Murray Waived
by Keith Langlois


AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Part II of the final tweaking of the Pistons’ roster came Friday, one day after Joe Dumars traded backup big man Primoz Brezec to Toronto for combo guard Juan Dixon, when they waived guard Flip Murray.

That creates a roster opening that is expected to be filled by the signing of veteran center Dale Davis, who played for the Pistons in 2005-06 and 2006-07. Davis became a free agent last July and has not played since. When the Pistons won at Atlanta last week, Davis attended the game – he’s a Georgia native – and visited the Pistons’ locker room, talking to Dumars at the time.

Murray averaged 7.5 points and 3.4 assists in 19 games for the Pistons this season, starting three games in November when Chauncey Billups was nursing hip and knee injuries. Murray eventually was passed over in the rotation by rookie first-round draft choices Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo. With Lindsey Hunter stashed on the inactive list but due to work his way back into the rotation sometime in March in preparation for his role as a niche defensive player in the playoffs, Murray got squeezed out.

Dixon will provide the Pistons better perimeter shooting and superior defense to Murray while giving them a veteran alternative on a young second unit that sometimes struggles to score. A six-year veteran, Dixon averaged 4.3 points in 12 minutes a game for Toronto, shooting .436 from the 3-point line. His best NBA season came two years ago for Portland when he averaged 12.3 points a game.

The Pistons signed Murray to a two-year contract following the 2006 season. He averaged 6.7 points in 69 games for the Pistons last season.

:langlois:

The dream is over.

You all did this to him.

How do you feel about yourselves now?

DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!!!

I hear a SportsCenter special about Flip Murray will be airing shortly, about his tenure in Detroit and where he will be going next.

I hope Theo Ratliff gets waived. I'd much rather have him back than Dale.

Magloire was just waived by the nets.

I am still unsigned.

I hope Theo Ratliff gets waived. I'd much rather have him back than Dale.

Agreed.

I still have my Theo Pistons jersey somewhere.

Magloire was just waived by New Jersey...I'd rather have him than DD

Where do you guys suppose Flip Murray will end up???

I say he goes to Denver. Anthony Carter is just barely making them respectable and the Chucky Atkins signing is a disaster.

I don't know why I just thought of this but back when Flip was filling in for Ray Allen in Seattle and putting up pretty good scoring numbers my buddy picked him up in our fantasy league. Our leagues are all pretty competitive and it's all guys who've known each other forever so they get pretty goofy sometimes. Anyways, my buddy who goes by the name of "Non Solo" picked up Flip and was trying to tout him to the league and hopefully pawn him off in a trade on one of our dumber friends. So he made up this whole complicated story about how Flip was a playground legend from the streets of Philly and he used to be known as "Nickels" because in his younger days he could pop a handful of nickels up onto the top of the backboard with his left hand while dunking with his right. Ever since then, me and my friends have called him "Nickels" instead of "Flip".

So farewell Ronald Flip "Nickels" Murray. Good luck and God speed.


[/end insanity]

(Please feel free to return to your regularly scheduled rational discussions)

dont worry guys, im already digging up the thread where we talked about our options with flip M (keep, trade, waive). i said waive. oh yea, i fucking knew he had 0 trade value.

sorry glen. not that he doesnt have talent, hes just not up to snuff where it really matters.

he will look good on a bad team, if he has enough sense to sign with a bad team.

I just hope he doesn't how up at the Palace tonight with an AK47 because of you guys.

We should be picking up that dog mouth motherfucker PJ Brown instead.
He's from Detroit...might want to come here. He's been unappreciated
elsewhere for his entire career (like Sheed, Chauncey, Dyess).

He's still a beast on the boards. Any of his teammates I've ever
heard in interviews say he's a great veteran with a fantastic attitude.

Sounds like he'd be a perfect Piston.

Uh, PJ Brown is from Louisiana.

Uh, PJ Brown is from Louisiana.
http://i25.tinypic.com/2hn2ko9.jpg

:dismissed:

I think he did grow up in Louisiana though.

one thing we can agree on, wally SZ is a fucking douche bag. hell, if sir douche baggins himself sparred with him i would gladly (and unfairly) double team is douche ass. i fucking hate wally.

ps, im pretty sure mola is correct. pj played collegiant ball in LA, but he played his hs ball in the D.

If Ratliff is even close to being the shotblocker he was 4-5 years ago then sign me up.

If Ratliff is even close to being the shotblocker he was 4-5 years ago then sign me up.


Has Theo even played in a game the last 2 years???

The guy's practically an antique.

We should sign Charles Oakley.

Has Theo even played in a game the last 2 years???

The guy's practically an antique.



Theo's younger than Dale Davis, and has played about as much as DD too.

He's had time to heal up on someone else's dime.

I wonder if Joe will sign DD before "we" play Shaq and the Suns tomorrow?

Dixon will help; so will Davis if the Pistons can bring him back
Trade Talk

[smilie=blaha.gif]
by George Blaha
Friday, February 22, 2008

Joe Dumars might not have pulled off the headline-grabbing trade that Danny Ferry did in picking up Ben Wallace, but don’t underestimate Juan Dixon. Anybody who can win the MVP of the Final Four – as Dixon did when he carried Maryland to the 2002 title – you know he can play.

Being a combo guard and maybe not quite having the size that would make him an ideal NBA off guard has probably relegated him to role-playing status, but I believe he plays his role very well. He’s quick, we know he can score and because of his quickness he’s dangerous defensively. He’s a welcome addition to any team. Despite the fact the Pistons are guard-rich, I expect he’s going to play some. If you really look at that second unit, you’re looking at a group that at least as times, when Jarvis Hayes’ shot might not be quite right, could use another scorer. No one ever said Juan Dixon couldn’t score in this league. He’s a guy who understands his role, whatever it’s defined to be. If you need points, he can produce them.

Let me say this, too: I’m a Flip Murray fan. I love watching him play. I’ve really enjoyed having him here. I think he’s a straight shooter and a very professional NBA guy who’s a terrific one-on-one player and a good ball distributor. I do expect the Pistons will waive him so that he can go out and prove, as he did earlier this season, that he is still very, very productive, if he gets minutes. I’m hoping for the best for Flip, but I have no doubt that he’s going to land somewhere and make some noise from here until the finish line of this season and get a nice contract for next year, which he deserves. He couldn’t have been more professional about this situation here. If anybody looks at some of the big nights he had prior to mid-December, they’ll know he’s a guy who can at times and almost take over an NBA game.

Having said that, it seems that Dale Davis will be a Piston soon, now that Primoz Brezec has been dealt away for Juan Dixon. I think it’s a great move, if indeed Dale agrees to come back and play in the Motor City. Dale could have helped even more last season, but he really wasn’t needed. I expect him to play at least sparingly, though, for the rest of this season to get ready for what I’m convinced will be a postseason that certainly includes some Dale Davis time. When you play the best big men in this league, it’s great to have Dale Davis coming off your bench to provide the strength and the savvy that he has.

As for that 11-player mega-deal the Cavs, Chicago Bulls and Seattle pulled off, there are two camps as to what it does for Cleveland. One says Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden are no longer weapons for the Cavs. Larry Hughes has great size and can score and defend, so losing him was a calculated risk by Danny Ferry. And dealing Gooden, if you look at how he’s played against the Pistons in big games, was a risk as well.

But we’ve all seen Ben Wallace perform when it’s all on the line and Ben will bring some toughness, both physical and mental, to Cleveland’s rotation. Although they also get Joe Smith and Wally Szczerbiak, who can score – one from long range and one from mid-range – and a very competitive guard in Delonte West, I’m sure as far as Cleveland is concerned, Ben is the key to the deal. He’s won a championship and played in the Finals twice. If they’re able to learn how to play between now and the end of the regular season with their new pieces, Cleveland will be an intriguing team. They won’t lack toughness.

The Cavs certainly could have pulled even with Orlando as the No. 3 team in the East, but they still have to get acclimated to one another, so all of that remains to be seen. From here, it still looks like the Pistons and Celtics are the teams to beat in the East.

The red text proves even a legend like Blaha isn't perfect . . .

Blakely


Davis returning?: A league source confirmed that the Pistons will add veteran center Dale Davis. The 6-foot-11 veteran, who has been in Atlanta, has not played with an NBA team this season.

He will fill a role similar to the one he had last season, playing primarily against teams with dominant big men.

hahaha. I was assuming all the Dale Davis talk was just jokes, this is the best thing that can happen to the Pistons right now.

http://i25.tinypic.com/2hn2ko9.jpg

:dismissed:


hahah, I love the arrow. This made me laugh for some reason. Dale Davis is hilarious as a player. He is just amusing to me. Maybe it was him getting tasered in Miami or the fact that he looks really grimy.

Why the heck didn't we just waive Brezec and sign DD?
Is there some slight money savings in all this?

I'm happy we have DD back. I just hope Flip is smart enough to use him as a fucking enforcer.

Per HoopsHype, Boston may inquire about Flip Murray...

I don't think it will make them any better, but it's kind of annoying if you ask me.

So, essentially, we traded Flip and Brezec for Dixon and Davis. Still have both contracts likely expiring at the end of the season.

Defensive upgrade, better outside shooting, less attitude. I'll take it.

Flip demonstrated good 'tude this year, and Brezec's problem was with aptitude, not attitude.

Per HoopsHype, Boston may inquire about Flip Murray...

I don't think it will make them any better, but it's kind of annoying if you ask me.
They are willing to talk to any FA pg available i'm sure, they can have him honestly.

I don't think the Celtics adding Sam Cassell would be that big of a deal either. The guy is clearly on his last legs, and while he's still capable of scoring, so is Flip Murray, so it shows you how "average" E.T. really is...

http://i25.tinypic.com/2hn2ko9.jpg

:dismissed:

Unauthorized use of the GlennDanzig BrownPaintBrush tool is prohibited by law. What... you think you OWN this fuckin board???..

...*

Oh shit..wait.... umm..

http://i25.tinypic.com/2hn2ko9.jpg

:dismissed:

That's like saying Jordan is from Brooklyn because he was born there. I doubt PJ has called Michigan home since the early 70's. I highly doubt he holds any kind of sentimental attachment to the city.

PJ was raised in Louisiana. It's also a fact.

ive heard many times that jordan is from brooklyn.

Jordan came from Heaven.

:dismissed:

http://i25.tinypic.com/2hn2ko9.jpg

:dismissed:

Is this a Brown Paint Brush blankety blank?

BPB rules!

The fact that they haven't signed Dale Davis yet makes me think that they are leaning towards Magliore, who clears waivers today at 6 pm.

why didn't magloire work out in NJ? i always thought he was a very solid big man but i haven't followed what he's done lately.

a couple of years ago he was becoming one of the better big men in the nba. (not among the very best, but on the fringe of being one of the better ones)

Dallas wants him too, apparently.

I hope Flip goes to Boston. It will be great seeing him take shots away from the Big Three.

he has a better chance at playing time in dallas, but a better shot at a title in detroit. :o

That's like saying Jordan is from Brooklyn because he was born there.


ive heard many times that jordan is from brooklyn.
Same here.



I doubt PJ has called Michigan home since the early 70's. I highly doubt he holds any kind of sentimental attachment to the city.

PJ was raised in Louisiana. It's also a fact.

-NoQuarter- was born in Detroit and raised in Los Angeles. If you ask him where he's from, he will always say Detroit. Don't get mad at us just cause you're from Indiana. It has nothing to do with us homie.

So Flip is a Clip, eh?

Murray to the Pacers, not the Clips?

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080301/SPORTS04/803010438


Murray expected to sign with Pacers
By Mike Wells
mike.wells@indystar.com

TORONTO -- The Indiana Pacers got a victory Friday and now it looks like they're about to get some help in the backcourt.

Guard Flip Murray, who was waived by the Detroit Pistons last week, is expected to sign with the Pacers today.

Murray will likely team with Travis Diener to fill the void left by Jamaal Tinsley's ongoing knee problem. Tinsley, who hasn't played since Feb. 5, said before Friday's victory over the Raptors that he doesn't know when he'll be back in the lineup.

Murray averaged 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 19 games with the Pistons this season. He has played in 19 games with the Pistons this season. He has played in 309 games with Detroit, Milwaukee, Seattle and Cleveland in his five-year career.

Murray chooses Pacers over Clippers
Guard, who was released by Pistons, was headed to L.A. before Indiana called


By Mike Wells
mike.wells@indystar.com

The plane ticket to Southern California had been purchased. The Los Angeles Clippers had a jersey made with Flip Murray's name on it.

But Murray's agent, Mark Termini, called the guard Friday and told him not to fly to Los Angeles because the Indiana Pacers were interested in signing him.
A chance to play for a team contending for a playoff spot and be closer to his hometown of Philadelphia were too much for Murray to pass up.

"It was a tough decision," Murray said after going through his first practice as a Pacer on Saturday. "We were almost there (with the Clippers) then a call came from (Indiana) causing a change of plans real quick."

The Pacers signed Murray, who will back up Travis Diener, for the rest of the season for a prorated portion of the veteran minimum of $895,341. He's available for tonight's game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Conseco Fieldhouse.

"He's put up numbers on the board," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "We need a little more depth. We're happy to give him a chance to earn minutes and I think he will. I think him being here over the last month and a half of the regular season will help us."

Murray's signing gives further indication that point guard Jamaal Tinsley isn't close to returning. Tinsley, who isn't practicing, has been out since Feb. 5 because of problems with his left knee, which he originally injured in the middle of December.

Murray, who can play both guard positions but will primarily be used at point, was released Feb. 22 by Detroit after averaging 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 19 games.

"At the time they weren't playing me so I asked them, if they couldn't find a way to trade me, would they release me and they did," said Murray, who is on his fifth team in his five-year career.

Davis to work out
The Rockets will work out veteran free agent Dale Davis today while weighing their options at the backup center spot, two individuals with knowledge of the workout said Sunday.

With Justin Williams' 10-day contract expiring with Sunday's game, the Rockets have yet to decide whether to bring him back for another 10 days or consider a more veteran backup.

"We're still deciding what we'll do at that spot between Justin and some other options," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said.

Davis, 38, averaged eight points and 7.9 rebounds in 16 NBA seasons.

Because he was a free agent before March 1, if the Rockets sign and keep Davis, he would be eligible for the postseason roster.