unfortunately, has the ceiling of... Dorell Wright. The 76ers get a replacement for Jodie Meeks, but they just lost Lou Williams and Elton Brand, so they have bigger problems to worry about.

9. The Atlanta Hawks traded Marvin Williams to the Utah Jazz for Devin Harris.

Albert: Winner – Atlanta Hawks

This is another cost-cutting move by Danny Ferry. Marvin Williams has been underperforming ever since he was a high draft pick coming out of North Carolina. The Hawks finally moved his contract and picked up a nice backup for Jeff Teague. Atlanta is shaping up to be major players in free agency next summer. They recently just signed Lou Williams as well, which gives them three lighting-quick guards -- not bad for a rebuilding year.

Jonathan: Winner – Atlanta Hawks

I like the change of scenery for both players, but Utah needs a whole lot more than Marvin Williams to get past the first round. And before you check Marvin's age and measurables and think he still hasn't reached his full potential, stop. The Jazz have not only traded away all-star Deron Williams for pennies on the dollar, but they've found a way to end up with the #2 draft bust taken in the exact same draft. Congratulations, Utah. Meanwhile, Atlanta continues unloading bad contracts by giving away 2 years of Williams for 1 year of Harris. If only they could go back and take back their promise to draft Williams, Shelden.

10. The Los Angeles Clippers traded Reggie Evans to the Brooklyn Nets for the rights to swap 2nd round picks in 2016.

Albert: Winner – Brooklyn Nets

Reggie Evans actually played very well for the Clippers a year ago. In fact, he single-handedly won them a playoff game against Memphis with his defense, rebounding, and tenacity during that epic second half comeback. Brooklyn picks up a hardworking big man who will do all the dirty work for you. They already have that guy on the perimeter with Gerald Wallace; now they have one in the interior as well. Furthermore, Brook Lopez might be the softest max player over 7 feet tall in history, so Evans will be his Charles Oakley. The Clippers had to do this to make room for Blake's max extension as well as for Jamal Crawford's acquisition, but it's going to be a pretty big loss because of Blake and DeAndre's habit of disappearing during big moments.

Jonathan: Winner – Brooklyn Nets
This is an absolutely great pickup for the Brooklyn Nets.  Next year you're gonna see the Clippers interior turn putty soft, and the enormously rich Blake Griffin is gonna get exposed on defense game in and game out.  The only question left is whether or not Chris Paul realizes that he can't win with a frontcourt of Blake and DeAndre as he's contemplating signing an extension in Lob/Flop City.


So where do you guys think this guy is going?

Photo content courtesy of www.sports.yahoo.com, www.insidehoops.com, www.bleacherreport.net, www.keepittrill.com

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