NBA 2007-08 Preseason predictions

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Jordan returns to watch his new-look Bobcats practice

Updated: October 5, 2007, 8:31 PM ET

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Charlotte Bobcats part-owner Michael Jordan returned to his hometown Friday to get his first glimpse of the team he remade in the offseason.

Jordan arrived to learn he may be shopping for big men after forward Sean May's decision to have season-ending knee surgery.

Jordan, who has the final say on all basketball decisions, watched from the balcony as the Bobcats went through a 45-minute scrimmage at UNC Wilmington under new coach Sam Vincent.

"We had a good conversation. He's very supportive of the way we're practicing," Vincent said. "He likes what he sees. It was real encouraging to have him come and watch what we're doing."

Jordan declined to speak to reporters both after practice and earlier in the day, when he helped dedicate a reading room at the local children's center where he played basketball as a kid.

Jordan was involved in a busy offseason, when he hired Vincent to replace Bernie Bickerstaff and pulled off a draft night trade with Golden State to acquire Jason Richardson.

The Bobcats also re-signed leading scorer Gerald Wallace and 3-point specialist Matt Carroll. They're trying to sign forward Emeka Okafor to a contract extension before the end of the month.

May said Tuesday he'll undergo surgery, a decision that leaves Charlotte thin in the frontcourt.

Jordan's afternoon began at the Community Boys & Girls Club on the outskirts of Wilmington, where a younger Jordan spent countless hours as a kid.

Jordan, who donated $100,000 to the club in March, dedicated a Bobcats-themed reading wing Friday, which will be stocked with books and other educational materials.

About 100 children attended the brief ceremony, where Jordan spoke fondly of his memories of the center.

"For all these kids that are going to benefit from this, hopefully we have another Michael Jordan here somewhere in terms of their success," Jordan said. "Not Michael Jordan per se in terms of basketball. Someone who just believes in their dreams and aspires to be the best person they can be."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Garnett leads way as new-look Celtics make preseason debut

ROME (AP) -- Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 16 rebounds in his Celtics debut, and Boston ruined Andrea Bargnani's homecoming with an 89-85 preseason victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.

Paul Pierce added 21 points for Boston, while Ray Allen had an off night with only 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting.

The start of the NBA Europe Live tour marked the Celtics' first game since Garnett and Allen joined the team, creating a "Big 3" with Boston veteran Pierce.

"It was good to finally get out there and get our feet wet," Pierce said. "It was probably the best first game since I've been with the Celtics."

Coach Doc Rivers left both Pierce and Garnett in for 32 minutes, while Allen played 31.

"Doc told us we're not going to play a lot of minutes tonight, but he wanted us to go really hard," Garnett said. "We had a lot of energy tonight."

Bargnani, last year's top overall draft pick by Toronto, played his first game in his hometown in an NBA jersey and scored 13 points in less than 15 minutes.

"Andrea was pretty good. I probably could have done a better job at getting him back in, but I wanted to keep him fresh for tomorrow," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. "I know where Andrea's at."

T.J. Ford and Anthony Parker started at guard for the Raptors, with Chris Bosh and Jason Kapono at forward and Bargnani at center.

Ford led the Raptors with 15 points.

The other Celtics starters were Rajon Rondo at point guard and Kendrick Perkins at center.

The Raptors play Roma on Sunday, then travel to Spain to face Real Madrid. The Celtics meet Garnett's former club, the Minnesota Timberwolves, on Wednesday in London.

"We did some good things and we need to work at some other things," Mitchell said. "We play again tomorrow and we'll try to clean some things up."

The sold-out crowd of 11,118 at the Palalottomatica gave Bargnani a standing ovation when he came out for warmups and grew even louder when he scored six of the Raptors' first eight points, including a 3-pointer on his first attempt from the field.

The Celtics had a slow start, while Toronto's international cast of Carlos Delfino, Jose Calderon, Jorge Garbajosa and Rasho Nesterovic sunk a series of perimeter shots to open a 34-22 lead.

The Celtics finally got going midway through the second quarter when Allen hit a 3 to pull Boston within 40-34. After missing a series of midrange jumpers, Garnett picked up a rebound off a miss by Pierce and dunked to put the Celtics in front 42-40, their first lead since the opening minutes of the first quarter.

Garnett added a free throw to conclude a 12-0 run for the Celtics and make it 43-40 at halftime.

After his early outburst, Bargnani picked up three fouls and was quiet for the rest of the first half. The Italian started the second half with another flourish, hitting a 3 to restore the Raptors' lead at 45-43, then adding four more points in succession before picking up his fourth foul and returning to the bench.

Garnett was given a technical foul for hanging on the rim after a dunk that tied the game at 52. It appeared he was trying to avoid landing on some players beneath him, and the Celtics argued the call to no avail.

Pierce began hitting his fallaway jumper as the Celtics started to take control midway through the third quarter.

Ford's perimeter shooting for the Raptors kept the game close and Rivers kept Garnett and Allen in for the entire third quarter, which ended with the Celtics leading 70-68.

Reserve guard Gabe Pruitt sealed the game with a free throw for Boston in the final seconds.

Both teams wore special uniforms for the game featuring the colors of Italy's flag. The Raptors' white jerseys had red and green trimming, while the Celtics' lettering was red, white and green, as was the shamrock on their shorts.

Spike Lee, slated to begin shooting a film in Italy next week, sat courtside.

Celtics center Scot Pollard has flown back to the United States for medical exams on his sprained left ankle.

 

[Alderuhen]

Intresting shit but...

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Blame it on Hawaii: Lakers maintain sunny disposition
By Ric Bucher-ESPN The Magazine

Updated: October 4, 2007, 12:05 AM ET

HONOLULU -- Maybe it's the general tropical nuttiness that is Waikiki, where the Lakers are staying. Or maybe it's holding the first two days of training camp at a high school, conjuring up the time in everyone's life when anything seemed possible. (Heightened by the fact that the school, Iolani, considers anything less than four state championships in a year as a major disappointment, based on the wall banners.) Or maybe the Lakers have just decided to take a page out of Stuart Smalley's book and eliminate their many shortcomings with blammer rays of positive thinking.

Whatever the explanation, and no matter how fragile the Lakers may look to the rest of the planet, inside the purple-and-gold bubble it's all rosy. It's as if last season's 15-25 closing swoon and perfunctory first-round playoff dispatch by Phoenix never happened and Kobe Bryant never called the front office out for expecting anything different.

Whether it was Ronny Turiaf cheering a Brian Cook pull-up jumper ("I see you, Cookie!") as if it were a Game 7 or GM Mitch Kupchak feigning ignorance of any offseason hullaballoo involving Kobe or Lamar Odom nodding toward Kwame Brown and predicting "he's going to be one of the best players in the NBA," all that was missing were Jack Nicholson, Chief and little paper cups with brightly colored meds.

"Expectations aren't very high and that's OK with me," said Kupchak, startling the crowd of beat writers hearing it as much as it probably did you just now reading it. Then he clarified his logic: "All I keep reading is we're not a very good team. Obviously, I disagree with that. We feel that if we stay healthy, we've got a good team."

Oooookkkayyyy, except you can't stay as something you're not. Odom is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and isn't allowed to scrimmage. Same with Brown, recovering from both shoulder and ankle surgery. Center Andrew Bynum took part but had been forced to shut down his training-camp preparations because of a sore tendon above his right calf.

All of which left a starting unit of Kobe, Derek Fisher, Luke Walton, Turiaf and Chris Mihm and coach Phil Jackson understandably announcing he'd be going with a 10-deep rotation in the early going.

If none of that is reason for alarm, it's also not exactly a cause for celebration. Especially in Lakerland, where just being good is hardly the accepted standard. Or, at least, was.

The optimism is reminiscent of training camp last year, only that was far more understandable. The Lakers had just won 45 games with an 11-3 closing burst and scared the bejeezus out of the Suns over seven games. Smush Parker looked as if he'd found a game and a home. So had Kwame. Vladimir Radmanovic was still a hot-shooting free agent acquisition, not a lousy, lying snowboarder.

Now? All early indications are that Bynum isn't ready to make a significant impact, Odom is still distracted by the infant son who died last summer and Radmanovic's hunger to make up for his mishap last winter appears bite-sized. There were doubts Mihm would ever play again after two ankle surgeries and now he's the starting center.

In short, matching last year's 11-5 start could be a challenge with 10 of their first 16 opponents being '06-07 playoff teams.

The premise, of course, is that precise execution and one great player is enough to win a championship, as San Antonio proved just a few months ago. The first difference is that, as a big man, Tim Duncan can do infinitely more to make the game easier for his teammates than a shooting guard, no matter how talented, and the Spurs' supporting cast has been carefully handpicked to make the most of Duncan's abilities, which certainly can't be said about the Lakers and Kobe.

The second difference is that the Spurs have enough talent to shift the offensive burden off Duncan, allowing him to anchor their defense. Bryant demonstrated with Team USA that he has defensive-player-of-the-year ability, but Jackson also talked about making him more of an offensive facilitator this season, which will require expending a lot more energy than isolating on the wing, as he did last season. Oh, and Jackson also wants to fast break more, with Kobe leading the charge. Oh, but he still wants the primary focus of the team to be ball possession, which means defense and rebounding, categories in which the Lakers were decidedly in the league's bottom half.

Amidst the mildly stupefying tropical air and relentless sun, inside a dimly-lit high school gym with forgiving rims and an extra-soft floor, charged by Jackson's authoritative tone, it all seems plausible.

Too bad the season has to be played a couple thousand miles away, under starkly different conditions.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Garnett Leads Celtics To Victory Over Raptors
October 6, 2007 - 9:23 pm
ESPN -
Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 16 rebounds in his Celtics debut, and Boston ruined Andrea Bargnani's homecoming with an 89-85 preseason victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.

Paul Pierce added 21 points for Boston, while Ray Allen had an off night with only 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting.

The start of the NBA Europe Live tour marked the Celtics' first game since Garnett and Allen joined the team, creating a "Big 3" with Boston veteran Pierce.

"It was good to finally get out there and get our feet wet," Pierce said. "It was probably the best first game since I've been with the Celtics."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Heat PG Williams' Effort Pleasing Riley
October 7, 2007 - 4:57 pm
Palm Beach Post -
The summertime reports on oft-injured Heat guard Jason Williams were glowing. And as he zipped around the court with relative ease in Friday night's intrasquad scrimmage, he again confirmed he was true to his rigorous off-season training program.

"I'm really pleased with him," coach Pat Riley said. "I think he has been a standout this summer."

If Williams continues at this pace, the payoff could be big for both him and the Heat.

The Heat needs a big season from Williams to solidify the point guard position. Williams also has incentive because he's in the final year of his contract.

The deal will pay him $8.9 million, but time isn't on his side. He'll be 32 next month, and

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Curry Injures Shoulder, Will Have MRI
October 7, 2007 - 5:18 pm
New York Post -
Eddy Curry suffered a shoulder injury Friday and reported sharp pain.

The Knick center will have an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.

Curry finished practice and has not ruled out playing in Thursday's exhibition game at the Garden.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Rockets Wowed By Adelman's Offense
October 7, 2007 - 5:31 am
Houston Chronicle -
So far, Rick Adelman is getting rave reviews from his Rocket players for his offense, which will be much more up tempo and is bound to make opposition defenses work hard every night.

Adelman said his best offensive players, Yao and Tracy McGrady, will still be put in position to do what they do best. But players rave about the democracy and freedom in the offense so much, they might as well be running for office.

"It's a free style," guard Mike James said. "Coach wants us to figure it out for ourselves. He understands that in the game we're going to have to figure it out. He's teaching us how to do that now, in training camp. One thing about the offense, it's constantly flowing. Everybody is touching the ball. You use your teammates to help you get open to get shots. It's not like one person is creating, and everybody else is standing. It's constant movement all the time, and everyone is touching the ball."

"It's easier. The defense gets lazy. The defense doesn't like that much movement. They like when you are standing still, and one person is dribbling the ball and they can all key on that person. In this offense, the defense doesn't want to play defense for 24 seconds, and you're going to get a lot of backdoor cuts. You're going to get a lot of open looks. You're going to get a lot of times when there is a cut, there is going to be help and a double team and know you're going to be open for a shot."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Raptors need Garbajosa's versatility for a healthy outlook

By Ian Whittell
Special to ESPN.com

Updated: October 7, 2007, 8:51 PM ET

TREVISO, Italy -- Count them. There are one million good reasons why the Toronto Raptors should be anxious about their hopes of holding on to their Atlantic Division crown as they come to the end of their first week of training camp in Italy.

One million good reasons -- one for every dollar the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) was forced to pay out as an insurance premium before Raptors forward Jorge Garbajosa was allowed to drag himself and his still healing fractured left fibula, dislocated left ankle and torn ligaments through the Eurobasket tournament held in his homeland last month.

Health and fitness will have been a burning issue at every NBA training camp from Hawaii to Istanbul this week but it is safe to assume there are few teams for whom the issue will have burned quite so brightly as it does for Canada's finest.

It is obvious, from the most cursory glance around the La Ghirada training facility which the Raptors called home this week, that the first Italian word Raptors trainers learned when they landed here last Sunday was "ghiaccio" ... "ice."

The foot injury that forced All-Star forward Chris Bosh to withdraw from his own national team commitments, with the USA, this summer is one thing but it is the fallout from that horrendous accident suffered by Garbajosa, when he landed awkwardly during a game at the Boston Celtics in late March, that dominates preseason thoughts and forecasts.

By all reasonable estimates, Garbajosa's attempts to play in Spain, barely five months after the injury, were preposterous. But these were not reasonable times.

For the majority of Euro players in the NBA, representing their national team is viewed as a far greater honor than it is for their American counterparts and, with Eurobasket being hosted by world champions Spain, Garbajosa had added incentive to defy the medical prognosis and decline surgery which would have certainly ruled him out of the tournament.

He also had the great fortune to be a naturally quick healer and to play for the Euro-Raptors, a team headed by Bryan Colangelo and Maurizio Gherardini that appreciates the importance of national team duty probably more than any of their NBA brethren. Still, the FEB's insurance company needed convincing to the tune of $1 million that Garbajosa was in shape to play.

And still ... "Of course, we were concerned," said VP/Assistant GM Gherardini of Garbajosa's hasty return to action. "It was a very significant injury. But the times involved for the recovery were cut short by Garbajosa's unbelievable attitude. He's an unbelievable guy and it was some sort of miracle he made it back.

"On the other hand, we know the situation was not 100 percent ...."

And there is the rub. Toronto doctors diagnosed the need for surgery to fully repair an injury, which in their opinion, was not knitting together properly by the time he left to join the Spanish squad. Those same experts still claim the injury is not knitting and that Garbajosa should have an operation, a diagnosis that is contradicted by surgeons in Spain and by the player himself who claims he is practicing completely free of pain.

"We feel relatively comfortable," is Gherardini's only comment on the delicate state of affairs but it is safe to assume that every awkward landing, every darting twist and turn made by the 6-9, 245-pound forward this season will see Raptors management with their hearts in their mouths.

Why such an emphasis on a second-year NBA player who will turn 30 in December and averaged 8.5 ppg and 4.9 rpg last season? Gherardini -- who watched Garbajosa throughout his impressive 11-year European career including four seasons with Gherardini's own Benetton Treviso -- knows why.

"A healthy Garbajosa gives you the opportunity to play in so many different versions, you can't believe," said Gherardini. "Having him on the court, he can play the 3, the 4, the 5, he has the knowledge of the game to play all those three positions and be a factor at those three positions. That is why he is such a key piece for us.

"And his leadership is being felt more and more. Everybody appreciates he is a quiet leader, a player who leads by example. Everybody appreciates now that he knows the game.

"How good could he be? All I can say is that it is too bad he got to the NBA this late. He can still be an impact player in this league but I would have liked him to be here two or three years earlier."

Garbajosa himself concedes that the Raptors, while not exactly enthusiastic about his decision to play nine games of top-class international basketball against the better judgment of their medical experts, were ultimately supportive and that there will be no lasting ill effects from his summer in Spain.

"When I started rehab I said that if I was not ready or if there was any small risk for me or my leg then I would not play for Spain," said Garbajosa. "I asked the Toronto Raptors to help me do this and, of course, they wanted to cover themselves. After the injury, it was not an easy position for them. That's why I appreciate a lot what they did for me, even if they did not completely agree. They supported me, which was very important for me.

"But this is not an easy injury. When this kind of injury happens, there are a lot of different opinions and you have to come to an agreement between the doctors in Spain, the doctors at the Raptors, the general manager, myself, my agents ... it is not easy. They ask my feelings, what can I say? I am pain-free, practicing as hard as I can without pain, I am doing everything the other guys are doing. I see no reason for surgery but it is not only my decision."

None of which will be an issue if Garbajosa suffers no adverse reaction to his "miracle" comeback and the Raptors can come close to matching, or even improve upon, last season's stunning 47-win performance. There was certainly no sign of anything more worrying than some standard preseason rustiness in his 20-minute outing in Saturday's 89-85 exhibition loss to the Boston Celtics.

For both Garbajosa and his fellow Raptor and Spanish teammate Jose Calderon, there is also the added incentive of putting behind them the bitter memory of losing one of the most incredible Eurobasket games ever, a 60-59 finals loss to Russia which saw the hosts relegated to the silver medal.

"It was a disappointment for sure," said Calderon, who was constantly by Garbajosa's side throughout camp and who acted as a "spy" for Raptors coach Sam Mitchell, often reporting back on what Garbo was really saying about his injury. "But only for the first few days after the final. Now, the future seems brighter every day. We had high expectations but silver medal is not bad and now we will fight for the gold at the Olympics next year."

Before then, Calderon, Garbajosa and the NBA's most international, cosmopolitan group of players, from what is officially the world's most cosmopolitan city (100 languages and dialects are spoken in Toronto which the United Nations calls the world's "most diverse city"), hope to have experienced a playoff run that extends beyond the first-round playoff exit suffered by the injury-hit Raptors against the New Jersey Nets last season.

Colangelo and Gherardini insist they have no active policy of only signing international players, even if it may sometimes see that way to the casual viewer. The Raptors' way, they say, is to pick up the best available player, regardless of his passport although the new names coming into Toronto this summer -- Jason Kapono, Carlos Delfino, Maceo Baston and Giorgos Printezis -- at least sound international even if Kapono hails from California and Baston is a Texan.

"I think we got players who will be helpful to the philosophy we tried to start last year," said Gherardini. "Players like Delfino, Baston are, let's say, 'international players.' Delfino, because of his Argentine background and playing in Italy, knows what international ball is all about and Baston spent so many years overseas that he knows exactly what we're talking about."

Kapono, too, fits the international profile -- and not just because of his exotic name. After signing a four-year $24 million contract, Kapono will also be pushing for a starting position and to prove his game is about more than three-point shooting (which he has made at a rate of 45.9 percent throughout his career).

"Everyone gets pigeonholed in this league," said Kapono. "If you're not starting, you have a certain role. That's why you're in the league. But last year, less than half my shots were threes and I made more twos than threes, a lot more.

"I'm an off-the-ball guy, you rarely see me create my own shot off the dribble so I have to get better at creating plays, be able to come off screens, draw the defense, kick it to guys for their shots. This system allows you to do that."

The Raptors may not have had a spectacular summer of trade activity enjoyed by rivals such as the Boston Celtics but the few small tweaks made to the roster should be enough to see them remain an Eastern Conference contender, especially if they stay clear of injuries such as the plantar fasciitis which hobbled Bosh this summer and which has forced him to adopt a specially-prepared exercise program requiring him to stretch for 15 minutes two times every day.

"I still have light pain but it's not heavy," said Bosh. "It doesn't hinder me from doing anything and the stretching helps me keep on top of it.

"My personal goals for this year are the same as last year -- be an All-Star, make All-NBA -- but my main thing is to help this team get better. We are not going to catch anyone by surprise this year, we might have a better season and actually not win as many games. But winning the Atlantic, trying to get past the first round, all these things we tried to do last year, we expect to do them again ... and then some."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

2007-2008 Season Preview: Northwest Division
Authored by Jason M. Williams - 11th October, 2007 - 1:12 pm

The fourth part of this six-piece series will spotlight the Northwest Division.

- Denver Nuggets -

The Denver Nuggets had a very interesting season last year. They lost Kenyon Martin for the season, were involved in a brawl with the New York Knicks early in the season that saw Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith suspended for large portions of the season, dealt away sparkplug fixture Earl Boykins, and notably traded for icon Allen Iverson. Despite the hectic season filled with distractions, they still fought their way into the playoffs and gave the champion San Antonio Spurs a scare.

NBA Draft Picks: None

Key Additions: Chucky Atkins (Free Agent – Memphis), Steven Hunter (trade – Philadelphia), Bobby Jones (trade – Philadelphia), Anthony Roberson (FA – NBDL), Alvin Jones (FA), Brad Stricker (FA), Jelani McCoy (FA)

Key Losses: Steve Blake (FA – Portland), Reggie Evans (trade – Philadelphia), Ricky Sanchez (trade – Philadelphia), Jamal Sampson (FA – Dallas), DerMarr Johnson (FA – unsigned)

The Nuggets may regret letting Steve Blake leave the team, but filled his shoes with a very suitable veteran point guard Chucky Atkins, who is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. They also dealt away Reggie Evans, but brought in youthful talents in Steven Hunter and Bobby Jones. Hunter could provide shot-blocking help when Camby is on the bench.

Burning Questions

- Will a full season of Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony regain the division crown?
- Will Kenyon Martin make a much-needed return to the paint?
- Will Marcus Camby build off of his Defensive POY season?
- Will veteran Chucky Atkins play his way into the starting backcourt?
- Will J.R. Smith continue to be a steal of a deal from Chicago?
- Will Steven Hunter pair with Camby to become a dominant shot-swatting duo?
- What version of Nene will we get this season? The overweight sloth? Or the physical dominator in the paint?
- Will Carmelo Anthony continue his ascent into one of the game’s most elite superstars?

Person on the Hot Seat: Allen Iverson

Last season’s biggest name to be traded is now on the hot seat. He came over to Denver and was forced to coexist with Carmelo Anthony and the free-shooting J.R. Smith. At the trail end of the season, after given ample time to mesh with Melo, The Answer was learning whether the team needed him to defer or dominate. Look for the fans to expect big things from Iverson, especially when he has all camp to learn how to fit into George Karl’s system.

Team Outlook

Denver has been a very solid club for the best couple of seasons. The only problem is that they have faced some big injuries at the wrong times. If they can get Kenyon Martin to come back and play nasty defense with his former intimidating self, watch out. That addition, along with a full season of Melo and Iverson could spell trouble for the rest of the division, and possibly the conference.

- Minnesota Timberwolves -

Ever since the march to the Western Conference Finals fueled by Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell, and Latrell Sprewell, the Timberwolves have been stuck in mediocrity. General Manager Kevin McHale has been incapable of flanking Garnett with suitable help and the team has plummeted. Finally, McHale has granted KG’s wish to play for a winner, and dealt the face of the franchise to the Eastern Conference. This is the beginning of a new era for the Minnesota Timberwolves .

NBA Draft Picks: Corey Brewer (No. 7), Chris Richard (No. 41)

Key Additions: Al Jefferson (trade – Boston), Gerald Green (trade – Boston), Ryan Gomes (trade – Boston), Sebastian Telfair (trade – Boston), Theo Ratliff (trade – Boston), Juwan Howard (trade – Houston), Greg Buckner (trade – Dallas), John Edwards (FA – NBDL)

Key Losses: Kevin Garnett (trade – Boston), Mike James (trade – Houston), Trenton Hassell (trade – Dallas), Troy Hudson (FA – Golden State), Justin Reed (trade – Houston)

We can’t ignore the rather large elephant in the room. The only player any fan of basketball thinks of when the words ‘Minnesota’ and ‘Timberwolves’ are mentioned in the same breath is Kevin Garnett. He was the Minnesota Timberwolves . He made the Minnesota Timberwolves . Now he is gone. Tears have been shed, but ultimately, it’s better for them in the long run. They received a glut of young talent from Boston and were also able to jettison spare parts Mike James, Troy Hudson, and Trenton Hassell – three guys who basically did the same thing. These moves brought in some great young talent with Al Jefferson and Gerald Green, and the drafting of Corey Brewer could turn out to be one of the best picks in the entire Draft.

Burning Questions

- How will the Twin Cities adopt this new team without Kevin Garnett?
- Will the Timberwolves deal Juwan Howard?
- Will Corey Brewer be one of the top players in this year’s Draft?
- Will Chris Richard prove to be a steal similar to Chuck Hayes or Paul Millsap?
- Will Al Jefferson answer Kevin McHale’s prayers and become a dominant force?
- Will Sebastian Telfair stay out of trouble?
- Will Theo Ratliff ever play a game in Minnesota? Is he seriously alive?
- Will Gerald Green ever reach his potential?
- Will this Minnesota team just be the same old Celtics in different uniforms?
- Is anyone else so excited that the Timberwolves went from having 239 guys making the same amount of money playing the same exact position with equally poor results, and finally dealt three of them this off-season (James, Hassell, Hudson)?

Person on the Hot Seat: Kevin McHale

Kevin McHale is way too easy a target for this category, but I had to do it. He just brought over five former Celtics who have continually failed in the Eastern Conference, only to team them up with the other two former Celtics (Mark Blount, Ricky Davis) he brought in with his last ridiculous trade with Boston. Don’t get me wrong, I actually liked the trade for Minnesota. But it’s difficult to believe that this collection of jettisoned Celtics will be able to do much in the immediate future for the Wolves. The thing about this team that makes them exciting is their youthful players, Randy Foye, Corey Brewer, and Rashad McCants. Team the other high flying players like Gerald Green and Al Jefferson and they can be a very exciting team to watch. With a fresh start and away from the heckling fans of Beantown, maybe this roster just might work. Remember, Sebastian’s cousin once made a name for himself in this town…could the fans at the Target Center do the same for Telfair?

Team Outlook

Don’t expect to see the T-Wolves in the NBA Finals just yet, but they will definitely be an improved team from last year. Immediately replacing the absurd number of guards who collectively did nothing, they now have an exciting youthful team with some potential stars at nearly every position. A core of Foye, Davis, McCants, Brewer, Green, Jefferson, and Craig Smith could play a fast paced game and compete with many teams in the league. I wouldn’t sleep on these young Wolves just yet.

- Portland Trailblazers -

After a season of improvement across the board, the Blazers sent reigning Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy to Madison Square Garden to try to secure one of the top picks in the biggest NBA Draft Lottery in recent history. With the odds against Portland, they sat and waited while the envelopes were opened. Magically, they were awarded the top pick in the Draft, and were in the spotlight with one of the more enjoyable decisions any franchise front office has ever had to make: Greg Oden? Or Kevin Durant?

NBA Draft Picks: Greg Oden (No. 1), Josh McRoberts (No. 37), Taurean Green (No. 52)

Key Additions: Channing Frye (trade – New York), Steve Blake (FA – Denver), James Jones (trade – Phoenix), Petteri Koponen (trade – Philadelphia), J.R. Pinnock (FA – LA Lakers), Brent Petway (FA), Chris Ellis (FA)

Key Losses: Zach Randolph (trade – New York), Fred Jones (trade – New York), Ime Udoka (FA – San Antonio), Jamaal Magloire (FA – New Jersey), Steve Francis (waived – Houston), Demetris Nichols (trade – New York), Derrick Byars (trade – Philadelphia), Dan Dickau (trade – New York), Luke Schenscher (FA – unsigned)

The Trailblazers once again made a flurry of deals at the NBA Draft. They ended up selecting Greg Oden with the top pick, added Duke power forward Josh McRoberts, national champion Taurean Green, and dealt for European sensation Petteri Koponen. The big news of the night was the deal that sent 20-10 power forward Zach Randolph to the Knicks for Channing Frye and Steve Francis. They would later waive Francis. They wanted to clear their name of having troubled players, and Randolph was the last to go. Now, the Portland Trailblazers are stacked with quality players who are also good character guys. Unfortunately, they were dealt the sour news that Oden would be lost for the season, after it was found that he needed to undergo the ghastly microfracture surgery.

Burning Questions

- How will the Blazers respond to the loss of the Greg Oden for the season?
- Will Channing Frye be able to deliver now that Randolph and Magloire are gone, and Oden is out for the season?
- How will Frye and Aldridge pair together in the paint?
- Will Brandon Roy continue to be one of the top young guards in the league?
- Will Martell Webster ever show up?
- Will Josh McRoberts be a bust?
- Will Sergio Rodriguez surpass Jarrett Jack for the starting point guard spot? Steve Blake?
- Will Taurean Green even make the team with Blake, Jack, Koponen, and Rodriguez ahead of him? Or will they do him a favor and deal him to Minnesota to reunite with Brewer and Richard?
- Will Brent “Air Georgia” Petway make it the team? Will he contend for the 2007-08 NBA Slam Dunk Championship? Best haircut award?

Person on the Hot Seat: Jarrett Jack

Jack was the one who came out of college and stole the show from the troubled but talented Sebastian Telfair two seasons ago. Now he has a crowd breathing down his neck as Sergio Rodriguez matured into a great player last season, Steve Blake is a distributing machine, Petteri Koponen was tabbed as the top international point guard in the Draft, and Taurean Green was the floor general for the two-time defending national champion Florida Gators. Now, that is quite a competitive glut on this roster and its Jack’s starting position to lose.

Team Outlook

There is no doubt that the loss of Greg Oden for the season is devastating. The entire city was excited to have the Big Fella on the team, and could have teamed with LaMarcus Aldridge and Channing Frye to be one of the scariest three-headed center/power forward monsters in recent memory. Now, it seems as if the city has been punched in the gut. The roster is stacked with talent. Hopefully, they can channel their energy towards supporting the players on the floor, rather than wondering what could have been with the Gentle Giant.

- Seattle Supersonics -

Sonics fans have had to deal with constant murmur of the team relocating to Oklahoma City, and the realization that their top two players were on the verge of leaving the team. However, with a lucky drop of the NBA Draft Lottery balls, they were thwarted back into league-wide relevance. The Sonics have been fighting mediocrity since their magical run in the West two years ago. But who would have thought that having the second overall pick in the Draft would be even better than having the first?

NBA Draft Picks: Kevin Durant (No. 2)

Key Additions: Jeff Green (trade – Boston), Delonte West (trade – Boston), Wally Szczerbiak (trade – Boston), Kurt Thomas (trade – Phoenix)

Key Losses: Ray Allen (trade – Boston), Rashard Lewis (trade – Orlando), Glen Davis (trade – Boston), Carl Landry (trade – Houston), Andre Brown (FA – Memphis), Danny Fortson (FA – unsigned), Mike Wilks (FA – unsigned), Randy Livingston (FA – unsigned)

The Sonics might have had the best Draft in the league. They entered with only the second pick and knowing that Rashard Lewis was on his way out. They ended up with Kevin Durant, the national player of the year in every aspect of college basketball, falling into their lap, and they turned the aging Ray Allen into the fifth overall pick (the heart and soul of Georgetown, clutch player Jeff Green), scrapper and team leader Delonte West, and Wally Szczerbiak, two years removed from being a prolific scorer out West. After those two hugely successful moves, new General Manager Sam Presti turned something out of nothing. Rather than letting Rashard Lewis walk away for nothing, they managed to swing a deal with the Orlando Magic that gave them a rather large trade exception. They would then turn that exception into veteran big man Kurt Thomas and two future first rounders from Phoenix. All of a sudden, these Sonics look like they have a TON of potential – after only four off-season moves by the prodigy Presti, who was stolen from San Antonio.

Burning Questions

- Who will have a better rookie year? Kevin Durant or Jeff Green?
- Will Durant play shooting guard or small forward?
- Will both Green and Durant start?
- Will Delonte West beat Luke Ridnour out for the starting point guard slot?
- Or will he move to shooting guard where he played next to Jameer Nelson at St. Joe’s?
- Will Wally Szczerbiak return to form?
- Will Kurt Thomas play solid defense to compliment the offense of Chris Wilcox?
- Will Johan Petro, Mouhamed Sene, or Robert Swift ever live up to their Draft spots?
- Will the Sonics be in Seattle at the end of the season? In the 2008-09 season?

Person on the Hot Seat: Wally Szczerbiak

Wally might be the key to how successful this team is going to be this season. If he can come in and play like he did two years ago, when he scored 19.0 points per game over 72 games for Minnesota and Boston, they will benefit from his leadership and his shot-making ability. With two extremely talented youthful small forwards in Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, he can mentor them and teach them the intricacies of playing the position in the League. His role on this team is vital for the development of their youths as one of the most experienced and cerebral players on the squad, along with newcomer Kurt Thomas. He is also easily the highest paid player on the team and is due $25M over the next two years.

Team Outlook

While it seems impossible for this team to challenge the rest of the conference for a playoff spot, don’t be surprised if they do. They have a great collection of backcourt players in Ridnour, Watson, West, Wilkins, and Szczerbiak. They have solid big men up front with Collison, Thomas, and Wilcox. They have feisty wing players in Green, Gelabale, and Kevin Durant. And they have the trio of first round big men who can potentially block a few shots and frighten guards to penetrate the paint (Sene, Swift, and Petro). Plus, who else is excited to see the return of Coach PJ Carlesimo, especially after he shadowed Super-coach Gregg Popovich over the past five years? Seattle fans better strap in for an exciting season in Seattle.

- Utah Jazz -

The Utah Jazz turned a lot of heads last year by streaking their way into the Western Conference Finals. They are led by the very cerebral and talented Deron Williams and have one of the best big men tandems in the league with Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur. Following the conclusion of the season, upper management paid it forward to clubhouse leader, Derek Fisher, by granting him his release in order to pursue better doctors for his ailing daughter in the Los Angeles area. We here at RealGM wish him and his family the best of luck in these trying times. However, it is hard to ignore that his departure creates a huge void in the locker room and his ability to hit the big shot will surely be missed.

NBA Draft: Morris Almond (No. 25)

Key Additions: Jason Hart (FA – LA Clippers), Ronnie Price (FA – Sacramento), Kyrylo Fesenko (trade – Philadelphia)

Key Losses: Derek Fisher (waived – LA Lakers), Dee Brown (FA – overseas), Herbert Hill (trade – Philadelphia), Rafael Araujo (FA – unsigned)

The Jazz will sorely miss Fisher, but may have finally found themselves a shooting guard of the future. With continued attempts to find the two-guard sniper over the past couple of seasons, the Jazz used the twenty-fifth pick in the Draft to nab one of the most underrated scorers available. His game has been compared to Allan Houston and would provide Deron Williams with a reliable spot shooter to kick it out to while he is carving up the interior defense and drawing in help-defenders. Otherwise, Jason Hart will step in to fill the void left by D-Fish.

Burning Questions

- Will Andrei Kirilenko back off of his recent trade demands?
- Will Deron Williams make the Western Conference All-Star team?
- Will Morris Almond finally be the answer for the Jazz at shooting guard?
- Will Jason Hart be able to fill in for the departed Derek Fisher?
- Will Carlos Boozer be able to have another injury-free season?
- Will Mehmet Okur continue to improve in all facets of his game?

Person on the Hot Seat: Andrei Kirilenko

AK-47 has been very vocal this off-season, often expressing his displeasure with being a member of the Utah Jazz . He is the franchise player who is being paid an average of nearly $16M per year for the next four seasons. Last year was a down year for Kirilenko, who may have gotten sour grapes after realizing that he has become the fourth option on the team behind emerging stars – Williams, Boozer, and Okur. This year is a big year for AK-47, because if he plays the gritty style of basketball he is capable of, he could be the key to getting the Utah Jazz back into the NBA Finals for the first time since before the days of Karl Malone in wrestling tights.

Team Outlook

The Utah Jazz are a strong contender in the West. However, the loss of Derek Fisher and the bickering of Andrei Kirilenko may prove too much for the Jazz to repeat their success of last season. The Jazz have all the talent needed to make the playoffs, and should be the favorite to win this division, especially if Morris Almond becomes even half the scorer he was in college.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

McHale In Minnesota For The Long Haul?
October 11, 2007 - 12:45 pm
Pioneer Press -
Kevin McHale, who oversees the rebuilding Timberwolves basketball operation, doesn't sound like a guy thinking about retirement. In fact, McHale sounds energized and enthusiastic.

"I'm excited about this year, and we'll see where it goes," said the Wolves VP, who is paid $1 million a year on a handshake deal with team owner Glen Taylor.

"Personally, the last months have been really exciting," he said. "Right now, we're trying to get a young group of guys to blend together and see how good they can be. I like these young guys. They're willing to learn. It's a different vibe. It's fun. I enjoy working with them, spending time with them."

The oft-criticized McHale was asked if his plan is to remain with the organization until he gets it turned around.

"We'll see where it goes."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Ricky Davis Could Be Trade Bait
October 15, 2007 - 1:21 pm
Star Tribune -
The Wolves' abundance of small forwards and big guards, their obvious commitment to youth, and Ricky Davis' value as a proven scorer and his expiring $6.8 million contract all make him likely to be traded by February's deadline. At age 28, Davis, who left Iowa for the NBA after his freshman season, is playing for his fifth NBA team.

"I don't know," Davis said when asked if he expects to be with the Wolves at season's end. "I'll wait and see what happens. Kevin Garnett got traded. It happens. Every day, every year someone gets traded. It's the nature of the business. I'll just leave what I've got on the court every night."

Wittman said he has no concerns about that.

"Ricky Davis is a competitor," Wittman said. "He's going to compete. I don't have to worry about him when he crosses the line. He's going to play hard. Those are the things you want from your older guys. They set the tone, they tell the young guys that this is how we do it."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Deng More Likely To Get Extension Than Gordon
October 15, 2007 - 8:30 am
Chicago Sun Times -
With only 16 days until the league deadline of Oct. 31 to complete contract extensions, Bulls' forward Luol Deng said he remains hopeful he and the Bulls will come to terms.

A source close to the situation said it appears more likely that the team will work out something with Deng than with Gordon, who also is eligible for an extension of up to five years.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Ferry Travels To Brazil To Meet With Varejao
October 15, 2007 - 12:58 pm
Beacon-Journal -
Several league sources said Cavs' General Manager Danny Ferry went to Brazil last week to meet with unsigned forward Anderson Varejao.

The Cavaliers were careful not to let word of the meeting leak out, and no one from either side was willing to talk about it. If there was any progress, it was minimal; the holdout continues. With the Cavs and Ferry in China all week, it is doubtful there will be a resolution soon. Varejao is believed to have been working out in his hometown of Vitoria.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

..they better pay this man, 'cause Boston needs a point guard:

Gilbert Wants To Test Market
October 16, 2007 - 6:10 pm
SportingNews.com -
Hanging over the Wizards' season will be the decision Gilbert Arenas made back in June, that he would exercise the opt-out clause in his contract and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

It has made the front office a bit nervous, to say the least. At age 25, Arenas wants to play for a team that can get to the NBA Finals. That chance could come in Washington this season, assuming the Wizards climb through a muddle of mediocre teams in the East. But it could be somewhere else, too, depending on what this long season brings.

"I want to test the market and test my value," Arenas says. "It's just a business decision. If something happens and they don't want me, or they're going in a different direction, I can look elsewhere."

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

2007-2008 Season Preview: Pacific Division
Authored by Jason M. Williams - 16th October, 2007 - 12:41 pm

The fifth part of this six-piece series will spotlight the Pacific Division.

- Golden State Warriors -

Last year’s Golden State Warriors were the Colorado Rockies of this year’s baseball regular season. They stormed into the playoffs, clinching the final seed in the final week of the season. They destroyed the powerhouse Dallas Mavericks in a six games. They reflected a win-at-all-costs attitude and brought the Bay Area to life. After retaining head coach Don Nelson, Warrior fans have a lot to look forward to this upcoming season.

NBA Draft Picks: Marco Belinelli (No. 18), Stephane Lasme (No. 46), Kosta Perovic (second round, 2006)

Key Additions: Brandan Wright (trade – Charlotte), Troy Hudson (Free Agent – Minnesota), Austin Croshere (FA – Dallas), Pat Burke (FA – Phoenix), Carlos Powell (FA), Tierre Brown (FA)

Key Losses: Jason Richardson (trade – Charlotte), Adonal Foyle (waived – Orlando), Sarunas Jasikevicious (waived – Panathinaikos (Greece)), Josh Powell (FA – L.A. Clippers), Jermareo Davidson (trade – Charlotte), Zarko Cabarkapa (FA – unsigned)

It seems like the face of the franchise has been replaced. For as long as any fan can remember, the Warriors had Adonal Foyle and Jason Richardson. Now, they will ride tri-captains Baron Davis, Matt Barnes, and Stephen Jackson to success. They had a very strong Draft Night by bringing in sharpshooter Marco Belinelli and trading J-Rich for UNC standout power forward Brandan Wright. These two youthful additions will pump energy into an already up-tempo squad ready to run their opponents into the ground.

Burning Questions

- Will the Warriors lose some of their edge without Jason Richardson?
- Will Marco Belinelli continue to shoot as he did in the summer leagues?
- Will Baron Davis remain healthy all season?
- Will Stephen Jackson be under control as a captain this year?
- Will Matt Barnes get more tattoos?
- Will Troy Hudson get minutes?
- What will we see from last year’s top pick Patrick O’Bryant this season?
- Will Kelenna Azubuike fight into the starting five?

Person on the Hot Seat: Patrick O’Bryant

Last season’s top pick barely made it out of the NBDL. He played sparingly in sixteen games and was a lottery selection who was supposed to give them minutes at the center position. The seven-footer out of Bradley will look to regain the top spot in the center rotation this year, and battle for time with last season’s breakout player, Andris Biedrins. With the arrival of big man Brandan Wright, this could be a make or break season for Patty O in the Bay Area.

Team Outlook

Following the success at the end of last season for the Warriors, the sky is the limit. They have the same team coming back and added quality veterans and highly talented youths to their already nasty core. Expect to see big things from Brandan Wright and Stephane Lasme fitting in perfectly with Don Nelson’s fast-paced transition attacking scheme. Look for these Warriors to get into the Western Conference’s Elite Eight at the end of the regular season.

- Los Angeles Clippers -

The Clippers have descended from a 47-win team two years ago, to the first team on the outside looking in last year, to quite possibly one of the worst teams in the conference. With Elton Brand likely on the shelf for the entire season and the unknown status of their young point guard, Shaun Livingston, the Clippers will have to look toward the end of the bench to pull out some hard fought wins this season.

NBA Draft Picks: Al Thornton (No. 14), Jared Jordan (No. 45), Guillermo Diaz (second round, 2006)

Key Additions: Brevin Knight (FA – Charlotte), Ruben Patterson (FA – Milwaukee), Josh Powell (FA – Golden State), Dan Dickau (FA – New York), Kimani Ffriend (FA)

Key Losses: Jason Hart (FA – Utah), Jared Jordan (trade – New York), Will Conroy (waived), James Singleton (waived), Daniel Ewing (waived)

We can’t ignore the injuries to their two main stars, but they still are equipped with many valuable veterans. The additions of Brevin Knight and Ruben Patterson give them some insurance for their starters Sam Cassell and Tim Thomas, but the depth behind center Chris Kaman is thin. That is why the selection of Al Thornton was so suspect. He is a great talent, but the Clippers are already saddled with Corey Maggette, Quinton Ross, Tim Thomas, and now Ruben Patterson at the small forward position. Wouldn’t a draft pick of Jason Smith or a deal to move up to grab Spencer Hawes or Joakim Noah made more sense for this team with little depth behind Kaman and Paul Davis at the pivot? Only time will tell this season.

Burning Questions

- How will the Clippers survive without Elton Brand?
- Will Shaun Livingston make a successful return to the floor this season?
- Will Tim Thomas play steady ball from the wing?
- Will Corey Maggette finally be dealt this season?
- Will Al Thornton make an immediate impact?
- Will Sam Cassell hold off Brevin Knight at the point?
- Will Chris Kaman earn his bloated salary?
- Will the Clippers be mired in the cellar all year?

Person on the Hot Seat: Chris Kaman

Kaman will have to shoulder the load this season with Elton Brand out of commission. He barked and barked until he received his massive contract extension before last season, and is now the highest paid player on the active roster (behind only Brand). He will now have to earn his $8.6M and help the team on the boards and with scoring in the paint.

Team Outlook

The Clippers have a lot of talent, but it is an awkward mix of young unproven talents and aging journeyman veterans. They are without their two impact stars and will struggle out of the gate. Look for the Clips to be near the bottom of the league this season, unless they get smart and deal Maggette or Thomas for a big body, namely Kwame Brown from across the hall.

- Los Angeles Lakers -

The Lakers are in a difficult situation. They have reached the stages of mediocrity and it doesn’t appear they are moving in either direction. Because they have superstar Kobe Bryant, they will never be out of a game. However, his supporting cast is mediocre at best, and it doesn’t seem as if a championship run with the current squad is possible in the near future…that is, unless they start making some deals.

NBA Draft Picks: Javaris Crittenton (No. 19), Sun Yue (No. 40), Marc Gasol (No. 48)

Key Additions: Derek Fisher (FA – Utah), Elton Brown (FA – NBDL), Andre Patterson (FA – NBDL), Coby Karl (FA – undrafted), Larry Turner (FA – undrafted)

Key Losses: Smush Parker (FA – Miami), Shammond Williams (FA – unsigned)

The Lakers strangely drafted another young underclassman point guard in Javaris Crittenton. They could have dealt this pick, along with Bynum and other parts and paired Kobe Bryant with Jason Kidd last year, but refused to part with Bynum. The addition of Derek Fisher is huge, but it only further leads to head-scratching as to why they have both Jordan Farmar and now Crittenton waiting in the wings. The Lakers need to pull off a trade and add another threat from the post position before Kobe hits the wrong side of 30 and his window for a title closes.

Burning Questions

- Is Kobe happy with this roster? Will he demand a trade if they are in the tenth seed in February?
- Will Andrew Bynum bust out?
- How will Phil Jackson use his two young point guards behind Derek Fisher?
- Will Javaris Crittenton even see the court this year?
- Will Luke Walton earn his new deal?
- Will Kwame Brown explode in his contract year? Or will he throw more cakes at people near the Hermosa Beach pier?
- Will Marc Gasol be anywhere near as good as his brother, Pau Gasol?
- Will Kwame Brown be trade bait all season for Jermaine O’Neal?

Person on the Hot Seat: Jerry Buss/Mitch Kupchak

They need to decide the direction of this franchise immediately: put it all on Kobe Bryant and surround him with veterans ready to win now (a la Boston); or deal Kobe and Lamar Odom for a potpourri of assets and start the rebuilding effort around Andrew Bynum and their young point guards. It doesn’t seem reasonable to expect this team to contend anytime soon, so I would venture a suggestion to start making deals for their two stars.

Team Outlook

There is a ton of talent on this roster, but no where near enough to contend for the conference crown. At this point, they have become an easy first round match-up for the Phoenix Suns and not much else. Unless they can package Bynum, Kwame, and the young point guards for a star player like Jason Kidd or Jermaine O’Neal to compliment the games of Kobe and Lamar Odom, we can expect the Lake Show to battle it out for the sixth to tenth spot in the West.

- Phoenix Suns -

The Suns were a Robert Horry hip-check away from winning the NBA championship. Now, they are feisty and angry and ready to redeem last season’s mental mistakes. However, they are not exactly the same team and are still facing the same shortcomings that they dealt with last season.

NBA Draft Picks: Alando Tucker (No. 29), D.J. Strawberry (No. 59)

Key Additions: Grant Hill (FA – Orlando), Brian Skinner (FA – Milwaukee)

Key Losses: Kurt Thomas (trade – Seattle), James Jones (trade – Portland), Pat Burke (FA – Golden State), Jalen Rose (FA – unsigned), Jumaine Jones (FA – unsigned)

One of the biggest problems with the Phoenix Suns last season was their lack of big men to deal with the Tim Duncan’s in the playoffs. So what did they do? They traded their single greatest line of defense against Duncan to the Sonics, Kurt Thomas. Yes, they signed Brian Skinner, but they are still very very thin in the big man department. A big move they made was bringing in the oft-injured Grant Hill at a veteran discount, but will he be the next aging veteran to ride the pine, like Jalen Rose last season? Or will he start at the wing and provide the leadership this team has needed over the past three seasons? They had a solid draft getting two fundamental players relatively late in the draft.

Burning Questions

- Who will cover Tim Duncan?
- Will Steve Nash’s back hold up?
- Will Shawn Marion continue to want out of Phoenix?
- Will Grant Hill start? Will Barbosa? Raja Bell?
- Will Boris Diaw move back into the starting center position?
- Will Amare Stoudemire continue to improve with age?
- Will Alando Tucker have a solid rookie season?
- Will Marcus Banks earn his contract and make the rotation this year?
- Will the fans miss Pat Burke?

Person on the Hot Seat: Shawn Marion

Marion has voiced his displeasure all off-season long. He is the highest paid player on the roster, but is often viewed as the third option on the team. His game has been steadily among the league leaders in every statistical category over the past couple years (hence the nickname Matrix), but he is becoming viewed as a very selfish player who may have finally made himself expendable. Would the Suns jump at the idea of dealing him to Indiana for Jermaine O’Neal? That deal would make the Suns a frightening team down low with one of the best defensive big men in the game.

Team Outlook

What else can you say about this Suns team other than they have the talent to win it all every year? However, it just hasn’t happened yet. Will this be the year? Anything but a trip to the NBA Finals, and thus, a championship, would seem like failure in the desert.

- Sacramento Kings -

The Sacramento Kings suffered through one of their worst seasons in recent years and are on one of the largest recent declines in the league. They are three years removed from being a 50-win club, and have dropped to 44 wins in 05-06, and only 33 last year. So what did they do to try to restore the spark and fury that brought the Kings to the brink of the NBA Finals earlier this decade?

NBA Draft: Spencer Hawes (No. 10)

Key Additions: Mikki Moore (FA – New Jersey), Orien Greene (FA – Indiana)

Key Losses: Corliss Williamson (FA – retired), Ronnie Price (FA – Utah), Justin Williams (FA – unsigned), Vitaly Potapenko (FA – unsigned)

The Kings are loaded in the one-, two-, and three-positions with Mike Bibby, Kevin Martin, and Ron Artest. They needed to work on adding some depth to their aging frontcourt core of Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Kenny Thomas, and Brad Miller. To this group, they brought in Mikki Moore coming off a career year in New Jersey, and drafted the highly touted center out of the University of Washington, Spencer Hawes. They couldn’t have asked for a bigger upgrade up front to add to the depth they have on the wing with Francisco Garcia, Quincy Douby, and John Salmons. They are weak behind Bibby at the point, but brought in Orien Greene to provide some security when Bibby leaves the court.

Burning Questions

- Will Spencer Hawes play this season?
- Will the Kings finally deal Ron Artest?
- Will Mikki Moore be another victim of a player who produced only because of Kidd?
- Will Quincy Douby crack the regular rotation?
- Will Brad Miller return to form?
- Will Kevin Martin continue to improve?
- Will Mike Bibby be a Sacramento King at the end of the season?
- Will the team abide by the new curfew set out by Coach Reggie Theus?

Person on the Hot Seat: Brad Miller

Assuming Spencer Hawes is able to come back early from this injury he has sustained during camp, Brad Miller could be the player on the Hot Seat in Sacramento. Miller is coming off his worst season since 2000-01 with his 9.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last year and is the second-highest paid player on the roster. The Kings will need a lot more out of the big veteran out of Purdue if they wish to make it to the postseason in the very deep West. He will also be asked to mentor the young Spencer Hawes, who is often compared to Brad Miller coming out of college.

Team Outlook

The Kings have a very deep and talented team. They have the pieces needed to succeed this season and can turn it around and fight for a playoff spot. It all depends on how rookie Coach Reggie Theus is able to sculpt this team together this year and how many of his players can stay out of the trainer’s room.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Knicks' Fred Jones Likely To Send Allan Houston Packing
October 16, 2007 - 5:46 am
New York Daily News -
According to Frank Isola from the New York Daily News, it looks like Fred Jones will make the Knicks' 15 man roster, meaning that promising second-round pick Demetris Nichols and Allan Houston may miss out.

For weeks it was generally assumed that Jones, portrayed as a throw-in in the Zach Randolph trade, would be the odd man out.

But Jones' relationship with Thomas goes back to their Indiana Pacer days, and there is something to be said for being an "Isiah guy."

"He gave me my shot," Jones said following Monday's practice in Greenburgh. "Leaving Portland was a little difficult for me because that's my home city, but it eased the pain knowing I was coming to a familiar situation."

Thomas sees the 6-4 Jones as a defensive stopper who can play either shooting guard or small forward.

 

[xfactor]

- Minnesota Timberwolves -

Ever since the march to the Western Conference Finals fueled by Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell, and Latrell Sprewell, the Timberwolves have been stuck in mediocrity. General Manager Kevin McHale has been incapable of flanking Garnett with suitable help and the team has plummeted. Finally, McHale has granted KG’s wish to play for a winner, and dealt the face of the franchise to the Eastern Conference. This is the beginning of a new era for the Minnesota Timberwolves .

NBA Draft Picks: Corey Brewer (No. 7), Chris Richard (No. 41)

Key Additions: Al Jefferson (trade – Boston), Gerald Green (trade – Boston), Ryan Gomes (trade – Boston), Sebastian Telfair (trade – Boston), Theo Ratliff (trade – Boston), Juwan Howard (trade – Houston), Greg Buckner (trade – Dallas), John Edwards (FA – NBDL)

Key Losses: Kevin Garnett (trade – Boston), Mike James (trade – Houston), Trenton Hassell (trade – Dallas), Troy Hudson (FA – Golden State), Justin Reed (trade – Houston)

We can’t ignore the rather large elephant in the room. The only player any fan of basketball thinks of when the words ‘Minnesota’ and ‘Timberwolves’ are mentioned in the same breath is Kevin Garnett. He was the Minnesota Timberwolves . He made the Minnesota Timberwolves . Now he is gone. Tears have been shed, but ultimately, it’s better for them in the long run. They received a glut of young talent from Boston and were also able to jettison spare parts Mike James, Troy Hudson, and Trenton Hassell – three guys who basically did the same thing. These moves brought in some great young talent with Al Jefferson and Gerald Green, and the drafting of Corey Brewer could turn out to be one of the best picks in the entire Draft.

Burning Questions

- How will the Twin Cities adopt this new team without Kevin Garnett?
- Will the Timberwolves deal Juwan Howard?
- Will Corey Brewer be one of the top players in this year’s Draft?
- Will Chris Richard prove to be a steal similar to Chuck Hayes or Paul Millsap?
- Will Al Jefferson answer Kevin McHale’s prayers and become a dominant force?
- Will Sebastian Telfair stay out of trouble?
- Will Theo Ratliff ever play a game in Minnesota? Is he seriously alive?
- Will Gerald Green ever reach his potential?
- Will this Minnesota team just be the same old Celtics in different uniforms?
- Is anyone else so excited that the Timberwolves went from having 239 guys making the same amount of money playing the same exact position with equally poor results, and finally dealt three of them this off-season (James, Hassell, Hudson)?

Person on the Hot Seat: Kevin McHale

Kevin McHale is way too easy a target for this category, but I had to do it. He just brought over five former Celtics who have continually failed in the Eastern Conference, only to team them up with the other two former Celtics (Mark Blount, Ricky Davis) he brought in with his last ridiculous trade with Boston. Don’t get me wrong, I actually liked the trade for Minnesota. But it’s difficult to believe that this collection of jettisoned Celtics will be able to do much in the immediate future for the Wolves. The thing about this team that makes them exciting is their youthful players, Randy Foye, Corey Brewer, and Rashad McCants. Team the other high flying players like Gerald Green and Al Jefferson and they can be a very exciting team to watch. With a fresh start and away from the heckling fans of Beantown, maybe this roster just might work. Remember, Sebastian’s cousin once made a name for himself in this town…could the fans at the Target Center do the same for Telfair?

Team Outlook

Don’t expect to see the T-Wolves in the NBA Finals just yet, but they will definitely be an improved team from last year. Immediately replacing the absurd number of guards who collectively did nothing, they now have an exciting youthful team with some potential stars at nearly every position. A core of Foye, Davis, McCants, Brewer, Green, Jefferson, and Craig Smith could play a fast paced game and compete with many teams in the league. I wouldn’t sleep on these young Wolves just yet.

Saw the T-Wolves play last night against the Hawks. It's a shame that they fired Coach Casey because this team is trash. Bringing in Wittman was a downgrade, but that's how the "good ole' boys network works" They did not score a basket in the 4th quarter until it was 2 and a half minutes remaining. I know it's preseason but this is with experienced guys on the court.

Tough job for the writer to cover all 30 teams but his analysis of the Timberwolves, thinking they will be improved, is 100% false.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

The 10 Most Intriguing Storylines Of The 2007-2008 Season
17th October, 2007 - 7:19 pm

By Nick Obergan

10. The 2007-2008 Atlanta Hawks – can they finally make the playoffs?

The Hawks’ brass finally had a good draft day this offseason, selecting a potential star post player with the third overall pick (Al Horford) and someone that should become a capable starting point guard with the eleventh pick (Acie Law IV). Funny enough, it addressed two glaring needs. Will filling those holes allow them to get over the hump and approach a .500 record? Joe Johnson is an all-star and still young enough to improve and become more comfortable with being “the man”. Josh Smith made huge strides last year on the offensive side to compliment his defense. Marvin Williams will continue to improve. Josh Childress will be a 6th Man candidate. Law will allow Johnson to play his natural shooting guard position more. But will coach Mike Woodson get these kids on a unified system, playing cohesively as a team? They have a lot of nice players, but can all of these high draft picks finally start to pay dividends?

9. The 2007-2008 Houston Rockets – over the hump?

With perennial powerhouses within their division and state (San Antonio and Dallas), as well as another marquee team in Phoenix, an up and coming division power in Utah, and a global star in Kobe Bryant all stealing headlines in their conference, it’s easy to forget just how good the Rockets are. Last year they had the fourth best record in the West (52-30) and have made their roster even better this offseason. Last year they had Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, with some nice role players. This year they upgraded from Juwan Howard to Luis Scola (likely the best player not in the NBA for the past few years), and added great guard depth with the additions of Mike James (traded for Howard) and Steve Francis (signed as a free agent after being bought out by Portland). They still have the ultimate role player in Shane Battier, a bulls-eye shooter in Luther Head, last year’s starting point guard Rafer Alston, uber-rebounder Chuck Hayes and an underrated Bonzi Wells. They also replaced their defensive minded coach Jeff Van Gundy with an offensive coach in Rick Adelman (who got great results from Wells in Sacremento two years ago). This is definitely not shaped like a first-round-exit squad, yet they are likely the most underrated team in the league.

8. The 2007-2008 New York Knicks – what should we expect?

The Knicks are always a headline. They are a headline when they are winning, they are a headline when they are losing, they are a headline when they aren’t even playing (thanks to the much maligned management/owner tandem of Isiah Thomas and James Dolan, along with the never-short-for-words Stephon Marbury). They made headlines on draft night too, acquiring an all-star caliber power forward in Zach Randolph. On paper, it’s a great move, however it remains to be seen how Randolph and Eddy Curry (another slow-footed, offence-only post player) can play together. Both demand the ball a lot, but both are very gifted offensive players. Both will have to find a way to get the ball enough to be happy though, and with ball-hawking guards like Marbury, Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson, that will be no easy task. Allan Houston’s comeback attempt hasn’t even been mentioned yet. This could just as easily result in a lower-tier playoff seed as it could in a lower-tier lottery position.

7. Gilbert Arenas in a contract year

Though this is not the last year of Arenas’ contract, he has publicly confirmed he will be opting out of his current contract at the end of the season to test the market, citing it as just “a business decision.” Arenas is only 25, and is one of the top stars in the league with a knack for hitting shots at the buzzer. He will be paid the maximum by whatever team can afford it (and there doesn’t appear to be many who will have that much cap room available). He has indicated he wants to play for a team that will challenge for a championship, but also said that the Wizards are by no means ruled out if they show him they are poised to put a winning team on the floor. How will this affect his play? Will he put up even more shots to make sure his stats are as gaudy as possible? Will that take the focus off of winning, thus hurting the rest of his team? Which teams are going to stock up on expiring contracts to have a shot at signing him? A lot of questions, and we are months away from finding answers.

6. What will become of Shawn Marion’s situation?

About a year ago, I read a magazine interview with Marion that absolutely floored me. He was asked if he would prefer to play on a perennial championship contender as the 2nd or 3rd option, or on a team out of the playoffs where he could score 25 points a night and be “the man.” What floored me? The fact that he honestly didn’t know what he would prefer, and seemed to lean toward the latter. That screamed selfishness and egotism. Marion has been reported on numerous occasions to butt heads with teammate Amare Stoudemire, and the Suns forward is constantly in trade talks. It all came to the fore this offseason when he appeared to ask out of Phoenix. Phoenix management then publicly stated they would not be trading Marion and would seek to reconcile the situation. Will this hurt the Suns’ championship aspirations? Personally, a Marion/Kirilenko type deal seemed to make very good sense for all sides of the deal, but we will have to wait and see how this situation plays out, and if Marion plays out the season in Phoenix before potentially opting out.

5. Can the Warriors make another playoff run?

The Warriors have the uneasy task of moving forward from a fun underdog story to a legitimate playoff threat. They have more than a handful of very good players, most of whom have powerful egos that coach Don Nelson was able to contain. Nellie’s small ball worked very effectively to close out the season as the players started to get used to the style of play and their respective roles, and that roll continued into the playoffs where they upset the top team in the regular season, the Dallas Mavericks . So the question is, in a Western Conference that appears to have six playoff teams all ready locked in, can they build on that and keep the momentum moving forward, or will their spark flame out?

4. Kevin Durant: The opening scene

It could work against Durant to have Greg Oden injured the whole season; he likely won’t have any competition pushing him for Rookie of the Year. But it will also allow him to have the freshman spotlight all to himself (with Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen gone, there isn’t anyone to steal it from him in Seattle either). Everyone is all ready booking Durant’s ticket to the Hall of Fame, and from all reports, he is a very driven young man with nothing but the highest goals for himself. Will he make an immediate impact like most suggest? There is no discounted his extensive offensive arsenal, but will his defence (or lack thereof) keep him off the floor more than he would like (let’s not forget Kevin Martin tearing him up in limited minutes in preseason)? He played a lot in the post in college, but he is going to need to sharpen his speed and footwork on the perimeter to be an impact player at both ends. He should be one of the most exciting players in the league for the next fifteen years, and everyone is eagerly awaiting his beginning.

3. LeBron’s “best season yet”?

LeBron was recently quoted as saying this could be his “best season yet” after arriving to Training Camp in the best shape of his life. He then suffered a minor injury in preseason that shouldn’t figure to affect his regular season performance. You have to wonder if he is speaking prematurely; let’s not forget that he played deeper into the playoffs than ever before (though he wasn’t there long, he did play in the NBA Finals last season) whilst playing over forty minutes a game, and he played a full summer with Team USA. For those unsure, his best season so far was 2005-2006 when he averaged 31.4 points, 7 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game (in 42 minutes!). It would be hard to better those numbers, however his first MVP and another Finals appearance might do the trick. (However unless Cleveland signs him some more help, this team looks much weaker than last year’s.) Heck, maybe he will be the first player since The Big O to average a triple double.

2. Which Kobe will we see, and where will we see him?

Kobe Bryant is always a story; whether it be a court appearance, changing his number, his ego getting in the way of his teammates or his coach. This summer was no exception with that whole ridiculous ‘I want to be traded/no I don’t/yes I do’ saga this summer when the Lakers failed to make KB24 happy by acquiring more talent through trades. He then showed up to the Team USA camp in the best shape of his career, refused to talk about the Lakers, and was the best player on both ends of the floor, as well as a leader off of it. Will his dedication to team-play and defense carry over into the NBA season, or will he once again put up just south of 30 shots a game to lead the league in scoring, but lead the Lakers to a .500 record? Will he demand a trade again mid-season when the team is sitting in the 10th seed in a deep Western Conference just before the All-Star break? The Lakers did say that they would take offers on Bryant, so will he even be in La-la-land in February? The fun never ends!

1. The 2007-2008 Boston Celtics – how will they fare?

Everyone knows about the new “Big Three” by now. Many believe that they (if you spent the offseason under a rock, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen have joined Paul Pierce in Boston) put Boston as the favourites to win the Atlantic Division and give them a legitimate shot at the Eastern Conference crown. Now the great thing if you are a Boston fan, is that the players have put their egos aside, have developed a great chemistry together, and are focused solely on winning. But who else is on this team? Rajon Rondo is a nice young point guard, but he is the starting point guard on a championship team? Can he help lead them to the next level in only his second season, or is he really just a defensive spark plug off the bench? Is Tony Allen going to be healthy enough after knee surgery? James Posey came into camp out of shape last year in Miami, and is starting the season with a suspension this year – will he be ready to be a major role player? A lot are hailing Kendrick Perkins as a great benefactor of this big offseason, but it appears a lot of people haven’t done their homework. Last year the Celtics had Al Jefferson emerge as a legitimate low post star in the making, so Perkins wasn’t exactly being guarded heavily last year either. In fact, he averaged over 2 more minutes per game last year than in 05-06, yet his points, offensive & defensive rebounds, blocks, free throw percentage and field goal percentage all declined. He has yet to show a whole lot of improvement in the past three seasons, and it’s premature to say ‘this is the year’ just because he has someone better beside him. There are a whole lot of questions with this revamped squad, and while they certainly look like a playoff team in a weaker Conference, I’m not sure they are the team to beat.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Morrison Likely Out For Year With Torn Ligament
October 21, 2007 - 11:32 pm
ESPN -
Charlotte Bobcats reserve forward Adam Morrison is likely done for the season after an MRI exam on Sunday revealed a torn ligament in his left knee.

The injury occurred with about 5½ minutes left in the third quarter of Saturday night's 113-93 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers . Morrison was attempting to defend Luke Walton on a drive to the basket and crumpled to the floor in severe pain while clutching his left knee.

"Our medical staff has had a chance to review the MRI, and they're saying right now they believe there is some sort of tear," coach Sam Vincent said Sunday, about an hour before the Bobcats took on Phoenix in the second day of the annual Staples Center shootout.

"Until they get in there and do whatever they do, who knows? But they are saying there's a good chance he will be out for the year. So I'm not counting on him playing," Vincent added.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

2007-2008 Season Preview: Southwest Division
Authored by Jason M. Williams - 24th October, 2007 - 5:07 pm

The sixth and final part of this six-piece series will spotlight the Southwest Division.

- Dallas Mavericks -

I promise not to mention the Golden Sta…oh wait, oops. The Dallas Mavericks had finally figured out how to beat the San Antonio Spurs . Only problem last year was that they never got the opportunity to play them in the postseason. They were the best team in the league all season long and just faced the one match-up that gave them fits all season. Chalk it up to plain bad luck.

NBA Draft Picks: Nick Fazekas (No. 34), Reyshawn Terry (No. 44), Renaldas Seibutis (No. 50)

Key Additions: Eddie Jones (Free Agent – Miami), Trenton Hassell (trade – Minnesota), Brandon Bass (FA – New Orleans), Darvin Ham (FA), Jared Newson (FA)

Key Losses: Austin Croshere (FA – Golden State), Greg Buckner (trade – Minnesota), Pops Mensah-Bonsu (waived), Kevin Willis (FA – unsigned)

There was a lot of speculation that the Dallas Mavericks were sick of dominating the regular season and coming up short in the playoffs. Many believed they would make some deals to break up the core; while there was plenty of smoke, there was no fire. Mark Cuban ensured that the team remained basically the same and instead brought in consistent veterans who have a knack for defensive intensity. Both Eddie Jones and Trenton Hassell will give them more depth on the wing, and they hope incoming rookie Nick Fazekas can provide some much-needed scoring down low.

Burning Questions

- Will the Mavericks bounce back after the first round upset?
- Will Dirk Nowitzki duplicate his MVP season?
- Will Devin Harris be the starting point guard?
- Will Jerry Stackhouse continue to deliver as gets older?
- Will Josh Howard get even better?
- Will Maurice Ager get playing time?
- What Mark Cuban be sour about being eliminated from “Dancing With the Stars”?

Person on the Hot Seat: Dirk Nowitzki

As cliché as it is to pick Dirk for this callout, it is absolutely necessary. He has continually put up big time numbers for this team and has continually carried them to the top of the conference year in and year out. However, he often fails to show up in the playoffs, and despite his continued improvement, the blame will always come down on him as the face of the franchise. While the criticism seems unfair and very similar to Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees, it is what you can expect from your superstar in an environment where a championship or bust mentality exists. (Yes, I just slightly compared Mark Cuban’s penchant for ultimate success to that of George Steinbrenner).

Team Outlook

Following the success of last year and the collapse in the NBA Finals the season before, this Dallas team will come out focused and determined to avenge last year’s abrupt dismissal from the postseason. Anything less than a trip to the Finals could result in a breakup of their core next off-season.

- Houston Rockets -

Despite an extremely talented roster, the Rockets still can’t seem to figure out the postseason. They had a great season last year but couldn’t pull it off in Game 7 of the first round versus the Utah Jazz . This year they will enter the season armed with new coach Rick Adelman, who is better suited for the personnel that currently exists in the locker room. Will he produce better results?

NBA Draft Picks: Aaron Brooks (No. 26), Brad Newley (No. 54)

Key Additions: Steve Francis (FA – Portland), Luis Scola (trade – San Antonio), Mike James (trade – Minnesota), Jackie Butler (trade – San Antonio), Justin Reed (trade – Minnesota), Carl Landry (trade – Seattle)

Key Losses: Juwan Howard (trade – Minnesota), Vassilis Spanoulis (trade – San Antonio), Jake Tsakalidis (FA – unsigned)

The Rockets seem to be taking a risk by bringing back the 'The Player Formerly Known As The Franchise', Steve Francis. Why bring him back after already trading for Mike James, who does the same thing, except with a good attitude. The trade for Luis Scola and Jackie Butler could give them two big men who can bully with rivals Tim Duncan and Fabricio Oberto all season long. They will both be better options in the post than the since-departed Juwan Howard. Rookie Aaron Brooks was a standout in the summer league but finding time at the point could be difficult with Rafer Alston, Luther Head, Bob Sura, John Lucas, Steve Francis, and Mike James. Yikes – please make a trade.

Burning Questions

- How will Luis Scola adjust to the NBA?
- Will Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming remain healthy all year?
- Will Steve Francis be a cancer in the locker room?
- Will Aaron Brooks get minutes?
- Will Chuck Hayes continue to surprise people?
- Will Rafer Alston be the starter?
- Will Bonzi Wells come back and deliver for his favorite coach?
- Will Adelman get this ultra-talented team out of the first round?
- Do the Rockets realize there is a maximum number of players you can have on the active roster?

Person on the Hot Seat: Rafer Alston

Despite recent reports that Adelman claims Alston is the perfect guy to run the point for this team, come on. He MUST be sweating after checking the depth chart that currently has seven guys capable of playing his position.

Team Outlook

While many other journalists are already saying that this Rockets' team is primed for a trip to the top of the Western Conference, I just don’t see it just yet. Yes, maybe they have an exorbitant amount of talent and a coach who is more than adept with these types of players, but until they can prove that T-Mac and Yao can remain healthy all season, that Bonzi Wells gets back in shape and produces, that Steve Francis won’t be “Mr. Tears” on the sideline, that Luis Scola is for real in America, and that this team doesn’t “Pull a Latrell Sprewell” and choke AGAIN in the playoffs, I am not convinced. But they do have the opportunity to be quite good.

- Memphis Grizzlies -

The Grizzlies had an awful season last year; yes, we know. That’s probably what they get for letting Pau Gasol play in the FIBA World Championship Games with no repercussions in his contract about getting hurt. They immediately began the year shorthanded without their franchise player and were already adjusting to life without team leader and rock-solid veteran Shane Battier, who was dealt at the 2006 NBA Draft for Rudy Gay and Stromile Swift. Soon after, Damon Stoudamire got hurt and standout rookie Kyle Lowry went down for the year, and all of a sudden the Grizzlies were a potpourri of rookies, second year vets, longtime journeymen, and the flailing questionable hairstyle of Mike Miller. It wasn’t pretty.

NBA Draft Picks: Mike Conley (No. 4)

Key Additions: Darko Milicic (FA – Orlando), Juan Carlos Navarro (trade – Washington), Andre Brown (FA – Seattle), Casey Jacobsen (FA – Europe), Dontell Jefferson (FA – NBDL)

Key Losses: Chucky Atkins (FA – Denver), Dahntay Jones (FA – Boston), Alexander Johnson (waived), Kasib Powell (waived), Junior Harrington (FA – unsigned), Lawrence Roberts (FA – unsigned)

Memphis was in one of those positions where they were facing a win-win situation. With the fourth overall pick in the draft, they just had to wait and see what the Atlanta Hawks did at No. 3. After Al Horford was plucked from the Green Room, the decision was that much easier. They took to the point guard of the future, standout star Mike Conley out of Ohio State. They then made a big splash by signing Darko Milicic to pair with Gasol down low to provide a very formidable shot-blocking duo who can both put the ball in the net. However, the trade for Pau Gasol’s buddy, Juan Carlos Navarro, may have the biggest impact on the roster, because it will likely placate Gasol and get that idea of demanding a trade out of his head.

Burning Questions

- Is Mike Conley the next great young point guard?
- Will Pau Gasol be healthy all season?
- Will Gasol be happier now that the team dealt for his buddy, Juan Carlos Navarro?
- Will Tarence Kinsey get minutes after his stellar finish to last year?
- Will Damon Stoudamire contribute this year?
- Will Stoudamire be dealt with the emergence of Kyle Lowry, Kinsey, and Conley?
- Will Rudy Gay be an All Star?
- Will Darko Milicic continue to progress? Will he have another profanity-laced tirade following a close loss?
- Will Mike Miller’s hair be more or less fabulous than Megan Fox’s Red Carpet hairstyle this season?
- Is Memphis for real this season?

Person on the Hot Seat: Damon Stoudamire

Mighty Mouse will be a very important part of this Memphis team this season, and I don’t mean during the actual games. He will have to teach the breakout trio of Mike Conley, Kyle Lowry and Tarence Kinsey how to dominate the game despite being a small-bodied point guard. His leadership and mentoring of these young guards will be vital to the future success of this franchise.

Team Outlook

There is a ton of talent on this roster. The strong frontcourt presence between Gasol and Milicic will make big men and penetrating point guards think twice before entering the paint. On offense, expect to see Mike Conley step in and involve them the same way he involved college teammate Greg Oden by supplying dimes in the paint for easy buckets. Couple that with the steady Mike Miller and the emergence of Rudy Gay, Hakim Warrick, and Tarence Kinsey last season, and wow – this Memphis team can really be scary this year.

- New Orleans Hornets -

The New Orleans Hornets were another team that dealt with big injuries last season – none bigger than that to Peja Stojakovic in his first year as a Hornet. They battled in the second half and almost made the playoffs. They saw plenty of potential from their rookie big man Cedric Simmons and a very pleasant surprise from the newly-acquired Tyson Chandler. While the season wasn’t ultimately a success, there were plenty of positives to take away into this off-season.

NBA Draft Picks: Julian Wright (No. 13), Adam Haluska (No. 43)

Key Additions: Morris Peterson (FA – Toronto), Melvin Ely (FA – San Antonio), David Wesley (trade – Cleveland)

Key Losses: Desmond Mason (FA – Milwaukee), Devin Brown (FA – Cleveland), Cedric Simmons (trade – Cleveland), Brandon Bass (FA – Dallas), Marc Jackson (FA – unsigned), Linton Johnson (FA – unsigned)

The Hornets were ecstatic when Julian Wright fell to them at the thirteenth overall selection in the draft. They were teetering on whether or not to retain Desmond Mason, and this draft selection solidified their stance to let him walk. The pickup of Morris Peterson will be immeasurable in the boxscore and his leadership and ability to hit the clutch shot will be loved by the New Orleans' faithful. They made a great upgrade at the small forward position and should be excited to fit these two guys in between a healthy Stojakovic and the continually-improving David West.

Burning Questions

- Will Peja Stojakovic remain healthy?
- Will Tyson Chandler continue to improve?
- Will Bobby Jackson be a main contributor?
- Will Hilton Armstrong be a starter?
- Will Chris Paul be an All Star this season?
- Will Morris Peterson be the starter? Or will Julian Wright be starting by midseason?

Person on the Hot Seat: Peja Stojakovic
Peja came over in the offseason trade that sent the big trade exception to the Indiana Pacers . However, he was limited to only 13 games and didn’t make it out of the first month of the season. He is a key member of the team who gives them their most consistent long range shooter. Plus, he received a hefty deal that makes him the team’s highest paid player for the next four seasons.

Team Outlook

When healthy, the Hornets have a very solid starting five. They have some key veterans off the bench but seem to be a bit overmatched in this extremely competitive division. They are going to have to really get good minutes from everyone and remain healthy if they want to make it into the Western Conference playoffs this season.

- San Antonio Spurs -

The San Antonio Spurs are coming off their fourth championship since the 1999 season and seem to only be getting better with age. They methodically dominated the NBA Finals and barely broke a sweat. The core returns and this team just seems to get better every year. Either that, or they can thank Amare Stoudemire for “keepin’ it real” in the Western Conference Finals.

NBA Draft: Tiago Splitter (No. 28), Marcus Williams (No. 33)

Key Additions: Ime Udoka (FA – Portland), Keith Langford (FA – Italy), Darius Washington (FA – NBDL), Vassilis Spanoulis (trade – Houston)

Key Losses: Luis Scola (trade – Houston), Jackie Butler (trade – Houston), Melvin Ely (FA – New Orleans), James White (waived)

With the Spurs sitting pretty with an extremely deep and talented team, they (once again) used the draft extremely intelligently to take a flyer on Brazilian Tiago Splitter who has the potential to be as tenacious as and possibly more productive than fellow Brazilian Anderson Varejao. Along with that addition, they grabbed the dynamic small forward with a well-coached fundamental foundation out of the University of Arizona, Marcus Williams, who many believed had first round talent. To top it all off, they somehow grabbed breakout player Ime Udoka from his hometown Portland for a very generously low cap figure.

Burning Questions

- Will The Big Three get even better?
- Will Splitter be in the NBDL? Make the team?
- Is this the year Robert Horry is finally too old to hit the big shot?
- Will Mike Finley’s old creaky knees catch up with him?
- Will Brent Barry re-enter the NBA Slam Dunk contest?
- Will Eva Longoria be shown on TV more times than Marv Albert says “Yes!” during a TNT telecast?
- Will the Spurs win it all again this year?

Person on the Hot Seat: Bruce Bowen

Well this is like trying to pick the worst male actor in the movie Heat... The choice has to be Bruce Bowen because it seems as if his invincibility as a dominating shutdown defender might be running out. Yes, he violently increased his value last season by learning to hit the three with impressive consistency, but it is hard to ignore the fact that he was often the target of dirty-play accusations last year, he was cut from the USA team, he is 36 going on 37 years of age, they brought in a youthful defender who can hit the three in Ime Udoka, and drafted Marcus Williams who could compete for minutes at the small forward position. It’s Bruce’s job to lose.

Team Outlook

Once again, this is the team to beat. They look even better on paper this year and should be guaranteed at least a berth into the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. This could be the team that wins its fifth championship in the past ten seasons. That would be insanely remarkable.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

Grizzlies Pick Up Options On Gay, Lowry And Warrick
October 25, 2007 - 5:18 pm
RealGM Staff Report -
The Memphis Grizzlies Thursday announced that they have picked up the team options for the 2008-09 season for forward Rudy Gay, guard Kyle Lowry and forward Hakim Warrick.

"We are pleased to pick up the options on these three outstanding young men. Rudy, Kyle and Hakim have all shown in the brief period of time that they have been here in Memphis the talent necessary to become significant NBA players,” said Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace. “They have also shown a willingness to interact with our fans and assist the Grizzlies' charitable endeavors. Our team is fortunate to have this trio."

Gay leads the Grizzlies in scoring (17.0, T-17th in NBA), steals (1.57) and minutes played (31.1, 9th) in seven preseason contests. The 6-9, 220-pound forward was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team last season and finished third in NBA Rookie of the Year voting after averaging 10.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 78 games in 2006-07.

 

[Rollie_Fingaz]

I knew this would happen. He should have taken his dumb ass to Boston:

Francis Out Of The Rotation In Houston?
October 27, 2007 - 10:46 pm
Houston Chronicle -
Steve Francis did not expect much, but sounded shocked that he might begin the season receiving little or no playing time at all.

With the Rockets’ rotation taking shape and apparently excluding him, Francis said he did not know what he would do, but that he might have to do “something.”

“That is going to be tough, that will be real tough for me,” Francis said. “If that’s the case, then I don’t know. I definitely didn’t come here not to play at all. Hopefully we can work something out.”

Asked what sorts of options he might have, Francis said, “I don’t know. I can’t say.”