junglespur
07-17-2003, 01:16 AM
Kahn: Scottie Pippen wants to go out with one last bang, it appears. It isn't likely he'll stay in Portland, and even though the Bulls are offering him the mid-level exception, he's been flirting with the Spurs of all teams.
IMO, Pippen would provide a nice 6-Championship-Ring veteran crunch time small forward... Pop seemed to prefer to pull Bown in favor of Manu or Jax at the end of tight playoff games (and not just during the Hack-a-Bowen series). Pippen would be perfect as a closer for those kind of situations...
Link (http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/6483711)
Free-agent notes: Biggest tremors in L.A.
July 16, 2003
By Mike Kahn
SportsLine.com Executive Editor
Less than 24 hours into the new dollars and sense of the 2003-2004 season, the eyes of the NBA are on Los Angeles.
Just after the clock struck midnight, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak was toasting stars Karl Malone and Gary Payton signing stunningly reasonable contracts in exchange for the opportunity to win a championship or two with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Across town, the Clippers’ front office and new coach Mike Dunleavy were all ears as center Michael Olowokandi signed a new deal to play center next to Kevin Garnett on the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Andre Miller, Corey Maggette and Elton Brand were busy signing offer sheets that will require the Clippers to come up with about a $180 million commitment to keep all three. And that's not to mention what will happen to their other free agents: Lamar Odom, Eric Piatkowski, Sean Rooks and Cherokee Parks.
The two organizations are polar opposites when it comes to appearances and results, akin to comparing the voices of Luciano Pavarotti and Bob Dylan. They compete at different levels.
Getting knocked out of the playoffs in the second round by eventual champion San Antonio after winning three consecutive titles was a cold slap in the face to the Lakers, who were not about to sit on their hands in the offseason.
Corralling Payton and Malone for what amounts to less $6.5 million combined next season is the biggest steal in the history of NBA free-agency.
"In evaluating our team at the end of last season, we said we needed help in the front court and in the back court," Kupchak said. "With Gary Payton, we've added one of the best guards in the league over the past decade, and with Karl Malone, we've added probably the greatest power forward in the history of the NBA, so we think these signings make us a significantly better team."
Duh is the word to insert here.
On the flip side, the Clippers were the biggest disappointment in the league last season and entered the summer with eight of their 12 players free agents. Olowokandi, unrestricted, is gone to Minnesota beginning at the mid-level exception of $4.91 million. That the salary cap went up to more than $3.5 million to $43.84 million provided a bit of a windfall up front to the free agents who agreed to deals over the past two weeks.
Now owner Donald Sterling and his brain trust must decide what to do about the offer sheets signed by Brand at Miami ($82 million-plus), Maggette at Utah ($45 million) and Miller at Denver ($50 million-plus). Most people believe they'll match Brand and Maggette, letting Miller go. But there are those who wouldn't be shocked if Sterling matched all of them after losing Olowokandi for nothing.
Several sources said Wednesday afternoon that the agents representing the three most visible of the Clippers' "Elusive Eight" free agents have collaborated to orchestrate offer sheets that are unusually front-loaded with cash, which would force Sterling to come up with an extraordinarily large amount of money to retain these players.
One way or another, he has 15 days to decide or the offer sheets become binding contracts for the Heat, Jazz and Nuggets.
"You never know what Donald will do," one source said. "One time, he's penny-pinching, the next time he'll do whatever it takes to keep players he considers to be his. This will be the most interesting test ever for him."
It's hard to believe Dunleavy would have accepted the job as Clippers coach less than a week ago without at least some declaration that he would have more than just a facsimile of the roster from last season. But that's what has always made the Clippers the, uh, Clippers.
"Obviously it's a factor," Dunleavy said. "But I've been assured by the organization that they're going to do the best they can to put us in a position to win. I think the ingredients are here and the will is here and that we'll get it done."
Although the offer sheet Brand signed with the Heat is undoubtedly laden with heavy cash up front considering the $11 million the Heat had to spend under the salary cap, and there reportedly is a trade kicker of several million dollars as well, it's hard to fathom the Clippers will let their All-Star forward walk now.
But that doesn't stop Heat coach and president Pat Riley from contemplating a lineup of Brand, Brian Grant and Caron Butler up front, with Eddie Jones and rookie Dwyane Wade in the backcourt.
"This organization has always been committed to winning," Riley said. "I think over the last eight years we have proven that by bringing in players like Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Jamal Mashburn, Brian Grant and Eddie Jones. This offer sheet for Elton Brand is a continuance of that commitment to try to win and put the best possible players on the floor for our fans to enjoy."
And if the Clippers do match as expected, the Heat can follow that up with an offer to Odom that the Clippers might not match.
The intrigue and gamesmanship is just gaining some legs here, so let's take a look at the top 12 free-agent moves thus far:
1. Gary Payton and Karl Malone, Los Angeles Lakers. This is almost two weeks old, but it's still stunning to have a pair of Hall of Famers agree to take money far below their market value to play for a chance to win a championship. It will get rocky with only one basketball between them, but when it comes to the playoffs, these guys will be ready, and the Lakers defense will now be suffocating.
2. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs. There was never any doubt that Duncan would re-sign with the reigning champs. The two-time MVP has agreed to what is likely is close to $125 million over seven years.
3. Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets. The Spurs tried to lure away the league's best point guard to join Duncan with a six-year deal that actually had more cash value than the Nets deal of approximately $100 million because there is no state tax in Texas. But why quibble over a few million here or there? The Nets will be favored to make it three Eastern Conference titles in a row.
4. Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers. The second choice of the Spurs, O'Neal wasn't going anywhere as he signed a seven-year deal for that maximum of approximately $120 million to stay put. The Pacers gave him his first break, he became a star and that's where the star will shine. They will push the Nets next season, you can count on it.
5. Alonzo Mourning, New Jersey Nets. Getting ‘Zo to accept a four-year, $22 million contract was mandatory for Kidd to have no second thoughts about staying put. This isn't the same Alonzo Mourning of 1999, now that he's struggled with a kidney disease over the past three years. That's why the four-year guarantee was so stunning (even though they can just pay it down over time if they decide to release him). But they should be able to get 25 tough minutes in the post out of this superb competitor, making them a much more formidable team inside.
6. Juwan Howard, Orlando Magic. Howard turned down the opportunity to play in Detroit next to Ben Wallace and near his alma mater, and with Kevin Garnett in Minnesota. His wife is from Florida, and Howard playing next to Drew Gooden makes them a much better team next season, perhaps capable of finally getting Tracy McGrady out of the first round. Florida also doesn't have state tax, so coupled with the $100 million contract he just finished, taking less than $30 million for his final contract was no issue.
7. P.J. Brown, New Orleans Hornets. Tough call for P.J. to turn down big money from the Spurs to stay home for $40 million, but he made the call. Why move your family when you can live year-round at home? That was the deal, and it was huge for new coach Tim Floyd to retain his most consistent low-post defender and solid citizen.
8. Rasho Nesterovic, San Antonio Spurs. After getting snubbed by Kidd, O'Neal and Brown, the Spurs got Nesterovic to leave Minnesota for a six-year, $42 million deal to replace David Robinson. Nesterovic will be able to provide similar numbers to what Robinson put up the past two seasons on the way to retirement, but anything above that is pure fantasy. Maybe Duncan can get through to him better than Kevin Garnett did. But it isn't fair to pin Nesterovic's inconsistencies on K.G., that's for sure.
9. Michael Olowokandi, Minnesota Timberwolves. Over the long haul, this might work out to be one of the great deals of the week. Although he is just as erratic as Nesterovic, his best games are far beyond Nesterovic's capability. And that he signed for three years and just less than $16 million is a steal. He has had his runs as a double-double machine and perhaps playing next to Garnett, that will happen more frequently. It's hard to believe this fell under the radar screen.
10. Elton Brand, Miami Heat. The six-year, $82 million-plus signing would have ranked in the top five if it weren't an offer sheet. Despite all the front loading and kickers, the Clippers cannot afford to allow their only All-Star to walk, and if they match over the next 15 days, Brand is all theirs for six years. So unless we are shocked, this was an exercise in futility for the Heat.
11. Andre Miller, Denver Nuggets. Miller is the one restricted free agent most believe the Clippers will not match for (six years, $50 million). Miller gives the Nuggets a bona fide point guard to go along with the addition of rookie Carmelo Anthony. Next on the agenda will be an inside presence like Brad Miller or a shooting guard like Stephen Jackson.
12. Corey Maggette, Utah Jazz. The six-year, $40 million deal is much more likely to be matched by the Clippers. Maggette, an unpolished athlete coming out of Duke, has improved every season and continues to look more and more like a potential All-Star at only 23. The Jazz will be keeping their fingers crossed for 15 days in hopes the Clippers forget about that.
Things to watch
There seems little doubt Gilbert Arenas is gone from the Golden State Warriors, who can match the offer only at the mid-level exception unless they move some players quickly to open up cap space. He's enamored of the young Washington Wizards, and the feelings are likewise and will be a great fit for that young group that loves to run.
Scottie Pippen wants to go out with one last bang, it appears. It isn't likely he'll stay in Portland, and even though the Bulls are offering him the mid-level exception, he's been flirting with the Spurs of all teams.
Pacers free-agent center Brad Miller is the toughest one to figure out. He's a good ol' boy, so it's tough to get a read on whether he will ever get to consistently put together double-doubles as he did the first half of last season, or he'll languish as just another erratic center like a dozen other guys out there. That's why he's still on the market unsigned.
Elden Campbell is another underachieving big man who will be signed when all is said and done; look for the Knicks, Celtics or even the Heat to step up with a few bucks to reel him in.
With Howard already in tow, look for the Magic to step up and replace Darrell Armstrong at point guard with Tyronn Lue. He'll give them the small and quick look lost by the release of Armstrong and Jacque Vaughn.
IMO, Pippen would provide a nice 6-Championship-Ring veteran crunch time small forward... Pop seemed to prefer to pull Bown in favor of Manu or Jax at the end of tight playoff games (and not just during the Hack-a-Bowen series). Pippen would be perfect as a closer for those kind of situations...
Link (http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/6483711)
Free-agent notes: Biggest tremors in L.A.
July 16, 2003
By Mike Kahn
SportsLine.com Executive Editor
Less than 24 hours into the new dollars and sense of the 2003-2004 season, the eyes of the NBA are on Los Angeles.
Just after the clock struck midnight, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak was toasting stars Karl Malone and Gary Payton signing stunningly reasonable contracts in exchange for the opportunity to win a championship or two with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Across town, the Clippers’ front office and new coach Mike Dunleavy were all ears as center Michael Olowokandi signed a new deal to play center next to Kevin Garnett on the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Andre Miller, Corey Maggette and Elton Brand were busy signing offer sheets that will require the Clippers to come up with about a $180 million commitment to keep all three. And that's not to mention what will happen to their other free agents: Lamar Odom, Eric Piatkowski, Sean Rooks and Cherokee Parks.
The two organizations are polar opposites when it comes to appearances and results, akin to comparing the voices of Luciano Pavarotti and Bob Dylan. They compete at different levels.
Getting knocked out of the playoffs in the second round by eventual champion San Antonio after winning three consecutive titles was a cold slap in the face to the Lakers, who were not about to sit on their hands in the offseason.
Corralling Payton and Malone for what amounts to less $6.5 million combined next season is the biggest steal in the history of NBA free-agency.
"In evaluating our team at the end of last season, we said we needed help in the front court and in the back court," Kupchak said. "With Gary Payton, we've added one of the best guards in the league over the past decade, and with Karl Malone, we've added probably the greatest power forward in the history of the NBA, so we think these signings make us a significantly better team."
Duh is the word to insert here.
On the flip side, the Clippers were the biggest disappointment in the league last season and entered the summer with eight of their 12 players free agents. Olowokandi, unrestricted, is gone to Minnesota beginning at the mid-level exception of $4.91 million. That the salary cap went up to more than $3.5 million to $43.84 million provided a bit of a windfall up front to the free agents who agreed to deals over the past two weeks.
Now owner Donald Sterling and his brain trust must decide what to do about the offer sheets signed by Brand at Miami ($82 million-plus), Maggette at Utah ($45 million) and Miller at Denver ($50 million-plus). Most people believe they'll match Brand and Maggette, letting Miller go. But there are those who wouldn't be shocked if Sterling matched all of them after losing Olowokandi for nothing.
Several sources said Wednesday afternoon that the agents representing the three most visible of the Clippers' "Elusive Eight" free agents have collaborated to orchestrate offer sheets that are unusually front-loaded with cash, which would force Sterling to come up with an extraordinarily large amount of money to retain these players.
One way or another, he has 15 days to decide or the offer sheets become binding contracts for the Heat, Jazz and Nuggets.
"You never know what Donald will do," one source said. "One time, he's penny-pinching, the next time he'll do whatever it takes to keep players he considers to be his. This will be the most interesting test ever for him."
It's hard to believe Dunleavy would have accepted the job as Clippers coach less than a week ago without at least some declaration that he would have more than just a facsimile of the roster from last season. But that's what has always made the Clippers the, uh, Clippers.
"Obviously it's a factor," Dunleavy said. "But I've been assured by the organization that they're going to do the best they can to put us in a position to win. I think the ingredients are here and the will is here and that we'll get it done."
Although the offer sheet Brand signed with the Heat is undoubtedly laden with heavy cash up front considering the $11 million the Heat had to spend under the salary cap, and there reportedly is a trade kicker of several million dollars as well, it's hard to fathom the Clippers will let their All-Star forward walk now.
But that doesn't stop Heat coach and president Pat Riley from contemplating a lineup of Brand, Brian Grant and Caron Butler up front, with Eddie Jones and rookie Dwyane Wade in the backcourt.
"This organization has always been committed to winning," Riley said. "I think over the last eight years we have proven that by bringing in players like Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Jamal Mashburn, Brian Grant and Eddie Jones. This offer sheet for Elton Brand is a continuance of that commitment to try to win and put the best possible players on the floor for our fans to enjoy."
And if the Clippers do match as expected, the Heat can follow that up with an offer to Odom that the Clippers might not match.
The intrigue and gamesmanship is just gaining some legs here, so let's take a look at the top 12 free-agent moves thus far:
1. Gary Payton and Karl Malone, Los Angeles Lakers. This is almost two weeks old, but it's still stunning to have a pair of Hall of Famers agree to take money far below their market value to play for a chance to win a championship. It will get rocky with only one basketball between them, but when it comes to the playoffs, these guys will be ready, and the Lakers defense will now be suffocating.
2. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs. There was never any doubt that Duncan would re-sign with the reigning champs. The two-time MVP has agreed to what is likely is close to $125 million over seven years.
3. Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets. The Spurs tried to lure away the league's best point guard to join Duncan with a six-year deal that actually had more cash value than the Nets deal of approximately $100 million because there is no state tax in Texas. But why quibble over a few million here or there? The Nets will be favored to make it three Eastern Conference titles in a row.
4. Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers. The second choice of the Spurs, O'Neal wasn't going anywhere as he signed a seven-year deal for that maximum of approximately $120 million to stay put. The Pacers gave him his first break, he became a star and that's where the star will shine. They will push the Nets next season, you can count on it.
5. Alonzo Mourning, New Jersey Nets. Getting ‘Zo to accept a four-year, $22 million contract was mandatory for Kidd to have no second thoughts about staying put. This isn't the same Alonzo Mourning of 1999, now that he's struggled with a kidney disease over the past three years. That's why the four-year guarantee was so stunning (even though they can just pay it down over time if they decide to release him). But they should be able to get 25 tough minutes in the post out of this superb competitor, making them a much more formidable team inside.
6. Juwan Howard, Orlando Magic. Howard turned down the opportunity to play in Detroit next to Ben Wallace and near his alma mater, and with Kevin Garnett in Minnesota. His wife is from Florida, and Howard playing next to Drew Gooden makes them a much better team next season, perhaps capable of finally getting Tracy McGrady out of the first round. Florida also doesn't have state tax, so coupled with the $100 million contract he just finished, taking less than $30 million for his final contract was no issue.
7. P.J. Brown, New Orleans Hornets. Tough call for P.J. to turn down big money from the Spurs to stay home for $40 million, but he made the call. Why move your family when you can live year-round at home? That was the deal, and it was huge for new coach Tim Floyd to retain his most consistent low-post defender and solid citizen.
8. Rasho Nesterovic, San Antonio Spurs. After getting snubbed by Kidd, O'Neal and Brown, the Spurs got Nesterovic to leave Minnesota for a six-year, $42 million deal to replace David Robinson. Nesterovic will be able to provide similar numbers to what Robinson put up the past two seasons on the way to retirement, but anything above that is pure fantasy. Maybe Duncan can get through to him better than Kevin Garnett did. But it isn't fair to pin Nesterovic's inconsistencies on K.G., that's for sure.
9. Michael Olowokandi, Minnesota Timberwolves. Over the long haul, this might work out to be one of the great deals of the week. Although he is just as erratic as Nesterovic, his best games are far beyond Nesterovic's capability. And that he signed for three years and just less than $16 million is a steal. He has had his runs as a double-double machine and perhaps playing next to Garnett, that will happen more frequently. It's hard to believe this fell under the radar screen.
10. Elton Brand, Miami Heat. The six-year, $82 million-plus signing would have ranked in the top five if it weren't an offer sheet. Despite all the front loading and kickers, the Clippers cannot afford to allow their only All-Star to walk, and if they match over the next 15 days, Brand is all theirs for six years. So unless we are shocked, this was an exercise in futility for the Heat.
11. Andre Miller, Denver Nuggets. Miller is the one restricted free agent most believe the Clippers will not match for (six years, $50 million). Miller gives the Nuggets a bona fide point guard to go along with the addition of rookie Carmelo Anthony. Next on the agenda will be an inside presence like Brad Miller or a shooting guard like Stephen Jackson.
12. Corey Maggette, Utah Jazz. The six-year, $40 million deal is much more likely to be matched by the Clippers. Maggette, an unpolished athlete coming out of Duke, has improved every season and continues to look more and more like a potential All-Star at only 23. The Jazz will be keeping their fingers crossed for 15 days in hopes the Clippers forget about that.
Things to watch
There seems little doubt Gilbert Arenas is gone from the Golden State Warriors, who can match the offer only at the mid-level exception unless they move some players quickly to open up cap space. He's enamored of the young Washington Wizards, and the feelings are likewise and will be a great fit for that young group that loves to run.
Scottie Pippen wants to go out with one last bang, it appears. It isn't likely he'll stay in Portland, and even though the Bulls are offering him the mid-level exception, he's been flirting with the Spurs of all teams.
Pacers free-agent center Brad Miller is the toughest one to figure out. He's a good ol' boy, so it's tough to get a read on whether he will ever get to consistently put together double-doubles as he did the first half of last season, or he'll languish as just another erratic center like a dozen other guys out there. That's why he's still on the market unsigned.
Elden Campbell is another underachieving big man who will be signed when all is said and done; look for the Knicks, Celtics or even the Heat to step up with a few bucks to reel him in.
With Howard already in tow, look for the Magic to step up and replace Darrell Armstrong at point guard with Tyronn Lue. He'll give them the small and quick look lost by the release of Armstrong and Jacque Vaughn.