10 Feet High

Reports are that Shaquille O’Neal may miss the rest of the regular season with a sprained thumb, which he sustained on a hard foul from Boston’s Glen Davis in a recent game. Shaq has been a valued addition to the Cavs this year, helping them dominate the Eastern Conference and pummeling the Lakers, particularly big men Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. His interior presence has aided a Cleveland team that struggled against physical big men, such as Dwight Howard in last season’s playoffs. So why is this injury going to help the Cavs?

Shaq is 38 years old, which for his body and legs may as well be damn near 50. The beating he has taken over his career, especially as he’s slowed down and put on weight, is one that cannot be overstated.

In all honesty, what would having him in the line-up for the rest of the regular season accomplish? The Cavs are 8-1 without him and already have a stranglehold on home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference Finals, holding a six-game lead over Orlando with just 20 games to play. The biggest issue may be home-court through the Finals, as LA is just two games back (including the tie-breaker).

But by allowing his body to recuperate and his legs to refresh, Shaq will give Cleveland a healthy and legitimate center come crunch time. When the Finals come, Shaq will be fresh and strong enough to play the minutes necessary to abuse the Laker posts just as he’s done this season.

Since becoming a Cavalier last summer, the big fella has seen a resurgence in his play, anchoring the middle while averaging 12 points, 7 rebounds, and more than a block per game. He has been a dramatic upgrade from year’s past when Cleveland’s best interior options were an inexperienced Anderson Varejao, an aging Zydrunas Ilgauskas or Joe Smith.

It may seem a blow to Cleveland now, but Shaq’s sprained thumb was the ultimate blessing in disguise. At some point, they will have to rely on guys like J.J. Hickson and Varejao, who is one of the crucial elements to this team with his relentless energy and hustle. With Shaq out now, it gives them an opportunity to get significant minutes, so that when they are called upon they will deliver. In an easy win over the Knicks Monday night, this young and impressive duo showed how valuable they can be, combining for a staggering 31 points and 19 rebounds.

(Hickson is showing Cavs fans why Danny Ferry took him in the first round back in the 2008 NBA Draft, and why I thought of him so highly coming out of NC State)


In last night's win over the Nets, Hickson flourished, going for 20 points and 13 rebounds in the start.

Assuming he keeps in shape – this is a rather big assumption but one we can make considering how much we know Shaq wants another ring – the rest he will accumulate over the next two months will ultimately provide Cleveland with its best opportunity to capture Mr. Larry O’Brien himself. The Cavs really only need him for the Eastern Conference semis and on, so he has plenty of time to heal the ailing thumb.

The trade deadline has come and passed, but come playoff time the acquisition of a healthy O’Neal may be just enough for LeBron James to get ring No. 1 in his seventh season, which would be one year sooner than it took Michael Jordan to earn his first championship in Chicago.

I’m just saying.

I woke up the other day and found I had more YouTube in me, which probably isn't a good thing for you, my poor readers, so I'm terribly sorry for that. Now, I'm normally not a YouTube junkie, but some of my best childhood memories can be relived via random people's YouTube posts. It got me thinking, maybe I should become a member and make my own posts? Probably taking it way too far there. Anyways, I'm hoping you all can relate to at least a couple of these vids.



My Memory:

I literally spent 45 minutes practicing this shot with a teammate and still couldn’t emulate Hoffarber. Seriously, try it yourself, not just sitting there attempting shots, but having a ball passed to you laying down. The tricky part – the thing that is just so tough – is getting the ball off quickly, like beat-the-buzzer quick. Under the circumstances – high school state title game at the Target Center – this is one of the better shots I’ve ever seen.



My Memory:

I know, I know, why tennis? But I was there in London during this epic match, and even though I’ve witnessed some pretty special moments in sports, this one is right at the top.

When the tournament started, Andy Roddick was just another obnoxious American to the British. In truth, his career hadn’t gone the way we envisioned it would when he won the U.S. Open in 2003 and became the youngest American ever to be ranked world No. 1. But this was Wimbledon, an event so prestigious and precious that even the most casual tennis fan can appreciate its grandeur.

In the semifinal against Great Britain’s own Andy Murray, Roddick wheeled and dealed his way to a rather stunning upset. I attended this match, and even sitting in the grandstands far off center court, I could hear the bowels of the home crowd rooting for its favorite son.

When Roddick won, it appeared impossible that any Brit could ever root for this guy.

Sitting in a local bar watching the final featuring Roddick and the seemingly unbeatable Roger Federer, I was shocked to see the tide turn as the match progressed. At first, the crowded bar rooted hard for Federer, simply dismissing the challenger as an unworthy opponent who defeated their own. But in the final three sets and remarkably through the gut wrenching tiebreakers, the British faithful shifted dramatically toward Roddick, cheering loudly for every ace and gasping with every missed opportunity. In the end, Federer took home the hardware, but Roddick - with his hard play and grit - earned something just as meaningful: Respect. This is why we love sports.



My Memory:

I’ll be the first to tell you the importance of a good night’s sleep – seriously you just can’t put a price on it. If I’d slept just another hour per night in college, I’m convinced I’d have graduated magna cum laude. (OK, fine. Cum laude. OK, maybe that’s a stretch, but you get the point, sort of. I'm confused, sorry.) Up until the 2002 World Cup, soccer to me may as well have been professional bowling. I didn’t understand it, and I didn’t want to understand it.

But after the Americans advanced past the initial group stages, I couldn’t help but notice. What I did next, though, was completely unprecedented for me, even when it came to watching basketball. Given the time difference from Korea, the second-round U.S.-Mexico match started at 4 in the morning. Keep in mind, this was during the time when I still had sleepovers with friends. (Yes, I just went there.)

In an act of humility and tremendous courage, my roommate for the night and I decided to wake up at 4, during the weekend mind you, and watch this game. I still can’t believe it. What we witnessed was an American squad full of flair and an overwhelming desire to win. This brilliant upset forever instilled in my mind, my love of soccer began.



My Memory:

I’ll never forget this one. We had a tourney bracket at school, and every chance we got to sneak away from class and watch games we would. Since I had already exhausted my stay-at-home days, my parents wouldn’t let me skip school again. But at 16, I was a crafty veteran, more than capable of weaseling my way into a room with a television.

Realistically, I had at least four or five years of experience working and honing my craft (I started really caring about the Dance in 1998 when my beloved Huskies made a Sweet 16 run). Anyways, this was the 12-5 upset I picked (one happens almost every year), so when this bench player named Taylor rattled off 30-plus points and the game-winning dagger, I – along with the rest of the Creighton faithful – went nuts, thus forcing the vice principal to enter the room thinking a fight had broken out. How I miss high school. Also, how great is it to see Billy Donovan panicking like that? Is there a more annoying coach in the college game today? Okay, you’re right. Sorry, Coach K, John Calipari (any chance I get with him I take) and Bruce Pearl.

(Sorry, I couldn't embed this, but trust me, it's worth watching: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd0S0LwhEDU)

My Memory:

Now I know you’re asking why. After all, Mike Jones? What? Well, to me this guy shall never be forgotten, even if he hasn’t made a hit single in five years.

Summer Jam happens to be one of the premier summer events for Seattleites. Held at the Columbia River Gorge – arguably the most stunning concert backdrop in America – it is the gathering of half a dozen or so of the best new and old acts around. In the summer of 2005, Mike Jones was one of those acts. So, a bunch of us, including myself made the trek to Eastern Washington (I don’t know why I went - I don’t like concerts, and I don’t like being around 30,000 drunk people after a three-hour drive.) Beside the point though.

We finagle our way into getting backstage passes (a guy I know from way back guest-raps with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, who were also playing). An hour before Jones is set to go on stage, we go and meet him. He signs autographs (I immediately gave mine away), says a few words, and we move on to the next room. I will keep kosher and not elaborate too much, but let's just say the "rockstar" lifestyle is very, very real. We had an idea of what to expect, and this expectations were fulfilled.

The memorable part is that the guy proceeds to give one of the worst, most unwatchable performances in music history. The only irrefutable words I heard during his 30 minutes of rapping were, “Who, Mike Jones, Who, Mike Jones, Who?” Still, a valuable impression was made, and I’ll never forget the impact this man had on me. For the rest of the summer, I went around Seattle inexplicably saying “Who, Mike Jones” to poor by standards who probably thought I had a bad case of Turrets.

Side Note: “Back then they didn’t want me, now I’m hot, they all on me.” We used to say this was the life story of a friend of ours who made the NBA and all of a sudden, every girl wanted him. I don't know why these ridiculous lines always catch on, but they do, and oddly enough, they work.



What a movie! Okay, so this came out back in the day, but as an obsessive Husky fan, I quickly adopted "The Sixth Man" as my go-to film from the ages of 12 to dare I say 17? I hesitate to say such an asinine statement, but I imagine I’ve seen this movie upwards of 20 times. It contains everything a quality movie should: Marlon Wayans (a must), the annoying "we going Sizzler's" dude from "White Men Can't Jump," Seattle, UW, and of course, a ghost. Also, current Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford is the starting point guard on this team. Don’t even ask me how I know this. See this movie and you’ll fall in love. Absolutely robbed of an Oscar. Fine, Golden Globe? Fine, Independent Film Critics Sports Movie Featuring The Pacific Northwest Something Award? You won't be disappointed. “Big man for three!”



My Memory:

The classic case of a kid using the NCAA Tournament as a platform to up his draft stock. Ed O’Bannon made himself millions by dominating the Razorbacks “40 minutes of hell” with his ferocious style of play. Great college player, not so great NBA player. I was only 9 at the time, but Dad and I attended the Final Four at the Kingdome (R.I.P.) in Seattle.

(Me beloved Kingdome was the source of many of my best childhood moments, the 1995 Final Four included)

This became my first “wow, basketball is really cool moment.” It inspired me to wake up early before school every morning and work on “my game” – I mean at that point “my game” consisted of very little, but hey, I had to start somewhere right.

Side Note: Speaking of my younger playing days, an old friend and teammate of mine called me this week saying he came across a tape of us playing in the 5th Grade City Title game in Seattle. Apparently, I didn’t get the start, and my best play was a rebound putback that went off the side of the backboard and out of bounds. Like I said, I had very little game.

By the way, how did Jimmy ("I will cheat at all costs") Harrick win a title? Oh yeah, he cheated. Plus, don't forget that staff of Lorenzo Romar, Stevie Lavin and company. Good assistants make all the difference. Quick, conspiracy theory: head coaches in college are some of the biggest frauds around. Okay, maybe not all, but definitely some. Aside from recruiting, what do they really do? From my experience, very little. They're like managers who oversee, but don't actually do anything. Most of the plays are from the assistants, as are the scouting reports. Sure, HC's can bark out orders and look the part come game time (i.e. John Calipari), but what do they really do? How much of a team's success or lack thereof can truly be attributed to a head coach? The staff around him is just as if not more important.

For whatever reason, I woke up today with a peculiar desire to watch old basketball videos on YouTube. You know what I mean right? Like all of a sudden - and you don't know why - you just have to watch sick hoop clips? Well, in my deranged state of mind full of oddities, here is what stood out.



My Memory:

Stanford was undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country. Arizona was still Arizona, and these two fought back and forth all game long. One of my best friends was a freshman at U of A, so I kind of adopted the Wildcats as a semi-favorite team capable of winning another title. A few years later, a friend of mine whom I later met, informed me he was at the game as a student of Stanford, sitting three or four rows behind Tiger Woods, who infamously stormed the court along with the rest of Cardinal nation. All of these elements combine to make this one I'll never forget.

USC comeback:



My Memory:

I couldn't have been more than 13 or 14, but I remember seeing these highlights on SportsCenter in my room, absolutely shellshocked. I know this because I specifically recall holding off on my Sega Dreamcast "Madden 2K" exploits for at least 15 minutes, which is something to be said at that stage of my life (later that year I actually held a birthday party in which I hosted a 12-man 2K tournament in my basement, complete with brackets and seeding. How in the hell we determined seeding for such a thing boggles me to this day). Needless to say, I didn't make it past the second round, not because of "stick skills," but rather because of sleep deprivation. Hey, 3 a.m. for a 14-year-old is pretty damn late! By the way, how about the announcer's call? "Oh, ohhh, ohhhhhh, a miracle!" Great stuff. Also, how badly were you hoping the camera would break to show that kid's cutthroat sign to the Ducks student section?

Kentucky dunk:



My Memory:

There is none. I wasn't alive yet, but when I came across this dunk, I had to share it with you. Also, and I hesitate to say this, but how talented was Dick Vitale's call? "Secretariat out of the gate!" Love that.

Okay, all for now, but more coming soon. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. If not, then you're simply not as much a junkie loser as I am. Probably not a bad thing.

In the day and age of early college exits and unrealized potential, Stanley Robinson is a revelation. When Robinson came to Jim Calhoun as a talented, albeit very green freshman, he was strictly an athlete. Four years later, he is a basketball player.

Robinson is the unquestioned leader of an improving UConn team that without him is nowhere near the NCAA Tournament bubble it currently sits on. Against second-ranked Syracuse recently, he showed why.

In a hellish game of the utmost importance for the Huskies, Robinson came out of the gate in a frenzy, dominating much of the first half with his aggressive takes to the basket and violent dunks. While his teammates seemed sluggish and unable to match the Cuse's intensity early on, Robinson’s strong will and intensity set the tone. Despite the tough loss, he made a case for the nation’s premier senior, and helped solidify his first-round draft status come June.

At 6-9, hovering around 220 pounds, Robinson is an excellent leaper, has a terrific first step, and is a very willing rebounder. An explosive driver who finishes above the rim, he has also developed a consistent mid-range game, seemingly comfortable out to 16 feet.

Not unlike his Big East counterpart Wesley Johnson, Robinson is a versatile player capable of defending multiple positions, offensively skilled enough to play both the three and the four. Some scouts say he’s somewhat of a tweener – which is the ultimate NBA no-no, at least in terms of draft stock. Guys that don’t really have a true position have a way of plummeting down the charts. Just ask DeJuan Blair. We’ve seen successful college players struggle as pros because of this, but then again, in today’s NBA game, there is a place for tweeners.

Players like Paul Millsap are in a perfect spot when they are on teams surrounded by scorers like Mehmet Okur, Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer because the Millsaps of the world take care of the intangibles - cleaning up the glass, hustle plays, helping maximize their abilities.

The bottom line is that there are more tweeners like this in the game today than there were 20 years ago – especially in the 6-6 to 6-9 range. Back then, you had a more traditional 3-5 line-up (think Boston Celtics with Bird, McHale and Parish). Case in point: what position does Josh Smith really play? Is he a three or a four? Is Stephen Curry really a point guard? Or is he a combo guy? There is a certain amount of juggling around versatile players today that didn't used to happen.

The aspect to consider with a player like Robinson is that the tweener status he has been deemed as can actually be a good thing. So he’s not your conventional small forward. That’s okay. He’s such a high-level athlete that he will disrupt scorers and create problems for defenses. He used four years of college to strengthen his body, so even though he’s not a bulky post defender, he is very capable to guarding guys on the block, as well as finish through contact.

Because he is an explosive athlete, Robinson is a high-ceiling, high-upside type of player. He is a senior, yes, but still just 21, there is plenty of room for growth. If he can extend his range out to the three and improve his handle, he will be a solid NBA player. Robinson reminds me a bit of Gerald Henderson, the Charlotte forward and rookie out of Duke. Although he doesn’t have quite the same feel and natural instincts, Robinson is the type of talent akin to Henderson that could have a similar impact contributing in all facets of the game.

The lack of a pure basketball feel is my largest concern with him. Against the aggressive, trap-oriented press defense of Villanova recently, Robinson was a turnover machine, hesitant to dribble and errant on his passes. It culminated midway through the second half when he literally walked with the basketball after looking extremely uncomfortable with the ball in his hands. All in all, Robinson finished the game with 7 turnovers to go along with his 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 assists.

This is the type of impact he can have, both negatively and positively. He has the talent to contribute immediately, but at what price? And is this is a kid who lacks the innate basketball feel necessary to fully develop and maximize his raw talents?

Despite his struggles, Robinson gives you more good than bad. He is a high energy kid who rebounds the ball (7.5 per game) and defend (more than 1 block per game and 1 steal).

He must work on his line-drive shot to become a more consistent outside shooter, but even so, he connects on over 36 percent of his threes. And because he attacks the rim so well, many of his field goal attempts are close to the basket, hence his staggeringly high 51 percent shooting percentage.

He is a rangy athlete with excellent length and decent enough quickness to guard smaller players. The emotional issues evident last season are apparently solved, as Calhoun has said this is one of his favorite kids he’s ever coached.

I don’t think he belongs in the lottery, but he should go in the late teens, as an immediate impact guy, who will never blossom into elite status, but will contribute at both ends of the floor and help you win ball games. If I had to give him a grade, right now it’d be a “C+,” with the potential to one day become a “B.” Robinson won’t be an All-Star, but neither will most of this draft class, so getting him in the 15-20 area could be a steal.

Welcome back to the race for NBA Executive of the Year, Kevin Pritchard!

With all the Tracy McGrady and Amare Stoudemire talk, Portland’s GM just made an excellent move to acquire veteran do-everything center Marcus Camby from the reeling Clippers.

The best part?

Camby has an expiring deal so this won’t hamper any potential free-agent luring come summer time, and furthermore, the Blazers didn’t have to give up any marquee guys. Trading the pesky, albeit starkly average, Steve Blake immediately makes this a better team by allowing last summer’s free agent Andre Miller to assume full point guard responsibilities in lieu of splitting time.

Ridding themselves of chronic black hole Travis Outlaw was another key. Outlaw is a gifted scorer and athlete, but for a kid who came straight of high school, he never really learned how to play the game. Despite his occasional scoring outbursts, he was such a streaky player and enigmatic defender that he really didn’t fit in Nate McMillan’s system. In other words, he will mesh perfectly in dysfunctional Clipperland, playing with the offense-thwarting Al Thornton, Baron Davis and Ricky Davis.

We will get to Camby in a second, but by merely trading away Blake and Outlaw, Portland automatically improves, leaving more touches for All-Star Brandon Roy and the versatile LaMarcus Aldridge both in the paint and at the high post. This team is no longer the eighth seed out west.

Getting Camby was a downright theft. When the Blazers lost Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden to season-ending knee injuries, this team’s title hopes went down the drain. Both provided stellar rebounding and defense, and more importantly, they clogged the paint, a necessity to compete for a title.

The value of Camby is immense in that his presence is felt all over the floor. He can do what Przybilla and Oden can ... and a whole lot more as well.

Perennially one of the game’s best shot blockers (career average of more than 2.5), the two-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection may not be the hefty five-man like a Przybilla, but his superior length in the lane is responsible for several altered shots every game. When Shaq was “the real” Shaq, you’d always hear announcers comment on how guys wouldn’t drive when he was in the game. Camby is near that level.

(Even leaper extraordinaire Josh Smith isn't immune to Camby's interior presence)

His presence alone deters drivers and forces offenses into jump shots, ultimately allowing for long misses and for this athletic Portland team to get out in transition and take advantage of fast break numbers.

Because he runs the floor so well and is so dexterous for a 7-footer, he also becomes a viable scoring option on the break. He certainly doesn’t have the conventional set shot, but Camby is more than capable of knocking down 14-footers, an upgrade from both Przybilla and Oden, two traditional centers who prefer operating on the block and in the paint. And unlike Oden for example, who completely disrupts the flow of the offense with his awkward and delayed post touches, Camby doesn’t need the ball on offensive sets. He doesn’t need to score to be effective. By the end of the game, you will check the box score and see he had 8 points, 16 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 assists.

The other value of Camby is in the pick-and-roll, which will surely to free up Miller and Roy, who will be able to attack the basket more frequently, as well as create open shots for Camby when the defense hedges too high.

Look, we all know the Western Conference runs through the Lakers. They are the champs and have looked every bit the part thus far. All-Star Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum have been stellar this year, proving to be the ultimate twin tower escapade in the league. Portland is talented enough on the perimeter with Miller and Roy, alongside the gifted LaMarcus Aldridge and now a true center in Marcus Camby, that they can challenge LA the way we thought they would when the season began.

The NBA playoffs are all about home court, and LA’s troubles at the Rose Garden (lost nine of ten) cannot be overlooked. I’m still not sold on Dallas, Denver or San Antonio. Caron Butler should help the Mavericks, but this team is too finesse with Dirk, who as great as he is, can’t be the best player on a championship team. George Karl teams never win the big one. And the Spurs are too old, fragile, and slow.

Don’t say you weren’t warned. Watch out, Western Conference. The Portland Trail Blazers just put themselves right back in the contending hunt.

After transferring to Syracuse from Iowa State, small forward Wesley Johnson was expected to start right away. But Johnson has done much more than just start. He is averaging 16 points and 9 rebounds while leading the Orange to a top three national ranking and potential national title.

During his two years in Ames, Johnson averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds – decent numbers on a bad Big 12 team. Now playing for a far better team in perhaps an even better league, Johnson has excelled. The Texas native is on the short list for Player of the Year, contributing in a variety of ways and developing into one of college basketball’s most multi-faceted players.

We will explore what has made him so effective, the elements he must tweak to his game, and why ultimately, he will be a really good pro.

The small forward position in today’s NBA game is one of creativity (LeBron James), scoring (Carmelo Anthony), defense (Gerald Wallace) and shooting (Rashard Lewis). Although Johnson is a capable shooter with NBA range, he isn’t the type of shot creator you can rely on, and he doesn’t yet have the predatory scoring instincts to garner the top five selection he is projected as.

At a long 6-7, Johnson has the body to finish at the rim and create off the dribble, but at this point, he just doesn’t have the skills. While he does take advantage of his quickness mismatches at the collegiate level, he fails to show the necessary counter-move if his first move is deterred. In other words, when he decides to jab right and make a move going left that’s cut off, he doesn’t know what to do.

(Expect to see Johnson's high-flying act in NBA arenas for a long time)

Sometimes he’s able to create good separation using a step-back or even a spin move, but usually, he gets in trouble. Since he’s not a sound ball-handler yet, this is where many of his turnovers come, or when he takes a contested shot.

The other concern I have for him is a lack of overall grit. The toughness we recently examined with Kansas center Cole Aldrich is not something that Johnson shows. I don’t it’s a matter of not liking contact, but rather that he’s simply not sure what to do in traffic.

In the Syracuse sets, so much of his offense comes from the 5-15-foot range that he hardly finds himself exposed to getting hit. When you’re as athletically gifted as he is with an NBA-ready body, I find it hard to believe that he can’t play through contact. Johnson’s confidence to shoot the ball is rare for a college player with his athleticism (often times these guys are merely raw drivers), and he seems to prefer the mid-range game rather than scoring in the interior. That said, against a feisty UConn team Wednesday night, he had a monstrous dunk late in the game, proving he isn’t afraid to mix it up.

I mentioned Rashard Lewis as a small forward who can stretch the floor with his three-point range. Although a bit taller, he reminds me of Johnson in that he’s a long wing who at 22 didn’t have the body to utilize all of his athletic traits. Early on in his career, all Lewis could do was shoot the triple. He was too frail to drive and even if he wanted to, he didn’t possess the handle. Fast-forward 10 years, and you see the progression of Lewis’ offensive repertoire. He still can’t handle the ball, but he has expanded his capacity to score from just being a three-point shooter, to a three-man who loves to work on the block. This is where Johnson needs to improve.

The ball-handling is important yes, but if he can develop a comfort level from the post, his prospects as an NBA player will skyrocket. He already has the leaping ability and length to create mismatches – something that can’t be taught. What he must do at the next level is learn the necessary – albeit extremely challenging – footwork of a back-to-the-basket scorer. The little wrinkles in his game that will open up everything else – up and unders, scoring off both shoulders, and perhaps toughest of all, keeping defenders off balance, and getting them up in the air are vital to him realizing his immense potential.

Johnson doesn’t have to be a dominant post scorer, but if he consistently gets 4-6 points a game there, then his entire offensive game will open up, from threes to drives to pull-ups, everything. This would be instrumental to his success because he has already proven to show a consistent shooting stroke, at 53 percent from the field and 41 percent from three.

On the other side of the ball, I don’t have many concerns other than the fact that we’ve never really seen him play man defense. The Syracuse system under Jim Boeheim is so 2-3-match-up oriented - even more this season - that I can’t make a concerted evaluation of Johnson’s one-on-one defensive skills. That said, here’s what I can decipher thus far.

At 6-7, 195 lbs, this is a kid that moves very well. His lateral quickness is evident even in the zone, which should tell scouts that he has the tools to be a quality defender. What stands out most is that he appears versatile enough to play either the top or the bottom of the match-up, meaning he is long enough to bother shorter guards and quick enough to disrupt bigger and stronger players.



This is evident when you consider he is averaging nearly 2 blocks and 2 steals per game, great versatility from the small and power forward (he plays both in college) slots.

Another element to Johnson is his durability. Playing in the rugged Big East against a perilous schedule, Johnson has proven to hold up physically even though he is rather frail. He leads the team in minutes, at 33.6, including six games of playing the full 40 minutes.

As we know, the NBA game is about exploiting mismatches and taking advantage of poor defenders (otherwise scorers like JJ Redick and Flip Murray would play more minutes). Even recently named All-Star David Lee of the Knicks, as good as he’s been this season, gets abused defensively and has difficulty guarding on the block.

Because there are so many talented scorers at this level, coaches must harp on defense as they do, otherwise you’ll just be another high-octane offense that can’t stop anybody – think the Golden State Warriors. Why do you think the Phoenix Suns never do anything in the playoffs? They cannot get the stops late in games when they need them.

Even more pertinent than his offensive arsenal is Johnson’s ability to guard multiple positions. Whether it’s guarding 1s, 2s, or 3s, this versatility will pay dividends in regards to early playing time, and ultimately, to his success as an NBA player.

All of this considered, Wesley Johnson is a fine prospect who can immediately contribute in the NBA. At 22 years old and essentially a fifth-year junior (he went to prep school and sat out a year after transferring), now is the time to turn pro.

Upside is highly over-valued by GMs, particularly in the lottery, and realistically I’d ask how much better will Johnson get by playing another year in college? Scouts love to draft based on potential (just take a glace at my list of busts), and because he is older than most if not all of his lottery counterparts, his upside is a question mark. Assuming Johnson fuels a deep tourney run for the Orange, his stock will never be higher than after March.

Despite his older age, I still think the upside is there to become a high motor, yet very skilled and productive NBA player. While I don’t think he’s a future All-Star, Johnson has all the tools to be a top two defender, and a double-digit scorer who can both rebound and pass the ball – the perfect combination of skills from the small forward position. In other words, he won’t become a 20 and 5 guy, but he will sprinkle across the stat sheet, something like 16, 6, and 4, while providing all of the essential intangibles winning teams require in the NBA. A valuable and safe pick worth using in the top 10.

(I try not to be too mean, but it can prove quite challenging).

A lot is made about busts, so I have to ask, what exactly is one? To me, a bust is a very specific type of player, the guy that fans think is the savior of their franchise and more importantly, the player scouts dub as "can't miss prospects" - the next big thing.

The thing about football or baseball is that each team is loaded with bench players. MLB rosters have 25 guys, while NFL rosters keep 53. NBA rosters are only permitted to have 15 (12 active). In other words, the “scrubs” on an NBA team have a much less likelihood of making the league than those at the NFL or MLB level.

All of this in mind, the nature of a bust is undeniable.

Chronic under-achievers – fair or unfair – are a part of the game, just as much as pick-and-rolls and the up-and-under. Some are bigger than others, but the following list is composed of the players analysts thought as the truest gems of the future, and in turn, the guys who failed to realize their potential on the grandest stage of all. Let’s go…

Felipe Lopez – Heralded as the second coming when he landed the cover of SI and committed to St. John’s in 1995, Lopez actually had a very solid career for the Red Storm.

He was named to the All-Big East First Team as a senior, but he never realized his vast stardom, despite being the No. 24 pick in the 1998 NBA Draft. Lopez’s career as a pro was a failure, playing on three NBA teams and averaging just 5 points and 2 rebounds. Word is, he’s still playing overseas, which I commend. It’s very tough swallowing your pride like that.

Jason Williams – Not the guy involved in the shooting of his limo driver charge and not “White Chocolate,” but the All-American Dookie, who was selected second overall in the 2002 Draft, and the guy everyone thought would be the next great point guard in the NBA. The man made a bad choice and never recovered from a career-ending motorcycle accident. I remember this especially well, because I was at Duke Basketball Camp when it happened. Coach K came in to speak to the kids, and appeared about as devastated as a human being can look. It would have been special to see J-Will play in the NBA. The former Naismith, Wooden and Oscar Robertson Award winner, was recently named to the Sports Illustrated All-Decade Team in college basketball, and deservedly so. His orchestration of the 10-point-comeback with 1 minute left versus Maryland in 2001 will always live on.



Greg Oden – Injuries, injures, injuries. Although it’s still too early to call him another Sam Bowie, we’re definitely getting closer. I hate to include him on this list because Oden was actually having a very good season, averaging nearly 9 points and 11 rebounds, but let’s face it, for a guy as hyped as he was, he has been a monstrous disappointment, especially when you consider the start to the career Kevin Durant has had. Unfortunately for Oden, he seems to lack the smoothness and sheer understanding of the game the upper echelon of big men have - for example, his teammate LaMarcus Aldridge. He’s still not even 22 years old, but unless he dramatically alters his approach to the game and figures out a way to stay healthy, Oden is definitely on his way to becoming a major bust.

Emeka Okafor – The former Wooden Award winner and another member of SI’s All-Decade Team has not lived up to the billing he garnered out of UConn. Okafor was a shot-blocking machine when the Bobcats selected him second overall behind Dwight Howard in the 2004 NBA Draft.

He ran the floor, rebounded the ball, and displayed an uncanny ability to time his blocks. But since coming into the league, Okafor has failed to make an All-Star team and doesn’t appear to ever materialize into elite status.

Tyson Chandler – Staying on the topic of under-achieving centers, Chandler is certainly at the top of the list. Although he’s been to the playoffs four times and has had some decent seasons, Chandler was thought of as an absolute lock. The 7-footer has an abundance of tools and should be a dominant player, but he hasn’t ever come close. Despite having a premier point guard in Chris Paul for several years and an All-Star forward opposite his block in David West, Chandler never became a consistent go-to guy with his back to the basket. While he did highlight many of Paul’s alley-oops, he failed to put on the bulk or develop the touch necessary to translate into the type of player he should have been. His career statistics stand at 8 points, 9 rebounds and just 1.4 blocks, hardly justifiable for a No. 2 pick with his size and athletic ability.

Kwame Brown – Perhaps the ultimate bust of this decade, Brown represents the beginning of the end for Michael Jordan as an NBA executive. Heralded as a future All-Star, the big man spurned his commitment to Florida to become the No. 1 overall pick by the Washington Wizards in 2001. His career statistics include averages of 7 points and 6 rebounds, and a 58 percent FT percentage. Worse, he may be the most booed player by home fans I’ve ever witnessed. Side Note: I wonder what he’s doing these days off the court in Detroit? Wouldn’t that make for some good reality TV?

Darko Milicic - Darko should have his own category – that’s how much this dude has underachieved. The astronomical hype around him began when he was just 17, at the height of America's love-affair with another teenager, LeBron James. When Joe Dumars selected him second overall (after James) in the 2003 NBA Draft, he passed Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Chris Kaman, David West and Josh Howard. (Wow, I swear I could be an NBA GM). Since entering the NBA, Milicic has averaged 5 points, 4 rebounds, and shot 59 percent from the line. That means that combined, him and Kwame Brown are averaging 12 and 10 for their careers. There is some solace in that right? Okay, you’re right, maybe not. In a recent interview, the outspoken Serbian swore about 30 times while complaining about his career and lack of opportunities to play. This 2007 exchange though - after an international affair between Serbia and Greece - is absolutely priceless:



We wish him well on his pending voyage back to Europe. Thanks for the memories Darko!

Darius Miles – Thought by some “experts” to literally be the second-coming of MJ, Miles has “slightly” underperformed. Now out of the league, the No. 3 pick in the 2000 draft by, of course, the Clippers, D-Miles averaged a staggering 10 points and 5 rebounds throughout his un-illustrious 9-year-career. At least he has maintained a viable career as an actor, most notably in “The Perfect Score” (2004), where he plays the role of a high school hoops star that needs to steal the SAT scores in order to qualify for college. Other than the stealing part, this is a direct parallel to his life, where he struggled mightily in his SAT bout. Miles is undoubtedly one of the worst picks of many by the Clips – a truly disturbing notion when you consider their history of clouded judgment.

Mike Bibby – This is a little tricky because Bibby has had a rather successful career, just not the type of one many people thought. One of the most decorated stars in Arizona high school history with the pedigree of Henry Bibby and Point Guard U, the former collegiate All-American reminds me a lot of Reggie Bush, an under-sized but effective player, a No. 2 pick, and a guy that will always – if unfairly - be thought of for what he didn’t do, not what he did do. Strange to think he’s never been named to the All-Star team. Even so, I felt it necessary to include him on this list.

Kenyon Martin – Another excellent college player who never became the star in the NBA many figured he’d become. Martin won every award possible during his tenure at Cincinnati, yet the top pick of the 2000 draft has failed to reach this level of success as a pro. A one-time All-Star, he has had a productive, yet unspectacular career, playing for both the New Jersey Nets and Denver Nuggets. He has however, found himself mired in several on, and off the court issues, where the volatile forward has been known to receive many fines, technicals, and flagrant fouls and infamously mock the kidney condition of Alonzo Mourning. Despite all of this, K-Mart’s real value stems from his “lips” tattoo on the left side of his neck – it’s glorious really. A true piece of art.

Eddy Curry – Forget the fact that he could never keep in shape. Weight issues are just the beginning for Mr. Curry. He is the first player I’ve seen where it actually seems like he’s doing you a favor by just showing up at the gym. Just watch him in pre-game warm-ups or in huddles during time-outs. He literally looks bored, as if to say, “I’m just hear to collect my check. I could give a shit about basketball.”

Talk about a guy who just never figured it out. The fourth pick in the 2001 draft has played in just 69 games over the past three seasons, and is averaging under 4 points and 2 rebounds each of the last two. Keep grinding Eddy…

Jonathan Bender – I just gave major props to Bender for his recent return to the NBA after being out of the league for four seasons, but let’s face it, Bender has unquestionably been a massive bust. The fifth pick in the 1999 NBA Draft out of high school, Bender was seen as a Tracy McGrady – Kevin Durant type, an athletic and long wing who could score the ball and defend multiple positions. He hasn’t been such. Bender’s best statistical season as a pro came during his 2000-01 campaign as a Pacer, where he averaged 7.4 points and 3.1 rebounds. Yikes! Did I mention I could be an NBA GM? Just saying.

Stromile Swift – He may not have been looked at as the brute force of Shaq, but this former LSU big man had all of the aptitude and flair to become an NBA star. Athletic and dexterous, Swift was taken second overall by the then Vancouver Grizzlies in 2000. His career highlights include an 8 point and 5 rebound average, a grossly failed performance in the 2001 dunk competition, and a recent victim of the vaunted NBA release, thanks to the 76ers. See, I told you this was difficult! We got some serious busts on our hands.

Steve Alford – This guy did it all at Indiana. The local hero received cult status when he was named a First-Team All-American as a senior in Bloomington while leading the Hoosiers to the 1987 National Title. The Sporting News ranks Alford as the 35th best college player of all time.

He was picked 26th (second round back then) by Dallas in the 1987 draft, and holds career averages of 4 points and 1 assist. Not quite the bust as his counterparts on this list, who were mostly top three selections, but nevertheless, worth mentioning. His coaching career hasn’t exactly been superb either.

Christian Laettner – Believe it or not, Laettner was a member of the original USA Dream Team in 1992 (as the only collegian) featuring the likes of MJ, Magic and Larry Bird, among others. Laettner is best known for his improbable game-winner against Kentucky in the 1992 regional final, but for me, he just breathes more light into the fact that Duke players are bad pros. Considering the outrageous success of the program, the list is rather freaky: William Avery, Mike Dunleavy, Jr., Jay Williams, Roshown McLeod, Chris Carrawell, Josh McRoberts, Shavlik Randolph, Shelden Williams, J.J. Redick, Daniel Ewing, Bobby Hurley, Johnny Dawkins, Trajan Langdon, Cherokee Parks and Danny Ferry. Now those are some busts! (To be fair, a lot of these guys – Redick and Langdon for example – weren’t projected to be great pros. But still, you can’t ignore the surplus of tarnished Dookies in and out of the league).

Laettner – who is still one of the most celebrated collegians ever with his abundance of awards - was chosen third overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the ’92 Draft, after leading Duke to four straight Final Fours, and back-to-back national titles in 1991 and ’92. He holds career averages of 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in the NBA; very solid numbers for most, but not for the hype he garnered out of school and not for the player scouts pegged him as. He has since been the benefactor of a role playing none other than himself, in a recent Vitamin Water advertisement. (I advise to watch this with extreme caution, as it may actually make you sick, as it did to me. My proposal? Deem it as inappropriate behavior, and take it off the air forever.



Honorable Mention – Guys who the scouts declared future stars, and guys sure to have you saying, “Who? Oh yeah, I remember him”- Chris Mihm, Antonio Daniels, Shawn Respert, Marcus Fizer, Robert “Tractor” Traylor, Raef LaFrentz, Kent Benson, Ed O’Bannon, LaRue Martin, Bill Garnett, Chris Washburn, Joe Smith, Ken Durrett, Denis Hopson, Sam Bowie (he probably deserves his own essay, but I refuse to waste space on him), and Ralph Sampson (not a total bust, and I hesitate to put a four-Time All-Star on this list, but he didn’t revolutionize the game the way many people figured he would).

One note: I’ve left out Michael Olowokandi on purpose, as many scouts – obviously the Clippers not included – felt he was a project nowhere near top pick talent.

So, about that GM job . . .

(Although I didn’t have the opportunity to ask Caron about the Arenas mêlée, I did speak briefly with Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports. Bartelstein is the agent of Wizards point guard Javaris Crittenton, also known as the “other dude” in the Arenas incident). Here is what he had to say:

"I’m not a fan of gambling when it gets to that level. I don’t think there’s anything real good that comes out of it.

I think that when stakes get high your in dangerous territory, (because) you have players of such different economic situations.

These are grown men, so I don’t think coaches are going to monitor them. (The players) spend a lot of time together, I just think there’s a point where it gets dangerous. Those games lead to fun - which I support – (but) I think there’s got to be something put in place to protect guys at a very young age to potentially get themselves into situations that are not healthy for them."

(Unlike Arenas, Crittenton doesn't have the sizable contract to allow for such a mistake. Sadly enough, he may have played his last NBA game)

Here is my exclusive interview with Wizards two-time All-Star Caron "Tough Juice" Butler, who is having another productive season for Washington, averaging nearly 17 points and 7 rebounds. It should be noted that our conversation took place before the Gilbert Arenas saga, or else I may have gotten a dial tone.

Q. What was it like growing up in Wisconsin?
A. It was fun, for the most part growing up in a small-knit community where everyone knows everybody. Wisconsin’s a great place to live, Racine in particular. Obviously I had my share of run-ins with the law, been through my adversity and everything, but I truly enjoyed growing up in Wisconsin. It’s a place that I always call home.

Q. I understand Cowboys QB Tony Romo is quite the basketball player, and that you played against him a few times.
A. Obviously we all know what he do on the football field, but he’s an unbelievable athlete, great basketball player, and somebody you know that I beat out for Mr. Basketball in the county. And it was a close race, that’s how good he was, so I tip my hat off to him. He’s a great athlete.

Q. Who is the best player in the NBA from UConn not named Caron Butler, and you can’t say Ray Allen?
A. The best player in the NBA from UConn, and it’s not me or Ray Allen, I have to say Richard Hamilton.

(Through the many Connecticut greats, Allen and Hamilton are two of the best ever to come out of Storrs)

Q. Is there somewhat of a UConn brotherhood in the league, considering how many of you guys there are?
A. Yeah, definitely, definitely, you know every summer we go back and either we playing in a golf tournament or playing in a basketball classic for coach Calhoun. It’s always great to go back there and play against your brothers and your peers and guys that you brought in, or played along side with. It’s a strong family, a basketball program that I’m proud to be a part of.

Q. Obviously in the NBA you’re traveling around a lot. Are there certain cities – maybe like Miami or LA – that are more challenging to play in considering the distractions they invite?
A. There are a few cities that stick out in particular. You look at places like Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, even Washington, there’s a lot of distractions off the court that can kinda, you know, bother you, but you gotta be a professional on and off the court, and be prepared for the challenges and just go out there and perform at a high level, but those cities in particular stick out.

Q. Given the amount of free time players have in the NBA, what do you guys like to do during the day? Do you like to check out the city, take naps?
A. I have a pre-game ritual. I’m always sleeping, taking my nap, doing what I need to do to get prepared for the challenge. After shoot-around I take a nap, get up about an hour before the bus, head over early, get some shots in and get prepared for the game.

Q. Now, I know you're only 29, but you have a lot of young guys like Andray Blatche and Nick Young on the Wizards. Do you kind of mentor some of the younger players?
A. Yeah, definitely, always remaining positive with those guys, keeping them afloat, they are great young talents, and I look forward to seeing them in the future, and coming to watch them play eventually. I love their work ethic of late, and I look forward to seeing them prosper.

Q. I’ve heard you’re quite the boxing buff, and that you met “Pretty Boy Floyd.” What was that experience like, and do you have a favorite memory from a boxing fight?
A. Floyd’s my man. I had an opportunity to – before the fight – go back there in the locker room with him, and I had a chance to sit and chat with him. He was focused, he was dialed in, ready to go out there and put in work, and do what he do best and win fights. He’s a guy that if I need any advice or extra motivation I know he’s a guy that I can reach out to. I’m glad to have him in my corner.

Q. He’s not that big of a guy height-wise but obviously he has a strong presence.
A. He’s under 6-foot, but from a heart standpoint he’s a human skyscraper.

Q. Mike Miller is obviously a great shooter, natural scorer, but what’s up with (him wearing) those LeBron’s? Have you talked to him about it?


A. No, not at all. It don’t bother me. Whatever he needs to wear on his feet to perform at a high level and help contribute to the team win, you know, I’m all for it. I love Mike as a player, and starting to love him even more as a person, after being around him. Whatever he need to no. He can wear LeBron’s, Kobe’s, as long as he goes out there and performs it’s fine with me.

Q. Do you have a best friend on the Wizards with who you kick it with off the court?
A. I kinda vibe with everybody, no one person in particular that stands out. I try to be the best leader I possibly can be.

Q. What about the rest of the league? Are there any other guys you spend time with in the off-season, maybe from the Big East?
A. Dwayne Wade, that’s my man right there. Unbelievable (what he’s doing). Every year he continues to get better. This is a big year for him, obviously with 2010 coming up, the market’s going to be open for him, LeBron, and all those guys so it will be interesting to see what happens.

Q. You’re obviously a well put together guy and that you have taken a liking to fashion. I understand that you actually design your own label?
A. Yeah, it’s one of the things I like doing along with LAD Custom Clothing out of LA. It’s something I’ve been doing over the course of the last couple years: You know, designing my own shoes, fabrics, everything, my own patterns. It’s something I like doing. I’m kind of comfortable trying to wear what I want, and am very fortunate to be able to do it.

Q. We’ve seen the early success that Brandon Jennings has had. Looking back, if you had the opportunity out of high school not to enter the the league, but rather to go to Europe and make seven figures and have that type of financial success, would you still have elected to go to UConn? Or was the chance to play for Coach Calhoun and build as a player and a person that valuable to where you wouldn’t change your mind?
A. Everybody’s situation is different, but for me, I think the best thing was going to Connecticut and getting some tough love and going through what I went through, and get molded into who I am today. Everybody’s different. From a financial standpoint, I feel like I wasn’t chasing the money or anything like that. I was just chasing the direction and guidance that I needed. Luckily, I had this from the great leaders of my life like Max Good and Jim Calhoun. I see the success that (Jennings) is having and I’m very proud of him. As a man from one man to another, just to see him getting off to a great base like that.

(Much of Jim Calhoun's success can be attributed to his tough love style of coaching)

Q. We have seen the controversy the NBA has gone through with the Tim Donaghy situation and the replacement refs. As a guy who has been in the league and understands how it works, is that just something that you worry about?
A. We just play basketball. You can’t worry about things like that. The NBA does a great job of doing thorough investigations and choosing high quality, high profile, great people to conduct and ref the game. It’s a special fraternity. Everybody has problems. You know obviously we had a situation and weeded it out. I think the game is doing justice now and doing a great job of moving forward.

Q. Lastly, given that your contract is set to expire after this season, is that something that serves as a distraction or do just let your game to the talking?
A. I just let my play do the talking. I know something good will come out of it. I look forward to being a Wizard for the remainder of my career, and I’m pretty sure that’s going to be the case.

The Boston Three Party. The Three Musketeers. The Big Three. We’ve heard it all. Since Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett joined Paul Pierce during the summer of 2007, this trio has been the face of the Boston Celtics franchise and the talk of the NBA. This year however, a changing of the guard has taken place, and yet nobody seems to notice.

In a matter of four years, Rajon Rondo has gone from an uncelebrated 21st pick to an NBA All-Star and one of the league’s most dynamic, game-changing point guards. Rondo changes gears like a finely tuned Ferrari, stopping on a dime, bursting into sixth gear and cutting through the lane with a vengeance. Amazingly enough, he manages to maintain control through all of this, and despite his slight frame, either finishes with contact or makes the correct pass.

Although we still hear plenty about The Big Three, this team rides on the shoulders of Rondo. When the Celtics won the title in 2008, the sublimely talented trio of Allen, Pierce, and Garnett fused together perfectly to beat the Lakers. But since then, they have gotten older, slower, and progressively worse, while Rondo has emerged as a true building block at the game’s most crucial position.

While Boston was still glowing in the aftermath of its 17th banner, the decline of an aging Celtics team became apparent in the second half of last season.

(The Big Three has fallen on hard times confronting the inevitable... old age)

Garnett was the first to go. A chronic knee injury cost him 25 games as well as the playoffs. This season, the “Ticket” has been ordinary at best, missing 10 games and averaging less than 15 points and 7 rebounds while playing under 31 minutes per night. Those are his lowest totals since his rookie year, and at 33 he has become overly fragile and hobbled.

Allen’s demise started during the Celts’ title run actually, when he struggled immensely throughout much of the playoffs. This season, he has failed to rediscover the stroke that made him known as the game’s premier shooter. Last May, he shot a putrid 40 percent in the playoffs, and this year he’s been far worse. In averaging less than 16 points, and under 3 assists and just 3 rebounds for the first time since his rookie year (notice a theme here?) he has shot just 45 percent from the field and a career-worst, 34 percent from three.

Some critics may counter by saying that he made his ninth All-Star game last season when he was the alternate to Jameer Nelson. But in watching Allen the past couple years, there is no question he isn’t Jesus Shuttlesworth anymore.

What made Ray so great in Milwaukee and Seattle was his smooth, effervescent, almost floating style of play. His demeanor evoked a quiet yet strong confidence. He could make silky drives in the lane while hanging in the air, catch and shoot off screens, and had uncanny skill to pull up in transition from three. He can’t do all that with consistency any more. Allen doesn’t rise up over defenders like he used to – remember the lift he would get? - and he doesn’t drive the lane as much, which is why over the past three seasons combined, he has averaged his lowest free throw attempts per game since (you guessed it) his rookie season.

Now 34-years old, his lateral quickness has also suffered, due in large part to his worn down ankles. Never a particularly good defender, Allen is getting beat off the dribble this year with far too much regularity. His defensive breakdowns are not covered up as they were in 2008 when Garnett was there to thwart most attacks. Allen resists contact and often opens his hips which allows scorers a free pass to drive to the middle.

Of the Big Three, Pierce has undoubtedly suffered the least. He’s remained healthy (his recent foot injury is not deemed serious), and managed to maintain much of his scoring capacity, mostly because unlike Garnett – who relies heavily on quickness – and unlike Allen – who typically spots up or comes off screens – Pierce often uses his sheer strength and the ability to get to his spot and rise up to score.

Even still, Pierce doesn’t have the same first step that helped dub him “The Truth,” which is why he’s frequenting the free throw line at one of the lowest rates of his career, and why his scoring is down to 19 points, (once again you guessed it) his worst since his rookie year. He's attempting the fewest amount of shots he's ever had. Even without Garnett in the line-up, his numbers remained down. Just take last season as evidence, when 43 percent of his shots were twos not at the basket, a 10 percent increase from 2007-08, when he attacked the rim more.

Pierce has long been known as one of the game's best late-game shooters and decision-makers. But this season he has struggled, missing several big buckets in critical games, either not getting to the rim or simply not converting on his trademark 18-foot pull-ups.

Which leads us to the crucial and surprising reality.

Throughout this steady decline of the Big Three, Rondo has been far and away Boston’s best player. I know what you’re thinking. Don’t laugh, because it’s true.

Knifing through the lane, finishing through contact, knocking down shots, creating opportunities for teammates, literally disrupting every point guard he faces … he’s done it all. Without Rondo, this Celtics squad is battling for the seventh spot in the East. He is the pace-setter by running the Celtics admirably and picking up full court with hounding defensive efforts. This slows teams’ entry into offensive sets, an invaluable component with a 24-second shot clock. Think about it: If you don’t start your offense until the 14-or-15-second mark, you’re way behind. If the play breaks down, then you only have six, maybe seven seconds left to create.

(Rondo's relentless defense is a constant thorn for the opposition, and is instrumental to Boston's success)

He has also become one of the best help defenders I’ve ever seen. Many wing defenders excel either at being disruptive on the ball (Andrei Kirilenko) or by providing help (Steve Nash). Rondo does both. Refusing to merely sit back and play “shell” style defense (think ball-you-man basics), Rondo is the ultimate off-the-ball prober, constantly disturbing big man post-ups and screen-and-rolls. He steps into driving lanes and using his long arms to create more steals than anyone else in the NBA (2.4 per game).

My personal favorite is his “come from completely behind and chase you down in the open floor only to pin your shot (LeBron style) even though your seven inches taller” play. The result? At least a four-point swing that can recapture momentum from the opposition.

Phew!

Now do you see what I mean? Rondo’s defensive presence alone is enough to inject about 10 hits of speed into an otherwise slow and often deflated Celtics team.

But the brilliance of Rondo is far more than just defense. Now that he’s developed a legitimate offensive repertoire, you can begin to understand why he is Boston’s best player.

He used to be solely a driver, a guy who defenders played off of without any fear of him making a jump shot. While he must still increase his range out to three, Rondo has improved enough to garner a contested look. As a result, his blow-by drives have become even more lethal and his play-making ability wonderfully effective. His lightning quickness and electric ability was the culprit to Boston escaping Chicago in the first round of last season’s playoffs. He matched Derrick Rose step-for-step and allowed the Celtics to avoid an embarrassing first-round exit.

Because defenses have become so cognizant of his scoring capabilities, he is able to maximize his passing skills to the tune of nearly 10 assists per game, third best in the league. He is superb off pick-and-rolls, either attacking the basket or firing off beautifully executed passes to his screener, which is one of the main reasons why Kendrick Perkins – yes Kendrick Perkins – leads the NBA in field goal percentage.

Did I mention that the kid can rebound? Oh yeah, aside from his radiant passes, gleaming steals and improving jumper, Rondo is the fourth-leading point guard rebounder in the NBA with an average of more than four.

I can’t stress enough the value of a lead guard who attacks the glass. Normally, point guards don’t like to go into the paint for rebounds and prefer to wait for the outlet pass from their bigs. But if a few times per game Rondo is starting his own break, the Celtics can get out in transition that much faster by eliminating an extra pass, which often results in wide open threes or easy buckets.

But make no mistake, this team is far from its golden days.

In the span of a year and a half, the Boston Celtics have gone from world champions to a team teetering on disaster. They have lost six of their past nine, and in January endured their first losing month since the trio came together.

Aside from Rondo, this team lacks the defensive identity and physical prowess we witnessed back in ’08. The Big Three no longer mirror the golden Celtic days of Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, and Larry Bird. This is a unit on its last legs, desperate for air, being single-handedly carried by a young point guard nobody seems to give enough respect to.

With speculation of Ray Allen being dealt by the February 18 trading deadline, a slower Paul Pierce who can't deliver the same goods he used to, and a severely injury-plagued Garnett fighting his age, Rajon Rondo is primed to take his own place in the spotlight.

It’s about time.

Cole Aldrich is the best pure center in college basketball.

What I like best about the Kansas big man is his tenacity and passion at the defensive end. His ability to read shots as they're released and to time his jumps for blocks is unparalleled at the collegiate level. Aldrich understands driving lanes and knows precisely how to close them with his sheer size. His length above the rim causes at least five extra misses and failed lay-up attempts in addition to nearly four blocks per game.

While point guard Sherron Collins may be the heartbeat and soul of the national-title-contending Jayhawks, Aldridge is the best player.

He runs the floor with ease and is very coordinated for a young center, unlike his Big 12 counterpart Dexter Pittman, for instance. Many big guys have trouble adapting to their bodies as they fill out, but Aldridge is both strong and extremely agile. His dexterity in the half-court at both ends of the floor stands out immediately.

The NBA is all about creating mismatches and exploiting weaknesses. What will propel Aldrich to succeed is his versatility and propensity to create these problems. While he can step away and shoot the 18-footer, he is also a nasty presence down low, a guy who bodies up and angrily snatches rebounds away. Now a junior, he is on pace to average another double-double for the season, averaging close to 12 points and 10 rebounds.

This versatility was in full effect recently against conference foe Missouri, when he dominated the whole game with his 16 rebounds, 12 points, and seven blocks. Often, he’ll only take five or six shots in one game (something we’ll explore later) and still be remarkably effective. Many players - especially young ones – overvalue their scoring to the point where other facets of their game suffer if they either aren’t getting touches or simply aren’t making shots.

This is not the case for Aldrich. Perhaps even more encouraging for scouts is that he’s not turnover-prone (just 1.5 per game) despite being doubled nearly every time he touches the ball on the block. The NBA game – although much faster – will provide him with more opportunities to operate down low against single coverage because of the talent around him. When he does establish himself as a post threat that garners doubles, his court vision and unselfishness will pay dividends.

Passing big men have become a rarity, and Aldrich is one of the exceptions. A perfect example of this occurred against trap-heavy Missouri. Aldrich caught the ball in the paint and was immediately swarmed. Instead of panicking, he re-assessed the situation, turned and faced, and hit teammate Tyrell Reed on the wing who buried a triple. This pace and court vision translates very well to the next level.

(Aldridge's patience in the post will earn him the trust of his coaches, and the respect of his teammates, who will benefit playing off him)

In the NBA, young centers often struggle early on taking care of the ball. Just take Greg Oden for example. Although improved, he’s still in a hurry to score every time he gets a post touch, like he’s playing hot potato or something. Aldrich though, is calm and collected, willing to slow down first before accelerating into his move or find the open shooter. Thus, he’s not the turnover liability most rookies are, and he can actually make his teammates better.

The biggest hurdle that Aldrich has to overcome is improving his lateral quickness and overall post skills. Although a top-notch shot blocker, he will struggle guarding quick 4s and 5s in the NBA who can face up from 12 feet and attack the basket. In other words, there’s no way he can guard Nene or Amare Stoudemire given their fleet-footed nature.

You might ask why I didn't mention his strange shooting stroke. While he may not have the most fundamentally correct shooting form or an aesthetically pleasing game, Aldrich is effective. When you’re almost 7-feet and shoot 55 percent from the floor, and 72 percent from the line, the unorthodox motion isn’t a concern. Plus, he releases the ball at such a high point that he'll never get his shot blocked.

When operating on the block, Aldrich – although marketably improved – isn’t a dump-the-ball-in-and-get-you-a-bucket type of guy. He’s not the center who can score at will. Part of this is because the Kansas system is so guard-oriented that Aldridge doesn’t get a ton of post touches. Too often down the stretch of games he doesn’t demand the ball, instead deferring to clutch shot-maker Sherron Collins. Part of this is unselfishness, but at some point, it can also become plain stupid. He needs to realize that his team needs him to dominate in the key moments of games, something he has been inconsistent with throughout his career. This will come in time.

When you break him down and consider his toughness, physicality, soft hands, wide skill set and overall agility for his size, I think Aldrich has all the assets to become a really good NBA player. He’s not unlike the Lopez twins from Stanford when they came out two years ago in that they all have the mean streak and grit necessary to be a starting center in the NBA. I view Aldridge as a cross between the two – Robin with his rather raw offensive game and Brook with his resolve and ability to alter games defensively.

Assuming he bolts this June, Aldrich is probably the first center off the board and within three years, I think he becomes a third or fourth scoring option, while also developing into a premier defensive stopper, the perfect last line of defense. At his best, he probably won’t average more than 10-12 points, but what he will do is disrupt cutters, take away driving lanes, and hedge high ball screens just about as good as anyone in the league.

This isn't to say that he can't score, because he can at times. When things got heated against Kansas State this past Saturday, he had several key buckets, including a beautiful fake to the right and baby hook off the left shoulder, which shows that perhaps he is beginning to embrace his role as a go-to weapon. All together, I really like his game and all of the intangibles he brings to a team. Aldrich is the kind of kid you can stick in there for a good decade and actually have confidence in.

That’s something to be said in today’s age of subpar centers.

West
I love Pau Gasol. He is one of the finest talents in the game today - a finesse player who can score with either hand from either block, a guy who can step away and shoot with range, an excellent passer, an improving defender who can rebound. He's the second best player on the league’s best team. But ...

When you only play 29 games, I just can’t give you the All-Star nod. When in the lineup he’s been a highly efficient weapon, totaling almost 18 points and 11 rebounds on 54 percent shooting. Maybe had he played another five games I could justify his selection, but missing 12 games is too much.

I understand the notion that the Lakers deserve two All-Stars, so with that in mind I’d give the second to center Andrew Bynum. The “other” big man on this team has had a career year, displaying the consistency and fluidness LA fans have been waiting for since his rookie year in 2005.

Despite often playing as the third or even fourth option, Bynum has excelled in the triangle offense, averaging 16 and 8, while becoming the physical post presence the Lakers need. His barrage of moves coupled with his willingness to run the floor and ability to dominate defensively are the reasons why Bynum should be an All-Star. His sheer size and presence allow for Gasol to be most comfortable, often playing from outside the paint – where he prefers. Bynum has also proven to be a terrific pick-and-roll option for Kobe Bryant, who isn’t the ruthless attacker he used to be, and therefore benefits greatly from this dynamic with Bynum.

One more player left out is the “other, other” center in LA, Chris Kaman.

Kaman has been nothing short of brilliant for the Clippers this season. Their go-to scoring option has become one of just three players in the NBA averaging more than 20 points and 9 rebounds.

Kaman has also been a force on the defensive end. It’s not that he couldn’t do so in the past, but rather that he was either too lazy or inept at keeping out of foul trouble. This season though has been a revelation. He has matured to the point where he understands that bad fouls simply cannot be tolerated, and that him staying in games is a necessity for the Clippers to win. As a result, a team many experts dismissed before the season even began has actually been competitive. Kaman makes the best case out of all the snubs out west.

East
The Eastern Conference is full of mediocrity at center. Dwight Howard is clearly the No. 1, but when Kendrick Perkins and Anderson Varejao can make a case as All-Stars, you know there are some issues.

Center Al Horford has been instrumental to the Atlanta Hawks' success this season. He has become a very nice player on a quality team, which is why he was voted a reserve center over guys like Andrew Bogut and Joakim Noah. But is he more deserving than his Hawks teammate Josh Smith? Absolutely not.

Smith is having a tremendous season. The 24-year-old is averaging 15 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.5 steals and more than 2 blocks. Much if this success has come from his maturity not to rely on threes (he's taken just three all season, compared to his 87 attempts last year). But if I asked you what position he played, what would you say? Small forward? Power forward? Heck, shooting guard? Exactly. You don't know. With the current All-Star format (which goes 1-5 on positions and isn’t reflective of today’s style of play), Smith’s versatility is essentially used against him.

Despite having a better year than Horford, he’s staying home during All-Star weekend, while the former Gator makes the trip to Dallas.

And how can we forget about David Lee? The former McDonald’s All-American Slam Dunk champ (don’t ask me how I know this, as I realize how disturbing it is), has been marvelous this season for the Knicks, averaging nearly 20 points and 12 rebounds, displaying a vastly improved mid-range jump shot that went from suspect to almost automatic. Lee has done it in every category – field goals (56 percent), free throws (79 percent), assists (3.4), and even steals (1 per game).

The three knocks on Lee are that he can’t defend, he plays in an artificial system (D'Antoni ball), and that he plays on a bad team. The first one is a valid notion. Lee struggles dramatically with his interior defense, and often gets beat at the rim. But still, 20 and 12 offset subpar defense. I mean I love Ray Allen, but the guy can’t guard a chair and has played for many second-rate teams, yet is a nine-time All-Star. The "system notion" is valid to a point, but then again, the Knicks are eighth in possessions per game, a high number sure, but nowhere near the push-heavy Suns or Warriors. Finally, they're not contenders, but the Knicks aren't the Nets either. I guess I may be biased, but out of all the snubs, I probably feel worst for Lee. He really deserved this.

Another issue is the All-Star nod to Kevin Garnett. Should Garnett accept his invite, it would be nothing short of a crime. Aside from the fact that he can barely get down the floor anymore, Garnett has missed 10 games due to injury, and hasn't been particularly effective even when he's in the line-up (less than 15 and 7, while recording under a block per game).

(Constantly injury prone and lacking his typically quick feet and leaping ability, Garnett just isn't the player he used to be)

I know the fans love him, but KG’s game is a shell of its earlier days, so I cannot help but hope he gives his bid to another guy.

Staying with the C's, I was thrilled to see Rajon Rondo get a reserve spot (he has become a top four point guard), but Paul Pierce? Are you serious?

(Rondo has developed into one of the NBA's finest playmakers)

Pierce, although having another productive season for the Celtics, is not an All-Star, plain and simple. Perhaps his redeeming factor is that the C’s continue to go to him down the stretch of games, where he has always been reliable. But there are many clutch players in the league who aren’t All-Stars. At this point, Paul P is just a good player on a very good team. Give me the choice of him or Josh Smith, and it’s Smith every time.

Brook Lopez, Antawn Jamison and Monta Ellis (in the west) all made valiant cases as well, but when you put up good numbers for a bad team, there often discredited. This is the case for this talented trio. Out of the 24 All-Stars selected, only one (Allen Iverson) is on a team with a losing record.

I’ve spent a lot of time writing about Allen Iverson, so you know I think his latest All-Star selection is a complete joke. He’s probably the fourth best player on his own team, while teammate Andre Igoudala is having a very productive season. Igoudala has averaged more than 17 points and nearly 6 rebounds while being by far the most consistent player on an otherwise inconsistent Philly team. If anyone from the 76ers deserves to be an All-Star, it's Igoudala.

Derrick Rose took the league by storm last season as a rookie, but struggled mightily during much of the first half this season. Through December, he averaged 16 points on just 45 percent shooting. His shooting woes continued, going from a slump to a trend. He’s finally turned it around now, but with the exception of January, he has been rather ordinary thus far. His poor play put a huge damper on Chicago’s playoff chances, and although he has improved of late, his overall play doesn't garner an All-Star selection. Assuming Joe Johnson and Rondo were the reserves, and Rose was the wild-card pick, it’s an absolute travesty that Smith didn’t get in.


A couple really positive notes amid all this unrest are that both Gerald Wallace and Zach Randolph made their respective teams. These two have been splendid all season long, leading two teams nobody thought anything of into playoff contention, and both deserve the bid. Very nice to see that.

Detroit GM Joe Dumars has officially, officially been to the mountaintop and now fallen all the way back down. I said before the season that giving Ben Gordon (five years, $55 million) and Charlie Villanueva (five years, $35 million) – two guys who’ve never been All-Stars - was not the answer the Pistons needed to stage their resurgence in the east.

In a matter of three seasons, Detroit has gone from a contending team with an identity of toughness and grit, to a cellar-dweller without a heartbeat, and just as importantly, no cap space for this summer.

Don’t get me wrong. Gordon is a very good NBA player. Consistently one of the game’s premier shooters, he also loves to drive and score in the lane. He showed his will to win for Chicago in the playoffs last year, hitting several clutch shots down the stretch of games. The problem with his role in Detroit is that Dumars brought him in to be its franchise guy, when it already has a scoring point guard and similar type of player in Rodney Stuckey. Unfortunately for Gordon, he plays the role of Robin far better than Batman. Instead, the Pistons are now stuck with two score-first guards. This is where the catastrophe of signing Villanueva lies.

If Gordon can play off a good big man who scores in the post, he’s an All-Star on a quality team. But in Villanueva, you essentially have a 6-10 four man who’d rather face up from 16 feet out to the three than pound and grind in the paint. The combination of these two couldn’t be worse.

(BG can certainly fill it up, but without a respected big man on the block, he finds himself in no man's land far too often to quantify $55 million)

As a result, Gordon is scoring at his lowest clip in four years. He is shooting by far his worst percentage from three at an abysmal 32 percent (his career is 41 percent). To put it simply, he’s working too hard for his points.

Villanueva finds himself near his career average, but the former UConn star continues to struggle on defensive rotations and relies far too heavily on the three, shooting nearly four per game.

The Pistons find themselves with a 15-28 record, 18 games out of first in the Central, and light-years away from their string of Eastern Conference championship-round appearances. If they wanted to sign Gordon so be it, but to fully maximize his capabilities, you need to give him some kind of a scoring force down low, which may have meant holding off on Villanueva and waiting until this summer. The overzealousness of Joe Dumars prevails once again.

Staying in the Central Division, let’s move up the ladder to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were also quite busy last summer.

Before we get to the “Diesel,” I should touch on the acquisition of Anthony Parker, which didn’t receive the same fanfare but needs to be noted. In replacing Wally Szczerbiak (at least in terms of minutes played), Parker has brought significant improvement to one of the weakest positions on an otherwise strong Cleveland squad. While averaging only 7 points, he has shot an excellent 46 percent from three, and consistently taken pressure off LeBron by guarding either of the opposition’s top two scorers, something Szczerbiak couldn’t do. This means a lot for Bron as we enter the dog days of February and March. On to the big fella …

When Danny Ferry brought in Shaq, I found myself overly skeptical. The “Shaqtus” experiment in Phoenix didn’t work, so why would it work in Cleveland? Better yet, would O’Neal accept a lesser role and allow LeBron to run the team as he has so successfully since entering the league?

Now, almost halfway through the season, I remain undecided. On one hand, O’Neal clogs the paint and disrupts James’ driving lanes. This isn’t such the case with fellow 7-footer Zydrunas Ilgauskas because he tends to drift away from the paint. Also, when Cleveland does decide to push tempo, it's greatly hampered by O’Neal’s inability to run the floor.

But O’Neal – even at this stage – is the best low post scorer the Cavs have had since James entered the NBA, and his presence, although not the same it once was, cannot help but command attention.

Teams are obviously primarily focused on James, but in watching Cleveland this season, it seems that O’Neal just being on the floor tends to open things up for Mo Williams at times, which is something that should not be overlooked, especially after Williams struggled in the playoffs as badly as he did. (We’ll have to pay close attention now that Williams is out for the next 4-6 weeks. Daniel Gibson will see many of those minutes, and although a superb long-range shooter, he doesn’t have the same play-making skills).

Time will tell with the O’Neal move. Shaq did help Dwayne Wade win one in Miami, and he might just do the same with LeBron, who only needs a little out of the big fella to take the Cavs all the way. O'Neal will have to play second or even third fiddle at times though, something he may or may not accept.

A move we do have the verdict on occurred out west last summer.

San Antonio seemed to be the perfect fit for Richard Jefferson, a talented slasher who excels in the open floor, and a guy who can really lock up. Needless to say, this pick-up hasn’t worked out.

The Spurs have uncharacteristically not gotten it together by the break, due in large part to Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili’s health issues and the age of Tim Duncan. Jefferson was supposed to supplant this old age while providing scoring and a defensive presence. But he hasn’t adjusted to his diminished role, averaging under 13 points and less than 4 rebounds, while having his worst performance at the free throw line since his rookie year.

In the past, Jefferson was a No. 2 option behind a younger Vince Carter, but now at best, he’s a No. 3. Even in Milwaukee last season, he proved that he couldn’t shoulder the load of an elite scorer. When Michael Redd went down, so too did RJ’s overall play. In 82 games with the Bucks, he shot under 44 percent from the floor, his lowest total since 2004-05.

With the emerging play of George Hill as well, Jefferson is seeing less playing time. Never a consistent long-range shooter, his scoring has typically come from driving the lane or earning trips to the free throw line. But that role is already hand-picked for both Ginobili and Parker. Not to say that they all cannot do this, but it’s difficult for them to play together at once. Hill, on the other hand, is an improved three-point threat, can play the point, and also locks up. Jefferson just seems to be the odd man out, and the Spurs seem to have passed the torch on for good.

Other Notable Off-Season Moves:

Boston – Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels – Daniels hasn’t played in weeks since breaking his thumb, but even when he was healthy, he didn’t receive many minutes.

While Daniels was supposed to add defensive help and spell some of Ray Allen’s and Paul Pierce’s minutes, Wallace was brought in to add length on defense but also spread the floor on offense with his propensity to shoot the three. Doing so would in turn help KG down low and open up driving lanes for Rajon Rondo, making the Celtics that much more dangerous. Unfortunately for the C’s, this hasn’t happened.

Wallace is having by far the worst season of his career, shooting a career-low 41 percent from the floor and under 30 percent from three, also the worst number during his illustrious 15 years in the league.

Garnett is back from injury, but based on his recent track record it’s not safe to rely upon him come playoff time. Unless Sheed figures out a way to start making jumpers again, Boston is in trouble. Forget LA in the west. Cleveland is playing brilliantly, as are the young-legged Hawks.

This Celtics team is seemingly older and slower than ever.

Portland – Andre Miller – I’m really surprised of the burden Miller has been on Portland, at least for the first two months of the season. Miller has long been known as a pure point guard – a guy who loves to facilitate but can also score when called upon. Up until January, he hadn’t done either. Miller was colliding with Blazers All-Star Brandon Roy, who even fumed publicly that he needed the ball more so he could create. Along with the season-ending injury to the much-improved Greg Oden, the Blazers, once a team thought by many – including myself – to be a sleeper in the west, looked on the brink of a collapse.

But led by the resurgent play of Miller and a ceasefire in-house, Portland has bounced back some, winning three of four, and beginning to resemble the team I thought it was. In January, Miller has averaged 19.5 points and almost 8 assists, causing Blazer fans to maintain hope that this is a team indeed capable of making a run.

Utah - I really like what Utah did in matching Portland's four-year, $32 million offer sheet for power forward Paul Millsap.

A 2006 second-round pick who became the first collegian ever to lead the nation in rebounding three years in a row - which further validates my theory that most NBA GMs and scouts literally have no understanding of basketball, like at all, and consistently draft on potential over production... and are thus morons - Millsap burst on to the NBA map last season when he admirably filled in for the injured Carlos Boozer, averaging close to 16 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 56 percent (a stretch that included an insane 19 consecutive double-doubles), while almost becoming an All-Star. With the oft-injured Boozer rumored to be dealt by the February 18 trading deadline, the 24-year-old Millsap is the immediate fill-in who proved last season to be a quality starter on a playoff team.

The one downside (if we're nitpicking), is that Boozer - a two-time All-Star - is the better player, and an excellent pick-and-roll option for Deron Williams. If Utah doesn't deal Boozer by the deadline, it has essentially wasted a year of Millsap's deal because his minutes remain limited so long as Boozer is in Salt Lake. But even still, I think keeping Millsap was the correct move.

Suppose Boozer isn't dealt - he is sure to ink a bigger deal with a high paying suitor who needs a player of his caliber to elevate itself into contender status, thus leaving Millsap with three years as the assumed starter.

Ironically enough, the best stretch of play the Jazz had last season was without Boozer in the line-up. Some say he's rather selfish and more concerned about his ensuing payday than NBA hardware. Even with a healthy Boozer in the playoffs, Utah was still easily ousted by LA in the first round.

What we've learned is that the drop-off to Millsap is far less than anybody thought, and with pieces already in place like Williams, Ronnie Brewer and Mehmet Okur, the Jazz can continue to build for the future and win now, without necessarily rebuilding.

If you're GM Kevin O'Connor, don't wait and edge closer toward the daunted luxury tax. Since there's no shot (okay maybe .081 percent) at Boozer re-signing, maximize his value now by trading him and adding one or two good players to the mix. Clearly, Boozer's presence is not enough to help Utah contend. The Jazz are barely making the playoffs as is.

Millsap is a great part of the future, so bringing him back for less than most mid-level deals was absolutely the right move.

Memphis – Hmm, let's see. What Iverson failed to notice was that sitting back and letting younger, not to mention better players (e.g. Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, maybe even Mike Conley - that's not a joke) may actually be a good thing, and may even lead to wins. Ironically without this "superstar," all five of these guys are having career years and Memphis, yes Memphis, is going to make the playoffs!

Good for Allen though, in that his "un-retirement" with Philly propelled him to his 11th All-Star appearance. To no surprise, he has not given any indication that he won't accept the bid to let deserving guards (how about Joe Johnson or Rajon Rondo) fill in for him. Mark it down ladies and gentlemen: another "successful" season in the tainted eyes of the practice legend.

Dallas – Shawn Marion – He’s not the fantasy stat-stuffing “Matrix” (I always loved this nickname) he used to be, but Marion is still a big piece of the puzzle for a championship contender, and his addition has been valuable to Dallas.

His athleticism and ability to run the floor mesh perfectly with Jason Kidd (who by the way is having another brilliant season – the guy is timeless), and his cat-like quickness have been a much needed addition to the Mavs normally sterile defensive unit. Getting Marion on the relatively cheap (5 years, $39 million) doesn’t hurt either, and his versatility takes pressure off of Dirk at both ends of the floor, as well as Josh Howard, who normally would always guard number one scorers. Plus, Dallas can go small and create mis-matches with Marion at the four and Dirk at the five, giving them unparalleled team speed and a hybrid offensive attack, which will come in extremely handy in the playoffs. All in all, a good move.

Los Angeles Lakers - Just wanted to touch briefly on the re-signing of Lamar Odom for four years (team option on fourth) at $33 million, a deal that cannot be overstated. Odom is the ultimate "super glue" component of this team. His ability to come of the bench and lead the second unit - either by playing the point, posting up, leading fast breaks, or guarding centers - is one of the driving forces to the success of the Lakers, especially in the playoffs when rosters often tighten up. Without a doubt, keeping "Khlmar" (sorry, but I just had to) will be one of the determining factors should Kobe's crew win another title.

(They are kind of a cute couple, you have to give them that)

Toronto – Hedo Turkoglu – There is a thing in life called value, and Hedo Turkoglu’s $53 million deal over five years doesn’t translate. Sure, Turk is a versatile player with many skills in that he can handle the ball, pass, and uses his 6-10 frame to shoot over smaller defenders. But $53 million? That's not superstar money, but it's certainly not Hedo Turkoglu money either.

First of all, Toronto is a team that already has former No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani, who at 7-feet, possesses a similar skill set as Turkoglu. He may not have as developed a handle or the quickness but loves to shoot the three and score with his face to the basket. Secondly, Chris Bosh (who’s probably gone after this season, perhaps in part to the Turk signing) is a bona fide superstar, and the two-headed attack of Jose Calderon and Jarrett Jack at point guard is good enough to not lose you games.

What the Raptors needed was a traditional scorer who can drive and make plays. Bosh is an unselfish big man, who unlike a Dwight Howard for instance, can score away from the basket as well. Watch a Raptors game, and one thing quickly becomes evident. Because Bargnani isn't a low post presence and because of Bosh's multi-dimensional game away from the basket, driving lanes to slash are wide open in their offensive sets.

A guy like Jefferson probably would have made more sense, but what would have made the most sense for a team that knew it wasn’t contending for a title was to save that money for this summer to attempt to re-sign the effervescent Bosh, or lure another one of the prized free-agents of this summer’s abundant talent.

Much of Toronto’s struggles can be attributed to the struggles of its $53-million man. Shooting just 40 percent from the field, Turkoglu is averaging under 13 points and less than 5 rebounds, his worst season since he was a Sacramento King in 2003-04. Bad move, Jr. Colangelo.

Now we have to wait and see what happens during the next month? Will GMs (Joe Dumars, Otis Smith, Danny Ferry?) get antsy and make a trade just for the sole purpose of making one? Will Amare really get dealt to Cleveland? (Scary thought). Will Chris Bosh play his last game in a Raptors uniform? Who will make that quiet deal for a defender (Ronnie Brewer?), or back-up point guard (Jordan Farmar, T.J. Ford?) that proves to be the missing ingredient? What will happen with Rudy Gay and Tracy McGrady, not to mention the entire Wizards roster (okay, well at least Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison?)

Pay close attention, because often it's these mid-SEASON deals that become the key to an NBA Championship.

When Orlando traded Courtney Lee for Vince Carter, it became overly clear that GM Otis Smith was all about “the now.” Lee had a nice rookie season for the Magic, and obviously has a bright future, so giving him up for an old and broken down – albeit accomplished - shooting guard meant that if ever the Magic could win a title, now was it. Hey, everyone makes mistakes right?

Carter, to no surprise, has been what Vince Carter is: A jump-shooting scorer who can get hot and win you a few games down the stretch, but is simply too streaky and too selfish to help you win a title. Despite averaging more than 16 points – a career low - he had not scored in double-digits since New Year’s Day until Friday night (wow), and is shooting an atrociously low 25.6 percent in January.

(Vince has long been known as the guy to do anything to get his... even if it means taking shots like these)

You have to be wary of guys like this. There is a reason why certain players who’ve been to eight All-Star Games never win anything. It’s not in their make-up.

On paper, Orlando is as talented a team as any. Jameer Nelson is an All-Star, Rashard Lewis has been twice, and Dwight Howard, well, he doesn’t need an explanation. But what this franchise didn’t realize was that there is only one basketball to go around and only so many shots for each star.

Howard is supposed to be their dominant post force that can score at will. Evidently, that’s just not who he is. Many of his points come off rebounds and put-backs, not post-up moves. Nelson still isn’t healthy, and Lewis – always a terrific three-point threat - can’t create his own shot unless he’s on the block. Meanwhile Carter - unlike Hedo Turkoglu - plays with the sole intent of scoring, hence his putrid three assists per game. That’s what Vince is. He’s a scorer.

Turkoglu, while also a reliable scoring option, was great for this team because he was a 6-10 point-forward who could facilitate for guys like Lewis, who need to be set-up. When the Magic traded for Vince, he understandably bailed. Now that Turkoglu’s five assists are gone, Lewis is forced into contested shots on the perimeter and more creating off the bounce, something he’s never been comfortable doing. As a result, his numbers have plummeted from last season, when he averaged nearly 18 points, compared to this season when he’s averaging just 14.5.

The Carter acquisition was a “profile name” move by Smith. “Any time you can add an All-Star to help you reach your goals, you have to do it,” Smith said back in June. Memo to Otis: Vince is not a true All-Star anymore! He’s just a name now, and not a huge one at that.

(Smith has to feel the wrath of his mistakes at this point, doesn't he?)

Hoping Carter still had juice in those legs, Smith traded away young potential for a one-time star whose best attributes – leaping ability and drives – have abandoned him with age and injury.

Usually when you make the finals, you try and keep your team intact. Obviously, the Magic fused well last season, and opting to give up a solid young piece in Lee for an aging Carter has proved to be a monstrous mistake.

For Orlando though, the real trouble goes beyond the court and into the numbers. More than anything, New Jersey was desperate to deal Carter because of his fat contract that still has three years left in which he’s owed $52 million (although his final year has little guaranteed money). Orlando, meanwhile, took itself out of any realistic chance to acquire one of the big fish coming to the free-agent market next summer. In essence, the Magic got hit by a double-edged sword.

Unless they can find a suitor for Carter’s deal – which is very unlikely – this team is not winning a title for a while.

But Orlando wasn't done wheeling and dealing after the Vince trade. Figuring it needed to both add and maintain its interior bulk, it signed free agent power forward Brandon Bass and his bundle of energy to a four-year, $18 million deal, and matched the pricey offer sheet of little used center Marcin Gortat.

The Bass move made the most sense actually. I’m a big fan of him, as he offers a lot with his overall grit and tougness. But you just never know with Stan Van Gundy, and for whatever reason, he can’t find a way to get Bass in the line-up, despite the fact that he plays well with Dwight Howard. Bass is an athletic kid who loves to bang and bully his way down low, something Orlando desperately needs more of when you consider that its second best rebounder is Matt Barnes.

The other curious move Smith made was matching Gortat’s, five-year, $34 million offer sheet from Dallas. Gortat was very effective for this team during their finals run last season. However, Van Gundy refuses to give him tick, even though he too helps relieve some of the pressure off Howard, in that he’s the only other true 7-footer on the roster. Gortat’s best attributes are his rebounding, defense and shooting, all assets that Orlando lacks with its current line-up, so thus far, giving him the boatload of cash appears more strange than anything.


He is another good player not being properly utilized on an underachieving Magic team who should be competing for a championship. Carter, Bass, and Gortat have suddenly become the trio that will economically handicap this organization for years to come.

There's always the draft though, right?

(Stay tuned, because more mid-season summer evaluations are coming soon).

As the NBA All-Star Game nears, we have seen enough basketball to realistically evaluate last summer’s off-season moves. Basically, it’s a matter of the good, the bad and the umm ... really ugly. Here we go.

Normally I like to hear the bad news first, but you’re probably not as strange as I am, so let’s begin with the good, shall we. The Atlanta Hawks have not only sustained their upstart movement, but with the addition of Jamal Crawford in the backcourt, they have become one of the top teams out east.

Mike Bibby isn’t getting any younger, so acquiring a 6-5 point guard with the scoring capabilities of Crawford was the perfect move. Joe Johnson may be an All-Star, but having Crawford spell some of his minutes without a major drop-off has been a crucial aspect to Atlanta’s success. A top candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, the Seattle native is averaging 17 points off the bench. His game-winner against Phoenix last week is all the evidence you need to see his impact. Down the stretch of games and even in the waning moments, Crawford is a legitimate go-to option, something the Hawks lacked in year's past when team's doubled Johnson.

Speaking of the Suns, a move that hasn’t been talked about enough is their acquisition of sweet-shooting big man Channing Frye. While the Arizona native and former Wildcat, Frye has never been a physically, get-after-it type of rebounder, he has found that returning home is best. It’s not that he’s been bad on the glass – he’s averaging nearly 6 rebounds to go along with his 12 points – but his stroke this season has been a revelation. Always a good shooter at 6-10, Frye has surprised everyone by extending his range comfortably out to the three. In a run-and-gun offense with a point guard like Steve Nash, Frye’s ability to both spot-up outside as well as pick-and-pop has been invaluable to the success of this team.

Entering Wednesday, in 42 games thus far (41 starts), he has converted on an astounding 43 percent of his triples, making over two per game. Unlike traditional bigs who crowd the paint and hover on the block, Frye spends the majority of offensive sets on the perimeter and spaces the floor extremely well for All-Star Amare Stoudemire to operate down low.

Last season with Shaq for instance, teams could afford to double off O’Neal and trap Stoudemire. This season though, with Frye spotting up from distance, a double-team likely leads to a three-pointer. Lately, as coach Alvin Gentry has gone to Robin Lopez over Frye at center - Frye has averaged 22.8 minutes over a five-game stretch (four of which have been losses) - we’ve seen Stoudemire struggle again, similarly as he did last season with Shaq. In his last five games, Amare is shooting 52 percent from the floor, over 4 percent lower than his season stats, thus showing the positive impact of having Frye in the line-up.

Thanks in part to their newly acquired center/small forward (I guess?), the Suns have gone from peril out west back to success. At 24-18, they are second in the Pacific Division, behind the Lakers, and will find themselves happily back in the playoffs come April.

One of the biggest surprises this season has been the improved play of the perennial doormat Memphis Grizzlies. Marc Gasol has certainly done his part, but the stellar play of Zach Randolph in the frontcourt has been instrumental to this team.

Always considered rather lazy and not a true leader or competitor, Randolph has quietly put together the best season of his career. Always a numbers guy but not really a winner, Z-Bo's energy and performance have proven to be one of the keys to a Memphis team sitting comfortably at 22-18, in playoff contention for the first time since the 2005-06 season. To put things in perspective, that was a team that featured the likes of Pau Gasol, Shane Battier, Mike Miller and Damon Stoudamire. Quite a while has passed since this franchise has put out a winner.

The Randolph deal (he has two years left at $33 million) is extra sweet considering all Memphis had to give up was an overweight shooting guard whose four claims to fame are winning the three-point shoot-out competition, appearing in the 2002 movie, “Van Wilder,” dating “Moesha,” I mean Brandy (wow, that’s a terrible reference), and being traded four (that’s right!), four times last summer. That would be Quentin Richardson, of course, and his nearly $9 million per year contract, the ultimate salary cap eater - so acquiring Randolph straight up was a wondrous move by Chris Wallace and the Grizz front office. To this point, it earns my “highly touted” award as the best off-season move in 2009.

Now, things take a turn to ugly. Hey, with certain NBA GM's, it's only a matter of time right?

When Houston signed Trevor Ariza from the Lakers to essentially replace Ron Artest, I said two things: One, bad move by the champs and two, decent spot for Ariza. Artest has made a relatively seamless transition to Hollywood (although I still don’t agree with the move in the long haul), and the Lakers seem on their way to defending their crown.

Ariza however, has been forced into a starring role not conducive to his unselfish, play-off-you style of play. The reason he was so effective in LA was because he could defer to Kobe, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and even Andrew Bynum. Those guys garnered a lot of attention, which often left Ariza wide open to spot-up. Despite improving his shooting stroke and overall offensive game, he’s never been a true scorer who can carry a team. While Ariza can slash, and is athletic and long enough to create mismatches on the wing, he’s not a No. 1 guy.

(Ariza has found it tough sledding penetrating into the lane on a team that doesn't force defenders to stay home)

With the absence of Tracy McGrady – who may no longer be a No. 1 but at least still thinks he is – as well as the dominant Yao Ming on the block, the only players that opposing defenses have to consistently worry about are Aaron Brooks and maybe Carl Landry, who is having a career year, in large part because the Rockets simply don’t have other options.

Just glancing at the numbers, Ariza appears to be playing well in his new role. Look closer though, and you’ll see he’s hardly thriving. Offensively, without T-Mac and Yao, he holds a burden that he shouldn’t have. Despite averaging 16 points, nearly 6 rebounds and 4 assists, his shooting percentages are at a staggering 38 percent, by far the lowest throughout his six-year career. When you consider that last season he shot 46 percent from the floor and averaged over 4 rebounds, the only things that have gone up positively other than assists, are points (by default really because he’s taking over 15 shots per game, which is more than double from last year), and turnovers (nearly 3). Both his three-point and FT percentages have dipped awfully low, and although he continues to compete defensively, his steals are almost identical to his 2008-09 campaign.

At his best, Ariza is a very effective system player who benefits from having others around him as go-to scorers to create secondary opportunities for him. But in Houston, when he’s consistently matched up against premier players on both ends of the floor (instead of last season when he typically just guarded them), he cannot be relied upon to lead a team as he is now. The guy is still just 24, and I really like him as a player, but at this point he’s being put in a role he simply shouldn’t hold.

(Stay tuned, because Part II of my evaluations is coming soon).