NBA FanHouse

Andrew Bogut Wants Five More Years of Brats, Beer and Cheese

Matt Watson — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:50:00 EST

Filed under: Bucks, Eastern, Milwaukee, NBA Transactions

John Hammond has had an awfully busy first few months as the Bucks GM, finding a coach, preparing for the draft and swinging a semi-blockbuster deal for Richard Jefferson. He can now cross one more thing off his list: giving his franchise center an extension.

Andrew Bogut has agreed on a five-year deal that could be worth up to $72.5 million, including $60 million of guaranteed money. That's not quite as much per year as Chris Paul (who was selected three spots below Bogut in 2005 and recently agreed to a four-year, $68 million deal), but it's certainly a hefty raise and will easily set him up for life. Bogut is in Australia at the moment preparing for the Olympics with his country's national team, but he's expected to fly to the U.S. so he can officially put pen to paper on Friday.

It's still unclear what Hammond's master plan looks like (will Michael Redd remain part of the picture? will Ramon Sessions supplant Mo Williams as the team's point guard of the future), but locking up his up-and-coming big man was a no-brainer. Sure, the Bucks would probably take Paul or Deron Williams if given a do-over on the 2005 draft, but if Bogut continues to improve at his current pace he could be an All-Star this coming season.

Andrew Bogut Wants Five More Years of Brats, Beer and Cheese originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse's Interview with Dwyane Wade

Will Brinson — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Eastern, NBA Fans, NBA Media Watch, Miami, The Word

This morning, World Champion NBA guard and All-World charity machine Dwyane Wade took some time out of his busy day -- chillin' in the G2 lounge is hard work, people -- to answer some questions from FanHouse about blogging diarying, the Olympics, Mike Beasley, Supernintendo Chalmers, Zo's Summer Groove and his iPod.

Will Brinson: Dwyane, what's up, man? Good morning and thanks for taking time to chat with FanHouse.

Dwyane Wade: Good morning, Will. Thanks for having me on, man.

WB: For there not being any games on, the NBA is pretty hectic right now, and suddenly the East looks pretty tough, especially with yesterday's craziness. What are your thoughts on where the Heat stand for 2008-09 in terms of addressing needs at the draft and free agency to get back to where you guys were a few years ago?

DW: Well, we were very excited about the guys we picked up in the draft this year. You know Beasley has a chance to be special -- a great player -- and Chalmers is a guy that could shock a lot of people. I can't believe he even fell to the second round, to the 34th pick, so we're very, very excited about getting those two guys.

I think we approach free agency very cautiously as well. We have a couple names, a couple guys we're targeting. But it's all about putting the right pieces together, not about the big names every summer, it's about adding the right pieces to the team and Coach Riley has done a great job with that.

WB: Yeah, a few days ago you'd mentioned -- at your basketball camp I think -- that you wanted to be less involved with setting up the offense, and that you guys wanted to look for a guy who could "make plays". You think Mario Chalmers is that type of guy?

DW: Well, I think he can be. No question about it, he can be molded to be. But I think we need to put a veteran guard around him to really help him out and fast-track his progress.

It's kind of like when I came in, I played point guard out of college and they brought Bimbo Coles in, a veteran guy to really help me with that transition.

I think it was misunderstood though, I do want to handle the ball, no question about it, and I love having the ball in my hands, but I don't want to go back to my rookie year where I have to be the point guard and bring the ball up all the time. I want to be able to work on the wings and different areas of the court.

WB: Yeah, of course -- I didn't mean to imply that you didn't want the ball - I think everyone in Miami wants the ball in your hands. [Awkward laughter all around]

Alright, you're blogging these days, or diarying, or whatever they're referring to it at the Sun-Times...wanna tell us about that?

DW: Yeah, man. I think it's an unbelievable opportunity for our fans to hear some of the things that are going on behind the scenes from my point of view or from an Olympic point of view.

So I'm doing these diaries - I ain't gonna say blogs - on and off camera just trying to give them a little inside scoop behind the scenes following us on our road to redemption to the Gold Medal.

WB: Cool. I noticed you're, and I'm not sure if that's Sun-Times nounage (Ed. Note: It is so a word) or not, avoiding the term "blogging". Do you ever read other blogs out there or do you ever google yourself to see what rumors are floating around, just out of personal curiosity?

DW: Oh, no question. We all do. A lot of people, you know, look on different sites. Some people use if for motivation and some people just want to hear what's been said, whether it's been good or not.

If I read a blog, I probably read Gilbert [Arenas]'s blog, man, because you never know what that guy's gonna say. And I know he's one of the first ones, in terms of professional athletes, or NBA players, to start a blog. And so I...No question, in this world we live in today, gossip and rumors are a part of the world, so you've check out and see what's being said about not only you but others and go from there.

WB: Most definitely. I saw in your first diary the other day that you said LeBron is a real prankster on and off the court. That kind of contrasts with the corporate Nike image. Is he just that wide open in person when you get down to it?

DW: If you're around LeBron, you'll see, man, you know, he's not a serious guy unless he's on the court. When he's off the court, he's loud, he's funny, he makes everybody feel comfortable. He's not a guy who walks around like 'I'm LeBron James, I'm the next coming and don't mess with me.'

He walks around like he's a friend to everybody and to anybody. And you know, we enjoy that LeBron because we know he's going to be the one that says stuff that everyone is going to want to say, or start it off at least. And with him being one of my good friends, not only in the NBA but in life period, I enjoy him and his personality off the court.

WB: Well, your draft class, with you and Bosh and Melo and Bron it seems like you've got a pretty tight core group of guys. Is that a group you envision Team USA keeping together for the next few years?

DW: Well, you know, when you go through a summer with different people and you get to know them and things about them and get to know their familes, and going through this process of winning - and even sometimes through the process of losing - you we all gain these friendships and these long lasting relationships because you're kind of bonded at the hip. So I'm sure a lot of relationships will already come out; but the good thing is the relationships have already been established from the last 2-3 years with us all being a part of the Olympic team.

WB: Speaking of relationships, I notice you've been hanging out with Zo a lot these days. If I understand this right, you're on the inner circle of the Zo Summer Groove now? Is that right?

DW: Yessir, yessir. Me and Alonzo have teamed up to partner up in the ZSG and we're introducing me this year. And you know, it's really for both our foundations. I mean, I went to Alonzo and told him 'I really want to be a part of this, not for the fanfare, but because I want to do something for Miami and you wants to do something for Miami and so I think it would be better if we team up', and we're that much stronger for what we can do with our efforts.

So you know, we've teamed up this weekend and that kicks off really tomorrow with a golf event and ends Sunday with the All Star Game, and actually, my friends LeBron and Chris Paul and Caron Butler will come out and be a part of it. It's just going to be a great weekend, so you know right now I'm sitting in the G2 Lounge and as the commericials say, I'm "living the G2 life" right now.

I'm in here playing Wii bowling and pool and Alonzo's on his way in now so we can play against each other. And you know, it's all for our charities - Alonzo Mourning Charities, Dwyane Wade Foundation - it's all for a good cause.

WB: Well, hey, I've been watching the vids online at drinkG2.com, and I just gotta know, the G2 Lounge - I know you guys had one setup at the Super Bowl and had one set up at the All Star Game - is there a permanent G2 Lounge in Miami? Or is it always temporary?

DW: No, it's not permanent. They actually put this lounge up - I just came in to see it today - you walk in it looks like Miami, it feels like Miami, it's a calm demeanor in here. It's just real laid back; I got up at seven-something this morning and I'm still laid back, chillin'.

I got ESPN on one channel and we got tv's all over the place. Best Buy did a great job of coming in and hooking things up in here with Gatorade. You know, it all works out - G2 Lounge has been great everywhere they had it from the Super Bowl to the All Star Game and now in Miami.

WB: And obviously the bar is well stocked [DW: Well-stocked.] with low-carb, electrolyte replenishing goodness.

DW: Oh, no question, man. And I think one thing about G2 that's been catching onto people is that this is a drink not only for athletes but for anyone who has an active lifestyle. And it's not only low calories, but it's a hydrator. And it's been really catching on. I've seen so many more people drinking G2 and getting away from drinking so much Gatorade and Propel's and they've been adding G2 into the mix and I'm proud of that,being one of the faces of that drink, makes me feel good about the direction we're going in.

WB: Right on, right on. Random question on the way out: what's playing on Dwyane Wade's Ipod these days?

DW: On my Ipod? Well, I have 18,000 songs on my iPod [WB: Get out, man!] - yeah, so I'm able to play almost anything.

WB: Anything heavy in your rotation lately?

DW: Well, I think the main thing is I'm into the R&B/hip-hop culture and I know most of the guys, like Kanye from Chicago, I'm always rocking Kanye, you know, Jeezy from Atlanta, R. Kelly's from Chicago, Common's from Chicago, to name a few. So, I know all the guys and women that are big into R&B, so I'm fans of them and friends of them as well.

WB: Good deal. Well, look, Dwyane, on behalf of FanHouse and AOL, I want to thank you for taking the time out to talk to us this morning.

DW: Not a problem, not a problem. Thanks for having us on and worrying about and caring about our cause, we really appreciate it.

WB: Hey, absolutely, and don't work out up a sweat in the G2 lounge or anything.

DW: Haha. Don't worry, I won't.

FanHouse's Interview with Dwyane Wade originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Nets Aren't Kidding About Brooklyn

Matt Moore — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:18:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, Eastern, New York

On Tuesday night, the New Jersey Nets held a reception for about 40 season ticket holders at the Barclays Showroom in Midtown Manhattan. That would be the showroom in advance of the Barclays Center. And that, dear friends, is where the Nets have been rumored to be moving in 2010. There's been a lot of speculation about the development, whether it will get done, how the progress is going, and if the New Jersey Nets might end up just staying in New Jersey.

The Nets have news for you. Brooklyn's the spot.

At the reception, team officials told the ticket-holders that "Brooklyn is happening" and said they plan to break ground on the new development in the fall.

Go ahead. Insert your own LeBron James joke here.

The team also verified that they will be called the Brooklyn Nets, and that there might be a logo and color change. No word yet on whether they intend to change the logo to a silhouette of James. But don't worry, Cleveland fans. What with your dramatic trade for Michael Redd... no. Well, I mean, with the fact that you landed Elton Brand...no. Um... no worries! Everything's fine!

The Nets Aren't Kidding About Brooklyn originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marbury's Fate Won't Be Decided Soon

Matt Watson — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Knicks, Eastern, NBA Rumors, New York

You have to feel a little sorry for Stephon Marbury. Not only is today the day that Steve & Barry's, the company that produces his signature shoe line, expected to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but it's also the day that Chris Duhon, the man Donnie Walsh recruited to replace him in the starting lineup, can officially sign with the Knicks.

But while losing his biggest endorsement and (most likely) his starting gig has to sting, at least he can go to bed at night sleeping on a pile of money. He's set to make $21 million this year, the final year of his contract, and there's a good chance he won't have to do anything to earn it. While he's still going through the motions of preparing to play for the Knicks this year, no one on the team actually expects that he'll be around come the start of the season. From Alah Hahn of Newsday:

Most of the Knicks players aren't expecting Marbury to be there, despite his reported plans to come to Las Vegas this weekend to participate in voluntary workouts with other Knicks veterans while the team prepares for the NBA Summer League opener Monday. Marbury's effort to show up in Vegas is viewed by some teammates as a ploy, not a sincere effort.

"He's trying to show he's still dedicated," said one Knicks player, who asked not to be identified. "Come on, man, your teammates know. We see it every year."

Assuming he does get bought out (a salary dump trade would be difficult given the Knicks' desire to avoid taking on long-term contracts in return), there's a good chance that he'll stick around in the NBA -- assuming, of course, he doesn't make good on his vow to play in Italy. But according to Hahn, Walsh won't make his final decision until late in the summer until he exhausts all of his options.

Everyone knows that Marbury is a disaster waiting to happen when he's the face of the franchise and the highest-paid player on the team. But as a backup point guard on a team with an established heirarchy already in place, he could end up being a bargain. Hahn suggests the Spurs, Celtics, Warriors and Heat as possible destinations. I think he'd be better off going someplace where he knows he's just a small piece of the puzzle and won't overestimate his own value, so I'd cross Miami and Golden State off that list.

But either way, expect to see Marbury in the league next year -- he just won't be wearing blue and orange.

Marbury's Fate Won't Be Decided Soon originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miami Extends Offer to Jones, Already Wants to Give Chalmers a Raise

Matt Watson — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:59:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Eastern, NBA Rumors, Miami

As currently constructed, the Heat don't have a whole lot of room under the salary cap, but they may be able to fill a glaring need for outside shooting by inking James Jones, who hit 43.7% of his shots from long distance last year for the Trail Blazers. From Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

With the free-agent signing period to commence at midnight, a five-year offer has been extended to Jones, starting at $4 million for next season. The final three years of the contract would be conditional, to protect the Heat for the 2010 free-agency period.

Jones has yet to commit, but working in the team's favor is the fact that he'd be returning home -- he was born and raised in Miami and spent four years at the University of Miami before being drafted. Winderman doesn't offer up any other info about the last three conditional seasons, but I'm going to go out on a limb and predict those will be team option years.

It's unclear what his arrival would mean for the rest of the roster -- certainly Dorrel Wright and Daequan Cook can't be thrilled -- but this team sorely missed having Jason Kapono and James Posey stretch the defense last year. (It also "sorely missed" having anyone stay healthy for longer than five games at a time, but that's beside the point.)

Also interesting is the news that the Heat will apparently use "part of its salary cap exemptions to sign second-round pick Mario Chalmers," which would allow them to sign him for more than the rookie minimum. With only two summer league games under his belt, he's already convinced the Heat he's the real deal, and it could be a sign that the early speculation of Chalmers starting for the Heat this year might come true. It's not often you see a second-round pick start as a rookie -- especially at the point guard position -- but Chalmers was widely regarded a as first-round-caliber talent before inexplicably falling on draft day.

Miami Extends Offer to Jones, Already Wants to Give Chalmers a Raise originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elton Brand Spurns California, Verbally Commits to Philly

Matt Watson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Warriors, Clippers, Eastern, Western, Los Angeles, Oakland, Philadelphia, The Word

For much of the last week, most basketball fans assumed that Elton Brand was either going to a) re-sign with the Clippers; or b) grab the pile of money that Baron Davis left behind with the Warriors. Instead, he surprised everyone by choosing c) none of the above, leaving behind the Western Conference entirely in favor of the 76ers. From the Los Angeles Times:

Elton Brand has reached a verbal agreement to sign a multiyear contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, according to an NBA source who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on player movements.

The deal is believed to be in the $80-million range and expected to span five years.

Okay, this wasn't a complete surprise -- there were rumblings last night that this might be a possibility, and Philly's salary dump of a trade earlier today was obviously setting up a larger move -- but it has to feel like a kick in the ribs to Clippers fans dreaming of Brand and B.Dizzle leading the Clips back to the playoffs.

Until the last 48 hours or so, the Sixers were believed to be focusing most of their interest on Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith, but the addition of Brand, who's much more polished offensively, and the expected return of Andre Iguodala, who's a restricted free agent himself, makes the 76ers instant contenders in the East with an intriguing core of youth and experience. This is a team that gave the Pistons fits in the first round this past year even without a legitimate low-post scoring threat. If Brand regains his All-Star form and Philly's youngsters continue to develop, there's no telling what kind of damage they can do in 2007-08.

Elton Brand Spurns California, Verbally Commits to Philly originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Ewing - Knicks Interview Because the Magic Were in the Playoffs ... Suuuuure, Donnie

Will Brinson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Knicks, Magic, Eastern, NBA Rumors, New York

Patrick Ewing is considered one of the most popular New York Knicks of all time. He is also a coach on a professional basketball team. You would think, then, that he might get a shot at some sort of coaching position with the 'Bockers should spots in the staff clear out. They did, and he did not.

So, uh, what gives Donnie Walsh? You know, since you never told him the first time around.

Ewing, head coach of Orlando's summer-league team, said he spoke with Knicks President Donnie Walsh during the predraft camp in Orlando.

"Donnie just said why I didn't get an interview [with the Knicks] was because we [the Magic] were in the playoffs," Ewing said.

Asked why the Knicks couldn't wait until Orlando's postseason ended, Ewing said, laughing, "I don't know. That's what I was told."

Right. That's like saying that you never called a girl you met because your cellphone. (Read: Come up with a better fib.) Ewing did not get the call because, as Ziller has previously mentioned, he likes to chat it up with dancers before the game instead of preparing his players.

So, it's not a real knock on Walsh for using that excuse, but a simple "I wanted to let Mike fill out his own staff, Pat" would have sufficed.

No Ewing - Knicks Interview Because the Magic Were in the Playoffs ... Suuuuure, Donnie originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darius Miles Could Really Screw the Blazers

Matt Watson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:05:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, Trail Blazers, Suns, Eastern, Western, NBA Injuries, NBA Rumors, Boston, Phoenix

Darius Miles hasn't appeared in an NBA game since 2006, and in April it was determined by a doctor appointed by both the NBA and the Players Association that his injured knees were so messed up that he'd likely never play again.

Though the Blazers (or more likely, their insurance company) still have to pay the man, that doom and gloom prognosis allowed the team to shave the remaining $18 million he's due over the next two years off the salary cap. But there's a catch: in order for the Blazers to stay in the clear, Miles can't return to the NBA -- or more specifically, he can't appear in at least 10 games over the next two years.

Trouble is, that's exactly what he's trying to do. The Boston Globe says he had "an impressive workout" with the Celtics, and the East Valley Tribune reports (via Shoals) the Suns have also inquired about his services. If he can convince some team out there to take a chance on him and he sees even spot duty this year, he could end up sabotaging Portland's master plan.

What are the chances he actually has any game left? If you remember, Miles proclaimed himself "90% healthy" last December when he was cleared to resume conditioning drills with his teammates, and it wasn't until problems with his Achilles tendon surfaced that he was officially ruled out last year.

In hindsight, it's possible the Achilles thing was just a minor speed bump, the natural by-product of resuming NBA workouts (and dropping 30 pounds) after two years of relative inactivity. And if that's the case, it's probably just a matter of who Miles ends up with, not if someone will take a shot.

Yes, there are some character issues (he'd have to sit out the first 10 games of the season for violating the league's drug policy), and even though it seems like he's been in the league forever, he's still just 26 years old. Stranger things have happened than a former lottery pick getting a second chance. He'll never be the same player he once was, but if all he costs is the veteran's minimum, it wouldn't cost much to see just how close to being that player he can get.

And if that happens, then things just got a lot more complicated for the Blazers.

Darius Miles Could Really Screw the Blazers originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Philly Wants a Shot at Elton Brand, Too

Matt Watson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Warriors, Clippers, Eastern, Western, NBA Rumors, Los Angeles, Oakland, Philadelphia

Elton Brand has a generous offer on the table to stay with the Clippers, and an even larger offer on the table to bolt for the Warriors. But while most of the discussion surrounding his options has centered on those two teams, it's at least possible that he might bolt California completely and head back east.

That's crazy talk, right? Probably, but according to ESPN's Marc Stein, the 76ers have officially thrown their hat in the ring. It's true the Sixers have been connected to restricted free agent Josh Smith since the offseason began, but the team wants to do it's due diligence by gauging Brand's interest before tying up their finances by signing Smith to an offer sheet and waiting seven days while the Hawks decide if they're going to match it or not.

I can't say I'm completely surprised -- Smith has all the potential in the world, but Brand is a proven product and (when healthy) one of the most consistent big men in the game today. Smith would make the Sixers a joy to watch; Brand would get the Sixers out of the first round.

If this comes down to a pure bidding war, no one can top the Warriorrs, but Stein's sources say that if Brand leaves LA, he'd prefer to join the Sixers, where there's a solid nucleus in place and fewer contenders to deal with.

That said, even if Brand is open to signing with Sixers, the team would still need to juggle their roster to make it happen, renouncing rights to a handful of players as well as trading Rodney Carney (and possibly Calvin Booth) for future draft picks who won't count against this year's cap. It could happen, but it wouldn't happen overnight.

(Granted, the Clippers could theoretically trump everyone by adding a sixth year, but that's not a realistic option considering the team needs to technically renounce Brand's rights in order to have the cap space to sign Baron Davis.)

Whatever happens, expect a decision soon. The league will officially announce its salary cap numbers tonight, at which point every team will know exactly how much they can afford to offer. The smart money is still on Brand remaining a Clipper -- Davis doesn't think it's even a question -- but you can't blame a guy for allowing himself to be courted when he's clearly the most attractive free agent left on the market.

Philly Wants a Shot at Elton Brand, Too originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beasley's Dominance Punctuates First Day of Orlando Summer League

Matt Moore — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, Bulls, Pacers, Heat, Magic, Eastern, Chicago, Indianapolis, Miami, Summer League, Oklahoma City

Hey, it's the first day. It's the Summer League. It was one game. The first game. Of the Summer League. It's a long week, a long season, a long career. And I'm going to doubt any of that makes Chicago fans that were paying attention to the first day of the NBA's Orlando Summer League feel better, or Miami fans feel worse about today's little exhibition.

Michael Beasley was, in a word, brilliant. 28 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block in 22 minutes. He could have been playing against D-Leaguers, the Harlem Globetrotters, or Mrs. Wormtail's second grade class, those are some slick numbers. That he did it against No.1 overall pick Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls, in the midst of a 94-70 whupping made it all the more emphatic. The Heat dominated this game, even as Chicago started Rose, Joakim Noah, and Tyrus Thomas, who you may recognize as starters and heavy rotation guys. Not exactly a pretty start, even if its easy to brush off, given the absurd context of the Magic's practice facility in a meaningless exhibition in which D-League MVP Kasib Powell scored 15 and Keith Langford and Demetris Nichols led the Bulls. Beasley's game was in full effect today, as he worked his mid-range, long-range, post-work, and driving abilities. In a league that's meant to be used as a scrimmage clinic, Beasley put on one.

In the first game of the day, Russell Westbrook debuted for the Oklahoma Whatchamacallits (name to be decided later), with 18 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Sophomore Jeff Green added 21 points, but in the end the Indiana Pacers squad was victorious behind Andre Emmett's 15, and Earl Calloway's 16 points, 7 assists. Westbrook was the star of the game, though. Not only did he direct the offense and display both aggressiveness and restraint when it was called for, he only accumulated 1 turnover in 30 minutes, which is great for a rookie point guard (like, oh, say, Derrick Rose who had 5 turnovers. But who's counting?).

In the nightcap, the New Jersey Nets used a whole lot of resentment by Brook Lopez who dropped in the draft, to Chris Douglas Roberts who plummeted to the second round, to Jaycee Carroll, who fell out of the draft completely, to dominate the host Orlando Magic. Lopez had 10 points, CDR had 15 points and 5 boards, and Jaycee Carroll, out of Utah State, had 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. In 20 minutes. Jeez. For the Magic, rookie Courtney Lee had 13 points and Derrick Byars had 15. But the Nets slaughtered the Magic in the paint, 40-18. That's kind of a lot, especially for a Magic squad that had a significant size advantage it would seem.

The story of the day,though, was obviously Rose vs. Beasley. And while Beasley was busy getting his, Rose was having severe issues with Heat second round pick Mario Chalmers. Chalmers has been outspoken about his intentions to get significant minutes for the point guard deficient Heat, and today he made a pretty strong case. Chalmers had 11 points and 6 rebounds for the Heat, and did a great job of guarding Rose. It's only one day, and Rose did show flashes of offensive brilliance, driving to the basket in the second half, but overall it was a little disappointment after all the hype. For Michael Beasley, it was just another fun day at the office.

Beasley's Dominance Punctuates First Day of Orlando Summer League originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dwyane Wade Realizes the Need for Help, Wants a Point Guard

Matt Moore — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Eastern, Miami

Dwyane Wade has seen his career evolve to a constant state of duplicity. There are always mirror images of status as a superstar. For example, he's simultaneously a fearless aggressor who has an uncanny ability to get to the rim, and attacks with such determination he's almost impossible to stop, even if you foul him. On the other, he winds up spending more time on his back than that chick I dated in college whose nickname I later found out was "Easy McGee." On one hand, he's a spectacular combo guard who's best when he's creating something off the dribble, using his quickness and athleticism to create separation. On the other, he can be a turnover machine when he's in charge of getting the ball up the floor. Last season was a microcosm of those problems, as he missed a substantial time due to a variety of injuries, but still didn't shut it down until late in the season (Pat Riley, I'm raising an eyebrow at you), and his turnovers were at an all-time high.

It looks like Wade has turned a corner of sorts, though. In a recent report by Ira Winderman of the Miami Sun-Sentinel, Wade indicated that he would welcome help at the point position.

"Do I want to set up the offense every time? No, I don't want to do that," he said, as his basketball camp wound down at Florida International University. "I would love to get somebody else in that can handle the ball, as well, at times, and make plays."

So what exactly does this mean, given the scarcity of the free agent market?It's unlikely that Wade's going to get much help this season. As you may have heard, Baron Davis is a Clipper. Monta Ellis is probably not going anywhere. The options after that are pretty slim pickings. You've got Tyronn Lue, but it looks like he's shopping for a contender. Stephon Marbury might become available ... but ... um ... oh, let's go ahead and say it. Heat fans would rather throw themselves off of a pier, preferably a very tall one.

So more than likely, the Heat are looking at a series of stop-gaps or shopping for a trade, which is more likely. And then there's always rookie Mario Chalmers, who's no slouch, and could be a welcome surprise for the Heat. Still, the new position by Wade represents a step forward in his maturity as a player, and a willingness to not put too much on his shoulders. Wade is undoubtedly one of the league's premier players when he's in a system that facilitates his talents. Understanding that will get his career and his team back on track, even if the talent is not yet there.

Dwyane Wade Realizes the Need for Help, Wants a Point Guard originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Duhon Decides New York Is the Place for Him to Battle for a Starting Spot

Matt Moore — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Knicks, Magic, Eastern, New York

Just the other day, I asked myself, "What do the Knicks need?" And of course the answer is "Another offensively shaky and underwhelming point guard!" Because you can never really have enough of those.

It is in that spirit that the Knicks today signed free agent point guard Chris Duhon to a two year, $6.5 million contract. The former Bull is expected to compete with Stephen Marbury for the starting point guard spot, according to the report by the New York Post today.

Duhon does have some potential. He scored 34 against Golden State this year (but then again, who didn't score against Golden State), and had 22 against Milwaukee. He also had a whole lot of the dreaded DNP-CDs. He's solid in some spots, brilliant occasionally, terrible in stretches, and mediocre a lot of the time. However, you have to wonder how much of that was the coaching in Chicago which was less than supportive of guard play. Compare that with D'Antoni's speed-first guard system, and this could turn out well.

The Magic were said to be heavily interested in Duhon as support for Jameer Nelson, but apparently their indecision on Duhon versus Keyon Dooling was enough to convince Duhon to head to New York, for what may have been less money. With Duhon off the books, it's likely that Dooling will resign with Orlando.

Chris Duhon, Jared Jeffries, Danilo Gallinari, and Zach Randolph. Let's get excited, Big Apple!

Chris Duhon Decides New York Is the Place for Him to Battle for a Starting Spot originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Arenas Will Remain with the Wizards for the Low, Low Price of $111 Million

Will Brinson — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Wizards, Eastern, NBA Rumors, Washington, DC

Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards fan and bloggers everywhere can breathe easy: Gilbert Arenas has agreed to ink a lower-than-max deal which will reportedly pay him $111 million over six years.

Arenas told the Washington Times and Washington Post that he was offered a maximum deal in the neighborhood of $127 million on Tuesday, the first day of the free agency period.

"(The Wizards) offered me the max, and I'm basically giving back $16 million," Arenas told the Washington Times from China, where [he] is traveling as part of promotional tour for a shoe company. "This is in line with what I've been saying the whole time. You see players take max deals and they financially bind their teams. I don't wanna be one of those players and three years down the road your team is strapped and can't do anything about it."

Jamison was putting the screws on Arenas to resign, Wizards fans were worried they would be mediocre and fail to entertain, and well, we bloggers just like Hibachi hanging out in the capitol. It makes for good news.

Arenas had two separate max deals on the table from the Wizards and the Warriors, but no one really thought he was going to do anything other than sign again with Washington.

Agent Zero also noted that he took less than the max, and that is true. So kudos to him, but remember, Jamison did the same thing so Gil could get paid, and without any additional cap space, this is a second round team. In other words, not taking the max actually benefits Arenas in the long run as well.

Arenas Will Remain with the Wizards for the Low, Low Price of $111 Million originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sean May Is Not Only Alive, but May Actually Make Camp (No Pun Intended)

Matt Moore — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:16:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Eastern, Carolina

Lost in the dismal implosion of the Bobcats last season, which was neither a bang, nor a whimper, but a kind of depressing grunt, was the myriad of injuries they were forced to endure. The biggest of which was Sean May.

Now, May wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire before his succumbing to microfracture surgery last October on a knee that's been bothering him since he was drafted, but he is a valuable asset to the new Bobcats regime. On top of that North Carolina connection that the Cats are so fond of, May provides them with a scoring presence inside, which will help to ease the dismay held by Bobcats' fans after their selection of D.J. Augustin.

So it's good news then, that May is reported to be cleared for basketball activities, will be hanging around the team in Las Vegas for Summer League, and will "definitely be at camp in October." May may not be the key to unlocking the puzzle of the Bobcats' stagnant growth, but he could be a significant improvement for the team under new head coach Larry Brown.

Sean May Is Not Only Alive, but May Actually Make Camp (No Pun Intended) originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Beasley Leaves His First NBA Practice With a Chest Injury

Matt Watson — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:05:00 EST

Filed under: Heat, Eastern, NBA Injuries, Miami

On Wednesday, Michael Beasley experienced his first official "welcome to the NBA" moment. A man amongst boys in college, Beasley lasted just 45 minutes into his first NBA practice before leaving with a chest injury:

Beasley was struck in the chest by an inadvertent elbow during a defensive drill about 45 minutes into Miami's first summer-league workout session Wednesday, and the No. 2 overall pick in last week's NBA draft was taken to a doctor for observation.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the move was strictly precautionary and should not affect Beasley's availability for Miami's five-games-in-five-days run through the Orlando summer league, which opens Monday.

"He took a shot to the chest," Spoelstra said. "He probably could have finished if it was the regular season or something like that, but we just wanted to be safe."

Spoelstra isn't sure who knocked Beasley out of commission, but I'm not surprised a meaningless workout in July got so "inadvertantly" physical. The summer league isn't a bunch of veterans who know how to pace themselves; no, it's mostly a bunch of over-eager youngsters and journeymen trying to catch a coach's eye -- and what can be more impressive than out-working the No. 2 pick? Yeah, it's fine line -- actually knocking the golden boy out of commission won't earn anyone bonus points with the coaching staff -- but Beasley still went from being the big man on campus to a marked man overnight.

Michael Beasley Leaves His First NBA Practice With a Chest Injury originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forget His First Step, Derrick Rose's Lead Foot Makes News

Matt Watson — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:25:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Eastern, NBA Police Blotter, Chicago

As the first overall draft pick, Derrick Rose has some big shoes to fill. Somewhat amazingly, he's already topped LeBron James in at least one category ... albeit an embarrassing one. In December, James was ticketed for driving 101 mph in a 65 mph zone, but Rose beat that indiscretion easily, getting caught going 106 in a 65 back in late April.

Wait, this happened back in April? Why are we just now finding out about this? That's a great question -- in the hype machine that is pre-draft coverage, it's actually quite amazing that Rose's camp was able to keep this under wraps. The only reason we found out about it is because Rose's attorney spoke with the media on Tuesday, admitting that his client will have a court appearance later this month.

At least Rose isn't following completely in LeBron's footsteps. In his first comments after the news broke about his ticket, LeBron admitted that it probably wouldn't stop him from speeding in the future, saying it's "not a big deal to me." Rose, on the other hand, showed far more poise by saying, "I know I did something dumb. I made a big mistake. I'm very sorry, and I can only promise that it will never happen again."

Rose's attorney was quick to stress that Rose's driving record was otherwise clean. Color me not surprised: the guy is 19 years old, he's been driving for, what, three years? I'll be more impressed if this is his only ticket three years from now.

I know, I know, people generally don't get too upset about speeding when alcohol isn't involved -- and there wasn't in this case -- but that's just because most people don't fully appreciate the danger in maneuvering a two-ton steel missle hurdling down the road in excess of 100 mph. Rose was pulled over at 3 am, and the distance it'd take him to brake far exceeded the reach of his headlights. Accidents may not happen often, but when they do, they almost always result in the worst-case scenario if you're driving this fast, especially when you're a relatively inexperienced driver.

(via BallHype)

Forget His First Step, Derrick Rose's Lead Foot Makes News originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Falling To the Second Round Could Make Chris Douglas-Roberts a Very Rich Man

Matt Watson — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:50:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, Eastern, NBA Draft

Chris Douglas-Roberts didn't anticipate to freefall all the way to the 40th pick last week, but he plans on making the team who passed him up pay. "Big chip. Big. That's the biggest motivation I have. Getting picked 40, I'm gonna write a book," he said during his introductory press conference.

According to multiple published reports, CDR refused to work out for teams with a low first-round pick, apparently taking for granted that he'd be long gone before they'd have a chance to draft him. Once he slipped a few spots below what he anticipated, he was stuck in no man's land with a bunch of teams he shunned no longer showing any interest in him. Fortunately he had worked out for the Nets before the draft, though at the time he was thinking they'd take him 21st overall instead of 40th.

In any case, a lot of people have chided CDR for his arrogance, citing the fact that it cost him a chance at the guaranteed contract all first-round picks receive. But if CDR is half as good as he thinks he is, this will end up being a blessing in disguise.

You see, second-round picks who blossom into stars end up making the big dollars a lot sooner than their first-round counterparts. Gilbert Arenas, Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer are all examples of players who broke the bank after proving themselves their first two years in the league, quickly making up all the money they lost and then some. Had they been first-round picks, they wouldn't have had a chance to test the open market until after their fourth year in the league.

In fact, CDR doesn't even need to be All-Star bound to make up that money -- he simply needs to show a little promise. Take the case of Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson in Detroit. The two forwards were both drafted in 2005, but Maxiell, who spent four years in college, was able to crack the rotation by his second year, whereas Johnson, drafted out of high school, saw most of his meaningful minutes his first two years in the D-League.

But because Johnson was a second-round pick, he was a restricted free agent last summer. And despite lagging a full year behind Maxiell in terms of on-court NBA experience, Johnson hauled in a three-year, $11 million contract. As NBA contracts go it's a modest deal, but his paycheck was three times the size of Maxiell's last year, and it'll be twice as much as Maxiell's this year. Do you think Johnson wishes he was a first-round pick?

Yeah, CDR lost a bit of security going this route, but so long as he takes care of his business on the court, he'll make the jump from "rather wealthy" to "crazy rich" much earlier than if someone snagged him 10 picks earlier.

Falling To the Second Round Could Make Chris Douglas-Roberts a Very Rich Man originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Hires Army General to Oversee Referees

Matt Watson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Eastern, Western, NBA Referees

While the basketball-loving world is completely distracted by the start of free agency, the NBA quietly tried to sneak a relatively major development under the radar. They've created the office of Senior Vice President, Referee Operations to oversee (wait for it ...) all things pertaining to referees, including "recruiting, training and development, scheduling, data management and analysis and work rules enforcement."

Those responsibilities previously fell on the shoulders of Stu Jackson, the league's VP of Basketball Operations, but the NBA is clearly hoping that the creation of a new office will convince everyone that officiating decisions are not being made by the same people whose job it is to ensure the game stays competitive and marketable. The office will report to NBA president Joel Litvin, David Stern's right-hand man.

So who is heading up the new position? U.S. Army Major General Ronald Johnson, who has 32 years of combat engineering experience and recently retired from heading up the Army Corps of Engineers. Is that outside the box enough for you?

Johnson admittedly has no basketball experience outside of being a fan, but no one can deny that someone with his resume has the ability to train, manage and lead large groups of people in mission critical projects. After helping coordinate billion dollar reconstruction efforts in Iraq, surely making sure that a couple of guys with whistles know to stand in the right spot to see the difference between a blocking foul and a charge will be a cake walk, right? Here's to hoping that's the case.

NBA Hires Army General to Oversee Referees originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Antawn Jamison Inks New Deal with Wizards; Your Move, Gilbert

Will Brinson — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Wizards, Eastern, Washington, DC

Antawn Jamison did his part to keep the current core of Washington Wizards players together for next season, signing a four year, $50 million deal with his current team. There is no huge surprise here (except for how freaking much they are giving the former Tarheel) and now we all wait with semi-baited breath to find out what Gilbert Arenas will do. And yes, I do include Jamison in "we".

"He said he'd take less money if he got me, and they got me," Jamison said. "So I think everything will get worked out with Gilbert."

[...]"There wasn't any doubt in my mind that I'd be back," said Jamison, 32, who has been a strong locker room leader during his four seasons with the Wizards.

[...]"Once he heard that I had reached a deal, he congratulated me," said Jamison, repeating a text message conversation he had with Arenas. "And I said 'I can't wait to congratulate you tomorrow."'

I get the impression from Jamison's response that if Agent Zero played games about signing on, then Antawn would probably throw a tremendous hissy, or at the very least, exert his influence on Gil, whatever that may be, to make sure the Wizards locked him up.

Jamison has now called Gil out to take less money right off the bat, and given Arenas' chip-on-the-block mentality, I'm not sure I am totally sold on him doing just that. If he's true to his word, then he'll ink for low money tomorrow after he opts out. But the bigger problem may be that the Wizards are paying Jamison $12+ million a year until he's 36.

The Wizards want Jamison and Jamison wants to be a Wizard, but this deal and the likely deal pending for Arenas just let us know that not much about the Wiz will be changing for the next few years, both good and bad.

Antawn Jamison Inks New Deal with Wizards; Your Move, Gilbert originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joe Dumars Proves It's Never Too Late to Go Back to School

Matt Watson — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Pistons, Eastern, Detroit

Any way you measure it, Joe Dumars is a successful man. He won two NBA titles as a player, had the league's annual sportsmanship award named after him, won another title as a general manager and has been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

And that's the stuff everyone knows about -- what most people don't know is that for 10 years after retiring as a player he served as CEO and president of a successful automotive supply company he founded. And as a father, he raised a son who just earned a scholarship to play Division I ball.

But for all that he's accomplished, there was one thing missing on his resume: he never finished college. This past May, he finally crossed that item off his list. From William Rhoden of the New York Times:

"Not having the degree was a void that I simply had to fill," Dumars wrote in an e-mail message. "My wife has her master's in education, and we've always stressed the importance of education to our two teenage kids. I just felt if I was going to stress the importance of education, I had to show them exactly how important it was."

So he completed the work. And last month his name was called along with more than 700 other graduates at McNeese State University's spring commencement ceremony. He said that earning the degree, a bachelor's in business management, was one of his greatest accomplishments. That's saying a lot.

I find this amazing: if anything, Dumars is proof that you don't need a college degree to be extremely successful in life, but he valued education so much that he put the time and energy into pursuing a diploma simply for the principle of the matter.

Joe Dumars Proves It's Never Too Late to Go Back to School originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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