Wow, my first post. I had only been a lurker because I'm a *cough* Jazz fan. I didn't want to post at all because I see your hatred for the Jazz is borderline insane. That said, I welcome a strong dialogue with you Rockets fans. You must remember, it isn't I that you hate - it's the team in which I cheer for. That said, I do hope Utah gets Maggette. For the first time in 20 years the Jazz are not a sure thing for the playoffs, that scares most Jazz fans. Though the Jazz have hit full rebuild mode, I feel, and I'm sure the consensus among other Jazz fans is the same, they're moving in the right direction. To spark conversasion further, there was a small bit in the Denver Rocky Mountain News that has us Jazz fans talking. "I know why he's going to Utah," said Maggette's brother Jimmie. "But we've been asked not to talk about it." Now we don't know what that means, but Larry Miller has said many times on local media that he and Brand are feverishly talking. Both he (Brand), and Maggette are very close friends. Maybe Brand could end up in Utah next season? Hoping the Clips don't match the offer. Oh, and the small wise bit about Salt Lake City having a small black population is true. But don't fall into the belief we're all white, Mormon peoples. Salt Lake City has a large Hispanic population - sadly there isn't many Hispanic NBA players. And I join you in your hatred for Malone. I for one am disgusted and have lost ALL respect for that man.
Borderline? Btw, you hate Malone now because he abandoned the team to ride Shaq's coat-tails to a championship -- a jilted lover syndrome (like man posters had over Olajuwon) -- or because he's a punk?
I won't lie, I liked Malone *ONLY* because he was in a Jazz uniform. I hated his mouth and his inept shooting at times. Now that he's gone, I don't HAVE to like him. Yes I did enjoy watching Malone, but now I wonder if it was all worth it. In retrospect, I don't think it was.
I love this. As if the Jazz could be moving in any other direction. They are going to suckville, hopefully for a long, long time.
Right. So you think the team shouldn't go after Maggette, shouldn't go after any young talent and just sit on what they have? Doing that isn't the right direction, it's the wrong one. Utah is building itself up again, it may take 10 years, but they're doing it. No point in sitting around and crying because Stockton and Malone are gone.
What? It doesn't matter if they blow some of their cap room on overpaying marginal talent. They are still going to suck. They should save for a true difference maker, and not just scramble for best available so they can make themselves feel better about the crap they'll put on the floor this year.
And they're going to suck on whos terms, yours? I mean why can't you just sit back and open your damn mouth when the season actually gets here. It's easy to make such assertions when in reality you have NO clue what the season will bring. Well except that the Lakers will win the title. Am I saying Utah won't suck? No. But I'm not going to make such a declaration until they actually DO suck.
And they're going to suck on whos terms, yours? they're going to suck competition wise, record wise, stat wise, however way you want to put it. Maybe they'll have some moral victories like denver has made seasons out of for quite some time. "well we played scrappy." I mean why can't you just sit back and open your damn mouth when the season actually gets here. It's easy to make such assertions when in reality you have NO clue what the season will bring. Well except that the Lakers will win the title. I'm going to open my damn mouth when I damn well feel lilke it esp when it comes to damn ****ty teams like the damn Jazz. I do have A clue what the season will bring. And the Lakers arent a lock to win the title, though the certainly have all the talent to do it. Am I saying Utah won't suck? No. But I'm not going to make such a declaration until they actually DO suck. Am I saying Utah can't possibly surprise me? No. But seeing their best players they're putting out there, castoffs and swing players, the outlook doesn't look good. But hey, I'd love it if the Jazz could fight for the 9th or 10th spot in the west, that would just mean they'd get a ****tier pick and further hinder whatever hopes they have to become decent.
I believe Utah will suck just as much as the Rockets will next year. I doubt the Jazz will make the playoffs, just like I doubt the Rockets will next year. So if I use your logic, I'm gonna say the Rockets will suck too. But at least the Jazz are going after some people. What about your Rockets?
If Maggette does indeed sign an offer sheet with the Jazz, then the Clippers are in position to really screw the Jazz. The Clips have to spend another $20M in order to meet the league's minimum team salary. The Clippers are telling anybody that will listen that they plan to match any offer for Maggette, Brand or Odom. So if they take the full 15 days before they match Maggette's offer, that leaves the Jazz without Maggette and most of the better Free Agents will be signed by then. That would leave the Jazz in a situation where they have to spend $10M or so this offseason just to meet the minumum team salary themselves. If they wait 15 days, they won't be getting alot of bang for their $10M.
Oh I get it. It's alright for you Rocket fans to state MY team will suck, but I can't do it to your team. Face it; both the Rockets and Jazz will be out of the playoff picture come May of 2004.
Why would Sterling match over $120 mil in long term commitments just to make payroll for next season? This isn't the NFL this is the NBA and those contracts are typically guaranteed for the entire duration. I don't see Sterling doing that. Doesn't fit with the way he operates his team at all.
MrSpur - I don't think anyone expects Sterling to match them all, just the primary ones - Brand, Odom, and maybe Maggette. No one really expects him to re-sign or S&T Olowokandi nor match an offer for Andre Miller. Keepnig two or three of the free agents is likely sufficient to meet minimum payroll plus keep his word (if he gave it) to Dunleavy about keeping some of the talent.
If the rockets don't make the playoffs, then it'll be because they sucked, just like they have for the past 4 years. The degree of suckitude is subjective, but the sucking is not disputable. I'm sure the Rocks are shopping around Rice's expiring contract and looking to add bench depth via the exception, which is just what they should be doing, imo.
