To tell you the truth, I’ve never been a huge NBA fan.
College hoops concluded by March Madness has always been my thing. I’ve always
been a proponent of team basketball, as opposed to the isolationist, one-on-one
game seen in the NBA during recent years. I always thought professional players
took possessions, quarters, even games off and played defense, oh, every once
in a while.

Although I still believe nothing in sports compares to the
Big Dance, I must admit I was wrong.

This year’s NBA playoffs have done everything but
disappoint. The Celtics-Hawks series went down to the wire as we saw a young
team led by future star Joe Johnson — who was traded by the Celtics to the
Suns in 2002 — emerge. Somehow Kobe is still able to baffle us, and Chris Paul
continues to show the world why he is the game’s most complete point guard.

The West is completely up for grabs, and after Atlanta took
Boston to seven games, the East looks wider open as well.

These playoffs should continue to excite, but as I watch, I
can’t help but wonder, “what if?”

Countless numbers of trades, signings and draft picks have
stacked up to formulate these postseason rosters. I’m aware that had certain
deals taken (or not taken) place, subsequent moves may or may not have
followed. But, in honor of summer on the horizon, let’s have some fun.

That said, imagine if…

The Lakers actually traded Kobe

It seems like ages ago that No. 24 wanted out of Los
Angeles. But just months later, the Lakers finished first in the talent-filled
West and look poised to at least contend for a championship.

After Bryant whined over the offseason, Lakers General
Manager Mitch Kupchak decided it was time to make some moves. Youngster Andrew
Bynum started to blossom, then they traded for Pau Gasol. And the rest, well,
we’ll have to wait and see.

But just think about Kobe in a Bulls uniform — which almost
actually happened — perhaps donning No. 23? We’d probably be discussing a
Boston-Chicago Eastern Conference Final. Wouldn’t that be fun?

The ping pong balls bounced correctly in ’97

The Celtics finished the 1996-97 regular season with the
best chance of receiving the No. 1 pick in the draft thanks to a poor record
and a pair of picks. In most sports, that equates to having the first pick in
the upcoming draft.

Not in the NBA.

At the time, University of Kentucky head coach Rick Pitino
decided to leave the Wildcats in pursuit of coaching the next dominant big man:
Wake Forest’s Tim Duncan. Pitino signed with the Celtics, but the balls bounced
toward the Lone Star, not the Bay, State. The Spurs ended up with Duncan and
have subsequently created a dynasty. The Celtics took Chauncey Billups with the
third pick and haven’t made it to the NBA Finals since.

The Celtics hadn’t given up on Billups

Substitute Rajon Rondo — one of the most exciting, but worst
shooting point guards in the league — with Billups. Then the C’s would have
sharpshooter Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Mr. Big Shot all on the court in crunch
time with Kevin Garnett.

Never would happen. But wow.

The Suns hadn’t traded for Shaq

You don’t need to imagine this one; you’ve already seen it
for the last few seasons. The Suns weren’t getting over the hump with Shawn
Marion. They couldn’t beat the Spurs last year — even had Amare Stoudamire not
been suspended for Game 6, Shaq didn’t slow them down or make them any worse.

Hindsight is 20/20. I still like the trade.

Orlando took Parker in ’01

The Magic had two first round picks in 2001. They selected
Steven Hunter from DePaul with the 15th pick and Jeryl Sasser from SMU with No.
22.

Don’t worry, I haven’t heard of them either.

The Spurs stole Tony Parker with the last pick in the first
round. Imagine the Frenchman and Dwight Howard on the same team. A true point
guard is just what Orlando needs.

Good thing there’s plenty coming in this year’s draft.

The Pistons didn’t take Darko

Which one of these names is not like the other: LeBron
James, Darko Milicic, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade?

Detroit took Darko. Think about the Pistons with one of the
other three (LeBron wasn’t available at No. 2). I think they would have won
more than just one championship.

Enough said.

The Cavs had taken Amare in ’02

Instead, they took Dajaun Wager from Memphis at No. 6.
LeBron and Amare playing together? Need I say more?

The Hawks had taken Chris Paul

The Wake Forest point guard was on the board in 2005 at No.
2 (so was Illinois point guard Deron Williams), but Atlanta opted to take UNC
sixth man Marvin Williams from Roy Williams’ championship squad.

Think the Hawks were impressive against the C’s last week?
Imagine CP3 running the show in Hotlanta.

Silly.

Utah stayed domestic in ’03

The Jazz took Serbian Alexsander Pavlovic at No. 19 that
year. Kendrick Perkins went 27th and Josh Howard went 29th. The Jazz could use
both right about now as they stare Kobe in the face down 0-1.

The Bucks didn’t immediately trade Dirk to Dallas after
the ’98 Draft

Sorry, I had to.

Derek is a sophomore majoring in economics. He’ll be in
Madison all summer, so if you want to talk sports, you can e-mail him at
[email protected].