So says NBAtalk ... er, um, I mean ESPN Insider: <i>Wednesday, August 22 Updated 12:14 PM EST Wolves still on the prowl for Fizer? by Chad Ford</i> AFTERNOON UPDATE: Wolves coach Flip Saunders will finally get his chance to size up Bulls forward Marcus Fizer this summer after all. After months of speculation concerning a proposed Bulls-Timberwolves trade that would send Fizer and Ron Artest to Minnesota for Wally Szczerbiak and William Avery, Saunders will get the chance to coach Fizer -- in the Goodwill Games, ESPN Insider has learned. <b>A league source told Insider this morning that Fizer has been asked to replace Marc Jackson, who unexpectedly pulled out of the games Tuesday night.</b> Fizer, the fourth choice in the draft last year, has been on the trading block since the night he was picked. <i><<3 paragraphs about Fizer snipped>></i> Fizer's selection to the Goodwill Games comes as somewhat of a surprise. Jackson, who officially pulled out for family reasons, was, along with Calvin Booth, the only center on the roster. Fizer is not a center by any stretch, raising a few eyebrows around the league. Fizer has the luxury tax to thank for his inclusion on the Goodwill squad. <b>According to another league source, Jackson has yet to receive a contract offer from any team, including the Warriors. According to the source, the fear of injury or a poor performance caused Jackson to pull out of the games.</b> The Warriors have Jackson cornered. Jackson is a restricted free agent, so the Warriors can match any contract offer up to the league average, which is $4.5 million this year. Given the prevailing fear over the luxury tax, there aren't any teams left willing to fork over that kind of cash for Jackson. While Jackson's agent scrambles to find anyone willing to give him an offer sheet, the Warriors can sit back and wait him out, knowing they can match any offer. If he can't get an offer sheet signed, the Warriors could try to force him to sign a multi-year deal at a low rate, something Jackson clearly wants to avoid.
That's interesting. I know this is off-topic, but I thought one of the reasons Krause was willing to move Brand was because he felt Fizer could step up at the 4 spot. Why would Krause then shop him around for Wally (he's a SF, right?) I can see that Wally, being older and more experienced, might help Chicago win more now, but I doubt it would make that much of a difference.
It's not off-topic, this is the NBA board. Krause projects Chandler as his PF of the future, and Eddie Robinson wants to play SG, not SF. With Wally, Robinson can do that. It's predicated on Mercer moving somewhere else though... Wally Szczerbiak finished 5th in the NBA in Field-goal percentage (51%-- good for a jump shooter) and 11th in the NBA in Free-throw percentage (87%) It's suggested that he has some un-tapped game in him because even with those stats: Wally Szczerbiak finished 6th ON HIS OWN TEAM in shots taken per minute (1 shot every 3 minutes and 6 seconds). Here's the Timberwolves breakdown: 1. Garnett, 48%: 1 shot/ 2 min. 10 sec. 2. Brandon, 45%: 1 shot/ 2 min. 30 sec. 3. Peeler, 42%: 1 shot/ 2 min. 53 sec. 4. Ellis, 46%: 1 shot/ 3 min. 3 sec. 5. Billups, 42%: 1 shot/ 3 min. 3 sec. 6. Szczerbiak, 51%: 1 shot/ 3 min. 6 sec. I'm sure the scrap with Garnett was more than switching on defense. Wally was probably barking about getting more shots and Garnett didn't appreciate it.
Geez, that's not a good sign when Golden State has to trick, lure, and plot to keep freaking Marc Jackson on the roster!
GB, Here are the missing three paragraphs: Wolves VP Kevin McHale acknowledged last week that the Bulls had offered Fizer and Artest for Szczerbiak, but at the time he was still looking for Chicago to sweeten the deal. Insider reported then that the sweetener McHale sought was a first-round draft pick. In the meantime, Saunders has spent part of the summer trying to get a good look at Fizer, who has been working out with Michael Jordan's trainer Tim Grover at Hoops, as well as at the Berto Center, and is reportedly in great shape. Fizer was expecting to take over the starting power forward duties from Elton Brand, who was traded to the Clippers on 2001 draft night, only to learn that the Bulls were bringing in veteran Charles Oakley to man the position.
I've said it before & I'll say it again. If Jackson believes in his abilities, he'd be better off signing a one year deal with GSW & proving that last year was not a fluke. That way, at the end of next year, he'll be an unrestricted FA & can sign with anyone he wants to. If he plays the whole year without injury & puts up the same numbers he did last year, then he should be able to get a deal somewhere in the range of $5-7 mill per year. The question he has to ask himself is: Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya punk? Uh.......sorry about that. I must've had a "Dirty Harry" flashback.
Now Mike Kahn of CBS SportsLine is piling on: Speaking of Fizer, he was picked up for the Goodwill Games team to replace Golden State Warriors center Marc Jackson. According to sources, Jackson has been packing on the pounds weekly since his stock has dropped on the free-agent market. He is in such bad condition and so overweight, they didn't want him on the Goodwill team. In fact, he might end up signing with the Warriors for the minimum.
May be due to illness have heard a rumour Jackson has been infected with the debilitating Baker von Kemp Virus.
Nah, I think it's just that when you're forced to swallow a bit more of your pride every day, sometimes it takes a few milkshakes or a 6-pack to wash it down. <img src="http://www.akadel.com/chat/images/tasty.gif">
Marc Jackson finally speaks publicly for the first time all summer: Posted at 6:57 p.m. PDT Wednesday, August 22, 2001 WARRIORS' JACKSON OFF GOODWILL GAMES TEAM BY MATT STEINMETZ CONTRA COSTA TIMES Jackson, who will be replaced on the team by Chicago Bulls forward Marcus Fizer, said he is not playing because he wants to stay close to his ill grandfather. . . . Jackson also denied a report that suggested he isn't playing on the team because he has gotten out of shape. "That's complete B.S.," Jackson said. "Anyone who knows me knows I would never get out of shape. I've been working out two to three hours a day, every day."
Why on earth not? It would give you an excellent shooter who doesn't take dumb shots - something that the Bulls could use (the good shooter bit), and all you have to give up is the player who will (all things going as the Bulls plan) be the 3rd string PF and the backup SF. Now whether Fizer can make a big splash is something the TWolves will be hoping and I guess it suits them to get the 2 for one, but I think out of the 3 Szcerbiak is the best player. Plus it leaves the Bulls with 3 viable options at the 2-3 spots and a rookie 3/2 who looks great early on. Could be 20+ wins if this trade goes through!
I agree he'd be an excellent addition...but I watched Fizer go after people at the end of the season and I really think he's going to be something special in the league. I could be wrong...but I think Fizer (right now) is a bit much to pay especially when Mercer or Artest AND a first rounder are supposed to be tossed in. Thats rape. Besides, call me crazy, but I think E-Rob and Oakley will be enough, along with Mercer and Fizer (yes, Fizer) to get us to 20-25 wins without Wally. I think Trenton Hassell and Guyton will be effective contributors off the bench throughout the season.
Ok, I wouldn't throw in a first rounder, but I'd trade Fizer/ Artest for Wally, why? The 3 point shooting on the Bulsl is limited - Artest can't hit a barn from out there and Mercer is not much better, Anthony is a great pickup, but as of now it's just him and Hoiberg who can make a shot - and do you want Hoiberg playing much? Adding Wally would give another threat from outside (he only shot 34% last year, but 37 the year before wasn't too bad!), and a consistent threat to make a long range jumper. At the same time Wally brings the little things to the court, he's not a bad rebounder (5.5 per game) he's a good passer (3.2 apg) and he doesn't turn the ball over much (1.7 tpg). Doing the trade also frees up playing time for Chandler (which I would think would be important for the Bulls) - there's little doubt that Oakley will start the season at PF for the Bulls, having Fizer around will just make things complicated in terms of finding time for Chandler, and if he's played at SF then it makes it hard to get Hasselll on the court at SG because his time is stuck behind Mercer/ Robinson. Now I'm not saying this deal is all in the Bulls favor, sure you'd be giving up 2 players to get one back and might have to lose a few things that are useful to get something else useful, but it looks like a win trade for them for the reasons above; and it leaves a reasonable line-up out there on the court; PF Oakley/ Chandler/ Ruffin SF Szczerbiak/ Robinson/ C Miller/ Curry/ Bagaric/ Voskhul SG Mercer/ Robinson*/ Hassell PG Anthony/ Guyton/ Crawford (IR) (* Robinson would get minutes at both SF/SG!) That seems to be a much better line-up in terms of scoring than last years was! And the bench isn't awful with Robinson as 6th man and what should be plenty of potential in the 3 rookies (and then Bagaric and Voskhul......) Just my take on the situation.
I'm buying your argument (and stunned that we're not trying to claw each others eyes out) with a couple of exceptions: Artest is the only thing close to a stopper on the Bulls...Mercers D is under-rated, Oak rebounds well, but you can't count on anyone on the roster to put a player down night in and night like Artest does. Wally's D just isn't that great. It also leaves us thin at the SF position...you left Hoiberg off too... Supposedly Mercer will be the next to go because E-Rob wants to play SG...and with that done, the Wally trade would make sense. We'll see.
I really wish you guys would stop trying to turn this into a Bulls thread. It's interfering with my efforts to turn "NBA Dish" into a Warriors forum!
