Where Are They Now, 2010; Part 5

I was going to write a separate post to describe ways that the Hornets can avoid the luxury tax without trading away David West or anyone important, but I've decided that I can't be bothered. Here's a shorthand version:

1) On trade deadline day, trade Hilton Armstrong and $1.1 million in cash ($922,748 to cover his remaining salary, the rest as an incentive) to the Clippers in exchange for changing the protection on their 2016 second rounder - already owed to the Hornets from the Rasual Butler deal - from top 55 to top 50. The Clippers gain a free player who may or may not see the court, whilst more importantly earning some cash for their troubles and giving up quite literally the least significant thing imaginable. Meanwhile, the Hornets dump the $2.8 million salary of a player that managed to lose an unloseable backup centre spot to Darius Songaila. That can't ever be a bad loss.

2) Also on trade deadline day, trade Ike Diogu and $400,000 to the Hawks for the rights to Alain Digbeu. $271,928 of that covers Diogu's remaining salary; the rest is the Hawks incentive to use an inactive list spot on a player that's out for the season. And all they lose is a 34 year old Frenchman. If not the Hawks, Diogu could also be sent to the Grizzlies, Kings, Pistons or Sixers. Whichever.

Trading two surplus players and $1.5 million will save them about $9 million, once tax payments are substituted and rebates added. And you can do so without moving one of your only good players or taking on future salary. If those two deals happen, or ones very similar to them, then expect misplaced bravado.

Failing that, someone competitive will think too much of James Posey, just like the Hornets once did themselves. Ask Dallas. Even if they won't give you Drew Gooden's unguaranteed deal, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot coming between a Shawne Williams and Kris Humphries package. The Lakers might want to know, too, at which point your foundation for a deal is Adam Morrison. Maybe San Antonio bites, using some of their expirings. Either way, you get the idea; the tax is highly dodgeable without giving away one of the only three good veterans to do it. Devin Brown's unnecessary trade kicker need not be a sticking point.

And now for some Where Are They Now action.


- Marko Banic

Banic is a Croatian big man playing in Spain. He scores really really ridiculously efficiently, has great touch around the basket, and can hit a jumpshot, yet is often out of shape, is a bad rebounder, is not physical and is a poor defensive player. But even though I just made him sound like it, Banic is not really like Eddy Curry. Curry is big, athletic and more awkward than your grandparent's sex life. Whereas Banic is short, grounded and smoother than a baby's arse.

Playing for Bilbao, Baby Arse is averaging 27.5 minutes, 17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 72% shooting in the Eurocup, and 26.0 minutes, 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 67% shooting in the ACB. He doesn't just do it on layups, either.

So that's where he is now.



- Sean Banks

Banks spent last season in Turkey, signed with Darussafaka. He averaged 13.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists, which are good all-around numbers, but he also shot 21% from three point range. This wouldn't have been too bad had three pointers not accounted for a third of all his shot attempts.

This season, Banks has not played anywhere. He signed in Jordan a couple of weeks ago to play with a team called Zain, who seem to be pursuing lots of former NBA talents this year (more on that later). However, Banks was released soon afterwards as he needed another month to recover from an injury. I don't know what injury.

Nothing seems to have materialised about Banks' chances of playing for the British national team. Banks' father was born in England and still lives there, which entitles him to apply for a British passport, something which he expressed an interest in doing 18 months ago. However, as far as I can tell, he either still hasn't done it, or it didn't work out. It would be great if it did.



- Stanko Barac

Barac, whose rights are owned by the Pacers, is playing for Caja Laboral in Spain's ACB. They're the team that used to be known as Tau Ceramica. Barac tends to get a wriggle on in the ACB; in only 11.8 minutes a game, he averages 7.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 fouls per game, slowing to a more sedate 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 fousl in 14.8 minutes per game in the Euroleague. The number of minutes played isn't ideal, but when you've got Tiago Splitter in front of you, it makes sense.

Stanko Barac's nickaname should be Spanky. Stanko "Spanky" Barac. I like that. Admittedly I like Spanky as a nickname for pretty much everyone - Pau "Spanky" Gasol and Rajon "Spanky" Rondo in particular seem to work will - yet it works particularly well with Barac. In unrelated news, I feel this website is more desirable when it's a worldwide basketball news aggregator and a not a crap comedy vehicle.



- Steven Barber

Barber, who turns 30 in 10 days time (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!), is playing in Mexico. For the Libertadores de Queretaro (which translates as "the Liberators of Queretaro," I think), Barber averages 14.8 points and 2.7 assists. He takes nine three pointers a game and hits only 29% of them. Sounds like a bad idea.

The general rule is that we don't cover 30 year old 5'10 shoot-first journeyman point guards from the Southland Conference. But Steven Barber somehow appeared on the Knicks training camp roster of 2005. This has obligated me to follow him ever since. But it's a one-off thing.



- Omar Barlett

Barlett is signed in Cyprus with a team called Achilleas Kaimakliou. This means there are no statistics for him, because there aren't any from Cyprus that I can find. I also don't really know anything about Omar Barlett, which kind of craps on any possible trivia ideas. So here's his back story instead.

Barlett went to college at Jacksonville State, making him the only Jacksonville State player that you've ever heard of. He transferred there from junior college, and averaged 15/7 in his senior season. After graduating, he spent two years in Portugal, and three years in Poland, before inexplicably winding up on the Heat's 2008 training camp roster. Inevitably, Barlett did not make the team, and he went back to Poland, where last year he averaged only 5 points and 4 rebounds. So an NBA redux does not look likely.

How did a 28 year old 6'8 forward with no history of success of strength in his CV go from averaging 12/7 in the Polish league to being briefly on an NBA roster? I don't know. But, as both Barlett and Barber have shown, these things can happen. (It's particularly weird in Barlett's case, as he wasn't on any summer league roster, for the Heat nor anyone. Barber was, however, which explains his presence somewhat. Therein lies the advantage of summer league; even if no money is involved, a good performance can get a client to a training camp. And when you've got "NBA training camp" on your resumé, you're going to do better in your non-NBA career. Or, in the case of Omar Barlett, you're going to go to Cyprus.)

Here is Omar Barlett in a Polish three point shootout in an arena that didn't have any available ball racks.

- Jimmy Baron

Rhode Island product Baron took his one major skill - jumpshooting - and brought it to a Turkish audience. Baron is Mersin's designated American shooter this season, taking over from Chris Lofton. That's not an easy thing to do, because Lofton was awesome in that role last year, averaging 20.2 points per game and including both 47 and 61 point outings (shooting a combined 30-42 from three point range in those two games). However, Baron has been pretty damn good at it himself, averaging 18.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in the Turkish league. Baron is shooting 48% from three point range while taking ten and a half of them a game, and while he's had no massive Lofton-like explosions (with a season high of only 29), he has shot consistently well. He always does. He probably always will.



- Andre Barrett

Barrett was back in the NBA this autumn when he joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for training camp. He then lost the role of inactive list ballhandler to Coby Karl, and would have lost it to Russell Robinson as well, God willing. After being released from there, Barrett has not signed elsewhere. It was rumoured that he might go to Napoli in Italy, but.......well, that's not happening any more. More on that Napoli story later.

Does Americans call Autumn "the fall" because of the way "the" leaves "fall" from the trees? If so, oh.



- Earl Barron

Barron is in the D-League, waiting for an NBA call-up. He almost got one from the Blazers the other day, and will probably be heard from again at some point. For the Iowa Energy, Barron is averaging 15.1 points and 10.3 rebounds in only 32 minutes per game, with particularly good rebounding numbers for a man who's always been a bit average at that.

His rebounding numbers may be helped a bit by the Energy's lack of size, as, despite their team being pretty stacked, their second biggest player is perimeter orientated Cartier Martin. The starting point guard, Curtis Stinson, is second on the team in rebounds with 6.1 a game. Nevertheless, the Energy also have a rebounding differential of +3, so it's not a Biedrins-like situation. Barron is shooting only .434% from the field, and was suspended this week for hitting Jared Reiner in the face, but the NBA can probably overlook that second indiscretion.




- Jon Barry

Jon Barry retired after the 2006 season. He now works as a commentator for ESPN.

The last time I heard Jon Barry commentate was during the Hawks' blowout of the Bulls about a month ago. Barry tried to convince the audience that Lou Wolding had not realised his superstar potential, while simultaneously highlighting his inability to take anybody off the dribble. Apparently the dislogic between the two things did not hit home. He was also convinced that the reason for the Bulls struggles is a lack of post up offense, seemingly because someone told him this three years ago. "You'll never get anywhere as a jumpshooting team," says former jumpshooting specialist Jon Barry, as Joe Johnson stretches the lead to 32 with a three point jumpshot. Ho hum.

(For the record, you can get absolutely everywhere as a jumpshooting team. You just need to a) be good at jumpshooting, and b) play good defense. The Bulls are only point B intermittently, and they're woefully short on point A. So there's your real problems, Jon Barry.)



- Brent Barry

Brent, like Jon, is retired. Brent, like Jon, is now a media personality. Brent, unlike Jon, works for NBA TV. Brent, unlike Jon, is someone I can tolerate.



- Eddie Basden

Basden played last year in Turkey for Mersin. He didn't play especially well, however, averaging 8.1 points, 4.7 points, 2.1 assists and 2.6 steals per game. The all around numbers are pretty good, but Basden shot only 24% from three point range, taking three threes a game. He took 174 two pointers, 84 three pointers and 56 foul shots, and ended up totalling 244 points on 258 shots. That's not good.

This year, he waited until December before joining the D-League, acquired by the Austin Toros. The result have been much the sane, however; through three games, Basden has averaged 8.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals, but is shooting only 35% from the field, with 24 points on 26 shots. That's pretty much how he rolls. He has his uses defensively, but offensively, he doesn't have very many at all.

There's also an Eddie Basden playing for the Washington Madness in the Eastern Basketball Alliance. It's not the same one.



- Macy O'Baston

Baston's NBA redux over the last three years saw him not play a whole lot, but he did do quite well in the time that he did get. Last season was his worst season, yet even Baston's worst season was pretty good; he averaged 2.5 points and 2 rebounds in 8 minutes per game, and his PER was 12.3. His career PER is 14.4, too, which makes you wonder why he's only played 831 NBA minutes in three and a bit seasons.

Baston went to camp with the Pistons, but did not make the team. The Pistons decided they wanted both Chucky Atkins and an empty roster spot more than both him and Deron Washington, regardless of how many early season injuries they had. The Pistons are about $11 million short of the luxury tax, have a roster spot open, have had many injuries and need more depth, yet they won't actually sign anyone to help. They even waived Washington when keeping him cost them nothing until tomorrow. I just.......don't see the logic.

After being waived by the Pistons, Baston has not signed elsewhere, although there's rumours of a possible move to Aris in Greece.

The Macy O'Baston gag originated from Paul Shirley's book. Wish I'd thought of it. It's flexible, though; how about Mark O'Jaric, Mark O'Banic, Stank O'Barac, Fabrice E. O'Oberto and Jamari O'Davidson? Or,a s an extension of that, how about Mooch E. Norris, Anthony T. Olliver, Jerry D. Bayless, Mehmeto Kerr, and Peter E. Koponen?

I need better hobbies.



- Mengke Bateer

Finally, our first of many Chinese Basketball Association updates.

For the most part, the astronomical statistics put up in the CBA are by the import players, almost always American (and almost always black; of the 33 CBA imports this year, only one, Frans Steyn, is white.) The Chinese players don't really do much; most of them can't compete in the athletic and physical brand of NBA-style ball that the CBA is trying to recreate. Chinese players largely dominate the point guard spot, but when it comes to scoring and rebounding, they're almost all overmatched physically.

Bateer is one of the few exceptions; he ranks as one of the few native players that can compete with the import's statistical domination. Last year for Xinjiang, Bateer averaged 15.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists; this year, he's averaging 41.2 minutes, 9.8 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Three pointers make up half the shots he takes, and he's not shooting them well so far this year (24%), but those passing numbers are pretty awesome. Just this very night, Bateer did a Kidd and totalled 7 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. And that's while weighing 300lbs. Bateer was never an NBA talent because he was so damn slow, but he was pretty cool.

Mengke Bateer fact: despite me calling him a native right there, Bateer kind of isn't. He's actually an ethnic Mongol, which is why his name doesn't play by the Chinese rules of naming. This is also why you'll sometimes see Sun Yue referred to as the first Chinese player to win a championship, even though Mengke was a member of the 2003 Spurs.

(Mongolia is a country. It rests atop China like a contented Spaniel. Although "contented" might be the wrong word there, considering. Maybe use "contentious.")

Another Mengke Bateer fact; Mengke Bateer has used his immense size to launch a second career in the film industry. The following Youtube clip is a trailer for a film called "Bodyguards and Assassins," a huge budget film starring many big time Chinese and Hong Kongish stars. In it, Bateer plays a bloody enormous monk.

And here he is in character.



Now that's a big frigging monk.



As always, if you want to keep tracks of the transaction of these players without having to wait until every January, use the transaction indexes for all three of the NBA, the D-League and the world at large. Every relevant transaction is in there. Even the Taiwanese ones.

September Still Hasn't Ended

Part 1!!!!!!!!

Now part 2!!!!!!!!



Minimum salary deals:

Atlanta signed Randolph Morris for two seasons, giving themselves both the opportunity to develop a talented young centre and the opportunity to lose him to unrestricted free agency. They also signed Othello Hunter and Thomas Gardner for training camp. Sham's lame ill-informed prediction: Hunter makes it if Solomon Jones gets traded. (Readers note: they haven't signed Dalibor Bagaric, despite it reputedly being a done deal almost a month ago. This is not good.)

Boston signed Darius Miles and Patrick O'Bryant to young'en up an old old bench. Miles could be something between inconsequential and surprising, depending on how much cartilege is in his knee. And all O'Bryant has to do to replace the production of Scot Pollard is to stay alive. Whether he becomes anything of any use is another matter, but he's not entirely talentless.

Ryan Hollins re-signed with Charlotte for the qualifying offer, after the team had already taken out the team option on Jermareo Davidson. So apparently Charlotte likes these two nigh-on identical players in equal measure. The Bobcats also signed non-shooting guard Shannon Brown, trading away their draft pick Kyle Weaver immediately afterwards. They must think incredibly little of Weaver, because Brown is pretty poor.

The Bulls re-signed Demetris Nichols on the basis that he's young, cheap, partially guaranteed and can hit a jumpshot. But mainly the second one.

Cleveland made two minimum salary signings of a polarisingly different standard. The signing of Tarence Kinsey gives the Cavaliers a young player on the cheap, one who should never have been out of the league in the first place, but in contrast, the signing of Lorenzen Wright gives a new home to someone who shouldn't be in it. Wright used to be good, but those days are long gone - he was arguably the worst player in the NBA last season, and he has every chance of being so again.

Similarly, the Mavericks made two good minimum salary signings in James Singleton and Gerald Green, yet they also brought in Keith McLeod. You need shooters, so you sign one of the worst offensive guards in or around the game? Okay. Don't get that one. But great move on The Singleton. Hustle players and rebounding specialists who can also hit three pointers are always welcome. Another player who should never have been out of the league.

Denver did their usual of padding out their bench on the cheap, but they did so with Chris Andersen, Anthony Carter and Dahntay Jones, all of whom are fine value for that price. All three are also decent defensive players, something which Denver sorely needs. Let's hope that Carter doesn't start this year, though.

Will Bynum signed with the Pistons for two seasons, giving them the backcourt shooter that they sorely need. Wait, no, that's wrong.

Golden State got into the training camp scrub signfest early, picking up Anthony Morrow, Rob Kurz, DeMarcus Nelson and Dion Dowell to come to camp. Sham's lame ill-informed prediction - Morrow and Nelson make it.

The Clippers made some more value signings, getting Jason Williams for the minimum, which is good value if they get any version of J-Will other than last year's. They also signed Brian Skinner, someone who has been criminally underrated since Billy King overpaid for him back in 2004. Paul Davis is also returning as the 15th man for no real reason.

The Lakers had some training camp pickups of their own, namely Brandon Heath, C.J. Giles, Dwayne Mitchell and Josh Powell. Powell's making it, but the rest have only a little chance. Unless I'm wrong. Which is highly possible.

(EDIT - They've sinced also re-signed Didier Ilunga-Mbenga, who'll probably make it, defying logic and rational thought.

Jamaal Magloire signed with the Heat, despite him not being very good any more. Along with camp signee David Padgett, plus returnees Mark Blount and Joel Anthony, there's not now any room left for Alonzo Mourning. (The Heat also signed Jason Richards early for training camp, but he's since torn up his knee, so that's his NBA dream over for this season.)

New Orleans went the Denver route, and padded out their bench with veterans for the minimum salary. They went for Sean Marks (OK), Ryan Bowen (pointless) and Devin Brown (genius). So, a 50% success rate there.

New York signed one of the most one dimensional players of all time in Anthony Roberson, but thoughtfully, his one dimension is one that they need.

Adonal Foyle re-signed with the Magic, which did nothing to assuage the size problems that the Magic with everyone other than Dwight Howard.

Philadelphia binged and went the veterans minimum route four times. Theo Ratliff showed surprising mobility last year for a 35 year old big man with a history of back problems, and he still has something left to give as a backup. Donyell Marshall, meanwhile, doesn't. The signing of Kareem Rush gives the Sixers two of the least efficient shooting guards in Western society today, but at least is a small improvement on their outside shooting problem. Royal Ivey, meanwhile, isn't.

Former Sixers Louis Amundson signed with the Phoenix Suns, as did former Warrior Matt Barnes. Both are good pickups and good fits in Phoenix, particularly for that price. Maybe Barnes should fire another agent, because the boy hasn't gotten paid yet.

The Portland Trail Blazers signed Luke Jackson, Steven Hill and Jamaal Tatum, and you can probably pencil in all three to be waived, particularly if Darius Miles's contract reappears on their books. If not, Hill has a chance. Unless they sign Shaun Livingston, in which case, it's game over all around.

Bobby Brown signed with the Kings for two guaranteed seasons, which gives us a new tangent of wordplay jokes if nothing else.

Anthony Tolliver and Darryl Watkins signed with the Spurs, who apparently wanted a big man who can't make a layup to save his life. (Watkins, not Tolliver.) The Spurs also brought in Desmon Farmer and Devin Green for training camp, and I hereby predict that Farmer and Tolliver make it. The Spurs don't have to penny pinch around the tax this year, these are the luxuries that they can now afford.

(EDIT: They've also since brought in Salim Stoudamire. YEEHAW!)

Toronto brought in Will Solomon to play point guard, even though he isn't one, and Hassan Adams to play two guard, even though he isn't one. I like the way they're thinking.

In entirely inconsequential news, Dee Brown is back in the NBA after signing with the Wizards.



Draft picks:

Boston's three picks saw them draft J.R. Giddens (a swingman that they don't really need right now), Bill Walker (who everyone seems to be rating really high) and Semih Erden (who we'll probably never see again). I'm curious to see why everyone loves Bill Walker so much. I'm not saying they're wrong, for it would be foolish of me to have much opinion on draftees since I don't folow NCAA basketball (note: that might make this whole section a bit dull), but I understand that Bill Walker's game is predicated on athleticism, not skill. And Walker's also just had his third knee surgery. To me, that doesn't bode well. But, sod it, what would I know. (I'll tell you what I'd know: nothing. That's what I'd know.)

Charlotte, not happy with two athletic near-seven footers, plumped for a third in Alexis Ajinca, and also plumped for a second short ass point guard in D.J. Augustin. I don't think they've identified their most immediate holes here, but then again, they could use an upgrade basically everywhere.

Chicago didn't have much thinking to do before drafting Derrick Rose, a surefire number one pick despite no one being able to draw up a clear cut list of the things he's actually good it. ("Athleticism? Check! Finishing in the lane? Check! Passing? Um, well the system he played in wasn't right. Shooting? Yes, well, he needs to improve his shooting....") They also traded three second rounders for one, and came away from that bizarre trade with Omer Asik, who will no doubt go on to lead a fabulous life and have an amazing career, despite having already suffered a serious knee injury since the night of the draft.

Correctly identifying that Ben Wallace is awful, Cleveland drafted two power forwards, J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson. Both are post players, and both are quite good, but having watched summer league, I can't remember either of them throwing a single pass. (A look at the stats confirms this - Hickson had 0 assists in summer league. Jackson had 3. Must've kept dropping it.) The Cavaliers also drafted Sasha Kaun, which I thought was a province in Canada.

Denver traded for the rights to Sonny Weems at 39, which was interesting. (Hang on, no it wasn't.)

Detroit traded out of the first round and drafted the man they would have drafted in it anyway, Walter Sharpe. They signed him for two guaranteed years, sending all us hardened and overeager NBA addicts to Wikipedia to understand narcolepsy better than we thought we did. Sharpe won't play much this year. Detroit also drafted Trent Plaisted and Deron Washington, who will play even less, because they're not on the roster.

Anthony Randolph was drafted 14th by Golden State but already looks to be better than most of the people taken ahead of him. Dick Hendrix was taken 49th, and hasn't been able to make the same boast, but he is able to boast the name of Dick Hendrix, so his life will be fine.

Houston likes three kind of players - shooters, defensive specialists, and shit point guards. Having drafted Aaron Brooks and signed Steve Francis last year, they're all right for shit point guards, so they used the secound round this year to get one of each of the other two, with defensive specialist Joey Dorsey (33rd) and Maaaaaarty Leunen (54th). They also came out of the first round with Donte Greene (28th), but that didn't last (see below).

Indiana drafted Jerryd Bayless at 11. But that's not how it ended up. See below.

The Clippers drafted the best available player at their weakest position when they took Eric Gordon at 7, and that's rarely if ever a bad strategy. In the second round, they picked up Mike Taylor (55th) and DeAndre Jordan (35th), both of whom won't contribute much for two years, which is why they signed three year contracts.

The Lakers only draft pick was Joe Crawford at 58. They've subsequently signed him, but they've also signed Brandon Heath and Dwayne Mitchell (see above), and all three are battling with Coby Karl for what looks like one spot. So they probably could have not bothered drafting Crawford. The Lakers also brought in last year's second rounder, Sun Yue, and already are getting so wildly overexcited that they're talking about playing him at guard sometimes.

Memphis obtain probably the best player available at their weakest position when they traded for Darrell Arthur at 27. Shame about the weed and hoes thing, though. (Readers note: Don't be fooled. Darrell Arthur is not a keen gardener.)

Miami drafted Michael Beasley at number two, after giving the worst acting job since Keanu Reeves in Point Break when trying to convince people that they might not. In the second round, they came away with Mario Chalmers, despite not having a pick. Since when were number 34 picks so devalued? How does Minnesota have the 31st and 34th picks, and not come out of it with a player for next year? Strange times. (Readers note: Minnesota drafted Nikola Pekovic at 31, who may well be good, but whom we also may never see.)

Milwaukee rightly identified that their forward spots were pretty desolate, so they drafted two - Joe Alexander (6th) and Cucumber A Moute (37th). Mbah A Moute's profile informs you that I've only barely seen him play, ut I've seen more of himt han I have Joe Alexander, so I'll do us all a favour and not pretend to know what's going on there.

New Jersey were lauded for their draft, that saw them get Brook Lopez at 10, Ryan Anderson at 21, and Chris Douglas-Roberts at 40. I tend to agree, except for Ryan Anderson. No offence, Ryan.

At number six, the Knicks drafted a man who "will not be a superstar" (c/o Fran Fraschilla) who plays their least needed position. So I'm going to need more convincing on the Danilo Gallinari pick.

The Thunder identified their need for a guard, and then didn't draft the best guard available, picking Russell Westbrook at 4. Either they see something the rest of the world didn't, or the rest of the world saw something that only they didn't. They also moved up into the first round to draft a power forward (D.J. White, 29th), despite having about twelve already, and after already having drafted one five spots earlier (Serge Ibaka). Entering the draft with four second rounders, they gave three away, and used the fourth on yet another big man (DeVon Hardin, 55th). Soon after the draft, they picked up Kyle Weaver from Charlotte, who obviously didn't want him. Sam Presti clearly did, though, because Weaver then signed a four (count'em, four!) year deal. The additions of he and Westbrook hopefully mean that Damien Wilkins will stop getting so much playing time, because no one likes a chucker. Unless you're a Kobe fan.

Orlando brought in Courtney Lee (22nd) because they didn't think they'd be able to keep Maurice Evans, and because they thought Keith Bogans sucked. Right on both counts.

Philadelphia drafted Marreese Speights at 16, something which led to Speights choosing 16 as his new jersey number. Not sure what role Speights will fill since Elton Brand was signed, but we won't hold that against them, given that the chicken came before the egg. Giggidy.

Phoenix got a backup centre in Robin Lopez (15th), as their roster starts to assume a more traditional makeup. This is not a bad thing.

Only Portland could go into a draft night with five picks and leave with two players, Nicolas Batum (25th) and Jerryd Bayless (11th, see below). They also brought over Rudy Fernandez, thieved from Phoenix the previous season. Young quality born out of endless money and trying hard. Good MO.

Sacramento copped more stick for head coach Reggie Theus's comments on why the team drafted Jason Thompson at number twelve than they did for the pick itself. But this doesn't mean that they got off lightly.

San Antonio tried to give away their pick, but couldn't, so took someone almost completely unheard of in George Hill (26th), who they've since signed. Backcourt scoring was apparently a priority of theirs this year. They also followed their own tradition and drafted a European in the second round (Goran Dragic, 45th), but then unusually traded him for an NCAA player (Malik Hairston, 48th). Strange times. (For equality's sake, we should mention James Gist, picked 57th. Hi James.)

Utah drafted three Euros that they don't need now and may never need ever, in Kosta Koufos (23rd), Ante Tomic (44th) and Tadija Dragicevic (53rd).

Finally, Washington drafted Tits McGee, one of my favourite draftees this year, and not only because his name is Tits. McGee is the next Marcus Camby. Book it. (Readers note: comparison overstated for effect. And his name isn't really Tits.)




Trades:

Cleveland finally has the right idea, dealing spare parts Joe Smith and Damon Jones in a three team trade with Oklahoma City and Milwaukee that landed them starting point guard Maurice Williams. Now that the Cavaliers finally have a complimentary guard that can score and handle the ball a bit, I hope Mike Brown finally figures out how to use one. Elsewhere in the deal, Oklahoma City somehow got two somewhat decent players on two sizeable expiring contracts in Smith and Desmond Mason, while only giving up Adrian Griffin Luke Ridnour to do so. Meanwhile, Milwaukee gives up the best player - and one of a good value contract - in return for nothing of any significant use. I know the Williams and Michael Redd pairing needed splitting up, but not like that. And don't give Adrian Grifin to Scott Skiles. You won't like where that goes.

Milwaukee's other trade involved somehow being giftwrapped Richard Jefferson by New Jersey for the tiny cost of Bobby Simmons and Yi Jianlian. Why New Jersey wanted that package, I do not know. Simmons expires a year sooner than Jefferson, and crucially in time for the 2010 offseason, but he's not an expiring contract, and Yi Jianlian is now but one of a humber of many young big men on the Nets roster. He's also not that good. Can you trade a 20ppg in-his-prime All Star, not get a starter back, not get an expiring contract back, nor even a draft pick, and be happy with your return? I'd like to think not, but I think it just happened.

Again on draft night, Toronto threw all their eggs in one basket, trading T.J. Ford, Macy O'Baston, Rasho Nesterovic and the rights to Roy Hibbert to Indiana for Jermaine O'Neal and the rights to Nathan Jawai. O'Neal and Chris Bosh should pair effortlessly, much more so than Ford and Jose Calderon did, and the Raptors now have the best frontcourt pairing in the East. (Even better than "Dwight Howard and anybody.") Yet they still have largely crappy wing players, and a very weak bench. They have a fine front three, but very very little in support of them. And they've run out of money to do too much about that. Indiana, meanwhile, saves a good amount of money, and gets two young talented players at their biggest positions of need. That can't be bad. They're not going anywhere, but that's not a bad way to retool.

Golden State picked up Marcus Williams for the cost of a first round pick, despite two years of nothing but injuries and bad play. It's a gamble worth taking, but one with an element of risk. Williams has shown roughly nothing so far, albeit while playing often out of position.

Ron Artest finally left Sacramento, going to Houston along with recently signed draftees Sean Singletary and Patrick Ewing Jr in exchange for prospect forward Donte Greene, a pick, and the expiring contract of Bobby Jackson. Houston's defense is now freakin' mega, and they even made sure to save some money on the deal by dealing Ewing to New York for the meaningless rights to Frederic Weis, and dealing Singletary to Phoenix for D.J. Strawberry in a move that saves both teams money. Meanwhile, Sacramento's somewhat going for the ol' addition by subtraction thing, which may or may work out. (Donte Greene, by the way, put on an absolutely disgusting performance in summer league. Yes I know he scored 40 in one game, but HOLY SWEET JESUS CHRIST BOY will you pass the sodding ball.)

Denver took a break from their minimum salary policy to get a younger, cheaper and better version of the departed Eduardo Najera, when they traded the peripheral expiring contracts of Taurean Green and Bobby Jones
to New York for Renaldo Balkman. New York then waived both instantly. A no-brainer for Denver, even with their self-inflicted budget concerns, and when factoring in the fact that Balkman will always be a backup. But what were New York doing? You have a lot of small forwards, yes. But get rid of the crap ones. Also, don't trade a small forward on account of the fact that he's a "bad fit" and that there's too much competition in front of him, just to later trade for Patrick Ewing Jr, his cheaper but inferior replacement. If you want to save money for two years, don't sign Chris Duhon to that deal. There. Sorted.

The Clippers filled their cap space, with a few trades, most notably getting former DPOY candidate Marcus Camby for absolutely nothing. It's just not good enough, is it? Some teams out there are pissing away their MLE's, and some teams get gifted the league's better big men in their prime, entirely through circumstance. The NBA is a stupid game anyway. The Clippers also later traded for Steve Novak, seemingly seeing something in him that Nick Fazekas couldn't reproduce. They also conspired with Utah to complete one of the most pointless trades ever, acquiring their former player Jason Hart for Brevin Knight. The contracts are basically the same, the players are basically the same, and while Knight is slightly better, he'll play fewer games. Yet neither should actually play at all, barring a typhoid outbreak. So....why did this happen again?

An 8 player trade went down on draft night, but only three players in it mattered. Memphis and Minnesota swapped their draft picks a few hours after making them, with Kevin Love going to the Timberwolves, and O.J. Mayo going to Memphis. Also involved in the trade were Mike Miller, Antoine Walker, Greg Buckner, Marko Jaric, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins, but of those few, only Mike Miller is a productive player. Essentially, Miller was Minnesota's asking price for swapping the two, and in exchange for Miller, Memphis made some salary swaps that gives them roughly $7 million more in cap space next offseason. For both parties, the question is, did they get the better part of the prospect swap. I'm going to cop out and say that I don't know enough about Kevin Love to judge. This is what you can do when you're an amateur blogger.

Indiana and Portland also made a prospect swap, switching the draft rights of Brandon Rush and Jerry D. Bayless, while also including Josh McRoberts, Ike Diogu and Jarrett Jack. In terms of the other three players, Portland got hosed, but since Bayless is apparently the better prospect, that makes it all right. (Again, I refuse to say. I've watched summer league, but I'm not making an empassioned opinion solely off of that. Nor should you.)

Finally, in the biggest news of the offseason, Minnesota managed to blag a first round pick off of Philadelphia for the less than arduous task of taking on the contracts of Calvin Booth and Rodney Carney. Talk about easy decisions. Carney is still a cheap prospect, even though he hasn't done anything yet, and Booth earns the minimum. Not even Minnesota says no to that.

Wake me up when September ends.