|
|
|
Thursday, March 1, 2001
Fred's Points: Trades, Rasheed and DC
ESPN.com
|
What's the first thing you notice when you see ESPN's Fred Carter on NBA 2Night or SportsCenter? Of course, he points at you. It's his way of saying hello. So we've asked NBA expert Fred to greet us and make some points for ESPN.com each week. Enjoy.
| |  | |
| Mutombo |
1. Who do you expect will be traded on Thursday before the deadline? Dikembe Mutombo? Gary Payton? Brad Miller? Anyone? Last year all we got was reserve guard Anthony Johnson. Why are trades so difficult?
It's very difficult with trades now because of the way salaries are lined up and the rules of the salary cap. Certain players have to fit into certain slots. Sometimes it takes a number of different players to make the numbers work out.
The trade that should happen is Dikembe Mutombo to Philadelphia, for a number of reasons. By the time Atlanta is ready to win, Mutombo's skills will have diminished quite a bit. His value will never be higher than it is right now.
The Hawks should move him to Philadelphia because they will get at least Theo Ratliff in return. But also, the fact is that if they make this deal, with Ratliff on the bench for a month with injury, Atlanta won't get many more wins. Teams below them should actually pass them and the Hawks get more ping pong balls in the hopper. Next year they start with Ratliff and what could be the top pick in the draft. That will help them replenish their talent pool quicker.
2. You were involved in a trade in your career. What is it like to go to a different team during the season. Are there higher expectations? Is it hard to fit in with a new team?
I got traded from Philadelphia to Milwaukee during the season (1976-77). I met the team and coach Don Nelson in Denver and he basically turned the team over to me. He told me to run my offense, take my shots and take the time outs when I wanted. I went out that night and had a severe ankle sprain. So I never really felt what it was like but all indications from Nellie were that my experience was going to be positive.
What I've heard from other players who didn't get that type of reception is that the defensive game comes around sooner than the offensive game. You're very conscious of your shooting and what other players might think of you at the offensive end. Many players bend over backwards to make their new teammates understand they're not selfish players.
Also you have to be deprogrammed from your old team and learn the new offense. So yes, it's much more difficult to come in midseason and get in the flow with a new team than it is to start they year with a new team.
| |  | |
| Wallace |
3. Rasheed Wallace got technical No. 30 on Wednesday night, in a game he scored 42 points. Still, do you think Wallace's attitude and temper problems will ultimately hold him back from stardom?
As with everybody else, there is a maturation process that takes place. Some people are Peter Pan and they fight that process. But eventually it happens. Two years ago many analysts watching Allen Iverson said wait and see what happens. Lo and behold, it looks like time passed and Allen gained a little maturity.
In the case of Rasheed Wallace, I expect the same thing. Two years down the road I think he will have simmered. He'll have grown more and will recognize he's fighting a losing battle with the officials. And then he'll wonder why he went through all those battles in the first place.
Fortunately he's a quality person as well as being a quality player and he will remove the blemish he has in time.
| |  | |
| Coleman |
4. Derrick Coleman is clearly a talented player, one of the top power forwards when he's on his game. However, the Hornets seem to do much better when he is out of the lineup. Can you think of why that is? Is attitude everything with him?
I question whether or not Derrick Coleman really likes to play basketball. He has the God-given skills we've all talked about since the day he got out of Syracuse. He should have been one of the top power forwards ever to play and could have been one of the top 50 players. I just don't think his desire and motivation was ever there. He talks the talk and claims to have passion for the game but I don't see that and it will always hinder him.
I understand why Charlotte does better without him. In the game of basketball you have to do all the little things. There is a tendency for Coleman to give you the little shuffle-trot back down the floor to the defensive end. He turns the ball over and takes shots that guards should be taking. All that is part and parcel of him not really enjoying basketball. Rather than Derrick pulling his own weight, he is dead weight a lot of the time and his teammates have to pull it. When he's out of the lineup they can shrug off his burden.
5. Who would be your choice for Coach of the Year right now? Larry Brown in Philly, Flip Saunders in Minnesota, Rick Adelman in Sacramento and Don Nelson in Dallas are generally regarded as the top choices.
No question, Larry Brown, with what his team has gone through as far as injuries are concerned, has done more with less than any other coach. He's put more pawns into play than Bobby Fischer. His lineup has changed constantly throughout the year and his team has not missed a beat.
My second choice would be Flip Saunders in Minnesota. The T'Wolves have gone through almost as much as the Sixers and they've kept their head above water.
 Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
|
|
ALSO SEE
Fred's Points: Feb. 15
Fred's Points: Jan. 25
Fred's Points: Jan. 18
Fred's Points: Jan. 4
Fred's Points: Dec. 29
Fred's Points: Dec. 22
Fred's Points: Dec. 15
Fred's Points: Dec. 7
Fred's Points: Nov. 30
Fred's Points, Nov. 22
Fred's Points, Nov. 17
Fred's Points, Nov. 9
|
|
