Paquiao vs. Mayweather Preview

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

Now less than a week away from one of the most important fights of all time, tensions are rising and excitement runs through fans of Mayweather and Pacquiao alike. On Saturday, May 2nd, the two most important boxers of our generation are set to face off in the most important fight of their careers. Floyd Mayweather stands at an incredible undefeated record of 47-0 in his professional career and looks to win his 48th. Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao from the Philippines has won 57 out of his 64 matches including 2 draws. The clash between the two best boxers in the world sold out within 60 seconds of going on sale and has created incredible anticipation around the world.

Manny Pacquiao, the 36 year old Filipino phenomenon has made an incredible name for himself globally. Pacquiao is the only fighter to ever win 8 division titles in 8 different weight classes. He also a point guard for the Kia Carnival in the PBA and has also spent some time coaching. Pacquiao has also dabbled in some acting, singing, and Filipino politics. So in and out of the ring, Pacman is a well rounded and well liked figure internationally. Professionally, he’s known for his mastery in the southpaw stance and his incredible skill along with his infamous quickness. While he may not be the favorite in this fight, Pacquiao has a strong chance to come away from this fight with a victory and to send Mayweather home with his first loss.

As the highest paid athlete in the world and one of the most feared opponents, Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. looks to continue his undefeated career against who may be his strongest opponent yet. At 38 years old, Mayweather is a five-division world champion and one of the most successful athletes of our time. Mayweather is the early favorite to win this matchup, considering his record and his relentless orthodox fighting style. The Michigan native packs a powerful punch and can dodge hits as well as he can distribute them. Many criticize Mayweather for fighting lower tier boxers so that he can maintain his record, but this fight completely nullifies this claim. Mayweather is willing and ready to fight Pacquiao, the top fighter in his division.

Regardless of the outcome or how the fighters got to this point, the stage is set for the greatest fight in the modern era of professional boxing. Mayweather and Pacquiao are prepared, trained, and ready to put on a show for the loyal fans. 

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A New Age for the NY Mets?

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

The New York Mets have suffered through a post-season drought since 2006, when they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals one game away from the World Series. Eventually, the Cardinals won the World Series and the Mets spiralled downward into the terrible streak of losing seasons. Now 18 games into the 2015 season, the Mets hold the best record in the entire MLB look to  improve on their incredible start. Led by Team Captain and long time Met infielder David Wright, the Mets now battle the infamous Subway Series against rival New York Yankees. The biggest question at hand is “Are the New York Mets entering a New Age?”

Second year Pitcher Matt Harvey is clearly a threat to any team who faces him. In 4 starts this year so far, the Mets have gone undefeated. Standing at 6’4 and 217 lbs, Harvey is an athletic force to be reckoned with. His average opponent batting average is a solid .220 and he’s tallied 22 hits of his own. With 31 strikeouts so far this season, Harvey ranks 4th in strikeouts throughout the leagues. Many consider Harvey to be the future of the Mets and the future of the whole MLB. Harvey holds many All Star selections and Cy Young awards in his future

The team has fared well at bat lead by David Wright and first basemen Lucas Duda. In his fifth year out of USC, Lucas Duda leads the team in RBI and OBP with 11 and .400 respectively. Duda has also tallied 21 hits with a .323 batting average. While he may not be the best in the league, he’s very consistent and very crucial to the batting of the New York Mets. Wright has also fit that role since he joined the major leagues in 2004. Wright’s batting average is solid at .333 with a .796 OPS. With these two at the core, the Mets have the potential to rise in the MLB back to the success they achieved in 1986 if they can continue this stellar play.

This Mets roster has been beautifully crafted by Sandy Alderson to blend young talented players and older Mets veterans. While the season may be young, the Mets are surging through opponents with ease and playing at a level that Queens hasn’t felt in a long time. With their 8-2 win against the Yankees today, the Mets sent a message to their opponents and the rest of the MLB. Through their play, it was clear that the Mets are ready to be winners again.

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Skeptical Firing of Scott Brooks

 

Written by Taylor Odenat  

 
Scott Brooks played in the NBA for ten seasons as a point guard for the 76ers, Timberwolves, Rockets, Mavericks, Knicks, and Cavaliers. However, Brooks isn’t remembered in the league for his tenure in the NBA. For the past seven sevens, Brooks coached the Oklahoma City Thunder and did an exceptional job. His resume for the Thunder is one to be respected, although he wasn’t the best coach and has had his downfalls; he still managed to rack up wins with OKC.

In a tough Western Conference, he managed to win the NBA Coach of the Year Award in 2010 and coach two All Star Games for the Western Conference in 2012 and 2014. Additionally, Brooks has coached OKC to four 50-win seasons in his seven season reign. He was able to control the egos of two superstars and formerly three superstars, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. They are all capable of leading a franchise, but Brooks was able to get all three to buy into a team basketball with spurts of isolation in order to win games. He coached the 2011-2012 Thunder team led by Durant and Westbrook with Harden as sixth man to a 47-19 record and a place in the 2012 NBA Finals. Although they lost to the Miami Heat that season, it is no easy task to coach a team to the NBA Finals.

Disregarding their inability to win a championship, Oklahoma City was always in the picture for playoff and title contention; which makes this firing even more head-scratching. This season should be seen with somewhat of an asterisk because OKC was missing the second best basketball player in the world Kevin Durant; who was injured for a majority of the season. It is highly questionable if the Phil Jackson coached Chicago Bulls would have won so many titles if Michael Jordan had been injured during their runs. OKC has fired a very capable coach and arguably one of the best coaches in the NBA leaving NBA fans with the same reaction they felt when George Karl was fired by the Denver Nuggets in 2012; a feeling of disbelief and confusion.

Kevin Ollie’s name has been in the mix for some time in the talks of taking Scott Brooks’ job, so this firing may have been an attempt to pursue Ollie for the position. Ollie and Durant have a history and were teammates in the 2009-2010 season. Durant trusts him and Oklahoma City must figure that if he is the coach, that it will encourage Durant to stay in town for several more years. Kevin will be a free agent in 2016, so OKC must be worried about whether or not Durant feels he should stay put. Ollie may influence his decision, but he may also be influenced to sign with his hometown team in that offseason. Playing alongside Bradley Beal and John Wall is very enticing, and with Russell Westbrook getting a taste of leading his own team, Durant may be in OKC without his sidekick. Ollie, who is also reported to not want the job enjoying his position with UConn, will not determine whether or not Durant stays in OKC. In closing, firing Scott Brooks after one season doesn't seem like a smart move for the Thunder present or their future.

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The Top Overlooked Players of the 14-15 NBA Season

            

                         Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

The glitz and glam of the NBA’s superstars tend to overshadow the talent of other key players in the league. For each position there is an underdog who is overlooked regardless of their immense talent. These are the most underrated players for each position.

PG: Ty Lawson- Although the Denver Nuggets have fallen from their previous playoff caliber, the intense play of point guard Ty Lawson has remained uncontaminated by the team’s decline. Lawson finished in the top 5 leaders in assists with 9.6 assists per game to go with 15.2 PPG and 1.2 SPG. Standing at 5'11, Lawson continues to use his strong shooting stroke and masterful passing skills to lead the Nuggets. His quickness and crafty play can create match-up problems for any defense.

SG: Danny Green- Green continuously proves himself to be one of the best 3 point shooters in the league, yet he still doesn't get the recognition that he deserves. Green averages 11.7 PPG with 2.7 3PM per game and 4.2 RPG. While he is a clear threat on offense, his defense is easily overlooked. Green is widely considered an elite perimeter lock-down defender averaging 1.2 SPG and 1.1 BPG. While he may not seem like it, Green is both an offensive and defensive force to be reckoned with.

SF: Khris Middleton- After the injury to Jabari Parker early in the season, it became clear that the young core of Milwaukee needed to step up in order to succeed this season. Khris Middleton took the opportunity and ran with it. Middleton averaged 13.4 PPG along with 4.4 RPG and 1.5 SPG in the regular season and was a massive help to the Bucks in their unexpectedly successful regular season. Middleton has proved himself to be a fantastic asset with a bright future in the league. As a restricted free agent this offseason, Middleton may have played his way to a big payday for next season.

PF: Thaddeus Young- Between Minnesota and Brooklyn, Young has brought incredible hustle and athleticism to any team he plays for. Averaging 14.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 1.6 SPG, Young has proven to be one of the best hustle players in the league. While it may not be statistically relevant, the hustle plays can alter the course of a game by saving plays, energizing a team, and disrupting entire teams on defense. Young was a fantastic addition to the Nets’ frontcourt.

C: Nikola Vucevic- Arguably, the most overlooked player in the NBA right now is Nikola Vucevic. The 24-year old center for the Orlando Magic averaged 19.3 points with a massive 10.9 RPG. In 74 games, Vucevic earned 45 Double-Doubles. Vucevic was also widely considered to be an All Star snub in the East. Whether off jump shots, post moves, or strong inside play, Vucevic is a rising talent with stardom in his future.

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The Future of the Miami Heat

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

 Following the loss of LeBron James to the Cavaliers and an injury-plagued season, the infamous Miami Heat fell from Eastern Conference champions to the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference. While the addition of Goran Dragic to the team brought greatly needed depth and passing ability, the devastating injury to Chris Bosh sealed the fate of the Miami Heat. When the Nets and Pacers increased their level of play late in the race for playoff berth, the Heat continued to decline. Regardless of the outcome of this season, the Heat have contention in their future as long as they recover from injuries and retain important pieces.

One of the most important tasks of the Miami Heat this offseason is retaining new acquisition Goran Dragic. The young Slovenian spent most of his career shadowing Steve Nash in Phoenix until Nash left and Dragic was given the opportunity to step up as the definitive point guard for Phoenix. This was meant to be the perfect situation for Dragic until Jeff Hornacek and the Suns became mixed up in a 3 point guard system with Dragic, Bledsoe, and Thomas. From this point, it was clear that Dragic needed a change of scenery. As a result of the trade deadline, Goran landed in Miami where solid point guard play was desperately needed. The Heat welcomed Dragic with open arms and high hopes, to which he responded with solid play and his play making expertise. The Heat needed a talented young point guard and they found one, now their priority has to be resigning him in free agency this summer. Dragic is a high priority target for most teams looking to rebuild, but Miami has the upper hand due to the excitement of playing in Miami, the championship experience, and the great chemistry Dragic already built playing alongside Dwyane Wade.

Another important task of the Miami Heat is the rehabbing of Chris Bosh. Midway through the season, Bosh was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs and was removed from all basketball activities until the start of next season. Bosh had been playing wonderfully before this devastating news alongside Hassan Whiteside in the low post. With Whiteside controlling the paint, Bosh was given the opportunity to extend his range and play in the high post. It can be argued that Bosh is one of the best sharpshooting big men in the NBA and the addition of Whiteside allowed this aspect of Bosh’s game to be more heavily utilized. For the Heat to regain their dominance in the league, Bosh needs to fully recover and return to full strength.

Hassan Whiteside was a second round pick by the Grizzlies in the 2010 NBA draft and had never been given a chance at stardom until this past season with the Miami Heat where he proved himself to be a dominant force in the league. After setting a team record 12 blocks in a triple double against the Bulls in January, Whiteside proved himself worthy of the starting Center position and a crucial player in the Heat’s game plan. The Heat need to continue to train and develop Whiteside into the player that he’s proven himself capable of being.

The most important aspect that needs to be improved for the Heat to fight back into contention is the durability of the team. The team as a whole has been plagued by poor health for the majority of the regular season which easily explains why the team fell off their throne. LeBron James was not the reason for the Heat’s excellency over the past few years, but rather the high energy and explosive play of the team as a unit. The team cannot maintain that style of play if the players are watching from the sidelines with various injuries. The Miami Heat need to improve their medical staff as soon as possible in order for the team to reach it’s maximum potential.

Looking over their roster, the Miami Heat have a team strong enough to win another championship as long as they can retain their players and keep them healthy. With the East as the clear weaker conference, it won’t be hard for the Heat to make their way back to a top seed in the conference. The champions have become the underdogs, and they’re ready to fight their way back to the top.

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Oklahoma City Thunder Shocked at Elimination

 

Written by Taylor Odenat

After an unpredictable season, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s season comes to an abrupt halt with the New Orleans Pelicans victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The 2014-2015 season was definitely one of ups and downs, injuries and trades, and has now concluded with the Thunder on the outside looking in of the Western Conference playoffs.

In the beginning of the 2014-2015 NBA Season, the Oklahoma City Thunder were projected to be one of the many powerhouses of the Western Conference.They have the pairing of two top 10 players in the NBA in Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant so they were expected to do big things. However, seemingly unfitting with his durability track record, Durant repeatedly acquired foot injuries that would eventually sideline him for a majority of the 2014-2015 season. It began with a Jones fracture back in October of 2014 that would cause him to miss six to eight weeks. A mere sixteen days later after his return, Durant then sprained his right ankle in a loss to the Golden State Warriors. A little more than a month later, it would be an injury on Durant’s left foot now that caused him to miss time, as he sprained his left big toe in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. To assist in fixing his injury riddled right foot, Durant underwent minor surgery to relieve the discomfort and pain from his right foot. Inevitably, on March 27, Durant was ruled out for the season after receiving bone graft on his right foot. Westbrook missed some games himself in the beginning of the season and made the media very skeptical of the Thunder being a threat in the West.

However, Westbrook has played a majority of the Thunder’s games this season putting up incredible numbers, breaking records, and acquiring multiple accolades. Russell saw the opportunity to put up the superstar statistics he knew he was capable of and seized that opportunity.In his first game back from missing fourteen games, Westbrook dropped a 32-point, 7 rebound, and 8 assist performance against the New York Knicks and that would start an explosion of a season for Westbrook. Russell would continuously break his career high in points from 45, to 48, to 49, and finally 54 and also break his career high in assists with 17. He would also show out in the 2015 All Star Game in New York scoring 41 points and winning All Star Game MVP. Westbrook recorded an outstanding eleven triple doubles to finish the season that no other NBA player was able to come close to. Westbrook would finish the season averaging a career high in ppg at 28.1, spg at 2.1, and apg at 7.3. James Harden seemed to be running away with the scoring title, but due to Russell's heroics in the last few months; Russell would unknowingly to many win the title with his scoring average of 28.4. Although Westbrook has been quoted to say he doesn't care about leading the league in scoring, he has still accomplished so much this season and though he does tend to have an erratic style of play; their team deserved to make the playoffs. His performance even sprouted his name into the MVP conversation with Rocket’s James Harden, Cavalier’s Lebron James, and Warrior’s Steph Curry.

          During different times of the season, Oklahoma City improved their roster with the additions of Ish Smith, Dion Waiters, Enes Kanter, Steve Novak, Kyle Singler, and D.J. Augustin either through free agency or trade. If Durant wasn't injured and joined Westbrook, this team would be in the conversation to win it all this season. With Kevin Durant, Westbrook’s numbers wouldn't be so inflated, but this team would definitely have to be reckoned with and feared as a contender in the NBA. The holes at the center position were filled by Kanter and an improving Steven Adams and the holes at the depth coming off the bench were filled by veteran Augustin, Jeremy Lamb, Anthony Morrow, and Mitch McGary. They are a big body team that would have a been a very strong team had Kevin Durant not been injured. Even if the New Orleans Pelicans hadn't won their last game against the San Antonio Spurs pushing Oklahoma City out of the playoff picture, OKC wouldn't have stood a chance against the hot Golden State Warriors. If the Thunder are able to retain most of their assets and acquire more valuable pieces, than they will have a legitimate chance at the NBA Championship in the 2015-2016 NBA season. Of course, Durant and Westbrook both need to be healthy as well because they're extraordinary players in this league, but the Thunder are poised to be the next NBA dynasty with Kevin and Russell at the helm.

Coach of the Year: Who Wins?

  

Written by Taylor Odenat

With the 2014-2015 NBA Season coming to a close in a week or so, it’s about that time for media representatives to make their choice for the NBA end of season Awards. There is of course the popularized Most Valuable Player Award, slightly less notable but still valuable Rookie of the Year Award, and the semi under the radar Awards being the Sixth Man of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Executive of the Year. Then there is ,arguably, one of the more competitive awards to win when it comes to end of season NBA honors: The Coach of the Year Award. There is always a plethora of options to pick from with the NBA having a strong pool of talented coaches in the league pushing their teams to be the best they can be. This current NBA Season was no different and will leave the media stumped when it comes to deciding who best deserves the NBA Coach of the Year Award.

This years field of coaches in consideration include first year coaches and veterans.  Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs is always in consideration for the Coach of the Year Award, but this year he shouldn't receive the trophy. Although he is leading the Spurs to a predictable late season rise, coaching his team from the bench to the second seed in the Western Conference; he shouldn't win for the second consecutive year. However, like Lebron James with the MVP Award, just because he is arguably the best coach in the NBA doesn't automatically send Coach Pop home with the award. There were several franchises that surprised NBA fans with their breakout seasons and the coaches of those teams deserve to be recognized as well. 

This NBA Season saw Steve Kerr turn down Phil Jackson’s offer to coach the New York Knicks and instead take the coaching position in Oakland for the Golden State Warriors. His decision would prove to be an excellent one, as the Golden State Warriors are 66-15 and have clinched a playoff berth. It may seem unconventional to give this Award to a first year coach who has the honor of coaching superstar point guard Steph Curry and All Star guard Klay Thompson. However, Kerr must be doing something correct in Oakland because the Warriors are a well oiled machine on the court and Kerr has seemed to be able to manage egos and maintain team chemistry if there ever was strife among the team. If he is not the winner of this Award, he should atleast be a strong candidate because wins don’t lie, and Kerr’s Warriors lead the NBA in that category as well as other statistical categories.

Mike Budenholzer, former assistant coach of Gregg Popovich, has instilled a system in to the Atlanta Hawks and it has surely worked. Along with Kerr, Budenholzer is a first year coach, but that shouldn't be held against him. Kerr and Budenholzer also share similarities in that both their teams are number one seeds in their respective conferences. By the way the Atlanta Hawks play, you can tell Popovich has had an influence on Budenholzer’s approach to coaching this team. The Hawks love to shoot threes and shoot them at an efficient rate, they share the ball and have effective ball movement, and surprisingly they are able to accomplish this without a defined superstar. Every player gets touches on this Hawks team, there is no defined superstar who will takeover that NBA teams can go in focusing on. Any given night Kyle Korver could explode for 5 threes or Jeff Teague could slash and dish for twenty points eight assists, that’s what makes them such a tough team to play against. Mike Budenholzer has pushed this squad to define itself as a ball movement oriented,three point shooting team which has worked all season bringing them to a current record of 60-21.

One of least talked about coaches Kevin McHale should also be in strong consideration to be the victor of the Coach of the Year Award. He has done a stupendous job of managing this Houston Rockets team who were without star center Dwight Howard for a significant amount of time. Without their big man, the Rockets stayed afloat and made their way to a top three seed in the Western Conference behind MVP candidate James Harden. Their recent loss to San Antonio that dropped their seeding to 6 may not assist in making McHale’s case for COY, but he should still be in the running. McHale and his Rockets had to accommodate their play style due to multiple injuries and were/are able to stay atop the Western Conference powerhouses.At this point of the season, the Rockets are fifth in the league in points per game at 103.8, and have a top ten defensive rating at 103.7. They play the second fastest pace in the league and if shooting guard James Harden winds up being voted MVP, then McHale is bound to receive some votes for Coach of the Year.

With all that being said, Steve Kerr should walk away the 2014-2015 NBA Coach of the Year. The NBA should reward winning, and although Kerr is a first year coach, his team has been doing a ton of winning. Kerr’s Warriors average the most points per game in the league at 109.7, play the fastest pace in the league at 98.2, have the second highest offensive rating in the league at 111.4, and have recorded the most wins in the NBA at 66. The Warriors are an offensive juggernaut, they take a make a ton of threes, they have terrific spacing, and they play polished and flowing basketball. However, with all their offensive explosion they don't forget about the other side of the ball. Possible Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green, leads the solid defensive squad who sit at first in the NBA in defensive rating (101.2) Kerr should be acknowledged as this year’s Coach of the Year, manning the sidelines of the NBA’s best team, and if everything goes right for the Warriors; the 2014-2015 NBA Champions. 

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/GSW/2015.html, http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2015.html,

NBA Free Agency: Necessary Changes of Scenery

Written by Dylan Hunter Carter

With a massive free agency looming this summer, its no surprise that there will be big changes in the league. Here are 6 examples of players who need to make a change in free agency and where they would fit best.

1. Kevin Love: The blockbuster trade sending Love to Cleveland last summer created massive hype amongst the league. Love was expected to compliment James and Irving with his masterful rebounding and elegant post play. This did not work out as expected. Besides the time he’s missed with injuries, Love has become a third option player after easily proving himself as a first option player in Minnesota. If Love wants to be a star and make lots of money, the best fit for him would be back with his hometown team; the LA Lakers. If he wants to contend immediately, he should resign in Cleveland. That’s all it comes down to.

2. DeAndre Jordan: The big man extraordinaire has played incredibly well for the Clippers in the 14-15 season. As a candidate for the MIP award, Jordan is seeking a nice contract this summer. While he loves LA, he also would like to expand his horizons and would possibly sign somewhere else. A great number of teams would be lucky to land Jordan. The New York Knicks would be a nice fit for Jordan. Its no secret that the Knicks miss a lot of shots, and Jordan lives for Offensive Rebounds and Standing Dunks. Jose Calderon could fill Jordan’s need for a point guard who can throw accurate passes and lobs. Just imagine Carmelo and Jordan playing together.

3. Rajon Rondo: The question that has been and will continue to be asked by NBA basketball fans for the past few years has been “What Happened to Rajon Rondo?” The 9th year point guard would compete with such intensity that any team would be afraid of him. Now, Rondo is playing a dismal game and becoming a forgotten player. Some thought Dallas would be the perfect change of scenery, but apparently not. Rondo needs to go to a team where there is no structure. He needs to go to a place where his passing expertise could be appreciated and he could become the triple double phenom that he left in 2012. The team Rajon Rondo needs is the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers need a solid passing point guard, and Rondo needs a fresh start on a team where he can get himself back into Triple Double form. The shooters of the LA Lakers would be a dream for the pass first point guard and the strong inside play of Jordan Hill and Carlos Boozer are in dire need of a good passer. The fit makes sense for Rondo and for the rebuild of the Lakers.

4. Greg Monroe: Averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds, Greg Monroe has proven himself to be a dominant post player in the league. It’s no secret that the Pistons are focusing on Andre Drummond as their big man of the future, and it’s time for Greg Monroe to fit that role somewhere else. Monroe’s best bet for lots of money and lots of attention is in Los Angeles alongside Kobe Bryant and the rest of the roster. Monroe would fit the role that Pau Gasol had with the team and can become the top option for the team to run through. Kobe’s nearing retirement and the Lakers are looking to sign some great young talent as soon as possible, so this could be Monroe’s opportunity for some time in the spotlight and a huge paycheck.

5. Roy Hibbert: Things haven’t quite gone the way 7’2 Pacers Center Roy Hibbert would’ve wished they had since they dominated the league years ago. Lance Stephenson has moved on to (bigger, but certainly not better) things. All Star Paul George hasn’t played this season yet after recovering from a massive injury over the summer. Point Guard George Hill missed a huge sum of time between various injuries. Hibbert has been left with a broken team filled with young players who don’t quite know how to win yet. After a lot of pressure has been put on Hibbert, he’s had an extremely lackluster season with an extremely lackluster team, and he could use a change. Hibbert’s elite defensive play and massive size could be utilized immensely in Minnesota, where Hibbert could work alongside Kevin Garnett, who’s known for teaching and improving the skills of fellow bigmen, and Nikola Pekovic, who consistently injures himself. Hibbert could easily clean up the glass and average a double double without trouble. Every good scorer needs a solid bigman to clean up the glass, and Hibbert could fit that role for Wiggins.

6. Jeff Green: Since returning from his devastating heart surgery during the 11-12 season, Green has been a consistent force in the league. With the Boston Celtics, Green was given the opportunity to play with a fantastic pass-first point guard in Rajon Rondo and a young offense where he was widely regarded as the leader. This type of scenario is where Green operates best and where he should play again. Green is battling for playing time in Memphis between defensive specialist Tony Allen and veteran sharpshooter Courtney Lee. In order to strive in the best years of his career, Green needs to find a new home. Green would fit in well with the Atlanta Hawks, bringing a level of intensity and athleticism that could push them further into championship contention. Another option for Green is with the struggling Charlotte Hornets. There has never been a clear starting small forward for the Hornets, and Green would bring the passion that the team needs to compliment Kemba Walker and to bring home victory. Green could also be a big influence on former #2 Pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

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