ducks
06-12-2004, 11:14 PM
McDyess could still be answer for Rockets
Power forward is interested in joining team
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
Put aside for a moment the notion of a superstar scorer circling in Yao Ming's orbit. As nice a vision as it is, there are other basketball fantasies with which the Rockets could indulge themselves.
Because it is apparently the season to dream about superstars joining the Rockets and taking the season in these parts into the hot weather, imagine what they need most.
OK, because no one will agree on that, imagine a power forward.
Imagine someone stronger than virtually every power forward, able to knock down Karl Malone and jump shots, outwork anyone, someone averaging double-figure rebounds who would be a simple, no-frills, everyday professional.
If you also imagine him jumping to the upper deck, you would be picturing Antonio McDyess, circa 1998-99 when he was a hot free agent ready to consider the Rockets.
The Rockets, a long shot to beat McDyess' former teams Denver and Phoenix for his hand, went instead for Scottie Pippen, and we know how that worked. McDyess is a free agent again and according to agent Andy Miller would love to consider the Rockets again.
McDyess, 29, will not be anywhere near as expensive as he was last time.
His knee injuries, including the broken kneecap that changed his life and is not held together by screws, have dropped his stock dramatically. He has played just 52 games the past two seasons. Miller said McDyess is healthy enough to start a season right now, and can play any number of minutes or games a team needs.
"I have had no ... conversations with the Houston Rockets about Antonio McDyess," Miller said. "But Antonio has indicated to me that, one, remaining in his adopted hometown of Houston, Texas, is very appealing to him. He loves the city and community.
"Two, he has a high regard and respect for the team, its personnel, management and coaching staff. And three, this would provide him the opportunity to win, to contribute to the success they are having, and to go over and above what they've already achieved."
Even if he never regains the explosiveness he once had, McDyess' attributes and attitude could be right for the Rockets.
The move of Kelvin Cato to power forward and the additions of Clarence Weatherspoon and (briefly) Charles Oakley offered a pretty good idea what the Rockets believe they need at the position.
Even a relatively earthbound McDyess can bring what they were missing — if the knee will allow him to be there every night.
He might have to be checked out by every orthopedist in Houston before the Rockets will make an offer, though Miller said, "We're willing and able to address that, to give teams the opportunity to wrap their arms around him."
But as long as it is June, NBA fantasy season for all but two teams, McDyess might just still be an All Star/Olympian talent at role player/midlevel money.
Who needs Anthony?
When Tayshaun Prince (above) blocked the Reggie Miller layup, changing the course of the Eastern Conference Finals, there was a bit of cackling that he had demonstrated why the Pistons passed on Carmelo Anthony to keep him as their small forward.
It was a tremendous and dramatic play Anthony would not have made. Had they had him, however, the Pistons would have led by 15 at the time. When the series ended and the Pistons had advanced to the NBA Finals after consecutive seasons falling short, they were again offered the chance to laugh at those that would deride their choice of Darko Milicic rather than Anthony. Joe Dumars, still all-class, passed.
"I could sit here and try to throw it back in people's faces," he said. "But it would be just so shallow of me, because we're playing in the NBA Finals. And I think that kind of speaks for itself, more than anything else I could possibly say. All those people, I'll look at them with a great big smile while I'm at the Finals."
But the Pistons' success really does not prove him right. The Pistons did believe they could afford to skip Anthony because Prince could handle the position. But Milicic is a long-term investment. Anthony will be an All-Star many times over and would have been a key to a series against the Lakers. Eventually, Milicic could grow into everything the Pistons hope and more.
But while Milicic is glued to the bench, this season's success does not prove the pick right any more than his inactive apprenticeship proves it wrong.
Bobcats schemes
Bobcats coach and GM Bernie Bickerstaff, who has been clear that the Bobcats will not take mistake contracts off teams' hands in the expansion draft, said at the lottery that he would look to move up in the draft from Charlotte's No. 4 position.
It makes sense for the Bobcats to try to grab a better pick. But there is also a pretty good chance that he announced his interest in moving up to keep teams from only exposing high-dollar veterans they know he doesn't want.
That would be a pretty good way to keep a solid team from losing valuable veterans or promising young players. Protect the prospects and expose only the players too expensive to fit in the Bobcats' plans.
But by getting the word out that he would trade veterans to move up, Bickerstaff also announced that he just might pick up players teams don't want to lose.
The trick in exposing players has become figuring out who else around the league might want veteran players left exposed and would deal with the Bobcats to acquire players that don't fit in an expansion team's plans.
NBA teams not in the Finals must turn in their list of eight protected players by June 12, 10 days before the expansion draft. The Pistons and Lakers have until two days after their series is over.
Stern idea
While describing his idea to use NBDL as a limited minor league for young players with NBA contracts, NBA commissioner David Stern said he hoped in the next collective bargaining agreement to do away with the injured (and pretending to be injured) list.
"Our proposal would be to have 15 players under control," Stern said. "Let the injured list rest in peace."
Odds and ends
The Magic hope Tracy McGrady will attend their workout of high school prospect Dwight Howard in the hope McGrady will be impressed enough with the potential No. 1 pick to pledge not to opt out of his contract after the season. ...
The Timberwolves desperately missed backup point guard Troy Hudson against the Lakers, but they might have to get used to it. Hudson's agent Bill Neff announced Hudson would opt out of his contract. There were rumbles Hudson did not appreciate doubts about the severity of his injury, doubts which no longer exist.
"It doesn't preclude us from going back (to Minnesota)," Neff said. "If they're aggressive with him, they have a shot." ...
As painful as the Eastern Conference finals were to watch at times, the Wizards must have really suffered seeing Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace and Darvin Ham — all players they gave up — leading the Pistons. The Bulls always suffer. Besides giving up All-Stars Brad Miller, Elton Brand and Ron Artest, Trenton Hassell and Fred Hoiberg played consistent minutes for the Timberwolves. ...
Last week's offering about the issues to be considered should the Rockets seek to acquire McGrady inspired interesting responses.
One e-mailer suggested that trading the Rockets' backcourt for McGrady would be like the Lakers dealing Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones to emphasize Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.
Several others have wondered what would happen the first time McGrady fell asleep during a Jeff Van Gundy film session.
From the home office in Omaha
The Late Show with Davis Letterman's Top 10 "Signs Your Team Is Not Going to Win the NBA Finals," as offered by Hall of Fame guests:
10) Oscar Robertson: Owner won't pay for team to travel to away games.
9) Robert Parish: Coach used timeout to go get Spike Lee's autograph.
8) Rick Barry: Your teammate spends the whole game guarding the ref.
7) George Gervin: Power forward has been out two months with the hiccups.
6) Willis Reed: You lost to the Lakers and the Laker Girls.
5) Walt Frazier: Your team logo is a guy asleep in a hammock.
4) Clyde "The Glide" Drexler: Much of the 24 seconds is spent on uncontrollable sobbing.
3) Bill Walton: No one on your team can dunk without using a stepladder.
2) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Your best player is named Shaquille Wasserstein.
1) Bill Russell: Many nights you have more groin pulls than points.
Jonathan Feigen covers the NBA for the Chronicle. He can be reached at [email protected] (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2611273)
Power forward is interested in joining team
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
Put aside for a moment the notion of a superstar scorer circling in Yao Ming's orbit. As nice a vision as it is, there are other basketball fantasies with which the Rockets could indulge themselves.
Because it is apparently the season to dream about superstars joining the Rockets and taking the season in these parts into the hot weather, imagine what they need most.
OK, because no one will agree on that, imagine a power forward.
Imagine someone stronger than virtually every power forward, able to knock down Karl Malone and jump shots, outwork anyone, someone averaging double-figure rebounds who would be a simple, no-frills, everyday professional.
If you also imagine him jumping to the upper deck, you would be picturing Antonio McDyess, circa 1998-99 when he was a hot free agent ready to consider the Rockets.
The Rockets, a long shot to beat McDyess' former teams Denver and Phoenix for his hand, went instead for Scottie Pippen, and we know how that worked. McDyess is a free agent again and according to agent Andy Miller would love to consider the Rockets again.
McDyess, 29, will not be anywhere near as expensive as he was last time.
His knee injuries, including the broken kneecap that changed his life and is not held together by screws, have dropped his stock dramatically. He has played just 52 games the past two seasons. Miller said McDyess is healthy enough to start a season right now, and can play any number of minutes or games a team needs.
"I have had no ... conversations with the Houston Rockets about Antonio McDyess," Miller said. "But Antonio has indicated to me that, one, remaining in his adopted hometown of Houston, Texas, is very appealing to him. He loves the city and community.
"Two, he has a high regard and respect for the team, its personnel, management and coaching staff. And three, this would provide him the opportunity to win, to contribute to the success they are having, and to go over and above what they've already achieved."
Even if he never regains the explosiveness he once had, McDyess' attributes and attitude could be right for the Rockets.
The move of Kelvin Cato to power forward and the additions of Clarence Weatherspoon and (briefly) Charles Oakley offered a pretty good idea what the Rockets believe they need at the position.
Even a relatively earthbound McDyess can bring what they were missing — if the knee will allow him to be there every night.
He might have to be checked out by every orthopedist in Houston before the Rockets will make an offer, though Miller said, "We're willing and able to address that, to give teams the opportunity to wrap their arms around him."
But as long as it is June, NBA fantasy season for all but two teams, McDyess might just still be an All Star/Olympian talent at role player/midlevel money.
Who needs Anthony?
When Tayshaun Prince (above) blocked the Reggie Miller layup, changing the course of the Eastern Conference Finals, there was a bit of cackling that he had demonstrated why the Pistons passed on Carmelo Anthony to keep him as their small forward.
It was a tremendous and dramatic play Anthony would not have made. Had they had him, however, the Pistons would have led by 15 at the time. When the series ended and the Pistons had advanced to the NBA Finals after consecutive seasons falling short, they were again offered the chance to laugh at those that would deride their choice of Darko Milicic rather than Anthony. Joe Dumars, still all-class, passed.
"I could sit here and try to throw it back in people's faces," he said. "But it would be just so shallow of me, because we're playing in the NBA Finals. And I think that kind of speaks for itself, more than anything else I could possibly say. All those people, I'll look at them with a great big smile while I'm at the Finals."
But the Pistons' success really does not prove him right. The Pistons did believe they could afford to skip Anthony because Prince could handle the position. But Milicic is a long-term investment. Anthony will be an All-Star many times over and would have been a key to a series against the Lakers. Eventually, Milicic could grow into everything the Pistons hope and more.
But while Milicic is glued to the bench, this season's success does not prove the pick right any more than his inactive apprenticeship proves it wrong.
Bobcats schemes
Bobcats coach and GM Bernie Bickerstaff, who has been clear that the Bobcats will not take mistake contracts off teams' hands in the expansion draft, said at the lottery that he would look to move up in the draft from Charlotte's No. 4 position.
It makes sense for the Bobcats to try to grab a better pick. But there is also a pretty good chance that he announced his interest in moving up to keep teams from only exposing high-dollar veterans they know he doesn't want.
That would be a pretty good way to keep a solid team from losing valuable veterans or promising young players. Protect the prospects and expose only the players too expensive to fit in the Bobcats' plans.
But by getting the word out that he would trade veterans to move up, Bickerstaff also announced that he just might pick up players teams don't want to lose.
The trick in exposing players has become figuring out who else around the league might want veteran players left exposed and would deal with the Bobcats to acquire players that don't fit in an expansion team's plans.
NBA teams not in the Finals must turn in their list of eight protected players by June 12, 10 days before the expansion draft. The Pistons and Lakers have until two days after their series is over.
Stern idea
While describing his idea to use NBDL as a limited minor league for young players with NBA contracts, NBA commissioner David Stern said he hoped in the next collective bargaining agreement to do away with the injured (and pretending to be injured) list.
"Our proposal would be to have 15 players under control," Stern said. "Let the injured list rest in peace."
Odds and ends
The Magic hope Tracy McGrady will attend their workout of high school prospect Dwight Howard in the hope McGrady will be impressed enough with the potential No. 1 pick to pledge not to opt out of his contract after the season. ...
The Timberwolves desperately missed backup point guard Troy Hudson against the Lakers, but they might have to get used to it. Hudson's agent Bill Neff announced Hudson would opt out of his contract. There were rumbles Hudson did not appreciate doubts about the severity of his injury, doubts which no longer exist.
"It doesn't preclude us from going back (to Minnesota)," Neff said. "If they're aggressive with him, they have a shot." ...
As painful as the Eastern Conference finals were to watch at times, the Wizards must have really suffered seeing Richard Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace and Darvin Ham — all players they gave up — leading the Pistons. The Bulls always suffer. Besides giving up All-Stars Brad Miller, Elton Brand and Ron Artest, Trenton Hassell and Fred Hoiberg played consistent minutes for the Timberwolves. ...
Last week's offering about the issues to be considered should the Rockets seek to acquire McGrady inspired interesting responses.
One e-mailer suggested that trading the Rockets' backcourt for McGrady would be like the Lakers dealing Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones to emphasize Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.
Several others have wondered what would happen the first time McGrady fell asleep during a Jeff Van Gundy film session.
From the home office in Omaha
The Late Show with Davis Letterman's Top 10 "Signs Your Team Is Not Going to Win the NBA Finals," as offered by Hall of Fame guests:
10) Oscar Robertson: Owner won't pay for team to travel to away games.
9) Robert Parish: Coach used timeout to go get Spike Lee's autograph.
8) Rick Barry: Your teammate spends the whole game guarding the ref.
7) George Gervin: Power forward has been out two months with the hiccups.
6) Willis Reed: You lost to the Lakers and the Laker Girls.
5) Walt Frazier: Your team logo is a guy asleep in a hammock.
4) Clyde "The Glide" Drexler: Much of the 24 seconds is spent on uncontrollable sobbing.
3) Bill Walton: No one on your team can dunk without using a stepladder.
2) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Your best player is named Shaquille Wasserstein.
1) Bill Russell: Many nights you have more groin pulls than points.
Jonathan Feigen covers the NBA for the Chronicle. He can be reached at [email protected] (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2611273)