I'll be getting back to The Pickup Diaries soon enough. But let's face it...we're all waiting and watching what's going on with the 2010 free agents. I expect at least one or two major movements today. And that's not a scatalogical reference (as far as you know).
Comments: Post 'em if ya got 'em.
Comments: Post 'em if ya got 'em.
Labels: free agency, open threads, Summer 2010
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Minnesota has supposedly signed some 2nd round draft pick Pekovic to a 3 year deal, thus reducing their cap space for Gay down to about $10 mill or less. Just wow. Maybe they should try chasing Chris Paul and have a Flynn-Rubio-Paul lineup. Too bad they missed out on Gay-Love-Sessions.
LeBron has spoken: He will verbally decide by July 5th as to not detract from his summer camp. A verbal commitment that means nothing until ink is signed on the 8th. Which one could easily bask in the attention of, and flip around. Douchebag.
Lol @ Gay-Love-Sessions
Speaking of ShamSports, here's their list of free agents, grouped by what action has occurred.
Woj also reporting Drew Gooden with the Bucks, 5 year $32 million. Made possible thanks to John Salmons opting out (I've updated the post last night reflecting this).
I was going through those lists and waiting for one header to read: "The following players have no future in the league."
Farmar to the Pacers. Sounds better for him. The Triangle never suited his abilities, as it doesn't need a speedy point guard (see: Fisher). The Pacers might give him a better chance to show off his skills, particularly his speed. Not saying he's going to average Rondo numbers, but he could surprise people. Plus, if he's in the East, more chances to dunk on KG.
With Shannon opting out and Farmar looking like he's out, the lakers now need a backup PG. Chris Paul for the win!
::doorbell rings::
RJ: Who the fuck is that?
::Answers door, finds Gregg Popovich::
RJ: Uh, hi Coach. What are you doing here?
GP: Hi Richard. I just wanted to stop by, say hello, see how you were doing...
RJ: At 3 in the morning?
GP: ...talk about your player option. You know, in this economic climate, it's really important to think about your future. Nothing is guaranteed. A long-term contract could be just what you need to feel secure.
RJ: Well, I was talking to my agent about it, and he though, with my poor numbers this year, that I would be better off taking the 15 mill now, and taking my chances with...
GP: Nothing is guaranteed, Richard.
RJ: Huh?
GP: Did I ever tell you about my Air Force days? I did a lot of intelligence training. You know, espionage, covert ops. Almost joined the CIA. Could've been a spy. Or an assassin.
RJ: ...
GP: ...
RJ: I should think about my future.
GP: Good man.
Yahoo.com reported that the Hawks offered a six-year, $119 million contract to Johnson in their meeting and that Johnson was prepared to accept the offer.
Johnson's representatives were also scheduled to meet with the Knicks and Heat as well, but Johnson's first choice is to stay in Atlanta, a source told ESPN.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5344459
NBA teams are insane. This whole off-season should be filmed by the "Destroyed in Seconds" crew ...
THE BALANCE OF POWER HAS SHIFTED TO THE EAST!!
@BleedingHeart
Your post cheered me immensely. No wonder Pop rules with an iron fist!
I mean, really, either they threatened to kill him or his agent is bonkers. Those are the only excuses.
Isn't it funny how after years of salary dumping, the teams with the seemingly best chances today are those who can do sign-and-trades. Kudos to the Knicks, Bulls, and Nets for ridding themselves of valuable trade assets. Dallas, OKC, and the Clippers have better assets to trade away for some decent players.
Lastly, why does everyone assume the Bulls will land Lebron because Chicago is "loaded." If memory serves, they were an eighth seed last year (worse than the Bucks, Heat, and Bobcats), barely edging out Toronto for the final spot. Not saying the other teams courting him are better, just saying that the Bulls are the 2010/2011 version of Cleveland with a better point guard.
My sources whose sources have sources in the FO have stated it thusly: the Nugs aren't going to be stupid like the Cavs. They're not going to let their franchise player expire and walk for nothing. So if they can't extend Melo, they wouldn't have him play out the year and then expire, they'd try to move him for something.
But there is no "active" trade talks. They expect to be able to extend him, and he's given strong indication that he wants to sign an extension. The trade talk is very hypothetical.
If you want snark, sarcasm, and shenanigans Basketbawful is the place for you. Insight, not so much.
capchta=demin, as in "The Celtics are dreaming if they can sign Mike Miller to play for the demin.
That's right. We now live in a world where Darko Milicic can still, beyond all reason, command a $20 million contract.
Are you nuts? Joakim "the Tranny" Noah alone is worth Big Z plus Shaq combined and then some. He's way better.
It's just part of the Wolves grand strategy to get the first pick in next year's draft. I hope this means Kwame Brown is in line for a 5-year/$30M deal.
http://www.khaaan.com/
and they still want Rudy Gay after drafting 3 SFs
Kahn wants that title, bad.
With a game of telephone like that, I bet the original message was "The Bugs aren't blowing 2 bees to Pig like the Cats."
If the Hawks offer that, and JJohnson accepts, is that the new Gilbert Arenas contract? But without the guns?
Hey, don't put it past him. Joe's still got time to get some guns, and he'll damn well have enough money to buy them.
Two non-athletic power forwards - a maybe David Lee!
Four can't-dribble small fowards - and maybe Rudy Gay!
Wayne Ellington?
Two can't-shoot point guards - and maybe Ricky Rubio!
Truly, a master plan is at work. There is clearly a template. The problem is that the template is retarded. Kahn knows what kind of player he wants out of each position. He just wants three of them. Can't wait for SG-A-Rama next year!
"If memory serves, they were an eighth seed last year (worse than the Bucks, Heat, and Bobcats), barely edging out Toronto for the final spot. Not saying the other teams courting him are better, just saying that the Bulls are the 2010/2011 version of Cleveland with a better point guard."
Are you out of your mind?
If memory serves, the bulls were on pace to be the 5th seed in the East until multiple injuries hit them and they had to play 10+ games without Rose, Noah and Deng; and don't forget they traded away Ty Thomas and Salmons for trash. They lost 10 games in a row with their 3 starters and still made the playoffs. Oh yea, I recall Rose was injured for the 1st qtr of the season...
$80 million...for a one-dimensional volume shooter...hooooooboy.
[points over at Luol Deng's cap-killing contract]
You SURE about that, Grizzlies?
If memory serves, the bulls were on pace to be the 5th seed in the East until multiple injuries hit them and they had to play 10+ games without Rose, Noah and Deng; and don't forget they traded away Ty Thomas and Salmons for trash. They lost 10 games in a row with their 3 starters and still made the playoffs. Oh yea, I recall Rose was injured for the 1st qtr of the season...
[nods]
This is the dude my buddies and I refered to as Charmin during his time in Portland because he was squeezably soft.
The NBA has officially gone insane.
Unless they actually thought some team out there would offer more Gay money, and the Grizz thought they could save money with the $81.6 million now.
In other words, Chris fucking Wallace.
Seriously ... ?!
$71M for Salmons and Gooden ?!
What the heck is happenin in Milwaukee ? ...
...
Seems like there is an unknown Contest between Memphis, Minny & Milwaukee to spend as much money as possible on questionable contracts ...
You may have just proven my point. How many loaded teams have "trash," lose 10 games, and need a Toronto collapse to make it into the playoffs in the Eastern conference.
Deng and Noah sound like the same type of players as Jamison and Varajao, with Rose being an obvious upgrade over Mo Williams. And they dumped their best bench player/back-up PG to the Wiz. And Miller, a solid backup center, is probably leaving too. This team is not loaded...they are the best option talentwise of all the teams with cap space.
I understand free agency isn't over yet, and the Bulls could be really good next year. I'm just saying let's not get carried away and say how great this team is when they barely eeked out an 8-seed this year.
Anaconda - well they want to do a sign and trade of some sort and they want to ship AL Jefferson to Memphis or NY according to recent stories
Again, Rose, Noah and Deng missed almost all of those 10 games. They had just traded away Ty Thomas and Salmons for expiring contracts.
For added perspective, that was the Bulls' ENTIRE STARTING LINEUP from the beginning of the season.
SO...take away, let's say, the Lakers' top three players. We'll say, for argument's sake, Kobe, Pau and Odom. Then say they traded away Bynum and Artest for Hakim Warrick and Joe Alexander.
Now have them coached by Vinny Del Negro.
Now put them through THIS schedule:
@Pacers, Hawks, Grizzlies, Mavericks, Jazz, @Magic, @Heat, @Grizzlies, @Mavericks, Cavaliers.
The Pacers was the only easy game they had during that stretch. The Griz were still in "We might make the playoffs" mode.
So, based on my argument, Lakers suddenly without Kobe, Pau, Odom, Bynum and Artest coached by Vinny instead of Phil...how many games does L.A. win out of those 10?
Thanks for adding the details I should have stated; it was my fault for assuming that Sorbo could have understood the point I was making without putting in an example.
And I also just noticed I left out (on the bench) in "They lost 10 games in a row with their 3 starters (insert here) and still made the playoffs." @Sorbo, which means in all likelihood they wouldn't have lost all ten games, thus, not having to fight for the 8th seed.
Again, my bad.
Has any free agency been so packed with Joe Dumars moments? And it's only the first day!
Pfpfpffft. I'm with Sorbo. The Lake-Show would have won at LEAST 7 of 10 with a lineup of 1)Fisher 2)Vujacic 3)Artest 4)Walton and 5)... uh... Oh yeah. Mbenga. Then you've STILL got the 'Stache coming off the bench along with Farmar. ALL STARS!!!
Cleveland's best five were:
PG - Mo
SG - West?
SF - LeBron
PF - Jamison, although Hickson was arguably more productive
C - Varejao
Chicago's best five would be:
PG - Rose
SG - ????
SF - LeBron
PF - Deng. I like a Deng/LeBron frontcourt a lot.
C - Noah
Chicago has big advantages at PG and C, while Cleveland has small advantages at SG and PF. If Chicago builds a bench, this Bulls team would be superior to last year Cavs team. Certainly would be championship contenders, but being so weak at SG is a huge problem if they want to overtake the Lakers.
I'm not saying the Bulls aren't a good team (I just joined the conversation!), but your logic is faulty.
Why is anyone offering Dwight Gooden any amount of money?
Good thing the mighty Dinos are already pretty much capped out with crappy contracts, so we can't be part of the free agent "bonanza".
the players' association would never do this, but today's contracts should be exhibit a in their argument hammering out a new cba. these gms/owners are clearly spending money they don't have to, why should players who might actually deserve their contracts suffer for their hastiness? (deserve in the sense that they provide a decent roi)
I have no idea what the hawks were thinking but I think they are playing a game of one-upmanship with Minnesota for the most horrible and hilarious deals. Next up Minnesota gets Earl Barron for 15 mil a year for 8 years.
The reason for the Bulls record and 8th seed was injuries. Are injuries just an excuse? Yes, your absolutely right about that.
However, the fact remains that the Bulls barring injury, are a much better team than the Cavs are. And Sorbo's initial argument was they are the same as the Cavs, but with a better point gaurd.
So the Bulls still made the playoffs with all those injuries... now take Lebron off the Cavs, and hell, we'll even say none of the Cavs miss a game, including Shaq. Do the Cavs make the playoffs?
Hell no. They are at best a 30 win team without Lebron.
[nods]
I'm just saying, let's not get crazy and call this team "loaded." As currently constructed, the three best Bulls players are Rose, Deng, and Noah. Deng and Noah are eerily similar to Jamison and Varajao. Rose is a better penetrator than Mo Williams, but a worse three-point shooter, but on the whole an upgrade.
We can through "what if" scenarios around all day, and I'll grant you that a midseason trade and injuries were the cause of those 10 losses.
But here are some other stats. They were 27-26 when the Salmons trade happened. Also, when they were the 5-seed in the East, they were 31-27, which barely sniffed 10-seed in the West at the time.
Here' the flip side of their ten losses. This is how they closed out the season to get to .500 after starting at 31-37:
The wins: @Phi, Hou, NJ, @Det, @Was, Cha, Cle, @Tor, Bos, @Cha
The Losses: Mia, Pho, Mil, @NJ.
Of the wins, Cleveland already had home court(April 8), Boston was resting guys (April 13). That loss to New Jersey was on April 9 was in OT. Not a power group of opponents to beat. Also of the teams they beat, one team was fighting for a playoff spot (Charlotte), the rest were tanking (except Hou) for the lottery. End result: they probably ended up about where they should have been with their end of season roster...an 8-seed. I wouldn't get into the What-if stuff too much, because Milwaukee was clearly the fifth-best team in the East last season before Bogut went down, and still took Atlanta to 7.
Unless they actually thought some team out there would offer more Gay money" Hehe Gay money. Basketbawfuls unintentional dirty quote machine has warped my fragile mind.
I'm not saying the Bulls aren't a good team (I just joined the conversation!), but your logic is faulty.
How, exactly, is my logic faulty?
See, I'm not getting involved in the "are the Bulls stacked or not?" argument. I simply found Sorbo's logic -- which centered around the Bulls' 10-game losing streak and how it affected their playoff seeding -- somewhat specuous since it didn't take significant factors into account. Specifically, subtract what is, essentially, a team's starting lineup and throw them at a tough stretch and that shit is gonna happen. To any team.
That's my point. So again I ask: How was my logic faulty?
Also mark it down here, LeBron will be a player/coach by the end of his career if you don't consider the Mike Brown era that already
I thought this team was in cutting costs mode.
Then again, if they do trade his ass to Minnesota for Al Jefferson they pulled off a mini-coup. It would also mean Zach Randolph has worn out his welcome (big surprise) since they are similar players at the same position.
Meh. I'm not taking anyone's side. I'm blissfully above this silly "BULLZ ROOL!1!" "NUH-UH CAVS ROOL!!1!!" nonsense. You have no idea how many games the Cavs would win without LeBron, and neither do I. I actually tend to agree with your take on that, but what do I know? My comments are so dripping with sarcasm and disinterest that I'm surprised I got a snarky reply.
All I'm saying is that, in the words of Bill Parcells: "you are what your record says you are." And in that sense, the Bulls are an 8-seed. So Sorbo is right about that, in a vacuum.
I'm not aligning myself with him or you otherwise. But jeez, I mean, the Bulls have had some excuse or another every year ever since MJ left.
"The team is rebuilding in the wake of Jordan leaving- give them a few years!"
"The team is young but Kirk/Deng/Nocioni are going to be All-Stars- give them a little time!"
"The team is injured- wait till next year!"
"The team is adjusting to its newly acquired free agents and hasn't fully integrated them yet- but wait until next year!"
"The coach sucks and players aren't living up to expectations and the injury bug has bitten and the GM has punched the coach in the face and everyone is playing out-of-position and the Cavs have LeBron... but JUST WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!!"
I'm just saying. I am a Bulls fan, but the excuses are getting old. And these are issues that EVERY team in the NBA deals with on some level. But its been 12 years since MJ left, and its really time for the Bulls to put up or shut up.
Before Noah's injury he was leading the league in rebounds per game. After the injury? He finished in 6th with 11 per game.
As for the post season? He averaged 15ppg/13rpg
Mentioning that you go to Jo No's Alma mater doesn't mean you watch/follow the Bulls... you proved that by throwing out an arbitrary prediction on what his ceiling might be.
Seriously. That's why I made it an open thread day. I could have posted the best pickup basketball story ever but all people would be thinking about is Free Agent Fever.
I totally agree with you...
"But its been 12 years since MJ left, and its really time for the Bulls to put up or shut up."
I think it's now or never... if the Bulls don't land two all-stars this summer, they are going to be saying (insert excuse here) for the indefinite future.
However, injuries or healthy, the Bulls are flat out better than the Cavs without Lebron... and that's really the only point I was trying to make to Sorbo
Either way, still don't think the Hawks should throw that money away like that. It's clear Joe Johnson is not the reliable star. He needs to go to New York, underperform and be happy.
Big-Ups-- 5 games is an awfully small sample size, especially when he had 2 beast games and 3 average games. I don't doubt he can get rebounds, I just dont see him being a very consistent scoring threat, but then I guess that wasn't ever really the plan for him. calm yourself big guy
Randolph for Arenas would also work. Do it, Wallace!
To quote Twitter:
@chadfordinsider Cornstein deserves a Lifetime Achievement Award. Negotiated $58 mil for Darko over his career + $65 mil for Dalembert + $32 mil for Beno 12 minutes ago
@chadfordinsider And the winners is (in a close vote) ... B. Marc Cornstein for "$20 million out of the Darko" Congratulations Marc! 14 minutes ago
Bawful, if you signed up with Cornstein, I bet he could make you a millionaire as a TECHNICAL WRITER.
@Big-up - I'm not saying the Bulls are terrible. I think Noah has a little bit of Rodman in him, and Rose just has a midrange game we rarely see PGs develop (most only shoot threes or drive it to the hole). He appears to have decent court vision, although not on the level of Rondo. Seems like a great teammate who knows when to turn the scoring switch on.
But here's my point: any team with Lebron is going to the playoffs, especially in the East. I'm just trying to provide a little perspective, because this free agency has people going out of their minds with fairy tale dreams of how their teams will become dynasties if they just add Lebron. Many people, but I wouldn't say anyone on this site, seem to be inflating the talent levels of their teams and talking themselves into these free agency signings as if those signings will equal a championship, and that includes Lebron. Sure, part of being of fan are those dreams, but a part is realism too. My point was that "as constructed" and on paper, this team has some comparable/similar features to the Cavs team of 2009/2010.
With all that said, if Chicago adds Lebron and a solid complimentary player (I'm not sure it's Bosh, because who spreads the floor and who guards the rim with Bosh-Noah-Lebron-Rose-Deng on the court), they will compete. The Cavs never found the right combination of players to put around Lebron, and the Bulls might run into a similar chemistry issues given their current roster's skill sets.
Looks like the Nuggets want to keep all this bullshit from happening next summer...
That better not be a throwaway line.
Although the rumor mill is talking about A'''''''''''''''''mare, and I honestly struggle with deciding whether he or Carter is the bigger cancer.
Carter is the bigger cancer because he fades in big games and drags his teammates down with him. Amar''''''e is used to being second banana and would have Dwight to save his ass defensively. It almost makes sense to pair those two except for Lewis would then be your sixth man (unless you ship him to Phoenix for a sign-and-tradeas well).
This makes me think that LA might have a deal for Odom lined up. Miller can do all the things Odom does, some better, some not as well. It'd be interesting to see who they'd send Odom out for if this was the case.
In terms of cancer... I would say they are the same. But in terms of talent, Amar''''''e is still in the top tier, well at least on the offensive side of the ball, where as Half Man/Half Retired is somewhere in the realms of 3rd/4th tier with Richard Jefferson and Ronald Murray. IMO they should do whatever it takes to get Vince shipped out and bring in Amar'''''e or Boozer
"The Phoenix Suns are showing the most interest in athletic power forward Hakim Warrick and have begun exchanging potential salary figures with Warrick’s representatives, according to sources close to the situation."
[facepalms]
Would the Hornets do Sasha (FA in 2011) and Odom (team option in 2012) for Chris Paul? What big, three-point-shooting PG could the Lakers be targeting? The last time the Lakers camp was this quiet, Pau Gasol was shipped to them.
By the way, I started reading your blog recently and am enjoying it tremendously. Thanks for writing a great blog.
Uh, what?
"The Phoenix Suns are showing the most interest in athletic power forward Hakim Warrick and have begun exchanging potential salary figures with Warrick’s representatives, according to sources close to the situation."
... My prediction? As the result of having Steve Nash as his point guard combined with getting 25-30minutes per game, his stats will be inflated and the Timberwolves or Raptors, depending on who will contact him first, will offer him a max contract
So since Joe Johnson has apparently agreed to re-up with Atlanta and Rudy Gay with Memphis, does this mean that if Amare goes to Miami the Knicks could wind up with nothing to show for themselves after tanking the past two or three seasons but a totally overpaid David Lee?
That would be hilarious.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Joe-Johnson-to-sign-a-ridiculous-deal-with-the-A?urn=nba,252877
Also, Rudy Gay will be paid exactly as much as Kevin Durant the next 5 years.
In other news, I'm officially declaring my own NBA free agency! I don't have much height or hops, but I can dribble between my legs, spin the ball on my finger, hit from anywhere within 15 feet, and dunk on an 7 foot rim. I figure in this market that's worth at least a couple million bucks.
Regards
GM* Atl Hawks
*generously mad
I guess the Amar''''''e money was already burning a hole in Robert Sarver's pocket. Holy f***.
http://www.somethingawful.com/d/news/treant-lebron-james.php
I guess the Amar''''''e money was already burning a hole in Robert Sarver's pocket. Holy f***.
...WHY?? That is simply despicable. Every team needs someone (who Bill Simmons would call the VP of Common Sense) who stands next to the GM and owner at all times and slaps them every time they so much as think about offering a contract this obscene.
It was supposed to be 5 years/$25 million, but somehow Frye played hardball successfully.
I mean he actually did play some important defense off the bench (which gets overshadowed by his streaky 3-pt shooting), so considering how desperate the Suns are to keep some size, I'm okay with the deal. Also, he's a nice dude.
PG: Nash/Dragic
SG: Richardson/Barbosa
SF: Hill (last year)/Dudley
PF: Frye/OhGodPleaseSignSomeone/Clark?
C: Lopez/Frye
Tyrus...Thomas...in Phoenix...
GOD! WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?!
[head explodes]
If NY, Miami or the Bulls do not get a legit superstar I'm betting one of them may sign Roger Mason for 25 mil.
Woj said Suns are getting Hakim Warrick for 4 years/$18 million. Fuck Amar''''''e. For that money, and a comparison of their per36min and other numbers, I'm pretty stoked.
If Tyrus joins the suns then it makes the suns a much better team....for LA, Dallas and San Antonio to rape over and and over again on a pinball machine until there is nothing left by shredded suns panties. Viva Los Suns!!
As someone who spent the second half of last season very closely watching Hakim Warrick play...let's just say I am considerably less stoked.
1. The "LeBron must start racking up championships ASAP" pressure already seems to be cracking him, and it would only be worse in Chicago. Sure, Bulls fans would like a new one, but you would have to win quite a few to really become the (basketball) man. Every time LeBron is feeling good, Jordan can just show up and everyone remembers that LeBron doesn't compare (at least not in wins).
2. I know that most professional athletes don't care about rivalries and things--and LeBron with his Yankees hat at the Indians game proves that--but I do think there is some animosity between at least parts of the Bulls team (i.e. Noah) and LeBron. That has to mean something.
Maybe LeBron will sign in Chicago, but I don't think it will be pretty if he does.
I remember going to a Summer League game in Long Beach featuring the Lakers vs. the Grizzlies.
I also remember soon-to-be-rookie Hakim Warrick getting dunked on something like 5 times by soon-to-be-rookie Andrew Bynum.
This led me to an important realization: the movie multiplicity perfectly describes the Jordan-to-Kobe-and-LeBron legacy.
If you haven't seen the movie, it is the one where Batman (Keaton) clones himself, only one clone is more "masculine" and one is more "feminine." Jordan, much like the original Keaton, was good at his job and also good socially (okay, so Jordan was a jerk, but he played well nationally).
Kobe, just like the masculine clone, is good at the work part--killer instinct, scoring--but is terrible socially--rape trails, not passing.
LeBron, like the feminine clone, is not so good at work--can't finish off a playoffs, insufficiently serious--but is really good socially--people (and advertisers) mostly love him.
In a few years, we can figure out who is the clone's clone, or the guy who tries to be like Kobe and LeBron but is really just a moron.
...
Anyways,
Mike Miller to the Lakers - "Miller is an avid lover of animals. He owns three dogs: a Weimaraner named Zeke and two Great Danes, Domino and Rookie. He also has an aquarium filled with exotic fish, and once owned a Java Macaque named Sonny. He often tells the story in which his monkey escaped from his room: "You would always put him in his room, and then we'd lock the door, and then we'd put the dogs out, and then we'd lock the front door. Well, he found out how to unlock doors, unlocked his door, went downstairs, let the dogs in the house and opened the front door. About an hour later we got a call from our neighbors, saying, 'Your monkey is riding your dogs around the neighborhood.'...I said, 'C'mon y'all, y'all got to get in the house." "
Fucking lucky Lakers.
Tyrus isn't too much a step down from Amar(no accent)e. What you lose in offense you may gain in some reboudning/defense. I think the Suns are assuming that since he worked great with Chris Paul, he can work great with Steve Nash.
http://www.slate.com/id/2258799/
Oh, and ESPN Insider reporting that Amar'''''e and Knicks are close to a max contract deal.
Me: Don't. Fucking. Care.
Friend: lol
Friend: you seem... annoyed
Me: I'd rather swallow a gallon of literal ejaculate than try and follow the masturbatory media jizz over rumors and talks and speculation about LBJ.
"Breaking News: Bucks-Salmons finally agree on deal. 5 years, $39 million, but last year only partial guaranteed."
So, to recap, the Bucks have now committed $70 million-ish on...John Salmons and Drew Gooden?
Have I gone fucking crazy?
I secretly like the Bucks next year. Not to win it, mind you, but they may be the deepest team in the East right now.
Wowwowowowowowow!
Unless they Knicks manage to trade for Chris Paul, I hope they realize that STATue can't create his own offense.
Also, entertaining exchange from the ESPN Daily Dime chat just now thanks to one guy who, for reasons I cannot explain, actually thinks Darko is worth significant cash:
2:47 [Comment From Nate Nate: ]
Why so much hate on the Darko contract? Yes, it was maybe 1-1.5 mil more per than he should have got, but he'll be making nearly the same $ as Hasheem Thabeet, Ekpe Udoh, or Rasheed Wallace, and his upside is better than any of those guys- Face it, the going rate for a 7 footer that is not in the D league is 5 mil per year.
Friday July 2, 2010 2:47 Nate
2:50 Chad Ford, ESPN Insider: Two reasons. Most people, understandably, don't believe he can play. That's a problem. Second, who were the Wolves negotiating against? What other team was going to offer Darko so much money. That's why people are pulling their hair out.
However, you have a point. Darko is a 25 year old, athletic 7 footer who, at the very least, is a solid shot blocker and defender. He was getting comfortable in Minnesota and I think the Wolves were worried about the psychology of the whole thing. They really wanted him back and were afraid that if they gave him a lowball offer he'd bolt for Europe.
I'm not defending the contract because it seems way too high. But I do think there's context there that people are ignoring. I could do the same thing with Drew Gooden's deal in Milwaukee or Joe Johnson's deal in Atlanta. Way too much money, but there is some rationality behind what the teams are doing.
The only thing I can think of in the back of my head is a sign and trade for Dirk with Warrick and Frye or Thomas as pawns. Please god, or at least Steve Kerr help me!
NOOOOOOOO
P.S. my verification word was "pukeos" - need I say more?
ShamSports says the Suns can keep Lou's FA hold and still have $3.3 million to spend on someone else. I don't see, nor want, Tyrus Thomas anywhere near this team.
Milwaukee was never going to land a huge FA, and they are looking to do a strength in numbers and depth rather than getting "the guy." They return the starting five that got them to 6th seed (Jennings, Salmons, Delfino, Mbah, Bogut) and add a little depth at SG and PF with Maggette and Gooden. They also have Redd's $18M contract, which expires next year, meaning they'll be able to make a play at Carmelo via trade this season or as a FA pick up at the end of next season. If nothing happens, they'll have an extra $18M after next season to burn. Also, they have room to resign Jennings to an extension. Most of these contracts are in the $5M to $8M range, which gives them room to trade several pieces for one big piece.
A lot depends on how this FA session shakes out, but if we assume Boston and Orlando don't make any major moves, and that Miami and Chicago move up, that means the Bucks are in almost the same position as this year (fifth seed), but with more money to spend next year. If Skiles can keep it together, and the team doesn't turn on him, this is a solid team for a few years with opportunities to make some moves on good players.
“Dwyane Wade is leaning toward committing to the Chicago Bulls, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com’s Chad Ford on Friday.”
“According to the source, Wade requested a second meeting with Bulls shortly after the 2006 NBA Finals MVP spent more than two hours getting wooed by the New York Knicks at a downtown Chicago hotel Friday morning. The source stressed that Wade needed the meeting to clarify issues around signing with the Bulls.”
What do yall think?
I like that trade with the Hornets but unfortunately they're not being run by Chris Wallace. I know Paul has been rumoured to want out, but I think that the Hornets brass would be able to get better value than Odom and Sasha. I also don't think Paul could play at his potential in the triangle offense. If he was to come over (to the dark side!) then it could change the whole offensive system.
As of now, LA have signed Blake and gotten rid of Farmar. I'm a happy camper so far.
Why didn't Phoenix just go get David Lee with some of Amar'''''''e's leftover $$$ surely they could have bought Frye with whatever was left over after that?
Sigh.
He can't seriously believe anyone else wants to offer him max money, can he?
I mean, maybe New York, since NO one other than Amar'e apparently wants to go there...but still.
How could going from a playoff team to Team Tank IMPROVE his career?
http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/morethanaplayer_splash_100630.html
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