“Eddie is a New York limo driver and a fanatical follower of the New York Knicks
professional basketball team. The team is struggling with a mediocre
record when, in mid-season, “Wild Bill” Burgess, the new owner, as a
public relations gimmick, stages an ‘honorary coach’ contest, which
Eddie wins. The fans love it, so “Wild Bill” fires the coach and hires
her. She takes the bunch of overpaid prima donnas that make up the team
and turns them around. But the owner hopes to move the team, now the
darling of the New York fans, to St. Louis. He may OWN the team, but it
BELONGS to the city and the fans!”
-courtesy Internet Movie Data Base
Fan Run Team
If only the Knicks would can Isiah Thomas and hold a contest. Then
maybe somebody with some passion could take over this team. While I’m
not a Knicks fan, the current state of the team is so embarrassing I
feel compelled to do something.
So how does one fix the Knicks? Well, the first step would probably
be to get new ownership but that’s not going to happen. Barring that
the coach/GM Isiah Thomas needs to be dismissed immediately.
After that, the Knicks need to start dismantling this team from the
top down. Anyone with a contract over 3 years or over 25 needs to go.
David Lee and Renaldo Balkman form the foundation for the Knicks
future, but the Knicks have spent so much so unwisely they may not be
able to get those guys back.
I would do anything I could to trade away my big salaries for short
term contracts. Forget trying to get talent for talent, the Knicks need
to cut the bottom line and start the process of rebuilding. The
contenders are a good place to shop.
Teams like the Lakers, Rockets, Raptors, or Wizards are good places
to look. They’re all on the edge looking to make that playoff push so
they would be willing to turn over some of their bench for a talent guy.
Then once the Knicks have spread their money back over multiple
young, semi-talented players they finally begin to move forward. But
they’ve got to save some money and pray for a miracle or it could be a
long time before we see the Knicks in the playoffs again.
Conclusion
But then again, I’m not a Knicks fan, so I’m more willing to part
with hope for a while. So, I’m wondering what others think the Knicks
should do. I highly doubt they could get Kobe but maybe you can work
out an appropriate scenario. What’s more important for the Knicks, a
big splash or building for the future? I guess what I’m asking is, if
you ran the Knicks what would you do to get them out of this nightmare?
In my humble opinion there are currently
three truly major sports leagues in America: Major League Baseball, the
National Football League, and the National Baseball Association. Other
organizations like the National Hockey League and NASCAR are certainly
popular but they can't lay claim on the prestige of those three.
Winning
the championship in any of those three leagues is a point of pride for
the city and region whose team does so. Usually, cities have to wait
years even decades for one of their teams to capture the ultimate
prize. Every once in a great while two teams from the same region will
win their respective league's title.
This year, rather, season
of 2007-2008 there is unique chance that three teams from the same town
will be crowned world chances. The town is, of course, Boston and the
teams are the Red Sox (MLB), the Patriots (NFL), and the Celtics (NBA).
Boston Red Sox
In
2004 the Red Sox were truly a miracle team. They came from a 3-0
deficit against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series
to win the World Series. Now, a few seasons later they are the favorite
to win another World Series.
The Colorado Rockies were on a roll
coming into this series. They had won 21 of 22 games including a one
game playoff against the San Diego Padres and consecutive sweeps of the
Phillies and the Diamondbacks. Then they ran into the jugornaut that is
the Boston Red Sox.
The chances of the Red Sox winning the series
look good. They won Game 1 handily behind excellent pitching by Josh
Becket and a high powered offense. The Red Sox scored a total of 13
runs after a lead off homer by Dustin Pedroia.
In game two the
Rockies put up a serious fight. They scored first and held the Sox
offense in check. However, Curt Schilling did his job and the early
score was the only Rockies score of the game. The Red Sox won again by
a score of 2-1.
Now, the series shifts to Colorado where the
Rockies have excelled. The Red Sox are dominant and seem to simply be
too overpowering for the upstart Rockies. However, there are plenty of
obstacles still standing in the Sox way of victory.
First, Dice-K
has been a rather shaky pitcher. Some games he pitches the way the Sox
expected when they shelled out his massive contract. Other games, he
appears no better than an average pitcher. If Dice-K pitches the way
he's capable of then the Red Sox could win easily. However, if he
doesn't pitch at the top of his game then the Rockies will quickly
regain the momentum.
Second, who is their guy for game 4?
Jonathan Lester? Does that name really inspire confidence? Sure he's a
great story, and yes he was 4-0 this season, but is he seasoned enough
to face a World Series caliber team? I have my doubts.
The Red
Sox could easily lose the next two games behind weak pitching. Not that
the Rockies pitching will be that much better (Josh Fogg, Aaron Cook)
but they're playing in Denver and they're offense can heat up at home.
Also, their team defense is excellent and if they can keep the ball in
the park they will have a great chance to win.
So, as favored as
the Red Sox are and as good as they've been playing they are in no way
guaranteed to win. Even with a 2-0 lead there is a long way to go
before the Red Sox win their second World Series title in 4 years.
New England Patriots
The
Patriots have emerged from the controversy of "Spygate" to become one
of the best offensive teams in history. Last season the Pats tried to
win another ttle using their theory that any player would excel in
their system. With no legitimate wide receiving threat the Patriots
were dismissed from the playoffs by the eventual Super Bowl champion
Indianapolis Colts.
This past off season they decided not to make
that mistake again. They traded for Wes Walker (one of the must under
rated, till now, players in the game), signed Donte Stallworth
(Philadelphia's number one receiver last season), and traded for Randy
Moss.
These three pieces have melded beautifully for the Patriots
and given their offense a spark unlike any other team in history. Tom
Brady is having a historic season with a 137.9 passer rating and has
thrown for 27 touchdowns and 2 picks.
The Patriots are lighting
up the score board (and maybe running up the score) by averaging 39.9
points per game. They are currently 7-0 and appear unstoppable.
However, they too have plenty of road blocks in their way.
First,
they must play the Indianapolis Colts. In a unique role reversal the
Patriots have been the toast of the town, crushing opponents and
looking like an offensive power house. Meanwhile, the Colts have been
quietly winning games and playing efficiently. Their defense has
silently become the best against the pass in the league and third best
overall.
These two collide on November 4th but I almost guarantee
his won't be their only meeting this year. Regardless of who wins
November 4th there's a good chance they will play again in the AFC
Championship game and the Colts could easily win that. As overpowering
as the Patriots have been, we learned from those old Patriots-Colts
games that a great defense can contain an explosive offense. That
leaves it up to the Patriot's defense to stop the Colts offense and,
unlike in years past, I'm not convinced they're up to the task.
Besides
the Colts, they also face the Pittsburgh Steelers who have also been
putting together a nice season. They are currently 4-2, scoring 26.7
points per game and have the top rated defense in the league. They are
known for creating unique blitz packages and are fully capable of
getting to Tom Brady. Again, I believe the Pittsburgh defense is
capable of slowing down the tide of the Patriots' offense but am unsure
if the Patriots' defense can do the same to the Steelers.
While
there are discussions of the Patriots going 16-0 and winning the title
that is easier said than done. As good as they've looked the Patriots
have a long way to go before they bring home another Lombardi trophy
(their 4th in 6 years). While I wouldn't bet against them I'm again not
quite ready to crown them (though every week makes that tougher).
Boston Celtics
This
is the team we know the least about. For twenty some years the Celtics
haven't had a title and haven't made a serious run for several seasons.
Then, this past offseason, the Celts traded for sharp shooter Ray Allen
and power forward Kevin Garnett. This has lead to a feeling of a return
to prominence despite the regular season not yet starting.
Paul
Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett certainly look formidable on paper
but we won't really know how good they are until they play the game.
They added a few other pieces here and there but there remains serious
questions about this team.
Even though the East is weak and a one
man show in Cleveland made it all the way to the Finals last year, the
Boston Celtics have a hard season ahead. Rajon Rondo must be an
efficient point guard and play within himself this season. The Celtics
also don't have a true center with Scot Pollard backing up Kendrick
Perkins. Recent history has shown that shoring up those two positions
may be the keys to post-season success.
If the Celtics escape the
East, and with the new "Big Three" it's almost certain they will, there
are major questions of how they would matchup against the Western
Conference Champion.
The Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, and San
Antonio Spurs are all easily better than the Celtics (again, on paper).
Teams like the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, and Utah Jazz could
surprise everybody and get themselves in the Finals. Once there, a case
could be made that they too are better than the Boston Celtics.
Of
all the Boston teams, the Celtics have the longest road to victory. Not
only because the season has yet to begin, but also because they have
the most equal competition. We shall see if the Celtics play as good as
they appear on paper and I have the hardest time believing they will
win it all.
Conclusion
I am far from convinced the
Boston teams will sweep the Big Three Leagues. But I could easily see
the Red Sox and Patriots winning their titles. That, in and of itself,
would be a feat and something that Boston fans would revel in for years
to come. If the Celtics won too, the city of Boston would have bragging
rights it might never lose.
Whatever the case, I feel Boston has a unique opportunity this "season" and may be hence forth known as "Title Town."
We're about a week away from opening night and I have neglected the Dallas Mavericks since the beginning of the summer.
The
last time I was really paying attention was around draft time. The
Mavericks picked up Nick Fazekas, Renaldas Seibutis, and traded some
dude for Reyshawn Terry. They brought Devean George back and signed
Eddie Jones for some defensive help.
Then this whole Kobe Bryant
trade stuff blew up and drew my attention once again to my favorite
basketball team. So, let's look at the Mavericks roster position by
position.
Point Guards
Devin Harris: The
time has come to make Harris the full time starter at point. He's
quick, aggressive, and can score in bunches. The question is how good
of a distributor he is. If he can slash to the middle and then kick it
out to his outside shooters then he'll elevate himself into the
top-tier of point guards. His strength is speed and if he learns to
pass on the go then he could be a very good point guard.
Jose Juan Barea:
A tough little point guard who is also very fast. During this year's
summer league in Las Vegas Barea was averaging 14.4 point per game, 6.2
assists per game, and 3.0 rebounds per game. He was elected to the
summer league All-Star team and had a .531 field goal percentage and a
.429 percentage from beyond the arc.
That's fairly meaningless
since it was in summer league but Barea show legit talent. He'll never
be a starter but he could be a great back up and his style mimics
Harris' enough to keep the team moving. He's also a great shooter and
on a team like the Mavericks he could be dangerous.
Jason Terry:
I'll put Jason Terry here but he's really more of a 2-guard at this
point. The Mavs may use him at point every once and a while but he's
primarily in there to shoot the ball. Terry is a solid offensive weapon
and isn't too much of a liability on defense. He's capable of hitting
the big shot and can come through in the clutch. He'd been an excellent
change of pace point guard but he should be beside Devin Harris on the
court not sitting in front of him on the depth chart.
Shooting Guards
Eddie Jones:
Signed in the off season, Jones will take over as the defensive guard
(a role filled last year by Greg Buckner and the year before by Adrian
Griffin the year before). However, unlike his predecessors Jones is a
legitimate offensive threat. He's not going to be dancing with the ball
and streaking to the basket. But he can shoot ball (especially from
behind the three-point line) and that is a major upgrade over the
position. He won't be starting, sitting behind Terry, but he'll see
significant time and if he keeps up his tenacious defense he'll be a
real asset for this Mavericks team.
Trenton Hassell: The
Mavericks basically traded like for like when they sent Greg Buckner to
Minnesota for Hassell. Hassell is a little bit better than Buckner
offensively but otherwise isn't really that different of a player.
Finally, he's a little bit younger and over all was an upgrade over
Buckner. But he's still buried behind Terry and Jones and I don't know
how many minutes the Mavericks intend to give him.
Maurice Ager:
This is the guy the Mavs drafted a couple years ago and someone I think
will be a steal, not quite Josh Howard like but still a steal. Ager is
a flat out scorer. He's a tough kid who could develop his defense under
a coach like Avery Johnson. I would like to see him getting more
minutes but with the trades and the necessary switch of Terry to
shooting guard I don't see it happening. Ager's got to start seeing
real playing time soon or else the Mavs risk missing out on a great
young talent.
Renaldas Seibutis: The Mavericks last pick
in the draft. Supposedly, since I've never seen him play, he's a great
shooter and an intense defender. That's nice, but he's not a good
enough athlete to compete at the NBA level right now. Besides that's
he's buried so far on the depth chart he wouldn't even dress for games.
This kid's staying in Europe pending his development.
Small Forwards
Josh Howard: Howard is an up-and-coming superstar. He
will be an All-Star this season and for many season to come. He's got a
great looking shot and is versatile enough to cut to the basket or make
some room for himself on the outside. He's defense is lacking but
getting better and his long arms are proving difficult for opposing
offenses to handle.
Howard is a great option as a small forward
and could easily fill in at shooting guard. Howard is obviously the
starter and most talented player here and there is not question what he
brings to the table. In fact, I really hope he asserts himself this
season and takes over this team.
Devean George: George was
brought in last year and brought back this year for two reasons. One,
he has championship experience. Two, he is a good defender and a smart
player. Other than that his time has come and gone. He's still an asset
off the bench but I really didn't think he filled a big role for the
Mavs last year and I'm not sure he will this year.
Jerry Stackhouse: Stackhouse
is easily the third best player on this team. However, he's great off
the bench. He adds a tenacity when he comes on the court and can still
score from anywhere. He's a great back up for Howard and the two can
share court time with either filling the 2 or 3 spots. He's the Mavs
sixth man and is critical to any title hopes.
Reyshawn Terry:
This kid could develop into a solid NBA small forward. He is athletic
and talented on both sides of the ball. Given time and careful coaching
he could for a great one-two punch at this position with Howard. This
is basically Stackhouse's replacement as he prepares to retire.
However, with the loaded roster I think the Mavs will struggle to keep
him and ultimately may decide they can net a similar player later.
Power Forwards
Dirk Nowitzki:
Given everything, still the most talented player on this team. The only
defense against Dirk is to get in his head and let him stop himself. He
doubts his talents far too easily and Don Nelson knew it, attacking him
and showing no fear against his inside-outside threat. If Nowitzki had
attacked right back I firmly believe the Mavs would've won the series
but he allowed himself to be intimidated.
He's the cornerstone of
this team and will remain so. He's gone from a strictly perimeter big
man to an inside-outside power forward with decent defense. He's shown
an ability to improve on everything he's worked on and if he gains
proper confidence he could finally assert himself as one of the best
power forwards in the game. The only player stopping Dirk is Dirk and
if he gets out of his own way there are bright days ahead.
Brandon Bass: For several years now the Mavericks have
been searching for someone to back up Nowitzki. For now, they're going
with the young Brandon Bass. And Bass has really come on. He's scoring
in bunches and getting rebounds like a mad man. If he keeps this up he
could secure himself a long-term deal and represent a real change of
pace. I'd like to see the Mavericks forgo signing a veteran big man and
let this kid have a chance to backup Dirk.
Nick Fazekas:
Fazekas has an amazing touch. He can score from any where and has a lot
of heart. However, he doesn't have the strength to be an NBA power
forward and won't be seeing much time this season. His defense and
athleticism aren't where they should be and he'll have to develop those
quickly. But the Mavericks believe in him, like they once did in a kid
named Nowtizki, and believe he'll develop into a solid player. He'll
get some time this season but he wasn't drafted to make an immediate
impact.
Centers
Erick Dampier: What a waste
of money. He's a decent center yes. He'll get some blocks and disrupt
the offense. He'll pull down some rebounds if he has to. But don't
expect too much out of Dampier. Though he'll flash brilliance he's not
what the Mavericks thought they were getting. He needs to start
producing offensively or else he could easily see the occasional start
dip to none. When he's contract is over the Mavericks should let him
walk.
DeSagana Diop: A solid and surprising player. Again,
not much of an offensive threat but he has great heart. His size and
athleticism allow him to be a major contributor on defense. However,
he'll need to pickup his offensive production if he doesn't want the
Mavericks to look for another center to start in a few seasons. This
year, however, he is easily the best center and should start from the
beginning of the season.
Didier Ilunga-Mbenga: A
promising young talent who was injured last season. He's not a huge guy
but is still fairly big. He's also terribly athletic and could be a
special player if developed correctly. This year he'll still be sitting
on the bench most of the time but will come in for relief every now and
again. He'll see an increase in his minutes come playoff time as
Johnson tries to avoid foul trouble for his two primary centers.
Conclusion
Overall
this is obviously a very talented team. The question is, do all the
pieces fit together? I think the real core of this team is Nowitzki,
Howard, and Harris. Jason Terry is a solid scorer and a great
two-guard. Outside of that Stackhouse, Jones, and George can contribute
off the bench in various ways. Their centers are still huge question
mark and I'm not sure where guys like Hassell and Ager will fit in.
Well,
Donnie Nelson has done a great job of assembling talent and now it's up
to Johnson to make it all fit together. The team has gotten much
tougher over the past several seasons and if they can continue to do
that without sacrificing their offensive aggressiveness they'll be
tough to beat. I think the Mavericks are certainly capable of winning
it all as they have a great mix of stars and role players. The real
question is will Dirk Nowitzki get out of his own way or will he let
himself be intimidated again and collapse one more time?
I'll give you a moment to recover from the brilliance of my title...
Ok,
moving on, Kobe Bryant wants out of LA. Early this summer he was
screaming about being traded on national radio. Then he'd go on local
LA radio and say he wanted to be a Laker for life. Apparently, Kobe
hasn't upgraded to the digital age when pretty much anybody can get
news from a wold away instantaneously.
Of course, the LA faithful
bought everything he was saying. Growing up in Philly as a life long
Laker fan? That sounds a little fishy to me but I digress. Kobe Bryant
is only concerned with winning the championship and advancing his own
career. Therefore, Bryant would love to go anywhere that he feels would give him a better chance to win the title and advance his own career.
So,
using the technology of the ESPN trade machine I will try to put
together some trades that would benefit everybody. Now, the likelihood
of Kobe getting traded are about as good as an environmental activists'
of winning the Nobel Peace Prize but it's always fun to speculate.
Kobe to New York
Obviously,
the Knicks have to top the list. For no other reason than that only New
York is bigger than LA. New York could absorb Kobe Bryant and welcome
him as a new star. My comrade Dudski talked about this in his blog and I concur.
The
Knicks certainly have the pieces to make a big trade and I think going
to the Knicks would satisfy Kobe's ego. Being able to resurrect Spike
Lee's team would provide Kobe with some motivation and the opportunity
to play for Isiah Thomas would make Kobe drool.
Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant to New York Knicks for Malik Rose, Quentin Richardson, Jamal Crawford and 2008 First Round Pick
Lakers: Get
a tough power forward in Malike Rose, a great shooter in Richardson,
and an upgrade at point with Crawford. The three of them could help in
Phil's Triangle and are certainly upgrades over the current cast
(excluding Kobe, of course). Crawford, Richardson, Rose, Odom, and
Walton could make for a high-flying offense but they still have a huge
hole in the middle. They would need to go get a center but this lineup
is still better than what they'll have (again excluding Kobe) and two
picks in '08 would give them a head start.
Knicks: Having
Marbury and Bryant on the same team could be problematic. However, it
wouldn't take long for Bryant to assert himself and I truly believe
Starbury would defer some of his shooting to Bryant (this isn't Steve
Francis we're talking about here). The Knicks would also be off to a
good start at rebuilding here and could make a serious play in the East.
Kobe to Chicago
This
is one of the most popular scenarios. But the specifics are hard to
hammer out. Who would the Bulls be willing to part with? That largely
depends on what direction the Bulls as an organization want to go. They
have a five year deal with Kirk Hinrich and seem to have committed to
him as their point guard. But the rest of the team is really up for
grabs so it's the Bulls choice to make.
Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant to the Chicago Bulls for Chris Duhon, Ben Gordon, Ben Wallace, and 2008 First Round Pick
Lakers:
Get a decent point guard who still has promise in Duhon, a developing
superstar in Ben Gordon, and the show stopper in Ben Wallace. The first
round pick is again, a necessity, and this trade would give the Lakers
some options.
Wallace would finally provide a presence at the
Center spot and both Duhon and Gordon will be free agents after next
season. That would give the Lakers to opportunity to resign them or
gain some salary cap space. Their youth is also a big plus and they
could be paired with who ever the Lakers pick up to rebuild.
Bulls: Obviously
getting Kobe would dramatically improve this team. Hinrich is a
creative passer and Kobe is excellent moving without the ball. Those
two could mesh beautifully and be a dynamic duo for the Bulls. Again,
the middle is exposed without Wallace but this team would be a serious
threat in the East.
Kobe to Dallas
The Dallas
Mavericks are a very opportunistic team. Mark Cuban is obviously not
afraid to spend but he would never execute this trade. Regardless, it's
a trade that's possible and makes a degree of sense. But neither the
Lakers nor Mavs would willingly make the other better.
This trade
I think would also require a little more from the Lakers end to
compensate the Mavericks and make the salaries work. Again, the first
round pick is a given but if I was the Lakers I would also demand the
rising star Josh Howard before I would even consider a trade with
Dallas.
Los Angeles Lakers trade Kober Bryant and Vladimir Radmanovicto the Dallas Mavericks for Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, and 2008 First Round Pick
Lakers:
The Lakers would obviously get two great pieces for their offense. Dirk
Nowitski creates serious match up problems and paired with Obom could
cause fits for opposing big men on the offensive side. Also, Josh
Howard is getting nothing but better and adds a threat on both sides of
the court. He's a guard-forward and a solid player. Again, two first
round picks would give them some flexibility to build around their
Nowitzki-Odom-Howard core.
Mavericks: The Mavs would lose
two big pieces of their team but would gain arguably the best player in
the league. Bryant would add some offense and some defense and
Radmanovic can be counted on as the outside scoring big man. However,
he is no Nowitzki and would definitely be a bench player. If Bryant
could play like we know he can then this could be a serious upgrade
over their current roster.
Now to get a little less conventional.
Kobe to Phoenix
I
was thinking about Kobe Bryan in a Suns uniform and I think I like it.
He would be a great fit for that offense and would add a dynamic option
for them on both sides of the court. If the Suns could get somebody who
could slow down opposing offenses then Kobe would easily put them over
the top.
Shawn Marion is obviously the key part of any trade
between Phoenix and LA but the Suns would have to do quite a bit to
sweeten the deal.
Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion, Raja Bell, a 2008 First Round Pick and a 2009 Second Round Pick
Lakers:
Marion for Bryant is not a good trade. However, Bell would add some
toughness to the Lakers and could add some potency to their defense.
They're not going to score more points with this trade unless they sign
a decent point guard. However, getting two picks would give them some
serious flexibility and Marion's athleticism would add a new dimension
to the Lakers offense. Plus, Bell and Marion would work very well with
the players already on the team and the Lakers could actually be a
decent team.
Suns: Championship. Hands down.
Nash+Stoudemire+Bryant+Diaw=Unstoppable. Plus, Hill off the bench will
do great things. I didn't include the fifth man because he would be
irrelevant. This trade would land the Suns the championship now and
give them an easy chance to repeat next season. The Suns would give up
some very big picks over the next couple years but their window is
closing and they need to do something to win now.
Kobe to Washington
The
Wizards are a team that are on the cusp of glory in the East. If they
made a move for Bryant they would significantly increase their chances
and get far better on the defensive side of the ball. Meanwhile, the
Lakers would get two great components for the Triangle.
Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant and Vladimir Radmanovic to the Washington Wizards for Antwane Jamison, Gilbert Arenas, and a 2008 First Round Pick
Lakers:
The Lakers would get two great scoring options and two great pieces for
the Triangle. Gilbert Arenas is classified as a point guard and would
be a huge upgrade over what the Lakers have. Pairing him with Fisher
(similar to how the Mavs pair Terry and Harris) could be great.
Meanwhile, Jamison has a good inside-outside game and this team could
run the floor with the best of them. While they wouldn't improve on
defense they would be dynamic on offense and could use that pick to get
a true Center. Plus Arenas and Jamison both have short contracts and
that would free up a ton of cap room for the Lakers if they chose not
to resign them.
Wizards: This would significantly improve the Wizards,
especially on the defensive side of the ball. It would give them the
best scorer in the league and an extra option in Radmanovic. The
Wizards still have Stevenson and Haywood and this would be a good
foundation on which to build. In a couple seasons the Wizards could be
real contenders.
Kobe to Houston
Here's another team
that I could really see Kobe going to. Again, this trade is far less
likely than the already very unlikely trades mentioned above. However,
I think a trade between the two could benefit both sides. I said a long
time ago the Lakers should've traded Kobe to Orlando for McGrady and
I'm thinking maybe they can still do it. McGrady is still a great
shooting guard and with the right team can do some great things.
Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant and Vladimir Radmanovic to the Houston Rockets for Tracy McGrady, Bonzi Wells, Mike James, and 2008 First Round Pick
Lakers:
Mike James provides and instant upgrade at point guard. Again, he could
be paired with Derek Fisher and provide a good option at the two spot.
McGrady is one of the best guard-forwards in the league and is behind
maybe only Kobe in skill. Things haven't panned out with Yao so maybe a
change of scenery will revive him. Bonzi Wells only has a season left
on his contract and could free up some cap space. In the meantime, he
has flashes of brilliance on both sides of the ball and would add some
toughness to the Lakers.
Rockets: The Rockets would get a
breath of fresh air. Kobe's worked with a high-caliber center before
and maybe he can help Yao get back to what he was promised to be. He
can certainly score and play defense and again, a change in scenery
could help revive him. Radmanovic would again be a third scoring option
and I think could be a bigger threat with defenses keying on Ming and
Bryant.
Kobe to New Jersey
Bryant really wanted to
play with Jason Kidd. What player wouldn't? Besides Nash he is the most
creative point guard in the league and wants to get his scores the
ball. Vince Carter is untradable (not because he's better than Kobe,
because he has a Trade Restriction) so they'd have to give up Richard
Jefferson. They'd also have to give up some promising players and again
that first round pick. However, a team with Carter-Kidd-Bryant would be
unstoppable in the East and maybe even unstoppable against the west.
Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant to the New Jersey Nets for Richard Jefferson, Sean Williams, Nenad Krstic, Bostjan Nachbar, and a 2008 First Round Pick
Lakers:
The Lakers would get Richard Jefferson to keep their scoring up and a
promising young point guard to help lead the team. Krstic has been a
surprise and could be a real asset to the Triangle. Nachbar also shows
some promise but would open up a couple million in cap space if the
Lakers decided not to resign him after next season.
New Jersey Nets:
This would set up an epic match up between the Nets and Celtics in the
playoffs. Which big three would succeed? I don't know. The Celtics
would have a hard time stopping Kobe and Carter plus the Nets have
something the Celts don't: a true point guard. I think the Nets would
come out on top and challenge for the championship. Again, the Nets
window is closing and they need to do something to win now.
Conclusion
None
of these trades will happen. However, it's always fun to speculate. My
favorite trade is with the Suns because I believe that would spell
championship. However, I would also like the Nets trade simply because
it would be fun to watch them obliterate the East. All in all, Kobe
will simply walk away in 2009 and the Lakers will struggle to rebuild.
Buss should try to get something for him now but they will never get
equal value for him.
So these are some random scenarios. Let me
know what you think but I'm really interested to see if there are any
other interesting trades you would have in mind (be creative!). Peace.
Last Sunday the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins 37-20. In the Fourth Quarter Tony Romo hooked up with Terrell Owens
for a touchdown. The wide receiver quickly dashed around the goal post,
lifted the ball to his face, and briefly mimed filming the Dolphins’
sideline.
Afterwards, the referees threw the flag and penalized the Cowboys 15-yards. Wade Phillips visibly disapproved of Owens’ actions and so did the league, fining him $7,500 yesterday.
This is just ridiculous. Terrell Owens did an excellent satire of
the biggest story in sports. All Owens did was bring a little levity to
the whole situation and hopefully help us move on from this scandal.
Owens’ celebration was awesome and I think he showed he is a very
cerebral player.
What was even better was his response to the fine and the NFL
stating that he violated their rule of using the ball as a prop. He
said he, “misinterpreted the rule.” Brilliant! I hope T.O. keeps having
fun with his celebrations and keeps his sense of humor. After all, it
is just a game.
The Bad
The Juice
is back in jail again. How can a man be so dumb? He knows there are
plenty of people out to get him and yet he still does this. While it
seems like he was set up, he still had to barge into the hotel room and
threaten those within.
Simpson has been a train wreck ever since he allegedly killed his
ex-wife and fled from cops lo those many years ago. He moved to Florida
to keep the Goldman family from getting his pension and his house but
he just bounced from one disaster to the next.
Of course, the latest nightmare was his authoring a book
about how he “hypothetically” would’ve killed his ex-wife and Ron
Goldman that night. He said he wrote it for the money, but would
somebody still searching for the “real” killer do such a thing?
Now, O.J.’s in jail in Las Vegas
and facing a potential life sentence. Regardless of his guilt or
innocence I am shocked by his stupidity. If I had come within a knife’s
edge of a murder conviction I wouldn’t be caught within 2 miles of a
deadly weapon. I mean, if you hang out with guys with guns in a public
place, bad things are going to happen.
While it seems like he’s been set up I really have no sympathy for
him. If he wasn’t smart enough to avoid these situations, especially
considering his past, then I don’t know if he should be allowed back
into society. O.J., if you get away with this, start living in a commune or something and stay far, far away from any of your old friends.
The Ugly
Isiah Thomas‘
comments were just plain ugly. Why? Because they’re tinged with racism.
Saying that certain people can only say certain words based on the
color of their skin is ludicrous (however true it may be).
Especially when it’s a word like “####.” I would think that no
woman would appreciate being called a #### by anybody, regardless of
race. But Isiah disagrees. In his humble opinion, a black man can feel
free to call a black woman a #### while a white man may not. Why? Not
because the word itself is offensive but because is offensive but
because of the color of their skin.
I don’t know if it’s just me, but why are we still talking in racial
terms? I mean, why do we just accept that we’re so different because of
our skin? Why not just get past this and say there is no distinction between white and black men calling a black woman a ####, in either case it’s just wrong.
Isiah Thomas is dead wrong on this one. Certain offensive words
aren’t acceptable simply because of skin color. And until we stop
believing they are then we’ll never go any farther than we’ve already
come.
At 8:30 Eastern/Standard Time the 2007 NFL Season will kickoff. Last year’s Cinderella Team will travel to fast the defending Super Bowl Champions
in Indianapolis. Besides that the Saints and Colts have two of the most
prolific offenses in the league. Last season the Saints put up 25.8
points per game (while allowing 20.1 points per game) and the Colts put
up 26.7 points per game (while allowing 22.5 points per game).
The story lines run deeper, of course, since Peyton Manning was born in New Orleans. This will also mark the first time the Colts have faced the Saints to open a season. Peyton’s father Archie is also still beloved in New Orleans and his son’s homecoming is always an event in the city.
Tomorrow night we’ll see how the Colts have adjusted since their historic Super Bowl victory. We’ll see how Joseph Addai
holds up as the solo running back and how their defense is after the
Super Bowl run. They were weakest against the run last year and should
have quite the challenge against the two headed monster of Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister.
The NFL made a good choice with this game. They usually pit the
defending Super Bowl Champion against a potential contender from the
opposite Conference. Many believe the Saints are contenders to win the
NFC this year, since they made the Championship game last season. The
reason this is such a good choice, however, is that the game should be
exciting to watch.
While I love defense, there’s no denying how exciting a high scoring
game can be. For instance, had the Bears won I would love a game
against the Ravens to kick things off but the more casual fans may not.
Instead we have a contest that promises to hook those who watch the NFL
on an occasional basis and keep them tuned in and looking forward to
Sunday.
So, there’s no doubt it will be a high scoring game, the only real
question is who will win the game. Well, I hold to a philosophy of
really discounting the first game of the season: too many flukes seem
to happen. I think the Saints have a real shot tomorrow night, but in
the end I think Peyton will just bee too much.
His father worked for a tugboat company in Delaware, even though
Jameer offered to support him if he quit his job. The last time Mr.
Nelson was seen he was walking along the dry-dock area of Chester,
Pennsylvania.
The police are going to do fingerprints but they are nearly certainly it is Mr. Nelson.
This is a tragic event. Jameer is a very young man and his father
was only 57 years old. It’s events like this that remind us no matter
how highly we regard them, these superstars are human; their lives are
just as fragile as ours and tragedy can strike them as well.
Jameer is just starting in life and has a long way to go. His father
too had a long life left ahead of him and our hearts should go out to
him. No doubt Nelson is with his family now as they suffer through the
grief of losing a loved one. It’s an inevitable event but that dulls
the pain not at all.
Our thoughts and prayers should be with the Nelson family now and we
should remember, no matter how much we deify them athletes are people
too.
The Ugly: Shaq’s Divorce
So Shaquille O’Neal has filed for divorce
from his wife. He has asked that she come forward with an honest
assessment of all the assets she had access too during their marriage.
They have six kids, four together, one each from previous
relationships, and have been married for five years.
I’m honestly shocked that Shaq is getting a divorce. For no other
reason than that for the past several years he has put up an image of
an NBA good-guy. He has become an active member of law enforcement and
even tried to help kids lose weight through his “fat camp.”
After reading the article it sounds like this divorce will be rather
messy. Besides the fact that their kids are going to have to go through
this experience the terms of the divorce don’t sound good. If Shaq’s
attorney had to come out and ask her attorney that she be honest then
this thing will get ugly.
It’s really too bad that it’s come to this. People joke about
divorce a lot, especially since marriage rates are dropping and divorce
rates sky rocketing, but it’s really not funny. Some marriages end on
semi-good terms. My aunt still talks to her ex-husband, divorced for
several years now, and the two, while not friends, are pleasant towards
each other.
Many divorces, however, end very badly with a great deal of
heartache spread to all parties. This divorce sounds like it will be
that way and while part of me thinks this would be great on divorce
court I also realize it will be painful for their kids.
No doubt the media will get into this if it’s particularly juicy and
dissect every aspect of the divorce. It’s really too bad that the kids
will not only have to go through a divorce but through a divorce in
such a public arena. Everyone will have an opinion and people will make
wild accusations about things they know nothing about.
However this goes it certainly doesn’t sound like it will be a fun thing to go through and it epitomizes the word ugly.
After reading about how Team USA has been preforming I’ve begun to wonder if maybe I can put together a better team (out of NBA players) than Jerry Colangelo. He has plenty of experience as the former owner of the Suns and his son is one of the best GM's in the league.
However, this “Dream Team” seems a bit too unorthodox to actually
win the Gold. Don’t get me wrong, America produces the best individual
players in the world, but our team’s lack cohesion. They all know
they’re stars and are looking to do the best wow moves and most over
the top dunks they can muster. Rather than simply looking to score
every time down the floor, they are focusing on doing something
spectacular. That causes turnovers and costs games.
They also have basically steam-rolled most of their opponents and
that’s doing nothing but reinforcing the idea that the more flashy they
are the better they’ll do. That’s why I think the best Team USA is not
the one with the best individual players on the roster but the best team players.
So, as best I can, I’ll put together a roster that I think could win
the Olympic gold in Beijing next year (note this assumes all the
players I list agree to play).
First Team
Point Guard: Jason Kidd
Obviously, the best American point guard in the NBA today. He is the
engine of the current Team USA and would be the engine of mine. He is
by far the most pure of point guards in the league today. His court
vision is on par with Steve Nash and only his injuries and Nash’s
emergence have caused people to forget him. Kidd would be my starting
point guard without question, USA Basketball was absolutely right with
this one.
Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant
Another great choice. Say what you will about Kobe (and I certainly
have) he may be the best all-around player in the league. Besides his
obvious offensive abilities he plays good defense too. That’s a tool
most offensive phenoms in the NBA today lack and something that is
critical to winning in the international game.
Kobe Bryant is also willing to trade his offensive stats to play
hard nosed defense. That is critical if you are to win the Gold Medal.
Kobe’s understanding and acceptance of this sets him apart from many
other NBA players. While he’s terribly selfish in the league, he has
demonstrated that if he has faith in the players around him he’s
willing to give up his shots.
Small Forward: Gerald Wallace
No, your eyes don’t deceive you. The above name is neither LeBron
James nor Carmelo Anthony. King James and ‘Melo have shown they have
tremendous offensive talent. James has improved his shooting ability
and expanded his offensive tool chest but his defense is ever suspect.
‘Melo is tremendously overrated and thinks he’s much better than he
actually is. Quite frankly, I would love to have Artest on the team but
he’s been arrested yet again and just has far too many issues.
Wallace is a tenacious defender. He’ll get blocks and steals and
command the boards. He can run the floor as good as anybody in the
league and if left open can hit from just about anywhere. The best part
would be watching him run the break with Jason Kidd, but his defensive
presence near the basket would be his biggest addition to the team.
Gerald Wallace had a breakout season last year and is one of the
best athletes in the league. He would do great things in international
competition. He would add some toughness to a team of soft players and
is more than willing to play bruising basketball. He could provide the
highlight dunk we so crave while also giving us more substance (on both
sides of the court) than either the King or Anthony.
Power Forward: Carlos Boozer
He would’ve been on the roster for the FIBA tournament if not for
his wife’s pregnancy. He has proven in the past if he’s focused he can
be a solid defender. He’s tough and effective around the rim. He can
also hit a nice mid-range shot from time to time.
It was Boozer’s ability to command the paint that helped Utah defeat
Golden State. They simply had no answer for his ability to score close
to the bucket. That would be very effective against international
squads because most of them carry big men who aren’t nearly as quick or
athletic.
Boozer’s toughness would do well in the international game and I
think he could be a stout defender with scorers around him. He’s also
got very soft hands and could be very effective at the rim. His
athleticism would help him beat the bigs most other countries would
through at him and his hook-shot would also let him score against them.
Boozer will help the real Team USA next year and I think he’s a big
part of their potential success.
Center: Shaquille O’Neal
If I could have him I’ll take O’Neal over any other Center in the
league. Could he hold up through the whole Olympic run? I think so.
Shaq’s shown that when it counts he’s still extremely durable. Plus, he
simply dominates most opponents in the NBA and would do that even more
so in international play.
He would add so much to Team USA. He would simply intimidate the
other centers and his size would bully them out of the way. If he
wasn’t getting the rock and throwing it down he would be creating space
for the slasher on the team. Maybe he’s old, but he’s still a force of
nature and I would pit him against anybody.
Second Team
Point Guard: Chris Paul
Paul broke into the league and showed NBA veterans how the point
position is supposed to be played. While he can create for himself he
would rather create for others and that mentality is key to a good
point guard. He has improved in his two seasons and has experience in
the international game.
Chris Paul has been a gem for the Hornets and a pleasure to watch.
He has great knowledge of the game and could command Team USA against
the best of the world. With Kidd in front of him he would be awesome
off the bench and would keep the offense running smoothly. Besides
that, his willingness to defend other point guards would be a huge
asset.
Shooting Guard: Dwayne Wade
This one, I think, is a no brainer. Wade has proven he can lead, he
can score, he can pass, and he can defend. In a pinch, or as a
different look, he could also man the point. D-Wade has proven he’s one
of the best players in the league and maybe the best of his draft class.
Wade will be on the eventual Team USA as he should be. His talents
are extremely useful to USA Basketball and he has proven he can play
good team basketball. Wade’s talents will be critical to team USA’s
success and his unselfishness will help them keep the ball moving.
Small Forward: Paul Pierce
Pierce is a solid player. He can create for himself and plays tough
defense. He can run with the ball, play in the half court set, or
create for himself. He’ll also attack the boards and look for a put
back.
Pierce could go on the first team but I prefer Wallace’s
athleticism. Pierce would add some good veteran leadership and be a
great spark off the bench. With his offensive abilities and clutch
ability he would be a great player to have on the floor in crunch time.
Power Forward: Rasheed Wallace
That’s right, I did it. ‘Sheed sometimes has an attitude problem but he’s still a top Power Forward. And he’s a true Power Forward. He ####s around down low and defends as well as the best of them. He can also score from anywhere on the floor.
Wallace gets a lot of technicals but that’s really why I like him.
He’s aggressive and assertive. His toughness is rare in today’s kinder,
gentler NBA and something necessary in real basketball. He’s another
player that can run the floor or operate in the half court set. There
are plenty of young guys coming up who will be superstars but Wallace
is a proven talent and will add some attitude to Team USA.
Center: Marcus Camby
2006 Defensive Player of the Year and a true center. He’s a solid
center and would be a great defensive asset. His offensive skills are a
bit suspect but I think there’s enough scoring around him to make it a
non-factor.
Camby is older but is still a formidable presence. Personally, for a
Center, I will always take the powerhouse over the athlete. Camby is a
stud and would intimidate his opponents in the paint. That’s what I
want from my Center. He can also score when given the opportunity and
can also run the floor with the team.
Two Additional Players
Michael Redd (Shooting Guard)
The team absolutely needs a lights-out shooter. The choice is really
between Michael Redd and Mike Miller. While I love Miller’s offensive
ability and the mismatches he creates, Redd’s a better all around
player. He’s got the speed and a beautiful touch. He could be inserted
at any point in the game and keep the other teams from clogging the
lane.
Amare Stoudemire (Center/Forward)
Stoudemire makes this team for his athletic ability and defensive
prowess. He can block shots like nobody’s business and has vastly
improved his shooting touch. He can rebound and be tough on the block.
No one in the international game (or maybe period) has the sheer
ability than he does.
He’s mostly on here for his defense but his offense is useful too.
His talent will have the opponents reeling and he’s another spark off
the bench.
Conclusion
This roster isn’t superstar rich. No LeBron, no Carmelo. This team
is older and tougher. This team is more team oriented and plays better
defense. I think this is more what we need to compete on the
international level. I think this roster is capable of playing team
offense and team defense in ways the current makeup is not.
Whatever roster Team USA ends up with they should have a good shot
at the Gold. We do have the best players and Coach K may be able to
convince them to play team ball, but I think the above is a solid
roster. There are some surprising names but I feel their contributions
to the team would be invaluable. With this team I think we could
finally reclaim what is rightfully ours: the Gold Medal in Men’s
Basketball.
Well, well, well. Turns out American players may actually grasp the
game of basketball. After watching the NBA I seriously doubted it as
the best team is also one of the most international.
However, it seems that Team USA has been dominating competition in the FIBA Tournament of the Americas.
The United States is forced to qualify for the Olympics in Beijing next
near (something that should embarrass ever sports loving American) and
appear to be well on their way to doing so. The only legitimate
competition appears to be coming from Argentina who is currently also
undefeated.
The Argentine squad is not all it could be. When looking over their roster, only two names pop out (because only two of them play in the NBA): Carlos Delfino and Luis Scola.
And to say that Luis Scola has “played” in the NBA is a misnomer. He
was drafted but spent time in Spain because of his commitments there,
he’ll be playing this season for Houston but, to the best of my
knowledge, that will be his NBA debut.
The US should still roll this team. While they’ll be tougher than
the likes of Puerto Rico and even Brazil (not exactly pushovers) they
will be nothing like their final makeup. Manu Ginobili and Adres Nocioni highlight those missing from this Argentine roster but there’s also someone like Fabricio Oberto
to consider. In probably the greatest sign of how far we have fallen,
Argentina has no need to include their top talent because they’ve
already qualified for the Olympics and we have not.
While some people look at the additions that will come in the
Olympics and laugh but that’s the exact attitude that has landed us in
this situation. Role players like Oberto are terribly underrated in the
NBA and American basketball. David Stern’s offense happy policy is a
big reason for it and yet ever year the team with the best role players
wins the big one. That’s a lesson we’ve got to learn if we’re going to
win in the real dance.
We have the talent, obviously. There aren’t players any where in the
world as good as ours. That’s why I’m glad our All-Stars are playing
this tournament. To compete in the real tournament they need to learn
to play like a team and learn to be role players. They seem to be
learning that lesson and our chances of reclaiming our honor are very
good.
The Bad: Patriot Way
For a long time we’ve been talking about the so-called “Patriot Way.”
From sportscasters to fans everyone’s been talking about how the Pat’s
do thing the “right way” and how “different” they are from all the
other teams in the league. Of course, it was garbage then and is
garbage now.
Asante Samuel has ended his holdout
and will return to the Patriots. Samuel has skipped both the offseason
workouts and training camp but will no doubt be placed in the starting
lineup for this week’s preseason finale.
But the Patriots don’t operate like that right? I mean, they traded Terry Glenn because of his off-the-field issues. Then they cut Lawyer Milloy after he demanded more money and did the same with Ty Law. Finally, when Deion Branch
demanded a new, more lucrative contract the Patriots refused to talk to
him. Then they dared him to negotiate terms with other teams and
grudgingly traded him to the Seattle Seahawks for a first-round pick
(after demanding two first-rounders).
The Patriots demanded loyalty to the point of sacrifice. Personal
finances were a small matter when considering what they owed the team.
Only classy, selfless players were welcomed onto the roster and the
genius Bill Belichick could turn any player into a great one. With Tom
Brady on the offense and a mix of talented players on the D the
Patriots didn’t need any big-headed “superstars.”
All that has been proven wrong recently. The Patriots did well without any big name receivers but even Tom Brady voiced his displeasure with the situation. The Patriots tried to correct that by signing Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth, and trading for Randy Moss. They also sought to beef up their defense by signing the biggest name on the market in linebacker Adalius Thomas.
This represents a huge departure from the “Patriot Way.” While Wes
Welker’s quiet but effective style fits in perfectly with the way the
Patriots supposedly do things, Donte Stallworth and Randy Moss
certainly do not. Both have had their share of issues off-the-field and
both have cried boo on their team more than once. Randy Moss,
especially, is an interesting case.
Moss is notorious for being all about Randy Moss and quiting on his
team when it suited him. He has stated that he only plays when he wants
to and that doesn’t seem like an attitude that fits on the
business-like Patriots. Finally, he’s skipped most of training camp and
the preseason but no doubt will start the first game of the season,
throwing out that whole “if you don’t practice you don’t play” none
sense I’ve been hearing from the New England talk shows.
While these same sportscasters and fans will try to rewrite history
and say the Patriots have to get talent I have listened to them for
years talking about how different the Patriots are. Now, all that’s
been thrown out the window as the Patriots are showing they are just
like every other team in the NFL. They do business but when the chips
are down, they’ll cave to players they need.
The Patriot Way is a myth that should be buried once and for all.
The Pats are like any other team, if not more selfish. Use a player
until they’re no longer useful then cut them loose. There’s an uproar
when a player demands more money as he nears or hit his peak and
reports of him being “selfish” and “un-Patriotic” for demanding more
money. However, once a player has played for the Pats for 7 or more
years and starts slumping there is no anger when the Belichick bunch
shove him out the door.
The Patriots are just another NFL team. They are good, no doubt, but
this illusion that they do things so differently for everyone else
needs to be forgotten. They do business just like everyone else,
signing players they think will help them and cutting players they
think won’t. They want to win a Super Bowl and they’ll put up with the
likes of Moss to do so…just like everybody else.
The Ugly: Lance Briggs
Unlike virtually everybody else, I supported Lance Briggs‘ attempts to fight the Franchise Tag. Lance Briggs
was viewed as arguably the top linebacker available. He was slapped
with the Franchise Tag, which would give him about $7 million for one
year. Meanwhile, Adalius Thomas signed a deal with the Pats for about
$70 million for several years. Briggs wanted job security and more
money and felt he was robbed of that by the Tag.
He felt he wasn’t being allowed to capitalize on a great season and
that if he slumped this season (or even worse suffered a career ending
injury) he would be left out in the cold. So, he held out, threatening
to do so until the tenth game of the season, and the war with the Bears
began.
Ultimately, he signed that one-year deal
after he realized he couldn’t beat the man and will be on the field for
the Bears this year (assuming that career ending injury doesn’t
happen). Then the other night he wreaked his car, which could have
resulted in that career ending injury (if not life ending).
It didn’t and Lance Briggs walked away ok. While I think this is a
good demonstration of why he was so mad about getting the tag most
would see this as making him more appreciative. Had Briggs been
seriously hurt he would’ve received all $7 million of his deal. That’s
nothing to the roughly $20 million he could’ve gotten on the market but
I digress.
The real issue is why did he lie about it? After wreaking the car
Briggs says he called a tow truck then called the cops. What he told
the cops is what’s confusing, he reported his car stolen. While he
quickly rescinded that claim it still begs the question of why? He had
committed no crime by simply wreaking his car. Maybe he was driving too
fast but the cops couldn’t prove it and give him a ticket. His
insurance premiums would go up and there would be some questions but
most people were just happy he was ok.
So why tell they cops your car was stolen? Nerves? If I got into a
wreak I would probably call my family first, then a tow truck, and
maybe an ambulance depending on how bad the wreak was. I would probably
be shaken up but that wouldn’t cause me to lie to the 911 operator, I
would just admit to the wreak.
Briggs didn’t hit anyone and was luck to get away unharmed so why lie? That’s where this gets interesting. Now he has
committed a crime and raised some eyebrows. In the wake of the Vick and
Pacman Jones’ cases Briggs will be scrutinized. One can only assume
Goodell has launched his sent his crack team of investigators to the
scene and the cops are probably taking a closer look at things.
If it turns out Briggs was drunk or had drugs in the car or something else this situation could blow up fast. Briggs explanation was very confusing and it seemed like he was simply rambling his way through it and simply raises more questions.
Had this happened any other year it wouldn’t be as big a story. This
year, however, with every NFL player being under the microscope things
could go south fast. The NFL is, no doubt, already looking at this
closely and I assume the cops are too. For Briggs’ and the Bears and,
quite frankly, us I hope nothing sinister is going on. Briggs’ actions,
however, make me su####ious and have me preparing for yet another
scandal.
Since the epic collapse of the Dallas Mavericks in the first round
of this past season's playoffs, I like so many fans have been thinking
about how they should restructure themselves to prevent a repeat. Turns
out the Mavericks were targeting Gerald Wallace and I think that
would've been a great fit, however, his price tag was far too high and
the Bobcats had no reason to trade him.
Now, the Mavericks are sifting through the left overs of a fairly
weak Free Agent class to see if they can get some value out of it.
After already resigning both Jerry Stackhouse and Devean George, the
Mavericks don't have much room left on the roster.
NBA teams can have a maximum of 15 players on their roster (with
some leeway around that for various reasons) and the Mavericks have
enough young guys to pretty much fill that up.
In fact, the Mavericks don't have enough room to keep their two
biggest prospects from last year (Jose Juan Barea and Pops Mensh-Bonsu)
and sign all three of their draft picks (Nick Fazekas, Reyshawn Terry,
and Renaldas Seibutis).
Current Team Makeup
SG: Maurice Ager, Greg Buckner, Jason Terry*, (Renaldas Seibutis)
PG: Devin Harris, Jose Juan Barea
SF: Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse, Devean George, (Reyshawn Terry)
*Jason Terry is a converted shooting guard who I think will be more of a 2 this year, () indicates an unsigned draft pick.
Stevie Franchise
One of the biggest rumors out there is surrounding Steve Francis. He
is a scoring point guard who the Mavericks are apparently considering
signing. He's been injury plagued and had some trouble meshing with his
two last teams (Orlando and New York).
Jason Terry is kind of a poor man's Steve Francis. A player capable
of distributing the ball but who personally seeks to score himself.
However, Terry doesn't have the emotional issues the "Franchise" seems
to have. Instead he plays the role that is required of him and I think
he'll be much more comfortable with Harris running the point.
If the Mavericks signed Francis then they'd have to get rid of
somebody to give him a spot. The most likely to move is Greg Buckner
(who apparently several teams have inquired about) but that still
leaves Francis and Terry competing for playing time.
If Terry was willing to step back and let Francis step up then this
could work. Harris and Terry do not have the ego of "America's Beckham"
Steph "Starbury" so Francis may be better able to gel with them. Plus,
Francis was at his best when he was clearly not the Franchise
player. Having Francis, Terry, and Harris could give the Mavericks
quite a group of guards (at least, offensively).
Mickael Pietrus and Eddie Jones
There are also rumors these two could be coming to Dallas. Similar
players on basically opposite ends of their careers. Pietrus played a
role in snuffing out the Mavs title hopes this past season and the
Mavericks like his attitude.
He is a tenacious, young defender and is willing to fill the role
the team asks of him. However, he is looking for the full mid-level
exception or maybe a little more and I'm not sure the Mavericks are
willing to give him that.
Meanwhile, Eddie Jones has a more developed game but that's what
comes with an additional decade of experience. Jones is still a steady
defender and has kept himself in good shape. He's also an aggressive
defender and would command a smaller salary than the younger (and
improving) Pietrus.
I don't know why the Mavs would use their mid-level exception on
multiple players. Assuming they want to keep Fazekas and (Reyshawn)
Terry on the team then they're only going to have maybe one spot to hand out so maybe they should just use the whole thing on Pietrus.
James Posey and P.J. Brown
Two other names out there are James Posey and P.J. Brown.
Brown is an elder statesman but showed last season that he's
perfectly capable of manning the paint. He's discussing retirement but
could be lured back for a season or two. The Mavs would give him a good
chance at a title but I question where he would play. The center
position is clogged on this team and the Mavs have two young forwards I
don't think they should give up on.
As for Posey, he could bring some toughness to the Mavs but I don't
think he'd be a good signing. I don't think he's better than Howard,
Stackhouse, George, or Terry. He would have a hard time getting any
playing time at all and I think he's another vet the Mavs don't need.
I'd much rather have an infusion of youth instead of piling on of more
vets.
Conclusion
I'm not sure the Mavericks are actually going to sign any body. By
bringing George back they showed they have faith in his recovery from
injury and a return to where he once was. They really like
Mensah-Bonsu's development and he's looking good in Summer League.
Meanwhile, Jose Juan Barea is also preforming well and I believe
Ager was a steal for the Mavs last season. I'd also like to see them
give Nick Fazekas and Reyshawn Terry a chance to develop.
That being said the only rumor that I'm really attracted to at this
point is Mickael Pietrus because I'd like to see how he develops. Plus,
he would add much needed toughness to the defense and compliment the
games of Nowitzki and Howard. But signing him would require the Mavs to
dump somebody and I think Buckner is the odd man out. Also, I believe
the Mavs are going to leave draft pick Renaldas Seibutis in Europe for
a season or two so he's not going to take up space on the roster.
Projected Makeup (with Pietrus signing or sign and trade)
SG: Mickael Pietrus, Jason Terry, Maurice Ager
PG: Devin Harris, Jose Juan Barea
SF: Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse, Devean George, Reyshawn Terry
PF: Dirk Nowitzki, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Nick Fazekas
Well, in a lot of ways I think the draft killed my suggestion
of sending Jason Terry to Memphis for Mike Miller. The Memphis
Grizzlies took point guard Mike Conley Jr. and eliminated the need I
felt they had.
Latest reports
are that the Mavericks are going after Charlotte Bobcats free agent
Gerald Wallace. He is likely going to command a salary on the plus side
of $10 million so the only hope the Mavs have is in a sign-and-trade.
Brevin Knight's release makes that possible, sending Terry to Charlotte
but I'm not sure what else they would have to give up.
There are also rumors that the Mavericks are pursuing KG. Well, not rumors so much as confirmed interest.
I know the Mavericks aren't going to part with MVP Dirk Nowitzki for
the services of Kevin Garnett. The only players on the Mavericks which
would interest the Timberwolves (I believe) are Devin Harris and Josh
Howard. Personally, for all the hope a pairing of Garnett and Nowitzki
would provide it is not worth parting with the promise of Josh Howard.
However, I believe there are ways the Mavericks can vastly improve
themselves without costing themselves too much. They're seriously over
the cap but with the exceptions and a trade or two they can really help
themselves. They don't need to much more talent to win so their moves
don't have to be overly dramatic.
Backing Up Nowitzki
This seems to be a yearly adventure for the Dallas Mavericks. A
couple season ago it was Keith Van Horn. Then this past season it was
Austin Croshere. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, both players
demonstrated why they were so easily traded from their teams.
Again this year the Mavericks are looking for a solution. They're discussing terms with the agent of PJ Brown and are apparently hoping to offer him a contract when (if) he decides not to retire.
At first I was a bit apprehensive about this idea. The guy is on the
verge of retirement and, while he is still useful, he can hardly
contribute offensively anymore. He will certainly add some toughness to
the middle for the Mavs but I would really like them to find a more
permanent solution.
But after reading reports I'm a little more comforted. Pops
Mensah-Bonsu, while very raw offensively, has a lot of defensive
skills. He has a leaping ability that reminds me of Amare Stoudemire.
If the Mavs pick him up after this season he could go on to add some
real toughness for them and I'm sure Dallas can develop his offensive
game.
Meanwhile, they drafted Nick Fazekas who is basically the opposite
of Mensah-Bonsu. He has an excellent offensive game and in many ways
resembles the man he was drafted to backup. The question is if Fazekas
can get stronger to bump with the other big boys in down low. He has a
pretty good post game and knows how to get position so developing some
strength could make him very effective.
With all that in mind, PJ Brown may be a good pick up for a couple
seasons while these two develop. With that said, I would still love to
see Mikki Moore come to Dallas but many teams are interested in him and
will offer him much more then Big D.
Grant Hill
Another rumor is that Grant Hill may be on his way to Dallas. I
don't know how I feel about that. Hill is still a good player and is
the kind of guard-forward hybrid the Mavericks love. However, I feel
there are better options for the Mavericks and for Hill.
A Knight or a Fish?
Well, there are now two veteran point guards on the open market (well, semi-open). First, the Bobcats cut backup Brevin Knight
who averaged about 9 points and 7 assists per game. Then, Utah point
guard (and probably the best Lakers point guard in a decade) Derek
Fisher left the Utah Jazz to sign with a team in a major market. He did so because only the bigger cities have the treatment centers most capable of aiding his daughter.
I feel like both guards are options for the Mavericks (if they
choose to part with Jason Terry). Brevin Knight is really more of a
passer than a scorer so the Mavericks would need to make up for Terry's
shooting presence but he would be a great option.
Meanwhile, Dallas has some of the best doctors in the country and is
one of the leading cities for Cancer research. I'm not sure they have
the exact center Fisher is looking for but I know they have some of the
best Children's hospitals (and children's cancer centers) in the
country. Derek Fisher has a lot of heart and would also be a great
addition to the Mavericks.
Dump Dampier, Pick up a Miller
I still reallylike the idea of getting Mike
Miller and although they shored up their point guard need they still
need a center. While Stromile Swift is sometimes adequate the Grizz
would still rather have a true center to place next to Pau Gasol.
That's where Erick Dampier comes in. Say what you will about Dampier
he is still a better center than anything the Grizz can muster. On
occasion, he even displays the talent the Mavericks paid for. I don't
think he'd be enough to pry Mike Miller away, although the numbers work, so that's why I propose the Mavericks package next year's first round pick for him.
I believe the versatility and scoring power Miller would bring to
the Mavericks is worth anything they're going to get with a late pick
next season. Plus, the Mavericks aren't in a desperate need to get
younger. Dirk is only 29, Howard is 27, Harris is 23, and Diop is 24.
They can afford to add the 26 year old Miller to the mix. Finally, it
would divorce the Mavs from Erick Dampier and put that sad chapter in
the Mavericks rear view.
Conclusion
I think these moves could address the Mavericks problems without costing them more than they're willing to give.
professional basketball team. The team is struggling with a mediocre
record when, in mid-season, “Wild Bill” Burgess, the new owner, as a
public relations gimmick, stages an ‘honorary coach’ contest, which
Eddie wins. The fans love it, so “Wild Bill” fires the coach and hires
her. She takes the bunch of overpaid prima donnas that make up the team
and turns them around. But the owner hopes to move the team, now the
darling of the New York fans, to St. Louis. He may OWN the team, but it
BELONGS to the city and the fans!”
