☆☆ 2012 NBA Finals ☆☆ The King has been crowned; Heat win 2012 NBA Finals! Bron Finals MVP.

Originally Posted by bhzmafia14

Originally Posted by University of Nike

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Champions at home. Lottery bound on the road. 
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DipsetGeneral, yea in Memphis

Oh alright, now I see why you die hard for the Grizz now.
 
Otis Smith said the Magic won't extend Ryan Anderson... let the sweeptakes begin.
 
Broussard's new piece.

Spoiler [+]
The March 15 trade deadline is more than six weeks away, but that doesn't mean we can't have a little fun with trade "projections." We use that word lightly, since these following scenarios are not deals in the works or rumors we've heard. They're just moves we think make sense, moves that could help both teams, moves that GMs can feel free to borrow if they are so inclined. And all of them work financially.



So let's start big, as in big enough to rock the landscape of the entire league. Big enough to put lots of fear in all three early NBA Finals favorites -- the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder.



1. Los Angeles Clippers trade Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan to the Orlando Magic for Dwight Howard and Ryan Anderson


Yes, I went there. I hate to break up the Clippers, a team I have predicted will win the Western Conference. But Howard is the greatest big man in the league by a mile, and the chance to pair him with Chris Paul, arguably the league's best pure point guard, is just too good to pass up.




Giving up both Griffin and Jordan for Howard alone is too much, but throwing Anderson into the deal makes it something I believe is fair for both sides.



There is one caveat to this trade: Jordan has to give his consent. Because the Clippers matched the offer sheet the Golden State Warriors gave Jordan, the 7-foot center has the right to reject any trade for one year from his signing date, which was in mid-December. Though I imagine Jordan would consent, since he then would be aware the Clippers are looking to move him, there is the risk he would decline. If that happened, the Clippers' chemistry could be destroyed, as both Jordan and Griffin could be upset, and this season could go down the drain.



Nonetheless, this deal would work for both clubs. First, for the Clippers: While it would be hard to part with Griffin, not only for his 22 points and 11 rebounds but also for the exciting brand of play that has made him must-see TV, there is little doubt the Clippers would improve by getting Howard. For all his excellence, Griffin still does not have a go-to move; he may be even more raw than Howard, who has developed a nice running hook shot. Howard is a better rebounder and the best defender in the league, so while losing Griffin and Jordan would hurt, the Clippers would improve in two of their weakest areas (defense and rebounding).



Actually, make that three areas -- their foul-shooting would improve, too. While Howard is a poor free-throw shooter, Anderson is one of the best in the league at 91 percent. Adding Anderson, whose seven rebounds per game matches Jordan's output, would give the Clippers a 3-point shooter to stretch the floor for Howard's paint touches and Paul's drives.



While I'm one of the few who have picked the Clippers to reach the Finals this season, I'm sure many, if not most, observers would have them Finals-bound if they make this move. And just as important, Los Angeles finally would be theirs (at least for the next five seasons). No question about it.



And if you're Orlando, it doesn't get any better than this. Chances are you're losing Dwight anyway, and this is about as close to equal value as it gets. This is better than getting Andrew Bynum, even better than getting Bynum and Pau Gasol, due to the latter's age. It's better than Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler, better than Brook Lopez and a host of draft picks. The Magic would remain a playoff team and still be among the league's most exciting draws. Magic fans would forget about Howard faster than a speeding bullet.



2. New York Knicks trade Carmelo Anthony to the New Jersey Nets for Deron Williams


Yes, I went there, too. The only thing keeping Williams sane in New Jersey is the belief that Howard soon will fly in with his cape and instantly transform the Nets from chumps to potential champs. But if Howard goes elsewhere (see above), Williams will begin looking around, as he should.



Williams has come to love living in New York City (who can blame him after all those years in Utah?), and the Knicks are one of the three teams he would most like to play for outside of the Nets (the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers are the others).



[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Anthony is not an ideal fit for coach Mike D'Antoni's offense.

While we love Anthony's scoring ability, there's no question that he is not helping the Knicks. Stoudemire has become a $100 million traffic cone next to Anthony, and the Knicks' offense looks like something straight out of Rucker Park. Anthony fits Mike D'Antoni's offense about as well as Shannon Sharpe's blazers, and unless Baron Davis turns back the clock five years, the Knicks will be fortunate to make the playoffs this season.



But with Williams at the controls, Stoudemire will feel like he's playing with Steve Nash again. And Tyson Chandler will be better served as well, what with the easy baskets Williams will get him. Suddenly, the Knicks will be the third-best team in the East, with improvement on the horizon.



The Nets would not become a contender with Anthony, but they would have the star, a Brooklyn-born one at that, to lead them into their new digs. While his ability to win big may be up for debate, there is no question that Anthony puts on a show. He'll give the Brooklyn fans 27 points a night and provide the best one-man fireworks the city has seen since Bernard King.



Beyond that, the Nets still will have the cap room and draft picks to build around Melo. That's what Melo needs -- a team built around him, a la the Denver Nuggets in 2009. Denver was a legit contender with Anthony, so the Nets could follow that blueprint -- hard, tough-nosed defenders and rebounders who don't care about offense (Nene, Kenyon Martin, Chris Andersen), plus shooters (J.R. Smith, Linas Kleiza) and a true point guard (Chauncey Billups). No, it's not the instant contender the Nets are dreaming about with Williams and Howard, but it beats losing Williams for nada this summer.



3. Lakers trade Pau Gasol and Darius Morris to the Houston Rockets for Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry


Without Gasol, the Lakers don't win their last two championships, period. But time moves on -- and so do players, even stars. The Lakers need a shake-up and with Howard (at least in the above scenario) going to the next-door neighbor Clippers, the Lakers can't rely on Superman bailing them out. So I suggest moving Gasol to the team that nearly had him in December, the Rockets.



Houston is dying to add a star, any star, and it will pay handsomely for one. In Houston, Gasol can return to the post (Mike Brown has him playing on the perimeter in L.A.), where he could give the Rockets a nice inside-outside punch with Kevin Martin. Morris could battle Jonny Flynn for backup minutes behind Goran Dragic.



As for the Lakers, this is just what the doctor ordered. While it doesn't make them the Western Conference favorites, it certainly gives them a significant and much-needed upgrade at point guard. One of the Lakers' biggest problems is their inabilty to contain quick point guards. Well, Lowry is a tough, gritty and quick point who has improved dramatically as an offensive player. The Lakers' already stout defense would improve in an instant, and Lowry also would add to the offense as another playmaker and creator.



And with Scola, the Lakers wouldn't lose one of their strengths -- their size. Bynum and Gasol are the best center-PF combo in the game, but Bynum and Scola wouldn't be much of a drop-off.



4. Memphis Grizzlies trade O.J. Mayo to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Daniel Gibson and Omri Casspi


Mayo is playing well off the bench for the Grizzlies, but the club essentially has been trying to move him for nearly two years. With his qualifying offer for next season at a hefty $7.4 million, Memphis isn't sure what it wants to do with him. Making this trade would save them a headache. Gibson gives them the 3-point shooting Mayo has provided, and then some -- Mayo is a career 38 percent shooter from behind the arc, while Gibson has shot 42 percent. He also is poised, playoff-tested and cheaper than Mayo. Casspi is young, long and fairly athletic. He'd add to their depth off the bench.



While Mayo has been a good soldier as a sixth man, his competitive juices have to be telling him he's a starter. Remember, he averaged 18 points per game during his first two seasons. Cleveland is set at the point guard position for years to come with Kyrie Irving, and putting a shooter like Mayo beside him would give the Cavs a strong backcourt for the foreseeable future. They'd be set at the guard spots and free to concentrate on improving their front line.



5. Detroit Pistons trade Tayshaun Prince to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Michael Beasley


Detroit is horrible and needs a major overhaul. They signed Prince to keep an asset, and turning him into the talented Beasley could end up being a coup. I know Beasley has his issues, but he's also got game, and with the way things are going in Detroit, it's worth the risk.



By adding Beasley, the Pistons would have a young nucleus of Brandon Knight, Ben Gordon, Beasley and the impressive Greg Monroe. It's not championship-caliber, but it has a chance of being better than what they have now. Joe Dumars once helped rejuvenate the careers of Billups and Ben Wallace. Maybe he can get through to Beasley, who after two trades would perhaps be a bit humbled.



For Minnesota, it clears out its congested small forward spot and gives Derrick Williams room to grow. The Timberwolves need to find out whether Williams can play the 3 full-time, and what better way than to move Beasley out of the way. In case you haven't noticed, Minny has done quite well without Beasley in the lineup, going 5-4 in the first nine games he missed due to injury.
 
Originally Posted by Proshares

Broussard's new piece.

Spoiler [+]
The March 15 trade deadline is more than six weeks away, but that doesn't mean we can't have a little fun with trade "projections." We use that word lightly, since these following scenarios are not deals in the works or rumors we've heard. They're just moves we think make sense, moves that could help both teams, moves that GMs can feel free to borrow if they are so inclined. And all of them work financially.



So let's start big, as in big enough to rock the landscape of the entire league. Big enough to put lots of fear in all three early NBA Finals favorites -- the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder.



1. Los Angeles Clippers trade Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan to the Orlando Magic for Dwight Howard and Ryan Anderson


Yes, I went there. I hate to break up the Clippers, a team I have predicted will win the Western Conference. But Howard is the greatest big man in the league by a mile, and the chance to pair him with Chris Paul, arguably the league's best pure point guard, is just too good to pass up.




Giving up both Griffin and Jordan for Howard alone is too much, but throwing Anderson into the deal makes it something I believe is fair for both sides.



There is one caveat to this trade: Jordan has to give his consent. Because the Clippers matched the offer sheet the Golden State Warriors gave Jordan, the 7-foot center has the right to reject any trade for one year from his signing date, which was in mid-December. Though I imagine Jordan would consent, since he then would be aware the Clippers are looking to move him, there is the risk he would decline. If that happened, the Clippers' chemistry could be destroyed, as both Jordan and Griffin could be upset, and this season could go down the drain.



Nonetheless, this deal would work for both clubs. First, for the Clippers: While it would be hard to part with Griffin, not only for his 22 points and 11 rebounds but also for the exciting brand of play that has made him must-see TV, there is little doubt the Clippers would improve by getting Howard. For all his excellence, Griffin still does not have a go-to move; he may be even more raw than Howard, who has developed a nice running hook shot. Howard is a better rebounder and the best defender in the league, so while losing Griffin and Jordan would hurt, the Clippers would improve in two of their weakest areas (defense and rebounding).



Actually, make that three areas -- their foul-shooting would improve, too. While Howard is a poor free-throw shooter, Anderson is one of the best in the league at 91 percent. Adding Anderson, whose seven rebounds per game matches Jordan's output, would give the Clippers a 3-point shooter to stretch the floor for Howard's paint touches and Paul's drives.



While I'm one of the few who have picked the Clippers to reach the Finals this season, I'm sure many, if not most, observers would have them Finals-bound if they make this move. And just as important, Los Angeles finally would be theirs (at least for the next five seasons). No question about it.



And if you're Orlando, it doesn't get any better than this. Chances are you're losing Dwight anyway, and this is about as close to equal value as it gets. This is better than getting Andrew Bynum, even better than getting Bynum and Pau Gasol, due to the latter's age. It's better than Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler, better than Brook Lopez and a host of draft picks. The Magic would remain a playoff team and still be among the league's most exciting draws. Magic fans would forget about Howard faster than a speeding bullet.



2. New York Knicks trade Carmelo Anthony to the New Jersey Nets for Deron Williams


Yes, I went there, too. The only thing keeping Williams sane in New Jersey is the belief that Howard soon will fly in with his cape and instantly transform the Nets from chumps to potential champs. But if Howard goes elsewhere (see above), Williams will begin looking around, as he should.



Williams has come to love living in New York City (who can blame him after all those years in Utah?), and the Knicks are one of the three teams he would most like to play for outside of the Nets (the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers are the others).



[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Anthony is not an ideal fit for coach Mike D'Antoni's offense.

While we love Anthony's scoring ability, there's no question that he is not helping the Knicks. Stoudemire has become a $100 million traffic cone next to Anthony, and the Knicks' offense looks like something straight out of Rucker Park. Anthony fits Mike D'Antoni's offense about as well as Shannon Sharpe's blazers, and unless Baron Davis turns back the clock five years, the Knicks will be fortunate to make the playoffs this season.



But with Williams at the controls, Stoudemire will feel like he's playing with Steve Nash again. And Tyson Chandler will be better served as well, what with the easy baskets Williams will get him. Suddenly, the Knicks will be the third-best team in the East, with improvement on the horizon.



The Nets would not become a contender with Anthony, but they would have the star, a Brooklyn-born one at that, to lead them into their new digs. While his ability to win big may be up for debate, there is no question that Anthony puts on a show. He'll give the Brooklyn fans 27 points a night and provide the best one-man fireworks the city has seen since Bernard King.



Beyond that, the Nets still will have the cap room and draft picks to build around Melo. That's what Melo needs -- a team built around him, a la the Denver Nuggets in 2009. Denver was a legit contender with Anthony, so the Nets could follow that blueprint -- hard, tough-nosed defenders and rebounders who don't care about offense (Nene, Kenyon Martin, Chris Andersen), plus shooters (J.R. Smith, Linas Kleiza) and a true point guard (Chauncey Billups). No, it's not the instant contender the Nets are dreaming about with Williams and Howard, but it beats losing Williams for nada this summer.



3. Lakers trade Pau Gasol and Darius Morris to the Houston Rockets for Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry


Without Gasol, the Lakers don't win their last two championships, period. But time moves on -- and so do players, even stars. The Lakers need a shake-up and with Howard (at least in the above scenario) going to the next-door neighbor Clippers, the Lakers can't rely on Superman bailing them out. So I suggest moving Gasol to the team that nearly had him in December, the Rockets.



Houston is dying to add a star, any star, and it will pay handsomely for one. In Houston, Gasol can return to the post (Mike Brown has him playing on the perimeter in L.A.), where he could give the Rockets a nice inside-outside punch with Kevin Martin. Morris could battle Jonny Flynn for backup minutes behind Goran Dragic.



As for the Lakers, this is just what the doctor ordered. While it doesn't make them the Western Conference favorites, it certainly gives them a significant and much-needed upgrade at point guard. One of the Lakers' biggest problems is their inabilty to contain quick point guards. Well, Lowry is a tough, gritty and quick point who has improved dramatically as an offensive player. The Lakers' already stout defense would improve in an instant, and Lowry also would add to the offense as another playmaker and creator.



And with Scola, the Lakers wouldn't lose one of their strengths -- their size. Bynum and Gasol are the best center-PF combo in the game, but Bynum and Scola wouldn't be much of a drop-off.



4. Memphis Grizzlies trade O.J. Mayo to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Daniel Gibson and Omri Casspi


Mayo is playing well off the bench for the Grizzlies, but the club essentially has been trying to move him for nearly two years. With his qualifying offer for next season at a hefty $7.4 million, Memphis isn't sure what it wants to do with him. Making this trade would save them a headache. Gibson gives them the 3-point shooting Mayo has provided, and then some -- Mayo is a career 38 percent shooter from behind the arc, while Gibson has shot 42 percent. He also is poised, playoff-tested and cheaper than Mayo. Casspi is young, long and fairly athletic. He'd add to their depth off the bench.



While Mayo has been a good soldier as a sixth man, his competitive juices have to be telling him he's a starter. Remember, he averaged 18 points per game during his first two seasons. Cleveland is set at the point guard position for years to come with Kyrie Irving, and putting a shooter like Mayo beside him would give the Cavs a strong backcourt for the foreseeable future. They'd be set at the guard spots and free to concentrate on improving their front line.



5. Detroit Pistons trade Tayshaun Prince to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Michael Beasley


Detroit is horrible and needs a major overhaul. They signed Prince to keep an asset, and turning him into the talented Beasley could end up being a coup. I know Beasley has his issues, but he's also got game, and with the way things are going in Detroit, it's worth the risk.



By adding Beasley, the Pistons would have a young nucleus of Brandon Knight, Ben Gordon, Beasley and the impressive Greg Monroe. It's not championship-caliber, but it has a chance of being better than what they have now. Joe Dumars once helped rejuvenate the careers of Billups and Ben Wallace. Maybe he can get through to Beasley, who after two trades would perhaps be a bit humbled.



For Minnesota, it clears out its congested small forward spot and gives Derrick Williams room to grow. The Timberwolves need to find out whether Williams can play the 3 full-time, and what better way than to move Beasley out of the way. In case you haven't noticed, Minny has done quite well without Beasley in the lineup, going 5-4 in the first nine games he missed due to injury.

Lol, Stopped reading right there. He's a clown man.
 
slightly more than i thought rooster would get. nice payday

good deal for love especially option after 3
 
Not ecstatic about the opt-out after three years.... but we got him.
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kevin-love-opy2-71220.jpg
 
Looks like most of the lottery picks from the 2008 draft have been extended. One of the better drafts imo.
 
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Cleveland Return in LeBron's Future?

Sam Amico
FOXSportsOhio.com

Playing against the Cavaliers will always be special for Miami’s LeBron James, even if he ever tried to deny it. So far, he hasn’t done that — and that alone should really tell you something.

James just has too much history with his hometown franchise to treat Miami vs. Cleveland as just another game. That includes everything from his upbringing in nearby Akron to the Cavaliers selecting him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2003. You know the rest.

It was all sunshine and roses for both James and Cavs fans and now James is said to feel largely unwelcome in Cleveland — and disappointed because of it. Those close to him say its affected him greatly on occasion. Even boos in other cities bugged him last year, and still do.

Now, there is talk that James is less-than-thrilled with certain aspects of the Heat organization. Sources in Miami say that while James still thoroughly enjoys playing alongside fellow stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, he doesn’t particularly care for the heavy-handed and disciplined style of team president Pat Riley.

James can opt out of his contract at the end of the 2013-14 season, and speculation is he will strongly consider it if Riley remains in his current role. And the team James would be eyeballing most in free agency, say those close to the situation, would be the Cavs.

Of course, James has never indicated as much, and if he does feel that way, he is wise enough to not say a word. Anyone who saw the secretive manner in which he kept the Cavs guessing already knows that.

But if these sneaking suspicions are true, if James really does hope to make another free agent splash and return to Cleveland someday, he would have a lot of things to consider. First and foremost, of course, would be whether or not fans would be willing to welcome him back after so much time away.

For one, we’re only a few weeks into Kyrie Irving’s pro career, and it’s pretty clear the Cavs are likely to someday be his team, if they aren't already.

The Cavs also learned from some of the mistakes they made with James, and really admire their current batch of high-character guys. They plan to fill the roster with more within the next year or two, and in the words of one front-office official, “build things the right way.â€
 
Jesus. Who cares.
Dom put it best on Deadspin:

This is all an attempt to ascertain what might happen if something else happens more than two years from now. Which means Sam Amico has succeeded in giving us a report that's not unlike what Eddie from Euclid heard at that bar in The Flats from that guy who talked to a guy who overheard what LeBron's driver told the old lady bagging his groceries. Because, hey, you never know.
 
That article is nonsense. LeBron leaves Miami because of Pat's disciplinary style to go back to comic sans Dan?

I'd truly be shocked.
 
Originally Posted by gangsta207therevolution

Tyrus was putting up 12 and 7 in 25 minutes a game last year he idea isnt as outlandish as you think.

It's pretty outlandish.  Tyrus's game hasn't improved one bit since he left Chicago, and he's still dumb as a rock.  He loves those midrange jumpers way too much.  See the guy in my avatar?  Tyrus Thomas is going that route.
  
 
Originally Posted by JPZx

Not ecstatic about the opt-out after three years.... but we got him.
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3 years huh? 

Interesting. 


That idiot Brousard and his stupid trade ideas.  Blake Griffin traded, Melo to NJ, Kyle Lowry's young @#$ for Pau's old one. 
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How that dude have a job? 

  
 
Originally Posted by RyGuy45

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Cleveland Return in LeBron's Future?

Sam Amico
FOXSportsOhio.com

Playing against the Cavaliers will always be special for Miami’s LeBron James, even if he ever tried to deny it. So far, he hasn’t done that — and that alone should really tell you something.

James just has too much history with his hometown franchise to treat Miami vs. Cleveland as just another game. That includes everything from his upbringing in nearby Akron to the Cavaliers selecting him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2003. You know the rest.

It was all sunshine and roses for both James and Cavs fans and now James is said to feel largely unwelcome in Cleveland — and disappointed because of it. Those close to him say its affected him greatly on occasion. Even boos in other cities bugged him last year, and still do.

Now, there is talk that James is less-than-thrilled with certain aspects of the Heat organization. Sources in Miami say that while James still thoroughly enjoys playing alongside fellow stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, he doesn’t particularly care for the heavy-handed and disciplined style of team president Pat Riley.

James can opt out of his contract at the end of the 2013-14 season, and speculation is he will strongly consider it if Riley remains in his current role. And the team James would be eyeballing most in free agency, say those close to the situation, would be the Cavs.

Of course, James has never indicated as much, and if he does feel that way, he is wise enough to not say a word. Anyone who saw the secretive manner in which he kept the Cavs guessing already knows that.

But if these sneaking suspicions are true, if James really does hope to make another free agent splash and return to Cleveland someday, he would have a lot of things to consider. First and foremost, of course, would be whether or not fans would be willing to welcome him back after so much time away.

For one, we’re only a few weeks into Kyrie Irving’s pro career, and it’s pretty clear the Cavs are likely to someday be his team, if they aren't already.

The Cavs also learned from some of the mistakes they made with James, and really admire their current batch of high-character guys. They plan to fill the roster with more within the next year or two, and in the words of one front-office official, “build things the right way.â€
 
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