I would be shocked. For what? Orlando has no cap space to take him, and Chicago does not want bad contracts in return.
There was a rumor in the Chicago papers/blogs about a Deng for Gortat/Pietrus swap in which Chicago simply would have ceded the opportunity for the second max slot to have those guys for depth along with LeBron, with Gorttat being the power backup and Pietrus starting at SG
I would shocked. Deng has a low basketball IQ, offers very little on defense and is widely regarded as one of the worst contracts. I think there's a better chance that the Knicks could move Curry's final year before the Bulls could ove that deal. There's rumors all over the place...I done believing any of them. I'll post some new ones from rotoworld though... - Warrior extend qualifying offers to Anthony Morrow and CJ Watson - Phoenix owner Robert Sarver meeting with Amare in a last ditch effort to keep him - Portland may dump Ryan Gomes and take the 4.8M trade exception - Nyets (did that purposely for Prokorov) dump Keyon dooling - Magic considering a move for Arenas - Wade denies that he has a meeting set up with NYK. I expect Wade the least likely of any FA to move. - Rockets preparing to go hard after Bosh in FA and work a possible S&T of Kevin Martin for Joe Johnson - Celtics preparing to go after Mike Miller - Raja Bell wants to sign with Miami - Stephen A Smith changes his tune for the 3rd time in 6 days and says Bosh and LBJ to Miami is done - Knicks are high on Joe Johnson's list. Still loves D'Antoni - Per Newsday, Tony Parker has requested a trade to NYK. S&T for Curry and Wilson Chandler speculated.
Tony Parker to the Knicks with possibly Joe Johnson and Amar'e? Well...it would be interesting to say the least.
I believe Deng for Gortat was the deal that was discussed, not 100% sure though. Also was reported that the Clippers were offering their #8 for Deng and #17.
Not my first choice but if we got a shot blocking C I wouldnt complain. Id want to see something like: PG: parker/Douglas SG: Johnson SF: Gallo PF: Amare C: Good defensive C who can score a bit and rebound like a fiend...Camby would have been perfect but maybe a player like Boozer fits though I have no idea how that would work cap wise....Just throwing players out there that fit the description. Only the Clippers would ever consider such an idiotic deal...
I didnt know losing was a "style" In that case Deng fits in perfectly with the Clippers. Two other points on Lebron and the Knicks: 1. Lebron has said he wants his own movie company one day. Spike Lee is supposedly helping in the Lebron recruiting. He also said at one point he wants his own music company one day. P Diddy is coming to help recruit him. 2. Bill Simmons on Knicks: "Biggest market, great fans, most meaning. If LeBron saved professional basketball in New York and brought Knicks fans their first title since 1973? That's the best available accomplishment in team sports right now." Granted Bill Simmons is an idiot but he happens to be right here.
The Knicks are definitely a viable option. Him going to NY would just make the NBA so much bigger, which in turn makes him bigger. It will all come down to how these teams sell themselves to LeBron. I think whomever impresses him the most will get him. After 7 years with a franchise that was reactive and late to act, I'm sure he wants a team that will be proactive and creative. In regards to Deng, hes 25, tall, athletic, and has upside. Thats more than enough to interest some teams. If Dallas doesn't get a top tier FA, they'd be another candidate to trade for Deng. Maybe even Toronto.
He has to allow that team to be proactive and creative. LeBron had say in every single trade and signing with the Cavs. He also made sure to keep the pressure to be competitive every year by signing short deals. There was no opportunity to suck for a year or two - the Cavs were forced to sell the farm every off season. That is the dirty little secret about LeBron - there are a lot of rumors / grumbling that LeBron nixed a few deals that would have brought players / prospects to Cleveland.
I don't buy that for a second. If you know Danny Ferry, you know that he would have resigned long ago had that been the case. Did LeBron have say over moves? Of course. Every great player in the NBA does. But I don't believe that he was the one that told them to get Mo Williams, Jamison instead of Stoudamire, or sign Shaq a year too late. I doubt he had a hand in acquiring JJ Hickson or Delonte West. He wasn't the one that let the team get bent over by Carlos Boozer.
If he had a say in the moves then how could he also not be a factor in all of those acquisitions? Also - Mo is one of Bron's best friends on the team, Hickson was the 19th pick (good value there) and Kerr refused to trade Stoudamire. LeBron is the one (I will try to find the article that supports this) that told them to sign Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker rather than save cap space for another high-priced FA this offseason. He wanted to load up and go for it all this year rather than wait and be players in the offseason - which supports my theory that he doesn't allow for any rebuilding or pieces that take time to develop.
Wow. With all due respect you are completely clueless about the area around the arena, it's nowhere near as bad as you are trying to paint and I know the area well. Besides that most arenas/stadiums built in cities can say the same thing, take a look at Yankee Stadium and where it is and as I recall history shows they have no problem attracting high profile free agents. And this arena is more than just nice, it's a jewel and arguably one of best arenas in the country. Don't understand how this point is relevant to Lebron James since where ever he signs they will sellout game after game.
Apparently everywhere but Minnesota...... He was ****ing horrible. How come no one is talking about David Lee? Do you guys expect the Knicks to sign him? I think the Nets should push for him IMO.
He doesn't contest shots. So all pre-dominant m2m teams will pass for his price tag. I am a fan of his though.
With all due respect no im not. Id have to say I have been there over a dozen times. And youre comparing Yankee Stadium and the Yankee franchise which is iconic and the most storied sports franchiser to the Nyets? Gimme a break. The arena itself is beautiful...the surrounding area is only beautiful if you enjoy graffiti in gang colors. Its freakin Newark...I dont know how you can say its beautiful. Thats like saying Camden or Patterson is beautiful. In Lee's defense he sacrificed his own stats defensively for the good of the team. He played out of position at C for 2 years and opponents shot almost 58% vs him. He's a quality person on and off the court but if he's a Knick next year I will not be happy unless hes a 4th wheel somehow.
It baffles me how no one has offered Mark Jackson a coaching job yet. IMO the man knows the game and could prob. be an excellent Coach.
Ask the bum if he'd take Eddy Curry to college with him to teach him things like fundamentals, discipline, dieting...He liked Eddy so much the first time he shouldnt mind taking him the second. I swear the two of them have to be the two least liked people in NY right now. Without Curry's contract on the books for 11.3M next year we'd be sittin prettier....
I actually feel bad for the Knicks, especially the fans. You don't wait 2-3 years for Joe Johnson/Amare/Boozer (one or two of the three) The bigger names are clearly headed to CHI/MIA.
I cannot see New Orleans accepting a deal for Chris Paul that highlights Wilson Chandler or Danillo Gallinari.
Can anyone tell me who the clowns have said about every free agent on ESPN? The roundtable? I missed 25 mins of it.
Wouldnt trade Gallo anyway. There's but a handful of deadeye marksmen in the league and I think thats the path Gallo is headed down. Also hes the biggest draw to incoming FA's. Ive heard rumors in the last 24 hours of S&T's for Parker and Joe Johnson involving Curry and Willie Chandler heading the other way. We'll see what happens....cant wait. And I still havent given up on what I said would happen. FA Predictions: Wade: Miami Dirk: Dallas LBJ: NYK Bosh: NYK Johnson: Chicago Rudy Gay: Miami Amare: Miami Pierce: Boston (Has opted out) Ray Allen: Boston Tyson Chandler: Miami Haywood: NYK Good Players I expect to be dealt: Tony Parker Troy Murphy Gilbert Arenas Ben Gordon Monta Ellis Andrins Biedrins Rudy Fernandez
Im just not sure anyone takes that contract. Kahn is a wanna be shark but hes not that good at throwing the bait out there to get what he wants. He wants a star back for Jefferson but hes not getting a star back AND the cap relief.
I'll make my final predictions before midnight tomorrow... I want to have a few more discussions and hear a few more things.
I think the Amare and Johnson package to the Knicks makes the most sense as it re-unites them with D'Antoni whom Walsh seems to really believe in.
I am intrigiued by Paul Pierce opting out. I assume he stays with Boston, but he may see the writing on the wall there (older, window is closed) and opt to join a team where he can ride the coattails to another ring or two. I haven't checked the Lakers boards yet to see what they would think about him as the MLE (not that he would take it) but I would tend to think that I wouldn't be ok with him on my Lakers.
After his playoff performance and not being able to hold off Erick Dampier down the stretch in Dallas Im not so sure Haywood gets much more then maybe 3M per. His stats on Washington prior to getting hurt werent bad but always be wary of a good player on a bad team let alone an average player on a bad team. Youre assuming Amare liked playing for D'Antoni which depends on what you read. Its been said that Mike liked Amare but the feeling wasnt always mutual. Personally I dont think theres a chance in hell that Amare doesnt sign with the Heat. Just imo. I know Riley loves him, Wade loves him and hes from that area...just makes sense. Doubt Pierce opted out of his final year at 21.5M to even consider the MLE. Bidding for him, in my opinion, starts at 4years/60.
Oh I know, I was just fantasy GMing for a second. 21.5 million...wowzers. Ainge kind of hinted that Pierce might be going elsewhere, which is, i suppose another fallback option for whatever team comes up short in the FA arms race.
