On local TV, Andrew Bogut's agent came out yesterday and said his client wants to go to the Jazz and absolutely doesn't want to go to Atlanta. If Atlanta selects him, he would do whatever he can to do to pull off a trade to the Jazz. He went on saying how much Bogut loves Jerry Sloan, and the Jazz runs a European style offense and Bogut loves that. He also said he has already talked to Kevin O'Connor, the GM of the Jazz, numerous times over the same subject. Now, this sounds extremely familiar to the SD Chargers/NY Giants situation over Eli Manning and Grizzlies/Rockets over Steve Francis. Bogut didn't go as far as Manning and Francis did by threatening not to report to Atlanta if they select him, but I wouldn't be surprised if he does that if the Hawks ends up with the #1 pick. I wonder what Atlanta would feel after getting dissed like that. BTW, Bogut seems to be a humble and likable guy, but his camp is apparently a group of arrogant people. In their press conference, his agent introduced him as "the #1 pick of the NBA draft".
Sorry I haven't paid much attention to draft prospects this season (why bother with the way the Rockets are playing?), but doesn't Bogut play the same position Boozer does? What if Utah doesn't want him?
Professional sports has really gone downhill because of events like this. Stars across all sports are threatening not to report and demanding trades so much that it seems like its okay to do so. I sort of understand Super Stars doing it (TO, TMac, VC, etc..) but now we have guys who have yet to step on a professional field doing it. Go wherever you're picked and play ball. If you're deserving to be the #1 pick, then you should be able to help turn around a franchise.
I want to see Don King become an NBA players agent. Bogut isn't quick enough to be a 4 in the NBA. He'll be a 5. He'd compete with Okur (12p, 7r), which would be interesting. Evan
Just to double clarify, Bogut DID NOT threaten not to report. Not yet. His agent simply said he definitely doesn't want to go to the Hawks. I think it's more like a warning shot to the Hawks. And I am speculating that he would threaten not to report if the Hawks indeed pick him. BTW, no body wants to go to the Hawks. That team is simply a graveyard for young prospects, or for anyone, for that matter. If you are on the Hawks team, your career is pretty much ruined.
i dont think it will matter I have an eerie feeling that the Jazz will in fact get the #1 pick. yes curse me all you want, I curse myself for having this feeling but you know what I mean those odd premonitions. the last thing i want to see is the jazz return to a contending team and a front line of AK,boozer and bogut would be extremely difficult to counter.
If he has the leverage to go to any team, and has a particular team he wants to go to - why shouldn't he exercise it?
Why should he have leverage, he is a college kid. That's why they have the lottery and the draft. That's how you should get parity in the league. If they don't like it, they'll be a free agent after 4 years. Sux to be a guaranteed millionaire.
Why shouldn't you? You are a professional basketball player that has been chosen by a franchise because they feel you are the best player for them. Look at what Carmelo Anthony did for the Nuggets franchise. The exact same things can be said for the Hawks that were said about the old Nuggets.
Exactly. It makes a mockery of the draft. Why don't all players just come out as free agents if the athletes are going to continue this practice?
Because he has somthing people want. And has the ability to deny them what they want. What makes a mockery of the draft is teams like the Hawks and the Clippers who continue to pick near the top of the draft despite being a graveyard of young talent. Why should teams that have continually failed to produce anything get to ruin more young lives, huh? He doesn't have to sign the contract the team that drafts him offers him, if he's willing to exercise HIS RIGHTS UNDER THE CURRENT SYSTEM, more power to him.
There is a <50% chance that Atlanta gets the first pick. Charlotte and New Orleans have worse records than Utah. This kind of talk is very premature. Would he also protest the Bobcats & Hornets? It really bothers me these players can't live with a system that was collectively bargained and makes them rich beyond belief. I have no sympathy for rookies who want to choose where they want to go or for players who sign max contracts with a team and then later demand a trade. I'm not a hater, but I strongly dislike Jason Kidd for signing that fat contract in New Jersey and then playing coy about demanding a trade. He should shut up and fulfill his obligation. His denials about the situation aren't convincing. I like Vince Carter even less when demanded to leave Toronto since he's a wimp who had no guts in crunch time in Toronto's playoff years. At least Kidd is a fearless warrior who brings it every night on the court. But since Jersey gave him the money he demanded, he should either keep quiet and play or retire and give the money back. What TMac did was a little different. He has the excuse of being run out of town by a new (and ignorant) sheriff. I already don't like Andrew Bogut.
I don't blame the lakers one bit for doing what they did. You have to do whatever it takes to keep a Kobe Bryant who isn't even 30 years old. If that means trading Shaq firing Phil so be it. All they need is to get a new coach despite how much the franchise has fallen this is still one of the best jobs in all of sports they will get a high profile coach come this summer. Than just get another star to put along with Kobe. Package Lamar and all of the other scrubs they got from Miami for the next superstar that demands a trade and your back to the elite. Everybody still wants to be a laker. So it wont be long until they add another first tier star. I don't expect the lakers to be down for long. Not as long as keep Kobe trading him would be the dumbest the lakers would ever do.
I wish one of those teams had ruined my young life with one of those guaranteed First Round contracts. Go ahead, make my day...
Hmmm...If they get Bogut, would it be possible for Rockets to pry Boozer off of their hands for our expiring contracts? Boozer is not very liked over t here anyways.
Say what??? Where have you been? The billows of smoke coming out of Lakerland since the beginning of the year indicate some fires are burning. And the funny thing is, all of the fires point right back at Kobe! The Lakers are a glamour franchise for sure, but Kobe's decision to run off Shaq and Phil Jackson have taken off the luster. Did you forget Rudy T's jumping ship in midseason. What about the stuuuuuupid public blow up with Karl Malone? What about the fact Lamar Odom can't stand Kobe. I'll admit Chucky Atkins vs Kobe shouldn't really count. But the fact Chucky called out Kobe publicly while still a teammate puts it on another level. Did you also forget the Lakers are handcuffed by the salary cap for 2 more years AFTER this year? Oh, and then there is the small issue of hiring a coach that Kobe will listen to. For that matter, how about hiring a GM that doesn't have to vet every decision by Kobe? Oh, I forgot, even the owner talks to Kobe first before deciding anything (like hiring a coach). What do you call it when the coach owes his job to a player (Kobe)? The inmate (Kobe) runs the asylum. So the other GMs just can't wait to take Odom and the "scrubs" from the Lakers' and hand over a star. Funny, I didn't know the other GMs were in business to help the Lakers. In fact, last offseason seemed to indicate the Lakers aren't real good with trades. Ya think? The Lakers are stuck big time. If they keep Kobe, no star level or above average NBA player in their right mind would go there. If you really believe "everybody still wants to be a Laker", I suggest counseling. If they trade Kobe, they won't get full value unless they get someone like Garnett. If Garnett went to LA in Kobe's place, it would once again be the place to go. The only way Kobe would ever be put in his place is if he were traded to another team. As long as he stays a Laker, he (not Jerry Buss) owns the team. Therein lies the problem.
The Jazz signing Boozer was one of the biggest mistakes by any team last offseason. Of course, the Jazz can't admit it publicly. Sloan and Boozer apparently don't "click" anymore, especially after Sloan called him out publicly a couple of times. At $5-7 million per year Boozer would be worth it. But $66 million over 6 years is crazy for a player with limited game and no star potential. Next year will give a truer picture, but I'll go on record now and say the Boozer contract mistake reminds me of MoT and the Rockets.
What's the point of getting the first pick in the draft these days if the best player refuses to play for you? Draft him, and let him sit out until he grows up.
