A LEGEND IS BORN III

[dare]

Waiting for some Stealth trades.

[Warlock95]

While some teams are bringing in more talent, the Stealth should dumb down a bit. Just to level the playing field, lol.

[Fresh8]

Billups Reunited With Watson



February 21, DALLAS – Chauncey Billups knew he wasn’t going to finish the season with the Memphis Grizzlies one way or another. The team had promised to waive him if they could not find a team that would trade for the 5-time All-Star and 2004 NBA champion before the Trade Deadline.

The Grizzlies announced that they had found a suitor today, which would be cue for Billups to breathe a huge sigh of relief. The veteran point guard should be playing for a contender come the postseason. An added bonus to the deal is that Billups will be reunited with former Denver Nuggets running mate Andrew Watson.

The Dallas Mavericks parted ways with 3-time All-Star Brad Miller, a future draft pick and cash considerations in order to acquire Billups. The point guard is averaging 16.2 ppg, 3.8 apg and 0.7 spg. He has played in 52 games this season; coming off the bench for all of them. His career averages are 15.9 ppg, 6.1 apg, 1.1 spg and 1206 games played. Billups could not be reached for comment.

Miller, averaging 3.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, is not expected to make a difference in Memphis and might in fact be waived so that he can return to Dallas.

Read More…

[dare]

So far its only Orlando and Dallas doing some major moves.

[The X]

Happy to be reunited with my good buddy. Hopefully we can gather some steam, make the playoffs & avoid the Stealth's side of the draw

[Larvae]

Wow! Awesome get for the Grizz

[The X]

Wow! Awesome get for the Grizz

And how is Memphis getting a washed up Brad Miller & a 1st round pick (in the 15-20 range) match up to the epicness of Billups coming to Dallas?

[Fresh8]

Still waiting on the Hova trade.

But will that eventuate?

hope the wiz deal the PF's not named Don elliot lmao

Don't think it's happening. What's on your side is that Elton Brand is getting old!

I was speed reading & almost thought they traded Dwight for Emeka. Should make the Magic one of the best defensive teams in the leauge.

Yep. The Magic have one of the best defensive inside combos now. Howard - Meka - Wallace. I think that weak PG play will be their heel. Their backup PG is hurt for the whole season. But will be interesting to see if they can make noise in the East!

That Magic team looks a lot better

I don't think they are. They lost a lot of depth to bring in a 34 year old who has played 17 seasons and a starting PF who can't score.

IIRC, Ricky had some huge games in the Playoffs like 3-4 years back? Or did he suck? He def made some headlines.

He had a few good games against us but most SFs do. Whether they are Brandon Roy or Travis Outlaw! (Says something about Kevin...)

:shock:

Just as I get my hopes up, Emeka comes and takes my starting spot. Typical.

Still, the magic have made some killer trades, giving me a nice supporting cast.

At least you might have moved up to 12th man

So far its only Orlando and Dallas doing some major moves.

Nice observation.

Happy to be reunited with my good buddy. Hopefully we can gather some steam, make the playoffs & avoid the Stealth's side of the draw

Yeah... so far I believe you are 9th/10th.

Wow! Awesome get for the Grizz

And how is Memphis getting a washed up Brad Miller & a 1st round pick (in the 15-20 range) match up to the epicness of Billups coming to Dallas?

He's thinking like a Kahn.

[Houndy]

Mavs have enough to be a 5 seed imo.

[Martti.]

Still waiting on the Hova trade.

But will that eventuate?

One can hope.

[Valor]

Otis Smith makes more splashy moves, why am I not surprised?
Billups should be good for the Mavs

[Fresh8]

Houndy - how do you know they're a 5 seed when there's these other teams better than them? Seattle, Sacramento, New Orleans, Golden State, Utah... then you also got the Lakers. Mavs are a 7 or 8 seed!

[Fresh8]

Is that the end of the Trade Deadline deals this season... or are there more? Stay tuned!

[Lamrock]

You're building up Dallas to be your rivals. Add L-Train to the Mavs mix and you'll continue to be eluded by that first title.

[shadowgrin]

L-Train is a choker like LeBron only with less talent, wait, make that no talent.

[Houndy]

Forgot 'bout them Sit... the West is stacked.

[Fresh8]

You're building up Dallas to be your rivals. Add L-Train to the Mavs mix and you'll continue to be eluded by that first title.

Dallas is definitely a more experienced veteran side now. But do they have enough time to gel?

L-Train is a choker like LeBron only with less talent, wait, make that no talent.

Definitely

[Fresh8]

Chapter 33

“Just chill,” Karl advised Ty.
“He…”
“Just chill,” Karl had cut off Ty.
Ty threw his right fist backwards in a downwards motion at whatever it would connect with. There was a thud as he hit a water bottle backwards into the wall. This is a fucking bullshit team to play for, Ty thought to himself. He began to wonder if he had made the right decision to stay in Seattle.
“Calm down,” Karl said and then walked away.
Ty sat down and pulled his jersey off. Rocky walked past and threw him a bottle of Gatorade. Ty caught it and unscrewed the top and started drinking.
“I’m pissed off man,” Ty exclaimed.
Rocky didn’t say anything as Ty sat there shaking his head.

“Ty!” Karl shouted; trying to get his attention.
The home crowd was tough to be heard over.
“I need you to lock in on Paul,” Karl instructed; referring to the Hornets’ point guard.
The Stealth were in a huddle. Durant was sitting on the bench away from the huddle and texting on his phone.
“You stick on Paul. Just let Kevin worry about the scoring,” Karl finished.
The players walked back out on the floor. Durant hopped off the bench and gave his coach a high five.
“And this is how it should be,” he smiled.
Durant brushed past Ty and knocked into him on purpose. Ty didn’t react. His job was to continue playing. He remembered the conversation with Rocky the night beforehand.
“Just be professional about everything,” Rocky had said to him.
“I don’t feel like this is the team for me to be on,” he told his best friend.
“Man, just get through it. We have a really great team here.”
“Winning won’t justify how crap they treat me around here.”
“People are grateful for you to be here man,” Rocky argued, “If they didn’t think you were a good player – you wouldn’t be here no more man. Just being real here.”
Ty paused.
“Everyone knows you’re a star man. Just get through this, we could win it all this season.”
Ty nodded, “We’ll see.”
Now Ty was on the court, waiting for the Hornets to get back out onto the floor, and thinking about whether he really wanted to win so bad that he would allow most of his teammates to belittle him every day. Was winning an NBA championship really worth it? Was being a good teammate worth it if he wasn’t getting the recognition he felt he deserved?
I’m a better player than him, Ty thought to himself, He can go fuck himself.
Ty held Chris Paul to 4 of 13 shooting but he struggled offensively. He was praised for his defence but equally criticised for his poor shot selection. Ty looked at the box score handed to him by Sheed.
“Tough night kid,” Sheed stated the obvious.

Ty had requested the meeting with Sit. Sit had invited Coach Karl as well as Magic Johnson. Ty was dressed in a suit. He was ready to take the next flight out that would take him to New Orleans for All-Star Weekend. Sit would be there to watch him along with the others but they would be taking a later flight.
“Had a good morning?” Sit began the meeting.
Ty nodded.
“So why did you want to meet us all today?”
Ty cleared his throat and announced, “I want to see if there’s a shot at moving me out of Seattle.”
Karl and Magic looked at each other but didn’t say anything. Sit just laughed.
“Let me make our team’s position clear,” Sit said matter of factly, “No one is being traded. That includes you. Ty, what makes our team so good is that we are a family. You and Kevin aren’t the best friends but you are like brothers. Brothers always pick on each other and that only brings out the best of each other.”
Ty couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Sit continued, “We have a really special team here. We could achieve so much together. It is not my intention to break the team up. I want you to stay here. So do Coach and Magic.”
Ty looked over at Karl and Magic. Both of them nodded at him. He looked back at Sit.
“Don’t ask me again to be traded out of here,” Sit said, “And I know that you are a professional. Act like one and help our basketball team win. If we don’t make it as far as I think we should – you can hold me to my word that things will change.”
After Ty had left the meeting, Sit turned to both Karl and Magic.
“What do you think things will change?” Karl asked him.
Magic added, “You should trade him. I don’t like his attitude.”
“He’s not sabotaging the team,” Sit defended Ty, “I’m not trading any of my players.”
Magic criticised Sit, “The culture in that locker room is toxic.”
“That toxic culture is helping us have a monster season,” Sit retorted.
“It’s getting hard to keep everyone on the same page,” Karl admitted, “After so long playing together, I think this team is coming to a crossroads. Even if we win it all this season, I don’t think we will be as successful next season.”
“But we will still be successful. I built this team to win,” Sit stated to Karl, “Maybe you need to do a better job coaching Coach.”
Sit was still bitter about losing the Head Coach position to his former Assistant.
“Sit, I think that George is right,” Magic took up the fight, “You’re going to need to trade Ty out of here. If it isn’t now, it will have to be in the Summer.”
“What if we win the title Magic?” Sit quizzed him.
Magic answered, “Ask me again if we do win it all.”

* * *

“I would like to congratulate the All-Star Most Valuable Player for 2014…”
The crowd in New Orleans was on its feet and cheering loudly as Ty stepped forward to receive his first piece of NBA silverware from David Stern. The instructions from Coach Karl were clear before the game. The players had to get the ball to Chris Paul; they wanted the hometown hero to win the accolade. However, it wasn’t to be as young guns Ty, Janis Kalnins and OJ Mayo wowed the crowd with their shooting, acrobatic moves, and overall performance. In fact, the young Latvian Timberwolf Kalnins had a strong case for the MVP award. Ty just dazzled more in an event tailored to his playing style. Ty held the award above his head in the air and the crowd began clapping for him. Durant slipped off the court and gone right back for the locker room. Ty later held a podium interview with the trophy and took questions about his performance.
“I wanted to show that I could shine in this event,” Ty told media, “I think people believe that I take these All-Star appearances for granted and that I get in because of popularity. I am happy that I proved that I am here based on merit too.”
“Ty, do you think that you can make an even bigger contribution to the Stealth for the second half of the season?” he was asked.
Ty was scratching the back of his neck and leaned forward, “I know my place in Seattle. It doesn’t matter who contributes as long as we are winning in the end. I am happy with my role there.”
“Can you guys win it all? Who are you main rivals?”
Ty sat up in his chair again, “I’m not going to name other teams but I will say this – Seattle are the team to beat. We have an amazing squad and I cannot wait to finish this season off.”
Sit was watching from the back of the room. If he could have, he would have pumped his fists in the air and shouted out very loud. Ty was showing signs of his hunger to win. The Stealth may still win it all yet.

“Chris Hova?” Charles Barkley didn’t even know who he was.
Sit was on a call with Barkley and a representative of the Toronto Raptors’ Head Office.
“He’s a good player,” Sit chimed in as the Raptors began talking about Hova’s leadership skills and point guard abilities.
“Then why hasn’t he helped you win?” Barkley was sceptical.
Sit knew the answer as he thought to himself, Bad GMing.
“I don’t know if I want to give up a draft pick for a guy who’s not even going to promise to stay in Phoenix if I traded for him,” Barkley made a point.
The Raptors’ representative told them, “Sit will add value to the deal but the centrepiece for you will be Hova. You’re getting the most out of this deal”
Sit continued, “Charles. Sit here. I can offer you David Lee.”
“Who for?” Charles sounded intrigued.
“Baron Davis…”

[Larvae]

Really really intriguing!

[shadowgrin]

What a weak All-Star edition that was if someone like Ty can win the MVP.
It's a good thing Durant played few minutes in that ASG. It would be embarrassing for him to be put alongside those "all-star" losers.



B-Diddy!

[George7]

That's Ty!! I hope he really improves after the ASW!

Baron Davis?Now that's really interesting...

[Fresh8]

Love your comment Shadow

[Martti.]

B-Diddy for a PF? Not so sure about that from the Suns point of view.

[rise]

Go Baron!

[kibaxx7]

I guess we need a player who can be on Ty's side Nice to see B-Diddy aboard, he will help Ty, if it happens.