Feb
01
As we get closer to the trade deadline we see some strange happenings around the NBA.
I am not sure if they are related to the trade deadline, or if a lot of teams, that are losing, use this time of year to dump their stars contract on some other teams that figure they’re one star away from getting to the promise land.
Or if you’re a Blazer fan, you hope some of the craziness of the next two weeks does not affect the decision making of Rich Cho.
Let’s look first at some of the weird behavior of a few teams on how they are approaching the deadline and see if any of it makes sense.
We will start with the Dallas Mavericks. Sasha Pavlovic signed two 10 day contracts with the Mavs and in that time he averaged 16 minutes a game in the 10 games, and averaged four points per game. He started six games and the Mavs went 5 and 1 in those games. It’s highly unusual that a 10 day signee would start six games in that 20 day period. It sounds like the Mavs have found someone who could help them in the second half of the season. If you listened to Tyson Chandler (Mavs center), “He did so much for us, he played hard.” You would think Sasha had found a home – Not so fast because a guy named Mark Cuban signs the checks, and according to Rick Carlisle it comes down to player/money and player flexibility. That means Sasha needs to find a new home and the Mavs are getting ready to make a deal that could bring Stephen Jackson, Tayshaun Prince, or Corey Maggette to the Mavs roster.
If you’re having a confusing week and want to really top it off just listen to the quotes coming from Carmelo Anthony on his changing teams “My decision on whether to play or whether to leave is based on a lot of things. A lot of things come into consideration. That’s my own things and thoughts that go through my head and things that I talk about with my team of people and the front office.”
If you understand any of that you’re a better man than me. For Denver’s sake I hope J.R. Smith is included in the Carmelo trade. Does this sound familiar to the average NBA fan as you look at your local team and try to make changes for your GM?
The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to decide whether to trade their best player Andre Iguodala and start over with expiring contracts, draft picks, and/or players who will likely have less talent. Andre is owed 44 million through the 2013-14 season. The question by management is: Will he ever lead us to a championship, so is it worth keeping him as our main player? The question by season ticket holders is: What are we going to be watching for the next two years in his place? A lot of fans all around the NBA are asking those questions.
A sign of things to come, three German teams are trying to make plans for next year if a certain Dirk Nowitzki is free to join them in October. Alba Berlin, Bayern Munich, and Brose Bamberg all could get their lifetime dream come true if that happens and Dirk joins them.
Love the stories out of Indianapolis is that Frank Vogel replaced Jim O’Brien as coach of the Pacers but Larry Bird, President of the Pacers, will have a lot to say on who plays. Now that’s an interim job I would love to have, every time someone messes up on the court you could point to Bird and say it’s his call. The next question is: Will Bird have time to make trades or will he just keep showcasing T.J. Ford?
To end this blog today, let me say I now have a username and a password and I will be able to answer your comments as quickly as I can. I know after listening to players interviewed this year my stock answer to questions will not be I just tried to be more aggressive tonight.
P.S. A future blog will be the Lakers - old, bored, bad or a combination of all of them.