[phoenixnash]

Originally Posted by 100%Caborn

Cardinal is not a banger, far from it...he's just the same as Walker... and 'Toine has a team option in his contract so he's basically an expiring contract. Jaric will be expire after next season. Collins is another overpaid big the Grizz got rid of. Like I said before, they were going to give Miller away anyway so at least in this trade they packaged him for a high draft pick.

As for the Wolves, Love & Jefferson? Tell me who's going to protect the paint. Their defense is going to be atrocious. The Wolves acquired more depth but at the price of their future PG or SG. To top it off, they'll probably lose Craig Smith this summer, and heck, the Grizzlies could use him.

You're acting like Grizz are a financial mess. They are not. The Grizz are going to suck for a couple of more years, so they will get some lottery picks to spend on big men. They have a lot of guards so there will be trade opportunities (I'm envisioning a Conley for David Lee-type deal). Also, if the owner sells the team maybe the new owner will spend some of that free cap on a free agent.

Say Conley & Jaric are traded for Lee and Rose's expiring contract. That leaves them with 4 young, core players--Crittenton, Mayo, Gay, Lee, along with future draft picks. Shoot, I wouldn't be surprised if Love becomes the next David Lee.

The only burden they have is Marko Jaric and he expires next season. A trade like the above mentioned would eliminate that burden.

Stars win games in this league. If you get the chance to trade 2 solid players for 1 star, you do it. Mayo may not be a star, but it's a gamble many GM's would be willing to take.

I think you're a little confused about the salaries, Collins have 6.1M ending next year, Miller makes 8.3M and Cardinal has 5.8M both ending in 2010 so that's roughly about 20M in cap relief before entering the 2010 free agency market. While the Grizz got Jaric 6M and Toine's 8.3M both expiring in 3 years. So I guess that's what I consider a finacial mess.

I agree that stars win games... but one star wont do it especially in the west...you should know even Kobe cant do it. Miller, Jefferson, and Love may not be your stars but you defintely build a team. And with a cap space like what they have by 2010, they can be major players in the market to look for a star. Mchale put them in a position where if this doesnt work, at least you have the free agency to look forward to. With Memphis if Mayo turns out to be a bust, and you said it yourself its a gamble... they dont have any other options besides waiting for the bouncing ball to go their way.

[100%Caborn]

Well I'm just going by memory here since hoopshype salaries are outdated, but I remember Walker having a team option after this season. I could be wrong.

Not one star... if both players pan out, Rudy and Mayo should both be stars. Rudy did average 20/6 this season.

And I never said the Wolves would not have cap space.

Edit- regarding Walker's status:

Walker is due $9.3 million next season and has a team option worth over $10 million next summer. Don't expect to see him on the rebuilding Timberwolves roster next season.

The Internet is never the best source of information but I believe the info is correct...

EDIT #2 -- SI says Cardinal's salary increases 6.3 mil then to 6.75 mil the last season.

And from 3 shades of blue (dot blogspot dot com)

The real question is what it means further down the line for the Grizzlies. Antoine Walker with his expiring contract is almost certainly gone. Buckner's contract has a team buyout as well. He will have the opportunity to earn that option but if not then he can be bought out for $1 million. I fully expect that buyout to be exercised so both Walker and Buckner are one year rentals that clear up cap space for next summer's sweepstakes. That means Memphis has a ton of money for next season.

More from 3 shades of blue (which has a pretty good reputation btw...so you don't think I'm just pulling some random fan boy off the net)

I think the Mayo trade shows Memphis is serious about rebuilding this franchise in a different manner than previous teams had been built but they paid a high cost for that reorganization. Memphis traded away the best rebounder the team has ever had and Arthur, while a solid all-around player, won't be able to do the things off the glass that Mayo can. Mike Miller was never going to be more than he is, which isn't bad but certainly not something that will shake up the fans.

Mike Miller was never going to be more than he is, which isn't bad but certainly not something that will shake up the fans.

The Grizz also have Darrell Arthur to replace Love. At least I think that's the last trade he was in lol.

On Jaric's contract...you're probably right on that one I just vaguely remember the information...I'll try to look for the data.

[TR1]

Baron Davis just signed with the Clippers! Wow.


Baron Davis shocked the Warriors by opting out of his contract on Monday. Imagine their surprise now.

NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that the guard reached a verbal agreement with the Clippers on Tuesday night and will sign a new multiyear contract with Los Angeles after the leaguewide moratorium on signings and trades is lifted July 9.

Davis was in line to make $17.8 million in the last year of his deal with the Warriors, but after telling the team that he wanted to stay, opted out at the last minute.

Sources told ESPN.com that Davis, 29, will receive a five-year deal worth an estimated $65 million.

Forward Elton Brand also opted out of his contract with the Clippers on Monday, and speculation quickly began that the team would try to keep Brand and sign Davis. This scenario is only possible if the Clippers renounce the rights of Corey Maggette and Brand takes a slight pay cut.


Sources say the Clippers are expected to do just that and quickly reach a verbal agreement to bring back Brand.

Maggette opted out of his deal on Monday as well.

Davis averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds last season for a Warriors team that won 48 games but did not make the playoffs.

[smackdown1111]

Great, this just makes it harder for the Blazers to get in the playoffs next year.
Of course I still think next season will be a growing season as well and never really thought they would make it, but I won't be necessairly shocked if we do make it.

However, Davis will help the Clippers a lot. If people like Davis/Kaman/Brand can stay healthy they should make the playoffs IMO. The Warriors will probably be worse this upcoming season then they were last year.

[chronoxiong]

wow at B Dibby returning home to LA but as a Clipper. this will help their team a lot. and Artest better stay as a King, he aint gonna get much money this offseason anyways.

[JSL]

Baron Davis as a clipper wow. Baron, Al, Brand (if he resigns) will be awesome to watch. It will take forever to see Bynum, Pau, Lamar, Kobe, and Fisher play again.

[Venge™]

Originally Posted by phoenixnash

I suggest you do not use the word "IGNORANT" and back it up with "potential and definite". Justify your post with facts not on prediction. Potential means possibility there's no such thing as a "definite potential".

I said Mayo will never be an All-Star IF he stays with Memphis because of the reasons I stated. If you think those 3reasons does not make any sense...then you are an idiot.

I'm an idiot because I don't agree with you? Get out of that box your living in.

[phoenixnash]

Originally Posted by Venge™

I'm an idiot because I don't agree with you? Get out of that box your living in.

I stated FACTS based in history, and if you call that ignorant that makes you an IDIOT on my book. Just because you did not agree with it, it doesnt mean the post doesnt make sense. You always throw away such condescending words like you always know what you're talking about.

I never said OJ Mayo didnt have potential...but that's the key word POTENTIAL. We will never know until we see it happen. Even if he did turn out to be good, he needs his team to win, he needs to make a name for himself and be the face of that franchise, not Rudy Gay, then maybe he can be an All-Star...Rememer Blazers once held the best record in the West which is why Roy made the All-Star...I dont see that happening with the Grizz this year or next year until they make some major moves. If Mayo and the Grizz were in the EAST it would have been a different story.

[Venge™]

Originally Posted by phoenixnash

I stated FACTS based in history, and if you call that ignorant that makes you an IDIOT on my book. Just because you did not agree with it, it doesnt mean the post doesnt make sense. You always throw away such condescending words like you always know what you're talking about.

I never said OJ Mayo didnt have potential...but that's the key word POTENTIAL. We will never know until we see it happen. Even if he did turn out to be good, he needs his team to win, he needs to make a name for himself and be the face of that franchise, not Rudy Gay, then maybe he can be an All-Star...Rememer Blazers once held the best record in the West which is why Roy made the All-Star...I dont see that happening with the Grizz this year or next year until they make some major moves. If Mayo and the Grizz were in the EAST it would have been a different story.

WOW....haha.....

Your arguments from before were far from facts. They were your opinions, and I can respect that, I just disagreed with them. You don't have to take offense just because people don't agree with you.

And you should get your facts straight, the Blazers NEVER held the best record in the West. They were in the play-off hunt, but were a 6-8 seed (I don't exactly remember). Who cares if Mayo doesn't make the all-star team the next few years, I never said he was a definately going to become an all star, but the fact is, you flat out said he would NEVER make the all-star team with the Grizzlies. That, is a stupid argument. You can't judge how good they'll be in 5 or 6 years. And for the record, I agree with most of your points, but some of your statements are just utterly ridiculous to me.

It's funny how your so sure about Mayo. Just like you were SO SURE the Celtics couldn't beat the Lakers. And then the Celts crushed the Lakers.....

[phoenixnash]

^^^ OMG...you sound like the annoying girlfriend... you base arguments on past posts? So what if I picked the Lakers? Get over it...move on! What does that have to do with OJ Mayo being an All-Star. I did my analysis...you do your own... so be it...but you dont have to be disrespectful.

Oh and to quote myself...

Mayo will never be an All-Star if he stays with the Grizz. He's not a household name and you have to be a winner to be an All-Star...to get votes he has to get more TV time which I doubt they'll get. And for him to be chosen as a reserve he has to carry that grizz team to at least .500 team which will not happen anytime soon. After that he will have to beat a bunch of great guards that he will be competing with in the next 3-4 years, Kobe, AI, Nash, Paul, Deron, Parker, Roy, Ginobili, Kevin Martin, Davis, Ellis, etc.

This is based under the current Grizzlies condition...we are not talking about 5 years down the road...nobody knows if these players are still playing in 5 years. Before you comment read the content and understand, dont pick spots and turn things around.

And as far as the Blazers, they were the best team in the month of December after winning 13 straight and was 22-13 at one point first week of January...cant find sources that they led the West even for a week...but with that record I'll be surprised if they didnt even lead their division. I just cant see that happening with the Grizz "under the current condition"

Stick to the topic and justify with facts... dont disrespect..I got no problem with that...

Great, this just makes it harder for the Blazers to get in the playoffs next year.
Of course I still think next season will be a growing season as well and never really thought they would make it, but I won't be necessairly shocked if we do make it.

However, Davis will help the Clippers a lot. If people like Davis/Kaman/Brand can stay healthy they should make the playoffs IMO. The Warriors will probably be worse this upcoming season then they were last year.

This is even better...more West contenders... and we thought the race last season was the closest...

I heard the Warriors are offering Brand a multi year contract. This would make Baron really upset...He has nothing in the Clippers except for Brand and Kaman. Brand would defintely make GSW into definite contenders.

Celtics is eyeing on Corey Maggette...not sure why and how that would work. Corey would probably come off the bench to be a James Posey. But I like Posey's defense and winning attitude which best fits the Celts.