So the face of your franchise and your most beloved player, Baron Davis, skipped town. And your top replacement target, Gilbert Arenas, re-signed with his club. And the next big target on your radar just spurned you and hopped over to the East for more money. So who do you turn to, after inking an aging small forward for a bit of cash while you try and convince Monta Ellis to stick around?
The Warriors have come to a verbal agreement with Lakers restricted free agent Ronny Turiaf on a four year deal worth an estimated $17 million. As he is a restricted free agent, the Lakers have seven days to match the Warriors offer.
It's an interesting signing, because if the Warriors are able to pry him away from the purple and gold, he provides a number of things they lack. Along with Corey Maggette, Turiaf represents a greater commitment to defense. In addition, Turiaf can actually rebound, which the Warriors failed miserably at last season. He does make sense with their system though, as he's a high energy guy who can come in and play a few minutes or more, and is extremely flexible and provides a spark. He's also a fan favorite that would fit in with the Warriors scrappy image. That is if the fans haven't all thrown themselves off a bridge after Baron left.
After being left at the alter by both Baron Davis and Elton Brand, the Warriors finally found someone willing to take their money: Corey Maggette. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, Maggette agreed to a five-year, $50 million deal immediately after the Warriors learned that Brand had committed to the 76ers. Interestingly enough, he apparently jumped on the offer before giving the Clippers, who were also spurned by Brand, a chance to retain him.
Until this opening with Golden State, it looked like Maggette's best options involved taking the mid-level exception from one of the handful of interested contenders pursuing him, including the Spurs, Celtics, Pistons and Magic. He'll make a lot more money with the Warriors, but he'll also win a lot fewer games -- instead of battling for a title, he'll be in a fight to simply make the playoffs.
That said, it's not fair to say this simply came down to money, as the Warriors were also able to offer a lot more playing time than anyone else. With those other contenders, Maggette would have been a fourth or fifth option in the starting lineup -- if not relegated to the role of a super sub. But with the Warriors, Maggette has a chance to be "The Man," especially with Monta Ellis almost certainly taking on more of a distributor role in Davis' absence.
Not everyone thinks Maggette is up for being a team's No. 1 option, but it's hard to argue with his production or the fact that he's a perfect fit for Nellieball. He's uber-athletic and can shoot from long-distance, and while his defense is underrated, he won't be asked to play much under Don Nelson anyway. The Warriors still need a legitimate big man, but the Warriors could have done a lot worse than snagging Maggette.
For much of the last week, most basketball fans assumed that Elton Brand was either going to a) re-sign with the Clippers; or b) grab the pile of money that Baron Davis left behind with the Warriors. Instead, he surprised everyone by choosing c) none of the above, leaving behind the Western Conference entirely in favor of the 76ers. From the Los Angeles Times:
Elton Brand has reached a verbal agreement to sign a multiyear contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, according to an NBA source who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on player movements.
The deal is believed to be in the $80-million range and expected to span five years.
Okay, this wasn't a complete surprise -- there were rumblings last night that this might be a possibility, and Philly's salary dump of a trade earlier today was obviously setting up a larger move -- but it has to feel like a kick in the ribs to Clippers fans dreaming of Brand and B.Dizzle leading the Clips back to the playoffs.
Until the last 48 hours or so, the Sixers were believed to be focusing most of their interest on Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith, but the addition of Brand, who's much more polished offensively, and the expected return of Andre Iguodala, who's a restricted free agent himself, makes the 76ers instant contenders in the East with an intriguing core of youth and experience. This is a team that gave the Pistons fits in the first round this past year even without a legitimate low-post scoring threat. If Brand regains his All-Star form and Philly's youngsters continue to develop, there's no telling what kind of damage they can do in 2007-08.
Though the Blazers (or more likely, their insurance company) still have to pay the man, that doom and gloom prognosis allowed the team to shave the remaining $18 million he's due over the next two years off the salary cap. But there's a catch: in order for the Blazers to stay in the clear, Miles can't return to the NBA -- or more specifically, he can't appear in at least 10 games over the next two years.
Trouble is, that's exactly what he's trying to do. The Boston Globe says he had "an impressive workout" with the Celtics, and the East Valley Tribune reports(via Shoals) the Suns have also inquired about his services. If he can convince some team out there to take a chance on him and he sees even spot duty this year, he could end up sabotaging Portland's master plan.
What are the chances he actually has any game left? If you remember, Miles proclaimed himself "90% healthy" last December when he was cleared to resume conditioning drills with his teammates, and it wasn't until problems with his Achilles tendon surfaced that he was officially ruled out last year.
Elton Brand has a generous offer on the table to stay with the Clippers, and an even larger offer on the table to bolt for the Warriors. But while most of the discussion surrounding his options has centered on those two teams, it's at least possible that he might bolt California completely and head back east.
That's crazy talk, right? Probably, but according to ESPN's Marc Stein, the 76ers have officially thrown their hat in the ring. It's true the Sixers have been connected to restricted free agent Josh Smith since the offseason began, but the team wants to do it's due diligence by gauging Brand's interest before tying up their finances by signing Smith to an offer sheet and waiting seven days while the Hawks decide if they're going to match it or not.
I can't say I'm completely surprised -- Smith has all the potential in the world, but Brand is a proven product and (when healthy) one of the most consistent big men in the game today. Smith would make the Sixers a joy to watch; Brand would get the Sixers out of the first round.
It's entirely possible that your last enduring memory of Brent Barry as a Spur will be that last shot where he tried to actually hit the shot instead of flopping. Not the way you want to be remembered in a championship city like San Antonio, but that might just be the way it is. Because Barry very quietly opted out of his contract last week .
That means that Brent Barry, Michael Finley, Robert Horry, and Kurt Thomas could all be somewhere besides San Antonio next season. Barry is particularly interesting, though. He's got better legs than the others, and showed in the playoffs that not only can he still create his own shot, which the others cannot, but he also can still play some defense and work within an offensive system. With veterans such a big part of Boston's championship run, it would make sense that a player like Barry can still get top dollar.
Of course, this could be another Brent Barry swerve job by the Spurs. The Spurs traded Barry last year to Seattle to get Kurt Thomas, only to resign him when Barry opted out. Could this be a similar deal in order for San Antonio to put a more competitive offer for Corey Maggette?
It's not rare to hear old school sportswriters complain about their lack of access to athletes these days. Lately, I'm starting to wonder if that's just because they haven't figured out how to use email. Over the last couple of weeks, Ron Artest has emailed the media near daily updates on his contract status.
That's how he told the world he "probably won't" opt out, and that he'll "never accept a mid-level exception." Days later he hinted he might opt out after all, saying "I never knew so many teams would be coming after me. Just hours after officially deciding to stay put, he emailed ESPN's Marc Stein, saying, "I think I made the biggest mistake by staying in my contract." That last bombshell attracted quite a bit of attention -- it's not often you see a player publicly admit to having cold feet so soon -- and this morning he emailed an explanation to Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee:
"I made the comment about making a mistake on my opt out clause because I really did make a mistake. I had wrong info about extension options and it could have cost me a new deal. I was informed that the kings had me in their long term plans so that's why I decided to stay in contract. I just wanted to show loyalty. However when I spoke to the kings that was not an option and I grew frustrated with my decision immediately. I do apologize for being mistakenly frustrated with the kings. It was a mistake that I made and I will move on from. I dont know my future but I'm still a King Haters:)"
Take that for what you will. That smiley face at the end of the last sentence confounds me (does he hate the Kings or not?), but now we know the backstory: he thought he'd be rewarded for being loyal and he's disappointed that's not the case. Does this mean he'd welcome a trade? Methinks this isn't the last email Artest will send this summer.
There are not many things in this world that make me enjoy Manu Ginobili. What can I say? I'm opposed to floppy, flopping mcfloppersons. But I will give credit to this new Nike commercial (via Skeets) which makes Manu seem, immortal aside, kind of likable.
Nike, who has quietly been on fire for the past, oh, 20 years, gets another +1 for not making me despise Manu's flopping as much as I normally do.
Several months after he was expected to be back to full speed, starting for the Lakers, Andrew Bynum has been cleared for conditioning. According to a report in the OC Register, Bynum is officially on track for his comeback. He's staying in New York two more weeks working on rehab, then heading down to Atlanta to train.
After every open field goal the Lakers allowed under the basket in the playoffs, and there were many, many of those, Lakers fans would note that the problem would be fixed next year with the return of Bynum beside Gasol and Odom. Getting Bynum clear of any complications with the knee well before training camp is a positive step in that direction. If the Lakers are going to bounce back from a fairly humiliating Finals, they need Bynum to be the unstoppable force in the middle that prevents easy baskets, lets Pau Gasol drift around the elbows, and does that whole rebounding thing the Lakers have so much trouble with.
Coming back from knee surgery has never been considered easy, but with the advances in medicine over the last ten years, it's easier than it ever has been. And if Bynum can manage to come back full strength, the Lakers will boost an already formidable position as the favorite to win the 2008-2009 NBA title.
Chris Paul is considered a member of that group of players that includes Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and others at the elite level, all of which had contracts set to expire after 2009/2010 through a variety of mechanisms. It would appear that at least one of them is happy where he's at.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune is reporting that Paul and the Hornets have agreed in principle to a three-year extension, with an option for a fourth year that brings the total value to $68 million dollars. The deal will keep him with the Hornets a while longer. It's a huge signing for the smaller market Hornets, and gives them a foundation for success for the next five years.
On a day where sadness seems to pervade the Internet regarding the Sonics departure from Seattle, its ironic that such a feel-good story as Paul signing a long term deal with what was a struggling franchise happens. Why? Because without the overwhelming and enthusiastic support of the citizens of Oklahoma City who did such a dastardly thing as "actually coming to the games," the Hornets might not have gotten enough support to even stay in New Orleans, where people are now actually coming to the games. Interesting. Of course, on the flip side, if it hadn't been for Paul's outstanding play, Oklahoma City may not have gotten so enthused about the NBA, which precipitated Clay Bennett's chicanery. It's the circle of life. Or at least greed, money, and marketability.
So the face of your franchise and your most beloved player, Baron Davis, skipped town. And your top replacement target, Gilbert Arenas, re-signed with his club. And the next big target on your radar just spurned you and hopped over to the East for more money. So who do you turn to, after inking an aging small forward for a bit of cash while you try and convince Monta Ellis to stick around? 
After being left at the alter by both 
For much of the last week, most basketball fans assumed that 
It's entirely possible that your last enduring memory of 
It's not rare to hear old school sportswriters complain about their lack of access to athletes these days. Lately, I'm starting to wonder if that's just because they haven't figured out how to use email. Over the last couple of weeks, 
Several months after he was expected to be back to full speed, starting for the Lakers, 
