ESPN's Stein on trade

[goliath]

From the ESPN Insider's Winners and Losers:

San Antonio Spurs: Everyone is going to focus on the big names that were traded, but perhaps the most important trade that went down was the Spurs acquisition of Nazr Mohammed for Malik Rose.

The Spurs needed more size, toughness and athleticism in the middle. For all Mohammed's faults, he can do that when he's motivated. Head coach Gregg Popovich should be able to light the fire and give the Spurs yet another piece to propel them to the Finals.

And did we mention that the Spurs saved more than $21 million on this trade? You've got to love Knicks GM Isiah Thomas, who now is officially running the NBA's biggest homeless shelter for bad contracts.

The losers

New York Knicks: Even Isiah's biggest fans are scratching their heads right about now. Isiah, itching to shake up his team some more with so many other Atlantic Division teams making moves, traded away his starting and backup centers and his two backup point guards for two under-sized, over-paid power forwards in Mo Taylor and Malik Rose.

Is Isiah trying to start a team in a 6-foot-7-and-under league? Taylor and Rose join Mike Sweetney and Kurt Thomas as players who are at least a few inches short for their position.

Thomas did pick up two extra draft picks in the deal – likely the 29th and the 30th picks. Way to go.

But his most egregious sin was his repeated insistence in always taking back a bad contract or two with each trade. This time the Knicks added an extra $32 million in future salaries. In the Spurs' deal, the Knicks are sending out $5.5 million in future salaries and getting back the remaining four years, $27.3 million of Rose's contract. The Rockets' deal isn't as bad, as Isiah is sending out $8 million in future salaries and getting back $18 million. In total, the Knicks, who already have by far the largest payroll in the league, have just dug themselves further into the hole.

[TwoHandJam]

Damn, Isiah is complete dumbass.

[Kori Ellis]

Is Isiah trying to start a team in a 6-foot-7-and-under league? Taylor and Rose join Mike Sweetney and Kurt Thomas as players who are at least a few inches short for their position.

Who will start for them upfront now?

[Guru of Nothing]

IT just befuzzles the fuck out of me.

It's almost as if NYKs are a wholly-owned subsidiary of the NBA who exist solely to improve other teams.

[Kori Ellis]

Do they even have a guy on their roster who is considered a center?

[ChumpDumper]

Who will start for them upfront now?Sweetney and KThomas.
Do they even have a guy on their roster who is considered a center? http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/bruno_sundov.jpg
:elephant

[Guru of Nothing]

Do they even have a guy on their roster who is considered a center?

Herb Williams.

[Kori Ellis]

Ahh yes, Sundov. I forgot about his existence.

[T Park]

odelay Brunito.... lol

[goliath]

More Analysis:

From CNNSI Marty Burns:

SPURS-KNICKS
Malik Rose and two first-round draft picks (in 2005 and '06, respectively) for Nazr Mohammed and Jamison Brewer

Why the Spurs did it: to dump Rose's remaining contract (four more years, $27.3 million) and add a decent backup center.

Why the Knicks did it: to get the two first-round draft picks.

Bottom line: The Spurs get some much-needed size off the bench for their title chase. The Knicks get another undersized power forward with a long-term contract. Thomas can only hope those draft picks prove to be worth it.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/marty_burns/02/24/trade.reax2/index.html

[goliath]

From Jack McCallum on CNNSI:

WINNERS
As for a thumbnail look at a few the other deals:


Nazr Mohammad
-- goes from New York to San Antonio in Malik Rose deal

Think of your best dream ever. Now you know how Nazr feels. He wakes up one morning mired in the sinkhole that is the New York Knicks and by the end of the day he can start thinking about fitting himself for a championship ring. He's going to play, too. Already the best defensive team in the league, the Spurs pick up a shot-blocker. True, they lose a good citizen in Malik Rose, always a class act even as he sunk lower and lower in the Spurs' rotation. But the Spurs have other good citizens.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/jack_mccallum/02/24/winners.losers/index.html

[desflood]

Isiah was a brilliant player, but his cheese has obviously slid off his cracker.

[Solid D]

The deal would be sweeter for the Knicks if the Spurs were actually evaluating the talent and selecting the 1st round draft choices for them in 2005 and 2006. :smokin

[ChumpDumper]

What changed in the Knick FO from last year that green-lighted the addition of another $30+ million in salary?

The ouster of Fox from the ownership?

[exstatic]

Isiah was a brilliant player, but his cheese has obviously slid off his cracker.
A very succinct description of his post playing days. :lol

[RobinsontoDuncan]

I think there is a method to his madness, and he is trying to buil something, perhaps it will amount into something formidable

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Yeah, formidable like my bathroom run the morning after scarfing down a 6 pack of Taco Bell tacos.

[T Park]

Another blind moron Marc Stein.

Along with Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Ric Bucher, David Aldridge....



All of em are TOTALLY wrong!!!!!!!!!!!

[Useruser666]

I would feel better if T Park didn't like this deal.... :lol

[tekdragon]

You've got to love Knicks GM Isiah Thomas, who now is officially running the NBA's biggest homeless shelter for bad contracts.


Classic.

[slayermin]

I think Malik will help the Knicks, if he gets playing time.

[jalbre6]

Think of your best dream ever. Now you know how Nazr feels. He wakes up one morning mired in the sinkhole that is the New York Knicks and by the end of the day he can start thinking about fitting himself for a championship ring. He's going to play, too.

Isiah: Nazr, come in here.

Nazr: What's up, boss?

Isiah: We're trading you.

Nazr: Oh shit. (thinks of Atlanta, New Orleans, Clip joint)

Isiah: We're sending you and Brewer to San Antonio for Malik Rose and some draft picks.

Nazr: (internal happy dance) Damn. Well, you gotta do what you gotta do, Isiah.

Isiah: I'm glad to see you taking it so well. I know this is hard for you.

Nazr: (thinking about wearing shorts in February) Yeah, thanks.

Isiah: We appreciate everything you've done for us.

Nazr: (thinking of playing with Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili) Yeah.

Isiah: Thanks for everything.

Nazr: (thinking about hoisting the title trophy) Yeah.

Isiah: You can go now, Nazr.

Nazr: (thinking about river parade) Yeah.

Isiah: NAZR! Get out of my office!!!

Nazr: (thinking about being associated with a dynasty) OH! OK, I'm leaving.

[ShoogarBear]

Isiah: (to himself) Boy, he's really taking this hard.

[SpursWoman]

:lmao


I was saying last night....he's gotta be one happy mofo. Unless, of course, he's more interested in his address than earning all of that extra playoff win money.

:fro

[Russ]

For all Mohammed's faults, he can do that when he's motivated. Head coach Gregg Popovich should be able to light the fire and give the Spurs yet another piece to propel them to the Finals.

This guy sounds like a dog.

I can't help but remember the last two "final pieces" that the Spurs got from the Knicks. (Charles Smith and Charlie Ward).

Fate has a way of smacking you when you trade quality people for clock-punchers.

[whottt]

Well said Russ...

It's funny...everyone is acting like the Knicks are going to suck now that they dumped Mohammed...HELLOOOOOO?!?!?!?! They sucked with him, Clowns! He is part of the reason that they suck.



What they did was turn him into two number 1 picks(of the kind where players like Beno, Parker, and even Mohammed himself are found) and a proven championship caliber back up PF.


Isiah is not doing that badly...the Knicks were absolute crap when he took over that team...

He was smarter than any Spurfan or Spurs coach about Charlie Ward...Who is laughing at that one?

He is building a team there and Malik is piece of the puzzle, Malik has been around winning and he is going to lead that team on how it's done...Malik is an intelligent hard working guy who brings it every night and knows what it takes to win...and he will help that team if they let him...


We're gonna miss Malik a hell of a lot more than they are going to miss Mohammed...Archive this fucking thread. I want to be able to reference it when all the Malik haters start whining even worse about Mohammed.

Laugh about the Knicks lack of size all you want...then pull your head out and go take a look at the Phoenix Suns.....

If you guys think Shawn Bradley will help them more than Malik will you are deluded.

[goliath]

Bill Walton on trade:

Neil - San Antonio: Bill - San Antonio lost part of its heart when Malik Rose got traded. Was Nazr Mohammed and his expiring contract really worth it?

Bill Walton: (1:58 PM ET ) I think this is a major upgrade for San Antonio, even though Rose is a good player and good person. The Spurs have done their research and were not happy with Rose for various reasons. I think Mohammed is one of my favorite human beings in the league. He is smart, intelligent, etc. He has struggled of late but at the start of the season was playing great and will be great for Duncan, Parker and all these tremendous players. This is a brilliant move by S.A. I have always felt their only weakness was their big guys in support of Duncan were't producing. But Mohammed will be very effective for his new team.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=7400

[whottt]

Walton is a LakerFan

[jalbre6]

:lol


I think Mohammed is one of my favorite human beings in the league.

Much like Sam Cassell is one of Walton's favorite space aliens in the league.

[Russ]

My prediction: Mohammed will have a few promising games (ala Chris Mihm with the Lakers) and everybody will be jumping up and down about what a great trade it was.

Then M will fade. Pop will tire of him. Sean Marks will look like an option. Pop will scan the waiver wire. The last date you can pick someone up and have them for the playoffs will become a hot topic.

Mohammed will express interest in becoming the Spurs' player rep for the upcoming CBA negotiations.

Someone will ask Mohammed about the Spurs' title chances and he'll say "I think 'we' have a great chance to come out of the East."

Malik will languish in NY so people will say, "Big deal. What's the difference, anyway."

Then the playoffs will start. . . .

Mohammed will probably do all right. But I'll be surprised if he harrasses some with pure will the way Malik did Shaq in '99 (title). Or if makes a big dunk over a man-mountain like Malik did in '03 (title). I'll be surprised if he raises his voice or throws any towels.

In short, I wouldn't expect him to move any mountains.

[jalbre6]

The last date you can pick someone up and have them for the playoffs will become a hot topic.

Every NBA red letter date is a hot topic in here, it seems. I for one think it's a good trade, but we won't know until Nazr hits the court.

I'll also be the first to say Pop and company fucked up if Malik starts dropping 30 and 12 nightly as a Knick.

[wildbill2u]

IT just befuzzles the fuck out of me.

It's almost as if NYKs are a wholly-owned subsidiary of the NBA who exist solely to improve other teams.

Isaiah is out to prove he can be a worse GM than anyone the Clippers ever had.
:lol

[Useruser666]

I think New York is where bad contracts go to die.

Or the island of misfit contracts. Take your pick.

[wildbill2u]

The deal would be sweeter for the Knicks if the Spurs were actually evaluating the talent and selecting the 1st round draft choices for them in 2005 and 2006. :smokin

Isn't one of the draft choices likely to come from Phoenix in another deal made some years ago? I remember somebody owes us a pick and this might be a good year for Phoenix to dump it since it will probably be very low because of their position in the standings.

And of course, our own pick is gonna be 30.

[Frenchise player]

Well said Russ...

It's funny...everyone is acting like the Knicks are going to suck now that they dumped Mohammed...HELLOOOOOO?!?!?!?! They sucked with him, Clowns! He is part of the reason that they suck.



What they did was turn him into two number 1 picks(of the kind where players like Beno, Parker, and even Mohammed himself are found) and a proven championship caliber back up PF.


Isiah is not doing that badly...the Knicks were absolute crap when he took over that team...

He was smarter than any Spurfan or Spurs coach about Charlie Ward...Who is laughing at that one?

He is building a team there and Malik is piece of the puzzle, Malik has been around winning and he is going to lead that team on how it's done...Malik is an intelligent hard working guy who brings it every night and knows what it takes to win...and he will help that team if they let him...


We're gonna miss Malik a hell of a lot more than they are going to miss Mohammed...Archive this fucking thread. I want to be able to reference it when all the Malik haters start whining even worse about Mohammed.

Laugh about the Knicks lack of size all you want...then pull your head out and go take a look at the Phoenix Suns.....

If you guys think Shawn Bradley will help them more than Malik will you are deluded.
Mohamed is not the reason why the Knicks sucked and still suck.
Marbury is a selfish PG who consider himself as the best in the league, and they have the worse roster in the league, with plenty of overpaid players (Hardawey, Houston, Tim Thomas...).
The 28 to 30th draft picks aren't only Parker or Udrih type of players and you don't know what the Spurs would get of them.
As much as you like Malik, you can't deny that he is older than Nazr and he has a longer contract. Furthermore, since his extraordinary 2003 season, he has been more often in the doghouse than on the court.

I apreciate Malik very much as a person and as a player, but considering that he is underrated in the league (to sum up, he is considered as an overpaid and undersized PF), Pop and RC managed to make a very good deal and to bring a quality big man that appears to have Spurs qualities (good person and a very bad free throw shooter).