NBA Roundup 8-12-09

Lots going on in the NBA, so let's take a look:

Linas Kleiza - Leaves the Denver Nuggets and signs with Olympiakos for 2 years $12.2M. Not a bad deal for Kleiza. Sucks for the Nuggets who dearly need some bench support, but going to Greece for two years and playing for that type of money,......baby pack the bags we're heading for Europe.

Von Wafer - Leaves the Houston Rockets and signs with Olympiakos on a 2 year deal (money not released yet), but probably more than the $800K he was making last year. Does anyone see a trend here? It seems that these mid level players are taking their games overseas. The teams are paying their taxes on their contracts, they get a house and a car as part of the deal. Can anyone say cake up?!?!?

Kurt Rambis - He of the old looking glasses and hard nosed play has decided that he wasn't in line to get the Lakers gig after Phil retires, so he went for the Timberwolves coaching vacancy. It's a 4 year deal and he basically has the keys to the kingdom. The Wolves still have Al Jefferson and Kevin Love (don't they play the same position?), Ricky Rubio (if he ever comes over), Johnny Flynn (I like this kid), Corey Brewer (anyone beside me see a version of Pippen in this guy?), and a lot of cold weather. I actually think that Rambis can make this work and I guess we'll all get a chance to see.

Pau Gasol - While practicing with the Spanish National team, Gasol broke his finger and had surgery. I'm not too excited about this yet. He'll be out of commission for 3 weeks, which may be a good thing since he'll be working on his conditioning and nothing else. Or maybe even taking a break to get ready for what looks to be a long upcoming NBA season.

Glen Davis and Shelden Williams - Both of these guys were signed by the Celtics. This helps develop the bench for the Celtics and it makes them younger. Now they just need someone on the wing and someone to play point off the bench and we're good to go. The sad part for the Duke haters is that Williams is going to shine in this role with these vets around him. Maybe they can get a two for one for Williams and sign his wife, Candace Parker?

Rasual Butler - Traded to West Hell, the Clippers, for basically a ham sandwich (a 2nd round pick) in a salary dump deal. First Posey, now Butler, maybe I need to be in the gym working on my 3 ball for the Hornets.

Ben Wallace - Proving that you can always go home again, Wallace signs with the Detroit Pistons. Now he gets two checks this year, one from the Suns (buyout) and more money from Joe Dumars.

Leon Powe - A small coup? The Cavs snuck in and signed Powe to a 2 year deal for $1.77M. Powe had been one of the best reserves on the Celtics over the last few years but has had a terrible history with knee injuries. He's coming off of surgery and if you ever have a guy that you want to root for, he is it. Good luck Leon Powe.

NBA Round Up 12-15-08

Memphis - Free Antoine!!!! Maybe this will happen soon. Walker is expecting a buy out from the Grizzlies soon. After that, he's a free agent who could still give you some quality minutes a night. Any takers?

Golden State - Buyer's remorse? The Warriors are already trying to trade one of their most prized free agent pickups in Corey Maggette. Why? You just paid him $50M over 5 years and he's one of your best players. Me thinks that this one doesn't get much farther than the feelers that the Warriors put out. Why is this dude always slept on when you have a team that needs scoring?
Denver - With the Nuggets looking for another big to go along with Nene and Kenyon Martin, Linas Kleiza definitely has his bags packed. Who can use a 6'10" forward with a propensity to shoot the ball from 3? There should be lots of takers for Kleiza, especially in the West.

Golden State - On the comeback. This is the week that Monta Ellis will be coming off the suspended list. Another cog to be added to the Warriors backcourt. This issue is who are the Warriors going to let go in order to put him on the roster? DeMarcus Nelson, Rob Kurz, or Marcus Williams, one of them should have their bags packed.

Sacramento - Brad Miller's time with the Kings may be coming to an end. With the play of Spencer Hawes and the rest of the rookies (Jason Thompson) playing well, the Kings may part with their veteran center. Miller has always been a decent center and I expect the line to be long for a guy who can rebound and bury the jumper from 15 ft.

Los Angeles - A fresh start? Seems that Darius Miles has worked out for the Clippers in hopes of a reunion with the team that drafted him. If Miles is healthy and can play, he'll have to serve a suspension first, but he'd be able to continue his career in LA. If Doc Rivers didn't think he could play anymore, I doubt that this will really happen. But we shall see. **It seems Miles has been signed by the Grizzlies. Thanks to AverageBro for hitting us up with that information.

Philadelphia - Another coach gone? Why? I mean Mo Cheeks has done everything that the organization asked him to do. The Sixers haven't meshed well with the new addition of Elton Brand, but isn't some of that karma and the way Brand left the Clippers? I didn't want to see Cheeks gone and it's just a rough vocation to be in now with all of these firings. Good luck Mo, we'll see you coaching again soon.

NBA Round Up 10-29-08

Golden State Warriors - It's official, Al Harrington wants to be traded. He is tired of Nellie and wants a new address. Supposedly his agent is already trying to find a new place for him to land. In my mind, the Warriors can't get rid of this guy unless they get some production back. Al is 6'9", a big body, and he can score. The Warriors are without a lot of those qualities, mostly size, if they get rid of him. It's hard to fathom a trade this early in the season, but we'll have to watch this one.

Atlanta Hawks - Mike Bibby is in the last year of his contract and if things go as they normally go in the ATL, he'll be traded by the deadline if the Hawks aren't winning. Bibby feels that he'll be in the ATL this year and going forward, but I doubt he's still around after the All Star break. The Hawks aren't talking new contract with Bibby yet either.

Denver Nuggets - Linas Kleiza is hoping that his new contract will be completed soon. The Nuggets, in my mind, have to pay this guy because who else do they have? Look for a multi year deal coming at a little more than the mid level. The Nuggets are also considering picking up the option on newly acquired Renaldo Balkman.

Detroit Pistons - Jason Maxiell has declined a 4 year deal for $20M from the Pistons. He'll be an unrestricted free agent at the years end. I've said it before, Detroit can't let this guy go. Joe Dumars, up that offer to about $7M a year (at least $6.5M) and you'll get him.

Los Angeles Lakers - $85M is the number. That's what the Bynum camp is expecting for the Lakers center, Andrew Bynum, to resign with them. I guess that's the going rate for a young, agile, decent, 7 footer in the NBA. Someone from the Lakers will have to go if they pay Bynum that money. Plus the question is, is he worth it?

Golden State Warriors - Monta Ellis is filing a grievance with his present employer. The Warriors have suspended Ellis for 30 games, but they have also told him that if he doesn't come back as the Monta Ellis of old, they still hold the option of terminating his contract. Well, that's not exactly right. The team has the option of either suspending him (which they have done) OR terminating his contract, but not both. This is not the type of relationship you want to have with your franchise player.

San Antonio Spurs - New digs. The Spurs are no longer flying Champion Air and have now (the NBA) signed a 10 year deal with Northwest Airlines as their airline of choice (there are 15 other teams who have done the same). What happened to the NBA and Southwest Airlines?