2010 NBA Draft in Review: #1 Overall Pick, John Wall

"And with the first pick, in the 2010 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards select.....John Wall."

And with those words, the NBA Draft started in Madison Square garden. Washington Wizards fans very well could have heard that words that will completely turn their franchise around from being one of the worst teams in the NBA, to a Playoff contender.

John Wall has been the consensus number one pick for quite some time now, and we all knew that we were going to hear his name first, but finally hearing it was the final realization in Washington that they had their future superstar. Wall brings so much to the court that it's hard to really even break his game down, but I'm going to do my best, so here we go.



Offensive Game

John Wall is especially dangerous on the offensive side of the ball, mainly because of his quickness. I was watching a sports science show the other day on the Wizards' #1 overall pick, and they stated that he was faster with the ball than guys like Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, and Chris Paul are without the ball. Judging by that statement, the first thing to think about is Wall being able to get to the bucket.

Whenever a player has the kind of speed that John Wall possesses, he usually can get to the bucket at will. His first step will get him around his defender, and then because he is so fast, he'll get to the bucket before the help defense can respond. Also, Wall's ability to jump up and finish strong with a dunk or through contact on a layup will make him even more deadly.



Because of his scoring, the rest of his game on offense is usually forgotten, but let's bring that up. Sure, he didn't average the most assists per game last year with the University of Kentucky (6.5), but averaging 6.5 assists as a freshmen in college is absolutely outstanding. His ability to get to the free throw line reminds me of Dwyane Wade, and he shoots right at 75% from the line as well.

Wall has an amazing understanding of the game of basketball, and is one of the best players at the pick-and-roll I've seen come out of the draft in quite some time. He knows how to just barely pass the ball out of the defenders reach but just hard enough that it gets his teammate to the bucket in the quickest possible way, and that's a huge plus to a point guards game.

Defensive Game

I haven't really heard many people talk about Wall's defensive game, but I really think it's one of the best in the draft as well. Wall's speed comes in handy on the defensive side of the ball because it enables him to contest almost any shot. He never gets crossed, and because of that he can usually get back to put a hand in the shooters face. Something that he possesses that most young players don't is the desire to play defense. He's one of the rare guys you will see score a bucket on one end, and then the first thing he does is turn right around and get back on defense.



There isn't too much you can really say about defense, but I'll finish with two more things. Wall has very quick hands, which allows him to get in the passing lane, and either steal or deflect the ball. NBA coaches love players who can get deflections because half of the time those will turn into forced turnovers.

Thoughts?

NBA Trade Rumor: Eric Maynor and Picks Headed to the Pacers for 10th Pick?

This news just broke around twenty minutes ago that the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder are in serious conversations about a trade that would send Eric Maynor, the 18th pick, and the 21st pick to the Indiana Pacers for the 10th overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Granted, these are nothing but rumors at this point in time, but the teams are discussing that is a fact. I'm going to try to break down the reasons that both teams would be doing this deal, and hopefully you agree with me.

Why for the Oklahoma City Thunder?

First, the Thunder already have their point guard in Russell Westbrook, and they really don't have a major need to keep Eric Maynor around any longer. It's not because Maynor isn't a good player that he's being dealt, it's because he's just been behind two All-Star caliber point guards.

The 18th and 21st picks in the draft are good, solid picks, but the Thunder aren't going to get the impact big man that they want with those selections. More than likely at #10, they are going to take one of Ed Davis, Ekpe Udoh, or Daniel Orton, depending on who is there. I'm sure that their most wanted player of those guys is Udoh, then followed up by Davis, and last but not least Orton.

Overall the Thunder know what kind of player they want, and they obviously don't believe they are going to be able to get their man at one of the later selections, so they move up to #10 where they are almost certain to get one of their most coveted big men.



Why for the Indiana Pacers?

The Pacers need a point guard very badly, and while Maynor may not be the starting point guard of the future, he is much better than any option they have right now. At #10, the Pacers could have selected a power forward, but by gaining two first round picks instead of one, they will be able to pick up guys like Eric Bledsoe (#18), and Hassan Whiteside (#21). There is a slim chance that one of their favorite big men, Patrick Patterson, will fall to them at the #18 pick, and if that happens you will see him in a Pacers uniform next season, and then Bledsoe would likely go at #21 if he's still available.



Basically what the Pacers do in this deal, is acquire assets to help fill the holes in their roster. They probably will end up making another trade or two throughout the off season, but by adding Maynor, and possibly Bledsoe, they won't have to trade for the point guard spot. Also, a major part of this deal is that Indiana doesn't have to part with anything other than the pick. Brandon Rush has been a major tie up for Larry Bird over the past discussions with teams, and from the sounds of it, he won't be included in this.

Overall the Pacers improve their team without shaking up their current roster at all. They just trade one pick, and gain a solid, young point guard, and two more picks. Almost a perfect deal for Indiana.

Thoughts?

NBA Trade Rumor: Will the Miami Heat Trade Michael Beasley?

"And with the second pick, in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat select....Michael Beasley."

Those words announced the start of Beasley's NBA career in Miami, and now it looks like those days may be coming to a close. Ever since coming into the NBA two years ago, Beasley has been nothing but a huge disappointment for the Heat. A player once thought to have the talent to rival LeBron James, has only turned out to be a streaky role player.

The reason that Beasley hasn't improved in his tenure in Miami remains a mystery. Playing alongside Dwyane Wade usually would motivate a young player to become the best he possibly can, but it seems that Beasley just doesn't care. A lack of work ethic, and also taking care of his body might be the main cause for his problems.



Last season Beasley was caught in a picture with marijuana, and that could be one of the reasons that he hasn't been able to perform to his best. Maybe his lack of keeping his body in the best condition possible is part of this huge "bust" so far in Beasley's career? Who knows what it is, but one thing is for certain, if he wants to make a name for himself and not be known as a huge bust, then he needs to start improving now.

All that being said, the Heat may not want to hang onto him any longer unless he has yet another bad season and loses all trade value. Something that I've heard thrown around lately is Beasley being involved in a sign-and-trade deal for Chris Bosh, but that is far from being a verified story. If they were able to sign-and-trade for Bosh however, that would enable them to also pursue both Dwyane Wade and LeBron James as well, which would be an absolutely unstoppable big three.



Back to the topic of this article, do you guys think Beasley will be traded during this offseason? Or do you think that the Heat should give him one more chance? I personally feel that if they get a good offer for him, or can work a deal for a player like Bosh if they give him up, then they should go all out for him. On the other hand, they also shouldn't give him up just to trade him.

Thoughts?

NBA Trade Rumor: Magic to Acquire Chris Paul?

There have been some rumors flying around lately that the Orlando Magic and the New Orleans Hornets are talking about a possible trade of Chris Paul to the Magic. So far, we haven't really heard any names that would be heading back to the Hornets in return, but that's why I'm writing this article, to offer some possibilities.

The Orlando Magic have not had a legit "star" player in his prime to put alongside Dwight Howard so far, and acquiring Paul would definitely do that for them. The catch? New Orleans is going to be asking a hefty price in return, and while that may deter some teams from going after him, the Magic are willing to move a lot in order to acquire that franchise point guard they have longed to have for the past few seasons.



There are quite a few players that I'm sure the Hornets would love to acquire from the Magic. Among those guys are Vince Carter, Jameer Nelson, Brandon Bass, and Mickael Pietrus. My guess would be that the deal would look something like this:

Chris Paul
James Posey

for

Vince Carter
Jameer Nelson
Mickael Pietrus
Brandon Bass
Future picks

Something like that would probably be very intriguing for the Hornets, and it might get them to pull the trigger. They would have Darren Collison as their starting point guard, and they could either use Nelson as their backup, or they could make another trade and get a couple more good players for Nelson. Acquiring Carter would bring in a scoring shooting guard, something they haven't had in quite some time. The other two players involved in the trade aren't just throw ins. Pietrus would add a defense small forward to replace James Posey, and he is also a lot cheaper. As for Bass, he showed a lot of potential to be a low post player in his limited playing time with the Magic last season, and it's no secret that the Hornets are looking for more post help.



Overall the two teams are both in need of making some moves. The Hornets have to make a decision on whether or not to trade Paul or Collison, because I don't believe the two of them are going to co-exist with one or the other taking the bulk of the playing time. Both players could get good talent back in return, but trading Paul to Orlando for that kind of package could make a lot of sense.

Thoughts?

NBA Trade Rumor: Flynn Plus Picks to Indiana for Package Involving #10 Pick?

There have been rumors flying around about a trade between the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Indiana Pacers for the last fifteen minutes. The proposed deal would be:

Johnny Flynn
#16 Overall Pick
#23 Overall Pick

for

#10 Overall Pick
and other pieces



The questions many people are wondering are who are the other pieces heading to Minnesota? There are a couple guys I think could be involved, Brandon Rush and Troy Murphy.

Why do this deal for the Timberwolves

Rush would be another young piece for the Wolves, who could go in and compete for a starting job. I think Rush would fit in well with the young Minnesota team, and could add something that they haven't had on that team really since Mike Miller left....shooting.

Murphy on the other hand would add more of a veteran big man, who both rebounds and spreads the floor. Not only would he fit in well for this season in Minnesota, but if they don't want to sign him long-term he is a very large expiring contract next offseason.

Why do this deal for the Pacers



The Pacers are in desperate need for a point guard, and they find themselves getting one in Johnny Flynn. Sure, he's not the ideal option, but he's a good passer, very explosive off the dribble, has a lot of experience (with Syracuse and a year with the T-Wolves), and understand how to play the game of basketball. One big knock on his game is the fact that he doesn't understand how to treat the ball like it's gold every single time down the court. You'll see him get a little careless and make some turnovers every now and then, but down the stretch last season he was able to cut down on those.

The two other pieces that we're hearing about in this deal, the #16 and #23 picks also come into play for the Pacers. Assuming teams don't get all caught up with Butler guard/forward Gordon Hayward, he could fall right into the Pacers' laps. Hayward is a player who the hometown fans love, and so does Larry Bird. He would bring some shooting, along with being the replacement for Mike Dunleavy. The picks enable the Pacers to draft both positions of need, both wing/point guard, and power forward, and still have two second round picks to deal with as well.

Overall this is a good deal for both teams, and while it's still a rumor at this point in time, talks seem to be heating up. I'll have a much more in-depth write-up if this deal does indeed go down.

Thoughts?

What If: The Indiana Pacers Acquire Ty Lawson

I've done one article on the Pacers acquiring Darren Collison, but yet another player that I've been hearing as a possibility trade option for Indiana is Ty Lawson.



There are many different things that come to mind when you think about the Pacers acquiring Lawson. First off, the fact that they could have drafted him last year instead of Tyler Hansbrough, and now they have a second chance. The other main thing to think about, and a main reason why this could really work for the Pacers is the fact that Psycho T (Hansbrough), and Lawson played college ball together, and that could help both of those players excel together being on the same team again.

Last season with the Denver Nuggets as their backup point guard, Lawson averaged 8.3 PPG and 3.1 APG in 20.2 MPG. In Indiana obviously he would be play around 37 MPG or so, as the starting point guard, and with the way he produced off the bench last year, I think he could step in right away and get the job done for the Pacers.



Lawson is also Pacers' GM Larry Bird's kind of player. He stayed in school for an extra year, even when he could have come out early just because he wanted the experience, and to be a leader for UNC's run to the Championship. Bird is also known for selecting players who have won NCAA Championships, because of the effort to bring players with winning attitudes to Indy, and Lawson would fill that role very well as well.

Overall, Lawson probably isn't as good of a pickup as Collison would be, but he's definitely a lot better than anything the Pacers have had in the recent past. If they could get away with giving up just the #10 overall pick for Lawson, then they would do it in a heartbeat...now they just need to convince Denver to pull the trigger on the deal as well.

Thoughts?

A Look at the 76ers, Kings Trade

After thinking about the deal for a couple days, I've finally decided what I think for both teams on this deal, so I decided to make this trade my next article. I'm hoping to be able to analyze this deal for both sides, and hopefully you guys agree with my thoughts, so here we go.

Why do the deal for the Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings have had a lot of issues with Andres Nocioni wanting out, and he had already started complaining about wanting to be traded already, and the NBA season wasn't even over. They knew that they needed to get rid of guys like him, and there were rumors flying around that they would be going after Hedo Turkoglu from the Raptors for Nocioni, but obviously that's not what they had in mind. Giving up Nocioni and Hawes wasn't that hard for them because neither of those guys fit into their system at all.



Hawes had a lot of potential when he was drafted into the NBA, and still does, but he's not the big man the Kings needed. They have a very energetic power forward is Jason Thompson, and to go along with that, they needed an athletic big man at center as well. Trading for Dalembert makes perfect sense because number one, it brings in a shot-blocker that the Kings really have never had in the history of their franchise (correct me if I'm wrong on that). Hawes was the kind of big man who steps away from the bucket and knocks down the mid-range jumper, but didn't get his back to the bucket enough to suit the Kings' needs.

As for Nocioni, like I had mentioned before, he's just never worked out in Sacramento. When they first got him after his days with the Chicago Bulls, people thought that he would be able to go in and become one of the Kings' best scorers, but what ended up happening was that he was sat down close to the end of the bench. Honestly, Nocioni needs to be on a team with the mentality to shoot the three, and in Philly with guys like Jason Kapono, he'll fit right into the system.

Why do the deal for the Philadelphia 76ers

This is a little more complex than meets the eye. The Philadelphia 76ers hold the second overall pick in the NBA Draft, which many people believe will be Evan Turner, and probably will be. However, with the loss of Dalembert there have been many people saying that they may select Turner, and then trade him off to a team like the New Jersey Nets for Derrick Favors (who will likely go at #3 behind Wall and Turner), and another player or pick. The other side of the argument is that just because they traded Dalembert doesn't mean they will want a big man in the draft. They did acquire Hawes back who is capable of stepping in and being the starting center for the Sixers, and Nocioni obviously isn't the answer at shooting guard for the future. If you ask me they will draft Turner and keep him, but we will never know until after the draft night is completely over.



Now for the players that the 76ers actually added, and moving away from the rumors of the draft. Spencer Hawes is a very talented young big, and will fit in well with Philly for the exact same reasons he wasn't a good fit in Sac-Town. The 76ers have had quite a few big men who like to scrap for rebounds, block shots, and play with their backs to the bucket, but they haven't really had a big man who is deadly from mid-range. The front court combination of Elton Brand and Spencer Hawes very well could be what the 76ers go with this upcoming season. Brand would have the ability to have the post to himself without Dalembert clogging up the lane, and Hawes could just stand in the 13-17 foot shot area.



Nocioni is a good addition for Philadelphia as well, mainly because of his outside shooting ability. He's not going to get starters minutes, or anything close to it, especially if Turner is draft, but he will get around 15 MPG in my opinion. During those minutes, I think he'll have the freedom to do what he did in Chicago that made him such an effective scorer.....and that something is called freelancing. Doug Collins is one of the best coaches that I know of, at putting players in the position to play their best. I'm very sure that if he allows Nocioni to run all over the court and just curl off of screens, and run corner to corner, he'll get a lot of open looks, and you can expect him to knock them down.

Overall the deal fills major needs both ways, without really giving up a ton of talent. Dalembert doesn't bring a lot more than defensive intensity and some rebounding, but then again the Kings don't really need him to do anything else. As for the 76ers, they get a good mid-range shooting big man, and a good outside shooter as well.

Thoughts?

Where Could Ray Allen Sign?

Like I stated in my last article about Joe Johnson, with all the free agency talk being about LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, I'm going to try to bring out more of the lesser known players, and Ray Allen is one of those guys.

After helping the Boston Celtics make the improbably run all the way to the NBA Finals, Ray Allen now has to focus his attention on his impending free agency. Come July 1, 2010 he will have to decide whether or not he wants to return to Boston, or move on and look elsewhere for a job.

Allen has already stated that he would prefer to re-sign in Boston, but the question is, after a bad Game 7 in the finals, will the Celtics want to spend the money to re-sign him? There are a few teams that I think will consider signing him, and that he would consider signing with, so without further delay, let's dive into the teams.

1. Boston Celtics

I start out with Boston because I think they are the most likely option for Allen. The Celtics have made two runs to the NBA Finals in the last three seasons, and Allen has been a big part of all three. One issue that could cause Allen to have to leave would be the age of the big three. Are the Celtics really going to put the future of their team on the shoulders of three aging players who all had their struggles throughout the Finals?

Something else to think about for Allen is how much longer he wants to play. The length of the deal he signs could also be a very big factor in where he lands. Take the Celtics for instance. Are they going to sign Allen to more than a one or two year deal? The answer to that is no. Other teams that I mention later very well could be interested in a three year deal for him.

Overall, both Boston and Allen have interest in attempting to work out a contract, but there are some major issues that could cause the two sides to part ways.



2. Miami Heat

The Heat have been rumored to have major in Allen as well. Dwyane Wade is very dedicated to bringing another star to Miami with him, and while Allen isn't one of the big stars he is a player that I'm sure Wade would consider a size-able addition.

The lineup for Miami after signing Allen could go two different ways. One way it would look like,

PG: Mario Chalmers/Draft Pick

SG: Dwyane Wade

SF: Ray Allen

PF: Michael Beasley

C: Free Agent Signing???


while the other way would look like,

PG: Dwyane Wade

SG: Ray Allen

SF: Michael Beasley

PF: Draft Pick/Free Agent Signing

C: Draft Pick/Free Agent Signing


either of those ways looks pretty good. The Heat do have a lot of holes, but the second lineup would allow them to draft a big rather than going after a point guard in the first round.

Overall, I'm not sure if the Heat would give Allen a three-year deal, but I don't think they would rule it out either. I'm sure Jesus Shuttlesworth would love the area of Miami, and playing alongside Dwyane Wade definitely has to be a draw.



3. Atlanta Hawks

This is one of the most interesting teams, and a dark horse in the Ray Allen sweepstakes. With the very good possibility of losing Joe Johnson, who is going to replace his shooting and scoring in Atlanta? The answer is they don't have anyone on their roster at this point in time that could step in like that. Allen would make perfect sense and could step in for less money than Johnson, but also would free up the team to play more as a team than just Johnson dribbling at the top trying to make a play.

They would probably offer him a two or three year deal, and Allen I'm sure wouldn't mind playing alongside the likes of Josh Smith, Al Horford, and the rest of the cast there with the Hawks. The question is, does Allen harbor any hard feelings from the Celtics/Hawks Playoff series a couple years ago that got very physical? I somehow doubt it, and if he feels like Boston mistreated him in any way by not re-signing him (assuming he isn't re-signed), then going to the Hawks could be one of the best ways to get back at them.

Overall, I wouldn't put Atlanta as the #1 or #2 option for him, but I do think they could make a run at him.



There are a few other teams out there that I could see being interested in him and making a run at him, but I don't really want to go into too much depth about these teams because I just don't see the two sides agreeing. The Chicago Bulls could be an option, with the need for a two-guard in Chicago. Other possible destinations include the Knicks and Nets.

Thoughts?

2010 New Jersey Nets X-Factor: Devin Harris

Even if the Nets are able to sign one of the big name free agents, I think Devin Harris is key for this team. Avery Johnson has signed as the Nets' new head coach, and he's already stated that Harris is his point guard, now the young guard needs to stay healthy and play the role that he played a couple years ago.



Harris is one of those point guards who's very capable of being a playmaker both passing and scoring, but he needs to find a balance between the two. Half of Harris' problem is that he just can't stay healthy. Last season he only played in 64 games because of injury, and to show you what he can do when he's on the court, let's look at his averages from the past two seasons.

2009-10 Season
64 Games, 16.9 PPG, 6.6 APG, 3.2 RPG.

2008-09 Season
69 Games, 21.3 PPG, 6.9 APG, 3.3 RPG.



There are his numbers for the last two years, now see the games he's missed haven't been all that many, but at the same time the injuries always nag throughout the season, so basically he put those numbers up playing through injuries. Especially last season, people have been down on him, but putting up almost 17 point and 7 assists per game isn't bad at all.

New Jersey does have some cap room, and I personally think they will make series runs at Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, David Lee, and Chris Bosh, but even if they get one of those guys, they still need a second scoring option, and a point guard to run the team. Harris can be that guy if you can stay healthy.

Another thing to think about is that the Nets signed a coach that knows how to work with young point guards. Believe it or not, Harris is just 27 years old, and still has a year or two before he reaches the point where he really can't get a lot better. Under the coaching of Avery Johnson, I think that he should get better at making decisions on the court, and leading his team.

All that being said, I really believe that Devin Harris has to be productive if the Nets have any chance at succeeding next season. If he has yet another disappointing, injury-plagued season, the Nets are going to have one of the worst records in the NBA again.

Thoughts?

A Few Point Guard Options for the Indiana Pacers

There are three ways that the Indiana Pacers could pick up their starting point guard for this season....free agency, trades, or the draft, and I'm going to list some of the options from all of those ways to get a PG.

Getting a Point Guard Through the Draft

There are two options that I see in the NBA Draft this season, and unfortunately one isn't John Wall...

1. Eric Bledsoe

The 6'1" guard out of Kentucky is my personal favorite option in the draft for the Pacers. While he didn't see a whole lot of point guard in action, thanks to playing behind John Wall, he did play the position in high school, and he's also been working very hard on getting better at the point through his pre-draft workouts.

During his one year at UK, he averaged 11.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.9 APG, and 1.4 SPG. He would bring a good passing point guard, who doesn't always think about shooting the ball, and also a guy who could body up with other point guards because he's not undersized like most of the Pacers' recent point guards have been. Not only is he a good passer, but he is also a very solid shooter, which you have to be if your going to play for the Pacers.

Overall he would make a very good fit in Indiana with his ability to get into the lane and then kick out for an open jumper, or finish at the bucket himself.

2. Avery Bradley

Bradley also played just one year of college, and in that one season, he averaged 11.6 PPG, 2.1 APG, 2.9 RPG, and 1.3 SPG. He's a very talented guard, but he just doesn't have quite the sense of the point guard position that Bledsoe has....or at least that I've seen.

He's a decent defender, but is a little bit slow moving his feet, and in that NBA that will either end up in cheap fouls, or it will end up in his man getting easy looks at the bucket. He's also a decent three point shooter, and he can get to the bucket as well, but his overall game just doesn't quite fit what the Pacers are needing right now.

Now I'm going to shift the focus to the free agency aspect of getting a point guard.

1. Nate Robinson

Robinson would be a very interesting pickup for the Indiana Pacers. I'm not sure if he would be a great option because he's another one of those PG's that love to shoot the ball, but at the same time, throughout his NBA career he has proven to be a playmaker for his teammates as well.

He is a very good shooter, and gets to the bucket almost at will. Another thing that the Pacers would get if they were to sign him is the highflyer aspect of his game, something that the city of Indianapolis hasn't had since Fred Jones quite a few years ago.

Maybe that's just me hoping for something, but Nate Robinson is one possibility.

2. Jordan Farmar

Farmar has been taking a lot of hate lately, but he would fit in with the Pacers very well. He's got a good shot, and while he isn't the best defender, he does have a good basketball IQ, which helps him make up for it.

Farmar is a pass first point guard, but does put up some very bad shots....something that the Pacers don't need, but he makes up for it by making good passes, and also hitting the open shots that he takes. He wouldn't be as expensive as Robinson, but would be a very solid option to come in and start for a season in Indy if they decided to wait until next years draft to get their point guard.

And last but not least, let's talk about trading for a starting point guard!

1. Tony Parker

There's really only one option on the trade market, and that would be Tony Parker. There have already been rumors of the Pacers acquiring Parker for a package deal involving Troy Murphy, Brandon Rush, and the #10 overall pick in the draft.

Parker would be able to step right in and be a star player in Indiana, but the question for the Pacers is, would they be able to sign him to a long-term extension? Or would he just walk after one season, and they would have given up the two players and the pick for a one-year rental.

Overall the Parker trade would be a perfect fit for the Pacers, but that one snag of the contract could ruin the whole situation. If Parker were to come to Indy though, the Pacers would definitely be a playoff team, although they still wouldn't have all the necessary pieces to be a Finals contender.

Thoughts?

What If: The Pacers Acquire Darren Collison

After seeing the rumors when I woke up this morning on the possibility of the Pacers trading the #10 pick to the Hornets for Darren Collison, I just had to write up an article about it, so here we go.

The Pacers desperately are in need for a starting point guard, and if they were to acquire Collison that would fill that need completely. Not only would he bring a young player that could start for many years to come, but they would be trading for a young player that put up Chris Paul like numbers last season while filling in for the injured star. Collison brings a pass first mentality, with an uncanny ability to score the ball at will.



I've noticed a few things about him that I like, and I'm going to try to break his game down to the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

Offensive

Like I stated earlier, one of Collison's biggest attributes is his ability to pass the ball. During his rookie season, Collison put up the numbers of 12.4 PPG, and 5.7 APG, but those numbers really don't give him justice on how well he played. Let me take you through some game logs here.

3/1 vs. Spurs
10 points, 15 assists, 5 rebounds.

3/3 vs. Grizzlies
17 points, 14 assists, 5 steals.

3/5 vs. Spurs
32 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds.

3/8 vs. Warriors
16 points, 20 assists, 3 steals.



Those are just a few of his games when he was starting for the injured Chris Paul, and that shows you waht he can bring to the court. Two games in particular, show what he can do. Against he Warriors he showed that he could pass the ball exceptionally well, but then you look at the 3/5 game against San Antonio, and he put up 32 points against a very good defensive team, that shows he can put the ball in the bucket as well.

Basically the point I was making with those stats, is that he brings a perfect balance of what the Pacers need. Last season they had guys that could do one or the other, but not both. Ford was a scoring guard who you could always mark up for double figure points, but also for just a couple assists. Watson on the other hand could put up the assist numbers, but he wasn't a very effective scorer.

All that being said, I think this proves that Darren Collison would be a perfect fit for the Indiana Pacers. Only giving up the #10 pick for him would be a great deal for us, and I think would make us a playoff team assuming we can stay healthy.

Defensive

There isn't really a ton I can talk about him defensive, but again some of those stats that I put in up there show that he is very good at reading the passing lanes, and he also has quick hands. Basically if you don't pay attention to where your dribbling or passing the ball, you can expect Darren Collison to take it from you. Also, he's very quick with his feet, so he's able to stay in front of even the best point guards in the NBA, something the Pacers haven't had in their point guard for a long time. That's about all I know to put about his defense.

Thoughts?

Joe Johnson: Where Could He Sign?

There's been so much talk about free agency, but it mostly has to do with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Amare Stoudemire, but we're all forgetting there are more star players than those in free agency. I want to bring up one in particular, Joe Johnson.

Johnson had a disappointing postseason with the Atlanta Hawks, and from the news I've heard coming out of Atlanta, it doesn't look like he'll be back with the Hawks....so now it's time to look at where he might be headed, so let's get this going.

1. New Jersey Nets

The Nets would be a very interesting option for Johnson, although might not be his first place to go because of the very young roster they have there. He would fit right in at shooting guard, taking over for Courtney Lee probably, and could be the number one option right away. Playing alongside Devin Harris could also be a draw for Johnson, because there would be another legit scorer on the team, which might give Johnson a little bit of breathing room, something he didn't have in Atlanta.

While the Nets do have a very young team, they also have blocks they are going to build around, and the #3 overall pick in the draft. Brook Lopez is a huge post presence, who is very good at playing the inside outside game with the perimeter players. The #3 pick, who many believe will be Derrick Favors, is another post player who rebounds well, and is a high energy defender. And the rest of the supporting cast he would have there like Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Yi Jianlian, and the rest of the guy could be a very good situation for Johnson.

2. New York Knicks

There have been a lot of rumors that Johnson may be headed the New York Knicks as well, and I could easily see this happening. While the Knicks probably aren't going to be as good as even the Nets will, it's still the ability to be the star player in New York. It's almost a dream for many players, and I do know that Johnson loves the city of New York.

Like I said, they don't have quite the skill that the Nets have, but they do have a lot of solid young players as well. David Lee (if they find a way to re-sign him), would be huge to bring back. And then other guys like Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, and Toney Douglas all have talent, they just have to work hard and play team basketball if they want to use it. Another difference between New York and New Jersey is the fact that the Knicks don't have another great scorer, like the Nets do in Devin Harris. They have a great spot-up shooter in Gallinari, a decent offensive player in Chandler (but he can't take over games), and if they can't bring David Lee back, they don't have another player who can put the ball in the bucket at will.

Overall the Knicks have the draw of the big city, and some talent, but they aren't quite the best fit if Johnson wants to make a run at the Championship.

3. Chicago Bulls

If I had to take a guess at where Johnson will land, it would be in Chicago. Chicago is another one of those great basketball cities, and there would be a huge draw of playing alongside Derrick Rose as well. Of all the teams that I've listed, the Bulls easily have the best shot to make a serious run at the Finals, and they have a very good shot of signing LeBron as well.

The roster is so young, but so talented including guys like Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Luol Deng (who has lost offense, but is still a solid all-around player), and if you add in LeBron James and Joe Johnson to the mix, then you have a Championship-caliber team right there. Even if James doesn't sign, Johnson would still have Rose, who would take most of the pressure off of him, and just let him roam off of picks, and try to get free for some open jump shots, something he wasn't able to do in Atlanta.

Overall, Chicago would be the ideal place for Johnson in my opinion. The Bulls bring that basketball history, overall talent level, and perfect offensive style for Johnson.

Those are my top three teams for Joe Johnson, but I'll give some other candidates, but won't go into much depth about them. The Miami Heat would be another option where Johnson would be able to play alongside D-Wade, assuming the Heat are able to re-sign him, and that would be a draw. The only other option I see out there would be the L.A. Clippers. It's a team you haven't heard much about signing major free agents, but they have everything it takes. With guys like Blake Griffin, Baron Davis, and the rest of the roster there, Johnson would be able to go right in, and be the leader for the team, but also have a ton of backup. So there's a few more options to think about, but like I said, I think Chicago is the best place for him to sign.

Thoughts?