Peter (NY): i heard Renaldo Balkman is at IMG working on his game, how is he coming along?? is that jumpshot getting any better??? THANKS!

David Thorpe: (12:12 PM ET ) He was here a bit with his NY coaches. His shot looks a little better, but I've seen him very little on my court thus far. Jeffries, however, looks like a different player.

Jon (North Haven, CT): Jeffries a different player? Is that a good thing I hope?

David Thorpe: (12:16 PM ET ) Yes indeed. The Knicks were down here with him too. Seems to be finding his way again.

Mike L. (New York, NY): Would the Lakers accept a package of Lee, Crawford and Curry for Kobe and Kwame?

David Thorpe: (12:31 PM ET ) No.

Chris, Staten Island, NY: Is trading for Kobe a no brainer for the Knicks if they can pull it off, or is it morgaging the future for a few 45-48 win, out in the 2nd round of the playoffs type seasons?? You know Dolan doesn't care about building a champion, only about filling the garden and getting a few home playoff games!

David Thorpe: (12:40 PM ET ) Yes-getting Kobe to NY would be a great coup. But only if NY can keep some solid core guys.


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Jason ( Indiana ) : Best trade of all, PJ Brown, A. Noc., Ben Gordon and the #9 pick for Kobe Bryant? Do you think Buss would bite on this trade?

David Thorpe: (12:41 PM ET ) No.


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Mike Oxbig (Wisconsin): Morris Almond, as great a shooter as they say?

David Thorpe: (12:41 PM ET ) Yes, he's the owner of a very sweet stroke, and a great mind.

I'm not too concerned with Balkman's shot...I think he has the form to be a good shooter. Jeffries form looked aweful last year...its good news that he looks like a completely different player.

Francis for Kirilenko? That would realistically be considered by the Jazz? Seriously?

I don't know he has four more years left at max money on his deal and deron is going to want max dollars i think they would considering doing a similiar deal to clear the space

Posted by MS:

I don't know he has four more years left at max money on his deal and deron is going to want max dollars i think they would considering doing a similiar deal to clear the space

Yea- Utah is a normal city that needs to keep their cap managed

Deron is going to get max money- he was the only one who showed up in the play offs.

I wonder if they would take a Francis & Frye for AK47 & our 2010 pick back to us? That could be a very good deal, for both teams.

Andrei sorta stunk last year and has 4 yrs 63 mil left.

Jazz and Kirilenko stuck with each other
Monday, Jun 11, 2007 3:09 pm EDT

Getty Images
Even if Andrei Kirilenko is unhappy as a member of the Utah Jazz, team owner Larry H. Miller said recently that it's likely the team and the Russian will have to co-exist through the four years and more than $63 million left on Kirilenko's contract.

Speaking on Channel 4's "On The Record with Chris Vanocur" TV show to air at 9:30 Sunday morning, Miller said, "Whether it's attitude, physical, lack of talent, whatever – whatever it is – the way he played for much of this year, he'd be pretty tough to move.

Source: Deseret News

Posted by VDesai:

Francis and Balkman maybe gets them thinking...

I would want to wait and see how Balkman looks this Fall. If he comes back with a jumpshot, he will be a middle class man's Kirilenko, only he will cost us $1 mill per season for 3 more years as opposed to Kirilenko's four more years at $15 mill per season.

whats realistic is the Jazz contacting Francis's agent regarding a buy out. If they can save something close to the MLE or $4mm a year I think they would entertain Francis + Balkman for AK47.

Of course if they are willing to take that there are probably teams willing to make much better offers.

What is so delusional if you play balkman the same number of minutes i think your looking at

10pts 8rbs 2ass 2stl 2blks