Vacation’s over for T-Mac and the sizzling Rockets.Monday was the NBA’s day off, as everyone was traveling and/or recouping from All-Star Weekend in New Orleans. Of course, if you were checking DimeMag.com throughout the weekend, you know we had everything covered … A few airport sightings on our respective flights back to New York. Pat ended up on the same plane with Caron Butler, while Austin bumped into Larry Hughes in the Atlanta airport (as well as a bunch of girls who were either going to or coming from some national cheerleading competition) … Now we prepare for the regular season home stretch. But before that, the trade deadline is coming up. The Jason Kidd deal still isn’t official but is apparently imminent. Given the trades involving Pau Gasol, Shaq and Mike Bibby — and even going back to the Kyle Korver trade and looking at free-agent pickups like Damon Stoudamire and Chris Webber by good teams — what happens if the Cavs and Rockets still don’t do anything before the deadline? They aren’t the only inactive teams, but as far as teams that have an open window to compete for a ‘chip and are only one or two attainable pieces away, Cleveland and Houston are the teams who most need to make something happen. That’s just unacceptable if LeBron and T-Mac/Yao can’t get support from their team’s front office … And speaking of, the Cavs and Rockets meet up tonight as the League’s second-half schedule resumes. LeBron’s on fire right now — as you saw on Sunday — and may be looking for Daniel Gibson more than usual after what he did over the weekend. Now that Yao’s got that three-point bug out of his system, he can go back to battling it out slow-mo with Big Z inside. The key is gonna be T-Mac. His last four games he’s only averaged 11.2 points a night, but then the Rockets did win each of those games … Tuesday’s schedule also has Magic/Pistons (Hedo vs. Tayshaun), Celtics/Nuggets (Pierce vs. ‘Melo + KG’s return?) Warriors/Jazz (Baron vs. Deron), Knicks/Wizards (Z-Bo vs. Jamison), Bobcats/Spurs (Okafor vs. Duncan), Grizzlies/Sonics (Rudy vs. Durant), Kings vs. Blazers (K-Mart vs. B-Roy), Hawks/Lakers (Joe vs. Kobe) and Sixers/Wolves (like anyone’s gonna watch this one) … College ball from last night: Roy Hibbert dumped 18 points, 8 boards and 6 blocks on Providence (who plays in the Dunkin’ Donuts Center); #7 Texas smashed #22 Texas A&M, getting 27 points from D.J. Augustin … Smack reader Ty Thomas — not that Ty Thomas — hit us with a question that we figured we’d bring to the group: “My name is Ty Thomas. I live in Delaware, Ohio. I am working on a project to paint everyone I can meet named Ty Thomas. Do you think this is stupid?” Tell us what you think at smack@dimemag.com and we’ll pass the answers along to Ty … We’re out like the break …
February 19th, 2008 at 6:44 am
josh says:
its stupid.
February 19th, 2008 at 6:57 am
ian says:
very
February 19th, 2008 at 7:08 am
atom says:
Is he gonna physically paint on every other Ty Thomas’s body, or is he making portraits of these people?
Either way, pretty f-ing lame.
February 19th, 2008 at 7:13 am
BC says:
The Rockets or Cavs should trade the Nets for the re-activated Keith Van Horn. That’ll put them over the top.
Seriously though, the Sonics have the surplus of point guards — the Rockets/Cavs should swing a deal for either Earl Watson, Delonte West, or Luke Ridnour.
The reason that the Cavs haven’t made a trade is because most of their contracts are brutal. Would you take Larry Hughes at 12M? Damon Jones at 4M? Donyell Marshall at 5.5M? Eric Snow at 7M?
Drew Gooden may be the most tradeable player at 6.5M… so the Cavs should to find a team who badly needs a PF. Maybe they should package Larry Hughes’ ridiculous contract with Drew Gooden for Vince Carter and Magloire??? The Nets would get an ok PF and would get rid of 2 years of bad contract (Hughes is 3 years vs. Carter is 5 years).
February 19th, 2008 at 7:22 am
yuri says:
Would yall get off TMac’s nuts already? Don’t know if you guys have been watching, but he doesn’t appear the slightest bit interested in playing basketball…not only my words but the words of a Western Conference scout.
In my mother country, when you meet someone with the same name, you are supposed to eat one of their fingernails for good luck. You should paint Ty, and you should keep hope alive. I should like to visit this Deleware, OH. It sounds like an amazing city!
February 19th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Top Gun says:
The Cavs need to trade someone, but they have a pretty bad management. I expect the Raptors to make one since they have Brian Colangelo. The Spurs should make a deal too, Damon Stoudamire isn’t exactly their missing piece.
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February 19th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Raynmann says:
magic/pistons? I’m thinking more howard/sheed
February 19th, 2008 at 8:44 am
GEE...this space for sell. says:
Ty get your paint on son!
I honestly fear that Clev. and Houston will not do anything. It’s sad considering they have Andre Miller, Mike Miller, Sam Cassell and Ron Artest still out there, not to mention a few NYK cats looking to be out.
I think Houston’s GM is caught up in that there team has been winning without any trade. Fool’s gold and false hope but I think it most def. has gotten Houston’s GM fooled.
Same with Clev. so to speak. I think for now they are sufficient with LeBron’s heroics considering what he did last year. I think they figure they can have the same results if not better. Fool’s gold again.
LOL they should trade Yao for LeBron lol just kidding.
Still I wish Houston would at least do something.
Caron Butler needs to hurry and get back.
Elton Brand will be back soon.
When is Agent Zero coming back?
I think the most important thing during this last half is who can stay healthy. This is particularly going to be interesting in the West considering they are trying to get their positions right. So for teams like San An and the Suns you want to rest some of your cats but at the same time you need that home court.
I am so going to sit back an enjoy this last half of the season. Lakers are going to be a problem.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Celts Fan says:
BC:
I may be wrong, but I thought Gooden was making more like $9-10M per (not saying he’s earned it) and that Vince only inked a 4 year deal.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:48 am
BH says:
What is all the rush with teams adding another piece to the puzzle? This is a phenomenon that has risen up in the last 10 years. Whatever happened to a team staying as a team and finding a way to overcome as a team in the playoffs, instead of renting a player for the last bit of the season.
Dallas is not an aging team. Why are they going for a guy who is about to retire soon, when they have their core of young talent? Why not wait out the development of Devin Harris, Brandon Bass, etc… and become a dynasty in a few years, with Dirk, Howard, and Harris all entering their primes at the same time.
I know why they don’t, but I don’t like it. People in general in our society have a “I want it now” mentality. This is our society. If the least of us are this way, then of course multi-million dollar athletes with too large of an ego who are my age are going to leverage their way to getting what they want now. Why not invest in and work on building a winning team from within?
I applaud Cleveland and Houston and Utah who are not screwing their future for the sake of a one year run. Utah will be great for years to come, as opposed to Dallas who is selling their soul for a 2 year run.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:49 am
BH says:
What is all the rush with teams adding another piece to the puzzle? This is a phenomenon that has risen up in the last 10 years. Whatever happened to a team staying as a team and finding a way to overcome as a team in the playoffs, instead of renting a player for the last bit of the season.
Dallas is not an aging team. Why are they going for a guy who is about to retire soon, when they have their core of young talent? Why not wait out the development of Devin Harris, Brandon Bass, etc… and become a dynasty in a few years, with Dirk, Howard, and Harris all entering their primes at the same time.
I know why they don’t, but I don’t like it. People in general in our society have a “I want it now” mentality. This is our society. If the least of us are this way, then of course multi-million dollar athletes with too large of an ego who are my age are going to leverage their way to getting what they want now. Why not invest in and work on building a winning team from within?
I applaud Cleveland and Houston and Utah who are not screwing their future for the sake of a one year run. Utah will be great for years to come, as opposed to Dallas who is selling their soul for a 2 year run.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:01 am
BC says:
Celts Fan: I just went off of the ESPN Trade Machine (and the trade does fit under the cap). I do think that the Drew Gooden $6.5M number is accurate, because that was referenced quite a bit in the Varajeo negotiations.
Also — keep in mind that a lot of the deals that you hear in the news are extensions that don’t kick in for a year. For example, I’m pretty sure that Vince signed a 4-year extension which starts next year (this season is the last year of his old Raptors contract).
However, I believe that you can knock 1-year off of those stated contracts since the # of years was probably taken from the start of this season.
All that being said, I can’t see NJ wanting Larry Hughes for 2 more years at $12M+ when they just traded for Devin Harris who can’t shoot.
I think that the Cavs should target either Vince or Michael Redd. Larry Hughes and some spare parts like Ira Newble for Redd works. Milwaukee probably wants to put Bobby Simmons contract in any Redd trade though…
February 19th, 2008 at 9:08 am
GEE...this space for sell. says:
Utah went and got Kyle Korver didn’t they? Also I don’t think no team does a trade looking for just 1 year. They hope for more.
It’s not like after this year Jason Kidd is just all of the sudden going to be horrible.
Mostly it’s about trying to find your right pieces so you can get to a point where your team can be settled.
Times change and teams change and sometimes keeping your team may get you very far but it doesn’t always get you a ring.
Ask John Stockton and Karl Malone. Just think if they had tinkered enough to have 1 solid big man other than Mark Eaton lol. Change is often neccesary.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:05 am
stupid says:
the name of my Johnston is Ty Thomas.
Does he want to paint that ???
February 19th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Tom from Cleveland says:
The Cavs will have almost $30 million in expiring contracts for next season. I think they are waiting until then to make a move. When everybody’s been healthy and not holding out, they’ve been pretty good this year. No need to ruin some of that cap space for a marginal player like Ridnour.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:37 am
sans says:
Change is always, sometimes..er never good.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:41 am
chris says:
mark cuban plays by his own rules, like steinbrenner in baseball - spend whatever you must to stay at the top. jason kidd is durable, likely to last another 2 years playing 60+ games a year, plays very good d and is likely to be a good fit on a team of shooters. LA added gasol, PHO added shaq, dallas had to do something substantially upgrading as well, and they did.
the cavs, rockets, and raptors have real world budget limitations, and will definitely go for small cheap fixes now and major upgrade deals in 08/09
February 19th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Myrie says:
Danny Ferry has made a mess in Cleveland. He overpaid for every player he has on the roster. And not one of them bums can do anything worthwhile for two straight games.
Sad to write this, but Houston should look to move Tracy McGrady. Yup. I said/wrote it. Dude can’t stay healthy and he’s forgotten how to run a fast break. Rockets should probably look to trade McGrady back to the East.
Word is Pat Riley is looking to let Shawn Marion opt out and then sign a big man. Preferably Elton Brand; but rumblings in NY is that Slick would look to take on Eddy Curry from the Knicks….
February 19th, 2008 at 11:46 am
dagwaller says:
Tom, I was thinking the same thing. I hate to keep the comparisons to MJ going, but Lebron’s still VERY young. He’s at an age at which MJ hadn’t even been to the Finals, I’m pretty sure; I don’t know what the Cavs are doing, but let’s not make it like they’re wasting Lebron’s time. Here we are talking about Jason Kidd, and he’s what? 10 years older? The Cavs have a long time to make things right.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:54 am
GEE...this space for sell. says:
Myrie you hit it dead on, Danny Ferry has paid waaaay to much for those cats. Why wait a long time when you can possibly make things right quickly. I am all for change (except that NBA overseas league possibility) especially if its available. Now if it’s not possible that is another story, but why shouldn’t LeBron get help now that could possibly get him a trophy?? What you got to be a certain age lol? Sure they have a while to fix what Danny has messed up, but if you can do it now, then do it now. Not to mention what if LeBron gets hurt or something then the Cavs have indeed waisted his time, if they waited to do what they could have done earlier.
The best thing of all of this is LeBron has the right attitude to where if they don’t do anything he is still loving his team and ready to go as far as he can go.
Tracy has had it said about him that he wants to go and is unhappy, but with all the winning they are doing I believe he is ok and will be as well.
I don’t see no major trade going down this last week.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Myrie says:
GEE—
Aren’t you a Rockets fan? Do you want to see them make a deal? Even a minor one that will help them this year?
Imagine if the Rockets matched up with Dallas or Denver in the first round?
…that would mean…for the 2nd straight season, one of them teams aren’t going to even make it to the 2nd round….YIKES!
February 19th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Simon says:
This comment is for TY, if you are painting for the novelty of meeting your name sake its not worth it. But on a serious note, if you are painting to idealize some concept (eg. the vast differences in the american society by using different TY Thomases) then the whole idea is nobel. However for that to work you would have to sample lots of Ty Thomases to get a good data, either way its sounds painfully expensive for self gratification since most Ty Thomases who would make perfect canvas selection pieces will doubtly available. Save your canvas and paint, head to the hills and make it happen
February 19th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
GEE...this space for sell. says:
Yea Myrie I am a Rockets fan and I would love to see them make a minor change. I just think right now they are caught up in their own hype. They apparently feel they can compete with what they have, and that may be true from a competition standpoint. I want them to be where they are like we know we can beat certain teams. Right now “if” they make the playoffs and beat anyone it will be like a major upset.
YIKES is right!
February 19th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
isotope says:
I agree with Gee. The Rockets are scared to mess things up since they are already so close to the playoffs. Think about it they are only about 5 games from the #1 seed. I would like a change myself but I can understand their hesitation. Plus most of the tradeable players havent played in a while and their stocke have gone down i.e. Mike James, Kirk Snyder, etc.
I’m not scared of Dallas and Denver in the playoffs; i think they’re more scared of the Rockets. The Hornets, Spurs, and Suns (maybe the Lakers too) are who the Rockets need to be concerned about.
February 19th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Celts Fan says:
problem in Cleveland = no one wants those deals. Not one player on that team other than LeBron and Boobie is worth-while for the $. Keep ‘em for the expiring deals next year and make a move then. The one other player that may garner some interest is Big Z and he’s too vital to their rebounding (offensive especially) and that great interior D they play to give up unless they’re blown away
and BC, never said anything either way about those guys other than I thought (and was probably wrong) that the #s were different.
I’m definitely not as high on Devin Harris as everyone else is, cuz I think NJ got fleeced, other than Harris and the 2 #1s, there’s not much other than cap room. Great deal for the Mavs, and even if Kidd isn’t even close to what he once was 3 years down the line, i still think he’s equal to Devin Harris (who again, I’m not really high on…)
BH: you have to make the moves to win now whenever you can, because all it takes is one injury and your once-promising team is done. Ask the late 90’s Magic how that works, or the ‘87 Celtics (Len Bias would’ve added years to Bird and McHale’s careers and may’ve let McHale pack it in in ‘87 instead of ruining himself by playing through a leg injury that’s the reason he still limps today.) My point is, if you have a chance to win this year and you don’t have to completely kill your future, do it every time!
February 19th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Celts Fan says:
maybe the Rockets should’ve been scared to mess things up when they traded Rudy Gay for Shane Battier. What a blunder, imagine TMac and Rudy running the break with Yao trailing behind and some terrified 5 standing in the middle waiting to see whose poster he’s gonna end up on…
February 19th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
GEE...this space for sell. says:
Celts I have to agree totally.
Sigh. I so wish the Rockets could get Ron Artest.
Artest keeps talking about winning a championship now (this year) with the Kings lol. He is one weird cat. LOL
February 19th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Myrie says:
…Did anyone hear that the NBA is going to do an OUTDOOR preseason game next year? Any truth to that? Can anyone confirm? Where will it be and which teams?
February 19th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Lebron James aka "Global Icon" says... says:
If Ferry doesn’t get me any help in the next two seasons I’m done in Cleveland. Remember I didn’t sign the max extension. I love the Yankees and can resurrect the Knicks franchise plus I’d have the #1 selling jersey worldwide and an extra 100 gazillion in endorsements cause I’m a global icon and NYC is the mecca for basketball. If not NYC then I’d rebuild Chi-towns franchise and the would be no arguement over who is better me or Kobe. I’m out like the “Global Icon” retiring a Cav!
oh p.s I’m rich bitch!!!
February 19th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
isotope says:
The NBA’s first outdoor game of the modern era will take place when the Phoenix Suns host the Denver Nuggets in a preseason game on Saturday, October 11 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, CA. The 16,000-seat stadium is an NBA-style arena with no roof located in a spectacular desert setting. The venue annually plays host to one of the world’s major tennis tournaments, the Pacific Life Open.
http://www.nba.com/suns/news/indian_wells_release.html