NBA Round Up 10-23-08

Memphis Grizzlies - With the glut of point and shooting guards on the team, the Grizz could be entertaining trading Javaris Crittenton out of Memphis. It looks like a deal to the Magic is a possibility, but aren't there a few other teams that could use a starting caliber point guard? Golden State, New York Knicks, and the Phoenix Suns just to name a few. We'll see if Crittenton gets moved before the season starts.

Chicago Bulls - Bad news for Larry Hughes as he will be out for 6-8 weeks after dislocating his shoulder in a pre-season game last night against the TImberwolves. The Bulls have a glut at the guard spots and Hughes was one person that wasn't going to take nice to coming off the bench. This may solve rotation issues for the Bulls for the short time, but they have to find something to do with Hughes and more importantly Ben Gordon.

Washington Wizards - We've heard this before, but Agent Zero is ahead of schedule on his recuperating from surgery. The initial prognosis had Agent Zero sitting out until the beginning of the year, but he's mentioning the end of November now. Can someone save this guy from himself? Heal 100%, then take it slowly getting back on the court. The Wizards paid Arenas too much money to have him sitting on the bench in street clothes for any prolonged period of time.

Miami Heat - Shaun Livingston may finally step on a court and play in an NBA sanctioned game (albeit pre-season) for the first time since that horrible knee injury he suffered. I will say that I personally am hoping that he is able to play well and come back from that horrendous injury.

Utah Jazz - Matt Harpring is getting close to getting back on the floor for the Jazz. All that means is that everyone better get ready for a lot of elbows, pulling and grabbing. Harpring is a tough guy, who actually has pretty decent basketball skills. He was a star at Georgia Tech so many moons ago.

Vacation!!!!

It's that time of the year, I need a vacation. This year it's Costa Rica and it ought to be fun. Maybe I'll check out some of the sites there. I'm looking forward to the beach and maybe a few of those rain forests.

Maybe I'll even see some of this or this while I'm there, although I'll be with Mrs. Inquisitive Mind. So I promise not to look. Until then, I hope you guys have a good week. While I'm gone check out some of these stories:

Out for two months - Jared Jeffries.

Next up for goggles - Amare Stoudamire

Another eye injury - Joakim Noah

Finally a new gig - Shaun Livingston

See ya in a week.

NBA Round Up 9-30-08

Cleveland Cavaliers - Why is everyone talking about LBJ leaving Cleveland? Or at least something like that. LeBron addresses this question with the 'I love playing for Cleveland', 'I grew up 30 miles away', 'My family is here', blah blah blah. Why don't people just leave this issue alone? If some other teams offers LBJ mucho dinero to leave Cleveland and the team has a better chance of winning, why not take the money and the opportunity? No matter if he loves Cleveland or NYC, if someone in Europe offers him $50M (net) a year, odds are that LBJ would be doing a bid in Europe.

Dallas Mavericks - Mark Cuban, while professing his love and adoration for Avery Johnson discussed his reason behind firing Johnson. Supposedly, a lot of players were coming to him letting him know that they would want to be traded instead of playing for Johnson another year. Enough of them voiced the same concern to Cuban and so Cuban took the easy exit off the expressway, he fired Johnson. Talk about the inmates running the asylum. Cuban should have told them to suck it up and play ball.

Milwaukee Bucks - For Sale - short, defense lacking, friend of LeBron, point guard, with an over the top persona, and the matching suits to go with it, is yours for the highest bid. Well, maybe two happy meals with the special edition Batman toys and we can get a deal done. Damon Jones and the Bucks have mutually agreed that Jones shouldn't report to camp. He can be yours if the price is right.

Miami Heat - Kevin McHale is now assisting with running 3 teams (the Wolves, the Celtics, and now presumably the Heat). McHale informed everyone that Shaun Livingston has decided not to sign with the Timberwolves, but will accept an offer from the Miami Heat. This is all news to the Heat who haven't said anything concerning Livingston. I mean they are dealing with Randy Pfund leaving and Pat Riley adding yet another responsibility to his already full plate.

Houston Rockets - This is supposed to be a good time in Houston. They have their team back, they have a Tru Warrier, and everyone was supposedly healthy after many off season surgeries. Well, Battier is out a month with a hurt foot, and now Tracy McGrady is saying that his knee is about 80%, but that his shoulder will need another surgery after the season because he has arthritis in the shoulder. Each year Houston has health issues, maybe someone put a root on the city of Houston, or at least their basketball team.

Detroit Pistons - Have we seen the last of Lindsey Hunter? The Pistons signed Alex Acker to their roster on a partially guaranteed contract, which could mean that Hunter won't be back for his 16th season in the NBA. We'll keep a watch on this one, because there are a lot of teams that could use a defensive point guard who can shoot when it comes playoff time.

NBA Round Up

The Heat have found their new center piece and it's none other than Jamaal Magloire. I know they need someone since Zo is still hurt and trying to get back on the court, but Magloire hasn't done anything but be tall for the past few years. The guy has the skill set, but he just doesn't apply it. The Heat better hope that D Wade, Matrix, and Beasley can get them to the playoffs, because the rest of the team isn't looking too good. They still need another point guard or two, even with the possibility of Chalmers starting for the Heat this year, so they are in the hunt for Shaun Livingston too.

Donyell Marshall may not be out of a job for long. It seems like the Sixers are close to signing the 6'9" 3 point shooting power forward (isn't that description an oxymoron?). Donyell will quickly add a veteran (read old) presence in the locker room and he may be able to give some of the bigs from Philly 5 or 10 minutes a night. For $1.26M, what more could you ask for?

Travis Outlaw wants to start! With a team as loaded as the Blazers, will he get that chance? Will he ask for a trade if he doesn't get that chance? The kid is young and one of the pieces that the Blazers could move in order to acquire a better point guard for that loaded team. I like Outlaw, it took him a while to show up but I think he was one of those kids out of high school that had to learn the pro game. With Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless on the 2nd team, will Outlaw get any shots? We'll keep a watch on this one. I think he gets moved to another team.

The Memphis Grizzlies sign Hamed Haddadi from the Iranian Olympic team. The 23 year old is 7'2", 254 pounds and averaged 16.6 points, 12.2 boards, and 2.6 blocks during the Olympics. If nothing, he adds another big body to a thin team.

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.