Transcript of today's chat with Pistons writer Vince Ellis
Free Press Staff

"12:29 Freep: Great ... we've already gotten lots of questions so let's get to it ...


12:29 Dennis Ross: Do any of this years picks look like legit reserves that may challenge for playing time, this year.

12:30: Vince Ellis: To quote assistant Darrell Walker, Summer is NBA-ready. I think Jerebko may get lost in the numbers game but he can play. Daye has shown a great court presence, but he's a year away.


12:30 ea: Will detroit end up tradeing rip or prince, or both?

12:31 Vince Ellis: I would guess no right now, but that's a guess. From what a source told me yesterday, don't rule anything out when it comes to free agency.


12:31 Ricky Currey: What do you think will be Joe Dumars next move? (Trade or FA)

12:32 Vince Ellis: I would guess FA, but again it's just a guess.


12:32 Sam (Macomb): There is a rumor that Pistons might send Rip to Atlanta for Joe Johnson, is there any merit to this?

12:32: Vince Ellis: Hadn't heard that one. Everything I've heard is efforts to get a big man.

12:33 Vince Ellis: Johnson ain't that, lol."

Transcript of today's chat with Pistons writer Vince Ellis | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press


Carlos Boozer: 'I Will Be Traded'
Tom Ziller - Fanhouse

"That salvo in large type came in a Carlos Boozer interview on ESPN's Chicago affiliate. Last weekend, the Salt Lake Tribune cited Jazz sources claiming Boozer had a ticket for the first train outta Utah. Boozer's confirmation is icing, and we ought to get used to the thought: Boozer opted in, but the Jazz are opting out.

The thrust of Boozer's appearance on a Chicago-based show emphasizes the current conventional wisdom, that the Bulls would be the best depot for the Booz Train to pull into. It will, of course, be tricky, as Utah needs to expunge salary while earning even a minor, minor prize in the swap. The Bulls are well over the cap this season, so a third team must get involved. Who could it be?

But there are other options for Chicago and Utah to turn toward. Like Sacramento, Memphis or Oklahoma City, who all sit on cap space. Portland's the easiest friend in cap terms, but all three young rosters could be willing to help the Bulls get a post scorer while helping Utah get out of trouble."

Carlos Boozer: 'I Will Be Traded' -- NBA FanHouse


Latest chatter: A.I., Odom and others
Marc Stein - ESPN

"The early sense I get is that the Mavericks have little interest in using their midlevel exception -- which is back in their possession after Orlando confirmed its intention to match a five-year, $34 million offer to Gortat -- to play the restricted free-agent game again with Boston's Glen Davis.


Detroit, by contrast, really covets Big Baby, whose modest $711,517 salary last season didn't stop him from stepping in admirably for injured Kevin Garnett in the playoffs. The Pistons' problem is that their offer can start in only the $3 million range compared with $5.9 million in Dallas' case, raising the obvious fear that the rival Celtics could tie up the Pistons' money for seven days, then match."

NBA free agents: The latest chatter on Allen Iverson, Lamar Odom - ESPN


Boozer on WMVP: I'm going to be traded
Mike McGraw - Herald

"Q: Are you set on free agency (in 2010)?
A: I’d definitely be open to signing an extension and be locked into a team. Obviously, one that wanted me to be there in the future and one I thought would have a chance to succeed. That would be something me and my agent would explore right away.
Q: Could you influence Dwayne Wade to come to Chicago?
A: Well, me and D-Wade are very close. We talk quite a bit, but that’s a decision he has to make with himself and obviously if I did come to the Bulls … I’d love to have D-Wade play for us. At the same time, D-Wade is like me and wants to win a championship bad. If I was able to go to the Bulls and get D-Wade to come, we’d be right there at the top of the list.

Q: Can you stay healthy?
A: Absolutely. I’ve had a couple of spells, injuries that I can’t control, but my body feels 100 percent. I’m healthy and doing really well. I’m looking forward to next season so much to prove to everybody that I can play through the whole season and at the same time to dominate again, so I’m looking forward to it."

Boozer on WMVP: I'm going to be traded | DailyHerald.com Blogs


Bench may be biggest hurdle in Iverson-to-Clips deal
David Aldridge - TNT - NBA.Com

"Pistons eyeing 'Big Baby?'

Meanwhile, the Pistons, no longer among the Eastern Conference's power teams, are trying to build a new team on the fly, and will try to add anther piece in the next week at the expense of one of their old rivals, the Boston Celtics. A Monday trade of guards Arron Afflalo and Walter Sharpe to the Denver Nuggets was done to help make a run at Celtics restricted free agent forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis, according to several sources.

But the Pistons will have trouble creating enough cap room in order to make a serious run at Davis, who starred for the Celtics in Kevin Garnett's absence in the playoffs. After Monday's trade, which cleared an additional $1.8 million in cap room, Detroit only has eight players under contract, not including its three drafted players -- Austin Daye, DeJuan Summers and Jonas Jurebko. (The Pistons will keep all three of their rookies.) "

NBA.com: Bench may be biggest hurdle in Iverson-to-Clips deal

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