Big Z retires

(Elsa/Getty Images North America)
Big Z was a fan favorite in Cleveland

                 

Zydrunas Ilgauskus retired today, making him the third center to announce so this summer, after Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming. All three of these guys were quality centers who possessed a knack for scoring, but they did all share one unfortunate trait: they were painfully slow.

Their retirement signifies a new age of centers in the NBA. Up and coming guys like DeAndre Jordan, Joakim Noah, JaVale McGee, Serge Ibaka, and Greg Monroe possess the speed and quickness that will define the center position for years to come.

Sacramento Kings acquire J.J. Hickson

(www.thesportsbank.net)

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward J.J. Hickson has been traded to the Sacramento Kings for guard/forward Omri Casspi and a lottery protected 1st round pick.

This deal doesn't make much sense to me. I know the Cavs needed to make room for Tristan Thompson, but Hickson is only 22. He's got tons of upside. Casspi is a solid player, and the first round pick is definitely nice, but I feel Hickson is worth more than that. If the Cavs really needed a small forward, they could have just drafted Jan Vesely instead of Thompson and kept Hickson, who's one of the up and coming power forwards in the league.

This deal is interesting for Sacramento too. It was a great move, considering Casspi wanted out anyway, but the Kings now have quite a few big men.