Whether its true or he's just having an emotional outburst, time will tell. one thing that won't change is that mark stein is an idiot. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=1726632 'All the teams in Texas are contenders' DALLAS -- Nick Van Exel, who turned 32 in November, announced Tuesday night that he plans to retire after next season unless he can land a new contract with San Antonio, Houston or Dallas. "If I'm not playing in Texas," Van Exel said, "I'm done." "All the teams in Texas are [title] contenders. Going for a championship and being in Texas, that's what it boils down to." Van Exel made the disclosure before his Golden State Warriors lost to the Mavericks 107-93 at American Airlines Center. The 11-year veteran spent just 1½ seasons with the Mavericks before being dealt to Golden State last summer for Antawn Jamison, but Van Exel considers Texas home. The Wisconsin native makes his offseason home in Houston and has a teen-aged son living in the Dallas area. Playing in Texas certainly brought the best out of Van Exel, who stood as Dallas' playoff hero last spring during an unexpected run to the Western Conference finals. Although he was braced for a trade out of town after Dallas' early exit in the 2002 playoffs, Van Exel clearly didn't want to leave. In fact, he helped facilitate his trade to Dallas in the spring of '02 by waiving salary protection on the final year of his contract. In effect, he forfeited nearly $12 million -- but it helped convince the Mavericks to make the deal with Denver. Van Exel thus has only one season of guaranteed money left on his contract after this season. He has an option to terminate the contract this summer and become a free agent but admits that he probably can't afford to opt out, saying, "I gave up a lot of money already." The subject of Van Exel's future comes up frequently these days amid speculation that he could be dealt to Portland with Erick Dampier for Rasheed Wallace. Such a swap would enable the Warriors to clear significant salary-cap room in July, a year before the Trail Blazers would become major free-agent players. Van Exel told ESPN.com a month ago that he wonders about his next destination "all the time" after a half-season in Oakland fraught with knee trouble and philosophical differences with coach Eric Musselman. Van Exel also shared Tuesday that he recently received a conciliatory phone message from Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. The two haven't spoken since Van Exel was dealt away in August, but the fiery guard said Cuban urged him not to view the trade as an act of disloyalty. In the message, Van Exel said, Cuban promised to be there for Van Exel long after his playing career is over, as Cuban has done with several retired Mavericks. "That's why I'm keeping Mark Cuban's [phone] number," Van Exel said, joking about future business opportunities with his former boss. "You never know. I'll keep it just in case he comes up with a robot that can feed us food in bed."
You got me by a couple of minutes, but I posted in the GARM section ... http://bbs.clutchcity.net/php3/showthread.php?s=&threadid=72471 I would love to have a backcourt scorer on the team coming off the bench, especially a long range shooter that can go on shooting rampages.
I think nick would rather be in either houston (cause he lives here) or dallas (cause he'd make the most money). the question is, does he want to play behind parker, francis or nash? cause i dont see a large chance of any of them moving in the future. i can see francis moving to the two but i dont like the idea of a backcourt that plays average D and averages 6'2 in height. However, if he wants to come here at any price, his offense would be appreciated.
So wait, he's 32 with a teenager. Did he get someone pregnant at like 16??? One question: Avery Johnson or Nick Van Exel?
I can see Van Exel on the Spurs, playing the off guard position off the bench and even finishing games. Scoring has been a problem for the Spurs this year, and I am sure NVE can fill any minutes that Charlie Ward has this year. San Antonio gives Van Exel the best chance at a title for next year and the Spurs could account for any subpar defense that Nick cannot play.
yeah, whats up with basketball players and having kids when they are almost 20? there was a point where their were like three fathers on the georgetown basketball squad two years ago.
Is this against league rule, salary cap , etc ... ? In fact, Cuban can get 12 all -star to play for him for a $1 each and promise to pay them after they retire.
Do these two statements seem a little contradictory to you? If he doesn't play in Texas, he'll retire, but he won't opt out in order to play in Texas? Wouldn't he make more money by opting out of his contract then by retiring? Of course -- and I know this is what he's thinking -- he'll make even more money if he's traded to a Texas team with his current contract intact. Question: if he he opts out of his contract, can Golden State sign-and-trade him? I would think they could. And, it might be the best way to go: 1) Preserve his Bird rights 2) He picks the team 3) GSW still get compensation 4) Receiving team pays market value in trade and in salary for his services 5) May make trade easier to construct 6) NVE gets his next contract secured so he needn't worry about his next paycheck
I am sure GS Warriors would love to Trade NVE for Francis, but try and keep in mind that this is a pro-Rocket site.
