Tag: Summer of 2010 (Page 39 of 63)

      Steve Kerr out as Suns GM

      June 15, 2010 /

      Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic has the scoop.

      Kerr’s contract expires June 30 but he had been expecting and hoping to return until negotiations for his contract and an opportunity to return to television as a NBA commentator prompted him to leave the organization after three years as its GM, Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver said.

      Kerr, who could not be reached for comment, reportedly was asked to take a cut in salary during negotiations.

      Owner Robert Sarver said that finances barely played a role:

      “I wouldn’t say it’s a big surprise,” Sarver said. “Television is what he did before he came on board. It’s a change of plans from during the season. It boiled down to a number of things, including lifestyle and the opportunity. I was hoping to have him back.”

      Sarver said the differences in financial negotiations played a “small part,” if any at all.

      It’s funny — I thought Kerr might be fired after the Marion-for-Shaq debacle, but he hung in there, unloaded Shaq and his monstrous contract, and put together a nice team that was playing Top 4 basketball at the end of the season. The Suns had great chemistry, and I’m not sure if that was on purpose or by accident, but Kerr was ultimately responsible.

      Being an NBA general manager is something of a dream job for me, but I can see how doing color commentary for the NBA would be a far less stressful occupation. Kerr won’t have fans dissecting his every move and there won’t be any “Fire Steve Kerr” websites out there clamoring for his dismissal.

      That said, whomever takes over for Kerr will have to hit the ground running. The Suns have a big decision to make with regard to Amare Stoudemire, who is looking for a max contract (and probably isn’t worth it).

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      What is Tom Izzo thinking?

      June 11, 2010 /

      Tom Izzo is still considering the Cavs job, per ESPN…

      Izzo told reporters late Thursday night that “it won’t go on forever, I can tell you that.”

      The coach had just arrived back in East Lansing, Mich., after traveling to Cleveland on Thursday afternoon with his wife, daughter and son.

      Izzo said: “I feel bad that I can’t talk. I feel good that I did what I had to do.”

      Izzo is apparently closer to saying yes to the Cavaliers than previously thought, a source told ESPN.com’s Andy Katz on Thursday.

      That source discussed Izzo’s future with a close confidant of Izzo’s who is coaching in the NBA. The source told Katz that Izzo, who talked to his team earlier this week about his interest in the Cavaliers, is leaning toward taking the job if it is offered.

      Byron Scott appears to be Izzo’s main competition (or the Cavs’ backup plan?)…

      Wednesday night, an NBA Eastern Conference executive with knowledge of the Cavaliers’ thinking told ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard that Byron Scott is a strong candidate to be offered the job.

      The executive told Broussard that Scott is on equal footing with Izzo.

      Scott, a former Los Angeles Lakers guard who has coached the New Jersey Nets and the New Orleans Hornets, has spoken with members of the Cavaliers’ front office the past few days. Late Wednesday night the talks took on a more serious nature, the source told Broussard.

      Izzo is 55 years old and is making $3 million a year coaching 30-35 games at Michigan State. He is basically untouchable in East Lansing, but if he goes to the NBA, he becomes just another head coach. Like Dick Vitale said earlier in the week, he’s eventually going to get fired. Seemingly everyone gets fired in the NBA, no matter how good you are. Hell, Mike Brown just got fired in Cleveland after the Cavs had the most wins during the NBA’s regular season.

      I understand that Izzo’s ego (or any top college coach’s ego, for that matter) might convince him that this is a challenge that he should undertake, to succeed where so many others have failed, but in the NBA, head coaches just don’t have as big of an impact on the game as they do in college.

      The players are far more stubborn and are often paid more, and it’s difficult to steer the ship when there are that many egos on board. Izzo’s fiery nature works well with unpaid college kids who are only in school for 3-4 years, but when you’re talking about $17 million-a-year prima donnas, that in-your-face bit isn’t going to fly.

      I presume Izzo knows this, and will attempt to adjust his style, but that aggressive approach is what makes his style so effective. The best NBA coaches — Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich — are successful because of their ability to manage their roster, specifically their stars. Izzo knows the X’s and O’s, but can he talk to LeBron in the same way that Jackson talks to Kobe or that Pop talks to Tim Duncan?

      Speaking of LeBron, if Izzo signs on, it’s a clear indication — to me, at least — that he has assurances from the Cavs’ camp (presumably with confirmation from LeBron’s camp) that LeBron will re-sign if Izzo is named the coach. Otherwise, why would he agree to take over a roster that might be mediocre at best? Would he really leave a cush job at Michigan State to coach a team whose two best players are Antawn Jamison and Mo Williams?


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      College Basketball, External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      2010 NBA Free Agency: What are they worth? (#6-#10)

      June 10, 2010 /

      In the first installment of this series, I covered the biggest names in this summer’s free agency bonanza, and it wasn’t too tough to try to peg down each player’s value. Now I’ll move onto #6 to #10 in my free agency rankings, and things get a little tougher.

      Keep in mind that the “value” below each player’s blurb represents my prediction of what they’ll eventually sign for, not what I think they’re actually worth. But there’s a saying — something’s only worth what someone will pay for it — so there’s that.

      Anyway, let’s jump right in:

      6. Joe Johnson, SG
      Age: 29
      PER: 19.33
      Comparables: Brandon Roy ($13.5 M), Andre Iguodala ($12.3 M), Kevin Martin ($10.6 M)
      Johnson didn’t help himself much with a pretty miserable series against the Magic in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. I’m sure he’s looking for a max deal, and whatever team gives him one may regret it in a year or two. He’s already 29, and while he’d definitely be a good #2 for the next 2-3 years, he’s not a “max” player. He’s definitely going to benefit from all the cap space that’s available. Remember, my estimated value is what someone is willing to pay him, not necessarily what he’s worth.
      Value: $17.0-$17.5 M per year (over five years)

      7. Carlos Boozer, PF
      Age: 28
      PER: 21.42
      Comparables: Amare Stoudemire ($17.7 M), Zach Randolph ($17.3 M), Josh Smith ($11.6 M), David West ($9.0 M), LaMarcus Aldridge ($10.7 M)
      I have Boozer ranked ahead of Lee because he’s a slightly better player…when he’s healthy. He missed 45 games during the 2008-07 season and another 80 games from 2004-2006, so clearly he’s an injury risk. He is no doubt looking for a max or near-max deal, but with his durability issues and his reputation for being a less than stellar defender, he may find the going a bit tough in free agency. Still, there is sooooo much cap space out there that it’s hard to see him signing a deal for much less than the max.
      Value: $14.0-$15.0 M per year (over five years)

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      2010 NBA Free Agency: What are they worth? (#1-#5)

      June 9, 2010 /

      Even though we have a pretty good Finals matchup, this postseason has been somewhat overshadowed by this summer’s free agency period, when no fewer than seven of the top 17 players (in terms of John Hollinger’s Player Efficiency Rating) are going to be free to sign with any team they choose.

      One big question teams are faced with when using their available cap space is just how much each player is worth. This depends on a number of factors: age, production, value, injury history and fit, just to name a few. Over the next week or two, I’m going to examine this year’s free agent crop and try to guesstimate the value of each player. I’ve done this before, with some success.

      For each free agent, I’ll list their age (on July 1), their PER, and the salaries of comparable players.

      Let’s jump right in and start with the big names…

      1. LeBron James, SF
      Age: 25
      PER: 31.19
      Comparables: Dwyane Wade ($17.1 M), Carmelo Anthony ($17.1 M), Kobe Bryant ($24.8 M)
      LeBron’s value is off the charts and is only limited by the rules of the collective bargaining agreement. He will likely sign a max deal wherever he goes. He’s going to start at around $16.8 M per season since that’s 30% of the salary cap ($56.1 M), which is a bit more than 105% of his previous year’s salary. (The max first-year salary is whichever is greater.)
      Value: $18.0-$18.5 M per year (for three years)

      2. Dwyane Wade, SG
      Age: 28
      PER: 28.10
      Comparables: LeBron James ($17.1 M), Carmelo Anthony ($17.1 M), Kobe Bryant ($24.8 M), Brandon Roy ($13.5 M)
      Wade is three years older and more injury prone, but he has already won a title and is a top 5 player in the league, so he’ll get a max contract just like LeBron. Since he’s a bit older, I wouldn’t be surprised if he elected to sign a five- or six-year deal instead of going with the shorter deal that has more flexibility.
      Value: $19.5 M – $20.5 M (over six years, if he re-signs)

      Continue reading »

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, Rumors & Gossip

      Sterling should sell the Clippers, but won’t

      June 9, 2010 /

      I’ve basically ignored this story because it seemed pretty outlandish when I first heard the rumor, but David Geffen indeed tried to buy the Clippers on the promise that he could deliver LeBron. This rumor was supported by Geffen sitting with LeBron’s right hand man, Maverick Carter, at a recent Finals game.

      Unfortunately for the Clippers and their fans, the team is not for sale.

      “Mr. Sterling has never expressed a desire to sell any part of his team,” Clippers President Andy Roeser said in a statement. “Because it is an asset of remarkable value, it’s true that there have been countless inquiries over the years. But the Clippers have never been for sale.”

      Forbes estimated the Cavs value at $476 million (#5 in the league), while the Clippers sat at #23 with a value of $295 million. The Cavs are worth so much more largely because of LeBron James. If he were to switch teams, I wouldn’t be surprised if those two numbers flip-flopped almost instantaneously. The Clippers’ value could even approach the Lakers’ value of $607 million.

      So let’s say your Donald Sterling, and David Geffen is offering to buy 51% of your NBA team, which under your leadership has amassed a pathetic .341 winning percentage and just four playoff appearances in 29 seasons. So you make, say, $150 million (51% x $295 million) with the sale, and then after Geffen lands LeBron, your remaining 49% share of the team jumps in value from $145 million to at least $233 million (49% x $476 million).

      Your net worth has just jumped by $88 million and all you had to do is give up control of something that you have no idea how to run in the first place. (Granted, the Clippers are profitable, but they are not successful.) Once Kobe retires, many of the notoriously frontrunning Laker fans will become Clipper fans, and the value of the franchise will jump even more. You can still sit at half court, only now you’ll be watching LeBron lead a perennial 50+ win team deep into the playoffs every season.

      What’s wrong with that?

      Yes, there’s the little matter of Geffen following through on his promise to land LeBron. So why not make the sale contingent on LeBron’s signing at least a three-year deal by July 10? That way, if Geffen fails to deliver LeBron as promised, there is no harm done. You can keep running the team the way you have.

      Chances are slim that Sterling would be this pragmatic and the press release from Roeser is a great example. The part that gets me — it’s true that there have been countless inquiries over the years — seems incredibly shortsighted, especially considering this offer would add a 25-year-old two-time MVP to the team.

      I feel sorry for Clipper fans. They have stuck by their team despite historic ineptitude, and even though there’s a possibility that the league’s best player would agree to lead the franchise into the next decade provided there is an ownership change, the owner in question refuses to play ball.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑