New Home? (Top Free Agents This Year)

Test the Waters. That's what Free Agents do. Let's see the top five testers this year. Will they resign, or find a new home with a struggling franchise?

1. Ron Artest- Age:29 Stats: 17.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.3 APG

Ron Artest brings a added toughness and ability, that all teams need. The questions with his attitude still linger, although he has clearly taken steps to improve it.

2. Carlos Boozer- Age: 27 Stats: 16.2 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.1 APG

Anytime you can pick up Olympian, teams will jump at the opportunity. Boozer will definitely have offers, they might lower than expected though, due to his injury ordeals. In truth, since signing with the Jazz in 04', he has only played in 276 of 410 regular season games.

3. Hedo Turkoglu- Age: 30 Stats: 16.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.9 APG

After the Magic acquired Vince Carter, Turkoglu immediately made it clear he won't consider being a 3rd or 4th option. He's going to take advantage of his great postseason and get a big time contract.

4. Lamar Odom- Age: 29 Stats: 11.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.6 APG

Lamar Odom is a slightly worse Hedo Turkoglu, ha, a very good player! Any time would die to have one of these two, 6' 10'' guys that can handle and stretch the defense. Odom sacrificed his stats for a world championship, teams like that unselfish play.

5. Ben Gordon- Age: 26 Stats: 20.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.4 APG

Ben Gordon, the youngest and best scorer of these five, would be a great pickup for any team. There's just the question of his size and shot selection.

The Next Five-

6. Trevor

Ariza

7. Shawn

Marion

8. Rasheed

Wallace

9. Allen

Iverson

10. Jason

Kidd

Tha Carter III

No, I'm not talking about Lil Wayne's multi-platinum album, I'm talking about Vince Carter, now on his third team in his NBA career, the Orlando Magic.

When Vince first entered the NBA, he was at times compared to MJ. The freakish athleticism was different, one hang time, one up, up, and away, but the ability was visible. Now, those comparisons have definitely faltered, but the 8 time NBA all star is still one of the most visibly iconic players around.

Thoughts of championships were definitely coursing thorough the heads of Orlando Magic fans against Los Angeles, but now with the acquisition of Carter, these thoughts, may just turn into reality. With another very strong 3 or 4 player, the Magic have established themselves as one of the top two teams in the East, for sure. There is no doubt, Boston will have no chance, and Cleveland may not either, except for the fact they got that new guy, um... i think.... I'm pretty sure his name is Shaquille.

Well, whether Carter brings Orlando a world championship, a dunk contest trophy, or a just an all star invitation, Vince Carter will for sure bring excitement, and success to the Magic.

The Big Slip

Dejuan Blair is the biggest steal of this year's NBA Draft, Donald Brown is the 2nd biggest, and Patrick Mills is the 3rd. But Dejuan, probably an end lottery caliber player, fell all the way to the mid 2nd round! Rebounds are so high valued in the NBA, I would've thought the whole ACL deal from high school, wouldn't have scared teams from picking him... Jamie Dixon, the University of Pittsburgh coach even went as far to call every team in the league, and explain to them that yes, although Dejuan has had two ACL surgeries, he didn't miss one, not a single practice, or game in his tenure at Pittsburgh. So what scared them? We may never know, but what I do know is that the San Antonio Spurs are shocked he fell so far to them, and will definitely be happy with someone who is a specialist, someone who will go get them the ball! Dejuan Blair is going to go get a paycheck, and he's going to go get the ball for the once again championship contending San Antonio Spurs.

Dirty Gael

Diamon Simpson. Have you heard of him? I thought not, well he, on is #1 on a certain ESPN analysts most underrated players in the country list, is ranked as the 50th best senior in the country by Draft Express, is 2-time defending WCC Defensive Player of the Year, averaged a double double this year with 14 PPG and 11 RPG, including 2 BPG. He was in one of only two double double tandems in the country, and is a three-time all WCC player, not to mention, he is a beast, and a dark horse to enter the NBA.As his career pushed on, so did Diamon Simpson. His work ethic pushed him to become a nightmare on the boards, and a decent scoring threat. His constant i've got to be perfect 100% of the time attitude, got him to the point of being looked at by NBA scouts, and now he may be drafted very late, or signed on over the summer. Simpson, is someone you could truly call a workhorse. His questions heading toward the pro's were could he shoot well enough as a 3, and could he ball handle well enough? Heading into the summer, no, he wasn't even close, maybe not even at a college level, but I just recently saw him at an open gym, and he's got some handles, and has DEFINETELY fixed that shot! Now he's trying out for the big leagues. It may not just be a single Gael in the Pro's next season. Not if this dirty Gael keeps on working.

A New King

Lebron- The King?

I hear everyone talking while Cleveland is going into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, that not only is Lebron the best player in the NBA, but he may even be more than that. I disagree... I do not think Lebron is better than Kobe, Wade, or MJ. Now, as of how well their seasons went, I think Wade had the best individual season, then Lebron, then Kobe.

That's not what I want to talk about though. It's the fact that I hear that Lebron is such a great role model... This week's $25,000 fine against him, says otherwise. I mean I'm sure Lebron is great guy and all, but let me tell you what he did, and then, what he said in response to it.

Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Lebron and the Cavaliers are getting blown out. They lose 103-90. Lebron is not happy. Understandable. Then, he pulls something stupid. He storms off the court, doesn't congratulate anyone from Orlando, not even his olympic teammate Howard, doesn't go in the handshake line, and then proceeds to shower and leave, ignoring a mandantory media session.

Now here's his response... "It’s hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them, I’m a winner. It’s not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them. That doesn’t make sense to me. I’m a competitor. That’s what I do. It doesn’t make sense for me to go over and shake somebody’s hand."

Can you say ignorant? I hope he understands why everyone is saying that he might not be the best role model for their kids. I hope he learns from this because could get CRAZY good. Better than Kobe or Lebron though? I doubt it.

100%?

Really. There's a chance I could get all my NBA Playoff predictions correct? So far so good... One round left to go. The NBA Finals. The Big Kahuna. Orlando v.s. Los Angeles. Kobe v.s. Dwight. The Black Mamba v.s. Superman. I hope I'm right in picking the Lakers. I'd be down with being 100%. Maybe it'll get my blog a little more recognized hahaha. No I'm just playing, but I have a feeling this series will be epic... or a bust. No in between. We can only wait and see though. I definitely wan to see Dwight get one and shut up Shaq. Yet, I definitely want to see Kobe get a 4th to put away Lebron, make him one of the five ever, and shut up shaq and the media. Again I'm going to be picking in LA in six. And i believe the NBA will owe Lamar Odom co MVP honors, and an all star reserve seat.