Re-visting GSW's Off Season: Dampier is Gone

Joe sez the GSW did well this off season. They dumped salary, kept their young core and signed good-citizen veterans. But wait, there's more....

The GSW have cleared enough cap room ($) next year to resign their talent and attract a good free agent.

The Dallas Morning News reported on its Web site Tuesday night that the deal would involve Dampier, Eschmeyer, Laettner, Najera and another Mavericks player. The report said the fifth player could be contingent on Dampier's starting salary, as salaries must be within 15 percent plus $100,000 to make a deal work under league rules.

This summer the GSW signed D.Fisher (PG) and re-signed A.Foyle (C) and have been criticized for both signings. These guys are not stars but both are NBA starters and hard working team players. The Foyle is playing for the league average - not a bad contract for a Center. Fisher is older and he is paid well in a long term contract; it's not clear that is he's a better player statistically without Shaq and Bryant dominating the ball; but Houston wanted to sign him so GSW paid for a veteran in an important floor position - PG. Both players will contribute in the locker room and create a team atmosphere that will attract a top free-agent. This team needs to lose Dampier's attitude ... and contract.

The Deal

The deal

Clearly, GSW get two workable players both one of whom comes off the books in 05. The other is a roll player, some say like B.Cardinal but without the outside shot.

Yahoo! News - Sports - Basketball

Yahoo! News - Sports - Basketball

Flattery will get us somewhere

Joe Sez the Bulls have been flattered twice, once when K.Bryant included Chicago as one of his top four teams and now P.Stojakovic lets it be known that we wants out of SAC and he expresses interest in Chicago and playing for coach S.Skiles.

Flattery is one way a club can improve its image. The player gets to make a positive statement that lets it be known he is open to a trade and motivates (other) clubs to sign him while the team mentioned responds to the player's interest and mutually benefits from some positive press.

This "mutual-flattery" allows a team like the Bulls to gain status as they try to shake the image of a loser franchise. Neither of these players said "Chicago? No way!" It does mean the Bulls have moved one step above the Clippers and Hawks.

GSA Re-analysis

Recently, the GSW resigned backup center A.Foyle and Point Guard D.Fisher of the LAL. Conventional wisdom said C.Mullin overpaid for both. It's easy to beat-up on the GSW who have not been to the playoffs in 10 years. ESPN revisited the signings and made this more positive assessment:

Before you bash Chris Mullin on the assumption that he grossly overpaid Adonal Foyle and Derek Fisher, be advised of two very crucial caveats.

Fisher got nearly $40 million from the Warriors because Mully is trying to change the culture there. So he paid top dollar to beat out Houston for a veteran of three championship teams.

As for Foyle, who I, like you, previously considered the most overpaid free agent of the summer ... we're all wrong. Turns out the sixth year of Foyle's controversial $42 million deal is a team option. Which means Foyle will most likely never see that money. Which means Foyle's five-year deal is really worth slightly more than $30 million, which means he's only getting slightly above the league's average salary.

Knowing it was going to lose Erick Dampier, and knowing that Foyle can at least block shots, Golden State giving him $30-plus million over five years doesn't sound nearly as unreasonable.

Paying 40 M for D.Fisher isn't blunted by the fact GS was bidding against Houston. This does indicate motive for C.Mullin's decision and face it - a club that needs to change its culture does so by signing players because of traits other than talent, potential and cost. Ask J.West who paid 36 M for GSW free agent B.Cardinal. D.Fisher is one of those players. How much has he benefited from teams leaving him open while double teaming Shaq and K.Bryant compared to how much he sacrificed his stats for the good of the team?

Consummate

J.Crawford is a Knick.

Joe Sez this wasn't going to happen but the deal got more focused - just 6 players - and the Knick gave up 4 expiring contracts. Crawford also didn't get the money he expected but he got enough and he's in NY.

NY gets two "real Players" Williams and Crawford. Williams is overpaid but he's a hard working player. Crawford, IMHO is also overpaid if NY keeps PG Marbury and SG Huston.

Chicago gets cap relief and two usable players, Williams 6' 3" and Harrington, 6'9", 235-pounds. Talent wise, NY wins. On character, I think Chicago has a slight advantage. Joe Sez is not a fan of Crawford. Williams is an unknown but he was a U of I standout.

Position by position, it is a wash Pg for PG, PF for PF. IMHO the other two players don't figure to impact thje Bulls: Mutombo will probably retire (as he has threatened) and the Bulls will waive Trybanski. If Mutombo does play for Chicago then Curry is going to be schooled in pratice.

IMHO, Crawford's real worth is as a 6' 5" PG who can score, not as a skinny SG which is what he is given his weight and size. He's the best player and without him Chicago is small at the guard spot. Eddie Robinson is going to have to get fit and play some defense.

Oh to have 6'5" T. Hassell back. A SG who also defends the SF position.

We are Eddie, we are.

He sez

All I ask people to do is judge me not by what they hear and read, but judge me by what I do for the rest of the summer. Judge me by what shape I'm in when I report to camp. And then judge me by how I perform on the floor.''

This and This.

J.Crawford ACT III

Huh; Now Crawford might balk at the trade. Looks like Thomas sweet talked him into thinking he was worth 2 million more per year. Well, he wanted out of Chicago but now that the deal is real, the dollars amounts are not as sweet.

The streamlined version of the trade talks, which have lasted for five weeks and featured countless combinations, calls for Crawford to sign a seven-year, $55 million deal.

In previously discussed scenarios, Crawford stood to make that amount in six years and possibly $70 million in seven years.

The new figures have given Crawford's camp pause, sources said.

If this trade happens:

• <>Da Bulls will save just under 6 million a year for 4 years. They also have earned more cap room.
• Eddie Curry loses his best friend and eating partner.
  
• PG/SG Ben Gordon is has a shot at rookie of the year.
• Kirk Hinrich is becomes the floor captain for Chicago.
  

Weak

WTF:

...the pared-down Crawford package would likely include Dikembe Mutombo, Norris and $3 million moving to the Bulls for Jerome Williams and Crawford, at the very least. It's unclear if the newest offer attempted to bring back Frank Williams in the package.

Crawford would sign a six-year, $55 million contract
Paxson has removed two overpaid swingmen — the Knicks' Shandon Anderson and the Bulls' Eddie Robinson — from the deal, allowing the Bulls to save an additional $10 million in future payroll.

Though Thomas wanted to move Anderson, it appears Paxson is willing to accept Moochie Norris in a compromise the Knick president couldn't refuse.

Williams & Crawford for Mutombo & Norris?

Joe sez Mutomo has threatened to retire if traded although playing in Chicago with fat Eddie Curry unable to play consistently wouldn't be that bad of a set-up for him.

Norris? What is the problem with Norris that we have heard adding him he was a deal breaker and now he's not? Williams is overpaid but a good character player.

Seems as if this deal clears money but doesn't improve the character of the team.

Trade and Second Breakfast and Elevensies

If the “imminent trade” rumors for J.Crawford are true then we shall soon see just how negotiations between J.Paxson and I.Thomas have faired.

Eddie Curry vs. the burrito

Q:Can Eddie control his weight? Is this kid really going to ruin a whole basketball season by failing to control his appetite?

A:No & Yes.

Bulls fans

Woooooooo!