Category: Rumors & Gossip (Page 184 of 225)

      What are the Knicks going to do with David Lee?

      February 4, 2009 /

      During a chat yesterday, Chad Ford had this to say about David Lee:

      Donnie Walsh is trying to find a home for Eddy Curry or Jared Jeffries that frees up some cap space so that he can re-sign Lee. It sounds like that’s close to Mission Impossible, though I said the same thing about Zach Randolph this summer. If he can do that, I think Lee stays. If he can’t, he’d be smart to get something now instead of losing him in the summer. There is LOTS of interest in Lee both now and in the summer. He’s one of the few restricted free agents teams think they can steal away because of the Knicks cap situation.

      Let’s be clear — the Knicks don’t have to trade anyone away to re-sign Lee. Ford is talking about clearing cap space so that the franchise doesn’t have to pay a luxury tax next season. They are currently on the hook for $69.3 million and that doesn’t count new contracts for Lee or Nate Robinson. With the the luxury tax threshold unlikely to change much from this season ($71 million), Walsh would need to move a contract or two to clear space for signing Lee and/or Robinson. Lee is the priority because he’s such a good fit in Mike D’Antoni’s up tempo attack. He is averaging 16.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per game, and is shooting almost 57% from the field.

      Eddy Curry will make $21.7 million over the next two seasons but has only appeared in one game this season. The Knicks desperately need to get him some minutes if they hope to trade him before the Feb. 19 deadline. Jeffries is getting some minutes, but he has been horribly unproductive (PER: 7.39), though he was never much of a stat guy.

      The bottom line is that if the Knicks want to re-sign Lee, they can. Their projected payroll goes down to $18.2 million for the 2010 season, so they would only take the luxury tax hit for one season if they chose to sign Lee to a multi-year deal (or matched another team’s offer this summer, when he becomes a restricted free agent).

      What’s he worth? I’d say his play this season has put him into the range of $10-$11 million per season. I’d be careful not to pay too much more, because right now he’s putting up great numbers on a bad team that plays at a blistering pace.

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA, Rumors & Gossip

      Are the Suns thinking about trading Amare?

      February 4, 2009 /

      ESPN’s Chad Ford said that they are in his chat yesterday.

      Jason (Culver City CA) [via mobile]: What are the chances of Amare Stoudemire getting traded before the deadline?

      Chad Ford: Last week I said 10 percent. But I think that was low. The more people I talk to in the league, the more I think it’s something in the neighborhood of 30 to 40 percent. Steve Kerr and Robert Sarver are taking a hard look at the team right now. If they decide to blow it up, Stoudemire will be the first to go.

      Let’s see, you’re thinking about blowing the team up and your first move is to trade away your 26 year-old All-Pro forward/center? This is nonsensical. Why not trade away Shaq, who is 36 and due to make $20 million next season? Or Steve Nash, who is 34 and has just one more year on his contract?

      Why would you trade away your best player, especially when he’s only 26?

      I criticized Steve Kerr’s decision to break up that Suns team that was a couple of bench-clearing suspensions away from upending the eventual-champion Spurs in the 2007 playoffs. His first move as GM was to trade Rudy Fernandez to the Blazers for cash considerations. Then there was the Marion-Shaq trade, which forced Mike D’Antoni out, because he doesn’t know how to coach a slow-it-down team. Seemingly every move Kerr makes backfires.

      The Suns are now 26-20, they’ve lost seven of their last 11 games and are hanging on to the #8 seed in the West. They are a shell of that exciting team that we saw in those playoffs two years ago and if Carlos Boozer can come back strong for the Jazz, Phoenix is in serious danger of missing the postseason altogether.

      Now they’re thinking about trading away their best player, who is only 26 and entering the prime of his career.

      That’s just great.

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA, Rumors & Gossip

      Gonzalez still wants out of Kansas City – Johnson too?

      February 4, 2009 /

      Depending on whom the Chiefs name as their next head coach, tight end Tony Gonzalez would like out of Kansas City so that he has a chance to play in a Super Bowl before his career finishes.

      And apparently Gonzo isn’t the only one who might want out of Kansas City as running back Larry Johnson is growing frustrated over the lack of direction by the Chiefs.

      Tony GonzalezSpeaking in the dressing room of the players’ hotel Tuesday, Gonzalez said he expects to hear of a decision about Kansas City’s next coach by Thursday. The 12-year veteran tight end and Pro Bowl regular restated his basic desire to go elsewhere, the week after spending time in Tampa in advance of the Super Bowl. Gonzalez is hoping to finish his career with an appearance of his own in the title game; he has appeared in the playoffs only three times in his career, losing each time.

      And if Gonzalez gets his wish of a new home, he might not be alone, as teammate Larry Johnson also reportedly desires to leave the Chiefs – who, according to Gonzalez, aren’t making it easy for some players to want to stay.

      “We traded away our best defensive player [Allen], by far. A game changer and you trade him away,” Gonzalez said. That’s just too much, and that’s sending a message to the guys on the team.”

      I don’t fault either player for wanting to bolt, but with the hiring of Pioli as general manager, the Chiefs are finally heading in the right direction. Will they compete for the playoffs next year? Sure, maybe. Who would have thought that the Dolphins and Falcons would make the playoffs last year? One good offseason could turn around an entire franchise and Pioli has certainly built winners before.

      I would love to see Gonzo go to another team and compete for a Super Bowl because he deserves that opportunity. But the Chiefs just made the first step in turning around their misfortunes and I would have to imagine Pioli would make a sound hire for head coach. So maybe Gonzo should stick around and continue helping the franchise he’s played for his entire career.

      Fantasy Football, NFL, Rumors & Gossip

      Dwyane Wade shoots down New York as a possible destination in 2010

      February 3, 2009 /

      D-Wade thinks he and LeBron could end up playing for the same team in two years, but he doesn’t think it’s going to be for the Knicks.

      Days after suggesting the possibility of becoming a teammate of LeBron James after the two become free agents in 2010, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade shot down at least one potential destination for the star-studded tandem: New York.

      Wade said Tuesday that he remains committed to the Heat for now and could see himself spending the rest of his career in Miami. But Wade also said he would explore all of his options should he elect to opt out of his contract and become a free agent in 2010, the same summer several of the NBA’s top players have options.

      ”Is it a possibility me and LeBron will play together? It’s always a possibility,” Wade said after the Heat’s practice Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena. “We’re both free agents. Is it a possibility I’m going to New York? That’s not a possibility in my mind.”

      That’s the strongest stance yet Wade has taken on his potential free agency in 2010. His comments came on the heels of a New York Post story published Friday in which Wade was quoted as saying he and James could end up as teammates.

      But Wade took exception to some of the comments attributed to him in the story and said Friday that he never implied that the two would play in New York.

      It’s interesting that Wade admits that he plans to look at all of his options next summer (and who wouldn’t?) but goes out of his way to cross New York off the list of possible destinations. For a guy who is intent on keeping his options open, it seems odd to rule out the biggest market in the country.

      Miami is an attractive place to play and my guess is that Wade ends up re-signing with the Heat, especially since they’ll have the cap space to sign a top tier free agent in the next two summers.

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA, Rumors & Gossip

      Jameer Nelson to miss remainder of season?

      February 3, 2009 /

      Boy, this is a blow to Orlando’s title hopes. There’s a chance that All-Star guard Jameer Nelson could miss the rest of the season with a torn labrum.

      Nelson will decide over the next week whether he will have surgery or attempt rehabilitation. If surgery is the option, his season is likely over. If he passes on the surgery, he’ll likely miss several weeks.

      “At some point in time, he’s going to have to have surgery. That’s a given. There’s no ifs, ands or buts about it,” Magic general manager Otis Smith said Tuesday.

      The best-case scenario for the Magic is that Nelson could return in a matter of weeks without needing surgery, then proceed with an operation in the summer if necessary. The risk with this type of injury, however, is that repeated dislocations can result without surgery to stabilize the shoulder.

      Wow, this is the second major injury to a key player of a legitimate title contender in the last week. While the injuries to Nelson and Bynum are very bad news for the Magic and Lakers, respectively, you have to like where the Celtics, Cavs and Spurs are sitting right now.

      It’s a tough break for Nelson, who was in the midst of a breakout season. Hopefully, he can rehab and make it back for the playoffs, but only time will tell.

      NBA, NBA Finals, Rumors & Gossip

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