McDyess wants to stay, D'Antoni wants him back and Denver likes him too

[slinslin]

McDYESS TO CONSIDER DENVER: Antonio McDyess left Phoenix for the Nuggets after the 1997-98 season. Could it happen again?

McDyess said Wednesday his preference is to remain with the Suns, and coach Mike D'Antoni said he wants him back. If Phoenix doesn't work out, though, McDyess said he would consider returning to Denver.

"Definitely," McDyess said before starting at center against the Nuggets. "But I'm not going to turn anybody down. My back is to the wall. Teams have got to see this summer if I'm healthy."

McDyess is making $13.5 million in the final year of a six-year, $67.5 million deal he originally signed with Denver. But McDyess has been hampered by knee injuries the past three seasons and knows he is not likely to again get a big-money deal.

"I know it's going to be tough, especially with three surgeries in two years," McDyess said. "Whatever happens, happens."

NBA insiders believe McDyess will get a short-term deal worth from the minimum of $1 million to $2.5 million for the first year. The Nuggets figure to have more than $20 million of salary cap room, while the Suns should have about $8 million.

"Physically, he's doing great," D'Antoni said of McDyess, who is averaging 5.4 points. "But there's still rust on his game."

One thing is for sure, he better not bolt to Denver for the same or less money.

Nuggets center Marcus Camby, likely to opt out of his contract this summer and become a free agent, says he will consider the Suns if Denver doesn't work out. That's good news to forward Shawn Marion, one of several Phoenix players who encouraged Camby during a Jan. 21 game to come to Phoenix. "He'd be a plus for us," Marion said. "He's a nice player. I've always liked Marcus."

Well once again Camby is linked to us. If Camby is as healthy next season as he is this season he would be a great fit for the Suns.
He is tall, long and athletic. It is tough to shoot over him inside. He is a very good rebounder, good passer, quick hands, good shotblocker and runs the floor well.

A healthy Camby is one of the best fits at center you could imagine for this team.

 

[elindholm]

Well once again Camby is linked to us.

It's not really "once again." This is just the same rumor-mongering that has been going on since that idle chat before the game with Marion and maybe a couple of other Suns.

A healthy Camby is one of the best fits at center you could imagine for this team.

I agree. But he already bucked the odds by staying more or less healthy this year. Do you really expect lightning to strike twice?

 

[Chaplin]

I agree. But he already bucked the odds by staying more or less healthy this year. Do you really expect lightning to strike twice?

Because of past issues, I certainly don't expect Camby to be healthy all next year. The question is, is he worth the chance? For the money he'll probably demand, I don't think he is.

 

[slinslin]

Maybe he just had bad luck early in his career?

He is proving this season that he can stay healthy.

Remember early in his career he was really thin. He got injured a lot. The last offseason with New York he bulked up a lot and put up a lot of muscle. He got injured again probably because his body wasn't used to the additional weight.

However he looks really healthy right now in Denver. It's not like he is limping, shying away from contact, favoring a knee or looks like he lost his athleticism.

If you can put any stock in what McDyess said about the treatment he received in New York, they can't have a good medical staff either.

 

[elindholm]

He is proving this season that he can stay healthy.

The same way a player's career highs "show what he is capable of"?

You really need to learn just a bit about statistical sampling.

 

[slinslin]

I don't care what you say but career highs of young players DO show what they are capable of because most young players lack consistency the most.

It is not like Tony Delk who plays 10 years and shoots for 51 in one game at some point.

Penny Hardaway is pretty healthy since he came back and proved he could stay healthy for a season.

 

[Chaplin]

Maybe he just had bad luck early in his career?

He is proving this season that he can stay healthy.

Remember early in his career he was really thin. He got injured a lot. The last offseason with New York he bulked up a lot and put up a lot of muscle. He got injured again probably because his body wasn't used to the additional weight.

However he looks really healthy right now in Denver. It's not like he is limping, shying away from contact, favoring a knee or looks like he lost his athleticism.

If you can put any stock in what McDyess said about the treatment he received in New York, they can't have a good medical staff either.

You really need to stop being so naive--you are virtually oozing it.

Marcus Camby has been in the NBA for 8 years--he's 30 years old. So, according to you, his first 7 years--which is "early" in his career--he was injured all the time. How many more years do you think he has where he can produce at a high level? 2? 3 at the most?

Early in his career... LOL

 

[George O'Brien]

The speculation about how much Dice will get sounds about right. I would not expect him to get an offer above $3 million a year or for more than two years. Camby expects to get well above mid cap - $6 to $7 million for four four years.

Even if you think Camby is better than Dice (not a sure thing if Dice completely recovers), the cost and risk of Camby seems out of proportion to what he will will bring.

 

[Joe Mama]

Slin, for someone who absolutely loves statistics you seem to be conveniently overlooking the numbers on Marcus Camby. How about these numbers? Before this year Marcus Camby average playing just 35 games per season. That's not even including the shortened season that he missed in its entirety. He's averaged right around 30 minutes per game for his career and just barely under 30 minutes per game this season. This season he missed eight or nine games.

There is no way the Phoenix Suns are going to give Marcus Camby the type of contract is going to expect. It's just not going to happen.

Joe

 

[devilalum]

A Healthy Camby is one of the best fits at center you could imagine for this team.

Is that like Jumbo Shrimp or Silent Scream or Working Vacation?

 

[F-Dog]

I've got to go with slinslin here, strangely enough.

McDyess is a poor man's Camby at this point in their respective careers. If the numbers are even close, the Suns have got to go with Camby. (Of course, the smartest thing would probably be to avoid both of them like the plague.)


The real question with McDyess is, what will other teams offer him? If he can stay healthy for the next few months--not close to a sure thing, since his knees are bad and he's been hurt for most of the last three years now--I still think he's got a shot at MLE money from one of the Eastern Conference "contenders".

I also think that Denver will at least make an offer, since they're rolling in cap room right now. They could sign both Dyess and Camby and give them the same number, hoping that at least one of them will be healthy most of the time...

 

[Chaplin]

I also think that Denver will at least make an offer, since they're rolling in cap room right now. They could sign both Dyess and Camby and give them the same number, hoping that at least one of them will be healthy most of the time...

Denver's welcome to, but the Suns SHOULD NOT do that.

 

[George O'Brien]

The real question with McDyess is, what will other teams offer him? If he can stay healthy for the next few months--not close to a sure thing, since his knees are bad and he's been hurt for most of the last three years now--I still think he's got a shot at MLE money from one of the Eastern Conference "contenders".

I can't see anyone offering a multi-year MLE for someone they do not expect will be able to start.

 

[slinslin]

Camby is "destroying" Yao tonight.

18pts 8reb 3ast 3blk 1stl at the beginning of the 4th.

 

[George O'Brien]

Dice had a good game against the Kings - 7 of 10 shooting and 15 rebounds.

 

[slinslin]

Camby is leading the Nuggets to the playoffs right now.

8pts 17reb 7ast 4blk tonight against the Kings in the 4th quarter. He played 28 minutes so far according to the boxscore.

And the Nuggets are on the way to beat the Kings despite 5-21FG shooting from Anthony.

 

[elindholm]

Don't we all agree that Camby is a very effective player when healthy? That's not the issue.

 

[Ryanwb]

Camby is "destroying" Yao tonight.

18pts 8reb 3ast 3blk 1stl at the beginning of the 4th.

I hope you put "destroying" in quotes for a reason....those stats are not destroying anything

 

[slinslin]

Considering that he put up those stats and Yao was like 5-15 shooting at the same point. He 0\/\/|\|E|] him.

Maybe we all agree that Camby is effective but we certainly don't agree how good he is wether he is worth the risk or not.

It isn't only the awesome rebounding, blocks stats. He is a great defender as well. Certainly all-nba 3rd team defense caliber at least.
Without him the Nuggets are just half as good.

2 Clutch steals,1 block and rebound for Camby.

Denver up 6 with a minute left.
Camby 12 points 21 rebounds 7 assists 5 blocks 2 steals

Webber, Divac, Peja, Bibby and Christie combined had only 24 rebounds.

AWESOME line in one of the most important games in recent Nuggets history with Anthony having an awful game and still winning against the Kings.

 

[George O'Brien]

Camby thinks he is worth the $7.72 million that is supposed to get next season, except that it requires reaching incentives he can't reach. I don't expect him to be reasonable.

Beyond anything else, I think Denver will re-sign him unless to go for someone else like Dampier or Okur instead.

 

[Chaz]

Camby was playing awesome against the Kings last night. Probably his best game in the Nuggets most important game of the season.

I would love to have both McDyess and Camby on the Suns next year. I know people are concerned with paying a guy (or two) that have injury histories but there are always gambles and if the Suns can't sign Kobe who else are we going to spend money on? Depending on the length of contract he wants, the Suns should try and sign Camby IMO.
I think we have seen what veteran leadership can mean to this team with McDyess over the past few weeks.

 

[Joe Mama]

Look, I would also love to have healthy Marcus Camby and Antonio McDyess with the Phoenix Suns next season. It's not going to happen though. McDyess might be a possibility if he is willing to sign a small, short-term deal. The Phoenix Suns are absolutely not going to give Marcus Camby the big deal he is looking for. The Suns just got out from under 2 big contracts for injury plagued players. The last thing they're going to do is use most of their free-agent money to sign one of the most often injured players in the NBA today.

Talk about Marcus Camby all you want. It's just not going to happen. It shouldn't.

Joe Mama

 

[Chaz]

Talk about Marcus Camby all you want. It's just not going to happen. It shouldn't.

Joe Mama

Dangit Chad, quit messing up my perfect fantasy world!

 

[Joe Mama]

Dangit Chad, quit messing up my perfect fantasy world!

I'm sorry. I know I'm a big party pooper.

Here's a few other guys I think the Phoenix Suns will not even contemplate signing.

1. Marcus Camby
2. Erick Dampier
3. Quentin Richardson
4. Steve Nash
5. Jamal Crawford
Joe Mama

 

[slinslin]

You forgot Jamal Crawford and Stromile Swift and most other good FAs.

Truth is everyone could get injured.

And it is not like Marcus Camby would sign a nearly as long or big contract as Googs or Penny did. If Marcus Camby got injured it is only like 1/8 of what Googs and Penny hurt.
And if he did we would probably have insurance picking up his contract.