Yardbarker: Marcus Camby

Josh Childress's Great Escape

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:09:26 -0500

The NBA season is over but there is some wheeling and dealing going on. Elton Brand is a Sixer. Richard Jefferson is a Buck. (Doesn't that sound derogatory? I guess being a Buck is an insult.) Corey Maggette is a Warrior. My former fantasy basketball sixth-man Matt Barnes is a Sun. Chris Duhon joins the Apocalypse. Hype man Ronny Turiaf is getting live in the Bay now. TJ Ford is a Pacer. Jermaine O'neal is a Raptor. Marcus Camby is a Clipper. Talk about getting dissed. Camby was released for cap space and a secound round draft pick. Camby wisely predicts that the draft pick probably won't even make the team. Josh Childress is an Olympiaco. Olympi-who? J-Childs joined a team in Greece. The Hawks offered him $33 milli-ons over five years without including taxes and the Greeks offered $21 milli's in the air after the tax man cometh. Josh did real good. He's gets paid more and in a stronger currency with fringe benefits like free lounging. Good thing the Hawks drafted for the same position for five years in a row. They have been running through forwards. It looks like Team Josh is over. Josh Smith and Josh Childress might be gone. The big issue is what does this mean for the NBA and future NBA prospects? The high school kids looking through college brochures might be enticed to hit the Euro-league for seven figures instead of dodging freshman classes until the NBA draft while looking for ways to cover up booster scholarships. (Whew, I got winded after reading that sentence again.) Also, what impact will this have on the NBA benches? If a guy can make more money and start in Europe then why would he ride the pine in the NBA gaining no respect or PT. There's some rich people in Russia that could afford to bank-roll some serious basketball squads. What if they went after stars that are losing their home-side appeal like Vince Carter or Jason Kidd? This is an interesting time for the NBA. This could be bad news for the guys that go undrafted or get cut from NBA squads. It's already hard enough to become a professional basketball player. The last thing they probably want is competition from players with NBA job security. I hope Josh has some thick skin. It's all peaches and cream right now but those European fans have no boundaries. At least not in soccer where racism is obvious at times.

Camby Deal Signals The Beginning of the End of the Iverson Era in Denver

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:01:07 -0500

Any Denver fans who entertained notions that Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson would ever lead the Nuggets to playoff glory received a very rude awakening when Nuggets management "traded" starting center Marcus Camby to the L.A. Clippers for the right to swap second round draft picks in 2010. Camby is 34 years old but he is still a highly productive player: he won the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year Award and he has led the NBA in blocked shots the past three seasons and four times overall during his 12 year career. Last season, Camby averaged a career-high 13.1 rpg to rank second in the league. He has been selected to the All-Defensive Team for four straight seasons, including First Team nods in 2007 and 2008. Contending teams do not simply give away a valuable asset like Camby--and that is precisely the point: the Nuggets are not a contending team and their management is painfully aware of that fact. Much like the Memphis Grizzlies got rid of Pau Gasol to clear salary cap space and essentially hit the "reboot" button, getting rid of Camby was the first step in what will soon be a total makeover of Denver's roster. Iverson will either be traded this season or allowed to walk in 2009 when his contract ends, thus freeing up even more salary cap space. The Nuggets are deep into luxury tax territory--paying a dollar for dollar penalty for exceeding the salary cap--and that is the last place a team wants to be when it cannot even get out of the first round, let alone meaningfully contend for a title. From an intellectual/economic standpoint it is very easy to figure out what the Nuggets are doing--but this still has to be hard for Denver fans to accept, particularly those who have spent a lot of money on season tickets. Without Camby anchoring the paint there is a good chance that the Nuggets won't even make the playoffs in 2008-09 and even though Denver will soon have money to spend there is no guarantee that when the dust settles the new look roster will be substantially better than the recent Denver teams have been. It seems like half of the teams in the NBA are clinging to the pipe dream that if they clear enough salary cap space that they will be able to sign LeBron James or Dwyane Wade in a couple years; meanwhile, these teams are intent on spending as little as they can until that time, essentially writing off this season. There is not much that the league can do about this now but an economic system that encourages teams to not spend money--and thus field a mediocre or worse product--while hoping to hit the "jackpot" and sign a big-time player is not good or efficient. Moreover, these teams are going to have a lot of explaining to do if they subject their fans to 82 games of bad basketball and then fail to sign a franchise player with all of the money that they have sitting around. As for the Clippers, adding Camby and free agent Baron Davis goes a long way toward making up for the loss of Elton Brand. In fact, since Brand only played eight games last year, the Clippers could significantly improve on their 23-59 record if Camby and Davis both stay healthy. OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK MLB Authentic Collection Partners With "Music For Relief" - The Biz of Baseball MLB.com Smashes Online Ticket Sales Record - The Biz of Baseball A-Rod Jumps to William Morris Agency to Boost Image - The Biz of Baseball Rays Minor Leaguer Suspended 50 Gms for Amphetamines - The Biz of Baseball Sunday MLB on TBS: Comments from A's/Yankees Game - The Biz of Baseball Chicago's Wrigley Field to Host Next Outdoor Classic on New Years Day - The Biz of Hockey Jaromir Jagr First Major NHL Player to Crossover to Continental Hockey League - The Biz of Hockey Free Agent Signings - July 1, 2008 - The Biz of Hockey NHL Free Agent Listing As of July 1, 2008 - The Biz of Hockey Ducks owner Henry Samueli Suspended by NHL - The Biz of Hockey NHL 2K9, First Officially Licensed Game by NHL and NHLPA for Wii, Coming this Fall - The Biz of Hockey Dion Phaneuf Selected for Cover of EA Sports "NHL 09" - The Biz of Hockey Commissioner Roger Goodell to Be First American Sports League Exec to Visit Iraq - The Biz of FootballDan Patrick and Keith Olbermann to Reumite for NBC's "Football Night in America" - The Biz of FootballXM Satellite Radio Locks Up SEC. Adds Alabama, Auburn, Florida, and Vanderbilt - The Biz of Football Don Imus, "Pacman" Jones and Media Correctness - The Biz of Football 15,000 General Admission Tickets for London NFL Game Sell Out in 30 min. - The Biz of Football Papa Replaces Gumbel as NFL Network's Play-by-Play Announcer - The Biz of Football TNT Lands Full Slate of Sponsors For "Wide Open Coverage" Telecasts - Maury Brown's Biz of Sports David Friedman is a weekly contributor to the Business of Sports Network. To read more of his basketball articles, just take a 20 Second Timeout. His general sports commentary can be found at Best Ever Sports Talk, where "Favre May Discover That 38 is Not So Special for Quarterbacks," "Michael Young Helps Major League Baseball Avoid its Worst Nightmare: Another All-Star Game Tie," "Morneau Wins Home Run Derby but Hamilton Steals Show" and "Eric Davis: 'Like Having an Atomic Bomb Sitting Next to You in the Dugout'" are among the subjects that have been recently discussed.

Create The Caption #250

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:04:22 -0500

(Usually) Everyday I'll throw out a photo from the AP or one of the bigger sites and you provide the caption. Hilarity ensues. I'm also adding a handful of links at the bottom of the page that you should check out each day.

Yesterday's Winners....

"Los Angeles Clippers: bottom of the league in forced turnovers, top of the league in forced smiles."- Anon

"Unable to find a celebrity Clipper fan, Mike Dunleavy and Marcus Camby pose with a cardboard cutout of Nipsey Russell."- Wade Robertson

"Not pictured: Elton Brand in a fit of laughter."- Nicknamed Tony

"You can smile all you want, Marcus, but deep down you know that Zombie Elgin Baylor only has one use for you, and it's not as a defensive stopper..."- Nasty Nate
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Are you funny enough to create a caption for this photo of Bill Laimbeer trying to calm down his players during the brawl last night?

Daily Links:

New Song Girl Photos! (Busted Coverage)
Sports Center Halloween Costumes (Tirico Suave)
An Interview With Cubs Fan Bill Murray (Randball)
The NFL Has Some Glorious Crap (Deuce of Davenport)
Omar Vizquel Sings Goo Goo Dolls (Bugs and Cranks)
Shockey To The Saints Is A Trap! (RCS)
An Interview With Mason Coach Jim Larranaga (Calling the Shots)
The Best Athletes Who Posed In Playboy (All Balls)
OSU Needs To Forget About Carson Palmer (Suck at Sports)
Roundhouse Kicks Rule (Meaningful Collateral)
Who Has The Toughest CFB Schedule? (Moondog Sports)
DeSean Jackson Is A Poor Man's Santana Moss (The Play In CA)

Rumors and Free Agent Updates - Options are Dwindling Edition

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:51:04 -0500

Options are dwindling for both teams and free agents as teams continue to make moves. Here is what is going on around the league today: Josh Childress has indeed left the Hawks to play in Greece. The Journal Constitution is reporting that Childress has agreed to a a three-year, fully guaranteed contract worth far more than the $20 million originally proposed. It will remain to be seen how this affects NBA free agency in the future. Any player not getting what they want can flaunt a European contract at their team and will have to be taken seriously. But, there are still many players who want to be in the NBA even if they are making far less than they could in Europe. Josh Smith, the Hawks' other big free agent, was wined and dined by the Sixers and then they signed Brand. Then, he was wined and dined by the Clippers before they got Camby. Now, the only team under the cap that could offer him more than the MLE is the Grizzlies but they are in cost cutting mode. So, it seems that Josh Smith is stuck with the Hawks unless they can work a sign and trade with someone. Sources say that the Hawks are offering Smith a six-year deal worth $60 million. The Journal Constitution is reporting that this isn't true, however and that the Hawks have never offered anything near that. The San Antonio Spurs re-signed 36 year old Kurt Thomas on Tuesday. Thomas joined the Spurs last season in the trade that sent Brent Barry and Francisco Elson. In a rather fishy move, Barry was released by the Sonics and went back to the Spurs to join new teammate Kurt Thomas. Thomas' return could put in question the return of Robert Horry and Michael Finley's to the Spurs. When the Nets acquired Keyon Dooling, Marcus Williams vowed to fight for his job as the Nets' point guard. He may be fighting for his job, but not with the Nets as they traded him to the Warriors for a future first-round pick. The Warriors are going to give Williams a chance to start along side of Monta Ellis, who is more of a shooting guard than a point. First Camby was traded to the Clippers for a second round pick and now Williams traded for a first round pick. Must be nice to be under the cap and able to pick up players for peanuts (and draft picks). The Warriors pick has plenty of strings attached, though. The pick is lottery protected for 2011. If it goes to 2012, the pick is protected 1-11. It's protected 1-10 for 2013. If they still haven't received the pick by 2013, the Nets get second-round picks in 2013 and 2015. ESPN reports that Detroit has offered to trade Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince twice this off season already. The first time was to try to pry Carmelo Anthony away from Denver. The second offer was to Houston for Tracy McGrady. Both offers were rejected. With the rumors that Detroit is considering making a bid for Artest they could be making a 3rd attempt to trade Billups and Prince. There seems to be some smoke here and there may be some fire behind it. It would be interesting to see the crowd react to Ron Ron being introduced to the Palace crowd for the first time as a Piston. Talk about mixed emotions. Personally I wouldn't want Artest for anything. The guy has been a cancer and a distraction everywhere he has gone. Ryan Gomes is such a classy person. The Star Tribune reports that Gomes is participating in the Wolves' summer promotional caravan. He doesn't have a deal with the Wolves but is on their promotional tour. "I made a commitment at the end of the season to do this," Gomes said from Mankato. "They (the team) asked me if I'd like to do this and I'm a community guy, so I said yes. I don't know where I'm going to be yet. I made a commitment and stuck with it." Gomes is looking for the full MLE but chances of getting it are dwindling. It seems unlikely that the Wolves wouldn't match anything less. I would really like to have him back in Celtics Green but all the Celtics could offer is half the MLE and unless Danny has incriminating pictures of McHale, the Wolves would probably match any offer we could afford to give. At this point in his career, he is looking for some security and possibly accepting the qualifying offer and then seeing what he can get as an unrestricted free agent next season could be his best move. As hard as Gomes works, his value should only improve. Mark Bartelstein has said that several teams, including the Celtics have inquired about his client, Devean George. In his interview on WEEI, Danny said that he hasn't had any talks with George. So, either Bartelstein is floating rumors to try to get other teams to make an offer before another team snaps him up or Danny is not wanting to tip his hand. I remember Danny being interviewed on WEEI another time as the trade deadline approached when he said that the Celtics had nothing in the works and nothing even close. Four hours later, the Celtics traded for Wally Szczerbiak. So, you can't trust what an agent says or what Danny tells you for that matter. The News Herald reports that Bartelstein is also in talks with the Cavs concerning George. Now that the Celtics have signed House and Allen, Danny says that he is taking some time off. He may make another deal, or he may roll the dice with the team we have. The Celtics lost Pollard, PJ Brown, Cassell and Posey. The Celtics have 2 promising rookies who could fill in the blanks. Gabe Pruitt should be able to fill in at the Point along with House. Tony, if healthy, can replace Posey's defense. Giddens and Walker may get a chance to prove themselves. Danny may go with what we have now and then save space to pick up someone if there is a need later on. The Charlotte Observer reports that negotiations with Emeka Okafor are at an impasse. He has one more year left and if they don't agree on an extension, he can walk after next season as an unrestricted free agent. Rather than let him walk for nothing next season, the Bobcats may try to arrange a sign and trade. Some possibilities for a sign and trade swap are Shawn Marion, Anderson Varejao, Andris Biedrins, Al Harrington, and Luol Deng. Delonte West is still unsigned. The News Herald reports that the Cavs want to sign him but that they aren't close to an agreement at this point. Other teams are interested but have been scared off by his restricted tag, figuring that since the Cavs do want him, they will just match any offer made. Daniel Gibson signed a 5 year contract with the Cavs that starts at $3.7 million and West is looking for more since he is the starting PG and Gibson is the back up. Of course, if they can't reach an agreement, Delonte could just accept the Cavs' qualifying offer of $2.76 million, play out the year, and the become an unrestricted free agent next year. That could be good or bad for him. If he has a great year, he will demand even more money next season. If he continues to be nagged with little injuries and struggles, then as a restricted free agent, he may not get as much as he would now. It's a gamble that may or may not pay off. The Express News is reporting that it appears that Robert Horry's days with the Spurs are over. Big Shot Bob has won 7 rings in his 16 seasons in the league. He has said that he wants to play another season in the league but the Spurs don't seem inclined to bring him back. Unless he gets an offer from another team, he may be forced to retire. Could Big Shot Bob be the next aging veteran to come on board the Celtics? Danny loves these guys who seem to be on their last legs but who have tremendous experience and can help a team in little ways. Horry fits the profile. The Portland Trail Blazers signed first-round pick Nicolas Batum on Tuesday. Batum was actually drafted by Houston with the 25th overall pick and then traded to the Blazers for two draft picks. This brings the team's roster to 14 players. They still have not made a decision on whether to sign Petteri Koponen. They don't feel he is ready for the NBA this season, but if they don't sign him now, he will likely sign a long term contract in Europe. If they sign him, he could spend some time in the D-League and accelerate his development. The Clippers signed Golden State forward Kelenna Azubuike (8.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg) to a three-year, $9.3 million offer sheet last week and the Warriors have until Friday to match the offer, but according to sources they won't match it because they signed forward Maurice Evans to a three-year, $6.4 million deal. We are about to enter into the quiet (read completely dead) part of the season for Celtics fans. Danny is going to take some time off. He lost one free agent and brought back 2 others. He still has to deal with the Celtics 2 draft picks and possibly pick up another free agent or even make a minor trade. But keep in mind, it wasn't until the end of August that Danny signed Posey last season and so he may wait until the dust settles to make another move. Reports are that Bill Walker is working hard to come back from the knee surgery and depending on how he looks, Danny may not make another move. If ready to contribute, Walker could be the back up at the 3 that the Celtics still need. I like the kid and think he could prove to be the steal of the draft.

Trading "The Answer" Isn't The Answer

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:03:25 -0500

The Denver Nuggets dealt Marcus Camby to the Clippers as if he weren't the towering and worthy defensive threat that he is. And now, the Nuggets may be even a pinch closer to making another puzzling off-season move.

Create The Caption #249

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:53:12 -0500

(Usually) Everyday I'll throw out a photo from the AP or one of the bigger sites and you provide the caption. Hilarity ensues. I'm also adding a handful of links at the bottom of the page that you should check out each day.

Yesterday's Winners....

"Someday you'll find it. The rainbow connection. The lovers, the dreamers and me."- Ponce

"Coming soon to a Men's Warehouse Near You: the JaMarcus Russell sweater line."- BF

"Would someone tell Craig Sager to quit following me?"- Anon

"Baron celebrates return to LA by showing Jackie Earle Haley around town."- SDSG
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Are you funny enough to create a caption for this photo of Marcus Camby showing off his new Clippers jersey with management?

Daily Links:

More Alycia Lane Craziness (HHR)
Blogging For 24 Straight Hours Is Insane (The 10 Spot)
The Best Old School Wrestlers (Heavy)
The Bears Give Urlacher His Money (Chicago Bull)
Rafael Nadal Has His Own Asteroid? (Meaningful Collateral)
Jennie Finch And President Bush Are The Best Of Friends (The Sports Point)
Red Sox Fans On An Alligator Hunting Trip, What Could Go Wrong? (Red Sox Monster)
Golfers Are Touchy About Their Sport (Real Clear Sports)
NBA Fandom Free Agency (Rumors and Rants)
Inside The Mind Of Michelle Wie (The World of Issac)
Fixing The HR Derby (Small White Ball)
Who Won't Win The Super Bowl (The Hater Nation)

Rumors and Free Agent Updates - Mind Blowing Artest Rumor Edition

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:45:06 -0500

In the Zzone reports that the Nets' free agent Bostjan Nachbar will be heading to Europe. According to legaue sources, Nachbar will sign with Dynamo Moscow in Russia. Another of the Nets' free agents, Nenad Krstic has also received offers to play overseas but would prefer to remain in the NBA. The Nets may be looking for a sign and trade with him. Not everyone is chomping at the bit for a big payday overseas. Will Bynum left lucrative offers overseas for a shot at making it to an NBA team. He played with the Pistons summer league team hoping to stick with the team as their No. 3 point guard. Bynum's gamble paid off and has agreed to a multi-year deal with Detroit. Bynum was signed by the Celtics in 2005 after he played with their summer league team. It was Bynum's signing that he and Tony Allen were celebrating when Tony was charged with assault in that night club shooting. The first of the Pistons' three second-round picks in last month's NBA draft, Walter Sharpe, is expected to sign a two-year deal as well. The Nuggets are looking to continue their cost cutting spree. After giving away Marcus Camby for a second round draft pick, word is that the Nuggets would trade Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin or Nene, if anybody wanted them. Iverson has the most trade value with an expiring $20.84 million contract, he would be valuable to a team looking to clear salary-cap room for next summer. If the Nuggets, like every other team in the league, want to try to clear cap space for the summer of 2010, when LeBron and several other key stars will be free agents, then it might make sense for them to give away Iverson for nothing, as they did with Camby. The Knicks are have a new GM and a new coach. Isiah Thomas has been banished to NBA Siberia or something like that, but the Knicks still are struggling. They had the 6th pick in the draft and chose 19-year-old Danilo Gallinari. In his lone Summer League game for the Knicks, Gallinari went scoreless in the first 2½ quarters and then had an impressive seven minutes in the second half when he scored 14 points. After suffering a back injury in their game against Cleveland, he missed the final 4 games. The NY Post raises the issue that Gallinari's summer league makes the Knicks question whether he'll be durable enough to withstand the NBA's physical pounding for 82 games. A European source said Gallinari had various hamstring and knee problems in Italy, but a Knicks source said that was "growing pains." Ok, if they say so. Mark Bartlestein, who was instrumental in getting James Posey a big payday in New Orleans, is also Eddie House's agent and coincidentally, he is also the agent for Devean George, who has been linked to the Celtics in rumors lately. After the Celtics re-signed his client Eddie House, Bartelstein said the Celtics are interested in another of his free-agent clients: forward Devean George. Eric Pincus, a contributor to Hoopsworld for the Lakers and Clippers had this to say about George on the CelticStuff list: I know George well – he's athletic – can shoot – and is a better than average defender. He's not a particularly bright basketball player though – doesn't have a great handle – and can't do much more than spot up. He also gets hurt a lot – and doesn't play through pain well – especially because the core of his game is athleticism – when that's hampered he can be quite useless. I am not a big fan of signing him. He proved what kind of a team player he is when he almost blocked the trade for Jason Kidd. I would have much rather had Matt Barnes. I am sure that Danny knows what he is doing though and we'll have to see what he has up his sleeve. The Star Tribune is reporting that the Timberwolves have agreed to a multi-year contract with Sebastian Telfair. Telfair is another one of those players with potential and when he finally gets his head right will be a player. The Wolves now have 2 point guards on the roster in Randy Foye and Telfair. Still unsigned is Ryan Gomes who reportedly is seeking the full MLE. It seems that either he will have to go elsewhere or settle for less. It sure would be nice if he would agree to half the MLE in order to come back to Boston. He would be a great fit for the Celtics. Some have speculated that Josh Childress is waving the offer in Greece in front of the Hawks as a bargaining chip. However, Childress and his advisory team, including his agents are in Greece meeting with officials from Olympiakos. It's doubtful that the entire group would have gone all the way to Greece simply to dupe the Hawks. He is seriously considering signing there. The Pacers had a couple of decisions after making a big splash with the Jermaine O'Neal trade. They need help in the frontcourt, it won't be from 7'0" center David Harrison. Team officials said last week they are going in a different direction and have no interest in re-signing Harrison. Shawne Williams has had some problems off the court in the past year and the Pacers would like to rid themselves of Williams and his problems, but Pacers president Larry Bird says that he doesn't believe in buying out contracts, an issue that has arisen in regard to Williams and Jamaal Tinsley. So, if they want to rid themselves of yet another player with baggage, it will have to be via a trade. Seems that Larry should have tacked Williams on to O'Neal and shipped him off to Canada. If nothing comes up in the physical that Matt Barnes is completing today, he will be signing a veteran's minimum one year contract with the Suns today. I still say he would have been a nice fit with the Celtics. Finally, this rumor is pretty mind blowing. The SacBee is reporting that Detroit may be putting together a package for Ron Artest. Now wouldn't the Detroit fans just love having Billy Ron Ron there? After that brawl, Artest has been pretty much a villain in the Palace. This is one I'll have to see to believe.

Denver Nuggets: What Does The Future Hold? LeBron?

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:04:42 -0500

So the Nuggets just traded away thier MVP Marcus Camby. Don't take this the wrong way; I know Camby is not the best player on the Denver Nuggets. However, I do know that he was the heart and soul of that team and in many ways was their Most Valuable Player. So now what? Marcus Camby was just traded for the right to swap second round picks in next years draft. Excuse me? I know this article is a little late and maybe just a tad bit out dated but I've got some ideas for what the Nuggets may do in the future now that they have some slight wiggle room when it comes to the cap. The Nuggets also received a ten million dollar luxery tax exception in this trade. Although this does not get the Nuggets below the salary cap, it does allow them more flexibility to re-sign J.R. Smith this summer. That is the first move in a long line of moves the Nuggets need to make. After this season, the Nuggets will most likely let Allen Iverson walk. This is perfect. I love Allen Iverson, but the experiment has not worked. With A.I. gone, the Nuggets will then have about thirty million dollars to throw around at free agents and have more leverage when making trades. So the time isn't now for the Denver Nuggets. The time is in the future. We must be patient Denver fans. Let us go over what the Nuggets could possibly put together next summer in free agency. In the summer of 2009, as I said before, A.I. will be leaving us. That gives us thirty million dollars in cap room. We have J.R. Smith locked up now, and we are now signing Linas Kleiza to a multi-year deal. Stop there. Remember, we must be patient. Next season (2008-2009) will not be our year. After Iverson leaves, we could use a new face in the backcourt. That face could very well come in next years draft, where it is possible that we could have two first round picks (as long as Charlotte is not in the lottery - pray the Bobcats are a playoff team next year!). First priority in the draft is a point guard. I have three in mind now; Ty Lawson (University of North Carolina), Jonny Flynn (Syracuse University) and Darrin Collison (UCLA). All three would be great additions to the Nuggets backcourt and all three would likely see playing time early and often. Next is a big. I don't know as of now what next years draft will hold as far as bigs in the draft, but that is a hole we can fill next year. Re-signing Kleiza to a long-term deal is our next priority. Third; get rid of Karl. If it does not happen during the season, he needs to be gone after next season. I don't know what the future holds, but as of now Avery Johnson is still out there. Johnson is a fiery coach who demands respect from his young players and can turn around the Nuggets defense. Those are three things a once fiery Karl no longer has the ability to bring out in himself or his team. Ok, now we're done. We have a solid team now that may make the NBA Playoffs in the Western Conference. Here's the starting line-up: 1 - Ty Lawson (Or one of the other two) 2 - J.R. Smith 3 - Carmelo Anthony 4 - Kenyon Martin 5 - Nene. With a new coach, a solid point and Kleiza coming off the bench, its possible that this team will make the playoffs. Now comes the real fun. The Summer of 2010, aka the "Summer of LeBron." Guess what? That seven year, $93 million deal that Kenyon Martin inked years ago is now gone! Last year we re-signed Linas Kleiza and added a few rookies to the roster. That didn't exactly break the bank. With thirty million dollars to play with last year (minus the money we paid Kleiza and the rookies) plus all the bank we'll be making off of losing Kenyon Martin, we will now have a ton of money to play with to lure LeBron into town. Isn't this fun?! Here's a possible startig line-up for 2010 - 1 -Ty Lawson - 2 J.R. Smith - 3 LeBron James 4 - Carmelo Anthony 5 - Nene. Wow!!!! Now that's a team! We'd still have Kleiza off the bench too! I know Carmelo is a little undersized at the four but ask anybody in the league and they'll tell you that he is one of the most deceivingly strong players in the league. Not to mention he can jump just as well, if not better than, most of the other fours in the league and he is quicker than most fours in the league as well. Oh yeah, and he also plays the four for Team USA during the summer. And I believe he often plays his best while playing that position for Team USA. Now don't get too excited by this news quite yet. LeBron is obviously interested in New Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn) and he is obviously going to be lured by other teams. One phone call might go something like this: (Dwyane Wade) "I got this kid down her in South Beach named Michael Beasley. He's pretty good. What do you say to coming down here and playing with me and this young stud? We can win a championship together." (LeBron) "You know what D-Wade, that doesn't sound too bad to me!" End of conversation. I haven't done much research when it comes to this so I don't know if Miami will even have enough mulah to do that, but I'm just saying. It's very possible. So with that, here is a list of other NBA stars available as unrestricted free agents in the "Summer of LeBron": Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Ray Allen, Tyson Chandler, Manu Ginobili, Richard Jefferson, Joe Johnson, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Steve Nash Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Redd. I'll say it again: Wow!!!! I can't wait to see what the future holds for the Denver Nuggets. God knows there are endless possibilities out there. Now all we can do as fans is sit back, relax and pray for the best. Go Charlotte Bobcats!

NBA Eastern Conference: Just How Good Are The New Jersey Nets?

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:43:17 -0500

The NBA offseason is a time spent by front offices', looking to find new ways and players to upgrade their respective teams. Nets President Rod Thorn has kept himself occupied. The busiest team in the East this offseason, other than the Miami Heat, has been the New Jersey Nets. www.rawsportsblog.com

Rumors and Free Agent Updates - OKC Thunder Edition

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:02:58 -0500

The Globe has a little tidbit buried at the end of an article about Marcus Camby. They report that the Celtics are still strongly interested in signing Eddie House and Tony Allen. The source said House and Allen are both also receiving interest from other teams as well. According to this, both are seeking three-year deals. I am sure the Celtics would want to sign as many 1 year minimum contracts as they can to limit their lux tax hit. They do have their MLE that they can split among players now that Posey is out of the picture. I think bringing both back would be a good move. If Tony can stay healthy, he can bring a lot of what they lost in Posey defensively. The Lakers have decided to let Ronny Turiaf go to the Warriors when they didn't match the offer made by Golden State. It is believed by many that the Warriors are over-paying for Turiaf just as many believe that the Hornets over paid for James Posey. The Lakers' off season approach is completely different from the Celtics' approach. The Celtics had 6 free agents and will more then likely let the majority of them go. They will have 2 rookies coming in and would not go the 4th year to retain Posey who was a crucial part of last season's team. The Lakers on the other hand are trying to keep their team from last year together as much as possible. There is much to be said for building chemistry and keeping a team together. It is a pretty risky move by Danny to think that you can bring in 5 or 6 new players and expect the same chemistry that led the Celtics to 66 wins and a title to return. The Warriors-Clippers-Sixers triangle continues as word is that the Warriors are now targeting the Sixers' restricted free agent Louis Williams. Williams' scoring knack would make him an intriguing fit in Don Nelson's system. Sources are reporting that the Warriors are planning to make a "big run" at him. This you take my player so I'll take yours is very interesting stuff. The Warriors are also reportedly interested in former Celtic Delonte West and the SF Chronicle reports that West might be close to signing an offer sheet. Since Delonte is a restricted free agent, the Cavs could match any offer the Warriors make to him. The Cavs are negotiating with West who reportedly seeking Beno Udrih type money (5 year/$32 million) and are also looking into possible replacements just to cover their backs. One possible alternative could be Orlando's Carlos Arroyo. The Dallas Morning News reports that the Mavs are unlikely to re-sign free agent 6-8 guard/forward Devean George. They also list a number of teams interested in the 6'8" guard/forward who averaged 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds last season for Dallas. The Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Hornets have expressed interest in George and they project that with the loss of Posey, the Celtics may be the next in line to take a look at him. Dime reports that the team formerly known as the Seattle Supersonics will now be called the The Oklahoma City Thunder. I wonder what the mascot will look like. I don't think I have ever seen a thunder. Lightning...yes, thunder... no. Maybe they will have a puffy cloud type thing. I may be old school but I prefer the old names that ar plural like the Celtics, Bucks, Knicks, Lakers, etc. Players can say, "I am a Celtic" and it sounds good. Or I am a Laker or I am a Knick. It just sounds wrong to say I am a Heat. Or I am a Magic. Or I am a Thunder. Slow news day and too much time to ponder on all these things. Marc Stein has some interesting stuff on Darius Miles' suspension. Sources say all 30 teams were notified this week by league memorandum that the drug which earned Portland Trail Blazers castoff Darius Miles a 10-game suspension to start next season -- if Miles can find a job -- is the appetite suppressant Phentermine. A weight-loss drug, basically. Steep as a 10-game ban is, then, Miles' mistake is nothing bound to scare teams away from signing him. He's tried out for at least four clubs already this month -- Boston, Dallas, New Jersey and Phoenix -- and is expected to command no more than a minimum salary in his comeback from long-standing knee problems, because the 26-year-old still has $18 million in salary coming from the Blazers. I say he is worth taking a chance on. A minimum salary, partially picked up by the league isn't much to gamble on a kid with his potential, versatility and length. Danny said that he was impressed by his workout for the Celtics so I believe that Miles may still be in the mix to fill one of the Celtics' remaining spots. Danny has taken a chance on two other players who were passed over because of knee problems in Leon Powe and Bill Walker. Powe has worked out great and I have a feeling that Walker will too. But if Danny continues to wait, the Mavs are very interested in Miles as well and may be the team that takes a chance on him.

NBA Free Agency: Who Stays and Who Goes?

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:08:38 -0500

Who is going and who is staying? More importantly, what sort of fantasy impact will the decisions made during NBA Free Agency have on fantasy GM's? Screaming Sports' Serena Hays takes a look at several early moves and answers those very questions.

Camby's replacement: Who would you rather have?...

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:32:09 -0500

Assessing 5 possible replacements for the now departed Marcus Camby.

Depth Chart Check (RB)

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:53:31 -0500

No.1 Justin Fargas This might be Fargas' first and last season as a starter in Oakland, but no matter what his future holds, he deserves to go into this upcoming season as the Raiders lead back. Knowing what Fargas offers is why he'll get the nod Week 1. Head coach Lane Kiffin is smart enough to know that he doesn't need to start young Darren McFadden to get the rookie plenty of touches. Although McFadden likes blocking, and is fairly decent at it, Fargas is far more stronger (27 reps at the 2003 NFL combine, 13 reps for McFadden 3 months ago), experienced, and confident to take on the every down duties of a No.1 running back. Look for the drafting of McFadden to light a fire under Huggy Bear's son, and for him to do everything he can to keep the Raiders from taking him off the field. Next Up: securing the starting spot with a strong training camp. No.2 Darren McFadden I see the 4th overall pick involved with many facets of the Raiders offense this season; very similar to how the New Orleans Saints used Reggie Bush during his rookie year. McFadden flashed his athleticism during May and June, but things will be far different when practice begins a week from today. Instead of trying to get McFadden acclimated to a starting roll, the Raiders need to get him familiarized with the plays that fit his physical gifts, and not his football IQ. He's got plenty of time to become a wise runnign back, experienced and knowledgeable; this season he needs to read and react without hesitation. I believe McFadden will one day run between the tackles with ease, and block rushers with force, but right now he just needs to tap that amazing athleticism. Yes McFadden will get 10 or so textbook carries a game, but screen passes, sweeps, off-tackle running plays, and even the occasional spot at QB will be where he'll shine year 1. Next Up: even though he won't be the featured back in '08, training camp should show him how important he will be to this offense. No.3 Michael Bush Power is the key to this unproven talent. Bush did as well as any other running back during the last two months, but having dealt with little to no contact throughout that time, it's hard to say where he's at. I'd like to see Bush carry the ball around a dozen times every game, but wouldn't be surprised if he got more. McFadden is going to get his carries and spots no matter how well Bush or Fargas perform in training camp, but Bush could push Fargas from the starting role all the way down to 3rd string. I'm not saying this will happen, just that if Bush does emerge with all the skills that he had before his devastating injury at Louisville, then it'll be hard for Kiffin to not give him the ball 20 times a game. He's definitely the wild card in the Raiders back field, with the talent to supplant either of the running backs ahead of him. Although I've heard little on Bush's abilities to pick up NFL rushers, but would be surprised if the 6'3" 250lbs RB has, or ends up having trouble with pass blocking. Next Up: full pads and power rushing starts on July 24th. Louis Rankin – The undrafted free-agent from the University of Washington did pretty well during OTA's and mini-camps, but don't expect him to crack the roster. I expect the rookie to push current practice squad running back Quinton Smith off the team. LaMont Jordan – Yes I put Jordan behind Rankin for a reason, because the UWub product is far more valuable. I posted some comments from Warren Sapp earlier this offseason on Jordan, and for me, that was the last straw. Jordan should be gone before the start of the season one way or another. I think the Raiders should trade him kind of the way the Denver Nuggets just traded Marcus Camby; for nothing. Why take any kind of cap hit if you can trade him? The Saints, Patriots and the Chicago Bears have all met with the Jordan, but the Raiders want a draft pick. I think, like Camby, the Raiders should send him to either the Bears or the Saints for pretty much nothing. I read one article by a complete moron (Jordan Walters, WagerWeb.com) who thinks the Raiders would be acting like jerks if they held onto LaMont until the last weeks of training camp. But it's the opposite; they would be treating Jordan with the same amount of respect that he showed the Raider franchise. LaMont Jordan, a commitment to failure. No.1 FB Justin Griffith – I can't just keep writing the same praises over and over; can I? Sorry if you've heard this already, but Griffith does everything well. He blocks as well, if not better than any other pass catching fullback in the league. His speed (4.5 40) and athletic ability overshadow most linebackers who try to cover him, and has the strength to chip any rusher from his path to the quarterback. Training camp just marks another chance for him to improve his skills. No.2 FB Oren O'Neil – The second year fullback did well last season, providing the Raiders with a prototypical lead blocker. O'Neil did very well with run blocking, and although he has a lot to improve on in pass protection, he has the skills to overcome last years' setbacks.

Depth Chart Check (RB)

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:54:32 -0500

No.1 Justin Fargas This might be Fargas' first and last season as a starter in Oakland, but no matter what his future holds, he deserves to go into this upcoming season as the Raiders lead back. Knowing what Fargas offers is why he'll get the nod Week 1. Head coach Lane Kiffin is smart enough to know that he doesn't need to start young Darren McFadden to get the rookie plenty of touches. Although McFadden likes blocking, and is pretty decent at it, Fargas is far more stronger (27 reps at the 2003 NFL combine for Fargas, 13 reps for McFadden 3 months ago), experienced, and confident to take on the every down duties of a No.1 running back. Look for the drafting of McFadden to light a fire under Huggy Bear's son, and for him to do everything he can to keep the Raiders from taking him off the field. Next Up: securing the starting spot with a strong training camp. No.2 Darren McFadden I see the 4th overall pick involved with many facets of the Raiders offense this season; very similar to how the New Orleans Saints used Reggie Bush during his rookie year. McFadden flashed his athleticism during May and June, but things will be far different when practice begins a week from today. Instead of trying to get McFadden acclimated to a starting roll, the Raiders need to get him familiarized with the plays that fit his physical gifts, and not his football IQ. I believe McFadden will one day run between the tackles with ease, and block rushers with force, but right now he just needs to tap that amazing athleticism. Yes McFadden will get 10 or so textbook carries a game, but screen passes, sweeps, off-tackle running plays, and even the occasional spot at QB will be where he'll shine year 1. Next Up: even though he won't be the featured back in '08, training camp should show him how important he will be to this offense. No.3 Michael Bush Power is the key to this unproven talent. Bush did as well as any other running back during the last two months, but with little to no contact throughout that time it's hard to say where he's at yet. He's definitely the wild card in the Raiders back field, with the talent to supplant either of the running backs ahead of him. I'd like to see Bush carry the ball around a dozen times every game, but wouldn't be surprised if he got more. McFadden is going to get his carries and spots no matter how well Bush or Fargas perform in training camp, but Bush could push Fargas from the starting role all the way down to 3rd string. I'm not saying this will happen, just that if Bush does emerge with all the skills that he had before his devastating injury at Louisville, then it'll be hard for Kiffin to not give him the ball 20 times a game. I've heard little on Bush's abilities to pick up NFL rushers, but would be surprised if the 6'3" 250lbs RB has, or ends up having trouble. Next Up: full pads and power rushing starts on July 24th. Louis Rankin – The undrafted free-agent from the University of Washington did pretty well during the OTA's and mini-camps, but don't expect him to crack the roster. I expect the rookie to push current practice squad running back Quinton Smith off the team. LaMont Jordan – Yes I put Jordan behind Rankin for a reason, because the UWub product is far more valuable. I posted some comments from Warren Sapp earlier this offseason on Jordan, and for me, that was the last straw. Jordan should be gone before the start of the season one way or another. I think the Raiders should trade him kind of the way the Denver Nuggets just traded Marcus Camby; for nothing. Why take any kind of cap hit if you can trade him? The Saints, Patriots and the Chicago Bears have all met with the Jordan, but the Raiders want a draft pick. I think, like Camby, the Raiders should send him to either the Bears or the Saints for pretty much nothing. I read one article by a complete moron (Jordan Walters, WagerWeb.com) who thinks the Raiders would be acting like jerks if they held onto Jordan until the last minute. But it's the opposite; they would be treating Jordan with the same amount of respect that he showed the Raider franchise. LaMont Jordan, a commitment to failure. No.1 FB Justin Griffith – I can't just keep writing the same praises over and over; can I? Sorry if you've heard this already, but Griffith does everything well. He blocks as well, if not better than any other pass catching fullback in the league. His speed (4.5 40) and athletic ability overshadow most linebackers who try to cover him, and has the strength to chip any rusher from his path to the quarterback. Training camp just marks another chance for him to improve his skills. No.2 FB Oren O'Neil – The second year fullback did well last season, providing the Raiders with a prototypical lead blocker. O'Neil did very well with run blocking, and although he has a lot to improve on in pass protection, he has the skills to overcome last years' setbacks.

Marcus Camby, "insulted" by trade.

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:22:04 -0500

Still trying to come to grips with his trade from Denver to the Los Angeles Clippers, Marcus Camby talked candidly about his disappointment in the hours after his abrupt departure. "Blindsided, distraught, disrespected. All those adjectives. I definitely feel insulted," he said in a telephone interview with the Rocky Mountain News. "When I first heard about the trade, I felt like I was the scapegoat after all our past first-round exits and failures and lack of defense. I felt it was them telling me that I was no longer wanted and I was the cause of everything that went wrong the last couple years on this team. "I'm still in disbelief. I'm still in shock. I still can't believe this happened." -- Rocky Mountain