I wouldn't mind having Dikembe on the Rocks, no doubt! Hopefully he doesn't go the Suns. If anybody can use him it's the Lakers with Shaq's health being an issue. Toronto I'm sure will go after him. Obviously Dikembe would want to go to a title contender. The #1 suitor for him will probably be Dallas since Dikembe wants to score more, and his defense would make them a serious title contender. Adding Jamison, Fortson and Mutombo upfront would make Mark Cuban look like a genius and Dallas a serious player.
there's rumors that he is 4-5 years older than that and that the listed date is a lie; Zaire didn't exactly have his birth certificate on file.
Mavericks behind it? The Nets are paying Mutumbo a max deal to be their third string center! You think they don't want to get rid of him? He's total dead wood. They would have cut him last year if his contract wasn't guaranteed.
I think he will end up with the Lakers or Mavs. He is not that good anymore but he did have an impact in a couple of the games in the finals. I'd rather have Cato than him at this point though.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...022&call_pageid=969907729483&col=970081562040 Raps poised to make pitch for Mutombo Nets to buy out veteran's contract Defensive star good fit for T.O. DOUG SMITH SPORTS REPORTER The Raptors failed in their attempt to trade for Dikembe Mutombo this summer but they now will have a chance to just sign him. The New Jersey Nets have engineered a contract buyout with the 37-year-old veteran and it's almost a foregone conclusion the Raptors will talk to him now that he's a free agent. Team sources said last night the Raptors are eagerly waiting for Mutombo to officially be finished in New Jersey so they can start courting the veteran centre, who has played in Denver, Atlanta and Philadelphia in 11 NBA seasons. Toronto could offer the 7-foot-2 centre a deal worth just under the so-called "mid-level" salary-cap exception, which is worth about $4.9 million this year. The Raptors used some of that cap exception to sign Jerome Moiso this summer. "I know a lot of teams are interested in me," Mutombo said yesterday in New Jersey. "I'll find a home some way." And that home may be in Toronto, where the shot-blocking specialist would give coach Kevin O'Neill the big defensive anchor he desires and allow Antonio Davis to move to his more natural power forward position. It's no secret the Raptors have coveted Mutombo all summer. They thought they had a deal to bring him to town in a three-way trade that would have seen Davis end up in Portland before the Blazers pulled out, citing financial reasons. Mutombo, a four-time NBA defensive player of the year, is also interested in returning to Philadelphia, where he anchored the Sixers defence on their way to the 1991 NBA finals. The eight-time all-star missed 56 games last season with a torn wrist ligament suffered early in the season. When he came back, he found himself on the bench behind Jason Collins and Aaron Williams and became even more expendable when the Nets signed Alonzo Mourning this summer. "This is basically a salary-cap decision on our part," New Jersey general manager Rod Thorn told reporters yesterday. "We have depth at that position. Deke looks terrific. I don't have anything but good things to say about him." Although he was limited to 24 games last season and averaged only 5.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, Mutombo had been shockingly durable in his previous 10 campaigns, missing only 28 games. "It's part of life. It happens," Mutombo said yesterday. "I gained a lot of friendships but I never thought about getting hurt before. It's too bad the injury created so much doubt in people's minds." Mutombo's New Jersey buyout is worth a reported $30 million and should be finalized tomorrow. Raptor officials cannot comment on him since he's technically still under contract to the Nets. However, with O'Neill stressing tough interior defence, it's no secret that a player of Mutombo's skills would fit right in, if he and the Raptors can agree on financial terms. The Raptors also have a roster spot available and wouldn't have to make any other moves to sign him. However, with Davis, Jerome Williams, Moiso, Chris Bosh and Michael Bradley already fighting for frontcourt playing time, throwing Mutombo into the mix will further lessen the opportunity for someone to play.
If they could get him for the minimum to put some minutes in to help take some pressure of Yao I'm for it --- He is a step up from Amechi. What about Motumbo playing some minutes as center and Yao taking some minutes at PF (sort of like Ralph Sampson)
Deke (rhymes with Zeke, not "Dike" which rhymes with "Mike") will remain in the EC. At this point in Mutombo's career, the Rox could probably promote Ewing to player-coach and get just as good results.
There is no way that he would come the the West, esp after having dealt with the first injury of his career. Who would want to bang Shaq, when for the same money you could bang Zo? Miami would probably be a good fit for him, or maybe Indiana. As to whther this is good for the Rockets, I would say that it is not, strictly because it does put an experienced center out there as a free agent. A team that might be looking to trade for Cato may decide that Deke might be a cheaper option. This could lower the Rockets leverage in any trades. I still don't see the sense this makes for the Nets. They may gain some relief, but I'd rather have an experienced big man to bang around in the finals (ala Charles Jones) than to have to eat 8 million a year to pay someone on another team (assuming he only get partial exception) who might beat me during the playoffs. Deke is a good $2-3 mill option for teams with no center. Toronto ought to jump on this one.....
Of course his name starts with "Dike" not "Deke" and if you're fluent at all in another language such as spanish, "Dike" would be much more appropriate. Turkeyglue.
actually, i find it inappropriate and just plain offensive. i must admit that i am suprised to learn that mutumbo is a lesbian, but these deragotory terms towards him are just way out of line. the term "box out" takes on a whole new meaning!
seems to me that this forum is taking place in english. anyway, in spanish "dike" would be pronounced like decay- certainly not a good nickname even if it does describe the state his game is in.
seems to me his name isn't really english. Actually it would sound more like "deek-eh". Though decay is nice and appropriate. I likey.
Excuse me??!! Last time I looked we were speaking English here and I don't recall Spanish being all that popular on the African continent. And this from someone whom I have seen intelligent posts from on numerous past occassions? You are a little behind in your reading. Check any American print media referencing Mutombo by nickname and you will see clearly he is always referenced as "Deke". http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2003/06/15/scol0613.htm http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/quotes_020320.html http://basketball2101.fantasy.sportsline.com/mp/player-news?league=zero&key=4846 When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in the NBA, do as the NBA does.
