[kazmerzack]

The NBA trade deadline came and went and finally I can stop reading the majority of trade rumors that have dominated the sport pages in the last month. The only last minute trades involved Earl Watson, Lee Nailon, Derek Anderson, Mark Jackson, and Chris Wilcox. Hardly front page news when it comes to NBA players. The only trade of significance was Steve Francis going to the Knicks for Trevor Ariza and Penny Hardaway which I don’t believe makes sense considering I don’t see how there will be enough shots for Marburry and Francis. Add to that the Knicks overcrowded Point guard position, 123 million dollar payroll, and the same amount of wins as the Charlotte Bobcats whose payroll is a mere 30 million. The two big names constantly mentioned Garnett and Pierce stayed put. The two biggest trades this season were not shocking either because both big players involved had to be moved in Francis and Artest as because of comments or actions they had worn out their welcomes with their respective teams and had to be dealt. So now we can finally stop the speculation and concentrate on the rest of the regular season and the myriad of possibilities it holds. Will the Heat build on the major victory over Detroit, will Duncan and Ginobli get healthy, and are the Mavericks finally for real. I’m glad the trade deadline is over but I will be interested when the season is over after the Heat take the title, OK I’m going out on a limb, to see the bumper crop of free agents who may switch teams. This list includes Dirk Nowitski, Ben Wallace, Mike Bibby, Al Harington, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, Peja Stjakovic, and Garnett and Pierce, who are not free agents but probably be wearing another uniform. Now those are some names to get excited about. Unless Isiah Thomas still has a job and buys them all for a billion and, at least, a 40 win season.

[Lefty Noob]

I find it hard to believe that Lamar Odom is still a Laker. They seemed so obsessed with dealing him. Would've been nice to see him alongside LeBron in Cleveland, but... oh well!

Interesting list of free agents next season. I think Dirk and Wallace stay put, the former because of his owners committment to winning and the latter because Detroit should have enough room under the cap to hang onto him. Garnett is a goner, no doubt in my mind. I'm not quite as certain that Vince and Peja will be moving, but I still think it'll happen.

[kazmerzack]

I'm a huge Laker fan and seem to be disappointed in Odom. He has all the toold but never has made the next step into a legit NBA star. This is his third team and was being shopped around. Pierce, I think, will have the biggest impact on a team if traded. Garnett too but if the Knicks make a run at him how will it be any different than in Minnesota, great player nobody around him. Well maybe Francis if he's not in the deal but he needs a major year next season to be put back in the superstar status that he was before going to the Magic. Isanyone going to chance on Grant Hill, is Shaq going to lose weight and be dominant again, am I ever going to learn how to spell Nowistki correctly? (I think I got it right this time)