Should be an interesting class...

Should be interesting to see if Iverson will accept a drastic pay cut and reduced playing time to play for a contender or if he'll retire

Wondering what Childress will do, come back and sign with the HAWKS again

And Artest...I think that could be good value there. Yeah, he's a "risk" but I'd take him on my team anyday

And if someone really does give Hedo a big contract, that's going to be a huge mistake. He's a nice player but this seems like a classic example (Posey) of doing well in the playoffs and parlaying that into a huge offseason contract. He's a nice piece but I hope someone doesn't severely overpay for him.

I wouldn't even want Iverson as 12th man on the bench at the league minimum. It won't be sad to see him go.

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The big question in this free agent market, where will the White Panther end up?

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looks like a big shitfest to me.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

The Detroit Pistons appear to have already struck deals with 2 players in their own Central Division. Ben Gordon has reportedly signed a 5 year, $50 million deal to trade in Chicago red & black for Detroit blue & red, while Charlie Villanueva has traded in Milwaukee green for Detroit colors for a reported $35 million...Unfortunately, because of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, these deals can't be officially announced and the transactions can't be made official until next week...How stupid!

Gordon and Charlie for the Pistons?

That sounds like good news for the Bulls and other teams in their division. I think Dumars has lost his marbles. They will regret these moves soon IMO.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

That's what it appears, RFDC...

I just noticed this part of the Ford article. I'm not sure how you could come to this conclusion, dating as far back as the Sacramento trade. Once we lost the Drew Gooden contract and took on Brad Miller's 09/10 salary, signing Gordon was only going to work if we either A) dumped Hinrich for nothing or B) received a medical retirement for James.

If we wanted him badly, we would have never taken on Miller's contract. They made up their minds about Gordon last summer (when they allegedly pulled the offer off the table), and they were only intending to take him back if he fell flat on his face in free agency and came crawling back to accept a dogshit deal.

And wasn't Detroit pretty much bidding against themselves for Ben? No other playoff teams have cap room. I guess he could have gone to OKC, but that's about it...

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

So assuming Wallace and Iverson leave, their starting lineup would be this?

Stuckey, Gordon, Villanueva, Maxiell/Johnson/McDyess combo for the frontcourt?

Assuming Hamilton would come off the bench?

That barely seems like a 30 win team.

Bagels, let's not forget the Pistons now need a new head coach after the surprise firing of Michael Curry after only one season on the job. It's a surprise firing in the sense that the NBA Draft already took place, and they could've fired him right after the Cleveland LeBrons, I mean Cavaliers, sent their home in a sweep in the NBA Playoffs.

Ron Artest to the Lakers

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/messages/chrono/15861562

Ariza to Rockets

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/60295/20090702/ariza_agrees_to_sign_with_houston/

Ariza might be the best pickup in this year. He;s a versatile player who can guard from 2-4 and has improved his offensive game quite a bit.

Didn't the Lakers and Rockets basically swap the same player? Why do you do that if you are the Lakers? Why not resign Ariza? The kid is way younger than Artest and can virtually do all the same things.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

They already have a similar player in Shane Battier, and these guys are much better complements on a good team, not a team like the Rockets that looks like a bottom feeder now in the Western Conference with Ming possibly out for next season, and McGrady being undependable (if they don't move him and his contract).

If I'm Houston, it's time to tank for 1 season. Don't sign Ariza, not that he's going to be an impact player, but don't waste money. Get a high draft pick, hopefully get Ming back, and I think they are in position to add a free agent after McGrady's contract expires.

I'm not as basketball savvy as some of you guys, but I don't see how this would even be disputed. Maybe Ariza has a skill set that's similar to Artest, but with Artest you KNOW what he can do...with Ariza it's still counting on potential to some degree.
Plus, with the Lakers, it all revolves around Kobe. He's 30, 31 years old when next season starts so there's only a couple years left in the Laker championship window. Getting a players that you know will play at Artest's level gives them a better shot at a championship the next couple years than "gambling" on Ariza's potential. But I've been a fan of Artest since the Bulls drafted him so I'm kinda biased so what do I really know.

Love the Artest signing, but was hoping Cleveland would sign him.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

ESPNEWS reports that Hedo Turkoglu will be a Portland TrailBlazer next season, while the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reports Allen Iverson might sign with the Grizzlies. Then again, given the fact the Grizzlies really, really suck, A.I. might use them as leverage to possibly sign instead with the Heat.

Not anymore....Turkoglu has decided to take the Raptors offer instead.

BD, my bad... All indications were that it was a done deal between Hedo Turkoglu and Portland. Negotiations must have broken down between Turkoglu, his agent and the Blazers, and that the Toronto Raptors suddenly offered a better deal for Hedo to play North of the Border, eh? Meanwhile, ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard was on ESPNEWS earlier today saying something about Allen Iverson and the Bulls? I don't see it...

Are you just throwing out random shit SHARK?

I spoke too soon about Turkoglu and the Blazers...Even SHARK isn't perfect!

I like the way the Free Agency period has started. It's really showing who the Have's and Have-Nots are in the NBA. LA, Boston, and San Antonio all got alot better IMO. Cleveland and Orlando may have gotten better. I wish Hedo would have stuck with Portland as I really like watching him play and I still dont know how much of a factor he will be in Toronto, although I am intrigued by a Calderon, Bosh, Hedo base. The Conference Finals next year will be amazing if the final four are healthy.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

yeah, should be nice for one year

Yeah if that. I also dont know how well Hedo will mesh with Calderon since Calderon is not a scoring PG and is a fantastic distributor, which is one of Hedo's best assets.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul