Real Deal

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Blah, sorry about that. Terrible morning. Thanks a ton.

...hahaha.

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Wow...heart surgery? I wonder what the details are...damn phone won't navigate Safari like it should.

Yes, that was very apparent based on, well, nothing...lol.

Josh Selby.

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He's a pretty good player, but he's not exactly great at anything. I've seen him play probably 5-6 times total, in college, and four of those were last season...and the guy can score buckets, but he has to have the ball. I'd be a little worried about him having to adjust to a team that will never put the ball in his hands and ask him to go to work. As far as him being able to shoot very well...eh, not that great. He takes bad shots, but again, he's not going to be making those decisions. The Heat will more than likely ask him to play off the ball a LOT, and most of his jumpers will come from James and Wade assisting them (basically, they will be good shots). Defensively, he's pretty hard-headed...he likes to play it, doesn't like letting his man slip. I don't remember who he was playing, but he was FLOORED with a screen, and for the rest of the game (about 6-7 minutes), he played defense like he was Gary Payton...a little too aggressive, though, and picked up a couple of fouls, but it was good D. He has the lateral quickness to stay with the fast guards, that's for sure. The big worry is when he's playing elite guards, specifically those that will abuse him with their physical play. Deron Williams will tear him up, more than he would Mario...where I would probably say that, if LeBron or Wade weren't playing help D as much, Williams could drop a career high on Cole. I wouldn't be surprised if he starts by the end of the year...just depends on how well he can adjust to playing without the ball in his hands, and how much of a defensive liability Spo sees him when playing Rose (he won't have that hard of a time defending Rajon or any of the Knicks' PG's, from the remaining contenders right now). Just giving some pros and cons.

I'll go ahead and change the topic title.

They didn't know they were getting that package from the Clips, though. I can't believe you and others seriously believe Stern hit the trade offer with a veto because he believed he could do better. This isn't what people were saying the day it happened. SMH. All he had to do was come out and say it. Instead, he says it's for basketball reasons. Hell, I'm done talking about this mess. What a disappointment. I don't expect any of the other 29 teams' fans to show any kind of support to begin with...maybe Houston, but that's about it. Guess this truly is the difference between teams that mix youth and vets, and productive players, to win...and teams that think you should tank and have a borderline all-star to build around, assuming that will take you somewhere (we can name more than 50% of the league it doesn't work for). Oh well. If "basketball reasons" was legitimate, you can argue with the TONS of reporters and analysts, and the many players, that didn't think so.

Haha, honestly...nevermind any of that. Fantastic trade by the Hornets, makes a ton of sense. Bosh is like Gordon, you say...great second option. The Raptors build with their draft picks and around a second scoring option, the Hornets seem to be going the same route. Perfect strategy. Funny how I have to bash the current trade, just to show that the Lakers/Rockets deal was just as good, if not better. Both trades were smart. The Clippers deal was supposedly not going to happen, not even discussed, because Sterling was 100% sure not going to trade Gordon AND the pick, but at one point, it was obvious the Lakers had absolutely no shot at CP3, even substituting an $8.9 million TPE for Lamar.

Ah yeah, I forgot...the trade was only giving the Hornets Lamar, nothing else. Slipped my mind. Also, it's so ignorant to misread what others say, so I'll post it again... Stern was simply sending a message, not that it will take a lot to acquire a player (he sure didn't hold out for another superstar), but that he wants owners to NOT let a player dictate where they go (Paul only stated the Knicks and Lakers) and that he doesn't want 2-3 teams dominating the league for the next decade. Cuban and Gilbert confirmed that, anyway...and, ironically, they had yet to sign the CBA, and there's a hint that the signing was nearly put aside..and would have been...had Stern approved the trade. He was getting back Martin, Scola, Odom, Dragic, Ebanks, Caracter, Patterson, and picks...and at one point, dumping Okafor's salary, sending David West to Boston in a sign-and-trade, and Jermaine O'Neal to the Rockets. If it was him showing just how much a team would have to give up for a superstar, that would've done it...the Lakers were giving up two of the best players they have (Pau and Odom, an all-star PF/C and the sixth man of the year - who is an all-star in the East). But, no...instead, he takes the risk and goes with Gordon, and a pick that COULD be anywhere from #1-15. Message sent.

Huge blow to Oakland if the Broncos win, but I doubt we're making the playoffs anyway. Go Tebow!

You mean you'll fare well with two good picks? If you tank, you'll have a great pick of your own. Assuming the Hornets do tank, and the Wolves play like trash, New Orleans will definitely have an advantage...and it wouldn't surprise me if they won the lottery, lol. But, yeah...I'm not denying the trade was bad for the Hornets, or that the Clippers were ripped off (I think it was great for both sides). I'm stating that the Lakers/Rockets/Hornets trade was cut down for a different reason, and because of the way it was vetoed, it led to Odom asking for a trade. I doubt anyone is salty about this particular trade itself (if they are, they just hate the Hornets or Clips, period). I don't want to see the Clippers in the playoffs, but that's going to happen someday, regardless.

Kevin Martin averaged 25 PPG in 2009. Monta did it in 2010. Again, just an observation. If you guys think Martin and Ellis are two players you can build around, that's fine...

The first time he demanded a trade, he really didn't want to leave the Lakers...and what he did obviously worked, because it pushed the front office to bring in Gasol. Any instance of it now would harm his legacy not only as a Laker, but as a player. He won't.

Did Chicago actually go after anyone else? If so, that news must have slipped past me. You'd think Thibodeau would try and acquire Afflalo, even using a sign-and-trade, or Nick Young. I mean, I like Rip. He's one of the best off-the-ball players I've ever seen, along with Reggie and Ray. However, if they were looking in that direction, why not Young? Would the Wizards want anyone from Chicago? I guess this will definitely force Rose to become a better playmaker...could help him out in that regard, too. Hamilton is an easy find on the court, and with Rose being able to break down a defense, and Hamilton causing a lot of confusion off of those screens, it'll be interesting how teams approach this.