Brendan Haywood on LeBron James and handshake-gate

I don't mean to fuel the fire about this, since I really don't think it's a big deal (it just confirmed what we all knew about LeBron anyway), but kudos to Brendan for speaking his mind about it as well.

Is Brendan the new Gilbert?

over 2 years ago Mike Prada 8 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Wow and Nice

What’s even better than B-Wood’s article is his participation in the comments that followed. Here are some highlights:

speedwell: So, Brendan, what are you doing this off-season? Vaca time? Hitting weights, trainer, bootcamp what? Inquiring minds want to know.

BrendanHaywood: Speedwell, I’m working hard on my game this off-season as well as hitting the weights. I want next season to be my best and I want to build on the career year that I had before. And I want back in the playoffs bad!!!

…

EazyEagleZ: Hey Brendan the Sixers could use some toughness in the middle. How would you feel about joining your old coach in Philly?

BrendanHaywood: EazyEagleZ, I wouldn’t mind playing for eddie again. we got off to a ruff start but in the end we had a pretty good relationship. philly wouldn’t be a bad spot for me, and my contract is up in 2010 anyways so you never know what might happen.

…

HarryPotter: brenden, did you like playing under eddie?

BrendanHaywood: playing for eddie had it"s ups and downs but in the end I can truly say that I liked playing for him

"It's OK for the Bullets to trade baskets, as long as they can score on their end." -- Words of wisdom from Phil Chenier

by cuppettcj on Jun 3, 2009 12:35 PM EDT reply actions

Yea I was scrolling through the comments too

Some of those peeps are really giving Brendan a hard time… he seems like an honest guy – I don’t know what to make of his Philly comments.

Dear Diary, JACKPOT!!!!!!!!!!

by Evander holyfield on Jun 3, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

i think he's just being diplomatic

because who knows what the future holds, and he has nothing to gain by saying ‘no – i would never play in X city for X coach’

"a crab dribble is when you travel" - caron butler

by little stevie colter on Jun 3, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Well written article by Brendan

I thought he did a nice job of constructively criticizing Lebron without being a prick about it and without generating a new faux “controversy” between a Wizard and a Cavalier. I also liked that Haywood really waded into the comments section and interacted with the posters.

I didn’t love the comment about him playing in Philly though. Hopefully, he was just being nice and keeping all options open. I’d feel more comfortable if he had thrown in the obligatory line about loving it here in DC and being focused on the Wizards right now, but he didn’t.

by nate33 on Jun 3, 2009 12:42 PM EDT reply actions

I don't see a reason to hate on him for expressing interest in Philly.

I mean, this is a business, and it’s in a player’s best interest to try to increase his value to both the team that currently has him under contract and to potential suitors. Saying something like “I love Washington and I want to stay here no matter what” is good public relations but bad business acumen. I think Brendan will be back here if things go well this year and D.C. doesn’t stiff him.

Getting buckets since 2003.

by Icantfeelmyface on Jun 3, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Contract Year

Everybody take a deep breath. The man is in a contract year. Every team’s beat writers have the potential to ask what he might like about playing for their team. He’s not going to turn down their money. In the end they’re all playing for one team, $Team Green$.

by Jheiser3 on Jun 4, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

As always

Brendan is eloquent and insightful. He really needs to be an NBA analyst on TNT or ESPN when he’s done playing. He’s got a real knack for it.

Interesting, some of the comments that Haywood made in response to comments on his blog… One in particular talking about how Philadelphia (and Eddie Jordan) could use him in the middle. Brendan responded:
“I wouldn’t mind playing for eddie again. we got off to a ruff start but in the end we had a pretty good relationship. philly wouldn’t be a bad spot for me, and my contract is up in 2010 anyways so you never know what might happen. "

When his contract is up, Brendan will be in high demand. There are very few quality starting Centers that make it to Free Agency – so I hope Ernie Grunfeld gets an extension done before it comes to that.

Bullets Forever - where "Dagger ! " happens......

by Rook6980 on Jun 3, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions

You get a lot out of putting in four years at Carolina...

Brendan Haywood is yet another example of the excellence of Carolina’s system. Which is why if the Wizards trade down in the draft and/or hold onto the 32 pick, they could do a lot worse than picking Ellington or Hansbrough if either is avaliable.

by khrabb on Jun 4, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions