11/21/24
October 05, 2003
The Nets prepare to buy out Mutombo.: The Jersey-Deke experiment comes to an end. Too bad. With Zo in the lineup he amounts to a very expensive contingency plan. This move saves the Nets $7 Mill next season and allows Deke to test free agency. Where does he go from here? Is he Toronto-bound?
posted by lilnemo to basketball at 12:09 AM - 12 comments
I so knew you were going to post this when I read it in the paper, lilnemo!
posted by billsaysthis at 01:50 PM on October 05, 2003
D'Oh!
posted by lilnemo at 02:15 PM on October 05, 2003
good bye....deke. i hope you look terrific somewhere else.
posted by oliver_crunk at 09:14 PM on October 05, 2003
Aww - NO! - Not Mutombo, not here - he's 88 year's old! I'd take any of the other guys - especially Rasheed, man that would kick a gret deal of ass. Stupid cap-space trades.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:50 PM on October 05, 2003
weedy.....I think his kids are 88 years old..... I don't know what to think about this idea...I admit I thought that Hakeem might just be the icing on the cake a few years back, and we know how that one turned out. That said, it would be nice to have a really long, shot-blocking someone on the roster this year to teach Bosh how to use his length.
posted by smithers at 07:55 AM on October 06, 2003
So long cookie monster!
posted by garfield at 08:05 AM on October 06, 2003
Smithers... I would have to say that this may be slightly better than Dream - because by all accounts Mutombo still wants to/is healthy to play (whereas Dream just never was) - BUT I've always felt one of the biggest over-statements in the NBA is how these older veterans help kids learn how to play D. To me, good D is all about two things - reading rotations and paying attention, and attitude - either Bosh is able-minded (because he certainly is able-bodied) or he ain't, but Deke isn't going to change that. Hell, he'll probably get mad at Bosh for occassionaly taking what he feels is his playing time. Damn Raptors - first Vince looks like the second coming - then isn't, then we sign all of out guys to long term deals immedaitely after they all have career years, Then Dream comes - nightmare, then we lose like a bunch of Clipping Nuggets in the best draft years in a while - and get the 4th pick. No luck here.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:21 AM on October 06, 2003
lose like a bunch of Clipping Nuggets Ha!
posted by Ufez Jones at 09:08 AM on October 06, 2003
Hey, I really want to be cynical here, but here we are: if they hypothetically did pick up Deke, then all of a sudden you have a starting lineup of Williams, Vince, Morris, AD (in the 4 spot), and Mutombo. You have a bunch of athletes coming off the bench in JYD, Bosh and Jefferies, and a couple of muckers in Bateer and Bradley. Finally, they will play much better defence under O'Neill and have a nice stopper in Curry (you could start him and bring MP off the bench). This bunch could challenge for a top-4 spot in the East. That said, what a fragile combo: they have no depth at PG, and that's already assuming Alvin shows up. They have no real deep threat no matter how much Vince wants to be one. And Vince does not go to the rack enough and draw enough FTs to get the easy points necessary to win tough games. Clipping Nuggets indeed...
posted by smithers at 11:08 AM on October 06, 2003
This may all be for naught if Deke decides to go to Gotham...
posted by lilnemo at 12:08 PM on October 06, 2003
AD in the 4 spot would be tough if he is playing for Portland as lilnemo has floated. If Mutumbo goes to the Raptors I assume it will be at the expense of AD who 1. makes a load of money and 2. doesn't seem to want to be there anymore. I wouldn't want to add him to the team but if Kevin O'Neill is high on him then I guess he knows better than I do since he is getting paid to coach the team.
posted by gspm at 01:19 PM on October 06, 2003
Kevin O'Neill is said to have heavily endorsed the proposed deal that would have sent:
Deke to Toronto
KMart and ADavis to Portland
Rasheed to NJ
Unfortunately it fell apart when Portland tried to force either Stoudamire or Patterson into the deal. Antonio was rumored to be upset that the deal wasn't completed. Wonder how he'll feel now, especially if he ends up starting at his natural position of PF next to Mutombo. Would that quiet down Antonio's dissent?