http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/22826 Recent articles about D.J. Strawberry en-us The "Associated Press" has reported that the Houston Rockets have received guard DJ Strawberry from the Phoenix Suns in return for rookie guard Sean Singletary. Phoenix will be the third team that the rookie Singletary has been with in the Association, since the NBA Draft in June. Singletary was originally selected by the Sacramento Kings in the [...] Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:23:41 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/313578 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/313578 With the free agent pool thinning out, teams are starting to look to trades to fill needs. The Rockets and Suns traded guards on Monday. The Rockets have acquired guard D.J. Strawberry from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for guard Sean Singletary. Strawberry averaged 2.2 points, 0.9 assists and 8.2 minutes in 33 games as a rookie with the Suns in 2007-08. Singletary averaged 19.8 points last season for Virginia. He is a very athletic point guard and should give Dragic a run for back up point guard. The move was a cost cutting move for the Suns as they will save about $540,000, including projected luxury-tax savings. Just a day after winning gold in the Beijing Olympics, Chris Paul is already thinking of joining the 2012 Olympic squad. Carmelo Anthony also expressed a desire to compete in the 2012 Olympics but wasn't sure if he could make another 3 year commitment. With the positive experience of this team all the way around, I am sure other young players will be ready to join the team as well. Jerry Colangelo, the architect of USA Basketball's gold-medal revival, is expected to stay on as the managing director and oversee the men's program through the 2012 London Olympics. It is just about a month till training camp starts and word is that Doc Rivers is already meeting with his assistants and making plans for training camp. Doc's assistants still don't have contracts for next season and Doc has just one more season on his contract. Danny said that he is working to re-sign them all and that should be the next news coming out of Boston. It is crucial that Tom Thibodeau comes back as his defenses were a big reason the Celtics are champions right now. Also with a project like Patrick O'Bryant, having Clifford Ray stay will be important as well. Thibodeau and Ray are two of the best assistant coaches in the league and I will be happy when they announce that they are signed. Last season, the Celtics were all together in Boston working out ahead of training camp. There have been reports of the Nets and Wolves both working out on a regular basis in preparation for the season. The Celtics don't have the same hunger that they had last summer. From the reports out of Vegas, Paul Pierce is still celebrating. Nothing has been heard from KG. Ray Allen is enjoying wedded bliss. The young players are there and working on their games together which bodes well for the future but with the improvements all the teams have made, the Celtics need to get that hunger back or they could face an uphill climb this season. Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas asked a year ago for access to information from the FBI's investigation of Donaghy. Thomas said he wanted to know whether Donaghy broke any Arizona laws while officiating two Phoenix Suns-Los Angeles Lakers playoff games in 2007. When Thomas had tried to get the files previously he was told that he had to wait until the investigation was finished. Now that it has concluded he is trying again to get the files. A couple of Lakers notes. They officially signed "The Chinese Magic Johnson" Sun Yue. Sun averaged 6.8 points, 2.5 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals in six games for China in the just-completed Olympics. the Lakers expect to learn in a few days when Kobe Bryant will undergo surgery on his damaged right pinkie. Bryant injured his finger in a Feb. 5 game against the New Jersey Nets, but put off surgery until after the Olympics. They are hoping that Kobe will be ready for training camp that begins for the Lakers on Sept. 30 in El Segundo. The Timberwolves and Hornets have already unveiled their new look uniforms and now the Magic is scheduled to unveil their new style uniforms on September 23. The new uniforms will celebrate the franchise's 20-year anniversary this season. And early clues indicate that the new uniforms will somewhat resemble the look from the past. The team wore pinstriped uniforms until 1999 and reports are that they will be going back to pinstripes with their new uniforms. Ron Artest received a rock star welcome as he arrived in Houston for the next chapter in his NBA story. Music blared and airhorns blasted. A throng of about 500 screaming fans welcomed Artest with enthusiastic cheers. With the addition of Artest, the Rockets have to be considered a threat to win it all. Artest will be playing alongside Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady forming their own Big 3 and they don't come any bigger than Yao. They also have a nice bench and are going to be very, very tough, assuming that Artest doesn't self-destruct as he has in times past. The FBI is investigating Piston Lindsey Hunter for a mortgage scam. Hunter was a a Celtic very briefly before being cut to go right back to the Pistons in one of those wink, wink type transactions. Now he is being investigated by the FBI for a scam that left a high school janitor on the hook for a million dollar home. Hunter maintains he is a victim as well. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:05:56 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/312976 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/312976 The Phoenix Suns on Monday dealt second-year guard D.J. Strawberry to the Houston Rockets in exchange for rookie guard Sean Singletary. Strawberry played in 33 games as a rookie, averaging 2.2 points per game. He did show the ability to play solid perimeter defense, but the Suns apparently weren't h Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:49:04 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/312688 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/312688 Minor deal went just went down in the NBA. I don't know if it's been reported yet, but 2nd year sg D.J. Strawberry has been sent to Houston for rookie Sean Singletary. The move was made because Strawberry wasn't going to get any burn this season with all the shooting guards the Suns have. Phoenix adds Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:44:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/312677 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/312677 The Timberwolves aren't the only team who will have new uniforms this season, the Hornets unveiled their new look uniforms on Wednesday. They will not only have new uniforms this coming season, but also new colors, a new logo, and a new floor, which will be unveiled Friday. And, let's not forget that they have a new player with a new championship ring in James Posey. Oklahoma City has waived 14 year veteran Donyell Marshall. Marshall is in the final year of a contract that would have paid him $5.9 million. Oklahoma City must pay Marshall the remainder of his guaranteed salary and it will count against the team's salary this season, but it opens up a roster spot for him. Including restricted free agent center Robert Swift, who they haven't signed yet, Oklahoma City will have 14 players under contract when they sign their two rookies. Devean George and the Dallas Mavericks have reached an agreement on a new two-year contract worth approximately $4 million. George's refusal to be included in the trade for Jason Kidd almost prevented Kidd from becoming a Maverick. George's refusal cost Mavs owner Mark Cuban more than $11 million last season in additional payroll and luxury-tax payments. It seemed as though his days in Dallas were numbered but new coach Rick Carlisle was eager to keep him with the team and now he will remain with the team for another 2 years/ The Miami Heat and forward Dorell Wright have agreed to terms on a two-year deal. It is expected to be finalized this week. A restricted free agent, Wright had been given a qualifying offer of $2.9 million for 2008-09. His new contract will start at roughly the $2.9 qualifying offer. This gives the Heat 13 players under contract for next season. The Heat are also in talks with Jamaal Magloire who postponed his visit to Miami because of Tropical Storm Fay. Magloire would definitely be an upgrade over Mark (I'll get the rebound if I don't have to work for it) Blount. Heat free agent center Earl Barron agreed to a one-year deal with Fortitudo Bologna of the Italian League. The Heat had not attempted to re-sign Barron, who will make close to $2 million in Europe. Shaun Livingston's rehab is progressing. Reports are that he has been playing five-on-five, for at least the past week and a half, at fitness trainer Tim Grover's facility in Chicago. It was also confirmed Wednesday that Livingston has progressed to playing full-scale, full-court pickup games with the contingent of 20 or so NBA players that work out regularly at Grover's site. He is an unrestricted free agent and if healthy, could become one of the league's top point guards and a top defender. Some team is going to take a chance on him and be rewarded big time if he gets back to pre-injury playing form. Team USA will play Argentina for the gold I guess it is fitting that the two teams with the most NBA players should be still playing at the end. Argentina has Luis Scola, Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto, Carlos Delfino and Andres Nocioni and may give the US more of a challenge than any of the others they might have faced in the gold medal round. NBA teams always hold their breath when they have key players on the Olympics teams because there is always the chance of an injury. Pau Gasol comes to mind as he broke his foot playing on the Spanish National Team a couple of years back. In their last game against the United States, Andrew Bogut injured his ankle and that has to have the Bucks wringing their hands. He said that it popped and that can't be a good thing. The Raptors' Jose Calderon was also injured in Spain's win over Croatia. It was described as a strained adductor. I can see why an NBA team would try to discourage players from participating in the Olympics. I know it is an honor to play for their country, but it has to take a lot out of them even if there isn't an injury. Brandon Roy is anxious to play basketball again. Six days after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, Brandon Roy arrived at the Blazers' practice facility without crutches or any noticeable limp. He says that he will definitely be ready for training camp. Bill Walker had a similar surgery and has been working out in Boston since his surgery. The Celtics haven't signed him yet, but I think they will because Danny went out of his way to get him from Washington. I think he will be able to contribute this season if given the opportunity. The Sixers have officially signed Theo Ratliff to a veteran's minimum contract. They needed another big man when their second year center Jason Smith went down with an ACL injury. Ratliff's agent said that the former Celtic passed on 2 more lucrative offers to sign for the veteran's minimum as a backup center. He said that he chose Philly because he wants to help win the Eastern Conference. I wonder if that means that he harbors some kind of ill will toward the Celtics. He played only 2 games for the Celtics before he and his expiring contract were shipped to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett. He said that he also liked Philly because he knows coach Mo Cheeks and knows the city and he believes that the team is going to be good. I think they are going to be good too. Philly should give the Celtics a run for the division title. With new point guard TJ Ford in Indiana, Larry Bird is still hoping to trade Jamaal Tinsley but so far hasn't has much luck. Bird said earlier this week that he thinks things will pick back up after Labor Day because a lot of league officials are either on vacation or at the Olympics in Beijing. Ford is expected to workout with teammates Mikebu Dunleavy and Troy Murphy this week. The Suns finally have their point guard in their second round pick, Goran Dragic whose contract will be worth close to $8 million over four years. His deal will start at about $1.8 million with at least $1 million of that going to his Tau Ceramica buyout. If he is as good as they are saying he is, they may have a steal. Although, I expect the bigger steal in the draft will be Bill Walker who was grabbed by the Celtics at #49. Guard D.J. Strawberry's status is still in flux for the coming season. The Suns have until Oct. 31 to exercise his option for a $711,517 salary, $200,000 of which is guaranteed once he makes the opening night roster. Without him, the Suns would need to sign a 13th player. The US Women's team advanced to the finals by beating Becky Hammon and the Russian team in a hard fought contest. They fell behind early but pulled ahead in the second half. There were several hard fouls that resulted in technical free throws and the game was much closer than any they have played so far but the Americans pulled it out 67-52 in the end. They will play on Saturday for the Gold Medal. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:56:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/310372 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/310372 LAST SEASON The Suns made a bold move before the trade deadline by acquiring Shaquille O'Neal, but they still couldn't get past San Antonio in the playoffs. Once again, D'Antoni's squad was a hotbed for fantasy statistics, as the Suns finished 3rd in scoring, 4th in pace factor, 1st in FG%, 4th in FT%, 4th in made threes, 1st in assists, and 2nd in blocks. OFFSEASON MOVES Key Additions: Matt Barnes, Robin Lopez Key Losses: Gordan Giricek, Eric Piatkowski, Sean Marks In '06-07, Matt Barnes was one of the Warriors' top reserves, but the past year was pretty tough on him. He couldn't get the long-term deal that he wanted, his mother passed away during the season, and his 3P% fell from 36.6% to just 29.3%. So now he's moved on to Phoenix, and while he's only getting the veteran's minimum (Barnes will get $1.2 million, but the Suns only have to pay $800 K as the rest comes from a "league fund"), he couldn't have found a better situation. As figured, the Suns missed Shawn Marion's defense, athleticism, and versatility after trading him to Miami, but they just found his replacement him for roughly 1/15th the cost. No player in the league is quite like "The Matrix," but Barnes will be able to help Phoenix in a multitude of ways. After all, we're talking about a team that gave Gordan Giricek significant minutes against Manu Ginobili in the playoffs and even wasted a playoff roster spot on Eric Piatkowski. Now, I'll give the "Polish Rifleman" props because he had a couple of solid seasons with the Clippers, but Giricek has sucked ever since he came to the NBA, and I bet he'll get schooled when he goes back to Europe too! Despite spending the last 2 years with Phoenix and the prior 2 with San Antonio, Sean "Kiwi" Marks has played a total of just 3 playoff minutes. Apparently, he used to school Duncan, Shaq & Amare in practice, but just couldn't perform when it counted (I'm kidding). So the Suns have replaced him with rookie Robin Lopez (the one with the fro). I'm guessing Marks (Cal grad) won't be giving Lopez (Stanford grad) any tips on how to beat Amare 1-on-1. ROTATION / PLAYING TIME Did you know? Over the past 7 years, Steve Nash has missed a total of just 23 games. Since he continues to orchestrate an offense superbly, he'll get 34 minutes of action once again. The Suns haven't found a true PG to back him up, but have 2 young & talented combo guards in Leandro Barbosa & DJ Strawberry. Barbosa's play declined in '07-08, so he'll have to show improvements if he wants to get 30 mpg again. Strawberry didn't play much as a rookie, but I'm a big fan of his defense & athleticism, so don't be surprised if he gets a bigger role this season. Raja Bell is still the starting shooting guard, but his minutes fell from 37.4 to 35.3 last season, and I'm expecting them to fall to 32-34 in '08-09. Amare Stoudemire played just 27.9 mpg in November, but 35+ the rest of the way, which is what you can expect this season. Shaq actually averaged the same number of minutes (28.7) in Phoenix as he did in Miami, and I'm thinking he has one more 28+ mpg year in him. Boris Diaw will be their 1st big man off the bench, and also get about 28 minutes of action. Phoenix needed a long, active, defensive center, and they got one in Lopez. If he can be their version of Joakim Noah, he'll get to play in short spurts. At small forward, there will be a battle for minutes between the incumbent Grant Hill (31.7 mpg) and the newcomer Barnes (19.3 mpg). I'm expecting Barnes to bounceback and play a key role for the Suns in '08-09, so I'll tentatively project 28 minutes for Hill and 22 for Barnes. DON'T SLEEP ON: Matt Barnes I think his versatility and passion for the game is going to win Phoenix fans, players, and coaches over right away, and if his 3-point shot is falling, look out! How good can Barnes be from a fantasy perspective? Well, if you know how to work your waiver wire, then you probably remember a stretch of games starting on 12/22/06. In the 13 games that followed, Barnes averaged 36.6 minutes, 16.2 points, 7.1 boards, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals, .7 blocks, and 2.5 threes per game! He proved his all-around ability once again in the '07 Playoffs, when he averaged 11.1 points, 5.7 boards, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, .4 blocks, and 1.7 threes (42.2% 3P) in just 29.9 minutes over 11 games. Clearly, Barnes can contribute in multiple categories when given the chance, but he's got to earn those minutes first. You don't need to draft him because no one else will, but if Grant Hill or Diaw goes down, I suggest you swoop Barnes up with a quickness. BE CAREFUL OF: Raja Bell In '05-06, Bell was a 38 minute, 15 point, 2.6 assist, 2.5 threes, 1 steal, 45% FG guy. Those are rock solid fantasy numbers for a #2 shooting guard. But in '07-08, he was a 35 minute, 12 point, 2.2 assist, 2.3 threes, .7 steals, 42% FG guy. While it's just a slight decrease in each category, it makes a world of difference to his fantasy value. The guy HOUNDS people on defense, but like Tayshaun Prince, doesn't get many steals to show for it, which is disappointing. And with Barbosa & Strawberry vyying for more minutes, the veteran's statistical output could fall even further this season. He could be a Top 100 pick in some leagues, but unless you're desperate for threes, I wouldn't consider him until after Round 10 is over. ROUND BY ROUND TARGETS (Where you should draft these guys in an 8-cat Roto league with 12 teams and 14 man rosters) Click on the link to find out! Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:58:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/302368 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/302368 The Rockets' rookie Greene exploded for 40 points in a 100-97 thriller edging the Suns, and Wilson Chandler led the Knicks with 26 points in a 97-93 win over the Cavs. Six games in all with some pretty good performances, debuts and the return of Tractor Traylor. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:11:14 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290807 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290807 For the final installment of RookieWatch 07-08, we will be looking at a number of second round picks in last year's draft who could make an impact for your team. Don't forget to check out FBP's detailed coverage of the first round draft class here : #1-5 | #6-10 | #11-15 | #16-20 | #21-25 | #26-30 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:49:14 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/180371 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/180371 259 points, 182 shots, Phoenix shot 58.9 percent from the field (46.4% from 3-point), Toronto 55.4 percent (62.5% from 3-point), 22 players scored at least a point, including 12 in double figures, all of that while the Raptors missed their two best players Bargnani and Bosh…you get the idea. Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:53:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/41108 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/41108