This off season has been very interesting and looks like it isn't going to slow down any time soon. When the season starts, quite a few teams are going to look very different. The Clippers became relevant with the Baron Davis signing. Richard Jefferson is a Buck and Yi is a Net. Jermaine O'Neal is a Raptor, to name just a few changes. The Celtics starters should remain the same, but their bench is going to be quite different. With all the rumors going around, the changes aren't even close to being finished. This should be an interesting week with the salary cap numbers come out on Tuesday and free agents can officially sign on Wednesday.
Monta Ellis is being courted by the Heat, Cavs, Knicks and Warriors. He is looking to get $10 million and the only way that the Heat, Cavs or Knicks could offer him anywhere near that is through a trade. If the Warriors let him go, they must get a starting point guard in return because of Baron Davis bolting to the Clippers.
More on the Corey Maggette saga. Now, the Detroit Pistons are offering him their full MLE. So, to recap, the Warriors, Spurs, Sixers, Jazz, Magic, and now the Pistons are bidding for his services. He opted out of $7 million dollars from the Clippers and has said that he would take less if it meant going to a contender. Previously, he had narrowed his choices down to the Spurs or the Celtics but now with the Pistons bidding as well, he has a lot of choices. The Globe reported that Doc called him and since he and Doc go way back and are good friends, that may give the Celtics some leverage. He said that he feels very comfortable with Doc and with everything else equal, that could be the difference.
The top two draft picks have been struggling somewhat with Rose battling tendenitis in his knee and Beasley suffering an injury in his first practice. Both are back to practicing and both plan to play on their summer league teams.
Richard Jefferson is scheduled to be introduced to the media on Monday. He was very unhappy with the trade and up until now has declined to talk about the trade. You have to feel for the Bucks. Last year, their draft pick was unhappy with going to Milwaukee and they had a hard time convincing him to come. This season it is Jefferson who is balking at the trade for said draft pick and unhappy about going to Milwaukee. But, I think the Bucks made themselves better with this trade.
Hoopsworld brings up an interesting scenario. Marc Bartlestein represents JR Giddens, James Posey, Eddie House and some others. They suggest that Danny took Giddens in the first round to court favor with Bartlestein in the signing of James Posey. And, they mention that the Celtics inability to get a simple rookie contract done for Giddens may be a bit of gamesmanship on their part since Posey is so far rejecting their offer and making the rounds of other teams interested.
In the NY Daily News, Frank Isola talks about NY needing to get rid of Marbury to change the culture of the team. And then he mentions that Marbury may end up in Boston or San Antonio as a back up. Marbury is a chemistry killer. He has been a selfish player his entire career. He won't be a fit in Boston. I'd rather have Tony Allen with all his flaws as a point guard backing up Rondo than Marbury. At least Tony is a team player.
The Atlanta Hawks have two very good restricted free agents in Josh Smith and Josh Childress. Philly, who has about 12 million in cap space available is making a strong push for Smith. The Sporting News reports that their general manager has said that the Hawks would match any offer made to either Josh, but with the Hawks ownership stil in flux, there are indications that is the offer is large enough for either, the ownership would let them go. The Sixers with as much as 16 million to spend on free agents may make him a good offer. Atlanta has a great core of young players with Josh Smith as one of the best. They took the Celtics to 7 games and that wasn't just because the Celtics were sleeping. The Hawks played great and for them to allow the team to break up now when they are on the verge of taking the team to the next level would be a shame.
2010 will be quite the free agent class with LeBron James being the cherry on top that several teams are eyeing and making all their moves around freeing up enough space that summer to make him a max offer and lure him away from Cleveland. The Nets, Knicks, Cavs, Bulls, Heat and Spurs all have made some moves with 2010 in mind and according to the Sporting News these are the most likely destinations for LeBron to land. In my book, Cleveland has the best chance of keeping him. LeBron has said he wants to stay in Cleveland and they can offer him more than any other team. That is going to leave a lot of teams with a lot of cap space looking elsewhere. Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire, Tracy McGrady, Michael Redd, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade will also be free agents that summer and any of them would be a nice consolation prize for the teams that lose out on LeBron.
Monta Ellis is being courted by the Heat, Cavs, Knicks and Warriors. He is looking to get $10 million and the only way that the Heat, Cavs or Knicks could offer him anywhere near that is through a trade. If the Warriors let him go, they must get a starting point guard in return because of Baron Davis bolting to the Clippers.
More on the Corey Maggette saga. Now, the Detroit Pistons are offering him their full MLE. So, to recap, the Warriors, Spurs, Sixers, Jazz, Magic, and now the Pistons are bidding for his services. He opted out of $7 million dollars from the Clippers and has said that he would take less if it meant going to a contender. Previously, he had narrowed his choices down to the Spurs or the Celtics but now with the Pistons bidding as well, he has a lot of choices. The Globe reported that Doc called him and since he and Doc go way back and are good friends, that may give the Celtics some leverage. He said that he feels very comfortable with Doc and with everything else equal, that could be the difference.
The top two draft picks have been struggling somewhat with Rose battling tendenitis in his knee and Beasley suffering an injury in his first practice. Both are back to practicing and both plan to play on their summer league teams.
Richard Jefferson is scheduled to be introduced to the media on Monday. He was very unhappy with the trade and up until now has declined to talk about the trade. You have to feel for the Bucks. Last year, their draft pick was unhappy with going to Milwaukee and they had a hard time convincing him to come. This season it is Jefferson who is balking at the trade for said draft pick and unhappy about going to Milwaukee. But, I think the Bucks made themselves better with this trade.
Hoopsworld brings up an interesting scenario. Marc Bartlestein represents JR Giddens, James Posey, Eddie House and some others. They suggest that Danny took Giddens in the first round to court favor with Bartlestein in the signing of James Posey. And, they mention that the Celtics inability to get a simple rookie contract done for Giddens may be a bit of gamesmanship on their part since Posey is so far rejecting their offer and making the rounds of other teams interested.
In the NY Daily News, Frank Isola talks about NY needing to get rid of Marbury to change the culture of the team. And then he mentions that Marbury may end up in Boston or San Antonio as a back up. Marbury is a chemistry killer. He has been a selfish player his entire career. He won't be a fit in Boston. I'd rather have Tony Allen with all his flaws as a point guard backing up Rondo than Marbury. At least Tony is a team player.
The Atlanta Hawks have two very good restricted free agents in Josh Smith and Josh Childress. Philly, who has about 12 million in cap space available is making a strong push for Smith. The Sporting News reports that their general manager has said that the Hawks would match any offer made to either Josh, but with the Hawks ownership stil in flux, there are indications that is the offer is large enough for either, the ownership would let them go. The Sixers with as much as 16 million to spend on free agents may make him a good offer. Atlanta has a great core of young players with Josh Smith as one of the best. They took the Celtics to 7 games and that wasn't just because the Celtics were sleeping. The Hawks played great and for them to allow the team to break up now when they are on the verge of taking the team to the next level would be a shame.
2010 will be quite the free agent class with LeBron James being the cherry on top that several teams are eyeing and making all their moves around freeing up enough space that summer to make him a max offer and lure him away from Cleveland. The Nets, Knicks, Cavs, Bulls, Heat and Spurs all have made some moves with 2010 in mind and according to the Sporting News these are the most likely destinations for LeBron to land. In my book, Cleveland has the best chance of keeping him. LeBron has said he wants to stay in Cleveland and they can offer him more than any other team. That is going to leave a lot of teams with a lot of cap space looking elsewhere. Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire, Tracy McGrady, Michael Redd, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade will also be free agents that summer and any of them would be a nice consolation prize for the teams that lose out on LeBron.
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