Seems like a good time for an Offseason thread with the first big trade of the offseason happening today:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4281291

cliff notes: Spurs send spare parts to Milwaukee for Richard Jefferson. Now San Antonio can field a very intriguing lineup of:

Parker, Ginobili, Jefferson, Duncan, X. (where x= role player)

A typical smart trade by SA....they felt like they were being left behind so they turn some spare parts into an athletic swingman (something they needed with Ginobili being so injury prone).

Leaves them super super thin at the bigs other than Duncan.

The report said that Oberto and Bowen are going to be released by the Bucks and I wonder if they sign back with the Spurs.

At the trade deadline any team could have had Jefferson for nothing and that's what they gave up since no other teams wanted him at his huge contract and $15 million commitment next year.

t'wolves get the 5th pick etan thomas, darius songolia, and some no name from the wizards for randy foye and mike miller.

the t'wolves are rumored to be packaging the 5 and 18 overall picks for the number 2. as it stands the wolves has numbers 5,6,18,28 in the first round

If they want Rubio that makes a lot of sense to make that trade. Rubio has made it clear he doesn't want to play there and he would be a good fit on the Wolves.

It appears they do not want Rubio (who is rumored to be a near lock to go #3 to OK city).

They want Tyreke Evans and a PG (maybe Curry, maybe Flynn) but not Rubio. Thats what ESPN is saying anyways.

I think this is a good trade for Minnesota to start over and it is a good trade for the Wiz as well (they are locked into 2 bad contracts for Jamison and Arenas so they might as well go all in.)

A good rumor I saw on SI's website said that the most logical move for the Spurs now (since they will be over the luxury tax this year for sure) is to try and sign Rasheed Wallace to the mid-level exception.

Parker, Ginobili, Jefferson, Duncan, Wallace is a scary scary line-up. Putting any bench filler behind that starting lineup will work (and they already have Finley and George Hill locked up so that is two decent bench pieces right there).

Sounds like a great plan to make the oldest team in the NBA even older.

for one year, it would be really great. kinda like the 2008 Celtics.

They dont have a lot of options other than to slowly crumble and re-build around Parker. I like their moxie.

You can have Noah for Duncan.

He's got spunk and youthful exuberance.

How does this sound for a drinking game during draft night.

Assuming that moron Stephen A Smith is part of the broadcast everytime that he says something that makes you want to punch him in the face really hard you have to down a drink of your choice. My guess is I would be passed out around pick 11.

I AM A LOUD MAN! IF I AM LOUDER THAN YOU THEN I AM CLEARLY CORRECT!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And black

Pretty sure Stephen A got fired from ESPN a long time ago.

I know the Philly Inquirer axed his column a while back.

I actually liked him minus the yelling. If you just heard the words and ignored the presentation he was good. Kind of how I approached Biggie, I couldn't stand his voice, but his lyrics were the tops.

hawks are expected to land jamal crawford from golden state and the warriors in return will land acie law and speedy claxton. the only thing holding the deal up is that crawford has an early termination clause in his contract

His words are moronic drivel and he has no clue about the sport of basketball.

shaq to cavs= terribly dissapointing season for the cavs by not making the finals

Shaq still plays huh?

Eh. It's a decent trade for the Cavs because Shaq's contract is up at the end of this coming season. So they will be primed for 2010. And now they can say to Lebron they "tried" everything to get him a title.

Shaq's only purpose will be to help Cleveland defend Dwight Howard so they can better deal with Orlando. This is a strange move but I dont think it hurts Cleveland in any way. Not sure it helps much either. But there is not much downside.

Shaq can still be effective on offense in limited minutes.

He still has an inside game and that great size and strength and he's always been a very good passer and as a bonus actully started to hit some free throws last year.

On defense is where he isn't very good any longer.

Huge upgrade though over Ben Wallace.

I like the trade for Cleveland and it just shows how cheap the Phoenix owner is since this trade is all about saving a few million for the Suns.

Just his sheer size will make him more effective against Howard. And, yeah, he still brings enough offensively that you can isolate him on the block and get some points. I was just saying there is no downside here for Cleveland. I dont know how much upside there will be but no downside.

wow, vince carter traded to magic for lee, alston and battie.

WAT!?

damn everyone went crazy today. thats an interesting move for magic. Not sure if there are enough basketballs in the world to keep that team happy....

As much as I hate Carter for being a baby and quitting on the Raptors the thing about Carter is that he will be very very happy to not be the star. That's part of his problem.

On offense he's very capable of being part of a system and not taking all the shots.

Now him playing tough defense or playing hard or injured at all is something else.

it is a great move for the magic, who let everyone know Hedo is still on the market

What on earth was going in the Timberwolves war room tonight?

4 point guards? I know at least one or two will be traded but just a bizarre strategy.

well the kid from florida already signed in greece, so i'm a little confused there. lawson was traded to the nuggets for a protected 2010 draft pick... but even taking two back to back at 5 and 6 is just very puzzling. should be a fun summer league team to watch

Tyreke Evans.... when I wanted Rubio and he was available, I am really not sure how to feel.

I met this guy from St Joes who got drafted by Dallas in the second round Ahmet Nevins at the Los Angeles airport - he met Phil Jackson said he can barely walk

I dont get Sacramento passing on Rubio at all. You get him and you run an uptempo lineup with Martin and Thompson and you try to build something fun to watch.

i would be very happy if i were you, as many of you know im not a big fan of rubio.. i don't see him reporting to camp with Minnesota, I feel he would of done the same if drafted by the kings. the only way i expect to see rubio playing this year is if he is traded to the knickerbockers



phil not being able to walk is fairly well known. he has had hip/knee/ problems for some time now.

rubio had a bad workout with the kings

FYP

99.235 percent sure i fold is right

According to Sacbee he canceled all his workouts. He may have done a shoot around with them.

BS:

4:57: In desperate need of a point guard, Sacramento takes … Tyreke Evans. It's as if these GMs are trying to hurt me. I feel physically ill.



Tyreke's weaknesses, according to our ESPN.com Draft Card: "Can be selfish … over-dribbles … lacks consistent range on his jump shot … not a super explosive leaper … poor shot selection." They left out, "Not a natural point guard," and "drove a getaway car during a drive-by shooting but was not charged by police."



4:58: Shaking my head.



4:58: Still shaking my head.



4:58: Bilas loves the pick but says, "He's a little bit ball-dominant, he needs to have the ball in his hands, and he's not a good shooter." Ball-dominant … isn't that a nice way of calling someone a ball hog? Where is my Jay Bilas Thesaurus?



4:59: Scott on Evans: "His nickname is 'Hugo' because he was born during Hurricane Hugo." That pick was a natural disaster. Literally.

heres a link to brandon jennings saying F*** the knicks for passing on him while he doesnt know he is being recorded during a phone convo with buddy joe budden

http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/vide...ZLfDrP392tH5Mlw

Pistons just fired Curry after one season. Not his fault Detroit got rooked by Denver in the Iverson/Billups deal. (Has any GM been so up and down as Joe Dumars? So many good moves and so many bad moves....)

I never thought Curry would be a good coach. He was one of those phoney team players who got that label because they didn't have a lot of talent but stuck around for quite a few years in the league.

He and Rip Hamilton didn't even speak to each other by the end of the season.

joe dumars making an ass of himself. i like it and i dont know why.

I dont know if he was a good coach but the hamilton/iverson situation was completely untenable and was not a situation of his making.

But it is the NBA and coaches move around a ton so it is not really a big deal when one gets fired.

I heard on the radio tonight that the Spurs are going after Iverson.

I couldn't think of a place where AI would make sense but that may actually work. I'm surprised the Spurs aren't looking for another big guy though...I think someone like Varajeo makes more sense.

Varajeo is going to want more than the mid-level exemption money and nobody is paying Iverson more than that. Pretty sure the Spurs have nothing more than the exemption to spend.

You are right that the Spurs need some big guys though and I'm sure they have some low salary veterans in mind to fill out their roster.

I don't think there are enough Tim Thomases to go around

So Bob, is there any chance the Raps are gonna get Turkuglu (spell?)

What the hell is going on at the 2-guard if Parker and Graham (which I don't care about losing) are gone. Please PLEASE don't tell me that Delfino is supposed to be the answer.

Delfino is better than either Parker or Graham.

Joey is gone, they didn't give him a qualifying offer. I think they want Parker back for about the money he earned last year which I think is about $4 million. If he wants to go elsewhere then they won't overpay him.

The rookie Derozan is a 2-guard and will be in the rotation.

The only way they can get the Turk is in some sort of sign and trade using Marian which I don't think is likely.

The Raptors basic strategy is to not renounce all of their free agents which means they aren't under the cap but they can resign the ones they want and they will still also have the mid level exemption and the veterans exemption to use on free agents. If they can't sign Marian,and I don't see a huge market for him other than the mid level exemption which I think the Raptors are willing to pay more than, their plan is to try and do a sign and trade with Marian and get some value for him.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Marian end up with a one year deal and then try the free agent waters again next year when more teams will have cap space.

bob, i hadn't heard anything about a sign and trade to get turkoglu, where have you heard this? i know that colangelo really wants him. I would really like that starting 5.

Also looks like ben gordon to the pistons, 5 years 50 million... i see the pistons getting villanueva as well

Just that it's the only way pretty much for the Raptors to be able to get Turkoglu would be with a sign and trade. The things I've heard is that Colangelo is going to try and be creative which could get interesting.