Cavs add a Lottery pick, Jamaal Tinsley trade rumors, and would D-Wade sign with Sacramento?
D-Wade (photo. Chad Griffith)Everyone’s talking about the Nets and Knicks, but on the low, the Kings are making moves to clear up a lot of cap space in 2010. At the moment, there’s only going to be three guaranteed salaries on Sacramento’s payroll that year — Kevin Martin ($11.1 million), Beno Udrih ($6.6M) and John Salmons ($5.8M) — and the rest of the Maloof’s money will be available if they wanna make a run at LeBron, D-Wade, Chris Bosh and the rest of that summer’s free agents. The Sacramento Bee reported yesterday that Francisco Garcia likely won’t be signed to an extension this year, which means Sacto could keep him for the qualifying offer in ‘09-10, and then he’ll be off their books. Of the “Big Three” free agents, which one would even consider going to Sacramento? LeBron might consider Greece for $50 million per, but would he go to the farm for $25-30 million per and a guarantee of a future slice of team ownership? Would D-Wade be enticed by playing in front of fans who actually show up through thick and thin? We could maybe see Bosh taking a huge offer from the Kings … Then again, if the Cavs keep doing things like signing Lorenzen Wright — which they did yesterday — and acting like it’s actually helping them get closer to a championship, LeBron might start seeing K-Mart and Beno as some pretty intriguing future teammates … Not that anyone was going out on a limb predicting it, but we did say Dick Vitale was gonna give the mic a workout at yesterday’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Vitale gave a speech so long that the Motivational Speakers’ union was probably upset he didn’t get paid at least five figures for it. Naturally, Dickie V went on one of his anti-NBA rants. “It breaks my heart when I see some athletes, chips on their shoulder,” Vitale said. “Are you serious? Flying charter planes? I don’t want to hear about 80 games a year. What other job do you get four months vacation. Are you serious? Making millions if you can’t play.” Does any announcer this side of Chris Berman hate pro basketball more? … Vitale was joined in this year’s class by Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Adrian Dantley, Pat Riley, Pistons owner William Davidson and women’s basketball pioneer Cathy Rush. If you missed the inductions Friday, you can catch a shortened version on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2 … Trade rumor: Jamaal Tinsley to the Warriors for Al Harrington. If there’s any truth to that, how is Marcus Williams liking the vote of non-confidence? Monta Ellis is only gonna be out for a month or so of actual games; is that worth GS trading away one of their only guys who might get a rebound? From the Pacers’ end, they’d consider giving up Tinsley for draft picks and a Darnell Hillman poster at this point, but in actuality, they may have to throw in another player to match salaries with Harrington. Maceo Baston, perhaps? … In honor of “Chad Ocho Cinco,” we took a crack at assigning some NBA players nicknames on the back of their jerseys. Our readers also came through with a bunch of suggestions, but extra props go to Holladay for coming up with a great one for J.J. Redick: “Master Splinter” … We know some of you out there might question the competency of the Grizzlies’ front office following the Pau Gasol trade. Well, before you judge GM Chris Wallace, know that he recently admitted that only ONE Memphis employee has ever seen brand-new signee Hamed Ehadadi in person — and it wasn’t Wallace. When you’re talking about a second-round draft pick, we can see where maybe you don’t have to see a guy play in person. But when you’re bringing in a guy all the way from Iran, who up until last month hasn’t exactly been playing against the best competition out there, and you’re actually counting on him to help shore up one of your roster’s weak spots, maybe you should get out of the office and check him out yourself. We’re not saying fly the entire scouting crew out to Beijing, but Ehadadi and the Iranian team were in Utah earlier this summer for the NBA’s summer league … Fresh off their eventful rookie transition seminar, the 2008 draftees (and Greg Oden) were in the Bronx yesterday for some NBA Cares work with local kids. The Dime crew was there as well, and we got a chance to ask Derrick Rose, Kevin Love and the rest of the guys who they’re voting for between Obama and McCain. You’ll never guess which Lottery pick admitted that Nas helped swing his vote … We’re out like scouting …
September 6th, 2008 at 5:04 am
solomon says:
uno!
September 6th, 2008 at 5:14 am
S-SiN says:
Tinsley and change for Al Harrington? u’ve gotta be shitting me! Al’s well on the way to average smth like 18+10 no matter where he plays..
Master Splinter nic was hysterical. Dic Vitale loves the hell out of Duke and everything around it, thus hates NBA and the real life. Think of all the ovehyped Duke alumns who were supposed to have a huge impact in the League from the last 15 years. Laettner went from the best ncaa player ever talks to Shaq’s punch bag for what seemed like a decade..
I hate vitale’s voice when he gets excited over something and goes on moaning “this place is wild right now! no! it just got even wilder baby! oh, what a joy! what a glory it is to be alive and witness this with my lone eye!”
what that man needs is dave chappelle in the corner with a “wrap it up” box!
September 6th, 2008 at 5:24 am
Dwyane Wayne says:
Sacrament-NO
September 6th, 2008 at 6:42 am
sans says:
did anyone else hear k-love not admit to anything, beat around the bush, and awshucks his way into not saying anything at all, slyly conveying he’s w/ ranger john?
September 6th, 2008 at 6:46 am
sans says:
that “cavs add a lottery pick” is colder than your grandmother making fun of the way you walk. I hate Danny Ferry almost instinctively. It’s a crime against the universal subconscious that he copped a ring as the ninth guy of the 99 Spurs.
September 6th, 2008 at 7:03 am
josh tha roc says:
i know you guys at Dime love Boniface N’Dong as one of the best names in pro sports….but i got another contender, a bloke that plays AFL footy goes by the classic name Tyson Goldsack. Pretty impressive i think.
September 6th, 2008 at 7:45 am
alf (from melmak) says:
mr bean could have been the grizzlies gm and still do a better job than wallace.
adding someone to your roster, which at present is 80% garbage, without even seeing him play in person is waaay beyond logic.
who could get more wins this season? the knicks or memphis? maybe the globetrotters. hehehehehe
September 6th, 2008 at 7:46 am
S-SiN says:
@sans
Man, u picked on that too? I got another Dave Chappelle reference for ya, K-Love wouldn’t admit who he votes for cuz he’s white. there i said it. check Killing Them Softly that’s Dave’s legendary live stand-up in DC. there he goes pretty deep in exploring a cultural difference in regards to that matter. white guys generaly will openly talk about fucking their wives, but will never admit to their political affiliation. and btw Danny Ferry did suck thru his career as a player, who woulda thought he’d reach completely new hights as a GM!
September 6th, 2008 at 7:50 am
gangsta of love says:
Who wouldn’t want to walk around rocking a Goldsack jersey?
September 6th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Young Lebron 23 says:
@S-Sin Dickie V is one of my favorite announcers of all-time and his voice is irratating but it is exclusive, you can’t find it anywhere else.A wrap it up box would be good. LOL Master Splinter. Damn.
September 6th, 2008 at 7:54 am
sans says:
@ S-Sin
yeah, he dodged the bullet their too. I feel you on the Killing tip.
Dime, seriously, don’t even act like Al Harrington rebounds. He grabs 3 boards a game. At most. Usually from 35 feet out, off of one of his own misses. But at least he crashes his own miss. To jack another shot.
September 6th, 2008 at 7:55 am
sans says:
“Please, I’m trying to tell you about fucking my wife in the ass and you’re getting all personal…” “I’m undecided on who I’m voting for.”
September 6th, 2008 at 8:25 am
S-SiN says:
@sans
i just popped that dave dvd in, have to see that again!
@Young Lebron 23
Dick Vitale is a good announcer, i agree with you, one of a kind. he’s got love for the game and plenty personality. now that we got that out the way, his voice can get super annoying, and when he’s excited about something… i’m sorry, he gets me with multiple repetitions and reaches some notes to the point where volume on my hook-up has to go.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:54 am
rodnets says:
I think wallace is thinking that El Hadadi will open the market in Iran and other arab countries as Yao did it in China. Wrong place to sell merchandising though, they should have brought a saudi arabian player.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:07 am
P_Dizzle says:
Why the hell is Dick Vitale going into the NBA HOF? If having his pro credentials gets you in, then there is a whole shit load of people pissed right about now.
And what is up with the Cavs front office? Lebron needs another STAR on that team not another bunch of second fiddles. All quality teams have 2 stars. LA- Kobe and Pau, Boston – Ray, PP, and KG, Utah – Boozer and D-Will, Detroit – Chauncey, ‘Sheed, Rip, and Prince, Houston – T-Mac and Yao, Dallas – Dirty Dirk and Kidd, NO- Paul and Wesley.
Sorry Clevland but Lebron and Lorenzen ain’t doing it. Get that kid a star or bye bye.
I’m out like Master Splinters career!
September 6th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Amar says:
ehadadi isn’t a bad player, as far as 2nd string, 3rd string centers go, he’s probably one of the better ones. (people that low on the totem poll have to bring something special, and he does, in that he’s a fast and agile bigman — he had good stats in the summer league against other nba scrubs, and had good stats in the olympics as well) no way that memphis is doing it because they think people in iran are going to start rocking rudy gay jerseys. (china’s economy >>>>> iran’s economy)
it’s a talent thing. he’s a good enough player to be on the bench in the nba. plus, when he gets garbage time and someone dunks on him, they can say “who’s your ehdadi?”
September 6th, 2008 at 9:40 am
M Intellect says:
Who the fuck Wesley?
September 6th, 2008 at 9:47 am
mapletown says:
Like most if not all that Dickie V says about the NBA ain’t true. But thats a topic for another day. Yeah Ferry is effing everything up in Cleveland. Lebron WILL be in “Joisey” in a few years. I actually don’t hate the rumored Tinsley for Harrington swap. Ain’t the Warriors overloaded on fowards anyway??
September 6th, 2008 at 10:14 am
schoops says:
@ P-Dizzle… it s the BASKETBALL Hall of Fame. The NBA doesn’t have their own hall, and let an entirely different organization run the show. That is why Dominique didn’t get voted in his first time around but 3 random womens or euro coaches seem to go in each year. SO dicky v is in cuz the dude hasn’t stopped talking basketball since the 70s.
How many times is Harrington going to end back up in Indy? “Just when I thought I was out, they pullll me right back.”
Also, Kevin Love might be too ignorant (read: dumb) to even know who the two candidates are. Doubt he picked up much knowledge in the one year pit-stop at college.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Kevin Love says:
look mayne, I ain’t as ignant as you think. Wy wife is about to graduate high school and I have to vote Republican so she can get her GED for college. I just got my one year graduate degree from UCSB and I’m doin’ alright – so get off my nutz
September 6th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
sans says:
I hope everyone remembers that Utah’s summer league squad handled Iran this summer, and Ehadadi didn’t look that impressive.
September 6th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
David_Brandon says:
YES!!!!!! OH MAN….its not gonna happen, but if D-Wade comes to town, then…well, i dont really know. cause we’d still need help. doesnt matter tho, cause wade’s worth like 3 players anyway. lol but i could see the kings trying to pick up bosh. thats a petrie move all the way.
September 6th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
P_Dizzle says:
oh shit, I meant David WEST. Damn that will teach me to write on here Saturday mornings.
September 6th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
P_Dizzle says:
As far as Vitale in the HOF. There is a college basketball HOF called the Basketball Experience. Put him in there but wow does he really need to be in there now.
Give me Bernard King, Artis Gilmore, and Paul Westphal before Dicky V. The guy would make love to his voice and eat a spooge sandwich topped with his voice if he could. There are many more that deserve it before Dicky V. and I am out like Dicky V. boring the SHIT out of America with his speech at the HOF.
September 6th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
BxBaller says:
yo where were the rookies at in the BX?
September 6th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Phileus says:
Nice, it’s fun to make fun of white trailer trash, but you’d never see one of you daring to make fun of their equally trashy black equivalents. Stupidity and ignorance are just as damnable if you’re white or black, if you’re trailer trash or ghetto trash. Just wanted to put that out there, nothing personal to anyone
September 6th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
brickhouse says:
As a Kings fan, there is nothing I would like to see more than a major talent land in Sacto, Kmart II has game but dude is more of a “franchise player” by default than anything. He needs to be a #2 guy. I’m not feeling like Lebron or Dwade is going to want to end up there though
September 6th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
that's whats up says:
brick, I hear that C-Webb is available
September 6th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
brickhouse says:
good looking out
Keon Clark and Doug Christie are also on the market
September 6th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Three Stacks says:
In Joe Alexander’s defense, he’d probably get more real talk about government and politics from Nas than from Fox News.
September 6th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Hot Pies says:
whats more…. goldsack plays on the same team as cox, johnson, wood and dick, not joking
September 6th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Luigi says:
Dime. u catch me wayyy of guard with these things lol. i have football now n i cant really keep up with this stuff lol..
but more draft picks are still available when Ferry was a pathetic xcuse of a spur. just tryin to keep u notified danny
September 6th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
karizmatic says:
Did I call Tinsley to Golden State or what!!!
September 7th, 2008 at 11:05 am
sammieyeeeeeeeeeeeeee says:
yeah!! i’ll take any of those big three if they wanna come down here to sactown.. yeah.. any of them is an upgrade for the kings!!
September 7th, 2008 at 11:08 am
snoopiedoggggyee says:
yea!! i’ll take lbj wade or bosh any day!! yea i c big things poppin for sacramento in 2010..
September 8th, 2008 at 5:01 am
Special K says:
36th bitchez!
September 8th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
SwedishMooze says:
JJ Redick: “3 and out”
September 8th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
SwedishMooze says:
JJ Redick: “Tickets for Europe”
September 8th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
SwedishMooze says:
JJ Redick: “Way Overpaid”
… sorry, that’s it.