NBA Off Season Thread

[LeTallecWiz]

The Lakers should do anything in their power to keep this man on their bench ...

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson said in a radio interview Tuesday that he will make a firm decision about returning to the bench next season by "early July" and that he will also explore the possibility of letting Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis coach more road games in Jackson's place.

In the interview with ESPN Radio in Los Angeles (710 AM), Jackson insisted that health concerns would be the only reason that prevented him from completing the final season of his current coaching contract.

He also revealed that the concept of Rambis coaching the team regularly on the road -- theoretically sparing Jackson, who turns 64 in September, from the rigors of travel -- has already been discussed internally

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Big trade last night ... The Spurs now have a 4 potential 20 pt scorers every night. They may be old but hey, they should be up there with the favorites in the West now:

The Milwaukee Bucks traded Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs for Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas on Tuesday.

The Spurs also sent Fabricio Oberto to the Detroit Pistons for Amir Johnson who then went to the Bucks.

Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said Jefferson brings youth and health along with his high scoring. Jefferson hasn't missed a game the past two seasons and joins a team that has been the oldest in the NBA for several years.

"His age helps us transition our team into a new era," Buford said.

In a statement, Buford praised the players he gave up.

"Trades are often difficult and saying 'bye' to Bruce, Fabricio and Kurt is a tough thing to do," he said. "All three of them were valuable contributors to our success as well as good people. We thank each of them for their dedication, professionalism and willingness to always put team first."

The move gives the Spurs a dynamic wing scorer to play alongside Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The Spurs had promised to make their team better this summer and adding Jefferson for role players should give them a huge shot in the arm.

Jefferson averaged 19.6 points and shot a career-high 39.7 percent from 3-point range while starting all 82 games.

Parker said he would welcome a big, athletic player like Jefferson.

"He's a great wing," Parker said. "It's something we don't have on our team."

The Bucks' incentive to make the trade is largely financial. Bowen and Thomas are all in the last year of their contracts. The deal will clear $15 million off the books for the Bucks in 2010-11 and give Milwaukee more flexibility for the 2009-10 season. The Bucks expect to save $4.35 million next season after releasing Bowen (only $2 million guaranteed), a source told ESPN.com.

"The trade we made today provides us with much needed options in both the short and long-term planning for our franchise," Bucks general manager John Hammond said in a statement.

The Pistons will also save some money. Oberto only has $1.8 million guaranteed on his contract. If the Pistons waive him, they'll save $1.7 million this year. That's important to Detroit which is trying to clear as much cap space as possible for free agents this summer.

The Bucks may gain the wiggle room to sign one or both of their restricted free agents --Charlie Villanueva or Ramon Sessions -- next year.

The move also opens up some playing time for the Bucks' lottery pick last year, Joe Alexander.

Jefferson became the Bucks' biggest offensive threat after Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut suffered season-ending injuries, but the Bucks' tight financial situation made a move necessary. Milwaukee does not want to pay the NBA's luxury tax, which last year hit teams dollar-for-dollar once they reach $71.15 million in total payroll. These deals will put the Bucks under the threshold.

Redd, Bogut and Jefferson are scheduled to make more than $41 million combined this season.

The trade was a shock to at least one Bucks player: Villanueva posted "RJ traded to Spurs. Wow" on his Twitter account before the trade was official.

Bogut also chimed in, wishing Jefferson the best.

"Sad to see RJ go. He was a fun guy to be around and could play. We are building for the future, slow and steady. Patience grasshopper," Bogut posted on Twitter.

Johnson, a second round draft pick by Detroit in 2005, started 24 games for the Pistons and averaged 3.5 points and 3.7 rebounds. He is also in the final year of his contract, but makes slightly more than Oberto's $3.5 million, which is partially guaranteed.

Bowen was a key cog in helping the Spurs win three championships, relishing his role as a shutdown defender tasked with guarding the best player on the floor. But the 38-year-old lost a step and saw his minutes cut significantly.

Bowen lost the starting job he held for six seasons and didn't earn a spot on the NBA's all-defensive team for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. Bowen said he still wanted to play but didn't know how many years he had left.

"I'm not looking for any five-year deals," Bowen quipped.

Thomas, 36, is a 14-year veteran who averaged 4.3 points and 5.1 rebounds off the bench last season. Oberto, 34, spent four years in San Antonio and underwent a procedure earlier this month to correct an irregular heartbeat.

Jefferson gives the Spurs the additional scorer they craved in April, when the Dallas Mavericks ousted San Antonio the playoffs in five games. The Spurs were little more than a two-man show of Parker and Duncan, and coach Gregg Popovich said afterward that his team simply couldn't match firepower.

"This provides us an opportunity to have a pretty [darn] good three man on our roster," Buford said.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Timberwolves ... WOW ...

The Washington Wizards are close to a deal that would send the No. 5 pick in Thursday's draft, Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas and Darius Songaila to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Randy Foye and Mike Miller, a league source told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher on Tuesday.

A source close to Minnesota told ESPN.com's Andy Katz that the Timberwolves aren't done. [size=12pt]The Wolves now own Nos. 5, 6, 18 and 28 in the first round[/size]. A source said that the Timberwolves won't package Nos. 5 and 6 for No. 2, but they could offer the fifth and 18th picks for the second. The key for Minnesota, according to the source, is that it wants to have two lottery selections, whether that's Nos. 2 and 6 or 5 and 6. The source said Minnesota is expecting to have a "very busy Wednesday."

 

[DHSC]

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson said in a radio interview Tuesday that he will make a firm decision about returning to the bench next season by "early July" and that he will also explore the possibility of letting Lakers assistant coach Kurt Rambis coach more road games in Jackson's place.

In the interview with ESPN Radio in Los Angeles (710 AM), Jackson insisted that health concerns would be the only reason that prevented him from completing the final season of his current coaching contract.

He also revealed that the concept of Rambis coaching the team regularly on the road -- theoretically sparing Jackson, who turns 64 in September, from the rigors of travel -- has already been discussed internally.

Yup, I want Jackson to stay for another season at least. I read somewhere as well that if Jackson leaves after next season, Kobe might be lobbying for Mike Krzyzweski (current Duke and Team USA coach) to finally leave the college games and join the pros.

Big trade last night ... The Spurs now have a 4 potential 20 pt scorers every night. They may be old but hey, they should be up there with the favorites in the West now

They will be there, but now they have a lack of size in the frontcourt. Heard rumours they might use their MLE on a big like Rasheed Wallace or Marcin Gortat. It also looks like Bowen and Oberto will rejoin the Spurs after being waived.

A source close to Minnesota told ESPN.com's Andy Katz that the Timberwolves aren't done. The Wolves now own Nos. 5, 6, 18 and 28 in the first round. A source said that the Timberwolves won't package Nos. 5 and 6 for No. 2, but they could offer the fifth and 18th picks for the second. The key for Minnesota, according to the source, is that it wants to have two lottery selections, whether that's Nos. 2 and 6 or 5 and 6. The source said Minnesota is expecting to have a "very busy Wednesday."

I think they hope to get Rubio at No 2, and they just might since Rubio has made it clear he doesnt want to go to Memphis. It's going to be an interesting draft. The new GM Kahn seems to be stamping his mark all over the Wolves.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Big Trade: Shaq has been traded to Cleveland.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

The New Jersey Nets are in serious talks with the Magic about a deal that will send Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson to Orlando for Rafer Alston, Tony Battie and Courtney Lee, two league sources told ESPN.com.

The talks have reached a point that a deal could be done by the end of the day Thursday, according to sources.

The trade would give the Magic even more star power on their quest to win an NBA championship. The addition of Carter to a lineup that already consists of All-Star players Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson would make Orlando the favorite to win the Eastern Conference title next year if the franchise also finds a way to bring back Hedo Turkoglu, who will opt out of his contract this summer.

As for the Nets, the move is a cost-cutting measure. Both Alston and Battie are in the last year of their contracts, and trading for them would shave $16.5 million off New Jersey's roster in the summer of 2010 and put the Nets well below the salary cap.

Over the life of the contracts, the Nets would save $40 million by making the deal.

The deal, if completed, would also give the Nets a young, promising shooting guard in Lee.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Trouble in Beantown?

General manager Danny Ainge's verbal flogging of point guard Rajon Rondo on Boston's airwaves -- one day after saying the Celtics were extremely fond of him -- has drawn the ire of the player's agent.

Rondo, who helped the Celtics win the 2008 NBA championship and averaged 16.9 points in this year's playoffs, has been the subject of much trade speculation.

After telling reporters Tuesday that he does not intend to trade any of the Celtics' core players this offseason, Ainge told WEEI on Wednesday that Rondo needed "to grow up" and that "his presence hurt" the team in its seven-game loss to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Ainge also said that Rondo, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, is not a "max contract player."

"I am just surprised that Danny is speaking, even if he considers it constructively, in a public setting [about Rondo]," the player's agent, Bill Duffy, told WEEI. "I don't think that it's appropriate to say that about one of your top players. Even if it's spoken constructively, I don't think it should be done in public. I don't think he would like it if Wyc [Grousbeck, the organization's managing partner] was talking about him in public.

"What they're saying about [Rondo] critically is actually an asset to him. He is feisty. He is competitive, yes. Last time I checked they won a world championship with him at point guard. If the team wasn't hurting they might have done it again this year. Rondo's tough love from Danny isn't necessary. He's self-motivated and a self-starter."

While saying Tuesday that no Celtics player is untradeable, Ainge insisted he wouldn't do anything that would make the team worse this season and that he isn't sour on Rondo. The Celtics have only one pick -- No. 58 -- in the draft Thursday night.

"That talk is so false," Ainge said. "We love the kid and we think he's got a very bright future. I don't anticipate any trades happening this offseason regarding any of our core players. ... We're certainly not doing anything this year to get a draft pick that's a developmental project, that's going to make it harder to win a championship this year."

Duffy said he and Ainge spoke Monday, and the agent told WEEI that Ainge "gave me every assurance that he wasn't moving [Rondo]. According to WEEI, Duffy hasn't requested that Rondo be traded.

"No, it's not to that point," Duffy said. "But if they choose to trade him, then that's their prerogative."

Still, after hearing what Ainge said on the radio about Rondo and knowing it's likely he'll be discussing a new contract with Ainge, Duffy said, "It doesn't sound like a glowing endorsement. You say you love him and then you are critical? You're certainly not recruiting him."

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Omri Caspi became the first Israeli drafted in the 1st round in NBA history ... 23rd overall to Sac town.

And the Carter trade went through ... Orlando now have Howard, Nelson, Lewis and Carter (potentially Hedo if he resigns too) ... WOW

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=34348.msg894692#msg894692 date=1245907821]
Big Trade: Shaq has been traded to Cleveland.
[/quote]

That should give LeBron some support

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Yao Ming's injury may be career threatening ...

 

[LeTallecWiz]

A few more updates:

Both are really good picks up for Detroit

The Detroit Pistons made the biggest early splash in free agency on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.

Gordon, who was taken third in the 2004 draft by Chicago, led the Bulls in scoring each of the past four seasons. He averaged 20.7 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting last year. For his career, he has a 21.3 points per game average

Villanueva, the seventh overall pick by Toronto in 2006 who has played the past three seasons with the Bucks, averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season

The unsung hero of the Lakers's playoff run... They won't miss him I don't think.

Trevor Ariza's short but sweet stay in Los Angeles might be coming to an end.

The 24-year-old swingman, who played a key role in the Lakers' run to their 15th NBA championship, is on the verge of leaving the club, sources close to the situation said on Wednesday.

Not a surprising move by the Clips

The Los Angeles Clippers opened a starting position for No. 1 pick Blake Griffin on Wednesday.

The team agreed to trade power forward Zach Randolph to the Memphis Grizzlies for swingman Quentin Richardson, sources told ESPN.com's Chad Ford. The deal was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

and last but not least ... Kidd a NYK or Mav?

The Dallas Mavericks' first step in free agency was conveying to Jason Kidd at the first allowable minute that they are prepared to sign him to a three-year deal believed to be in the region of $25 million.

The New York Knicks, meanwhile, have readied their own offer to Kidd to match the Dallas contract ... at least in length.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Latest News:

Artest is supposedly ... the newest Laker (probably to replace Ariza, who will replace him in Houston).

I think this is a really good pickup for LA - a brilliant defender and I think he's toned down a lot. Interesting to see how he gets along with Kobe.

The newest Celt?

Rasheed Wallace, the free-agent forward who spent the last five-plus seasons in Detroit, got the full-court press from the Boston Celtics on Thursday, according to a report in The Boston Globe.

The Globe, citing a single NBA source, said that Celtics managing partner Wyc Grousbeck, team president Danny Ainge, coach Doc Rivers and All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, all met with Wallace for three hours in Detroit.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Wallace is a Celtic it seems:

Rasheed Wallace is joining the Boston Celtics, giving the Celtics one of the most important free agents on the marketplace as they attempt to return to the championship.

Bill Strickland, Wallace's agent, told the Boston Herald and the Boston Globe on Sunday night that the 34-year-old forward told him to call off meetings the agent was in the process of scheduling with the Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks.

The Boston Globe reported Wallace will sign for two years at the mid-level exception.

Wallace won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004 after arriving in a mid-season trade, although his career has been noted just as much for his volatile interactions with officials and contentious relationships with coaches. However, the strong presence of veterans such as Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in the Celtics' locker room should keep Wallace in line and bring the focus to his positive attributes: the 6-foot-11 Wallace is a scoring threat from the low block to the 3-point arc and a long-armed, savvy defender.

"As much as Rasheed's a headache, teammakes like him and he's a winner," an NBA executive said.

Kidd to stay a Mav:

Jason Kidd has given the Dallas Mavericks a verbal commitment that he will re-sign with the team Wednesday, according to NBA front-office sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that Kidd, 36, will receive a 3-year, fully-guaranteed contract worth in excess of $25 million.

Kidd elected to stay in Dallas in the face of a hard push from the New York Knicks, who last week offered Kidd the most they could ($19 million over three years).

Signing Kidd for more than one season would have impacted the Knicks' efforts to amass substantial salary cap space for the summer of 2010, and they're expected to woo Cleveland's LeBron James and at least one other top free agent.

In that scenario, pressure on Knicks president Donnie Walsh to trade either Eddy Curry or Jared Jeffries -- or both -- would have increased significantly, but sources say that Walsh and Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni felt that acquiring Kidd would have been worth such hassles because of their confidence in Kidd's ability to change the Knicks' culture.

Kidd's interest in returning to the Atlantic Division was mutual, but the Mavericks were always considered favorites to re-sign him because they could comfortably exceed the Knicks' max offer of three years at the projected mid-level exception of $5.8 million per year.

Although Kidd initially sent signals that he planned to take the full holiday weekend before making a decision, Dallas began inching closer to a deal on Friday when Kidd and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban met at Cuban's house.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I like this trade if the Mavs pull it off:

A person with knowledge of the deal says the Dallas Mavericks will acquire forward Shawn Marion(notes) from Toronto.

The trade is not official, but the person told The Associated Press on Wednesday it should be completed. The person was granted anonymity because the deal was still being worked on.

The Raptors couldn’t afford to re-sign Marion because they need to clear salary cap space for Hedo Turkoglu(notes). They are close to an agreement with the Orlando Magic free agent.

The deal was first reported by The Dallas Morning News.

Marion is a versatile player who can be used at either forward position. He spent just half a season in Toronto after being traded from Miami.

The trade is expected to include at least one other team to make the salaries work. Oklahoma City and Memphis are likely candidates because they are far enough under the salary cap to facilitate a deal.

The Mavericks have been busy during the offseason, agreeing to give point guard Jason Kidd(notes) a three-year contract for more than $25 million to remain in Dallas. They also are trying to reach a deal with Marcin Gortat(notes), Orlando’s backup center.

Marion was a four-time All-Star in Phoenix but is facing a major pay cut from the $17.8 million he earned last season. He scored 12.9 points per game, well below his career average of 17.8.

Marion will join Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki(notes) and Josh Howard(notes), giving the Mavericks four former All-Stars.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Another major multi-team trade might be looming in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls having discussed a deal that would be headlined by Carlos Boozer and Kirk Hinrich, according to NBA front-office sources.

Sources stressed to ESPN.com that no deal was imminent Thursday and that both Portland and Utah are still evaluating additional trade scenarios. But two sources with knowledge of the three-team proposal confirmed that there have been substantive talks aimed at landing Boozer in Chicago, Hinrich in Portland and Tyrus Thomas in Utah.

A deal featuring those main components would deliver the elite low-post scorer that the Bulls have been chasing for years in Boozer while also positioning them to have significant salary-cap space for the summer of 2010 to court Chicago native Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh in free agency, since Boozer is entering the final year of his contract.

Hinrich, meanwhile, is a lead guard that Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard has been known to covet for some time as a potential backcourt mate for Brandon Roy.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=34348.msg899182#msg899182 date=1246595863]
Latest News:

Artest is supposedly ... the newest Laker (probably to replace Ariza, who will replace him in Houston).

I think this is a really good pickup for LA - a brilliant defender and I think he's toned down a lot. Interesting to see how he gets along with Kobe.

[/quote]

I was at that infamous game in Detroit when artest and everyone else went fucking nuts.

One of the craziest events I've ever witnessed.

 

[DHSC]

Dallas is going to be pretty strong next season.

Wizzy, just to let you know that I read the Mavs might not be done with trades yet. The Mavs have a great trading asset in Dampier's expiring contract (12M) and might use it to get a SG. I read that Rip Hamilton and Jason Richardson are being looked at since their contracts are similar to Dampier's.

Imagine Kidd, Hamilton/Richardson, Howard, Dirk and Gortat as your starting five and Terry and Marion coming off the bench. That's a pretty scary lineup.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

[quote author=DHSC link=topic=34348.msg903698#msg903698 date=1247221738]
Dallas is going to be pretty strong next season.

Wizzy, just to let you know that I read the Mavs might not be done with trades yet. The Mavs have a great trading asset in Dampier's expiring contract (12M) and might use it to get a SG. I read that Rip Hamilton and Jason Richardson are being looked at since their contracts are similar to Dampier's.

Imagine Kidd, Hamilton/Richardson, Howard, Dirk and Gortat as your starting five and Terry and Marion coming off the bench. That's a pretty scary lineup.
[/quote]

I haven't heard of this ... so thanks for inside info.

That would be a really smart trade imo - better to get Rip as he's a fantastic shooter and stellar defender. Rather consistency than flash.

I think Cuban is making a push for a championship now as most teams are 'waiting' for 'that' FA class next year.

 

[DHSC]

Yup, I think Cuban realises that Kidd's and Dirk's windows are closing, and this is the best time to gamble.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

McDyess to San An seems a good move, who can hopefully bring on DeJuan Blair as a long term starter too.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Lakers to re-sign Odom ... Not sure how they'll find playing time for their SF/PF combo (Artest/Odom/Gasol) but hey, it's a great 'problem' to have.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I hate him, but respected him as one of the best at what he did ... Was to the Spurs defensively what Kerr was to the Bulls offensively:

After helping the San Antonio Spurs win three championships and establishing himself as one of the premier perimeter defenders of the decade, Bruce Bowen is retiring at 38.

Bowen told ESPN.com that he will formally announce his retirement at a Thursday afternoon news conference and said he would elaborate more on his decision then

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Iverson a Grizz?

Allen Iverson has dropped his strongest hint yet that he will soon be joining the Memphis Grizzlies, announcing via his Twitter account Sunday night that he has a face-to-face meeting scheduled Monday with Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley and other club officials.

"I want to help them develop a winner," Iverson wrote.

Reached later Sunday by ESPN.com, Heisley confirmed that the meeting will take place Monday in Atlanta, where Iverson has been working out in preparation for next season.

Yet Heisley cautioned that an agreement in principle with Iverson has not yet been reached, saying: "[The meeting] does not mean it's a done deal. He wants to meet and have some questions answered and we want to meet."

Memphis is believed to be the only team actively pursuing the four-time scoring champion and has established its willingness to sign Iverson to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million.

The Grizzlies, at Heisley's behest, have been trying to convince Iverson to join them since free agency began, ignoring concerns about the 34-year-old accepting a reserve role or his ability to co-exist in the same offense with O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph because of Iverson's presumed ability to generate interest and sell tickets for a franchise that has languished in the shadow of John Calipari's Memphis Tigers.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

he'll get some award next year ...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Allen Iverson wants to prove he's not finished yet. The Memphis Grizzlies want to rev up the rebuilding process with a young roster.

That is why the 34-year-old Iverson signed a one-year contract Thursday with a team that hasn't reached the playoffs since 2006 and has never won a postseason game. The Grizzlies are coming off a 24-58 season that tied for fifth-worst in the NBA.

"This year for me is so personal," Iverson said.

"It's basically going to be my rookie season again. It hurts, but I turn the TV on, I read the paper, I listen to some of the things people say about me having the season that I had last year and me losing a step, things like that. They're trying to put me in a rocking chair already."

 

[DHSC]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=34348.msg941310#msg941310 date=1252609599]
he'll get some award next year ...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Allen Iverson wants to prove he's not finished yet. The Memphis Grizzlies want to rev up the rebuilding process with a young roster.

That is why the 34-year-old Iverson signed a one-year contract Thursday with a team that hasn't reached the playoffs since 2006 and has never won a postseason game. The Grizzlies are coming off a 24-58 season that tied for fifth-worst in the NBA.

"This year for me is so personal," Iverson said.

"It's basically going to be my rookie season again. It hurts, but I turn the TV on, I read the paper, I listen to some of the things people say about me having the season that I had last year and me losing a step, things like that. They're trying to put me in a rocking chair already."

[/quote]

Which award Wizzy?

'Worst signing of the season'?

 

[LeTallecWiz]

6th man, or comeback player of the year.