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The Philadelphia Eagles score a huge free agent pick up by signing the best cornerback in the market right now in Asante Samuels. The Patriots are known for getting rid of play-makers on defense in the secondary and Samuels is another casualty of the system. He is a great play maker and one of the better cover corners available although Patriot fans are still reeling from his easy pick that would have won them the Super Bowl.

For the Eagles, this means a talented secondary in Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown, and Asante Samuel. Sheppard’s status with the team is still up in the air as he is reported as being unhappy about his contract and may look to be traded. If the Eagles keep him, they would have to move him to another position but would also give them great multi-receiver pass coverage. This is a great free agent signing for the Eagles. Now only if they can pick up some offensive talent. Hey Eagles, I think Chad Johnson is being shopped around.

The long awaited release of Sam Cassell has finally happened, and he’s just a few hours away from signing with the Boston Celtics.

Free At Last

All eyes have been on the Los Angeles Clippers these past few weeks.

First, fans were waiting to see if they would trade veteran guard Sam Cassell to a contending team before the trade deadline. Everyone watched as guard Jason Kidd moved from New Jersey to Dallas, forward Shawn Marion moved from Phoenix to Miami, center Pau Gasol moved from Memphis to Los Angeles, and center Shaquille O’Neal moved from Miami to Phoenix. Even forward Kurt Thomas was on the move as he left Seattle for San Antonio.

The trade deadline came and went, and Sam Cassell was still with the Los Angeles Clippers.

On Thursday, Sam Cassell was finally waived by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Cassell and the Celtics

The moment the Boston Celtics acquired guard Ray Allen and forward Kevin Garnett, fans began salivating at the thought of the powerful trio that they would form with forward Paul Pierce. After the initial luster wore off, fans of the Boston Celtics began looking at the remaining two starting spots.

All eyes then shifted to guard Rajon Rondo.

Critics were afraid that he wouldn’t be able to keep up with the all-star trio. Many felt that the Boston Celtics needed someone with more experience to run the team. Well, we’re more than half way through the season, and Rajon Rondo has been running a team that currently sits atop the Eastern Conference. Not too shabby.

Fans were satisfied with his play, but they still wanted a veteran to be added just in case.

Well, by the end of the weekend, that veteran will be Sam Cassell.

The Other Trio

Mention the Boston Celtics to any basketball fan, and they’ll be able to tell you about Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett.

Now, mention the Boston Celtics to a hardcore fan, and they’ll tell you more about the “other” trio. The bench trio of Sam Cassell, forward James Posey, and center PJ Brown.

Between the three of them, there is 36 years of experience. The knowledge and experience that they would bring to the team will more than exceed their actual contributions on the floor.

Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins struggling? No problem. Insert Sam Cassell and PJ Brown. Need more defense than what Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are providing? Insert James Posey.

Familiar Faces

It shouldn’t take too long for Sam Cassell to adjust to his new team.

He’s already played with Kevin Garnett in Minnesota. He’s also played with Ray Allen in Milwaukee.

Plus, Sam Cassell will have plenty of time to watch and observe his new teammates because he’s scheduled to be utilized as a backup for Rajon Rondo.

Closing Thoughts

The Boston Celtics have greatly improved their chances of making it to the NBA Finals this year by adding veterans to their bench.

The Boston Celtics added some more size to their bench by signing veteran PJ Brown.

Sweepstakes Winner

While he may not be as hyped as Pau Gasol and Shaquille O’Neal, the acquisition of PJ Brown should give the Boston Celtics interior game more of a boost.

By adding the 6′11″, 250 pound center to the bench, the Boston Celtics have improved their rebounding and defense. Once he gets into NBA shape again, PJ Brown should be able to provide relief for forward Kevin Garnett and center Kendrick Perkins.

Even though he’s not a perennial all-star big man, there’s a reason why PJ Brown’s name kept popping up throughout the year. Every time a contending team’s interior depth was questioned, PJ Brown’s name was almost always mentioned as a possible solution.

The Rotation

Once he’s ready to be a regular part of the rotation, PJ Brown shoud get plenty of minutes.

Right now, the starters are Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins. Kevin Garnett is playing 34.2 minutes a game while Kendrick Perkins is playing 24.2 minutes a game.

That leaves approximately 38 minutes available for the reserves.

PJ Brown should be able to handle about 20 minutes a game off the bench. The other 18 minutes can be split up between Brian Scalabrine, Glen Davis, Leon Powe, and Scott Pollard.

Taking the Pressure Off

Another advantage of having PJ Brown is that the team doesn’t have to rely solely on Kevin Garnett to guard the opposing team’s big men.

Two of the teams that the Boston Celtics will have to go through are the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons.

Kevin Garnett is going to have his hands full trying to defend the ultra versatile forward Rasheed Wallace. He’s also going to have trouble defending center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, especially since he likes to score down low. PJ Brown can help out with both of those guys.

Closing Thoughts

This move is along the same line as the San Antonio Spurs signing Kurt Thomas. Nice subtle move that can help win a championship.

Wow. What a rumor this has to be and as a Dallas fan I love hearing it. With Moss not yet coming to contract terms there is speculation that Moss could be going to a number of teams but to see him as a Dallas Cowboy would be amazing. We all know how talented Moss is under a good quarterback and that he will only play for a Super Bowl contender and the Cowboys are definitely contenders. Could it be so hard to image Jerry Jones dishing out some money and meeting the salary cap to get Moss? No it’s not and by acquiring Moss he could get rid of Terry Glenn and even Patrick Crayton, the drop machine.

Adding Moss would mean a team up with Terrell Owens which would likely be the best wide receiver tandem in NFL history and would be fun to watch. How do teams stop such talent on both sides. The only drawback would be in quarterback Tony Romo who has not developed enough to be a Tom Brady. It would be a better show to have Owens go to the Patriots and Moss re-signing. Still, it sounds like a great idea that Jerry Jones should ponder and see if he can fit into that cap.

Signing Moss would mean no Darren McFadden for you guys who want it all. There is no way to get him and Moss but hey you always have that Barber guy who isn’t half bad.

The Dallas Mavericks have added more size to their team by signing former all-star center Jamaal Magloire.

Center of Attention

Jamaal Magloire has been on three teams for the past three years. His minutes and his numbers have been disgustingly low this season.

The former first round draft pick from the University of Kentucky had fallen out of the rotation in New Jersey. Jamaal Magloire played in only 24 games and averaged approximately 10 minutes a game.

It got to the point where the New Jersey Nets actually released him after they were unable to move him during the trade deadline.

Yet, Jamaal Magloire still received quite a bit of attention once he became available.

Contenders like the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns expressed some interest in acquiring the 6′11″, 260 pound big man in hopes of adding more depth to their benches.

In the end, though, Jamaal Magloire chose to sign with the Dallas Mavericks.

Motivating Magloire

As of late, it has been obvious that something hasn’t been right with Jamaal Magloire. His motivation just hasn’t been there.

Since leaving the New Orleans Hornets, Jamaal Magloire had a solid year for the Milwaukee Bucks. He then went over to the Portland Trail Blazers and had a decent year. Things hit rock bottom when he joined the New Jersey Nets.

According to Jason Kidd, effort isn’t the problem. He recently stated that for a guy that doesn’t get to play, Jamaal Magloire works just as hard as anyone else.

Perhaps going to a contender like the Dallas Mavericks will revitalize Jamaal Magloire. Winning fixes a lot of things, and the franchise is hoping that it will fix whatever is wrong with the big man.

In the Rotation

Unlike the situation in New Jersey, Jamaal Magloire will be in the rotation for the Dallas Mavericks.

Dirk Nowitzki has one of the four power rotation spots covered. Erick Dampier will take up half the minutes at the center spot.

That leaves about 36 minutes up for grabs. Jamaal Magloire will battle Brandon Bass, Juwan Howard, and Malik Allen for those minutes.

If he can come anywhere near his playing level when he was an all-star, Jamaal Magloire should be able to secure about 20-25 of those minutes.

If Jamaal Magloire can somehow provide the team with 10 points and 8 rebounds a game, then the Dallas Mavericks can compete with any team in the league.

Closing Thoughts

This is a good low risk, high rewards type of signing.

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is injured and will miss the rest of the 2007-2008 season.

Something Is Afoot

The Houston Rockets have been on a 12 game winning streak, and it looked like nothing was going to be able to stop them.

Well, something from within may be a stop to the entire thing. Yao Ming has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot.

The medical team is urging him to get surgery done to fix it. There’s also a method to heal the wound without surgery, but it’ll take the same amount of time to recover.

It’s probably best for the long term for Yao Ming to have the surgery done.

Big Shoes

Yao Ming was having a fantastic season this year.

The 7′6″ center was averaging 22 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2 blocks a game. He was also playing a career high 37.2 minutes a game.

Unless Hakeem Olajuwon has rediscovered his youth, the Houston Rockets aren’t going to be able to sign someone to fill those shoes. Actually, when one browses over the list of available players, it might not be too bad of an idea to give the Dream a call.

Stepping Up

The Houston Rockets have basically lost any chance they had at winning the NBA championship this year.

However, it be a huge mistake for the team to tank the season. That could do more long term damage than anything, especially on a team that has 8 guys with less than 3 years of experience.

In order for the team to stay competitive, though, the remaining front court players need to step up.

Forward Luis Scola has stepped up as of late. Ever since being promoted to the starting lineup, he has produced 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds a game. The team has also been undefeated since the promotion. With more touches available and less help on the boards, Luis Scola now has a chance to up his numbers to 15 points and 8 rebounds a game.

Carl Landry, a 6′9″, 250 forward from Purdue, will be asked to play an addition 5-10 minutes a game now. He’s been pulling down an impressive 5 rebounds a game despite playing only 15 minutes a game.

Steve Novak is 6′10″, and that’s about it. He hasn’t been able to stay on the floor for more than 20 minutes a game. If there was ever a time for him to step up, now would be good. The Houston Rockets aren’t expecting much from him.

The undersized Chuck Hayes is a crowd favorite. He’s going to have to get back on track. If he can play as well as he did in December, then the Houston Rockets should still be able to compete.

Closing Thoughts

The Western Conference is just too deep to think the Houston Rockets can do any damage in the playoffs without Yao Ming. They might be able to steal a first round upset if the opponents underestimates them, but that’s the best case scenario right now.

The Miami Heat attempted to trade for New York Knicks center Eddy Curry before the trading deadline.

The Trade

Exact details haven’t been released yet, but the deal was believed to have included the Miami Heat, the New Jersey Nets, and the New York Knicks.

New Jersey Nets guard Vince Carter was to be shipped to the New York Knicks. Eddy Curry would have been shipped down to the Miami Heat. Expiring contracts from the Miami Heat would have been sent to the New Jersey Nets.

Riley Research

Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley contacted the Chicago Bulls to gather more information on Eddy Curry. It is believed that Pat Riley contacted the Chicago Bulls as opposed to the New York Knicks so they can get more of an unbiased opinion.

Obviously, the Miami Heat inquired about Eddy Curry’s medical history as well.

Shaq’s Sub

While Eddy Curry will never reach the same level of greatness as center Shaquille O’Neal has, he is still solid enough to be able to match the former LSU star’s production in the last year or two.

Eddy Curry would have paired up with forward Udonis Haslem in the starting lineup. Udonis Haslem would have been a much better fit for Eddy Curry than Zach Randolph. He focuses more on rebounding and defense than Zach Randolph ever has.

Riley Rejects

After much deliberation, Pat Riley decided to stand pat.

He decided to keep his expiring contracts to gain some room under the salary cap. Pat Riley is also going to wait to see how Shawn Marion pans out.

Closing Thoughts

It’s best for the Miami Heat and New York Knicks that this deal didn’t happen.

The New York Knicks would have been stuck with another high paid player who doesn’t contribute to the team. The Miami Heat would have been stuck with another center who lacks motivation.

Here are the top NBA performers for Sunday, February 24, 2008.

Boston Celtics

• Guard Rajon Rondo had 15 points and 8 assists.
• Guard Ray Allen scored 19 points.
• Forward Paul Pierce had 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Chicago Bulls

• Guard Kirk Hinrich had 10 points and 10 assists.
• Forward Tyrus Thomas had 18 point, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Cleveland Cavaliers

• Forward LeBron James had 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists.
• Center Ben Wallace had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
• Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 22 rebounds and 13 rebounds.

Dallas Mavericks

• Guard Jason Terry scored 20 points.
• Guard Jason Kidd had 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 17 assists.
• Forward Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and 8 rebounds.

Detroit Pistons

• Guard Chauncey Billups had 14 points and 11 assists.
• Guard Richard Hamilton scored 18 points.
• Forward Antonio McDyess had 12 points and 13 rebounds.
• Forward Rasheed Wallace scored 22 points.

Houston Rockets

• Guard Tracy McGrady had 24 points and 7 assists.
• Forward Shane Battier had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
• Forward Luis Scola scored 17 points.

Los Angeles Lakers

• Guard Kobe Bryant had 21 points and 10 assists.
• Forward Lamar Odom had 19 points and 11 rebounds.
• Forward Luke Walton had 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.
• Center Pau Gasol had 22 points and 7 rebounds.

Memphis Grizzlies

• Forward Hakim Warrick had 21 points and 9 rebounds.
• Forward Rudy Gay had 19 points and 7 rebounds.

Minnesota Timberwolves

• Guard Sebastian Telfair had 10 points and 7 rebounds.
• Center Al Jefferson had 22 points and 7 rebounds.

New York Knicks

• Guard Jamal Crawford had 26 points and 6 assists.
• Guard Nate Robinson had 20 points and 8 rebounds.

Orlando Magic

• Forward Rashard Lewis had 16 points and 7 rebounds.
• Center Dwight Howard had 26 points and 10 rebounds.

Phoenix Suns

• Forward Amare Stoudemire scored 31 points.
• Center Shaquille O’Neal had 7 points and 11 rebounds.

Portland Trail Blazers

• Guard Jarrett Jack had 17 points and 5 rebounds.
• Guard Steve Black had 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Sacramento Kings

• Guard Kevin Martin had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.
• Forward Ron Artest had 23 points and 6 rebounds.
• Center Brad Miller had 17 points and 6 rebounds.

Seattle Sonics

• Guard Earl Watson had 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists.
• Forward Jeff Green had 15 points and 8 rebounds.
• Forward Kevin Durant scored 15 points.
• Center Johan Petro grabbed 10 rebounds.

Toronto Rapters

• Guard Anthony Parker scored 16 points.
• Forward Chris Bosh had 17 points and 5 rebounds.
• Forward Andrea Bargnani had 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Top Bench Performers

These are the NBA players who provided their teams with some help off the bench. Their numbers might not be as impressive as some starters, but they’re on this list because they contributed off the bench.

• Boston Celtics guard Eddie House scored 11 points.
• Boston Celtics forward James Posey scored 15 points.
• Chicago Bulls guard Larry Hughes scored 13 points.
• Chicago Bulls forward Drew Gooden had 12 points and 8 rebounds.
• Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng had 10 points and 6 rebounds.
• Cleveland Cavaliers guard Damon Jones scored 11 points.
• Cleveland Cavaliers forward Joe Smith had 14 points and 6 rebounds.
• Cleveland Cavaliers forward Wally Szczerbiak scored 10 points.
• Detroit Pistons forward Jarvis Hayes scored 18 points.
• Houston Rockets guard Bobby Jackson scored 14 points.
• Houston Rockets guard Luther Head scored 11 points.
• Los Angeles Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic scored 13 points.
• Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar scored 12 points.
• Memphis Grizzlies guard Kyle Lowry scored 13 points.
• Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rashad McCants scored 17 points.
• Minnesota Timberwolves guard Marko Jaric had 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.
• Orlando Magic guard Keyon Dooling scored 14 points.
• Orlando Magic forward Brian Cook scored 14 points.
• Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa had 18 points and 5 assists.
• Portland Trail Blazers forward Martell Webster scored 12 points.
• Portland Trail Blazers forward Travis Outlaw scored 24 points.
• Seattle Sonics guard Mickael Gelabale had 21 points and 8 rebounds.
• Toronto Rapters guard TJ Ford had 15 points and 5 assists.
• Toronto Rapters center Primo Brezec scored 11 points.

After Thursday’s frenzy of trades, LeBron James has come away with a brand new supporting cast.

On the Perimeter

For the Cleveland Cavaliers, everything starts and stops with LeBron James. He’s going to be an MVP candidate for at least the next ten years of his career. The 6′8″, 240 pound forward is also capable of carrying the entire franchise on his shoulders.

With every passing game, Daniel Gibson is establishing himself more and more as a good sidekick for LeBron James. Everyone knows that when you play with an offensive juggernaut like King James, you’re going to be left wide open on more than a few occasions. Daniel Gibson has been shooting an impressive 48% from the three point line.

Sasha Pavlovic provides some quality backup minutes at both wing spots.

Thanks a crowded backcourt in Seattle, Delonte West’s numbers aren’t all that impressive. However, the talent is there. He’s a nice combo guard that can handle the ball and shoot it as well. Plus, he’s still young and developing.

If there’s one thing that you need to know about Wally Szczerbiak, it’s that he can shoot and score. The Cleveland Cavaliers have forever been looking for a sidekick for LeBron James since the moment they drafted him. Wally Szczerbiak might not be the perfect complement, but his outside shooting should make life just a little bit easier for LeBron James.

Offensively, this is going to be a great rotation. They’re going to be able to do a lot of damage. The new additions are also going to help LeBron James be that much more devastating on offense.

It would have been nice for the team to have a defensive stopper in the rotation, but a general manager can only do so much each year.

In the Paint

Former defensive player of the year, Ben Wallace takes over as the focal point of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ defense. He needs to find that spark that made him one of the best shot blocker and rebounder in league history. The perimeter players aren’t going to be shutting down too many opponents, so it’s vital that Ben Wallace steps up.

There’s a good chance that Anderson Varejao’s energy could light a fire under Ben Wallace again. The guy does a lot of the dirty work on defense, and his energy allows him to produce on offense. Whenever the Cleveland Cavaliers need to shut down opposing big men, these two guys will more than likely be on the floor together.

Former first overall draft pick Joe Smith is another energy guy that does a lot of the little things. The veteran can also step outside and hit the midrange jumper consistently.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas can score well enough in the low post to draw double teams. Of course, it’s going to be harder to double team him now that the rotation consists of so many outside shooters. He’s not a defensive stopper by any means, but that won’t be as much of an issue with Joe Smith, Anderson Varejao, and Ben Wallace by his side.

This group has the potential to be one of the best big men rotations in the league. Offensively, they’re set with Zydrunas Ilgauskas scoring inside. Joe Smith and Anderson Varejao can also chip in with some garbage man points as well.

Defensively is where this group can dominate games. If they can mesh well enough by playoff time, they can cause fits for just about any big man in the league.

Closing Thoughts

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ balance and depth puts them on an even playing level with the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons.

The object of this play is to take advantage of Bonzi Wells’ ability to scorer against smaller guards in the post.

The Setup

The set up for this play is as basic as it gets.

You position your post up guard (Bonzi Wells) in the low block on whatever side he feels comfortable with. Surround him with his two shooters (Rasual Butler, Morris Peterson and/or Peja Stojakovic). On the weak side, have the point guard (Chris Paul) and a big man (David West or Tyson Chandler).

The Execution

The strong side of the offense is basic fundamental inside-outside basketball.

By having the shooters both on the same side, defenses would have a harder time sending help defenders into the paint. Bonzi Wells can work his defender over in the paint. If he is unable to get good positioning, he can swing it out to one of his shooters. The shooters can either swing it between themselves or they can punch the ball back into the low post.

If neither the shooters or Bonzi Wells has a good look, they can swing the ball over to the weak side where Chris Paul and David West can run a pick and roll to close out the possession.

Having shooters on the top of the key also makes it difficult for defenses to collapse on the pick and roll as well.

Closing Thoughts

This play or a variation of this play should be the bread and butter play for the New Orleans Hornets in the playoffs.