Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20 Report post Posted July 16, 2003 Miles is a poor man's version of KG with half the skills. No, the skill is there, not KG level, but it's there. Miles plays for the money, nothing more. But I think that will all change next year. They've got Paul Silas as their coach, he should have some sort of effect on him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted July 16, 2003 Thats not true. Miles played hard for the fucking Cavs last year. Playing for the money would include him just standing there and not trying. But he was right there, trying to D up and using every opportunity to do his "I wish I was still playing with Quentin" celebration thing. Lets see anyone get something done when Ricky Davis and Smush Parker are saying "Pass...what the fuck is that...you better go try and rebound, bitch." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ant_7000 Report post Posted July 16, 2003 Miles is a ok, he can defend, block shots, and dunk. Thats pretty much his game right now. Euro ballers are good offensively but they're not good defensively and athleletically, but they are catching up in those departments. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted July 16, 2003 Miles is a ok, he can defend, block shots, and dunk. Thats pretty much his game right now. Euro ballers are good offensively but they're not good defensively and athleletically, but they are catching up in those departments. I do challenge someone to find this Euro that is defensively skilled or even getting that way... Besides Kirilinko from Utah(however you say his name) [Waits for someone to say manu Ginobli so I can dispute it} Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Spicy McHaggis Report post Posted July 16, 2003 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... And what does it say about the NBA when you don't need sound fundamentals to be a Top-10 player? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted July 16, 2003 I said that Bryant, McGrady and Garnett are in the top 10. Which one of those guys aren't fundamentally sound? They all have great handle, a great midrange shot, good post games and all can hit the deep ball, and all are good-great defenders and all can rebound. they are 3 of the more well rounded players in the league. And I still am waiting for these more skilled Euros with defensive skills. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted July 16, 2003 The Miami heat have offered Elton brand a 6 year 80 million + contract. This is really really smart from the Heat. If the Clippers match, they will probably just offer a big contract to Lamar Odem, and the Clippers won't be able to afford him. Miami is going to get a good player out of the clippers either way it goes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20 Report post Posted July 16, 2003 Bastard, you picked up the scoop before me. Burn in hell, Ripper. Heat ready to offer Brand $82.2M By Ira Winderman and Harvey Fialkov Staff Writers Posted July 16 2003 Less than a week after saying he might take a passive approach to the NBA's free-agent signing period, Heat coach Pat Riley is poised to make a splash similar to those he previously has made in South Florida with the high-stakes additions of Alonzo Mourning, Eddie Jones and Brian Grant. Los Angeles Clippers power forward Elton Brand was in South Florida on Tuesday and today will be extended a contract offer from the Heat that could be as high as $82.2 million over six years -- the most an outside team can offer. Riley spoke last week of avoiding the type of contracts he previously extended to Mourning, Jones and Grant, but hedged by adding, "There's only one player I would consider doing that for." That player turned out to be Brand. Unlike the Heat's previous megabucks bids, this one comes with strings attached -- plenty of strings, including what likely will be a tense waiting period. Because Brand is a restricted free agent, the Clippers would have 15 days to match a Heat offer sheet. However, the Heat and agent David Falk are believed to have constructed the offer sheet in a way to make it particularly unpalatable to notoriously tightfisted Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling. Foremost, the Heat can make Brand's expected $10.96 million 2003-04 salary payable immediately and can advance additional funds into that lump-sum payment through accelerated signing bonuses. In addition, a maximum trade kicker is expected to be written into the offer, automatically accelerating remaining payments by 15 percent should Brand be dealt. For the Heat, it means if Brand accepts the offer, as expected, that until July 30, Riley's team will be out of the free-agent market. It also means if the offer to Brand is not matched by the Clippers, the Heat would have to fill out the balance of its roster with minimum-salary players. With Brand, 24, the Heat could field a lineup of Grant at center, Caron Butler and Brand at forward, and Jones and rookie Dwyane Wade in the backcourt. More likely in the scenario of Brand being added would be a trade of a veteran, perhaps Jones, in a bid to either bolster needed depth at center and point guard, or to lessen the Heat's overall salary burden, with an eye toward adding another prime free agent next summer. The addition of Brand would more than offset the free-agent loss of Mourning, who today will join the New Jersey Nets. The expiration of Mourning's $105 million contract created the space for the potential addition of Brand. While the built-in incentives in the offer sheet would allow Brand to realize a financial windfall by the end of the month, a decision to accept the Heat's offer sheet would display a faith in Riley's ability to rebuild a franchise that dropped to 25-57 last season and has not won a playoff game in three years. Because NBA rules sharply favor incumbent teams when it comes to free agents, Brand is eligible for a far greater deal from the Clippers, one that could max out at $105.5 million over seven years. Under NBA rules, outside teams may only offer 10-percent annual raises in offer sheets, while incumbent teams may offer 12.5-percent raises. In addition, outside teams may only offer six-year contracts, while incumbent teams may offer a maximum of seven years. Once Brand signs the offer sheet, it means Brand would be property of the Heat or Clippers by the end of the month. No other team is allowed to negotiate with the 6-foot-8 power forward once the offer sheet is executed. While Brand is, by far, the Clippers' most productive player, he also has toiled for an owner reluctant to pay the going rate for productive talent. The largest deal previously approved by Sterling, a Los Angeles real estate magnate, was a five-year, $15 million package to guard Eric Piatkowski in 1998. As much as anything, the Heat's gambit is based on timing. The Clippers are expected today to also receive offer sheets from the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets, respectively, for guards Corey Maggette and Andre Miller, worth about $100 million combined. To further give Sterling pause is the reality that if the offer for Brand is matched, the Heat is expected to immediately extend an offer sheet to Clippers forward Lamar Odom, a player Riley has coveted since the 1999 NBA Draft, when he offered valued forward P.J. Brown in a trade. The Heat likely has made its intentions with Odom already known. One agent said Tuesday that Odom may stand as the ultimate goal, with Sterling unable to quickly recover from the haymaker of the Brand offer sheet. In Brand, the Heat is looking at an undersized forward who has displayed an uncanny ability to get the ball to the rim as a scorer and snag it off the boards as a rebounder. Because most teams take the full 15 days to decide on offer sheets, the Heat will be forced to the sidelines at a time the free-agent market is being picked clean. Ira Winderman can be reached at [email protected]. Harvey Fialkov can be reached at [email protected] Pat Riley = Pure genius. He wants Brand or Odom and if Clippers match the offer sheet with Brand... Odom is open. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted July 16, 2003 I personally think that they are trying to get Lamar anyway, but even if the gamble doesn't pay off, you get a All-star Power Forward. This is the very definition of win-win. Unless you are Polish Rifle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20 Report post Posted July 16, 2003 Heh... Basically, the top 2 teams in the East (Detroit and New Jersey) have gotten more comp. If they can manage to get both... Brand, Odom, Butler, Wade, Grant, Jones... Wow. But let's not talk Championship yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted July 16, 2003 Well, actually I find that McGrady, Girichek, Gooden, Howard mix down in Orlando to more of a watcher. And I have to say that Minnesota just keeps getting better. Kandi, Garrnett, Wally, Cassell. You have 4 guys that can consistantly give you 15+ points a game. Then Hudson, Gill coming off the bench. Hm.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lethargic Report post Posted July 16, 2003 What the hell would they do with Odom anyway? Doesn't Butler already have that position locked down? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted July 16, 2003 Odem is a 6' 10" guy that can play the point. He can play any position on the court that he wants to basically. The only reason he isn't one of the leagues biggest stars is 1: He has been busted for smoking weed twice. 2: He has been injury prone. 3: He plays for the Clippers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted July 16, 2003 With the lineup the Heat will have next season. Riley has no excuses not to make the Heat an up tempo team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted July 16, 2003 With the lineup the Heat will have next season. Riley has no excuses not to make the Heat an up tempo team. Well, he still doesn't have a bench which you MUST have to run a uptempo game. The more uptempo you run, the more you need to rest your guys. I've always thought that Riley has to run a slow down game since he kills his players in practice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted July 16, 2003 I think this is great, the East is suddenly in like a 10 for a playoff spot. I think Pistons and Nets are ahead of the pack though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted July 16, 2003 The Pacers are offering Austin Croshure(sp?) and Ron Mercer for Terrell Brandon. If the Wolves do this, they will HAVE to be considered one of the deepest teams out there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted July 16, 2003 Tim Duncan signed 7 year contract for $122 million with the Spurs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest GameCop Report post Posted July 16, 2003 Why would anyone want Terrell Brandon? The guy's career is literally over. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lethargic Report post Posted July 17, 2003 Why would anyone want Terrell Brandon? The guy's career is literally over. Because he has a fat contract that expires around Janurary or so. Meaning the Pacers, who are in big cap trouble trying to resign all their players plus stay under the luxury tax, could send Croshere and his cap room killing contract to the Timberwolves for Brandon and then save money when his contract comes off the books. I don't know what the true numbers are but say the Pacers are 8 million over the cap to start the season and say Brandon makes 10 million, when Brandon's deal runs out they then go 2 million UNDER the cap. It's purely a money deal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest GameCop Report post Posted July 17, 2003 Thanks for explaining the Brandon scenario, Lethargic. It makes a lot of sense and would be a coup for the Pacers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20 Report post Posted July 17, 2003 The Wizards are making a strong run at Gilbert Arenas... The Warriors free agent will visit the Wizards on Thursday, ESPN's David Aldridge reported. Washington has around $8 million in cap room and the Wizards are expected to offer Arenas at least $7 million of that in the first year of a multi-year offer. The Denver Nuggets, also in the market for a starting point guard, were pursuing Arenas but have settled on Los Angeles Clippers free agent Andre Miller, who is expected to sign a $51 million offer sheet Wednesday, the first day teams can begin signing free agents. Arenas, 21, has also drawn interest from the Miami Heat, Clippers and the Warriors, who can only give Arenas their mid-level exception of $4.9 million. A second-round pick in 2001, Arenas blossomed in his sophomore season, averaging 18.3 points and 6.3 assists while starting all 82 games for the Warriors. Arenas showcased his skills during All-Star Weekend in Atlanta, earning Most Valuable Player honors in the Rookie Challenge, a game pitting the top rookies against the top second-year players. The Wizards don't have a true veteran point guard on the roster. Larry Hughes and Juan Dixon played the point last season, but new coach Eddie Jordan said both players will return to shooting guard, their natural position. Free-agent point guard Tyronn Lue, who started 24 games for Washington last season, is expected to sign with the Nuggets, according to The Washington Post. If they can't bring Arenas to D.C., the Wizards will continue their pursuit of Speedy Claxton, who played a key role as a reserve in the San Antonio Spurs' championship run. Kenny Anderson, Darrell Armstrong, Travis Best, Bimbo Coles and Antonio Daniels are other possibilities. "Whoever they get is going to have to be a leader, a pass-first-shoot-second type of guy," Wizards forward Kwame Brown told The Washington Post. "If you're shooting and you're missing a lot of long shots, it makes it easy for the other team. Once we get a point guard that's going to run the team and make sure everybody's in the right spot, we're going to be a lot better." As a Wizards fan, I'd love to see Gilbert Arenas in a Wiz Uni. Now Larry Hughes can move up to shooting guard, giving Juan Dixon more PT. Starting 5: C: Brendan Haywood F: Kwame Brown(Breakout year) SF: Jerry Stackhouse SG: Larry Hughes PG: Gilbert Arenas Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest godthedog Report post Posted July 17, 2003 my current knowledge is pretty superficial, could someone explain to me how the clippers can have so many players that all these teams want, and still suck so bad? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CED Ordonez Report post Posted July 17, 2003 Everybody on the court knows they're probably going to be a free agent by the next season under the Sterling regime, so most of their players are only trying to put up good numbers for themselves to look good for other teams. The end result is a bunch of players looking out for number one and virtually no cohesiveness as a team. In layman's terms, the Clippers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rendclaw 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2003 Its fairly well documented that Donald Sterling is most likely never going to commit to winning. He would rather line his pockets from what the team makes every year than risk that to try and win a championship. He's perfectly willing to let his team be the laughingstock of the league, getting lottery pick after lottery pick, only to have them bolt for other teams after their contracts expire, because he could care less about winning. And what's the deal with all of this Piatkowski love? He's a white guy who can shoot from time to time. That doesn;t make him Larry Bird. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mindless_Aggression Report post Posted July 17, 2003 For me, the Piatkowski like stems from the fact that he has been a Clipper his whole career. I feel for him. He is essentially the biggest loser in the league through no fault of his own. Well maybe a little bit of his own, he keeps staying for some reason, but dammit, I still feel for the guy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted July 17, 2003 The Pacers are offering Austin Croshure(sp?) and Ron Mercer for Terrell Brandon. If the Wolves do this, they will HAVE to be considered one of the deepest teams out there. The Wolves want either Harrington or Artest from the Pacers. Brandon won't end up getting traded to the Pacers. The Wolves want to much, and the Pacers aren't willing to give the Wolvest too much. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rendclaw 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2003 Piatkowski has enough talent that he could find a decent spot on a roster anywhere in the league... I wonder why he would stay himself, when everyone else bolts as soon as they can. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted July 17, 2003 He's the fan favorite. In most cities the spunky white guy is a fan favorite. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ripper Report post Posted July 17, 2003 And he doesn't shoot well from time to time. If you leave him open, you can count the points. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
