stephon marbury

NBA: McDyess, Marbury, Gasol

Hoopsworld — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:25:22 -0800

One of the biggest unresolved issues in the NBA today has now been officially resolved. The question I get asked more than any other, whether it's on radio shows across the country, during chats here at HOOPSWORLD, or via email, people are dying to know what's going to happen with Stephon Marbury.

It's almost as big a question as who will be the next President of the United States!

Well, "my friends," the answer has been found.

"It is resolved," D'Antoni told reporters after practice on Tuesday. "It is. Pretty soon that story is not going to be fun to read because it is going to be the same old story. You are going to be beating a dead horse."

"It is a lot of money," D'Antoni said of the $21.9 million still owed Marbury. "He has a contract, rightly so. If somebody gets hurt, we might need him. Why not? Steph has been great. He is part of the team. We are trying to do what is best for the Knicks."

So there you have it . . .biggest mystery solved . . .now let's go watch election coverage.

OK, a little more news first.

McDyess To Be Bought Out

The early word out of Denver was that Antonio McDyess, the throw-in on the Chauncey Billups/Allen Iverson trade, would be bought out. Then Nuggets VP Rex Chapman said most emphatically that the team had every intention of keeping Dice.

Well, apparently that's not going to work out.

The word is that the Nuggets and Andy Miller, McDyess' agent, aren't finding common ground. It seems McDyess may prefer to find greener pastures . . .pastures where a championship may be looming. Once source has him landing back in Detroit, which makes a lot of sense, while another has him heading to San Antonio, which makes almost no sense.

So I guess now all of the people who were talking about Marbury all the time can start talking about McDyess . . .at least until he lands somewhere.

A Good Trade After All?

Last season the NBA world went up in arms when the Memphis Grizzlies traded Pau Gasol to the Lakers for what many considered to be nothing. Memphis got Kwame Brown's ending deal, point guard Javaris Crittenton, and foreign project Marc Gasol.

Something for nothing, right? Mark Cuban was one of the loudest voices opposing the deal, saying the Grizzlies were almost handing the Lakers a championship. Frankly, he seemed to be right.

Meanwhile, Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace held is line that he was only doing what was best for his franchise, and couldn't be worried about the impact a trade might have on other teams.

If you happened to catch last night's game between the Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors, you might find yourself thinking that trade wasn't so bad after all.

Marc Gasol showed promise in his first three games, but what he showed the Warriors was a glimpse of what could be a very bright future for Memphis. Faced with a smaller team, Gasol dominated. He scored 27 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and even blocked three shots.

Not a bad stat line, eh?

Maybe we had better reserve judgment on that trade between the Lakers and the Grizzlies . . .

NBA: Monday Review: Shawn Marion's Fall

Hoopsworld — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:32:24 -0800

By: Preetom Bhattacharya

Marion's Fall from Grace

It wasn't too long ago that Miami Heat forward Shawn Marion had a legitimate argument about being an underrated player in the NBA. After several successful campaigns with the Suns hat included double-double averages and right around .500 shooting from the field, Marion truly was one of the most productive and efficient players around. His Suns tenure simply ended because he constantly wanted recognition and credit for what he was doing, as if his eight-figure salary weren't enough of either.

But nowadays, Marion is nowhere near the same player. Defensively, he has clearly lost a step and his intensity, the energy that made him a special player in Phoenix, is lacking. His shooting percentage projects to this being the worst shooting season of his career. His 9-point, 8-rebound performance on Saturday was uninspired and Marion was completely dominated by Charlotte Bobcats

' forward Gerald Wallace, who led Charlotte to a victory with 34 points and 9 rebounds.

It may be lack of effort or simply a lack of fitting in beside rookie Michael Beasley, but whatever the case is, Marion is lowering his value. Slated to become a free agent in July, Marion is looking straight into the eyes of a significant pay cut from the $17.8-million he's making this year.

Of course, things could turn around and he could once again start playing at the level most around the NBA are accustomed to seeing from him, but right now he looks a year older and a step slower. The question for the HEAT will be how long they continue to wait this thing out – should they move Marion sooner rather than later, hoping a team is willing to rent him as a nice role player and give up some nice young pieces? Or should the team simply allow his contract to expire and utilize the cap space?

Then there's this added wrinkle: Marion is represented by Dan Fegan, who is notorious for injecting himself into personnel decisions by looking for the best situation for his client. Fegan could very well start putting feelers out there to see where Marion could be traded to with the hopes that his client thrives in a new situation, leading to a nice contract to finish Marion's career.

The intrigue from South Beach will continue to fuel rumors of Marion's eventual departure all season long, as some team out there might be willing to bite on Marion's track record. But that interest certainly will wane unless Marion starts to produce

Steph Almost Done in New York?

Tick-tock goes the clock on Stephon Marbury's career as a New York Knick. Marbury is set to meet face-to-face with Donnie Walsh early this week (today or tomorrow) and Walsh seems ready to end the madness before the Knicks play again on Wednesday.

Marbury, who represents himself, has said that he would be unwilling to take a cut from the $20.8-million he is owed this season and has said repeatedly that he wants to continue to play in New York. Walsh, on the other hand, does not have an extended history of buying players out, either. At this point, though, he doesn't have that many options.

Although it seems like Marbury has been made to look like the bad guy in all this, the fact of the matter is the Knicks would simply be adding by subtracting if he were removed from the equation. Marbury's circus act would bring any organization down and although he isn't exactly getting his fair shake from the media, both parties simply need a clean slate and need to move on.

As it stands right now, the HEAT and Denver Nuggets would be the most likely destinations for Marbury to land if he's bought out. Marbury worked out in Denver over the summer with Nuggets' assistant Tim Grgurich and was formerly a teammate of both Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion on the 2004 Team USA Olympic squad.

Pietrus Struggling in Orlando

It isn't a surprise to hear that Mickael Pietrus is struggling to "grasp the scheme" in Orlando. Pietrus left the Golden State Warriors' free-wheeling system and it seems only natural that he'd have a hard time adjusting to the mental challenges of Stan Van Gundy's structured play.

But the mental part of the game wasn't always easy for Pietrus with the Warriors, as he was constantly told to do something different. In five years with the Warriors, Pietrus played for three different coaches and current Warriors' head coach Don Nelson would give Pietrus mixed messages in having him play almost every position on the floor, assuming different responsibilities based on where he was needed.

Granted, that's sort of the beauty of Pietrus' versatility and athleticism – why have all this ability if it won't be used in a variety of ways? But asking Pietrus to play power forward was unreasonable and a difficult task.

For a kid entering the league at the ripe age of 21, Pietrus hasn't heard a consistent voice yet, something he's receiving for the first time with Van Gundy. Give him time, tolerate the occasional boneheaded play, and reap the benefits later on this season when something finally will click for him.

Contract An Early Distraction for Kleiza

Denver Nuggets' forward Linas Kleiza admitted this weekend that the stalled contract-extension talks with the team have been a distraction for him, leading to a less-than-stellar start to the season. Kleiza has shot an atrocious .227 from the field in the Nuggets' three games and is averaging just 5.0 points per game; last season, he averaged 11.1 points on .472 shooting.

Kleiza was close to signing a four-year, $25-million extension on Friday before Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke reportedly decided to maintain the team's financial flexibility by pulling the deal.

The Nuggets have always liked what Kleiza brings to the table, going so far as to not trade him for Ron Artest, so he should end up being a part of the team's long-term plan. But he's got to work himself out of this current funk; he's going to be a key reserve for the Nuggets if they plan to make a playoff run this year.

NBA: Marbury & Curry Saga Continues

Hoopsworld — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 07:02:22 -0700

By: Steve Kyler

The Unhappy Campers: It's the first week of the NBA season and already there is discord among those that did not find a role on their teams or are not happy with how they will be used. Here are the guys looking for the door, and what's most likely to happen with each:

Stephon Marbury: It seems painfully obvious that the Knicks have got to move Stephon Marbury, but at $20.8 million its almost impossible to move that kind of deal until someone decides to blow up their team. The Knicks are not going to take on bad or long-term contracts so finding the deal that lines up with their goals is going to be tough. For Marbury he worked his tail off this summer to get into what everyone is calling "the best shape of his life" which will help the Knicks cause because a team acquiring him would get a player ready to play. Because of the complexity of pulling off a deal of this size, Stephon is likely going to be a Knick for the foreseeable future, but whether he'll be a Knick past the trade deadline seems difficult to envision. As long as Steph plays happy camper he'll be permitted to stay with the team, but if he strays from the company line too far do not be surprised to see the Knicks send him home, in much the same manner the Pacers have done with the unmovable Jamaal Tinsley.

Eddy Curry: Eddy Curry has joined Stephon in the "Mike Won't Use Me" club. Eddy's issue is more about conditioning than any other element. It's believed if Eddy can work himself into game shape, D'Antoni would consider giving him some time. That has not stopped teams from calling looking for what it would take to nab Curry. Mind you, Curry is not going to return a meaningful chip for the Knicks, but his $9.7 million is a far easier deal to trade, and there have been some rumors about the Warriors and Knicks talking swap. The Miami HEAT were also rumored to have interest in Curry, although his remaining three years and $30 plus million do not seem to line up with Miami's goals for cap space in 2009 or 2010. But for the sake of argument Mark Blount for Eddy Curry works under the cap.

Al Harrington: Al Harrington put himself on the market and word is at least four teams have presented the Warriors with trade options, and none of them seem to be blowing up the skirts of Warriors. No one near the team will say who the interested parties may be, but it's believed the Knicks and Warriors have at least talked about a Harrington for Curry swap. The Warriors are not going to spend a lot of time talking about Al's trade demands, but it is believed the Warriors will only act if it's a good deal for them, and Al has pledged to be a good soldier until a deal can be made.

Sean Williams: Nets center Sean Williams has found himself on the outside of the rotation looking in, which is surprising because of how much Nets coach Lawrence Frank likes him. That said Sean says he is content to bide his time and will keep working. The Nets recently picked up Sean's contract option giving them time to decide what to do with Sean, but young energetic front court players are hard to find, and Williams could be an interesting chip for the Nets to cash. The word on Williams is everyone sees the kid's talent, but wonder how committed and focused on winning he really is. With rookie Brook Lopez pegged as the future franchise center, Williams seems to be the odd man out and it also seems he's not doing much to make a case for himself.

Javaris Crittenton: The Grizzlies host the Orlando Magic tonight in Memphis and all eyes will be on Javaris Crittenton. JCritt got a DNP-Coaches Decision on Wednesday versus the Rockets and if he does not get time tonight, it's clear he's not going to get a shot with the Grizz. Crittenton knows he can play at this level; he simply wants a chance to prove it. He came into Grizzlies training camp ready to do that, but higher profile players are stacked in front of him. The Grizzlies coaching staff views him as a shooting guard, as a result he is third or fourth on the depth chart depending on how the Grizz line up. Grizz sources say they would move JCritt for the right deal, but they are not moving him just to move him.

Welcome To New York Mike: The day after the most entertaining win in recent memory, New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni got a taste of the New York media. Reporters badgered him at Knicks practice about a moment in the 120-115 win over the HEAT in which MSG Network cameras caught Mike responding to the crowd. The crowd at the 11 minute mark of the fourth quarter started chanting "We Want Steph" referring to the benched Stephon Marbury. The consensus on Mike's "lip read" response was: "You've got to be (bleeping) kidding me. You've got to be (bleeping) kidding me. What a bunch of (bleep) holes." D'Antoni for his part denies that he was directing comment to the fans, saying he had far too much respect for the fans, indirectly indicating that maybe the commentary was directed towards the officials who had just whistled Mardy Collins for a foul. Hey Mike, welcome to the largest fish bowl on the planet… imagine how relentless they will be if you lose a game?

How Does Joe Do It?: The Detroit Pistons are putting the finishing touches on a four-year deal with forward Jason Maxiell that will keep Jason in Detroit through 2013. The terms of the deal are roughly $20 million, with a player option fourth year. You got to hand it to Pistons' president Joe Dumars – he again gets another deal done at bargain prices. Maxiell is certainly not an elite level guy in the NBA, but $5 million per season? That's chump change by NBA standards for what Maxiell brings to the table. Look at Maxiell's numbers – he averaged better than 7 points and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes of game play last season, which earned him $5 million per season. Maxiell's agent Richard Katz told the Detroit News, "This is good news for Jason. He loves the city and he loves the people. Could he have maybe made more money somewhere else? Yes. But this wasn't about money for Jason. He wanted to remain a Piston… Jason just felt at the end of the day that this is what he wanted. He is comfortable here. He wanted to stay and the Pistons were very amendable to keeping him here. It just came together." Joe Dumars again proves he is one of the best in the business at getting deals done on the cheap.

NBA: Six Players On Their Way Out

Hoopsworld — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:12:26 -0700

By: Jon Mladic

Much of an NBA player's production level is based on his situation. Does he have complementary teammates? Is he in the right offensive system? Is he a useful member of the team's roster?

When the answer to these types of questions starts to more frequently become "no," it's time for a trade. For the player and the franchise, a fresh start is best. Here are six players that need to be traded this year:

6. Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies. Conley is a talented point guard. The problem for the Grizzlies is that they also have Kyle Lowry and O.J. Mayo. Instead of wasting a skilled player's season on the bench, the Grizzlies will trade either Conley or Lowry - they still need plenty of pieces on their roster, and should be able to fill at least one hole in return for the talent he offers.

5. Kyle Korver, Utah Jazz. Sadly, the Korver effect might be in its final days in Utah. This is making the best out of the situation. Utah's owner will not pay the luxury tax next season, and if the Jazz want to keep Carlos Boozer running the pick and roll with Deron Williams while not parting with Mehmet Okur, it looks like it will have to be Korver that goes. The Jazz simply need to get something in return for him.

4. Ben Gordon, Chicago Bulls. Gordon could fit in on plenty of clubs: he is a legitimate starting shooting guard that can score about 20 points a game, or he could return to the role of sixth man for an organization looking to add depth. But he no longer belongs on the Bulls, who will already have to find playing time for Thabo Sefolosha behind starter Larry Hughes. Moving him to point guard wouldn't help either, with Kirk Hinrich and Derrick Rose ahead of him on the depth chart there.

3. Jamaal Tinsley, Indiana Pacers. Larry Bird is convinced the Pacers can still get a quality piece in return for Tinsley. In any case, Tinsley will not have a role on the Pacers this year. T.J. Ford, Jarrett Jack and possibly even Travis Diener are ahead of him in line for playing time. They might take their time, but the Pacers will eventually trade Jamaal.

2. Stephon Marbury, New York Knicks. Now that the Knicks have Chris Duhon to run the show, there is (if it's even possible) even less of a need for them to hold on to Starbury. Reports are that he is in great shape - New York would do well to pick up anything in return for him at this point. If they can't find a trade partner, they could always just release him.

1. Zach Randolph, New York Knicks. Zach Randolph is not as bad a player as he has seemed lately on the Knicks. And he certainly is not as bad as he will seem playing in Mike D'Antoni's offensive system. How exactly is Randolph (listed at 260 pounds) going to help this offense run the floor? Even in half-court sets, he will slow the fluidity of the team down. It's time for a new home for Randolph, one where he can be a focal point of a slower, more deliberate offensive system.

While there are probably more players that would do better in a different context, these are six players that simply do not fit with their team's current mold, and won't belong if the team continues in the direction they are headed. This does not mean they are not talented players. In fact, sometimes new scenery is the best motivator a player can get.