The rumor of the week is T-Mac to the Rockets for Stevie Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. As a basketball fan, I hate this move. Not because I dislike the Rockets or anything, but I loathe the idea of another exciting player ending up under the yoke of Jeff Van Gundy, Basketball Troll. It’s bad enough that Yao, the best passing center in three decades, is under the control of Van Gundy and his troglodyte schemes, but to add the silky smooth McGrady too? Just ain’t right. As for the Magic, this is about as good a deal as they can expect. Stevie Franchise will be exciting as always, and it’s good to get Mobley too, as the Emergency Backup tiny-guard-who-won’t-pass.
Can anyone afford Shaq? Probably not, as he has $62 million left on his deal. That would be over 2 years. Let’s see here: $62,000,000 for an overweight, frequently uninspired, wanna-be actor who just happens to be the most dominant player in the NBA? The line begins in front. The biggest player so far is the Mavericks, but the Lakers would refuse the deal unless they get Dirk Nowitzki, which Dallas says it will not do.
The Bobcats, awful name and all, get to see what scraps they get to start a team with tonight. Yep, it’s the NBA expansion draft. Don’t all get up and cheer at once. With the move they made yesterday, swapping the 4th pick for the 2nd and promising to pick up Peja Drobjnak, the ‘Cats are unlikelier than ever to pick either Jerome James or Calvin Booth from the slightly-beloved Supersonics, as Drobjnak more than meets their clunky backup center needs. I believe I speak for all Sonics fans when I say “DAMN YOU BERNIE BICKERSTAFF AND ELGIN BAYLOR, DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!”
Doesn’t ANYBODY want to pick from the Sonics’ lovely collection of untalented, uncoordinated, ridiculously overpaid backup centers?
Speaking of the Sonics, the draft won’t do much for them, as they are trapped in the vast limbo of mediocrity. They aren’t good enough to go to the playoffs, much less do anything should they get there and they aren’t bad enough to get a high lottery pick and the chance at an impact player. They aren’t in an exciting enough market to be attractive to free agents, and for such a crummy team, their cap situation isn’t great either. The only noise about the Sonics this week will be about whoever signs Brent Barry. They are also interested in Tyson Chandler of the Bulls as a possible trade target, though why they’d want yet another soft forward God only knows
Posted by Frinklin at June 22, 2004 06:20 PMAm I the only Clipper fan who liked Drobjnak? Well, I might be the only Clipper fan period.
The team always played better with him on the floor for some reason. He was the only player who could consistently make a mid-range jumper last season.
Posted by: Richard at June 22, 2004 10:36 PMI didn't realize how sad that was until I just read it.
Posted by: Richard at June 22, 2004 10:38 PMSteve Francis is a selfish whiner who can't create his own shot. Orlando is arguably too good for him. Is there any way we can get him traded to Turkey? This may sound harsh, but this is the same guy who practically doomed the Vancouver franchise with his crying extortionist performance on draft night.
Posted by: Mediocre Fred at June 23, 2004 11:46 AMRichard, I'm not much of a Clip fan, though I would love to see them better than the Lakers, but I'm a proud Drobjnak fan, if just for his utterly bizarre Sonic website.
Fred- Yeah.. Francis is the perfect go-to guy for a lousy team. And I hate him for ruining the Vancouver thing too. I could never get over why a kid wouldn't want to go the prettiest city in North America. Where grass and prostitution just happen to be legal no less.
Posted by: frinklin at June 23, 2004 10:07 PM