In a league full of physical specimens, these are the best.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: You won't find Kris Humphries on this list, or Big Baby.

10. Amare Stoudemire

Shirtless pics of Stoudemire are the rule, not the exception. And why not, he's earned it. Now working his way back to regular minutes after injury, Stoudemire will be back to full strength soon, with more pool photo shoots to follow.

9. Carlos Boozer

Boozer is great at staying under the radar for the most part. But in a year where the Bulls have needed him to step up and solidify the front court, the veteran has done that. 

8. Kobe Bryant

Kobe's inclusion on this list may elicit a few boos, but the way he has transformed his body during his career warrants some respect. From entering the league as a skinny 18 year old, Kobe has put on a little more muscle every year and you can tell it has paid off by the way his game has become more physical, and less about put jumping defenders, over that time.

7. Ray Allen

Ray Allen has been ripped for years but doesn't really get the credit as such because he is a perimeter player who makes a living draining threes- a specialty which isn't often seen as being based on strength or physicality. I don't know about you, but I would be shirtless all the time if I was Ray Allen. Especially at his advancing age.

6. Blake Griffin

Griffin's leaping ability and athleticism grab most of the attention and highlights, but he is as strong as any front court player in the league. He gets criticized for "only being able to dunk" but the fact that he puts himself in that position time and time again even though every one knows it's coming show how strong he is.

5. Serge Ibaka

Pound for pound, maybe the strongest player in the league. Ibaka is built like a comic book hero, straight up. Anybody with an 8-pack and leads the league in blocks qualifies for this list.

4. Andre Iguodala

Speaking of comic book hero type bodies, Iguodala definitely fits into that category. The balance and symmetry of his physique lends itself to his game; balanced in all aspects, equally productive across the board. In addition, he always seems incredibly smooth and relaxed, just like his build.

3. Metta World Peace

"Ron Ron" is a beast. Just when you think he's mellowed out and forgotten how much of an intimidating force he can be, he deftly punches Detroit's Brandon Knight in the clinch. At 6-7, a jacked 240 pounds and with the potential to go off at any moment, it makes him seem even more ripped in my mind. But him being mental shouldn't detract from how much a physical specimen Ron Ron is is.

2. Dwight Howard

Love him or hate him, D Howard has arguably the most impressive physique in a league full of players with impressive physiques. While toughness is something Howard definitely lacks (especially of the mental variety), the width of his shoulders cannot be questioned; has there ever been a wider NBA player? And I don't mean "wide" like Oliver Miller.

1. LeBron James

Even if you don't think he is the most jacked player in the league, you have to acknowledge that he uses the strength of his body on the court better than any player in the league, maybe even ever. How many times do you see Bron Bron take a player attempting to guard him straight up from the top of the key right to the rim, with ease? It isn't that easy, he just makes it look like it is because he is so strong.

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Some picks may surprise, but the decisions are in. Here are our picks for midseason NBA awards. 

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: The real question is can they keep it going?

The Denver Nuggets came out on top with a 107-100 win against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night, a game in which Warriors coach Mark Jackson said the Nuggets played "dirty."

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  Dirty or not, the Nuggets played better.

Derrick Rose’s Chicago Bulls have been eliminated from the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals at the hands of the Wade/LeBron-Bosh Miami Heat, 4-1. Chi-Town is fighting through some pain right now, but there shouldn’t be any. At the beginning of the season, there were not many people on the Bulls’ bandwagon. The hype grew as the wins piled up. The bandwagon grew yet many were not convinced. Rose won MVP and that’s when all hell broke loose. Tom Thibodeau received Coach of the Year. Beating Indiana and Atlanta were good. However, facing Miami caused the bandwagon to break. People keep saying that getting an upgrade at the shooting guard position over Keith Bogans is all that is needed to get the Bulls over the top to win it all.

Have you ever been offered a trade where it wasn’t remotely close? I hate that. Then you counter making it closer, but they end up expanding the trade or resort back to the original offer. They claim that they want to “get the most” out of a certain player’s stats. That is bull. The name of the game is to get more and rip people off crippling their team. It’s pathetic that a lot of fantasy guys think that way.  Be reasonable with the trade offer. Be flexible. Stick with the numbers. Also, do not trade offers linger. Let them know somewhere that you need more time to think.

Philly poured a bit over $68 million to field a 2010-2011 team that will not make the playoffs. They will be ranked number eleven among 30 teams in total salary committed for that season. They are ahead of notable playoff teams such as the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, and Oklahoma City Thunder. In short – that’s terrible.

Trade rumors about Iguodala have become common place for the past couple years but he no longer believes that he is going to be moved. “I can’t say I would be surprised, because I wouldn’t be surprised, but I am not expecting it to happen,” he said.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: They tried. They failed. Now they move forward. Together.

Once again, the Philadelphia 76ers attempted to again trade Andre Iguodala following the NBA Finals. Once again, they found no takers for their talented and versatile swing.

Iguodala is good, not great. He's at his best as a blending star, who stuffs the stat-sheet each game with fine all-around play.

Here's the problem: Iguodala, with three years and $45 million remaining on his contract, is paid to be great. Like a perennial All-Star; not a complimentary star.

Obviously, the 76ers explored trading Iguodala; however, they soon realized all they'd get back is a problem contract. So, it seems, management will keep Iguodala and will continue overpaying a good-not-great player.

Of course, management didn't have much choice. The 76ers are between owners, which typically limits an organization's ability to make personnel moves.

Then there's the uncertainty regarding the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Currently, the players are locked-out. And teams were reluctant to make trades with the new CBA and financial system up in the air.

For now, the 76ers and Iguodala are together. Who knows for how long, though?

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

“I don’t know about the talks he had with the front office or where they ended before the lockout, but as of right now, he’s still a Warrior,” Curry said of Ellis. “We want him with our team. He makes us better. And I think with a fresh start and all the new faces with the organization that will help him forget about the past and not really affect what is going on right now.

“I know there has been a lot of turmoil with him and the organization in the past. I can’t speak for him, but I think the new look of our organization will help him make a difference.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It would have been easy for Stephen Curry. Very easy.

Nearly two years ago, Monta Ellis ‘welcomed’ Curry to his first pro' training camp by telling reporters the two couldn’t form a backcourt for the Golden State Warriors.

Today, the Warriors have a new owner and coach. And today, they’re also shopping Ellis around the league.

Ellis has been linked to Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic, Andre Iguodala and the Philadelphia 76ers, and Lamar Odom and the Los Angeles Lakers.

He recently grew tired of the rumors and requested a trade.

Now Curry could have extracted a little revenge and kicked Ellis when he’s down. Or, he could have offered a terse 'no comment' when asked about the situation

Instead, Curry had Ellis’ back. He explained how the Warriors’ core want him to return and are inviting him to training sessions during the lockout.

Such maturity is the difference between Curry and Ellis. And such maturity is the reason the Warriors prefer Curry over Ellis.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

A few days ago, it appeared as if the Warriors had decided to keep (Monta) Ellis despite some very attractive propositions. However, late yesterday, they were back to giving serious thought to moving him if the pitch blew them away. Word has it Ellis' agent, Jeff Fried, who did not return my call, informed management his client wants to be dealt.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: In today’s interconnected world of rumours and gossip, teams can’t explore trading stars without consequences.

The star will find out. He, or his people, will read it here, there, or everywhere online. He’ll read analysts’ opinions. He’ll read fans turning into E-Thugs and spewing venom in the comment section.

The relationship will break. The star and team will have to part. It’s inevitable. 

Take Monta Ellis and the Golden State Warriors. Ellis is a talent, who averaged 26 points per game on a bad Warriors squad in 2011.

New owner Joe Lacob has never been sold on Ellis, though. Lacob hired Mark Jackson to coach, who -surprise, surprise- isn’t sold on Ellis, either.

While publicly praising the combo guard’s skill, these two were privately shopping him. Of course, it didn’t stay private for long.

And the rumors became more intense. In fact, Ellis has been in more rumors than an infamous Hollywood actor, who believes he’s ‘winning’.

Talk radio, the internet, and even the more conservative print media has traded Ellis thousands of times. There was Ellis for Dwight Howard. There was Ellis for Lamar Odom. And there was also Ellis for Andre Iguodala.

Ellis, tired of the rumors, finally asked the Warriors to move him. Nobody knows what’s next for player or team, except the rumors will continue.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

I want to sit down and talk to him (Iguodala) and see where his thoughts are," Collins said after Friday's news conference at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine to introduce first-round draft pick Nikola Vucevic and second-round selection Lavoy Allen of Temple and Pennsbury High. "More importantly, I have shared this with his agent Rob Pelinka: Nobody is out there shopping Dre."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Doug Collins is saying one thing. His team, however, is doing something different.

The Philadelphia 76ers, with Collins’ approval, have explored trades for former franchise face Andre Iguodala. If possible, they’d have dumped ‘Iggy’ and his big-ticket for a scorer and/or cap relief.

In this economy and with the Collective Bargaining Agreement changing, no team wants the 3-years and $45 million on Iguodala’s contract -including the 76ers.

His stat-stuffing game doesn’t matter. His willingness to sacrifice for others doesn’t matter, either.

The 76ers and Iguodala are stuck with each other. For better. Or for worse.

Collins, bless his heart, is maintaining the front that the 76ers want ‘Dre. According to the personable sideline boss, the club never tried to trade him, either.

To be fair, Collins must walk a fine line. He must support management, who wanted to deal Iguodala. He must also maintain a relationship with Iguodala, who could return for 2011-12.

Bottom line: the 76ers failed to trade Iguodala. Now Collins has to save the relationship.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers have discussed a trade that would send the Warriors' leading scorer, Monta Ellis, to the 76ers for Andre Iguodala, according to league sources, including one with direct knowledge of Golden State's thinking.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Will a new coach, Mark Jackson, and owner, Joe Lacob, mean a new backcourt for the Golden State Warriors?

Well, rumors are again surfacing that the Warriors are looking to send combo guard Monta Ellis to the Philadelphia 76ers for the athletic Andre Iguodala.

No doubt about it, Ellis can play. However, there are doubts about whether he can continue playing with point guard Stephen Curry.

Ellis and Curry form one of the league’s smallest starting backcourts. And Jackson may wish to put his imprint on the Warriors by shipping out the prolific scorer for a more active, well rounded player –like Iguodala.

Meanwhile, the 76ers have again made their stat-stuffing swing available in hope of adding a first option on offense. And Ellis fits the bill.

Under normal circumstance, the bean counters in the front office would also like this trade.

Both players have three seasons left on their contracts. Ellis will earn $11 million per season, while Iguodala will earn slightly more at $14 million per season.

Reports indicate that Comcast, the wealthy holding company that owns the 76ers, are in talks to sell the club. All personnel moves may be put on hold.

Where there’s lots of smoke, there’s typically some sort of fire. Perhaps talks between the Warriors and 76ers become reality.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Some league folks have hinted that the Sixers and Memphis Grizzlies could discuss a swap of Iguodala for Memphis' injured star Rudy Gay. The Grizzlies are making an impact in the Western Conference playoffs without Gay, who went down with a shoulder injury late in the season.

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There was talk about the Cavs trading for 76ers guard/forward Andre Iguodala. One source seems to indicate the Sixers might ask teams to take Elton brand off their hands, too, in such a deal.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: From MVP candidate to grenade. This is the plight of power forward Elton Brand.

Not long ago, Brand was the straw that stirred the drink for a promising Los Angeles Clippers squad. Then he injured his Achilles. And, despite missing an entire season, managed to get a maximum contract from the Philadelphia 76ers.

From day one, this was a poor match. The 76ers like to run. Brand prefers a slower, half-court game.

There was little interest in a broken down Brand and his big ticket. So the cellar-dwelling 76ers have resorted to packaging him with the marketable Andrew Iguodala.

Bottom line: if a team wants ‘Iggy’ they have to take Brand.

There are two problems with this strategy. First, few teams have the cap space and resources to assume Brand and Iguodala’s combined salary of $26 million. Those that do aren’t interested.

Second, Brand and Iguodala's hefty price tag means the 76ers would surely have to take back a problem contract in a trade. The rebuilding 76ers need young assets, expiring contracts, and draft picks to pair with Evan Turner. They don’t need a frustrated, overpaid veteran to lead the kids astray.

There's no easy way for the 76ers to free themselves of Brand.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

But they might be able to acquire “LeBron Lite.”

League sources indicate the Philadelphia 76ers are attempting to trade guard/forward Andre Iguodala. There is no active dialogue between the Sixers and Cavs right now, but a source said it was one to keep your eye on. Things could heat up toward the trade deadline.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Something has to give –and soon.

The Philadelphia 76ers are 5-16. They’re disjointed. They’re dysfunctional. And fans are tuning them out for the city’s other sports teams.

It’s time to start over; turn the page. This means one thing: trading former franchise face Andre Iguodala.

While not a superstar, ‘Iggy’ is good enough to command a package of young talent and desirable contracts. The 76ers would be out from his big-ticket. Player and team would be free to start over.

Enter the Cleveland Cavaliers.

They have the resources to afford Iguodala’s contract. They also have the resources to satisfy the 76ers’ trade demands.

The athletic swing would make the Cavaliers more competitive. He’d also give Dan Gilbert’s squad an identity and a leader in the post-LeBron James era.

Expect Iguodala to get a change of scenery. And Cleveland makes the most sense.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Kevin Durant, Team USA's scoring leader after three games, is coming off a season in which he led the NBA in scoring -- something Andre Iguodala believes we should get used to seeing. "Kevin Durant will be the NBA's all-time leading scorer when it's all said and done," Iguodala said emphatically. "He loves the game and has a knack for putting the ball in the basket." Through three NBA seasons Durant is 33 points shy of 6,000 for his career. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the league's all-time leader with 38,387 points. Karl Malone is second with 36,928 points, and Michael Jordan is third with 32,292.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: No doubt about it, Kevin Durant is a straight scorer. Like George Gervin and Bernard King.

While he’s on the verge of becoming, perhaps, the NBA’s best player, KD will be hard pressed to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leading scorer.

First, Kareem was able to preserve his body, in part, because he was a post. The Skyhook’s game was also methodical and efficient. As a perimeter player, Durant uses greater energy to get his numbers.

Second, Kareem’s slighter frame wasn’t an issue because old school players weren’t so muscular. Durant is especially skinny and long, which may become an issue in today's physical NBA.

Finally, Kareem had a superb pass-first point guard in Magic Johnson. ‘Mr. No Look’ and 'The Architect of Showtime’ hooked Kareem up with easy hoops. Durant doesn’t have this luxury because Russell Westbrook, a good table-setter, is still developing as a distributor.

Durant will have a Hall of Fame career, however, he’s unlikely to replace Abdul-Jabbar as the game’s all-time greatest scorer.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

Another Western Conference exec uses the word “redundancy” to describe the Turner-Iguodala pairing, since both layers need the ball in their hands to be effective. “There’s not enough floor space for the two of them,” he says. The selection of Turner “might lead them to do commit to trading Iguodala,” he says. Now, that’s an idea.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Two years ago, the Philadelphia 76ers pulled in free agent Elton Brand with a max' deal and re-signed Andre Iguodala. This inside-outside duo was supposed to change the fortunes of the mediocre 76ers, helping this classic franchise consistently qualify for the playoffs.

Clearly, the plan has failed. And management is now looking to cut costs and clean house.

However, this will be easier said than done.

After all, Brand is unmovable because of his poor play, questionable health, and big ticket salary. New coach Doug Collins has no choice but to help the former 20-10 post rediscover his past form.

So the 76ers are considering drafting athletic swing Evan Turner and trading their current pogo-stick, three-man in Iguodala. Unfortunately, there isn’t much of a market for Iggy, either.

While Iguodala is a good player, he has four years and $55 million remaining on his contract. Few teams, if any, want such a massive financial commitment on their books, especially in a down economy and with the Collective Bargaining Agreement about to change.

Regardless of who they draft, the 76ers are likely stuck with Brand and Iguodala. These two will become Philadelphia fixtures like the Rocky statue and Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

Only the people of Philadelphia won't see them in quite the same light.

Got thoughts? Get at us in the comment box below.

"Doug Collins has always said Philadelphia is a ''special place'' for him. Now we know how special. The former 76ers star, according to an NBA source with knowledge of the situation, has agreed to terms to coach them. An announcement is expected Friday, and a formal introduction is likely to come Monday.

A second NBA source said Collins' contract is for four years."

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HoopsVibe's Call: It's an interesting choice -leaving the comfort of the broadcast booth for a talented but dysfunctional Philadephia squad. 

Still, Collins, one of the game's greatest television analysts, could have success with the 76ers if he can achieve four things:

1) Solidify the point guard spot. Andre Miller, hate him or love him, is a decent table-setter and his steady, consistent play was perfect for the young 76ers. The front office never replaced Miller after he left in July of 2009; however, Jrue Holiday should develop into a full time starter.

2) Get something from Elton Brand or get rid of him and his salary. Collins needs the burly post, who is earning max money, to produce like he did with the Los Angeles Clippers.

3) Challenge Andre Iguodala to become a star and then hold him accountable. With his athleticism, the lanky swing should be a far better player, especailly on the defensive end.

4) Rally the troops. Too often, the 76ers seemed fractured, so Collings must get them to play for each other.

Can Collins fix Philaldephia? Let us know in the comment box below.