Marion: ‘When You Want Me To Be A Laker?’
Shawn Marion at the 2007 MTV Video Music awards a few weeks back. Is it just me or does this interview make it sound like the Matrix has already been traded from the Suns? I mean, the “I’ll see you in L.A.” line, the cackle cackle cackle, the “wink-wink” high-five … I think we’re in the dark on this one, folks. Shawn Marion is a Laker.
Comments (1)Breaking News: Kobe to Chicago, KG to Boston, Everyone to Somewhere Else
Holy f-bomb! This just rolled in off the newswire…
AP – In the largest trade in NBA history, Kobe Bryant was dealt from Los Angeles to Chicago, Kevin Garnett was dealt from Minnesota to Boston, and Shawn Marion was chopped up and dealt to all five Atlantic Division teams on Thursday in a transaction involving 29 franchises and 313 players.
The Phoenix Suns acquired guard Gilbert Arenas from Washington, while the Wizards received MVP Dirk Nowitizki from the Dallas Mavericks. In addition, LeBron James was shipped to the Miami Heat, Jason Kidd ended up in Golden State, and Steve Nash is a now a Charlotte Bobcat.
The Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, Seattle SuperSonics, Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Sacramento Kings were also involved in the deal. The San Antonio Spurs were not.
The trade was just a bit larger than a 13-player, five-team deal in 2005.
“We traded a lot — our whole team actually — but we got back eleven or twelve quality players,” said Bulls general manager John Paxson. “Kobe Bryant is one of the very best multi-faceted, versatile players in this game. He is able to score at will, make plays, and rebound. There isn’t anyone in this league with a better all-around game. Oh, yeah, we’re also excited to pick up Bostjan Nachbar in the deal. And Wally Szczerbiak.”
Toronto also received Brandon Roy from Portland and the #2 draft pick from the Sonics; Utah received Ron Artest from Sacramento; New York picked up Cuttino Mobley from LA and a package — Michael Redd, Bobby Simmons and two third-round draft picks (which don’t actually exist) — from Milwaukee; Atlanta acquired Amare Stoudemire from Phoenix and Dwight Howard from Orlando; and the Grizzlies received guard Antoine Walker from the Heat. He’s expected to be waived later this afternoon.
ESPN trade guru Chad Ford was unavailable for comment. It is believed his head exploded.
(Photo: Chicago Sun-Times)
Comments (57)Iverson Is A Nugget!
My initial thoughts about the Iverson trade are up at the ‘House, but you can guaran-damn-tee Tas and I will be analyzing this big news in detail on tomorrow morning’s podcast.
Anyway, if you’re game, why not send in your own thoughts and concerns about the trade for the show? (It’d sure make our 5am morning a little more tolerable.)
E-mails are good; voice-mail messages are better. (#:214-5-JONES-1) Thanks in advance…
And oh, we’ll try and air/read as many as we can, so please keep ‘em crisp, clean and short…
Note: Andre Miller, Joe Smith, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams, some draft picks and no ‘Zo for those two guys on the right. Amazing…
Comments (6)All About The Answer?
I’m tired of the media calling Allen Iverson selfish and greedy. Too much ‘I’ in AI? There’s obviously not enough to talk about in the L. I don’t get it. Why the hate? Iverson did request a trade. He did want a better situation for himself. He can be fiery and stubborn. And ya, he’s put up a lot of shots throughout the years, but who else was supposed to take them? Aaron McKie? Eric Snow? John Salmons? Dikembe Mutombo?
For years, Billy King has assembled role players around AI. He was the go to guy in all situations. Allen hasn’t learned, nor needed to play any other way. To call him selfish for taking a team on his back when there was no other choice for the past decade is not seeing AI for who he is. In my opinion, Iverson didn’t have anyone to share the ball with until Chris Webber came along. AI loved the idea, publicly approving for C-Webb to join him in the spotlight. Now, with the development of Andre Iguodala, Iverson has struggled to distribute and make his teammates better.
But AI has never had to make like Terrell Owens and share. The teams around him just weren’t good enough. Would a tougher coach more like Larry Brown and less like Maurice Cheeks be the answer? Maybe. It’s more than likely his new situation will show if he can become a true team player. He’ll be forced to split the limelight with other stars.
Calling him egocentric is wrong. I don’t care if he missed a team function or left practice early. It’s hard to be a good employee when you’re not wanted, and the Sixers showed no love when they shopped him in the off-season.
He can be hard-headed but there’s no doubt he’s a winner. He’s gonna have to learn to become a different kind of winner. I for one can’t wait to find out.
Comments (7)AI Gone? Blame It On The Shavlik
It just hasn’t been the same for Iverson since 76ers teammate Shavlik Randolph fractured his ankle. After the brutal event Iverson called: “The worst injury I’ve ever seen”, it almost seems like AI has been a different person – missing team functions, leaving practice early… oh wait, that’s the Allen Iverson we all know and love.
The luster of AI’s career in Philly has been dulled for a while now. The feeling his days were numbered was very apparent in the off-season when he was shopped around like one of Borat’s favourite prostitutes.
When I saw Iverson in Toronto on November 8th, it felt like a part of that tough little guy was missing. The Sixers were down 3 in the dying seconds and AI, the 2nd, raced up court and fired up a shot that clanked. Iverson sauntered to the locker room, head down. 5 days after hitting the game winning shot against the Magic it was Iverson’s heir apparent, Andre Iguodala, who got to take the important stroke.
Iverson has played second fiddle to no one in Philadelphia. It’s been his squad since he was drafted in 1996. The team is undoubtedly going in another direction. They want to start over again with younger players like Iguodala, Dalembert and Korver.
AI doesn’t like it. He truly has given his everything to the city. He has been the toughest player in the NBA for the last decade. No one has gotten hit more than Iverson. He almost brought Philadelphia a championship when he took the team on his back in 2001. He has cried on national TV, he has feuded publicly with coaches. He does it all because he loves the game of basketball and the city of Philadelphia. He has worn his heart on his sleeve and been the face of the franchise for a long time. That’s why he can’t take a back seat to anybody. There’s no way he can become a 2nd option on the only team he’s known. That’s why I wouldn’t be surprised if Peter Vescey’s report about AI asking to be traded is true.
I don’t see him as an unworthy superstar crying his way out of a situation. He’s scoring 31 points per game for Cheeks’ sake! Although he knows the team is going nowhere, he wouldn’t have a problem if he were the go to guy. Can he learn that secondary role on a new team – say if he’s traded to play with Kevin Garnett in Minnesota? Maybe, no one can be sure. I just think he’s too prideful to do it in Philly.
Comments (5)Tas: Charlie V. Was Redundant; The Spurs Will Win The Title
Note: This is a small, bit-sized sample of a Raptors Q&A Tas just did with the good folks at DroppingDimes.com. I’ll let you know as soon as the rest of it goes up…
Comments (1)Q. Was it a wise move to let a young talent such as Charlie Villanueva go when he could have formed a dynamic frontcourt duo with Chris Bosh? Or was T.J. Ford a necessary move with Mike James leaving the T-Dot? Was the price too high?
A. When Bryan Colangelo decided he wanted to get Andrea Bargnani with the 1st pick of the draft, it was clear that having the comparable skills of Villanueva and Bargnani on the same team would be sort of useless. It’s safe to assume Colangelo thought of the good Italian boy as the better player of the two. At the same time, there was a big hole to fill at point guard. The Raps front office didn’t want to bring back Mike James and that left Jose Calderon and Darrick Martin running the show. That just wouldn’t cut it. Charlie was shown the door because he had good trade value and because his skills were somewhat redundant. T.J. Ford fits the prototype point guard of a Colangelo run team. He is a pass first point guard with several different speeds. Did BC overpay? I really can’t estimate the ceiling of the two so it’s hard to say. They are both NBA level talents. Villanueva’s skill set and height may be a little more coveted, but they both fulfill a need. I’d say it’s pretty much a wash in regards to who the better player is right now. What Colangelo did was swap skills he had an abundance of for skills his squad sorely lacked. In turn, he filled the most important position of his up-tempo style team.
[…]
Q. Besides the Raptors, who wins the NBA Finals this season?
A. The San Antonio Spurs. They are hungry and they are healthy. Last season’s playoff loss was tough for everyone. In addition, other factors will drive the Spurs. Tony Parker didn’t get to play in the World Basketball
Championships. Manu Ginobili lost in the semi-finals there. Tim Duncan wants to show he is 100% and ready to be his old self. Gregg Popovich doesn’t like the notion that some believe Avery Johnson out coached him in the post season. They all have a lot to play for and I think they’ll come in to the season with a tuned up work ethic and attitude.
Al Harrington, Al Harrington. Al Harrington? Al Harrington.
I’ve got to agree with The Mighty MJD; all this “where’s Al Harrington going to sign?” talk has got to end. Now. Seriously, just look at all the Al Harrington headlines from the past few weeks or so. He’s everywhere!
Golden State Revs Up Al Harrington Hunt
– San Francisco ChronicleBreaking News: Al Harrington To Indiana?
– SLAMonlineAl Harrington Returning To The Pacers … Probably
– HoopsvibeWolves Re-Enter The Al Harrington Chase?
– RealGMAl Harrington: Still Likely Headed Back To Indiana
– RotowireAl Harrington Orders Nationwide Art Invetory
– Voice of AmericaAl Harrington: Still Likely Breathing
– Ascent MagazineAl Harrington’s Cowboy Frank Butler Wows Crowd In ‘Annie Get Your Gun’
– Ultimate ProsUS Pushes Air Security To Al Harrington Level For First Time
– CNET News.comObserver: “Al Harrington Puts Family Ahead Of Breakfast”
– Headline NewsRaptors, Bucks, Bobcats, Blazers, Lakers, Kings, Magic, Celtics, Nets, Heat, Grizzlies, And The Seattle Storm Of The WNBA Interested In Al Harrington
– The Sports ReviewStep Into My Boudoir, Al Harrington
– Isaiah Thomas’ Blog
Al Harrington Is Becoming The Barbaro Of The NBA
[The Mighty MJD]
(UPDATE: Al Harrington.)
Comments (2)“I’m the Bad Boy flavor, light brown gators”
In his latest Insider article, John Hollinger lays the odds of Allen Iverson being traded to the Golden State Warriors for Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu, Mickael Pietrus, and Zarko Cabarkapa at about 7-1.
But let’s just say Jason Richardson decides to throw in his $800 pair of brown alligator dress shoes. You know, sweeten the pot a little.
Then what are we lookin’ at? 3-1? 2-1 odds?
I mean shit, if you’re 76ers GM Billy King, are you, or are you not just dyin’ to slip your callused feet into a fine pair of Mezlans?
Five Possible Allen Iverson Trade Scenarios [ESPN Insider]
Comments (0)T.J. 4 CV3
A lot has been made about Bryan Colangelo’s re-jigging of the Raptors roster. Here is my input on the transaction that is both the most controversial and the one that will have the most impact on the 2006-2007 season.
Side note - just dipped some cauliflower in seafood sauce. I’ll give it 7 out of 10.
The point guard position is by far the most important piece of a Bryan Colangelo team. This was problem #1 for Colangelo - especially with the hole left by the ever confident Mike James.
Colangelo made a decision leading up to the draft. Who will be a better player in this league - Charlie Villanueva or Andrea Bargnani? Having done his research in tandem with his European scouting help, the decision was made.
The two are similar players but Bargnani seems to have more potential. He’s an inch taller, weighs more and is a year younger than Charlie. Andrea is also a more pure shooter. He appears to have the quicks to match Villanueva’s although Charlie can definitely work the post more efficiently. The Raps envision Bargnani playing the majority of his minutes at the 5 spot when he’s ready. CV3 seems to lack the intensity to rebound and play strong defense at the center position - his work ethic having been questioned since college. Bargnani’s desire and passion have been praised endlessly. With Chris Bosh at the 4, the only room left for significant minutes in the future for either player would have been at the 3 or 5. Neither player is truly capable of playing small forward and although Charlie did do it last year… Who cares if he did it last year? The Raps won 27 games! The drafting of “Il Mago” proves who Colangelo thought was the better player of the two.
This made the trade of CV3 a lot easier. But did the Raps get enough for him? If you want to look at past performance, the answer is no. Ford has had decent numbers, but Charlie is a year younger, becomes a free agent 2 years later than Ford, and he’s a big man who can shoot and rebound - very tough qualities to come by. For mainly these reasons, Bill Simmons calls this one of the worst trades ever.
But I’m going to have go against the Sports Guy here. Players often excel in different environments and T.J. Ford should be one of them. People forget how fast this guy really is. He’s likely top 3 along with Tony Parker and Devin Harris and “Phoenix North” should take huge advantage of that. Ford’s relationship with coaches Sam Mitchell and Jim Todd along with his friendship with Bosh are also factors in his development. On the floor, Ford fits the bill very well for Colangelo.
Didn’t everyone on the planet condemn Colangelo for signing Nash to a 5 year - 65 million dollar deal two MVPs ago? No, Ford is not even in the same stratosphere as Nash, but given the right opportunity, he will show the similar ability to fly up the court and distribute. Even if he does elevate his game, people will still argue Villanueva was a very steep price to pay.
But combine the fact Colangelo desperately needed his type of point guard to make this system go, along with the drafting of Bargnani and the defensive problems associated with playing Villanueva, Bosh and Andrea at the same time, and you’ve got a fairly even trade that will help the Raptors improve on that 27-52 record. An improvement that wouldn’t have occurred with a CV3 instead of a T.J.
Cauliflower and honey mustard anyone? You have no idea.
Comments (16)About
The Basketball Jones is a NBA blog and podcast, written and recorded five times a week by J.E. Skeets, Tas Melas and Jason Doyle. Comments, questions and cold hard cash are always welcome and much appreciated. Contact us.
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