Trade Deadline Approaching

Detroit is looking for another bit player, maybe someone like Brevin Knight who would be a great fit and could be acquired on the cheap since the Bobcats are now Felton's team. Knight is capable of running the Detroit offense, he can D up with his ability to steal the ball, and he is an unselfish player--exactly the type of guard the Pistons like, and would be a great sub for Billups. Other players mentioned are Chucky Atkins, Morris Peterson, and Mike James...but I would bet on Brevin Knight, though that could be because I like him as a player and he would make the Pistons so much nastier.

All it takes to get Kidd to the Lakers is moving Bynum. And no matter how much I want to see a comic book about Kidd and Bryant tag teaming the L.A. scene...it doesn't make a lot of sense. This kid Bynum, they got a baller here. He's young and still growing, he's got game, he's already tossing up double-doubles and is only going to improve. He's only 19 years old, and under Phil Jackson's tutelage, he's going to blossom to, if not a star, a very worthwhile presence. You bring Kidd out there, yeah, Kidd is a great team player, him and Kobe will be nasty, but how is the rest of the team going to react? Who is Kidd going to pass the ball to? Jordan Farmar, Aaron McKie, Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm and draft picks are not enough to sway the Nets, as well as they shouldn't, Kidd is worth a lot more then that. Kidd is worth Bynum and draft picks...but do the Lakers want to pull that trigger? It could backfire terribly.

We'll see what happens by 3 tomorrow.

How about if Scottie Pippen comes back, laces up his shoes...and starts playing for the L.A. Lakers. But that's not the right place for him I think. He'd fit in more with the Miami Heat, where a lot of players are the same age as him...

Or how about the Pistons? He'd fit in beautifully there, coming off the bench, though I guess the commissioner wouldn't allow something like that to happen. Whatever happens happens, part of me is sad to see him come back, but part of me hopes he can actually contribute. We wish him the best. Jimmy and Pete came into their own when he and the Bulls were running things, they have fond memories of him...I grew up a Knicks fan so I always hated him, but now, well, that's all water under the bridge.

What if he plays for the Knicks?

Ha.

Yeah, not going to happen. Doesn't look like the Knicks are making a deal either. What's up with that? If there was something I could consistently count on happening, it was some sort of dumb ass trade by Isiah. I guess he likes his team, or his hands are tied by the salary cap, or maybe he's living by the best trade to make is no trade mentality. All I know is the Knicks passed their win total from last season and are a couple games back from a playoff spot, but--and this is the big thing--they are also exciting to watch again. I make it a point to watch my team now.

And that's always a good thing.

Other players to watch for movement: Pau Gasol, Garnett, Corey Maggette, Luke Ridnour, and any of the players on the Kings or Clippers, who could be looking to break up and start building again. A good trade obviously pushes a team over the contender hump and makes them a favorite to win the championship, and come this time tomorrow, we'll know who made that jump and who stayed on the sidelines, content to circle the wagons and push into summer...