Bidding War Between San Antonio and Denver?

by Tom Ziller on Feb 20, 2008 12:37 PM PST in Free Agency/Trades

The latest from our man (in the sky) Sam Amick:

The Spurs may be nearing a deal for Artest, although it's also believed Denver may finally be willing to give up Linas Kleiza. Of course, my flight from Portland to Sacramento is at this very moment, so we'll see where things stand when I land.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE: HOOPSWORLD says the San Antonio package would be Francisco Elson, Brent Barry (both expiring contracts), and multiple picks. I'd prefer Kleiza to multiple late picks.

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A bidding war!

This is great news. Lets hope there's some breaking news this afternoon.

Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Feb 20, 2008 12:42 PM PST reply actions

If we get the rights to Splitter

I'm a happy guy.

"When the Going Gets Weird, the Weird Turn Pro." (Hunter S Thompson)

by Mucho Moss on Feb 20, 2008 12:45 PM PST reply actions

Splitter

Not sure he's the answer, but he's 22 and a 7-footer. Not much of a scorer, not much of a shot blocker, not all that physical.

Disclaimer: This post may be a complete and utter waste of your valuable time.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Feb 20, 2008 12:51 PM PST up reply actions

He sounds like King!

Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Feb 20, 2008 12:54 PM PST up reply actions

Not sure

what "the answer" might be in terms of a single player, Coolcat. This is a rebuilding process and it's going to take a number of smart moves over the next couple of years to get us back into contention.

That said, Splitter could help us quite a bit, in my opinion. An athletic, active young big who's been playing vs world class competition for a few years now and still has upside sounds good to me.

And actually he is a physical player. Splitter is aggressive and has no problem banging around in the paint. You're right, he's not a shot blocker but as you can see if you watch the youTube clip below, he's a very solid and smart position defender, with good quickness and long reach.

Anyway, this is mostly speculation at this point. We shall see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlrqMS7tp-A&feature=related

"When the Going Gets Weird, the Weird Turn Pro." (Hunter S Thompson)

by Mucho Moss on Feb 20, 2008 1:07 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah

My "scouting report" for Splitter was based on looking at his career stats and skimming his Wikipedia page. Total commitment = about 1-2 minutes. I haven't looked at his You Tube clips yet and probably won't have time to do that unless they actually get the dude.

Disclaimer: This post may be a complete and utter waste of your valuable time.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Feb 20, 2008 1:11 PM PST up reply actions

that's cool...

I just happened to have researched him a bit last spring before the draft. Splitter was sort of my version of Pookey's fascination with Jason Smith.

He's a pretty neat player.

"When the Going Gets Weird, the Weird Turn Pro." (Hunter S Thompson)

by Mucho Moss on Feb 20, 2008 1:16 PM PST up reply actions

Maybe

Some similarities to Vlade's game plus the ability to run the court?

Disclaimer: This post may be a complete and utter waste of your valuable time.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Feb 20, 2008 1:18 PM PST up reply actions

He'll never have

the outside shot Vlade had.

Splitter has some nice post moves but Vlade's were incredible.

On the other hand, Splitter runs the court better than Vlade, though; and since he's still young and it seems as though he's a smart kid, his game should improve.

Now if he could just learn to flop...

"When the Going Gets Weird, the Weird Turn Pro." (Hunter S Thompson)

by Mucho Moss on Feb 20, 2008 1:25 PM PST up reply actions

and...

endorse Marlboro Reds

by vfettke on Feb 20, 2008 1:36 PM PST up reply actions

If true...

That game of chicken is looking pretty good for Petrie right now.

Disclaimer: I am anti-Bibby.

by otis29 on Feb 20, 2008 12:46 PM PST reply actions

The Spurs

... interest definitely turns up the heat on Denver. They'd be bummed if Ron Ron lands in San Antonio.

You don't wanna be in a poker game against Geoff Petrie.

"When the Going Gets Weird, the Weird Turn Pro." (Hunter S Thompson)

by Mucho Moss on Feb 20, 2008 12:52 PM PST reply actions

I need to stop drinking

I could have sworn I just read that there was a bidding war for Ron Artest. This is the same guy that 2 years ago Golden State said wasn't worth parting with Troy Murphy for, right?

Muff rules. http://vegaskings.blogspot.com

by Muff209 on Feb 20, 2008 12:55 PM PST reply actions

Amick

apparently has a shitty flight that connects in Seattle and doesn't get into Sacramento until after 5. I am assuming he heads from there directly to the Arena. Maybe he will file an update from Seattle, but if they announce something in the meantime he could be out of the loop.

Disclaimer: This post may be a complete and utter waste of your valuable time.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Feb 20, 2008 1:09 PM PST reply actions

Cite?

Where'd you get this?

by Tom Ziller on Feb 20, 2008 1:20 PM PST up reply actions

Expedia

I used the Wednesday, Feb. 27 schedule because you can't try to book a flight that has already taken off.

http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?tovr=-1294657289

Disclaimer: This post may be a complete and utter waste of your valuable time.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Feb 20, 2008 1:52 PM PST reply actions

Southwest?

I don't think Expedia has Southwest flights, which is probably how Amick is getting back.

by Carl on Feb 20, 2008 2:16 PM PST up reply actions

how bored am i?

i'm checking STR religiously to see the status of Amick's flight. i really need a trade to go through

by vfettke on Feb 20, 2008 2:21 PM PST up reply actions

lol

I would say it's more anxiety than boredom. I'm in the same boat.

by thekangarooster on Feb 20, 2008 2:54 PM PST up reply actions

Good Point

Which means he's already back in town.

Disclaimer: This post may be a complete and utter waste of your valuable time.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Feb 20, 2008 2:51 PM PST up reply actions

which means...

he better get back to work

by vfettke on Feb 20, 2008 2:54 PM PST up reply actions

I love it!!

This is why the Kings pay Petrie the big bucks. His patience may pay huge dividends now that there appears to be a bidding war. Maybe Petrie can land the Spurs first rounder and deal it with Lue for the Atlanta pick from Phoenix.

StR- Where Pookey is long, Otis is short and Section brings down the house.

by jjham15 @ Sactown Royalty on Feb 20, 2008 2:54 PM PST reply actions

At this point

not only am I hoping Petrie can somehow aquire Kleiza in a deal, but end up with two more draft picks as well (one for Artest and one for Lue).

That would likely give the Kings two 1st Round Picks and three 2nd Round Picks, all of which would aid in climbing up the draft board in June.

This supposed "bidding war" has raised my expectations...

by sroufe on Feb 20, 2008 2:58 PM PST reply actions

Barry and Elson to Sonics for Thomas

So are the Spurs no longer in the running?

by Artestify on Feb 20, 2008 3:24 PM PST reply actions

Link?

StR- Where Pookey is long, Otis is short and Section brings down the house.

by jjham15 @ Sactown Royalty on Feb 20, 2008 3:26 PM PST up reply actions

linky

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=jy-thomas022008&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Amick has also updated his blog:

"Someone within the Spurs organization is steering folks astray, as it now seems as if that situation may not exist."

by Artestify on Feb 20, 2008 3:30 PM PST up reply actions

Looks like it

Latest from Amick say:

(2:49 p.m.)
Someone within the Spurs organization is steering folks astray, as it now seems as if that situation may not exist. It never made sense as it was, and wasn't anything close to a deal the Kings would consider. All is quiet at the moment, and my Denver source says if the Nuggets had relented on Linas Kleiza then the deal would be done.

by SavageBeast on Feb 20, 2008 3:29 PM PST reply actions

Another update

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/010679.html

The Kings and Denver are at a non-communicative standstill, but there may be some reason to believe the Nuggets are considering giving up Kleiza.

by SavageBeast on Feb 20, 2008 4:15 PM PST up reply actions

HoopsWorld Update

Hoopsworld is now showing that no Artest trade is going through. Of course, this is only accordign to a "trusted source". Still, thats not what I wnated to hear.

Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Feb 20, 2008 4:52 PM PST reply actions

Amick Update

(3:56 p.m.)
Let the staring contest begin.
The Kings and Denver are at a non-communicative standstill, but there may be some reason to believe the Nuggets are considering giving up Kleiza.
Not to simplify the matter, but I can safely say Denver has looked at possible acquisitions in this light from the beginning. Jason Kidd was the most talented guy available, and Ron Artest was the second. End of story.
And now that it doesn't appear as if Denver will land Memphis' Mike Miller, that could be leverage of sorts for the Kings. Remember, there's really no reason to give in now. Just wait for the other side to blink until the deadline draws even closer. Twenty hours and counting...

Looks like we are stuck holding our breath. At least it will be fun to watch Artest play against Bibby, though i dont know how much time will be spent guarding one another.

Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Feb 20, 2008 4:57 PM PST reply actions