Las Vegas NBA Pro-Am Players

Thanks to Alex Kennedy at HOOPSWORLD, we can now see the list of prospective NBA players heading to Las Vegas for their version of a Pro-Am.


John Wall, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, Stephen Curry, Kyle Lowry, Stephen Jackson, Chauncey Billups, DeMar DeRozan, Tayshaun Prince, Al Harrington, Jermaine O’Neal, DeAndre Jordan, Mo Williams, J.J. Hickson, Austin Daye, Jared Dudley, Marreese Speights, Dahntay Jones, Courtney Lee, Chase Budinger, David Lee, Dorell Wright, Jeremy Lin, Omri Casspi, Hakim Warrick, Eric Maynor, C.J. Watson, Ryan Gomes, James Anderson, Avery Bradley, Melvin Ely, Derrick Caracter, Armon Johnson, Shawne Williams, Terrico White, Iman Shumpert, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Jordan Williams, Malcolm Lee, Josh Selby, Trey Thompkins, Travis Leslie and Shelvin Mack.

Several former NBA players will also compete including Jamaal Tinsley, Bonzi Wells and Damon Jones.

The list isn't that impressive (i.e. no Kobe, LBJ, etc.) but this is good for the guys to get together and play against NBA caliber players.  I might try to make a trip out to Vegas to see them play.  I need to borrow someone's plane, any takers?

NBA Round Up 11-30-08

New York Knicks - 22 assists!!! I would have thought that it would come with Jason Kidd in the game or even Chris Paul. This feat was attained by none other than Chris Duhon against the Golden State Warriors. Duhon finished with 12 pts, 22 asts, 4 rebs, 1 stl, and 2 TOs. Not only that, but David Lee and Al Harrington had monster games too. Harrington finished with 36 pts and 12 rebs, while David Lee had 37 pts, 21 rebs, 2 asts, 3 stls, and 1 blk. This would mean much more if it were against a good team, but you gotta play the games that are on your schedule. Duhon goes into the record books with this one.

Oklahoma City Thunder - Finally a win!!!!! The Thunder had a 14 game losing streak stop with a 111-103 win against the Grizzlies. All the big time guys (for both teams) showed up. OJ Mayo had 30 pts and 7 rebs. Jeff Green had 22pts, while Kevin Durant had 30 pts and 7 rebs. Can the Thunder keep this going?

New York Knicks - The circus that is the Knicks and Stephon Marbury will hopefully end on Monday when Walsh, the NBA Players Association rep, and Marbury meet to discuss a buyout. I am not sure why the Knicks let this go this long. They should have just offered the dude a buyout amount and then paid him to get out of New York. Instead, you make your head coach look like a liar/a$$ and you keep the drama going on with the team. Please let Stephon go. Get it over with.

Did we miss anything? You got anything to add to the round up?

Done Deal

The New York Knicks and the Golden State Warriors have made a deal. Jamal Crawford goes to the Bay Area for Al Harrington. Yes, that's right, a straight up swap. I guess I am a little lost as to why either team would make this deal, so let's take a look at why.

Golden State - They get rid of their only veteran big man who can score, rebound, and play a little defense. They bring in another gunner to go along with the already high maintenance Steven Jackson. Jamal Crawford hasn't met a shot that he didn't like, going all the way back to his days at Michigan. The Warriors at least have a system that involves some defense, and that's another thing Crawford hasn't proven he can play.

New York - The Knicks have been on this, 'we're cutting costs to get LBJ here in 2010' and then they go and do this. This would have been a lot better if the player going out had a last name of Curry or Randolph. Right now they are starting Chris Duhon and Crawford together in the backcourt. After the trade, their starting backcourt is going to have to change because they can't have Duhon and Lil Nate in the backcourt because I could post post of them up. The Knicks still have some business to deal with named Marbury, Randolph, and Curry. Donnie Walsh has to have another plan up his sleeve.

Was this a good trade? Which team will be better?

NBA Round Up 11-11-08

New York Knicks - Danilo Gallinari is still out with a hurting back and it's not looking good. He won't accompany the team on their 2 day roady and is being checked again. Surgery may be a necessity for Gallinari and that will really suck for Knicks fans.

Golden State Warriors - Another hurting back. In his quest to get traded, Al Harrington gets hurt. His back is killing him he's been given bed rest for two weeks. This doesn't bode well for him getting out of town any time soon.

Detroit Pistons - With the addition of AI, the most important player in Detroit now becomes, Tayshaun Prince. Prince will have to play, ala Scottie Pippen, as the point forward for the Pistons. This team should play well with Iverson, unless you agree with one of my guys who says this was the worst trade that the Pistons could have ever made.

Los Angeles Clippers - Next one out the door could be, Chris Kaman or Cuttino Mobley. The Clippers seem to happy with the addition of Marcus Camby to their team, but that means that someone has to go. Kaman plays the same position and is owed $43M, but Mobley has a more reasonable salary that can be traded (around $8M - $9M a year). Look for the Clips to make a move to turn around their 1-6 start.

Antonio McDyess - After being waived by Denver after the AI trade, McDyess is still looking for a team. Right now he has his pick of several, including the Pistons and the Celtics. Signs are pointing that he'll head back to Detroit, but I think he can be lured to a team with a chance to win the title this year. (Danny Ferry, get this guys' number now!!!).

Juwan Howard - Another free agent right now with some upside is sitting and waiting for the right opportunity. Seems like everyone caught on to the PJ Brown Way To Winning a Ring. Juwan is still a good big man that can score and play some defense. I would think that he'd be a good fit with the same teams that would pursue McDyess.

NBA Round Up 10-29-08

Golden State Warriors - It's official, Al Harrington wants to be traded. He is tired of Nellie and wants a new address. Supposedly his agent is already trying to find a new place for him to land. In my mind, the Warriors can't get rid of this guy unless they get some production back. Al is 6'9", a big body, and he can score. The Warriors are without a lot of those qualities, mostly size, if they get rid of him. It's hard to fathom a trade this early in the season, but we'll have to watch this one.

Atlanta Hawks - Mike Bibby is in the last year of his contract and if things go as they normally go in the ATL, he'll be traded by the deadline if the Hawks aren't winning. Bibby feels that he'll be in the ATL this year and going forward, but I doubt he's still around after the All Star break. The Hawks aren't talking new contract with Bibby yet either.

Denver Nuggets - Linas Kleiza is hoping that his new contract will be completed soon. The Nuggets, in my mind, have to pay this guy because who else do they have? Look for a multi year deal coming at a little more than the mid level. The Nuggets are also considering picking up the option on newly acquired Renaldo Balkman.

Detroit Pistons - Jason Maxiell has declined a 4 year deal for $20M from the Pistons. He'll be an unrestricted free agent at the years end. I've said it before, Detroit can't let this guy go. Joe Dumars, up that offer to about $7M a year (at least $6.5M) and you'll get him.

Los Angeles Lakers - $85M is the number. That's what the Bynum camp is expecting for the Lakers center, Andrew Bynum, to resign with them. I guess that's the going rate for a young, agile, decent, 7 footer in the NBA. Someone from the Lakers will have to go if they pay Bynum that money. Plus the question is, is he worth it?

Golden State Warriors - Monta Ellis is filing a grievance with his present employer. The Warriors have suspended Ellis for 30 games, but they have also told him that if he doesn't come back as the Monta Ellis of old, they still hold the option of terminating his contract. Well, that's not exactly right. The team has the option of either suspending him (which they have done) OR terminating his contract, but not both. This is not the type of relationship you want to have with your franchise player.

San Antonio Spurs - New digs. The Spurs are no longer flying Champion Air and have now (the NBA) signed a 10 year deal with Northwest Airlines as their airline of choice (there are 15 other teams who have done the same). What happened to the NBA and Southwest Airlines?