I wish the mob had contacted Robert Sarver first

Maybe then the Suns would be more interested in making an offer other people couldn't refuse.

Seriously, what the f is going on lately? Free agency is getting weirder by the minute, and then today this betting scandal explodes onto the front page. Yipes. This is the last thing the league needs.

I have no idea who this guy is... I expected to hear a name like Salvatore or Bavetta in there. But maybe Stern pays them better than the mafia to fix things. ZING!

Anyway, onto moves....

1. The Suns dumping Kurt Thomas wasn't surprising, given that they hated his salary. And I guess them giving up first round picks isn't a surprise, since they do it all the time. But they treated this deal like they were burdened by all of this.

Umm... a guy with a fairly-soon-expiring contract is an asset. So are picks. You don't want to give up BOTH. Boston is trying to do the same thing with Theo Ratliff in order to GET someone, not get rid of him. That's nuts. Especially when Thomas can still play a little. Don't they want another big man besides Diaw on the bench? Someone with some energy? They have the best seven man key rotation in the league, but it helps to have two or three more in case someone gets hurt.... considering that Hill, Bell, Stoudemire, and Nash have all had injury problems in the past few years, they're getting dangerously frugal. Trading away contracts and picks isn't helping that. Maybe you can see why Bryan Colangelo left....

They're like the anti-Knicks: they actually have a great chance to go somewhere, but won't spend that extra cash to do it. With San Antonio losing momentum, I think they should go into next season as the favorite, even without a KG trade. But they won't make those extra steps to ensure a win, mainly, it seems, for cash reasons. Sarver, you're gonna get heat for this.

Seattle gets another vet to help now and then create cap space down the road. Plus more picks. Savvy. Presti is off to a good start.

2. I didn't really get the Steve Blake move, or why Denver thought Chucky Atkins was a better pick, but it doesn't really change much. Both teams stay the same there.

3. I'm kinda surprised to see Steve Francis back in Houston, especially after they drafted Brooks and traded for James, but that's potentially a steal for them. If he can adjust to being a supporting guy, he might be able to turn it around. I did like the trade fro Luis Scola. The Rockets are looking interesting.

Some fans out here thought for sure Franchise would rejoin Cuttino Mobely with the Clips, but it's not so bad that he didn't. Having those two and Cassell in the back court would mean that everyone else would see the ball a lot, lot, lot less. If they need a fill in for a while, please look to Brevin Knight. He passes.

4. Speaking of Knight, I was curious to Charlotte letting him go, then re-signing Wallace and Carroll to go along with Richardson. Now Charlotte has wings and no points or centers. I jus thtoguht of this trade the other day to clear up two logjams at once:

Adam Morrison for Jarret Jack

Works for both parties! Morrison goes back to the Northwest, to a team that needs scoring and a three man. Jack gets out of the three-way battle at point in Portland and gives Ray Felton a boost. This trade makes too much sense not to happen.

5. Chris Mihm and Derek Fisher came back to the Lakers. Well, that'll sure convince Kobe!!!!

But actually, this is nice. With these guys and Luke Walton resigned, they can now more confidentally consider trading away prized youngsters like Bynum and Crittendon. Which will help their trade plans this summer, if they do it right.

6. Magliorre to Nets. Mikki to Kings. Yawn. What good does this do anyone? Just lateral moves.

That's all for now. Things are only going to get stranger, I presume....