NBA FanHouse

Warriors Decide Ronny Turiaf Is Where They'll Be Spending All That Money They Saved

Matt Moore — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:56:00 EST

Filed under: Warriors, Lakers, Western, Los Angeles, Oakland, NBA Transactions

So the face of your franchise and your most beloved player, Baron Davis, skipped town. And your top replacement target, Gilbert Arenas, re-signed with his club. And the next big target on your radar just spurned you and hopped over to the East for more money. So who do you turn to, after inking an aging small forward for a bit of cash while you try and convince Monta Ellis to stick around?

You sign Ronny Turiaf, of course!

The Warriors have come to a verbal agreement with Lakers restricted free agent Ronny Turiaf on a four year deal worth an estimated $17 million. As he is a restricted free agent, the Lakers have seven days to match the Warriors offer.

It's an interesting signing, because if the Warriors are able to pry him away from the purple and gold, he provides a number of things they lack. Along with Corey Maggette, Turiaf represents a greater commitment to defense. In addition, Turiaf can actually rebound, which the Warriors failed miserably at last season. He does make sense with their system though, as he's a high energy guy who can come in and play a few minutes or more, and is extremely flexible and provides a spark. He's also a fan favorite that would fit in with the Warriors scrappy image. That is if the fans haven't all thrown themselves off a bridge after Baron left.

Warriors Decide Ronny Turiaf Is Where They'll Be Spending All That Money They Saved originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Denied by Brand, Warriors Grab Maggette

Matt Watson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:33:00 EST

Filed under: Warriors, Clippers, Western, Los Angeles, Oakland, The Word

After being left at the alter by both Baron Davis and Elton Brand, the Warriors finally found someone willing to take their money: Corey Maggette. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, Maggette agreed to a five-year, $50 million deal immediately after the Warriors learned that Brand had committed to the 76ers. Interestingly enough, he apparently jumped on the offer before giving the Clippers, who were also spurned by Brand, a chance to retain him.

Until this opening with Golden State, it looked like Maggette's best options involved taking the mid-level exception from one of the handful of interested contenders pursuing him, including the Spurs, Celtics, Pistons and Magic. He'll make a lot more money with the Warriors, but he'll also win a lot fewer games -- instead of battling for a title, he'll be in a fight to simply make the playoffs.

That said, it's not fair to say this simply came down to money, as the Warriors were also able to offer a lot more playing time than anyone else. With those other contenders, Maggette would have been a fourth or fifth option in the starting lineup -- if not relegated to the role of a super sub. But with the Warriors, Maggette has a chance to be "The Man," especially with Monta Ellis almost certainly taking on more of a distributor role in Davis' absence.

Not everyone thinks Maggette is up for being a team's No. 1 option, but it's hard to argue with his production or the fact that he's a perfect fit for Nellieball. He's uber-athletic and can shoot from long-distance, and while his defense is underrated, he won't be asked to play much under Don Nelson anyway. The Warriors still need a legitimate big man, but the Warriors could have done a lot worse than snagging Maggette.

Denied by Brand, Warriors Grab Maggette originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:33:00 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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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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Brent Barry Opts Out, Proves The Grass Is Always Greener

Matt Moore — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:07:00 EST

Filed under: Spurs, Western

It's entirely possible that your last enduring memory of Brent Barry as a Spur will be that last shot where he tried to actually hit the shot instead of flopping. Not the way you want to be remembered in a championship city like San Antonio, but that might just be the way it is. Because Barry very quietly opted out of his contract last week .

That means that Brent Barry, Michael Finley, Robert Horry, and Kurt Thomas could all be somewhere besides San Antonio next season. Barry is particularly interesting, though. He's got better legs than the others, and showed in the playoffs that not only can he still create his own shot, which the others cannot, but he also can still play some defense and work within an offensive system. With veterans such a big part of Boston's championship run, it would make sense that a player like Barry can still get top dollar.

Of course, this could be another Brent Barry swerve job by the Spurs. The Spurs traded Barry last year to Seattle to get Kurt Thomas, only to resign him when Barry opted out. Could this be a similar deal in order for San Antonio to put a more competitive offer for Corey Maggette?

Brent Barry Opts Out, Proves The Grass Is Always Greener originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Artest Emails a Statement About His Last Emailed Statement

Matt Watson — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, Western, NBA Rumors

It's not rare to hear old school sportswriters complain about their lack of access to athletes these days. Lately, I'm starting to wonder if that's just because they haven't figured out how to use email. Over the last couple of weeks, Ron Artest has emailed the media near daily updates on his contract status.

That's how he told the world he "probably won't" opt out, and that he'll "never accept a mid-level exception." Days later he hinted he might opt out after all, saying "I never knew so many teams would be coming after me. Just hours after officially deciding to stay put, he emailed ESPN's Marc Stein, saying, "I think I made the biggest mistake by staying in my contract." That last bombshell attracted quite a bit of attention -- it's not often you see a player publicly admit to having cold feet so soon -- and this morning he emailed an explanation to Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee:

"I made the comment about making a mistake on my opt out clause because I really did make a mistake. I had wrong info about extension options and it could have cost me a new deal. I was informed that the kings had me in their long term plans so that's why I decided to stay in contract. I just wanted to show loyalty. However when I spoke to the kings that was not an option and I grew frustrated with my decision immediately. I do apologize for being mistakenly frustrated with the kings. It was a mistake that I made and I will move on from. I dont know my future but I'm still a King Haters:)"

Take that for what you will. That smiley face at the end of the last sentence confounds me (does he hate the Kings or not?), but now we know the backstory: he thought he'd be rewarded for being loyal and he's disappointed that's not the case. Does this mean he'd welcome a trade? Methinks this isn't the last email Artest will send this summer.

Ron Artest Emails a Statement About His Last Emailed Statement originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Manu Ginobili's New Nike Commercial: Viva Manu, Juga Ginobili

Will Brinson — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Spurs, Western, NBA Media Watch, NBA Videos

There are not many things in this world that make me enjoy Manu Ginobili. What can I say? I'm opposed to floppy, flopping mcfloppersons. But I will give credit to this new Nike commercial (via Skeets) which makes Manu seem, immortal aside, kind of likable.

Nike, who has quietly been on fire for the past, oh, 20 years, gets another +1 for not making me despise Manu's flopping as much as I normally do.

Manu Ginobili's New Nike Commercial: Viva Manu, Juga Ginobili originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Andrew Bynum Cleared to Condition, Lakers Fans Begin Printing 2009 Championship Shirts

Matt Moore — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:21:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, Western, NBA Injuries, Los Angeles

Several months after he was expected to be back to full speed, starting for the Lakers, Andrew Bynum has been cleared for conditioning. According to a report in the OC Register, Bynum is officially on track for his comeback. He's staying in New York two more weeks working on rehab, then heading down to Atlanta to train.

After every open field goal the Lakers allowed under the basket in the playoffs, and there were many, many of those, Lakers fans would note that the problem would be fixed next year with the return of Bynum beside Gasol and Odom. Getting Bynum clear of any complications with the knee well before training camp is a positive step in that direction. If the Lakers are going to bounce back from a fairly humiliating Finals, they need Bynum to be the unstoppable force in the middle that prevents easy baskets, lets Pau Gasol drift around the elbows, and does that whole rebounding thing the Lakers have so much trouble with.

Coming back from knee surgery has never been considered easy, but with the advances in medicine over the last ten years, it's easier than it ever has been. And if Bynum can manage to come back full strength, the Lakers will boost an already formidable position as the favorite to win the 2008-2009 NBA title.

Andrew Bynum Cleared to Condition, Lakers Fans Begin Printing 2009 Championship Shirts originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Paul Will Remain a New Orleans Hornet. A Very, Very Rich Hornet.

Matt Moore — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:25:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets, Western, New Orleans

Chris Paul is considered a member of that group of players that includes Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and others at the elite level, all of which had contracts set to expire after 2009/2010 through a variety of mechanisms. It would appear that at least one of them is happy where he's at.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune is reporting that Paul and the Hornets have agreed in principle to a three-year extension, with an option for a fourth year that brings the total value to $68 million dollars. The deal will keep him with the Hornets a while longer. It's a huge signing for the smaller market Hornets, and gives them a foundation for success for the next five years.

On a day where sadness seems to pervade the Internet regarding the Sonics departure from Seattle, its ironic that such a feel-good story as Paul signing a long term deal with what was a struggling franchise happens. Why? Because without the overwhelming and enthusiastic support of the citizens of Oklahoma City who did such a dastardly thing as "actually coming to the games," the Hornets might not have gotten enough support to even stay in New Orleans, where people are now actually coming to the games. Interesting. Of course, on the flip side, if it hadn't been for Paul's outstanding play, Oklahoma City may not have gotten so enthused about the NBA, which precipitated Clay Bennett's chicanery. It's the circle of life. Or at least greed, money, and marketability.

Chris Paul Will Remain a New Orleans Hornet. A Very, Very Rich Hornet. originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Golden State Has Made a Large, Albeit Likely Futile, Offer to Elton Brand

Will Brinson — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:45:00 EST

Filed under: Warriors, Clippers, Western, NBA Rumors, Oakland

Chris Mullin is not likely to come out of this offseason looking, shall we say, golden. First, he drafted a[nother] lanky power forward who will need some time to develop. Then, he allowed Baron Davis to mosey down the state to Los Angeles by refusing to negotiate an extension with the fan-fave.

Now, the Warriors appear to be grasping at straws by throwing around as much money as they can at Gilbert Arenas and Elton Brand, to whom they apparently offered a monster deal to on Wednesday.

Flush with cap space after Davis' sudden exit, the Warriors have offered free agent Elton Brand a five-year deal worth between $85 and $90 million, according to league sources.

Brand, like Davis, opted out of the final year of his contract just before Monday's deadline, giving up a guaranteed $16.4 million for next season. At the time, Brand's agent, David Falk, told reporters that the move was designed to create some cap flexibility for the Clippers to add another top-line player.

They offered Gil the max he was allowed and have apparently ponied up a similar chunk of change to try and lure Brand to Oakland.

Here's the problem. Brand and Baron both opted out of their contracts in a surprising, last-minute fashion. Couple that with Davis' decision to head to the Clippers, and it's not hard to see that both guys are eying a scenario where the Clipjoint are suddenly serious contenders in the Western Conference.

Given that Arenas is likely to return to Washington, it suddenly looks like Mullin and Co. could be left holding the bag with a team that won't sniff the playoffs and no longer has the star-power draw that it did with Boom. That would all change if Brand decided to accept their deal, but at this point, that seems pretty unlikely.

The Warriors aren't completely hopeless; they still have a ton of young talent on the team and should have plenty of cash remaining after they pick up another lottery pick in 2009, but there's no guarantee Don Nelson will still be around. And given that just over a year ago they shocked the world by taking down the Mavericks in the first round, this is a pretty long way to fall.

Via TrueHoop

Golden State Has Made a Large, Albeit Likely Futile, Offer to Elton Brand originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mama, Baron Davis Is Coming Hoooooome

Will Brinson — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Western, NBA Fans, NBA Videos, Los Angeles

Normally, someone busting out an acoustic guitar and recording anything for YouTube is the best tasting recipe for disaster you can possibly find. But the Clippers fan below is clearly the reason why Baron Davis bolted Oak-town and is headed back to Los Angeles. "Baron, It's Time to Come Home", your next bloggy internet sensation.

I'm impressed. Dude has dece guitar skills and better than solid lyrical prowess. Sure, it's not as good as the obvious "Mama, I'm Comin' Home" acoustic rip off that Ryan Parker will do, but whatever. I back.

Via Hotclicks

Mama, Baron Davis Is Coming Hoooooome originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Artest Is Still Crazy After All These Years Days Hours

Will Brinson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, Western, NBA Gossip, NBA Media Watch

If that whole idea of a professional athlete taking less money to land in a competitive situation freaked you out for a little while, well, fear not -- Ron Artest is here to assure you that everything in this totally twisted world is still right. How so, you ask?

He sent an email to Marc Stein tonight stating that deciding not to opt out of his contract was a "mistake".

Artest also conceded that his long-term future is likely not in Sacramento, saying via e-mail: "I don't see myself with [the] Kings beyond 2008-09.

"I think I made the biggest mistake by staying in my contract and I have to live with it," Artest said. "I had some misleading information [in making the] decision on not opting out. [But] I still thank God for all his blessings and being able to play basketball and help people."

First of all, why the hell does Artest continue to send emails directly to Stein and ESPN? I have no issue with him dealing with the WWL, I just think at some point, one of his advisor/agent type people would just say "stop." Or at least put a breathalyzer styled timer thing on his computer that prevents sending emails without waiting at least an hour.

Secondly, we all make mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes are related to our employment situation. But I fail to see how, unless Geoff Petrie is just a total liar, Artest managed to misread the writing on the wall.

Which, as Sam Amick points out in the SacBee, translated into Artestian as "long term contract extension".

The backstory here involves a conference call the small forward had this morning with Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie and Artest's agent, Mark Stevens. It appears that Artest was under the impression that there was a high likelihood the Kings would discuss his eventual signing to a long-term extension. But after numerous sources have said for months that such a move was highly unlikely, Artest and Stevens had continued to talk as if it was a strong possibility.

In reality, of course, what the writing said was "get back whatever we can and wish you well on your way, sir". And Stevens, obviously, was taken aback by this as well.

"I'm not even near a TV, so I can't even respond to something I haven't seen....Whatever his reasons for feeling that way is, well we'll just see. I'm not going to respond to it."

So, we basically have a full fledged crazy fest about to break out in Sacramento. Reality is that Artest probably saw Udrih get close to his own salary, and then saw Boom easily top it on the open market and realized he made a mistake. What didn't occur to him, and what should, is that if he plays hard and stays reasonably sane this year, he'll get straight paid in 2008-09.

Via STR

Ron Artest Is Still Crazy After All These ~~Years~~ ~~Days~~ Hours originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Paul Is Going to Get Paid Like a Free Agent Soon Too

Will Brinson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hornets, Western, NBA Rumors, New Orleans

If you (note: Hubie Brown voice) are the New Orleans Hornets and you have a point guard under your control who is going to be a free agent in a few years, and you know that you need him to be competitive for an NBA title in a smaller market, you lock him up.

The Hornets -- despite notoriously "frugal" owner George Shinn's ways -- are doing just that, as John Reid of the New Orleans Times Picayune is reporting that Chris Paul and NOLA are getting ready to reach an agreement on a max-deal four or five year extension.

"We're going to try and get it done in the next 24 to 48 hours once I get down there,'' [Paul's agent Lance] Young said by telephone. "I think if you go back and look, there's nobody who did a three-year deal of all the max deals done in the last few years. I would say three years is not what he is going to do. It will be a four or a five-year deal.''

Paul's contract will range from $60 million to $80 million, depending on the length. Young said he and Bower spoke by telephone on Tuesday, the first day teams could begin negotiating contracts with free agents.

Let's be perfectly clear: if you are the the New Orleans Hornets, you give Chris Paul whatever money and how many ever years he wants. He is most certainly one of the top five players in the league, and while many might take Kobe or LeBron if they were starting a team, I think Paul is a legitimate candidate.

And even if you disagree, Paul was most certainly an MVP candidate last year, most certainly the reason for the Hornets resurgence and most certainly worthy of this kind of contract.

Chris Paul Is Going to Get Paid Like a Free Agent Soon Too originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:30:00 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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Well, That Was Fast: Beno Udrih Agrees to MLE Deal with Sacramento

Will Brinson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, Western, NBA Rumors

It did not take long for the Sacramento Kings to lock up their point guard of the future (I'm not crowning him, but he will be there for the foreseeable portion of it), as Sam Amick is reporting that the Kings and Beno Udrih have agreed to a five year deal that will pay him $30 million.

The deal for the fifth-year point guard can officially be signed when the free agency moratorium lifts on July 8. According to numerous sources, Udrih received the full five-year deal for the entire midlevel exception (approximately $6 million per season).

"It's good for everybody," Cornstein said. "They've expressed tremendous interest not just starting at 12:01 last night New York time but really from the get go.

"They took a chance on Beno when he was really kind of an outcast from San Antonio, and put him in a fantastic position and believed in him and gave him a chance to run their team. I think he's great for Sacramento, and I think Sacramento is great for him."

Whether he is great for Sacramento remains to be seen, because Beno does have his issues as an on-the-floor leader and distributor. However, out of the remaining options available to the Kings (all-in on Gilbert -- unlikely -- or someone like Chris Duhon) he was clearly the most realistically appealing.

Beno's return gives the Kings essentially the same roster from last season, injury aside, that actually made some noise in a tough Western Conference. And even if he's not the perfect slam dunk, the Kings locked up their starting point guard without having to sacrifice any other parts.

Well, That Was Fast: Beno Udrih Agrees to MLE Deal with Sacramento originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Artest Remains a King, But Udrih May Leave

Matt Watson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Kings, Western, NBA Rumors, Los Angeles

After much hand-wringing and "100 degree" reversals, Ron Artest decided against opting out of the final year of his contract with the Kings. By staying, he'll earn just $7.4 million, or less than half of the $16 million that guys like Elton Brand and Baron Davis left on the table in search of greener ~~bank accounts~~ pastures.

But while the Kings know they'll have Artest back (even if he's only a bargaining chip to be used in a trade), the same can't be said for Beno Udrih. Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee reports that the Kings called Udrih the first moment they were allowed to offer him the full mid-level exception over five years, but that may not be enough. Instead of settling for a mere phone call, Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy met face to face with Udrih last night in New York to make his pitch.

There's no word yet if the Clippers will match Sacramento's offer -- and they may not be able to commit to anything until figuring out what they're going to do with Brand and Corey Maggette -- but it's not surprising to see that Dunleavy made contacting Udrih a priority. The Clippers desperately need a point guard after finishing last year with Smush Parker and Brevin Knight sharing duties and officially giving up hope on Shaun Livingston, whose rights were renounced.

Artest Remains a King, But Udrih May Leave originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shan Foster Can't Wait to Play ... in the NBA

Will Brinson — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: Mavericks, Western, NBA Draft, NBA Videos, Dallas

During a rather pedestrian draft night last Thursday, one of the more tender moments was Shan "Don't Call Me Shane" Foster's playing of a song he wrote just for the NFL draft. At the time, I may have said something cynical about it, but the more I think about it, rooting against the Joey Harrington of the NBA is just wrong.

Here's Shan's little jam he put together to discuss his feelings about being a professional basketball player.

It's actually kind of catchy, in a very irritating way. And, all Joey H. jokes aside, the dude does have a pretty sick voice. Or, as Dirk said*, "He's no 'Hoff, but he's pretty good."

H/T: Hot Clicks

Shan Foster Can't Wait to Play ... in the NBA originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Score First Arizona Point Guard Eager for Draft Revenge -- Sound Familiar?

Will Brinson — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:15:00 EST

Filed under: Trail Blazers, Western, NBA Draft, NBA Gossip

Jerryd Bayless did not have a Darrell Arthur-like plummet in the draft, but he still fell pretty far, relatively speaking. When he finally got taken at number 11 overall, it was easily seven spots later than where he -- and many prognosticators -- thought he would have landed.

And just like the Zero-man before him, Bayless has revenge on his mind for the teams that passed on him because he seems like more of an ill-fitted two than a true point guard.

"I think they are crazy," Bayless said when asked what he would say to people who don't think he can play both guard spots. "That's what I think."

[...]Bayless appeared visibly upset that he went that low, after it was predicted in mock drafts that he could be picked as high as No. 4 by Seattle or realistically No. 7 by the Los Angeles Clippers.

"I have 10 teams to prove wrong now," Bayless told ESPN radio. "I'm going to definitely go out and try to do that. Hopefully everything works out."

Now, of course, Bayless did not fall nearly as far as Gil, who ended up in the second round. And it's also tough for Bayless to be that upset, considering that he landed in a pretty perfect spot, getting to run the point for Portland.

He'll have control of a young, up and coming team with a plethora of weapons and with Brandon Roy in the backcourt with him, he'll have the opportunity to score plenty as well. And if he's teed off and willing to prove that a slew of teams messed up by passing on him, it will only make Kevin Pritchard look smarter.

Score First Arizona Point Guard Eager for Draft Revenge -- Sound Familiar? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Shot Bob Is Not Ready to Hang Up the Clutch Shooting (Nor Questionable Tactics)

Matt Moore — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Rockets, Spurs, Western

Towards the end of an athlete's career, there's always a number of questions about whether it's noble that he or she continues to compete, or regrettable that they continue to cling to the remnants of their fading skills.

Such is the case with one Robert Horry, AKA, "Big Shot Bob." AKA "Cheap Shot Bob." AKA "Wily Pants McGee." Okay, I made the last one up.

Horry said in an interview yesterday that he plans to return to the NBA next season for his 17th season. He said that he would prefer to play for either the Spurs, whom he won championships with, or the Rockets ... whom he won championships with. So essentially there are two takes to have on this.

Take 1: "How noble, to play at his age (he turns 38 in August). To compete at this level at his age is truly heroic. And with his tenacious defense and clutch shooting, you can be sure that any team that picks him up will gain a major assett."

Take 2: "Now this is just sad. The guy can't rn with any of the elite athletes, he suffers in transition, his shooting is down, some blogs call him "the corpse of Robert Horry." And the only way he's able to stay relevant is by distributing cheap shots at his opponents."

Pick a side, and let's crank up Season 17!

Big Shot Bob Is Not Ready to Hang Up the Clutch Shooting (Nor Questionable Tactics) originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 28 Jun 2008 20:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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