NBA Offseason Stuff

[Ripper 0]

godDAMMIT!!!

[Dangerous A 0]

Here is a summer league report on who's tearing it up and who's stinking it up from ESPN Insider...

 

 

Stars aren't made in the NBA's summer leagues, but we did learn a few things in the last three weeks.

 

First, a caveat: When judging players, take summer league performances with a grain of salt.

 

Success in the summer leagues isn't a very accurate predictor of who will become an NBA star. While in previous summers LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Al Jefferson and Marquis Daniels gave us early signs that they were ready to have breakout years, players such as Qyntel Woods, Willie Green, John Salmons and Zarko Cabarkapa have also dominated in these leagues.

 

A more accurate predictor is summer league failure. Nine times out of 10, it seems, if a player can't produce against the watered-down competition in the summer leagues, he'll struggle mightily to get it done against real NBA players during the season. But even that is only a short-term prediction, not a long-term one.

 

This year, the NBA held four summer leagues across the country -- the Reebok Vegas Summer League, the Minnesota Summer League, the Southern California Summer Pro League in Los Angeles and the Reebok Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City.

 

Who played well? Who bombed out? Insider talked to a number of NBA scouts and executives during the week to get you the skinny. Here's what the NBA Boys of Summer were up to in July.

 

 

Summer Studs

Nate Robinson, G, Knicks

Stats: 17.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg in the Vegas Summer League

Stats: 15.2 ppg, 5.8 apg at the Minnesota Summer League

The skinny: Robinson was the most exciting player on the floor for two straight weeks and had scouts walking away convinced that he could be an instant impact player in the league. His speed and intensity can overcome any size limitations.

 

In fact, scouts in Minnesota said he started to show that he could distribute the ball. Still, make no mistake, Robinson is a scorer -- much like the Bulls' Ben Gordon, Robinson's job will be to jump-start the offense (and the crowd) whenever he enters the game.

 

I still can't get over the fact that the Suns traded him. He would be perfect -- perfect -- in Phoenix.

 

Ike Diogu, PF, Warriors

Stats: 18.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg in the Reebok Vegas Summer Shootout

The skinny: The questions about whether Diogu has the size or skills to play the four in the NBA are quickly dissipating. He started off the summer slowly and finished with a flurry, dropping 37 points and 12 rebounds on the last day.

 

He looks more and more like the second coming of Elton Brand.

 

 

Hakim Warrick, F, Grizzlies

Stats: 18.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg on 54 percent shooting at the Southern California Summer Pro League

The skinny: Warrick was a college stud who slipped a bit in the draft because no one knew for sure what position he'd play in the NBA. That's still not settled after seven games, but the Grizzlies believe they have a versatile player who's going to find a way to get the ball in the basket and grab rebounds.

 

The odd thing is that Warrick's athleticism doesn't translate into blocked shots. He blocked zero shots in seven games for Memphis.

 

 

Chris Paul, PG, Hornets

Stats: 15.3 ppg, 5.5 apg, 4.7 apg in the Vegas Summer League

The skinny: Paul got off to a red-hot start (21 points, five assists, four rebounds against the Cavs and 12 points, nine assists vs. the Wizards) before a minor injury ended up slowing him down for the rest of the camp.

 

The consensus among summer league scouts is that Paul will be the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year.

 

 

Andrew Bogut, C, Bucks

Stats: 13.2 ppg, 10 rpg, 1.4 bpg in the Minnesota Summer League

The skinny: Bogut had an up-and-down week.

 

He was outplayed by the trio of Dwayne Jones, Nick Horvath and David Simon in the first game and finished with just seven points. Then Bogut was dominated in the paint by David Harrison, the Pacers' second-year center, showing he had neither the strength nor the quickness to guard an NBA player in the paint.

 

All that said, Bogut definitely had his moments. He was great in games against the Rockets, Raptors and Knicks. He showed tenacity on the boards, patience on the offensive end and an ability for moving the ball out of the post.

 

The talent is there, but questions remain about whether he's physically ready to come in and play center in the NBA.

 

 

 

SLEEPER: Andrew Bynum, C, Lakers

Stats: 10.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg at the Southern California Summer Pro League

The skinny: No one was expecting anything from Bynum for at least two years, but he played as though he belonged in his first seven games.

 

He has soft hands and great size, and he runs the floor pretty well. Bynum was out of shape and needs to get stronger, but he was much more skilled than most scouts thought.

 

It doesn't mean he'll get a sniff of playing time in L.A. next season, but it looks like the Lakers may have a keeper.

 

Honorable Mention: Wayne Simien, PF, Heat (17.1 ppg, 7 rpg); Sean May, PF, Bobcats (14.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg); Channing Frye, C, Knicks (13.8 ppg, 5 rpg); David Lee, PF, Knicks (12 ppg, 6.2 rpg); Jason Maxiell, PF, Pistons (15 ppg, 3.6 rpg); Linas Kleiza, F, Nuggets (15.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg); Eddie Basden, G/F, Bulls (14 ppg, 5 rpg); Lawrence Roberts, PF, Grizzlies (13.6 ppg, 11.7 rpg); Alex Acker, G, Pistons (14.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg); Ryan Gomes, F, Celtics (12.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg); Monta Ellis, G, Warriors (15.8 ppg, 3 rpg); Antoine Wright, G, Nets (16.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg); Raymond Felton, PG, Bobcats (12.5 ppg, 5.5 apg); Julius Hodge, G, Nuggets (13.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg); Martell Webster, G, Blazers (12.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg).

 

 

Breakout Performers

 

Travis Outlaw, F, Blazers

Stats: 18.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg in the Reebok Vegas Summer Shootout

The skinny: Outlaw looked last summer as though he was going to be one of the few high school-to-pros busts. However, some good playing time toward the end of last season seems to have bolstered his confidence.

 

Armed with a nice mid-range jumper, a ton of athleticism and great energy, Outlaw was definitely the surprise player in Vegas. Within days, GM John Nash said he was getting phone calls from teams offering first-round picks for Outlaw. But the Blazers would prefer to move Darius Miles and put Outlaw on the floor more this season.

 

Chris Kaman, C, Clippers

Stats: 20.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg in the Vegas Summer Pro League

The skinny: If the Clippers are going to make a serious push for the playoffs next season, some of the responsibility is going to rest firmly on Kaman's shoulders. Elton Brand and Corey Maggette will deliver. Shaun Livingston has great promise at the point. And Cuttino Mobley will improve the team's shooting. But they need more help in the middle and Kaman showed in Vegas that he's capable of delivering -- at least against summer leaguers.

 

Sebastian Telfair, PG, Blazers

Stats: 18.7 ppg, 6 apg in the Vegas Summer Pro League

The skinny: I wasn't a fan of Telfair last summer and still have my reservations about him, but it's tough to deny that he continues to improve. His court vision is excellent and he has a knack for getting to the rim. His jump shot is as ugly as ever, but if he can push the ball and keep turnovers down, he's got a chance to be special.

 

Kevin Martin, G, Kings

Stats: 19.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg on 47 percent shooting

The skinny: The Kings have spent the summer (and another draft pick on Francisco Garcia) trying to find a replacement for Cuttino Mobley this summer. After Martin's excellent summer league performance, have they found him?

 

Martin was also awesome last summer, but he didn't score with this efficiency or with this accuracy (41 percent) from 3-point country. Though his relative lack of strength still makes him a defensive liability, he's an awesome scorer.

 

Lonny Baxter, F/C, Rockets

Stats: 21 ppg, 6.2 rpg on 59 percent shooting in the Minnesota Summer League

The skinny: Baxter's another summer league warrior who never quite gets the minutes he needs to produce in the NBA. The Rockets love his ability to score around the basket, but with Stromile Swift set to join the team this fall, will Baxter ever catch a break?

 

 

SLEEPER: Nikoloz Tskitishvili, F, Timberwolves

Stats: 13.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg in the Minnesota Summer League

The skinny: Skita was awesome in the first game, scoring 25 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and shooting 4-for-5 from 3-point land, all in 17 minutes. Unfortunately, he broke his hand nine minutes into the next game and missed the rest of the summer league.

 

But his performance was impressive enough that the Wolves and Skita agreed to a free-agent contract late Thursday night. Still, before the Dirk comparisons begin again, it's important to point out that Skita put on a show in Vegas last year as well, leading all scorers with 25.7 ppg and shooting lights out from behind the 3-point line.

 

Honorable Mention: Dwight Howard, PF, Magic (19 ppg, 7.5 rpg); J.R. Smith, SG, Hornets (20.6 ppg); Tony Allen, G, Celtics (16.8 ppg); David Harrison, C, Pacers (14.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg); Luke Jackson, G/F, Cavs (11.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4 apg); Matt Carroll, G/F, Bobcats (15.4 ppg); Britton Johnsen, F, Spurs (15.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg); Dion Glover, G, Rockets (18.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg); Josh Powell, F, Mavs (11.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg); Leandro Barbosa, G, Suns (18 ppg); Olumide Oyedeji, PF, Cavs (9.6 ppg, 7 rpg); Maciej Lampe, C, Hornets (11.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg); Andris Biedrins, C, Warriors (7.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg).

 

 

Summer Duds

Marvin Williams, F, Hawks

Stats: 7.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 28 percent shooting in the Rocky Mountain Revue

The skinny: Williams has been, in a word, awful. That doesn't mean much for his long-term future. As we've said before, the summer league isn't the most accurate predictor of what a player will or won't do in the season.

 

But scouts claim that Williams looks tight and often lost on both ends of the floor. That can't be what the Hawks were hoping for from the guy that should be their franchise player.

 

I still believe that Williams will end up being the best player in the draft. But he isn't off to a great start.

 

Al Jefferson, PF, Celtics

Stats: 7.5 ppg, 6 rpg in the Vegas Summer League

The skinny: Jefferson's great summer league performance last season coupled with flashes of brilliance during the season had Celtics fans already clearing out a spot for Jefferson in Springfield. He definitely didn't take another step forward in Vegas. He shot just 44 percent from the field and never did much to impact the games. That's what the Celtics expected from Jefferson last summer, not this one.

 

Darko Milicic, PF/C, Pistons

Stats: 9.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg on 36 percent shooting in the Vegas Summer League

The skinny: The excuses are about to stop. With Larry Brown out in Detroit, it's now time for Darko to respond.

 

We can talk all we want to about rust (he hasn't played in two years) and conditioning (it's tough to keep in shape when you're the towel boy), but the Pistons had to be disappointed in what appeared to be an indifferent effort by Milicic.

 

The rust will come off with playing time and the conditioning will improve. But what happened to the aggressive play that convinced the Pistons that Darko was not your typical Euro softie? Darko had flashes when he looked very good, but much of the time he just didn't look like he cared.

 

That had better change or Flip Saunders will put him on the same seat on the bench that Larry did.

 

Jonathan Bender, F, Pacers

Stats: 8 ppg, 5 rpg on 25 percent shooting in the Minnesota Summer League

The skinny: Who else is sick of hearing about how awesome Bender's potential is and how great he looks in practice?

 

He's always hurt and extremely inconsistent when he is healthy enough to play. He played exactly one lackluster game for the Pacers in Minnesota and his body language was awful. He acted like he didn't want to be there, according to numerous scouts in the building.

 

Kirk Snyder, G, Jazz

Stats: 6 ppg, 1 rebound on 33 percent shooting in the Rocky Mountain Revue

The skinny: With only one season under his belt, it's too early to call Snyder a bust. But if he keeps playing the way he has in Salt Lake, a monumental bust is exactly what he's going to be.

 

Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

[Dangerous A 0]

I'll say I'm glad Diogu started to warm up some because I caught his first summer league game on League Pass and was not impressed. I'd like to see him push Troy Murphy for minutes and perhaps relegate Murphy into trade bait by mid season.

[ant_7000 0]

All I got to say is Eddie Basden. That is all.

[Dangerous A 0]

Looks like Mr. Wells is leaving Memphis for Sac Town...

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2114460

 

 

ESPN.com news services

 

 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Bonzi Wells is no longer Jerry West's headache.

 

 

 

ESPN.com has confirmed that the Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to exercise an $8 million option and send the disgruntled swingman to the Sacramento Kings in a three-way deal with the Utah Jazz.

 

The trade was first reported by the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

 

The deal cannot be announced until the NBA finalizes its collective bargaining agreement.

 

The Kings will send guard Bobby Jackson to the Grizzlies -- a moved Jackson also confirmed to SportsTicker -- and center Greg Ostertag back to Utah for a second tour of duty with the Jazz.

 

Utah also would send guard Raul Lopez and Kirk Snyder and forward Chris Borchardt to Memphis.

 

West, the Grizzlies' president, had been trying to deal the 6-foot-7 Wells since he was removed from the squad during this past season's playoffs. The 29-year-old Wells averaged 10.4 points -- his lowest mark since the 1999-2000 campaign with the Portland Trail Blazers -- in 69 games for the Grizzlies last season.

 

The 32-year-old Jackson had been a valuable contributor off the Kings' bench in recent seasons but, slowed by numerous injuries, averaged just 12.0 points in 25 games this past campaign.

 

Information from SportsTicker was used in this report

[alfdogg 0]

Keyon Dooling to Orlando

 

Link~

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Dangerous A, I know it is nice to post these ESPN articles and everything is meant well, please keep in mind that posting Insider comment could be a violation of their property.

[Cuban Linx 0]

Pleased to see the Blazers trio of Telfair/Outlaw/Webster looking good, even if it is just the Summer League. If they continue to develop (and stay out of trouble) Portland will be looking at a real good young team in a year or two.

[Guest news_gimmick]

...

[MrRant 0]

It means more white people for Utah to root for.

[Guest news_gimmick]

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[Dangerous A 0]

Dangerous A, I know it is nice to post these ESPN articles and everything is meant well, please keep in mind that posting Insider comment could be a violation of their property.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I kind of had reservations about posting that stuff, but said "fuck it" and ran with it. I'll just keep my Insider articles out and just post a summary of the important parts of the article in my own words, so as not to get TSM or myself in trouble.

[alfdogg 0]

Oh, btw, if anyone thought this year's FA class was weak, next year's is ass. The only guys who are All-stars or even close to it are Ben Wallace, Rashard Lewis, and Peja Stojakovic (if he opts out, which I would think he would).

[MrRant 0]

Lewis is? I thought he just resigned the year before last?

[alfdogg 0]

I did some more research, and it appears you're right. So wow, that makes it even worse.

[alfdogg 0]

HoopsHype really needs to update some of their shit. They don't have any of the guys filled in who signed extensions this year.

 

I could have easily seen Lewis getting the max had he actually been a FA next summer.

[alfdogg 0]

And coincidentally, the Knicks have both Penny and Tim Thomas's contracts coming off next summer, close to $29 million between the two of them, in a class that's looking to be horribly weak in terms of star power. I guess I'll need a Knick fan to confirm this since I'm going by the same site, but I'm fairly sure I'm right on this one.

[Guest]

You are correct.

[alfdogg 0]

NEW YORK -- NBA free agents will be able to sign their new contracts next Thursday, six days later than originally planned.

 

 

The league announced the new signing date Friday, on what was supposed to be the day the logjam was broken on several pending deals.

 

 

The six-day delay will allow attorneys for the league and players' union to finish drafting a written version of the new six-year collective bargaining agreement.

 

 

Signings will begin at 6 p.m. ET on July 28.

 

credit: ESPN.com (not from Insider)

 

The signings were supposed to begin yesterday.

[Fökai 0]

Free agent class for 2006, 2007 and 2008

 

This is courtesy of hoopsworld.com; feel free to make any corrections.

[alfdogg 0]

OK. I thought Amare and Yao didn't come until the year after.

[alfdogg 0]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2115131

 

MARK MADSEN gets a five-year deal. Kevin McHale is going crazy.

[Guest Vitamin X]

HAHAHAHA.

[alfdogg 0]

Cavs to sign Euroleague star Jasikevicius

 

Link~

OK, apparently the Cleveland papers are a bunch of liars and Jasikevicius hasn't agreed to sign with the Cavs yet. They're now saying that he's close to signing with Utah.

[Cuban Linx 0]

Surely Minnesota have better things to spend money on than giving Mark Fucking Madsen a Five Year Contract. I can't imagine there was so much demand for Madsen's garbage minute production that such a deal was necessary, though with the stupid deals that fly around the NBA these days who knows.

[alfdogg 0]

Shawn Kemp was briefly discussed earlier in the thread. Apparently he's working towards a comeback.

 

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/spor...938_kemp24.html

 

He looks to be in as good of shape as he's been since coming back from the lockout, judging from some of the pictures. You guys think he'll get another chance?

[therealworldschampion 0]

Samuel Dalembert's agent says Dalembert will return to Sixers:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2115562

[alfdogg 0]

Pacers to sign Jasikevicius

 

Sarunas Jasikevicius, widely considered the top point guard in Europe, signed a three-year, 12 million deal with the Pacers, his agent Doug Neusted told ESPN Insider Chad Ford.

 

"It really came down to who he could win a championship with next year," Neusted told ESPN. "He saw a chance to contribute and win and couldn't pass it up."

 

Jasikevicius also had offers from the Jazz and Cavs.

 

The point guard, who played for the last three Euroleague champions, played collegiately at Maryland from 1994-'98. He most recently played for Maccabi Tel Aviv from 2003-2005 and F.C. Barcelona from 2000-2003.

[The Czech Republic 0]

You guys think he'll get another chance?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Fat chance.

[alfdogg 0]

Here's an article concerning the "amnesty" clause

 

Imagine a free-agent universe where a slew of big-name vets become available in late July because their contracts are too expensive for their current teams to keep.

 

Imagine a marketplace that suddenly offers up, say, the stately Grant Hill at a starting salary of no higher than $5 million.

 

Imagine a former All-Star like Eddie Jones in the same price range. Or a scorer in the Jalen Rose class.

 

Imagine Chris Webber being cut loose and, to really spite his old friends in Sacramento, joining Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers in a cut-rate deal.

 

Well, guess what?

 

You pretty much have to imagine all that, since roughly none of it will end up happening that way.

 

When word initially spread about the much-ballyhooed "amnesty" clause in the new labor agreement -- a clause that quickly became known as the Allan Houston Rule -- it wasn't fans alone salivating over such possibilities.

 

The one-time opportunity all teams will have to waive a player without paying any luxury tax on the player's guaranteed contract had front offices buzzing for a while, too.

 

The widespread first impression in circulation made the Hill, Jones, Rose and Webber scenarios seem plausible. Virtually every famous name in the league possessing an unwieldy contract has been mentioned as a possible amnesty candidate ... to the delight of capped-out contenders hoping to pounce on those vets at bargain prices.

 

"A lot of us," said one Eastern Conference executive, "have been curious to see how many players will be available for the ($5 million mid-level exception) that have no business being available for the mid-level."

 

No one foresees a bonanza any longer, though. Curiosity has been replaced by the reality that most teams aren't eager to waive productive players -- while continuing to pay their salaries in full -- in exchange for mere tax relief.

 

Amnesty moves, you see, provide zero salary-cap relief.

 

We repeat: No cap space is gained by waiving an amnesty player.

 

As a result ...

 

Conversations with numerous personnel folks around the league over the past month suggest that not even half of the NBA's 30 teams plan to make an amnesty move.

 

And all indications are that there's less-than-little chance that Hill, Rose, Jones, Webber or even Portland Trail Blazers shot-blocker Theo Ratliff would be set free by their current employers.

 

The Dallas Mavericks' Michael Finley is the only All-Star alumnus who's likely to be released while still anywhere close to his All-Star self.

 

The New York Knicks' plans to waive Allan Houston have become synonymous with the rule, obviously, and the Los Angeles Lakers' Brian Grant is another reasonably big name who's sure to be released. Knee problems, though, mean that neither is still regarded as a certain difference-maker.

 

Finley, then, stands to be the only impact player available. Portland's Derek Anderson and Indiana's Austin Croshere are among the more prominent maybes, but neither is on par with Finley. The 32-year-old's scoring average has declined for six straight seasons, and his salary for 2005-06 is nearly $16 million, but Finley did uncork a 31-point playoff game at Phoenix in the second round.

 

"Remember that a lot of the guys you're talking about are still good players," said one Western Conference executive. "At some point -- probably at the end of their contracts -- they're going to be tradable. Every contract at some point becomes tradable. Teams aren't just going to get rid of good players if they're not getting any cap relief."

 

Said another Western Conference executive: "The rule really only helps teams that are close or above the luxury-tax threshold, which will probably be around $61 million [next season]. "If a team doesn't look like it will be close [to the threshold] over the life of its worst contract, they won't use [the amnesty provision]."

 

Thus the rule appeals mostly to the teams with the fattest payrolls and biggest luxury-tax bills, such as New York and Dallas. The potential tax savings -- more than $50 million in Finley's case -- virtually forces Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to release his former face of the franchise unless Dallas can concoct a trade first, as it still hopes.

 

The scariest part for the Mavericks is that -- beyond the fact he'll receive all of the $52 million left on his contract -- Finley would then be able to go to a Dallas rival such as Phoenix or San Antonio for as little as a veteran minimum contract in the $1 million range. If he's inclined to hold out for the best financial offer -- a multi-year deal starting at the full mid-level of $5 million or so -- Finley will weigh offers from at least two up-and-comers: Denver and his hometown Chicago Bulls.

 

The outlook is far different with most of the other high-profile cases who were once thought to be at risk, again because there is no cap relief for the teams who do the releasing.

 

The Heat, for example, are too close to a title to dump Jones and get nothing back for him, especially with just two years (at $30 million) remaining on his contract. If it made Jones an amnesty casualty, Miami would still be well over the cap and unable to land a quality replacement.

 

Rose also has just two years left on his deal -- at $32 million total -- but the Raptors have two high-salaried players still on their books (Alvin Williams and the since-released Alonzo Mourning) who are far less productive than Rose. The same goes for Boston and Raef LaFrentz (four years and $47 million left); Mark Blount struggled far more than LaFrentz last season to justify his salary ($33 million over five years).

 

The Magic, meanwhile, have come too far with Hill to oust him now, just when it appears -- as an All-Star reborn -- that he's sturdy enough to make a huge difference with a contender somewhere.

 

And Webber?

 

For all the concern about his mobility, cutting Webber holds little appeal to the Sixers. He had less than half a season alongside Allen Iverson, and Philadelphia just fired Jim O'Brien to bring Mo Cheeks back to town. Philly understandably wants to give the Iverson-Webber partnership more time to click under a new coach ... especially since the Sixers would still be required to pay the $62 million over the three seasons that remain on Webber's contract.

 

"The Lakers would love that," said one Webber confidante. "But it's not going to happen. Trust me."

 

So, no bonanza.

 

No matter what you might have heard or wished for.

 

Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.