2009 Free Agency creates Mayhem... A #9 to Always Remember...

Rasheed Wallace is one of the many big names
in the overlooked 2009 free agency market
that has been looking for a new home. Boston,
San Antonio, and Orlando seemed to be in the running
as his favorite options. Is he in for the money or
does he just want to hold up the trophy once more?

While teams are opening up their cap room for the highly anticipated 2010 free agent pool (LeBron James, Amare Stoudemire, Yao Ming, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, etc) the stronger just continue to build their teams up with the talent that the 2009 free agency pool is offering.

As soon as the final buzzer went off in game 5 of the NBA finals, general managers and their front office team got right to work.

The Orlando Magic had to figure out what they were going to do with all the expiring contracts and the point guard dilemma. They decided to go with their young point guard stud Jameer, and said so long to Rafer. They refused to believe in Courtney Lee as their future off guard and shipped him along with Rafer Alston and Battie in a blockbuster trade. Losing Battie, they accepted the fact that unless they can re-sign Gortat, they will have major depth issues in the bigs, leaving Superman Howard all by his lonesome. They went with a veteran star shooting guard Vince Carter that could be nearing the end of the road on his prime. Acquiring Air Canada, Hedo set sail as he didn't see the Magic's offer to be very flattering. Orlando one and done?

The Lakers just won so they don't need to make any changes right? Think again...

Plenty of more action went about as the Spurs looked to strengthen their already explosive back court by trading for Richard Jefferson who is hungry for a title. Timmy has a new wingman and can expect a few more runs for a ring or two before his age tells him to throw in the towel.

The Cavaliers just were not satisfied with the second place finish in the East. The team that won 66 games in the regular season looked to become even more dangerous as they brought in Big Diesel, getting rid of "not so" Big Ben and his overpriced contract and Sasha Pavlovic. Did the Cavs just improve by getting the once most dominant big man in the league? You be the judge.

Three of the top teams in the NBA; the Cavs, Magic, and Spurs made a few tweaks to their strategy for a world championship but have they become better or worse? In my opinion...

Spurs aqcuiring Jefferson: A- You always want a guy like Bruce Bowen on your squad but they just got themselves an explosive wing that can score and do damage on both sides of the ball. Maybe Rich can bring in the same intensity on defense now that he's on a contending team.

Magic acquiring Vince Carter: C+ They brought in that guy that can guard the Kobe's of the world but was it worth it? Carter is a great player but he's not always going to show up when you need him to stop that guy in purple and gold or maybe even navy and red. Too many players were lost in this crazy mess of a transaction. Rafer, Courtney Lee, Toni Battie, Hedo, Gortat? Of course, the arrival of VC wasn't the main reason for the loss of ALL these players, but a connection is definitely there.

No more Hedo in a Magic's uni, but is his
decision to sign with Toronto a wise one?

Cavs + Shaq or LeBron + Shaq: B- Sure, Shaq led the Lakers to a three peat and helped guide young Wade to his first NBA championship. That was when Shaq could actually play a full 82 game season while producing with equal distribution. The Cavs may have to realize that Shaq wont be fully out there every night. Fatigue is going to slow him down and he might get in LeBron's way when the King wants to cover the whole floor when slashing to the basket. With a 66 regular season win team, Shaq just doesn't seem like the guy to make the team any better. Not at his current age at least. Just my personal opinion.

These three teams obviously aren't the only top contenders for the 2010 championship. The defending champion Lakers and the 2008 champion Celtics didn't just lounge around while other teams were hard at work to try to dethrone these last two champions.

The Lakers hoped to return their entire squad for a run to defend their fresh new title. Instead, they make their arsenal even more powerful by signing bad boy Ron Artest to a very affordable deal. Trevor Ariza, took the wrong path and traded places with Artest as he signed a fatter contract with Houston that the Lakers had no intentions of matching. Trevor, money isn't always the way to go. You just left Kobe, Pau, and Lamar for T-Mac (The next Penny but a poor man's version) and Yao (He won't be down their to grab your rebounds buddy). Lakers 2 Rockets 0

A Kobe, Artest tandem may have been the last
possibility on most people's minds but the two
have joined together in an effort to strengthen
the Lakers' hopes of back-to-back titles.
.

The Celtics obviously weren't the same in this year's playoffs as they were without the Big Ticket, Kevin Garnett. Having him back on his feet and in white and green uniform is enough of an improvement on the team for the upcoming season but Boston felt that they needed to strengthen themselves in order to take down the Lakers in another possible Finals showdown in a rivalry that goes back to 70's and beyond. As they looked for another piece to add on to the team's chemistry, the Celtics brought in Rasheed Wallace. A mutual agreement between Rasheed and the Celtics has brought havoc around the NBA world as the former NBA champions just got even tougher.

Lakers snagging Artest for cheap: A+ With Artest and Bryant on the floor in the same uniform, offenses will have no idea what to do as two of the NBA's best defenders will make it very difficult for the other 29 teams in the league.

Celtics attracting Big Sheed: A++ I don't know how this affects whatever expiring contracts that Boston may have but as long as the Celts have KG, Ray, Paul Pierce, and Rondo, the joining of Wallace to this wrecking crew could only mean positive things for the 08 champs.

My prediction for the 2010 NBA Finals match-up?
Lakers vs Celtics
Lakers vs Cavs
Spurs vs Celtics
Spurs vs Cavs
Magic vs Celtics?
Magic vs Cavs?

I'm not too sure about how the Magic are going to do with their shortened lineup but Vince Carter can only mean good things for a team. Another run to the NBA Finals for the Magic just seems blurry for now.

The 25 other teams can just forget about it. Am I sounding a little too ignorant? Why is Denver not in this equation? Dallas? LA is just the best team in the West right now, flat out. And the Spurs are always in the mix. ALWAYS.

Okay, so the Spurs (Who were knocked out in the first round by Dallas) being considered a contender over the Nuggets Rockets, and Mavericks (Who both made it to the second round at least) doesn't seem just but if you look at it, the Spurs are just built to win another championship soon. Great coaching, tough defense, and a very good captain.

The Nuggets in 2009-10 Nene and K Mart are great big men but 6'9" and 6'10" just isn't the average height of NBA big men nowadays. Pau 7'1", Bynum 7', Shaw 7'1", Yao 7'6", Zydrunas 7'3", Timmy Duncan 7', Dwight 6'11" (Presence like an 8 footer). The Nuggets' bigs have proved doubters wrong in this past post season as they didn't let height be an excuse. Still, Pau and Bynum seemed to be a wall for the Nuggets. Carmelo still hasn't solidifed himself as a leader. Don't get me wrong, the man can play some hoops but still has a lot of maturing to do. Chauncey is the main reason for the Nuggets success but this past season may be the best he had to offer for the Nuggets or any other team. This team is going to have a lot of changes done in the span of a few years. The whole starting lineup could be different very soon. But don't take just my word for it.

The Rockets in 2009-10 Yeah right, you can go ahead and prepare yourself for the lottery. T-Mac just isn't the same and if Yao goes with the wise decision of going with the surgery, he will be in a suit and tie all season. Ron Artest is gone and you've got a young Trevor Ariza who is coming off an NBA championship with a team that he started for. I wonder what his ego is going to be like as he looks to have an even larger role with Houston.

Dallas in 2009-10 Dirk, Kidd, and Josh. Kidd looks like he's going to spend the rest of what his body has to offer the NBA while in a Mavs uniform. A 3 year 25 mil agreement is quite a nice one to offer a 36 year old. Could Dallas be in for a big mistake? Then again, the main reason to Dirk's success is because of the presence of Kidd. Dirk just seems to look like a different guy out their with #2 leading the floor. They don't have enough to take on Kobe and the Lakers. They aren't even close.

Other names in the free agent market

Charlie V and Ben Gordon were the newest Pistons this past week as they agreed to join a Pistons franchise that looks to be in a complete rebuilding mode. With Rip still on the roster, could the Pistons be looking to make a starting lineup entirely of UConn alumni?

Hedo could have possibly made the dumbest move out of all the free agents as he selfishly took money over contention for a world championship as he signed with the Raptors. He must have missed Chris Bosh's phone call when Bosh was trying to warn him not to come to the soon to be worst team in the NBA. Hedo should have known what was good for him and resigned with the Magic on a mid level exception or something around that area. Instead Hedo, you have made a couple more million. What are your plans in Toronto? I heard it snows there. I guess, playing for Sacramento and Orlando, you missed the snow that you often played in back in Turkey. I guess it's okay now.

David Lee is lurking around the market and looks to make a concluding decision very soon. Don't go back to New York David. Portland?

Shawn Marion is now accepting all offers. As the Raptors came to terms with Hedo, options have been opened up for the Matrix and a new home could be in store soon.

With all these big time trades, I wonder what adidas is going to do with all their unsold jerseys of stars that got traded this year. They need to start preparing for the changes that are going to create a downfall in their market in 2010. Dun dun...

"What If?"
In Memory of Steve McNair. Rest in Peace ol' quarterback.

Super Bowl XXXIV is just seconds away from coming to an end. The St. Louis Rams are one defensive posession away from putting a period on their cinderella season while it seems like it was only a few days ago when Tennessee pulled off an incredible lateral play on a kick return to beat the Buffalo Bills in the final seconds of a Wild Card game. Steve McNair is leading the charge while his team has one last opportunity to possibly tie the game to go into overtime. When the Rams seem to have a hold of the Titans on a big time stop, McNair refuses to give up that easily and takes his team into the Rams' redzone.

#9 in Navy and Carolina blue is displaying the 2-minute drill at it's finest. With seconds left, their seems to be just enough time for one last play. The precision pass spirals into the hands of the Tennessee wide receiver and he twists his body to face the endzone and looks straight ahead. Mike Jones, a linebacker for the St. Louis Rams won't allow this and grabs Kevin Dyson by the ankle and stops him at the 1-yard line as the clock strikes 0:00. The Rams have done it, they have completed the season as the world champions.

One of the most historic last second plays in NFL history
was in Super Bowl XXXIV when Mike Jones held on tight
to the waist of Kevin Dyson to keep the Titans from
reaching the endzone in a final desperation attempt to
tie the game.

Not looking back, McNair looks on as he heads into the locker room while confetti is flooding the field for the celebration of the Rams' victory.

McNair, moves on with his NFL career, only to improve and make a name for himself. Overcoming and enduring tough injuries, McNair strides forth and even earns the AFC co-MVP away in 2003. McNair never felt the Lombardi trophy in his hands but held an impressive career that no one can take away from him.

The Rams become one of the top teams in the NFL as they display an offense known to become "The Greatest Show on Turf" only to fall apart a few years later. Kurt Warner moves onto a different team and the Rams just never look the same and are stripped of their "Greatest Show on Turf" name.

The Titans never make the Super Bowl since that year until the 2008-09 season when it seems like they may make another Super Bowl run while holding one of the NFL's best regular season records. Their road ends early as the Super Bowl isn't even in the Titans' schedule and their off season begins early.

Let's rewind that back to about 3 seconds left in Super Bowl XXXIV. Kevin Dyson heads for the endzone, Mike Jones with the last ditch effort of a tackle fails... Dyson is in the endzone! Tennessee is one extra-point away from taking this one to overtime. The extra point is good and Tennessee wins the toss, choosing to receive. Momentum is in favor of the Titans and they get themselves field goal position and put the ball right between the goal posts. It's over, 26-23 Tennesee. The new world champions in football.

McNair was a leader among men and will always
be remembered as a great football player and human being.

Unfortunately for Tennesee fans, that wasn't the case. But it would have been nice wouldn't it? Had that happened or not, regardless of what the conclusion of that game was, it goes down as one of the best Super Bowl games in NFL history. McNair might not have been able to hold up the MVP trophy that season, but boy was he a hero to many. You gave the NFL many great seasons, Mr. McNair.

-Jason C