SHAQ WON'T KEEP PACERS
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O'NEAL TIMES TWO:
It looks like Shaquille O'Neal still can block shots by Pacers' Jermaine O'Neal next season, now that Shaq has taken Indiana off his list of possible trade destinations.
June 27, 2004 --
SO, Kobe Bryant finally has a start date (Aug. 27) for his Eagle scout trial. This gives him exactly two months from today to unite the community and divide community property. Not to fret; between Jim Gray and the guy thrown off the Scott Peterson jury, Kobe has the best legal minds eight bucks a day can buy.
A week ago, the Pacers were informed Shaquille O'Neal had them on a short list of teams he'd eagerly embrace should the Lakers comply with his wish to be traded. A couple days ago they were deleted. Shaq has whittled the group down to the southern or southwest franchises with guaranteed good weather, reveals one of his peeps.
"I truly believe the Lakers are out there seriously listening to offers," said a Western Conference executive, "but I don't believe they'll pull the trigger on anything anytime soon.
"I mean, has Kobe said he'll stay? So, what are we talking about? Why would the Lakers surrender their franchise player who's under contract for two more seasons (no way he opts out after '04-'05 and lose a minimum of $15 million) when their other franchise player hasn't given any assurances of re-upping?
"This is too big a deal to get resolved quickly," emphasized the same exec. "There are too many factors involved. Aside from tilting the balance of power in both conferences we're talking about the largest financial transaction involving one player in NBA history."
Don't know about you, but I'm countin' down the seconds until the Tracy McGrady-Steve Francis package becomes official. I suspected Francis had accepted Florida as his new state of mind when he washed ashore with Jose Contreras' family.
A Phoenix precinct reports the Celtics and Bulls made identical offers to the Suns for No. 7 ($3M, a No. 2 in Thursday's draft, and a future first-rounder) protected through three in '05, one in '06 and unconditional in '07. Management based its decision to deal with the Bulls on which team it felt would marginally improve (as opposed to getting worse) next season, figuring they're a lock to get a lottery selection around four, five or six.
Saddest sight in the NBA Draft's green room: After Connecticut's Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon went 2-3, John Rowland was overheard offering to refurbish their summer cribs.
Had the Pacers been able to trade up to secure the Bulls' No. 3 pick they would've happily exchanged Al Harrington and assumed Eddie Robinson's two-year guaranteed burden for the privilege of calling Ben Gordon their very own. Mount Vernon's second coming of Gus Williams figures to be an immediate star; he gets any shot he wants . . . and makes 'em. Not a prototype point, but if put in pick-and-roll situations, a la Mark Price, he's not going to be easy to stop.
Offered No. 7 at the same rate of exchange, the Pacers declined, preferring to trade Harrington for someone of immediate consequence and save cap space for next summer's free-agent crop. Erick Dampier is their top priority; I hear Jermaine O'Neal is recruiting him heavily. Many teams figure to join the chase when the Warriors center opts out of his remaining two-year, $16.9M pact within the next few days despite a four-year extension offer (121/2 percent yearly hikes) from Golden State.
As mentioned previously in this space, the Lakers will be all over Dampier should Shaq be shorn. The Heat also are prepared to make a proposal: Brian Grant and Caron Butler. But the Grizzlies feel they're solidly positioned to obtain Dampier's dominant shot blocking/defensive rebounding services because they have someone (Shane Battier? James Posey?) Chris Mullin loves.
Jim easily beat out John last season for Paxson-of-the-Year honors. Whereas Jim assembled a bunch of competitive, compliant Cavaliers to surround LeBron James, John traded Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall for Antonio Davis and Jerome Williams. Any uncertainty about who got the worst of that swap was summarily dispelled when both Bulls wound up as options on Charlotte's expansion list.
By gobbling up Gordon and Luol Deng, John is now favored to win the Comeback-Paxson-of-the-Year award; though getting younger wouldn't be the way I'd go. If Paul Pierce can't be had, the Bulls had best find a comparable veteran the young guys won't mind following and can't help emulating; over-the-hill All-Stars like Scottie Pippen cannot get their undivided attention or respect. Moreover, the influx of luxurious lottery talent means management isn't about to pay top or medium dollar for restricted free agent Jamal Crawford. It's doubtful the Bulls will match any mid-level exception offer for four or more years.
If the Suns ($16.3M under next year's projected $46M cap) are unable to recruit Kobe, go to sleep on them pursuing unrestricted Steve Nash and restricted Mehmet Okur; league rules prohibit the Pistons from matching any offer above the mid-level exception. One of Nash's confidants discloses the Canadian Olympian is highly insulted Easy Mark Cuban hasn't so much as hinted about a new Mavericks contract. Very strange considering Dallas no longer has Nick Van Exel to fall back on for playmaking, only cross-over guard Marquis Daniels and newborn Devin Harris.
What's more amazing: The fact the Wizards have made the playoffs once in the past 20 years, or that owner Abe Pollin is still paying Wes Unseld?
How can you not like the Wiz-Mavericks trade? Props to Ernie Grunfeld; by my count, D.C. hasn't unloaded this much baggage since the Senators left town. Then again, I loved Antawn Jamison's acquisition until some fat head reminded me of the forward's sour relationship with Gilbert Arenas in Golden State. Add Larry Hughes to the discordant blend and it appears Grunfeld's trying to do a Warriors remix. No question about the skill level of the accumulated young talent, but the majority of 'em like to shoot, something Kwame Brown finds deeply offensive.
ESPN's Jay Bilas really knows how to hurt a kid and demonstrate a thorough lack of sensitivity, shattering Josh Smith's special night (No. 17, Hawks) and that of his family by branding the athletically endowed high school senior as potentially "the biggest bust in the draft." In his next bad breath, Bilas labeled J.R. Smith (No. 18, New Orleans) "Vince Carter with a jump shot." So much for his credibility, too.
Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers say they snared their main objectives. Not so: Robert Swift was top choice . . . Before sending Jerry Stackhouse to Dallas, Grunfeld tried to pawn off his three-year contract on the Knicks for Kurt Thomas. Isiah Thomas countered with Shandon Anderson. Grunfeld's mistake was not extending Stackhouse for an additional three years before making the offer.
I see where Britney Spears is engaged. She was upset that J-Lo was running up the score.
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O'NEAL TIMES TWO:
It looks like Shaquille O'Neal still can block shots by Pacers' Jermaine O'Neal next season, now that Shaq has taken Indiana off his list of possible trade destinations.
June 27, 2004 --
SO, Kobe Bryant finally has a start date (Aug. 27) for his Eagle scout trial. This gives him exactly two months from today to unite the community and divide community property. Not to fret; between Jim Gray and the guy thrown off the Scott Peterson jury, Kobe has the best legal minds eight bucks a day can buy.
A week ago, the Pacers were informed Shaquille O'Neal had them on a short list of teams he'd eagerly embrace should the Lakers comply with his wish to be traded. A couple days ago they were deleted. Shaq has whittled the group down to the southern or southwest franchises with guaranteed good weather, reveals one of his peeps.
"I truly believe the Lakers are out there seriously listening to offers," said a Western Conference executive, "but I don't believe they'll pull the trigger on anything anytime soon.
"I mean, has Kobe said he'll stay? So, what are we talking about? Why would the Lakers surrender their franchise player who's under contract for two more seasons (no way he opts out after '04-'05 and lose a minimum of $15 million) when their other franchise player hasn't given any assurances of re-upping?
"This is too big a deal to get resolved quickly," emphasized the same exec. "There are too many factors involved. Aside from tilting the balance of power in both conferences we're talking about the largest financial transaction involving one player in NBA history."
Don't know about you, but I'm countin' down the seconds until the Tracy McGrady-Steve Francis package becomes official. I suspected Francis had accepted Florida as his new state of mind when he washed ashore with Jose Contreras' family.
A Phoenix precinct reports the Celtics and Bulls made identical offers to the Suns for No. 7 ($3M, a No. 2 in Thursday's draft, and a future first-rounder) protected through three in '05, one in '06 and unconditional in '07. Management based its decision to deal with the Bulls on which team it felt would marginally improve (as opposed to getting worse) next season, figuring they're a lock to get a lottery selection around four, five or six.
Saddest sight in the NBA Draft's green room: After Connecticut's Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon went 2-3, John Rowland was overheard offering to refurbish their summer cribs.
Had the Pacers been able to trade up to secure the Bulls' No. 3 pick they would've happily exchanged Al Harrington and assumed Eddie Robinson's two-year guaranteed burden for the privilege of calling Ben Gordon their very own. Mount Vernon's second coming of Gus Williams figures to be an immediate star; he gets any shot he wants . . . and makes 'em. Not a prototype point, but if put in pick-and-roll situations, a la Mark Price, he's not going to be easy to stop.
Offered No. 7 at the same rate of exchange, the Pacers declined, preferring to trade Harrington for someone of immediate consequence and save cap space for next summer's free-agent crop. Erick Dampier is their top priority; I hear Jermaine O'Neal is recruiting him heavily. Many teams figure to join the chase when the Warriors center opts out of his remaining two-year, $16.9M pact within the next few days despite a four-year extension offer (121/2 percent yearly hikes) from Golden State.
As mentioned previously in this space, the Lakers will be all over Dampier should Shaq be shorn. The Heat also are prepared to make a proposal: Brian Grant and Caron Butler. But the Grizzlies feel they're solidly positioned to obtain Dampier's dominant shot blocking/defensive rebounding services because they have someone (Shane Battier? James Posey?) Chris Mullin loves.
Jim easily beat out John last season for Paxson-of-the-Year honors. Whereas Jim assembled a bunch of competitive, compliant Cavaliers to surround LeBron James, John traded Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall for Antonio Davis and Jerome Williams. Any uncertainty about who got the worst of that swap was summarily dispelled when both Bulls wound up as options on Charlotte's expansion list.
By gobbling up Gordon and Luol Deng, John is now favored to win the Comeback-Paxson-of-the-Year award; though getting younger wouldn't be the way I'd go. If Paul Pierce can't be had, the Bulls had best find a comparable veteran the young guys won't mind following and can't help emulating; over-the-hill All-Stars like Scottie Pippen cannot get their undivided attention or respect. Moreover, the influx of luxurious lottery talent means management isn't about to pay top or medium dollar for restricted free agent Jamal Crawford. It's doubtful the Bulls will match any mid-level exception offer for four or more years.
If the Suns ($16.3M under next year's projected $46M cap) are unable to recruit Kobe, go to sleep on them pursuing unrestricted Steve Nash and restricted Mehmet Okur; league rules prohibit the Pistons from matching any offer above the mid-level exception. One of Nash's confidants discloses the Canadian Olympian is highly insulted Easy Mark Cuban hasn't so much as hinted about a new Mavericks contract. Very strange considering Dallas no longer has Nick Van Exel to fall back on for playmaking, only cross-over guard Marquis Daniels and newborn Devin Harris.
What's more amazing: The fact the Wizards have made the playoffs once in the past 20 years, or that owner Abe Pollin is still paying Wes Unseld?
How can you not like the Wiz-Mavericks trade? Props to Ernie Grunfeld; by my count, D.C. hasn't unloaded this much baggage since the Senators left town. Then again, I loved Antawn Jamison's acquisition until some fat head reminded me of the forward's sour relationship with Gilbert Arenas in Golden State. Add Larry Hughes to the discordant blend and it appears Grunfeld's trying to do a Warriors remix. No question about the skill level of the accumulated young talent, but the majority of 'em like to shoot, something Kwame Brown finds deeply offensive.
ESPN's Jay Bilas really knows how to hurt a kid and demonstrate a thorough lack of sensitivity, shattering Josh Smith's special night (No. 17, Hawks) and that of his family by branding the athletically endowed high school senior as potentially "the biggest bust in the draft." In his next bad breath, Bilas labeled J.R. Smith (No. 18, New Orleans) "Vince Carter with a jump shot." So much for his credibility, too.
Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers say they snared their main objectives. Not so: Robert Swift was top choice . . . Before sending Jerry Stackhouse to Dallas, Grunfeld tried to pawn off his three-year contract on the Knicks for Kurt Thomas. Isiah Thomas countered with Shandon Anderson. Grunfeld's mistake was not extending Stackhouse for an additional three years before making the offer.
I see where Britney Spears is engaged. She was upset that J-Lo was running up the score.
