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Sunday, October 12 2008

Denver tops Phoenix in historic outdoor game Whether it was the wind, the temperature or just a different environment to play in, the NBA’s first outdoor game in more than three decades was an offensive struggle. The Denver Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns 77-72 on Saturday night in the exhibition game billed as “NBA Outdoors!” at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Both teams struggled from the field and the free-throw line and combined to go 3-of-27 from 3-point range on a night when the temperature dipped into the 60s with some wind hitting the court by the end of the game. “If you shoot a ball and it starts slicing right, well ...” said Phoenix guard Steve Nash, who led all scorers with 16 points. “But that’s not really the point of the game, to shoot a high percentage. The point was to come out here and see what it is like to go up and down outside and put NBA players in this situation.” For more on this story click here (Rocky News). And click here for video of this rare outdoor match-up. Finally, would you like to see more exhibition games outside? Let us know in the comment box below. Photo courtesy of crewe.michael.

Saturday, October 11 2008

Warriors suspend Ellis 30 games over moped injury "The Golden State Warriors suspended injured guard Monta Ellis for 30 games without pay Saturday for violating his lucrative new contract by getting into a moped accident. Ellis, who agreed to a six-year deal worth $66 million in July, severely sprained his ankle in a low-speed crash in late August. The suspension will cost the guard slightly less than $3 million. The Warriors counted four preseason games in the suspension’s length, which means Ellis can’t return to the club until after Golden State’s 26th regular-season game, against Indiana on Dec. 17. For the rest of this story click here (cnnsi). Does the punishment fit the crime? Should the Warrios have suspended Ellis longer? Let us know in the comment box below.

Thursday, October 9 2008

Tracy McGrady: I Don’t Need to Play in Preseason “I don’t need to play any (preseason games),” McGrady said. “The more time I have to get in here (to the practice court) and strengthen my knee and get up and down, it’s best for me. I don’t have to play any games, but we’ll take it game by game. I don’t know how many games I’m going to play. I don’t know when I’m going to play.” Asked if he would like to play preseason games, McGrady said, “Of course, of course. I just think for my own psyche, to get out there and build my confidence within myself. I’m still a little hesitant on my knee a little bit.” chron.com
Elgin Baylor Worked without Contract; Lawsuit to Come? Though many of the details remain unclear, several pieces of information emerged. Sources with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to comment publicly said that Baylor had been working without a contract since the early 1990s, having been told that one was not necessary. Now it appears Baylor is gearing up for a battle, hiring attorney Carl Douglas and employment law specialist Alvin Pittman. "Elgin gave 22 years of his life to the Clippers and it’s regrettable they are trying to put him out to pasture in this way," Douglas said. latimes.com
Shaq: If I Could Do it Again, I’d Start More Fights with Kobe ``If I had to do it all over again, I would probably bring it up more, I would probably start more fights with him (Kobe Bryant). I was putting up great numbers, he was putting up great numbers, it made him all pissed off and he’s one of those (guys) where when he gets pissed off, he can go on and score 80 points. ``I think we were the greatest one-two punch in the game, greatest little man, big man punch in the game. Period.’’ insidesocal.com
Colangelo: Andrea Bargnani Better than Danilo Gallinari Colangelo even heard before the 2008 draft that Knicks New York Knicks rookie Danilo Gallinari, selected No. 6, was the better Italian prospect. Colangelo disagrees. With Gallinari (bulging disc) missing his showdown vs. Bargnani tonight, Colangelo believes his guy still is the class of Italy. "I think the upside Bargnani has is different," Colangelo told The Post. "He’s a 7-footer vs. 6-9. He has the advantage of size. When some Italian [scouts] told me Danilo was a better prospect, I’ve always politely disagreed. Danilo has a bright future if his health holds up. But if you’re going to say who will be better, I’d bet on a 7-footer who has already had success in the NBA." nypost.com
LeBron James Has NBA’s Best Contract If you take a $10 million signing bonus and 70 percent of $12 million in base pay, Paul could get $18 million of his max contract in up front money. Again, the overall value of the contracts is the same, but obviously how the checks are cashed is different. I don’t know the specifics on the signing bonuses and the up front money that Williams and Paul will be receiving. I would love to hear from somebody with a little more cap familiarity than me about just how max and max-plus works. LeBron James’ extension with Cleveland, incidentally, is said to be the ultimate max-plus deal, with every concession you could come up with. sltrib.com
Kobe Bryant Takes Seventy Percent of Salary in One Check There also are provisions that allow a player to receive up to 70 percent of his salary in one check every season. Kobe Bryant is the most famous example. He already has been paid nearly $15 million for this season, which had to be a hell of a check for Jerry Buss to write. Bryant’s contract calls for him to be paid 70 percent of his salary each season by Sept. 1. Some owners simply can’t do that. I can’t say how much Paul is getting paid up front every season, but it’s another way a team can sweeten a max contract. sltrib.com
Does Chris Paul Have a Better Deal than Deron Williams? We’ll have to wait until July to find out exactly how much those contracts will be worth, but Williams and Paul can expect to make more than $14 million beginning in 2009-10 and $50 million to $70 million depending on whether they exercise that fourth-year option. It turns out, though, that Paul’s contract has sweeteners that Williams’ does not. As one person has described it, Williams signed a "max contract" but not a "max-plus contract." This was the first time I’d ever heard that distinction in five years of covering the NBA. For starters, Paul has a 15 percent trade kicker that Williams does not. For the uninitiated, a trade kicker is a bonus that gets paid if a player ever gets traded. You can be sure the Hornets aren’t looking to trade Paul, but if they ever did, Paul’s bank account would get a bump. sltrib.com

Tuesday, October 7 2008

Elgin Baylor Out as G.M. of Clippers Although the Clippers have not made an official announcement, Hall of Famer, Laker legend and NBA icon Elgin Baylor no longer is performing his duties as the team’s vice president of basketball operations and general manager. “There’s a dispute going on,” Baylor said. “My attorney advised me not to discuss it.” A NBA executive contacted Tuesday afternoon said he had been told that Baylor no longer was performing his job. Reportedly, legal representatives of the Clippers and Baylor are engaging in dialogue. It is not known if Baylor resigned or was relieved of his duties. However, suspicion arose when the 74-year old Baylor was not at the Clippers’ new practice facility when training camp opened nor was he listed in any way in the team’s preseason media guide. lakers.freedomblogging.com
Eddy Curry: ’I’m not playing to come off the bench.’ Eddy Curry Eddy Curry lost a week of work but not his confidence. Yesterday’s practice was his first of the preseason after a bacterial infection left him bedridden in Saratoga Springs. Curry said he may not be ready to play in the Knicks New York Knicks ’ preaseason opener tomorrow night, but he expects to be the starting center once the games count. "Until told otherwise, yeah, I do," said Curry, who was left winded and worn out yesterday. "I’m not out here playing to come off the bench. I’m planning to start. New York Post
Luke Walton’s Stalker Charged A woman has been charged with stalking Los Angeles Lakers forward Luke Walton. Stacy Elizabeth Beshear of El Segundo was arrested Sept. 18 after she pulled up to his car and pretended to fire gunshots at him with her hand, police Sgt. Steve Tobias said. The 34-year-old Beshear has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor count of stalking. A Nov. 6 trial date has been set in the case. She faces up to a year in county jail if convicted, district attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison said Tuesday. A phone number for Beshear was not in service. ESPN.com
Odom to Play Point; Fisher at Two; Kobe as SF Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol will play together for the first time tonight in the Lakers’ exhibition opener at the Honda Center. Kobe Bryant will shift from shooting guard to small forward. Derek Fisher will move from point guard to shooting guard. Lamar Odom will go from small forward to point guard. Or more accurately, Odom will move from power forward to point guard, bypassing his anticipated role as a small forward as Lakers coach Phil Jackson begins his promised starting lineup experiments during the eight-game exhibition season. dailynews.com
George Karl to Carmelo, Iverson: Shoot Less Apparently, Nuggets coach George Karl is living up to his promise to be tougher on his underachieving team. NBA sources said Karl told Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony at the beginning of training camp that they would have to make a much stronger effort to get their teammates more involved offensively. Iverson averaged 26.4 points and 18.9 field goal attempts per game last season while Anthony averaged 22.5 points and 19.2 field goal attempts. In light of the team defense being ridiculed last season, Karl also worked on nothing but defense during the first four days of practice. Boston.com
Is Stephon Marbury Really Happy to Be Sixth Man? Sounding unusually contrite and un-Starbury-like, Stephon Marbury Stephon Marbury said last night he’ll be happy to come off the bench this season and promised he won’t cause a "distraction" if Chris Duhon is named the starting point guard. One day after predicting he would be the opening-night starter and one week after he said he would be OK if the Knicks New York Knicks cut him, Marbury backed off after an epiphany following yesterday’s practice. New York Post
Marvin Williams Getting No Extension? With new general manager Rick Sund still trying to get a feel for his team in Atlanta, a source says that No. 2 overall pick Marvin Williams is not a candidate for an extension. Bobcats point guard Raymond Felton, with new coach Larry Brown still looking to size up Felton’s role, is in a similar situation. Felton told SN earlier in the summer that he was hopeful that a deal could get done, but a source close to the negotiations said, "It’s not gonna happen." No. 7 pick Charlie Villanueva, who will be starting at power forward for the Bucks, will be without an extension, too. "There has been no discussion of that from either side," a source said. SportingNews.com

Sunday, October 5 2008

Shaun Livingston: ’I can be a lead guard’ But it seemed a matter of time before the 6-foot-7 Livingston joined Dwyane Wade in the backcourt despite Heat President Pat Riley calling Livingston’s signing "a dead issue" just days ago. Livingston injured his knee with the Clippers on Feb. 27, 2007 — tearing three ligaments and dislocating his kneecap — and hasn’t played since then. "I’m anxious to prove and show what I can do," Livingston told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "I feel like I have a lot to prove, not just from being healthy, but also performance-based. I feel like I can be a lead guard, with no disrespect to any of the guards down here." LA Times
Mike D’Antoni: Nate Robinson is ’scary athletic’ Even though Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni isn’t ready to determine his rotation, he liked what he saw from Nate Robinson during New York’s first week of practice. "I’m really surprised with him and how good he is," D’Antoni said of the 5-foot-9 guard after the team broke training camp at Skidmore College on Saturday. "He can play a lot of systems, but I do think that the way we want to play an open court, that will benefit him as much or more than anybody. "He’s just — he is athletic as can be. He’s scary athletic, and fast." ESPN
Lamar Odom Not Paid as Much as Thought Lamar Odom’s contract is frequently reported to be for $14.1 million this season. Apparently that’s incorrect. $14.1 million is his salary cap number. In other words, how much his salary counts against the Lakers salary cap. His actual salary —how much he’s being paid by the Lakers this year — is $11.4 million, according to a team spokesman. Odom received a significant amount of money from a ``trade kicker’’ clause in his contract after he was dealt from Miami, but that money was paid in a lump sum up-front. For salary cap purposes, it is parcelled out each year, but he is actually only being paid $11.4 million this season. insidesocal.com
Tinsley-to-Denver Deal Back on? Embattled point guard Jamaal Tinsley remained an Indiana Pacer on Friday, but there is a "strong possibility" he could be traded to the Denver Nuggets as early as Monday, a person familiar with the situation said. A second person confirmed trade discussions were ongoing and said the Pacers will look for another partner if it falls through. indystar.com
Marko Jaric Playing with Broken Nose He’s not among the younger Grizzlies. But Marko Jaric is definitely one of the toughest. The veteran swingman participated in the team’s open practice and scrimmage Saturday with a broken nose. Jaric will have the nose repaired Tuesday, and then he’ll miss five days. He suffered the injury Friday afternoon during the fourth day of training camp. Jaric was hit across the face in a crowd in the paint during a scrimmage. He left practice about halfway through it and did not return. commercialappeal.com
Phil Jackson: Kobe Bryant’s Not Shooting Well Jackson said Kobe Bryant, who decided against having surgery for a torn ligament in his right pinkie, has not "been shooting the ball well" in practice, but that his "game speed is there." Jackson also said that Gasol has looked "impressive" in practice. . . . Today is the final of six two-a-day practices for the Lakers. LA Times

Friday, October 3 2008

Phil Jackson: It’s ’not possible’ for Andrew Bynum to Average 20-10 When asked about Bynum’s goal of averaging 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds this season, something only four players in the NBA accomplished last season, Jackson perked up at long last. "Not possible," Jackson said. "It’s not possible. There’s just not enough offense for everyone to do that kind of stuff." Jackson’s only quibble was with Bynum’s desired scoring average. Jackson said he believes Bynum can average 10or more rebounds. "That’s realistic, 10rebounds, three blocks, some changed shots ... maybe a charge a game - those are the things we want to see happen with his defense," Jackson said. "That’s going to make us a good team." dailynews.com
Paul Pierce: We’re Ready to Repeat "We built a great chemistry last year," he said. Now, after feeling what its like to win a championship, Pierce expects the Celtics to be a favorite to repeat. "Once you get a taste of the success you want to do it again," he said. "The guys felt like that going into the summer after winning a championship. The guys are hungry for more." Boston.com
Miami Heat Take Risk on Shaun Livingston, Sign Him to Two-year Deal If you’ve ever undergone the masochistic process of buying a car, you’ll know exactly how Pat Riley felt as he searched for a point guard. While you understand that, with your needs and limited budget, your best bet is to drop your dough on a modest, reliable vehicle, there’s always the devil on your shoulder telling you to go nuts and cop something fast and flashy. Still, your rational side realises that it’s just not possible given your financial circumstances, and you resign yourself to the fact that you won’t be rolling in a head-turner any time soon. By chance, though, you walk past a second-hand dealership and one whip in particular jumps out at you: a sleek, mid-engined beauty of a ride with a price so low you’d think a zero fell off the end of the tag. When the salesman swaggers over, however, you can tell from his crinkled grin that there’s more to the story. The car, it transpires, is available at a bargain basement price because of a major accident in its past, one that cracked the suspension and left the transmission shot. The salesman assures you that the mechanics repaired everything as best they could, but that the car is sold as-is, no guarantees. It’s impossible to casually dismiss something with such great potential, and you tell yourself that with a lot of work and a little luck you could end up with a major-league piece of machinery at a tee-ball price. Still, in the back of your mind you know there’s every chance it might never make it out of the driveway. The salesman spies another prospective buyer glancing admiringly at the car and fixes you with a look that lets you know it’s time to get out your cash or just get out. So what do you do? Well, if you’re Pat Riley, you buy the car. While we’ve come to think of Riles as the greasy-haired, slick-talking salesman, in this instance he was the customer, and only time will tell whether he got a steal when he signed Shaun Livingston to a two-year deal or if he’ll be left with a lemon. What do you think? Is Livingston a risky investment or is it just a matter of time before he becomes a productive point once more? Will Pat Riley and the Miami Heat live to regret this signing? Let us know what you think in the comment box below.
Shaq: When I Retire, There’ll Be Parties Calling himself the still-reigning "emperor of big men," Shaquille O’Neal may or may not be ready to retire in two years, as speculation has suggested. "You’ll know when I’m gonna retire," Shaq said. "There’s going to be parties and gifts at the end of the games." AZStarNet.com
Jared Jeffries Fractures Fibula The Knicks announced tonight that Jeffries had suffered a left fibula fracture. It happened in today’s practice when Jeffries made an impressively athletic defensive play for a 6-11 man. He sprinted to catch Stephon Marbury on a fast break and blocked Marbury’s layup attempt from behind. But when he landed, Jeffries said he felt like "a horse kicked me in my shin." Jeffries tried to get back into the game a short while later but he was clearly in pain. Mike D’Antoni immediately waved him off the court and told him not to push it. Jeffries said he heard a pop at that point. He walked off the court and talked to reporters after practice. He also walked to the team bus. Newsday.com
Rip Hamilton: I Was Disappointed with Flip Saunders "I was disappointed at the way Flip (Saunders) did things, that was the frustrating thing about it," he said. Hamilton didn’t want to get into specifics, but his major point of contention with Saunders was that he didn’t hold all players accountable for their actions. "Players like to be challenged, and they want discipline, even if they fight at times," coach Michael Curry said. "Rip was frustrated because he didn’t feel that everybody was being held accountable. Our goal as a coaching staff this year is to do a better job holding everybody accountable every day." DetroitNews.com
Knicks Won’t Cut Stephon Marbury Understanding that a sensible trade, one in which his franchise wasn’t yet again forced to assume a longer financial burden than the one on its cap, was unachievable, the idea is to place Marbury in position where he can succeed. Contrary to continuing accounts, not once has Walsh contemplated cutting, paying off or buying out Marbury. Furthermore, not once has James Dolan been consulted about the prospects of doing any such thing. Randolph’s situation is somewhat different. Though far from a seamless fit in D’Antoni’s run-n’-stun system, he boasts 20-point, 10-rebound credentials as a starter for the Trail Blazers and Knicks. On one hand, he’s bordering on being an undesirable. On the other hand, Walsh refuses to give him away. NYPost.com
Dwyane Wade’s Divorce Case Begins Dwyane Wade was absent Thursday, with several hearings scheduled in his divorce case in Chicago. The team only would say that Wade was missing because of "personal reasons." ... The free public scrimmage originally scheduled for tonight has been rescheduled after the team returns from Europe. Sun-Sentinel.com
Shaun Livingston Deal with Miami Heat Almost Done Free-agent Shaun Livingston is within hours of joining the Miami Heat. The former Los Angeles Clippers point guard will meet with Heat management Friday, at which time he is expected to be added to the roster. The Heat, which currently has the NBA maximum of 20 players in training camp, will have to make a minor personnel move to create roster space. Agent Henry Thomas said earlier this week that Livingston was "leaning toward Miami." Sun-Sentinel

Wednesday, October 1 2008

Hedo Turkoglu to Run Point at Times Next Season? Van Gundy said Monday that he would get both veteran F Hedo Turkoglu and rookie G Courtney Lee into the rotation for a few minutes each practice in a pseudo-point guard role during the first week of workouts. Both played the point some during voluntary team practices recently and said they would be comfortable trying their hand at filling that spot in certain sets if needed. "He and Turkoglu together with a 2 or 3 man, sharing the ball handling duties together," Van Gundy said, "which is something I do think we can go to because I do think Courtney is capable of guarding point guards." Orlando Sentinel
Baron Davis: ’It’s going to be bumpy in the beginning.’ With training camp starting today, he could have been talking about this season’s team photo, as there are 13 new faces on the 18-player camp roster. If only assimilation were as easy as dropping weight, and Davis acknowledged the early ride could be tough. "Our possibilities are endless," Davis said. "We have great fans. We’re the underdog in the city, so a lot of people are going to be rooting for us. It’s just a matter of us coming together at the right time. "It’s going to be bumpy in the beginning." LA Times
Darius Miles: I Don’t Know Why I Failed Drug Test Darius Miles says he has no clue what made him fail a drug test that will cause him to serve a 10-game suspension if he makes it through training camp with the Boston Celtics. Speaking at length Tuesday for the first time since his suspension was announced by the NBA over the summer, Miles said he never took diet pills — the over-the-counter medication in which the banned stimulant he tested positive for, phentarmine, is most commonly found — and had never taken any medication other than what was prescribed by Portland’s doctors and trainers. "I wish I knew. I really do wish I knew, but [Celtics president] Danny Ainge told me ’leave it alone,’ so I left it alone," Miles said. ESPN
Kevin Love’s Weight Fluctuating Love said he already has interviewed three or four chefs to prepare his meals. He prepared for the NBA draft in June by losing 15 pounds by extensive exercise and changing his diet to include custom-made, packaged meals and appears to have gained some of that back over the summer. NBA scouts questioned his weight during his only season at UCLA. "I’ve got to keep it healthy: gluten-free, low-fat," Love said. "I need to make sure my body is getting the right things, but it has to taste good. I can’t be eating cardboard every day." But isn’t a professional chef expensive, even for a fellow who will make $3.3 million this season? Star Tribune
NCAA Center John Bryant Stabbed Standout Santa Clara center John Bryant was recovering Monday from stab wounds to the back stemming from an off-campus incident early Saturday, Santa Clara Police said. "Yes, John Bryant was a victim of assault," Santa Clara Police Sgt. Kurt Clarke said in a phone interview. "We don’t know specifically what transpired. It’s still under investigation. We are interviewing victims and witnesses." Bryant, who led the West Coast Conference in rebounds and blocked shots last season and was second in scoring, was moving around on his own Monday and expected to be playing again soon, the school said. Sports Illustrated
Nate McMillan: Greg Oden’s Fine after Rolling Ankle Trail Blazers center Greg Oden is OK after rolling his right ankle during the first day of training camp. "He’s fine," Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan said Wednesday. "Everybody, he’s fine. He’s OK." Oden, who missed all of his rookie season because of knee surgery, was injured Tuesday during a drill while pushing fellow center Joel Przybilla for rebounding position. ESPN

Tuesday, September 30 2008

Mark Cuban: Avery Johnson Had Problems with Players Mark Cuban said multiple players told him they wanted to be traded if Avery Johnson returned as coach this season. The Mavericks owner revealed the gravity of the rift between Johnson and his players at Monday’s media day when asked how he came to the conclusion that he needed to fire Johnson. "I knew after I had so many people asking to be traded," Cuban said. "I mean, I had to deal with either the players and moving them or the coach and moving him." dallasnews.com
Lamar Odom Unhappy with Sixth Man Plan Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said recently that he is considering making Lamar Odom the team’s sixth man this season. The Lakers convened this afternoon for a media session in El Segundo before the start of training camp Tuesday and Odom voiced his disdain for Jackson’s idea. "He must have woke up and bumped his head. He probably hit his head on something — boom," Odom said about Jackson. "To start off like that, you’ve got to be out of your . . . mind." latimes.com
Josh Howard Issues Apology Howard didn’t make excuses. He didn’t duck questions. He didn’t cut anyone off. He said he was sorry, he was hurt, he was upset with himself. Even if it was late in coming – considering it’s been nearly two weeks since reports surfaced about his inflammatory comments on the national anthem, which came on the heels of a street-racing charge, an ill-timed birthday bash and a call into a radio station about smoking pot – the Mavs’ second-best player certainly took a major step toward rehabilitating his image. dallasnews.com
Derrick Rose ’worried’ about Training Camp What the No. 1 overall pick is worried about is his first NBA training camp. This stance isn’t a surprise to those who know Rose well, who say his assertiveness only arrives when he feels acclimated. "I’m worried a little bit," Rose said. "But I know with the guys on my team that everybody will help me. They just want to win. "I don’t know what’s going to happen. But all I hear is it’s going to be hard. At Memphis, our training camp was hard. If it’s harder than that, that would be unbelievable." chicagotribune.com
Larry Bird Implies Jermaine O’Neal Not a Leader "Just because you make the most money doesn’t mean you’re the leader," Bird said last month. "A lot of guys didn’t want to step on toes. Not only here, but other places I’ve been at. They’d say, the guy makes the most money, that means he’s the leader. That’s not the case. The leader comes from the guy doing the right thing, the guy that’s going to be there every day at practice, the guy that plays through pain without complaining. They do the necessary things to prepare themselves. "I think the situation you have here, you had one guy making a lot of money and everybody just took it as he’s going to be leading us, and in some instances that was true. But I think more now that since it has opened you’ll see a number of guys stepping up. indystar.com
Baron Davis Agreed to $56.8 Million Extension with GSW Multiple league sources have confirmed that, leading up to the opt-out deadline, Davis and Warriors chief Chris Mullin reached a tenative agreement–Davis would “opt-in” on his $17.8M for this season, then land a three-year, $39M extension ($13M per). All money included, that would’ve given Baron $56.8M over four seasons, through the 2011-12 season. That was the deal. Both sides signed off, tenatively. But for the offer to become official, it had to be approved by team president Robert Rowell, who speaks for owner Chris Cohan on all matters these days. (Rowell might as well be Cohan these days.) And Rowell nixed it. Bye-bye Baron. mercurynews.com

Monday, September 29 2008

Andrew Bynum Expecting Maximum Contract For the Lakers, these issues are easy to define but hard to solve, at least right away. Most immediate is the fate and the fortune they intend to commit to their young center Andrew Bynum, who is eligible for an extension. Bynum’s agent has said that he’ll pursue a maximum extension (five years, $80million) for his client and would like to resolve the situation as soon as possible. The Lakers, though enamored with Bynum’s development, have said they prefer to see how his surgically repaired knee responds to the rigors of training camp. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_10586184
Curry Out of Shape; Knicks Not Looking Strong When asked about the chances of becoming respectable, D’Antoni quipped, "I’m just trying to get Donnie to schedule more games. If we played 120, we can win a nice number." D’Antoni has a sharp sense of humor, but will it last if things continue to deteriorate. Already, Eddy Curry has reported in lousy shape and could be useless in the run-and-gun. Danilo Gallinari looks to be headed for a bust of a rookie year. Lingering back pain will have the Italian Stallion on the sidelines most of camp. http://www.nypost.com/seven/09292008/sports/knicks/knicks_need_cheer_131197.htm
Dwyane Wade: I’m Not Going to NY Dwyane Wade disputed a report in Newsday (N.Y.) that he would love to play for the Knicks and said he has a hunch he will remain with the Heat after he can opt out of his contract in summer 2010. ’’That’s my goal,’’ Wade said, indicating he would love to retire as a Heat player. The Newsday story ’’was reported wrong,’’ Wade said Friday. ``When they asked me about [Knicks coach] Mike D’Antoni, I said when I played with him in the Olympics, if it was between him and Nate McMillan, I love being on the court with him. Miami is where I want to be. If I say I like a city, people will say I want to be playing in that city. And that doesn’t mean that at all.’’ http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/basketball/story/704608.html
Miami, Portland, Minnesota Interested in Shaun Livingston The Wolves are one of three teams in the running for free-agent guard Shaun Livingston, along with Miami and Portland. http://www.twincities.com/ci_10578536?source=most_viewed
Fifth Test Fifth test.

Saturday, September 27 2008

Dirk Nowitzki Hints at Playing in Germany On him perhaps playing in Europe: "There’s one big club in Germany. They’ve been asking me every year. Actually, the owner’s dream is to have me in uniform once before I retire. I’m sure he’s going to do everything he can to make that happen before my career’s over." http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/092608dnspomavslede.1ac545d.html
Derek Fisher Campaigns for Obama on Reservation NBA star Derek Fisher urged Native Americans in two Blackfeet Reservation communities Thursday to do what it takes to vote in this year’s presidential election. Fisher visited Heart Butte High School and Browning High School to emphasize the importance of the Native American vote in this year’s election, along with promoting voter registration. "The main message is getting voter registration numbers as high as possible," said Fisher in a phone interview. The Los Angeles Lakers point guard was on the reservation on behalf of the Barack Obama campaign. http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/NEWS01/809260325
Marbury Being Given a Real Chance to Stick with Knicks Marbury wants to stay with the Knicks, but doesn’t want to be a lame duck when the Knicks kick off training camp in Saratoga Springs. Sources said yesterday, however, Walsh is giving Marbury a legitimate chance to stick with the team. Owner James Dolan may be unwilling to eat $21.9 million until he sees him in action. The Knicks point guard took his physical yesterday at the Westchester practice facility and was told to be ready for Tuesday’s training camp at Skidmore College. Nobody from the organization has told him he will not be part of the season. But they also haven’t told him to ignore the media reports, stating he’s toast and hopes he’s not being kept on as a negotiating tactic. http://www.nypost.com/seven/09262008/sports/knicks/marbury_to_knicks__make_up_your_mind_130867.htm

Thursday, September 25 2008

Baron Davis on Jenny Craig Diet Baron Davis, the 6’ 3" L.A. Clippers guard, is the new man on the Jenny plan, PEOPLE has learned exclusively. Inspired by current spokeswoman Latifah, Davis, 29, started the plan at the beginning of August to get in shape for basketball season. "I know Queen Latifah, and when I saw her out there using it, I thought maybe I could use it, too, to work on my health and fitness goals and inspire others," he tells PEOPLE. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20228478,00.html
Warriors to Change Uniforms? And the image could garner even more national and international exposure. The Golden State Warriors basketball team, often maligned for not identifying its hometown of Oakland in its name, is considering a new uniform design that would incorporate a sketch of the span, much like the classic "The City" uniforms with an image of the Golden Gate Bridge that the team sported as the San Francisco Warriors. "It’s a great branding opportunity for Oakland," said Donald MacDonald, the San Francisco architect who designed the single-tower span and has spoken with the Warriors. "It gives (Oakland) a gateway, and at night, it’s going to be spectacular." http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/23/MNVT132PRU.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
Rafer Alston Tested for Heart Condition Houston Rockets point guard Rafer Alston underwent tests during the offseason to rule out a potential heart condition, league sources told SI.com. Two doctors examined Alston and both cleared him to play, according to the sources. Alston has been scrimmaging with the Rockets this week and will participate in training camp. "Rafer had a few extra tests on his physical," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told SI.com. "Everything came back negative. They were precautionary." http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/09/25/alston.rockets/index.html?eref=si_nba
Rockets Match Offer Sheet, Keep Carl Landry After months of speculation, the Carl Landry saga has finally reached its conclusion. The verdict: The explosive second-year forward will indeed be donning Rockets’ red once again. Less than twenty four hours after the Charlotte Bobcats signed Landry to a three year offer sheet - with the third year being a team option - Rockets GM Daryl Morey announced that Houston will match the deal. "We’re really excited to have him back," Morey says. "We wanted to sign him long-term out of the draft last year; because we didn’t have mid-level we weren’t able to get that done. So now we’re excited to get that done and we’re going to have a great set of players in for training camp. http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Rockets_To_Match_Offer_For_Car-283207-34.html
Francisco Garcia Inks Deal Worth up to $30 Million Dominican guard Francisco Garcia has signed a five-year contract extension with the Sacramento Kings. The deal was first reported by Thursday’s edition of newspaper El Caribe of Dominican Republic. The deal is worth $23 million over four years with a fifth-year player’s option worth $7 million, a source close to the negotiations confirmed for ESPNdeportes.com. "I still have a lot of things to prove this year, I have to raise my level of play," Garcia told ESPNdeportes.com. "It will be different, we don’t have Ron Artest anymore, and I am prepared because the team expects a lot from me." http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3609317
Allen Iverson on Being Traded: It Could Happen Since the Nuggets went into a cost-cutting mode during the summer and traded Marcus Camby to the Clippers for next to nothing, many have wondered: Could Allen Iverson be the next big-dollar player to go? Including Iverson. "It’s a possibility," Iverson said in an interview Wednesday with the Rocky after working out Wednesday with teammates at the Pepsi Center. "We’ll just see what happens. I wouldn’t be upset either way because it’s a business. . . . The one thing about a trade is when somebody trades for you, they want you. That’s what you want as an athlete." http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/sep/24/iverson-says-camby-trade-came-as-kind-of-a-shock/?partner=RSS
Monta Ellis Was Injured in Moped Accident Monta Ellis was riding a moped when he severely injured his left ankle last month in his native Jackson, Miss., sources close to the Warriors guard told The Chronicle. The 22-year-old tore a deltoid ligament in his ankle and sustained a high-ankle sprain in what one of the sources labeled a "low-speed" accident. Ellis underwent surgery on Aug. 27 and is expected to be sidelined for at least another two months. The cause of Ellis’ injury was unclear, even to Golden State officials, immediately after he hurt himself in late August. He initially told vice president Chris Mullin the injury occurred during a pick-up basketball game, before coming clean about the moped mishap. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/24/SP21134ADN.DTL&tsp=1

Wednesday, September 24 2008

Hedo Turkoglu to Opt out of Deal in ’09 Small forward Hedo Turkoglu was the last Magic player to return to Orlando and reunite with teammates after the offseason, arriving Monday night from his native Turkey. Turk hopes this won’t be his last summer with the town and the team he adores. He said Tuesday that he likely will opt out of his contract after the season to become a free agent, signaling the end of his six-year, $39-million deal with the Magic. He could play out his final season in 2009-10 at $7.3 million. But he seemingly has gained enough leverage and equity after earning the NBA’s most improved player award last season. He turns 30 next March, meaning this is likely his last shot at a lucrative long-term contract. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-magic2408sep24,0,4056210.story

Monday, September 22 2008

Salim Stoudamire Signs with Spurs Salim Stoudamire has escaped pro basketball’s burial grounds — the Atlanta Hawks — and now will play for a winner. The ex-Wildcat shooting star has signed with the San Antonio Spurs and is expected to replace the three-point shooting threat of Brent Barry and perhaps Robert Horry. In three years with the dismal Hawks, Stoudamire averaged just 17 minutes per game and was often slowed by a chronic ankle injury. His career average is eight points per game. http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/blogs/hansen/11485/salim-now-a-spur
Kansas to Retire Kirk Hinrich’s Jersey Hinrich will return to Lawrence to retire jersey Kansas’ 2008 national championship banner won’t be the only new addition to the Allen Fieldhouse rafters this season. The Jayhawks will also hang Kirk Hinrich’s No. 10 jersey in the gym sometime this year. Hinrich, who graduated in 2003 and currently plays for the Chicago Bulls, led the Jayhawks to the national championship game in his senior season and was a Wooden All-American. http://www.kansan.com/stories/2008/sep/22/hinrich_brief/?sports
Mike Bibby: We Could Have Beaten the Celtics Things played out particularly well, with the Hawks earning the franchise’s first postseason berth in nearly a decade with Bibby piloting the ship. But he struggled in the series against Boston, something that he shook off immediately after that Game 7 loss but has not forgotten. “I think we definitely could have beaten them,” Bibby said. “We just didn’t play well on the road at all, and I mean at all. But things happen for a reason. Maybe that was the start for us to excel this season.” http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/hawks/entries/2008/09/22/tds_take_and_mo.html?cxntfid=blogs_hawks
Ben Wallace: We Could Win It All this Year As the only guy on the roster with a Ring. Can you sense whether this team has that feel to it? Ben Wallace: I like our roster right now. I like the pieces that we’ve added. Along with the veterans that are coming back, I think we have the opportunity to win a Championship. But as far as that X-factor, you really don’t know that until you get in the flow of the season and see how things turn out. Does a Championship team have a noticeable swagger or confidence? Wallace: It’s not necessarily a confidence thing, but a rhythm. You can tell by the rhythm that the team gets into. http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/features/one_wallace_080921.html
Ray Allen Excited to Have Darius Miles in Town "I’m excited about Darius Miles," forward Ray Allen said. "He hasn’t played in a while, and he’s excited to be here and help this team. "When people see him play, he’ll be a fan favorite. People say he hasn’t played in a couple years, but at the same time he has a lot of basketball left in him. He’s only 26 years old, and to be able to have him at this stage of his career is going to be great for us." Miles has missed two years with a microfracture in his right knee; the suspension is for violating the terms of the NBA’s antidrug program. Captain Paul Pierce’s evaluation of the Celtics’ offseason additions, including draft choices J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker: "We lost Posey [to New Orleans], and he was definitely a key to what we were doing last year. http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/09/21/miles_seen_as_going_long_way_toward_repeat/?rss_id=Boston.com+—+Boston+Celtics+news
Julius Hodge Invited to Training Camp with Nets Free agent guard Julius Hodge has officially been invited to the Nets’ training camp, according to agent Cervando Tejeda. http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/sierra/2008/09/22/hodge-invited-to-camp/

Sunday, September 21 2008

Portland Still Undecided on Shaun Livingston Livingston, who missed all of last season recovering from a catastrophic knee injury, worked out for the Blazers last week in Tucson, Ariz. After the workout, the Blazers requested Livingston’s medical records and for the 23-year-old to be examined by Blazers doctors. "I need another 24-to-48 hours to think about it,’’ Pritchard said Friday afternoon. "I haven’t sat down and done all the pros and cons. Once I do that, we will come to a decision about where we want to go. And even if we do decide to move forward, whether a deal gets done or not is another question.’’ OregonLive.com
Will Shaq Start Season in Shape? And for the frequent questions about what kind of shape Shaquille O’Neal is in, there is good feeback natually from the Suns folk. It did not look too promising after O’Neal walked out of exit interview day saying he would be in Phoenix this summer to work out with the Suns staff. He ended up being spotted everywhere but the Valley this summer but his weight is said to be in line with what the Suns hoped to see him at entering camp. He scrimmaged twice this week, even making a nimble move when he was knocked down to do a fluid, backward somersault and come to his feet. He has been working out the past two years with Ultimate Fighting Championship legend Royce Gracie up to four times a week. AZcentral.com
Dwyane: LeBron Could Benefit from Bigger Market Talking to Newsday’s Ken Berger, Miami star Dwyane Wade said that he is a free agent in 2010 like LeBron James, "[But] The Knicks are not worried about me, they are worried about No. 23 and he’s in Cleveland. . . . First of all, No. 23 is 23 years old. . . . He’s very young. He’s one of the best players in the game and you only could see him getting better. I’m in a good market in Miami. He’s not in a good market in Cleveland, marketingwise, so it just makes sense that everyone wants to see one of the best players in one of the best markets. [Kobe Bryant] is in one of the best markets already in L.A. Everybody wants LeBron in a great market, and that’s why they already put him in a New York jersey." Cleveland.com
Zach Randolph-to-Memphis Deal Dead Zach Randolph can expect to be with the Knicks when training camp opens in a little more than a week. By Darko Milicic mathematics, it’s one-percent certain. I have a story running in Saturday’s Newsday that reports the deal that would have sent Randolph to the Memphis Grizzlies for Milicic and Marko Jaric is now dead. Multiple sources said the Grizzlies, who were already hesitant to begin with after long internal discussions about taking on Randolph’s contract, decided to pass on the deal. You may recall the Grizz wanted the Knicks to make several concessions in the trade, from agreeing to pay a chunk of the deferred portion of the contract to including a first-round pick in the deal. Donnie Walsh declined and left it up to the Grizzlies to come back with a better offer. Instead, they folded. Newsday.com
Memphis Grizzlies Wanted Sun Yue [Mitch Kupchak:] Of course we traded Marc Gasol when we got Pau, his brother, and I think Marc is going to be a good player. European players are different, so he’s going to have to prove it this year, but I think he has a chance to play in this league for years to come. Memphis also wanted Sun in the trade, but we wanted to keep at least one of those 2 guys so Memphis wanted Marc and we are happy that we were able to keep Sun Yue, because we liked him when we drafted him. Ronnie Lester went to Singapore in January to watch him play and indicated that he would continue to be considered a prospect, as he played well. NBA.com

Saturday, September 20 2008

Grizzlies Back out of Zach Randolph Deal For the second time in this offseason, trade discussions involving Zach Randolph have failed to come to fruition. Knicks president Donnie Walsh was most recently engaged in talks with the Memphis Grizzlies, but multiple sources told Newsday that the Grizzlies have since reconsidered and decided to pass on Randolph. Walsh is still looking to find ways to shed Randolph’s hefty contract, which has three years and $48 million left on it, but for now it appears that the 6-9 forward likely will remain a Knick when training camp opens in 11 days. Last month, Walsh and Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace discussed a deal that would have sent Randolph to Memphis in exchange for center Darko Milicic and swingman Marko Jaric. The Grizzlies, however, also wanted Walsh to give up a first-round pick in the deal. Newsday.com

Friday, September 19 2008

Joe Dumars: We’re Staying as We Are Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars told The Associated Press on Thursday he’s keeping the team together because no one offered him a good deal after he publicly put his players on the trading block in June. [...] When coach Flip Saunders was fired, Dumars said Rodney Stuckey was the only player he wouldn’t trade in a win-win deal. "Whatever I said at that press conference wasn’t new to the players," Dumars said. "They know where I stood then and where I stand now, unhappy about how last season ended." http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3596956
Julius Hodge Up to 220 Pounds, Training with Nets Hodge, who played high school ball at St. Raymond’s in the Bronx before starring at North Carolina State, started working out at the Nets’ practice facility in the spring after general manager Kiki Vandeweghe - who drafted him in Denver - extended an invitation upon seeing Hodge work out in Manhattan. Hodge played for the Nets’ summer league teams and has been invited to training camp, which opens a week from Saturday. [...] "Right now, I haven’t felt better at any point in my life in terms of getting ready for a basketball season," said Hodge, who is up to his desired playing weight of 220 pounds. "I am more than 100% ready." http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/2008/09/18/2008-09-18_julius_hodge_back_in_basketball_trying_t.html
Lamar Odom to Become Lakers’ Sixth Man? I know what Laker fans are saying, “What about Lamar Odom?” Odom has discussed with the basketball staff the possibility of accepting a sixth-man role, which has all sorts of delightful possibilities to it, due to the 6-foot-10 Odom’s versatility. He could come off the bench to play small forward or play the two position (shooting guard) or power forward. The Lakers’ staff even has discussed with Odom the possibility of him being a hybrid point forward and initiating the offense in that role. http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2008/09/18/full-at-forward-too/
Coach to Rasheed Wallace: Get in Shape Curry said he had and stressed that he wanted Wallace — and the whole team — to be in better shape when training camp begins later this month. If that happens, Curry said the Pistons finally can shed the Eastern Conference bridesmaid status and reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2005. "We talked about focusing more on our strength and conditioning program," Curry said. "Arnie Kander, who we feel is one of the best in the business, I don’t think we’ve taken full advantage of him over the last few years. "I want him (Wallace) to be able to maintain his conditioning throughout the season. You can get in basketball shape, but you can play the whole season but not be in great conditioning as well." Kander is the team’s strength and conditioning coach. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080919/SPORTS03/809190403/1051

Thursday, September 18 2008

Wizards, Warriors Not Interested in Jamaal Tinsley; Who Is? Today’s report from the Indy Star reveals that another two teams have decided not to make a play for the talented but troubled Jamaal Tinsley. With Monta Ellis and Gilbert Arenas recovering from injuries of varying severity, you’d have thought that the Warriors and Wizards would be excited by the prospect of acquiring a top-tier point guard for peanuts. Tinsley’s reputation as a problem player, however, has evidently scared them off. Carter asked about Jamaal Tinsley because the Wizards are down to two point guards - Antonio Daniels and Dee Brown. Larry Bird and David Morway are anxiously waiting for the phone conversation with a fellow league GM that has the two sides agreeing to a trade involving Tinsley. Carter didn’t think the Wizards would be that team because Tinsley has three years and $21 million left on his contract. Carter told me a few hours later that the Wizards have zero interest in Tinsley. - IndyStar.com So, where will Tinsley end up? Larry Bird is evidently willing to trade his point guard for a hot dog vendor and a bucket of ice, but still nobody is taking the bait. Could we see him leave the Indiana Pacers by way of a buy-out? Let us know what you think will become of Jamaal Tinsley in the comment section below.

Tuesday, September 16 2008

Danny Granger Surprised by Reception in Indonesia The Jawa Pos, one of the country’s biggest newspapers, displaying a full-page photo of Granger in his home Pacers jersey wrapped around a front-page story in what the paper called the "Danny Granger Edition." "It was cool to be thought of like that over there," Granger said in a recent phone interview. "Everywhere we walked we had cameras in our face. It shows how basketball has expanded. Everybody knew me. They really watch the NBA over there." Granger was the lone NBA player to make the trip, and the Pacers’ leading scorer last season relished his celebrity status. He taught kids spin moves in the post, ran sprints and fast-break drills with them and signed autographs. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080916/SPORTS04/809160372/1088/SPORTS04
Denver Nuggets Sign Sonny Weems The Denver Nuggets signed guard Sonny Weems on Monday. Terms were not disclosed. The Chicago Bulls selected Weems out of Arkansas in the second round of the 2008 NBA draft. He was traded to Denver for a 2009 second-round draft pick. In July, Weems had surgery to repair a sports hernia. He was expected to fully recover in time for the start of training camp on Sept. 30. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-nuggets-weems&prov=ap&type=lgns
Will Michael Beasley Be Affected by Agent Issues? The good news is Beasley apparently has been going above and beyond with his pre-camp workouts, surprising the staff recently by being ready at AmericanAirlines Arena at 7:50 a.m. The business side of the game has a way of injecting itself into camp and even the regular season. The difference is with a veteran, such as Shawn Marion, concern about a contract extension ceases between the lines. For a rookie, such as Beasley, the more ancillary issues that can be eliminated by the start of camp, the better. http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_basketball_heat/2008/09/beasley-should.html

Monday, September 15 2008

Nenê Unhappy about Marcus Camby Trade It’s been a tough year for Nenê. After a battle with testicular cancer which saw the Brazilian pivot miss much of last season, he must have been hoping to ease his way back into Denver’s rotation in ’08-’09. It doesn’t look as if he’ll be afforded such an opportunity, however, now that starting centre Marcus Camby has been shipped to the Los Angeles Clippers for, well, nobody. Understandably, Nenê isn’t too happy about that. "I’m gonna be honest, I was very angry during that time," he said. "First of all, he’s like my brother. He helped me a lot." Economics drove the decision to move Camby. The team removed $10 million from its payroll, which was important for owner Stan Kroenke, who, according to the NBA, cut the league a luxury tax check of roughly $13.5 million for last season’s payroll, which was $81 million. - DenverPost.com How do you expect the Nuggets to perform this season without Camby in the middle? Is Nenê ready to hold down the middle for Denver this season? Is another trade on the way? Let us know what you think in the comment section.
What Should We Expect from Darius Miles? Remember Darius Miles? The lanky prep-to-pro Illinois product was a notorious underperformer throughout his career after being selected third overall in the feeble 2000 draft before undergoing microfracture surgery that saw him miss two seasons. Now, however, after a couple of years of rehab, he’ll have another chance to compete in the NBA as a member of the Boston Celtics. The question we have to ask now is this: Just how productive he can be given his injury woes? Tim Grover, for one, believes Miles is capable of returning. "He is going to Boston a little sooner than we’d like," said Grover, a fitness specialist who has trained Michael Jordan and other stars from the Attack Athletics gym in Chicago. "But, from an explosiveness and quickness standpoint, he is 80-85 percent from where he used to be, and my guess is he should be back to 100 percent by Christmas." - Boston.com Do you think that’s realistic? Could Darius Miles once again make a meaningful contribution to an NBA team? Is Tim Grover (Michael Jordan’s former trainer, for the record) being a little optimistic? Drop your thoughts in the comment section.
Cavs Tell LeBron James to Take Some Time off While LeBron James may give the impression of being indestructible, word from Cleveland is that the Cavaliers are telling him to take a brief break to recharge his batteries. The Cavs have told James to stay away from the gym for a few weeks after coming back from the Olympics in China. They know he is in excellent condition, and they don’t want him to be worn down. Of course, cutting his minutes (and Williams should help that) is a key in the regular season. - Cleveland.com While a couple of weeks away from the court may do wonders for his legs, you have to wonder about the condition of his back given that he’ll be expected to carry the Cavaliers this coming season. What should the Cavs do to help King James out this year? Bench him more? Add new players? Let us know what you think in the comment box below.