Look out, Dallas, here comes another "old" guy. Not that that's necessarily bad for this season, especially when you consider that the Mavericks offensive system will work well for their newest acquisition, Shawn Marion. At least it better be good this season, hopefully at least the duration of Jason Kidd's new three-year contract, because instead of focusing on the future, the Mavs and owner Mark Cuban are going all in now.

In March, 2005, Shaquille O'Neal compared the triumvirate of star teammates that he played with - Penny Hardaway (Orlando Magic), Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), and Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat) - to the Godfather trilogy.  "One is Fredo, who was never ready for me to hand it over to him. One is Sonny, who will do whatever it takes to be the man. And one is Michael, who, if you watch the trilogy, the Godfather hands it over to Michael. So I have no problem handing it over to Dwyane."

LeBron James got dunked on. However, you will never see it because he's being a "big baby" about the whole thing. And Nike is the enabler in this case. It's reported that Xavier's Jordan Crawford served LeBron with a two-handed jam, which was recorded, only to have the proof taken away. According to one person's account (read the link), it's intimated that James initiated the confiscation.

What a bad sport! However, it does follow his behavior upon losing to the Orlando Magic in this season's Eastern Conference Finals when he simply went back to the locker room instead of congratulating Magic players. The reason he gave for that was he's a competitor and he hates losing.

The Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade has made it known that the only way he will re-sign and stay with the Heat is if the team becomes NBA title contenders. Considering Wade can become a free agent after next season, the Heat have the 2009-10 season to turn things around. Sure, becoming legit potential raisers of the Larry O'Brien championship trophy is possible to do in one year. And so are the following...

... once the Cleveland Cavaliers started winning, I mean really winning and they seemed for real with Mo Williams playing Gene Wilder to LeBron's Cleavon Little, things went flaccid... err, I mean, the hype died down...

Rasheed Wallace has agreed to join the Boston Celtics and will sign a two-year deal worth the mid-level exception, which is expected to be a little less than $6 million this year. The Celtics really pulled out all of the stops in recruiting Wallace, sending the Big Three of Kevin Garnett (a Sheed pal to begin with), Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. The Celtics will reportedly go over the luxury cap with the deal, but in order to get a player with Sheed's skill and experience is worth it.

Prized free agent Hedo Turkoglu went to visit the Portland Trail Blazers and gave his word that he would join the team. Terms were agreed upon, the news spread like wildfire throughout the internet, and every Blazers fan was rejoicing in the acquisition of the 6'10" gunner and clutch performer. But then something happened...

... Turkoglu lost his balls.

Instead of heading to the City of Roses and joining a very good team that's on the verge and led by the "superstar-you-don't-realize-is-one" Brandon Roy, Hedon't will play ball with the Toronto Raptors. Why the change of mind? Why after not even visiting the Raptors? Why after getting wooed hard by the Blazers like Turkoglu had the greatest vagina in the world? Why?

Turkoglu's wife, Banu.

Trevor Ariza has verbally agreed to join the Houston Rockets in a game of switcheroo after former Rocket, Ron Artest, agreed to join the Los Angeles Lakers, Ariza's former team. And I can't help but feel bad for Ariza. But, DV, he'll be a young multi-millionaire soon with five years of job security! To that I say, so what?

After refusing to take the Lakers mid-level exception (MLE), Ariza does the same thing with the Rockets anyway. Reportedly, Ariza was looking for $8-9 million per from the Lakers, which sounds somewhat reasonable for a playoff hometown hero. But, obviously, with the need to also re-sign Lamar Odom that wasn't going to happen. I think everybody with half a brain knew that. So, it came down to "more money versus multiple chances for a championship ring." It seems that Ariza and his agent, David Lee (not the New York Knicks power forward) were willing to wait on that question and take offers from other teams. However, the Lakers weren't willing to wait...

... and neither was Ron Artest.

It looks like Ron Artest will be playing with the Los Angeles Lakers for the next three years for $18 million... I hope the Lakers are ready for the combustible and talented forward. The Cleveland Cavaliers were another team hot for Artest, but it seems that the rich just get richer. All signs indicated that Trevor Ariza was not going to re-sign with the Lakers because he wanted more than the mid-level exception they were offering, but in Artest, not only do they get a better defender capable of guarding positions one to five, but a better offensive player.

At this point, it's only a verbal agreement, but if/when it does become official, there will be three things the Lakers will need to do to defend their championship successfully. One, re-sign Lamar Odom. Two, of course, stay healthy. And finally, three, Phil Jackson will need to treat Artest the way he did Dennis Rodman when both were with the Chicago Bulls and winning titles. I have every faith that Jackson is up to the task, as well as Kobe Bryant. At this point, it seems that every team in the NBA has to be shuddering at the thought of Artest joining the Lakers.