This last 7 days has been abvsolutely bananas as far as NBA Basketball Trades!
NOT ONLY did we see Chris Bosh and LeBron James leave the Raptors and the Cavaliers respectively to join the Heat and Wade in Miami, but we’re also seeing MORE transactions complete with grudge matches, and more!
This is a HUGE shock to me. Ilgauskas has been a Cavalier since WAY before LeBron and was considered by many to be “Mr. Cavalier” and that he was gonna retire there as well!
But in the end, LeBron was able to pull him into Miami to compete for a chip on his new team! I wonder what Dan Gilbert has to say about this …
Rumours swirled for a few days that Shaq was, somehow, gonna end up in Miami for a second time. But this article does a great job of explaining why it will never happen. A shame. Bron, Wade, Bosh, Ill Gaga and Diesel? Might as well have handed them the chip!
On the flip side,Mike Miller and Juwan Howard are both aggressively trying to come to terms with contract negotiations that would put them in prime real estate for a Finals berth. Both these acquisitions are AWESOME for a Heat team trying to find affordable pieces to complete a potential championship team!
But don’t get it twisted.Wade still insists that the Lakers are the team to beat and NOT the Heat. I actually agree with him 100% on this. The Lakers are the 2-time NBA champions. Back to back. Until they are dethroned, everyone else is just playing for runner up ….. God I hate saying that. It’s like vomit emanating from my mouth …
Speaking of the Lakers, rumours swirled for DAYS that The LA Lakers were gonna sign Raja Bell but todayBell decided to flip off KB24 and signed with the Jazz! This headline makes me SO happy because it shows that not everyone can be swayed by money and power. Good for Bell for standing up to Kobe and sticking to his convictions. Let’s not forget their rivalry and how Kobe has repeatedly treated Bell with disrespect on and off the court. Bell, for his part, has fired back. But this year, things cooled and it appeared that the hatchet had been buried. But Bell signing with the Jazz and not the Lakers says a LOT more than what people are leading you to believe. It means that Bell might still hold a grudge. It means that Kobe is gonna try to “take it out” on the Jazz all year long and try to abuse Bell for big numbers. It means that we’ll see a great Jazz/Lakers rivalry renewed partially. The Jazz, however, get a lot stronger with Bell. He’s a good shooter and will provide Deron Williams with another solid perimeter presence to take away pressure off him during the season.
Shannon Brown, meanwhile is flirting with leaving the lush pastures of LA for somewhere where he can shine a bit more. It didn’t work for Ariza and it probably won’t work for Brown either. But anything that can disrupt the Lakers and make them vulnerable to a non-title season (where I can watch Kobe cry cuz he didn’t win) is great. So I say do it, Brown! Though sources close to that situation are now saying that he’s leaning towards signing with the Lakers again. The Lakers continued their off season work bysigning Steve Blake to their team. Personally, I think Steve Blake is a bum. One dimensional. That one dimension happens to be that of sharpshooting ace (the man shoots the 3 with a ridiculous amount of accuracy) but he’s so lame defensively that I doubt he will be anything more of a victory cigar by December.
One player who is reupping is Derek Fisher. He had been courted heavily by LeBron and Co. in Miami. But he decided to be loyal and re-sign with the Lake Show. I can understand that and respect his decision. But I still hate him for being a Laker – and let me say this: Once Kobe dies and decomposes on this earth, I will be a Lakers fan. Believe that. I will be the only mummy on the face of the earth wearing a Lakers hat once Kobe rots.
Speaking of the Jazz, on top of signing Raja Bell, official word is that they haveacquired Al Jefferson via trade with Minnesota. This is an interesting decision and one meant to plug the hole left behind by Boozer. I think it’s a shrewd move because he’s an exclusive player to the low post with a good skill set, offensively. He’ll allow Paul Milsap to play bigger minutes and expand on his skill set and experience. And with Mehmet Okur (Mr. Glass) being a more perimeter oriented player, I think it adds a great deal of versatility to the Jazz! Not Championship contenders but maybe a playoff team …
The Celtics are seeing a slight modification in their roster after losingTony Allen to the Grizzlies via Free Agency. I think Tony Allen is a very under-appreciated player. Skilled defender, good locker room guy – glue guy – albeit with an abysmal perimeter shot and prone to bouts of mindless play. He’s normal. And I can relate to and appreciate that in him. I wish him luck. I don’t know what kind of role he’ll play in Memphis …. though thinking about it, I think it’ll be a good fit, a Shane Battier kind of fit. He’ll plug the holes left behind by the young guns and will be allowed to just roam on D. It will be good for him, I think, to get out of Boston and see some new things. For his part, Danny Ainge is confused about Tony Allen. On the plus side (sort of) they signedNate Robinson and Jermaine O’Neal to contracts in Beantown. The Nate Robinson deal was good, I think. He’s an X Factor who, when channeled, can be very explosive. Jermaine O’Neal ….. he’s a conundrum. He did nothing for the Raptors and was sub par for the Heat ….. I think that man needs to retire. I think he’s living proof that some people make it in the NBA only because they’re tall (Jermaine O’Neal, Greg Ostertag, Bryant “Big Country Reeves, Todd Macullogh, etc etc etc). Anyway, the Celtics also re-sign Ray Allen (to a 2 year, $20 Million Dollar deal) which is a GREAT move, I think. Especially since Ray Allen has already declared war on the Heat, after being courted by them for a minute. Should make for some FUN games this year. Heat-Cavs, Heat-Lakers, Heat-Celtics. Must see TV!
The Grizzlies also did their homework and re-signed Rudy Gay this week as well! The deal was worth a reported $80 Million over 5 years …. seems a bit steep to me. But I think he might be good for it.
Another contender shaking up their roster (albeit, not by choice) is the Cavs. They tried to sign Kyle Lowry this week away from the Rockets but that deal was quashed as the Rockets matched the offer in order to keep Lowry in Houston for another few season. I think the Cavs are a sad team right now. With Ilgauskas gone, they only have Mo Williams (now a bum) and Antawn Jamison as legitimate offensive threats because everyone else was able to score because of the attention LeBron demanded. Without LeBron … that team looks sad, man. So sad for Cleveland fans …
The Raptors are also busy remolding their roster since Bosh’s departure. This week they traded away Hedo Turkoglu to Phoenix for Leandro Barbosa and Dwayne Jones. I say good riddance to that lazy so-and-so. It’s sad that I have to scratch him off my fave players list – he was there for his entire career – but that’s what he gets for quitting during Toronto’s most important season ever. And while there was good reason to believe that Calderon was going to be traded away to the Bobcats for Boris Diaw and Tyson Chandler, the deal was nixed at the last minute by Michael Jordan. I don’t know that this would have been a step forward by Toronto. Calderon is still a decent player, if a bit prima donna-ey right now, and Chandler has proven he is inconsistent and not skilled. Diaw would have been awesome with Barbosa again ….. but that’s a pipe dream now. In the process, the Suns acquire Hedo Turkoglu and Josh Childress, who will make his return from Greece after leaving the Hawks last season.
The Raptors frustrate me. They re-signed and (in my opinion)GREATLY overpaid for Amir Johnson (5 years, $34 Million) and their attempts to move Jose Calderon (or Jarrett Jack) speak, to me, of a team that is headed in the wrong direction. Maybe Bryan Colangelo has no idea what he’s doing and he simply shoots darts at players faces while blindfolded ….
I know what you’re thinking … Rico, since the Raptors were unsuccessful in getting Tyson Chandler, what happened? Well, I can tell you thatTyson Chandler and Alexis Ajinca were traded away to Dallas! A 5 player deal sent Eduardo Najera, Erick Dampier and Matt Carroll as well as cash considerations to Charlotte in exchange for the two players mentioned above. With Erick Dampier being shipped out, Mark Cuban rewarded Brendan Haywood with a 5 year $45 Million Dollar deal (cheap by Cuban standards) for his excellent play during the post season. I think this was a shrewd move by Cuban. Dampier is on the tail end of his lackluster career and Haywood is just hitting his prime. He’s sure to be a starter now …
For their part, Charlotte agreed to terms for a new contract with Tyrus Thomas (for an undeserving 5 year $40 Million). I don’t know that Thomas has ever done anything to actually warrant this kind of payday. He’s okay, sure. And he blocks shots. But $40 Mil?!?!?!? That means I’m worth at least $3 or $4 Million per season … hear that guys?!?!?!
The Nets signed Travis Outlaw, Anthony Morrow and Johan Petro. This is an interesting move because Morrow is a great shooter (46% from 3) and Petro is a tough defender. Seems like Prokhorov is starting to put some solid pieces in play.
Captain Kirk Hinrich was also shipped away to Washington … for draft picks. This deal originally happened a bit before Draft Day, but it still has to suck. Erick Dampier gets massive contracts and gets moved in multi player deals and Kirk Hinrich gets moved for guys who don’t exist in the NBA yet … so sad …
And speaking of SAD, The LA Clippers continue their journey through suck-ville by signing Randy Foye and Ryan Gomes from Minnesota. They alsosigned Brian “Cookie”Cook. Average players who bring nothing special to the table. No noteworthy talents, just guys that can score and get some rebounds. What the hell is Donald Sterling doing?!?!? George Steinbrenner dies and yet Donald Sterling is allowed another year of life?!?!? At least Steinbrenner was a guy who could make a winner! Sterling is just a bottom feeder.
My Spurs have been relatively quiet this offseason. Their only moves being thesigning of Tiago Splitter and a renewal of contracts for Matt Bonner (for roughly 4 years and $12 Million). I love Matt Bonner so I am glad he’s back on my favorite squad. Tiago Splitter is an X Factor at the center position, but I think his presence might be something like what Fabricio Oberto brought to the table a few years ago, albeit with more natural talent. He’s kind of a pretty boy, but he could turn out to be like Manu Ginobili and Luis Scola …. so I might like him.
And ALL of this activity has taken place in …. 14 days.
I never get tired of saying it. It’s like a Superman movie, where Superman is flying above the city and 2 guys are looking up AT Superman, one turns to the other and says “That’s Superman!” Well duh! That is Superman and Ron Artest is crazy!
Ron Artest fell down some stairs, gave himself a concussion and a deep gash on the back of his head and elbow at Christmas . It was all over the news. Everyone was concerned about him. And I was at first, until I realized that Ron Artest was drunk when he fell.
Reports now say that he fell while carrying Christmas boxes into his house and slipped on some steps. He says that he does not remember anything about the fall, but that he was OUT for a few minutes. But, somehow, when he came to, he had enough sense to TEXT Kobe Bryant that he fell and that he was going to the hospital.
Originally, I heard and read that he fell down a flight of stairs in his house. That would have been more serious and more worthy of sympathy and understanding. But after reading that he fell INTO the stairs at his home OUTSIDE made me think about it a bit more. How do you fall INTO stairs and hit the back of your head? How do you fall INTO stairs and gash your elbow? A person with all 5 senses intact would put their hand out to cushion the fall and try to support themselves with their legs. AT WORST, you fall face first and scrape your hands and maybe your knees. But Ron fell backwards, like a plank of wood, and cut his elbows trying to hold himself up. Okay ….
Here’s MY theory on what happened. Artest was drunk and he fell because he was so drunk that he could not maintain his own balance. ANYONE who slips on some stairs in a place where there is NEVER any snow (or ice) probably fell because he was drunk. Either that, or the laws of gravity were changed for Ron Artest for a brief 20 seconds as he waltzed up the stairs.
If it was an accident, then he would not have fallen on his back. If it was an accident, he would not have texted someone after waking up – because that’s not what normal, logical people do. If it was an accident, he would not have scraped his back or gashed his elbow. For the record, I think his elbow was cut because he could feel himself falling and tried to cushion the fall.
For those who say he was carrying Christmas boxes, I’ll tell you what was inside of them ….. LIQUOR! The man is Vin Baker in disguise!
But I get it. I understand …. Christmas …. a party … you’re home, glad to be home with friends …. you have a few, maybe drive home ….. I get it. It’s the holidays … time to tie one on, right?
What his wife SHOULD have done when she found him passed out on his front steps, on his back, smelling of liquor is to either call the insane asylum OR call Alcoholics Anonymous.
Think I’m crazy? Then check out just how many other “crazy” people are out there, too. Then afterward, call your doctor and have him give you a frontal lobotomy … cuz your brain? Yeah, you don’t need it.
The San Antonio Spurs are often cited as an “old” and washed up team. But now the Mavs have Dirk (32), Kidd (38), Howard (30), Terry (31) as old timers in the L, and if they add the 32 year old Marion, they’ll definitely be one of the older teams in the league.
Would Marion be a good fit in the Big D?
Perhaps with Nowitzki demanding doubles and Kidd chucking up alley oop passes he might be more effective than he has been the last 2 years in Miami and Toronto. But I highly doubt we’ll see the OLD Shawn Marion they once called “The Matrix”. His best days are definitely behind him and everyone knows it. Notice how no one, not even the Grizz were willing to offer more than the mid level exception, if anything at all?
Some players like Jordan, Malone, Stockton .. they get to choose when they leave the game.
Some guys like Sprewell, Malik Sealy, Penny Hardaway and now Yao Ming …. they generally have retirement thrust upon them much too soon.
And we, the fans, are worse off for it.
Yao Ming is a decent cat from what I can tell. A nice guy. But to have this decision to make is almost unfair when you consider that guys out there like Josh Howard, Kobe, Amare Stoudemire, Andrew Bynum, Baron Davis and a host of other pro cats don’t appreciate the gift that is BEING PAID MILLIONS TO PLAY A GAME.
I hope sincerely that we have not seen the end of Yao Ming.
AJ wanted a 4 year deal for security and clout with the players. Dumars only wanted him for 2 years. AJ said pass.
Dumars finds himself in a tough position as every candidate he has interviewed has withdrawn their name from the coaching position or has said outright that they were not interested. All he has left is Tom Thibodeau and John Kuester – both assistant coaches with no prior NBA Head Coaching experience.
Detroit is done. Gonzo. With Rasheed Wallace packing his bags and heading to Beantown, we will never see that team do any better than 7th or 8th in the East for at least a year or two.
Q-Rich never even had a chance to unpack and see outside the airport before he was traded back to the team that drafted him into the League all those years ago, The Clippers! I feel kinda bad for him. He doesn’t strike me as the archetypal spolied athelete. But he now goes from one shitty franchise to another. Randolph, meanwhile, gets moved for the third time in 4 years and goes …. from one shitty team to another. I guess his poor attitude, terrible work ethic, one dimensional skills and unwillingness to adapt are not traits that are desired by many people … go figure.
$16,378,325 <—- That’s Amare Stoudemire’s contract for his 2009-2010 season …. CRAZY. Even if he WANTED to play for the Lakers, he CAN’T!
What in the holiest of hells is Ron Artest thinking?!??! Riding jocks to get a ring never seemed to be his style. But here we go again. Another great player whose legacy is tainted by riding a penis. All respect for Ron Ron is gone and he now becomes another in the line of Laker villains. I would have definitely preferred that he sign with the Globetrotters … Oh man, I hope Phil Jackson decides to retire ….
So these 2 teams are swapping players, huh? Well, no. Ariza did it to spite the Lakers cuz they didn’t give him enough money – and cuz they signed Artest. I have no idea how this will play out, but LAST time we saw a collection of potential all-stars in Laker Gold, they got swept in the Finals by a gritty Detroit team that was not afraid to mix it up.
I have no idea how that would work, or how it would affect the current roster. But finally, after Philly gets back on its feet from LOSING Allen Iverson, he wants to come back? For what? To decimate the franchise again? It’s a nice pipe dream, AI. Then again …. Artest is signing with the Rockets …
Orlando definitely does not appreciate Gortat or what he did for them this past season. If they did, they would have made a meaningful offer to him already and locked him up long term. He’s a good tough, gritty, serviceable defender with a good enough post game to be a great backup in Orlando. Instead, he’ll join the Mavs and be third banana behind Dampier and Diop or whoever the hell they have there now.
Can you imagine what J-Kidd would do with D’Antoni? I mean, J-Kidd may not be the best shooter, but he will have so many assists in New York that it will boggle the mind. It would be insane.
I would hate to see Wallace in Boston. He would disappear in KG and Pierce’s ego. Not to mention the fact that his numbers would take a hit. And that he would not win a ring there …. Don’t do it ‘sheed! Your legacy is set! Don’t ride it! Don’t ride that jock!
After ousting first year man Michael Curry, the Pistons can’t even GIVE the job away as Doug Collins has said no now. Avery Johnson is the next in line and I have to wonder WHY AJ would say yes to this position. It’s a no win for him. The vets there are so set in their ways that he would be basically going in just to watch himself fail. But hey, at least …
I have no idea how this is gonna do anything other than signal the end of Rip Hamilton in Detroit colours …. I mean, Ben Gordon is a ball hog and Charlie V is so set on proving people wrong about him that he’s gonna chuck crap up too … I think we’re seeing the Pistons go from perennial playoff contenders to also rans. Bringing in Gordon is a great idea too, in that he’s a moody, diva like player … kinda similar to the rumours floating out about Rip Hamilton this year ….
And Rudy Fernandez has made it publicly clear that he is not okay with Hedo coming in. Dwight Howard has also gone public and professed his love for Hedo …. and why not? He was not only HUGE for them in the playoffs, he was also a lightning rod of attention that freed up Howard. And he knows it!
BOTH of these guys would go great with Chris Bosh and would make the Raps playoff contenders, if Marion stays. But no one wants to come play for the Raps right now …. which is a damn sad truth. So sad, in fact, that …
This would be catastrophic to a franchise that has struggled to regain credibility since the Vince Carter era. But hey, at least Jose Calderon is Hungry again … of course it all means jack squat if Chris Bosh isn’t there to take attention away from him.
Not really a surprise here as Crawford fell out of favour HARD with Don Nelson is GState. It was only a matter of time. But how will they juggle the point guard connundrum in Atlanta now with Mike Bibby and Jamal Crawford’s egos clashing?
Although Rockets Brass has expressed that Yao is not even remotely close to being on the Trade Block, you HAVE to wonder if the Rockets wanna keep 2 lame ducks in Yao and T-Mac. I love both those guys, but their attendance records have been spotty the last few years at best. I know T-Mac is being shopped around (rumours have him going to New York as one possibility) but now with Yao’s future in question, will we see him being dealt or shopped as well?
Will they take drastic measures and go in and do some sort of microfracture surgery to help promote healing?
June 18, 2009 at 6:29 am · Filed under NBA, rumours
So the Trade Mill is buzzing already!
With the NBA season officially over, all eyes now turn to players who are elligible to leave their teams and seek out League changing contracts elsewhere. Some of the rumours floating around are pretty crazy ….
1. Al Jefferson and a draft pick for Amare Stoudemire
2. Ben Gordon to Detroit
3. McGrady to New York Knicks
These are the 3 biggest scenarios floating about right now. I think all 3 bear some potential of REALLY happening!
Amare has not been happy in Phoenix for quite some time and with Steve Nash, Grant Hill and Shaq all getting up there, I think the Suns see that this is their final year to put a good, playoff bound product on the court. But I just don’t see how getting rid of a monster like Stoudemire could help them reach that goal. That being said, I didn’t think Steve Kerr would ship away Shawn Marion like he did …
Ben Gordon to Detroit has some REAL promise. Detroit needs a good 2 guard to take pressure away from Rip, Sheed (if he’s back next season) and the Point Guards Will Bynum and Rodney Stuckey. I see no downside to this aside from maybe the sheer number of shots he would take from Rip. And the loss it would represent to Chicago …. let’s not front, here. Gordon, as much of a ball hog as he is, was one of the ONLY reasons that the Bulls were able to stay in the playoffs as long as they did against the Cs.
McGrady … well …. the Knicks need to sell tickets and McGrady is still a draw. Plus I think D’Antoni could really use the streak shooting that McGrady would bring. But to get McGrady, the Knicks would have to part with someone else …. maybe David Lee?
