Brand Loyalty
Welcome to Rumor Season. For every free agent signing and trade that goes down over the next couple of months, there will be at least 20-some rumors surrounding said acquisition. Last year, when we had Mo Williams and agent Mark Bartelstein walk you through the entire free agent process in Dime #36, Mo’s agent said he fielded about 50 calls a day from reporters looking to confirm or deny rumors. And that was just for one client, and it was just Mo Williams. Can you imagine being the agent of Baron Davis, Josh Smith, Elton Brand or Gilbert Arenas over the past few days? (Actually, Gilbert said he’s representing himself now, so maybe he’s fielding the calls himself, too.) … After the biggest offseason splash so far was made when Baron agreed to join the Clippers, rumors immediately followed that — before Boom and Brand could become L.A.’s best inside-outside combo since Ron Harper and Danny Manning (y’all remember Bulls vs. Blazers on the Sega/SNES) — the Warriors were trying to lure Elton to their side with a five-year, $90 million offer. If you’re in Elton’s shoes, which way do you go? The Clippers can go as high as $70 million over five years, and along with Baron on the roster also have Eric Gordon, Al Thornton and Chris Kaman to build around. Plus, staying in L.A. is better for EB’s movie-producing side career, and there are the intangible factors of familiarity, not having to pick up the family and move, and sticking around to finish something he started when he came to the Clippers. With the Warriors, Brand gets more money and goes to a team with Monta Ellis (who is absolutely not going to get away from GS now that Baron’s gone), Stephen Jackson and possibly Andris Biedrins (a free agent), and he gets to play in front of one of the League’s best fan bases. (Have you ever been to a Clippers’ game at Staples?) … Someone who could swing the decision is Corey Maggette. If he stays with the Clippers (who couldn’t pay him that much since they want Baron and Brand), that makes the roster even more appealing for Elton. But the rumor mill says Maggette is getting looks from the Heat, Jazz, Celtics, Hornets and Spurs, so he’s no guarantee for L.A. … If the Warriors miss out on Brand, why don’t they get involved in the Josh Smith bidding? Right now it seems to be a two-team race between Philly and Atlanta, but wouldn’t J-Smoove be a perfect PF in Nellie’s system? He can run all day, and unlike Al Harrington, actually rebounds and plays defense. The downside is that Smith’s jumper is broke, but GS has enough shooters … Another thing to think about: What does the Baron signing mean for Shaun Livingston? He wasn’t tendered a qualifying offer, so he’s an unrestricted free agent. He wouldn’t be bad to have as Davis’ backup, and he’s in no position to command a lot of money on the market … Is Utah management trying to drive Jerry Sloan insane? Getting a drive-first, shoot-second, drive-third guy like Maggette would be one thing, but we also hear the Jazz are interested in Kwame Brown. Really? He’s gonna pick up on Sloan’s system and contribute? Or is he gonna be a worse version of Greg Ostertag without the buzz cut? … The Hornets and Chris Paul agreed to an extension worth a reported 4-5 years for $60-80 million. Is the day coming when the Hornets, Clippers and Blazers run the West like the Spurs, Lakers, Suns and Mavs have done? … It seemed inevitable all along, but the Sonics are — barring a last-second miracle — going to Oklahoma City ASAP, as ownership and the city settled their lawsuit right before the judge was supposed to come back with a ruling. The city will be paid $45 million up front so the team can break its arena lease, plus another $30 million if the NBA doesn’t give Seattle another team by 2013. (We can already picture Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo wearing “Seattle” on their chests in a few years) … The Sonics’ name, logo and colors won’t be making the trip to OKC. So what would you name Kevin Durant‘s new franchise? What should the unis look like? … The Raptors locked up their #1 offseason target, agreeing to a five-year, $40 million deal with Jose Calderon. Jose told a Spanish newspaper, “Me and T.J. (Ford), we never had a problem. But it was impossible to play on the same team because both of us wanted to be the starting point guard.” … On the other end of the point guard spectrum, in yesterday’s Smack we told you about the Knicks going after Chris Duhon. Now the team is also said to have contacted Tyronn Lue and Sebastian Telfair. A couple years ago we would have said it was probably best for Bassy to play closer to home, but that was when we were thinking he could play for the Nets and get tutored by Jason Kidd. But actually being in NYC and having Big Cousin Steph around every day? Nah. And can you imagine Mike D’Antoni‘s end of things? He’s already a high-strung guy — watch him nearly pop a forehead vein every time the refs don’t cooperate with him — but after getting to sit back and let Steve Nash run his offense for the last four years, we don’t know if D’Antoni could handle slogging through Sebastian’s growing pains. If he hasn’t already, D’Antoni might want to get started on that book, The First Season … Probably the best player to go undrafted this year, Mississippi State guard Jamont Gordon, will play with the Sixers’ summer-league team. Since he never actually signed with an agent, Gordon apparently could have done the Randolph Morris thing and gone back to school, and he would have been able to sign with an NBA team at any point during or after the season … Shawn Kemp update: He says he weighs about 255 and, “I’m actually thinking about running some marathons,” he told the Seattle Times. “My goal is to run the New York City Marathon in about two years.” How is it that Ndudi Ebi is still getting summer-league chances (he’s playing with the Sonics after spending the season in Israel) and no one will give The Reign Man a shot? … We posted the second matchup of our Team USA Fantasy Tournament yesterday: the 2000 Olympic squad versus the 2004 group. At-his-peak Vince Carter against the infamous Iverson/Steph backcourt? Vote on the winner HERE … We’re out like the Sonics …
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July 3rd, 2008 at 1:16 am
Steve says:
first boooyysssss
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:22 am
daquest?on says:
how ironic would it be if gs and LA switched stars, and what will happen to eric gordon?? baron is going the be the point and baron is a shoot first guard kinda like gordon and gordon was kind of promised to be the “guard” of the clippers
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:31 am
LakeShow84 says:
Bring back the Rain Man!
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:06 am
Remy N says:
At Post # 3 —- REIGN Man not Rain Man.
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:10 am
nick says:
could it be possible that the clippers finally become a top-tier team with baron, brand and magette running the show and al thorton and kaman as the strong supporting cast.
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:21 am
sans says:
Well, there is a 1st for everything, but Donald Sterling has never signed any athlete to a large contract willingly before this. It’s the biggest reason that Elgin Baylor has had his job for so long–you can’t blame the GM when the owner won’t spare with a dime or two for quality players. And don’t bring up the last time they broke off Elton–there is such a thing as a minimum to the salary cap, that owners have to abide by when fielding a team, thank God, and it’s the only thing that kept Brand in LA for so long. Elton–go to Golden State. They might not have been to the playoffs that much more than the Clippers in the last 25 years, but at least there not the weird hunchbacked twin to the shining Lakers that also share their building.
oh, and Alvin Robertson was the illest shhh in Bulls verse Blazers–what the hell ever happened in that guys career after that? Him and Bernard King were crazy skilled in their day.
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:24 am
Coach T-sun says:
why are the warriors so eager to draw? They’ve had a nice run now its time to scrap and rebuild the west is growing by the minute theres no way that you can build a championship team off of what they had with Baron or without him. Its def the business side of things considering they were the number 1 home team in terms of crowd and atmosphere all year but come on Chris Mullen be realistic save money build around (Biedrins, Ellis, Anthony Randolph, Bellenlei) Trade the vets bring in some young pieces and maybe lady luck will be there and you can land a top pick in the draft to help you speed up the re-building process look how long it took for portland to get right back into things?
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:49 am
bill says:
I agree for golden state. Be a young exciting team/rebuild.
Give wright a go…………..:)
*tough to dethrone the major West teams right now but they could set themselves up.
Wonder if teams are thinking on how to combat the future blazers dynasty already (not to jinx)
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:05 am
fairyboy says:
How about the Oklahoma Fairies? Then they could have their away jerseys in pink. I’d like to see who’d support that team and which player would have the balls to don those jerseys. They could make Fortson their starting center/mascot.
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:44 am
BxBaller says:
Sucks for the Seattle Sonics fans. I would be heated if some dude bought my team then moved them out of town. That ish is straight out of the movie Eddie. Seriously why can’t Kemp get a tryout? Hell if Scalabrine can have a roster spot, I’m quite sure any team could be willing to give him a tryout.
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:44 am
Sonics RIP says:
It’s a sad day for Seattle Hoop-Heads.
July 3rd, 2008 at 4:29 am
KBY says:
Actually there were already rumblings that it would be “OKC Barons”, stupid name.
July 3rd, 2008 at 4:37 am
Luigi says:
the shud kall it the OKC Boomers or somethin like that [Boomer Sooner] hahaha
but OKC’s lineup is sick
PG. R.Westbrook
SG. K.Durant
SF. J.Green
PF. N.Collison
C. C.Wilcox
thats my lineup but im not really sure. oh well
but hopefully the reign man can come 2 Washingtons summer league team n shows it how its done! i kan see it now…
DONNELL to KEMP! REIGGGNNN MAN has struckk haha i cant really thnk whos on the DC SL team besides McGee n Dray n Young lol
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:05 am
K Dizzle says:
My Vancouver Grizzlies already had to deal with this ish. Of course, we ain’t had a deep history like Seattle.
First Bryant Reeves, then Steve Francis’ Lipgate, then the corrupt, punk ass owner sinks the ship and bounces to Memphis…..Karma’s sweet cuz they been payin since
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:35 am
Kobeef says:
BEST NEWS OF THE DAY:
Darius Miles given 10 day suspension for positive drug test..BUT- Miles hasn’t played in the NBA since 2006, and Portland waived him in April.
- How do you get suspended if you aren’t even in the league? Only Miles could do that.
- My guess is that he is fully aware that he would test positive and probably doesn’t care.
Grizz want to sell and Seattle wants a team (and has $45 million down-payment in the bank) seems like a good deal for both teams.
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:48 am
Greedy says:
Why the hate for Ndudi Ebi? He is still young and has a lot of potential. The same cant be said for Shawn Kemp.
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:15 am
Ross says:
Will this realign the Southwest conference now? That just makes it even worse for the Sonics (or whatever they’re called now).
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:17 am
Celts Fan, "Kobe, Tell me how my @$$ tastes" says:
The OKC team should be known as the OKC Oil Tycoons. The logo should be a man in a nice suit with a cowboy hat and cowboy boots (the tackier, the better,) smirking, clutching a handful of cash, and peeing out his window onto the city of Seattle with David Stern there, holding his wang and patting him on the back and sliding a $100 bill into his pocket.
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:19 am
Austin Burton says:
The OKC Plainviews. And the P.A. announcer has to talk like Daniel Day-Lewis in “There Will Be Blood.”
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:25 am
nicky says:
a couple ideas i just wanted to throw out there:
the OKC Bombers (uni:khaki, camo)
the OKC Cowpokes (uni:Holstein cow black-and-white spot pattern)
honestly, this is some pretty wack shit they’re pulling…i remember being a little ticked off when they took the hornets out of Charlotte, but with the supersonics were talking about a lot more history there…its a damn shame if you ask me…
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:34 am
Celts Fan, "Kobe, Tell me how my @$$ tastes" says:
ya Nicky, and unlike w/ the Hornets, the fans wanted this team to stay. With the Hornets, George Shinn did something (forget what it was) that had te entire region against him even though they loved basketball (essentially, like Seattle boycotting Starbucks. They LOVE coffee, just hate the guy giving it to them. same thing in Charlotte w/ basketball and Shinn.) In Seattle, they wanted that team in the worst way. The good news is, the 2014 (it’s something like that til they can legally move) Grizzlies should have a matured Conley, Mayo, Gay combo that should be welcomed to Seattle w/ open arms
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:45 am
Celts Fan, "Kobe, Tell me how my @$$ tastes" says:
DAVID STERN, WE ALL KNOW YOU’VE KNOWN CLAY FOR 20 YEARS. WE ALL KNOW YOU ARE BEHIND THE SCENES PUSHING THIS THROUGH. YOU’VE BEEN A GREAT COMMISSIONER FOR 20 YEARS AND, AS YOU EASE TOWARDS THE END OF YOUR CAREER, YOU PULL THIS CRAP TO A MARKET THAT DID NOTHING BUT SUPPORT ONE OF YOUR TEAMS BUT WOULDN’T PAY FOR YET ANOTHER ARENA? WE KNOW THIS IS A GOOD-OLD-BOYS THING AND WE KNOW YOU’RE BEHIND IT. I HOPE DOWNSIZING FROM A PASSIONATE LARGE MARKET TO A POTENTIALLY PASSIONATE MUCH SMALLER MARKET FOR ONE OF YOUR BUDDIES, WHO WILL EVENTUALLY CRY POOR AND ASK FOR MORE $$$ FROM THE PUBLIC WAS WORTH IT (THE LUSTER OF THIS NEW TEAM WILL WEAR OFF EVENTUALLY AND THE REALITY THAT OKC IS NOT A LEGIT PRO SPORTS MARKET WILL SET IN.) PLEASE PULL THE KNIFE OUT OF THE BACKS OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND EVERY REAL FAN THAT KNOWS THIS DOESN’T SMELL RIGHT. THERE IS BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS HERE.
This pisses me off on so many levels, not the least of which being, when a fanbase is supportive and likes their team, buys a new arena, and is this passionate about keeping them, you CAN’T take that team from that city. Pay attention people, if this can happen here (or to the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts, you name it, it’s happened before where it never should’ve) it can happen anywhere.
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:59 am
Ross says:
Good idea, Austin. I could hear the “I drink from your milkshake” sound clips already, every time they block a shot.
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:44 am
Logan Light says:
Oklahoma City Settlers? I’ve heard that once or twice… but it’s a horrible name. So how do they go about naming the team? Follow this:
Team management asks Durant what his favorite colors are.
KD phones Nike for a hot tip on colors they could market him with.
Nike phones OKC Mayor for permission to run adds based on making OKC more prominent in the media.
Nike calls KD back with their color choice – Burnt Orange.
KD calls team management with “his” decision.
Team Management takes the burnt orange idea and creates the new team name: The Oklahoma City DustBowls
LL
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:50 am
rodnets says:
I played with the Clips in the NBA JAM Arcade and reached the championship, Harper was nasty, Manning was sharp and Stanley Roberts was a beast!!!
What a flashback! Peace
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:53 am
Data says:
If Seattle does get the griz in a couple of years and okc comes to town what team are fans cheering for? More importantly how can okc support a team in the long run? The US per capita income is $38,611 and okc’s is $19,098 with the recession the US is in I just don’t see this team being financialy succesful. Not to mention they have a population of under 700,000. Great move David Stern moving a team from a growing urban center to a “town”. Here’s an idea how about you move the Knicks to Maza, North Dakota they have a population of 5. Thjat would make great economic sense.
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:53 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Oklahoma Bombers is too cold. You might as well call them the Oklahoma Explosion. I like the Oklahoma Generals.
Shawn Kemp wants to run the NYC marathon in two years? Funny, thats exactly how long it would take him to cross the finish line.
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:57 am
rodnets says:
Speaking of Shawn Kemp out of the league is what I was telling you about last days with all the big man and PF lame names of the free agent pool.
Come on!!! Kwame Brown????? Bring back Kemp ASAP.
Names for OKC:
OKC Hijackers,
OKC Stealers,
OKC Sterns,
OKC Hypersonics
Sad day for the Seattle fan base, Eddie Vedder and city.
Peace
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:02 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Sonics leaving, Starbucks closing 200 stores, the Mariners stink, Microsoft forcing Vista on the world… Whats going on up there? If the Seahawks don’t do anything this upcoming season Seattle may leave the U.S. for Canada.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:10 am
djkianoosh says:
josh is staying in philly another day… seems like he might like what he’s seeing… and atlanta’s other josh, childress, is coming into town too.. sixers gonna take both josh’s from atlanta?
might make a nice lineup..
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:14 am
Celts Fan, "Kobe, Tell me how my @$$ tastes" says:
@Data, unfortunately, there’s a TON of corporate $$$ (oil money, those fuckers, one of the only things that makes Clay even more unlikeable is that he made his money on oil, or in other words, he screws people over professionally, it’s not just Seattle) so that’ll help out, but yes, long term, it’s fiscally retarded to do that. Those companies won’t buy suites every year. Eventually, they move again and it looks even worse. Screw Stern. Adam Silver ’08-’09. YES WE CAN.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:17 am
that's whats up says:
Alvin Robertson loved cocaine and pussy. He even tried to take my girl one time. Hell, he may have done it, but the dude didn’t really have the love for the game
If there is a team in OK City they should be called
The Okla-Homos
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:19 am
Skeeter McGee says:
Brand would be smart to take the money and go to Golden State, despite all the side stuff you mentioned. Honestly, yesterday I was saying the Clips could make a splash in the West if they had Maggette, Brand, and Diddy, but apparently Maggette is headed to San Antonio and if that happens, the Clips won’t have enough. That’s just my opinion but Golden State with Brand would be pretty sick.
I remember the days when Philly was enjoyable to watch and A.I. was murking cats. Now I find them utterly boring and for some reason I think Iggy can only be a #2 option; he’s not a franchise player. But give Lou Williams a couple of years and I might tune in, cause that dude can ball.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:27 am
G13 is some strong shit says:
@ nicky, SMH at your team names… cowpokes?? wtf.
and bombers is even worse, considering that timothy mcveigh shit happened in oklahoma city.
and no, i don’t have any suggestions of my own. i don’t care what they call them. i’m still trying to understand why anyone would want to move an NBA franchise into the middle of nowhere.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:38 am
Data says:
@Celts
You’re right about the oil money. Corporate suites do bring lots of money but you still need to fill you arena. The taxpayes have already agreed to increase their property tax to pay for the arena. There won’t be much left to pay for tickets and merchandise. Do you see anybody outside of okc rocking the team gear? I have a feeling (just a hunch) the unis are gonna be fugly. Unless this franchise wins soon it won’t last. Stern you were once the best commisioner in sprts way to ruin your legacy (at least bill clinton got sme head out of ruining his (or did that increase his legacy))
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:40 am
Ross says:
The OKC Dollars?
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 am
Bill Clinton says:
(between puffs of a cigar) Increased it, definitely increased it…
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:42 am
Celts Fan, "Kobe, Tell me how my @$$ tastes" says:
@Data, COMPLETELY AGREE, every word…
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:11 am
Celts Fan, "Kobe, Tell me how my @$$ tastes" says:
Good article from JA Adande on the disgraceful way everything was handled.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=sonicsmove_080702
Dime, any word on the Draft shirts? You waiting til the ’09 Draft to annouce the winners?
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 am
miamiVIS3 says:
The OKC Oilers and they throw it back to those pinl and baybe blue unis from houston
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 am
miamiVIS3 says:
…pink and baby blue…
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:43 am
Amar says:
jerry sloan has been insane for years, when deron came into the league, sloan was playing him at starting shooting guard. and insanity is the only justification for defending kobe with matt harpring . . .
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:58 am
eyeused2b says:
Brand has a tough decision to make. Is losing up to $20 million worth getting a chance, just a shot, to be the 6th, 7th or 8th seed in the playoffs with the Clippers.
I think I’d go with the opportunity to win. $70 mil, $90 mil, both are astronomical figures, so does it really matter (Of course it matters!). With the right playoff matchups, the Clips could luck up and find themselves in the Finals. Assuming good health, it’ll be a tough matchup to guard Brand and Kaman in the post while respecting Davis on the perimeter. Of course, if the young players don’t show up, it won’t matter, b/c they won’t make the playoffs.
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
WTF says:
The OKC Pow-wows
The OKC Bisons
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
DaPro says:
The OKC “We fu*$^#@ over Seatle and its fanbase, Stern new about it and didn’t give a sh*&”
It’s not marketable but hey, neither is putting an NBA franchise is OKC. He secretly wanted to move the Hornets their but knew the PR would terrible for him and league so he found the perfect scapegoat team to move
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
OKC Hicks says:
@ Data
Completely agree with what you said. Stern = D-Bag Supreme and I don’t even care about the Sonics. It’s just scary to think that this might set a precedent to other teams that might want to up and leave just like that. And about Bill Clinton, at least he went out with a bang…literally.
I guess it just goes to show that loyalty lies with the pockets instead of the people, meaning the “B” in NBA still stands for BUSINESS.
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Kobeef says:
@That’sWhat’sUp
“Okla-Homo’s”
…pricelss….I’m callimg them that no matter what they name the franchise.
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Remy N says:
OKC Cowboys!
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:10 pm
samir says:
They can be called “The Team Formerly Known as the Supersonics” and have Prince do their first halftime show
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
that's whats up says:
yeah, and their artist-formerly-known-as-Prince symbol can just be the middle finger
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
K Dizzle says:
Brand ain’t goin to Oakland. He’ll make up that 20 mill on one of his movies.
People sayin that dude would go to play with Ellis and Jack might be forgettin that Baron’s playin with fire again this year cuz he ain’t gonna be embarrassed at home and he’s probably pissed at how Nelson did him, Al Thornton is one year older and a lot better, Eric Gordon gonna be healthy again and show why he the best shooter in the draft and Kaman is better inside than anything the Warriors got. There is no way Elton’s gonna be playin for Don Nelson who prolly wouldn’t know how to use him and probably sit him in an important game to prove some shit.
David Stern is just phuckin the Pacific Northwest. First the Grizzlies get took so we gotta go down to Seattle to catch games, now you take the Sonics? That’s some high level bullshit. I ain’t goin to Portland to catch a game…
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:30 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
I may be crazy and I may just love the Heat too much but what about a sign and trade involving Matrix and Marcus Banks that got Elton Brand payed put him on a team that has just about as much potential to be good as the Clips or Wariors and gives Golden State point guard depth amd a guy who is made for nellie ball.
July 3rd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Sushi says:
The Oklahoma City Bombers with a U-Haul truck on the front of the jersey. lol
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:49 pm
. says:
.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:09 am
rodnets says:
Oklahoma Yo Mommas
July 4th, 2008 at 3:25 am
jamesinva says:
how bout the OKie DOkies ? the logo can be a hand making an OK sign. yea thats how bad this is. dumb move IMO. shoulda moved to a bigger market. OKC? wtf? ANY team name with OKLAHOMA CITY in the front of it sounds WHACK. i feel SO bad for the sonics fans.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:28 am
jamesinva says:
and for sure, stern is all messed up in the head IMO. its obvious he has WAY too many haters now. im pretty sure he was involved with LOTS of shady moves within the NBA all for money. im sure he gets stuffed with money all the time, probably from this OKC owner too. stern needs to hang it up before he gets caught with some shiet and gets locked up. yea i could be wrong but i guess im starting to dislike the guy.
and it makes NO sense how a team will relocate then the city gets a new team. being a trail blazers fan, if the blazers ended up moving, i wouldnt support the NEW team in town. id have to be a fan of wherever they move to. damn that is tough isnt it?
seattle fans jumpn on the trail blazers band wagon now that the blazers are the only team in the NW? or do they become OKC fans? odd situation for sure