Blake to Dodgers almost complete?

So much for the Mets getting Casey Blake. It appears the 34-year old third baseman/outfielder is headed to the Dodgers in a deal that would net the Indians minor-league catcher Carlos Santana and minor-league pitcher Jon Meloan. To me, it looks like Los Angeles is grossly overpaying here.

Hot Stove Report, July 26th

• Some breaking news this morning. The deal the Yankees made with the Pirates yesterday was originally announced as Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, Phil Coke, and George Kontos for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte. This information, however, was slightly false. Instead, the trade was Tabata, Ohlendorf, Dan McCutchen, and Jeff Karstens for Nady and Marte. This makes more sense for Pittsburgh, as McCutchen is a very solid pitching prospect.
  
• The Mets are still looking for a corner outfielder, and now that it looks like the Pirates won't be trading Jason Bay, their options are likely limited to Raul Ibanez and Casey Blake. However, the fact that the Mets are pursuing Blake might mean that the Mariners are asking for a price New York isn't willing to pay for Ibanez.
  
• The Yankees are still talking to the Mariners about Jarrod Washburn, but neither Kei Igawa or Melky Cabrera will be involved, contrary to earlier reports. Seattle has its eye on Brett Gardner, and it has also expressed interest in Justin Christian. The M's did ask the Yanks about top prospect Austin Jackson, but were immediately turned down. The fact that the Bronx Bombers dealt Tabata yesterday all but assures they won't be trading Jackson.
• Rumors are that the Dodgers are shopping Andy LaRoche, possibly in a deal for Huston Street.
  
• The Marlins offered the Rockies left-handed reliever Taylor Tankersley for Brian Fuentes, but Colorado came back and asked for top prospect Ryan Tucker. Florida, as one would expect, rejected that offer.

Nady, Marte traded to Yankees

The Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte sweepstakes are over. Both Pittsburgh Pirate players were dealt to New York Yankees in a deal that fetched Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, and two other minor-leaguers.

Nady, 29, is batting .330 with 13 home runs and 57 RBI this season. This will be the second stint in New York for the lifetime .281 hitter, as Nady spent part of 2006 with the Mets.

Marte has posted a 3.47 ERA in 47 relief appearances this season and has struck out 47 in 46.2 innings of work. Marte was part of the 2005 world champion Chicago White Sox. He has tallied a 3.21 ERA over the course of his nine-year career.

MLB Rumors, July 25th

• Contrary to recent reports, the Mariners have no interest in Kei Igawa. Seattle instead has asked the Yankees for Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner in return for Jarrod Washburn. The Yanks, however, balked at that offer.
• The White Sox appear dead-set on trying to deal Orlando Cabrera by the deadline, as they are very high on Alexei Ramirez. The Dodgers could be a possibility for Cabrera, and they have been shopping Derek Lowe.
  
• The Marlins are still searching for a catcher, and may now consider Baltimore's Ramon Hernandez. They are also looking at Gregg Zaun.
• Colorado's asking price for Brian Fuentes is ridiculously high. The Rockies want a top prospect and and an MLB-ready player for the reliever.
• The catcher the Yankees most have their eye on is Gerald Laird.
• The Mets are interested in Toronto's Scott Downs. They also do not appear to have interest in Adam Dunn.
  
• The Twins and Mariners are in talks for Adrian Beltre, but it appears the two sides are at a standstill. Minnesota could offer up a package consisting of something like Brian Buscher and Denard Span, but that might not be enough.
  

A lot of Yankees' rumors

• The Yankees are still talking to the Mariners about Jarrod Washburn. Apparently, the sticking point in this deal is that the Yanks would also have to take on Jose Vidro. Seattle would still be getting back Kei Igawa and a prospect. Indications are that a deal will probably get done soon.
• There were Yankee scouts in Baltimore last night. Is it just a coincidence that they were there while A.J. Burnett was pitching in that game?
  
• The Bronx Bombers have also added three new catchers to their list: Ramon Hernandez, Paul Lo Duca and Rod Barajas. Hernandez is the only one that really makes sense to me out of that trio, but I still think their best options are either Miguel Olivo or Gerald Laird.
• Could the Yankees be willing to deal Robinson Cano? The Dodgers have supposedly offered up a package that would send Matt Kemp and Derek Lowe to New York for the second baseman. However, based on Cano's resurgence as of late, it seems unlikely that Brian Cashman would pull the trigger on this. I also find it interesting how the Dodgers are shopping Kemp around this much.

Halladay wants out? Uribe to Boston?

• Rumor has it that Roy Halladay wants out of Toronto and that the Blue Jays have even been quietly shopping him to National League teams, namely the Cardinals and Dodgers.
• The Red Sox and White Sox are in talks for a trade that would bring Juan Uribe to Boston.
  
• It appears my speculation about the Yankees and Miguel Olivo was correct, as the Bronx Bombers have expressed interest in the Kansas City catcher. They are also looking at Gerald Laird, but the Rangers are looking for a pretty steep haul in return. I would guess that means Ian Kennedy or one of their better minor-league pitchers.
• In terms of starting pitching, the Yankees remain interested in making a deal for Jarrod Washburn. If that can't get done, then they will probably turn to Bronson Arroyo. There have been several conflicting reports regarding their interest in A.J. Burnett.
  
• Greg Maddux appears to be on the move. He wants to pitch on the west coast, preferably for the Dodgers.
• Surprisingly, the Reds could make a play for Huston Street. It appears the Dodgers have backed out of the Street sweepstakes.
• The Marlins are aggressively pursuing several relievers, including Brian Fuentes and George Sherrill. However, if the Rockies asked Boston for Clay Buchholz in return for Fuentes, I imagine they would want Chris Volstad or one of Florida's top minor-league pitchers, something the Marlins would scoff at.
• Nobody is enamored with what the Pirates are asking in return for Xavier Nady. I assume their price-tag will drop as the trade deadline inches closer.

Wolf, Rauch on the move; Washburn too?

• The Padres have traded Randy Wolf to the Astros for minor-league pitcher Chad Reineke. I still don't understand what Houston is trying to do here.
• Jim Bowden pulled the trigger on Jon Rauch, sending him to Arizona for young second baseman Emilio Bonifacio. Bonifacio is a solid player with potential, but it seems like Bowden could have gotten more with the demand out there for relief pitchers. The Nationals also gave Cristian Guzman a two-year, $16 million extension.
  
• More on the Yankees/Jarrod Washburn front: Buster Olney is reporting that the Yanks are working on a deal with the Mariners that would send Kei Igawa and a prospect to Seattle for Washburn. This would be a solid, low-risk deal for New York. Igawa was never going to be anything anyway, and Washburn has a history of pitching well in the Bronx.
• Jay Gibbons is expected to sign a minor-league deal with the Brewers.

MLB Rumors, July 22nd

• The Yankees are very interested in Jarrod Washburn. They don't seem to be as enamored with A.J. Burnett as others think.
  
• The Marlins seem to be pretty keen on Brian Fuentes, not to mention several other top relievers on the market. Damaso Marte and John Grabow could also be possibilities.
• Mark Teixeira does seem to be on the block, with the Angels, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, and Rays being the most interested parties. The Angels would probably have the most to offer. They could give the Braves Howie Kendrick, Casey Kotchman, and a prospect.
• Oakland could trade Justin Duchscherer for the right price, but judging on how much Billy Beane hauled in for Joe Blanton, it's unlikely anyone would give in to those kind of demands for a late-bloomer who has had trouble staying healthy over the course of his career, as Beane would certainly expect more in return for Duchscherer than Blanton.
  
• The Mets have expressed interest in Casey Blake.
• Strangely enough, the Phillies have inquired about Matt Kemp. They have also asked about Matt Holliday and Xavier Nady. Logic tells you that Holliday would be too expensive for Philadelphia, especially with the players they just shelled out for Joe Blanton.
• George Sherrill is drawing strong interest from the Cardinals. However, the Orioles are asking for far too much at the moment.
  
• The Dodgers remain interested in Huston Street, and they may be quietly shopping Andy LaRoche.
• Houston has been talking to the Dodgers about Randy Wolf. Why? I have no clue.
• It doesn't look like the Orioles are trading Brian Roberts.
• The Tigers are in a bit of a pickle. Being 5.5 games back in the AL Central, they are not sure if they should buy or sell. If they decide to sell, expect Ivan Rodriguez to be put on the block immediately. The Marlins would quickly come calling for the veteran catcher. Fernando Rodney appears to be available under any circumstances.
• With Jorge Posada's season in jeopardy, the Yankees could look for another catcher. A good fit would be Miguel Olivo, but that's pure speculation on my part.
  

MLB Rumors, July 20th

• Apparently, teams will have to pay a very steep price to pry Matt Holliday away from the Rockies. The L.A. Times reported that Colorado asked the Angels for top pitching prospect Nick Adenhart, Howie Kendrick, and either Joe Saunders or Ervin Santana. The Marlins asked for a similar package for Miguel Cabrera in the off-season, but the Angels turned it down. As you can imagine, the Rockies were immediately rebuffed on this offer.
• The Yankees are still looking for an outfielder, and if they can't afford Holliday, they will go hot-and-heavy after either Jason Bay or Xavier Nady. New York has a bunch of prospects it can deal. Outfielder Jose Tabata would probably have to go in any trade for Bay, but the Yanks could probably get away with not including him for Nady. Ian Kennedy is another prospect whom the Bronx Bombers might consider trading if the right deal comes along. Philip Hughes seems to be off-limits.
• Could Carlos Lee be on the block? The Mets appear to be interested. Still, whether or not they have enough ammo to even get the Astros to talk with them remains to be seen. Any deal for Lee would have to involve New York's top prospect Fernando Martinez.
  
• The Brewers appear to be working on a deal with the Giants that would bring Ray Durham and/or Jack Taschner to Milwaukee. Brewers' minor-league outfielder Darren Ford was scratched from the lineup last night, so he would probably be going in the deal. It has also been rumored that Rickie Weeks could be on his way to San Francisco, but there really isn't much substance to this.
• The Dodgers are still looking for a shortstop. Although their deal for Pittsburgh's Jack Wilson fell through recently, they could make another play for him. However, the rumor that Los Angeles would be willing to give up Matt Kemp in the deal seems bogus to me. If it's true, Ned Colletti should be fired on the spot. David Eckstein is also available, and a sleeper candidate is Cristian Guzman, although the Nationals have been talking extension with him.
• Billy Beane insists that the Athletics are not trading Huston Street. Still, one might be skeptical about that due to the amount of rumors swirling around the soon-to-be 25-year old closer. The White Sox have been said to be interested, and the Dodgers seem to be making a bit of a play for him.
• Washington is certainly shopping Jon Rauch. The White Sox have inquired about him, as have the Rays.
• Now that Erik Bedard's shoulder injury appears to have progressed slower than expected, it doesn't look like the Mariners will find any suitors for the left-hander by th July 31st trade deadline.
  

Phillies acquire Blanton for three prospects

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired Joe Blanton from the Oakland Athletics for prospects Adrian Cardenas, Josh Outman, and Matthew Spencer.

Blanton, 27, is 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA this season. Last year, the burly right-hander went 15-10 with a 3.95 ERA in 230 innings. He will join a Phillies' rotation that consists of Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick, Jamie Moyer, and Adam Eaton. J.A. Happ also made an appearance in the rotation and pitched two games earlier in the month, but was sent back down to the minors. There is a chance that he might be called back up and Eaton get moved.

Cardenas, a second baseman, was considered one of Philadelphia's top prospects. He was batting .309 with four homers, 23 RBI, and 16 stolen bases in the Class A Advanced Florida State League.

Who is on the market?

• A.J. Burnett, SP, Blue Jays- With the Blue Jays continuing their slide in the AL East, Burnett is probably the most valuable trade commodity on their roster. The Phillies are rumored to be interested, and I could see the Yankees jumping in so long as it doesn't take any of their young pitchers to acquire Burnett.
• David Eckstein, SS, Blue Jays- Eckstein is the kind of scrappy player that contending teams love to have. Still, there aren't many squads that are in need of a shortstop. The Dodgers are the only team that I can think of because of the injury to Rafael Furcal.
  
• Matt Stairs, DH, Blue Jays- Stairs would be a solid addition to a team that is lacking some pop in their lineup or off the bench. I could see the Tigers making a push for him, as Gary Sheffield just hasn't gotten the job done in the DH spot.
• Rod Barajas, C, Blue Jays- Plenty of teams could use a backup catcher. The Red Sox come to mind.
  
• Brian Roberts, 2B, Orioles- Now that Baltimore has all but completely fallen out of contention, it's possibly that they might start cleaning house. The Brewers could certainly use a second baseman, as Rickie Weeks has been a big disappointment.
  
• Ramon Hernandez, C, Orioles- He is having a pretty poor year offensively, but there are still teams that Hernandez come upgrade. The Marlins have been rumored to be in the hunt for a catcher, but they may just test the young John Baker for now.
• Aubrey Huff, DH, Orioles- Huff has been unbelievable at the plate this season, and there are plenty of squads who would love to add him before the deadline. Mark the Tigers and Rays down as potentially interested parties.
• George Sherrill, RP, Orioles- Although the closer hasn't had as good of a year as everyone thinks (he has a 4.12 ERA and six blown saves), he could still be of some value to another team as a setup man.
• Chad Bradford, RP, Orioles- Every contending team needs relievers.
• Joe Blanton, SP, Athletics- It seems like Oakland has had Blanton on the block forever, and his value has certainly taken a steep dive. He could, still, however, be a serviceable fourth starter for another contender. He might draw interest from the Yankees, Phillies, Cardinals, Twins, and Tigers.
  
• Gerald Laird, C, Rangers- Texas is chock-full of catchers right now with Laird, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Max Ramirez. It is almost certain that one of them will go, and that will most likely be the veteran Laird due to the potential of the two other youngsters. Look for the Marlins to make a run at him.
• Hank Blalock, 3B, Rangers- With the way Ramon Vazquez has been producing and with the emergence of rookie Chris Davis, the Rangers will definitely shop Blalock when he comes off the DL. The Angels might make a play for him, as might the Twins.
  
• Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners- The time may have finally come for the Mariners and Ichiro to part ways. Seattle clearly isn't going anywhere this season, so trading him for some prospects might be the best thing to do.
• Erik Bedard, SP, Mariners- Even though they just acquired him over the winter, the Mariners may very well put Bedard on the market. The Yankees would definitely be interested, as would the Phillies. A sleeper could be the Tigers.
• Raul Ibanez, OF, Mariners- Plenty of teams could use his pop in their lineup. Count the Diamondbacks, Rays, and Tigers as possible destinations.
• Adrian Beltre, 3B, Mariners- The Angels could certainly use some production from the third base spot, as Chone Figgins has been terrible this season. Still, the chances of Seattle trading with their division rival are unlikely. The Brewers might be interested.
• Mark Teixeira, 1B, Braves- The only way Atlanta considers dealing Teixeira is if they fall completely out of contention in the NL East, which probably won't happen. Either way, you can't discount the possibility. The Yankees might make a move for the first baseman if he becomes available.
  
• Jorge Campillo, SP, Braves- Again, this is only if the Braves are out of it come July 31st, but Campillo could be a nice, cheap option for a team searching for a third or fourth starter. The Yankees, Tigers, and Twins might take a look at him.
• Aaron Harang, SP, Reds- Harang is having a poor year and is now injured, so the chances of Cincinnati trading him are very slim considering they would have to sell very low. The Bronx Bombers were rumored to be interested, though.
  
• Adam Dunn, OF, Reds- Dunn would fit well in the AL as a DH, as he is a terrible outfielder. Tampa Bay and Detroit could make a run at him, however Arizona has examined the possibility of bringing the cumbersome power-hitter aboard.
  
• Bronson Arroyo, SP, Reds- It's almost a guarantee that Arroyo gets dealt somewhere before the deadline. He is having an awful season, but there will be teams willing to take him on as a fifth starter for the stretch run.
• David Weathers, RP, Reds- He should draw interest from many teams. The Marlins make a lot of sense. Milwaukee is also in need of some bullpen help.
  
• Jeremy Affeldt, RP, Reds- Not only is he a decent relief pitcher, but he is a left-handed one at that. The Yankees went after him in the off-season. Maybe they try to snag him again before the deadline.
  
• Jason Bay, OF, Pirates- Pittsburgh is asking for the world for Bay. It has been rumored that the Cardinals inquired about him, but the Pirates wanted top prospect Colby Rasmus back in the deal. The Mets and Rays are also interested.
• Xavier Nady, OF, Pirates- Again, the Rays are looking for some offense in the outfield, so they could take a run at Nady. Same goes for the Mets and Diamondbacks. Nady is having an All-Star caliber season.
• Jack Wilson, SS, Pirates- It looked like he was on his way to the Dodgers recently, but that fell through.
  
• Adam LaRoche, 1B, Pirates- LaRoche is known for being a second-half player, and, as usual, he has been surging since the halfway point. That could certainly attract some teams.
  
• Damaso Marte, RP, Pirates- He may very well be the best relief pitcher on the market, but due to the injury to Matt Capps, Marte was forced to take over the closer role in Pittsburgh, making his availability on the trade market limited.
• Chris Gomez, IF, Pirates- Gomez would make a very solid utility man on a bunch of teams.
• Roy Oswalt, SP, Astros- Given that he is having a down year, it's doubtful Houston will trade him considering they will get low-balled.
• Ty Wiggington, 3B, Astros- Wiggington would be a nice addition to a team looking for a bat off the bench or a platoon at third. Maybe the Angels, who are lacking power at that position, take a stab at him.
  
• Darin Erstad, 1B/OF, Astros- Think Chris Gomez with even more versatility in the field.
• Mark Loretta, 2B, Astros- Loretta is not the player he once was, but he is still a solid second baseman and bring some good situational hitting to the table.
  
• Geoff Geary, RP, Astros- He is having a solid year out of the pen and would fit in on just about every contender.
• Bengie Molina, C, Giants- Even though everyone outside of San Francisco knows the Giants stand no chance of making the playoffs, the Giants remain firm on their stance of not selling unless they are completely out of the picture. If they do decide to move Molina, I could see the Marlins jumping on him.
  
• Randy Winn, RF, Giants- His situation is very similar to Molina's. The Mets could make a play for him, as could the Diamondbacks.
• Ray Durham, 2B, Giants- Durham is having a very solid season and will definitely have teams calling about his availability.
  
• Rich Aurilia, IF, Giants- Aurilia will probably wind up on a contender somewhere as a backup infielder.
  
• Jack Taschner, RP, Giants- Good left-hander out of the bullpen. He should draw interest from many.
• Matt Holliday, LF, Rockies- Colorado could still make a second-half run in the weak NL West (just look at what they did last year). However, dealing Holliday is not out of the question. I still say the Yankees are a good fit, but it would almost definitely take Philip Hughes, who is just about untouchable to Brian Cashman, to get a deal done. The Angels have also been rumored to be interested.
  
• Brian Fuentes, RP, Rockies- Fuentes is almost certain to get moved. The Marlins, Yankees, and Rays have all been vying for his services and appear to be the frontrunners. It was rumored that the Rockies want Ian Kennedy from the Yankees for him.
• Willy Taveras, CF, Rockies- He might not have the best bat in the world, but the man has stolen 39 bases to lead the majors.
  
• Clint Barmes, SS, Rockies- Barmes could either be a nice player to have off the bench or a nice starting shortstop for the stretch run.
• Yorvit Torrealba, C, Rockies- He is having a terrible season but could serve as a viable backup somewhere else, as that is what he is essentially doing now in Colorado with the emergence of Chris Iannetta.
• Todd Helton, 1B, Rockies- Has the time finally come for Helton and the Rockies to part ways? With young first basemen Jeff Baker and Joe Koshansky also in the mix now, that may very well be the case, even though there haven't been any rumors suggesting it.
• Garrett Atkins, 3B, Rockies- He has been putting up All-Star caliber numbers the past few seasons, which is why the Rockies won't even consider dealing him unless they're completely out of the race, much like Holliday.
• Tony Clark, 1B, Padres- I would be surprised if Clark doesn't get traded. In fact, it has been said that the Diamondbacks are working on a deal to get him.
• Greg Maddux, SP, Padres- Is there a chance he winds up back with Atlanta?
  
• Randy Wolf, SP, Padres- He is a left-hander, meaning he will stir up plenty of interest over the next two weeks. I could see the Yankees taking a chance on him, as well as the Phillies. Maybe even the Twins and Tigers think about acquiring him for the pennant race?
• Trevor Hoffman, RP, Padres- Hoffman has just been downright awful this season, but there will be a team out there that is willing to take him on as a setup man.
• Heath Bell, RP, Padres- Indications are that San Diego is not moving him, but if they do decide to make him available, Bell might become one of the deadline's hottest commodities.
• Scott Hairston, CF, Padres- Hairston is one of those guys that every manager would love to have. He has even been hitting the long ball this season.
• Brian Giles, RF, Padres- Like Bell, it doesn't look like the Padres are putting Giles on the block...yet. If they do, many teams will go hot-and-heavy after him looking to add an experienced veteran to their lineup.

Around the MLB, July 8th

• The Cubs have reportedly acquired Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the Athletics for young right-hander Sean Gallagher, Matt Murton, Eric Patterson, and minor-leaguer John Donaldson. This move now gives Chicago a starting rotation of Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Harden, Gaudin, and either Ted Lilly or Jason Marquis, one of whom will probably either be dealt or moved to the bullpen. Looks pretty good to me. This move was clearly a counter to the deal that sent CC Sabathia to division rival Milwaukee.
  
• It's looking less and less like the Rockies are going to seriously shop Matt Holliday. Despite the fact that they are 38-52, Colorado sits only 6.5 games back of first place in the pathetic NL West. The Angels were rumored to be interested, but they seem to be okay with Garret Anderson and Gary Matthews Jr. in left field for now. The Rays have also poked their heads in, but the Rockies want top pitching prospect David Price, someone Tampa Bay is not willing to part with.
• There is a chance that the Braves explore trade options for Mark Teixeira. I could see the Yankees making a run at him should Hideki Matsui's knee injury keep him out for the season. The Bronx Bombers could then put Teixeira at first base and slide Jason Giambi into the DH spot.
• The Pirates seem to be taking offers for Xavier Nady. Maybe the Rays will inquire about him? He certainly won't command as much in return as someone like Holliday, but he is still producing just as well as almost any other outfielder in the league this year. Right-handed prospect Jeff Niemann would probably have to be involved.
• With Matt Treanor looking like a sure-thing for the DL, the Marlins will now probably look even harder to find a catcher. They did call up John Baker from Triple-A, but I'm sure they will look around the majors for some stability. I think Miguel Olivo would be their best option. Other names that have been thrown around are Yorvit Torrealba and David Ross. If that's the best Florida can get, then they should just stick with what they have.
• The Marlins also demoted Mark Hendrickson to the bullpen in favor of top prospect Chris Volstad, and he wasn't too happy about it. Hendrickson wouldn't say that he requested a trade, but one would be safe to assume that Florida is looking for suitors for the 34-year old left-hander.
  
• Unless the Giants fall back rapidly in the NL West race, they will most likely not be trading Bengie Molina. Believe it or not, San Francisco sits only five games back in the division.
• David Eckstein is drawing some interest, with the Orioles and Dodgers both looking at the scrappy shortstop. Jack Wilson is another shortstop who may be on the market, and there were rumors that the Dodgers were working on a deal for the Pittsburgh Pirate. However, those rumors have since been quashed.
  

Predicting the All-Star pitching staffs/reserves

The starting lineups for both All-Star squads have already been determined.

In the American League, Joe Mauer is starting behind the plate. The infield consists of Kevin Youkilis at first, Dustin Pedroia at second, Derek Jeter at shortstop, and Alex Rodriguez at third base. The three starting outfielders will be Manny Ramirez, Ichiro Suzuki, and Josh Hamilton. David Ortiz was voted in as the designated hitter, although he will not be playing because of an injury. Cliff Lee will be the starting pitcher.

In the National League, Geovany Soto gets the start at catcher. The starting infielders are Lance Berkman at first base, Chase Utley at second, Hanley Ramirez at shortstop, and Chipper Jones at third. The outfield will be made up of Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome, and Ryan Braun. Brandon Webb will take the mound to start things off.

Now, on to the predictions for the remainder of the rosters:

American League

Reserves:
Dioner Navarro, C, TB
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN
Miguel Cabrera, 1B, DET
Ian Kinsler, 2B, TEX
Michael Young, SS, TEX
Mike Lowell, 3B, BOS
Jermaine Dye, OF, CHW
Magglio Ordonez, OF, DET
Carlos Quentin, OF, CHW
Johnny Damon, OF, NYY
David DeJesus, OF, KC
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS
Milton Bradley, DH, TEX

Pitching staff:
Cliff Lee, CLE (starter)
Justin Duchscherer, OAK
Roy Halladay, TOR
Felix Hernandez, SEA
Shaun Marcum, TOR
Joe Saunders, LAA
Francisco Rodriguez, LAA
Mariano Rivera, NYY
Joakim Soria, KC
Jim Johnson, BAL

National League

Reserves:
Russell Martin, C, LAD
Albert Pujols, 1B, STL
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, SD
Dan Uggla, 2B, FLA
Brandon Phillips, 2B, CIN
Cristian Guzman, SS, WAS
Garrett Atkins, 3B, COL
David Wright, 3B, NYM
Carlos Lee, OF, HOU
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL
Matt Holliday, OF, COL
Xavier Nady, OF, PIT
Ryan Ludwick, OF, STL

Pitching staff:
Brandon Webb, ARZ (starter)
Edinson Volquez, CIN
Tim Lincecum, SF
Ben Sheets, MIL
Johan Santana, NYM
Danny Haren, ARZ
Brad Lidge, PHI
Brandon Lyon, ARZ
Hong-Chih Kuo, LAD
Takashi Saito, LAD

MLB Rumors, July 1st

• The Brewers appear to be the frontrunners in the C.C. Sabathia sweepstakes. Milwaukee has plenty of young players/prospects to offer. The Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers, and Cubs have also expressed interest, and one must believe that the Yankees will at least inquire about the 2007 Cy Young Award winner.
  
• The Marlins are looking for a catcher and some bullpen help. Matt Treanor is simply not getting it done for Florida, batting only .241 with 14 RBI. Mike Rabelo was performing so badly that he was sent down to the minors. The cheapest available options include Yorvit Torrealba, Paul Lo Duca, and Paul Bako. There is a possibility that the Tigers make Ivan Rodriguez available for the right price, and I wouldn't discount Kansas City's Miguel Olivo making a return to Miami, either. In terms of relief pitching, players such as David Weathers and LaTroy Hawkins are believed to be on the market. Other than that, I can't see the Marlins picking up anyone extraordinary due to the value of relief pitchers around the league. The best reliever being shopped around is probably Colorado's Brian Fuentes, but whether Florida is willing to pay up for him is the question.
  
• Could Colorado be shopping Matt Holliday, a player whom they just gave a two-year contract extension? It seems like a pretty big possibility considering that the Rockies have all but fallen completely out of contention. The Dodgers are probably not an option because they are a division rival of Colorado's, but you would have to think the Yankees are a possibility. They currently have Johnny Damon in left and Melky Cabrera in center, but with Hideki Matsui's knee problem becoming a serious issue, I could definitely see them making a run at Holliday. Should Matsui need surgery, New York could keep Damon in left and insert Holliday at DH. Maybe a package of Cabrera, Alan Horne, and another prospect for the 2007 NL MVP runner-up?
  
• It's no secret that the Rockies have put Fuentes on the trading block. Interested parties include the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and Phillies. As stated before, the Marlins may make a push for the closer depending on how much Colorado is asking for him. Fuentes, however, has blown two consecutive saves and has a 3.94 ERA this season. Not really all that great for a closer.
• The Cubs will almost definitely do something before the deadline, and their top priority appears to be adding a pitcher. Sabathia is on their radar, but Chicago does not want to part with young pitcher Sean Gallagher, a player who might have to go in any deal for Cleveland's left-hander.
  

Celtics thrash Lakers, win 17th title

It was one of the most dominant performances we have witnessed in sports over the past several years. More than that, it was arguably the biggest embarrassment in Los Angeles Lakers' history and one of the proudest in the storied franchise that is the Boston Celtics.

We've seen it all from the Celtics this series. They were locked in a tough battle with the Lakers in game one before finally pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 10-point victory. In game two, Boston was thumping Los Angeles until the Lakers went on a tremendous fourth quarter run to trim a deficit that was once 24 to two. Still, the Celtics didn't panic, and they were able to hold L.A. off for a six-point win. Game three was tight the whole way through, and it wasn't until there was under a minute left that the Lakers finally had the game all but in the bag for an 87-81 triumph.

Then, in game four, the seemingly impossible happened, as Boston did what Los Angeles almost accomplished in game two, rallying back from a 24-point hole to beat the Lakers in their own backyard to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Los Angeles then blew two big leads in game five (a 19-point advantage in the first half and then a 14-point cushion in the fourth quarter) but was able to hang on to extend the series. After watching game six, one must wonder why the Lakers even bothered, as the Celtics annihilated, obliterated, decimated (and whatever other synonyms for those words there are) Los Angeles 131-92. Yes, that's a 39-point margin, the largest in Boston's Finals' history.

Everyone contributed for the Celtics. Kevin Garnett finally silenced his critics, recording 26 points and 14 rebounds. Ray Allen tied an NBA Finals' record by draining seven three-pointers en route to a 26-point performance (he also set a Finals' record by knocking down 22 threes overall in the series). Rajon Rondo may have been the player of the game, finishing with 21 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and six, yes, six, steals. Paul Pierce scored 17 points, and although he struggled with his shot (he went only 4-of-13), also tallied 10 assists, a demonstration of his unselfishness.

James Posey was perfect off the bench, hitting all four of his field goal attempts (three of them being three-pointers) for 11 points. He also played stellar defense on Kobe Bryant, who we'll get to later. Even Glen Davis and Tony Allen chipped in, and the two may have even put the icing on the cake of the series. Late in the fourth quarter, Davis crossed up several Lakers on a drive and threw down a vicious tomahawk jam. On Boston's next possession, Allen caught an alley-oop pass and put it home with a reverse slam.

Now, for the Lakers. The poor, pathetic, soft Laker team that ironically represents the city of Los Angeles. They were helpless last night. The entire team. Bryant, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher...everybody. Bryant started out strong, burying three three-pointers and scoring 11 points in the first five-and-a-half minutes of the first quarter and even taunting some Boston fans by saying, "Not today." Well, Bryant then did his latest disappearing act, missing his final six threes and finishing with only 22 points (meaning he scored only 11 over the final 42-and-a-half minutes). Oh, and how was his shot selection? Awful as usual, as the MVP (again, what a joke) went only 7-of-22 from the floor to cap off his second consecutive miserable Finals' series (remember how terrible he was against Detroit in 2004?). Oh, and how many assists did the so-called "best player on the planet" have? One.

Sure, Boston's swarming defense played a huge part in keeping Bryant at bay. Still, Bryant simply looked lost. Befuddled. Did Michael Jordan, whom Bryant is ridiculously compared to, ever look like a deer in headlights in a big game? Nope. Never. Bryant, however, looked like that nearly all series long, and it wasn't any clearer than it was last night. Pierce, Ray Allen, and Posey played phenomenal defense on Bryant, as did the interior help. Garnett and Kendrick Perkins did not allow Kobe to get inside all series long. Rondo also harassed Bryant whenever he made one of his hesitant attempts to drive the lane, even ripping the ball out of the MVP's (haha) hands late in the game. But like I said; that wouldn't have happened to Jordan. I can't even picture it.

Then, there's Gasol. Mr. Softie. He always had a reputation for being a bit of a pushover, and he only confirmed that this series. The seven-footer scored only 11 points and turned the ball over five times last night. Rondo tore the ball away from him at least three times in the early going, and Garnett and Perkins simply shut him down the rest of the way. Odom was no better than his frontcourt mate, connecting on only two of eight field goal attempts. And somewhere, Vladimir Radmanovic is still launching rainbow threes that are lucky to even miss gracefully.

And what happened to the heralded Laker bench? Jordan Farmar was the only reserve who did anything worthy of some praise, scoring 12 points and knocking down three from beyond the arc. Sasha Vujacic played scared (as usual), as did Luke Walton and Mr. Tough Guy, Ronny Turiaf. He can take down one of the smallest guys in the league in Utah's Ronnie Price, but once you hit him in the mouth like Garnett, Perkins, and P.J. Brown did all series, he becomes as quiet as a mouse.

It's funny how all of the so-called "experts" gave Boston no chance to win this series, saying Los Angeles should dispose of the Celtics without a problem when it was the other way around the whole time. I am really wondering how in the world the Lakers managed to win two games.

108-102 doesn't begin to tell the story

I don't care that the Celtics only beat the Lakers by six points in game two of the NBA Finals. I don't care that Los Angeles made a nice comeback at the end when Doc Rivers had his reserves on the floor and Boston had gotten complacent. The fact is, the Celtics handed the Lakers a good old-fashioned thrashing last night, dominating them in nearly every facet of the game.

As I have said over and over again, Boston is simply too physical for Los Angeles. The Celtics' bigs trumped L.A.'s all night, including Leon Powe, who finished with 21 points off 6-of-7 shooting while hitting on 9-of-13 free throws in 15 minutes. That's right; 21 points and 13 free throw attempts in 15 minutes. Where in the world was that Laker defense?

One play in the fourth quarter pretty much encapsulated Los Angeles' defensive effort last night. It was when Powe picked up a loose ball and sped down the court past several Laker defenders for a vicious tomahawk slam that prompted the crowd at TD Banknorth Garden to chant his name. No, but seriously; he literally ran right by the entire Laker team without being even the slightest bit contested. Sorry Laker fans, but this is a fact: the Los Angeles Lakers are soft.

So soft that Boston attempted 28 more free throws than them (38 to 10, and don't pin that on the refs because Los Angeles simply wasn't being aggressive at all). So soft that Powe, who, again, played only 15 minutes in game two and played in only 56 games during the regular season, out-shot the entire Laker team from the charity stripe by three.

Another big problem for Los Angeles is that Rajon Rondo has made Derek Fisher look old this series...very old. The 22-year old Rondo racked up 16 assists last night compared to only two turnovers and simply wore Fisher down by getting out on the break and darting down the court to receive outlet passes to start them. Where was Fisher? Eating Rondo's dust.

And, once again, Paul Pierce out-shined Kobe Bryant (a joke of an MVP), connecting on all four of his three-point attempts and finishing with 28 points and eight assists. Sure, Bryant also scored 30 and dished out eight dimes, but most of his points came in garbage time and when Boston had all of its bench players on the floor during the rout. Not only that, but if you were watching the game and didn't see either players' stat-lines at the end, you would think Pierce out-scored Bryant by 20. He just meant that much more to his team and has been the clear-cut MVP of the Finals so far.

Of course, Phil Jackson has reverted to blaming the officials for the Lakers' ineptness to get to the free throw line or figure out the Celtics, and that is ridiculous. Anyone outside of California (and even they should see it) knows that Los Angeles has simply been out-worked, out-hustled, out-smarted, and out-played by Boston. The Celtics have taken advantage of their opponent's lack of physicality, and that is the main reason why they are up 2-0 heading to the Staples Center.

Boston better take one last, long look at TD Banknorth Garden before departing for Los Angeles, because I don't even think the Celtics are going to have to take the trip back there later in the series. Boston will be crowned the 2007-08 NBA champions on the Lakers' home floor.

Tidbits from game one

• As expected, Paul Pierce shredded Vladimir Radmanovic whenever he was defended by him. I marked this as one of the biggest keys to the series. With Kobe Bryant busy covering Ray Allen, the Lakers have no one that can keep up with Pierce all game, and this was evident in game one, as Radmanovic committed five fouls in 17 minutes.
• Boston will do everything in its power to keep Bryant from getting to the rim. Bryant finished with 24 points, but off 9-of-26 shooting. Why? Because the Celtics kept him out of the lane and forced Bryant to become a jump shooter, something he is not. Allen played phenomenal defense against the MVP, as did Pierce and James Posey whenever they were assigned to cover #24. Oh, and Bryant also attempted only six free throws.
  
• The Celtics' veterans may turn out to be the biggest difference-maker in this series. P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell both stepped up in big ways for Boston off the bench, with Brown collecting six rebounds and a big block on Bryant in the fourth quarter and Cassell finishing with eight points.
• The Celtics kept Los Angeles in check from behind the three-point line. The Lakers, widely considered one of the better outside shooting teams in the league, shot just 3-of-14 from beyond the arc Thursday night. Boston shot 6-of-19.
• The Celtics dominated the glass, out-rebounding Los Angeles 46-33. They also had 12 second-chance points compared to four for the Lakers.
• Rajon Rondo got to the free throw line 10 times yesterday and went 7-for-10 from the stripe. This was another key I pointed out before the series started: Rondo is too quick for Derek Fisher, who, despite finishing with 15 points, scored only two points in the second half. Clearly, Rondo was wearing him down.
• Ronny Turiaf took some jump shots from behind the free-throw line last night. That's not his job. Boston's physicality obviously bothered him.
• Lamar Odom was pretty much invisible. Yes, he had 14 points and six boards, but they were scattered. Other than a three-point play that brought Los Angeles to within five with just under two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Odom was A.W.O.L. in game one.
• Allen did not just play well defensively, but he is also back on the offensive end of the floor. After a big uphill battle in the first two series' of the postseason and even at the beginning of the Eastern Conference Finals, Allen has re-discovered himself, averaging 21.7 points and 5.7 rebounds over his last three games.
• Do the Lakers really have a better bench than Boston? One wouldn't know it by watching the game last night. Sasha Vujajic, Luke Walton, Turiaf, and Jordan Farmar were essentially rendered useless in game one. Walton didn't even have a point.
• There is some good news and some bad news for Los Angeles. The good news: they turned the ball over only eight times while the Celtics committed 13 turnovers. The bad news: they still lost by 10.
  

Pierce's heroics lead Boston to game one win

The crowd was deathly silent. The Celtics were down 62-58. Most of all, Paul Pierce was down. And he was in pain.

After Pierce and Kendrick Perkins both jumped to try and block a Kobe Bryant floater, Pierce's legs got tied up with Perkins', and Pierce felt a pop in his knee.The Truth had to be carried off the court and then wheeled into the locker room. Not too long after, Pierce emerged from the Boston tunnel, sending the crowd at TD Banknorth Garden into a frenzy.

Pierce, who scored only three points in the first half, willed the Celtics to victory, scoring 19 points over the final 24 minutes, including draining two threes in a row to give Boston a 75-71 lead as the third quarter was winding down. The Celtics would never relinquish that lead, and they ended up taking game one of the NBA Finals from the Lakers by a score of 98-88.

Kevin Garnett compensated for Pierce's poor first half, scoring 16 points off 6-of-9 shooting. He would finish with 24 points and 13 rebounds and put the icing on the cake of the game with two hustle plays late in the fourth quarter. First, Garnett ran into the backcourt to save a backcourt violation, keeping his feet in the air and flipping the ball back into the frontcourt where Sam Cassell caught it and knocked down one of his four field goals. He then capped things off with an emphatic put-back jam on a missed three by James Posey.

Pierce's performace is sure to go down in Celtic lore. The 10-year veteran said he felt like he tore something when he first went down, and even went as far to say that he thought he was done. Still, being the warrior that he is, when Pierce discovered he was able to stand up and put pressure on his leg in the locker room, he wasted no time in coming back on to the floor.

There will be some skeptics that will say Pierce exaggerated his injury a little bit to fire up the arena and his team, but do you really think he was thinking that when he went down? Also, does anyone seriously believe that a man who has waited his whole life to reach this point is going to sacrifice playing time to fake an injury? If anyone does, then they need to get their head checked.

However, it wasn't just Pierce and Garnett who put up stellar game one performances. P.J. Brown was huge off the bench, replacing Perkins who injured his ankle soon after Pierce fell to the floor. Brown only put up two points, but he tallied six rebounds and play phenomenal interior defense, particularly in helping out against Bryant. The 37-year old also started a fast-break when he stuffed a Bryant layup attempt. Rajon Rondo produced as well, going for 15 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. Cassell recorded eight points off the bench.

Bryant could not buy a bucket for Los Angeles, finishing 9-for-26. He did have 24 points, but the only real efficient stretch he had was a portion of the beginning of the third quarter. Ray Allen played stifling defense on the MVP, and that isn't the first time he has done so. Bryant is shooting only 33% from the floor (24-for-72) in three games against Boston this season. Allen gave Kobe no room to breathe, and when Allen wasn't defending Bryant, Pierce or Posey were blanketing him. Bryant felt he "missed some bunnies" and that it was more him failing to convert on good looks than it was the Celtic defense stopping him, but anyone who was watching the game knows that that is completely false. If the three-time champion cannot figure out how to shake this Boston defense which ranked number one in the league this season, the Lakers are in trouble; big trouble.

Celtics' mettle leads them to promised land

When the Boston Celtics acquired Kevin Garnett for a hefty price in July, they did not expect anything less than trip to the NBA Finals. Well, here they are, now four wins away from their ultimate goal: a championship.

For the first time since 1987, the Celtics are headed to the Finals, thanks to an unbelievable display of mettle and composure in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals. Trailing by ten to the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills with over 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter, Boston closed with a 29-11 run for an 89-81 victory.

Garnett was key in the rally, scoring eight of his 16 points and grabbing vital rebounds while playing stellar interior defense. Paul Pierce, who poured in 12 of his 27 in the fourth, executed what probably was the turning point of the game on a beautiful spin move which he then turned into a layup plus the foul. Pierce hit the free throw, putting Boston up 75-74 with 5:25 to play. The Celtics would never relinquish that lead for the remainder of the night.

To put into perspective how clutch Boston was last night, Garnett shot only 2-of-10 from the floor in the first half, and the Celtics shot only 36% as a team. However, in the last 24 minutes, Garnett hit 5-of-6 shots and Boston converted on 52% of their field goal attempts. Still, it wasn't just K.G. and Pierce leading the Celtics.

Ray Allen's outstanding game five in which he shot 5-of-6 from three-point range carried over into game six, as he connected on three threes in the first half and finished with 17 points. Kendrick Perkins, who erupted for 18 points and 16 boards in game five, didn't exactly fill up the stat sheet last night (seven points, seven rebounds), but he had a huge block on a Chauncey Billups layup attempt with 1:23 to go which would have brought Detroit within four. Also, three of Perkins' seven boards were on the offensive end of the floor.

Rajon Rondo got the job done as well, getting the most important steal of the series by jumping up an deflecting a pass by Rasheed Wallace by the three-point line, allowing Rondo to get out on the break. He then pulled the ball back out and swung it over to Pierce who drained a jumper from the corner, putting Boston up 77-74 with 4:52 to play. Rondo recorded 11 points.

The Celtics have now silenced their many critics. Those who said they could not win on the road have crawled under a rock, as Boston won two of three in Detroit in the series. There were also countless others who said that the Celtics did not have enough playoff experience as a team and that the amount the Pistons had in that area would be the deciding factor. Not so much.

Yes, it took Boston, a team that won a league-best 66 games during the regular season, seven games to beat a young Atlanta Hawks' team that won only 37 contests during the year. The Celtics also needed to go the distance against the Cleveland Cavaliers (or better yet, the Cleveland LeBrons). However, when facing their biggest challenge yet, they rose to the occasion, taking out a phenomenal Detroit team in six games.

Now, Boston will renew what was used to be an extraordinary rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers, a team that has only lost three games throughout the postseason thus far. Los Angeles is coming off a 4-1 series victory over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and is on an incredible high.

Pierce will have the daunting task of covering the MVP in Kobe Bryant, who dropped 39 points in the clinching game five against San Antonio. Still, at the same time, Bryant will have to hold down the fort against either Pierce or Allen. This is where trouble occurs for the Lakers. While Bryant will obviously be defending one of those two players, which Laker will be on the other? Vladimir Radmanovic? Luke Walton? I can't see how either of those two will be able to stop either of the Celtics' wings.

For that reason, I expect Trevor Ariza to see considerable playing time in the Finals, and defensive specialist Ira Newble might even see some action. Neither Radmanovic nor Walton are athletic enough to keep up with Pierce or Allen, and although Ariza is returning from a severe foot injury, he can still provide enough offense to make up for the shorter amount of playing time Los Angeles' two main small forwards will be getting.

Another matchup to watch in this series is Rondo against Derek Fisher. Fisher has won three titles and is one of the most clutch players in the league, but does he have the quickness to stay with Rondo all game? Rondo may very well be the quickest player in the NBA, making even Billups look old at times in the conference finals. Fisher is a couple of steps slower than Billups, meaning Rondo may have his best series of the playoffs against the Lakers.

And, of course, the main issue for Los Angeles is the question, "Who will cover Garnett?" Pau Gasol is too slow afoot, and Garnett would post up Lamar Odom all series long if Phil Jackson decides to go with that matchup. Ronny Turiaf will see some time against K.G., and he may be the best defender Jackson has to throw at Garnett, but Garnett could easily wear him down and get him into early foul trouble. Turiaf was able to keep Tim Duncan in check for most of the time against the Spurs, but Duncan does not have the quickness or athleticism of Garnett and is aging much faster.

The one area where the Lakers can match (or maybe even surpass) the Celtics is the bench, which is one of the strongest in the league. Turiaf and Walton have both played huge roles for Los Angeles, as has second-year point guard Jordan Farmar, who was the catalyst in the Lakers' comeback against San Antonio on Thursday night. Sasha Vujacic hasn't been a slouch either, hitting several big threes for Los Angeles in each of their three series' victories. And, of course, there is Ariza, a player who will see a nice chunk of playing time in the Finals.

Taking all factors into consideration, Boston should win this series. Its big three is certainly more potent than the Lakers', regardless of how many points Bryant tallies each night (unless he averages 50 a game). Garnett should shut down Odom, and Perkins may be the x-factor in this series in his matchup against Gasol. Unlike Gasol, Perkins is very physical and fights for every rebound, something that can bite Los Angeles in the behind all series.

Celtics in five.

Early NBA Mock Draft

1. Chicago Bulls- Michael Beasley, F. He is the best player in the draft, and the Bulls are still in desperate need of a low-post scorer. Chicago hit the jackpot by getting this pick. Beasley could turn them into a playoff team in his first season.
2. Miami Heat- Derrick Rose, PG. Miami will get who they wanted all along in Rose. Jason Williams is just too old to run the show at point guard anymore, and Chris Quinn is nothing more than a bench player. Rose has the potential to be a Gary Payton-like player.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves- Brook Lopez, C. He has bust written all over him, but Minnesota could certainly use a big man to complement Al Jefferson up front, and there aren't many good centers in this draft class.
4. Seattle Supersonics- Anthony Randolph, F. This forward out of LSU has been rapidly rising on draft boards ever since he announced his decision to enter. Randolph is extremely versatile, and Seattle needs a ton of help up front. Think of Lamar Odom with a higher ceiling.
5. Memphis Grizzlies- DeAndre Jordan, C. Jordan did not impress in his one and only season at college, but her definitely has potential, and the Grizzlies are still not sold on Darko Milicic up front. Plus, they don't need any backcourt help.
6. New York Knicks- Jerryd Bayless, PG. This could be an absolute steal (yes, a steal at number six) should Bayless fall this far. However, based on the needs of the teams three through five, none of them should be coveting a floor general. Bayless may end up being the best one in this draft.
7. Los Angeles Clippers- O.J. Mayo, G. Mayo is a combo guard who is very similar to Gilbert Arenas. The Clippers need a point guard, and although Mayo may not be a purebred, he is extraordinarily talented.
8. Milwaukee Bucks- Donte Greene, F. Greene can play both forward spots and can do a myriad of things on the floor. It will come down to either Greene or Danilo Gallinari with this pick, but I think the Syracuse product is the more NBA-ready (and talented) of the two.
9. Charlotte Bobcats- Darrell Arthur, F. With the news that Sean May may retire because of chronic knee problems, Arthur would be a good pick here for Charlotte. He didn't explode in his sophomore year like many expected him to, but he still has ample talent.
10. New Jersey Nets- Eric Gordon, SG. Gordon is one of the best, if not the best, pure shooters in this draft. However, the fact that he is competing with several other guards may drop him a few spots. The Nets don't have any specific needs at any position, but they desperately need outside shooting and depth.
11. Indiana Pacers- D.J. Augustin, PG. I really don't think Augustin will translate all that well into the pros, but with Jamaal Tinsley aging and not much help behind him, the Pacers need to take a point guard.
12. Sacramento Kings- Joe Alexander, F. Because of their aging frontcourt, Sacramento will draft a big man for the second year in a row. Alexander is a silky smooth scorer with a very well-polished offensive game. He has the potential to fill up the box score night in and night out.
13. Portland Trail Blazers- Russell Westbrook, G. Portland is pretty much set at every position, but the point guard spot is unstable. Westbrook played two-guard at UCLA, but if he works on his ball-handling skills, he can play the point at the next level.
14. Golden State Warriors- Nicolas Batum, G/F. The Warriors also don't have any big holes, but they could use some depth at the wings, especially considering Mickael Pietrus might leave via free agency. Batum fits Golden State's prototype perfectly. He is freakishly athletic and explosive.
15. Phoenix Suns (from ATL)- Marreese Speights, C/F. Speights is the most talented center in this draft. He has great length and has a frame that can develop a substantial amount of muscle. If he can develop some moves in the low post, look out.
16. Philadelphia 76ers- Javale McGee, C. Talk about a high ceiling; this kid has it. The 76ers have Samuel Dalembert, but McGee can easily do what Dalembert does plus much, much more. He is long, athletic, explosive, and a very good defender.
17. Toronto Raptors- Roy Hibbert, C. Toronto is in desperate need of a center, and Hibbert fits the bill here. Hibbert's stock has fallen off dramatically since his junior year when many figured him to be a top 10 pick, but he can still be a solid NBA player. He is a very skilled big man.
18. Washington Wizards- Mario Chalmers, PG. Gilbert Arenas' knees are still giving him problems, and Antonio Daniels will never be anything more than a good sixth man. Chalmers is a feisty defender and clutch performer, as demonstrated during Kansas' NCAA Tournament run.
19. Cleveland Cavaliers- Kevin Love, F/C. I have a feeling Cleveland may try to trade this pick, but if they don't, they can certainly use Love's scoring ability in the frontcourt. He won't be anything spectacular, but he will be a solid role player who could thrive with LeBron James.
20. Denver Nuggets- Jason Thompson, PF. A lack of defense killed the Nuggets this year (and pretty much every year), so Thompson is the pick here. Thompson is an excellent defender with great length and athleticism. He could be a premier shot-blocker on the NBA level.
21. New Jersey Nets (from DAL)- Kosta Koufos, C. Nenad Krstic hasn't really worked out for the Nets, so they should take a big man in this draft. Koufos has a nice offensive game, but he has some work to do defensively and also needs to add some muscle to his frame.
22. Orlando Magic- Brandon Rush, G/F. Orlando needs a shooting guard, and Rush fits the team's system perfectly; a lethal outside shooter with athleticism. Rush also brings some much-needed defense to the table for the Magic.
23. Utah Jazz- Danilo Gallinari, F. Utah doesn't need that much, but if Gallinari is still on the board at this point in the draft, they'll take him. I'm very skeptical about this 19-year old from Italy, as he is a below average defender and is not all that athletic for someone of his body stature.
24. Seattle Supersonics (from PHX)- Nathan Jawai, C. Jawai is a very bulky big man (6'10", 270) out of Australia who, although still a bit raw, has a large amount of potential. He has a decent jump shot and is still working on what already is a solid low post game.
25. Houston Rockets- Robin Lopez, C. Houston really needs a backup center, as Yao Ming just cannot seem to stay healthy and his only backup, Dikembe Mutombo, is 80. Lopez is never going to be much of an offensive threat, but he'll be very disruptive defensively. He does need to add some muscle, though.
26. San Antonio Spurs- Joey Dorsey, PF. The Spurs could use another banger down low, as Kurt Thomas is not going to be around much longer and Fabricio Oberto isn't exactly what one would call physical. Dorsey has a chance to be a Ben Wallace-type player.
27. New Orleans Hornets- Wayne Ellington, SG. New Orleans doesn't have many weaknesses, but they might want to go for another shooter off the bench. Ellington would certainly provide that and some solid ball-handling skills.
28. Memphis Grizzlies (from LAL)- D.J. White, PF. One of the most underrated prospects of this draft, White can give the Grizzlies some much-needed low-post scoring and some leadership. White is one of those players who doesn't do anything great, but does everything well.
29. Detroit Pistons- J.J. Hickson, PF. Detroit has enough wings, but they could use another big man up front. Hickson is a very athletic specimen with good strength. Think of Chris Wilcox with a potentially higher ceiling.
30. Boston Celtics- Davon Jefferson, SF. Jefferson is an extremely explosive wingman who would could very well end up being the steal of the draft. He is still very raw, but his potential is limitless and he could turn into the type of player we all thought Darius Miles would be.