I’m reading a John Feinstein’s book “Let me tell you a story” about Red Auerbach…in the book Auerbach thinks Reggie Lewis was on the cuspt of being a top 5 NBA player when he died…I don’t know about that, but Lewis averaged 20 PPG on 50% shooting and 85% from the line his last 4 years while carrying an ailing Bird, McHale and Parish…imagine the numbers once they were gone…

So I’ve had some time to think about it, and I think the Villanueva for Ford trade is actually one of the few win-win trades in recent memory…here’s why:

The Bucks win because…they now longer have to start Joe Smith. Ok, but seriously, the Bucks now feature one of the most offensively potent line-ups in the league. With Mo Williams at PG, they upgrade their size at this position, plus get better shooting from three and some more scoring, especially clutch scoring late in games...which Williams showed a knack for last year on several occasions. Some will argue that they gave up some speed and quickness at the PG, but they Bucks entire starting line-up screams half-court with Bogut being the classic high post centre à la Vlade Divac, Redd being the potent scorer off screens, Simmons being the baseline/post-up 3 man and now Villanueva operating as the roaming/inside-outside 4 man. Others will argue that they will miss Ford’s passing, but with more playing time Bogut and Villanueva, both unselfish players and great passers (especially Bogut) will both make up for the few assists that Ford takes with him. As for Charlie V, he’s a huge upgrade over Joe Smith as the starting 4-man. His versatility, handle and range will make him a match-up nightmare for opposing 4’s. Actually, this starting line-up reminds me of the Kings team of 2000-2001. A very good passing team, with a scoring PG, a terrific long-range shooter, a tough defender, a versatile scoring 4 man and a great passing centre. OK, so Simmons in the role of Doug Christie is a stretch, but it’s a decent comparison.

The Raptors win because…they get to run, run, run. Colangelo wants an up-tempo that can score. He needs a PG with wheels, who likes to/can pass. He’s got an extra 4 man, (extra because he happens to also have the premiere young 4 man in the league in Chris Bosh) and his only PG is crazy. (that would me Mike James) Throw in Anthony Parker, the next Bobby Phills/Raja Bell, John Salmons who has Josh Howard like potential and you’ve all of a sudden got a team that can play the run and shoot style. Of course, the big if is that Ford I not a shooter and does not have 3 point range, which is a must to keep defences from sagging on Chris Bosh…

1) David Dupree of USATODAY.com reports on Coach K’s upcoming training camp with team USA

Coach K tips off new era for Team USA

When Mike Krzyzewski walks onto the Cox Pavilion floor in Las Vegas today to greet his new team, it might be one small step for him but it's one giant leap for U.S. basketball. "I've gotten chills the last four or five days just thinking about being with the team," Krzyzewski said Tuesday at the opening of training camp for the USA Basketball national team. "I'm amazingly excited. You feel like everyone knows how special it is to be in this position." USA Basketball tore up its playbook and turned to a college coach after an NBA coach led U.S. teams in every major international competition since the 1992 Olympics. Slapped into reality by a sixth-place finish in the 2002 World Championships, followed by a third-place finish at the 2004 Olympics, USA Basketball selected Duke's Krzyzewski to lead the quest to regain international dominance. He has 24 of the best basketball players at his disposal, each making a three-year commitment to win an Olympic gold medal. Although winning the Olympic gold medal is the ultimate goal, the upcoming World Championships are much more than just a tuneup. There are only two byes into the Olympics. One goes to the host team — that means China for the 2008 Beijing Games — and the other to the reigning world champion. If the USA loses in Japan, it must qualify next summer in Venezuela in the Tournament of the Americas. Since NBA players began competing in the World Championships and Olympics, an All-Star team has been picked without regard to almost anything else. Players were not asked to try out, simply handed spots on the team. Those days are over. The 24 players on the national team roster — from which 12 will be chosen for the teams that compete in the World Championships and the Olympics — are a varied collection of young and old stars and role players. Luke Ridnour (11.5 points a game last season), Chris Paul, last season's NBA rookie of the year, Kirk Hinrich and defensive specialists Bruce Bowen (7.5 points) and former Duke star Shane Battier (10.1 points) would never have been considered under the stars-only system. But they are the types of players Krzyzewski said will help make this a real team. Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards, the NBA's fourth-leading scorer last season (29.3 points a game), is thankful for the opportunity to try out. "I told (Krzyzewski), 'You don't have to worry about me. I'm not one of the egotistic players,' " Arenas said. "If you want me to dive on the floor and run into walls, I'll do it. I'm just trying to make the team." Krzyzewski offered a glimpse into what players can expect training camp to be like and how important their roles will be. "It's a 40-minute game, and we may need a guy who is going to play five minutes. And he will play those five minutes like they are the most important five minutes in his life," he said. "We need guys who are going to create an atmosphere that is conducive to success. And you do that by having guys who can contribute in all different ways and still feel a sense of ownership and pride in what they're doing. I feel we have a group that can do that." The problems the USA faced in the last two major international competitions, going a combined 11-6, were obvious. There was no consistent outside shooting, no defensive specialists, no role players and no options when things started going badly. The current national team would seem to have every base covered — twice over. When looking at role players, the lowest NBA average of any player on the 2004 Olympic team the season before the Athens Games was Carlos Boozer's 15.5. On the current roster, four players averaged 15 points or fewer last season — Bowen, Battier, Ridnour and Brad Miller (15.0). With Kobe Bryant's knee surgery and Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O'Neal declining invitations for now, LeBron James (No. 3 in the NBA in scoring last season at 31.4 points) and Dwyane Wade (No. 5 at 27.2) are the biggest stars on the team. Both have bought into the new approach after playing minimal roles on the 2004 Olympic team. "I'll do whatever is needed of me, and that's the way we all look at it," James said.
Krzyzewski expects nothing less. "I think it would be good for every player on the team to look at himself as a role player," he said. "We're not the Lakers, the Cavs or the Heat. This is the United States basketball team. Guys have to share the ball and responsibilities with everybody else on the basketball team." With past teams, it seemed players felt they were doing the country a favor by playing. Not this team. "This is bigger than myself," Paul said. "I've watched the Olympics since Barcelona, and to think about that and just be part of it is an honor in itself." Although there are 24 players, only 18 will be considered for the World Championship team because of injury, personal reasons or family commitments. Of those 18, the readiness of Amare Stoudemire is uncertain as he attempts to come back from a knee injury that forced him to miss all but three games last season. Krzyzewski is quick to point out, however, that no matter who is selected to play, everyone on the roster is on the team. "We have never done things this way before," Krzyzewski said. "One of the first adjustments is the terminology, so that someone doesn't think he didn't make it. He's made it. There is a place for everybody or they wouldn't be on the roster. "It's a matter of putting the guys in who are the healthiest, if there are no family issues and who would make up the best team — not necessarily the 12 best players. I want all of these guys to feel like they belong because they all do. It's a fluid roster over a three-year period." Although Krzyzewski has never coached in the NBA, he doesn't see that as a problem. "You always make adjustments in your coaching style," he said. "I make adjustments every year with the team I'm coaching based on experience, talent and personalities. "You have to do the same with this team. The thing is they're professionals. They take care of their bodies, they're ready and they're mature. They'll be able to get things quicker."

2) Here’s a list of players on the roster for Camp:

Name Team Ht. Age Why him?

SF Carmelo Anthony Denver Nuggets 6-8 22 Scoring, offensive versatility
PG Gilbert Arenas Washington Wizards 6-4 24 Creativity, quickness
SF Shane Battier Houston Rockets 6-8 27 Defense, hustle, adaptability
PG Chauncey Billups Detroit Pistons 6-3 29 Leadership, outside shot
PF Chris Bosh Toronto Raptors 6-10 22 Defense, versatility
SF Bruce Bowen San Antonio Spurs 6-7 35 Defense, toughness
PF Elton Brand L.A. Clippers 6-8 27 Inside game, rebounding
SG Kobe Bryant L.A. Lakers 6-6 27 Competitiveness, leadership
PG Kirk Hinrich Chicago Bulls 6-3 25 Dribble penetration, scrappiness
C Dwight Howard Orlando Magic 6-11 20 Rebounding, defense
SF LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers 6-8 21 Versatility, scoring
SF Antawn Jamison Washington Wizards 6-9 30 Outside shot, adaptability
PG/SG Joe Johnson Atlanta Hawks 6-7 25 Outside shot, defense
SF Shawn Marion Phoenix Suns 6-7 28 Defense, rebounding
C Brad Miller Sacramento Kings 7-0 30 Size, passing skills
SF Adam Morrison Charlotte Bobcats 6-8 22 Outside shot, competitiveness
PF Lamar Odom L.A. Lakers 6-10 26 Versatility, experience
PG Chris Paul New Orleans Hornets 6-0 21 Quickness, dribble penetration
SF Paul Pierce Boston Celtics 6-6 28 Scoring, clutch shooting
SG Michael Redd Milwaukee Bucks 6-6 26 Outside shot, movement without ball
SG J.J. Redick Orlando Magic 6-4 22 Outside shot
PG Luke Ridnour Seattle SuperSonics 6-1 25 Dribble penetration, scrappiness
PF Amare Stoudemire Phoenix Suns 6-10 23 Size, explosiveness
SG Dwyane Wade Miami Heat 6-4 24 Versatility, competitiveness

3) Marc Stein of ESPN.com with the future of the Sonics:

Sonics best bet to land in Oklahoma City

This early in the process, only one thing is clear about the sale of the Seattle SuperSonics: Oklahoma City, rather suddenly, is an NBA promised land. That's because little OKC, as of Tuesday, has two teams that desperately want to play there. Seattle and New Orleans, sadly, might not be able to claim even one team that feels that way. Combined. The Hornets can never admit this publicly, of course, with New Orleans still in the early stages of its complicated, unenviable recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. But it's not exactly revealing a league secret to say that the Hornets, selfish as it sounds, would prefer to stay in their new city. The Sonics, meanwhile, were just purchased by a group whose front man -- Oklahoma City's own Clay Bennett -- has repeatedly stated that his goal is bringing a major-league franchise to OKC. For keeps. So … For Oklahomans not to wind up with one of these two teams would require an unlikely combination of events: 1) The Hornets' scheduled return to New Orleans for the 2007-08 season, amid considerable and understandable skepticism that the city will be ready for a full-time commitment to NBA basketball that quickly, has to proceed smoothly. And … 2) Seattle city officials and/or voters would have to sanction the arena renovations and/or lease amendments that would make it viable for the Sonics to stay in a city where they were the first pro sports franchise back in 1967. Don't bet on No. 2. When it comes to No. 1, it doesn't really matter what the Hornets want, even though they'd inevitably insist that their reservations about a New Orleans return stem from the financial troubles the team had there before Katrina. Hornets coach Byron Scott said it in March when the Hornets played their first game back at New Orleans Arena: "I don't think we get to make the decision [to stay or go]. It's the commissioner." It's commissioner David Stern, who's so determined to re-establish the NBA in the Bayou that he has already awarded the 2008 All-Star Game to New Orleans. Chances are Stern would only allow the Hornets to stay in Oklahoma City if New Orleans' city leaders come to him say they're not ready to take the team back. In Seattle, by contrast, Stern has complained about the Sonics' working conditions even louder than the Sonics have. On a media conference call before the playoffs began in April, Stern bluntly voiced his frustrations about the Sonics' inability to make progress on a new arena lease or funding for a new building, saying: "They are not interested in having the NBA there." Critics of outgoing Sonics owner Howard Schultz -- and there are scores -- would say that the Starbucks magnate was never interested in spending what it takes to win in the NBA. The Sonics were essentially a .500 team in Schultz's reign -- going 209-201 with just two playoff appearances in his five full seasons in charge -- and have gained a reputation as a non-player in free agency … even when dealing with many of their own free agents. His reputation will be soiled even further if the Sonics do leave for good, in spite of what his coffee exploits have done for the locals, after Schultz's consortium sold the club for $150 million more than they paid. Yet Schultz backers counter with the contention that even he couldn't afford to spend, largely because of a revenue-sharing arrangement he inherited with the city that Stern has termed as the most onerous arena lease in the whole league, worse even than Portland's. I, too, have often questioned Schultz's frugality with the Sonics given his Starbucks riches -- and his attempts to secure a more favorable lease or public funding for a new arena or renovations were met with similar scoffs -- but it has been suggested by impartial observers in Seattle that the Sonics are on a course for bankruptcy without significant changes to their current set-up. No matter how wealthy the boss is. Caught in the middle, of course, are the Sonics' diehards, who stand as the most likely group in the Seattle-Oklahoma City-New Orleans triangle to be left without a team. (The speculation has already started about Paul Allen moving the Trail Blazers from Portland to Seattle, but that might not be any easier than keeping the Sonics.) I can't imagine that Stern, in spite of all the tough talk, wants to abandon them after a 40-year relationship. He'll undoubtedly be hoping that the arrival of out-of-town ownership in Seattle will convince the local government that the threat of relocation is more real than ever, leading to a deal that can keep the Sonics where they were born … and leave the increasingly attractive OKC market open for another team that might need it. But let's face it. It's much easier to imagine the new Sonics moving into the raucous Ford Center when the Hornets leave, a building so loud that it's often referred to as the Arco Arena of the Midwest. You suspect Bennett and Co. will like their OKC options better than anything they hear from Seattle between now and August 2007. The Sonics' lease at KeyArena runs through 2010, but Bennett said Tuesday that his group has the contractual freedom to explore its outside options if a new agreement can't be hatched in a year. The Bennett-led Sonics could try, at that point, to buy their way out of the lease and are bound to find a willing partner or two in the city legislature to avoid a scenario that would surely appeal to no one in Seattle -- playing out two or three seasons as a lame-duck. It's too early, again, to describe any of this as a lock. Bennett, according to league sources, has some Nashville ties, too. You never know. Maybe the Hornets wind up staying in Oklahoma City, if New Orleans isn't ready, and maybe the Sonics head for Tennessee. The lone certainties at work here are that Bennett was very well regarded in San Antonio during a stint on the Spurs' board of directors in the 1990s … and that Oklahoma City, nowhere to be found on anyone's NBA map this time last year, is a certifiable hot spot now. The Hornets want to stay. The Sonics want to go there. Someone else will surely apply to take over the town if given the chance. I'm sure the OKC folks don't want to lose the Hornets now. Not with the irresistible Chris Paul coming off a Rookie of the Year season and not with George Shinn spending money (on Peja Stojakovic and Tyson Chandler) like never before. Yet there are worse fates than having two NBA teams lust over you. I can think of sadder scenarios than Oklahoma City, for so long branded a minor-league town, absorbing Bennett's Sonics and joining forces with a hometown owner who, unlike Shinn, has a sterling reputation.
The sadness is in Seattle.

4) Chad Ford of ESPN.com with an early (yeah no kidding) look at the 2007 draft:

It's been less than three weeks since the NBA draft, and we already have our first stock watch. That's because NBA scouts were out in force in Indianapolis last week checking out the Nike All-America camp. In years past, scouts were there to get a leg up on a number of potential preps-to-pros prospects. Now they're there to watch the Nike counselors do their thing. Each year Nike invites a couple dozen of the top college players in the country to come to the camp to act as counselors. In addition to their roles as assistant coaches during the games, the players go through their own sets of drills and play scrimmages against each other at night. It's a treasure trove for NBA scouts -- the chance to see the best players in college basketball go head-to-head against each other. Insider spoke to several scouts who were in the gym. Based on their evaluations, we've made our first tweaks to our 2007 Top 100. While there was plenty of talent there, here are 10 kids who caught their collective eye:

Al Horford, PF, Florida: Scouts are raving about Horford's combination of size, strength, athleticism and energy. One scout even stuck his toe in holy water by claiming that Horford was the closest thing he's seen to Karl Malone. We've got him ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the country, so there isn't much room to go up.

Julian Wright, F, Kansas: Wright's body looked a little thicker and he showed off his myriad talents (athleticism, shot-blocking, rebounding, ballhandling and passing). But scouts are still troubled by his lack of a reliable jump shot. Everyone we spoke with has him projected as a lottery pick, but his shooting woes could put a lid on how high he can go in the draft.

Jeff Green, SF, Georgetown: Green has been a red-hot name over the last few months. Scouts now see him as a potential Boris Diaw type -- long and athletic, with a powerful body and the ability to score or play point forward in the NBA. He didn't disappoint in Indianapolis, with scouts saying he looked good in just about every drill. His so-so jump shot seems to be the only thing holding him back. Everyone we spoke with had him penciled into the late lottery.

Roy Hibbert, C, Georgetown: Green's teammate generated significant buzz by getting on a diet. Hibbert has apparently lost around 20 pounds. The result was that he looked more mobile and athletic, which should bode really well for him on draft night. No one is ready to say that he's explosive athletically, but he at least showed that when he gets in good shape, he has a chance to keep up. Several scouts mentioned him as a potential lottery candidate. Right now we have him in the mid-first round.

Corey Brewer, SG, Florida: Brewer didn't fare as well as some of the other players here, in part because a camp like this isn't really going to show off his skills. Brewer is a long, active defender who is all over the court and scores in a variety of ways. He wowed people in the NCAA Tournament, but in Indy there was heavy focus on his on-again, off-again jumper, rail-thin body and shaky ballhandling.

Jermareo Davidson, PF, Alabama: While Hibbert got attention for losing weight, Davidson got attention for putting some on. Scouts said he was noticeably thicker in Indianapolis. "His body looks a lot better," one scout said. "He's a four in the pros, and I always worried that he just wasn't going to be strong enough to play down there. From what I've seen so far this summer, he's made huge strides to improve his body. That will pay off big in the draft." While scouts emphasized that Davidson still needs another 10 or so pounds of muscle, they were impressed with what looks like a blossoming perimeter game. We had Davidson ranked in the early second round, but we're moving him up into the late first round based on feedback from scouts.

Glen Davis, PF, LSU: "Big Baby" is another guy who's benefited from a combination of diet and training. Davis weighed as much as 330 or 340 pounds during the Final Four. But his gut is disappearing rapidly -- he was down to 290 in Indianapolis last week. Scouts were gushing about his trimmed-down frame and the quickness and explosiveness he's exhibiting as a result. One scout said, "He's got all the tools to be a devastating low-post scorer in the NBA. If he can stay in the 280-to-290 range, he's going to get a lot of attention from scouts this year. He's as skilled a big man as you'll find in college basketball. The only thing holding him back was the weight." Davis is vowing to get down to 280 by the start of the season. If he can keep off the weight, his draft stock will shoot through the roof this year.

Sean Williams, PF, Boston College: With Craig Smith ready to bash bodies in the NBA, Williams will take over in the paint for BC. Scouts have always been in love with his size, athleticism and shot-blocking ability, but they commented this week that his offensive game has also taken some important strides. If he blossoms in his bigger role this year, he'll be a hot name.

D.J. White, PF, Indiana: If White can stay healthy, and if he measures anywhere close to the 6-9 he's listed at (scouts believe he's much closer to 6-7), he's going to get major play from NBA scouts. White has hit the weight room and his body is looking stronger than ever. He is a big-time rebounder and excellent defender with the ability to score both inside and out. His long wingspan and added strength should help him make up for his lack of size. If he has a big year and measures out well, he's first-round material.

A.J. Price, PG, Connecticut: Many scouts believe Price might be one of the two or three best point guards in the country. Now all he has to do is prove it. Price suffered a brain hemorrhage as a freshman in October 2004, causing him to miss the entire 2004-05 season. He was suspended for the entire 2005-06 season for trying to sell stolen laptops (teammate Marcus Williams received a one-semester suspension for his role in the attempted laptop sale). At the camp, scouts said his body looked great, but they were split on how well he played in the camp. Some said they were really impressed, others said he looked rusty. Given the weak crop of point guards in next year's draft, if Price can establish himself early, he should soar up the charts.

5) Mike Kahn of FOXSports.com with his 10 things:

10 things we learned this week in the NBA

1. Item: The team continues to take hits to its roster for this summer's World Championships in Japan on Aug. 19-Sept. 3 with the news that Kobe Bryant had surgery on his right knee Saturday, Paul Pierce will have left elbow surgery, J.J. Redick has a disc problem and Lamar Odom has withdrawn in the wake of the horrible crib death of his infant. And now there are reports that Chauncey Billups may pass on the summer due to the birth of his daughter. What this really means: This is symptomatic of why people were up in arms over what happened to the bronze medal-winning 2004 Olympic team, but also reflective of why this team and presumably those in the future will be better prepared. This is inevitably what will happen every year when we are talking about NBA players, who not only go through a far more rigorous season than the college players of the previous generation, but have far more family responsibilities as adults. A lot of the hits the players have taken over the past few years are unfair, particularly those who play more than 100 games — including exhibitions and the playoffs — compared to the 25-35 games played by the collegians. This also explains why Colangelo built a 24-man roster. There remain at least 19 players left with whom head coach Mike Krzyzewski and assistants Mike D'Antoni, Nate McMillan and Jim Boeheim can build a starting lineup and rotation — as Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich agreed to join the squad this past week. The rest of the roster includes Carmelo Anthony, Gilbert Arenas, Shane Battier, Chauncey Billups, Chris Bosh, Bruce Bowen, Elton Brand, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion, Brad Miller, Adam Morrison, Chris Paul, Michael Redd, Luke Ridnour, Amare Stoudemire and Dwyane Wade. Training camp began Monday at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, they travel to Seoul, South Korea on Aug. 11-16 for exhibition games, and then on to Sapporo for the World Championships.

2. Item: The 10th Annual Summer Groove hosted by Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning unfolded Saturday night. The 36-year-old Mourning waved off reporters hoping for some answers to whether or not he would return for a 14th season, which was not surprising. And then he stunningly announced he would play another season in his closing statement to the attendees of the charity event. What this really means: Most people were split in wondering whether or not Mourning would return considering his overall health since undergoing a kidney transplant after contracting a life-threatening kidney disease in 2000. Especially after what seemed to be a perfect ending to his career — the five blocks in Game 6 and his general defensive dominance in both Games 5 and 6 that helped the Heat win the 2006 NBA title over the Mavericks. But anyone who has watched him over the years knows the fire within Mourning is all about his personal drive for success time and time again. He's not ready to let it go. He wants to play more than the 65 games and 20 minutes per that he did last season while averaging 7.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and a whopping 2.66 blocks. His offense has deteriorated, but his defense is as ferocious as ever; and he's a much bigger factor on the defensive end than Shaquille O'Neal. So as long as he receives a clean bill of health and he's not merely tempting fate over ego, there doesn't appear to be a reason why he shouldn't play one more year.

3. Item: Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson spoke to the media Friday afternoon in Washington D.C. after donating $50,000 for two college scholarships to his high school — Bethel in Hampton, Va.— and sounded like a player ready to leave. What this really means: Considering he has spent the off-season living in Atlanta with his wife and children as opposed to their home in Philadelphia, it sounds like A.I. has had enough. He has undoubtedly been one of the five most exciting players and crowd draws of this generation and has loved being adopted by a rough town like Philly, but he's also sick of being the scapegoat and the subject of constant trade rumors. People tend to forget he was traded to Detroit in the summer of 2000, but the trade was rescinded when Sixers center Matt Geiger refused to waive his trade kicker. That's how close he was to being gone then, ironically heading into the one season in which he would lead the Sixers to the NBA Finals. Now they've averaged 38 wins the past three seasons, with only one first-round playoff exit to show for it and with Maurice Cheeks being their fourth coach in those three years. The addition of Chris Webber has afforded them with a defensive liability, another player who has to have the ball and a mouth that too often roars. Maybe the Boston Celtics will facilitate the three- or four-team trade that was all the buzz before the draft, or the Denver Nuggets can coax president Billy King into taking Andre Miller and Marcus Camby or Kenyon Martin for him. Or perhaps a Los Angeles Clippers offer of Corey Maggette, Sam Cassell, a throw-in for salary cap purposes and a first-round draft choice may be enticing. But don't count on it. He's a special player, and to deal him just for the sake of change — like Charles Barkley to Phoenix for Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang in 1992 — doesn't make sense. Keep in mind that the aforementioned deal was followed by six more sub-.500 seasons in a row, and Iverson was the key to pulling them out of it.

4. Item: The Big Four from the 2003 NBA Draft — LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade — all signed contract extensions, with James, Bosh and Wade signing three-year deals with a fourth-year option. Anthony signed a five-year agreement. What this really means: If nothing else, this special quartet that went to bad teams is giving their respective organizations a good seven years to prove they've got it together. Financially, the three-year deals also make sense because they will have the opportunity to get 30 percent of the salary cap in the season following the end of the deal because they will have had seven years in the league. What we won't really know is how committed they are beyond those years to their teams, particularly LeBron in Cleveland, where hand-wringing has become a way of life. Wade already has a title in Miami; Bryan Colangelo just turned the Toronto Raptors upside down around Bosh, and Denver won its first division title in 18 years with Anthony. But Cleveland fans have their own special paranoia, with so many blown title opportunities for the Cavaliers, Indians and Browns dating back to the Browns' NFL championship in 1964. Everything appears in order at the moment and they have no reason not to trust James, the wunderkind from down the road in Akron. Maybe he is interested in playing for his buddy Jay-Z, minority owner of the Nets, when this contract is over. But do you really think he'll leave home if the Cavs' winning ways permeate northeastern Ohio? It's his prerogative, but more than anything else, he put the franchise back on the map. Four years ago, that seemed to be impossible.

5. Item: When it comes to the sheer speed of transition, nobody has hit the ground running faster than Bryan Colangelo in Toronto, since he became president on Feb. 28. The Raptors will have a completely different look around Bosh and coach Sam Mitchell this season. What this really means: Maybe he is building them in the image of the Phoenix Suns he reconstructed, maybe not. But in Bosh and Andrea Bargnani, he has two very mobile big men with steady 7-footer Rasho Nesterovic there to occasionally block a shot or stick an open 15-foot jumper. More importantly, they've got lightning quick T.J. Ford to solve their point guard problem, and he'll keep the pace fast and furious — allowing everyone to have more open looks. Adding to their versatility is two-time European MVP Anthony Parker — a 6-6 swingman — and John Salmons, a similarly skilled player, only much younger. Another rookie, P.J. Tucker, fits the same mold as Parker and Salmons, helping provide interchangeable parts as Ford pushes the action. Whether or not the Raptors are playoff-ready remains a huge question mark, but they are a far more exciting team already and will at least make things interesting for fans who have been in shock since Vince Carter lost his mojo and was ultimately given away for scrap pieces. And if this group doesn't show significant progress by this time next season, you can count on Colangelo continuing to spin the wheel — he's nothing if not innovative and aggressive. And with his instincts, the Raptors will inevitably improve. Just how much will be determined by the level of stardom Bosh attains, and at the age of 22, the sleek 6-10 swing forward has only scratched the surface of his potential.

6. Item: Speaking of teams battling back from nowhere, the Washington Wizards just extended coach Eddie Jordan's deal three more years after this one (the final year the team's option) for $12 million. What this really means: It's difficult to figure out where most of the credit should land for the Wizards making the playoffs for the second consecutive season for the first time in 17 years. Certainly president Ernie Grunfeld deserves a lot of the credit for rebuilding the team around Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison and giving Jordan the confidence to do his own thing on the court.
Jordan has been the one to implement the system and even got them to the second round of the 2005 playoffs. But there is a reason why the third year wasn't guaranteed, and that is the team's lack of defense. They have all the offensive tools to win, but defense is all about focus and effort. That's the coach's job through and through. The Wizards are as explosive offensively as any team — courtesy of the vastly underrated Arenas. But if they are to improve at all, it must come on the defensive end. That's what will make or break the anticipated continual improvement of the Wizards.

7. Item: In one of the slicker moves of the official signing period, the Indiana Pacers at least got a one-year, $7.5 million trade exception and the rights to former second-round pick Andrew Betts from the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets for Peja Stojakovic as opposed to letting him walk away for nothing. What this really means: First, it means they didn't lose their best player and most disruptive force — Ron Artest, who was dealt for Stojakovic last winter — for nothing. Second, they now have the ability to package that exception with a player or two in order to be involved with a sign-and-trade for Al Harrington. It now puts the Pacers in a much stronger position than they were prior to the deal, although the contract has to start at $7.5 million. In a sign-and-trade, it can be a six-year, $56.8 million deal or in a flat-out free agent signing, five years for $43.5 million.
This is when we'll find out how badly Harrington wants to return to the Pacers, who drafted him and employ his best friend in Jermaine O'Neal. Harrington's parents still live in Indiana after he bought them a house there years ago. Money seems to be the focus of every agent and just about every player — despite the ridiculous figures that all of them receive. Regardless, the Pacers, who already helped themselves immensely by trading Austin Croshere to Dallas for Marquis Daniels and acquiring athletic Shawne Williams and James White on draft day, now have a chance to creep back into the Central Division and Eastern Conference race.

8. Item: The Boston Celtics signed captain Paul Pierce to a three-year extension reportedly worth $59 million that doesn't begin until the 2008-09 season. What this really means: It's difficult to understand why the Celtics did this unless they perceived this to be a necessary step to keep Pierce, who seemed terminally in a positive mode ... until last season. Even so, it seemed a bit premature for a team that wasn't in the playoffs last season to throw all that money at a player who has yet to prove he can carry them anywhere. Both prior to and immediately after the draft, the Celtics appeared to be the team most likely to go after Allen Iverson. But one of the great mysteries in the NBA is what goes through president Danny Ainge's mind from day to day. When he dealt the seventh pick of the draft to Portland for young point guard Sebastian Telfair, it sent the message that he was going with young players around the 28-year-old Pierce. Oh, they still have washed up veteran shot-blocker Theo Ratliff and terminally overrated Wally Szczerbiak, but everybody else is young and even younger. Consequently, the extension for Pierce was at best unnecessarily premature and at worst setting up a future 30-year-old malcontent making close to $20 million a year. In other words, why bother?

9. Item: The transition and direction of the Chicago Bulls continued all the way through Sunday afternoon when they agreed to terms with free agent swingman Adrian Griffin, luring him away from the Dallas Mavericks with a three-year deal. What this really means: The 6-5, 230-pound Griffin is the fourth player added since Thursday, following the official signing of four-time defensive player of the year Ben Wallace to a four-year deal on Thursday, and the trade of Tyson Chandler that brought post-defender P.J. Brown and athletic J.R. Smith on Friday. However, to make room for Griffin's contract, the Bulls will deal Smith to Denver for future considerations and point guard Howard Eisley, whom they will waive. More to the point, when you take the draft day acquisitions of Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha, it's clear this off-season is all about following through on coach Scott Skiles' preference for a defensive-oriented team. Granted, there are those who believe the Bulls vastly overpaid Wallace (four years, $60 million). But his energy and leadership in the defensive end alone will be worth two years of that deal. And if the third and fourth are just about mentoring the extraordinarily talented Thomas to follow in his defensive footsteps, so be it. At first glance, it would seem even greater offensive expectations will fall on young guards Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon. But the wild card in all of this is the talented and rapidly improving 6-9 Luol Deng. Between Deng, Andres Nocioni, Gordon and Hinrich, they've got some athletic players capable of putting up numbers quickly on any team.

10. Item: The first full week of summer league play has ended, with some teams competing in Las Vegas, others in Orlando and Long Beach, with the next round of games in Utah. Standouts came and went, starting with Charlotte's Adam Morrison, Minnesota's Randy Foye, Portland's Brandon Roy and New Jersey's Marcus Williams. What this really means: It's tough to get a read on just how significant summer league games are, other than allowing some free agents — such as John Lucas III — to earn a roster spot somewhere. When it comes to first-round draft choices, sometimes exceptional summer league performances can create a false sense of stardom. Considering their background and experience, that isn't likely to affect Morrison, Foye and Roy — clearly the three top candidates for 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year, with Cleveland's Shannon Brown continuing to loom as a sleeper. Williams is a different story. The consensus top point guard in the draft out of Connecticut and an almost-certain lottery pick slid all the way to 22nd in the draft. A lot of it appeared to be fear of his attitude. His role in the theft of some laptop computers was undoubtedly a factor, even though he finished the season strong for Jim Calhoun and showed plenty of contrition to boot. Nonetheless, he slid far — much to the delight of the Nets, who were seeking someone to develop behind aging Jason Kidd. He sank 10 of 18 from 3-point range in five games at Orlando — twice dishing out 12 assists and nine more in a third game. He is a natural point guard, without question — now we'll find out if he is an underachiever or a trend-setter.