2009 Cap Space: Detroit

Detroit Pistons Salaries

Let’s start off by looking at who is currently on the Pistons’ books for next season.

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Rip Hamilton — $11.63mil
• Tayshaun Prince — $10.32mil
• Jason Maxiell — $5mil

That totals $26.95 million spread across three players. Maxiell will be begining a four year extension, while Rip will also have one year plus his three year extension to go. Tayshaun meanwhile will have two years to go on his contract.

Hollinger On Novak

Nice piece by John Hollinger in ESPN’s daily dime on Clippers forward Steve Novak

If you haven’t been watching Clippers games lately, I can’t say I blame you. But you’re missing out on a 3-point explosion for the ages.

L.A.’s Steve Novak went 6-for-10 from downtown Wednesday night and now is 21-for-34 over his past four games — including the game-winner at the buzzer against New Jersey on Sunday. The past 11 times he’s played at least 20 minutes, he’s made two or more 3s. Since Jan. 19, only Cleveland’s Mo Williams has made more 3-pointers than Novak, which is pretty amazing, considering Novak has played only 21 minutes a game in that span.

2009 Cap Space: Sacramento

Sacramento Kings Salaries

Let’s start off by looking at who is currently on the Kings’ books for next season.

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Kevin Martin — $9.68mil
• Kenny Thomas — $8.78mil
• Andres Nocioni — $7.5mil
• Beno Udrih — $6.03mil
• Francisco Garcia — $5.8mil

That totals $37.8 million spread across five players. Kenny Thomas will be entering the final year of his contract, and will come of the books the following summer. However, three of the other four are on the books for four more years, and Garcia is on the books for five more seasons.

2009 Cap Space: Oklahoma

Oklahoma City Thunder Salaries

Let’s start off by looking at who is currently on the Thunder’s books for next season.

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Nick Collison — $6.35mil
• Earl Watson – $6.6mil
• Nenad Krstic – $5.16mil

That totals $18.11 million spread across three players. Both Collison and Watson are entering the final year of their contracts, while Krstic has two more years on his deal.

Who’s Playing The Most Minutes?

This is a top 30 list of player’s minutes per game. We’ll start off with the top 10:

• [1] Stephen Jackson — 40mpg
• [2] Joe Johnson — 39.8mpg
• [3] Kevin Durant — 39.5mpg
• [4] Andre Iguodala — 39.3mpg
• [5] Dwayne Wade — 38.6mpg
• [6] Antawn Jamison –38.6mpg
• [7] David West — 38.6mpg
• [8] Caron Butler — 38.6mpg
• [9] Chris Bosh — 38mpg
• [10] LeBron James — 37.9mpg

Power Rankings

Teams under these Power Rankings are being judged when at full capacity (healthy), and judged on where they stand within the league when at full capacity rather than through their current form. So teams that are losing because of injuries will not suffer, and teams who are top squads but lose 7 of 9 will not be downgraded because of it.

Eastern Conference

#1 Boston Celtics

The C’s started the season off with 27 wins and 2 losses. However, since that date they’ve fallen to 22 wins and 14 losses which is good for eleventh best in the league since Christmas Day.

Which is the true picture of the Celtics’ talent? Neither one, but the first is a lot closer to the mark. The C’s are still the class of the East and their recent win over the Cavs without KG was very impressive.

Rondo’s Assists Rising

Check out the monthly splits for Boston’s guard Rajon Rondo

• October — 6.0 assists per game
• November — 7.1 assists per game
• December — 8.3 assists per game
• January — 9.3 assists per game
• February — 10.1 assists per game

Nice work Rondo!

Rajon Rondo continues to have a spectacular season for the Celtics

Bryan Colangelo’s Draft Record

Let’s start off with a recap of his draft history

1995 NBA Draft

Bryan Colangelo selected Michael Finley with the 21st pick, Mario Bennett with the 27th pick, and Chris Carr with the 56th pick.

1996 NBA Draft

Bryan Colangelo selected Steve Nash with the 15th pick. He then used two second round picks on Russ Millard (39th pick) and Ben Davis (43rd pick).

1997 NBA Draft

No first round pick, but the Suns did hold a pick in the middle of the second round. Bryan Colangelo selected Stephen Jackson with the 43rd pick.

Landry Shot In Leg

Carl Landry was very lucky to survive a shooting in downtown Houston last night

Houston Rockets forward Carl Landry suffered a gunshot wound to his lower leg early this morning in a possible drive-by shooting or failed robbery near downtown, police said.

Landry, 25, was released after treatment at Memorial Hermann Hospital. A team spokesman said he suffered a flesh wound and is expected to be out of the lineup for one to two weeks.

Charlie V + Twitter

Gary Dzen reports

Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva sent a “tweet” during halftime of Sunday’s Celtics-Bucks game, an act the PR in Sports blog says could be the first instance of a professional athlete using the increasingly popular Twitter service during a game.

Villanueva, whose Twitter ID is “CV31″, sent this tweet from the locker room as his Bucks and Celtics were tied at 41:

“In da locker room, snuck to post with my twitt. We’re playing the Celtics, tie ball game at da half. Coach wants more toughness. I gotta step up.”

Unbelievable ….