Forget what happened on the court the past seven days. It's what happened off the court -- trades with the potential to reshape the future destination of the Larry O'Brien Trophy -- that dominated the hot topics this past week.
We hereby declare Knicks GM Donnie Walsh this season's executive of the year, even though nobody gives the Express-News NBA Beat page writer a vote. In less than six months on the job, he has de-Zeked the Knicks, something a lot of us believed impossible. Can anyone doubt that he can also lure LeBron James to the Big Apple in 2010? After, all that's what this week was all about. Sadly, as far as the NBA beat writer is concerned, the first coach dismissal involved P.J. Carlesimo, an all-time fave in these parts. Losing does that
The week that was
Donnie Deals, part une
Trading Jamal Crawford to the Warriors for Al Harrington was a lot harder trigger for Walsh to pull than the deal he made later the same day because both he and Mike D'Antoni loved Crawford's game. But Crawford's contract, which has an early termination option next summer that had the potential to tie up $10 million cap dollars in the summer of 2010, made up his mind. Harrington's $10 million comes off that summer.
Donnie Deals, part deux
We're not sure why anyone takes on any contract that is as bloated as Zach Randolph's deal, worth $48 million over the next three seasons (including this one). Oh, wait. The Clippers made this deal. Enough said. Look at it this way, Clips fans (both of you), it's the dawn of the Mardy Collins era in L.A.
Farewell, P.J.
Carlesimo's firing by Oklahoma City on Saturday qualifies as a reminder to be careful what you wish for. He worked hard to reshape his image in his five seasons as Gregg Popovich's top assistant with the Spurs, all in hopes of landing another head coaching spot. There was no way he could win with the rebuilding Thunder. Now his image is beyond repair.
Shaq-Kobe, redux
Amazingly, Thursday night's matchup in Phoenix marked the first time Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant faced off since O'Neal returned to the Western Conference. The pregame hype turned out to be better than the game, which proved the Lakers have enough interior defenders to handle Shaq and Amare Stoudemire.
Branded
Clippers coach and player personnel string-puller Mike Dunleavy still feels blindsided by Elton Brand's defection last summer, so you know he ached to beat EB's new team Friday night. His team, shorthanded by the Friday trade, had a real shot at it, too, until Brand nailed the game-winner in the last minute. Ouch!
The week that will be
These are the games that intrigue us:
Celtics at Raptors, 11:30 a.m. today
We still think the Raptors are one of the three East teams with a chance to keep the Celtics out of this season's NBA Finals, but only if Jose Calderon stays healthy. He had 30 points Friday, so his hammy must feel fine.
Cavaliers at Knicks, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (TV: NBATV)
Can you say, "media feeding frenzy?" Could the NBA's schedule-makers actually have planned this?
Bulls at Spurs, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (TV: FSNSW)
Presuming that Gregg Popovich meant it when he said there was no way Manu Ginobili could get himself ready for his season debut by Monday, we think this is the night Ginobili will suit up.
