If the deal is done, I guess the Pistons would hope for McDyess to be healthy a full season and contribute there as well as Williamson and eventually Darko being productive off the bench.

True, I forgot about McDyess. I think he can be a solid pickup if he's healthy.

Isn't Williamson really a 3 more than a 4? Maybe Darko will come through this year, but I think it may take a year or two longer.

Who knows though - hopefully for them it works, they're a solid team and I like watching them play.

Williamson for whatever reason is used mostly as a 4 even though he is built more like a three.

Read rumors that Jason Kidd want out of NJ. Anybody else herd of this rumor?

Also saw today that Anthony Peeler left the Kings. I think he either went to NJ or KC? (Is there a team in KC? :confused: ) Anyway, he and some other player I have never heard of left the Kings.

It seems that way - they let Kenyon Martin go, and now they don't have an inside presence. Kidd doesn't want to stick around if there's no chance at a title, and Martin's leaving seems to point that way.

That situation will get ugly before it gets better.

Peeler signed with the Washington Wizards. I couldn't find any mention (using Yahoo sports, that is) about any other Kings players leaving the team, but I saw that they re-signed Songalia, and then brought in Ostertag :p

Knicks get Crawford
 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1853011

Well Arya, Knicks got their man. It's all a question of whether Crawford can develop in an offense where he's not "the guy." If he can do so, it's a good deal and NY got themselves a very good young guard for not a whole lot.

Seems like the Bulls are forever rebuilding. Looks like a big salary dump to me.

ETA: According to a seperate report, the Knicks used their mid-level exemption on Vin Baker. That to me is a big mistake, especially if they had a chance at Dampier. He's younger, better, and has more potential than Vin. Not a good move if it's true.

Celts get Gary Payton
 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1853576

I guess Marcus Banks wasn't progressing as quickly as possible...or they're giving Payton a couple of years and then going with one of their new draft picks.

A surprising trade though...I wonder how the Glove will like Boston.

I wonder how Chucky A will fare in LA now. He is one of the players I miss in Detroit.

I wonder how much he'll be handling the ball; they may have Lamar and Kobe handling the majority of the possessions.

It will be very little for Chucky. remember, Kobe is the biggest gunner on the lakers.

Yes, welcome to the Kobester Gunner Show. I am SMH at some of the spin people out here in LoCal. They're bubbling over the younger, more athletic Lakers. They probably will be fun to watch, but Vlade and Chris Mihm can't carry Shaquille's jockstrap.

I can't believe the Lakers took Mihm from the Celts...I thought for sure Boston was stuck with him.

I hate to admit it, but I thought he'd be a solid player coming out of college. Guess I was WAY off.

I've seen Chris Mihm when he was with the Cavaliers. He's not a bad player defense-wise. I like to see him score a little bit more.

He was so good at Texas though...I thought he may end up being a future All-Star.

He's not a bad player to have around...but just not as complete a player as I thought he'd be.

TTT/season opens
 

This should be a tough, entertaining season. And of course, I have to give props to my favorite player with his new team:
http://www.miami.com/html/miamiherald/shaq_cover2.jpg

Re: TTT/season opens
 

Agreed. I'm looking forward to it.

let's see if the Pistons can repeat this year.

oh, yeah :

GO CAVS!!!!!!

I am curious to see if the Pistons can do it again this year. They have a better team than last year but its a tough road. Can't wait for tip-off tonight.

Spree wants out of Minnesota now; that would be a blow to the title hopes if he's traded.

I cannot wait to see Shaq run Kobe over in the lane...that would make my day.

Amen -- that would be a beauty. Kobe B**** Bryant trying to drive the lane and get flattened by the Diesel Daddy. That will make my Christmas.

I can hear them singing this song on Christmas Day :

"Kobe got run over by a Shaq-deer" ;) :p :D

^^

CTFU. But Shaq, although low in the point total and rebounds yesterday, had a good Heat debut.

tonight, Shaq and Co. are up against Lebron and the Cavs. I had yet to hear the score. I'm hoping the Cavs are winning.

Right now, with about 9 minutes left in the third quarter, the score is 59-52 Miami

It's playing on TNT out here in Cali :)

^^
Because it was on at 5 p.m., and I wasn't off work yet, I missed it, but I was pleased with a Miami win. Shaq isn't 100%, but he's doing his part. I like Dwyane (sic) Wade, he's got skills and a humble attitude.:p

for right now. Hopefully, it won't turn into a Shaq-Kobe II war.

The Cavs lost. it's almost Deja Vu like last year when they were at this point at the start of the season.

Go Spurs Go
 

Spurs looked pretty good against sacramento opening night. It was GREAT to see Barry go for 16 off the bench and nail some 3's, that's why we got the guy. MANUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU also went for 24.

Oh, it's gonna be a GREAT year to be in the Western Conference, and the road to the title is definately gonna be goin down the Riverwalk.

KS 361

Western Conference
 

It will go through Riverwalk because Kobe B**** Bryant decided to rid his team of a center. The West's big men will have a field day this year.

Two words that describe the Lakers:


Chris Mihm

Re: Western Conference
 

Ok, just playing the "what if..." game here.

But, we had y'all down 2-0. IF D-Fisch doesn't pull that lucky shot out of his ass, it's 3-2 at that point, OUR way and it's a different series.

Had T-Park not gone cold, or Manu stepped up.

Even with all that, i would still like our chances this year with Brent Barry on the outside, Manu off a gold medal summer even if y'all still had Shaq-Diesel.

Which, coincidentally, is a reason why i wanted Shaq to stay in the West. When the Spurs win the title, i don't want to hear about how we beat weak teams, i want to beat the best, like we did in '03.

KS 361

^^
Good what if scenario. And yes, I can see where you'd want Shaq Diesel to stay in the West, but you will have some competition if Minnesota doesn't implode. Don't know about Sacramento. Houston is probably a few years away and Dallas is a very unknown quality.

Shaq vs. The Big Fundamental
 

Friday will be a good Heat test with San Antonio, a real NBA team, as the opponent. Let's see if Diesel, Mr. Wade and the rest of the team can step up.

Re: Shaq vs. The Big Fundamental
 

I'm looking forward to that game.

Re: Re: Shaq vs. The Big Fundamental
 

It should be a good one. I'm surprised that Dallas rose up and slapped the Heat in their own arena last night, and Mr. Wade got hurt. So a worry.

Anyone else thinking there will be the inevitable Artest/Stojakavic trade? Two malcontent small forwards going to new locations? Makes sense to me.

Either way, the whole Artest fiasco this week has been highly entertaining. Even if he didn't mean what he said, who even alludes to the fact that they asked for time off to work on promoting an album?

I can already see the Dan LeBatard story in next months ESPN the Magazine defending him.

It does because you get the respective SFs out of the division. Ron Artest is just looking like a ridiculous mess with this. It's been entertaining in a bizarre way.

MANUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I know D-Wade wasn't playin, but DAMN, my Spurs looked good tonight. :D

I just hope that Manu and Tim's long summer's dont' catch up to them before the playoffs start. Hell if we can clinch a PO spot i say let them both take the month of April off :D

KS 361

Were any of you watching the Pistons-Pacers game at the end? That was one INTENSE scene - how many players will get suspensions?