Tag: NBA

Knick the Quick.

Word is from Frank Isola that the Knicks are Warriors are discussing a trade that would bring Nick Van Exel to NY. As y’all know, I’ve been really down on this incarnation of the Knickerbockers, particularly with Spree gone for (ugh) Van Horn. But this proposed trade – Van Exel for Thomas and Ward – might turn me around right quick. To my mind, Nick Van Exel is the clutchest guy in the league. There’s nobody – nobody – I’d rather have shooting a last-second fadeaway 3 to win the game. Look at the playoffs last year – he single-handedly willed the Mavs past Portland and Sacramento. Dallas were idiots to trade him…At any rate, I very much hope this goes through – it sounds like such a great trade for NY that I have my doubts.

The Sprewell Era Ends.


ESPN is reporting as breaking news that the Knicks have basically traded Sprewell for Keith Van Horn in a 4-player deal (Latrell goes to the T-Wolves, Terrell Brandon goes to the Hawks, Glenn Robinson goes to the Sixers.) While this emphatically makes Minnesota a better team (particularly with Sam Cassell and Michael Olowokandi also joining KG), I can’t say I’m very happy about what’s happened to the Knickerbockers. Spree was the only high-octane guy on a team of one-dimensional choke artists…it’s going to be really hard to root for a team fronted by Van Horn and Houston.

Pressure Defense.

“When I hear that a professional athlete is being charged with rape, my first thought isn’t that he’s the victim. Nor do I immediately envision some sort of vexing vixen preying on poor unsuspecting millionaire athletes in a hotel lobby. No, my first thought is to fear that a horrible crime has occurred … and to hope that I’m wrong. And, yes, that’s my first thought no matter how well I ‘know’ the athlete — whether that athlete is a ‘thug’ like (fill-in-the-blank with your NBA bad boy of choice), or a ‘solid citizen’ like Ray Allen or Kobe Bryant.” I haven’t said much about the Kobe case around here, and that’ll probably continue — It looks like it’s already degenerating into an ugly he-said-she-said type of case, with Kobe’s lawyers trying their damnedest to destroy the accuser’s credibility. I will say this, though: I agree with this column about the borderline-misogynist way sportscasters have been covering the case so far, and, legal presumption of innocence aside, I for one do think he’s guilty. In his scripted television denial, Kobe couldn’t even look at the camera (or at anybody but down) when he twice proclaimed his innocence. This is not the body language of an innocent man.

Hired Guns.

Free agent signing began in the NBA today, and it’s already dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria. As per usual, talented ballers are fleeing en masse from the Clippers, with Elton Brand signing in Miami, Corey Maggette going for Utah, and Andre Miller heading for Denver. (The Clips can possibly stave off the defection by matching the new contracts.) Elsewhere, Juwan went to Orlando, Nesterovic to San Antonio, and Kandi Man to the Wolves. (So far, as New Yorkers feared, the Knicks haven’t picked up anybody.) And, of course, the Mailman and the Glove’s Faustian bargain with the Lake Show has now been signed, sealed, and delivered…