Dolphins deal Taylor to skins for picks

The Miami Dolphins have been in rebuilding mode after last season's 1-15 disaster. They wanted to get a fresh start and clear house of the past. Wayne Huizenga, Owner of the Dolphins started in the front office by hiring Bill Parcells as a Special Assitant, Jeff Ireland as a new GM, and Tony Sparano as the new head coach. With the front office changes, the 'Fins decided to make a few changes on the field as well. The Dolphins splurged in Free Agency and got rid of a few cogs of teams from the past like linebacker Zach Thomas. (He has since signed a one year deal with the Cowboys). However the Dolphins still hd Jason Taylor, who despite still remaining productive, was an off field distraction and not a long term solution for the 'Fins. So after numerous failed attempts to trade Taylor in the offseason to the likes of Green Bay, New York, and Minnesota, The Dolphins finally found a trade partner. The Dolphins dealt Jason Taylor to the Washington Redskins for a second round pick in this year's draft and a sixth in next year's draft. Overrall this was a good move on both sides. First for Washington, they needed a pass rusher in the worst way. The Redskins lost two defensive ends (Phillip Daniels and Alex Buzbee) for the season in the first couple days of practice, and didn't think that a Free Agent would help them out in the run. Meanwhile the Dolphins were looking to deal Taylor all offseason who had become more and more of a distraction to the team's new regime. Enter an 11th hour bid from the 'Skins and they land the All-Pro End. Taylor will play for at least two more years (When his contract expires) but after that who knows how long he'll lace em up. Meanwhile the Dolphins get two picks to build around for the future. After a string of terrible drafts, the Dolphins put a very good draft together in April selecting college stars like Jake Long, Phillip Merling, Chad Henne, and Kendall Langford

A's deal again: Blanton to Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Phillies missed out on Rich Harden and CC Sabathia. Manager Charlie Manuel lobbied the front office to land his team another pitcher to throw into the rotation, and they added one on Thursday in acquiring Joe Blanton from Oakland. The Athletics have been looking to move Blanton and almost swung a deal to move him to the Reds. (The Reds offered Homer Bailey, but the A's wanted Johnny Cueto) However the Phillies seem like they will end up big losers in this deal and were in panic mode. The pitching market was razor thin since the 2 big names (Harden & Sabathia) were traded and the names out there were not as appealing (AJ Burnett, Greg Maddux, Zach Duke, Randy Wolf). The Phillies appear to have seriously overpaid for Blanton who is just 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA. Blanton is a workhorse and will throw at least 6 innings a game but he has been lit up by the AL  opponents this year. The NL is a weaker hitting league but Blanton will be a free agent after this year and could very well be a rent a player and leave for more money elsewhere. Billy Beane who seemed to get the short end of the stick in the Rich Harden deal absolutely milked the Phillies in this one. Coming over from Philly are 2B Adrian Cardenas (2nd best prospect in the Phillies system .309 4 HR and 23 RBI's at High A Clearwater), SP Josh Outman (4th best prospect in the Phillies System 5-4 3.20 ERA 1 SV 66 SO 70.1 INN at AA Reading), and OF Matt Spencer (.249 6 HR 41 RBI at High A Clearwater). Cardenas has been compared to Chase Utley with even fielding. Outman can be a solid starter and Spencer probably was the throw in in this deal. Cardenas will probably be sent to High A Stockton or AA Midland, Outman is likely headed for AA Midland and Spencer will most likely go to HIgh A Stockton

  

Posey headed to the Big Easy

The New Orleans Hornets were beaten by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semi's due to the lack of big game experience in Game 7. That all changed on Wednesday when they acquired James Posey from the Boston Celtics. The Hornets signed Posey for 4 years $25 million and immediatley get a big game player. Posey has won 2 NBA Championships in 3 years and was a vital part to Boston's championship run is a clutch shooter and a very good defender out on the wing and will help the Hornets, who have one of the worst benches. The Celtics wanted to keep Posey but ran into certain problems. Posey and his agent Mark Bertelsen wanted a 4th year but the Celtics only would give him 3 and the Celtics were cash strapped due to the big contracts of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett and could only offer the Mid Level Exception. The Hornets however gave Posey that 4th year and the MLE plus another million bucks, and they nab a vital piece to a team which will already be a strong contender out West. Besides Boston, Cleveland and San Antonio were rumored to be interested in Posey's services.

Nets sign Hayes & Najera

Apparently the New Jersey Nets are fans of Extreme Makeover. Just 9 months removed from starting the season to see if the big three of Richard Jefferson,  Jason Kidd, and Vince Carter could deliver postseason glory, Kidd (Dallas), and Jefferson (Milwaukee) are gone and the Nets have a whole new look. The Nets added their sixth and seventh new player(s) (Eduardo Najera & Jarvis Hayes) in 3 weeks with these signings. Najera, who had offers from Dallas, Denver, New Orleans, and San Antonio, signed for 4 years $12 million. Najera the former Oklahoma star is most noted for his hustle and tough defense which seemed to go to waste on the "shoot first play defense later" Denver Nuggets. He'll also provide veteran leadership to a team which will have most of their players aged under 25. Najera averaged 5.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 21.3 minutes for Denver last year. As for Hayes the former All-American at Georgia he joins the Nets after saving his career in Detroit. Originally drafted by Washington with the 10th pick in the 2003 Draft, Hayes went to Detroit and thrived playing backup to Tayshaun Prince. Hayes averaged 6.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 15.7 minutes a game. Hayes is expected to compete for a starters role at small forward along with the newly acquired Bobby Simmons who came over from Milwaukee along with Yi Jianlian for Richard Jefferson

NEW JERSEY NETS ROSTER

Maurice Ager

Ryan Anderson*

Josh Boone

Vince Carter

Chris Douglas-Roberts*

Devin Harris

Trenton Hassell

Jarvis Hayes*

Brook Lopez*

Eduardo Najera*

Bobby Simmons*

Stromile Swift

Marcus Williams

Sean Williams

Yi Jianlian*

*Newly acquired in 2008 Offseason

Camby to the Clippers

Marcus Camby will now be joining the Los Angeles Clippers. The Denver Nuggets traded their center to the Clippers for a second round pick and a $10 million trade exception. For Los Angeles it looks like they were in panic mode. After losing Elton Brand to Philadelphia, not coming close to getting anything done with Josh Smith of Atlanta or Emeka Okafor of Charlotte, and having the Knicks reject the Clips offer for Zach Randolph, they went after Camby. The Clippers clogged their cap with this move, but it is a very underrated one as well. The Clippers are getting a proven veteran who is a very good defender, rebounder, and can even score a little. Even better for the Clippers his contract comes off the books in 2010, the summer of Lebron, DWade, and Bosh. It may not be the big time guy Baron Davis wanted to play with but still it is a very solid pickup for the Clippers. As for the Nuggets you have to wonder why the heck did they make this trade. Camby was the last player on the Nuggets who actually played defense (Eduardo Najera was the other but he signed with the Nets). The Nuggets are trading a defensive player of the year who is also a huge contributor on offense to a contending team out west. I understand the financial aspects because the Nuggets are screwed in Luxury Tax, they needed cap relief an wanted a spot for Linas Kleiza, but this all but guarantees the Nuggets will be heading home early this spring. The Nuggets get screwed here and if they don't get a valuable player with that $10 million trade exception, they will end up with nothing but a D-League player, and a team which can't outscore the other because they gave their defensive assets away. Clearly the Nuggets don't think that "defense wins championships"

DENVER NUGGETS PROJECTED LINEUP FOR 2008-2009

C: Steven Hunter

PF: Linas Kleiza/Kenyon Martin

SF: Carmelo Anthony

SG: Allen Iverson

PG: Chucky Atkins/Anthony Carter/Taurean Green

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS PROJECTED LINEUP

C: Marcus Camby

PF: Chris Kaman

SF: Al Thornton

SG: Cuttino Mobley 

PG: Baron Davis

Sixers clear cap to land Brand

In order to afford Elton Brand, the Philadelphia 76ers have traded Rodney Carney, Calvin Booth, and a future first round pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a future second round pick. Carney was the team's first round selection in 2006 and in Philadelphia averaged 6 ponts 2 boards and an assist off the bench for the sixers this year and is only 24 and has a bright future with his freakish athleticism. Booth, who was a reserve who rarely played will probably see the same treatment in Minnesota. Both players have one year left on their deals.

Ex Cane Jones is returning home

James Jones is a native Floridian who grew up their, played college in his homestate (for the University of Miami), and now he'll be playing for his favorite NBA team, the Miami Heat. The Heat and Jones have agreed to a five year deal worth up to 23 million dollars which allows the native Floridian to reurn home, despite having other offers from teams like Detroit. "For me, it's like coming full circle," Jones said. "I'm from the city. I spend all my time here and when the Heat hurt, even when I'm on another team, I still feel that pain. ... So for me, the interest from my hometown team superseded and outweighed all the other positives and pluses of the different cities, especially Detroit, that were looking for my services." Jones shot a career high 44 percent from 3 point land this year for Portland, and knows that he'll be counted on in Miami's offense which hasn't had a 3-point specalist since Jason Kapono left for Toronto in 2006. "If that means coming off the bench, if that means starting, if that means taking 10 shots, if that means taking one shot, for me, it's about being efficient and winning games," Jones said. "Coming here, I don't have any expectations about what position or which role I'll play. All I'm looking for is the opportunity to compete." In Jones's NBA career he has played with Portland, Phoenix, and Indiana. Even with this deal, the Heat still can have the most cap room for the summer of 2010 when free agents like Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Deron Williams, and even one of the Heat's own Dwayne Wade are avalaible

PROJECTED 2008-2009 MIAMI HEAT LINEUP

C: Mark Blount

PF: Michael Beasley

SF: Shawn Marion

SG: Dwayne Wade

PG: Jason Williams

BENCH:

Udonis Haslem

Mario Chalmers

Daequan Cook

Marcus Banks

Stephane Lasme

James Jones

Alexander Johnson