Around the league
The Mavs may not be getting into the Western Conference trading frenzy after all. Owner Mark Cuban denied a report in Thursday's New York Daily News that claimed that the Mavs were talking with the Knicks about a Raef LaFrentz-for-Kurt Thomas/Charlie Ward swap.
Does that mean the Mavs are going to sit things out this summer? Coach Don Nelson said he's been working tirelessly trying to make something happen. "I don't think people should confuse lack of action for lack of effort," Nelson told the Fort Worth Star Telegram. "We've been burning the candle at both ends while burning up the phone lines. We felt like in a lot of these [potential trades and free agent signings] that you put yourself in good positions and you hope luck is with you. But for every [Steve] Nash trade that you do, there's 10 others that look just as good and feel just as good, but for whatever reason it just doesn't take."
The Indianapolis Star reported that the Mavs and Pacers did talk about a Brad Miller/Jamaal Tinsley-for-Steve Nash/Shawn Bradley swap, but the deal never materialized.
The Mavs aren't the only team having problems convincing free agents to come play for them. The Jazz are in the same boat. If the Clippers match Utah's offer sheet for Corey Maggette next week, the team will be left holding around $20 million in cap room with no free agents to show for it.
The team isn't giving up, however. While there aren't any free agents the team is locked onto, trades aren't out of the question. In fact, it may be the best way for the Jazz to acquire talent. If top free agents are reluctant to come to Utah because of stereotypes or a wariness to fill John Stockton and Karl Malone's shoes, the best plan may be to trade for guys who are already locked up. A number of teams are desperately trying to get further under the cap and would be more than willing to send a player in a long-term deal for salary-cap relief in return.
"The biggest thing that we can do is, in an orderly process, try and evaluate," GM Kevin O'Connor told the Salt Lake Tribune, "whether it's a sign-and-trade, whether it's a straight trade, whether it's . . . having other teams look at us as somebody who can take a player from them."
Antoine Walker
Forward
Boston Celtics
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
78 20.1 7.2 4.8 .388 .615
While the Jazz aren't tipping their hand on who that may be, there are a number of players on the market the Jazz could grab. Among the most prominent? Boston's Antoine Walker, Atlanta's Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Theo Ratliff, Golden State's Antawn Jamison, Miami's Eddie Jones, Indiana's Austin Croshere and Detroit's Cliff Robinson and Corliss Williamson.
It appears that the Rockets will not match the Grizzlies' offer for restricted free agent James Posey. The Houston Chronicle reported on Friday that the team had come to terms with Eric Piatkowski on a three-year, $8 million deal. He'll come at half the price of Posey and allow the Rockets to replace him without incurring the luxury tax.
That's good news for the Grizzlies, who are seriously concerned about the long-term future of Michael Dickerson. Jerry West told Insider on Thursday that his goal is to get the Grizzlies two players deep at every position. "We just need to keep adding more talent here and Posey gives us something that we really don't have," West said in a phone interview from California. "If the Rockets don't match I believe we're now two deep at every position but center and we're still trying to address that."
West wouldn't divulge who the team is targeting, but it's clear that he believes it needs to add another center to help out Lorenzen Wright. Whatever the Grizzlies do, it will have to be via trade at this point. Posey will take up the team's full mid-level exception and the team used its $1.5 million exception last year on Gordan Giricek. Besides, the team already has 16 players on its roster with guaranteed contracts, assuming the Rockets don't match Posey.
The Grizzlies do have trade bait and it isn't Wright or Stromile Swift. ("We're trying to add size, not give it away," West said.) Both Wesley Person ($7.7 million this season) and Brevin Knight ($5 million this season) are in the last year of their contracts. A team trying to clear cap for 2004 might be willing to take those players off the Grizzlies' hands and give up a big man in return.
Agent Dan Fegan told the Denver Post that he's had conversations with the Nuggets about free agent Stephen Jackson. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported on Friday that the Hawks have interest in Jackson.
The Nets have offered free agent Lucious Harris a two year, $5 million contract the New York Post reported. "We don't have a deal done," said agent Jerome Stanley. "I don't know where things are. It's up to the Nets to make it happen. The negotiations are on-going, it's safe to say it is a difficult process."
It looks like the Celtics won't be signing Travis Best. The Boston Globe is reporting that the Celtics have made a one year offer for the minimum to Heat point guard Mike James. Team president Danny Ainge said he expected a deal to be completed today. The team also signed second round pick Brandon Hunter to a two year, $1.1 million dollar deal.
----------------------------------------------
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Friday, July 25
Updated: July 25
10:22 AM ET
New Jersey Nets: Jason Kidd is not only getting along with coach Byron Scott these days, he's petitioning to get along with him for a very long time. "I hope he does get the extension, I do," Kidd said to the NY Times. "For a guy, two out of three years to get to the finals, he's doing something right. . . If there's any question about Coach's and my relationship, it's great and we want to push forward. That whole thing about me coming in demanding stuff, that's not my personality or it's not on my agenda. My agenda is to win ballgames." The all star point guard is still trying to put down rumors that he wanted Scott fired before he would re-sign with the Nets this offseason. So as he put his name on a six-year, $103M contract with Scott in his presence, he repeated it one more time: "It definitely hurts Coach in the sense of just coming off the finals and now one of your players doesn't want you," Kidd said. "It's not true."
Szczerbiak
Minnesota Timberwolves: Last year, rumor had it Wally Szczerbiak wanted out of Minnesota to go back home to play for the Knicks. This year, Knick guard Latrell Sprewell left New York to join Wally in Minnesota and they couldn't be any happier. "Shaq is always going to be a big obstacle, but other than that, we stack up very favorably with anyone in the league," Szczerbiak told The Post. "Position by position, we've upgraded our roster. We made our team much stronger and now we got the horses to do the job. We just have to check our egos at the door. It's going to take a little bit of time." Szczerbiak also mentioned that he would probably be moving to small forward to make room for Spree. "He'll give 100 percent for the Minnesota organization the same way he gave it to the Knicks," Spree's publicist Marvet Britto said. "It's exciting for him to join a player of Kevin Garnett's caliber. This is exciting for him. It's a new start in a new city. He looks forward to joining a consistent playoff contender."
Toronto Raptors: Apparently, Vince Carter doesn't mind being Kobe Bryant's stand in and neither does his team. "It will be good for him, it might get him going again," a source close to Carter said to the Toronto Star about Carter playing for the National Team in the upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament. Carter is coming off two knee injuries and a badly hurt ankle but the Raptors are happy that Shawn Marion and Michael Finley turned down the invitations so that Carter could play.
Van Horn
New York Knicks: Keith Van Horn's former teammates, the Nets not the Sixers, are wishing him only the best next season as he becomes a Knick. "I wish Keith a lot of luck," said Jason Kidd to the NY Post. "I know it's probably tough because he's been traded twice and so I wish him the best of luck in New York. He's a talented player. He just has to find a home. I thought he had a great season for Philly. . . . Keith will make the best of the situation. He's never one to complain. He plays hard and he's right across the river. So he's on the rival side."
Indiana Pacers: Pacer CEO Donnie Walsh was in full damage control yesterday as Brad Miller was dealt to the Kings for Scot Pollard and Anthony Johnson. "I would say, 'Wait until you see Scot Pollard play; wait until you see our team play,' " Walsh told the Indianapolis Star. "I wouldn't make judgment off of stats or what you think you know. I think they'll like (Pollard) and I know they'll like Anthony Johnson. If you want to do a day-to-day commentary with all this, you can do that. But the simple fact is, it's what happens from the beginning of the summer until we go to training camp. Then we'll know what kind of club we'll have. I feel good about our talent." He also mentioned that his next priority was to re-sign veteran Reggie Miller.
The Mavs may not be getting into the Western Conference trading frenzy after all. Owner Mark Cuban denied a report in Thursday's New York Daily News that claimed that the Mavs were talking with the Knicks about a Raef LaFrentz-for-Kurt Thomas/Charlie Ward swap.
Does that mean the Mavs are going to sit things out this summer? Coach Don Nelson said he's been working tirelessly trying to make something happen. "I don't think people should confuse lack of action for lack of effort," Nelson told the Fort Worth Star Telegram. "We've been burning the candle at both ends while burning up the phone lines. We felt like in a lot of these [potential trades and free agent signings] that you put yourself in good positions and you hope luck is with you. But for every [Steve] Nash trade that you do, there's 10 others that look just as good and feel just as good, but for whatever reason it just doesn't take."
The Indianapolis Star reported that the Mavs and Pacers did talk about a Brad Miller/Jamaal Tinsley-for-Steve Nash/Shawn Bradley swap, but the deal never materialized.
The Mavs aren't the only team having problems convincing free agents to come play for them. The Jazz are in the same boat. If the Clippers match Utah's offer sheet for Corey Maggette next week, the team will be left holding around $20 million in cap room with no free agents to show for it.
The team isn't giving up, however. While there aren't any free agents the team is locked onto, trades aren't out of the question. In fact, it may be the best way for the Jazz to acquire talent. If top free agents are reluctant to come to Utah because of stereotypes or a wariness to fill John Stockton and Karl Malone's shoes, the best plan may be to trade for guys who are already locked up. A number of teams are desperately trying to get further under the cap and would be more than willing to send a player in a long-term deal for salary-cap relief in return.
"The biggest thing that we can do is, in an orderly process, try and evaluate," GM Kevin O'Connor told the Salt Lake Tribune, "whether it's a sign-and-trade, whether it's a straight trade, whether it's . . . having other teams look at us as somebody who can take a player from them."
Antoine Walker
Forward
Boston Celtics
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
78 20.1 7.2 4.8 .388 .615
While the Jazz aren't tipping their hand on who that may be, there are a number of players on the market the Jazz could grab. Among the most prominent? Boston's Antoine Walker, Atlanta's Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Theo Ratliff, Golden State's Antawn Jamison, Miami's Eddie Jones, Indiana's Austin Croshere and Detroit's Cliff Robinson and Corliss Williamson.
It appears that the Rockets will not match the Grizzlies' offer for restricted free agent James Posey. The Houston Chronicle reported on Friday that the team had come to terms with Eric Piatkowski on a three-year, $8 million deal. He'll come at half the price of Posey and allow the Rockets to replace him without incurring the luxury tax.
That's good news for the Grizzlies, who are seriously concerned about the long-term future of Michael Dickerson. Jerry West told Insider on Thursday that his goal is to get the Grizzlies two players deep at every position. "We just need to keep adding more talent here and Posey gives us something that we really don't have," West said in a phone interview from California. "If the Rockets don't match I believe we're now two deep at every position but center and we're still trying to address that."
West wouldn't divulge who the team is targeting, but it's clear that he believes it needs to add another center to help out Lorenzen Wright. Whatever the Grizzlies do, it will have to be via trade at this point. Posey will take up the team's full mid-level exception and the team used its $1.5 million exception last year on Gordan Giricek. Besides, the team already has 16 players on its roster with guaranteed contracts, assuming the Rockets don't match Posey.
The Grizzlies do have trade bait and it isn't Wright or Stromile Swift. ("We're trying to add size, not give it away," West said.) Both Wesley Person ($7.7 million this season) and Brevin Knight ($5 million this season) are in the last year of their contracts. A team trying to clear cap for 2004 might be willing to take those players off the Grizzlies' hands and give up a big man in return.
Agent Dan Fegan told the Denver Post that he's had conversations with the Nuggets about free agent Stephen Jackson. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported on Friday that the Hawks have interest in Jackson.
The Nets have offered free agent Lucious Harris a two year, $5 million contract the New York Post reported. "We don't have a deal done," said agent Jerome Stanley. "I don't know where things are. It's up to the Nets to make it happen. The negotiations are on-going, it's safe to say it is a difficult process."
It looks like the Celtics won't be signing Travis Best. The Boston Globe is reporting that the Celtics have made a one year offer for the minimum to Heat point guard Mike James. Team president Danny Ainge said he expected a deal to be completed today. The team also signed second round pick Brandon Hunter to a two year, $1.1 million dollar deal.
----------------------------------------------
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Friday, July 25
Updated: July 25
10:22 AM ET
New Jersey Nets: Jason Kidd is not only getting along with coach Byron Scott these days, he's petitioning to get along with him for a very long time. "I hope he does get the extension, I do," Kidd said to the NY Times. "For a guy, two out of three years to get to the finals, he's doing something right. . . If there's any question about Coach's and my relationship, it's great and we want to push forward. That whole thing about me coming in demanding stuff, that's not my personality or it's not on my agenda. My agenda is to win ballgames." The all star point guard is still trying to put down rumors that he wanted Scott fired before he would re-sign with the Nets this offseason. So as he put his name on a six-year, $103M contract with Scott in his presence, he repeated it one more time: "It definitely hurts Coach in the sense of just coming off the finals and now one of your players doesn't want you," Kidd said. "It's not true."
Szczerbiak
Minnesota Timberwolves: Last year, rumor had it Wally Szczerbiak wanted out of Minnesota to go back home to play for the Knicks. This year, Knick guard Latrell Sprewell left New York to join Wally in Minnesota and they couldn't be any happier. "Shaq is always going to be a big obstacle, but other than that, we stack up very favorably with anyone in the league," Szczerbiak told The Post. "Position by position, we've upgraded our roster. We made our team much stronger and now we got the horses to do the job. We just have to check our egos at the door. It's going to take a little bit of time." Szczerbiak also mentioned that he would probably be moving to small forward to make room for Spree. "He'll give 100 percent for the Minnesota organization the same way he gave it to the Knicks," Spree's publicist Marvet Britto said. "It's exciting for him to join a player of Kevin Garnett's caliber. This is exciting for him. It's a new start in a new city. He looks forward to joining a consistent playoff contender."
Toronto Raptors: Apparently, Vince Carter doesn't mind being Kobe Bryant's stand in and neither does his team. "It will be good for him, it might get him going again," a source close to Carter said to the Toronto Star about Carter playing for the National Team in the upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament. Carter is coming off two knee injuries and a badly hurt ankle but the Raptors are happy that Shawn Marion and Michael Finley turned down the invitations so that Carter could play.
Van Horn
New York Knicks: Keith Van Horn's former teammates, the Nets not the Sixers, are wishing him only the best next season as he becomes a Knick. "I wish Keith a lot of luck," said Jason Kidd to the NY Post. "I know it's probably tough because he's been traded twice and so I wish him the best of luck in New York. He's a talented player. He just has to find a home. I thought he had a great season for Philly. . . . Keith will make the best of the situation. He's never one to complain. He plays hard and he's right across the river. So he's on the rival side."
Indiana Pacers: Pacer CEO Donnie Walsh was in full damage control yesterday as Brad Miller was dealt to the Kings for Scot Pollard and Anthony Johnson. "I would say, 'Wait until you see Scot Pollard play; wait until you see our team play,' " Walsh told the Indianapolis Star. "I wouldn't make judgment off of stats or what you think you know. I think they'll like (Pollard) and I know they'll like Anthony Johnson. If you want to do a day-to-day commentary with all this, you can do that. But the simple fact is, it's what happens from the beginning of the summer until we go to training camp. Then we'll know what kind of club we'll have. I feel good about our talent." He also mentioned that his next priority was to re-sign veteran Reggie Miller.
