Its Official! Van Horn and MacCulloch for Mutombo (1 Viewer)

[Jed M]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baske...mbo-deal_x.htm
I guess the Nets found a way of dumping Van Horn's contract but it looks like they sold their future big time. Nothing against Mutombo but this would have been a great trade 3 years ago. Iverson + Van Horn and Kidd + Mutombo is going to make for some exciting combos, at least for the next year (which maybe the last for Mutombo).

 

[Andrew 'Ange Hamm' Hamm]

Van Horn might make a difference in Philly--if Iverson takes, say, 25 shots per game instead of 35.

 

[Ross Williams]

Mutombo is pretty over the hill. He's on his last legs and I don't know if he'll do anything to improve the Nets. Maybe block a few more shots. But his offense is "limited" at best.

 

[Carl Miller]

With Kidd around, for at least this coming year, Mutombo will probably score a bit more. His rebounding has declined, but in part that can be attributed to having a guy like Iverson shoot so often and long rebounds out of his reach under the basket.

All in all, I think it's a good trade.

 

[JasonK]

I think Philly made out better in the trade.

As Ross said, Mutombo is getting up there in age. I can't see him being able to keep up with the fast pace Kidd wants to run on offense. If he slows them down to much, the Nets no longer have a shooter (outside of Kittles) to bang in 3's and other set shots from 15-20 feet.

Larry Brown even said the 36 minutes he played Mutombo this year was too many for him.

But, I know the Nets were desperate to dump Van Horn so the trade works out for them as well. With Dikembe, Martin, and Jefferson they will be a force defensively.

I think Larry Brown will be able to get more out of Van Horn than past coaches have. As Andrew said, it will all depend on AI's willingness to shoot 10 less shots per game.
Van Horn is not a good defender though, and even Larry Brown may have trouble getting him to play any.

And Todd Mac is more than serviceable as a Center out East.

 

[Mike__D]

I'm pretty happy we got MacCulloch back. He showed potential when he was here. He's definetley a better offensive center than Mutombo.
Now I can laugh at Stern when he makes fun of Mutombo being like the cookie monster (eh, who am I kidding, I still laughed)

 

[DeanR]

This was a salary dump by both sides that could help out both teams. Of course in the NBA the salaries have to match up to make a trade. An over the hill center for an underachieving forward that Larry Brown has wanted back for years. Didn't Philly draft him and trade him to NJ? The Nets players, from what I read, thought Van Horn didn't bring his best effort every night. I think Philly got the edge because Van Horn is still young and Motumbo was a statue against the Celts in the playoffs. JasonK makes some good points. Van Horn did kill the Celts down the stretch of game 6 so he can play but you don't know which guy is going to show up on a given night, the good or the bad. He certainly is ugly .

 

[Stephen L]

As a Celtic fan I'm happy .I think the deal does zip for the Nets except get Jefferson on the floor more.