NBA FanHouse

Bucks' Alexander Wants to Be Traded

Chris Tomasson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:10:00 EST

MILWAUKEE -- Two weeks after the third-year option on his rookie contract wasn't picked up, Milwaukee forward Joe Alexander says he wants to be traded.

Alexander's 2010-11 option for $2.76 million was not picked up by the Nov. 2 deadline, making him an unrestricted free agent next summer. In an interview with FanHouse before Tuesday's win over the Nets at the Bradley Center, Alexander was asked if he believes that means the Bucks could deal him as the February trade deadline approaches.

"They made it pretty clear that they don't see me having a future here,'' said Alexander, the No. 8 pick in the 2008 draft who averaged 4.7 points last season as a rookie. "So I'm assuming a trade would definitely be one of the options.''

Alexander then was asked if he would welcome a trade.

"I mean, yeah,'' he said. "If they don't want me, if they don't see a future with me here, that really is the only other option.''

Alexander missed all of training camp and has sat out the first three weeks of the regular season due to a right hamstring problem. He expects to return in three to four weeks, and anticipates some time after that to have a talk with Bucks brass about wanting to be moved.

"When the time comes, that conversation is going to happen,'' Alexander said. "Exactly what it's going to entail and all the details, I can't say for sure right now. But it'll probably happen.''

Asked by FanHouse about Alexander's desire to be traded, Bucks general manager John Hammond declined comment. Asked if there's a chance he could be dealt before the February deadline, Hammond said, "I don't discuss trades with players on our team.''

The Bucks had high hopes for the 6-foot-8 Alexander when they took him out of West Virginia, selecting him ahead of players such as Brook Lopez, Jason Thompson and Anthony Randolph. Instead, Alexander became the highest first-round pick ever to have his rookie contract option declined after his first season.

"We're hoping that once he becomes healthy he can help our team. His job is to help us win games. And we hope he is capable of doing that."
- John Hammond,
Bucks GM "I was a little surprised,'' said Alexander, making $2.58 million this season. "I didn't think they really had enough time to evaluate me. But, even though I was surprised initially, I just had to move on right away and just look in the future.''

Interestingly, the reason Hammond said Alexander's option wasn't picked up was due to the Bucks not having enough time to evaluate him.

"I just didn't feel like we had a fair evaluation period to make a complete, full evaluation on Joe,'' Hammond said. "The fact that he missed a chunk of training camp last year, didn't play quite as many minutes as we were hoping last season (an average of 12.1 over 59 games) and then, of course, he's missed the entire season to date. It was because of those reasons we made that decision.''

Hammond, though, denied that Alexander isn't considered part of the team's future. He said "absolutely'' there's a chance he could be re-signed for next season.

"We're hoping that once he becomes healthy he can help our team,'' Hammond said of this season. "His job is to help us win games. And we hope he is capable of doing that.''

However, Alexander said Bucks officials "haven't really told me anything'' about any possible future he has with the team.

Despite the tough start to his career, Alexander remains confident he eventually can become an effective NBA player.

"I think it was a combination of myself having a lot to learn and learning very slowly,'' Alexander said of his career getting off to a disappointing start. "When you combine those things, it's a dangerous combination.

"Every career has it ups and downs. Unfortunately, mine hit a low point very early. But I think things are going to pick up.''

Alexander wouldn't mind if they pick up for him with a different team.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com and on Twitter @christomasson.

Bucks' Alexander Wants to Be Traded originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bosh Will Consider Joining Wade

Chris Tomasson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Raptors, FanHouse Exclusive

DENVER -- LeBron James is the first choice. But Chris Bosh certainly would be a solid backup for the Miami Heat next summer in free agency.

And he's willing to consider it.

The Heat, which figures to have more than $15 million of salary-cap room, is looking for a superstar to pair with Dwyane Wade. And Wade, who talked last week about possibly luring James to South Florida while also mentioning Bosh, is positioning himself as a recruiter.

"Anything is possible, I guess,'' Bosh, the Toronto star who can become a free agent next summer, told FanHouse in an interview before Tuesday's game at Denver about the possibility of going to Miami. "I guess that seems to be an attractive place, you know, playing with Dwyane and playing in Miami and everything. I guess if they had the right chemistry, the right guys, that they could persuade guys to get there. But we'll see.''

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Bosh will hear plenty of pitches from teams if he opts out of his contract next summer and becomes a free agent. But that's still not a certainty.

Bosh said he doesn't plan to make any decisions until after the season. Feeling fine about that is Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo, who said the decision has been made to not offer Bosh an extension during the season because there's no need to put any extra pressure on him.

The forward, averaging career highs of 26.4 points and 11.8 rebounds, has a number of options. He could not opt out of his contract, putting off free agency until the summer of 2011. Or he could sign by June 30 an extension for up to three years.

"Much like those other teams that have discussed it with their respective free agents or potential free agents, all three of the players in question (Cleveland's James, Wade and Bosh) negotiated for flexibility for a reason to exercise that,'' Colangelo said in an interview with FanHouse. "The contract (extension to Bosh) has not been offered, it has not been discussed. It's been a point of the discussion from a standpoint of one of the options that is there.

"We're bringing new pieces to try to create a better team, a more competitive team around Chris. Why would he make a decision before he knows what the end of the result is? And why would I try to sell a story before the last chapter is written? So maybe he wants to see what we have before he makes a decision. And that could pertain to an extension. It could pertain to a new contract. ... There's been no conversation. There's been obvious consternation by the general public and the media. But Chris and I had sat down along time ago and talked about the various options that are out there.''

Colangelo let it be known Bosh's best option would be doing business with the Raptors, which would enable him to earn the biggest possible salary. Even a sign-and-trade would fulfill that.

"We're still the best partner for him to get the deal whether it's staying with us or getting it somewhere else or playing it out somewhere else,'' Colangelo said. "So we're the conduit. We're the best partner. We're not going to put the pressure on him to make a decision right now. It's really not the right time even for us. He's playing at an all-time level. ... I'm happy for him. I'm happy for us because we're in a better position to win basketball games.''

Bosh agrees with Colangelo that it's best to worry about his future after the season.

"I'm just playing basketball,'' he said. "It was the plan when I signed the contract (to have flexibility). When I signed the contract (some) people out there don't understand I had a plan going into this. So I'm closer to that goal. I'm just putting myself in the best position to make a decision for the future.''

While Bosh won't a sign a contract extension during the season, he was asked about the chances of signing one just before the June 30 deadline. Colangelo, pointing to Washington's Antawn Jamison doing that at "the 11th hour'' in 2008, doesn't rule that out as a possibility.

"I just will discuss those things when they get closer,'' Bosh said. "I'm just trying to concentrate on winning basketball games and playing good so that people will actually want to sign me.''

One thinks there will be interest in the five-time All-Star. Other teams with major cap room expected to go hard after Bosh include New York and New Jersey.

"I'm ready for it all the time,'' Bosh said when asked if he's prepared for the media onslaught when he heads to those areas this season, with Miami on Dec. 15 the first such stop.

"I'm just trying to concentrate on winning basketball games and playing good so that people will actually want to sign me."
-- Chris Bosh With Bosh's desire to win soon, Miami can't be overlooked at perhaps the strongest candidate if Bosh were to leave Toronto. There's talk the Heat might try to go after both James and Bosh, especially in light of James' recent comments that he won't necessarily require a maximum contract.

"Over the course of years, we've had conversations, myself, LeBron, Chris Bosh. We all understand the dynamics. Joe Johnson,'' Wade told reporters last week about his recruiting, also mentioning Johnson, an Atlanta guard who will be a free agent next summer. "We all have played on the Olympic team together, so we've all had the conversation of the possibility, 'We can play together one day.'

"Especially when (Kevin) Garnett and Ray Allen and Paul Pierce all got together (with Boston), we were like, 'Wow, it can happen.' You never know. When the summer comes, we'll all sit down over a nice meal, and we'll know what city it'll be in and we'll talk and see what everybody's deciding. I would love for everybody to want to focus their way down here, to this beautiful city of Miami.''

Wade will see Bosh on Friday when the Heat plays at Toronto. Perhaps he will mention the projected high that day in Miami is 82 degrees.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com and on Twitter @christomasson.

Bosh Will Consider Joining Wade originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Raptors Bring Pops Mensah-Bonsu Back

Chris Tomasson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Raptors, FanHouse Exclusive

DENVER -- The Toronto Raptors have claimed forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu off waivers, his agent confirmed Tuesday to FanHouse immediately after the waiver period ended.

Mensah-Bonsu was let go by the Houston Rockets last Friday, and placed on waivers until 6 ET Tuesday, which is when Mensah-Bonsu's agent, John Greig, said he was awarded to Toronto.

Anticipating he would be picked up the Raptors, Mensah-Bonsu flew Tuesday to Denver, and was active for the evening game against the Nuggets.
The 6-foot-9 Mensah-Bonsu finished last season with the Raptors, averaging 5.1 points in 19 games. He has a minimum contract that doesn't become fully guaranteed Dec. 20 so the Raptors could evaluate Mensah-Bonsu for a month before making a decision. But Greig is confident he will remain with Toronto for a while.

The Raptors last week waived guard Quincy Douby, whose contract wasn't fully guaranteed for this season, in order to gain some flexibility.

"By God's grace, I'm back in a Raptors uniform,'' said Mensah-Bonsu. "I'm glad it worked out.''

Greig said some other NBA teams, which he wouldn't name, had interest in making a claim on Mensah-Bonsu. And some of those teams would have gotten him due to having a worse record than Toronto.

But Greig said discussions were made with those teams about not making a claim because Mensah-Bonsu really wanted to play in Toronto, and he possibly could have gone to Europe had he not ended up with the Raptors.

Mensah-Bonsu confirmed one of the other teams considering a claim on him was New Jersey.

"I had a good offer (from a Russian team),'' said Mensah-Bonsu. "But I'm not saying I would have turned down (the Nets or any other team besides Toronto getting him). It was just something to consider.''

Mensah-Bonsu said he felt pretty good he would end up with the Raptors when he got on Tuesday's flight to Denver, several hours before he officially was awarded to Toronto.

"There was a chance,'' Mensah-Bonsu said of a team with a worse record than Toronto coming in with a late claim. "But at that time nobody's going to step forward and say, 'We want you.'''

Mensah-Bonsu has played three NBA seasons, including this one. While also having played for Dallas and San Antonio, he's averaged 3.8 points and 3.6 rebounds.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com and on Twitter @christomasson.

Raptors Bring Pops Mensah-Bonsu Back originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kobe: LeBron Using Head, Not Mouth

Chris Tomasson — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:34:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Lakers, FanHouse Exclusive

DENVER -- Do as I say and not as I do.

Or, at least not what Kobe Bryant once did.

While bound for free agency in the summer of 2004, the Lakers star openly spoke about teams he might consider. But Bryant now says Cleveland star LeBron James is making the right decision by deciding earlier this week to stop talking about his impending free agency.

"He doesn't need to,'' Bryant said in an interview with FanHouse while in Denver for Friday's 105-79 loss to the Nuggets. "He did the right thing by not talking about it. I mean, what can you say?''

Bryant was reminded he talked openly about his free agency during the 2003-04 season.

"Yeah, but I ain't talking about it now, am I? he said.

Bryant can opt out of his deal next summer and become a free agent. The Lakers have offered him a contract extension for maximum money, and he has until June 30 to decide whether to accept it.

"I don't feel like that,'' Bryant said of his decision to not talk about his current contract situation. "We got a team here that just won a championship. We're a young team. We don't need that kind of (junk). There's no purpose to it.''

So why did Bryant talk about it leading up to the summer of 2004?

"Then it was different circumstances,'' said Bryant, looking back at the 2003-04 season, when Bryant was facing a sexual assault charge in Colorado that was eventually dropped and when Bryant and center Shaquille O'Neal feuded, with O'Neal eventually being traded in the summer of 2004 to Miami. "We had a lot of things going on so that circumstances was a little different ... We had a lot of (junk) going on. It made us actually easier to focus on the game.'''

Bryant said when he sees James the two "joke around'' but don't speak about his free agency.

"You just don't want to have it be a distraction to the season,'' Bryant said of believing James has made the right decision to stop talking. "Just people speculating, speculating. Just keep your mouth shut ... Who wants to deal with that? You've got to still be focusing on the (team) that you're with.''

But while James has curtailed his talk about free agency, he's addressing plenty of other things. One is the belief by James, who wears No. 23, that No. 23 should be retired by all NBA teams in honor of Michael Jordan.

"It's tough to argue with anything that pertains to Michael Jordan. It's tough to argue that,'' Bryant said. "I wouldn't be against it.''

James said he likely will change to No. 6. Bryant changed from No. 8 to No. 24 prior to the 2006-07 season.

Bryant was asked if his change resulted in a lot more money being made in jersey sales.

"It didn't go to me,'' he said with a laugh.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at fanhouse.com or on Twitter @christomasson.

Kobe: LeBron Using Head, Not Mouth originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brawl Will 'Spice Up' Movie About Artest

Chris Tomasson — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:50:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, Pacers, Pistons, FanHouse Exclusive

DENVER -- Five years after the "The Malice at the Palace,'' Ron Artest isn't showing remorse. In fact, one could say he is embracing his infamous place in history.

Artest, a Lakers forward, said in an interview Friday with FanHouse he's making a movie about his life. He said he made sure to touch upon the Nov. 19, 2004 brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills in order to "kind of spice up the movie a little bit.''

In that basketbrawl, Artest, then with Indiana, charged into the stands in the final minute of a game at Detroit after a fight had broken out and a fan had thrown a cup of beer at Artest. The game was called, and there were nine players suspended for a total of 146 games. Artest got the worst penalty, being sat down for the final 73 games of the season.

Thursday marks the fifth-year anniversary, and Artest will play that night at home against Chicago. Artest, who celebrated his 30th birthday Friday, was asked if he's matured and is a different person since the brawl.

"Not really,'' he said before the Lakers were crushed by Denver 105-79 at the Pepsi Center. "I'm the same person.''

Artest then was asked if it was just a bad night for him.

"It wasn't a bad night for me,'' he said. "It was a bad night for everybody else.''

Artest doesn't shy away from that night. In fact, he made sure he included material on the brawl in a movie he told FanHouse he's making about his life called Therapy.

"I didn't even realize it was the fifth-year anniversary,'' Artest said. "I'm actually working on a movie about it. It's going to be pretty cool. It's like a docudrama. I'm playing me. (The brawl) is like a small part, but it's a part of it. It's to just kind of (to) spice up the movie a little bit, but (the movie) is deeper than that. It's all true.''

Artest said he has a production company in Los Angeles called Tru Warrior Enterprises, which comes from his nickname. He said he has a ''silent partner'' he wouldn't name, and the partner is putting up money for the film that will be available next summer on DVD.

"There are some reenacted situations that happened before (the brawl) and some reenacted situations that happened after,'' said Artest, who said no actual brawl footage will be used and that "all'' of the "various fights'' he has had during his career will be chronicled in the film. "People will be able to understand what happened (in the brawl). They'll be talking and acting, both (about the brawl in the movie).''

Asked about his abilities as an actor, Artest said, "Decent, but it's like me so I don't need really to act.''

Artest said the movie will chronicle his time at St. John's University until now, and touch upon odds he has overcome. Artest hopes there will a message in the film for "people that get in trouble (who are) high-risk kids (from) high-risk neighborhoods.''

"Just advice,'' Artest said of what the movie will offer. "My advice isn't always the best advice, but maybe it might work for somebody.''

Chris Tomasson can be reached at fanhouse.com and on Twitter @christomasson.

Brawl Will 'Spice Up' Movie About Artest originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delonte West Speaks but Doesn't Make Much Sense

Chris Tomasson — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:05:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, FanHouse Exclusive

ORLANDO -- It's hard to tell what's going on in the head these days of Delonte West. But FanHouse wanted to give Cleveland's mercurial guard an opportunity to explain some of his recent doings.

West, who is bipolar and is facing six weapons charges from a Sept. 17 incident in Maryland in which police say he was carrying on a three-wheeled motorcycle three loaded guns and an 8 ½-inch bowie knife, was asked after Wednesday's shootaround how he is progressing after having two leaves of absence during training camp to attend to personal matters. West ended up not playing in the first three games of the season.

"One plus one is two and C always comes out to A and B,'' West said to FanHouse.

West, who hadn't spoken to reporters since media day Sept. 28, was asked what that meant.

"One plus one always be two,'' he said.

West again was asked to clarify.

"One plus one always be two, brother,'' he said.

West declined further comment.

Later in the day, West was put on the inactive list for Wednesday night's game against Orlando at Amway Arena. A Cavaliers insider said that an incident happened that was called not major but the team decided it was best to give West the night off.

The benching was not characterized as a suspension, and West will continue to be paid. The team insider said West could return for Thursday's game at Miami, but no final decision had been made.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Wednesday night that West missed the team's flight Tuesday to Orlando.

"It's one of those things if he plays or if he doesn't play,'' Cavaliers coach Mike Brown told FanHouse after the morning shootaround when asked about West's ongoing progression due to all his troubles. "We just fill in the gaps. It's just like if somebody is injured or anything like that.''

Brown did not shed light on the incident that led to West being inactive. But he explained it's an ongoing situation as to whether West plays.

"If it's OK to activate him, then he's active,'' said Brown, who has consulted on West's situation with Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry. "If it's not OK to activate him, then he won't be activated.

"Either he's out there or he's not. Or he's active or he's not active. That's just how I look at it. I don't really look at it as, 'Oh my gosh, what's going to happen today. What's going to happen tomorrow. What's going to happen next week.' I don't look at it that way.''

Dealing with West has been an ongoing situation since his Sept. 17 arrest in Maryland on the Capital Beltway outside Washington. He was indicted Nov. 3 after police said he was carrying a 9mm Beretta in his waistband, a Ruger .357 Magnum strapped to his leg and a 12-gauge shotgun in a guitar case slung over his back. Authorities said West had additional shotgun shells in a backpack.

West spoke to reporters on media day 11 days later. But he then had unexcused absences from two-a-day practices Sept. 29 and Sept. 30 before returning Oct. 1.

After returning to the team, West was granted an excused absence Oct. 7. He returned Oct. 13, and didn't play in the first three games of the regular season.

Prior to Wednesday, West had played in four straight games.

"I don't think so,'' Cavaliers star LeBron James said before Wednesday's game when asked by FanHouse in a pack media session whether the West saga has been a distraction to the team. "I think we all stand behind Delonte. I think at the end of the day you look at it is what he's going through is more important than basketball. We know we have a job here and the game of basketball is very important to a lot of people.

"It's very important to us as individuals. But, at the same time, you as an individual and as your family you want that to be protected. And I think Delonte is handling it the right way. I think as teammates we're helping him and as organization we've helped him in the right way.''

Still, West's troubles certainly haven't helped the Cavaliers, who got off to a sluggish 4-3 start. They went 1-2 with West out at the start of the season.

West, who shot 45.7 percent last season while averaging 11.7 points, is shooting just 36 percent and averaging 5.7 points in his four games. Over the past three, West has gone south. He's shot 4-of-18 while averaging 3.3 points.

"He missed a lot of time in preseason and training camp,'' James said when asked about West's shooting troubles.

As far as dealing with West's overall troubles, Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson said having a pair of superstars on the team makes it not a distraction.

"LeBron and (Shaquille O'Neal), they don't allow things like that to affect our team,'' Gibson said.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com and on Twitter @christomasson.

Delonte West Speaks but Doesn't Make Much Sense originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Could Nancy Lieberman Become the NBA's First Female Head Coach?

Chris Tomasson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, WNBA, D-League, FanHouse Exclusive, NBA Coaches

The D-League today. The NBA tomorrow.

Why not?

If there ever will be a female NBA head coach in my lifetime, I'm thinking Nancy Lieberman has got a shot. Lieberman took the first step toward that Thursday when she was named head coach of the Dallas Mavericks' D-League team in Frisco, Texas, that will begin play next year.

"If I am successful, I'm sure that I will be looked at (by the NBA),'' Lieberman, while on her way to her press conference to be introduced, told FanHouse by phone. "If I'm not successful, I won't be.''

More: Lieberman Officially Introduced

Lieberman, the first woman ever to be a head coach in the D-League, is thinking primarily about that stint now. But she doesn't deny an eventual goal is to be the first woman to coach an NBA team.

"I'm aspiring to be the best coach I can be,'' said Lieberman, 51, who has been an ESPN NBA analyst in recent seasons but has stepped down from that position to concentrate on next season's coaching gig.

It was the same way when the Hall of Famer was a player. She made the 1976 U.S. Olympic team at 17, starred at Old Dominion and was a top pro.

When there weren't U.S. women's leagues in which to star, she battled the guys. Lieberman made history by playing against men in the United States Basketball League with the Springfield (Mass.) Fame in 1986. She also played against NBA players in summer leagues, being coached by Pat Riley in a 1980 Los Angeles league and by Frank Layden in a 1986 Salt Lake City league.

"I've always been a pioneer,'' she said.

Now, she's one in the D-League. The league is for players trying to get to the next level, so why not coaches?

For now, Lieberman, who has been a head coach in the WNBA, doesn't think it will be a big deal coaching guys.

"The players want to have instruction, and I'm sure they will (have no problem with her being a woman),'' said Lieberman, who long has lived in the Dallas area and said she was approached about the job a "few months ago'' by Donnie Nelson, the D-team's part-owner and a Mavericks executive. "It's like in the (sports media) business. There are woman sports editors who are able to do the job.''

If any player doubts Lieberman, all they need to know is she's a Hall-of-Famer. So how many current D-League coaches are enshrined in Springfield, Mass., which is interestingly where Lieberman broke down barriers 23 years ago?

That would be zero.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@hotmail.com and on Twitter @christomasson.

Could Nancy Lieberman Become the NBA's First Female Head Coach? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sam Jones, Celtics Great and 10-Time Champion, Speaks His Mind

Tim Povtak — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Sam Jones won 10 NBA championships, more than anyone in history except for Bill Russell. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984. He was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1996. He scored more than 15,000 points in his 12 seasons with the Boston Celtics (1957-69), carving a reputation as one of the greatest clutch shooters -- and winners -- that the league has ever seen.

Yet despite his legendary career, he can walk through a shopping mall or a downtown hotel lobby today without being recognized, arguably the most under-exposed great in basketball history.

Jones, 76, sat down with FanHouse earlier this week to discuss a variety of topics, ranging from his strange disconnect with the franchise he represented so well, to the racism that drove him out of coaching in the early '70s, to his sometimes unflattering view of today's NBA stars.

His opinions might surprise you.

FanHouse: Can anyone ever again do what your Celtics did, win 10 NBA titles in a 12-year span?

Sam Jones: "No. I don't want to say there's too much money, but today's players just aren't as hungry. In our day, winning games, winning in the playoffs, meant extra money for our families. We had kids to send to college. We needed the money. Winning really meant something. When these players today are making $12-15 million a year, they don't have the incentive. They aren't as hungry. They don't need to be.

FanHouse: Does the money today make your head spin?

Sam Jones: "It boggles my mind to think any player today is worth over $10 million a year, regardless of how good he is -- unless he can win a championship every year. Then they certainly would deserve it. But when you have 3-4 guys on a team making $10 million each, my gosh. ... They hurt a little finger and they have to sit out 4-5 days. It's awful. A lot of players are jealous of each other (because of the money), and that's not a way to have a really good team.''

FanHouse: What kind of team chemistry did your Celtics have?

Sam Jones: "We've always said we had the best team ever to play basketball, including the Michael Jordan teams in Chicago, the David Robinson teams in San Antonio, the Isiah Thomas teams in Detroit. I always felt no one had a better coach than Red Auerbach. We believed in what he was trying to teach us. Evidently it worked. We won year after year after year. Even when we got older, we won. We had a closeness that teams today don't have.

"It's a new regime, new owners, new management. People ask me why I never go back. I tell them, 'I don't go places where I'm not invited to go.' "
- Sam Jones, on not maintaining Celtics ties FanHouse: Do you like today's Celtics?

Sam Jones: "I love 'em. The addition of Rasheed Wallace is going to help. If they stay healthy, they'll win another world championship. I thought they would have won last season if Kevin Garnett had not been hurt.''

FanHouse: Who else do you like to watch play?

Sam Jones: "I like the teams that play like teams. I like watching San Antonio. They play great team ball. Detroit used to do that before they broke up that group. Certain teams I like because they're not about individuals. It's about everyone who contributes to that team.''

FanHouse: How much money did you make in the NBA?

Sam Jones: "That's personal. Look it up, if you want, but I made $7,500 that first season (1959-60) with a $1,500 bonus. That was a lot of money back then."

FanHouse: Have you stayed in touch with the Boston franchise?

Sam Jones: "I've stayed in touch with a few people I played with."

FanHouse: You ever go to see the Celtics play?

Sam Jones: "No. It's a new regime, new owners, new management. People ask me why I never go back. I tell them, `I don't go places where I'm not invited to go.' I won't push myself on anyone. It doesn't bother me at all. You work for someone, and when you're finished, you're finished.''

FanHouse: What about when they retired your jersey? You were there then, weren't you?

Sam Jones: "That's different. Red was still involved. I came because Red asked me. Red could get anyone to come back."

FanHouse: When I saw you last spring in Orlando, you came to watch the Celtics play the Magic. Why?

Sam Jones: "I live close by. That was first time I saw them play live since Robert Parish played for them. I had not met a single person on that team until the night of the playoff game, including (coach) Doc Rivers. That was when he invited me to play in his (charity) golf tournament."

FanHouse: It's hard for me to fathom this disconnect between the Celtics and guys like you who made the franchise what it is today. Explain.

Sam Jones: "We don't have reunions, so there is no connection between the old and the new. There is no follow up on history. If you don't want to be bothered, then I don't want to be bothered, either. I have my peace of mind."

FanHouse: You coached only one season in the NBA, as an assistant with the New Orleans Jazz in 1974-75. What happened there?

Sam Jones: "There were some things I didn't like. It was a first-year expansion team. They had a chance to chose players from other teams. There was a black kid who we really liked, a good player, a top-15 rebounder, but ownership said we couldn't take him because he was married to a white lady. I thought that was a travesty. It just wasn't in my mode of thinking. We did take a guy from California, Stu Lantz, and he was married to a white girl, too, but the team didn't realize it until it was too late."

FanHouse: What else?

Sam Jones: "They hired a tremendous coach, Scotty Robertson who had some good ideas. One of them reminded me of Red, who used to say if you want to be champions, you had to dress like champions, look professional. Scotty fined some guys for not dressing well, and management wouldn't back him up. After [15] games, they told me they wanted to fire Scotty. I told them, `He should be Coach of the Year if he wins 20 games with this team.' I asked who would be the next coach, because Elgin Baylor and I were the only assistants, and was told that `New Orleans wasn't ready for a black head coach.' They brought in someone else (Butch van Breda Kolff), who wasn't real professional about some things. So one year of that was enough for me.''

FanHouse: Who's the greatest player you've ever seen?

Sam Jones: "I can't do that. Everyone has their own opinion. Michael Jordan won six NBA titles. Bill Russell won 11, so you tell me who is the greatest? When it comes to getting the job done, Bill Russell got it done. I always say `Russell was the greatest to ever play the game, then and now.' ''

FanHouse: What was it like playing alongside him your whole career? What made him so great?

Sam Jones: "He never, ever wanted to lose. He had so much pride. You'd never believe how tough he was on the court, not only on the other team, but on us, too. You had to bring it every night. If he saw you were not playing the way you were supposed to be playing, he'd have words for you.''

FanHouse: Go back to the racism you saw. What was it like with the Celtics?

Sam Jones: "Red (Auerbach) was so far ahead of his time. People didn't realize how far ahead he was. He hired the first black coach (Russell). He was the first in the league to start five black players. He drafted the first black player (Chuck Cooper). Boston did a lot of things to advance integration into the NBA, even though people say Boston is a racist city. At least the Celtics did something different. I think Walter Brown (the owner) had something to do with it. He wanted the best players, and he didn't care if they was blue, black, brown, white or yellow. He went against the rules of the NBA.''

FanHouse: Now that you're retired, living in Florida, what do you do with your time?

Sam Jones: "Play golf three, four times a week, some of the nicest courses in the country. But I'm still lousy.''

FanHouse: Is that a true story that you almost didn't play in the NBA and nearly turned down the Celtics after they drafted you in the first round (out of North Carolina Central)?

Sam Jones: "I always liked the idea of being an educator, a teacher. And back then, neither profession paid very well. If I could have gotten another $500 from the school system where I wanted to teach, I never would have played professional basketball. And I would have been happy, being a teacher and a high school coach.''

FanHouse: Who else from your Celtic teams do you stay in contact with?

Sam Jones: "K.C. Jones. Well, I really just talk to his wife. She runs that house. K.C. and I always joke we should do a book together about our years, our struggles with the NBA and everything else back in the '50s. They put us in places they never should have put us. We should have sued the league for some of the things that happened to the black players.''

FanHouse: You think today's players appreciate what you went through?

Sam Jones: "What do you think?''

FanHouse: What do you think of LeBron James?

Sam Jones: "He's going to be great. Guys like him, Dwight Howard, they come into the league so young. They have so much to learn. One of the things LeBron has to learn is that every single night, he should be at the free throw line 20 times. With his body, his height, jumping ability, size, he doesn't need to be shooting three's to get back into the game. He should be taking the ball to the basket every time and looking for the open man. Once he learns that, he'll take a lot of the load off his shoulders. He'll learn.

FanHouse: Are players today better than they were in your day?

Sam Jones: "I think they're in better condition. I don't know if their intelligence is better.''

Sam Jones, Celtics Great and 10-Time Champion, Speaks His Mind originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rudy Gay Seeks Five-Year, $50 Million Contract Extension

Chris Tomasson — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:24:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, FanHouse Exclusive

DENVER -- With Monday the deadline to sign a contract extension, Memphis forward Rudy Gay said it will take a deal of about $50 million over five years to get his signature.

"I think I should be in that range,'' Gay told FanHouse before his team's 133-123 loss to Denver on Sunday night at the Pepsi Center.

However, Gay said the Grizzlies have yet to offer a deal worth as much as $50 million over five years.

"Yeah, you're right,'' he said.

Monday at midnight ET is the deadline for Gay and other first-round picks from 2006 to sign extensions that would kick in for the 2010-11 season. If Gay and other eligible players don't sign, they become restricted free agents next summer.

Gay said his agent, Jeff Austin, told him Friday it's "50-50'' an extension will be reached by the deadline, and he planned to talk with him again late Sunday night. Gay said he's putting much of the responsibility upon Austin to come up with a suitable contract and had told Austin he only wanted to hear from him in recent days if a deal was close.

"If it's not 50, if it's more, I stand behind him,'' said Gay, speaking of Austin being able to negotiate a contract in excess of $50 million over five years. "I'm not going to turn it down.''

If the Grizzlies don't end up meeting Gay's price, he said he's not concerned about playing out this season and becoming a restricted free agent.

"I've been playing for four years,'' said Gay, who scored 18 points Sunday to raise his average to 17.0. "I only know how to play one way. It's not going to change whether I have a contract or not.''

Gay, drafted No. 8, and Boston guard Rajon Rando, taken No. 21, were the only players from the 2006 class known as of Sunday night to still be involved in discussions regarding possible extensions.

A source confirmed to FanHouse the deadline is expected to pass without Washington guard Randy Foye getting an deal done, but that has been expected for the past week. Foye, taken No. 7 in that draft, did look good Saturday with 17 points and eight assists after moving into the Wizards' starting lineup.

Only five players so far -- Toronto's Andrea Bargnani, LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy of Portland, Oklahoma City's Thabo Sefolosha and Denver's Renaldo Balkman -- have signed extensions. That makes it quite possible a record low will be set since this format started with the 1995 draft (draftees from 1995-97 became unrestricted free agents after three seasons so there was much more urgency). The 2005 draft class got just seven extensions before last fall's deadline.

Balkman's extension was considered a surprise. But Balkman, knowing what a tough economy this is, didn't hold out for more money next summer, and accepted a three-year deal worth around $5 million.

"I feel great,'' said Balkman, apparently now minding less that he hasn't played due to a coach's decision in Denver's first three games.

If the Grizzlies meet Gay's price, he might be feeling great himself by Monday's end.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.

Rudy Gay Seeks Five-Year, $50 Million Contract Extension originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iranian and Israeli Players Could Face Off For First Time

Chris Tomasson — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:52:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Kings, FanHouse Exclusive

DENVER -- Forget about a Tar Heel against a Dukie or a Kentucky Wildcat against a Louisville Cardinal. This is a lot different.

On Monday night in Sacramento, an Israeli player could face a player from a rival Middle East Muslim nation for the first time ever in the NBA.

Kings forward Omri Casspi is the first man from Israel ever to play in the NBA, and has three games under his belt. His team at Arco Arena next plays Memphis, which features center Hamed Haddadi, a second-year man from Iran.

Before his Grizzlies met Denver on Sunday night, Haddadi told FanHouse he never has faced an Israeli player on the court because teams from his Iran, which does not recognize the Jewish nation, are not allowed to play Israel. In 2005, Haddadi said his Iranian team was not allowed to go to Argentina for the 2005 FIBA World Championship for Young Men because of the possibility of Israel being an opponent.

But Haddadi has no problems with facing Casspi.

"It is just a sport,'' he said. "I don't know what happened with the two countries. I don't care. I just do my job. I don't think about politics ... I do not think what the two positions of Iran and Israel is.''

But Haddadi realizes the high-profile position he is in as an NBA player. In order to make a statement that this is indeed just sport, he was asked if he would shake Casspi's hand before the game.

"Why not? Which is his number? Haddadi said of Casspi, who wears No. 18. "I think it could be good (to make a positive statement).''

Casspi could not be reached Sunday. However, he was asked last July at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas about the possibility of facing Haddadi this season.

"It's not a problem for me,'' said Casspi, whose Kings and Haddadi's Grizzlies both were in the summer league but did not meet. "I don't know about him.''

There are players in the NBA from Turkey and Senegal, but both those nations have diplomatic relations with Israel. Iran is the world's only predominately Muslim country that has an NBA player and does not recognize Israel.

"As one of the biggest cliches regarding the Israel-Arab conflict would say, 'It's not the people of Israel and Iran who hate each other, it's the leaders,''' said Eran Soroka, basketball writer for the Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv. "A lot of people emigrated from Iran to Israel during the last decades, and you can find Israeli and Iranian citizens dancing to the same music in clubs in, for example, Turkey. The NBA is also a frame which is completely different from the Middle East tension: Haddadi, for that matter, is an Americanized Iranian... He already accepted the challenge of playing for his country's nemesis (the United States).''

Tensions between Iran and Israel have risen in recent years due to Iran attempting to develop nuclear technology. Iran refers to Israel's government as the "Zionist regime'' and the land is referred to as "occupied territories.''

In 2006, Iranian president Mahmoud Admadinejad said he wanted to "wipe Israel off the map'' and was said to have called the Holocaust, Nazi German's extermination of 6 million Jews during World War II, a "myth.'' He later denied he made comments that the Holocaust did not happen.

Haddadi has tried to steer clear of all this.

"I don't want politics into sports,'' said Haddadi, 24. "I think it should be separated.''

In 2005, Haddadi learned the hard way that it isn't in Iran. He was ready to go to Argentina for international competition until the trip was abruptly canceled.

"We don't go to Argentina because (Israel was playing),'' Haddadi said. "I was young. I was (20). I didn't know about politics or anything. I can't say, 'I want to go to Argentina.''

But Haddadi opted to push politics aside at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Even though Iran insisted its representatives have no contact with Israelis, Haddadi was among Iranian players who shook hands with David Blatt, the Israeli coach of Russia's Olympic team. It happened after Russia easily beat Iran 71-49 in a first-round game.

"After the interview, I shake his hand,'' Haddadi said of the post-game media session. "I don't care. It is just sport.''

After the game, Blatt told Israel's Sports Channel, "That's the beauty of Olympic Games. They go beyond the issue of nationality. Only here can an Israeli coach shake hands with the players and coach of the Iranian team.''

But there hardly has always been harmony at the Olympics between Iranians and Israelis.

"The most famous cases happen in the Olympic games and big international tourneys,'' Soroka said. "In 2004, an Iranian, Arash Miresmaeili, was one of the surest bets for a gold medal (in judo), but then, the draw confronted him with Israeli Ehud Vaks. Arash withdrew (he officially was disqualified due to being overweight but it's generally believed that was intentional), and became a hero in the eyes of the Iranian leaders. Vaks won by forfeit.

"In Beijing 2008, swimmer Mohammad Alirezaei pulled out of a heat with Israeli Tom Be'eri because of (what Alirezaei claimed was) illness... This is the Iranian formal policy of athletes who represent that country. Haddadi is representing mainly the Memphis Grizzlies in (Monday's) game, I believe.''

There is plenty of international harmony in the NBA. The league announced last week that opening-day rosters feature a record-tying 83 international players from 36 countries.

It is no certainty Casspi and Haddadi, both reserves, will take the court at the same time Monday. Casspi is averaging 18.0 minutes in his three games while Haddadi is averaging 3.7 in Memphis' first three.

But the teams will meet again Nov. 23 in Memphis and March 22 in Sacramento.

"I don't know,'' Haddadi said when asked whether people in Iran will care if he plays against Casspi. "The government, they don't like to play (Israel in sports competitions).''

One thing is for sure. Like the Kings' previous three games, Monday's game will be watched closely on television in Israel even though it starts at 5 a.m. local time.

Hopefully, Casspi and Haddadi will shake hands before it begins. After all, it is just sport.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.

Iranian and Israeli Players Could Face Off For First Time originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Players in the Halloween Spirit

Elie Seckbach — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:53:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Lakers, Suns, NBA Videos, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Halloween is one of those holiday that everyone loves ... including NBA players.

In this FanHouse exclusive, we catch up with NBA stars Amar'e Stoudemire, Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Ron Artest, Kyrylo Fesenko, Channing Frye, Craig Smith, Goran Dragic and Lou Amundson.

Find out who is most likely to be Hugh Hefner, Magic Don Juan, a lumberjack, Frankenstein and an Army vet.

Check out the video after the jump.

NBA Players in the Halloween Spirit originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Ben Gordon Documentary: Coming Soon to a Theater Near You?

Matt Watson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:45:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Pistons, NBA Videos, FanHouse Exclusive

Even though Ben Gordon has played a handful of preseason games in front of lackluster crowds at the Palace and one regular season game on the road wearing Pistons red, white and blue, it wasn't until his name was announced to a sold-out crowd at Detroit's home opener Friday night that he was officially welcomed to the team by the fans.

And as fate would have it, Gordon's introduction came with all the fanfare and pyrotechnics befitting the arrival of a budding star, as he was introduced along with the rest of the starters, filling in for the injured Rip Hamilton. It's a nice start for his Pistons career -- and should provide a fitting conclusion for a documentary seven months in the making.

In the tradition of Kobe Bryant's Doin' Work and LeBron James' More Than a Game, Gordon is the subject of a forthcoming documentary, A Scorer's Aura, which will tell the story of his final months as a Chicago Bull up until his first home game as a Detroit Piston, offering fans an insider's view of what it's like to be a coveted NBA free agent signing with a new team for the first time in his career.

"I have my last bit of filming to do the first home game," said Daemian Brown, the filmmaker driving the project and one of Gordon's childhood friends. "I know it's going to be hectic, he already has like half of his family coming."

Although Brown doesn't expect to finish editing all of his footage for another six weeks, he created the trailer above using several months of footage already filmed. Brown recently spoke to FanHouse about how the project began -- and how things didn't exactly go as planned.

"March 1st was the first day that we started shooting, and that was when the Bulls didn't really know if they were going to end up in the playoffs," Brown said. "There was a bunch of teams last season that were real close, and they were all one game or a half-game apart. ... It just so happened, we got them going in this race to get into the playoffs, and we all know how that ended up with them playing the Celtics in a great matchup in the first round."

In addition to capturing Gordon's off-court preparation for that epic series, Brown's motivation for the film was Gordon's experience as a restricted free agent the previous two summers, which consisted of long, drawn-out negotiations with the Bulls that weren't completed until shortly before each season began. Brown hoped to make a summer full of negotiations the focal point of the film but needed to adjust on the fly when Gordon quickly signed with the Pistons.

"That drama was played out for the last two offseasons, so I'm expecting, 'OK, this is going to be great stuff for a documentary, this is going to be really good with him going back and forth, back and forth, back and forth,' " Brown said. "And it didn't happen like that, so I had to really change the scope of the doc. That really was going to be the selling point for the documentary -- 'OK, here's this athlete, the talking, the first day that you can talk to teams and he's going back and forth between Chicago and whoever else is interested' -- but that didn't happen. He genuinely, really loved the Pistons organization."

Even if the story arc changed, the most compelling aspect of the documentary should be Brown's access to Gordon, who usually maintains a polished front with the media but let his guard down in front of a long-time friend.

"That's the aspect I want people to realize -- it's really that candid. So candid that I can't use everything. It's really that good," he said. "No one is going to be feel comfortable talking to someone that they don't know. But when it's a friend asking you questions, it's like, 'OK, what do you want to know?'

"It turned out to be quite an experience for both of us. There would be times where he would be like, 'I don't really feel like being in front of a camera right now,' and I'd just have to respect that. But for the most part he is gung-ho about it.

"He's going to let people know how he feels about everything that has happened. He's a strong believer that you have to be able to separate the business from the sport aspect of it -- he lives by that. ... You'll see that this dude is like any other 25-year-old. He likes to party, he loves to have fun with his friends. That's another side of him that I'd want to show. On the court you might say he's real stoic, you hardly see BG get excited about a lot of things on the court, even when he scores. But he loves basketball.

"Especially now that the season has started, it's hard -- he's executive producing this project -- it's hard to even communicate with him about anything else except for basketball. ... I remember when he started training, that was it. All the partying basically stopped. He's like, 'You know what? It's time now for me to get serious about basketball.' He worked out three times a day, and you'll see the footage in the trailer from his workout, but that's nothing -- there was a point where I'm like, this is turning into a damn workout DVD, I don't want that. That's all he would do."

When will fans at home get to see A Scorer's Aura? That's yet to be determined. Filming has been a virtual one-man show -- with the help of some other friends as well as Gordon's personal assistant and manager -- and Brown is still editing the final product. Once completed, he hopes to find distribution on the film festival circuit, possibly landing a deal with ESPN or another outlet.

While the documentary didn't go in the direction that Brown expected, he still hopes viewers will appreciate an intimate look at what's it like for a player to have his life turned upside down over the course of several months, a glimpse at someone making decisions affecting not only the rest of his career but also his life.

"It's a story," Brown said. "Stories are usually interesting if told properly. It's not just him as a basketball player, it's him as a person, a person who's in the public eye."

The Ben Gordon Documentary: Coming Soon to a Theater Near You? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Agent: No Extension for Ronnie Brewer

Chris Tomasson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, FanHouse Exclusive

Talks have ended and no contract extension is expected on Utah guard Ronnie Brewer by Monday's deadline, his agent told FanHouse on Friday.

"Kevin (O'Connor, Utah's general manager) and I have talked, but we have a different point of view (on contract figures),'' said agent Henry Thomas.

Barring the unexpected, Thomas said no more talks are expected to take place by Monday's deadline of players from the 2006 first round able to sign extensions that will kick in for the 2010-11 season. Thomas said the final talks with O'Connor were Friday.

That puts Brewer, taken with the No. 14 pick in 2006, in line to become a restricted free agent next summer. But Thomas said Jazz officials have interest in re-signing Brewer.

"Without question,'' Thomas said. "Kevin made that clear.''

Only four players from the 2006 first round have signed extensions so far -- Toronto's Andrea Bargnani, LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy of Portland and Thabo Sefolosha of Oklahoma City. Only two others -- Memphis' Rudy Gay and Boston's Rajon Rondo -- are apparently still in negotiations.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com

Agent: No Extension for Ronnie Brewer originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thunder Extend Thabo Sefolosha

Chris Tomasson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:10:00 EST

Filed under: Thunder, FanHouse Exclusive

Oklahoma City has signed guard Thabo Sefolosha to a contract extension to beat Saturday's deadline, his agent confirmed Wednesday to FanHouse.

The agent, Guy Zucker, had told FanHouse on Monday an agreement wouldn't be reached. But he said everything began to change by Tuesday when the Thunder stepped forward with an improved offer.

The deal is for four years, starting with next season. Zucker would not comment on dollars.

"Clay Bennett (the Thunder owner) and Sam Presti (general manager) did an amazing job,'' Zucker said. "It never was an issue of whether (Sefolosha) wanted to stay there. We couldn't agree to terms. But they came up with an improved offer. They really stepped up."

Sefolosha becomes the fourth member of the 2006 draft class to sign an extension, with the deadline to get deals done Saturday, joining Toronto's Andrea Bargnani and LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy of Portland. Sefaolaiah was acquired last February from Chicago and started 22 of the 23 Thunder games in which he played the remainder of the season.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at fanhouse.com

Thunder Extend Thabo Sefolosha originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boozer Still Wants to Play for Team USA

Chris Tomasson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Jazz, FanHouse Exclusive

DENVER -- Chris Bosh said his contract situation could prevent him from playing for Team USA in next year's World Championships. But another big man off the 2008 gold-medal winning Olympic team has no such reservations.

Utah forward Carlos Boozer told FanHouse on Wednesday morning he wants to play for Team USA in Turkey, and his contract situation has no bearing on it.

"I definitely would love to play if I get invited,'' said Boozer, a free agent next summer. "Not at all (will Boozer's contract situation affect his decision to play). If I've got a chance to put USA on my chest again, I'll do it in a heartbeat. The contract stuff will take care of itself.''

Boozer, whose Jazz open the season Wednesday night at Denver, is the second Jazz player off the Olympic team to express his desire to return. Guard Deron Williams did so publicly last month.

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo has said he will be talking to all the holdovers from the 2008 Olympic team this fall to gauge their interest in returning. Even though Boozer, who averaged 3.3 points in limited minutes in Beijing, wants to play, it is not a slam dunk he eventually will be selected for Turkey.

"If the top seven or eight players from the Olympic team all committed (to the Worlds), you're looking at Tayshaun (Prince) and (Carlos) Boozer... and Michael Redd. Those guys will have competition,'' Colangelo recently told FanHouse.

However, there's a chance some of the top players won't be available. Toronto's Bosh, who can become a free agent next summer, says his contract situation could take him out of the running. Cleveland's LeBron James and Miami's Dwyane Wade, who also can become free agents next summer, also are wavering in their commitments.

"Bosh, D. Wade, LeBron, you don't know what they're going to do. It's a big summer for them,'' said Williams, who welcomed the news Boozer wants to return to Team USA and said he hadn't talked to him about it.

Colengelo has said he plans to draw up a 25-man roster by late fall for the World Championships, although there could be some additions and deletions by next spring. Then, between 14 and 16 players from that roster will be invited to a training camp next July in Las Vegas, with 12 being picked for Turkey.

"I have no idea,'' said Boozer, who missed more than half of last season due to a knee injury, of there being a chance he wants to play but isn't selected. "If I've got the chance, I would love to do it again. ... Obviously, we'd love to win the gold medal. I'd love to go out there (to Turkey).''

Boozer said he hasn't spoken to Colangelo about his intentions. However, such a discussion is soon expected to occur.

Extension for Brewer?

While Boozer will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, Utah officials are focusing now on whether guard Ronnie Brewer will become a restricted free agent. If Brewer doesn't sign a contract extension by Saturday's deadline, that's what will happen.

Brewer said he's "definitely hopeful,'' a deal will get done, but he didn't want to put a percentage on the chances. He said his agent, Henry Thomas, is continuing to talk with Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor.

"Who knows?'' Brewer said about whether negotiations will go right up to Saturday's deadline. "They might not even have come up with a number yet. Who knows? But right now I'm focusing on the start of the season.''

Brewer said the process hasn't been a distraction. He was asked whether it's more important for get security now or, with the possibility of having a top season, perhaps making more money on a deal next summer.

"Both,'' said Brewer, entering his fourth season after averaging 13.7 points in 2008-09. "Either way. Security is cool. It allows you to play stress-free. But, at the same time, as a player you want to improve every year, and that's what I think I've been doing. And that's what I'm doing this year. If they don't (extend Brewer), I'm just going to have a better season than I had last year.''

In this tough economy, only four members of the 2006 draft class (Toronto's Andrea Bargnani, LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy of Portland and Oklahoma City's Thabo Sefolosha) so far have signed extensions. A agent representing a 2006 first-round pick told FanHouse earlier this week that Brewer, Memphis' Rudy Gay and Boston's Rajon Rondo are the only three players from the class still involved in serious negotiations.

"But I think a lot of guys, even if they don't get extensions now, their team is looking to re-up them at the end of the year because a lot of guys are key parts of (team's) plans,'' Brewer said. "Rudy Gay with Memphis and Rondo and Randy Foye. He got traded (from Minnesota to Washington last summer), but he's been having a pretty good career.''

O'Connor declined comment to FanHouse on how Brewer's negotiations are going. Thomas did not return a message.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.

Boozer Still Wants to Play for Team USA originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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George Karl Stumps for Son Coby

Chris Tomasson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Nuggets, FanHouse Exclusive

DENVER -- George Karl isn't telling the Cleveland Cavaliers how to run their team. Then again, maybe he is.

Karl admits he's providing an "amateur fan evaluation'' regarding his son Coby Karl, a guard for the Cavaliers. But how many fans throwing out opinions on Coby have more than 930 NBA coaching wins?

Unless Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson, Pat Riley, Jerry Sloan, Larry Brown, Phil Jackson, Bill Fitch or Dick Motta have spoken up, that would be none.

George Karl, the coach of the Denver Nuggets, doesn't understand why the Cavaliers might sign guard Antonio Daniels, which could result in his son being waived after making Cleveland's opening-day roster.

"For me, it's kind of crazy picking up a guy that didn't even go through training camp,'' George Karl said in an interview with FanHouse about Daniels, who had his contract bought out last week by Minnesota but never was in the Timberwolves' camp. "Of course, familiarity sometimes makes those decisions easier. I know Mike (Brown, Cleveland's coach) and Antonio were together in San Antonio (early this decade when Brown was an assistant and Daniels a Spurs guard).''

George Karl said he has talked to his son about rumors he soon could be waived. But he believes Coby should have an opportunity to play for the Cavaliers, perhaps ahead of Anthony Parker or Jamario Moon.

"I look at their roster and how they like to play, and I think he does different things than the guys that they have, and he does them well,'' George Karl said of Coby, who was used sparingly as a rookie with the Lakers in 2007-08 and played mostly in Spain last season. "I think he understands the game as a playmaker better than a Parker or a Moon. Moon and Parker are more athletic and better defenders, but there's a piece that Coby does in my mind, I don't know if coach Brown feels the same way.

"In my mind, (Shaquille O'Neal) and LeBron (James) probably like what Coby does. If you got Shaq and LeBron, there's not many other options. So the athleticism of Parker and Moon, when does that window open up? Is it when the bench gets in the game? With LeBron, that's about four to six minutes a game. With Shaq, it's larger. ... In L.A. (Coby) never really could get on the court other than a blowout. I think he's closer to getting on the court.''

Still, it's possible that, if Daniels, 34, is signed, Coby, 26, might not make it past the opener for the Cavaliers, who played host Tuesday night to Boston. Daniels agent, Tony Dutt, told FanHouse his client is looking at options in addition to Cleveland, and that nothing is certain.

"I've heard both,'' George Karl said of whether the Cavaliers might sign Daniels. "I've heard it's going to happen and I've heard from some other agents they don't think that it's going to happen. But it's only agents (talking so far to Karl).''

Even if the Cavaliers do add Daniels, it's possible they could waive guard Jawad Williams, who, like Coby Karl, has a non-guaranteed contract. Nevertheless, the father has told his son rumors likely aren't going away any time soon.

"If it's not Antonio Daniels (that the Cavaliers sign), there will be other gossip,'' said George Karl. "Next week it will be someone else. Next month it will be someone else. That's just the way the system is. For teams trying to win a championship, adding a piece to the puzzle is always a part of our philosophy. ... He's got to take the opportunity and be ready if he gets an opportunity to get on the court.''

If Coby Karl does get cut, his father said he likely will go to the D-League rather than again go overseas because he would want to be available for a return this season to the NBA.

"He's committed to the league,'' George Karl said of his son, who averaged 5.7 points and shot just 26.5 percent in the preseason, although he was hampered a few games by being ill. "He's not going to go even if he's tricked or intrigued by European (teams).''

For now, Coby is still a member of the Cavaliers. And, if you ask George Karl, he should be getting minutes for them.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com

George Karl Stumps for Son Coby originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joe Johnson Questions Hawks' Direction

Tim Povtak — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:15:00 EST

Filed under: Hawks, FanHouse Exclusive

Joe Johnson wants to believe that his Atlanta Hawks are on the verge of being contenders in the Eastern Conference. They should be getting close.

But going into the start of the NBA's regular season next week, Johnson isn't so sure anymore.

"Sometimes, I can't tell if we really want it,'' Johnson told FanHouse after his Hawks were embarrassed by a 37-point loss Friday night in their final exhibition game by the Orlando Magic. "It's discouraging. Sometimes, you never know what you're going to get from this team. And that won't work.''

The Hawks won 47 games last season, improving their win total for the fourth consecutive year in a very patient, well-planned rebuilding project. They also landed the No. 4 seed in the East last spring, winning their first playoff series in 10 years.

"You see flashes of a team here that can play with anyone. ... Then other nights we're horrible, like we've never played together before."
-- Joe Johnson on the HawksBy adding some depth with Jamal Crawford and Joe Smith to the same young, athletic starting lineup, the Hawks should be looking at their first 50-win season since 1998.

"You see flashes of a team here that can play with anyone in the league, a really good team. Then other nights we're horrible, like we've never played together before,'' he said. "We have to decide, which team do we want to be. And right now, I don't know.''

Although it was merely an exhibition game, the Hawks were at full strength Friday night, starting the same lineup that will open the season Wednesday. Johnson had hoped to use the Magic -- the defending Eastern Conference champs -- as a measuring stick for his team.

And if that was the case, they measured awfully short. And as their best player and only All-Star, Johnson took the performance personally, making him wonder if they are ready for the season to start.

He and the rest of the Hawks were hoping that all the preseason talk about the East being a three-team race between Orlando, Boston and Cleveland might allow them to slip quietly into the mix.

"Right now, I'm not worried about those other three teams,'' Johnson said. "I'm worried about the Atlanta Hawks.''

Joe Johnson Questions Hawks' Direction originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When Ron Artest Used to Be 'Ronnie'

Elie Seckbach — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, NBA Videos, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Long before Ron Artest was the NBA star he is today, he caught the attention of college scouts. In this FanHouse exclusive, we hear how he was described as a high school player.

Check out the video after the jump.

When Ron Artest Used to Be 'Ronnie' originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caron Butler Q&A: Saunders Is 'An Offensive Genius'

Matt Watson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Wizards, Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Everyone knows preseason games don't count -- but considering the Wizards won a mere 19 games last season, it's hard not to be encouraged by their 4-3 record heading into Friday's finale.

In fact, Washington's record seems to confirm what many have suggested all summer: The Wizards should be one of the most improved teams in the league.

But before the Wizards turn the page, they re-visited their past, facing former coach Eddie Jordan, now with the 76ers, in a hard-fought win in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Washington forward Caron Butler spoke to FanHouse on Wednesday about facing his friend and former coach, as well as his relief in seeing the locked-out referees return, his expectations for the season, the senseless tragedy at his alma mater and more.

More coverage: FanHouse Preview: Wizards | Player to Watch: Butler

FanHouse: Facing your old coach [on Tuesday] -- I know that you've vacationed with him during the summertime so it wasn't the first time you've seen him - but what was it like going up against him? I know players don't get excited for most preseason games, but did you and your teammates give a little extra for this game?

Caron Butler: It was fun being out there, and it was kind of awkward being on the other side just seeing him on the other end of the bench. But, we understand the nature of the beast, this is how the business works. A lot of guys are still fond of Coach Jordan -- I love him to death and miss him, but that's how things go. Guys really got up for the challenge to go out there and perform at a high level, and I thought they did a great job.

FanHouse: It was a pretty close game with a somewhat controversial ending -- depending on what side you're on - which maybe could be blamed on the replacement refs. I won't make you comment on that -- I'm not trying to take money out of your pocket -- but it sounds like the regular refs have reached a deal, and they're going to be coming back by the regular season. What's your thoughts on that as a player, was that something that you were paying attention to the whole time?

Butler: It's good. Yeah, we were paying attention. Obviously having the refs back is great for the game, it really is. You look at our tradition and our fraternity and they're great for the game. When you see Steve Javie out there, that's when you know you've really arrived. When you got guys like Dick Bavetta calling the game, that's when you know, "Man, I'm here. I made it. They're calling the game, the same guys that were calling the game when Magic and Michael and all those guys were playing. Now they're calling the game while I'm out here." That's special.

FanHouse: A lot of guys were sick [Tuesday] night -- Gilbert Arenas and Mike Miller. It was just the [regular] flu, but there's been a lot of hype and hysteria in the media with swine flu. Is there anything that you guys are doing different this year to avoid that?

Butler: Some of the things that the NBA has advised -- no handshakes, trying to do more of the fist pounds and stuff like that to prevent the spread of flu and germs. ... But for the most part, continuing to wash hands a lot, sanitize, cover your mouth when you sneeze (laughing) -- the basic things. There's only so much you can actually do.

FanHouse: Earlier in the preseason, Gilbert wasn't talking to the media, which goes completely against his personality, at least what we've seen in the past. What was the team's reaction to that? Were you guys surprised by it?

Butler: I was surprised by it. [But] I mean, he just wants to play basketball. I just think he wants to play basketball, he's happy to be back out there and he doesn't want to be bothered right now. He just wants to play basketball. He's been removed from the game which he loves dearly and he hasn't been able to play it over the last couple of years, and now that he is back healthy, that's all he wants to do is play basketball. So I don't think he wants to talk about anything, he just wants to go out there and show improvement.

FanHouse: Have you actually noticed a definite difference about him this year?

Butler: Outside of not talking to the media? That was a huge difference. But as far as just preparation and being who he is on the court, he still looks the same. He's just a great player.

FanHouse: Another common theme that has been unfortunately associated with the Wizards is that it seems like a lot of you guys can't seem to stay healthy at the same time. And just recently, there's Antawn Jamison's injury. Is that really frustrating to think, "Man, if we could all get healthy at the same time ..."

Butler: I just feel like if we can all remain healthy, by the grace of God, we can have an unbelievable year and compete for a title. And that's the goal. And that has always been the goal, to get healthy and compete for something special and be riding down Constitution [Avenue] with the [trophy]. That's a realistic goal with all of our core guys healthy and with the development of the young guys.

FanHouse: The NBA record for improvement in one year is 36 games; that would be a 55-win season for you guys. Is that something that you think is attainable?

Butler: Anything is attainable with this group that we have. We're just trying to go out there and perform at a high level and obviously redeem ourselves from last year, bring a lot of consistency - just prove to people that Wizards basketball is hear to stay. We're back.

FanHouse: Changing topics to a much more serious note: the recent tragedy at UConn. I know that you had a tough upbringing and it seems like college was a place that you really had a chance to get away from that. It just seems like college, that's not the place that you're supposed to have this type of tragic event. What was your reaction to that, and have you reached out to anyone at UConn?

Butler: I've talked to a lot of people in the basketball organization and that's something that hits home and affected everybody: UConn fans, all people were saddened by the news of the death. It's just something that's completely ironic and crazy to happen; I saw it on the news and I was just sitting there in shock, just sad and just hurt for the mother and the family and grieving with them and just wished them the best and hoped the team can balance everything out and be able to go out there and still perform at a high level for him and do the right thing in his memory. And hopefully justice is done and hopefully they get the suspect, because that's sad for something like that to happen on campus for a kid that's a college kid doing the right thing, going to school and being a great student-athlete.

FanHouse: Getting back to something a little more light-hearted - Twitter has invaded professional sports and the NBA was definitely at the forefront of that. But unless I'm mistaken, I haven't found a Twitter account for you yet.

Butler: I'm not on Twitter.

FanHouse: Is that something you plan on trying out?

Butler: I'm cool. (Laughing)

FanHouse: People don't need to know that much about you?

Butler: No, I'm fine, man. (Laughing)

FanHouse: I was thinking of things that would have blown up on Twitter in the past, two years ago when you went to that kid's birthday party - maybe you do that all the time, maybe this was just the time it got in the news. But have you been to any birthday parties lately for your fans?

Butler: Not lately, not lately. (Laughing) I actually moved out of that neighborhood - I'm kind of in the boonies now by myself - but I was staying in a cul-de-sac close to a lot of people and a lot of residents knew that I was in the neighborhood and I used to get invites to things all the time. And I always went, I always did the right thing, I went and had a great time with people, so it was just funny coincidence that [it made news] - I was at a birthday party just having a good time, watching basketball, eating pizza. (Laughing) It was crazy.

FanHouse: Last thing, I was wondering what your thoughts were about Flip Saunders coming in. He obviously had a lot of success with the Pistons and it seems like the team has clicked a little bit with him. What are your impressions of him so far?

Butler: He's great. He's an offensive genius. He's a great coach to play for and I love him for numerous reasons but the one that really stuck out was him coming in the summer and reaching out to me. I've never had a coach do that. You know, you get the phone calls saying, "welcome to our team, great having you, look forward to coaching you," but he actually was a guy that came out with me on numerous occasions and told me expectations that he placed upon me and what he expected and I look forward to the challenge.

FanHouse: I was reading that he said that he learned a bit from his time in Detroit in going and making sure that he did all that and meeting all the players. Did you have any expectations about him coming in or was it a blank slate, you didn't know what to expect.

Butler: It was blank. I heard so many things from KG and Sam Cassell about he's a great guy to play for, but everybody has to experience everything on their own, and I was just waiting for the opportunity to meet him and feel him out, and it's been great. So far, so good, it's been unbelievable.

FanHouse: For a guy who can do what he can do with offense, it's got to be pretty exciting to pair him with the talent on your team.

Butler: We've got a very versatile team, and to have somebody with an offensive mindset like him who knows what to do with it, I think it's going to be great. I'm looking forward to the season.

Caron Butler Q&A: Saunders Is 'An Offensive Genius' originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vujacic Gets Out of a Hairy Situation

Elie Seckbach — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Lakers, NBA Videos, FanHouse Exclusive

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

It was about a year a go when Sasha Vujacic ("The Machine") signed a three-year contact with the Lakers. One of the lines in the contract read that Sasha was not required to cut his hair. After a long season of being in a hairy situation, "The Machine" showed up at training camp with a new look.

We caught up with Sasha during a recent charity event hosted by Kobe alongside Clippers players Chris Kaman and Eric Gordon.

Check out the video after the jump.

Vujacic Gets Out of a Hairy Situation originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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