The Milwaukee Bucks have traded Bogut and forward Stephen Jackson to the Golden State Warriors for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown, sources confirmed to ESPN.com.
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Suddenly, Andrew Bogut and Monta Ellis have new homes.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors' swap of franchise faces is an admission by both clubs that the status quo wasn't working.
After all, Bogut was often injured, while Ellis was often in trouble. (In fact, Bogut is currently out with an ankle injury, while Ellis is being sued as part of a sexual harassment case involving a former employee of the Warriors.)
The Warriors are hoping Bogut, a former first overall pick, anchors the middle. Ellis, a terrific scorer, will form an undersized and dynamic backcourt with Bucks table-setter Brandon Jennings.
Bogut and Ellis aren't the biggest wild card in this trade. That distinction belongs to Stephen Jackson, a former Warrior who fell out with management.
Captain Jack, an integral part of the Warriors' 'We Believe' run of 2007, has since made several stops around the league before ending up in Coach Scott Skiles' doghouse.
His return to 'The Bay' will be worth following.
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Source: RJefferson for SJackson being discussed.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Did the San Antonio Spurs win the 2012 Trade Deadline with the acquisition of a three-man who had been chained to Scott Skiles’ bench in Milwaukee?
The answer: a resounding yes.
For whatever reason, Richardson Jefferson hasn’t fit with the Spurs. Perhaps he’s too nice. Perhaps he’s too soft. Perhaps he’s to skilled and not gritty enough.
Well, Jefferson is no more. The former All-Star was sent to the Golden State Warriors for Stephen Jackson, who arrived in The Bay as part of the Andrew Bogut-Monta Ellis trade.
The Spurs, specifically coach Gregg Popovich, love Jackson. They love his toughness, defense, and ability to take and make big shots.
And the feeling is mutual. After all, Popovich and Jackson won a championship together.
Best of all, this trade saves the Spurs about $10 million - as Jefferson was scheduled to earn 22 million over the next two seasons, while Jackson is only on the books through 2013 for $10 million.
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“Every day, I wish I wouldn’t have ever left,” said Jackson, whom the Spurs acquired Thursday by trading Richard Jefferson to Golden State. “My career has taken me to a lot of places, but it’s good to end up back here where I always felt I belonged. “It’s sweet, man. Great team, great young guys, the organization is still one of the best in the league, if not the best, and I’m just happy to be back where I’ve always been family and somewhere I want to be.”
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Stephen Jackson finally gets that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
Years ago, Jackson helped the San Antonio Spurs win a championship; however, he left as a free agent after a trivial contract dispute.
The Spurs - with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker - continued winning, while Jackson became a basketball-nomad, alienating some combination of coaches, teammates, fans, and law enforcement in each of his stops.
Worst of all, ‘Captain Jack’ teased with his talent. Remember, the versatile swing was terrific for the Golden State Warriors before falling-out with coach Don Nelson.
Over the years, one thing never changed: Jackson and the Spurs were good together.
So Thursday’s news that the black-and-silver had acquired Jackson for Richard Jefferson was hardly a surprise. His shooting and toughness could be the difference between the Spurs winning or losing a round in the Western Conference playoffs.
Expect Jackson to shine in this second stint with the Spurs. He’s learned - the hard way - that San Antonio is pretty green.
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Stephen Jackson says Metta World Peace can't rap.
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Yeah, that sounds about right. I'm just surprised Jackson actually said it.
Tim Duncan told he doesn't have the chops to rap with Stephen Jackson, Kevin Durant, and more.
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Have we ever heard a good basketball rapper? EVER?
If your favorite NBA team hasn't suffered a significant injury to one of its players recently, you have something to be "thankful" for.
HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: The injury bug is on the prowl, looking to strike an NBA player near you.
Cleveland Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving will miss a month due to a broken index finger.
Irving broke his left hand in the offseason and now the results of a MRI and CT Scan revealed a hairline/non-displaced fracture in the right index finger. The injury will be treated with taping and a splint while the fracture heals, and is scheduled to be re-evaluated in two weeks. It's going to be a long month for Cleveland fans as Irving has been essentially carrying the offense. Since you won't see him play for a month, get your fix by watching this over and over- it never gets old.
Andrew Bynum hurts knee...again...while bowling.
A couple of days ago Bynum confirmed Sixers fans worst fears when he confirmed he hurt his left knee bowling, while rehabbing his surgicially repaired right knee. "In hindsight, I guess you shouldn't go bowling. It's not more than anything I've done in my rehab." Bynum also raised another interesting point that Sixers fans undoubtedly do not want to consider; "I'm taking the position that if that happens bowling, what happens dunking?" Double ouch.
Brandon Roy's knees are done. And so are a lot of other Timberwolves' knees.
Roy had arthroscopic knee surgery on his right knee yesterday and the Timberwolves announced that he will be out for about a month. But does he really have anything left anyway? This was Roy's seventh knee operation since high school and fifth as a pro. Aside from Roy, the T-Wolves are battling injuries at every position.
Drik Nowitzki will miss at least two more weeks.
Is Dirk ever going to come back? Outside of Andrew Bynum, is anyone's knee injury healing more slowly? Dirk said via Twitter he will be back at practice again in two weeks, which means you could assume anywhere from 4-6 weeks until he is able to actually play.
Andrew Bogut to miss at least next three games.
Bogut will not play in any of the team's next three games as he continues to strengthen his repaired left ankle which he had surgery on initially on April 27th. it's encouraging though because he has actually played in three games ths year, but at some point Warriors fans want to see this guy on the floor.
San Antonio Spurs Stephen Jackson and Kawhi Leonard both out.
Stephen Jackson has a non-displaced fracture of the proximal phalanx of his right little finger and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Teammate Kawhi Leonard has left knee quadriceps tendinitis (doesn't that sound painful?) and will miss at least two weeks.The Spurs are hurting so bad at the small forward position, rumor has it that the team is considering acquiring Celtics player Mickael Pietrus.
New Orleans Hornets rookie Anthony Davis sprains ankle.
Davis sprained his ankle on Monday during practice ("Practice...we talkin' about practice.") which caused him to miss tonight's game versus the New York Knicks. Davis sprained the same ankle earlier in the year and it has been a lingering injury. He could miss several games as the Hornets play four road games in the next six days.
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On Friday, Forbes Magazine released it's report on the Top 10 Most Overpaid NBA Players.
Hoopsvibe's quick call: Aren't most NBA ballers overpaid? I mean they get paid millions of dollars to do something most people would do for free.
Anyway, thanks to Tom Van Riper, a business of sports writer at Forbes Magazine, we now have Forbes' list of the Top 10 Most Overpaid NBA players.
But before we get into the list, this passage from the Forbes article will help you understand how they measure players as overpaid.
"Advanced metrics show that in the NBA, scoring is overvalued. Stats compiled by David Berri, economist and author of Stumbling on Wine, rates players' contribution to wins not only by scoring but shooting percentage, assists, rebounds and turnovers, all measured against opportunities to accumulate those stats (a faster paced game with more shots equals more rebound opportunities, etc.)"
Essentially, the main thing overpaid ballers have in common, according to Forbes, is that all they do is score (because they shoot so much) but lack in the other areas that help their respective teams win games.
So without further adeu, here are the most overpaid NBA ballers...
1.) Carmelo Anthony, Knicks
Despite Melo's 28.1 points per game, his MVP-caliber season, and the Knicks second best Eastern Conference record of 48-26, Anthony is at the top of the list of Forbes' most overpaid. Forbes asserts that while Carmelo is a scoring machine, he takes more shots than anyone else and that means fewer shots for his teammates. He also rebounds less, assists less, and shoots more than Kevin Durant, for example. And he gets paid $19.4 million a year to do so; so the Knicks better win a championship this season.
2.) Ben Gordon, Bobcats
Gordon is a sick baller, no question, but the Bobcats are absolutely horrible. So horrible, in fact, that they have the worst record in the NBA, at 18-57. And Gordon is only averaging a modest 11.7 points per game. His 2 assists and 1.8 rebounds don't help his team much either, yet he's making $12.4 million this year.
3.) Joe Johnson, Nets
The Nets traded for Johnson as a guy to build a team around, and are actually having a pretty good year. Johnson's 16.3 ppg, however, is his lowest scoring average since 2004 and he's only adding a little over 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game. He makes $19.75 million this year.
4.) Hedo Turkoglu, Magic
It's been a tough few years for Turkoglu, who's only played 11 games this season due to injury. But in those 11 games, he only averaged 2.9 points, 2.1 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game. That's what Orlando is getting this season for the $11.8 million they're spending.
5.) Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
Forbes notes that while Dirk is definitely a Hall-of-Famer and was injured earlier this season, his numbers are down. And he's 35 years old. His yearly salary is $20.9 million but Forbes figures he's worth about $13mill at 17.2 points per game. I guess when you're a billionaire owner like Mark Cuban, what's a few million extra right?
6.) Corey Maggette, Pistons
Maggette has always been a guy who can score, but he's also always been a guy who gets hurt. Forbes notes that Maggette hasn't played one full 82 game season in his 14 year career. (That's crazy and something I never knew.) He's set to make $10.9 million this year, although he's only played in 18 games and averaged just over five points, one assist, and one rebound. Oh, and the Pistons are 25-51 and not making the playoffs. On a positive note, the dude is jacked.
7.) Rudy Gay, Raptors
Gay was traded from Memphis to Toronto mid season this year, and is averaging 19.4 points per game for the Raptors which is up from the 17.2 he averaged with the Grizzlies. The only problem is all he really does is score. Granted he doesn't have much of a supporting cast around him, and I'll give him that, but the reality is Memphis is 23-9 since trading him away and the Raptors have no shot at making the playoffs. Gay will make $16.5 million this season.
8.) Stephen Jackson, Spurs
Jackson is an interesting one on the Forbes list because the Spurs are one of the best teams in the league and he plays a solid role on their squad. But I think Forbes is challenging whether or not the role he plays is worth the $10.1 million he makes a year when he's averaging just 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. I see their point.
9.) Chris Kaman, Mavericks
In the 2009-10 season, Kaman was a beast for the Clippers averaging 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Forbes cites that his play has since dropped off, and they're right. They 7-foot big man is only pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game for the Mavs this season, while averaging 10.8 points and making $8 million.
10.) Arron Afflalo, Magic
Afflalo is known as a scorer and is averaging 16.5 ppg for the Magic this season. Forbes is all good with that; but they're not cool with the fact that he's making $7.8 million this year and only contributing 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. It seems they think he should be doing more than scoring for that kind of money.
So there's the list, Hoopsvibers! And a special thanks to Forbes and Tom Van Riper for a very thorough and interesting report!
What do the Hoopsvibers think? Should anyone else be on this list?? Leave your comments below!
Tracy McGrady signed with the San Antonio Spurs yesterday. He is playoff eligible and SA's ready to make a run.
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Scooping up McGrady at this point in the season is genius. The Spurs may win the West after all.
Every year, a few teams are capable of knocking off a contender. They are often slept-on and overlooked. Throw in a condensed, do-or-die seven game series and these Cinderella candidates need signs saying ‘proceed with caution’.
Indiana Pacers' Stephen Jackson fired his gun during a fight on Friday outside an Indianapolis strip club, police said. The incident occured after Jackson was punched in the mouth and hit by a car outside the club.
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: 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.
It was during Charlotte's crafty ambush of the Magic on Sunday—the second quarter, maybe the third quarter—that Stephen Jackson had A Moment. He made a shot and thought he was fouled on the elbow. He backpedaled, jutting his elbow away from him and patting it with his left hand. The camera followed him. His expression did not change. "Jackson wanted the call," droned Mike Breen, or whoever. Stephen Jackson continued patting himself on the elbow. The announcers fell into an inky pool of silence. The producer did not, could not cut away. No one seemed capable of saying or doing anything. Pat, pat, pat, pat, pat. Seconds of time peeled away from our lives, and each one seemed eternal.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: NBA players have handled the lockout in different ways.
Heat superstar Dwyane Wade got into a shouting match with Commissioner David Stern at a bargaining session; Nets table-setter Deron Williams is playing in Turkey; Laker great Kobe Bryant has spread his brand and may sign in Italy.
Then there’s Stephen Jackson. The newest edition to the Milwaukee Bucks has released a lockout inspired rap song.
Click the video below, give Captain Jack’s work in the booth a listen, and get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
(By the way, listener discretion is advised.)
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
The site will be the Impact Basketball gymnasium, about two miles from the Strip. The unofficial commissioner will be Joe Abunassar, a longtime trainer of N.B.A. players. More than 40 players, locked out of N.B.A. facilities because of a labor standoff, have committed to play. Chauncey Billups, John Wall, Zach Randolph and Stephen Jackson will be among the headliners.
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: You want basketball. You got it. Well, sort of.
Reports indicate up to forty NBA players will suit up for the Impact Basketball League which is set to begin in Las Vegas in mid September.
The big names include Chauncey Billups, Stephen Jackson, Zach Randolph, and John Wall, who will use the Vegas run to prepare for training camp and the upcoming NBA season.
And there’s the catch.
Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee we’ll have a season in 2012. So this, ‘the lockout league’ as some have dubbed it, may be the best we can hope for.
--Oly Sandor.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
“The first day Stephen Jackson walked into the facility, I knew right then and there it was going to be a different year,’’ Jennings said. “And it’s going to be a year that I think we’re going to be successful.
“The thing about the NBA is the league gets better and better every year. It’s never going to be the same, so I think with Stephen Jackson and a healthy Andrew Bogut and Drew Gooden, I think we’ll be talented enough to play with any of the top teams in the East, hands down.’’
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Brandon Jennings is right to suggest Stephen Jackson will impact the Milwaukee Bucks.
Will it be for better or worse, though?
Jennings believes his new teammate will use his talent for good, transforming the Bucks into a contender out east.
There`s evidence to support this view: Jackson was a champion with the San Antonio Spurs; helped the Charlotte Bobcats make their first-ever playoff appearance; and was terrific for the Golden State Warriors in 2007.
And there`s evidence to refute this view: Jackson bolted on those same Spurs, fell out with the Bobcats, and demanded the Warriors trade him months after signing a lucrative extension.
The hope is that Jackson will warm to his new surroundings. When healthy, Jennings and Andrew Bogut are a solid pair. Coach Scott Skiles will appreciate his tenacity as long as Jackson doesn`t become a distraction.
Who can forget the shenanigans that took place with the Indiana Pacers?
Of course, Jackson’s deal expires in 2013, so he’ll have to perform if he wants a contract from the Bucks or another team.
Jennings is right: Jackson will make the Bucks better. For now, it`s in his interests to do so.
--Oly Sandor.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
EARLIER SATURDAY-KFDM has confirmed that NBA star Kendrick Perkins was booked and released early Saturday morning into the Jefferson County jail around 4:00a.m. on charges of public intoxication and disorderly conduct. The charges are a class C misdemeanor. Per Texas penal code 12.23, an individual guilty of a class C misdemeanor shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500. Perkins posted bond of $150 shortly after being booked and was released.
Don Nelson will gladly trade those breezy Hawaiian trade winds for Minnesota winters and the chance to coach again, this time with the Timberwolves. "I think it'd be a great fit," he said. "I love Minnesota."
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: I have two words for Minnesota Executive David Kahn –‘do not’.
Do not let him charm you. Do not let him fill your head with thoughts and ideas. Do not overlook his past. Most importantly, do not hire Don Nelson to coach your Timberwolves.
After all, ‘Nellie’ is the NBA’s version of scorched earth. He sets fire to, burns, and destroys everything he touches.
In the 1990s, he sued Chris Cohan and the Warriors. He walked on the New York Knicks. He went back to court and sued Mark Cuban and the Mavericks. And his second go-around with the Warriors wasn’t much better.
Most troubling, Nelson has an odd relationship with his players. For instance, he clashed with Chris Webber, struggled with Monta Ellis, and flip-flopped on Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington. In no time, Nelson would alienate, aggravate, and annoy Mike Beasley, Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, and/or Derrick Williams
This must worry Kahn. After years of being an oddball outpost, the Wolves have young assets. Hiring the wrong coach, like Nelson, would compromise those young assets.
If Kahn wants a veteran sideline boss, he should consider Rick Adelman, Lawrence Frank, or even try pulling Hubie Brown out the broadcast booth to recreate his Memphis-magic in Minnesota.
Point blank: Nelson is done. The game has passed him by. He needs to cash his coaching 501K plan and spend his days walking the beaches of Maui and not an NBA sideline.
--Oly Sandor.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
If they're not, adding Jackson and the $19.3 million he is owed over the next two seasons wouldn't make sense for either party. "He's happy there," a confidant said of Jackson. "He loves the city of Charlotte, and he loves to play for one of the greatest players to play the game, Michael Jordan."
HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Well hallelujah. Stephen Jackson is ‘happy’ in Charlotte.
Apparently, the talented swing ‘loves’ the city of Charlotte and having Michael Jordan, the Bobcats’ owner, as his boss. So he wants to stay and fulfill the remaining two years and approximately $19 million on his contract.
There may not be a ‘happily ever after’, though.
Jackson often resmebles an impulsive teenager, changing his mind and word. Years ago, he turned down an extension from the world champion San Antonio Spurs to test the market and ended up with the lowly Atlanta Hawks.
More recently, he was enamoured with the Golden State Warriors and mad-scientist sideline boss Don Nelson. Then, like ‘Radio Raheem’ in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, the 'love became hate' and Jackson split from the Warriors and ‘Nellie’.
Of course, there’s another party in this relationship, the Bobcats. Jackson will become available if the club falls from the playoff race or if Jordan opts for long-term financial flexibility.
And Jackson's happiness won’t matter. Not one bit.
--Oly Sandor.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe in the comment box below.
Lance Stephenson was charged with pushing his girlfriend down a flight of stairs, police said. Stephenson roughed up Jasmine Williams, 21, in the stairwell of her Brooklyn apartment building at about 5 a.m., according to police.
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Lance Stephenson, Indiana's second round pick in the 2010 Draft, hasn't be found guilty of anything; however, an assault charge on a girlfriend is worrying.
Domestic violence is wrong and troubling. Regradless of what happens in the courts, Stephenson and his girlfriend should seek professional help.
On a lesser note, this changes things for Stephenson and the Pacers. The Coney Island native had an excellent summer league and figured prominently into the club's rebuilding plans.
After several off-court incidents involving players, the Pacers have placed a premium on character. Executive Larry Bird traded or released Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson, and Jamaal Tinsley for various infractions, so he'll surely re-evaluate Stephenson's standing.
--Oly Sandor.
Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
"The biggest regret of my life, really, is bailing out on that Pacer team," Artest said. "I mean, outside not going to church every single Sunday, bailing out on that Pacer team is my biggest regret. Every time I see Jermaine, every time I see Steve [Jackson] and Jamaal [Tinsley] ... I get a little bit of a feeling when I see Bird, because he was such a great player and I respect him so much. So I get that feeling when I see Bird. I feel like a coward. I feel like I don't even belong in their presence, really."
"When I saw Jermaine [this season], I felt like I didn't even belong in the same room as him," Artest said. "I felt like a coward. I don't like feeling like a coward, and I feel like a coward. That's the biggest regret of my life. Steve Jackson, Jermaine, Jamaal, even Jeff [Foster] -- a blue-collar guy like him, put his life on the line for us on the court, and I totally disrespected him. And of course Reggie. I was in a position to win a championship, Reggie was in position, and I bailed out on Reggie. I feel like a coward. A big-time coward. It's hard for me to even speak to them, hard for me to see them."
HoopsVibe's Quick Call: Love him or hate him, Ron Artest is honest and his heart seems to be in the right place.
After all, few athletes in the cut throat, macho world of pro sports would publicly admit to such feelings, especially about an incident that took place years ago with the Indiana Pacers.
Still, it's great Artest understands the impact his actions have on others. And, in some strange way, it's hard not to cheer for him -regardless of what you think about the Los Angeles Lakers.
Got thoughts on Ron-Ron's comments? Get at us in the opinion box below.
Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison is among "more than a dozen" suitors who have submitted non-binding bids for the Warriors, a source close to the negotiations said Tuesday.
"He is a part of it," the source said.
According to another source, so are the San Francisco Giants, 24 Hour Fitness owner Mark Mastrov, an NFL owner, a former Lakers star and a group of prominent Chinese businesspeople, among others. Galatioto Sports Partners and Warriors owner Chris Cohan will choose the best prospects in the next week.
HoopsVibe's Call: Give Larry Ellison a cape, tights, and Dwight Howard/Shaquille O'Neal's phone booth because he could be Superman and save the sorry Golden State Warriors.
Ellison, if approved as Golden State's owner, would bring something to The Bay that has been in short supply: sanity. Simply put, Cohan and Coach Don Nelson have ruined the Warriors. There's zero plan. Players, both past and present, have had significant issues with the club (see Baron Davis, Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson, and Al Harrington). Even their loyal fans are disgusted.
The right owner, Ellison, would surely hire the right basketball people -not Nelson and his group of faithful lackeys on the bench and in the front office. Talented youngsters like Andris Biedrins, Stephen Curry, and Ellis could then blossom with proper mentorship.
A change at the top would do Golden State good. It starts with Cohan cashing out as owner and being replaced with someone such as Ellison.
Is Cohan the problem with the Golden State Warriors? Does he have to sell for the team to turn things around? Get at us in the comment box below with thoughts.