The Juice: Kidd 3-way trade? No, but Blazers will deal -- someday
Outlaw has become as reliable as Roy in the fourth quarter and has a manageable contract with a few years left, so it stands to reason he's installed himself as the small forward of the future. If that spot is his, where will that leave Webster, a former lottery pick developing into the outside threat the team envisioned he'd become when it selected him in 2005? Fans light up message boards asking why Rodriguez, a second-year Spaniard, doesn't play more. If they ever get their wish, where does that leave Jack? Get the picture?
"I've got patience and I really do appreciate the confidence Portland has in me. It's nice to hear that other teams have been interested in me, but I'm happy here," Rodriguez told me in Spanish. "It's a team that suits me well, both now and for the future. I want to become an important part of this franchise.
"Coming over from my country at 20 was a big change. But I came young to learn this country, this league, learn the language. Last year was hard but at the same time, it was nice because it was fulfilling to learn to play here and continues to be. I feel better acclimated, both here and within the team structure with the rest of the guys."
There may be no validity to the Harris rumors or the ties to the Nets deal, but at some point, there will be changes. The team that's captivated the city, as presently constructed, is bound to change. Only an elite few are secure. That's reality. The current Blazers team is part of the means to an end, one whose goal won't be met until years down the road, when the NBA Finals come through the Rose Garden.
The 2007-08 version has bonded together due to their collective youth and surpassed all expectations, but that next step in their maturity probably include watching some of the guys they grew up with be pulled apart.
"Earlier this season, we were going through growing pains of trying to establish who we were and what type of team we wanted to be. We've learned how to finish the games and play in the fourth quarter. What's happened is we've grown up," McMillan said. "We anticipated it would take some time, but we're still going to play through it. We're not there yet. We've been able to win some games and keep the momentum. We just feel like we have players with a lot of potential, a lot of room for growth. We're going to be patient with them and develop them. We have a solid foundation with this group."
The foundation is set. The moving parts may not be.
Dallas makes initial offer in Kidd sweepstakes
The Mavericks did move forward in deciphering what it might take to get Kidd, but didn't sway Rod Thorn with a package that included the manageable contract of Jerry Stackhouse and the expiring deals of DeSagana Diop and Devean George.
Dallas has been unwilling to part with Devin Harris, while veteran Jason Terry isn't as attractive considering he's signed to a long-term deal worth an average of roughly $10 million per season.
Although Thorn would love to unload his point guard now that he broadcast to the world how unhappy he is, he has three weeks to get the best deal and doesn't have to rush into anything. According to sources, the Nets president will only move quickly if he feels he has a "home run" of a deal, which without Harris, he wouldn't. After all, how valuable would first-round picks be from a team that should consistently finish among the league's best with Kidd on board?
At the moment, it's in Dallas' best interest to low-ball because the word is that the L.A. Lakers are sure to retort once they hear what's being offered by other Kidd suitors. They've dangled Lamar Odom in the past, as recently as a couple of times this season, and might be inclined to do so again to get Kobe Bryant the backcourt partner he has coveted. Combining Odom with the expiring contract of Kwame Brown and a young guard like Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic or Javaris Crittenton could wind up being the Nets' most attractive option.
Cleveland, despite LeBron James' declaration that Danny Ferry should do whatever it takes to bring Kidd on board, probably won't be able to round up the ammunition to orchestrate a move. Ditto with Denver, which would be able to dangle Nene, currently not worth his normal market value due to his medical issues.
Kidd to join Western Conference All-Stars?
If Kidd winds up with L.A., Dallas or any other Western Conference team, a NBA spokesmen told CBSSports.com that it would have to decipher a plan of action on what to do about it.
The situation of having a player voted to one All-Star team as a starter and then subsequently traded to the other conference has never transpired, so the league is essentially going to cross that bridge when it gets there.
Here's my suggestion: The fans obviously want to see Kidd in the showcase, so if the situation arises, he should be added to the West team, giving the conference 13 players. The player who finished third behind Kidd in the East All-Star fan voting, Boston's Ray Allen, should be added as a starter. My other invitation would go to Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu.
Midseason reinforcements
Golden State plucked Chris Webber out of his retirement lair in Del Boca Vista. Charlotte finally ended Earl Boykins' wait, signing him for the remainder of the season to aid in its playoff push.
The trend of veterans taking the first half of the season off and returning just in time to play enough games to feel prepared for the postseason has continued and might extend to coveted big man P.J. Brown as well as Dale Davis, who Detroit is eyeing as a potential option.
Webber had other alternatives, but ultimately sided with one of the old saying, "The evil you don't know is better than the evil you do." Joining the Pistons might have gone down until the trade deadline. Webber didn't want to wait that long and wasn't completely comfortable being the team's fourth big man behind Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess and Jason Maxiell, especially since Amir Johnson is coming along nicely.
In Golden State, Webber is familiar with former teammate Chris Mullinm now an executives. Webber feels that both he and Don Nelson are older, wiser and more mature. He can play for him. Best of all, he's needed. If Andris Biedrins goes down, he'll be right there with Al Harrington among Nelson's options at center. Young players Brandan Wright and Patrick O'Bryant are still in the development stage. As Mullin said, this signing was about Webber having something for them and the Warriors having something for him. That's why, if Webber is healthy and ready to go, this marriage might work this time.
Boykins was hoping Cleveland, his hometown team, would bring him in. It never happened. As a result, the nine-year veteran sat out much longer than he intended. He's coming off his best statistical season, averaging 14.6 points and 4.4 assists last season for the Bucks and Nuggets.
There will be an adjustment period, but if he gets comfortable, there's no reason to believe he won't crack a rotation featuring veterans Jeff McInnis and Derek Anderson behind improving third-year point guard Raymond Felton.
Brown is reportedly enjoying retirement and in no hurry to join a contender, but things could change over the next two months considering he's the top free-agent prize among unsigned bigs. Meanwhile, Webber's decision to Golden State could open the door for Davis, who turns 39 on March 25, to rejoin the Pistons in a role perfectly suited for him. If he's signed, Davis won't be asked to do much other than offer his frame and experience come postseason.
Quote of the week
"Tony (Parker) didn't like it, but he's been about 60 or 70 percent for about a month. It's not fair to him to ask him to keep going out there when he's the way he is. I want to shut him down for a while and give it a chance to heal." -- Gregg Popovich explaining his decision to shut down the reigning NBA Finals MVP to the San Antonio Express-News.
If you want to know the real reason San Antonio has looked mortal over the last month, there it is. Parker has been trying to play through bone spurs in his foot and won't be allowed to do so anymore. While forcing him to sit makes it clear the Spurs are unwilling to compromise their future during the regular season, persuading Damon Stoudamire to come on board makes it clear they respect how close all the other Western Conference teams are to breaking through to make sure they're properly equipped while their point guard mends.
