...

A source at the 49ers told my colleague John Crumpacker that they might be interested in signing former Rams' receiver Torry Holt, who was released Friday. A certain St. Louis receiver worked out well for them last year - Isaac Bruce became the first wide receiver to lead the team in catches since 2005, breaking the two-year hold of running back Frank Gore.

But if Holt signs, does that mean Bruce will retire? And can Holt be as good as Bruce was last year?

Holt and Bruce are friends, but those who know the Rams said Bruce wasn't thrilled when Holt surpassed him as the Rams' top option. Having them both could provide the team with a bewiskered yet potent corps. Take Holt and Bruce and pair them with promising youngsters Josh Morgan and Jason Hill, toss in Arnaz Battle and the freshly-signed Brandon Jones, and the 49ers might even have a group a defensive coordinator would have to think about.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ninerinsider/detail?&entry_id=36991

Let it be known that I was kidding with that last post...

I guess the Niners would get better with that singing? Might as well get a real WR I suppose.

NFL: Torry Holt Released

NEW YORK, March 13 (Reuters) - Seven-times Pro Bowl wide
receiver Torry Holt was cut on Friday after 10 seasons with the
St Louis Rams as the team continued to reshape its roster after
a miserable 2-14 season.
The Rams, whose offense ranked 27th in the 32-team league,
released tackle Orlando Pace on Tuesday and cut tight end
Anthony Becht on Thursday to open the way for younger players.
Holt, a first-round draft pick in 1999 and the sixth choice
overall, helped St Louis win the Super Bowl against Tennessee in
his rookie season and two years later played in the NFL
championship against New England.
"The Rams will forever be grateful for the way Torry Holt
represented the Rams on the field and in the community," owner
Chip Rosenbloom told the team's website (www.stlouisrams.com).
"Over the past 10 seasons Torry has proven himself to be one
of the finest wide receivers in league history."
The release of Holt, 32, saves the Rams about $8 million in
salary cap space for 2009.
Since 2000 Holt has had 817 receptions for 11,872 yards, the
best totals of any wide receiver in the league. In 158 career
games he has averaged 80.1 yards per contest, the most by any
player in the NFL.
However, last season Holt caught 64 passes for 796 yards,
his lowest totals since his rookie season.
"In Rams history this is a sad day," general manager Billy
Devaney said.

The Niners should sign him to get Holt/Bruce re-united for a 2 year retirement tour.

Kawakami: Mullin Out as GM

Tim Kawakami recently reported that Mullin is all but guaranteed to leave GS after this season due to differences with Rowell. here are my thoughts on the situation, and a summary of Mullin's best and worst moves.

Disclaimer: Tim Kawakami is the most unreliable Warriors beat writer for the past 2 seasons. Janny Hu is probably the most reliable out of the bunch.

This is retarded, especially if Larry Riley (the architect of those amazing Milwaukee teams 3 years back) gets to the GM position which he probably will because Rowell has a hard on for him. Mullin hasn't been able to do anything this year because Rowell basically told him to take the season off.

Anyways, I'll always regard Mullin as one of the best people in the NBA at getting a trade done.

Here's what he came into the organization with: Speedy Claxton, Jason Richardson, Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, and . That team is terrible in every way shape and form. Our bench had such studs as Calbert Cheaney (after he was done being serviceable) and Nikoloz Tskitishishivle (hell ya we had him!). Our biggest trade before Mullin was dumping Jamison's salary for Nick Van Exel and fillers.

Oh and our illustrious coach list included guys like Brian Winters and Dave Cowens, who once told Mookie Blaylock "take your sorry ass off the court and go home" during a game.

Rundown of good things Mullin did:
Baron Davis for Speedy/Dale Davis (NO spokesman: "Baron is damaged goods")
Dunleavy/Murphy for SJax/Harrington/Sarunas (has anyone looked at Dun/Murph's contracts? They're known as Mullin's first and second mistakes as a GM)
Signing Matt Barnes.
Don Nelson.
Andris Biedrins.
Monta Ellis.
ANTHONY RANDOLPH.
Built our first playoff team in forever literally from scratch (only holdover from the pre Mullin years was J-Rich, and he was only there because Mullin extended him)

Retarded things Mullin did:
Foyle.
Murphy.
Dunleavy.
Fisher. (salary dumped later)

It's important to note that Corey Maggette was basically a ROwell signing and Turiaf was a Mullin signing.

I'll miss him. It was good to have someone who knew wtf was going on. If you want a good laugh, check out our former GMs moves (Garry St. Jean).

NBA Draft 2009

In nbadraft.net's latest NBA Mock Draft there are a couple things that I would like to point out. Firstly, after watching Hasheem Thabeet play it has become painfully obvious that he will never be skilled as an offensive player. What's sad is, the more I watch him, the more I believe that his only talents are being tall and having good timing.

Blake Griffin is obviously the #1 pick. Jordan Hill should be dropped down to the 7-11 range and they obviously know nothing about the Warriors if they have us drafting an under-sized SG. Might as well take Stephen Curry to experiment at PG if Jennings doesn't fall and Rubio doesn't declare.

The Reasons I Watch Warriors Games

After Don Nelson all but admitted that the team was going into full tank mode there has been little itnerest in watching them play. I still watch every game, but why? It's because of the younger players like Marco Bellineli, Brandan Wright (who is finally back), and Anthony Randolph. Most notably AR though. His intensity is unique for a player of his skillset and the only thing that can really hold him back is himself. We could literally be seeing history in the making. So here's to you Anthony Randolph. Don't fail our franchise like our past 20 saviors have.

In Nelson's Defense

There's Don Nelson dressed up in his k-mart quality Warriors polo and $50 sports coat. You'd hardly know that he's one of the most winningest coaches in NBA history and has been renowned for his creativity. He has also been a lightning rod for controversy this season. From his stubbornness to move away from small ball, to his decision to bench his start players randomly, to his refusal to play Marcus Williams, and even to his handling of Randolph's PT early in the season.

I'd just like to quickly respond to a comment made by a friend about Don Nelson benching his stars. Here's the quote:

you really think that GSW doesn't have the talent to make it? you've got a lot of solid individual pieces and a lot of potential. do you really think another draft pick, especially in a weaker draft class, is going to be the answer?

c'mon. how bout we just start coaching the team, promoting some defense, and utilize the pieces effectively, instead of just throwing them on the court (or the bench) and letting them do whatever the heck they want?

And here's my response:

Because you can't solve a puzzle when none of the pieces fit. Contrary to what many people say or think, our playoff team had a strong defense. By this I mean that we created a ton of turnovers. We had a stopper in SJax, a strong defender at PG, an athletic defender at SG, and versatile big men. Right now we have none of that (SJax doesn't try too hard on D anymore).

Crawford has no idea how to play within a system and doesn't play D. He's a horrible piece for this team as evidenced by how little he has helped our team with Monta sidelined. Speaking of Monta, with him we're a good team and without him we blow. He wasn't ready to come back and is now sidelined again, which means we suck again. Why go all out for the win when you're going to lose anyway and the young guys need PT?

Not to mention we've been plagued with injuries. I don't see the harm in planning for next year already.

The Warriors Won.

I have no idea how, but the Warriors pulled out a win over the Nets tonight, 116-112. In traditional Warriors fashion, I have no idea how they pulled this one out. I guess Monta had a good game until you see his five turnovers and since I didn't see the game I can't really comment on how Randolph did. I'm going out on a limb and assuming that he played like a cross between a rabid dog and an anger management patient who happens to play basketball; in other words, how he usually plays.

Bill Simmons actually mentioned Randolph at the beginning of his new article about the Clippers. I'm excited to see what he has to say about him in his next article as he said he would elaborate more later. Randolph brings a definite intensity that we haven't seen since the days of Rodman or Lambier and while he may come off as a jerk when you play against him, you love to have someone like that on your team.

One more note about the game, Corey Maggette scored 18 on 1/4 shooting. What the hell?

PLEASE DRAFT ME

Tyreke Evans is the best player that might slip out the lottery. Why is he so much better than Stephen Curry, Jeff Teague, and all of the other tweener PG/SGs who have to play the 1 at the next level? Because he doesn't have to play the 1!

What's better is that he is a very good/underrated passer for a 2 guard and can get into the lane at will. He can put up points in a hurry from anywhere on the court, is freakishly athletic, and has all the intangibles you look for in an NBA player. He may be the most NBA ready 2 guard in this draft (yes DeMar, you need some time to develop...think 3 years time) so what's the downside?

Well he plays kinda like a retard. Ever since his AAU days he has been known for jacking up random shots from every spot on the court. He has also been ridiculed for his selfish play quite often.

Here's a normal Tyreke fast break. Tyreke steals the ball and breaks down the court with two teammates. There's one defender and I guess Tyreke is thinking "whatever, my teammates blow anyway, IM GOING FOR IT" so he takes it to the hole and misses it or makes it. Always a toss up.

The big thing about these flaws is that he can be taught to change them quite easily. All he needs is time and some good coaching. Like the kind of coaching at Memphis that focuses on unselfish play?

Who Is: Jeff Green

The Thunder are known around the league as Kevin Durant's team, and for good reason. Durant has been putting up an impressive stat line with very few flaws in his overall game. After his switch to the 3, he has exploded onto the NBA scene in a major way. However, many people have forgotten the other half of this team's original foundation. You know, the guy they traded Ray Allen for.

His name's Jeff Green and he has been putting up great numbers all season with very few people noticing, myself included. He's putting up 17-7 with a steal, good percents, and 1.4 treys a game. With all the Durant hype it didn't even cross my mind to see how Green was developing. Seems like he is developing into quite a competent NBA player and worthy of being a major part of the Seattle SuperThunder core.

Out of all the crappy teams in the NBA, the Thunder are the only one rebuilding the right way. They have a very strong nucleus of very promising young players, and they're tanking this season to get another high draft pick. Better pray for the number 1 pick to select Blake Griffin or pray that another player pans out, because this is one of the worst drafts in recent memory.

Who Is: Anthony Randolph?

Wanted to do a quick rundown of my favorite Warrior player. Ever since Monta revealed how bad Mississippi schooling really was (50th in the US if you were wondering) by ruining his career with a moped I've been on a search for a new favorite Warrior. SJax thinks he's the franchise yet routinely has 7 turnover games, Jamal Crawford can't play D, and Corey Maggette is...well, Corey Maggette. I was thinking of making Brandan Wright my new favorite player, but he plays like a scared girl. Apparently this isn't a good trait when your role is as the team's "enforcer," not to mention he's injury prone.

This all led me to Anthony Randolph. A man that plays with so much passion and intensity that it reminds me of a blacked out KG. This is a good and a bad thing.

KG is an amazing player and an amazing talent but he has a habit of totally blacking out with intensity during games lately, and AR seems to do the same. If he can control this intesnity, AR could be one of the best players in the NBA. To further the KG comparison, KG had a ton of flaws his rookie season. Many GMs said he would never make it and noted that his jumpshot was too flat. What did KG do? Put on weight and added arc/range to his jumper. What does AR need to do? Add weight and range to his jumper. If he puts in serious offseason time, AR could be a starter next season. The whole is he a 4 or a 3 deabte is ridiculous at this point. He's a 4 who wishes he was a 3. Kinda like a rookie season Lamar Odom.

Celtics Sign Marbury

Controversial Knicks PG Stephon Marbury was finally bought out by New York and subsequently signed with a title contender in Boston. He was supposed to be the strong and versatile backup PG that the team sorely needed, but in his first game this season he looked rusty, slow, and out of shape. Will Bynum burnt him several times in the open court and it often looked like Marbury was lost in the offense.

He could turn out to be an integral piece to this team, but for the forseeable future he is as much a detriment as he is a help.

Nelson to Bench Stars?

Don Nelson has publicly announced that he will randomly bench his star players to give his younger players more playing time. This is a common method in the NBA known as "tanking" to get a higher draft pick. However, usually coaches do not announce that they are doing it. This is why Nelson is receiving so much flack for his decision after this article was published.

My thoughts on the situation are that I think we should just stay in the 8-10 lottery pick range and draft Brandon Jennings. We need a true PG, and he's as true as they come.

As for the team, this also has a little to do with us trying to influence Craw to opt out. He really doesn't fit on our team and he has a player option for 9 mill next season.

NFL: Redskins Free Agency

This past weekend the Washington Redskins made a couple free agency additions. They added one of the best defensive players in the NFL in Albert Haynesworth and DeAngelo Hall for the sum of $156 million. Hall was released midseason by the Raiders...who had signed him to a long term deal a couple months earlier. As for Haynesworth, he now has one of the alrgest contracts in the NFL, larger than most QBs. This is all retarded. Remember when the Redskins did this with Randle El and that wave of FAs? They signed them to stupid high contracts and went into a "now or bust" mode, which failed. They were then in a fat cap crisis 3 years later.

I'm assuming history will repeat itself.

Trade Deadline

That ended up being one of the most boring trade deadlines in recent history. A handful of money saving moves and an average PG highlighted the day. I suppose the Bulls had the best day from a pure value standpoint. Nocioni isn't a great player and he tends to be absent minded when on the court. The Bulls could have gotten just Salmons for him and it would have been a good trade but the Kings want less money on their roster, so they shipped him and Miller out for Nocioni (whose contract, ironically, runs longer than the players the Kings traded at about $6.5 mill a year) and a pile of wasted talent.

Not sure what the Kings are doing with their petty money saving moves (traded a 2nd rounder for cash and the right to buy out Sam Cassell a few days back) since they aren't actually trading away their worst contract. If you want to rebuild, then you need to get your worst contract off the books, and that would be Beno Udrih. He's taken a step back in development and honestly I'm not sure what the Kings expected of him. Hopefully not improvement from last year because he's really not that talented, but he has sadly gotten worse.

Thankfully the Warriors didn't make a trade as it probably would have involved the ultra talented Anthony Randolph.

Lamar Odom: How Not to Play Basketball

Lamar Odom may best be known as the (now) starting PF of the Los Angeles Lakers. Few people know that he has a tendency to make mistakes that 12 year olds are prone to. He got himself traded for Shaq though, so I guess he did something right. Here are a couple videos showcasing the basketball IQ of Lamar Odom.

Cause Everyone Dreams...

Have you ever found yourself asking "what if my team hadn't let _____ go? ", or more specifically, "what if my team didn't trade Robert Parrish/Kevin McHale for JB Carroll, traded Wilt for Connie Dierking, and Vince Carter for Antawn Jamison? Would we not have missed the playoffs for so damn long?" OK, I guess that only applies to Warriors fans but you get the picture.

To get off of my Warriors centered tendencies I've chosen to profile a couple of moves that could have changed the Memphis/Vancouver franchise forever (or at least gotten them a playoff victory).

To give you a capsule of their futility, here's their team record history: http://www.nbauniverse.com/teams/records_memphis_grizzlies.htm

1) Pau Gasol and a 2nd round pick traded for Javaris Crittenton, Kwame Brown, Marc Gasol, Aaron McKie, 2 1st round picks

The most hilarious arguments I hear are from people trying to say this ended up being a good or at least helpful trade for the Grizzlies. Usually these arguments come from Laker homers, but here's what they usually sound like (and why their claims aren't true):

Kwame Brown gave Memphis SO MUCH CAP ROOM!!! - No, it actually didn't. It allowed them to barely gamble on Josh Smith this offseason with a comical offer.

Javaris Crittenton haz a lot of TALENTZ!!! Plus they got a 1st rounder for him! - Javaris Crittenton can't shoot and never had a ton of potential outside of being a tall PG who can pass. He ended up being traded for a first rounder...that the Grizzlies originally traded for the one year rental of Juan Carlos Navarro. So Crittenton in the original deal ended up being the Grizzlies own draft pick. Niiiice.

Then the rest of the argument is basically that Marc Gasol is known as the better Gasol in Europe (I think the correct translation is "bigger" Gasol, not better Gasol) along with a couple trivial things. The biggest head scratcher that I hear about this deal is that the Grizzlies would not have the team they have if they didn't trade Gasol. Which is plain stupid.

Gasol missed half a season with the Grizzlies, he could have played about 20 games that season and then sat out the rest of the year with some BS injury. The Grizzlies would get a high draft pick (OJ Mayo in the Kevin Love trade) and Gasol. So instead of Gay and Mayo they get Gay, Mayo, and Gasol. Fail.

This post will be finished later when people start caring about the Grizzlies...

The Contract Year

Every year random players play out of their minds in hopes of a lucrative contract at season's end. The contract year allows mediocre players to sign long term deals after one good season. GMs are too stupid to realize that these players are only playing for a payday, so phenoms like Erick Dampier end up with huge multi year deals.

It is the intrigue of these players' one year dominance that persuades GMs to shell out millions. And thankfully, there will always be someone stupid enough to do it (Mark Cuban with Erick Dampier) and do it again (Mark Cuban with DeSagna Diop)! So why give perennially average players 10 mill/year deals when their contract runs out? Because it gives GMs a chance to exercise every facet of their profession. From signing the player, to putting the player on the trade block, to trying to buy him out. Hey, I just described Steve Francis' career 3 times over!

A couple intriguing free agents this year are Shawn Marion and Carlos Boozer. Not because they are playing out of their minds for a payday, but because they are on the injured list, playing xbox and eating cheetos while hyping up their trade value. Together they have missed 44 games, which is apparently the best time to skip town and ask for a raise. Marion is suffering from a deadly strained groin from those long nights of hentai and rockstar energy drinks while Carlos Boozer tore his knee up probably because it was weakened from not moving while he played Halo 3 for a week straight.

Anyways, here's my (brief) analysis:

Shawn "Winning is Overrated" Marion

Shawn Marion is as dumb as they get. He was in the best running system since the Run-TMC days and he left because he wanted half a season off. Now he wants out again and I know why. The Heat have been led by a resurgence of Dwyane Wade; resurgence probably isn't the right word because he's playing better than ever. They have a couple rookies with a ton of potential and need a small handful of pieces before they are widely cosidered as a top 5 Eastern Conference team. Therein lies the problem.

Why would you be on a winning team if you're only allowed to take 10 shots a game? You can barely get into double digits in ppg with 10 shots a game. 12 ppg isn't sexy enough for the ladies, and Shawn Marion is all about the ladies. Marion knows that chicks dig the 3 point shot because they want him to go deep, they need him to go deep. He has made 7 threes all season and is shooting under 20% from 3 point range.

Picture this. Shawn Marion and Daequan Cook walk into a club. Shawn Marion takes a couple body shots, maybe a few jager bombs, he is the man. Daequan Cook just chills in the corner like the Ohio State drop out he is and is struglling to get down some fruity mixed drink. The night goes on and Shawn decides he wants to take a couple of girls and try for the 3 point play. Him and Daequan approach some females. Shawn is the man. They're totally into him. Then Daequan drops the bomb: "I shoot 6 threes a game and Shawn's made 7 all season lolz", Shawn is angry. He thinks about pulling a reverse Plaxico by putting his gun into Daequan's sweats and leaving the safety off. He is no longer the man.

At this point Eddy Curry might as well approach Shawn to be his new houseboy. It's that bad.

In summary: 1) Shawn Marion is the man. 2) Shawn Marion goes deep. Whether you like it or not. 3) Shawn Marion does not like winning.

So where will he end up when his contract is over? Somewhere like Memphis where he can get a fat payday from a dumb GM so he can sit out a couple weeks at a time to finish his story mode on Fable 2.

As for Carlos Boozer...

Carlos Boozer

Carlos Boozer has it all. He has a Hispaic first name, a cool last name, and several awkward white guys to make fun of on his team. So why does he want to leave? Technically, he doesn't, he just wants a raise. Which is great because I had no idea that sitting out more than half a season equated to a raise.

There are several people you should never trust in your lifetime. The devil, that guy who tells you heroine isn't addictive, the girl who says her STD isn't contagious, and Carlos Boozer.

Boozer is a terrible player to deal with when it comes to contracts. He's like that girl you ask out on a date but she says she's going to be doing homework all night. Then you see her making out with your best friend at some frat party (aside: **** you. you know who you are). He did the Cavs dirty by ditching them after verbally committing to a contract. So what does he expect in a contract?

Let's see, he doesn't play great defense, he's proven to be somewhat injury prone, he doesn't block shots, and he's a below average free throw shooter. Which means he's shooting for the max. Shoot for the moon Carlos because if you miss, you're still up there with those stars. Or in his case if he misses, he'll probably re-sign for the exact same deal with more incentives.

To summarize everything: Carlos Boozer + Shawn Marion = studs

Power Rankings 1-27-2009

The NBA is a league dominated by superstars. This is best seen in the top of the Eastern Conference through the struggles and triumphs of Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, and LeBron James. These teams can only go so far as these players carry them, which is intensified when they play each other. The Celtics thrashed the Magic because Dwight Howard pulled his best Chris Webber "stone hands in the clutch" impersonation and the Cavs seem to be almost completely dependant on LeBron's performances.

More interestingly is that despite two major injuries to big minute players, the Cavs find themselves on a 4 game win streak in dramatic fashion (last second wins at Golden State and Portland). As good as the Cavs have been, it seems like they will always be a step behind the Lakers, who are number 1 in my rankings.

1) Los Angeles Lakers
I hate the Lakers and even I can't deny that they are currently the class of the NBA. Kobe's stats are down this season because he's been a much better team player, more tenacious on defense, and a deadly closer down the stretch. It is remarkable that one of the NBA's best players does not completely dictate the outcome of his team. The lakers are still greatly dependant on him but if Kobe is having an off game, Pau and Bynum step up which allows Kobe to rest up for his closer role. Their depth is amazing and barring a team collapse from the inside I don't see the Lakers faltering any time soon.

2) Cleveland Cavaliers
This ranking should really read "2) LeBron" because he has single hadnedly kept the injury marred Cavs afloat. He helped slay a Warriors team that was rejuvenated by Monta Ellis' arrival and has been putting up a ridiculous stat line. Not many people fully grasp that LeBron is putting up numbers that a big time scorer/clutch shooter, a big man, a defensive stopper, and a PG would collectively total. He's playing better defense this season and his FT% is up. So...yea...he's ridiculous. Good luck containing him in the playoffs.

3) Boston Celtics
After going through their first ever losing streak in the "Big 3" era the Celtics have stepped up their game and beaten some perennial powerhouses lately (Phoenix and Orlando). They destroyed Orlando by running them off the 3 point line and containing Dwight Howard, which is impressive. With a bench that thin I don't see them winning the title this season. KG's play has diminished, Rajon Rondo still can't shoot, and Glen Davis should not be playing as much as he is. If they get a bench (which they could somewhat achieve with Marbury) then their chances look much better.

4) San Antonio Spurs
Never count Tim Duncan out. It should be a in scripture at this point. People are overreacting about their loss to the Lakers, but when you break it down, it's still just one game. They're a very stable team that ran into a very hot team who happened to be playing at home. Advantage: Lakers. I put them above the Magic because the Spurs are what they have always been, solid, but even moreso now. They have a strong bench now, have Bowen coming off the bench, and still have scoring from their "Big 3" which tells me that they could make noise in the postseason.

5) Orlando Magic
I know what you're thinking, "Why are the Magic so low? They got killed by the champs but the Spurs got killed by the Lakers!" My response would be, it's not the same thing. The Magic were supposed to beat the Celtics, but their reliance on 3 point shooting and Dwight Howard killed them. Simply put, Dwight cannot fade away in big games anymore. He opens up 3 point shots and gets random guys like JJ Redick a string of open shots to catch fire. Jameer Nelson has done a good job of creating for his teammates and growing as a player this season, but there is onyl so much you can do when your bench is as thin as Orlando's is.

6) Denver Nuggets
Carmelo needs to get healthy if this team wants to survive their road adventure coming up. Chauncey has been a great pickup but I, personally, think they are overachieving. By playoff time they'll start to cool off but for now they're one of the best teams in the NBA.

7) Houston Rockets
If they had Yao, T-Mac, Artest, and Battier healthy all season, they could have the best record in the NBA! (cue violin music)

8) Miami Heat
Probably a little controversial, but they're beating teams they are supposed to beat and beating teams that are much better than them. They are very thin, but a Shawn Marion trade could bring some much needed talent to this roster.

9) New Orleans Hornets
Never count CP3 out. Instead, count Tyson Chandler and David West (partially) out.

10) Portland Trailblazers
They're very talented, but they've been beating up on bad teams (Milwaukee, Chicago, New Jersey, Golden State, Washington) and losing to good teams (Lakers, Cavaliers, Philly, New Orleans). Because of this, I can't bring myself to put them any higher. They have a lot of potential though.

11) 76ers
Record with Elton Brand: 11-14 Record without Elton Brand: 10-8 hmm...

12) Hawks
The Hawks would be up one spot in my rankings if it werent for the Sixers Iggy led surge as of late. However, they're a great team that could jump anywhere up to 5 spots in these rankings if Josh Smith and Marvin Williams pick up their play.

13) Dallas Mavericks
Dirk's having a great season despite a stupid offseason/inseason move (the Diop saga). They're still a team to beat out West, but after their destruction at the hands of the Celtics, it is obvious that they still have flaws. It's really obvious that you have flaws when you get stomped by Milwaukee.

14) Utah Jazz
This is the year of the injury in Utah, but this team would be in the top 5 if they were healthy. It's simply amazing that Jerry Sloan has kept this team afloat and they actually care about playing the game of basketball, which is more than can be said of the...

15) Phoenix Suns
They're lost in Terry Porter's system. It's as simple as that. Shaq destroyed the dynamics of this team, despite his great statistical season, and the Suns may no longer be a force in the NBA unless they start playing with some intensity.

16) Detroit Pistons
They have to mesh eventually...right?

17) Timberwolves
They've been surging after the New Year started. What the hell is going on out there? Does McHale actually know what he's doing? That Randy Foye trade might not end up being a complete bust if he can get his FG% and scoring average up. McHale's personal project, Kevin Love, has been playing great as well and is a surprise catalyst on the boards for the Wolves.

18) New York Knicks
Mike D'Antoni is an amazing coach. He's getting ridiculous play out of Duhon and Lee while elevating players like Nate Robinson and Wilson Chandler to new levels. Nate has been playing especially well despite his short stature, and with a superstar or two added to this core in 2010 they should be an almost immediate force. Al Harrington sucks.

19) Indiana Pacers
Danny Granger is good and Mike Dunleavy has turned into a fat chucker. He constantly chucks around 13 shots in under 30 minutes. He's not the player he was last season because the team actually has healthy studs. Doesn't help that Mike severed his vaginal bone before the season.

20) New Jersey Nets
Devin Harris and Vince Carter have carried this team and elevated their teammates' play. They could easily pass the Pacers, who I think suck more than Sasha "The Machine" Vujacic's shot selection.

21) Charlotte Bobcats
Larry Brown has this team, with little talent, playing well. However, they have little talent. You can only go so far with this roster, and to Brown's credit, he has almost optimized their talent.

22) Milwaukee Bucks
They lost Michael Redd, who was playing great. Now their best player is Richard Jefferson. Not looking good.

23) Toronto Raptors
Welcome to the bottom of the NBA. The 08/09 Raptors should be synonymous with the word "Fail" because they built a team around two studs, acquired a good big man, and still suck. Even worse than last year. Something tells me it wasn't all Mitchell's fault.

24) Chicago Bulls
I could name off players that have talent on this team, but then I'd just name off their entire roster. I could also say that they just need time to grow together and mesh, but we've been hearing that for years. They need real post players. Ben Gordon/Derrick Rose are a good duo at guard, but this team gets destroyed down low on offense and defense.

25) Oklahoma City Thunder
Kevin Durant > Danny Granger. Despite the record, he should be an all star.

26) Golden State Warriors
I couldn't logically put them above the Thunder when they've gotten thrashed by them twice this season. The Thunder have 9 wins. That's so awful. Don Nelson is a an awful coach at this point in his career, and player's like Jamal Crawford aren't helping the defensive efforts of this team. nelson needs to leave before progress can begin. but still...GO WARRIORS WOOOOO!!!

27) Memphis Grizzlies
OJ Mayo + Rudy Gay = 11 wins? Something's wrong there. They need to play an up-tempo offense if they want to optimize this team's talent.

28) Sacramento Kings
They have Kevin Martin which keeps them out of the deep cellar. To their credit, they have a shot to beat most teams below the top 15, which is something I cannot say the teams below them can do.

29) Los Angeles Clippers
Their entire starting lineup is injured. When their entire starting lineup is there, they probably still won't be any good. Mike Dunleavy is an awful coach. Their salary cap is screwed. What is there to look forward to in Clipper land? OH! Baron Davis just made a documentary about gangs featuring Snoop Dogg and Lil Wayne! COOL!

30) Washington Wizards
Oh God. Will Gilbert ever play a full season? Probably not. Which is odd for someone who is mostly a shooter.

NBA Draft 2009 Top 10

Seeing as the Warriors season is over, I thought I should get started on scouting for the NBA draft.

In my opinion this is a pretty weak draft, especially if Rubio sits out as expected and Jrue stays in school. Here's my top 10 with some brief analysis:

1) Blake Griffin
A weak draft means a player with obvious flaws could easily go 1st overall. He's a great rebounder, leader, scorer, and is a tremendous team player. However, he isn't as athletic as NBA coaches would like and he projects to be a Carlos Boozer type in my opinion. Not going to block a ton of shots but will make a big difference.

2) James Harden
In my opinion he's the most NBA ready player in this draft. He's an athletic player who can score and make the extra pass. However, his athleticism won't dominate at an NBA level but will be more than enough to get the job done. He'll do a decent job on defense but won't generate a ton of turnovers.

3) Jordan Hill
He's improved immensely this season but he still has a lot to learn. Basically a banger who can finish well and board with the best. Blocking 2 shots a game as well. After Hill, the picks in the draft have a ton of upside but also a ton of bust potential. I'm going to say right now that I don't like most of the players after these top 3 so my analysis will be biased.

4) Hasheem Thabeet
Will his body hold up at the next level? History of players his size says it won't. He has a ton of potential and is a surprisingly good shot blocker. Most players his size block shots just because of their height, but Thabeet does so with tremendous explosiveness and skill. Great defender.

5) Brandon Jennings
I have a mancrush on this guy. Don't let his euroleague stats fool you, he's actually getting better. In Europe they don't want to develop talent and embrace rookie mistakes like college teams would, they want to win now and don't tolerate rookies acting like rookies. Brandon was kicked out of the gym when the season started for half assing it in half court drills and discipline like that can do 1 of 2 things for him. The biggest knock on Brandon was that he had no discipline, he would make the flashy play when he didn't need to, so he could take all this as a learning experience and grow from it or get pissed off and give up. Hopefully it's the former.

6) Greg Monroe
He strikes me as a guy who will stop trying once he gets a contract. He has a ton of potential but needs to stay focused on improving if he wants to be a good NBA player. He gets pushed out of the post and lacks go to post moves. Talented as hell though and in this draft you can't pass up this much potential.

7) Jeff Teague
Think Stephen Curry, but a better ball handler who attacks the basket much more effectively. He can put up points in a hurry, but he really isn't a PG so his size might hurt him. If someone can teach him to take care of the ball better, he'll end up being a strong scorer in the NBA.

8) Stephen Curry
People give this guy way too much credit. Against bad teams, he absolutely destroys. Puts up around 30 and 7 against them. But against good teams he either goes 5/26 from the field (Purdue) or dishes out only 3 assists (Oklahoma). I think people will be disappointed by his true passing ability but I also know that his team absolutely blows so he's a very intriguing player to think about. Keep in mind that he's not great taking it to the hole and has a small frame.

9) DeMar DeRozan
Stay in school. Please.

10) Ty Lawson
He will be a steal if taken around 13-18. Probably will never start in the NBA, but will be a great defensive PG who can pass and score a little.

Also, they have an annual feature on ESPN.com that randomizes the draft lottery and generates a mock draft. Check it out here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/lottery2009/mockdraft

Jermaine O'Neal for Shawn Marion?

A recent trade rumor has arisen out of the East that sends Marion to Toronto for Jermaine O'Neal. Around the trade deadline random fake trades are bound to pop up from time to time but this one makes sense for both teams and Pat Riley acknowledged that it is in progress. So what impact does this have on both teams? Basically, the Heat lose several times over and the Raptors can only improve.

Jermaine O'Neal has had an injury marred season thus far only playing in 29 games, so at the very least the Raptors get a healthy body. That's not the whole story though, O'Neal has been putting on his best Tyson Chandler impersonation when he was expeected to be the big difference maker in Toronto. Tyson Chandler is a fine player, but he's a high profile role player and Jermaine O'Neal seems to have settled into that designation this seaosn. He's still a good player, but his production is a far cry from his days in Indiana where he would carry his team through the season and play hurt.

Why would the Heat want a guy who hasn't been performing well and is constantly injured? They don't want Shawn Marion. Shawn Marion is one of those players that thinks he is better than he really is. I take that back, he doesn't think he's better, he thinks he's the best. He chose a horrible Miami team over a Finals contender in Phoenix because he wanted to be "the man" and that failed. He's the epitome of a glorified role player and for whatever reason he has fallen in love with the 3 point shot this season. Now he wants to be traded again so he can take more shots. If he doesn't get more shots, he might suddenly come down with a season ending injury.

This is a good trade for Toronto because Marion fits in with their up-tempo style, Bargnani has flourished as a C, and if it doesn't work then they can let his $18 mill deal walk in the offseason. That's the main reason why it is a dumb trade for Miami, Marion is gone after this season so why are they so eager to trade him for an under achiever?

I think the real problem is that both teams want to establish the epic dynasty that the Warriors have right now. It takes years of work to assemble the cast of all stars we have in Oakland, so don't even try.