Poll: Worst Off-Season Move Thus Far?

[John-John Joe]

I've gotta go with Mark "The Mad Scientist" Cuban. What in the world was he thinking when acquiring Stack and Laettner for Antawn Jamison? What exactly is he trying to build in Dallas?

He claims that the main thing was getting a pick in order to draft a point guard. But they wouldn't need a point guard had they not shipped off Nick Van Exel and Avery Johnson for Antawn Jamison. What the heck is Mark doing? Thats my pick for worst move hands down.......... Hehehehehehehe, "The Benefactor". *chuckles and shakes head*

[J@3]

I'd have to say Kenyon Martin to Denver. I mean three years ago this would've been a great trade because Denver were rubbish, but now they're a contender in the West and in my opinion it wouldn't surprise me at all if they did somethin similar to what Detroit did last season. Whereas New Jersey are now without one of their stars and to make up for it they have the inside running on (very) late first round draft picks for 3 years.

[Andrew]

I'm with Jae, though the Jamison trade is up there. The Nets could have asked for much more and were in a position to retain K-Mart if he signed an offer sheet elsewhere, although it would have gone against their apparent mission to cut costs. If the draft picks turn out to be steals then the deal doesn't look too bad, but right now it's just trading away a proven player for a little potential and what ifs.

[Riot]

Adonal Foyle for what 37 million? That was horrible.

[Matt]

If i were Nets, I'd match the contract and trade him to Atlanta

[FanOfAll]

I disagree on the Jamison trade. I think it's a small win-win for both teams...the Foyle contract also wasn't as bad as originally thought (really only 5 years, 30 million, 6th year is team option for possible 10 million, 99% sure won't be picked up)...but let me answer the question of the thread.

I don't remember off the top of my head all the transactions this offseason, but KMart is definitely up there. If only they had traded Kittles a few weeks earlier (or Kobe had nixed the Clips a few weeks earlier)...

Another deal is the Fisher signing. So he's a proven vet, leader, defender, good spot up shooter too. But Claxton is clearly the better point guard on the Warriors. The best I should say. Fisher brings a winning attitude...but for that much $$?? I'd rather just skip the winning attitude and save for later, when you can get more bang for the buck.

[John-John Joe]

I've got another one that I would probably have to say may surpass my previous one and it's not from a a franchise standpoint........

Carlos Boozer lying to Cleveland brass that if his option wasn't picked up to make him a free agent he would then resign with the Cavs. What does he do, turns right around and signs with another team, real classy move Carlos. Real classy.........

[hmm]

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[XianeX]

The Shaq trade. I, personally, believe the Heat traded away their whole future to get Shaq.

[J@3]

I actually like Hedo, I think he's potentially a very good player, unfortunately the word "potentially" applies to virtually everyone in the NBA under the age of 25.

[John-John Joe]

The Shaq trade. I, personally, believe the Heat traded away their whole future to get Shaq.

Wow, you're one of the few that feel like the Heat made a mistake. Supposedly my Lakers commited a horrible sin and will languish in mediocrity while Shaq brings a ticker tape parade to South Beach......

[hmm]

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[J@3]

Wow, you're one of the few that feel like the Heat made a mistake. Supposedly my Lakers commited a horrible sin and will languish in mediocrity while Shaq brings a ticker tape parade to South Beach......

I don't think the trade was THAT bad, I mean when you're trading someone like Shaq unless you get Duncan or KG back (which was never going to happen), it's not going to be an equal trade. I mean, people completely overrate this "vengeance factor", I honestly don't think it'll last more than 20 games, yet everyone seems to think Shaq will do a Wilt and tear the league to pieces this season.

I also read this quote he made talking about his new teammates:

"We're gonna be straight," O'Neal said. "I was down here the other day working out with the kid from Vanderbilt we got (second-round pick Matt Freije), and I told him, 'I'm gonna come across the block, and if I get doubled, I'm gonna pass the ball to you and you're gonna have a wide-open jumper, or (forward) Udonis Haslem is gonna come down the lane and he's gonna get a dunk, and you're all gonna get big contracts.' He said, 'What do you mean?' I said, 'Just look at the history. Travis Knight. Horace Grant. A.C. Green.' He said, 'Shaq, you're one of the coolest guys I've met.' "

... Matt Frieje, Udonis Haslem... if I were a Heat fan it wouldn't completely fill me with confidence, but awell... Shaq's one of my all-time favourite players, I hope he does well.

[XianeX]

The Shaq trade. I, personally, believe the Heat traded away their whole future to get Shaq.

Wow, you're one of the few that feel like the Heat made a mistake. Supposedly my Lakers commited a horrible sin and will languish in mediocrity while Shaq brings a ticker tape parade to South Beach......

Yeah, I noticed I was in the minority in thinking that of the trade. A lot of people say the Lakers and Mavs have fell out of the playoffs but mark my words, the Lakers and Mavs will both make the playoffs. Lakers' lineup is crazy. Their bench may be a little more shallow by letting go off Fisher and Fox but I like what they've gotten from Boston and Miami.

[John-John Joe]

Yeah, I noticed I was in the minority in thinking that of the trade. A lot of people say the Lakers and Mavs have fell out of the playoffs but mark my words, the Lakers and Mavs will both make the playoffs. Lakers' lineup is crazy. Their bench may be a little more shallow by letting go off Fisher and Fox but I like what they've gotten from Boston and Miami.

XianeX, i totally agree. I like the fact that people are sleeping on us. I hope this attitude amongst the NBA experts and fans is reflective of the league as a whole, 'cause we can sneak up on people. And yes, I too believe we will make the playoffs. I'm excited!

[Rens]

Brian Cardinal at that contract.. yuck.. and the Grizz already had what 30 SFs.

The Jamison trade isn't that bad, looks like Dallas is really reloading and expiring contracts are a good way to do that. Especially with Cuban giving all kinds of luxuries to his players he won't have troubles signing FA's when he can offer max contracts.

[magius]

lamar odom = borderline all star
caron butler = average role player
brian grant = energy bencher

shaq = #1 big man in the game

nuff said.

[Matt]

Maybe the Lakers Heat trade will be the best thing ever for the Lakers. What? How can that be you say. Well, often in the past when a big time player is traded to some other team he gets injured and nothing come of it. Grant Hill to Orlando. Antonio McDyess to NY. Anfernee Hardaway to Phoenix

Heres hoping aye

[Mikki]

Carlos "pulled a Boozer" on Cleveland!!!

[Rens]

Hardaway was already injured in Orlando.

And Boozer's move was pretty good from his POV, Cleveland wanted to lock him up for cheap long term (below his value) and he knew it.

[Boyk]

Hardaway was already injured in Orlando.

And Boozer's move was pretty good from his POV, Cleveland wanted to lock him up for cheap long term (below his value) and he knew it.

yes, thank you, someone finally said it.
i like the cavs as most know, and not happy to see boozer go.
but what the cavs were trying to do was pretty cheap, so boozer did the best thing for himself.

[Jackal]

I'll do them in top three formation.

1) Due to obvious biasedness...the Shaq trade.

2) Dallas (I dislike Stackhouse, especially if it's for Jamison.)

3) Nets, what the hell happened there?

[ATTENTIONWHORE]

Payton to Celtics...

[Mahoney_jr]

My Top3 for worst moves

Cleveland - said him never to make the allstar-team and declined Boozer's contract extension to avoid a maximum-contract next year. That was naive...

Phoenix - aquired Q-Rich instead of using the salary for a quality big guy. And now they're shopping Marion around. I can't understand.

Orlando - drafting Dwight Howard. Shipping out Gooden for nearly nothing. What a frontcourt: Cato (overrated), Howard (a kid), DQ, Bradley, Battie... that's pure quality


And: Most underrated GM is Danny Ainge He seems to know what he's doing... go Celtics!!

[FanOfAll]

Phoenix - aquired Q-Rich instead of using the salary for a quality big guy. And now they're shopping Marion around. I can't understand.

I gotta disagree here. Who is the quality big man for them to pick up? Dampier is certainly not one. He's a career underachiever except for, surprise, his contract year! Q is an absolute dynamite out there. I am drooling at the idea of him out there with Nash/Barbosa, Marion/JJ, Amare, and Vroman. It makes a young and one of the most explosive, if not the most explosive team in the league.

Orlando - drafting Dwight Howard. Shipping out Gooden for nearly nothing. What a frontcourt: Cato (overrated), Howard (a kid), DQ, Bradley, Battie... that's pure quality

Have to disagree here too. Howard has infinitely more potential than Okafor. Right now, I'd say Howard is the better rebounder. Believe it or not. He's far more explosive (and taller) than the short, decent athlete in Emeka Okafor, who I'm a huge fan of. 'Meka will be the better scorer the first 1-2 years, but watch out, Howard, already has a very nice outside game and decent post moves. BTW, that's not a bad frontcourt. Battie is a stud (if his knees hold up), Cato is top 5-10 defensively as a big man, even though he's lazy.

You know what...I'm starting to thikn, Boozer leaving might have been the best thing that happened to the Cavs this offseason. Because of that, they traded away Battie for Gooden, Hunter (scrub, cut), and Varajeo. Gooden has been a ballhog, underachiever, no defense player his entire career, but he still has some potential. Better post game than Boozer, equal jump shot. Equally bad defense, more potential to be a better scorer. Also, they picked up Eric Snow and you never know the chances of it happening with Boozer staying (even though they players had no direct affect on Boozer).

I also have to defend Cuban here. He's getting knocked too much. Nobody here really knows me, but if you did, you'd know (and now you do), I really dislike Stack. He's a ballhog, a cancer, bad contract, you name it. Give me the entire list of "bad" and he probably fills most of them. However, not only is Jamison's contract almost twice as big, it's probably one year longer (he's almost definitely picking up his option to make him earn 16.3 million in '07/'08). Plus, Lattner, who is a scrub, is an expiring contract. Cuban, as rich as he is, needs cap relief too. He's another unheard of case (along with the Knicks), look 3 years into the future, and they're still over the cap. Will 'Tawn make a bigger contribution than Stack? I think so. He brings more energy, offensive rebounds/tip-ins, etc. But he wasn't a huge part of the team and his lack of defense didn't really help. You didn't lose much on the court production here, for a salary move.