Teletopez

Other than how he handled that week of free agency (which is almost two years old now), I don't see anything significant for which he should apologize. I don't like the guy, but there's no denying that he's subject to unwarranted hate because he chose to place himself in a better contending situation.

Really happy for Mets fans. Funny because I hated Pedro Martinez and was thrilled to see him lose his no-hit bid years ago and keep the Mets' streak going. But last night was brilliant. Especially cool to see it thrown by Santana after his rocky health road.

If you define "face" as the player who would first be associated with the NBA by any person, I think it's definitely Kobe. He's been around long enough to establish his name across the globe, through the NBA championships and the Team USA runs. And at the same time, he is still playing at an All-Star level to maintain that status.

To fire Billy King as a result of two gambles failing is not judging him properly. That's punishing him. We have to look for what is in the best interest of our future rather than send him a message for making a bad move. Regardless of how this Deron roller coaster ends up, we all knew the risks at the time of the trade, and I was all for it. My opinion is not changing on that trade. I would not associate that with the Crash trade at all. I love Wallace, and I admired his hustle well before he came to the Nets because he tended to show more effort than the whole Nets' team at times when he was with Charlotte. But the trade in February 2011 was far more necessary (I believe I gave BK more credit than he deserved this past March. Unless we keep both Wallace and Williams, the March 15 trade was probably a disaster). We're talking about earning ourselves a year and some change to convince not an all-star, but a superstar, to stay. That's worth it when the biggest name you're capable of acquiring in New Jersey otherwise is Travis Outlaw. With that reasoning, I see it as one excellent gamble, one not so much. I feel as if Nets fans imprudently want to punish the GM.

Necessary for us to have some sort of recognition heading into Brooklyn. Compared to our original situation, of course I would rather have Melo, but keep in mind that once you have a superstar and are in New York, fans are not going to settle for "at least." There is no way we'd be beating a Knicks' team with D-Will, STAT, and cap space with a team of Melo, Lopez, and company. You have to take the right gambles. Deron joined us with two injured wrists, and this past season, we had the most games missed out of any team in the league. Missing the playoffs doesn't fall on King. D-Will was the only reason we even had a shot at Dwight.

A gamble in February 2011 was 100% necessary. That's what separates that from the Crash trade, at least according to what has transpired thus far.

You think the D-Will trade was bad?! Dude, that move was 100% necessary. If Deron were to leave, I would still consider that trade brilliant. Hindsight is 20/20. At that time, we were relying on Derrick Favors living up to expectations, and he was the centerpiece of our future. You need a lot of luck to build through the draft. Just imagine if we dumped our whole team and draft picks for Melo's bulky contract under this new CBA. The Knicks would be partying with D-Will and STAT right now.

Trades? It's just this trade. He still drafts extremely well, and he appears to have kept Deron happy. He's way better than Thorn if you ask me.

No thanks. Trade is a disaster unless both Crash and Deron stay, but I don't think that warrants the firing of BK at all.

If/when the security guards attempt to shock you with a taser, remind them of who you are: the moderator and game thread-creator in the baseball forum on OTR. They'll let you off easy.

This is the first sports message board on which I ever posted and will probably be the last. Since I joined, I have never seen a forum run with the level of dedication seen from Brandon. I haven't contributed much in recent history, but there was always something special about this community. It's a shame it has to end this way.

Ah. Is he considered the most coveted free agent this summer?

Wow, so Parise would consider signing with New York this summer?

Sam Amick's article from earlier today said his preference is Brooklyn. Deron also said it himself: 90% chance I stay, just surround me with talent. In other words, he's making a basketball decision, but he would most like for the team with the best basketball situation to be the Nets.

His preference is Brooklyn. If we land Dwight or the number one pick, we know for sure he's staying.

By the way, if the Nets land a #2 or #3 pick, I wouldn't be surprised if they end up trading it.

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If the Nets land the first pick, I think D-Will is locked up either way.

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A significant amount of Florida "fans" (not necessarily majority, but still a lot) are the same fans who appear to begin paying attention to the team in April, so I don't make much of the radio lines being jammed with people bashing Wade. If the Heat were to deal Wade, I wouldn't be surprised if rumors returned about LeBron having his eye on a Cleveland return, depending on who Miami adds to convince him to stay put.

Gotta wonder whether the early start had a huge effect on both teams' offenses.

What. A. Series. I wonder if we have another opening faceoff fight on Monday, haha. Braden Holtby had quite a series. Looks like he's set up for a bright future.

I wanted Soriano in the closer role following the Mo injury (didn't want to disrupt Robertson's flow in the eighth inning role, plus Soriano had experience as a closer), but now that Robertson is in the spot, keep him there. I expect it to continue to be a rocky road, but hey, if he's in our long-term plans as a closer, we have to prepare him at one point or another. Mo blew three of his first six saves in the closer role.