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Thanks!

As a Cardinals fan, my view of this trade is that it isn’t horrible. In case you missed the mega-deal yesterday, it works out like this:

White Sox trade Edwin Jackson, Mark Teahen; receive Zach Stuart, Jason Frasor.

Blue Jays trade Stuart, Frasor, Mark Rzepcynski, Octavio Dotel, Corey Patterson, 3 PTBNLs or cash; receive Teahen, Colby Rasmus, Trevor Miller, Brian Tallet, P.J. Walters.

Cardinals trade Rasmus, Miller, Tallet, Walters; receive Jackson, Rzepcynski, Dotel, Patterson, 3 PTBNLs or cash.

With the current CBA expiring tonight, the Kings and Cavaliers finalized a trade involving J.J. Hickson and Omri Casspi, per Marc Stein. The Kings are also giving up a future first round pick, but it likely won’t arrive in Cleveland for a few years. It is lottery protected in 2012, top 13 in 2013, top 12 in 2014, and top 10 protected from 2015-2017. Since Sacramento likely won’t sniff the playoffs this year, they’ll be able to keep their lottery pick in this upcoming star-studded draft.

This is a good move for the Kings, as Hickson is the superior player, and the draft pick is so heavily guarded. DeMarcus Cousins will likely shift to his more natural center position with the departure of free agent Samuel Dalembert. Hickson is a nice front court partner with his length and athleticism. Both Cousins and Hickson have been questioned about maturity and basketball IQ issues, but the talent is definitely there.

For the Cavs, the trade is a bit underwhelming. As recently as February 2010, Hickson was the prized young prospect in Cleveland. He was supposed to be the feature player this year in the wake up LeBron James’ departure, but he clashed with coach Byron Scott after a hot start. Drafting Tristian Thompson with the fourth pick last week made this trade inevitable, but it’s disappointing that they didn’t get more in return. Getting a future draft pick is a nice asset, but the protections make it insignificant for a while. Casspi is a nice player, but despite a void of talent on the wings in Cleveland, he isn’t a difference maker. He can hit threes, get out in transition, and make energy plays. He’s not a great defender, and you know what you’re getting with him.

After hearing about how well North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes is doing at the Kevin Durant Nike Camp in Chicago, I happened to catch a replay of the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit on TV. Look at that box score and then remember why this 2011 Draft class was considered “weak.” Imagine if so many of the star freshman hadn’t returned to school this year in fear of a possible lockout. And with a star studded freshman class coming in, the 2012 draft looks mighty strong (I caught some of this year’s Hoop Summit, and Anthony Davis certainly lived up to the hype).

Some observations from the 2010 game:

-Man, the Black Falcon has such a smooth game. Leading Team USA with 27 points in 29 minutes, Barnes got buckets early and often. He did it from outside (4-8 on threes), and he got to the rim with a variety of moves (5-9 on twos and 5-6 at the line). He has such a pure stroke to allow his pump fakes, hesitation moves, and superb footwork to be so effective. He’s a lot like Paul Pierce in this way, but he does show the occasional explosion to warrant the Kobe/Durant comparisons. Combine this skillset, defensive tenacity, basketball IQ, and extraordinary maturity, and you have a star with a great sense of clutchness.

Although this may be one of the weakest drafts in recent years, the exciting day is finally coming tomorrow! With the upcoming CBA negotiations (and possible lockout) approaching, teams are scrambling to make trades that will aid their salary situations. The problem is that no one knows who they love in this draft class due to underclassmen returning to school and the mysteries of foreign players…

Without further ado, here is my personal draft board with notes on prospects’ size (height [in shoes], weight, and wingspan), skills, and possible comparisons.

1. Kyrie Irving, Duke PG. 6’3, 191. 6’4.

Even though a toe injury limited him to just 11 games, Irving is the safest pick in this draft….He’s been compared to Chris Paul (with less quickness) and Deron Williams (with less strength) because he is a complete point guard. He has good vision, can push the tempo, and is an efficient shooter and scorer. His accuracy in passes out of the pick and roll needs some improvement, but he is a solid bet to be a consistent top-10 point guard.

2. Derrick Williams, Arizona PF. 6’9, 248. 7’2.

Williams has been compared to everyone from Michael Beasley to Al Harrington. Most scouts view him as a mismatch 4, but he’s tried to sell himself as also being able to play the 3. I liken him as a cross between David West and Amare Stoudemire with three point range. He picks his spots in the pick and roll and cutting without the ball for a post up. Facing up, he can take any big off the dribble or drain a jumper. He burst onto the scene this year, following a strong freshman campaign after not being a top recruit, and he has a chip on his shoulder.

3. Brandon Knight, Kentucky PG. 6’3, 177. 6’7.

After the talent drop off, Knight is the next best player. In a change from Calipari point guards, Knight is a great shooter capable of playing without the ball in his hands. He’s a lockdown defender with great intangibles, including being a 4.0 student.

4. Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania C. 7’, 245. 7’4.

Jonas has a shaky buyout situation that may require him to wait until next year before arriving, so that may cause the Cavs to pass on him at #4. Unlike most Euros, he sticks to the paint and could develop into a Tyson Chandler or Andrew Bogut type player.

5. Kemba Walker, Conneticut PG. 6’1, 184. 6’4.

Mr. Tournament’s stock has cooled a bit after winning the national championship, but his body of work speaks for itself. While some may scare from the Johnny Flynn Big East comparisons, I see a bit of Ray Felton in him. He is an experienced, strong leader, who won’t have to score as much in the NBA. He has really improved his jumpshot, so he is comfortable playing without the ball some.

6. Jan Vesely, Czech Republic SF/PF. 6’11, 240.

Another non-traditional Euro, Vesely is an active forward who relies more on athleticism than skill. Some compare him to Andrei Kirilenko with his length and ability to play both the 3 and 4, and that’s valid. I see a bit of a more assertive Jeff Green, with his athleticism in transition, ability to post up smaller defenders, and streaky three point shooting.

Do yourself a favor and check out the Vesely part of this Grantland piece. It’s the freaking Power Rangers theme song!

7. Bismack Biyombo, Congo PF/C. 6’9, 245. 7’7

Biyombo is probably my favorite prospect in this draft because of his incredible journey, and these two features explain why. With his strength and wingspan, he could possibly be the next Dwight Howard. More likely, his one-dimensional impact compares with Ben Wallace, which is quite a strong dimension. If his midrange jumper continues to improve, he compares favorably with fellow Congo native, Serge Ibaka. However, I think he might be stronger and could be a full time center.

8. Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State SF. 6’7, 227. 7’3

The Gerald Wallace comparisons are almost too easy. Leonard is a great defender and rebounder, with great length and huge hands. He has an improving jumper and a great motor that will keep him as at least a rotation player for a long time.

9. Enes Kanter, “Kentucky” C. 6’11, 260. 7’2

After having to sit out this past year for NCAA violations, the Turkish big man has a lot of question marks. He could potentially be a better Kevin Love, but there isn’t enough game tape to tell. Although I dislike relying on personal workouts to judge players, in this class you might as well take a chance on Kanter high in the draft. A team with two top 10 picks like the Cavs could certainly take that gamble.

10. Alec Burks, Colorado SG. 6’6, 193. 6’10

Burks is a great scorer who is excellent at getting to the rim. He is a solid passer and rebounder, a bit like Tyreke Evans or a poor man’s Dwyane Wade. He’s a shaky jump shooter because he’s often unbalanced off the dribble, with his body contorted and legs kicking out. He has potential in that area as well as on defense, where he has the physical tools but lacks the focus.

I hadn’t felt the need to talk about the Dallas Mavericks winning the NBA Championship because there has been such great writing out there already. However, this Zach Lowe piece inspired me because I agree with it so much.

Yes, the Miami Heat disappointed by failing to win the Finals. Yes, LeBron James was a disappointment in the Finals based on our expectations of the best player in the league. And yes, the reason it is a failure is because of that ridiculous Free Agency Celebration last July.

Okay, maybe the Oklahoma City Thunder battling the Dallas Mavericks isn’t quite Oklahoma versus Texas in college football, but the Western Conference Finals should be an intense battle. The three regular season games were close contests with the road team winning each time. However, the first two occurred with Caron Butler healthy and all three before the trade deadline. Furthermore, Dirk Nowitzki injured himself early in the second game and missed the third contest, so it’s difficult to preview the upcoming series.

http://youtu.be/eu4Jgnfu-Pc

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There’s been a lot going on the last couple of weeks for me, but after this crazy Game 4 between the Thunder and Grizzlies, I felt compelled to write about my favorite team’s outcome. (NFL Draft stuff soon to come)

(Westbrook, Collison, Ibaka, and Durant courtesy of Getty Images)

This game can help serve as a sort of microcosm of this outstanding postseason so far. There has been much talk about Russell Westbrook’s decision making and understanding that this is Kevin Durant’s team. I, myself, have been constantly critical of Russ during this past year, but that is because it’s frustrating knowing how good he can be.

Well, looking back at preseason predictions, figuring out how the regular season wasn’t exactly rocket science (See them here and click Next at the bottom). Some of my stuff, especially the awards, was kind of hit-or-miss with more hits than not; however, the playoffs are a whole other animal. I’m still sticking to my guns and calling a…wait for it… Heat over the Lakers Finals. I don’t trust any of the teams, but here’s how I see it after looking at the seedings:

(Side note: there is A LOT of great stuff on this subject that I’ve been reading/listening to, and if you want completely thorough coverage, check out NBAPlaybook.com, which always has excellent video breakdown.)

Chicago Bulls over the Indiana Pacers in 4. The Bulls are really good. The Pacers are 37-45. Indiana has a bright future with cap space, but this inconsistent team will have a hard time scoring and containing Derrick Rose.

Miami Heat over the Philadelphia 76ers in 4. The Heat are playing well, more comfortable in their system. The Sixers are best when they go small with Thad Young at the 4 and Elton Brand at the 5, but that will be difficult against Miami. It wouldn’t totally surprise me to see Philly steal a game at home, but it’s not likely.

Boston Celtics over the New York Knicks in 5. The Celtics have been in a funk since the Perkins trade caught them off guard, but their reliable defense should shut down the somewhat predictable Knicks offense. New York’s porous defense could be a big aid to getting Boston back on track.

Orlando Hawks over the Atlanta Hawks in 5. People are doubting the underachieving Magic, who have gotten practically nothing out of Gilbert Arenas since the trade. The Hawks favor Jason Collins a “Dwight Howard Stopper,” but I doubt that will be a true statement throughout the series. With Howard finally at another level offensively, I think they can even give the Bulls a run for their money in the second round before fading.

San Antonio Spurs over the Memphis Grizzlies in 6. The Spurs surprised everyone with the best record in the league for most of the season, but it is unclear whether their new up tempo offense will last in the playoffs. The looming Manu Ginobli elbow injury certainly makes things more interesting, especially since the Grizzlies are a scrappy, competitive team. Zach Randolph provides steady offense, but Memphis’ pick and roll defense will really struggle against the experienced in San Antonio.

AL East: I think A-Rod leads the Yanks to a strong season, but that shaky rotation won’t consistently allow less runs than they score….The Red Sox were prematurely crowned WS favorites before a 0-6 start, but I still think that new lineup, headlined by Carl Crawford and Gonzalez, and talented pitching staff will pull through…The Rays are gonna be a bit down, but they still have a boatload of young pitching and hopefully Desmond Jennings will emerge alongside MVP candidate Evan Longoria…The Blue Jays are in a good position going forward and I don’t think Jose Bautista is a total fluke…The Orioles finally have good young pitching with Matusz and Zach Britton, and I’m a big Adam Jones fan.

AL Central: The White Sox have a solid combination of quality arms and lineup potential with Beckham and finally nabbing Adam Dunn like they wanted…The Twins always produce and have a lot of solid bats, especially if Justin Morneau can repeat what was going to be a monster season before a concussion. I expect an Ace year from Francisco Liriano, but I don’t trust the stuff of the rest of the rotation…The Tigers have a lot of nice pieces, and Miguel Cabrera doesn’t have to carry as heavy a load now that Victor Martinez was acquired…The Royals have a STACKED farm system that should be producing All-Stars soon, but the big league club will struggle. I don’t see the Indians with a lot of star potential, but hopefully Grady Sizemore can finally get healthy.

AL West: The division can go any which way, but I think the Angels have the best chances with a full year of Dan Haren to go with Jered Weaver, although the Vernon Wells trade was peculiar. They have a future MVP once Mike Trout is ready for the majors…The Rangers lost Cliff Lee and picked up Adrian Beltre, but I don’t think they have enough top-end pitching make it back to the World Series…The A’s look good on paper with a bounty of pitching riches, but are relying on shaky veterans again to carry the lineup. I like David DeJesus, Hideki Matsui, and especially Josh Willingham (who could have a 25 HR/85 RBI season), but I’d like to see what the former top hitting prospects such as Chris Carter and Michael Taylor could do…The Mariners have Felix Hernandez and a bunch of young guys, but they’ll continue to struggle scoring. I really like former Tar Heel Dustin Ackley, though.

NL East: The Phillies have a lot of hype due to their fearsome foursome of Aces, and I think Cole Hamels WILL pitch like a bona fide ace this year, but their lineup is aging and injury prone. Ryan Howard has the ability to carry a team and have a monster 55 homer, 130 RBI year, however….I think the Braves take the division with Philly as the Wild Card, and Atlanta will be a contender for the next decade. I’m a huge Tim Hudson guy and have already written about their hitters’ potential here, particularly Heyward…The Marlins have a lot of intriguing players behind Hanley Ramirez like Stanton, and I think Chris Coghlan will have a bounce back year adjusting to center. I love Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco, but the overall pitching staff is shaky…The Mets have some potential if their stars are healthy, and I think David Wright and Jose Reyes will have big years…The Nationals are on the upswing, and I actually had the opportunity to talk with VP Damon Jones, a UCSB alumn. We talked about some of their recent dealings such as the Jason Werth signing and Wilson Ramos trade, and the promising future in the hands of Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg. In the present, a come back from Jordan Zimmerman to go with Werth and cornerstone Ryan Zimmerman should keep them competitive enough.