Blockbuster trade to start things off.

To Houston:
Tracy McGrady
Juwan Howard
Tyronn Lue
Reece Gaines

To Orlando:
Steve Francis
Cuttino Mobley
Kelvin Cato

Some of the top free agents on the market: Kobe Bryant, Kenyon Martin, Rasheed Wallace, Steve Nash, Erick Dampier, Manu Ginobili, Jamal Crawford

[ June 29, 2004, 04:55 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

And of course, Shaq has demanded to be traded. Personally, I think it would be more fun if Shaq and Kobe both somehow ended up with the Lakers again. wink

Boy, has Shaq demanded to be traded!! He has told anyone within earshot the environment within the Lakers had "become cancerous" and has put his mansion on the market--$7,500,000 and it's yours--and will no longer speak with members of the press he believes to in the Lakers' backpocket. If he does wind up remaining with the Lakers--oh boy!! Another season of "As the Lakers Turn" also known as "All My Laker Children"--burned bridges will need to be rebuilt.

My favorite scenario is that the Lakers lose Shaq, Kobe winds up in jail, and Rudy T. (still teh frontrunner for the coaching job) has a team based on Luke Walton and Slava Medvedenko!

~Adam

Coach K. has been offered the Laker job; the organization has given him until the end of next week (7/9) to make a decision. He has asked them for the time so he can talk to family and friends about the possible move and so he can make a trip to LA to see about real estate here (Shaq's house is available...) Rudy T. has said he was aware he wan't the first choice when he came out for his interview with Dr. Buss and says he's still in the running--if Krzyzewski ultimately passes on the job. Oh to be a fly on the wall with Slava Medvedenko and Krzyzewski meet ("Krzyzewski...Medvedenko...Medvedenko...Krzyzewski...")

In other NBA signings, Maverick Steve Nash has signed with the Suns in a six-year deal. Maybe he'll get a better haircut in Phoenix!

~Adam

[ July 01, 2004, 06:30 PM: Message edited by: Adam ]

Reports are saying that Vince Carter has asked for a trade. Hmm... perhaps this will renew the Carter for Iverson rumour...

Hmmmmm Carter for Shaq???? eek!

Sounds like a lot of round-robin. But when everybody sits nobody's left out.

Some light reading for the Holidays:

The NBA salary cap

Though neither a trade nor a signing, I thought I'd post this anyways... Vince Carter got married yesterday in Palm Beach to his 'college sweetheart.' Antawn Jamison was the best man.

Some serious insanity going on in the NBA off season.

Golden State offers Adonal Foyle a 5-year/$41.6 million contract. What?! He's a career 4.6 points per game, 5.1 rebounds (and is coming off a 3.1 points/3.8 rebounds season, where he played only 44 games). And that's worth $8 mil/year?!

The Utah Jazz have supposedly offered Mehmet Okur a 6-year/$50 million deal for his career 8.2 points per game, 5.3 rebounds.

The Raptors are supposedly offering Skip To My Lou Rafter Alston a 6-year/$29 million deal. Alston was basically let go by the Raptors 2 years ago. And a 6 year deal for a point guard?

---------------

Carlos Boozer has agreed to a 6-year/$68 million deal with Utah.

The Magic have made a 6-year/$39 million offer to Hedo Turkoglu.

Latest Shaq rumour: A deal with the Miami Heat that would include Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and a first round draft pick.

[ July 08, 2004, 07:18 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Apparently Shaq has given his approval for a trade that would send him to Miami for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant.

This seems like a good deal... for the Lakers, who would get 3 potential starters. Miami would be just Shaq, Eddie Jones and Dwayne Wade, having already lost point guard Rafer Alston to the Raptors and 3 starter-calibre players in Odom, Butler and Grant. Plus they'd have Shaq's $29 mil/year contract.

Brent Barry appears headed to San Antonio on a 4-year/$22-24 mil. deal.

Spurs also looking to re-sign Manu Ginobili at 6-years/$52 mil.

The Hawks and Pacers are looking to trade Stephen Jackson for Al Harrington. I'd prefer Harrington myself.

Brian Cardinal's breakout season is being rewarded with a 6-year/$39 mil. Seems a lot for a guy that's only had one solid season.

ESPN says that the Piston's are interested in Antonio McDyess to the tune of 5-years/$30 mil. Why?! Although once an All Star, he's been an injury-plagued jinx the past 3 seasons. The only reason for this move is to replace Mehmet Okur, who's likely going to Utah. Um, what happened to Darko Milicic? To think they could have had Carmelo Anthony...

[ July 11, 2004, 07:49 AM: Message edited by: canmark ]

I don't fully get this trade....The Heat, with Odom, Butler, and Grant, had started to come together and had a relatively good, young nucleus. With Shaq, they get the dominant force in the game, but he is 32, his work ethic is questionable, and how are his toes/feet these days? I hope it works out for everybody, but I have my doubts.

What do you think of the possibility of Pat Riley nudging Van Gundy aside as coach of the Heat now that he has the opportunity to work with Shaq?

~Adam

Shaq's agent indicates that it may be a done deal.

With Shaq's age, and having missed games the past few seasons with assorted injuries, and his demands to be traded... this would be a great deal for the Lakers. Give Rudy T. Odom, Butler, Grant, and the assorted other Laker leavings (if they could do a sign-and-trade for Kobe and get something for him, even better)... I think they may have a decent team. Not dominant, but Rudy T. dealt with similar calibre talent in his Houston days.

The Heat, as Adam mentions, finally come together as a young squad, under a new coach, and shockingly make it into the playoffs. To dismantle this, and possibly bring back the sartorially splendid Pat Riley, who abandoned his coaching responsibilites just prior to the start of last season... I don't like it.

The Lakers are reeling; why help them out with an offer like this? Let them sink under the soap opera of Shaq & Kobe... until they get more desperate. Then, maybe one might make a deal (for less). Because Shaq still is the most dominant player in the game.

(Just heard that the Heat also have to throw in a futre first round draft pick. That's just too much. What if Shaq's injuries resurface? 4 for 1 is a dangerous equation.)

[ July 11, 2004, 07:16 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

dudes and dudettes,

whatever happened to the notion that "size matters"?

i, personally am quite depressed at the idea
of shaq who may be nicked up from time to time
but is still the most dominant force in the game
being traded for three "starters" but NON-ALL STARS. shaq was the heart of this team. i didn't
like him when he first came from orlando. but
later i thought the lakes should have traded
kobe instead of eddie jones. but then kobe passed
the ball to shaq in game seven against portland
four years ago and i felt blessed. but now...


odom, caron, and grant may be good out east.
but odom got questioned on his health and work
ethic...grant has been injured. and caron? who
the hell is caron? also out west we have the
following:

spurs. kings. wolves.
then
suns. grizz. mavs.
then
clippers. jazz.

the lakers with kobe + the miami heat = crap.
shaq + jones & wade = east conference title.

i have been a laker fan since 1979, and this is
by far the darkest day of my life as a fan outside
of magic johnson's first retirement announcement.

jay o

Well, the Heat just gave Stan Van Gundy a multiyear extension.

Newsflash: just now I heard on Headline News that Michael Jordan may be interested in an ownership stake in the Miami Heat(!)

"the lakers with kobe + the miami heat = crap.
shaq + jones & wade = east conference title." (jay original)

I agree.

I've seen/heard/read that this was a wash (and back-step) for both teams... But I say to those... are you insane?

Check out the shooting percentage of the finals. Shaq vs. Kobe vs. a very good defense.

____


Anytime you get a very special big man (Shaq) - you got the better of the deal.

I will say that Miami's 'window of opportunity' is about 3-4 years though!


.

Odom 9.7 RPG 17.1 PPG
Butler 4.8 RPG 9.2 PPG
Grant 6.9 RPG 8.7 PPG
+ first round draft pick

Total: 21.4 rebounds/game 35 points/game

Shaq: 13.2 rebounds/game 21.5 points/game

Can Shaq still be the man? suggests that almost all of the Hall of Fame centers declined after age 32.

New information in the Vince Carter saga thanks to Nav Bhatia, the Raptors superfan and local car dealership owner.

Apparently Carter was promised to have a say in the hiring of the new GM and head coach, but Peddie admitted himself that he failed to inform Carter of the decision-making process.

Also, Carter had recommended the team go after Steve Nash and (Toronto native) Jamaal Magloire, as they fulfill our two main weaknesses (point guard and centre), are friends with Vince, are all-stars, and are both Canadians. But it's believed that Raptors management made no effort on either player. Vince also suggested Dr. J. for the GM job, but it's believed that he wasn't even given a proper interview.

---------------------

The heat is on Richard Peddie, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the organization that owns the Leafs and Raptors.

FirePeddie website.

[ July 13, 2004, 03:53 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

"Odom 9.7 RPG 17.1 PPG
Butler 4.8 RPG 9.2 PPG
Grant 6.9 RPG 8.7 PPG
+ first round draft pick

Total: 21.4 rebounds/game 35 points/game

Shaq: 13.2 rebounds/game 21.5 points/game" (Canmark)

____


Do you know anything 'bout sports 'big guy'?

A. How many looks/shots will the ex-Heat get when playing w/Kobe?

B. Detroit stifled EVERYONE w/their defense .... 'cept who.... SHAQ?
Since you're good at stats... give me the shooting percentage of Shaq v. Kobe in the finals (yikes!).

C. I'd compare Tracy McGrady to Kobe (actually I'd take Tracy)... How many rings did he win?

Oooops my bad... he didn't play w/Shaq!


'nuff said.

.

First of all, THIS comment...

...is unnecessary and rude.

And exactly how many titles did Shaq win -- with or without Kobe -- before Phil Jackson became his coach?

Miami wasn't that great last year. But they got hot enough to get into the playoffs in a pathetic conference. Now they're apparently sending 3 decent players AND a first-round pick for Shaq, who hasn't won a damn thing without Phil Jackson (oh, and Kobe too, right?) and is now older and has the aches and pains to go along with it. I think this will make Miami somewhat improved at most.

Finals: Shaq 63.1 FG% Kobe 38.1 FG%

And doesn't that only prove that Shaq is not a one-man team? Thanks to injuries/poor performance by the Mailman, the Glove, Derek Fisher, Kobe et. al., even Shaq's great ability (and nobody's saying he's not the most dominant player in the game) and 63.1%(!) shooting couldn't overcome the Pistons.


2004 Playoffs (22 games)

Kobe 41.3 FG% 81.3 FT% 4.7 RPG 5.5 APG 24.5 PPG

Shaq 59.3 FG% 42.9 FT% 13.2 RPG 2.5 APG 21.5 PPG


Nobody's saying that Shaq is a bad player. And nobody said that the Lakers would win any titles without Shaq. But what people are saying is that Shaq is 32 years old, has had assorted injuries (toes, feet, knees, back) which kept him out of over 40 games the past 3 seasons. He was 11th in the league in scoring last year (2nd in the playoffs). The Lakers are reeling.

Miami, on the other hand, was expected to finish out of the money last season, yet with their young team managed a winning record and a playoff spot. Now they're mortgaging that on a 32 year old $29 million/year player who could not propel the stacked (albeit injured) Lakers to a title.

"...is unnecessary and rude." (JIP)

Unless said by Joe in Philly! [do as I say - not as I do]

Oh... the hypocrisy!

_____


"Nobody's saying that Shaq is a bad player. And nobody said that the Lakers would win any titles without Shaq. But what people are saying is that Shaq is 32 years old, has had assorted injuries (toes, feet, knees, back) which kept him out of over 40 games the past 3 seasons. He was 11th in the league in scoring last year (2nd in the playoffs). The Lakers are reeling." (canmark)


Nice dodge... again I ask you... What were the shooting percentages of Shaq and Kobe in the FINALS!? Against the premier defensive team?

Hummina... Hummina... Hummina...

You responded to my post by providing ave's of the players involved in the trade - to show - that the trade 'tilted' in LA's favor...

I responded!



"Miami, on the other hand, was expected to finish out of the money last season, yet with their young team managed a winning record and a playoff spot. Now they're mortgaging that on a 32 year old $29 million/year player who could not propel the stacked (albeit injured) Lakers to a title." (canmark)

See - this is where I don't think that you know much about sports! If you watched the FINALS - (I am going to put this in bold - but I am NOT yelling at you)


[Shaq was the only player on the Lakers who was successfull (still waiting for those shooting percentages in the finals, BTW).


If you read in my earlier post - I realise that Miami's 'window of opportunity' w/Shaq is 3-4 years... (basketball takes a toll on big men)!

But - I can't wait for LA w/Kobe to fail! There are other Kobes (see McGrady).


There are no other Shaqs!


'Nuff said.


We'll see next year!


.

Excuse me, but did you read my post, hoop? Because I did post the shooting percentages in the FINALS. Shaq 63%. Kobe 38%.

And given that Shaq did so well, why didn't the Lakers win? Doesn't that prove that he's not a one-man team?

I also posted the scoring averages in the PLAYOFFS. Shaq 21.5. Kobe 24.5. Oh, and during the regular season it was Shaq 21.5. Kobe 24.0.

In my foolishness, I hadn't realized that the way a player performs in the FINALS is more important than how he performs for the entire season or the entire playoffs. Please forgive me. I know nothing about basketball.

[ July 13, 2004, 09:20 AM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Latest rumour:

Vince Carter to Dallas
Antoine Walker to New York
(2 of Dikembe Mutombo, Kurt Thomas, Shandon Anderson, Allen Houston) to Toronto

I certainly hope this one doesn't come true.

Not that I'm an expert, but I don't blame you. That looks like a horrible deal for Toronto.

They said something on ESPN last night about a snag in the Shaq trade, but that the trade probably would still happen. I still sort of want to see both Shaq and Kobe back with the Lakers, just for the soap opera aspect. wink

With the salary cap being announced lower than they hoped, the LA Clippers just Melvin Ely and Eddie House to the Charlotte Bobcats so they have enough cap space to offer Kobe Bryant a maximum contract. So now it's up to Kobe. Lakers? Clippers? Lakers? Clippers?

Ok, now I'm slightly confused. :confused: I thought the salary cap was a constant amount, or at least one that would move up by a predictable amount. Canmark, can you or someone else enlighten me on the how that works?

the trade is offical now. Shaq is going to Miami!!! I've talked to several friends in Miami and they are very excited about the Diesel coming to town. I think Shaq will have a great year and who knows they could go all the way. I think it would be perfect now if selfish Kobe goes to the Clippers.

Well, I'm afraid I can't understand the salary cap, much less explain it. Suffice to say it went up by only $300,000 this year to $43.87 million. That said, teams are allowed to go over the limit for various reasons, but are subject to a luxury tax.

Here's an explanation from NBA.com

Pythagoris!!! Calling Pythagoris!!! eek! T Ok, now I know what "fuzzy math" really is after reading that article. Thanks for the link canmark!

I'm not sure there even should be a cap given all the exceptions to the rules, but it does seem to work for the NBA. Perhaps the NHL and MLB could adopt something similar to at least begin the process of finding "cost certainty"?

[ July 14, 2004, 07:30 PM: Message edited by: BPT336 ]

Latest rumor has Kenyon Martin going to Denver in a 7-year/$60 mil. sign and trade for 3 future first round draft picks.

Rasheed Wallace re-ups with the Pistons

Quentin Richardson signs with Phoenix for 6-years/$48 mil.

K Mart will help Denver quite a bit provided he can keep maturing. He's done pretty well the last couple of seasons with Kidd, but now with a younger Denver team, he'll more leadership will be expected from him. This makes the Nuggets a much better team.

Didn't really understand the Brent Barry signing by the Spurs, but the management there has always done aterrific job of surrounding Duncan (and Robison in years past) with terrific role players. Sorry to hear the Spurs may be interested in Karl Malone. The Mailman is interested in his legacy. He wants to become the all time leading scorer and win a title. No doubt he's an all time great player, but to have a former Jazz playing for the Spurs would be too weird. But anything to get them out of the Kobe hunt is okay with me. When I heard the Spurs were one of the teams looking at Bryant< started trying to figure out which team I could root for after I dropped the Spurs!

Kobe re-signs with the Lakers!

I hope Shaq demolishes them next year (hopefully the Diesel won't arrive in training camp tubby as usual)

Kobe re-signs with the Lakers and the Clippers get clipped, as usual. They lose Quentin Richardson to free agency, the move Ely and House to clear cap space for Kobe, and... get nothing in return. Somebody put that team out of its misery...

Kobe will be back with the Lakers (a lawsuit may affect this) but Derek Fisher will not. He has signed with the Warriors.

~Adam

Are these two players any good? If so, why not hold onto them until they KNEW Kobe would sign?

No, neither player is all that good, but they had to get their salaries off the books in order to offer Kobe the max and still be under the cap. Kobe faked them out, and now they lost some depth off the bench.

As it stands the team only has one top quality player (Elton Brand), one quality player (Cory Maggette), and a bunch of spare parts. Sure, Marko Jaric is cute, wink but the team sucks. And although they've got some free cap space, who's going to want to sign with the Clips and play in the shadow of the Lakers?

[ July 15, 2004, 06:49 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

Can't the Clips still match Richardson's offer from the Suns? What I'd heard is that they weren't going to if they did get Kobe to sign, but now that he has decided not to, they can afford to bring Q back. It will give them the same team as last year (3 good players in Brand, Maggette, Richardson), basically, but with an extra year of experience for Kaman, Jaric, Wilcox, etc. Still a bad team. lol.

Marko Jaric is HOT !!! They will have to match the offer for Q now. Should be a very interesting season coming up, I think the Suns and the Nuggets will be much improved. One very good thing Steve Nash is now in Phoenix : ) will be checking out a few Suns games this year

For what it's worth, Elgin Baylor (you have to pity the man--whose greatness with the Lakers shall never be diminished--having to endure the indignity of Donald Sterling) sid that Eli and House would have been moved no matter what. Quentin Richardson has said he weants a change of scenery and hopes the Clippers don't match the Suns' offer. The Clippers still might match it and then trade him...

~Adam

Unless the Warriors offered him a boatload more money, Fisher must really hate Kobe to go off and sign with Golden State.

The Kenyon Martin deal is official with the Nets sending KMart to Denver for three first rounders. It's going to be a loooong season here in New York! The Knicks already suck and now the Nets will sink quite a bit as well.

I think Fisher may just be fed up with having his starting job given away even though he played much better than Payton in the playoffs. Whatever his reason for wanting to leave, I hope he does get to start somewhere. More PT for eye candy is always nice.

I understand wanting more playing time and being upset losing the starting spot to Payton. But I don't understand why Golden State? The Rockets were suppossed to have been interested and they could use an experienced point guard to compliment McGrady and Yao Ming. A chance to start and to win in Houston. The Warriors are going nowhere in the overloaded Western conference.

George-
It was a money issue. Golden State offered more money than Houston and besides that, Brent Barry, believe it or not, was their first choice. The latest rumor has the Dallas Mavericks(my favorite team) attempting to trade for Vince Carter. I dont know if I would like this trade or not, because it wouldnt address the issue of their inside game and need for a big man.

I don't see how the Mavs can afford Carter without moving Stackhouse in the trade, and I haven't seen his name mentioned as part of it. I know Finley is, but Stack isn't the kind of player (or salary) that you need coming off the bench for limited minutes.

Latest rumour says that Vince Carter wants to play for the Knicks. Isaiah Thomas is supposedly interested, and will trade any of his players except for Stephon Marbury. Personally, I wouldn't take anything the Knicks have to offer.

Raptors swingman Morris Peterson has signed an offer sheet with New Orleans for 3-years/$15 mil. Raps have 15 days to match.

Meanwhile... Vince Carter's Charity All Star game is set to go on July 30th. But will Vince still be a Raptor? Confirmed attendees include: Antawn Jamison, Jamaal Magloire, Jalen Rose, Jason Richardson, Morris Peterson, Stromile Swift and others.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Looks like Vlade Divac may join the Lakers.

Rapper Nelly has become a part owner of the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. The majority owner is Robert Johnson, founder of BET.

New Orleans Hornets have signed high flying white boy Chris Andersen from the Nuggets.

[ July 19, 2004, 05:48 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

More dealing: point guard Eric Snow was traded by the 76ers to the Cleveland Cavaliers today for guards Kevin Ollie and Kedrick Brown. (This will be Ollie's third stint with the 76ers. Why?)

[ July 20, 2004, 06:52 PM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

Everyone gets to play "old home week"--Kevin Ollie returns (again) to Philadelphia and Vlade Divac retuns (again) to the Lakers, from whence he was traded way back when Shaq came to town from Orlando--and even he returned to Florida. The circle of (basketball) life....

~Adam

Ollie's played for 10 teams over 7 seasons, and has averaged for his career about 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, etc. in 17 minutes per game. The only thing he really adds is salary cap room. He makes a lot less than Eric Snow.

The other guy, Brown, was described in the paper today as "overweight and unimpressive" during summer competition. He's a free agent after the upcoming season. More salary cap room.

Nick Van Exel--how long it's been since he was called "Nick Van Excellent"--was traded by the Warriors to the Blazers for Dale Davis and (relative cutie) Dan Dickau. Following van Exel's injury-hampered year in San Francisco, I hope he can get back on track.

Greg Ostertag has signed with the Kings, leaving Utah after nine years, as a replacement for Vlade Divac.

~Adam