FINALLY!!!  I'm now able to get onto the site so I can post some articles!  For those that don't know, I am currently up at my base on medical orders because my knee decided to bend the opposite direction it is supposed to while I was playing basketball.  I am going for an MRI today, so wish me luck!

Now, for the article:

The Eastern Conference playoff scenario changed quite a bit over the All-Star break.  Mike Bibby was traded from Sacramento to Atlanta for A TON absolutely nothing.  The Hawks acquired Bibby and gave up Shelden Williams, Lorenzen Wright, Tyronn Lue, Anthony Johnson and a 2008 second round pick.  This was primarily a salary-cap move for the Kings as Shelden Williams is the only player that has a contract for longer than the remainder of this season.  Sacramento basically gave Bibby away to the Hawks so they can look to rebuild for the future.

What does this do for Atlanta?  I think it puts them into the playoffs.  Bibby is an experienced point guard that has been to the Western Conference finals and knows how to guide a team.  He will team up with Joe Johnson in the backcourt and Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Marvin Williams up front.  Don't forget about Josh Childress coming off the bench to add some scoring as well.  This definitely makes Atlanta an interesting team that I will paying close attention to as the playoffs near.

The next trade that is going to impact the East is the Jason Kidd to Dallas trade.  Kidd and Malik Allen will be headed West in exchange for Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Maurice Ager, Keith Van Horn, Trenton Hassell, the 2008 first round pick, 2010 first round pick, and $3 million in cash.  Van Horn has to sign a new contract in order for this deal to work, but it looks like he is going to, so this deal is pretty much done.  Dallas has so many scoring options now that this trade is done.  Kidd will be distributing to Dirk, Josh Howard, Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse, Brandon Bass and Eddie Jones.  Are you kidding me?  The one thing that this does to Dallas is make them smaller on the front line.  With Diop gone Dirk, Brandon Bass, and Erick Dampier will be doing most of the work in the paint now.  Maybe Dallas wants to try a Golden State type of approach and run everyone out of the building?

With this trade, the Nets have made it clear that they want to get tougher inside.  They also feel that Devin Harris is going to be their point guard of the future.  What about Marcus Williams?  Not really sure myself.  Harris will be lined up with Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, and then whatever big men New Jersey decides to throw out there.  This trade hurts New Jersey for this season, and I think they will fall out of the playoff picture within a few weeks.

In a seperate transaction, New Jersey sent former lottery pick, Antoine Wright to the Mavericks for a second round pick.  That is an interesting trade.  Wright has so much potential, I find it hard to believe New Jersey thinks they can get a better player out of that pick.

So, I am predicting, Atlanta moves up, New Jersey moves down and the West gets crazier!