Some summer league player destinations

[ChumpDumper]

I know some of us were wondering about a few of these guys.

Nik Caner-Medley -- Pistons

Gerry McNamara -- Magic

Tommy Smith, Nick Lewis, Massimo Bulleri -- Suns

Vincent Greer -- Heat

[Quadzilla99]

G-Mac is not going to make an NBA roster imo.

[ChumpDumper]

Dwayne Mitchell has spoken with the Spurs, along with three other teams.

[Nikos]

Source?

[Quadzilla99]

The Spurs should get Darius Washington, I still think he's going to be a good pro.

[ChumpDumper]

Source? http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060630/SPORTS/606300341/1006

[Nikos]

http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060630/SPORTS/606300341/1006

I was referring to your first post :)

[ChumpDumper]

Just scan hoopshype.

[ChumpDumper]

Daniel Horton -- Heat

(looking over RealGM's wiretap this time, Nikos)

[ChumpDumper]

Wes Wilkinson, Akin Akingbala, Allen Ray -- Celtics

http://celtics.bostonherald.com/celtics/view.bg?articleid=146295

[ChumpDumper]

Some names from vegassummerleague.com -- full rosters are there (thanks for letting me know some of these were up, Kori)

Ndudi Ebi -- Celtics

Anthony Grundy, Andre Emmett (Austin Toros), Pops Mensah-Bonsu -- Mavericks

Juan Jose Barea, Ryan Humphrey, Steven Smith, Sean Banks -- Warriors

Jawad Williams, Chris Carawell, Scott Merrit (Austin Toros) -- Clippers

Marcus Fizer (Austin Toros), Ezra Williams (Austin Toros), Gabe Muoneke, Omar Cook -- Hornets

Joel Freeland, Marques Perry, Fred House -- Portland

Andre Barrett, PJ Tucker -- Toronto

Roger Mason Jr. -- Washington

[timvp]

The Warriors are going to own.

[ChumpDumper]

The good news about Ebi is they don't have any room for him unless they kick Powe to the curb.

[ChumpDumper]

Notable exception: Jackie Butler is NOT on the Knicks SL team in Vegas. Fry, Robinson and Lee are.

[timvp]

For those that wonder why some of us want JR Smith, here is the Vegas leaders from last year in scoring:

J.R. Smith (NOR) 20.6
Chris Kaman (LAC) 20.2
Kevin Martin (SAC) 19.4
Dwight Howard (ORL) 19.0

Players 2, 3 and 4 turned out pretty good.

JR Smith just needs a chance.

Too bad he's going to Chicago.

[Kori Ellis]

Notable exception: Jackie Butler is NOT on the Knicks SL team in Vegas. Fry, Robinson and Lee are.

Interesting.

[Despot]

Ebi was cut, wasn't he? or was he just not resigned? I seem to remember there being some hype around him, what happened? I also believe the Spurs were interested at one time.

[ChumpDumper]

Spurs wanted to draft him but the Wolves got him first. They wanted to send him down to the D-League last season, but was over the two year limit for NBA team members, so they waived him. He played on Fort Worth's team and put up decent numbers, especially blocks. Very skinny, very athletic, very raw. Still only 22.

[whottt]

Jackie Butler is Isaiah's boy all the way. 110%. Don't get your hopes up.

[timvp]

Jackie Butler is Isaiah's boy all the way. 110%. Don't get your hopes up.

Actually he was Larry Brown's boy. Thomas got pissed because he wanted Jerome James and Eddy Curry to play more.

[whottt]

No, he's Isiah's boy...found in the CBA by Isiah...signed out of the CBA by Isaiah. Not a scout...but Isiah.

I know because I was hanging out on Knicks forums when they got him...it was right around the time of the Malik trade. I also mentioned it at the time when everyone was telling me that Isaiah didn't know talent...

Everyone in NY questioned why Isiah was so high on the kid at the time...

He's very high on Butler...and Butler is a feather in his cap. I think the fact he was 20 had more to do with wanting Brown to play James and Chandler this past season. They are better right now than Butler is. They were trying to win this season you know....

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

Wow, Amare Stoudamire is playing also, some of these games might actually be watchable.

[timvp]

No, he's Isiah's boy...found in the CBA by Isiah...signed out of the CBA by Isaiah. Not a scout...but Isiah.

:lol

Dell Demps found him.

[Leetonidas]

That's a big ass fish.

[timvp]

Q: Speaking of listening, Isiah credited you with finding Jackie Butler. What did you see in Jackie that others did not?
A: Well the jury is still out on Jackie but I think he has a chance.

[timvp]

Butler is a physical presence and was discovered by Knick scout Dell Demps.

Thank you, come again.

[timvp]

Thomas questioned Brown's use of backup center Jackie Butler over James, the lumbering big man whom Thomas signed to a $30 million contract.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/basketball/14898602.htm

[timvp]

Need more?

:smokin

[Quadzilla99]

Butler showed skills in the games I saw of him. However with his body type I wouldn't give him too much money or too long of a contract. He could be another Oliver Miller who eats himself out of the league.

[whottt]

Bah whatever he did an interview on Mike and Maddog last year where he talked about finding him...I can't find it now. And the purpose of the interview was he was under fire for the Nazr trade and he was talking about why he wanted the draft picks more than Nazr and he was pointing out his(impressive) draft record and picking young talent.

So whatever Dell Demps...you can look at Isiah's track record of drafts and talent evaluation and see that he seldom comes out on the wrong end of the talent deficit...


We call him stupid here...yet we're the ones that got assraped in that trade.

[whottt]

Let's just see what happens with old Jackie...I say he's not going anywhere unless it's in a trade. I know I Isiah likes him a lot....I know for a fact he does.

[whottt]

Thomas questioned Brown's use of backup center Jackie Butler over James, the lumbering big man whom Thomas signed to a $30 million contract.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlo...ll/14898602.htm




You do realize that the Knicks lost their ass this year and Isiah was having to explain why don't you?



Pop preferred to play Oberto over Mahnimi this year...does that mean Pop doesn't want
Mahnimi?

He was 20 years old.

[Horry For 3!]

Bah whatever he did an interview on Mike and Maddog last year where he talked about finding him...I can't find it now. And the purpose of the interview was he was under fire for the Nazr trade and he was talking about why he wanted the draft picks more than Nazr and he was pointing out his(impressive) draft record and picking young talent.

So whatever Dell Demps...you can look at Isiah's track record of drafts and talent evaluation and see that he seldom comes out on the wrong end of the talent deficit...


We call him stupid here...yet we're the ones that got assraped in that trade.
I wouldn't call winning a Championship getting assraped :lmao :lol :lmao

[whottt]

Yeah yeah...like we weren't the favorites to win the title before making that trade...

We gave up two number 1 picks and a key sixth man(who we missed bigtime this year) for a guy that is now gone...

Isiah gave up what? Nothing...

[whottt]

By the way...


http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/knicks_offer_1m_to_butler_knicks_marc_berman.htm

Quote:

KNICKS OFFER $1M TO BUTLER

July 3, 2006 -- The Knicks extended a $1 million qualifying offer yesterday to their free-agent 6-foot-10 center Jackie Butler, making him a restricted free agent. The Knicks can match any offer from another team.

Butler's agent, Keith Glass, son of Larry Brown's agent, said he's received interest from four teams. It's unclear how much Isiah Thomas is willing to match.

Thomas plans to be passive in signing other players during free agency.





Anything else we find interesting?

[timvp]

By the way...


http://www.nypost.com/sports/knicks/knicks_offer_1m_to_butler_knicks_marc_berman.htm

Quote:

KNICKS OFFER $1M TO BUTLER

July 3, 2006 -- The Knicks extended a $1 million qualifying offer yesterday to their free-agent 6-foot-10 center Jackie Butler, making him a restricted free agent. The Knicks can match any offer from another team.

Butler's agent, Keith Glass, son of Larry Brown's agent, said he's received interest from four teams. It's unclear how much Isiah Thomas is willing to match.

Thomas plans to be passive in signing other players during free agency.





Anything else we find interesting?

Yeah that only happened to every other restricted free agent in the league. Nothing special.

I would think you'd apologize for being so blantantly wrong ... but that wouldn't be whottt like.

[whottt]

Ok so we're just going to sneak on in and swoop up a Knicks RFA, all of the teams in the NBA, and the RFA we'll cleverly get is one from the Knicks...got it.

I apologize.

[whottt]

Will you apologize for saying he's Larry Brown's boy when Brown wasn't even on the team when they signed him?

[Kori Ellis]

This is for you Whottt, since Sato is your boy. It's a nice article.


Sato may fill Suns' need

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 5, 2006 12:00 AM


Romain Sato's American journey began with a mother's dream for him to get a college degree.

It continues in Phoenix this week with his unfulfilled dream to play in a NBA game.

Warriors don't give up. That is the requisite mind-set back home in the Central African Republic. He left there for Dayton, Ohio, seven years ago as an exchange student with no grasp of English and a shaky hold on the game of basketball.

He never stopped working, becoming a four-year starter and graduate at Xavier (Ohio) University. He was a second-round pick of San Antonio in 2004 but stayed on the injured list, for lack of an inactive list then. After a season in Italy and a month of play in Spain, he has found himself in the ideal spot to prove his NBA worth again.

The Suns, after not making a draft pick last week, have at least three roster slots to fill and need depth on the wings. Sato, 25, is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard with a 7-foot wingspan and nothing but kind words out of San Antonio, where he was waived to make room for Nazr Mohammed in February 2005.

"It's exciting," said Sato, whose Xavier 2004 Elite Eight backcourt mate Lionel Chalmers also will be in the Suns camp. "God's always got my plan. I feel good about it. With nobody drafted, I've got a chance. I'll come in and work hard, do whatever the coaches want and hopefully make it."

Showing a consistent ability to hit shots in the two-a-day rookie/free-agent camp today and Thursday and in five Vegas Summer League games would go a long way toward earning his first NBA minute.

He was the go-to scorer this season for Sicc Jesi, an Italian League second division team. He averaged 25.6 points and 7.5 rebounds in the regular season and 35.0 points and 14.6 rebounds in the playoffs. That is from a guy who never led Xavier in scoring because he was so defense- and rebound-oriented.

Between the time he spent learning from Spurs guards Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Brent Barry and Bruce Bowen and his season in Italy, Sato feels more prepared for this NBA chance than in last year's Chicago camp invitation.

"As long as you're playing against better guys, you're getting better," Sato said of his Spurs season. "So when I went to Italy, I wanted to work hard and show people that I was better in all parts of the game. I do all the little things. I put it all together so I feel good about it. But I've still got a lot to learn."

Sato, fluent in six languages, sounds like a teacher's pet. He thanked Thad Matta, then a Xavier assistant, for every rebound on his first day of practicing jumpers there. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called him "a sponge, in that he just wants to learn everything he can." He already figured out an NBA job is here for the taking.

[timvp]

Ok so we're just going to sneak on in and swoop up a Knicks RFA, all of the teams in the NBA, and the RFA we'll cleverly get is one from the Knicks...got it.

I apologize.

You're the king promoter of signing RFA's. You want Trevor Ariza, remember?

I'm grounded in reality in my Reggie Evans pimping.

[timvp]

If Sato makes the Suns and explodes on the scene that'd be funny.

:lol

In a sick kinda way.

[whottt]

I've never suggested going after a Knicks RFA...it's impossible unless you sign the player to an impossibly bad contract.

I've suggested going after the RFA's of historic spendthrifts or teams that clearly want to cut cap space...

These guys consider Malik's contract to a be a practical one...

[whottt]

Sato can shoot, rebound and defend...he's undersized...which kinda makes him perfect for the Suns.

I can see him fitting in well on the Suns, but he'd only make our size problems worse. I like him but he's not the answer.


Think Dominican.

[Kori Ellis]

Think Dominican.

Sorry Whottt, it looks like they are keeping him.


Small forward Trevor Ariza, a restricted free agent, could be signed before Stevenson but Smith wouldn't speculate on the length of a contract for Ariza.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Sports/Headlines/sptMAG01070506.htm

[timvp]

So much for that.

:pctoss

[whottt]

That's not really any new news. They always planned on resigning him...but they aren't going to give up cap to do it.

As I said to Chump when we originally had this debate...the Magic need a shooting guard...a big, veteran, shooting guard, that can shoot.

Sound like anyone you guys might know of?

There are cap issues...but they Spurs are going to have to pull some kind of trade no matter what.

[Kori Ellis]

That's not really any new news. They always planned on resigning him...but they aren't going to give up cap to do it.

As I said to Chump when we originally had this debate...the Magic need a shooting guard...a big, veteran, shooting guard, that can shoot.

Sound like anyone you guys might know of?

But Whottt ... it is new news. It sounds like they have a deal in place with him.

[whottt]

but Smith wouldn't speculate on the length of a contract for Ariza.

Isn't that usually a requirement to get a deal done?


If the Spurs are willing to, "go to war with what they have" so to speak...then what is the harm in making an offer to a RFA(of the non Knick variety)?


The Magic need a shooting guard a lot more than they need a SF...Smith sounds tight walleted to me.

[Bruno]

Notable exception: Jackie Butler is NOT on the Knicks SL team in Vegas. Fry, Robinson and Lee are.

Butler is negotiating a new contract.
You don't play BB and risk an injury in that case (remember what happen with Willie Green last year).
To me, it's not "notable", it's logical.

[Kori Ellis]

Isn't that usually a requirement to get a deal done?



To tell the press?

[Quadzilla99]

That's not really any new news. They always planned on resigning him...but they aren't going to give up cap to do it.

As I said to Chump when we originally had this debate...the Magic need a shooting guard...a big, veteran, shooting guard, that can shoot.

Sound like anyone you guys might know of?

There are cap issues...but they Spurs are going to have to pull some kind of trade no matter what.

I think the Magic are fine going into this season with Redick starting and Ariza backing up him and Hedo "cost us the fucking LA series" Turkoglu.

[whottt]

To tell the press?


I see this:

Small forward Trevor Ariza, a restricted free agent, could be signed before Stevenson but Smith wouldn't speculate on the length of a contract for Ariza.


I don't see anything there saying they've got a deal worked out...only a journalist speculating that he could be signed before Stephenson...


And like has been the story all along...they aren't willing to pay much to resign him:


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/local/orl-nba01_106jul01,0,305786.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines


Not-so-big spenders target NBA free agents

With the Magic focused on DeShawn Stevenson, only 5 teams have plenty of space under the salary cap.

Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith isn't wasting any time, traveling to Los Angeles to make his official contract offer today to free agent DeShawn Stevenson.

But don't expect to see Stevenson smiling.

The gap between what the Magic will be offering and what he is asking for is pretty wide.

Teams across the NBA can begin negotiating today with free agents, a large crop that includes a few big-impact players, a handful of potential starters and a truckload of role players.

The biggest names on the free-agent list are Ben Wallace (Detroit), Peja Stojakovic (Indiana), Al Harrington (Atlanta), Jason Terry (Dallas) and Bonzi Wells (Sacramento), which doesn't exactly make this a stellar class.

Only five teams -- Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, Toronto and Charlotte -- will have enough room under the salary cap to make offers that go beyond the middle-class exception of $5.1 million. Teams over the salary cap can sign their own free agents to any amount.

Teams can't begin signing players until July 12.

The Magic will be focusing initially on Stevenson, their starting shooting guard who opted out of the final year of his previous contract to become a free agent. Stevenson was scheduled to make $3 million this season.

Although he has said he would like to continue playing in Orlando, where he has been the past 21/2 seasons, he wants to land a multiyear deal starting in the $5 million range.

It's about $2 million more than the Magic want to pay.

"We like DeShawn,'' Smith said. "We like him on our team and we want him back, but we're not going to spend money foolishly. He has to go out and establish his value, and if it's more than we're willing to pay, I'll shake his hand and wish him luck.''

Neither Smith nor Stevenson's agent, Rob Pelinka, would discuss terms, but it's clear where both sides will begin.

"There is going to be a lot of interest in DeShawn. He had a great season,'' Pelinka said. "And the Magic really developed some good chemistry late. Hopefully, they can keep that together. They can if they're willing to pay fair market value.''

Pelinka declined to talk specifics, but he said he believed Stevenson should be compared to other shooting guards like Raja Bell ($4.5 million in Phoenix), Ricky Davis ($6.3 million in Minnesota), Marquis Daniels ($5.8 million in Dallas) and Shane Battier ($5.3 million in Houston).

"It was a no-brainer for him to opt out of his contract. It was time for him to look at his options,'' Pelinka said. "He's young, athletic and skilled. This is a good time for him.''

Helping Stevenson's case is the lack of good young guards available in free agency. Before next season begins, Wells will be 30 and Terry 29. Bobby Jackson is 33. Mike James is 31.

The Magic still would like Stevenson, 25, to be in their lineup, but they drafted shooting guard J.J. Redick from Duke earlier this week. They also are hoping that no one else offers Stevenson that $5 million salary.

He averaged 11 points last season, giving the Magic consistency in all 82 games but not the outside shooting they need. Stevenson shot 46 percent, but he made only two 3-point shots all season.

The Magic also are hoping to retain guard/forward Trevor Ariza, although at a significantly reduced cost. Ariza, who came from New York in the trade of Steve Francis, is a restricted free agent, which gives the Magic the right to match and sign him for any offer he receives.

Wallace is likely to receive the biggest contract of any free agent. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year helped the Pistons win the 2004 NBA title.

The Bulls, who might be only a center away from being a serious contender, are expected to make a big-money offer. The Pistons are reportedly set to make him a four-year offer starting at $12 million.

If Wallace stays in Detroit, as expected, the Bulls will try to land Joel Pryzbilla of Portland, the second-best center available. Harrington and Stojakovic will command salaries in the $8 million to $10 million range.

[whottt]

Who exactly are we going to miss out on if we offer him a multi year deal starting at 3 mil per?


Anyone we are going to be adding we are going to be doing it through trade...what is the big issue with offering that to Ariza?

At worst we fuck the Magic cap up and pay them back for trying to sign Duncan.

[Quadzilla99]

I like Ariza a lot too but he has no jumper so I would be wary of him. Before you give the standard line "He can develop a jump shot". Let me tell you it's not that simple. I can give you a list of 500 guys who were smart hard working individuals who never developed a consistent jumper (Here's a couple: Ben Wallace, Jacque Vaughan, Lindsey Hunter, Bo Outlaw, Brevin Knight, Jason Kidd, Chris Dudley, Anthony Carter). Not to mention all the guys you never hear about because they can't make the league or last 1-2 years because of it. That would really worry me about him. He has great athleticism and his rebounding numbers and defense are very good. So I could go either way on signing him but that jumper....

[whottt]

We want him for smallball/running as a PF in that lineup...having a J is not the priority in a small ball running lineup that it is in a half court inside out offense. The very changes that dictate us needing a player like Ariza also take away the premium we always had to place on shooters...It's not as important as it used to be, and we are unlikely to get an All Star SF with no holes in his game...

We do not lack shooting on this team...we lack a long SF and a mobile big for a small ball lineup...Ariza fills those needs.

And Ariza can get to the basket...

[Quadzilla99]

I like him too. He is very good on defense and rebounds well too. Plus he can score in transition and is a good leaper. I just don't know if he will hurt us in the half court. If he developed a jump shot he could be 10-15 year starter in this league no doubt. It just worries me about him. God I wish he could shoot.

[SPARKY]

If Sato makes the Suns and explodes on the scene that'd be funny.

:lol

In a sick kinda way.

So Spurs gave up Rose + two 1st round picks + Sato for a year's lease of Mohammed. That trade looks worse every day.

[Bruno]

Thomas gardner will play with Spurs.
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1391

profile (http://www.draftexpress.com/viewprofile.php?p=559)

[ChumpDumper]

Sharrod Ford, Roderick Riley -- Cleveland

Wayne Wallace :lmao, Rick Rickert -- Detroit

Darius Washington, Mamadou N'Diaye, Hollis Price -- Rockets

[Mr. Body]

How did Denver beat the Spurs to Alain Koffi? He seems like a great prospect. I realize he's not guaranteed anything wherever he goes, but I liked what I initially saw.

[ChumpDumper]

How did Denver beat the Spurs to Alain Koffi?Vegas comes before RMR. He could be on both teams, but if someone blows up he'll get signed before we even see him.

I never liked being in the later summer leagues. We've missed out on a couple of players because of it.

[Mr. Body]

Why not just send a representative out there to sign guys off the floor?

I salivate (not literally) for a Marquis Daniels type steal, but know that's not happening.

[ChumpDumper]

I'm sure we have a scout or two at Vegas, and there are several teams that have no room at all on their rosters -- that's why I'd want to keep a close watch on Ebi, for example.

[Quadzilla99]

Have the Spurs signed Dwayne Mitchell for their summer league yet? Are they going to? That kid put up freak numbers at the combine.

[ChumpDumper]

Ansu Sesay, Vincent Yarbrough -- Wolves

Tommy Smith, Massismo Bullieri, Britton Johnsen, Chris Owens, Nick Davis -- Suns

[SequSpur]

:lmao

The Spurs can't even recruit a summer league team......

:lmao

[ChumpDumper]

Marcus Slaughter, Kasib Powell -- Lakers

Antwian Barbour, Andreas Glyniadakis, Ousmane Cisse, Junior Harrington -- Grizzlies

[Quadzilla99]

What's going on with Dwayne Mitchell?

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

apparently Gmac had the worst workout that the Nuggets have ever seen

[T Park]

Gmac?

[Quadzilla99]

Gmac?

Gerry McNamara.