DBAHO

Avery Johnson's been mooted for the Detroit job also. Joe Dumars has suddenly gone from the most lauded GM 2 years ago, to now a GM who's argubly under a lot of pressure. Big off-season for that franchise.

I think they try to sign Gordon and deal Hinrich. But then the Bulls would need to get a backup PG. Portland could maybe be an option, but I think they'd rather Hedo or Andre Miller with their $8M of cap room to use.

If it's for a 1 year deal I wouldn't mind it, but I'd be talking to the Caps and be seeing if I could dump Huet's contract on them (and yes I was a proponent for signing him last year and looked how that worked out), and then re-signing Khabby. I think either Crawford or Niemi needs to be the backup this season.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 12:17 AM) Very nice run, and looking at the overall numbers you would say he's had a solid season, but he was actually very terrible in one part and tremendous in the other. Is this better than a consistent Jon Garland who would end up with the same line? The season's not over yet, nor the contract but I still think it was a risky move. I'm rooting for him! No s***. As for your boy Garland, a 5.04 ERA and a 7.51 ERA at Chase Field in 8 starts (while starting in the NL) off the back of a 4.90 ERA season, indicates that he isn't what he once was.

There was a blurb on Rotoworld today saying that the Bolland deal is confirmed FWIW.

Our highest rating fielder (for those who are qualified) according to RZR with .886 is....... Jermaine Dye, ha. Konerko's next on .875. Next best is Alexei with .817, which shows you how much of a drop-off there is. They also lead the AL in UER with 41, and have only made 191 plays OOZ, while the AL average is 218. At least Beckham has been a slight upgrade on Fields (who was woeful with a RZR of .659 ouch), but Beck's still pretty subpar compared to other third baseman. However Pods has a .914 RZR in LF and a .958 RZR in CF, so he has been a pleasent surprise.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 28, 2009 -> 05:23 AM) He bid $65 million less than the group that wanted to move them to Ontario. He is looking for a bargain, just like he got in the Bulls and Sox. Unless they can re-negotiate that lease with the arena though, that franchise is gonna keep losing a LOT of money going forward.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 10:54 PM) Does this bet between you guys get altered if a major trade happens and the Bulls land someone like Bosh? Nope. I'm hoping Bosh sticks with the Raps at least til the end of the season, then bolts but we'll see. Also saw this;

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 04:36 AM) Bulls will definitely make the playoffs. The Magic were willing to go 8 million a year for Hedo. He didn't think it was fair. Good luck finding a better deal considering the salary cap is going down, and there are other FA's out there. If I'm the Magic, I sign a Rasheed Wallace or Antonio McDyess for the MLE. Also re-sign Gortat. Smith has gone on record saying it doesn't look like Hedo will be back. Carter is much better than him anyway, and he's actually been pretty healthy. VC was one of 3 players to average 20/5/5 last year which is saying something. He's a very underrated player not as well as a very underrated shooter. Very nice pickup for the Magic. I'd love Sheed for the Magic. He'd offer much needed toughness next to Dwight, and he could shoot all of the 3's he would want. It'd allow for Lewis to move back to the #3 spot as well, and Pietrus continues to be the 6th man.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 09:38 AM) New York's cold too. Hell, you play on the road in the NBA, you play in cold cities no matter what. It seems playing time and playing in a big market seem to be his main issues with Minny ATM.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 10:58 AM) With D'Antoni there already...and potentialy 2010 reinforcements on the way (You know as well as I do that 2010 cap space is a selling point for them right now) they do have some assets. Right now David Kahn thinks Johnny Flynn and Ricky Rubio can play together for at least 30mins a game. Opposing SG's would be loving this, as you'd see either guy get abused down in the low post numerous times a game. New York's gonna offer Nate Robinson and Jordan Hill for Rubio it appears. And if I'm Minny, if Rubio ain't coming over, I take that deal. Robinson will help put butts in seats, and Hill gives you a nice big man rotation with Jefferson and Kevin Love. And Minny don't have a coach either (Sam Mitchell likely to be the guy though). You gotta feel sorry for T-Wolves fans though. They've become the joke of the NBA ever since that season when they made the Western Conference Finals with KG, Cassell and Latrell "I can't feed my kids" Spreewell.

QUOTE (rangercal @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 03:29 AM) How about a sig bet? Sure why not. I have the Wizards or the Raptors (if they re-sign Marion) finishing in the top 8 instead of the Bulls next season. And I would assume the Pistons will be signing Ben Gordon and Carloss Boozer this off-season so they'll get back into top 4 contention.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 03:13 AM) Shaq knows who the man is on this team. He's there strictly to get another title. More importantly, one more than Kobe. That wasn't the case in Phoenix. I see Shaq complaning that he's not getting the ball enough down low about 20-30 games in.

FWIW this season Ramirez has a RZR of .821 at SS, he was .790 at 2B last season. Last season he had an OOZ of 16, this season it's already at 30. OOZ is Out Of Zone, or the total number of outs made by a fielder on balls hit outside of his zone. For comparisons sake, last season Orlando Cabrera had a RZR of .834 with a OOZ of 57.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 01:35 AM) When was this determined? Well it hasn't been yet, but I think there's a better chance than not that he's either a 2B or a 3B, and most scouts / experts thought the same when the Sox drafted him. Whether that happens, we'll have to wait and see. I think with Fields' subpar play so far this season, Beckham's our long - term solution at 3B.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 01:36 AM) Even the real world is playing along. Barack Obama's brother going to be the next President, just you wait and see. Oh and he's going to be bombed, put into a coma, and have his replacement almost start up World War 3, just you wait and see.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 12:44 AM) Farrah Fawcett also passed away. I found it sad that the Fawcett death hardly got any attention compared to Jackson's death (at least where I'm from anyways). What's going to happen to the 3 kids now as well?

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jun 23, 2009 -> 01:38 PM) Did I see another black president in that trailer? What is with every disaster flick having a black president? It's called the Palmer effect.

Give him time, I think Ozzie's words are going to show Alexei that he needs complete concentration on every defensive play going forward, otherwise he'll be in trouble. Long - term, Beckham's not going to be a SS anyways (either a 2B/3B), so the Sox would have to go outside the organization to find a replacement. And quality shortstops aren't exactly easy to obtain either.

I chaned the topic title as we're getting some US / International chatter going on in here which is good.

Let's get the new season Hockey Thread started up. The NHL Draft is on tonight. There was a Daily Herald article with Dale Tallon saying he's likely to take a center with the 28th pick, if not a defenseman. Also big rumors about Vinny Lecavier going to Montreal and Dany Heatley getting shopped around before his July 1 bonus kicks in. And hopefully Marty Havlat can get signed soon enough as it seems discussions are going fairly well ATM.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 12:38 AM) When the Maloof brothers are flying coach to try to get by...they don't have the money to spend right now. That's just how it is. Well I certainly hope so. I don't know which other teams out there would make a run at Hedo who have cap room. He won't go to the Grizzlies because they suck. He won't go to the Thunder because they have 2 very similar players in Green and Durant. Phoenix may have some cap room now after the Shaq trade and if they trade Amare, but the owner Sarver is very much like the Maloof's and cutting payroll.

Although reading this from the Orlando Sentinel doesn't make me confident bout Hedo;

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 27, 2009 -> 12:22 AM) I'll be shocked if Sacto is spending money this offseason. Absolutely shocked. Hedo's basically Geoff Petrie's favorite player in the league though. If they were going to spend money on anyone this off-season, my guess is that it would be him. I hope Portland does a sign a trade for David Lee so that takes them out of the race.

Gortat wasn't likely to be re-signed even if we didn't trade for VC. The Magic can also start Mickael Pietrus if Hedo bolts (which I don't think he will). I can tell you now that J.J Redick certainly won't be starting, so that's a poorly written piece to begin with.