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November 11, 2008
McDyess coveted by Brown, others
Now that Antonio McDyess is becoming a free agent (via a buyout deal with the Denver Nuggets), Bobcats coach Larry Brown is free to say he’d love McDyess on his team.
It’s a long shot: McDyess (right) figures to return to the Detroit Pistons once a league-imposed 30-day waiting period expires to re-sign with the team that traded him. Why would McDyess sacrifice millions in a buyout at the end of his career, then not go to a contender?
Still, Brown – who coached McDyess his final season in Detroit -- loves the guy.
“He’s tremendous; teammates used to tease him that he was my second son,’’ Brown said. “I think every team in the league – and especially teams with a chance to win – have to be actively pursuing him.
“I remember when we lost in Game 7 (of the 2005 NBA Finals), most of the guys in the room had won the year before. Dice didn’t win and he didn’t take his uniform off – he was really distraught. So I would like him to have a chance to win a championship.’’
“I just hope what’s best for him happens.’’
Nuggets might be without Martin tonight
The Bobcats might catch a break tonight, injury-wise. Nuggets coach George Karl said power forward Kenyon Martin is no better than 50-50 to play tonight, because of a sprained wrist.
Martin participated in only part of shootaround before leaving for the training room, and Karl said he’d be reluctant this early in the season to play Martin unless Martin is confident he’s healed enough not to make the injury worse.
Bobcats center Emeka Okafor, who’s been fighting a case of the flu, said he’s feeling much better and will play tonight.
Bobcats after Kaman?
Some of you’ve been emailing me about a report in the New York Post that the Bobcats could be angling to acquire Chris Kaman from the Los Angeles Clippers or Sean Williams from the New Jersey Nets.
Peter Vecsey is a well-connected veteran in this business, so if he says Kaman is available, he knows something.
But teams don’t give up young, quality centers on the cheap. I realize Marcus Camby is there now (sure wish the Bobcats had saved the cap room to get in on that salary dump), but logic tells you Charlotte would have to offer one sweet deal to get Kaman.
Williams is a much more dubious proposition. Of course, the Bobcats could have drafted him, had they been more receptive to the Nets’ offer of a first-round pick in 2007 for Sean May. (Of course that assumes May would have passed a trade physical at the time.)
Posted by Observer Sports on November 11, 2008 at 02:17 PM | Permalink
Comments
Scott, can you provide your insight about which trade will likely happen, if any? Do you have any additional sources? I didn't read anything I didn't know already...
Posted by: bubcutz | Nov 11, 2008 2:42:36 PM
Scott, can you provide your insight about which trade will likely happen, if any? Do you have any additional sources? I didn't read anything I didn't know already...
Posted by: bubcutz | Nov 11, 2008 2:42:37 PM
While a deal for Kaman would be big, you're right in the fact that the Clippers would ask for a lot. If that doesn't happen, how likely do you think it is that Matt Carroll will be traded?
Brown says he and Adam overlap in play and Adam doesn't have the long contract to pay, and we was too high of a pick to give up on so soon.
"Peter Vecsey reports Charlotte is willing to trade Matt Carroll for Sean Williams and Trenton Hassell" if a deal for another big can't be worked out.
Posted by: Yeah? | Nov 11, 2008 2:43:02 PM
That's Rick, not Scott, but I've been called worse...
Anyway, I don't know that either trade will happen, but I've written twice before that Carroll and Morrison have redundant skill sets, so one figures to leave via trade. Matt has an interesting contract -- three more guaranteed seasons beyond this, but it DECREASES, rather than INCREASES in cost each season. It drops about $400,000 per year to a cost of $3.9 million for 2011-12.
Seems like that would make inheriting the contract more attractive to a potential trade partner.
Posted by: Rick Bonnell | Nov 11, 2008 3:00:21 PM
Hey Rick, Any idea how close Sean May is to returning? And please tell me there not serious about the Eddie Curry trade. He's overweight and having knee problems, do we want to go down that road again? I've not seen alot of Sean Williams. I would hope he's a big improvement at the 4 over Dudley...
Posted by: Tony Belk | Nov 11, 2008 3:26:46 PM
I wonder if any deal could be sweetened by throwing butterball May in for free.
Posted by: apauldds | Nov 11, 2008 3:27:04 PM
How active are these talks? If any of these trades are going to happen when can you see them going down? Tonight? Tomarrow? Weekend? Next week?
Posted by: Ammofan | Nov 11, 2008 4:01:15 PM
Rick,
Thanks for mentioning Sean Williams! It's frustrating to see him underused in N.J. when we could seriously use his upside. Sean--if he nears his potential--would be the PERFECT defensive compliment to Emeka Okafor. I love Matt Carroll to death, but losing him would be worth the risk of acquiring a PF prospect in Williams. And I'm sure Matt wants playing time.
Posted by: DeLaQuest | Nov 11, 2008 4:10:51 PM
I am pretty sure Sean Williams played with Dudley at Boston College. I think he would be a nice addition to the team and trading for him is realistic. It was impossible to foresee Sean may being constantly out of shape. I just hope he is in shape by the end of the year.
Posted by: Token | Nov 11, 2008 4:17:52 PM
Tony Belk,
Williams has the potential to be the best defensive complement to Emeka Okafor in the league. The kid shut down Michael Beasley in summer league because he can defend inside AND outside.
I saw him in an exhibition game here Oct. '07. He was physically impressive: explosive, and a lot stronger in person than he looks on TV. I remember thinking that he was head-and-shoulders above Jermareo Davidson as an athlete(Both were rookies).
Williams had some personal troubles at Boston College. I hope all of that is behind him. But the fact that he is so talented and yet out of the rotation makes me wonder....
Posted by: DeLaQuest | Nov 11, 2008 4:18:14 PM
I wonder if Sean Williams and Jared Dudley are friends from their BC days. With LB and all of the good guys on the team, the Bobcats might be the perfect group for S.Williams in case there are any lingering immaturity issues.
Posted by: DeLaQuest | Nov 11, 2008 4:23:31 PM
Chris Kaman. Hmmm.
Honestly, the Andrea Bargnani rumors excite me more than the Kaman rumors, for these reasons:
1. Offensive spacing. Kaman would be constantly stifled by tall double teams because Emeka won't hit any 12-15 footers from passes OUT of the double-team.
2. Offensve spacing part 2. Bargnani can nail it from the outside. This would open up room for Emeka's post game. Emeka will never be Tim Duncan, but he'll do okay in the low post when he is surrounded by shooters to stretch the defense. Also, Emeka is a fine rebounder to go after Bargnani's missed jumpers.
3. Bargnani is only 23 and still developing. He's having a great season so far--shooting lights out and swatting shots.
4. Neither Kaman nor Bargnani complement Okafor on defense, so I'd just go with the offensive complement.
5. Maybe I'm crazy. Kaman is superior to Bargnani. But I just don't see how he and Okafor could ever complement each other unless we go back to the early 90's NBA.
Posted by: DeLaQuest | Nov 11, 2008 4:42:25 PM
There are Bargnani trade rumors?
Posted by: Yeah? | Nov 11, 2008 4:58:41 PM
Yeah?
I heard some Barnani rumors involing Wallace for Barnani and Kapono.
Posted by: William L | Nov 11, 2008 5:03:56 PM
I would just go after Williams and keep Wallace. If the only reason you trade Wallace is to get a PF.
Posted by: William L | Nov 11, 2008 5:21:18 PM
William L,
I agree. Carroll for S.Williams and Hassell would be the most sound Bobcat move of the ones recently discussed. I'm kind of shocked that N.J. would do that.
A frontline of Wallace, S.Williams, and Okafor could seriously be "nasty" on the defensive end. Offensively, we'd have to run a lot off of blocked shots and rebounds. In the halfcourt offense, Felton and JRich would really have to step up their create/drive game.
Posted by: DeLaQuest | Nov 11, 2008 5:53:28 PM
Ugh...Andrea Bargnani is AWFUL. He actually manages to be a worse rebounder than Adam Morrison, and he's FOUR INCHES TALLER.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Nov 12, 2008 12:44:07 AM
I agree with the comments about needing the low post scoring, but bargnani is not that answer. Charlotte made its bed by resigning okafor, so now they have to either get a center or PF that can score away from the basket. Both the S. Williams and Curry trade don't make much sense from that view point. As of now, have to cross our fingers and hope May can get it together
Posted by: awayne83 | Nov 12, 2008 1:09:31 AM
Wow, now that is saying something. I haven't looked it up this year, but I know during his rookie season, Morrison had the lowest rebounding average per minute of anyone in the league above 6'2. So, if Bargnani is worse than that, ouch.
I definately wouldn't trade Wallace for Bargnani, but I would be open for a Carroll for Bargnani swap. I really like Carroll, but we have such a glut of wing players.
Posted by: Mason | Nov 12, 2008 8:53:29 AM
Bargnani being a worse rebounder than Morrison is not supported by any statistical data. UNLESS you mean a worse rebounder FOR HIS SIZE. But besides, who wants Bargnani for his rebounding?
Bargnani this year(from espn.com):
Every 40 minutes of action, he
blocks 2.9 shots(yes, you read that right)
scores 15.7 points
Shoots 53% from the field
Shoots 54% from 3Pt land
grabs 7.1 rebounds(Morrison averages 4.3/40min)
If Bargnani keeps this up, I'm interested. Yes, he was bad last year. But he seems to have turned it around. He is a still-developing former #1 big.
A 7-footer who can drain 3's and help our offensive spacing? A big who can actually give us a pick-and-pop play? A 7-foot prospect who's barely 23? One who comes with a cheaper, shorter contract than Wallace? It's worth looking into.
Posted by: DeLaQuest | Nov 12, 2008 3:19:10 PM
awayne83,
BARGNANI scores away from the basket. So why not try HIM?
Matt Carroll for Sean Williams makes so much sense, it's ridiculous. I DO understand what you are saying--It would NOT help our halfcourt offense. But we would definitely have a stronger defense--one that would start some serious fast breaks.
A PF who helps offensively OR defensively would be a godsend at this point. Don't you agree?
With Carroll-for-Williams, at least we would still have Gerald with HIS low-post scoring against Wings, along with his many other talents.
Posted by: DeLaQuest | Nov 12, 2008 3:32:40 PM
Bargnani would be another bust. Please don't consider trading anything more valuable than Carroll for him. Please don't add another jump shooter to a team of jump shooters. Bargnani sucks and doesn't know how to play for the better of the team. I don't see him getting this team more wins.
Kaman would be perfect. One of the top five centers in the league on both ends (one could argue). He would not come cheap I guess. Maybe Baron Davis wants to play alongside J-Rich again? They could use a good SG, it's the only position they lack a quality player (Gordon not there yet). If I were the Clippers, J-Rich would be the only player from the Bobcats I would consider trading for Kaman. But if I were the Bobcats I would not give away my best player.
Sean Williams is quite limited offensively and Hassell is kind of useless. But I like Williams potential a lot and think this deal would be very useful.
Posted by: Rich | Nov 14, 2008 2:20:02 PM
Rich,
IF ONLY we had a big man who could make jump shots! IF ONLY we had a big man who could do ANYTHING well while having a basketball in his hands!
If we get a big that makes jump shots, it allows Raymond, JRich, Gerald, and DJ more room to drive to the hole. And Emeka will have more space to execute his few, sometimes-effective, post moves on the block.
I don't buy this accepted idea that we have too many jump shooters.
All we have to do is add one PF to bring it all together. And then these "many" jump shooters will become very useful. Is it an offensive, post-up big? Is it an outside-shooting big who stretches the defense to allow more driving space for others? Is it a primo defender who ignites a lot of fastbreak opportunities? News flash. It could be ANY of these! We just need to add an NBA starter who fits one of these descriptions. Because we can count out getting a COMPLETE, top-notch player at PF for a decent price. It's not gonna happen.
Posted by: DeLaQuest | Nov 14, 2008 6:29:51 PM
I agree, of course we need an NBA starter. Bargnani isn't exactly that. I'm just saying. If there is nothing more valuable involved in the deal than Carroll, go get Bargnani. Otherwise it seems like a mistake.
A starting lineup of Okafor, Bargnani, Wallace, Richardson and Felton would often look funny I think. Four guys standing behind the arc waiting for the ball to jack it up and Okafor feeling lonely in the paint.
Posted by: Rich | Nov 15, 2008 1:36:22 PM
Rich,
I think in that scenario, we would need to do a lot of post-ups with Gerald/JRich, and pick-and-roll drives with Raymond.
If you look around the East, it's pretty standard for at least one big in the starting 5 to have face-up, outside shooting skills. And it's usually the PF.
Posted by: DeLaQuest | Nov 16, 2008 1:50:47 AM
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