July 20, 2005

2005 NBA WEST Free Agency: SportsFilter columnist lilnemo takes a look at prospective signings for the NBA's Western Conference.

posted by justgary to basketball at 01:59 AM - 3 comments

lilnemo done broked the column again. entry too long or too much html or something? it does cut off, just like the previous one did.

posted by gspm at 12:26 PM on July 20, 2005

Here's the cut off portion:

CLIPPERS
No.PlayerPosHtWtDOBExpCollege
42Elton BrandPF6-82723/11/795Duke
9Rick BrunsonPG6-42056/14/727Temple
0Lionel ChalmersPG6-018011/10/80RXavier
Daniel EwingG6-31853/26/83RDuke
20Marko JaricG6-721710/12/782None
35Chris KamanC7-02654/28/821Central Michigan
30Kerry KittlesSG6-51856/12/748Villanova
Yaroslav KorolevF6-92035/7/87RNone
14Shaun LivingstonPG6-71829/11/85RNone
33Mikki MooreC7-022311/4/756Nebraska
11Zeljko RebracaC7-02654/9/723None
13Quinton RossSG6-61954/30/81RSouthern Methodist
21Bobby SimmonsGF6-62286/2/803DePaul
54Chris WilcoxFC6-102359/3/822Maryland

Cuttino Mobley is rumored to sign with the Clips. It's always odd when the Clippers land a free agent, you always wonder if there is something wrong with the player that his former team hasn't disclosed. Mobley will be solid in the Clippers backcourt. He won't be asked to carry the team (Brand and Maggette will do that), just to knock down the occasional open jumper, something that has been a sore spot on this squad for the last 5 seasons or so. Bobby Simmons career year makes him the annual Clipper to Cash in Elsewhere (a title held by the distinguished likes of Danny Ferry, Danny Manning, Ron Harper, Mark Jackson, Lamar Odom, Michael Olowokandi, and Andre Miller), but I bet the Clips stick Quinton Ross into his slot in the rotation rather than going after a comparable GF. Marko Jaric is a restricted free agent and Dunleavy likes his versatility, but another team could price the Clippers out. There is always Livingston to fall back on at the point, but he's still young and developing. Rick Brunson could find himself helming the Clip-ship for another season.

LAKERS
No.PlayerPosHtWtDOBExpCollege
9Chucky AtkinsPG5-111608/14/745South Florida
5Tierre BrownPG6-21896/3/794McNeese St.
8Kobe BryantSG6-82008/23/789None
1Caron ButlerSF6-72173/13/802Connecticut
Andrew BynumC7-028510/27/87RNone
43Brian CookPF6-923412/4/801Illinois
12Vlade DivacC7-12602/3/6815None
3Devean GeorgeSF6-82408/29/775Augsburg
55Brian GrantFC6-92543/5/7210Xavier
20Jumaine JonesSF6-82182/10/795Georgia
14Stanislav MedvedenkoFC6-102504/4/794None
31Chris MihmFC7-02657/16/794Texas
Ronny TuriafF6-102491/13/83RGonzaga
18Sasha VujacicG6-71933/8/84RNone
Von WaferG6-52107/21/85RFlorida State
4Luke WaltonSF6-82353/28/801Arizona

The Lakers traded Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins for Kwame Brown and Laron Profit. Which means that the Lakers could conceivably go into next season with Brown, Mihm, Medvedenko, Turiaf, Grant, and Divac as their frontcourt; certainly a long ways away from the days of Kareem, Worthy, Thompson, Green, and Rambis. Last off-season it appeared that Kupchak truly believed he could rebuild this team on the fly and avoid missing the playoffs. He was wrong. In order to transition from the Championship squad to a playoff contender the roster needed to be blown up. The deconstruction is just about complete but it may take another losing season before the Lakers make it back into the playoffs.

WARRIORS
No.PlayerPosHtWtDOBExpCollege
15Andris BiedrinsFC6-112404/2/86RNone
11Zarko CabarkapaF6-112255/21/812None
40Calbert CheaneyGF6-72107/17/7111Indiana
5Baron DavisPG6-32234/13/795UCLA
Ike DioguFC6-82509/11/83RArizona State
34Mike DunleavySF6-92309/15/802Duke
Monta EllisG6-317510/26/85RNone
4Derek FisherPG6-12058/9/748Arkansas-Little Rock
31Adonal FoyleC6-102703/9/757Colgate
1Troy MurphyPF6-112455/2/803Notre Dame
2Mickael PietrusGF6-62152/7/822None
23Jason RichardsonSG6-62251/20/813Michigan State
Chris TaftF6-102603/10/85RPittsburgh
20Nikoloz TskitishviliPF7-02454/14/832None
3Rodney WhiteSF6-92306/28/802UNC-Charlotte

Chris Mullin means business. He had a lot of people scratching their heads last year when he signed Speedy Claxton and Derek Fisher to play point for the Warriors. But he was able to parlay some spare parts (Claxton included) into Baron Davis. That's pretty damn impressive. St. Jean never put together a package like that. Pairing Davis and Jason Richardson in the backcourt shows a commitment towards winning, you can't argue with that. And for the first time since the days of Chris Webber, the Warriors will have a post-player (Ike Diogu) with honest to goodness post moves. Take that Todd Fuller! In your face Joe Smith! They could use another big, defensive wide-body like Reggie Evans, but they'll probably end up re-signing either White or Skita. The Warriors have a decent roster and could surprise quite a few teams. They may finish just shy of the playoffs, but they'll be a hell of a lot more exciting than they have been the last few years that's for sure.

posted by lilnemo at 01:33 PM on July 20, 2005

I'm so glad I made those 30 tables. Bastards. *sobs into tiny bottle*

posted by lilnemo at 06:20 PM on July 26, 2005

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