SB Nation User Blog: Tony_O

So Long Stephane Veilleux

Tony_O — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:48:26 -0000

So Long Stephane Veilleux

Posted Via Twitter, the Bolts have signed LW Stephane Veilleux who was with the Minnesota Wild last season. Veilleux had 23 points in 81 games last year... And was a minus 17.

R.I.P Steve McNair

Tony_O — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:42:16 -0000

Never played for the Vikings..but this is a true tragedy..RIP!

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Former Titans quarterback Steve McNair has been killed. Police said McNair suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head in downtown Nashville.

The incident happened near 2nd South & Lea Ave. Police said it looked like a double homicide. A female victim was also found dead.

Stay with NewsChannel5.com for more information as it becomes available.

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=10643962

Rubio to stay in spain for the next 2 years??????

Tony_O — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:37:13 -0000

NOOOO!....

It's from a spanish news station so i don't know whether to believe it or not..so take it for what its worth folks, although nothing is outta the relm of possibility.

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/60284/20090702/rubio_will_stay_in_spain_for_two_seasons/#

According to a report from El Periodico, Ricky Rubio has decided not to come over to the United States to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves and will remain with DKV Joventut for the next two seasons.

Gordon Signs with the Pistons..

Tony_O — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:05:42 -0000

The Detroit Pistons have reached agreement with free-agent guard Ben Gordon (notes) on a five-year contract worth around $55 million, a source with knowledge of the talks told Yahoo! Sports Wednesday evening.

The Pistons are continuing to negotiate with forwardCharlie Villanueva (notes).

July 8 is the first day free agents can sign contracts.

Gordon and Villanueva, who played together for a year at UConn, traveled to Detroit on Wednesday morning to meet with Detroit president Joe Dumars.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-gordonpistons070109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Big Trades Go Down..

Tony_O — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:37:31 -0000

Rangers Send Scott Gomez, Tom Pyatt and Mike Busto to the Canadiens for Chris Higgins, Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko.

and apparently Buzz Eklund is reporting that Ottawa has shipped Danny Heatley to the Rangers...don't know what for at this point..More to follow.

Please Wild..do something this off-season...Brodziak was a decent start. now go get us a superstar!..Sake would be a nice Follow up...Or Better yet.BRING ME THE SEDINS!

Potential Wild players Update #1: From Russo's Twitter: Contrary to reports, Havlat did not re-sign with Chicago; Fedotenko not done with Pittsburgh either; Bouwmeester did sign with CGY

and Eklund's Twitter is saying Havlat to Montreal..i don't know what to believe..i'd rather trust Russo though.

Wolves Turn Down a deal including Shane Battier and Aaron Brooks.

Tony_O — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:02:42 -0000

How high is Kahn on Rubio to turn down this deal?..i would take this without thinking

Ricky Rubio was reportedly in Minnesota this weekend to meet with Wolves GM David Kahn, whose decision to draft the Spanish guard is looking better by the minute.

Mitch Lawrence in Sunday's Daily News reported that the Wolves turned down a deal with the Houston Rockets that would have resulted in Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier headed to Minnesota for Rubio.

If the Wolves are receiving those types of offers—Brooks and Battier were starters on a playoff team - do the Knicks really have much of a chance to get Rubio? Donnie Walsh is offering Wilson Chandler but that's not going to get it down. Walsh originally offered Chandler to Washington to get the fifth pick last week.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/knicks/2009/06/knicks-dont-have-knack-to-land.html#ixzz0Jq6fLmRj&D

Rubio,Father and Kahn Meet in Minneapolis Saturday?

Tony_O — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:36:57 -0000

This is from the St Paul Pioneer Press...Very Interesting Information...

A little birdie said Ricky Rubio and his father were to fly to Minneapolis on Saturday to quietly meet with Timberwolves President David Kahn, who was to welcome the team's top draft pick to Minnesota and chat about beginning his NBA future here.

The Wolves don't plan to exert any pressure on Rubio, the draft's No. 5 overall pick, to sign with them. But they will do what they can to accommodate the flashy point guard from Spain without interfering with his current contract status.

Rubio, 18, was paid just $97,000 last season to play with his Spanish team, which wants him to remain in his homeland so much that it attached a $6.6 million buyout to his contract. The Wolves have no control over Rubio's contract, but he's considering going to court to get the amount of the buyout reduced as well as negotiating with his team for a buyout reduction.

The maximum, by NBA rules, that the Wolves could contribute toward a buyout is $500,000. Even if there is a reduction, it's expected that Rubio would have to pay at least several million dollars himself.

How would he do that on a $97,000 salary?

Signing with the Wolves would guarantee Rubio approximately $6 million his first two seasons. Assuming he were to sign a four-year contract, as expected, the Wolves would have restricted rights for an additional two seasons, and that would be worth nearly $8 million more.

It's expected that Rubio would be allowed to pay his buyout over several years. Conventional wisdom

http://www.twincities.com/ci_12705123?source=most_viewed

Negotiations under way with Knicks for Rubio Deal?

Tony_O — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:06:49 -0000

According to the Spanish News Station Marca.com via Hoops Hype.com

http://hoopshype.com/rumors.htm

The Best-Case scenario for Rubio, and Marca.com can confirm that negotiations are underway,is a Trade with the Knicks. The Two Likely Candidates for the Trade are David Lee and Nate Robinson..While apparently the Timberwolves knew that Rubio wasn't going to play for them when they picked him.

I figured i'd just put the hoops hype link to save you guys the trouble of trying to translate spanish.

I Don't Know..If we could Resign Both Lee and Kryptonate...I Might not be against this deal...

Dear God....

Tony_O — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:12:35 -0000

This is from Mike Baldwin of the Oklahoman.

   The latest rumor out of Minnesota, according to a source that follows the Timberwolves, is they might want to trade the No. 5 and 18 picks to Oklahoma City for the No. 3 pick. The latest twist is Minnesota’s target is Tyreke Evans, not Ricky Rubio or Hasheem Thabeet.

      Sacramento, which picks No. 4, is believed to have Evans at the top of its board. Minnesota might feel compelled to move up to take Evans but doesn’t want to give up the No. 5 and No. 6 picks to Memphis to get Evans since that would be a high price, especially since they also have interest in Rubio and Thabeet.

       If Oklahoma City GM Sam Presti were to trade down to No. 5, would Sacramento take Rubio at No. 4? The Kings probably would have no choice. They also might be willing to trade the pick to the Knicks or another team, although those teams don’t have extra draft picks.

       If the Thunder does trade down and has the No. 5 pick — and Rubio and Thabeet are both off the board — the question would then become does Presti prefer James Harden or Stephen Curry.

       If Rubio were still available at No. 5, what would Presti do, draft and keep Rubio or trade down a second time?

http://blog.newsok.com/nbainokc/2009/06/24/latest-minnesota-rumor/

If this is true..So help me god..if we trade for the #3 and Rubio or Thabeet are on the Board....How can we pass on that!..Tyreke Evans at #3? Sweet Jesus..

#28 Pick sold to the Kincks?

Tony_O — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:01:33 -0000

#28 Pick sold to the Kincks?

according to Zgoda at the Star Trib...Hmm that just took out what could have been a key deal to moving up for #2 or #3.