Bear Down Wildcats

Not sure about this decision by Phil.

Adrian Wojnarowski‏@WojYahooNBA·12 mins
Derek Fisher is finalizing an agreement on a 5-year, $25 million deal to become the Knicks coach, league sources tell Yahoo.

Phil wanted someone familiar with the triangle offense. That's why he wanted Kerr. Only one else I can think of is Brian Shaw. I agree though, I don't like taking guys right out of the league and making them head coach. Make them earn that as an assistant first. I think Fisher has what it takes to be a good coach someday, just not sure I would pay him that much to start.

Just a note on the Heat courting Melo... It certainly is possible.

If Anderson and Haslem don't opt out and the Heat keep their 1st round pick, they renounce everyone else (including Wade, Bron and Bosh) they can pay $12.5 mil starting, each, for Wade, LeBron, Bosh and Melo.

LeBron just netted a cool $30 mil from the Beat by Dre sale. After watching this series you have to think money is not a concern to LeBron, winning is. The problem is going to be talking Wade AND Melo into leaving a ton of money on the table. Wade is due $42 mil and Melo would be taking a MASSIVE pay cut.

That said, Melo is the perfect fit next to LeBron on this team. He is the clear #2 man behind Bron. He proved he can be a deadly spot up shooter in the Olympics and he absolutely needs to be surrounded by players he trusts and will give the ball up to.

Keep in mind Melo is the first player since Bird to put up 27 ppg, 8 rpg and shoot 40% from 3.

Riley's selling point to Wade is that he can piggyback his way to a potential 4th and 5th title with a shot to catch Jordan at 6.

This just sounds of something that ESPN is throwing out there so they can discuss it all summer starting as soon as the Spurs with the Championship b/c talking about the Spurs will not "move the dial".

That said:

Does Carmelo consider himself anything other than a #1?

Is Carmelo actually gonna take that much less $ to win?

All the platforms of ESPN are going to have a field day with this..................ugh!

Why would the Heat keep Wade if they don't have to?

Alieberman wrote:Why would the Heat keep Wade if they don't have to?

Sentimentality. Wade will never get what he's due with the Heat on the open market. I would think the only way is for LeBron to talk him into it.

The smartest move for LeBron is to opt out and begin negotiating seriously with Cleveland or LA. Put pressure on Wade and Bosh to follow.

Coop Cat wrote:This just sounds of something that ESPN is throwing out there so they can discuss it all summer starting as soon as the Spurs with the Championship b/c talking about the Spurs will not "move the dial".

That said:

Does Carmelo consider himself anything other than a #1?

Is Carmelo actually gonna take that much less $ to win?

All the platforms of ESPN are going to have a field day with this..................ugh!

I can tell your for certain, on very good authority, this is not just a thrown together rumor. Just as I mentioned months before it happened that the LeBron to Miami scenario was definitely not speculation.

Not saying this happens, but I it certainly is an option. How viable remains up to Wade and Bosh.

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

Alieberman wrote:Why would the Heat keep Wade if they don't have to?

Sentimentality. Wade will never get what he's due with the Heat on the open market. I would think the only way is for LeBron to talk him into it.

The smartest move for LeBron is to opt out and begin negotiating seriously with Cleveland or LA. Put pressure on Wade and Bosh to follow.

They all have the same deadline to opt out.

TucsonClip wrote:

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

Alieberman wrote:Why would the Heat keep Wade if they don't have to?

Sentimentality. Wade will never get what he's due with the Heat on the open market. I would think the only way is for LeBron to talk him into it.

The smartest move for LeBron is to opt out and begin negotiating seriously with Cleveland or LA. Put pressure on Wade and Bosh to follow.

They all have the same deadline to opt out.

Yeah, he would have to pull the trigger earlier, or at least signal. The guy who should (Wade) is the least likely to.

Not sure Wade is worth more than 7-8 million. He really should look into the Manu Ginobili 6th-Man Preservation system to extend his career. He can't play 100 games at even 30 per.

Bosh is barely worth 10 million. He's not not very good as a 3rd/4th option. Needed to be a #1 with excessive touches to put up numbers.

Now, whether they or the market agree, that's a different story.


Also, Fisher could likely play a factor in Durant sweepstakes.

Gotta figure LeBron opts out just to keep his options open (or opts out of opting out for 1 year).
Miami hasn't been able to provide any really good players on top of the big 3 for years now. Nothing in the draft.
Cleveland might be intriguing especially if they could add Kevin Love and maybe Carmello.

Today I heard this:
Boston gets Kevin Love
Minnesota gets #6&17 picks this year+ a 1st in a future year+ jared sullinger

Klay Thompson now on the table, apparently. Rumored deal of...

MIN: Klay Thompson, David Lee
GS: Kevin Love, Kevin Martin, JJ Barea, MIN 2014 1st

I can't believe Minnesota would do that deal.

No way Minnesota trades a future 1st.

Thompson/Lee/1st
Love/salary filler

wooha wrote:Klay Thompson now on the table, apparently. Rumored deal of...

MIN: Klay Thompson, David Lee
GS: Kevin Love, Kevin Martin, JJ Barea, MIN 2014 1st

I've heard that deal is without Martin or with Martin and no Barea/draft pick

Not a good deal for Minnesota, other than they get talent to win now

That said, they are taking on Lee's salary, might have to pay Klay the max and have one of the worst defensive frontcourts with Lee and Pekovic.

Not a big fan of this deal, but wow what a move if the GSW can pull it off.

This Love trade will have to be unpalatable for all involved. The team that gets him will have given up too much. The only way Minnesota wins is if Phoenix gives up picks along with Bledsoe and Goodwin.

Kerr gets a great head coach in Alvin Gentry to be his Associate Head Coach. Fantastic hire. Familiarity from Phoenix days.

If Warriors can get Love/Martin...

Curry, Crawford (RFA)
Martin
Iguodala, Barnes
Love, Green
Bogut, Speights

That's pretty damn good. Add a veteran shooter at wing, run motion offense with Martin and pic/roll with Curry/Love and you may have an actual offense that doesn't lead league in isolation plays.

Gentry was an EXCELLENT hire by Doc Rivers and is an even better hire for Kerr. Gentry has a way of connecting with his players, developing trust and putting them in the best situation to succeed. He will absolutely bring some much needed creativity to the Warriors struggling offense.

Furthermore, dealing Thompson and Lee to Minnesota is a steal.

Klay has turned into a good defender, but wants a max contract and just doesn't create enough off the dribble, not is a big enough offensive option to warrant that type of money. Looking at the Warriors books, paying Klay the max and either keeping Lee or dumping him for cap relief, does not make the Warriors that much better. Adding Love creates a different element on both sides of the floor.

Iggy is more than capable of playing the 2 and 3 and defending the top perimeter option. This also opens the door for Barnes to develop into a viable 6th man role and more minutes at SF, despite playing better at PF. The Warriors can now add a legit wing defender without having to worry about him stretching the floor. The offense can flow through Love an Bogut to help free Curry off the ball.

18 pts, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists a game gets you a max contract?

Chicat wrote:18 pts, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists a game gets you a max contract?

When you're young with upside, yeah. That second contract is typically more about what they think you can do than what you've done.

It will be fun to count how many NBA teams Carmelo ends up playing on during his career without winning a title.

He'll wind up in Miami

I am going Bulls.

Chicat wrote:18 pts, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists a game gets you a max contract?

Fortunately, its the rookie max, which is much lower. Still, I don't think Bledsoe is worth the max, let alone Thompson. We will see who pays to get/keep him and at what cost.

To me, he doesn't create enough offense to warrant anywhere near that type of offer. Hes a complimentary scorer who is a good defender. Unless he can develop his dribble drive attack and passing, I don't see him ever living up to a max deal.

Tim Duncan ...............................coming back for another!

$10.3 mil

Coop Cat wrote:Tim Duncan ...............................coming back!

San Antonio Spurs star Tim Duncan has decided to exercise the final-year option on his contract worth $10.3 million, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Seems like a bargain to me. Why is he so poorly paid compared to the rest?

Age. Took a little less than market to stay in San Antonio last year, and to help keep big three in tact.

Tim Duncan is a really hard guy to dislike. And I've tried...

the real dill wrote:

I notice no one is passing a ball in that photo.

LeBron opts out. Let the circus begin!

Coop Cat wrote:LeBron opts out. Let the circus begin!

He was going to, even if he's coming back. It's the only way to try to push Wade and Bosh to opt out and take less. Pulling the string early lets him take time to convince them.

It only gets really interesting if they don't opt out too. Then...ooh.

Marc Stein is reporting Dallas is close to a deal

Chandler and Ray Felton (ugh) for Calderon, Dalembert and Larkin

Broussard from espn just put this out there. Morey may be working on a sign and trade for Melo shipping Harden to the Knicks. that will then free up cap space to also sign LeBron...big three of Carmelo, Howard and king James...

I would assume such a deal would also include moving Asik for some kind of awful long term contract.

Also to be noted, I think Broussard is o for his career on inside scoops.

Doesnt make sense for the Knicks to give up their cap flexibility for Calderon. Has to be another deal involved. Here is what I proposed:

Adding those picks definitely helps. Just odd to see the Knicks taking on salary next summer, when their books were set to be clear. Calderon should fit in Phil's system, but what is Melo leaves? Especially, with reports coming out that Melo will meet with the Mavs once free agency begins.

Word coming out that the Knicks are trying to move Dalembert and Larkin in a separate deal.

Omar Asik to the Pelicans for a future 1st. Clear that cap space!

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--r ... 44266.html

Some weird rumblings about Harden being traded for either Carmelo or James and then small deals using picks/prospects to jettison Lin, then use CAP to sign the other of the pair.

If they can get closer to 38-40 million, it's doable.

It would basically leave just Beverly in the backcourt.

JMarkJohns wrote:Some weird rumblings about Harden being traded for either Carmelo or James and then small deals using picks/prospects to jettison Lin, then use CAP to sign the other of the pair.

If they can get closer to 38-40 million, it's doable.

It would basically leave just Beverly in the backcourt.

If Houston can pull that off, thats a huge win. I actually think dumping Harden for Melo would be a good move as well.

Please go to the Rockets. I really want to love that team...

Jason Kidd......................................what the hell?! Very odd story.

What the....


h Kerr and Walton have a lot of NBA years playing, but how many years coaching between them on any level?

If the Warriors are able to land Love, they look real good. I think Livingston makes sense. Will split Klay's and Steph's reserve minutes and can create off the dribble and defend.