Pacers and Bulls: Big Trade # 1
Just when it seemed that Jalen Rose couldn’t be any less happy being constrained by a team that did not let him show off his scoring talent, he was sent to Chicago. He admitted that he was disappointed to be sent from the Pacers (not that successful in their own right) to the cellar-dwelling Bulls.
Yet three or four games later the results look surprising. Who turned out the winner? It seems like the Bulls. The Pacers needed a center, but acquired Brad Miller. He put up some decent numbers with the Bulls, but when surrounded with some good players it doesn’t seem like he will do any better than Jeff Foster. They also acquired two Rons: Artest and Mercer. They can both score, but they fire up too many bad shots.
On a team that already has to feed shots to Reggie and Jermaine, it seems like there won’t be enough to go around. The Bulls also threw in Kevin Ollie. So, while this trade adds a little depth to the Pacers, it appears that not only did it not add any explosive talent, but it might hurt their chemistry when the players start fighting over shots.
The Bulls on the other hand acquired quality rather than quantity. Jalen Rose is a legit scorer and all-around player. Travis Best definitely deserves to be a starting point guard in the NBA. Also, getting rid of a few players will let Chandler and Curry get some practice before next season. Also it opens up the possibility for Marcus Fizer to shine, and he will.
The final judgment won’t come for a while, but maybe Jalen has finally found some love in Chi-town.
Mavs and Nuggets: Big Trade # 2
Nick Van Exel’s whining finally came to a halt. But for how long? He says that he does not care about playing time and he is just happy to be on a winning team. It’s tough to buy. He is going from being the Nuggets leading scorer and assist man to being the Mavs’ best player off the bench.
The trade seems to be an act of desperation on the part of both teams. The Nuggets, who aren’t going anywhere soon, acquired a washed-up point guard in Tim Hardaway, a power forward with an 18-mil-a-year contract in Juwan Howard, a soon to be anonymous Donnell Harvey, and (most likely) a late first-round draft pick.
The Mavs, on the other hand, acquired Van Exel when they already have Steve Nash. Besides the fact that Van Exel is known to complain, any team with an established point that acquires a second all-star caliber trigger-man can expect controversy.
They also acquired Raef Lafrentz when they were looking for a big man. He is 6’11 and big on defense, rejecting a couple shots per game, but he won’t be found anywhere near the hoop on offense. He will be hanging out on the wing firing threes. Avery Johnson is a decent backup point guard, and Tariq Abdul-Wahad is cap-filler.
It seems like the only logical reason for this trade was because the GMs wanted to make a splash.
The Good Guy Goes Wrong
Remember Jayson Williams? Not only did he always hustle, he was the good guy. He volunteered around the community and was always getting recognized for his selfless activities. So, what happens when one of the good guys in the NBA is facing manslaughter charges?
It is definitely disappointing. While one expects the Shawn Kemps and Derrick Colemans to run afoul of the law, one does not expect Mr. Community to be facing the music. Even though Jayson Williams is no longer an active player, the charges he will face are a sad note for the NBA. In a year filled with predominately positive news and developments (young superstars Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, and the dominant veteran Michael Jordan), one of the good guys loses his halo. Even if it was just an accident, redemption will be hard to find for Jayson Williams.
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