OngBok
Posts: 20899
Alba Posts: 2
Joined: 5/1/2005
Member: #894 Thailand
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. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland Cavaliers
Status: Unrestricted, turned 30 on June 5 and is entering his ninth season (1998-2001 — totaled 29 games due to foot surgery). The numbers from 2004-05: 78 games, 33.5 minutes, 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.12 blocks; .468 FG, .286 3-point, .799 FT. Suitors: Cavs, New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. Final answer: The teams under the cap are all young, and the teams that are interested, besides the Cavs, only have the mid-level exception. That brings to mind a sign-and-trade, but it's only possible if the Cavs find a deal they like — which would be Chicago for Tyson Chandler and one of their young guards, or Philadelphia for Samuel Dalembert and Kyle Korver. In other words, he probably isn't going anywhere.
2. Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia 76ers
Status: Restricted, turned 24 on May 10 and is entering his fourth season. The numbers from 2004-05: 72 games, 24.8 minutes, 8.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.68 blocks; .524 FG, .601 FT, 0 3-point attempts. Suitors: 76ers, Atlanta, Seattle, New York and others. Final answer: It's hard to fathom the 76ers allowing any team to touch him after he turned into a double-double machine in April and after their five-game playoff loss to the Pistons. A sign-and-trade is not impossible, just highly unlikely. They'll match anything.
3. Tyson Chandler, Chicago Bulls
Status: Restricted, turns 23 on Oct. 2 and is entering his fifth season. The numbers from 2004-05: 80 games, 27.4 minutes, 8.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.76 blocks; .494 FG, .673 FT, and 0-2 3-point. Suitors: Bulls, Seattle, Atlanta and Cleveland. Final answer: He's a defensive and rebounding monster who works his tail off and were it not for his back problems, he'd already be signed to a maximum deal. That said, someone else might throw one at him anyway, just to see if the Bulls flinch. They will … and then match it.
4. Eddy Curry, Chicago Bulls
Status: Restricted, turns 23 on Dec. 5 and is entering his fifth season. The numbers from 2004-05: 63 games, 28.7 minutes, 16.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, .92 blocks, .538 FG, .720 FT, and zero 3-point attempts. Suitors: Bulls, Atlanta and Cleveland. Final answer: Unlike Chandler, there has not been steady progress with Curry, and a heart problem surfaced this season that complicated matters even more. Whereas general manager John Paxson will unquestionably match anything thrown Chandler's way, it will be a tougher call in the case of Curry. A sign-and-trade is much more likely.
5. Jerome James, Seattle SuperSonics
Status: Unrestricted, turns 30 on Nov. 17, entering his sixth season. The Numbers from 2004-05: 80 games, 16.6 minutes, 4.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.39 blocks, .509 FG, .723 FT, 0-for-2 3-point attempts. Suitors: Sonics, New York, Atlanta, Memphis and Phoenix. Final answer: Once again J.J. has created a false perception with a masterful run — averaging 17.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in the first round of the 2005 playoffs. In other words, know that he started 80 games during the regular season and understand that he earned only 16.6 minutes per contest. Somebody may bite with the mid-level exception, but the Sonics are done gnashing their teeth over him for that much money.
6. Dan Gadzuric, Milwaukee Bucks
Status: Restricted, turns 28 on Feb. 2 and is entering his fourth season. The numbers from 2004-05: 81 games, 22 minutes, 7.3 points, 8.3 rebounds,1.31 blocks, .539 FG, .538 FT, zero 3-point attempts. Suitors: Bucks, Orlando, Atlanta and Denver. Final destination: He still hasn't played enough minutes to earn an offer sheet that would make the Bucks flinch. With Andrew Bogut coming in, the Bucks will make a decision between Gadzuric and Zaza Pachulia based on who gets more money on the market. Gadzuric is an active big man, who is disruptive. He'll help some team.
7. Dikembe Mutombo, Houston Rockets
Status: Unrestricted, turned 39 on June 25 and is entering his 15th season. The numbers from 2004-05: 80 games, 15.2 minutes, 4.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.26 blocks, .498 FG, .741 FT, zero 3-point attempts. Suitors: Rockets and various contenders will inquire. Final destination: Mount Mutombo has already said this is his last stop and he was better than anyone could have imagined last season. He frequently dominated the boards and was wagging his finger after just about every blocks. There aren't a lot of minutes left in that body, but the Rockets are thrilled with whatever he gives them in support of Yao Ming.
8. Vitaly Potapenko, Seattle SuperSonics
Status: Unrestricted, turned 30 on March 21, entering 10th season. The numbers from 2004-05: 33 games, 10.2 minutes, 3.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, .09 blocks, .517 FG, .871 FT, 0-1 3-point attempts. Suitors: Sonics, Orlando, Atlanta and others. Final destination: Began last season injured, and had a tough time earning minutes because the Sonics' rotation was so tight and there weren't any injuries until late in the season. But the Sonics would like to have him back at the right price.
9. Othella Harrington, Chicago Bulls
Status: Unrestricted, will be 32 on Jan. 31 and is entering his 10th season. The numbers from 2004-05: 70 games, 18.2 minutes, 8.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, .26 blocks; .512 FG; .718 FT. Suitors: Chicago, Cleveland, Washington and others Final destination: He gave the Bulls some sanity in a spot where the youngsters weren't dependable, so they may very well just bring him back because of his versatility up front and at both ends of the floor.
10. Robert Traylor, Cleveland Cavaliers
Status: Unrestricted, turns 29 on Feb. 1 and is entering his eighth season. The numbers from 2004-05: 74 games, 17.9 minutes, 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, .68 blocks, .444 FG, .539 FT, 0-8 3-point. Suitors: Cavs, Orlando, Atlanta, Detroit and others. Final destination: It's a tough call, but somebody will pick him up. He lost weight and played well for the Cavs last season. It was a surprise they didn't pick up his reasonable $1.76 million option, but they wanted to clear the decks completely. Maybe, after all is said and done, they'll bring him back. Others centers of intrigue: Dale Davis, Elden Campbell, Theo Ratliff, Vlade Divac and Zaza Pachulia.
Update: Gads resigned with the Bucks today !
Isiah Thomas will lead us back to the playoffs in 2006 !!!
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