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Ok. Yesterday we were successful in making a significant trade this off-season. The deal sending Antoine Walker, Michael Doleac, Wayne Simeon, and a future conditional draft pick for Ricky Davis and Mark Blount.

Immediately we have improved our offense. But here is what makes the move even more productive: Pat Riley freed himself from Walker’s abomination of a contract. I still don’t know how Riles got that sold but here’s some prospect of what next off-season could look like as reported by the Miami Herald’s Michael Wallace (no, not the 60 minutes guy)

The Heat could have as much as $21 million in expiring contracts next summer, making it a potential bidder for a 2008 free agents crop that could include Gilbert Arenas, Ron Artest, Corey Maggette, Elton Brand, Baron Davis and Jermaine O’Neal.

Pat, you’ve done it again.

Tags: NBA, Miami Heat, Local Topics, 2007 Offseason, Minnesota Timberwolves, News, The Groves Report!, Trades, Free Agency by Groves
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According to espn.com’s Mark Stein, The Heat are close to signing a deal that will bring Ricky Davis and Mark Blount in return for Antoine Walker, Michael Doleac, and Wayne Simeon.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3077037

Sources told ESPN.com that the Heat will soon complete a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves to acquire swingman Ricky Davis and center Mark Blount.

The latest incarnation of the deal, according to one source, has Miami sending Antoine Walker, Michael Doleac and Wayne Simien to the Wolves for Davis and Blount.

Mark Blount is no throw-in either ( I picked him up off waivers in my fantasy league last season). This guy had some great spurts last season with some impressive numbers. Consistency was his only problem and the possible trade could be the answer.

We’re keeping our fingers crossed.

Could this be the end of Antoine Walker?

Tags: 2007 Offseason, NBA, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Trades, The Groves Report!, Rumors, News by Groves
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From the Miami Herald (Herald.com):

The Garnett trade left Minnesota with a surplus of shooting guards and small forwards — two positions where the Heat has been looking to add depth throughout the offseason.

The Heat’s interest likely centers on swingmen Ricky Davis and Trenton Hassell, veterans who apparently don’t fit in Minnesota’s plans to rebuild around a youthful nucleus of Al Jefferson, Gerald Green and former University of Florida star Corey Brewer.

Davis, 28, averaged 17.0 points, 4.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds last season and is due $6.8 million in the final year of his expiring contract. Hassell, 28, started 68 games last season as the Timberwolves’ top perimeter defender and has three seasons and $13 million left on his contract.

The Heat is in need of a perimeter scorer to fill in early for Dwyane Wade, who is expected to miss camp and at least the first two weeks of the regular season while he recovers from knee and shoulder surgeries.

For more info on Ricky Davis I recommend the following links:

Ricky Davis Is a Drinking Champion… - Fanhouse

Tricky Ricky in Miami? - Slam Online (Read the comments, they paint a better picture)

Amerikaz Most Hated - unlimited.nba.free.fr

Whatever Happened to Ricky Davis? - Sport Swag

 By the way, these were all found by simply going to Google and typing “Ricky Davis” and “Crazy”.

Tags: NBA, Miami Heat, 2007 Offseason, Minnesota Timberwolves, Ben Ellingsworth, Trades, Rumors by Ben Ellingsworth
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Well, on a slightly lighter note; I thought I’d put it out there that it happens to be staff writer Ben Ellingsworth’s birthday today. I’m not going to tell you how old he is, but as usual, nothing is going on in the basketball world today as is nothing in Ben’s life. LOL. So if you happen to know or see Ben, feel free to throw a basketball in his face; as a birthday salute, of course.

In other news, former Timberwolves, Warrior and Knick, Latrell Sprewell had his 70-foot yacht, known around Milwaukee as “Milwaukee’s Best”, reposessed yesterday by a federal marshall. Apparently Spree wasn’t paying the $10,000 a month nut on it and now is going to try to sell it to pay off the $1.3 Million he still owes on it. Hahaha. What a loser. And to think that three years ago, he rejected a $21 Million contract offer, saying it was insulting to be offered that and that he had “a family to feed”.  Shit son, if you’re stupid enough to turn down $21 Million dollars, then yes you are stupid enough to have your shit jacked from you. Spree has supposedly had problems with the yacht, including running it ashore and an indescribed incident that ended with Spree breaking his hand.

I’m glad though, seriously, that you can probably still afford to “feed your family”. Just no more fishing trips though, right? Damn.

So again, Happy Birthday Ben and a Nelson-like “Haha!” to you Spree. Happy sailing!

Tags: Articles by Author, Teams, Off The Court, Non Basketball, Local Topics, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Echoflow Knows!, Minnesota Timberwolves, 2007 Offseason, NBA, News by Erik Sierra
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The Associated Press is reporting that the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Boston Celtics have agreed in principle to a trade that will send Kevin Garnett to Boston in exchange for Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, and Theo Ratliff. It’s also being reported that the Celtics would likely be giving up at least one draft pick. [Read more →]

Tags: 2007 Offseason, NBA, Seattle Supersonics, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Rumors, Ben Ellingsworth, Trades, News by Ben Ellingsworth
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Oh boy. This is a story that refuses to die. And according to multiple sources (and by sources, I mean all over the freaking internet) it looks like Kevin Garnett to Boston is now more likely to happen then ever before.

“They” are saying that the Boston Celtics would be giving up Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, and Theo Ratlif, along with draft picks to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for The Big Ticket.  I reccomend visiting DraftExpress.com for more rumors and innuendo about this situation. They seem to have some more details right now then anyone else, but then again, everything being reported now sounds a whole lot like the stuff going around right before the draft. And both then and now, it appears that Al Jefferson is the key piece here for the Timberwolves.

We’ll have more as this story breaks open. Or, just like it did in June, this whole thing could fall apart.

Tags: Boston Celtics, 2007 Offseason, NBA, Minnesota Timberwolves, Trades, Rumors, Ben Ellingsworth, News by Ben Ellingsworth
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