NBA FanHouse

Allen Iverson Leaves Grizzlies Leaving Many Questions, Few Answers

Rob Peterson — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:39:00 EST

When Allen Iverson signed a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason, you just had a feeling it wouldn't end well.

If most reports from Saturday night are true, you were right.

On Saturday, the Memphis Grizzlies granted the one-time league MVP his leave from the team for personal reasons. Yahoo's Marc Spears and ESPN.com's Chad Ford have both reported that Iverson's leave is indefinite and no timetable has been set for his return.

"Allen Iverson has left the Memphis Grizzlies and is not expected to return anytime soon," Spears wrote, "if at all, a source close to the situation told Yahoo! Sports on Saturday."

Mr. Ford?

"Head coach Lionel Hollins said Saturday night that Iverson's departure was "indefinite," Ford wrote on True Hoop. "Owner Michael Heisley said Iverson's absence has nothing to do with his displeasure about his role on the team. "

If it is, as Heisley notes, a personal matter that Iverson needs to take care of, then you have the hope that everything will be OK and that Iverson can get it settled in order to return to the Grizzlies as soon as possible.

But as Spears and Ford are reporting, it seems to be more of a personnel matter than a personal matter. And as anyone who knows anything about Iverson during his career is that he's a spotlight guy. Riding the pine isn't in Iverson's DNA.

Last season, he had problems coming off the bench for the Detroit Pistons, a team that had been to six consecutive Eastern Conference finals. Can you imagine the indignity he must have felt coming off the bench for the Grizzlies, a team that has never won a playoff game?

You don't even need to imagine, really. You can read for yourself. FanHouse's Matt Steinmetz caught up with A.I., who had played his first game after injuring his hamstring, on the recent Grizzlies road trip.

"I had no problems (with the hamstring)," Iverson said afterward. "I had a problem with my butt from sitting on that bench so long. That's the only thing I got a problem with."

Understood. You have two NBA All-Star Game MVPs and more points (24,020) than any active players not named Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Please, continue.

"Yeah, I'll be disappointed (if he's a sub this season)," Iverson said. "I'm not a reserve basketball player. I've never been a reserve all my life and I'm not going to start looking at myself as a reserve. ... To answer the question, 'No, I'm not a bench player. I'm not a sixth man. Go look at my resume and that will show you I'm not a sixth man."

Did you expect anything less from Iverson, who has been a, quote-unquote: warrior, for his entire career? He may not like to practice, but he liked to play. He wanted a ring -- validation for all he had given to the game: heart, soul and body -- and was going to be dragged kicking and screaming into retirement. If anything signaled desire to play, at any cost (and in this case a discount at $3M per), it was signing with the Grizzlies in the first place.

But as of Saturday night, it seems as if Iverson was not going to leave it all on the court. Instead of going down fighting, his career has started to echo those far sadder words said by Gen. Douglas MacArthur soon after Harry S Truman fired him for insubordination: "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away."

Allen Iverson Leaves Grizzlies Leaving Many Questions, Few Answers originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Investigates Alleged Homophobic Heckler Response by Maverick

Tom Ziller — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:44:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Mavericks, NBA Fans, NBA Rumors

OutSports.com reported Tuesday that Drew Gooden made homophobic remarks to two hecklin' Clippers fans after the Mavericks' Saturday game in Los Angeles. One of the Clippers fans happened to be actor Chris Wylde (pictured, far right), who has -- no joke -- appearances on a show named Heckle U to his credit. (The plot of Heckle U, according to IMDB? Two dudes change the course of basketball games by heckling the opposing teams into submission.)

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban reportedly emailed Wylde, saying the team would deal with Gooden. Meanwhile, the Dallas Morning News reports that the NBA is currently investigating the matter, while ESPN's Tim MacMahon has an anonymous source who claims it wasn't Gooden who made the remark. (No word on whether that anonymous source is Gooden.)

NBA Investigates Alleged Homophobic Heckler Response by Maverick originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One NBA GM and Bill Simmons Want to Give Hope to the Hopeless

Rob Peterson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Draft, NBA Rumors

Bill Simmons is everywhere.

As an provocateur, he's burrowed under the skin of old-media types such as Mike Francesa, who don't get him.

But most new-media types -- especially handsome and talented interns -- do get him. He's the 700-pound sportswriting gorilla touting a 700-page tome, The Book of Basketball, and tweeting the tour.

Yet, more than refusing to get off the virtual lawn of curmudgeons or fomenting a fervent fan base or getting this, the third post to feature him today at the 'House, Simmons has often expressed his desire to be an NBA GM. (OK, so not every new-media type finds this endearing.)

Then, it must thrill Simmons that one NBA GM has submitted a plan that would radically alter the NBA postseason in order to prevent teams from tanking. A plan that is very similar to one Simmons proposed in an ESPN the Magazine column in 2007.

As reported today by the always spot-on Ian Thomsen of Sports Illustrated, Denver GM Mark Warkentien -- the reigning NBA Executive of the Year -- has sent a letter to the other 29 teams and the league office to hold a mini-tournament to earn the No. 8 seed in each conference.

"Under the proposal, nothing would change for the playoff teams that earn the top seven playoff spots. The No. 8 spot, however, would be up for grabs. No. 8 would play a home game against No. 15, No. 9 would play at home against No. 14 and so on.

The loser of each game would be eliminated, while each winner would advance to the next round. At the conclusion of the mini-tournament, the playoffs would revert to the traditional format, with the winner of the No. 8 seed opposing the team with the best record in the conference."

That sounds quite good; and quite familiar. In addition to contraction and changing the Lottery back to a one-team, one-chance at No. 1, Simmons floated the idea of the League's Lottery-bound losers fighting in a mini-tourney. Instead of battling for one seed in a single elimination tourney, Simmons would have teams in a double-elimination tourney fighting for the final two spots in each conference.

"Shorten the regular season by four games, guarantee the top six seeds in each conference, then have a double-elimination tourney for the seventh and eighth seeds between the remaining 15 teams. I suggest this for five reasons. First, it would be entertaining as hell. In fact, that's what we'll call it: the Entertaining-as-Hell Tournament. Second, I'm pretty sure we could get it sponsored. Third, the top 12 teams get a reward: two weeks of rest while the tournament plays out. Fourth, a Cinderella squad could pull off some upsets, grab an eighth seed and win fans along the way. And fifth, with the Entertaining-as-Hell Tournament giving everyone a chance, no team could tank down the stretch without insulting paying customers beyond repair."

Hmmm, intriguing both, though one could be persuaded to go with the Warkentien proposal considering it would have the excitement of an April Madness (April Anxiousness!) single-elimination tourney.

There's a flip side to this, of course. Do you want to chance rewarding a 19-63 team with a spot in the Playoffs? Doesn't that render the whole regular season meaningless as opposed to just the last few weeks?

Regardless, both proposals (save the contraction -- What cruel bastard would like to see a city lose its team? Besides Clay Bennett, I mean.) have merits. Then again, after the institution of the re-weighted Lottery system in 1994, tanking never made sense anyway. Sure the worst team gets a 25 percent chance of winning the Lottery, but it also means they have a 75 percent chance of not winning it either. Only twice since the new system was instituted has the worst team won the Lottery: Cleveland in 2003 (they tabbed LeBron James) and Orlando in 2004 (they nabbed Dwight Howard).

Still, all of this must make Simmons smile. It's now on the record that one NBA GM thinks a lot like him.

One NBA GM and Bill Simmons Want to Give Hope to the Hopeless originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cavaliers Reportedly Interested in Stephen Jackson

Brett Pollakoff — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:35:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Warriors, NBA Rumors

Before he was named head coach of the Cavaliers in 2005, Mike Brown twice had the honor of coaching Stephen Jackson: once as an assistant with the Pacers, and before that, as an assistant with the Spurs.

Jackson's time in Indiana wasn't exactly that of a model citizen, but he was fine in San Antonio, and even got himself a ring as a contributor to the Spurs' championship in 2003.

Maybe Brown, based on this past experience, sees something in Jackson that at this point, most of the rest of us do not. That has to be the reason that Cleveland is interested in trading for Jackson, and freeing him from the unpleasant situation that he's created for himself in Golden State.

Tom Ziller: "Jackson is certainly rare, but not for the reasons he thinks. He's the rare top dog who is basically completely ineffective. By my count there are at least six Warriors more valuable than Jackson." -- Read More The rumors started over a week ago, with the name of Zydrunas Ilgauskus being floated as someone the Warriors would be interested in getting back in the deal.

There was no truth to that one, as the last thing Cleveland would be looking to do is get smaller. But according to The Plain Dealer, that doesn't mean that the Cavs are done trying to work something out.

You have not heard the last of the Stephen Jackson trade rumors involving the Cavs.

According to sources, the Cavs do have an interest in Jackson and have had some internal discussions about trading for him.

No deal is imminent, because the Warriors are in need of a big man, and again, the Cavs aren't going to give one up.

But if somehow Jackson does get traded, and Golden State gets a productive big man in return, it would be fairly ironic. Because the fact that the team supposedly promised Jackson that they'd get a quality big in the offseason -- and didn't -- is what started him down this insubordinate path in the first place.

Cavaliers Reportedly Interested in Stephen Jackson originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stephon Marbury Promises to Return, Just Not This Year

Matt Watson — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:20:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, NBA Rumors

In an interview with the New York Post, Stephon Marbury admitted that he has no plans to pursue an NBA job this season but vowed to return in the future. "I'm resting, doing what Michael Jordan did, enjoy life, do things I haven't done in 16 years, keep building my empire," Marbury told the Post. "I wasn't going to Boston for that money. It was a prudent business decision to take off this year."

It was a prudent business to take a year off, but let's be honest -- it wasn't a decision Marbury made, but rather one forced upon him by 30 NBA general managers.

During a peculiar offseason in which productive players without excess baggage struggled to find contracts, the odds of Marbury finding work were extremely slim, especially after his mis-adventures in social media that included, among dozens of wacky examples, eating Vaseline and getting into a car accident while streaming live on the internet.

Will he find more teams willing to roll the dice a year from now? It doesn't seem likely. Assuming he doesn't play this year, Marbury will have combined for 47 regular-season games in three years, having last played a complete season in 2006-07. He's not necessarily too old to make a comeback, but he's not getting any younger, and turns 33 years old this coming February.

And even if a team decides he still has the skills to compete, it also needs to weigh his on-court production to his potential to disrupt the locker room. (By all accounts Marbury was on his best behavior while with the Celtics, but his recent Twitter rants against Paul Pierce make you wonder if there weren't problems behind the scenes.)

That said, Marbury has a message for those who doubt him. "People can say what they want and act like God," Marbury said. "A year from now, you don't know what I'm going to be like. I got to 197 pounds last camp. I'm from the gutter. I can go anywhere."

For more on Marbury (and his disparaging comments about the Knicks and why he feels New York has no shot at LeBron James), check out the Post article.

Stephon Marbury Promises to Return, Just Not This Year originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stern Dampens Expectations on NBA Expansion in Europe

Tom Ziller — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Euroleague, NBA Rumors

Every preseason when a handful of NBA teams jump the pond to play ball in the Old Word's great cities, NBA commissioner David Stern discusses his dream of bringing a real life NBA franchise to Europe. Globalizing the game has been one of Stern's most impressive victories, and introducing the "London Gobsmackers" or some such would be some serious icing.

But Stern is now dampening expectations for when this all might happen. The commish told Bill Wilson of BBC News that while the league would like to schedule a regular season game at London's (reportedly spectacular) O2 Arena before the 2012 Olympics, placing a franchise in Europe will take at least another decade. The logistics, Stern admits, are nightmarish. I'd also note that so long as there are domestic arenas in want of NBA tenants (such as Kansas City's Sprint Center), American expansion might be a more pragmatic move in the near term.

Stern Dampens Expectations on NBA Expansion in Europe originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nets Management Is Toast

Tom Ziller — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, NBA Rumors, NBA Coaches

There are myriad sightlines to Mikhail Prokhorov's purchase of the New Jersey Nets. Locally, the injection of capital saves the team's move to Brooklyn. Thanks to Prokhorov's immense wealth -- only Portland's Paul Allen has fatter assets -- the Nets will surely become major spenders in coming years. And nationwide, the entrance of a Russian capitalist into such a high-profile American industry will surely draw massive attention, both good and bad.

But Dave D'Allesandro of the Newark Star-Ledger has his mind on the Nets basketball management structure. Rod Thorn, the team's basketball ops boss, is entering the final year of his contract. Same for coach Lawrence Frank. D'Alessandro notes that in his Tuesday LiveJournal entry detailing his interest in the Nets, Prokhorov cited the promotion of Russian coaches and managers as a driving force behind his potential entry to the NBA.

What that means for our comrades in East Rutherford ... well, it is not good. Like Dave D., I have a hunch Thorn, Frank, Kiki Vandeweghe and the rest of the staff will be saying "dasvidania" at season's end.

New owners habitually jettison management when taking over a team -- it's an accepted practice going back to the 1970s. And Prokhorov's a special case: he has money, he has nationalistic pride, he has a desire to further the careers of his countrymen and friends, he has an aching need to win (as seen with his CSKA Moscow club) and he has completely carte blanche. If Thorn's contract extended into 2010-11, perhaps you could see Prokhorov holding off on the upheaval. But the new owner has literally no incentive to stay with the status quo.

Maybe there's even an anti-incentive to staying with Thorn beyond April. I mean, the Nets have oodles of cap space this summer, and every superstar alive will be a free agent. July 1, 2010 is the opportunity for the Nets. Prokhorov is going to want his people in place for that.

Frank is good coach and will find a job quickly. Thorn, who has been around forever, might end up back at the league office (he's close with commissioner David Stern). But wherever they go, I am fairly convinced it won't be Brooklyn.

Nets Management Is Toast originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Raymond Felton to Take $5.5 Million Qualifying Offer From Charlotte

Tom Ziller — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:14:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, NBA Rumors, NBA Transactions

Sean Deveney of The Baseline reports that Charlotte point guard Raymond Felton plans to accept the $5.5 million qualifying offer presented by the Bobcats at the start of free agency. The qualifying offer allowed Charlotte to match any offer sheet from another team signed by Felton. But Felton never found a team willing to pay what he desired. Felton will be an unrestricted free agent next July.

While this result is hardly surprising, there remains a herd of elephants in the room. There's D.J. Augustin, the lottery pick successor to Felton entering his second season. There's Larry Brown, the notoriously trigger-happy boss of the team. And there's Felton himself, who has proved if nothing else over his four seasons that he is just not very good.

Any way you slice it, Felton has been a disappointment. You don't take point guards with the fifth pick in the draft with hopes they will someday become reliably inefficient 14-point scorers who drop seven dimes and three turnovers a night while playing spirited but seriously flawed defense. Just because Felton is reliable does not mean Felton is good. And while there are worse starting point guards in the NBA (Beno Udrih, Luke Ridnour and Chris Duhon spring to mind), that doesn't excuse Felton's failure to improve. (Not that it's necessarily Felton's fault, of course. But no franchise could justify paying out a fat contract to a player who isn't good and isn't improving, and I doubt that will change next summer.)

Given the inside-out tendencies of incumbent stars Gerald Wallace and Boris Diaw and newcomer Tyson Chandler, the Bobcats need reliable deep threats on the perimeter. Augustin hit 44% of his threes last season. Felton hit 28.5%. And Augustin (though smaller) gives the team almost everything else Felton can: scoring, decent playmaking. Augustin did get 12 starts under Brown last season, but that was in a tandem role alongside Felton. (Felton played all 82 games, and started 81 of them.)

Perhaps that will work again for Brown, who got the franchise closer to the playoffs than its ever been. Or, just as likely, Brown could plant Augustin in Felton's eternal starting position. That'd mean doom to Felton's already gloomy long-term NBA prospects, but it might be what is best for Charlotte.

Raymond Felton to Take $5.5 Million Qualifying Offer From Charlotte originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jerry Stackhouse Impressing in Atlanta

Tom Ziller — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Hawks, NBA Rumors

As I try to mention every once in a while, Sekou Smith of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is one of the best beat writers in the biz. I haven't been within 3,000 miles of Georgia in a while, yet reading Smith always leaves me feeling like I've been in the Hawks practice facility. Like the great sportswriters, he puts you there, in the games, in the practices.

Right now he's writing about pre-camp practices, and the showstopper is ... Jerry Stackhouse, a free agent cut loose in the Hedo Turkoglu-Shawn Marion swap. Stack turns 35 during the first week of the season, and he effectively sat out last season in Dallas (not by choice). He's just working out with the Hawks -- there have been no rumors of his addition to the roster.

Smith and the Hawks players he's talked to hope that stance changes, because they think Stackhouse can help Atlanta this season.

The last season in which Stackhouse played major minutes -- 2007-08 -- he had fallen off quite a bit, shooting 44% on two-pointers and 32% on threes. Since Stack is a scorer primarily, his efficiency needs to be decent to justify minutes. And in Dallas, his efficiency was no longer decent. Unless that's changed, Stackhouse probably doesn't merit NBA minutes.

But there is certainly something to be said for a replacement level veteran at the end of the bench for playoff teams. (NOT REBUILDING TEAMS, HOWEVER.) The Injury Bug is relentless, and while Atlanta has improved its guard depth with the addition of Jamal Crawford (replacing the forgettable Acie Law) and Jeff Teague (who could be a top-5 rookie, seriously) you can't have enough depth. The question is whether Stackhouse would be an upgrade over, say, a D-League level guard, or another (perhaps younger) free agent.

That's a choice each team (including the Hawks) must make on its own. But it's good to hear the discouraging way Stackhouse's Mavericks career ended hasn't prevented the ol' Tar Heel from getting his name back into the conversation.

Jerry Stackhouse Impressing in Atlanta originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Questions Surround Yi Jianlian's Status for Nets Season Opener

Tom Ziller — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:39:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, NBA Rumors

Opening night still seems so far away (too far away), but there are already questions as to whether Yi Jianlian will be available for New Jersey. Reports surfaced this week placing Yi in China playing for his native Guangdong in the National Games at the end of October. The Nets kick off the season October 28 ... which also happens to be the final day of the China Games.

But Nets boss Rod Thorn told the Newark Star-Ledger's Dave D'Alessandro that Yi will not be missing any Nets games. Which implies that Yi will not be participating in the China Games. Which is not going to make the Chinese Basketball Association very happy.

Tensions between the CBA and the NBA have been around the entire decade, since Wang Zhizhi refused to report to his Chinese team Bayi at the conclusion of his second season with the Mavericks. Wang was essentially treated as a defector, and it took several years to get Wang back into the nation's basketball system's good graces. The CBA also clashed with NBA interests in 2001, when a top official from Shanghai's CBA club prevented Yao Ming from entering the NBA draft. The club had pushed for a massive share of Yao's NBA earnings in exchange for his release from an unwritten lifetime contract. (In an odd turn of events, Yao now owns the Shanghai Sharks.)

Guangdong famously figured in Yi's initial NBA drama, when the club insisted it may not allow the forward to join the Bucks (who drafted Yi in 2007) because Milwaukee was not one of its approved destinations. Yi eventually made his way to Wisconsin, though the Bucks traded him to New Jersey after one mediocre season.

Yi figures to be the starting power forward for NJ on opening night ... provided he's not in China wearing a Guangdong jersey. The CBA could fix this issue in the future, of course, by moving its National Games up. Or by not requesting the few NBA players from China to come back and play for their regions, considering the NBA players are already asked to represent China in FIBA play.

Questions Surround Yi Jianlian's Status for Nets Season Opener originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Majority Stake in Nets Being Sold to Russian Tycoon?

Tom Ziller — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:35:00 EST

Filed under: Nets, NBA Rumors

A report from Reuters Thursday afternoon asserted that Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov was preparing an offer in the neighborhood of $700 million to purchase a stake in the Nets franchise and help build current team owner Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards project, which would include a new Nets arena in Brooklyn. A Prokhorov representative vaguely confirmed that the tycoon (Russia's richest man, at assets around $9.5 billion) could possibly participate in building a sports arena in the United States.

Charles V. Bagli of the New York Times was later able to get confirmation from Nets executives that Ratner is negotiating to sell not just a major stake of the Nets franchise to Prokhorov, but a majority stake. While Prokhorov has been attached to major sports teams before, this is the closest he has reportedly come to entering an America-based league.

Ratner unveiled updated plans for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn last week. The plan was pared down from a Frank Gehry-designed building deemed too extraordinarily expensive. The New Yorker's Paul Goldberger approved of the new design, Architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff of the Times wasn't as ebullient in his review. More importantly, a decision by the state Court of Appeals on protests by Brooklyn residents concerning the use of eminent domain to acquire the Atlantic Yards property is still pending, with resolution expected this winter, leading to potential groundbreaking in December.

Majority Stake in Nets Being Sold to Russian Tycoon? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bryon Russell on Michael Jordan: 'I'll Play His A-- Right Now'

Will Brinson — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:40:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Jazz, NBA Rumors

Michael Jordan's Hall of Fame speech has made waves in the NBA community -- everyone seems to think, for some ridiculous reason, that Jordan shouldn't have smack-talked his opponents in what was supposed to be his moment of glory.

I'm of the other opinion; trash-talking was Jordan's legacy and he used people who challenged him as motivation to get better. Bryon Russell was one of those people: Jordan cited Russell's claim that he could guard Jordan (um, whoops, guy) after MJ retired the first time, only to get absolutely torched by His Airness several years later in the very famous "non-push-off" from the 1998 NBA Finals. Naturally, Russell took exception to that part of the speech.

"I'll play his a- right now," Russell told Yahoo! Sports. "This is a call-out for him to come play me. He can come out here in his private jet and come play. He's got millions of dollars. He can pay for the jet. He can meet me at the Recreation Center in Calabasas.

"We can have Mark Jackson do the commentating. We can have Mitch Richmond do the officiating. We can put it on TV and see if Michael's still got it."

Well, those comments would certainly be worth a "Zing!" if Jordan hadn't consistently burned Russell and cost Bryon, John Stockon AND Karl Malone all a championship ring. And sure, maybe that play was a push-off ... but does it matter?

Answer: Of course not. No one remembers "push-off." They remember "Michael Jordan: GOAT." Which means that regardless of how MJ responds to this, people are more than likely to point and laugh at Russell for being really frustrated.

Then again, given Jordan's competitive nature, I wouldn't be surprised in the least bit to see him land in Calabasas 48 hours from now, stroll into Russell's gym and beat him up and down the court in front of a large contingent of television cameras. Then things will be really awkward.

Bryon Russell on Michael Jordan: 'I'll Play His A-- Right Now' originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Could Mavs Swap Lead Bucks to Match Offer for Sessions?

Tom Ziller — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:55:00 EST

Filed under: Bucks, Mavericks, Timberwolves, NBA Rumors

The agent for Ramon Sessions has told FanHouse he does not expect Milwaukee to match Minnesota's four-year, $16 million offer sheet for the point guard. But a new trade rumor leaves open the possibility that Milwaukee is trying to cut enough salary to fit Sessions back into the equation.

DallasBasketball.com reports that the Mavericks are discussing a deal to send Greg Buckner to Milwaukee. Buckner is a great little asset right now: he's on the books for $8.2 million over two seasons. But only $2 million of that is guaranteed. If his team waives him by November 30, Buckner is only owed $1 million this season -- and that applies to the cap space he takes up.

DB.com proposes Buckner to Milwaukee for veteran big Kurt Thomas, who could certainly help the Mavs. The trade (and a waiving of Buckner by the Bucks) would allow Milwaukee to match the Sessions offer without exceeding the luxury tax thresold. The Bucks have until the end of Friday to make a decision on Sessions.

Of course, that doesn't mean the Buckner trade has to get consummated Friday -- teams have until the trade deadline, effectively, to sneak under the tax threshold. Provided Bucks GM John Hammond feels comfortable that he can make a deal to get under the tax, using Buckner or one of the three teams currently under the salary cap, he can match Sessions and worry about the rest later.

Hammond may not be in such a position of faith, though. Earlier this week he told FanHouse's Chris Tomasson that the Bucks will absolutely not pay the tax this season.

Thomas has still proven to be a valuable defender, despite his advanced age. (He'll turn 37 during the preseason.) He was arguably the Spurs' second best defender last season; San Antonio desperately needed offensive help, and swapped away Thomas, Bruce Bowen and Fabricio Oberto in exchange for Richard Jefferson. The Mavericks' frontline currently features Dirk Nowitzki, Erick Dampier, Shawn Marion, Drew Gooden, Tim Thomas (seriously) and Nathan Jawai.

Could Mavs Swap Lead Bucks to Match Offer for Sessions? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ramon Sessions' Agent Doesn't Expect Bucks to Match Minnesota Offer Sheet

Chris Tomasson — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:15:00 EST

Filed under: Bucks, Timberwolves, NBA Rumors, FanHouse Exclusive

Barring an unexpected 11th-hour move by Milwaukee, guard Ramon Sessions soon will be a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Sessions, a restricted free agent, last Friday signed a four-year, $16-million offer sheet with the Timberwolves that the Bucks have until the close of the business day Friday to match. Sessions' agent, James "Chubby'' Wells, doesn't believe they will.

"We don't think they're going to match,'' Wells told FanHouse on Wednesday. "That would put them in luxury-tax territory. I feel pretty confident that they're not going to match."

Wells said he has been in regular contact with Bucks general manager John Hammond. While Hammond said no final decision has been on Sessions, he did say the Bucks do not plan to exceed the luxury-tax threshold of $69.92 million this season, meaning they would need to make a deal to shed salary in order to match the offer sheet.

"That's been our stance since July 1. We've made a couple of moves to avoid going into the tax, and we're not going to consider that,'' Hammond said in an interview with FanHouse about not matching the offer on Sessions if the Bucks can't be sure they would remain under the tax line.

But Hammond didn't rule out the Bucks swinging a late deal to shed additional dollars.

"We're going to explore all our options until Friday,'' Hammond said. "We've had discussions with other teams about scenarios.''

Those close to the situation, though, said the Bucks believe the Timberwolves, in today's economy, overpaid a bit for Sessions. He will make $3.8 million next season, and can opt out of the fourth year of the contract.

The 6-foot-3 Sessions, who can play both guard spots, averaged 12.4 points and 5.7 assists in his second season. The Bucks believe he is expendable as their future point guard due to having taken Brandon Jennings with the No. 10 pick in June's draft.

Minnesota is looking at having Sessions at times play shooting guard alongside rookie point guard Jonny Flynn. The Timberwolves further beefed up their guard corps Wednesday when they acquired combo guard Antonio Daniels from New Orleans and a 2014 second-round pick for guard Bobby Brown and forward Darius Songaila.

With rookie shooting guard Wayne Ellington still adjusting to the NBA, new Minnesota coach Kurt Rambis could go with a three-guard rotation of Flynn, Sessions and Daniels.

"He's a competitor,'' Wells said of how he expects Sessions to fit into Minnesota's backcourt. "He's going to work hard. They've got a good young team there, and (Sessions) is enthusiastic.''

His enthusiasm on joining the Timberwolves should become official Friday.

Ramon Sessions' Agent Doesn't Expect Bucks to Match Minnesota Offer Sheet originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allen Iverson Announces Memphis Signing on Twitter

Will Brinson — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:55:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, NBA Rumors, NBA Transactions, NBA Twitter

Allen Iverson has been back and forth on whether or not he would actually join the Memphis Grizzlies -- one of a handful of franchises that meets the exact opposite of his preferences (not competitive, full of young players, no chance at a championship, etc.) But with few options on the table, he's signing with them anyway.

So sayeth the breaking news machine that is Twitter.

God Chose Memphis as the place that I will continue my career. I met with Mr. Heinsley, Chris Wallace and my next head coach Lionel Hollins

Of course, don't let my pessimism about Iverson's future with the Grizzlies deter you ... or him, for that matter.

Tomasson: Step Right Up, Iverson Circus Arrives in Memphis
More: Iverson Officially Introduced

I feel that they are committed to developing a winner and I know that I can help them to accomplish that. I feel that I can trust them.

Right. So, anyway (and more importantly) the details of the contract, from David Aldridge: one year, $3.5 million. Pretty simple and not that surprising, although with Iverson's "committed to building a winner" talk, I kind of expected Iverson to pull some three-year deal that would make everyone who's ever cared about Memphis b-ball to pull the traditional palm-to-face move.

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how he fits -- if his tweets are any indication, he's actually ready to play "team-first" ball. But then again, Iverson announced the signing on Twitter, which is so bizarre in the first place that we shouldn't be all that surprised by anything he does from here on out.

Allen Iverson Announces Memphis Signing on Twitter originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is David Stern Threatening a Referee Lockout to Scare Players?

Tom Ziller — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:43:00 EST

Filed under: NBA Referees, NBA Rumors

ESPN's Marc Stein, in the process of breaking news that the NBA and the referee union have reached a stalemate in contract negotiations, and that a lockout (and a set of replacement refs) looks more likely than ever, wonders if commissioner David Stern is taking a hard line to put some fear into the players union, a group he and the NBA owners may need to lock out in two years.

The facts certainly imply this is a scare job: Stein reports the league is pushing for a $3.2 million reduction of the total ref budget (a 10% cut), while the refs have said they will give up no more than $2.5 million (or 7.8%) total. That zone of disagreement -- $700,000 -- is, of course, small potatoes. It equates to some 0.02% of the total NBA revenue pot.

If I were a referee, I'd probably be upset about this penny-pinching too. And were I a player, I'd be ready for some serious nitpicking from the league.

It's not that the refs today or the players tomorrow are necessarily right -- it's just got to be a bad feeling to see a megalith like the NBA threaten a lockout over a measly $700,000 (assuming Stein's figures are correct). The fact that the referee budget (which includes salary, travel, playoff bonuses, health benefits, pension payments) is only $32 million -- the equivalent of five players making the average NBA salary -- is a bit jarring. Our game is in these referees' hands, and they can affect each and every game ... and combined they make about half of what the Bobcats make.

The 10% cut seems steep, but I'm not privy to the economics of it. The NBA's offices in Secaucus, N.J. and New York have made serious cuts over the past year, and many teams have done the same. The mid-contract ref cut does seem silly in a dollar sense -- again, the current quibbling is over an amount which constitutes two tenths of one percent of the NBA's annual revenue -- but it's understandable in the macro view.

Disappointing and unfortunate, but understandable. It won't be understandable if the NBA carries this disaster to term and runs replacement referees out onto the court. It's in the NBA's interest to show the players union there will be blood, but it's in no one's best interest to start the season with back-up zebras. A deal has to be made.

Is David Stern Threatening a Referee Lockout to Scare Players? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Debate in the Paint: New York Has LeBron's Name on It

Matt Steinmetz — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:48:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Knicks, Nets, NBA Rumors

Every Tuesday this offseason, two of our NBA experts will go at it with a Debate in the Paint. This week, the topic is LeBron James and what he should do next summer when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

LeBron James is just 24 years old and already has an MVP award under his belt. He's been named All-NBA First Team three times and last year earned All-Defensive First Team honors.

James was the Rookie of the Year in 2003-04 and has two NBA All-Star Game MVPs on his resume. Just to show how far along James has come when it comes to NBA history, consider that Magic Johnson and Larry Bird didn't win their first MVPs until they were 28 years old, each.

Here's what we're getting to: It's time for LeBron James to sign with the Knicks.

That's really the only thing left for him. Forget about winning an NBA title. That will come. It might not necessarily be this season in Cleveland, but James will win a title. You know it and I know it. And if he goes to New York, it very well might happen sooner rather than later.

The one thing left for James is to sign with the New York Knicks, and then wait for another star and the role players to follow. It's the best thing he can do for himself, and it's the best thing he can do for the league.

Think about it, in the more than 60 years of NBA basketball, the greatest player in the game has never played in the greatest basketball city in the world - New York. James can be just that; the greatest player in the league in the NBA's biggest market and greatest NBA city.

The New York Knicks have a storied history: Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Dave Debusschere, Patrick Ewing, Earl Monroe to name a few. But the Knicks have never had the best player in the league on their team. Never. Not once.

They've never had a player who transcends the game, never had a Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan, or even a Rick Barry, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West or Elgin Baylor. It's just never happened.

But it's time. James should leave Cleveland and go to New York. Simple as that. If James were to sign with the Knicks next offseason, it would only be a matter of time before he would find himself with an impressive supporting cast.

Players want to play with the James, and if he's playing in New York, all the better.

If James needed a true point, one would come. If James needed a power forward, there would be plenty knocking down the door. I'd like to see LeBron James go to New York for no other reason than to see who would tag along.

C'mon, we've seen Bird in Boston, Magic in L.A. and Jordan in Chicago. It's time for the next step: LeBron James in New York.

Admit it: You want to see it, too.

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

Debate in the Paint: New York Has LeBron's Name on It originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Debate in the Paint: LeBron James Is Staying in Cleveland

Tim Povtak — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Knicks, Nets, NBA Rumors

Every Tuesday this offseason, two of our NBA experts will go at it with a Debate in the Paint. This week, the topic is LeBron James and what he should do next summer when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

LeBron James is no fool. Starting this season with uncertainty over his pending free agency would doom the Cleveland Cavaliers, bury them under a sea of unhealthy rumors.

Accentuated by Shaquille O'Neal playing alongside him, basketball would become more circus than serious in Cleveland this season.

Steinmetz: Big Apple Has LeBron's Name All Over It

And James loves Northeast Ohio too much to let that happen. Watch for him to make a surprise announcement during training camp, verbally committing to a long-term contract that will keep him in Cleveland, assuring him a statue at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, ending all debate.

It's the only logical way to end this nonsense, avoid becoming a season-long distraction to both his team and the league.

Anything else, and he may as well be slapping the face of general manager Danny Ferry, owner Dan Gilbert and coach Mike Brown, all good men who have been bending over backward for him long enough.

Doesn't matter how many bike-a-thons he rides in Akron or how many movies he makes about his hometown or his posse, if he is as loyal to this team and this town as he says -- and there is no real reason not to believe him -- then he should show it now. And he will.

Maybe he likes the mystique, the intrigue, or making people beg, but the whole affair just isn't very professional, falsely raising the hopes of fans in other cities who have no real chance of getting him, and causing too much anguish for those who have shown him nothing but love.

Aside from his earlier teenage follies, and his unsportsmanlike decision not to shake hands after losing in the conference final last spring, James always has been a stand-up guy. It's hard not to like him.

It's just time for him to stand up and make a statement about loyalty and integrity and prove that he won't be swayed by the bright lights and high-living that other cities will use to tempt him.

These New York/New Jersey rumors are little more than big-city snobbery, fueled by an elitist attitude that should insult him more than impress him.

Twenty years ago, going to New York would present greater outside endorsement opportunities, but those days have passed. The world is smaller now, accessible even from Cleveland, Ohio. Fortunately, NBA rules allow a free agent's current team to pay him a little more -- bigger raises and an extra year -- than anyone else can pay him.

The rule is designed to avoid the downfall of Major League Baseball, where too much free agent movement has crushed the game's popularity. It's a rule that likely will keep Dwyane Wade in Miami, Joe Johnson in Atlanta and Chris Bosh in Toronto.

James can tease the Knicks all he wants, but it would make absolutely no sense to go from a team on the verge of winning an NBA title, to a franchise that hasn't had a respectable season in 15 years.

The Knicks are like a bunch of old men sitting around in their underwear playing cards at a retirement home, telling lies about the good old days. It's a franchise that has been mismanaged for so long it still has Bernard King on the payroll.

James is no fool. It won't be long before he tells everyone he's staying right where he belongs - in Cleveland.

Debate in the Paint: LeBron James Is Staying in Cleveland originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iverson to Meet With Grizzlies Owner

Tom Ziller — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:05:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, NBA Rumors

With rosters gathering for pre-preseason workouts and all the major free agents rumored to be finding closure, it makes sense that Allen Iverson would inch closer to a final destination of his own. On Sunday, the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reported that Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley and Iverson would attempt to meet in person to close a deal bringing The Answer to Memphis.

Late Sunday, Iverson confirmed via Twitter that he is scheduled to meet with Heisley on Monday. The Grizzlies can offer a contract of $4.5 million for this season; there haven't been any rumors that A.I. was seeking a long-term deal with Memphis. The idea, it is understood, is that Iverson would show in the 2009-10 season that he is worthy of a multi-year deal beginning in 2010-11. Given the A.I. has had this much trouble securing a one-year deal at a small salary, he has a tall mountain to climb.

Iverson to Meet With Grizzlies Owner originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Lee Likely to Re-Sign With Knicks

Matt Watson — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Knicks, NBA Rumors

Restricted free agents have a hard enough time trying to convince teams to extend an offer sheet, let alone in times like these when NBA owners have one eye trained on the economy and the other on their salary cap space for the summer of 2010.

Even so, it's somewhat baffling that David Lee was virtually shunned by NBA teams, who apparently have no use for a tireless big man destined to remain among the league's rebounding leaders for the next decade. With no better options, Lee will likely sign a one-year deal to remain with the Knicks, according to ESPN's Andrew Marchand.

Some have suggested that Lee's numbers have been inflated by the pace of Mike D'Antoni's system, but accepting such a notion is to ignore the fact that Lee's total rebounding percentage in his lone season under D'Antoni (18.4) was virtually identical to his career numbers (18.3). Lee has been extremely prolific on the boards from the day he set foot in the league; D'Antoni was merely the first coach he's had to insert him into the starting lineup and leave him there.

Lee isn't the most polished player offensively, but he certainly plays to his strengths, shooting at a 56.4% clip over his career while scoring a career-high 16.0 points a game last season. And while Lee won't be earning any All-Defensive Team nominations any time soon, at least he's an elite defensive rebounder, often giving the opposition only one chance to score.

Lee will have another chance to test the market next summer, this time as an unrestricted free agent.

David Lee Likely to Re-Sign With Knicks originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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