johnnyde

As someone who did not see the game (but who will finally be able to w/ League Pass after a dozen+ years as a fan who could only get 2-3 games a year in the Philly market...), I was curious if Horford's points came mostly from jumpers or did he actually show a post-up game? Up and unders? Drop steps? etc? Or was it mostly put backs?

My sleeper pick for this big acquisition is Dirk Nowitzki. Dallas is going nowhere fast in the West especially if Kidd signs elsewhere and Brandon Bass and James Singleton(rotational players) are also unrestricted this year. Then next year, Nowitzki has an ETO he can exercise. Also next year Stackhouse, Antoine Wright and Devean George are all unrestricted. There's a team option on Barea and Howard next year, but I assume they keep them. This could possibly leave them with a team of: Howard, Dampier, Matt Carrol, Jason Terry and Shawne Williams(who even he is restricted next year) in 2010. If Dirk does not exercise his ETO next year, they will have 60+ million in cap used up(And that is even if they renounce all their unrestricted free agents) so it's not like they will have the cap space to go after any big names in the famed free agent class of 2010. Complete speculation of course and probably bad math on my part somewhere, but does Cuban want to get something for Dirk before he can opt out next year and blow it all up to start all over in Dallas next year with youth/draft picks? The Mavs championship window is completely shut - the closest they got was the team that got upset by Golden State. As far as what/who we trade to get him, well...I have never been good at that game so I'll leave that to others to speculate.

Here's another neat stat- The Hawks are the only team in the league with 7 players averaging double figures (if you count an injured Josh Smith).

mms://a644.l3072829417.c30728.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/644/30728/v0001/reflector:29417?auth=caEdmaOaHbxdXbOcrdPafcLaUadbydKaGdM-bhvEKx-eS-ynyCGxq&aifp=0001&upos=2 try this one.

mms://a483.l3072829416.c30728.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/483/30728/v0001/reflector:29416?auth=caEbtccaTc2b4cPc0aFaQcQd.aKabdobTbh-bhvEBu-eS-FpACIyr&aifp=0002&upos=1 Hurry before it closes off.

Didn't see this posted, so here ya go. http://www.realgm.com/src_fromtherafters/1..._ready_for_him/ The Hawks haven’t turned into a playoff team as quickly as Joe Johnson has hoped. To be sure, the Hawks are horribly outplayed at the point guard position on a nightly basis, which is their single most glaring flaw. This doesn't help their 19.4 assist per game average, which is amongst the NBA's worst. On most halfcourt possessions, the Hawks work hard for a low-percentage shot, whether one with a high degree of difficulty or by settling for a jumper. Mike Conley, Chris Paul, Deron Williams or Raymond Felton would help in this area, though Al Horford has the makings of one of the NBA's finest bigs, Marvin Williams is having a breakout year and Acie Law has been too injured to allow the Hawks to see what kind of player he will develop into. But when is the Hawks' stagnation as a lottery team blamed as much on Johnson not playing like a genuine franchise player as it is on who they did or didn't draft a few years ago? He has been an overlooked player, but has become overrated by being perennially underrated. Johnson, who can create his own shot but is more of a versatile spot-up shooter (as he was in Phoenix), would greatly benefit from playing beside a genuine NBA starting point guard. He is forced to manage too much of the ball handling duties, as well as create his own shot, which he can't do as efficiently as the Kobe's and Wade's, particularly around the bucket. By looking at my modified per game Win Score numbers (explanation article forthcoming), Johnson has been the 45th best player in the NBA this season, averaging 12.34 per game. Last season he averaged 12.86 per game. He’s amongst All-Stars in this range, but is far from elite. Furthermore, his four best players, Josh Smith (13.89), Marvin Williams (11.72), Al Horford (10.38) and Josh Childress (9.35) have played decidedly better than the supporting casts around Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Michael Redd. Zydrunas Ilgauskas: 12.92 Drew Gooden: 10.71 Daniel Gibson: 8.96 Sasha Pavolvic: 4.02 Lamar Odom: 8.89 Andrew Bynum: 12.69 Derek Fisher: 6.88 Luke Walton: 6.63 Shaquille O’Neal: 10.88 Udonis Haslem: 10.16 Ricky Davis: 8.02 Jason Williams: 7.30 Andrew Bogut: 11.17 Mo Williams: 10.69 Yi Jianlian: 7.30 Desmond Mason: 6.22 “I came here and thought we were going to add more pieces,” Johnson said recently. “But they really want to develop these young guys. I’m all for it, as long as they keep working hard and do what they are supposed to do. “(Acquiring another veteran) hasn’t happened, but you have to roll with the punches and go with what you’ve got. Complaining only makes it worse. We have to fight this battle with what we’ve got, and we’re a pretty good team.” While those supporting pieces are decidedly young, they are developing at a great clip and are ready for him to become the franchise player Atlanta thought they were trading for.

http://www.nba.com/media/jazz/rmr07Game13.pdf

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=667273 The creator of the thread says it himself: "I'm going to give it till midnight tonight, but this is the most disarray selection I've seen in the past 2 years of me doing this." All because of picking Conley at 3. If this is representative of how teams will pick, as fan bases tend to have a better idea of who their team may pick, do you see how the Hawks posters themselves are confused as to what to do when the #11 selection comes around?

Welcome to The Show! On Friday, ESPN.com's NBA reporter Chris Sheridan will stop by to chat NBA playoffs. Chris came to ESPN from the Associated Press where he spent the last 10 years as the lead NBA writer. Sheridan's chat tips off at 10 a.m. ET on Friday so send in your questions now and join him right here for the answers. Sheridan archives: Columns | Chats SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Good morning from New York, where I find myself after pulling an all-nighter in Detroit to catch the first flight out. I'm operating on about 90 minutes of sleep here, so I'll be in rare chat room form. The topic du jour is the Eastern Conference finals, but as usual, we'll dabble elsewhere, too. Here we go ... Gregg (Cleveland, OH): HOSED...the anticipation travel call on sasha and the non-call on lebron were unbelievable. And how does Mike Brown not lose it?? He has to make a more bold statement today, right?? I've come away from those two games feeling more convinced than ever that the Cavs are the better team and will eventually win this series. Younger, more athletic, better rebounders, and the best defensive team the pistons have faced... SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Hosed is a good word. There are other good words, too, and I was looking for a few choice ones from Mike Brown last night after the Cavs got hosed, as you say. Check out this morning's Daily Dime for my take on it. As I said in the piece, Mike can't be a pushover when getting hosed. He's gotta stand up for his guy, and he's got show a little righteous indignation at the very least. No one with a brain in their head is going to accuse him of making excuses, which seemed to be what the cavs were most worried about after the game last night. Jim (Athens, Ohio): I think it's funny how Andy is now a flopper ever since all the national coverage. Did they not see the first 82 games of the season? SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Sheed was pretty hard on Varejao at the interview podium last night, calling him a flopper _ among other things. Not sure how fallin back after getting smacked in the jaw qualifies as flopping, though. Marc (Akron): Didn't my Cavs lost this game because (1) we squandered a 12 point lead by scoring 26 in the second half and (2) Larry Hughes missed a 7-foot jumper? SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Well, yes. And you lost Game 1 in part because Z missed a shot he should have hit one possession before The Pass. They lost both games for a lot of reasons, Marc, and now I'm curious as to how they're going to lose Game 3. How's this for a dream scenario: Cavs down 77-76 with 10 seconds left, the ball's in LBJ's hands, he drivs to the hole and shoots and misses, and this time he gets the foul call. You think he's making both foul shots for the win? I would have liked to see if he could have made them last night, but I guess Jimmy Clark, Bernie Fryer and Mark Wunderlich had an earlier plane to catch than I did. Tom (Sydney, Australia): I think it's funny how LeBron was criticized so much for passing in Game 1, then in Game 2 he forces up a bad shot in the same situation and is not criticized for that? Foul or no foul (and I don't think there was much there), he should have either pump faked to draw a foul, or taken it stronger towards the rim. He expected to get fouled and then missed as a result of that. Why is the media not all over this? SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Tom, take another close look at the drive and the shot. Rip whacks him across the arms several times on the drive, and there is unmistakably clear contact on the shot. He got mugged, basically, after doing exactly what he said he would do _ make the right basketball play _ in the aftermath of his much-debated Game 1 decision. Brad (Ann Arbor): Chris, you can't be serious with all this Cavs love. Varejao was flopping all night long and Sheed hardly touched him on that shot. Second, are you really so sure that Lebron didn't commit the off-arm foul on Hamilton? SportsNation Chris Sheridan: It's not Cavs love and it's not Pistons hate. I could care less who wins this series, just like I could care less who wins any series I cover. Sportswriters only root for good stories. On your second point, I didn't see it as an off-arm foul. I saw it as a mugging. Tom (East Lansing): even if lebron gets fouled and hits both, pistons still have 8 seconds, two timeouts and a chance to win right, chris? i mean people act like the game was completely stolen from the cavs, first Z and marshall missed, then james missed, hughes missed, and side show bob missed, all great looks (besides james' shot) and yet they all missed, shouldnt that mean they didnt deserve this win? SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Agreed that the Pistons might have won it if LBJ had hit the FTs and Detroit got he final shot. And I would have been extra curious to see who took that shot after reading John Hollinger's piece yesterday which included a great chart of individual players' success rates on shots in the final 24 seconds of the 4th quarter with their team wither tied or trailing by one or two points. (the data comes from 82games.com, which charted it over the past three seasons). Chauncey Billups is 5-for-31 (16 percent) in such situations. LeBron was 8-for-29 (28 percent) going into last night. Matt (Boston): How much of the no-call last night was due to the perception that too much was decided at the free-throw line in last year's playoffs? Seems they've been fairly consistent in letting them play this year. Mike (Washington DC): If you want weak calls, go watch last years playoffs. Wade was getting breathed on and shooting 20 free throws. This year is a man's playoffs. Detroit over San Antonio. My question is why do you like girlyman basketball and referees handing championships over to players who drive into contact and then take a dive? SportsNation Chris Sheridan: There's a rare back-to-back posting, one of Stein's best chat room moves. Look, Mike, I don't want weak calls, and I don't think watching Dwyane Wade shoot FTs made for particularly compelling theatre last year. That's not the point here. My take is that the refs missed an obvious, obvious foul. Eric (Ann Arbor): I would like to know if you think the officiating on the last play was inconsistent with the officiating throughout the course of the game. I felt there was pretty heavy contact throughout the game without a lot of calls. Do you suggest plays at the end of the game should be officiated differently? John (detroit): Chris, I'm not coming in here with any sort of venom, but check the tape again. LeBron clearly used his off-arm to push off on Rip prior to the shot. The refs let them play, and the non-call was consistent with how the game was called all nite. Oh, and it's gotta feel good for Cavs fan to see their $12mil/yr player brick an open 10-footer after the LeBron miss...... SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Another back-to-back posting. I think the lack of a whistle was consistent with the theme of how the game was officiated, but that doesn't make it right. Good dig at Hughes there, in that first post. Phil (Salt Lake City, UT): To Mike in D.C. Fouling is not manly...it's against the rules. It takes a man to play great defense without hacking a guy on his shot and hoping the refs bail him out by not blowing the whistle. Rip got bailed out last night. SportsNation Chris Sheridan: There was a lot of great defense played in that fourth quarter last night, by the way. I heard people saying that was an ugly game, but I disagree. That game was intense. Josh (Detroit): Lets talk about something positive like Jason Maxiel's coming out party. This sort of reminds me of Tayshaun in '04. Could Jason come close to being that effective of a player? Thanks! SportsNation Chris Sheridan: I've been very impressed by Max over the course of the first tw games, and in the Bulls series, too. Check my last blog entry for a description of a sick, sick dunk I saw Max throw down at the end of practice Wednesday. But I have a question: was Jason getting free throw tips from Ben Wallace last season when they were teammates? Fred (NYC): Sheed has been awesome in the playoffs. Give the man his due. SportsNation Chris Sheridan: That shot he hit last night to put them ahead was something else. He's been playing the best I've ever seen him play, and he's incredibly tough to stop when he's as fired up as he has been lately. Juan (NY,NY): Varajeo was definitely fouled, and i think he might have got the call had he not launched himself backward 10 feet. He looked like he was at ground zero of a nuclear blast. I really think that's why he didn't get the call. Thoughts? SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Probably some truth to your theory. There's been a groundswell of anti-flopping chatter between lots of teams and the league office, and it was a big topic of discussion at the Competition Committe meeting I covered in Las Vegas at the All-Star break, and it stands to reason that the league office has instructed referees to tread differently around guys with a reputation for flopping. Andy is certainly one of them. Vincent (LA): Can you explain why LeBron was given an unannounced flagrant-2 and not suspended for his elbow on Webber in Game 1 that was identical to the elbows Kobe got suspensions for? SportsNation Chris Sheridan: I'm curious myself as to why the league didn't put that out with so much as a whisper yesterday. I know they don't routinely announce reclassigied fouls, but in this case, given the spotlight, I think they should have departed from standard operating procedure. Nic, Detroit: Since the games have been close, do you still think Pistons in 6? SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Yes. Josh (Chicago): Can we please talk draft? Do you agree with Bill Walton that free agents will want to go to Portland more if they pick Oden (and maybe for less money too)? Also, do you think the Bulls should trade their pick for a veteran? Thanks! SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Here's my predominant draft thought of the day: I think the Blazers are going to take Kevin Durant. On your Bulls question, I think the Bulls should package the pick and their '09 pick with Nocioni and Duhon in a sign-and-trade (it couldn't be officially announced until the cap changes in early July) for Gasol or Jermaine. Johnny (Reseda):: Didn't you talk draft yesterday? SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Chad Ford is the draft talker around here with the most game. I did all my talking yesterday with this here computer (or electronic typewriter, as we Luudites like that call it)., and I was a one-topic guy yesterday _ all ECF, all the time. Shane (Austin, TX): Is the Spurs-Jazz series over? How do you think the Spurs-Pistons will be? SportsNation Chris Sheridan: I like the Jazz to win Game 3, and I still think they can take it to seven games. They've been the most resillient team in the NBA all season, and their 2-0 deficit against the Rockets didn;t end up killing them, did it? Bobby (San Diego): Has anyone noted that LeBron has 2 fouls in 90 minutes of play this series? Maybe people should start complaining about that. SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Duly noted, Bobby. DK (Parma): Um, i cant believe all these Piston fans claiming Bron used his off arm on Hamilton.. did they NOT see Rasheed use his off arm on Andy?? Whether or not Sheed pushed him with all his might is irrelevant, he still "used his off arm" and pushed... SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Tons of good back and forth stuff between Cavs fans and Pistons fans in the question queue. Nothing like a good border war. Dave(dallas): Barkley says Bron shouldn't expect calls like that on the road. I sure have seen those calls go against Dallas at home. Officials just blew it. SportsNation Chris Sheridan: Wouldn't be a good bitching-about-the-refs day without a little input from Dallas, would it? SportsNation Chris Sheridan: That'll be a wrap for this morning, folks, and a good weekend to all, We'll chat again next Friday.

Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta Hawks Vice President, Basketball Operations Third Overall Selection Q: How do you feel about the way things went tonight and securing the third overall pick? WILKINS: I’m happy because we got two picks in the first round. We were positioned if we get the fourth pick, we lose that pick, so to keep the pick and get the 11th spot here is great for us. Q: Is there any position you are looking to fill with the third pick? WILKINS: We are going to look at a lot of different variables. We got good choices at both picks and, believe me, we are going to make the best decision on what we need. We are definitely going to draft on what we need instead of the best available guy. This is great for our franchise because I think this will make us instantly a contender for the playoffs. This is big for us. Q: How much of a relief was it to get in that top three? WILKINS: I was sweating over there. I wasn’t banking on one, but I said just get me the three. We already got eleven, just get me the three and then we have two good choices in the first round. Q: Are you superstitious at all? Did you bring anything for luck today? WILKINS: A little bit. I have my tie. It’s the tie I wore in the Hall of Fame, so I said maybe it will help me a little bit tonight. http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=2064

Added some post moves? Quote: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. --- The promotional poster calls it 'The Return,' as three stars of the 2005 North Carolina championship team will be back at the Smith Center Oct. 27 for an NBA exhibition game. Marvin Williams and Roy Williams were among those at a Thursday afternoon press conference to announce the game. Marvin Williams' Atlanta Hawks will play against the Charlotte Bobcats, featuring Sean May and Raymond Felton. The game will tip-off on Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. and tickets are on sale through the UNC ticket office. The Bobcats will also play the Washington Wizards (with former Tar Heels Antawn Jamison and Brendan Haywood) at the Smith Center on Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. QUOTES MARVIN WILLIAMS “I’m definitely excited to be back in Chapel Hill and I know myself, Raymond and Sean are definitely excited for this game. We played together all summer, so it’s going to be fun to be competing back in Chapel Hill.” “Chapel Hill’s a very special place for me. I love being around coach and his staff and one of my best friends goes to school here – Quentin Thomas. My education is very, very important to me, and [GM Billy Knight] I want to thank for giving me the opportunity to continue to go after my degree. I came back and went to summer school with Sean. And that’s why I chose to spend my summer in Chapel Hill.” “The first year was definitely a learning experience for me. I came back this summer and really did [a lot of work]. I put in a couple more post moves that I think will help me be able to score a bit more this year. I just look back at the first season and try to learn from it. I’m excited to come in and show that I’ve improved.” “The transition [to the NBA] was okay, but the game was a little bit different from college – better players, different sets – but I’m ready for this year.” ROY WILLIAMS “This is a thrill for us to be able to see Marvin Williams come back and play again in the Smith Center. I’m no longer his coach, so I’m going to be mad at [Coach] Mike [Woodson] and [GM] Billy [Knight] if he doesn’t get 30 shots [laughs]. We’re excited as we can possibly be to have him come back. It was, when Marvin and I as well as Sean, Raymond and Rashad, talked about what was best for them. It was best for Marvin to go and I tried to do everything I could to tell the truth and say how great he was – how great he was as a player and how great he was as a person. I jokingly say, but it’s true, that I recruited him for three years and got to coach him for one and I felt really blessed to be able to do that." "We’re excited at having the game and I think it’ll be great to have those guys here and be able to see Marvin running up and down -- he’s much more comfortable now with the NBA game and I think he’ll have a great year. I loved going down to see him play last year and I plan to go down and see him again this year. For us, having the NBA come in here is nothing but positive. We hope our fans will support it greatly and I think they will.” “I’ve had [NBA] teams in the past not cooperate as much about allowing kids to come back to work on their degrees over the summer. I challenge any pro team to say they can get their guys to work out any harder than we do here over the summer. Jonas [sahration], our strength coach, has done a great job with them and our guys play in the morning and at night so they have an opportunity to really improve. … When Marvin left, I made him promise that he was giving up his eligibility but not his education, and he’s continued that which I’m very proud of.” “Having Marvin around here [this summer] has been fantastic. The freshmen were here for five weeks this summer and have never had a day regimented as much as we budgeted their time – they feel like they’re in a whirlwind right now, but he was able to tell them that it’s going to get better and going to get easier. Just watching how he and Sean, for example, at 7:15 were here every morning working out with Jonas and then came back and played with our guys in the afternoon. So [our players] see what you have to do to be an NBA player and how much you have to work at it. … His work habits and those kind of things have been so valuable to our young kids.” ATLANTA GM BILLY KNIGHT “Every month of the season we chart statistics and Marvin’s statistics got better every month as the year went on without fail. We expect that curve to continue.”

Quote: Martynas is a guy who I think will become a superstar. I just don't think we should have to be the guys using all of our precious time to make him one. We already have like 4 projects in Smoove, Diaw, Ivey, and Chillz, so we can't take another one. Can a guy like a player without it being thrown in his face every time he posts. Sheez. I didn't like the Chillz pick last year which is still questionable. I still don't like the Marvin pick, though I think he should become a good player. I just simply despise the Salim Stoudamire and the cenk @sswipe pick because there was the pg I truly liked in Ukic along with the big man I liked in Lucas Tischer. Just like I despised Ivey last year. lol.

Could you explain why you think Ukic will be such a good point guard? Have you watched alot of international games? Just wondering if you have some insight into his skills.

The Giants messageboard you got his from, was it Bigblueinteractive.com?

"The Snake"

No. It doesn't have to be for 3 years.

http://www.realgm.com/src_freeagents.php?year=2004 Here's a list of 2005 free agents.

"The Hawks have $10.7 million in cash but can't seem to get anyone to take it. They've talked with Erick Dampier and Stromile Swift, but have yet to sign either to a contract. They've also talked to the Nuggets about a deal that would land them Nikoloz Tskitishvili (the Nuggets would like Boris Diaw in return), but they're reluctant to pull the trigger until they know for sure that Dampier and Swift aren't coming to Atlanta."

I'm thinking pure speculatin in this guy's part, but oh well. http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/question_040716.html BTW, credit goes to poster on RealGM Hawks board for finding this info.

good.

So if this did happen, would this mean Diaw at PG? Harrington at the 4?

By Chad Ford ESPN Insider T-Mac, Shaq and Steve Francis aren't the only big names that will be on the block this summer. NBA GMs believe there will be some heavy trade activity as teams try desperately to change their fortunes. "Last year, we fired all of the coaches," one GM said candidly. "This year it's on us. If we don't make the right moves, we'll be the ones losing our job this year." Who else is on the block right now? The names read like an all-star roster. Trading Jason Kidd, right, may be the only way for the Nets to retain their young core. Jason Kidd, PG, Nets: Rod Thorn denies they're shopping Kidd or anyone else, despite persistent rumors that new owner Bruce Ratner has asked him to slash payroll. "We'd like to have a team that's not a (luxury) tax payer," Thorn said in a statement Monday. "We'll work to get in that direction over the course of time. It's not something that's necessarily going to have to be done this year." However, the Nets, who had one of the highest payrolls in the league last year ($61.3 million), know it will be impossible to keep that goal if they re-sign Kenyon Martin in free agency this summer and Richard Jefferson to an extension in the fall. Kidd, Martin and Jefferson, combined with Alonzo Mourning's long-term deal, likely would put the Nets over the cap. Moving Kidd may be the only way to keep the rest of the young core intact. They won't give him away, but if they can find a veteran team for which Kidd would be willing to play -- and that would be willing to give up a young point guard -- they may have to pull the trigger. Paul Pierce, SG, Celtics: Pierce's name popped up in a rumor with the Bulls just days before the draft. Danny Ainge denies he's shopping Pierce, but, at the same time acknowledged that given the team's situation (a whopping five players with one or fewer years of experience) he has to listen to offers. Expect them to come for Pierce in bunches. With Ricky Davis, Jiri Welsch and draft-pick Tony Allen in the backcourt, perhaps Ainge feels he can move Pierce if someone is willing to give up a big in return. Vince Carter, SG, Raptors: New GM Rob Babcock already is denying reports out of Toronto that the team is looking to move Carter. In this case it appears Carter's camp is putting pressure on the team for the move. While rumors of a VC-for-Allen Iverson swap were bogus, the Raptors know Carter is one of the few assets they have that will bring value back in return. Peja Stojakovic, SF, Kings: The team would prefer to move Chris Webber, but given his injury history and bad knees, that seems impossible. Bad blood was created in Sacramento at the end of the postseason when Webber singled out Stojakovic for a poor postseason performance. Reports out of L.A. indicate the Kings have offered Stojakovic in a package to the Lakers for Shaq. If he's really available, they'll get a flood of offers. Ray Allen, SG, Sonics: He clashed repeatedly with coach Nate McMillan last year and has given Sonics brass signs that he might not re-sign when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer. Look for the Sonics to move him now, preferably for a big man, while they can still get some value in return. Shawn Marion, SF, Suns: The Suns were willing to include him in a deal for Tracy McGrady and now will look for other places Marion might fit. It sounds like the team is targeting its backcourt this summer and would like to move Joe Johnson to the three. Getting Marion's big contract off the books gives them a lot more flexibility to go after other pieces. While most teams believe he's overpaid, there's no doubt it's hard to find a small forward capable of averaging 20 and 10 on a nightly basis. Shareef Abdur-Rahim, PF, Blazers: There's a huge logjam in Portland right now, and Abdur-Rahim looks like the odd guy out. The Blazers and Nets seriously discussed an Abdur-Rahim-for-Kerry Kittles swap before the draft, and indications are they're still talking. The Sonics also have shown a lot of interest, and the Jazz could be in the mix here, as well. Wally Szczerbiak, SF, Timberwolves: Wally was the odd man out of the Wolves' starting five once the team traded for Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell. The Wolves are open to moving him once his base-year status expires Wednesday. The Cavs and Bulls have shown a lot of interest in Wally in the past. Jason Richardson, SG, Warriors: It became clear toward the end of last season that Mickael Pietrus, not Richardson, was the real two guard of the future for the Warriors. Richardson is coming off a great year in Golden State and should be able to fetch some value in return. This is another place the Bulls might want to look if they're still willing to trade Tyson Chandler. Jason Terry, G, Hawks: The team is rebuilding, and Terry wants out. The Hawks will have a number of suitors and urgently need to address some huge holes in their frontcourt. They can't move Terry without his permission until Sept. 25, but expect him to agree to almost anything at this point. The Pacers want backcourt help in exchange for Al Harrington. Al Harrington, F, Pacers: Harrington asked for a trade at the end of the season. He's sick of coming off the bench and wants to take a bigger role on a lesser team. Larry Bird is willing to move him but has been careful to keep his options open. He wants to add some firepower in the backcourt or another big man to patrol the middle, and he needs Harrington as bait. If offers for T-Mac and Shaq fall through, a Harrington-for-Terry swap makes a lot of sense for both teams. Caron Butler, SF, Heat: The Heat deny they're trying to trade Butler, but the word from several GMs is Miami is using him as bait, hoping a team will agree to also take Eddie Jones for either a serviceable five or a veteran point guard. The Heat won't just give Butler away, but the truth is they're really set at both the two and the three with Dwyane Wade and Lamar Odom. Sooner or later, they've got to address their other areas. Matt Harpring, SF, Jazz: The Jazz know they aren't going to be totally successful obtaining everything they need in free agency and will have to use trade bait to get the rest. Harpring was great for them two years ago and was solid again last season before getting injured. But the team is loaded with swingmen and desperately needs help up front. If Harpring can buy them a player like that, he could be gone. Antoine Walker, PF, Mavericks: Remember two years ago when everyone began believing Walker actually was an asset? My, how times have changed. The only thing propping up his trade value these days is that he's in the last year of his contract. The Mavs want to move him in return for a big man. Will anyone bite? Jerry Stackhouse, SG, Mavericks: Speaking of overpaid Mavericks, the team had little intention of keeping Stack when it traded for him last week. The Mavs are looking for a veteran four in return. But, is anyone still interested in him? Jamal Mashburn, SF, Hornets: Two years removed from the best season in his career and an all-star appearance, the Hornets are giving away Mashburn. Injuries, however, are expected to cool the market for him. Tyson Chandler, PF/C, Bulls: It sounds like Bulls GM John Paxson is going to break up the Baby Bulls, and our money is on Chandler to get the boot. Eddy Curry, because he plays center and can score with his back to the basket, is too rare a commodity. While Chandler's value may not be as high as it once was, he still has enough juice to bring a seasoned four in return. Wouldn't a Chandler-for-Stromile Swift deal work for both the Grizzlies and the Bulls? We're pretty sure Swift would agree to the sign-and-trade. Speaking of T-Mac and the Franchise ... Steve Francis may have accepted his fate -- a trade to the Orlando Magic. However, it appears Magic GM John Weisbrod still isn't ready to pull the trigger on a trade to send Tracy McGrady to the Rockets that has been rumored for the last 10 days. Monday, Francis flew to Orlando for a Tuesday meeting with Weisbrod, and Francis' agent, Jeff Fried, said his client had warmed considerably to the idea of playing in Orlando. "We're in the process of making arrangements for Steve to fly tomorrow," Fried told the Houston Chronicle. "I know he's meeting with John. If John decides to bring in the ownership group, that's John's decision. "It was a joint understanding between John and us that the next prudent step is for Steve and John to get together. We talked after the draft and again (Monday) morning. It just seems it would be prudent for a team thinking of making a player the focal point of a team, and for a player in a trade as the focal point, to spend time together to talk about philosophies and the general approach to things." However, Weisbrod refused to acknowledge that he had invited Francis to Orlando or that the deal with the Rockets, which most folks around the league -- including the Rockets -- believe to be imminent, is actually in the works. "I do not know at this point whether we will have him in town or not," Weisbrod said. "If we do, it will be something that he's interested in doing. I didn't ask him to come to town, and that's probably why he's a little further down that road and telling people that. But if he wants to come to town, we're certainly happy to spend the time." The Magic and Rockets have until Wednesday to get a deal done. If they can't work something out by then, they won't be able to pull the trigger on a deal until July 15 -- after the NBA's two-week player movement moratorium. By then, the players involved likely will have to change. Right now the deal is McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines for Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. However, Lue is on the verge of opting out of his contract, which means he no longer could be included in the trade. "Obviously, if you are going to do any trade, you want to do it when the timing is right and the pieces are perfect," Weisbrod said. "But the resolution of the Tracy situation, whether that means he gets traded or we decide to cut bait and put him in the lineup next year, that being resolved in August doesn't adversely affect our ability to do the rest of the things that we have to do." Weisbrod claims there are four teams still in the hunt. Three of them we know -- the Rockets, Pacers and Suns. The fourth is still a mystery, though teams like the Heat, Bulls and Clippers have been mentioned as possibilities. The news that Weisbrod is still waffling has rankled the Rockets, who believed they had a done deal with the Magic more than a week ago. If the Magic hold out until after the deadline, the Rockets will be put in a funny position. Now that they've essentially let Francis know they want to trade him, bringing him back will be awkward. The team is going to have to start looking for other teams interested in the Franchise. No matter what they do, chances are they won't get as good a deal. Either way, it's going to be a tough sell. Meanwhile, a word of warning to the other three teams negotiating with the Magic. Don't call your players and tell them they're being traded to the Magic until after the league office truly finalizes the deal.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2004/co...andy&id=1825427

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/apphoto/pho...0235&sportId=46 nuthin.

And here I thought I was the only Hawk fan who wanted Ben Gordon(badly). Overall I like your mock.