The NBA 2004-2005 Thread
 

Since its not even pre-season yet, let us talk about trade rumors. Latest word is Shaq might be heading to Golden State. Dallas shows interest, but the Lakers wanted Erick Dampier as part of the deal.

As for my team the Knicks, nothing in the rumorville.

Your boys may get Phil Jackson...I have a feeling Isiah would fire Lenny Wilkens in a second if Jackson was interested. It was the team where he won a NBA title as a player, and he has said he would love to coach the Knicks.

It will be an uninteresting summer for the Celtics...year two of the "Vision" as Danny Ainge calls it. The only vision I see is another lottery pick next year.

His "vision" certainly helped Detroit out this past year:D

I know...he did a hell of a job facilitating that trade.

I'll give him this - he's been honest and said that his "vision" will take some time. With the way the team drafted this year, it's going to be a LONG time. It may never happen if the team's comments following the draft were truthful (that they had West and the guy they drafted from OK State as two of the top five guards available).

Maybe Detroit will send him a ring.

I remember Bill Simmons from page2 on espn.com saying that Ainge should be sent a ring after the finals were over:D

To me, Boston took a step in the right direction when unloading Fatoine last season.

I'll admit it...I was against the Antoine trade, I think they may have been able to get more for him (or less bloated salary in return, see Raef Lafrentz).

But with the way he played for the second half of last season and in the playoffs, maybe they made the right choice.

Any new words about Phil being the new Knicks coach?

LMAO - I just read that Percy Miller, aka Master P is on the Nuggets summer league roster. He may or may not make it to the televised games so apparently he's good but he's not THAT good. Still kinda funny.

I'm not liking the Nuggets prospects to land a marquee free agent this year. Maybe next year. (Of course that's what we said last year.)

Carlos Boozer situation
 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1836318

I was going to make a seperate thread for this, but didn't think it would get enough replies. What do you all think of the situation? Was he right to take Utah's money, or should he have signed the deal with Cleveland and trusted them? Did Paxson make a huge mistake on this one?

Re: Carlos Boozer situation
 

To me, It was a big mistake on Jim Paxson's part. He should have exercied Carlos Boozer's Contract ( which would pay him at $ 700,000) and work with his agent during the course of this upcoming season and trying to come to a agreement on a long-term contract. Utah had wanted Carlos for the longest time but couldn't get him in the draft. Unless there's a BIG miracle to match or exceed Utah's contract offer, Boozer's days as a Cavalier is over.

Look like Shaq might be going to Miami.

Lakers get:

Lamar Odom
Caron Butler
Brian Grant

Miamia:

Shaq

Brian Grant = yum!!

Shaq's deal to Miami is comming to a close, as close as Wednesday. It look like Miami will be given Odom, Grant, Butler and a number one pick.

This deal looks pretty bad in my book. Especially giving up a number one pick for a 32 years old with probably about 3 to 4 years left. What do you guys think?

ETA: The Knicks is close to signing Jamal Crawford.

I don't know whether the deal is good or bad - it's a first round pick in 2006 or after, and with Eddie Jones, Shaq and Dewayne Wade, I'm guessing it will be in the lower half of the first round, if not one of the last picks.

Shaq's the most dominant player in basketball...Miami gives up a couple of solid players, but I think the deal is a pretty good one for both sides.

Wow, just found out that Vlade Divac will be the person to replace Shaq at centre.