Just wanted to update you guys on the NBA news. There hasn't been much the last couple days and there isn't much today. The only news is that the Cavs are after Sixers Louis Williams. A deal would start around 3.9 million a year I believe. Also, Brad Miller to Chicago may be a possibility and Deng signed an extension with the Bulls worth $71-81 million over 6 years.
If he gets yao to rap he should change careers to a language tutor because anyone who has heard yao speak english lately...well its not very good.
I've heard worse. But yea, Artest has a future in language tutoring if he succeeds. Though I still think Yao might rap poorly.
Early Morning Headlines Bulls Want Gordon Part Of Team But Exploring Trade? The Chicago Bulls and Guard Ben Gordon have had contract talks that are starting at approximately $10 million a year. The team has explored sign-and-trade deals but state that they want Gordon part of the team. The latest contract talks are reported at a six year deal worth $60 million. That is the Bulls offer but Gordon and his representatives may be thinking otherwise. Only a day ago, the team signed teammate Loul Deng to a deal believed to be worth $10 million a year. (Link) Bulls Looking To Move Hughes? The Chicago Bulls have learned that there is interest from teams in Larry Hughes. Hughes has a hefty contract and the Bulls are willing to swap bad contract for bad contract. The team is reported to be interested in swapping for Joel Pryzbilla of the Blazers, Knicks Jared Jeffries, Dallas' Erick Dampier and Kenyon Martin of the Nuggets. (Link) Clippers Sign Former Sun & Other News The Los Angeles Clippers have added more depth in the front court by acquiring forward Brian Skinner via free agency. The terms of the deal are not known. Skinner was the 22nd overall pick by the Clippers in the 1998 NBA draft. (Link) The Clippers are having discussions with Shaun Livingston and forward Paul Davis. The team has also had talks with free agent Center Francisco Elson. Elson, former Spur and Nugget, has played with three teams in five NBA seasons. (Link) Sixers, Williams Agree On Deal Philadelphia 76ers and free agent Guard Louis Williams have agreed to a 5 year deal. Additional terms of the deal are unknown. (Link) I think its interesting that Williams signed with Philly that quickly. Only a day ago he was getting interest from the Cavaliers. I think they would have paid him same money as they gave Daniel Gibson. I expect Williams' deal to be worth around 30-35 milliion.
I wonder if the Lakers showed any interest in Skinner. It looks like they may have to stay put with the big men on the roster as not much is available out there. I was just looking through the list and didn't see any names that would garner interest from the Lakers. Even Sean Marks was signed lol.
I dunno if they did but it'd be stupid if they didn't. Skinner would've been the perfect stopgap replacement for Ronny. Blocks shots and shows intensity with not too bad an offensive game. Mitch seems to be going back to his pre-2007 form.
I am interested to see what happens in Pheonix. New coach, new schemes. You know Shaq and Nash have to be one step out the door as it is.
I would think Williams got more than the midlevel deal. After all, Monta Ellis got 6 years and $66M, and Williams is essentially a slightly worse version of the same player.
Shawn Kemp is headed to Europe? Wow, maybe Kwame Brown ISN'T too dumb to play there. In any event, I, for one, welcome our new Kemp Family overlords.
$71M over 6 years. I agree, that seems high for a guy who will never be more than the second or (more likely) third best player on a good team.
They're supposedly trying to play defense now, like that's going to happen lol. I can't see him getting similar money to Ellis. He was getting offered $4 million a year by the Cavaliers and there wasn't a big market for him. I think the Clippers may have shown interest in him but that's about the only teams I can recall. I'm looking at six to eight million a year for him over 5 years which puts up at $30-$40 million. Btw, I can't believe the Bulls are pondering paying Gordon ten million a year. Are they crazy?
NBA News: Pierce: Worlds Best Player? Celtics Forward Paul Pierce was asked if he thought NBA MVP Kobe Bryant was the best player in the world and Pierce said no. He said he feels that he is the worlds best player and he says he's not conceited, he's confident. (Link) Bulls Looking To Move Nocioni & Hinrich League sources say that the Bulls have expressed interest in acquiring Kings Center Brad Miller. Also, the team is looking to move Andres Nocioni, who has four years left on his deal worth $29 million, and Kirk Hinrich, who has $44.5 million and 5 years left on his contract. (Link) Wade A Bull? In the 2010 market, there will be several big names and teams pursuing them. Those names include Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James. Every player has already been rumored to be interested in teams, LeBron in NY and NJ, Bosh in the Magic and now Wade to the Chicago Bulls is being talked. Wade has never fully committed to finishing his career as a Heat and has said that " a lot can happen in the next two years". (Link) Jason Williams Likely Headed Overseas Former Heat Point Guard Jason Williams is in serious discussions with Tel Aviv of the Israel league. Williams is asking for three million a year and the team is looking at 1.5 million a year. The former Heat has been told by his previous team that they may be interested in bringing him back at a discount rate that would be around 1.3-2 million range. (Link)
No, Pierce is conceited. It's easy to look good against Vlad and Luke. The best debate revolves around Kobe, LeBron, Wade in that order. I guess Kupchak failed again. 2007-08 must've been a fluke year for him.
If that's all he's being offered, he should take a one year tender and re-enter the market. He's not the player Ellis is, but he's not terribly far off, either. Hey, come on. Any time you can get a streak shooter who relies disproportionately on the three point shot, can't rebound or defend and doesn't have a natural position on the floor, $10M a year is great value, even if there's absolutely no other market for his services. Can you cross-post this in the Heat thread? I want to see if you can make 126's head explode.
Talk is that Ben Gordon and the Bulls are at differences on the contract negotiations. The team is reportedly offering between $8 million and $9.9 million while Gordon wants Okafor money at $12 million a year. The Bulls aren't doing it... for now. We'll see how this situation develops over the next week.
Also forgot to add that the Magic and Adonal Foyle have agreed on a deal worth $1.3 million over one year. Also, their is no market for the Nets Stromile Swift and Sean Williams. As you all know, they have been trying to move the two. Nobody is after them.
Damnit Mitch. We need a 6'10-6'9 reserve PF who can rebound and block shots with intensity and maybe shoot a bit. Missed out on Skinner, Foyle, and Thomas. And don't tell me they're relying on Lorenzo Mata-Real (even he doesn't know if he's good enough for the team!)
I wouldn't trade anything more than fodder for them though. Because we have a mid-level exception and low level exception to throw around so we need to sign people rather than trade for them.
That's true. I don't understand why they are trying to move the two guys in the first place. Sure, they have seven big men on the team but I believe two are rookies, two are bench players and a guy whose offensive minded only and is soft in Yi. Add that Najera has never played a full season and a possible injury this season to one of them, they could be down to 4 or 5 guys.
We pretty much only have 4-5 guys outselves (Pau, Bynum, Mihm, Odom, Vlad) and the latter two are pushing it.
Yeah, I don't know how good that is considering Bynum is coming back from an injury. If he isn't full healthy and Mihm is injured again, there could be trouble.
He is 6'10, doesn't play like it though... Oh and we have Mbenga... I know Mitch is trying to pull for some deals but he's got two exceptions that he can sign players with regardless of whatever he tries to get.
NBA News Greek Team To Go After LeBron? Cavaliers Forward LeBron James becomes a free agent in 2010 and teams have already started preparing for him. Teams such as the Knicks have been trying to clear cap space. The latest one is the Olympiakos of Greece. LeBron is expected to receive around $20 million a year from teams in 2010 but the Greek powerhouse may be offering up to $50 million a year for his services. The New York Yankees of European basketball are well over the payroll and lose millions annually but they say it doesn't bother them a long as they win games. (Link) Mavericks Howard Arrested Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard was arrested for reckless driving, speed competition and driving over the speed limit when he was caught drag racing in his hometown. Howard was driving 94 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. He has a court appearance scheduled for September 23rd. Bobby Phills of the Charlotte Hornets in 2000 was killed in a drag racing accident after his car spun out when he was behind Guard David Wesley.(Link)
interesting decision for lebron..does he want to stay in USA, get rings and become one of the greatest of all-time. or does he place "first billionaire athlete" ahead of his nba legacy.
50 million is a ton but Lebron makes a much away from basketball as playing it. I am not sure he would risk all his American exposure and marketing deals for 30 million more from Greece.
