KoriEllis
09-25-2004, 12:13 AM
Dicey proposition
Knee surgery promises long, uncertain recovery for Kidd
Posted: Friday September 24, 2004 3:21PM
sportsillustrated.cnn.com...index.html (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/marty_burns/09/24/notes/index.html)
Jason Kidd might be one of the NBA's premier players, but it's unlikely the Blazers, Mavs or any other team is going to trade for him right now. It's just too risky. Kidd underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee July 1, and it's unclear whether the 31-year-old point guard will be ready to play by his projected December return or whether he will ever be the same. Unlike other forms of arthroscopic surgery, microfracture surgery is considered much more complex. Among the NBA stars who have had it are Penny Hardaway, Kerry Kittles, Jamal Mashburn, Allan Houston and Chris Webber. Of this group, only Kittles has been able to return to his pre-surgery form -- and he took a full year off to rehab.
"You have to be really careful with this type of surgery," said Hardaway, who has never had the same explosiveness since undergoing the surgery in May 2000. "You really have to give the procedure a chance to work and for the knee to heal. If you don't, you're asking for trouble."
Microfracture surgery generally requires a four-to-six month rehabilitation period for athletes, so Kidd theoretically could be back running the floor in December, as planned. History, though, says that would be a best-case scenario. Hardaway, for example, played only four games the season following his procedure. More recently, the cases of Houston and Webber have raised red flags. Each had microfracture surgery on the same day in June 2003, and neither was able to come back strong last season. Houston played 50 games but was sub-par and had to shut it down early. Webber came back in March, after a nine-month rehab, but clearly didn't look the same.
For these reasons, NBA teams are likely going to want to wait and see how Kidd performs before agreeing to trade for him. That's why he probably won't be moved until closer to the February trade deadline. As one GM who wished to remain anonymous said: "It's hard to trade a guy with microfracture surgery and $90 million left on his contract."
Boston will be Payton's place
Gary Payton is expected to announce soon that he will report to Celtics training camp on Oct. 5. Payton was said to be less-than-thrilled with last month's trade that sent him to Boston, along with Rick Fox, for Chucky Atkins, Chris Mihm and Jumaine Jones. But Payton is under contract (for $5.4 million) and he's not likely to turn his back on that kind of scratch. The real question for the Celtics is which Glove will show up in Beantown? Will it be a fiery Payton motivated to show that last year's struggles in L.A. were the result of the triangle offense and not his declining skills at age 36? Or will it be a sulking Payton, bitter at the Lakers for sending him to an East Coast team with little chance of getting him that long-sought NBA ring? Most likely it will be a resigned Payton keeping mum just long enough to get himself shipped elsewhere before the trade deadline.
Grizz hope to lock up Pau
Not only a consistent offensive presence, Pau Gasol has averaged almost two blocks a game for the Grizzlies.
Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images
The Grizzlies have had a relatively quiet offseason, but they could make one significant move soon. Memphis GM Jerry West says the team has begun negotiations with star forward Pau Gasol on a contract extension. "We've made him a very hefty offer," West told the Memphis Commercial-Appeal. "I do anticipate that it will be done sooner than later." Gasol, 24, is said to be seeking a six-year deal worth at least $70 million. He recently hired agent Arn Tellem, known to have a good relationship with West.
Teams have until Oct. 29 to extend first-round picks from Gasol's draft class of 2001. Players not signed become restricted free agents next summer. The Grizzlies would still have the right to match any offer for Gasol, but both sides seem to have an incentive to get a deal done now. The Grizzlies want to get their best player in the fold, especially since they have already extended Shane Battier (six years, $36.8 million). Gasol, meanwhile, might not want to take a chance that the next collective bargaining agreement would limit contracts to four years in length.
Around the league
The NBA and its referees could have an agreement as early as Friday, which is good news given that the league has said that, absent a deal, it will begin hiring replacement zebras soon. "If they decide to do that, they will have an entire season of games similar to that in Athens during the Summer Olympics," warned Lamell McMorris, the lead negotiator for the referees association. ... Erik Ainge, the freshman quarterback who led Tennessee to its 30-28 win over Florida last Saturday, is the nephew of Celtics boss Danny Ainge. "I just like his poise and his confidence," Danny told The New York Times. "He's a kid that's unafraid." ... Newly-signed Sonics swingman Ibrahim "Ibo" Kutluay is almost as famous in his native Turkey for his highly-publicized romances with Turkish singer/model Demet Akalin and former Miss Turkey Demet Sener as he is for his hoops. The Sonics only hope the 6-foot-6 Kutluay can play defense better than Ben Affleck. ... Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy won't be doing Rockets TV broadcasts for the first time in 14 years, the team announced. Murphy was indicted in July on six counts of molesting five of his daughters when they were children, charges he vehemently denies. ... Bulls forward Scottie Pippen, who turns 39 on Sept. 25, is said to be getting ready to announce his retirement. Given that he gets to keep the $5.4 million he's due this season even if he does hang it up, one might say he's already received his birthday present from the Bulls.
Knee surgery promises long, uncertain recovery for Kidd
Posted: Friday September 24, 2004 3:21PM
sportsillustrated.cnn.com...index.html (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/marty_burns/09/24/notes/index.html)
Jason Kidd might be one of the NBA's premier players, but it's unlikely the Blazers, Mavs or any other team is going to trade for him right now. It's just too risky. Kidd underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee July 1, and it's unclear whether the 31-year-old point guard will be ready to play by his projected December return or whether he will ever be the same. Unlike other forms of arthroscopic surgery, microfracture surgery is considered much more complex. Among the NBA stars who have had it are Penny Hardaway, Kerry Kittles, Jamal Mashburn, Allan Houston and Chris Webber. Of this group, only Kittles has been able to return to his pre-surgery form -- and he took a full year off to rehab.
"You have to be really careful with this type of surgery," said Hardaway, who has never had the same explosiveness since undergoing the surgery in May 2000. "You really have to give the procedure a chance to work and for the knee to heal. If you don't, you're asking for trouble."
Microfracture surgery generally requires a four-to-six month rehabilitation period for athletes, so Kidd theoretically could be back running the floor in December, as planned. History, though, says that would be a best-case scenario. Hardaway, for example, played only four games the season following his procedure. More recently, the cases of Houston and Webber have raised red flags. Each had microfracture surgery on the same day in June 2003, and neither was able to come back strong last season. Houston played 50 games but was sub-par and had to shut it down early. Webber came back in March, after a nine-month rehab, but clearly didn't look the same.
For these reasons, NBA teams are likely going to want to wait and see how Kidd performs before agreeing to trade for him. That's why he probably won't be moved until closer to the February trade deadline. As one GM who wished to remain anonymous said: "It's hard to trade a guy with microfracture surgery and $90 million left on his contract."
Boston will be Payton's place
Gary Payton is expected to announce soon that he will report to Celtics training camp on Oct. 5. Payton was said to be less-than-thrilled with last month's trade that sent him to Boston, along with Rick Fox, for Chucky Atkins, Chris Mihm and Jumaine Jones. But Payton is under contract (for $5.4 million) and he's not likely to turn his back on that kind of scratch. The real question for the Celtics is which Glove will show up in Beantown? Will it be a fiery Payton motivated to show that last year's struggles in L.A. were the result of the triangle offense and not his declining skills at age 36? Or will it be a sulking Payton, bitter at the Lakers for sending him to an East Coast team with little chance of getting him that long-sought NBA ring? Most likely it will be a resigned Payton keeping mum just long enough to get himself shipped elsewhere before the trade deadline.
Grizz hope to lock up Pau
Not only a consistent offensive presence, Pau Gasol has averaged almost two blocks a game for the Grizzlies.
Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images
The Grizzlies have had a relatively quiet offseason, but they could make one significant move soon. Memphis GM Jerry West says the team has begun negotiations with star forward Pau Gasol on a contract extension. "We've made him a very hefty offer," West told the Memphis Commercial-Appeal. "I do anticipate that it will be done sooner than later." Gasol, 24, is said to be seeking a six-year deal worth at least $70 million. He recently hired agent Arn Tellem, known to have a good relationship with West.
Teams have until Oct. 29 to extend first-round picks from Gasol's draft class of 2001. Players not signed become restricted free agents next summer. The Grizzlies would still have the right to match any offer for Gasol, but both sides seem to have an incentive to get a deal done now. The Grizzlies want to get their best player in the fold, especially since they have already extended Shane Battier (six years, $36.8 million). Gasol, meanwhile, might not want to take a chance that the next collective bargaining agreement would limit contracts to four years in length.
Around the league
The NBA and its referees could have an agreement as early as Friday, which is good news given that the league has said that, absent a deal, it will begin hiring replacement zebras soon. "If they decide to do that, they will have an entire season of games similar to that in Athens during the Summer Olympics," warned Lamell McMorris, the lead negotiator for the referees association. ... Erik Ainge, the freshman quarterback who led Tennessee to its 30-28 win over Florida last Saturday, is the nephew of Celtics boss Danny Ainge. "I just like his poise and his confidence," Danny told The New York Times. "He's a kid that's unafraid." ... Newly-signed Sonics swingman Ibrahim "Ibo" Kutluay is almost as famous in his native Turkey for his highly-publicized romances with Turkish singer/model Demet Akalin and former Miss Turkey Demet Sener as he is for his hoops. The Sonics only hope the 6-foot-6 Kutluay can play defense better than Ben Affleck. ... Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy won't be doing Rockets TV broadcasts for the first time in 14 years, the team announced. Murphy was indicted in July on six counts of molesting five of his daughters when they were children, charges he vehemently denies. ... Bulls forward Scottie Pippen, who turns 39 on Sept. 25, is said to be getting ready to announce his retirement. Given that he gets to keep the $5.4 million he's due this season even if he does hang it up, one might say he's already received his birthday present from the Bulls.