The Economy, Free Agency in 2010, does anyone in the NBA care about winning now?

A lot of people have been on the move in the last week, Jermaine O'Neal is headed to Miami, Shaun Marion is going to Toronto, Brad Miller is going to Chicago, Rafer Alston is going to Orlando, Conan O'Brien is heading for LA, Larry Hughes is going to New York, and a bunch of other moves.But very few moves were moves that helped teams win now. My question is why?

Every team that makes a trade with some intention, now what those teams' intentions are is beginning to confuse me. All the moves the Sacramento Kings made were so either they cut cap for 2010 as they are or so their owners, the Maloofs (owners of the Palms Casino chain) can try to keep them in Sacramento which seems less likely every week. But it's pretty obvious that they are going to end in the Maloof's home town of Las Vegas, dumping off Brad Miller's contract to the Bulls won't help. The only players they didn't make an attempt to trade were Beno Udrih and Kevin Martin.

Same thing was going on for the New Orleans Hornets, they tried to trade Tyson Chandler to the Thunder for Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox in a move that made no basketball sense what so ever.Chandler is one their best player when healthy but has huge contract and they could barely afford him. They are Western Conference contenders with Chandler but if they can't stay in New Orleans with four big contracts. The deal fell through because Chandler failed his physical but now the Hornets are probably gone from New Orleans in the post-Katrina/Gustav economy of that city they only afford one pro team. Expect the Hornets to end up in Seattle.

The Suns are kind of in the same boat, they were considering trading Amare Stoudamire because they didn't want to hold on to his big contract for the next two years, they were considering moving Shaq's big contract to Cleveland, thing about that duo of Shaq and LeBron that would be incredible the star power of that team. But they were making money dumping trades too because they are losing money. But they aren't making get better now trades, though I guess you could consider the Richardson trade a get better now move, but still.

Then there are the teams who are looking to make cap room for the offseason of 2010 when LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudamire, Steve Nash, and almost every other big name NBA player hits the market.

The Knicks were a perfect who are dumping every ounce of cap room they have in hope of getting LeBron, Steve Nash, and maybe even one more guy in 2010. They got Chris Wilcox's expiring contract for the Thunder, they trade three small expiring contracts to the Bulls for Larry Hughes large expiring contract.

The Bulls, who had made no intention of doing anything in 2010 they seemed more interested in Carlos Boozer in 2009. They traded for Brad Miller and John Salmons from the Kings, Salmons is they're cheaper replacement for Ben Gordon who if they pay next year they will have less room for 2010. Brad Miller will help them now but they could've gotten Chris Kaman but his contract is too long and they didn't want to take it on because they want Chris Bosh in 2010.

The idea of 2010 has also scared teams away from making moves that would've made them much better right now. For example, the Mavericks turned down a trade with the Clippers that would've made them a lot better right now. The Mavs would've got Baron Davis and Chris Kaman for Jason Kidd, Jerry Stackhouse, and 1st Round pick which looks great for the Mavs on paper but Mark Cuban supposedly wants Amare or Bosh in 2010 and since Davis contract goes to 2013 and Kaman's goes to 2012 they didn't want to make it. Too bad too that team would be a contender with a line-up of Baron Davis, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, Dirk, and Chris Kaman. But no 2010 dominates teams thoughts

That leads to the point I'm getting at, yes I have one. Does anyone really care about winning right now. 2009, because I could only find four teams who only motive behind making the trades that they was winning now or in the near future. Here they are

The Oklahoma City Thunder were definitely trying to get better, they trade to make the Tyson Chandler trade that I already mentioned with the Hornets. Which give them an interior presence to great with their big three of Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and Jeff Green on the outside but that trade didn't go threw but at least they tried. They also added Thabo Sefolosha from the Bulls who is the perfect six man for this team, he can play and any position on the wing and he is an incredible defender, I know, I've watched him, and I'm sad the Bulls let go of him for a late first round pick. Pissed me off. But this organization is a few years away from being a contender, they have a paternal super star, two incredibly good sidekicks for him. They are ecumenically good, they a sell out almost every game at Ford Center (which blows my mind how Ford needs the government to bail them out, but yet sponsors two major sports teams stadiums and has the first commercial after nearly every break of the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl and on Saturday Night Live, confuses me really)

Then there is the Miami Heat who in my mind great and I think everyone else thinks that too. Marion was a terrible fit in Miami he's a four in a run-and-gun, they had him as a three in a half-court offense. Jermaine O'Neal gives them the true center they've so been lacking. They are a threat now with O'Neal and Jamario Moon who's shown flashes of being a second-trier superstar is going to take Marion's fight just fine. Watch out for the Heat

The Raptors were on the end of that trade I just mentioned and they run the run and gun where Marion is a perfect fit he will be able to run and score and go back to the way he played in Phoenix. Marcus Banks is solid back-up in the right system (aka the system Toronto runs) And they also added Patrick O'Bryant from Boston who will give than extra big man since O'Neal is gone. They definitely got better even though they will won't even come close to the playoffs

Then lastly the Orlando Magic who added Rafer Alston to replace Jameer Nelson who is out all year with a shoulder injury. This is a great move to put the Magic back in the Eastern Conference title picture. Andre Miller may have made more sense because his contract is over next year when Nelson will clearly be back and they have one more year of Alston. So how they will work together next year is big question but for right now it's a great move, they made it to win now. And that's all I ask

Maybe other teams tried like the Celtics, but they have nothing to trade but they added Mikki Moore in free agency and will add Starbury. But they couldn't make a get better trade.

The Cavs looked to make moves for guys like Vince Carter and Shaq but they didn't want to upset their chemistry.

What I don't want is for teams to kill themselves now so they can win in 2010, like the Detroit Pistons did when they traded their chemistry king Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson who has since killed their chemistry and has them falling out of the playoffs. Great move to clear cap and kill yours season! Great move Joe Dumars, you may have killed your season but hey it will be ok in 2010 when you get Carlos Boozer. Yeah, right. It blows my mind.

Oh well I'm done for now should be back really soon with my WEC 39 picks. Peace out

UFC 95 Picks

The UFC is back in London and back on Spike TV for their lastest card. UFC 95: Sanchez vs. Stevenson. What does that mean for you, my UFC picks column (clapping). Here we go

First off I would like to complament the UFC for putting this card on Spike and not making me $45 dollars for this glorified fight night. It's a good card but it's definitly not worth almost 50 bucks espacailly with the main event which I will get to later in this column. Stevenson has lost 2 of his last 3, Sanchez is cutting to 155 for the first time. It could be a good fight but it's not a Pay-Per-View main event. Big props to the UFC for not making us the MMA fans pay for his ok card, but not a PPV. It seems like it will end up similiar to UFC 80 or UFC 85 which didn't look like good cards but ended up really good. So who knows, but thanks Dana for not making me pay for this card, now if you could only do that next month for the Jardine vs. Jackson card.

Now on to picks, I'm not going to explain any of the undercard fights because frankly they all suck and I have little to know interest in any of the fights, but I am interested to see Brian Cobb but's thats it. So no undercard explainations. If you want to bitch about it I don't care leave a comment. Any way onto picks

Welterweight Bout: Paul Kelly over Troy Mandaloniz via TKO in Round 2

Lightweight Bout: Evan Dunham over Per Elkund via submission (arm bar) in Round 1

Heavyweight Bout: Neil Grove over Mike Cicsnolevicz via KO in Round 2

Heavyweight Bout: Steve Struve over Junior Dos Santos via submission (rear naked choke) - a mild upset here but Junior is overrated because he's just a boxer that caught a guy who underrated him and didn't take him where it would've been over just like that. So when Struve takes him down it will be over

Lightweight Bout: Brian Cobb over Terry Etim via submission (rear naked choke) in Round 3

On to the picks for the main card that we will acutally see, solid main card, not the best main card, but some very, very exciting fights, it kind of seems like Slumdog Millionare where if the fights are actors and the card is the movie then it has not many actors that have little resimes but together will make something great. This has the potential to be a very good main card (just not one worth paying for)

Welterweight Bout: Josh Koscheck (14-3-0) vs. Paulo Thiago (10-0-0)

This is a potentially dangerous fight for Koshcheck, we've seen it before a known guy vs. unknown guy and the known guy gets caught napping. Houston Alexander vs. Keith Jardine, Fabricio Werdum vs. Junior dos Santos, and almost Thiago Silva vs. Antonio Mendes but Silva got his head back on after that head kick. But I don't think that will happen in this fight. But it is very dangerous for Koscheck.

Paulo Thiago is a BJJ Black Belt and a judo brown belt he also dangerous kicks out of his 10 wins he has one TKO and that was because he caused a knee injury with kicks. Reminds of a lot from what I've seen of TUF 8 runner-up Vinny Maghales. That leaves a bunch of trouble for Koscheck because he can't take him down or he'll probably get subbed, he can't clinch or he'll get thrown and put in a bad postition where'd he get subbed. So Koschecks has keep this a straight boxing match which I think he will do, he did against Yoshida where he would've had the same issues. But he kepted to his every improving boxing game and got a knock-out where he acutally knocked him out twice. So I'm liking Kos in this fight it will basically be a boring boxing match but that's how Koscheck has to win this fight and that's now he'll win.

Josh Koscheck over Paulo Thiago via KO in Round 2

Middleweight Bout:Chael Sonnon (23-9-1) vs. Demian Maia (10-0-0)

This is the fight I'm looking foward to the most on this card. Maia is easily the best at translating his jiu-jistu into MMA. He's 4-0 in the UFC all of his win by submission. Chael Sonnon is coming back to the UFC from the WEC where he would've been champ at Paulo Filho made weight in November. The winner climbs up really high in the middleweight rankings. Now everyone thinks this will be Maia clinching and throwing Sonnon down and subbing him in Round 1 but I don't think that is how this will go. Sonnon, stylistically is very similiar to Ed Herman who was giving Maia trouble before Maia caught him a triangle in Round 2. Sonnon can do it that if he sits in Maia's gaurd and avoids being submitted he can pound him to a desicion but I think Maia will eventaully catch him a triangle or an arm bar. But it won't be as easy as everyone thinks. So I got Maia in this one

Demian Maia over Chael Sonnon via submission (arm bar) in Round 3

Middleweight Bout: Nate Marquardt (27-8-2) vs. Wilson Gouveia (12-5-0)

This is another big fight as far as middleweight title contention goes. The winner of this will probably get the winner of the Sonnon-Maia fight then the winner of that will get the winner of the Bisping-Henderson fight and it's a big title shot tournament all this happening while Thales Leites gets his undeserved shot and Yushin Okami gets his rightful shot. On to this fight

Marquardt is 2-1 since losing to Anderson Silva, but his only lost was the BS point dedounction lost to Leites. Gouveia is 2-0 since dropping to 185 but he is huge for a middleweight and his gas tank wasn't great at 205, I doubt it will be good 185, he's never gone longer than 7 minutes in a fight a 185, now how will he do against a guy who will push his gas tank and bring the pressure for three rounds. I think if Marqaurdt survives the first round where Gouveia will probably come out like a bat out of hell and if Marquardt survives that than he will just take Gouveia down and overwelm him with ground-and-pound and submission attempts. So unless Gouveia catches Marquardt with his hands down early he will lose this fight. I expect Marquardt to take a desicion but he could get a submission if he gets Gouveia to roll over when he's pounding or something.

Nate Marquardt over Wilson Gouveia via desicion.

Weltwerweight Bout: Dan Hardy (20-6-0) vs. Rory Markham (16-4-0)

The UFC has this as the co-main event of this card, which a lot of people are bitching about. Watch a YouTube pick video they are. But I understand, now that Michael Bisping is getting so high in rankings, he caan't just fight in the UK has fight to fight anywhere anytime. Like he's fight this July in Vegas at UFC 100, but the UFC is trying to find a new Bisping who they can use to sell out the cards in London and I think that Dana White thinks that Dan Hardy is that guy. So it's basically a ploy for the fans watching on Senanta Sports in the UK and for the people going at the O2 so it looks like "ooh Dan Hardy a British star in the co-main event I better watch this" Type of deal. On to breaking it down

Now these two are both pretty much stand-up fighters, Markham has a little more wrestling abillity basically because he trains with all the great wrestlers in Bettendorf, Iowa. Hardy is probably a better kickboxer but Markham hits harder. I think Rory Markham is going to let his pride do the talking and keep this fight standing up where after about two rounds he'll be losing this fight, but Rory Markham has the big KO punch button in the middle of his face where he gets a hit a bunch and and fires back that's how he knocked Brodie Farber in July, he's was getting the living crap beat out him and he landed a mega head kick. YouTube it it's great really. And that's kind of how I see this fight going, Hardy will get Rory on the ropes and he will just fire back with a huge KO punch. So I pick Markham via KO

Rory Markham over Dan Hardy via KO in Round 3

Main Event: Lightweight: Bout Diego Sanchez (19-2-0) vs. Joe Stevenson (29-9-0)

A match up of Ultimate Fighters winners, 3rd one ever (Rashad Evans vs. Michael Bisping at UFC 78, Rashad Evans vs. Forrest Griffin at UFC 92) This isn't thag great of a main event but it could be worst. Very Fight Nightish. Stevenson has lost two of his last three even though the two losts are to the best two lightweights the UFC has in B. J. Penn and Kenny Florian. Sanchez is cutting to 155 for reasons I don't know. He was a fight or two away from a title shot at 170 had he not gotten hurt and beat Alves then beat someone like Jon Fitch or Josh Koscheck he would in line for a title. Also had he stayed at 170 he would probably be fighting Thiago Alves here, which I would pay for if I had too. It really makes no sense to me.

Ok now I'll quit crying and break this fight down. Both have very good ground games, Sanchez great wrestler, very good jiu-jistu, and vicisious ground and pound. Stevenson, supposedly a BJJ Black Belt under Robert Drysdale I don't believe him, a BJJ Black belt doesn't roller over right when he gets mounted by Kenny Florian. But the difference in this fight is Sanchez's clear striking advantage. He's got great kicks, vicisious knees, and heavy hands. Watch his fight with Luigi Fioravanti he picks him apart on the feet and ends destroying him with strikes. The only way Sanchez loses this fight is if the 37lb weight cut totally destroys his gas tank which it very well might. But think Diego will finish this fight pretty quickly. So I like Diego Sanchez

Diego Sanchez will beat Joe Stevenson via TKO in Round 1

Here are some quick predictions for the post fight awards like KO of the Night, Fight of the Night, etc.

Fight of the Night: Chael Sonnon vs. Demain Maia
KO of the Night: Rory Markham
Submission of the Night: Demain Maia

That is all I got, enjoy the fights, enjoy the rest of your weekend, have watching the Oscars. I'll be back next week with another column, something NBA or NFL combine related and my WEC picks.

So enjoy your weekend and peace out

NBA at the Break: My First Half-Awards, Second half preview, and a quick look back at All-Star Weekend

NBA All-Star 2009 has just come to an end after another Western Conference beatdown but it really doesn't matter and that's how it should be. Let the guys go out there and score 140 pints, let Mo Williams throw between the legs passes to LeBron even their team is loosing by 30, let Shaq try to beat Dwight Howard off the dribble, it's great. The NBA always has the best All-Star because it doesn't count for anything and it's fun to watch.

The Saturday night is also a blast, the three point contest is always really cool, Daequan Cook congrats. Derrick Rose was just crazy good in the skills contest, capping it all off with a crazy dunk that could've got 3rd in the dunk contest. Then the dunk contest, best one in a long time. Dwight Howard was great on the twelve foot rim, but he screwed up by following up what he did in last year's dunk final by doing the same thing expect worst, but Nate Robinson was so awesome with his Krypitnite dunk over Howard was simply amazing. Plus had Rudy Fernandez and J.R. Smith not chosen terrible partners they would've been great too. All-Star weekend simply the best.

On to Awards

MVP: LeBron James, Forward Cavs : No doubt in my mind on this one. LeBron is the best player in the league (I'm finally ready to admit that) he's got the best stats, 28.5 points per game (leads all scorers), 7.5 boards, and 7 assists per game. All of those stats top that of other contenders like Kobe and D-Wade. Dwight Howard does have more boards though. The dude is crazy good and he's on, in my mind, the best team. I seriously don't know who can guard this guy, being 6'8, 270 pounds and he's finally developed about a tenth of the Tiger, MJ, Tebow gene. He's definitely the MVP this year and in 2010 the bidding for him will be insane.

Rookie of the Year: Derrick Rose, Guard Bulls: This shouldn't even be a debate and please don't jump on me for being a homer does it help that watch Rose night-to-night as oppose to O.J. Mayo but I've seen Mayo play twice against the Bulls, I've stats, and I've seen highlights. Rose is better, Mayo is only scoring two more points per game, getting one rebound per game, and averaging three times less assists. Rose is the better all-around player and the better team player. Mayo is so selfish that he's made it so Rudy Gay feels the need to make a crappy shot everytime he gets the ball. Give this award to Rose he is better and everyone knows it

Coach of the Year: George Karl, Nuggets: Everyone says Chauncey Billups turned them around, I think that's a load. Chauncey helped but he didn't make Carmelo suddenly step all stages of his game including his defense, he didn't make Nene into a force to be reckoned with underneath he make J.R. Smith try to play defense for once. All that was George Karl and he deserves COY for making them a contender in the West.

Break-Out Star: Kevin Durant Forward, Thunder: KD is so flying so under it's scares me about how bad of an NBA market Oklahoma City is, because people should be talking about him in the same sentance as Chris Paul and Dwight Howard instead he's barely mentioned. Read ESPN's Bill Simmons' column on being underrated bout Durant and Manny it really covers everything about how good he is. I think he's now the seventh best player in the league. Freakishly good. Oklahoma City has a great future with KD, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook. It's scary how good they could be with that base. Durant capped off his greatness at All-Star weekend by winning H-O-R-S-E and being MVP of the Rookie-Sophomore Game with 46 points. He's just great.

Team that needs to make a Trade: Boston Celtics - They don't need a big trade like the Pistons. If the Pistons want to win the title they need some mega-trade that would give Amare and even someone else like Grant Hill. The Celtics to add a couple players another veteran big man and another swing man to come off their bench watching Leon Powe half to come off the bench against the Lakers and getting dominated by Gasol made me come to this realization. I don't get how people don't see this considering how the NBA shoves them in our face. The only problem with the Celtics making a trade is, as I mentioned their bench is awful, well nobody wants there players. I think Joe Smith from Oklahoma City would be a good fit but they won't trade him for just draft picks which is what the Celtics would give them. But assuming the Knicks don't trade Marbury and end up buying him out it looks like he will be a Celtic. But they need a trade.

Eastern Conference Team that could shock us and get into the Finals: The Miami Heat - Dwayne Wade is playing at an incredibly high level. He would've been my second choice for MVP behind LeBron he's back to level that won him the Finals. Then there's the Jermaine O'Neal trade which is huge for this team. Marion didn't fit in well with this team he should be a four man in a run and gun offense like Toronto's they were using as a three in a half-court. O'Neal on the other hand will post-up and get rebounds and be the big man they haven't had ever since Shaq left. Then they also got Jermario Moon who Pat Riley supposedly won't let this trade get with out. And he's shown flashes that he could be a star. They are the 3rd best team in the East right now but they could get better Chalmers isn't a Championship point guard but if they would say add Steve Blake from Portland then they're in good shape. Either way watch out for the Heat

Western Conference Team that could shock us and make the Finals: Phoenix Suns You heard me right the Phoenix Suns, with Alvin Gentry are a threat because they still have the right players to run the run and gun system D'Antoni ran. They can basically be the Warriors that upset the Mavericks a few years ago. Nash would be Baron Davis, Barbosa would be Monte Ellis, Richardson would be Richardson, Matt Barnes would be Matt Barnes, and Amare would be the big than if they need defense they can bring in Shaq. They are really deep and Terry Porter was trying to play a system his team didn't work in then wouldn't change away from even though it was painfully obvious it wasn't working, but back in the run-and-gun the Suns are always a threat. So watch out for the Suns

Eastern Conference Champions: Cleveland Cavaliers, I like Cleveland as is they are much deeper than the Celtics, Boston has no one who can match-up with LeBron the Cavs can wins the East as is, would Vince Carter help, sure Vince Carter would help but they don't need him. If Mo Williams continues to play at All-Star level and Big Z stays deathly, other than an injury to LeBron nothing in the East can stop them.

Western Conference Champions: San Antonio Spurs, So much for the end of the road for the Spurs, they've actually gotten younger and better with Roger Mason, the steal of the draft George Hill, and Matt Bonnar so they've getting better and are not at the end of road as I predicted. (Note to readers: never listen to my NBA picks they are probably all wrong, making this whole article pointless, but I won't be like the Sopranos and leave you hanging) But this isn't your older brother's Spurs (bad I know). One more thing they are a hellish match-up for the Lakers, they are way tougher than LA, Odom and Gasol will crinch at the idea of getting posted up by Duncan and I'm also not sold on the Lakers point men Famar and Fisher were getting killed off the dribble by Rajon Rondo and Mo Williams imagine what Parker can do to them.

Now for the moment everyone who has acutally made it this far in this freakishly long NBA picks column has been waiting for. My NBA Finals Champion! San Antonio vs. Cleveland

NBA Finals Champion: Cleveland Cavaliers, This will be a close series but the Cavs one thing the Spurs don't. LeBron James. The Spurs have no one who can stop him the only team that does is the Hornets and James Posey isn't even that good of a match-up. They have Bruce Bowen, but if the put Bowen in the game then they have to pull Roger Mason and all his production or keep him and pull Manu, neither good. It's just a terrible match-up, or they put Duncan on him but LeBron would kill Duncan off the dribble and that mean Roger Mason would have to guard Ben Wallace or Varejao which is also an awful match-up. So the Cavs will win the Finals and LeBron will Finals MVP.

That is all I got I will be back really soon with my UFC 95 picks but enjoy the rest of the NBA season. Peace out

Sorry

Sorry for the absence I've been buys the last month or so and haven't been on, but I will try to get back. I'm looking to make at least one post a week

Thanks, I hope if anyone actually reads this they following