ESPN NBA Insider 10/31/05: Bucks now loaded at center

Updated: Oct. 26, 2005, 3:19 PM ET Bucks now loaded at center   By John Hollinger ESPN Insider   호넷츠가 리빌딩의 개념이 완벽히 잡혔는지 확신할 수가 없다. 통상적인 생각은 당신의 늙은 선수들을 내보내는 것이고, 젊은 선수들이 아니란 이야기다. 하지만 현재 그들은 자말 매글로어와 배런 데이비스를 모두 내보냈고 여전히 끈덕지게 P.J. 브라운과 죠지 린치에 기대어왔다. 한번 보자. 최소 메이슨은 도움이 될 것이다. 호넷츠는 스몰 포워드에 목매왔으니까 -- 보스챤 나크바와 라슈얼 버틀러는 Yakima의 스타팅으로선 문제가 있을 것이지만 이 둘 중 하나는 샬럿/뉴올리언즈/배턴루지/오클라호마시티/라스베이거스의 스타팅으로 나설 참이었다. 그들은 또한 매글로어에 대체할 센터도 가지고 있고 나로 하여금 크리스 앤더슨에 판타지를 몰아줄 공간을 만들어줬다.   벅스 측에서 보자면, 이 스몰-마켓 팀이 이제는 세명의 센터에 거의 $80 million에 육박하는 계약을 가지고 있다 . - 이런 그들이 누구라 생각할 수 있을까, 닉스? 이번 딜로 장래 언젠가 댄 개쥬릭과 그의 빛나는 $36 million 새 계약이 트레이드될 것을 예상해볼 수 있다. 그렇지만, 개쥬릭은 여전히 매글로어의 뒤에서 시간을 얻을 수 있다. 벅스가 앤드류 보거트를 파워 포워드로 기용하다면 말이다. 그리고 지금 그래 보인다.   이번 이동은 또한 다음을 시사한다. 즉 밀워키가 꿈꿨던 스몰볼 어택이 소득을 얻지 못했다는 것이다. 밀워키는 프리시즌에서 바비 시먼스와 메이슨을 포워드 자리들에 기용하는 시도를 했으나 이런 배치로는 너무나 언더사이즈였기에 수비에 곤란을 겪었다.. 메이슨이 떠났기 때문에 바비 시먼스는 그의 평소 포지션인 스몰 포워드로 갈 것이고 벅스의 퍼리머터 스타퍼가 될 것이다.   드물게도, 이번 딜은 눈에 띄는 계약 암시가 없었다. 왜냐하면 매글로어와 메이슨의 계약들은 거의 동일했기 때문이다 - 둘다 2007년에 프리에이젼트다. 밀워키로부터 받은 드래프트 픽은 어느정도 가치가 있을 것이며(로터리-보호는 아니기에) 그리고 10번대 말 순위를 넘진 않을 것이다. 하지만 다른면으로 보자면 다음 해의 드래프트는 새로운 나이 제한으로 매우 취약할 가능성이 있다. 결국, 빈곤한 호넷츠에 대해 생각해볼 수밖에 없는 가장 중요한 사안들은 a) 밀워키가 딜에 포함시켰던 현금과 b) 오클라호마 주립대 출신 메이슨을 미끼로 오클라호마 시티에서 티켓을 파는 것 뿐이었다. 메이슨이 눈에 띄는 약점에 대처해 나갈 것이기 때문에 메이슨을 추가한 것은 이번 시즌 호넷츠에게 적으나마 승리를 추가할 것이다. 하지만 장기적인 관점에서 보면 호넷츠보다는 벅스가 이번 딜에 좋아하게 될 가능성이 크다.     NBA Rumor Central: Dealing Doleac? Monday, October 31 Dealing Doleac? Oct 31 - Since the Heat are stacked at the center position with Shaq, Alonzo Mourning and rookie Earl Barron, it's a possibility that the team will trade Michael Doleac, the Miami Herald reports. A potential destination is Atlanta, which needs big man help after the sudden death of Jason Collier. Because the Hawks are under the salary cap, they can acquire Doleac, who is in the second year of a four-year, $11 million contract, without having to return a player to the Heat. They would probably offer a second-round draft pick. Friday, October 28 Knicks Who's the one? Oct 28 - Will Stephon Marbury be the Knicks' starting point guard on opening day? Will he even start? Larry Brown isn't giving anything away. But with Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson as his other options, Brown is definitely interested in acquiring a veteran point guard, the Daily News reports. Said Brown: "It wouldn't hurt to have another more experienced guard back there."   Wednesday, October 26 Miles to Manhattan? Oct 26 - The Blazers and Knicks continue to talk trade scenarios. The Knicks want either Ruben Patterson or Darius Miles. The Blazers want expiring contracts in return. But the Knicks are offering Malik Rose, the New York Daily News reports. Moving Malik Oct 25 - As usual, the Knicks have too many power forwards. So this time, Malik Rose appears to be on the trading block. According to the Chicago Tribune, word is that the Knicks have been talking to the Trail Blazers, who are in desperate need fof some veteran leadership, about a trade. Does Banks make sense for C's? Oct 25 - It doesn't sound like Marcus Banks has a future with the Celtics. Sources insist the team will not pick up the point guard's option for the 2006-07 season, the Boston Herald reports, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The Celts have until October 31 to exercise the option. Thursday, October 20 Pay day for Nene? Oct 20 - According to the Rocky Mountain News, it doesn't look likely that the Nuggets will lock up Nene by Oct. 31, making the power forward a restricted free agent next summer. The team appears cautious in giving him a big contract because that would put them in luxury tax territory next season or in 2007-08, when Carmelo Anthony is due for a big raise. "They could be in a situation in which they're stuck unless they traded Nene or they made some trades for expiring contracts," said Dan Rosenbaum, a salary-cap expert. Nene is believed to be seeking a deal similar to the six-year, $64 million contract Sixers center Samuel Dalembert received. Monday, October 17 Curry's contract Oct 17 - According to the New York Post, the Knicks are making steps toward getting Curry's six-year, $60 million contract insured. "My understanding is they were very close to getting insurance," Dr. David Cannom, a heart specialist who examined Curry, told The Post. Friday, October 14 Reeling in Ratliff Oct 14 - With no strong defensive presence on the team, the Knicks have intensified their full court press to pry Theo Ratliff from the Blazers, the New York Post reports. Thursday, October 13 Smush to start? Oct 13 - The Lakers are still trying to figure out who their fifth starter will be, the Los Angeles Times reports. It could be Smush Parker, who started the Lakers' first exhibition game. Or it could be Aaron McKie, who started Wednesday's exhibition game. Neither has much experience in running the triangle offense. Said coach Phil Jackson: "There's absolutely nothing that we can put our money on right now," Jackson said. "Obviously, Aaron is somebody with experience who has the ability to step into that position. ... We'll be watching that position and we'll be starting different people and putting different people with that unit the whole time." Thursday, October 6 Losing Lynch Oct 6 - According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Hornets forward George Lynch requested a trade and has been banned from training camp. Said coach Byron Scott: "George has made it clear that he wants to be traded, and we made it clear that we want to trade him. So that's not like something new. We want to try and get rid of him, try to make him happy. As far as I'm concerned, if a player doesn't want to be here, I don't want him here."   - 이하 원문 -   Bucks now loaded at center Insider Hollinger By John Hollinger ESPN Insider Archive I'm not sure the Hornets totally get the concept of rebuilding. The idea is to trade your old players, not your young ones. Yet they now have dealt both Jamaal Magloire and Baron Davis while steadfastly clinging to P.J. Brown and George Lynch. Go figure. At least Mason will help, because the Hornets were desperate at small forward -- Bostjan Nachbar and Rasual Butler would have trouble starting for Yakima, but one of the two was going to start for Charlotte/New Orleans/Baton Rouge/Oklahoma City/Las Vegas. They also have a capable replacement at center for Magloire make some room for me on the Chris Andersen fantasy bandwagon. From the Bucks' side, the small-market club now has nearly $80 million in contracts committed to three centers -- who do they think they are, the Knicks? This deal would seem to portend the trade of Dan Gadzuric and his shiny new $36 million deal somewhere down the road -- perhaps at the next exit. However, Gadzuric still may be able to earn minutes behind Magloire if the Bucks play Andrew Bogut at power forward, as now seems likely. This move also signifies that Milwaukee's hoped-for smallball attack wasn't reaping dividends. Milwaukee tried playing Bobby Simmons and Mason at the forward spots in the preseason but had trouble defending with that alignment because it was so undersized. With Mason gone, Bobby Simmons can move back to his normal position at small forward and become the Bucks' perimeter stopper. In a rarity, this deal had virtually no contract implications because Magloire's and Mason's deals were nearly identical both are free agents in 2007. The draft pick from Milwaukee has some value (should it not be lottery-protected) and shouldn't be any later than the high teens, but on the other hand this year's draft is likely to be very weak due to the new age restrictions. Overall, one can't help but thinking the most important considerations for the frugal Hornets were a) the cash Milwaukee included in the deal and b) the lure of Oklahoma State grad Mason for selling tickets in Oklahoma City. Adding Mason might even add a few wins for the Hornets this year because he addresses a glaring weakness, but long term it's a lot easier to be excited about this deal for the Bucks than it is for the Hornets. John Hollinger, author of "Pro Basketball Forecast 2006-06," is a regular contributor to ESPN Insider.