Not surprisingly all the buzz in New Orleans Wednesday was around the Hornets, who signed unrestricted free agent, James Posey to a four-year $25 million deal. 

Now I know when fans look back on this summer's free agents the first thing that comes to mind will be Elton Brand and what happened to the Clippers. However, this summer should be remembered by the moves the Hornets made to improve their chances at making it to the NBA Finals.

Unless the Lakers, or some other West Coast power, sign Ron Artest the Hornets signing of James Posey will be the most important deal made this summer. Not only does this improve the Hornets roster exponentially, but it also weakens the defending champions aging roster and gives the Hornets a wingman that torched the Lakers in the Finals.

 Oh yeah and did I mention he's won two rings in the last three years(Heat 06 and Celtics 08). That makes it difficult to pick against the Hornets because they "Lack experience".

There aren't too many starting fives I would take over, David West, Tyson Chandler, Peja Stojakovic, James Posey and Chris Paul. Maybe they lack a true center, but there aren't too many left in the league anyway. There's the Big Cactus in Phoenix, but they'll run him off the floor.

This team finished with a 56-26 record, one game behind the purple and gold, and had the second best conference record at 34-18. So while the Lakers continue to hope and pray that Andrew Bynum will be healthy enough to play next season the Hornets continue to get better.

Yesterday the Clippers proved once again why they will always be the second or third (Sparks) best basketball team in Los Angeles when they traded for Denver Nuggets center, Marcus Camby.

Why make this move if you’re the Clippers? You already have a center. LA meet Chris Kaman. The Clippers need a forward that can score points not a center that can block shots and rebound. That’s why they should be chasing Josh Smith instead of pursuing Emeka Okafor and then trading for Camby.

The only good thing about this move is that it makes the Nuggets weaker, but it also clears up space on the Nuggets payroll. Denver is now officially a two-man team, (A.I. and Melo) that plays absolutely no defense.

It has been quite a ride for the Clippers who on July 2^nd thought they would have a team led by Baron Davis and Elton Brand and a good chance at making the playoffs. Fast forward to July 16^th, the Clippers are now trying to find the right combination of players that can make them relevant. Sure Camby is a great defender and the mix of him and Kaman could be difficult for opposing teams, but unless Camby can provide the Clippers with defense against themselves it could be another long year for the Clipps.

We have reached the 2008 All Star Break and the teams tied with the best record sit at 57-38. One team hasn't won the World Series in 100 years (Chicago Cubs...not the Dodgers) and the other is in the midst of an identity crisis (LA Angels of Anaheim near the O.C..)

With that being said let's take a look at a few things we've learned after the first-half of the season.

Not good to play baseball and be named Barry (Zito 4-12 5.62 ERA) (Bonds..enough

said)

Not a bad time for marine life (Rays 55-39 ½ behind Boston in AL East) (Marlins 50-45 1.5 behind Phillies in NL East)

Just because you lead your league in HRs and RBIs you're not guaranteed to make the ASG (Ryan Howard 28Hrs 84 RBIs).....forget the .234avg and 129Ks

A personal trainer isn't always beneficial (Brian McNamee and Greg Anderson)

Money can't buy happiness or a good team.....(Yankees $218million LA Dodgers $125.6 million)

If the team can't win it's the managers fault (Mets ...Blue Jays...Mariners)

Older doesn't always mean more experienced.....just earlier bed time and BINGO night ( Houston, Detroit, Toronto, San Diego)

Just because you pitch doesn't mean you can't be a position player (Rick Ankiel .270 20HRs 50RBIs)

A save is something that should be celebrated (k-Rod 38 saves and 38 rain dances....)

Redemption is possible (Josh Hamilton)

So is humiliation (Milton Bradley goes after KC Royals announcer)

Your son's 12 year old All Star team may have enough offense to win the NL West (1^st place Diamondbacks 47-48)

Baseball players are popular with the ladies (A-Rod, Clemens,)

Now that we know all that we can get ready for the ASG tomorrow and not be surprised when the AL beats the NL again.

With the MLB All Star Game set for Tuesday, July 15 it got me thinking, what if the NBA All Star Game actually “Counted”… 

First of all the game would involve defense, and if you’ve ever watched an NBA All Star Game you know, that’s unacceptable.

Fans would have to pick the most deserving players not their favorites…just like in baseball (Starting SS for the AL….Derek Jeter….Batting avg…286)

The officiating would be top notch, just like the NBA playoffs…… 

The players couldn’t get smashed the night before and try and play the following night (let’s see someone try and enforce that)….

Josh Howard couldn’t do his best Ricky Williams impression…. 

There would be actual set plays, not that the players would run them though…

Since the game counted no Clippers or Bobcats would be allowed on the team, because the incentive would be to win…..oh yeah no Grizzlies either…..

Players would have to shoot better from the free throw line than the Memphis Tigers…

No three pointers, because most NBA players can’t make 3’s and this game is important… 

Ticket prices would soar…this is a must watch game….it will determine what floor the Celtics lose the NBA Championship on… 

So David Stern pleaaasssseee don’t ever make the NBA All Star Game count. If I wanted to watch an important All Star Game I’ll watch the Pro Bowl………….

 At 2pm P.T. the Philadelphia 76ers are supposed to make a major player announcement....I'm guessing it's Elton Brand not Allen Iverson, but who knows? If Brand does become a 76er today and Corey Maggette goes to the Warriors, as reported the Clippers must figure out what to do next.

 While Elton Brand was the second best player in Los Angeles, he was a Clipper in a Laker town and maybe that's why he left.

Now it's important that the Clippers officially sign Baron Davis and then look for free agents. Rumors have it that the Clippers are after Josh Smith and/or Emeka Okafor. Smith may not be the answer, but Okafor is a strong low-post presence that likes to play defense and block shots...a rarity in the NBA..

 He was a Bobcat, so a Clipper wouldn't be much of a down grade....

 What is most shocking to the hundreds of Clippers fans around the country is that you can't blame this on Donald Sterling. The man most well known for not being Jerry Buss has started to spend some $ but unless he can sign a few more big names it doesn't look like it will make a difference in next years win/loss record.