Trade Talk
One of the prices of revenue sharing, salary caps and rules that are often the outgrowth of protracted labor negotiations is that roster flexibility is limited. This is especially true of the NBA, where deals used to be made with nearly as much regularity as in baseball. Not so anymore. And, when a deal is made, you can bet that the conversation is primarily about the salary structure of the contracts to be dealt, even before assessing the skills of the players to be involved. All of this makes for a pretty dull trading deadline, and an awful lot of rumors with no substance whatsoever.
Despite that, there are deals being discussed. Last I checked, the Game was not an insider with any NBA team, but it is possible to seperate which rumors have legs and which ones are just an attempt to fill column space.
One of the more interesting trade scenarios involves the Timberwolves, and Terrell Brandon. It's a sign of the times that teams will line up to acquire a guy that will likely never play another NBA minute. Brandon, assuming he does not play again, will have his contract expire sometime in the next 12 to 15 months. When that happens, the team that owns his rights will have a rather large chunk of cash come off their payroll, which will create cap room to pursue a free agent who can actually play. That has value to many, many teams, including the Wolves. But it also puts the Wolves in a position where they can literally add a player without subtracting an actual contributing player from the roster. And it could be a good player that they add, though likely one that is overpaid. This could be someone like Eddie Jones or Brian Grant, or Latrell Sprewell. In a very real sense, it would be about dealing future flexibility for a player to help them right NOW.
None of that information is new. What is new is the radio interview I heard with Wolves owner Glen Taylor yesterday. Taylor's a straight-shooter, and when he says something, you can assume he means it, unless it involves a contract for Joe Smith. According to Taylor, the Wolves are very active in trying to move Brandon and most likely Anthony Peeler, in an effort to acquire some good, young talent to help them now. That talent would most likely come from a team that is not going to the playoffs this season, and it could be a three-way deal. That opens a lot of possibilities. Jones and Grant come to mind, as does Ricky Davis in Cleveland, or even Andre Miller in Los Angeles. I think the Wolves are actively pushing for a deal and I expect something to get done, if they have their way.
The Lines
The Game went 6-2 yesterday, missing the Bulls win over Cleveland, and missing the Bucks and Kings. We'll take 6-2 any day of the week, though. Today's lines:
Detroit (Away 16-11) @ 2.5
Toronto (Home 10-16)
Minnesota (Away 11-16) @ 9
Denver (Home 7-16)
Lakers (Away 10-15) @ OFF
Utah (Home 20-8)
Golden State (Away 9-17) @
Portland (Home 16-8) 8
Milwaukee (Away 11-13) @
Clippers (Home 10-17) 1.5
Washington (Away 8-17) @
New Orleans (Home 19-9) 2
Houston (Away 8-16) @
Phoenix (Home 21-6) 6
Philadelphia (Away 11-13) @ 2.5
Chicago (Home 16-8)
New York (Away 8-15) @
Seattle (Home 10-12) 3
From the top...
Detroit is playing well, but Vince is back. I have no idea. Detroit covers?
Minnesota always seems to let Denver hang around. Spread is too big. Denver.
Lakers are still off the board due to Shaq's injury. Big Lake Show win last night, though.
Guess Antawn Jamison wasn't too hurt, huh? Dropped 37 last night, and he tends to go off in bunches. He'll do so again tonight, enough to help the Warriors cover.
Bucks coming off a loss last night. I have no idea on this one. I think the Bucks bounce back, and cover.
New Orleans played last night, gave up a huge late run. They'll bounce back hard tonight, and cover.
Phoenix by six? Big spread, but Houston played last night. Stoudamire/Yao will be a great matchup. I don't think the Suns have the depth. Houston covers.
Chicago is 16 and 8 at home? Who knew this? Philly's 11-13 on the road, yet they get the 2.5? I know Chicago played last night, but they aren't getting respect. And yet, Philly is playing better now. No Aaron McKie, though. Bulls cover.
The New York/Seattle tilt is the all-Trade Rumor game. Maybe Sprewell and Payton just exchange jersies in the hallway before tipoff? New York's playing with confidence, Seattle with uncertainty. Knicks cover.
12:12:41 PM 
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