NBA Round Up 1-23-09

Lot's going on in the NBA and it's time to catch up. It's getting near the NBA Trading (February 19th) deadline so you know that there are a lot of rumors running around.

Miami Heat - Shawn Marion is on the block. We all knew this was coming with his demands for a long term contract and at or near his present salary of $18M per year. If it's Kobe, yes, but Shawn Marion, ummmm no. Marion's name has been rumored involving Josh Howard and Jermaine O'Neal (since Alonzo retired). Marion is upset with all of the talk, but with Pat Riley as his GM, he better keep his bags packed.

Chicago Bulls - When will Paxson get it right? Just a few years ago, they had a good up and coming team and now they have a team going nowhere. Ben Gordon isn't happy (note his cussing out of his coach over a fine for being late to a meeting), Larry Hughes is on the block, they have no big men that can score, and (gulp) Luol Deng looks more like Scottie Pippen (well, not even that good) than anything close to Jordan. Sad situation in Chicago.

Golden State Warriors - Monta Ellis will make his debut tonight against the Cavs at home. More interesting is the fact that the Warriors seem intent on holding Ellis' incident over the summer over his head a little longer. They claim that they can still void the $66M deal that Ellis signed, even though Ellis' agent is fighting that. We understand the kid did something stupid, but I don't think that the organization is served by holding this over his head. If you don't think he can play because of the accident, void the contract. If you think he can, live with it.

Milwaukee Bucks - Seems newly minted Olympic gold medalist, Michael Redd, is on the block. Redd started the season off hurt, but right now the Bucks seem to be listening to offers for Redd. Big mistake if you ask me. He's the only person on that team that can consistently score from range.

Philadelphia 76ers - Talk about karma. You leave your old team at the alter (Clippers) and run off with a bride who offered you the world (Sixers) but things haven't been right for you since. Elton Brand will get back on the floor against the Knicks on Saturday, but this team has definitely got some ground to make up since they have started this season off terribly. Only in the East can they still be in line for the playoffs, but something good has got to happen for them soon.

NBA Round Up 12-15-08

Memphis - Free Antoine!!!! Maybe this will happen soon. Walker is expecting a buy out from the Grizzlies soon. After that, he's a free agent who could still give you some quality minutes a night. Any takers?

Golden State - Buyer's remorse? The Warriors are already trying to trade one of their most prized free agent pickups in Corey Maggette. Why? You just paid him $50M over 5 years and he's one of your best players. Me thinks that this one doesn't get much farther than the feelers that the Warriors put out. Why is this dude always slept on when you have a team that needs scoring?
Denver - With the Nuggets looking for another big to go along with Nene and Kenyon Martin, Linas Kleiza definitely has his bags packed. Who can use a 6'10" forward with a propensity to shoot the ball from 3? There should be lots of takers for Kleiza, especially in the West.

Golden State - On the comeback. This is the week that Monta Ellis will be coming off the suspended list. Another cog to be added to the Warriors backcourt. This issue is who are the Warriors going to let go in order to put him on the roster? DeMarcus Nelson, Rob Kurz, or Marcus Williams, one of them should have their bags packed.

Sacramento - Brad Miller's time with the Kings may be coming to an end. With the play of Spencer Hawes and the rest of the rookies (Jason Thompson) playing well, the Kings may part with their veteran center. Miller has always been a decent center and I expect the line to be long for a guy who can rebound and bury the jumper from 15 ft.

Los Angeles - A fresh start? Seems that Darius Miles has worked out for the Clippers in hopes of a reunion with the team that drafted him. If Miles is healthy and can play, he'll have to serve a suspension first, but he'd be able to continue his career in LA. If Doc Rivers didn't think he could play anymore, I doubt that this will really happen. But we shall see. **It seems Miles has been signed by the Grizzlies. Thanks to AverageBro for hitting us up with that information.

Philadelphia - Another coach gone? Why? I mean Mo Cheeks has done everything that the organization asked him to do. The Sixers haven't meshed well with the new addition of Elton Brand, but isn't some of that karma and the way Brand left the Clippers? I didn't want to see Cheeks gone and it's just a rough vocation to be in now with all of these firings. Good luck Mo, we'll see you coaching again soon.

NBA Round Up 11-14-08

Orlando Magic - Dwight Howard is managing a knee problem that he insists he has had since breaking that knee when he was 15 years old. At times during the year, the knee swells a little and then the Magic just give him some time off. After his 30 point, 19 boards, 10 blk performance the other night, I don't have a problem with this going forward. I hope he can stay healthy.

Chicago Bulls - What happened? First Larry Hughes' shoulder, then Kirk Hinrich's thumb (out 3 months), and now Derrick Rose's back. The Bulls are already thin, figuratively, and they can't win with (or without) the injury bug that seems to be rampant in the locker room. Someone call Orkin and get them to the United Center, fast!!! Rose may not miss too much time with his back, but as we've seen with Danilo Gallinari, things could get worse.


New York Knicks - The end is near for Stephon Marbury. It looks as though he will be out of New York within days. Maybe he can get a deal for starring in the remake of the old 'Escape from New York' movie? Where will he go next? Read below.


San Antonio Spurs - Besides Marbury opining about how lovely it would be to play in San Antonio, the Spurs haven't had this much good news in a while. Manu is back with the team, albeit still trying to get somewhere close to 100%. The Spurs need Manu badly with Parker out and Tim Duncan isn't a spring chicken. We'll see how soon this triumvirate gets back on the court together. Spurs fans are hoping that time is soon.

State Warriors - Monta Ellis is having the screws removed from his ankle and he should be up and running soon. That's good news for a Warriors team that has gone through a lot of turmoil in the front office and not that many wins on the court.

New Jersey Nets - There was a story floating that the Nets was demoting Sean Williams because of nothing else except he's in the dog house, but now stories are coming out that the Nets are looking to trade the enigmatic forward. Williams would definitely be able to help someone's bench. He's an athletic big who can run the floor and block shots. That alone will have him working for another employer soon.

New York Knicks - Might another Knick enjoy some time in San Antonio? There is interest in Eddy Curry from the Spurs and the Heat since he was demoted from D'Antoni's lineup at the beginning of the season. With the Knicks winning games as of late without Curry (and Marbury), the Knicks may be more apt to moving him sooner rather than later.

Charlotte Bobcats - Since being benched until his weight drops, Sean May has figured out a way to trim down. He has been working on getting his 274 lbs down to a respectable 266 lbs and he's been told that he needs to include grains in his diet. He also was told to stay away from sugar and white flower. If that's all it takes, I think I might even try this. Larry Brown has Baron Davis and Jenny Craig on line 1 if this doesn't work.

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?

NBA Round Up 9-25-08

Golden State Warriors - Well, I've commented on this a few times, here and here, but the information is finally coming out. Monta Ellis was riding a moped when he hurt his ankle. It was at a low speed according to sources. Thank God!!!! At least he wasn't hang gliding or learning how to ride a motorcycle in a parking lot. But, all in all, he'll probably get fined an inordinate amount of money by the team for not coming clean the first time, but that's why you sign big contracts. Monta, get well soon.

Denver Nuggets - The writing is on the wall and AI can read. During an interview with the Rocky Mountain News, AI acknowledged that he too could be on his way out of Denver. Because AI has an expiring contract and the fact that the Nuggets gave, um I mean traded, Marcus Camby away for a bag of chips, there's nothing left in Denver. The team they have now can't win the West, or even make the top 8. This will be interesting because I think AI has about $20M on his deal left, so, that's a lot of contracts to put together to make this happen. A blast from the past: Mateen Cleaves is going to be signed by the Nuggets because of the injury to Chucky Atkins. I didn't even think Cleaves was still playing basketball.

Charlotte Bobcats - Have signed Carl Landry, of the Houston Rockets, to an offer sheet. The Rockets are right at the luxury tax threshold and they may choose not to match the offer. Either way, Landry's knee is healthy and he is ready to bang for one of these teams.

Miami Heat - Michael Beasley has gotten rid of his agent, but he also got a shoe deal with Adidas. With that new deal in place, Beasley is ready to start training camp with the Heat and get ready for the season.

New Orleans Hornets - The big toe that kept Tyson Chandler out as an alternate for the US Olympic Basketball team has not quite finished healing. Chandler is still having problems with his big toe and he hopes to be ready for the season. The Hornets may find it wise to scale back some of his training camp participation since he's a very important cog in the Hornets winning.

New Jersey Nets - This is the gig I want. I want to retire (without filing the paperwork to officially do it), be a part of a trade and make $5M for just sitting at home, and then have the opportunity to make more money. Keith Van Horn's deal is something that can be moved by the NJN to help them acquire an actual player. Maurice Ager may also be bought out so that the Nets can get a 3rd string point guard.

Oklahoma City Thunder - With a lot of new pieces and a lot to figure out head coach PJ Carlesimo will watch how many minutes he gives his young superstar, Kevin Durant, during the preseason or will he. PJ is looking at a lot of different rotations and feels that Durant will need to play with lots of different players to see what works best for the Thunder. PJ will try and keep him from the big minutes during preseason. Earl Watson's fractured thumb has healed and he should be 100% ready to go for training camp and the preseason. On a different note, Robert Swift is hurt again. He broke a bone in his hand and will be limited in training camp.

New York Knicks - Well maybe the buyout stories are true, just not about Stephon Marbury. It seems as though Isiah's investment in Jerome James is up for discussion. James has 2 years and a little more than $12M on his contract and the Knicks are interested in buying both James and Malik Rose (1 year $7.6M left) out. So maybe Stephon, who reportedly is under 200lbs and in the best shape of his career, will stay with the Knicks. I won't try and make the Knicks fans excited, but if Steph truly is in the best shape of his career and motivated (by all that is going on, and his legacy is on the line), he may actually play well this year in D'Antoni's system. We'll see.

Los Angeles Lakers - Luke Walton still hasn't been cleared to do any running and won't participate when training camp starts next week. The Lakers will have to monitor this situation for a while. They have a lot of small forwards on the team, but they are got rid of Ira Newble who can contribute.

Orlando Magic - Hedo Turkoglu has said that he will opt out of his deal at the end of the year to make some more money. He wants to stay in Orlando, but he wants to get paid. I'm not mad at you Hedo.

NBA Round Up 9-9-08

New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies - You heard it here first,...well maybe you did and maybe you didn't but I talked about it. The trade to send Zach Randolph to the Grizzlies for Darko Milicic and Marko Jaric is on hold due to one minor detail, a first round draft pick to the Grizzlies. The Knicks aren't sure if they want to do that and the Grizzlies are just waiting for the opportunity to make this happen. If this is Walsh's best chance to get LeBron in 2010, then I think that you go for it. Hey, at least you can't do any worse than Isiah Thomas did. Come on Walsh, let's make this deal. At least you'll still have Curry who won't run up and down the floor, but hey, we'll deal with that later.
Los Angeles Lakers - Another one from the annals. I guess with his knee finally 100% healthy, Andrew Bynum wants to get paid!! The Lakers need that physical presence in the paint and it'll allow Pau Gasol to do what he does best, be soft, I mean play a little bit further away from the paint. Nevertheless, it seems as though Bynum wants something close to $80M over 5 years. They say you can't teach height, but I guess if you could, we'd all be rich.

Golden State Warriors - Still investigating just how Monta Ellis hurt his ankle, now the Warriors are turning to players who are healthy, well for the most part, just a little round. Marcus Williams is hitting the treadmill and the court to get ready for the season and the uptempo pace that the Warriors will be running. He says he's in the best shape of his career. From one pudgy guy (me) to another (Marcus Williams),...round is a shape. Good luck with the basketball thing.

Detroit Pistons - Joe Dumars upped the ante earlier this off season saying that he is going to provide a big shake up for his team. Joe has normally been a man of his word but we haven't seen anything yet. Detroit will be opening the season with only 14 players under contract, meaning Joe D might still have a card up his sleeve.

Miami Heat - The Heat have solved their point guard issues for the year and have an offer on the table for Chris Quinn. Please hold all laughter. They have two separate deals on the table for Quinn, a one year qualifying offer and a two year offer. Quinn is weighing his options and looking for other teams for more money (which the Heat have the opportunity to match). Maybe it's me, but shouldn't Chris Quinn be in Miami signing this deal if it's in fact true? I'm not sure too many other teams are out there waiting to give him a big pay day. But hey, I guess there's always an overseas team.

Clue, Anyone?

It seems as though the Golden State Warriors didn't like the excuse that Monta Ellis gave them about how he injured his ankle. They are requesting an investigation into exactly what happened. I told you guys when I wrote the last piece about this, I hope he wasn't doing something stupid when he hurt himself. The Warriors would probably go after that money if they can.

Ellis Injury Follow Up

Talk about letting things play out. Chris Mullin is in Chicago today to do a workout with ex-Clipper Shaun Livingston. Livingston has been working out at A.T.T.A.C.K Athletics trying to get in/stay in shape so that he can find a job this fall. With the recent injury to Monta Ellis, the Warriors are a little thin (can you be thin with Marcus Williams as your point guard) at point guard. Maybe this is the opportunity that Livingston needs to show that he can still play basketball at a high level.

Another Hurt Athlete

After receiving a 6 year $66M deal in the summer, Monta Ellis has injured his ankle and will be out of commission for 3 to 4 months. Ellis told the Warriors that he injured himself while working out in Jackson (Mississippi) and surgery will be needed to repair a torn deltoid ligament and then immobilized in a boot for the first six weeks. Talk about concern in Golden State? They just gave this guy the richest pay raise in the NBA (or at least one of the richest) and he isn't going to be ready for training camp or the beginning of the NBA season. Details of the injury will probably come out soon. I sure hope he wasn't doing anything stupid.