Scratch Boykins off the WishList

[AFBlue]

Saw this just a minute ago.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2727760 (http://)


The Denver Nuggets need some breathing space from luxury-tax territory. The Milwaukee Bucks need backcourt scoring to counter their injury crisis.


That's why the teams, according to NBA front-office sources, are combining on a trade featuring Earl Boykins that will be announced later Thursday.


Now 10 games into the Allen Iverson Era, Denver has agreed to send Boykins and little-used forward Julius Hodge to the Bucks for guard Steve Blake.


The surging Boykins has scored 20 points or more in eight of his 10 games alongside Iverson, but his shots and minutes were certain to dwindle when Carmelo Anthony returns from suspension on Jan. 22. Denver couldn't resist the opportunity to trade him now given that Boykins will soon be its odd man out and more so because this move ensures that the Nuggets will not be paying luxury tax at season's end.


The Nuggets, sources say, had hoped to keep Boykins for a few more games while Anthony completes his 15-game ban. But they had to make the trade immediately because Milwaukee's $4.3 million injury exception created by Bobby Simmons' season-ending ankle and foot surgeries -- its only mechanism for taking back Boykins' contract in this exchange -- expires Friday.


Boykins' arrival will be a welcome boost to the Bucks, who have lost leading scorers Michael Redd (knee) and Mo Williams (shoulder) to injuries in the past week. Redd is expected to miss at least a month, with Williams sidelined two to three weeks. Charlie Villanueva (shoulder) is also out indefinitely and Simmons didn't play a single game this season before it was determined that he'd need two operations.


The Bucks are hoping Boykins' scoring can help keep them in the playoff hunt until Redd and Williams return. The 5-foot-5 dynamo makes $2.95 million this season and is scheduled to earn $3 million next season but has the right to opt out of his contract and become a free agent July 1.


Milwaukee, sources said, also managed to extract an estimated $700,000 from the Nuggets to pay the remainder of Hodge's $1.2 million salary.


Blake, meanwhile, will get an opportunity to win some back-up minutes in Denver's backcourt, with the Nuggets admittedly looking for pass-first facilitators who can play with Iverson, Anthony and swingman J.R. Smith.


Not sure if anyone saw him as a potential answer at backup point, but if you did...sorry.

[ObiwanGinobili]

I'm nto sure how he would've fit into our system (I;m not a scout, coach, or BBall expert) but I <3 boykins and his play.
damn it.

[Kori Ellis]

Interesting.

I think Denver loses out but obviously they did it for $$ reasons as stated.

[Mr. Body]

What kind of wishlist included Boykins?

Anyway, he's a casualty of the Nuggets wasting so much money on KMart and Nene.

[mardigan]

FOR STEVE BLAKE? You have got to be kidding me, we could have sent them Erik Williams for Earl. Not that I would really want a 5 foot 5 point who cant pass, but Steve Blake?

[timvp]

Interesting. Steve Blake has been horrible this season, so I'm not sure the Nuggets will get anything out of him. He might be decent to pair in the backcourt with AI since he's 6-foot-3.

Nuggets fans hated Boykins and Julius Hodge was pretty much a bust. I don't really see where Boykins is going to fit in with the Bucks. They have Mo Williams backed up by Charlie Bell. As long as Redd is out, they can put Bell at SG and have Boykins back up both. But when Redd comes back, that will be a little crowded.

All in all, pretty decent trade for both sides. Nuggets get rid of some salary and get a guy who can pass and the Bucks get even more scoring without having to give up much.

[bdictjames]

I think A.I.'s tutoring Boykins now. He's really improved on his shot and penetration.

[timvp]

Back when Boykins used to actually pass the ball and he could be had for cheap, I wanted the Spurs to sign him. But these days, Boykins doesn't pass and doesn't even try to play defense.

Plus, he's literally the worst rebounder in the league. And the Spurs don't need any help in that category.

[MoSpur]

Mo Williams is going to be out for like four weeks as far as I understand. Boykins will probably start at PG for the Bucks. He shoots way too much.

[timvp]

Mo Williams is going to be out for like four weeks as far as I understand.

Good catch. Overall, it was a nicely done panic trade by the Bucks.

[Mr. Body]

Nuggets fans hated Boykins and Julius Hodge was pretty much a bust. I don't really see where Boykins is going to fit in with the Bucks. They have Mo Williams backed up by Charlie Bell. As long as Redd is out, they can put Bell at SG and have Boykins back up both. But when Redd comes back, that will be a little crowded.

Mo Williams and Charlie Bell are both free agents this summer, AFAIK. Getting Boykins for one more year, and not very expensively, is good insurance for likely losing one of these two guys. Mo Williams in particular was having a dynamite year. Still will, once he returns from injury.

[timvp]

Mo Williams and Charlie Bell are both free agents this summer, AFAIK. Getting Boykins for one more year, and not very expensively, is good insurance for likely losing one of these two guys. Mo Williams in particular was having a dynamite year. Still will, once he returns from injury.

Boykins can opt-out of his contract too, I believe. If Beno doesn't turn it around, Bell would be a pretty nice investment this summer.

[angel_luv]

How bad is it that I would rather not have guys on our team that even Sequ is taller than? :lol

[mountainballer]

They have Mo Williams backed up by Charlie Bell. As long as Redd is out, they can put Bell at SG and have Boykins back up both. But when Redd comes back, that will be a little crowded.

Charlie Bell often came to my mind when thinking about a better back-up PG than Beno is. he is much of what Spurs would ask for IMO. not a great playmaker, but quite athletic and a good defender, who doesn't turn the ball over much. for minimum money he is a steal.

[TDMVPDPOY]

they did the trade cose they know boykins wouldve bolted in FA.

imo boykins on the spurs = no defense bench.....

[AFBlue]

Charlie Bell often came to my mind when thinking about a better back-up PG than Beno is. he is much of what Spurs would ask for IMO. not a great playmaker, but quite athletic and a good defender, who doesn't turn the ball over much. for minimum money he is a steal.

He's listed on ESPN.com as a Small Forward. Is that just a gross mis-type or is this guy really utilized at that position?

[Texas_Ranger]

aRe the Nuggets serious? Trade Boykins and Hodge for that shit Blake.
Not a good trade.

[AFBlue]

Interesting. Steve Blake has been horrible this season, so I'm not sure the Nuggets will get anything out of him. He might be decent to pair in the backcourt with AI since he's 6-foot-3.



I forget which article, but there was one recently that stated the Nuggets would be looking for a big PG to compliment AI...guess they got him.

[Big Shot Rob]

I know that Pop likes "small ball" but Boykins?!

[T Park]

Pop's wildest dreams could come true with true small ball if he got boykins.

boykins
parker
ginobili
bowen
Duncan :lol

[Bruno]

Good deal for both teams :

Blake is a better fit with scorers like AI, Melo and Smith. Nuggets save $8M with this trade by going under the luxury tax. Only 4 teams are over the luxury tax threshold : Knicks, Mavs, Wolves and Spurs. Spurs and Wolves are very close to the threshold and will likely do a move to go under : the luxury tax system works well and is almost a hard salary cap.

Bucks upgrades their backcourt for almost nothing. I hope they will suck and miss the playoffs this year because Spurs have their second round pick : a pick between 35th and 40th can be quite usefull.

[ChumpDumper]

Nuggets are really taking it on the chin to get under the tax threshold. They kinda went from three point guards last season to none now. They have a couple of open roster spots now, I think they'll be one of the teams in the Randy Livingston "sweepstakes" with the other teams needing veteren help at the point for a playoff run.

[Mr. Body]

Bucks upgrades their backcourt for almost nothing. I hope they will suck and miss the playoffs this year because Spurs have their second round pick : a pick between 35th and 40th can be quite usefull.

Bucks will drop in standings with Redd and Mo Williams out for some time in addition to Villanueva. The pick is around #47 right now and figures to drop.

[Mr. Body]

Nuggets are really taking it on the chin to get under the tax threshold. They kinda went from three point guards last season to none now. They have a couple of open roster spots now, I think they'll be one of the teams in the Randy Livingston "sweepstakes" with the other teams needing veteren help at the point for a playoff run.

They're not taking anything on the chin. They're about to have the top two scorers in the NBA on the same team and you'd add a pure chucker like Earl Boykins to the mix? It's addition by subtration on that level - they pure didn't need him. Saving money was the prime consideration, but basketball-wise, they just don't need Boykins at all.

And last I checked, Allen Iverson is a point guard.

[ChumpDumper]

Taking it on the chin = getting less than market value for a player. In pure basketball terms, you don't let Boykins go for Steve Blake, even if it just means playing Boykins those 10 minutes that Iverson sits.

Really, who would you rather have playing when Iverson is on the bench? Blake or Boykins?

It's an understandable tax move, but for this season that's about it.

[Mr. Body]

Alright.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

YES! BYE BYE EARL!

Great move by the Nuggs coz at least we wont have to worry about Blake giving up 40pts on the other end.

[timvp]

Oh and props to the Nuggets for selling high. Boykins was averaging 23.2 points over his last 11 games. With JR Smith coming back, his value was never going to be higher.

Hopefully one day the Spurs will sell a player high for the first time in this FO's history.

[Mr. Body]

Uhhh... but Denver didn't get anything in return for Earl Boykins. I don't think anyone's pretending the value was equal.

[SequSpur]

Manu treated Boykins last night like a nutsack towel....

Boykins blows.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Uhhh... but Denver didn't get anything in return for Earl Boykins. I don't think anyone's pretending the value was equal.

They got under the luxury tax and it saves Stan about $8mil

[Mr. Body]

They got under the luxury tax and it saves Stan about $8mil

Basketball-wise they didn't get equal value in return. Selling high for cap considerations kind of sucks and isn't terribly impressive. Boykins was better than Blake before the season started, three weeks ago, when he was born, whenever. Denver had to part with Hodge and send out most, if not all, of Hodge's salary. Boykins scoring well had nothing to do with it.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Basketball-wise they didn't get equal value in return. Selling high for cap considerations kind of sucks and isn't terribly impressive. Boykins was better than Blake before the season started, three weeks ago, when he was born, whenever. Denver had to part with Hodge and send out most, if not all, of Hodge's salary. Boykins scoring well had nothing to do with it.

There was a sigh of relief and some celebrations from the Nuggets players when Boykins was traded. He wasn't interested in being a team player and thats what the Nuggets don't need right now. Let's just say that Boykins wasn't a team favourite :lol

This team is falling together nicely :smokin

Of course the talent wasnt equal in this trade but Boykins was only good for one thing and that was scoring.

[timvp]

Uhhh... but Denver didn't get anything in return for Earl Boykins. I don't think anyone's pretending the value was equal.

It's hard to dump salary in this league. And to do so without giving up a draft pick is almost unheard of. The Nuggets have been looking for a move like this for a few months and jumped at the chance to do it even though Boykins has been on fire.

[Mr. Body]

It's hard to dump salary in this league. And to do so without giving up a draft pick is almost unheard of. The Nuggets have been looking for a move like this for a few months and jumped at the chance to do it even though Boykins has been on fire.

Fair enough. But saying the Nuggs sold high on him I think is overstating it. If he had missed his last 55 shots Milwaukee still would have done it, plus got other perks aside. But your point is the Spurs should sell high, which is a good one.

[smeagol]

In the end, Nuggets bring AI for Miller, Boykins and some picks.

Nicely done.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Fair enough. But saying the Nuggs sold high on him I think is overstating it. If he had missed his last 55 shots Milwaukee still would have done it, plus got other perks aside. But your point is the Spurs should sell high, which is a good one.


Um, that was kind of LJ's point. If he was 0 for 55, they would have done it, but probably had to give up a draft pick as well.

With as well as he is playing and with the Bucks needing offense, they didn't have to.

[Mr. Body]

Um, that was kind of LJ's point. If he was 0 for 55, they would have done it, but probably had to give up a draft pick as well.

You're consistently the stupidest person on this board. I have no idea why. My point was that Milwaukee would have taken the deal as was even if Boykins had missed his last 55 shots. Milwaukee really had them over a barrel and took advantage of them. That Boykins was on an upswing hardly mattered.

LJ consistently overrates players being on a hot streak, as if GMs are dogs with short term memories.

[milkyway21]

There was a sigh of relief and some celebrations from the Nuggets players when Boykins was traded. He wasn't interested in being a team player and thats what the Nuggets don't need right now. Let's just say that Boykins wasn't a team favourite :lol

This team is falling together nicely :smokin

Of course the talent wasnt equal in this trade but Boykins was only good for one thing and that was scoring.ARE YOU KIDDING ME? :lol

reports say Karl IS NOT HAPPY about this trade..

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/01/11/bucks.nuggets.trade.ap/index.html

Nuggets coach George Karl apparently wasn't happy about losing Boykins, who has stepped up his play as Denver's Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith were serving suspensions for their roles in a brawl against the New York Knicks.

Asked if he was in favor of the trade, Karl paused.

"I'm not going to comment," he said.

Later on, he added: "I'm not saying I feel rejected or was denied a voice. I'm not sure my voice was on the side of acceptance."


But Smith returned to the lineup on Wednesday night against San Antonio and Anthony will be back after four more games, making Boykins expendable. With Iverson joining Anthony in the lineup, trading Boykins for a player such as Blake who won't be expecting to get a lot of shots made sense.

"There's a finite amount of minutes and shots," Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien said. "A classic point (guard) made sense to us."

oh well..:rolleyes

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

GK loved him, we all know that BUT the players couldn't stand him. GK played Boykins way too much and lost games by playing him in the 4th.

So many times the Nuggets would be leading by double digits going into the 4th qtr, Melo would be resting and Boykins would be in. Melo would just watch as Boykins managed, by himself pretty much, to lose that lead with stupid play after stupid play. Then Melo would come back in and have to try and change the momentum that the other team gained coz of Boykins.

GK has a mancrush on Boykins but the players were sick of him.

[milkyway21]

GK loved him, we all know that BUT the players couldn't stand him. GK played Boykins way too much and lost games by playing him in the 4th.

So many times the Nuggets would be leading by double digits going into the 4th qtr, Melo would be resting and Boykins would be in. Melo would just watch as Boykins managed, by himself pretty much, to lose that lead with stupid play after stupid play. Then Melo would come back in and have to try and change the momentum that the other team gained coz of Boykins.

GK has a mancrush on Boykins but the players were sick of him.what?????? :dizzy

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

what?????? :dizzy

GK played the midget way too much and his favourtism for Boykins was sickening. :lol

Guys were relieved when Boykins got traded :smokin

[T Park]

Uh, you got anything to back that up, or just off the cuff ramblings.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Uh, you got anything to back that up, or just off the cuff ramblings.

no ramblings, i can assure you :toast :smokin

[T Park]

;)

Noted, and I apologize :)