TRADE SHOW
MUCH MOVING ON HORIZON IN NBA
Peter Vecsey
June 11, 2006 -- HOOP DU JOUR ORLANDO - The greatly discussed, critically dissected Rafael Araujo-Kris Humphries deal featuring the Raptors and Jazz was but the first of countless trades expected before the June 28 draft and once free agents are permitted to sign two weeks into July.
It's no surprise Portland, Philadelphia, Houston, Milwaukee, New York, Toronto, Golden State, Charlotte, Utah, Phoenix, Washington, Boston and the Lakers were the biggest talkers down here during the NBA's now-concluded pre-draft camp.
Nor are the names under discussion; the only one that caught me off guard was Paul Pierce. Asked to confirm or deny that the supposed Celtic-for-life is back on the block in exchange for an elite draft pick, a certified point guard and, no doubt, another goodie or two, a team official said, "Our intention is to extend Pierce and currently we are in the process of working on that."
The exhaustively "For Sale" Blazers are anxiously willing to deal any and all of their persecuted or prosecuted players. Despite being a genuine 20-point, 10-rebound contributor when healthy, Zach Randolph - who's in and out of trouble more often than, er, Darius Miles - is readily available. Same goes for Miles, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair and, well, you take your pick.
If you take the highest-paid players, owner Paul Allen, who just enjoyed his least-losing season in the last eight ($44 million; fast approaching $700M total during that span) will arrange to include the Morose Garden as a throw-in.
An attempted restructuring of the 76ers also is in broad progress. Confronted with dwindling head counts, a failure to make the playoffs and a murky future, management is committed to rebuilding. In all likelihood, that means Allen Iverson will be sacrificed for reputable youth and numerous first-round draft picks, not a Kenyon Martin-type long-term contract.
The City of Brotherly Love still fervently feels Iverson. Still, more and more of its fans have stopped "paying" homage where it counts, at the gate. At the same time, strictly on account of A.I., the 76ers are the league's second-biggest road draw.
Denver was intensely interested in acquiring Iverson (for the above mentioned package) at trading deadline this past February. Memphis and Atlanta would be foolish not to seize the opportunity and do whatever it takes to tempt the 76ers here and now. Meanwhile, Samuel Dalembert is definite to be relocated. Despite a fairly prohibitive contract, numerous teams continue to find the 7-footer appealing. Contrary to reports, the Grizzlies don't have the slightest interest in the Jamaal Magloire, one year away from demanding unrealistic compensation for his pedestrian services.
Carlos Boozer, Baron Davis (if Mike Montgomery and his staff get their way), Brendan Haywood (at odds with Eddie Jordan for most of the season), the ever-popular Brevin Knight, pick-a-Knick, Andrew Bynum (if Phil Jackson, with only two years left to win a title, gets his way), and Kurt Thomas were on the loose lips of many down here.
As of this moment, Corey Maggette appears to have accepted his duel Clipper role of compulsive scorer as either a starter or sixth man, depending on how he's defending. Sources say at end-of-the-year meeting between Mike Dunleavy, Maggette and his agent cleared the air: There are no trade demands, the coach has the utmost respect for the player's offensive talent, and Maggette will do his best to improve on the other side of the ball.
We now interrupt our regularly scheduled programming about your New York Knickerbockers in order to bring you this special report ... The Finals resume tonight.
The Heat, who seemingly began this series the way they started the East finals - poised to pilfer home court - now find themselves with some work to do if they want to shift the scene "Dade Even."
Face it, they're not going to get off a livelier liftoff than the 70 percent (14-for-20) first-quarter fireball from the field Thursday night. Then again, one would suspect Miami would not rehash the trash (20-for-58, 34.5 percent) of Game 1's final three quadrants.
That has to be what Padre Riles is hanging his hope chest on.
That, and the fact high rising-free-agent Jason Terry (32 points-13-of-18 FG) can't continue to do to his team what Jason Williams did for his team against the Pistons.
That, and the fact Antoine Walker (12 missed shots, six turnovers) has to stop doing more for Dallas than he did when he played for the Mavericks.
"If Riley allows 'Toine to out-shoot Shaq (19-11), this series will be over quickly," underlines column contributor Joe Orofino.
Walker is plagued wit the same deadly affliction as ex-Knick Ray Williams - if he stays in the game long enough, he can win it for both sides.
Another problem for Miami is Shaq's bent (1-9) for scarring the stripe. Some of those flings hit the rim with such force, the referees were looking for a second shooter on the grassy knoll.
On the other hand, I can't see Dwyane Wade needing 25 shots to score 28 points. A quick look at the numbers shows those were the most shots he has attempted all postseason and the most in a game since April 2 against New Jersey (26).
Of course, Riley also can't count on Dirk Nowitzki aborting 10 of 14 FG attempts en route to a tepid total of 16 points, or Josh Howard misfiring on 11 of 14 while redefining the term "ill-advised."
After taking out terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, column castigator Frank Drucker reports "U.S. military officials were quick to credit high-level intelligence, decisive action and Horace Balmer."
Judging by Game 1, Miami better slow it down 1,000 or so rpms or else Shaq is gonna have nothing left for rounding out his family to an even dozen children.
"First comes the wheezing, then the fouls, then Pat Riley's hair goes from amber to gray," notes column contributor Dino Dipietro.
Tell me Mike Fratello and Riley don't go to the same hair colorist!
"Yeah," Dipietro says, "Earl Scheib!" This just in from column contributor Joe Belfiore: Al Gore, speaking at a summit in Iceland, said the fact that the Heat have made the Finals for the first time in their history, is yet another sign of Global warming.
http://www.nypost.com/sports/trade_show_sports_peter_vecsey.htm
MUCH MOVING ON HORIZON IN NBA
Peter Vecsey
June 11, 2006 -- HOOP DU JOUR ORLANDO - The greatly discussed, critically dissected Rafael Araujo-Kris Humphries deal featuring the Raptors and Jazz was but the first of countless trades expected before the June 28 draft and once free agents are permitted to sign two weeks into July.
It's no surprise Portland, Philadelphia, Houston, Milwaukee, New York, Toronto, Golden State, Charlotte, Utah, Phoenix, Washington, Boston and the Lakers were the biggest talkers down here during the NBA's now-concluded pre-draft camp.
Nor are the names under discussion; the only one that caught me off guard was Paul Pierce. Asked to confirm or deny that the supposed Celtic-for-life is back on the block in exchange for an elite draft pick, a certified point guard and, no doubt, another goodie or two, a team official said, "Our intention is to extend Pierce and currently we are in the process of working on that."
The exhaustively "For Sale" Blazers are anxiously willing to deal any and all of their persecuted or prosecuted players. Despite being a genuine 20-point, 10-rebound contributor when healthy, Zach Randolph - who's in and out of trouble more often than, er, Darius Miles - is readily available. Same goes for Miles, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair and, well, you take your pick.
If you take the highest-paid players, owner Paul Allen, who just enjoyed his least-losing season in the last eight ($44 million; fast approaching $700M total during that span) will arrange to include the Morose Garden as a throw-in.
An attempted restructuring of the 76ers also is in broad progress. Confronted with dwindling head counts, a failure to make the playoffs and a murky future, management is committed to rebuilding. In all likelihood, that means Allen Iverson will be sacrificed for reputable youth and numerous first-round draft picks, not a Kenyon Martin-type long-term contract.
The City of Brotherly Love still fervently feels Iverson. Still, more and more of its fans have stopped "paying" homage where it counts, at the gate. At the same time, strictly on account of A.I., the 76ers are the league's second-biggest road draw.
Denver was intensely interested in acquiring Iverson (for the above mentioned package) at trading deadline this past February. Memphis and Atlanta would be foolish not to seize the opportunity and do whatever it takes to tempt the 76ers here and now. Meanwhile, Samuel Dalembert is definite to be relocated. Despite a fairly prohibitive contract, numerous teams continue to find the 7-footer appealing. Contrary to reports, the Grizzlies don't have the slightest interest in the Jamaal Magloire, one year away from demanding unrealistic compensation for his pedestrian services.
Carlos Boozer, Baron Davis (if Mike Montgomery and his staff get their way), Brendan Haywood (at odds with Eddie Jordan for most of the season), the ever-popular Brevin Knight, pick-a-Knick, Andrew Bynum (if Phil Jackson, with only two years left to win a title, gets his way), and Kurt Thomas were on the loose lips of many down here.
As of this moment, Corey Maggette appears to have accepted his duel Clipper role of compulsive scorer as either a starter or sixth man, depending on how he's defending. Sources say at end-of-the-year meeting between Mike Dunleavy, Maggette and his agent cleared the air: There are no trade demands, the coach has the utmost respect for the player's offensive talent, and Maggette will do his best to improve on the other side of the ball.
We now interrupt our regularly scheduled programming about your New York Knickerbockers in order to bring you this special report ... The Finals resume tonight.
The Heat, who seemingly began this series the way they started the East finals - poised to pilfer home court - now find themselves with some work to do if they want to shift the scene "Dade Even."
Face it, they're not going to get off a livelier liftoff than the 70 percent (14-for-20) first-quarter fireball from the field Thursday night. Then again, one would suspect Miami would not rehash the trash (20-for-58, 34.5 percent) of Game 1's final three quadrants.
That has to be what Padre Riles is hanging his hope chest on.
That, and the fact high rising-free-agent Jason Terry (32 points-13-of-18 FG) can't continue to do to his team what Jason Williams did for his team against the Pistons.
That, and the fact Antoine Walker (12 missed shots, six turnovers) has to stop doing more for Dallas than he did when he played for the Mavericks.
"If Riley allows 'Toine to out-shoot Shaq (19-11), this series will be over quickly," underlines column contributor Joe Orofino.
Walker is plagued wit the same deadly affliction as ex-Knick Ray Williams - if he stays in the game long enough, he can win it for both sides.
Another problem for Miami is Shaq's bent (1-9) for scarring the stripe. Some of those flings hit the rim with such force, the referees were looking for a second shooter on the grassy knoll.
On the other hand, I can't see Dwyane Wade needing 25 shots to score 28 points. A quick look at the numbers shows those were the most shots he has attempted all postseason and the most in a game since April 2 against New Jersey (26).
Of course, Riley also can't count on Dirk Nowitzki aborting 10 of 14 FG attempts en route to a tepid total of 16 points, or Josh Howard misfiring on 11 of 14 while redefining the term "ill-advised."
After taking out terror leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, column castigator Frank Drucker reports "U.S. military officials were quick to credit high-level intelligence, decisive action and Horace Balmer."
Judging by Game 1, Miami better slow it down 1,000 or so rpms or else Shaq is gonna have nothing left for rounding out his family to an even dozen children.
"First comes the wheezing, then the fouls, then Pat Riley's hair goes from amber to gray," notes column contributor Dino Dipietro.
Tell me Mike Fratello and Riley don't go to the same hair colorist!
"Yeah," Dipietro says, "Earl Scheib!" This just in from column contributor Joe Belfiore: Al Gore, speaking at a summit in Iceland, said the fact that the Heat have made the Finals for the first time in their history, is yet another sign of Global warming.
http://www.nypost.com/sports/trade_show_sports_peter_vecsey.htm
