sunday wrap-up: A Tangled Webb

…how rumors get started…

by Guichard Cadet

The NBA should look into live television coverage of the annual trade deadline, the same way it does for the draft. This year’s deadline proved more dramatic than most daytime soap operas.

From a basketball standpoint and how it affects wins and losses, only the Chris Webber trade will have any impact this season. The rest of the trades seemed more like attention-getters, for media and fans.


THE KNOCK
Firs off, I am amazed the Sacramento Kings traded Chris Webber. CWebb’s name always popped up in trade rumors. He is that marquee player teams and media pundits yearn to knock off his throne. Webber has been maligned since his college days when he headlined the Fab Five at the University of Michigan, specifically for the night he called a timeout he did not have, in the final seconds of the championship game.

Recently his name got linked to illegal booster contributions that led to U of M being placed on probation.

The “knock” on Chris used to be whispers. Now there are shouts that he does not take the big shot. Isolated incidents make a shadowy case for those doubts, though one can defend him as displaying faith in his teammates.

CWebb’s teams always have winning records and get to the threshold of winning championships. And, teams have a way of falling off once Webber is jettisoned… see Warriors, Wizards. Before trading for Webber, the Kings weren’t jack. Now they have placed themselves on the brink of once again being irrelevant.


THE ROLL
Keith Van Horn has been traded more than a penny stock. The expectations on KVH have dropped to an all-time low. Though KVH has decent career numbers, this pattern does not hold for the playoffs – the key reason his first NBA team (NJ Nets) sent him packing…to Philly…to New York…to Milwaukee…now…

All the Dallas Mavericks want is for him to spell Dirk Nowitzki, and hit a few jumpers here and there. Like KVH, the Mavericks are a team loaded with talent and high expectations. This is a short-term move for both. The Mavs have a pattern of acquiring veteran offensive power for the latter part of the season, then trading the player in the off-season. Keith has a chance to improve his value by simply making one or two memorable shots during the playoffs.


THE TWIST
Antoine Walker got rescued from the NBA’s current version of purgatory, Hotlanta! His rescuer was the man who started Walker’s death-walk. Danny Ainge had his reasons for trading ‘Toine. By reacquiring him, he has proven they were not valid.

Though Walker’s style of play is oft-times hard to stomach, he has good ball-handling skills, outside shot and power-forward size. But he is not a banger and would rather play the perimeter.

Why did Ainge bring him back? Paul Pierce’s nickname is The Truth, and he plays like it. There were rumors Pierce was on the trading block. Lastly, Pierce and Walker played well together and are friends.


PAYTON’S PLACE
Gary Payton is another cautionary tale for aging veterans who walk away or force their teams to trade them. With his contract expiring and after years of voicing his discontent, the Seattle SuperSonics traded him to Milwaukee. That summer of 2003, Payton and Karl Malone had a great idea: take a pay cut and sign to win a title with the Lakers.

A year later after the Lakers imploded, Payton found himself in Boston. Now he is in purgatory, waiting to hear the next verdict.

Given a choice after either a buyout or clearing waivers, where will Payton choose to play? Gary, go home again! Go to Seattle or Golden State…


THE STING
…True they have just traded for Baron Davis and have Derek Fisher on the roster. The reality is that the Warriors need leadership, the same kind that Payton provided for Boston during his short stay.

As for Davis, he is just happy to be out of the Hornets' nest. I wish him well. The guy has game but injuries, including those to teammates, have slowed his career. With the Warriors, Davis is back in his home state and playing with young developing players.

As for the team, will it have the patience not to get rid of these young players, only to see them end up with the Washington Wizards…or some other franchise?


STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
Vin Baker was not playing much with New York. The reason – no one ever said, but the whispers point to his agent’s early disclosure that Vince had taken most of the Knicks’ veteran minimum. At that time, Knicks President Isiah Thomas was still angling to land Erick Dampier. Two days later, Dampier is a Maverick and Baker is glued to the bench.

So why would the Houston Rockets want Baker? I hear they’re building a retirement home for aging Knicks players.

Seriously, I have to layoff Jeff Van Gundy, not only because they are winning, but he seemed to have changed offensive strategies midstream. He really had no choice but to start the offense with proven scorer Tracy McGrady then allow Yao Ming to develop at a more natural pace.

Just as JVG is beginning to shed his image of being rigid, he trades Maurice Taylor because he does not play defense to some predetermined standard. OK, the Knicks got stuck with salary; and whatever the next move by Isiah, the Knicks now have a choice and competition for the small forward position.


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