Mutumbo headed to knicks? - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

SaltwaterChaffy · 10-07-2003, 05:07 PM

Center Not Likely To Return To Sixers

From ESPN.com services

Former New Jersey Nets center Dikembe Mutombo appears headed to the New York Knicks.

Mutombo, a four-time defensive player of the year who played for the Philadelphia 76ers before joining the Nets last season, appears unlikely to return to Philadelphia.

"It will play itself out in the next couple of days," Sixers general manager Billy King told The Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday. "If I were a betting man, I think he'll wind up north of Philadelphia."

The Nets have agreed to buy out the two remaining years of Mutombo's contract for about $30 million, saving $7 million against their salary cap.

Mutombo, 37, played in just 24 games with the Nets in 2002-03, having suffered a torn ligaments in his wrist. While the Nets have depth at center with Aaron Williams and the offseason acquisition of Alonzo Mourning, the Knicks can offer Mutombo more playing time.

Philadelphia acquired Mutombo in February 2001. He helped lead the Sixers to the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, who beat the Sixers in five games.

MavKikiNYC · 10-07-2003, 05:11 PM

Mutombo on the NYKs roster will be a waste.

They need so much more than him to be competitive.

And his talents would be so much more significant on a contender. Hate to see him reduced to playing for a paycheck.

kg_veteran · 10-07-2003, 05:13 PM

Me too. At this point he's a roleplayer, not a star. The Knicks would need him to be a star to even make the playoffs.

sturm und drang · 10-07-2003, 05:28 PM

The good news for Deke is that the Knicks' style of play is anything but uptempo. He should be able to keep up-- plod along-- just fiiiiine.

Dooby · 10-07-2003, 05:30 PM

As long as he doesn't go to a team in the Western Conference, I am fine with it.

kg_veteran · 10-07-2003, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: Dooby
As long as he doesn't go to a team in the Western Conference, I am fine with it.

I agree with this. If he goes to an Eastern team, at least the Mavs accomplish half of what they want, even if they don't get the benefit of Mutombo's services.

MavKikiNYC · 10-07-2003, 05:36 PM

Just hard for me to see him seriously considering Toronto, or Philly, or NY.

He's contributed too much to the league not to be going out fighting.

So, c'mon Falk....c'mon Cuban....c'mon Deke--get your heads together and figure something out. Let's see Deke go out in style.

FilthyFinMavs · 10-07-2003, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: MavKikiNYC
Just hard for me to see him seriously considering Toronto, or Philly, or NY.

He's contributed too much to the league not to be going out fighting.

So, c'mon Falk....c'mon Cuban....c'mon Deke--get your heads together and figure something out. Let's see Deke go out in style.

Ohhh, okay. I see what it is. You want him in a Mavs uni? Lol, I agree though he should atleast go to a contender in the East. I prefer the Mavs in the West. Are centers in this league really that afraid of Shaq?

kg_veteran · 10-07-2003, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: MavKikiNYC
Just hard for me to see him seriously considering Toronto, or Philly, or NY.

He's contributed too much to the league not to be going out fighting.

So, c'mon Falk....c'mon Cuban....c'mon Deke--get your heads together and figure something out. Let's see Deke go out in style.

I agree with this as well. I think Deke should go out swinging, like Malone is doing in LA. He should at least put himself in the best possible position to win a title.

Simon2 · 10-07-2003, 06:15 PM

Mutumbo won't happen

Text

MavKikiNYC · 10-07-2003, 06:44 PM

This is lame if they're not even making a pitch.

I call bull$hit all over Cuban, Nellie, and Little Whistle the next time they talk about doing whatever it takes to win a championship.

ReDIRKulous · 10-07-2003, 06:46 PM

Why do we need mutombo when we have Bradley?

Bradley ownz the Eastern conference... Mutombo is worthelss in the East. And they aree both worthless against elite centers. The same deal if you ask me.

MavKikiNYC · 10-09-2003, 07:04 PM

Mutombo signs with Knicks
By Associated Press, 10/9/2003 19:16

NEW YORK (AP) Dikembe Mutombo signed a multiyear contract with the New York Knicks on Thursday, two days after he accepted a buyout and was waived by the New Jersey Nets.

''I know Dikembe very well through the years and there is no question he'll fit right into our system and thrive,'' Knicks coach Don Chaney said. ''There aren't many players in NBA history that can change the course of a game as much as he does.''

The eight-time All-Star has been on the decline the past two seasons, but he provides the Knicks a much-needed defensive presence at center a void that has gone unfilled since Patrick Ewing was traded prior to the 2000-01 season.

The Knicks were the worst shot-blocking team in the NBA last season when they missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

Kurt Thomas, a natural power forward, has been the Knicks' starting center for most of the past two seasons. New York tried to acquire Mutombo from Philadelphia two summers ago before the 76ers dealt him to the Nets.

Mutombo is expected to join New York on Friday.

''Adding a shot blocker and rebounder of Dikembe's caliber to our team dramatically improves key areas that we were looking to upgrade,'' team president Scott Layden said. ''His basketball resume is so impressive that having the chance to add him to our club was something we were not going to pass up.''

Mutombo, a four-time NBA defensive player of the year, played in only 24 games last season because of a wrist injury that required surgery around Thanksgiving. The 37-year-old did not return to action until late in the regular season and was sitting on the bench for most of the Nets' playoff run to the NBA Finals.

The Nets, currently for sale, cited financial concerns in announcing the buyout of the final two years of Mutombo's contract, which had $37 million remaining on it. Mutombo's chances of playing more this season diminished with Jason Collins and Aaron Williams returning and Alonzo Mourning, Mutombo's teammate at Georgetown, signing with New Jersey as a free agent.

Mourning criticized the move Sunday, saying it showed the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions were more interested in money than winning a championship.

Mutombo's contract with the Knicks, guaranteed for two years, will pay him approximately $8.5 million.

MavKikiNYC · 10-09-2003, 07:04 PM

2 years at $8.5 million should've been doable for the Mavericks.

Opportunity lost, opportunity cost.

jayC · 10-09-2003, 10:35 PM

I think Dekes ability have long been romanticized. They say he is 37 but people aren't sure how old he is. We don't even know that he just isn't shawn bradley at this point in his career.

jayC · 10-09-2003, 10:38 PM

The knicks have really improved, but at this point in his career mutumbo is nothing more then a role player. Their is a reason that he sat on the bench through out new jerseys playoff run. The sixers didn't even want him. But still they added Lampe who should have been the fifth overall pick in the nba draft and might add nick the quick. Although Golden State maintains they won't trade for him.

MavKikiNYC · 10-10-2003, 10:19 AM

1) The reason that Mutombo sat on the bench in the playoffs last year, particularly in the championship series, is because Byron Scott is a bonehead. You can read the opinions of several Nets' fans who think that the failure to use Mutombo against Duncan is the reason the Nets lost. Whether or not you agree with this assessment, it shows the perceived value of Mutombo as a role player.

2) Mutombo IS a role player--nobody is expecting more than that from him at this point. But role players can have a big impact, and since Mutombo would be contributing at the Mavs' weakest position, he could easily help tip the balance in favor of the Mavericks against teams like LA, SA, Sac, Portland and Houston. Whether he's just another Bradley or not (and he's not), why wouldn't 2 Bradleys be better than one? Bradley has his moments, but Mutombo is more physical than Bradley, tougher inside, more feared by opponents, more respected by officials, more experienced in championship play. Mutombo's effect on a team would most likely go well beyond the 15-18 mpg that he'll contribute oncourt.

3) The only point that has been 'mythologized' is his age. And whether he's 37 or 45, he can still play, as he clearly demonstrated against the Spurs. He was the difference maker in one of the Nets' wins, and if Scott had used him properly, the Nets could very well have at least forced a 7-game series.

MavsFanatik33 · 10-10-2003, 12:32 PM

This could help out The Knicks a lot. They were in the need of another big man. Mutombo will do okay as long as he remains in the east.

Murphy3 · 10-10-2003, 12:40 PM

how many dominant centers are there in the west that would give him trouble?

MavKikiNYC · 10-10-2003, 12:48 PM

I don't have much regard for Layden, but he seems to've taken advantage of the circumstances he's been presented to design a team with better potential than in the last 3-4 years.

IF the NYKs can pull off the trade for Van Exel, (with Ward and Thomas to GS), they would be able to field the following lineup:

PG: NVE, Eisley, Frank Williams

SG: Houston, Shandon Anderson

SF: Van Horn, Lampe

PF: McDyess, Sweeney, Harrington, Weatherspoon

C: Mutombo, Doleac, Knight, Vranes

Not a powerhouse by any means, but much better balance and complimentary skills. NYK basketball could be interesting again, at least.