NBA Rumors 12-21-10

Sherron Collins - Should be back with the Bobcats after being recalled from the D-League.  My question is why is a kid with this much talent waffling in the D-League?  Folks in the Chi are blaming work ethic.  Someone find Collins and take him to the gym every day for the 6 months and get him back in shape. 

J. R. Smith - I've been saying this for about 2 months now, the Bulls need a dynamic 2 guard that can shoot the 3 and get his own shot.  Enter Mr. Smith.  J.R., a former Bull, does have a few issues (he's a headcase), but he has a lot of talent and if the Nuggets do in fact trade Melo, they might as well blow up the team.  Enter the Chicago Bulls, who have inquired about Mr. Smith's availability.  Smith is in the last year of his deal ($6M this year) and would be an easy decision for the Bulls to try to acquire.  Worst case, you rent him for a half a year and let him go.  Best case, he provides some much needed scoring punch at the 2 (better than Bogans and Brewer) and you have to resign him in the off season.  Keep tabs on this one, I think this trade happens. 

Carmelo Anthony - Supposedly the Nuggets-Nets discussions are being had again.  If this is true, Anthony must have backed off his insistence on not signing a long term deal.  Otherwise the Nets would be crazy to trade for Anthony.  These discussions have to happen because the Nuggets risk losing Anthony and getting nothing for him if he walks at the end of the year. 

New Orleans Hornets - The NBA is the proud owner of the New Orleans Hornets and are looking for a buyer that will keep the team local.  I know it's not local, but Kansas City would welcome the Hornets with open arms.  Somebody go and get a check book, because it'll take somewhere around $300M to get the Hornets. 

Vince Carter - Damaged goods?  Vince Carter looks like he'll need arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and will be out about 4 weeks.  All I can say is if the Phoenix trainers get Vince back in shape and healthy, he'll be able to play for years to come.  Now if they could only do something about his heart (yeah, that was a low blow). 

Sore Backs - Chalk up Jamal Crawford and Craig Smith as two people with aching/sore backs that will be out of commission for a little while longer. 

Taj Gibson - Will miss another game for the Bulls while recovering from a concussion.  Kurt Thomas will get the start. 

Kendrick Perkins - May be back on the court sooner rather than later.  Perkins has gone through some drills and looks to be back in action at the end of January.  He still has some MRIs coming up, but he may be able to help the Celtics while both of the O'Neals (Shaq and Jermaine) recover from their injuries.  My advice to Perk is to take your time.  The Celtics don't need you right now, but they definitely will need you during the playoff run.  You don't want to be Andrew Bynum, remember. 

NBA Round Up 11-18-08

Dallas Mavericks - With the accusations around Mark Cuban, I don't think the folks in Dallas wanted anymore stress but it seems as though Jerry Stackhouse wants his walking papers from the Mavericks. Jerry isn't getting the minutes that he wants and he's ready to move on to greener pastures. He hasn't yet demanded a trade, but the writing is on the wall. what team could use an older two guard/small forward with a knack for putting the ball in the basket? Yes, Stackhouse would be popular if he were bought out.

Miami Heat - And the season is already on the brink. Well, I say that because Dwayne Wade is feeling the effects of a sprained right ankle, but he is insistent on playing through this pain. Someone in south Florida needs to tie this guy to a chair or something until he's healed. The Heat can't afford to be without Wade for any significant time unless they have hopes of drafting high next year.

Detroit Pistons - No one looks at a calendar quite like the Pistons are these days. They are still front runners to sign Antonio McDyess after he was released from Denver during the AI trade. The fact that a lot of other teams are already making pitches to McDyess may not be comforting. The only thing the Pistons can offer is $1.9M and that comfortable feeling of being someplace you know. I'm sure some other teams can put together more money, but we'll see what happens.

Houston Rockets - With one of them going out (T-Mac) might we see another return (Battier). Battier has been cleared to join team practices starting today. That's good news for the Rockets as they lose T-Mac for who knows how long with an injured knee.

New York Knicks - What is your freedom worth? That may be the question that Stephon Marbury is asking after sitting so far this season. Should Marbury accept a lower buy out number than the $21.6M that he is owed from the Knicks? Or should he just sit out and stay in shape and collect all of that money? Marbury has a decision to make and that would be, what is your freedom worth? We'll see what number they decide on as talks resume this week on the buyout.

New Jersey Nets - Might Vince Carter be ready for a Robin cape? Insiders believe that the Nets will try to get rid of Carter as they near the deadline this year. The one place or team that would have Carter high on their list is the Cleveland Cavaliers. Could we see a pairing of LBJ and VC on the court together? That would be interesting, and more interesting to see if Carter would take the Robin role to LeBron's Batman.

NBA Round Up 9-11-08

Boston Celtics - After giving Doc, well let me say, after Doc earned an extension with the Celtics he's got to watch his back. Word is that Sam Cassell is going to play with the Celtics one more year and then go to the bench (coach) for the Celtics. No, Doc doesn't have to worry about his job, but it will definitely be interesting to see which of these two get the most technical fouls as coaches. Both are animated and both were good point guards in their heyday. It'll be good for Cassell to finally give up playing basketball professionally.

New Jersey Nets - Another player to Europe? VC has been quoted as saying that he may end his basketball playing career overseas, after his contract is up with the Nets in 2011 (one year after LeBron gets there?). Hey, I guess I can understand. If he doesn't win a title by 2011 and he'll be around 35, might as well make some loot overseas and see the world doing it. Maybe he can find Frederic Weis and they can reenact this photo?

Charlotte Bobcats - Maybe there is a spring of healing somewhere? Finally we'll get a chance to see the Bobcats front line of the future (from the 2005 and 2006 drafts). Adam Morrison and Sean May, who have both played Operation more than they have played basketball since being drafted, have been given clean bills of health and look forward to producing for the Bobcats this season.

New York Knicks - After being acquired by the New York Knicks, Patrick Ewing Jr. thought about donning his father's old #33. Somebody has obviously spoken to him about that or he thought better of it and he has decided on wearing #6 this year. So for all of you Ewing fans, go out and get your #6 New York Knicks jerseys now before they all run out. I wonder if any have been made yet?