Weez

No. Becaues we have a hx of injury prone players in our front court with Hendu, Theo, Nazr...and now Reef. All are good (much better than most team's assembled frontcourts, by leaps and bounds), but if one of them goes down, we're suddenly thin... If he's real, a big if as the wizened one pointed out, then sign him, keep him, and strut a truly intimidating frontcourt and begin to focus on how to round out the frontcourt (I'm withholding judgement on certain players there till I see more; btw, I can't believe people are cracking on JV already - we knew exactly what we were getting when we signed him, though last night wasn't really an indication of that).

Celtics lack quality at many positions By Chad Ford NBA Insider Send an Email to Chad Ford Thursday, October 9 Updated: October 9 7:26 PM ET We know Paul Pierce. We know Antoine Walker. Everybody else form a line to the right, stating your last name first and your first name last. This year's Celtic roster consists of three rookies, two players who have never played for Boston before and only one player with more than eight seasons of experience, not counting the 10-year veteran returning from a season-ending alcohol-related suspension. So it looks like it will be more Pierce and more Walker and another pat on the back for coach Jim O'Brien. Boston Celtics Point guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Marcus Banks R 6-2 -- Three years ago, it was retread Randy Brown. Two years ago, it was the much-traveled Kenny Anderson. Last year, it was rookie J.R. Bremer. This year, it's another rookie in Marcus Banks from UNLV. Had no idea that this position came equipped with nametags. Tony Delk 7 6-2 9.8 ppg, 39%3P Career backup player, and dang proud of it. Actually, more of a shooting guard but at this height will have to get his minutes at the point, where he has proven more than capable. With a rookie in front of him and near-rookie behind him, should see plenty of minutes without having to rely on last season's playoff heroics for justification. Mike James 2 6-2 7.8 ppg, 3.2 apg Numbers are nice for third-string point guard but consider the Miami Heat source. Shooting guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Paul Pierce 5 6-6 25.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg It would be enough to state that this guy has averaged 23.3 ppg over his five-year career, except for the fact that in 26 playoff games he's averaged an even better 25.6. Multiply that by 10, carry over the game-winning shots, and you'll begin to understand how important Pierce is to this franchise. Really a small forward, arguably the best point guard on the team, will play a lot of shooting guard this year. That's what happens when, year after year, you lead the team in scoring, rebounding and are second in assists. Kedrick Brown 2 6-7 2.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg Has averaged a bit over one bucket a game since being lottery drafted two years ago by the Celtics, and considering that Pierce plays about 40-going-on-50 minutes a game, don't expect that to change much this season. Small forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Eric Williams 8 6-8 9.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg It took him only one season to get his starting position once the Celtics chose him in the 1995 draft and five years, two teams and knee surgery to get it back last season. Has still got to be looking over his shoulder after scoring 10 a game as a rookie, 15 a game a year later and, get this, 19.8 a game before getting injured four games into his next season. So the 9.1 last year is nice after scoring only six the year before but nowhere near where he needs to be to feel comfortable as the starter. Jumaine Jones 4 6-8 9.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg Made the most of his minutes in Cleveland last year and is looking to cash them in at Eric Williams' expense this season. Has the nasty habit of grabbing headlines with big numbers here and there, which is what you've got to do when you've started only 48 of the 259 games you've played and are still looking for No. 49. Power forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Antoine Walker 7 6-9 20.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg Walker is probably thinking that if he could have just taken one or two more 3-pointers last postseason he might have actually made a few of them and not been so embarrassed in the second round. His coaches are probably thinking that if he would have taken one or two less 3-pointers on a regular basis he might be one of the best players in the entire league rather than just the second best player on his own team. Walter McCarty 7 6-10 6.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg Funny thing about playing for the Celtics is that even nondescript players like McCarty can take 248 3-pointers as a back-up power forward playing only 23 minutes a game and no one notices. Brandon Hunter R 6-7 -- Mr. Hunter, may we introduce you to Mr. Perkins on your left, next to the cooler. Kendrick Perkins R 6-10 -- Mr. Perkins, may we introduce you to Mr. Hunter on your right, next to the clipboard. Center Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Tony Battie 6 6-11 7.3 ppg, 1.2 bpg A starter in name only until he's clocking more than the career-high 25 minutes per game of last year. Every indication, though, that this could his breakout year after posting career or near career highs in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and shooting last season. But, then again, there has been every indication every year for the past five. Vin Baker 10 6-11 5.2 ppg, 3.8 bpg Forget about the Celtics. Baker averaging eight points and four boards (half his career numbers) would be a success story for the entire league. Mark Blount 3 7-0 4.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg Another in a long line of players who get drafted by the Celtics, find themselves in another uniform and then, eventually, end up back where they started, us not knowing how they got there in the first place.

Best Case Scenario The Celtics will secure home-court advantage for the first round in the East playoffs if the following three things happen. 1. The Celtics do what they say, and run. Playing up-tempo will get the Celtics better shot selection and hopefully move Antoine Walker closer to the hoop and away from the 3-point line. The ball will still be in the hands of Walker and Paul Pierce, even though the Celtics drafted Marcus Banks and brought in free agent Mike James to play the point. Banks and James are there to get Pierce and Walker as many easy buckets on the break as possible. 2. Get something, anything from Vin Baker. The transformation is pretty remarkable, really. Last season, Vin Baker could barely get off the floor. This preseason, he's leaping in the lane like the kid who quietly became an All-Star in Milwaukee. With Tony Battie's problematic right knee, Baker's contributions will be even more important to Boston's hopes of returning to the East's elite. 3. Get back to Coach O'Brien's basics. Jim O'Brien got the Celtics to do what Rick Pitino couldn't: get them to play defense (with help from defensive guru [censored] Harter). And they made a surprising run to the 2002 East finals because of the improved team D. If the C's can reestablish that commitment, they can separate themselves from the morass of mediocrity in the East. Worst Case Scenario Pierce and Walker should be enough to get the Celtics into the postseason. But it'll be one round and out if these three things happen. 1. Tony Delk starts. If Tony Delk remains in the lineup as the starting point guard, then two things have occurred: 1) Banks isn't ready to run the offense and 2) James, despite his splendid training camp, didn't pan out. It would behoove the Celtics to bring Delk off the bench or play him at shooting guard, a position even he admitted makes him feel more comfortable. 2. Wal-tah keeps getting Tommy points. Yeah, yeah, Tommy Heinsohn loves Walter McCarty. But if the Celtics' broadcaster is raving about him, that means the team is getting nothing at small forward from Brown or Jumaine Jones. The C's are better off with McCarty being the fan favorite. 3. The stopping and popping doesn't stop. The Fleet Center faithful still groan when Walker passes up the drive for one of his 600 threes he's averaged the past three years. And his ability to hit from long range has gotten worse, dropping from .367 to .344 to .323. (Pierce shot just .302 on threes last season, by the way.) In theory, the plan to get out and run, and a physically fit Walker -- thanks to an offseason with MJ's trainer -- should put an end to the mindless gunning. But let's wait and see. Joe Lago is the NBA editor at ESPN.com.

ESPN.com news services NEW YORK -- Dikembe Mutombo signed a contract with the New York Knicks on Thursday, two days after he accepted a buyout and was waived by the New Jersey Nets. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. "Adding a shot blocker and rebounder of Dikembe's caliber to our team dramatically improves key areas that we were looking to upgrade," Knicks president and GM Scott Layden said on Thursday. "His basketball resume is so impressive that having the chance to add him to our club was something we were not going to pass up. In addition to his superior skills on the court, Dikembe is a role model that all of young players will look up to and learn from." The Knicks were the worst shot-blocking team in the NBA last season when they missed the playoffs for the second straight season. Kurt Thomas, a natural power forward, has been the Knicks' starting center for most of the past two seasons. Mutombo played in only 24 games last season because of a wrist injury that required surgery around Thanksgiving. The 37-year-old did not return to action until late in the regular season and was sitting on the bench for most of the playoffs. Mutombo, 7-2, 261-pounds, is the NBA's sixth all-time shot blocker with 2,873 rejections and is the only player in history to be named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year four-times (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001). He was named to the All-NBA second team in 2001 and the third team in 1998 and 2002. A three-time NBA All-Defensive first team selection and three-time second team selection, Mutombo ranks first in blocked shots among active players. "I know Dikembe very well through the years and there is no question he'll fit right into our system and thrive," coach Don Chaney said. "There aren't many players in NBA history that can change the course of a game as much as he does." The Nets, currently for sale, cited financial concerns in announcing the buyout of the final two years of Mutombo's contract, which had $37 million remaining on it. Mutombo's chances of playing more this season diminished with Jason Collins and Aaron Williams returning and Alonzo Mourning, Mutombo's teammate at Georgetown, signing with New Jersey as a free agent. Mourning criticized the move Sunday, saying it showed the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions were more interested in money than in winning a championship. Mutombo averaged 5.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.54 blocks last season. He appeared in 10 playoff games, including six NBA Finals games versus the San Antonio Spurs, to average 10.3 minutes and record totals of 10 points and 17 rebounds. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

By Joe Lago ESPN.com Editor's note: Here's a glimpse of the good -- and the bad -- that could happen to the 2003-04 Atlanta Hawks. Best Case Scenario For the Hawks to sneak into the playoffs in the East for first time since 1999, three things need to happen. Newly signed free agent Stephen Jackson brings scoring and defense to the Hawks. 1. They're still tenacious on D. After finishing 25th in defensive field-goal percentage (.459) in 2001-02, the Hawks rose all the way to eighth last season (.436) under Terry Stotts. Atlanta finished with such a flourish (21-19 in its final 40 games) largely because of its improved defense. "I want to maintain that," Stotts said. 2. Big Dog is forgotten. In other words, Glenn Robinson's 20.8-point average must be replaced. Jason Terry and Shareef Abdur-Rahim should get more shots, but they'll likely get help from the four-man mix at shooting guard and small forward with Dion Glover, Stephen Jackson, Lee Nailon and first-round pick Boris Diaw. Glover, who started 42 games last season, and Jackson, the starting three on the Spurs' title team, are the favorites to start. 3. Win some road games for a change. Last season, the Hawks were tied for the fifth-worst road record in the East at 9-32. Terry is aiming high for this year's goal for road wins. "We've got to be above .500," he said. Only one team -- Philadelphia at 23-18 -- played better than .500 ball away from home in 2002-03. Worst Case Scenario The Hawks will miss the playoffs for the fifth straight year if these three things happen. 1. JT and Shareef get no help. The Hawks acquired Robinson two summers ago to give themselves a legitimate Big Three. They'll be back in the same situation if no one from the aforementioned group of twos and threes provides a consistent contribution on offense. 2. They still can't handle adversity. Stotts believes, more than anything, the Hawks must keep their heads up when things don't go their way. "Whether it was the poor road record or being blown out or stopping runs during the game ... I think we have to rely on each other and handle the tough times a little bit better," he said. "I think we got frustrated last year when things weren't as easy as we thought it might." 3. Injuries depletes their depth. Or the little depth they have. Backup center Nazr Mohammed played only 35 games last season due to stress factures in his right foot. Point guard of the future Dan Dickau played just 50 games as a rookie last season because of a knee injury, and he's currently sidelined with tendinitis in his right Achilles from summer league. If Terry or Abdur-Rahim go down, "Crossfire" at nearby CNN will have a larger live audience than Hawks home games. Joe Lago is the NBA editor at ESPN.com. NBA Headlines • NJ Authority makes arena pitch to keep Nets • Stern: European expansion possible this decade • Cavs' Wagner needs more surgery, likely to miss weeks Mixed bag for LeBron • Ooh la la: Parker leads Spurs over Grizzlies in Paris ESPN's Top Headlines • Kobe elects to have preliminary hearing • Settle down Sapp: NFL has had enough • Caple: Bad karma • Stark: Playing 'red-ivy baseball' • Stein: As Shaq's contract extension turns

Miles getting to the point? By Chad Ford NBA Insider Send an Email to Chad Ford Thursday, October 9 Updated: October 9 9:31 AM ET Has Darius Miles finally found his niche in the NBA? Coming off a terrible season last year, Miles is quietly turning heads in Cleveland with his play at the point. After saying all summer that LeBron James is the Cavs point guard of the future, coach Paul Silas is now having second thoughts. Miles Miles was terrible in the preseason opener versus Detroit. But one Cavs source told Insider that it was just opening night jitters. Miles has been special in practice and he showed that in Wednesday night's victory over the Hawks. Miles' 13 points, eight assists and seven rebounds have Silas hopeful that Miles is his point guard of the present. His improved perimeter shooting has everyone breathing a sigh of relief. But it was Miles' ability to come into the game in the fourth quarter and knock down the game-winner (from 19 feet) that is giving the Cavs hope that Miles, not LeBron, will be the real story this season. "He's supposed to take [that shot] and he's supposed to make it," Silas told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "This was by far one of his better games. He initiated the offense, and when I put him back in [late in the fourth], I told him that he needed to take over and he did." If the Cavs are going to make a big push for the playoffs this season, Miles needs to emerge as the leader. James will have too much baggage and too little experience to carry the entire load this season. Ricky Davis is a gifted scorer, but he isn't exactly Steven Covey in the locker room. Carlos Boozer and Zydrunas Ilgauskas will quietly play their roles. That leaves Miles, who finally appears serious about tapping that deep well of talent. Miles spent all summer working out with Michael Jordan's trainer, Tim Grover, in Chicago. The workouts included strength training, rehab on the surgically repaired knee and lots and lots of shooting. But it was apparently coach Silas that gave Miles the confidence to come out and actually sink a couple of shots. "I have way more confidence in my outside shot now because of coach Silas," Miles said. "He told me to gain some confidence in my jumper or I'll be sitting next to him. I really don't want to sit next to him." Around the League How will the Jazz use that extra six to seven million in cap room they still have sitting around this season? Sorry Jazz fans, GM Kevin O'Connor has no intentions of using the money to get a veteran player to help the Jazz this season. O'Connor told Insider (here in Salt Lake as part of our ESPN training camp tour) that the team is unlikely to pursue a trade that would add a veteran contributor to its roster. O'Connor said that the team really wants to get a sense of what it has from all of its young players first. The team knows it will be difficult to make the playoffs with such a young squad. Adding a mid-level veteran via trade likely won't change the equation too much. So instead, O'Connor prefers to give his young guys a one-year audition. Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe did the same thing in Denver last season and the move appears to have paid off. Mills That doesn't mean the team is done dealing, however. Apparently, the Jazz have been talking to the Mavericks for several days about a trade that would send draft picks and forward Chris Mills (who has one year, $6.6 million left on his deal) to the Jazz. Why would each team do it? For the Mavs, it saves them $13.2 million this season when you factor in luxury-tax payments. Mark Cuban hasn't been shy about paying the luxury tax, but no one likes to give away that much cash. For the Jazz, it gives them the opportunity to stockpile even more draft picks without digging into their cap space for next season. What's the holdup? The Jazz probably want to see the Mills' medical reports first. If he's injured as badly as believed, the team could leave him on the injured list for the season and have insurance pick up 80 percent of his tab this season. If he's healthy, they may balk at the deal. Paying Mills' $6.6 million salary probably isn't worth what the Mavs are offering in return. Is there trouble brewing in New Jersey? Alonzo Mourning ripped the Nets earlier in the week when he found out that the team was dumping Dikembe Mutombo and letting him go for free to their cross river nemesis the Knicks. Now, Richard Jefferson is joining the fight. "It was not a very smart move," Jefferson said told the New York Post. "We're in the business of winning games. We understand financially that might have been better. If you're trying to sell the team it was a good move but how do you tell the guys, 'Hey, we're going to hurt your chances of winning a championship so we can save a little bit of money?' Isn't that kind of an oxymoron?" That's not the only thing brewing in New Jersey. Two league sources told Insider that relationships between the Nets players and head coach Byron Scott are also strained. "A lot of them miss Eddie [Jordan]," one source told Insider. "He was the mediator. Without him there's more pressure on management to keep the peace. That's never good." If the Nets get off to a slow start, or if Mourning isn't able to go because of his illness, don't be surprised if the Nets revolt. Artest Ron Artest picked up right where he left off on Wednesday, getting a technical in the first preseason game of the year. But at least Artest is progressing. This time the technical had nothing to do with Artest getting too physical on the court. According to Artest, he tried to joke around with the referee by not giving him the ball when he requested it. Coach Rick Carlisle immediately pulled Artest out of the game. He wasn't laughing afterward. "You can't get unnecessary technical fouls and survive on a consistent basis in this league and play at a playoff level," Carlisle told the Indianapolis Star. "It's one of the things we'll continue to work on and talk about. We'll be positive about it, but at the same time it's serious business." Artest then took offense at Carlisle's ultra-serious reaction to the his antics. "If I'm going to be taken out for stuff like that I'd rather not be in the game," he said. "I'd rather be with another team. I apologized to the ref and it was that simple. That's all it was." With Artest now giving the Pacers the green light to trade him, you think Larry Bird is picking up the phone and trying to dump the talented, but eccentric two guard? Artest still has a lot of value in the league because of his defensive prowess, and neither Bird nor Carlisle has the patience for his immaturity. This could be the straw that gets everyone in Indy their wish. Peep Show By Terry Brown NBA Insider Thursday, October 9 Updated: October 9 10:41 AM ET New York Knicks: Head coach Don Chaney is hoping he can remove his foot from his mouth and inspire confidence in Charlie Ward and Howard Eisley at the same time after telling the media that his team still needed a "great point guard." "I love my point guards," Chaney said in the N.Y. Daily News. "I was referring to superstar guards. I think my guys know who they are and where they are. I apologized to them. I don't believe in saying those kind of things or doing anything to hurt them. I think we can win with what we have." Earlier in the week, Chaney said. "We've still don't have a great point guard yet . . . We've been looking for a great point guard for a long time and we're still looking." New Jersey Nets: Richard Jefferson isn't calling his bosses stupid after they waived Dikembe Mutombo, but . . . "It was not a very smart move," Jefferson said in the New York Post. "We're in the business of winning games. We understand financially that might have been better. If you're trying to sell the team it was a good move but how do you tell the guys, 'Hey, we're going to hurt your chances of winning a championship so we can save a little bit of money?' Isn't that kind of an oxymoron?" O'Neal Los Angeles Lakers: If Shaquille O'Neal doesn't get his $100 million extension, then somebody's gonna have to pay. "I think I can go seven, eight more years," he said in the L.A. Times. "This game is fun. It's what I do. I'll go about seven or eight. Seven or eight, easily That's perfect. Then I can be sheriff and I can arrest your [butt] for writing that bull that you write." In between similar quotes, Shaq dismantled the Warriors frontline in their preseason game and took every opportunity to look at owner Jerry Buss and general manager Mitch Kupchak in the stands and scream for his money. "I didn't mumble," he said. "You read my lips and you read them clearly." Cleveland Cavaliers: For the second time since March, Dajuan Wagner has torn the same ligament in his right knee and will now require a second surgery to repair it. "We're not sure how long he'll be out," Cavaliers general manager Jim Paxson said to the Akron Beacon Journal. "It will depend on what they find when they go in. The tear is close to where he injured it before." He is expected to miss about six weeks of action. Mashburn New Orleans Hornets: Jamal Mashburn will be joining David Wesley on the bench as the two players succumbed to injuries prior to their opening exhibition games. "We're sitting him out as a precaution," coach Tim Floyd said of Mashburn in the Times-Picayune. "He has some swelling, and they're going to take another look at it on Monday." P.J. Brown also missed the game due to injury while Darrell Armstrong sprained his ankle during it. Indiana Pacers: According to the referee, Ron Artest committed a technical foul for failing to hand over the game ball to him. According to Artest, he was just playing around in the team's preseason game. "He's (the referee) not from the park," Artest said in the Indianapolis Star. "He's never seen anything like that and it was a total shock. In the park you can do a lot of tricks like that and if you've got a good handle such as myself the ball's not going to come away from your hands. Obviously coach Carlisle and the referee have never seen anything like that in their life. He gave me a tech and coach took me out. I was just having fun." Chaney gives his guards great apologies Frank Isola / New York Daily News Talk Is Cheap Larry Brooks / New York Post Shaq's Talks Are a Scream Tim Brown / Los Angeles Times Wagner needs more surgery Brian Windhorst / Akron Beacon Journal Hurt Mashburn sits out game John Reid / New Orleans Times-Picayune Artest gets technical Sekou Smith / Indianapolis Star

I think that's right, it would seem to be. He's on "our books" until then, so one would assume that he'd be on the IR till then as well...but I haven't heard anything official.

"No, but I have a feeling I'm right saying that Theo got it handed to him when he was in the game." translation: I'm making crap up to back up my dislike for Theo, esp. his playing center on this team. Also, I posted it three times to reiterate that point and make sure everyone saw it.

unlike when AI was "made" captain, it sounds like captain on the Hawks was voted on by the players (and staff???). I'm pretty sure that LB named AI as capt, though I don't disagree with the logic...

unlike when AI was "made" captain, it sounds like captain on the Hawks was voted on by the players (and staff???). I'm pretty sure that LB named AI as capt...

see below, gimme some details, and I'll probably take it.

Like I said before, if anyone wants to send me some details, i.e. does this require dialy player picks, how does it work etc (never done a fantasy league), I'd really be interested in joining...but don't want to over commit and know I have somewhat limited time, esp the next few months.

if that suit doesn't crawl up and choke him first!

and either Stotts told JT to take over and score or JT decided to do it on his own ~ either way, we went from no points to 10 in no time flat, apparently just willing us back into the game.

starting lineup of JT, Dion, SJax, Theo, Nazr

Kemp is a maybe, but the thing is, chemistry right now is so fragile. The Hawks appear to be coming into this season knowing the task at hand, and, for the first time in awhile, knowing each other, with only one "new starter" in SJax. Playing together and having everyone on the same page is more important than anything, including an outside shooter or widebody inside...so if bringing in someone to fill one of those roles risks locker room stability, the definition of roles, etc, then I'd rather not do it...

I was waiting for these to start pouring in...Ford obviously just looked to see where Dion was listed at under ESPN's player rater (sf), not where he played mostly last year and will START this year...

Toni would still be fantastic on a team like the Lakers (off the bench) to provide stability on offense, an outside threat, good passing, etc...but at this point, esp at this point, he's not going to fit in well with a running team of young guys...can you see him out there with Ford, Mason, TT, Gadzuric? they'd be running and he'd be cherry pickin...

Hawks' starters have nothing to lose By Terry Brown NBA Insider Tuesday, October 7 Updated: October 7 2:15 PM ET Shareef Abdur-Rahim should score another 20 points per game this year for the Hawks. If he isn't traded. Theo Ratliff should block another three shots per game for Atlanta. If he isn't injured. Stephen Jackson should shake those rumors about his sulking in the locker room while the Spurs won 60 games and an NBA title. If he isn't sulking in the locker room while having to play for the Hawks while winning half as many games. There isn't enough talent on this roster to mount any decent position battles to speak of. Jason Terry, Boris Diaw, Jackson, Reef and Ratliff should be starting simply by showing up. If they remember that there are new owners in Atlanta and do show up in the first place. Atlanta Hawks Point guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Jason Terry 4 6-2 17.2 ppg, 7.4 apg After years and years of haggling over the point guard and shooting guard slots, this is not only his position, but very well could be his team. By matching the Jazz's offer to retain Terry, they've committed to a player during the offseason after failing to so in the previous four regular seasons. Nonetheless, he totaled career-high numbers in assists while still scoring in the high double-digits last year with nary a peep. It's his team now. It's a bad team. But it's his team. Jacque Vaughn 6 6-1 5.9 ppg, 2.9 apg Has capably played for three teams in four seasons. It would have been four in four except that this is a return trip to Atlanta, where he had the best year of his NBA career two seasons ago. Dan Dickau 1 6-0 3.7 ppg, 1.7 apg He was drafted by the Kings last year and traded to the Hawks for a player to be named later. Has anyone caught the name of that player yet? Terrell Brandon 11 5-11 -- Will earn his $10 million gold watch for expending as much energy as you did in reading this piece. Shooting guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Boris Diaw R 6-8 -- It took Kobe Bryant three years to get his starting position. It took Tracy McGrady four. Because of circumstances beyond his control, Boris Diaw gets his on day one. And that could be just as bad for Diaw as it is for the Hawks. Travis Hansen R 6-6 -- The only thing possibly worse than starting at shooting guard for this year's Hawks as a rookie is being the back-up shooting guard for this year's Hawks as a rookie. At least Diaw is going to hear his name over the loudspeakers before each game. Small forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Stephen Jackson 3 6-8 11.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg Rumor has it that this guy actually played alongside Tim Duncan last year and won an NBA title with him. But unless he puts up some decent numbers on a team that sorely needs them, he'll have a hard time convincing anyone of the previous sentence, especially after having to sell that championship ring to compensate for the money he lost in the offseason. Dion Glover 4 6-5 9.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg Has steadily progressed in his four-year tenure with the Hawks and was a trusty backup to the high-scoring Glenn Robinson last year. The problem, though, is that Robinson is gone and Dion Glover is still a backup. Lee Nailon 3 6-9 5.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg Drafted in 1999. In Italy by 2000. Charlotte in 2001, New York in 2002 and, now, Atlanta in 2003. Keep your bags packed. Power forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Shareef Abdur-Rahim 7 6-9 19.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg Is he overrated? Is he underrated? How can a guy who's averaged more than 20 points and eight rebounds over his career be either? But, then again, how can a guy who's totaled more than 11,000 points and 4,400 rebounds in 533 games have yet to participate in a single playoff game? There is little doubt that Reef would be a starting power forward for almost any team in the league. But he very well could be playing for this third team before this season ends and we're beginning to question almost any team in the league that would have him. Alan Henderson 8 6-9 4.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg The good news is that he played all 82 games last season. The bad news is that he was the only Hawk to do so and posted a career-low average of 4.8 points per game in the process. His game is in decline but so are the Hawks and they may converge at some point his season. Chris Crawford 6 6-9 4.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg Has played in 12 games over the last two seasons and no one's even bothered to ask him how his knees are doing this year. Center Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes Theo Ratliff 8 6-10 8.7 ppg, 3.2 bpg Went from three games in 2002 to 81 games in 2003 and, as a result, blocked more than a shot per quarter played. This more than compensated for his 8.7 points per game average on a team with both Glen Robinson and Shareef Abdur-Rahim on either side of him but now the Hawks need him to score more. But, as you might have guessed, the Hawks need a lot of things this year. Nazr Mohammed 5 6-10 4.6 ppg, 3.7 bpg Three years ago, Nazr was traded to the Hawks midway through the season and went on to average 12 points and nine rebounds per game. Three years ago, Nazr was peaking. Busting the same foot twice will do that to you. But now come reports that he's 20 pounds lighter but a whole bunch stronger. Let's hope he's three years younger, too.

Porter faces tough decision at shooting guard By Chad Ford NBA Insider Send an Email to Chad Ford Wednesday, October 8 Updated: October 8 7:10 AM ET The Bucks had a major jam at point guard at the end of last season. Now the gridlock looks like it will be at shooting guard, where the Bucks' two most talented players -- Michael Redd and Desmond Mason -- just so happen to play the same position. Coach Terry Porter isn't hinting at who will be the starter and cautioned not to read too much into his decision to start Mason on Monday night. Next game, Porter promised, Redd wil get his chance. Milwaukee Bucks Shooting Guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. Michael Redd 3 6-6 15.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg in 28.2 mpg Redd gets the edge because of his perimeter shooting. Over the past two seasons, he's become one of the top five shooters in the league. Given the team's lack of shooters in the backcourt, it will need Redd to stretch the defense. 2. Desmond Mason 3 6-5 14.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg in 34.5 mpg Mason is the team's best athlete and a top-notch defender. But his energy off the bench is just as important. He'll also get minutes at the three backing up Tim Thomas. Center Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. Daniel Santiago 2 7-1 -- Santiago was the team's best low-post offensive option in the Bucks' opener versus the Grizzlies. He has soft hands, a nice baby hook and most importantly, NBA size. 2. Dan Gadzuric 1 6-11 3.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg in 15.5 mpg Started his rookie season hot, then faded big time at the end. He's runs the floor well, is athletic and good defender. Don't be shocked if he steals minutes from Przybilla. 3. Joel Przybilla 4 7-1 1.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg in 17.1 mpg No offense. No defense. No clue. Power Forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. Joe Smith 8 6-10 7.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg in 20.7 mpg Will a change of scenery do him good. Smith played with a passion rarely seen in the first preseason game. We all know he has the talent. Will being asked to lead a young team be the thing that awakens him from the dead? 2. Marcus Haislip 1 6-10 4.1 ppg, 1.4 rpg in 11.3 mpg Haislip's another incredible athlete who just needs more experience. He runs the floor, attacks the basket and has a pretty nice perimeter shot. If Smith continues to underachieve, Haislip has the talent to take the position. 3. Brian Skinner 5 6-9 6.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg in 17.9 mpg Coach Porter loves this blue collar rebounder. He started the first exhibition game, will he still have the position by the end of the season? 4. Jason Caffey 8 6-8 5.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg in 17.5 mpg Bucks should have shown him the door at the same time they kicked Anthony Mason to the curb. Small Forward Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. Tim Thomas 6 6-10 13.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg in 29.5 mpg Has underachieved every season. Now that he's out of the shadows of Glenn Robinson, Ray Allen and Sam Cassell, will Thomas finally be the big dog in Milwaukee? 2. Toni Kukoc 10 6-11 11.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg in 27.0 mpg Was the team's most important player last season, but how much longer will he last, especially if the Bucks stink? Point Guard Exp Ht '02-03 Stats Notes 1. T. J. Ford R 5-10 -- Coach Porter said he's still unsure whether Ford will be the opening night starter, but after Ford's strong play against the Grizzlies, it's hard to argue that the Bucks have a better option. His ability to push the ball and see the floor will be more effective if he can convince his teammates to run the floor with him. 2. Erick Strickland 6 6-3 6.5 ppg, 2.0 apg in 18.0 mpg He's a hard worker but he's not a starter. 3. Damon Jones 5 6-3 4.6 ppg, 1.6 apg in 14.5 ppg More of a scorer than a point guard.

By Chad Ford ESPN.com Editor's note: Here's a glimpse of the good -- and the bad -- that could happen to the 2003-04 Milwaukee Bucks. Best Case Scenario Three things need to happen for the Bucks to win 35 games and come close to a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference this season. It's now or never for Tim Thomas to live up to his six-year, $67 million deal. 1. Tim Thomas must awaken from his slumber. The excuses have gotten old. After years of playing second fiddle to Glenn Robinson, Tim Thomas got the chance to prove his worth out of the Big Dog's shadow last season. While he finished with his highest scoring output ever, it was barely a blip above what he was doing as a super sub. With Ray Allen and Sam Cassell also out of the picture, this is his team. If he doesn't step up, the Bucks will sink under the weight of his terrible contract. 2. Ditto for Joe Smith. The Bucks didn't dump Cassell just so they could get their hands on Joe Smith. They were ridding themselves of a cancer and willing to do just about anything to do it. Smith is a nice guy with a lot of talent that just seems to regress every year. When he's aggressive, he can be a good rebounder and scorer in the paint. Will getting out of Minnesota revitalize his game? 3. T. J. Ford better be the real deal. The Bucks dumped longtime point guard Cassell and let Gary Payton get away this summer, leaving T.J. Ford with the keys to the Bucks' offense. He has the floor vision and knack to play the position, but his size and durability will be a constant question mark. After a slow start in his first preseason game, Ford really turned it on in the fourth quarter and finished with 15 points and seven assists. Before the game, coach Terry Porter still wasn't sure whether Ford would be the opening-night starter. After the game, all he could talk about was his rookie's poise as the game wound down. "He's had that from Day 1," Porter said. Worst Case Scenario The Bucks will be looking at 17 victories and the No. 1 pick in the draft next summer if the following three things happen. 1. The defense doesn't improve. The Bucks had the luxury of playing bad defense when the Big Three were lighting up the scoreboard. Now that Michael Redd and Desmond Mason have to do all the scoring, defense will be key. Porter has the athletes, but can he get them in the right mindset? His starting five got lit up by the Grizzlies' starters in their first preseason game. 2. A big hole remains in the middle. The Bucks haven't had a decent center in years and this year is no different. Daniel Santiago, Dan Gadzuric and Joel Przybilla don't exactly inspire confidence. Santiago is gifted on the offensive end, Gadzuric runs the floor well and Przybilla has a love affair going on with the injured list. But unless one of them grabs eight or nine boards a game, the Bucks are going to get killed on the glass. 3. Coach Porter doesn't know what he's doing. Porter was respected by all as a player, but with just one year experience as an assistant coach, was he really ready to take over a team? His inexperience showed on the opening night of the preseason, as Hubie Brown had his Grizzlies running like a well-oiled machine while Porter's Bucks didn't always look confident in what they were doing. Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN.com's ESPN Insider.

It comes down to the two things everyone's said since things were cemented: a: chemistry: in the form of leadership on offense from JT, defense from Theo, and in general from Reef and the coaching staff...we have to play as a team...we're now a young team, but not really an "inexperienced one." b: we can't afford any injuries, esp. to a starter (see Dion). Our bench really isn't bad, with the exception of a long range shooter (we don't really have a good bu sg), but we have decent bu role players at all the other positions...but only one at each of them, and most of them, JV, Nailon, even Hendu and Nazr to a lesser degree, can really only play one position...

Ford will show promise, TT will be fine, avg 18/7 or so and the team will try to play uptempo...thus negating Toni's abilities, though he'll help when TJ's slowed or the team plays more half court offense... the team will struggle mightily because they have less of a bench than us and are very, very weak inside.

Buyout mania needs to catch on By Chad Ford NBA Insider Send an Email to Chad Ford Wednesday, October 8 Updated: October 8 9:32 AM ET The salary cap is a straight jacket. The luxury tax is a swift kick to the butt. But the biggest scourge to any NBA roster is an aging or injured veteran making huge dollars and literally chocking his team out of hope on the floor and cap relief in the future. The overpaid, over-the-hill NBA player has become arsenic. Has the NBA finally found an antidote? Mason In the past few weeks we've seen teams finally get proactive and work to get players who are no longer contributing off the books with buyouts and trades. Anthony Mason worked out one in Milwaukee. Glen Rice got his release from the Jazz just days after he was traded. The Nets got really aggressive, agreeing to pay Dikembe Mutombo $27 million of his $37 million remaining on his contract not to play in New Jersey this season. Teams have various reasons for making the moves, but almost all of them are financial. With the luxury tax giving teams a dollar-for-dollar penalty for every penny they're over the threshold, teams (and owners) are getting more desperate. "Most owners in this league want to make money," Grizzlies president Jerry West told Insider. "That's almost impossible to do, especially in the small markets, it you're paying the luxury tax. So that's why you see some of these crazy buyouts and trades. They're not motivated by basketball. It's a different world." West should know. He was able to steal two big men, Jake Tsakalidis and Bo Outlaw, from the Suns a week ago by offering them three players whose contracts happen to expire next season. GM Bryan Colangelo gave up his starting center and his scrappiest big man defender to get under the luxury-tax threshold next season. Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor is in an enviable position. With the team roughly $9 million under the cap, he has a luxury that few GMs enjoy. He's been fielding calls for weeks from teams willing to give the Jazz first-round draft picks if they'll take a player making big money off their hands this season. The Jazz got two first-rounders and dumped wayward center John Amaechi to Houston just by agreeing to take Rice's $9 million salary off their hands. The team promptly dumped him and, in the process, freed up even more cap room for next summer. Will the trend catch on? A few other players appear ripe for a buyout. Antonio Davis is begging to get out of Toronto. No one seems to want to take on his three years, $36 million left on his contract. Will he finally put his money where his mouth is? Stoudamire Portland owner Paul Allen promised to clean up his act in Portland, but right now all of the guys who caused the team trouble are still in the locker room. Why not send Damon Stoudamire and Ruben Patterson packing with buyouts? Both want out of Portland and Allen, who's trying to save money anyway, should be able to work out something that works for both sides. Stoudamire has two years, $25 million remaining on his deal. Patterson's contract will be harder to swallow. He's got four years, and $25 million left. Another trade may also be in the works. Right now the Suns, Grizzlies, Nets, Raptors and Pistons are trying to reduce payroll. With both the Jazz and Nuggets sitting under the cap, don't be surprised if they get offered a sweetheart deal to take a player off their roster. If the Suns could move Brevin Knight (in the last year of his deal) on to Utah, the team would save roughly $10 million dollars this year. That's worth a draft pick, right? Around the League Depending on who you believe, the Knicks appear to be on the verge of completing every rumored deal they've been involved in for the past six years this year. First, they moved Latrell Sprewell to Minnesota in a deal that had been rumored for almost two years. In return they landed Keith Van Horn, another guy Knicks president Scott Layden's been after for years. Now, in one fell swoop, are the Knicks about to acquire both Dikembe Mutombo and Nick Van Exel? It depends on who you believe. The Mutombo deal seems close to getting done. The Knicks are willing to overpay (to the tune of $10-12 million over the next three years) and Mutombo reportedly doesn't want to pack up and move. He'll clear waivers sometime in the next 24 hours and just about everyone expects him to land in New York shortly thereafter. Van Exel The Van Exel stuff is trickier. The New York Post has reported for the past three days that if the Knicks land Mutombo, they're set to deal Kurt Thomas and Charlie Ward to Golden State in return for Van Exel. It makes sense for both teams. The Knicks need firepower and have coveted Van Exel for years. Van Exel wants to play in New York, guaranteeing that he'll show up and play hard most nights. By pulling the trigger on the deal, the Warriors could save $4 million this year (assuming they exercise a two million buyout on Ward's contract), and roughly $7 million next season. However, the New York Times, citing a Warriors official, is reporting that "absolutely nothing is happening with the Knicks." That's because Chris Mullin, soon to be the Warriors new GM, is in love with Van Exel and honestly believes that he'll lead the Warriors to the playoffs this season. Just about everyone else in the league, however, believes that a disgruntled Nick won't do much more than lead the Warriors to the cellar in a tough Western Conference. Will Glen Rice land in New Jersey or with the Clippers? Published reports had him going both places this morning. The Nets move makes sense. New Jersey desperately needs shooters who can pull defenses out of the paint. The Clippers rumor makes no sense. If Rice wanted to play for a rebuilding team, why didn't he just stick with the Jazz? Serbian forward Ognjen Askrabic is in Denver working out for the Nuggets. Askrabic is one of the best Serbian players still not on an NBA roster. The Mavs flirted with signing him the past two seasons, but contract difficulties with his team, FMP, made it impossible. Askrabic is in the last year of his deal with FMP and the team apparently is willing to talk about a buyout. The question is, how much are the Nuggets willing to pay? The team needs depth and experience; Askrabic offers both. But without a full training camp to prepare for the season, GM Kiki Vandeweghe sounded skeptical. "This year is tough," Vandeweghe told the Rocky Mountain News. "Next year, he can be improved. I'd like to see him in a summer conditioning program. A summer of work would help him." "He really knows how to play basketball," Vandeweghe said. "He's a good shooter and a good passer. Obviously, he has to work on his quickness and defensive abilities." Peep Show By Terry Brown NBA Insider Wednesday, October 8 Updated: October 8 9:33 AM ET Detroit Pistons: What happens when you take the league's most boring offense and add in a coach who likes an up tempo game?"We were mixed up and scrambling all night," point guard Chauncey Billups said in the Detroit News. "But it's a learning curve. It's going to be a while for us to jell. We aren't running the same things we did last year. It's going to take some patience." Head coach Larry Brown agreed. "Right now, this is a learning process for me and for the players," he said after the team's first exhibition game. "I am just trying to figure out what these guys can do and what they like to do." Baker Boston Celtics: Get ready for the new Vin Baker. "(He) plays like a guy that knows everything you're trying to accomplish, and I think playing very solid basketball," coach Jim O'Brien said in the Boston Herald. "I think he's going to have a heck of a year. He's very light, very mentally focused, extremely confident.'' Baker is preparing to play his first game with the Celtics since being suspended last season and entering alcohol rehab. Cleveland Cavaliers: The Lorraine Morning Journal is reporting that guard Dajuan Wagner will have surgery perhaps to repair a knee injury sustained near the end of last season. ''That's the only thing we've heard (that he'll have surgery),'' coach Paul Silas said. No other details were available. Minnesota Timberwolves: Michael Olowokandi has a new best friend whether he likes it or not. "He and I are going to become very friendly," Timberwolves general manager Kevin McHale said in the Pioneer Press. "He'll do all right. Michael has some real skills. He's been gifted body-wise, and he's got a little edge to him. I think you're going to see a very good Michael Olowokandi here." And after five seasons with the lowly Clippers, Olowokandi isn't complaining. "When I came here two or three months ago, I was here for only two days, and in those two days alone, (McHale) made a huge difference," Olowokandi said. "Like I always said, it's a little different when you have coaches teaching you from a textbook or having coaches who really don't know the game as far as playing inside. We have a GM whose job is to put a team together and also was one of the best low-post guys. It's a huge plus." Chicago Bulls: Eddy Curry is sore. Jamal Crawford is sore. Tyson Chandler is sore. And don't even get us started on Eddie Robinson or Scottie Pippen. "We try to be mindful of how much to push them, but it's a very tough balancing act," coach Bill Cartwright said in the Chicago Tribune. "We pulled back [Tuesday]. We were going to scrimmage a bit, but Tyson and Jamal went down [halfway through practice] so we just reviewed [plays]." Brown's plays perplex Pistons Chris McCosky / Detroit News Rehabbed Baker a go Steve Bulpett / Boston Herald Wagner will have surgery Bob Finnan / Lorain Morning Journal Olowokandi soon will return to school Mike Wells / St. Paul Pioneer Press Players dropping, and so is curtain K.C. Johnson / Chicago Tribune

"Do you think that if we are close to making the play-offs around the trading deadline that the organization would be agressive in improving the team... even if it meant going over the cap? Or, do you think they are done for the season?" It's tough to say ~ mostly because it's hard to imagine a trade scenario that would allow us to better compete for anything this year. Really, any "trade" at that point would have to involve Nazr or Theo and some filler (cc maybe), as they're the only two that really have any value and could be "traded" for someone and get someone in return that would "push us over the edge" it's simply too hard to predict at this point, the situation too hard to imagine.