Draft is soon, and there are already some changes in teams, so thought it might be ok to start this thread.

Here's first big news...Larry Brown fired, Thomas takes over as coach. Fifty bloody million dollars for a one year work, Brown is indeed a magician.

Also, some small news...Nesterovic and some cash to Toronto for Williams and Bonner, and second round draft pick in 2009. Would be good trade I think if not for ugly Rasho's contract.

Common Brown, come to Golden State.

The Knicks are officially the worst franchise in any sport.

Isiah Thomas needs to hang himself.

The Knicks had a lot of problems, but really Larry Brown was not one of them.

He's a HOF coach with a tremendous history - in the playoffs 17 of his 23 coaching years, 100 postseason wins, and has turned around numerous franchises. Yes, he was the one to get rid of! I'm not saying he's perfect... he airs stuff out in the media too much, and never stays with a team very long... but, clearly his track record shows results. Just look at the Pistons... before and after Larry Brown they couldn't get to the finals (always stalling out in the ECF), but both years he was there they went to the finals and won it all once. Pretty much the only thing that changed with those teams was Larry Brown.

If anybody needed the axe, it was Isiah Thomas...

if the cavs get a true point guard and a lockdown defender or 2 they could challenge for that east crown.

Cavs will get romped by the Pistons again next year... 'cept this time the Pistons will also make it past the Heat

The Cavs could be good next year......if they didn't play in CLEVELAND!!!

They should do something to try to get Baron Davis from GSW.

No, no, no...they should go for Steve Francis.

Knicks suck, terrible move.

I hope Toronto's #1 pick lights it up next year, but I still doubt they'll challenge for a playoff spot.

I predict a Miami repeat for the championship.

For the 8th straight year I predict the Spurs will win it all.

I predict Golden State Warriors shall take the 8th spot and take out Spurs in the first round, then it'll be smooooooth sailing from there...................

My Predicts:

East:
1. Cleveland
2. Miami
3. Chicago
4. Toronto (divisional winner)
5. Detroit
6. Orlando
7. Washington
8. New Jersey

West:
1. Dallas
2. Phoenix
3. Los Angeles Lakers
4. Utah (divisional winner)
5. San Antonio
6. Los Angeles Clippers
7. Houston
8. New Orleans

In the playoffs:

First round:
Dallas over New Orleans in 6, Houston over Phoenix in 7, LAL over LAC in 5, San Antonio over Utah in 5
Cleveland over New Jersey in 5, Miami over Washington in 6, Orlando over Chicago in 7, Detroit over Toronto in 4

Conference semi-finals:
Dallas over San Antonio in 6, LAL over Houston in 5
Cleveland over Detriot in 6, Miami over Orlando in 7

Conference finals:
LAL over Dallas in 6 games
Miami over Cleveland in 7 games

Finals:
LAL over Miami in 5 games

Cavs get Kevin Garnett! Wishful thinking but it'd be amazing wouldn't it?

Damon Jones will once again be signed to a one year deal and not do anything spectacular untill the playoffs.

Well the Raptors are officially retarded... or somehow brilliant. Judging by how past highly ranked Euro players have done, I would not have chosen the Italian, I would've preferred Morrisson, Thomas, Foye, or Gay, easily. Just not a skinny Italian guy.

Maybe he'll turn out to be amazing and I'll be biting my words, hopefully. But I doubt it.

Bastards.

And you traded Charlie Villanueva for TJ Ford, which is imo quite bad move.

If the Celtics can get Iverson, they could quickly become a middle of the pack team in the East. Right now they have an outside chance of making the playoffs in the 8th seed, but with Iverson they could become a 3rd-5th seed.

Ugh.

If your two best and most promising players in Bosh and Villeneuva are already forwards, and you only have 2 slots in the starting lineup, why the fuck do you draft another one? By picking Bergnani, they've essentially set themselves up either very minimal gain as at best this guy will be as promising as Charlie V., or complete loss if he's a european bust. Ford is a decent player, but come on. Villaneuva is one of the NBA's most budding stars, and he packed seats to boot.

They had to have seen this coming, I don't see how they didn't. I think the explanation is that the Raptors organization is just retarded. Oh yes, this guy is "ranked" as the best player by the tv stations, we gotta pick him! Even though we already have 2 forwards as our biggest stars, with no solid centre and an empty guard position being readied, Bergnani all the way!

If Bergnani is indeed another Euro bomb, next year it's basically Bosh, with Mo'Pete and Ford as his primary backups, unless they can get steal a decent trade in. Forget bottom 5, Toronto will be the worst team in the league. At least we get another top draft pick!

Man the Raptors suck.

Ouch Tony ouch

Ouch for Tony, yes...but not some great Fuck Yes! for Chicago I think.

Well they had a solid team last year now more of an inside presence can lead to Bulls being serious contenders again.

Thank god something good came out of the off season. Welcome back Nellie.

For now I'm sticking to my theory that Ben was overrated and that if you look at his stats they have been declining year by year. I think his lack of offense hurt the Pistons in the playoffs. Now we won't have to play 4 vs 5 on the offensive end. It was also clear he was a major distraction for the Pistons last year due to his constant crying about not getting the ball, and even refusing to go back into a game near the end of the season. Where it will really hurt is the defensive end... 'Sheed is getting on in years, and we just don't have anybody to fill that hole in the middle. But I still don't think Detroit will fall as much as some think they will. They still have Rip, Chauncey, Tayshaun, and Rasheed... that's still one of the best lineups in basketball, IMO.

Oh, and I can't wait for the first game he's back in Detroit... I bet he gets booed like crazy.

Cavs sign David Wesley. The title is pretty much in the bag now