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Ten things we've learned over the past week
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Mike Kahn / FOXSports.com
Posted: 15 hours ago



The free agent world continues to simmer with the result of the one-time amnesty waiver allowing owners to save millions of dollars, if not salary cap space. Consequently, player movement continues. And incredibly enough, we're only six weeks away from the opening of NBA training camps.

Seriously, how can that be?
1. As if things aren't heated enough between the two-time defending Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons and the Miami Heat (whom they edged out in Game 7 of the conference finals), they now are in a player war.


Michael Finley would likely start in Miami, instead of coming off the bench in Detroit. (Layne Murdoch/NBAE / Getty Images)

What this really means: The two teams are in a full-scale battle to sign former All-Star shooting guard Michael Finley, who was waived by the Dallas Mavericks. One of Mavericks owner Mark Cuban's ploys upon Finley's release was to defer less of the $51 million he owes if Finley agrees to go to an Eastern Conference team. He's a perfect fit in both Phoenix and Denver, where he would start. He wouldn't start in Detroit — where Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince have a lock on the first three spots, and he'd immediately become the top candidate for sixth man. But he likely would start in Miami, with Jason Williams and Dwyane Wade in the backcourt, where he would start at small forward.

One way or another, he is the most coveted amnesty casualty and will be a major impact player wherever he lands.

2. In his vocal coming out party since coming to the Los Angeles Clippers from Minnesota in exchange for Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers, Sam Cassell was in rare form, mouthing off about the Timberwolves and holding out for an extension from the Clippers.

What this really means: It would be wrong to say Cassell burns bridges whenever he leaves a team. Evidently, dynamite is his preference when it comes to tearing down those bridges. He actually had the gall to say the Clippers would finish higher than the Timberwolves this coming season and insists that he and Latrell Sprewell are just the convenient scapegoats for what went wrong last season.

Clue to Sam … You guys were the reason everything fell apart. First, your mouths helped throw arsenic into the sweet chemistry of the 2004 conference finalists, then your body began to fall apart. The fact of the matter is you had a career year that helped them win, but your body was falling apart at the end of that season as well. Cassell will contend he's back and better than ever and deserves a two-year extension. But that's in the fantasy basketball world. In the real world, Cassell will turn 36-years-old the first month of the regular season, and it is inevitable that he will be a distraction by the end of this season.

3. The Chicago Bulls are getting closer to signing young 7-footer Tyson Chandler to a six-year deal believed to be worth about $65 million, but completing a multi-year contract with their other young big man, Eddy Curry, is becoming more complicated all the time.

What this really means: Chandler will reap the benefit of the six-year, $61 million deal the Philadelphia 76ers gave to Samuel Dalembert, and deserves every penny. He is a tireless worker on the boards who blocks shots, and his offense will come if he stays healthy. Remember, he won't turn 23 until next month. Curry is a different story, as doctors are still torn over the heart problems that kept him out at the end of last season. The Bulls are willing to go no more than three years at a cut rate. Not only is that fair, but it only makes sense with the conflicting opinions. He could sign the one-year qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent, then he would be assuming a risk that he doesn't suffer any more issues. He'd then be able to walk away from his hometown Bulls — which he really doesn't want to do. The only practical move is for Curry to sign the multi-year deal and prove his heart is fine.


Tyson Chandler is a tireless worker on the boards, and his offense will come if he stays healthy. (Jesse Garrabant/NBAE / Getty Images)

4. It required a couple of weeks, but the Atlanta Spirit — the ownership group of the Atlanta Hawks, NHL Thrasher and more — completed the 30 percent buyout of Steve Belkin, replaced him with Michael Gearon Jr. as governor of the team and officially acquired guard Joe Johnson from the Phoenix Suns for Boris Diaw, two first round draft choices and a trade exception believed to be worth $6 million.

What this really means: Ultimately, everyone got what they wanted. Johnson got to Atlanta, much closer to his family in Arkansas and on a team where he will be the focal point. Belkin forced his fat buyout, to get out of what he perceived as a losing proposition. Gearon became the governor and general manager. And he got Johnson as the cornerstone of his team. Will he play point guard? Shooting guard? Small forward? Honestly, Johnson has the talent to play all three of those positions, and they are banking he blossoms into a superstar. But to expect him to lead youngsters Marvin Williams and Josh Childress when his exceedingly shy and deferential personality has been so obvious is a stretch. Maybe he'll grow out of it considering he is just 24. While skills and maturity develop over years, basic personality generally stays the same.

Commissioner David Stern's jumping into the fray to clean up this mess says how badly he'd like to straighten things out in Atlanta, where Philips Arena has been nothing short of a barren wasteland. Maybe it's wishful thinking and they are destined to be the Clippers of the East. Here's hoping Johnson is the answer. Otherwise, this was just a huge waste of time, money and energy.

5. Very quietly, Latrell Sprewell apparently has narrowed his choices down to the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons as his home next season and will get some sort of multi-year deal starting at around the mid-level exception.

What this really means: Gee, do you think maybe Sprewell regrets saying his family couldn't live on that three-year, $21 million extension the Timberwolves offered him last year? The nightmare that began and ended with Cassell really starred Sprewell most of the season. Whereas he was clutch and tough down the stretch of 2004, there was virtually nothing there from Sprewell most of the season. When he was younger, he could play out of his funks and live up to his own expectations. But with his 35th birthday coming next month, he has lost a step and quickness is his game. He'll likely get the mid-level exception, or close, offered to him by the Pistons if they don't get Finley. And the Rockets are interested, but already gave the mid-level exception to Stromile Swift and have only the $1.67 exception available.

Not to worry though, rumor has it Spree still has plenty of money left over to feed his family from the $14.6 million he made last season.

6. Derek Anderson has been making the rounds. Waived by the Portland Trail Blazers as the first amnesty release in history, he was hoping to get the mid-level exception from the Los Angeles Lakers and would have signed immediately. Instead, he may not get more than half of the mid-level exception — $2.5 million to start — and it ultimately ended up being a two-year deal with the Houston Rockets.

What this really means: Again, a lot of the players in their 30s who lived in an artificial world of monopoly money realize it's now closer to real money. Anderson is obviously a gifted player, who flairs when referred to as a soft player. But the fact of the matter is that issue has always been his fatal flaw. He's always hurt. He's played in 82 games just once in his career, averaged missing 21 games the past four and required a separate file just to keep track of why he missed 35 games last season with the Blazers.

He is a great fit for the Rockets, but would have gotten more money from the Nuggets and would start at shooting guard. With nearly $19 million coming in from the Blazers over the next two seasons, it's interesting how this became final. Sources say Anderson was peeved when the Lakers questioned his attitude last season with the Blazers because of that lack of commitment — which is really odd considering the guy has 'loyalty' tattoos and jewelry.
7. Alonzo Mourning announced last week that he will return to the Miami Heat for another season, and at 35, this will be the last one for Zo as he continues to battle through the ramifications of kidney disease and a kidney transplant.


There has been no fiercer warrior over the past decade than Alonzo Mourning. (Brian Bahr / Getty Images)

What this really means: This will be a marvelous opportunity for Zo to end his career where he wants to be and with a championship ring. The Heat nearly won the East last season, despite injuries to Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade down the stretch, now they've added Jason Williams, Antoine Walker and James Posey to their arsenal. Zo won't have to play big minutes, but he can play 15-20 a game, backing up Shaq, and play more minutes when Shaq misses his requisite 15 games or so as his body breaks down. There has been no fiercer warrior over the past decade than Mourning, and you can count on his impact being significant whether he plays 10 minutes or 30.

8. Following the fiasco that was the negated deal with the Portland Trail Blazers for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, the New Jersey Nets continue to wheel and deal, not only bringing in Marc Jackson and Jeff McInnis, but working on Robert Traylor, Wesley Person, DerMarr Johnson and Casey Jacobsen as well.

What this really means: It's still hard to fathom why the Nets didn't take Abdur-Rahim when the Sacramento Kings found his physical to be good enough to sign him. With Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson, they have one of the best combinations in the league running the break. In young Nenad Krstic, they have a terrific young face-up, shooting 7-footer. All they lacked was a consistent post scorer, and Abdur-Rahim was as close to the perfect solution as possible.

Jackson is a big body and not a low-lost threat. Traylor can play in the post, but he'll never be a consistent player while fighting weight problems that have eroded the skills he had when he was younger. McInnis will be a potential problem coming off the bench in limited minutes because he always is. But when they lost out on Aaron McKie to the Lakers, they gave up one guy who would have added tough defense and leadership. Besides, they still don't have the low-post scorer they could have had with Abdur-Rahim. You have to wonder how many people in the organization will be thinking about 'Reef when they get knocked out of the playoffs this season and the Kings are still playing.

9. Although this figures to be their third season in a row out of the playoffs after 21 straight years in the playoffs, the rebuilding Portland Trail Blazers figure to have one of the most interesting point guard duels heading into training camp.

What this really means: Word out of the first summer league is that Blazers coach Nate McMillan is really excited about rookie point guard Jarrett Jack, their second No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft out of Georgia Tech. He's 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, a tough defender and shot better than .514 percent from the field, .442 from 3-point range and .866 from the free throw line. That's great news for the Blazers, but, uh, hey, remember Sebastian Telfair — the 13th overall pick in the 2004 draft? He's not six feet tall and less than 170 pounds, doesn't defend nor shoot well. But he's quick, sees the floor great and is exciting every time he touches the ball.

The battle between the two will be awesome and also opens the possibility for them to play with the team's top pick this year — 6-7 high school phenom Martell Webster. They will occasionally trap and try to run teams out of the gym. The Blazers may not make the playoffs again this season, but they will be very interesting to watch as McMillan grooms these youngsters — including 6-9 Travis Outlaw — to play an unselfish, up-tempo game that will be really fun to watch. And if Darius Miles doesn't get his act together, the bus will leave without him.

10. They re-signed Zydrunas Ilgauskas, got a nice deal with Donyell Marshall and overpaid Larry Hughes, but the Cleveland Cavaliers still haven't figured out their point guard situation — and that make be the most significant move of all.

What this really means: This will be the ultimate test for rookie general manager Danny Ferry. They flirted with Marko Jaric, who ended up in Minnesota. Same goes for Damon Stoudamire, now in Memphis, and Dan Dickau, who appears headed for Boston. Earl Watson is a strong possibility, and with his defensive focus on the ball, would be a huge help. They've also looked at Damon Jones, Jannero Pargo and Steve Blake, the other point guards they've brought in.

Sure Marshall can shoot from beyond the arc; they can hope Aleksandar Pavlovic blossoms into a real player and last year's top draft choice Luke Jackson has responded 100 percent from back surgery, but so far, those are only pipe dreams. Who's it going to be? If they want a shooter with point guard skills and potential growth, Pargo may be their best bet. If they want a pure shooter, then it's Jones. And if they want an on-the-ball defender and ball mover, then it's Watson. This is a key move, not only for now, but the future with LeBron James.

Veteran NBA writer Mike Kahn is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com.


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