Top Offseason NBA moves in the Eastern Conference

Ever since a man named Jordan wore #23 for the Chicago Bulls the powers of the NBA have resided far west of the Mississippi with multiple titles in Los Angeles and San Antonio but 2009-10 promises to be different. King James and the Cavaliers upgraded the center position adding experienced muscle in an aging Shaq. Defending Eastern Conference Champs, Orlando Magic added perrenial all-star Vince Carter and boltered their bench with Matt Barnes. The Boston Celtics both one year removed from NBA titles have upgraded their starting line-up and bench in quest of bringing the hardware back to the city that has claimed ownership 17 times.

Shaquille O'Neal is no longer the most dominant offensive force in basketball, that title may very well belong to his new teammate, Lebron James a jazzed up 21st century Karl Malone model. Shaq isn't much of an upgrade on Zydrunas Ilgauskas other than a stronger low post player who can cause problems for eastern rival Dwight Howard. Shaq played especially on the defensive end which he will be called upon to be the anchor blocking shots, rebounding and providing a low post game. The low post game shouldn't be a problem but the other facets he will have to be constantly motivated. The big man can still block shots, play good postion defense as not even the manchild Dwight Howard can move the Big Aristotle down low but the rebounding has always been a problem for O'Neal. For such a massive man he has always been what most would consider an underachiever on the boards. Even if O'Neal does come through with the three attributes that Clevland in counting on in a low post offensive game, rebounding, and blocking shots there is still the enigman, free throws. Lebron isn't much of a free throw shooter although when it came crunch time in the playoffs the King came through with flying colors. If O'Neal wants to win a championship he is going to have to know his role and keep up with his off season conditioning which should be fine if he is passionate about his hobby in the martial arts, so the Diesel might have just one good run left in the old body and what better motivation than wanting to one up his long time rival, Kobe Bryant.

Down south in Orlando they might have lost their best offensive player in Hedo Turkoglu who was the go to guy in crunch time but after the Cleveland series Rashard Lewis showed he is perfectly capable of making the big shots. Turkoglu caused problems with his offense by having a decided height advantage on the perimeter but this is the same advantage Lewis has at 6'10 so having two identical forwards, thus bring in the slasher in Vince Carter who can create shots off the dribble. He is an upgrade to win now over Courtney Lee but down the road this trade should favor the New Jersey Nets down the road. The re-emergence of Jamir Nelson should upgrade the point guard position from the playoffs despite a comendable effort from both an injured Nelson and overachieving Rafer Alston who also took off up north. The Magic did get a big push on the bench with the acquisition of Phoenix castoff Matt Barnes. Barnes is the guy that comes off the bench, rebounds, hits his garbage shots around the rim for a high percentage, and plays hard nose defense and runs the floor extremely well.

Meanwhile in Beantown Danny Ainge got two big Christmas presents early this year. Rasheed Wallace whether starting or coming of the bench will be a big shot in the arm on both offense and defense for the Celtics. Wallace fit in quite well with Detroits team concept and should continue this practice with the Celtics. There was a reason the Spurs put the full court press when courting Sheed. He still has some good years left in him and a sweet low post game and one of the best outside shots for big men in the game. The three gets Sheed into trouble sometimes as he sometimes goes to the well way too often and forgets to rebound. Sheed gives the Celtics another big man to go along with Kevin Garnett, Big Baby Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins. He will also be an upgrade on nasty over James Posey who brought that edgy play to the Celtics in their 2008 championship season. The bonus baby for the Celtics in the offseason has to be Marquis Daniels. Daniels is a tweener that can bring the ball up the court taking pressure off of Rajon Rondo not that Rondo who's motor never seems to tire. Daniels will bring spark off the bench with his perimeter shooting, slashing style of play that can take most second stringers off the dribble, and when asked upon can be a quality rebounder and he is athletic enough to play tough minutes on defense that will be demanded of him by "Doc" Rivers and team leader Kevin Garnett. The addition of Daniels who can play will strong minutes will make Paul Pierce just on the other side of thirty that much more effective and the Celtics should the beast of the East again and with all probability the Kings of the Court come June.

Prediction: Celtics should be hanging another banner.