Ramos32

NBA Insider...July 6: No love for Larry Hughes?; Rumor Central; Chad Ford chat


Where's the love for Larry?
Chad Ford blog

With Ray Allen set to re-sign in Seattle and Michael Redd choosing between Milwaukee and Cleveland, that leaves three teams -- the Clippers, Hawks and either the Cavs or the Bucks -- still shopping for a shooting guard.
Of the remaining shooting guards, Joe Johnson is atop many teams' lists because of his 3-point shooting and age, but those teams know the odds are strong that the Suns will match any reasonable offer to Johnson, who is a restricted free agent.

That leaves Larry Hughes, a guy who, on performance alone, should've been on top of the free agent list coming into the summer. Hughes, statistically, was the best of the five top free agent swingmen available.

While Redd and Allen averaged more points per game and Redd, Allen, Johnson and Bobby Simmons all shot a higher percentage from three, Hughes is superior in every other category.

Hughes led shooting guards in boards with 6.3 per game, assists with 4.7 per game and steals (by far) with 2.9 per game.

The numbers even get better for Hughes when you switch to more sophisticated statistical analysis. Hughes led among those five players this season with a 22.06 PER (player efficiency rating). Allen was the only other player to crack 20 (21.38) . Redd finished a distant third at 18.73 and Johnson and Simmons posted just average numbers.

And every one of the five but Allen is between the ages of 24 and 26.

So why isn't Hughes getting more love?

First, he came out of nowhere this year. After years of so-so production, Hughes exploded. Players rarely do that at his age and many teams are worried either it was an anomaly or he was playing for a contract. His best numbers before that were 18.1 ppg (2004), 5.9 rpg (2000), 4.5 apg (2001) and 1.9 spg (2001). Those are all impressive numbers, but Hughes had not put them together in a single season. Of course the same could be said of Johnson and Simmons, both of whom also had career years last season.

Two, he couldn't repeat his regular-season performance in the playoffs against Miami. While his averages weren't awful (18 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.7 apg), his shooting (33 percent from the field, 25 percent on 3s) was. If a general manager's last vision of Hughes was watching him get dominated by Dwyane Wade in the playoffs, that may cause the GM to grip his checkbook a little tighter.

Three, most of the teams that are looking for two guards are looking for a shooter. Allen, Johnson, Redd and Simmons are all great shooters. Hughes isn't. He may be more versatile and a better defender, but he barely makes enough 3s to keep defenders honest. On some teams, that might not be an issue. But on the Cavs, Clippers and Hawks, it's a huge one given their current personnel.

Finally, the common perception is that Hughes is a lock to go back to Washington. In fact, several teams have incorrectly referred to him in phone conversations as a restricted free agent. He isn't.

The Wizards have not made a major offer, according to a source close to the negotiation, and Hughes is playing the market. While the Wizards can offer more to Hughes in the form of higher raises and an extra contract year that could total $20 million more than their competitors, Hughes, like Redd, is testing the waters, seeing if there might be a better fit. If he were to find one, he could leave without the Wizards being able to do anything about it.

Now that Allen is off the table, it will be interesting to see what happens here. The Wizards are taking a wait-and-see approach -- a dangerous tactic with an unrestricted free agent. If a team like the L.A. Clippers or Cleveland offers him big money, he could just bolt, leaving Washington with nothing.

NBA Rumor Central: Mo' Joe

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Joe Johnson
Suns

Suns

Mo' Joe
Jul. 6 The Suns want Joe Johnson back and have made him a contract offer, the Arizona Republic reports. The team has made it known that the restricted free agent is a top priority and now await his response.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Stromile Swift
Grizzlies

Knicks?
76ers?
Rockets?

Swift in Houston
Jul. 6 In need of frontcourt help, the Rockets will meet with free agent power forward Stromile Swift today, reports the Houston Chronicle. Swift's youth and athleticism make him attractive to the Rockets. However, the club can only offer him the mid-level exception because they are over the salary cap.
The Rockets have also inquired about Donyell Marshall, Antoine Walker and Bobby Simmons, while Swift's agent, Andy Miller, said other teams are also pursuing Swift.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Robert Horry
Spurs

Spurs

Horry prefers Spurs
Jul. 6 According to the San Antonio Express-News, Big Shot Rob has agreed to a three-year deal with the Spurs, putting to rest any ideas of a reunion with Shaq in Miami.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Doug Christie
Magic

Magic?

Christie wants out of Orlando
Jul. 6 Doug Christie never got it going with the Magic and after his season-ending ankle surgery, he demanded a trade. And even with all of the front-office changes, he's still looking to get out, Florida Today reports.
"Hopefully he'll have a change of mind," new head coach Brian Hill said, "because I think Doug is a pretty good basketball player, especially at the defensive end of the floor. I'd love to have him back here to try and fit in with this team."

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Cuttino Mobley
Kings

Nuggets?
Clippers?

Mountain time for Mobley?
Jul. 6 The Nuggets are high on Cuttino Mobley's list. According to the Denver Post, Mobley's agent, Andy Miller, spoke to Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe several times Tuesday. Said Miller: "(Mobley) thinks (Karl) can fine-tune his game and make him better while also helping take the team to the playoffs."
Mobley, who declined his option with Sacramento, would fill a need for Denver -- 3-point shooting. However, the Nuggets may have only the mid-level exception to offer, so a sign-and-trade may be in order. According to the Rocky Mountain News, the Kings want Nene.

The Los Angeles Clippers are also reportedly interested in Mobley, says the Post.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Trail Blazers

Spurs?
Heat?
Magic?
Nets?

Moving Forward
Jul. 6 The Nets are doing everything they can to land some frontcourt help, including enlisting the help of Jay-Z perhaps. According to the New York Daily News, the Nets will give Abdur-Rahim the red-carpet treatment starting today during his two-day visit to New Jersey as they try to convince the power forward to take the $4.9 million they have available.
But, Aaron Goodwin, Abdur-Rahim's agent, said last week that it is "doubtful" he'd take lesser money to go to New Jersey. The only draw might be Lawrence Frank and Jason Kidd. Frank was a scout and assistant with the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1997 when Abdur-Rahim played up north. And Kidd and Abdur-Rahim both played college ball at Cal.

Abdur-Rahim is also slated to visit Sacramento, says the Daily News.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Greg Buckner
Nuggets

Nuggets?
Rockets?

Who's got Buckner's back?
Jul. 6 The Denver Post is reporting that Greg Buckner is still interested in returning to the Nuggets. "They'd like him back and he'd like to be back," Buckner's agent, Steve Kauffman, said.
Buckner is looking for a deal that at least approaches the mid-level exception range. Kauffman also said his client has heard from five or six teams, with Houston believed to be among them.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Bobby Simmons
Clippers

Clippers?
Rockets?

It's Bobby's world
Jul. 6 The Clippers are keeping an eye on Bobby Simmons, the L.A. Times reports. "They're trying to do everything they can to improve their team, so I think they're looking at a lot of different things," Simmons' agent, Mark Bartelstein, said of the Clippers. "But they've certainly made it clear that they want Bobby back."
The Times also said that the Houston Rockets are among the teams interested in Simmons, an unrestricted free agent and the league's most improved player.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Marko Jaric
Clippers

Clippers?
Nuggets?

Marko on the market
Jul. 6 According to the L.A. Times, the Clippers are expected to renew talks about re-signing Jaric. But they may have competition in the Denver Nuggets, who are among the teams interested in the restricted free agent point guard.

__________________
The Future Is NowPeter John Ramos

Ramos32

Talk NBA with Insider Chad Ford

Welcome to The Show! On Wednesday, ESPN NBA Insider Chad Ford will drop by to take your questions.
Ford writes the daily NBA Insider column for ESPN Insider. He also in a frequent contributer to ESPN.com and ESPN the Magazine and makes weekly apperances on ESPN Radio and ESPNEWS.

Send in your questions to Chad Ford now, then join him right here for the answers on Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET!

Chad Ford: (1:01 PM ET ) Hey everyone. Lots of free agency stuff to talk about today. Let's get rolling.




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Tom (STL): Where does Michael Redd sign? And what do the Cavaliers do if he does not sign with them?

Chad Ford: (1:04 PM ET ) He "visited" the Bucks on Tuesday (your guess is as good as mine on why he needs to visit the team he's played for his whole career) and he's in Cleveland today. The Bucks are offering him the max. So are the Cavs. Because of differences in the CBA, the Bucks offer is $20 million more. 99 percent of the free agents I've covered over the past seven years take the money and run. The fact that Redd is still deciding speaks to how appealing the Cavs situation must be. If he cares about winning and a great situation it's Cleveland. But $20 million is a lot to leave on the table. In other words I'll be shocked if he bolts the Bucks.


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Mike (NY): Is there any truth to Steph for Dalembert? Where else could Steph go?

Chad Ford: (1:06 PM ET ) Isiah is trying to work out a sign-and-trade with the Sixers for Dalembert. He's willing to offer him the max. Marbury is one of the players he's willing to move this summer to get a big. However, I have a hard time believing that the Sixers would make this trade. I think he'd have a much better shot of trading Steph to the Hawks for Al Harrington, Tony Delk and Jason Collier.


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Hector, Los Angeles: Do you think any of the Baby Bulls, (Chandler & Curry), will be leaving Chicago this summer?

Chad Ford: (1:09 PM ET ) I think they'll match any offer for Chandler. He's too valuable to what they do. Curry? They keep saying that they'll match any offer, but from what I hear, the Bulls are looking to do a sign-and-trade for him. Atlanta (for possibly Al Harrington) might be the best option.


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Andrew (DC): What happens in DC with larry Hughes and Kwame Brown? Sign Hughes and sign-and-trade Kwame?

Chad Ford: (1:11 PM ET ) I don't know why teams aren't making a bigger play than Hughes. As I point out in my blog today, he may be the best two guard prospect out there and he's an unrestricted free agent. Everyone just assumes he re-signs with Washington. I'm not so sure. From what I hear, they have made a huge offer yet. Kwame will likely be some sort of sign-and-trade. The Knicks are especially interested and are willing to move Michael Sweetney as part of the deal. A straight deal with the Hawks is also a big possibility.


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Michele (Houston): Stromile Swift is in Houston today. What are the Rockets chances if he leaves w/o a contract?

Chad Ford: (1:16 PM ET ) The Rockets are one of several teams (Nets, Knicks, Hornets are others) who are pushing hard for Stro. With the exception of the Hornets, they're all offering the mid-level. Obviously Stro wants more. Don't see the Grizzlies re-signing him. They really need to cut down the cap.


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Kevin (New Jersey): Hey Chad, how big are the chances of Shareef Abdur Rahim running alongside J Kidd, Vince, and RJ in a Nets uniform next season?

Chad Ford: (1:18 PM ET ) They are praying. He'd be a great fit there and both Shareef and the Nets know it. The problem is that several other teams like the Spurs are talking sign-and-trade with the Blazers. That allows them to pay more money. The Blazers are trying to work out a Rasho Nesterovic for Abdur-Rahim swap.


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Andrew (Flagstaff AZ): No that the Spurs have re signed Horry is their going to be enough money for Sciola? If not, what is their next move?

Chad Ford: (1:18 PM ET ) Yes, they can still re-sign Luis Scola.


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Zach, Cleveland, Ohio: Who do you think is a better fit for the Cavaliers, Antonio Daniels or Jasikevicius?

Chad Ford: (1:20 PM ET ) Tough question. Daniels has great size and is an excellent defender. Jasikevicius is much better offensively but MUCH worse defensively. If they want a real floor leader, however, it's tough to pass on Jasikevicius, He hasn't played in the NBA yet, but three straight Euroleague titles means a lot. The Pacers are also strongly in the mix for Jasikevicius


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RANDY NEW ORLEANS: Should the Hornets trade Magloire?

Chad Ford: (1:21 PM ET ) Not unless they get another, younger center in return. If they were willing to swap Magloire for Samuel Dalembert or Tyson Chandler, I think it's a good move. But I wouldn't just give him away.


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MileHighMelo ( Denver, CO): Hey Chad, I'm hearing a lot of buzz about the Nuggs sending Nene and Vo Lenard to the Kings for Mobely...anything to that other than rumors?

Chad Ford: (1:25 PM ET ) The Nuggets like Mobley and really need a two guard who can stroke it. But I don't think they'd part with Nene to do it. If they would, the Kings should make that trade in a heartbeat. Depending on where the cap comes in, the Nuggets could either use their mid-level exception or cap room to get him signed.


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Phil (LA): Hey Chad, What do you think the Clips will do next now that Ray Allen has re-signed with the Sonics?

Chad Ford: (1:27 PM ET ) Mike Dunleavy has to be beating his head against the wall. For the second straight year the Clippers have come very close to landing an all-star two guard. At this point, they probably stick to the plan of re-signing Bobby Simmons at this point. Larry Hughes is an option, but they'd really like another shooter. They'd love Joe Johnson, but the chances of the Suns matching an offer for him are very high.


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Noah (Chelmsford, MA): What moves, trades or signings, do the Lakers make if any? Also, does the pick of Bynum help or hurt their playoff chances?

Chad Ford: (1:30 PM ET ) They're making a push for Antonio Daniels. Bynum is probably a non-factor. He's very talented (I really liked him in the McDonalds game) but he's realistically a few years away.


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Angelo (NY): Ok let me get this straight. The Knicks would trade their one superstar, the one person who puts people in the seats, the one person who sells jerseys, one of the top 5 players in his position for either another power foward in Harrington or a center with no offensive game (Dalemburt) then they would trade their best power foward for a player who didnt even play in the post season (Brown). That would be crazy!

Chad Ford: (1:32 PM ET ) Angelo, where've you been for the past two years? That's par for the course for Isiah. And frankly, I'd do either deal if I were the Knicks. They need to shake things up and moving Marbury is the only way to make a major play.


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Adam (St. Paul): What's crazy Angelo, is you calling Marbury a superstar.

Chad Ford: (1:33 PM ET ) Ouch. Here we go ... I didn't say it, Isiah. Adam did.


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Chris (W.Spfld, Ma): Danny Ainge has made some nice draft choices over the last 2 summers, and he seems to be hitting his stride as a GM. Do you see this year's handling of Paul Pierce as the most important thing he's done (or will do) as a GM?

Chad Ford: (1:35 PM ET ) Sure. Ainge has had two great drafts. At this point, I don't think the Celtics need anymore young players. They've got plenty of building blocks and two (Al Jefferson and Gerald Green) that have star potential. So ... I'm not sure why you trade Pierce. The Celtics need veterans to show the kids how to play. The team can't get equal value for him. He could demand a trade, but I think the Celtics are better off keeping him. The same probably holds true for Antoine at this point if they can get him form $6 or $7 million per year.


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Brian (seattle, wa): Out of Antonio Daniels, Jerome James, Damien Wilkins, Ronald Murray, Reggie Evans, Vitaly Potapenko, and Vlad Radmanovic, which ones will stay with Seattle? James and Daniels gone as unrestricted FAs?

Chad Ford: (1:39 PM ET ) Hmmmm... don't know. Daniels and Radmanovic want to start. If they can find teams willing to pay them starter money, they're gone (and no, I don't think the Sonics would match a big deal for Radmanovic). Murray wants out too, and with the re-signing of Allen that's possible. I think that Nate isn't a fan of either James or Potapenko. I think they'll try hard to re-sign Evans and Wilkins as long as offers to them don't get out of control.


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Jon (Phoenix): Will Phoenix match any offer for Joe Johnson including the max? Teams like the Clippers who missed out on Allen may just try to do that.

Chad Ford: (1:40 PM ET ) I agree that both the Clippers and Cavs could make him a max offer. But if you look at what the Suns have done already this off-season, it's pretty clear that they plan on matching.


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Mike (Bedford, NY): Are the Knicks really pushing hard after Antonine Walker? I find it hard to believe since we already have Crawford and Richardson who like to chuck three pointers.

Chad Ford: (1:41 PM ET ) Mike, I'm going to refer you to the Angelo question up above on Isiah's reasoning. But yes, they are interested in Walker.


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Adam, Indy: Please Chad, I need to know what the Pacers are doing? I haven't heard anything in some time.

Chad Ford: (1:45 PM ET ) Sarunas Jasikevicius is at the top of their list. They also like another sweet shooting Lithuanian, two guard, Arvydas Macijauskas.


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Mike (Atlanta): What's your gut feeling about the Hawks? What FAs end up here in '05-06?

Chad Ford: (1:46 PM ET ) I don't think it looks good Mike. You have to have a plan going into free agency and then execute it. The Hawks plan, Ray Allen and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, was a bad plan. A very bad plan. In the process, they've alienated many of the younger free agents willing to come there. It wouldn't shock me if, for a second straight summer, they strike out on signing a major free agent. Someone needs to pull the plug on the Billy Knight era in Atlanta. Now.


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Alex (Hollywood): Chad - let's play a little jeopardy! The answer is "I was the worst run NBA franchise from 2000 - 2005". What, Chad, is the question?????

Chad Ford: (1:48 PM ET ) I've already picked on the Hawks, so how about the Raptors. Five years ago the team looked like it was going to be a contender. Now they're in shambles and after last week's draft, I don't see them recovering any time soon.


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Scott (SF, CA): Hey Chad...can you briefly explain the NBA's "amnesty program" and its effects on a teams salary cap, etc....Thanks!

Chad Ford: (1:51 PM ET ) We're still waiting for all the details, but here it is in a nutshell. Teams get a one-time chance before October 1st to waive one free agent. The team still has to pay the player and does NOT get cap relief. So what's the benefit? Teams get luxury tax relief. The salary no longer would count for luxury tax purposes. It would only affect a few teams but could save teams like the Mavs and Knicks close to $50 million each. It's purely financial relief. Still it could mean that several interesting veterans like Michael Finley and Allan Houston will be free agents this summer. They'd be free to re-sign with any team after they're waived.

Chad Ford: (1:51 PM ET ) I've got to run everyone. Thanks for stopping in. We'll do it again next week

scary about losing Hughes!! ...

__________________
The Future Is NowPeter John Ramos

jazzy1

I actually agree with Ford here and think the Wizards should take the cautious approach with Hughes he just sin't worth big money, hes an injury concern and a post player focus away from having an attitude.

His defense is overrated because he gambles or steals he couldn't even half way guard Wade