Glimpse into the Warriors-Lakers Crystal Ball

After last night’s tough loss, I decided to get in my DeLorean and go for a spin down 5th Ave. Amazingly I ended up back in the future at a Warriors-Lakers game in April 2012. I transcribed the conversation I had with my fellow season ticket holder and most loyal Warrior fan on the planet – Dr. Strosberg.

Enjoy

April 2012 – Oakland Arena – 2nd Quarter – Lakers going for their 77th which would break the single season win mark set by the Bulls in 1997-98.

Dr. Strosberg (DS): “Glad to see you got away from that crazy screaming kid of yours for the night”

RT (RT): “Hey, that’s my little bundle of joy you are talking about!”

DS: “Those are your words”

RT: “Touché”

DS: “Anyways, do remember that crazy back to back series we had with the Lakers in March 2008?”

RT: “Do I remember!? Of course I remember the last time we came within 15 points of the Lakers. What kind of question is that!?”

DS: “You know me, I like to focus on the positive. I just felt like we had so much potential back then. I mean Baron, Monta and Captain Jack were the best scoring trio in the league and every team in the league knew they were in for a battle when they played us”

RT: “I have to admit I miss those days myself. I wish I hadn’t spent all that time bitching about how the most complacent basketball player in the history of the league (Odom) who has never played hard twice in one week--let alone on back to back nights--grabbed 21 rebounds and 22 rebounds on consecutive nights.”

DS: “Our inside game had been non-existent for 8 years and those games just highlighted the weakness. However, if it wasn’t for that terrible call at the end, we would have had a chance to win.”

RT: “While I can’t argue that it wasn’t a horrible call, it didn’t really matter in the bigger picture. We blew plenty of chances to put them away and we couldn’t rebound the basketball.”

DS: “I remember thinking we might be in trouble when they get Gasol or Bynum back”

RT: “Trouble is an understatement. We have lost by an average of 32 points in the last 6 games at Staples and 22 here at Oracle. At least Mullin was savvy enough to convince that free-spending Cohan to use the trade exception to get some help for our big three”

DS & RT: Laughing uncontrollably

RT: “In all seriousness, I thought failing to make the playoffs for 13 years was bad but I think this situation might be worse. We finish 8th or 9th every year so we can either get slaughtered by the Lakers in the first round - three sweeps in four years is getting a little old – or draft a big man hoping we can find the next Andrew Bynum.”

DS: “It sure would have been nice if we would have taken the first Andrew Bynum. However, I am not going to be negative going to the playoffs is still fun.”

RT: “True but I cannot help but think the best we ever had it against the Lakers in the last 5 years was a two game stretch in March when they had two of their top 4 players hurt.”

DS: “Regardless of what happened, that was the best Warriors team of our lifetime. They played hard, they were well coached and their unpredictable style made every game worth watching”

RT: “Again, I wish I wouldn’t have been so negative - especially knowing that Baron would break down the next season. I guess I just wanted to see that team go for the championship. With a presence down low, we still could have given any team a run for their money in the playoffs. Maybe I should have started drinking the Chris Cohan koolaid that year.”

DS: “What’s the Chris Cohan Koolaid?”

RT: “You know – the stuff that fooled Warriors fans into thinking that the Derek Fisher call was the reason we lost and going to the playoffs is good enough and that paying a premium for season tickets while the team fails to increase the payroll is fine.”

DS: “Ahhh that koolaid. Looks like it is starting to wear off given the fact that we are the only Warriors fans in the building tonight and this is the first sell out since the last Lakers games.”

RT: (Sarcastically) “Yeah, that Mark Cuban is crazy for spending all that money on his team. His franchise has tripled in value. He doesn’t know anything about sports business.”

DS: “No matter what I will keep coming. Anyways, enough about basketball, what do you think about the US Open this year?

RT: “All I know is that Tiger will be ready to play. He is not happy about failing to win his 5th straight green jacket.”

DS: “I always wondered what size the jacket was that the winner got to wear after winning the tournament? Is it just automatically sized for Tiger?”

RT: “It is so it was a little small on me. However, I got the jacket tailored on Monday that week so it fits perfectly now.”

DS: “Well, good luck at the Open”

RT: “Thanks”

Just in case you were wondering, the Warriors lost by only 10 that night. I started chanting MVP when Monta went to the line. Of course, I got booed by the Lakers fans so I sat down. I felt like an A’s fan from 2008 during a Red Sox game.

Blue Print to a Championship (Part 2 of 2)

Now that we have defined and separated the IT player from the rest of the league, we are ready to define what team management needs to do to win a championship.

Step 1 – “Acquire at least 1 IT player, but I would recommend 2”

This step is easily the hardest because IT players don’t just fall into your lap. There are three ways to obtain an IT player – (1) through the draft (Jordan – Bulls), (2) through a trade or free agency (Shaq – Heat, Arenas - Wizards) or (3) through a trade or free agency before the player is an IT player and he blossoms into an IT player (Butler – Wizards). The one thing that derails the process almost immediately is when a team pays a non-IT player, IT player money. I could write an entire posting with examples of this “crime” to a franchise, but for your sake, I will stick with Warrior examples – Jamison, Richardson, and Dunleavy are the best and most recent examples.

Step 2 – “Build a team that fills the holes that your IT players cannot”

This can be much easier than step 1 if your GM has any understanding of his team. Let’s use the Bulls of the 90s as an example.

Besides Magic Johnson, Jordan could do more on the basketball court than anyone who has ever played the game. However, he could not guard a center or power forward, so the Bulls needed to find players to guard both of these positions. They didn’t need a superstar like Karl Malone who would demand the ball on the offensive end. They just needed players that would provide above-average defense with a little rebounding mixed in. Here are some examples of players they signed over the years to fill this need: Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright, Luc Longley, Bill Wennington, Dennis Rodman and Will Perdue.

Of course the Bulls had other problems. Jordan would frequently get double teamed and Scottie Pippen would rarely be left alone during these double teams. They needed guys who could knock down an open jump shot. Here are some examples of the players they had to fill this need: B.J. Armstrong, John Paxson, Steve Kerr, and Wennington (think this guy was valuable to the Bulls?).

The point is that Bill Wennington was worth 2 cents on the dollar to almost every other team in the NBA but the Bulls. He was, however, a perfect fit in Chicago. In addition, none of the players listed in this example got max money, but they were all worth every penny they were paid. The Bulls front office knew that and they have six rings to prove it.

Step 3 – “Get a head coach that doesn’t screw it all up”

The reason I put this as step 3 is, if you don’t have steps 1 and 2 completed, you have no chance of winning no matter how good your coach is (see Larry Brown with the ’05-’06 Knicks). Phil Jackson was a very important part of the Bulls and Lakers because he knew how to keep the IT players happy while convincing the “puzzle piece” players that they did not need 15 shots a night and were just that, pieces to the puzzle. Once given all the pieces, he made them work together and NBA Championships were the result.

(Of course, if you follow this blue print, it doesn’t guarantee you a championship (Jazz – Malone, Stockton and Sloan). However, if you do not follow it, you have little chance of winning one – I know there is an exception to the rule out there so I am not going to say NO chance)


So where does your team fit?

Trying to complete Step 1

“Worst Team” – Bobcats (It was too easy to pick the Knicks)

The Bobcats are in as bad a shape as any team in the NBA. They have nobody on their roster that even resembles an IT player and they are paying Gerald Wallace and Jason Richardson IT player money. In addition to their flawed roster, they are on the verge of not finishing in the bottom three of the league which would most likely prolong their NBDL level of basketball for the foreseeable future. Their only chance of acquiring an IT player over the next three years is through the draft and that is not very promising.

“Best Team(s)” – Bulls and Sonics

Let’s start with the Bulls. They are eerily similar to the 03-04 Warriors because their roster is full of non-IT players that think they deserve big money. Luol Deng has a nice mid-range game, but he plays little to no defense. Gordon has a better offensive game than Deng, but is a tweener that can get manhandled on the defensive end by most decent shooting guards in the league. Both of these guys think they should get big money just like Richardson and Murphy did. The Warriors ended up dishing out the cash and almost set the franchise back 5 more years (We all know that luck and savvy trades saved the Warriors from extending their playoff-less streak to 20 years). The Bulls have to stay strong and be willing to watch both Deng and Gordon walk if they continue demand too much money at the end of the year. The bottom line for the Bulls is that there are a lot of IT players who want to play in Chicago and their chance of picking up an IT player through free agency or a trade remains high.

The Sonics are probably in the best position of all the “trying to complete Step 1” teams. While many of you would argue that Durant is an IT player, I don’t think you can call him one of the elite players at this point. However, he has the highest ceiling of any of the players in his draft class, so it is safe to say the Sonics may not have to make any moves to complete step one. They are also positioned to have a top 4 pick in the draft, so they could have two potential IT players in their early 20s by next year. Finally, I have to give mad kudos to the Sonics front office for letting Rashard Lewis walk – is anybody listening in Chicago? The future looks bright for the Supes.

(Too bad nobody in Seattle will get to witness this potential dynasty)

Other teams in this category: Nets, Sixers, Knicks, Pacers, Bucks, Hawks, Kings, Grizzles

Trying to complete Step 2

“Worst Team” – LA Clippers

This team has Brand and Kaman down low, which is nice, but they have NOTHING on the outside. (I say nothing because Sam Cassel is either hurt or disinterested, which is the same thing in my book). I don’t think they could be farther away from completing step 2 if they tried. By March they are going to let one lucky fan start at point guard each night and he also gets to pick which cheerleader is going to play the 2. They need help badly and I just don’t think ownership has enough commitment to winning to get the job done.

“Best Team” – Nuggets and Cavs

I will start with the Nuggets. Iverson and Carmelo are everything you would ever want in a tandem of IT players. They play hard every night, can score the basketball at will and play above-average defense. I also like Camby as a nice “puzzle piece” player because he is unselfish and still blocks a decent amount of shots. The problem they have is at the point and interior defense. Losing Steve Blake has hurt them more than anyone could have predicted. Also, Carmelo and Camby are not a strong enough 4-5 combination and Najera is too small to guard an above average 4. Unfortunately for them, Nene could be the answer down low, but he is always sick or hurt, and K-mart is playing on one leg, which makes him ineffective. This team is good, but they still need one more impact role player.

The Cavs are the best team in this category because they have the best IT player in basketball, LeBron James. Unlike Kobe, Shaq and countless other IT players, LeBron almost single-handedly led his team to the finals. However, they had about zero chance to win the finals because LeBron had as bad a supporting cast as anyone in the NBA. I could write an entire article on their shortcomings, but I will keep it simple. They killed their chances of building anything with the Zydrunas Ilgauskas (sorry Dave) and Larry Hughes signings. Ilgauskas is too slow on both ends of the court in the “new” NBA and Hughes … well, Hughes is not very good at anything except stealing the basketball and getting tattoos. They need a lot of help, but I think the most paramount problem is having a dynamic big man down low. Ben Wallace helps on the defensive end, but someone who can put the ball in the basket and run the floor would really do the most for the Cavs.

Other teams in this category: Blazers, Wizards, T-wolves, Clippers, Rockets

Trying to complete Step 3

“Worst Team” – Raptors

I am not afraid to say it – I like the Raptors. I think they have a good team that could be very dangerous come playoff time. They have a nice nucleus of players that understand their roles. In my eyes, they are not quite ready to take the next step because (1) another IT player would not hurt and (2) I don’t think Sam Mitchell has proven he can take a good team and make them great. However, I will say I think he is a good coach. I would not be surprised to see the Raptors make a run in the playoffs.

“Best Team” – Hornets

It is no mystery that the Hornets are having a special year. They have the most underrated starting 5 in the game. They really have almost no holes. Chris Paul is an IT player and he makes everyone around him better. The Tyson Chandler signing looks like a steal at this point. My big concern is Byron Scott. While he did lead the Nets to the NBA Finals, that team could have gone to the Finals without Scott so long as Kidd was at the helm. In the end, I just can’t see Byron Scott out-coaching Gregg Popovich, Sloan, or Jackson in the playoffs.

(Two more things on the Hornets – (1) This team would be MUCH more interesting if they still played in Oklahoma City. Their home court advantage would match Oakland Arena and they are better than the Warriors. (2) Phil Jackson has to be the coach of this team in three years. He leaves the Lakers because he foresees the decline of Kobe and takes another “all they need is a good coach” team over the top by taking the control of the Hornets. The ultimate irony in this scenario is that Kobe kills the Hornets franchise in Charlotte by forcing a trade with the Lakers and then saves the Hornets franchise in New Orleans by breaking down and forcing Phil to leave. The big loser = Charlotte)

Other team in this category: Magic

Ready for a Championship

Here is the short list of who can win a championship this year:

“Least likely” – Jazz

The Jazz have EVERYTHING you need to win a championship - IT players (Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer), puzzle piece players (Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, Mehmet Okur) and a good coach (Sloan). However, I think they are the least likely because they are streaky, and streaky teams don’t run hot for 6 weeks in the playoffs. If the playoffs started today, they would have to play Dallas in the first round and that would be followed by two rounds with Phoenix, San Antonio, New Orleans or the Lakers. To me, the best case scenario for the Jazz would be Dallas, then New Orleans and then Phoenix. I agree – I don’t realistically see them getting through that gauntlet. However, I would not be absolutely shocked to see them make it through and win it all, so they are a contender.

“My pick to win it all” – Lakers

I really want to pick Detroit, but I just can’t. The Lakers match up well with everybody, and an inspired Kobe is a scary-good Kobe. Gasol is playing like the Laker’s second city is Barcelona. He has mailed it in for the last three years with the Grizzlies and now he looks rejuvenated. Their key puzzle piece players are Derek Fisher (rock solid), Jordan Farmar (where did he come from??) and Ronny Turiaf (X-factor if Bynum does not come back). The only thing that keeps this team from winning is the Gary Sheffield curse aka Lamar Odom. (Lets all agree that the ’97 World Series never happened). Like Gary Sheffield, Odom is a freak as a player and strikes fear in the opposing team by just stepping onto the court. However, they bring nothing but trouble to their current franchises and bad karma only seems to follow them. In summation, the only hope I have as a Warrior fan is for Odom to kill the ’08 Lakers like Sheffield did the ’04 Yankees. I am not holding my breath.

Other teams in this category: Celtics, Pistons, Suns, Spurs, Mavs

You now know more than 2/3 of the GMs in the NBA. Please keep this two part series near you at all times when consulting any future personnel moves by the Warriors or other teams.


So what’s up with the Warriors, you ask?

They are trying to complete step 2. The supporting cast for Baron and Ellis, besides Captain Jack, is pathetic. Everyone keeps talking about saving money to sign Ellis and Biedrins. While I agree with the Ellis part, I have to defer to my Bulls comments when it comes to Biedrins. He is worth $8 mm a year and no more. If you think he is worth more, please think about this fact – Andrew Bynum will be the center for the Lakers for the next 12 years and he is going to eat Biedrins for lunch every time they play. Bottom line: I do not understand why we would want to pay a player close to max money who (1) is NEVER going to be an IT player and (2) will make the Lakers look really good over the next 12 years. Now that Cohan has proven he doesn’t want to spend extra money and assuming that is not going to change, we need to play Belinelli and Wright, because we need to understand what their value is. Belinelli has trade written all over his face because Ellis is going to fill the role of the 2 for the foreseeable future. Based on his recent play, Wright might just be a keeper and it is time to give him his chance.

My outside the box thought on the Warriors for this week is:

Play Wright and see how he does playing the 4. If he shows signs that he can handle the position in the future, the Warriors should do the following:

Sign and trade Biedrins to the Sixers for Dalembert straight up.

Lose a little offense to gain a little defense.

Until next time …

Blueprint to a Championship – the “IT” player

Welcome to part 1 of a two-part NBA blog about what teams need to do in order to win an NBA championship.

The blueprint starts with acquiring elite player(s). You cannot win an NBA Championship without at least one “IT” player. The obvious question is “what is an ‘IT’ player? Well, welcome to part 1 of the “Blueprint to a Championship

Part 1

In part 1, I will:

define what it means to be an “IT” player,
break the hearts of many fans who think they are watching “IT” players when they really aren’t, (Nets fans should stop reading right now)
give you a list of players that are on the cusp of being “IT” players,
and provide you with a list of my favorite “IT” players.

Similar to great baseball hitters, the great NBA players are born with a talent that cannot be taught, learned, or acquired. Last year, Miguel Cabrera looked like a balloon in his pinstripe Marlins jersey (aren’t pinstripes supposed to make you look thinner?). I doubt he saw the inside of a weight room after spring training. As a result, his season stats were the following:

Avg. - .320
OBP - .401
HR – 34 (In the friendliest park to pitchers in the majors)
RBI – 119

So why was he so good even though it is obvious that he forgot to take his steroids? Because he has “IT.” No matter how hard Kevin Frandsen (SF Giants) works, he will never come close to producing numbers that match those. In the NBA, the concept of having “IT” is even more profound than in MLB. The reason is simple; unlike MLB, where the casual fan would have to go to a month of games to appreciate Miguel Cabrera’s true greatness, the most casual of NBA fans may only have to go to one game to pick out the “IT” players on the floor at any given time. The “IT” player looks different and plays differently than everybody else. He walks with a swagger that says, “I am that good and you are going to see it tonight.” He can, and more often than not does, decide the outcome of games from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

So what is the official “IT” player definition? Here you go: (in no particular order of importance because the “IT” player needs to have all of these attributes)

* When he has the ball with 5 seconds left in a tie game, the opposing team’s fans know they are in trouble.

* He is in at least his third year in the league.

* With 5 minutes left and his team down 4, he says. “get on my back because we are not losing tonight,” and everyone in the huddle believes they are going to win.

* On his best night of the year, his team would beat the 97-98 Bulls.

* He plays above-average defense.

* His numbers are consistent year to year, if they are not improving.

* The vast majority of teams in the league would trade a lottery pick for this player.

* He can create his own shot.

* He does not shy away from taking the ball to the rim and drawing contact.

Simply put, you cannot win an NBA Championship in this era without having at least one “IT” player on your team. (It could be argued that you need 2, but I’ll leave it at one for now).


A) “Close, but no Cigar”

(This list is in no particular order, and is far from comprehensive. It should be viewed as my “Fab Five” of getting paid “IT” money while not being an “IT” player. “IT” money can be defined as any contract that leads to a payout of more than $13 mm for any given year during the contract. The bottom three are my favorite future “IT” players who are not quite there yet)

* Rashard Lewis – Orlando Magic

No non-“IT” list is complete without Rashard Lewis. While I do think he does fulfill some of the requirements (he has been in the league for three years), I think the entire Magic team would fall over laughing if he said, “get on my back because we are not losing tonight.” He also plays WAY below average defense to the point where I would take Turkoglu over him in a one-on-one battle. The Magic have Dwight Howard (“IT” player) and they have a strong group of tough defenders (besides Lewis). But tying your title hopes on the one- two punch of Howard and Lewis is like trying to win the Heavyweight boxing title with Ali’s right hook and my left upper cut.

* Jason Richardson – Charlotte Bobcats

I am not sure if J-Rich is even close to “IT” status, but I had to include him because (1) his contract is awful and (2) he is the best example of a player who works really hard at his craft and will never have “IT”. His feet are stuck in concrete on both ends of the floor and it is hard to create your own shot when you cannot dribble. However, his numbers are very consistent (I mean that in a good way), and the Bobcats were willing to deal a lottery pick for him.

(Let’s all agree right now that the most bush league thing the Warriors front office has ever done, and yes, I remember when they took Todd Fuller, was combining the J-Rich tribute with the return of Webber. The fact that nobody in the Bay Area media ripped this is insulting and all the “professional” writers should be ashamed of themselves along with the entire organization!!! I could not feel more strongly about this sports atrocity).

* Michael Redd – Milwaukee Bucks

I think Michael Redd is as close to an “IT” player as you can get without being an “IT” player. He can shoot the lights out, he can create his own shot, he can carry his team for an entire game and I do think on his best night the Bucks could beat the 97-98 Bulls. However, he plays just average defense and the only time he shoots a lay-up is in warm-ups. It’s hard to blame him with his stroke, but if he is having on an off night, he will just keep shooting until they turn off the lights. The “IT” player (think Kobe) will, and can, change gears, if needed, in order to get his numbers. Redd’s lack of desire/ability to go to the rim keeps him off the “IT” list.

* Vince Carter – New Jersey Nets

We needed to include one former “IT” player who, because of injuries/age, can no longer be included on the “IT” list. Carter was an “IT” player for many years, but his run is over. He rarely sees the inside of the paint on the offensive end, and I am pretty sure he never bends his knees on defense anymore. If you have been to Continental/IZOD Arena over the past two years you know the phrase “VC for Three!” is mentioned infinitely more than “VC with the thunder dunk.” While many in Toronto would proclaim “Karma is a bitch,” I still miss the old VC because he was the best dunker I have ever seen.

(Other former “IT” players still in the league: Shaq, Ray Allen, Mike Bibby, Chris Webber, Grant Hill, Jermain O’Neal)

* Richard Jefferson – New Jersey Nets

Can someone please explain this contract to me? He is the ultimate “good at everything, great at nothing” player. While I appreciate his scoring is up this year, he has done nothing to make his team better and he has been lucky enough to play with Jason Kidd his entire career. I am not a genius, but I have to believe his game is going to be exposed as even more of a fraud after Kidd breaks out of jail (aka New Jersey).

(How bad is the Nets situation!? They have one “IT” player and he wants out and they are paying two non-“IT” players “IT” money. And those players bring nothing more than meaningless selfish play every night. Ouch!)

Other “Close but No Cigar” Players: Shawn Marion, Josh Howard, Tayshaun Prince, Rip Hamilton, Andrei Kirilenko

(Do you think you are going to lose if you’re going up against Marion when he has the ball down 1 with 5 seconds left? Neither do I.)

* Monta Ellis – Golden State Warriors

I am not sure how Monta is not an “IT” player starting next year, but I guess anything is possible. I would pay him the max if I could not get him for less. He is a cornerstone of a franchise and he puts butts in seats. With the appropriate supporting cast, he could lead a team to a championship

* Al Jefferson – Minnesota Timberwolves

Kevin McHale had to choose between Monta Ellis and Al Jefferson as the future “IT” player he could receive for KG. That, my friends, is called a win-win situation. Al Jefferson is going to make the All-Star team next year and he will make his final All-Star appearance (barring some unforeseeable event) in 2022. He has all the offensive moves you need to be an effective scorer in the low post. His defense is average, but I think that’s due to carrying the load on the offensive end and the energy-zapping burden of being the star on a losing team playing home games in the North Star State. Regardless of the T-wolves current shortcomings, they have a star and future league MVP in Al Jefferson.

* Josh Smith – Atlanta Hawks

Josh Smith is my “stretch” pick for a guy that will turn into an “IT” player. I have to admit that I have a soft spot for Josh Smith because he would have gone to IU had he not declared out of high school. His offensive skills are somewhat limited, (he does average 18.1 ppg, so they’re not that limited) but his defense is all-NBA right now. He is also a very well-rounded player, and he seems to get better with every game. Finally, he is proof that you do not need to average more than 20 points a game to be an “IT” player.

Other Notable Cusp “IT” players: Brandon Roy, Andre Iguodala, Al Horford, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Andrew Bynum, Andray Blatche (you heard it here first)

B) The “IT” players in the NBA by team

Hawks: None
Celtics: KG, Pierce
Bobcats: None
Bulls: None
Cavs: LeBron
Pacers: None
Clippers: Elton Brand (Do you think the Clippers miss him?)
Lakers: Kobe
Grizzlies: None
Heat: Wade
Magic: Howard
Sixers: None
Suns: Nash, Stoudemire
Blazers: None
Kings: None
Mavs: Nowitzki
Nuggets: Anthony, AI
Pistons: Billups, Wallace
Warriors: The Baron
Rockets: Yao, McGrady
Bucks: None
T-wolves: None
Nets: Kidd
Hornets: Paul
Knicks: None
Spurs: Duncan, Parker, Ginobili
Sonics: None
Raptors: Bosh
Jazz: Williams, Boozer
Wizards: Butler, Arenas

Total # of “IT” players in the league: 27

Eastern Conference: 11
Western Conference: 16

C) The 4 guys that deserve extra attention:

The Last In – Rasheed Wallace

Some may contest that his “IT” days are behind him, but I have to disagree. He can still light it up on the offensive end, but he chooses not to because he is trying to win another championship. (I don’t think anybody saw this 180 degree attitude shift coming). In addition, he is the rock of Detroit’s defense and he always matches up with the most talented interior player on the other team. The only part of the “IT” criteria he might be missing is the deterioration of his numbers, but I think this can be over looked because of his much improved defense. Rasheed Wallace is an “IT” player and there are MANY teams that would benefit by having him on their team. (Example #1: The Warriors)

The Most Underappreciated – Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce should get extra credit for being “underappreciated” around the league while playing in Boston. He is the best three in the league (I am putting LeBron at the 2). The small forward position was invented for Paul Pierce. He is the perfect size (6’7, 200 lbs.) and his game is as effective outside as it is inside. He lives at the free throw line where he shoots 79.3% and, if teams decide to give him space, he shoots 37.7% from three-point land. Not to mention, he gives you a respectable 5.6 boards a night. The one knock on Pierce is his defense, but even that has improved as he has been in the league and I would consider his defense slightly above average. While he may get lost in the mix with KG and Ray Allen, it is obvious to those die-hard NBA fans that Pierce is the real deal.

The “IT” player I hate the most – Deron Williams

No Illinois basketball player is ever going to win a popularity contest on workingthecorners.com, but I have to admit that I love this guy’s game. He is quick, strong, and can shoot the lights out. While the biased, bitter IU/Warriors fan will refrain from giving Williams his just due, I will take the high road (take that Bruce Webber) and praise Williams for the true talent he possesses. Like Baron Davis, he provides his team with a mismatch every time he steps on the court. Most point guards cannot handle him down low, and the ones that can - cannot handle his quickness. He lets the game come to him, and often times tries to create shots for his teammates before he creates them for himself (almost to his and the team’s detriment). When he does shoot, he is a 40.5 % shooter from beyond the arc and he is a 79.5% shooter from the line. His defense is also well above average because he has surprisingly quick hands for a guy his size. Regardless of the fact that he went to U of I, I would want him on my team (so would Coach K).

(I would trade Baron for Deron Williams in a second – there I said it. Hold on, I think IU is calling me to revoke my degree)

The Best Player you have never watched – Caron Butler

For the record, the worst trade in modern NBA history was Kwame Brown for Chucky Atkins and Caron Butler. Since you have not seen him play in a Wizards uniform, I am not going to spoil you the wonderful surprise which is Caron Butler’s game. I will just give you his numbers:

21.4 ppg
6.8 rpg
4.5 apg
2.4 spg (third in the league behind Paul and The Baron)

91.3 ft%
47.6 fg%
36.5 3p%

Also for the record, he is better than these numbers in person. Anyone who does not think this guy is an “IT” player, has not watched a Wizards game this season.

And there you have “IT” – you now know more than 90% of the GMs in the league. This list of players will be revised annually, but the criteria will remain the same. This is Part 1 of a two part series. Part 2 will be posted in the next couple of days

Weird Days in the NBA

A wise man at Indiana University once told me “the only thing keeping college from being the best place on earth is class.” This slogan remains with me to this day and I feel like work is always getting in my way of writing more. If any of you know how to rid our lives of class and work, I am all ears. Anyways, on with the show.

I will get to the Warriors rumors in a minute because I am compelled to talk about the Suns.

Are the Suns of the 21st century an even more tragic story than the Buffalo Bills of the 90s?

Think about all the talent that has come and gone without even one NBA Finals to show for it. Here is a short and far from comprehensive list of players that have worn or currently wear a Suns uniform:

Jason Kidd
Joe Johnson
Stephon Marbury (he was actually pretty good at one point)
Shawn Marion
Steve Nash
Amare Stoudemire
Grant Hill
Leandro Barbosa
Boris Diaw
Sean Marks (if you don’t think the impossible is possible, look no further than Sean Marks)

Again, this list is far from complete and I know I am missing a few guys, but this list is filled with some pretty impressive players. However, they just cannot seem to get it together and there is always something keeping them from rising (Get it? Sun rising – never mind) to the next level. Here were just some of the road blocks:

* Kidd abuses his wife so they trade him (in hindsight – 15 cents on the dollar) to NJ for Marbury.

* Joe Johnson turns out to be a draft day steal and he decides he would rather lose and make millions than win and make a fewer millions. However, they get Boris Diaw in the deal, who turns out to be as motivated to get in shape as Oliver Miller was (who also played for the Suns).

* Robert Horry (who is more clutch than Jeter, Schilling and Armando Benitez) decides to get creative when trying to win an NBA series so he cheap-shots Nash. The Suns (who at the time had a lot of team chemistry) rise to his defense and, as a result, get handed the death penalty by David Stern and lose the series.

* Shawn Marion decides that Joe Johnson’s life is so much better than his that he decides to demand a trade. When the trade doesn’t come, he gives 80% for the first half of the season and forces the Suns to trade him for Shaq.

Now the Suns cannot run their fast break offense and they look far less intimidating to not only the Lakers, but also the Warriors. While I do think Shaq will help them in certain games, the Suns became a lot weaker this week and the rest of the West has to be excited.

(I am not even going to mention how much they owe him over the next two seasons (after the completion of this one. Just kidding - $40 mm!!)

To answer my original question, nothing is worse than going to the Super Bowl 4 straight years without winning one – NOTHING!


On to the Warriors

On the eve of the Chris Webber era, take 2, there are a lot of rumors swirling about potential moves the Warriors could or could not be making. Luckily, every move I have heard of makes little to no sense and all of them fail to solve the problem I discussed in my earlier post. Here are three players I have heard about specifically:

* Mike Miller
The one thing the Warriors don’t have is a player 6’6” to 6’9” that only shoots threes, rarely rebounds, and disappears at the defensive end. Sounds like a great way to throw a draft pick or young player away. You have to think Mullin will find a way to get this deal done. Bravo to all involved!

(This will be the last time I inform you that sometimes I am a little sarcastic)

* Ron Artest
This move would only be slightly better than a Mike Miller trade. He does play strong defense on 2s or 3s, which is nice, but I just cannot see where he fits in the rotation. Wouldn’t he have to play the 4? If he does play the 4, then our rebounding and interior defensive problems only get worse. If he doesn’t play the 4, does that mean Ellis and/or Jackson are sitting while he is on the floor? Regardless of his friendship with Jackson, I think an Artest trade is a recipe for disaster and creates an even bigger log jam at the 2/3 positions for the Warriors.

* Andrés Nocioni
See what I wrote about Artest. However, I do like him a little more because he doesn’t seem as volatile and is more of a slasher than Artest (which really isn’t saying much).

In the end, acquiring any of these guys doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense.

Taking the Next Step

(Note: I would like to thank suckaflea for providing me the motivation to write this post. I don’t think I have enjoyed researching a post more than this one)

As those of you who read my last post regarding the Warriors player grades know, I think the Warriors have a glaring weakness down low that is keeping them from having a realistic chance to advance in the playoffs. The bottom line is we need someone who can rebound the basketball on both ends of the floor without disrupting team chemistry.

Here is how I define the player that fits our needs:

-- Can play the 4 or 5
-- Rebounds on both ends
-- Can run the floor better than me (I can run the floor better than Mbenga)
-- Doesn’t need a lot of offensive touches to remain happy
-- Would only take a three pointer if he had the ball with less than 2 seconds on the shot clock or game clock
-- Does not require the Warriors to trade Ellis, Baron or Biedrins

I have grouped the nine potential clients from least acquirable to most acquirable:

(Example: Dwight Howard would be in a group called Never Going to Happen)

Doesn’t Hurt to Ask
David Lee (New York Knicks)
Anderson Varejao (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Andray Blatche (Washington Wizards)

At the Right Price, You Got a Deal
Josh Boone (New Jersey Nets)
Jeff Foster (Indiana Pacers)
Ben Wallace (Chicago Bulls)
Samuel Dalembert (Philadelphia Sixers)

You Take Our Bum and We Will Take Yours
Zaza Pachulia (Atlanta Hawks)
Jamaal Magloire (New Jersey Nets)

I limited my choices to the Eastern Conference because I do not think anybody (even Seattle) is interested in making the Warriors better. Instead of going through endless scenarios, I have picked my 4 favorites and they are in order of least favorite to most favorite

Trade #4 – “We need to win NOW”

Al Harrington and a First Round Pick for Ben Wallace

The Salary Breakdown:
Harrington
07/08 Season: $8,425,625
08/09 Season: $9,226,250
09/10 Season: $10,026,875

Wallace
07/08 Season: $15,500,000
08/09 Season: $14,500,000
09/10 Season: $14,000,000

Net (I am not including the benefit of not having to pay a first rounder into the following calculation)
07/08: $6,574,375
08/09: $5,273,750
09/10: $3,973,125

Total: $15,821,250

Why would the Warriors do it?
I don’t love this trade but I really like it. You are basically paying a $15 mm premium (I know it is more like $10 mm but I don’t feel like doing the math) to have the following starting lineup THIS YEAR:

PG: Baron
SG: Monta
SF: Jackson
PF: Biedrins
C: Wallace

This lineup can make a run for the NBA Championship. Of course, Wallace is going to be worthless in two years but he would play some inspired basketball this year and next. He is sick of Chi-town and a change of scenery would be HUGE for him. You will be hard pressed to find a more rock solid starting line-up in the NBA (I don’t think there is one).

Why would the Bulls do it?
This trade is a no-brainer for the Bulls. They get rid of the “worthless to them” Ben Wallace and they get another first rounder to help them build around Deng, Heinrich and Gordon. They also save enough money which will help them afford those three players over the next three years. In addition, Harrington gives them a player down low that can score, which is a huge problem when your current low post players are Wallace, Joe Smith (yikes), Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas.

Trade #3 - “Don’t ruin team chemistry so keep it simple”

Pietrus for Zaza Pachulia

The Salary Breakdown
The money doesn’t make a huge difference in this deal as Pachulia has 2 years, $8 mm left while Pietrus is a free agent.

Why would the Warriors do it?
I like this trade because Pietrus is not crucial to the Warriors, so he is expendable. This trade would not make the front page of the Chronicle, but it does bring some balance to the Warriors roster without messing with any of the key players in the current rotation.

Pachulia would bring so much added toughness without needing a lot of touches down low. However, his offensive skills are far superior to Wallace, which could come in handy on the offensive glass.

Why would the Hawks do it?
Pachulia is not in their long term plans so why not save $4 mm next year.

Trade #2 – “All good trades start with Isiah Thomas”

Harrington, Pietrus and Belinelli (or Wright) for Jerome James, David Lee and Quentin Richardson

The Salary Breakdown
I know it may be shocking to you, but you’ll just have to trust me that Harrington and Q have almost the exact same contract, so they cancel each other out. Belinelli and Lee are basically the same, with Belinelli having a few more years on Lee (both in time on earth and length of contract). The big “this is why this trade works” clause is the Warriors taking James’ contract that pays him about $18 mm over the next three years.

Why would the Warriors do it?
Nobody - and I mean nobody - fits the criteria better than David Lee. Here is the bullet point breakdown:

* Rebounding machine
* Runs the floor like a young Rasheed Wallace
* Brings it every night
* Young and Cheap

The only hesitation on my part is that he may be a year away from making the impact the Warriors need right now. However, you never know until you put him out there.

The “icing” of this deal is Q. It is not a mystery that he has been lost since leaving Phoenix and he is a system type player (he only plays well in a certain system – think Stackhouse). Luckily for the Warriors, they run the exact system in which he thrives. In addition, he gives Nellie the “stretch the defense” threat that he might fear losing by trading Harrington.

The Jerome James contract is just the premium you have to pay to get Lee

Why would the Knicks do it?
In layman’s terms? Isiah Thomas has no idea what he is doing. Besides that, the Knicks dump one of their bad contracts and add a much more productive player (Harrington) in their system (if they even have a system) than Q. They get a look at Pietrus who plays some defense and could develop into a slasher which the Knicks desperately need. In addition, they get Belinelli as a throw in and you never know what he could turn into. I will admit that giving up Lee is still rather far fetched, even for Isiah.

Trade #1 – “Best Short-Long Term Move”

Harrington, Wright and a First Round Pick for Dalembert

The Salary Breakdown
Dalembert is making about $2 mm more than Harrington over the next three years, but he has an extra year on his deal for $12.2 mm. Wright has your standard rookie contract and the first round pick would get the fixed contract at the time.

Why would the Warriors do it?
This is the Warriors starting line-up for the next 3 years:

PG: Baron
SG: Monta
SF: Jackson
PF: Biedrins
C: Dalembert

I agree, we are at least the 4 seed in the playoffs for the next 4 years. I should not have to write anymore, but I will. Dalembert brings everything that Wallace does, but he is younger and about to hit his prime. The youth tax is Brandan Wright who we can all admit has a ceiling of 13 and 8. (I doubt he even gets that far). Dalembert’s biggest negative is his attitude, but winning and age has a way of fixing bad attitudes (see Randy Moss). This trade is the one that can, and will, propel the Warriors into the group of elite teams for years to come.

Why would the Sixers do it?
Who cares? The Sixers make this trade because Dalembert is a piece to a puzzle, not the cornerstone of a franchise. Harrington is a nice addition that makes their team more competitive, but the real value is in Wright and the draft pick. They have Lou Williams (the most underrated young player in the NBA) manning the outside and they are starting to position themselves to play a similar style of basketball to the Warriors. Two first-round picks only helps in that process. I am not going to deny that trading Dalembert hurts, but adding a top 10 pick (Wright) and another first rounder only increase their chances of building a strong young nucleus. Ultimately, Wright and a first rounder are too much for the Sixers to pass up.

There you have it. Four trades that all makes sense for all teams involved and improve the Warriors significantly. I am not going to hold my breath for them to happen, but for those of us that want to see an NBA Championship come to the Bay Area, either the Spurs move West, or one of these trades has to happen.

RT

Warriors Player Grades?

I had an entire article ready to go until this gem came out in the Chronicle today by Janny Hu.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/22/SPUUUJ8IK.DTL

I am forced to scrap the three hours I put in yesterday because I have to rip these ratings. Sometimes I think Bay Area sports writers just do this because they know how excited I get. Thank you Janny Hu and keep up the good work.

Baron Davis: A

All-Star numbers, All-Star durability

I completely agree that Baron deserves an A. His game has never been better and his fourth quarter play has been Jordanesque (except for the missed lay-up against the T-wolves but we are willing to overlook that).

(What in the world is “All-Star durability”? Tracy McGrady has been hurt most of the season and he is going to the All-Star game so does he have “All-Star durability”? Of course, I know what she is trying to say but if you are getting paid to write about sports please make things clear for everybody).

RT Grade: A

Monta Ellis: B+

Meshing speed with midrange shooting

What exactly does he have to do to get an A or A-? He has done everything he has been asked to do and more. He almost never takes bad shots, he goes to the rim as hard as Dwayne Wade and he is half his size, and he never complains about getting too few touches or shots. If Ellis was on the [fill in the blank below .500 Eastern Conference team], he would be averaging 26 a night.

RT Grade: A

Stephen Jackson: B+

Excellent start slowed by toe injury

How can Stephen Jackson not be in A range!? Does a toe injury give you a bad grade? I guess single-handedly turning the team into a playoff contender isn’t good enough. His mental lapses on defense and bad threes make it hard to put him in Baron and Ellis range, but a B+ is insulting.

RT Grade: A-

Al Harrington: C

Still searching for his spot in Nellie-ball

I have a place for him – on the block getting rebounds on both ends. Because Al Harrington takes threes and does not fight for boards like the thinner Biedrins and shorter Barnes, the Warriors need to make a trade to even dream of contending for a championship. Besides one great game against Yao and a couple of random hot games, he is keeping the team from becoming elite.

This starting lineup should play 40 minutes a night and compete for the Western Conference Title:

Baron, Ellis, Jackson, Harrington and Biedrins

However, Harrington doesn’t hit the boards and is a liability on offense.

(Remember these comments when I talk about Nellie)

RT Grade: D-

Andris Biedrins: B

Less playing time, less impact than last season

I agree with the grade but this little statement does nothing for me. The only reason he doesn’t get an A is because he is too foul prone. Besides, he has been very good and he does everything he is asked to do. Not to mention, he has built a lot of chemistry with the big three at the top of this post. If he finds a way to stay on the court, he goes straight to an A.

RT Grade: B+

Don Nelson: A

Can't argue with results, but will thin rotation hurt team?

An A!? Really? Taking a team that was an eight seed and turning them into, well, an eight seed is not exactly A work. He also did a masterful job while Stephen Jackson was out. In addition, the fact that 1) he allows Harrington to play on the perimeter (which keeps the Warriors from taking the next step, and (2) he is not telling Mullin everyday that he needs a banger inside that can match up with Paul Millsap, Ronny Turiaf, David West etc. is inexcusable. He has the Warriors where they were last year which, in the minds of true Warriors fans – aka those who want to win a championship, SUCKS.

RT Grade: C

Kelenna Azubuike: B-

Could use more of that early-season aggression

He continues to play above expectations and is obviously playing hurt. His defense is really what keeps him away from an A and off the court these days.

RT Grade: B

Matt Barnes: C+

Huge play of late after emotional season

According to Janny Yu, if your mother dies or you get injured your grade goes down. This thinking seems logical enough. I hate Matt Barnes’ game, but he leaves it all out on the court and he brings it every night, for better or for worse. He continues to make ill-advised passes and chucks up shots that make me cringe, but his energy has made a difference on numerous occasions. Not to mention, he tries to get rebounds inside when he is often completely overmatched. A C+ for Matt Barnes is ridiculous.

RT Grade: B

Marco Belinelli: Inc.

Tough times for shooter missing his shot

No problem here

RT Grade: Inc.

Austin Croshere: Inc.

Looks good when healthy, but can't stay healthy

I agree with the grade. Without a trade for a rebounder, Croshere and O’Bryant are going to be critical to the Warriors ability to make the leap to the 6 or 7 seed.

RT Grade: Inc.

Troy Hudson: No Grade

Hip injury ended season almost before it began

No problem here.

RT Grade: Inc.

Patrick O'Bryant: Inc.

Every time Nellie praises him, he lands back in doghouse

The last time I checked he has been healthy and has had every opportunity to earn playing time. It is fine to give a first year or often injured player an incomplete, but this guy does not get a free pass in my eyes. We need a rebounding big man and this guy has been so non-existent, that we had to sign D.J. Mbenga (Why do I have a feeling that Kwame Brown is in our future).

RT Grade: D

Kosta Perovic: Inc.

Sure looked good against Andrew Bogut in lone appearance

No problem here.

RT Grade: Inc.

Mickael Pietrus: D

Undersized and uninspired at power forward

All Pietrus wanted was a trade (even though he never came out and said it) and the Warriors failed to trade him. Now he is stuck playing out of position while getting little to no playing time while watching his trade value plummet. I think I would be a little “uninspired” too if I were him. His level of play leaves something to be desired, but having him at the 4 is just stupid.

RT Grade: C

C.J. Watson: B

So far, so good for D-League alum

No problem here.

RT Grade: B

Brandan Wright: Inc.

Potential is staying just that for now

No problem here.

RT Grade: Inc.

VP Chris Mullin: B

Has set up a flawed roster with great team chemistry

How long has Mullin been the GM? Last time I checked, if the roster is flawed (which I don’t think it is), it is his fault! The team’s chemistry has a lot to do with Nellie, not Mullin. (This grade and comment got me the most worked up). Mullin completely screwed up by giving out huge contracts to Richardson, Murphy and Dunleavy when he first started and signed up Mike Montgomery to coach the team (Grade at the time: F-). He then made up for his mistake by trading them all away and getting some productive players in return and signed up Nellie (Grade at the time: C). He now has a team that is set to lose to the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs and he is doing NOTHING about it. (The fans are to blame for this because they think exciting basketball is all the matters – I hate the smugness of the Bay Area sometimes). It seems as though Chris Mullin (like Nellie and Billy Beane) has ZERO interest in winning a championship. Maybe I am a little over critical of Mullin but there is nobody that can argue that this team has a chance to go to the Finals and that is his fault. Making the playoffs was nice, but this team should be looking to make the next step.

RT Grade: C-

What to Bet on

Here are my picks for the Workingthecorners.com over/under competition of the sporting year. Let me know what you think.

49ers

# of tackles for Patrick Willis: 220

Over: You have to like the over on this one. He was only a rookie this year so imagine what this guy is going to do once he understands the game a little more. The defensive line is not exactly impressive, so running backs are going to run right through it which gives Willis every opportunity to set some serious tackling records.

While the Niners’ appalling time of possession was by far the worst in the NFL, giving the individual players plenty of time to lead the NFL in defensive statistics, Willis was the only one who took advantage. While all Niners fans can hope for a better offensive output equating to less time the defense is on the field next year, Willis will only get better, doing more in less time. The only way you can appreciate this man is to watch him on the field, and notice he is never more than 5 feet away from 90% of the plays.

# of touchdowns by Vernon Davis: 1

Push: It is really hard picturing this guy in the end zone with a football he caught or carried into the end zone while following all of the league rules. However, pure luck should get him there once because, after all, he is a physical specimen, looks like Predator, and was drafted as a can’t-miss prospect. Of course he is going to score one touchdown – right? Right?

***I am not a football genius but I do know that if you win the SEC defensive player of the year award while playing with one hand, you are probably good at football. If I have never heard of you (which is hard to do, given the 12 hours of college football I watch every Saturday in the fall) and all of a sudden on draft day everyone thinks you are the greatest thing in the world, I have to question your potential.

# of visits to Dr. James Andrews by Alex Smith: 3

Under: Dr. J.A. has to be expensive and Smith’s COBRA health care probably won’t cover three visits after he is let go by the Niners. Of course, you know the Niners won’t have the balls to cut him because they have seen how well number one picks perform when a team holds on to them and prays they didn’t waste a number one overall draft pick and the salary that comes with it – David Carr, Michael Vick and Eli Manning (oops) come to mind.

Giants

# of home runs by the entire outfield combined: 35

Over: 37

Rowand: 17
Roberts: 1
Winn: 5
Davis: 1
Schierholtz: 0
Ortmeier: 3
Lewis: 5
Field: 3

And you thought the Giants were not going to have a power drought in ’08. I will believe that when the Giants are perennial bottom feeders and the Rockies go to the World Series – this will never happen.

# of games started by Tim Lincecum in September: 2

Under: It is hard to pitch when you are frozen in carbonite because there is no point in your wasting time, energy and self-confidence on this season. However, this will never happen for the following three reasons:

1) The Giants PR team has the (what would be impossible in NY but somehow seems very easy in SF) task of convincing the fans that the Giants have a chance this year. As a result, they have to promise Lincecum pitches.

2) The only other option for the third starter is a batting tee or Trevor Wilson.

3) The Bounty Hunter was killed in “The Return of the Jedi” so the Giants/the world don’t know how to freeze people in carbonite without killing them.

Warriors

# of playoff wins in 2008: 3

Under: For the record, I would have said under even before last night’s embarrassment at the Rose Garden. I still think the Warriors will make the playoffs because they have the easiest February schedule in the history of the NBA. However, the West is even better than it was last year and I cannot see the Warriors catching lighting in a bottle twice. They do not match up well with anyone except for Dallas and Houston so I will take my chances with 2 playoff wins this year.

# of years on Baron’s contract extension: 4

Push: I don’t know anything about the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, so don’t take this too seriously. 4 years would be the perfect amount of time for the Warriors. Baron seems to have plenty of magic (both the game displayed by the former Laker Johnson and the stuff used by wizards) left in him but he is not going to go the way of Steve Nash. His body will break down somewhere in the 4^th year and the Warriors will let him travel down south to play one legged ball for the Clippers.

(You have to love that the chances of Baron playing for the Clippers at some point in his career is 100%. Too bad for the Clippers).

A’s

# of runs scored in the Friday night Giants-A’s game at Pac Bell Park (combined): 3

Over: Based on my sophisticated and uber-complicated model, here are the projected starters for this game:

Atlee Hammaker for the Giants: (Part of Sabean’s new youth movement)

Bob Welch for the A’s: (Beane signed him to what he calls “the Esteban Loaiza contract*”)

* to be explained later

The starters will keep both teams in check until they break down in the third inning. The bullpens are unable to keep the respective anemic offenses down. A combined 20 walks leads to an offensive explosion by both teams. However, Huston Street brings order to the chaos and closes the door on the Giants as the A’s win 3-1.

# of “Billy Beane has done it again” comments by an ESPN analyst: 4,000,000

Under: We will have to wait until next year as none of the current prospect acquisitions will be good enough this year to warrant 4,000,000 positive comments. However, when he trades 3 of the prospects for 10 more prospects next year and further proves that he has no interest in winning a world series – he will be hailed as a hero in Bristol, CT. While being a Giants fan is no picnic, at least the Giants front office (however feebly) is trying to win a world series.

# of times I tell an A’s fan this year about how bad the Chavez contract is; 4,000,000

OVER!!!!: Lock of the year. You want to know how bad this contract is!? Billy Beane cannot find any takers for it. Nobody will take this guy and his ridiculous salary. Anyone who argues that they are keeping him because he is the cornerstone of the franchise is CRAZY. All it would take is one 4 star prospect and Chavez is shipped out of town. However, nobody is in the business of getting a glorified Pedro Feliz clone for $2.50 on the $1. I hate the Bay Area media because they NEVER talk about this issue. Shame on them! (I need to calm down)

* There are two schools of thought on Billy Beane’s strategy when it comes to signing/acquiring terrible free agents/his own players to terrible contracts: Eric Chavez, Esteban Loaiza, Terrence Long, Jermaine Dye, Jason Kendall, etc.

(1) He cannot evaluate major league talent with any kind of accuracy

- While I would love to believe this theory, Beane is too smart to be this bad. Not to mention he has made some impressive signings like Frank Thomas and Mark Kotsay that have played very well.

(2) He signs/acquires these players with the intention of trading them away to his competitors so he looks like a genius to the national media. (Nothing like feeding your ego at the expense of A’s fans) **

- BINGO! We have a winner. Beane knows exactly what he is doing. Chavez is the first real significant contract that he cannot get value for on the open market. However, he did a masterful job of convincing Ned Colletti that Loaiza’s contract was worth taking and he has succeeded again in everyone thinking he is a mastermind. Congratulations lemmings (A’s fans), your fearless loser has done it again! His genius knows no bounds.

** Chris Mullin has done the exact same thing (See Jackson-Harrington trade) and he is going to take the Knick’s money and run out of town before he has to do some real GM-ing.

Raiders

JaMarcus Russell is Jeff George II. There, I said it. You heard it here first.

Until next time

RT