The official 2003 NBA free agents thread

[Guest alfdogg]

Look how far the Mavs got with offense alone.

And with Chris Webber blowing his knee out...

[Guest alfdogg]

Corey Magette will sign an offer sheet with the Jazz on Wednesday, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

 

The Jazz are also interested in Gilbert Arenas, but he looks to be staying in GS.

[Guest Ripper]

And Toni Parker OWNS Gary Payton.  There is no 2 ways about it.  He OWNS him. 

 

And I don't know what is wrong with you guys or what games you are watching...Rick Fox gone=bad for the Lakers.  He is their best on the ball defender, and dependible shooter when you kick it out to him and has really wavy hair.  Who is going to bring the wavy hair? Deven George?

You, sir, are nuts. Certifiably.

How am I nuts.

 

Are you denying the wavy hair of Rick Fox...

 

Are we denying the 23+ points a game that Parker averaged against the Sonics when the Spurs played them 2 years ago or the 20+ points he had EVERYTIME they played the sonics this year.

 

Or that Deaven George is a useless unless he is coming off the bench. As a starter we both know he sucks.

 

Wally for Ricky...good trade on both ends. 1: No one in Sota likes Wally, although they won't admit it. He doesn't perform in the playoffs and can't create his own shot. Ricky Davis is a better rebounder and ball handler, not as good as a shooter but can hit consistantly. The Cavs get a guy that can shoot. Well..thats about it, but he can really shoot. Plus they get rid of Davis so everyone wins.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

D. Miles would be a better fit in Minnesota than Ricky Davis. He is still young and impressionable. His friendship with KG will lead to better chemistry and eliminate the likelihood of attitude clashes like I see with Davis/Wally/KG.

[Guest Ripper]

Except Miles has about half the offensive ability of Davis and the wolves need more offense.

[Guest ant_7000]

Miles is a poor man's version of KG with half the skills.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

the Clips never should have traded him for Miller and messed up their chemistry.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

Miles is a lot like Garnett except without the awareness, shot blocking, excellent rebounding, and a good inside-outside game.

 

He's almost as tall though.

[Guest Ripper]

the Clips never should have traded him for Miller and messed up their chemistry.

If the Clipper organization gave half a shit about winning, maybe Miller would have played better. I can't fault a single Clipper player for mailing it in when the organization does so.

 

I don't see how you do it. As a suns fan, I was disgusted when management tanked the season a year ago trying to get a lottery pick and get Yao Ming (they did get Amare so I guess something good came of it) I can't imagine being the fan of a team that makes no effort to get better EVER. I mean, when was the last time the Clippers signed a free agent? Or went after a proven coach. Or extended a contract.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

the Clips never should have traded him for Miller and messed up their chemistry.

If the Clipper organization gave half a shit about winning, maybe Miller would have played better. I can't fault a single Clipper player for mailing it in when the organization does so.

 

I don't see how you do it. As a suns fan, I was disgusted when management tanked the season a year ago trying to get a lottery pick and get Yao Ming (they did get Amare so I guess something good came of it) I can't imagine being the fan of a team that makes no effort to get better EVER. I mean, when was the last time the Clippers signed a free agent? Or went after a proven coach. Or extended a contract.

Last season they signed Wang Zhi Zhi to a 3 year $6 million deal.

 

They hired Mike Dunleavy last week, who has a .508 winning percentage.

 

The last free agent that they resigned was Eric Piatkowski a few years back.

 

You're right, the Clips are lucky that they have any fans left and it is hard to believe in the team and not get any commitment of providing a winning team from the organization in return. But at least its better than being a Laker fan. This is only going to make me more satisfied when the team finally turns it around. And I don’t have to wait that long if they resign some goddamn players this summer.

[Guest alfdogg]

Nesterovic has agreed to a six-year deal with the Spurs.

 

Don't know why they didn't go after Olowokandi or Brad Miller instead, but then again I didn't win a championship last year.

[Guest alfdogg]

The Sixers will re-sign Kenny Thomas, and are also in talks with Elden Campbell.

 

The Wizards, who look the be losing Tyronn Lue, their only true PG, to the Nuggets, will be making a play for Gilbert Arenas. If they can't get him, they will go after Speedy Claxton.

[Guest Tony149]

Nesterovic has agreed to a six-year deal with the Spurs.

 

Don't know why they didn't go after Olowokandi or Brad Miller instead, but then again I didn't win a championship last year.

The Spurs would of really liked to have gotten Brand but they didn't want to take a chance on making him an offer only to have the Clipperss match. That and the fact they didn't want to wait a long time to find out what the Clippers would of done, to the point where all the other big men signed.

 

The Spurs weren't high on Kandi, that's why they never bothered with him. Although he most likely would of been the last resort.

 

As for Miller, since he's a home state guy, he probably won't leave.

[Rendclaw 0]

Nestrovic and Duncan make a pretty potent 4-5 combination...

 

I LIKE all this movement in the off-season... freash face coming in, veterans moving around... this season coming up looking to be a VERY interesting one.

[Guest RepoManRules]

Well, Rasho signed for a 6 year contract with the Spurs.

[Guest RepoManRules]

The Sixers will re-sign Kenny Thomas, and are also in talks with Elden Campbell.

 

The Wizards, who look the be losing Tyronn Lue, their only true PG, to the Nuggets, will be making a play for Gilbert Arenas. If they can't get him, they will go after Speedy Claxton.

Am I the only one who thinks Speedy will stay with the Spurs?

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

Rasho + Duncan will be very interesing, Rasho is an under rated passer and we know what Duncan can do. If the Spurs signed their exact same team back from last year minus a broken down David Robinson and plus Rasho, I'd still say they may be the team to beat. The Lakers may have stars for days but it doesn't mean the team will have any form of chemistry.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

What's happening with Stephen Jackson? I think Ginobili's better anyway, but if they lose Jackson and Speedy there are some depth issues there.

[Guest Lethargic]

Well, T-Wolves just signed Olowokandi to replace Nesterovic. Personally I think I'd rather have him in the first place. I would think that if he's not better than Rasho it's at least a push.

 

The only downfall is that the Wolves thought they were going to be able to keep Rasho AND add a piece. Now they had to use all their money to replace him which will pretty much keep them from adding anymore players of note.

[Guest razazteca]

What's happening with Stephen Jackson? I think Ginobili's better anyway, but if they lose Jackson and Speedy there are some depth issues there.

I wish the Spurs would use the 8 million they have left under the cap to keep the players from leaving but word is that Speedy will be in a sign & trade deal with someone in the East.

 

I love how the Spurs take journymen and make them into great role players to fit the system, too bad the team is unwilling to keep the players. If both FA leave then the advantage that the Spurs had last season will disappear.

[Guest Tony149]

What's happening with Stephen Jackson? I think Ginobili's better anyway, but if they lose Jackson and Speedy there are some depth issues there.

The Spurs still have around 10-12 million to play around with; they'll check any other options before they go after their own. But I'll be shocked if Jackson isn't re-signed.

 

I heard Kevin Willis will sign another one year deal and stay with the team.

 

Like Raza said, the Spurs are damn good at discovering and signing players that turn out to be good. Especially the fact they don't have to spend too much for them.

 

While Speedy did an awesome job, he won a high paying starting job with his preformence during the Finals. At least the Spurs be able to re-sign Ginoibil next year.

[Guest razazteca]

Is it me or are the Spurs slowing evolving into the Mavs or Kings with all of the european player signings.

 

No if only the Spurs can steal Divac.

[Rendclaw 0]

nah the Maves are ahead of the curve by a great degree.... but euro players are much more fundamentally sound and will pass the ball 9 times out of 10 if they don;t have their shot.

 

This is a trend, folks... this is why its getting more and more difficult for the US National Team to beat the world teams, even when they have a good squad to send over.... in my mind last year's squad was a sick joke, because they did not have enough time to prepare, and the fact that it was a B-list roster to begin with.

 

It just shows you how much the players are blinded by money, since this is for national pride and little else. No matter who they assemble, they will never equal the 92 Dream Team in any manner because that squad put their egos aside and just CRUSHED people.

 

Its a pity, but its only going to get worse as the years go on.

[Guest razazteca]

its a pity, but its only going to get worse as the years go on

All the highschool playas want to play streetball while the european players are team oriented.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Well, T-Wolves just signed Olowokandi to replace Nesterovic. Personally I think I'd rather have him in the first place. I would think that if he's not better than Rasho it's at least a push.

 

The only downfall is that the Wolves thought they were going to be able to keep Rasho AND add a piece. Now they had to use all their money to replace him which will pretty much keep them from adding anymore players of note.

The Wolves can still trade Brandon for two good players.

 

I'll wait to pass judgment on Olowokandi. He's underachieve, but hopefully Garnett is able to light a fire under him. That along with Kevin McHale working with him. It could be a nice pick up.

 

That, or the Wolves wanted to vill the void left by Joe Smith in the 1st overall pick bust category.

[Guest Dangerous A]

There was a good segment on the Real Sports with Vince McMahon's blow up. It was a bit on European players and how they are coming into the league at around the same age as the Americans, yet have better all around games.

 

John Thompson was interviewed and basically said European players go to basketball camps and learn fundamentals constantly while Americans players watch SportsCenter to learn how to play the game.

 

He basically said that Europeans are taught to be ball players first while Americans are taught to be stars first, even if they don't have the skill level yet. Hence the brash attitudes of half the league.

[Guest Lethargic]

Is it me or are the Spurs slowing evolving into the Mavs or Kings with all of the european player signings.

Why are the Mavs always considered one of the "Euro" teams in the league? Kings, I get it. Divac, Turkoglu, Peja. But the Mavs? They got Nowitzki. That's pretty much it but yet people act like they're these foreign player draft gurus even though every other foreign player they've drafted has been a bust.

[Rendclaw 0]

which is how the game was played way back when... you had stars and superstars in the league, but 95% of the players from the 50s, 60s, and yes even the 70s had good all-around knowledge of the game, even though they have strong points to it (scoring, rebounding, defense, etc.)

 

yes, in a way, the slam dunk started the downfall of the game in general, those who threw down usually got more recognition than those who consistently got 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists every night. One of my favorites unsung heroes of the game during the 70s and 80s was Fat Lever. The man was good for a triple-double almost every night... too bad he was stuck on an average at best Mavs team for most of his career.

 

Scottie Pippen looked to be the next player to be that until he got exposed after the Bulls got broken up. Jason Kidd is pretty much the man for a triple double these days.

 

Anyway, its going to take a major influx of international talent to change things, if they are to change at all. Scoring and dunking in well and good but if you cannot defend or rebound, you are going to be exposed and shipped off to a bottom-feeding team.... especially if all you want is money.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Dallas was more the UN of the league. Germany, Canada, Mexico, and China were at one point all represented by a player on the Mavs.

[Guest Ripper]

The Euro players are better offensively, but as a general rule, they all suck defensively. The high school "playas" as you say come in being better rebounders and defenders. You can learn offensive skills, but defensive ones come from desire and physicallity.

 

Everyone says the high school players are this and that, but remember that Bryant, Garnett, and Mcgrady are all amoung the top 10 players in the league. Toss on Jermaine O'Neil, Amare Stodimire, Rashard Lewis, and others and you have some real talent. They can say how bad it is for the league all they want to, but all of the highschoolers that come out usually develop to a good contributer at very least...except Leon Smith...