a.k.a. The hottest unsubstantiated NBA trade rumor currently circulating the Internet. ESPN Insider says that Seattle "shot down" a straight-up GP-for-Odom deal (I guess they know their region is notorious for quality weed). Over on the Lakers group, somebody posted that the current deal on the table is GP for Maggette/Dooling/draft picks. With the emergence of Earl Watson as a potential future starter, the GP rumors are starting to heat up again. Whither Gary Payton?
I wonder if Payton is still demanding that extension. Wait a sec...the Clippers trading for Payton...? Is Donald Sterling still alive?
If Seattle turned down Odom, they're as high as... well, as high as he is. Chronic addiction or not, Lamar is young and is already probably the most versatile player in the game.
So how good is Earl watson and why have I heard nothing about him since UCLA? That trade would be good for both teams but eventually better for the Sonics, who could have a lineup that nobody could possibly match up with. Imagine Odom at the point, Radmonovic at the 2, and Lewis at the 3. Damn that would a been a great team for them with just a little time and one good big man from their lotto pick. At the same time the Clips could immediatly ensure the playoffs and a REAL veteran leader. Brand is good but he unlike Steve doesn't really lead other than his almost automatic 20/10. Odom's problems all stem from immaturity and being just a little too adored for his talent since he was what 12 years old. But I can just tell he's not a bad guy, though he should at least be able to stay off weed for the month before the season starts until the end of the season. Its not that bud is all that bad or that he likely has a real problem, but come on his career should come first. Especially with the money, chicks, and glory a guy of his all world talent can get. Smoke out with Kareem in the offseason and when you retire if America hasn't gotten it's head outta it's ass buy a beautifull old mansion in Holland and chill out with the Dutch babes.
Well, after playing single-digit minutes in each of the first four games, Earl is beginning to become a regular off the bench, getting 18-20 minutes a game. He hasn't scored more than 7 points in a game yet, but watching a few Sonics games last week, I was impressed with his court awareness and comfortability running the offense. He just looked like a seasoned vet out there, the way Tinsley seems to be so calm in the Indiana backcourt. And defensively, he's pesky with active hands. I like his game and I think he has a future.
If that deal really was proposed and Seattle turned it down, then I think the moniker "America's Crackwagon" needs to be taken from the Cowboys and given to the Supersonics.
Marc Jackson for Kandi man makes all the sense in the world for Clipps, but I doubt they would do it.
Give me a break! The Sonics aren't stupid enough to turn that trade down! That would be like firing a consistent 60 win per year coach!
This is the one time where SEA is making the right move. Odom is a Roy Tarpley waiting to happen. Payton is still the 2nd best PG after Kidd. Sea is better off not getting anything in return, than Odom and a possible long-term contract. As for Earl Watson, he will not be anything more than a soild backup PG. He is too slow and does not shoot well enough to be a starter.
He may be slow, but I see him as a potential starter for that team. With R.Lewis and D.Mason, all he needs to do is distribute the ball efficiently and not turn it over, and play solid defense. I think he's capable of that. We all know GP is the heart and soul of that team, but when he's gone Seattle won't be so PG-centric with the emergence of their younger stars...
Roy Tarpley!? Roy Tarpley had a serious drinking problem that caused some enternal injuries late in his career and destroyed his life and career. Odom smoking weed is stupid, you can't compare it to an out-of-control alcoholic. Payton doesn't want to be in Seattle and he is 32. If Seattle is serious about getting younger and rebuilding, why keep an older player who doesn't want to be there and has made it clear he doesn't want to be there? Keeping him there doesn't help anybody.
dooling is out for a couple of months so the 2nd option is out of the question..today, the espn insider rumor is payton to milwakee for cassell and possibly glenn rob: It's five games into the season for the Bucks (4-1) and coach George Karl is already getting antsy. Sure, he got his coveted tough power forward, Anthony Mason, after a preseason-long tirade to Bucks owner Herb Kohl and GM Ernie Grunfeld. But now that Karl has had a taste of Mason's toughness on the defensive end, he's craving more. A source close to the Bucks told ESPN Insider that Karl is willing to sacrifice Glenn Robinson and Sam Cassell to get it. Milwaukee is ranked 22nd in the league in points allowed (98.3), 24th in opponent's field-goal percentage (45.3) and 20th in opponent's turnovers. The usual suspects? A gimpy Robinson and an even gimpier Cassell. If injuries were Robinson and Cassell's only problems, Karl might be willing to be more patient, but according to the source, Karl believes that ultimately the Bucks will have to upgrade their defense to have a serious shot at the Eastern Conference crown, let alone the Lakers. Karl's problems with Robinson have been well documented. While Robinson is one of the premier scorers in the league, Karl has been concerned with his defense and work ethic. Robinson's ankle problems have only heightened Karl's anxiety. Cassell is a different story altogether. He plays with a fire Karl loves, but has allowed a bad contract to distract him this season. Cassell has played half-heartedly all season and considered sitting out training camp despite the fact that Milwaukee is willing to offer him the maximum extension allowable under the collective-bargaining agreement. Cassell is still unhappy with being one of the lowest-paid players on the team. Cassell is now battling bruised ribs and Robinson is still struggling with his ankle. But Karl believes Robinson is using the ankle as an excuse to get out of practice. "Glenn didn't want to serve as a good teammate," Karl told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after Robinson skipped Thursday's practice to rest his ankle. "It's tough to make a total commitment. That's what we're trying to get everybody to do. We're trying to win a championship. Practice right now is as important as games, but I don't think Glenn buys into that." What is Karl's solution? Finding a player willing to give that total commitment -- in a word, the Glove. Karl has pined for Gary Payton since things started going sour in Seattle last year and is already pushing Grunfeld to work out a way to bring Payton, with his defense and offensive prowess, to Milwaukee. It's unlikely that a package of Cassell and Robinson will be enough to pry Payton out of the Sonics' hands -- meaning Karl will have to find a third team to take Robinson if he wants Payton in a Bucks uniform anytime soon. But is Payton still on the block at all? A source in Seattle told Insider Thursday that the team won't give Payton away, but he's clearly still in play -- especially if the Sonics could grab a young point guard or scoring power forward. With their young core of Rashard Lewis and Desmond Mason playing great basketball, and attendance sketchy despite the fact that they decided to keep fan favorite Payton, the Sonics are open to shaking things up, especially if the move addresses their long-term goals. So can Karl pull off the trade? "He's persistent and I think it is one of the few situations that Payton wouldn't go ballistic over. The question is whether Kohl is willing to commit the money to giving Payton the extension he wants." With the Bucks close to the luxury tax, Karl will have to do a serious sales job that a lineup of Payton, Ray Allen, Tim Thomas, Mason and Ervin Johnson has what it takes to challenge the Lakers. According to one Western Conference GM, they'd be as close as anyone in the league. "Suddenly the Bucks would go from being a great offensive team, to a great defensive team with plenty of scoring punch left. I'm not sure that Ervin Johnson is the answer to Shaq, but no one has that answer. But if Allen and Payton could take care of Kobe, the Bucks would have a legitimate shot."
That Milw/Sonics trade would make a lot of sense. I had no idea Sam was almost 32 though, only 1.5 years younger than GP. The Big Dog is nearing 29. Milwalkee is ready to go for the finals, the Clips are not, this trade makes a lot of sense.
For all the doubters ..... GP will NOT be a Sonic at Christmas. It doen't make sense for him to stay or for them to lose all the potential talent that is being pushed their way in exchange.
GP for Sam and the Big Dog works in RealGM. Odom for GP is very tough because Odom makes almost $10m less than Payton. Add Kandiman & Piatkowsi and it works. Is this the reason for DelNegro's acquisition? He makes Piatkowski somewhat expendable.
Maybe Mo and picks would be enough to pry Payton away from Seattle. I don't buy that they turned down Odom for Payton, so we wouldn't have to compete with that. Mo is certainly a scoring power forward. He would address some of their long term goals. The ROX could then play Payton at the two and Mobes at the three. Talk about a dominant perimeter team. You couldn't leave anybody open. Plus Payton would make pretty good trade bait for when Duncan's contract expires.
I don't think turning down Odom for Payton was a mistake. I think Odom's a great player, but is he a go-to guy? I think a lineup with Odom, Rashard Lewis, and Mason sounds great, but are any of those go-to guys? Maybe I'm overvaluing Payton and undervaluing the others, but I'd think twice before making that trade. As for Payton for Cassell, Robinson, I think George Karl would be making a mistake doing that. Gary Payton and Anthony Mason are not two guys I would want to depend on when it gets tense. Both aren't known for keeping cool heads, and both are getting on in years as well.
