Manu20
08-29-2005, 08:52 PM
10 things we have learned in the NBA this week
Mike Kahn / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 2 hours ago
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/4820518
Five weeks until training camps start, and the fog is lifting on the muddled mess that turns the league upside down every July.
Over the next two weeks, we should have nearly all the major players in place and be able to grasp what the staffs and rosters of the 2005-06 NBA season will resemble.
1. Michael Finley, the veteran shooting guard with his $51 million amnesty waiver guarantee from Dallas in tow, has narrowed his choices to Miami, San Antonio, Minnesota and the team that drafted him in the first place — the Phoenix Suns.
What this really means: The Heat still appear to be the odds-on favorite, with the full mid-level exception to spend and a chance to win a title. But will he start? They have acquired Antoine Walker, James Posey and Jason Williams, which would mean Finley would be battling to play small forward with Posey and possibly Walker, with Udonis Haslem also figuring into the picture because he's the incumbent starting power forward — where Walker could also start.
The fact of the matter is Finley could go back to the Suns for less money — taking a one-year deal — and get the full mid-level next season. Money really shouldn't be the issue here for him under the amnesty situation, which could also send him to the Spurs, where he might start — pushing Manu Ginobili to his comfortable sixth man spot — or be the sixth man himself (behind Ginobili and defensive wiz Bruce Bowen). Either way, once Finley signs, it will allow a bunch of other players to line up much more easily.
2. Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and Phoenix Suns legend Jerry Colangelo is now moving forward full blast toward completing the staff and roster of Team USA. Not only is he looking at NBA players and coaches, but a report last week had him seriously considering Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski to be the team's head coach.
What this really means: No one is going to tell Colangelo what to do. He doesn't like what has happened over the past two Olympics, and he won't extend invitations to players who aren't sincerely interested. He's looking for players willing to make a commitment to the entire package — the world games, the Tournament of the Americas and the Olympics. He won't put up with egos, and he wants a coach who is committed to the big picture as well — not to mention one who won't whine to the media as Larry Brown did.
Gregg Popovich appeared to be the logical successor to Brown, but Colangelo may have other ideas. He's all about getting USA Basketball back on the right track, and his sincere commitment will only breed the same for everyone else on the roster and staff.
3. The Detroit Pistons, unable to get any sort of commitment from Finley, went a different direction, signing veteran power player Dale Davis and young shooting guard Maurice Evans.
What this really means: Pistons president Joe Dumars has his own ideas. He will not play the waiting game of politics like so many other teams constantly do. He wanted another experienced, tough player up front, and he got him in Davis — while hurting the depth of the rival Indiana Pacers in the process. He needed another athletic player in the backcourt, and he got him in the 6-5, 220-pound swingman. The Pistons still need another shooter/scorer off the bench to stay at a competitive level for the NBA title — but to imagine them not on the right track is not to appreciate or understand the vision of Dumars — who continues to be one of the most cunning personnel men in any sport.
4. Seattle SuperSonics general manager Rick Sund has just about completed his unenviable task of getting his own contract finished, then hiring a new coach and figuring out what to do with eight free agents.
What this really means: While too many people around the Sonics were screaming about the sky falling when Nate McMillan left for Portland, Sund kept on task, following the re-signing of Ray Allen by letting Jerome James go and re-signing Vitaly Potapenko with a reasonable two-year, $6 million deal. Then, last week, they had little choice but to match the five-year, $15 million offer sheet Damien Wilkins signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Also added to the coaching staff of Bob Weiss and inexperienced Jack Sikma were Bob Hill and Ralph Lewis. Sund knows this team is built around Allen, and the hope is that Rashard Lewis will not end up being one of those injuries waiting to happen and continue to build on his All-Star season. The big question is: "What happens to Vladimir Radmanovic?" He has turned down the Sonics' exceptional six-year, $42 million deal and figures to sign the $3.2 million tender.
Maybe, just maybe they can turn that asset into some badly needed athletic players in the form of a sign-and-trade. That would be Sund's finest coup, considering how erratic and injury-prone the extremely talented but flighty Radmanovic is.
5. Now that Latrell Sprewell understands he blew it big time last year when he scoffed at the three-year, $21 million extension offered to him by the Minnesota Timberwolves, he's fully aware that he may end up having to play for as little as the $1.7 million lesser exception salary if he wants to compete for a winning team.
What this really means: It would seem that Sprewell has a lot to prove again, which is exactly where the Denver Nuggets and coach George Karl need him to be. Fortunately, Karl is bouncing back strong from prostate cancer surgery and will sorely need the kind of defensive energy, fast-break skills and streaky outside shooting that Sprewell brings to the table. Sure, Spree is a mercurial personality, but if you'll remember how he led the Knicks to the Eastern Conference championship after his ugly exit from Golden State and how significant he was in the Timberwolves' run to the conference finals his first year after things deteriorated in New York, it's obvious that he's a worthwhile investment for a team on the fringe of serious playoff aspirations like the Nuggets.
6. The Cleveland Cavaliers are still lingering in suspended animation for the Finley deal to be completed. If he signs with the Heat, then the Cavs are likely to sign Heat free-agent guard Damon Jones. Should Finley go in another direction, Jones probably re-signs with the Heat and the Cavs must look elsewhere for their point guard.
What this really means: The Cavs still have some roster issues, particularly at point guard and depth up front. While they're waiting on Jones, they have to be careful not to lose opportunities with feisty Earl Watson, Steve Blake or Jannero Pargo — all of whom would help simply because Eric Snow's aging body and questionable perimeter shooting can not be trusted. And that's not the only problem when you consider they waited too long to bring back Robert Traylor and have now lost him. News out of Brazil is that Cavs forward Anderson Varejao dislocated his shoulder in international play and is headed home for further tests. Once those are complete, he'll head to Cleveland for the Cavs' medical staff to get a look at him. This is not good news because he was a great acquisition, as well as the guy they were looking at long-range to be a fixture up front.
7. And while we're on the topic of the Cavs, All-Star guard LeBron James took his celebrity status to another level with his comic-book likeness on the hood of NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte's car at the Nextel Cup Sharpie 500 in Bristol, Tenn. over the weekend.
What this really means: James' persona continues to grow bigger than life without us really getting to know him. It's odd. Every superstar in basketball, particularly those with the kind of endorsements that James has accrued, has been inundated with press conferences and long, probing interviews on television, radio and print. Not James. He has managed to skate away, building up his fame and fortune without having to deal with much outside the basketball court. It's been an artful management job by James, the Cavaliers and, initially, agent Aaron Goodwin. Now, it will be up to Leon Rose.
Is there something we don't know, or are they keeping him away because of his youth? One thing is for sure: Don't mistake him for Michael Jordan, who was coached into developing a public personality and became bigger than life. It's hard to believe James can stay on his present track without us getting to know him. Or is there just not much else to know?
8. Ageless center Dikembe Mutombo signed a two-year deal to stay with the Houston Rockets with the announcement that he will retire after the 2006-07 season.
What this really means: For all the criticism "Deek" has incurred over the years because of his limited offensive game, he's still been the most consistent rebounding and shot-blocking center in the game over the past decade or so. Between building a hospital for his people in Zaire and his always affable role in the locker room, he's been an important figure in the globalization of the NBA. But more than anything else, it's the finger-wagging of the only player to ever win three consecutive shot-blocking titles. A six-time all-defensive player, he far exceeded the expectations most had for a skinny, raw player that John Thompson molded in four years at Georgetown. The league and every team he's been on have been better just because of his presence. Even today with Yao Ming, the Rockets wouldn't be as formidable without "Deek."
9. In an effort to bond the team that splintered completely and out of the playoffs last week, Minnesota Timberwolves executive vice president Kevin McHale has taken his new coach Dwane Casey and the rest of the team to Las Vegas this week for a mini-camp and a fresh start.
What this really means: What better way for Casey and his new troops to get acquainted than in Vegas, where everyone seems to get better in touch with their inner-selves? Seriously, bringing in Rashad McCants, Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Marko Jaric after blowing out Sprewell and Sam Cassell will change this team even more than Casey replacing Flip Saunders as coach. Hopefully, they will have patience with Casey and allow him to impose his energetic defense and fast-break offense. The biggest question of all is how this all sits with All-NBA forward Kevin Garnett. He had a rugged 2004-05 season with a sore knee for the first time, and following an MVP award in 2004, seemed to lose all momentum and the positive leadership qualities he held on the team. Presumably, ejecting Sprewell and Cassell will eradicate the bad vibes that beset the team and Garnett. We can only trust that a few days in Vegas won't hurt KG's psyche.
10. Kings free-agent forward Darius Songaila visited the Chicago Bulls last week and is expected to sign an offer sheet some time this week that the Kings will not match.
What this really means: With negotiations nearly complete to sign young 7-footer Tyson Chandler for the long haul, bringing in a quality role player such as Songaila is just another example of the great feel general manager John Paxson has for building this basketball team. Sure, he's insufferably anal and horrible with the media, but he's had a golden touch — putting this team together and finding the right coach with Scott Skiles. It's a tough call to figure out what to do with Eddy Curry and his unresolved heart problem, but it's now easy to trust Paxson's judgment. After all, he figured out the small forward situation with Andres Nocioni and Luol Deng, and well, it won't be long before the Bulls will be strong contenders for homecourt in the Eastern Conference.
Yes, we're talking about the post-Jordan Bulls ... thanks to John Paxson.
Veteran NBA writer Mike Kahn is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com.
Mike Kahn / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 2 hours ago
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/4820518
Five weeks until training camps start, and the fog is lifting on the muddled mess that turns the league upside down every July.
Over the next two weeks, we should have nearly all the major players in place and be able to grasp what the staffs and rosters of the 2005-06 NBA season will resemble.
1. Michael Finley, the veteran shooting guard with his $51 million amnesty waiver guarantee from Dallas in tow, has narrowed his choices to Miami, San Antonio, Minnesota and the team that drafted him in the first place — the Phoenix Suns.
What this really means: The Heat still appear to be the odds-on favorite, with the full mid-level exception to spend and a chance to win a title. But will he start? They have acquired Antoine Walker, James Posey and Jason Williams, which would mean Finley would be battling to play small forward with Posey and possibly Walker, with Udonis Haslem also figuring into the picture because he's the incumbent starting power forward — where Walker could also start.
The fact of the matter is Finley could go back to the Suns for less money — taking a one-year deal — and get the full mid-level next season. Money really shouldn't be the issue here for him under the amnesty situation, which could also send him to the Spurs, where he might start — pushing Manu Ginobili to his comfortable sixth man spot — or be the sixth man himself (behind Ginobili and defensive wiz Bruce Bowen). Either way, once Finley signs, it will allow a bunch of other players to line up much more easily.
2. Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and Phoenix Suns legend Jerry Colangelo is now moving forward full blast toward completing the staff and roster of Team USA. Not only is he looking at NBA players and coaches, but a report last week had him seriously considering Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski to be the team's head coach.
What this really means: No one is going to tell Colangelo what to do. He doesn't like what has happened over the past two Olympics, and he won't extend invitations to players who aren't sincerely interested. He's looking for players willing to make a commitment to the entire package — the world games, the Tournament of the Americas and the Olympics. He won't put up with egos, and he wants a coach who is committed to the big picture as well — not to mention one who won't whine to the media as Larry Brown did.
Gregg Popovich appeared to be the logical successor to Brown, but Colangelo may have other ideas. He's all about getting USA Basketball back on the right track, and his sincere commitment will only breed the same for everyone else on the roster and staff.
3. The Detroit Pistons, unable to get any sort of commitment from Finley, went a different direction, signing veteran power player Dale Davis and young shooting guard Maurice Evans.
What this really means: Pistons president Joe Dumars has his own ideas. He will not play the waiting game of politics like so many other teams constantly do. He wanted another experienced, tough player up front, and he got him in Davis — while hurting the depth of the rival Indiana Pacers in the process. He needed another athletic player in the backcourt, and he got him in the 6-5, 220-pound swingman. The Pistons still need another shooter/scorer off the bench to stay at a competitive level for the NBA title — but to imagine them not on the right track is not to appreciate or understand the vision of Dumars — who continues to be one of the most cunning personnel men in any sport.
4. Seattle SuperSonics general manager Rick Sund has just about completed his unenviable task of getting his own contract finished, then hiring a new coach and figuring out what to do with eight free agents.
What this really means: While too many people around the Sonics were screaming about the sky falling when Nate McMillan left for Portland, Sund kept on task, following the re-signing of Ray Allen by letting Jerome James go and re-signing Vitaly Potapenko with a reasonable two-year, $6 million deal. Then, last week, they had little choice but to match the five-year, $15 million offer sheet Damien Wilkins signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Also added to the coaching staff of Bob Weiss and inexperienced Jack Sikma were Bob Hill and Ralph Lewis. Sund knows this team is built around Allen, and the hope is that Rashard Lewis will not end up being one of those injuries waiting to happen and continue to build on his All-Star season. The big question is: "What happens to Vladimir Radmanovic?" He has turned down the Sonics' exceptional six-year, $42 million deal and figures to sign the $3.2 million tender.
Maybe, just maybe they can turn that asset into some badly needed athletic players in the form of a sign-and-trade. That would be Sund's finest coup, considering how erratic and injury-prone the extremely talented but flighty Radmanovic is.
5. Now that Latrell Sprewell understands he blew it big time last year when he scoffed at the three-year, $21 million extension offered to him by the Minnesota Timberwolves, he's fully aware that he may end up having to play for as little as the $1.7 million lesser exception salary if he wants to compete for a winning team.
What this really means: It would seem that Sprewell has a lot to prove again, which is exactly where the Denver Nuggets and coach George Karl need him to be. Fortunately, Karl is bouncing back strong from prostate cancer surgery and will sorely need the kind of defensive energy, fast-break skills and streaky outside shooting that Sprewell brings to the table. Sure, Spree is a mercurial personality, but if you'll remember how he led the Knicks to the Eastern Conference championship after his ugly exit from Golden State and how significant he was in the Timberwolves' run to the conference finals his first year after things deteriorated in New York, it's obvious that he's a worthwhile investment for a team on the fringe of serious playoff aspirations like the Nuggets.
6. The Cleveland Cavaliers are still lingering in suspended animation for the Finley deal to be completed. If he signs with the Heat, then the Cavs are likely to sign Heat free-agent guard Damon Jones. Should Finley go in another direction, Jones probably re-signs with the Heat and the Cavs must look elsewhere for their point guard.
What this really means: The Cavs still have some roster issues, particularly at point guard and depth up front. While they're waiting on Jones, they have to be careful not to lose opportunities with feisty Earl Watson, Steve Blake or Jannero Pargo — all of whom would help simply because Eric Snow's aging body and questionable perimeter shooting can not be trusted. And that's not the only problem when you consider they waited too long to bring back Robert Traylor and have now lost him. News out of Brazil is that Cavs forward Anderson Varejao dislocated his shoulder in international play and is headed home for further tests. Once those are complete, he'll head to Cleveland for the Cavs' medical staff to get a look at him. This is not good news because he was a great acquisition, as well as the guy they were looking at long-range to be a fixture up front.
7. And while we're on the topic of the Cavs, All-Star guard LeBron James took his celebrity status to another level with his comic-book likeness on the hood of NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte's car at the Nextel Cup Sharpie 500 in Bristol, Tenn. over the weekend.
What this really means: James' persona continues to grow bigger than life without us really getting to know him. It's odd. Every superstar in basketball, particularly those with the kind of endorsements that James has accrued, has been inundated with press conferences and long, probing interviews on television, radio and print. Not James. He has managed to skate away, building up his fame and fortune without having to deal with much outside the basketball court. It's been an artful management job by James, the Cavaliers and, initially, agent Aaron Goodwin. Now, it will be up to Leon Rose.
Is there something we don't know, or are they keeping him away because of his youth? One thing is for sure: Don't mistake him for Michael Jordan, who was coached into developing a public personality and became bigger than life. It's hard to believe James can stay on his present track without us getting to know him. Or is there just not much else to know?
8. Ageless center Dikembe Mutombo signed a two-year deal to stay with the Houston Rockets with the announcement that he will retire after the 2006-07 season.
What this really means: For all the criticism "Deek" has incurred over the years because of his limited offensive game, he's still been the most consistent rebounding and shot-blocking center in the game over the past decade or so. Between building a hospital for his people in Zaire and his always affable role in the locker room, he's been an important figure in the globalization of the NBA. But more than anything else, it's the finger-wagging of the only player to ever win three consecutive shot-blocking titles. A six-time all-defensive player, he far exceeded the expectations most had for a skinny, raw player that John Thompson molded in four years at Georgetown. The league and every team he's been on have been better just because of his presence. Even today with Yao Ming, the Rockets wouldn't be as formidable without "Deek."
9. In an effort to bond the team that splintered completely and out of the playoffs last week, Minnesota Timberwolves executive vice president Kevin McHale has taken his new coach Dwane Casey and the rest of the team to Las Vegas this week for a mini-camp and a fresh start.
What this really means: What better way for Casey and his new troops to get acquainted than in Vegas, where everyone seems to get better in touch with their inner-selves? Seriously, bringing in Rashad McCants, Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Marko Jaric after blowing out Sprewell and Sam Cassell will change this team even more than Casey replacing Flip Saunders as coach. Hopefully, they will have patience with Casey and allow him to impose his energetic defense and fast-break offense. The biggest question of all is how this all sits with All-NBA forward Kevin Garnett. He had a rugged 2004-05 season with a sore knee for the first time, and following an MVP award in 2004, seemed to lose all momentum and the positive leadership qualities he held on the team. Presumably, ejecting Sprewell and Cassell will eradicate the bad vibes that beset the team and Garnett. We can only trust that a few days in Vegas won't hurt KG's psyche.
10. Kings free-agent forward Darius Songaila visited the Chicago Bulls last week and is expected to sign an offer sheet some time this week that the Kings will not match.
What this really means: With negotiations nearly complete to sign young 7-footer Tyson Chandler for the long haul, bringing in a quality role player such as Songaila is just another example of the great feel general manager John Paxson has for building this basketball team. Sure, he's insufferably anal and horrible with the media, but he's had a golden touch — putting this team together and finding the right coach with Scott Skiles. It's a tough call to figure out what to do with Eddy Curry and his unresolved heart problem, but it's now easy to trust Paxson's judgment. After all, he figured out the small forward situation with Andres Nocioni and Luol Deng, and well, it won't be long before the Bulls will be strong contenders for homecourt in the Eastern Conference.
Yes, we're talking about the post-Jordan Bulls ... thanks to John Paxson.
Veteran NBA writer Mike Kahn is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com.