Author: John Paulsen (Page 777 of 937)

It might just be agent-speak in order to drive the Bucks’ price up, but Mo Williams is apparently considering taking less money to play with Shaq and Dwyane Wade instead of re-signing with the Bucks. The Heat are over the cap, so all they can offer is their mid-level exception, which works out to about $30 million over five years. The Bucks have reportedly offered $40 million over the same span.

So will Williams turn down $10 million in guaranteed money to play for a “contender”? Usually, players talk about wanting to play for a good team, but it’s mainly the grizzled vets like Karl Malone and Gary Payton who become underpaid mercenaries in their quest for a ring, not 24 year-olds who are signing their first big contract. That said, the money the Bucks are offering isn’t that much more than the Heat, so Williams could very well bolt.

I wonder how a Wade/Williams backcourt will work. Both players dominate the ball, but Wade is more of a slasher, while Williams is a better outside shooter.

The Bucks are an up-and-coming team, and if they can re-sign Williams and get Yi Jianlian on board, they would be poised for a big leap in the East this season and could become a consistent power in the conference. If they lose Williams, they’re going to have a big hole at PG with no real backup plan.

I think Williams will take the money and re-sign, but as a Bucks fan, I’m a little worried.

In Bullz-Eye’s Mock Draft, I discussed which player each team should take in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft, but I thought it would be fun to try to predict who the first seven teams will actually draft. Here’s the latest scuttlebutt:

1. Portland Trailblazers: Greg Oden
Oden’s workout with the Blazers didn’t go so well, while Kevin Durant’s did. This has fueled speculation that GM Kevin Pritchard might go with Durant. I still think Oden will be the pick.

2. Seattle Supersonics: Kevin Durant
The Sonics will pick whoever’s left – Durant or Oden.

3. Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford
The Hawks probably should go with Mike Conley here, but Horford has become the consensus #3 pick. The Hawks are talking to a few teams about trading down. They don’t need another forward, that’s for sure. It looks likely that they’ll grab Acie Law at #11.

4. Memphis Grizzlies: Mike Conley
Mike Iavaroni needs a pass first point guard to make his up-tempo offense go. Conley fits the bill.

5. Boston Celtics: Corey Brewer
There is lots of talk about the Celtics trading this pick for veteran help. If they keep it, they might go with Yi Jianlian or Joakim Noah, but Brewer had a good workout in Boston and could play alongside Paul Pierce (or replace him).

6. Milwaukee Bucks: Brandan Wright
Word is that Wright’s stock may be slipping, but he had a great workout in Milwaukee. The main thing working against him is that GM Larry Harris may not be secure enough in his job to wait on Wright to develop. The Bucks could trade up for Horford or Conley, though I don’t know why Harris would draft Conley after trading away T.J. Ford. They are basically the same player. There are also rumors that Harris may still draft Jianlian even though his agent wouldn’t let the Bucks see him work out. Why do you want to draft a guy that doesn’t even want to play for you (and is a shoe in not to re-sign once his rookie contract is up)?

7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Joakim Noah
With Kevin Garnett on his way out of town, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Wolves draft someone who can control the boards. Jeff Green is another possibility.

A few other probable picks:

13. New Orleans Hornets – Nick Young
15. Detroit Pistons – Rodney Stuckey
29. Phoenix Suns – Petteri Koponen

Kevin Garnett seemingly put the kibosh on a potential trade to the Celtics when he told the team he didn’t want to play in Boston. KG doesn’t have a no-trade clause, but he can opt out of his contract after next season, so any team attempting to trade for him better be damn sure he wants to play there. If he doesn’t he’ll become a free agent next summer and go sign somewhere else.

The funny thing is, Boston would actually be a pretty good spot for KG. Paul Pierce is still effective and they have loads of young talent (Tony Allen, Delonte West, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Rajon Rondo, etc.), so the C’s would be instant contenders in the East. But after watching LeBron and the Cavs get unceremoniously swept in the Finals, it’s possible that, to Garnett, being “instant contenders in the East” doesn’t sound all that attractive.

He has now insinuated that he’d like to play for a warm weather contender, which has only fueled speculation of a trade to the Suns. Phoenix has been quietly exploring trades for Shawn Marion, who seems perennially unhappy and can also opt out after next season. Unfortunately for the Suns, Marion has made it clear that he doesn’t want to play in Minnesota or Boston, which has made a Garnett deal less likely.

It seems the Timberwolves want Amare Stoudemire as part of the deal (with some reports also including the Suns’ unprotected pick from the Hawks) before they’ll be willing to make a swap. The 24 year-old made a terrific comeback from microfracture surgery in both knees, averaging 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds en route to 1st All-NBA team honors.

Free advice for the Suns: don’t make this deal.

I like KG as much as the next guy, and would love to see him jump the ever-sinking ship that is the Minnesota Timberolves (thanks Captain McHale!), but the Suns don’t need him. Let’s not forget, if not for Game 6 suspensions to Stoudemire and Boris Diaw, it might have been the Suns celebrating their first title a few weeks ago. They were heading home for Game 6, up 3-2 after winning Game 5 in San Antonio. They had the Spurs on the ropes, and almost beat them in Phoenix without Stoudemire and Diaw.

For any team that comes up short, there is pressure to make a move. Any move. It’s true, Garnett could make the Suns slightly better in the short term, but you’re talking about trading away a 24 year-old 1st team All-NBA player with a reasonable contract for a 31 year-old who is set to make $46 M over the next two years. Besides, the main reason for acquiring Garnett (his defense on Tim Duncan) isn’t that strong. Stoudemire’s defense is improving and he did a nice job on TD in the conference semis.

The Suns have to think long term. Sure, Nash’s window is closing, but what happens if they acquire Garnett? In three to five years when both players retire, the Suns suddenly become irrelevant. Keeping Stoudemire ensures that they’ll have a star to build around once Nash hangs ‘em up.

I know the thought of Garnett in a Suns uniform is tempting, but you just can’t trade Stoudemire away.