14/12/13
Nash to retire at season's end, as Dirk signs on for a couple more years
Two legends of the game made very different announcements today. Raptors guard Steve Nash confirmed that this season will be his last in professional basketball, whilst Dirk Nowitzki signed an extension.
Nash, who recently got traded to his home-nation's only NBA team in Toronto, decided to forgo the final year of his contract and hang up his sneakers at the end of this season. He'll retire at the age of 40.
The popular Canadian has had a spectacular career including winning back-to-back MVP awards in 2005-06, being selected for eight all-star games and being the NBA assists leader on five different occasions.
One thing that has eluded him so far though has been a championship. It was the main reason he got his wish of a trade to the Lakers last season to team up with Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol.
It didn't work out in Los Angeles though and he saw himself traded to the Raptors alongside Gasol earlier this season. After talking with his family recently, he realised that it was time to end his long career.
With Nash leaving and his wages disappearing from their salary cap, the Raptors will now have only about $36m in guaranteed contracts next season and could be a major player in the free agency market.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Paul Millsap, Chris Bosh, OJ Mayo, Andrew Bogut, Paul Pierce, Rodney Stuckey, Luol Deng and Anderson Varejao will all be unrestricted free agents next year.
Whilst Evan Turner, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, Paul George, Derrick Favors, Avery Bradley, Marcin Gortat, Greivis Vasquez and Gordon Hayward are amongst the best restricted free agents.
Toronto could afford to bring in some top level talent to join the likes of Rudy Gay, Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross. They do of course have Patrick Patterson and Ed Davis to re-sign themselves though.
It's likely that they will have to rebuild through free agency as they traded their 2014 and 2015 first round picks to the Wizards in the deal that landed them Rudy Gay. The former could be high in the lottery.
Dirk's extension is worth almost $20m over two years and sees the veteran German take a pay cut of roughly $13m per season. He will be 37 when his contract ends, meaning he'll likely retire a one-club man.
Despite being 35 now he is still putting up respectable numbers. This season he is averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds per game. His Mavericks team though is struggling and has the worst record in the NBA.
What makes it worse though is that they traded their 2014 first rounder to Minnesota on draft night in a deal to bring JJ Barea back to Dallas. Despite all this, Dirk seems happy to see out his career in Dallas.
He has followed the example of fellow veteran superstar Kobe Bryant, who earlier this season also signed a two-year extension and took a 50% pay cut for the good of his team. It's rare to see this these days.
Both players are ultimate professionals and really wanted to put their teams first so that they can both quickly reload for another championship run before father time catches up with them and they are gone.
It will be interesting to see if fellow veteran Paul Pierce will follow the example these two set and sign one last extension in Boston and remain a Celtic for his whole career. So far he's declined to talk about it.
Mark. wrote:Man I go away for a week and you tear your team apart!!!!
Haha nah, I like it a lot. I think that trade suits your team better in terms of personnel. Firstly it is good that you went 4 for 2 as you had an abundance of depth. Secondly, DeRozan IMO suits playing with Wall more than Turner does, especially your edition of Wall who is a play making dynamo.
Really like how it is going. Just get Favors rebounding numbers up some more and I will be satisfied
Mark. wrote:DeRozan is a better 3pt shooter than Rudy? Did not know that.
Cool article, just one bit of constructive criticism, perhaps don't make the paragraphs centered, makes it a bit harder to read IMO.
2kStories wrote:This has been my favorite read so far! Keep up the good work! By the way, in the offseason when you do training camps, always use untapped potential on your younger guys, especially Noel. Will pay off later!
15/12/13
Atlanta Hawks [10-10] vs Washington Wizards [12-8]
Wall's assist streak finally ends as Wizards lose in Atlanta
ATL - 18 21 31 26 96
WAS - 21 20 22 28 91
Player of the Game: Louis Williams
(26pts, 2reb, 8ast, 4stl)
(9-22 FG, 1-4 3PT, 7-7 FT)
Top Scorers
Louis Williams - 26
Devin Harris - 20
John Wall - 18
Nerlens Noel - 15
Pau Gasol - 11
Bradley Beal - 11
Jarrett Jack - 10
DeJuan Blair - 10
Rebounds
Nerlens Noel - 11
Jeff Green - 9
DeJuan Blair - 8
Daequan Cook - 5
Assists
Louis Williams - 8
John Wall - 7
Steals
Louis Williams - 4
Derrick Favors - 2
Al Horford - 2
Devin Harris - 2
Blocks
Nerlens Noel - 3
JJ Hickson - 2
18/12/13
Washington Wizards [12-9] vs Charlotte Bobcats [12-9]
Wall and the Wizards back to their best against Bobcats
WAS - 24 26 28 31 109
CHA - 21 18 19 34 92
Player of the Game: DeMar DeRozan
(22pts, 11reb, 6ast, 1stl)
(9-13 FG, 0-2 3PT, 4-5 FT)
Top Scorers
Bradley Beal - 33
Kemba Walker - 23
DeMar DeRozan - 22
Ben Gordon - 18
Nerlens Noel - 16
John Wall - 14
Andray Blatche - 11
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - 11
Rebounds
DeMar DeRozan - 11
Nerlens Noel - 10
JJ Hickson - 7
Kemba Walker - 6
Assists
John Wall - 17
Kemba Walker - 7
Ramon Sessions - 7
Jarrett Jack - 7
DeMar DeRozan - 6
Ben Gordon - 5
Steals
Andray Blatche - 4
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - 2
Tyrus Thomas - 2
Mark. wrote:I think Beal should be able to develop into that. Just keep feeding him early.
19/12/13
Orlando Magic [7-17] vs Washington Wizards [13-9]
Noel shows Orlando why they should have picked him on draft night
ORL - 20 27 27 17 91
WAS - 20 22 30 32 104
Player of the Game: Nerlens Noel
(26pts, 11reb, 3ast)
(11-13 FG, 0-0 3PT, 4-4 FT)
Top Scorers
Nerlens Noel - 26
Bradley Beal - 23
Shabazz Muhammad - 18
DeMar DeRozan - 17
Andrew Nicholson - 13
Glen Davis - 12
Al Harrington - 10
Derrick Favors - 10
Rebounds
Nerlens Noel - 11
Glen Davis - 9
John Wall - 7
Andrew Nicholson - 5
Assists
John Wall - 14
Jarrett Jack - 7
Bradley Beal - 6
Shabazz Muhammad - 6
Jameer Nelson - 5
Derrick Favors - 5
Steals
Glen Davis - 2
Jameer Nelson - 2
Arron Afflalo - 2
Shabazz Muhammad - 2
Blocks
DeMar DeRozan - 2
Mark. wrote:About the text stuff, I was only meaning for the articles, just seems natural for me to read paragraphs left to right and then start at the left on the next line.
20/12/13
Wizards and Thunder agree low-key deal
Washington and Oklahoma City today agreed a trade which saw them swap reserve players. The Wizards sent center Robin Lopez to the Thunder in exchange for Swiss wing player Thabo Sefolosha.
It may not be a blockbuster trade between two of the league's more trigger happy GM's, but this trade is important for both teams heading into the playoffs. Depth is important in the post-season.
For the Thunder this deal was about getting a young, competent backup for Kendrick Perkins. Until this point they've only had Hasheem Thabeet and Nick Collison filling out their center rotation.
It makes sense for Oklahoma City to make this deal as Sefolosha had recently fallen behind youngsters Jeremy Lamb and Tony Mitchell in the rotation as backup for Kevin Durant and Kevin Martin.
For Washington this deal was about getting someone in who can guard LeBron James, Camelo Anthony, Danny Granger, Gerald Wallace or Paul Pierce in the playoffs. Sefolosha seems to be that guy.
The veteran from Switzerland is a defensive specialist with great length. Along with fellow recent acquisition Pau Gasol, Sefolosha will bring championship-winning experience to this young group.
Lopez never really got going in Washington. After Gasol was brought in from Toronto, he became the fifth guy in the frontcourt rotation. This move should see him get a lot more quality minutes.
The Wizards also completed the signing of versatile French veteran Boris Diaw for the rest of the season today. Diaw hasn't played at all this season after being released by the Spurs last season.Oklahoma City receive
Robin Lopez - 25 - C - $5.32m - 2 years (69)
Projected line-up:
Kendrick Perkins - Serge Ibaka - Kevin Durant - Kevin Martin - Russell Westbrook
Bench:
Jeremy Lamb, Tony Mitchell, Reggie Jackson, Robin Lopez, Nick Collison, Perry Jones, Hasheem Thabeet
-----Washington receive
Thabo Sefolosha - 29 - SG - $3.90m - 1 year (64)
Projected line-up:
Nerlens Noel - Derrick Favors - DeMar DeRozan - Bradley Beal - John Wall
Bench:
Pau Gasol, JJ Hickson, Jarrett Jack, Earl Clark, Daequan Cook, Thabo Sefolosha, Boris Diaw
SuperHueyNewton wrote:When I saw Muhammed I though, Nazr Muhammed? Now I know who you're talking about lol
SuperHueyNewton wrote:I ended up hating Boris Diaw after he pretty much self-destructed when he played for the Bobcats, though he should be good for Washington
Andrew_Wiggins wrote:I love this! And, if possible, draft ANDREW WIGGINS
21/12/13
Indiana Pacers [14-14] vs Washington Wizards [14-9]
Wizards fight back to grab important win in Indiana
IND - 28 17 24 18 87
WAS - 19 29 18 29 95
Player of the Game: John Wall
(15pts, 3reb, 14ast, 1stl)
(6-7 FG, 0-1 3PT, 3-5 FT)
Top Scorers
Danny Granger - 20
Bradley Beal - 19
John Wall - 15
Nerlens Noel - 13
Derrick Favors - 13
DeMar DeRozan - 13
Roy Hibbert - 12
Paul George - 11
George Hill - 11
Rebounds
Nerlens Noel - 10
Roy Hibbert - 9
George Hill - 7
Danny Granger - 6
Assists
John Wall - 14
George Hill - 9
Nerlens Noel - 5
Steals
George Hill - 4
Paul George - 3
DeMar DeRozan - 2
Orlando Johnson - 2
Blocks
JJ Hickson - 2
Nerlens Noel - 2
Mark. wrote:Wiggins would fit perfectly at small forward for you
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