Reported Tonight - 7-24

[Base Line Guy]

Sixers Rescind Qualifying Offer to Harpring

On Wednesday afternoon, Philadelphia 76ers General Manager Billy King announced that the Sixers have rescinded their qualifying offer to restricted free agent forward Matt Harpring. Under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, Harpring now becomes an unrestricted free agent.


Also, ESPN radio announced the signing of Greg Buckner.

BLG

[Kat]

I have to say I am sorry to see Buck leave. Just watch him stay healthy for the next 4 yrs.

[Bayliss]

Well, it upsets me that we couldn't get compensation for Buckner.

But maybe we will another way.

[Just211]

it's kinda a good sign that Cube let him leave, that's a lot of money. It shows although he has it Cube won't spend it on every player that comes through big D, he's saving some for other people, ( future FA's).
the team is great,but not championship qaulity yet, no sense in keeping every role player here

[miles berg]

Refresh my memory because with the changeover in our roster over the last five seasons (since the Bradley trade) how did we get Buckner? Did we draft him?

I am too lazy to look it up right now, I am thinking Rashard Lewis right now.

[#1MavsFan]

WE DRAFTED HIM near the end of the second round.

[Just211]

yeah we drafted him in 98 and cut him a couple of times before he stuck

[FilthyFinMavs]

<< it's kinda a good sign that Cube let him leave, that's a lot of money. It shows although he has it Cube won't spend it on every player that comes through big D, he's saving some for other people, ( future FA's).
the team is great,but not championship qaulity yet, no sense in keeping every role player here >>




What do u mean there is no sense in keeping every role player here? You dont just go out and sign different role players every season till u get a championship it jsut dosent work that way. Well anyway im sad to see Buck go myself being that he played out of his size he played liek he was a Big Man in a shooting guards body. He was one of our toughest players and I feel it will be hard to replace him. I dont think TAW can do it but Griff can replace alot of things Buck brought but not the toughness. Najera cant do it either. Every playoff contender has that one guy who comes in and makes good defense plays off the bench ( LA Robert Horry or Devean George, Sac Kings Christie, Spurs Bruce Bowen Trail Blazers Ruben Patterson) I have no doubt in my mind Griffen can take that role for the Mavs but will he and TAW be healthy enough to do so is yet to be seen.

[Just211]

what i mean is we didn't win the title, or even make it to the western conference championship, so obviously we're still a step away. We can't just resign every player, especially when their salary jumps like that. If we resign buck, najera and wang it kinda ties or hands to pick up what we need.
And as you say he is under sized, I think Griff we do most of what Buck did, maybe just a little less on the boards. Him leaving allows Griff more pt, and Griff will play more sg and it allows the Mavs to pick up a decent sized SF(Lewis, Harpring, Russell)and maybe a PF.

[dude1394]

<< what i mean is we didn't win the title, or even make it to the western conference championship, so obviously we're still a step away. We can't just resign every player, especially when their salary jumps like that. If we resign buck, najera and wang it kinda ties or hands to pick up what we need.
And as you say he is under sized, I think Griff we do most of what Buck did, maybe just a little less on the boards. Him leaving allows Griff more pt, and Griff will play more sg and it allows the Mavs to pick up a decent sized SF(Lewis, Harpring, Russell)and maybe a PF. >>



Assuming he's healthy, I think griff gives us much more of what we need. I think his defense while not as &quot;gritty&quot; is very effective, very quick hands and feet. He may not play with the PF mentality, but his offense is much better, steals, assists better and his rebounding is essentially the same. Assuming he's healthy.

[Drbio]

Some caller from Philly on talk radio yesterday said that a three way S&amp;T deal between Dallas-Philly-Chicago fell through when Krauss talked Philly into allowing Harpring to become an unrestricted FA (did some cash change hands under a table?). Buckner, Harpring and someone else would have been involved (Marcus Fizer maybe) but the guy didn't elaborate. Sounded like speculation to me but the more I think about it.....

[Blonde Bomber]

I would have liked to get Fizer. Who knows what this guy might be able to do after a few more years in the league. To bad it fell through.

[Dooby]

Odd note from Philly paper:



<< asner reports that the Mavs were seeking a taker for Tariq Abdul-Wahad’s $33 million contract. The Sixers were willing to trade Matt Harpring, but Wahad’s contract would mean more Salary would have to be included from Philadelphia. >>