Real Deal

I wonder why ESPN's Trade Machine says I can't deal just Willie Green for Damon Stoudamire, or whatever his name was.

Three different reporters are saying otherwise, guys. Jamison to Cleveland is a real possibility. The Wizards could care less what happens in Cleveland, as long as they drop that three years, $40 million of Antawn's.

Alright, following this crap for so long, here's what I have... 1) The Suns want Beasley. Miami won't trade him. Not a chance, they say... 2) The Heat are wanting to deal Jermaine O'Neal. The Suns don't want him. They want young talent and picks. 3) Phoenix loves Wright and Chalmers...gives them youth to replace both Hill and Nash soon. Cook is a three-point specialist that fits their system (we know how PHX likes to stock up on three-point shooters). Richardson doesn't really mean anything to the Suns except for being a filler (better than taking Jermaine and no young players). 4) The picks Phoenix wants only makes things better for the Suns, because they feel Wade may not return, and suddenly, those picks become really good ones. If Amare doesn't stay, and Wade doesn't stay...the Heat could become one of the worst teams in the NBA...Suns' thought process kicks in, and those picks become very tasty in a trade for their expiring player. 5) The Heat aren't set on trading their entire roster for Amare, but having Wade, Beasley and STAT on the same team for 2-3 months seems like a great plan to keep Dwyane and Amare in Miami for contract extensions. Promising futures always have a major impact on what a franchise player does during free agency. I'm really not sure how the trade will go down, though. Phoenix is pulling in offers from the Cavaliers and the Sixers. Philadelphia has told them they won't deal Iguodala for Stoudemire unless the deal includes Dalembert (on their end) and Barbosa (on the Suns' side). The Suns don't want Dalembert or Elton Brand...yet, without them, a trade is tough to work out for Amare, so the likelihood that Amare ends up in Philly is very small. Philly actually came out and said Iggy isn't even on the block, but we all know that's not exactly true. Cavaliers and Heat...they are the front-runners. The Heat can't make up their mind and they refuse to deal Beasley, while the Cavaliers have already given the Suns their offer (which now may include Jamario Moon). It's gonna be a tough two days for Miami.

Another 25! Good win by the Thunder. They need it. This team can be so good, and it's great to see those young guys coming together and winning, like they have been.

I can't believe the Nets won. They need to SLOW DOWN if they want that record.

I actually went back and tried to find a "sidekick" that averaged those types of numbers, and I couldn't find one. Pippen didn't even shoot the ball over 17 times a game with Jordan in the lineup. He didn't average over 21 points, either. Even more interesting is the fact that Kobe actually took more shots per game than O'Neal in two of those championship seasons, and in that second season, he averaged just as many points (take 0.2 points off) as O'Neal, as his "sidekick" that championship season. While Bryant wasn't the best player every single year from 2000-2009, he was #1 OR #2 from 2000-2003, and he was #1 from 2004-2009. That, alone, should be convincing enough (along with the stats) to stick him into the discussion, and ahead of everyone else, as player of the decade.

Throat cancer is serious. My uncle has it, and he's got 6-8 weeks of treatments, radiation and chemo. If anyone has any family members that have had to go through chemo, they'd know how terrible it is. I hope he makes a full recovery. He may be saying he'll coach, but I doubt it, after a few treatments.

Hmm...

Yeah, with the Heat taking back J-Rich. So...Augustin to Phoenix? Or...I don't see why they would take Diaw back, but the money doesn't work out, though. I HATE THESE LAST THREE DAYS.

Ah, yep... http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-tradebuzz021610&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=TradeTalkRoundup-2010#knicks

I'm too lazy to check on the trade, but to get both Amare and Diaw, I'm sure the Heat would have to deal Jermaine and Haslem both.

I don't think Bosh has much to worry about. Toronto doesn't seem to be active in trade talks, and they really don't have anything to offer (meaning, nothing that teams would covet at this point). All focus is on four power forwards (Amare, Jamison, Tyrus and Murphy), two guards (Hinrich and Hamilton) and three small forwards (Iguodala, Prince, McGrady). The Raptors may be interested in a couple of them, but a lot of teams are looking for cap relief or young players, and aside from Bosh, I'm not sure if anyone else is appealing to those guys.

The one chance you get to unload money for two big-name superstars, you shoot for it. If the Knicks somehow land LeBron and Wade (let's keep an open mind for the sake of discussion, lol), they will attract so many free agents wanting to take less money, it'll be huge for them. After winning 50+ games every year for two years, they will have a team built to crush everyone else out East. Otherwise, you bring in someone like Wade, then put those second tier guys around him, and you end up like the Miami Heat...playoff team, but nothing more.

No idea, but Charlotte seems to be shopping Augustin and Diaw. Maybe a larger trade, where Augustin goes to Phoenix, Diaw to Miami?

Miami is trying to trade Haslem. @WojYahooNBA

Actually, if I recall correctly, there were quite a few Lakers fans that really liked the trade, but were worried that Marc Gasol would turn out to be as good as his brother...and given the fact that he was younger and cheaper, it was a risk. Plus, people thought Crittenton would be a poor man's Dwyane Wade. Anyone remember the scouting done on him, and how the Lakers "stole" him during the draft? People don't know how good (or bad) draft picks are going to be, either, until they end up with a Rajon Rondo or a Manu Ginobili...or, on the other hand, a Michael Olowokandi or Jonathan Bender. And Sky is right, it was all about the money. A few years post-trade, we all see how important that was. Maybe Hickson will turn out to be a good player. Marc Gasol is a better defender than Pau, and while he doesn't score as well and doesn't have the offensive skillset, he's still able to put up 15 a game and grab double-digit boards. These teams (Lakers and Grizzlies included) have international scouts. There was a reason why the Grizzlies wanted Gasol over Yue.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=TradeTalkRoundup-2010#shaq

Nevermind, no Kobe tonight. http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=4919088

I wonder if this means the Amare deal fell through.

@WojYahooNBA

Bryant averaged 22.5 PPG (47% FG), 6.3 RPG and 4.9 APG in the Lakers' first championship season, shooting the ball 17.9 times per game. He averaged 28.5 PPG (46% FG), 5.9 RPG, and 5.0 APG in the second championship season, shooting the ball 22.2 times per game. He put up 25.5 PPG (47% FG), 5.5 RPG, and 5.5 APG in the third, shooting the ball 20.0 times per game. What "sidekick" puts up those kind of numbers?

Amare likes this because it gives him a chance at a title this season, then free agency. That doesn't mean he leaves Cleveland, but it means he cashes in right after winning a ring (if indeed the Cavs get that far). Cleveland DID talk to Washington about Antawn Jamison on Monday, and they ignored the Pacers and Murphy, mainly because Troy has about five other teams hunting him down. Things look to be getting interesting.

Howard doesn't necessarily need 14-15 shots per game, he just needs to get the ball more, and pass out of the post. His offensive game is limited, but he can still draw doubles because he's an automatic dunk if he catches the ball two steps from the rim.

Yeah, Houston is pushing to get Harrington, but the Knicks aren't going to budge. If Houston wants Hill, there's no Harrington, and when you take a young player, you have to take a contract back, which is why Jeffries is in.