Derryberr's NBA Corner

The NBA has experienced a huge up swing in the play of the regular season, The Boston three Party are playing their hearts out every night, Kidd and Lebron are on nightly triple double watch, Portland is playing out of it’s mind, Kobe and the Lakers matter again, even what’s wrong with the league is intriguing the Knicks saga being a train wreck were no once can look away, the bulls self destructing, and Miami bottoming out so fast. I can honestly say it’s great being fan of the NBA.

Here’s the thing to many GM are playing for status quo and not to win a title. No one wants to roll the dice with a trade or for god sake admit they made a mistake. Too many teams seem happy with their squad and think they have a shot to win a title but in reality there are only four to five teams who shouldn’t be making moves.

Let’s discuss shall we

This week we are playing who should make a deal, so overall record and who’s the best team doesn’t matter in this week’s rankings. What matters is how your team is balancing it’s present with it’s future, it’s mistakes of the past, and when they are looking to make a run at a title. Since that is the goal of a team, to make the playoffs, and to eventually have a shot at winning it all. (I know they also want to make money but I like to think winning is still the most important thing.)

30) Miami Heat (8-23) Congrats you won a title two years ago, now you have a aging center on the hook for 20 million a year, Zo goes down with an injury, and D-wade is hurt a lot. This team was built for two to three title runs and whether they want to admit it or not, they are re-building with no rebuilding parts. This team is close to unfixable. Present out look bad, Future outlook okay as long as they can keep Wade.
29 New York Knicks (8-21) The only reason they are rated higher than the Heat is because their expectation were lower. What we have here is the perfect example of how not to run a team. A bunch of over paid and un-trade- able players and contracts, and a terrible coach to run the whole thing. The funny thing is they have three tradable parts David Lee, Nate Robison, and Balkman but if they trade them I don’t think they would have a fan left to root for them. Must get ride of Marbury and Curry who both should be paid on a game-to-game performance. Present out look terrible future out look worse
28) Chicago Bulls: (11-17) This is what happens when you play basketball not to lose instead of to win. Big mistake giving Ben Wallace all that money, and bigger mistake for not trading for Kobe. That may have set this franchise back a couple of years. They have no lost post scoring and a bunch of good not great permerter players. For future reference when offered a Kevin Garnett or Kobe Bryany and you’re holding Ben Gordan, Deng, and Ty Thomas always say yes. They need a low post score. The trade of Aldridge for Thomas on draft day looks dumb now. Present out look just above bad, Future okay if they can find a trading partner but boy has this stocked dropped.
27) Houston Rockets: (15-15) Definition of stuck in neutral. Yao is just below great and T-mac is just below reliable. I would get what I could for T-Mac and run this entire offense through Yao. They need to get someone younger than Yao or at least a star that will defer to him. They are wasting one of the game’s five best big man running crap for T-Mac Present out look: First round Exit Future Outlook: a number of First round exits.
26) Memphis Grizzlies: (8-22) A couple of Young point guards trying to develop and a big man who comes up kind of soft. If Pau is okay with building keep him, but if not deal him to some other dumb GM who thinks he can build a team around him. Pau just doesn’t have it, whatever the “it” is you need to lead a team. He would be great playing along side Lebron, Wade of Kobe. Present out look Lottery bound, Future outlook: undecided until the young guys get to play more
25) Sacramento Kings: (11-18) Welcome to Sac-town population we need to trade everyone and start over. Artest is only useful on a winning team( ironic that he would eventually ruin that winning team because he’s crazy) Bibby was always a little over rated but he could be the point guard of the Hawks or Cavs you might have something. The only player worth keeping is Martin and even he needs to be thought of the lead support guy for a star. Present out look trade rumor mill. Future out look: Lottery for a couple of years
24) Cleveland Cavs: (14-17) Look People Lebron is not hanging around to be a great player on an average team. He got a taste of the goof life and he liked it. He is the best all around player in the NBA not named Kobe and on any given night he can be better then Kobe. No one on this roster should be untouchable except Lebron and Gibson. They will be a playoff team with Lebron but until things change not a real threat at a title Present outlook Playoff team with a punchers chance at a title. Future outlook a playoff of team with a punchers chance at a title.
23) New Jersey Nets (14-16) Vince Carter should be paid on a game-to-game basis. With that said why not unload Kidd his contract and his age, get a little younger and see what Carter and Jefferson could do being the leading man. Kidd made New Jersey respectable for a number of years. Trade the man even if it’s 50 cents on the dollar because you not that good if you’re an also ran in the east. Present out look: 8th seed in the east. Future outlook: Lottery
22) Milwaukee Bucks: (11-18) Their above the nets because the Nest thought they could compete in the east. I don’t think the Bucks thought that. Yi looks good but them seem to have a bunch of good players no one great. And I repeat you don’t build your team around guys like Redd. He should be the second best player on your team not the best. I thought the Knicks proved this with Allen Houston. Present Outlook: Frisky but Lottery bound. Future outlook: they could climb as high as first round exit
21) Charlotte Bobcats: (10-18) They have drafted smart, the let Gerald Wallace play his way into a good pro but injury after injury give them and incomplete. Present outlook to banged up to tell Future outlook hopefully injury free.
20) Indiana Pacers (15-16) Trying to rebuild of the fly is tough, it’s also a way to lie to your fan base by saying look were right in the mix of the east we aren’t rebuilding. They have done okay avoiding the 20 and 62 season but they haven’t rebounded to elite status either. O’Neil is one of those guys that needs to be the second best player on a good team. Present outlook: border line playoff team. Future outlook: Borderline lottery team
19) LA Clippers: (9-19) It’s always something with the Clippers. Livingston loses an entire knee, Brand gets hurt, only to have Kaman step up and become productive. Present out look: not good Future outlook intriguing
18) Atlanta Hawks: (15-13) Trade for a point guard. You have all the pieces to jump to a playoff team except you start speedy Claxton at point. Give up Childress, Marvin and Sheldon Williams for a better point guard pleas. Present outlook: just below becoming good Future outlook could be real good or fall back down to being the hawks
17) Washington Wizards: (15-14) What to do, what to do. Your team has played better without your star that it has. I love Gilbert but don’t you have to look into trading him just to see what you could get. No team has ever one much with a scoring point guard. And as you stand now you’re a first round lose in the east meaning you average. Present outlook borderline playoff team future out look borderline playoff team
16) Utah Jazz: (16-16) So you made it all the way to conference finals and then come back and play .500 ball. Boozer and Williams need better parts around them. Okur is not the answer at Center and AK-47 doesn’t mesh well in this style of play. I like the trade for Korver cause he should fit what they do and should open the floor with his threes. Your in the west Utah The Lakers are getting better, Portland is getting better, and your standing pat. Present out look Second to first round playoff exit. Future outlook: A weak Contender
15) Toronto Raptors: (16-15) That sound you heard was Dwight Howard passing up Bosh and the East Big Man. Toronto has nice team but Bargani hasn’t blossomed and they don’t have a real second guy to help Bosh yet. They had break through season last year but it seems the improvement in year two isn’t happening. Present outlook: good but not great. Future out look the team in the east with a good record but not a serious threat to do much.
14) Philadelphia Sixers: (13-17) They’re this high because they are honest about their rebuilding project and they have Andre Miller as a Trade asset. Now if they can realize to Keep the new AI but make him their second best player they might have a something. Present outlook: rebuilding but on schedule. Future outlook good with smart decision in the draft and with trades.
13) Denver Nuggets: (18-12) Carmelo Anthony is a better version of Glenn big dog Robison. He only really affects the game if he is scoring. This team has also ran status in the west on lock down. The trade for Iverson was worth the risk but I don’t like their make-up and in a couple of years Portland will be better than they are, New Orleans might already be better, and the Lakers are passing them up as we speak. Present outlook First round or second round exit in the west and maybe one magical year as a contender Future outlook First round exit in the west.
12) Dallas Mavericks: (20-11) the we have solid team that is going to win more than they lose but not win the big one. Would I break up this team and try to land a mega star yes, but could I see keeping them together a making a run at a title yes but this is the last year the window is going to be open. Present outlook: Almost a contender Future outlook: Fading in the second and first rounds of the playoffs
11) Golden State: (18-13) could they had a player or two that makes them better yes, would you want to ruin the weird Chemistry they have no. Are they in it for the long run no? Present outlook Exciting, crazy, and yes a slight contender because no one wants to mess with their energy and their home court advantage. Future outlook: Lottery bound in two years
10) Phoenix Suns: (22-9) In year four of the up-tempo offense experiment. If I were Their GM I would move Amare for a couple of bigs that could play D. When Nash finally breaks down so will Amare’s game. Sell when the stock is high. We they struggle to beat the spurs they way the team is made up right now so change it up. Present outlook: Title Contender with flaws Future outlook: playoff contender with flaws
9) New Orleans Hornets: (20-10) Chris Paul is going to be the next great point guard. Tyson Chandler is going to good at rebounding and blocking shots for a long time. His ceiling has reach slightly better than Marcus Camby. Are they Better than the Suns right now no but their younger and getting getter. Present outlook first round exit maybe second round Future out look contender with smart decisions
8) Detroit Pistons: (23-7) Let me remind you if they hadn’t picked Darko they could have had Bosh, Melo, or Wade with this line-up meaning they would be the best team in the NBA. That mistake has cost them, this has been the second best ran team next to the spurs but I can’t help but think their best years are behind them. Lebron beat them with an inferior team. Wade and Shaq handled them. Would I make a move if I were Dumars no, but I don’t think they should feel comfortable. They are missing something to be consider a title threat. Present out look the we still think we are a contender team, Future outlook good if you mean getting bounced in the second of third round of the playoffs every year
7) Minnesota Timber Wolves (4-25) Goal this season to be really bad. That was accomplished. Sometimes you need to start over. Doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be shopping Present out look Lottery, which is, were they wanted to be. Future out look not too shabby if they make the right picks and Al Jefferson keeps growing
6) Boston Celtics: (26-3) Fell just short of No changes needed. They need to add some Vets to bolster the line-up and bench. No Major changes just add more parts to what you already have. Present Outlook Contender Future Outlook Contender for a couple of years.

These teams need to stay the coarse
5) Seattle Super Sonics: (9-21) They wanted to start over and they got a good one in Durant with his size might be a one-time player. Just let him grow and add parts, as he gets better. Present outlook: a lot of loses but that’s okay. Future outlook: good and potential to be great.
4) LA Lakers: (19-11) The young guys are getting better. Are they a contender no, but Kobe is going to be Kobe for four to five more years. When Farmar and Bynum are going to be really good. Hang on to Kobe and become a contender when Tim gets old and the Suns sets on Nash. It might just be the Lakers and Blazers battling it out again. Present out look on the way up Futrue outlook Strong Contender
3) Orlando Magic: (21-11) all their key guys are young and Howard is a beast. This team is a contender in the east right now and for years to come the way it is constructed. Present outlook East Contender future outlook NBA Contender
2) San Antonio Spurs: (21-8) The Best run team in the business and Duncan’s game shouldn’t have the fall off Shaq’s did. Present outlook Contender Future outlook Contender but sliding back to the pack
1) Portland Trailblazers (18-12) you lose your number one overall pick for the year. Last years number two overall pick goes down with an injury and your team is still overachieving. They need to realize what they are building up there and let it grow. Present outlook playoff team. Future outlook One of the best teams in Basketball.