Kobe Bryant would give his approval for the signing of Gilbert Arenas, according to two people familiar with the situation. Bryant reportedly reached out to Arenas recently to let him know he’s on board with Arenas joining the Lakers.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: 'The Man' has given his approval.

Word is Kobe Bryant will support the Los Angeles Lakers if they sign Gilbert Arenas, the controversial shooting guard who was recently released via the amnesty clause by the Orlando Magic.

On the surface, this doesn’t look like a big deal. Arenas is a free agent. The Lakers are struggling. Seems a match, right?

Well, consider the context. Bryant, despite his recent denials, met Dwight Howard this summer to tell the All-Star post he’d be the third option if he joined the Lakers.

Translation: the purple and gold are Bryant’s team until he retires. There will be no passing of the baton under the Black Mamba's watch.

So Bryant likely relayed a similar message to Arenas and his people when he reached out to the former Washington Wizard.

After all, Arenas will see whatever team he signs with as an opportunity to salvage his career and reputation. And such an approach won’t help the Lakers climb the Western Conference standings.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Sources confirmed a RealGM.com report from earlier Monday that the Magic have continued to pursue Golden State's Monta Ellis as a complement to Howard. ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reported Feb. 29 that Orlando had targeted Ellis as an ideal player to try to pry from the Warriors as a means of placating Howard.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Orlando Magic GM Otis Smith can’t be serious.   

Smith believes acquiring Monta Ellis from the Golden State Warriors would convince Dwight Howard to play out his contract and re-think signing an extension with the Magic.

So Smith is working overtime to swing a deal for Ellis. He’s talking to the Warriors, of course, and will even involve the New Orleans Hornets.

This won’t be enough, though.

Say the Magic land Ellis. All they have is a temperamental scorer who injured himself riding a moped, slammed Stephen Curry before ever meeting him, and sexually harassed (allegedly) an ex-employee of the Warriors` PR staff.

Translation: Ellis is a shot-happy combo guard with baggage. Sounds familiar, right?

Last year, Smith, in an effort to appease Howard, traded for Gilbert Arenas. The Hibachi resembled a broken down charcoal barbeque, struggling with his weight, shot, and role.

Howard will see right through any deal for Ellis. He’ll see Smith and the Magic for exactly what they are: desperate. And he’ll opt-out in July and leave as a free agent.

Smith and the Magic must accept the inevitable: Howard is gone. It’s time to cut the best deal possible.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

One source close to the situation told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher that the Magic have promised Howard that they will add a quality player before Thursday's deadline and that Howard can decide the fate of both GM Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy at the end of the season if he signs an extension.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: There’s a popular television show called Intervention where families confront a sick individual battling an addiction.

Perhaps you have seen it on A&E. Perhaps not.

Hopefully, someone in the Orlando Magic ownership group has seen Intervention. And hopefully, they confront President Alex Martin about his disease: appeasing Dwight Howard.

Sure, Howard is the top center in the NBA, but he has yet to win a championship, an MVP trophy, or even develop a go-to move on the offensive end.

He is raw, immature, and has handled his pending free agency like a teen pop diva. Annoying teen crooner Justin Beiber is more professional than Howard.

Still, the Magic continue to give Howard whatever he likes, or whatever they think he’ll like in order to have him stay.

They’ve assumed several bad contracts in an attempt to give Howard a worthy supporting cast. Gilbert Arenas, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, and Hedo Turkoglu all backfired and destroyed the team's financial flexibility.

Recent reports have surfaced that the Magic are chasing Monta Ellis because they think a shot-happy, crass combo guard will convince Howard to play through 2013 and sign a long-term extension.

HoopsVibe has given our opinion on Ellis before. He's not the answer.

Today, reports are surfacing that Magic President Alex Martin has told Howard he can decide the fate of coach Stan Van Gundy and GM Otis Smith.

Sadly, the inmate is now running the entire asylum.

Van Gundy and Smith may deserve to be fired. This is not Howard’s decision to make, though.  He is the player. Van Gundy is the coach. Smith is the manager.

If Martin offered to fire Van Gundy and Smith to appease Howard, then a point of no return has been established.

Simply put, Howard can't return. Suppose he signed an extension with the Magic. No coach, executive, or teammate would criticize him because doing so may get them fired, traded, or released.

Bottom line: good organizations do not operate in such a fashion.

So Magic ownership must intervene. They must empower Smith to immediately get the best possible package for Howard - even if that’s 80 or 90 cents on the dollar - because keeping him would encourage dysfunction.

Then ownership must review how the entire organization, top to bottom, has handled 'Howard-gate' and make changes. Appeasing an NBA superstar is a disease that must be cured.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.  

The Memphis Grizzlies are on the verge of signing Gilbert Arenas, sources confirm. Arenas will sign one-year deal worth the veteran minimum.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Haven’t we seen this song-and-dance before with the Memphis Grizzlies?

A few years ago, the club signed shot-happy guard Allen Iverson, who was expected to complement the Grizzlies’ young, developing pieces.

Of course, nobody told Iverson this. He was stuck in a time-wrap, thinking he would get unlimited minutes, shots, and touches circa 1999 in Philadelphia.

The experiment last three games.

Now reports are breaking that the club has signed Gilbert Arenas to a one-year contract for the veteran minimum. Wouldn’t it have been better for the Grizzlies to take a pass and for Arenas to sit the year and sign with a team this summer?

Arenas would then have an entire training camp to prove himself to his new team. Now he has a few short games before playoffs begin.

Sadly, this situation sounds all too familiar in Memphis.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"I understand the importance of Tristan (Thompson) and these younger guys getting the opportunity to play," he continued. "I’ve taught them so much and it’s been fun teaching them, but it’s time for me to move on as well. I don’t know what the future holds, I don’t know what opportunity might present itself, but I definitely have a great feeling this is probably my last home game and tomorrow will be my last game as a Cav."

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Antawn Jamison is done mentoring a bad Cleveland Cavaliers squad and wants to win -even if it costs him millions of dollars.

The veteran forward will become a free agent in July when his $15 million per year contract expires. Expect Jamison to take the Mini Mid Level Exception and join a contender as a second-unit scorer.

Of course, there are the usual concerns when an established player takes a lesser role. In fact, some can’t do it (think Allen Iverson, Steve ’Finer Things’ Francis, and Stephon Marbury).

But Jamison is a different breed. He’s always been a team-first guy, volunteering to come off the bench during his prime with the Dallas Mavericks and conceding the spotlight to a brash Gilbert Arenas with the Washington Wizards.

So Jamison told the inquiring media before the Cavaliers’ final home game that he was likely moving on. The future, however, looks good with Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Remember when "Agent Zero" was "Agent Zero"? Now, courtesy of Vanilla Ice and his movie Cool As Ice, he's more like "Drop Agent Zero and get with the hero".

Hoopsvibe Very Quick Call: As of this very moment, who has more money: Vanilla Ice or Gilbert Arenas? According to Wikipedia, the "Iceman" is still worth $20 million dollars.  Arenas made $119 million dollars in his NBA career (including a staggering $19.2, a career high, in 2011-12) but how much does he have left?

Some of you will remember that earlier this year we put together a feature on the NBA's 50 worst tattoos that showcased the worst body art from across the league. Well, due to popular demand we've thrown the images into a short video. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Just when you thought Gilbert Arenas' gun troubles were over, they get just a little bit worse. This time, it's Gil's woes aren't due to gun possession but, unusually, non-possession. You see, it turns out that the former All-Star and current felon dropped some dough in the February of 2006 to expand his prolific gun collection.

When Gilbert Arenas returns to the Washington Wizards next year-- if he returns to the Wizards next year-- he'll be wearing a new number. The man who wore the number zero because it was the number of minutes his detractors predicted he would play during his freshman year at Arizona will instead don the number six. 

The time is here to be liberated from the NBA shackles. Some of us were waiting in anticipation to the excitement that the lockout brings. When July 1, 2011 arrived at midnight, did you have a party just like New Year’s Eve? Of course not. Shit was depressing. Countless hours of watching pro basketball might be eliminated when November rolls around. No free agency during the summer. No trades. No rookie summer league. Nothing. If you’re not a fan of Major League Baseball or any other sport then meh. 

In his first proper interview with the media since the gun fiasco that saw him suspended for the season Gilbert Arenas opens up on all manner of matters.  The full interview with Esquire is interesting, but in particular the detail that he once owned 400-500 guns that he bought from a collector in his seventies is striking.  Here's the excerpt:

It’s that time again for the regular season end awards just like any other television sports show. It is time to pass out the awards. Rather than giving awards for the usual categories such as Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Executive of the Year….you get the picture…..let’s focus on categories that truly need to be highlighted – categories that I make up! Who cares about those other official awards anyway? They’re already locked up.
 

But the most interesting scenario I’ve heard all weekend is the idea that both (Baron) Davis and (Gilbert) Arenas could wind up in New York. One source close to the situation, in fact, says that the two Angelenos have discussed this concept.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Too many cooks in the kitchen. Too many chiefs, not enough followers. One ball, four first options.

You get the idea.

Gilbert Arenas and Baron Davis, both of whom dominate the ball, would confuse an already complicated situation in New York, where Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire sometimes battle for touches.

Sure, the names involved sound intriguing. However, free agency isn`t fantasy hoops.

If the Knicks are to contend they must fill out their roster with talented role players -not fading stars who may use the bright lights of Broadway to resurrect their career.

--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

And I’m told that Arenas, in the wake of his Orlando release, has established a four-team wish list for resuming his comeback from the gunplay debacle in Washington that derailed his career and an unsuccessful stint with the Magic. The 29-year-old is holding out hope that the call comes from either the:

• Lakers …

• Heat …

• Knicks …

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It’s Christmas, so why shouldn’t Gilbert Arenas have a wish list?

Why shouldn’t a fading, shot-first combo guard, with a questionable attitude demand to play for top teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, or whatever team Dwight Howard ends up on?

Perhaps Santa will provide this gift. Or perhaps the Lakers, Heat, and whatever team Howard goes to will have enough sense to steer clear of Arenas -even if he comes at a bargain basement wage.

There are rumors the Knicks will roll the dice on Arenas, but with a star-studded frontcourt they’d be better off chasing blending players.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

Kwame Brown has agreed to a one-year deal with the Warriors for $7 million. Brown played for the Bobcats in 10-11, where he had a bounce back season of sorts.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: What was the lockout for?

After all, the owners supposedly locked out the players for five months, in part, to stop marginal journeymen from receiving ridiculous contracts.

No more overpaying suspect talent like Gilbert Arenas, Eddy Curry, Jerome James, Rashard Lewis, and others.

Or, so we thought …

Today the Golden State Warriors signed marginal post Kwame Brown to a one-year contract for $7 million.

Sure, the term is short. Sure, seven footers regularly received $10 million per annum before the lockout. And sure, rookie coach Mark Jackson coveted Brown as a defensive anchor.

But the work stoppage was about ending the insanity. What was all this labour strife was really about?

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

People are really serious about John Wall. He’s really going to be the next GOAT (Greatest Of All Time). In his prime, he will average 32 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals. That’s what the streets are saying. Wall surpasses Magic Johnson and LeBron James. He’s also a certified lock for Hall of Fame. John will accumulate 6 MVP awards and 7 rings. That’s what the streets are saying; you know what I’m saying?

Rumors that Gilbert Arenas would be making his merry way down to Central Florida have lingered for months , but that mahoosive contract of his had evidently been a deterrent for the Magic. The word on the wires now, however, is that Otis Smith, whose close relationship with Hibachi is said to be a factor, has finally agreed to, ahem, pull the trigger on a deal that would bring Gilbert Arenas to the Orlando Magic.

In volume five of Out of Bounds, Marija Kero discusses the current state of the playoffs, Gilbert Arenas' release from jail, Antoine Walker's comeback efforts and much more.

You wouldn't believe the number of inky abominations etched into the pelts of pro ballers.  I'd originally planned a simple list of the league's ten worst tats, but when my dishonourable mention section hit double digits I realised I'd need to expand the scope of the project a little.  Even when I elongated the list to twenty-five terrible tattoos, I still found that I had to exclude some real atrocities.  In the end it took a full fifty spots to showcase the shittiest skin art in the L.

If you're finding this feature for the first time, you might want to check out the previous parts to warm up.  We don't want you straining an eyeball.

The NBA's Worst Tattoos 50-41

The NBA's Worst Tattoos 40-31

The NBA's Worst Tattoos 30-21

The NBA's Worst Tattoos 20-11

The NBA's Worst Tattoos: 10-1

10. Kobe Bryant's "Vanessa" Tattoo

So, to recap, Kobe's biceps is adorned with a crown, butterflies, angel wings, Vanessa's hair and Vanessa's name.  I can't help but feel he could have saved some space by simply stamping the word "Sorry!" on his arm and calling it quits.

The top 5 players are notorious for flaking out in fantasy basketball land. These guys are major risks. Take at your own caution. They can make or break you.

The regular has ended some time ago and it’s time to touch on the players and moments that made this season memorable. The playoffs just started and it is going to take awhile to determine the champion, but I’d like take this time to look back at stuff that impacted the season and future to come. Hold up. There will be some moments that did not impact the season. It was just funny to point out.  Dwight Howard wins another Defensive Player of the Year, Scott Brooks wins Coach of the Year, and Aaron Brooks won Most Improved Player. We can safely assume that LeBron James won Most Valuable Player.

“It’s very sad, but everybody knows it’s not our fault,” the Chicago Bulls point guard and reigning NBA most valuable player said Saturday. “If it was up to us we’d be out there playing. I think that is wrong and I know they could easily take care of it.”

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: I don’t think the players or their union get it. Fault doesn’t matter. Leverage does.

Currently, the owners have leverage in negotiations and intend on using it to right and correct the league’s habit of overpaying their middle class.

The list of mistakes is long and dubious. However, three stand out:

1) Eddy Curry. The puffy post received $33 million from the New York Knicks to play in just 33 games over the last three seasons.

2) Gilbert Arenas. Despite having few suitors, an eccentric personality, and creaky knees, The Hibachi was give a six-year, $111 million contract courtesy of the Washington Wizards.

It’s worth noting this was at least $20 million more than any other team was willing to pay and Arenas claims he left money on the table with the Wizards.

3) Rashard Lewis. Most teams would like a stretch four who can produce 12-15 points per game, however, they wouldn’t want to pay him over $20 million per season.

The Orlando Magic and they got one good season for Lewis before trading him to Washington for, wait for it, Arenas.

There are dozens of other mistakes. Of course, this, like Rose says, is on the owners for misjudging talent and empowering their executives to pay players like the money was endless.

It isn’t.

The economy has changed. Many - especially in smaller, have-not markets - feel the NBA isn’t worth their disposable income, so owners must have a full scale correction.

This means a 50-50 split of Basketball Related Income. This means a re-do of system issues. And this means the pendulum swings back in favour of the owners. 

Fault doesn’t matter in such a charged climate. Only leverage does. And the players, who have none, are learning this the hard way.

--O. Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Javaris Crittenton has been charged with murder after a woman was shot on an Atlanta street. Jullian Jones was shot and killed on August 19th. Police spokesman Carlos Campos said a murder warrant for the arrest of Crittenton had been issued and that he was not in custody.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Many felt Javaris Crittenton’s incident with Gilbert Arenas twenty months ago was unfortunate.

But nobody was hurt when Crittenton and Arenas brought guns into the Washington Wizards’ locker room and put them on a table when a dispute unfolded between the two guards.

How would the same people feel about reports Crittenton is wanted in the murder of an Atlanta mother of four?

One word: tragic.

A life is lost. And Crittenton, who claimed to have learned from the incident with Arenas, has made an awful mistake.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

Finally, NBA Commissioner David Stern could not take it anymore. “All right, you want to go tit for tat, I’ll go tit for tat,” Stern said, according to the participants. “I’ll see you J.J. Barea and raise you Eddy Curry.” A shot to the gut, just like that.

Link

HoopsVibe`s Very Quick Call: Touché David Stern.

Players and owners met last June during the Finals to discuss the state of the NBA’s finances, and the two sides, as expected, argued over the amount owners were paying players.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban complained that a former player, Tariq Abdul-Wahad, didn’t do much of anything after signing a multi-year deal for $40 million.

The players countered by saying Cuban was getting a deal by paying combo guard J.J. Barea a relatively low annual salary of $1 million.

Then Commissioner Stern ended the conversation by mentioning Eddy Curry, who earned an appalling $33 million for playing in 31 games over the last three years.

He's right. NBA players are overpaid, specifically the very well-to-do middle class. And the list of players stealing money is in the dozens.

Here’s the question: is this the players fault?

Last I checked the owners signed the checks. Last I checked the owners hired general managers, who were supposed to have the ability to pass on bad contracts.

For instance, nobody forced Abe Pollin and the Washington Wizards to bid against themselves and sign Gilbert Arenas to a six-year, $111 million contract.

Arenas was coming off several knee surgeries. No team was willing to give the combo guard anything close to $111 million. Except, of course, Pollin.

Since signing his mega-deal, Arenas has been suspended for bringing guns into the team’s locker room and was shipped to Orlando, where he rarely played. And the Wizards haven’t been the same since.

So Stern is right. Players earn too much. He should look, in part, to the owners he represents, and not just the players.

However, we doubt Stern will will raise this point when owners and players finally meet next week to start negotiating the new collective bargaining agreement.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Seems that a guy like Dwight Howard, nearly 7-feet tall and answering to "Superman," would be a perfect fit at Comic-Con, where he talked about both his budding career as a voice over actor and his basketball future. What about the Lakers? "That's everybody's question," he told the "Kick" audience. "I am wearing purple ... but that's Rock's outfit." The Heat? "Never."

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: It would be like the Greasers combining forces with the Socs', or the Capulets breaking bread with the Montagues, or Paris Hilton ‘re-friending’ Kim Kardashian.

Or, like a want-to-be-superhero telling the Comic-Con masses he’d never join the villains, the bad guys, the capped-out Miami Heat.

Give Howard credit. He can charm a crowd -even if that crowd spends weekends playing D&D, Call of Duty, and comparing the old Star Wars trilogy to the new Star Wars trilogy.

However, this is bigger than Comic-Con. Howard’s current team, the Orlando Magic, hate the cross-state Heat. They hate Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade, known as the 'Three Kings'. And they hate arrogant Heat exec' Pat Riley.

There's little Howard can do. The NBA is locked-out. His Magic will lack the pieces, unless Gilbert Arenas and Hedo Turkoglu rediscover their past form, to topple the Eastern Conference champion Heat.

Howard will opt-out of his contract next July and likely join another superstar. Perhaps something happens with the Lakers -if Jerry Buss falls out of love with Andrew Bynum. Perhaps he links up with Deron Williams and the Nets.

One thing is certain: Howard would 'never' join Miami.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

I have seen this process firsthand. When I coached for the Clippers, I had to deal with Michael Olowokandi, a player who perfectly fit the description "talented but uncoachable." At practice, I would attempt to point out Mr. Olowokandi's faults to him, ones he constantly repeated and resulted in lost possessions for the team or personal fouls that sent him to the bench. His reaction to my attempts to correct his bad habits was to take my input as a personal insult and embarrassment. He told me point-blank that he would not be criticized in front of the team. He stuck to his word and, as a result, had very few successful moments on the court playing the way he wanted to play. He took his place on the list of athletically gifted washouts who have been in and out of the league in the past 10 years.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is right. Michael Olowokandi is one of many ‘athletically, gifted washouts’.

The problems start with the team. Not the players. Too many owners, executives, and coaches pay based on potential.

For instance, how many bigs, like Olowokandi, get $8-10 million per season because they’re big? That’s it. They’ve done nothing. They’ve achieved nothing. But they’re seven-feet, which makes them worthy of a contract that should offend.

Except it doesn’t offend. It’s the norm. Nobody blinks when Andrea Bargnani, Calvin Booth, Kwame Brown, Eddy Curry, Brendan Haywood, Kenyon Martin, Bryant Reeves, Tyrus Thomas, and dozens of other stiffs get theirs.

Or, how about the Washington Wizards bidding against themselves and doling out $111 million over six-years to combo guard Gilbert Arenas, despite The Hibachi having undergone three surgeries on his brittle knees?    

There are other absurd contracts. The money, of course, creates entitlement. It’s why Olowokandi believes he's above being coached, even when that coach is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, a former master in the paint, a world champion, and league MVP.

The ‘Skyhook’ is right. The ‘washout’ era needs to end. Hopefully, the new financial system changes the money and power teams give unproven and undeserving players.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.


 

Howard found out when the rest of us did: once the trades were completed. Turns out, Howard had a problem with that.

“I wanted to be more part of the process a little more,” Howard said in a radio interview with 790 The Zone in Atlanta. “I had to step out on the court and I wanted to make sure that the people I played with wanted to go out and play hard every night. My only issue was the fact that I didn’t really have a chance to be involved, but I think with the guys that we brought in we still have an excellent chance of winning, but we all have to be on the same page.”

Link

I've talked to people who believe that Chicago will shop Boozer, but you have to keep in mind that his stock is at an all-time low right now. He disappeared in the playoffs and there's a reason Chicago is talking about moving less than a year after signing him. It'll be tough to move him for anything of substance, especially considering how much he's owed over the next four years. With that said, if he does become available, the Orlando Magic will certainly express some level of interest.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Carlos Boozer wouldn’t convince Dwight Howard to forgo free agency and sign a long-term extension with the Orlando Magic.

So the Magic should think carefully about trading for Boozer, and assuming the remaining 4-years and $65 million on his big-ticket contract.

Boozer would be the latest in expensive, overpaid players who couldn’t help superstar Dwight Howard achieve his goal of an NBA championship.

There was Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter. This duo were then swapped mid-season for Gilbert Arenas and Hedo Turkoglu in separate trades. All four failed miserably.

A frustrated Howard is now angling for a trade. If he doesn’t get it, the five-man will likely leave Orlando as a free agent in two seasons.

Howard would see Boozer for what he is -a talented but injury-prone player, who the Chicago Bulls dumped one season after signing him as a free agent.

It doesn't matter that Howard and Boozer are close, often hanging out together in the summer. Basketball is business. Friendship is personal.

Magic Executive Otis Smith should instead focus on Chris Paul. The New Orleans point guard, who can also become a free agent in July of 2012, is the type of talent that could convince Howard to stay.

Paul and Howard would form a terrific inside-outside duo. They’d attract other free agents, co-stars, and role players. They’d compete for years to come.

Almost every other player, including Boozer, won’t be enough for Howard to recommit to Orlando.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"I would expect a Dwight trade this summer or before the next season starts, from what I'm hearing. Rose likes his core because it's the core he has. He's not opposed to the Bulls improving it." (Ric Bucher, ESPN)

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Teams who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

So the Orlando Magic must give serious consideration to trading Dwight Howard or they risk losing another once-in-a-generation-center via free agency.

In the late nineties, Shaquille O’Neal, the Magic’s franchise face and the game’s most dominating player, left Orlando to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

As a Laker, he won three straight championships. The Magic were forced to start over.

Howard, a free agent next summer, is rumored to be looking at bigger markets. He’s been linked to those same Lakers. He’s also been linked to the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets.

The Magic were in the mix to keep their smiling superstar until they blinked this year and changed their roster mid-season with a pair of questionable trades.

Hedo Turkoglu has been decent; however, GM Otis Smith’s gamble on Gilbert Arenas has failed. The Hibachi is out of propane, struggling with shot knees, high expectations that come with a big-ticket contract, and low confidence.

Smith has failed to find Howard a co-star. So Howard, if he wants a championship, will likely find his own co-stars elsewhere.

Smith, despite his denials, will have to be open to a trade. Unless he wants to repeat the past and lose Howard for nothing as a free agent.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

With Dwight Howard in the final year of his contract next season, Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith is fully prepared to receive a host of offers for the All Star center.

"To say it hasn't happened before is crazy, so, yes, I expect it to happen," Smith said Friday. "And the answer will be the same as it always is: No."

During media availability on Friday of All-Star Weekend, Dwight Howard was asked about the possibility of becoming a member of the Lakers when he becomes a free agent in the summer of 2012. "As of right now, I’m in Orlando and that’s the only thing on my mind, is getting our team back to the Finals,” responded Howard.

Link

After Monday's game between the two teams, Magic general manager Otis Smith questioned the toughness of the Celtics."They act tough," Smith said. "They're not really tough. They act tough."

All of Orlando has seen this haunting movie before. The Magic know what's out there, too. They're aware of the rumbles in circulation that Howard secretly longs to make the same cross-country trek to Los Angeles that Shaquille O`Neal mapped out in 1996, with one source close to the situation insisting that Howard and Lakers star Kobe Bryant are far closer pals than people realize.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: We’ve seen this before. Franchise post leaves the Orlando Magic, signs with the Los Angeles Lakers, and wins multiple championships next to Kobe Bryant.

Technically, Dwight Howard is a ways away from pulling a Shaq-Fu and leaving the Magic as a free agent –the big man can exercise an option on his contract in July of 2012.

However, the rumors and rumblings were loud enough for the Magic to initiate two blockbuster trades last month, acquiring Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, and Hedo Turkoglu.

Will the combo guard formerly known as The Hibachi, J-Rich, and Turkoglu appease Howard?

After all, Howard loves the spotlight. He loves flashing his pearly white teeth for the cameras and busting jokes for reporters. Unfortunately, Orlando is small; so small he can’t maximize endorsements and get another legit superstar to join him.

Without a premier wing-man, Howard has little shot at a championship in Orlando. He needs help; really good help to beat the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat in a seven-game, do-or-die series.

Howard knows this, so leaving Orlando for a major market like New York or Los Angeles remains a possibility. Of course, the Knicks have Amar`e Stoudemire, while the Lakers have Kobe Bryant.

For personal and professional reasons, Howard would prefer Los Angeles. He and Bryant are friends, and would form a deadly inside-outside combination. A Howard-Stoudemire pairing sounds enticing, but could be awkward.  

In the coming months, there will be more talk of Howard joining Bryant in Los Angeles. Orlando can quiet the talk and re-sign their superstar by winning a championship.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Sources near Magic say guard Jason Williams unhappy with situation, trying to be patient with Otis Smith, wants a trade or his release.

Reserve PG Jason Williams was on the Magic's active roster Saturday, but he didn't dress because he continues to be bothered by problems with his left foot. Williams, 35, said doctors have told him that he suffers from arthritis in the foot, and Williams is concerned because the discomfort hasn't subsided over the last month and a half.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Is it the end for White Chocolate? Or is it a new beginning?

There are differing reports on the future of Orlando Magic point guard Jason Williams. One report has him asking for his release because he’s behind Jameer Nelson, Gilbert Arenas, and Chris Duhon. The other has him retiring due to arthitis in his foot.

Either way, his time with the Magic is likely ending. If healthy and available, a contender will show interest.

Williams is more than behind the back dimes and circus moves. He once had the league’s top assist-to-turnover ratio, started for the 2006 world champion Miami Heat, and had veteran sideline boss Hubie Brown dub him the smartest player he ever coached.

Hopefully, he gets meaningful minutes somewhere. Williams, a fan favourite, deserves nothing less.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"We'll still find ways to get better in some spots," Magic President of Basketball Operations Otis Smith said. "Losing the backup center is big. So, you need a little size for about probably five teams. That's really what it comes down to, so we'll probably address that over the next month or so."

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The wheeling-and-dealing will continue.

On Saturday, the Orlando Magic overhauled their roster in separate trades with the Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards.

The Magic dealt Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat, and Mickael Pietrus to the Suns for Earl Clark, Jason Richardson, and Hedo Turkoglu. Then they sent Rashard Lewis to the Wizards for Gilbert Arenas.

The Magic improved on the wing, but – after dealing Gortat – need a five-man to relieve superstar Dwight Howard.

Howard, despite winning The Defensive Player of the Year award, is prone to foul trouble. Things were so bad last year teammates nicknamed him ‘Foul On You’.

The Magic need a reserve center to bail Howard out when he's overzealous in the paint. A back-up for Howard will also help them compete with bigger contenders like the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Fortunately, the Magic have spare assets. Acquiring Arenas, Richardson, and Turkoglu has made wings J.J. Redick and ‘Q’ Richardson expendable.

A market exists for Redick, even though he’s having an off year and is on the books for an additional two seasons at a combined $12 million.

Richardson can defend and hit the three. Best of all, the veteran is signed through 2014 at a reasonable $2.5 million per annum.

Last weekend was just the beginning for the Magic. More moves are coming. If they’re serious about a championship, they’ll trade a wing for a post.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: He smiled. He laughed. He provided incite. Best of all, he looked and sounded like the old Gilbert Arenas.

The combo guard formerly known as Agent Zero seemed happy to have a ‘new beginning’ with the Orlando Magic. Click the video clip and get at us with thoughts on Arenas’ first comments as member of the Magic.  

--Oly Sandor.

The Orlando Magic, already in serious trade talks with the Washington Wizards about acquiring Gilbert Arenas, have agreed to a deal in principle with the Phoenix Suns, according to league sources.

After the Wizards lost to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, Arenas privately told people that a deal could possibly be in the works with either Orlando or Charlotte. Word started to spread throughout Verizon Center that evening, but the talk initially was shut down by multiple league sources. The Magic realizes they have to make a move. They have to do something,`` said the source.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The NBA is a superstar’s league and the rest of us are living in it.

For instance, Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic’s MVP candidate, wants changes to the roster. The big post knows his team isn’t in the same class as the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat, so he’s pressing executive Otis Smith to make a trade.

Being a superstar’s league, Smith must appease. Currently, he’s scouring the trade market for something, anything to keep Howard happy.

And Gilbert Arenas’ name keeps popping up.

Yes, the guy with a rep’ for being more high maintenance than one of those housewives of Orange County. Yes, the brittle combo guard with one of the worst contracts in pro sports. Yes, the Washington Wizards want to part with their former superstar who has a history of injuries, hooliganism, and shenanigans.

Sure, Arenas can score. And sure, he has a relationship with Smith. But The Superstar Formerly Known As The Hibachi has never toned down his shot-first mentality for others.

In fact, Arenas has to be The Guy. He knows nothing else. It’s option one status or broke. Such a mentality and approach isn’t what Howard and the Magic need.

Smith needs to look for the best deal possible. With Arenas, he’d be making a deal for the sake of making a deal.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

According to sources, talks have resurfaced between the Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards regarding a potential trade for guard Gilbert Arenas.

Link

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Like Anthony Robbins, the NBA is all about personal power -or the power of personal relationships. 

The Orlando Magic is the only team interested in controversial Washington Wizards’ guard Gilbert Arenas. The reason: Magic GM Otis Smith is a friend, mentor, and confidante to Arenas. 

In short, he still believes. Smith thinks Arenas, in the right circumstance, can recapture his past form and excel as a co-star next to super-post Dwight Howard.

 Perhaps he’s right. New scenery can do wonders.

However, Arenas has taken a great physical and emotional pounding. The knee surgeries have changed him. So has the fallout and suspension from bringing guns into the Wizards locker room. 

A new team, even one with a chance at a championship, may not be enough. 

But the Magic may have no other choice. Howard needs help if they are to compete with the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs for a championship.

 Friendship may result in Smith gambling on Arenas.

 --Oly Sandor.

 Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The Washington Wizards spoke with the Orlando Magic recently about a potential swap of Gilbert Arenas for Vince Carter, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

Link

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: It's not happening.

Orlando Magic GM Otis Smith is close friends with Gilbert Arenas, and he advised the 'sharpshooter' during his recent issues stemming from bringing guns into the Washington Wizards' locker room.  

However, Smith doesn't want to mix their personal and professional relationship. This is wise. After all, Carter's contract is only guaranteed for one season. Then his $17 million salary comes off the books, while Arenas is still owed over $80 million.

Reports have Smith dangling Carter's expiring contract in front of the cash-strapped New Orleans Hornets. And he wants to get back superstar point guard Chris Paul.  

Also, new Wizards owner Ted Leonsis is pushing the organization and fans to re-embrace Arenas. The businessman who brought much life to a morbid Capitals franchise is excited about pairing Arenas with first overall pick John Wall. 

An interesting idea, however, The Hibachi and VC aren't trading places.

Got thoughts on Arenas for Carter?

Today, the NBA held their annual draft lottery in New Jersey. Below is the order those little white ping pong balls were pulled by some suit from league head office who wasn’t Commissioner/Corporal Stern.  

14: Houston Rockets.
13: Toronto Raptors.
12: Memphis Grizzlies.
11: New Orleans Hornets.
10: Indiana Pacers.
9: Utah Jazz.
8: Los Angeles Clippers.
7: Detroit Pistons.
6: Golden State Warriors.
5: Sacramento Kings.
4: Minnesota Timberwolves.
3: New Jersey Nets.
2: Philadelphia 76ers.
1: Washington Wizards.

HoopsVibe’s Quick Call: The Washington Wizards wanted a chance to rebuild and they’ll get it, courtesy of the NBA draft lottery.

The Wizards won the first overall pick and the right to select Kentucky point guard John Wall. Wall seems to have it all: athleticism, skill, and size.

Best of all, with Wall in the fold, the club now has the option to slide Gilbert Arenas to the two-spot when the controversial guard returns from suspension for turning the locker room into a good old fashion stand off.   

After all, there will be no trade market for Arenas. And buying him out would be an expensive proposition in this troubled economy.

So look for an Arenas-Wall backcourt in the nation’s capital next season, which should certainly be both interesting and entertaining.

Got thoughts on the Wizards winning the draft lottery and the right to draft John Wall? Let us know in the comment box below. 

A few minutes later, he re-emerged in a long-sleeve black T-shirt with a hood pulled low over his forehead. He hopped into a white Range Rover and drove off. 

link

Federal officials chose a Montgomery halfway house near the White Flint Mall because of its reputation as a halfway house that is run with the discipline of a prison. The facility screens visitors and can keep Arenas safe from celebrity seekers and other convicts. "It's to protect Gilbert. It's a command and control operation where nonsense will not be permitted," said a federal source with knowledge of the decision, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak about the case. 

link