February 28, 2011
As expected, there was a flurry of moves before the NBA trade deadline. Some teams legitimately improved their chances of winning a championship this season and others planned for the future. An important aspect of some trades is the ability to take on players with expiring contracts to increase salary cap space in future years. But because free cap space doesn’t guarantee teams will necessarily be able to sign the free agents they want, that part is essentially impossible to consider when evaluating these deals.
With that said, it’s time to break down some of the more significant trades and find out who got the better end of each deal.
Knicks-Nuggets-Timberwolves
New York Knicks receive: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Renaldo Balkman, Anthony Carter, and Corey Brewer
Denver Nuggets receive: Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Timofey Mozgov, Kosta Koufos, Knicks’ first-round draft pick, Two Warriors’ second-round draft picks, and $3 Million cash
Minnesota Timberwolves receive: Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph
This was the blockbuster deal of the year and the Knicks finally made the big splash that everyone expected. Not only did they land one of the NBA’s best players, Carmelo Anthony, to pair with All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire, they also secured Chauncey Billups to give New York a legitimate trio of stars. While Shelden Williams, Renaldo Balkman, and Anthony Carter are lesser talents, Corey Brewer is a young player who could develop into a solid sixth man down the line. Brewer came from the Minnesota Timberwolves, who played a small part in this deal.
Even though Denver lost Anthony, they did pick up some legitimate talent in exchange for him. Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, and Wilson Chandler are three young developing players who could help Denver for years to come. All three are averaging more than 15 points per game and are already quality players.
Still, at the end of the day, the Knicks came away with arguably one of the league’s top ten players and a former All-Star guard in one fell swoop. In trading for Carmelo, the Knicks have lit a fire under their fan base and should be a contending team in the Eastern Conference for many years. The young players and draft picks that Denver received help make this a fairly even trade. But in the NBA, superstars win championships and without Anthony, Denver will have a hard time advancing deep into the playoffs.
WINNER: New York
Jazz-Nets
New Jersey Nets receive: Deron Williams
Utah Jazz receive: Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, Two first-round draft picks, and $3 Million cash
The Nets may have missed out on Carmelo Anthony, but they did grab a nice consolation prize in Deron Williams. Williams is one of the league’s best point guards and reports surfaced recently that he and long-time coach Jerry Sloan didn’t always see eye to eye. So when Sloan abruptly retired shortly before the trade, no one could imagine that Williams would be shopped. The Jazz apparently had other plans.
In moving Williams, the Jazz gave up on a franchise player. He has the ability to win games almost single-handedly and is a bonafide leader. While the Nets didn’t give up a star to get him, Devin Harris is a proven starting point guard, and Derrick Favors was the third overall pick in last year’s draft. But the 2011 first-round pick might be the biggest piece for Utah. The Nets are one of the NBA’s worst teams this season, and, depending on which way the ping pong balls bounce when the draft order is announced, that pick could end up being one of the top selections in the draft.
WINNER: This one’s a little complicated. Part of the reason the Jazz traded Williams is because his contract expires after next season. If the Nets are able to re-sign him, they are the winners. But if Williams leaves after next season, the Jazz come out ahead. This trade falls under the dreaded ‘To be determined’ category.
Celtics-Thunder
Boston Celtics receive: Jeff Green, Nenad Krstic, Future first-round draft pick
Oklahoma City Thunder receive: Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson
The defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics made a bit of a gamble in dealing starting center Kendrick Perkins and one of their top reserves, Nate Robinson. In exchange, though, they get the versatile Jeff Green and backup center Nenad Krstic. For now, the Celtics have settled upon starting Krstic. That may change, however, as they also have the option of anointing Green as a starter and using a smaller lineup.
Perkins is a good defender, but the Celtics received a capable replacement in Krstic. While they’re now weaker in the middle, Green is another defender who will help them if they run into the Miami Heat’s LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in the postseason.
WINNER: Boston Celtics
Cavaliers-Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers receive: Mo Williams and Jamario Moon
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: Baron Davis and 2011 First-round draft pick
Since LeBron James’ departure, the Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t been the same. They’ve gone from a championship contender to one of the worst teams in the league. With this trade, they lose two high-energy players, but pick up a one-time star in Baron Davis. The Cavs also secure the Clippers’ 2011 pick, which will be a lottery selection. So why would Los Angeles trade a high draft pick and a solid point guard for two average players? Simply put, it was all about the money. The Clippers wanted to be free of Davis’ large contract, and this trade allowed them to do that. But in giving up a high draft pick, they also gave away a chance at adding another young piece around stars Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon. Meanwhile, with two lottery picks for next season, Cleveland has a chance to rebuild a bit faster than expected.
WINNER: Cleveland Cavaliers
Hawks-Wizards
Atlanta Hawks receive: Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong
Washington Wizards receive: Mike Bibby, Maurice Evans, Jordan Crawford, and 2011 First-round draft pick
This deal features two veteran point guards, and while Kirk Hinrich may be a very slight upgrade over Mike Bibby, that swap is essentially a wash. Hilton Armstrong and Maurice Evans are both marginal players, so there’s not much impact there, either. But the Wizards also get the Hawks’ first-round draft pick and a young player in Jordan Crawford, so they get the edge in this one.
WINNER: Washington Wizards
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February 25, 2011
Here’s some proof that school spirit is stronger than the success of a school’s basketball team. Below are the 50 best selling colleges on Fathead.com over the last month. By our estimates, only about half of them will make the NCAA Tournament.
The top selling colleges of the last 30 days:
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Texas
4. Florida
5. Notre Dame
6. Penn State
8. Alabama
9. Nebraska
10. LSU
11. Michigan State
12. Auburn
13. Iowa
14. Tennessee
15. Miami (FL)
16. Wisconsin
17. Kentucky
18. Georgia
19. West Virginia
20. Duke
21. Oklahoma
22. Missouri
23. Oregon
24. USC
25. Clemson
26. Kansas
27. Purdue
28. Arkansas
29. Florida State
30. Oklahoma State
31. Louisville
32. Virginia Tech
33. Pittsburgh
34. Boise State
35. Syracuse
36. Connecticut
37. BYU
38. Arizona State
39. Illinois
40. TCU
41. Washington
42. South Carolina
43. California
44. Georgia Tech
45. Kansas State
46. Butler
47. Iowa State
50. Oregon State
And, of course, here is the weekly list of top Fathead sellers. The Super Bowl hype is beginning to fade, and with it, the NFL’s stronghold on list. While many NFL Fatheads remain, the league has given up some ground to the NBA on the heels of a great NBA All-Star Weekend.
The top selling Fatheads of the last 7 days (Feb. 18 – Feb. 24):
1. Kobe Bryant
6. Aaron Rodgers Super Bowl XLV MVP
8. Rajon Rondo
10. Derrick Rose
February 24, 2011
In an era heavy on flash, one player still brings substance to the court night after night: Kobe Bryant.
The best and most valuable player on the planet is consistent in his approach to the game, the leadership of his team and his relentless will to win. He produces from preseason to postseason and everywhere in between.
He doesn’t need a flashy nickname, and he doesn’t bother with elaborate handshakes, choreographed dances or premeditated powder tosses. Like the stars of yesteryear, all that matters to him is the scoreboard.
His stubborn pride and distaste for losing are the hallmarks of his ultra-competitive personality. He would never run away from the spotlight, the last shot or his team. He would never run off to join another star’s team.
Kobe Bryant believes in himself. He craves pressure, revels in adoration and accepts blame. Money doesn’t drive him. Endorsements don’t own him. Off-court issues haven’t stopped him. He plays to win in every sense of the word, from the opening tipoff to the final buzzer without making faces or whining for calls.
Sure, there are stars that score more points, make more assists and pull down more rebounds. But Bryant is a complete player and has five NBA titles to prove it. In an era where lots of superstars love to win; Kobe Bryant hates to lose. The difference is subtle but enormous.
The L.A. Lakers are Kobe’s team. He won with Shaquille O’Neal and without him. And while the supporting cast has changed, the star has remained the same. To be truly great, an athlete must be willing to accept the responsibility of being “the guy.” He must embrace the pressure of expectation and rise above the fear of failure. Kobe is up for the challenge. He has too much ego, too much pride, too much confidence in himself to be anything else. Few others are like him.
Kobe Bryant has won five NBA championships. While other superstars pile up stats and individual awards, Bryant fills stat sheets and wins championships. And while pre-game rituals are great for the camera, only winning feeds the meter of greatness. Add it all up—from production to leadership to competitive spirit—and in the post-Jordan era, Kobe Bryant is simply the best.
Now in the 13th year of his NBA career, Kobe Bryant has enjoyed unparalleled success. Consider his stats:
Kobe Bryant is more than his championships and far more than his stats. He is so intertwined with the Lakers that you can’t mention one without the other.
While other superstars want the tag of greatness, they must first earn championships. At the end of the day, the pathway of success leads to the gate of greatness—the place where legends are made. Entrance has nothing to do with being “The Chosen One,” and everything to do with being “The Proven One.” Michael, Magic and Larry all proved it. Among superstars in the current NBA landscape, Kobe Bryant has not only proven it, he is it.
February 22, 2011
Now that the NBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone, it’s time to focus on the second half of the season. There are a lot of questions to be answered in the coming weeks. How will Carmelo Anthony change the Knicks? Can the Lakers reach a fourth straight NBA Finals? Who is going to come out of the Eastern Conference? What will Blake Griffin do next?
The one thing I do know is that I shouldn’t have eaten that last eggroll. While I try to recover, let’s take a look into the crystal ball and see what the NBA has in store for the rest of the season.
Feb. 23
As the trade deadline approaches sources say talks heat up for a major trade involving the Toronto Raptors. When the deadline passes with no deal made, word comes out that the United States and Canada were close to a Toronto Raptors for Nashville Predators trade. Sources say both sides will continue trade talks in the offseason.
Feb. 24
With the Carmelo Anthony trade to New York already a done deal, no major deals are expected at the trade deadline. The biggest trade of the day is a deal between the Lakers and Nets. The Lakers send Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian to New Jersey in exchange for Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian.
March 11
Looking for a spark, the Lakers turn to their past and sign Mark Madsen for the rest of the season. Madsen was part of the Lakers championship teams in 2001 and 2002 and was known for his celebratory actions from the end of the bench. “Nobody supports a teammate better than Madsen,” said Kobe Bryant. “He is always the first to give me a high-five when I do something great.”
April 13
Denver goes into the final day of the regular season tied with Utah for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Nuggets win on a buzzer-beater by Timofey Mozgov (the rookie center who was nearly a deal-breaker in the Carmelo Anthony trade).
Playoff teams in the East: Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia, Charlotte.
Playoff teams in the West: San Antonio, Dallas, Oklahoma City, L.A. Lakers, New Orleans, Portland, Phoenix, Denver.
May 17
The Cleveland Cavaliers pick up their biggest win of the season and come away with the first pick in the NBA draft lottery.
June 2
The NBA Finals begin in Boston as the Celtics host the Dallas Mavericks.
June 16
Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks celebrate winning the NBA Championship in Boston with a 95-89 Game 7 win.
June 20
With the end of the NBA season and the threat of a work stoppage looming, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban purchases a Dairy Queen. “Who knows when we will play
basketball again?” Cuban says. “I care about my players. These guys have families. If they can’t work for me as a Dallas Maverick, they can work for me at Dairy Queen.”
There we have it. The second half of the season should be exciting and full of surprises. We better enjoy it while we can. My Magic 8 Ball says the outlook for basketball next season does not look good.
February 21, 2011
The record book will officially show that Tiger Woods’ road to redemption started in 2010, but 2011 could be considered the year his comeback actually began.
We are all aware of how Woods failed miserably in 2010. But in hindsight, it’s hard to see how it could have turned out any other way. Yes, Woods is widely considered the world’s best golfer. Yes, he’s perhaps the sport’s toughest player mentally. Yes, Woods has laughed in the face of adversity before. But those were particularly difficult odds.
Woods’ personal life wasn’t merely interrupted, but shattered. Divorces for public figures can be a huge distraction, but Woods’ was especially painful because of the events that led up to it. Those types of things have to be incredibly difficult to overcome on a golf course in a sport when spectators are right on top of the action, and it’s hard to imagine that Woods was comfortable in front of them, even if the golf course is considered his own personal sanctuary.
But back to 2010 – Woods may have figured that he would struggle a little and be a bit rusty, but I’m sure the thought of going winless through the entire season wasn’t in his plans. Woods had never gone an entire year without winning a tournament as a pro, and questions still abound about his ability to resurrect his career. So is that career now over? Are the hopes of running down Jack Nicklaus for the most career major wins dashed?
Not a chance.
While it’s no guarantee that Woods will again become the dominant player he once was, he’s young enough that he has plenty of good golf left. For starters, he was the PGA’s Player of the Year and leading money winner in 2009. While he didn’t win a major that year, he still had enough success to make him the world’s number one golfer. It’s hard for me to believe that his skills have deteriorated all that much in just a span of two years.
Tiger also has experience dealing with dry spells in terms of majors. After winning the Masters and the U.S. Open in 2002, he didn’t recapture another major title until 2005. In 2003 and 2004, fans were wondering if his well had run dry. But he’s proven such questions were foolish as he’s won six more majors since 2005. You wouldn’t think that this recent dry spell would be too much to overcome.
Woods is also the dreaded age of 35 – the beginning of the end for many golfers. Plenty, however, have found success after that age. Phil Mickelson won three of his four majors after 35 and, at 39, won the Masters last year. And when you add in Angel Cabrera’s 2009 win, the last two Masters winners have both been on the cusp of 40. If players without the talent of Woods can have that kind of success, why can’t Tiger? Further, it’s not just the Masters where older golfers can have success. Eight of the past sixteen major winners have been over the age of 35. So age clearly isn’t Woods’ biggest hurdle.
Lastly, there’s the mental aspect. Can Tiger put aside all of the issues that have dogged him since that fateful Thanksgiving in 2009? Well, he’s stared down important putts in the past, and if anyone can do it, he can. Plus, while Woods has been through a lot in his personal life, the questions will eventually end, and he should be able to focus on golf 100% at some point in the future.
Simply put, Tiger has run into a bit of a rough patch, but all signs point to him being able to rebound and return to being one of golf’s most dominant figures. And I think that 2011 is the year that the rebound officially begins.
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