by Jonathan Chu (Sportswriter)
Yorba Linda, CA
From JKidd to Michael(no, not that one) this year's offseason is surely gonna be a thing to watch. Now lets look at some of the Trades that some Teams SHOULD DO and NOT DO.
SPURS: There's been a ton of talk about Kidd going to San Antonio to win a Championship. I can tell you right now if the SPurs want to improve and get better they SHOULDNT SIGN KIDD. Why? Because Jason Kidd is the kind of player that forces games to be played his tempo, which is high octane and a very fast up and down style. The Spurs are the EXACT OPPOSITE of that kind of game because they prefer to slow it down and win with their defense. This is a style that has won the Spurs 2 NBA CHampionships so why would they take a Chance and completely change it around when its already proven to win Championships. JKidd would require tons of attention and he would ruin the entire chemistry of that team. San Antonio would be much better going after a BIG GUY to take David Robinson's place. Preferably Elton Brand or Jermaine O Neil.
Lakers: As unbelievable as this is going to SEEM it Needs to Happen and the longer the Lakers wait the worse its gonna get. Its time for a REAL TRADE. No more time to waste, by signing free agents that only average 11 points. It's time to Trade a SuperStar for another SuperStar(or at least one with the potential) . YEs this means the unthinkable.......... SHOP FOR SHAQ.......
Let me tell you why! First off Shaq is without a doubt past his Prime and is entering the stage of his career which he just trys to hold onto his greatness for a little bit longer before it slips away. Those Injuries that you constantly hear about? Well They're not GOING AWAY because theyre caused by OLD AGE. Shaq just can't keep up with the younger kids anymore. And its time to TRADE NOW while Shaq is still considered a somewhat great player. Lakers could get a Major Star for Shaq like Kevin Garnett, Chris Webber, Allen Iverson, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Francis and maybe even LEBRON JAMES. Think of it this way. Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant together on the Same Team. Scary Thought. Automatic NBA Champions if you know what I Mean. Well I said my part, its up for Mitch Kupchuck to do his.
Mavericks: The thing for MARK Cuban this year is to GET A REAL BIGMAN. No more white Softies that shoot 3's all day looking pretty. Dallas needs a grind it out Bigman that plays with Heart and passion. ENTER ELTON BRAND. Yep Mr.20 10. BEst player not at the ALLSTAR GAMe. Mr.Hustle. Work Ethic extraodinare. As hard a time as the Mavs will have at getting Elton they should at least TRY. Elton would give the Mavs a serious Defensive Presence, especially on the boards. Imagine What the season would be like For Dallas! Steve Nash throwing perfect Dimes to a cutting Michael Finley, Dirk Launching 3 pointers from 23 and Elton Brand blocking it OUT. Yep Elton Brand definitely spells the Answer for the allas Mavericks (no D, get it).
Wizards: So Far HORRIBLE job by the Washington Wizards. Hiring a young and unproven coach in Eddie Jordan. Then going after Ernie Grunfield as their GM after he caused that Meltdown in Millaukee. Yo Abe Pollin I thought you said YOu were going after the Smartest Mind in Basketball?? Heh figures. It is Washington after All. But Luckily All that can CHANGE with one player. Kwame Brown. The Future. The Franchise. The talent unfullfilled. Washington almost lost him in a close deal during Draft day but Eddie Jordan was smart enough to keep him Luckily. And for Good Reason too. Kwame Brown is the kind of player that comes around once in a DECADE. With his height he can singlehandedly DOMINATE GAMES by himself. He can score, rebound, defend and do everything else a coach could ask for. He's not as soft as some people Say He is, (I've seen this Guy take Clutch Shots in the fourth and Make them) Just wait, 2003-2004 will be his Coming Out Season, and he's gonna prove the ENTire World WRONG.
Knicks: New York has Got to Make some Major Changes this Offseason, and trading to get Antoine Walker ISN'T one of them. No offense but Antoine Walker isn't half as good as some people say he is. Walker's inconsistent, not dependable and a Ballhog to boot. The Knicks are never going to get someone worth Latrell Sprewell so theres only one thing for them to do. Trade for POTENTIAL. That's right, go after the players that aren't great right now, but have the ability to Be Stars.
There are plenty of players out there Waiting to BUST out, but most of them dont get the chance because maybe their Team is too Deep or their coach won't give them the chance. Kwame, G Wallace, Dwayne Wade, Caron Bulter, Richard Jefferson, Michael Pietrus and tons of other players are just Waiting to Become Stars and the Knicks would have a great shot at getting Either of them. So please do us all a Favor, If your not gonna have a great team then at least give us some blockbuster trades
Cavs: I hope the Cavs are satisfied with losing by now because it isnt going to go Away any time soon. Everybody knows that High School kids take at least 3 years before they actually become good and Lebron is as young as they come. In the Mean Time the cavs need to surround Lebron with a strong supporting cast and some role players to help out. They shouldnt Trade Ricky Davis because Although
he's a Ball Hog, he has Incredible Talent. Davis has a rare ability to just score the Basketball in countless ways, something Lebron may NEVER be Able to do. They should definitely Keep Carlos Boozer because of what an Inside Presence he is. Expect Big Z to be Put up for sale soon, hes an old washed up player with very little upside. Yet for some reason Fellow NBA Teams dream about him and the Cavs could get a Great Player for him. Also the Cavs definitely want to surround Lebron with good people to keep him in track to keep on doing the RIGHT THING. I don't really Think the Cavs need to make any other changes other then what I've already mentioned because they've already got plenty of TALENT. Maybe A pointguard or something but until then they just need to be patient for Lebron.
Timberwolves: Kg needs Help and the Wolves are hoping to get it in Ricky Davis. The Wolves have been going after Ricky Aggresively for Years and the Cavs are so ignorant they just may Trade out on the Next Big Thing. If Minnesota were to pull off a Ricky Davis Trade, T-Wolve Fans would be the ones Thinking about DyNasty. Think about it, you have Kg one of the best inside Players in the NBA teamed up with Ricky Davis, one of the best Perimeter Players in the NBA. Ricky really is the Wolves only real Chance. And they should do anything in there Power to get Him, even trading away Proven stars like Wally Szerbiak and Sam Cassel.
Bucks: With Sam Cassel out the bucks are in for something Horrible in 2003 if they dont do Something Really DRASTIC , Really FAST. Bucks have No real Talent, no real inside presence, No real defense, No real coaching, no real much anything other then a washed up Gary Payton. Tj Ford is good but nobody 5-10 can turn around a Franchise, no matter how good he is the size thing is just too much to overcome. Bucks need to trade Gary Payton for someone with Talent and Great Potential. Something needs to be done in Millaukee because the players there stink and as of right now the Team is going Nowhere. Bucks are bound to be the Next Cavaliars for the next half decade unless their Gm can do something to Save them..
Sixers: With the Leaving of Larry Brown the Philadelphia Sixers are gonna be in a World of Hurt. I'd be surprised if they Even make the Playoffs. The Only reason why Philly has been able to survive for so long is because of the great D that Larry has taught them to cover up Allen Iverson's Glaring Offensive weaknesses.I don't think any Coach could do a better job with the Sixers then Larry Brown.