from ESPN Insider: Peja, others seek trades

thedofd · Sep 9, 2004

Yes, it's Chad Ford again. Nothing new here, but FYI.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1877829&type=story

Will Peja, Baron and Shareef get their trades

Chad Ford, ESPN Insider, 9-9-04

The summer of 2004 will forever be remembered for a number of things. More than 100 players changed teams this offseason. In the process, NBA free agents garnered an unprecedented billion-plus dollars in contracts from owners who claim they have no money. Our U.S. Olympic team failed to get the gold for the first time since Team USA began using NBA players. Kobe Bryant <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3118>'s long legal saga finally came to end.

But for my money nothing will have a bigger impact on the 2004-05 season than the trade demands of two NBA superstars. When Tracy McGrady <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3179> told the Magic in June that he would opt out of his contract at the end of the season if the Magic didn't trade him and when Shaquille O'Neal <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=847> threatened after the Finals to bolt the Lakers at the end of the season if he wasn't moved … the wheels of change began turning.

This was the summer of the trade demand. NBA superstars fed up with losing, constant personnel changes, team chemistry problems or just looking for some more cash began screaming that they wouldn't take it anymore. NBA owners and GMs, frightened by the prospect of a growing P.R. disaster, capitulated.

Neither the Magic nor the Lakers got full value for their superstars. Teams rarely do when a superstar demands a trade.

The Magic traded away arguably the best wing in the NBA for a point guard coming off the worst season in his career, an undersized two guard who shot 42 percent from the field and an overpaid big guy who averaged a whopping six points and six rebounds a game.

The Lakers got back more, but was it enough? GM Mitch Kupchak shipped out the most dominant big man in the game by a mile and got back an aging center with bad knees, a budding, versatile wing and a second-year small forward coming off a disastrous injury-filled season. Lamar Odom <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3327> and Caron Butler <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3608> might both prove to be all-stars down the road, but will they ever equal Shaq?

T-Mac and Shaq's trade demands, coupled with their teams' willingness to accommodate them, opened the floodgates. Several other players, including Kenyon Martin <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3400> (in a sign-and-trade), Al Harrington <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3268>, Jason Terry <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3333> and Dikembe Mutombo <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=425>, have been granted their trade wishes.

A number of other top players throughout the league, including Peja Stojakovic <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3119>, Jason Kidd <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=2625>, Baron Davis <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3326>, Vince Carter <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3248>, Shareef Abdur-Rahim <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3098> and Gary Payton <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=259>, have also demanded, in one form or another, a trade this summer if their various requests were not met.

What gives? Agents are asking their players if they are happy where they're at for the next six or seven years. With a new collective bargaining agreement being negotiated, there's a good chance that the rules regarding unrestricted free agency and trades will become more restrictive. If player wants out of a situation, now is the time to make it happen. It might be much harder to change teams after next summer.

T-Mac and Shaq both understood this, which is partly why they wanted out now -- before their respective teams had a chance to prove to them that they could turn it around. The reasons vary for the rest of the group. Some want more playing time. Others don't like their teammates. A few more are concerned about the direction their team is heading.

With less than a month to go before training camps, will any of the players with outstanding trade demands get their wish? Insider breaks it down.

Peja Stojakovic, SF, Kings
What's the beef? Stojakovic <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3119> is still fuming over Chris Webber <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=1272>'s tirade after the Kings lost in the playoffs. For most of the season, Stojakovic was a legit MVP candidate as Webber sat on the bench nursing a sore knee. When CWebb returned, the Kings free-flowing offense ground to a halt, the chemistry the team had enjoyed all season disappeared and Stojakovic's numbers, especially in the playoffs, plummeted. Webber insinuated afterward that Stojakovic and Vlade Divac <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=84> weren't hard workers (a ludicrous claim coming from a guy who's constantly hurt). Within weeks the Kings decided not to re-sign Divac, Stojakovic's mentor, instead giving more money to Greg Ostertag <http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3030>. From there, Stojakovic had enough and asked the Maloof brothers to trade him.
Will he be traded? It doesn't look like it. Stojakovic talked with the Maloof brothers by phone two weeks ago and they told him they had no intention of trading him. Stojakovic's agent, SFX's David Bauman, told Insider on Wednesday that Peja isn't going to force the matter. "He has two more years left on his contract and he's going to honor them," Bauman told Insider. "He still hopes that the Kings will listen to him and grant his wish, but he understands this is a business. Sometimes players and teams just need a change. Peja loves the Kings and wouldn't mind finishing his career there if other changes were made." While Bauman wouldn't get into it, it's clear that those "other changes" mean the Kings dumping CWebb -- something that's almost impossible given the four years, $78 million still left on Webber's contract. A number of teams, including the Pacers and Suns, have made pitches for Stojakovic but the Kings aren't budging. Stojakovic is one of the great bargains in the NBA and the team's best shooter. If team chemistry continues to disintegrate during the season, then the Kings might look more seriously at a trade, but right now they feel like this issue can be worked out.

The rest deals with other players and is too long to post

bibbyweb · Sep 9, 2004

thedofd said:

This guy is really great. Nice way to blame everything on Webber including Peja's performance in the playoffs which is an annual feature. also he just discounts the fact that Vlade had become really old and really slow. And it was indeed time to move him.

this man can sure write a lot of crap.

bibbyweb · Sep 9, 2004

Another thing that i find funny is about the chemistry of the Kings suddenly changing. People are talking as if this is the first time that the Webber is playing with the rest of the team.

I agree that the way team played changed a lot after Webber came back, but how can the team chemistry go so bad between people who have played together for years?

PT Cruiser 9ROC · Sep 9, 2004

bibbyweb said:

For further information, see "Lakers"

AleksandarN · Sep 9, 2004

Here is the rest of the article

Jason Kidd, PG, Nets

What's the beef? When Kidd signed a six-year contract with the Nets last summer, the team was on the verge of an NBA championship. Alonzo Mourning, who signed alongside Kidd, was supposed to be the missing piece of the puzzle. Since then it's all gone downhill for Kidd and the Nets. Mourning's kidney disease got worse, forcing him to undergo a transplant. Kidd's knee broke down, causing him to have micro fracture surgery this summer and the Nets, under new ownership, decided they could no longer afford their second-best player, Kenyon Martin. They traded him for three future first-round picks. Once the team also dumped starting two guard Kerry Kittles, a furious Kidd flew to New Jersey and told the team that if things didn't change, he'd like a new home.

Will he be traded? Not right away. Kidd's agent, Jeff Schwartz, told Insider that Kidd hasn't formally demanded a trade. Instead he's registered his concern with the direction of the team. However, GM Rod Thorn's hands are tied and it actually makes sense for the Nets to accommodate Kidd's request. The two teams on the top of Kidd's list, the Lakers and the Mavericks, are interested if Kidd can prove that he's completely healed from his knee surgery. Kidd is rehabbing right now, but the general consensus is that he'll miss training camp and possibly the month of November. If he stays healthy and looks like the old Kidd, look for the Nets to cut a deal closer to the February trade deadline.

Baron Davis, PG, Hornets

What's the beef? Who knows? Davis stunned the Hornets last week with his trade demand. His agent, Todd Ramasar, claims that Davis is upset with the direction of the team, and wants to play in a place where he has a chance to win a title. With the Hornets moving West, the chances of the team doing it for the next several years is slim. Davis and Ramasar are also upset about the huge number of minutes Davis has to play there. He played the eighth-most minutes of anyone in the league last season. Given a history of knee and acl problems, that doesn't bode well for a nice, long career. Davis was also upset that the two players he was closest to on the team, Stacey Augmon and Courtney Alexander, were let go.

Will he be traded? Probably not. The team has been building around Davis and Jamaal Magloire and know that they can't get equal value in return. Hornets officials have been adamant both publicly and privately that they aren't trading him. They believe that this year's draft pick, J.R. Smith, has the potential to be a superstar and will be a nice partner to Davis in the backcourt. Davis' concerns are petty compared to most of the players on the list. He can complain about his minutes, but he didn't complain when he signed that max extension two years ago. Max players are expected to produce the type of numbers and minutes that Davis does. Neither Augmon or Alexander were key players on the team and as far as moving to the West goes, he's in the same boat with half the teams in the league. If the Hornets do trade him, it's because he has been unable to lead this team anywhere the past few years -- not because he demanded a trade.

Vince Carter, SG, Raptors

What's the beef? While Carter has never publicly demanded a trade, privately he's told everyone that will listen that he wants out if serious changes to the roster (which failed to happen this summer) weren't made. When Carter signed his extension with the Raptors, the team appeared to be on the verge of competing for an Eastern Conference championship. The team has been a disaster the past few years and a big shake-up at the top this summer didn't produce the management team or free agents the Carter was hoping for. This has been a long time coming. Carter has been eyeing a bigger stage to show his stuff off for years. His public flirting with the Knicks this summer should come as no surprise.

Will he be traded? The Raptors have tried. They've been in a number of discussions with teams, but despite a number of hot rumors this summer (Carter to the Knicks? Mavs? Hornets?) nothing has been close. The Raptors have their own questions about his durability and leadership, but the bottom line is that Carter puts fans in the seats. There are few NBA stars left who can do that and none of them are currently on the trading block. If the Raptors season is another disaster (it's shaping up that way) Carter will try to tighten the screws. But unless someone agrees to a fair offer for Carter, it looks like he's stuck in Canada for a little while longer.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim, PF, Blazers

What's the beef? Abdur-Rahim has been a starter his entire career. However last season, after a mid-season trade to the Blazers, head coach Maurice Cheeks decided to bring him off the bench. The Blazers believe that Zach Randolph is better at the four and last year Cheeks preferred Darius Miles to Reef at the three. At the end of the season, GM John Nash told Reef they'd try to trade him, but they've been underwhelmed with the offers for him. Cheeks, trying to mend fences, promised Reef the starting small forward job, but Reef claims he's a four and doesn't want to take Miles' job. In July his frustration spilled over and he not only demanded a trade, but threatened not to show up to training camp if he was still on the roster.

Will he be traded? Things don't look too good for Reef. The Blazers were very close to pulling the trigger on a deal a few weeks ago that would have sent Reef to the Timberwolves for Wally Szczerbiak. However, Randolph's little brush with the law caused them to pull back and reassess, essentially killing the deal. Abdur Rahim's agent, Aaron Goodwin claims that Abdur-Rahim may have no choice but to play for the Blazers next season. The team prefers to clear his $14.6 million salary off the cap next summer when he becomes a free agent. "We've made a number of attempts to work out a trades that worked for Shareef and the Blazers," Goodwin told Insider. "They turned down two very good deals which says to me that they aren't trading him. I think the writing is on the wall. I don't think they're willing to trade him." Does that mean that Reef will change his position and report to camp. "I don't know that," Goodwin said. "He's always been a consummate professional during his career in the NBA and doesn't want to jeopardize that. At the same time, I think it's clear that it would be better for both Shareef and the Blazers to work out a trade. We're still hoping, but things don't look good right now."

Gary Payton, PG, Celtics

What's the beef? Payton signed with the Lakers for below market value last season in an effort to win an elusive championship. After a disappointing season of turmoil with the Lakers, Payton agreed not to opt out of his contract after his agent, Goodwin, had a talk with GM Mitch Kupchak. According to Goodwin, Kupchak told Goodwin that the Lakers still wanted Payton around and that things would be better this season with coach Rudy Tomjanovich on board. Shortly after Payton decided not to opt out, the Lakers traded him to the Celtics -- a team with virtually no shot at winning a championship. Payton was furious. "I'll quit. I can go on and do something else. . .I ain't going to move my family no more. I can't take my family to Boston. It ain't no disrespect to Boston. . . Boston is going to lose out on this. They ain't going to get nothing.''

Will he be traded? The Celtics are waiting patiently. Payton still hasn't informed the Celtics what he's going to do. He hasn't demanded a trade, nor has he told him that he'll report to camp. "I don't know," Goodwin told Insider. "He's still upset and if you know Gary, you know there's no point in trying to convince him of something when he's hot. We're all just waiting for him to cool down. This has nothing to do with the Celtics. It has to do with the fact that Gary gave up an opportunity to play in his hometown (with the Warriors) to honor a commitment to the Lakers. He feels betrayed." Payton is due $5.4 million this year and can then become an unrestricted free agent again next summer. The Celtics want him and feel he could put up great numbers this season. But if he really doesn't want to come, look for the Celtics to talk to the Heat, Rockets and possibly the Clippers about a swap for Payton.

AleksandarN · Sep 9, 2004

Around the League

----Speaking of trade demands, another couple of them may be forthcoming soon. The Sonics and Ray Allen are reportedly pretty far apart on their negotiations for Allen. Allen is looking for a contract that pays him around $100 million for six years. The Sonics are looking for something in the $70 million range. That's a pretty big gap. Both sides are still talking, but given Allen's uneasy relationship with coach Nate McMillan and the fiscal situation of the Sonics -- is a trade inevitable?

----Allen may not be the only Sonic looking for a new home soon. Insider has learned that Vladimir Radmanovic's agent sent a contract extension proposal to the Sonics two weeks ago asking for "near max" dollars. If the Sonics are reluctant to pay Allen that kind of money, you can imagine their reaction to that. The Sonics have rebuffed a number of trade offers for Radmanovic this summer and have told him that they want him back. But at those numbers?

----It looks like Karl Malone has decided to play another season. Several NBA sources claim that he's been actively talking to teams about a return. The question is where. The Lakers, Spurs, Heat and Timberwolves appear to be the front runners for Malone's services, but so far he hasn't indicated to any of the four teams which way he is leaning. Of the four, the Spurs have made the biggest push for Malone as of late and he's intrigued.

----The Sixers bought out the final four years of Greg Buckner's disastrous contract on Wednesday. Bucker was due $13 million over the course of those four years. According to reports, Buckner got around $8 million of the $13 million he had left on his contract. He averaged 13.3 mpg and 3.1 ppg for the Sixers last season. Look for him to land with the Nuggets, who have been actively combing the market for a back-up two guard to put behind Voshon Lenard.

Rumor Central

Allen, Sonics $30M apart?

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Ray Allen
Sonics

Sonics

Sep. 9 - Depending on what report you take to heart, Allen's camp is either seeking a $100 million deal over a five-year contract extension -- about $30 million more than the Sonics are offering -- or neither side has submitted a proposal yet.
The Sept. 8 Tacoma News Tribune is the source of the Allen seeks $100M report; the next day, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported, citing multiple sources it did not name, that neither Allen nor team management has made a proposal. Neither Allen nor Sonics GM Rick Sund was available for comment.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Karl Malone
Lakers

Timberwolves
Lakers
Spurs
Heat

Sep. 9 - According to a Sept. 8 report out of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Timberwolves have joined The Mailman Sweepstakes. Coach Flip Saunders and Kevin Garnett reportedly will fly to Los Angeles to try to persuade Malone to defect from the Lakers and join the Timberwolves.
The Heat and Spurs reportedly have tried to woo Malone, who had been contemplating retirement. The Lakers are hoping he will return to them, even in light of the departures of Shaquille O'Neal and Gary Payton.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Peja Stojakovic
Kings

Kings

Sep. 9 - Stojakovic, steaming after published criticism from teammate Chris Webber and the defection of close friend Vlade Divac, has calmed down and is not pressing his trade demand.
Stojakovic's agent told NBA Insider Chad Ford Sept. 8 that, after speaking with Kings owners the Maloof brothers, the sharpshooter knows the team has no intention of trading him.

That leaves Peja looking at two more years in Sacramento with Webber. But the agent indicates his client would love to extend his contract with the Kings, if "other changes were made." But Webber's contract is too heavy to move

Superman · Sep 9, 2004

Chris Webber pointedly said: "Peja is a hard worker."

I don't understand this.

JSin · Sep 9, 2004

Superman said:

He said that after the contoversy. It's very likely that those weren't his original feelings, but nobody will ever know. But to act like the issue is dead simply because Chris said Peja is a hard worker, is silly.

Kingsgurl · Sep 9, 2004

Yes, that's silly. Whatever else will we talk about if the Chris/Peja controversy dies down

It should be perpetrated at all costs

monk · Sep 9, 2004

Kingsgurl said:

Perpetrated?

uolj · Sep 9, 2004

If Webber stated clearly that "Peja is a hard worker," in an attempt to clarify his earlier remarks, then the comment from the article is either incomplete or inaccurate. I understand he has only so many words to get his point across, but it makes a pretty poor point when that is all you leave out there. This is especially true given his next comment:

Webber is not a hard worker because he gets hurt a lot?

That doesn't mean the issue is dead, it just means the columnist's comments were off the mark.

G_M · Sep 9, 2004

monk said:

Perpetuated?

Anyway, I think Webber's issue with Peja has more to do with him being "soft." Remember the whole "warrior" mentality tirade two years ago. Although, who really knows what Webber means!

Evenstar · Sep 9, 2004

oooo this is awesome!!!! i'm glad he feels better and wants to stay a king.

GO PEJA!!

4cwebb · Sep 9, 2004

uolj said:

Beat me to the punch of the comment above. Chad's little sentence doesn't fit together logically. Just because a guy is injured doesn't mean he doesn't work hard, not to mention that the converse is true -- hard workers don't get injured. Wouldn't an editor pick this up?

bibbyweb · Sep 9, 2004

PT Cruiser 9ROC said:

Well the problems with Kobe and Shaq were always there. And what I meant by how it could go bad so soon is that just his getting back couldn't have been the reason for the chemistry going bad. Blaming Vlade's departure is not right either. It was always on the cards the moment Brad Miller landed in Sac and over the season everyone could see how slow he was getting. Peja was mad at letting Vlade go anyway.

Later people come up with the chemistry not being right the last season. Maybe the chemistry is not good right now. But last season it wasn't really a problem or atleast wasn't mentioned till the whole Vlade episode. So all the chemistry not good thing is just a supposition and not a verified fact.

ReinadelosReys · Sep 9, 2004

Wait, who wrote this again. Nevermind, it doesn't matter. Hmmm....I wonder if I should quit my job tomorrow or just wait to the end of the month; good lord ESPN, hire me! I could a heck of a better job than these bozo's have been doing.

First of all, it is beyond me how people continuously mentioned Peja as an MVP candidate (never IMHO) and Chris Webber messing his game up in sometimes the same sentence. How can a "legitimate MVP candidate" allow someone else to mess up his game, in whatever way you want to look at it. 1) If you are good enough to be considered an MVP candidate then you don't let someone come on the floor and mess up your game, it just isn't possible. Someone else isn't going to make you miss easy wide open shots, someone else isn't going to make you get shut down, someone else isn't going to make you whatever. 2) An MVP isn't going to let his team (for arguments sake I'll just say that an MVP is usually the leader of his team) get taken over in this case lets just say for the worse, by someone who hasn't played in 10 months.

Secondly, why do these people claiming to be to "Journalists" continue to insinuate things, continue to assert claims without facts?

JoMama · Sep 9, 2004

G_M said:

I had to chuckle at this one. The last time Chris "Charmin" Webber played tough and like a warrior was when he clocked John Stockton in the lane. That was before beer was invented.

AriesMar27 · Sep 9, 2004

JoMama said:

What about the 2001 playoffs against the lakers? Webber was knocking down damn near every shot that he took in that series to keep the team in the game while JWill clanked every unnecessasary 3ball he could. If Bibby had been on the team back then, the kings would have won the championship that year. Peja was a no show and Webber carried that team like a man, willing to take damn near every shot.

I remember in one game, he answered every shot that the lakers hit for like for like 4 or 5 possesions, then he decided to pass it and Jason clanked a three.

Webber has had his moments of greatness in the playoffs, more than Peja or any other King not named (2002) Bibby.

Superman · Sep 9, 2004

JSin said:

That comment is in the article that the basketball world is still buzzing about, the one with the long interview with McNeal(?).

And either way, if Chris said, verbatim: "I want to play with people who work hard.... Peja is a hard worker", how can that be misconstrued to say that Webber insinuated that Peja isn't a hard worker?

That's what I don't understand. I know the issue isn't dead; it's not likely to die anytime soon. I'm just tired of writers making unsubstantiated comments like that. That is - at best - creative license.

Superman · Sep 9, 2004

uolj said:

I wonder how long Chad Ford would be out if he tore ligaments in his knee and had micro-fracture surgery.

Some people don't like Webber, don't think he's a good person, think his negative effects outweigh the positive ones, etc., etc. That's fine. But I don't think there's any basis to knock his work ethic.

NME · Sep 10, 2004

Vlade's career should serve as proof that hard work does not directly translate to health or vice versa.

LjuboDaMan · Sep 10, 2004

sick and tired of all of thissssssssssssssssssssssssss

STOP ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

slugking50 · Sep 10, 2004

Thats all I needed to see.......

Markezi · Sep 10, 2004

I simply don't understand how some of you just simply dismiss the points in the article because you don't agree with them. I for one couldn't agree with them more. Heck, I could have written the article - it's nothing new to what has been said on this board before, especially the line:

I would bet just about anything that if the Kings manage to move Webber this year, Peja re-ups for another long term contract with the Kings.

VF21 · Sep 10, 2004

I would much prefer if Webber and Peja got to camp, sat down and settled their differences, and took the court TOGETHER. We are a much better team with both of them on the court than we are with either of them missing, regardless of how things might have looked at times last year. IMPO, that's what is important. Not how I personally feel about Webber OR Peja.

I am just not convinced it's time to throw in the towel and settle on the "We have to trade one or the other" solution. Luckily, I think Petrie and the Maloofs are looking at it the same way I do, at least for now.

Is there a chance the Kings will have to give up either Webber or Peja? Certainly there's a chance. But is it time to forego all other options? Not in my mind.

Just my three cents...

ReinadelosReys · Sep 10, 2004

Markezi said:

So in your opinion that would be ok? Please explain this to me, because you just said " It's a dangerous path to think that a player is ever more important than a team or an organization, and it happens all the time. I kind of feel it's our duty to acknowledge this and recognize it when it starts to happen (and to speak out)." in another thread. The Kings should move Webb to make Peja happy?

Ryle · Sep 10, 2004

I still am astonished as to the lack of appreciation some people have for Webbs' talents and abilities. Again, I am predicting an all-star year for Webb this year and I think we will see another deep run in the playoffs.

love_them_kings · Sep 10, 2004

JoMama said:

I disagree. I thought he played tough throughout the playoffs. And I think the toughness and passion that Webber plays is a lot more than Peja shows. Don't get me wrong, I love both players, and hope they can work this out. I just don't think Webber's comments were that bad.

thedofd · Sep 10, 2004

Ryle said:

It would be wonderful to see Chris play at an all-star level again. Right now, I'd take him at 75 percent of his peak performance if he could manage to stay healthy the entire season.

Bricklayer · Sep 10, 2004

Webb politics Peja out of town = Webb is evil.

Peja politics Webb out of town = Peja is good.

Holy double standard Batman!

from ESPN Insider: Peja, others seek trades

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