Anotnio Daniels to sign with Washington

[ClipJoint]

Pretty shocking move in my opinion.

The Lakers really must believe they have a shot at Amare Stoudamire or Yao Ming. They keep offering 2 year deals. They wouldn't budge with Daniels.

Instead he takes the 5 year offer from Washington. I thought he would end up in Portland or Utah.

 

[juice]

Weird move by the Wiz, they don't really need another guard, and why do you give a 30 year old guy a 5 year deal?

 

[RobFunk]

What the heck are the WIZ doing? they are loaded with gaurds and small forwards

 

[edub69]

They must be convinced he can fill Hughes's spot, for a lot less than Hughes would have cost them. He probably didn't want to go to Utah or Portland and play behind Deron Williams or Telfair.

 

[ClipJoint]

They must be convinced he can fill Hughes's spot, for a lot less than Hughes would have cost them. He probably didn't want to go to Utah or Portland and play behind Deron Williams or Telfair.

He'd rather play behind Gilbert Arenas, an All Star? He'll never play 2.

 

[spreadbeater]

Wish the Heat would have signed him. I'm thinking maybe he will start in the backcourt with Arenas. Butler, Jamison, adn Haywood in the frontcourt?????

 

[ClipJoint]

He shot under 30% from 3 last year...he is not an off guard. I don't think there is any way they can start him at shooting guard.

This signing doesn't make much sense for Daniels or Washington.

 

[ClipJoint]

The Seattle SuperSonics suffered another free-agent defection Tuesday night when guard Antonio Daniels reached a verbal agreement with the Washington Wizards on a five-year contract worth an estimated $30 million.

Daniels was also a prime target of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Tony Dutt, Daniels' Houston-based agent, said Daniels will join the Wizards as soon as the moratorium on free-agent signings is lifted Friday, which the league has scheduled as the first day free agents can sign new contracts.

"The more we talked with Washington, we just felt very comfortable," Dutt said. "When Larry Hughes went to Cleveland, it just became a perfect fit for Antonio."

Daniels will join Caron Butler as the Wizards' two-pronged answer to the loss of Hughes, who is coming off a breakout season. Team officials are forbidden from commenting on the signing until the moratorium is lifted, but NBA front-office sources indicate Washington was drawn to Daniels for his playoff experience, athleticism and defensive skills.

Butler will be acquired from the Lakers in a sign-and-trade featuring Kwame Brown after the moratorium is lifted. The teams verbally agreed to the deal last week, but the Lakers have also been pursuing Daniels hard by offering the 6-foot-4 guard an equal starting salary -- but not as long a contract as the Wizards.

New coach Phil Jackson, whose fondness for long-limbed guards is well-known, had been hoping to pair Daniels in the Lakers' backcourt with Kobe Bryant.

Daniels thus becomes the third prominent member of Seattle's 52-30 team to leave the club this month. The Sonics quickly reached a verbal agreement to retain leading scorer Ray Allen, but coach Nate McMillan (Portland) and center Jerome James (New York) have since departed. Daniels averaged 11.2 points and 4.1 assists for the Sonics last season, but proved even more effective in the playoffs when he joined Allen and Luke Ridnour in a three-guard attack. The ability of all three to handle the ball, penetrate and create offense on the perimeter enabled Seattle, though short-handed, to stretch eventual champion San Antonio to six games in the second round.

 

[spreadbeater]

He shot under 30% from 3 last year...he is not an off guard. I don't think there is any way they can start him at shooting guard.

This signing doesn't make much sense for Daniels or Washington.

I know that he is not an off guard. I am thinking maybe he starts in the backcourt at the 1 spot along side Arenas at the 2. The only reason I am thinking this is because the signing does not make sense for him. He could have signed elsewhere and been guaranteed a starting spot at point. Cleveland, Utah, Lakers, and maybe Miami. That is why I am thinking this.

 

[edub69]

Wish the Heat would have signed him. I'm thinking maybe he will start in the backcourt with Arenas. Butler, Jamison, adn Haywood in the frontcourt?????

Yeah, what he said. Arenas will slide over to the 2 since he is more of a scorer than a point guard anyway.

 

[WildBill]

Pretty shocking move in my opinion.

The Lakers really must believe they have a shot at Amare Stoudamire or Yao Ming. They keep offering 2 year deals. They wouldn't budge with Daniels.

Instead he takes the 5 year offer from Washington. I thought he would end up in Portland or Utah.

I just can't see the Yao Ming angle. Does anyone really think he is going to be a difference maker? Stoudamire obviously would be, but sounds like there is 99% chance he will be resigned before they tip off in November. The team will finalize that deal once they figure out where the Joe Johnson deal puts them. Lakers are going to be down and out of the playofffs for a few years I think unless Kwame Brown suddenly finds his game.

 

[ClipJoint]

Yeah, what he said. Arenas will slide over to the 2 since he is more of a scorer than a point guard anyway.

There is no way they have a starting back court of Arenas and Daniels. At 6'3" and 6'4", they would get abused.

Daniels will get some minutes at the 2, but he will primarily be the backup PG.

 

[edub69]

There is no way they have a starting back court of Arenas and Daniels. At 6'3" and 6'4", they would get abused.

Daniels will get some minutes at the 2, but he will primarily be the backup PG.

By whom? Hughes is only 6'5", what's the difference? Daniels is a solid defender and Arenas isn't horrible. The Bulls got by last year with Hinrich, a skinny 6'3" and Duhon, 6'1", with Gordon at 6'2" (generously) as the third guard in the rotation. There isn't exactly an abundance of tall, skilled guards in the league, and few guards these days ever go into the post anyway. They'll be fine. Your insistence on this point is surprising.

 

[ClipJoint]

I'm not insisting...I just can't see it happening. I think they will still make another move before the season. I just can't see Daniels and Arenas as the starting back court. That doesn't mean it won't happen.

 

[edub69]

You could be right, although the free agent pool is getting a little shallow for guards. My thinking was that they figured getting Daniels to play PG and moving Arenas to the 2 was better than signing one of the mediocre shooting guards who are still available. I would rather have this combo than pair Arenas with somebody like Bonzi Wells.

 

[spreadbeater]

I'm not insisting...I just can't see it happening. I think they will still make another move before the season. I just can't see Daniels and Arenas as the starting back court. That doesn't mean it won't happen.

Clip,
I think there is a good chance that it will happen. The Bulls example is a great one where two small guars started together in the backcourt. I am not saying that I like the idea, but it may be a reality. We shall see what other roster moves are made. But I think this may happen.

 

[ClipJoint]

It will definitely be interesting to hear what the Washington front office has to say once the signing can become official and they are allowed to discuss the signing. That sure would be an brutal back court.

 

[oldirtyku]

I don't think they give away any height by playing Daniells over Hughes. The difference between Hughes and Daniells is about an inch.

There problem is that the have a team full of guards. Not sure why they did not address the need of getting a front court player. I thought they would make a play at Donyell Marshal but that did not work out.

 

[juice]

This deal also will most probably end Steve Blake's tenure as a Wizard. He's a decent enough point guard. I figure Daniels gives them a good veteran backup PG with more scoring ability than Blake.
If they decide to keep Blake though, then I really start wondering what's going on.

 

[spreadbeater]

This deal also will most probably end Steve Blake's tenure as a Wizard. He's a decent enough point guard. I figure Daniels gives them a good veteran backup PG with more scoring ability than Blake.
If they decide to keep Blake though, then I really start wondering what's going on.

I know that the Heat have been linked to Blake. The Heat need a backup point guard, as Keyon Dooling is expected to sign elsewhere. I am not too hight on Blake, but have not seen him play too much. He is from here and I am sure he would like to come back home. However, I think the Heat need a more proven backup point guard. A bigger, defensive minded guard would be nice.