When the Clippers acquired Chauncey Billups by claiming him off of waivers from the Knicks and then acquired Chris Paul via trade about a week later, they suddenly became as deep at the PG position as any team in the league. The combination of Billups, a five time all-star, NBA champ and Finals MVP with Paul, also a five time all-star and all NBA first team performer, have the Clippers off to their best start in years, currently sitting atop the Pacific Division.
Mavs have their eyes on free agent Deron Williams.
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Willaims would be a great addition in Dallas.
The Chicago Bulls are making moves to try and acquire either Steve Nash or Jason Kidd this summer.
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Not a bad move since Rose won't be around.
Sources are now reporting that the Chicago Bulls are making inquiries to the Suns and Mavs looking to acquire either Steve Nash or Jason Kidd. This indicates that Rose will almost definitely miss all of next year, but it also indicates the Bulls are confident that if they acquire a solid point guard they can still make a run at a championship in 2013.
Jason Kidd and Deron Williams a package deal?
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: This is one helluva 1-2 bunch at the guard position.
After ditching Dallas for the Knicks this offseason, Mark Cuban is pissed off at Jason Kidd and said he would "never" retire J-Kidd's number.
HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: I wouldn't want to piss Mark Cuban off because he has enough money to casually pay someone to kill you.
Top 5 NBA Ballers Over 35-Years Old
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: To ball in the NBA past 35 you got to have game and these 5 guys definitely do.
After taking the top spot on our list of the 25 hottest NBA wives and girlfriends, Hope Dworaczyk has proven to be one of our visitors' favorite ladies. With that being so, we couldn't think of anyone better to be our Babe of the Month for December 2010. Check out a steamy shot of Ms. Dworaczyk, a former girlfriend of Jason Kidd, then head on over to Sherdog to take a look at their pick for December's Babe of the Month.
Magic Johnson was a triple double machine 6-9 point guard. There will not be any one reaching “NEAR” Michael Jordan level anytime soon, but is there anyone who can reach near Magic Johnson? Magic has 138 career triple doubles in the regular season and 30 triple doubles in the playoffs from a career 190 playoff games. His career averages are 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 11.2 assists. Those are ridiculous numbers for anyone to obtain. What players today have the skills to do that?
The German Bomber has a great career. He is showing no signs of slowing down either. Did you ever think the guy would be here? Yep, I didn’t. This question now has to be posed if it had not already – Has he surpassed Karl Malone, Kevin Garnett, and Charles Barkley? This is a serious question. Before having a grand historic 2010-2011 season, no one should dare think about it. Today, things changed dramatically. What’s scarier? Nowitzki remains efficient.
This can be discussed even during a lockout. Dirk and the Mavs are still riding high from their hard earned 2011 NBA title. They swept Kobe’s Lakers, beat Durant/Westbrook Thunder, and then took out the Miami Heat. The team is battle tested especially with the grand fail against the Golden State Warriors in the 2007 playoffs. The Mavs lost a lot with a solid roster in the past. They overcame all of that in 2011.What’s next? Repeat. Duh.
Did anybody else wonder why the Mavericks were without their HOFer-to-be point guard for Sunday's ruthless spanking of the Knickerbockers? Nor did I. Still, it transpires that Jason Kidd missed the game to support girlfriend Porschla Coleman during the birth of his fifth child. Evidently the relationship between Kidd and Coleman, who were first spotted together at a charity function hosted by LeBron James, moved quicker than they were letting on.
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.
"I haven't stopped working out really since May," Griffin said. "It's been every day, sneaking it in whenever I can." Griffin says it's frustrating for him to think that the NBA games may be interrupted after his first season playing in the league. Griffin missed all of the 2009-10 season with a broken kneecap after he had been the No. 1 draft pick out of Oklahoma. "Now my first three seasons, I could play 82 games," Griffin said. "So, we'll see what happens."
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Last year was overwhelmingly positive for the NBA.
The sporting world was galvanized by Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James joining forces and becoming the ‘Heatles’ in Miami.
Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd’s hard work was rewarded with an NBA championship, guaranteeing both immediate entry into the Hall of Fame when they retire.
Derrick Rose won the MVP award, leading the Chicago Bulls to the league’s best regular season record and a place in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder took another step winning two playoff series before falling to Nowitzki and Kidd’s Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals.
The Memphis Grizzlies made the playoffs and upset the San Antonio Spurs. After years of futility, the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers were relevant and entertaining.
There are other storylines I’m missing.
For instance, high on this list is the emergence of Blake Griffin, whose aerial antics reminded the world there’s a professional basketball squad in Los Angeles not called the Lakers.
(And this squad, the Clippers, can compete and delight despite being owned by the twisted and incompetent Donald Sterling.)
Suppose there’s a lockout. One that wipes out the entire season. Griffin, who missed 2009 with injury, will have played just eighty-two games in his first three seasons.
Fans would have to wait a year to see Griffin assault the rim. Fans would have to wonder what Griffin would do to defend his crown at the 2012 Slam Dunk Contest. And fans, the purists, would have to wait a year to see Griffin’s above average passing and skill-set develop.
This is tragic. And just another thing Commissioner David Stern, the owners, Union Head Billy Hunter, and the players are risking with their posturing and rhetoric.
I hope they know what they’re doing. Griffin missing another year should be a last resort.
--Oly Sandor.
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He watched Jason Kidd, a fellow rookie of the year, win his first title last month, and is willing to keep striving for an opportunity to play in the Finals. Hill's career has gone from one of promise, to misfortune, to longevity, and he is willing to wait out a potentially long lockout.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: To pull a ‘J-Kidd’, he can't re-sign with the Phoenix Suns.
The end is near for the 38-year old Grant Hill. The former Duke legend and NBA All-Star doesn't believe the end is now, though.
Instead, he’ll wait for the lockout to end and, inspired by Dallas Mavericks legend Jason Kidd, try for a championship.
Here’s the thing: Hill won’t win with the Phoenix Suns. Heck, Hill might not see the playoffs if he stays in Arizona.
This falls on Suns owner Robert Sarver. He doesn’t have the resources to sign and/or keep talent. A new Collective Bargaining Agreement won't do enough for Sarver, even if there's a hard cap with flexibility.
So Hill will have to leave as a free agent. He will have to part with pal Steve Nash. He will have to risk injury by forging a relationship with new trainers.
This seems scary, but Hill has survived numerous ankle surgeries, a life saving procedure in Orlando, failures at the pro‘ level, and unfortunate comments in a documentary by former rival Jalen Rose.
Free agency won’t phase him. Hill will weigh his options and do what's best. In a year, like Kidd, he could also be hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy.
--Oly Sandor.
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Suns coach Alvin Gentry inserted center Marcin Gortat and swingman Jared Dudley into the starting lineup, putting Gortat into the spot of Robin Lopez, who had been groomed as a future franchise center, and Dudley in place of guard Vince Carter, who likely won't be with the Suns next season.
Gortat, 27, has received minutes and produced the numbers as if he were a starter and embraces the idea of a bigger role in the future. Sunday was his first start as a Suns center after receiving one previous start at power forward alongside Lopez.
Not all the Lakers were upset with the league's decision. "I'm proud of him," Kobe Bryant said of Bynum. "He earned his stripes." Bynum will need to be careful the rest of the regular season if he wants to avoid further discipline. He will be automatically suspended for one game if he commits another flagrant foul, type 2, before the end of the regular season. The Lakers were hoping for leniency from the league. Bynum isn't known as a rough player with an angry demeanor.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: If Andrew Bynum was worried about his flagrant foul on the Minnesota Timberwolves' Michael Beasley, he can stop.
Kobe Bryant has Bynum’s back. Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar and one of the game’s premier players, beamed like a proud parent when asked by reporters about Bynum’s foul and suspension.
Now Bryant obviously doesn’t want Beasley to get hurt. Other than that, he’s clearly thrilled with Bynum’s flagrant foul.
Consider the following: opposing teams will be hesitant to drive the lane against the Lakers; Bryant’s squad are finally playing their best with the playoffs fast approaching; Bynum is absolutely dominant in the paint.
It’s interesting to reflect on how far Bryant and Bynum have come. These two weren’t always tight.
In fact, Bynum often found himself on the wrong side of Bryant’s rage. Not long ago, the Black Mamba complained to two strangers outside a strip mall that the club didn't trade the seven-footer to the New Jersey Nets for Jason Kidd.
Two championships have a way of changing things. With Bynum plugging the middle, the Lakers have to be favoured to win a third.
Now wonder Bryant has Bynum’s back.
--Oly Sandor.
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This could be it because it would be hard to come back after a lockout,” Kidd told Yahoo! Sports. “I would probably move on and join the next chapter of what I would be doing in life. But I hope that isn’t the case where it just ended without having one more season.”
Garnett has hinted he could be done if the lockout cancels next season while O’Neal told Yahoo! Sports in an e-mail he’ll likely try to keep playing. Regardless, the NBA could be waving farewell to a generation of stars sooner than expected.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Fans better enjoy Kevin Garnett and Jason Kidd while they can.
Suppose a lockout between the owners and Player’s Association lasts for the entire 2012 season. Several well tenured players –for instance, like Garnett and Kidd- will call it a day and retire.
After all, missing a season in your mid to late thirties is a death sentence. Such a long layoff would likely make returning difficult, and most veterans would move into the next stage of their life.
Sadly, a work stoppage would likely mean the end for Garnett and Kidd, two of the best players of their generation. And these future members of the Hall of Fame won’t receive the grand send off they deserve.
--Oly Sandor.
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Stefan Bondy: Asked eva longoria if tony parker wants to play in new york: her answer, "yes"
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: No surprise here.
The Desperate Housewife wants hubby Tony Parker to take his talent to the media capital of the world, New York City. So Parker - a free agent at season's end - could be on the move.
The San Antonio Spurs have young George Hill waiting in the wings at point guard. And Manu Ginobili found his game when Parker was injured during the latter months of the 2010 regular season.
A move to New York is slightly more complicated than Mr. and Mrs. Eva Longoria realize, though.
The Knicks have their eyes on prying superstar Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets. However, the Knicks could add Paul and Parker.
Coach Mike D'Antoni would love the scoring opportunities Paul and Parker would collectively create, and he wouldn't worry about their lack of size on defense.
This isn't such a crazy idea. Remember, Coach Gregg Popovich once considered moving Parker to the two-spot when the Spurs were chasing free agent point guard Jason Kidd.
Now Kidd is bigger than Paul and Parker. He can easily defend opposing two-guards. But Paul and Parker would compensate for their smaller stature by pressuring the ball full court, and they would be protected in D'Antoni's up-tempo system.
Again, it's no surprise Parker has interest in New York. The surprise could be having Paul as his backcourt mate.
--Oly Sandor.
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There have been rumors that the Nets might pursue point guard Chris Paul through a trade. Since they don't seem to be all that high on any of the players they are likely to get with the No. 3 pick, such as Georgia Tech`s Derrick Favors, Kentucky's DeMarcus Cousins or Syracuse`s Wes Johnson, they could trade the pick to get an established player.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: They’ve been making nice.
Since being named coach of the New Jersey Nets, Avery Johnson and Devin Harris have praised each other publicly. Johnson has insisted he’s proud of Harris’ development, while Harris has insisted his development is because of Johnson’s teachings.
Can you feel the love?
Such a dog-and-pony show is necessary because these two had a tumultuous run together with the Dallas Mavericks.
Johnson was coaching a Maverick team that was expected to win a championship. As a former point guard he was particularly hard on Harris, a young table-setter with heaps of potential.
Something was off, though. Johnson quickly lost faith in Harris and signed off on a controversial trade that sent him to, ironically, the Nets for Jason Kidd.
But Kidd couldn’t put Dallas over the top. Johnson was promptly fired. Harris made the All-Star team in 2009, but struggled with injuries in 2010.
Yet, they are back together, insisting fences have been mended and Kumbaya has been sung. For now.
Reports indicate the Nets are dangling their 2010 draft pick in hopes of plucking Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets. CP3 heading to The Swamps of Jersey/Borough of Brooklyn makes sense for three reasons:
First, New Orleans is a struggling market. With second year point guard Darren Collison in the wings, they could swap Paul and his max deal for cheap talent.
Second, New Jersey is now a have-market. New owner Mikhail Prokhorov - also known as Russia’s richest man with a net worth of $18 billion - wants to make headlines this off-season. Acquiring Paul, who is arguably the game’s best point guard when fit and healthy, would achieve this end.
Third, and most importantly, Paul is tight with LeBron James, the jewel of the 2010 free agent class. And Prokhorov would surely use Paul and rapper/minority owner Jay-Z to recruit James to the East Coast.
So the Nets are looking to upgrade the one-spot. If Paul is acquired, Harris would surely be dealt.
Before dismissing this rumor remember that Nets’ senior executive Rod Thorn admitted to reporters that Harris and center Brook Lopez do not have untouchable status and could be moved.
Maybe Harris` lovefest with Johnson shouldn`t be believed. And maybe New Jersey trades him.
Got thoughts? Well, get at us in the comment box.
Danny Ferry is out as general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, choosing not to re-sign his contract that was set to expire in June. The decision comes as a surprise but was made days ago, and complicates the most important offseason in team history.
Ferry's departure Friday after five seasons occurred two weeks after the club fired coach Mike Brown following the team's second-round loss to the Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs. It also comes as the team is making plans to try to re-sign two-time MVP LeBron James, who will be a free agent next month.
HoopsVibe's Quick Call: It's official. The inmate, LeBron James, is running the asylum -even if he has a foot out the free agent door.
Ferry's firing comes as a surprise because days ago reports indicated the retired forward and owner Dan Gilbert had essentially agreed on an extension.
Apparently, the stumbling block was authority. Ferry rightfully thought a GM needed control over basketball operations. He wasn't prepared to deal with Gilbert or James meddling in personnel decisions.
So he left.
Assistant GM Chris Grant will slide into the big chair in the executive suite. However, it remains to be seen how much authority Grant will have as the new GM.
Expect Gilbert to be very involved this summer. If James resigns, Gilbert and Grant will likely let the superstar pick the new coach and have a large say in all basketball related decisions.
This isn't the way to run a winning organization. For instance, Tim Duncan always defers to coach Gregg Popovich and executive R.C. Buford. The Los Angeles Lakers started winning when Kobe Bryant quit commenting to random fans outside of strip malls about swapping Andrew Bynum for Jason Kidd and focused on basketball. And even the great Michael Jordan had little say in the happenings of the Chicago Bulls.
So Gilbert, who doesn't have James' name on a new deal, is taking a risk in re-structuring his entire organization to suit his free agent superstar.
Got thoughts on Ferry leaving the Cavaliers? Let us know in the comment box below.