NBA OFF-SEASON 2008 (Draft, Rumors And Transactions)

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Flip Saunders is done

The Detroit Pistons announced on Tuesday that Flip Saunders will not return as the Pistons’ head coach next season, according to a Yahoo.com report.

Saunders, 53, had one year remaining on the four-year contract he signed with Detroit in June 2005.

But Pistons' President Joe Dumars decided it was time to cut ties with Saunders, who posted a 176-70 regular-season record in his three seasons with Detroit.

Another One Bites The Dust

[kamikaze426]

Posible pud ni ang ka Wade oi considering how injury prone he is. Maybe he will not be the same player as what we've seen in their last finals appearance.

[lunateec22]

Posible pud ni ang ka Wade oi considering how injury prone he is. Maybe he will not be the same player as what we've seen in their last finals appearance.

Ang akoa lang sad na basin iyang mindset is "naka-champion na bitaw ko" mentality. I might be wrong pero this can be another reason if dili ma mao iya dinuwaan.

THE LATEST:

All Pistons: On the block

Flip Saunders was removed as head coach in Detroit on Tuesday, but Joe Dumars claims that he will not be made a scapegoat, and that the players will be held responsible for the team's failure in the Eastern Conference finals again, Larry Lage of the Associated Press writes.

"There are no sacred cows here," Dumars said. "You lose that sacred-cow status when you lose three straight years."

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Heat guard Dwyane Wade spends the offseason in his Chicago-area hometown, but don't count on him becoming a Bull anytime soon. The Heat has no interest in trading Wade, a five-time All-Star and 2006 Finals MVP -- not even for the No. 1 pick, three sources close to Wade and the Heat said Tuesday.

Heat's top draft options shorter than advertised - 06/04/2008 - MiamiHerald.com

[tackielarla]

If I were the Bulls, I would not trade for DWade. I'd rather get Beasley. They need an inside presence more than a guard.

[lunateec22]

If I were the Bulls, I would not trade for DWade. I'd rather get Beasley. They need an inside presence more than a guard.

I love the Bulls' lineup baya and I agree to that. Beasley is actually listed as 6'8 1/4 tall with shoes. He might be undersized for a PF but his smarts and strengths are already there.

[Motownkid]

mura diay nag Charles Barkley si Beasley... im excited for the Bulls. forget the 'pain reliever powered' Dwyane Wade..haha

[lunateec22]

mura diay nag Charles Barkley si Beasley... im excited for the Bulls. forget the 'pain reliever powered' Dwyane Wade..haha

Mao jud. Sir Charles is a 6-foot-6 power forward with the strength of a bull. He was such a monster. We'll see more of Beasley in the upcoming new season.

NBA GRAPEVINE:

The Pau Gasol trade

For months now, maybe the man most responsible for Los Angeles’ championship run has been ripped over the Pau Gasol trade. The mere mention of suspicions over Memphis’ motives gets the Grizzlies owner’s voice rising on the telephone, gets him going on the gossip that suggests something unseemly happened on the way to a Lakers renaissance.

For the first time, even Heisley wondered whether his general manager, Chris Wallace, blew it by caving so soon to the Lakers. “I don’t know if I got the most value,” Heisley confessed. “Maybe our people should’ve shopped (Gasol) more and maybe we would’ve gotten more, done a better deal. Maybe Chris did call every team in the league. I don’t think he did, but maybe he should’ve…”

The one-sided nature of the trade inspired a lot of people to believe that retired Memphis GM, Jerry West, a Lakers’ legend, played a part in facilitating the deal. West was instrumental recruiting Wallace as his replacement in Memphis and still holds a close relationship with Heisley. His history in Los Angeles, especially his bond with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak and star Kobe Bryant, made even the fair-minded cynical about the scenario.

One source with knowledge of the process said the Bulls had made the most credible offer. For Gasol and Memphis’ Hakim Warrick, the Bulls were willing to part with Andres Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, Thabo Sefolosha, possibly Adrian Griffin and draft picks.

-------Wow. Murag grabeh jud kaayo ka-influential si Jerry West.

[Fallout]

The Heat are denying a report that they are looking to trade superstar guard Dwyane Wade, according to The Miami Herald.

There were reports earlier in the week that the team was thinking of dealing Wade to the Bulls, his hometown team, for a package involving the number one overall pick.

Wade sparked the rumors by saying this, "I have heard my name being talked about, and I can't worry about it. If another organization wants you, then you should feel good to be wanted."

Numerous sources close to both Wade and Chicago denied the report.

[lunateec22]

The Heat are denying a report that they are looking to trade superstar guard Dwyane Wade, according to The Miami Herald.

There were reports earlier in the week that the team was thinking of dealing Wade to the Bulls, his hometown team, for a package involving the number one overall pick.

Wade sparked the rumors by saying this, "I have heard my name being talked about, and I can't worry about it. If another organization wants you, then you should feel good to be wanted."

Numerous sources close to both Wade and Chicago denied the report.

Deny2x kunohay pero I'm sure nga naa jud talks ani. Ako lang theory, Chicago is ready to give up Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and a filler for Dwayne then use the top pick for Derrick Rose.

OR most likely, give the top pick, Gordon and Hinrich to Miami for Wade and the 2nd pick. It's very interesting, really.

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THE LATEST:



As the Hawks figure out if they want to bring Coach Mike Woodson back next season, there are rumors that the Pistons might be interested in his services, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Michael Curry, a now former assistant of Flip Saunders in Detroit, is rumored to be the leading candidate for the job, but Joe Dumars insists that no decision has been made.

"I've told Woody that our first priority when he gets back [to Atlanta] is to get together and sit down and talk," Hawks' GM Rick Sund said Wednesday afternoon. "That's at the top of our agenda."

ON THE OTHER HAND...



New Atlanta General Manager Rick Sund has remained quiet about the future of current Coach Mike Woodson, according to The Associated Press.

"It's too early," the new GM said recently of his decision to either retain Woodson or bring someone else in. "It wouldn't be right."

The pair have already met once since Sund was hired last week.

"We talked a little bit and shared some philosophies and things like that," Sund said. "Next week at this time, it might be a more appropriate question. But today I can't answer it."

Woodson's contract expires at the end of the month.

----My thoughts? Swap na lang ug coach. Mike Woodson to Detroit while Flip Saunders to Atlanta.

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Speaking out again on Thursday to try to defuse the rumors that the may be traded to his hometown Chicago Bulls, Miami guard Dwyane Wade said he's been assured the notion is completely erroneous, the Associated Press is reporting. Wade even said he and Heat president Pat Riley have spoken about the topic and to ensure that both remain driven by the same goal -- rebuilding Miami into a contender once again.
"I don't worry about that kind of stuff," Wade said in Chicago. "I never understood why people even worry about it because it is uncontrollable. Your name is going to come up. Things are going to be said. It's not a bad thing. That means you're wanted somewhere or it means people think highly of you. I just laugh at it."

Via ESPN