It looks like Maggette pretty much has his pick of contenders: Detroit, San Antonio, Cleveland, maybe Boston, they're all throwing their mid-level exception at him. I think San Antonio is the most likely spot among those, but who knows? And as an aside, not to be a grammar nazi, but you get notoriety for doing something bad, not good. For example, Michael Jackson didn't gain notoriety for selling zillions of records, he gained notoriety for allegedly molesting children. Did Boston actually tender their full mid level to him? I didn't think they did. If Golden State offers $10M a year, then there's no further discussion needed. Frankly, I think that's much higher than they need to go. Why blow everyone else out of the water? Just do enough to get the guy. Starting an offer at $7M per year should be enough to get him with everyone else only able to give up the MLE. If they give up $10M, they're doing the exact same thing Orlando did with Lewis; giving up much more than they need to give to get the job done.
I look at Gordon and I see Cuttino Mobley, the sequel. I don't even know whether that's a compliment or an insult. I'm actually responding to alen's deleted post here: the Warriors, 76ers and Grizzlies are all far enough under the cap to offer more than the $5.8M mid level. I think the Bobcats might be too, but it doesn't matter since: a. they're loaded with wings, b. Michael Jordan is a terrible executive, c. Bob Johnson is cheap and d. they're trying to sign Okafor to a long-term deal.
Yep. They offered him the full mle. Maggette now has shifted his focus on all the offers, and not just the Spurs. He is pondering the Celtics offer. When he opted out, he left $7 million on the table. I am not sure how much would he want from them. I think he would take the $7 million because it would be the best offer.
I can see him turning down slightly more money for the chance to play for a winner. He knows what losing is like, is worth playing for a lottery team for a years for a mill more?
Yeah but this is ten million a year compared to six million. If GS gets him, I think they can compete for the eight spot in the West.
Knicks' new leadership has a plan http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/ian_thomsen/07/07/nba0707/index.html?eref=T1
Yeah and 76ers and Warriors are the ones who will be making a push to sign Maggette. 76ers have $11 million under the cap but a good amount of that will be directed toward Nenad Krstic, Josh Smith and Josh Childress. If they were to sign the three, they would barely have any cap left, if any. The Warriors have a lot of cap now with Davis gone. I heard it was at $25 million but I'm not sure. That might explain the possible $10 million a year offer to Maggette.
I think he'd be more valuable in San Antonio b/c the Spurs need to get a shooter while at the same time getting younger. The Cavs need more scoring but they also need better big men. I have no clue what Maggette will do. If he wants money, he won't be going to SA.
I meant if GS just tried to offer a bit more, like someone else suggested. I can see him turning down a mill or so more a year, so GS probably has to up the offer by at least a decent amount imo. They also wouldnt want to get embarrassed by losing out to another guy they offered more money to
Lol, I agree but that is what some teams are doing (Knicks). If they do this whole firesale, call it that I guess, and fail to acquire LeBron or one of the top FA's, what do they do then? They spent two years trying to get rid of players and trying to sign players to two year deals, so basically they wasted two years of the rebuilding plan.
Ooo ok. I understand now, sorry about that. Yeah, he apparently wants to go to a contender so he can get his ring. But man, I wonder how the Warriors can take all of this. Every player they turn to denies them. Now even their own player (Ellis) is talking about how he wants to play in NY out of all places lol. I would feel like complete **** if I was them LOL.
The Cavs do need better big men, but they got 3 through the draft. They won't be signing another unless thy fix their scorers.
Well at the very least you figure youre going to rebuild with kids, players who are hungry to prove themselves not just hungry for lunch. You know who Im talkin about? Hey hey hey its Fat Eddy. At the very least you give yourself flexibility to make the moves necessary when the time comes which is exactly what Boston did. They gave up, what, 9 players to acquire 2? How'd that work out for them? Pretty good if you ask me. So if you clear the cap space you can then do what you need to do to build a winner. The harder thing is to find people willing to accept those contracts but this league is so devoid of talent I dont think they'll have much of a problem. The Knicks problem has never been talent, its finding people who can motivate that talent. But Im thinking the loser of the "Maggette for MLE" sweepstakes may have some interest in acquiring Fat Eddy or Zach Randolph for expiring contracts/picks. And it wouldnt be a bad consolation prize because lets face it neither one of those guys has ever had a coach worth a squat or played for a winner. Who wouldnt be interested in seeing what one of the most talented players in the league, Zach Randolph, could do with say Greg Popovich or someone of that caliber coaching him?
I completely agree with the bold. They have a few players coming off by 2010. Your right about the clearing of the cap space. I think players will want to play in D'Antoni's system. If they get Monta Ellis by then which I think they will, they will be interesting. They could build around him and a future forward. Gallinari will be experienced so he should be playing well. Ellis and him could be a nice combo. Get a PG off the market (I don't have the list in front of me, its on another page of the FA's). I think the Knicks could be a playoff team but not before possibly the 2011 season. Good point. The only problem I see with Randolph getting shipped is that he has baggage. Not just the lack of motivation on the defensive end but off the court. The guy is always at the wrong places. I know you just used Randolph as an example but if he was to be shipped, that would be a problem. Eddy Curry is a very talented player. If he was motivated, the guy can put up good numbers.
If they had clauses in their contracts that allow coaches to use electric cattle prods in practice and games, they'd be worth the investment.
Lol. This is a dream-scenario but I really wonder what kind of season the Knicks would put together if they had the players motivated and playing up to their potential. Marbury at the point while Curry and Randolph man the front.
Marbury is done, IMO. He has no interest in playing anymore. Him and Francis have turned into such wastes of talent.
He's the embodiment of the preferential treatment given to star players by referees. He allows himself to settle for an outside shot when he should be driving to the paint. His game has little substance and is the product of hype built up for nearly a decade by the sports media--for crying out loud, they broadcast his high school games on national TV. And then there's that ridiculous house...
I agree with that. I want Wade or Bosh in the summer of 10 more then Lebron. Not that Id complain with Lebron. But youre right there are other players who are much more creative and have a lot more substance to their games. Lebron can be unstoppable until he stops himself though one has to admit his lack of supporting cast hurts him. there is no Pippen, no Gasol, nary even a Lamar Odom. Instead there is Big Z and Wally World who couldnt even play for the team that used to be in seattle.
My points relate to the fact that Randolph and Curry don't need only cattle prods they need teachers and a better environment. everywhere those guys have played has been unstable. Curry had to follwo in jordan's footsteps with huge expectations as a high schooler hyped as the next shaq. He was Lebron before Lebron was as they showed some of his high school games too. Randolph came in to the league surrounded by the Jail Blazers and from there goes to that Knick regime? I think if you put either of those guys in a more stable environment like SA or even Boston where other players have the leadership role and you're looking at them completely differently and they would be completely different as complimentary pieces rather then pieces with the expectation of carrying a franchise something neither has showed they are capable of. Also, in relation to ellis, I do expect it to happen sooner then expected. By the summer of 10 a starting backcourt of Ellis and Wade or Bron (crawford as a 6th?) with Gallinari-PF-C up front would be very enticing as I think both Gallinari and Ellis have all star potential.
That may be, but there's the big motivation factor. All the teachers and environments in the world can't really help your inner personal motivation. Kwame Brown had all the help he could get in LA (change of environment, a better coach, friendly and close teammates) but fizzled while Bynum succeeded in the same environment. As the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink....unless you torture it.
I don't think a supporting cast would fix his problems, because I don't see him being unselfish with the ball even with solid players around him.
Right but until the player has had a variation in the environments hes been in you cant say its all bad. Fact is Zach Randolph has never been in a stable environment and while he has to take accountability for his roles in the instability he also brought to the table it might be a different story in the type of environment where there wasnt so much negativity going on around him.
I'm not sure if this was posted before, but it looks like Corey favors the Spurs deal if no other team steps up and offers more than the MLE. http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/53417/20080707/maggette_likes_midlevel_offer_from_spurs/
Looks like the 6ers are going to make a push for Brand since they traded away Carney and Booth. That freed up $2mill and another prospect is Josh Smith formerly of the Hawks to fill the big forward need.
Thanks for the info bro. I think they have no shot or are a longshot to get Brand. Brand will likely be back in LA. However, I think there could be a very good chance they get Josh Smith.
NBA News: New Bucks acquisition Richard Jefferson says that it is a great opportunity to play in Milwaukee. He states that he left a situation in New Jersey that wasn't the best one because of the plan for 2010 and the move to Brooklyn. He also questioned if he was wanted in NJ but has moved on. When Gilbert Arenas was asked what his top players in the league were, he stated they were Billups of Detroit, Garnett, Tim Duncan and Dwight Howard. Asked who he thought was the hardest to guard, Arenas said Steve Nash of the Suns because of all the pick and rolls he does. Bobcats Forward Emeka Okafor is regretting turning down last years offer of $12 million a year from the Bobcats. The Bobcats and the Forward have not had any negotiations of a contract but have had discussions. The New Orleans Hornets have targeted Celtics James Posey. It doesn't seem likely that the Hornets can acquire Posey without a full mid-level exception offer. It is unlikely that the Pistons will lure Maggette. Maggette is asking for more than the mid-level exception. Maggette's top choices remain San Antonio and Boston. The NBA will be releasing their updated salary cap figures tonight. Tomorrow is the first official signing day. SI.com
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3477424 What I find interesting is that there are now reports stating that Brand would love to play on the East coast. That could change this whole thing and my thoughts as I have been stating that he would go back to LA. I still think he will but it twists it around lol.
