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NBA Loud - by Rick Gillispie

Report from NBA.com

Shaquille O'Neal has changed The Big Three of the Boston Celtics into a Very Big Four.

The 7-foot-1, 325-pound center in the twilight of a brilliant career is coming to the Eastern Conference champions, hoping to add to his four NBA titles.

O'Neal signed a two-year contract worth about $3 million on Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said on condition of anonymity because no details were released.

So this is where Shaq's colorful career will end after 20 seasons if he completes his contract with the Celtics.

One of the NBA's most charismatic players will finish with a legendary franchise on the parquet floor beneath 17 championship banners and the retired numbers of Bill Russell, Larry Bird, John Havlicek and other NBA greats.

After receiving little interest from other teams, O'Neal will play on that floor with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, Boston's "Big Three" since Garnett and Allen arrived before the 2007-08 season

From the first pick in the 1992 draft out of Louisiana State to dominant, rim-rattling inside force to complementary player, O'Neal's NBA travels have taken him to six teams and 15 All-Star games. He is the fifth leading scorer with 28,255 points and 14th in rebounds with 12,921 in league history. He's averaged 24.1 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks and was the NBA MVP in 2000.

His foul shooting might still be a problem and his lumbering style could slow down a running game, but the Celtics need the big center because Kendrick Perkins is out, possibly until February, following knee surgery. Perkins was hurt in Game 6 of the NBA finals against Los Angeles and missed the Lakers' 83-79 win in Game 7.

"If we get to another Game 7 down the line, I'm sure we will be glad we have Shaq on the team," Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck said.

The team considered too old by some, despite nearly winning the title, has decided to rely for two more years on a group of 30-plus stars, all likely headed for the Hall of Fame.

O'Neal, 38, joins Pierce, 32, Garnett, 34, and Allen, 35. The Celtics also signed free agent center Jermaine O'Neal, 31 - a six-time All-Star - after the season.

All five are signed for two seasons, except Pierce, who has four years left on the deal he signed after the season. Point guard Rajon Rondo, 24, also is in the fold for four more years.

"I am honored to be joining the Celtics," Shaq said in a statement issued by the club. "I have played against Paul, Ray, Kevin, Rajon, and Jermaine for many years and it will be great to be able to call them my teammates. I cannot wait to get to Boston to get started in pursuit of another championship."

The Celtics won their NBA high 17th championship in 2008.

"It is not every day that you can add a player of Shaquille's caliber to your team," Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said in the statement. "His past experience speaks for itself and we believe that he is a great fit for our roster."

Not far from where the Celtics play, another large figure on the Boston sports scene spread the news.

"Hey, they signed Shaq here," David "Big Papi" Ortiz, said out loud in the Red Sox clubhouse after taking batting practice at Fenway Park before the game with the Cleveland Indians.

Just which of the two O'Neals will start at center remains uncertain with Perkins recovering from surgery for torn ligaments in his right knee.

"I am very excited," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Adding a player like Shaq is a major plus and it fills a void for our team. He's a real nice piece of the puzzle and he will complement us in where we want to go this coming season."

O'Neal has won three championships with Los Angeles along with his latest, in 2006, with Miami when he was teammates with Dwyane Wade.

The Cleveland Cavaliers signed O'Neal before last season, hoping he could help LeBron James win his first title. O'Neal averaged a career-low 12.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 53 games, and the Cavaliers lost the Eastern Conference semifinals to the Celtics in six games.

In his last game, O'Neal had 11 points and 4 rebounds in a 94-85 loss in Boston.

That's where he's scheduled to begin his next season in a marquee matchup on Oct. 26 against the Miami Heat with James, Wade and Chris Bosh.

On Tuesday, O'Neal sounded unsure if he would ever play another NBA game after a difficult offseason of uncertainty.

"For me, it's been a real thinking process," he said in Orlando. "I came into the league very graciously and want to go out very graciously. My main thought was I would like to play for a winning franchise, somebody that's used to winning, somebody that keeps winning. Hopefully, I'll make my decision here in the next one or two days."

Now it's been made.

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Posted By: Rick Gillispie - Category: Player News, Boston Celtics

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Loreenzen Wright Found Dead at age 34

July 29th 2010 13:24

CNN reported on Tuesday that former NBA player Lorenzen Wright has been reported missing by his family.

Investigators told CNN that Wright has not been heard from since he visited his ex-wife and children in Collierville, Tennessee last week.

A police spokesman for the Collierville Police stated that while there is a high level of concern for his disappearance, there is no evidence that suggests that Wright has been harmed.

Wright, 34, last played in the NBA in 2008-09 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Over 13 seasons, the forward also played with the Clippers, Hawks, Grizzlies, and Kings.

After being selected seventh overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1996 NBA Draft out of the University of Memphis, Wright moved on to the Atlanta Hawks in 1999. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001, but returned to the Hawks in 2006.

On February 16, 2008, he was involved in a multi-player trade, going from Atlanta to Sacramento for Mike Bibby.[2]

He held career averages of 8.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

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Posted By: Rick Gillispie - Category: Player News

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Free Agent Signings are falling into place

July 8th 2010 11:47

The 2010 free agent signings are about to become a realitiy as players are allowed to sign the dotted line.

Moves already happening:

July 1st

The Bucks made a surprising early splash Thursday, agreeing in principle to a five-year, $32 million deal with free agent forward Drew Gooden.

Forward Amir Johnson has agreed to a five-year contract to stay with the Toronto Raptors.Agent Kevin Bradbury says Thursday the deal is for $34 million.

July 2nd

The Boston Celtics have agreed to terms with captain Paul Pierce on a deal that could keep the MVP of their 2008 title run with the team for another four seasons.

The Bucks made another major move Friday, agreeing in principle to a $40 million, five-year deal with free agent guard John Salmons, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity Friday because the deal can't become official until next Thursday.

The person told The Associated Press that Warrick agreed to a four-year, $18 million deal on Friday, shortly after Frye agreed to a five-year, $30 million offer to re-sign with Phoenix. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contracts can't be signed until July 8.

Steve Blake says he has agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

July 3rd

Dirk Nowitzki is sticking with the Dallas Mavericks.

July 4th

All-Star guard Joe Johnson had agreed to a maximum contract to stay with the Atlanta Hawks, his agent said Sunday.

July 5th

The New York Knicks finally got a return on their two years of self-induced misery on Monday, finishing up the final touches on a five-year contract for Phoenix Suns free agent forward Amar'e Stoudemire that is expected to be worth around $100 million. A source indicates a formal announcement from Stoudemire should be forthcoming within the hour at Madison Square Garden.

July 6th

Duhon reached an agreement with the Magic for a $15 million, four-year deal, his agent said. Teams can't officially sign free agents until Thursday.

July 7th

Durant simply posted an update on his Twitter page Wednesday, saying he'd agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Durant can't sign the deal until Thursday and team spokesman Brian Facchini said he could not confirm the deal under NBA rules.

A league source confirms that Utah Jazz free agent forward Carlos Boozer has agreed to a five-year, $80 million deal with the Chicago Bulls

Ending months of speculation, Wade and Bosh announced Wednesday that they'll sign with Miami, two decisions that vault the Heat back into the NBA championship picture and puts them two-thirds of the way to hitting one of the biggest trifectas in NBA history.

July 8th

Ray Allen confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday night that he has agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract to return to Boston.

129

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Posted By: Rick Gillispie - Category: Player News

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Kevin Durant closing in on Kobe

February 16th 2010 13:20

By Steve Aschburner, NBA.com
Posted Feb 12 2010 11:55AM

What's good for Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers might not be, in this case, good for Bryant's Most Valuable Player ambitions.

Of course, neither is Kevin Durant's rising star.

The decision by all parties in Lakers-land for Bryant to withdraw from the activities of NBA All-Star Weekend is a smart one. As much as the league, the fans in the stands in Dallas and the viewers watching from home might want to see Bryant in all his 12th All-Star appearance, 2009-10 splendor, the fact is, he's hurting and hobbled, and slogging through a weekend of events and appearances on-court and off wouldn't be the routine prescribed by his doctor, trainer or physical therapist. The Race watched New Orleans guard Chris Paul, aided by a pair of brushed-steel crutches, slowly navigate his way from hotel ballroom to hotel ballroom Thursday afternoon. In fact, The Race very nearly got tangled up in Paul's crutches while walking and talking immediately to the Hornets point guard's left.

That's all the NBA needs: The Race or some other august body inadvertently stepping on Bryant's sprained left ankle. So let's etch a cautionary rule right here and now: When The Race's first step is as quick as the player's, said player shall not participate in any pastime more grueling than napping.

By staying away, Bryant gets to rest, recuperate and avoid clumsy reporters, photographers and MVP-monitoring committees. [The Race does not believe for a minute that the Lakers star woke up Thursday morning, clicked to The Weather Channel, saw the popcorn-sized snowflakes descending on Dallas and realized in that instant how much, gee, his ankle hurts after all.]

By missing the Lakers' last three games before the break, meanwhile, Bryant provided that team with an opportunity to demonstrate serious resiliency on three successive superstar-less nights. Los Angeles won at Portland, vs. San Antonio and at Utah by an average of 14.7 points. They beat top-notch, or at least Tier 2, competition handily and both looked good and had fun doing it.

So where's the downside in all that? After all, Bryant gets to heal and gets a breather at a point in the season when players really need it, across a long, demanding weekend when most of the NBA's other top dogs are at their busiest. Consider Durant: Oklahoma City's phenom will serve as the assistant coach Friday for the newbies in the Rookie Challenge game, defend his H.O.R.S.E. title on Saturday and then, as the league's breakout star this season, make his All-Star Game debut on Sunday. Along with all the media obligations, ticket procurements, PSA tapings and photo sessions.

The rest of the Lakers will return from the break for home games against Golden State and Boston feeling better about themselves -- their supporting cast-ness for Bryant -- than at any point this season. Some longtime L.A. observers even see a dark lining to that silver cloud, since Bryant doesn't so much blend himself into any edition of the Lakers as squat on it. One blogger in the Los Angeles Times wrote: "The Lakers superstar discovered that his guys are a whole lot better, and more cohesive and together and on the same page, than they are when he, Kobe, is dribbling out the clock, holding the ball and trying to beat three guys off the dribble while hoisting up 20 to 35 shots a game.''

The Race is not interested in sporting soap operas or schisms. It does, however, perk up when a player as valuable as Bryant can call in hurt and the assembly line hiccups not. One of the great unwritten standards with almost all MVP voters is how a team fares when that trophy candidate isn't around. As the saying goes, sometimes your absence is your presence. [Or vice versa, The Race never remembers.]

Does the team sink like a stone without its best player? Or does it plug along, resourceful and even renewed? The Lakers' recent success without Bryant suggests that the crew around him is more capable than many assumed. Which suggests that lifting them up isn't as weighty a task as what LeBron James does in Cleveland or what Durant does with the Thunder.

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Posted By: Rick Gillispie - Category: Player News

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Brook Lopez is the best 2nd year player in the league

January 28th 2010 15:00

While Derrick Rose won the Rookie of the Year last year he is not the best player this year.

Brook Lopez is simply the best 2nd year player in the league this year. Yes, he plays on the worst team in the league but his stats don't lie.

Here are my Top 5 players in their 2nd year in the league.

1. Brook Lopez 19.0 ppg 9.4 rpg

2. Derrick Rose 19.8 ppg 5.9 apg

3. Kevin Love 15.0 ppg 11.8 rpg

4. O.J Mayo 18.1 ppg

5. Russell Westbrook 15.8 ppg 7.3 apg

Their are pleanty of talented young players in the league but these are my top five.

Other Players to take a look at are Marc Gasol, Michael Beasley, Eric Gordon and Jason Thompson.

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Posted By: Rick Gillispie - Category: Player News

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Lebron or Kobe?

December 31st 2009 01:57

With so many questions about who is the best player in the league. I wanted to give my readers a chance to vote on who is better Lebron or Kobe?

You know where to go with a doubt

Hey, if you like somebody else pick them.

I will tell you i am in a big pickle with this decision. I like Kobe, Lebron, Carmelo and Superman but who is the best?

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Dallas Made A Big Mistake! 2: They should have kept Devin Harris

November 19th 2008 06:32

Since the Dallas Mavericks settled with a veteran point guard in Jason Kidd, their future star at that position went to the New Jersey Nets.

Devin Harris is on his fifth year as a pro and he has already realized how to get along with how the NBA handles its business after getting traded from Dallas in the last mid-season.

Devin Harris is a future all-star and he will only get better as his career progresses.

The Nets are on a rebuilding phase after getting rid of Kidd and trading Richard Jefferson in the off-season to the Milwaukee Bucks for Yi Jian Lian and Bobby Simmons. The Nets' current roster is being led by Vince Carter who is playing the role of everybody's big brother in the team.

Harris' role in the team is simple. Just play his game within Lawrence Frank's system and unearth the vast potential that he has that should have belonged to the city of Dallas. He should blossom with the Nets and soon enough his all-star caliber type of play will come busting right out of the gates!

To be realistic, there is nothing much to expect from the Nets this season mainly because that their rebuilding program had just begun and they are working with a new nucleus in its first full year. That means there won't be so much pressure on the Nets who won't be much favored in most of their match-ups especially against playoff teams.

Isn't that the perfect situation for a developing player like Harris to explore and expand the range of his game? Take this, as the Nets improve, so does Harris. He will be the gauge of the franchise as they plod along into competence in the very near future.

New Jersey, as usual, had a lukewarm start in the season but it was in their won game against the Detroit Pistons that signalled the rise of its second star player beside Carter.

Harris finished the game with 38 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal in 39 minutes of playing time while going 9 of 15 from the field and 20 of 24 from the free throw line leading the Nets to a 103-96 home win against the previously unbeaten Pistons who were playing for the first time with their recent acquisition Allen Iverson.

In that game, harris showed his aggressiveness and savvy. His ability to draw contact and capitalize from the free throw line was also showcased. Of course it helped that Detroit is experiencing familiarity problems in that game, but nevertheless, it still is a quality win by the Nets.

After such splendid performance, Harris went inactive for the next three games because of a nagging sprained left ankle. He missed two games against the Indiana Pacers and one versus the Miami Heat. New Jersey lost all of those games with Harris on the sidelines.

When Harris came back, he just picked up from where he left off. The Nets were in a back-to-back affair with the previously promising Atlanta Hawks who were coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Boston Celtics, their first ever loss of the season. Just when we were anticipating Atlanta's higher level of confidence to kick in, Harris dashed all of that. He averaged 31.5 ppg, 9 apg, 4.5 rpg, and 2 spg in both meetings with the Hawks and both were wins for the Nets.

Currently, Devin is averaging 23 ppg just a shade under Vince Carter's own norm. Harris' recent scoring surge is pretty much attributed to his ongoing streak.

As we see it. the Nets just might have figured it out that Devin Harris is the type of player that will determine the type of direction thet the franchise should follow. We reckon that from here on in, Harris is now a definite cornerstone of the Nets.

Quotes:

“He’s got some grit, It shows what he’s got inside of him. Devin’s a competitor and he continues to keep growing.” ,” Nets coach Lawrence Frank said of Harris’ effort.

“Confidence does amazing things. Maybe I wasn’t being aggressive enough, maybe I didn’t fully understand what I needed to do. You never know until you try. The Detroit game kind of opened my eyes.” Harris said as he tried to explain his sudden scoring surge.

Photo courtesy of AP.

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Posted By: Evenard M. Panes - Category: Player News, New Jersey Nets

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Bobby Brown in the NBA?

July 14th 2008 05:48

-Top 10 pack of summer league intrigues

Summer League Action at its best chronicling the standouts and most notable recruits from years past who basically will not make NBA squads due to the fact of other players guaranteed contracts. The headline was misleading as when I heard that Bobby Brown helped the New Orleans Hornets beat the Charlotte Bobcats in summer-league action July 13th. I quickly realized the error in judgment on my part, but I was unsure at first glance whether it was Mr. New Edition or maybe Whitney Houston’s’ son. I did recall seeing the son of Brown on an upstart rock star contest for celebrity offspring a while back, what was his name?

Thus here is a brief bio for the player to be nicknamed later who does resemble the old-school singer.
Bobby Brown stands at six-foot-two was born in 1984 and came out of Cal-State Fullerton. This would be his rookie season if he were to make the Hornets. Brown played over in Germany last year with powerhouse Alba Berling.

Interesting note Ndubi Ebi is back in the NBA for the moment as he is on New Orleans summer-league team. He was a draft choice of Minnesota 26th pick in 2003 regarded as one of the many mistakes that Kevin McHale has made as GM. Now 24 years of age he signed with the NBDL’s Fort Worth Flyers in 2007. I have had him in my sights as he (I believe) is of British decent. Playing for the Hornets in the Vegas league he is also listed for the new Oklahoma City ToBeNamedLaters in the Orlando Pro summer league. Ebi just needs a shot as his tweener frame gives matchups nightmares. Shot-blocking and spot up jumpers are intact.

Demetrius Nichols is still yet to find the right opportunity. As a rookie he was moved twice becoming a member of the Knicks, Cavs and Bulls in his first year. Out of Syracuse I think he may have left for the NBA to early a year pro or in the NBDL would have served him best to bring his game to the professional level. It will take some work to adapt his skills to the NBA game. I am still pulling for him as many from the Orange begin to have prosperous careers in the NBA.

Another Cal-State guy who has the heart of steel still making a go at his NBA career after breaking his neck in a Toronto Raptors summer league game a few years back Pape Sow has a lifelong fan in me. At 6’10” he was once touted as a “poor mans Ben Wallace” by a popular basketball site, currently playing for the Mavericks summer team.

Elton Brown from Virginia just needs a chance to get groomed behind a solid frontcourt player. Comments seem good as he is likely to get an NBA contract this season if all goes well.

Dahntay Jones a solid swingman who came into the NBA with the exact same skill-set of Vince Carter, though Carter worked on his shot and other aspects while Jones struggled with his shooting touch. I was sure that he would be a good addition to the Celtics last season but that did not last. Something I just realized, Jones played at Rutgers before going to Duke.

What player was signed and waived by the Denver Nuggets a few times last season? What Supersonics draft pick has a worse FT% than Shaq? He was named All-NBDL 3rd team in 2008, give up? It is Jelani McCoy a long lost solid rebounding center from UCLA. He gives you all a team needs if you give him the role he relishes. McCoy filled in admirably for the Toronto Raptors at one point and started well for the most part while the raps had their issues in the middle a few years back and I was sure that he would stick but it didn’t happen becoming unsigned after the season. Back with the Nuggets summer team.

Loren Woods is a massively lengthy undersized big man. Solid in stretches and can hit the open J. He will continue getting his shot in the NBA as teams need that third center or sixth big-man. Woods came out of Arizona and also played at Wake Forest. Has moved from Lithuania to Turkey and signed a 10-day contract with the short Houston Rockets in March 2008. He did moderately decent and signed a second one in April. He actually won the Lithuanian League with Zalgaris Kaunas in 2007 no stats available. Back with Rockets summer team.

Interesting, they list a player as “A power forward in a small forward's body”. Guess what they have him listed as a shooting guard-SG, man that is worth a chuckle. Of course I am talking about the diminutive PJ Tucker, drafted by the Toronto Raptors in the second round a couple years back at #35, which should be a good guess. Everything about this I love, he can believe it or not stretch the defense with his shaky jumper at times, his real talent as your 12th man. The Raptors hurt his stock making him go out in there shot-happy offense at the time where he would have to create anything he’d get. His shots should come from pounding it into him with undersized three’s. At only 6’5” he is a solid tweener and can play the four-spot if you have a bigger center to make up for it. A true favorite of mine and the player the fan just wants to cheer for.

Last and certainly least (no disrespect) meaning little Yuta Tabuse at 5’9” a just over 100lbs soaken wet. For fans we first saw him make his debut with the Phoenix Suns as the first Japanese-born player to ever to make the NBA. He is and was a speedy PG who needed to slow the game down in his mind to make better passes. Tabuse quickly was hurt by teams lagging of him to give him free open long-range shots, which he was less than stellar at. That spelled the end of his brief NBA stint. If he can harness his skill and have a veteran’s presence to his playmaking ability, watch out his lightning quick first step leaves no doubt of his skill.

So that is it, my top ten must-knows of 2008. In this years NBA summer league action. For any information needed or any other players you would like to know of their whereabouts feel free to comment below and one of the writers for this site, myself especially will respond as soon as possible, thanks for reading.

This has been written by Scott Penny

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Posted By: Spennies - Category: Player News

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2008 NBA Draft Part II

July 3rd 2008 04:01

I will run down the next part of the lottery picked players, up until the fourteenth pick, imparting my knowledge on select players and teams.

# 6
DANILO GALLINARI
With the 6th pick the New York Knicks drafted a player that may do well in this league, but have to adapt his game over a few years, to make his mark for the Knicks. Another head-scratcher for New York, they have the talent, they just need to get them to work together, a huge obstacle for Dantoni to overcome, an opposite type team as compared to his Suns when he first came in.

# 7
ERIC GORDON
A solid addition to next year’s squad, especially with Maggette opting out, they will need all the swingmen they can find to fill up that hole.

# 8
JOE ALEXANDER
An intriguing team now with RJ-Richard Jefferson (if he ever shows up), they still have Bogut and Charlie V in the frontcourt but still for me it would have been real tough to give up on Yi. But hopefully RJ can show Michael Redd how to take the ball to the basket and not settle for three’s.

# 9
DJ AUGUSTIN
A solid PG and clutch-performer will be solid in trading off with Felton and also can see these two playing a little together. Charlotte just drafted quality players.

# 10 BROOK LOPEZ

# 11 JERRYD BAYLESS

# 12
JASON THOMPSON

# 13
BRANDON RUSH
Drafted by Portland then in turn sent to Indiana. Rush is now on the same roster as his brother Kareem. Kareem Rush seems to have stuck on with Bird and the Pacers. Brandon is solid and will do well in the right system in the NBA.

# 14
ANTHONY RANDOLPH
Randolph is the same type player as the Warriors current PF in Brandon Wright. They are getting long athletic forwards as they still want to run.

To follow, the rest of the draft and up to minute trades that have gone down and that are going down, signings and rumors.

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The 2008 NBA Draft

July 1st 2008 03:49

I’d like to post about the previously finished NBA Draft. A lot of trades were completed/proposed making this years draft exciting and noteworthy. In this first post I will be going through the top five picks and thereafter with updates and all you need to know up to the minute stats and transactions.

Let’s get this post draft analysis going with the first overall pick for the Chicago Bulls DERRICK ROSE. Rose out of Memphis has a solid NBA body and can take the punishment as a player in the paint. He will mold himself into whatever type of player his team needs him to be as evident by the video below. He is one of the most ready-type players to enter the league. A truly solid addition to any team, kind of makes me think of the miss of Jay Williams. In which whom the Bulls took as the savior type PG years ago before he had his motorcycle accident stifling his promising career. With this pick Chicago puts themselves back into contention for a playoff spot in the East.

This video shows how Rose can affect the game as he will become a solid NBA-PG.

# 2

Undoubtedly the Miami Heat selected MICHAEL BEASLEY out of Kansas State. This PF needs no introduction to basketball fans as his huge wingspan makes up for any negativity about his height at the four spot. One of the perfect teams for Beasley to go to, I think his character issues would only become apparent if he were to have to battle with a solid proven veteran for his starting spot. He will be going in battling Udonis Haslem who has seen his stock drop as he needs to create more of his own offence. The heat I am sure are not finished in tweaking their team for the 08/09 season. Marion though will alleviate any concerns of the rookie being overmatched down-low as he is almost like an extra PF out there sometimes with his rebounding efforts and hustle in trying to make the right plays.

# 3

Minnesota at the third spot went with OJ MAYO, who I have seen and been hearing about for a good number of years. Mayo will be a solid two as at 6’4” 200lbs he is limited in selected positions, but this guy is just a born scorer and if he ends up in Grizz-town, look for him to team up with Rudy Gay as Mike Miller was moved with Memphis making the choice to let him go after he admittedly carried the Grizzlies last season at times. In return Minnesota looks to get #5 Kevin Love. I am in love with this deal as the T-Wolves send Antoine Walker also to MEM. Minnesota gets the scoring they desperately need and character guys, to build around. I know what fans may be thinking and no this isn’t the second coming of Wally World, Mike Miller is a gamer playing all three spots from 1-3 for the Grizz and did whatever was asked, as he became a versatile and proven scorer, unlike streaky Szczerbiak.

# 4

Russell Westbrook a surprise at number four as the top three had virtually been decided weeks beforehand. Westbrook though an unexpected pick is an explosive guard that will do well in this league especially when Seattle gets all the parts and can continuously run up and down with Durant and Green. The Sonics clearly want a guard that can break down the D and get up and down the court at breakneck speeds. They have found that guy with Westbrook. People want to compare him to NBA champion Rajon Rondo and maybe Monta Ellis, he is long and skinny and extremely athletic, time will tell if he can make the right passes for a long career with Durant by his side.

# 5

Care of NBADraft.net

Memphis picks Kevin Love at the number five spot and in turn will be sending him to Minnesota in the deal outlined in the third pick paragraph. Love is solid, not an athlete like the Grizz love at the four spot, but the T-Wolves just need ballers in which Kevin is for sure. Down-low he will be helped by Al Jefferson for sure on defense. Also he will have a great passer in Mike Miller to get the ball to him in good spots. I like Kevin Love on a solid team a rebuilding team he may flourish or sink as he’ll need to create his own offence and may struggle with the speed of the NBA at first.

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Gilbert Arenas' Neverending Drama

May 8th 2008 18:49

Just recently, the Wizards' Gilbert Arenas came out and said that he will be looking for max money from whatever team is interested in signing him. If his knee is healthy, he wants the max, but if he's still having problems, he'll settle for less. First of all, I don't think Gil will admit that his knee is not 100% and settle for less money. He also claimed that he'll take less money from the Wizards if it means having Jameson return as well. A few days later, he changed his mind and said that he won’t return unless Jameson is signed as well. Now, before Agent Zero goes around making all these demands, we have to determine whether or not he is even worth the max. So, is he? That depends on a few things...

We all know that Arenas is one of the best scorers in the league today. Even though he missed most of the season, I have no doubt that he'll bounce back next season provided that he is healthy enough to play. When using his skill set as the only indicator, I would agree that Arenas is worth the max. But as we all know, when you acquire a player, you bring aboard a lot more than just their skills. Gil is extremely outspoken and the fact that he has no agent will probably make negotiations unbearable. I could just imagine trying to negotiate a contract with Arenas... it would be like trying to reason with a 10 year old. It’s not that he’s unintelligent, just immature at times. He’ll go around telling everyone that he’s going to score 50 points against Portland, then go out there and jack up shots only to realize that he isn’t making any of them. Why does he do this you ask? Because he was cut from the National Team.

Arenas also goes out there and takes 27 foot jumpers when the clock is winding down at the end of a quarter. Sure, you’ll see the highlights whenever he makes one, but what about all the times he misses? I’m sure he misses those shots a lot more than he makes them. On the court, he is all about showboating and trying to get attention. He has yet to mature and reach that next level. His scoring ability is amazing, but he can’t and won’t fulfill his true potential unless he smartens up. Since the sky is the limit for Agent Zero, I guess I would take the chance and give him the max assuming he was completely healthy. A player such as him does not hit the market very often, and if you’re looking for that game-changer, then he is that player.

He’d probably be a good locker room guy, but a bad guy to deal with if you’re part of management. The fans will probably love him when he makes those ridiculous 3s, but the coach would shake his head regardless of whether or not it went in. No matter what you think of Arenas, I think we can all admit that he is an entertaining character both on and off the court. But when you stand out from the crowd the way he does, the spotlight is sure to shine in places you don’t want it to.

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Posted By: Travis - Category: Player News, Washington Wizards

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Paul Pierce: A Gangster?

May 1st 2008 15:03

Does this look like the face of a gangster to you?

I'm sure we've all heard about the ridiculous fine received by the Celtics' Paul Pierce the other day. Pierce flashed what some call a gang sign towards Atlanta's Al Horford in game five of the Celts-Hawks series. He was fined $25,000 and the team says they are going to appeal after the season is over. Of course Pierce denies that it was a gang sign and as much as well all love to hate on athletes that make millions, I'm on his side for this one.

Why am I on his side you ask? Because he's Paul Pierce. He's one of the last superstars in the league that I would associate with a gang. He looks like your average Joe, just 8 inches taller and more athletic. A lot of players have their little signs they throw up before games, during games or after games. Some of it I find quite abnormal, like when Darius Miles used to do the horns or whatever it was... never liked it. So, Pierce got knocked $25,000 for throwing up that sign where you have the thumb and index forming an "O" and the other three fingers are extended as you would when you are holding up three fingers. Wish I could find a photo of Pierce doing this, but I couldn't. Not to fear though, I found something even better...

First Pierce, now Calderon?

Seems as if Calderon has joined Pierce's gang. Calderon might even be the leader since he's holding up two hands instead of one!

No, Calderon is not in a gang... at least none that I am aware of. Pierce was not flashing gang signs at Al Horford. He might have been trying to make a statement by flashing "his" sign (similar to giving a hard stare in my opinion), but it had nothing to do with any gang. The NBA overreacted and I'm glad the Celtics' organization didn't fall for it. They are fighting it, which is the right thing to do. It's not about the $25,000, because that's meaningless to Pierce, but it's the principle of the matter. That's my take on the situation, feel free to agree.

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Posted By: Travis - Category: Player News, Boston Celtics

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Why Kobe Bryant is the 07/08 MVP

April 30th 2008 20:24

The 2007-2008 NBA regular season has seen some of the most spectacular individual achievements that the league has seen in a long time. We've got Chris Paul, LeBron James and Dwight Howard all putting up monster statistical seasons. Let's not forget about Kevin Garnett; the man credited for the massive turnaround of what was once a dismal Celtics franchise. Garnett's spot in the MVP race is not based off of stats, but instead, his intangibles.

Then we have Kobe Bryant, who has been the lone superstar in Los Angeles for the past few seasons. Kobe assisted in the growth of a young Laker squad and put them atop the West early on in the season. While it may not have been his best season statistically, the 2007-2008 campaign was definitely Kobe's most impressive season as a leader and teammate. As a result, the Lakers finished first in the very tough Western Conference.

Bryant is the NBA MVP for a number of reasons. First of all, he was his team's most valuable player. Some of you may laugh at this, but it's easily the first step. Can we all say with absolute certainty that KG is the most valuable player on the Celtics? Didn't think so. KG and Pierce were almost even with regards to stats and I give Garnett the edge in defense. But KG only played 71 games during the regular season while Pierce played in 80. Is an MVP allowed to miss 11 games in a season? That's 13% of the games... which brings me to my next point.

Bryant played in all 82 games this season. A good portion of these games were played while Kobe was injured. If you watched him play, you wouldn't guess that he has to have surgery on his hand/finger at the end of the season, but he does. The guy did not take a break; he gave you an MVP-type performance almost every night. And he's still going strong into the playoffs as the Lakers just swept the 8th seeded Nuggets.

The Lakers finished first in the West. It doesn't make Kobe the MVP, but it sure adds to his case. He's the best player on the best team in the West (which also happens to be the best conference). Doesn't that sound good? The Lakers weren't even expected to win the division, much less the entire conference.

And to top it all off, Kobe had a monster season. He was second in the league in scoring and had another top-notch defensive season. He brought out that killer instinct when the time was right (see Dallas game). He dropped dimes as if he was a PG, and had some great all-around performances (see Denver playoff game). He's been doing this for the past few seasons and has evolved and learned even more ways to beat his opponents. He is the most effective game-changer in the league today, the most talented player in the league today, and above all else, he makes his team better. This is why Kobe Bryant will be your 2007/2008 NBA MVP.

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Posted By: Travis - Category: Player News, Los Angeles Lakers

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Jamario Moon Gives Us A Sneak Peek At What to Expect During the Dunk Contest.

February 5th 2008 08:33

Argh! The 'joys' of moving into a completely new place. Trying to get a phone line, let alone broadband connection is a two week process. Furthermore, being back at work and balancing a social life doesn't help matters at all.

So, as a bailout, here is a NBA N00b, Jamario Moon, the man with the mad hops giving us a preview of what to expect in a couple of weeks time in Nawlins. Enjoy.