They are getting some decent players IMO. http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/61072/20090810/von_wafer_signs_with_olympiakos/
Both Houston and Denver have gone backwards this offseason. Houston, more so with Yao's injury, but they've lost Artest and now Wafer and McGrady is a big question mark (as always). It will be interesting to see what happens in Utah with Boozer. He doesn't want to be there, and they don't want him, but can't seem to move him in a trade. If he stays, there's bound to be problems. He'll be playing for his next contract (somewhere else) and that can't help team chemistry. I think NO might be a little better this season, but not as good as they were in 2007-08. The Suns lost Shaq and Nash and Hill are both now eligible for AARP membership. If San Antonio can stay healthy, a big if with Timmy's knees, they should be tough, they should be better than last season. Dallas looks about the same to me. Adding Marion could help, but he hasn't exactly lit the world on fire after leaving Phoenix. So, I think it will come down to the Blazers and the Spurs for the No. 2 seed in the West. BNM
I am actually surprised that more guys out of high school aren't going to Europe. I think that a lot of them are waiting to see how Brandon Jennings does, but if Brandon Jennings is successful, the league may have shot itself in the foot with the college rule. Some players might just go over, and not come back if more NBA level players start playing over there. They come here for the level of the competition. If more players go to Europe, that advantage dissappears.
Trevor Ariza is about to learn it isn't as easy to get a shot off when Kobe and Pau aren't on your team. I wonder if he will be able to handle being the number one option, instead of number 3 or 4. I have a feeling that kid is in for a very rough year.
In other words, he will return to being the player he was with the Knicks. That is about what I suspect.
I think you're overrating Dallas. They acquired Drew Gooden but lost Brandon Bass. That's essentially a wash for the coming season (I'd rather have Bass, but only really due to age). They added Shawn Marion, but he plays the same positions as Dallas' best player (Nowitzki) and arguably second best player (Josh Howard). He makes a good reserve, but to make a starter-like impact, he'll likely take some minutes away from Howard which will mitigate some of his value. And it's an open question how good Marion is now. He's definitely not at his peak ability anymore. Finally, Kidd is quite likely to decline a bit from last year (with a not-insignificant chance of collapsing). Dallas should be relatively formidable, but I don't think they'll be contending for the 2/3 seed. If they had added Gortat, I would be a bit more worried about them as that would add a solid player at their position of greatest need. Happily, Orlando took that away from them.
LOL, fair enough. Please view it through a Euroleague lens. BTW, what kind of dick must Wafer have been in Houston? Adelman will put up with anyone and Wafer produced. Yet Houston let him go.
haha yeah, I knew what you meant. For a Euro team, three legitimate NBA players ain't too bad to have. And yeah I agree, if you can't get Adelman to want you back after producing for him, you must be a serious a-hole to deal with. Bet most of it had to do with when he kicked him out during that one playoff game.
You can hear some strong dislike in Wheeler's voice when he talks about Von Wafer. How big a jerk do you have to be to make Brian Wheeler think you're a jerk?
