Rounding Out The Lineup
With NBA Training Camps right around the corner, there is definitely still some legit talent left unsigned. Below are five players deserving and worthy of a guaranteed contract come opening night. The question is, which jersey will they be wearing?
Shaun Livingston
After the Heat recently signed PG Chris Quinn, it appears Shaun Livingston will most likely end up in either Portland or Minnesota. Knee injury aside, Livingston was the heir apparent for the PG spot in Los Angeles a year ago. The kid’s definitely still got talent and would be a great backup for a team with a thin backcourt. If Darius Miles can make a roster at this point, chances are looking good for Livingston.
Sam Cassell
Whether it’s as a player or a player-coach, Sam Cassell will be on a roster this season. After winning the ’ship with the Celtics in June, Cassell’s ring total is up to three. With a great locker room presence and a knack for big shots in the clutch, look for Cassell to seamlessly transition this season a la Avery Johnson.
Robert Horry
Whether he sits out the regular season or not, Robert Horry’s name will be in an NBA Media Kit by the start of the season. Horry is one of only nine players to have won seven or more championships in the NBA, and the only one of those who did not play on the Celtics in the 1960s. Although his role has diminished through the years, there are few guys I’d rather have on my team with the clock ticking down.
Bonzi Wells
Already a 10-year vet in the League, for better or worse, Bonzi Wells will get you buckets and contribute off the bench. After a brief stint where he was relegated to an exercise bike with the Rockets, Wells was able to become a key contributor in Houston before he was shipped to New Orleans at the end of the season. Probably the best overall player still available on the free agent market, Wells would make a nice addition to a team teetering on the brink of the playoffs.
Dikembe Mutombo
The consummate professional, Dikembe Mutombo’s presence these days doesn’t show up in the box score. Just as any 7-2, 260-pound player would be, Deke is a shot-changer in the post. Just like Theo Ratliff returning to the Sixers, Mutombo could fill a similar role on a playoff-bound team. More likely than not, he’ll re-up with the Rockets and allow Yao Ming to take an occasional breather, but I wouldn’t be surprised if another team took a stab at him.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
T Dubbs says:
A recovering Livingston is worth more than the other mentioned players combined. Has anyone seen Mutumbo lately? Dude is fossilizing faster than Robert Parish.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
it ain't easy being green says:
@ dime
I just got a text from espn alerts saying mike beasley got fined 50,000 for somthing he did in the rookie transition camp, what’s the deal?
September 18th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Rico says:
@T Dubbs….apparently you don’t know what a fossil is…think before you speak or you sound so stupid like that! Dikembe is the man, i love him!
September 18th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
it ain't easy being green says:
as far as cassell goes, I thought it was HIM who said that. Confirmed?
September 18th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
TCL says:
If I were a GM, I would DEFINITELY roll the dice on Livingston. He’s the only player on this list not on the decline.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
TCL says:
If I were a GM, I would DEFINITELY roll the dice on Livingston. He’s the only player on this list not on the decline.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
weezy f says:
beasley just got fined 50 thousand for something that happened at the rookie program
September 18th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
jimmhumm says:
Livingston just came off of a fluke knee injury shooting a layup. He ain’t getting a dollar from me. Sam I am is a little old but very smart. Deke will average more blocks than E-city when he’s burried. If I was NJ or Utah I’d toss him at least 1.5 million. Wells is Ron-Ron without the Defense or JR Rider without the hops either way I feel he can provide a bench boost for LA.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Three Stacks says:
I wonder what Beasley did to get fined 50k, Chalmers and Arthur only got fined 20k each. So he must have done someone 2.5x worse than inviting girls with weed into his room.
The ESPN report also said he “failed to cooperate” in the investigation about Chalmers and Arthur, so at least we know Mike Beasley ain’t a snitch.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
nick says:
i am guessing beasley had possession of weed. that is prob why he is not cooperating with officials. doubt he can be suspended for that though.
September 18th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
kobeef says:
@nick, stacks, it ain’t easy,
Sounds like beasley was involved in the Arthur/Chalmers weed incident. If you have been following the story and read into it, I would guess that Beasley was the ring leader in that incident. Arthur already said that he was not involved at all so it seems that Beasley and Chalmers were involved but somehow Beasley got away with it for a few weeks.
Not good news for Heat fans. This is exactly the kind of trouble-making Beasley is known for.
September 18th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
fallinup says:
http://withleather.uproxx.com/?p=9308
This may shed some light on it. I read this the day that Mario got busted.
I say Mike rolled the shit. haha
September 18th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
QuEsT???? says:
aron are u new at dime??
September 18th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
QuEsT???? says:
frm the article “I, for one, am shocked and outraged. It’s always been my understanding that professional athletes, particularly NBA athletes, would never put illegal drugs into the temples that are their bodies. Especially not something as addictive and damaging as marijuana. Somebody call the police! Stop these monsters before they hurt our children!”………wtffffffffffffffffffff u havent seen josh howard?????? and yea mario had a blunt in his hand
September 18th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
QuEsT???? says:
@ the artice i know ppl that play better high on marijuana than sober
September 18th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
QuEsT???? says:
i honestly dont know how they do it, cuz that is supposed to make u slow and any smoking period will reduce ur lung capacity
September 18th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
solomon says:
lol @ post 14
athletes do have their own set of baggages…
…heck, at least shaun boy ain’t busted for any… deke too (i think)…
September 18th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
If I’m the rockets I keep Deke around because someone is gonna have to play C when Yao gets injured…
September 18th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Bruce says:
if u smart u get bonzi wells before livingston
September 18th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Meica says:
—>T Dubbs
“Has anyone seen Mutumbo lately? Dude is fossilizing faster than Robert Parish.”
HA!
September 18th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
QuEsT???? says:
yoooooooooo i know this is off topic but this video is hilarious its in spanish so im going to explain, the dude in the white tanktop is an american soldier, he went to a club and asked to fight in a boxing match, nobody wanted to fight him, he waited 3 hours until a local accepted the challenge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o9tn3LBq0k
September 18th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
solomon says:
damn ROFL that dude is a disgrace… he throws haymakers like he’s drunk or something… that 1 shot straight made me bust out…
September 19th, 2008 at 12:03 am
Optimus Dimes aka freewebs.com/utscore says:
Mutumbo should finish his career with the Nuggets or the Hawks. Both teams are borderline playoff teams that could use his defense in the middle and it would be sick to see MT. Mutumbo rockin’ a Denver or ATL Throwback.
September 19th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Ian says:
i would love bonzi on the spurs
hes the only won id give a chance
September 19th, 2008 at 12:30 am
QuEsT???? says:
i know right i was laughing so hard that my cheeks started to hurt
September 19th, 2008 at 1:56 am
JDig says:
http://www.radio1045.com/pages/weezer.html … help my friend out by voting for “David”
September 19th, 2008 at 8:25 am
MSkittle says:
Isn’t Cassell going back to the Celtics?
September 19th, 2008 at 8:34 am
shake&bake says:
I agree with the previous posts that Wells can help a lot of teams coming of the bench.
Also, if I was a GM, I’d take a chance on Livingston. Isn’t he only 21 or 22?
October 12th, 2008 at 7:12 am
baba says:
Definitely i won’t be rooting for the spurs this season!!! And they won’t be the NBA champs! Why didn’t they re-sign Horry? What a shame!