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Lakers fans are understandably excited about the new season, and the defending champs are a popular choice to repeat among bloggers in the ESPN.com community.

"I've never been more excited for the opening of any season, any sport," blogs kurtnaphansen. "The combination of being on the heels of the Lakers winning the NBA championship, of all the trash talk from Cavs, Celtics, Magic, Spurs and even Blazers fans, and of a very new interesting development with the addition of Sheed to Boston, Shaq to Cleveland and Artest to LA."

Below are fan blogs and predictions about the season, which tipped off this week. Click through to respond. If you don't already have an ESPN profile, create one now and start blogging.

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It seems safe to say Allen Iverson will someday find his way to Springfield and the Basketball Hall of Fame. He's already No. 16 all time in points in the NBA, and he's about one good season away from passing Patrick Ewing, Jerry West, Reggie Miller and Amazing Grace Smith. Heck, it was just a year ago that SportsNation ranked him on the cusp of its own Redeem Team (Joe Dumars begs to differ).

Now if only we could figure out what city will come before the not-so-gem of Massachusetts on his career itinerary.

Iverson is hardly alone in NBA circles in his current quest for employment, but with each Andre Miller and Lamar Odom signing, he's starting to stand out more and more. It's one thing for Jamaal Tinsley to need work; it's another for a Hall of Famer who is younger than Steve Nash.

A month ago, SportsNation thought the Heat would be the best fit of the teams rumored to be in the mix. Now the Knicks are in play and rumors have extended all the way to Greece (hey, at least SportsNation thinks he'd be as good an ambassador for basketball as David Beckham has been for soccer in the United States). Surely some team will give Iverson the mid-level exception and 18 shots a game, right?

• 62 percent of SportsNation believes Iverson can still contribute for a contender.
• Beyond the Nation: Bill Simmons makes a case (No. 50) for an Iverson comeback.
• Beyond the Nation: Iverson talks about his image and the nature of celebrity.

“

AI/Mayo/Gay/Rando lph/Gasol. Not a bad starting 5 that can definitely run and put up some points. They would be a better team with this move. Warrick could still be good off the bench for them though. They need D with that lineup from somewhere.

” -- XmanY

“

Iverson fans need to give it up. We're not saying he's not great. He's great. But you have to have a pretty bad team if he can do it more good than harm. And while this is something he could fix if he wanted to, it's getting very late for that dog to learn any new tricks. I'd love to see him do it. But even then, he wouldn't be proving the "haters" wrong - he'd be proving that he should have been listening to them all along.

” -- The Pragmaticist

• Which big man would you rather have in the post? Vote on the trade between the Hornets and Bobcats.

Emeka Okafor played three college seasons; Tyson Chandler didn't play any. Both were selected second overall in their respective NBA drafts; neither has had an abundance of luck staying healthy as a professional. Both looked good for stretches when they were on the court. The lesson here? Heck if we know.

Apparently the Bobcats and Hornets are also at a bit of a loss when it comes to two talented big men with physical baggage. The two teams swapped players Tuesday, with Okafor heading to play with Chris Paul in New Orleans and Chandler ... well, we hear Charlotte has some wonderful golf courses that should keep him busy during May.

When the Bulls picked Chandler No. 2 in 2001, both Pau Gasol and Tony Parker were still on the board (although in Parker's case, that was true for most teams in the first round). At least the Bobcats got some service out of Okafor after picking him No. 2 (and in a draft that saw Shaun Livingston and Rafael Araujo go in the top eight picks, it could have been worse), but imagine how things might look if the lottery had given them the No. 1 pick that went to the Magic.

• Chandler didn't fare well when SportsNation picked its own Team USA | Pick your own
• Does the trade change your NBA Power Rankings?
• Groups: Charlotte Bobcats | Carolina SportsNation | The Hornet Hive

“

This is a decent trade for Charlotte(only if Chandler stays healthy). Charlotte was the lowest scoring team in the league and Okafor has the offensive skills of a high school player. The team needs to score and win now. If they dont make the playoffs then at least fans will have more highlights. Charlotte is now a young and athletic team.

” -- gilesjk84

“

I love Michael Jordan, but he's a complete failure as a front office guy. Just sit back and stay out of business deals Mike, you suck at it.

” -- brianm23

“

I live in Charlotte and all you see for the Bobcats is Emeka Okafor, what are the Bobcats going to do without him? Really? This is one of the most stupid trades I've ever seen the Bobcats make in their small history. I hope this trade doesn't work or Tyson Chandler doesn't pass the physical or something please. Jeez!!!!!!!

” -- swimmerchildren