NBA 2012-2013

[Pyperkub]

I don't know how true it is but some reports have said that Howard and Kobe don't get along very well anymore and thats why he doesn't want to go there.

Supposedly Kobe told him he'd always be number two at best in LA...

[Alan Dunkin]

Told y'all Lin was leaving! :p

Steven A. Smith is all up defending Carmelo, referencing Carmelo's mention that the Rockets offer was crazy (apparently Smith feels the need to defend Carmelo at all times, as he was saying people were taking this phrase the wrong way) and basically saying Lin isn't worth that much on the back end, which I suppose is true but hey, that's what it would take to get Lin away from the Knicks. Of course, people are incensed either way. The other great part is Smith up in arms regarding the idea that Carmelo doesn't want Lin around, saying that Carmelo was the one who told the coach to play Lin. Which is all nice and fine since Carmelo was injured and Lin was inserted to replace him essentially. Then when Carmelo came back, remember what happened? The Knicks sucked balls for quite a bit.

Though I guess Smith has a point poking Lin because he didn't play when he was "85%" during the playoff run as the Knicks were racking up injuries because he wanted to preserve himself for a bigger payday. Then in the same breath, Smith basically defends it.

In any event... eh. Lin goes to the Rockets and serves as a single star on an otherwise ho-hum team. Don't really see them doing much. The Knicks will continue to suck (nice job Kidd, getting that DWI so quickly). I can get with that. I'm probably not going to like the Nets, but the move to Brooklyn makes me very supportive (don't really like the owner either but... eh).

Oh and I never did talk about the Mavs. Well.. hey maybe we can get those potential free agents in 2013! Fuck.

--- Alan

[Jag]

Smith is an idiot, but he's right that Lin went for the money over staying a Knick. I guess he prefers to be a big fish in a small pond. Regardless of how it happened, I think the Knicks failure to do anything other than get some older players will drive even more long suffering fans over to Brooklyn.

[Mr. Zero]

Also, Lin may have gone there b/c Yao turned the Rockets into China's team.

[Alan Dunkin]

I think there was some connection it being the Rockets and where Yao Ming played, but it's a little tenuous I think.

--- Alan

[Jag]

As far as NYK saying Lin was too expensive, I'll just leave this here:

Spoiler: Linsane!

[Sarkus]

That Lin deal is backloaded in a very risky way ($15m in year three) but it is only one year if he ends up not being starter quality. On the other hand, that would hurt the Knicks a lot that year with the new penalties for being over the cap. And, in theory, it helps the Rockets in their pursuit of Howard.

Supposedly Dallas is all about next year now. Not sure what other plan they could have after missing out on everyone they targeted.

[Alan Dunkin]

There really isn't one. Yeah they're another year out, and then we'll go through the same mess all over again.

They've signed Kaman, Sessions and Elton Brand now (dropping Haywood in the process) for short-term deals.

It's just kinda poop. This is an odd mish-mash team that's just another holdover. My enthusiasm for next year's free agent stash is fairly stilted at the moment... I just don't have a lot of confidence in making a big signing right now.

And the problem is.. well, everything. Management is attempting to fiscally positive (which is usually a good thing), but are still signing some fairly large names to contracts to shore up the roster so they can be competitive. The problem is, they're just competitive enough to maybe make the playoffs, meaning it pulls them right out of getting a decent draft possibility. My belief is that the Mavs are probably should be in super rebuilding mode, need to start seriously thinking about the draft and getting a core group of young players, and start over. I don't want to lose Dirk but following this thinking, we're in his last few years and they won't be good or winning ones on Dallas for quite awhile, by which time he'll be gone.

--- Alan

[Hanacker]

Smith is an idiot, but he's right that Lin went for the money over staying a Knick. I guess he prefers to be a big fish in a small pond.

I think it's mostly that he prefers making a ridiculously large amount of money to making a large amount of money.

[mono]

Knicks made it public they'd match any offer for Lin. Not his fault they're balking because he got a really good deal.

Since the only cost to keeping Lin is Dolan's money, I'd prefer they sign him. He's still unproven as a starter, let alone a star, but I think he's got game. The expiring contract in the 3rd year is actually valuable as a trade asset. Be a shame if they let him walk. Felton is coming off the worst year of his career and has had chronic weight issues. I also doubt CP3 is realistic at the end of next year.

Kidd is now a pretty unappealing acqusition if he also isn't mentoring Lin. He doesn't have much gas left in his tank.

[Alan Dunkin]

Knicks made it public they'd match any offer for Lin. Not his fault they're balking because he got a really good deal.

While this is true it's all public face, while behind the scenes they were saying they did have limits and they were going to stick with them. Other teams knew they could get in on an offer way above what the Knicks were willing to offer. Hell they practically put it out there.

And yeah, it now makes Kidd's signing even less sense than before. Without Lin (who he already knew from the Mavs and was one of the people who drew Kidd to the Knicks to begin with), what the hell is up there now? On top of everything, Kidd hated being in the NY area. What a mess.

--- Alan

[Jag]

On top of everything, Kidd hated being in the NY area. What a mess.

--- Alan

Yeah. Could probably drive someone to drink. Oh wait.

[mono]

While this is true it's all public face, while behind the scenes they were saying they did have limits and they were going to stick with them. Other teams knew they could get in on an offer way above what the Knicks were willing to offer. Hell they practically put it out there.

Yeah. But the Knicks couldn't have given Lin much of a payday, or they'd have to use their modest mid-level exception. Matching an offer (since Lin was awarded Bird rights) was the only way for him to really cash out.

[Sarkus]

Looks like the Mavs got OJ Mayo. I bet Alan is breathing a huge sigh of relief right about now. ;-)

[Alex Hopkinson]

I reckon CP3 extends with the Clippers before the end of the season. I doubt he hits free angency next summer unless something goes horribly wrong in LA.

So the Bulls are quickly losing their second best element after D.Rose - their depth - as Asik looks to be Houston bound, CJ Watson is going to... the Nets was it? And Korver is off to Atlanta. It could be a depressing year in the windy city.

[Armiger]

I'm severely depressed because I'm worried Rose will never be the same. I'm not as concerned about the depth because all it ever did was help the Bulls to a great regular season, and never really paid off in the playoffs. I was hoping they would tank this one year for the lottery pick, but instead they sign not-incompetent-enough Hinrich to ruin my hopes.

[Alan Dunkin]

Looks like the Mavs got OJ Mayo. I bet Alan is breathing a huge sigh of relief right about now. ;-)

I'm feeling slightly better. OJ Mayo has a lot of potential and degraded a little bit last year (not being a starter hurts apparently) but there's going to be a lot of opportunity for him to shine or fail. I think it's a 2-year deal with a third-year option. Considering the Mavs had about $4 mil in cap space remaining this year, I'm guessing that's pretty much all their major roster moves, though they probably still have a bit of change leftover as they're still trying to re-sign Delonte West.

It's gonna be funky. It may very well be rough in the initial stretch. It's such a different team now, and perhaps the defense is going to suffer quite a bit. November is a long way off.

Still, all I want to do now is enjoy the basketball in the Olympics and not think about this for awhile :)

--- Alan

[corsair]

The Indecision continues, with the Lakers trying yet again after Houston, Brooklyn and Orlando itself strike out. No, not really expecting anything.

More amusing is that the perpetual little kid on the block saw that the Lakers signed a 38 year old from the Suns, so they had to sign a 39 year old from the Suns. Grant Hill to the Clips. Not entirely sure how that will work out, but Nick Young didn't bring all that much last year, so it probably works out as an upgrade just for the veteran smarts.

[mono]

NY Times NBA reporter Howard Beck says it's over, and Lin is going to the Rockets. That organization is uncanny in its ability to disenfranchise their fans.

[Jag]

NY Times NBA reporter Howard Beck says it's over, and Lin is going to the Rockets. That organization is uncanny in its ability to disenfranchise their fans.

Well who else are they going to root for?

[Greatatlantic]

A fun trade scenario for Lakers, Cavs, and Magic: http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=cagoydl

What isn't shown is Orlando picking up some first round picks, and the Cavaliers requiring Bynum to sign an extension. While Orlando might be the loser in terms of wins in the trade, they know now they have to move Howard or get nothing, plus the value of draft picks.

[Tim James]

The Indecision continues, with the Lakers trying yet again after Houston, Brooklyn and Orlando itself strike out. No, not really expecting anything.

Such stupid non-news. They still only want to trade if Howard agrees to a contract extension, which he hasn't entertained for the Lakers since well before the trade deadline last year. I guess it's newsworthy because it's Los Angeles.

Houston was the only interesting wrinkle because they were willing to risk it without an extension. I can't remember if getting Lin ruins their chances. Getting Asik probably does (if Chicago doesn't match Houston's offer).

[corsair]

Such stupid non-news. They still only want to trade if Howard agrees to a contract extension, which he hasn't entertained for the Lakers since well before the trade deadline last year. I guess it's newsworthy because it's Los Angeles.

It's newsworthy because it's about the best center in the NBA. If Orlando trying to convince Howard to stay yet again is newsworthy, then this certainly is. The importance here is that Brooklyn has shot its bolt, and Howard basically has the choice of reconsidering his Brooklyn only demand or playing out his contract in Orlando (for the record, I think he was a moron for signing the extension). For the Lakers it's one of those scenarios that they play out just in case - hey, they didn't expect anything whatsoever to develop when they contacted the Suns about Nash, and look how that worked out. But even if Howard is willing to sign, there are still an enormous number of barriers to making it happen if only because it probably involves a third team to have a chance.

And let's face it, lots of people find The Indecision fascinating in its indecisiveness. The flip side is, as you note, it all seems to end up being smoke and mirrors.

Houston was the only interesting wrinkle because they were willing to risk it without an extension. I can't remember if getting Lin ruins their chances. Getting Asik probably does (if Chicago doesn't match Houston's offer).

I would figure that Lin might attract Howard. Houston previously offering to take virtually the entire Orlando roster wouldn't seem much of an attractant to Howard to sign - why try to leave Orlando just to basically have it move with you? As it stands, Lin is kind of missing anyone to pass the ball to, and he made the dysfunctional ball-hogs in New York actually work. I think New York is making both a marketing and functional mistake by letting Lin go. Sorry, Felton just doesn't have a whole lot of potential beyond what we have seen already. He ain't taking them to the next level.

[Sarkus]

Technically Brooklyn is only out of the picture until this fall sometime when league rules allow teams to trade players they signed in the previous offseason. So in theory Brooklyn could work something out with Lopez, etc. (and probably a third team) to get Howard.

The question is whether Orlando wants to just get rid of Howard for whatever they can get or are willing to hold on to him in the hopes that during the season they can create a trade market with multiple bidders.

[corsair]

Technically Brooklyn is only out of the picture until this fall sometime when league rules allow teams to trade players they signed in the previous offseason. So in theory Brooklyn could work something out with Lopez, etc. (and probably a third team) to get Howard.

They are only out of it until January, unless Howard is traded and signs, in which case they are out of it forever.

My money is on Orlando not learning it's lesson in the slightest, and they will drag this out yet again until the very last moment, creating chaos on their team, driving their poor fans crazy by not providing closure and a new direction, and Howard blaming everyone but himself.

I think Brooklyn was wise to just sign Lopez. The Indecision will probably continue and at least they have something more than serviceable in the meantime.

The question is whether Orlando wants to just get rid of Howard for whatever they can get or are willing to hold on to him in the hopes that during the season they can create a trade market with multiple bidders.

They are hoping that somehow, some way, that something will magically change. Shaq pulling his own magic act and disappearing without a thing in return should have taught them something, but this seems to be an organization that is determined not to learn a thing.

The one thing that might happen is that the Lakers will make the trade regardless of whether Howard immediately signs or not. That is the exact same scenario they are facing with Bynum, and being able to offer $20 million dollars more than anyone else is always an advantage.

But I ain't holding my breath waiting for it to happen. The Lakers would be better with Howard rather than Bynum, but they don't need Howard at the moment, and that means they are less willing to take on additional bad contracts that Orlando wants to dump.

[Alan Dunkin]

Reportedly this is Jason Kidd's wrecked car:



--- Alan

[corsair]

Reportedly this is Jason Kidd's wrecked car:



--- Alan

I thought it was the Mavericks' wrecked title hopes.


OOoooooooooo, that was sooooooooooo mean. I'm sorry.

But only a little.

[corsair]

The Indecision sends more mixed signals. Now Howard is (allegedly - this is ESPN reporting, after all) "signalling" that he is willing to sign with the Lakers. The main problem is that Orlando somehow believes it is in the drivers seat and everyone will just sit patiently forever until it gets the deal it wants. And Remember D12, you empowered them to dither for yet another year, and they'll be damned if they don't drag it out as long as possible.

[Tim James]

Yes, I think we can safely call it The Indecision again now that Howard changed his mind about the Lakers. First new thing he's said in public since 3am trade deadline day last season.

I don't know if Dwight will be happy in LA, but I'd definitely tune in to watch him run pick and rolls. I assume the media will try to drum up some tedious Kobe drama, and Shaq will make some noise. The games should be entertaining though.

The only other problem with following them is the barely-tolerable fanbase! :)

I'm not bothered by Orlando's approach to this. I've already written off the next few seasons, so it doesn't matter to me whether they get a good or poor headstart toward rebuilding.

[Jag]

I wouldn't mind the Lakers giving OKC a run for their money next year. I was kind of hoping Dwight would go to a team that isn't a threat to Miami like Houston.