Sports Look

July 31, 2008

Wednesday July 30^th NBA Roundup

Ron Artest getting traded from the Kings to the Rockets completely changes the West.  Since the Rockets got Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady they have been considered a good team but very injury prone.  It happens each year; both Yao and Tracy get injured at some point in the season.  Each time this happens, the Rockets are stuck looking for a second offensive weapon on the team. 

Not only did the Rockets find that scorer they were looking for, they found a player that is able to fill the void at PF, take over the scoring load when McGrady goes down with an injury and bring a nastiness to a team that often looked soft. 

The Rockets really gave up nothing in order to get Artest.  Bobby Jackson was a reserve that is on the decline and wouldn’t have seen much time this coming season.  They also gave up $1 million in cash considerations, rookie Donte Green (who wasn’t going to help the team this season) and a 2009 first round pick that will most likely be in the late 20s.  The Kings could also give up a lower salary player or two in the trade to keep them under the cap this next season. 

What this does for the West is where things get really interesting.  The Rockets basically put themselves as the #1 or #2 contenders in the West.  Not only did they get another scorer and defensive stopper, they also signed Brent Barry to help open things up for Yao and Artest inside.  This trade also helps the Rockets depth.  The team’s younger players are also a year older and should be able to improve upon what they did last year.  The core of the Rockets is older and they need to win now and they have positioned themselves to do so.

The Lakers will continue to be the team to beat in the Pacific Division will still be ruled by the Lakers with the Suns a close second.  The Kings are now out of the playoff running for the next two years if not longer.  The Northwest will be a race between Portland and the Jazz with Denver losing ground after giving away Marcus Camby.  The Southwest Division is the toughest division in basketball.  With Dallas and San Antonio being the old guard in the division and the Hornets being the up and comers.   Artest gives the Rockets the edge in almost every match up in the West.  Artest can defend players from Kobe to Manu.  It will be a challenge to score on the Rockets and defend a team that now has a solid third option and plenty of shooters on the outside. 

The Kings were looking to get rid of the Artest circus.  They were able to get a fan favorite with an expiring contract in Bobby Jackson, some money, a promising rookie and a future pick.  While it doesn’t appear like much, the Kings got what they wanted.  Sacramento is in rebuilding mode.  They have a future All-Star in Kevin Martin and wanted to build around him.  The Kings are also positioned to make a splash in the free agent sweepstakes of 2010 when some of the best players in the NBA become free agents.  This was a good trade for the Clippers as they rid themselves of one headache and got some assets in the process. 

• The Magic are looking to resign Adonal Foyle.  It will be up to Foyle if he wants to return to the team on a veteran minimum contract or look for the same deal somewhere else.  The amount of years on the contract could play into whether Foyle stays with the team or not. 
   

• Robert “Tractor” Traylor is trying to get on with the Lakers and wants to go to camp with them but has legal issues that are standing in his way right now.
   

• Loul Deng appears close to signing a six year, $70 million dollar deal with the Bulls.
   

• The Jazz made a surprising move this past week by matching the offer sheet that Oklahoma made to CJ Miles.  Miles is singed to a contract for 4 years at $14.8 million.  The Jazz are stocked with wing players and Miles contract appeared to be over market value for a player with as little experience as Miles has. 
   

• Has a team had a better off-season than the 76ers?  In addition to signing Elton Brand, the 76ers have signed two underrated players in Kareem Rush and Royal Ivey.  Ivey comes off a solid season in Milwaukee and Rush revived his career with the Pacers this past season.  Both players should improve the 76ers bench depth and make contributions to the team.  As long as the Sixers get are able to come to a deal with Andre Iguodala, they are set for years to come. 
   

• With the Jazz stocked at the SG/SF positions, look for the team to try to package together Matt Harpring and Jaron Collins (Expiring Contract) for a reserve center that can rebound and play defense.  A perfect trading partner for the Jazz would be the Indiana Pacers who find themselves with an abundance of big men.   A trade for either Radoslav Nesterovic or Jeff Foster (both with expiring contracts) fit what the Jazz are looking for.   The Pacers could also throw in Shawne Williams in order to rid themselves of the troubled player. 

The Pacers and Jazz could of course make this an even bigger deal if both teams wanted to exchange bigger contracts.  Andrei Kirilenko has worn out his welcome in Utah and has this year and two more years left on his contract, packaged with Jarron Collins and Matt Harpring, it brings the total salary leaving the team to around $23.1 million.  The Pacers could send back Troy Murphy and Jamal Tinsley (both have this year and two more years left on their contract) with Jeff Foster and Shawne Williams for around $24 million worth of contracts.  Other players could be added, but that would be the framework of the contract. 

Scott Church has been an NBA freelance writer for more than six years.  He resides in Utah and you can contact him at Scottshoops@yahoo.com. 

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