| "Getting a Step Up on the Competition" (January 18, 1999)
So if the lockout is over, why do I not feel that joy that comes along with the NBA season? Maybe it's because Michael Jordan has retired. Maybe it's because Shaquille O'Neal will never have a $200 million salary. Maybe it's because Kobe Bryant is being touted as the heir apparent to his royal Airness and he's done nothing except those lame Adidas commercials. I don't know. Maybe it's because the NBA players showed how truly ignorant they were during the lockout. Maybe it's because the owners will continually shoot themselves in the foot, even with this new collective bargaining agreement. Who knows?
What I do know. The veteran teams that have a full roster will have a distinct advantage. Indiana will be near the top this year. They don't have to battle Michael Jordan, so I think they'll do just fine. Maybe even make it into the NBA finals. The Knicks have a good team. They are talented. They are deep. And don't look now, but they are getting younger. In the past, it was getting Chris Childs, Allan Houston and Chris Mills and Larry Johnson. Now it's getting Marcus Camby for Charles Oakley. I was never a big fan of Camby as a player. But he has skills. I mean serious Kevin Garnett skills. A sports writer for a Toronto newspaper once asked me about Marcus Camby. I told him that the Raptors have to trade Camby if they want to succeed and want his to flourish. He's a great talent, but he won't develop as a player until he goes to a great team where he doesn't have to play the game he can't or won't play. I think Camby is a X-factor for the Knicks. New York loses some veteran toughness and solid defense and rebounding by trading away Oakley, but in Camby they get everything Oakley isn't, toughness included. Camby is athletic. He can put it on the floor (remember he's 6'11"), he can shoot the outside jumper. He has a great back to the basket game, which he didn't use enough in Toronto. He's a great shot blocker. He has impeccable timing. What he lacks is toughness and a willingness to bang. At 6'11", he should be a better rebounder. With his quickness he should be a better defender. Both are lacking. I think in New York he doesn't have to play under the basket, because that's Patrick Ewing's domain. If Ewing can step up his rebounding, Camby will play great outside of the key. He could be the key to the Eastern Conference. He could be the missing link. Remember, the starting lineup for the Knicks is Childs, Houston, Johnson, Camby and Ewing. That's pretty talented. If Marcus Camby can integrate well into the Knicks system, the Knicks might just make it to the finals.
The Nets are a team on the rise. Van Horne, Kittles, Williams and Cassell are all good players. If Seikley plays to his potential and decides not to sulk when he doesn't get the ball on offense (with Kittles, Van Horne and Cassell, he won't see it much), the Nets might just make a move.
I see the Heat doing well, but that's basically because of Riley. He doesn't have bad teams.
I think the Celtics will improve again, but I don't know how well they are going to do without having a Pitino training camp to whip them into shape.
In the west, it looks like Seattle and the Lakers have a leg up on the competition. But the Jazz have almost their whole team returning, and they have playoff experience and a lethal and yet simple offense than works to perfection.
The Spurs look good with Duncan and Robinson. How can't you like those two? But without a back court they aren't going very far.
Houston and Phoenix waited two years until this off-season and both are paying for it. If you put both of their rosters together you wouldn't even get a full roster, so I don't like their chances.
The Raptors swung a three way deal with the Nuggets and the T-Wolves. The Nuggets get hometown boy Chauncey Billups. The T-Wolves get former Minnesota Gopher Bobby Jackson and Dean Garrett. The Raptors get 2 1st round picks and Michael Williams. I think the Raptors got hosed. The Nuggets get a homer who can play. In a couple of years, he'll be a good scorer. He's not much of point guard, but I think he's young and will learn. The T-Wolves needed some players and got them with Jackson and Garrett. Jackson will play 1 and 2 and backup Peeler and Marbury (and give insurance if Marbury is traded). Garrett will play center. Minnesota has needed a center since Garrett left. The Raptors got nothing. Williams hasn't played a full season is 4 years, I think. At least Toronto doesn't have to pay his salary. I guess Toronto wanted to free up some cap space for next year when Williams' contract expires. 2 1st round picks are nice, and it's the high pick of Milwaukee (from the Ervin Johnson trade) or Denver's own and one from Minnesota. I think at some point you have to choose between NBA players and picks. I think the Raptors made a mistake, especially if Williams doesn't play a lick.
In a weird occurrence, the 76ers signed Matt Geiger for 6 years at $8 million per season. The Charlotte Hornets signed Derrick Coleman for a 6 year $36 million contract. It's almost like a trade, except in a turn of events, Geiger is getting more money. Who would have ever believed that? Coleman is not the player he once was. He's step slower. Shoots too much. Doesn't play defense. He's overweight and injury-prone. Geiger gives 100 percent. And he's tough. He plays defense and rebounds. Coleman rebounds to pad his statistics.
I haven't heard too much about movement besides this. McDyess is either going to Phoenix, Houston or Chicago. Pippen is going to Chicago, Phoenix, Houston or Seattle (in a trade). Campbell might be traded with Eddie Jones to Minnesota is Gugliotta is signed by the T-Wolves. Stackhouse isn't getting too many offers. I heard the Bulls, but not the Pistons. That's about it. Damon Stoudamire is only being pursued by the Blazers, but I read once that he was sought by the Rockets, but I don't hear that now. I haven't heard word one about the Worm either.
I was looking forward to this off-season. Too bad it's going to be short. In a couple of days, look teams to fill out their rosters quickly. I'm talking 4 or 5 signings per team in a day or two, early on, so they can have a full roster when they get into training camp. I'm sure the players themselves don't want to wait until the last day of training camp to be signed, especially if the player is going to a new team.
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