NBA Offseason News and Moves

[MrRant 0]

For the sack of Michael Redd?

[Krankor 0]

For the sack of Michael Redd?

I blame Portland.

[Krankor 0]

Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Point guard Brevin Knight signed with the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday, making him the most experienced player on the expansion team.

 

Charlotte is going to be terrible...10 wins may be pushing it for them

[therealworldschampion 0]

Jesus after seeing what has happened with the teams in the Atlantic Division this summer, the Sixers don't look that great and they could still win the thing based on how bad the rest of the division could be.

[Steviekick 0]

I'm sure the Nets management isn't too anxious to see Zo suit up again. As long as he plays more than he did last year (10) games, they can't retire him.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

Looks like Baron Davis has demanded a trade from The Hornets. Can't say as I blame him at all frankly, any sort of small window they had closed as soon as Paul Silas got the ax.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Jesus after seeing what has happened with the teams in the Atlantic Division this summer, the Sixers don't look that great and they could still win the thing based on how bad the rest of the division could be.

That's what I was thinking, until I remembered the Miami Heat.

[Krankor 0]

Looks like Baron Davis has demanded a trade from The Hornets.  Can't say as I blame him at all frankly, any sort of small window they had closed as soon as Paul Silas got the ax.

This could be a disaster for the Hornets. They are already struggling with selling season tickets. When the best player wants off the team things aren't looking good.

 

From ESPN.com in article about New Orleans' poor ticket sales

In response, the franchise's marketing department has worked to help the city embrace the Hornets. The organization has run more TV and radio commercials targeting young people, and opened a network of regional sales offices aimed at fans from Biloxi, Miss., to Baton Rouge.

 

On Tuesday, the Hornets introduced a new promotion, slogan and flexible ticket packages designed to offer the chance to see the most anticipated matchups on the 2004-05 schedule.

 

"What we did this year was focus on the very best teams in the league," said John Lee, a Hornets senior vice president. "We're hoping fans will take notice and come out and support the team."

 

This is the same strategy the Bulls used 2 years ago. They would try to lure you into the stadium by comming to see other team's stars.

[Steviekick 0]

Looks like Baron Davis has demanded a trade from The Hornets.  Can't say as I blame him at all frankly, any sort of small window they had closed as soon as Paul Silas got the ax.

This could be a disaster for the Hornets. They are already struggling with selling season tickets. When the best player wants off the team things aren't looking good.

 

From ESPN.com in article about New Orleans' poor ticket sales

In response, the franchise's marketing department has worked to help the city embrace the Hornets. The organization has run more TV and radio commercials targeting young people, and opened a network of regional sales offices aimed at fans from Biloxi, Miss., to Baton Rouge.

 

On Tuesday, the Hornets introduced a new promotion, slogan and flexible ticket packages designed to offer the chance to see the most anticipated matchups on the 2004-05 schedule.

 

"What we did this year was focus on the very best teams in the league," said John Lee, a Hornets senior vice president. "We're hoping fans will take notice and come out and support the team."

 

This is the same strategy the Bulls used 2 years ago. They would try to lure you into the stadium by comming to see other team's stars.

I still can't understand why they wanted to move a team to NO. They deserve this.

[MrRant 0]

Well.. if it were the Jazz everything would be alright.

[Cuban Linx 0]

The fans didn't come to watch them when they were actually good (or at least a reasonable facsimile of good), now that their best player wants out and the team will be getting hammered out West all season i don't exactly see the fans flooding in.

[Steviekick 0]

Well.. if it were the Jazz everything would be alright.

They'll get Maravich to unretire

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

I know I'd pay good money to see a dead man go behind the back.

 

Pretty awful trade for New Orleans if they go through with it, I hope Davis doesn't get traded to a big market, because a big market equals more highlights on Sportscenter which equals Stuart Scott calling him "B-Diddy" or "B-Dizzel" a lot more than is necessary.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Jesus after seeing what has happened with the teams in the Atlantic Division this summer, the Sixers don't look that great and they could still win the thing based on how bad the rest of the division could be.

That's what I was thinking, until I remembered the Miami Heat.

Point being?

 

Miami has nothing they can use and Shaq's WELL beyond the point in his career where he can carry a team all on his own.

 

Remember folks this was a team that finished as one of the worst a little less than a year and a half ago, and most of the reason for the team's re-emergence is now playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

[Krankor 0]

Associated Press

HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets are close to a deal that would add veteran center Dikembe Mutombo as the backup to Yao Ming, a television station reported Thursday.

 

The Rockets would send Eric Piatkowski, Adrian Griffin and Mike Wilks to the Chicago Bulls, Houston television station KRIV said in a report citing anonymous NBA sources.

 

The deal, which could be done as early as next week, needs the approval of Bulls ownership and the NBA, the station said.

 

Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson declined comment.

 

Wilks, a free agent, would have to sign with the Rockets first.

 

"I have considered this deal to be imminent for about a month," his agent, Bill Neff, said. "In the last week, Carroll Dawson asked me not to sign Mike Wilks with someone else. If it was anybody but Carroll Dawson, I would probably ignore them. Mike Wilks will not be an issue."

 

Mutombo to Houston for midcarders?

Discuss

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

Great trade if you're Houston. Mutumbo has shown that he can still get things done as long as you don't force him to do anything but block shots and rebound for 20 minutes a night. That gives them an option to move Yao off the Shaq's of the world as well. Excellent move if it happens.

[therealworldschampion 0]

That's what I was thinking, until I remembered the Miami Heat

 

Miami's not in their division anymore due to the Charlotte expansion

[Cuban Linx 0]

With Yao and Dikembe looking to be together in Houston the Rockets will certainly be able to put up quite the wall in front of the basket. Mutombo's well beyond his better days but he'll be perfectly useful in a backup role, he'll only be required for short spells behind Yao to block some shots and pick up a few rebounds so it's a good trade for Houston, especially as they're only giving up a few jobbers in return.

[alfdogg 0]

Miami and Philly are in different divisions.

 

Miami's division includes Orlando, Charlotte, Washington, and Atlanta, so you may as well just hang the Heat's division banner right now.

 

Philly's division includes Boston, NY, NJ and Toronto. A hotly contested division, in which I currently favor the Knicks to come out on top of, pending what ends up happening with Payton.

[Cuban Linx 0]

Man, those divisions are even shittier than i remember them being. The only thing that might stop Miami from winning their division is the entire city being blown away by a Hurricane, and even then the other teams combined suck would find a way for none of them to end up winning the division. Forget Shaq, they could have traded away Butler and Odom for the lovechild of Shawn Bradley and Manute Bol and still sleepwalked their way into the playoffs.

[The Czech Republic 0]

a 30-team NBA is gonna look like major fucking ass, I'm going to tell you that right now. They've diluted the ranks so much that the Bobcats bench is actually six guys and a water cooler. I'm horrified that somebody has to win this "Southeast division."

 

I hope the Bobcats never get off the ground and have to merge with the also-struggling Hornets. Knock off another team and go back to four divisions of seven, the way it should be.

[alfdogg 0]

Forget Shaq, they could have traded away Butler and Odom for the lovechild of Shawn Bradley and Manute Bol and still sleepwalked their way into the playoffs.

While I do sense the sarcasm, I don't think with just the average center Miami would be much better than Orlando or even Washington. Once you get past Wade and Jones (if he isn't traded), there really isn't much. With Shaq, they're a top 3 team in the East. I don't know if you watched the VMA's, but Shaq was noticeably slimmer than he was in the Finals. He still is at 331 pounds, according to an article I just read, so I'm guessing he was around 360 during the Finals. Riley said he wants him at 325. He could get under that easily.

Edited September 3, 2004 by alfdogg

[Steviekick 0]

Philly's division includes Boston, NY, NJ and Toronto. A hotly contested division, in which I currently favor the Knicks to come out on top of, pending what ends up happening with Payton.

I think that the Sixers will propably take their division. NJ is really going to miss Martin and with Kidd being out till December, Richard Jefferson isn't going to be able to carry the team. Boston doesn't have enough depth, NY is about to implode thanks to its huge assortment of uncomplementing talent, and Toronto is just a joke.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

Well from what ESPN was saying, Kidd would be ready for training camp.

 

I still think Miami is in a little bit of trouble, frankly. Yes, Shaq is fine and so is Wade, but Eddie Jones gets the most meaningless 18 points every night. Beyond the big 2, I 'm not sure they're gonna do too awfully much.

[Steviekick 0]

Well from what ESPN was saying, Kidd would be ready for training camp.

 

I still think Miami is in a little bit of trouble, frankly. Yes, Shaq is fine and so is Wade, but Eddie Jones gets the most meaningless 18 points every night. Beyond the big 2, I 'm not sure they're gonna do too awfully much.

The NY Post was saying he'd be out till December.

 

Also:

 

Forward Popeye Jones was released by the Golden State Warriors on Friday.

 

The 6-foot-8 Jones played just five games in his only season with the Warriors, who acquired him last summer in a trade with Dallas. Jones tore cartilage in his left knee Nov. 5 and was placed on the injured list a week later, missing 24 games.

 

A 12-year NBA veteran, Jones played for Toronto, Boston, Denver, Washington and two stints with the Mavericks. He averaged 7.0 points and 7.4 rebounds in his career.

[alfdogg 0]

Current NBA Championship odds, according to Sportsbook.com:

 

San Antonio 9-2

Detroit 5-1

Minnesota 7-1

Sacramento 8-1

Miami 8-1

Indiana 12-1

Houston 12-1

Dallas 15-1

Denver 20-1

Lakers 25-1

Cleveland 50-1

Memphis 50-1

Phoenix 50-1

Utah 50-1

Orlando 50-1 (??????????)

New Jersey 60-1

Philadelphia 60-1

New York 60-1

Portland 60-1

Milwaukee 60-1

Toronto 60-1

Seattle 100-1

New Orleans 100-1

Boston 100-1

Chicago 100-1

Clippers 100-1

Washington 125-1

Golden State 150-1

Atlanta 300-1

Charlotte 750-1

 

Miami 8-1

Indiana 12-1

...

[Guest Vitamin X]

 

Denver 20-1

Lakers 25-1

Cleveland 50-1

 

I'll take those 25-1 odds..

[alfdogg 0]

The aforementioned Mutombo trade is going to happen, and is expected to become official next week, aggording to the Chicago Tribune.

[alfdogg 0]

Philly's division includes Boston, NY, NJ and Toronto.  A hotly contested division, in which I currently favor the Knicks to come out on top of, pending what ends up happening with Payton.

I think that the Sixers will propably take their division. NJ is really going to miss Martin and with Kidd being out till December, Richard Jefferson isn't going to be able to carry the team. Boston doesn't have enough depth, NY is about to implode thanks to its huge assortment of uncomplementing talent, and Toronto is just a joke.

The Nets might miss Martin, but Martin will miss the Nets just the same. He's gonna find it's not as easy when he doesn't have the best PG in the league setting him up. I've always found Andre Miller to be a very underrated player, but he's no Jason Kidd. Martin's always been quite overrated, we'll find out this year if he meets up to the hype he gets with a lesser PG.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

The NY Post was saying he'd be out till December.

 

ESPN is much more reliable then NY Post.

 

NY Post likes to bullshit alot.

 

Like the 590569896 of rumors of Antione Walker going to the Knicks.