11/24/24
February 09, 2004
Rasheed goes to the Hawks in blockbuster deal. : Wallace and Person for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Dan Dickau and Theo Ratliff. 'Sheed gets a change of scene, 'Reef gets a chance to prove he can put up great numbers for a potential playoff team.
posted by jeffmshaw to basketball at 11:19 PM - 16 comments
At least the constant rumors will finally end... Most of the goons in the Boregonian forum think it's a good trade for Portland. I'm sort of disappointed that I won't get to see 'Sheed egg Jerry Sloan on one last time tomorrow night, but I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing Reefer lay the smack down on the Nuggs on Thursday (sorry, I couldn't resist). Theo Ratliff he seems like a nice 'free' upgrade over Dale. I still can't believe we traded Jermaine O'Neal for the worthless sack of crap that is Dale Davis. As for what's next... I'm betting that Dale Davis and Ruben Paterson get traded for an SG before the deadline. Any SG. Hopefully one with an expiring contract. I'm guessing that they'll either let Damon's contract expire next year or trade him to a team looking to clear cap space. No one is going to want him this season. I'm also guessing that if he were offered an extension for a hefty pay cut he'd probably mull it a lot longer than 'Sheed mulled his. Atlanta seems to be doing this solely for cap room at the end of the season. I'd expect to see 'Sheed in a Knicks jersey starting next season, dunno where Person will end up, but he seemed like a nice enough guy. With the cap room and a probable good draft pick hopefully Atlanta will be able to drag themselves out of the dumpster.
posted by togdon at 12:14 AM on February 10, 2004
With the cap room and a probable good draft pick hopefully Atlanta will be able to drag themselves out of the dumpster. Problem is that I highly doubt ANYBODY will want to play for Atlanta. Management is still whacked, our coach sucks, and Atlanta is a HORRIBLE basketball town (then again, you can say that for most ATL sports with the bandwagon jumpers). I've been to a few games this year, and they're downright depressing. The only plus is Phillips Arena is awesome. Also, I wish I had a better memory about these kind of things, but I recall that about 5 or so years ago, the Hawks traded for another player with talent, but LOTS of problems and didn't last long at all. I know Sheed' is a lot better, but is kinda' sorta' similar.
posted by jmd82 at 12:22 AM on February 10, 2004
Hate to say it jmd82, but 'Sheed is only there through the end of the season. He's said flat out that he only wants to play for the Knicks next season, and given what I've heard about ATL he's going to hate it there. 'Sheed is great when he's great. He's also the most frustrating guy to watch when he's going through the motions, and I predict he'll be doing nothing but going through the motions until the Knicks are 'ctc'.
posted by togdon at 12:51 AM on February 10, 2004
jmd82: Isaiah Rider?
posted by tieguy at 07:30 AM on February 10, 2004
togdon: The Raptors would be happy to take your "worthless sack of crap" off the Blazers' hands before the trading deadline. They're desperate for an inside presence. For years, I've had to listen to 'Sheed supporters brag about how he would dominate if he played for an Eastern team. I guess now we'll see if the prospect of big free agent bucks will motivate him to be the 20/10/2 player he should be.
posted by Scott Carefoot at 08:30 AM on February 10, 2004
I am shocked the Blazers gave up on Dickau already. Cat can play.
posted by vito90 at 08:46 AM on February 10, 2004
So much for the tryout of Darius Miles. Hello, Abdur-Rahim. Oh yeah, Dickau is not a NBA player.
posted by GoDizzGo at 08:51 AM on February 10, 2004
D'OH! I mean, the Blazers are going all the way now. Hoisted on my own witless petard.
posted by vito90 at 08:52 AM on February 10, 2004
Tieguy: yup, it was Rider, thanks Togdan: I know he's there till' the end of the season, which was my point. Yes, the Hawks should have some cap room at the end of this season to sign some good free agents, but I don't see the Hawks signing anybody big even with that cap space because Atlanta sucks to play basketball in. Go to a game here and you'll understand. The state of NBA basketball in Atlanta is pretty depressing. Plus, I don't even think new management has taken over, and who knows when they will. Lastly, Abdur-Rahim's a good player, roughly 20/10. But he just doesn't have that ability to take over a game and carry a teem into the playoffs or deep into the playoffs.
posted by jmd82 at 09:08 AM on February 10, 2004
I bet Shareef is pissed. The whole reason he was in the ATL was because it was home. Being on a winning team might soften the blow though.
posted by lilnemo at 11:18 AM on February 10, 2004
The more I think about this trade, the sadder I get. I loved Rasheed.
posted by djacobs at 12:12 PM on February 10, 2004
From the Blazers Blog: [Chad] Ford floats a three-way trade idea involving Houston, Portand and Philly, with Portland trading Randolph, Ruben Patterson and Qyntel Woods and getting Glenn Robinson, Steve Francis, Eric Piatkowski and Aaron McKie in retur Ah, OK. Why would Philly & Houston do that?
posted by djacobs at 12:17 PM on February 10, 2004
Because Chad is bored. I haven't read the piece in question, but I bet the reasoning goes a little something like this: 76ers: the core of this team Iverson, McKie, and Snow had their chance at the Championship in 2001 and came up short. They've tried fitting pieces around them in order to get back, but all subsequent attempts have failed. Iverson is the franchise so obviously he stays. Snow's play this season has degraded his trade value. McKie becomes the centerpiece of Philly's trade assets. Robinson is a mere throw-in to make the numbers work (but we'll get back to him). Rockets: Van Gundy has stepped in and has made it clear that Yao will be the featured player on offense and defense. Francis, though he's made proclamations to the contrary, has not bought entirely into the system. Francis isn't a "Van Guny-type" player, so he'll be shipped out in favor of a more veteran presence at the point who is more capable and willing to feed the post. Mark Jackson is a lucky man. As for Piatkowski, Eric was brought in to be a spot-up shooter, but in Van Gundy's system if you're going to spot up and shoot, you damn well better defend. Jimmy Jackson has pretty much eaten up what was going to be Piatkowski's spot in the rotation. Now, what in the hell happened to Glenn Robinson? How is it that he's fallen so far in observer's eyes that he's little more than trade fodder and a cap number? Oh yeah, he doesn't play a lick of defense.
posted by lilnemo at 12:55 PM on February 10, 2004
Iverson Wallace is the franchise so obviously he stays. not always. ;)
posted by djacobs at 01:04 PM on February 10, 2004
I'm not so sure the 76ers give up Iverson for Wallace. They give you roughly the same number of headaches in and out of season. But the Philly media would all but obliterate King if he were to give up Iverson, even if it is for a hometown player. Nothing short of Dr. J would be an okay trade for Iverson at this point, if you get my drift.
posted by lilnemo at 01:09 PM on February 10, 2004
I'm sad. He was one of the greatest Blazers of all time. I wonder what it means for this year, i prefdict 8th seed and out.