Enough to get the Lakers past Round 1?And you thought the Kevin Garnett trade was the last big move of the offseason? Don’t bank on it yet. We hadn’t heard anything from or about Jermaine O’Neal since a few J.O.-to-Jersey trade rumors died down around Draft time, but yesterday Jermaine was back in the headlines. “I would welcome a trade to the Lakers,” O’Neal told reporters at a Baron Davis/Paul Pierce-run charity game in L.A. “Indiana has given me the opportunity to establish myself as a really good player in this league, but they’re into rebuilding and going really young, and I’m just not in a position physically to go through another five to six years with a lot of losses and a lot of down time.” O’Neal also said he wouldn’t mind a trade to the Nets … As good as J.O. is, though, even he recognizes his issues with staying healthy. He played 69 games last year, 51 the year before that, and even when he has been on the court, a lot of times he’s playing hurt. Because of that, it’s gonna be tougher for a team to make a mega-deal for O’Neal as opposed to someone like Garnett. Still, if you’re the Lakers and you wanna take advantage of Kobe Bryant’s prime years, or you’re the Nets and you wanna make a championship push while J-Kidd and Vince still have their legs, you have to see if you can make something happen for O’Neal … If you ask Jermaine, though, any team who tries to swing a deal with the Pacers is gonna have a hard road ahead. “Larry Bird is a hard man to deal with,” O’Neal said. “He tries to make unfair trades. He wants to gut a team, but the Lakers are trying to get over the hump. I want Indiana to benefit, but with some nice young players and draft picks. I want to make it clear that I don’t want to gut a team that I come to because then it’ll be like I’m in Indiana all over again. If things don’t work, I have an option in my contract next year and I will opt out and become a free agent.” … Speaking of injury-prone, word is Chris Webber is close to signing with the Mavs. From what we’ve heard, Webber will either get Dallas’ entire $5.3 million mid-level exception himself or he’ll split it with James Posey … If you’re clamoring for a KG Boston jersey, they just became available yesterday at the NBA Store. Go to NBA.com to pick one up. Do they have KG Wolves jerseys on clearance yet? And are they gonna make a Minnesota jersey that says “Theo Ratliff’s Expiring Contract” on the back with “$11.6M” under it? … Matt Barnes re-signed with Golden State, a 1-year deal worth $3.5 million. Barnes — who’s on his third agent in the last four months — admitted to the Contra Costa Times he feels a little underpaid, but for the first time as a pro he knows he won’t have to fight for a roster spot. In some ways we see where he’s coming from on the underpaid thing. Free agent small forwards Jason Kapono ($5.3 million next season), Desmond Mason ($5 million) and Mo Pete ($5.3 million) all signed bigger deals. And for someone who was a key contributor on a playoff team, Barnes is making significantly less dough than guys like Marquis Daniels, Kyle Korver and Jared Jeffries. Then again, Barnes only really had a good half-a-year, then stepped up in the playoffs. Not saying he’s Jerome James, but the precedent has been set … It’s that time of the month again: We’re looking for your questions for Ron Artest. If you wanna know Ron’s opinion on anything at all, from basketball to relationships, leave your query right here or drop us an e-mail … Michael Redd to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Team USA: “We’ve kind of lost the dream; now it’s just a team. So we need to get the Dream Team atmosphere, persona or swagger back.” … Yao’s wedding was yesterday in Beijing, a reported $130,000 party that included a luxury houseboat used to take the couple and their guest from the ceremony to the reception. None of Yao’s teammates or coaches were there, but there were reportedly 100 security guards on hand; about one for every guest … Here is Darius Miles’ car. General reaction around the Dime office when we saw it was “What the hell?” But as long as Darius thinks it’s cool, we’re not mad at him … We’re out like the dream …
August 7th, 2007 at 3:28 am
Blake says:
Damn, all I could think of was Yao and McGrady as Inspector Lee and Detective Carter until sentence number 2…
August 7th, 2007 at 7:59 am
João says:
Kobe, Lamar and Jermaine will be sweet … put Farmar to play the point and Mihn the center. Thats a excellent team, and the only chance left for Kobe show everybody that he can win without Shaq. Luke will be sixth man, and send Bynum, Vlad, and Brown plus a pick.
August 7th, 2007 at 8:11 am
Fish says:
This new form of egotism from players is all a bit silly really.
Did Olajuwon demand another allstar or to be traded when he won his first championship? Nope, he paired with Carl Harerra to win his first championship (ok, he may have had a little more help than that, but you hear what I’m saying).
Did Jordan do the same when he was paired with Scottie Pippen (who you could easily compare to Lamar Odom), and was given little else? Nope, dude worked hard for a decade before discovering what it took to win.
Players like Kobe are going to force teams to become slightly more competitive now, yet leave them totally desolate in the medium term as they trade away everything to meet their demands. Now, I’m not saying you should blame a player for wanting their team to improve, but is nabbing a few allstars all that winning is about?
August 7th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Tbest says:
C’mon Jodan had more than a “little else” he had one of the best power fowards in the league for both of his championship runs. And arguably one of the top 5 greatest rebounders/defenders of all time. And as much as i love odom he’s not scottie.
August 7th, 2007 at 9:25 am
James Wright says:
Fish - I totally agree. I can’t remember a championship team ever assembled by a “superstar” working as the GM and wanting to play with other allstars. In fact, the star-heavy teams of recent memory that were supposedly a lock to win the championship have all fallen to the better team. San Antonio and Detroit seem to get the team concept and are consistent winners, built by a GM who knows how to structure a team and stocked with players of varying skill levels who all share the ability and mindset to work together.
Gotta wonder - how much of their big demands are about winning and how much is about stocking a team with “stars” that will get attention on SportsCenter. You gotta think O’Neal will get 25X the coverage (and therefore considerably more marketing value) if he’s playing alongside Kobe in L.A. instead of Indianapolis. KG was already pretty well known, but his coverage goes through the roof during the Boston experiment.
I have much more respect for a guy like Matt Barnes who is returning to an exciting “up and coming” team like Golden State for less money because he knows he’ll be a contributor.
August 7th, 2007 at 10:00 am
jsmitty says:
Tbest…MJ only had rodman (who i’m assuming you’re referring to in your best rebounder/defender statement) for his last 3 chips….what about the first three?
August 7th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Austin Burton says:
Horace Grant was there for the first three-peat. He was a double-double guy.
August 7th, 2007 at 11:07 am
the braine says:
Is Fish serious, comparing Odom with Pippen? Pippen was a 1st or 2nd team all-NBA while Odom has hardly cracked the all-star team. Please.
August 7th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Celts Fan says:
don’t sleep on Bill Wennington either!
August 7th, 2007 at 11:13 am
kudabeen says:
“New form of egotism”… Are you really sure it’s new? Jordan never asked for help? You sure about that when he was getting beat down those first seven years? Jordan is noted as being one of the most adamant with management to get players. He didn’t need all-stars, because players then where better basketball players. He needed guys that knew what they could do on the floor and do it when it mattered. Scottie matured, Paxson, Jo-Jo, BJ and Kerr knock down shots, Horace was a beast on both ends, Jordan rode Bill Cartwright, because he was upset management traded Oakley for a guy Jordan considered soft. Guys today are overexposed and under coached. The lakers, pacers and others teams need proven veterans that know what they can do. That’s championship team’s make up. You don’t have to be an All-star to know how to ball. All-star status is just a reward orrecognition that hey we see you are a true ball player, one of the best. Rod Strickland was nasty, but he’s not considered an all-star, why? His game was all-star level. the players respected him. There’s a lot of guys like that.
The real difference between yesterdays stars and today’s is Yesterday stars were better leaders they rallied the troops practiced hard with them. Helped the younger guys grow and gain confidence. LeBron does this well, that’s why what people say is the worst team to go the finals can get to the finals. If Kobe had that trait the Lakers would have a chance to beat the Suns and anyone else, with what they have. They were up 3-1 for Jordan-sake!! The suns didn’t just wake up and discover they were better. Kobe and Phil failed to hold the troops together. But they rather knock Bynum, then build him up, so that bynum will come out every game with that confdence and bravado that he had that one game against Shaq.
I don’t think it’s new ego. A great player always have arrogance and ego issues, but it’s the ability to lead and channel that into inspiration to have the guys around you lay it all out, that is different. You really think Barkley, Jordan, Isiah, Bird, Magic never called out their teams or management?
In their day teams we’re built not bought (How did Lakers get all their Hall of Famers? The Draft and trading big names for other quality guys to surround their hall of Famers) ad there was no luxury tax. Teams having multiple All-stars were the ones winning, Boston, LA, Chicago, Detroit had 3+ All-star level players. I will agree that the Hakeems first championship rockets probably had the least star power of any championship team. But he did have very intelligent savvy veterans that knew how to hold there heads and battle.
Nothing new about basketball players and egos. Fact is Management doesn’t have to please players, because players won’t opt-out and take less money to win. All this Rah Rah about wanting to win, but no one takes less money from the door to open the window for another star to come. They figure let me get mine and the owner should just pay the luuxury tax to get all the talent we need. That’s bad business even if you can afford it. The Knicks wouldn’t be the running joke on poor management and business practice if they were winning. If the knicks start winning with that inflated pay roll a lot of other teams will spend to catch up and compete ala the Yankees were the big spenders then other people started to open their wallets as well, now big names with big game have options: Mets,Red Sox, Rangers, Cubs, will all pay to win…
It’s the players choice. If KG said ‘hey guys look I don’ need 100+ million, I’ll take it, but I don’t need it. I do need more help! So how about 80 mill plus bonuses that won’t count against the Cap, but toward the overall team revenue, but then we have the cap space to get players and the team will gain revenue, because it’s able to put a winning product out on te floor.’ That would be a wnning move, but how many people would say he’s a fool? How many agents would even allow their client’s to do this? No one needs $100mil, of course I’d take it, but If I wanted to win I’d look at it from a team point of view. Will we be able to leagally get talent and sign guys with me taking up damn near 40% of the cap?? Again not KG’s fault and it’s not his job to manage the cap, but he does have a choice just like the team. They couldn’t afford to lose him, so it was cheaper to just give him the $$. Spurs have All-star talent they picked up in the second round of the draft. That’s crazy. They got Micheal Finley on Clearance! Then they pick up veterans that do specific things well to add their stars. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Alot of stars (Duncan, Bird, Magic) never had to worry about the same things KG, Pierce, JO, Shareef, and others hd to deal with. Say what you want about him but Jerry Krause, but he made things happen, Red Auerbach made it happen, Jerry West made it happen. Chuck Daly, Pat, Phil, even Rudy motivated their teams. Who is doing this today. As mentioned Spur and Detroit. The Bulls are coming up along with Utah as the next teams that are consistent.
Side Note:
People are sleeping on detroit like they aren’t the team to beat in the East anymore. They don’t have answers for every team in the league? They have young guys that can ball, They hav high energy guys. Veterans in their prime. Clutch shooting and decision makers. The only advantage I can’t say with confidence that they have is coaching. Joe Dumars and R.C. Buford are the best in the NBA at configuring teams. Spurs have a much better coach though.
August 7th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Fish says:
Talent/stat-wise the comparison between Pippen and Odom is hardly outlandish. Never was sold on Pippen myself though so I could well be wrong.
August 7th, 2007 at 11:43 am
Celts Fan says:
I like and respect Dumars as much as the next guy, but as far as I’m concerned, his name can’t be mentioned without noting that he’s the only reason they aren’t a dynasty. Darko over Melo, Wade, or (especially) Bosh? oops… Then he just compounded it by trading him when his value was lowest (for Carlos Arroyo and Keon Clark!) Darko will never justify 2nd overall, but he does seem to have enough talent to keep around and contribute to a team like Detroit, or, at the very least, net them something more than those 2… Though I will also mention I like Maxiell and Amir Johnson and think they’ll be solid this year and prove they belong in the rotation for a contender like Detroit, but until we’re talking about what they’re doing instead of what we think they’ll do, Detroit can’t be “the team to beat in the East” (same w/ the Celtics.)
August 7th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Celts Fan says:
The Odom/Pipper comparison is a perfect example of talent versus drive. In terms of talent, they’re about the same, both talented in so many aspects it’s unreal. I remember seeing Lamar in college and thinking, “This guy’s gonna be a first-ballot hall of famer.” The difference is that Pippen was a hard-nosed competitor being driven by one of the most competitive people to ever play, while Odom loved to “enjoy life” and played on teams full of guys like that, and just isn’t wired the same way. Some guys want to win, while others will do whatever it takes to make it happen.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
kudabeen says:
Who is the team to beat in the east? Is it really the Cavs? Why?
Side note:
Why is PJ Carlisemo the coach of the young team USA team? Anyone know the process behind that?
August 7th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
kudabeen says:
Pippen is my All-time favorite player. I could never understand why people lessen his talent and game. Odom is a great talent, but not a great player. Scottie like CF said Made it happen. Odom may get in a grove, but Scottie stayed in a grove and did it in every facet of the game. He also used both hands. Odom always goes back to his left, which is very effective, but damn.
It’s not even a numbers thing. Scottie did it against the best. He defended the best and he nuetralized the best. Jordan couldn’t do it by himself and no one can. Scottie allowed mike to concentrate on scoring and closing the games. Scottie allowed chicago to not need a top flight PG or center to keep winning. He was Mr. Intangibles, the ‘Swiss-Army Knife” of basketball. Everybody chuckles about you carrying it around on the regular, but when you need it to get out a jam or in the clutch you are so appreciative to have it on hand. Respect that Man! Odom has to do a major 180 in attitude to even be mentioned in the same breatch with Scottie.
So many guys play the game because they just can and happen to be good at it and the money, not just because they Love it. It’s hard to believe a guy today that says I would play for free just to compete nowadays. It’s not like in the past where salaries were comparable to other industries or professional fields. Scottie got up and worked constantly and recriuted teammates to join him. I wonder what most NBA guys are doing these days?
Exceptions: Kobe, KG, Gilbert, Dwight, Nash, Carmello, LeBron, Iguodala, B. Wallace, Rip, Duncan (swims more so than play pick up and lift weights), and even Darko is a gym rat that’s very conscious of his conditioning. I’m sure there are others, but I can’t see Odom on the list. Great talent though… :-/
August 7th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Dennis Lu says:
Indiana isn’t rebuilding, they are just plain bad, and have no hope to be good anytime soon.
And whatever happened to Keon Clark? I remember some of his blocks and dunks, pretty sick stuff.
August 7th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
Celts Fan says:
So w/ Dikembe, Melvin Ely, and PJ Brown still on the market, the C’s went out and signed… Scot Pollard. Neat. I’m gonna go put a gun in my mouth.
August 7th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Celts Fan says:
“Hey kids, do drugs” to forget your team just signed me… fuuuuuuuuuuuuck me
August 7th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Alan says:
matt barnes needs be happy he has a job at all. he’s garbage. dime a dozen in this league. $3.5 mill is nothing to sneeze at, man, just be glad somebody is willing to give you that kind of cash at all. plus, he wouldn’t be as effective as he was last year if he wasn’t on the warriors. playing that loose, run and gun style is easy to play in. he wouldn’t even get serious burn on any other team. well, maybe the grizz. nah, kinsey would beat him out.
btw, keon is smoking cheeba in a dark room right now. he loves to blaze. check out how black his lips are!!!!!
August 7th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Ian says:
wow kudabeen
we are gonna agree on pip
way better than odom
hes ma second fav foward ever (duncan is 1)
August 7th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Celts Fan says:
Pip was amazing. To truly make your rep (all-time speaking) by just SHUTTING DOWN Magic in the Finals - Pippen’s first time on the big stage - is ridiculous. There are a lot of Pippen comparisons thrown out (most recently Rudy Gay) but just like “The Next Jordan” there hasn’t been anyone who’s actually stepped up to earn “Next Pippen” status, and there’s a reason for that. The man is one of the greatest, most versatile players of all time…
August 7th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Celts Fan says:
I still think the ‘99 Blazers were the best team in the NBA that year, if not for Sean Elliot’s tiptoe shot, I think they’d have won a ring that year…
August 7th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
kudabeen says:
True That the 99 Blazers choked big time!
I wouldn’t say Matt Barnes is “garbge”,, but he should be happy to get an opportunity that he can produce for a full season. 3.5 mil compared to D-league should be appreciated. He’ll be okay though.
I don’t think Scott Pollard is that bad of a look. He is a energy guy that actually can rebound in the league. He is ‘jerky’, but it’s not like they signed Brain Cardinal or re-signed Scalabrine to a 5+ mill contract again. They could still get Mutombo or Ely if they want to be There…
Side Note:
People don’t talk about George ‘Ice Man’ Gervin enough. I didn’t even know that he was on the same team with Jordan until recently…
http://www.nba.com/history/players/gervin_bio.html
August 7th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Celts Fan says:
After reading up on Mutombo, he just build a house in Houston last year and they have more $ to offer him, so he’s probably out. Still love the man though, talk about a class act… I’m just hoping we’re going on the cheap cuz Ainge knows something we don’t (namely about one Ryan Gomes being cut from Minn. and resigning in Boston like the rumors say…) and I like Pollard, just not as our first backup big. I never thought I’d say this, but it looks like resigning the Kandiman is pretty important now…
August 7th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Celts Fan says:
also, that statement just made me throw up in my mouth
August 7th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
sans says:
word to the guy talking about Max player pay cuts….so easy to bitch and moan and not make any actual moves individually to help your team. What was the main reason that Kobe never landed a top-flight free agent, the salary cap or a lack of effort on the managements part? Kupchak might be an ass but he can’t offer players money that they don’t have. Only way to get around it is to trade nothing for something, and that doesn’t happen unless Vinsanity wants his way out of Canada. By the way, Lamar Odom is better than JO. Seriously, he pulls in monster numbers without getting the ball passed to him, is a better rebounder, and a better passer. Plus, he can handle the basketball like a guard.
Also, how is KB24 getting JO and Lamar going to make it like he can win one without Shaq? He needs 2 all-star supports instead of one to get shit done? f that.
August 7th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
JCrom says:
Darius Miles’ car is a donk (read dunk) rider. its really big in florida and other southern states. its a whole culture its got a mag and everything.
August 7th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Bron42 says:
it was arroyo and calvin cato..not keon clark. keon was last seen on the jazz like 5 years ago.
And you all have points…but think about it, not even talkin about athletes…how many people would give up money to make others around them better? Is the kid at wendys gonna take a pay cut so the boss can buy a new soda machine? no…same with nba.. as much as they bitch we alllll know they could easily take less money so their team could make some moves but its not really up to them. its managments job to manage. They should kno before they sign kobe to 80mill, “hey kobe, u kno if we pay you this much, your gonna pretty much have to ball with smush parker until we get some revenue right?” Just the way it works, also you have soooo many teams over paying TERRIBLE players…like when the grizz signed brian cardinal for 14 mill, or brian scalibrinie, or folye etc so they waste money on this guys whore are pretty much gloried towel boys and then wonder why kobe wants better people
August 7th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
IGP says:
Good point Bron42…I was so annoyed when Cardinal got that huge paycheck…yeah he does work hard, and yeah he hustles on the court…but a lot of guys in the NBA do that and he does not have 14 million dollars worth of skills. Just like Jerome James…he has one good series and all of the sudden he gets paid like he’s the next big center.
August 8th, 2007 at 1:30 am
Ian says:
celts how can u say that about the blazers and talk about elliotts shot it was a SWEEPPPPPPPPPP spurs lost 2 games whole playoffs and u r say one shot and they win
talk to me about 2000 (timmy missed the playoffs)
series 3-3 vs lakers 4th quarter 15 pt lead
now thats a choke
99 all spurs