Not that any of you have noticed, but the NBA tipped off its regular season this week and is featuring a lot of old faces in new places. However, it will be the same old teams once again competing in the playoffs for the league title.If any of you do watch an NBA game this season, don’t think you’re hallucinating when you see the number of players wearing new uniforms. This was surely one of the busiest off-seasons in recent years highlighted by three-and four-team blockbuster trades and free agent signings.The Orlando Magic made the most noise this off-season by signing free agents Grant Hill from Detroit and Tracy McGrady from Toronto.Simply put, it was time for Hill to leave Detroit, as he definitely deserved better team support. Hill is too good of a player not to be on a contending team. He did all he could for the Pistons and the city of Detroit while getting nothing in return. Hill will bring his all-around game to Orlando and make everyone around him better.McGrady will definitely feed off of Hill’s experience. A high-flying, slashing shooting guard, McGrady will join the athletic Darrell Armstrong in the Magic backcourt, giving the team the quickness it needs to compete with Indiana, New York and Miami in the East.Speaking of Miami, they’ll need quick production from their new acquisitions fast, as all-star center Alonzo Mourning is out for the season with a kidney infection. Joining the Heat this year is Lenny Kravitz-wannabe Brian Grant from Portland, and former Hornets Anthony Mason and Eddie Jones, coming over as part of a nine-player trade. Miami will have to rely on their quickness and rebounding this year if they are to contend for the Eastern Conference crown.Another big trade making news was the 12-player, four-team deal highlighted by Patrick Ewing shipping out of New York to Seattle, while Glen Rice and Travis Knight received pink slips out of L.A. to the Big Apple.After all those years in New York, the Knicks finally got tired of paying someone to spend more time icing his knees than dunking the ball and blocking shots.Don’t look for Rice to stay long in New York as he must now share the perimeter with the smooth-shooting Alan Houston and the (throat)-slashing Latrell Sprewell. Unhappy in L.A. because he wasn’t involved enough in the offense, Rice will now face the same problems in New York. Maybe if he just learned how to play defense, coaches might keep him out on the floor longer and down the stretch in close games.One move I was very happy to see was Shawn Kemp out of Cleveland. His huge beer belly and contract were nothing but a waste of space and money in Cleveland. So the Cavs sent Kemp and his giant contract to Portland, part of a three-team deal with Milwaukee.Once again, the bulk of talent in the league is out West. The Lakers, Blazers, Jazz and Spurs will once again dominate the conference this year with strong challenges from the T’wolves, Sonics and Suns.The East has a lot of talent as well. It’s just too bad it’s spread out all over the conference. The Heat looked to be the favorite a month ago. However, without Mourning, the Heat will now take a back seat to New York and Indiana. Look for Alan Iverson and the 76ers, along with the improving Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic, to turn some heads this season as well.The Lakers should once again take home the title in June. And why not? With Shaquille O`Neal, Kobe Bryant, newly acquired Horace Grant and mastermind Phil Jackson leading the way, there’s no reason the maturing Lakers can’t repeat as champs.
Adam Widman is a senior in journalism who would appreciate a wake-up call in April when the NBA playoffs finally start. He can be reached at [email protected].