Could Uncertainty Among USA Bigs Be Opportunity for Lopez?
by Net Income on Jul 20, 2010 4:22 PM EDT
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PrintThe big who was the most likely lock for Team USA has had to withdraw and new prospects have been added in the national team training camp roster last several days. Does that mean Brook Lopez is more likely to make the final cut and get to the FIBA World Championships next month?
Amare Stoudemire was forced to drop out Tuesday after the Knicks asked him to. The problem: the Knicks' insurer didn't want him playing. The insurer already had doubts about writing a policy on Stoudemire's $100 million contract with New York because of his previous knee and eye injuries.
Moreover, with Dwight Howard resting and Kendrick Perkins recovering from a torn ACL, Team USA has been adding players upfront: in the last week bringing in Robin Lopez, Brook's brother; Tyson Chandler; and JaVale McGee. The team held its first training session Tuesday in Las Vegas.
Now comes word that Robin, too, has dropped out, making Brook's chances of making the team--and starting--almost certain.
- Knicks Keep Stoudemire Off National Team - Jonathan Abrams - New York Times
- Knicks Keep Stoudemire Off National Team - AP
- Amar'e Stoudemire, Robin Lopez to Skip World Championships - Chris Tomasson - FanHouse
- Robin Lopez latest to pull out of Team USA - Kurt Helin - NBC Sports
- Another Early Setback for Team USA - John Schuhmann - NBA.com
- Warriors' Lee injures middle finger - Chris Sheridan - ESPN
- NETS: Lopez Looking to Make USA Basketball Cut - Ben Couch - New Jersey Nets
- Redeem Team out of sight, out of mind - Chris Sheridan - ESPN
- Durant aims for golden moment at worlds - Marc J. Spears - Yahoo! Sports
- USA begins building a whole new team this week in Vegas - John Schuhmann - NBA.com
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Brook is the only true center there
very nice opportunity for lopez….He should start ahead of chandler and Mcgee
"I want to win, I want the team to win and I'm in complete control."
-Coach Avery Johnson.
not to wish anything bad on any of the other players
But I would really love to see Brook get his chance. This would be a major confidence booster for him and the upcoming season.
What would suck is if the team is poorly & hastily assembled
Team USA puts out a poor showing and this might make Brook look bad.
We know Brook is a bright nascent All-Star, but because he’s a Net so he doesn’t get proper national recognition and respect amongst the media and potential FAs.
Here’s to hoping Team USA does well and Brook showcases his talents this summer!!!
I sort of wish Brook would drop out as well
seems like he won’t have much of a team with him. Is Derrick Rose playing?
"No one stands on the top of the world. Not you, not me, not even gods. But the unbearable vacancy of the throne in the sky is over. From now on...I will be sitting on it."
Yeah
Kevin Durant is there, Rudy Gay,I believe J-Kidd still,Curry,Billups,Danny Granger others…But the thing is other teams like Germany is not going to have Dirk, Argentina Ginobli and others, so international field will be weak as well.
ah
I forgot about Kevin Durant. We should be alright.
"No one stands on the top of the world. Not you, not me, not even gods. But the unbearable vacancy of the throne in the sky is over. From now on...I will be sitting on it."
by MrDollarBills on Jul 20, 2010 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I'm starting to think i know this might be crazy talk to some
But I would rather have Durant than Lebron.
by Atronic on Jul 20, 2010 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
kid seems like a class act so far
just needs to get his weight up a bit and become more of a killer in the playoffs.
"No one stands on the top of the world. Not you, not me, not even gods. But the unbearable vacancy of the throne in the sky is over. From now on...I will be sitting on it."
by MrDollarBills on Jul 20, 2010 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't think Kidd is playing
last I heard he was there in an advisory role
by Taylor Bartle on Jul 20, 2010 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Isn't Brook still "recovering" from his mono?
Not recovering from the illness, but recovering as far as his conditioning goes.
I hope he sits on this one too, we don’t want to lose him if he decides to play with someone like what the 3 stooges did.
Also, it’s amazing someone still insured Amare, Knicks got lucky there. Do insurer’s have a right to view player’s medical records?
"Beat the Heat!"
the Nets has King n James
it might actually be better for him not to sit
it will get him back into basketball shape faster
I want Jerry Manuel fired now, not three years from now. That is my stance.- John Peterson
I agree. It would force him to start conditioning sooner and be more prepared and confident for start of season.
Only downside is if he is given too many minutes.
Someone needs to speak up to limit his minutes to about 25 per game.
But realistically, Team USA is gonna get beat this summer
I just hope this doesn’t reflect poorly on Brook
even if they do get beat
Getting to play against the world’s best players would have to bode well for Brook and his development.
Yeah but
The international field is just as watered down, none of the big time NBA players are going to play, Bogut,Yao,Dirk, Ginobli etc.
watch the first practice...
NBA TV Real Training Camp from 3pm to 5pm then replayed from 5pm to 7pm. It’s mostly interviews so far and running through basic plays.
Doesn’t look like Lopez has gained all the weight back, but maybe that’s just me.
wish brothers lopez were on the nets
"I want to win, I want the team to win and I'm in complete control."
-Coach Avery Johnson.
Well, just re-locate the finger, and getting him back in there!
I want to see DLee playing next to Lopez, even if only for Team USA.
Was it his shooting hand?
Important games aren’t for a few weeks anyway.
not his shooting hand...
The announcers were speculating that the figure was dislocated and he did look to be in pain, but shouldn’t be anything major…trainer was with him on the sideline.
by BKNfastbreak on Jul 20, 2010 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Funny
“So you’ll see Brook Lopez starting at the five for Team USA, with JaVale McGee and what’s left of Tyson Chandler’s knees as the backups. So, look for Team USA to use some small lineups with David Lee or Kevin Love at the five spot.” Via NBC Sports
DLee at center will work better
Chandler has no offense. JaYale could be great in international play.
This would be my starting 5 for team usa
Chauncey Billups
Gerald Wallace
Kevin Durant
David Lee
Brook Lopez
"I want to win, I want the team to win and I'm in complete control."
-Coach Avery Johnson.
I think one of the points that might go unnoticed here is the relationships players build while participating on these teams. As we just saw with Lebron, Wade, and Bosh, their plan of playing on the same team started when they were playing together in the 2006 FIBA World Championships and 2008 Olympics. It might be nice for Brook to take part in this and build good relationships with these players, so that hopefully another really good young player might want to come play with him on the Nets.
or Brook might bail
and wind up in OKC to play with Durant or something
by Taylor Bartle on Jul 20, 2010 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
this is how things work out for the nets isn't it
sigh
I want Jerry Manuel fired now, not three years from now. That is my stance.- John Peterson
Why would Robin be on the tam before Brook in the first place????
Since the face been revealed the game got real
Yes, that would have been embarrassing if someone played Robin ahead of Brook.
If playing together, Robin should Shave, get a Scowl, wear the same number and confuse the heck out of the opposition!
Better yet, play them at the same time. Opponent would drive by one Lopez, only to be blocked by the 2nd Twin!
Who will play next to Brook on the Nets?
The question is who is going to play alongside Brook on the Nets?
Only real Power Forward nets had interest in was Tyrus Thomas after all the Super stars were so they are looking for someone athletic, Mid Range Jump shot, Plays above the rim, can rebound and is young with years in the league and comes cheap which Thomas didn’t
Tim Thomas
Brian Scalabrine
Theo Ratliff
Malik Allen
Kwame Brown
Anthony Tolliver
Brian Skinner
Josh Powell
Steven Hunter
Kurt Thomas
Jonathan Bender
Earl Barron
Etan Thomas
Fransisco Elson
Luis Almundson
Sean May
James Singleton
Ike Diogu
James Singleton
and
Josh Powell
Only two left that fill those needs.
You forgot Troy Murphy, who was a 15-10 guy last year for Indiana.
I don’t know if Indiana would part with him cheaply (draft picks), but he has an expiring $12 million contract.
As long as Nets didn’t realistically expect Melo to fall into their hands before the end of the season, Troy is a safe bet for a bigger PF who can help at Center too and also spread the offense. Troy kills the Nets with his timely 3s.
Of course most teams wishing to trade a star to the Nets would want Favors, in which case Murphy would be adequate by himself.
The Guy Playing next to Lopez is.....
DERRICK FAVORS
and lets keep it that way i understand hes not ready but lets just start him you never know he can put up good numbers
"Avery Johnson: Erase to Replace"
Wall2KingJames to JamesSucks
by Wall2KingJames on Jul 20, 2010 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the way Avery is talking, he would rather start Hump, rather that put too much pressure on Favors.
They could have 12 fouls between them by Q3, so I’m sure Avery will get someone else.
Being too picky, especially about age, could result in a Big mistake.
An older expiring (Murphy is 30), buys the Nets time to put off for another year.
If Nets satisfied every position now, then what would be the purpose to have all those future draft picks, if there was no position to fill?
Maybe Favors will surprise and be ready to start in a year?
This is a Great Opportunity for Brook to show his Game World Wide
I really like the Idea of Brook Lopez playing for Team USA its going to help his game alot
on the Defense and Offense Ends
I really cant Wait to watch Lopez play against these other Bigs in Turkey
GO USA!!!!
My 2010 USA team
PG-Billups/Curry
SG-Durant/Mayo
SF-Iguodala/Granger/Gay
PF-Odom/Love/Lee
C-Lopez/Chandler
Lets bring the World Championship GOLD HOME BOYS
"Avery Johnson: Erase to Replace"
Wall2KingJames to JamesSucks
I think...
Love Odom next to Brook. I hope he steps up as well. Rondo is out there too.
From past Seasons it seems that the TEAM USA practices and overall experiences made better players of all who participated. It seemed to mature them all and give them more TEAM focus. I hope this will push Brook to the Next Level.
PG-Billups/Rondo/Curry
SG-Durant/Mayo
SF-Granger/Gay/Iguodala/
PF-Odom//Lee/Love
C-Lopez/Chandler
The NETS are coming!
the amare thing
isn’t entirely true. Knicks are working on insuring the last four years of his contract, but the first year is already insured.
We were just talking about Amare a couple of days ago.
Some of us were hoping he would put some wear on his fragile knee. during the Olympics.
I had thought that the Knicks couldn’t insure his knee, but you say that 1st year is already insured? Is it from a prior agreement.
Knicks fans have good reason to be concerned with this $100 million acquisition.
There were reports of “tingling” in his knee, which was supposed to be a sign that another operation was necessary at some time in the future. Maybe he should just get the operation over with now, and report to the 2-25 Knicks at the beginning of January (LOL).
they couldn't insure past 3 years
I want Jerry Manuel fired now, not three years from now. That is my stance.- John Peterson
maybe Brook can be our Wade
and convince top NBA talent to come to the Nets in a few years…
ok, i’ll shut up now.
Good Point!
If Brook is ready by mid-August, then he really could get some stars interested in coming to Nets.
Problem is that RGay is already signed up and who else is playing who could potentially join the Nets?
Isn’t Melo tied up with something too? CP3 is recovering from surgery, etc., etc., etc.
This is becoming real embarrassing for Coach K., with everyone making excuses and not thinking of their country first.
"Hey Kevin,"
“Want to come over to my place and place some D&D? I’ll even let you be dungeon master.”
play*
but in all seriousness, I would love to see Brook convince some of the other team U.S players to come to Newark (or Brooklyn in 2 years(.
brook is like a goofy comic book reading giant
only persuading he does is on the court
Stoudemire couldn't get his contract insured
but there’s no risk right knicks fans.
I want Jerry Manuel fired now, not three years from now. That is my stance.- John Peterson
+100 million
I know they were so scared, but thats no big deal he played a full season last year he is no longer an injury concern (face palm)
Since the face been revealed the game got real
lol
"No one stands on the top of the world. Not you, not me, not even gods. But the unbearable vacancy of the throne in the sky is over. From now on...I will be sitting on it."
by MrDollarBills on Jul 21, 2010 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Brook may take a giant leap in 2011
Avery will dump the ball to Brook early and often. Thats how he played with the Spurs and thats how he Coached the Mavericks. Brook will over the 20 pt mark and closer to the 10 rebounf mark now that there will be structure to team defense,
According to John Schuhman above, Brook is behind Chandler and David Lee for the BIG (5) position.
Seems Brook isn’t getting any respect.
Even though he argues that the Olympic Four is almost an NBA Three, that doesn’t mean that the FIVE should really be a Four like DLee or someone with bad knees like Chandler.
wtf chandler?
I want Jerry Manuel fired now, not three years from now. That is my stance.- John Peterson
well i guess i can semi understand that
if they’re planning on running…problem is who do they have to run with?
I want Jerry Manuel fired now, not three years from now. That is my stance.- John Peterson
how the hell is tyson “no knees” chandler goigng to run
by Sparklespice on Jul 20, 2010 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions
wow I was confusing him with Channing Frye
yeah, I don’t get it.
I want Jerry Manuel fired now, not three years from now. That is my stance.- John Peterson
I'm not going to worry
Coach K, Jerry, and D’Antoni are better at spotting talent than this Schuhman guy.
BTW, Richard Jefferson is about to sign a mult-year contract with the Spurs - how embarrassing.
Now RJ has to go back to the team that hurt his reputation, and will now be the 4th or 5th option in salary also.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Jefferson_will_re-sign_Tuesday_with_Spurs_98860444.html
Terms not disclosed yet, but could be around 6 million per, after 15 million last year.
Spurs always seem to get good deals, although I would prefer DJames to taking RJ back.
I think that’s what he was realistically looking for. Just a long term commitment before the CBA was out. Had he gotten a bigger contract from the Nets, Clippers or Knicks, that would’ve been a bonus.
I don't think so
RJ could have gotten a similar deal after the CBA. Even if it was $1m less per year (about 20% based on $5m-6m per), that still doesn’t make up for the $15m on the last year.
RJ should shoot himself in the head.
My feeling is that RJ now realizes that he would rather be a "big fish" in a small pond (Nets, Bucks), that a "small fish" in a big pond (Spurs).
However, because of lack of interest, RJ now will be a be a “small fish” and will be treated like one. How embarrassing!
Now he has to get people to believe he really wanted to play for Spurs and get humiliated by the coach and fans every night. If this was his goal, he should have re-negotiated BEFORE opting out. He would have gotten a better deal.
if I were RJ, I'd hunt down Thorn
OK, granted Thorn made the draft day trade that brought in RJ and it (the team with Kidd) made his career. But then, Thorn went ahead and awarded RJ a ridiculous contract that, in hindsight, I am certain both Thorn and RJ regrets to this day. The $78m albatross forced Thorn to unload it to the Bucks for Bobby Simmons and Yi (which amounted to absolutely NOTHING). As for RJ, the past 2 years in Milwaukee and SanAntonio were probably the most miserable years of RJ’s life. And RJ even opted out the last year of that contract!
Thank you Thorn!!!
If you look at the demands from both sides, the new CBA will fall somewhere in the middle. There will be smaller contracts for “role players” and fewer guaranteed years. He will be 31 next year. I don’t see him getting a 4 year deal that’s completely guaranteed. So even if he got a 4/$20-4 million deal, it’s likely that there will be one or more not fully guaranteed years. Right now it looks like the total he’ll get will be about the same as if he hadn’t opted out. Unless you think RJ could net 4 years with all 4 guaranteed, I don’t see his decision as one that would warrant him shooting himself in the head. rofl
Off topic, sorry
I posted this in another thread but I don’t think anyone’s reading anymore over there…:
If the Nets were to pry Paul away from NO for TWill, CLee, Picks, Cash, would the following lineup work in your opinions?
Paul, Harris, Outlaw, Favors, Lopez
or would we then use Harris as a chip for either a SG or PF? I really don’t think it makes sense to trade for a PF with a big, long contract because Favors is going to be really good IMO. Remember that he had no real guard with ability at GTech…. imagine having at least Harris with the possibility of Paul.
So my question is then who do you trade Harris for? Is Morrow enough at the 2 guard position to start or is he a bench guy? Do you trade him to Indiana for Granger? Could he play 2 guard?
by corky_romano4life on Jul 20, 2010 9:11 PM EDT reply actions
I would think Harris would be a part of that trade
by nwkiddnj on Jul 20, 2010 9:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
To New Orleans?
I thought that they wouldn’t want Harris because he is owed $27 million over the next three years. It’s all about cap relief, no? Plus they have Collison who looked pretty darn good in Paul’s absence.
by corky_romano4life on Jul 20, 2010 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions
If Paul is healthy...
… Hornets want to move Okafur in a package.
If he’s not, it’s not worth making the trade.
How about
Nets get: Chris Paul, Danny Granger
Hornets Get: Terrence Williams, Courtney Lee, Troy Murphy
Pacers Get: Devin Harris, Emeka Okafor
by corky_romano4life on Jul 20, 2010 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Wait until DJames gets a chance. Nets may no longer long for Granger.
DJames will never have the offense of Granger, but rest of his game may be better someday.
And I don’t trust Chris Paul’s knee. He may be holding back the pain.
The moment NO tries to trade Paul, other teams will be suspicious.
When NO was saying that CP3 wasn’t for sale, may have been the best thing to make other teams want him.
When Phoenix didn’t want to sign Amare long term, it was a sign that his knee may be a problem within a few years.
That pic of Brook and Robin
looks like the before and after of the wolfman..lol.
Brook looks a little light. I hope he doesn’t get worn down for the season.. Mono keeps you tired…
lol
i wanna see Lopez dunks on other international big men.
by Jarkid Shen on Jul 20, 2010 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Can't Brook make friends with some USA players and concoct a plan for 2012?
Avery can meet with Paul and tell him to pay homage to Drazen Petrovic by changing his number and declaring that #3 should hang from the rafters of every stadium to respect the greatest international superstar of all time.
Coach K tinkering with Rudy Gay as the 5???
Brook should just drop out. This is nonsense.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/07/21/sports/AP-BKO-US-Lee-Out.html?_r=1
One of the lineups Krzyzewski looked at was comprised of guards Rajon Rondo, Chauncey Billups and Kevin Durant, and forwards Rudy Gay and Lamar Odom, with Gay playing where Stoudemire would have been.
‘’On paper, it’s not the way to choose a team,‘’ Krzyzewski said. ’’I mean you look at it and then you watch it. That’s what we’re trying to do as coaches; say what we now need to watch, and with Lee being gone we even had Durant at a 4. We’re going to be an unconventional team.
‘’Or don’t call any of them anything. You could have (forward Jeff) Green, Gay and Odom in the front line and who is the 3, 4 or 5? That’s what I mean about unconventional. That’s kind of what we’re looking at with the guards, and Durant being the pillar we can start building the team on, and I think Odom. So, how do you mix them up? That is what we are trying to do.’’
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