Knicks chasing Nick the Quick
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford Friday, September 12
Updated: September 12
9:15 AM ET
Knicks fans take heart. It appears that Scott Layden has finally awoken from his summer slumber.
Several league sources told Insider on Thursday afternoon that the Knicks are making a serious play for Nick Van Exel.
Nick Van Exel
Point Guard
Golden State Warriors
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
73 12.5 2.8 4.3 .412 .764
According to the sources, the Knicks have been talking on and off again about acquiring Van Exel from the Warriors ever since the trade with Dallas went down last month.
The Knicks' offer over the last few days has gotten better. It originally included the likes of Clarence Weatherspoon (who's already done his tour of duty with the Warriors). However, the latest has the Knicks offering Charlie Ward and Kurt Thomas to Golden State in return for Van Exel.
The New York Daily News, in today's editions, is also reporting a variation of these trade talks.
Van Exel just happens to be in New York this week for a charity event. He told the New York Times on Wednesday that he'd "love to play for the Knicks." Van Exel is close friends with Antonio McDyess and has been pining to play in New York ever since McDyess was traded there last summer. The Knicks had several talks with the Mavericks over the last year, but were never able to get anything done.
The move has both its pros and cons for New York. Van Exel would give the team the up-tempo bundle of energy at point guard that coach Don Chaney has been seeking. However, losing Thomas, the team's starting center, is a high price to pay. Thomas led the team in rebounding, blocked shots and was third in scoring last season.
The move makes much more sense for Golden State. Van Exel has made it clear he doesn't want to play there, and the Warriors are unlikely to make the playoffs in the West, even if Van Exel plays well.
Kurt Thomas
Forward-Center
New York Knicks
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
81 14.0 7.9 2.0 .483 .750
The move would help them clear cap space immediately. Ward is in the last year of his contract and also has a $2 million buyout this season. Thomas has two years remaining on his contract. If the Warriors pulled the trigger on the trade, they would be roughly $7.5 million under the cap next season.
If the Warriors were to re-ignite trade talks with the Grizzlies and send Erick Dampier to Memphis for Wesley Person, they could be closer to $15 million under the cap next season.
The big question is whether the Warriors are willing to pull the trigger. Some within the front office (read Chris Mullin) believe that the acquisition of veterans Van Exel and Robinson would make the Warriors more competitive this season -- even with the loss of Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, the team's two leading scorers.
Others within the front office feel that the West is too tough, Van Exel is too unpredictable and that the team should take advantage of the chance to save a lot of money. They also believe that Thomas gives them some much-needed toughness on the front line. Troy Murphy was the starting power forward last season for the Warriors, but toughness wasn't his forte.
If the trade doesn't go through, Van Exel's agent, Tony Dutt, said his client will report, reluctantly.
"He'll report," Dutt told the Contra Costa Times. "He's obviously disappointed. He was in an enjoyable situation in Dallas. But he's a professional. If they don't move him, he'll be there. He's going to show up."
Dutt hinted that there's a chance that the Warriors will trade Van Exel.
"There are still options," Dutt said. "There are things that are out there that are probably better for the team and Nick. Better for everyone. If not, he'll show up, and we'll make a decision later when we have control. Look, Nick is a pro. Is he excited? No, he's not. Nick wants to win now. Not that the Warriors don't, but Nick has time constraints."
Although, from the outside, it may seem like a slam dunk deal for the Warriors -- don't hold your breath Knicks fans. There seems to be enough people in Golden State clinging to a playoff mirage to kill this thing before it ever gets off the ground.
Around the League
The Jazz finally got around to extending Jason Terry that offer sheet. The Jazz and Terry have been talking for months but had been unable to reach a deal. According to a source close to the situation, the Hawks recently gave Terry a "final offer." When the Jazz said they would beat it, Terry decided to sign the offer sheet and hope that the Hawks meant what they said about their offer being final.
Jason Terry
Guard
Atlanta Hawks
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
81 17.2 3.4 7.4 .428 .887
No one is talking about how big the offer sheet is, but the Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that it's in the six year, $45 million range. The contract is believed to be front loaded in an attempt to scare the Hawks away from matching.
Now Terry is taking a page out of Lamar Odom's book and privately and publicly pleading with the Hawks not to match the offer.
"It's been very tough this summer, just sitting around and waiting for something to get done" Terry told KFAN, a Salt Lake City radio station. "I put the time in, they should have rewarded me. Utah has made it pretty tough for them . . . Hopefully, they won't."
Terry also took a shot at the fans, or lack thereof, in Atlanta.
"I'll be playing in front of more fans than I ever did in Atlanta," he said, laughing.
Because Terry is a restricted free agent, the Hawks have 15 days to match the offer.
The New York Post is reporting that the Nets and Blazers are again talking about a Rasheed Wallace-for-Kenyon Martin trade.
The twist this time is that the Raptors would also be involved in the trade and would take Dikembe Mutombo to facilitate the trade. According to the report, Antonio Davis would go to Portland and Dale Davis would also be involved in the trade.
Of course, none of this works, according the collective bargaining rules. The Post acknowledges this with the disclaimer that for cap purposes, other players would have to be included.
What other players? Insider crunched some numbers and here is one scenario, including the players being mentioned, that would work. The Nets would get Wallace, Dale Davis and Lamond Murray; the Blazers would get Martin, Antonio Davis, Aaron Williams and Brandon Armstrong; and the Raptors would get Mutombo.
This move is a slam dunk for the Nets if they can make it happen. Wallace and Davis seriously upgrade the team's front line. Murray gives them a good perimeter shooter, something the team really lacked last season.
The Blazers also come out looking pretty good. I'm not a huge fan of Martin, but he's young, athletic and plays hard. I'm not sure what happens to Zach Randolph under that scenario, but it's conceivable that they can play together. Antonio Davis is an upgrade over Dale at center. Williams is a nice backup at the four and five. Armstrong is irrelevant, he's just there for camp purposes and would be off the books next season.
The Raptors also make out OK from a salary-cap standpoint. Both Davis and Murray have three years remaining on their contracts. Mutombo only has two. The move would give them significant cap room during the summer of 2005. If Mutombo can give the Raptors a tough defensive presence in the paint this season, the move would be a home run.
Pistons fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Darko Milicic is in town and is expected to sign his contract with the Pistons today. With Milicic signed, that leaves only one first-round pick, Carlos Delfino, unsigned. Delfino, is expected to stay in Europe one more year before joining the team.
Fourteen of this year's 29 second-round picks have also been signed to contracts. The Clippers won't be signing Sofoklis Schortsanitis this season. Instead, he'll play for a team in Greece for at least one more year. The same holds true for the Rockets' Malick Badiane. Badiane will play in Germany next year. The Bucks' Szymon Szewczyk, the Raptors' Remon Van de Hare, the Blazers' Nedzad Sinanovic, the Sonics' Paccelis Morlende, the Nuggets' Xue Yuyang and Sani Becirovic and the Pistons' Andreas Glyniadakis will also remain overseas this season.
That leaves only six American second-rounders -- Mario Austin, Matt Bonner, Maurice Williams, James Lang, Tommy Smith and Rick Rickert -- unsigned.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Friday, September 12
Updated: September 12
8:49 AM ET
Baker
Boston Celtics: The Boston Celtics want Vin Baker to succeed. The players association wants Vin Baker to succeed. And, as a result, all parties have agreed that in- season alcohol testing will be part of a new deal. "Vin and the team now have an agreement," managing partner Wyc Grousbeck said to the Boston Herald. "It was redone over the summer to clarify it, and we went over some things to change. We had input on this from the players association and the league. Because of that, we were able to turn out a well worked out agreement." In the meantime, Baker has been rehabing on and off the court. "If you try to do the right thing as a person, then you're probably also going to do the right thing as a team owner," said Grousbeck. "A lot of hard work has been done by a lot of people. But most of this has been done by Vin, who is out there busting his tail."
Phoenix Suns: The East Valley Tribune is reporting that rookie of the year Amare Stoudemire is back on the court and playing in five-on-five games after undergoing surgery on his right foot in June. "I thought he looked pretty good for his first time running," Suns coach Frank Johnson said. "I know he was anxious to get out there." Stoudemire is expected to continue with the informal workouts until training camp opens.
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford Friday, September 12
Updated: September 12
9:15 AM ET
Knicks fans take heart. It appears that Scott Layden has finally awoken from his summer slumber.
Several league sources told Insider on Thursday afternoon that the Knicks are making a serious play for Nick Van Exel.
Nick Van Exel
Point Guard
Golden State Warriors
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
73 12.5 2.8 4.3 .412 .764
According to the sources, the Knicks have been talking on and off again about acquiring Van Exel from the Warriors ever since the trade with Dallas went down last month.
The Knicks' offer over the last few days has gotten better. It originally included the likes of Clarence Weatherspoon (who's already done his tour of duty with the Warriors). However, the latest has the Knicks offering Charlie Ward and Kurt Thomas to Golden State in return for Van Exel.
The New York Daily News, in today's editions, is also reporting a variation of these trade talks.
Van Exel just happens to be in New York this week for a charity event. He told the New York Times on Wednesday that he'd "love to play for the Knicks." Van Exel is close friends with Antonio McDyess and has been pining to play in New York ever since McDyess was traded there last summer. The Knicks had several talks with the Mavericks over the last year, but were never able to get anything done.
The move has both its pros and cons for New York. Van Exel would give the team the up-tempo bundle of energy at point guard that coach Don Chaney has been seeking. However, losing Thomas, the team's starting center, is a high price to pay. Thomas led the team in rebounding, blocked shots and was third in scoring last season.
The move makes much more sense for Golden State. Van Exel has made it clear he doesn't want to play there, and the Warriors are unlikely to make the playoffs in the West, even if Van Exel plays well.
Kurt Thomas
Forward-Center
New York Knicks
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
81 14.0 7.9 2.0 .483 .750
The move would help them clear cap space immediately. Ward is in the last year of his contract and also has a $2 million buyout this season. Thomas has two years remaining on his contract. If the Warriors pulled the trigger on the trade, they would be roughly $7.5 million under the cap next season.
If the Warriors were to re-ignite trade talks with the Grizzlies and send Erick Dampier to Memphis for Wesley Person, they could be closer to $15 million under the cap next season.
The big question is whether the Warriors are willing to pull the trigger. Some within the front office (read Chris Mullin) believe that the acquisition of veterans Van Exel and Robinson would make the Warriors more competitive this season -- even with the loss of Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, the team's two leading scorers.
Others within the front office feel that the West is too tough, Van Exel is too unpredictable and that the team should take advantage of the chance to save a lot of money. They also believe that Thomas gives them some much-needed toughness on the front line. Troy Murphy was the starting power forward last season for the Warriors, but toughness wasn't his forte.
If the trade doesn't go through, Van Exel's agent, Tony Dutt, said his client will report, reluctantly.
"He'll report," Dutt told the Contra Costa Times. "He's obviously disappointed. He was in an enjoyable situation in Dallas. But he's a professional. If they don't move him, he'll be there. He's going to show up."
Dutt hinted that there's a chance that the Warriors will trade Van Exel.
"There are still options," Dutt said. "There are things that are out there that are probably better for the team and Nick. Better for everyone. If not, he'll show up, and we'll make a decision later when we have control. Look, Nick is a pro. Is he excited? No, he's not. Nick wants to win now. Not that the Warriors don't, but Nick has time constraints."
Although, from the outside, it may seem like a slam dunk deal for the Warriors -- don't hold your breath Knicks fans. There seems to be enough people in Golden State clinging to a playoff mirage to kill this thing before it ever gets off the ground.
Around the League
The Jazz finally got around to extending Jason Terry that offer sheet. The Jazz and Terry have been talking for months but had been unable to reach a deal. According to a source close to the situation, the Hawks recently gave Terry a "final offer." When the Jazz said they would beat it, Terry decided to sign the offer sheet and hope that the Hawks meant what they said about their offer being final.
Jason Terry
Guard
Atlanta Hawks
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
81 17.2 3.4 7.4 .428 .887
No one is talking about how big the offer sheet is, but the Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that it's in the six year, $45 million range. The contract is believed to be front loaded in an attempt to scare the Hawks away from matching.
Now Terry is taking a page out of Lamar Odom's book and privately and publicly pleading with the Hawks not to match the offer.
"It's been very tough this summer, just sitting around and waiting for something to get done" Terry told KFAN, a Salt Lake City radio station. "I put the time in, they should have rewarded me. Utah has made it pretty tough for them . . . Hopefully, they won't."
Terry also took a shot at the fans, or lack thereof, in Atlanta.
"I'll be playing in front of more fans than I ever did in Atlanta," he said, laughing.
Because Terry is a restricted free agent, the Hawks have 15 days to match the offer.
The New York Post is reporting that the Nets and Blazers are again talking about a Rasheed Wallace-for-Kenyon Martin trade.
The twist this time is that the Raptors would also be involved in the trade and would take Dikembe Mutombo to facilitate the trade. According to the report, Antonio Davis would go to Portland and Dale Davis would also be involved in the trade.
Of course, none of this works, according the collective bargaining rules. The Post acknowledges this with the disclaimer that for cap purposes, other players would have to be included.
What other players? Insider crunched some numbers and here is one scenario, including the players being mentioned, that would work. The Nets would get Wallace, Dale Davis and Lamond Murray; the Blazers would get Martin, Antonio Davis, Aaron Williams and Brandon Armstrong; and the Raptors would get Mutombo.
This move is a slam dunk for the Nets if they can make it happen. Wallace and Davis seriously upgrade the team's front line. Murray gives them a good perimeter shooter, something the team really lacked last season.
The Blazers also come out looking pretty good. I'm not a huge fan of Martin, but he's young, athletic and plays hard. I'm not sure what happens to Zach Randolph under that scenario, but it's conceivable that they can play together. Antonio Davis is an upgrade over Dale at center. Williams is a nice backup at the four and five. Armstrong is irrelevant, he's just there for camp purposes and would be off the books next season.
The Raptors also make out OK from a salary-cap standpoint. Both Davis and Murray have three years remaining on their contracts. Mutombo only has two. The move would give them significant cap room during the summer of 2005. If Mutombo can give the Raptors a tough defensive presence in the paint this season, the move would be a home run.
Pistons fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Darko Milicic is in town and is expected to sign his contract with the Pistons today. With Milicic signed, that leaves only one first-round pick, Carlos Delfino, unsigned. Delfino, is expected to stay in Europe one more year before joining the team.
Fourteen of this year's 29 second-round picks have also been signed to contracts. The Clippers won't be signing Sofoklis Schortsanitis this season. Instead, he'll play for a team in Greece for at least one more year. The same holds true for the Rockets' Malick Badiane. Badiane will play in Germany next year. The Bucks' Szymon Szewczyk, the Raptors' Remon Van de Hare, the Blazers' Nedzad Sinanovic, the Sonics' Paccelis Morlende, the Nuggets' Xue Yuyang and Sani Becirovic and the Pistons' Andreas Glyniadakis will also remain overseas this season.
That leaves only six American second-rounders -- Mario Austin, Matt Bonner, Maurice Williams, James Lang, Tommy Smith and Rick Rickert -- unsigned.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Friday, September 12
Updated: September 12
8:49 AM ET
Baker
Boston Celtics: The Boston Celtics want Vin Baker to succeed. The players association wants Vin Baker to succeed. And, as a result, all parties have agreed that in- season alcohol testing will be part of a new deal. "Vin and the team now have an agreement," managing partner Wyc Grousbeck said to the Boston Herald. "It was redone over the summer to clarify it, and we went over some things to change. We had input on this from the players association and the league. Because of that, we were able to turn out a well worked out agreement." In the meantime, Baker has been rehabing on and off the court. "If you try to do the right thing as a person, then you're probably also going to do the right thing as a team owner," said Grousbeck. "A lot of hard work has been done by a lot of people. But most of this has been done by Vin, who is out there busting his tail."
Phoenix Suns: The East Valley Tribune is reporting that rookie of the year Amare Stoudemire is back on the court and playing in five-on-five games after undergoing surgery on his right foot in June. "I thought he looked pretty good for his first time running," Suns coach Frank Johnson said. "I know he was anxious to get out there." Stoudemire is expected to continue with the informal workouts until training camp opens.
