KG? Vince? What happened to draft week?
Sign them, trade them, let’s get some new blood
Draft week! As bad as the long drawn-out playoff schedule has been for the overall quality of the league, it sure is easier to find NBA-related topics and do my job. So here we are. No megablockbuster has taken place yet, although Steve Kerr seems to be looking forward to making a Big Ticket splash.
It’s also looking like the Nets are going to give Vince Carter his money. Interesting decision. This was not a vintage contract year performance for Vince. He carried the team at times, weighed them down at times, and ultimately proved that he’s just not that guy. It’s really that simple. So of course he will get franchise player money. I like this new trend developing. Instead of dogging it for years and then playing hard in their contract years, NBA players can just stay consistent through that contract year and just say “Look, this is who I am. Pay me.”
But enough about those old men. The future is now. Oden and Durant are touring all over the pacific northwest, working out for this guy, not working out for that guy… when all the over-thinking is said and done and creative dream scenarios are put forth and retracted, the Blazers will take the franchise big man and the Sonics will take the other guy, who might be the better player, but you can’t justify “might be” against someone like Oden. Even if Durant fits the Blazers immediate needs better and he goes on to have a more prolific career than Oden, you can’t blame the Blazers for taking the franchise center. When the Spurs took Duncan, they already had David Robinson there. It was overkill, man. Worked out pretty well for them. (Of course, Keith Van Horn was the #2 pick that year and the next guy in the draft you could even put in the franchise player category was T-Mac, so the decision was made for them already.)
It’s almost like there are two separate draft events coming up. First, there’s the one and two decisions. Big exhale, and then let the madness begin. The more I read about who’s rumored to be taking whom, the more my head begins to spin. We’ll have to sort this all out. It’s Monday. Long week to go until draft night.
And now, changing gears… as I was leaving work on Friday there was a lot of “Hey Sam, what’s with the Latino versus white boy war on the Mets?” Lang was laughing it up, and Khalid has been trying to get me all riled up and predicted the Mets would get swept by Oakland. Thank you Salaam! I can feel your hate. It makes the NY METS strong!!! Senor Omar, give Khalid a playoff share! As for Lang, he’s got his two Braves veteran “leaders” acting like high school girls, sniping at each other through the media, while the Braves version of Vince Carter – Andruw Jones – is celebrating his contract year by struggling to hit .200. Even Delgado isn’t that bad. Yes, this was an enjoyable weekend. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! I went to the Mets game yesterday and it was Paul LoDuca bobblehead day. They have a policy that only people 12 years old or younger receive those bobbleheads. Luckily, I had a few 12 year olds in my entourage, cause that’s just how I roll. After some tense negotiating, the LoDuca bobblehead is mine. It shall be worshipped.
Another weekend highlight was a trip to Coney Island to watch some of the, um… freaks. It was the mermaid festival, and I saw some bodies sans clothing with paint on them that I cannot un-see. Yeah, back to basketball.
If Steve Kerr is able to swing that deal for KG, even if it means giving up on Amare or Marion, it just strikes me as a “too good to be true” scenario. KG would have to make the Suns the new favorite to win it all next year, at least on paper as they say. Even though we’ve seen Shaq and Iverson traded, and even the T-Mac for Steve Francis blockbuster at the time, this is a rumor that just seems too crazy to happen in reality. And the Nets, well they may have actually found a way to allow other teams in the Atlantic division to surpass them. That isn’t an easy feat to pull off. Nicely done.
Alright, enough about that veteran stuff. Draft week!
50 Responses to “KG? Vince? What happened to draft week?”
Jun.25 at 8:58 am
James says:
Hi Sam
Jun.25 at 8:59 am
James says:
I heard of a KG to Suns-Marion to Celtics-Ratliff, Telfair and picks to TWolves trade I think that could potentially work out for most involved. Except Minnesota obviously
Jun.25 at 9:03 am
James says:
also let me just say thank you so much for reminding me of my beloved 76ers shocking choice of KVH at #2
Jun.25 at 9:25 am
mj says:
it wont happen. wolves will whimp out and keep KG
Jun.25 at 9:55 am
A-Money says:
I would love KG to be FREE but I just don’t see it happening. Damn you Kevin McHale!
Jun.25 at 9:59 am
tsmooth says:
nets just nead to worry bout getting a good big man. and KG just needs to leave he needs to win somewhere. and as long as the suns dont trade amare they’ll still be alright
Jun.25 at 9:59 am
A-Money says:
BTW.. I don’t think that letting go of Amare is a bad thing. I mean he’s good and will definetly get better but KG is a sure hall of famer and top 5 PF of all time. KG gets better numbers than Amare and has many years left. Besides, there play-maker and leader Nash would greatly benefit from KG’s experience and playoff hunger to get over that hump and win it all. They’re both getting older but they got time to win a few and remain in the hunt for the next couple of years.
Jun.25 at 10:01 am
A-Money says:
Vince aka Wince Carter is a B—H. PERIOD!
Jun.25 at 10:29 am
matt says:
If KG gets traded it’ll completely change my life… I’ve been hooked on KG and the T-Wolves ever since the Showbiz & KG cover of SLAM… I also saw a link to an article on the Minneapolis Star-Tribune site that said something about the Suns crunched the numbers and admit KG trade is impossible
Jun.25 at 11:39 am
Russ Bengtson says:
Wake me up on Halloween. Let’s go already.
Jun.25 at 11:42 am
DP says:
The Suns would be clearly unstoppable with KG on their team. The Big Ticket would not only bring a dump load of offense but pretty darn good defense as well. KG could take Marion’s spot and Amare and he could dominate the Western C. as the dynamic post batman and spiderman. Not robin cause neither of them is a freakin sidekick to anyone. Nash would still be in the MVP race during the year and everyone else would just jell in. If this trade happens I will have to believe that the Suns will be the 2008 World Champions. Play wit it.
Jun.25 at 12:02 pm
Booyakasha says:
…if the C’s dont trade that pick for SOMEBODY….KG, Marion, Gasol, O’Neal….im gunna lose my sh*t. Id prefer Gasol or Marion just ’cause you can probably keep Big Al in that scenario. Pierce, Big Al, AND Gasol/Marion? Look out east
Jun.25 at 12:23 pm
jj says:
I’ve been hearing a lot about AK to the Celtics for Ratliff and a SG…
Jun.25 at 12:56 pm
Co Co says:
Until K G starts b*tching and whining like Kobe I don’t give a damn if he ever gets out of Minny. He’s thought all along that he shouldn’thave to leave and they should build around him. Well if he doesn’t feel as strongly about being traded as fans feel then he deserves whatever bad happens to him in his basketball career! And, I don’t see how the Suns get that much better with K G. I mean for all of his greatness he’s only managed to get a team out of the first round once so forgive me if I don’t see how him going to Phoenix is going to move mountains or San Antonio.
Jun.25 at 1:02 pm
galo says:
i guess the suns could work out something like Diaw-Marion-Bell and some 50 draft picks for KG. I’d love to see a Nash-Garnett-Stoudamire combo. NAASTY!!!
Jun.25 at 1:24 pm
Booyakasha says:
Sweet…..Kirilenko…’cause the C’s need another wing player with injury problems and some baggage
Jun.25 at 1:26 pm
Greased Up Deaf Guy aka Clay Davis says:
spurs will repeat, horry will make some shots, haters will keep hating
Jun.25 at 1:34 pm
H to the izzo says:
If you hate people who call haters haters-what are you?
Jun.25 at 1:41 pm
Chris Studley says:
correct me if i’m wrong but wasn’t chauncey billups picked either 3rd or 4th after van horn and duncan. He’s not so bad.
Jun.25 at 1:43 pm
Billy Blanks says:
KG has only gotten out of the first round because:
1)Flip Saunders was his head coach
2)He had NO supporting cast except for the one year he did get out of the first round, and every good player he did play with (Chauncey Billups, Stephon Marbury, Oliver Miller lol) weren’t as good until they left. Therefore, KG going to the Suns definitely makes them the No.2 favorite to win the title(sorry, I can’t ever pic against someone who just won the ‘chip like 2 weeks ago).
Jun.25 at 2:02 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Yeah, Chauncey might be the third best player of that draft after Duncan and T-Mac. He might even be a better “winner” than Tracy in a Jeter vs. ARod kind of way.
KG also faced better teams almost every single time, and normally that doesn’t happen because usually an NBA GM is able to improve his team once he’s got the superstar in place. That has not happened with McHale.
This website keeps causing my browser to shut down out of the blue and its getting annoying.
Jun.25 at 2:03 pm
Steve O says:
H- I think that makes you a haterator or a haters hater?? I’m confused now.
Jun.25 at 2:21 pm
tike says:
hey Sam where is Keith Van Horn playing nowadays>?
Jun.25 at 2:59 pm
RV says:
he took a year off to be with his fam
Jun.25 at 2:59 pm
SwingMan says:
The latest on my Suns isn’t so much that a Garnett trade is being discussed, but that they’re - from out of nowhere all of the sudden - bringing in all of Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and Jeff Green tomorrow (Tuesday) with, what the Az. Republic calls “a fourth mystery player of top-10 caliber” for a workout. Usual stuff for a team picking #24 and #29, right? WRONG…. Translation: If my Suns haven’t already made a deal to get in the top-10 of the draft, they’re pretty damn close. Stay tuned…..
Jun.25 at 3:10 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
thanks sam
Jun.25 at 3:13 pm
paniscus says:
Can someone explain to my why the trade has to be Marion for KG and not Amare for KG? Wouldn’t that work better for both teams? Wolves get a young beast to build around, Suns get immediate help to contend right now with an instant upgrade at KG/Amare’s position. I’m not saying that a KG/STAT frontline wouldn’t be amazing, but Marion’s contributions to the Suns are critical. As in, if he’d have missed a year and STAT hadn’t, the Suns wouldn’t be the same team that went to the Conference Finals last year. I guess I just like Nash/Marion/KG better tahn Nash/STAT/KG. I also think the Wolves would be more likely to pull the trigger on a trade for STAT than for Marion.
Jun.25 at 3:18 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Amare-KG could be great for both teams. And let’s not forget that KG had his best game of the year against Phoenix when they ended their 17 game winning streak.
My favorite Van Horn memory is back in that SI story about “What happened to the white athlete”, he said that he doesn’t like being compared to LArry Bird, he sees himself being more like Derrick McKey. That was classic.
Jun.25 at 3:32 pm
SwingMan says:
Paniscus, first of all, Garnett’s 31, Amare’s 24. Second, Marion’s 29 and makes more $$$$$ than Amare. Third, Marion, like Garnett, has an opt out in 2008 - who wants TWO of those on a roster when we’re talking about those caliber of players. Fourth, Amare is the SUns only post presence on offense and best finisher in the paint. Shall I go on? Didn’t think so….. That said, I don’t want to get rid of either of them. Damn MFing Hawks…..
Jun.25 at 3:46 pm
basketboy says:
kerr better catch mchale while hes drunk or something to pull off a marion for kg deal. i mean.. who in their right might would make a trade like that? i think if anything, amare has to be the main piece in a trade for kg. the real question is, do the suns want to give up a younger talent for a pretty much certain championship next season?
Jun.25 at 3:49 pm
basketboy says:
*mind, not might sorry, lolz
Jun.25 at 4:36 pm
Chukaz says:
I got a question for you. Is Steve Nash a future Hall of Famer? He’s been good only for the past 3 seasons and unless he keeps up his play for 5 more seasons, I don’t think he will be. If 3 good seasons can get you in the hall of fame, Penny Hardaway is a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Jun.25 at 4:50 pm
DP says:
That is a great question chukaz. Nash has always had a pretty good career, but you are right, he has only been great for three seasons now. I don’t know. If Nash has a couple of more MVP seasons I think he can make the Hall of Fame. If not it would be a hard case to solve. play wit it.
Jun.25 at 5:26 pm
Mo Charlo says:
Nash has been playing very well for the past few seasons. Substantially better overall in the past 5 than Tony Parker. They also don’t keep consecutive MVPers out of the hall.
Jun.25 at 5:28 pm
Mo Charlo says:
Furthermore, the Spurs won’t repeat because it is an even year next year. Spurs only win in odd years (except in ‘01 when Shaq cheated to keep them out of the finals. Seriously, watch the tape).
Jun.25 at 7:13 pm
Co Co says:
My point is that if K G is soooo great he should have found a way even on those piss poor teams to get out of the first round more than once. I just dont see how a guy who has no pedigree of winning is supposed to propel a team to the championship. I’d love someone to give me some logic behind everyone thinking this way.
Jun.25 at 7:55 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
KG for Amare = bad deal for PHX
KG for Marion = great deal for PHX
Bye.
Jun.25 at 10:25 pm
Ben Osborne says:
If anyone could sleep til Halloween, it’s Russ. Given Amare’s knee and tenuous relationship with his teammates/coaches, if I were the Suns I’d take KG for him in a heartbeat. I think KG is too expen$ive for the Suns, tho. Sam, Paul LoDuca is no Russell Martin. Not even close.
Jun.25 at 10:57 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
Paul LoDuca isnt even a Sal Fasano.
Jun.25 at 11:46 pm
rory breaker says:
i miss stevie franchise.
Jun.25 at 11:58 pm
Mac says:
What the hell is wrong with these people!!!
If you don’t know hoops don’t right dumb ish, like KG for Amare is good for PHX and would put them over the top, dumb ish like this just makes people that think they know even dumber and spreads ignorance. Duncan can’t guard Amare, PERIOD. If there is no suspension PHX beats San Antonio. PERIOD. There should be a site for real basketball fans only.
Jun.26 at 1:16 am
Chukaz says:
Does anybody know why is Woodson still rollin’ wit da Hawks? I thought he would get fired.
Jun.26 at 1:44 am
Russ Bengtson says:
KG led the Wolves to the Western Conference Finals once. How far have the Suns made it again? I agree with Ben that KG for Amare is a no-brainer—probably for both sides. The Suncs get a better chance of winning it all during Nash’s prime, and the Wolves get to start over with a young superstar. Oh, and getting back to an earlier comment, Keith Van Horn wasn’t a “shocking” pick at No. 2. That’s 100 percent pure hindsight.
Jun.26 at 2:59 am
Drolfe says:
More informaton about Amare’s tenuous relationship with Suns staff, please.
Jun.26 at 5:28 am
Boing Dynasty says:
The Suns are not the Knicks, therefore the public dosent find out about those things.
Jun.26 at 6:06 am
Slobodan Chutzpah says:
“Luckily, I had a few 12 year olds in my entourage, cause that’s just how I roll…” Sounds eerily like something Michael Jackson would say in a similar situation.
Jun.26 at 6:25 am
Slobodan Chutzpah says:
Also, KG for Amare is NOT a no-brainer for the Suns. Those guys have very similar stats, and, once again, Amare is 24 and KG 31. Garnett is already obviously on the downslide, while Amare is only getting better. It doesn’t matter one iota that KG led the T-Wolves to the Conference Finals (once in his entire career!); I think more than anything throughout his career KG has shown that he really doesn’t come up big when it matters, but will instead defer to others. Lest we forget, he has escaped the first round only once. And peoples, there is such a thing as a post-Duncan era, and it’s already looming. When it ends, KG will be similarly over the hill, whereas Amare will be in his prime, and will probably dominate the Western Conference. Although KG might almost cancel out Duncan in the playoffs, it wouldn’t be wise for the Suns to part with Amare, when that trade still wouldn’t guarantee them a chip. (The Suns troubles getting past the Spurs stem more from their style of play vs. the Spurs’ than the individual dominance of Duncan.)
Jun.26 at 7:26 am
Boing Dynasty says:
You can’t D-up Duncan any better than STAT did in the playoffs 2 years ago.
Jun.26 at 9:42 am
Sesa says:
@Boing.
Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess defend Duncan better than Amare on 2005.
Jun.26 at 6:52 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
Naturally 2 people can defend better than one, i guess you missed my point.