On The Sidelines 11.26.08: Change
Posted by Porfirio Diaz on 11.26.2008
There were a couple of changes that happened last week, both on the team and personnel front. First, the Knicks completed two trades in order to make cap space for LeBron James in 2010 but was it really the right timing to make change now? Two coaches with a combined 2-22 record were also fired but will their replacements make the teams any better? All these stories and more.
Hello everyone. So I went to the Kings-Blazers game on Friday, and not surprisingly Kings got blown out. Blazers were just raining threes, attempting 26 of them while making 14. At least I got to see Oden and Rudy. Rookies Jason Thompson and Bobby Brown also continue to impress me. But overall, it was a slightly boring game. People were more excited for the dog race halftime show than the game itself!
Now on to the show.
Inside The Lines
Salary Dump
In what was no doubt a salary dumping move for LeBron in 2010, the Knicks were involved in two trades last week. In the first transaction, the Knicks traded Jamal Crawford to Golden State for Al Harrington. In the second, they traded Zach Randolph to the Los Angeles Clippers for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas.
The team won't admit it (in fact they're not supposed to) but this was clearly a move needed to make cap space for LeBron James once he becomes a free agent in 2010. But a couple of things come to mind with these moves. Randolph and Crawford were basically given away for three guys whose only value is their expiring contracts. So no matter how well Harrington, Mobley and Thomas play, they are out of there as soon as the last day in their contracts hit. Donnie Walsh gave away two players who were producing a combine 39.9 points, 14 rebounds, and 5.8 assists for that purpose. I mean, why even talk about how good this team is now when Walsh is throwing in all his chips for 2010? Why not at least wait a little later in the season to see if Crawford or Randolph's value increases? LeBron is not going to enjoy playing for a team where the drop-off between him and their second best player is so huge that John McCain will come out and say, "Damn, that's a huge gap."
Their hope is that they could have enough cap room to sign Bon Bon and build the team around him with free agents. With this trade and with more contracts expiring after this season (Marbury, Malik Rose, Quentin Richardson, and Jerome James), they can have up to $40 million under the salary cap for the 2010-11 season, enough to get LeBron and another superstar like Bosh, Wade, and Stoudemire.
Hmm…perhaps it won't be all that bad after all.
I'm sure every Knickfan is saying that 2010 can't get here fast enough
Two Coaches Down…
Two coaches were given the boot last week, which happens when their records were a combined 2-22 at the time of their firing.
One of them was Thunder coach P.J. Carlesimo after posting a 1-12 start. He was fired following Friday night's 105-80 loss to New Orleans. Poor guy didn't even make it on the flight to the next game before being prompted that he was no longer going to coach the Thunder. It was not all his fault though as he didn't have anything to work with besides Durant. Assistant coach Scott Brooks was named interim coach and honestly I'm glad he's getting another chance to prove his worth as a coach. He did a fairly good job of working with the Kings a few years and almost got the job full time after the team fired Eric Musselman. You still have to wonder whether the interim coach is going to make this team any better.
The other coach that was fired was Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. Yes because that was a good move. It's always a good move to fire your coach after taking the job when no one else would and coached them to 26 playoff games. He gave the team hope and helped develop a winning attitude to Washington. He even coached the 2007 Eastern All-Star team (fun fact: both 2007 All Star coaches, Jordan and West representative Avery Johnson, are no longer in coaching positions). What, past success doesn't translate to present success you say? That's fair but it's also pretty difficult to do much when your star player and Brandon Haywood are out for a significant amount of time. Director of player development Ed Tapscott will take over the team but you can't tell me he would do a better job than Jordan, right?
What we have here is two teams that suck but it was the coaches that ended up being the fall guy. It's always been that way and will never change. There could be more reasons behind these decisions that are hidden behind closed doors. If this was a case of the players just tuning out their coaches, then I would agree it was time for a change. Have the interim coaches go out there and see if they deserve to be promoted to a full time coaching status. If not, at least let Carlesimo and Jordan coach themselves out of this mess.
That means you better watch out Mike Dunleavy or you're next!
Scary. No wonder they fired him.
NBA Quickies
- Thanks to the trade, the Knicks were short on players. D'Antoni told Marbury that there would be 30 to 35 minutes of playing time if he wanted it. Marbury declined his offer, leaving the Knicks with only seven active players in their games against the Bucks and Wizards in back-to-back games. Why not, he knows he's gone after this season anyway.
- Warriors signed Stephen Jackson to a three year, $28 million extension that will keep Jackson in Golden State through the 2012-13 season. Not too bad of a signing. He has been the Warriors' best player so far in the season, averaging 22.1 points in an NBA-best 43.4 per game. I guess now is the time to buy that moped, huh Jackson?
- It's all but official. Antonio McDyess decided Sunday that he wants to return to the Pistons though he cannot sign with them until Dec. 7, after the 30-day waiting period ends. The Nuggets bought out his contract for about $6 of the remaining $13 million remaining on his contract. Despite strong bids from several teams, including offers of the midlevel exception of $5 million from teams such as Cleveland, McDyess will go back to the Pistons for only a bi-annual $1.9 million salary cap exception.
NBA Injury List
- Pistons forward Walter Herrmann suffered a mild concussion against the Celtics on Thursday when he took an elbow to the jaw during the fourth quarter. He was administered into a Boston hospital and was released on Friday.
- Magics' guard Keith Bogans will miss approximately four to six weeks due to a fractured left thumb is suffered during the game against Houston on Saturday. He's been the Magics' top reserve and has played in all 13 games, averaging six points in 24 minutes a game.
- Jermaine O'Neal fell backwards after missing a jump shot, leaving the game in the second quarter against the Celtics on Sunday. He started the game despite hurting his surgically repaired left knee against the Nets, when Sean Williams pulled O'Neal down as he went up for a shot under the basket. He did not practice Sunday.
- Jazz guard Deron Williams is expected to return on Wednesday night against the Grizzles. He's been out with a sprained ankle and will have missed 13 games assuming he comes back on Wednesday.
- Heat forward Dorell Wright had surgery to remove debris from his left knee on Tuesday and is expected to miss at least three weeks.
Out of Bounds
- Random question: Who would win a fight to the death between Ronald McDonald, Jack in the Box, and Burger King Guy? My money's on the King.
- If you love Entourage and Michael Phelps, and have dreamed of putting those two together, well this is as close as it's ever going to be.
As a friend of mine put it, quickest…most pointless…cameo ever…
Week 1: Blazers hold off Spurs 100-99
Week 2: Roy's miracle shot gives Blazers win over Rockets 101-99
Week 3: Pierce beats buzzer as Celtics hand Hawks their first loss in a 103-102 victory
Week 4: Vince Carter's reverse dunk on the inbound pass beats the Raptors 129-127 OT
This was an incredible game with incredible performances. Both Nets and Raptors went back and forth, outdoing each other with desperately three point shots until Vince Carter became Vincesanity once more.
Vincesanity has come back to Toronto
And with that, I'm out of time. I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving and a Happy Black Friday, even if this year's deals suck.
I'm glad you mentioned Bogans. He's also the Magic's best 3 point defender.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth (Guest) on November 26, 2008 at 10:30 AM
You know very well, who you are, don't let them hold you down, reach for the stars.
You had a goal, but not that many, cause you're the only one, I'll give you good and plenty!
Posted By: Biggie (Guest) on November 26, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Hello. Regarding the 2010 sweepstakes for guys like LeBron, Bosh, and Wade, one name seems to escape most people, and that's Steve Nash. His contract will be up at the end of the 2010 season, barring that he doesn't get an extention, and despite the fact that his production will like be down considerably from his MVP seasons, most teams would still love to be able to have him. With D'Antoni in New York would it be a strecth to see Nash go there to work in a season he is most productive in towards the end of his career? While a big man would be essential in convincing James to move to the Knicks, I think having a pass first point guard with shooting ability would also help sway his decision quite a bit, even if at that point Nash is playing fewer minutes or even coming off the bench. Just some food for thought. :)
~Matt
Posted By: Matthew Nolan (Guest) on November 26, 2008 at 12:32 PM
i was actually thinking they were making room for iverson. however, it's neat to think of a knicks team with iverson & nash.
Posted By: the dude (Guest) on November 26, 2008 at 04:06 PM
That's one thing I forgot to mention. If the Knicks do get LeBron and say Wade or Amare, just imagine how many of the veteran guys without a ring like Nash and Iverson are going to want to come to the Knicks for the cheap. It's only a small possibility, but it's a scary one at that.
Posted By: Porfirio Diaz (Registered) on November 27, 2008 at 12:12 AM
