NBA Offseason News and Moves

[alfdogg 0]

I'll go ahead and do East right now too

 

1. Detroit

2. Indiana

3. Miami

4. NJ

5. Milwaukee

6. NY

7. Boston

8. Philly

9. Toronto

10. Cleveland

11. Chicago

12. Orlando

13. Washington

14. Atlanta

15. Charlotte

[alfdogg 0]

Also, Devean George had ankle surgery and is out until mid-November. Ths was reportd a couple days ago, and there's a link at NBA.com

[razazteca 0]

I know there are a lot of transactions left to be made, but these would be my power rankings *right now* for the West

 

1. SA

2. Minnesota

3. Sacramento

4. Lakers

5. Memphis

6. Denver

7. Dallas

8. Houston

9. Utah

10. Phoenix

11. Portland

12. Seattle

13. New Orleans

14. Clippers

15. Golden State

I would make a few changes.

 

1. Spurs

2. T-Wolves

3. Kings

4. Mavs

5. Rockets

6. Lakers

7. Nuggets

8. Grizzles

 

Van Gundy with T-Mac & Yao > Rudy T with Lamar & Kobe. Also I think the Nuggets and Grizzles could make major upsets in the 1st round if the teams get the right matchup, intanglibles, mojo going their way. Melo, Boozer, Nene can be a scary lineup.

[alfdogg 0]

Nuggets are also getting K-Mart, don't forget that.

 

And while the Lakers don't really have a center right now, they're also deeper than Houston.

 

LA's starters will probably be

 

C: Grant

PF: Malone

SF: Odom

SG: Kobe

PG: Payton

 

with a bench including George, Fisher, Butler, Rush

 

Houston has

 

C: Yao

PF: Howard

SF: Jackson

SG: McGrady

PG: Lue

 

with a bench of not really much now once you get past Taylor.

[King Kamala 0]

I'll go ahead and do East right now too

 

1. Detroit

2. Indiana

3. Miami

4. NJ

5. Milwaukee

6. NY

7. Boston

8. Philly

9. Toronto

10. Cleveland

11. Chicago

12. Orlando

13. Washington

14. Atlanta

15. Charlotte

I gotta disagree with that the Celtics are nowhere near being a playoff team right now. I'd rank the East

 

1.Detroit

2. Indiana

3. Miami

4. NY

5.NJ

6. Milwaukee

7. Philadelphia

8. Toronto

9.Cleveland

10. Boston

11. Chicago

12. Orlando

13. Washington

14. Charlotte

15. Atlanta

[Dangerous A 0]

I'd take NJ down a peg or two if they lose K-Mart

[The Electrifyer 0]

I'd take Toronto out of playoff contention too.

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

Kobe is reportedly making his decision at 3 pm et.

[Gert T 0]

The way it sounds is that a sign-and trade might take place where NJ will get three future No.1 picks from Denver.

 

And Kobe's boyfriend Jim Gray reports Kobe is currently calling both the Lakers and Clippers with his decision. Oh the anticipation......

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

Boy, I sure do hope he picks the Clippers, but I'd be shocked if he did

[Dangerous A 0]

Everything points to him remaining as a Laker. They have done everything he has wanted which includes axing the coach he hates, axing the one player he hates, and getting a max contract. With legal fees piling up and his future divorce on the horizon (you are high if you think his marriage will last) he can use the extra 30 million the Lakers can give him in the last year of he deal. If he goes to the Clippers, he will have single handedly decimated the entire Laker franchise and force all those Hollywood bandwagon actors to become Clipper fans.

 

:: goes into corner and prays Kobe becomes a Clipper ::

[Gert T 0]

I really do think it is still 50/50 right now.

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

But Kobe will be thought of one of the best ever if he turns around the lowly Clippers into champions.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

But Kobe will be thought of one of the best ever if he turns around the lowly Clippers into champions.

That right there is the only way, and I mean the ONLY way he could over take Michael Jordan in the eyes of people and become the greatest of all time. If his ego is as big as I think it is then he'll go to the Clippers.

[Dangerous A 0]

:: prays Kobe is ego-trippin right now ::

[nogoodnick 0]

1. SA- Add Brent Barry to already solid group

2. Minnesota- One year and a playoff run under their belts

3. Houston- Yao+T Mac= finish anywhere from 1-5

4. Sacramento- Only got older in offseason, If Webber stops sucking maybe better than 4

5. Denver- Possibly adding Martin to a solid cast and the improvement of Melo

6. Lakers- Assuming they keep Kobe and not Malone

7. Memphis- Should just keep getting better as a team

8. Phoenix- Adding Q and Nash to Marion and Amare should at least get them # 8 seed

9. Portland- Same team as last year but now theyll play together without past distractions

10. Utah- Added a couple of great pieces but will it be enough?

11. Dallas- Lost veteran pg, no D

12. New Orleans- Move out west probably not gonna help

13. Seattle- Didn't improve at all IMO, lost Barry

14. Clippers- Unless they get Kobe its the cellar again

15. Golden State- Ewww

 

The battle for #8 will be fierce yet again with 3-4 playoff worthy teams missing out because they play in a loaded conference.

 

Kobe set to decide at 3 pm ET (12 PT) according to ESPN.com!

[Gert T 0]

The Al Harrington to Atlanta for Stephen Jackson has now been officially cleared as well.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Kobe stays with the Lakers.

 

Came down to the Lakers being able to offer an extra year and $30mill more.

[Dangerous A 0]

As I stated earlier, he needs the extra cheddar for his trial lawyers and for his future divorce lawyers.

[Brett Favre 0]

Damn. I was actually looking forward to seeing Kobe, along with Corey Maggette and Elton Brand, AND Shaun Livingston working together. Oh well. Atleast now it will be funny when Kobe realizes how much he needs Shaq.

[Dangerous A 0]

The question begs to be asked now...

 

 

will the Clips now match Q-Richardson's offer sheet with the Suns?

[Brett Favre 0]

The question begs to be asked now...

 

 

will the Clips now match Q-Richardson's offer sheet with the Suns?

They have to. Unless they move Jaric to the 2 spot and immediately start Livingston at the 1.

[Gert T 0]

Good to know that I can sit back, relax and watch 45 minutes of Kobe-Lakers-Shaq footage on Sportscenter tonight.

[Dangerous A 0]

Good to know that I can sit back, relax and watch 45 minutes of Kobe-Lakers-Shaq footage on Sportscenter tonight.

No kidding.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

Kobe stays with the Lakers.

 

I'm shocked. Look. Complete suprise.

 

Look on the bright side. This is karma finally biting Sterling in the ass. Let's hope he dies from disappointment.

[Dangerous A 0]

Sterling has to be high to think he had a legit chance at Kobe after all the Lakers did in the off season for him.

[Guest Redhawk]

Wow, someone had better tell Shaq he's in the wrong Florida city.

 

ESPN.com news services

 

LOS ANGELES -- The Lakers still have half of their superstar duo.

 

Kobe Bryant agreed to stay with the Lakers on Thursday, spurning an offer from the Clippers, a league source told ESPN.com's Marc Stein.

 

The decision came one day after the Lakers traded Shaquille O'Neal to the Orlando Magic for three players and a draft pick.

 

On Wednesday, the Clippers, in an effort to clear out enough cap space to offer Bryant the maximum they are allowed (approximately $100 million over six years), agreed to trade center/forward Melvin Ely and guard Eddie House to the Charlotte Bobcats for second-round picks in 2005 and 2006.

 

Both L.A. franchises made their final presentations to Bryant on Monday night. Lakers spokesman John Black confirmed that general manager Mitch Kupchak and new coach Rudy Tomjanovich met with Bryant in suburban Newport Beach while Clippers spokesman Joe Safety confirmed that team officials met with Bryant, but wouldn't elaborate.

 

Bryant, who turns 26 next month, has played his first eight NBA seasons with the Lakers.

 

Both the Lakers and Clippers have said they're not concerned about Bryant's legal problems, expecting him to be acquitted.

 

Bryant has pleaded not guilty to felony sexual assault, saying he had consensual sex with a Vail-area resort employee, now 20, in his hotel room in June 2003. If convicted, he faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation. The trial begins Aug. 27.

 

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[Fökai 0]

1. San Antonio - The best in the West...for now.

2. Minnesota.

3. L.A. Lakers - They add depth, which was the knock on them for years. Losing Shaq spells disaster for them in the playoffs, but they'll beat down the weaker teams in the regular season and early postseason.

4. Sacramento - Better than the rest of the West, but not those top three.

5. Memphis - Solid nucleus that needs another star to inch into the upper echelon of the West.

6. Houston - Not as great as everyone pegs them to be, but they will field a great team under Van Gundy.

7. Denver - Let's see where K-Mart ends up.

8. Dallas - Losing Nash shakes up the entire face of their gameplan. Losing Jamison to pick up a cancer in Stackhouse is also a big blow. I highly doubt Cuban won't make another move before the season begins, though.

9. Phoenix - Solid team, but the backcourt and bench is still suspect. A bit undersized in the frontcourt, as well.

10. Portland - A victim of every other team above them making a move. Their ranking will improve as soon as they sort out SAR's situation.

11. Utah - I'm not sold on Okur at ALL. Boozer makes a great addition, but they just need to stock up with the next wave of draftees and sit on the cap space.

12. Golden State - Just missing the playoffs last year, they didn't improve much, but will stay away from the cellar as Murphy and Dunleavy develop.

13. New Orleans - This team will not cut it in the West...at least not yet.

14. Seattle - Losing Barry is a huge blow to the backcourt.

15. L.A. Clippers - Well....DUH.

 

This is all assuming that:

--Q goes to the Suns (not determined yet.)

--The Lakers keep the pieces they have right now.

--The Boozer signing goes through.

 

Awaiting:

--Portland moving SAR.

--Kenyon's decision.

--Dallas making a move.

[nogoodnick 0]

Kobe stays with the Lakers

Kobe

[The Czech Republic 0]

What a little prick, that Kobe Bryant.