Recently waived

[SteelBlaze1]

Does anybody on this list (Bowen) help the Blazers? I really don't like Bowen and think he is a dirty player, but his playoff experience and defense would probably help. Thoughts?

Bucks waive defensive stalwart Bowen
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
Archive

Bruce Bowen has been released by the Milwaukee Bucks and will be an unrestricted free agent next week if he clears waivers, team sources confirmed Friday.

No formal announcement has yet been made by the Bucks, but Bowen's full $4 million salary for next season would have been guaranteed if he was not released by Aug. 1. The Bucks will save half that amount by letting Bowen go and buying him out for $2 million.

Bowen, 38, joined the Spurs in the summer of 2001 and was part of three championship teams (2003, 2005 and 207) in his eight seasons in San Antonio.

The Bucks have tried all month to trade Bowen since acquiring the veteran defensive ace from San Antonio on June 23 as part of a three-team trade that also netted Kurt Thomas from San Antonio and Amir Johnson from Detroit. Richard Jefferson was sent to San Antonio and Fabricio Oberto went from the Spurs to the Pistons to complete the trade.

Via his Twitter account Friday night, Bowen wrote: "Just got off the plane [and] got word that I will not be in Milwaukee for Christmas!"

Bowen was one of five NBA players waived Friday, joining Boston guard Gabe Pruitt, Los Angeles Clippers guard Mike Taylor, Los Angeles Lakers swingman Sun Yue and fellow Buck Salim Stoudamire. All five players will be unrestricted free agents if they are claimed by another team before 6 p.m. ET next Friday.

Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.

 

[axs88]

You can stick a fork in him. Some contender (Boston?) will probably sign him though.

 

[azsun67]

No I don't think he would help. He way past his prime. I don't think he even plays good defense anymore, he is just a cheater who gets away with it most of the time. I used to like his play alot, but he is not what we need.

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

LETS GET SUN YUE! (although his handlers would probably force him to go to a city with a lot of chinese)

 

[oldmangrouch]

I dunno....1 year at the vets minimum to tutor Batum? If Webster isn't going to be back anytime soon, what the heck. He may not be able to contribute much during games, but he could be useful as an unofficial player/coach.

It doesn't hurt young players to have a cagey old vet to bang heads with in practice.

 

[BengalDuck]

It's weird to me how the "named" players in the NBA and even the NFL stay so popular and well thought of, but in MLB those same type of players are cast aside rather quickly.

Bowen hasn't been good for two years.

 

[MickZagger]

Bowen's game has dropped dramatically, but with a less minutes he can still be effective.

 

[PapaG]

It's weird to me how the "named" players in the NBA and even the NFL stay so popular and well thought of, but in MLB those same type of players are cast aside rather quickly.

Bowen hasn't been good for two years.

In baseball, the umps can't help you hit the ball or throw a fastball.

In football, the refs can't help you tackle a quick, young RB, or hit the hole as an RB.

In basketball, the refs have helped a declining player like Bowen grab, hold, bump, foul, and do things that 95% of the league get a foul called when doing what Bowen does. It's a reputation league, sadly, and that's why old slugs can continue to play once they established themselves in the league.

 

[glazeduck]

The names on that list that caught my eye were Taylor and Pruitt. Both guys, when given time, have shown up relatively well at the point. I think for the vets min, either are young enough to be worth taking a look at in attempt to develop into our guy. Longshot, but, like I said, both have shown talent and potential, so I see them as low buys w/ reasonably decent boom potential at our biggest spot of need.

Worth kickin the tires at least IMO

 

[Erroneous Subterfuge]

Yes, when I look at the Blazers roster, the one glaring need I see is for a mediocre SF. If that SF can be over the hill as well then that's just an added bonus.

 

[oldmangrouch]

It's weird to me how the "named" players in the NBA and even the NFL stay so popular and well thought of, but in MLB those same type of players are cast aside rather quickly.

Bowen hasn't been good for two years.

The MLB minor league system.

The difference between the best players in the minors, and the bottom 1/4 to 1/3 of the major league roster is minimal. Younger, cheaper replacements are almost always close at hand. That is less true in the NFL, and certainly less true in the NBA. Add in the fact that NBA players never play all 48 minutes....which means an old guy who can still go hard for 12-16 minutes a night still has value. The MLB equivalent would be a guy who gets to pinch hit maybe once every 4th game - and that isn't worth a vets contract.

 

[Idog1976]

LETS GET SUN YUE! (although his handlers would probably force him to go to a city with a lot of chinese)

I actually agree with this. The more Chinese players the Blazers can get to warm the bench the better. The reason I say this is that China holds alot of sway in things like advertising dollars and All-Star voting. Signing Sun Yue could only help this teams image abroad. Being that we are a West Coast team means that some Chinese might be able to watch our games live. Having China back our team a bit more can only be a good thing and could have a bigger impact then you might think. Might be the most lucrative singing the Blazers make this Summer (and yes I know Roy and LMA will sign this summer, but getting 10 million additional fans might trump that).

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Sun Yu's face reminds me of a praying mantis.

 

[hasoos]

Bowen will end up with the Celtics I bet.

 

[Cake]

LETS GET SUN YUE! (although his handlers would probably force him to go to a city with a lot of chinese)

He just go released. He hasn't got the sway to dictate what city he's going to play in. That's fucking ridiculous.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I dunno....1 year at the vets minimum to tutor Batum? If Webster isn't going to be back anytime soon, what the heck. He may not be able to contribute much during games, but he could be useful as an unofficial player/coach.

It doesn't hurt young players to have a cagey old vet to bang heads with in practice.

I agree with this. It wouldn't be a bad move but I'm sure KP wants roster flexibility, I think he has more than enough even if he signs this guy.

 

[hasoos]

LETS GET SUN YUE! (although his handlers would probably force him to go to a city with a lot of chinese)

Yea they probably would. Like a team in China because he can't make it here.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Fuck Bruce Bowen. I wouldn't root for that ankle hunter if you threatened to kill my family.