The official 2003 NBA free agents thread

[Guest razazteca]

Spurs sign Anthony Carter who played with the Heat last season and Devon Brown who has done well in the developmental league.

[Gert T 0]

I think they have to reach a minimum salary level or else fines will be levied.

Well, I guess sign some guys to 1 year deals then.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

The Jazz just signed Carlos Arroyo but they are still $20 million under the minimum.

[Guest Ripper]

If they get Demarr Johnson they have a player that will be a superstar. Mark My WORDS.

 

He is a free agent, so is Lamond Murry, REggie Miller, and a host of other players. There is a winning team to be made left out there. You just have to find them.

[Guest razazteca]

There is a winning team to be made left out there. You just have to find them.

Or buy out forgein league contracts

[Guest Ripper]

All bullshit aside, they do have Andre Kirelinko and Matt Harpring that will probably give you near 20 a game next year,

 

If they upgrade at the 2 guard (Demar Johnson..trust me) and resign Mark Jackson(the guy is still one of the better points ni the league) they will still be a alright team. They won't make the playoffs or anything, but they will climb out of the single digit wins that the No Owner, No coach, no two guard, no Small forward Hawks are on pace to do.

[Guest razazteca]

Probably do better than the Clippers also.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

They also have DeShawn Stevenson who is due for a breakout year.

 

Here is a list of notable veterans that are still in the market:

 

- Jimmy Jackson

- Rod Strickland

- Kendall Gill

- Kenny Anderson

- Shawn Kemp

- Derrick Coleman

- Anthony Peeler

- Steve Smith

- Walt Williams

- Danny Manning (he should go back to the Clips)

- Tim Hardaway

- Kevin Willis

- Bryon "not Byron" Russell

 

Back in the day, this team would've been real good.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

Probably do better than the Clippers also.

We'll see. The clips are playoff bound this year!

[Guest Ripper]

They also have DeShawn Stevenson who is due for a breakout year.

 

Here is a list of notable veterans that are still in the market:

 

- Jimmy Jackson

- Rod Strickland

- Kendall Gill

- Kenny Anderson

- Shawn Kemp

- Derrick Coleman

- Anthony Peeler

- Steve Smith

- Walt Williams

- Danny Manning (he should go back to the Clips)

- Tim Hardaway

- Kevin Willis

- Bryon "not Byron" Russell

 

Back in the day, this team would've been real good.

Yeah, I forgot about Stevenson. They actually have a young talented core of players. Who knows. They still have a great coach who is willing to beat the shit out of a ref for a call.

[Guest Lethargic]

The Jazz should give up this year and go total youth movement. Sign a couple of young guys and then try to trade every veteran they have for either another young player or draft picks. I bet they could get something pretty good for Ostertag. Many teams are desperate for a center, even Ostertag, plus a lot of teams would love to have a 8 million dollar contract that expires after this season. I bet the Pacers would love him. They'd probably like to have Mark Jackson back to teach Tinsley. Sign and trade Jackson and Ostertag for Croshere and Fred Jones or something like that. Sign a few guys like Jason Terry, Demarr Johnson and Ognjen Askrabic. Let these young guys play this year and see who comes out on top and then try to add pieces to build around those guys next off-season.

[Guest Ripper]

Jason Terry is going nowhere. The Hawks know they have one of the more underated Guards in the league. They will match anything. Besides, we KNOW that JT will put up 20 and 7 a night. He falls out of the young guy with something to prove.

 

The problem is he is undersized to play the 2 guard and isn't as effective at the point. He is basically Gilbert Arenas without all the hype.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

The Hawks still have a lot of talented players.

 

Raheem, Ratliff and Terry make a pretty credible big 3.

[Guest Ripper]

But they have NO bench, no other guard, no small forward, no coach, no owner...they will have the worse record in the league if they don't get it going.

 

And if you have name a defensive player as one of the big 3, you are reaching.

[Guest Lethargic]

Has Ratliff even played more than 20 games since going to Atlanta?

[Guest Ripper]

Has Ratliff even played more than 20 games since going to Atlanta?

Yeah...as a matter of fact, he led the league in shot blocking last year. See, when you play for atlanta, acomplishments mean nothing.

[Guest razazteca]

Probably do better than the Clippers also.

We'll see. The clips are playoff bound this year!

You said that last year, nothing will happen unless the Clippers stay healthy inorder to be better than the Jazz or Hawks.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

1. Kings

2. Mavs

3. Lakers

4. Spurs

5. T-Wolves

6. Clippers

7. Suns/Blazers/Rockets

10 Sonics

11 Grizzlies

12 Jazz

13 Warriors

14 Nuggets

[Bored 0]

1. Kings

2. Mavs

3. Lakers

4. Spurs

5. T-Wolves

6. Clippers

7. Suns/Blazers/Rockets

10 Sonics

11 Grizzlies

12 Jazz

13 Warriors

14 Nuggets

Uhhh this is a joke right? The only Western playoff team that won't be returning to the playoffs next year is Utah and their spot will be taken by Houston. Also Golden State 13th? Are you on crack? Hell I don't even know about the Nuggets being dead last in the West.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

I'd like to see the Wolves sign Jimmy Jackson. He'd be a nice backup for Sprewell and Sczerbiak.

[Guest razazteca]

I could see the T-Wolves with home court advantage and the Lakers at 6 spot.

[Rendclaw 0]

They also have DeShawn Stevenson who is due for a breakout year.

 

Here is a list of notable veterans that are still in the market:

 

- Jimmy Jackson

- Rod Strickland

- Kendall Gill

- Kenny Anderson

- Shawn Kemp

- Derrick Coleman

- Anthony Peeler

- Steve Smith

- Walt Williams

- Danny Manning (he should go back to the Clips)

- Tim Hardaway

- Kevin Willis

- Bryon "not Byron" Russell

 

Back in the day, this team would've been real good.

And most of these guys either have attitude problems or are on the downside of their careers or *both*.

[Guest alfdogg]

Houston will definitely be in the playoffs this year. Phoenix getting in over them last year was a fluke.

 

Here's how I see it:

1. Spurs

2. Kings

3. Lakers

4. T-Wolves

5. Mavs

6. Jailblazers

7. Rockets

8. Suns

 

East

1. Nets

2. Pacers

3. Pistons

4. 76ers

5. Celtics

6. Hornets

7. Magic

8. Bulls (yes, you read right)

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

I'm gonna go with...

 

1. Spurs.

2. Lakers. (Don't hold me to that one)

3. Kings. (Would be higher but Webber will miss 20 games at least)

4. Wolves

5. Mavs (They'll die a horrible painful death in the first round IMO)

6. Phoenix (They got Marbury, Marion, a respectable bench and a maturing Amarie)

7. Houston (I still think either Mobley or Francis has to go, you essentially have 2 shooting guards in the back court and by god, they play like SHOOTING guards. I really think they shoulda given Claxton or Ollie a look)

8. Trailblazers

 

As far as the East, who cares, they are the lamb, the west is the slaughter and its gonna be that way for awhile.

[Gert T 0]

Who are Warriors putting at PG with Arenas & Boykins gone?

[Guest alfdogg]

Damn, I forgot about Webber being hurt. Switch them and the Lakers then.

 

With a healthy Webber, they can still beat the Lakers, but those 20-some games should be enough for the Lakers to hold them off for the division title.

[Guest alfdogg]

7. Houston (I still think either Mobley or Francis has to go, you essentially have 2 shooting guards in the back court and by god, they play like SHOOTING guards. I really think they shoulda given Claxton or Ollie a look)

They should have kept MOOCHIE~!

 

Isn't Mark Jackson still on the market? Obviously not for the long term, but just for the next couple years, I'd sign him. Same with Tim Hardaway.

 

As far as the East, who cares, they are the lamb, the west is the slaughter and its gonna be that way for awhile.

 

If Zo is 100% or even 75%, I'd put the Nets against the any of the West teams.

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

1. Kings

2. Mavs

3. Lakers

4. Spurs

5. T-Wolves

6. Clippers

7. Suns/Blazers/Rockets

10 Sonics

11 Grizzlies

12 Jazz

13 Warriors

14 Nuggets

Uhhh this is a joke right? The only Western playoff team that won't be returning to the playoffs next year is Utah and their spot will be taken by Houston. Also Golden State 13th? Are you on crack? Hell I don't even know about the Nuggets being dead last in the West.

Hey genius, the Warriors have lost Arenas and Earl Boykins, arguably their top 2 key performers last season. Jason Richardson is on the trading block and there is NO WAY they are going to replicate their success/luck from last year. Who's going to lead the team? Speedy Fucking Claxton?

[Guest Ripper]

1. Kings

2. Mavs

3. Lakers

4. Spurs

5. T-Wolves

6. Clippers

7. Suns/Blazers/Rockets

10 Sonics

11 Grizzlies

12 Jazz

13 Warriors

14 Nuggets

Uhhh this is a joke right? The only Western playoff team that won't be returning to the playoffs next year is Utah and their spot will be taken by Houston. Also Golden State 13th? Are you on crack? Hell I don't even know about the Nuggets being dead last in the West.

Hey genius, the Warriors have lost Arenas and Earl Boykins, arguably their top 2 key performers last season. Jason Richardson is on the trading block and there is NO WAY they are going to replicate their success/luck from last year. Who's going to lead the team? Speedy Fucking Claxton?

Gilbert Arenas and Earl Boykins can't suck the sweat out of Antwain Jamisons shoe laces. He was the leader of the team, he still is and Will be for a long time. There is no argument that the 18 pt a game, no fourth Quarter playing Arenas could possibly be considered the team leader and having stories on you in sportscenter doesn't make you a team leader either. Jamison plays big every night, and huge against the big boys (has dropped 3 50 point games on the lakers in 2 years people.) Maybe they know something we don't. Maybe that Peitrus kid they drafted is that damn good. And speedy claxton will fill the same role and can do the same thing that Arenas did...get past people and hit the open jumper.

 

And once again...the Suns missed the playoffs ONCE since 1987....they were the number 3 team in the League 3 months in until Penny Hardaway went down and it screwed up the rotation. They were no fluke. They will be a top 6 team in the West next year. They have the best point on the west coast, a great small forward, a damn good power forward, Bo Outlaw(who you all should bow down to...the GOD of hustle), a quality player to back up at every position and a aggressive 7 foot center with a cross-over that loves to go to the bucket. AND has a outside shot to streach the D.

 

 

*lets go suns chant getting louder*

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

Pointless Fact of the Day: Did you know that Bo Outlaw's nickname when he was a Clipper was LW? According to then coach Bill Fitch, it's due to the fact that he always had to have the last word on any topic.

 

Ripper: You're right about Jamison but all I''m saying is that it will be very difficult for them to replicate their success. Jamison has been around for years and last season was the first time that they had any success since his arrival.