While Chauncey Billups and Allen Iverson prepare to take the court with their new teammates tonight for the first time, Antonio McDyess is still stuck in limbo. Andy Miller, who represents both Billups and McDyess, said the odds of McDyess returning for his third stint with the Nuggets was "very, very low to zero." Despite Denver's initial stance that they wouldn't be open to a buyout (I can't believe anyone fell for that! Oh, wait ...), that's exactly what they're negotiating right now. It hasn't happened yet, but all signs suggest it will in the near future. Once he's a free agent, what does his future hold? Billups said during his introductory press conference that McDyess is "tired of moving," but is it a foregone conclusion that he returns to Detroit?
One thing is clear, if McDyess sits out 30 days and wants to re-sign with the Pistons, they'd love to have him back. And considering Detroit's all-world training staff helped resurrect his career, it might be the best thing for him. If he so chooses to test the waters, though, he'll have no shortage of interested suitors: the Boston Globe cites an NBA source who claims no fewer than 17 teams have inquired about his status.
McDyess has been hoping to cap his career with a championship, which would seem to make title-caliber teams front-runners. The Celtics have a $2.392 million midlevel exception they could offer McDyess. Other NBA power teams with lucrative exceptions available include Cleveland ($5.1 million), the Lakers ($5.5 million), San Antonio ($2.085 million), Orlando ($3 million), Houston ($4.5 million), Utah ($5.5 million), and Toronto ($4.3 million).McDyess could help any of those teams, but the one that jumps out at me the most is Orlando, who's been missing a legitimate power forward to compliment Dwight Howard since, well, forever. McDyess is a rugged interior defender and rebounder and could help prevent Howard from being overworked on both ends of the court. And while Howard is a dominant post-presence and Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu are dangerous three-point shooters, they don't have anyone with McDyess' reliable mid-range jumper. Orlando has a fair amount of money to offer, not to mention the fact that Florida doesn't have a state income tax.
For what it's worth, when Magic GM Otis Smith was asked about McDyess, he seemed to dismiss the possibility of going after him by suggesting he'd only have nominal interest. That doesn't necessarily mean anything (in fact, a definitive "yes! we want him!" could be construed as tampering until he's officially a free agent), but then again, the Magic have passed on going after a legitimate power forward in the past, so perhaps Smith simply doesn't see what I see.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
How the f does he not mention the Hornets as one of the teams. He doesnt fit into any other team better then he would with NO. Think about it and tell me im wrong. The only guys even worth mentioning on the bench at the PF and C spots for the Hornets are Armstrong (draft bust that looks a LITTLE BIT better this year) and Ely (who is a decent tuff backup). Thats it! Mcdyess would get his minutes for sure and still be on a really good contender. It would be (if not better) kinda like the Celtics signing of P.J. Brown last year, and you saw how much he played and helped in the playoffs. So that would be copying 2 moves , with the signing of Posey (which so far outside of the Brand trade is looking the best offseason move by any team), of a team that won the championship in large part to crucial 3 point makes, rebounds, and defensive stops that both Posey and P.J. Brown were a part of (and imagine that, that is EXCATLY what killed the Hornets in Game 7 against the Spurs, trust me i was there 10 rows off the court).
P.S. - 2 more reasons - Plus Chandler has already been out 2 outta 4 games. And we have a freakin roster spot just sittin there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!