For their first move they managed to make a big splash in trading for SG/SF Joe Johnson although Johnson isn’t as productive as he once was he still has the power to put the team on his back and create his own shot. Johnson also makes it so Deron Williams doesn’t have score all the time and spaces out the floor more. Not only that, but it gives Brooklyn another player that has playoff experience and a player that the younger players can attach to for advice. Johnson was also bigger splash, because he brought in another player.

That player is Deron Williams; Williams said that if the Nets didn’t bring in Johnson that he would have signed with the Dallas Mavericks, could you imagine if Deron went to the Dallas Mavericks? Imagine going from New Jersey and to Brooklyn and making a huge deal that things around franchise are going to change with Jordan Farmar as your starting point guard? Yeah, good luck with that. The list what Deron brings you 1. Scoring 2. Wins 3.  Fans 4.  Assists and don’t forget he is number one in all four categories on the team.

The third move that the Brooklyn Nets have done is strengthen the bench by bringing in a great guard off the bench that can shoot and pass in C.J. Watson and they also re-signed Gerald Wallace now Gerald Wallace is a great piece. Wallace can shoot and rebound, I think with all the pieces the Nets have put together that they can easily get to at least the Eastern Conference Finals.

April 10, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Injured Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard claps from the sidelines against the Washington Wizards in the second half at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 93-85. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE

The Magic may now be sitting on the best offer yet, though, and it was available back at the trade deadline as the wrestled with whether or not to deal the three time Defensive Player of the Year.  Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, and three first round picks are being dangled in front of Rob Hennigan, the 30 year old baby faced GM of the Orlando Magic.

There are a lot of reasons Hennigan should take this deal.  First off, Brook Lopez is one of the best young big men in the league.  He is not Dwight Howard, and he’s not even Andrew Bynum, but he is still capable of attracting double teams and being the focal point in an offense.  He’s averaged near or over 20 points per game for two of his first three full seasons in the league, and we can throw out last year because it was an injury laden disappointment for Lopez.  Lopez will keep paint clogged and open up three point shots for the sharp shooting Magic squad.

Lopez doesn’t rebound well, but that is where Humphries comes in.  Humphries is double double machine and grabbed 11.0 rebounds per game last year while also scoring 13.8 points per game.  Humphries’ rebounding prowess allows Lopez to be lazy, and that’s fine.  The Magic can count on Glen Davis, Ryan Anderson, and even rookie Andrew Nicholson for rebounding, while Lopez does the scoring.  Davis even proved himself to be a capable scorer in the playoffs, putting up 19.2 points per game in the first round loss to the Indiana Pacers.  With Dwight Howard out, Davis showed the Magic have a capable starting center, and putting Davis on the court with Lopez could give teams a lot of problems, if we’re to assume Glen Davis’ performance in the Playoffs wasn’t a total fluke.

Lastly, MarShon Brooks was second in the NCAA in scoring two seasons ago and showed he is going to be a big time scorer in the NBA, as well.  Brooks is capable of getting off a lot of shots fast, and is a very strong “gunner” type.  His senior year at Providence, he averaged 24.6 points per game and as an NBA rookie he put up 12.6 points per game.  Over time, he could develop into the fringe all star type of player and dynamic scorer that could shine alongside Lopez and whatever other pieces the Magic are able to assemble.

That’s not even to mention possibly the best part:  Three first round picks.  First round picks are the best way to retool a franchise and the Nets’ picks should be relatively decent, no worse than middle of the round, because I don’t think that even with Howard aboard they will be an elite contender.  Deron Williams and Dwight Howards surrounded by a lot of trash isn’t likely any better than the teams Howard has already been playing with, but don’t tell him that.  If the Magic were able to net middle of the round picks with those three selections, in addition to the mass of talent they are already assembling, they could become contenders themselves.

That is, after all, the point of this trade, or any trade.  The Magic don’t want to send themselves back to Square One.  Rich DeVos is in his late 80s and wants to see the team win a title before he leaves the globe.  This type of move would allow that, without hindering the Magic’s flexibility moving forward.

There’s a lot of other things the team must do:  re-sign Ryan Anderson, find a capable point guard (assuming they let Jameer Nelson walk), and perhaps most importantly find a good head coach, after firing Stan Van Gundy, who was unarguably the most successful coach in Orlando Magic history.

For now, they’ll be smart to mull this offer from the Nets over really well, aware that it could be the best they’ll receive.  Sometimes patience isn’t rewarded.

With the 27th selection in the first round, the Celtics took 6-10 senior power forward JaJuan Johnson from Purdue. With the 25th (55th) selection in the second round, the Celtics took 6-4 senior shooting guard E’Twuan Moore, also from Purdue during the annual NBA draft on Thursday night.

Technically, the Celtics selected Providence College guard Marshon Brooks with the 25th overall selection. In a draft-day trade, the Celtics sent Brooks to the New Jersey Nets in return for the rights to Johnson and a 2014 second round pick. Brooks had been trending as a likely selection for the C’s leading up to the draft. The dynamic shooting guard lit up the Big East averaging 24.6 points and 7 rebounds per game.

While the trade is getting a lot of negative press in the Boston area based solely on the local connection. The Celtics added depth to the front court they so desperately needed.  Brooks is an electric player capable of driving to the hoop, he struggles on defense and has yet to find a consistent three-point stroke. With only Kevin Garnett and Jermaine O’Neal currently in the front court, the Celtics needed to add some length to their roster in a big way.

Let’s take a closer look at each selection:

JuJuan Johnson:
6-10 senior power forward from Purdue
20.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in the 2010-2011 season.

Strengths:

• Long, athletic big man: 8-10 reach with a 7-2 wingspan
• Above average shot-blocker
• Great leaper
• Runs the floor well
• Decent mid-range shot

Weaknesses

• Strength
• Low post game
• Basketball IQ
• Ability to transition to NBA

E’Twuan Moore

6-4 senior shooting guard from Purdue

18 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 3.2 assists per game in the 2010-2011 season.

Strengths:

• Lanky combo guard, capable of playing both spots
• Shooting ability, shot .400 from behind the arc as a senior
• Runs the floor well
• Decent defender

Weaknesses:

• Strength
• Athleticism
• Finishing at the basket
• Under sized
• Quickness

Overall, a solid draft for Danny Ainge. The Celtics added players that can play defense and shoot the ball well. The Celtics are loaded with scorers and needed to fill out the roster with players that can step in and contribute in other areas. Johnson and Moore may not be the sexiest picks in the draft, they fill a need. Having a player or two that can come off the bench and play defense and/or knock down a few buckets is an invaluable chip to a championship puzzle. Plus, having an extra second round pick, plus the Clippers lottery protected first round pick,  at their disposal puts the Celtics in a nice position to make extra moves leading up to and during the season.

The Houdini Says: A-

Solid draft in what was labeled as one of the worst draft classes in recent memory. In 5 years, we may look back and appreciate where the Celtics were able to nab each player.