This is the most interested i'v been in FA in a long time. Even more so then last year. Last year was all about what one big name FA would do for us and then the fallout of what would happen afterwords, this year there is money everywhere its almost like Oprah came and started pointing towards teams "you have MAX FA money, you have MAX FA money". Historically the league has show if you give teams money they will spend it and with that tons of money comes bad contracts given out left and right. This year its about the whole league and having fun seeing what teams overpay who and what role players are suddenly paid like stars even if its the same % of the cap they go before but 8m last year is basically 13m this year it does seem like such big differences for a player like Crabbe. I don't expect us to go out and get a big FA or two so i'm interested in the bargain bin hunting that NO will most definitely be a part of this year and how much of the league is going to also be trying to get bargains instead of paying Bismac 4/80M.
Curious as to what you find so funny about this? Do you think he will land a top tier FA? Do you think he won't be able to add a mid level guy? Seems like everything he said has been pretty historically accurate. Even Neil said Portland has a hard time attracting FA's
The link doesn't work anymore.... " On July 25th 2001, the San Antonio Spurs traded guards Derek Anderson and Steve Kerr and a 2003 2nd round draft pick (Andreas Glyniadakis) to the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Steve Smith. After signing Anderson for one year at $2.25 million last year, the Spurs were looking to lock him up with a long-term deal. They wanted to re-sign Anderson so much that they asked veteran center David Robinson to take a pay cut in order to offer Anderson a significant raise. The Spurs offered Anderson a six-year, incentive-laden deal worth up to $43 million that did not have the maximum raises each season that Anderson wanted, and Anderson was disappointed that only 25 percent of his salary in the final year would have been guaranteed The final straw for Anderson came when the team gave him a deadline of 2 p.m. Friday. July 13th, 2001 to accept the offer. The week before the trade, Anderson said he would not go back to the Spurs and opened talks with the Blazers, who offered him a six-year, $34 million contract (viaESPN). Anderson agreed to take Portland’s mid-level salary-cap exception of $4.5 million, and the Blazers agreed to extend the deal to six season for up to $34 million. The Spurs reached out to the Blazers and Anderson work out a sign-and-trade deal that could boost Anderson’s salary and free up the exception so Portland could sign another player. Steve Smith drove to Seattle and met with Blazers general manager Bob Whitsitt for 50 minutes, during which Smith asked Whitsitt for a two-year contract extension. At the same time, the Blazers were negotiating their deal with Anderson. With Bonzi Wells poised to take Smith’s minutes at the shooting guard spot, Smith realized that he was the odd man out in this situation. Just last year, Smith started only 36 games while Wells started at the shooting guard slot from December 29th, 2000 to April 6th, 2001. He wanted a commitment or a trade and the Blazers granted his request. Kerr had two years left on a contract that pays him $2.4 million a year He was set to be the third-string point guard, behind Damon Stoudamire and Erick Barkley after the trade. In his only season in San Antonio, Anderson averaged 15.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, and 3.7 apg in all 82 games for the Spurs. Kerr averaged 3.6 ppg in 127 games and three years of limited action. Smith was a key contributor to the Portland Trail Blazers in two seasons averaging 14.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, and 2.6 apg in 163 career games with Portland. Smith did bump his scoring average up to 17 ppg on 48% FG in 19 career playoff games with Portland. After the trade Anderson was a solid but unspectacular contributor for Portland. He played more of a combo guard in Portland’s scheme. In his time with Portland, Anderson averaged 12 ppg, 3.1 rpg, and 3.7 apg in 244 career games with Portland. Anderson dealt with numerous injuries in his time with Portland missing 84 games in four seasons. He was the first player waived in 2005 under the amnesty waiver clause. Kerr lasted one season with Portland averaging 4.1 ppg in 11.9 mpg with portland before being traded back to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2002 offseason. Smith’s first year with San Antonio was solid. he averaged 11.6 ppg and lead the league in 3FG % at 47.2. In his next season Smith was replaced as the starting shooting guard by Stephen Jackson, and he played reduced minutes. He averaged only 19.5 mpg, and 6.8 ppg. He did win a championship that year as a member of the 2003 Spurs. He left as a free agent in the 2003 offseason. Derek Anderson on the Spurs management via Pocono Record: “My loyalty is with the people who are going to be loyal to me. I just think they’re in a situation where they have to look at themselves in the mirror and say, ‘What in the world were we thinking?’ Because I did nothing negative to them. I don’t buy into the 'Aw, it’s a business, people lie to you.’ You don’t have to lie to me; tell me the truth and move on.” Steve Smith: “I have only one option: I told Bob that I seek to be traded. What else can I do? Then you sign Derek Anderson? So there are going to be three guards for one position? It’s nothing against Derek, it’s nothing against anybody, but I don’t see that working.” On request for contract extension: “I’ve earned it. I’ve been the ultimate team player, I’ve taken a lot of issues thrown at me last year, I’ve proven what I can do playing-wise, I’ve proven that my knees are good. … What else can I do? I’m not a guy who runs and complains but I need a little respect. I mean, golly, I’m not asking for the world. I’m just saying what is fair for me. If they want to get rid of me, if they don’t think I’m valuable here, why not do it now and pull the trigger?” On opportunity to go to the Spurs: “I’m happy to get the chance to go to the Spurs. When you get traded or ask to be traded, you never know where you are going to end up. If you had to pick an organization or a team that fits for me and what I stand for, the Spurs were right there on the top of my list.” Steve Kerr: “I don’t know what to expect. I am anxious to talk to Coach (Maurice) Cheeks and Bob (Whitsitt, the team’s president-general manager). I don’t know what they have in mind for me, if I am in their plans. I know I was a throw-in (in the Anderson-Smith trade), but I’m not worried about it. I don’t care what the perception is. It doesn’t mean I can’t still play and be effective.” Spurs assistant general manager R.C. Buford on Derek Anderson’s comments: “Contract negotiations in team sports happen all the time, and I’m not sure that anything here happened differently than they would most places.” Portland Trail Blazers general manager Bob Whitsitt on Steve Smith: “Steve very much wants us to extend his contract, and we’ve said that as much as we like Steve, and he’s been an excellent player for us and all those things … with the kind of dollars that players are making today, we think it’s best to wait until a guy’s contract gets to the end.” Anderson’s Agent Tony Dutt: “We sure would like to help them (the Spurs) out if we can, and at the same time it would be helping Derek out with a sign-and-trade. With Tim Duncan only having two years remaining on his deal, there was some concern about what happens in two years. With Portland, we feel like they’re always going to be competitive.” "
Isn't Brian Grant basically Ed Davis? Grant has a little more offense to his game, but really the same player
Grant had beef to his physique, allowing him to be much more solid in the paint on defense and on pick and rolls. Much better pick setter. much better offense too.
I don't agree. Their stat lines are pretty similar, but Brian Grant was a much more well rounded offensive player than Ed Davis. BG could make a mid range jumper, had a few post moves, and could shoot free throws. Ed Davis can finish on pick and rolls and can score on put backs. I think of Brian Grant as a starting level player, and Ed as a rotation guy.
