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ESPN.com: NBA
Monday, December 13, 2004
Brown might blossom on new team
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By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider
The Washington Wizards upped their record to 12-6 over the week – good
for second best in the East. But trouble and opportunity both may be on
the horizon.
We've spent plenty of space over the past several months debating
whether the Bulls should trade Tyson Chandler and/or Eddy Curry. But
what about the high school phenom who went ahead of them both – Kwame
Brown?
Like Chandler and Curry, Brown has been a woeful underachiever. This
year, he's been a complete non-factor in the Wizards hot start. After
missing the start of the season with an injury, he's averaging just 6
ppg and 1.6 rpg.
Following a promising third season, Brown is struggling to get with the
program. He got in head coach Eddie Jordan's dog house this week when
he refused to enter a game after a timeout. That led to a two-game
suspension, along with the promise his name would immediately find its
way back on the trading block.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. Brown was the No. 1 pick in the
draft because he didn't carry the baggage that Chandler and Curry did.
He was supposed to be a good kid with a great work ethic (unlike Curry)
and a skilled big man with guard like skills (unlike Chandler). So far
he's shown some of the poor attributes of each, without delivering on
the upside.
Kwame Brown
Forward
Washington Wizards
Profile
2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
5 6.0 2.0 0.6 .650 .500What gives?
"I really think the whole experience of playing with Michael Jordan
ruined him," one former Wizards insider told Insider. "He was a good
kid who got beat up by Jordan mentally. Michael thought he could take
it, but it just put him in a funk. He also saw what veteran guys got
away with off the court and started to imitate. If he ever turns his
career around, it's going to be somewhere other than Washington."
The prospects of getting Brown in a trade have other GMs drooling. He's
a 7-foot, 270-pound, 22-year-old athletic big man who is slowly
becoming a center. Wouldn't the Wizards be crazy to give up on him now?
Maybe not.
"I think he's got a shot to be a good player in the league, but he's
not going to turn into someone like Jermaine O'Neal," the same former
Wizards source told Insider. "His hands are too small. They really hurt
him both offensively and defensively. He can't get things done in
traffic. He also struggles with his decision-making. I don't think
Kwame is dumb, but he's slow to pick things up."
With Antawn Jamison doing the scoring at the four, Brendan Haywood
starting to show some promise in the middle and back-up Etan Thomas
locked up long term (he should return in early January from a severe
abdominal strain), the Wizards, according to league sources, are
flirting with trading Brown before he hits restricted free agency this
summer.
The Sonics, Raptors, Knicks and Hawks have shown interest. If the
Wizards could land a top-flight small forward and defensive minded big
man in return, it seems like it would be the perfect opportunity to
cash in and make a run in the East.
They may need the help. After a fairly easy schedule through the first
six weeks, the Wizards are about to hit a tough patch. They play
consecutive games against the Heat, then embark on a four-game Western
Conference trip against the Lakers, Suns, Warriors and Kings.
New York Knicks: Allan Houston returned to duty this week and with his
return came a flurry of trade rumors linking Houston to a deal with the
Raptors. Don't hold your breath, Knicks fans.
While Isiah Thomas said Sunday he's not really ready to explore trading
Houston – he needn't bother. The three years, $55 million left on the
contract should end the discussion before it begins.
A source in Toronto said the team had no interest in Houston's
contract. To get Vince Carter, the Knicks are going to have to give up
two assets they really don't want to part with: Jamal Crawford and
either Nazr Mohammed or Mike Sweetney. Throw those players in with Tim
Thomas, and the numbers for a deal with Carter and Jalen Rose work.
But that's too steep of a price ... even for Isiah.
Samuel Dalembert
Center
Philadelphia 76ers
Profile
2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
14 5.1 6.3 0.6 .455 .786Philadelphia 76ers: Head coach Jim O'Brien
abruptly changed course this week and took Samuel Dalembert from the
end of the bench and inserted him in the starting lineup. The results
were impressive.
Dalembert averaged 9.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg and 4 bpg in 31.5 mpg for the
Sixers. They won both contests. The question is whether the Sixers are
doing this to jump start Dalembert or to showcase him.
O'Brien hasn't offered much praise to Dalembert in the press or in
private, and at least one source believes the Sixers are doing this in
an attempt to up his trade value.
That certainly seems reasonable when you see the way Marc Jackson has
played and how much O'Brien loves him. Jackson had 28 points and 7
rebounds against the Bucks on Sunday.
Atlanta Hawks: Not only did the Hawks get two impressive wins this
week, they're getting a bigger than expected contribution from rookie
Josh Smith.
Smith averaged 10.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 2 bpg for the Hawks while shooting
55 percent from the field. Smith almost single-handedly beat the 76ers
early in the week, snapping the Hawks' nine-game losing streak.
The Hawks owners were so happy after the game they all rushed Smith as
he left the court. Said Smith, "I shook a lot of rich guys' hands."
Ben Gordon
Guard
Chicago Bulls
Profile
2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
18 11.7 2.1 1.4 .400 .829Chicago Bulls: Ben Gordon continues to
tantalize the Bulls. He's been up and down all season. But when he's
up, the Bulls find a way to win. Gordon had 31 on 13-for-24 shooting in
an improbable win over the Timberwolves. He also had 21-point game in a
Bulls win versus the Cavs earlier in the week.
It's clear Gordon has the offensive firepower to be a success in the
league, but will he be able to diplay it with consistency? Sandwiched
between those two big games was a four-point performance against the
Sixers and a zero-point night against the Spurs – both losses for the
Bulls.
"Ben is a shooter, a scorer," head coach Scott Skiles said. "He is
a
typical rookie – not talent-wise; he is way above the typical rookie in
talent – but typical in that he has been up and down a little bit."
Utah Jazz: With the Jazz suffering from injuries to Andrei Kirilenko,
they turned to rookie Kirk Snyder.
Snyder had a 13-point game in a win against the Blazers this week and a
12-point performance against the Heat. His point production may be
impressive, but it's his defense that's gotten him in head coach Jerry
Sloan's rotation.
"He deserves a chance to play," said Sloan. "I can't let him sit
on the
bench all season long. I need to give him a chance here and there – and
maybe more, I don't know. I don't know who he is for sure yet."
Portland Trail Blazers: The Blazers have been giving rookie Sebastian
Telfair minutes over the last four games with mixed results. Telfair
has shown a knack for running the break and getting to the line. That's
why his 10.3 ppg average is so high. The downside? He's averaging just
1.5 apg, 2.5 turnovers per game and shooting 33 percent from the field.
San Antonio Spurs: After a shaky November where he averaged just 12.9
ppg, 5.1 apg on 40 percent shooting, point guard Tony Parker seems to
have finally settled down. His December numbers are much more in line
with the $66 million contract extension he signed just before the
season started. Parker is averaging 14.6 ppg , 7.8 apg and shooting 51
percent from the field.
The Rest
As well as veteran Steve Smith has been playing for the Bobcats, the
chances are a high a team might want to borrow him for the rest of the
season. Bobcats GM Bernie Bickerstaff said he'd oblige if Smith wanted
to go. "If there was a contender interested in Smitty, that would be
his choice," Bickerstaff said. "My (position on) Smitty is totally out
of respect for him; if he could get another ring." ... Grant Hill's
left ankle has kept him out of commission for the last four years. So
why are the Magic being so overcautious about an injury to Hill's right
shin? While the injury is to his right leg, the Magic do not want him
overcompensating on his left side. ... Rookie Tony Allen is earning
minutes in the fourth quarter for the Celtics with his tough defense
and highlight reel offensive moves. "Offensively, he's going to be who
he is. He's going to make sensational plays, and he's going to make
some plays that make you shake your head. That's what rookies do,"
coach Doc Rivers said. "Defensively, we have a system that he can run
through, and he can be the best one in the system if he does it. ...
The thing I love about our small lineup is that Tony Allen can rebound
with any (power forward). The kid is good, and he gives us some
interesting options." ... After getting off to a slow start, Jason
Richardson is starting to live up to that huge $70 million extension he
signed this fall. Richardson is averaging 23.8 ppg, 7 rpg while
shooting 53 percent from the field. The only downside? Richardson is
still averaging only five free throw attempts per game. ... For those
of you still waiting to get on the Eddie Griffin bandwagon, his +10.2
plus/minus rating ranks second on the Timberwolves behind Kevin
Garnett. He's averaging 17.2 ppg and 8 rpg over his last five. ... Nene
recorded his best game of the season for the Nuggets this week, scoring
21 points and grabbing six rebounds against the Raptors. However, on
Sunday he suffered a right hip pointer and is hurting again. "His last
game, he was nine for 10 from the floor and played very well," Nuggets
coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "Now we take a step backwards again." The
Nuggets are 8-3 when Nene plays and 4-5 when he sits. ... Since Rafer
Alston contemplated retiring from the Raptors after a Dec. 3 loss, he
has been on a tear. He's averaged 18 ppg and 8.2 apg since losing it
after coach Sam Mitchell benched him for a silly technical. ... The
Cavaliers have lost two straight, in part because of horrendous
defense. In the last two games they have allowed opponents to shoot
59.3 percent from the field. ... Former second-round pick Dan Gadzuric
is beginning to distance himself from the rest of the centers on the
Bucks. He grabbed 10 or more rebounds in three of the team's four games
last week. His +7.1 plus/minus rating is tops among Bucks regulars. ...
Kerry Kittles had 15 points and 5 assists in his debut for the Clippers
on Saturday night versus the Lakers. ... Bobby Sura hasn't been the
savior at point guard the Rockets were hoping for. He's averaging just
5.6 ppg and 3.4 apg on 36 percent shooting from the field since he came
back from injury in late November.
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.
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12/13/2004 8:15 PM
