Kurt Angle Mark 0 Report post Posted July 11, 2004 Latest Kobe Bryant news According to the L.A. Times, Kobe has asked the Clippers to play 10-12 games at the Arrowhead Pond each season. Clippers are apparently considering the request. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Flyboy Report post Posted July 11, 2004 Why can Kobe dictate all of this shit from teams? Jesus, it's down right sickening. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted July 11, 2004 Probably because he's the biggest star in the league. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted July 11, 2004 since when? and the trade seems to be confirmed as Shaq for Odom, Butler, Grant and a 1st round pick after 2006. Bad trade for both teams, not an easy thing to do. also the Bulls are going to sign Crawford to a 7 year $70 million dollar contract and then trade him to the Knicks, giving them a $100 million dollar payroll composed almost entirely of shitty players. Fascinating. and while I'm doing news, Nuggets offer K-Mart 6 years, $80 mil. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Flyboy Report post Posted July 11, 2004 I have yet to see how that gives him the REASON to dictate the way he is doing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted July 11, 2004 Pat Riley evidently wants to trump Danny Ainge as stupidest GM with this move. Miami better at least get Kareem Rush to go along with Shaq. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lt. Al Giardello 0 Report post Posted July 11, 2004 since when? Since that chooch accused him of rape. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 DETROIT -- The Detroit Pistons have offered Antonio McDyess a four-year, $23 million contract, a source told the Associated Press on Sunday. The NBA champion Pistons, according to a league source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, hope to sign the 6-foot-9 forward on Wednesday when the NBA's two-week player movement moratorium expires. McDyess has averaged 16.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks during his eight-year career, which has been plagued by injuries recently. He played 42 games last season -- 24 in Phoenix and 18 with New York -- and averaged 6.9 points and 6.1 rebounds. McDyess played just 10 games for Denver during the 2001-02 season, one season after averaging 20.8 points and 12.1 rebounds. He was the second overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft. AP NEWS The Associated Press News Service Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steviekick 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 since when? Since that chooch accused him of rape. You do know that chooch is Italian for donkey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steviekick 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 The Pistons getting Mcdyess is a questionable move, but good for the Jazz since that pretty much confirms that they won't match their offer for Okur. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lt. Al Giardello 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 since when? Since that chooch accused him of rape. You do know that chooch is Italian for donkey. Yeah I know, alot of italian friends of mine say it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mindless_Aggression Report post Posted July 12, 2004 Antonio is an interesting signing. Decent sized gamble but there was a time when that guy was a highlight waiting to happen and he looked damn good at the end of last season. So now they want Butler and a 1st round pick? Just an absolutely wretched trade on Miami's part if this goes through. You've gutted a team that was only 5 or 6 deep as it was (albeit a VERY talented 6 deep) and in return, you shall get a guy who still won't get your team by the East's top teams. They lost Rafer Alston too, so they have 3 guys who are worth a shit at this point. Lovely. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dangerous A 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 Miami better hope a slew of free agents are gonna want to take a small, one year deal in order to ride the Shaq express to a title a la Malone and Payton. Otherwise, this move is questionable from a Miami standpoint. They need some vets and role players to surround Shaq and Wade right now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hogan Made Wrestling 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 I have yet to see how that gives him the REASON to dictate the way he is doing. Simple: he is a free agent, and he can dictate whatever he wants to teams if they want to sign him. Bryant has all the leverage in this situation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 On ESPN they said K-Mart will likely sign an offer sheet with Denver for the max (6 yr/$85 mil). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 Can the Clippers make money anywhere outside of the Staples Center? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Electrifyer 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 Do they even make money inside the Staples Center? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kurt Angle Mark 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 Can the Clippers make money anywhere outside of the Staples Center? Clippers would make money where ever they go because the owner doesn't spend the money the team makes on signing players. Clippers are one of the most profitable teams in the league for that reason. Anyway the request isn't that far fetched since the Clippers played a few games at the Pond the two seasons prior to moving to the Staple Center. They drew big crowds and had a good record in the building. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NCJ Report post Posted July 12, 2004 I really don't see how this is such a terrible trade for the Heat. they lose a first rounder two years down the road, get rid of Brian Grant, and in a conference that lacks great centers add the most dominating player of his generation. I do agree that this is going to make them very thin, but if they can get a decent point, small forward, or a second tier power forward they will be good to go to atleast the Eastern Conference finals for the next two years. And the did it all without having to touch Dwayne Wade. This is not the greatest trade ever, and it does have its risks, but this was definately a good move. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JohnnySwift Report post Posted July 12, 2004 Also in the news, Gary Payton said he would push for a buyout if the Lakers trade Shaq. Credit ESPN: Sources: GP would push for contract buyout By Marc Stein ESPN.com Should the Shaquille O'Neal trade to Miami go through, as expected, you can safely expect Gary Payton to seek his own escape from the Lakers. League sources told ESPN.com on Sunday night that Payton will push this week for a buyout of his contract if the Lakers complete the proposed trade with the Heat that would bring Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, Caron Butler and a future first-round pick to Los Angeles. Gary Payton Point Guard Los Angeles Lakers Profile 2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT% 82 14.6 4.2 5.5 .471 .714 Payton, sources said, has serious reservations about what the Lakers can achieve without a recognized power player joining them in O'Neal's place. Without O'Neal, sources added, Payton has lost the teammate who lured him to Los Angeles. Lakers sources, however, indicated that the club would be reluctant to let Payton go without getting something back in a trade. Although the root of Payton's discontent in his first season as a Laker was Phil Jackson's triangle offense, there were also questions from the start about how he would mesh offensively with Kobe Bryant, because both Payton and Bryant like to dominate the ball. The Lakers have a busy week ahead no matter what Payton does. First, they must complete the O'Neal trade, and then comes their foremost assignment of the summer -- getting Bryant officially re-signed. Wednesday is the first day free agents can sign new contracts and the Lakers hope that Jackson's exit and the forthcoming O'Neal deal will convince Bryant to promptly ink a new seven-year contract worth an estimated $130 million. Bryant's other option is bolting to the cross-town Clippers in a six-year deal. Payton, who turns 36 on July 23, exercised an option for next season worth $5.4 million, realizing that his spotty playoff production made it dicey that he could command a similar salary in free agency. To get away from the Lakers now, Payton must ask to be waived -- a request that would require negotiations between player and team to determine how much of that $5.4 million he'd receive as a payoff. Payton could also ask to be traded, as O'Neal did, but sources say he'd prefer the buyout scenario, which would then free him to sign with another team of his choosing. The Lakers, though, could rebuff Payton and elect to keep him as a trade asset, because his salary-cap number might be attractive to teams looking for players in their final year of their contracts. Payton's season-long struggles to adapt to Jackson's offense deepened as the playoffs progressed. In the NBA Finals against Detroit, basically reduced to a spot-up shooter, Payton averaged just 4.2 points and missed 19 of 28 field-goal attempts. Payton, though, did start in every game for the Lakers: 104 including his 22 playoff starts. He averaged 14.6 points and 5.5 assists during the regular season, and the Lakers were hoping for a rejuvenated Payton next season, after Jackson's departure and the arrival of Rudy Tomjanovich. Payton played for Tomjanovich at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and is said to be a big fan of the noted players' coach. Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him, click here. Also, click here to send a question for possible use on ESPNEWS Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted July 12, 2004 Danny Ainge should offer Chucky Atkins and a future 2nd round pick for Payton. Let Banks learn from The Glove and then you free up cap space at the end of the year. I may hate Payton's attitude but he's a perfect fit for the Celtic's fast break offense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JohnnySwift Report post Posted July 12, 2004 Danny Ainge should offer Chucky Atkins and a future 2nd round pick for Payton. Let Banks learn from The Glove and then you free up cap space at the end of the year. I may hate Payton's attitude but he's a perfect fit for the Celtic's fast break offense. Whoever was the GM during the Kenny Anderson/Vin Baker trade should've gotten Payton on that deal too. That being said I still think Payton would be a good fit in Boston as his numbers 2 years ago showed and his playing in all of the Lakers games this year he can still go on the court. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 I don't think Payton wants to play in the East. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spicy McHaggis 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 Perfect. Now L.A. can trade, sign-&-trade, etc... Payton, George, and Fox for Dampier and Claxton. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dangerous A 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 I think the Lakers need to dump Payton in hopes of re-signing Fisher. While GS are suckers enough to take the trade Spicy has proposed, I wouldn't want Fox. He is completely worthless. If the Shaq deal goes down like it's supposed to, the Lakers will have an overage of small forwards and shooting guards with no quality power players or point guards.(unless Fisher re-signs) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted July 12, 2004 ESPNNEWS said the Pistons will sign Antonio McDyess for four years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Redhawk Report post Posted July 13, 2004 Is Fisher that much younger than GP? Fisher is one of those guys that came into the League looking like he was 35 years old, so I have no idea of his real age. As far as the Miami-LA deal, I think giving up Butler is going one step too far for Miami. Grant, Odom and the '06 first rounder seems reasonable. But tradng your whole frontcourt (I'd call Butler a natural SF) for one guy -- albeit Shaq -- isn't smart. How much money will Miami have to get other free agents if they do the Shaq deal? Who else can they get to plug some of those roster holes? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steviekick 0 Report post Posted July 13, 2004 Is Fisher that much younger than GP? Fisher is one of those guys that came into the League looking like he was 35 years old, so I have no idea of his real age. Fish is only 29 years old. I was suprised when I found that out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Electrifyer 0 Report post Posted July 13, 2004 Interesting, Boozer's agent has resigned from representing Carlos because of his betrayal of the Cavs: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1838569 Monday, July 12, 2004 ESPN.com news services SFX agent Rob Pelinka informed the NBA players' association on Monday that he had resigned as Carlos Boozer's agent, two league sources told ESPN Insider Chad Ford. Pelinka's client caused a storm of controversy around the league last week when Boozer agreed to a six-year, $68 million contract with the Utah Jazz. Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor confirmed to Ford on Monday that he was aware that Pelinka had resigned as Boozer's agent. However, he declined to make a statement concerning the resignation. According to O'Connor, the Jazz still expect Boozer to sign the six-year offer sheet on Wednesday. Making a last-ditch effort to retain Boozer, the Cavaliers have offered him a one-year contract worth about $5 million, The Associated Press reported Monday. If Boozer accepts the Cavs' new offer, which was confirmed to the AP by a source close to the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity, he would put himself in position to be eligible next summer for an even larger contract than the ones Utah and Cleveland have offered. According to sources in Cleveland, Boozer and Pelinka approached the Cavs about letting him out of the last year of his contract June 30. Boozer could have been Cleveland's next season for $695,000, but the Cavaliers did not pick up their option after, the club said, Boozer had committed to re-signing for the team's full midlevel exception -- somewhere around six years and $40 million. Since that time, the criticism of Boozer and Pelinka has intensified around the league. Boozer and Pelinka haven't returned calls to any media outlet seeking comment. In the wake of the controversy, a number of agents have claimed that they would resign if their client reneged on a verbal commitment. "I'd resign immediately if a client wanted to renege on a deal, even a verbal one," one agent told Ford last week. "I still believe integrity in this business matters. If you agree on a deal, you have to live with, no matter what else happens. I personally believe that Boozer and his agent miscalculated a bit here. But I also understand what they did. Players want security. The Cavs can offer that. It just means he has to take less money to get it now. It's a tradeoff." According to sources, SFX and Pelinka grew increasingly concerned in the aftermath of the agreement that Boozer's betrayal would sully the reputation of the agency and prevent them from conducting good faith negotiations with league owners in the future. Neither Pelinka nor his boss, Arn Tellem, returned calls Monday from The Associated Press seeking comment on the decision to part ways with Boozer. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Interesting, to say the least. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Electrifyer 0 Report post Posted July 13, 2004 Also, it appears that McDyess and Rasheed Wallace have both signed on with the Pistons: http://www.freep.com/sports/pistons/pistons13e_20040713.htm Pistons land 'Sheed, McDyess Club expected to announce deals with forwards Wednesday July 13, 2004 BY GEORGE SIPPLE and PERRY A. FARRELL FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITERS Antonio McDyess once tried to give Larry Brown his Olympic gold medal. Maybe he'll give Brown a second NBA championship ring instead. McDyess agreed Monday to a four-year, $23-million offer from the Pistons, the Free Press has learned. A fifth year would kick in if he played 60 games in the fourth year. McDyess, once one of the top young power forwards in the NBA, cannot sign a contract until Wednesday, when the NBA lifts its two-week moratorium on free-agent signings and trades. At that time, the Pistons also will announce the signing of free agent Rasheed Wallace, their starting power forward. A person close to the negotiations said Wallace would agree to a five- or six-year deal that pays $10 million the first year and had a 12.5 percent raise each season. The total value of the contract would be $48 million or $64 million. With McDyess and Wallace on their roster, the Pistons will not match the six-year, $50-million offer sheet that Mehmet Okur received last week from Utah. Officially, the Pistons will have until July 29 to decide whether to match that offer, but because of salary cap rules and because of their present contracts, that would be impossible. When McDyess helped the United States win a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, he appeared headed to NBA superstardom. He was an athletic big man who could shoot and rebound. But a series of knee injuries starting in 2001 jeopardized his career. In Sydney, one of the U.S. assistant coaches was Brown, now the Pistons' coach. When McDyess found out that coaches did not receive medals, he draped his around Brown's neck. Brown, who gave the medal back, recalled that moment when McDyess made his debut for the Knicks against the Pistons last Dec. 1. "He said, 'Coach, you ought to have it,' " Brown recalled. "Just offering me that was enough." McDyess hadn't played in nearly two years until that night at Madison Square Garden. Three times his left knee required surgery -- the last time in April 2003 for a bone graft. He managed to play in 42 games last season (he was traded to Phoenix in the Stephon Marbury deal soon after Isiah Thomas became the Knicks' president). McDyess' knee seemed to improve as the season progressed, and he averaged 22 minutes, 6.9 points and 6.1 rebounds -- solid numbers for a backup but not a star. The Pistons, though, aren't looking for McDyess to start. That's Wallace's job. They want McDyess, who turns 30 in September, to provide 15-17 minutes off the bench. Okur averaged 22.3 minutes, 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds, but those numbers were significantly lower after the Pistons acquired Wallace in February. Even though McDyess' history of knee problems would concern any team, the Pistons weren't the only ones willing to take a chance on the No. 2 pick in the 1995 draft. For instance, the Boston Herald reported Monday that McDyess met with the Boston Celtics on July 1, and Danny Ainge, director of basketball operations, was hopeful of a second meeting. McDyess, 6-feet-9, 245 pounds, averaged 21.2 points and 10.7 rebounds with the Nuggets in 1998-99 and was an All-Star in 2000-01. For his career, McDyess has averaged 16.7 points and 8.5 rebounds. Brown isn't the only Piston familiar with McDyess. Point guard Chauncey Billups played alongside McDyess in Denver and both are represented by agent Andy Miller. After that game last December, Billups said: "I'm pulling for him. ... And except for the times we play him, I hope he dominates." The NBA champions probably don't need him to dominate -- just to stay healthy. NBA NOTEBOOK: In the wake of a report that Michael Jordan is interested in buying the Miami Heat, team owner Micky Arison said Monday the franchise is not for sale. Arison was out of town but responded to the report through a Heat spokesman. ... The Atlanta Hawks said Monday they signed their two first-round draft picks -- forwards Josh Childress and Josh Smith. Childress, the sixth pick in the draft, was an All-America last season at Stanford as a junior. The 6-foot-8 Childress averaged 15.7 points and 7.5 rebounds. The 6-9 Smith, the No. 17 pick, played last season at Oak Hill Academy, a prep school in Virginia. I still don't think McDyess can replace Okur, Detroit needs to look for a big man to play center and back up Ben Wallace. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
