Chisoxfn

Apparently Dirk signing with Mavs (3 year deal). I heard on radio Bosh @ 18M per year to Heat. Not sure who reported that but was on ESPN 710 LA. Evidently Kobe will have a seperate meeting w/Melo after Melo's meeting with Knicks (per reporter on ESPN 710 AM). Presume Dirk's signing means Melo has informed Dallas he is not going there.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 12:48 PM) Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 17m Free agent Luol Deng intrigued with Clippers sign-and-trade possibilities, sources tell Yahoo. He's expected to speak with Doc Rivers today. He'd be a phenomenal fit with the Clippers. I think his defense and professionalism would be exactly what they need to help take them to the next step.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 12:44 PM) For my two cents, I got fixed after two kids. I had a certain standard I wanted to provide for my kids. Until we were able to meet that standard, we didn't have kids. Once we having more kids would hurt the rest, we stopped. Why is that such a horrible or difficult thing? It isn't...but Mike, that is because we empower ourselves and don't think we are "entitled" to things no matter what. We also understand that we, more then anyone else, control our destinies. There is always luck in things (could we die tomorrow or get sick and be unable to work or in an accident, sure) but in general, we have a lot of control. God forbid a place where I had to sit around and rely on a bunch of other people.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 12:36 PM) As opposed to "raising children on someone else's dime"? You know...I should have kids that someone else should pay for. I mean really, do some of these posters think that is how we should run this country. Once they have the kids, we are stuck providing for the kids (and should), cause the kids shouldn't get hosed because they came from dumb parents. They already have to deal with overcoming their genetics they inherited from those "dumb" parents. But come on....its a right so therefor we need to pay for it. Is having an Iphone a right too? I see enough freaking poor people with phones that blow my mine out of the water (technically I have an S4 that I got for free so maybe not...but for years this would have been the case cause I refuse to pay 200 bucks for a phone).

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 12:35 PM) This is exactly it...middle class families in prior generations had a LOT less crap they spent money on in comparison to today. There were no computers, most had no cable tv and if they had a tv they only had 1 of them, 1 car, no cell phone, no tablets, lived in smaller homes, etc...today your average "middle class" family lives well beyond that...2 sometimes 3 cars, multiple cell phones, tablets, computers, 3 tv's, cable television, etc... Technically, they spent their money on other gadgets. Back when vacuums and microwaves cost a lot of money (I'm guessing..but probably true). That 1 tv was probably close to the cost of the 4 tv's in the average house today (when adjusting for inflation, etc).

Just an FYI, no need for anyone to listen to any reports of Knicks going to LA meaning anything. Remember, Phil's fiance lives here and I believe Fisher lives there. NY is more out of the way then LA for them. If there is truth to the Pau comment, that is a really bad sign though.

Melo talked to Gasol about coming to NY (per WOJ).

Interesting. Might not be a good sign. Would appear meeting was moved up so he could meet w/Knicks.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 12:22 PM) By your own definition, it seems that you think someone should be upper middle class or above if they want to have a kid. For some reason it doesn't cross your mind to ask why it's so hard for everyone else to afford to raise a child these days. I don't believe you have to be upper middle class to have kids. You do not have to pay for your kids to go to college, etc. If you can afford it, great, otherwise, help empower them to make the right choices on schools / careers and get the right loans and take the next steps. You might not be able to travel the world and blah blah blah but you can have kids as a middle class person, no problem. The key costs of kids are food, clothing, and educational supplies (plus a bed, some toys (which don't have to be fancy...give them some sports equipment and they are good). Education is free, other things are free, and if you don't make significant money, you have one party stay at home and watch, so daycare has no cost (other then the cost of lost income) and the other party works. You might not have some 3000 square foot house or whatever, but it can be done. A typical middle class person 50 years ago lived in pretty small homes while sharing plenty of rooms with sibblings, etc. Cost of providing meals is at all time lows when adjusted for inflation / time value of money. Even cost of homes are pretty cheap, relatively speaking, with exception of certain areas, but if you can't afford those areas, move to other places. There are lots of cities (not dumps in the middle of nowhere) that have extremely affordable real estate and rent places.

I don't like the idea of Pat Riley in LA.

QUOTE (gatnom @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 12:18 PM) I agree. It just amuses me how nobody ever says this. It's always something along the lines of complaining about "Liberal handouts" or "I know so-and-so is a freeloader and therefore welfare is bad." It absolutely isn't bad. When s*** hits the fan, there should be a form of support to help get you back on your feet.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 12:15 PM) No one is really saying this. But there should be an understanding that there is a decent number of people who abuse the system and that instead of saying "whelp, they deserve it!" we should be figuring out ways to stop the abuse. Welfare was meant to be a short-term crutch, not a lifetime entitlement. Not a "well, i'd prefer to do this, not that so gimme gimme gimme." I think the problem is we have created a system which doesn't empower people to get away from it and stand on their own and the key should be finding ways to do that. Part of that is a cultural struggle that we seem to be losing. 50 years ago I think it would be a lot less likely people would look to the government to lend a hand. If they couldn't get anything, okay, help, but as soon as I can find a way to fend on my way, I'll do it on my own. I think we've just created a culture that is more needy as a whole and therefor people have come to expect certain things. I know it gets used a lot but I always find it hilarious that people who are legitimately poor have better phones and far more premium cable channels than I do.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 12:12 PM) If by "wealthy" you mean someone fiscally responsible enough to raise a child, yep! You're ridiculous if you think otherwise. Common sense doesn't seem to apply.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 12:09 PM) That wouldn't make sense for the Bulls. It wouldn't free up as much money. If you S&T Boozer + MJD / Snell and our non-guaranteeds they would be able to find ways to get this to work and still get Melo the max. You have a little more flexibility in terms of what you need to line-up. I've seen stuff go through the trade checkers involving this scenarios and it checks out. Team would likely have to get creative and make some other moves.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 12:09 PM) I think Thibs would kill Smith as soon as he went rogue. Which will be the first official practice I am okay getting Smith to faciliate things but he will never play 1 game in Chicago. He'd be waived immediately (just like he was the last time we acquired him). He does not fit in our lockeroom and on our team.

WOJ has spoken. He's been pretty quiet the past day.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 12:07 PM) Let's keep in mind Stein's sources are all Texas based.... IMO, Stein's reporting has been complete junk on this since it started. All very "opinionated" type stuff. Just my 2 cents.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 12:06 PM) It is kind of funny Phil's girlfriend is part of the Lakers pitch to Melo. Fiance.

I'm hoping Melo meets with Knicks to tell him he's going to Chicago but he wanted to tell them in person and another meeting is secretly being lined up w/Bulls to work out terms, etc.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 12:00 PM) I think Dolan gets in the way and Phil is gone in 2-3 years. I think if the Lakers don't figure things out in a year or two, Phil ends up over there (because of Dolan).

Again..makes total sense and means a lot of those rumors about Melo being turned off by Bulls making 16M offer being total crap.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 3, 2014 -> 11:54 AM) Big IF there. Just like all of these other potential signings. If you're Melo, not sure that you want to waste one guaranteed year of sucking, and then maybe multiple years if none of those deals work out. In Chicago, Houston or Dallas you have guaranteed contenders from day one. Sigh, yet logic isn't going to be the deciding factor unfortunately. If it was, Lebron and Bosh would have signed in Chicago.