12/22/24
September 13, 2003
Reunited and it feels so good(?).: Van Exel to the Knicks for Charlie Ward and Kurt Thomas was a pipe dream when Nick was in Dallas. Cuban didn't think either Ward or Thomas were enough to turn the tide here in the West (which is true). Now that Nick is in GS the rumormill is churning again. If the Warriors trade Nick, (and right now it's all speculation) do the fans just give up at this point? Is there any hope for NoCal basketball aside from Sacramento (though their talent level and depth have taken a hit this offseason)?
posted by lilnemo to basketball at 02:10 PM - 8 comments
Just a speculative table of comparisons here.
| Mavs'03 | Knicks'04(05?) | |
| Nowitzki | Lampe | |
| Nash | Vujanic | |
| Van Exel | Van Exel | |
| ? | McDyess | |
| Finley | ? |
posted by lilnemo at 03:02 PM on September 13, 2003
Is there any hope for NoCal basketball aside from Sacramento? Just so you don't spend the entire day talking to yourself... Dude, what's with the question? There are only two teams here, one has sucked since Cohan bought the team and probably will until he sells, the other is perennial title challenger. So what is the point of this question? Knicks are in a rut though I don't think it's going to last as long as Golden State's. Nor do I think Dallas has improved enough to take the West, regular or post season. Lakers stumble because of Kobe, then San Antonio or Sacramento wins, then wins it all.
posted by billsaysthis at 04:34 PM on September 13, 2003
I'm still not sold on Sacramento. Their depth has taken a serious hit. Where once stood Jim Jackson, Keon Clark, and Hedo Turkoglu is now Anthony Peeler and Tony Massenburg. And don't get me started about Brad Miller. Has a player gone from underrated to overrated in so short a span of time? I think Sacramento's window is closed in 3 years. What then? Who takes their spot in the playoffs? The Rockets? The Sonics?
posted by lilnemo at 04:40 PM on September 13, 2003
lilnemo, I think that in your Mav's table the "?" should be changed to Antawn Jamieson.
posted by therev at 04:44 PM on September 13, 2003
Good call, therev. 2 smallish power forwards with large contracts unable to get their respective teams to the playoffs on their own, but able to be very good sidekicks (see MyDyess' season in Phoenix).
posted by lilnemo at 04:53 PM on September 13, 2003
lilnemo, I think that in your Mav's table the "?" should be changed to Antawn Jamieson. Not if it's an '02-'03 table. It'd be Raja Bell, LaFrentz, Adrian Griffin, or Shawn Bradley depending. And Van Exel didn't start anyways. I hope Nick does get traded again as I grew quite attached to him during his years here in Dallas. I'd like to at least see him go to a team that will make the playoffs, since that's where he shines brightest.
posted by Ufez Jones at 07:31 PM on September 13, 2003
I think Sacramento's window is closed in 3 years. What then? Who takes their spot in the playoffs? The Rockets? The Sonics? Sorry, didn't read that comment first. I think Sac's got a shot with this team, if Webber stays healthy, but only one. If they can't get past SA or LA, then their window is gone. Who replaces them? Depends on how Minnesota does this year. If they can get out of the first round and resign Garnett, and maybe add some depth to their bench, they could do it. Not sure how much longer Cassell has though, and he's never been that great in the playoffs, so we'll see. Rockets? Maybe, but not until Yao's had a couple of years to get acclimated.
posted by Ufez Jones at 07:33 PM on September 13, 2003
NY getting Nick would pretty much set back GS for another 10 years. Thomas might put up some good numbers, and Ward's contract will come off the books soon. But no playoffs in sight. But Nick in NY would be a match made in heaven. A volatile PG on a team of mealy mouthed subs plus McDyess and Lampe = situation comedy, or the makings of Eddie II.