Go to bskball.com and read about how we made an offer for Elton Brand. Bskball says it's unlikely because of our interest in Webber and Chicago's marketing of Brand (who else can the Bulls market?) Sorry I can't post a link on this damn computer. ------------------
Here's the link, for what it's worth: http://www.bskball.com/Rumors.htm And here's the part on the Rockets: The Rockets have had talks with Chicago for the better part of the month, with sources near the Rox saying it was Brad Miller they were after, and were dangling Walt Williams to get him, because of Brad's "no risk" contract, he has no guaranteed years beyond this one, he is basically a free agent next year if the team that lands him chooses that route. For the Rockets dumping contracts beyond this year, especially contracts for bench players with limited roles seems to be what they are offering and for Chicago, getting veteran leadership might hold some increased value. With Brand being -"on the market"- The Rockets were said to have tendered an offer yesterday which included several Rockets draft picks, Kelvin Cato, Walt Williams and any combination of role guys to make a deal work. While the idea of the 2000 Co-Rookies of the Year being on the same squad is interesting, the likelihood of it being a serious deal is slim, simply because the Rockets have real plan for courting Chris Webber. Rockets point guard Steve Francis told Jim Rome yesterday that he has a very close relationship with Chris and he speaks with him regularly, and despite the media attention he's receiving regarding his free agency, Chris seems locked on Sacramento, but Franchise believes he'd give Houston a serious look, having Brand in Houston would put either Brand or Webber out of position, something I am almost certain the Rockets would not risk. For the Bulls, sources near the team label talks regarding an Elton Brand exit as "almost" silly, that the Bulls would have to receive almost twice his value for it to be a smart move, especially considering how much effort they have put in to marketing Brand to Chicago, and seeing as he has been labeled the future so many times, they would look awfully silly trading him now. When reporters presented Brand with he trade ideas, he was rather unphased, saying he could conceive why the Bulls would listen, but said he wasn't overly concerned about the talk. ------------------ RealGM Rockets Draft Obligations Summary Gafford Art Artisan
It's something I certainly would. Go and look at the games this year in which Brand started at center for the Bulls. (about 10-15 I think) He played his best ball of the year at center-- about 24 points and 12 rebounds on average I think. He definitely is physical enough to bang inside with centers, and has the quickness to get by most. There's really only about 2 or 3 dominant true centers in the game today, so I don't see why playing Elton there would be a big problem. Elton for that package would be a dream come true-- cheap superstar player, dump Cato and Walt's salaries, all in one deal, and still have a chance at CWebb. The likelihood of a deal is minute I realize, but I think that if there is a legit chance of this then the comment about not getting Brand for the possibility of having to play him out of position next year is off. If it's that big of a concern, deal him this summer if you get lucky and get CWebb. But it doesn't make sense not to get Brand now if he is available, which still I have doubts about. ------------------ "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club! Teams win and lose games, not individuals. Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com [This message has been edited by The Cat (edited February 16, 2001).]
Brand may be able to play center in the Zo-less East but no way he could do that here in the West. besides, it would take trading Cat to get him. ------------------
Who does the West have at center that is so much stronger than the East and would just eat Brand for lunch? Robinson? Not at this point in his career. Divac? Don't make me laugh. Those two are pretty much equivalent to Ratliff and Mutumbo out East. The only center out West that would just crush him is Shaq. He does that to everyone anyway, and you just play them 4 times per year. I don't think that should hinder a deal too much. Perhaps, and if so I'd probably back off if I'm the Rockets. But I think we're talking in this situation about the deal as bskball.com mentions it, and that doesn't involve Cuttino. ------------------ "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club! Teams win and lose games, not individuals. Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
Have you seen David Robinson!? He is tearing it up and putting up Tim Duncan numbers at time. Robinson is far from through, and would tear Elton Brand apart in the post. Elton Brand at center would not help us at all. I looks like the Rocks are avoiding this, so that's good. The Rocks need a true center, a banger like Antonio Davis, or for Cato to realize his potential. ------------------ Dream a deadly Dream. . .
Robinson tearing it up now? Last I checked his numbers were about 14/9 with a couple of blocks. Good numbers, but not even close to "tearing it up." In fact, most teams with good big centers (Lakers, etc.) choose to put that center on Duncan and leave their PF on Robinson because they know that a PF can defend him. ------------------ "We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club! Teams win and lose games, not individuals. Draftsource.net ClutchTown.com
I call it tearing it up when he is having games where he is grabbing 15, 20 rebounds and is a go to guy on occasions. It may not be every night, but it is enough for them to be a title contender. There is a reason that San Antonio is shutting people down, and if you look at David Robinson he hasn't lost his game so much as he is keeping it down to allow Tim Duncan to be the man. There is a reason he made the All-Star game. 14 and 9 is pretty good considering he has another dominant post guy taking his shots. Definitely I would prefer Robinson, who is a true center. ------------------ Dream a deadly Dream. . . [This message has been edited by RocksMillenium (edited February 16, 2001).]
By the way, I'm not comparing Robinson and Brand the PLAYERS, I comparing Brand and Robinson as far as playing center. I would rather have "true" center then a PF converted to center UNLESS it is a 6-10 banger like Antonio Davis. Thus, that is why I would prefer a David Robinson, who has had stretches where he has just been on fire, and is a true center, over Elton Brand. ------------------ Dream a deadly Dream. . .
It must be hard to be a fantasy gm. You have to worry about problems you'll never have. ------------------ Good night everyone, Canadian or American. Just remember that we're all bound together by basketball, the internet and the mullet. (My attempts at trying to sooth over an international incident).
IF this deal is even a possibility, wouldn't it be better than going after Webber? Brand is cheaper & younger than Webber & is the PF we've been looking for. He rebounds & scores. We could then offer Dream a two year contract, based on the assumption that he'll continue playing as he has lately, & draft a center for Dream to groom as his replacement. That would give us enough salary available to resign Moochie, Shandon, MO, & maybe a FA for depth. We'd have a lineup of: C: Dream/Draft pick/Collier PF: Brand/MO/KT SF: Shandon/Langhi/Draft pick or FA SG: Mobley/Shandon PG: Francis/Moochie That wouldn't be too bad a lineup. It also gives you a lot of possibilities for different lineups to create mismatches. What I like most about this possibility is that we won't have to tie up so much money in just one player long term. The key word being flexibility. ------------------
Elton's stats look much better when he is on a losing team. Put him on a winner like Houston, and he wouldn't average more than 14 a game. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
I don't know if this deal is even a blip on Chicago's radar. Certainly the Bulls need to do something. Fizer has come on strong lately, given a chance at power forward. Because I have been forced to watch some Bulls games, I can say that Brand would be a perfect PF for us. I don't know how he'd fare in the West, but he has long arms and plays bigger than he looks. Usually teams want franchise players for franchise players, though. I wonder what was offered. Walt/Cato/KT and the Orlando/Detroit picks for Brand and Miller? Even if we could get Brand or Webber or whomever, I always think: what do we do with Mo? Play him at center? What about Dream? Would Chicago take Mo in the deal and give him a test-drive? Would that hurt our loyalty image? Etcetera. ------------------
Name a team in the West other than San Antonio and Portland that has a center/PF tandem that's really talented. Rebounding wise, Webber/Brand would work out, and we'd at least be able to come close scoring wise. Sure beats where we're at now (recent Olajuwon surge not included). ZRB-While Elton's stats are somewhat inflated, that argument can easily be negated by the fact defenses collapse on him. If Bibby/Reeves is enough from Chicago's standpoint for Brand/Miller/another player (per Chicago paper), I wonder if Cato/Walt/picks would do it? I would give up 3 picks-this year's pick (top 3 protect, in case we get lucky), their pick back, and either the Orlando or Detroit pick. The Cato-Floyd connection could be our opening. I'm surprised no one has brought up Moochie. Chicago seems to want an young but experienced PG, and Mooch is an ideal PG for a young team. Do things change if you have to give up your CBA gem? Suppose you miss out on Cwebb-Don't you think Falk would love to have 3 of his clients (Brand, Taylor, Mutumbo) as the primary front court pieces on a team with one of the best backcourts in the NBA? Taylor loves it here, and imagine him off the bench. No more Garnetts, Jamisons, Wallaces, Webbers, or Duncans guarding him. Hello Samaki Walker and Shawnelle Scott. It'd be easy to find minutes for 3 guys at 2 positions, especially when they're interchangeable, and Taylor could probably get time at the 3. If Webber really would make Brand impossible, which would net you more in a trade-a 21 year PF, who can go 20-10, and can easily be made a cornerstone, or an oft-injured center who makes a ton, a streaky shooter, and some picks? For example, Boston may have a firesale this summer. Webber's in the bag and you determine Brand's gotta go. Hello Paul Pierce. ------------------ The Serious Police are watching. Follow the rules or be assimilated. Shandon is underrated. [This message has been edited by NIKEstrad (edited February 16, 2001).]
Brand is one of the top 3 pf's in the East. I dont we would get him for that package. We would have to lose francis to get him and we all know that stevie is better than Brand. I think we should just add draft picks. Here is my lineup(Assuming Dream retires): Cato/Haywood Mo/Kenny/Collier Morris/Williams Anderson/Mobley(i think i like him more off the bench)/Evans(of Texas Francis/Mooch I think that team is definitely a 5-7 seed team. But a couple teams in the West are gonna have to fall. ------------------ President of the Charles Barkley fan club...Oh he retired? When?
Hell ya, let's get Maurice Evans! And then next year let's take my neighbor Chris Owens. You know the history behind UT guys in the NBA...Travis Mays, Lance Blanks, BJ Tyler, Reggie Freeman, Kris Clack....Anways, I think Battier is the guy we should go after instead of Terrence Morris. Battier plays crazy defense and isn't afraid to step up in big games. Morris has been criticized many times for not stepping up and leading his team. Brendan Haywood's a stiff and hasn't been playing that well this year. Loren Woods needs to bulk up and work on his post moves. ------------------ "Oh No..." -Bill Walton in 97 just before Stockton's buzzer beater
Don't hold Tom Pender's inablilty to coach or develop players against Maurice Evans and Chris Owens, neither of who has been tainted by Penders. I agree with you about Woods and Haywood - stay away from them. ------------------ The Rockets will be the NBA champions. Believe.
Battier, IMHO, is a top 5 pick. Unless we tank(which i could not take)or win the lottery, we will not land a top 5 pick. I would like to get Battier as well, as well as Griffin, but after these two Morris is my third choice. And he is a terrapin, that would make three on our team!(Walt, Steve, Morris) ------------------ Never Underestimate the Heart of a Champion
OH yeah, and i dont think you have seen the Haywood of late. He is rebounding actively. Playing defense like Zo and posting up. Also did anyone see Cato posting up? He made a jump hook!!!! ------------------ Never Underestimate the Heart of a Champion
Not that this trade would ever go down, but maybe if you had a third team to do some "addition-by-subtraction" trade, like we did with Pippen. The Nets want to move Van Horn, but he's got that base-year status problem; the Nets can take only about 4.5 million in trade. This works on realgm, but don't malign me too much, it's just dreamcasting: Chicago receives: Keith Van Horn and Kelvin Cato and Evan Eschmeyer. New Jersey receives: Walt Williams, Ron Artest, and Houston draft picks. Houston receives: Elton Brand and Brad Miller. Chicago gets a marketable 3 and a 5 (Tim Floyd/Cato Iowa State connection, not to mention keeping Iowa State power forward Fizer at the 4). Eschmeyer as back-up five (Northwestern alumni). Bulls can draft a real point guard in June. New Jersey gets a shooter, a defender (and Artest will return to NY area) and needed draft picks. Houston gets awesome power forward and cap space (waive Miller after the year). I know it's dreamcasting and just making something up from what has been mentioned on bskball and nbatalk and unlikely, but maybe something like this would do it for Chicago. Otherwise, the Bulls would have no marketable star. Of course, Brand and KVH might work almost straight-up, but the teams have other needs as well, and I don't see Brand and Martin at interchangeable 4 and 5. I know the trade as first proposed is, to say the least, too much to hope for; but I wonder what Chicago's reaction was? Can't help but be curious. ------------------
