Artest Going To The Rockets

July 30, 2008

The Houston Rockets, a team that is already good defensively and a team that was able to win without Yao Ming just got better. They have worked out a deal to bring Ron Artest to Houston. The Rockets played half of their season without Yao Ming but where able to still make the playoffs.

With Artest and Battier defending wings and Yao and Mutombo blocking shots this team will be even better defensively next year. I would put them as the best team in the West right now above the Lakers just because they play much better defense then the Lakers play.

Written by Dre · Filed Under Houston Rockets, NBA | Leave a Comment

Warriors Making Moves But Are They Better?

July 28, 2008

The Golden State Warriors have made a ton of moves this summer. They added Turiaf, Maggette, and Marcus Williams. They resigned Azubuike, Ellis, and Biedrins. They lost Baron and Pietrus. They plan to start Ellis, Maggette, Jackson, Harrington, and Biedrins. On the bench the have Williams, Turiaf, Brendan Wright, Azubuike, Belinelli, and Anthony Randolph.

Compared to last year they are not a better team because they have a inexperienced and young bench. They also have a guy running point that isn’t as great a ball handler as a point guard should be. This is a team that won 50 games last year but it is like they are trying to get younger )rebuild) and yet get pieces to win at the same time.

If the Warriors wanted to get younger and rebuild they should have brought in all young guys. If they want to win now they should have kept Baron and brought in veterans that they know can play.

Written by Dre · Filed Under Golden State Warriors, NBA | Leave a Comment

Vujacic Resigns With LA

July 26, 2008

The LA Lakers resigned Sasha Vujacic to a 3 year deal worth $15 million. He was supposedly looking for a 4 year deal worth $24 million. He also had some overseas offers which might have scared the Lakers into offering more money. They were offering about $4 million a year before bumping it up to $5 million a year.

Written by Dre · Filed Under Los Angeles Lakers, NBA | Leave a Comment

How Long Before A Star Goes Overseas?

July 24, 2008

The way things are set up with international basketball player not only get money but in some cases they have their taxes paid, the get cars, they get drivers, and the get homes. If a star player got offer all of those things plus $25 or $30 millions a year would they take. It is hard to say for sure because with the NBA comes endorsements which could match or exceed any tax free deal overseas.

It is easy to see why Childress took it. It is more money than he would have gotten in the NBA. He is not a guy that was going to start for the Hawks. He is not a guy that was going to be able to pad his check with endorsements. Overseas he is a star.

Also remember last year a Greek team offer Chris Webber $6 million a year but he turned it down. The money these teams start to throw at players of the next few year will get larger and larger an eventually a star player with take the money and run.

Written by Dre · Filed Under Atlanta Hawks, NBA | Leave a Comment

Things Are Slow In Free Agency

July 22, 2008

When the free agency period started it look like it was going to be a big summer full of crazy signings but other than the Brand signing and the Baron Davis signing not much has been going on. Most teams don’t have cap space and most teams don’t want to offer money to a restricted free agency if someone is just going to match it.

I don’t remember it being this slow last year. It will be interesting to see how many guys end up taking pay cuts or risky one year qualifying offers.

Gerald Green is making a minimum salary this year with Dallas after making $1.4 million last season. Matt Barnes just took a one year deal for $1.2 million after making $3.5 million last season. Guys like JR Smith and Sasha Vujacic aren’t even getting calls and players like Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and Emeka Okafor are being offered less money this Summer than they were offered last Summer by their teams.

It is going to be a long Summer for many of these guys.

Written by Dre · Filed Under NBA | Leave a Comment

Knicks Should Have Picked Bayless In The Draft

July 18, 2008

When the Knicks took Gallinari in the draft I thought it was because they were going to give Marbury the chance to try and revive his career with a new coach which is why I thought it was a decent pick. A week after the draft rumors were floting around that they were going to try Marbury or buy him out. Then they signed Chris Duhon and now they are about to sign Anthony Roberson. WTF?

If the Knicks knew it was a possibility that they were going to dump Marbury, they should have taken Bayless. He is a better player than Duhon, Roberson, and Nate Robinson. If Bayless is out in Portland producing while and the Knicks dump Marbury, get suspect point guard play, and get limited production from Gallinari, fans in New York will not be happy.

Written by Dre · Filed Under NBA, NBA Draft 2008, New York Knicks | Leave a Comment

Camby A Clipper

July 16, 2008

Looks like the Clippers took my advice. I wrote a few days ago that I thought they should use their cap space on a back to the basket player instead of a wind player like Josh Smith. Marcus Camby isn’t a back to the basket player but he is a better fit than Josh Smith or Luol Deng would have been. He will block shots, rebound the basketball and he should get more opportunities to score in LA then he got in Denver.

On the other hand the Nuggets are cheap as hell, they gave up Camby for nothing and they already lost Najera. What if they lose JR Smith? Man, they will really suck next year.

Written by Dre · Filed Under Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA | Leave a Comment

Clippers Looking At 4 Restricted Free Agents

July 13, 2008

Now that the Clippers have lost Elton Brand they are looking at using their cap space on Emeka Okafor, Josh Smith, Andre Iguodola, and Luol Deng. All 4 are free agents which mean their respective teams would have 7 days to match the offer. It is very likely that each one of those team would match which means they would tie up their cap space for 7 days and by them more free agents would be off the market.

Okafor would probably be a good pickup because he can rebound and block shots but he and Kaman might not be able to play together. Josh Smith is and athletic do it all player that can play the 3 and 4 but he might get in the way of Thorton’s development. Iguodola would be a better fit at the 3 than Smith because he is a bit smaller, and he is a better ball handler and would seem to fit better next to Josh Smith. Deng also seems to be a very similar player to Thornton.

The Clippers really need another back to the basket player. If they waste all their money on a wing player like Smith or Deng fans will love it but they won’t make the playoffs.

Written by Dre · Filed Under Los Angeles Clippers | Leave a Comment