Spurs may try to add McDyess
Brak Huerta, SpursReport
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Since Antonio McDyess was waived Monday by the Denver Nuggets, the door has been opened for the Spurs to try to land the suddenly most-coveted free agent, but his return to the Pistons remains the most likely scenario.
The forward/center was one of three players sent to Denver last week in the trade between the Detroit and Denver for Allen Iverson, but he never played for the Nuggets.
After he clears waivers Wednesday, McDyess can sign immediately with any team except the Pistons.
There are reports that the Spurs are likely to join the hunt that McDyess' agent says already includes 20 teams.
Much like the Brent Barry situation last season, NBA rules say McDyess must wait 30 days before he can rejoin his former team.
Pistons president Joe Dumars and coach Michael Curry have said they want him back. And he would have an important role as the primary post threat on the second unit.
The Boston Globe has reported that the Celtics, Lakers, Cavaliers, Hornets, Raptors, Rockets, and Suns are among those interested. However, an NBA source very close to McDyess said as of yesterday he plans on returning to Detroit, and many people close to him say they'd be shocked if he went elsewhere.
"I think he's going to Detroit," said Celtics guard Sam Cassell, who is good friends with McDyess. "I know he's comfortable with Detroit. He has a place there and everything. His comfort level might be there."
NBA teams have nothing to lose by trying to change McDyess's mind. His agent, Andy Miller, said he plans to talk to his client today in hopes of getting the list of suitors down to 3-4 teams.
Miller said he had a long conversation with the 6-foot-9-inch, 240-pounder Sunday night but wasn't certain what order of importance the factors of location, money, and a contending team were.
"If he wants, he'll give me some pecking order," Miller said. "That will give me direction."
McDyess is currently at his offseason home in Houston. Cassell spoke to him on the phone Saturday, but they didn't talk about him coming to Boston.
"I just talked to him about how he was doing," said Cassell. "I didn't ask him about coming here. I didn't realize that [the Celtics] were interested in him."
The Celtics have $2.3 million remaining from their mid-level exception to offer McDyess, but the Lakers and Cavaliers can offer more than $5 million. Of course, one big draw for the Celtics is that they have a legitimate chance of repeating as NBA champions.
McDyess has never won a title.
Glimmer of Hope
The Spurs dropped to 2-5 after losing to the Bucks in Milwaukee, 82-78. The Spurs received a glimmer of hope when reports began circulating that Manu Ginobili could return to the court a little earlier than expected. Gregg Popovich declined to address it when asked to respond to the reports.
Robert Horry's Return?
Does "Big Shot Bob" have one more big shot left in him? If so, Boston Celtics point guard Sam Cassell - who played and won a ring with Horry in Houston - is making a ploy of sorts to see his next shot go down for Boston.
When asked if Horry could be wearing green, Cassell recently said "it's a possibility" and that the veteran point guard has "mentioned it to him". Maybe if Cassell keeps mentioning it, Horry might take Boston up on the offer before too long.
Beno's Career Night
Former Spur, Beno Udrih scored a career-high 30 points to lead the Kings over the Clippers in Los Angeles, 103-98. The Clippers trailed 81-69 after three quarters but could only trim seven points off their deficit before the final buzzer. Mike Dunleavy denied a report in one of the New York newspapers claiming that the Clippers and Bobcats were discussing a trade involving Chris Kaman.
