Washington tastes all flavors of bad. The Wizards will almost assuredly end the season among the three worst teams in the league; as such, the team is due at least a top-six pick, with the probability skewing toward Picks No. 2-4.
As Bullets Forever's Mike Prada identified a month ago, Washington also faces a devastating cap figure for 2009-10. Owner Abe Pollin isn't one of these brave billionaires who can afford a $100-million payrolls. So, the Wizards really need to cut at least $8 million of '09-10 salary. Once Thursday passes, the degree of difficulty will become much greater.
But based on reports, it seems instead of unloading expensive veteran Antawn Jamison or hot prom date Caron Butler, the team is considering trying to attach a bad contract to the high pick to slink under the tax while maintaining a talent base.
Last night, it appeared Memphis would send Javaris Crittenton to Washington for the right to undo 2007's Juan Carlos Navarro trade, in which the Wizards claimed a conditional first round pick from the Grizz. But the Hornets got involved in the swap, which resulted in some meaningful player movement: along with the aforementioned move, the Wiz took Mike James back in exchange for Antonio Daniels, who heads to NOLA. The Washington Post's Ivan Carter is among those reporting that the deal is official.
This has already been one of the most active trade deadlines in recent memory, and the Hornets, despite sitting pretty as the current No. 1 seed, didn't want to miss out on any fun. They didn't shake up their roster by adding a Jason Kidd or a Shaquille O'Neal or a Pau Gasol, but they are on the verge of making a smaller move that will nonetheless improve the team, sending Bobby Jackson to the Rockets for Bonzi Wells and Mike James.
Check out Jonathan Feigen's article in the Houston Chronicle for the fine print -- the Rockets are also getting rookie guard Adam Haluska, as well as the right to swap second-round picks -- but the real gist of it is that the Hornets will be adding some much needed depth while the Rockets are gaining a bit more salary flexibility. This deal is all but official -- it's just waiting the league office to open and grant it's stamp of approval.
This isn't just a straight salary dump for the Rockets -- Jackson does have some game left, and it helps that he's familiar with coach Rick Adelman from their time together back in Sacramento's heyday. But from where I sit, the Hornets are getting the better end of the deal. Both James and Wells are underrated reserves capable of making an instant impact on both ends of the court, especially with a needed change of scenery. Plus, they both have playoff experience, which will be important not only in the actual postseason but also in the stretch run as the Hornets try to hold off the five other teams within three games of their top seed.
Please be advised: Mascots are hilarious, especially giant, comedic bears (Bear City, anyone?). Mike James is a very funny man. The golf course is no place for bloodsport. Stir it all together and you've got one heck of a Rockets promo video.
That big point guard morass in Houston has a substantial new ripple: The perceived veteran on his way out -- Rafer Alston -- has knocked Rick Adelman's socks off, says Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. Actually, I've followed Adelman for about a decade and I don't remember him fawning over anyone like this before, except maybe Doug Christie.
"He's a smart player," Adelman said. "He picked the offense up as quick as anybody out there. He thinks things through. He not only knows where he's supposed to go, he knows where everybody is supposed to be. And he's very unselfish. He isn't going to force anything. He's been a perfect fit, so far."
So is Alston the leader to be Houston's starter, no matter how evident it was Daryl Morey wanted to ship him out over the summer? Rafer will clearly defend better than Mike James or Steve Francis (and let's leave Aaron Brooks out of this -- Adelman hates rookies). They don't need a ton of offense from the front line PG, just someone to make open shots and get the ball to the playmakers. Alston's always been able to hit the three -- his poor shooting percentage comes from his poor finishing ability around the rim. In Adelman's system, he won't need to get to the rim. He'll need to occasionally run a pick and pop with Yao Ming, wait for Tracy McGrady to kick it out, etc. He's a 'perfect fit' because he can do the things Adelman needs him to do.
At last count, there were five of them on the roster: Mike James, Rafer Alston, John Lucas, Steve Francis, and Aaron Brooks. Plus there's Luther Head, capable of manning the point, and Bob Sura, still under contract. What's even more astonishing--James, Francis and Brooks were all brought in this summer. Common sense said that someone had to go, most like Alston after his brusheswith the law.
But according to the Rockets themselves, there's no problem whatsoever. For one thing, it's still training camp, and there's no such thing as real minutes yet. More importantly, though, is that in Rick Adelman's offense this might not be a problem. From The Houston Chronicle:
For much of the practice time, Adelman has had two point guards playing together. Even if someone is designated the point guard, the duties of both guards in the halfcourt sets are usually interchangeable. In the open floor, either could receive an outlet pass and direct the offense.
Rafer took it one step further:
"I think our offense, as long as you're making hard cuts and good picks, anybody can handle the ball, anybody can come off scoring
Houston has one of the league's best big men and is thinking title. They're not going to trot out some four-guard experiment, nor are these the guard to do that with. But as James points out, all these guys are good, and good player are good players. Why not make talent work for you instead of looking for excuses to run it out of town?
Steve Francis has spurned the Clippers, Heat and Mavericks to return to his original team, the Grizzlies err, the first team he ever played for, the Rockets. From the Houston Chronicle:
"I just hung up with Daryl (Morey, the Rockets general manager)," [Francis' agent Jeff] Fried said. "He is dealing with facilitating the contract.
"It's a combination of a variety of factors including the fit with the team, a comfortableness with the organization and a familiarity with the surroundings. He has a home in Houston. In so many ways, it has remained his home, despite some interim stops, Orlando and New York.
"For Steve, it's coming home."
A lot of people (including myself) figured Francis was a shoe-in to sign with the Clippers, where he would be reunited with man-friend Cuttino Mobley. But as FanHouse reader cdrive pointed out, Francis has a pretty good friendship with Yao Ming, as well, which may have been a factor.
Either way, he now becomes the fifth point guard on the roster, joining Mike James, Rafer Alston, John Lucas and rookie Aaron Brooks. Needless to say, don't be surprised if the Rockets aren't done dealing, as they could certainly stand to thin out some of that bloated backcourt depth.
Washington tastes all flavors of bad. The Wizards will almost assuredly end the season among the three worst teams in the league; as such, the team is due at least a top-six pick, with the probability skewing toward Picks No. 2-4.
Last night, it appeared Memphis would send 
This has already been one of the most active trade deadlines in recent memory, and the Hornets, despite sitting pretty as the current No. 1 seed, didn't want to miss out on any fun. They didn't shake up their roster by adding a 
That big 
At last count, there were five of them on the roster: 
Steve Francis has spurned the Clippers, Heat and Mavericks to return to 
