Outsourced Trade Grades

Sometimes, we here at OLP get a little busy and don't have time to provide our dedicated readers with the content they desire and deserve. Fortunately, sometimes our friends are willing to step in and do our work for us. Your guest writer today is Chris S. He's from the DMV, and he loves the NBA. He followed the trade deadline religiously (even with Twitter), and he's graded pretty much every trade of the past two weeks.  The views expressed in these trade grades may not represent the views of the rest of the OLP team (especially all the smack he talks about Houston and Daryl Morey). Leave any feedback for Chris in the comments.

Not Damon or Salim

Just like last year, news has been circulating that Amare Stoudemire is on the trading block. To those of us who have followed the Suns over the past few years, this shouldn't be a huge surprise. He's a tremendous talent, but he's also lacking in a lot of fundamental areas (like defensive intensity, for one). Nonetheless, he's a hot commodity, and he knows it. Phoenix knows it too, and that's why they want to make sure they can get something substantial for him so they aren't left with cash and no talent after this season (if he decides to opt out of his contract).

Welcome to Free Agent Bonanza, Summer of 2010. A LOOOOOT of guys contracts are up, which essentially means some fanbases are going to be disappointed that their guy didn't stay, or that they weren't able to nab the guy they wanted. But really what's going to happen is most of the guys available are going to get severely overpaid. There are about 5 great free agents available (LeBron, Wade, Amare, Bosh, and Joe Johnson off the top of my head), and there are about 10 teams in a position to sign a max player next season. Hence, someone (including at least 2 of these guys) are getting overpaid for their talents.

Ok, back to Phoenix. Phoenix currently pays Amare more than $16 million this season. If they are certain he's going to leave, they would want a combination of youth, cap relief, and draft picks. Well it looks like one of the best offers may be the Nets. They've got youth. They've got a ton of expiring contracts. And they've got a ton of picks over the next few years. Plus, Amare hasn't been opposed to playing there, and probably won't be opposed to playing in Brooklyn when the team finally moves.

Amare has said before that, on whatever team he's on, he wants to be "the man." In Phoenix, he's shared the spotlight with Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, and Shaq. That's a lot of star power. To me, it implies that he won't be one of those free agents that's rumored to be willing to give up some money and stats to share the glory and be on a team with another free agent hall of famer. Amare wants to do it his way, and you can't really fault him for that.

However, there's one thing that I personally don't like about this situation. If it happens, the Nets have stated that Brook Lopez if off limits. Understandable: the guy is a rare talent. But honestly, if the Nets land Amare, and they are able to keep their first round pick this year, they will probably get John Wall. Amare + Wall = Lock to make the playoffs next season. No question in my mind. And I think, if you give up Brook, then you will be able to keep John Wall. They'll have to give up more than just Brook, but I think he would really sweeten the deal.

But the real reason I want the Nets to trade Brook Lopez is so that Brook and Robin Lopez can be on the same team! Can't you see how awesome that would be? If anyone from Stanford read this website, then they would definitely agree with me! They're twins! They would reinforce each other's confidence, they would create a good locker room bond, and they have that crazy twin brain thing where they would be able to know what the other was thinking all the time and use that to their basketball advantage. Plus, defenses would get so confused playing against them! How could you man up if you couldn't tell them apart? Brutal and brilliant. Unfortunately, you'd probably also confuse the hell out of Jason Richardson, but he'd figure it out eventually.

Promise me, New Jersey and Phoenix, at least think about it.

On Gilbert Arenas

After back to back losses to the Thunder and Spurs, the Wizards have been getting pretty frustrated. No one, apparently, more-so than Gilbert Arenas. He spoke to reporters regarding the state of the Wizards. Here's a bit of what he said:

"Everybody needs to get on the same level, that's all. Everyone's got their own individual goals, I guess. Hidden agendas. You can't win like that... I've never been on a team where you have eight free agents next year. I've never played on a team like that. I've never seen it turn out well. Sometimes it works out for the best because everybody's hungry and everybody's fighting. Sometimes it works out for the worst when everybody's out for their own." [Emphasis Added]


Here's a list of the Wizards' free agents after this year. Which of these men is "out for their own?":
Brendan Haywood
Mike Miller
Fabricio Oberto
Randy Foye
Dominic McGuire
Mike James
Javaris Crittendon
Earl Boykins

Has Gil been paying attention? As The Washington Post's Ivan Carter said, "Haywood is the only free agent who has played every game this season, but it's not like rebounding and blocking shots is a disruption." Everyone else has been inactive, either with injuries or DNP-CDs. With a little help from BBR, here's a comparison of Agent Zero and the Agenda'd Eight:

Player	G	GS	MP	FGA	FG%	3PA	3P%	FTA	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS	ATR
Gilbert Arenas	12	12	437	231	0.39	62	0.371	91	0.736	48	75	16	1	48	32	270	1.56
8 Free Agents	8.29	4.29	178.57	318	0.47	52	0.44	108	0.78	35.71	90	3.43	4.43	68	17.71	57.57	1.32
	average	average	average	sum	%	sum	%	sum	%	average	sum	average	average	sum	average	average	average

You can see that the 8 guys that are apparently "out for theirs" are starting less frequently, shooting less often, and more efficient than Arenas. Take from his remarks what you will, but having watched and attending several Wizards games this season, Gilbert's own head is getting in the way of his success, not anyone else's shots.

The Washington Times has reported more unrest in the Wizards' camp, with some pretty palpable locker room divisions. There were some rumors last week about divisions between Caron Butler and Arenas, and interviews with reporters today seem to have reiterated that tension.

Personally, I think if the Wizards have to go in a certain direction, Arenas should be jettisoned from the team in favor of Butler. But obviously, since Gil has ordained himself the face of the franchise and the most popular athlete in DC (an assertion which Alex Ovechkin may contend) and his contract is virtually untradeable, Wizards fans shouldn't be surprised to see Butler get traded before the end of the year. Maybe tacked onto a few of those selfish expiring contracts, too.

AZV32ron Out!

UPDATE: Truth About It has a great take on this episode. He was able to ask Arenas some questions during press time today, specifically about the 14/15 people who get along on the team. Great stuff.

Outsourced Power Rankings

Sometimes, we here at OLP get a little busy and don't have time to provide our dedicated readers with the content they desire and deserve. Fortunately, sometimes our friends are willing to step in and do our work for us. Your guest writer today is Chris S. He's from the DMV, and he loves the NBA. He has previewed every team in the league in these power rankings. Leave any feedback for Chris in the comments.

The Onion describes how we all feel about the Clippers

Pure genius.


Fatal Staples Center Collapse Brings Merciful Early End To Clippers Game
{H/T to Kate for sending this video our way}
{The Onion Sports Network: Fatal Staples Center Collapse Brings Merciful Early End To Clippers Game}

Outsourced Season Predictions: Eastern Conference

Sometimes, we here at OLP get a little busy and don't have time to provide our dedicated readers with the content they desire and deserve. Fortunately, sometimes our friends are willing to step in and do our work for us. Your guest writer today is Chris S. He's from the DMV, and he loves the NBA. He has previewed every team in the league, in his predicted order of finish in the conference.

Outsourced Season Predictions: Western Conference

Sometimes, we here at OLP get a little busy and don't have time to provide our dedicated readers with the content they desire and deserve. Fortunately, sometimes our friends are willing to step in and do our work for us. Your guest writer today is Chris S. He's from the DMV, and he loves the NBA. He has previewed every team in the league, in his predicted order of finish in the conference.