The free agent season has begun. Following an exciting post-season and draft, the NBA has found another way to keep us hooked. In the next couple of weeks there are to be some big names moved around and could possibly shape next year’s championship team. The Celtics made all the right moves during last year’s free agency and ended up taking the title. So, don’t be surprised if a number of teams take a page from their book. Here are some of the big names who could make a move.

Elton Brand

Although his intentions are to re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, don’t be surprised to see Elton Brand move. He has yet to be on a successful team and I’m sure he’s more than eager to cement himself as a marquee player. He is unable to do so on the lowly Clippers who will again have no chance next year in the overly competitive West. If the the right offer lands on Brand’s lap, possibly from his old team in the Bulls, or with the Knicks, Pistons, or Rockets who all need a player like Brand, don’t expect him to stay in Los Angeles.

Baron Davis

After the Warriors 06-07 run that included maybe one of the biggest post-season upsets of the Dallas Mavericks, Baron Davis could not find the same chemistry this past season. Davis has had trouble in the past season with Golden State and it seems like he may be headed out of Golden State after opting out of his contract. Davis averaged 21.8 points a game last season and would be extremely valuable to either a East or West Playoff team. The Detroit Pistons have showed interest in Davis in a possible sign and trade which may include stars Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups. This may turn into the biggest trade of the off-season. Also showing interest are the aforementioned Los Angeles Clippers. If Baron Davis signs with the Clippers this may persuade Elton Brand to stay.

Corey Maggette

Elton Brand isn’t the only Clipper on the move. Corey Maggette has also opted out of his contract and will test the open market. Maggette is more likely than Brand to leave the team and could play an integral part in next seasons playoffs. There were rumors swirling last season of a trade of Maggette to the Suns, so don’t be surprised if that deal won’t resurrect itself. Another team showing interest looks to be the Utah Jazz who are one piece away from a championship team.

Wizards Aren’t Letting Agent Zero Turn Into Free Agent Zero

The Washington Wizards are planning to invest over 150 million dollars in both Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison. This seems like to much for a team who keeps getting knocked out of the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers. I thought Washington would have to get rid of at least one of the two, but it looks as if the Wizards want to continue with Jamison and Arenas. Personally I would have let Arenas go because he did very little last year and we are still unsure about his knee. Jamison is turning himself into a fantastic player, averaging 20 and 10 last year and is bound to become better.

Here is a list of other notable names that could see themselves in different uniforms next season.

Sam Cassell- Boston Celtics- Unrestricted FA

Eddie House- Boston Celtics- Unrestricted FA

Emeka Okafor- Charlotte Bobcats- Restricted FA

Luol Deng- Chicago Bulls- Restricted FA

Ben Gordon- Chicago Bulls- Restricted FA

Delonte West- Cleveland Cavaliers- Restricted FA

Allen Iverson- Denver Nuggets- Early Termination Option

JR Smith- Denver Nuggets- Restricted FA

Steve Francis- Houston Rockets- Player Option

Jason Williams- Miami Heat- Unrestricted FA

Stephon Marbury- New York Knicks- Early Termination Option

Andre Iguodala- Philadelphia 76ers- Restricted FA

Michael Finley- San Antonio Spurs- Unrestricted FA

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Celtics got lucky, that simple. Throughout the playoffs they have done nothing but prove that they are not the team every one hyped them up to be. Yesterday they barely escaped with a 97-92 win against LeBron and the Cavs. Garnett, Pierce, Allen, and the Celtics have played 14 games already this postseason and have yet to prove that they’re a championship team. Oh yeah, they are 0-6 on the road in the Playoffs!!!

Yesterday’s game proved that the Celtics have no chance against their next opponent, the Pistons. The Cavs have absolutely no offense and no body on their team that can score other than LeBron James. James was the entire team yesterday putting up 45 points and nearly bringing his team back from a 15 point hole. The Celtics big 3 have yet to all perform consistantly with one of them stepping up on different nights. Yesterday, Paul Pierce saved his Celtics with a 41 point game and a bunch of hustle plays that ignited the crowd. After a jump ball, Pierce jumped on a loose ball and called time out just in time in a game changing play.

Garnett and Allen have yet to shine this postseason like they did in the regular season. Garnett is only pumped up and pounding his chest when his team has a 10 point lead or more and has only hit one big fourth quarter shot, which came in game 6. Garnett needs to show the heart and fire he shows when his team is down and desperate for points instead of when the team is comfortably in the lead. As soon as the Celtics are down or the lead gets tight, Garnett dissapears and quiets down. As for Ray Allen, he did nothing the entire series against the Cavs. Yesterday he couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat, and he continually fails to create opportunities for himself. Allen’s pathetic four point game and 13 point game yesterday will not be enough when the Celtics face the Pistons.

Paul Pierce is the only true competitor on the Celtics when push comes to shove, and the Pistons are chock-filled of big time players. Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, and Tayshaun Prince have all proved that they are able to step up and make great game saving plays. If it wasn’t for Pierce’s amazing performance yesterday, the Celtics would be on vacation today with the lowly Cavs playing in the Eastern Conference Finals. Yesterday’s game was brutal to watch until the 4th quarter where it was basically Pierce vs. LeBron, which actually made the game one of the most exciting of the playoffs.

The Pistons will outplay them on the offensive side, defensive side, and most importanly they will be outcoached. Doc Rivers is not a good coach and people need to realize it. He had the easiest job this season by coaching a bunch of veterans. As for the Pistons, Flip Saunders knows what it takes to win and keeps his team disciplined. There is no way a team who won 66 games should go to a game seven against an eighth seeded Atlanta Hawks and a fourth seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, and the coach has to be blamed.

Watching the game yesterday made me realize that the Celtics don’t have a chance. The Cavs only had two scorers in double digits yesterday, LeBron James 45 and Delonte West with 15, and the Celtics barely escaped. The Pistons are a much more complete team and are capable of going into Boston and winning road games, something that the Celtics have yet to do. The Celtics have not won an away game and they still think they have a chance? I don’t think so. I am so confident that the Pistons will win this series that I might come out right now and predict a 4-0 Pistons’ sweep. But I’ll wait, for now I’ll go the safe route and predict 4-2 Pistons with the Celtics again failing to win on the road.

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