ESPN

• Rankings: Who are the most successful European imports in sports?

Ricky Rubio is just one of many. No, not potential point guards for the Timberwolves, although that's also true, come to think of it. Rubio, whenever he gets to the United States on a full-time basis, will be just one of many European athletes starring in North American professional sports leagues.

Everywhere you look, there's a guy with good taste in food, a certain worldly "je ne sais quoi" and jeans that are just a little too tight. Heck, Kobe Bryant makes more sense in Italian these days than Delonte West does in English most of the time.

Where once there was the occasional Swede on skates, there are now Europeans everywhere you look (not applicable to residents of Arkansas). Well, almost everywhere. Scotland's Lawrence Tynes isn't exactly leading an EU assault on the NFL.

• Voters think Russia's KHL unlikely to rival NHL even it expands to Central Europe.
• 'Nation believes young American soccer prospects are better off in Europe.
• Only 11 percent of voters like idea of Super Bowl in London.

“

This was such an incredibly stupid draft pick by Minnesota, just horrific. Did they not do their homework at all? This kid is locked into Europe for two more years, because of that buyout. Moreover, the adjustment period of going from Spanish ball to the NBA will probably take another three years. So this horrible team that cannot sell tickets, drafts a guy that will not really pay off at all (if he even does) for five years. Stupid organization!

” -- TorreroX

“

Rubio should take a lesson from American athletes. He should go play for Joventut, complain about a nagging injury, put out an embarrassing Youtube video, become a locker-room cancer, and generally become a pain in the ####. Next thing you know they be paying him to leave!

” -- karltkoch

It's a time for optimism in the NBA, where Anthony Randolph can get hearts fluttering in the Bay Area after tying a Las Vegas Summer League record with 42 points in a game (all right, not every heart). Heck, it's a time when even Knicks fans can shelve the cynicism for a few seconds, as SportsNation blogger allikskat does in making a case for a Big Apple revival.

And then there are the Lakers, who ought to be in the best mood of all.

Colin Cowherd and Kobe Bryant began their conversation on "The Herd" (click on the link on the left to hear the whole thing) by discussing the simple pleasures of parenthood. Then they moved on to Lamar Odom. At least, we think there's a separation between talking offspring and talking about a guy who sustains himself on candy.

After seeing Trevor Ariza and Hedo Turkoglu cash in on stellar postseason performances, it's no surprise Odom wants to cash in on his. But soon after the NBA Finals, SportsNation placed him a distant third to those two when it came to enhanced reputations. And when it came to Ariza or Odom remaining alongside Kobe, Odom was the consolation prize.

• Do the Lakers need Odom to repeat? The 'Nation is truly divided.
• More clear is Lamar Odom needs the Lakers more than they need him.
• Majority still thinks Odom ends up with the Lakers this season.
• Chat: Do the Lakers need Odom? Ask John Hollinger at 3 p.m. ET.

“

buss needs to just take the hit and consider it punishment for the other poor deals he's done. I remember during the finals celebration he was talking about doing whatever it took to keep the championship pieces in place.....doesn't look that way. Sure Odom is stalling but Buss isn't doing much better

” -- Deuces Take Two

“

Odom better wise up and sign for the $9 mill per season. I heard him crying about not being on the ESPN best "Free Agents". Wise up Lamar and re-sign. The Lakers are the team to beat for the next 5 years. Something special is brewing in LA.

” -- bleednd82

In the immediate aftermath of the team's most recent championship, SportsNation was split as to whether or not the Lakers were favorites to repeat. But when the Cavaliers made their big move, literally, by adding Shaquille O'Neal to the mix, popular support swung in favor of LeBron James' team.

So what impact does Ron Artest have on things? Well, voters still think Artest would fit better alongside LeBron and Shaq, but it's no longer a contest for the top spot.

By a better than 2-to-1 margin, it's the Lakers for two.

And Artest's combustible past aside, voters not only think Dennis Rodman was more of a handful for Phil Jackson; they think a current member of the Lakers is more of a chore.

• It was a relatively quiet long weekend, although Hedo Turkoglu did his best to create some dramatic fireworks. SportsNation isn't buying that Toronto's Turkish community or Turkoglu's comfort level with the Eastern Conference had much to do with his apparent reversal after reaching a verbal agreement to sign with the Blazers. They also aren't convinced pairing Turkoglu with Chris Bosh makes the Raptors a playoff team.

• Vote: Jason Kidd's decision to stay and Rasheed Wallace's relocation
• Groups: LA Laker Haters | Celtic Pride CHAMPIONS! | Portland Trail Blazers Nation

“

Great job hedo you went from playing for an elite team in the east to nearly playing for an up & coming portland squad to playing for a lottery team? The raptors will flirt with .500 at best and hedo can watch the playoffs from his cosmopolitan house enjoying the extra $$$ he has accepted for losing!

” -- bos411

“

well i think the hedo deal was worth it for toranto yeah they have no shot at winning the whole thing but they are trying to put fans in the seats making the playoffs do that and hedo proved he is a playoff performer against the CAVS but when it comes down to it great pick up by the raptors

” -- blackmatt86

• Forget this summer; how do you rank the blockbuster 2010 free agents?

Two guys from Texas head to the Big Apple and a sports agent could be involved in the resolution. Now NBA free agency is ripping off "Friday Night Lights" for its plot lines. This is what happens when Carlos Boozer takes himself off the market in what was already a lean talent pool.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has followed Jason Kidd to New York in hopes of keeping the point guard from bolting to another team. And the Knicks, making do without Stephen Curry or Ricky Rubio, might be that team in an effort to layi the groundwork for wooing LeBron James next summer.

Actually, throw in Minka Kelly and we'd watch that.

• Fuss aside, SportsNation doesn't think Kidd is an elite PG anymore.
• Only one in five thinks having Kidd would help land LeBron in 2010.
• Boozer would have been SN's top free agent; now it's Hedo Turkoglu.
• Frequent SportsNation blogger kinglywarrior takes a look at some free-agent appetizers teams could use to tide them over until next summer.

“

I don't think Cuban has any bargaining chips...the knicks need a good point guard and he loves the big city. also it's pretty clear this is a strategic move to lure Lebron, he has said it himself Jason Kidd was the biggest influence on him as a player in high school and "dreamed" of playing with him. This is pure strategy, and it's a good one too. Bring Kidd in, give him a year to get aclamated, make the knicks better (which he would), and make it a much more favorable deal for Lebron next year.

” -- amarebarkley

“

Kidd needs to retire...it's not even fun watching him play anymore. No matter what the experts say, he doesn't have much left.

” -- adanperez

Frivolous spending is out. In tough economic times, there's no room in budgets for impulse buys and casual spending. Which leads to the question of whether players like Ben Gordon and Trevor Ariza are worthwhile investments or NBA free agency's version of the Snuggie?

NBA free agency is upon us, which may be more significant to many in the NBA as the one-year warning for a 2010 class that could include the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki and Travis Diener (or Steve Nash; take your pick on that last one).

At least a class headlined by Ariza, Jason Kidd and potentially Carlos Boozer is more compelling than this year's middling draft class.

• What would your NBA free-agent shopping list look like?
• If you want to know how unexciting this year's free agents are, consider that we're all hanging on a Boozer decision. With a one-year option worth $12.7 million remaining with the Jazz, Boozer must decide between safe money and the open market. Hopefully he's not as conflicted as SportsNation.
• Chat Tuesday: Chad Ford drops by at 1 p.m. ET to talk about this year's free agents
• Fan groups: Utah Jazz fans | NBA Where amazing happens | NBA Fanz Only

“

Iverson has plenty left. in the right system and in the right lineup, he's still a very productive player if not a star in the league still. the only concern that i'd even have is his health. he's got a lot of hard miles and injuries on that body of his, but I think he has it in him to go to a team and contribute a lot. I agree, however, that it's not a great time to be a free agent, and based on that, I don't know how much he'll get on his contract this summer. something tells me he's going to sign with a contender at a discount price.

” -- teniskoala

“

PLEASE BOOZER!!!!!! OPT OUT!!!!! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU RIDING OUR BENCH WITH A BRUISE NEXT SEASON.........

” -- gamenight5

Derek Fisher is not impressed by your speed and quickness. He's not impressed by your youth, spryness and hairs of hues other than gray. He's not impressed by the fact that you didn't live through most of the Ford administration. Fisher has been here before. Thanks to a pair of clutch 3-pointers from the veteran guard, one to tie the game late in regulation and one to stake the Lakers to an overtime lead, the Lakers are a win from a title.

Not surprisingly, only a hardy few fans expect the Magic to rally from a 3-1 deficit. But consider how the tide of popular opinion has turned since the NBA Finals began.

• Before the series, 41 percent picked the Magic.
• After a blowout win for the Lakers in Game 1, support for the Magic shrank to 23 percent.
• A narrow escape for the Lakers in Game 2 only moved the Magic needle to 20 percent.
• Even after the Magic's Game 3 win, only 29 percent picked them to win it all.

Rick Fox knows something about versatility. Forget splitting a basketball career between the Lakers and Celtics, the guy made repeat appearances on both "One Tree Hill" and "Oz" (just imagine the possible crossover episode between those two). So there are worse people to ask about what both teams in the NBA Finals need, beyond star performances from Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard, respectively.

For their part, voters are split as to whether Pau Gasol or Rashard Lewis is the best sidekick in the series. Surprisingly, Lamar Odom fares equally poorly in both California and Florida (although he does better than most places in Pennsylvania, home of Hershey's).

Roland (Orlando)

Other than players named Kobe and Dwight, what player has had the most impact on this series for either team?

Rick Fox

I thought, quite frankly, for the Lakers, Odom had to be the presence he was in the first two wins. I thought his presence was the X-factor. For the Magic, I thought the point guard position was one of challenge for the Lakers. It's always been the pick and roll. You saw early on in the series, [the Magic] had to see what Jameer Nelson could give them and it could be a distraction, and it was. They seemed to return to what worked, and Alston played well, leading them to a win. Full chat transcript.

• Speaking of stars, SportsNation blogger dgd007 is going contrarian on us, but at least he brings some numbers to back up his claim that Kobe Bryant isn't nearly as clutch in the playoffs as we all think he is. Next up: Mario Batali can't really cook Italian food.

Just keep throwing stuff at the wall and hope something sticks. That's how Magic coach Stan Van Gundy summed up his point guard rotation in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

A game after playing 23 minutes in his first run in months, Jameer Nelson's time tailed off. Rafer Alston -- surprisingly not dressed in a parka and mittens, despite the bitter chill that apparently haunts him on the bench -- missed seven of eight shots. By the second half, Hedo Turkoglu was bringing the ball up court and fans back in Orlando were waiting for Scott Skiles to walk through that door.

SportsNation blogger ghostcasino liked Van Gundy's machinations, suggesting Turkoglu is the team's best playmaker at this point.

Blogger AB2324 isn't so sure Van Gundy is the second coming of Norman Dale on the bench, especially if he insists on playing J.J. Redick.