ducks
09-22-2004, 03:55 PM
HoopsHype: Mailman's ring has San Antonio address
Link: hoopshype.com/columns/malone_hans.htm (http://hoopshype.com/columns/malone_hans.htm)
Mailman's ring has San Antonio address
by Dennis Hans / September 21, 2004
If Karl Malone’s surgically repaired knee heals sufficiently to allow him to resume his career at some point in the upcoming season, and if his top priority is to go with the team that gives him the best chance to win that elusive NBA champion ring, then San Antonio will be his new home.
The Spurs are the best team on paper even without the Mailman, though hardly a shoe-in for the NBA crown. A few other teams are nearly as strong (Detroit, Minnesota, Indiana), and several others could win it all if all the cards fall into place (Sacramento, Miami, Utah, and perhaps Dallas and Houston). Malone has always enjoyed a challenge, and he might prefer to join a team that needs a productive Mailman to reach the “great” level rather than make an already great team a wee bit greater and deeper.
Before we look at some of Malone’s possible destinations and what his presence would do for their title hopes, we first have to ask why anyone would be interested in a 41-year-old power forward contemplating a 20th
NBA season. History suggests that Malone should be enjoying his fourth or fifth year of well-earned retirement, but it’s a startling fact that, if his knee heals, he can still perform as a tough, wily, complete, above-average starting power forward for 35 minutes a night. That’s just one more reason why he’s the greatest power forward of all time. Plus, he’s a great teammate on and off the court, as he proved once again last season, keeping the troubled Lakers from coming apart at the seams.
Malone’s knee is a very big “if,” but if he’s his old self come December or January, he can have a profound impact on the 2004-05 title chase. Here are some of the teams who are either actively seeking his services or should be if they’re not, and what he could do for them:
- San Antonio. I have no inside knowledge, but my guess is that the Spurs are the likeliest destination. Though already an outstanding team, Malone would be a perfect fit, giving the San Antonio a third legitimate power player in the rotation at the 4-5 spots with Tim Duncan and Radoslav Nesterovic. Robert Horry was overmatched in that role last season, and is better suited to back up Bruce Bowen. When the Spurs need a quick dose of energy at the 4 spot, they can turn to Malik Rose. But the Mailman would be great for 25 minutes a night. A huge bonus for the Spurs is that they would keep Malone from the T-Wolves, where he could derail the Spurs in the playoffs by frustrating Duncan as he did last season – which would allow Kevin Garnett to be a roaming defensive monster in a Spurs-Timberwolves showdown.
- Minnesota. Another great fit. The T-Wolves have been forced to use one-dimensional, foul-prone and/or washed-up players for too many minutes at the 4 and 5 spots (Michael Olowokandi, Mark Madsen, Ervin Johnson, Oliver Miller). That’s not a problem in the regular season, given the plethora of talent on the squad, but it’s been the kiss of death in the playoffs. Malone would add physicality and skills to the frontcourt. The risk for Malone is that, unlike the Spurs, two key Wolves (Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell) are old. Cassell will be 35, and even though he had his greatest regular season last year, he eventually broke down. Maybe that won’t happen with backup Troy Hudson returning, but his ankle makes him a question-mark too. Minnesota needs Malone more than the Spurs do, and it would be great to be the missing ingredient that brings the Timberwolves their first title.
- Miami. Malone and Shaq hit it off last season both on and off the court. The Heat with Malone would go from longshot to the equal of Detroit and Indiana. Malone could split time playing alongside Shaq for 20 minutes and backing him up for 12, providing the tough, occasionally devious stuff the Heat can’t possibly get from Christian Laettner, which would allow Laettner to be himself – a soft player, but one with the skills and stroke to make foes pay for double-teaming Shaq or Dwyane Wade. Miami is the ideal spot if Malone is ready for the ultimate
challenge. First, Malone would be indispensable in the Eastern Conference playoff brawls. If the Heat survived, he could be the Duncan neutralizer for the second straight year. And if he neutralizes Duncan while Shaq wreaks havoc, the Heat win and Malone is a champion and hero.
Longshots for Malone’s services:
- Los Angeles Lakers. The Malone family would probably prefer to stay in L.A., and never in NBA history has there been a 4-5 combination who can pass and flop as well as Karl and Vlade Divac. But unless the Lakers magically acquire a top-flight point guard, they don’t have sufficient talent to contend in 2004-05.
- Dallas or Houston. With either destination, Karl gets to wear cowboy boots and fill a power-and-guile need on a young, talented team with an outside chance of winning a title. (That’s an “outside chance” with Malone; I don’t see it happening without him.)
- Utah. Who says “You can never go home again?" The Jazz are loaded, and Malone at 41 would be a far better frontcourt reserve than Curtis Borchardt or Jarron Collins. A 4-5 rotation of Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Malone could do some real damage. Yes, Malone could actually win a ring in Utah.
Given Karl’s smarts and the fact that he probably won’t be ready to play NBA ball anytime soon, the wise course might be to sit back and see how the early season unfolds. If Cassell wrecks his good hip, cross the T-Wolves off the list. If Duncan or Tony Parker blows out a knee, forget the Spurs. If Shaq becomes anorexic on the South Beach Diet, don’t head East.
My advice to the Mailman is sit tight, rehab that knee and don’t sign with anyone until you absolutely have to. You won’t get any additional cash from such a strategy, but from your many suitors you’ll get a whole lotta love. No one deserves it more.
Link: hoopshype.com/columns/malone_hans.htm (http://hoopshype.com/columns/malone_hans.htm)
Mailman's ring has San Antonio address
by Dennis Hans / September 21, 2004
If Karl Malone’s surgically repaired knee heals sufficiently to allow him to resume his career at some point in the upcoming season, and if his top priority is to go with the team that gives him the best chance to win that elusive NBA champion ring, then San Antonio will be his new home.
The Spurs are the best team on paper even without the Mailman, though hardly a shoe-in for the NBA crown. A few other teams are nearly as strong (Detroit, Minnesota, Indiana), and several others could win it all if all the cards fall into place (Sacramento, Miami, Utah, and perhaps Dallas and Houston). Malone has always enjoyed a challenge, and he might prefer to join a team that needs a productive Mailman to reach the “great” level rather than make an already great team a wee bit greater and deeper.
Before we look at some of Malone’s possible destinations and what his presence would do for their title hopes, we first have to ask why anyone would be interested in a 41-year-old power forward contemplating a 20th
NBA season. History suggests that Malone should be enjoying his fourth or fifth year of well-earned retirement, but it’s a startling fact that, if his knee heals, he can still perform as a tough, wily, complete, above-average starting power forward for 35 minutes a night. That’s just one more reason why he’s the greatest power forward of all time. Plus, he’s a great teammate on and off the court, as he proved once again last season, keeping the troubled Lakers from coming apart at the seams.
Malone’s knee is a very big “if,” but if he’s his old self come December or January, he can have a profound impact on the 2004-05 title chase. Here are some of the teams who are either actively seeking his services or should be if they’re not, and what he could do for them:
- San Antonio. I have no inside knowledge, but my guess is that the Spurs are the likeliest destination. Though already an outstanding team, Malone would be a perfect fit, giving the San Antonio a third legitimate power player in the rotation at the 4-5 spots with Tim Duncan and Radoslav Nesterovic. Robert Horry was overmatched in that role last season, and is better suited to back up Bruce Bowen. When the Spurs need a quick dose of energy at the 4 spot, they can turn to Malik Rose. But the Mailman would be great for 25 minutes a night. A huge bonus for the Spurs is that they would keep Malone from the T-Wolves, where he could derail the Spurs in the playoffs by frustrating Duncan as he did last season – which would allow Kevin Garnett to be a roaming defensive monster in a Spurs-Timberwolves showdown.
- Minnesota. Another great fit. The T-Wolves have been forced to use one-dimensional, foul-prone and/or washed-up players for too many minutes at the 4 and 5 spots (Michael Olowokandi, Mark Madsen, Ervin Johnson, Oliver Miller). That’s not a problem in the regular season, given the plethora of talent on the squad, but it’s been the kiss of death in the playoffs. Malone would add physicality and skills to the frontcourt. The risk for Malone is that, unlike the Spurs, two key Wolves (Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell) are old. Cassell will be 35, and even though he had his greatest regular season last year, he eventually broke down. Maybe that won’t happen with backup Troy Hudson returning, but his ankle makes him a question-mark too. Minnesota needs Malone more than the Spurs do, and it would be great to be the missing ingredient that brings the Timberwolves their first title.
- Miami. Malone and Shaq hit it off last season both on and off the court. The Heat with Malone would go from longshot to the equal of Detroit and Indiana. Malone could split time playing alongside Shaq for 20 minutes and backing him up for 12, providing the tough, occasionally devious stuff the Heat can’t possibly get from Christian Laettner, which would allow Laettner to be himself – a soft player, but one with the skills and stroke to make foes pay for double-teaming Shaq or Dwyane Wade. Miami is the ideal spot if Malone is ready for the ultimate
challenge. First, Malone would be indispensable in the Eastern Conference playoff brawls. If the Heat survived, he could be the Duncan neutralizer for the second straight year. And if he neutralizes Duncan while Shaq wreaks havoc, the Heat win and Malone is a champion and hero.
Longshots for Malone’s services:
- Los Angeles Lakers. The Malone family would probably prefer to stay in L.A., and never in NBA history has there been a 4-5 combination who can pass and flop as well as Karl and Vlade Divac. But unless the Lakers magically acquire a top-flight point guard, they don’t have sufficient talent to contend in 2004-05.
- Dallas or Houston. With either destination, Karl gets to wear cowboy boots and fill a power-and-guile need on a young, talented team with an outside chance of winning a title. (That’s an “outside chance” with Malone; I don’t see it happening without him.)
- Utah. Who says “You can never go home again?" The Jazz are loaded, and Malone at 41 would be a far better frontcourt reserve than Curtis Borchardt or Jarron Collins. A 4-5 rotation of Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Malone could do some real damage. Yes, Malone could actually win a ring in Utah.
Given Karl’s smarts and the fact that he probably won’t be ready to play NBA ball anytime soon, the wise course might be to sit back and see how the early season unfolds. If Cassell wrecks his good hip, cross the T-Wolves off the list. If Duncan or Tony Parker blows out a knee, forget the Spurs. If Shaq becomes anorexic on the South Beach Diet, don’t head East.
My advice to the Mailman is sit tight, rehab that knee and don’t sign with anyone until you absolutely have to. You won’t get any additional cash from such a strategy, but from your many suitors you’ll get a whole lotta love. No one deserves it more.