To start off, let me tell you what I would do if I was a team that is considering going after Vick for next season: find another option. I just don’t see how it can be in a team’s interest to get a guy like Vick. Let’s face the facts, Vick was always an average quarterback at best who was glorified for his playing style. Don’t get me wrong, I love watching the man play, it’s incredibly exciting, but he lacked the actual quarterbacking skills to make him effective. So to me, Vick is a high-risk low-reward play. I can’t possibly see him being any better after coming out of prison, and it would definitely be possible that he has gotten worse and will need some adjustment time, so it’s probably not a good move. And sure, he might motivate the fan base somewhat, but he’s also going to cause major controversy, any big-time NFL fans that also happen to be serious animal rights activists (can’t imagine there a ton of these people, but still) would be quite put off.

Even if a team wants to have Vick play for them, the real obstacle lies in the hands of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell/Harvey Dent. You know Goodell is going to want to punish Vick beyond his time spent in the penitentiary, so on or somewhere soon after July 20, when Vick’s sentence is up, we may find out that all of this is moot because he is being suspended further.

Now beyond all that, let’s take a look at who might be interested. The leading candidate right now is the Miami Dolphins after former NFL coach Dennis Green said that Bill Parcells wants to go after him, and being the wily fox that Parcells is, Green thinks he can convince Goodell to let Vick play. With all of the wildcat-type things that the Dolphins did last season, Vick actually seems like a pretty good fit there, so if he’s going to play in the NFL. Another option might be the Vikings, assuming that the Favre stuff falls through. Since they’re looking for a temporary quarterback, if Vick can’t find a big offer, taking a one-year contract and then “proving” he’s still got it would be smart. Other teams could try this too, particularly ones that are going to be “training” young quarterbacks, like the Jets, though to be honest I don’t really see that happening at all. Destination: Miami Dolphins.

Last night, the Detroit Pistons confirmed the acquisitions of Ben Gordon, from the Chicago Bulls and Charlie Villanueva, formerly of the Milwaukee Bucks. While Ben Gordon’s fit with the Pistons, a team who pride themselves on slow deliberate offensive schemes and a team-defense mentality, can be questioned, his talent cannot be. Gordon is a high-impact signing who will, above all else, help the mediocre team of this past season, put points on the board. Villanueva, on the other hand, is an ideal fit in Detroit. His low presence will create another option in the low post, and while giving Detroit’s big men more of a scoring flare. After seeing the first big acquisitions of the offseason, I chose to pick out some other big names, and let you know where I think they’ll end up.

Lamar Odom: Someone who has always been enigmatic, Lamar Odom could be one of the most talented players in the game. However, his refusal to impose his own will on games has made him an underachiever. It is clear that he has found his comfort zone in his second stint in Los Angeles. He cannot be the main man, as seen with the Clippers, and is best when deferring to one or, even more ideally, two better players. He has found this with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. This, on top of his famous quote: “I was born in New York, I live in Miami, and I play for the Los Angeles Lakers. What could be better than that?”, leads me to believe Lamar isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. Destination: Los Angeles Lakers

Trevor Ariza: Another talented swingman for the Lakers, Ariza finds himself in a very unexpected position. As a restricted Free Agent, Ariza was almost certain to re-up with the Lakers, then enjoy the summer months as a defending NBA champion. However, the Lakers are only willing to offer Ariza the mid-level exception of $5.6m. Ariza took this as a slap in the face, and is now looking for greener pastures. The two teams, I see most competitively vying for Ariza’s signature are the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Houston Rockets. Both are in desperate need of a small forward who can knock down 3s. The Cavaliers’ needs are more pressing as the LeBron contract issue looms large, and a sense of desperation sets in. Ironically, both of these teams only have enough cap room with which to offer Ariza the mid-level exception as well. But it seems the mid-level offer coming from your family is a bit harder to take than from new teams. Or at least that’s Ariza’s logic. Expect him to team up with LeBron and Shaq to make a Title tilt with the Cavs. Destination: Cleveland Cavaliers

Ron Artest: Ron Artest has made no secret of his admiration for the Houston Rockets organization or Head Coach, Rick Adelman. This is the main reason why I find it hard to see Artest leaving. Another reason is that for every other team in the league, Ron poses a very large risk. Who knows what it takes to make Artest blow-up? But the Rockets know, whatever it is, they’ve got the antidote to Artest’s court rage. He was being courted heavily by the Cavs over the past couple days, but the aforementioned freeing-up of Trevor Ariza, who is six years Artest’s junior, has perhaps been the shiny new toy that has adjusted Cleveland’s attention. Expect Artest to re-up with the Rockets, unless of course, the Yao Ming news comes back worse than hoped. Either way, expect Artest’s signing to affect Ariza’s, or the other way around. Destination: Houston Rockets

Jason Kidd: As you know, Kidd’s best years are far behind him, however, he will still be able to help a title-contender on many different fronts. Having a mature, tough point-guard with a poor shooting touch just helped the Lakers win their 15th NBA championship. Judging from the first few days of free agency, there is a two-horse race underway for Kidd’s services. Mark Cuban and the Mavericks are hoping to hang on to their 1, while Kidd seems to have fallen in love with the New York Knicks. One wonders if it has anything to do with the fact that Kidd played just down the road in New Jersey for so many years. Either way, I see Kidd teaming up with his former Team-USA assistant coach Mike D’Antoni in Madison Square Garden. To me, the matchup isn’t right at all, with New York’s young, run and gun system, but alas the heart wants what it wants. Destination: New York Knicks

Hedo Turkoglu: You can read about this case more in my earlier post. But just as an update, Hedo is being shown around Portland’s facilities today, after having dinners with Head Coach Nate MacMillan and GM Kevin Pritchard. The Raptors were reported to have made a 5-year $60m offer, which has since been “pulled off the table” as well as refuted entirely by other sources. Give this one a week before you see Hedo in black and red in the Pacific Northwest. Destination: Portland Trailblazers

This blogger claims that the three most-likely options are Detroit, Toronto and Portland. I like these options, as it is very clear that these teams have cap space, and are looking for offensive ignition. Turkoglu on a young Portland team with two 7-footers could be a devastating combination. A team inluding Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden and Turkoglu would definitely be a powerful force in the Northwest Division.

The only other three options that appear at all viable, would be Sacramento, Oklahoma City or Memphis. Sacramento has been in love with Turkoglu ever since they traded him to the Magic, and would very much like to see him back in northern California. Memphis and OK City, on the other hand do not seem particularly interested as both have options at the 3 and 4 spots and are involved in youth-based rebuilding movements; lastly, Turkoglu is a “win now” kind of player, at the age of 30. Either way, I think it will be telling where Turkoglu goes, as it will reveal his basketball priorities. If he selects a team like Sacramento, who will most likely be able to pay the most, it will be clear that he wants as much money as he can get. However if he re-signs with the Magic, who will offer less because of their massive commitments to Rashard Lewis ($18m/year) and Dwight Howard ($15.1m/year), it will indicate his intention to win a trophy before his glorious basketball career comes to a close.

Kaka: This one is all but official. Once Brazil plays Paraguay in their World Cup Qualifier on Wednesday night, Kaka will fly back to Europe and complete his physical with Real Madrid. Thus, kicking off Real’s massive summer. Destination: Real Madrid

Emmanuel Adebayor: After falling in and out of love with Adebayor in the span of three years, Arsenal fans will be ready to see the Togolese striker leave. The clubs that are interested include both Inter and AC Milan as well as London rivals Chelsea. Arsenal won’t want to sell such a talented player to a rival; therefore, AC Milan will eventually land the forward, to try and compromise for the loss of Kaka. He’ll cost the Italians around £18m. Destination: AC Milan

Edin Dzeko: A name many are not familiar with, Dzeko just completed a star-studded season for German Champions, Wolfsburg. After scoring 26 goals in his second full season with the club, the Bosnian is a hot transfer target throughout Europe, with England an increasingly likely destination. Look for Arsenal to move Dzeko, a thrifty replacement for Adebayor, into a partnership with Robin van Persie for around £10-12m. Destination: Arsenal

David Villa: Three clubs have declared their interest in Villa’s services: Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City. Since the latter can’t offer the Spanish striker Champions League football, expect them to miss out. Chelsea will be keen to sign Villa as they will most likely lose out to Real Madrid for the services of Kaka. Villa will replace, the melodramatic, Didier Drogba at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea may have to cough-up up to £25m for the striker. Destination: Chelsea

Cristiano Ronaldo: Here we go again. After another embarassingly successful season at Manchester United, Cristiano is being linked, again, to Real Madrid. Florentino Perez, the newly-elected president, heads the charge this time around, claiming he is ready to pay upwards of £80m for the Portuguese winger. While he is undoubtedly the most unstoppable scorer in the world, I find it hard to imagine United will be able to reject such an immense offer. I predict Sir Alex ultimately decides to take the money and reinvest it in an attack make-over.  Destination: Real Madrid