Metta World Peace: The NBA Offseason & Lockout Thread.

dark knight · Dec 9, 2011

Can someone explain to me how Dallas lets Chandler go? I get they want to be a player in the free agent market but man - how do you let the heart and soul of the team walk?

But the Knicks just got a whole lot more interesting.

Walter3000 · Dec 9, 2011

Alex_1 said: ↑

There are some big, big problems though with the league's actions. Because it is a very clear conflict of interest and it stinks more than before of Stern being at the helm for way too long. The owners all paid for the team, and the league runs it. There was always a problem there - and the league had the Hornets GM act as 'business as usual'. But the moment an influential player is on the block and a move is made, some of the other owners, led by Gilbert, band together to nix it, and Stern vetoes it.

So basically, Stern castrated his own GM and succombed to pressure from some of the other owners. Parity is one thing, but this also sets a horrific precedent for the league and questions whether or not the Hornets should even be allowed to operate. This doesn't look good for the NBA, nevermind that the pieces of the trade seemed to be on the level. Vetoing the trade though certainly isn't. The owners will act in the best interest of their teams, not the Hornets. That's the NBA's job... and there-in lies a good part of the conflict and the foul odor that has so many people up in arms about the integrity of the sport now (or more than usual). The other thing that absolutely wreaks is that (this) went public.

Either way, I agree that the offseason is actually now more interesting than the regular season. I think at the end of the day though, the real loser in this is going to be Dan Gilbert as long as he wants to own the Cavaliers. Because if I was blessed enough to have the talent to be an influential player, there's no way I'd want to play on that guy's team. I might if I was a scrub without a choice, but otherwise... that guy whines and whines and his attitude towards the players is something else, to say the least. To me, it seems he really does view them as nothing more than property.
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Should a team be allowed to trade players without an owner? Wouldn't trading away their best player hurt their chances of selling the team? Wouldn't the new owner like to have full say and what kind of return they get on Paul?

Just playing the other side of it

Shay Z · Dec 10, 2011

Alex_1 said: ↑

There are some big, big problems though with the league's actions. Because it is a very clear conflict of interest and it stinks more than before of Stern being at the helm for way too long. The owners all paid for the team, and the league runs it. There was always a problem there - and the league had the Hornets GM act as 'business as usual'. But the moment an influential player is on the block and a move is made, some of the other owners, led by Gilbert, band together to nix it, and Stern vetoes it.

So basically, Stern castrated his own GM and succombed to pressure from some of the other owners. Parity is one thing, but this also sets a horrific precedent for the league and questions whether or not the Hornets should even be allowed to operate. This doesn't look good for the NBA, nevermind that the pieces of the trade seemed to be on the level. Vetoing the trade though certainly isn't. The owners will act in the best interest of their teams, not the Hornets. That's the NBA's job... and there-in lies a good part of the conflict and the foul odor that has so many people up in arms about the integrity of the sport now (or more than usual). The other thing that absolutely wreaks is that (this) went public.
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Absolutely right.

The league should never have been running this team to begin with. Its just wrong. Its like if a major company wanted to buy major assets but needed approval from all its direct rivals in the market? How does that make any sense? I am not angry that the deal didn't go through. With what we (Lakers) retain because of it we are still gonna be competitive. Its the way its been done. Dan Gilbert actually emailing Stern and telling him to put the trade to a vote from the 29 owners. Since when do things work like that in any business?

I don't expect folks to sympathize with the Lakers but this was just unforgivable.

Either way, I agree that the offseason is actually now more interesting than the regular season.
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This has definitely been the case in many sports over the last few years. The baseball free agency and this Paul/Howard drama is only second in entertainment to the Playoffs which is why i've always wondered why they don't shorten the regular season and lengthen the All Star Weekend into the All Star Week, have a little KO competition between the bottom 4 teams in each conference. Winner gets an automatic 8th seed in the playoffs.

I think at the end of the day though, the real loser in this is going to be Dan Gilbert as long as he wants to own the Cavaliers. Because if I was blessed enough to have the talent to be an influential player, there's no way I'd want to play on that guy's team. I might if I was a scrub without a choice, but otherwise... that guy whines and whines and his attitude towards the players is something else, to say the least. To me, it seems he really does view them as nothing more than property.
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He's acting like a jilted ex girlfriend. He had all the sympathy in the world when LeBron made that dick move and took a shit on Cleveland but he acted the bitch then and continues to do so now. He's like an emo kid.

HardHatMike · Dec 10, 2011

Shay Z said: ↑

He's acting like a jilted ex girlfriend. He had all the sympathy in the world when LeBron made that dick move and took a shit on Cleveland but he acted the bitch then and continues to do so now. He's like an emo kid.
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Funny, I think he's acting an awful lot like the guy that has the trophy sitting on his desk right now.

riverplate · Dec 10, 2011

Knicks Set to Announce Chandler Deal This Afternoon - N.Y. Post

The Knicks are planning to hold a press conference at 2 PM today to introduce new center Tyson Chandler and announce the deal is official, according to a source.

The 7'1" Chandler will sign a 4-year deal worth roughly $58 million. To make it happen, the Knicks engineered a secret plot that had them go under the salary cap, as they are about to waive Chauncey Billups’ $14.2M contract with the new amnesty clause in which the salary is paid but does not count against the cap. They also had to trade Ronny Turiaf’s $4.2M contract to Washington, as The Post first reported last night.
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Playboy Red Devil · Dec 10, 2011

I am watching Man United Wolves game, and the ESPN ticker said Odom arrived 90 minutes late to practice and then took off early after talking to our gm. May not show up on todays training. Odom said to LA Times that it was best that he stay away.

Brandon Roy to retire at 27 due to his knees. That is unfortunate.

Howard agent said Magic gave Howard permission to talk to other teams. Nets are looking into it.

benni... · Dec 10, 2011

Mavs and La are also interested in Howard.

dark knight · Dec 10, 2011

HardHatMike said: ↑

Funny, I think he's acting an awful lot like the guy that has the trophy sitting on his desk right now.
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Which trophy?

dark knight · Dec 10, 2011

Oden may be done again.

http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=7336972

thebigman · Dec 10, 2011

Ill be suprised if Howard doesn't end up in la if cp3 comes....odom and gasol going leaves a big space in the front court

riverplate · Dec 10, 2011

A reconfigured Paul deal has been handed to King David for approval. Details aren't fully known...

Chris Paul Trade Resubmitted - ESPN

Hornets Resubmit Paul-to-Lakers Deal to League - Yahoo Sports

In the details available to Yahoo! Sports, Paul goes to the Lakers, Pau Gasol to the Rockets, and Houston still sends Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, and a 2012 first-round pick to the Hornets. The main changes in the deal, originally nixed by the NBA, will come between New Orleans and the Lakers, sources say.
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riverplate · Dec 11, 2011

The insanity continues...

Lakers Out of Chris Paul Talks - ESPN

The Los Angeles Lakers abruptly withdrew from the Chris Paul sweepstakes Saturday night after more than 24 hours of unsuccessful attempts to restructure a three-team deal with the New Orleans Hornets and Houston Rockets that would meet with the approval of NBA commissioner David Stern, according to sources close to the process.

The Lakers informed the league-owned Hornets and the Rockets they were pulling out of the stonewalled deal, sources said, and instead traded Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks...

The Lakers, meanwhile, will now focus on trying to outduel the New Jersey Nets in trade talks for Dwight Howard.
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HardHatMike · Dec 12, 2011

Rockets offer Gasol max contract of $55m over 4. Weird thing is that Memphis already has a 5 year deal for Gasol on the table that is worth more than any other team could offer him.

This is going to get interesting....

Also, Memphis preparing to send OJ Mayo to Indiana for Josh McRoberts and a 1st round pick. Memphis has a glut of guards and McDaniels could help bolster the front line.

HardHatMike · Dec 12, 2011

Clippers close in on Paul

SI.com

Boy wouldn't that just chap the Lakers' ass? New Orleans to get:

G Eric Bledsoe
C Chris Kaman
F Al-Farouq Aminu
2012 #1

HardHatMike · Dec 12, 2011

CP got Stern'd

HardHatMike · Dec 13, 2011

Cross one item off my holiday wish list...

Grizzlies come to terms with Gasol - SI.com

Marc Gasol announced on Twitter that he has reached a tentative agreement with the Grizzlies keeping him in Memphis.

Gasol tweeted on Monday night that he "can't wait to get on the court with all my teammates!"

The Memphis Grizzlies confirmed the agreement later, keeping a player general manager Chris Wallace called one of the franchise's cornerstones.
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Deal is $58m over 4.

riverplate · Dec 15, 2011

Finally, the saga ends! Stern has given his okay, so its official...

Clippers Get Chris Paul in Big Trade with Hornets - Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chris Paul will supply the Los Angeles Clippers with so much more than alley-oop passes to Blake Griffin when he arrives in Hollywood on Thursday night. A bold trade for New Orleans' superstar point guard on Wednesday just might alter the entire sports world's perception of the Clippers. After managing just 6 winning seasons in their first 41 years of existence, the bumbling Clippers suddenly look slick and scintillating after swinging arguably the biggest trade in franchise history, giving them two of the NBA's elite players and a capable supporting cast.

Outfoxing the Lakers and thrilling their long-suffering fans, Los Angeles on Wednesday traded high-scoring guard Eric Gordon, former All-Star center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and a first-round draft choice acquired from Minnesota for Paul, the 4-time All-Star widely considered to be the NBA's best point guard...

Even the Clippers themselves had trouble believing what their front office had just done in the moments after the trade was announced. Most of the players — including the ones who were traded — were on a holiday bus ride with season-ticket holders when their phones blew up with the news.
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HardHatMike · Dec 15, 2011

Gets him out of the division and rubs it in the Lakers' noses. Works for me!

GiuseppeSignori · Dec 15, 2011

The Bulls signed Rip Hamilton to fill their shooting guard needs. I think he should be a good fit. They obviously needed another perimeter shooter and it doesn't hurt to add some veteran championship experience. Plus, he's someone that doesn't need the ball in his hands so should fit in well with DRose. With this signing, a fitter and healthier Boozer, and a still improving MVP, I think the Bulls have a good chance to again challenge the Heat for pre-eminence in the East. Just not sure if they're equipped to take down the South Beach crew in the playoffs.

thebigman · Dec 15, 2011

can philly afford crawford? we need a guy like him...

GiuseppeSignori · Dec 15, 2011

thebigman said: ↑

can philly afford crawford? we need a guy like him...
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I heard that he just signed with Portland.

thebigman · Dec 15, 2011

ah, makes sense with roy gone

philly should be looking to trade iggy for ellis or another athletic 2 man who can shoot!

Rakim_22 · Dec 16, 2011

Anyone interested in doing fantasy basketball? Have a draft next Tuesday night in a league I run. A few spots left. Its a typical 9 CAT H2H league on yahoo.

Playboy Red Devil · Dec 18, 2011

Vanessa filed for divorce and there was no prenup signed.

Apparantly Kobe was being unfaithful again.

Meanwhile, all good news coming out of our cross court rivals. Clips picked up Billups

os_mutante · Dec 18, 2011

BREAKING NEWS: David Stern blocks the Kobe Bryant divorce.