MrRain422 Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Just read this analysis of the Kwame Brown signing, and I think it's actually convinced me: Here's What Kwame Brown Can Do For The Pistons [NBA]from Deadspin by DAULERIOJoe Dumars has done great things in Detroit. He drafted Tayshaun Prince and Rodney Stuckey. He traded for Ben Wallace, Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace. And he signed Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess. Basically, he assembled the core for a perennial championship contender...and they've delivered five trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, two trips to the NBA Finals and a championship. That's pretty good no matter what your measure for success is. But not everything Dumars touches turns to gold. Don't forget that he drafted Darko Milicic instead of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, David West, Chris Kaman, and Josh Howard. He also signed a one-legged Chris Webber, and we all know how that ended. His latest move: He signed Kwame Brown. Yes, the infamous Kwame Brown. The question is: Why? On the surface, it seems ridiculous, especially for someone as universally acclaimed for his GM skills as Dumars is. After all, Brown is widely considered one of the biggest busts in NBA draft history. Really, though, signing Brown is a no-lose proposition for Dumars. (Well, unless Kwame starts attacking people with birthday cakes again.) First of all, in case you haven't noticed, most of the big and little name free agents have already been signed. And although it seems like he's been around (and underachieving) forever, Brown is only 26 years old. He's also seven feet tall, 270 pounds and pretty athletic (even if he does have hands of stone). As Hubie Brown likes to point out, you can't teach size. Additionally, while the Pistons are indeed over the $59 million salary cap, they're under the luxury cap of $70 million. Which means they still had a little money to spend on Brown...and a little money is all they're spending: The two-year deal is worth $4 million per. What's more, Brown can opt out of the second year of the contract, so Dumars might be hoping for a little Contract Year Phenomenon. In other words, that Brown - perhaps sensing this may be his last chance to score a big-time contract - will play his absolute ass off this season (and maybe next season as well) to prove his worth to other suitors. The bottom line is, Dumars wanted a backup big man on the cheap, and that's what he got. Brown, for all his faults, has career averages of 7.5 PPG and 5.7 RPG...which is about what you want from your backup center. If Brown finally bursts out of his shell and submits a career-defining performance this season - however unlikely - Dumars will look like a genius. And if he doesn't, well, he loses out on a rather small investment out of which little was expected in the first place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Just saw that Paul Pierce was quoted as saying Kobe isn't the best, what about me? Prolly a joke, but it made all the whiney Laker fans mad. I seriously hope Boodiechech cuts his hair before the season starts...and stops whining. Oh, yeah, Pierce needs to quit whining too. Paul Pierce isn't the best player on his own team. He's obnoxious. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Just read this analysis of the Kwame Brown signing, and I think it's actually convinced me: Damn it.... that's hard not to agree with. (Although I really don't want to) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 His production per minute was really bad last year. Low even for a backup. That's one reason to disagree wtih it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 His production per minute was really bad last year. Low even for a backup. That's one reason to disagree wtih it.Another reason would be that he sucks at basketball. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MrRain422 Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Sure, but he's probably still an upgrade over Theo Ratliff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Sure, but he's probably still an upgrade over Theo Ratliff.Interesting point. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MrRain422 Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Crazy as that signing seemed to me last week, I get it now. Kwame Brown sucks, but there were no better options and he was available for relatively cheap. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Pierce handcuffed in VegasPosted by Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff August 4, 2008 07:52 AM Celtics captain Paul Pierce was reportedly handcuffed following a traffic stop on the Las Vegas strip early Sunday morning. Here's the story from the Las Vegas Review-Journal: The Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce, the most valuable player in the 2008 NBA Finals, was handcuffed by Las Vegas police early Sunday after he was initially uncooperative following a traffic stop for driving erratically on the Strip. Bill Cassell, public information officer for the Metropolitan Police Department, said he did not have the details about why Pierce was cuffed but said it often happens when "an individual is loudly hostile." "You have to remember he's a big guy," Cassell said. Pierce, a forward who is 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 235 pounds, "rapidly calmed down," and police removed the handcuffs after about 15 minutes, Cassell said. "We find this happens a lot of times," Cassell said. "Someone is a little agitated, and when they're placed in handcuffs, they rethink things." The traffic stop occurred around 3 a.m. near Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue, Cassell said. Officers gave Pierce field sobriety tests, which often take up to an hour, he said. A Breathalyzer showed Pierce registered below the 0.08 level that defines legal intoxication in Nevada. Pierce did not drive the car after he was stopped. "He made a decision to have one of the valets park his car for the night," Cassell said. Police did not cite Pierce for a traffic infraction. "We don't cite everybody we stop," Cassell said. "Sometimes we give just a verbal warning. It's based on the totality of the circumstances." Pierce, a frequent NBA all-star, led the Celtics to the NBA championship over the Los Angeles Lakers in June. http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/ce...e_handcuff.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Celtics captain Paul Pierce was reportedly handcuffed following a traffic stop on the Las Vegas strip early Sunday morning. Ok... Here's the part I don't understand. Why was he driving? I'm nothing special, but in Vegas.... even I don't drive. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hInuCb0...OzutYgD94131580 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hInuCb0...OzutYgD94131580I didn't think anyone would care that Isiah Thomas took a few too many sleeping pills. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bjorn_skurj Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I care a little bit. I am trying to decide whether it is in good taste or not to wear my "Fire Isiah" T-shirt. As a Knicks fan, I am looking forward to maybe being .500 this year! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 Interesting of him to pin the blame on his own daughter, yeah? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MrRain422 Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 I didn't do much research for my fantasy draft, and there are so many stats in my league that I don't even know how I did. 8 team head-to-head leagueMIN-FGM-FG%-FTM-FT%-3PTM-3PT%-PTS-OREB-REB-AST-ST-BLK-A/T PG - Baron Davis, LACSG - Michael Redd, MILG - Corey Maggette, GSSF - Rudy Gay, MEMPF - Amare Staudemire, PHOF - Pau Gasol, LALC - Rasheed Wallace, DETC - LaMarcus Aldridge, PORUtil - David West, NOUtil - Michael Beasley, MIA Bench:Richard Hamilton, Det - SG Kenyon Martin, Den - PF Jamario Moon, Tor - SF Charlie Villanueva, Mil - SF,PF Amir Johnson, Det - SF,PF Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MrRain422 Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Iverson traded to Detroit for Billups and McDyess Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted November 3, 2008 Share Posted November 3, 2008 Wow. How do you feel about that? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted November 3, 2008 Author Share Posted November 3, 2008 Though not a Pistons fan, I've come to appreciate and respect the way that Dumars has built that club. Having said that, I think he's lost his mind. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PigSooie Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 SEC charges DALLAS MAVERICKS owner Mark Cuban with insider trading... per Drudgereport.com Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PigSooie Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122693827604333637.html The Securities and Exchange Commission filed insider trading charges against Mark Cuban, the outspoken owner of the Dallas Mavericks, for allegedly dumping shares in Mamma.com upon learning it was raising money in a private offering. The SEC alleges in a civil action that Mr. Cuban sold his entire 6% ownership stake on June 28, 2004, after learning that Mamma.com was raising money through a private investment in a public entity, or PIPE. The next day, on June 29, the company announced the PIPE financing and shares of the company dropped by more than 10%. By selling his stake, the SEC alleges, Mr. Cuban avoided more than $750,000 in losses. In a PIPE transaction new shares are issued at a discount to the current trading price. An announcement of a PIPE transaction is often followed by a drop in the stock price as shareholders anticipate their stake will be diluted. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Question: Are a lot of NBA GMs pretty stupid? It seems like, for instance, the firing of D'Antoni and Avery Johnson have backfired. Also, those teams' respective blockbuster trades from last season seem dumb. A: The Suns are fine and you haven't been paying that much attention. Ok. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MrRain422 Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Perhaps, but Steve Kerr is still pretty dumb. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Perhaps, but Steve Kerr is still pretty dumb.I do get that impression. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Good thing the Bulls held on to Gordon and Deng. Wouldn't want to trade them away. Good Lord is this team bad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Yes, I didn't mention Pax's stupid moves in my above post, but he probably has a lot more of them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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