1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

Competition in West heats up for Rox....concerning Miller

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by r-fan-since-81, Jul 29, 2002.

Tags:
Page 1 of 2
  1. r-fan-since-81

    r-fan-since-81 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 1999
    Messages:
    1,322
    Likes Received:
    102
    BY RANDY HILL
    FOXSports.com
    Jul. 29, 2002 4:01 p.m.
    For the second consecutive summer, the L.A. Clippers have turned potential into an investment yielding one of the best young players at his position in the NBA.
    Last year’s acquisition was power forward Elton Brand.

    This year’s trade brings point guard Andre Miller in a four-player transaction that sends serial crowd-pleaser Darius Miles to Cleveland.

    The deal -- which includes scenery shifts for Cavs guard Bryant Stith and Clips forward Harold Jamison -- was confirmed Monday by a league source close to both teams.

    Moving Miller -- now eligible for a contract extension offer he probably won’t receive until next summer -- was attempted before, during and shortly after last month’s draft.






    The Clippers, who haven’t employed a star-caliber point guard since the franchise’s inception, now have the reigning league leader in assists. Miller, 26, averaged 16.5 points, 10.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds while making 45 percent of his field-goal attempts.

    Cleveland will welcome Miles, a 6-foot-9 acrobat who turns 21 the second week of training camp. In two seasons after hopping from high school to the draft’s third overall selection in 2001, Miles has been the Clippers’ crowd-galvanizing seventh man.

    He averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, shooting 48 percent from the field in 27.2 minutes per game. Statistically, his second season out of East St. Louis (Ill.) High School almost was identical to his rookie run.

    If Miles develops a reliable touch from mid-range, he could become scary; that’s why the Clippers weren’t eager to trade him. And players with the 6-2 Miller’s body of work aren’t being given away.

    But the price tag for Andre could have been a bit steeper.

    Cleveland’s original asking price included Miles and the draft’s eighth pick; in return, the Clippers would have received Miller and the Cavaliers’ pick at 6.

    Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling was less than thrilled with trading the popular Miles (he still isn’t) at that time, and the deal fell through.

    The Clippers countered with a similar offer highlighted by talented and troubled small forward Lamar Odom, but the Cavs backed away.

    Well, they didn’t seem interested until after they’d chosen guard Dajuan Wagner with that sixth pick. With No. 6 off the trading table, Cleveland suddenly professed an interest in Odom, and hoped the Clippers would make a two-for-one panic bid on Miller that included Odom and their pick at 8.

    Clippers vice president of basketball operations Elgin Baylor, the guy who traded No. 2 pick Tyson Chandler to Chicago for Brand on Draft Night ’01, wanted no part of that maneuver.

    Now Baylor has Miller to run a show with co-stars like Brand, restricted free-agent center Michael Olowokandi, Quentin Richardson, Odom, hard-charging Corey Maggette and recently signed Euro guard Marko Jaric.

    He also has two skilled, young big men selected as lottery dividends.

    “Adding Miller and keeping Odom with that bunch could be devastating,” one Western Conference assistant coach muttered on condition of anonymity. “With a point guard like Andre, these guys might be good enough to make the playoffs and win a series right now.”

    With Miles and crony Richardson working as mercenary subs, the Clippers provoked an attendance bonanza while scoring a lottery-landing 39 victories.

    By subbing Miller for Miles, the team is hoping it has retained the requisite dazzle for Staples Center, and can prevent a marketing slide through the concept of making the playoffs.

    The Clips, still riding that fiscal asterisk next to Sterling’s nameplate, also are hoping to re-enlist Brand and Olowokandi this summer. Odom, who is eligible for a contract extension that will require a 12-month personal rally, is capable of putting up small-forward numbers that more than mitigate Miles’ departure.

    The Cavaliers, whose war-room, draft-night bickering recently was chronicled by Sports Illustrated, have unloaded Miller for Miles, a talented kid whose contract-extension eligibility doesn’t begin until next summer. In other news, the Clippers now are prepared to sign lottery picks Chris Wilcox and Melvin Ely within the next 24 hours.

    Wilcox, a 6-9 power forward from Maryland, was the Clips’ choice at 8; Ely, a 6-9½ center-forward out of Fresno State, was taken at 12.

    While neither player had been offered in trade talks, signing a draft pick eliminates that prospect as deal bait until December.

    By then, Miller may provide conclusive evidence that the Clippers can stand pat.

    Randy Hill can be reached at his e-mail address, rhill@foxsports.com.
     
    #1 r-fan-since-81, Jul 29, 2002
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2002
  2. Mango

    Mango Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 1999
    Messages:
    10,175
    Likes Received:
    5,630
    <A HREF="http://bbs.clutchcity.net/php3/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38599">Already reported in the NBA Forum</A>



    Mango
     
    #2 Mango, Jul 29, 2002
  3. B-ball freak

    B-ball freak Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 1999
    Messages:
    2,481
    Likes Received:
    318
    Well, the good news is that the Clips will be together only a couple of years before the salary dumping begins.:D
     
    #3 B-ball freak, Jul 29, 2002
  4. LAfadeaway33

    LAfadeaway33 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2001
    Messages:
    1,825
    Likes Received:
    1
    Damn, they're basicly loaded at every position now. The worst part is that with Andre in the West and everyone thinking he deserved a spot last year on the all star team, Stevie might be the odd man out.:eek:
     
    #4 LAfadeaway33, Jul 29, 2002
  5. leehoang

    leehoang Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2002
    Messages:
    900
    Likes Received:
    0
    does Andre Miller have a 42 inch vert.

    i don't think stevie the odd man out.

    Mr. Miller should of stayed in the east.
     
    #5 leehoang, Jul 29, 2002
  6. finalsbound

    finalsbound Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2000
    Messages:
    12,333
    Likes Received:
    927
    Steve won't be the odd man out at the ASG...the fans will vote him a starter just like last year.
     
    #6 finalsbound, Jul 29, 2002
  7. gucci888

    gucci888 Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2002
    Messages:
    17,227
    Likes Received:
    6,573
    Trouble for the Rockets

    The Cavs have agreed to send Andre Miller, Bryant Stith to LA for Darius Miles, Harold Jamison. The trade will probably happen Tues. morning. My pick for most improved team might have to change to the Clips (formally the Rockets), damn it. The Clippers now have everything they need to be contenders in the near future, a true PG with all their fire power just makes the West a lot tougher. Compared to the Rockets:

    Miller vs. Francis
    Richardson vs. Mobley
    Odom vs. Rice
    Brand vs. Griffin
    Kandi vs. Ming

    That's a pretty tight race!! Odom, Brand, and Kandi will probably have the advantage the 1st season, and Miller might be able to slow down Francis a bit. As much as I hate to say it, this could be trouble for the Rockets when the playoff race begins.

    http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/0729/1411544.html
     
    #7 gucci888, Jul 30, 2002
  8. rockets688

    rockets688 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2002
    Messages:
    189
    Likes Received:
    0
    Great point man. (not great point-man, but great point, man). Looks like all the good races are in the west...AL West/NL West, NHL West., NBA West...although you could argue that the lack of a dominante force in the east makes it a good race too....but I think the east is mediocrity...not parity...sorry Nets fans.
     
    #8 rockets688, Jul 30, 2002
  9. gucci888

    gucci888 Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2002
    Messages:
    17,227
    Likes Received:
    6,573
    looks like someone already started a thread on this, how do you close threads?
     
    #9 gucci888, Jul 30, 2002
  10. ron413

    ron413 Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2002
    Messages:
    3,915
    Likes Received:
    104
    at least they did not get Baron Davis! that would have really sucked.
     
    #10 ron413, Jul 30, 2002
  11. Stevie Francis

    Stevie Francis Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2002
    Messages:
    1,166
    Likes Received:
    0
    odom vs rice??? Hell no, its gonna be Boki vs odom. And Boki is and atheltic freak. And will school odom. Cause boki got some handles. and quickness, and a shot. So that makes him dangerous.

    Ahhhh to many clippers gona be better than rockets threads starting to pop up.
     
    #11 Stevie Francis, Jul 30, 2002
  12. gucci888

    gucci888 Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2002
    Messages:
    17,227
    Likes Received:
    6,573
    Boki isn't starting unless Rice gets hurt (which is a very good chance i'll admit). Even if he does, you've never seen Boki play NBA players. Odom will give Boki lots of trouble no matter what, Odom is taller and is pretty quick too, he is a post-up SF which will give Boki trouble.
     
    #12 gucci888, Jul 30, 2002
  13. rocketlaunch

    rocketlaunch Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    1,622
    Likes Received:
    356
    I agree its making me sick.
     
    #13 rocketlaunch, Jul 30, 2002
  14. Stevie Francis

    Stevie Francis Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2002
    Messages:
    1,166
    Likes Received:
    0
    but boki is 6'9-6'10 and is bigge rand stronger than odom, i give it until the jan when boki breaks out. Come on now evey one said boki was a steal. A guy who can shoot like peja, hops like barry. Come on now he will be good. Did i mention he's got some great dribbles. It will not be long until he busts out watch. But yeah i know he's not better than odom, but it never hurts for some wishful thinking
     
    #14 Stevie Francis, Jul 30, 2002
  15. carlit0

    carlit0 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2000
    Messages:
    629
    Likes Received:
    4
    Sorry but Odom will killing Boki.

    no comparison
     
    #15 carlit0, Jul 30, 2002
  16. BigM

    BigM Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2001
    Messages:
    18,091
    Likes Received:
    13,366
    obviously odom has the talent edge but this isn't some one-on-one game. if rice and boki hit their shots in the flow of the offense they can be as effective to our game plan as odom to the clips.
     
    #16 BigM, Jul 30, 2002
  17. FranchiseBoi86

    FranchiseBoi86 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2001
    Messages:
    433
    Likes Received:
    4
    How will this affect the Miles-Q relationship and their head hitting. I think the next one to leave LA is Q.
     
    #17 FranchiseBoi86, Jul 30, 2002
  18. Roc Paint

    Roc Paint Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2001
    Messages:
    22,329
    Likes Received:
    12,444
    I say BIG trouble in lala land.
     
    #18 Roc Paint, Jul 30, 2002
  19. ROXTXIA

    ROXTXIA Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2000
    Messages:
    20,908
    Likes Received:
    13,034
    On paper the Paper Clips look great. They'll probably be great...in 2002-03. Unless Kandi got it right: all the players know they won't get paid and will basically play for themselves, i.e., show off their skills for future suitors.

    Praise and scorn for Sterling: pulled off a great trade, screwed the Cavs; but he'll hide that wallet soon enough.

    Anyone remember the article in SI about two years back? Clippers, worst franchise in sports? How Sterling would cut corners everywhere with his basketball team, real nickel-and-dime crap? During a game, the team needed the Clips' medical personnel to the locker room; they had to post the announcement on the electronic scoreboard because the Clips wouldn't get pagers/beepers/cell phones for their staff. Now THAT's cheap.
     
    #19 ROXTXIA, Jul 30, 2002
  20. RunninRaven

    RunninRaven Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2000
    Messages:
    15,270
    Likes Received:
    3,215
    Well...if the Clippers don't get signficantly better this season, I think we can lay to rest the debate as to how good Andre Miller really is. He didn't have much around him in Cleveland, but for his good stats the team still sucked. Now, in LA, he has PLENTY of good talent around him to pass the ball to and score with...if he can't win with them, then he is a ****ty PG, plain and simple.
     
    #20 RunninRaven, Jul 30, 2002
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page

Style
ClutchFans Dark

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Rockets Content

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now