Today's Picks!

Boston Celtics - Minnesota T-Wolves - 2H(+12.5)(1.6)
Charlotte Bobcats - Miami Heat - 1H(+12)(1.7)
N.Orleans Hornets - Philadelphia 76ers - 1H(-4.5)(1.8)

NBA Tade Rumour: Omri Casspi To Chicago Or New York

Despite all the “young talent” in Sacramento, the Kings are headed back to the Lottery this June. So what do you do as a franchise when you’re sitting at 7-24 a third of the way through the season? You start to plan for the future. And apparently part of that plan may involve moving Omri Casspi to either Chicago or New York.

From ESPN.com’s Marc Stein:

The Bulls, in particular, like Casspi not only for his ability to shoot but also his experience in pressure situations after playing at the highest levels of the Euroleague with Maccabi Tel-Aviv as well as his defensive potential, believing that the energetic swingman would develop nicely on D under the guidance of Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau. The bonus: Casspi is shooting 40 percent from 3-point range this season – up from 36.9 percent as a rookie – to further squelch his pre-draft rep as a non-shooter.

Yet there are obstacles for interested parties. Casspi is also a favorite of Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof. Sources say Sacramento, furthermore, would likely insist on attaching a long-term contract from the Kings’ roster (such as Francisco Garcia’s) for the right to acquire Casspi, who’s earning a bargain $1.25 million this season. That could dissuade both the Bulls and the Knicks, with New York especially mindful of preserving salary-cap space for the summer.

       Interestingly enough, if the season were to end today, the Bulls (22-10)                  and Knicks (19-14) would face each other in the first round of the playoffs. With that said, both teams are trying to assemble squads to battle the likes of Boston, Miami and Orlando. If a deal for Casspi were to fall through, other shooting guards that are most likely available for the right price (and have been previously linked with Chicago) include Courtney Lee, J.R. Smith, Stephen Jackson and O.J. Mayo.

If you’re a Kings fan though, you should brace for change before the NBA Trade Deadline comes in February. If not Casspi, Stein notes that Carl Landry (with an expiring $3 million contract and unlikely to re-sign with Sacramento this summer) is “the most likely King to be moved before the deadline.”

Today's Tips!

N.Y. Knicks - Indiana Pacers - Over 207.5 (1.75)

Sacramento Kings - Phoenix Suns - Over 205.5 (1.93)
Cleveland Cavaliers - Dallas Mavericks - 1 (2.6)

The NBA Playoff Field — For Now!

With the 2010 portion of the 2010-11 season now behind us, here is what we’ve seen so far from our playoff candidates:

→1. Boston Celtics: Got older, but also got better. Five players are out with injuries. Watch out when this team is completely healthy.

→2. San Antonio Spurs: Old and young, efficient and wise, will beat you with their brains as much as their talent. Thus, the best record.

→3. Miami Heat: Started 9-8 and rumors spread Pat Riley might become coach and hold three-hour practices. Heat has gone 17-1 since.

→4. Los Angeles Lakers: Good when they want to be, play when they want to play, care when they want to care. Three-peat still possible.

→5. Dallas Mavericks: A salty group, but they seem to crumble without Dirk Nowitzki — unless they’re playing in Oklahoma City.

→6. Orlando Magic: Had the "balls" to work a major trade when things didn’t look quite right. Could it become a championship move?

→7. Chicago Bulls: Were on a seven-game winning streak when they got Carlos Boozer back, but then lost Joakim Noah. A good team.

→8. Thunder: This team isn’t as good as its record, but it’s nice to work on what needs to improve and still win games in the process.

→9. Utah Jazz: Also has struggled with injuries, but they keep on trucking with the league’s best point guard and a hall-of-fame coach.

→10. Denver Nuggets: They rarely have been at full strength and all the Carmelo Anthony uncertainty still lingers. The clock is ticking.

→11. Atlanta Hawks: Talented, physical, athletic and tough, but streaky. They need to rebound, force turnovers and keep their composure.

→12. New York Knicks: Have either been very good (winning eight straight; 13 of 14) or pretty bad (losing six straight; four losing streaks).

→13. New Orleans Hornets: Started out 8-0, got the record to 11-1, is one of only two teams to win at Boston, yet they’re 19-14 and wilting.

→14. Portland Trail Blazers: Have lost Greg Oden for the season, lost Brandon Roy indefinitely and could blow up their roster at any moment.

→15. Indiana Pacers: Have a budding all-star in center Roy Hibbert and Danny Granger is solid, but they don’t have enough pieces to contend.

→16. Milwaukee Bucks: Lost point guard Brandon Jennings when things were beginning to click. Somehow stunned the Lakers by 19 in LA.