Trade: Hart for Tucker

ESPN reports

Jason Hart was going to be traded Tuesday by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The only question was where: New Orleans or Phoenix.

As a story that appeared briefly on the Timberwolves’ Web site earlier in the day confirmed, Minnesota was convinced that it had a deal with the New Orleans Hornets to send Hart to the Hornets in exchange for Devin Brown. But Brown was able to block that deal from going through, much to the disappointment of the tax-conscious Hornets.

Mike Dunleavy +Training Camp

Mike Wells reports

Indiana Pacers swingman Mike Dunleavy’s weary legs continued when he went 1-of-4 from the field and committed a team-high five turnovers in a 110-98 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

Pacers coach Jim O’Brien said he will have to look at what options are available to help Dunleavy find a rhythm.

“Clearly his legs are not in the type of game shape that they need to be,” O’Brien said. “That’s a dilemma because it’s hard playing basketball without strong legs, and it doesn’t look like his legs are carrying him very well right now.”I’ll have to talk to our medical staff and see what their impressions were because I don’t know if his legs are ready to carry much of a load right now. That would be my best guess.”

2010 Cap Update

ESPN’s Chris Sheridan reports

With NBA gate receipts down less than anticipated, the doomsday scenario of a $6-7 million drop in the salary cap for the 2010-11 season now seems overly pessimistic.

Everyone still expects the cap to go down heading into the summer of 2010 when the league will have one of its strongest free agent classes in years, but by how much?

ESPN.com has been digging around for preliminary cap projections, and here is what we have uncovered:

Przybilla Injured

Update below (re-injured himself)

The Oregonian reports

Just when you think it can’t get any worse for this injury-depleted Trail Blazers team, it suffers yet another significant setback Tuesday night in Dallas.

In the first quarter of their game against the Dallas Mavericks, Joel Przybilla landed awkwardly and violently on his right leg beneath the basket and had to be helped away from the American Airlines Center court by two teammates.

Shortly after halftime, the team announced that Pryzbilla had suffered a ruptured right patella tendon and patella dislocation. He is out indefinitely.

Utah’s Salary Dump Costs Maynor

The Salt Lake Tribune reports

The Jazz on Tuesday traded 2009 first-round draft pick Eric Maynor plus Matt Harpring’s rights to Oklahoma City in exchange for the rights to Peter Fehse, a forward from Germany who was a second-round pick of the Sonics in 2002.

With only 12 players on the roster, the Jazz will be forced to make an additional move to reach the league minimum of 13.

Powe On The Comeback Trail

Brian Windhorst reports

It is just a step in the process, but Leon Powe got good news from his doctor this week, and he’s just cleared another hurdle in returning from his knee injury.

Instead of traveling with the Cavaliers to Philadelphia on Wednesday, Powe instead went to Boston to see Dr. Brian McKeon, who performed the anterior cruciate ligament repair and microfracture surgery on Powe’s left knee last May. After looking at his latest MRI and giving him an examination, Powe said McKeon has cleared him to begin doing full-court running and drills.

“It was encouraging because everything is looking good right now,” Powe said. “They want me to get back out there and do some more and see how my knee responds.”

Pau’s Payday

The Los Angeles Times reports

Lakers forward Pau Gasol has agreed in principle to an extension that would keep him under contract through 2013-14, and Kobe Bryant has had ever-improving discussions on a contract extension that would keep him with the Lakers for the same period.

On Friday, Gasol smiled and said, “I haven’t signed anything yet,” but it was merely semantics, the stroke of a pen probably completing his extension within a few days after the Lakers’ trip ends Sunday in Detroit, according to sources close to the negotiations but not authorized to speak publicly.

Gasol, 29, made the Lakers instant championship contenders when he was acquired in February 2008 from the Memphis Grizzlies, but his current contract expires after next season. He is making $16.5 million this season and $17.8 million next season, though a three-year extension would net him an additional sum of up to $64.7 million, depending on NBA salary-cap figures to be determined in 2011.

Playoff Picture

A follow up post to the recent power rankings

Eastern Conference

Playoff Locks

• Boston Celtics
• Orlando Magic
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Atlanta Hawks

Very Good Chance

I think there are two more teams who are very likely to nab playoff spots

• Detroit
• Miami

Well Positioned

That gives us six playoff teams and two open vacancies. I reckon there are three teams that are well positioned to win those final spots

• Washington
• Charlotte
• Philadelphia — The Sixers could play at a high 40s win pace the rest of the way with Iverson on board if they continue to play Brand as a sixth man. They have a large deficit to make up but I like the top end of their team.

Surprising Sacramento

Tyreke Evans

Here’s what I wrote about Evans prior to the season starting

Somewhat similar to what Russell Westbrook gave the Thunder last season. A lot of the same problems with decision making, turnovers, over-handling the ball, a weak jump shot, and inefficient scoring. I also think he’ll be a great rebounder for a point guard, like Westbrook was.

In terms of differences, I think Tyreke is a better scorer and will score in the 17-19 points per game range rather than the 15 points Westbrook put in. And also defensively, Westbrook was a good-to-very good defensive player as a rookie. I haven’t seen enough of Evans defensively, well against talented offensive players, to get a good read on what he can do there … so that’s a complete unknown for me. He might be a good defender, he might be a lousy one, I’ll have to wait and see.

Statistically, I’m thinking of 17-19 points per game, 5-6 rebounds, 3.5-to-5 assists, while posting a poor-to-very poor TS% and being amongst the league leaders in turnovers.

Some of those thoughts were pretty much on point but most of them were totally wrong. So, let’s have a closer look at how Evans is doing in some of those categories:

Power Rankings

The power rankings on this site will be made at five different points in the season – Preseason, First Quarter, Halfway, Third Quarter, prior to the Playoffs.

Teams under these Power Rankings are being judged when at full capacity (healthy) + when in form. Teams do not slide down the standings due to poor recent form (say losing five straight despite being a 60 win team) or because their star player is out injured (Yao Ming). The idea behind that is to take a longer view on the capabilities of the roster in terms of current ability. Also, it’s the reason why they are only quarterly reports (smaller variance).

A belated power rankings after the first quarter point of the 2009/10 season

Eastern Conference

#1 Boston Celtics

They’re the frontrunner until someone proves they can knock off a healthy Celtics team.

#2 Orlando Magic

The Magic have played well but I’m disappointed in their lack of use of Vince Carter as a playmaker and I’m not sure they’re getting the most out of their frontcourt options.

Anyway, the Magic are in good shape to make a run at the title.