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ricodgame2
Guest
I heard..
Amare for Marco Belinelli, Biedrins, Brandan Wright.. and they might add Curry, Azubike(pardon for wrong spelling..
)
I heard..
Amare for Marco Belinelli, Biedrins, Brandan Wright.. and they might add Curry, Azubike(pardon for wrong spelling..
)
E
eliooo932
Guest
I heard..
Amare for Marco Belinelli, Biedrins, Brandan Wright.. and they might add Curry, Azubike(pardon for wrong spelling..
I really hope this trade will not happen
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Dtown2
Guest
Rumor has it the T-wolves are thinking of trading Rubio's rights to the Knicks, since Rubio might stay in Spain a couple more years.
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ricodgame2
Guest
I really hope this trade will not happen
but if it does happen, i think suns will not be in playoffs again this year..
but i don't like curry being picked by GSW.. I would love to see him play with NYK
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LordOfLeyte2
Guest
I was talking about Ben Wallce
Sorry about that but let me regress and therefore redeem myself. Tyson Chandler would fill in nicely for defensive purposes that Ben Wallace never have quite accomplished.
But is it wise for NOH to get a guy who's contemplating for retirement in exchange of for a player who has been plagued by injuries this year? I can imagine the salary being erased from the books but....
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Luíz for 32
Guest
It's not to much probable but it would be great for the Suns, no doubt. Of course they lose an all-star like Amare, but Belinelli, Wright and Biedrins are three rising forces in the NBA...
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Buzissa2
Guest
The trade "Biedrins+Wright+Bellinelli - Amare" is good for the Suns, I don't know why they are trying to add one or two more players... I think the Suns are exaggerating and GS will lose the interest on this trade...
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eliooo932
Guest
I know that Biedrins, Wright and Bellinelli are getting better and better but in my opinion it's nothing compared to Amare. If the Warriors really want him they should at least send curry to the Suns. One more time, I don't like the trade, the Suns have to keep Stoudemire, he's their best player and they can't afford to lose another ''big'' man. As for Ben, they really need to trade him. $15 million for 2ppg!!!
come on...
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ricodgame2
Guest
rumored deals with Memphis
rumored deals with Memphis
Griz-Clippers swap fails: Los Angeles owner stopped Randolph deal
By Ronald Tillery (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Grizzlies had agreed in principle to acquire power forward Zach Randolph on Thursday night but Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling later nixed the trade, according to two NBA sources.
During the NBA Draft, executives from both teams hammered out a package with Randolph and Darko Milicic as the key pieces. Griz guard Greg Buckner would also have been included in the transaction.
The Griz ended up dealing Milicic to the New York Knicks for swingman Quentin Richardson after they waited on a final answer from the Clippers and received a "no."
Los Angeles selected power forward Blake Griffin with the No. 1 overall pick.
Power forward is a position where the Griz need the most help. This was Memphis' second flirtation with a Randolph deal over the past year.
The Griz held discussions with New York about acquiring Randolph's services before he was dealt to the Clippers last November.
And aside from Randolph's off-the-court, character issues, the deal could have been costly for the Griz.
The 6-9 beefy scorer and rebounder is owed more than $33 million over the next two seasons. With Milicic entering the final year of a deal that pays $7.5 million this season, the Griz would have absorbed more than $22 million in additional costs when the final math was completed on the deal.
Sources confirmed Friday that the Grizzlies weighed numerous deals -- some reasonable while others team officials felt were not worth considering.
The Phoenix Suns, who tried to move Amare Stoudamire to Memphis at last season's trade deadline, were at it again. This time, the Suns wanted Rudy Gay and the No. 2 overall pick for Stoudemire.
Boston tried to entice the Grizzlies twice. The Celtics offered Brian Scalabrine, Tony Allen and a choice of J.R. Giddens or Bill Walker for the Grizzlies' 36th pick and cash considerations.
The Celtics' best offer for the Grizzlies' No. 2 pick only included center Kendrick Perkins.
Miami offered Michael Beasley for the second pick, and served up Mario Chalmers for the 27th selection.
One of Houston's overtures for the second pick included Tracy McGrady. Another attempt by the Rockets to move up involved former Griz Shane Battier and Carl Landry as well as other pieces. But Houston also wanted Gay.
Memphis declined.
The Grizzlies could have picked up San Antonio forward Fabricio Oberto for their 27th pick. Memphis tried to acquire the No. 5 overall pick from Washington by packaging the 27th and 36th selections. The Wizards balked because the Griz wouldn't accept Etan Thomas and Mike James.
Cleveland (via Daniel Gibson and JJ Hickson), Charlotte (via Emeka Okafor and Nazr Mohammed), Dallas (via Josh Howard) and Oklahoma City (via Nick Collison) also made attempts to grab the No. 2 pick.
rumored deals with Memphis
Griz-Clippers swap fails: Los Angeles owner stopped Randolph deal
By Ronald Tillery (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Grizzlies had agreed in principle to acquire power forward Zach Randolph on Thursday night but Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling later nixed the trade, according to two NBA sources.
During the NBA Draft, executives from both teams hammered out a package with Randolph and Darko Milicic as the key pieces. Griz guard Greg Buckner would also have been included in the transaction.
The Griz ended up dealing Milicic to the New York Knicks for swingman Quentin Richardson after they waited on a final answer from the Clippers and received a "no."
Los Angeles selected power forward Blake Griffin with the No. 1 overall pick.
Power forward is a position where the Griz need the most help. This was Memphis' second flirtation with a Randolph deal over the past year.
The Griz held discussions with New York about acquiring Randolph's services before he was dealt to the Clippers last November.
And aside from Randolph's off-the-court, character issues, the deal could have been costly for the Griz.
The 6-9 beefy scorer and rebounder is owed more than $33 million over the next two seasons. With Milicic entering the final year of a deal that pays $7.5 million this season, the Griz would have absorbed more than $22 million in additional costs when the final math was completed on the deal.
Sources confirmed Friday that the Grizzlies weighed numerous deals -- some reasonable while others team officials felt were not worth considering.
The Phoenix Suns, who tried to move Amare Stoudamire to Memphis at last season's trade deadline, were at it again. This time, the Suns wanted Rudy Gay and the No. 2 overall pick for Stoudemire.
Boston tried to entice the Grizzlies twice. The Celtics offered Brian Scalabrine, Tony Allen and a choice of J.R. Giddens or Bill Walker for the Grizzlies' 36th pick and cash considerations.
The Celtics' best offer for the Grizzlies' No. 2 pick only included center Kendrick Perkins.
Miami offered Michael Beasley for the second pick, and served up Mario Chalmers for the 27th selection.
One of Houston's overtures for the second pick included Tracy McGrady. Another attempt by the Rockets to move up involved former Griz Shane Battier and Carl Landry as well as other pieces. But Houston also wanted Gay.
Memphis declined.
The Grizzlies could have picked up San Antonio forward Fabricio Oberto for their 27th pick. Memphis tried to acquire the No. 5 overall pick from Washington by packaging the 27th and 36th selections. The Wizards balked because the Griz wouldn't accept Etan Thomas and Mike James.
Cleveland (via Daniel Gibson and JJ Hickson), Charlotte (via Emeka Okafor and Nazr Mohammed), Dallas (via Josh Howard) and Oklahoma City (via Nick Collison) also made attempts to grab the No. 2 pick.
I
icebreaker2
Guest
ricodgame, Thanks for the news update regarding trade rumors or attempts. I've been waiting for the Celtics team strengthening but no movement yet is being done by Danny Ainge while the Cavs and Magic have already made their moves to become even more competitive at this early stage.
Guys, what do you think the Celtics should do to be back in the finals next season?
Guys, what do you think the Celtics should do to be back in the finals next season?
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LordOfLeyte2
Guest
Boston is in a tough spot, they placed a premium on the Big 3 and thus they maybe contenders but they are over the cap space and incurred luxury taxes. While good free agents are often testing the waters where there is the most money in a given contract, wherein Boston has to resolve the Glen Davis issue while they don't really have the offer sheets to attract the top free agents of this off - season.
I think Cleveland, Orlando and Chicago are the teams to beat next season while Celtics can still be at shooting distance.
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LordOfLeyte2
Guest
Marbury is shopping for a team that has the most money possible for him and packaged with a starting role which he said should be guaranteed. Also, he has not hired an agent has used the League's player privileges in negotiating with teams.
L
Lebron232
Guest
The Phoenix Suns are a rebuilding team right now while the Golden State Warriors wants to be a playoffs contender next year.
R
ricodgame2
Guest
Trading Rondo: Does it make Sense?
Trading Rondo: Does it make Sense?
According to Ainge and Doc the main reason has to do with his "stubborn" attitude and him being "impossible to coach." The Celtics tried to 'unload' Rajon before to the Pistons but nothing happened until now that is. According to Ainge, "[Rondo's] presence hurt us in winning right now because [against Orlando in the playoffs] his man went and doubled onto Ray [Allen] and Paul [Pierce] and made it difficult for us." Basically because Rajon's trading peak is currently in effect, the Celtics want to unload him before he can hurt the team further but it isn't like Rondo is Chris Henry here, he has a bright future ahead of him but his attitude needs adjusting -- something that could hopefully be worked on.
Instead Ainge is willing to pass up this young talent in favor of players who will actually listen to his commands.
- from sports illustrated
Trading Rondo: Does it make Sense?
According to Ainge and Doc the main reason has to do with his "stubborn" attitude and him being "impossible to coach." The Celtics tried to 'unload' Rajon before to the Pistons but nothing happened until now that is. According to Ainge, "[Rondo's] presence hurt us in winning right now because [against Orlando in the playoffs] his man went and doubled onto Ray [Allen] and Paul [Pierce] and made it difficult for us." Basically because Rajon's trading peak is currently in effect, the Celtics want to unload him before he can hurt the team further but it isn't like Rondo is Chris Henry here, he has a bright future ahead of him but his attitude needs adjusting -- something that could hopefully be worked on.
Instead Ainge is willing to pass up this young talent in favor of players who will actually listen to his commands.
- from sports illustrated
R
ricodgame2
Guest
Yao might be gone for the next season.
Yao might be gone for the next season.
Article before draft day...
As the NBA draft approached, the grim truth about Yao Ming’s(notes) broken left foot hung like an anvil over the Houston Rockets. The fear isn’t that he’s just lost for next season, but longer.
The Rockets and Yao’s reps are frightened over his future, and the concern is the most base of all: Does Yao Ming ever play again?
“The realization has hit them that this is grave,” one NBA general manager said.
For now, the Rockets have privately told league peers it could be a full season before Yao might be able to return to basketball. Multiple league executives, officials close to Yao and two doctors with knowledge of the diagnoses are describing a troubling re-fracture of his navicular bone. Three pins were inserted a year ago, but the foot cracked in the playoffs and isn’t healing.
“It sounds like he’s missing most of next season, if not the entire 82 games,” one league executive who has had recent discussions with the Houston front office told Yahoo! Sports. “That’s all that [the Rockets] will concede quietly, but they know it’s probably much worse.”
Houston general manager Daryl Morey refused comment on Monday and a team spokesman said the Rockets will not have further comment until Yao undergoes additional medical tests.
There’s no reason for the Rockets to disclose the severity of the injury, nor the uncertainty over Yao’s future. Before the Rockets go public with a dire diagnosis, they plan to send him to three more specialists this week, a source said. For now, the Rockets have season tickets and sponsorships to sell. For now, the Rockets will publicly decry these doomsday revelations as premature, but this is the reality that they’re working under within the organization.
This has turned into an impossible situation for the Rockets’ capable GM. Even if Yao plays again, Morey knows it’s just a matter of time until his lower body breaks down. His feet and ankles just can’t support the mobility of his 7-foot-6 frame.
With four surgeries in three years, the Rockets worried they were reaching a breaking point. Well, it’s here. After missing 86 games in the previous three seasons, the 28-year-old Yao missed a mere five this past regular season before injuring his foot during the Rockets’ second-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
It wasn’t until last week when Houston issued a statement saying Yao’s fractured foot hadn’t healed properly, that he would be unavailable “indefinitely.” Prior to Thursday’s draft, Morey tried desperately to trade into the high lottery to take Spanish prodigy Ricky Rubio(notes). Houston needed a young star, but had too few assets to make a deal with Memphis or Sacramento. It seemed odd to teams that Houston had thrown Shane Battier(notes) and Aaron Brooks(notes) into offers within weeks of pushing the NBA champion Lakers to seven games in the Western Conference semifinals.
Now, the Rockets have tough decisions to make: Do they keep pushing Tracy McGrady(notes) and his expiring contract on the market or let the $22 million expire next summer? So far, Morey is getting offered bad contracts and junk talent for him. What’s more, does Houston re-sign Ron Artest(notes) to a $40 million-plus contract when contention is no longer viable? Why not create cap space for the summers of 2010 and 2011? Why not get younger now? Yao could opt out of his contract next summer, but odds are that Houston won’t be so fortunate.
The Rockets should do themselves a favor and just start over. That isn’t easy in a sophisticated and rabid NBA market like Houston, but what everyone long suspected has reached fruition: Yao and McGrady are no longer a faulty foundation, but a collapsed one. Houston needs to proceed with an understanding that they’re no longer chasing the Lakers, but beginning again.
Rest assured, Houston has long been fearful that Yao’s responsibilities to the Chinese national team were rapidly contributing to his breakdown, and perhaps they’ve finally been met. Yao wouldn’t have missed the Beijing Olympics for the world, but it was clear he wasn’t fully healed in those Games. The Rockets paid a price for his nationalism, his obligation and now the darkest fears are close to confirmation: It isn’t just a season on the brink for Yao Ming, but perhaps a career.
- Yahoo! sports
Yao might be gone for the next season.
Article before draft day...
As the NBA draft approached, the grim truth about Yao Ming’s(notes) broken left foot hung like an anvil over the Houston Rockets. The fear isn’t that he’s just lost for next season, but longer.
The Rockets and Yao’s reps are frightened over his future, and the concern is the most base of all: Does Yao Ming ever play again?
“The realization has hit them that this is grave,” one NBA general manager said.
For now, the Rockets have privately told league peers it could be a full season before Yao might be able to return to basketball. Multiple league executives, officials close to Yao and two doctors with knowledge of the diagnoses are describing a troubling re-fracture of his navicular bone. Three pins were inserted a year ago, but the foot cracked in the playoffs and isn’t healing.
“It sounds like he’s missing most of next season, if not the entire 82 games,” one league executive who has had recent discussions with the Houston front office told Yahoo! Sports. “That’s all that [the Rockets] will concede quietly, but they know it’s probably much worse.”
Houston general manager Daryl Morey refused comment on Monday and a team spokesman said the Rockets will not have further comment until Yao undergoes additional medical tests.
There’s no reason for the Rockets to disclose the severity of the injury, nor the uncertainty over Yao’s future. Before the Rockets go public with a dire diagnosis, they plan to send him to three more specialists this week, a source said. For now, the Rockets have season tickets and sponsorships to sell. For now, the Rockets will publicly decry these doomsday revelations as premature, but this is the reality that they’re working under within the organization.
This has turned into an impossible situation for the Rockets’ capable GM. Even if Yao plays again, Morey knows it’s just a matter of time until his lower body breaks down. His feet and ankles just can’t support the mobility of his 7-foot-6 frame.
With four surgeries in three years, the Rockets worried they were reaching a breaking point. Well, it’s here. After missing 86 games in the previous three seasons, the 28-year-old Yao missed a mere five this past regular season before injuring his foot during the Rockets’ second-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
It wasn’t until last week when Houston issued a statement saying Yao’s fractured foot hadn’t healed properly, that he would be unavailable “indefinitely.” Prior to Thursday’s draft, Morey tried desperately to trade into the high lottery to take Spanish prodigy Ricky Rubio(notes). Houston needed a young star, but had too few assets to make a deal with Memphis or Sacramento. It seemed odd to teams that Houston had thrown Shane Battier(notes) and Aaron Brooks(notes) into offers within weeks of pushing the NBA champion Lakers to seven games in the Western Conference semifinals.
Now, the Rockets have tough decisions to make: Do they keep pushing Tracy McGrady(notes) and his expiring contract on the market or let the $22 million expire next summer? So far, Morey is getting offered bad contracts and junk talent for him. What’s more, does Houston re-sign Ron Artest(notes) to a $40 million-plus contract when contention is no longer viable? Why not create cap space for the summers of 2010 and 2011? Why not get younger now? Yao could opt out of his contract next summer, but odds are that Houston won’t be so fortunate.
The Rockets should do themselves a favor and just start over. That isn’t easy in a sophisticated and rabid NBA market like Houston, but what everyone long suspected has reached fruition: Yao and McGrady are no longer a faulty foundation, but a collapsed one. Houston needs to proceed with an understanding that they’re no longer chasing the Lakers, but beginning again.
Rest assured, Houston has long been fearful that Yao’s responsibilities to the Chinese national team were rapidly contributing to his breakdown, and perhaps they’ve finally been met. Yao wouldn’t have missed the Beijing Olympics for the world, but it was clear he wasn’t fully healed in those Games. The Rockets paid a price for his nationalism, his obligation and now the darkest fears are close to confirmation: It isn’t just a season on the brink for Yao Ming, but perhaps a career.
- Yahoo! sports
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ricodgame2
Guest
updates
updates
Bucks make Villanueva free agent
MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks have made qualifying offers to restricted free agents Ramon Sessions and Ersan Ilyasova, but will not make an offer to Charlie Villanueva.
Bucks general manager John Hammond said Monday the offers to Sessions and Ilyasova give them the right to match contract offers from other teams.
Villanueva will be free to sign with any team.
NBA teams have until Tuesday to make qualifying offers to their restricted free agents.
Hammond says he did not want to elaborate on the reasons for the decisions.
Pacers won't pick up Daniels' option
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers will not exercise their team option on guard Marquis Daniels.
Daniels' agent, Glenn Schwartzman, told The Associated Press in an e-mail on Monday that the Pacers have indicated that they will not pay the final year of the deal. Daniels would have made $7.3 million next season, but now he's an unrestricted free agent.
Daniels averaged a career-high 13.6 points per game last season, but Brandon Rush emerged late and is the favorite to start at shooting guard next season.
Daniels has been successful during his three years as a Pacer, but he missed 73 games the past three seasons with an assortment of injuries.
A Pacers spokesman says the team cannot comment on the situation until free agency officially begins Wednesday.
Nets pick up option on Hayes
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New Jersey Nets are picking up the $2.06 million contract option on forward Jarvis Hayes for next season.
"Jarvis was a key member of our rotation last season, providing instant scoring and the ability to stretch the defense," Nets president Rod Thorn said Monday in a statement. "We are pleased to have him continue as a member of our roster and look forward to a similar contribution this season."
Hayes, signed as a free agent last July, averaged 8.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 24.8 minutes in 74 games. He shot a career-high .445 (257-of-577) from the field and a career-high .385 (94-of-244) from 3-point range. He was only 36-of-52 from the foul line.
Nelson: Curry's not going anywhere
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Stephen Curry can get comfortable with the Golden State Warriors. Coach Don Nelson isn't sending his newest high-scoring guard anywhere else.
Nelson firmly declared the Warriors won't trade Curry on Friday, quashing suspicions about Golden State's intentions in selecting the former Davidson star who led the nation in scoring last season.
"He can unpack his bags and relax," Nelson said after welcoming Curry to Oakland. "He can buy a house. We drafted him because we think he's a terrific player that fits right into our program. He ain't going anyplace."
Nelson's unequivocal declaration was probably necessary: Although Curry was widely considered among the draft's most polished candidates, he seemed an odd choice for the Warriors. After all, guard Monta Ellis is just about the same size and plays much the same style of game, and Golden State is loaded with backcourt players.
Many wondered whether Golden State drafted Curry with the seventh overall pick at another team's behest, and rumors about trade talks with Phoenix were rampant Thursday night. Although Nelson and general manager Larry Riley didn't deny discussions took place with the Suns about a deal for power forward Amare Stoudemire, Nelson made it clear Curry won't be a part of any deal.
"[Ellis] should be happy that he's got a sidekick that's very good," Nelson said. "I think he's going to be able to play right away. I'll be surprised if he doesn't."
Curry didn't appear even slightly ruffled after a draft day full of speculation and crazy twists, followed by a 5 a.m. wakeup call for his flight to the West Coast.
Curry, who finished his college career in the Bay Area three months ago with an NIT loss to Saint Mary's, looked rested and confident in a blue suit with chalk stripes while visiting the Warriors' training complex in downtown Oakland. He was accompanied by his girlfriend and his family, including father Dell Curry, a 16-year NBA veteran.
Although Curry declined the chance to work out for the Warriors before the draft, he knew the club had interest following an interview at the predraft camp in Chicago. Although Curry repeatedly said he hoped to land with the New York Knicks, who picked eighth, he was neither surprised nor disappointed when Golden State snatched him.
"I looked at the top 10, and [the Warriors] jumped off the page with the way they play," Curry said. "I'm a fan of the game, so I notice these sorts of things. I've seen enough of them to know I'd fit in here, at least on the surface. It's exciting to get here and think about what could happen with this offense and this coaching staff."
Nelson knows Curry will play for him in the fall when the Warriors go after just their second playoff berth since 1994, but the 69-year-old coach isn't sure what position he'll play.
Curry played point guard in high school before switching to shooting guard for two years at Davidson, culminating in the Wildcats' memorable 2008 NCAA tournament run -- only to move back to the point last season while leading the country with 28.6 points per game.
Curry is open to playing either position, and Nelson said he would like to play Curry and Ellis together for long stretches, moving swingman Stephen Jackson to small forward. Nelson wouldn't speculate how the Warriors would defend the league's top point guards with such a lineup, but defense has rarely been a primary concern for Golden State.
"I'm willing to learn and willing to take criticism and get something from it," Curry said. "I know what I can do well and go out there and do it, and I'll leave the rest to work itself out."
- espn sports
updates
Bucks make Villanueva free agent
MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks have made qualifying offers to restricted free agents Ramon Sessions and Ersan Ilyasova, but will not make an offer to Charlie Villanueva.
Bucks general manager John Hammond said Monday the offers to Sessions and Ilyasova give them the right to match contract offers from other teams.
Villanueva will be free to sign with any team.
NBA teams have until Tuesday to make qualifying offers to their restricted free agents.
Hammond says he did not want to elaborate on the reasons for the decisions.
Pacers won't pick up Daniels' option
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers will not exercise their team option on guard Marquis Daniels.
Daniels' agent, Glenn Schwartzman, told The Associated Press in an e-mail on Monday that the Pacers have indicated that they will not pay the final year of the deal. Daniels would have made $7.3 million next season, but now he's an unrestricted free agent.
Daniels averaged a career-high 13.6 points per game last season, but Brandon Rush emerged late and is the favorite to start at shooting guard next season.
Daniels has been successful during his three years as a Pacer, but he missed 73 games the past three seasons with an assortment of injuries.
A Pacers spokesman says the team cannot comment on the situation until free agency officially begins Wednesday.
Nets pick up option on Hayes
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New Jersey Nets are picking up the $2.06 million contract option on forward Jarvis Hayes for next season.
"Jarvis was a key member of our rotation last season, providing instant scoring and the ability to stretch the defense," Nets president Rod Thorn said Monday in a statement. "We are pleased to have him continue as a member of our roster and look forward to a similar contribution this season."
Hayes, signed as a free agent last July, averaged 8.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 24.8 minutes in 74 games. He shot a career-high .445 (257-of-577) from the field and a career-high .385 (94-of-244) from 3-point range. He was only 36-of-52 from the foul line.
Nelson: Curry's not going anywhere
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Stephen Curry can get comfortable with the Golden State Warriors. Coach Don Nelson isn't sending his newest high-scoring guard anywhere else.
Nelson firmly declared the Warriors won't trade Curry on Friday, quashing suspicions about Golden State's intentions in selecting the former Davidson star who led the nation in scoring last season.
"He can unpack his bags and relax," Nelson said after welcoming Curry to Oakland. "He can buy a house. We drafted him because we think he's a terrific player that fits right into our program. He ain't going anyplace."
Nelson's unequivocal declaration was probably necessary: Although Curry was widely considered among the draft's most polished candidates, he seemed an odd choice for the Warriors. After all, guard Monta Ellis is just about the same size and plays much the same style of game, and Golden State is loaded with backcourt players.
Many wondered whether Golden State drafted Curry with the seventh overall pick at another team's behest, and rumors about trade talks with Phoenix were rampant Thursday night. Although Nelson and general manager Larry Riley didn't deny discussions took place with the Suns about a deal for power forward Amare Stoudemire, Nelson made it clear Curry won't be a part of any deal.
"[Ellis] should be happy that he's got a sidekick that's very good," Nelson said. "I think he's going to be able to play right away. I'll be surprised if he doesn't."
Curry didn't appear even slightly ruffled after a draft day full of speculation and crazy twists, followed by a 5 a.m. wakeup call for his flight to the West Coast.
Curry, who finished his college career in the Bay Area three months ago with an NIT loss to Saint Mary's, looked rested and confident in a blue suit with chalk stripes while visiting the Warriors' training complex in downtown Oakland. He was accompanied by his girlfriend and his family, including father Dell Curry, a 16-year NBA veteran.
Although Curry declined the chance to work out for the Warriors before the draft, he knew the club had interest following an interview at the predraft camp in Chicago. Although Curry repeatedly said he hoped to land with the New York Knicks, who picked eighth, he was neither surprised nor disappointed when Golden State snatched him.
"I looked at the top 10, and [the Warriors] jumped off the page with the way they play," Curry said. "I'm a fan of the game, so I notice these sorts of things. I've seen enough of them to know I'd fit in here, at least on the surface. It's exciting to get here and think about what could happen with this offense and this coaching staff."
Nelson knows Curry will play for him in the fall when the Warriors go after just their second playoff berth since 1994, but the 69-year-old coach isn't sure what position he'll play.
Curry played point guard in high school before switching to shooting guard for two years at Davidson, culminating in the Wildcats' memorable 2008 NCAA tournament run -- only to move back to the point last season while leading the country with 28.6 points per game.
Curry is open to playing either position, and Nelson said he would like to play Curry and Ellis together for long stretches, moving swingman Stephen Jackson to small forward. Nelson wouldn't speculate how the Warriors would defend the league's top point guards with such a lineup, but defense has rarely been a primary concern for Golden State.
"I'm willing to learn and willing to take criticism and get something from it," Curry said. "I know what I can do well and go out there and do it, and I'll leave the rest to work itself out."
- espn sports
R
ricodgame2
Guest
rumors rumors..
rumors rumors..
Stoudemire waiting for decision
Amaré Stoudemire's camp has not heard from any other NBA team about the possibility of acquiring him or any interest in securing his future with a contract extension.
Stoudemire's agent, Charles Grantham, said he would like to hear a commitment from one team in particular - the Suns.
"Either he's in or out," Grantham said Sunday while in Phoenix. "You're going to have to really make a commitment to him that he's part of your program going forward and that you're going to work around him. Those decisions seemingly are still up in the air. They are going to have to be made at some point. You'll have to talk about either committing to him or trading him.
"Those discussions haven't happened yet."
Discussions about trading Stoudemire have happened. A deal with Golden State unraveled after Thursday's draft over the Warriors' unwillingness to part with No. 7 pick Stephen Curry. A Suns-Warriors trade remains possible with something added to the package of Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli.
The commitment Stoudemire is seeking from the Suns is more than just being told he won't be traded. He wants a contract extension when he is eligible later this summer. Grantham considers Stoudemire a maximum-salary player worth an extension averaging more than $20 million per season.
Grantham and Suns General Manager Steve Kerr spoke Sunday and plan to talk more soon.
"This is all normal business," Kerr said. "I don't see any of this as out of the ordinary. We love Amaré. He's been an incredibly productive player for us. He's going to weigh his options, and he has the right to do it."
Stoudemire can opt out of his contract next year to be an unrestricted free agent, passing on a $17.7 million salary in 2010-11.
"One way or the other, they're going to have to commit to him," Grantham said. "Amaré would love to be a part of a championship team in Phoenix. That's his first option. He's 26. He's looking at the prime of his career right now. He'd like to win here if that's what their goal is - to win a championship.
"If it's not their goal, then I have to encourage him to think about other things. 'Where should you finish your career? Where could you go to be productive?' I would think any team that is seriously considering him would want to talk to us about an extension, as opposed to just renting him for a year."
Stoudemire was cleared to work out a week ago for the first time since February surgery to repair a detached retina. Grantham said Stoudemire's right eye will fully recover.
"I have no doubt he's going to play extremely well next season," Grantham said. "Hopefully, it's here for the Suns and they're moving toward a championship. If not, we're prepared and should be prepared to look at other options.
"His best years are ahead of him. We're all reasonable people. We should be able to sit down and figure this out."
Stoudemire commented this month to media in other cities about how well he would fit in with other teams if he was a 2010 free agent.
"It didn't come from Amaré saying, 'I don't want to be in Phoenix,' " Grantham said. "If the Suns are committed to him, he doesn't have to become an unrestricted free agent."
Wolves Rumors
- Kahn fielded offers to Al Jefferson on draft day — including one from New Jersey that offered Devin Harris, Yi Jianlian and the No. 11 in some sort of package — but don’t think they were considered all the seriously.
- Kevin Love’s name didn’t come up much, if at all, in trade talks other Memphis trying to get him and the No. 5 or 6 for the No. 2.
- The Wolves did turn down that Knicks’ offer of No. 8 and Wilson Chandler for the No. 5, which Donnie Walsh would have used to take Rubio and not Stephen Curry.
- Mitch Lawrence in Sunday's Daily News reported that the Wolves turned down a deal with the Houston Rockets that would have resulted in Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier headed to Minnesota for Rubio.
Knicks News
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — A pair of eager, bright-eyed prospects held up their new Knicks jerseys Friday morning and smiled for the cameras, another yearbook image bursting with optimism.
Forward Jordan Hill and guard Toney Douglas, each drafted by the Knicks on Thursday night, stood as the latest standard-bearers of a better future.
“We’re a little better today than we were yesterday,” Coach Mike D’Antoni said, seeming less than content with modest progress.
When the draft ended, the Knicks were still searching for a star point guard, a pursuit that may lead back to where it began — to Ricky Rubio.
Rubio, the dazzling 18-year-old Spanish guard, was taken with the fifth pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He responded with pronounced ambivalence. His father responded with a threat to keep Ricky in Europe for another year or two. Rubio did not attend his own introductory news conference on Friday.
The Knicks responded with raised eyebrows. Donnie Walsh, the team president, said Friday that he intended to call David Kahn, the Timberwolves’ president. Walsh never directly said he would propose a trade, but his intent was clear.
“I would never say never to anything,” Walsh said of pursuing Rubio. “We’re in the off-season. We’re going to be checking everything out, seeing how we can make our team better.”
Walsh and Kahn are close, having worked together in the Indiana Pacers’ front office for several years, with Walsh serving as a mentor. Like most draft observers, Walsh said he was curious about Kahn’s decision to draft two point guards — Rubio and Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn — with consecutive lottery picks.
Asked if it would merely be a discussion between two old friends, Walsh answered with light sarcasm: “Yeah, and the people that are in that relationship never talk about their wants and needs.”
The Rubio discussion may be short, however.
Kahn is insisting that he intends to keep both Rubio and Flynn, despite a variety of obstacles. In an open letter to Timberwolves fans, Kahn raved about Rubio as “a virtuoso” — “like an orchestra conductor with the basketball.”
“He will be our starting point guard here the moment he walks through our front door,” Kahn wrote in the letter, which appeared on the St. Paul Pioneer Press Web site. “We may have to wait a year, or even two, but he is worth the wait. We must be patient.”
The Timberwolves can afford to wait. Under N.B.A. rules, they own Rubio’s draft rights in perpetuity. They may actually benefit from Rubio’s playing in Europe for another year or two.
Although Rubio is a playmaking prodigy — with passing skills reminiscent of Pete Maravich — he needs work. Rubio is regarded as inefficient with the ball and a poor shooter. At 6 feet 4 inches and 180 pounds, he needs to add some muscle to his lithe frame.
By this time next year, Rubio could be much closer to N.B.A.-ready, and an even more valuable trading chip, assuming he refuses to play in Minneapolis.
In Flynn, the Timberwolves drafted an insurance policy. He can run the Wolves’ offense until Rubio arrives and could become the permanent point guard if Rubio forces a trade.
“There is such a thing as drafting assets,” Walsh said of Kahn’s apparent strategy.
Kahn confirmed as much in his letter to fans, saying that he drafted both point guards because they were the two prospects with the most star potential. He also said Flynn and Rubio could play together.
Knicks officials believe that Rubio wants to play in New York, although that will probably have little bearing on the Timberwolves’ decision.
The Knicks made several attempts to move up in the draft in the past week, hoping for a shot at either Rubio or Davidson’s Stephen Curry. They just missed on Curry, who was taken seventh by the Golden State Warriors.
So with the eighth pick, the Knicks chose Hill, an athletic power forward and the last top-tier player on their draft board. They filled their guard needs with the 29th pick (Douglas), which they bought from the Lakers for $3 million.
Hill can hit midrange jumpers, fill the lane in transition and fight for rebounds. He could complement David Lee, or replace him if Lee leaves as a free agent. Douglas, at 6-1, 225 pounds, is an undersize shooting guard who could play some point guard.
Douglas averaged 21.5 points as a senior but impressed the Knicks with his defense. Douglas, the defensive player of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference, spoke about the topic with a passion rarely heard by any recent Knicks player.
“It’s just the right way to play,” Douglas said. “Everybody looks at the offensive end, but you win games by defense. It doesn’t make no sense if you score and the other team scores too.”
The Knicks, who also acquired the veteran big man Darko Milicic in a draft-night trade, are not done shopping. They will try to re-sign their two restricted free agents, Lee and Nate Robinson, when the negotiating period opens Wednesday. They will also continue their search for a top-flight point guard, with Jason Kidd a primary target.
Kidd, who previously played for the Nets, is said to have an interest in returning to the area. However, the Knicks will have only their midlevel exception, about $5.5 million, to spend. They are also unlikely to offer Kidd more than a one-year contract, because they do not want to jeopardize their salary-cap space in 2010.
Another Knicks news
So Donnie, you see the Cavaliers add Shaq, the Magic acquire Vince Carter, the Wizards pick up two major rotation players in Randy Foye and Mike Miller and even the Milwaukee Bucks (a borderline playoff team even with injuries) make a bold move for cap space to keep their core intact . . .
“How do I feel about that?" he interrupted. "I hope none of them work."
Probably not the marketing slogan to go with when selling tickets for 2009-10.
The draft-day selections of Jordan Hill and Toney Douglas are nice pieces, but neither are the centerpiece-type players this franchise needed out of the draft to immediately upgrade the team. So now Walsh and his staff has the rest of the summer to retool this roster that fell seven games out of a playoff spot last season.
Of course Walsh made it crystal clear the focus remains 2010 and for Knicks fans, that valuable free agency period is only a few months after what could be another season without a playoff berth. It could be a very empty May and June next year, especially without a first-round pick (what the hell are we going to talk about here?!).
The Utah Jazz, who own the rights to that unprotected pick, are the happiest of all to hear that the Knicks likely won't be making any aggressive moves this summer to jump into the playoff conversation in the ever-improving East. Perhaps John Wall's representation should begin now putting out hints that they have no interest in playing in SLC.
Let's take a look at the playoff contenders at this point in the East: Cavs, Magic, Celtics, Bulls, Hawks, 76ers, Heat and Pistons. A few teams that came very close (and are expected to be there again) are the Bobcats and Bucks. A team you can not discount if they remain healthy is the Wizards. That's 11 teams so far.
You perhaps can put the Knicks there at 12. And now name me the four teams out of that group that will fall out so the Knicks can get in.
One argument you can make from a Knicks perspective is they were very much in the conversation late in the season, but they were only because there were so many mediocre teams battling for that 8th spot. The Pistons were fading. The Bucks were decimated by injuries.
But the Knicks didn't have Danilo Gallinari -- arguably their best player if healthy -- and Chris Duhon was exhausted playing so many minutes early in the season with a shallow backcourt. Eddy Curry was never in shape and David Lee, at 6-9, was asked to play center. The team also didn't have enough perimter shooters.
OK, so how does any of that change? Gallo's health and durability will be under the microscope all season. As will Curry's conditioning (and ability -- make that willingness -- to run). Toney Douglas is a good grab as a late first-rounder, but we've heard his kind of rhetoric before (just rewind the tape on Nate Robinson). Where are the shooters? Darko Milicic has proven to be a backup center and, at least, you can say he's an upgrade over Jerome James.
But while Walsh and Mike D'Antoni speak optimistically about improving a 32-win team, their goal to make the playoffs this coming season is, at this early point of the summer, is far-fetched.
A lot of pieces have to fall in place this summer to improve this roster enough to be in the playoff conversation and still maintain the necessary cap space for next summer to be in play. The Nets made the decision that 2010 was more important that being a playoff also-ran, which is why the VC deal went down. They did land a solid role player in Courtney Lee and saved $16M in cap space a year from now, when Jay-Z can try to convince LBJ to come to Bk'lyn.
But here's the situation to watch closely: If LeBron signs an extention with Cleveland this summer, I think you will see the Knicks drop the plan and get aggressive. That doesn't mean they will give up any cap room for next summer, but they might be more inclined to spend some of it in a trade or with the mid-level exception.
As for the MLE, which is the only manner in which the Knicks can sign any of the free agents available this summer, Walsh said it would take a certain circumstance to use it. And that would be? “The ability," he said, "to know I can lose money somewhere else.”
That would mean, at the very least, Jared Jeffries and his $6.8M salary would have to be off the books for 2010-11.
We've discussed this issue several times over the past year and it will likely remain a topic of great debate (at least as long as LeBron is still a possibility in 2010). Had Walsh done nothing this season the Knicks may have been a playoff team, likely a borderline one and definitely not one that could have challenged for the East.
So, really, what is more important? Being a capped-out playoff also-ran or taking a methodical approach to rebuilding with an eye on landing the type of player that can make you an instant contender?
Some info left on the cutting room floor from my column in today's Newsday:
The Knicks can entertain sign-and-trade discussions involving both Lee and Robinson on July 9, after the seven-day moratorium. There is expected to be a strong market for Lee, who led the NBA with 62 double-doubles, and there are teams with cap space that have an interest. The Pistons could attempt to sign him to an offer sheet if they do not go after Carlos Boozer and the Trail Blazers are also said to be in hot pursuit, but more likely in a sign-and-trade scenario.
For the Knicks to keep him, Lee and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, would likely have to agree to a back-loaded deal to protect the cap space in 2010. Walsh would also have to first find a way to move either Eddy Curry ($11.2 million against the cap in 2010-11) or Jared Jeffries ($6.8 million) off the roster to offset Lee’s contract, which could command up to $8 million per year or more. Consider the range of these comparables: Troy Murphy ($11 million), Andris Biedrins ($9 million) and Udonis Haslem ($7.1 million).
Paul Millsap, a restricted free agent with the Jazz, is said to be waiting for Lee to set the market for himself.
Robinson won’t command nearly as much in salary, but his popularity as an electrifying 5-9 guard and two-time Slam Dunk champion could be valuable as an attraction in some small markets. According to one league source, the Lakers inquired about Robinson’s availability after his 33-point performance at the Staples Center on Dec. 16. Kobe Bryant has expressed adoration for Robinson and owner Jerry Buss was said to be smitten after that game. The Sacramento Kings also were close to a deal for Robinson and Jeffries before the trade deadline and there are indications that the deal could still take place this summer.
Robinson had a breakthrough season statistically – career-high 17.2 points per game – but his ball-dominating, one-on-one mentality does not fit well in Mike D’Antoni’s system. The Knicks drafted a rugged point guard, Toney Douglas, the 29th overall pick on Thursday and are also in the market for a starting point guard with the plan to move Chris Duhon to a backup role this season.
The same could be said about Lee’s future with the selection of Jordan Hill with the eighth overall pick. The 6-10 Hill is a solid rebounder who has a good mid-range game and, unlike Lee, is a bona fide shot blocker. But the best-case scenario would be to be able to play them together and have some depth in the frontcourt.
The Knicks can re-sign their own restricted free agents, but their only tools for signing other free agents are with the mid-level and bi-annual exceptions. Neither will attract a high-end player such as Hedo Turkoglu or Lamar Odom, but there is an outside chance that New York could be alluring enough for 36-year-old Jason Kidd to consider it. Kidd is most likely to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks, but you can expect the Knicks to at least make the call.
rumors rumors..
Stoudemire waiting for decision
Amaré Stoudemire's camp has not heard from any other NBA team about the possibility of acquiring him or any interest in securing his future with a contract extension.
Stoudemire's agent, Charles Grantham, said he would like to hear a commitment from one team in particular - the Suns.
"Either he's in or out," Grantham said Sunday while in Phoenix. "You're going to have to really make a commitment to him that he's part of your program going forward and that you're going to work around him. Those decisions seemingly are still up in the air. They are going to have to be made at some point. You'll have to talk about either committing to him or trading him.
"Those discussions haven't happened yet."
Discussions about trading Stoudemire have happened. A deal with Golden State unraveled after Thursday's draft over the Warriors' unwillingness to part with No. 7 pick Stephen Curry. A Suns-Warriors trade remains possible with something added to the package of Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli.
The commitment Stoudemire is seeking from the Suns is more than just being told he won't be traded. He wants a contract extension when he is eligible later this summer. Grantham considers Stoudemire a maximum-salary player worth an extension averaging more than $20 million per season.
Grantham and Suns General Manager Steve Kerr spoke Sunday and plan to talk more soon.
"This is all normal business," Kerr said. "I don't see any of this as out of the ordinary. We love Amaré. He's been an incredibly productive player for us. He's going to weigh his options, and he has the right to do it."
Stoudemire can opt out of his contract next year to be an unrestricted free agent, passing on a $17.7 million salary in 2010-11.
"One way or the other, they're going to have to commit to him," Grantham said. "Amaré would love to be a part of a championship team in Phoenix. That's his first option. He's 26. He's looking at the prime of his career right now. He'd like to win here if that's what their goal is - to win a championship.
"If it's not their goal, then I have to encourage him to think about other things. 'Where should you finish your career? Where could you go to be productive?' I would think any team that is seriously considering him would want to talk to us about an extension, as opposed to just renting him for a year."
Stoudemire was cleared to work out a week ago for the first time since February surgery to repair a detached retina. Grantham said Stoudemire's right eye will fully recover.
"I have no doubt he's going to play extremely well next season," Grantham said. "Hopefully, it's here for the Suns and they're moving toward a championship. If not, we're prepared and should be prepared to look at other options.
"His best years are ahead of him. We're all reasonable people. We should be able to sit down and figure this out."
Stoudemire commented this month to media in other cities about how well he would fit in with other teams if he was a 2010 free agent.
"It didn't come from Amaré saying, 'I don't want to be in Phoenix,' " Grantham said. "If the Suns are committed to him, he doesn't have to become an unrestricted free agent."
Wolves Rumors
- Kahn fielded offers to Al Jefferson on draft day — including one from New Jersey that offered Devin Harris, Yi Jianlian and the No. 11 in some sort of package — but don’t think they were considered all the seriously.
- Kevin Love’s name didn’t come up much, if at all, in trade talks other Memphis trying to get him and the No. 5 or 6 for the No. 2.
- The Wolves did turn down that Knicks’ offer of No. 8 and Wilson Chandler for the No. 5, which Donnie Walsh would have used to take Rubio and not Stephen Curry.
- Mitch Lawrence in Sunday's Daily News reported that the Wolves turned down a deal with the Houston Rockets that would have resulted in Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier headed to Minnesota for Rubio.
Knicks News
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — A pair of eager, bright-eyed prospects held up their new Knicks jerseys Friday morning and smiled for the cameras, another yearbook image bursting with optimism.
Forward Jordan Hill and guard Toney Douglas, each drafted by the Knicks on Thursday night, stood as the latest standard-bearers of a better future.
“We’re a little better today than we were yesterday,” Coach Mike D’Antoni said, seeming less than content with modest progress.
When the draft ended, the Knicks were still searching for a star point guard, a pursuit that may lead back to where it began — to Ricky Rubio.
Rubio, the dazzling 18-year-old Spanish guard, was taken with the fifth pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He responded with pronounced ambivalence. His father responded with a threat to keep Ricky in Europe for another year or two. Rubio did not attend his own introductory news conference on Friday.
The Knicks responded with raised eyebrows. Donnie Walsh, the team president, said Friday that he intended to call David Kahn, the Timberwolves’ president. Walsh never directly said he would propose a trade, but his intent was clear.
“I would never say never to anything,” Walsh said of pursuing Rubio. “We’re in the off-season. We’re going to be checking everything out, seeing how we can make our team better.”
Walsh and Kahn are close, having worked together in the Indiana Pacers’ front office for several years, with Walsh serving as a mentor. Like most draft observers, Walsh said he was curious about Kahn’s decision to draft two point guards — Rubio and Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn — with consecutive lottery picks.
Asked if it would merely be a discussion between two old friends, Walsh answered with light sarcasm: “Yeah, and the people that are in that relationship never talk about their wants and needs.”
The Rubio discussion may be short, however.
Kahn is insisting that he intends to keep both Rubio and Flynn, despite a variety of obstacles. In an open letter to Timberwolves fans, Kahn raved about Rubio as “a virtuoso” — “like an orchestra conductor with the basketball.”
“He will be our starting point guard here the moment he walks through our front door,” Kahn wrote in the letter, which appeared on the St. Paul Pioneer Press Web site. “We may have to wait a year, or even two, but he is worth the wait. We must be patient.”
The Timberwolves can afford to wait. Under N.B.A. rules, they own Rubio’s draft rights in perpetuity. They may actually benefit from Rubio’s playing in Europe for another year or two.
Although Rubio is a playmaking prodigy — with passing skills reminiscent of Pete Maravich — he needs work. Rubio is regarded as inefficient with the ball and a poor shooter. At 6 feet 4 inches and 180 pounds, he needs to add some muscle to his lithe frame.
By this time next year, Rubio could be much closer to N.B.A.-ready, and an even more valuable trading chip, assuming he refuses to play in Minneapolis.
In Flynn, the Timberwolves drafted an insurance policy. He can run the Wolves’ offense until Rubio arrives and could become the permanent point guard if Rubio forces a trade.
“There is such a thing as drafting assets,” Walsh said of Kahn’s apparent strategy.
Kahn confirmed as much in his letter to fans, saying that he drafted both point guards because they were the two prospects with the most star potential. He also said Flynn and Rubio could play together.
Knicks officials believe that Rubio wants to play in New York, although that will probably have little bearing on the Timberwolves’ decision.
The Knicks made several attempts to move up in the draft in the past week, hoping for a shot at either Rubio or Davidson’s Stephen Curry. They just missed on Curry, who was taken seventh by the Golden State Warriors.
So with the eighth pick, the Knicks chose Hill, an athletic power forward and the last top-tier player on their draft board. They filled their guard needs with the 29th pick (Douglas), which they bought from the Lakers for $3 million.
Hill can hit midrange jumpers, fill the lane in transition and fight for rebounds. He could complement David Lee, or replace him if Lee leaves as a free agent. Douglas, at 6-1, 225 pounds, is an undersize shooting guard who could play some point guard.
Douglas averaged 21.5 points as a senior but impressed the Knicks with his defense. Douglas, the defensive player of the year in the Atlantic Coast Conference, spoke about the topic with a passion rarely heard by any recent Knicks player.
“It’s just the right way to play,” Douglas said. “Everybody looks at the offensive end, but you win games by defense. It doesn’t make no sense if you score and the other team scores too.”
The Knicks, who also acquired the veteran big man Darko Milicic in a draft-night trade, are not done shopping. They will try to re-sign their two restricted free agents, Lee and Nate Robinson, when the negotiating period opens Wednesday. They will also continue their search for a top-flight point guard, with Jason Kidd a primary target.
Kidd, who previously played for the Nets, is said to have an interest in returning to the area. However, the Knicks will have only their midlevel exception, about $5.5 million, to spend. They are also unlikely to offer Kidd more than a one-year contract, because they do not want to jeopardize their salary-cap space in 2010.
Another Knicks news
So Donnie, you see the Cavaliers add Shaq, the Magic acquire Vince Carter, the Wizards pick up two major rotation players in Randy Foye and Mike Miller and even the Milwaukee Bucks (a borderline playoff team even with injuries) make a bold move for cap space to keep their core intact . . .
“How do I feel about that?" he interrupted. "I hope none of them work."
Probably not the marketing slogan to go with when selling tickets for 2009-10.
The draft-day selections of Jordan Hill and Toney Douglas are nice pieces, but neither are the centerpiece-type players this franchise needed out of the draft to immediately upgrade the team. So now Walsh and his staff has the rest of the summer to retool this roster that fell seven games out of a playoff spot last season.
Of course Walsh made it crystal clear the focus remains 2010 and for Knicks fans, that valuable free agency period is only a few months after what could be another season without a playoff berth. It could be a very empty May and June next year, especially without a first-round pick (what the hell are we going to talk about here?!).
The Utah Jazz, who own the rights to that unprotected pick, are the happiest of all to hear that the Knicks likely won't be making any aggressive moves this summer to jump into the playoff conversation in the ever-improving East. Perhaps John Wall's representation should begin now putting out hints that they have no interest in playing in SLC.
Let's take a look at the playoff contenders at this point in the East: Cavs, Magic, Celtics, Bulls, Hawks, 76ers, Heat and Pistons. A few teams that came very close (and are expected to be there again) are the Bobcats and Bucks. A team you can not discount if they remain healthy is the Wizards. That's 11 teams so far.
You perhaps can put the Knicks there at 12. And now name me the four teams out of that group that will fall out so the Knicks can get in.
One argument you can make from a Knicks perspective is they were very much in the conversation late in the season, but they were only because there were so many mediocre teams battling for that 8th spot. The Pistons were fading. The Bucks were decimated by injuries.
But the Knicks didn't have Danilo Gallinari -- arguably their best player if healthy -- and Chris Duhon was exhausted playing so many minutes early in the season with a shallow backcourt. Eddy Curry was never in shape and David Lee, at 6-9, was asked to play center. The team also didn't have enough perimter shooters.
OK, so how does any of that change? Gallo's health and durability will be under the microscope all season. As will Curry's conditioning (and ability -- make that willingness -- to run). Toney Douglas is a good grab as a late first-rounder, but we've heard his kind of rhetoric before (just rewind the tape on Nate Robinson). Where are the shooters? Darko Milicic has proven to be a backup center and, at least, you can say he's an upgrade over Jerome James.
But while Walsh and Mike D'Antoni speak optimistically about improving a 32-win team, their goal to make the playoffs this coming season is, at this early point of the summer, is far-fetched.
A lot of pieces have to fall in place this summer to improve this roster enough to be in the playoff conversation and still maintain the necessary cap space for next summer to be in play. The Nets made the decision that 2010 was more important that being a playoff also-ran, which is why the VC deal went down. They did land a solid role player in Courtney Lee and saved $16M in cap space a year from now, when Jay-Z can try to convince LBJ to come to Bk'lyn.
But here's the situation to watch closely: If LeBron signs an extention with Cleveland this summer, I think you will see the Knicks drop the plan and get aggressive. That doesn't mean they will give up any cap room for next summer, but they might be more inclined to spend some of it in a trade or with the mid-level exception.
As for the MLE, which is the only manner in which the Knicks can sign any of the free agents available this summer, Walsh said it would take a certain circumstance to use it. And that would be? “The ability," he said, "to know I can lose money somewhere else.”
That would mean, at the very least, Jared Jeffries and his $6.8M salary would have to be off the books for 2010-11.
We've discussed this issue several times over the past year and it will likely remain a topic of great debate (at least as long as LeBron is still a possibility in 2010). Had Walsh done nothing this season the Knicks may have been a playoff team, likely a borderline one and definitely not one that could have challenged for the East.
So, really, what is more important? Being a capped-out playoff also-ran or taking a methodical approach to rebuilding with an eye on landing the type of player that can make you an instant contender?
Some info left on the cutting room floor from my column in today's Newsday:
The Knicks can entertain sign-and-trade discussions involving both Lee and Robinson on July 9, after the seven-day moratorium. There is expected to be a strong market for Lee, who led the NBA with 62 double-doubles, and there are teams with cap space that have an interest. The Pistons could attempt to sign him to an offer sheet if they do not go after Carlos Boozer and the Trail Blazers are also said to be in hot pursuit, but more likely in a sign-and-trade scenario.
For the Knicks to keep him, Lee and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, would likely have to agree to a back-loaded deal to protect the cap space in 2010. Walsh would also have to first find a way to move either Eddy Curry ($11.2 million against the cap in 2010-11) or Jared Jeffries ($6.8 million) off the roster to offset Lee’s contract, which could command up to $8 million per year or more. Consider the range of these comparables: Troy Murphy ($11 million), Andris Biedrins ($9 million) and Udonis Haslem ($7.1 million).
Paul Millsap, a restricted free agent with the Jazz, is said to be waiting for Lee to set the market for himself.
Robinson won’t command nearly as much in salary, but his popularity as an electrifying 5-9 guard and two-time Slam Dunk champion could be valuable as an attraction in some small markets. According to one league source, the Lakers inquired about Robinson’s availability after his 33-point performance at the Staples Center on Dec. 16. Kobe Bryant has expressed adoration for Robinson and owner Jerry Buss was said to be smitten after that game. The Sacramento Kings also were close to a deal for Robinson and Jeffries before the trade deadline and there are indications that the deal could still take place this summer.
Robinson had a breakthrough season statistically – career-high 17.2 points per game – but his ball-dominating, one-on-one mentality does not fit well in Mike D’Antoni’s system. The Knicks drafted a rugged point guard, Toney Douglas, the 29th overall pick on Thursday and are also in the market for a starting point guard with the plan to move Chris Duhon to a backup role this season.
The same could be said about Lee’s future with the selection of Jordan Hill with the eighth overall pick. The 6-10 Hill is a solid rebounder who has a good mid-range game and, unlike Lee, is a bona fide shot blocker. But the best-case scenario would be to be able to play them together and have some depth in the frontcourt.
The Knicks can re-sign their own restricted free agents, but their only tools for signing other free agents are with the mid-level and bi-annual exceptions. Neither will attract a high-end player such as Hedo Turkoglu or Lamar Odom, but there is an outside chance that New York could be alluring enough for 36-year-old Jason Kidd to consider it. Kidd is most likely to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks, but you can expect the Knicks to at least make the call.
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rumors rumors..
rumors rumors..
Jazz news
Mehmet Okur is "leaning toward opting out" of his contract with the Jazz and could make the decision official as soon as today, Okur's agent, Marc Fleisher, said Sunday.
Okur would be opting out of $9 million he is due to make this season in order to become a free agent, raising the stakes for the Jazz as they attempt to keep their starting center, who also was the NBA's sixth-best three-point shooter last season.
The Jazz face opt-out decisions ahead of a Tuesday deadline from Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver and Okur. All indications Sunday continued to be that Boozer and Okur would opt out while Korver would not.
"I think he's looking to do what will make sense going forward for him," Fleisher said of Okur, "and whether that's with the Jazz or not, it's undecided at this point. We're going to look at all the options before he makes his decision."
Although he would be heading into an uncertain free-agent market, Okur has the advantage of being a national hero in his native Turkey, where he could return home and likely command a salary equal to or in excess of what he would make in the NBA.
That minimizes the risk in opting out of his contract with the Jazz. Okur's preference is believed to be continuing his career in the NBA, but playing either in Turkey or Europe has added appeal considering Okur's father, Abdullah, is in poor health.
Should he decide to stay in the NBA, Okur could re-sign with the Jazz or sign with one of a handful of teams that have significant salary-cap space. Beyond that, the Jazz and Okur would have to work out a sign-and-trade deal.
The Jazz could reach agreement on a contract extension with Okur before Tuesday, but Fleisher said he had no expectations of that happening. He also said Okur was "absolutely prepared" to leave Utah if it came to that.
Back in May, Okur commented on his Web site that he would be willing to take $3 million to $5 million less in a new contract to stay in Utah. Okur also said he considered himself one of the eight to 10 best centers in the NBA in that same interview.
"I'm not sure whether [the Jazz] misread it or didn't misread it," Fleisher said. "Memo's going to do what's best for him and his family."
Okur originally signed a six-year, $50 million contract with the Jazz in 2004 and was selected to the All-Star team in 2007.
He has been the Jazz's starting center the past four seasons, averaging 17.0 points and 7.7 rebounds last season while shooting 44.6 percent from three-point range. As arguably the Jazz's most clutch player, Okur has hit numerous game-tilting shots while in Utah.
The Jazz's internal options to replace Okur should he leave include only young centers Kosta Koufos and Kyrylo Fesenko.
Boozer, meanwhile, is expected to opt out, citing his desire for the security of a long-term contract and belief in himself as a franchise player. Korver is not expected to opt out, citing his desire to stay in Utah and a soft free-agent market overall.
There also was speculation Sunday that Oklahoma City might be preparing to make a push to sign Paul Millsap as a restricted free agent. Former Jazz director of player personnel Troy Weaver now is an assistant general manager with the Thunder.
The Thunder unsuccessfully tried to sign away C.J. Miles from the Jazz last summer. They are expected to have $11 million in salary-cap space and could offer a contract in the neighborhood of five years and $65 million to a free agent. Detroit and Portland also could be potential Millsap suitors.
rumors rumors..
Jazz news
Mehmet Okur is "leaning toward opting out" of his contract with the Jazz and could make the decision official as soon as today, Okur's agent, Marc Fleisher, said Sunday.
Okur would be opting out of $9 million he is due to make this season in order to become a free agent, raising the stakes for the Jazz as they attempt to keep their starting center, who also was the NBA's sixth-best three-point shooter last season.
The Jazz face opt-out decisions ahead of a Tuesday deadline from Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver and Okur. All indications Sunday continued to be that Boozer and Okur would opt out while Korver would not.
"I think he's looking to do what will make sense going forward for him," Fleisher said of Okur, "and whether that's with the Jazz or not, it's undecided at this point. We're going to look at all the options before he makes his decision."
Although he would be heading into an uncertain free-agent market, Okur has the advantage of being a national hero in his native Turkey, where he could return home and likely command a salary equal to or in excess of what he would make in the NBA.
That minimizes the risk in opting out of his contract with the Jazz. Okur's preference is believed to be continuing his career in the NBA, but playing either in Turkey or Europe has added appeal considering Okur's father, Abdullah, is in poor health.
Should he decide to stay in the NBA, Okur could re-sign with the Jazz or sign with one of a handful of teams that have significant salary-cap space. Beyond that, the Jazz and Okur would have to work out a sign-and-trade deal.
The Jazz could reach agreement on a contract extension with Okur before Tuesday, but Fleisher said he had no expectations of that happening. He also said Okur was "absolutely prepared" to leave Utah if it came to that.
Back in May, Okur commented on his Web site that he would be willing to take $3 million to $5 million less in a new contract to stay in Utah. Okur also said he considered himself one of the eight to 10 best centers in the NBA in that same interview.
"I'm not sure whether [the Jazz] misread it or didn't misread it," Fleisher said. "Memo's going to do what's best for him and his family."
Okur originally signed a six-year, $50 million contract with the Jazz in 2004 and was selected to the All-Star team in 2007.
He has been the Jazz's starting center the past four seasons, averaging 17.0 points and 7.7 rebounds last season while shooting 44.6 percent from three-point range. As arguably the Jazz's most clutch player, Okur has hit numerous game-tilting shots while in Utah.
The Jazz's internal options to replace Okur should he leave include only young centers Kosta Koufos and Kyrylo Fesenko.
Boozer, meanwhile, is expected to opt out, citing his desire for the security of a long-term contract and belief in himself as a franchise player. Korver is not expected to opt out, citing his desire to stay in Utah and a soft free-agent market overall.
There also was speculation Sunday that Oklahoma City might be preparing to make a push to sign Paul Millsap as a restricted free agent. Former Jazz director of player personnel Troy Weaver now is an assistant general manager with the Thunder.
The Thunder unsuccessfully tried to sign away C.J. Miles from the Jazz last summer. They are expected to have $11 million in salary-cap space and could offer a contract in the neighborhood of five years and $65 million to a free agent. Detroit and Portland also could be potential Millsap suitors.
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LordOfLeyte2
Guest
While OKC are also pursuing qualifying offers for Paul Millsap.
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Manila_Ice2
Guest
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Trade Z-bo for Tim Donaughe from prison.
Eddy Curry for a box of chocolate, Box of Pizza, dozen Burritos, can of soda, lay's potato chips, a pillow,blanket and bed + cash considerations.
Trade Z-bo for Tim Donaughe from prison.