All signs have pointed to restricted free-agent Wesley Matthews  becoming a member of the Blazers for weeks now, but now it’s official. The Blazers had signed Matthews to  a five-year, $34 million offer sheet, and Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline passed for Utah to match Portland’s contract. This is an impressive payday for an undrafted rookie who has yet to fully solidify himself in this league. That being said, he was reliable enough to earn 48 starts for the Jazz under the old-school tutelage of Jerry Sloan – a coach who traditionally doles out his playing time to veteran players.

While there was some question at first whether the Jazz would match Portland’s offer for Matthews, it became clear they were moving in another direction after committing a hefty sum of money to pay Al Jefferson’s contract, and added Raja Bell to their roster. While the Jazz and their fans all liked Matthews’ game, they didn’t like it that much. The Blazers’ deal for Matthews was another “toxic” front-loaded offer sheet, much like their push last year for Paul Millsap. However this time the Blazers will be writing the checks, including $9.2 million in his first year alone ($4.6 in salary, $1.2 million up front, and a $5.6 million signing bonus). Not too shabby for a guy who barely made his roster and only made the the league minimum of $457,588 last season.

Whether or not Portland actually expected the deal to go through (and whether or not he is truly worth the money), they will be acquiring a versatile and hard-nosed wing in Matthews. He has quickly gained the reputation of being a gritty defender, often drawing the matchup of the opposing teams’ top scorer. Pair this along with his incessant hustle and opportunistic play, and you’ve got a prototypical Nate McMillan player.

Matthews’ defensive effort alone will get him substantial minutes for the Blazers next season, but he’s shown the ability to be an impact player on the offensive end as well. In just under 25 minutes per game last season, Matthews averaged over 9 ppg and shot 38% from downtown. He also got some extended run in the playoffs where he boosted his scoring average to 13 ppg. This was likely a big factor in Portland targeting Matthews, as they have had two consecutive seasons of lackluster postseason play from their wing players.

How Matthews will fit in in Portland remains to be seen. As the roster stands, Matthews would likely serve as a role player off the bench, spending time at both the shooting guard spot behind Brandon Roy and the small forward spot behind Nicolas Batum. I could also see him getting some valuable time in the clutch when defensive stops are needed. However, the Blazers have a clear logjam of players that can play shooting guard, and the addition of Matthews would seem to spell a trade for the Blazers in the not-too-distant future. Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless are the most likely candidates to be shipped out this Summer, as neither have been able to fully embrace the roles they have been given on a consistent basis.

While I don’t consider Matthews to be worthy of such a massive contract at this stage in his career, this wouldn’t be the first time in his career to prove doubters wrong. As a player who has shown such determination and hunger to defy the odds, I wouldn’t bet against him. Would you?

On the heels of watching their star free-agent Carlos Boozer sign with Chicago, the Utah Jazz countered the loss with a big move of their own. In a cost-cutting effort, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded Al Jefferson to Utah in exchange for Kosta Koufos, the Memphis Grizzlies’ protected 2011 first-round pick (obtained by the Jazz in a previous trade) and an additional future protected first-round pick.

While the Jazz are on the hook to pay Jefferson $42 million over the next three years, it solidifies their relevancy within the Western Conference. While I was looking forward to seeing Paul Millsap finally get his chance to shine as a starter, he has been invaluable to the Jazz by providing them with depth and stability and it looks as though he will continue that role next year. Jefferson will give the Jazz a reliable scorer in the post, a beast on the boards, and a presence at both ends of the floor. Playing with an elite pick-and-roll point guard like Deron Williams should elevate Jefferson’s game to another level, but Big Al will have to refine his mid-range jumper to be a true threat in Utah’s system. What I like about this acquisition for Utah is that it shows a confidence in their current roster, and also a commitment to staying highly competitive within the Northwest Division.

It will be very interesting to see what kind of impact Jefferson has in Utah, as he has not played for a winning team since he was a rookie with a limited role with the Boston Celtics in the 04-05 season. Of course Jefferson can’t shoulder all of the responsibility for that, but Jazz fans can hope that his time amongst the bottom-feeders results in a fiery hunger to win every night he steps on the floor. Over the past three seasons, Jefferson has averaged 20.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, so he certainly serves as a suitable replacement for Boozer.

Jefferson was once considered to be the cornerstone of the rebuilding Timberwolves, however his game has been somewhat redundant alongside the double-double machine that is Kevin Love.  With Love still on his (substantially cheaper) rookie contract, and with the Timberwolves still deeply in a re-building phase, Jefferson became expendable. The departure of Jefferson leaves the T’Wolves thin at the center position, but Darko Milicic will finally get the chance he’s always wanted to prove that he deserves to be a regular within NBA rotations. With Jefferson out of the picture, we should see more playing time from Minnesota’s offseason steal, Michael Beasley. While Beasley will get time at both the small and power forward positions, he’ll form a versatile frontcourt tandem with Love when the matchups allow.

How do you think the Jefferson will fit in with Utah?

In one of the most anticipated announcements in recent sports history, LeBron James stated his intentions of signing with the Miami Heat. The acquisition of James, alongside other star free-agent acquisitions of Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade makes the Heat the runaway winners of the free-agency period.

James’ decision to sign with the Heat says a great deal about his desire to be a winner. From an outsider’s perspective, I assumed that James would sign with a team that would be a winner – but also one that he would be the clearcut leader of the franchise. This won’t necessarily be the case as he joins the Heat. While James’ style of play is certainly not a selfish one, playing alongside two stars has the possibility to dilute his shine. Now you might not see James going off for 30 every night any more (OK, maybe every other night), but he has a rare opportunity to create a truly special and dynamic team with Bosh and Wade.

James might be even more dangerous on the Heat than he ever has been, as he has never had such talented players to pass the ball to. Imagine defenses collapsing on a slashing James, only to have him drop a pass to a slashing Wade or Bosh for a baseline jackhammer. The alternative is that defenses don’t leave Wade or Bosh to go double-team James, freeing him up for advantageous one-on-one situations. Playing alongside Wade and Bosh will allow James to focus on the intangibles more than ever before. He’ll be a fantastic facilitator and great teammate in Miami, and this trio will bring the level of excitement and power up a big notch in the Eastern Conference.

As the Cavs fall out of the elite group in the East, the Celtics continue to age, and Orlando works to hone their winning formula, the Heat are instantly at the forefront of title contenders. I don’t care who they put around the trio – the Heat will be in the discussion once the postseason comes around. The Heat will hope to round their squad out with proven, veteran players who are willing to sign for the veteran’s minimum for a true chance at winning a title. Given Pat Riley’s success in signing all three of the most-coveted free-agents, I don’t doubt his ability to surround them with a strong supporting cast.

Amidst all this excitement, I can’t imagine how depressing it must be to be a Cavs fan right now. James has been the heart and soul of Cleveland sports since he has been in the league, and has been their shining ray of hope for a championship. Seeing James leave must feel like getting dumped by your supermodel girlfriend who you just got engaged to. I can only imagine how loud the ragestorm of boos will be in Cleveland for the first time James visits Quicken Loans Arena as a member of the Heat – and likely for the rest of his career.

But in the end, James chose the promise of winning over the comfort of home, and he chose a chance for collective greatness over individual accolades.

Even without knowing what the final makeup of their team will be, do you think the Heat’s new power trio makes them the Eastern Conference favorite?

The dominoes have indeed begun to fall. Today brought major free-agent news, as both Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh announced that they would be joining forces in Miami. Carlos Boozer is packing up his bags and leaving for Chicago, adding to an already formidable core. With Amar’e Stoudemire headed to New York, all of the superstar free-agents of 2010 are accounted for. Except for LeBron James, who will make his decision in an ESPN television special tomorrow night.

While James is the last one to commit, his decision will have major repercussions on the landscape of the league for years to come. His decision could potentially shift some real power and relevancy to a team that has underachieved in recent history – such as New York, Chicago, or Miami (sorry Nets and Clippers fans, I just don’t see it happening for you). Or, James can continue his tenure as the state of Ohio’s pride and joy, and make it his mission to bring a title to Cleveland, a city that seems to never catch a break in the world of sports.

Ultimately, James needs to decide what is the most important to him. Is it winning? Is it continuing to build his personal brand and marketing appeal? Is it having a meaningful legacy – and if so – what does that mean to him? If it is just championships he wants, will he be satisfied doing it with the help of other mega-stars and not by willing a team to a title through his own personal brilliance? There is an endless amount of variables for James as he makes his decision.

The way I see it, if James joins either the Bulls or Heat, they are overnight title contenders.

MIAMI

With the Heat, playing alongside Wade and Bosh would easily be one of the most talented trios of superstars to play together in the history of the game. The slashing ability and sheer athleticism that Wade and James could put on the court together would make them an unstoppable force on the offensive end. Add Bosh into the mix, and you have one of the most versatile big men in the game who has the authority to draw a double team and free-up some pressure off of his comrades. As one of the best passers in the game, and often with a pass-first mentality, I do think James can coexist with other star players. Add in the youth of this trio, and you’re looking at a dynasty in the making. While they won’t have much money left over to pull in a supporting cast, anyone would look good playing alongside James, Wade and Bosh.

CHICAGO

Say James decides the Bulls are the best fit for him. The Bulls probably have the best full team in place that James could go to at this point. With Boozer and Joakim Noah, they have a mean and bruising frontcourt that will be a force on the glass. They have one of the best young point-guards in Derrick Rose, and let’s not forget about Luol Deng who regained some of his form last year and put together a solid season. This is an athletic and physical group of players with a good mixture of upside and veteran experience. If James joins Chicago, I believe they would have an upper-hand in overall talent over the Wade and Bosh combo in Miami.

NEW YORK

And then there is New York. They have all of the glamour, glitz and bright lights that James could ever hope for. It’s one of the most passionate basketball cities in the world, and James’ contribution would be wholly appreciated in the Big Apple. The state of their roster is also uncertain, but one thing is for sure – he would have a top-tier big man in Stoudemire to work in tandem with. I can imagine classic battles in the Eastern Conference between James and Stoudemire’s Knicks and Wade and Bosh’s Heat. However, I’m skeptical that if James couldn’t get over the hump with his solid group in Cleveland that he’ll be able to do more with less in New York. That being said, if he could turn New York into a champion, he would take his global celebrity to an astronomical level.

CLEVELAND

But amidst all this speculation, James might just decide that home is where the heart is. The Cavaliers have a distinct advantage in that James has unfinished business in Cleveland. For someone whose whole existence as a basketball player has been rooted in the state of Ohio, James has always had a goal of winning an NBA championship in his home state. To leave now just wouldn’t seem right. While the Cavs have had disappointing postseason runs in the past two seasons, let’s not forget that they also strung together two 60+ win seasons.  Let’s also not forget that James led the Cavs to the NBA Finals back in 2007 only to lose to a then-elite San Antonio Spurs team. My point is, winning a championship in Cleveland is not beyond the realm of possibility if James stays. If he does, they will continue to surround him with top-tier complementary players that will give him a real shot at being a contender. And what better legacy to leave than one of loyalty, greatness, and a championship for a place that has meant so much for him?

James has a number of fantastic opportunities at hand, but his final decision will tell a lot about what he truly values as a player. Where do you think he will end up?

While we already knew that Michael Jordan would be the cover athlete for NBA 2K11, 2K Sports unveiled their official box art for the game today. It features a patently tongue-wagging, slashing Jordan in a Bulls uniform (sorry, Washington hopefuls), with a red theme to complement the Chicago colors. And for those who have any reservations about Jordan’s dominance and overall impact on the game (or are perhaps too young to truly remember) 2K spells it out clearly with the caption “The Greatest of All-Time”.

This cover is similar to that of NBA ELITE 11’s in that they are both heavy on creating a sense of movement with graphical additions. Does this cover get you amped up for the release of NBA 2K11?

Amar’e Stoudemire has agreed in principle to sign a max deal with the New York Knicks that would net him nearly $100 million over the next five years. The deal would make Stoudemire the first marquee name of this gaudy free-agent crop to actually sign with a new team. Other star free-agents such as Joe Johnson, Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce have all indicated that they will re-sign with their current teams.

While this deal can’t officially be signed until the salary cap for next season has been set on July 8, Stoudemire and the Knicks are wasting no time in making their relationship known. Howard Beck of the New York Times has tweeted a photo of Stoudemire on the Madison Square Garden marquee, as well as a picture of Stoudemire wearing a Knicks hat. As Stoudemire addressed the New York media, he proclaimed “the Knicks are back” as he sat in front of a banner that said “Stat City”.

Stoudemire, who has played his entire career in Phoenix thus far, will have an easy transition to New York as he will be reunited with former Suns coach Mike D’Antoni. D’Antoni has taken the same up-tempo system he ran in Phoenix and implemented it in New York, so Stoudemire figures to be a (if not the) key piece within their halfcourt game.

However, much is still uncertain in New York, as their management is hopeful the signing of Stoudemire will lure another top-tier free-agent to the Knicks. They still have enough cap space to pursue another max-contract player, and Stoudemire has indicated that he has reached out to both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to join him in New York. While the signing of Stoudemire ensures that the Knicks don’t end up without anything to show for in this free-agency arms race, it would be seen as a major letdown from Knicks fans if Stoudemire isn’t paired with another star player.

The addition of Stoudemire also likely means the end of fellow free-agent David Lee’s time in New York. While it’s still technically possible that the Knicks could re-sign Lee, it would be a somewhat redundant use of their funds now that they have a premier power-forward in Stoudemire. This also begs the question, if the Knicks aren’t able to land anyone else but Stoudemire this summer, and their roster ends up being fundamentally the same as it was last year (minus Lee), are they any better off than they were last year? You could argue that Stoudemire is better suited for D’Antoni’s system, but they certainly don’t improve in rebounding or defensive departments with the loss of Lee. While Stoudemire is a fantastic addition to the Knicks, and I see him as a major piece to their puzzle, he isn’t the final piece that brings New York back to relevancy in the Eastern Conference.

If nothing else, this signing will begin to set the ball in motion for other star signings to come. Over the next week as the free-agency landscape and each players’ options get more clear, we should see more destination decisions.

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson will put off retirement for at least another year as he tries to chase another title with the Lakers. Health issues had previously caused Jackson to be on the fence for whether or not returning for another season would be a wise idea. Ultimately, Jackson felt as though he was in good enough shape to go for another season, and the great opportunity to add yet another title to his resume was too much to pass up.

With one of the most dominant lineups in the league, and Kobe Bryant still at the top of his game, a championship for the Lakers next year would give Jackson his fourth three-peat. Jackson will likely go down as one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time, as he already has 11 championships under his belt between his stretches in Chicago and Los Angeles. The next Lakers’ title would also tie them with the Boston Celtics for total number of championships at 17, another piece of motivation for Jackson in the modern resurgence of a classic rivalry.

This is fantastic news for Lakers fans, as the return of Jackson provides a sense of stability and confidence going into next season. Each player of the team knows where they stand with Jackson – they know his expectations and quirks. By bypassing the transitional period of learning the system of a new coach (and the political jostling that can come with such a change) the players can hone their focus on their unified goal of winning another title. As a proven commodity, and a master at managing roles, responsibilities and egos, having Jackson back is critical for another championship run for the Lakers.

Do you think the return of Jackson shifts the Lakers’ chances of winning a title one way or another?

John Wall is expected to go to the Washington Wizards with the first pick of the NBA Draft today. But even before he has signed on the dotted line with his new team, Reebok has unveiled his signature shoe: the Reebok ZigTech Slash. They are also expected to air this commercial for the shoe during the NBA Draft.

The ZigTech Slash is unlike any basketball shoe I’ve ever seen.  The most noticeable part of the shoe is the squiggly blue “ZigTech” sole – you’ve probably seen the commercials for the running shoes with the same form factor which Reebok has coined as “an energy drink for your feet”. Reebok clearly understands the magnitude of this partnership, and has done well for themselves by plastering the Reebok logo prominantly on the outside of the shoe. While this is good for brand awareness, I’m not sure that it does the shoes any favors aesthetically.

What’s your first reaction after seeing Wall’s new kicks?

So your team has a high draft pick, huh? That doesn’t mean you are safe from picking a player who is destined for perpetual mediocrity or worse. We’ve found the worst draft picks made at each spot in the lottery from the past decade (this isn’t an all-time list – you don’t need to remind me about Sam Bowie).  You’re about to witness a heaping dose of untapped potential, career-hindering injuries and bad draft decisions. This could be painful.

1st Pick: Kwame Brown, Washington Wizards, 2001

Back when drafting players straight out of high school was all the rage, the Wizards fell in love with Kwame Brown’s size and athleticism. Team president Michael Jordan was enamored with the determination that Brown exhibited in a one-on-one workout pitted against fellow rookie Tyson Chandler. In that workout, Brown would tell Jordan “If you draft me first, I’ll never disappoint you.” In Brown’s nine seasons in the NBA, he has only averaged more than 10 points per game one year, and has never emerged as anything more than a role player. I think it’s fair to say that Brown has been disappointing.

2010 1st Pick: Washington Wizards

2nd Pick: Darko Milicic, Detroit Pistons, 2003

Detroit’s pick of Darko Milicic was particularly bad, especially when considering what other players were still on the board – including Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Milicic was buried behind a solid Pistons front line that featured Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace in their primes. Early in his career, the only time Milicic entered the game was when it was nearly decided, earning him the nickname of the “human victory cigar”. Milicic has been a disgruntled player for much of his career, always unpleased with his role, the system he is in, or the lack of playing time he is receiving.  It is expected that Milicic will return to Europe next season.

2010 2nd Pick: Philadelphia 76ers

3rd Pick: Adam Morrison, Charlotte Bobcats, 2006

Adam Morrison got the reputation of a fiery competitor while in college at Gonzaga. While he wouldn’t beat you with his athleticism, he would beat you with his sweet jumpshot and will to win. While he was fairly productive in his rookie campaign, averaging nearly 12 ppg, his poor shooting percentage led him to a reserve role in his second year. The Bobcats decided to cut their losses and trade Morrison to the Lakers mid-way through his second year, but an ACL tear in his second year seriously derailed his early career. Morrison has never found any significant playing time as a member of the Lakers, but has two NBA championships to show for along with his career field-goal percentage of 37%.

2010 3rd Pick: New Jersey Nets

4th Pick: Eddy Curry, Chicago Bulls, 2001

If you asked me to make this list four years ago, Eddy Curry wouldn’t have been on it. Curry had a fairly productive beginning to his career, producing double-digit scoring averages in the six seasons following his rookie year. But my how he has fell off. Amidst weight gain, knee surgeries, calf strains, and debt problems (despite having a $60 million contract) Curry has been limited to just ten games in the past two seasons. It would be truly surprising if Curry ever returns to relevancy in this league.

2010 4th Pick: Minnesota Timberwolves

5th Pick: Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Denver Nuggets, 2002

Ever since Dirk Nowitzki was drafted in 1998, everybody wanted a piece of that European crop of sharp-shooting big men. Nikoloz Tskitishvili was expected to be a Nowitzki clone, a seven-footer with a feathery jumpshot. But he just wasn’t ready for the big lights. In four seasons in the league, he never improved off of his rookie season where he averaged 3.9 ppg.

2010 5th Pick: Sacramento Kings

6th Pick: Dajuan Wagner, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2002

The hype doesn’t get much bigger for a player who has scored 100 points in a high-school game, especially when they are only 6′2″. This was the case for Dajuan Wagner, a high-octane scoring guard who drew comparisons to Allen Iverson. While he showed flashes of brilliance in his rookie campaign, leading the Cavs in scoring 11 games, his career has always been held up from a variety of ailments. Whether it was a bladder infection, a torn meniscus, a stomach virus, or recovering from surgery, Wagner often found himself out of the lineup. Currently, Wagner is working on getting back into the league after undergoing a major surgery to remove his colon. It’s hard to imagine how good Wagner could have been in the NBA, but it seems like all the cards have been against him thus far.

2010 6th Pick: Golden State Warriors

7th Pick: Chris Mihm, Chicago Bulls, 2000

Chris Mihm has actually had a fairly productive career, but with career averages of 7.5 points and 5 rebounds per game, you should expect a bit more production out of a seventh pick in the draft. Although Mihm started 75 games for the Lakers in the 04-05 season, his career would slowly go down hill due to recurring ankle sprains, injuries and surgeries. Mihm is currently a free-agent and hasn’t appeared in a game since the 08-09 season.

2010 7thPick: Detroit Pistons

8th Pick: Rafael Araujo, Toronto Raptors, 2004

I’m not sure what’s worse for an eighth pick in the NBA draft – averaging a career 2.8 points per game and playing himself out of the league in just three seasons, or being traded along with an undisclosed amount of cash for Kris Humphries and Robert Whaley. That’s Rafael Araujo.

2010 8th Pick: Los Angeles Clippers

9th Pick: Rodney White, Detroit Pistons, 2001

Rodney White was highly touted after one prolific year at UNC-Charlotte, named the national freshman of the year by ESPN. With his stock so high, he jumped ship and declared for the NBA Draft. He soon clashed heads with Pistons’ coach Rick Carlisle, and hardly ever saw the floor. After being traded to Denver, he got an opportunity to show his stuff and became a dependable scorer off the bench. However, his lack of effort at times (primarily on the defensive end) led to his gradual decline out of the NBA and departure overseas. He is currently a player for Zhejiang Guangsha in China.

2010 9th Pick: Utah Jazz

10th Pick: Luke Jackson, Cleveland Cavaliers, 2004

As an Oregon alum, Luke Jackson is near and dear to my heart. I witnessed Jackson score 29 straight points to lead the Ducks to an NIT win over Colorado, and I was absolutely sold on his potential as a solid pro. After a prolific college career, ending as a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award and Naismith College Player of the Year award, Jackson was brought in to Cleveland to serve as the versatile spot-up shooter to complement LeBron James. Unfortunately, nagging issues with his back kept him limited to just 46 games in his first two seasons, and he didn’t have much of an impact when he did play. These days you can find Jackson playing for Carife Ferrara in the Italian LegaBasket.

2010 10th Pick: Indiana Pacers

11th Pick: Jerome Moiso, Boston Celtics, 2000

Coming out of UCLA Jerome Moiso had appeal as a long and versatile big man. You see a 6′10″ player with athleticism coming out of a storied program, you snatch him up quick, right? Not in the case of Moiso. While athletic, Moiso turned out to be a bit of a wallflower out on the court, generating career averages of just under three points and three rebounds per-game over his five-season NBA career. Moiso then took his career overseas where he has played for a variety of teams in Italy, Spain and Russia. He is currently playing for Club Baloncesto Bilbao Berri, a pro club in Spain.

2010 11th Pick: New Orleans Hornets

12th Pick: Hilton Armstrong, New Orleans Hornets, 2006

Looking back, it’s hard to imagine what the Hornets were thinking taking Hilton Armstrong this early. Armstrong was a four-year player at UCONN, but never averaged above four points per-game in his first three years there. He showed a great deal of improvement his senior year by nearly doubling his points and rebound averages, so perhaps it was thought that Armstrong would continue this steady ascent in the NBA. Instead, he reverted back to mediocrity when paired against the league’s talented big men. He has career averages of 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per-game over his four NBA seasons. Armstrong has only earned spot minutes on every team he’s been on, mainly serving as big-man injury insurance .

2010 12th Pick: Memphis Grizzlies

13th Pick: Courtney Alexander, Orlando Magic, 2000

Big things were expected of Courtney Alexander coming out of college. At 25.3 ppg, Alexander was the first player in the history of the Western Athletic Conference to become the nation’s leading scorer. After being traded to the Washington Wizards during his rookie season, he showcased his prolific scoring skills – averaging 17 ppg. He was traded after the following season to New Orleans for a 1st round pick in the 2002 NBA Draft (Juan Dixon), and after one season as a Hornet ruptured his right Achilles tendon. Despite several comeback attempts, Alexander hasn’t ever been able to return to his old form and play himself back into the league.

2010 13th Pick: Toronto Raptors

14th Pick: Mateen Cleaves, Detroit Pistons, 2000

After leading Michigan State to a NCAA championship and being named as the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, Mateen Cleaves was a sensible (but homer) pick for the Pistons. Cleaves was productive in his rookie season as a backup, averaging 5.4 points and 2.7 assists, appearing in 78 games. The following season he was traded to Sacramento for Jon Barry and a 1st-round draft pick, and Cleaves failed to fit in as a viable option for the kings – never playing more than 5 minutes per-game. While he would have additional stints with Cleveland and Seattle, Cleaves never turned out to be the floor general he was expected to be in the pros. The former lottery pick is now a music talent manager.

2010 14th Pick: Houston Rockets