Comments on: I Want To Draft Like It’s 1999

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:39:37 +0000

Amare is applied to the 10-11 cap at a certain “cap hold” salary. A sort of “phantom salary.”

If that takes the Knicks over the cap, they’d have to renounce his rights (or sign him cheaper) to get another free agent.

That’s the problem the Knicks will have next year with Duhon (only obviously a less significant problem).

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:15:22 +0000

Can someone remind me how the Bird Rights work again? Specifically — let’s say we traded for Amare and his currently 15MM/year contract with ETO after 2009-2010. Let’s also say that we somehow clear enough post-2009-10 cap room to sign another max free agent if Amare opts out. Can we then sign Lebron/Wade/whoever and then go above the cap to sign Amare?

By: The Honorable Cock Jowles

The Honorable Cock Jowles — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:59:02 +0000

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/onealsh01.html

Shaq’s not washed up — at least not yet. Last season he posted his best statistical season since ’04-’05. I wouldn’t necessarily contribute it to pace, either, as his ORB% and TRB% are slightly under his career averages (which, of course, are bolstered by his ridiculous seasons near the turn of the century). His TS% is more likely to be affected by Nash and the Phoenix offense, but guess what? At .623, it’s .018 higher than his career best. Surprised? Me too.

Cleveland gives up an offensive liability in Wallace and … who the **** is Pavlovic? I’m tempted to make a Gravity’s Rainbow joke, but this isn’t the appropriate forum. Aside from money (and really, who cares outside of that front-office) this may turn the Cavs into a 68-70 win team. Is it wrong to entertain the thought?

By: Ted Nelson

Ted Nelson — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:57:02 +0000

Can’t read Hollinger’s article, but yeah Rubio definitely needs serious work on scoring efficiency. He draws fouls well, but his shooting is a work in progress.

Rubio’s Euroleague stats seem pretty irrelevant though, not sure whether Hollinger mentions this. He played a grand total of 66 minutes over 5 games this season, recovering from a wrist injury. His previous 302 minutes in the Euroleague came at 16 years old… Ginobili was 23 before appearing and played again at 24. Calderon played in the Euroleague at 21, 22, and 23. Jaric at 22 and 23. Is there really a comparison to be made?

In the ULEB Cup (best teams who don’t qualify for Euroleague) in 2007-2008 Rubio had a TS% of .633 in 335 minutes of action… so who knows what he’ll do in the NBA.

Rubio Euroleague:
http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?seasoncode=E2006&pcode=LFW

Rubio Spain:
http://www.acb.com/stsacumjug.php?cod_jugador=BA5

Jennings Euroleague:
http://www.acb.com/stsacumjug.php?cod_jugador=BA5

Jennings put up the same TS% last season as Rubio did at 16, so his claim of being a better scorer doesn’t seem too valid.

Cabezas is a very efficient scorer but subjectively not someone you’d think of as NBA material. Not a great playmaker, but solid. He’s sort of the defensive specialist in the backcourt for Spain’s national team, whatever that’s worth. I suppose he could be a backup PG in the NBA.
http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?seasoncode=E2008&pcode=AWX

By: BigBlueAL

BigBlueAL — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:46:08 +0000

Shaq is the young running mate Lebron needed to win the title. Yeah right. Although they did get him for literally nothing since the Suns arent even planning on keeping either Ben or Pavlovic.

Gonna be interesting to see what the Cavs do with Big Z now that they have Shaq. At least Shaq only has 1 year left on his contract.

By: Duff Soviet Union

Duff Soviet Union — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:37:10 +0000

According to Adrian Woj at Yahoo! the Shaq trade is pretty much official now. Ben Wallace, Pavlovic and a late second rounder.

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:31:02 +0000

I like the Darko rumor. OBviously he would come here and try to prove himself in the New York market. DO it here and he could be a star but hes coming up on a contract year so theres money to be made there. Its all up to him. We’d be rid of an aging Q Rich who never panned out for us anyway. Im afraid of us making some kind of strange selection and having to wait for July for some sort of sign and trade to be done. In essence leaving us all in limbo for a couple of more days until we can hammer out a contract with D. Lee. Also, if we dont get a guard does that mean we keep Nate. I dont really think thats a bad thing. How many games did he keep us in this year. Knowing what Nate can do were would he be drafted in this years draft. Its a different perspective to look at things. Getting Rubio would be great. Getting Curry would be spectacular for the fans. Getting Evans would be very interesting too because hes crazy athletic and i think he going to be a star. OKC needs to take Thabeet. With him blocking shots they will become a stronger team. All these rumors are crazy.!! Im really hoping the Knicks lock up the 28th pick and get a shot blocker instead of another guard. Is McClinton our only option? What about Dionte Christmas who was great at Temple. Patty Mills? Are there any shot blockers for us at 28? Maybe Jennings might slip really far……who knows? ALso on a side note…i would be nice to see the Nets take Hansborough and line him up with Brook Lopez.

By: Caleb

Caleb — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:21:37 +0000

“Hollinger’s European draft prospects article just came out. Lets just say the stats dont bode well at all for Rubio and Jennings.”

I have to admit that article did cool my enthusiasm for Rubio, but just a bit. His projection doesn’t take age into account, and Rubio is the youngest player in the draft. No one, at least not I, ever thought he’d be a star right off the bat. But it’s true, he has a long way to go as a scorer.

I’d say some of the same things about Jennings – he’s only 19, and playing a totally different system than he ever had. But no, he wasn’t good at all this year.

By: Owen

Owen — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:27:48 +0000

I liked the bit about Manu. In general I love to contemplate how things could have gone differently. My main fantasy is, what if Kobe had never been traded from Charlotte to the Lakers the year Shaq arrived in LA. But it’s a fun game to play with almost any player….

By: BigBlueAL

BigBlueAL — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:33:04 +0000

Hollinger’s European draft prospects article just came out. Lets just say the stats dont bode well at all for Rubio and Jennings. Didnt realize how truly awful Rubio’s shooting percentages are. Also he mentioned that Cabezas, the Spanish PG the Knicks were rumored to be looking at to sign (not draft) isnt that good either.