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prodson
Posts: 20886
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 4/14/2003
Member: #395
Colombia
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Winners & Losers
Los Angeles Lakers -- No one can top L.A.'s talent-per-dollar ratio, luring both Karl Malone and Gary Payton for a total of $6.4 million in salary-cap exceptions for 2003-04. Even with the uncertainty of Kobe Bryant's status or, at least, focus, the Shaq-down pecking order of this star-laden roster makes them the early favorites to reclaim the Larry O'Brien trophy. Grade: A.
Minnesota Timberwolves -- The idea is to convince Garnett to stay, get out of the first round and sell some more tickets, in that order. Only the last will be measured before next spring, but the T'wolves sure did get entertaining with their additions. Grade: A-.
Cleveland Cavaliers -- J.R. Bremer and Kevin Ollie are nice pickups for a team with several shooting guards trying to play point. Grade: A-.
Detroit Pistons -- Elden Campbell doesn't wow anyone, but the Pistons' draft was so strong it doesn't matter. Grade: B+.
Sacramento Kings -- Still the deepest team in the league, the Kings added an All-Star center. That's the half-full approach. The half-empty view is that they added Brad Miller, an All-Star in the size-challenged Eastern Conference, while giving up some rugged reserves in Hedo Turkoglu and Scot Pollard. Too much tinkering? Grade: B.
Miami Heat -- They sign Elton Brand, only to have the Clippers match. So they set their sights on Lamar Odom, facing the same outcome. At least they caught a break with guard Anthony Carter's contract snafu, shedding an empty $4.1 million obligation. Grade: B.
New Jersey Nets -- Keeping Jason Kidd was as vital to this franchise as re-signing Garnett is to Minnesota. Luring Alonzo Mourning was intriguing, but even in the East, Mourning without all his energy is hardly Mourning at all. Grade: B-.
Washington Wizards -- Getting someone, anyone, is good for these guys. But Gilbert Arenas needs some serious learning, and this place doesn't have the tradition to offer it. Grade: B-.
Denver Nuggets -- Odd strategy, going to talk with Mourning while Olowokandi was left guessing. Getting Andre Miller was a solid move, but the Nuggets could have rounded up a couple names. Grade: C+.
Philadelphia 76ers -- Adding a gunner (Glenn Robinson) to a team already built around a gunner (Allen Iverson). Defense, anyone? Grade: C.
San Antonio Spurs -- You went shopping for Jason Kidd and Jermaine O'Neal and only brought us Turkoglu, Rasho Nesterovic, Robert Horry and Ron Mercer? More was expected from the champs and their millions. Grade: C.
Utah Jazz -- Corey Maggette and Jason Terry won't make anyone forget ol' John Whatshisname or Karl Whoever in Salt Lake City. Grade: C.
Orlando Magic -- A few years ago, these guys had Tim Duncan on their radar. Now it's Juwan Howard and Tyronn Lue, minus Grant Hill. That doesn't add up. Grade: C-.
New Orleans Hornets -- Paid a ton to a 34-year-old power forward, just to avoid backsliding. Then added (yawn) Darrell Armstrong. Grade: C-.
Indiana Pacers -- How did Donnie Walsh botch this? They got Jermaine O'Neal to stay, then didn't hang onto his sidekick up front, Brad Miller. Someone moved their cheese while Walsh had one eye on the luxury tax. Grade: D.
L.A. Clippers -- Donald Sterling hasn't seen the light. He's just letting others set his payroll. While matching some big offers qualifies as news with this owner, he still will have lost Olowokandi and Andre Miller for nothing in return. Grade: D.
Milwaukee Bucks -- The Big Three are now the big oh-oh, and George Karl is out, too. That whole Michael Jordan flirtation didn't do this franchise any good, either, confusing the Payton situation. Grade: F.
Dallas Mavericks -- Owner Mark Cuban got used and abused, allegedly, by Kidd, Mourning and Olowokandi's agent. What's that German term tossed around when Martha Stewart got led off in bracelets? Schadenfreude? Bingo. Grade: F.
all those years as a fan and now i'm the anti-knick. life is crazy aint it.
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