Did you even watch the playoffs? Only FOUR teams were at .500 or higher in the East. Just because one team won the NBA title doesn't mean the entire conference is good. Boston was like 10 games under-.500 and made the playoffs, and New Orleans, the #6 seed, is gone, you don't think Orlando couldn't do that or better or take the Hornets playoff berth? And look at the East, outside of Detroit and Indiana, neither of which were unbeatable, who in the East scary? Miami? Milwaukee? New Jersey?
Actually New Orleans was the #5 seed and if Baron Davis hadn't gotten injured they would have been a Top 3 or 4 team in the East so another one of the East's top teams is leaving.
The Portland deal is obviously Hill, as rb has proven out. Portland wanted out from under contracts. Hill is taken as an expiring contract, with assurance he will retire. That makes the most sense. The Chicago deal is just wrangling. They need a small forward, and it would help to unload some contracts. I don't see Francis there, like I used to. Seattle has said all along they want a power forward, and they are willing to give up Allen or Lewis. Harrington + Croshere, I bet. I like where we are at. Let a few dominos go down. Then we make some more moves. We have the TE, MCE and Taylor, Spoon and Boki. No one wants Taylor or Spoon - maybe only if the TE comes along. Anyway we dump those guys is good. I think maybe the Knicks with Taylor for Kurt Thomas and part of the TE as sweetener for other crap they need to exit, like Deke and Frank Williams. Maybe we can do something with the TE in Detroit, as they desperately need the cap room.
Wow if that happens, then the Magic found a way to turn T-mac and scrubs into Cato, Stoudamire,SAR, and Cat. Not a bad move.
Why would Francis go to CHI? One reason. Because CHI is the home of MJ. I doubt it is the nice young talent they have. I think Crawford and #3 and Francis is a good deal for both sides. I also think it changes what ORL would do with the #1 pick. I think they would go Okafor and Deng if they get #3 and go for it right now. If they don't get #3, they might go for Howard.
Actually, if the T-Mac trade falls through for whatever reason, a direct deal with Portland for SAR and Stoudamire might be a reasonable consolation assuming we hold on to Mobley. Something to think about... DH
