Transactions 07/08

[The Voice]

ESPN Reports...

Heat Signs Jackson
Luke Jackson | Heat
In a move designed to add youth and offensive versatility, the Heat signed former Cleveland first-round draft pick Luke Jackson and released Penny Hardaway.
''Luke's a three-point shooter, a versatile player, he can drive, put it on the floor,'' coach Pat Riley said. ``I've decided with Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal, they need energy. We've always liked Luke.'' -- Miami Herald


"I'm just looking for someone to believe in me at this point," said Jackson. "My first two years in the league, they were tough, I was hurt the whole time." -- Palm Beach Post

"First and foremost I am a competitor, and I can shoot the ball," Jackson said. "There are a lot of double teams on [O'Neal and Wade] and hopefully I can come in at some point and make a few shots." -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel

 

[NarlCavs]

Surprised there hasn't been a mention of Ruben Patterson being waived by the Clippers. Kind of a surprising move.

Don't think the Cavs would have interest. Ruben has a history of offcourt incidents which doesn't fit the Cavs idea of character players. His game also doesn't really fit or is a need and the Cavs have pretty good depth on the wing. They don't need anymore perimeter players who can't shoot.

 

[Karma]

Pistons trade Mohammed to Charlotte in move that clears cap room

by Keith Langlois

AUBURN HILLS – Swinging a trade that was made with the future more than the present in mind, the Pistons on Friday sent Nazr Mohammed to Charlotte in exchange for Primoz Brezec and Walter Herrmann. To accommodate taking an extra player back, the Pistons then waived Ronald Dupree to create roster space for the two Bobcats.
Perhaps the biggest underlying reason for the trade was its salary-cap implications. Mohammed has three years left on the five-year contract he signed in July 2006. Counting what’s left of this season, that means Charlotte will assume almost $24 million of Mohammed’s contract. The Pistons, meanwhile, are taking back two players whose contracts expire after this season. Beyond that, Brezec and Herrmann combined are due to make about $1 million less for the full 2006-07 season than the approximately $5.6 million the Pistons owed Mohammed for this season.

Brezec and Herrmann, besides taking the Pistons’ quotient of international players from one to three – the Slovenian Brezec and Argentinian Herrmann join Senegal’s Cheikh Samb, who made his NBA Development League debut on Thursday, on the 15-man roster – bring more outside shooting to the Pistons than either Mohammed or Dupree offered.

The 7-foot-1 Brezec, 28, is in his seventh NBA season, having spend the first three with Indiana. He was acquired by Charlotte in the expansion draft prior to the 2004-05 season and averaged 13 points and 7.4 rebounds in what was his best statistical season. He averaged 12.4 and 5.6 the following season before plunging to 5.0 and 3.2 last year when he was plagued by illness and a back injury.

Brezec had started 18 of Charlotte’s 20 games this season under first-year coach Sam Vincent, but usually got an early hook and averaged just 13.4 minutes, 1.9 points and 2.2 rebounds a game. Brezec has been a member of the Slovenian national team since he was 15.

The 6-foot-9 Herrmann, also 28, is in his second NBA season after a distinguished career in the Spanish professional leagues. As a rookie, he played sparingly in the first half of last season but came on late and averaged 9.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 48 games. In 17 games this season, Herrmann has averaged 4.0 points and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 35 percent from the 3-point arc, from where 26 of his 65 attempts have been launched.

Mohammed has averaged 11 minutes, 3.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 21 Pistons games this season. In 51 games last season, he averaged 5.6 points and 4.5 rebounds in 15.2 minutes. Mohammed began the season as the starter but stepped aside in January when the Pistons signed Chris Webber, who had been bought out of his contract by Philadelphia to become a free agent.

 

[NarlCavs]

Good deal for Detroit. They have wanted to unload Nazr's contract. Herrmann gives them another solid bench player and Brezec at least brings a big body to replace Nazr. They also get 2 ending contracts.

Not sure if it's that great for Charlotte.

 

[Rick Astley]

Yeah, a solid trade for Detroit but a horrible one for Charlotte. Maybe Charlotte wants to continue the sucking.