West Coast Connection Forum
Lifestyle => Sports & Entertainment => Topic started by: GangstaBoogy on June 13, 2007, 07:25:02 PM
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The Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets, who have been discussing a Mike James-for-Juwan Howard swap in one form or another since the February trade deadline, have agreed in principle to finally complete that deal this month, ESPN.com has learned.
An announcement of the trade's completion could be made as early as this week, according to NBA front-office sources.
The holdup stems from the possibility that another player or two could be added to the deal, sources say. The teams, though, have verbally agreed to a straight-up exchange of James for Howard at the very least.
The Timberwolves beat out Houston for James' free-agent signature last summer because of their willingness to include a trade kicker in the well-traveled point guard's four-year, $23.4 million contract, but the acquisition was questioned from the start after Minnesota landed Randy Foye in the 2006 draft.
James then struggled to make an impact with his new team, averaging just 10.1 points in 25.3 minutes per game and eventually losing his starting spot after enjoying a breakout season in Toronto in 2005-06.
A strong recruiting pitch from Wolves forward Kevin Garnett -- along with the trade bonus he held out for in negotiations -- convinced James to spurn similar financial offers from the Dallas Mavericks and the Rockets, even though he maintains an offseason home in Houston. But the intense Garnett and the chatty James clashed almost from the start, according to club sources, adding to the Wolves' remorse after it quickly became apparent that there wasn't rotation room for James and Foye.
So the Wolves decided by midseason that they would try to move their lone significant offseason acquisition and were on the verge of sending James to Houston for Howard when the deal fell through on Feb. 22, in part because the Rockets were reluctant to change the chemistry on a team that wound up overcoming numerous injuries to win 52 games.
But Houston's interest in James and adding depth to its backcourt under new coach Rick Adelman hasn't wavered, thanks to the 31-year-old's successful stint with the Rockets in the second half of the 2004-05 season.
"This has been difficult," James told ESPN.com in late March when asked to describe his debut season with the Wolves. "Physically, mentally, emotionally … all of the above."
Garnett, meanwhile, is expected to welcome the arrival of Howard, a 34-year-old former All-Star, after publicly calling -- repeatedly -- for more size in the Wolves' frontcourt and more of a veteran presence in the locker room.
Howard averaged 9.7 points and 5.9 rebounds in 26.6 minutes per game last season. His contract is one year shorter than James' deal, with just two seasons to run at $14.3 million.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2903593
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Could be good, but until I see some proof of production, I won't be getting my hopes up.
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Yea...James was supposed to sign with Houston last summer. Dunno how this benefits Minnesota. KG NEEDS out...PeACe
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Garnett, meanwhile, is expected to welcome the arrival of Howard, a 34-year-old former All-Star, after publicly calling -- repeatedly -- for more size in the Wolves' frontcourt and more of a veteran presence in the locker room.
haha dude's pathetic
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Great, now I can watch James jack up forced shots.
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Great, now I can watch James jack up forced shots.
He's a better point guard than what you had, I'll tell ya that much...He'll also provide some much needed offense...PeACe
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Great, now I can watch James jack up forced shots.
He's a better point guard than what you had, I'll tell ya that much...He'll also provide some much needed offense...PeACe
It's a lateral move at best. He's a headcase who thinks he is better than what he is.
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Well, if he can play like he did in '06, that'll more than make up for it.
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^^ didnt james go off for 50 something one game when he was with the raptors?
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^^ didnt james go off for 50 something one game when he was with the raptors?
Yea...He also averard 20.3 points on 47% shooting (45% 3fg) and 6 assists that year. :o
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its amazing how well players play in contract years
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howard isn't helping the timberwolves' situation any.
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howard isn't helping the timberwolves' situation any.
His is a big guy with some experience. If he can get his rebounding back in order, he has a decent shooting percentage and has a 16ppg career average, so he might make a good sidekick to Garnett and Blount.
I'm not gonna call it yet since it all depends if Howard can step his game back up. McHale's track record doesn't give me much hope.
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C'mon..
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^ What?
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^ What?
The Wolves are never gonna be as good as they were during that one year when they didn't suck. With the Strangler and Cassell.
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^ What?
The Wolves are never gonna be as good as they were during that one year when they didn't suck. With the Strangler and Cassell.
I never said they were. I'm just trying to show a little optimism. Yall are some buzzkills.
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^ What?
The Wolves are never gonna be as good as they were during that one year when they didn't suck. With the Strangler and Cassell.
I never said they were. I'm just trying to show a little optimism. Yall are some buzzkills.
True.. sorry. But things are looking dreadful really. Iverson was traded to the West, GS ripped the Pacers off and they have a good turnaround coach, and now Oden and Durant will get drafted into the West... Shit is shady. I really see no chance for the Wolves to make it to the playoffs with the current seedings system. On the other hand they (Garnett) are still too good to be horrific enough to get a great pick or something like that. :-\
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^ What?
The Wolves are never gonna be as good as they were during that one year when they didn't suck. With the Strangler and Cassell.
I never said they were. I'm just trying to show a little optimism. Yall are some buzzkills.
They don't like it when you're optimistic about your team around here. :D
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^ What?
The Wolves are never gonna be as good as they were during that one year when they didn't suck. With the Strangler and Cassell.
I never said they were. I'm just trying to show a little optimism. Yall are some buzzkills.
True.. sorry. But things are looking dreadful really. Iverson was traded to the West, GS ripped the Pacers off and they have a good turnaround coach, and now Oden and Durant will get drafted into the West... Shit is shady. I really see no chance for the Wolves to make it to the playoffs with the current seedings system. On the other hand they (Garnett) are still too good to be horrific enough to get a great pick or something like that. :-\
I want to see what the Wolves do with their pick before I make up my mind about the team. Foye turned out to be a pretty decent pick. Ricky Davis and Mark Blount have potential, they just aren't consistant. James was the only one who really didn't click. If the Wolves aren't at least .500 by the break, I would be ignorant if I didn't believe Garnett would be traded. And if that happens, McHale better get the boot. Maybe then they will at least suck bad enough to get a top 3 pick.
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^ What?
The Wolves are never gonna be as good as they were during that one year when they didn't suck. With the Strangler and Cassell.
I never said they were. I'm just trying to show a little optimism. Yall are some buzzkills.
They don't like it when you're optimistic about your team around here. :D
True, but when it comes to the Wolves, I suppose it's not too hard to be critical.
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^ What?
The Wolves are never gonna be as good as they were during that one year when they didn't suck. With the Strangler and Cassell.
I never said they were. I'm just trying to show a little optimism. Yall are some buzzkills.
True.. sorry. But things are looking dreadful really. Iverson was traded to the West, GS ripped the Pacers off and they have a good turnaround coach, and now Oden and Durant will get drafted into the West... Shit is shady. I really see no chance for the Wolves to make it to the playoffs with the current seedings system. On the other hand they (Garnett) are still too good to be horrific enough to get a great pick or something like that. :-\
I want to see what the Wolves do with their pick before I make up my mind about the team. Foye turned out to be a pretty decent pick. Ricky Davis and Mark Blount have potential, they just aren't consistant. James was the only one who really didn't click. If the Wolves aren't at least .500 by the break, I would be ignorant if I didn't believe Garnett would be traded. And if that happens, McHale better get the boot. Maybe then they will at least suck bad enough to get a top 3 pick.
Foye is nice, but not after you consider the fact that Brandon Roy was traded for him.
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7even doesn't like it when you're optimistic.
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^ What?
The Wolves are never gonna be as good as they were during that one year when they didn't suck. With the Strangler and Cassell.
I never said they were. I'm just trying to show a little optimism. Yall are some buzzkills.
True.. sorry. But things are looking dreadful really. Iverson was traded to the West, GS ripped the Pacers off and they have a good turnaround coach, and now Oden and Durant will get drafted into the West... Shit is shady. I really see no chance for the Wolves to make it to the playoffs with the current seedings system. On the other hand they (Garnett) are still too good to be horrific enough to get a great pick or something like that. :-\
I want to see what the Wolves do with their pick before I make up my mind about the team. Foye turned out to be a pretty decent pick. Ricky Davis and Mark Blount have potential, they just aren't consistant. James was the only one who really didn't click. If the Wolves aren't at least .500 by the break, I would be ignorant if I didn't believe Garnett would be traded. And if that happens, McHale better get the boot. Maybe then they will at least suck bad enough to get a top 3 pick.
Foye is nice, but not after you consider the fact that Brandon Roy was traded for him.
Aside from Garnett, McHale has no eye for talent. It really pains me to see all of these players slip through the Wolves fingers time and time again. I try not to look at who they could have had, because everytime I do, it seems like as soon as players leave the organization, they play outstanding and it sucks.