Coast to Coast: 9/22/08

Let’s push the ball up the court as we go from coast to coast with the stories from around the league.

• There are some professional athletes that get it and there are some that don’t get it.  Dwayne Wade gets it.  LeBron James gets it.  So does Chris Paul.  You can tell how smart and bright these guys are by the way that they carry themselves.  However, Josh Howard is one of those that just doesn’t get it.  A moron said something really stupid.  Let’s just move on.  Realgm.com explains the situation in detail including labeling him as the problem child.
• Meanwhile the AP is reporting that Mark Cuban has said on his blog that Howard realizes his comments were wrong and that he apologized.
• We have talked about the Zach Randolph situation plenty but one possible destination floating around for him to land is Golden State.  The 3 years and $48 million left on his deal is a huge roadblock though to any potential trade.  The San Francisco Examiner is reporting that for the Warriors to acquire Zach, they would likely have the unload another bad contract in the deal such as Stephen Jackson or Al Harrington.  Unlike Randolph, Jackson and Harrington only have 2 years left on their deals.  Also Harrington can opt out after this season but he is set to make a whopping $10 million this year regardless.  It just makes it hard to imagine a trade between the two teams.  I don’t think the Warriors would trade one of their bad contracts for an even worse contract that lasts for one extra year.
• The Orange County Register is reporting that Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak has made the most obvious statement of the day: that the Lakers gave up less to get Pau Gasol than the Grizzlies originally wanted.  Thanks for that hard hitting analysis Mitch.  You fleeced them, I understand that.
• Slow news day in basketball so that is it for today.  I do want to say congratulations to the US Ryder Cup team who played wonderfully all weekend long in their upset over Europe.  Hunter Mahan, Boo Weekley, and J.B. Holmes were all huge for the home team.  Golf fans need to get to know these names soon.

Coast to Coast: 8/29/08

Let’s push the ball up the court as we go from coast to coast with the stories from around the league.

• The Grizzlies made the big move of the day as they have signed Iranian center Hamed Haddadi as the AP reports.  This was a move the Grizzlies wanted to make to improve the rebounding and defense on their front line.  Does this mean that the Zach Randolph to Memphis talk will die down?  Probably not since they still don’t have a true low post scorer but this was still a nice signing for Memphis.  Haddadi averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds at the Olympics in Beijing.  Terms of the deal have not been released.
• The Canadian Press is reporting that the New Orleans Hornets have signed free agent and former Sun Sean Marks.  Marks is a nine year veteran who is the first person born in New Zealand to play in the NBA.  This adds some needed depth to their frontline.
• The Oklahoma City franchise has not announced officially its nickname being the Thunder but it looks like that will happen soon.  The Oklahoman reports that there was a slip-up in the season ticket plans printout for the Orlando Magic.  For the December 5th game it says, “Magic vs. Thunder.”  You can see the slip here.  Nothing is official though as the announcement is not until September 3rd. 
• The Orange County Register is reporting that Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak has seen Andrew Bynum working out and likes what he is seeing.  He also expects Bynum to be healthy and ready to go for training camp which starts at the end of September.  I don’t expect Bynum to be great in his first year back from a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery.  But the Lakers don’t need him to be great.  They just need a solid 12 points and 10 boards on average from him and they’ll be in great shape.  How about the starting five of Fisher, Kobe, Odom, Gasol, and Bynum?  That’s a lot of length and athletic ability that will be tough to matchup with.
• Also Andrew Bynum’s trainer has given some insight at AndrewBynum.com into the tough workout schedule Bynum has been going through lately to prepare for his comeback season: “It all begins on the track at about 7:30-8:00 a.m. each morning for a serious hour and a half workout. We must begin early because after all,……. this is “Hotlanta” and after 9:30 a.m. one could practically melt!  Immediately following extensive work on the track we move on to resistance (weight) training in the weight room for about a one-hour session.  Basketball is the last activity for the morning/afternoon session and varies from one to three hours.  Later that evening he is again put to the test for one more conditioning activity which usually lasts for about an hour and a half.  That only leaves time for healthy eating and much needed sleep.  This guy is a serious worker; you almost can’t give him enough.”
• The Seattle Post Intelligencer is reporting that even though the lawsuit for the city of Seattle against Clay Bennett and Co. cost the city $2.9 million, the city still came out of it ahead financially.  However, they still came out in the red where it really matters: -1 in the number of NBA franchises.
• The Houston Chronicle is reporting that Rockets forward Chuck Hayes had surgery to repair his broken nose and will be out four to six weeks.  But there is a good chance he will be ready to go for the start of training camp.
• The Miami Herlad has reported that Pat Riley has said that he plans on keep the core players of the current Miami Heat team intact.  So do not expect any major trades or shakeups prior to the start of the season.  However, you should expect some sort of move to help them with their weakness at center as Riley said, “Now, we’re just trying to fortify with pieces. We still need help in the post.”  Jamaal Magloire and DJ Mbenga won’t exactly be huge helps.
• The Miami Herald is also reporting that Thursday August 28th was declared as Wade Day by the City of Miami in honor of his gold medal winning accomplishment.  The Heat also unveiled a banner in his honor at AmericanAirlines Arena.  Some really cool stuff here.  He sure deserves it.
• I absolutely love the game of Rudy Fernandez from Spain who will be joining the Portland TrailBlazers this year.  Apparently I’m not the only one as the Oregonian has some thoughts from his new coach Nate McMillan: “I was so impressed with him that it was to the point where after the second time I saw him, I didn’t sleep that night because I was moving my rotations around.  I swear I did not sleep. I could not sleep thinking about him. Because I’m saying, ‘We can put him here, do this with him, do that with him and Brandon (Roy), and do this… So he’s playing for us. Oh yeah. I see that right now.” 

Coast to Coast: 8/28/08

Let’s push the ball up the court as we go from coast to coast with the stories from around the league.

• The big story of the day has to do with the devastating injury to Warriors PG Monta Ellis.  The AP is reporting that Ellis will be out 3 months after severely spraining his ankle in an offseason workout.  Last year Ellis averaged 20 points, 5 boards, and 3 dimes per game.  In the offseason he was given a 6-year, $66 million extension while Baron Davis signed on with the Clippers.  Monta Ellis was going to be the guy this year for the first time and now he will miss at least the first month of the regular season.  The Warriors do have Marcus Williams to step in but he isn’t ready to play at the level that Ellis does.  This officially crushes any hopes Golden State had at competing in the difficult Western Conference this year.  I did think that this year was going to be when Ellis was finally recognized as a star in this league.  Tough break for him and the organization.
• The AP is reporting that the Oklahoma City franchise will announce its team name and colors on September 3rd.  Apparently the franchise has applied for the trademarks to six names: Thunder, Energy, Marshalls, Wind, Barons, and Bison.  I hear that the Thunder is most likely to be the one that is announced.  That’s fine as long as they don’t end up as the Oklahoma City Wind.  I don’t think you would see much jersey popping by the players if it read WIND on the front.
• The Orange County Register is speculating that the Lakers should consider signing free agent Shaun Livingston.  Livingston is currently rehabbing his surgically repaired right knee.  Livingston is talented and just 22 so I think some team should take a chance on him.  But not the Lakers with Fisher, Farmer, Sun Yue on board.  Doesn’t make much sense for them.
• Meanwhile the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the Warriors are looking at Livingston.  Chris Mullin is traveling to Chicago today to see him work out.  This makes much more sense to me.  Why not give him a chance when all you’ve got is Marcus Williams and C.J. Watson.
• According to ESPN, Mike Krzyzewski said that he will continue to be involved with Team USA by helping with the model that Jerry Colangelo introduced.  When asked if he would coach the team again he said, “I’ll help in some capacity in consulting, in whatever they need to do.”  Despite the superior talent, Coach K deserves more credit for the job he did in stressing defense and teamwork to the Redeem Team.
• The Boston Globe is reporting that an autopsy revealed that fromer Blazer Kevin Duckworth died after his enlarged heart failed.  He was 44.  Catch your Duck tribute here.
• The Miami Herald is reporting that Dwayne Wade has said that his mission is to bring the team back to being a title contender.  This coming off a league-worst 15-win season.  They will be better with the Wade-Marion-Beasley trio but their situation at center prevents them from being considered a title contender. 
• The Salt Lake Tribune is speculating that the Jazz should consider making a play at acquiring Ben Gordon from the Bulls.  This makes no sense to me especially with how expensive Gordon will be.  The Jazz don’t need his outside shooting ability.  Stick with Kyle Korver and be happy you don’t have to overhaul your roster while bringing in Gordon, who apparently wants Monta Ellis money.
• The Toronto Sun is reporting that second round draft pick Kyle Weaver has signed a contract with the Oklahoma City franchise.  I think Weaver will be a good role player in this league.  Weaver is a solid defender who also has a versatile offensive game and had a knack for making big plays while playing in college at Washington State.  Good value in the second round if you ask me. 
• Finally the Rocky Mountain News is reporting that the Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors will be playing two preseason games in China this October. 

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Photo via AP

Coast to Coast

It’s time to push the ball up the court as we go coast to coast with the stories from around the league.

• The LA Times is reporting that the Lakers have officially signed Chinese guard Sun Yue to a multi-year deal.  Some good things were said about Yue’s game at the Olympics but I don’t expect him to be a big contributor right away.  Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar are major roadblocks.
• More Lakers info: the team expects to find out soon when Kobe Bryant will undergo surgery on his injured right pinkie.  Sure didn’t seem to bother him when he carried the US down the stretch against Spain.
• The Arizona Republic is reporting that the Suns have traded D.J. Strawberry to the Rockets for rookie point guard Sean Singletary.  Not only does this save the Suns some money but it also gives them a backup guard that is not a bad defender.
• Howard Beck of the New York Times points out the rule changes that will be instituted by FIBA prior to the World Championships in 2010.  The lane will be changed from the trapezoid to the rectangle and the 3-point line will be moved back closer to NBA distance.  Kudos to the NBA and FIBA working together on this.  If you’re going to have a game that is global, the game should remain similar despite the location of the court.
• SLAM Online reminds us that the NBA will be back in Beijing soon.
• The Oklahoman reports that the Oklahoma City TBD franchise has made several front office hires.
• Perhaps no NBA player put on a greater show at the Olympics than Dwayne Wade.  And I love the line he gave to the Miami Herald: ”I’ve seen a bronze medal before, and it looks nothing like a gold.”
• The Detroit Free Press explains the situation of Lindsey Hunter and how he may not be back with the Pistons for this year.  An FBI investigation into a real estate scam will do that to you.
• The Bleacher Report analyzes Jason Kidd’s past and future and explains how he can still be an impact player for the Mavs.  I have to point out how he is well past his prime and that the championship window for Dallas has been closed shut.
• The Houston Chronicle reports that the city of Houston has been receptive to the arrival of Ron Artest.  Why not?  Despite his questionable character, the Rockets are now legit title contenders.  Especially if Tracy McGrady plays at the level he did last year.  Yes Ron Artest is that good and can have that type of impact.  Of course he is still Ron Artest and is always capable of self destructing.

Quick Rewind: USA 118, Spain 107

Redemption complete

Knicks ‘08-’09 Schedule Released

The NBA has released this season’s upcoming schedule and the Knicks will start the seasonon October 29th by welcoming Dwayne Wade, Michael Beasley, and the Miami Heat to Madison Square Garden.  Also Larry Brown, the new coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, will make his return to the Garden on November 5th.  As is always true for each year, there are some very good matchups at MSG that will be sure to be hot tickets.   Lebron James and the Cavs are visiting on November 25th, the Detroit Pistons are in on December 7th, Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets are scheduled for December 28th, the defending NBA Champion Boston Celtics visit on January 4th, Mike D’Antoni’s former team, the Phoenix Suns, come in on January 21st, and Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers come to Broadway on February 2nd.  The Knicks will close the regular season with a home game against division rival New Jersey on April 15th.  It would be thought of as a good season if that game has any significance.

Of course the Knicks will be playing in six preseason games in the first couple weeks of October.  However, those games have yet to be announced.  Click here to see the entire schedule.  So it appears we are only a little over 2 months away from the opening tip of the regular season.