Excellent Article By Feschuk On Oakley

Here’s the link … and some of Oakley’s thoughts:

On Butch Carter, former Raptors coach

“Butch is probably one of the best coaches, as far as Xs and Os, that I’ve been around. I’d put him up there with Pat Riley. He knows the game. Unfortunately, some things happened. But I think he can come back in this league and be a great coach. People learn from their mistakes. That’s what the NBA needs … they need coaches like Butch Carter. He had game plans. He’d be great for Cleveland. LeBron, if he’s a 10 now, his game would go up two or three levels. Look what Butch did for Vince Carter.”

On Vince Carter’s early success in Toronto

“It was all Butch. Butch got in his ear and told him, `Do you know what you have with you? You’ve got some guys who care for you and are going to look out for you.’ Me, Antonio (Davis), Kevin (Willis), we said, `Hey, Vince, we got your back.’ Vince would have never excelled the way he did if it wasn’t for Butch and some of the guys on the team, because we kept pushing him.

Rip Hamilton’s Absence Felt

Good article on Mlive.com

The immediate reaction to Pistons losses against Oklahoma City and Milwaukee was the fact that the Pistons relied primarily on one-on-one basketball.

The stats showed it, as they had 20 assists in the win over Memphis and just 29 combined in the next two games, which also just so happened to be without Rip Hamilton.

The article continues

But is one player enough to make the assist total go down that much? According to last season, yes.

Hamilton missed 15 games a season ago. When he was on the court, the Pistons averaged 21.3 assists per game. When he was out, the averaged 17.4 per game.

Article On Oden + Blazers

Good article by Jason Quick in the Oregonian

I like the analogy made by Coach Nate McMillan near the start of the article, so let’s start there:

Less than 12 hours after the Blazers’ defense had been sliced and diced for 111 points in Houston, leading some players to question the effort of the team, coach Nate McMillan talked to the Blazers about a simple concept: family.

“Would you allow your brother to continue to do something he shouldn’t be doing? Or would you say something to him?” McMillan remembers telling his team. “And that’s what it is all about. They are brothers out there, this is a family, and if we are not playing defense or you are not covering your man, say something to him. It’s not personal. It’s holding each other accountable.”

The article goes on to talk about Greg Oden’s vocal presence defensively against the Thunder

Interesting Snippet On Player Heights

ESPN’s Daily Dime

Currently, there are 433 players in the NBA and 225 are 6-8 or taller (58.9 percent).

The tallest player is Houston’s Yao Ming at 7-6. There are two players listed at 7-3: Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Hasheem Thabeet.

The average NBA player is currently 6-7 (actually 6-feet, 7.3 inches). The shortest player in the NBA is Nate Robinson at 5-9.

Some fun stats on the average height for NBA players + almost 60% of the league is 6 foot 8 or bigger, wow!

Possible Injury To Pau Gasol

The LA Times reports

Lakers forward Pau Gasol underwent a sonogram that showed a possible tear in his right hamstring, and he is not expected to play on the team’s upcoming two-game road trip, the team said.

Gasol also had a more complex MRI exam today on his hamstring, and those results will be known by Tuesday.

There was another article on this about a half hour later

No results yet, but that’s the big news from practice Monday in El Segundo, ahead of the Lakers’ first road trip of the season. Phil Jackson used the word “tear” speaking to the media and a sonogram on Gasol’s hamstring may indicate that possibility.

Redd Difficulties With Knee

ESPN reports that Michael Redd is having trouble with the knee he had surgery on last season

Michael Redd of the Milwaukee Bucks will miss at least two weeks after experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired left knee.

Redd underwent surgery in March to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and he left Saturday night’s game against Detroit during the third quarter because of discomfort in the knee. He underwent an MRI on the knee on Sunday.

Let’s hope this is only a two week rest-bite and not something that ends up ruining his season.

No Michael Redd, no Bucks’ run for a playoff spot.

Rondo Signs Contract Extension

Yahoo Sports reports

The Boston Celtics and Rajon Rondo have reached an agreement in principle on a contract extension, Rondo’s agent, Bill Duffy, said early Monday.

League sources said the extension is for five years and guarantees Rondo at least $55 million. With the two sides facing a Monday deadline to get a deal done, Duffy said he called Celtics president Danny Ainge on Sunday to inform him Rondo was prepared to play out his contract and become a restricted free agent next summer because they weren’t satisfied with the team’s previous offers. Ainge, however, surprised Duffy by responding that Rondo’s contract hopes would be met.

“As much as we were willing to wait his contract out, the Celtics stepped up to the plate to meet the original request,” Duffy said by phone. “This is a really fair contract. We wanted him to be paid like one of the top five point guards around. It also allows the Celtics to maintain continuity to continue to be one of the best teams at this time.”

Nuggets Sign Balkman To Extension

ESPN reports

The Denver Nuggets have signed backup Renaldo Balkman to a contract extension and also exercised the fourth-year option on guard Arron Afflalo, who was acquired from Detroit last summer.Known for his hustle and ability to slip through defenses for easy baskets, Balkman averaged a career-best five points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting a career-high 55.8 percent in 53 games with Denver last season.

Terms of Balkman’s deal were not disclosed.

Bucks Decline Joe Alexander’s Option

Yahoo Sports reports

After drafting forward Joe Alexander with the eighth overall choice in the 2008 NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks will make him the highest pick ever to have his rookie contract option declined, league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Friday.

For Milwaukee general manager John Hammond, the rejection of Alexander’s 2010-11 contract option is a sobering admission that his organization made a major misjudgment with the first pick of its regime. The Bucks have until Monday to pick up the $2.7 million option or allow Alexander to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Three Raptors Thoughts

#1 Hedo Turkoglu

If Hedo Turkoglu isn’t allowed to control the basketball and run the offense then he’s only a role player. You’ll get the contribution we saw from him during his time in Sacramento, San Antonio and in Orlando pre-Stan Van Gundy.

Turkoglu is only a high end player when he’s given large amounts of time on the ball + a huge amount of freedom to do as he pleases + is a key playmaker (creator) for your team.

So far, Toronto isn’t giving him those opportunities. If the Raptors continue down this path then (1) The team is going to be significantly worse than it should be (2) his $50 million contract is going to become an albatross (3) The team won’t be able to trade him until the final two years of his contract and will stuck with his overpaid under-productive self.

The Raptors (coach + point guards) have done a very poor job of getting Hedo Turkoglu enough opportunities in the first two games.

Comment On The Picket Fence

I was reading Tim W’s latest article on his website The Picket Fence and I noticed an interesting comment by Mike G

“Yes, I’m hard on him, but when you have the kind of talent he has, it’s a shame to waste it.”

Can’t a guy just have a bad game. Bargnani will never be a defensive monster but has a unique skill set that will allow him to impact most of the games he’ll play in.

Rashard Lewis and Lemarcus Aldridge are also below average rebounders but I never see anybody complaining about their sub-standard defence to this extent.

I started to write a response in the comments section but next thing you know I had over 700 words written … so I decided to post my thoughts on the topic here instead of clogging up Tim’s comment box.

Game Time: Chicago vs San Antonio

Not a game log, just a few thoughts on the game.

San Antonio Spurs Thoughts

Starting Lineup

• Tim Duncan
• Matt Bonner — poor rebounder
• Richard Jefferson — below average rebounder
• Michael Finley — very poor rebounder
• Tony Parker — mediocre rebounder

Can we please get Timmy more help on the backboards? He’s the only above average rebounder in the lineup.

Bargnani’s Debut To The Season

I wrote this earlier in the comments section

Shaq was terrible last night. He can’t come anywhere close to defending a shooter of Bargnani’s caliber in the high pick and roll, and he can’t defend the ball-handler either. That’s a very nice flaw for the Raptors opposing team to have … one they can pummel the opposition with over and over and over again.

Andrea Bargnani did a very good job defending Shaquille O’Neal in the low post too. His post defense was good-to-very good last season … hopefully he can take another leap defensively in that area again this season too.

Andrea Bargnani had a very good game. Offensively he was brilliantly and defensively he was good (very good one-on-one, particularly in the post).

Nets Decline Option On Sean Williams

RealGM has the press release

The New Jersey Nets have exercised third year contract options on Courtney Lee and Brook Lopez, and a fourth year contract option on Yi Jianlian, while declining to pick up the fourth year contract option on Sean Williams, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.Lee, Lopez and Yi are now signed through the 2010-11 season.

2010 Teams With Cap Space

In a couple of days time I’m going to begin looking at the teams who have substantial cap space heading into next summer.

Here is a quick list of the teams that I’ll be looking at:

• New York – $27 million in salaries
• Miami – $31 million in salaries
• New Jersey – $23-28 million in salaries
• Oklahoma – $39 million in salaries
• Minnesota – $40 million in salaries
• LA Clippers – $42 million in salaries
• Chicago – $43 million in salaries

Thunder Extend Thabo Sefolosha

RealGM reports

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard Thabo Sefolosha to a multi-year contract extension, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Per team policy, the terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are excited that we were able to reach an agreement that will keep Thabo a part of our core group moving forward,” said Presti.

“Thabo represents many of the qualities that we look for in our players, great competitiveness, a team first mentality, and a strong work ethic. We believe Thabo’s best basketball is ahead of him, and his desire to remain a part of the Thunder family allowed for us to make this happen.”

Jennings To Start

JSOnline.com reports

Ready or not, rookie Brandon Jennings will be in the Milwaukee Bucks’ starting lineup on opening night Friday in Philadelphia.Bucks coach Scott Skiles confirmed after Tuesday’s practice that Jennings would start and veteran Luke Ridnour would be the primary backup.

“I felt like both guys played really well in the preseason in most of their minutes,” Skiles said. “It’s just my call. Even when I talked to Luke, it’s not like I could give Luke five set reasons.

“It’s something I’m electing to do, start him (Jennings) from opening night and see what happens. It will then depend on how he plays, how we play, all those issues.”

Heat Set Starting Lineup

ESPN reports

Haslem is out of Miami’s starting lineup for the first time in six years, paving the way for Michael Beasley to open at power forward. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra announced the starters Wednesday: NBA scoring champion Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers at guard, Jermaine O’Neal at center, Quentin Richardson at small forward and Beasley.

Spoelstra called it a “difficult and uncomfortable” decision.

Korver Out For Six Weeks

The Salt Lake Tribune reports

As Kyle Korver prepares to undergo surgery today in New York to remove a bone spur from his left knee, the Jazz could be without the three-point shooting guard for the season’s first six weeks.

The Jazz have yet to set a timetable for his return, but Korver is believed to be operating under the assumption that he will be out for that long.

If Korver were to miss six weeks, the Jazz likely would be without both him and C.J. Miles (thumb surgery) for all of November.

Discussions On Rondo Extension

Ric Bucher reports that the talks have resumed … but only one piece of the article really interests me, and, here it is:

Duffy said he is looking for a deal that would make Rondo one of the NBA’s top five highest-paid point guards. According to Duffy, the Celtics “feel differently,” Yahoo! Sports reported.

An unnamed source told Boston sports radio station WEEI that the Celtics offered Rondo a five-year, $45 million extension (an average of $9 million per year), but Rondo is seeking a five-year deal worth between $55 million and $60 million (an average of $11 million to $12 million per year).

Glen Davis Out 6-8 Weeks

WEII.com reports

According to an NBA source, Celtics forward Glen “Big Baby” Davis underwent successful surgery on his right hand on Tuesday, and will now be out 6-8 weeks.

In an interview with The Big Show, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck confirmed that Davis suffered a broken thumb. Though he did not give a specific timetable for the forward’s return, he did suggest that such injuries “are usually not season-threatening. … It’s a broken thumb. I don’t think it’s going to be that long.”

Grousbeck did say that the team expected to “suspend or fine” Davis.

Blake Griffin Injured

RealGM reports

Los Angeles Clippers’ rookie forward Blake Griffin may miss up to six weeks with a stress fracture of his left patella suffered during the Clippers’ last preseason game vs. the New Orleans Hornets on Friday, October 23rd.

Do the Clippers fold while Griffin are out? Or do keep their new-found energy + excitement and handle business without him?

I think the Clips will play better than last season but will be a poor squad (27-33 win type squad) while without Griffin. I think the loss offensively, and the overall loss of talent, will hurt them pretty badly.

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), 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 are not playing to their usual high standards and lose 7 of 9 will not be downgraded because of it.

This is the final power rankings prior to the commencement 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.

Kevin Garnett looks primed for another brilliant season.

Chris Paul Off The Ball

Nola.com reports

After watching hours of film from last season’s first-round playoff disaster against the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Hornets Coach Byron Scott accepted the need to make changes in his offensive strategy.

Scott saw how the Nuggets’ guards easily hemmed Chris Paul to one side of the floor because of the Hornets’ predictable offensive attack that featured Paul and David West, or some other big man, on the pick and roll.

Paul handled the ball at the start of possessions a majority of the time, allowing Denver to stack the middle with the defenders, keep the lanes sealed and force the ball out of his hands with traps.

It eventually wore down Paul and rendered the Hornets’ offense ineffective.

Ray Allen’s Sniper Lessons

Nice article on ESPN’s Celtics Blog

Ray Allen has been called a sniper before because of his accurate shooting from the perimeter. But the Celtics 14th-year guard actually studied up on snipers a few years back to improve on his free-throw shooting.

Asked about trying to better his already sterling free-throw percentage this season, Allen talked about how reading a book on snipers a few years back helped him start raising that number.

“I’m raising the bar so high, it has to continue to improve over the years,” joked Allen. “I’ve understood free-throw shooting more and understanding my heart rhythms and trying to relax.

Some Preseason Stats

This post is just some notes on stats that jumped out me during the preseason.

#1 — Michael Beasley

• 14.4ppg and 5.8rpg in 30.4 minutes
• 43.5% field goal percentage with a true shooting percentage of 50.9%

Similar problems for Beasley in preseason as in last season. He puts up a lot of shots but scores with very poor shooting efficiency and his rebounding is very poor for a big man. Combine this with his poor-to-very poor defense.

It doesn’t look good for fans hoping to see Beasley breakout this season.

Antoine Walker Is Broke + In Debt

The Boston Globe reports

In the early morning hours of July 16, two Douglas County sheriff’s deputies were combing through the crowds around the gaming tables at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe casino in Stateline, Nev., trying to find a certain high-roller, a sort-of celebrity, a wanted man. They carried a snapshot with them, just to be sure they arrested the right guy.

It wasn’t a face they knew well, but we do.

It was Antoine Walker.

Stuckey Article

Good article on Pistons.com about Rodney Stuckey

Like his mentor Larry Brown, John Kuester doesn’t look at statistics – and especially not point totals – in assessing the play of his point guard.So ask Kuester to assess the performance of third-year point guard Rodney Stuckey through the first three weeks of training camp and the preseason and he evokes Brown in saying, “He is going to go through parts of this season where he might not score a point and have a great game. That’s one of the things – not only him, but the entire team – understanding we have to make certain sacrifices in order for us to be a complete team. He understands his role is important to us from a defensive and offensive standpoint and I expect big things out of Rodney Stuckey.”

Pops’ Approach To Coaching Blair

The San Antonio Express reports

You get a new rookie, the tendency is to want to coach him up right away. You look at all he can’t do, and you want to start making corrections and fiddling with his game.

When it comes to first-year forward DeJuan Blair, the Spurs coaching staff is fighting that temptation for now.

They aren’t remaking his shooting form. They aren’t in his ear constantly about playing defense. They aren’t trying to teach him post moves he doesn’t have. They aren’t trying to make him Mark Price at the foul line, or Dikembe Mutombo at the rim.

For the time being, they are just letting Blair be.

Nets Test Lineup

Dave D’Alessandro reports

A coach’s prime directive is to put his five best players on the floor whenever practical, and since it has become apparent that three of the Nets’ top five guys all play the wing position, Lawrence Frank has a dilemma to wrestle with.Is there a legitimate way to play Chris Douglas-Roberts, Courtney Lee and Terrence Williams for stretches together – along with point guard Devin Harris, and Brook Lopez as the only big man in the quintet?

Jamison Out For A Month

RealGM reports

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that forward Antawn Jamison’s right shoulder has been re-evaluated and that the findings were consistent with the original diagnosis of a subluxation.He is expected to miss from four to six weeks from the date of the injury (Jamison sustained the injury in the Wizards’ 109-104 win in Cleveland on Oct. 14).

Bobby Jackson Retires

The Sacramento Bee reports

Bobby Jackson will announce his retirement from the NBA on Friday.”You’re sad because every player hates for this day to come,” Jackson, 36, said Thursday. “But also, you look ahead to the future and you see that you can walk away from the game when you wanted to walk away. Everything is intact. My family is happy.”

That’s too bad. Bobby Jackson could have helped somebody this season.

Aldridge Signs Contract Extension

ESPN reports

The Portland Trail Blazers have verbally agreed in principle to a contract extension with forward LaMarcus Aldridge, a source close to the process told ESPN.com on Wednesday.

The extension is for five years and $65 milliion and will go into effect next season, the source said.

Mayo’s Growth

Good article in the Memphis Commercial

The 6-3 guard has never deferred to anyone in his basketball life. But Mayo now cheerfully operates as the guy most tuned into what it’s going to take for the Grizzlies to be successful this season.

He has brought a pass-first, do-the-little-things mindset to training camp in hopes of accomplishing a few things.

Raja Bell Injured

Hat Tip to Khandor

ESPN reports

Charlotte Bobcats starting shooting guard Raja Bell has a partially torn ligament in his left wrist and will soon decide whether to have surgery which would sideline him up to four months.The severity of Bell’s injury, announced after he sat out Charlotte’s 94-87 exhibition win over Milwaukee on Tuesday, is a major blow for the Bobcats, who could be without their best defensive player and team leader.

Bell was injured when his wrist bent awkwardly as he tried to grab a loose ball in Sunday’s game against Utah.

“The way I understand it, surgery would be 6-8 [weeks] in a cast with pins and then 6-8 [weeks] worth of rehab,” Bell said.

Nuggets Unafraid To Make Big Move

Interesting headline over at RealGM and the Denver Post

Though Denver is expected to be one of the best teams in the NBA this season, Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien said the organization would not be hesitant to make a deal to improve the team if the circumstances warrant doing so.

“We’ll see where we’re at,” Warkentien said. “I think one thing, and history’s proven it, if we indeed have slipped and we get to that analysis, I think our group has proven that we’ll take the driver out and give it a big swing.”

Nets Selling Player Appearances

ESPN reports

For $25,000, you can watch the New Jersey Nets from courtside — and have a player stop by your son’s birthday party.In a tough economy, it’s the Nets’ latest marketing effort to sell its pricey courtside seats. It’s called ‘Your Ticket to a Player.’

For $25,000, the Nets are offering four courtside tickets for 10 games, parking, access to a private lounge at the Izod Center with free food and beverages and something more — a one-hour appearance by a Nets player of your choice at your home, office, school or party.

“It will be interesting to have an NBA player come to your birthday party or come to your Bar Mitzvah or even just coming to your house for dinner for an hour when your friends are over,” Nets chief executive Brett Yormark said. “That’s a terrific thing and it’s tough to put a price tag on it.”

Ronnie Brewer’s Contract Extension

The Desert News reports

“That’s not really in my hands right now,” Brewer said of the call on whether or not he’ll come to agreement on an extension of his rookie contract with the Jazz, which is something that must be decided by the end of the month.

“If it happens it happens,” added Brewer, who apparently wants it to happen — but would become a restricted free agent if no agreement is reached soon. “I mean, I just feel like it’s a great opportunity. I enjoy playing (in Utah). But my focus is on just getting better this year, and helping this team out.”

Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor has vowed to talk this week with Brewer’s agent about a possible extension — up to five new seasons can be added — but he’s unwilling to characterize the likelihood of a deal.

Rondo’s Defense

Good quotes and article in the Boston Globe on Rondo’s defense

By his own admission, Rajon Rondo would roll the dice more than a few times a night. He’d let the point guard get by him, then swipe at the ball from behind, trying to poke out a steal, or “back-tipping’’ as he put it.

“I used to be good for four, five, six of those a game,’’ Rondo said.

Sometimes they turned into highlights. Sometimes they turned into buckets the other way. This preseason, they have been scaled back. And that alone, said coach Doc Rivers, is what could be the next step in improving a point guard who already was second-team all-defense a year ago.

“I think he’s a better defender this year than he was last year by far because he’s doing more team things,’’ Rivers said. “He’s not gambling as much, he’s staying in front of the ball, he’s doing a fantastic job of getting over pick-and-rolls. That was one of his weak points last year. He would reach on pick-and-rolls instead of getting in front of the ball and squaring it up.’’

Dudley Modeling Himself After Bowen

The Arizona Republic reports

The distinctive, effort-laden play that has made Dudley a popular reserve with Suns fans is modeled after Bowen, the retired San Antonio enemy.

“For me to play a long career, I have to defend like that and shoot the ball,” Dudley said. “I’m not someone who will take you off the dribble. For me to play 10-12 years, I have to do that and knock down 3s. I can come off the bench and stretch the floor. Defensively, I get after you. At the end of the game, you never know, if I’m doing good on LeBron (James), Coach will say, ‘Hey, keep him in.’ That’s my strategy.”

Bird To Leave Pacers?

NY Post reports

Agreed, it’s hard to imagine Larry Bird walking away from a multi-million contract that has one year remaining after this one. Nevertheless, two NBA management sources, one inside the Pacers organization and one former employee whose initials are not D.W., contend the team president will call it quits at the season’s conclusion — citing health and lack-of-enjoyment issues.

Love Breaks Hand

ESPN reports

Minnesota forward Kevin Love fractured a bone in his left hand during the Timberwolves’ 94-90 preseason loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday night and will likely miss about six weeks.

Love banged his hand against teammate Oleksiy Pecherov’s elbow trying to go for a rebound on a missed free throw late in the third quarter and fractured the fourth metacarpal. The injury is to his non-shooting hand and he hopes to return at the end of November or early December.

Graham Impressing Nuggets

The Denver Post reports

Joey Graham is holding out hope of making the Nuggets roster.

He shouldn’t have to worry. It’s all but certain.

Graham, 27, has impressed Nuggets coach George Karl so much that Karl has already talked about fitting the 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward in the rotation during J.R. Smith’s seven-game suspension when the season starts.

Those decisions are still to be determined, but what is clear is how much Karl likes the hard- working, rough-and-tumble Graham.

“There’s a ‘how we played’ last year that I don’t think any of us want to change,” Karl said. “Joey has that Dahntay Jones personality. They are different players, going to do it in different ways. But from the standpoint of courage and toughness and the desire to defend, Joey has those personalities.”

Jodie Meeks

Jodie Meeks has played three preseason games now and so far we’ve seen a recurring theme

	Minutes	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals	Blocks
Chicago	14	6	1	0	0	0
Houston	19	5	1	1	0	0
Chicago	24	10	0	0	0	0

Notes

• In 57 minutes of game action Jodie Meeks has only mustered up two rebounds and one assist. No steals and no blocks.

Okay, we’ll come back to this at the end … but for now … I want to show Meeks problems in the past in these non-scoring before talking more about this.

Ben Gordon and the Point

Ben Gordon as a point guard … is he able to play at the position or not?

Yes, I think he can.

Ben Gordon, The Point Guard

I think Ben Gordon is as much of a point guard as Mo Williams is. This means that he can succeed as a point guard so long as his duties as a creative playmaker are minimized.

This can be done in a couple of ways:

Option One – Key Passers/Playmakers

The easiest way to make this work is to put a Mo Williams or a Ben Gordon alongside a playmaking wing like a LeBron James or a Brandon Roy. Someone who can help with the ball handling and playmaking duties in a major way, a player who can be a lead playmaker for a team.

Jacks Loses Captaincy?

The San Francisco Chronicle reports

Stephen Jackson, fresh off a two-game suspension for “conduct detrimental to the team,” met with coach Don Nelson and general manager Larry Riley on Tuesday, practiced with the team and addressed the media. The headline of the 10-minute interview was Jackson’s request to have his captain duties removed.

“I don’t want these young guys to try to follow me,” Jackson said. “I can’t be a role model to guys who make the same amount of money as me. We’re all in the NBA. I don’t want to be a role model.

“Control your own game and what you do. Anytime I say something or get suspended, I don’t blame it on coaches or teammates. I man up, take it and am responsible.

Link: Sonicsgate

There are two ways to watch the movie:

• In two parts in high definition (60 min each)
• In one part in standard definition (120 mins)

I haven’t watched the entire documentary yet, but the parts that I have seen were excellent. It looks like a fantastic in depth look at how Seattle was robbed of their Sonics team. So for anyone who wants to know more about that situation, this documentary is a must-watch for you.

Links: to Sonigsgate.org and their page on Vimeo

Update: I finished watching the documentary awhile ago, and, it’s very good. Interesting throughout and full of information.

Best Pre-Season Team

I’ve got to watch the Cavs, Celtics, Lakers and Magic play two pre-season games apiece now and one Spurs game (they’ve been resting their main players more than the rest).

The Best Team

The team that has impressed me the most is the Celtics. They’ve been far and away the best team here in pre-season.

That’s not altogether unexpected though. The other teams are all dealing with larger offseason changes – Vince Carter & Co.  in Orlando + Artest in LA + Shaq & Co. in Cleveland + RJ in San Antonio – while the Celtics are bringing back all of their main players and only adding a pair of key bench players.  Their additions haven’t impacted their style of play much.

Detroit’s Pre-Season Starting Lineup

The Detroit Free Press reports

Don’t be surprised if center Kwame Brown and forward Ben Wallace begin the year as starters for Pistons coach John Kuester.

“We still have a lot more preseason to go — we’ve got two weeks,” Kuester said Sunday. “There are a number of challenges ahead of us to see how this all plays out. There are so many guys deserving of time, so it’s been challenging that way.”

Kuester acknowledged that Brown and Wallace “set a tone defensively for you.”

The coach wants people who understand “what it’s going to take for us to be successful defensively.”

Cisco Breaks Wrist

The Sacramento Bee reports

Kings forward Francisco Garcia fractured his right forearm during a weight-lifting session this morning before practice. He will undergo surgery Saturday.

Garcia started the first two preseason games at small forward. His injury would seem to guarantee a roster spot for Desmond Mason, who signed a non-guaranteed contract last month and would have started the first preseason game if not for back spasms.

Haywood + Free Agency

The Washington Times reports

Haywood dedicated himself this offseason to returning in the best possible shape and having another career year. He had no shortage of motivation. In addition to making up for lost time, he wanted to see his Wizards back in the playoffs, where they had become a fixture the previous four seasons. And this time he wanted to go further. Additionally, Haywood is entering the final season of a five-year, $25 million contract.

But Haywood – who is the longest-tenured Wizards player and said he wants to finish his career with Washington – said a big payday is the last thing on his mind as the Wizards prepare for their redemption tour.

“My biggest thing is winning. If we come out here and win, first of all everybody looks good. Second of all, I feel like I’m going to have a big part in it,” he said.

Rookie Expectations

For those that haven’t read the blog in the past – some information — I don’t watch college basketball so this is based entirely on what I have read/heard about the players over the past few months and from what I have seen during some of the summer league games I managed to watch during the summer.

Okay, so, the following are my expectations for each of the rookies taken in the first round as we head into the regular season. It’ll give you an idea of how much I expect each player to contribute to their team.

#1 — Blake Griffin

A near All-Star caliber season that sees Blake Griffin put up 18-21 points and grab 9-10 rebounds while being the best or second best player (depending on Baron’s performance) on the Clippers roster.

Iverson Out Three Weeks

The AP is reporting

Memphis Grizzlies guard Allen Iverson could miss three weeks after an MRI revealed a partial tear in his left hamstring.The Grizzlies made the announcement before Wednesday night’s exhibition game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. If the timetable is correct, Iverson would miss all of preseason

Blake Griffin – Rookie Milestones

Introduction

I think Blake Griffin is going to have an excellent rookie season. I feel like he’s got a good shot at putting up 18-21 points per game while shooting a decent-to-good percentage from the field, and while also grabbing 9-10 rebounds a night.

But just how good are those numbers? How do they stack up against the top rookies from the last 10-15 years? How do they compare to the top big men from that time period?

Well, let’s have a look …

Links: NBA.com GM Surveys

2009/10 GM Surveys

Which teams and players are leading the GM’s predictions this year?

• Division, Conference and Title Favourites – link
• Player Predictions – MVP, breakout player, best at each position  – link
• Opinions on Coaches – link
• Rookie and International Players – link
• Talking Defense – player orientated – link
• Off-season moves – link
• Miscellaneous – most fun to watch, best shooter, most athletic, quickest player … lots of stuff like that – link

Knicks Notes

Lineups

Mike D’Antoni has been experimenting with a load of different lineups during training camp.

• He’s even brought up the idea of playing Danilo Gallinari as a point guard in a big lineup where all the players are 6-8 are bigger.
• And D’Antoni could just easily go with a three point guard lineup with Duhon, Nate and Toney alongside two big men … or one big and a combo forward.
• D’Antoni has all sorts of options with the big men. He has a perimeter orientated scorer in Al Harrington. A top rebounder and pick roll player in David Lee. A 300lb low post scorer in Eddy Curry. And a 6-11 defensive anchor in Darko Milicic. Coach also has Jordan Hill, an athletic 6-10 power forward who rebounds well and has a nice spot up jumper out to 18 feet. They are very different types of players who’ll give D’Antoni great flexibility and versatility in his lineups.

Dragic Splits

I didn’t pay much attention to the Suns following Amare’s injury so I missed most of their second half of the season games. As a result, I missed Dragic’s improved play.

Actually I had no idea that he played better in the second half of the season until I saw it written somewhere … I think it was a John Hollinger chat? I don’t know, I’m not sure.

Hornets Notes

Media Day Interviews

There’s a great article on Hornets 24/7 by Niall Doherty full of video interviews from media day. Niall talked to several of the players as well as the Hornets GM Jeff Bower. A lot of good stuff there. Well worth checking out.

Also, a follow up report from Niall Doherty with video interviews with Byron Scott and Chris Paul. Byron Scott sounds very happy with the team’s improved depth, and seems to have a lot of confidence in the new players that have been brought in. Chris Paul feels this is the deepest bench he’s had there in New Orleans.

Lakers Notes

Fisher’s Minutes

Phil Jackson wants to keep Derek Fisher down to around 22 minutes a night next season. He also said that he wants somebody else to step up and claim those other minutes, meaning Jordan Farmer or Shannon Brown needs to step up their game and make those minutes their own.

I vaguely remember Phil wanting to lower Fisher’s minutes at the start of last season, but that, as the season wore on and as Farmer firstly got injured and secondly failed to perform at a reasonable level post injury … Phil ended up playing Fisher more than he wanted to.

In fact, Fisher’s 29.8 minutes a game where the fifth highest minutes per game of his thirteen year career, and the third highest in total minutes.

Bobcats Notes

Felton Turned Down Contract

Rick Bonnell writes

I’ve been told by someone who should know that Felton turned down a long-term contract from the Bobcats that would have paid him about $7million a season.

Barring a huge improvement in his performance, I don’t know that anyone will offer him more than that next summer. More pertinent, I find it a reach that the Bobcats would offer him more next summer

A $7 million a season offer would be around $35 million over five years.

More On Gallinari

Some good quotes from Mike D’Antoni in a NY Post article

Yesterday, D’Antoni clarified last week’s grand statement in which he called Gallinari “the best shooter I’ve ever seen.” D’Antoni explained he is not calling Gallinari a great scorer, but a great spot-up 3-point marksman, admitting he still cannot create his own shot.

Big difference, and a big problem when the Knicks need a big shot in the big moments.

Kapono Jersey Number

Phily Burbs reports

New Sixers’ sharpshooter Jason Kapono is wearing No. 72 for a reason.

Since he couldn’t get 24 – Bobby Jones’ jersey is retired – and he’s known for his 3-point shooting, Kapono simply multiplied 24 by three.

I have never seen a player wear this number before, so I became curious and looked up basketball-reference.com to find out how many previous players have worn the #72 jersey. The answer is none. Jason Kapono will be the first player in NBA History to suit up with that number on his back.

Jason Kapono = groundbreaker

Willie Green = Point Guard?

The Phily Burbs reports

Willie Green’s detractors claimed he was too small and shot too much to start at shooting guard in the NBA.

Yet Green, a career 9.5-point scorer, found a way to start 171 games at the “two” position over the past three seasons.

While he’s unlikely to continue in that role, now that new coach Eddie Jordan seems intent on using Andre Iguodala in the backcourt opposite Lou Williams, Green has been the backup point guard during training camp at St. Joseph’s University.

Marc Gasol

The Memphis Commercial reports

Marc Gasol insists he couldn’t be more ready to patrol the paint for the Grizzlies. Why wouldn’t the 7-footer be, following his summer workout program?Forget for a second that Gasol played a lot of basketball this offseason, helping his national team capture the European Championship.

He tackled something much bigger than tournament games in preparation for his second NBA season.

“Collseroz By Tibidabo,” Gasol said, naming the mountain in Spain that he regularly ran for eight miles to shed 25-30 pounds. “It was great because when you get to the top you can see all of Barcelona.

“But it’s not easy getting there.”

Joe Johnson Turns Down Extension

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports

Hawks captain and All-Star Joe Johnson said he will not sign a contract extension with the Hawks and will play out the final year of his contract this season.

Johnson will be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The Hawks extended a four-year, $60-plus million contract offer to Johnson this summer. But Johnson said he decided not to sign the extension after mulling it over during the offseason.

Othello Hunter

Sekou Smith reports

Like all the other free-agent invitees in the Hawks’ training camp, Othello Hunter has designs on securing one of the open roster spots that are available.

But unlike most of them, he has extensive experience in coach Mike Woodson’s system. He knows the ins and outs of the offense and what Woodson is looking for on defense.

He also knows that the key to making the right impression is playing at a breakneck pace on both ends of the floor at all times, courtesy of spending his rookie season with the Hawks last year.

“I just feel like I have to play like that all the time,” Hunter said. “It doesn’t matter if I was already signed here [to a guaranteed contract] or not.

Brandon Wright Shoulder Injury

Yahoo Sports reports

Golden State Warriors forward Brandan Wright suffered a left shoulder injury Friday that could require surgery and keep him out four to six months, an NBA source told Yahoo! Sports.Wright suffered the injury when a defender slapped his left arm hard during a shot attempt in Friday’s evening practice. He is being evaluated over the weekend by the Warriors’ medical staff and will have an MRI on Monday.

Glen Davis

Projo.com has a very good article on Glen Davis

Davis said he will take this opportunity to learn from Boston’s veteran All-Star big men and hopefully help the Celtics win their second NBA title in three years.

“I’m just trying to help my team,” Davis said. “[Playing less] would be a problem if I hadn’t already established myself in the NBA. It would be tough, like, ‘Man, I haven’t really gotten a chance to really play and show what I can do,’ but last year, having the opportunity to [show] what I can do in the league, it’s like, ‘You can play the game, so don’t worry about it if you don’t play as much.’

“Everybody knows I can play. Everybody knows I can hit big shots. My focus is still there, so it’s not about proving myself anymore. It used to always be about proving. I’ve got to prove myself to the coaches. I’ve got to prove myself to the world that I can play. Now it’s about becoming the best player I can be. I think this year is going to help me build that base of becoming that great player.”

Pacers Notes

Luther Head

It looks like Luther Head will get some minutes in the wing rotation while Mike Dunleavy is out injured at the start of the season.

The competition is fairly weak for the backup point guard minutes — Earl Watson + Travis Diener — Head should have a shot of earning some minutes there once Dunleavy returns. Having a good jump shooting point guard (not Earl Watson) is useful in that gun-slinging Pacers offense … Deiner and Head should battle that one out … although I expect the minutes are unfortunately going to be handed to Watson.

Solomon Jones

On another note, Solomon Jones has been impressing the Pacers coaching staff with his athleticism and activity. They’re loving his shot blocking ability. He started the first pre-season game tonight and could be threat for substantial minutes this year.

Bynum Dumps Jabbar?

The LA Times is reporting

I t certainly feels like a stretch making such a claim about anybody at the ripe old age of 22 (rounding up). But while Andrew Bynum clearly has plenty of maturing ahead of him, it appears that he’s reached a “big boy” milestone of sorts.  The Times and the Daily News are reporting that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’swork with Bynum will be scaled back this season.  Ditto Cap’s involvement with the team.

James Johnson

Nice description of Bulls rookie James Johnson in the Chicago Sun Times

”He’s very skilled, can make plays off the dribble, has a good feel for the game and has good versatility, but he’s young and he’s gonna make mistakes,” coach Vinny Del Negro said. ”He has to work through it, but he does some things you can’t teach. He loves to play; he’s a tough kid. He’ll give us versatility at the three [small forward] and the four [power forward], but time will tell.”

Before the draft, Johnson was listed as a power forward, and he has the size (6-9, 245) to play there. But the Bulls always saw him as someone capable of playing both forward positions. That’s how Johnson sees himself.

Heisley On Grizzlies Moves

A quote from Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley

“I know I’m going to be held a lot more accountable,” Heisley told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “I don’t want to downgrade (general manager) Chris Wallace or (coach) Lionel (Hollins). Allen Iverson is here because of me and Zach Randolph is here because of me. O.J. Mayo is here because of me and Chris because I don’t think that was what the majority of people in the room were talking about doing (in 2008). I’m the guy who is going to take the heat on (No. 2 overall pick) Hasheem Thabeet. I don’t have any problem with that. The reality is if we start winning then people will be happy.”

Bill Walker Knee Injury

Another knee injury for young Bill Walker

Doc says meniscus tear for Bill Walker and he’ll have surgery within a week. Expected out at least 6-8 weeks.

Reggie + Bargnani

Great report from Michael Grange

But for all the changes the Toronto Raptors have made in the off-season, the addition of the 6-foot-8, 245-pound chainsaw has paid the earliest dividends, sticking out for all the right reasons on a team built around finesse and skill.

He had his first impact before training camp even started in an informal scrimmage last week at the Air Canada Centre when he gave Bargnani a dose of mid-season nasty. Bargnani took note and came back a day later with a sense of purpose to the delight of those who watched.

“They went at it pretty hard,” said Raptors president Bryan Colangelo, who acquired Evans from the Philadelphia 76ers for Jason Kapono in June. “The first day . . . by the end of it [Bargnani] was like a punch-drunk prize fighter. He looked like he was exhausted. It was fighting on the glass; it was trying to exert more energy on the offensive end because he had someone defending him – whether it was at the three-point line or inside – with physical force.

“I saw him come back the next day with a little different approach and he was more prepared for it. I said wow, if that’s any indication of how Reggie is going to make others on the floor better, it happened in 24 hours.”

Knicks Smile At Gallinari’s Showing

Very good article in the NY Times

Danilo Gallinari’s scouting report came to life Tuesday night, with dunks, deft passes and fluid moves. From the sideline, Mike D’Antoni could only smile and try not to get carried away.

It was just one training-camp scrimmage, the Knicks’ first of 2009. But watching a healthy, energetic Gallinari run the floor and make plays underlined what D’Antoni, the Knicks’ coach, has been saying all along: the kid can play.

“I’m excited,” D’Antoni said. “I’ll try to tone it down. But you see that he knows how to play.”

Peja Stojakovic’s Summer

NY Times reports

Peja Stojakovic’s summer on the beaches of Greece wasn’t all about relaxation.

”You think I was sitting over there drinking cocktails? Yeah, I was doing that, too, but I had to jump in the water once a day to refresh myself. It’s too hot,” joked Stojakovic, a native of Serbia who makes his offseason home in the Greek city of Thessaloniki.

Of course you weren’t just sitting on the beach partying and drinking tequila Peja … so what was he doing out there?

When the New Orleans Hornets’ sharpshooter waded into the Mediterranean Sea, he did so with a purpose — conducting a series of low-impact exercises while immersed in salt water he believes can be therapeutic.

Who’s Losing or Gaining Weight?

I’ll be using this post here to keep track of players who have lost or gained a substantial amount of weight this offseason. It’ll be interesting to see how many players, and specifically which players, benefit from drastically changing their physique over the summer.

This is only an early draft, and I’ll be adding more names as I come across them over the next few days. If there’s anybody I should be aware, please point them out in the comments!

*********************************************

Which players are losing or gaining a lot of weight this offseason?

Losing Weight

Big Names

• Al Jefferson lost 31 pounds and is now down to 262 pounds. I like that playing weight for Big Al.
  • Good article with some good quotes from Jefferson in Sporting News.
• Eddy Curry lost 40 pounds and is now down to 317 pounds. And, I think he’s still at least forty or so pounds overweight.

Delonte West MIA

Yahoo Sports reports

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Delonte West skipped a second consecutive training camp practice Tuesday night and the front office is unsure when the troubled shooting guard will return to the team, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Beyond the fact that he’s in his Cleveland apartment, one associate said, the reason for West’s absence is still a source of speculation for Cavs general manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown.

Two consecutive practices? What the heck?

Bryan Colangelo – 50 Win Target

Toronto Sun reports

The happiest day of the year (media day) came and went yesterday with an optimistic Colangelo announcing that not only does he expect the Raptors to qualify for the playoff this season, he expects his rebuilt squad to actually make a run in the post-season.

“And that means probably putting yourself in a position (to be) the fourth or fifth seed (in the Eastern Conference),” the always-dapper GM said, while adding that the Raptors likely will have to win more games than the previous club record of 47 to accomplish that goal. “Are (we) shooting for a target of 50 games? Yeah, I think that’s what we should be realistically looking at.”

Olajuwon Works With Kobe + Thabeet

Great article on MyFoxHouston

Olajuwon said Bryant reached out to him for help with his moves in the post.

“He gave me the biggest compliment,” Olajuwon said. “(He said) You are the best (at the) mid-post and post move.

“He wanted me to show my moves to him.”

Olajuwon said his style of play in the paint is really suited for a guy like Bryant.

“In my mind most of my moves for a guy (with) that agility can use it better than the big guy,” Olajuwon said. “Because my moves are not really for the big guy.

“It’s for the guards and small forwards. So he would benefit most on the post because of his agility.

SVG Wants VC To Spot Trying To Fit In

Nice article by Tim Povtak over at NBA Fanhouse

Ever since he was traded to the Orlando Magic almost three months ago, Vince Carter has said all the right things. He’s talked endlessly about fitting in with a team that reached the NBA Finals last season, about altering his game to fit with center Dwight Howard, and about being happy to change the way he has played his entire career.

On Friday, coach Stan Van Gundy finally asked him to stop.

Spurs Waive Jack McClinton

RealGM reports

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have waived guard Jack McClinton.The 6-1, 185-pound, McClinton was drafted by San Antonio in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft, 51st overall.

Eastern Landscape — Middle of the Pack Teams

I made this comment over at Raptors Republic a short while ago

The one thing that makes me quite nervous about the Raptors going .500 or slightly over is the number of other teams who have similar hopes.

There’s about five teams generally agreed upon as having a shot at the #7 and #8 seed — Phily, Miami, Toronto, Detroit, Charlotte — and even if you beyond that, to Indy, Milwaukee and NY, you have three teams that if they’re healthy (Dunleavy, Redd + Bogut, Gallinari) that are capable of winning 35+ games. That’s 14 teams …

There’s going to be no easy games in the East next year.

Flip Murray

Beware The Career Year

Last season Flip Murray had a career year in scoring efficiency. It wasn’t just his best season to date, it was by far his best season, unlike anything he’d ever produced before.

Check it out:

Year	eFG%	TS%
2003-04	46.2%	49.7%
2004-05	39.4%	43.3%
2005-06	44.2%	48.7%
2006-07	43.2%	47.4%

Link: A.Parker On His Euro Experiences

There’s a very good interview on Cavs.com with Anthony Parker discussing his experiences playing in Europe.

Talk about the social-political aspect of playing in Tel Aviv? You were exposed to the violence right away. What was that like, living with that threat while trying to focus on basketball?

Parker: That was an interesting story, because two weeks after we got there the whole second Intifada started. Ariel Sharon went to the Temple Mount and basically the whole situation blew up. And the conflict was essentially 45 minutes from our doorstep.

But when you’re in Israel and you’re in the country, you don’t feel it. People are going to the mall, people are going out to eat. Kids are going to school. Life is normal. But you know that 45 minutes away, there’s a war going on.

Bargnani vs Player X

I am going to compare Bargnani to made up player.

Introducing Player X

Player X is a set of general characteristics — average defender + average rebounder while being a slightly below average scorer with poor scoring efficiency.

Also, let’s assume Bargnani and Player X are equal as passers + screeners + turnovers per minute. To avoid overly complicating things.

KG Injury Update

The Boston Globe reports

The Celtics are looking forward to the return of Kevin Garnett. And Garnett is progressing in his recovery from knee surgery, according to president of basketball operations Danny Ainge.

“Kevin looks good, he’s in here working out every day,” Ainge said today from the team’s practice facility in Waltham. “He’s doing his training but he’s not playing fullcourt basketball, yet.

Bargnani’s Rookie Season

Let’s wind our memories back to Andrea Bargnani’s rookie season.

Andrea Bargnani improved consistently throughout his rookie year. He got off to a rocky start in November, but improved considerably in December and January, and then took his game up to another notch in February. Unfortunately the young Bargnani would suffer an injury, one that would disrupt his strong finish to the season.

Chuck Swirsky was convinced that Bargnani’s strong play from February onwards would have continued, and he even felt that Bargnani may improve on his performances. I mention this because I agree with Chuck, not with the rookie of the year vote, but that Andrea Bargnani was rolling and only likely to get better before the season ended.

So let’s have a look see at how Bargnani was performing back then.

Arenas Updates

The Washington Times reports

And now, less than two weeks before the Wizards start training camp, Arenas and Mr. Grover say the guard is at full strength and better than ever – a claim that, if true, makes his decision to finally work with Mr. Grover look brilliant and, perhaps, career-saving.

“Nobody could guard me before, and can’t nobody guard me now,” Arenas, 27, told The Washington Times last week, breaking a silence he maintained since departing for Chicago in July. “If I hadn’t come up here, I’d be starting off the season with a 95 percent chance that I’d be sitting out more games. … [Mr. Grover] saved my career.”

Andrea Bargnani’s 2009 Stats

Bargnani’s 2009 Stats

I’m always ball parking Bargnani’s stats from New Year’s until the end of the season. Well, I’ve finally had enough, and took ten minutes to scribble down his stats for that period.

Firstly, the games

Month	Games	Minutes
January	16	569
February	12	441
March	12	399
April	6	201
Total	46	1610

• Andrea Bargnani played 46 games
• Andrea Bargnani averaged 35 minutes a night

Power Rankings

Late off-season power rankings — A quick check up to see how teams who’ve made major changes fare after their moves.

There will be another power rankings edition near the the end of training camp just before the regular season starts.

Eastern Conference

#1 Boston Celtics

A 65+ win team that could win 70 games.

They’re the team to beat until somebody proves otherwise.

#2 Orlando Magic

The Magic have an unbelievably talented roster right now.

They have the dominant interior presence, the dynamic go-to guy on the perimeter, the combo-forward third scoring option, and an All-Star quality point guard.

Suns Buyout Pavlovic

At long last, the Suns have bought out Sasha Pavlovic

The wait on the expected release of Sasha Pavlovic turned out to be worth it for the Suns.

The Suns and Pavlovic, acquired from Cleveland in June in the Shaquille O’Neal trade, agreed to a buyout that would save $500,000 more than the Suns stood to save by simply waiving the guard.

Phoenix made the O’Neal deal for Pavlovic and Ben Wallace with the savings in mind. Wallace stood to make $14 million this season but took a $10 million buyout and signed with Detroit. Pavlovic had only $1.5 million of his $4.95 million salary guaranteed but accepted a $1.25 million buyout, giving the Suns an extra $250,000 savings in salary and another $250,000 saved from the luxury tax it would have cost.

Josh Smith Making Sense

AJC.com reports the following [quote from Josh Smith]

“I wanted to work more on my decision-making than anything. I handle the ball so much on the fast break and in transition that I wanted to make sure I’m thinking the game the way I need to be. I also worked on my handles and knocking down that mid-range jumper. I’m really not worried about the 3-point ball right now. We have so many guys on this team that can make that shot.

“I don’t have any business being out there this season with Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, Jamal Crawford, Marvin, Mo and [Jeff] Teague all doing work out there.

Ray-Ray Wants His Payday

The Boston Globe reports

Ray Allen said Friday night that he would like to negotiate a contract extension with the Celtics beyond this season. Allen, who turned 34 in July, is entering the final year of a five-year, $85 million deal he signed with the team formally known as the Seattle SuperSonics. Allen will earn $19.7 million this season.

“Of course, but it will be dealt with in its time,” said Allen, when asked whether he would like to play more years in Boston. “My job doesn’t change. I gotta go out and do the same things. We get paid to play basketball. We’re all in a great situation so we can’t look past this year.”

Harpring Update

NBA Fanhouse reports

But some of that might be out of his hands. Harpring said he will have his Jazz physical on Monday, and doctors will have a say in whether he can continue to play.

“We’ll see once I get up there,” Harpring said from his offseason home in Atlanta about going to Salt Lake City. “We’ll have some MRIs and I’ll talk to (doctors)… There’s been talk over the past couple of years of whether I’m going to play (the next season).”

Randolph Morris Lost Weight

Sekou Smith from AJC.com reports

One of the favorite punching bags around here, Randolph Morris has done his fair share of work this summer as well. In fact, I’d argue that no [Hawks] player has undergone a more radical physical transformation this summer than Morris, who has shed some 60 pounds from his 6-11 frame in an effort to break into the playing rotation in his second season with the team.

Ilyasova Musings

Good article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Ersan Ilyasova

Forward Ersan Ilyasova might not be recognizable to Milwaukee fans who last saw him at the end of the 2006-’07 season, when he played for a Bucks team coached by Larry Krystkowiak.

That’s the opinion of Bucks assistant coach Bill Peterson, who was in Turkey for a clinic recently and had a chance to watch Ilyasova during a practice session with his Turkish national team. Ilyasova will compete for Turkey in the EuroBasket tournament, beginning Monday in Poland.

“He’s improved greatly from when he played here for the Bucks,” Peterson said. “I think he will be a great fit in Scott’s (coach Scott Skiles) system.

Bowen Retires

ESPN reports

After helping the San Antonio Spurs win three championships and establishing himself as perhaps the premier perimeter defender of his generation, Bruce Bowen is retiring at 38.

Bowen told ESPN.com that he will formally announce his retirement at a Thursday afternoon news conference and said he would elaborate more on his decision then.

Ricky Staying In Spain

ESPN reports

Ricky Rubio won’t be coming to the NBA until 2011 at the earliest, sources told ESPN.com Monday.

Rubio and the Minnesota Timberwolves were informed late Monday night in Spain that Rubio’s former club, DKV Joventut, had agreed to trade his rights to FC Barcelona.

Rubio will be able to get out of his Barcelona contract in the summer of 2011, when the fifth pick of last June’s draft will be free to join Minnesota.

The news broke two days ago … and it’s terribly disappointing. Ricky Rubio is one of the most exciting players in world basketball and he would have been delight to watch in the NBA over the next two years. But alas, we’ll have to wait until 2011.

Link: Joe Dumars Interview

There’s a two part interview with Joe Dumars by Keith Langois on Pistons.com — links to part one and part two — that’s worth checking out.

Here’s a snippet — Why Dumars decided to split his cap space the way he did

KL: This is probably an oversimplification, but when you look, a year later, what the Chauncey trade achieved was to allow you to shrink and make as painless as possible the transition period. Now that you’ve used the cap space, did you envision being able to get as much done with it as you did?

Chrisholm Article — Triano Interview

Very good interview (oh, and part two is here) by TSN’s Tim Chrisholm with Jay Triano. I fully recommend all interested in the Raptors to read the whole thing.

There were a couple of sections which stood out for me though, and I’d like to note them down:

First Area Of Interest

The rookie and the starting two guard position

I don’t know if we really looked at the style of play so much because when you look at us you ask ‘are we a running team?’ No, but we are a transition team.

I don’t think with this starting lineup we’re going to outsprint anyone down the floor, but we’re going to be moving the ball and we’re going to be wise in how we attack. We get guys like (Hedo) Turkoglu, who can make plays, Jose, who can make plays. We added (DeMar) DeRozen, who’s going to be our athlete in that group to run and then we’ve got those toughness guys that I talked about. Then it’s going to come down to Chris and Andrea (Bargnani) being able to defend and play in the low-post area.

NBA.com’s 2006 NBA Draft GM Survery

I was reading Raptors HQ a few days ago and came across an interesting comment by Tinmann near the bottom of an Andrea Bargnani article

I will always go back to that ESPN poll with NBA GM’s prior to Bargnani’s draft. The main thing I remember is a question asked
“who would be the best players five years from now” and Bargnani was the first choice of a substantial number of the GM’s.

Another commentator, Assistant GM, recalled the same article + result, except remembered the article was on NBA.com. I had no recollection of the survey myself, but I was intrigued and wanted to see exactly how many GM’s did pick Bargnani as the best player from the draft in five year’s time.

So, I tracked down the article and here are the results:

Dunleavy’s Return – Start Of Season?

Mike Wells of the Indy Star reports

Injured Indiana Pacers shooting guard Mike Dunleavy might be back sooner than expected, his coach said today.

“Our medical people are very pleased with his progression,” Pacers head coach Jim O’Brien said. “I’ve changed my view point to a pessimistic one from a standpoint of him being ready in the middle of the season to one that I’m hoping he’ll be ready to go for game one.”

Negative Reviews on James Johnson

Doug Thonas reports

While I was at summer league all the talk of James Johnson was wonderous and hopeful. I overheard one Bulls staffer telling someone James Johnson was the second best player in the draft.  However, with the media gone, the news leaking out to me hasn’t quite so positive.

The Bulls are privately concerned about his work ethic and attitude which was the one area I had some concerns with myself.

Small Moves For Toronto

Okay, this feels like a pointless exercise … since Colangelo is settled, or close to, on his roster for the start of training camp … but I can’t help it so here we go.

I think the Raptors could benefit from making a couple more small moves — losing some of the dead weight on the end of their roster, and then signing a couple of solid minimum contract players who’ll provide more impact for the Raptors.

Here’s a few small moves Toronto could make to flesh out their bench

Dead Weight

Toronto have 14 players on their roster currently. They can only depend on 10 of those players, and I think one of those 10 guys isn’t good enough to be a rotation worthy player on a team with solid depth.

The guys who I consider to be dead weight are — Marcus Banks, Roko Ukic, Quincy Douby and Patrick O’Bryant.

Stat Of The Day: Boozer + Korver

Who blocks more shots? Korver or Boozer?

Last Season

Carlos Boozer blocked an abysmal seven shots in 37 games, or better said, 7 shots in 1197 minutes. That averages out to 0.189 blocks per game, or 0.58 blocks per 100 minutes.

Kyle Korver blocked 30 shots in 78 games, in 1874 minutes. That averages out to 0.47 blocks per game, or 1.6 blocks per 100 minutes

So, Korver got roughly three times as many blocks as Boozer did on a per minute basis.

Phily Looking For 4 More Players

A small quote from the bottom of an Andre Miller article

The Sixers have been searching for four players to fill out their roster on 1-year contracts, the same way they added Kareem Rush, Royal Ivey, Donyell Marshall and Theo Ratliff last summer. In a touch of irony, two of the guards in whom they have shown interest, Sacramento unrestricted free agent Bobby Jackson and Orlando unrestricted free agent Tyronn Lue, are also represented by Andre Miller.

I thought it was interesting to hear the Sixers were looking for four more, likely minimum contract, players to round out their rotation + roster.

Chicago’s Roster Set

Good roundup of the Bulls roster by Sam Smith

“The roster (is set) as of now,” said Bulls general manager Gar Forman, who is here with coach Vinny Del Negro to watch Rose’s play in the USA Basketball mini-camp. “We talk to a lot of teams to see if we can make ourselves better. Outside of a major type trade, I really don’t see us doing anything. We would anticipate we will carry 13 players.

We have a qualifying offer out to Aaron Gray and all indications are that he will sign it and return.
 I like our roster. We like our young core and where we’re at. We feel pretty good going into the season.”

Roster

Guards — Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Jannero Pargo and Lindsey Hunter

Wings — Luol Deng, John Salmons, James Johnson

Big Men — Joakim Noah, Tyrus Thomas, Brad Miller, Taj Gibson, Aaron Gray, Jerome James

Link: Jerry Reinsdorf Interview

Good interview with Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf in the Chicago Sun Times from a few days ago. Well worth a read.

Raptors vs 2010/11 Luxury Tax

The main issue with the Raptors remaining summer spending isn’t this year’s luxury tax threshold, but the 2010/11 mark. That is due to three main issues (1) Bargnani’s extension (2) Pay increases for top earners (3) The likelihood of the luxury tax line falling in a large way.

So, let’s have a quick look at the Raptors payroll for this coming season and the 2010/11 season … and try to figure out just how close the Raptors are to the luxury tax in both seasons, and how much they can spend

2009/10

The Raptors salaries

• Chris Bosh – $15.78 million
• Hedo Turkoglu ~ $9 million (ball park figure)
• Jose Calderon – $8.22 million

Nash Signs Two Year Extension

ESPN reports

After receiving an improved offer last week and taking a few more days to deliberate, two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash notified the Phoenix Suns over the weekend that he is accepting their two-year extension offer worth $22 million.

Nash’s agent, Bill Duffy, has confirmed that his client will formally sign the extension as early as Tuesday after ESPN.com reported the deal earlier Monday.

Yao Out For Season

ESPN reports

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming has elected to have extensive surgery on his fractured left foot that almost certainly eliminates his chances of playing next season but offers hope that he can resume his NBA career and not fracture the foot a career-ending third time.

After consultation with a battery of doctors, Yao, 28, has decided to undergo a bone graft to heal the existing fracture and have his arch surgically lowered to reduce the stress on his foot.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas also went through this surgery, and he’s recovered brilliantly in terms of both good health and in maintaining his previous performance levels. Yao actually talked to Big Z about the surgery before deciding.

What’s the timetable for Yao’s return?

The Dallas Mavericks Post-Gortat

Thoughts On The Mavs

#1 Assets

What assets do the Mavs have?

• Eric Dampier’s expiring contract ($12.12 million)
• 2010 cap space should they fail to find a Dampier trade (about $47 million on the books if they part with Josh Howard)
• 2009 MLE … and 2010 MLE if the Mavs make a Dampier trade
• Josh Howard as a trade asset

So, the Mavs only realistic opportunity to add an elite talent is either through a Dampier trade or a free agent signing in 2010.

#2 Nowitzki At Center

The Mavericks don’t have enough assets to be able to acquire a high quality center, and to add an elite star to play alongside Dirk. I think they’ll only be able to acquire one or the other, and that elite star player is far more valuable to the Mavericks than the new center will be.

Ergo, the Mavs are hugely unlikely to be able to find a highly talented center and would instead have to settle for a mediocre body up front. I think the Mavericks have far better options by moving Dirk to center, and then signing more talented power forwards or keeping Marion at the four and signing more talented wings for their money, rather than the mediocre center they’re likely to get with the MLE.

Update – 2009 Cap Space: Detroit

This is an update to a previous post, to account for Detroit’s signings of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, in order to find out how much cap space the Pistons have left

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 – $11.63 million
• Tayshaun Prince – $10.32 million
• Ben Gordon – $9 million
• Charlie Villanueva – $6 million
• Jason Maxiell – $5 million

That totals $41.95 million spread across five players.

Orlando Signs Brandon Bass

Brandon Bass Will Be Joining Forces With Vinsanity Next Season

NBA.com’s David Aldridge reports

The Orlando Magic are trying to keep up in the arms race in the competitive Eastern Conference, agreeing to terms on Friday with free agent forward Brandon Bass on a four-year deal believed to be worth $18 million.

The 23-year-old Bass was one of the most coveted big men in this year’s free agency class, having been a valuable role player off the bench for the Mavericks the past two seasons. He played in 81 games for Dallas last year, averaging 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 19 minutes a night.

Okur Given Extension

ESPN reports

The Utah Jazz and center Mehmet Okur have agreed in principle to a two-year contract extension worth just under $21 million, according to NBA front-office sources.

Okur could have been a free agent this summer but elected on June 30 to complete the final season on his current contract with the Jazz at $9 million.

Sources told ESPN.com that Okur and the Jazz have quickly reached terms to extend the contract by two more seasons at $20.8 million starting in 2010-11.

Nice deal for Memo, and a decent deal for Utah. The length of the contract is a nice bonus for Utah, it’s a fairly short deal, and it spans the best remaining years (30 years old) of Okur’s career.

League Memo: 2010 Cap

A frightening memo from the NBA

The NBA’s ballyhooed free-agent summer of 2010 might have quietly taken another hit late Tuesday night.

In a memo announcing next season’s salary cap and luxury-tax threshold, sent out shortly before the league’s annual July moratorium on signings and trades was lifted at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, NBA teams also received tentative projections from the league warning that the cap is estimated to drop to somewhere between $50.4 million and $53.6 million for the 2010-11 season.

Why?

The official league memorandum, obtained by ESPN.com, forecasts a dip in basketball-related income in the 2009-10 season of 2.5 percent to 5 percent

Andrea Bargnani Extension

Andrea Bargnani

ESPN reports

Hedo Turkoglu is on the way and it appears that Andrea Bargnani will also soon have his long-term future secured with the Toronto Raptors.

Bargnani’s agent, Leon Rose, told ESPN.com on Tuesday night that the Raptors — who later this week will officially sign Turkoglu away from Orlando — have reached an agreement in principle on a contract extension for the 7-foot Italian, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Raptors in the 2006 draft.

The deal, according to NBA front-office sources, would span five seasons starting in 2010-11 and earn Bargnani an estimated $50 million.

Salary Cap Is Set

RealGM has the press release

The National Basketball Association today announced that the Salary Cap for the 2009-10 season will be $57.7 million. The tax level for the 2009-10 season has been set at $69.92 million. Any team whose team salary exceeds that figure will pay a $1 tax for each $1 by which it exceeds $69.92 million.The 2008-09 Salary Cap was $58.68 million and the tax level was $71.15 million. Although league-wide revenue increased 2.5% this past season, the decrease in the Salary Cap and tax level for the 2009-10 season is the result of the formula used to set the Cap and tax under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

The new Salary Cap and tax level go into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday, July 8, when the league’s “moratorium period” ends and teams can begin signing free agents and making trades.

Celtics Roster Spots

How should Danny Ainge organize his roster?

We know he has penchant for rolling the dice on low risk high reward players at the end of his roster, how many can he afford to have? How many reliable bench players would one like to see before he starts going with projects?

My Preferences

First Preference

Guards — Rondo, House and Pruitt
Wings — Pierce, Ray, first wing off the bench, second wing off the bench
Big Men — KG, Perk, Sheed, fourth big, Scalabrine

That’s 12 players who I am happy to rely on in their roles. With the final three roster spots, I’d like to see Giddens, Walker and Powe.

Oberto Waived

The San Antonio Express reports

The Pistons waived Fabricio Oberto this afternoon, returning the former Spurs big man to the free agent pool.

Traded last week in the deal that brought Richard Jefferson from Milwaukee, and then promptly shipped to Detroit, Oberto would have to wait a league-mandated 20 days to re-sign with the Spurs.

It remains to be seen how hard the Spurs will pursue him.

Leon Powe Done In Boston?

Good article in the Boston Herald

The Celtics, already strapped for roster space as they delve into the free agent market, have decided to part ways with Leon Powe.

That, at least, is the impression left with the 25-year-old forward following a conversation with President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge yesterday.

Powe, who is recovering from his third knee surgery, did not receive a qualifying offer from the Celtics by the Monday night deadline. As a result, Powe became an unrestricted free agent.

Powe continued

“Of course I was disappointed, because I want to come back,” Powe said today. “I love the fans. It was just a wonderful place to play.”

Powe walked away from his conversation believing that his time as a Celtic was finished.

“I wasn’t feeling a vibe like that,” he said

Update – Phoenix: Teams With Cap Concerns

This is an update to a previous post following the trade of Shaquille O’Neal.

Phoenix Suns’ Salaries

Alright, let’s start off by looking at who is currently on the Suns’ books for next season.

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Amare Stoudemire – $16.38 million
• Jason Richardson – $13.33 million
• Ben Wallace – $14 million
• Leandro Barbosa – $6.6 million

That totals $50.31 million for four players.

Update – Utah: Teams With Cap Concerns

This is an update for a previous Utah post since Boozer, Okur and Korver all decided not to use their ETO’s, and stayed with Utah as a result. How do those decisions effect the Jazz?

Utah Jazz Payroll

Alright, let’s start off by looking at who is currently on the Jazz’ books for next season.

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Andrei Kirilenko – $16.45 million
• Deron Williams – $13.76 million
• Carlos Boozer – $12.32 million
• Memo Okur – $9 million
• Kyle Korver – $5.34 million

That totals $56.87 million for five players.

Cap Situations: Philadelphia

Philadelphia 76ers Salaries

Alright, we’ll split the contracts into two sections, above and below $5 million, let’s start with the above $5 million crowd.

• Elton Brand – $14.86 million
• Samuel Dalembert – $12.13 million
• Andre Iguodala – $12.2 million
• Jason Kapono – $6.21 million

These four contracts combine to make $45.4 million.

Cap Situations: New York

New York Knicks Salaries

Alright, we’ll split the contracts into two sections, above and below $5 million, let’s start with the above $5 million crowd.

• Larry Hughes – $13.66 million
• Eddy Curry – $10.5 million
• Al Harrington – $10.03 million
• Cuttino Mobley – $8.7 million
• Darko Milicic – $7.54 million
• Jared Jeffries – $6.47 million
• Chris Duhon – $6.03 million

These seven contracts combine to make $62.93 million.

Cap Situations: Miami

Miami Heat Salaries

Alright, we’ll split the contracts into two sections, above and below $5 million, let’s start with the above $5 million crowd.

• Dwyane Wade – $15.78 million
• Jermaine O’Neal – $23.02 million
• Mark Blount – $7.97 million
• Udonis Haslem – $7.1 million

These four contracts combine to make $53.87 million.

Cap Situations: New Jersey

New Jersey Nets Salaries

Alright, we’ll split the contracts into two sections, above and below $5 million, let’s start with the above $5 million crowd.

• Bobby Simmons – $11.24 million
• Devin Harris – $8.4 million
• Tony Battie – $6.29 million
• Rafer Alston – $5.25 million

These four contracts combine to make $31.18 million.

Cap Situations: Indiana

Indiana Pacers Salaries

Alright, we’ll split the contracts into two sections, above and below $5 million, let’s start with the above $5 million crowd.

• Troy Murphy – $11.05 million
• Danny Granger – $10.25 million
• Mike Dunleavy – $9.78 million
• TJ Ford – $8.5 million
• Jamaal Tinsley – $7.2 million
• Jeff Foster – $6.08 million

Cap Situations

I wrote two posts on two separate sections within the NBA

• Teams with cap space heading into this summer
• Teams with cap concerns (luxury tax) heading into this summer

Now, it’s time to round it out with the remainder of the NBA:

• Charlotte Bobcats – click here
• Cleveland Cavaliers – click here

Cap Situations: LA Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers Salaries

Alright, we’ll split the contracts into two sections, above and below $5 million, let’s start with the above $5 million crowd.

• Zach Randolph – $16 million
• Baron Davis – $12.1 million
• Marcus Camby – $9.65 million
• Chris Kaman – $10.4 million

These four contracts combine to make $48.15 million.

Cap Situations: Dallas Mavericks

Dallas Mavericks Salaries

Alright, we’ll split the contracts into two sections, above and below $5 million, let’s start with the above $5 million crowd.

• Dirk Nowitzki – $19.8 million
• Eric Dampier – $12.11 million
• Josh Howard – $10.98 million
• Jason Terry – $9.08 million

These four contracts combine to make $51.97 million.

Cap Situations: Cleveland

Cleveland Cavaliers Salaries

Alright, we’ll split the contracts into two sections, above and below $5 million, let’s start with the above $5 million crowd.

• LeBron James – $15.78 million
• Shaquille O’Neal – $21 million
• Zydrunas Ilgauskas – $11.54 million
• Mo Williams – $8.86 million

These four contracts combine to make $57.18 million.

Yao Injury Update

Adrian Wojnarowski has the story

As the NBA draft approached, the grim truth about Yao Ming’s(notes) broken left foot hung like an anvil over the Houston Rockets. The fear isn’t that he’s just lost for next season, but longer.

The Rockets and Yao’s reps are frightened over his future, and the concern is the most base of all: Does Yao Ming ever play again?

“The realization has hit them that this is grave,” one NBA general manager said.

Wojnarowski continues

For now, the Rockets have privately told league peers it could be a full season before Yao might be able to return to basketball. Multiple league executives, officials close to Yao and two doctors with knowledge of the diagnoses are describing a troubling, re-fracture of his navicular bone. Three pins were inserted a year ago, but the foot cracked in the playoffs and isn’t healing.

“It sounds like he’s missing most of next season, if not the entire 82 games,” one league executive who has had recent discussions with the Houston front office told Yahoo! Sports. “That’s all that [the Rockets] will concede quietly, but they know it’s probably much worse.”

Cap Situations: Houston

Houston Rockets Salaries

Alright, we’ll split the contracts into two sections, above and below $5 million, let’s start with the above $5 million crowd.

• Tracy McGrady – $22.48 million
• Yao Ming – $16.38 million
• Shane Battier – $6.86 million

These three contracts combine to make $45.72 million.

Shane Battier and Yao Ming both have two years left on their contracts, although Yao Ming does hold an early termination option on his deal. Tracy McGrady is an expiring contract.

Cap Situations: Golden State Warriors

Golden State Warriors Salaries

Alright, we’ll split the contracts into two sections, above and below $5 million, let’s start with the above $5 million crowd.

• Monta Ellis – $11 million
• Andris Biedrins – $9 million
• Corey Maggette – $8.94 million
• Stephen Jackson – $7.65 million
• Speedy Claxton – $5.21 million

These five contracts combine to make $41.8 million.

Cap Situations: Charlotte

Charlotte Bobcats Salaries

Alright, we’ll split the contracts into two sections, above and below $5 million, let’s start with the above $5 million crowd.

• Emeka Okafor – $10.5 million
• Gerald Wallace – $9.5 million
• Boris Diaw – $9 million
• Vladamir Radmanovic – $6.47 million
• Nazr Mohammed – $6.47 million
• DeSagana Diop – $6.03 million
• Raja Bell – $5.25 million

These seven contracts combine to make $53.22 million.

Tskitishvili’s Tryout

This is an old report, from two weeks ago, from the Memphis Commercial:

Former highly touted NBA lottery pick Nikoloz Tskitishvili’s response was concise when a Grizzlies free-agent camp came to his attention.

“Why not?” said the 7-foot Georgian forward.

The feeling was mutual.

I came across this article awhile back but I didn’t get around to pointing it out until now. I found it very interesting to hear Skita’s name once again, and find out what he’s been up to over the last few years.

The Grizzlies explained their camp

Why does taking a look at Tskitishvili make sense for the Grizzlies?

The answer is simple.

“We figured why not take a shot?” Griz general manager Chris Wallace said after watching the session in FedExForum. “Maybe there’s something there.”

Kevin Garnett Update

Danny Ainge gave an interview recently on WEII and touched on Kevin Garnett and how his recovery was going.

Here is an excerpt from the WEII interview transcript:

Kevin, it was amazing. His entire countenance over the last six weeks of the season, he was just kind of down and grumpy and uncomfortable. I think he felt pressure to try to come back and he had all this pain in his knee.

Right after the surgery – I mean three days after the surgery – a smile on his face, he can bend his knee all the way. He can straighten it out all the way. He just went back to the West Coast the other day. Before he left, I saw him doing full weight workouts. He was doing squats – one-legged squats, two-legged squats – he was doing most of his whole routine again. His spirit is returned: his enthusiasm for the upcoming season, his hope.

2009 Teams With Cap Concerns: Orlando

This post is an update to the previous Magic cap concerns article. A new post was written to take into account the acquisition of Vince Carter and to assess how that changes things for Orlando.

Orlando Magic Salaries

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Dwight Howard – $15.2 million
• Vince Carter – $16.12 million
• Rashard Lewis – $18.01 million
• Jameer Nelson – $7.7 million
• Mickael Pietrus – $5.3 million

That totals $62.33 million for five players.

Rashard Lewis, Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson all have four years remaining on their contracts. Pietrus has three years with the final year being a player option. Their new addition, Vince Carter, has three years left on his contract with the final year only being partially guaranteed.

2009 Teams With Cap Concerns: San Antonio

This is an update to an earlier post following the acquisition of Richard Jefferson.

San Antonio Spurs’ Salaries

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Tim Duncan – $22.18 million
• Richard Jefferson – $14.2 million
• Tony Parker – $12.6 million
• Manu Ginobili – $10.73 million

That totals $59.71 million for four players.

Team’s Summer Plans

A brief team-by-team look at what each squad will be trying to do over the summer

Eastern Conference

• Atlantic Division Teams – click here
• Central Division Teams – click here
• Southeast Division Teams – click here

Western Conference

Team’s Summer Plans – Pacific Division

Golden State Warriors

Very hard to figure out what these guys will do next

• There will be a lot of trade rumours, with just about every player on their roster being mentioned. I think anyone is available for the right price.
• Will they look to cut payroll? I don’t think so, but they should.
• Anthony Randolph might be their most prized player right now.

Los Angeles Clippers

• Draft Blake Griffin. Sign Blake Griffin. Worship Blake Griffin.
• Hope everything bad that happened last year doesn’t have next year. C’mon folks, let’s cross out fingers and help them out!
• Largely inactive in efforts to improve team
• They will try to trade one of their big men. They’d like to trade Chris Kaman if possible, but it may end up being Camby.

Team’s Summer Plans – Northwest Divison

Denver Nuggets

• Resign Chris Andersen
• Let Linas Kleiza walk if someone makes a hard run at him.
• Limit their spending elsewhere, and will not make trades. They’ll try to keep their team together.
• Very few additions on the horizon, and unlikely to make any progress this way.
• In other words, their pinning their future to the development of JR Smith … only I don’t get the impression that’s what they think they’re trying to do.

Minnesota Timberwolves

David Kahn will be very active and I don’t know what he’ll do.

Team’s Summer Plans – Southwest Divison

Dallas Mavericks

• Mark Cuban will be shopping Eric Dampier, Jerry Stackhouse and Josh Howard in several types of trade packages. They’re looking to make a splash this summer.
• The Mavs will want to resign Jason Kidd and very likely will be willing to pay him more than the MLE.
• The Mavs will also spend their MLE. Particularly if they can find a trade that could turn them into a contender, they’ll go all out if they find that trade.

Houston Rockets

• The Rockets will put Tracy McGrady on the trading block. It’s hard to tell what type of offers they may get, it’ll likely be for older veterans who have contracts that stretch beyond next summer. Baron Davis and Vince Carter have been linked to the Rockets and that’s the type of players you can figure being linked to them in the future.
• They’ll look for a backup center for Yao Ming and be dissatisified with their options. I expect Scola to double up as the starting power forward and the backup center next season.
• I’m not convinced that this team is settled at the point guard spot. I expect them to continue hunting after a more established player to start there.
• Oh, and they’ll resign Ron-Ron.

Good Article: Top 30 Picks By Draft Slot

Very good article by Ian Thomsen for Sports Illustrated.

He picks the best #1 pick of all-time right through to the best #30 pick of all time. It makes for an interesting read.

Team’s Summer Plans – Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks

• Nearly all of their energy will be spent on their own free agents – Mike Bibby, Marvin Williams, Zaza Pachulia and possibly Josh Childress
• They’ve already begun their attempts to trade Josh Smith. I don’t think they’ll like any offers they’ll receive.
• I think they’ll be quiet outside of these two areas

Charlotte Bobcats

• They’re looking to keep their core and fill two spots — a backup two guard and a backup four man.
• The Bobcats will also hold onto Raymond Felton and offer him a long term contract around the MLE.

Teams Summer Plans – Central Division

Chicago Bulls

• Resign Ben Gordon
• Try to find a suitable trade for Kirk Hinrich
• Float Luol Deng on the market and see if anything interesting comes up
• Maintain an active interest in top young big men around the league, particularly Chris Bosh.

Cleveland Cavaliers

• Resign Anderson Varejao
• Protect their 2010 cap space. They’ll only give it up for an elite big man like a Bosh or a Stoudemire.

Team’s Summer Plans – Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics

The Celtics are going to try to do a couple of things

• They’ll probe around the league for a good Ray Allen trade, but are unlikely to find anything to their satisfaction.
• They’ll deal with Glen Davis, a restricted free agent, but likely let him walk if anyone offers more than $3.5mil per annum.
• They’ll be willing and will attempt to spend the MLE, and quite possibily the LLE too.
• Their focus will be on the bench unless they find a great Ray Allen trade
• Judging from the rumours and which trade talks the Celtics are initiating, I cannot fathom Danny Ainge breaking up his starting lineup for anything less than a home run deal. He’s looking for the perfect trade, the fail safe move. If he cannot find it, and he very likely will not find it, then he’ll stand pat. So, I’d ignore any trade involving Celtics starters that doesn’t significantly favour Boston.

New Jersey Nets

• The Nets will continue to instigate Vince Carter trade talks and will continue to receive low ball offers. They might accept one of those offers.
• Beyond that, they’re a difficult team to figure out. Draft day could play a pivotal role in deciding what they try to do next.

2009 Teams With Cap Concerns: Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers Salaries

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Pau Gasol – $16.45 million
• Andrew Bynum – $12.5 million
• Adam Morrison – $5.26 million
• Derek Fisher – $5.05 million
• Sasha Vujacic – $5.0 million

That totals $44.26 million for five players.

2009 Teams With Cap Concerns: Orlando

There is an updated edition of this article following the acquisition of Vince Carter. Click here for that.

Orlando Magic Salaries

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Dwight Howard – $15.2 million
• Rashard Lewis – $18.01 million
• Jameer Nelson – $7.7 million
• Tony Battie – $6.29 million
• Mickael Pietrus – $5.3 million

That totals $52.5 million for five players.

2009 Teams With Cap Concerns: Boston

Boston Celtics Salaries

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Paul Pierce – $19.8 million
• Ray Allen – $19.78 million
• Kevin Garnett – $16.45 million

That totals $56.03 million for three players.

2009 Teams With Cap Concerns: Chicago

Chicago Bulls Salaries

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Brad Miller – $12.15 million
• Luol Deng – $10.36 million
• Kirk Hinrich – $9.5 million
• John Salmons — $6.43 million
• Derrick Rose – $5.18 million
• Tim Thomas – $6.47 million
• Jerome James – $6.6 million

That totals $56.69 million for seven players.

2009 Teams With Cap Concerns: Utah

There is an update to this article — after Boozer, Memo and Korver all decided to stay, and looking at what changes that would have for Utah’s summer decisions.

Utah Jazz Payroll

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Andrei Kirilenko – $16.45 million
• Deron Williams – $13.76 million

That totals $30.21 million for two players.

Andrei Kirilenko has another year to run on his deal after next season, while Deron will be just beginning his five year extension.

2009 Teams With Cap Concerns: Washington

Washington Wizards Salaries

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Gilbert Arenas – $16.19 million
• Antawn Jamison – $11.64 million
• Caron Butler – $10.03 million
• Etan Thomas – $7.35 million
• Brendan Haywood – $6 million
• Mike James — $6.47 million

That totals $57.68 million for six players.

Etan Thomas has an early termination release clause but he definitely will not use it. Mike James has a player option and he will definitely use it. Both players are entering the last year of their contracts, as is Brendan Haywood.

Gilbert Arenas has four more years after next season, Jamison has two more, and Butler has one more.

I want to separate this number for a moment just to make a quick point on how valuable Caron’s and Antawn’s contracts are.

Power Rankings

End of season power rankings. Which teams finished the season well and set themselves up nicely for next season?

Eastern Conference

#1 Boston Celtics

Nobody has knocked off a full strength Celtics yet.

If Kevin Garnett was healthy last spring, this team would have beaten the Orlando Magic and likely the Cavs too.

Good signs coming out of Boston from Danny Ainge on his intent to fill the bench with more proven talent next season.

#2 Cleveland Cavaliers

Not much to say here. I’d be surprised if they make major changes this summer, because those changes would likely come at the expense of their 2010 opportunities.

Update – 2009 Cap Space: Toronto

Update from the previous post, to take into account the Jason Kapono-Reggie Evans trade and a better knowledge of what slot the Raptors will draft at this summer.

Toronto Raptors Salaries

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Chris Bosh — $15.8mil
• Jose Calderon — $8.22mil
• Andrea Bargnani — $6.53mil

That totals $30.6 million spread across four players. Bargnani will be entering the final year of his contract in 2009, while Bosh has a player option following the 2009/10 season and is expected to opt out. Kapono has another season following the next one, and Calderon has four years left on his deal.

Sixers Happy With Kapono, May Start Him

Good article in the Phily Burbs

With the Sixers looking to upgrade at shooting guard, it’s possible that Kapono, a 6-foot-8 swingman, could start opposite Andre Iguodala on the wing.

“That’d be Eddie (Jordan’s) call in the preseason,” said Sixers president Ed Stefanski during Wednesday’s conference call. “Eddie’s thing is he can play both (shooting) guard and swing forward. We’re just happy to get a shooter of his ilk.”

Some of the Sixers best players — Iggy, Young and Brand — are all very happy with the acquisition

Stefanski also said he received an upbeat text message from Elton Brand and similar reactions from Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young.”I guess (Iguodala) feels (Kapono) will clear lanes for him,” Stefanski said. “This is the kind of guy who helps us. We’ve been sorely missing a player like this.

Portland Plan To Keep Blake + Outlaw

The Portland Tribune is reporting

The Blazers have team options on guard Steve Blake ($4.0 million salary next season) and forward Travis Outlaw ($3.6 million) that can be exercised on July 1, but it sounds as if both will remain with the club – unless a trade is made, of course.“I don’t see a scenario where we don’t pick up their options,” Pritchard says. “They’ve both been terrific for us. We like those guys way too much.”

Big Ben Contemplating Retirement

ESPN reports

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ crushing defeat at the hands of the Orlando Magic Saturday may not have been their only loss. Ben Wallace, their enforcer and starting center for most of the season, said after the game that he may retire.”I’m going to sit down and talk with my family, weigh my options and come up with a decision,” the 34-year-old Wallace said after Cleveland’s 103-90 loss. “Nothing’s definite, but there’s a strong possibility that this was my last season.”

The article continues

“I haven’t talked to Ben at all about his future,” said general manager Danny Ferry, who was surprised to hear about Wallace’s comments.

Wallace, a veteran of 13 seasons, sighted his declining health as a major reason he may hang up his sneakers. He missed 25 games due to injury this season, sitting out with a right forearm laceration, a fractured right fibula, a bruised left knee and a strained left patella tendon.

Starting Power Forward’s Rebounding Numbers

Starting Power Forwards

• Atlanta Hawks — Josh Smith — 12.1%
• Boston Celtics — Kevin Garnett — 16.6%
• Charlotte Bobcats — Boris Diaw — 9.6%
• Chicago Bulls — Tyrus Thomas — 13.4%
• Cleveland Cavaliers — Ben Wallace — 16.4%
• Cleveland Cavaliers — Anderson Varejao — 15.0%
• Dallas Mavericks — Dirk Nowitzki — 12.8%
• Denver Nuggets — Kenyon Martin — 10.9%
• Detroit Pistons — Antonio McDyess — 19.3%

Link: OTL On Mobley

Excellent 10 minute video clip on ESPN by Outisde The Lines on Cuttino Mobley’s life threatening heart condition.

Go check it out, great recap on Mobley’s situation.

Starting Center’s Rebounding Numbers

Here’s a list of the starting centers around the league and their individual rebounding rates:

• Atlanta Hawks — Al Horford — 16.3%
• Boston Celtics — Kendrick Perkins — 16.7%
• Charlotte Bobcats — Emeka Okafor — 19.0%
• Chicago Bulls — Joakim Noah — 17.9%
• Cleveland Cavaliers — Zydrunas Ilgauskas — 16.5%
• Dallas Mavericks — Eric Dampier — 17.7%
• Denver Nuggets — Nene — 13.8%
• Detroit Pistons — Rasheed Wallace — 13.7%
• Golden State Warriors — Andris Biedrins — 20.2%

2009 Teams With Cap Concerns: San Antonio

This is an outdated post, there is an update following the acquisition of Richard Jefferson. Please click here for that post.

Spurs Salaries

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Tim Duncan — $22.18mil
• Tony Parker — $12.6mil
• Manu Ginobili — $10.73mil

That totals $45.57 million for three players.

Manu Ginobili will be entering the final year of his deal, while Parker has two more to go, and Duncan three years to play on his contract.

Wolves Hire Kahn As GM

USA Today reports

The Minnesota Timberwolves hired former Indiana Pacers executive David Kahn to run their basketball operations, four days after being rejected by Portland assistant general manager Tom Penn.

The move was confirmed to the Associated Press by a person with knowledge of the hire. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because an announcement wasn’t planned until Friday.

Wow … that’s an underwhelming signing.

It’ll be interesting to see whether he’s the head honcho, or just the cap specialist.

Past Wolves GM Posts

Three posts:

• Lindsey pulls his name out of the running — click here

Tiago Splitter + San Antonio

This is old news but it’s worth repeating …. 48 Minutes of Hell (Spurs site) does a great job breaking down the story

During the course of the aforementioned thread something else is suggested that should catch your attention. A board member named Bruno, a SpursTalk regular and trusted friend of this writer, cites section Article VIII, Section 2 of the CBA and notes that the Spurs are capable of signing Splitter for an amount greater than the rookie scale beginning next summer (2010). The section in question reads:

Wolves Lose Another Top GM Candidate (Penn)

ESPN is reporting

Make that three candidates to withdraw from the Minnesota Timberwolves’ search for a new head of basketball operations.

Portland Trail Blazers assistant general manager Tom Penn on Monday took his name out of the running for the position after receiving a promotion from the Blazers.

Penn’s pullout, on the eve of the NBA draft lottery, follows the withdrawals of initial top candidate Dennis Lindsey of the San Antonio Spurs and former Miami Heat general manager Randy Pfund.

Eddie House Splits

Pre All Star Break

Eddie House played 17.4 minutes a game in 54 contests. He averaged 8.4ppg and shot 43.7% from the field and 42.1% from three point range, for an eFG% of 56.6%.

Post All Star Break

Eddie House played 20 minutes a night in 27 contests. He averaged 8.9ppg, and shot 46% from the field and 49% from three point range, for an eFG% of 60.6%.

Thoughts

The All-Star break is a rough seperation

GM’s Salaries

The Mercury News reports

I’ve checked around and the word is that Riley got a 3-year deal, worth about $700-800k annually.

I think Chris Mullin as exec VP, was making about $1.5M.

Before Riley’s short-shrift deal, the lowest-paid GM was believed to be Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti, at somewhere below $900k.

Presti definitely was a hot commodity at the time, and is even more so now, so you’d imagine he took the low money because he got full power.

Anyway, Riley’s low salary is probably lower than a few No. 2 basketball ops guys in the league.

If I have my numbers right, Riley’s probably making about half as much as the league average for GM/VP-types (whatever you want to call the No. 1 basketball decision-maker), which was somewhere above $1.5M per annum.

Lowest Salary — $700-800k

Average Salary — $1.5mil

Highest Salary — ? — Donnie Walsh?

Riley Takes Over Warriors

Press release via RealGM

The Golden State Warriors announced today that the club has elected not to renew the contract of Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin. In a related move, the team has named Larry Riley as the club’s new General Manager.

“It’s never an easy decision to make a change,” said Warriors’ President Robert Rowell. “This case is compounded by the fact it involves Chris Mullin — someone who has provided Bay Area fans with many great memories over the years, as both a player and executive. He’s a class individual who will always be remembered for his accomplishments with the Warriors organization.”

Tayshaun Prince Last Three Elimination Series

This is an update to a previous post

So where do we stand now?

• 2008/09 — First Round against Cleveland — Tayshaun Prince averaged 3.3 points per game in 32.7 minutes a night against the Cavs, in a series were the Pistons were swept aside easily. Those 3.3 points came on almost 8 shots a game as Tayshaun shot a mere 25.9% from the field. Prince did not attempt a free throw in the series, and only averaged 3.5 rebounds a game, and had as many turnovers as assists.

2009 Teams With Cap Concerns: Denver Nuggets

Nuggets Salaries

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Carmelo Anthony — $15.78mil
• Kenyon Martin — $15.61mil
• Chauncey Billups –$12.1mil
• Nene — $10.52mil
• JR Smith –$5.5mil

That totals $59.51 million for five players.

Kenyon Martin and JR Smith will have one more season on the books following the 09/10 campaign, while the other three have two more seasons to go after next year. Billups’ final year is only partially guaranteed … and Nene + Martin + Melo have early termination options on their final year.

Miami May Make Moves This Summer

The Miami Herald reports

It will be challenging for the Heat to upgrade significantly this summer because it is up against the luxury-tax threshold and wants big 2010 salary-cap space to re-sign Dwyane Wade and another free agent (potentially Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire).

But owner Micky Arison said this week the Heat is willing to expedite the process this summer if the opportunity arises. ”If a player you would be targeting became available in 2009, why wouldn’t you do it?” Arison said of possibly trading for a 2010 free agent. “. . . We have not historically been a very patient organization. We’re an organization that moves quickly. If the opportunity came along, we would consider it. But we’re doing it under certain restraints.”

Kahn New Wolves GM?

Update: Now looking unlikely as Minnesota continues to interview other candidates — likely they were unimpressed with Kahn by the end of the day.

Jerry Zgoda reports

Sounds like we’re finally closing in on a new Wolves GM.

I’m hearing this morning that the Wolves have offered the job to David Kahn, the former Indiana GM who since leaving the Pacers in 2002  has owned NBA Development League franchises and worked to bring the Expos and major league baseball to Portland. I’m also hearing the only sticking point might be whether his wife will move from Portland to Minny.

Clifford Ray On Perk + Dwight

Good article in the Boston Globe with a few quotes from the teacher on his students, who are battling head-to-head in the Second Round of the Playoffs

The article starts off with some background on Howard and Perkins, how Dwight was #1 overall pick and how Perkins was on the bubble for the first round, yet how they share many similarities as brute force centers who arrived to the league directly out of high school.

Howard, of course, developed into the Defensive Player of the Year and a player the Magic could practically pencil in for a double-double. Perkins became an NBA champion and progressed into one of the league’s best interior defenders.

When asked about the potential he saw in the two, Ray said, “I saw what I’m seeing right now.”

None of this surprised Ray.

Slam On Sheed

Slam reports

SLAM contributor J. Gamble [making his debut with us next issue] hears from a close personal friend of Rasheed Wallace’s that unless Sheed gets $8 million to play next year, he’s going to retire. If that’s true, we’ve probably seen the last of Sheed in the NBA.

I have no problem believing that Sheed is one of those players who’ll only play in the NBA so long as the money is right. The last few years, the grind looks like it’s been wearing him down mentally. Now whether that line is drawn at $8mil or not, is very much up for questioning, but the overall message here seems on point.

Odom and Ariza Free Agents

The Los Angeles Times reports

Q&A of the day

Question: I’m going to put you on the spot here. Will Lamar Odom re-sign with the Lakers? And what about Trevor Ariza? I would surely like both of them to return, as I feel they play key roles.

–Javier Cossio

Answer: Hey, I’m supposed to be the one putting people on the spot. But I’ll play along this time.

I’d be surprised if both Ariza and Odom return to the Lakers. The Lakers have already earmarked $74 million for only eight players next season.

If the two free-agent forwards command, say, $15 million a year in combined salaries, the Lakers would be pushed pretty deep into the luxury-tax stratosphere, where nobody seems to want to be in this economy.

Joe Dumars Quote

Good article on Pistons.com on the season and Joe’s perspective looking back on it.

One section in particular caught my attention

The brief engagement with Iverson didn’t produce the desired results on the court. But that disappointment might offer Dumars something more valuable than another 50-win season, something he could use this summer – an affirmation of faith in the values that made the Pistons NBA champions.

“I think, first and foremost, I think I’ve always prided us on being a team that whenever we stepped on the floor every single night we were going to battle to win and going through this transition this year that wasn’t the case and that bothered the hell out of me,” he said.

Some Sixers News

Skipping Team Meetings

Sports Illustrated reports

Andre Miller and Theo Ratliff have skipped the final Philadelphia 76ers’ team meeting a day after they were eliminated from the playoffs.

Miller and Ratliff were both absent from Friday’s meeting. Neither player offered team president Ed Stefanski an excuse. Stefanski says he has not been in touch with either player. Miller and Ratliff are both unrestricted free agents.

Lindsey Pulls His Name Out Of The Hate

ESPN reports

The presumed favorite in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ quiet search for a new head of basketball operations has pulled out of the running.

San Antonio Spurs assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey, widely billed as the Wolves’ No. 1 target, has withdrawn from consideration, according to sources with knowledge of Minnesota’s search.

Sheed Did Not Ask For Buyout

The Detroit News reports

Sorry to spoil another rumor with the truth.

Contrary to published reports out of Cleveland, Rasheed Wallace never approached Joe Dumars about a buyout.

Could you imagine? Here’s Wallace, struggling most of the season, missing 11 games with a calf injury, coming into Dumars’ office and saying, “Joe, I need you to buy me out so I can finish the season with the Cavs. You know, help LeBron get that ’ship.”

Wallace, as Dumars confirmed through e-mail Tuesday, wouldn’t be that bold, or stupid.

McDyess To Leave Detroit?

The Detroit free press reports

If it was his last game as a Piston, Antonio McDyess went out with guns blazing.

With his team falling further and further behind, he kept hitting shots and grabbing rebounds.

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished their first-round sweep of the Pistons, 99-78, Sunday at the Palace, but McDyess left it all on the court as he tied a career playoff high with 26 points.

He added 10 rebounds, another part of the highlight tape teams around the league will watch when they decide whether to make a pitch for the unrestricted free agent.

Playoff Previews: Orlando vs Philadelphia

Regular Season Standings

• Orlando Magic — 59 wins and 23 losses
• Philadelphia 76ers — 41 wins and 41 losses

Regular Season Matchups

• Orlando swept the season series 3-0. They won the first game by 10 points, the second game by 2 points, and the third game by 6 points.
• The first two games both came in November when the Sixers had Elton Brand in the starting lineup. The third game was Rafer’s 6th with the Magic.
• Orlando swept the season series 4-0 last season — three big wins and one close game.

Introduction

This will be a short series preview because, quite frankly, I’m struggling for things to say about this matchup.

Playoff Previews: San Antonio vs Dallas

Regular Season Standings

• San Antonio Spurs — 54 wins and 28 losses
• Dallas Mavericks –  50 wins and 32 losses

Regular Season Matchups

• The Mavs and Spurs split the season series 2-2
• Two of the games where blowouts and two where closely contested, with the teams splitting both sets of games.
• Each team also lost and won once on each other’s home court.

Ben Gordon vs Ray Allen

A quick look at the two player’s main statistics

	MPG	PPG	RPG	APG
Ray Allen	36.4	18.2	3.5	2.8
Ben Gordon	36.6	20.7	3.5	3.4

Wow, I was shocked when I saw how close the two’s stat lines are. Very interesting to see.

Defending The Title (regular season W-L)

The Defending Champion Boston Celtics have finished the season with a record of 62 wins and 20 losses. That’s hugely impressive.

How impressive? Let’s have a look at every defending Champ from the past 30 years.

• 2007 NBA Champs — The San Antonio Spurs — The Spurs won 56 games the following season
• 2006 NBA Champs — The Miami Heat — The Heat won 44 games the following season
• 2005 NBA Champs — The San Antonio Spurs — The Spurs won 63 games the following season
• 2004 NBA Champs — The Detroit Pistons — The Pistons won 54 games the following season

Follow Up: CP3 vs Deron

Follow up post to some interesting Head-to-Head stats.

Two interesting team based statistics

The First One

The New Orleans Hornets average 19.6 assists a night (28th in the league, third worst). Their opponents average 20.1 assists. Despite having Chris Paul, who’s about to lead the league in assists for the second straight season, New Orleans regularly get out-done by their opponents.

In contrast, the Utah Jazz obliterate their opponents on assist different by a whopping five dimes a night. They average 24.7 assists (league leaders) versus 19.7 assists for their opponents.

Agent On Yi’s Development

Nice argument put forth by Yi’s agent, Dan Fegan, where Fegan blames the Nets over his client’s lack of development this saying, proclaiming that the Nets are holding Yi back.

Great introduction given by Dave D’Alessandro

Dan Fegan, a superb negotiator who prepares for every discussion about a client like he’s on his way to a rumble, wants numbers to explain it all. And if that sounds counterintuitive — why go there with a stagnated 21-year-old, who averages 8.8 points and 5.4 rebounds in 23 minutes? — the agent has his reasons.

Fegan begins

“In the 10 games Yi has played 30-plus minutes and taken 10 or more shots, he has averaged 17.5 points, shot 47 percent, 40 from 3-point line, and 7.3 rebounds,”

Nellie On Warriors Needs

Nice quote from Don Nelson on the Warriors needs this summer

Coach Don Nelson said a few weeks ago that with Monta Ellis proving that he can return to his old form, the Warriors need two things to become a “decent” team again: A good draft pick, and “a move or trade to pick up another need guy.”

Nelson listed rebounding, defense and passing as the Warriors’ biggest holes – “Put them in any order you want,” he said.

Nice Snapshot: CP3 vs Deron

Nice snapshot of the Williams-Paul head-to-head matchups from the Desert Morning News

After Utah’s most-recent outing, Sunday’s victory at New Orleans – and with thanks to Derek Garduno with Jazz p.r., and the Elias Sports Bureau – here’s where things stand for games in which both have played:

• Williams averages 16.5 points, Paul 15.9;
• Paul averages 8.9 assists, Williams 8.2;
• Williams shoots 55.2 percent, including 44.4 percent from 3-point range, while Paul shoots 42 percent, including 24.1 percent from 3-point range;
• Williams is 11-2 all-time, Paul is 2-11;

2009 Teams With Cap Concerns: Milwaukee

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Michael Redd — $17.04 million
• Richard Jefferson — $14.2 million
• Andrew Bogut — $10 million
• Dan Gadzuric — $6.75 million
• Luke Ridnour — $6.5 million

Dunleavy’s Timetable For Return

The Indy Star has an update on Dunleavy’s surgery and expected rehab

Dunleavy had surgery to remove a bone spur from his right patellar tendon and then had the tendon repaired last month in Colorado. He said there is no timetable on his return.

Wait, a timetable is being mentioned

One thing O’Brien believes, though, is swingman Mike Dunleavy will be out until at least January as he rehabilitates his injured right knee.

“Nothing that I’ve heard has Michael coming back anytime before January,” O’Brien said. “It’s not even on my radar, Michael Dunleavy coming back. I have to approach next year like he’s not coming back because you have to build a team.”

Jazz’s Fouls On The Road

A very interesting article from Tom Ziller at NBA Fanhouse where he shows statistically how many more fouls Utah are called for on the road versus at home

Does the whistle explain Utah’s home court advantage?

In a word, yes … but not necessarily in the way you think. Utah doesn’t really get more whistles at home — the Jazz earn 0.35 FTAs per FGA at home, and 0.34 FTAs per FGA on the road. That’s a minor discrepancy.

Minnesota To Hire New GM

I absolutely loved reading this news

Taylor also said the team will have a general manager-type to head up basketball operations, ending the committee-style approach it has used in recent seasons.

“We’re going to have one person that will be at the top,” Taylor said. “We’ve interviewed quite a few people.”

Yes! At long last! Glen Taylor is finally abandoning this leadership structure.

Interesting Article by Randy Hill

There’s an interesting article on Foxsports, written by Randy Hill, where they briefly look at all of the NCAA Tournament MVP’s for the past twenty years and assess how they did in the NBA.

OK, scouts often sound crabby and this year’s anticipated draft crop may inspire even less optimism than we’ve noticed in a while. But the notion of a Final Four MOP not translating to NBA glory is far from rare.

According to my unofficial research, half of the last 20 MOPs can be considered NBA washouts.

Check out the list, it’s an interesting group of names. Good article by Randy Hill.

Ginobili Done For Season

RealGM has the press release

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that guard Manu Ginobili will miss the remainder of the 2008-09 regular season as well as the 2009 NBA Playoffs.

2009 Teams With Cap Concerns: New Orleans

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Peja Stojakovic — $13.39mil
• Chris Paul — $13.76mil
• Tyson Chandler — $12.25mil
• David West — $9.08mil
• Antonio Daniels — $6.6mil
• James Posey — $6.03mil
• Mo Peterson — $6.01mil

Eric Snow Released

RealGM reports

On Sunday, the Cavaliers released veteran guard Eric Snow for medical purposes.

“We appreciate all that Eric has done for the Cavaliers both on the basketball court and in the community,” general manager Danny Ferry said. “Eric is a tremendous competitor. He had a very successful playing career and I look forward to watching his broadcasting and coaching careers unfold.”

Snow suffered a left knee injury just before the start of the 2007-08 season and was limited to only 22 games that season.

2009 Teams With Cap Concerns: Phoenix

There is an update to this post following the trade of Shaquille O’Neal.

Phoenix Suns Salaries

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Shaquille O’Neal — $21mil
• Amare Stoudemire — $16.38mil
• Jason Richardson — $13.33mil
• Leandro Barbosa — $6.6mil

Four Short Pistons Notes

Originally two short Pistons notes, but two updates where added at the bottom of the post — Dice quote + Iverson shut down

Nice article in the Detroit News by Chris McCosky.

The First Note

The first note is an important one — Michael Curry describing the bench role that Iverson will play for the Pistons.

“Only thing I would have to remind him of is if I wavered on what I told him,” Curry said. “He’s coming off the bench as the backup two (shooting guard). He might get more minutes some nights when we can play Rip (Hamilton) at the three (small forward). But for the most part he’s backing up Rip because we really like how Will Bynum has played backing up Rodney Stuckey.”

Teams With Cap Concerns In 2009

Last month I looked at all the teams who figure to have substantial cap space heading into this summer, detailing how much cap flexibility they had and pondering on how they may use it in free agency.

However, those teams are not the only ones who are facing major financial decisions this summer. Now, I’ll switch my attention to teams who are over the luxury tax line, near the tax line, or who have players looking for large extensions which could put them over their limit. Teams who are facing major financial pressures, and consequently may be forced to make changes.

Josh Howard’s Return

Good article — Howard’s return could be catalyst for Dallas Mavericks –  in the Dallas Morning News about the soon to be returning Josh Howard

Josh Howard’s season is about to resume, probably Tuesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Teammates have indicated Howard has looked sharp in recent practices, but Jason Terry offered the clearest sign of Howard’s imminent return after Monday’s practice at the Target Center.

“He looked great,” Terry said. “Even last week, he was good in our last hard practice. He looked confident.

Eddie Sefko, the author of the article, continues

Parker’s 10,000th Point

Nice information in the San Antonio Express

Barring something unforeseen and potentially disastrous for the Spurs, Tony Parker should become the fourth player in franchise history to reach the 10,000-point plateau tonight in New Orleans.

Parker, 26 years old and in his eighth season, needs just seven points to hit that milestone.

George Gervin, David Robinson and Tim Duncan are the only other Spurs enshrined in the 10,000-point club.

Northwest Division Title

The Standings

1. Denver Nuggets — 46 wins and 26 losses — 10 games remaining
2. Portland Trailblazers — 45 wins and 27 losses — 10 games remaining
3. Utah Jazz – 44 wins and 27 losses — 11 games remaining
4. Oklahoma City Thunder — 20 wins and 51 losses — 11 games remaining
5. Minnesota Timberwolves — 20 wins and 52 losses — 10 games remaining

Minnesota and Oklahoma City will be both be in the bottom half of the lottery this summer.

The three other teams — Denver, Utah and Portland — are all vying for the division title.

Andres Nocioni Talks

Andres Nocioni said the following in a recent interview with a Spanish paper named Olé — Spanish paper roughly translated into English by Google:

“This is the worst season of my career, no doubt. Not played well all year and I realize,” says the eaves of entry, chat with Olé.

- But the worst of your career or the NBA?

- In my career, without doubt. Neither Racing, with 15 years, played well (laughs). It was a season to run the garbage and I switched over to Sacramento …

- What are the reasons for the poor campaign?

- The knee-right (laughs). Bothered me all year and I could never play with my physical and usually do. When I have a lot of minutes, I had to loosen the knee. It is not an excuse but a reality.

Udoka Wants To Remain In San An

Nice to hear that Ime Udoka wants to remain in San Antonio

Udoka signed a two-year deal worth over $2 million with San Antonio in the summer of 2007.

“Definitely,” Udoka said of wanting to remain with the Spurs. “I’ve had a great two years here. Just the comfort level you get from playing with these guys, and knowing the type of team we have, it’s great to be here.”

Did McHale Just Bench His Starters?

Does ESPN’s box score have the starting lineups correct?

• Center — Craig Smith
• Power Forward — Brian Cardinal
• Small Forward — Rodney Carney
• Shooting Guard — Kevin Ollie
• Point Guard — Bobby Brown

Anyone want to take a guess at who is backing up those players?

• Randy Foye
• Mike Miller

Paul Pierce’s Minutes

Paul Pierce’s minutes on the season

• October — 36.5 minutes a game
• November — 36.6 minutes a game
• December — 36.7 minutes a game
• January — 35.8 minutes a game

This is when things start to get hectic

• February — 41.4 minutes a game
• March — 39.4 minutes a game (two recent blowouts got him below forty minutes a night)

Basically, Paul Pierce, has been playing 40 minutes a night for the last 25 games.

Eastern Conference Taking Shape

Let’s have a look at our playoff hopefuls

Top Three Seeds

A few days ago, I had a look at the top three seeds and how they were likely to play out. It’s a near certainty that Cleveland holds onto the top seed, while Boston and Orlando battle it out for the second seed with Boston favoured to win it outright.

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers

#2 Boston Celtics

#3 Orlando Magic

The Fourth Seed

The Atlanta Hawks have locked up the fourth seed after a terrific home-stand which saw them sweep all seven home games. They Hawks currently have 42 wins against only 29 losses and are on track for a 48-49 win season.

Raymond Felton Article

Good article in Charlotte Observer on Raymond Felton — worth reading.

I’m not going to go through the whole article, just one or two quotes which interested me:

The new coach started out with misgivings about just what Felton was. Now he’s Felton’s biggest advocate.

No Practice for Wade

The Sun Sentinel reports

The Heat isn’t likely to have many more practice sessions with 13 games during the final 22 days of the regular season.

When the Heat does practice, don’t expect Dwyane Wade to participate in much more than noncontact work as the Heat tries to keep its star healthy.

Regular Season Too Long?

Ken Berger (CBS Sports) thinks so

The NBA regular season is too long. It’s time to shorten it.

Not by a lot. Not by 20 or 30 games. But reducing the schedule from 82 games to, say, 76 or 78, might alleviate some of these problems. Not all of them, but some.

I’m not overreacting. While the evidence seems to show that injuries are on the rise — just look at the lengthy list of big-name players who’ve missed significant time this season — I’m not one to advocate massive change based on a one-year trend. But the idea that the NBA regular season dragged on with too many insignificant games has been mentioned for years as a reason to tighten things up. There’s never been a better climate to fix the problem than now.

Blasphemy

Here’s an interesting section to a Hoopsworld article written by Jason Fleming.

Can Cleveland Match Boston? Did you think when this season begin we might be talking about the 2008-09 Cleveland Cavaliers being as good as the 1985-86 Boston Celtics? Nope, me neither. Still, those Celtics posted the best home winning percentage in NBA history at 40-1, and the Cavaliers have a chance to match that. After last night’s 97-92 win over the Portland Trail Blazers the Cavaliers are 31-1 at home. (Not bad to be playing nine of your final 14 games at home to get ready for the playoffs, is it?)

So can they do it?

Doc Concedes Homecourt

This is from two days ago — Doc Rivers concedes home court advantage to the Cavs

“We’ve earned the record that we have right now,” he said. “We’re not going to catch Cleveland, but we still have a chance to hold onto the second part of that.

The bottom line is these are not injuries where guys are not going to come back – they are going to come back – and we have time to put the pieces together. We know the picture of the puzzle, we just don’t have the pieces in place. We’ll get them together, it’s just going to take time.”

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

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 ….

Comparison — Bargnani vs Aldridge

Yertu Damkule brought up a great point in a recent comment — saying how closely matched Andrea Bargnani and LaMarcus Aldridge’s numbers are when you compare them against one another — I thought it was worth further examination so let’s get straight down to it:

For this first comparison, I’m going to use Bargnani’s numbers as a starter on the season, which is taken from a sample of just under 50 games.

Rip Dishin’ Out The Assists

Check out Rip Hamilton’s games during the month of March

• Nine assists against Boston
• Seven assists against Denver
• Three assists against Golden State
• One assist against Atlanta
• Fourteen assists against Orlando
• Five assists against New York
• Sixteen assists against Toronto
• Twelve assists against Memphis

Top Scorers Under 25 Years Old (part two)

I wrote a post earlier in the day listing the top 20 scorers under the age of 25 years old. I organized then organized them by points per game, position and age.

This post will now take a different view of these high quality young scorers, and it will do so by asking one question — Well we know they can score, but who on this list helps their team in additional ways outside of scoring?

The question will have three sub sections — Who’s a good defender? A good rebounder? A good passer/playmaker? — which we’ll use to help figure out who the exceptional talents truly are.

Top Scorers Under 25 Years Old (part one)

How many players under the age of 25 are currently scoring 17+ points per game?

The answer is twenty, and here is the list (in descending order according to ppg):

• LeBron James – age 24 — 28.6ppg
• Kevin Durant – age 20 — 25.9ppg
• Danny Granger – age 25 — 25.0ppg
• Kevin Martin – age 25 — 24.1ppg
• Al Jefferson – age 24 — 23.1ppg
• Brandon Roy – age 24 — 23.0ppg

Popovich On Manu’s Recovery

The San Antonio Express reports that Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich is close being worried about Manu’s recovery from a recent injury. Here’s why:

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich says he isn’t yet concerned at the relatively slow nature of Manu Ginobili’s rehabilitation from his latest ankle injury.

Popovich, however, does have a timetable for becoming concerned.

“This coming Thursday will be four weeks since he’s off the crutches,” Popovich said before Saturday’s game against the Rockets. “At that point, we hope that he’s on the floor working out. If he’s not, we’ll be concerned.

Best W-L Records Since Christmas

Nice graph in a recent John Hollinger PER Diem listing the top 10 records since Christmas Day

Best records since Dec. 25

Team	W	L
L.A. Lakers	28	8
Cleveland	26	9
San Antonio	25	10
Orlando	25	11
Utah	24	11
Dallas	24	14
Portland	22	13
Houston	23	14
Denver	23	14
New Orleans	24	15
Boston	22	14

Great stuff from Hollinger

Arenas/Haywood Unlikely To Play Again This Season

The Washington Post is reporting that both Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood, are unsuprisingly, not expected to suit up before the season is over

With each passing day, it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that Wizards fans are going to see Gilbert Arenas and/or Brendan Haywood in uniform before the regular season ends April 15 at Boston.

Odd Nash Rumour

The NY Post is reporting an odd Steve Nash rumour

The unraveling of the Suns could benefit the Knicks. Suns owner Robert Sarver, during the Cavaliers-Suns national telecast Thursday night, admitted he could break up the team in the offseason.

There’s speculation the Suns, expected to miss the playoffs, could use an early termination clause to release point guard Steve Nash this summer and save $7 million on his 2009-2010 wage. Nash would have to play for the $5.9 million mid-level exception but wants to come to New York.

2009 Cap Space: Memphis

Memphis Grizzlies Salaries

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Darko Milicic — $7.54mil
• Marko Jaric — $7.1mil

That totals $14.64 million spread across two players. Next season is the final year of Darko’s deal, but Jaric has another year on his contract beyond that worth $7.65mil.

Heisley’s Message To Fans

A very good article in the Memphis Commerical Appeal detailing a recent meeting between Grizzlies Owner Michael Heisley and some of the club’s season ticket holders.

Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley met with some of the team’s most loyal fans Saturday night, and reiterated his commitment to a three-year plan and keeping ticket prices in line with the product.

Refuting a notion that it is a civic obligation to support the Grizzlies, Heisley repeated his mantra of the past several seasons.

“We have to earn the fans’ support,” he said.

There were a bunch of interesting statements made by Heisley, but only one of which was of major importance to me and that was views on how the club would approach free agency this summer, and how they may spend their cap space

Jax Beefs Up

Nice story in the San Fransisco Chronicle today telling us all how Stephen Jackson’s weight lifting has helped his strength and in turn improved his performances

Stephen Jackson says he’s bigger and stronger than ever after adding 10 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-8 frame and tipping the scales at 235 pounds.

How has it effected his performances?

The proof is in the numbers, and Jackson’s have been bulging for the last several weeks.

Marvin Williams Injured

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports

No one came out and said it.

They didn’t have to for everyone start talking about it. But everyone wants to know, is Marvin Williams done for the season? Is the lower back injury that the cost him Monday’s game against New Orleans going to cost him the rest of his season?

We were told he will be out “indefinitely,” with more opinions from specialists being sought.

Gooden Wants To Stay In San An

Good article in the San Antonio Express about Drew Gooden and why he choose to sign with the Spurs

He chose the Spurs as the place to continue his career, he said, because he believes San Antonio could be the basketball home he has been trying to find since he was the fourth overall pick of the 2002 draft after a standout career at the University of Kansas. The Spurs will be the sixth team for which he has played in six-plus seasons, an odyssey he compared to being a player in a fantasy league.

“I’m ready to find a home,” he said.

Pacers Want To Keep Jack

The Indianapolis Star reports

Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird said during the team’s West Coast trip he wants to keep Jarrett Jack long term.

Wahoo! Wait, what? Why?

Oden-Dwight Comparison

It’s difficult finding a good player comparison for Greg Oden because of his youth. There has only really been one center in recent years who entered the NBA at a comparable age, and a comparable talent level — Dwight Howard.

So, I thought it would be interesting to compare Oden against Howard’s rookie season and see how he stacks up against the man who is currently one of the NBA’s elite big men.

Warriors Waive Williams

Not unexpected news this far into the season, but if you had of said this six months ago I’d have thought you’re crazy

The Warriors are in the process of waiving seldom-used point guard Marcus Williams, but the paperwork wasn’t completed by the end of the day.The Warriors acquired Williams for a first-round draft pick in July, but he played in only nine games for a total of 54 minutes.

When asked what didn’t work with Williams, Nelson replied: “Everything.”

Odd Stat — Danny Granger

The Indiana Pacers record with Danny Granger in the lineup — 19 wins and 33 losses for a winning percentage of .365

The Indiana Pacers record without Danny Granger in the lineup — 9 wins and 4 losses for a winning percentage of .692

Shaq Slams Stan Van Gundy

Nice series of quotes from Shaquille O’Neal below …. these barrage of insults aimed at SVG came after Van Gundy accused Shaq of flopping

Now, here is O’Neal with some more profane moments retracted:

“He (Howard) came with the same old, stale Patrick Ewing move so I tried to stand there and take the charge. The new rules say if you come through, you fall. But as I fell, I realized that it was a flop and it reminded me of Coach Van Gundy’s whole coaching career. The one thing I despise is a frontrunner. First of all, none of his players like him. When it gets tough, he will become the master of panic like he did before and he will quit like he did before.

2009 Cap Space: Toronto

There is an update to this post — to take into account the Jason Kapono-Reggie Evans trade and a better knowledge of what slot the Raptors will draft at this summer.

Toronto Raptors

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Chris Bosh — $15.8mil
• Jose Calderon — $8.22mil
• Andrea Bargnani — $6.53mil
• Jason Kapono — $6.21mil

Gooden To Be Bought Out

David Aldridge is reporting

Last-minute negotiations before tonight’s midnight deadline will result in veteran big men Joe Smith and Drew Gooden being bought out by Oklahoma City and Sacramento, respectively, according to a league source.

Joe Smith Waived

ESPN is reporting

The veteran forward and the Oklahoma City Thunder reached agreement on a buyout of his contract, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher on Sunday. The Clevaland Plain Dealer reported that the Cavaliers will try to sign him immediately after he clears waivers.

Good Article On Pistons

Detroit News writer Terry Foster wrote a commentary article on the Pistons the other day. It caught my attention because he has some extreme ideas on how to fix the recently downtrodden Pistons:

We are watching a full-blown meltdown of the Detroit Pistons. And the blame should rest with team president Joe Dumars.

Rasheed Wallace throws a towel at a referee. Rip Hamilton is chirping up, saying he should be starting again. Allen Iverson is out with a back injury and rookie coach Michael Curry has no idea what is going on. And did I mention that the Pistons have lost eight games in a row and there is no help in sight?

Rip Back In Starting Lineup

The Detroit Free Press reported this yesterday, prior to the Orlando game

ORLANDO — Allen Iverson will miss tonight ’s game with a back injury, but when he returns to the Pistons, he will be coming off the bench.

Pistons coach Michael Curry announced this morning that Rip Hamilton will be back in the starting lineup, playing alongside Rodney Stuckey, in an effort to jumpstart a team in the midst of an eight-game losing streak.

J-Will Denied Reinstatement

ESPN reports

Veteran guard Jason Williams’ request to be immediately reinstated to the NBA after his voluntary retirement before the season has been denied, ESPN.com has learned.

League bylaws state that players wishing to return from the voluntary retirement list need unanimous approval from all 30 teams to avoid a one-year mandatory waiting period. According to ballot results obtained Friday, Williams’ request was denied by a vote of 24-6.

2009 Cap Space: Atlanta

Atlanta Hawks Salaries

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Joe Johnson — $14.98mil
• Josh Smith — $10.8mil
• Speedy Claxton — $5.2mil

That is a total of just below $30 million. Both Speedy Claxton and Joe Johnson will be entering the final year of their contracts, while Josh Smith will have three more years past 2009/10 to go on his deal.

The rest of Atlanta’s contracts

• Al Horford — $4.3mil
• Mo Evans — $2.5mil
• Acie Law — $2.22mil
• Randolph Morris — $850k

2009 Cap Space: Minnesota

Minnesota Timberwolves Salaries

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

Here are the contracts over five million dollars

• Al Jefferson — $12mil
• Mike Miller — $9.88mil
• Brian Cardinal — $6.75mil

That totals $28.63 million. Both Mike Miller and Brian Cardinal will be entering the final year of those contracts, and thus coming off the books in 2010.

Now let’s have a look at the rest of their contracts

• Ryan Gomes — $4mil
• Randy Foye — $3.6mil

2009 Teams With Cap Space

Over the next week or so I’ll be looking at each one of the above teams individually to see

1. How much cap space they have
2. Who’s on their books for the 2009/10 season
3. How cap fluctuations could effect their overall cap space
4. Plus some early guesses on who those teams may target in free agency.

Okay, so let’s get to it and have a look at each one of those teams