The Sports Rumors

Trade Deadline has Passed

3:12pm 

I don’t know whats going on because I have heard nothing for 20 minutes.  Last I heard, at 2:50pm, it was Cleveland sending Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden and someone else to make the numbers match for Ben Wallace and Chris Duhon.

I also heard that the Nuggets were close to trading for Ron Artest.

Since 2:50, I have heard nothing.  The trade deadline was 12 minutes ago.  Wait to see what happens.

NBA Trade Buzz

The Spurs have acquired forward Kurt Thomas by sending Brent Barry and Francisco Elison to the Seattle Supersonics. Somehow, they are apparently still in the running for Ron Artest. How? I don’t know. It’s what I hear.

The Denver Nuggets have become the favorites for the Artest sweepstakes.

The Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, and New York Knicks are still in talks that would supposedly send Zach Randolph to the Heat, Jason Williams and Ricky Davis to the Nets, and Vince Carter to the Knicks. Pat Riley denies it, but take that for what its worth.

Lots of talk about Sam Cassell to the Rockets or the Caveliers. The Cavs would include Daniel Gibson and someone else or a combination of picks. Last time the Cavs made a deal in haste, just to please the disgruntled King James, they signed Larry Hughes. I’d think long and hard if I were Danny Ferry.

Lakers To Acquire Another All-Star?

The big buzz around the league today is that the Lakers are in trade talks again to acquire another player who will make the squad the clear cut favorite to win the title. Who is this mystery player? Caron Butler, the Washington Wizards’ All Star forward who was traded by the Lakers a few years ago for Kwame Brown. Rumors are the Lakers are trying to ship Odom for Butler, straight up, despite the $5 million more that Odom makes. The move would make sense for both teams on the court, maybe not financially. By acquiring Butler, the Lakers would have a small forward who can score 25 points a game and grab 12 boards or score 8 points, grab 14 boards and have 4 steals and still be happy. Butler’s unselfish attitude and willing to do whatever it takes has made him a much sought after player. Not to mention, he has shut down defense capabilities.

The move would make sense for Washington because they would acquire a tall, lanky power forward in Odom who can shore up their mediocre interior presence. By having Odom and Haywood playing inside, Antawn Jamison would be able to move back to the small forward spot where he has a much easier time playing defense. The critics of this deal say that Odom is better playing small forward than power forward. This is true; in the west. The guys who he has to face in the west when he plays power forward are the likes of Amare, Tim Duncan, Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko, and so forth. In the east, as a power forward, he would face guys like Drew Gooden and Hedo Turkoglu. Big difference. Adding a presence inside will make the Wizards a force and adding Butler to the Lakers will make them even more dangerous than they already are.

I have a feeling that the Nuggets are going to make a sizeable splash any minute now. Word got out that they were pursuing Ron Artest from the Kings, given the fact that the Kings are looking to unload (despite what they say), and the fact that Artest doesn’t come with a heavy price tag. Throwing him into the mix of Melo, AI, Kenyon Martin, and Marcus Camby will make the fifth best defense in the league the best, right away. Imagine being the three seed in the West and having to face the Nuggets in the first round. Scary thought.

If the Nuggets don’t go the Artest route, look for them to get big man from New York Zach Randolph. The Knicks seem to have realized they made both a personnel and financial mistake in acquiring the power forward less than a year ago. Picking up Randolph won’t be as nice as Artest, but an improvement nonetheless.

ESPN had a report that Avery Johnson wanted to trade Dirk Nowitski after last year’s first round loss to the Warriors because Dirk was a softy. Apparently, Johnson’s opinion was shot down by who else; Mark Cuban… a.k.a. Mrs. Nowitski.

Cassell to the Celtics? Rockets? Caveliers? Sam Cassell wants to be on a contender right away and look for the three aforementioned teams to make some sort of a push to acquire the veteran point guard. If he is not moved by the trade deadline, he could be released later in the season in time to make a playoff roster.

A Month to Remember

Can you remember the last time there were as many enormous sports stories as we’ve had thus far in February? I certainly cannot. You had one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history, the Clemens-McNamee saga, arguably the greatest center of all time traded to the best team (record wise) in the Western Conference, the Commissioner of the most popular sports league in the country called to answer questions and defend his strange actions in Washington regarding Spygate, and most recently, you have one of the top five point guards in NBA history on his way to being traded to Dallas, only to have the transaction blocked by a bench player with a clause in his contract. Not to mention the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers traded their dirt for gold, leaped to become favorites to win the Championship (according to Vegas odds makers), and now suddenly face the possibility of losing Kobe Bryant for 6-8 weeks if he opts for surgery.

Catch your breath yet? I haven’t.

Each one of these stories deserves its own write up, but in the essence of time, I will give you my take on each event, starting with Clemens.

Clemens Reputation Ruined

Well, you’ve got to admit, the guy didn’t hold back when it came to defending himself. He didn’t hide from the public, didn’t hide from 60 minutes, didn’t hide from Congress even. Maybe he should have? It’s hard to tell. The reaction would have probably been even more negative had he stayed silent. However, based on his stories and accounts which were constantly changing, one thing is clear. Roger Clemens is no saint.

I wanted to believe that he was clean, but deep down I knew that it was highly unlikely that he was. It’s hard to believe that the guy’s best friend and training partner was using HGH and he had no idea. What makes it even harder to believe is that Debbie Clemens, his wife, was using HGH and he didn’t know what the stuff even was. Come on, who are you trying to fool? This entire saga is so odd because of the lengths Clemens has gone to and the risks he has taken to clear his name of using steroids. He’s risking jail time stemming from possible perjury charges just so people believe him. But when you look at everything, and you look at how he can’t seem to keep his story straight, it’s really hard to take the guy’s word for it. Make no mistake; Brian Macnamee isn’t some credible witness who’s out there trying to do the right thing. He’s as big a joke as any. But the accounts that he has given have added up. Clemens accounts have not.

I don’t think the judicial system will push for perjury charges against him though, and I think that this was the last time we’ll have to see a baseball related Congressional hearing. The Rocket was consistently right about one thing though; No matter what he does or says, his reputation will never be restored.

Shaq to Phoenix

Everyone piled on at first saying that the Shaq trade to Phoenix was absolutely ridiculous. Then, as always, people listened to Shaq talk and bowed down to “The Big Aristotle” and changed their views. Suddenly, they went from saying “There is no way Shaq can run with that team” to “OH, uh, Shaq.. Shaq’s a great teammate and he won’t mind being the fifth option. He’ll make it work!”

Bull.

If you honestly believe that a 300lb plus, old and slow center that’s well past his prime can fit into a system run by Steve Nash, you’re lying to yourself. I’m so sick and tired of people falling in love with Shaq like he’s Jessica Alba. Look at the facts. He’s not an offensive threat anymore. He was taken out by Pat Riley to avoid getting the record for most consecutive games fouling out. He can’t play defense anywhere like he used to and teams in the West all have big guys who can play inside AND outside. Shaq can’t run the fast break.

“Well, he’s going to grab the boards and outlet.”

Umm, somehow I think that a fast break with Nash, Marion and Bell is better than Nash, Bell and Grant Hill while Shaq is back on the other end of the court eating a donut. Maybe that’s just me. Also, this absolute GARBAGE talk about how Shaq is a great teammate drives me through the roof. Every team he has left, he’s left on bad terms. Okay, Orlando was retarded to not try and resign him and he had a falling out with Penny Hardaway. Blame that one on Orlando. Okay, Kobe and Phil piled on Shaq in the media calling him fat and lazy; blame that on the Lakers. What about Miami? What about the guy Shaq was in love with? You think Dwayne Wade and Shaq were on good terms? They weren’t even speaking to each other anymore. Pat Riley and Shaq weren’t speaking either. You think it’s a coincidence that every place he leaves, it’s because of a problem with the other star player? I don’t. I think Shaq is a selfish ego maniac who gets too much credit for being a great teammate just because he gives the media good soundbites. By the way, don’t forget what Shaq said about Nash winning the MVP. He said that the MVP award has “lost its credibility”. When asked about those comments, he suddenly had amnesia and forgot ever saying it. Here’s the fact of the matter.

- You can’t have both Amare and Shaq playing inside together because they have the same, one dimensional game. Stand within 6 feet of the basket, catch the ball or rebound it, and dunk. Neither one of them can step outside and shoot worth a nickel.

- The Suns get open shots when in half court situations by running the pick and roll. They are as good as any when it comes to running it. That’s why you don’t see Bell or Barbosa dribbling around; they run through screens, catch and pop. Shaq cannot play in the pick and roll because he’s not a threat to catch and shoot a jumper.

- Shaq’s enormous body will clog the very same lanes that the Suns have thrived on running through for open looks.

- Duncan and Gasol-Bynum will abuse the Suns inside because both have the ability to step away from the basket and hit shots. Don’t forget the biggest weakness in Amare’s game is his defense.

- Speaking of defense, losing Marion takes away your best defender. Raja Bell is a stud defender when he’s not picking up a foul per 30 seconds, something Kobe and Manu have caused him to do. Marion also spreads the floor by means of being able to shoot from deep. By losing him, you take away your best defender and one of the most versatile players in the league.

Everyone who’s in favor of the Shaq deal says, “The Suns didn’t get to the championship with Marion before.” Hit rewind and think back to last year. The Suns lost to the Spurs because of the suspensions handed out to Amare and Co. because of Robert Horry and the whole incident that happened with the flagrant foul. Had that not happened, the Suns would have won that series. Anyone who argues otherwise is misinformed.

My point is, you don’t break up a team that is winning (first place when they made the trade) to pick up a slower, older, and more expensive player. It doesn’t make sense and the Suns will suffer the consequences soon enough. One last point I wanted to make; Shaq is suddenly talking about winning a championship and playing healthy the rest of the season. Doesn’t anyone find it strange that just a couple of weeks ago, he was injured and unable to play at full strength for the rest of the season? Funny how no one calls him out on that. I just did. He’s a selfish player who will limit the Suns from advancing deep into the playoffs. Take that to the bank.

(Doesn’t sound like Wade is going to miss Shaq too much, does it)

More to come on Goodell vs. Congress, Dallas Trading for Kidd, and the landscape of the NBA.

Chad Ford’s Analysis - Couldn’t be More Wrong

I was reading an ESPN Insider article the other day written by Chad Ford. It was talking about the Kobe Bryant situation and he broke it down into four questions.

1. Does Kobe have too much mileage?
2. Is Kobe really the best player in the NBA?
3. Is Kobe a winner?
4. Is Kobe worth it?

As good of a writer as Ford is, I was very surprised to see how wrong he was on many of the points he made. I’ve selected portions of his article (the highlighted) and posted my response/argument to them. Have a look.

Does Kobe have too much mileage?

It’s not only the years that concern some teams, but also the minutes. Counting NBA regular-season and playoff games, Bryant has logged 33,576 minutes — 918 games of about 37 minutes each, in just 11-plus seasons.

This is a very valid point because it is no secret that Kobe has racked up a lot of minutes in his eleven seasons. Not only that, he plays extremely hard every night, more so than a lot of other players. His mileage would be a concern but you also have to realize that no one trains as hard or takes care of their body as much as Kobe does. While other NBA players are in Aruba enjoying the offseason, he’s at the gym getting stronger, healthier, and keeping his body in top shape. Therefore, if I’m a general manager, I’m not going to worry too much about his mileage because I know the guy is thirsty for winning a title and he’ll do everything possible to stay in the best shape he can to achieve his goal.

Is Kobe really the best player in the NBA?

For instance, Bryant has never led the league in John Hollinger’s PER (player efficiency rating), which combines a player’s stats and percentages into a single measure. Last season, Bryant was well behind Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade.

To put his numbers into historical perspective, his career-high PER of 27.97 in 2005-06 ranks No. 42 all-time in the league. Several current players have posted a higher PER than Kobe did in his best season, including Wade (twice), LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki (twice), Shaquille O’Neal (six times), Tracy McGrady and Kevin Garnett (twice).

Here’s where I start to disagree with Ford. What the hell do John Hollinger’s ratings mean? Who are the other 40+ players ranked ahead of Kobe on this list? I’d LOVE to see who they are. I bet Antawn Jamison or Udonis Haslem is on there. I must have missed the memo on when John Hollinger’s rankings became relevant. Dirk and Wade were better in those rankings than Kobe; so what? Dirk was ousted by an eight seed in the first round! Wade was swept in the first round; in the EAST! Those rankings are so ridiculous and they take nothing but pure numbers into consideration. I am 100% positive that Michael Jordan would never have been atop Hollinger’s efficiency rankings but does that mean he was not the best player in the game? Tracy McGrady has twice had higher efficiency rankings than Kobe. Well, first off, it’d be nice to see Tmac play a whole season for once. And secondly, we all know how “efficient” Tmac has been in the playoffs. Shaquille O’neal is going to be ahead of Kobe for obvious reasons. When you take 15 shots a game from 2 feet away, you’re bound to have high field goal percentages. I talked about this in depth with my friend last year and how ridiculous these rankings are. Here’s something for you to look up John Hollinger. Look up how many players in the league are double and triple teamed with no solid, consistent second option. Then tell me how many lead the league in scoring and take their teams to the playoffs in the western conference. Tracy McGrady has Yao Ming. Dwayne Wade has Shaquille O’neal. Kevin Garnett, Dirk and Shaq are all big men so they have a much easier time scoring than a guard does. I agree with Lebron being more efficient but that is it. There is no question that Kobe is the best player in the game, at this moment in time, and has been for the past several years. So you’re wrong to question that Chad Ford.

How does Bryant’s postseason prowess compare to Nowitzki’s? In the playoffs, Dirk has more points per game, more rebounds per game, more blocked shots per game, a higher field-goal percentage, a higher 3-point field-goal percentage and a higher free-throw percentage. In the past three seasons, Nowitzki has led his team to the NBA Finals, while Bryant hasn’t won a single playoff series.

Wow Dirk has more blocks and rebounds than Kobe?! No way! I would have never imagined that! I wonder if..if..he also has more blocks per game than Michael Jordan!  Seriously, are you really comparing the rebounding and blocked shots of a 7 footer to a guard? Making that point is as stupid as saying that Ladanian Tomlinson has more yards per carry than Jeff George. And please don’t get me started on the supporting cast difference. I’m not knocking Dirk by any means but lets not kid ourselves, 10 out of 10 people will take Kobe over Dirk any day of the week.

Is Kobe a winner?

If LeBron were to suddenly be available in a trade, does anyone believe that after six months the Cavs would still be waiting to receive a serious offer? Or 10 serious offers?

Umm, if Lebron had a no trade clause and said he would only consider being traded to three teams? If Lebron had stubborn, idiotic management who traded an All Star (Caron Butler) for Kwame Brown and all they have left to show for Shaq is Lamar Odom? Then yes, he would be still waiting to receive a serious offer. Don’t kid yourself and think that every team in the league minus the Spurs and Cavs wouldn’t take a hard look at trading for Kobe if he didn’t have such a small list. The Wizards would love to send Arenas and change for Kobe, but he’s not interested in Washington. New York would trade the Statue of Liberty for Kobe, but he’s not interested. Charlotte, New Orleans, and other bottom feeders would trade all their young talent for Kobe. Golden State, Sacramento, the Clippers, even the Rockets would trade for Kobe. Don’t sit here and tell me that more than 10 teams aren’t interested in the best guard in the league. Can you honestly say that the Rockets wouldn’t send Tmac for Kobe in a heart beat if that was in any way possible? Please.

Is Kobe worth it?

By then our eyes and hearts will likely have caught up with what the numbers and logic are already telling us: Kobe Bryant is a great player, but in a team sport like basketball he lacks the ability, on his own, to deliver an NBA championship.

Jordan didn’t win without Pippen. Shaq didn’t win without Kobe or Wade. David Robinson didn’t win without Duncan. Hakeem didn’t win without Clyde. No one has ever won alone so I’m tired of hearing people knock Kobe and say he can’t win alone. Name someone who has. Ewing? Barkley? Malone? Stockton? Kobe has his list of teams because he wants to go to a place that will provide him the assistance he needs to reach and win the NBA finals. That is his admission of not being able to do it alone. Why else is he not interested in going to New York or Philly?

Chad Ford is a great writer and has always provided good reading material. However, he was really off base with his analysis of the Kobe situation and someone had to call him out on it.