Jamison goes to the Cavaliers, McGrady goes the Knicks, Larry Hughes is gone, Krypto-nate leaves to Boston while the Knicks get House, Brewer goes to the Grizzlies, and the big Z leaves the Cavs. A couple more people shifted areas but these are the marquis players I'll focus on.
Two major questions: (1) Are the Cavaliers going to win this year? (2) Where are the Knicks going to be next year?
As for the first question, I think the Cavaliers have all they need to win the finals. They have come so close for so long and finally developed a starting five that is just plain scary. Mo Williams at point, Anthony Parker at shooting guard, James at small forward, Jamison at power forward, and Shaq at center. Or you can even go big and substitute Parker and throw Hickson or Varejao.
By adding a 20 point, 8 rebound threat into the mix who has the ability to draw out a big men because of his respectable shot--the Cavaliers create a mismatch galore. LeBron and Antawn are two of the top eight small forwards in the league.
Having a strong small forward is essential to advancing in the playoffs strictly for mis-matching purposes. If a team has a taller and stronger player that can be a three-ball threat, it causes much more room for guards/forwards to drive in. Spacing is clutch and now that the Cavs will have each wing--a serious scoring threat, the defense will be utterly disrupted.
Of course the question comes up of who whether or not both will play forwards--if so, will one get over-powered by a team's number four. I don't see that happening because James seems to be able to guard any size in the league (he wasn't able to stop Melo last night but James can contain any size player).
What do I think is going to happen? I think the Cavs will win this year. I thought they were going to win in the beginning of the year because I can't see James being stopped again--and now I can't see that much talent with size and speed losing.
Now the Knicks--they're creating some more salary cap for next season to try and land two superstar athletes (James, Wade, Bosh, Stoudemire, etc.). Will it work? I don't know. If James wins this year--I don't see him moving to another team despite how much he has fallen in love with NY. Remember when he wore his Yankee hat and the pinstripe shoes during the Indian-Yankee playoff games? It was all a tease Knicks fans. I would be the first person to tattoo a picture of James on my back if he came to the Knicks--but it probably won't happen. But if he does--the city will be parading with LeBron pictures.
As for the rest of the season; the Knicks barely have any hope to conserve even the back alley to the playoff spots--unless McGrady brings back his vintage game. Goodbye Nate. Goodbye Hughes. Let's go House? I think House is going to become our key player--to be honest. He can shoot lights out--hey, we don't have anything else to lose.
Let's run and gun. Let the threes fly.
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