NBA Free Agent Winners & Losers

It's not in hindsight whether there are "winners" and "losers" of free agency.  It's simply a matter of who will be crowned the champions on paper.  The NBA has a lot of the so called "middle of the road" teams that one or two moves can make them into contenders.  This year has given those teams many opportunities to make a candidate to be the paper champions.  I have narrowed down the winners, losers and an "undecided" section to four teams per category.  If there should be more or none at all, do share.

Undecided

New York Knicks

What they got: F Amare Stoudemire, F Anthony Randolph, G Raymond Felton

The Knicks did get one of the top free agents on the market in Stoudemire, but they had their sights set on LeBron James.  Is it a total failure?  Not exactly.  Yes, LeBron was the big catch, but it's hard to say they lost when they brought in one of the best scoring forwards in the game.  Felton is a proven point guard that actually took less money to come to New York.  Randolph was the main piece New York received from Golden State in the David Lee sign and trade.  Randolph has a decent outside-inside game and has a lot of upside.  With an inside presence, a leader at the point and a scoring option off the bench, New York could matter again.  It's a tough sell in the "Big Apple", but Knicks fans can be excited that their team will be in the mix for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference

Phoenix Suns

What they got: G Josh Childress, F Hedo Turkoglu

Phoenix lost Stoudemire and decided to re-sign F Channing Frye and F Grant Hill.  It makes sense for them because those two were a big part of what the Suns accomplished last year.  Stoudemire was too, but it doesn't put the Suns out of contention completely.  Steve Nash is still around and acquiring Childress and Turkoglu can help offset the loss by getting two players looking for a fresh start.  Childress has spent the past two seasons in Greece.  Judging by his stats, he hasn't regressed at all.  He can be what Boris Diaw was for the Suns a few years ago.  Turkoglu had a rough going in Toronto.  After he left Orlando for "greener" pastures, he seemed to want to take it easy rather than play with urgency.  Accusations of being a quitter and a liar hurt his reputation and Phoenix was willing to take a chance.  Why not?  He is just one year removed from leading the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals.  The Suns can't put all their hopes on Turkoglu, but he will be motivated to prove his doubters wrong.

Milwaukee Bucks

What they got: F Drew Gooden, F Corey Maggette, G Chris Douglas-Roberts

Because of another team in their division, I'm not putting Milwaukee in the winners category.  However, I do like what they've done.  Aside from Gooden's over valued contract, he does bring added rebounding and defensive prowess that head coach Scott Skiles covets.  Maggette is another tough guy who is constantly attacking the basket.  He will instantly make the Bucks bench a force.  Douglas-Roberts is an up and coming wing player who needs to improve his shooting stroke, but has crazy athleticism that will be utilized with Brandon Jennings leading this rising force in the Eastern Conference.

Utah Jazz

What they got: G Raja Bell, F Al Jefferson

Yes Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver will be missed.  As will Wesley Matthews who was an undrafted free agent.  Raja Bell will bring the toughness and defense that is a staple for Jerry Sloan's teams.  Bell has played for Utah before and his familiarity with Utah's style of play lead him to pick Utah ahead of the Lakers.  Al Jefferson was handed to the Jazz on a silver platter.  Not a lot was given to Minnesota to land the double-double machine.  Jefferson can be seen as an upgrade.  One is the age difference (4 years) and two is offensive output.  Both Boozer and Jefferson are prone to injury, but Jefferson can consistently put up 20+ points a game.  Utah will probably need to make a few other moves, but getting Jefferson was a nice surprise.

Losers

New Jersey Nets

No LeBron.  No Wade.  No Bosh.  No Stoudemire.  No Johnson.  That's why they're here.  Not a single big name came looking for the Nets money.  They settled for Travis Outlaw, Jordan Farmar and Anthony Morrow.  They were the worst team in the league last year and probably won't be any better this upcoming season.  Small pieces will get you out of the cellar, but not out of the hole.

Toronto Raptors

Chris Bosh was part of a sign and trade with the Miami Heat that gave Toronto a huge trade exception.  But it doesn't make any sense.  It seemed that they were extremely upset with Bosh's handling of the free agent fiasco and weren't going to help him get max money.  Instead they backed down and in the beginning of free agency they threw 34 million dollars at Amir Johnson.  The same Amir Johnson who has averaged 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game through four seasons.  Good job.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Yes LeBron is gone.  Was it their fault.  Not entirely, but they should have planned better for it.  With LeBron gone, the face of their franchise is Antawn Jamison.  Mo Williams will have to stay as well and they can't just sell of Delonte West.  They have some good pieces in J.J. Hickson and Leon Powe, but they are near the bottom of the Central Division with Indiana and Detroit with one free agent subtraction.

Minnesota Timberwolves

They do have some good players in place, but what exactly is the plan?  Michael Beasley is a better version of Ryan Gomes.  Darko did play his best basketball in Minnesota, but was it worth 20 million for four years?  You already have two point guards, three if you count Ricky Rubio.  But that didn't stop David Kahn (President of Basketball Operations) to sign Luke Ridnour, you guessed it, another point guard.  Dumping Al Jefferson isn't even the icing on the cake.  When Minnesota finishes with the worst record this year, they will pin all their misfortune on Kurt Rambis.  But it starts at the top.

Winners

Miami Heat

What they got: F LeBron James, F Chris Bosh, G Mike Miller

Yes they performed the ultimate coup and captured the top two free agents and brought them to Dwayne Wade's team.  Instantly they are a force to be reckoned with and it will be hard to keep all three of their game at the same time.  The bench is still suspect, mainly in the frontcourt, but bringing in Miller was a good choice.  He nearly shot 50% from 3-point range last year and that will pay big dividends for Miami in close games.  Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Juwan Howard are not the answers at center, but they will make another move before camp.

Boston Celtics

What thy got: G Ray Allen, C Jermaine O'Neal, G Nate Robinson

Paul Pierce took less money so the Celtics could bring back Allen and Robinson.  Allen decided that the best shot to win again was back in Beantown.  Robinson didn't want to leave a sure thing.  O'Neal is a good fit to replace Kendrick Perkins.  The "Big Three" will be together at least one more year (Garnett has one year left).  As will head coach Doc Rivers.  Do they have another run in them?  Why not?  If they can get into the playoffs healthy, they can beat anyone.  But this is definitely the last run for this group. 

Los Angeles Lakers

What they got: F Matt Barnes, G Steve Blake, C Theo Ratliff

Just getting Blake would have been good enough, but in the same day they grabbed Ratliff and Barnes out of the sky.  Barnes was reportedly going to Toronto in a sign and trade with Orlando, but money problems nixed the deal.  Immediately, according to Barnes, Kobe sprung into action and began texting Barnes to come to LA.  With Blake and Ratliff the Lakers bench has a whole new attitude.  It seemed at times that the bench seemed to lose focus far too often and get flustered.  That shouldn't be a problem with these three.  Taking less money to win says a lot about an athlete.  That's exactly what these three did.

Chicago Bulls

What they got: F Carlos Boozer, G Kyle Korver, F Kurt Thomas

They got a great consolation prize in Boozer and nabbed one of the best shooters in Korver.  Nearly getting J.J. Redick from Orlando would have put Chicago over the top.  Thomas was a smart move.  He has a knack for crashing the boards and will be able to spell Joakim Noah or Taj Gibson in a cinch.  Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Watson were quiet additions that further strengthen the bench against some of the deeper teams in the Eastern Conference

MLB Mid-Season Awards

We have reached the half-way point, sort of, in the 2010 Major League Baseball season.  Can you say that your World Series predictions are still valid?  Yes.  No.  Half of the prediction.  Well, Philadelphia and the New York Yankees are still alive and well, but my awards predictions are another matter.  Not totally blown up, but I do have to revamp a few spots.  Lets delve into them shall we?

American League MVP - 1B Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers
.346 AVG, 22 HR, 77 RBI

The way I see it with MVP awards is that it stands for Most Valuable Player.  Doesn't have anything to do with the team, just what the individual player has done for that season.  Why do you think Andre Dawson (1987) and Alex Rodriguez (2003) won the award when their teams went no where?  It was a toss up between Cabrera and Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers.  Hamilton has been on fire since June 1 and he is almost single handily winning the AL West for Texas.  You notice I said "almost."  Vladimir Guerrero, Ian Kinsler, Michael Young are just three names that are in the mix for the Rangers success.  That to me will cancel out any Rangers for votes.  The same goes for the Yankees bats.  Yes, Robinson Cano will get votes, but lets be honest.  I could bat sixth in that lineup and bat close to .300 too.  Cabrera is putting up a case for the Triple Crown.  Not saying he will get it, but he doesn't have nearly the kind of protection that Texas and New York give their candidates.

National League MVP - 1B Joey Votto - Cincinnati Reds
.314 AVG, 22 HR, 60 RBI

I like this guy a lot.  His father passing away last year set him back not just in his game, but mentally as well.  He needed all the time in the world to make everything right before he stepped back on the field.  Now that he has this year, it seems he hasn't missed a beat.  He was on pace for some remarkable stats last season and now it's showing this year.  The only other viable candidate at the moment that could make a run for the award would be 1B Adrian Gonzalez of the San Diego Padres.  You take him or Votto out of the middle of their respective lineups and their teams aren't even in the top three spots in their divisions.  Votto is extremely important to the Reds attack.  Yes he plays in a hitters paradise, but shouldn't he already have 30+ HR and almost 100 RBI by now?  Gonzalez's numbers are impressive being in a pitchers park, but San Diego is winning more on pitching than on offense.

American League Cy Young - David Price - Tampa Bay Rays
12-4, 2.42 ERA, .223 BAA

I have to give Tampa Bay a lot of credit here.  They didn't rush Price at all when he was drafted number one overall in 2007.  The bullpen was his first assignment the next year and that helped propel the Rays to their first World Series in 2008.  Since, he has slowly risen to the top tier of starting pitchers in the American League.  The only other candidate would be Cliff Lee.  Now with the Texas Rangers, his numbers will rise a little, but not enough to keep him out of contention.  Price has the wins and the lowest ERA in the American League.  That will be enough to get him the award and solidify him as the ace of Tampa Bay's pitching for many years to come.

National League Cy Young - Ubaldo Jimenez - Colorado Rockies
15-1, 2.20 ERA, .198 BAA

I don't like to give the award to the guy who has the most wins, but Ubaldo has been unhittable almost all year.  He has hit a bit of a wall going into July, but what's so remarkable about him is his BAA (batting average against) is still below .200.   I would put St. Louis' Adam Wainwright and Florida's Josh Johnson also into the mix.  Johnson doesn't have the wins, but his ERA (1.70) is the best in baseball and his strikeout (123) to walk ratio (28) is phenomenal.   Wainwright is great in St. Louis (9-0), but average on the road (4-5).  That will hurt him, but he will be a strong contender down the stretch like he was last year.  Ubaldo doesn't seem to be primed for a big let down.  Even with his struggles of late, he has bounced back nicely through most of the rough outings.

American League Rookie of the Year - Brennan Boesch - Detroit Tigers
.342 AVG, 12 HR 49 RBI

Yes, my original pick (Brian Matusz) has flamed out, but this is a great story.  Boesch has come out of nowhere in the Detroit system and hasn't disappointed in the majors.  This is the best protection for AL MVP Miguel Cabrera, but it is working.  He could have gotten consideration for the All-Star game too, but I'm not gonna go there.  I'm expecting his numbers to settle at some point, but it hasn't happened yet.  I'm sure it will, but until then he is the runaway choice in the American League.

National League Rookie of the Year - Gaby Sanchez - Florida Marlins
.302 AVG, 9 HR, 38 RBI

If not for a log jam at first base, Sanchez would get considered for the All-Star game as well.  Florida has Hanley Ramirez and now Gaby Sanchez to anchor the middle of their lineup.  Jason Heyward went down with an injured hand, which might cost him unless he picks up where he left off before the injury.  Jaime Garcia of the St. Louis Cardinals will get a lot of publicity, but I think Sanchez deserves it.  For a rookie in his position to have the kind of patience (.365 OBP) and some decent pop is rare.  He might have Marlins fans forget that they had Adrian Gonzalez at one point in their organization.  Him and a slew of other All-Stars too, but Sanchez is another piece that they will use until it's time to move onto the next one.

American League Manager of the Year - Ozzie Guillen - Chicago White Sox
1st Place: 49-38 record

If Tampa Bay takes the division, Joe Maddon will get the award.  Until then, Ozzie deserves all the accolades.  Chicago was dead in the water it seemed going into the summer.  Their pitching was in shambles.  The lineup was inconsistent.  Ozzie didn't even have one of his patented tirades and yet the White Sox got on a roll and began to pass Minnesota and Detroit to be atop first place.  If the trend continues, Chicago might think they can win the whole thing again.  Rest assured the White Sox will miss Jake Peavy, but GM Ken Williams will make a move to get a starter to help bolster the starting staff for the playoff push.  Ozzie hasn't lost the magic and the White Sox would be wise to not let him go for the wrong reasons.

National League Manager of the Year - Bobby Cox - Atlanta Braves
1st Place: 52-36 record (best in NL)

His last season is looking like he can keep managing for another 10 years.  Atlanta has the best record in the National League, thanks to great pitching and a balanced lineup.  There aren't any power bats in the lineup, but small ball is their game and they use it well.  Pitching and defense are what made the Braves contenders throughout the 1990s.  Atlanta has the fourth best ERA in the National League and it starts at the top with Bobby Cox.  The Braves are starting to pull away from the pack in the NL East with Philadelphia and the New York Mets soon to be fighting for the Wild Card.

George Steinbrenner 1930-2010

The only thing more important than winning was breathing to New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.  For 37 seasons he was the most loved, hated and misunderstood owner in sports.  He had many ups and downs throughout his reign.  He put the Yankees back on the map as world champions in the late 1970s.  They went silent in the 1980s.  The first time the Yankees didn't win a title in an entire decade.  The Yankees would not go quiet in the 1990s.  Four World Series titles put the Yankees back on top.  Winning this past year was probably the most fulfilling.  He let his baseball people do their job and it usually works when you have the backing of George Steinbrenner and his check book.

Twenty times in his first 23 seasons as owner he changed the manager of the New York Yankees.  Five times in that span he hired and fired Billy Martin.  It was well known the disdain they had for one another, but they won together and that was what counted for both of them. 

George was banned from operating the Yankees from 1990-1993 for paying a gambler 40,000 dollars to dig up dirt on his former player Dave Winfield, whom George signed in 1981 to a 10 year 25 million dollar free agent contract.  That was perhaps the low point for Mr. Steinbrenner who in his seclusion came to the realization that less of me might be better for the franchise. 

His return to the Yankees started with a change in philosophy.  Less focus on free agents and a bigger focus on home grown players.  It resulted in the franchises first title since 1978.  They would continue their championship run into the new millennium with their 26th and 27th titles. 

His best free agent signings were probably back in the 1970s.  In 1975 George signed pitcher Jim "Catfish" Hunter to a fiver year deal that paid him 600,000 thousand dollars a year.  Two years later in 1977 George signed Reggie Jackson to a five year deal that paid him 580,000 thousand dollars a year.  The Yankees won back-to-back title in 1977-78.  Their first title since 1962. 

Now spending doesn't always work.  You can't always buy yourself a championship.  You can make yourself into a contender, but not always a champion.  George had to learn that the hard way after their championship season in the year 2000.  After the Game 7 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, Mount George erupted with millions of dollars to spend.  Jason Giambi was signed to a 7 year deal worth over 120 million dollars.  Alex Rodriguez was acquired from the Texas Rangers, who had signed him to a 10 year 252 million dollar contract. 

Those were just two examples.  Two other mistakes were acquiring pitcher Kevin Brown from the Dodgers in 2003 and Randy Johnson from the Diamondbacks in 2005.  Also resigning Alex Rodriguez to a 10 year contract that pays him over 30 million dollars a year is another mistake, but they did win the World Series with A-Rod so it's not as bad.

One thing you can give all the credit in the world to George Steinbrenner for is that he changed the way owners can operate their teams.  Without George would we have Jerry Jones, Daniel Snyder, Arte Moreno, Jerry Buss and Mark Cuban?  Probably not.  He brought businessman into the mix as owners in the major sports teams. 

There are so many sports networks now that you could give some credit to George for fighting to start and control the YES Network.  That extra revenue has helped him continue spending and eventually get it right with the signing of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira in route to the 2009 championship.

The free agency era was ushered in by George.  Getting television networks for your team was started by George.  Wanting to win above everything else (except breathing) was brought back by George.  Love him or hate him he was a one of a kind owner, visionary and person.  He never back downed.  He never kept quiet.  He never stopped trying.

And so it's come to this...

One man held the entire world, well, just a few cities in America hostage for a few brief minutes to announce his "decision" on where he would play for the next 5-6 years.  I for one don't hold LeBron James in high regards.  Yes he is a great player, but this whole free agency fiasco has put him in bad company.  It was also incredibly selfish to announce on national television your choice, but as I've come to that conclusion, can I really blame him?

I mean, who am I to say what he should and what's best for him?  It was his decision and his alone.  He will have to live with it for the rest of his life.  Yes, deciding on playing for the Miami Heat was a tough decision, but was it really?  Did we really know LeBron the athlete?  Did he already make up his mind sooner than we thought?  What does loyalty really mean this day and age?  You have to ask those questions and honestly answer them before you can cast judgment on his choice.

LeBron was not and is not the athlete we though he was.  We assume that in the individual sport that basketball is that these guys want all the glory for themselves.  A recent example points to Kobe Bryant.  Kobe wanted Shaquille O'Neal out of town so he could "win on his own."  Kobe got his wish and it was awful in the beginning.  Only then did Kobe realize that he needed to have a talented roster around him, plus his old coach (Phil Jackson) back to win more championships.

LeBron essentially has come to the same conclusion.  I need a talented roster around me to win a championship.  For those demeaning him for leaving for a championship are going on a double standard.  Isn't that what you want these guys to play for?  Not fame or money, but the hardware.  He is not a one of a kind athlete in the sense of his reasoning behind going to Miami.  He made this choice for basketball reasons.  Is that too much to accept?

Sure, he probably made up his mind a long time ago to leave Cleveland.  Not shaking the hands of the Orlando Magic after Cleveland had lost in the Eastern Conference Finals.  That was frustration for what was a good roster during the regular season for Cleveland that turned into an average one during the playoffs.  LeBron had everything on his shoulders and it was too much to bare.  He should have shaken hands, but his mind was on his future in Cleveland.

Did he mail it in during the semifinals this past season against Boston?  Maybe.  Cleveland was up 2 games to 1 in the series, but when Boston responded after their worst home loss in playoff history in Game 3, it appeared Cleveland was starting to unravel.  LeBron, in my estimation, potentially gave up in Game 5.  In a 120-88 beatdown in Cleveland, LeBron had 15 points on 3-14 shooting.  Nine of his points came from the foul line.  Not the typical stat line you had expected from your MVP. 

Who says that LeBron has to stay in Cleveland?  Cavaliers fans, the owner, certain pundits and analysts.  His words today say as much about him as anything he's done on the basketball court.

His biggest factor in his choice to leave Cleveland was wanting to win.  Who had the best chance of winning right away?  We all assumed Chicago or even Cleveland.  Chicago had a proven point guard and Cleveland won 60 plus games the last two seasons with the roster they had, LeBron included of course.  Miami getting commitments from Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh the day before LeBron was to decide certainly had an impact at the last minute for him.  Miami was now the favorite.  Win with proven talent or continue to struggle with what you've already struggled with?

He puts the team concept before individuality all day long.  When you look at his stats and his overall game, yes it's true.  He is this generations Magic Johnson.  No one thought we would see this type of player again.  For so long, folks would criticize him for passing the ball when he could have taken the last shot.  If a guy is open, and two defenders are on you, preventing you from taking the last shot, why not pass the ball to the open man?  Yes, he has passed on a few, but he has put the team ahead of himself so many times.

He made an excellent point in that it's a business and the Cavaliers could have traded him at some point down the road.  Yes, that is definitely true.  Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert's reaction is typical, but rare that he would demean someone to the level of calling them "cowardly, disloyal and heartless" is a bit much.

Here is the link to Dan Gilbert's open letter: http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html

I was a bit perplexed.  Coming to the realization that LeBron wants to win I have to wonder, what was the pitch Dan Gilbert made to LeBron?  The Antawn Jamison experiment is not going to work.  Bringing Shaquille O'Neal didn't help.  Mo Williams is no longer the answer.  Where was Cleveland's next move?  Was LeBron supposed to continue to struggle with what he's already struggled with?

Ultimately my mother wanted me to do what makes me happy.  I'm paraphrasing.  That is what helped him to make the move to Miami.  Family first and everything else second.  Cleveland does lose big time, but can they really blame LeBron?  Is there really anyone to blame?  LeBron made up his mind to win now.  Does Cleveland offer that now?  History says no.  Is Dan Gilbert and the Cavaliers fans reaction understandable?  Yes, but understand that the NBA is a business first and no longer a sport.  It's hard to think he was going to stay in Cleveland forever.

What we have failed to realize is that one man has proven to us all what we have always believed.  An athletes ultimate goal is to win as many titles during their career.  LeBron James wants to win probably as much if not more than any other athlete in any sport.  LeBron knew what he wanted.  It's time we stopped saying we know what's best for athletes.

NBA Coaching Changes

With all the talk of the free agent players, (yes I will have thoughts when the dust settles) I think there needs to be more discussion on who will be returning to the bench or will be the head coach for the first time.  Seven teams will have new head coaches next year and most of them have impressive resumes.  Here is a breakdown of who the new or returning head coaches are.

Atlanta Hawks - Larry Drew replaces Mike Woodson

Larry was part of the coaching staff for Mike Woodson during his six year reign in Atlanta.  Woodson deserves most of the credit for turning around a franchise that was going no where when he arrived.  His last three years there resulted in playoff appearances and two straight in the semifinals.  However, with the team falling straight on their faces against Orlando, a change seemed imminent.  Drew is getting his first head coaching job in the NBA.  He is a former player which is probably a good thing.  The Hawks will stay relatively intact as far as their stars go (Johnson, Smith, Horford, Bibby and Crawford).  They will be expected to make it to the playoffs for the fourth straight year, but can't be expected to be any higher than the five seed.  A good place to get your first head coaching gig, but Drew was apart of the meltdown last year.  He is on a short leash for a first time head coach.


Chicago Bulls - Tom Thibodeau replaces Vinny Del Negro

Tom was hailed as the defensive genius in Boston.  Which Boston was considered one of the best defensive teams in the league.  He stresses team defense and that's the only way you can win is with team defense.  Something Chicago needs a little of Thibodeau's defensive remedy to get out of the cellar in the Eastern Conference.  Del Negro didn't do a bad job by any means.  His first year was a great success.  Taking the defending champion Celtics to seven games in the first round of the 2009 playoffs.  This past year the Bulls clinched the last spot to get in, but had the daunting task of playing the Cleveland Cavaliers.  They didn't get blown out any of the five games, but Chicago management was tired of Del Negro disobeying orders with the handling of the players playing time down the stretch.  It won't matter with Thibodeau if Chicago can get some players to go with the good core of Rose, Deng, Noah and Gibson.  This is Thibodeau's first crack at the top and he doesn't want to give it up that easily.

Cleveland Cavaliers - Byron Scott replaces Mike Brown

Mike Brown wasn't a terrible coach by any stretch, just a bad motivator.  It showed during the semifinals against the Boston Celtics.  Not making any adjustments when they clearly needed to be made.  It had a ripple effect on the team.  LeBron was put in a no win situation that lead to Brown's ouster and the possibility of LeBron leaving as well.  Byron Scott is a proven winner not just as a coach, but a player as well.  The New Jersey Nets glory days can be attributed to Scott getting them to back-to-back Finals appearances.  Yes, Scott had a falling out with Jason Kidd at the time of his firing, but his next job in New Orleans was almost another success.  The Hornets were the leading candidate to leave for Oklahoma City with the disaster of Hurricane Katrina, but Scott stepped in and turned New Orleans into a winner and nearly got them to a Western Conference Final.  Apparently he doesn't get along with elite point guards as Chris Paul wasn't happy this past season and led to Scott's dismissal.  Cleveland doesn't have an elite point guard and LeBron has been quoted saying he would love to play for a coach who was a former player.  Scott is in the perfect scenario so long as LeBron is there.

Los Angeles Clippers - Vinny Del Negro replaces Kim Hughes

This sad franchise could be turning around quicker than most in the 2010-11 season.  Mike Dunleavy stepped down as the head coach to focus on being the GM this past season.  Apparently owner Donald Sterling saw that as a chance to just fire Dunleavy from the GM position too.  Hughes did an admirable job as the interim coach when Dunleavy stepped away, but the Clippers haven't had stability on the bench since Bill Fitch.  Yes, mid 1990s.  Del Negro is a proven winner in this league.  In two years at Chicago with a decent roster, he took them to the playoffs and nearly upset the defending champion Celtics in 2009.  Imagine what he can do with a roster that has Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman and a healthy Blake Griffin.  Yes, the Clippers do need to add a few more pieces, but this is the smartest move the Clippers have made since, well, I'll get back to you on that.  Hopefully Del Negro won't butt heads with management like in Chicago, but I don't see that happening here because Sterling doesn't really care what happens on the court of play.  If the Clippers make the playoffs and Chicago doesn't, you will be able to hear the grunts from Chicago to LA.


New Jersey Nets - Avery Johnson replaces Kiki Vandeweghe

Normally when the head coach is let go during the franchises worst season, the team starts to play better with new energy coming from the bench.  That wasn't the case as New Jersey seemed to play worse under Vandeweghe after Lawrence Frank was let go.  Vandeweghe wasn't even considered to be the full-time head coach with new owner Mikhail Prokhorov taking over the franchise.  Prokhorov wanted to make a splash with a big time head coaching hire.  He looked at Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, but that wasn't going to happen.  They wouldn't be caught in Newark with the worst team in the NBA.  He did land a big name in Avery Johnson who is well respected throughout the league.  His record with the Dallas Mavericks was phenomenal, but early playoff exits doomed him there with the talented roster put together.  He does have a Finals appearance to his resume.  Johnson will demand every player to work hard everyday and it has already shown in the teams top two players, Devin Harris and Brook Lopez.  More work is to be done if New Jersey wants to make it to the playoffs, but getting to more than 30 wins would be a tremendous success.

New Orleans Hornets - Monty Williams replaces Jeff Bower

Williams gets his first head coaching job after getting a start with San Antonio under Gregg Popovich during their 2005 championship season.  After that year, he has been an assistant under Nate McMillan in Portland.  He certainly got the attention of New Orleans as Williams was third in line behind Avery Johnson and Tom Thibodeau who both took jobs elsewhere.  Williams is now the youngest head coach in the NBA, one year younger than Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra (39).  Hornets GM Jeff Bower finished just 5 games under .500 as the interim to Byron Scott whom Bower fired.  Bower is determined to keep New Orleans in contention, but it will be tough with a new ownership group about to take shape and trying to keep the salary from exceeding the luxury tax line.  That's why rumors persisted of a Chris Paul trade, but they were quickly denied.  Monty Williams has his work cut out for him.  He has to keep New Orleans in contention for the sake of his and Bower's job.  The new owner, whomever it is will not like taking control of a losing franchise.

Philadelphia 76ers - Doug Collins replaces Eddie Jordan

We wondered if Michael Jordan was going to come out of retirement and play with Doug Collins now that he is back coaching in the NBA.  Sadly, it didn't happen.  Collins is not a terrible coach, but it is surprising that he would come back to coach one of the worst teams in the NBA last season.  Eddie Jordan it seemed right from the start wasn't getting to the players.  They had no idea how to run his Princeton offense and the defense suffered as well.  Jordan will get another chance, but this experience will leave a lasting effect on his next job interview.  Collins has a proven star in Andre Iguodala, a solid draft pick in Evan Turner, and an aging veteran in Elton Brand.  That will be the key.  Getting the fire back in Elton Brand.  If Collins can do that the 76ers will be a contender for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.  A few more pieces will need to be put in place and glued together, but this isn't as bad a team as their record showed.  It will be nice to see Collins turn the team he played his entire 8 season career for into a contender after spending so many as a TV analyst.

2010 MLB All-Star Teams

I would do almost anything to be a part of the celebration on July 13, 2010 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.  Alas, pricing for tickets is ridiculous.  Even if I earned a decent salary to be able to attend the event, I would choose to stay at home and watch it on Fox.  However, like last year in a post titled, "MLB All-Star Teams (Done the right way)" I can put forth who is worthy of playing in the event.  I've followed the rules of having 34 players, 13 pitchers, for each league and a representative from each team.  Here are my choices for the mid-summer classic.

National League

AVG - Batting Average

ERA - Earned Run Average
HR - Home Runs
RBI - Runs Batted In
SV - Saves

BAA - Batting Average Against

WHIP - Walks/Hits Per Innings Pitched

K - Strikeouts

BB - Walks 

Stats are accurate as of July 2nd.
* - asterisk indicates starter

Pitchers

Billy Wagner - Atlanta Braves

16 SV 1.39 ERA .170 BAA

Jonathan Broxton - Los Angeles Dodgers

16 SV 1.87 ERA 49 K

Heath Bell - San Diego Padres

22 SV 1.82 ERA 46 K

Brian Wilson - San Francisco Giants

21 SV 2.18 ERA 45 K

Ubaldo Jimenez - Colorado Rockies

14-1 1.83 ERA .201 BAA

Adam Wainwright - St. Louis Cardinals

11-5 2.34 ERA 114 K

Roy Halladay - Philadelphia Phillies

9-7 2.42 ERA 112 K - 17 BB

Mike Pelfrey - New York Mets

10-2 2.93 ERA 1.29 WHIP

Chris Carpenter - St. Louis Cardinals

9-1 2.70 ERA 1.15 WHIP

Josh Johnson - Florida Marlins*

8-3 1.82 ERA .203 BAA

Carlos Silva - Chicago Cubs

8-2 2.96 ERA 67 K -15 BB

Tim Lincecum - San Francisco Giants

8-4 3.28 ERA 121 K

Yovani Gallardo - Milwaukee Brewers

8-3 2.56 ERA 120 K

Omissions:  Tim Hudson, Braves; Francisco Rodriguez, Mets; Carlos Marmol, Cubs; Francisco Cordero, Reds; Johnny Cueto, Reds; Matt Lindstrom, Astros; Jaime Garcia, Cardinals; Ryan Franklin, Cardinals; Mat Latos, Padres.

The only difficult choices here were Hudson, Lindstrom and Garcia.  Hudson is having a rejuvenating year for the first place Braves.  Lindstrom is the only worthy Astros player besides Michael Bourn who I chose instead.  Closers being the lone representative for your team is just terrible.  When we do have a lead, we should be able to win the game.  Remember Lance Carter for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  Yeah, exactly my point.  Garcia has the third best ERA in the National League (2.10), but is the third best pitcher for the Cardinals.  Carpenter and Wainwright get the nod before Garcia, but he is certainly worth a look.

Catchers

Miguel Olivo - Colorado Rockies

.316 AVG 11 HR 39 RBI

Brian McCann - Atlanta Braves*

.257 AVG 9 HR 33 RBI

Omissions: Ronny Paulino, Marlins; Ivan Rodriguez, Nationals; Ryan Doumit, Pirates.

If Olivo wasn't having the year he has been having, Rodriguez would be getting the selection.  Doumit would be a good choice for the lone Pirates selection, but McCutchen is more deserving.  Paulino is having a quiet breakout year in Florida.  He could be a contender to make the All-Star team for many years.

Infielders - Pujols to start as DH

1B Albert Pujols - St. Louis Cardinals*

.306 AVG 19 HR 59 RBI

1B Joey Votto - Cincinnati Reds*

.314 AVG 19 HR 57 RBI

1B Adrian Gonzalez - San Diego Padres

.295 AVG 16 HR 51 RBI

1B Adam Dunn - Washington Nationals

.271 AVG 17 HR 47 RBI

2B Martin Prado - Atlanta Braves*

.337 AVG 7 HR 36 RBI

2B Brandon Phillips - Cincinnati Reds

.309 AVG 10 HR 27 RBI

2B Rickie Weeks - Milwaukee Brewers

.270 AVG 13 HR 47 RBI

SS Hanley Ramirez - Florida Marlins*

.302 AVG 13 HR 52 RBI

3B David Wright - New York Mets*

.312 AVG 14 HR 63 RBI

3B Scott Rolen - Cincinnati Reds

.302 AVG 17 HR 56 RBI

3B Ryan Zimmerman - Washington Nationals

.284 AVG 13 HR 40 RBI

Omissions: Troy Glaus, Braves; Dan Uggla, Marlins; Ryan Howard, Phillies; Chase Utley, Phillies; Casey McGehee, Brewers; Mark Reynolds, Diamondbacks; Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies; Rafael Furcal, Dodgers.

I was torn with leaving Glaus off the roster.  He and Martin Prado are two big reasons why the Braves lineup has become so formidable this year.  Utley, if healthy would be on the roster instead of Rickie Weeks.  The same goes for Tulowitzki if health weren't a factor.  Reynolds I could make as the lone selection for Arizona, but his batting average is awful (.217).  If Wright, Rolen and Zimmerman weren't in front of McGehee, no doubt an All-Star.  Furcal was hurt for much of the year, but is having his best season as a member of the Dodgers.  Uggla and Howard are having good years, but not to take off the other players at their respective positions.

Outfielders

CF Michael Bourn - Houston Astros

.264 AVG 1 HR 20 RBI

LF Ryan Braun - Milwaukee Brewers

.294 AVG 11 HR 49 RBI

RF Corey Hart - Milwaukee Brewers*

.286 AVG 18 HR 60 RBI

CF Andrew McCutchen - Pittsburgh Pirates

.301 AVG 7 HR 24 RBI

RF Justin Upton - Arizona Diamondbacks

.266 AVG 14 HR 39 RBI

CF Carlos Gonzalez - Colorado Rockies*

.294 AVG 13 HR 48 RBI

RF Andre Ethier - Los Angeles Dodgers*

.318 AVG 12 HR 47 RBI

RF Jayson Werth - Philadelphia Phillies

.284 AVG 13 HR 47 RBI

Omissions: Josh Willingham, Nationals; Alfonso Soriano, Cubs; Marlon Byrd, Cubs; Matt Holliday, Cardinals; Chris Young, Diamondbacks.

Willingham should get more consideration, but his teammates Dunn and Zimmerman deserve a selection more.  Soriano and Byrd are the two best hitters for the Cubs this year.  Silva is pitching too well to leave off.  Holliday is certainly deserving, but Upton is the lone representative for Arizona as is McCutchen for Pittsburgh and Bourn for Houston.  Someone will have to be left off.  Young is putting up great numbers, but Upton has the higher OPS (On base percentage + Slugging percentage).

American League

Pitchers

Neftali Feliz - Texas Rangers

21 SV 3.06 ERA .189 BAA

Joakim Soria - Kansas City Royals

21 SV 2.35 ERA 37 K

Rafael Soriano - Tampa Bay Rays

19 SV 1.57 ERA .160 BAA

Mariano Rivera - New York Yankees

18 SV 0.86 ERA .124 BAA

Jose Valverde - Detroit Tigers

18 SV 0.53 ERA .102 BAA

Jered Weaver - Los Angeles Angels*

8-3 2.82 ERA 124 K

David Price - Tampa Bay Rays

11-4 2.42 ERA 1.20 WHIP

Jon Lester - Boston Red Sox

9-3 2.86 ERA .205 BAA

Trevor Cahill - Oakland Athletics

8-2 2.74 ERA .209 BAA

Andy Pettitte - New York Yankees

9-2 2.72 ERA 1.16 WHIP

Cliff Lee - Seattle Mariners

7-3 2.45 ERA 0.92 WHIP

Felix Hernandez - Seattle Mariners

6-5 3.03 ERA 116 K

C.C. Sabathia - New York Yankees

10-3 3.33 ERA .225 BAA

Omissions: Andrew Bailey, Athletics; Justin Verlander, Tigers; Jon Rauch, Twins; Jeff Niemann, Rays; Phil Hughes, Yankees.

It was between Hughes and Sabathia.  Two teammates, but which one is more deserving.  Sabathia had the edge in .BAA, K, and ERA.  Hughes will eventually be selected as an All-Star, but no this year.  Bailey was the lone Athletic last year, but Cahill has emerged as a legitimate ace for Oakland.  His teammate Dallas Braden got a lot of publicity with his perfect game, rightfully so.  Cahill is quietly putting together a season worthy of Cy Young consideration.  Lee and Hernandez have to be here.  Niemann doesn't have enough wins to suffice enough consideration and Verlander's ERA is too high.  Rauch would be here if not for the other five closers in front of him.

Catchers

Joe Mauer - Minnesota Twins*

.297 AVG 3 HR 34 RBI

Mike Napoli - Los Angeles Angels

.258 AVG 14 HR 34 RBI

Omissions: Kurt Suzuki, Athletics; Victor Martinez, Red Sox; John Buck, Blue Jays.

Suzuki will always be considered, but Mauer is assured at least one spot every year as is Martinez if he's still in the American League.  Martinez would get the other spot if not for an injury.  Buck is deserving, but Napoli is putting up some serious power numbers even though he is playing more at first base this summer than at catcher.

Infielders 

1B Justin Morneau - Minnesota Twins

.343 AVG 16 HR 52 RBI

1B Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers*

.337 AVG 20 HR 68 RBI

1B Paul Konerko - Chicago White Sox

.294 AVG 20 HR 57 RBI

1B Billy Butler - Kansas City Royals

.320 AVG 8 HR 42 RBI

2B Robinson Cano - New York Yankees*

.347 AVG 16 HR 54 RBI

2B Ben Zobrist - Tampa Bay Rays

.292 AVG 5 HR 41 RBI

SS Derek Jeter - New York Yankees*

.282 AVG 8 HR 39 RBI

SS Elvis Andrus - Texas Rangers

.292 AVG 0 HR 24 RBI

3B Adrian Beltre - Boston Red Sox

.346 AVG 12 HR 53 RBI

3B Evan Longoria - Tampa Bay Rays*

.292 AVG 12 HR 55 RBI

3B Michael Young - Texas Rangers

.314 AVG 11 HR 51 RBI

Omissions: Howie Kendrick, Angels; Ian Kinsler, Rangers; Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox; Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox; Alex Rodriguez, Yankees; Alex Gonzalez, Blue Jays.

Kinsler and Pedroia are cinches to be All-Stars for many years, but injuries to both have eliminated that from happening.  Youkilis is deserving, but his teammate Adrian Beltre is having a bounce back year that should be put on notice more often.  That is also why Rodriguez was left off.  Gonzalez is on pace for his best offensive season of his career, but it's come in a bad year.  Kendrick would have been a good option if Zobrist faltered from his first All-Star season. 

Outfielders/DH

CF Torii Hunter - Los Angeles Angels*

.290 AVG 12 HR 53 RBI

RF Ichiro Suzuki - Seattle Mariners*

.331 AVG 3 HR 24 RBI

LF Josh Hamilton - Texas Rangers*

.340 AVG 19 HR 59 RBI

RF/DH Vladimir Guerrero - Texas Rangers*

.334 AVG 18 HR 70 RBI

RF Shin-Soo Choo - Cleveland Indians

.286 AVG 13 HR 43 RBI

RF Nick Markakis - Baltimore Orioles

.303 AVG 4 HR 26 RBI

LF Carl Crawford - Tampa Bay Rays

.318 AVG 7 HR 39 RBI

CF Vernon Wells - Toronto Blue Jays

.275 AVG 19 HR 48 RBI

Omissions: Ryan Sweeney, Athletics; Nelson Cruz, Rangers; Alex Rios, White Sox; Magglio Ordonez, Tigers; David DeJesus, Royals; Jose Guillen, Royals; Brett Gardner, Yankees; Nick Swisher, Yankees; Jose Bautista, Blue Jays.

Sweeney is becoming one of the best contact hitters today.  It won't get noticed being on a losing team.  Cruz if healthy would get more consideration.  Ordonez, Swisher and Gardner are having great years, but there are too many other deserving All-Stars plus the Orioles and Indians need a representative.  Bautista is among the league leaders in HR (20), but he's other stats are less than impressive.  Guillen, if not for his attitude, would be voted in by the players, but it will never happen.  His teammates, Soria, Butler and DeJesus are more deserving.  DeJesus and Rios should be in, but the rule of having every team represented is a somewhat pointless rule.  It becomes more pointless every year this happens.

If you have any disagreements, please feel free to voice them here or on twitter @WesSportsGuy