can some1 post?

Chad's been busy....

Cavs may lead wheeling and dealing

The scuttle has now reached fever pitch. The lies? Reaching extraordinary proportion. By now the Clippers have traded their lottery picks 12 different times to 12 different teams. By the time they select at No. 12, we're getting a sneaking suspicion that we may not know anything more than we know now.

The biggest rumors Monday night were all cued up in Cleveland.

Andre Miller to the Clipps? The talk has been floating around for two months, but conventional wisdom said, if the Clipps can't afford to pay Michael Olowokandi, Elton Brand and Lamar Odom . . . how do they afford that max contract extension that Miller is looking for?

As with most things associated with the Clipps, conventional wisdom looks dead wrong. News that the Clippers approached the Hornets about a Baron Davis trade took everyone off guard. Now, a source inside the Clippers told the L.A. Times that they're engaging in talks with the Cavs about Miller.

The deal would apparently send Corey Maggette, the No. 8 and the No. 12 to Cleveland in return for Miller. Another variation that's much less likely has the Cavs sending the No. 6 and Miller to L.A. for Darius Miles, the No. 8 and the No. 12. The Cavs have also inquired about the availability of Lamar Odom, but GM Elgin Baylor told the L.A. Times that they wouldn't trade either Odom or Michael Olowokandi.

"You can't believe everything you read," Baylor said. "There's nothing to it. We're talking to teams. We're listening to teams. None of the teams above us [in the draft order] are willing to move down.... We have not talked to any team [about Odom]. Any team that's asked about Lamar we've told, 'We're not trading Lamar.' We have not called any other team and asked about trading Lamar.... We don't want to move Michael."

Miller told the Akron Beacon Journal that there is a 50 percent chance that he'll be traded on draft night. "It's something that could happen," he said. "That's between my agent [Lon Babby], the coaches and [Cavs general manager] Jim Paxson to decide. Whatever happens, it's out of my hands."

Cavs coach John Lucas confirmed the trade talk. "People have called, but Andre's our best player," Lucas said. "You have to listen. But at this point there are 9,000 trades out there. You listen and you learn and you keep moving."

Lucas said it would take "something crazy" for Miller to be dealt. Lucas said the Cavs have received no attractive offers, but "you never know what happens."

A trade that would give the Cavs three lottery picks in a deep draft may be too good to pass up. With the Nos. 6, 8 and 12, the Cavs could likely add Caron Butler, Dajuan Wagner and Amare Stoudemire. Factor in young players like Maggette, Ricky Davis and DeSagana Diop, and the building blocks might finally be in place for an interesting team down the road. . .

Unless the Cavs decide to keep Miller and add another All-Star player now. Several sources told Insider Monday that the Cavs were also talking about a deal that would send the No. 6 pick, Tyrone Hill and perhaps Lamond Murray to the Bucks in return for Glenn Robinson, Anthony Mason and the No. 13 pick.

Robinson and Mason would give the Cavs the veteran fire power they need to surround Miller. The Bucks would get a player they covet at No. 6 (either Nikoloz Tskitishivili or Nene Hilario), free up playing time for Tim Thomas and get cap relief next summer when Hill's $6.6 million contract comes off the books.

Both the News Herald and the Racine Journal Times reported variations of the trade in Tuesday's editions.

Lucas seemed to confirm the information Monday afternoon in a Cleveland.com chat when he told fans that "there's a chance we could move Tyrone." He also said forward Lamond Murray "have some value" in a possible trade.

As for the Clippers, they continue to mystify folks around the league. Has Donald Sterling lost his mind, or is he finally ready open his wallet and put together a powerhouse in L.A.? Maybe Jerry West knew something we didn't when he decided to get out of town.

If the Clippers aren't involved in some sort of cruel practical joke, it looks like they'd be willing to pay three max deals this year (Miller, Brand, Olowokandi), and a couple of pretty big ones next season (Odom, Miles, and Quentin Richardson).

One question several observers have is why the Clippers are so obsessed with a point guard when Marko Jaric, perhaps the top point guard in Europe, is set to play for the Clippers this year.

Coach Alvin Gentry said the team is just interested in stockpiling talent. We'll pause why you pick yourself off the floor. "What we want to get [are] good players," Gentry said. "We'll take veteran players if they're good players. We want to add talent. We're not in the market to get a player just because he's a veteran. Hopefully, we draft a good player and he has to earn his way into the lineup. He's going to have a tough time playing ahead of guys who were here last year."

yeah, yeah, I know.... Bab****. Still not fixed, still not funny.

Posted by martin:

Will the Knicks opt for Nene?

Although nothing else going on is as dramatic as the Andre Miller and Glenn Robinson rumors, there are a few other interesting scenarios out there . . .

Why are so many teams targeting the Cavs at No. 6 as a trade partner? One, the pick is for sale. But two, several teams are now convinced that the Knicks are secretly after Nene Hilario with their No. 7 pick. While Scott Layden has gone out of his way to publicly praise Chris Wilcox and Dajuan Wagner, the team has been tight lipped about Nene, despite bringing him in for two workouts.

Given the Knicks' history, that may be the best indication out there that they really like a guy. That's why teams like the Heat, Suns, Blazers, Magic and even the Mavs have been trying to slide ahead of New York. Nene's strength, wing span, shot blocking and rebounding abilities should allow him to play center -- the most coveted position in the NBA.

"There are no more guys who want to play center so they all filter into the [power forward] spot," Memphis director of player personnel Tony Barone told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "There is some stigma with being a center. A typical power forward, the bruiser ... that's died."

The Miller and Big Dog rumors will probably put an end to talk of the Suns swapping the No. 9 for the Cavs No. 6 pick. The Suns were also seeking to pawn off Bo Outlaw and the 3 years, $17 million remaining on his contract as part of the deal. The Cavs weren't interested.

It looks like the Heat are the latest trade target for the Blazers. Portland is seeking to move into the lottery to get a shot at Amare Stoudemire, the Miami Herald reported. The Blazers are offering the Heat the same deal they offered the Clippers: their first-round pick (21st overall) and power forward Zach Randolph.

Orlando has also spoken to the Heat about exchanging picks, sources told the Herald. The Heat's interest would be piqued if forward Mike Miller is dangled? The Magic have been offering Miller to the Grizzlies and Nuggets in exchange for the No. 4 or No. 5, but might not be willing to part with Miller for a pick that low.

Meanwhile, the Heat are talking to the Raptors (No. 20), Pistons (No. 23) and Nets about picking up a second first-rounder.

Several league sources told Insider that the Hawks have several deals on the table to move up into the mid first round. GM Pete Babcock has coveted Dan Dickau and Jiri Welsh, among others, to play point guard for the team this season. The Hawks are talking to everyone from the Wizards at No. 11 all the way down to the Pistons at No. 23.

Babcock indicated Monday that they may no longer want the Pistons' pick, indicating that the Hawks may have to go higher to get the player they want.

"Any deal we would make --- and we're talking to a lot of teams --- would depend on whether there's a player we really want when the pick is up," Babcock told the Atlanta Constitution Journal. "We don't want a first-round pick for the sake of having one."

The Pacers were quick to dismiss talk that they'd consider trading the No. 14 and Austin Croshere to the Lakers for Robert Horry and the No. 27 if Qyntel Woods fell to them, but consider this.

The team has been bringing in quite a few prospects of late who are late first-rounders at best -- at least later than where it was picking at No. 14. Monday the team had in John Salmons and Roger Mason Jr. The Pacers have also brought in Mladen Sekularac, Darius Songaila, Ryan Humphrey and Freddie Jones of late.

"The draft hasn't arranged itself at the top," said David Morway, the Pacers' senior vice president of basketball administration, told the Indianapolis Star. "There's still a lot of indecision among teams. By this time you usually have a good feel for how the top 11 or 12 are going to go, but that's not the case. You also have a lot of teams talking of trading into the lottery and more teams than usual talking of trading out of the lottery."

Here's a surprise. After spending the last month denying an Insider report that the Sixers are looking to deal the No.16 pick to the Warriors, the Philadelphia Daily News reversed course today and is now "reporting" that the Sixers may be talking to the Warriors about trading their 16th pick.

"We're trying to decide," general manager Billy King told the Daily News. "The luxury tax is a big key to what we're doing. If we take a player, it means committing to 3 years [of guaranteed salary]. Do we want to do that or go get veteran free agents?"

The Sixers have made only a token attempt to bring in the top picks who will be there when they draft at No. 16. Multiple agents and league sources who have dealt with the Warriors for the past month have confirmed that the team will have a mid first-round pick.

Who will the Warriors take if they get No. 16? The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the Warriors' brass took a look at Jiri Welsch Sunday. The team has also taken a long look at Dan Dickau and Frank Williams.

my picks:

1 yao
2 j-will
3 dun.jr
4 nene
5 skeeta
6 wilcox
7 ? wagner/butler probably.

I like Nene at any and all costs. We need him so badly you guys just don't know!

Posted by Caseloads:

Posted by martin:

Posted by Caseloads:

my picks:

1 yao
2 j-will
3 dun.jr
4 nene
5 skeeta
6 wilcox
7 ? wagner/butler probably.

with this scenario, you gotta go with Gooden.

no. i'd prefer butler or wagner over gooden.

Really? I know that Gooden is tweener but he can play with his back to the basket, which makes a lot of other people around him a lot better. Butler, Wagner and the nevery-ending glut at the 1 and 2?

Posted by Knixkik:

Okay so the way we figure it, if Wilcox is available the Knicks will likely nab him, hands down. If he's not there, it sounds like the Knicks really like Nene even though the top candidates seem like Wagner and Jeffries. This thing will be a mistery until tomorrow night.

I wouldn't count on Nene being around until number 7 he will be gone by then. He is a big man and its very difficult to find a person who may play center with that kind of athleticism. Even though I have the Knicks picking him it seems teams are coming out of the wood works to try and get Nene. Most likely he goes with the Cleveland pick.

Man, I can't wait 'til tomorrow!

Posted by bigboymumu:

Gooden will not last past Memphis. Whether that will be 8 or 4 I don't know.

west "sleuth" is manipulative. just watch.

Posted by VG:

I too am convinced Layden is really after Hilario, not Wilcox. I'd be happy if we end up with Butler instead but I'm not sure what to think of Wagner.

I want Wilcox or Hilario, hands down. Both will bring about the same to New York. Nene will bring slightly more size and Wilcox will bring slightly more athletism. Either would be great...new york likes both...both like new york, so we'll have to see how it works.