MOVING OUT

NBA teams were in trade mode this season. Several players were sent packing, including star players Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams. Here's a look at the moves that were made and how they will affect the teams involved. Expect more detailed analysis in the coming days.

In a 3-team deal between New York, Denver, and Minnesota...

Knicks get: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Anthony Carter, Ronaldo Balkman, Shelden Williams, Corey Brewer

Nuggets get: Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Timofey Mozgov, Kosta Koufas, 1st round pick, two 2nd round picks

Timberwolves get: Anthony Randolph, Eddy Curry

The Carmelo fiasco finally came to a close. He got to go to New York, just like he wanted. The Knicks gave in to the Nuggets asking price. However, it was not the best move for both teams. Denver could have made a better deal with the Nets, while the Knicks might not have the money to acquire additional players in the future. The Wolves get the athletic Randolph, who will hopefully get a chance to show he can play after wasting away on the Knicks bench.

Utah Jazz get: Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, two 1st round picks, cash

New Jersey Nets get: Deron Williams

The Nets immediately moved on after losing out on Melo by making this shocking deal. The Jazz did not seem too optimistic about resigning D-Will after next season so they decided to trade him while his value was at it's highest. They get a nice haul while the Nets get the star they desperately wanted. Jazz fans will be pleasantly surprised by Harris.

New Jersey Nets get: Brandan Wright, Dan Gadzuric

Golden State Warriors get: Troy Murphy

The Nets get rid of Murphy and the Warriors cut salary. Expect the Warriors to buy out Murphy and a bidding war to take place for his services. Speculation already has Miami, Boston, and Orlando interested. Wright was once a lottery pick for the Bobcats but has yet to find his niche in the NBA due to a lack of playing time and injuries. He could turn out to be a steal for the Nets.

Atlanta Hawks get: Kirk Hinrich, Hilton Armstrong

Washington Wizards get: Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, Maurice Evans, 1st round pick

The Hawks needed an upgrade at the lead guard spot. Hinrich adds a shooter and defender who has no problem fitting in however he can. Bibby has been relegated to a jump-shooter in the later stage of his career. He is not happy about the trade and hopes to move to a playoff team soon. Crawford will get a chance to be John Wall's wing in Washington.

New Orleans Hornets get: Carl Landry

Sacramento Kings get: Marcus Thornton

The Hornets add some depth to their frontcourt and insurance in case David West decides to leave as a free agent in the offseason. Thornton, who went to college at LSU, was a fan favorite. He can score in bunches but saw his playing time dwindling in New Orleans due to the logjam at the guard position.

Los Angeles Clippers get: Mo Williams, Jamario Moon

Cleveland Cavaliers get: Baron Davis, 1st round pick

The Clippers paid the Cavs to take on Davis' contract in the form of a 1st rounder. The pick probably won't help due to the weak draft but the Cavs could have their eye on another local guy, who is currently playing not far down the road at Ohio State. The Clippers get rid of one of the NBA's worst contracts and replace Davis with a solid guard.

Memphis Grizzlies get: Shane Battier, Ishmael Smith

Houston Rockets get: Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll, 1st round pick

The Grizzlies get a solid defender and a winner. Battier will step in immediately for the injured Rudy Gay. He is beloved in Memphis and the team will welcome him with open arms. The Rockets have plenty of young talent to fill his spot and net some more young players in return.

Boston Celtics get: Jeff Green, Nenad Krstic

Oklahoma City Thunder get: Kendrick Perkins, Nate Robinson

In a surprising move, the Celtics sent their stud big man West in exchange for a talented young player. Green provides the team with a building block who can help at the PF and SF positions. However, it comes at a cost. Perkins gives the Thunder much needed size to compete with the bigger teams in the West. Both teams had trouble signing these pieces to extensions, which likely triggered the deal.

Portland Trail Blazers get: Gerald Wallace

Charlotte Bobcats get: Joel Przybilla, Sean Marks, Dante Cunningham, two draft picks

The Blazers managed to add a piece without letting Andre Miller go. Wallace will likely start at SF and help at multiple positions based on matchups. This allows Batum to become the scoring threat off the bench. The Bobcats suddenly shifted to rebuilding mode by shedding salary and stockpiling picks.

Phoenix Suns get: Aaron Brooks

Houston Rockets get: Goran Dragic, 1st round pick

Brooks was not happy backing up Kyle Lowry in Houston. Now, he goes to Phoenix as the heir-apparent to Steve Nash. He will fit in the system nicely and expects to learn from Nash. Dragic is a decent backup point guard. The Rockets get a pick and get rid of an unhappy player.

Oklahoma City Thunder get: Nazr Mohammed

Charlotte Bobcats get: D.J. White, Morris Peterson

The Thunder got bigger. Mohammed is one of the best backup centers in the NBA. He has a decent mid-range jumper, cleans the glass, and blocks shots. The veteran big can even handle big minutes if necessary. The Bobcats made the deal strictly to shed salary.

In other smaller moves...

The Boston Celtics made some moves in order to create some roster space. Expect them to pursue any players who are bought out. They sent Semih Erdan and Luke Harangody to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 2nd round pick. Marquis Daniels went to the Sacramento Kings for cash.

TEA JUST LIKE GRANDMAMA MADE IT

Larry Johnson is reviving his old "grandmama" character to sell some sweet tea.

Hall of Fame Beverages is teaming up with former Hornets and Knicks great Larry Johnson. Apparently, the game clinching 4-point play in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers is not the only thing Grandmama is famous for. According to the company website, the sweet tea is inspired by LJ's childhood in Texas and the famous character created in his series of commercials for Converse.

Larry will be introducing the Grandmama's Sweet Southern Tea in the coming months. This line of flavored teas is currently in development and will come in sweetened natural flavors reminiscent of the cool refreshment from hot summer afternoons sitting on the porch at Grandmama's house. Nobody makes iced tea the way your Grandmama makes.

Not only will you reminisce about sitting on the porch drinking tea but you will also remember fond memories of Grandmama balling with Steve Urkel on "Family Matters" and dunking in those sweet Converse in those commercials during timeouts of NBA on NBC games.

WHERE IS THE LOVE?

Minnesota Timberwolves big man Kevin Love has the numbers to make this season's All Star team. The numbers don't lie.

The reserves for the NBA All Star teams will be announced Thursday and Kevin Love wants in. The former UCLA Bruin hopes to be a part of the West team that will take the court in Los Angeles. The Wolves PR team hit the internets for a viral marketing campaign. Visit 612allstar.com and take a look at the new fragrance for men: NUMB#RS

OUT IN INDY

The Indiana Pacers fired head coach Jim O'Brien after three-and-a-half seasons.

The Pacers were stuck in mediocrity. After a 121-169 record under Jim O'Brien and failing to make the playoffs in three straight seasons, Team President Larry Bird had seen enough.

At 17-27 halfway through this season, it was obvious the Pacers were sliding out of the playoff race once again. The team started off at a respectable 9-7 and appeared to be poised for a trip to the playoffs. But they are 8-20 since December 1, losing seven of their last eight. 

Of course, the Pacers were not expected to keep pace with Miami, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, and Atlanta but they have enough talent to beat out the weaker teams in the East. The offseason acquisition of point guard Darren Collison combined with the development of center Roy Hibbert and all star play of Danny Granger should be worth more than a 17-27 record.

Offensively, the Pacers are terrible. They rank 24th offensively and their go-to play is to hoist up a three. Most of the offensive struggle began when O'Brien chose to criticize his young center through the media. Hibbert's lack of confidence was visible on the court as he tossed up careless hook shots. His field goal percentage has fell considerably and he has even discussed seeing a sports psychologist.

The Pacers were amongst the top five in the league in defensive efficiency much of the season but have slipped to eighth as O'Brien sat the team's only shot blocking threat, Hibbert, for long stretches of time. The awkward rotations were what did the coach in.

He failed to use Tyler Hansbrough, Paul George, and Lance Stephenson, instead opting to let shoot-first players like Brandon Rush get most of the minutes. In a recent game against Chicago he played big man Jeff Foster in the fourth quarter over the hot-shooting Josh McRoberts. He watched as a small Bulls lineup pulled away for a win.

Now that O'Brien is gone, it is Larry Bird's time to shine. He has not made the best personnel choices but he does find his team with significant cap space going into the offseason. For the first time without Donnie Walsh in his ear, Bird will have a chance to make a big splash.

WEEKEND READING

Click the links to view five articles to catch up on this weekend.

- Coach Spoelstra is using pie charts to help teach the Miami Heat. Tauntr got a hold of some of these.

- Bandwagon Knick wonders if Ronny Turiaf should be on the floor more for the New York Knicks.

- Fanhouse has the great story of LaRue Martin. Martin was selected first overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1972 NBA Draft; ahead of Bob McAdoo, Paul Westphal, and Julius Erving.

- Henry Abbott on the True Hoop blog set the internets ablaze by suggesting Kobe Bryant might not be a clutch player. The real point of his article is that reputations speak louder than stats.

- Read up on the Lakers some more. Los Angeles is the site of the upcoming All Star Weekend and many are saying Lakers forward Lamar Odom deserves a spot on the team. The Lakers Nation thinks Odom should be focused on a more important award.

DOWN GOES FRAZIER

New York Knicks star Walt "Clyde" Frazier kicking back in his room in New York in 1971. It doesn't take a large imagination to know what went down in here. It's hard to blame him after he put up 36 points and 19 assists in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. The game is mostly remembered for Willis Reed's inspiring efforts to play despite an injury but it was Frazier who led the Knicks to a victory over the Lakers.  

THE FINGER GOES VIRAL

Dikembe's Finger is now officially on Twitter!

Follow @DikembesFinger on Twitter to read tweets about NBA observations, deals, rumors, and Dikembe's Finger blog news.

And for reading on the go, Dikembe's Finger blog is now available in a mobile format. Simply visit the site in your phones browser and you will see a much more mobile-friendly version of the site.

There have been some new additions to the blog sideroll, including the latest tweets, an NBA scoreboard from ESPN, and search feature. Feel free to leave feedback on the recent changes.

WHAT DIKEMBE HAS BEEN UP TO

Even when posts on Dikembe's Finger are scarce, Dikembe Mutombo's charity work continues. With the site back running, it is important to remember what Mutombo is all about. He recently wrote the following post on the United Nations website undispatch.com...

Think playoff games have high stakes? Today, another 450 people - mostly children - will die from measles. Join me today to help stop this preventable disease from claiming more innocent lives.

Watch this short video to learn why I'm working with the United Nations Foundation and its Measles Initiative partners to help vaccinate children around the globe. Then consider pitching in to help save lives - one vaccination at a time.

For every dollar you donate, the United Nations Foundation will protect another child. If we all do what we can - pitch in a few dollars - we can easily vaccinate an entire village.

Thanks to donations people have generously sent in from around the country, the Measles Initiative has already been able to immunize 700 million children in less than a decade.

But this deadly disease still threatens the lives of millions of children. A new measles outbreak is reported every day. We've got to make sure this disease doesn't rebound and take more innocent lives.

Donate today, and make a contribution that will last a lifetime.

Thanks in advance for making saving children's lives a part of your legacy.

Follow Dikembe's words. To donate to the Measles Initiative click here.

MADE IN THE USA

With Rajon Rondo's withdrawal, the U.S. National basketball team has finalized it's roster for the 2010 FIBA World Championships.

Just days away from the start of the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey, Team USA has it's final roster. After a DNP against Spain, Boston Celtics all-star guard Rajon Rondo felt he was on the bubble and decided to withdraw from the competition in order to take care of family business.

With a 12-man roster that does not include Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, or any of the 12 players that took the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics, Team USA will have their work cut out for them and their share of skeptics. This is how the roster will break down:

Guards: Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers), Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls), Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)

The team is stacked with small, quick guards. Billups will get playing time at the off-guard spot because he is big enough to handle the smaller guards of opposing teams. Curry will provide some much-needed outside shooting. Gordon is the wildcard of the team. He is the only true off-guard of the group. He is a great outside shooter and can make strong, hard drives to the basket. If he continues to perform as he has in camp, he will be an integral part of the team's success.

Forwards: Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies), Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers), Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers), Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves), Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers)

Durant is expected to be the star of the team but Iguodala has looked great. He has seemed to take great pride in his defense and has been extremely active at both ends of the floor. Lamar Odom got the start at center against Spain and is the kind of big man that is necessary in international play. He has worked with Rose to form a deadly pick-and-roll combination. The two-time defending champion probably will not light up the stat sheet but is expected to do a lot of the little things and provide veteran leadership to the team.

Centers: Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks)

The team will go small for the tournament but might regret cutting Javale McGee. It will be difficult to replace Chandler's size if an injury occurs. McGee is the perfect up-and-down type of replacement that would fit in with the team's fastbreaking strategy. The team will look to Chandler for shot-blocking and rebounding.

Obviously, the team is not nearly as talented as it's predecessor. However, this team will play a different style in order to capitalize on it's strengths. Expect to see a fast-paced team and more zone defense. Spain is probably the favorite to win the competition but Team USA can beat them with a solid team effort.

EAST SIDE STORY

Most free agents are signed and the balance of power in the NBA has shifted to the East.

Now that free agency is basically over, winners and losers can be determined. Obviously, the Miami Heat were the big winners for securing two of the NBA's best players and the top three players of the free agent class. The Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks also made bold moves during the offseason. But who was the biggest winner of the Summer of 2010? The Western Conference.

The Heat became a perennial title contender but other teams in the East also improved. The Chicago Bulls made their big splash by signing Carlos Boozer but also added Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, C.J. Watson, and Kurt Thomas to a core that already includes Joakim Noah, Derrick Rose, and Luol Deng. Add new coach Tom Thibodeau and the Bulls have a new formula for success. The Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks improved their teams with great new additions and the Boston Celtics kept their team together for one more shot at a title.

While the Celtics, Heat, Magic, and Bulls will be discussed as title contenders, the only true contender in the West is the Los Angeles Lakers. The Phoenix Suns took the Lakers to six games in the West Finals but they lost big man Amare Stoudemire and sixth man Leandro Barbosa. The Utah Jazz lost several key pieces including Boozer, Korver, and rookie defender Wesley Matthews. The Denver Nuggets tried desperately to add a veteran big man like Jermaine O'Neal or Zydrunas Ilgauskas but lost out to teams in the East. The Suns acquired Hedo Turkoglu, Josh Childress, and Hakim Warrick. The Jazz traded for Al Jefferson and the Nuggets signed Al Harrington. However, all those teams failed to address their lack of size and toughness.

Each team in the league is aiming to defeat the Lakers now but L.A. managed to improve in the offseason. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers got better but still do not have enough to take down the defending champs. Expect L.A. to beat out a weaker Western Conference and face one of the new Eastern powers in the NBA Finals.

THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

Michael Jordan returns to the game virtually in the upcoming NBA 2K11.

While Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were dominating teams throughout the 1990s, gamers were left using a random guy named Player using #99. Jordan would later sign off on using his likeness for games that were made during his Washington Wizards days but he was not the same dominate player.

Now, Jordan is teaming up with 2K Sports and will appear, in all his Bulls dominance, in NBA 2K11. Users will get to compete in a series of "Jordan Challenges" aimed at recreating several of Jordan's greatest moments. Ten top games will be highlighted, including the "Flu Game" and the 1991 NBA Finals. Each challenge will have a number of in-game goals to reach. For example, in the "Last Shot" game, users must score at least 45 points and obtain 4 steals with Jordan as well as win the game.

2K Sports has gone to great lengths to visualize the events. All players on both the Bulls and the opposing teams will appear in the game. His Royal Airness will even do things like the famous shrug after hitting six threes in a row against the Portland Trail Blazers. Just hit six straight threes in the game and hope that your mind does not literally blow up from the awesomeness.

2K has been the best basketball game since it arrived on the Sega Dreamcast in 1999. Now, it adds a player who is mostly regarded as the greatest player of all time. NBA 2K11 hits stores on October 5th.

LEBRON: THE NEW SCOTTIE PIPPEN

The superstar chooses to leave Cleveland to join Dwyane Wade's team in Miami.

The guy has played in multiple all-star games, including winning an MVP in one. He plays small forward but has the ball-handling and passing skills to run the point. He was selected as an All-NBA player and NBA All-Defensive player multiple times. He is regarded as one of the best players ever to play the game. No, not Lebron James; Scottie Pippen.

Pippen was a great player. So great that he was named one of the NBA's 50 greatest players during it's 50 year celebration. He averaged over 16 points, 6 assists, and nearly 5 rebounds per game; basically a triple-nickel every time he touched the floor. But no matter how good he was, he will always be regarded as Robin to Michael Jordan's Batman. With Lebron James' decision to join Dwyane Wade in Miami, he is stepping into a new role: wingman.

Lebron's decision disappointed some and let down others. At the end of the day, James wanted to go to Miami and play with his friends because, let's face it, he has always seemed to care more about having fun than winning. Going to the Heat means he will be joining a team that is already claimed by Dwyane Wade. He is now the sidekick.

The two superstars coexisting will mean that each will have to sacrifice some stats. More than likely, James scoring numbers will curtail as he will be expected to handle the ball. His huge ego should not get in the way because he had a chance to lead a team and could not claim the ultimate prize. If he is able to defer to Wade, especially during crunch time, it could work. Wade is more like Jordan in his style of play and his fourth quarter moments. James has had a few game-clinching plays but he is nowhere near as good in the clutch. That is why he will only be second fiddle on this team. Expect Wade to maintain his scoring numbers while James looks to add more assists and rebounds.

As the 23 jerseys burned in Cleveland it might have allowed James to come out of the shadow of Michael Jordan. His chance at "global icon" status is likely in doubt because he will merely be known as part of a big three. "King James" was always more like Magic Johnson but compared to His Royal Airness. Now, the comparisons can stop as James will try to become the great facilitator.

INDECISION 2010

Lebron James makes his decision tonight live on ESPN and he could not be handling free agency any less like a king.

There is not much more to say about the Lebron James free agency debacle that has not already been said. So take a look at a few links that show what people are thinking about Lebron James...

William C. Rhoden of the New York Times says the Summer of Lebron is making Kobe Bryant seem so much better.

Ian O'Connor of ESPNNewYork.com thinks that James needs to stop listening to outsiders in his ear and listen to himself instead. The reference to James becoming Alex Rodriguez instead of being Derek Jeter is especially good.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports says what everyone is thinking: an hour-long special to announce "The Decision" is ridiculous. Lebron is more worried about winning the "Championship of Me" instead of actually winning an NBA championship.

John McMullen of the Montreal Gazette questions the journalistic value of airing "The Decision."

Reports are saying that James will be joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. The backlash in Cleveland has already begun...and it is not pretty. However, the Cavs and Knicks are still keeping their fingers crossed. The world will know later tonight.

BOSH SAYS NO TO CLEVELAND

Lebron James has yet to decide what team he will play on next season. By choosing not to play in Cleveland, Chris Bosh delivered a message to his free agent friend.

After months of speculation, it was announced that free agent forward Chris Bosh will be joining guard Dwyane Wade as a member of the Miami Heat. Bosh drew interest from several teams but it seemed from the outset that he wanted to join Wade in Miami. An intriguing team had interest in Bosh before he made his decision: the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Reports had the Cavs and Toronto Raptors close to agreeing on a sign-and-trade deal involving Bosh. The players going to Toronto are not clear but it most likely involved F/C Anderson Varejao, guard Delonte West, and forward Jamario Moon. Only one thing stopped the potential deal from happening: Bosh did not want to play in Cleveland.

Bosh made a good decision. If James really wants to play with Bosh, he still has the opportunity to do so with the Heat. Miami certainly is a more fun place to be an NBA superstar than Cleveland. Bosh's choice shows Lebron that he might have a hard time attracting NBA talent to join him on the Cavs.

Although Cleveland has changed a lot since James first joined the team as a rookie in 2003, it lacks the appeal of the bigger markets in L.A., New York, Chicago, Miami, and the cities in Texas. If the Cavs wanted to bring in help for Lebron, they have been forced to do so via trade. Last year, free agents Trevor Ariza and Ron Artest were recruited by the Cavs before taking the same amount of money to join the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers respectively. Cleveland also failed to acquire Amare Stoudemire at the trade deadline, instead settling for Antawn Jamison.

How this effects James' choice is unclear but it should become a late factor in his decision making. If he really wants to play with marquee talent at his side, he should leave Cleveland. The world be tuning in Thursday at 6 P.M. PT to see what's next for Lebron James.

LAKERS GET NO MILLER TIME

Free agent Mike Miller opted to see the rest of his options over chasing a championship in Los Angeles.

Free agent G/F Mike Miller has said many times that he would like to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. Apparently he didn't want it that bad because he passed on the opportunity.

The Lakers are looking to revamp a lineup that includes six free agents. Kobe Bryant has been pushing management to act quickly in the offseason in order to ensure another run at a championship. So, GM Mitch Kupchak immediately targeted Miller when the free agent negotiation period began on Thursday. The Lakers slapped a 5 year, $30 million offer on the table, offering most of their mid-level exception. However, the Lakers wanted to make sure they did not get left without a dance partner in free agency so they gave Miller a short time window to accept or decline.

Miller, who made $9.8 million last season in the last year of his deal, does not want to win as bad as he implied. He did not accept the offer, opting to see what else is out there in free agency. The Lakers quickly moved on to point guard Steve Blake, who agreed to a 4 year, $16 million deal. Miller has met with the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, and New York Knicks while the Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers are also said to be interested.

Maybe Miller wants to play with his good pal Lebron James in Cleveland or maybe he wants more money. Either way, he contradicted himself and declined to step into a perfect role. His skill set would have allowed him to play three positions in the triangle offense (PG, SG, SF). Miller is a very good complimentary player but is no better than a great third option on a good team. He does not have the mentality to be a star. Any team that pays him big money will be sorely disappointed.

THE BUCKS DON'T STOP HERE

The Milwaukee Bucks have been the most active team in the offseason so far and it continued on Day 1 of NBA Free Agency.

Last season the Milwaukee Bucks looked like a team that could compete in the East. Behind rookie point guard Brandon Jennings, the Bucks made the playoffs for the first time since 2006 before losing in the first round. They improved their record by 12 wins over the previous season and 20 wins over 2007-08. However, a first round exit left a bad taste in their mouths.

The Bucks want to continue to improve and feel they have a great foundation in Jennings and center Andrew Bogut. Michael Redd is one of the best shooters in the league but rarely stays healthy and his massive expiring contract could serve as a trade chip for the upcoming season. His health was the reason the team acquired swingman John Salmons at last season's trade deadline. With Salmons opting out of his contract, the Bucks immediately began their offseason by looking for players who could fill his role.

Milwaukee was one of the worst teams in the league at getting to the free throw line. Taking advantage of the cost-cutting Golden State Warriors, the Bucks acquired 6-foot-6, 225 pound wingman Corey Maggette. He ranked first in the league last season with 551 free throw attempts (83.5% of which went in).

Then the Bucks used the New Jersey Nets desperation to clear cap space to get G/F Chris Douglas-Roberts for a future second round pick. Douglas-Roberts reached the NCAA Championship game in 2008 with Derrick Rose as a member of the Memphis Tigers. He averaged 9.8 points per game in his rookie season but did not get much of an opportunity with the Nets. He is a solid scorer who will add depth to the roster.

Today, the Bucks were the most active team in free agency, agreeing to deals with Salmons and big man Drew Gooden. Salmons addition last season clearly made the Bucks much better. In 30 games with the Bucks, he averaged 19.9 points per game and was very effective on the defensive end. Although it is not yet official, Salmons is close to agreeing to a 5 year, $39 million deal. The average income of $8 million a year is a reasonable price for Salmons, although the length is probably too long. It will be great for the Bucks to have some stability at the shooting guard position after dealing with Redd's injuries for years.

Gooden reached a 5 year, $32 million agreement with the Bucks. He will now join his eighth NBA team in eight seasons. While Gooden is no all-star, his career numbers of 11.9 and 7.9 rebounds per game are decent. At 6-foot-10, he will fit in nicely at the power forward position for the Bucks. They probably could have waited for a better price but $6 million per year is not bad for a solid role player and veteran.

With those moves, the Bucks are more than likely done with their offseason moves. They addressed some of their biggest needs and added stability to a team that has had a revolving door of players for years. If Bogut can stay healthy throughout next season, they will be a force in the Eastern Conference.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

After years of waiting, the 2010 summer of free agency is officially underway.

In 2008 the New York Knicks fired Isiah Thomas and began preparing for the offseason...of 2010. The reason why: Lebron James. James and some of the NBA's best players are free agents this offseason and teams have been working hard to free up spending money. Turns out it does not take that long to prepare for one offseason because the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, New Jersey Nets, and Chicago Bulls all also cleared up cap space to go after the most coveted free agents.

Now that the 2010 offseason is here, free agents will have big decisions to make. These choices could affect the balance of power in the NBA for years to come. This is where the top players will land, according to Dikembe's Finger.

Lebron James: He is the most important domino and he knows it. His decision won't be made in haste but also will not be dragged on. LBJ will get offers to play with his pal Dwyane Wade in Miami, the other L.A. team in the Clippers, the up-and-coming Nets, the Knicks, and the Bulls. The lure of the bright lights in the big city and possibly joining a "Dream Team" will be difficult to turn down but James will once again be wearing a Cavaliers uniform. At some point, he will realize he does not want to leave his hometown team.

Dwyane Wade: He will likely entertain offers from the Clippers, Bulls, and Mavericks but there is little doubt Wade will be leaving the Heat. Instead of worrying about a team, he will focus on pitching the Heat to some of the top free agents in hopes of landing some help in South Beach.

Chris Bosh: There have been farfetched ideas about Bosh joining the Los Angeles Lakers or Dallas Mavericks. The Houston Rockets might have the pieces to offer the Toronto Raptors in a sign-and-trade deal but they do not have a superstar player. Bosh seems comfortable being a sidekick so he will latch on as one. Wade is his friend and shares the same agent so expect Bosh to leave Toronto for the warm beaches of Miami.

Amare Stoudemire: It seems that his time in Phoenix is over, which is probably not a good idea for his career. However, his next move is intriguing. Of the free agents, he seems most likely to agree to a sign-and-trade deal. That could land him in Cleveland as Lebron's new sidekick. The Nets will also make a hard run at Stoudemire. Predicting his next team is difficult but the Knicks would be a logical choice as they have plenty of cap room and Mike D'Antoni, Amare's old coach in Phoenix.

Joe Johnson: The Atlanta Hawks are a team that needs to make a change. The roster currently assembled will not advance further than it already has. Johnson will get a maximum offer and probably stay with the Hawks. However, he got his point across. Coach Mike Woodson is gone and expect forwards Marvin Williams or Josh Smith to be used as trade bait to get a true big man.

Carlos Boozer: Not too long ago it seemed that Boozer would eventually become a member of the Heat. Now, his playing future is in question. He will get plenty of attention from the Knicks, Nets, and Bulls. Where he goes depends on the decision of fellow free agent Chris Bosh. An interesting rumor has popped up recently that the Orlando Magic would like to acquire him via a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz. This would be a great move for all parties but is complicated. The best guess is that he ends up with the Nets.

Every free agent's decision will be based on the decisions of others. It all starts with Lebron James. His decision will be the real start of free agency. Dikembe's Finger will have more free agent coverage as the offseason plays out.

SCOTTIE NOT TOO HOTTIE

Villanova's Scottie Reynolds was not selected in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Last season, Scottie Reynolds was an AP All-American. He averaged 18.5 points and 3.3 assists per game. He led his Villanova Wildcats to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and the team was ranked in the top 10 all season long.

But the 6-foot-2 guard did not hear his name called on draft night. He is the first All-American not drafted since the NBA and ABA merged in 1976. Reynolds will get his chance with the Phoenix Suns summer league team but the question remains: Why?

In pre-draft camps Reynolds was quickly labeled as too small and too slow. He does not have the length and speed expected from NBA prospects. Plus, as a senior, his upside is limited.

However, a team should have taken a chance on a guy who has shown a tremendous ability to score the basketball throughout his college career. Now, he will go into summer league as an underdog, a role he has embraced in the past. He may not make an impact right away but look for Reynolds to become a solid NBA player. He could excel in a Jordan Farmar type of backup role as a sparkplug off the bench.

CAVS CLEANING HOUSE

The Cavs fired head coach Mike Brown and let go of GM Danny Ferry. What's next in Cleveland?

While the NBA Finals is still underway, most teams have already started their offseason. This is, by far, the biggest offseason in Cleveland Cavaliers history. Lebron James is a free agent and the team hopes to get him back, no matter what it takes. Apparently, the thinking is that Mike Brown and Danny Ferry were not Lebron's favorite people because both are now gone from the team.

According to reports, Ferry did not want to fire Brown but owner Dan Gilbert forced his hand. This made the decision for Ferry and the Cavs to part ways much easier. His assistant, Chris Grant, will now take over his duties but it is clear that Gilbert will be calling the shots.

What's next for the Cavs? They are making desperate moves to convince Lebron to stay, so they will look to change the team. Guards Mo Williams (who has shown he can't be trusted in the playoffs) and Delonte West (fresh off his rumored affair with Lebron's mom) are being shopped around the NBA. However, the Cavs can not expect to get much in return for either player.

Other teams can offer better teammates or a potential partnership with another superstar. The Lebron sweepstakes are starting to heat up (pun intended) and Cleveland has to hope home court advantage is enough to convince him to stay.

NBC SCHREMPFIFIED

Former NBA star Detlef Schrempf guest starred in a recent episode of NBC's Parks and Recreation.

During his 17 year career, Detlef Schrempf knocked down a ton of threes. The former Maverick, Sonic, Pacer, and Blazer recently did some other type of work, appearing in an episode of NBC comedy Parks and Recreation.

The full episode is available to watch now at Hulu.

Schrempf's part was pretty funny and he actually was a decent actor. Tom was his escort in the episode, in charge of making sure Schrempf made it to his scheduled appearance on a telethon. Tom stole the show in this episode but Detlef could have some more acting roles lined up after this appearance.

OVERTIME: Check out this trading card with a young Detlef Schrempf. His hair and moustache were beyond awesome.