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Greg Oden has had a bigger impact than I thought he was going to have with this being only the 3rd week of his NBA career. In order to make their team better, the Trail Blazers put a stick of dynamite under the Rose Garden and blew up the team. They shipped out 3 players including leading scorer Zach Randolph and sent them to the Knicks for Channing Frye and Steve Francis. While Frye’s role with the Blazers should be a productive stay, Francis had his contract bought out by Portland today. EPSN.com reported that the Washington Post and Newsday released on Tuesday that Portland will pay over $30 million to Francis just to scram. On draft day when I saw that Francis was headed to the northwest, I threw up my arms in disagreement. To me, Francis is more of a headache on the court than someone that could help a franchise. I think his talent is off the charts, but is he the system guy that is willing to help in the growth of a rookie?

Now Francis can take his $30 million and leave. And what a way to leave a team huh?? I would love to be bought out if we’re talking $30 million!

Rumors are now circulating that Dallas and the Clippers are interested in Francis’ services. I think that if his knee is 100% healthy, Francis can help a team in certain categories. I just don’t feel that he can be that marquee name that he used to be. Only time will tell with Mr. “Franchise”.

I’m Tovash Hatcher

Article: Francis becomes free agent after Blazers agree to buyout
Article: Blazers Buy Out Remainder of Steve Francis’ Contract

“Swa-wing batta”, “Yer Out”, and “SAFE” are words associated with the sound of summer. Baseball, hotdogs, and beautiful women are normally at the top of a guy’s list for the months of June thru August, but giants that stand 6’5” and can dunk a ball at a young age are the new headlines. I better hurry up and get the NBA TV channel added to my satellite viewing lineup so that I can get on the summer hoops that are about to heat up.

The Mavericks and the Sonics do battle today over there in Vegas and I have a feeling that many will have their eyes glued to #35 for Seattle. Kevin Durant will be welcomed to the NBA, well at least by lower level players but I’m still intrigued. In the theme of the hit movie Transformers, Durant sort of reminds me of Optimus Prime with the way he will have to “transform” his game to lead an NBA team instead of a collegiate team where Ric Barnes ruled the land.

Greg Oden and the new Portland Trail Blazers hit the floor on Sunday July 8 in the same Vegas league, and he will also begin his reign of terror on the league beginning with the Mavericks as well. People if you love to watch hoops, the interest starts early. See you in Sin City!!

I’m Tovash Hatcher
Reference: 2007 Vegas Summer League Schedule
Reference: Summer Leagues

The Portland Trail Blazers drafted everyone under the sun. I don’t think you stayed up for it but in the 3rd round, they selected me too. Well, not exactly but I would play for free if they asked me to.

They DID draft almost ten players including moving their leading scorer Zach Randolph to the Eastern Conference. I actually felt good for the city of Portland for attempting to clean up their “Jailblazers” image. With the addition of Greg Oden, Channing Frye, Josh McRoberts, Taurean Green and a few others, I see a team that I’ll be cheering for this coming season.

The Atlanta Hawks nabbed Acie Law IV making the Hawks, well, the Hawks. I still think that team is the abyss of the NBA and Acie or not, they will not win any time soon.

Kevin Durant came down from Heaven and bumped Ray Allen out of the picture in Seattle. The game’s best right-handed shooter is a Boston Celtic. Back in the day a person would have loved to be called a Celtic but now it’s considered a punishment. I feel for Ray-Ray. Today he addressed the Boston media with a smile on his face, so we’ll just assume that he’ll give it a try. I guess he has to since he’s making a ton of money huh?

I’m Tovash Hatcher

Article: Allen says surgically repaired ankles are ‘perfect’
Reference: 2007 NBA Draft

Last night I got home and turned my TV to ESPN News and the breaking news box indicated that the Trail Blazers read my article and decided to select Greg Oden. That was just a joke, but who knows, it could be true right? With the draft taking place today, Portland got smart and made their move a full 24 hours before draft day. Smart or not?

If you follow NFL football, the Houston Texans did the same thing when they selected Mario Williams at #1 instead of taking Vince Young or Reggie Bush a day early. And Williams has yet to be productive as Bush and Young have been. Poor Houston. I don’t feel sympathetic for Portland because I don’t feel that Oden will be a bust. Heck, I’ll go even further to say that he will have a productive first 3 years with the Blazers. Congrats to Portland for making up their minds and going with the correct pick…a center. I do have a feeling that Durant will get all the hype but Portland will be very happy with their first pick. I’ll have more on this tomorrow. Enjoy the draft!!

I’m Tovash Hatcher

Article: Blazers to take Ohio State center Oden at No. 1
Article: Sources: Knicks talking to Blazers about Randolph

I just got off the phone with Kevin Durant’s agent and he told me that the 18-year-old just got his driver’s license. Well, I didn’t actually talk to his agent but Durant is now legally able to operate motor vehicles. That’s not the only thing that Durant will be operating either. Durant and his new NBA team will come together tomorrow night and begin a process of putting together a championship winner.

The Portland Trail Blazers are on the clock and now it seems that Durant will be the hot pick. Because of his versatility Durant is the player that will cause havoc to coaches and guys trying to defend him and that’s the sexiness that teams are looking for. They want that “gotta-have-him” pizzazz on hot players in the draft and I think that the Blazers will go that route. If they are smart, they’ll understand that most championships are won with 7-footers. With that being said Greg Oden would be the best option to go first. Who is your pick? You have 24 hours to make the decision.

I’m Tovash Hatcher

Article: The Great Debate: Oden or Durant?
Article: Consensus Mock Draft

NBA fans, if you’ve enjoyed this past season just think about what’s to come in the next 4 months. As I discussed yesterday, there are rumors involving a possible blockbuster deal that would involve Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett both being Lakers. I also mentioned that the T-Wolves would be idiots if they actually pulled the trigger on a deal of that nature.

Well I stand by my words and still think that the Lakers are always making big moves for that 6’6’’ infant that they have. He cries and complains and yes, the Lakers pamper him with trades and deals and whatever it takes to shut him up. And he still hasn’t won anything since Shaq has left. But do you think that your favorite NBA team would do the same thing? Well if you’re a fan of Minnesota I feel sorry for you. At least the Bucks and Pistons are close to that area. And speaking of the Pistons, are they actually serious about not re-signing Chauncey Billips? The month of July will be a hotbed for free agency and trades in the NBA, especially since the draft is coming this Thursday.

Be on the lookout for jaw dropping deals that should impact your team’s structure. Durant and Oden will not be the only two players that will shake up this year’s draft and other teams.

I’m Tovash Hatcher

Article: Billups will become unrestricted free agent July 1
Article: Lakers, Wolves reportedly in talks regarding Garnett

The Lakers, Celtics, T-Wolves, and Pacers are discussing a possible trade that would include sending Kevin Garnett to the Lakers. And by the way, Kobe Bryant wouldn’t go anywhere.

The deal would involve sending KG to the Lakers and the Pacers would then get Odom and Andrew Bynum. The Celtics would get Pacers’ veteran Jermaine O’Neal in return for the upcoming 1st round pick. Whatever the combination, no one smart would allow Kevin Garnett team up with Kobe Bryant. What are they thinking? I don’t care how many draft picks the Celtics would get, Garnett and Bryant translates into a dangerous tandem. And even if the Lakers did lose Odom, Garnett alone would fill in for Odom’s absence. Remember, they didn’t give Garnett the name “big ticket” for nothing. Garnett basically leads his team in almost every category that involves touching the basketball. Heck, he even sells t-shirts and popcorn during timeouts.

Sending Garnett to the Lakers would be equivalent to the NBA trying to use rocks to bring down a tank. It just doesn’t make sense to why Kevin Garnett would be paired up with another superstar while the T-Wolves get role players. If I’m Kevin McHale, the T-Wolves general manager, I would be asking for Kobe Bryant in return. I bet the people of Minnesota are ecstatic to lose their superstar to another team in the same conference. That just shows that some teams don’t care about their fan base and only care about how fat their pockets can get. I’d like to propose a toast to the birdbrain T-Wolves for even considering this move. Cheers to idiots!!

I’m Tovash Hatcher

Article: KG To L.A. Trade Talks Finally Arrive
Article: Lakers, Wolves reportedly in talks regarding Garnett

Did the NBA meet your viewing standards this season? I’ll never forget the new ball controversy. Remember when the old ball replaced the new one on January 1? If the league was looking to increase scoring, the new ball indeed brought scoring production. Teams like the Phoenix Suns were tearing up the nets by scoring over 120 on several occasions. Gilbert Arenas took advantage of the new ball by hitting multiple game-winning shots as well as torching the Lakers for 60.

The Dallas Mavericks went undefeated this season too (well at least it seemed like it) by going 67-15. They were only 3 wins away from 70 wins. And did anyone notice that they went 0-3 against Golden St in the regular season?

Lebron James went nuts in the playoffs over there in the Eastern Conference and now Tayshaun Prince will forever be immortalized in that commercial as he tries to cower away from a soaring LeBron in that historic Game 5.

And let’s give props to the San Antonio Spurs for winning another championship in the silent of fashions. They are indeed the new New York Yankees of basketball.

I’m Tovash Hatcher

Reference
Reference

I don’t know about you but if I was a GM and I wanted to win a championship, I would draft a center in a heartbeat. In recent NBA championship history, name the only team that didn’t win a title without having a legit post player on the roster. Give up? Well as far as I know, the only team to not have a great post player was the Chicago Bulls ran by what’s his face.

The Portland Trail Blazers’ last championship in the 70s had a dominant center in the form of ESPN’s Bill Walton. The Blazers also showed the world how not to win with a center but they had that run abruptly ended by, well you-know-who in 1992. So who do you think the Blazers should draft based on my assumptions?

Don’t agree with me yet? Well, there’s a guy that goes by the name of Shaquille O’Neal that has won all his championships during this millennium. That translates to 4 out of the last 7. Wanna know who the other 3 rings have gone to? Tim Duncan.

The Blazers BETTER make the right decision and draft Greg Oden instead of the Durant kid. I like watching Kevin Durant play and I think he is more dynamic than Oden. But this is the NBA and teams like the Spurs do not have players that turn in highlight after highlight on a nightly basis. They do have players that get the job done in the postseason and it all starts with the man in the middle.

I’m Tovash Hatcher

Article: Oden works hard to sell himself for Blazers’ No. 1 draft pick
Article: Greg Oden works out for Blazers