NBA Offseason 2009

[jon abbey]

thought we started this already, but I don't see it...

San Antonio lands Richard Jefferson for a package of expiring poop and makes themselves relevant again if the big 4 can stay healthy. Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Jefferson, good luck guarding that team...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4281291

[jon abbey]

also, Bowen and Oberto will be immediately waived, so can resign with SA if they so desire. great move for SA, those fuckers.

[jon abbey]

The Washington Wizards are close to a deal that would send the No. 5 pick in Thursday's draft, Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas and Darius Songaila to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Randy Foye and Mike Miller, a league source told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher on Tuesday.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4282279

[jon abbey]

Pistons give Amir Johnson to Milwaukee for the right to release Oberto and get more cap room.

[The G Man]

Bruce Bowen is somebody you love if he's on your team and your hate if he isn't. I think SA isn't done yet because they need to find a big somewhere.

Bowen on his blog:


Let me start by saying, THANK YOU SAN ANTONIO! From my family to yours. Thank you for allowing a young man with many travel stops, to finally drop his bags off and say "I'M HOME"

I never thought that so many good things could happen after 30 years of age. Boy was I wrong! I've been able to be part of a great city and community. I've been able to take action in helping those less fortunate, partner up with many great companies, start programs aimed at helping our youth, and many other wonderful things. By me and my family being here, all these wonderful things have taken place in our lives, and we truly appreciate it San Antonio.

So many times someone has walked up in our local H.E.B. and said what an impact something I said or did had on someone they loved. With so many greetings like that, you all have giving me a BIG HEAD, (which I didn't necessarily need, but it feels cool anyway). This is where my family and I reside, there are more pressing things taken place in our world, so please just smile and remember that each and everyone of you played a vital role in the family man that I've become.

God bless each and everyone of you, thanks for allowing me to set up shop in such a welcoming place.

[Captain Hate]

Any idea where this guy's ending up? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exOxUAntx8I

[Noj]

Wow, here I thought San Antonio gave up Karate Kid Bowen to get RJ, but instead they get him back? Fucking Spurs.

[jon abbey]

Shaq traded to Cleveland for the corpse of Ben Wallace, Sasha and the 46th pick. no rush on that one, Ferry...

[jon abbey]

hahaha, Shaq on Twitter, this one's for Gordon:

"How duz mark jackson know anything, I hate a expert that hasn't mastered anything"

and Bill Simmons says:

"Cleveland's trade for Shaq was like someone buying homeowner's insurance 4 weeks after losing everything in a house robbery."

[mshiflet]

I liked the comment on ESPN (I forget by whom) saying how rare it is you see a trade which both teams go into out of regret.

I doubt this alone is really going to do much for the Cavs outside of keeping their lips securely on LeBron's ass - the answer for a late postseason breakdown is adding a 37-year-old who endorses Icy Hot? - but if coupled with one or two other moves could be pretty major.

[BoBetter]

I'm wondering if Phoenix may move Amare as well?

I also have my eyes on Hinrich, Rasheed, David Lee, Gerald Wallace, Josh Smith.....

I feel like those are the guys that could move, that could really impact a team, depending on the situation.

[jon abbey]

I doubt this alone is really going to do much for the Cavs outside of keeping their lips securely on LeBron's ass - the answer for a late postseason breakdown is adding a 37-year-old who endorses Icy Hot? - but if coupled with one or two other moves could be pretty major.

Cleveland could easily have beaten Orlando with Shaq on the roster, with all of his limitations. the point is he can guard Howard one on one, the inability of anyone on the Cavs to do that killed them in that series.

[Noj]

I'm interested to see how well Shaq will play with LeBron. Shaq did have a resurgence this past season, but it didn't amount to a whole lot of wins for the Suns. Will Shaq clog the lane and make it difficult for LeBron to drive, or will his great interior passing and defensive presence be just what the doctor ordered? I'm leaning toward this experiment failing which will result in King James opting for a new kingdom.

[jon abbey]

Cleveland doesn't need Shaq against most teams, he can spend most of the season resting up for Orlando/Boston/LA.

[Noj]

Good point, they can use Shaq sparingly until the time is right, which will be great for his stamina. Z and Varejao can play more against teams with no inside presence.

If the Lakers can't bring Odom and Ariza back and improve their bench, I'm ready to say the balance of power in the West has already shifted to a healthy Spurs team. C'mon Kupchak!

[jon abbey]

I think Varejao is an unrestricted free agent, right? I wonder if this'll affect whether he comes back or not.

[mshiflet]

Given the way the Cavs have been talking possibly buying a higher pick tonight (as they've got pretty deep pockets while most other teams are scraping by) along with their "we aren't done yet" chatter I think they are expecting Anderson to go.

Love this from Mr. Villanueva:

well, twitterland like I said there will be more trades to come, very interesting, Shaq to Cleveland, nice, all Cleveland need is a PF now]

Dude wants it. Team wants him. Don't know if I can stand to look at him for an entire season if it happens though.

[Captain Hate]

and Bill Simmons says:

"Cleveland's trade for Shaq was like someone buying homeowner's insurance 4 weeks after losing everything in a house robbery."

Out of curiosity, did he badmouth the Suns when they got Shaq?

[jon abbey]

and Bill Simmons says:

"Cleveland's trade for Shaq was like someone buying homeowner's insurance 4 weeks after losing everything in a house robbery."

Out of curiosity, did he badmouth the Suns when they got Shaq?

virtually everyone did, it was pretty obviously inane, especially at the cost of giving up Marion and with the kind of team Phoenix was. I don't remember what he said specifically, but I'm sure it'd be easy to find if you really cared.

also, he's not badmouthing Cleveland here, he's saying that they should have done this at the trading deadline, especially if they're going to do it a few months later anyway. it was the same thing I tried to say when I wrote "no rush on that, Ferry", but his was much more clever.

Knicks buy the 29th pick from the Lakers for $3 million, whoo!

[Captain Hate]

Maybe I'm being dense but I don't see why the Cavs getting Shaq last season would be any different then when the Suns got him because it was pretty obvious to me that the Suns weren't going to get over on the Spurs without making a change. Admittedly the Phoenix move didn't work out so well but I'm not sure what other options were open to Kerr that would've worked better. I tend to think this will work out well for the Cavs because a motivated Shaq would fill an obvious hole but still nothing is guaranteed.