This why the cavs want to trade kemp. [url="http://ohio.com/bj/sports/cavs/docs/008728.htm"]http://ohio.com/bj/sports/cavs/docs/008728.htm[/url][/url] Kemp's contract is the primary reason there is urgency to move him. He will make $46.5 million in the final two years of his contract. Throw in the NBA's dollar-for-dollar luxury tax, which kicks in for 2001-02, and the Cavs could pay another $20 million or $30 million because of Kemp. With ticket sales dwindling, the Cavs are losing money. There is talk that the team is on the selling block. It sure looks better for the Cavs' future if the S.S. Kemp is sent out to sea… The deep-pocketed Trail Blazers, apparently the only team willing to put the Cavs out of their misery, want Kemp. They feel that a change in environment could have him asking for fat-free dressing. They also believe he could be the final piece needed for the Blazers to dethrone the Lakers. He's hardly a superstar, but Grant is the most sought-after player remaining in the free-agent market. New York is interested. So are Toronto, Miami and Seattle. The Lakers desperately need a power forward, although there's no way the Blazers are going to help them. The Cavs and Blazers need to get from Grant a definitive list of teams where he will play. Then, they need to hit the phones. I hope Houston is on that list. Any way the Cavs desperately want to dump Kemp and the Blazers want to oblige them but nrrd help. So now Rudy and CD need to convince all 3 parties we have the answer to all thier needs. ------------------
I hope they trying their very best to do so... God knows rudy and CD have taken more than their share of rabbits of their hats... perhaps they are about to do it again. I hope so. ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
FROM NBA TALK: "KFXX Sports Radio 910 "The Fan", is reporting that the Blazers offered Grant a 6 year, $70 million dollar deal over the weekend. However, according to "The Fan's" sources, Grant rejected the deal, telling the Blazers that he no longer wanted to play in Portland. Apparently, Bob Whitsitt has now pulled that deal off the table and is intent on either trading Grant or letting him go away for the exception. If the Knicks or Blazers do nothing, the Heat could come away with the steal of the free-agent period. " Our chances of landing Grant are slowly fading away... I still can´t believe that Portland won´t get anything out of this mess. We have to broker the deal that sends Kemp over there and gets Grant here, for chrissakes! damn! ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion" [This message has been edited by Thanos (edited August 07, 2000).]
I still think it's doubtful that Grant would accept coming here, let alone getting him for anything less than something like Cato/exception. Grant says he wants to play significant minutes on a championship contender. Unless we pulled off several other moves, we're not going to be a contender this season, or barring some really good luck in the draft/free agency, next season. Our current team, IMO won't get anything higher than a 6th seed, and more likely, it's 8th or lottery. ------------------ The Serious Police are watching. Follow the rules or be assimilated. Shandon is underrated.
We are a rock-solid PF away from being contenders, IMHO. Grant IS that rock-solid PF. The only other PF who is nearing free agency is Webber and he is highly unlikely to come over here. The other options (Malone, Garnett, Duncan, Brand) are years away from our reach at least, or in Malone´s case, headed to retirement in a few years. ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion" [This message has been edited by Thanos (edited August 07, 2000).]
If he's considering taking Miami's $2M exception, then we can definately match that. And we'll also have the money next year to offer him financial security. What's more is he would be the featured option in the front court getting the touches and minutes he's always wanted. The only point we lack is that we are not currently a championship contender. But with a premier backcourt, and solid role players in the front court, Grant could provide the missing contender ingredient. Also, I think we could get some nice free agents to take the exceptions on a team with Francis, Grant, Mobley, Anderson, and Cato. That said, I'd be shocked if the Rockets were able to pull that off, or even if they tried. I think they're done until next offseason unless something falls in their laps. Personally, I'm not that thrilled about Grant's health or his durability. ------------------ Bad spellers of the world: UNTIE!
"Barring an injury to a player". We're already weak up front. I don't suspect Olajuwon will play more than 60 games, and probably won't average over 25 minutes a game. Rogers is always hurt. Cato hit the injury bug a LOT last year. It'll take teams awhile to figure out how to defend our team, but once they figure it out (something that forces us to rely on our thin, and not talented front court to score.) The guards just can't keep up that kind of scoring pace, it takes too much physical wear on them. LA, Portland, Phoenix, San Antonio, Utah, and Minnesota are virtual locks. That leaves the 7 and 8 spot down to Seattle, Sacramento, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Vancouver, LAC, Golden State. Seattle is basically locked in. Baker can't do much worse, Rashard is back, Payton's still around, and Mason will be a huge positive for them. So, we're in a dog fight with the INCUMBENT TEAM (Sacramento), Dallas-a team that has no fear of making a big move, and if it's tight at the deadline, or they're close, they'd likely try to acquire a star player, and then Vancouver, Denver, LAC, and Golden State, none of which have great playoff chances. There is also only so much gas left in Hakeem's tank. This team no longer plays "his style". While an acquisition of Grant (or a superstar) would make us a likely playoff team, he's looking more towards a team already playoff bound, and that he'd make a serious title contender, such as the Heat. ------------------ The Serious Police are watching. Follow the rules or be assimilated. Shandon is underrated.
With Grant in their lineup Miami is the best team in the NBA. ------------------ please venture to atheistalliance and rocketsonline I AM SPARTACUS
Ummmmmmm...didn't everyone say something like that about Portland last year? Wait till the dust settles before you give them the title..... ------------------
Oh yeah? And who, pray tell, is gonna stop them? The injury plagued Knicks or the soft as a pillow Magic? Forget it, the East is Miami´s. On the West you always had the threat (which proved to be very real) of Phil Jackson making the Lakers live up to their potential. Such is not the case here. And by the way, if Miami assembles this roster, even the Lakers would have a hard time against them. ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
Ok lets think about this for a minute.... would he REALLY go to Miami for the exception? Until recently he seemed to be set on NY, but there have been problems working out a deal, with reports that NY was offering very little in return. So what does Grant do? Start taliking with Miami, about the exception, probably NY's biggest rival. My Point? I'm willing to bet the whole Miami thing is about trying to scare the Knicks into upping the offer to Portland. I really don't see him actualy following through on that threat. At this point, I would assume that there is about no chance in hell of him comming here. All the teams that he is looking at are teams that are legitimate threats to be in the finals next year without Grant. Much as it pains me to admit it, we don't fit that rather narrow criteria. ------------------
Themselves, perhaps? There's also a thread over in NBA Dish detailing some of the obvious weakpoints, so I won't rehash the details here. Hmmmm....seems there was another team from the east that made the finals last year. The Pacers have the same nucleus along with a bit of experience. Don't count 'em out yet. I remember many a Blazers fan that had similar rabid opinions last year...up until the point they choked that is.... Come talk to me when the dust settles; we'll see who's still standing ------------------
1) Brian Grant turned down $93 million dollars because he wanted to go to a "winner". What exactly does he think Cleveland would be paying him $93 million dollars to do? If I'm an owner, and I shell out $90 + million dollars to one player he had better make my team a winner. 2) Kemp's worst year was as good as Grant's best, the only reason the Cavs do this is to duck the luxury tax. 3) Grant did well when he defended Power Forwards, but he got abused by Shaq. In conclusion, previously, I would have wanted Grant on the Rockets, he is the perfect PF for us. But the fact that he wants Duncan-like money, but he doesn't want to be forced to produce Duncan-like results makes me wary of him. ------------------ Who would've thought Don Nelson would pass up Olumide Oyedeji not once, not twice, but thrice?
Ottomaton, Excellent take on Grant sweating NY with the Miami threat. Mango ------------------ 1. Put new topics in the proper forum 2. Use clear wording for new threads 3. No duplicate threads 4. Conduct yourself as an adult The Serious Police are watching Donate Blood or be assimilated! [This message has been edited by Mango (edited August 08, 2000).]
i havent really been paying attention.. but how about us trading for shawn kemp? wouldnt you rather have kemp than grant? i would rather have kemp, hes better offensively. id go after him instead, if possible. ------------------ "Win the game, baby!" -Rudy T in the fourth quarter of game 4 of the 1995 NBA Finals
Because Kemp is a salary cap albatross. He'll make balloon payments of 20 million in the next two years. He'll get that because he whined his way out of Seattle when that team paid too much to Jim McIlvaine a few years back. If Kemp could play as he did years ago, and regain his old form, then he'd be worth half the contract coming to him. ------------------
mango, i love reading the same post three times in a row. keep up the good work. ------------------ "Win the game, baby!" -Rudy T in the fourth quarter of game 4 of the 1995 NBA Finals
No argument here. Hands down the best team. It would be a piece of cake for this team to win the east. ------------------ "Never underestimate the heart of a champion"
