I'd rather have Mercer back than re-sign Mr. Loyalty.
Me, too.
Let me think about this Derek Anderson thing...ok...NO!
Like I pointed out yesterday about Antonio Daniels, there was something amiss between Anderson and Pop. I don't want him back on account of that, because I trust Pop's judgment and intuition. As I remember anyway, he was a bit of a whiner, even when he played for the Spurs (although I liked him ok).
Who has the DA in high heels cartoon?
WriterNum posts a lot of 2nd hand info at ISH.
Our old friend MFD does as well! Remember him everyone!
Last edited by MI21; 07-13-2005 at 09:08 AM.
MFD is still around? I figured he had reverted to Dust...
WriterNum has a lot of posts at ISH.
Our old friend MFD does as well! Remember him everyone!
Yeah I figured the weirdo disapeared as well, you should see the act he has at ISH. Trying to act all cool, heaps of weird nicknames for everything.
It's a laugh.
Hey, you wouldn't happen to remember who has the "high heels" cartoon, would you?
If he'd like to be the 5th guard for the vet minimum, come on down.
Blazer lineup close to final
On the NBA
By KERRY EGGERS Issue date: Tue, Jul 12, 2005
The Tribune
LAS VEGAS — Fans who were hoping for major additions to the Trail Blazers for next season via sign-and-trade deals for free agents Damon Stoudamire and Shareef Abdur-Rahim, or by using the nonguaranteed contract of Nick Van Exel, are not going to want to hear this.
The Portland roster, with a few minor tweaks, is probably pretty much set.
What you see is what you get.
Stoudamire and Abdur-Rahim would have reaped some value in return, but Blazer management seems intent on dumping salary to avoid paying a luxury tax in 2005-06. That’s why it’s likely Portland will let Stoudamire and Abdur-Rahim walk, probably will not use Van Exel for trade purposes (there was never intent of having him back) — the three combined for $39 million in salary last season — and might even use the NBA’s new one-time amnesty rule to release Derek Anderson.
“We would consider trading any one of the three (Stoudamire, Abdur-Rahim and Van Exel) for a productive player in return, but we’re not going to trade them for just another body,” Portland General Manager John Nash says. “There have been no trades proposed to us of any interest. If a team with (salary) cap room wanted to send us a draft pick back, that would make sense for us but not for them.
“What we’re doing is consistent with the parameters we set out to achieve in terms of financial responsibility when we came to Portland (in 2003). When it became apparent we weren’t going to be able to compete with the group we had last season, it made sense to get our financial house in order. We won’t pay a luxury tax next season and will enjoy a portion of the rebate (that goes to teams below the threshold).”
Anderson is to make $18.8 million over the next two seasons. If Portland waives the much-maligned shooting guard — who turns 31 on Sunday — it still will have to pay him his salary, which will count against the salary cap. But it won’t count against Portland’s luxury tax figures.
The salary cap is expected to be about $51 million this season. The luxury tax threshold will be in the vicinity of $60 million. A team that spends beyond the threshold must pay a dollar-for-dollar tax as rebate to the teams below it.
Portland’s payroll has been dropping since the free-spending days of Bob Whitsitt, who doled out a then-NBA record $105 million in 2002-03. In 2003-04, Nash’s first season as GM, the figure fell to $83 million; it was $81 million in 2004-05.
The Blazers have about $58 million in salary committed for next season — including more than $45 million for veterans Theo Ratliff ($11.67 million), Zach Randolph ($10.67 million), Anderson ($9.1 million), Darius Miles ($7.25 million) and Ruben Patterson ($6.35 million). The other players with guaranteed contracts are rookie Martell Webster ($2.1 million), Joel Przybilla ($1.76 million), Sebastian Telfair ($1.34 million), Travis Outlaw ($1.1 million), Viktor Khryapa ($1.1 million), rookie Jarrett Jack ($850,000), rookie Sergei Monia ($784,000) and Ha Seung-Jin ($400,000).
In addition, they soon will sign free-agent shooting guard Charles Smith — he played three games for Portland in 2002-03 and was in Italy last season — at the veteran’s minimum (about $1 million). That makes 14 guaranteed contracts, the maximum allowed under the new collective-bargaining agreement, and pushes the Blazers close to the luxury-tax threshold.
Waiving Anderson would assure that the Blazers won’t pay the tax and would allow them to add either a free-agent point guard or a shooting guard to compete with Webster and Smith for playing time.
“We haven’t even begun to think about that,” Nash claimed last weekend.
“The first order of business is to get (coach) Nate McMillan acclimated. We’ll put our heads together soon and begin to discuss options.”
Portland has available a mid-level exception of about $5 million, “but we won’t use it if it causes us to be a (luxury) tax team,” Nash says. The Blazers will need it next year to try to sign Przybilla, who becomes a free agent next summer. If he plays as he did the second half of last season, the exception might not be enough.
“Taking the hard line has turned the financial future of our franchise around,” Nash says. “With our emphasis on youth, it makes no sense to be a (luxury) tax team.”
Notes
Aaron Goodwin, the agent for both Abdur-Rahim and Stoudamire, says several teams have shown serious interest in his clients, including New Jersey, Miami, Washington, Sacramento and the Clippers for Abdur-Rahim and San Antonio, Miami and New Jersey for Stoudamire. Goodwin would love Portland to work a sign-and-trade, since it would mean potentially more money for both players. “So far, Portland is not interested, which is frustrating,” Goodwin says. “Through last season, they continually said if they didn’t re-sign them, they would do what they could to help them out (via sign-and-trade this summer).” Says Nash: “Shareef and Damon are likely to find out the best they can hope for is the midlevel exception. When I asked Aaron about an extension for Shareef in February, he was looking for a lot of money — about double the midlevel exception.” … McMillan says he is working at filling out his coaching staff. None of his assistants in Seattle is in the mix. He has talked with ex-Blazer player and assistant Johnny Davis, fired last season as Orlando’s head coach. McMillan says he hasn’t talked with Terry Porter but has spoken with Tim Grgurich, who has another year on his contract after spending last season as an assistant to Maurice Cheeks. But Grgurich, 61, who watched play from the stands Sunday, hasn’t joined Portland’s summer-league team and says he doubts he will be back next season. “Grg is a very loyal coach,” says McMillan, who played six years for Grgurich when he was an assistant to George Karl with the Sonics. “In the past, his reputation has been, ‘If the head coach is fired, I’m fired, too.’ After speaking to him, he feels the same way this time. I love him, but I don’t think he’ll be with us.” … Two other potential hires are Dan Panaggio, the former Cheeks aide who is helping out with the summer-league team, and ex-UNLV coach Bill Bayno, who is head coach of the Blazer summer unit.
http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=30820
My mom once told me that is not very smart to burn your bridges. Derek you burned your bridge. If I recall Mr. Anderson claimed publicly(sp?), that the Spurs lied to him. Considering the success , or lack thereof, for Derek since then 'thanks but no thanks'. My other favorite quote from Derek was that , in going to the Blazers, he was glad that he was going to actually compete for the championship.
Notes
Aaron Goodwin, the agent for both Abdur-Rahim and Stoudamire, says several teams have shown serious interest in his clients, including New Jersey, Miami, Washington, Sacramento and the Clippers for Abdur-Rahim and San Antonio, Miami and New Jersey for Stoudamire.
Spurs must be hoping to get a champion's discount.
Unfortunately, we aren't the Lakers.
32 this year, still has some game left. Wouldn't be bad off the bench.
I won't lie. I cursed the organization and felt strongly enough against the Spurs letting DA go that I sent email to the Spurs beat-writers, Buck Harvey and Johnny Ludden, expressing my anger.
Of course, I had no clue the Spurs were holding an ace in their hand named - a newly drafted Argentine named Manu Ginobili.
Absolutely was the right move letting DA go.
Ouch. I think that says it all.
THIS GUY!! He is a sorry excuse for a basketball player!! Plus, he's ed us once already, why would we want to get ed by him again???
Derek Anderson interested in Rockets
Associated Press
HOUSTON - Free agent Derek Anderson is interested in talking to the Houston Rockets as he tries to find a new basketball home.
"There's more money out there, but I want a chance to win as well," Anderson said in a telephone interview with Houston television station KRIV. "I just want to be able to play and be comfortable."
Anderson was released by the Portland Trail Blazers under the NBA's new amnesty clause. His agent, Tony Dutt, says several teams have expressed interest.
Anderson said he is trying to set up a meeting with the Rockets as soon as possible.
He said he would love to play with players like Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady and Stromile Swift.
"I've always wanted to play with a great center," he said. "Coming in the same year Tracy did, we have a good relationship. I've actually watched Stromile grow. I think it's just a good fit."
The eight-year NBA veteran averaged 9.2 points and three assists in 47 games with the Blazers last season but had a variety of injuries, including back spasms.
In his four seasons with Portland, Anderson averaged 12 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 244 games.
Uh....nevermind....
He's loyal. It's all gravy.
Another memorable quote from Mr. Loyalty. Too bad he never got to play with Robinson and Sabonis,right?
I know this is a month-old post, but baseline bum has it.
Anderson meets with Van Gundy
Associated Press
HOUSTON -- Free agent point guard Derek Anderson said Thursday that the Houston Rockets may be the best fit for him at this point in his career.
Anderson was in Houston to meet with Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy. He said the meeting went well.
"With the teams that are after me and the situation I am in, this is probably one of the best fits I could have right now," Anderson said in an interview with Houston television station KRIV.
Anderson was waived by the Portland Trail Blazers on Aug. 3 under the NBA's amnesty program. The Blazers owe him almost $19 million.
"Financially, he's going to get offered bigger deals elsewhere," said Tony Dutt, Anderson's agent. But he said that while Anderson has been offered more already, "we are trying to find the right fit not only for this year but for the rest of his career. We feel very comfortable here."
Dutt said Anderson plans to make a decision by Monday.
I made that one and emailed it to him along with a story about how I was a dying child who had lost his will to live because he left the team. It was for a coloring book contest he had on his website. Sadly, I have long since lost that pic and the heart-felt email I sent with it.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory...bk/bkn/3317098
Aug. 19, 2005, 1:06AM
Rockets make their case with Anderson
Versatile guard to weigh options, decide next week
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
Months after he thought he would become a member of the Rockets, Derek Anderson finally made it to Toyota Center on Thursday with a chance to make it home.
Anderson, a free agent who wanted and expected to be sent to the Rockets in a February trade with Portland, visited with coach Jeff Van Gundy and other club officials Thursday as the Rockets sought the versatile guard for their last roster spot.
"I think it went real well," Anderson said. "They were real upfront and honest with me, and that's what I wanted."
Anderson's agent Tony Dutt said Anderson would consider his options over the weekend and choose a team next week. Anderson also is considering the Heat, Lakers, Pistons and Timberwolves, with the Rockets, Heat and Lakers considered the front-runners.
The Heat also have pursued Michael Finley and the Pistons could be close to a deal with Latrell Sprewell.
"It went well," Dutt said. "At this point, we're going to take the next couple of days, look at all our options and make a decision next week. We have to talk about everything said to him by everybody, put it all in perspective and make a decision."
When Anderson became a free agent Aug. 3, he seemed out of the Rockets' range with the Lakers holding their full mid-level exception of $5 million.
Over the salary cap, the Rockets can only offer their $1.67 million salary-cap exception. But the Lakers reportedly have offered only half their exception, and Anderson has seemed to be searching for a fit as much as the richest contract.
"Derek has been pretty clear that the situation, the minutes and the opportunity would take precedence over money," Dutt said.
Closer than it looks
The NBA formula to be used in Anderson's situation could bring the Rockets' and Lakers' offers even closer.
Because Anderson had a guaranteed contract when the Trail Blazers made him a free agent by releasing him in a luxury tax amnesty move, a portion of his new contract will be deducted from the Blazers' $18.84 million obligation.
When applying the league's formula in such situations, the Rockets' likely offer would earn Anderson $1,155,974 beyond the money still owed him by the Blazers. If the Lakers offer $2.5 million, he would actually earn just $1,570,874 in addition to his Portland salary.
The Lakers, who also could look at former 76er Aaron McKie, could offer Anderson a more defined role as a point guard in the triangle offense.
The Heat and Rockets have more depth in the backcourt, but Dwyane Wade is entrenched as the shooting guard in Miami. The Rockets' shooting guards, David Wesley and Jon Barry, are 34 and 36, respectively, and are signed only through next season.
Anderson, 31, has averaged 13.1 points on 41.1-percent shooting and 34.3-percent 3-point shooting in eight seasons with the Cavaliers, Spurs, Clippers and Trail Blazers.
Versatility draws interest
Anderson's ability to play three positions and to contribute either as a guard to initiate or finish offense drew the Rockets' attention long enough for the 6-5, 196-pound Anderson to notice and to say he felt appreciated.
"(A trade to Houston) was the situation that was supposed to happen," Anderson said. "Portland didn't do it for whatever reason. Maybe it will all work out the same, but I was ready to come (to Houston).
"It's a good time, but a little bit (stressful). It will be a good time soon, hopefully. I felt real comfortable. I think they felt comfortable with me. Loyalty is my thing. Hopefully, it will all work out."
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Ah, what would a DA story be without the requisite loyalty references?
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