Sixers set their sights low

Depends. Anyone who signs 'Zo to a multiyear deal would be taking a big
risk. But a one year deal for the midlevel exception is pretty low risk.
Penny and Hill had long-term, big money deals and were hurt early on. If
'Zo wanted to come to Philly for midlevel money, I'd snap him up in a
minute.

"Jesse Kopelman" <thebruce.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:iCNOa.13624$Ph3.1716@sccrnsc04...
> I'd be pretty happy to get Marc Jackson. DeClerq, though, no way! Zo is
too
> big a gamble. Remember Penny, remember G-Hill?
>
>
> --
>
> Jesse Kopelman -- thebruce.TakeThisOut@comcast.net
> "The man who was too lazy to fail."
>
>
> "Kurt Straub" <jkurtstraub.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:DyidnWWcu6fIN5eiXTWJlg@comcast.com...
> > According to the Inky this morning, the Sixers are looking to sign a
free
> > agent center! Alonzo Mourning? Noooooo. They are looking at Andrew
> > DeClerq and Marc Jackson.
> >
> > Bleeaaaaaaahhhh.
> >
> > Go for 'Zo!
> >
> > ----- Kurt Straub
> >
> >
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Sixers set their sights low 

Zo isn't going anywhere other than one of the West's Big 4 for short-term or
"small" money.


--

Jesse Kopelman -- thebruce.DeleteThis@comcast.net
"The man who was too lazy to fail."


"Victor Hastings" <victor.DeleteThis@spamicide.com> wrote in message
news:voWOa.1146$k85.122377@twister.tampabay.rr.com...
> Depends. Anyone who signs 'Zo to a multiyear deal would be taking a big
> risk. But a one year deal for the midlevel exception is pretty low risk.
> Penny and Hill had long-term, big money deals and were hurt early on. If
> 'Zo wanted to come to Philly for midlevel money, I'd snap him up in a
> minute.
>
> "Jesse Kopelman" <thebruce.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:iCNOa.13624$Ph3.1716@sccrnsc04...
> > I'd be pretty happy to get Marc Jackson. DeClerq, though, no way! Zo is
> too
> > big a gamble. Remember Penny, remember G-Hill?
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Jesse Kopelman -- thebruce.DeleteThis@comcast.net
> > "The man who was too lazy to fail."
> >
> >
> > "Kurt Straub" <jkurtstraub.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
> > news:DyidnWWcu6fIN5eiXTWJlg@comcast.com...
> > > According to the Inky this morning, the Sixers are looking to sign a
> free
> > > agent center! Alonzo Mourning? Noooooo. They are looking at Andrew
> > > DeClerq and Marc Jackson.
> > >
> > > Bleeaaaaaaahhhh.
> > >
> > > Go for 'Zo!
> > >
> > > ----- Kurt Straub
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Sixers set their sights low 

FWIW, the report tonight on ESPN is that 'Zo is being pursued by the Nets.
Not Big 4, not West.

Speaks volumes about their view of Deke, doesn't it?

----- Kurt Straub

"Jesse Kopelman" <thebruce DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:roKPa.36748$OZ2.6524@rwcrnsc54...
> Zo isn't going anywhere other than one of the West's Big 4 for short-term
or
> "small" money.
 >> Stay informed about: Sixers set their sights low 

Apparently Zo thinks he can get through the season better if he plays in the
East.

I wonder if he's waiting to see what Kidd will do before he commits. If
Kidd bolts for San Antonio, then why would Zo want to sign with the Nets?

"Kurt Straub" <jkurtstraub RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:sk2dnURnlNPP4JKiXTWJhg@comcast.com...
> FWIW, the report tonight on ESPN is that 'Zo is being pursued by the Nets.
> Not Big 4, not West.
>
> Speaks volumes about their view of Deke, doesn't it?
>
> ----- Kurt Straub
>
> "Jesse Kopelman" <thebruce RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:roKPa.36748$OZ2.6524@rwcrnsc54...
> > Zo isn't going anywhere other than one of the West's Big 4 for
short-term
> or
> > "small" money.
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Sixers set their sights low 

On Sat, 12 Jul 2003 04:32:15 GMT, "Victor Hastings"
<victor RemoveThis @spamicide.com> wrote:
>Apparently Zo thinks he can get through the season better if he plays in the
>East.
>I wonder if he's waiting to see what Kidd will do before he commits. If
>Kidd bolts for San Antonio, then why would Zo want to sign with the Nets?
>"Kurt Straub" <jkurtstraub RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
Because Kidd ain't bolting. I guess Zo wouldn't sign there if he was.
Ain't signing here, that's for sure.

The Nets should be better with Zo and Deke sharing time there. That
should make for one pretty good center. That'll fill their biggest
need. Now if they could just shoot they'd be dangerous.

Swyck
 >> Stay informed about: Sixers set their sights low 

I read the Nets thing right after I posted, but I don't consider a 4 year
$20M contract short-term or "small" money. Yes, $5M/year is half of what Zo
could theoretically get, but it is also a lot more than the veteran minimum,
so it's not "small" money.

--

Jesse Kopelman -- thebruce RemoveThis @comcast.net
"The man who was too lazy to fail."


"Kurt Straub" <jkurtstraub RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:sk2dnURnlNPP4JKiXTWJhg@comcast.com...
> FWIW, the report tonight on ESPN is that 'Zo is being pursued by the Nets.
> Not Big 4, not West.
>
> Speaks volumes about their view of Deke, doesn't it?
>
> ----- Kurt Straub
>
> "Jesse Kopelman" <thebruce RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:roKPa.36748$OZ2.6524@rwcrnsc54...
> > Zo isn't going anywhere other than one of the West's Big 4 for
short-term
> or
> > "small" money.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Sixers set their sights low 

"Jesse Kopelman" wrote:

>I read the Nets thing right after I posted, but I don't consider a 4 year
>$20M contract short-term or "small" money.

5 million a year isnt much over the average salary in the NBA, IIRC. The
average NBA salary was around 4 million. There's way too many scrubs getting
more than Mourning will make.

>Yes, $5M/year is half of what Zo
could theoretically get,

I dont know about that anymore. He could have to stop playing at any time,
he's not worth more of a gamble, IMO.

>but it is also a lot more than the veteran minimum,
>so it's not "small" money.

if he was healthy, he'd be getting another max contract. Plus, its not a hue
money deal, so IMO I would call it small money.
 >> Stay informed about: Sixers set their sights low 

Fair enough. Regardless of the salary question, I don't think anyone could
say that a 4 year deal is short-term for someone Zo's age and condition. So,
I still stand behind my original statement as it had an "or" and not an
"and" in it. I am perfectly happy to let the Nets have him. I think the
Sixers' money is better spent elsewhere.


Jesse Kopelman -- thebruce.RemoveThis@comcast.net
"The man who was too lazy to fail."


"LoOneYt0on" <looneyt0on.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030713093724.04108.00000213@mb-m14.aol.com...
> "Jesse Kopelman" wrote:
>
> >I read the Nets thing right after I posted, but I don't consider a 4 year
> >$20M contract short-term or "small" money.
>
> 5 million a year isnt much over the average salary in the NBA, IIRC. The
> average NBA salary was around 4 million. There's way too many scrubs
getting
> more than Mourning will make.
>
> >Yes, $5M/year is half of what Zo
> could theoretically get,
>
> I dont know about that anymore. He could have to stop playing at any
time,
> he's not worth more of a gamble, IMO.
>
> >but it is also a lot more than the veteran minimum,
> >so it's not "small" money.
>
> if he was healthy, he'd be getting another max contract. Plus, its not a
hue
> money deal, so IMO I would call it small money.
 >> Stay informed about: Sixers set their sights low 

"Jesse Kopelman" <thebruce.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote:

> Fair enough. Regardless of the salary question, I don't think anyone could
> say that a 4 year deal is short-term for someone Zo's age and condition.

no, definitely not short term. Its likely that its Zo's last contract
and its likely he doesn't even finish the contract. He'll be 38 when
this deal ends and with his health, he could conceivably never play a
game for the Nets if his kidney acts up before this season.

> So, I still stand behind my original statement as it had an "or" and not an
> "and" in it.

I must have missed the "and". My bad.

>I am perfectly happy to let the Nets have him. I think the Sixers'
money is better spent elsewhere.

I don't blame you. I think Zo is a very big risk as a player. The
Sixers need to make other moves to improve the team though. Why not
look into a sign and trade with the Heat? Eddie Jones is available
(trust me, the Heat would LOVE to free up his salary), and the Heat
would love to free some salary cap space for next year as well. Why
not sign Coleman or Thomas (or both, adding up to a max salary) to a
max salary on a 1 year deal, and then trade them to the Heat for Jones
(or even Grant). Coleman/Thomas get a huge payday for a year, the
Sixers get new talent and the Heat get cap space. They may be able to
do that with a number of teams to get new talent.
 >> Stay informed about: Sixers set their sights low 

I don't see how Jones would help the Sixers -- he always seems to get
dominated in the post season. Grant is a maybe and I would definitely trade
Coleman for him, but I don't think Riley is that senile yet. The guy I would
have liked to see the Sixers go after is Olowokandi, but I see he just
signed with the Wolves (only $16M for 3 years -- cheap! I guess the days of
even scrub centers, not that Kandi is one, getting $40M contracts is long
gone . . .). I guess it is up to Marc Jackson to be the savior. How anyone
passed up on Kandi for that money, I have no idea. Maybe the GMs know
something about his health that I don't.

--

Jesse Kopelman -- thebruce RemoveThis @comcast.net
"The man who was too lazy to fail."


"Looneyt0on" <looneyt0on RemoveThis @aol.com> wrote in message
news:f9c24142.0307141115.554df3c1@posting.google.com...
> "Jesse Kopelman" <thebruce RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > Fair enough. Regardless of the salary question, I don't think anyone
could
> > say that a 4 year deal is short-term for someone Zo's age and condition.
>
> no, definitely not short term. Its likely that its Zo's last contract
> and its likely he doesn't even finish the contract. He'll be 38 when
> this deal ends and with his health, he could conceivably never play a
> game for the Nets if his kidney acts up before this season.
>
> > So, I still stand behind my original statement as it had an "or" and not
an
> > "and" in it.
>
> I must have missed the "and". My bad.
>
> >I am perfectly happy to let the Nets have him. I think the Sixers'
> money is better spent elsewhere.
>
> I don't blame you. I think Zo is a very big risk as a player. The
> Sixers need to make other moves to improve the team though. Why not
> look into a sign and trade with the Heat? Eddie Jones is available
> (trust me, the Heat would LOVE to free up his salary), and the Heat
> would love to free some salary cap space for next year as well. Why
> not sign Coleman or Thomas (or both, adding up to a max salary) to a
> max salary on a 1 year deal, and then trade them to the Heat for Jones
> (or even Grant). Coleman/Thomas get a huge payday for a year, the
> Sixers get new talent and the Heat get cap space. They may be able to
> do that with a number of teams to get new talent.
 >> Stay informed about: Sixers set their sights low 

"Jesse Kopelman" <thebruce.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote:

> I don't see how Jones would help the Sixers --

yeah, what would 18ppg and 5rpg do at the small forward slot for the
Sixers?

> he always seems to get dominated in the post season.

Jones cannot be the #1 option on a team. He's proven that in Miami.
IMO, he would make a good #2 in Philadelphia.

> Grant is a maybe and I would definitely trade Coleman for him, but I don't think Riley is that senile yet.

Riley wants to unload salary and Grant is signed through 2007 for
around the max salary (even though he has a player opt out in 2005).
Grant is not a max player. If Philly signed Coleman for 1 year for
the max (or packaged Coleman with players that had contracts ending in
2004 to equal out salary), I wouldn't be shocked at all if Riley would
do that deal. I'd be more shocked if he didn't.

> The guy I would have liked to see the Sixers go after is Olowokandi, but I
> see he just signed with the Wolves (only $16M for 3 years -- cheap!

it appears that the free agent market has dried up for players that
are not marquee players, this year. Teams that figured to be out of
the running for players suddenly appear to have a chance if they
bother to make a call or two.

> I guess the days of even scrub centers, not that Kandi is one, getting $40M contracts is long gone . . .).

Kandi hasn't proved anything, that is the problem. He's put up
mediocre stats (career 10ppg and 9rpg on 43% shooting for a center!)
on a team that he should have been a superstar on if he had any
talent.

> I guess it is up to Marc Jackson to be the savior. How anyone passed up on
> Kandi for that money, I have no idea. Maybe the GMs know something about his > health that I don't.

take a look at his stats. Even when healthy he didn't post numbers
that were anything other than mediocre. He has no offensive game and
can't shoot field goals or free throws. When I looked at his stats a
few minutes ago I was shocked to see how mediocre they really were.
 >> Stay informed about: Sixers set their sights low 

I would think that 18ppg and 5rpg is exactly what they would get with KVH
fulltime in the SF slot, but to move him there they need to acquire a real
center so that their other big men can play PF. The thing to remember is
that stats aren't everything. Is there really a slot for Jones to put up
those kind of numbers when he is going to have to share time at SF with KVH,
Thomas, and McKie? As for Marc Jackson, yes he is far from an All-Star, but
then again so was Big Tod. It doesn't matter how good you are at SF and PF,
your team needs some kind of presence at center -- if only to force the
other team's center to work for points. Even though DC puts up decent
numbers at center he can't make a real center work hard and to win in the
playoffs, you need to be able to make the other teams center work. On the
other hand, if your center can't run up and down the floor (final days
Ewing, recent Mutumbo, ect.) he does more harm than good. So in this center
starved league, you need a guy who is about 7' and 250+lbs who can run the
floor. Considering the competition he will face in the East, I bet Marc
Jackson would increase his stats to at least become a 10 and 10 man like Tod
was in his (all too short) prime.

--

Jesse Kopelman -- thebruce.DeleteThis@comcast.net
"The man who was too lazy to fail."


"Looneyt0on" <looneyt0on.DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote in message
news:f9c24142.0307160541.44c86332@posting.google.com...
> "Jesse Kopelman" <thebruce.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > I don't see how Jones would help the Sixers --
>
> yeah, what would 18ppg and 5rpg do at the small forward slot for the
> Sixers?
>
> > he always seems to get dominated in the post season.
>
> Jones cannot be the #1 option on a team. He's proven that in Miami.
> IMO, he would make a good #2 in Philadelphia.
>
> > Grant is a maybe and I would definitely trade Coleman for him, but I
don't think Riley is that senile yet.
>
> Riley wants to unload salary and Grant is signed through 2007 for
> around the max salary (even though he has a player opt out in 2005).
> Grant is not a max player. If Philly signed Coleman for 1 year for
> the max (or packaged Coleman with players that had contracts ending in
> 2004 to equal out salary), I wouldn't be shocked at all if Riley would
> do that deal. I'd be more shocked if he didn't.
>
> > The guy I would have liked to see the Sixers go after is Olowokandi, but
I
> > see he just signed with the Wolves (only $16M for 3 years -- cheap!
>
> it appears that the free agent market has dried up for players that
> are not marquee players, this year. Teams that figured to be out of
> the running for players suddenly appear to have a chance if they
> bother to make a call or two.
>
> > I guess the days of even scrub centers, not that Kandi is one, getting
$40M contracts is long gone . . .).
>
> Kandi hasn't proved anything, that is the problem. He's put up
> mediocre stats (career 10ppg and 9rpg on 43% shooting for a center!)
> on a team that he should have been a superstar on if he had any
> talent.
>
> > I guess it is up to Marc Jackson to be the savior. How anyone passed up
on
> > Kandi for that money, I have no idea. Maybe the GMs know something
about his > health that I don't.
>
> take a look at his stats. Even when healthy he didn't post numbers
> that were anything other than mediocre. He has no offensive game and
> can't shoot field goals or free throws. When I looked at his stats a
> few minutes ago I was shocked to see how mediocre they really were.
 >> Stay informed about: Sixers set their sights low 

"Jesse Kopelman" <thebruce DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:fDqRa.68774$OZ2.13321@rwcrnsc54...
> I would think that 18ppg and 5rpg is exactly what they would get with KVH
> fulltime in the SF slot

Van Horn cannot play the SF spot. Too slow.

>Is there really a slot for Jones to put up
> those kind of numbers when he is going to have to share time at SF with
KVH,
> Thomas, and McKie?

1) Eddie Jones is not coming to Philly. 2) KVH is not going to play SF,
Thomas will start and probably get 32 minutes a night there when healthy.
3) Aaron McKie is not going to play much if any SF this year, as I'm sure
Coach Ayers remembers what a disaster it was when he played there the first
half of last year. I'm not sure who will wind up in the rotation taking up
the rest of the SF minutes, maybe Monty Williams and John Salmons. The two
rookies would be long shots there.


As for Marc Jackson, yes he is far from an All-Star, but
> then again so was Big Tod. It doesn't matter how good you are at SF and
PF,
> your team needs some kind of presence at center -- if only to force the
> other team's center to work for points. Even though DC puts up decent
> numbers at center he can't make a real center work hard

I guess you never saw any of the games he played against Shaq. DC plays
excellent defense on big centers. Against fast centers, well, that's
another story.


>So in this center
> starved league, you need a guy who is about 7' and 250+lbs who can run the
> floor.

This describes Aram [Amal?] McCaskill, but I still don't think he can play
in the NBA. If Dalembert gets healthy, he might be a good complement to DC
coming off the bench. He's sure got a higher upside than McCaskill.

> Considering the competition he will face in the East, I bet Marc
> Jackson would increase his stats to at least become a 10 and 10 man like
Tod
> was in his (all too short) prime.

Doubtful. Marc Jackson has never averaged 10 rebounds a game. His rookie
year, playing 30 minutes a game, he averaged 13.2 pts and 7.5 rebounds.
It's been all downhill from there. BTW, he's only 6-10.

---- Kurt Straub
 >> Stay informed about: Sixers set their sights low