12/22/24
January 17, 2007
Jackson, others shoot their way out of Indiana: The Pacers have traded Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, Josh Powell, and fan favorite Sarunas Jasikevicius to the Golden State Warriors for Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu, and Kieth McLeod.
posted by chmurray to basketball at 02:04 PM - 23 comments
I'm sure there will be some better articles soon, but for now the Yahoo! article offers a more balanced view of the trade. In the short term, it will be interesting to see how Golden State manages against the Clippers seeing as they will only have six active players. In the long run, I think Golden State recieves the better talent from this deal, especially if Harrington and Jackson can keep their act together.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 04:22 PM on January 17, 2007
Dunleavy, Murphy and Diogu have all recently been written up in the San Jose paper as failing to meet expectations which, on a team that hasn't made the playoffs in a dozen years or so, is saying something; salary-wise, net improvement seems to go to the Gun Shot Wounds. I still don't see the Warriors breaking their playof schneid.
posted by billsaysthis at 05:32 PM on January 17, 2007
im from indy and all i can say is thank you L.B.. its about time. im not sure what games you have been watching ying yang,but, it wouldnt matter who we got for jackson, we be the better team for it. he is one of the most inconsistent,lazy,and irresponsible players that i have ever seen play for the pacers.(and im a fan win or lose for over 35 years) as far as big al, well, we missed him after the first trade off, we shouldnt this time. all be it, he is putting up decent numbers,but, thats not really saying much considering the rest of the team really couldnt hit the broad side of a barn. in all it was a good thing (the trade), but i really dont see either team making the play-offs, or should even consider a championship, for at least a couple more years of good draft picks to go with what they have.
posted by canes09 at 05:57 PM on January 17, 2007
What - did the GMs just run around asking each their counterparts if they wanted to blow up their team until they got to each other? I remember thinking that Dunleavy was going to be good coming out of Duke because he seemed to have some savy, went nuts in the NCAA Championship game (clutch) and could shoot. I was, well, wrong. He's a stiff. Why he got that contract, I'll never know. Did they flip a coin? "Heads its $47 million over six years, tails - we cut his ass.... Heads.... Best two out of three?... Heads again. Three out of five?... Damn heads again.... Four out of seven? Fuck it - I'm getting a taco." I like Troy Murphy - but probably only because he sounds like one of those Boston-via-Belfast thugs that would honestly look better with a permanent black eye and a little blood on his face. There's not a lot of those kind of guys in the NBA. I'm not sure if he can play - but I'm sure I don't care. I like him anyway. Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington are by far the two best players in the deal. Also two of the craziest players in professional sports (and if you think that's unfair to Al Harrington - it is. But Stephen Jackson counts as 1.75 super crazy persons. It's math.). How Indy was able to package them together is a feat of modern science. Oh yeah, they took on Dunleavy and Murphy. Sometimes it looks like say four years ago those two guys were messing around in their apartment they share farting on each other when one of them (I'm guessing Mike - he's the instigator type) pulls out a crumpled little doob some drunk Mexican guy gave them and they discover weed for the first time. It blew their minds; they spent ten hours playing Mario Kart and SCREAMING like they were in the finals, found God (or at least Herman Hesse), and decided that being great basketball players wasn't nearly as good as being crappy-but-rich basketball players who got stoned and laid all the time and didn't really have to worry about the pressure to perform because, fuck it - let's get stoned and laid all the time. Now they have to live in Indiana. Unfortunate, perhaps, but I can't see it changing much. They probably have better weed in Indiana, anyway.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:08 PM on January 17, 2007
Now they have to live in Indiana. Unfortunate, perhaps, but I can't see it changing much. They probably have better weed in Indiana, anyway. Nah, there's a lot of that ditch weed that grows wild in some parts. It's somewhat unfortunate to live there, but it sure beats the hell out of living in Illinois. And yes, I have lived there, too. That's unfortunate!!
posted by t money at 06:24 PM on January 17, 2007
i was shocked being a pacer fan seeing Al Harrington and Sarunas Jasikevicius go but i hope they did it for the better good.
posted by kyjac1 at 07:37 PM on January 17, 2007
/misses lilnemo
posted by yerfatma at 07:49 PM on January 17, 2007
Here in South Bend, we get that Notre Dame weed. A lot of people think it's overrated, but I'm Catholic, so I like it.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 07:57 PM on January 17, 2007
sorry kyjac1... they didnt. As a diehard warrior fan and frequent visitor to Goldenstateofmind.com i will tell you that murphleavy, as we call them, are mediocre NBA players getting paid like borderline all stars. murphy is just unathletic, doesnt play defense, has no post game, and is a pretty good shooter, and rebounder. Dunleavy has no strengths except this year he has become a better shooter. he is soft, inconsistant and his only real stregnth (his basketball iq) i would have to say is over-rated. They are decent and could possibly flourish in indiana but they sure have been busts over here. now, ike diagu on the other hand could be pretty damn good. pheonominal in the post, good rebounder, blocks a few shots, good weakside defender, young, long arms. his only downside may be how smart he is we're not that sure and he is only 6 8. mcloud is a solid backup point gaurd, personally i liked him and i liked ike and were sad to see them go, but i like the fact that we gave up murphleavy and we got some good players. can anyone tell me about josh powell? and weedymcsmokey... havent you heard snoop dogg or the game rap at all? im sure california weed is much better then indiana weed
posted by travisl212 at 07:58 PM on January 17, 2007
I like Indiana's side of the deal. Addition by subtraction. Plus, Murphy might be able to stretch defences out with his shooting and allow O'Neal some more room to work in the post. I still think Dunleavy's best basketball is ahead of him, and perhaps in Carlisle's system (very different from Nellieball) he will flourish. I would hate losing Jasikevicious, though, and I think he might prove to be the X-factor off the bench in an up-tempo system for the Warriors.
posted by smithers at 08:53 PM on January 17, 2007
TBH: that ND weed is probably purdy close to the Lake County weed I have access to. You know, fortified with all those Hammond/Gary mill minerals. Depends on the lake's current.
posted by t money at 09:00 PM on January 17, 2007
Everyone knows that these two teams were in desperate need of a shake up, and this trade provides that. The Pacers did give away the best player, and took in the most money, but they got rid of alot of problems. Jackson was bringing down the whole team, and Harrington just didn't work out along side of O'Neal. Golden State gets an abundance of talent, at a fairly low price. Jackson and Harrington should work nicely in their offensive scheme. I think that both sides will benefit, but this makes Golden State a potential threat in the playoffs.
posted by Kendall at 09:20 PM on January 17, 2007
I love Nellie but was wondering how long it would take him to get rid of big men for smaller men!If he could,he'd have an entire team of guards!Last time he was here he drafted guard after guard & never had a big man until Ralph Sampson who was a joke by then!& Murphy & Diogu at least can rebound to go along w/Troys' toughness.Nellie,We Need A BIG Man!!!Been a Warriors fan since their arrival from Philadelphia & for the life of me don't know why!Oh well at least we got rid of useless Mike Dunleavy,will hope for the best.AGAIN!!!LOL
posted by mdavidsf at 04:45 AM on January 18, 2007
I said it when the Pacers dumped Artest and I'll say it again: no one's ability on the court is worth putting up with crazy, thuggish behavior. Larry Bird had it right when he said that he's sorry to see Harrington and Jasekevicius go. Good luck with Jackson, Oakland. Y'all haters can say whatever you want about living in Indiana, but it's a great state to live in. (The Pacers, the Fever, Notre Dame, IU, Purdue . . . what more could you ask for?) The Murph knows it; he's Domer. He'll be happy to be back.
posted by ridadie2005 at 07:18 AM on January 18, 2007
This trade is far better off for the Pacers since they finally got rid of Ron Artest the second (in Stephen Jackson). The guy is a bonafide idiot that's making millions of dollars for being a complete moron. I understand what he said for the "shooting incident" but regardless, there's no need for an NBA athlete to be going to a club with a firearm but that's my opinion. Maybe it'll be different in Golden State.
posted by BornIcon at 07:44 AM on January 18, 2007
Yeah, I'm sure he'll feel much safer in Oakland than he did in Indianapolis.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 08:01 AM on January 18, 2007
Safer? Who cares about him feeling safe? The people in Indianapolis should be the one's feeling safer now that he's gone. Beware people of Golden State, wear your Kevlar if you decide to watch a Warriors game for now on.
posted by BornIcon at 08:43 AM on January 18, 2007
The Pacers did give away the best player, and took in the most money, but they got rid of alot of problems. You're talking about this trade right? Because there is no way Harrington or Jackson are better players than Jermaine O'Neal. I think that both sides will benefit, but this makes Golden State a potential threat in the playoffs. Golden State would have to make the playoffs first, which is something I don't see happening this season. It will take time to develop chemistry and playing in the same division as the Suns and Lakers puts them at a disadvantage. The Western Conference is a very good conference, and I can't see Golden State getting over the hump just yet. If everything works out, they should be playoff caliber next year.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 10:23 AM on January 18, 2007
YYM... That is definately a mis-quote. I meant to say that the Pacers got rid of the best player involved in the trade. I also said that they took in more money than Golden State, which surely isnt a good thing, but the Pacers felt that getting rid of Jackson was worth it. I also said that this trade would make Golden State a potential threat in the playoffs. As you can see, Golden State is only percentage points away from the 8th seed in the playoffs, and I fully believe that Jackson and Harrington will give them that much needed shove. With Harrington, Golden States starting 5 is very, very, good- one that should boost them into the playoffs.
posted by Kendall at 11:14 AM on January 18, 2007
I like Indiana's side of the deal. Addition by subtraction. Plus, Murphy might be able to stretch defences out with his shooting and allow O'Neal some more room to work in the post. I still think Dunleavy's best basketball is ahead of him, and perhaps in Carlisle's system (very different from Nellieball) he will flourish. I would hate losing Jasikevicious, though, and I think he might prove to be the X-factor off the bench in an up-tempo system for the Warriors. Smithers, I enjoy the fact that you are trying to find positives in the trade for the Pacers, but as a long-suffering Warrior fan, I cannot help but comment on a few of your points. Troy Murphy will not "stretch" anyone's defense. Teams will give him the open jumper and dare him to take it. As a Warrior fan, I am confident that he will miss it a lot more often than he will hit it. His only saving grace is that he will not look so exposed on defense playing alongside Jeff Foster and Jermaine O'Neal. In GS, he was a sieve on defense. The only person worse than Murfee on defense is Mike Dungleavy. Just be thankful that you didn't acquire him too. Oh, wait. Let's just hope Carlisle does not try to play those two at the same time too often. Mike Dungleavy's best basketball is not ahead of him. It's not behind him either. With Dungleavy, there is no "best basketball". Period. That guy is the ultimate underachiever. He has no self-confidence. He has no heart. He has no desire. He has no fire at all. He's a mechanical basketball player with no upside at all. He will go off for 16 points and 9 boards one night and then follow it up with 3 or 4 nights of 6 points and 3 rebounds. The worst part is that he will not show even the SLIGHTEST bit of emotion while doing it. He is a black hole and I would much rather have a talented head case like Stephen Jackson than an emotionless loser like Dungleavy. Jasikevicius (Yes-kev-i-sich) may be the current X-factor. I agree with that. But in the end, the main cog in the transaction is going to be Ike Diogu. If he can adapt to Carlisle's style and learn to pass a little more, he will truly be a beast for the Pacers.
posted by Cameron Frye at 11:40 AM on January 18, 2007
BornIcon, the joke was about him feeling safer in Oakland, so he won't have to carry a firearm to the club, as you pointed out. Your last statement, "Maybe it'll be different in Golden State," led to my statement. Of course, once you have to explain it, it ain't funny anymore. Also, fans going to Golden State games should be fine; Jackson will just run up into the stands and punch you. Now, if you're going to titty bars in the Oakland area, I'd tread lightly, 'cause he's probably packin'.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 11:58 AM on January 18, 2007
My ears are burning a lil' bit. I don't think there are any clear winners in this trade. Golden State, arguably, got better talent. Al Harrington could be good, but has settled for way too many perimeter jumpers. He rebounds well, but I don't think he'll ever be more than a good 6th man (shocker of shockers, Isiah might have had him pegged from the start. Scary.). Stephen Jackson, like Al, really doesn't do much for you outside of shoot jumpers. Both are "volume shooters" (TM Antoine Walker), who are not going to defend for you if they do not get their touches. Saras is a nice complimentary piece, but how much time will he get behind Davis, Ellis, Richardson, Jackson, etc.? Powell could be an energy guy off the bench, but he's obviously a throw in. I can't help but wonder if Nellie openly called for, much less approved this deal. Say what you will about Dunleavy or Murphy, but if they weren't confident with their shot within the sets they would move the ball, I don't see that happening here. This could get real ugly real quick. As for Indiana, they get Murphy and Dunleavy who will likely play a bit better (not that they could play any worse) now that they will be playing alongside an actual post presence in Jermaine O'Neal, in predictable, "safe" sets where their ball-handling, perimeter shooting, and "basketball IQ" will be an asset. Diogu is a nice pick up in that he is everything that Big Al was billed as coming into Indiana; a scoring forward who took advantage of mismatches in the post (if Ike resists the urge to drift beyond the FT line like Al, he could be around awhile). McLeod is a "serviceable" 3rd/combo guard who can do a little of everything. He's not a game changer by any stretch, but he won't hurt you either. He's a bit like Anthony Johnson, perhaps a step faster, but not as sturdy a handle. To sum up - if Harrington and Jackson can go back to scoring in the high teens/low 20's while shooting a decent percentage, the Warriors will have gotten what they traded for. I find it more likely that both will continue to take too many perimeter jumpers, and that one, quite possibly both will be shopped by next year. Nellie may become the next Larry Brown. As for the Pacers. Their rebounding will take a bit of a hit. They may find that their team turnovers will come down. And I would expect for O'Neal's scoring to spike. If Murphy and Dunleavy can manage to tread water defensively and shoot a decent percentage, Indiana might angle themselves into playing Toronto in the first round rather than say Detroit or Chicago (Somewhat like how the Clips managed to end up playing Denver last year). Or not. Whatever.
posted by lilnemo at 05:17 PM on January 19, 2007
It's an odd trade, but my initial reaction is a positive one. This gives the Pacers a stronger interior, and judging from the games I saw in person Harrington wasn't fitting in too well with the up-tempo style we're trying to implement. Pacers roster still has some serious problems at both guard spots. Dunleavy and Granger should work out fine at the 3, and with Murphy, Diogu, and Foster rotating for time it seems Harrison is next out the door.