The first domino falls and a bunch of others fall with it.
Several prominent NBA players made their attentions clear after LeBron chose to go back home to Cleveland. First, LeBron's now ex-teammate Chris Bosh has decided to stay with the Miami Heat favoring a 5 year $118 million contract over going to Rockets. He will presumably now represent the Dynamic Duo of Bosh and Dwayne Wade in Miami providing that Wade chooses to stay.
Another player also decided to stay where he is for the time being. Reports have begun circulating that Carmelo Anthony's representatives are talking to the Knicks about a new contract after informing the Bulls that they are out of the Melo sweepstakes. Melo will stay in the Big Apple.
There is one player that is on the move and it's Pau Gasol. He's agreed to go to Chicago to become part of the Bulls. Not official yet as the Bulls still have make cap space in order to get Pau.
A lot to talk about with these moves and decisions. First, Bosh in Miami (presumably with Wade) keeps the Heat in the playoff picture but little else. LeBron was the driving force of that team and without him pulling them along in the playoffs and actually going against them, they won't get far.
As for Melo, most likely staying in New York for the money. Sure, he might want to win titles and maybe he believes that Phil Jackson will get the right people around him but for the time being, no one around the league will believe he wants championships over money. Now take significantly less money in order to get some decent players...
With Pau going to Chicago, he's better than Carlos Boozer and is certainly an upgrade but won't likely get them any closer to winning a championship. A healthy non-injury prone Derrick Rose is the only one that can do that for them.
More moves are certainly to come with one of them being the Lakers still searching for a head coach. Hopefully whoever the team wants to lead them can pass the most important test of all: Kobe's approval.
Showing posts with label Pau Gasol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pau Gasol. Show all posts
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Superman Staying in LA as part of Four Team Trade
The big story this NBA off season has been centered around Dwight Howard and where he was going to end up despite the fact he handicapped himself by signing a one year extension with the Magic. However, Dwight has managed to overcome that handicap.
With the Nets pulling out of trade talks, the one team that was still in it was the Lakers, a team that Dwight initially didn't want to go to. Talks continued anyway as Howard was rehabbing from an injury in LA. It seemed that talks were going on forever until we finally had a deal. Sources are saying that Dwight Howard is indeed going to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a 4 team trade. As part of the deal, the Nuggets get Andre Iguodala, the Sixers get Andrew Bynum (not the Magic) and Jason Richarson, and the Magic get Arron Affalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, and Moe Harkless, the 1st pick of the Sixers. The Magic also get a protected 1st round draft pick from each of the three teams mentioned.
The trade is done and Dwight's days in Orlando are now officially over. Central Florida can breathe knowing officially they have nothing... at least right now. They will definitely be hoping for the something in the future but they now don't have a headline for Orlando. Anyone want to see Al Harrington?
I can't help but notice the interesting moves around the big guys or lack of moves. Andrew Bynum is going to Philly while Pau Gasol manages to stay in LA. Gasol mixed with Dwight Howard will certainly be a fun combo to see down low. I hope that Kobe will be happy and stop whining for new pieces to make up for the fact that he's older and realizing that he always needed a big guy to win a title. I don't think MJ needed someone better than him to win at least half his titles for him.
OK. That last sentence, I'll admit, was a little sour grapes and jealousy. But to be fair, I wonder if this actually makes the Lakers the favorite in the Western Conference. This move mixed in with adding Steve Nash certainly makes them a contender, there is no doubt about that, but I wouldn't count out the Thunder just yet. They had a good season last year and are certainly going to get better. It certainly makes things look a lot more interesting.
P.S. WHO TOOK KOBE'S RATTLE?!?!?!
With the Nets pulling out of trade talks, the one team that was still in it was the Lakers, a team that Dwight initially didn't want to go to. Talks continued anyway as Howard was rehabbing from an injury in LA. It seemed that talks were going on forever until we finally had a deal. Sources are saying that Dwight Howard is indeed going to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a 4 team trade. As part of the deal, the Nuggets get Andre Iguodala, the Sixers get Andrew Bynum (not the Magic) and Jason Richarson, and the Magic get Arron Affalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, and Moe Harkless, the 1st pick of the Sixers. The Magic also get a protected 1st round draft pick from each of the three teams mentioned.
The trade is done and Dwight's days in Orlando are now officially over. Central Florida can breathe knowing officially they have nothing... at least right now. They will definitely be hoping for the something in the future but they now don't have a headline for Orlando. Anyone want to see Al Harrington?
I can't help but notice the interesting moves around the big guys or lack of moves. Andrew Bynum is going to Philly while Pau Gasol manages to stay in LA. Gasol mixed with Dwight Howard will certainly be a fun combo to see down low. I hope that Kobe will be happy and stop whining for new pieces to make up for the fact that he's older and realizing that he always needed a big guy to win a title. I don't think MJ needed someone better than him to win at least half his titles for him.
OK. That last sentence, I'll admit, was a little sour grapes and jealousy. But to be fair, I wonder if this actually makes the Lakers the favorite in the Western Conference. This move mixed in with adding Steve Nash certainly makes them a contender, there is no doubt about that, but I wouldn't count out the Thunder just yet. They had a good season last year and are certainly going to get better. It certainly makes things look a lot more interesting.
P.S. WHO TOOK KOBE'S RATTLE?!?!?!
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