GUARDS

Stars:

Feb 17, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Western Conference guard Chris Paul (3) of the Los Angeles Clippers holds the game MVP trophy after the 2013 NBA all star game at the Toyota Center. West won 143-138. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

1. Chris Paul – UTA@LAC – $7,800

Expect a big bounce back game from Paul after an unimpressive performance last time out against the Spurs. Utah really doesn’t have anyone to guard him and I’d expect a big game for a solid price for such a star.

2. Ty Lawson – DEN@CHA – $8,100

Lawson is still on fire and should continue against Charlotte tonight. Over his last five games, he has put up over 40 FDP four times and the lone time he didn’t, it was an impressive 36.

3. Brandon Jennings – ATL@MIL – $7,800

The top six or so PGs on the board tonight are all pretty good options in my opinion, but I’ll take Jennings to cap off the group of 3 I’m mentioning. He has averaged a very healthy 20+ shot attempts per game over his last five games and I don’t see any reason why he would stop shooting. Even if he misses well over half of them, he should still have the chance to rack up FDP.

Values:

4. Brad Beal – HOU@WAS – $5,300

Beal is probably the best play on the board tonight when you consider his price and offensive capability. Beal has returned to the starting lineup with a bang and and also has two straight 30+ FDP in his last two. I see him as a great take for the price at this point.

5. Arron Afflalo – CLE@ORL – $5,800

The Magic squad is pretty depleted right now, with Jameer Nelson sidelined and J.J. Redick shipped to Boston. Afflalo is essentially their most proven option right now on offense and is coming off a 38 FDP night against a tough Memphis defense. I expect him to rack up minutes again tonight and definitely get his opportunities. He’s a good bet at $5,800.

FORWARDS

Stars:

1.  LeBron James – MIA@PHI – $9,900

LeBron is always the most reliable player on the board and even though his price reflects that, you won’t ever really want to miss out on him.

2.  Blake Griffin – UTA@LAC – $8,700

The power forward position looks shaky at best tonight. In my opinion, it’s probably going to be worth spending a little bit extra. There are guys who can perform in the $6-8K range, but none are incredibly reliable besides David West, who is playing on a back-to-back. Griffin has shown success against Utah in the past and will should have another strong performance.

3.  Josh Smith – ATL@MIL – $9,200

Smith is definitely a little bit pricy, but as I said, PF looks pretty shallow and it could be worth reaching up for him. He’s had a stretch of games where he hasn’t disappointed, even though you’d have liked to see slightly more out of him in his past two games, he still almost reached 30 FDP effortlessly.

Feb 04, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Orlando Magic forward Maurice Harkless (21) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers defeated the Magic 78-61. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Value:

4.  Mo Harkless – ORL@CLE – $4,700

Another case of the Magic being depleted, Harkless should definitely continue to get his opportunities tonight. He has averaged over 15 shot attempts over his past three games, something you usually won’t see out of guys priced this low. Harkless definitely should be worth the value and I see 20 FDP as his floor with these minutes.

5.  Martell Webster – HOU@WAS – $4,700

I like Harkless a little bit more out of the $4,700 guys, but Webster is not a bad option either. He has had a solid couple of games and as long as the minutes are there again, he should have no problem compiling some stats at home against Houston.

CENTERS

Star:

1. Al Horford – ATL@MIL – $8,100

Horford has averaged a ridiculous 42 FDP over his past four games. Larry Sanders presence in the lineup makes this a little bit tougher a match-up than it could have been a week or two ago, but it’s never a bad idea to play the hot hand like Horford.

Value:

2. Emeka Okafor – HOU@WAS – $5,900

Okafor has averaged nearly 27 FDP per game over his past four, which is good enough for me at this price. He’s always a scare for a dud game mixed in between a stretch of good 0nes, but he’s always a decent cheaper option to put up mid-20s.

So, with the “first half” of the season over with, the All-Star break slowly fading in the rearview mirror, here’s a look at the top five MVP candidates through the 2012-13 NBA season:

1.) LeBron James – 27.3 ppg, 56.5% FG, 8.2 rpg, 6.9 apg, 1.7 spg, 31.4 PER

Team Record: 36-14

LeBron James has been the best player in the NBA for a number of years now; all other arguments were merely attempts to make a change in the scenery. James has been MVP three of the last four seasons, and now this is where it gets scary: This season, James is shooting the best FG% of his career on the fewest number of shot attempts in his career; he’s averaging a career-high in rebounding and rebound rate; his Usage Rate is the lowest since his second year in the league; his Player Efficiency Rating is at the second highest of his career; and he’s playing on the best team in the Eastern Conference. Astoundingly, James has taken his game to another level and it’s been through a more subtle, subdued approach. He’s cut down on his three-point attempts and long jumpers (he’s also hitting both at a better clip), instead focusing more on attacking the basket where he can’t be denied, and operating a large chunk of Miami’s offense from the post, where he abuses smaller players, and hits his teammates, most often, for passes at the rim or behind the arc. Simply said, nobody is playing at the level LeBron James is.

2.) Kevin Durant – 29.2 ppg, 51.9% FG, 7.4 rpg, 4.4 apg, 1.6 spg, 1.2 bpg, 29.2 PER

Team Record: 39-14

If LeBron James is operating at the highest level in the NBA, Kevin Durant is operating on a close second, and likely by himself. It’s a shame that James’s greatness has largely overshadowed the fact that Durant, too, is having the best season of his career and becoming close to being unfairly good. Durant is on pace to become the first player since Larry Bird to lead the league in scoring while shooting 50-40-90 — 50% or over from the field, 40% or over from three-point range, and 90% or over from the free throw line. Durant’s having his best season shooting the ball from all three locations. At only 24 years old, he’s nearly impossible to guard, and it’s becoming even harder now that he has increased offensive versatility (a developed post game) and increased willingness to pass, as evidenced by his career highs in assists per game and assist percentage. If Durant completes the above accomplishment, and the Thunder finish with a better record than the Heat, it might be enough to move Durant into first place in the MVP race.

3.) Tony Parker – 20.8 ppg, 53.6% FG, 3 rpg, 7.6 apg, 24.5 PER

Team Record: 42-12

Unlike Durant and James, Tony Parker isn’t having his best season in quite so many statistical categories, but when evaluating the San Antonio Spurs, it’s pretty clear that the team’s success begins with Parker. Sure, Gregg Popovich may be the finest coach in the league, Tim Duncan has evaded Father Time, the Spurs’ effortlessly integrate new pieces into their system with nary a drop-off, but Parker’s brilliance is perhaps the biggest reason why the Spurs have the best record in the league for the third year in a row. Furthermore, Parker has had to carry the team with Duncan and Manu Ginobili missing a combined 23 games. His scoring and FG% are both near career highs, he’s shooting the three-ball better, getting to the free throw line and making his shots at a good rate, his assists per game are nearly at a career high, and his assist percentage is a borderline ludicrous 40%. Watch a Spurs game and Parker’s value jumps out more than his stats. On offense, Parker just prods and prods until he’s in the lane where he shoots a terrific percentage at the rim, or he can set up his roll-man or kick it out to any number of shooters the Spurs possess. On defense, Parker is still not (and won’t become) a great defender, but he’s capable and his effort is there pretty consistently. Though the Spurs’ greatness is affected by a number of things, one gets the feeling that Parker may now have the keys over Duncan as to how far he can carry the team.

4.) Chris Paul – 16.6 ppg, 48.2% FG, 3.4 rpg, 9.6 apg, 2.6 spg, 26.8 PER

Team Record: 39-17

By most statistics, it would appear that Chris Paul is having a down season. His minutes, scoring, assists, rebounds, steals, and 3FG% are all lower than his career averages. However, similar to Tony Parker, Paul’s worth goes beyond the stats. The Clippers have entered championship contender talk, and while an improved supporting cast certainly deserves mention, Paul may be the lone factor that decides whether the Clippers are actual contenders, or merely a good playoff team. In the nine games that Paul missed in late January and early February, the Clippers went just 3-6 (though some of those were without Blake Griffin). Paul is one of the few players with the ability to seemingly take over a game at any moment. Though he doesn’t look for his shot often, he can score at will, get anywhere on the court with a clever handle and surprising speed and strength, and his teammates greatly benefit from the attention Paul draws when he goes into attack mode. However, missed games, and occasional tendency to operate on cruise control may hurt Paul’s chances at winning MVP.

5.) Carmelo Anthony – 28.6 ppg, 44.7% FG, 6.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, 23.8 PER

Team Record: 32-18

Perhaps it was the Olympic experience, perhaps it was his peer LeBron James winning his first NBA title, but whatever it was, Anthony stormed into the season with a new attitude. Anthony is scoring at a near career best level, shooting the three-pointer far better than at any other point, and defending like he never has before. If the players ranked above him weren’t playing at such a high level, Anthony could be ranked higher based on the immense weight of the Knicks that he carries on his shoulders. Though the Knicks, too, have improved through better coaching and a deeper supporting cast, it seems as though their ultimate fate rests on Anthony’s jumpshot. His scoring eruptions have almost become routine to the point that his five 40-point games this season hardly even stand out. Throw in a previously-unseen willingness to defend and pass (though stats don’t reflect it, the eye test does), and Anthony may be having the best season of his career. Unfortunately for he and the Knicks, it just hasn’t been better than the names listed above him.

Honorable Mentions: Tim Duncan, James Harden, Stephen Curry

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With that being said, let’s not waste any time and see exactly who comes from winners and who comes home losers from All-Star Weekend in Houston.

Feb 17, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Western Conference guard Chris Paul (3) of the Los Angeles Clippers holds the game MVP trophy after the 2013 NBA all star game at the Toyota Center. West won 143-138. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Winner- Chris Paul

CP3 won the All-Star Game MVP while leading the Western Conference to victor, so that’s good enough for me. In addition his numbers of 20 points and 15 assists made this all about Los Angeles, except everyone should be talking Clippers and not Lakers. Just an outstanding and unselfish performance from Paul.

Loser-LeBron James

It’s hard to call the best player on the planet a loser, but for the second consecutive All-Star Weekend, that’s exactly what James was. He is the first person you think of after the dunk contest flops, especially after his yearly promises that he will enter the contest. Then he starts the game with some rim shaking dunks that beg the question of why he can’t do the same on Saturday’s. We know his fragile ego couldn’t take losing a dunk contest, but all things considered, he’s the guy that people want to see. To make his weekend worse, he was shut down offensively in the fourth quarter by Kobe Bryant and scored only one fourth quarter point in almost seven minutes of action, going 0-for-4 from the floor with a turnover.

Winner- Kyrie Irving

The second-year point guard had the platform for his coming out party and took advantage of it. Irving excelled in the Rising Stars Challenge, won the three-point shootout and showed on Sunday that he belonged with the NBA’s best. That’s a very productive weekend.

Loser- Brandon Knight

More than anything that the talented Knight has done of the floor in his brief time in the NBA, Knight is now know the most for getting his ankles broke by Irving on Friday night. I give Knight a ton of credit for refusing to back down to Irving and continuing to challenge him, but he will be on the wrong end of a bad highlight for months to come.

Winner- First Time All-Star’s

It’s always good to see guys make the All-Star team for the first time and this year we saw seven first timers, including the New York Knicks Tyson Chandler, who made it for the first time after 12 years in the league. Guys like Chandler, Irving, Paul George, James Harden and others showed that they belong on the big stage.

Loser- Dunk Contest

Feb 16, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) dunks during the 2013 NBA All-Star slam dunk contest at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Something has to be done to fix this. It highlights All-Star Saturday night and it flopped once again. The stars need to participate. That’s something the league needs to fix, but the rules need tweaked also. I didn’t like the East vs. West thing this year, but you simply can’t miss a dunk six times and then be given a 50 for it on chance number seven. We have seen this go on for too long. Jeremy Evans and Terrence Ross were decent in the finals, but the rest of the contest left a lot to be desired.

Winner- Kenneth Faried

Faried dropped 40 Friday night, tying a record and bringing home MVP honors. “The Manimal” also showed why he is one of the top up-and-coming young big men in the NBA today.

Loser- James White

“Flight” was grounded on Saturday night a White found out that All-Star Weekend is a much bigger stage than he was used to. He came into the dunk contest with a lot of hype but severely disappointed. The announcers said it best when they commented that “This isn’t You Tube.”

Winner- Kevin Durant

KD did what KD does and simply drops a game-high 30 points in 31 minutes of action in leading the West to victory. In a game of the best in the world, Durant stepped up and made a statement for the second consecutive year.

Loser- Chris Bosh

Bosh made only 3-of-9 shots on the night, but was embarrassed not once but twice when Western Conference point guards Paul and Tony Parker dribbled between HIS legs. It’s a shame that Bosh got stuck guarding these quick guards on the perimeter in the All-Star Game, where there wasn’t much screening going on, but once he was isolated, he was embarrassed.

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The Gold Medal Game against Spain lived up to the hype expected, but Team USA had their hands full once again. But behind 30 points from Kevin Durant and some late fourth quarter clutch play from Chris Paul and LeBron James, Team USA captured the gold by defeating Spain 107-100.

The battle for the gold was back-and-forth the entire contest as Team USA had problems pulling away from Spain the entire game.

In addition to the 30 from Durant, LeBron had 19 and Kobe Bryant chipped in 17 for Team USA, who led Spain by only one after three quarters.

However as good as Durant, James and Bryant were, it was point guard Chris Paul who was the ultimate difference.

Paul took the game over in the second half and played as well as he has possibly ever played. His stats say he scored only 11 points and dished out a pair of assists, but Paul was so much better than that would suggest. He controlled the pace of the game and knocked down a few huge shots to give Team USA some breathing room and as usual, Paul was outstanding on the defensive end of the floor.

The Los Angeles Clippers guard knocked down a three at the beginning of the fourth quarter and followed that up with a drive to the basket and a layup. Those five points put Team USA up by six and they never looked back.

While Paul was outstanding, it was Durant ho carried Team USA through three quarters. With his 30 points, he became the all-time American Olympic scorer in one Olympics.

Pau Gasol scored 24 and Juan-Carlos Navarro had 21 for Spain, which had to settle for silver in the second straight Olympics. That may not have been the case if Gasol’s brother Marc didn’t pick up four fouls in the first half as the younger Gasol was having his way down low with the Americans. He finished with 17 points, but only played 17 minutes for Spain due to the foul trouble.

This win was the swan song for Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who coached in his final international game, finishing with an amazing 61-1 record.

As for the New York Knicks involved, Carmelo Anthony scored eight points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists in 21 minutes, and Tyson Chandler finished with two points in nine minutes of playing time.

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Mar 21, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin (17) during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Knicks defeated the Sixers 82-79. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Dating back to 2010 at Carmelo Anthony’s wedding the thought of CP3 in a Knicks uniform became a real one.

Then there was last offseason when it looked like the Knicks were freeing up cap space for Paul, but didn’t have the necessary trade assets to bring him to the Big Apple.

Then came the poor point guard play at the beginning of last season and the emergence of Jeremy Lin, temporarily solving the Knicks point guard dilemma.

However with the events of the past couple days and the possible exit of Lin, could owner James Dolan and general manager Glen Grunwald be sacrificing Lin with their eyes on a bigger prize?

That would be giving that duo way too much credit, but there’s a chance that having their eyes on Paul could play into their upcoming decision.

Everyone knows CP3 has a desire to play in New York.

If that is Dolan’s end game, he would have no chance to make that happen by matching Lin’s three-year, $25-plus million offer sheet. If the decision came down to the two guards, no one in their right mind is taking Lin over Paul.

Lin may have been viewed as a savior in the Big Apple, but any deal that would prevent the Knicks from taking a run at Paul when his contract expires at the end of next season just isn’t a smart one.

Lin may make the Knicks a better team next year than Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd, but Paul makes the Knicks legitimate championship contenders for a couple of seasons.

As nice of a story and as big of a fan of Lin’s that I am, I can’t find even the smallest reason to justify paying him $15 million three years from now, with such a small sample size. Paul though has been a proven commodity and the best point guard in the NBA. I’d rather take my chances on an MVP candidate.

Paul would be a much better option for this Knicks team and that’s no disrespect to Lin, but if the goal is a championship, a proven point guard that can get it done at both ends of the floor would be nice.

At the very minimum, the Knicks will be in the running for him next offseason.

Of course that is assuming the Knicks brass has their eyes on CP3.

I’m probably giving them way too much credit for thinking that far ahead. But if Paul is on the Knicks radar, he just may be worth making the unpopular decision of sacrificing Lin for.

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The Knicks are reportedly ready to match the Rockets’ offer of four-years, $28.5 million that is heavily back-loaded for the final two seasons.

Well, that takes care of that. The move effectively puts a bow on much of what the Knicks were planning to do this off-season. They still have some wiggle room in terms of bringing back important pieces like J.R. Smith and Steve Novak. But, it makes lateral moves on the free agent market for players like O.J. Mayo and Marcus Camby very difficult, unless they’re willing to play at extreme discounts.

As we’ve said many times before, this is a move the Knicks had to make, in terms of matching any offer sheets for Lin. There weren’t any options that compared to Lin’s potential, even if you view him as raw and unproven. No other point guard available has the ability or ceiling to bring the Knicks to new heights competitively.

With this deal, however, if the Knicks ever want to try and acquire a player like a Chris Paul in next year’s off-season, it’ll have to be done creatively through a sign-and-trade that likely includes Jeremy Lin. If the Knicks feel that after next season, they need to improve from Lin-sanity, well, they’ll have to find a team that still believes in him.

They’re going to be locked in, just like they are for the Big Three of Amar’e, Melo and Chandler. These are the weapons the Knicks are going to go to war with. This is our Big Four.

Time for them to put up, or shut up.

New York Daily News‘ Knicks beat writer Frank Isola says (via Twitter) that many league executives believe that Paul is still hoping to find his way to the big apple next season.

Lot of NBA execs believe Chris Paul is still hoping to find a way to get to the Knicks…won’t happen this summer. Maybe next July

— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) July 1, 2012

Chris Paul’s love affair for the Knicks has been no secret. At fellow superstar Carmelo Anthony’s wedding last July, CP3 gave a speech indicating he would like to team up with Carmelo and Amar’e Stoudemire to form the New York version to compete with Miami’s “Big 3.”

May 20, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) reacts during game four of the Western Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at the Staples Center. The Spurs defeated the Clippers 102-99 to win the series 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

The same day that young superstar and Clipper teammate of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin accepts his five-year extension worth $95 million deal; the leader of “Lob City” declined his three-year deal worth $60 million. Paul will make $17.7 million this upcoming season.

Of course the back and white reasoning for him declining the extension is so that he can get his coveted max deal next summer, but basketball players don’t always make decisions for obvious reasons.

Chris Paul has played with Carmelo Anthony on USA teams and numerous All-Star games. The Knicks have been looking for a point guard for years now, and before Jeremy Lin fell into their lap, it was a glaring need. Knicks fans have been hearing CP3’s name for years now have been praying for him to run basketball at the Garden.

Next year the Knicks have the option to terminate Anthony or Stoudemire’s contract. With Carmelo being a bonafide scorer and STAT struggling with this health and play on the court, the obvious choice would be parting with Stoudemire.

A union of Chris Paul and Iman Shumpert in the same backcourt would be one of or if not the best defensive backcourt in the league. With Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler behind them, the Knicks would drastically change their no defense brand of basketball around. Carmelo wouldn’t get much defensive criticism since it wouldn’t be such a burden on him. He would be asked to do what he loves to do: score, score, and score. He wouldn’t have to pass and defend like LeBron James does, making him focus on just putting the ball the hoop.

When there is smoke, there is fire, if Chris Paul declined his extension just because he wants his max-deal that would be fine. But his connections with the Knicks have been rumored for years now and speculation will always be there until he signs long term with Los Angeles.

For a free agency period that looks like the Knicks will not be much a part of, they sure know how to keep their names in the headlines.

May 28, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) reacts during the second half in game one of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2012 NBA playoffs against the Boston Celtics at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

When you think of the NBA and it’s superstar’s first two names that instantly pop up in everybody’s heads are Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

I define a superstar as a franchise player that you wouldn’t trade for anyone else besides one of the top tier superstars in the league. An NBA superstar throughout the years has had reoccurring traits. These traits include: league leading stats, marketability, leadership, and most of all – winning.

A superstar is the guy you build your whole franchise around for the next 10 years. The guy who is taking the last shot. The player who makes everyone around him better. They are the Michale Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson of today.

Superstars are not just the best players at their position. Andrew Bynum started for the West this year in the All Star game; he’s not even close to been called a superstar. One of my rules is my mother has to know who you are. My mom knows Kobe, LeBron, Dwyane Wade, and obviously Carmelo Anthony because of the Knicks. Superstars sell jerseys and put fans in the seats both home and away.

Do you think if Bynum were on the Houston Rockets they would sell out a Nets game?

The NBA is different from every sport in one way, their faces are always seen. There’s no helmet or cap hiding their face. I think marketability is key in superstardom. Just look at Jordan. The guy has his own clothing company.

The Jordan brand and sneakers has been synonymous with MJ for decades now but it would have never happened if he never won. He had the stats, the looks, the highlight reel plays and dunks, the swag and the likeability.

But it all means nothing if you do not win.

The NBA has several franchise players, but not many superstars. Kevin Love is obviously the Twolve’s franchise player, but he is not a superstar. Here is my ranking in top 10 superstars:

May 21, 2012; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts to the loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in game five of the Western Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder defeated the Lakers 106-90. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

1. Kobe Bryant – For a player who some say he is past his prime, he was second in the league in scoring by .07. He has the 5 rings, the endorsements, and is the king of Los Angeles. Everyone in the world knows his name and who he is. At the end of the day I think he is No. 2 behind Jordan. That number 2 spot will be forever up for debate.

2. LeBron James – Three MVP awards in four years, and is coming off his best statistical year of his career. He is tearing up the league and is just entering his prime. We all know how “The Decision,” went down and how he embraced the villain role, but that shouldn’t take away from the guy’s game. He hasn’t won but he has lead his team to two Finals appearances, on the verge of his third. LeBron and Kobe are the top tier of superstars in today’s NBA.

3. Kevin Durant – This spot is up for grabs by a lot of players, but it has to go to KD here. I don’t think everyone realizes how great he truly is. This is only his fourth year in the league and he has already won three scoring titles, made three All-Star games, won an All-Star MVP, Rookie of the Year, and has been selected to three All-NBA First teams. Did I mention he’s only 23? Durant has a personality that no one can hate, just hard working and keeps to himself. You will never hear bad press about him, never in every headline like LeBron, the guy just balls. The Finals appearances will come very shortly.

4. Dwyane Wade – Before LeBron and Chris Bosh came to Miami, South Beach was all Wade’s. He won a 2006 title by coming back and beating the Dallas Mavericks. He gives it his all every game, and got James and Bosh to come to HIS team. They could have gone other places together but he was the bigger man and sacrificed. Wade is the second best shooting guard in the league, and you can make a case for taking him over Kobe right now.

5. Dwight Howard – The best big man in the league without question I rank as my No. 5. I know he has maturity issues the past year, but I think once he gets out of Orlando and lands in a place like Brooklyn with a top five point guard in Deron Williams, he will flourish. He has made a name for himself and led his team to the Finals with Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu as his second and third best players. He is extremely marketable and a physical monster. You want to build your franchise with a big man? He’s the way to go.

6. Chris Paul – With the best point guard in the league debate as hot as ever, Chris Paul has been constantly the best or near the best for years now. The guy does everything you need, plays with heart, a media’s dream, and a leader. I believe it is a lot harder for a pass first point guard to single handing lead a team to a championship. You look at the past decade’s champions and the point guard’s are never the best player on the team. With a little more help in L.A CP3 has a good chance of leading the Clippers in deep playoff runs for the next several years.

With the list half way done, think to yourself, would you be mad if the Knicks traded Carmelo Anthony for anyone of these top 6? The only one I can see if Dwight Howard because of the Knicks already crowded frontcourt, but if they didn’t, Melo – Dwight swap wouldn’t upset many. On to the bottom 4:

7. Derrick Rose – Last year’s MVP is turning into the best scoring point guard in the league. When healthy his quickness and speed make it hard for anyone to defend. With his monster deals with both the Bulls and Addidas, D-Rose will be a household name in a few years right up there with LeBron and Kobe. If the Bulls see Finals in the next two years and he beats the Heat, he will sky rocket up this list.

May 9, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the second half of game five in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Miami Heat of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the American Airlines Arena. Miami won 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

8. Carmelo Anthony – And here we go. I am going to tell it how it is with Carmelo coming from a die-hard Knick fan. Melo has been a superstar ever since he came into the league. I think this partly has to do with him winning in college and the draft class he was in. If he were a third pick in any other draft I don’t think he would have gotten that much buzz. When you get drafted with LeBron, Wade, and Bosh along with coming off winning a college championship as a freshman, stardom will come to you no matter what. He has the numbers and all-star games already, now he has to win plain and simple. He is the man on his team and has the coach he wanted. He’s in the city he chose and has proved he is clutch. He now has to advance the Knicks deep into the playoffs, if he does this he will easily be top five.

9. Tony Parker – The best point guard still playing the playoffs this year is Parker. He just beat Chris Paul’s Clippers and chances are he will beat Russell Westbrook and Durant on the way to his fourth championship. I think he is one of the most underrated and disrespected players in the league. Does anyone remember two years ago when there was a rumor he was going to the Knicks or another team via sign and trade? None of these players on his list will ever be openly traded for any reason other than request. Parker is known internationally and is also a household name for marrying Eva Longoria. He is running the Spurs like a well-oiled machine.

10. Dirk Nowitzki – A year removed from his championship, Dirk has become a household name. With most of the country rooting for him vs. the hated Heat last year, Dirk became a hero. He has been an all-star and a solid player for years, but winning a championship and last year’s magnified stage propelled Dirk into superstardom. Without last year, he is not on this list.

Honorable Mentions – Tim Duncan, Blake Griffin, Paul Pierce, Deron Williams
On the cusp – Rajon Rondo, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook,

Superstars don’t have to be the best talented players playing right now. No question LeBron is the best talent in the world, but Kobe is the bigger superstar. Kevin Love puts up better numbers than Dirk, but clearly Dirk is the bigger star. Superstars win games, sell jerseys, sell out arenas, the public knows them, and are leaders.

The news that Paul will not sign an extension with New Orleans is not entirely surprising and has been speculated about for over a season now; however the trade request comes as a surprise to many as it was widely believed Paul would at least consider offers from other teams. Should New Orleans attempt to work out a trade exclusively with the Knicks involving Paul there will not be many players to choose from on the Knicks side. With Melo and Amar’e being untouchable, the best New Orleans could do would be a deal involving Bill Walker, Chauncey Billups, Landry Fields and some draft picks, hardly an enticing offer. (more…)

“I’m quite sure he would relish being in the Big Apple,” said Monroe, who coached the New York City team vs. L.A. in yesterday’s inaugural People’s Games at Union Square. “He can handle this pressure. Obviously he’s one of the premier point guards in the league. To add that with what you already have, you got the real nucleus to having something special happen closer than in four years.”

This talk is old and, well, useless until the CBA is configured some point in the months ahead. It’s tough to comment on the possibility of the Knicks signing a player like Chris Paul or Dwight Howard in the summer of 2012 until things sort themselves out. Until then we’ll let this lie.

Carmelo Anthony is the NBA's best crunch time shooter

For all the hatred spewing from these so-called sports experts across the country that complain about Carmelo Anthony not being a franchise player, not being a superstar, not being a good fit in New York, not even being as good a signing as Deron Williams, Melo is (point of fact) the NBA’s best crunch time scorer, and he’s proving to be a hell of a signing for the New Look Knicks.

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No, no. Settle down. Not even close. But for one night he was, without a doubt. The bulk of today’s Linkin’ Center will revolve around those two players, with a slight edge in content going to Paul. In my opinion it’s sad, really, that the fans at MSG would cheer for a visiting star when they finally have 2.5 of their own. It feels so out of touch and unrealistically low. You know what it is? It’s like buying roses for a pretty girl who, while tipsy at a party six months ago, said you were cute. Then when Valentine’s Day rolls around, while you’re in a happy relationship and she’s six years into a slightly rocky commitment, you have roses delivered to her at work. It’s kinda like that, in a pathetic and desperate kind of way. When you cheer an opponent hoping to sway them in a free agency decision that’s not for another 14 months, how can you expect that player to respect you? Whatever. Call me old school. The Knicks don’t even need a point guard! Alright I’m over it. Onto the links before my eyes explode.

* Even though he couldn’t play, it looks like Chauncey Billups had his fingerprints all over Tony Douglas’ wonderful performance.

* Don’t get me wrong, it’d be GREAT to have Chris Paul come aboard, but chances are the Knicks simply won’t have the cap room. So let’s stop worrying about it.

* Our brother’s over at Swarm & Sting are feeling sad over last night’s beat down. In a small step towards cheering them (and yourself) up, read their recap of last night’s game.

* You know what you’re getting every game from Carmelo and Amar’e. It’s when the unexpected guys step up that the Knicks look like a very, very formidable opponent.

* The harsh truth about a team finally finding its way.

* Why Donnie Walsh hasn’t had his contract extended yet is anybody’s guess. Here’s a breakdown of why it’s a considerable concern.

* More on the toast heard round the world.

* Is New York the greatest thing to happen to basketball since the three-point line? No. Unless you work in television.

* Reiterating that last question, we’ll let a panel of NBA.com writers give their thoughts.

* Someone in New Orleans is a sore loser. Then again, he does have a point with this whole “Mardi Gras” deal.

* Looks like Toney Douglas should get another start against Cleveland on Friday.

IN CASE OF CHAUNCEY BILLUPS INJURY, INSERT TONEY DOUGLAS. Like a faulty fire extinguisher, this probably won’t work on a consistent basis, but tonight it was all powerful.  Douglas started the game for Billups, who hurt his thigh last night in Orlando, and played like he never wants to give up the starter’s spot. In 32 minutes the former Seminole finished with 24 points on 10-13 shooting (4-6 from deep), five assists, and four rebounds.  From the opening tip he was aggressive, blowing by Chris Paul (who, for small stretches, played like he wished he were on a different team) several times and finishing at the basket with ease.  After Douglas and Stoudemire, who had 24 points of his own, were through with them, the Hornets looked about as demoralized as a professional basketball team can be. By midway through the third quarter they weren’t boxing out on free throws or closing out on wide open Knick shooters, and on the offensive end their strategy was “watch Jarrett Jack take a jump shot.” (Jack finished with a team high 21 points.)

Paul finished the game with a season low four points on 2-7 shooting.  He managed his usual 10 assists, but really failed to insert himself into the game’s narrative at any point.  New Orleans’ other weapons were also out of ammo: David West was 6-16 and Trevor Ariza only attempted four shots.

The whole night was a real feel good affair; the Knicks held a consistent 20 point lead throughout the second half.  At one point the crowd at MSG started a Jared Jeffries (more on him later) chant, and then followed it up with a call for Roger Mason. Mason, who’s tallied four total points on 1-16 shooting this season, entered with four minutes left and the game all but decided, and proceeded to sink the two shots he took, one of them from downtown.  Every Knick on the roster saw the floor, including the recently acquired Derrick Brown and the recently decomposed Shelden Williams.

Before the game Mike D’Antoni told reporters he thought that since Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups came aboard, the remaining role players were caught standing around too much on offense, watching those two great additions do their thing, “like it was an All-Star game.” The Knicks did a great job of moving the ball around tonight, and not just in transition.  In particular, I’d like to point out my man Landry Fields.  He instinctively sniffs out open floor space like a slot receiver weaseling his way through the zone defense on a football field. As great as he is without the ball on offense, he’s just as good with it, taking (and mostly making) uncontested three-pointers, grabbing the ball in transition and advancing it via the un-fancy but effective chest pass without hesitation. In terms of seeing a decrease in shots, no New York starter was affected more by the Carmelo trade, yet Landry still manages to put his thumbprint on almost every basketball game he plays in.

Jared Jeffries got into the game and wasted no time nestling himself into the role of pestering offensive rebounder and defensive glue guy. Best case scenario for the Knicks? He becomes a poor man’s Joakim Noah. Even with a 23 point lead late in the contest, Jeffries was still hustling for loose offensive rebounds. Then again, you, the reader, could’ve grabbed an offensive board or two at that point.

Shawne Williams is a very good three-point shooter.  Probably the best on a team loaded with them.  His defense is prone to create serious match-up issues, but when he’s hot Williams can NOT be left open. He went 4-6 from deep tonight and scored 16 points; New Orleans didn’t get the scouting report.

Guarding Carmelo Anthony is like trying to solve a sticky Rubik’s cube. He might not score the most points in the league, but he can attack in the greatest variation of ways. When you think of Anthony putting the ball in the hoop, you picture him out on the wing, steady, in the triple threat position, facing his defender with 47 different options on which he’s choosing his plan of action. Tonight he showed serious effectiveness in transition, making the right decision in almost every given opportunity and making the result a positive one for New York.

So what did we learn tonight? Well, for starters, we now know that the Knicks are capable of moving the ball in the half court, which is very important if they want to see success in the playoffs.  Another is that heading into his match-up with Chris Paul, Toney Douglas was mad. Mad at Mike D’Antoni for giving Anthony Carter more minutes than him two games ago. Mad at himself for playing so poorly against Orlando. Mad at the crowd for giving Chris Paul a warmer ovation than their own starting point guard.  But after watching the brilliant performance he staged tonight, right now you’ve got to think Toney Douglas isn’t so mad anymore. After draining what would be his last three of the night late in the fourth quarter, he landed on a Hornet defender’s foot and stumbled back into the scorer’s table.  Douglas then shot the closest referee a look that asked, “Where’s the call? Nobody told you it’s my night?”

Superstar arms race has begun between NY & NJ

The New York Knicks, under Donnie Walsh, are 3 years into a plan to form a Big Three to rival the Boston Celtics and Miami Heats’ star trios. With the arrival of Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire they now have a pair of stars, and now have their sights set on the summer of 2012, when Chris Paul and Dwight Howard can potentially change teams and change the fortunes of franchises. The New Jersey Nets are attempting to change that 2012 forecast, launching a preemptive strike today by forcing Deron Williams to New Jersey in a trade with Utah. So now two questions stand, where previously only one stood. Will the Knicks sign Chris Paul next summer & can the Nets trade for Dwight Howard next season? (more…)

Clearly, we all know about the story that has developed over the past week or so since Howard Beck of the NY Times penned this piece back on January 31st. Donnie Walsh, who has been the driving force behind rescuing the Knicks from the depths of NBA/Isiah Thomas hell the past  2 1/2 years, is in contract limbo. He has an option for 2011-2012 that James Dolan must pick up by April 3oth or his current deal will expire on June 3oth. The enigmatic Knicks owner has not talked to the media in four years and his PR lackeys have given no comment on Walsh’s tenuous contract situation.

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Is Chris Paul a better fit for NYC then Dwight Howard?

When Donnie Walsh joined the New York Knicks his intentions were clear. Form a Big Three in New York. With Amar’e Stoudemire already in NYC, Carmelo Anthony’s continued desire to play in New York, the ongoing turmoil in New Orleans and rumors that Dwight Howard might want out of Orlando, Donnie may still get his wish.

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Could this trio still unite in New York? And who else should be on our radar? (Source: jockpost.com)

The New York Knicks should pursue some of these possible free agents and trade targets on teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia Sixers, writes Joshua Sage:

The Knicks continue to surge, led by the stellar play of Amar’e Stoudemire, while the Blazers, Hornets and 76ers all continue to stumble. To the joy of Knicks fans everywhere, the Houston Rockets have also played poorly this season [Editor's Note: this is particularly good because in the Tmac trade we gave Houston the right to swap 2011 draft picks if they want.  So since they'll likely have a worse record, we won't have to give 'em nuthin' this summer]. If these trends continue, come time for the trade deadline, the records of all these teams could affect the futures of several quality players around the NBA.

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See how Amar'e received the ball here in a position where he could easily get past his own guy, forcing the little guy to either foul or tickle him in the armpit? Earlier in the year he never got the rock like that. No wonder he wasn't laughing and smiling until now. (Source: AP)

While many of us were thrilled that the Knicks beat the New Orleans Hornets Friday night because they were the first team with a winning record we’d gone up against in a while, stat-heads likely were just as impressed (if not more so) with our commanding 116-99 victory over the Toronto Raptors because of the huge point differential.  In the world of advanced statistical analysis, one surprising revelation has been that a better indicator of team success is not whether you defeat good teams, but rather by how many points you outscore your opponent.

One of the leaders of basketball’s new statistical revolution is ESPN’s John Hollinger.  As of today, he gives the Knicks a phenomenal 87.7% chance of making it to the playoffs.  His worst case scenario, meaning rock bottom awful, is that we only win 29 games this year.  In other words, even if everything goes to hell from here on out, we’d at least still match last season’s total.  What’s the best case?  60 wins.  That seems incredibly unlikely, which all the more makes you realize that it’s equally incredibly unlikely that we only equal our ’09-’10 results.  Meanwhile, Amar’e Stoudemire’s former team, the Phoenix Suns, is listed as having only a 56.5% playoff chance and with a maximum win total of 58 games.  Although in all fairness, that’s because there are so many more good teams in the West that it’s harder to predict with certainty.  It’s not that hard to imagine teams like Portland, Houston, Memphis or Golden State going on a run and getting into the playoff picture.  Yet even the most fertile imagination and most fervent local fan probably has trouble seeing a future where Detroit, Philadelphia or New Jersey can be amongst the top 8 Eastsiders this season.

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We've been waiting for CP3 or a point guard for the future to arrive, but Raymond Felton keeps showing that we may already have one. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

Writer Joshua Greenberg had this to say after last night when Raymond Felton led the New York Knicks to victory over Chris Paul’s New Orleans Hornets:

Raymond Felton has severely outplayed CP3. Whether it was just an off game for the All-Star PG or he had the same stomach bug as David West, he has gotten beat by Ray Ray. Felton played with some serious heart on both ends of the court and seems to have finally figured out how to play for Coach D. The best part about his effort tonight was, indeed, the effort.

There has been a lot of build up about the game in NOLA due to the potential of Paul coming to NY, the past ACC rivalry, and the fact that they were drafted in the same year. Helping his game tonight was the stellar play of Amar’e who forced defenders to sag down in effort to contain him. Felton took advantage, nailing clutch three after clutch three against the Hornets. He also allowed Shawne Williams to fill up the stat sheet by setting him up for open treys. Watching the heady PG go against Paul tonight will silence a lot of critics who thought he just wasn’t the answer for the future or even this season. You gotta love his effort on both ends of the court and his “don’t eff with me” demeanor. For the first time in a long time, the Knicks seem to have leader in the backcourt. Now, if he can consistently figure out how to make that tough pick and roll pass we might be headed for greatness.

…or at least a playoff birth.

See you in Canada.

Learn the Facts and Fiction behind the Knicks' failure, including the true key factor that took Kevin Love's game to the next level (nope, it wasn't his scoring or his rebounding). (Source: Yardbarker.com)

The Knicks’ slow start to the season seemed ripe for a turnaround over the weekend since they’d be playing against two teams (the Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets) that had only won two games each and had both looked pretty dang crappy so far.  The Twolves had lost their two starting point guards (Luke Ridnour and Jonny Flynn) to injury, plus for some reason coach Kurt Rambis had been refusing to play his best player (Kevin Love) for more than 24 minutes.

Meanwhile, the Rockets were struggling to form an identity with franchise player Yao Ming not playing in back-to-back games and only appearing in limited minutes.  Were they a group that played through the post in a slow-it-down half court approach, or a jump shooting squad?  With them also losing their starting point guard (Aaron Brooks) and their backup point (Kyle Lowry) having only played one game since returning from back injury, we couldn’t have wished for better set-ups.  On Friday night, the Knicks were up 21 points on the Twolves and it looked like everything would work out.  Less than 48 hours later it had become clear we are in serious crisis mode.

This being New York, of course, utter despair has kicked in, boos have been bombarded, and every little thing has been declared as “the problem.”  No doubt we have many issues, but let’s separate the Fact from the Fiction:

1.  Poor Defense – Fiction

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Tony Parker won't be walking through that door to save us. Then again, with Dwight Howard not coming tonight, hopefully we can avoid feeling we need to be saved. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

Rumors of dissatisfaction and Big Apple longing have made New Yorkers constantly hoping to land Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul, but at the end of last season we were all fantasizing about snagging a different star: Tony Parker.  Apparently the San Antonio Spurs’ All-Star point guard was now expendable because backup George Hill had performed admirably.  Plus with TP married to glamorous actress Eva Longoria, clearly she’d prefer he move to Manhattan.  We here at Buckets even posted about a rumored potential trade of Tony for David Lee.  However, after CP3′s toast at ‘Melo’s wedding that they’d team up with Amar’e Stoudemire to form their own Big Three on the Knicks, Mr. Parker-Longoria slipped from many people’s minds.

Rest assured that Knick president Donnie Walsh hadn’t forgotten about the former Finals MVP.  Thus he, like any seriously knowledgable Knick fan, was distressed to hear that Tony signed a multi-year extension with the Spurs over the weekend.  While Chris Paul might be better, Parker’s contract ended this year, making him a serious possibility for us to snag.  Players who receive max contracts, like LeBron and Amar’e, they can be tough to lure as the NBA’s rules allow their home team to offer them more money.  However, with players like Tony Parker who aren’t quite at that level, we could’ve potentially offered a more lucrative contract than San Antonio (he signed for four years at only about $50 million).  That meant he was the easiest, most realistic top baller we could’ve gotten.

With Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili aging, wouldn’t it have made sense for him to at least wait until the off-season to see what options were available?  Well, due to injuries, the last three years Parker missed 13, 10 and 26 games.  So part of the reason he likely signed the deal was to be safe in case anything serious happened to him this year.  The other big concern of course is that a new Collective Bargaining Agreement will be signed, which means that there’s a chance he might not be able to get as good a deal once the new CBA is in place.  I still think he should’ve held off, because again, with him not getting a max contract, it seems like it’s pretty likely he could’ve signed just as lucrative a deal.  Bottom line: cross him off the list.  Sure we can still trade for him, but now there’s nothing about him that makes that more conceivable than any other trade we might make.

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In other news, asbestos fell from the ceiling in Madison Square Garden so tonight’s game against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic has been cancelled.  You’re probably bummed about that if you had tickets to tonight’s game (or if you have any Knick or Magic player on your fantasy squad and put them in your line-up).  However, honestly, I think it might be good for us.  I keep harping on the difficulty of our first five games.  If you agree with my power ranking, then Orlando would be the third top five team we played in a row (after having played Boston & Portland over the week).  In other words, even if we are significantly better than last year, it would be quite an upset or coup to beat Orlando.  But most people look only at win-loss record rather than difficulty of schedule, and a third loss in a row would throw fans and journalists into a further panic of are-we-just-as-bad-as-we-were-last-year.  Instead now we have a far more winnable game against the Chicago Bulls, followed by two games we should win against Washington and Philadelphia.  Yes, we will have to play that Orlando game eventually, but it’s better to have it later in the year where a loss won’t cause any early season panic to erupt.

Timofey Mozgov (R.) starts at center tomorrow; how will he deal with the pressure? (Source: Yardbarker.com)

On Twitter Chris Sheridan posted that Timofey Mozgov has won the starting center spot.  Sounds like reporter conjecture (which I’m starting to realize Sheridan does a bunch) rather than actual news.  Coach Mike D’Antoni might be leaning that way, but no way has he 100% decided that because he’s concerned about foul trouble.  At the very least, he’ll wait and see how Moz does in his first start on Wednesday against the Celtics (and potentially the-still-extremely-capable-at-getting-opposing-centers-into-foul-trouble Shaq).

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More useless Twitter news?  The NY Post’s Mark Berman twatted:

Eddy Curry is doing shooting drills on his own here at #Knicks practice. Looking OK. Probably back sooner than later.

Reportedly a few words got cut off from the message and it was supposed to read: Probably back [to being a disappointment] sooner than later.

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When discussing coaches on the hot seat, consider Don Nelson's butt on fire. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

In the first part, we looked at the coaches in good positions, but today we look at the ones in bad and ugly situations.  We went over those who were Bulletproof, 95% Bulletproof (aka Impervious), Pretty Safe and Fairly Safe.  Note that this is NOT about which coaches are good or bad, simply what the chances are that they get fired during the season.

Maybe Safe… Um, Maybe Not:

Jim O’Brien – Pacers: They’ve been mediocre for several years now and Bird hasn’t fired O’Brien yet.  Although the addition of new exciting young point guard Darren Collison gives hope for the future, there’s no reason to expect this team to be any better this season without a halfway decent power forward, so unless the team’s significantly worse than last year, O’Brien should make it through the season.

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Many view Kevin Durant as the Second Coming. We see him and the Thunder more likely coming Third through Sixth. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

On Wednesday we discussed what the Eastern Conference Playoff picture looks like, and today we go west, young man.  We’d already previously examined how much teams improved/regressed during the off-season, but now we’re talking about how they stack up against each other.  Meaning, we gave Orlando a zero for their summer and the Wizards a +2, but now we’re here to tell you that yes, of course Orlando is still gonna be far better.  For those who haven’t seen those posts on off-season grades, click the following links to see what we had to say about the Northwest, Atlantic, Central, Southeast, Pacific and Southwest Divisions.  Also, we’re only gonna be talking about the regular season here.  So even though we don’t think the Celts will be a top two team record-wise, it doesn’t mean we think they’re incapable of making it through the gauntlet again.  Lastly, some teams will be put in clusters ‘cuz they’ll likely end up with similar records and what does a victory or two here and there matter amongst friends?

#1 – Lakers

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If the acquisition of Trevor Ariza convinces CP3 to remain a Hornet for life, that'll end up being one amaze-alicious trade. (source: Yardbarker.com)

In this penultimate chapter of our off-season grades we’ll examine the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets and San Antonio Spurs.  For the first four parts, check out our reviews for the Atlantic, Central, Southeast and Pacific Divisions.  Tomorrow will be the Northwest Division. Once again, for the newcomers, here are the rules:

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After playing alongside James Posey and Peja Stojakovic, Chris Paul will be happy to have a forward in Trevor Ariza who can actually still dunk. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

In a four-team, five-player trade, the New Orleans Hornets will be acquiring Trevor Ariza from the Houston Rockets in an attempt to prove to their star Chris Paul that they’re committed to winning.  In return, they’re giving away last year’s promising rookie point guard, Darren Collison, who will land with the Desperately-Seeking-Point-Guard Indiana Pacers.  The Pacers also will have to take on the contract of James Posey.  Indiana in turn will send Troy Murphy and his expiring $12 million contract to the New Jersey Nets.  Finally, the Nets pass along second year shooting guard Courtney Lee to the Rockets.  How did each team fare?  Well…

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Chris Paul's following his boy LeBron's path: the Hornets have two years to prove they can be contenders or he might bolt (Source: Yardbarker.com)

Chris Paul met with the New Orleans Hornets’ team officials today and apparently did not ask to be traded elsewhere.  Rumors had circled the past several days that Paul wanted out and that he had a list of potential teams.  After the meeting, Paul issued a statement basically pledging loyalty to the Hornets, while new GM Dell Demps said that CP3 never even ended up requesting a trade during the talk.

That said…

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How likely is it that Chris Paul could be traded to the Knicks? (Source: Yardbarker.com)

The last 24 hours have been swamped with intrigue over the news Chris Paul supposedly asked his team the New Orleans’ Hornets to trade him. Much like with Chris Bosh rumors earlier this summer, there apparently is even a list of potential places. New York is reputed to be on the list as well as the Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic and Portland Trailblazers. There are differing reports as to whether or not the Lakers are also on the list. So let’s look at this in two parts. First, how do the Knicks chances stack up compared to the other teams on the list? Second, with the Hornets set to meet with Paul on Monday, what’re the chances he even gets traded shortly. Note that the emphasis is on shortly because the rumor is he wants to be traded before the season begins. Down the road there are too many variables (new ownership, how the team does, future possible trades, Paul’s chemistry with the new coach and GM, etc.) to know how long things could last if New Orleans convinces CP3 to give ‘em one last chance.

Also, before we get into it, let’s set some things straight. Some fans and pundits have ripped Donnie Walsh for striking out with LeBron James and Dwayne Wade and “only” getting Amar’e Stoudemire. Let’s be honest: if Amar’e wasn’t on the team, no way Paul even lists the Knicks. I’ve heard others argue we should’ve kept Zach Randolph, Jamal Crawford & David Lee, and while that might’ve kept us as a 6-8 seed in the East these last few years, that ain’t a team that’s gonna excite a Chris Paul either. So let’s give some due first to Walsh for creating an excitement about the team that hasn’t been here since the days of Van Gundy.

Knicks, Mavs, Magic, Trailblazers or Lakers?

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CP3 to STAT?

Chris Paul wants out of New Orleans and New York is one of his 3 preferred destinations.

Chris Paul would love to come to NYC to play with Amar'e & Melo plus hang at the Garden with people like rapper Common (source: Yardbarker.com)

Amar’e Stoudemire passed on the info that at Carmelo Anthony’s wedding this past weekend, Chris Paul made a toast that he and ‘Melo would team-up with Amar’e on the Knicks to form their own Big Three. The NY Post humorously reports:

Attendee Spike Lee nearly passed out at the suggestion.

Could it actually happen? Well… (more…)

Anthony Randolph is thrilled to be out of Don Nelson's doghouse in Golden State, with a chance to finally explode in the Big Apple (Source: Yardbarker.com)

The proposed sign-and-trade that Chase wrote about (David Lee to the Golden State Warriors for Anthony Randolph, Kelenna Azubuike and Ronny Turiaf) has been finalized. As I wrote in the comments section of that post, I’m not thrilled with the move. While Randolph (the heart of this trade) has otherworldly potential, he does play the same position of power forward as our big new signee, Amar’e Stoudemire. For potential to blossom, a player needs minutes like a flower needs water. Sure we could possibly move Amar’e over to center for a bit, but Amar’e has said many times in the past that he prefers to not play that position. Personally, I think we should’ve kept David Lee to make up for Amar’e rebounding deficiencies, ‘cuz it ain’t like Randolph is known for doing the dirty work or the little things. Plus Lee is a known commodity that could be used in a trade. If Randolph doesn’t develop, then we gave away a home-grown All-Star for nuthin’.

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Damn straight, Phil Jackson should be walking with his head down after some of his coaching choices! Right? ...Right? Um, maybe not. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

Is there anyone in the NBA who gets criticized more than coaches?  It doesn’t matter who you are, how successful you are (or have been), or what players you have at your disposal — we can always find problems with you.  Earlier this year, Greg Popovitch was criticized for being unable to make his big off-season acquisition, Richard Jefferson, productive.  The other night, Phil Jackson, winner of more NBA titles than God himself, left himself open for target practice by choosing to draw up a play for Pau Gasol to attempt the game-tying three-point shot (Pau missed, which could cause the Lakers to lose home court advantage if they play the Magic in the Finals).

We, the fans and media, aren’t necessarily wrong in complaining about these points, but I think sometimes we not only expect too much, we also don’t always see (or know) the full picture.  For instance, maybe Phil was trying to make a point to Kobe about how the Black Mamba needed to give his body rest or it would cost the team (the previous possession Kobe missed two free throws that would’ve given the Lakers the lead).  If Kobe/Fisher/Artest/whoever hit a three for the tie, then maybe Kobe remains convinced that he can play through his injuries.  Sure, you can say this was a costly way to make a point (& I have no idea if Phil was trying to make this point), but if Kobe’s sitting out these two last games enables him to be healthy enough to lead the Lakers back to a championship, it’d be hard to argue with the results.

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Andrew Bogut, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, Tim Duncan, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, David Lee, Kevin Love, Troy Murphy, Steve Nash, Joakim Noah, Chris Paul, Zach Randolph, Gerald Wallace and Deron Williams.

Me, I was surprised to learn that Gerald Wallace has averaged over 10 rebounds a game this season, but what surprised Ridiculous was the one player I hid:

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(source: Yardbarker.com) Like a little girl in puppy love, New York hopes we're the one LeBron's eyeing.

Seems ESPN has launched ESPN NewYork.com today and decided to promote it by rehashing the ol’ Will LeBron James Go To New York story.  There’s a surprisingly large amount of Nothing New, mixed in with Shameless Sensationalizing, Idiotic Conclusions Based On Personal Feelings, and just Awful Math.  That said, there were maybe a couple of Intriguing Bits to me, but it might all feel redundant to y’all.  Without further ado:

Idiotic Conclusions:

The worst part was where the sportswriters speculated the percent chance of LeBron going to one team or another.  Let’s start with Mark Stein saying there’s a 10% chance that LeBron will go to Dallas.  10%???  10% means 1 in 10!  You’re going out tonight and your choosing between your ten favorite restaurants — that gives each one a really good shot at being chosen.  Thankfully, of the four other Dallas writers, they all only gave it a 1-3% chance.  I like Stein’s writing a bunch, but his thesis his based on this you-can-substitute-LeBron’s-name-with-anyone statement:

I firmly believe LeBron likes the thought of playing with Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, trusts Mark Cuban to be an owner who will always spend whatever it takes to contend and loves the city of Dallas and Cowboys football

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With a few of them likely to sit out this summer so they don’t injure themselves before they get a new contract (in other words the guys the Knicks would chase after: LeBron, Wade, Bosh, plus A’mare Stoudamire who made the pool too), it does provide some openings.  Not to mention that say a banged up Kobe might need to take the summer off to get his body healthy again.  Of course, included in those free agents-to-be are none other than David Lee, so he himself might have to bow out.  Oh, and another thing in Lee’s favor is that once again the Knicks’ coach Mike D’Antoni will be one of the assistant coaches on the USA team.  It’s always nice having someone on the inside to help plead your case.

Anyway, the remaining invitees include the Denver Nuggets’ Chauncey Billups, LA Lakers’ Lamar Odom, plus a who’s-who of all the young and upcoming players in the NBA according to ESPN: the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant (pretty much a lock to make the final roster since he almost made it last time and he’s only gotten better), Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose,

Minnesota‘s Al Jefferson and Kevin Love; Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo of Memphis; Philadelphia‘s Andre Iguodala; Boston‘s Kendrick Perkins; Indiana‘s Danny Granger; New York‘s David Lee; New Jersey center Brook Lopez; Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook; Portland‘s LaMarcus Aldridge; Charlotte‘s Gerald Wallace; and Clippers guard Eric Gordon.

The Americans will choose a group from the roster to take part in their minicamp in Las Vegas in July. They are expected to play an exhibition game in New York before heading to Turkey for the world championships, which they haven’t won since 1994.

Um, Jared, for a bounce pass you're supposed to bounce the ball on the ground, not your butt...

However, the Knicks seemed fairly disinterested for much of the first half.  Kinda like they’ve looked in general.  One amazing exception was Larry Hughes, who got an early call off the bench and decided to play with energy this time instead of sulking.  He played well enough to get minutes in the second half too, and afterward D’Antoni said that if Hughes keeps playing like that then he’ll keep getting minutes.  Of course the bigger more important question is whether this means Hughes will shave his beard.  Early word says he’s not ready to commit to that just yet.  We’ll keep you on top of this vital news as soon as more information breaks.

Hughes: "One, two, step, kick and... jazz hands!"

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And with all of this point guard drama this offseason could Paul be the dark horse free agent next season?

D'Antoni's system? Thumbs up.

Paul is without a doubt the best PG in the game right now, and would flourish in D’Antoni’s system. The great thing about Paul is how hard he plays on a day to day basis and plays in New Orleans.

Now, let me explain. If Paul wants to get paid next summer, it won’t come from the Hornets. New Orleans just traded away Chandler for money issues and may not be able to afford Paul if he wants to get paid like he should next offseason.

Offering Paul a max contract would be hard to pass up and unless something changes, I don’t see Paul signing an extension with the Hornets for cheap. When you’re the best at your position in the NBA you should be paid like it, and the Knicks could.

Just a possibility, and something not about Nate, Lee, or even Rubio.