NBA News, Notes and Updates:
My favorite NBA transaction of the past week was yesterday. Renaldo Balkman, who was taken by the Knicks with a first round pick a few years ago, was dealt to the Nuggets for 2 pieces of garbage and a junk 2nd round pick. The garbage i’m referring to is Taurean Green and Bobby Jones. Both players will be waived. Imagine how you would feel to be traded for 2 guys who are going to be cut and a 2nd rounder? Do you think Balkman lived up to his promise? The funny part is the guy didn’t have any promise to begin with. He was an Isiah Thomas selection and only averaged 7 points a game during his college career. Here is a list of guys taken after Balkman in the draft:
Rajon Rondo
Marcus Williams
Kyle Lowry
Jordan Farmar
Craig Smith
Paul Millsap
Leon Powe
Daniel Gibson
It gets more amazing to me every day that Isiah was able to keep his job. They were suffering with a career loser at point guard in Marbury yet got a high energy guy in Balkman who doesn’t have the skill set to be more than a bench player in the NBA. Just another task now of getting rid of Isiah players and trying to bring in their own to play for Dantoni. Good move by the Knicks and I don’t type that sentence often.
Nenad Krstic is going to play in Russia. This actually doesn’t surprise me again. Once the money gets competitive and players don’t or can’t compete at the highest level then go where you are comfortable. Krstic had a hard time recovering from knee surgery and was having a tough time getting to the level he was at before the injury. He had some late attention but the feeling was he was leaning toward Europe anyway. Within a year nobody will remember he was ever gone. He’s the new Dino Radja. Exactly…
Luol Deng and Ben Gordon are both unsigned by the Bulls. I think the Bulls should hire my wife as the Gm because Paxson has the same ability to make a decision by himself. I love my wife and I love Paxson but I don’t love Paxson as the gm. He made the right pick taking Rose but I don’t think he wanted to. He took forever to choose there after having a month to decide. Now he has 2 giant pieces to the teams puzzle and they are floating around possibilities of playing in Europe and that wouldn’t surprise me. Paxson needs to trade someone whether it be Hinrich or Gordon. Let it be Hinrich. He’s a point guard who needs to go. Gordon is a shooting guard who will get some good looks playing with Rose. Rose can break anyone down of the dribble and any help defense will free up Ben. It’s a no brainer to me and maybe it is to Paxson also but he’s taking his own sweet time and if he isn’t careful Ben will be playing in Greece next year for millions.
Oh and the US had better win the Gold in basketball.
July 30th, 2008 at 1:45 am
I don’t know I think I will kind miss the whole Isiah in New York era. Is was like watching a car wreck on the side of the road, it was nasty, but you had to look. I remember when the Balkman pick was annouced, I was watching it with a buddy and we both said, “Who?” Then laughed for a good 5 mins at Isiah and his greatness.