☆☆ 2012 NBA Finals ☆☆ The King has been crowned; Heat win 2012 NBA Finals! Bron Finals MVP.

Alex Kennedy is tweeting T.J. Ford to the Spurs, Earl Watson to the Hawks and Roger Mason to the Wizards.
 
Originally Posted by CripwalkinK

Originally Posted by Zyzz

Originally Posted by StroShow4

Too bad he's one of the worst in the league at everything else.  I don't see him contributing.
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exactly, dude cannot do anything else to save his life. hes only good if hes wide open as well. good luck having him create his own shot
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Kapono was never the one to create his own shot, he's a spot up three point shooter. He's not out there to be a defensive stopper.

Do you guys watch basketball or do you just skim through it?
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Peja was even able to contribute for the Mavs in the post season last year. Not exactly one to create off the dribble at this stage in his career, yet with distributors around him he was able to spot up and shoot. Granted Peja as a shooter is on a different level than Kapono.
 
I don't see the problem with getting Kapono either unless there was someone better at the same price. Kapano will only be needed to spread the floor with his shooting. This is a major upgrade over luke walton as a backup SF.
 
Dallas Mavericks free agent Caron Butler enjoyed his Wednesday morning visit with the archrival San Antonio Spurs so much that he felt compelled to tweet about it.

"Just met with Spurs great visit first class all the way ..." Butler said in his tweet.

Yahoo! Sports reported that the Spurs will use the one-time amnesty clause written into the new collective bargaining agreement to jettison small forward Richard Jefferson, who is due to earn $9.2 million this season and $30 million over the next three.

Reached after his meeting with the Spurs and moments after the report of the Spurs' decision to amnesty Jefferson, Butler said via text message: "I was flattered."

The Spurs would still have to pay Jefferson's full salary, but it would not count toward the salary cap or luxury tax. The move would get San Antonio under the luxury tax and enable them to use the full mid-level exception (starting at $5 million this season) to sign Butler or another player.

San Antonio is aggressively pursuing a small forward to provide a scoring punch around the veteran core of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, who is entering the final year of his contract. It was one of the first teams to reach out to Butler's agent.

A source with knowledge of the situation said that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is exceedingly high on Butler and made it known to him before Butler started his recruitment trip this week with stops at the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers, before meeting with the Spurs.

His itinerary was also expected to include a visit to the New Jersey Nets and possibly theDetroit Pistons.

Butler played just 29 games last season with the Mavs before rupturing the patellar tendon in his right knee on New Year's Day. He underwent major surgery, and despite exhaustive rehab, was unable to return for Dallas' championship run.

Mavs coaches and front office personnel consistently lauded Butler's effort to return and he believes his right knee is back to 100 percent.

Dallas, however, is reluctant to offer Butler anything more than a one-year contract, an approach the club seems to also be taking with its other free agents. Center Tyson Chandler and backup point guard J.J. Barea have stated in the past week that they do not believe they will be returning to the defending champions.

The Mavs were not among the half-dozen teams to initially contact Butler's agent last week. Those teams included the Bulls, Clippers, Spurs, Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat.

i really hope we sign Caron, Spurs could use him
 
The NBA’s owners and players are still ironing out the details of atentative labor agreement they reached over Thanksgiving weekend that would endthe five-month lockout. In the most obvious sign yet that there are stillwrinkles to be taken care of, Rubio was locked out of the arena when he arrivedon Wednesday.

Literally.

“I was knocking on the door and nobody was opening,â€
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No decision has been made by New Orleans about where to send point guard Chris Paul, but a source with a good read on the talks puts the list of leaders for his services as such: the Lakers, Clippers and Warriors. There are other teams making a push, among them Dallas and Houston, but there are no indications that they're being seriously considered by Hornets general manager Dell Demps.

But the situation doesn't begin and end with the Hornets' intentions, since Paul's perspective on where he might agree to stay long-term is a major factor. The Celtics, for example, have the assets (Rajon Rondo) and the incentive, but sources close to Paul says he has no interest in a long-term future in Boston and that reality might have moved the Celtics to the back of this pack.

Other things are slowing the discussions as well, including the Warriors' possible addition of his friend and former teammate, free-agent center Tyson Chandler. And while the Hornets are certainly working on the situation almost around the clock, the possibility remains that they bypass the many opportunities before them and enter training camp with Paul in tow.

Here's a look at the top contenders for Paul right now:
[h3]Lakers[/h3]
No matter how badly Paul wants to join forces with Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, it seems clear that he realizes he can't get to New York via trade this season. As a result, his new favorite destination, I'm told, is the Lakers.

But what it would take to get him there remains to be seen. Lakers center Andrew Bynum is the prized piece because of his age (24) and, when healthy, his two-way impact, but he's not a good fit with incumbent center Emeka Okafor. The Hornets' veteran is owed a combined $40.4 million over the next three years and might have to be sent out (possibly to a third team) in such a deal.

Forward Pau Gasol is also believed to be in play, but the 31-year-old whose playoff performance raised questions about his game wouldn't fit as nicely into a rebuilding effort. Still, he's a four-time All-Star with good years left who has no shortage of value.

In much the same way as I was told "everyone but Dirk" is being made available by the Mavericks for Paul, the Lakers could find themselves discussing everyone on their roster not named Kobe.
[h3]Clippers[/h3]
While there was conflicting information about the Clippers' offer, the bottom line for the Hornets is this: They want the 2012 unprotected first-round pick that came from Minnesota. Of all the assets in play here, that pick is atop the Hornets' wish list, alongside Golden State guard Stephen Curry.

Next year's draft is being billed as one of the NBA's best in years. Kentucky forward Anthony Davis, Connecticut center Andre Drummond and North Carolina small forward Harrison Barnes are among the many players who could do wonders for the Hornets' rebuilding effort. And while the Timberwolves are expected to improve under new coach Rick Adelman, the Hornets would be rooting all season long for a terrible showing that would lead to a high pick.

The question then becomes who would head the Hornets' way in such a deal. Giving up too much (as in shooting guard Eric Gordon and/or center DeAndre Jordan in a sign-and-trade) could affect Paul's willingness to stay there long-term. Nonetheless, two sources close to Paul say he is open to the idea of playing and staying in Los Angeles (either with Blake Griffin or Kobe ).

But because the new collective bargaining agreement makes it more lucrative for a player in Paul's position to re-sign in the summer as opposed to signing an extension now, Paul may have to find a new way to show he's willing to stay beyond this season. One likely idea, as was suggested to me recently, would be for Paul to pick up his player option for next season ($17.7 million) as a sign of good faith commitment. While a new deal would eventually be agreed upon, picking up the option would assure the team that they had his contractual rights in the interim and allow the blood pressure of the respective GM to stop rising.
[h3]Warriors[/h3]
A source confirmed an ESPN.com report that talks between the Warriors and Hornets regarding Paul slowed on Wednesday, but I'm told not to read too much into it. I can't see Golden State giving up its young core of second-year guard Stephen Curry, rookie guard Klay Thompson and second-year forward Ekpe Udoh without assurances that Paul will stay beyond this season, and that is only likely to happen if they land Chandler.

It made sense then that the Warriors turned their attention to Chandler on Tuesday night, when they met with him in L.A. after having discussions with his representatives the week before. What's more, it behooved the Warriors to start handling the Chandler/Paul components separately even though they might be linked, as their players arrived in town this week and the possibility for ruffled feathers increased.

Right on cue, Curry told local media on Wednesday that he was informed by general manager Larry Riley and new coach Mark Jackson that he was "safe and secure" before elaborating on his view of the situation.

"Obviously, there's the business of basketball and there are things that may happen with a GM having to make a decision for the best interest of the team," Curry told reporters. "When you have a guy like Chris Paul, who is a franchise player, that's something you really have to think about with anybody on the roster. I understand that. I'm not going to be upset if they entertained that."

The Warriors might have the toughest sales job of this bunch, but there are additional reasons for cautious optimism among those fans who want this trade. As was the hope when owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber hired Jackson, I'm told Paul is among the many players who respect the former New York point guard and TNT analyst and see him adding credibility to their situation.

The addition of lead assistant Michael Malone shouldn't be overlooked, either: He was second-in-command on the Hornets' staff last season when they were the most-improved defensive team in the league under first-year coach Monty Williams.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/sam_amick/12/07/chris.paul/index.html#ixzz1fu144Q9H


Well, that clears that up.
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As NBA players, owners vote, drama remains over deal nobody likes

n the hours before a vote to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement, it should be no surprise drama and angst are unfolding on both sides of what once seemed to be a massive, impossibly wide gap between NBA players and owners.
Nobody gives up power or money without a fight, and the instinct to argue, bicker, mistrust and throw tantrums was not cured when the two sides finally reached an agreement to save the season 11 days ago.

Those instincts were still sharp Wednesday as players convened on a conference call -- the second such call in as many days, sources said -- to explain the deal points that have been finalized since negotiators reached a tentative agreement in the early morning hours of Nov. 26. The i's are being dotted and t's crossed, and the players are voting electronically on the deal from 6 p.m. ET Wednesday until 4 p.m. ET Thursday -- when the owners' Board of Governors also will vote.

A block of players upset about givebacks the union made continues to make noise about wanting their votes to approve the deal tied to an ouster of National Basketball Players Association executive director Billy Hunter and the players' executive committee. Most, if not all, of those players have been talked down from the ledge, sources involved in the process said. But that doesn't mean everybody on both sides is happy with the final product.

Within hours after the agreement was reached, the NBA snapped right back to business as usual. After a five-month lockout and 2½ years of arguing about ways to make the league economically profitable and competitively balanced, the same old storylines returned, as though nothing had changed. Dwight Howard wants to play for the Lakers, Chris Paul wants to play for the Knicks, Deron Williams is keeping his options open, etc., etc.

"I don't know what it was all for," said one Eastern Conference general manager who is disappointed that the new CBA -- and all that was sacrificed to achieve it -- apparently has changed nothing about the game's biggest stars wanting to flock to the glamour teams and the biggest markets.

In fact, in many ways the new rules have put even more pressure on teams with big stars who are approaching free agency. Hornets general manager Dell Demps launched full speed this week into serious trade talks on multiple fronts for superstar Chris Paul, whose exit could be accelerated by rules that mute the home-team advantages of a more lucrative extension and the fallback option of a max deal through a sign-and-trade. If the Hornets are going to get close to full value -- or anything at all -- they may have to trade Paul in the coming weeks, or even days.

In Orlando, CEO Bob Vander Weide -- a member of the owners' labor relations committee that negotiated the rules that could expedite Howard's departure -- stepped down this week after admitting he placed a late-night phone call to Howard "after a couple glasses of wine" and reportedly begged him to stay. Once Magic GM Otis Smith speaks with Howard about what the All-Star center wants, he may find himself in the same boat as Demps -- scrambling to get value for his star rather than risk losing him for nothing.

"None of the system issues, no matter how you spin it, changed dramatically," another team executive said. "In some cases, they got worse. So what really was accomplished?"

The audacity on the ownership side to complain about a deal that shifts $3 billion over 10 years from players to teams by reducing the players' share of basketball-related income from 57 to about 50 percent provides a window into how excruciatingly difficult the deal was to negotiate. And it makes you wonder why certain players and agents are so upset with Hunter and the executive committee -- and whether they were simply misinformed, wrong or had an agenda against Hunter and the union leadership all along.

"Billy's the same guy who negotiated the last collective bargaining agreement that all the players took heat for, and now everybody is scratching and clawing trying to hold onto that CBA," said Maurice Evans, a union vice president and member of the executive committee. "And I'm finding that they're going to be doing the same thing with this one. The players will have the opportunity to opt out in six years, and I would bet that they won't."

That opinion is shared by a person involved in the ownership side of the deal who disputed the notion that this was an outright win for the league's negotiators.

"When we look back on this in probably five years -- because the deal can open after six -- I think there's going to be a different attitude," the person said. "I'm pretty sure people are going to say the players came out of this in pretty good shape."

Given what the players held onto in the face of a ruthless negotiating stance put forth by the owners -- guaranteed contracts, same max contract levels, no rollbacks, no reduction in rookie scale or veterans' minimum -- the saber-rattling from those disappointed in the deal has been difficult to swallow for the players who were involved in negotiating it. Executive committee members who've spoken with disgruntled players in recent days said none of them offered a suggestion for who should replace Hunter if he were removed. And few of those players were around for the months and months of negotiations that eventually yielded a compromise that both sides could live with before the season was lost.

One person involved in the negotiations pointed to one of the brightest players in the league, Shane Battier, who stood up in an NBPA regional meeting during the summer and demanded that Hunter reveal whether he was still taking his reported $2.5 million salary during the lockout.

"He's the same guy who is now fighting for the mid-level exception, asking teams to sign him to same mid-level we negotiated for the players -- the same mid-level that the owners wanted to decimate and do away with," the person said.

Support for Hunter is unwavering among executive committee members, though it hasn't always been that way. Matt Bonner of the Spurs, long involved in NBPA activities, was elected to the executive board during this past All-Star weekend -- and came to the role with deep suspicions about Hunter's leadership.

"When I got elected, I didn't have 100 percent confidence in Billy and all the union officials," Bonner said. "I was really curious to see how the process was going to go and see if these were the right people who would do the best job. ... After being part of the process, I have absolutely 100 percent confidence that we did the best job and we got the best deal we could get given the situation. I have Billy's back 100 percent, and we'll support him until the end."

While the voices of discontent from the outside appear to be wavering, the possibility existed that the players' vote Wednesday and Thursday could deteriorate into something it shouldn't be: a referendum on Hunter. The executive director, 69, has at least four years left on a contract that was renewed within the past year and, like commissioner David Stern, will not be in place when the next deal is negotiated.

Among the most vocal players questioning the deal in its aftermath were key members of the Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, sources said. Pierce is represented by agent Jeff Schwartz, who was among a group of seven agents from six of the most powerful agencies who had unsuccessfully pushed for the players to decertify as early as July. All three play for an owner, Wyc Grousbeck, who was an undisputed hawk on the labor relations committee in pushing for a deal that, among other things, all but eliminated the extend-and-trade provision that landed Garnett in Boston in 2007.

In recent days, armed with the knowledge that New Orleans may lose Paul and Orlando may lose Howard, in part because of the new rules, the Celtics were working hard on a strategy that would bring both of them to Boston. Paul would come first via a trade, after which he would sign a five-year, $100 million deal and try to lure Howard there as a free agent.

While Stern and deputy commissioner Adam Silver had their hands full with hard-line owners who were intent on crushing the players even if it meant losing the season, the role of activist players and agents on the union side has been grossly underplayed. The conflict continued even after the union disclaimed interest on Nov. 14, paving the way for the antitrust lawsuits that helped create some of the leverage that led to the final negotiating push that achieved the deal.

According to multiple people involved in the process, associates of players attorney David Boies had to hold a secretive conference call with players who'd signed decertification cards on the weekend after the initial antitrust claims were filed separately in California and Minnesota. Many of those players had been led to believe that moving forward with decertification -- renouncing union leadership as the sole collective bargaining representative of the players -- would help the disclaimer of interest path chosen by Hunter and Boies. It wasn't true; Boies' associates explained that decertifying would actually hurt the disclaimer and open the door for the NBA's attorneys to prove that the maneuver was a sham.

"It was like a gotcha moment for the players," a person involved in the process said.

Sabotaging the disclaimer and antitrust actions would've been devastating to the players' cause, since compromising their legal standing to challenge the lockout as an illegal boycott would've caused the strategy to blow up in the union's face. It was just one of many examples of poor communication between union leaders and the rank and file -- partly due to faulty organization and planning and partly due to a lack of interest among players. The vast majority of players didn't become actively involved in negotiations until frustration with the owners' stance was so heated that it threatened to derail what little progress was being made.

A key bargaining session Oct. 4 at the Westin Times Square was typical of how superstars who'd been previously uninvolved swooped in to try to move the negotiations forward -- only to learn the hard way how determined the owners were to break them. That was the night when Garnett, Pierce and Lakers star Kobe Bryant found themselves immersed in the first back-and-forth about the framework of a 50-50 BRI split that would be the backbone of the final agreement that was reached nearly eight weeks later.

"We'd been negotiating all spring, all summer, and it was like banging your head against the wall -- no movement, really frustrating, many hours spent, lots of sacrifice," Bonner said. "You don't get paid for it, but we made that commitment on behalf of all the players, to no avail.

"And then you've got some of the bigger-name guys rolling in and thinking, 'OK, you guys aren't doing a good job and now that I'm here I'm going to get this deal done. ...'" Bonner said. "And then we get into the negotiating room and sure enough, by the end of the day, they're right with us -- right on the same page. They get it and realize how difficult and frustrating and painful a process it is and was."

The same dynamic has continued to unfold this week, right up to the players' vote. Union leaders held a conference call with players and agents Tuesday, and a call open to all 450 players was held Wednesday in advance of the vote. Allen, who once had reservations about the deal, has "turned all the way around 180," said a person who spoke with him recently. Garnett, pounding his chest about what a bad deal this was for the players only a few days ago, is now said to be "cool" after spending at least an hour on the phone Tuesday with a member of the union's negotiating team.

"It's a huge misunderstanding and it's really sad," said Evans, who got his degree in education from the University of Texas last weekend. "It's sad to see that so many players are controlled by their agents. They work for their agents instead of vice versa."

The final product is something that neither side is happy with. From the restrictions on tax-paying teams, to little if any curtailment of superstars' desires to congregate in glamorous cities, to a compressed, 66-game schedule that is ripe for injuries and the ugliest brand of basketball -- this is the best that could be done? The same deal couldn't have been done weeks ago, saving a full or more realistically scheduled season?

Both sides are asking the same questions, and whether that's proof of a good compromise or a bad deal won't be evident for years.

"It's been a long, painstaking process," Bonner said. "And it looks like it's going to be that way right up until the very end."


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Originally Posted by knightngale

I don't see the problem with getting Kapono either unless there was someone better at the same price. Kapano will only be needed to spread the floor with his shooting. This is a major upgrade over luke walton as a backup SF.
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Hell no he's not an upgrade over Luke Walton. Atleast Walton contributes with hustling, rebounding and playing defense sometimes. As a Sixers fan I can tell you that Kapono was the worst player on the team the last 2 years. He's an absolutely awful NBA player other than wide-open shots, and he wasn't even hitting those the past two years.
 
How is it possible that every offseason Jason Kapono gets all this hype but never does %@@$ during the season.

He barely made the Sixers rotation.
 
Who you think are getting the FA's and at what price?
Affalo 4 years 50 million front loaded Denver match and renounce JR...
Nick Young MLE 2 years 3rd player option Detroit. yes Detroit and no they wont amnesty him they will buy him out.
Rodney Stuckey 3 years 21 million dollars sign and trade with Detroit and Houston, Detroit might take a flier on Thabeet's contract.
Jason Richardson resigns with Magic.... I just think he gets lost in the mix and takes the MLE and hopes he can find a way to get dealt in a Howard trade.
Jamal Crawford Chicago... Rumors of an S&T I just hope its less than the MLE prob will be MLE SMFH
Caron Butler. Its going to come down to the Clippers and San Antonio at this point I think he stays in Texas for the MLE.
Nene if he waits til after Tyson to sign its going to be the Nets or Denver at a minor salary bump for 4 years
Tyson Chandler I think he gets big time money if GS thinks it will keep Chris Paul in the fold. They would be smart to just amnesty Bedrins and sign Tyson and worry about Paul later though.

Trades:
Chris Paul being the flawed player he is gets pissed that Tyson still sucks and leaves ( although GS might end up with the Knicks rags, or the Nets or Clippers NDS CDP 2/22 package. In other words they are screwed.
This sounds and looks like a disaster waiting to happen. Not to mention that if GS decides to trade for Iggy it will be worse.
The jacked up part of the equation is that Tyson is worth like 50 million for 3 years to a team thats going for a title. GS has to get bigger at the 2 and Ellis would then have to go, but really a guy from this FA class does that. Look David Lee needs to get his hollow 18- and 9, Paul gets his token 17-10 You put Wright at the 3 and yeah you want Iggy for the Defense, but his best attribute right now is his passing and it almost becomes a non factor with Paul. Its a better idea with Curry though as he isnt quite a true 1 imo and that almost leads me to think they end up with Tyson and trade for Iggy.
But make no mistake Chris Paul would end up not signing with GS long term, and sadly its nothing to do with market.
Either way I think GS gets more defensive minded, and makes the playoffs this season. If they could work their pieces for a SF and keep Wright for his shooting they would end up at the 6th seed imo.

Chris Paul: He will end up in LA just which team is the question. If you want 2 top 5 picks then its going be the Clippers. If you think you can attract some midlevel FA's to play with Bynum its the Lakers. Either way their pieces that they are trying to shread are better than Hedu. And for that fact alone is why this deal will be done first.
Aminu Deandre Jordan's extension ( or Mo Williams is a possible) Bledsoe and Kaman and Minnesota's first rounder. For Okafor, and Paul.
They get 4 players and stay out of the Tax for the new owner. They get a center, a PG who could work long term. A SF who could work long term and will end up with 2 top 5 picks in the best draft since 08. I think they take Davis and Lamb if the pick positions work out. They are a winning team in 2014 which isnt that bad a proposition.
Dwight Howard: They should shed money imo. While I dont think its the best deal that can be offered.... Chicago isnt where Dwight wants to be, and dealing with Kobe for 3 years and possibly winning is better than dealing with Rose for 10 years and probabily winning the title for him.
Also I think that generation of top tier guys dont like Rose. I think Rose not calling those guys hurt their ego personally. It might not be hatred, but they def felt slighted. Not to mention that they wouldnt have control of the organization.
I dont think Dwight is a big entourage guy, but as much as I want it to happen it prob wont for political reasons.
Its going to be to LA and its going to include Hedu ( who gets the amnesty right away) Bynum and Gasol would get it done, and the Magic will be in the playoffs imo too. Long term its not a great deal, but nothing the Lakers can offer long term is a great deal. Paul lessens the market for Dwight, and vice versa.
 
Originally Posted by Durden7

How is it possible that every offseason Jason Kapono gets all this hype but never does %@@$ during the season.

He barely made the Sixers rotation.
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I don't know who the hell you hang out with or speak to but Kapono hasn't had any "hype" surrounding him since he joined Toronto back in 2007.
 
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