Divac's lifestyle, age catching up with him
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford Wednesday, October 1
Updated: October 1
5:10 PM ET
The promise of youth and the provocativeness of potential is the stuff the fuels dreams in the preseason.
It's a thrill to get a peek at unfinished art work and conjure up images of what it might someday become.
Youth clings to the promise of hope. Age to the promise of decay.
On Monday and Tuesday we looked at 13 young players who are brimming with promise.
For every young player on summit of stardom, there's a proven veteran beginning a lonely descent. Last season we saw the ultimate decline of once-feared stars like Micheal Jordan, David Robinson, Arvydas Sabonis, Steve Smith and Charles Oakley.
This season? Gravedigger. Get your shovel ready. The bell tolls for these 14 players in the twilight of their career.
Vlade Divac, C, Kings -- Chain smoking, questionable conditioning methods, brutal summers spent in the service of the motherland and a long, productive career are taking their toll. Last season, Divac (35) really began showing his age. At times, his play still bordered on brilliant because of his superb passing ability and his text book flopping. But far too often, his game slipped below the standard we've all come to enjoy, and the results left the Kings reeling. Now you understand their desperation and willingness to overpay Brad Miller. With Miller in the fold, Divac's minutes will dwindle. He'll still play a key role on the team in the fourth quarter and preseason, but after that? He'll be a 36-year-old free agent. His future in Sacramento will be questionable. If Divac wants a ring, this may be his last chance.
Reggie Miller, G, Pacers -- An ankle injury reduced Miller to just a shadow of his former self last season. Pacers' brass claims that he's completely recovered and ready to reclaim his starting role on the team. But at 38, Miller's inability to create his own shot has severely reduced his ability to be effective. Plus, players like Ron Artest and second-year guard Fred Jones are pining for playing time. While his leadership on this young team is priceless, his days of dropping 20 points a night appear to be over.
Dikembe Mutombo, C, Nets -- He's 87 years old . . . what do you expect?
Karl Malone, F, Lakers -- It's almost blasphemy to put Malone in this group. We've been predicting his demise for years, but Malone's superior conditioning has kept him plugging away at a Hall of Fame pace. However, Father Time eventually will catch up. Malone turns 40 this year. With much less to do on a super stocked Lakers squad (Malone a fourth option?) this may be the year that he starts showing his age.
Eddie Jones, G, Heat -- Thirty-two doesn't sound too old to me, but given the Heat's new youth movement, you can go ahead and call Jones Miami's crypt keeper. Jones' offensive production, and, even more importantly, his defense has waned slightly the past two years. Dwyane Wade was drafted to ultimately take Jones' place. Wade is more athletic, a better defender and is a better fit in Pat Riley's game plan. Given that Jones is virtually impossible to trade because of the huge contract that pays him millions until the age of 65, Jones' production should start dropping off considerably -- if not this season, then next season for sure.
Antonio Davis, C, Raptors -- It's hard to believe that Davis is 34 years old, but it's true and the Raptors know it. They worked hard to shop him this summer, but too many teams were scared away from the three years, $37 million left on his contract. There aren't many teams willing to pay a 34-year-old center $12 million a season -- especially one who shoots just 40 percent from the field. There aren't any teams willing to pay a 37-year-old $13 million a year. Davis has tried to force the issue by moving his family back to Chicago. We think Sun City may have been a more appropriate resting place.
Nick Van Exel, G, Warriors -- What was Chris Mullin thinking? Van Exel may have been brilliant in the playoffs last season, but he was brilliant on 31-year-old shaky knees. The Mavs got that type of production out of him in the postseason by keeping his minutes low during the regular season. The Warriors don't have that luxury. What happens when you mix a bad attitude and bad knees with too many minutes playing in a losing cause? The Warriors of old.
Cliff Robinson, F, Warriors -- Speaking of Mullin, his deal for Robinson wasn't much better. While it still baffles me that the Pistons offered him an extension last season, at least they were smart enough to read the writing on the wall and move him before everything gives out. Robinson might end up being a good mentor to Mike Dunleavy . . . as long as they NEVER discuss how to step up in the playoffs. The older Uncle Cliffy gets, the longer nap he needs in April and May. Fortunately, with the playoffs looking way out reach for Golden State, the Warriors probably won't need to wake him up.
Glenn Robinson, F, 76ers -- The Big Dog is 30 years old, but in dog years, that's like 210. While it's clear he can still score at will, I foresee a Glen Rice-like downfall this season. We know for a fact that elderly people live longer when they keep feeding and dressing themselves as long as they can. With Allen Iverson doing most of the feeding and dressing for the Sixers, will Robinson's scoring skills start eroding?
Toni Kukoc, F, Bucks -- He played brilliantly for the Bucks last season and almost single handedly propelled them into the playoffs. Clearly the fire stills burns for Toni. Still, Kukoc (35) looks like Methuselah compared to the rest of the team. Can he muster the energy to bail out a young team with only slim chances of winning?
Vin Baker, F, Celtics -- It's great to see that Vin Baker has got his drinking under control. His life will be better for it, but I'm not so sure about his game. He just doesn't have the motor that he used to, and in Danny Ainge's new up-tempo system, Baker could easily become an anchor that drags the rest of the team down.
Derrick Coleman, F, Sixers -- He's 36-years-old and played 14 more years than he wanted to in the league.
Scottie Pippen, F, Bulls -- Everyone thought he would retire at the end of last season, but expect him to go out in style by leading his Bulls back to the playoffs for the first time since he left the team six years ago.
Grant Hill, F, Magic -- Even if Hill's ankle does start feeling better next summer, he'll be a 32-year-old player who hasn't played significantly for three-plus seasons. While a comeback may be inspiring, chances are his days of being even a second-tier player in the NBA are over. As the Magic brass continue to show, it's hard to just let go and say goodbye.
Around the League
The Jazz finally used some of that cap space to facilitate a trade, but in an unusual twist, the Glen Rice-for-John Amaechi swap will actually open up even more cap room for the Jazz next summer. Assuming for a second that Utah doesn't re-sign any of its free agents next summer (like Keon Clark, DeShawn Stevenson, Greg Ostertag or Jarron Collins) the Jazz are looking at about $15 million in guaranteed salaries next summer.
That will give them, by far, the most cap room in the league. Of course, as they learned last season, that's no guarantee that free agents will come when you wave cash their direction. In fact, no is even sure whether Rice will come this season. The Jazz are rebuilding and Rice, from his early indications, sounds like he doesn't want to be there.
"We're going to sit down with him and sit down with his agent and go from there," Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's vice president of basketball operations, told the Salt Lake Tribune. "In 24 or 48 hours we'll have a better feel about a decision."
Glen Rice
Small Forward
Utah Jazz
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
62 9.0 2.5 1.0 .429 .759
Chances are the Jazz will waive Rice, who is in the final year of his contract, and let him join the team of his choice. So why did the Jazz pull the trigger on the swap? In addition to the cap space they receive next year, the Rockets took one of the team's trouble makers off their hands and threw in a couple of first-round picks and a few million in cash to boot. In other words, the trade was really a slam dunk for Utah.
The Jazz will potentially get the Rockets and Bulls' first-round pick next year. Both picks do have some protection. It is believed that the Rockets' pick is lottery protected for the next four years. The Bulls' pick is top-19 protected. Houston acquired the Bulls pick in the Bryce Drew trade a few years back. If the Bulls don't finish in the top 10 this year, the Jazz will get the Bulls second round pick '05 and '06.
O'Connor said he may not be done shifting things around. "Do we still have some more options before our first game? Yes," said O'Connor. "I've been fairly open in saying I don't think this is the end of the roster moves. We could still do something."
The deal also helps the Rockets' bottom line. Before the trade the Rockets were about $1.7 million over the projected $57 million luxury-tax threshold. Moving Rice's $9.6 million deal for Amaechi's $2.3 million got them safely under it.
It also allowed them to give Jim Jackson a three-year, $7.3 million contract to fill the void left by Rice at small forward. Jackson, who was a key contributor to the Kings last year, has to be breathing a sigh of relief. For the past few seasons, he's had to accept minimum deals just to play in the league.
After trying, and failing, to land Michael Olowokandi, Erick Dampier and Nazr Mohammed this summer, Jerry West finally got his big man on Tuesday.
Whether that big man has the chance to be a legit starter in the league remains to be seen. The deal sent fourth-year center Jake Tsakalidis and Bo Outlaw to Memphis for Brevin Knight, Robert Archibald and Cezary Trybanski.
Jake Tsakalidis
Center
Memphis Grizzlies
Profile
2002-2003 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
33 4.9 3.7 0.4 .452 .672
Tsakalidis struggled his first three years in the league but he is huge (7-2, 290) and as strong as an ox. The Grizzlies really needed that in the middle.
"We thought this was a chance to get someone big and strong with potential," Grizzlies president Jerry West told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "He takes up so much space. He's a big guy. When we're playing these behemoths, he can play effectively against them."
The move is yet another signal that West believes that his Grizzlies are ready to compete now for a playoff spot. Several people in the organization feel that grabbing the eighth playoff seed is a realistic goal.
"There are five teams in the West safe for playoff contention in my opinion," West said. "There's positions to be had, and we're hopeful we can sneak up on some people and surprise some people. We're a deeper team and . . . we might be the most athletic team in the league."
They're also one of the deepest, sporting 16 players on their roster that could all, theoretically, contribute this year.
However, the key to any deep playoff run in Memphis will be the emergence of Pau Gasol, Stromile Swift and Mike Miller as stars. West said he was already impressed with Gasol and Swift during the first day of camp. Gasol put on some much needed muscle this offseason and West claims Swift is finally focused.
The Suns lost some talent in the Memphis trade, but they too picked up some cap flexibility down the road. Because Knight and Archibald are all in the last year of their contracts, the Suns can shave as much as $6.5 million off their payroll next summer.
That won't be enough to put them under the cap, but it will put them far enough under the luxury-tax threshold that they could go ahead and sign a free agent with their mid-level exception next summer.
The question now is who will play center in Phoenix. Veteran Scott Williams and Jake Voshkuhl are the only centers left on the team ready to contribute now. Trybanski is still probably a year or two away.
Peep Show
By Terry Brown
NBA Insider
Wednesday, October 1
Updated: October 1
9:44 AM ET
Los Angeles Lakers: General Manager Mitch Kupchak isn't taking anything for granted and says his superstar center shouldn't, either. "We're going to do what we think is best for the organization and the players on this team," Kupchak said in the Los Angeles Times about Shaq's upcoming contract extension. "That's really all I want to say about it right now." The former MVP is due to make between a maximum of $105 and $114 million in a three-year extension, but Kupchak wasn't giving out any details. "I wouldn't make any assumptions," he said.
Brown
Washington Wizards: Kwame Brown might be starting only his third season in the NBA, but he's already looking for the reset button."I have to come in prepared and ready and be solid, be ready to wash the taste of the first two years out of my mouth and just be a natural basketball player," Brown said in the Washington Post after his first day of training camp. "I've got to have a big year but it's not like the coach is riding me, saying, 'You've got to be better. You've got to do this. You've got to do that.' It's just, 'Come on, work hard, come in and be solid for us.' "
Houston Rockets: The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Rockets have sent Glen Rice and a pair of draft picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for center John Amaechi and then immediately signed free agent guard Jim Jackson to a three-year, $7.3 million contract. "It's just so much easier to live under the cap," Houston general manager Carroll Dawson said. "If you can't do that, you try to live under the luxury tax (because of) the restrictions. This enabled us to get under the luxury tax and enabled us to get Jim Jackson."
Los Angeles Clippers: Quentin Richardson is only 23 years old, but for a Clipper, that's a lifetime. "This is my chance to forget about last year, forget about the injuries, forget about us not fulfilling expectations," Richardson said in the Orange County Register. "Now is the time to get that out of our system, start over and do better. It's funny, and I even hate to say it but at 23 I definitely feel like I'm one of the veterans,'' Richardson said. "But that's from games played and minutes played here. I'm definitely one of the more game-tested and experienced guys on the team.''
Outlaw
Phoenix Suns: The Arizona republic is reporting that the Phoenix Suns have traded center Jake Tsakalidis and forward Bo Outlaw to the Memphis Grizzlies for guard Brevin Knight, center Cezary Trybanski and forward Robert Archibald. The paper reports that the deal was done for financial reasons with both Tsakalidis and Outlaw having two years on their contracts while Knight, Trybanski and Archibald all having only one.
Philadelphia 76ers: The Sixers took care of Allen Iverson this off season and now they're working on Eric Snow. "I'm fairly optimistic we can wrap this up this week," Steve Kauffman, Snow's agent, said in the Philadelphia Daily News. "We've been talking for a while." The new deal is expected to be for three years at $18 million.
Suter will have surgery on knee
Rick Snider / Washington Times
Richardson: Time to step up
Art Thompson III / Orange County Register
Suns send Tsakalidis, Outlaw to Memphis
Bob Young / Arizona Republic
Team Backs Off Some on Extension for Shaq
Tim Brown / Los Angeles Times
Agent: Snow near extension
Phil Jasner / Philadelphia Daily News
Rice shipped to Jazz; shooter Jackson signs
Jonathan Feigen / Houston Chronicle
ESPN NBA Insider - 10/2/03
Carter prepared to make statement
By Chad Ford
NBA Insider
Send an Email to Chad Ford Thursday, October 2
Updated: October 2
2:16 PM ET
Life is short. And the career of an NBA superstar can be even shorter.
One minute you're dunking in a Gatorade commercial. The next you're on a trainer's table wondering when the free fall will stop.
For Vince Carter, a jumper's knee kept Air Canada grounded most of the year. For Alonzo Mourning, his sudden career detour took the form of a dangerous kidney ailment. And for Andre Miller, one year with the Clippers seemingly poisoned a promising career.
This year, 13 players are looking for an inspiring comeback. The rehab is finished. The scenery has changed. The new head coach turns out to be a friend instead of foe.
Redemption could be just a few weeks away ...
Vince Carter, G/F, Raptors -- Vince Carter knows you've taken down the posters. The fatal comparisons to Michael Jordan have long since been drowned out by the haters who scream overrated and soft wherever he goes. Carter has no friends, just memories of what was and what was supposed to be. Two seasons of injuries have left the Raptors destitute and Carter's image tarnished. An impressive showing at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico has done little to silence the critics. He knows that the key to his career, and your adoration, comes on the court. It comes with playing time, consistency, fire and ultimately a serious run in the playoffs. The fire, Carter contends, is ignited. The knees, he argues, are ready to push him into flight. The wins, he declares, are going to come. If he's right, the Raptors' fortunes will reappear. If it's just talk, then Carter's career and the Raptors' playoff hopes were nothing but a mirage to begin with.
Alonzo Mourning, C, Nets -- Call him LaZOrus. Mourning's career has been dead twice now, only to miraculously resurrect when all hope had died along with it. After three tumultuous on-again off-again years with the Heat, Zo spurned Pat Riley and Mark Cuban to join Jason Kidd in New Jersey. Zo's presence in New Jersey will be appreciated whether he ever plays a game or not. With him, the Nets have the best inside outside tandem this side of the Lakers. If he stays healthy (doctors are insisting he is) and returns to form, the Nets will dominate. If he can't last the season, his courageous comeback won't be for naught. Without him, Kidd looked ready to bolt New Jersey, and without Kidd, no amount of miracles could have saved the Nets from dying a premature death.
Andre Miller, G, Nuggets -- Once tabbed as the best young point guard in the league, Miller came down with the most fatal of all NBA related injuries last season -- Clipperitis. The malady sapped Miller of all will to live, took away his court vision, and left him wandering aimlessly around the Staples Center looking for the ball and his jump shot. Miller's decision to bolt L.A. was a no brainer. His decision to come to Denver, however, was quite a shocker. From all outside appearances, the Jazz and their structured offensive system were a better fit. But Miller wanted to shun the familiar and go to a place where the expectations on him, and his team, were muted. In Denver, Miller should return to the form that made him such a coveted commodity in Cleveland. The team is young, unselfish and will push the ball at a relentless pace. If a few of Miller's teammates can finish, he should be back up to his 10 apg average.
Mike Bibby, G, Kings -- Statistically, Bibby had one of the best seasons of his career. But after a stellar performance in the 2002 playoffs and a huge contract extension, the Kings expected Bibby to become the heart and soul of the team. An early injury seemed to keep Bibby from regaining the form that led the Kings to the brink of the NBA Finals. His defense and leadership skills never developed and the Kings were left with a good, but not great, point guard running the show. If Bibby can get it going early, and regain the confidence he once had, there's no reason why he couldn't score 18 points and had out six assists per game.
Antonio McDyess, F, Knicks -- The good news is that the Knicks finally addressed their future and got a promising young player, Michael Sweetney, to play the four should McDyess fail to emerge from rehab hell this season. The bad news is that the early indications are that the Knicks will have to use him. McDyess' rehab is going slowly and no one on the Knicks knows for sure if or when McDyess will be returning. If he does, he has the potential to put up monster numbers in the vertically challenged East. Given that McDyess is in a contract year, he has the motivation. But at 29 years old, will he have the explosiveness that defined his career in Denver?
Marcus Camby, C, Nuggets -- Stop laughing for a second while I dream about a healthy Camby. Yes, we all know he's a splinter away from spending the year on the injured list, but maybe, just maybe, this is the year that the stars align for Camby. By all accounts he's healthy, stronger and in the best shape of his career. He'll have plenty of opportunities to score on the offensively challenged Nuggets, and the last time Camby was in a contract year, he had a breakout season. Just please don't wake me up when he decides to have season ending surgery on that stubbed toe.
Raef LaFrentz, F/C, Mavs -- A mere 18 months ago, LaFrentz was one of the most coveted young big men in the game. Sixty million dollars and a miserable season in Dallas later, he's an untouchable. The Mavs tried hard to move the big fella for a tough guy to man the paint, but no one would get near him. That may prove to be a mistake. LaFrentz is a good shooter and a serious high-post threat on most teams. But on a team filled with shooters, he was often the odd man out. He's vowed to come back stronger and more defensive minded. If he does, he could be the Mavs' best, and only, option in the paint.
Quentin Richardson, G, Clippers -- By the end of the 2002 regular season, Richardson was a legit sixth man of the year candidate with his 3-point shooting and rebounding prowess. By the end of the 2003 regular season, Richardson was an afterthought on a bad Clippers team. He lost his shot, his minutes and his confidence along the way. Now with the backcourt considerably thinned out (Andre Miller and Eric Piatkowski are gone, Corey Maggette will move to small forward) Richardson has golden opportunity to be the Clips starting two guard. He's been working out in Chicago all summer and seems to have found his stroke and his confidence again. It couldn't come at a better time. If Q doesn't come through, his chances of getting big money in restricted free agency next summer are nil.
Austin Croshere, F, Pacers -- After a promising performance in the Finals versus the Lakers three seasons ago, Croshere looked like he was on the verge of stardom. A huge contract, a hostile coach and three years not only erased the promise, it almost erased all hope for Croshere's career. Then a miracle happened. The two guys who believed in him, Larry Bird and Rick Carlisle, both came back to Indiana. Croshere will no longer be an afterthought on the Pacers. While there still appears to be a logjam at the forward position, look for Croshere to get consistent, meaningful minutes (and numbers) in Indiana this year.
Ron Mercer, G/F, Spurs -- Remember when Rick Pitino was so convinced that Mercer, in his third season with the Celtics, was going to be a max player that he traded him for Danny Fortson? Pitino worried that the Celtics couldn't afford him. Oh, how times have changed. Mercer's career has been on the down low since he was shipped out of Boston. A few years in Chicago trying to be the man didn't help his image around the league and he became a forgotten man on the Pacers last season. Things are about to change. Mercer is now looking at meaningful minutes on a championship contender. Although Mercer does nothing extraordinary, Tim Duncan has a way of turning ordinary players into good ones (Are you listening Stephen Jackson?). My guess is all of those wide open jumpers will put Mercer back on the map this season.
Danny Fortson, F, Mavs -- While we're on memory lane, who remembers when Fortson was one of the top three rebounders in the league? It wasn't that long ago. Last year's disaster struck when a new coach, and a much improved Troy Murphy, pushed Fortson from rebounding heaven to the end of the bench. In Dallas he has the chance to return to form. The Mavs need Fortson's toughness and rebounding in the worst way. If he keeps his head on straight, and stays away from those hideous fall-away jumpers, there is no reason why he couldn't be the Mavs' leading rebounder this season.
Marc Jackson, C, 76ers -- Three seasons ago, Jackson was a serious candidate for Rookie of the Year honors. Then came a contract dispute with the Warriors and two seasons coming off the bench in Minnesota. Now with a move to the center-depleted East, Jackson has a chance to shine again. The Sixers really have no one else at center (I refuse to label Derrick Coleman a center), which means that Jackson should finally get the minutes and touches he needs to be a serious center in the league.
Elden Campbell, C, Pistons -- Campbell had finally shed the label of "serviceable" just before a disastrous 2002-03 campaign saw him get injured, lose his starting job and ultimately get traded to Seattle. In Detroit, he won't be asked to carry much of the load, but offensively, he, along with Mehmet Okur, is the team's best answer in the paint. Larry Brown wants to get his big men involved on the offensive end and Campbell, now healthy and focused, could be the recipient.
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