Here's the article. I posted this in another thread already, but this thread is getting the most responses. http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2001/12/18/sports/MUTOMBO18.htm Tuesday, December 18, 2001 Go to: S M T W T F S E-mail the story | Plain-text for printing Nuggets said to be eyeing Mutombo Possible trade bait: McDyess and LaFrentz. The Sixers say the big man isn't on the market. By Stephen A. Smith INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Caught in the controversy involving team president and coach Dan Issel, and desperate to acquire a big man, the Denver Nuggets are considering offering forwards Antonio McDyess and Raef LaFrentz to the 76ers for all-star center Dikembe Mutombo, NBA sources said yesterday. As recently as Thursday, Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe approached his staff about Mutombo, according to the sources, who said the potential deal would send former Olympian McDyess and LaFrentz to the Sixers for Mutombo, Matt Harpring and Speedy Claxton. The deal would be difficult to pull off because of a 15 percent trade kicker in Mutombo's contract, as well as opposition from a faction within the Nuggets organization that has no interest in reacquiring Mutombo by losing McDyess or LaFrentz. And based on what Sixers GM Billy King has said, such a deal would be impossible because Mutombo is "off limits." "I'm not about to elaborate or be specific about any potential deals," King said last night. "I will admit I've talked to Denver, just like I talk to any other team in the NBA. But I've never put Mutombo on the table. There have been no conversations involving Mutombo." King forgot to add that anything is possible if the right deal is placed on the table, and that McDyess and LaFrentz qualify as the right deal. McDyess has not played all season because of a partially dislocated kneecap and is expected back in February. As of last night, it was unclear who had contacted whom, particularly since the Sixers have been eyeing LaFrentz for some time. His contract was not extended over the summer. It is no secret that the 6-foot-10 forward strongly dislikes Issel and wants to be traded to a contender. Other teams are afraid of LaFrentz's going to the Los Angeles Lakers (his preference), in the interest of parity, and have looked to get involved. Issel's latest incident with a heckler hasn't helped. The Nuggets suspended the coach for four games for shouting an insulting ethnic remark and an expletive at the heckler after a Dec. 11 loss to Charlotte. Nor has it helped that Vandeweghe, in his first year on the job, is feeling pressure in Denver to make a deal just so he looks like he is doing something. GMs around the league who consider Vandeweghe a novice have been trying to coax him into making deals. For Mutombo, however, coaxing may not be necessary. The Nuggets have consistently felt pressure to reacquire a big man since Mutombo, Denver's No. 4 overall draft pick in 1991, left for Atlanta as a free agent on July 15, 1996. And point guard Nick Van Exel has demanded a trade, which puts more pressure on them. It's likely that the Nuggets will wait until the February trading deadline nears before doing anything. But two things are true: They want Mutombo; and the Sixers will tell anyone they have four untouchables, including Mutombo, on their roster. For now.
In my opinion, the only tradeable commodities the Rockets would have to acquire a player like McDyess are Francis, Mobley and Griffin. It's not that far off in LaFrentz's case either (though honest to goodness the Nuggets and Rockets talked Cato-LaFrentz last year, which probably shows you how desperate the Nuggets are for a big man) You can't lump as many bench players together as you can think of to get a very good player like that (ok, how we got Steve Francis excluded).... Raef is having a very good year, though ironically his points, minutes, rebounds and FG% are identical to Kenny Thomas'. The big and key differences being Raef is a great shot blocker who can hit the bombs from outside. If the Rockets continue to play this bad, I can see them trying to trade their top pick for a good young player. I still can't believe the Clippers got Brand for the #2 pick and the Hawks Abdur-Rahim for the #3 pick last year.
when i said 'no good' for that list, i didnt mean they are no good. my bad. i meant in terms of trading for raef, thats no good. like it just wont do. wow, i was looking at the trade that you just propsed and i was like 'hmmm...wow this aint bad' then BAM...i saw dice at the end. comeon. thats nasty! if NY wants compensatino for jvg, then forget it. lol.
Clutch-the question will be: Are there any of those type of players/deals on the market? Personally, I think that was more an anomaly due to the Vancouver-Memphis thing, and an exceptionally high potential draft. Maybe Lamar Odom, if Sterling fears max deals for Brand and Odom at the same time? Would Jonathan Bender be worth a high lotto pick? Perhaps Golden State would give up on Jamison so close to such a big extension? Otherwise, I don't see many other expendable young stars from other teams.
Clutch- From everything I am hearing on the news and reading in the papers, it seems to me that Rudy has basically positioned Griffin as untouchable. Is that your opinion also?
How about this trade: Denver trades: Antonio McDyess $11,700,000 to Houston Denver trades: Raef LaFrentz $3,755,142 to Houston TOTAL: $15,455,142 Houston trades: Kenny Thomas $946,920 to Denver Houston trades: Maurice Taylor $6,500,000 to Denver Houston trades: Moochie Norris $3,600,000 and a future 1st round draft pick to Golden State Houston trades: Cuttino Mobley $4,413,375 to Denver TOTAL: $15,460,295 Golden State trades: Marc Jackson $3,250,000 to Denver TOTAL: $3,250,000 TRADE ACCEPTED I hate giving up Cat, but to get an all-star caliber power forward you have to give up something. Defensively, I think it makes the Rockets much stronger with the addition of two good shotblockers. A future front line of Lafrentz, Mcdyess, and Griffen would be unstoppable on the defensive end. Plus, Oscar can slide over to the 2 spot and be the defensive stopper there.
How about this Indiana deal? Houston trades: Cuttino Mobley $4,413,375 to Indiana Houston trades: Steve Francis $3,473,520 to Indiana TOTAL: $7,886,895 Indiana trades: Al Harrington $1,436,982 to Houston Indiana trades: Jamaal Tinsley $749,160 to Houston Indiana trades: Austin Croshere $6,310,000 to Houston (BYC Value $4,732,500) TOTAL: $8,496,142 TRADE ACCEPTED Rockets 1. Tinsley/Norris/Brown 2. Torres/Rice 3. Harrington/Williams/Morris 4. Thomas/Griffin/Croshere/Taylor 5. Willis/Cato/Collier Pacers 1. Francis/Best 2. Miller/Mobley 3. Rose/Bender 4. O'Neal/Rogers 5. Foster/Brezec/Sundov
Outlaw, why would Houston EVER do that trade? That would be selling the Rockets down the River... <i>Nugz,</i> how about: LaFrentz/Scott for Thomas/Norris/#1 Toronto Pick this year. Thomas and LaFrentz' numbers are similar, except for shotblocking, hence the #1 pick, and Norris, even though we pick on him here on the board, is more like family, who you rag on, but don't want anyone else to do so. He's an athletic, up and coming PG who would help your team. Scott is only thrown in to balance salaries. I don't see anyone on the Rockets that we could trade for McDyess, except those we wouldn't be willing to trade (Francis and Griffin). If Torres keeps coming on so strong, you might want him, and then throw in Williams, in order to lower your salary cap, since his contract ends this year, or Rice, if he's totally healthy and back on track, but those are rather mute points at this time. But the concept of Thomas for LaFrentz and salary compensators would seem to make sense, with a pick thrown in to balance to sweeten the deal.
They're already down the river and at the edge of the waterfalls. Tinsley and Harrington are young and talented. They might not be superstars like Steve yet but they have the potential to develop into that kind of player. Plus I'm very doubtful Francis will want to stay and he'll force a S&T situation. Tinsley and Harrington are locked in for a few seasons.
Is that 'lol' as in you wouldn't give compensation for Van Gundy? His teams have had one four game losing streak in seven years. How many four game losing streaks have the Nuggets had in that time?
I think realgm messes with some people minds. Even though the contracts add up, the talent doesn't. McDyess will not be traded unless Denver is stupid and the only reson why Raef will go is because of Issell. That team is struggling , just like us because they are missing their best player, McDyess. If they're patient and get him back, then trade Raef for a quality player, then things will go up for them. If I'm Clipps, I'll see if I can give up Kandi and Maggette for Raef. The only problem with that is Sterling would have to pay him after this season and that doesn't seem likely.
The pacers are another team that have commodities. With Croshere and Bender to offer a lineup with O'Neal, LaFrentz, Rose,Miller, and Tinsley would probably be the best in the east. With Harrington , Best and Foster off the bench that would be a good eight man rotation.
Is this a little better NugzFan? By the way, where's Cisse at anyway? Houston trades: Kenny Thomas $946,920 to Denver Houston trades: Dan Langhi $465,850 to Denver Houston trades: Eddie Griffin $2,011,080 to Denver TOTAL: $3,423,850 Denver trades: Ousmane Cisse $0 to Houston Denver trades: Raef LaFrentz $3,755,142 to Houston TOTAL: $3,755,142 TRADE ACCEPTED
I just realized, the Nuggets aren't that desperate. Here are a few things I thought of: Lafrentz for Lorenzen Wright and possibly a pick Lafrentz for Marc Jackson Lafrentz for Brad Miller nad possibly a player If the Nuggets let Lafrentz walk, then they're absolutely crazy. Even Portland would want Lafrentz, and have an abundance of SG/SF players. Lafrentz and Posey for Derek Anderson? Bonzi Wells? Ruben Patterson? Thrown in Boumtje Boumtje. Or, the realgm trade, with Posey. NVE, Lafrentz and Posey, for Stoudamire, Davis and Wells? There's nothing we can offer that is significantly better than what anyone else can offer.
