Are the Orlando Magic interested in adding Troy Murphy or Boris Diaw? Did Michael Jordan go after Carmelo Anthony only to be rejected? Could LeBron James win MVP this year? How serious is Caron Butler’s knee injury from last night?
For the record, LeBron doesn’t think he has a chance. You can read what he said below.
I’ll look at those questions and a couple more in today’s “NBA Rumors” column for January 2, 2011.
Orlando might be crazy if they don’t look into acquiring Nets forward Troy Murphy. Not only does he have an expiring $12 million contract but in the short term he offers outstanding rebounding and remains a solid perimeter threat no matter what the stats say this season.
Murphy averaged more than fourteen points and ten boards while shooting over .400 from long-range during the 08-09 and 09-10 seasons and I just don’t think a player’s skills erode that quickly at age 30.
Keep in mind that he’s playing just sixteen minutes per night after averaging more than thirty-two last season with Indiana.
If Orlando can’t acquire Murphy before the deadline they can do so afterward if the Nets buy him out. From what I’m hearing that’s what they are planning on doing as Murphy is stuck behind Favors and Humphries in the rotation right now and was never really a part of New Jersey’s rebuilding effort.
Boris Diaw might also be a great fit for Orlando - he’s young, versatile, and is a decent three-point shooter.
I know that Jason Richardson is performing well right now but would you want to risk losing him (and his $14 million expiring contract) next summer for nothing? Might as well look around and find a relatively young big man to pair with Dwight Howard while you have the assets.
As far as Carmelo Anthony is concerned I just want to say that I hate the fact that pro athletes can essentially hold their teams hostage the season before their free-agency summer. What happened to loyalty or playing by the rules? I understand that few players like to get traded and want to head to a preferred destination but this crybaby attitude from certain stars is becoming quite nauseating.
Jordan should have known Carmelo wouldn’t be interested in Charlotte. I would bet most of my non-existent fortune that if MJ owned a New York team Anthony might have been jumping for joy instead of rejecting him, though.
That being said, here are six NBA rumors and news items floating around the web today that I thought I’d share:
-
Are the Orlando Magic interested in Troy Murphy? What about Boris Diaw?
-
Carmelo Anthony rejected Jordan?
-
LeBron James states that an MVP is out of the question.
-
How serious is Caron Butler’s knee injury?
-
Could Marcus Camby head to New York?
-
Paul Pierce fined for… tossing gum?
Let’s get started!
As usual, please click on the bold headlines to view each column in its entirety from the original source
(NOTE: To view the past five days of “NBA Rumors” please scroll to the bottom of this column.)
Would the Orlando Magic consider acquiring Troy Murphy? Via RealGM:
The Magic are in need of a big man following their two blockbuster trades earlier this month. Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated believes that New Jersey’s Troy Murphy may be a possibility for Orlando. “Don’t be surprised if Orlando goes after Troy Murphy if Murphy is bought out after the deadline. Big, stretch four would fit the system,” Mannix tweeted on Monday night.
**How about Bobcats forward Boris Diaw? Via Yahoo! Sports: **
Forward Boris Diaw came to the Charlotte Bobcats in a December trade two years ago and now he may be leaving the team via a December trade. The Boston Globe has it that Diaw could be headed to the Orlando Magic in exchange for a swingman who used to play for the Bobcats, Jason Richardson, who has only been in Orlando for four games since being traded from the Phoenix Suns. As the Globe reports, Richardson’s $14.4 million contract is up at season’s end while Diaw has a player option for $9 million next season.
Carmelo Anthony apparently rejected Michael Jordan’s attempt to acquire him. Via Yahoo! Sports:
Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan was interested in making an offer to acquire Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets until, sources said, the All-Star forward informed Jordan through a representative that he had no interest in playing for the struggling Bobcats or signing a contract extension with them. The Bobcats figured their chances of getting Anthony to sign an extension were slim, but explored the possibility anyway given that Anthony has had a good relationship with Jordan as one of his product line’s top endorsers. Anthony will make about $6 million this season through the Jordan Brand. Sources said the two still have a solid relationship. League sources said Charlotte forwards Gerald Wallace and Boris Diaw have drawn significant trade interest, but none of the offers would bring back fair value in return. The Bobcats continue to insist they’re interested in doing a deal simply to cut costs.
Lebron James is pretty sure that a third consecutive MVP is out of the question. Via ESPN:
LeBron James isn’t expecting to win a third Most Valuable Player Award this season and he’s not expecting to pass the honor to teammate Dwyane Wade, either. James, Wade and the Heat are thriving and both have been regulars in the top of the MVP voting for the last five years. James took the honor in 2009 and ‘10. But James believes with their overall numbers down and the overall strength of the Heat that neither he nor Wade will win it this year. “When we decided to come together our Most Valuable Player chances kind of went out the window,” James said before the Heat played the Golden State Warriors Saturday. “I think they classify it as an individual award. They look at it like the less help you have, the more numbers you have then the better chance for you to win that award.” “I don’t know how you classify the MVP thing,” James said. “Do you classify it as most valuable to his team, if you take that person off his team how do they play? Or is it how is he playing numbers-wise? I don’t know.”
Butler suffered the injury on New Year’s Day in a 99-87 loss to the Bucks in Milwaukee. He jumped for a rebound, but he was in pain before ever coming down. Butler stayed in Milwaukee overnight on Saturday, but was returning to Dallas on Sunday for further testing, according to the Morning News. Mavs forward Caron Butler has suffered at least a partial tear of his patella tendon in his right knee, according to the Dallas Morning News. The Dallas Morning News, along with ESPN Dallas, reports that such an injury could end Butler’s season or at least cause him to miss a significant portion of time. Butler is averaging 15.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists this season. In Butler’s place, the Mavs have NBDL player and first-round pick Dominique Jones en route to join the team.
Would Marcus Camby approve of a trade to the Knicks? Via CBS Sports:
A person with knowledge of Camby’s thinking confirmed a report that the 14-year veteran would indeed contemplate retirement if traded to a rebuilding team. Camby’s overwhelming preference is to stay in Portland, and there is “no close second,” the person said. But if a trade to a contending team in a city his family would be willing to relocate to were presented, Camby would be open to the idea. The Knicks, who from time to time have expressed interest in bringing Camby back to New York, are one team that would meet the 36-year-old’s approval.
Finally, Paul Pierce was fined a whopping $15,000 for throwing gum into the stands. Via NECN:
The NBA fined Celtics captain Paul Pierce $15,000 for throwing an object into the stands during the Celtics win over the Pacers on Tuesday. Pierce was seen on camera removing chewing gum from his mouth and tossing it into the crowd in the first quarter at Conseco Fieldhouse. It marks the second time this week that a Celtics has been docked by the league. Shaquille O’Neal paid $35,000 for criticizing officials following the Celtics’ Christmas Day loss to the Orlando Magic.** ** ** **
PREVIOUS NBA RUMORS:
**01/01/11 - Are the Bulls interested in either O.J. Mayo or Stephen Jackson? - CLICK HERE **
**12/31/10 - Did Michael Jordan ask Patrick Ewing about coaching the Bobcats? - CLICK HERE **
12/28/10 - Is Yao Ming headed to Sacramento or Charlotte? - CLICK HERE
12/27/10 - LeBron James swears he doesn’t advocate contraction - CLICK HERE
[email protected] Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/Buckets17