[Fox sports 26] Mighty Mouse says I havent even talked to Grizz

If Portland wants Mike James then we just need the deal to be a bit bigger. Get another guy in there from both sides and we could be talking. I like MJ, but I don't think we'll be able to keep him after another good season.

 

Does anybody with any insider information know Portland's stance on any dealings with Miles? Are they trying to move him or not?

If what you're suggesting here is true, this is the name that comes to mind in my eyes since nobody is going to trade for Derek Anderson (who will fall "victim" to amnesty anyways) and/or Ruben Patterson. I can't see us trading for Ratliff, so that really only leaves Miles and Patterson.

 

And if DS takes the LLE then they all make 7 times more than DS.

 

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/grizzlies/article/0,1426,MCA_475_3967043,00.html

Griz eye Stoudamire

With Williams likely on way out, team seeking replacement

By Ronald Tillery
Contact
July 31, 2005

If everything goes according to the Grizzlies' summer plan, Jason Williams no longer will be their main man.

The point guard is close to being traded in a three-team deal that would include Miami, according to an NBA source familiar with the Grizzlies' dealings. It is not known where Williams would land in the proposed deal.

Griz president Jerry West already has Williams's replacement in the starting lineup on the radar.

Although Damon Stoudamire is atop the Grizzlies' wish list, West downplayed a Houston Chronicle report that the Griz and Stoudamire have agreed on a four-year, $17 million contract.

"We have interest," West said Saturday. "We're exploring a lot of options, and he's not the only one. We have interest in a lot of people."

West has aggressively shopped Williams and is prepared to lose Earl Watson after agreeing to trade Bonzi Wells and watching Stromile Swift sign a free-agent deal with Houston.

The Griz intend to send Wells to Sacramento and receive veteran guard Bobby Jackson (along with three players from Utah) when the league's moratorium ends this week.

Undoubtedly, the Griz would have to move Williams and the more than $25 million left on his contract before signing Stoudamire. If not, they risk having to pay the league's luxury tax.

Stoudamire's agent, Aaron Goodwin, confirmed that he began discussing a potential deal with the Grizzlies once negotiations with the Houston Rockets fell apart.

"But it's just conversation at this point," Goodwin said when asked about a reported Grizzly contract that would start at less than the midlevel exception or about $4 million.

Stoudamire, 31, played for Portland last season, and averaged 15.8 points and 5.7 assists. He would add leadership and clutch play to a Grizzlies team that is lacking in those areas.

A Grizzly insider also confirmed that the team has stepped up its intent to do more than tweak the roster. The consensus after recent internal discussions is that the Grizzlies' roster of the past two seasons went as far as it could in the Western Conference standings.

The goal is to improve while remaining a playoff team that doesn't pay the luxury tax. The Griz want to create financial flexibility moving forward as they consider potential deals.

-- Ronald Tillery: 529-2353

 

Agree. DS would be a great offensive addition to this team. He will make it much easier for Yao and T-Mac and we can run a very explosive fast break with him, T-Mac and Swift. Most people over here are over blowing his defensive liabilities. If a bigger PG tries to post up on him (not too many out there in the first place) then we can always put Sura back at PG.

 

That's pretty weird. I think DS would be a great addition to the team, I hope they can work out a deal.

 

True but Jaric has also only managed 174 games in 3 seasons. 66, 58 and 50 respectivley. Thats not a trend I like.

And though Stoudamire averaged 6 assists he averaged 9 his rookie season and 8 the next 3 seasons.

Their shooting percentages are very similar with Stoudamire getting a good edge in FT%.

If Jaric were to stay healthy and be able to put up points when needed I'd like the idea. Especially with his size since it would give us alot more flexibility. In this particular situation though I'd still side with Stoudamire.

I've seen a lot of people say they can't see why others want Mighty Mouse but it seems every PG that has been brought up as a true possibility has had just as many, if not more, potential drawbacks. Its give and take, good and bad either way. I think Damon would bring much more good than bad to the team though.

 

but hes really mark jackson calling himself damon stoudamire. we already had him on the team. old and slow. as long as wesley is off the 2 position i guess i dont care.

 

so did i just completely miss the bonzi wells trade or is this article the first others have heard of it, also? i was on vacation for a week recently and didn't have the internet but i think i saw most of sportscenter each night.

 

jackson was on the verge of retirement (hell didn't he come out of retirement), old, slow as hell, and completely out of shape and couldn't hit the broadside of a barn from 3 point range. damon is like 31, still decently quick (at least on offense), hits 3's, and just put up a 15 pt, 6 assists season. hardly the same player.

maybe swift is just like charles oakley was for us, too.

 

Man i feel sad for DS. He really wants to play here along side of our monstrous frontline, and all we can offer is LLE. I think it would be the first time if DS accepts LLE, that a bench player is making more than the starter( ofcourse the rule doesn't apply to rookies).

 

isn't 31 considered right around your prime for most players? damon is not old. he may not be as quick as he once was but he's definitely not slow and i think the experience he's gained has made him more of a team player.

hopefully we can sign him but how could anyone blame him if he decides not to take a $10 million paycut to sign outright with us? he'd be passing up significant money from other teams. with his desire to come here i see a sign and trade somehow being worked out but if CD gets him on the dotted line for less than 2 mil per, that'd be a freaking steal.

 

It showed up about a week ago: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=99438

Three way deal.

Bonzi to Sacto

Ostertag to Utah

Bobby Jackson, Curtis Borchardt, Raul Lopez and Kirk Snyder to Memphis.

 

good, I agree that Damon could be a great additon to this team. vet. leadership, quickness, passing ability, ball handling, 3pt shot, FT%, ... everything we need at the point. for those who question Damon's D, ask yourself, you'd rather see people shoot over Damon from the perimeter (with a hand in his face) or guys like Parker pass through Sura for a layup and get Yao Ming into foul trouble? Damon actually plays decent "D" imo, he can at least stay with his men and force them to take long jumper or fade away(usually has his hand in their face) that's what Wesley does and we consider that solid defense. (I remember Damon blocked a Kobe shot in the final miutes a few years back when the Blazers played Lakers in the WC Finals.) and not too many point guard in the league has a post up game who we should worry about.

ok, Damon Stoudmire is a better fit for the Rockets than Sura or James it's that simple. DS replace any of the two would be an upgrade so just offer something like Sura+Baker or James+Baker to get it done. everybody's happy and we can get our summer vacation going.

 

I don't think it is that weird, and your 1st instinct is probably correct.

I suspect DS's people are floating this to motivate Portland to facillitate a S&T quickly (this weekend) before they lose him for nothing in the open FA season. Whether it works, who knows. Portland was able to get their asking price for SAR, not a good sign for Portland budging.

I am for a S&T for Portland with DW (plus NY 2nd) or one of the other expiring contracts (probably Baker/Mooch) plus a 1st. I suspect they want James+, and we are not going to do that.

Actually the Memphis contract is dead on. I'd had been thinking and prefer a 3 year 13 mil (starting in the low 4s, which matches DW or James or Sura or Baker or Mooch's salary), but 4 year 17 mil--just taking the extra year on-- is very reasonable with DS's market value when you consider what other guards have gone for.

Finally, the S&T is a good option for us. If we sign him for the LLE it means we probably don't bring back JB as the backcourt would be very crowded and would pay lux tax on JB's salary. But we do a S&T, we keep our LLE, open up a roster spot, don't add salary in 05/06, and if it is with DW we have a less cluttered backcourt.

I still want DS, but at a fair price in terms of salary and what to send to Portland. The last part is obviously the sticky part.

 

WHEW! We need a PG, we need Stoudamire BADLY I believe!

 

Exactly!

 

Yes, it has to be Miles or Patterson in a bigger scenario with DS. Otherwise, what incentive is there for Portland to add dead weight payroll to their club. There is no incentive for them to sign and trade DS for one of our expirings when they were willing to let him walk for nothing. An expiring won't do it. Mike James is effectively an expiring deal. They're either wanting multiple picks or they are wanting to dump payroll and get back picks/talent. The payroll dump has to be in the form of Anderson or Miles/Patterson. Rumors have been that Patterson likes Nate and Nate likes Patterson and his contract has 2 years left compared to Miles having about 4-5 years left on his deal. Sounds like we have offered Howard and some expirings for DS and somebody else (Patterson or Miles) but Portland turned down those deals. I would suspect they are wanting Sura and picks and expirings including Mike James to make a deal happen for DS plus Patterson/Miles and we are balking at that deal. I think CD and JVG really want to retain Sura over Howard..smaller contract, less LT after this year. If we are going to make a trade for DS and somebody like Miles, there are LT issues. We are basically committing to pay the tax for the next several years if we do a deal like that.

I am so sure that this deal would put us over the top though, getting DS and Miles. I'd be willing to give Portland 2 future #1 picks, along with DWes, and whatever other expiring they had to have. I'd even be willing to include Sura in the deal. I don't want to, but if we had to move Sura to make the deal work, I'd do it. I think Howard is expendable. I think Baxter could replace his offense off the bench. But I don't think Portland wants him. So, to keep the LT down, we'd have to give away Sura with the expirings. Sura or Howard.....one of them will probably go in any decent trade because of the luxury tax.

 

Exactly. People keep calling Stoudamire old but the guy isn't old at all. 29 to 33 is your prime years. Basically, that's like saying that Jordan and Barkley were old players between 1992 to 1995.

 

Memphis just picked up Bobby Jackson, right? Why would they need DS?