The Perpetual NBA Thread

[theveed]

I've always been a Houston fan, since the Olajuwon/Ralph Sampson heyday... More when Olajuwon won MVP and won back to back championship and embarrassed both Shaq and The Admiral.

When Yao came in, syempre Rockets ulit even if I hate Francis (I like Cat, he's more consistent).
Feel kinda bad that they traded Cato, sana si Mo Taylor nalang.

Nash is great, but he's pretty much the most "marketable" player in the Mav's roster right now since Dirk will never be traded by Mavs. He'll get tip top dollar if he does get traded. It'll be nice to see Nash in Phoenix if Kobe goes to Phoenix.

East? I still won't bother much for them, Indiana and Detroit will consistently be the powerhouses of the East. I'm not a big Kidd fan so I don't really care about them hehe. I do see Cleveland improving this season, though. Possibly joining the NYK/Bos shuffle in rankings.

Orlando will get better, I believe. Although Stevie is a ballhog, he runs the floor very well and if the offense doesn't revolve around a half court set, he's really, really good. Just check out his College games. With Howard, Cat, Gooden and all the young guys around, they'll probably run more than the Mavs. I think they'll be a East coast Dallas team... Run and gun with no D.

About Shaq... Hehe, read about this?

Monday in Sacramento, I played in a charity golf tournament sponsored by the Kings' flagship station, KHTK-AM 1140. Make that Shaq-ramento: Again and again I was breathlessly asked if I thought Shaquille O'Neal would be traded to the Kings for Chris Webber and Mike Bibby.

As politely as possible, I kept answering: Do you REALLY think the Los Angeles Lakers would be DUMB ENOUGH to trade the most dominant force in BASKETBALL HISTORY to their conference rival while he's ONLY 32 years old? He would IMMEDIATELY make Sacramento or Dallas next season's favorite!

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Driving back to the Bay Area, I tuned into KNBR to catch up on the news. The first caller I heard said he has a friend who sells real estate who swears Shaq is looking at homes in the East Bay.

RIGHT, and free agent Kobe Bryant has been looking in the SAME NEIGHBORHOOD!

The next caller, a Minnesota transplant, said the word from back home was that the Timberwolves are trading Kevin Garnett for Shaq. "We're going to win it all next year!" the caller said.

Do you REALLY think Lakers owner Jerry Buss would sign off on a trade that would become almost as HISTORICALLY STUPID as the Red Sox shipping Babe Ruth to the Yankees?

In Dallas, talk-show callers are talking NBA title because of the hottest rumor -- Shaq to the Mavericks. Shaq is also "looking at houses" in Indiana and New Jersey, and "forcing a trade" to the Knicks.

And isn't it hilarious that, as the NBA finals ended, you could have asked fans in any of those cities what they thought of Shaq and heard: "He's a big, fat, lazy dog who can't make a free throw. I'm glad the Detroit Pistons taught him a lesson about how playing hard and together will always overcome prima donna superstars."

Now those same fans would kiss his big, fat, lazy behind if he would come play for their team. Imagine: Public Enemy No. 1 in Sacramento -- the Lakers center who dismissed the Kings as Queens -- is now the toast of the town because he dropped a hint that he wouldn't mind playing for the Kings.

Somewhere, Shaq is giggling like an 8-year-old who just made a prank call: Hello, is your refrigerator running? Then you'd better catch it!

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak is also probably getting a kick out of the national hysteria he caused when he volunteered he would entertain offers for Shaq. There's only one reason a G.M. would tell the media that the best player in the game -- who's under contract for one more season -- is on the trading block. Because the second best player in the game, who's also a Laker, becomes a free agent Thursday.

This was an obvious attempt to send a message to Kobe that he's now more valuable than Shaq. Anyone who closely watched the finals knows that's a lie. Except for the Jordanesque shot that sent Game 2 into overtime, Kobe reminded you of Michael Jordan in only one way: They're both basketball players. Kobe came up small.

Shaq was monstrous when he decided to be, in Game 4, when he went for 36 points and 20 rebounds. Against San Antonio two rounds earlier, he played four consecutive games (3 through 6) in which he was as overpowering on offense and defense as he has ever been.

Sure, you can reach for lots of reasons you wouldn't pay him the $100-plus million he wants for a three-year extension. Yes, he gets overweight and out of shape. No, he doesn't always play hard and he can go canine in the second of back-to-back games. His knees and feet could become injury liabilities. His body is battered from getting fouled so much, and he doesn't care enough about making free throws.

But would you want him on your team for the next three years? Uh, YES. Would you be surprised if his team won two of the next three championships? Uh, NO.

So Kupchak's "trade" announcement was merely a concession to Kobe's ego, which makes Shaq seem selfless. Has the trade hysteria irritated Shaq? Probably, though he surely understands the method to this apparent madness. Once Kobe re-signs, which he almost certainly will, then the new coach, probably Rudy Tomjanovich, can make his pitch to Shaq.

Hey, big fella, I wasn't around when they said they might trade you, so don't hold it against me. I love you and need you. Just ask Hakeem Olajuwon how we won those two championships in Houston. The ball always went inside first.

Sure, you can argue that Shaq would be more motivated to get in killer shape and beat L.A. if he were a King or a Maverick. But you don't think he'll be on a mission if he's forced to play the final year of his current contract?

Buss and Kupchak know exactly what they're doing.

Do you really think they want to send a lineup of Kobe, Webber, Bibby, Karl Malone and Gary Payton against Shaq, Peja Stojakovic, Brad Miller, Bobby Jackson and Doug Christie? Give me those "Queens."

Could you really imagine the Lakers taking Warriors free agent Erick Dampier in a sign and trade, along with, say, Jason Richardson and Troy Murphy, for Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal? Jack Nicholson would go crazier than he did in "The Shining." Shaq could carry even Nick Van Exel, Clifford Robinson, Mike Dunleavy and Mickael Pietrus into the playoffs.

Bet you an autographed picture of Nicholson that Shaq and Kobe are Lakers next season.

By Skip Bayless, Mercury News

=========================

[ssaloon]

armand::: how could you feel sorry for grant hill? he's married to tamia and has been raking in cash for the past 3 seasons even by just sitting on the bench

[stinkaboy]

also..il wait for the complete line up then ill choose which team id root this coming nba season...

[kimpOy]

may point ka miko he..he


anyways siyempre burden pa rin yung sa kanya na hindi siya makalaro and a chunk of his salary kaya hindi sila maka attract ng free agents

FYI lang all nba contracts are insured, dahil grant hill didnt play yung insurance ng magic ang nagbayad kay grant hill

[edzzz]

bagay naman kay Mcgrady ang Rockets jersey:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1832348

ah, parang ang tapang nga ng dating eh. nakaka intimidate

kaysa kay Francis:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1832195

parang ang tamlay

[pajerokid]

Miks.... siyempre ang primary goal ng professional athlete ay magpakitang gilas. from what i can 'kilatis' from grant's persona, he's the type who'd want action. Pero in hindsight, i feel even more sorry for the Orlando management hehehe.

[ILuvDetailing]

Pajerokid: Agree with you on that, deep inside Grant Hill wants to compete but unfortunately his body won't allow him to... Well at least he has 90Mil in the bank...

[pajerokid]

....and a pretty actress/singer wife in bed

[5Speed]

couldnt agree more on that hehehehe

[edzzz]

for those who has question about how free agency and their salary works:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baske...analysis_x.htm

[kuroy]

lalakas lalo ang houston...lalo pag nakakuha ng all star ... jason kidd?

[Karding]

Originally posted by kuroy
lalakas lalo ang houston...lalo pag nakakuha ng all star ... jason kidd?

juskudai, wawa naman lalo ang NETS ko Wala nang C, mawawala pa ang PG

[edzzz]

power Houston is inclined to get services of Derick Fisher

[empy]

wow, Steve Nash just signed with the Phoenix Suns!!

guess this means that:
(a) the Suns are out of the Kobe Bryant sweepstakes, even though they offered him 6 yrs/$100 million just this morning
(b) no Nash in any Dallas trade for Shaq

[ILuvDetailing]

M54: Not yet signed... just gave a verbal commitment (for a 5 year guaranteed deal worth 65 Mil), Free Agents can sign with teams starting July 14.

Other news:
- LA wants coach K (Duke's Mike Krzyzewski)
- Sonics put Ray Allen on the block
- VC wants out of toronto

[kimpOy]

ang lakas (at future oriented) ang lineup ng
Suns

PG-Steve Nash
SG-Joe Johnson
SF- Shawn Marion
PF-Amare Stoudamire
C-???

Off the Bench si McDyess

[ILuvDetailing]

I believe that McDyess is a Free Agent... He may return to the Knicks.

Well Athletic ang Lineup ng Suns they still lack a center (Well almost every team in that case). But they have a great playmaker in Nash who will run at every opportunity and have athletes at the wings to finish. They will definitely be entertaining.

[theveed]

Here's the Nash deal... Can't believe bumalik sya dun hehe... anyway... He's one of my favorite PGs... too bad he had to leave, I think he's a great fit with Dirk. Sana si Finley o Walker nalang tinapon hehe. Although Steve deserves the contract...

Point guard leaves Mavericks, agrees to multiyear deal with Suns
By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer
July 1, 2004

PHOENIX (AP) -- Point guard Steve Nash agreed to a five-year, $65 million deal with the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, leaving the Dallas Mavericks to return to the team that drafted him eight years ago.

The deal includes a ``partial guarantee'' for a sixth year, Nash's agent Bill Duffy said.

Nash shook hands on the deal with new owner Robert Sarver and Suns chairman Jerry Colangelo at a meeting in Dallas, Duffy said.

NBA rules prohibit Nash from signing the contract until July 14. Teams were allowed to begin talks with free agents late Wednesday.

Nash averaged 14.5 points, 8.8 assists and three rebounds per game last season, when he also recorded his first career triple-double.

He will give Phoenix an experienced playmaker ahead of young Leandro Barbosa. The move almost certainly removes the Suns from the competition for Los Angeles Lakers free agent Kobe Bryant.

Phoenix is $16.3 million under the NBA salary cap, not counting the Nash deal.

Dallas officials said repeatedly since the season ended that they expected no problem keeping Nash, the spark plug behind their rise from one of the league's worst teams to one of the best. Along the way, the energetic, floppy haired guard became an All-Star and a fan favorite.

``I think it was his intention to stay with the Mavericks,'' Duffy said of the 30-year-old Nash. ``Everything just turned around so quickly.''

The Suns sent a 12-person contingent to Dallas on Thursday morning, a group that included team president Bryan Colangelo, the Suns' Amare Stoudemire, Suns part-owner Steve Kerr and former player Rex Chapman.

``Phoenix came up to the plate and put together a very significant offer and we accepted it,'' Duffy said. ``The numbers were significant, but it was also the years. It was a five-year deal and that is very significant for someone Steve's age.''

Nash was drafted by Phoenix in 1996 and spent two seasons backing up Kevin Johnson and Jason Kidd. He was traded to Dallas on draft day in 1998, the same night the Mavs acquired Dirk Nowitzki. Those two plus holdover Michael Finley formed the heart of Dallas' turnaround.

Nash spoke to Finley and Nowitzki by telephone during Thursday's eight-hour negotiations.

``I think it was very difficult for him,'' Duffy said, but he added that the Suns' proposal was ``a very aggressive offer for this marketplace.''

Finley and Nowitzki were given maximum contracts two summers ago. Nash, who was never offered an extension, opted out of his contract to become a free agent for the first time but maintained that he wanted to remain in Dallas.

``I think everyone is optimistic that I can be a part of our building process,'' he said the day after the Mavericks were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. ``I certainly want to be part of that process. I don't think of this as the end of my time here.''

But the Suns lured Nash with money and a long-term deal. Nash will be teamed with Stoudemire, the NBA rookie of the year two seasons ago who also is a client of Duffy. The Suns also have two young high scorers in Joe Johnson and Shawn Marion.

The length of the contract was one of the attractions for Nash. The familiarity Nash had with the Suns franchise as well as Phoenix's aggressiveness in pursuing him also were factors, Duffy said.

After the meeting, the Suns' contingent returned to Phoenix by private jet. Nash went back to his home in Victoria, British Columbia.

Jerry Colangelo, also chairman of baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, arrived late for Thursday night's game against San Diego. He said NBA rules prohibited him from talking about the Nash situation until signings are allowed on July 14.

Mavs owner Mark Cuban and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson had discussed Nash's return as if it was inevitable -- even after they traded Antawn Jamison to Washington for No. 5 pick Devin Harris, a point guard from Wisconsin.

Harris was immediately tabbed as Nash's backup and long-term replacement.

Duffy said Cuban wasn't able to match the Suns' surprisingly large offer.

The biggest knock on Nash is durability.

Coach Don Nelson always talked about limiting his minutes during the regular season to keep him fresher for the playoffs, but rarely did. Concerns that Nash's all-out style may wear him out by the end of a long-term deal may have been a factor in this move. Dallas likely wasn't willing to offer as many years as the Suns.

[edzzz]

lungkot ako he's one if not my favorite pointguard eh

sabi pa naman ni Nash "i want to end my career with Dirk"

yun pala masisilaw din sya sa pera.

tingin hindi pa rin sila title contender.

[ILuvDetailing]

Can't blame him edzzz... He's looking out for stability and years, this being the last long term deal he signs... the most Dallas can offer is I think a 4-year deal. Most players talking about wanting to win it all but in the end MONEY TALKS, with the exception of Karl Malone and Gary Payton last year and to some extent Kevent Garnet.