Re: Offical Free Agent Central

[Magilla_Gorilla]

I find the whole courting of Dwight Howard hilarious and sad. Honestly, WTF does Dwight care what Clyde Drexler and Yao Ming have to say about Houston? I could understand Hakeem because they play the same position and he actually won titles with them. But even in that case, it was decades ago in a whole different era. Dwight knows where he's going and I don't think he'll be swayed by anything besides who he'll be playing with and how much they are paying him.

Its all about stroking Dwights ego. Absolutely nothing more.

[DaMayor73]

So the Bulls absolutely MUST make a move because the Nets are destroying their franchise's future for the next 5-10 years to chase after the Heat with two old players? They MUST make a move because Greg Oden MAY be interested in the Pacers? They MUST make a move because the Knicks again make a foolish trade?

Do some of you really realize how shrill you sound?!?

I don't think anybody's all too worried about the Pacers or Knicks. But to discredit what the Nets have done by saying they've ruined the franchise's future for the next 5-10 years a) is a very vague statement to make, first off; 5-10 years is a huge difference in basketball time, so that was a silly thing to say, and b) at some point don't you have to stop trying to secure success down the road in favor of winning while we've got the opportunity we do right now?

So mortgaging your future draft picks (which are invaluable in today's CBA), spending $80 million in luxuary tax penalties for two players in their late 30's is prudent basketball strategy? No, it is silly, counter-productive and has a very small chance of being successful. It did not work for the Lakers last year and it most likely will not work for the 2013-2014 Nets.

[Mech Engineer]

Dwight is repeating the LeBron tour in a different way. I agree that having Olajuwon will not help in recruiting. He is trying to leave a franchise which had a million star players with most of them being Centers. It is very personal and it all boils down to his trust of the owner/GM/coach and what he thinks of Harden.
The only difference between him and LeBron is the confidence of winning not 1,...not 7 championships before they play. I doubt he will leave the Lakers. He knows the Lakers will have the same flexibility in a year.

[drosestruts]

So the Bulls absolutely MUST make a move because the Nets are destroying their franchise's future for the next 5-10 years to chase after the Heat with two old players? They MUST make a move because Greg Oden MAY be interested in the Pacers? They MUST make a move because the Knicks again make a foolish trade?

Do some of you really realize how shrill you sound?!?

I don't think anybody's all too worried about the Pacers or Knicks. But to discredit what the Nets have done by saying they've ruined the franchise's future for the next 5-10 years a) is a very vague statement to make, first off; 5-10 years is a huge difference in basketball time, so that was a silly thing to say, and b) at some point don't you have to stop trying to secure success down the road in favor of winning while we've got the opportunity we do right now?

See I'm of the opinion that by not making any of the rumored moves so far this summer it shows that we're going for it this year and our favoring winning while we've got the opportunity to do so right now.

Move Deng for a lottery pick in a weak draft? That sets us back.

Move Deng for Eric Gordon? That's a lateral move at best and it's worse for future flexibility

Move Noah and future picks for Aldridge? our defense gets significantly downgraded and our offense isn't improved enough to warrant the trade. Portland's asking price is getting outrageous (they turned down Lee and Rush also). Noah is so important to the success of this team, people act like he's a dime a dozen player, he isn't, and he would greatly be missed.

Not sure what other one's have bee out there? Matching Portland's offer for Robinson would have been dumb.

I don't know, too many whiners around here lately and often it seems a lot of the criticism is invalid and is boiling down to complaining for complainings sake.

[bullslas]

So the Bulls absolutely MUST make a move because the Nets are destroying their franchise's future for the next 5-10 years to chase after the Heat with two old players? They MUST make a move because Greg Oden MAY be interested in the Pacers? They MUST make a move because the Knicks again make a foolish trade?

Do some of you really realize how shrill you sound?!?

The Nets will have cap space after those 2 leave and will be able to recruit more free agents. Brookly is becoming a destination due to it's ownership. They gave up a first next year and 2 more in future years. Who know's where those picks will be but they are going at it now. The Bulls have been telling us about 2014 for a while now, what happens if they strike out. What's next? Another 4 years of being a good team? I want a championship!

[Jimmy Forums]

So the Bulls absolutely MUST make a move because the Nets are destroying their franchise's future for the next 5-10 years to chase after the Heat with two old players? They MUST make a move because Greg Oden MAY be interested in the Pacers? They MUST make a move because the Knicks again make a foolish trade?

Do some of you really realize how shrill you sound?!?

I don't think anybody's all too worried about the Pacers or Knicks. But to discredit what the Nets have done by saying they've ruined the franchise's future for the next 5-10 years a) is a very vague statement to make, first off; 5-10 years is a huge difference in basketball time, so that was a silly thing to say, and b) at some point don't you have to stop trying to secure success down the road in favor of winning while we've got the opportunity we do right now?

See I'm of the opinion that by not making any of the rumored moves so far this summer it shows that we're going for it this year and our favoring winning while we've got the opportunity to do so right now.

Move Deng for a lottery pick in a weak draft? That sets us back.

Move Deng for Eric Gordon? That's a lateral move at best and it's worse for future flexibility

Move Noah and future picks for Aldridge? our defense gets significantly downgraded and our offense isn't improved enough to warrant the trade. Portland's asking price is getting outrageous (they turned down Lee and Rush also). Noah is so important to the success of this team, people act like he's a dime a dozen player, he isn't, and he would greatly be missed.

Not sure what other one's have bee out there? Matching Portland's offer for Robinson would have been dumb.

I don't know, too many whiners around here lately and often it seems a lot of the criticism is invalid and is boiling down to complaining for complainings sake.

I wouldn't do any of those trades either. The only thing I can really say right now is that I hope we are annoying the hell out of Portland for offers not including Derrick, Jimmy, and Jo all summer long. I can only hate on them for not making moves so much at this point. Free agency just started. I'm not down for making stupid trades, but I just feel like going into next season with the roster we have right now will fall short. We're walking a fine line right now in terms of being contenders/champions.

[Jimmy Forums]

So the Bulls absolutely MUST make a move because the Nets are destroying their franchise's future for the next 5-10 years to chase after the Heat with two old players? They MUST make a move because Greg Oden MAY be interested in the Pacers? They MUST make a move because the Knicks again make a foolish trade?

Do some of you really realize how shrill you sound?!?

I don't think anybody's all too worried about the Pacers or Knicks. But to discredit what the Nets have done by saying they've ruined the franchise's future for the next 5-10 years a) is a very vague statement to make, first off; 5-10 years is a huge difference in basketball time, so that was a silly thing to say, and b) at some point don't you have to stop trying to secure success down the road in favor of winning while we've got the opportunity we do right now?

So mortgaging your future draft picks (which are invaluable in today's CBA), spending $80 million in luxuary tax penalties for two players in their late 30's is prudent basketball strategy? No, it is silly, counter-productive and has a very small chance of being successful. It did not work for the Lakers last year and it most likely will not work for the 2013-2014 Nets.

We'll see how these guys compare to the Lakers when Deron Williams doesn't break his leg, Brook Lopez doesn't have back problems, they don't make a coaching change in the middle of the year, and Paul Pierce doesn't tear his Achilles. Also, pretend Devin Ebanks is Kyle Korver and Earl Clark is Reggie Evans.

[blumeany]

I'm actually convinced that what the Nets are doing right now is not actually primarily with winning a title as the #1 motiviation. What they are doing is getting attention. That's what their owner wants. He wants them to become popular. That's the sole reason Jay-Z had a .00004545% stake in the franchise (many people thought he had a lot more), it's the reason they built a giant palace in Brooklyn and moved the team there. Right now, their owner is going 'all in' in a bid to make Brooklyn a popular franchise with a deep wallet reputation. He's trying to emulate the Lakers on the east coast.

In the end, their downfall will be on their foundation - Williams and Lopez. Talented, for sure, but mentally weak as hell. Sorry, I love the Bulls, but they really had no business making it to the second round with a hobbly Noah, Hinrich and Deng in the hospital, and everyone else throwing up on the bench They won that series because they were tough and refused to quit. And getting Pierce and Garnett is not going to change it. They cannot fight father time, and all the Garnett screaming in the world isn't going to make guys any better.

[patryk7754]

D-wll mentally weak as hell? You don't know what you're talking about in that regard

[Former Roy]

I'm actually convinced that what the Nets are doing right now is not actually primarily with winning a title as the #1 motiviation. What they are doing is getting attention. That's what their owner wants. He wants them to become popular. That's the sole reason Jay-Z had a .00004545% stake in the franchise (many people thought he had a lot more), it's the reason they built a giant palace in Brooklyn and moved the team there. Right now, their owner is going 'all in' in a bid to make Brooklyn a popular franchise with a deep wallet reputation. He's trying to emulate the Lakers on the east coast.

In the end, their downfall will be on their foundation - Williams and Lopez. Talented, for sure, but mentally weak as hell. Sorry, I love the Bulls, but they really had no business making it to the second round with a hobbly Noah, Hinrich and Deng in the hospital, and everyone else throwing up on the bench They won that series because they were tough and refused to quit. And getting Pierce and Garnett is not going to change it. They cannot fight father time, and all the Garnett screaming in the world isn't going to make guys any better.

He said he'd win a title within his first 5 years as an owner...

I think...he's trying to do just that

[JohnnyKILLroy]

Deron is a mental midget and soft. I wouldn't be surprised if Garnett made that team his within 5 minutes of their 1st practice.

[patryk7754]

You can be mentally soft and be one of the best playoff performers in the NBA.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

According to Sam Amico - The Pacers have had conversations with the Bulls about Marco Bellinelli.


I have no idea what that means - but he said it on twitter...

[patryk7754]

According to Sam Amico - The Pacers have had conversations with the Bulls about Marco Bellinelli.


I have no idea what that means - but he said it on twitter...

Marco for Paul George probably. I wouldn't do it though PG will get over paid. Besides we have JIMMY!!!! he's way better.

[MrFortune3]

According to Sam Amico - The Pacers have had conversations with the Bulls about Marco Bellinelli.


I have no idea what that means - but he said it on twitter...

would be nice to get Stephenson....

[umfan83]

According to Sam Amico - The Pacers have had conversations with the Bulls about Marco Bellinelli.


I have no idea what that means - but he said it on twitter...

does that mean the bulls arent going to resign him? what could the bulls really get as compensation in a S+T? A 2nd round pick? Another pointless trade exemption?

[Baller93]

According to Sam Amico - The Pacers have had conversations with the Bulls about Marco Bellinelli.


I have no idea what that means - but he said it on twitter...

Any chance we could get Ian Mahinmi? He'd be a perfect backup center.

[red222]

Unrestricted free agent point guard C.J. Watson is closing in on an agreement with the Pacers, reports Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (via Twitter). Watson hit the open market today after turning down a minimum-salary player option to return to the Nets.

The Pacers are in the market for a point guard to play behind George Hill, with backup D.J. Augustin and third-stringer Ben Hansbrough having hit free agency. After paying $3.5MM to Augustin last season, the Pacers could probably land Watson for less money, considering he's coming off a minimum-salary deal and was solid, but unspectacular backing up Deron Williams in Brooklyn.

Watson, 29, averaged 6.8 PPG with 2.0 APG and a 13.9 PER in 80 contests for the Nets in 2012/13.

Chris Broussard of ESPN.com hears the Pistons are intent on bringing back Jose Calderon (Twitter link), though an earlier report indicated that the team is unwilling to exceed a deal worth $7MM a year to re-sign him.

Sebastian Telfair has drawn interest from the Knicks, Nets, Heat, and Thunder, sources tells Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (Twitter link).

Finding a starting point guard remains a top priority for the Mavericks, who hope to have Shane Larkin and Gal Mekel compete for backup minutes, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com. Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News suggests keeping an eye on Greivis Vasquez, though he's more of a secondary option for the Mavs, since the Pelicans may not be inclined to trade him even with Jrue Holiday on board.

The Jazz, who had plenty of free agents come off their roster last night, were no doubt busy, but they did reach out to Jamaal Tinsley, tweets Bill Oram of The Salt Lake Tribune.

Nemanja Nedovic, who says he's ready to come stateside next season if the Warriors want him, was "shocked" when Golden State drafted him. He had worked out for the Pistons, Cavaliers, Hawks, Knicks, and Bucks, but not the Warriors, prior to the draft (Twitter links via Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle and Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group).

[red222]

The Golden State Warriors are prepared to offer Andrew Bogut and either Klay Thompson or Harrison Barnes to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Dwight Howard.

The Warriors can also offer expiring contracts such as Richard Jefferson or Andris Biedrins to offer more cap relief to the Lakers, though only Steve Nash is signed for 14-15.

The Warriors are confident that they can give the Lakers the best offer should Howard decide he doesn't want to re-sign.

The Warriors are not scared off by Howard's recent injuries or his personality.

“Are you kidding?” one source said. “He’s the best center in the game.”

[red222]

. Specifically, the Chronicle says that Howard wanted to know if and how the Rockets were poised to add another max-contract free agent this summer to go alongside himself and Harden.

Parsons and James Harden attended the meeting with Kevin McHale handling many of the questions about the team's potential and how Howard would be used in a retooled offense. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey discussed not only the plans going forward, but was also asked about how the Rockets were built to position themselves to be able to offer a second max contract.
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-o ... -superstar