N B A Discussion thread

[snoopy369]

15 months??? not 15 years???

Sheesh...

[Grandpa Troll]

Kevin Duckworth, former Portland Trail Blazer, dies at 44 Story Highlights
Kevin Duckworth died while on his way to a free basketball clinic in Oregon
The seven-footer made a pair of All-Star teams with Portland in '89 and 91
Duckworth, who retired from the NBA in '97, was 44 years old




Kevin Duckworth made two All-Star teams with the Portland Trail Blazers and helped the team to a pair of NBA Finals appearances.
John W. McDonough/SI




LINCOLN CITY, Ore. (AP) -- Former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth died while on a trip to the Oregon Coast to host a free basketball clinic. He was 44.

The Lincoln County sheriff's office confirmed the death. He died Monday.

The 7-foot Duckworth averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds over 11 seasons in the NBA, helping Portland reach the NBA finals in 1990 and 1992. The two-time All-Star also played for San Antonio, Washington, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Clippers.

"Kevin will be remembered by fans as one of the most popular and recognizable players to ever wear the Blazers uniform, but to people who knew him, he'll be remembered as one of the warmest and biggest-hearted," Trail Blazers president Larry Miller said.

The Blazers said he was representing the team on a 19-city tour of Oregon.

Duckworth grew up in the Chicago area and was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs out of Eastern Illinois University in 1986.

The Spurs traded him that season to the Trail Blazers, where he had his greatest success, playing with Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Buck Williams and Jerome Kersey on two Western Conference championship teams.

Duckworth remained in the Portland area after he retired in 1997, doing woodwork, fishing and hunting. He ran a construction company in Northern California for a time, and a restaurant venture in Vancouver, Wash., with former NBA player Kermit Washington went out of business.

The cause of death was to be determined by a medical examiner.

44 is so young

[Lord Avalon]

Yeah, RIP.

(When I first saw this story, skimming it, I saw it as he died on the way to a free clinic.)

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by Lord Avalon
Yeah, RIP.

(When I first saw this story, skimming it, I saw it as he died on the way to a free clinic.)

Me too..but upon re-reading read it correctly

[Lord Avalon]

Well, that big trade Joe Dumars was talking about at the end of last season may have finally happened: reports are Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess are headed to the Nuggets for Allen Iverson.

Not sure if I like this. Haven't seen Iverson play much recently. He scores more and is quicker (not sure how much he's slowed with age), but Billups is a steady PG with a lot more playoff experience - and lacks the attitude.

McDyess was coming off the bench again this season to be the 2nd unit post presence - tough to lose him. That leaves Jason Maxiell, who's explosive, but short for a PF, and Kwame Brown - I have no idea how he's going to do on this team.

[-Jrabbit]

I wouldn't make that deal straight-up, much less throwing in McDyess.

[Lord Avalon]

The Freep is reporting that 2nd yr C Cheikh Samb is also being traded to the Nuggets.

WDFN-AM (1130) reported that McDyess is expected to be bought out by Denver and return to the Pistons.

If true, that would be a

[Guynemer]

....what?


What?


WHAT?!


No. No freaking way. I'd take Billups every day of the week and twice on Sundays over AI, especially at this stage in their careers.

[Deity Dude]

HORRIBLE TRADE FOR THE PISTONS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[snoopy369]

Great trade for the Nuggets, though. They get someone to pass the ball to Carmelo, and lose a potential annoyance (though he's been very well behaved of late).

That said, the Pistons could use someone who can score by himself. They really don't have that right now - Tayshaun and Rasheed can only take you so far, after all.

[-Jrabbit]

Um, they did win a championship with basically that team...

[snoopy369]

They won the championship with Ben Wallace, and Mehmet Okur (not a star but not irrelevant to the team, by any means), a better Rip Hamilton, and arguably a better Chauncey Billups. Rasheed was also playing better that year, IIRC.

Their current roster is not nearly as good. Unless you're going to suggest that Amir Johnson or Kwame Brown (hahaha) is better than 2004's Ben Wallace, and (anyone on their bench) is better than Mehmet Okur?

I think that without the dominating defensive team they had in 2004, they need a playmaker. AI is certainly that. They can dominate lousy teams fine, but to stay with the Spurs/Lakers/Celtics, they need a bit more. (Not that I think they can, but ... who knows?)

I have to think that Dumars is taking a risk here, knowing that with the lineup he has, he can't win; so either he takes the risk and maybe succeeds, maybe doesn't, or he doesn't take the risk, and loses regardless.

But ... who knows. I'd also be curious if Stuckey ends up playing more PG with AI at SG and Rip at SF and Tayshaun at PF ... or one of the three on the bench. AI is certainly a capable SG after all...

[-Jrabbit]

Point taken re Big Ben, though in the playoffs, it was really a coming-out party for Tayshaun more than Okur.

Re this deal, I'm sure the thinking is, "WTF can we do to hang with Boston?" FWIW and IMHO, The Answer is no longer the answer to that question.

That said, I give Dumars credit. I'd rather my GM had the stones to be decisive and go for it. Waiting 2-3 years for the non-existent development of Hinrich, Deng, Gordon et al. instead of getting a known stud and building around him has been brutal.

[Guynemer]

I can't believe it. I can't help but wonder if Chauncey requested it, since he's from Colorado originally.

Of all the core Pistons, Billups is not the one I'd have tried to move... oh well. Dumars is known for the big gamble, and he's gotten more hits than misses overall, so I'll trust him.

Also, good call on Mehmet and the rest of the 2004 crew, snoop. You hit the nail on the head. They have not been as sharp offensively since Okur left the team, and overall the core has been declining for a couple years now.

[-Jrabbit]

Weird, isn't it, how some teams get older and others (Spurs) get better?