Who's Afraid of the IRA? And Other Friday Foolishness

If Ira Newble truly wants to find a team that would offer more playing time, he holds a player option on his contract for the 2007-08 season. But agent Steve Kauffman isn't going to let him walk away from a $3.4 million contract since he'd be a minimum-salary player on the open market. Despite his recent upsurge, Newble probably isn't going to get a lot of minutes since he plays the same position as James. Willoughby News-Herald

If the Notorious IRA wants to get paid more than 3.4 million dollars for his services, he better learn to rap. 'Cause he sure as shit isn't gonna get paid that much to play basketball.

Steve Francis told several NBA players of the buyout talks and that he was hoping to sign with Houston, where he lives during the offseason.
New York Daily News

Yeah, and Superman wants to re-sign with the planet Krypton, but that shit's been blown up for years...

Reserve center Scot Pollard told the team he regretted looking into a TV camera during a recent game and saying, ``Hey kids, do drugs.'' Pollard was sitting on the bench in street clothes when he made the remark during a 20-second timeout in Sunday's game against the Indiana Pacers. ``It was a bad joke,'' Pollard said in Thursday editions of the Plain Dealer. ``That's all it boils down to. There are a number of things people could say about it, but it just turned out it was a bad joke. Obviously, I don't believe that.'' Akron Beacon Journal

Obviously.

The Nets' Antoine Wright isn't backtracking about slams he put on his college "education" at Texas A&M. But he says he aimed his controversial comments at all colleges, not just A&M. "I don't regret what I said, but I regret doing the interview," said Wright, who on HBO's "Costas Now" said his high school courses were tougher than those at A&M, where athletes were "in poultry science for a reason . . . to get this grade [not] learn about chickens." New York Post

Wow, he really ripped the lid off that scandal. I think there were still 5 0r 6 people out there who didn't know athletes get a free ride at schools with competitive athletic programs.

The ratings for Marbury's premiere TV talk show with Kobe Bryant, "Stars on Stars" received a .1 rating (75,000 homes). While that would seem modest, a FoxSportsNet spokesman said the total is 15 percent higher than the programs shown in that Friday time slot the past three months. Marbury's second show is today at 4:30 p.m. Knicks superfan/filmmaker Spike Lee will be Marbury's guest. The show will be replayed Sunday at 2 p.m. and Monday at 3:30 p.m. New York Post

Only way I'm watching this show is if Marbury has Francis on as his guest and the two of them rate the top ten most overpaid players of all time.

Best Case Scenario: 3 Way Deal Brings Bibby to Cleveland, Here's How it Would Look...

As I just posted, ESPN is reporting that a Cavs deal for Bibby could be announced any second, with Minnesota as the 3rd team in talks. Here's a deal I put together that not only works financially under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and not only is a great deal for Cleveland, but also a sweet deal for everyone involved (remember to click on it to look at it in the Trade Machine):

Cleveland sends Ira Newble to Sacto and Larry Hughes to Minnesota. Minnesota sends Mike James and Eddie Griffin to Sacto, and Marko Jaric to Cleveland. Sacto sends Mike Bibby to Cleveland.

Why it works: Minnesota gets to unload 2 of their biggest busts, Mike James & Marko Jaric, who both have nasty contracts. And all it costs them is the mildly valuable expiring deal on Eddie Griffin. They get Larry Hughes, and who knows, maybe the combo of Hughes, Foye, Garnett, Davis and Blount can get the Wolves into the playoffs and stave off the Garnett departure for another year. Sacto gets Mike James, to replace Bibby at the point, and $6 million in salary cap relief (actually 12 mil since they're over the luxury tax line) in the expiring contracts of Newble and Griffin. The Cavs get Mike Bibby, a monster upgrade at PG, and Marko Jaric, who I still believe can be a valuable contributor. Most importantly, they pass off Hughes' hot potato contract, and get the shake up that could jump start their stagnant season.

Why it doesn't: What is Minnesota, retarded? Even Kevin McHale, who by all accounts is a shitty GM, isn't likely to pay Larry Hughes 13 million per year to be less productive than Ricky Davis(who costs roughly half as much), and spend half the year on the Injured Reserve. Not to mention, despite the salary relief, what would possess Geoff Petrie to make him think Mike James somehow makes his team better than Mike Bibby? That's just crazy talk. And finally, by locking themselves up in even more salary, and kissing off one of their valuable expiring contracts, the Cavs all but insure they won't be able to afford Anderson Varejao, this summer, when he comes for the re-up.

Just for fun(with a hint of maybe?): Peep this trade!!!!! Woah, I just got chills thinking of the possibilities. The Cavs get KG and Bibby? And the weird part is, it's not really a bad deal for either Sacto or Minnesota. The Kings get Mike James to replace Bibby along with some expiring deals, 2 great prospects (Pavlo and Varejao) and some perimeter shooting assistance in Damon Jones. The Wolves get Hughes, again not optimal, but also the great bargain in Gooden to replace KG, and 2 mil in relief from Pollard's expiring deal. Not to mention they get rid of James, which for them is pretty attractive.

Progs: Cavs get Bibby in a 3 way(don't worry, 2 chicks, 1 dude), but are stuck with Larry Hughes, and forced to give up Varejao. I am, predictably, not too pleased.