http://www.freep.com/article/20111130/SPORTS03/111130040/1051/sports03

The problem is that while none of those three contracts are "cap-breakers", together they are back-breaking. I think I would support using it on Villanueva above everyone else, but maybe saving it for a future mistake is the best plan. Even if we had exercised it this year, how many games would we win when we are getting excited about the thoughts of adding Brandon Haywood?

Anybody know where I can find a list of who the Rockets have been working out?

I have been looking up mock drafts quite a bit, and the themes I keep seeing are Jordan Hamilton at 14 and Darius Morris at 23. Today, NBADraft.net even has the Rockets taking Morris at 14(a massive reach in my mind.) Another player I have seen in more than a few is Donatas Motiejunas at 14. If anybody has any lists, or opinions on the matter, I am interested in hearing them.

Now that we are officially seeking a T-Mac trade, I am sure this site will be littered with attempts. Several things must be kept in mind when formulating these deals

1. The trades must create value for the seasons to come or they will be pointless. As hard as you want to believe it, we are not championship contenders this year. I came up with a hypothetical trade for Jermaine O'Neal and James Jones for T-Mac and David Anderson. This trade is useless because after this year, the only thing we are left with is Jones bad contract. There is no point in trading T-Mac if it would make more sense just to wait for his contract to expire.

2. Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry both will need to be re-signed this offseason. Unless the incoming players are more valuable, we will still need cash to sign these guys. In precedent, Ramon Sessions was given a four year contract last off-season averaging about 4 mil per year. A player of similar value to Scola, David Lee was given a 7 mil, one year contract, which many view to be a bargain. Also, we will have to resign Yao, Landry, Hayes, and Brooks in the next season, all who will likely be expecting raises.

3. Most teams will not clear cap just to clear cap. Not all teams believe they legitimately have a shot at signing LeBron, so they are not going to trade away half their team for a chance to do something. Lots of teams still believe they have a shot at the playoffs and will expect something of value in return....T-Mac does not count.

4. The other team actually has to accept the trade....duh

I agree with the majority on the last post, in that trading Stuckey would be uselss, unless someone were to make an outrageous offer that blew us away. He does have a lot of potential, and Dumars basically has built this team around him.

However, I seriously doubt that he will ever be an All-Star player. He played 31 minutes per game last year. This is a pretty decent amount for such a young player, so to really increase his numbers, he is going to have to up his efficiency. The only facet of the game I can ever see him becoming outstanding in is scoring. This is where he really excels. I don't think he will ever be an elite player, as long as we expect him to be a PG

Look at who he would have to beat out in the Eastern Conference to become an All-Star:

Jameer Nelson- Made the team last year, will have to bounce back after the injury

Devin Harris- Already an outstanding scorer, hard for defenses to contain

Rajon Rondo- An excellent team player, an outstanding athlete and rebounder for his size

Derrick Rose- Has already shown that Stuckey is going to have a hard time hanging with him as a rookie

Jose Calderon- Not flashy, but uber-efficient

You could also throw in guys like Gilbert Arenas and Mo Williams.

Honestly, do you ever see Stuckey as an All-Star PG?

To be honest, I have never really been a huge Pacers fan, but I recently joined PASPN, a new type of fantasy basketball league where you inherit an NBA franchise and it's players and contracts, and must follow cap rules. Being the last person to join the league, the only team left was the Pacers, so here I am, the Pacers G.M. Anyways, I would like to know which of the Pacers players would be the best to keep around and how I have done so far.

I traded Mike Dunleavy and the Pacers 2nd Round pick to the Grizzlies for Hamed Haddadi and Hakim Warrick

I traded T.J. Ford, Maceo Baston, and Brandon Rush to the Pistons for Greg Oden and Richard Hamilton

I drafted Jrue Holiday with the 13th pick

I am currently working on a buyout with Jamaal Tinsley

That leaves my roster as

PG- Jarrett Jack- I will probably try to retain him?

SG- Rip Hamilton

SF- Danny Granger

PF- Troy Murphy

C- Greg Oden

Flex1- Roy Hibbert

Flex2- Jrue Holiday

Bench- Jeff Foster, Hamed Haddadi

I am still questionable on whether I should resign Diener, Nesterovic, Daniels, and Harrison. I probably won't keep any

Any advice is appreciated...remember, this is fantasy basketball

Hello, I recently joined Posting and Toasting because the Knicks are a very interesting team to me. Everybody thinks they are in such bad shape, but I think Donnie Walsh has done a solid job and they have put together some excellent pieces. With this being said, I have a few questions

1. What is your teams current starting lineup and rotation ( a little of bit of analysis would be helpful too)

2. In your opinion, what will the Knicks do with Nate Robinson and David Lee this offseason

3. I recently read the fanpost mentioning a rumor of trading Wilson Chandler for the 5th pick in the draft. Many commenters said this would be bad. Do you guys see this much value in Chandler? I mean, he is versatile and pretty good all around but, is there something I am missing? What position do you see him winding up at?

4. Who do you see the Knicks taking with the 8th pick and who do you want them to take. Just wondering because I will probably do something resembling a Mock Draft later tonight on my blog, Nick and Roll (sorry about the plug...I wouldn't even recommend going there for a few days...I haven't blogged in quite a while)

Any info is appreciated

Word on the street is that we are trying to dump McGrady A.S.A.P.  What I want to know is who are the possible teams that are willing to take him. On Hoopshype, I have read that the Bulls are possibly interested in taking him. I don't really think Morey would want Kirk Hinrich for 4 years at 10 million per year. So the only trade that works is Brad Miller, Tim Thomas and filler. I don't see that really helping the Rockets. I have also heard the Knicks may be interested. They give us more options. I am interested in what everyone is hearing.

With all the trade speculation, I have been thinking about ranking players. So...here is my current list of the top 30 centers. By no means is this list perfect, so I welcome any corrections, so long as their is reasoning behind it. Most of my reasoning is based off of simple statistics and personal opinions, so I would like this to be corrected.  Also, some players didn't make this list that occasionally play C, like David Lee. This was also my choosing...so deal with it.

                                                                                Dwight Howard

                                                                                Yao Ming

                                                                                Al Jefferson

                                                                                Pau Gasol

                                                                                Shaquille O’Neal

                                                                                Emeka Okafor

                                                                                Andrew Bynum

                                                                                Andris Biedrins

                                                                                Nene Hilario

                                                                                Marcus Camby

                                                                                Jermaine O’Neal

                                                                                Tyson Chandler

                                                                                Chris Kaman

                                                                                Brook Lopez      

                                                                                Marc Gasol

                                                                                Mehmet Okur

                                                                                Andrew Bogut

                                                                                Kendrick Perkins

                                                                                Greg Oden                         

                                                                                Zydrunas Ilgauskas

                                                                                Sam Dalembert

                                                                                Brad Miller

                                                                                Joakim Noah

                                                                                Spencer Hawes

                                                                                Joel Przybilla

                                                                                Brendan Haywood

                                                                                Nenad Krstic

                                                                                Jeff Foster

                                                                                Zaza Pachulia

                                                                                Erick Dampier

After watching the Lakers win yet another title, I have decided that rather than being disappointed nearly every year when a team I hate wins, I will expand the teams that I like, thus increasing the odds of a team I like winning. For this reason, I have joined this blog. The Houston Rockets will always be my favorite team, and I like the Pistons because I live in Michigan, but the Thunder have secured the third spot. Why? Even with the lackluster results from this season, I believe this franchise is putting pieces in place to create a winner in a few years. Between Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, and even Nick Collison and Nenad Krstic, the team is full of young and exciting players. Anyways, I would just like to introduce myself to everyone on this site and say that I will now be rooting for the Thunder.

Ever since I was about 9 or 10, my favorite team has been the Buccaneers. The only problem is that I live in Michigan. With that being said, I don't get to hear any media on the Bucs, and sometimes can be left in the dark (well, except for this site.) To get to the point, I was wondering what all of the Buc's fans felt were the biggest team needs right now. Here are my top 5, but I could be off base

1.WR-clearly we need somebody besides Antonio Bryant

2.DT-Hovan is still solid, but Haye is gone

3.OLB-I really do not trust Quincy Black

4.CB-Ronde is still Pro-Bowl level, but even if Talib starts, we still need a nickelback

5.QB-I'm still not sold on Luke McCown being a starting quarterback

Recently, I made the 19th selection for the Buccaneers in the Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft. I selected Peria Jerry, who I think would be a valuable asset to the team. I could have taken Andre Smith, who fell that far. Josh Freeman was still available too, but I don't think he is deserving of a first round pick. Did I make the right choice?

At this point, it almost seems inevitable that the Lions will choose Matt Stafford. I really don't like this pick, but I can only get mad so many times. It is time to start looking for the positives. I would like us to pick Aaron Curry, but I don't see that happening after the Peterson trade. That brings us to OT. Who is the real #1? During the season, it was Mike Oher and Andre Smith, but now the distinction falls to Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe. Shouldn't we be looking at what they did in the season? Isn't that what is really important? I am just saying if we can get either Smith or Oher at #20, I will be elated. Neither may be the smartest guy, or be a workout warrior (or in Smith's case, even show up to workouts) but they can play.

If you are bored, help a brother out. I had been blogging about the Pistons, but I got tired of it, so now I just blog about the NBA in general. Anyways, I devised the 2009 NBA Alumni Tournament to determine which college has the most impressive group of NBA alumni. As most of you are from Texas, you could help me determine who would win the first matchup, between Texas and Alabama. All of this can be found at Nick and Roll.

Since no one liked my previous trade idea, I have concocted (probably spelled wrong) a new equally terrible one. This is a four team bonanza. We would receive cap space, a la Raef LaFrentz and a point guard Andre Miller. We would have to give up T-Mac and Carl Landry. Here it is on the trade machine.

Here are all the details

Chicago Bulls receive Tracy McGrady and Sam Dalembert

Philadelphia 76ers receive Larry Hughes, Carl Landry, Channing Frye, and Jerryd Bayless

Houston Rockets receive Raef LaFrentz and Andre Miller

Portland Trail Blazers receive Andres Nocioni and Kirk Hinrich

There has to be something wrong with it? Go ahead...

I know you guys aren't the biggest fans of Rafer Alston, but would Morey be willing to trade him at the deadline. As a Pistons and Rockets fan, I realize that a trade between these teams could be mutually beneficial. The Pistons would receive Rafer, filling a big hole at backup PG, currently filled by Will Bynum. In return, you would receive Kwame Brown, who is essentially filler, and Arron Afflalo, who is locked out of playing time because Rip Hamilton was moved to the bench. He plays good defense and could fill in at the 1, 2, or 3 if needed. Plus, this would allow Aaron Brooks to start at PG. Kwame's contract is a bit large (4 mil) but it expires after this year. What do you think?

Also, check out my blog at http://motownballin.blogspot.com/

According to sources on ESPN.com, the Broncos have reached an agreement to make Josh McDaniels their new head coach. Crap! I was really rooting for him. I even signed him as the head coach of my team on Madden like last year. Now, I think we must have Spagnuolo, for the sake of our defense.

Maybe now with McDaniels, instead of Shanahan, we can finally look forward to a reliable fantasy running back in Denver, instead of asking "Who the hell is Mike Bell?" I am just trying to find the positives

As fans from Michigan (well most of you anyways), if you are bored check out my new blog on the Detroit Pistons. I just started it a week ago, but I need some critiques on the layout and what to add to it. I am new to the whole blogging scene, but I would like to become experienced enough to maybe one day blog for this site.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

Here's the link: http://motownballin.blogspot.com/

Also, Go Wolverines

As fans from Detroit, if you are bored check out my new blog on the Detroit Pistons. I just started it yesterday, but I need some critiques on the layout and what to add to it. I am new to the whole blogging scene, but I would like to become experienced enought to maybe one day blog for this site.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

Here's the link: http://motownballin.blogspot.com/

Also, as this has to have some relevance to the Lions instead of just a shameless promotion, I am rooting for either Josh McDaniels or Steve Spagnuolo. Mularkey and Frazier are no good.

As basketball fans, if you are bored check out my new blog on the Detroit Pistons. I just started it yesterday, but I need some critiques on the layout and what to add to it. I am new to the whole blogging scene, but I would like to become experienced enought to maybe one day blog for this site.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

Here's the link: http://motownballin.blogspot.com/

Also, Go Rockets

For any football fan, I would recommend reading The Blind Side by Michael Lewis. He was also the author of Moneyball. But this story is about a man who I wouldn't be upset if the Lions took first overall, Michael Oher ( pronounced oar.) His life story is very interesting and Lewis does a great job of telling it.

As for the Lions, they are now on the clock. If they feel they need to take a quarterback to sell jerseys, than I wouldn't be upset if they take Stafford or Bradford. However, they would need to use the other first rounder on a left tackle. This would mean that Oher and Andre Smith will be gone, so we could draft Jason Smith from Baylor or Eugene Monroe from Virginia. Some sites believe Ciron Black from LSU could be drafted by them, but I think he will fall further. Also, many people belive Eben Britton is a top 20 pick, but I see him as a guard. Through the draft and free agency the Lions desparately need to upgrade both lines.

P.S. What up Yuille. This is Nick Bemiss

I am a Rockets fan from Michigan. Ever since I was about 5, they have been my favorite team.  I recently scored two free tickets to go watch the Rockets play the Pistons in a few weeks at the Palace. Even though I am a fan of the Pistons as well, I will go in my McGrady jersey to root for the Rockets. Do any of you have an idea for a sign? Any suggestions will be appreciated.