NBA Off-Season...

[Guest Hurricane]

Bad trade for the Pistons. Corliss is still a good 6th man. DC is old and way past his prime, and I've never even heard of this McCaskill guy. Corliss can still score, and provide a spark off the bench.

Ah well, I guess they did it because Detroit is Big-Man-Happy. I mean just look at this...

Ben Wallace

Rasheed Wallace

Antonio McDyess

Darko Milicic

Derrick Coleman

Elden Campbell (If he's still around)

Amal McCaskill

Tayshaun Prince (I guess he could be considered a bigman, he plays PF sometimes)

That leaves Chauncey, Rip, Delfino, and Paulding. Do you see a mismatch? I do.

[Guest bukkake bandit]

I think Coleman will ride the bench behind McDyess and Darko. They probably traded for him because Corliss is too small to play PF/C if McDyess gets hurt or Darko isn't ready(or a bust). McCaskill will most likely be waived.

That leaves Chauncey, Rip, Delfino, and Paulding. Do you see a mismatch? I do.

+Recent pick-up Ronald Dupree. Dupree is the main reason Corliss was expendable.

The Hawks are trying to get Dampier. As overrated as he is, the Hawks wouldn't be too bad for once with him, Walker, and Harrington.

Edited August 5, 2004 by bukkake bandit

[Guest BacknBlackHoez]

Hawks will be terrible with Walker....

[Ol' Spanktooth]

Hawks will be terrible with Walker....

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Hawks would have been terrible anyway, so it's not like it matters.

[EWRFan]

USA barely escapes with a three point win over Germany , who isnt even qualified for the Olympics. Gosh , no medal for them.

My team (Puerto Rico) got blown away by 52 points by Spain and Pau Gasol....but we where three men short , without our star point guard (Jazz's Carlos Arroyo) without our backup center (Wizards Peter John Ramos) and swingman Larry Ayuso barely played in order to rest his hamstring(He was our leading scorer aganist the USA). That means that with those 3 guys , we would have lost by barely 20-30 points(sarcasm).

I see this team making it to the top 7 anyway. We defeated Spain back in 2002 with a team less complete than this one and we also managed to defeat Argentina and Serbia and Montenegro in the past two years. Plus , in 2002 USA only defeated us by 10 points , so that keeps my hopes up for a possible 4th or 5th place in the Olympics

[Guest bukkake bandit]

Hawks will be terrible with Walker....

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If they had a frontcourt of Dampier/Walker/Harrington they wouldn't be that bad. Although I hate Antoine Walker and I'd hate to have him on my team.

[David Hassellhoff]

I just don't see how the trade makes the Pistons any better. Maybe if McDyess gets hurt they wanted insurance. It was pointless.

[Blitz]

Vince pushes for Knick deal

BY FRANK ISOLA

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Vince Carter's agent revealed yesterday that the All-Star swingman met with Toronto Raptors management two weeks ago and asked the club to explore trade possibilities.

"We did meet and asked them to look into trades," Mark Steinberg said in a telephone interview. "They know where we stand."

Steinberg would neither confirm nor deny reports that Carter is trying to orchestrate a trade to New York. Last week, a person close to Carter told the Daily News that he "absolutely wants to be traded to the Knicks."

Raptors first-year GM Rob Babcock has stated publicly that Carter, who has four years remaining on his contract, will remain in Toronto. Still, the Knicks and Raptors have had had preliminary discussions regarding Carter and would likely have to include a third or even fourth team to make a deal.

Knicks president Isiah Thomas has let it be known that under no circumstances would he trade point guard Stephon Marbury, which makes it all the more difficult to pry Carter from Toronto. Tim Thomas could be included in a potential deal, although Isiah Thomas has strong feelings for the player he acquired last February for Keith Van Horn.

In all likelihood, if the Raptors were to trade Carter, they would want some of their high-salaried players (Alvin Williams, Jalen Rose) included in the deal. It's hard to imagine the Raptors trading their most marketable player to the Knicks and to Thomas, the former Raptors president who had a falling out with Toronto's ownership group.

The Knicks can only hope that Carter puts enough pressure on Toronto to force its hand. Shaquille O'Neal and Tracy McGrady forced their teams to trade them to Miami and Houston respectively. Of course, both players had leverage because they were entering the final year of their contracts while Carter's deal doesn't expire until after the 2008 season.

Dampier just visiting?

Golden State free-agent center Erick Dampier met with Knicks officials yesterday in New York and said he would be willing to sign a one-year deal for $5 million. However, Dampier's agent, Dan Fegan, said that a one-year deal would only be a "last resort" because Dampier would not be eligible to sign a more lucrative deal with the Knicks until he spends three seasons with the club. Dampier had opted out of the final two years of his contract worth $16 million.

Trying to work out a sign-and-trade with the Warriors, the Knicks have offered Kurt Thomas and Othella Harrington. The Atlanta Hawks have an advantage because they can sign Dampier outright.

"The mid-level is definitely something I would consider if a sign-and-trade doesn't happen," Dampier told MSG Network. " I would sit down with my representative and my family and put some consideration into it."

Crawford raises asking price

Amid rumors that the Knicks are unhappy with Jamal Crawford's demands for more money, a source indicated that the six-player deal with the Bulls could be finalized today.

Crawford's agent, Aaron Goodwin, is looking for a more lucrative contract than the seven-year, $56 million offer the Knicks have on the table. Of course, that is also the only offer Crawford, a free agent, has received from any team.

If Crawford were to turn down the Knicks, his only option would be to return to Chicago for one year at $3.5 million.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/219052p-188387c.html

Some of it's old news, but thought it should be posted...

[Guest bukkake bandit]

The Crawford deal is finished. Link here. Overpaid for him. That Knicks backcourt is going to be torched by opposing teams. Marbury and Crawford don't play defense.

Peja wants to be traded. Because Webber has a big fat mouth and because Vlade is gone.

The Nets signed Eric Williams and are expected to sign Ron Mercer soon. Jefferson also signed a 6 year extension.

And Coleman may be waived afterall...

The Detroit Pistons may not have acquired native Detroit Derrick Coleman for his post game after all. With Pistons fans clamoring about the logjam at the power forward and center spot in Detroit, squeezing out Darko Milicic of any playing time, it appears a reprieve may be on the way.

Although Coleman had a close, personal relationship with coach Larry Brown during their time together with the Sixers and Brown made it a point to mention that one of his first congratulatory calls after winning the title last spring came from Coleman, sources close to the Pistons indicated that Coleman would be waived or included in a future trade, and that McCaskill has no future with Detroit.

Coleman missed 48 games last season because of injuries, including a chronic knee problem. He also had a fractured finger. He said last season that he would not undergo another surgical procedure solely to play another season or two.

"We had pretty much made it clear that Derrick would most likely not be back," Sixers president/general manager Billy King said. "We didn't know exactly what the procedure was going to be."

Sometimes, though, it is as critical to be lucky as it is to be good. To make the matching contracts come within 15 percent and $100,000, the Sixers had to re-sign McCaskill, an unrestricted free agent. By league rule in a sign-and-trade situation, a player must be given at least a 3-year contract with at least one season guaranteed. McCaskill, who averaged 1.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 59 games last season, walked away with a guaranteed $922,000.

"I don't look at any deals as 'steals,' " King said. "I think people make deals based on what's best for their franchise. This was a fit for us. What [Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars] did was a fit for what they wanted to do."

Dumars has created some precious wiggle room for '05-06, when he is expected to pick up a fourth-year option on Tayshaun Prince's rookie contract, and '06-07, when Ben Wallace becomes a free agent.

"We feel like this is a good trade for our team and our organization as we move forward," Dumars said in a release on the Pistons' Web site.

[y2jerichoholic]

BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro -- Peja Stojakovic wants out of Sacramento.

Stojakovic said Thursday he told Kings general manager Geoff Petrie he wants to be traded from the only NBA team he has played for.

"I think the change would be good for the team and for myself," Stojakovic told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "That's the only explanation you're going to get from me."

Petrie did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Stojakovic, a three-time All-Star and the NBA's second-leading scorer last season, has been with the Kings since entering the league in 1998. He was upset that the Kings lost countryman Vlade Divac to the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent and feels it's time to move on.

The Kings were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs last season, losing in seven games to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"You could see this year, late in the year, we didn't have good chemistry and didn't play good basketball," Stojakovic said. "I just think that the team had their chances, and opportunities are closing, and the team needs new players.

"I'm probably one of the easiest players to trade, and I'm willing to go."

Stojakovic, one of the game's best pure shooters, has two years remaining on his contract plus an option for a third year. He has been one of the most popular players in Kings history, with such a loyal following in his home country that the Kings are easily the most popular NBA team in Serbia-Montenegro.

Stojakovic was in Belgrade on Thursday for a promotional appearance ahead of his country's exhibition game Friday against the U.S. Olympic basketball team. He is not playing for his nation this summer.

His trade request was unexpected.

"I just think it would be good for them and myself. Sacramento is great, but I think I need a change," Stojakovic said.

Though Stojakovic's stance is sure to shock the Kings' fans, it was no surprise to Petrie, who had lunch with the three-time All-Star several weeks ago.

Petrie was noncommittal on the possibility of accommodating Stojakovic's request.

"It's something that's been building for a little while," Petrie said. "He's one of the last guys on our team that I would want to trade or would even want to think about trading.

"He has certainly flourished here, but he feels at this moment that he's concerned about his ability to succeed at the level he wants to be at."

Stojakovic said he doesn't have a preference about where he's dealt, adding that he had been thinking about asking for a trade all summer.

He isn't sure what he would do if the Kings don't move him.

"You would rather have somebody [who is] happy. He [Petrie] can get something good in return for me," said Stojakovic, who averaged 24.2 points and 6.3 rebounds last season.

Sacramento went to the Western Conference finals in 2002, but has been knocked out in the second round each of the past two years. The Kings floundered late last season following Chris Webber's return from knee surgery, losing six of their final nine regular-season games.

In addition to his disappointment over the Kings' loss of Divac, Stojakovic apparently was angered by Webber's comments on Sacramento's character.

After losing Game 7 of the conference semifinals in Minnesota, Webber blasted unnamed teammates for a lack of resolve in difficult situations -- and most assumed Webber was referring to Stojakovic, who struggled in the playoffs.

Webber addressed much the same concerns in a recent interview with the Sacramento Bee, again without naming any Kings. Webber said Stojakovic was a hard worker and a dedicated teammate.

"I'm not trying to call out Peja," Webber told the Bee. "I was calling out a lot of people. I was calling out our team. I was calling out our mentality. It's time to stop playing soft and (like) suburban kids. That's what we play like. We play like we're from the suburbs, and the best basketball is played in the city."

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1853033

all i can say is... wow.

[Guest BacknBlackHoez]

Well, Stojackovic did stuggle, and i dont blame Webber....he just got back from an injury, and as little he could play, he was playin as hard as he could, and sometimes it just seemed like Peja & others werent that into it.

[thuganomic]

Go to Houston, Peja......they need a shooter :thumbsup:

[Guest BacknBlackHoez]

TMAC can shoot, but a TMAC/Peja/Yao combo would be deadly....nothing Houston can give for him though

[Guest bukkake bandit]

Webber interview with the Sacramento Bee.

[Guest Hurricane]

I'd love to see Peja in a Pistons uniform, but its HIGHLY unlikely, since I dont think Joey D would trade Billups, Hamilton, or either of the Wallaces. Sac Town would want a lot in return, and I dont see that happening in Detroit. Then again, all good players would look good in a Pistons uniform, to me.

And, does Iverson still want out of Philly? I heard this a while ago on either ESPN or Fox Sports Net, but I dont know if he's changed his mind yet.

[D-Extreme]

I dont know if I shoul be pissed or glad to see J-Crawford gone in Chicago. This BETTER be not another scenario where in a traded Bull goes to the next season and becomes an all-star(Brad Miller) after two seasons, he becomes the defensive player of the year(Artest) and he still might be in a losing team, but still is doing wonders(Brand)

If Chicago will get a good boost with Gordon and Deng and some added help from the 4 people who got traded in chicago. If Pipen plays healthy and opts not to retire yet, if Curry can FINALLY do some hard defense on the boards and if Chandler will stop doing sick bumps like he is HBK in the hardcourt and not risk injuring himself again, and if they actually make it to the playoffs...then its a good trade

If Crawford becomes a key player in New York and the Bulls will still be in the lower area of the standings....then....DAMN YOU PAXSON!!! 18 million cant help you now. Unless theres a swreve somewhere.

[Guest bukkake bandit]

!

According to Fox Sports Net's Jack Haley of the Southern California Sports Report, the Lakers have traded Gary Payton and Rick Fox, both heading into the final years of their contracts, to the Celtics.

In return, the Lakers are believed to be getting Marcus Banks from Boston and may also get Chucky Atkins and Chris Mihm to complete the deal.

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/2645812

[y2jerichoholic]

damn, you posted right before me, but thats big news as the lakers needed a big man since they lost shaq. i think the lakers will still be competing for the 8th seed in the playoffs.

[Guest BacknBlackHoez]

Celtics, should be better next year, although i do like Marcus Banks....

[thuganomic]

Crawford's not staying. He's only there to try and reel in Vinsanity.