NBA Blog Breakdown
The Fanball Sports Network, currently the home to more than 70 blogs about fantasy sports dealing with MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL, features some of the internet's best and most thought provoking team writers. This article is part of a weekly series profiling the recent Fanball Sports Network NBA blog posts and news, as well as how this news and analysis impacts fantasy owners.
Cavmen.com: Key Rival First To Strike... Time to Counter!
Cavaliers correspondent Ward Peterson sees the glass half full following the Pistons' acquisition of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.
"Villanueva was reportedly high on the Cavaliers wish list and would have been a strong fit into the starting lineup alongside LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Delonte West, and Mo Williams. Though the Cavs are willing to spend above luxury tax level and could have used their mid-level exception on Villanueva, the deal he signed with Detroit is believed to have been too rich for the Cavs to compete with. There is some sweet irony that the Cavs could now look to former Cavs nemesis, Rasheed Wallace instead. The signing of Villanueva makes it pretty obvious that Wallace is done as a Piston as Detroit re-tools once again."
Impact: A possible addition of Wallace would give LeBron another new veteran in the backcourt to team up with Shaq. If the Cavs did sign Wallace, he would start at the four, meaning that his acquisition would probably result in free agent Anderson Varejao departing; while Varejao is eight years younger and is certainly a bit more athletic than Wallace at this point in their careers, Rasheed is still fully capable of defending any four in the league. He'd also bring a much more polished offensive game to the table, both from the post and outside on the perimeter, and could flourish with LeBron feeding him the ball.
Mavsball.com: Free agency and trades. AHH... it's the NBA offseason
Mavericks correspondent Chris Stuckey takes a look at Dallas' most valuable trade commodity.
"August 10 is an important date for the Mavs. That is the day the "Stack Chip" expires. This is the most important aspect of the offseason. If Donnie does not use it properly... well... off with his head. I do not see the Mavs signing any free that demands more than the MLE. That makes the "Stack Chip" even more important. Many teams are looking for opportunities to dump players in an effort to free up some cap for the 2010 free agency period. Pairing the "Stack Chip" with Dampier's expiring contract should produce a pretty good player."
Impact: Keep in mind that the Mavs were one awful referee's call away from being very much in their Western Conference semifinals series with the Nuggests; this is still very much a team looking to contend to a title, and capable of doing so. Jerry Stackhouse's expiring contract will be very attractive for teams not looking to contend next year and instead attempting to be in the best possible shape heading into next year's star-studded free agency class, so look for the Mavericks to take advantage of that and dangle Stackhouse around in return for immediate help.
DunkingNuggets.com: Taking Stock - Trade Speculation, Take 2
Nuggets correspondent Bryan Douglass plays the role of GM and explores a possible trade with the Hawks.
"The beauty of a trade with Atlanta would be Marvin Williams. As we noted with Prince, it is a specific player needed to fill the role of third wheel for the Denver Nuggets. You need to be able to score without an irresponsible approach to doing so. You need to play defense. You need to contribute to an open floor, and you need to be willing to drive to the hoop. Williams is noted as an achiever in all of those aspects. Understand he plays at the 3... and that's Melo. However, while his offerings thus far have been a bit muted - in larger part due to continued struggles with back spasms (another reason why the Hawks would be willing to deal) - he has shown tremendous potential and could be a significant contributor to a team effort."
Impact: The Hawks could be looking to move pieces, with Williams and Josh Smith both possibly available for the right price. These are just rumors for now, but Williams would be an intriguing addition to the Nuggets' roster. Both he and Carmelo Anthony are small forwards but capable of defending twos and even some fours as well. Thus, Williams would not only give George Karl's lineup great versatility but also allow the Nuggets to keep J.R. Smith as an option off the bench, as they did last year, instead of starting him at shooting guard.
SmokingPistons.com: Pistons Reach Deals with Gordon, Villanueva
Pistons correspondent Cory Elfrink takes a not-so-delightful stance on Detroit's free agent splash from yesterday.
"There's a lot of news on the Detroit Pistons front yet again this morning. Joe Dumars appears to have signed former UConn products Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to five year deals. Gordon's deal is said to be worth $55 million over five seasons. Villanueva will get up to $40 million over five seasons. Deals cannot be made official until July 8. The duo certainly provides an offensive boost. Wins? Not likely."
Impact: Elfrink goes on to discuss Gordon's defensive deficiencies and poor decision-making, and he also notes the fact that Villanueva has failed to start half his games in the NBA despite playing for awful teams that have never made the playoffs and gone a combined 95-213. While these two guys were seen as two of the top free agents in this year's class and should continue to be fine fantasy commodities given their offensive skills, especially from behind the three-point line, their addition could signal the end to both Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace's tenures on Motown. The Pistons have been an Eastern Conference powerhouse the past near-decade and won their title in 2004 off of gritty defense and unselfish offensive play; Gordon and Villanueva provide pretty much the exact opposite of those to attributes, making Dumars' decision seem very questionable.
WarriorsCourt.com: Draft over: What next?
Warriors correspondent Austin Brown discusses the Amare Stoudemire rumors that have been rampant by the bridge.
"As for Amare Stoudemire, I think it would be a shame to let go of too much to get him. Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, Marco Belinelli, Kelenna Azubuike and Stephen Curry qualifies as too much. I'd rather save the trade pieces for a younger player with less of an injury history. Stoudemire's health problems include microfracture surgery on his left knee in 2005-06 and eye surgery for a detached retina last season, which will force him to wear goggles for the foreseeable future. 26 years old is by no means over the hill but for a big man with his track record, who came straight out of high school, he seems more like 30."
Impact: The Warriors and Suns were apparently fully prepared to agree upon a deal that would have sent Amare to the Warriors in exchange for a package including the seventh pick, Biedrins and possibly one or two other players, but Golden State nixed the offer once Curry, whom they are apparently in love with, dropped down to No. 7. While the deal appears much more unlikely to happen now, a move to Don Nelson's offensive system could have been gold for Amare and have allowed him to put up numbers similar to those that he was posting when Mike D'Antoni was in Phoenix.
ClippersChat.com: Path to Greatness
Clippers correspondent Ron Reyes lists what the Clippers have to do to become competitive.
"Now that the 2009 NBA Draft is done and Free Agency has begun let's take a look at what the Clippers will need to do to be a playoff contender (quit talking ring yet because you have to "make" the playoffs first... baby steps): Get some MOJO - teams following terrible seasons who drafted #1 got players that instantly turned their team into contenders: the Spurs with Duncan, the Cavs with Lebron, and the Magic with Howard. The Clippers drafted that kind of player! Blake Griffin is a special talent who works hard, is a leader and will be good in the locker room."
Impact: Reyes goes on to list several other factors that could make the Clippers a possible playoff contender in the future, such as gaining an identity, winning at home and believing in themselves, but acquiring that "mojo" that Reyes speaks of is a good point. The Clippers already took a nice step in that direction by dealing their offensively-gifted but defensively-sluggish and poor-mannered big man in Zach Randolph yesterday to the Grizzlies in exchange for Quentin Richardson and his expiring contract. The loss of Randolph opens up the starting power forward spot for Griffin, and while it may be a process spanning several seasons, it certainly looks like the Clippers are headed in the right direction with such a positive potential young superstar leading the charge.
Cavmen.com: Key Rival First To Strike... Time to Counter!
Cavaliers correspondent Ward Peterson sees the glass half full following the Pistons' acquisition of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.
"Villanueva was reportedly high on the Cavaliers wish list and would have been a strong fit into the starting lineup alongside LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Delonte West, and Mo Williams. Though the Cavs are willing to spend above luxury tax level and could have used their mid-level exception on Villanueva, the deal he signed with Detroit is believed to have been too rich for the Cavs to compete with. There is some sweet irony that the Cavs could now look to former Cavs nemesis, Rasheed Wallace instead. The signing of Villanueva makes it pretty obvious that Wallace is done as a Piston as Detroit re-tools once again."
Cleveland? You heard that right, Rasheed.
Mavsball.com: Free agency and trades. AHH... it's the NBA offseason
Mavericks correspondent Chris Stuckey takes a look at Dallas' most valuable trade commodity.
"August 10 is an important date for the Mavs. That is the day the "Stack Chip" expires. This is the most important aspect of the offseason. If Donnie does not use it properly... well... off with his head. I do not see the Mavs signing any free that demands more than the MLE. That makes the "Stack Chip" even more important. Many teams are looking for opportunities to dump players in an effort to free up some cap for the 2010 free agency period. Pairing the "Stack Chip" with Dampier's expiring contract should produce a pretty good player."
Impact: Keep in mind that the Mavs were one awful referee's call away from being very much in their Western Conference semifinals series with the Nuggests; this is still very much a team looking to contend to a title, and capable of doing so. Jerry Stackhouse's expiring contract will be very attractive for teams not looking to contend next year and instead attempting to be in the best possible shape heading into next year's star-studded free agency class, so look for the Mavericks to take advantage of that and dangle Stackhouse around in return for immediate help.
DunkingNuggets.com: Taking Stock - Trade Speculation, Take 2
Nuggets correspondent Bryan Douglass plays the role of GM and explores a possible trade with the Hawks.
"The beauty of a trade with Atlanta would be Marvin Williams. As we noted with Prince, it is a specific player needed to fill the role of third wheel for the Denver Nuggets. You need to be able to score without an irresponsible approach to doing so. You need to play defense. You need to contribute to an open floor, and you need to be willing to drive to the hoop. Williams is noted as an achiever in all of those aspects. Understand he plays at the 3... and that's Melo. However, while his offerings thus far have been a bit muted - in larger part due to continued struggles with back spasms (another reason why the Hawks would be willing to deal) - he has shown tremendous potential and could be a significant contributor to a team effort."
Impact: The Hawks could be looking to move pieces, with Williams and Josh Smith both possibly available for the right price. These are just rumors for now, but Williams would be an intriguing addition to the Nuggets' roster. Both he and Carmelo Anthony are small forwards but capable of defending twos and even some fours as well. Thus, Williams would not only give George Karl's lineup great versatility but also allow the Nuggets to keep J.R. Smith as an option off the bench, as they did last year, instead of starting him at shooting guard.
SmokingPistons.com: Pistons Reach Deals with Gordon, Villanueva
Pistons correspondent Cory Elfrink takes a not-so-delightful stance on Detroit's free agent splash from yesterday.
"There's a lot of news on the Detroit Pistons front yet again this morning. Joe Dumars appears to have signed former UConn products Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to five year deals. Gordon's deal is said to be worth $55 million over five seasons. Villanueva will get up to $40 million over five seasons. Deals cannot be made official until July 8. The duo certainly provides an offensive boost. Wins? Not likely."
Impact: Elfrink goes on to discuss Gordon's defensive deficiencies and poor decision-making, and he also notes the fact that Villanueva has failed to start half his games in the NBA despite playing for awful teams that have never made the playoffs and gone a combined 95-213. While these two guys were seen as two of the top free agents in this year's class and should continue to be fine fantasy commodities given their offensive skills, especially from behind the three-point line, their addition could signal the end to both Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace's tenures on Motown. The Pistons have been an Eastern Conference powerhouse the past near-decade and won their title in 2004 off of gritty defense and unselfish offensive play; Gordon and Villanueva provide pretty much the exact opposite of those to attributes, making Dumars' decision seem very questionable.
WarriorsCourt.com: Draft over: What next?
Warriors correspondent Austin Brown discusses the Amare Stoudemire rumors that have been rampant by the bridge.
"As for Amare Stoudemire, I think it would be a shame to let go of too much to get him. Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright, Marco Belinelli, Kelenna Azubuike and Stephen Curry qualifies as too much. I'd rather save the trade pieces for a younger player with less of an injury history. Stoudemire's health problems include microfracture surgery on his left knee in 2005-06 and eye surgery for a detached retina last season, which will force him to wear goggles for the foreseeable future. 26 years old is by no means over the hill but for a big man with his track record, who came straight out of high school, he seems more like 30."
Impact: The Warriors and Suns were apparently fully prepared to agree upon a deal that would have sent Amare to the Warriors in exchange for a package including the seventh pick, Biedrins and possibly one or two other players, but Golden State nixed the offer once Curry, whom they are apparently in love with, dropped down to No. 7. While the deal appears much more unlikely to happen now, a move to Don Nelson's offensive system could have been gold for Amare and have allowed him to put up numbers similar to those that he was posting when Mike D'Antoni was in Phoenix.
ClippersChat.com: Path to Greatness
Clippers correspondent Ron Reyes lists what the Clippers have to do to become competitive.
"Now that the 2009 NBA Draft is done and Free Agency has begun let's take a look at what the Clippers will need to do to be a playoff contender (quit talking ring yet because you have to "make" the playoffs first... baby steps): Get some MOJO - teams following terrible seasons who drafted #1 got players that instantly turned their team into contenders: the Spurs with Duncan, the Cavs with Lebron, and the Magic with Howard. The Clippers drafted that kind of player! Blake Griffin is a special talent who works hard, is a leader and will be good in the locker room."
Impact: Reyes goes on to list several other factors that could make the Clippers a possible playoff contender in the future, such as gaining an identity, winning at home and believing in themselves, but acquiring that "mojo" that Reyes speaks of is a good point. The Clippers already took a nice step in that direction by dealing their offensively-gifted but defensively-sluggish and poor-mannered big man in Zach Randolph yesterday to the Grizzlies in exchange for Quentin Richardson and his expiring contract. The loss of Randolph opens up the starting power forward spot for Griffin, and while it may be a process spanning several seasons, it certainly looks like the Clippers are headed in the right direction with such a positive potential young superstar leading the charge.
