Huge BM

Trade Updates:
Still over two weeks remain before the NBA trade deadline comes, but two huge trades have already gone down. The Shaq trade was inevitable, but really was not talked about until it happened. The Gasol trade was two years in the making, but the Lakers pulled off a huge win. The Phoenix Miami trade could really go either way. It looks right now that Marion will stay in Miami and not Opt out. He is too smart too. The Heat were hoping that this will either work out, or that Marion will be a free agent. Only time will tell. Here are some other people or teams that may be ready to make moves or be moved.

Word out of Chicago is that they are looking to get a taker for Ben Wallace. NY may be the team that would make such a terrible move. Like Shaq though, Wallace may be much better off in the right situation. I don’t think NY is that team. That team would be a Dallas or Phoenix, not NY. The Trade would look something like, Wallace for Quentin Richardson and Malik Rose and probably Fred Jones.
Everyone thinks that Andre Miller will go before the deadline, but why would they? He makes the Sixers so much better. He will be more valuable next year when he is in his last year of his deal. But he may be part of a three way deal that lands Jason Kidd in Dallas. Chances are he will stay put, but that is really the way he would be moved.
Phoenix is trying to make a move to add a 13th player. They have one roster spot open from the trade. They are looking for a defensive guy who can shut down the go to guy in a playoff series. Grant Hill believes he can be that guy, but they should sit him to the playoffs if that is the case.
The Celtics and Nuggets are both trying to get Sam Cassell. Sam could put either team over the top and make them even bigger contenders.


Draft Updates:
Here are the top five teams and who they will probably take.
Miami- They could play themselves out of the top pick with the Marion trade. But right now Michael Beasley is the best option and he is a guaranteed winner. He is however a small forward and if they keep Marion, where will Beasley go? If the Heat agree with a long term contract, they could trade the pick, and it could help them get rid of an unwanted contract of add a veteran piece to what they want to build. Hibbert is projected to go around 10-14 and they could trade down to take him and do what I said above. If the Heat fall, they will take Derek Rose who is a top notch Point Guard.
Minnesota will take Derek Rose with the second pick. Minnesota already has youth, and they may opt to trade too. Minnesota may end up with the top pick while they only sit one game ahead of Miami.
Seattle and New York sit at 3 and 5 and they will probably take centers Deandre Jordan and Brook Lopez respectively. Both Centers could have immediate impact.
Memphis has the 4th pick right now and they are projected to take Eric Gordan.
OJ Mayo has seen his stock fall a lot all the way down past 10. He was a lock to be number one a year ago.


Playoff preview:
As of right now the playoffs are so far away, but here is a preview of what is to come. The East is anyone’s to win. The top three of Detroit, Boston, and Orlando can all make a case to win. Detroit has the experience, they have been there before and they know what to do to make it in the NBA playoffs. More importantly, they have chemistry. Boston and Orlando are way different, but they have the star power to make the run. Orlando has won some big games this year. They know they can beat Boston. But Boston in any 7 game series will be tough to beat with the big three. All three can make a case for the Eastern conference title.
The East right now looks like it will be Boston and Philly, Detroit and Atlanta, Orlando and Washington, and Cleveland and Toronto. The top three seeds will get walks to the second round. Although Philly is starting to play better and they are really young.

In the West, We are waiting to see how LA and Phoenix will respond to the trades. It really looks like LA got a steal and they are going to get even better. San Antonio is just coasting right now and will turn it on come playoffs. Here are the Matchups:
One note, 5.5 games separate the top playoff team and the bottom, so this could all change tomorrow.
Phoenix and GS, Dallas and Denver (what a series this will be especially if Denver adds Cassell) NO and LA, and Utah and SA.
The Top four seeds will probably end up Phoenix, Dallas, LA, SA, with Denver, NO, Utah, and Houston probably rounding the playoffs out.