| "NBA Off Court Action" (January 19, 1999)
I wake up this morning, check the sports and read that all hell has broken loose in the NBA. Scottie Pippen is headed to Houston via Chicago in a sign-and-swap. Chicago gets Roy Rogers and a 2nd round pick. I'm thinking that either no one wanted to do a sign-and-swap with Chicago, which would explain why they are getting so little in return or Jerry Krause is on crack. I'm thinking more of column A than column B. I guess most teams were going for the straight signing or were not offering anything of value in return, not that Rogers and a 2nd round pick are of value. Two things going for Rogers, he's a free agent after the season, can you say cap space? The other, he's tall. There's always a place in the NBA for big men. In a matter of two years, he's been on five teams. I guess Krause must have really held out to get that second round pick as well. Maybe he'll draft another European who doesn't come to the U.S. for 4 years. Pippen basically puts the Rockets into contention. This almost cements Charles Barkley's return to the Rockets. I thought he might play for the Lakers and fill their dire need for a power forward next to Shaq but with Pippen and Olajuwon, look for Chuck to head back to Houston for one last run. They did get younger with their three first round picks, but their team is filled with really young players and really old players. No in between players, unless Brent Price decides to play this year and doesn't get hurt.
I read that the Knicks are getting Latrell Spreewell. I guess the best place to put this dangerous offender in on the mean streets of New York. You know that if Spreewell even makes any wrong moves, Patrick Ewing will make him pay. Too bad Charles Oakley isn't still there. I'm sure Oakley would removed Spree's corn rows the hard way, one by one. But I digress. Take away all the off court problems and you have one the best 2-guards in the NBA. With Spree and Allan Houston, you've got a nice back court duo who can score and shoot and drive and play defense. I like this deal. The Knicks lose Chris Mills and Chris Childs (although I heard John Starks might replace either Mills or Childs if they want). Mils is a good backup at 2 and 3. Childs is the Knicks only point guard on the roster right now, so if they lose him, I'm guessing they are going to go after Charlie Ward really hard. Can you see Spree playing point? You've got to like a starting lineup of Ward, Houston, Spreewell, LJ and Ewing, with Starks and Camby off the bench. That's really scary. That's a deep team.
I haven't heard too much about Isaac Austin recently. I think he's going to Orlando. Penny may have talked him into it. I also hear that Elden Campbell might be traded to Orlando for Horace Grant. Shaq liked Grant and doesn't like Elden.
I heard that Rod Strickland might not take a 5 year $55 million contract from the Wizards. David Falk, super agent, says that Abe Pollan is cheap. Uh, Mr. Falk? Over $100 for Juwan Howard. How much did they pay Chris Webber? $55 mil for Strickland? I think that's fair. I don't know what Falk is doing, but there is only so much a player is worth. I think Falk might shoot himself in the foot with this one. Strickland isn't getting too many offers from other teams. He's a trouble maker. Every where he has been, he's had some sort of problem. The Wizards want to dump Juwan Howard. He's not the special player they thought he'd be. He's also had trouble off the court as well. Who would want a player with that massive contract? He's not a 20 and 10 guy. And a 20 and 10 guy, doesn't deserve that unless he's a franchise guy who brings in fans (Garnett, Kemp, Shaq are at least deserving of it if you consider they can bring in fans).
From the Raptor camp, there has not been a good buzz on their latest trade. Michael Williams probably will not play for the Raptors. If he does it won't be as starter. They gave up their starting point guard and the rights to another one, with the only alternative Dee Brown. Although they did pick up some picks and the rights to a European center from the Nuggets, they won't get any returns from these picks/rights for a couple of years. The Raptors may have made a mistake on this one. Billups turned pro after his 2nd year of college so he's really young. He'll grow. He was a top pick in the draft. Unless of the picks from the trade turns out to be a top pick (Denver still looks atrocious) and a decent enough player, the Raptors may have screwed themselves over.
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