Mike D’Antoni: ‘I shouldn’t have gone to New York’ to coach the Knicks (Ball Don’t Lie)

 LA Lakers  No Responses »
Nov 292012
 

On Thursday morning, longtime Associated Press scribe Brian Mahoney tweeted a salient point about recent news concerning Laker coach Mike D’Antoni’s regrets about taking on a job with the New York Knicks in 2008. Here’s Mahoney’s take :

Brian’s not wrong, in this regard, but that doesn’t take away from the overall tone and takeaway of Ramona Shelburne’s very good feature on D’Antoni from Wednesday . Following a tough end to a 2007-08 Phoenix Suns season that featured the team trading longtime Sun Shawn Marion to Miami for Shaquille O’Neal midseason, D’Antoni reportedly was at loggerheads with new-ish Suns GM Steve Kerr. A day after the team’s season ended word came out of Phoenix that D’Antoni and the Suns were parting ways, officially an amicable dissolution of the relationship, but with all anonymous sources indicating that it was D’Antoni that wasn’t happy with the direction of the franchise.
Soon enough, he logged in with the Knicks. Soon after that, things started to go sour in New York. By March of 2012, D’Antoni had another “mutual” walkaway with the Knicks. And four and a half years later, now coaching the Los Angeles Lakers, D’Antoni thinks he should have given his whole time in New York a bit of a miss. From Shelburne’s must-read feature :
“I shouldn’t have gone to New York,” he says, looking down at the sideline in Memphis, pacing on that unstable right leg.

Hornets coach Monty Williams slams NBA concussion policy, sounds dumb (Ball Don’t Lie)

 Utah  No Responses »
Nov 052012
 

Two seasons ago, the NBA created a concussion policy to ensure that players who’d suffered brain injuries wouldn’t return to the court too soon. As medical science has learned more about the effects of concussions, it has become clearer that there’s no way for an athlete to toughen up and play through his the aftereffects of the brain slamming against the skull. We haven’t yet figured out how to step up rehab for a concussion.
New Orleans Hornets head coach Monty Williams played NBA basketball in the ’90s, so he comes from a (slightly) different era. That approach became very clear this weekend when Williams decried the league’s concussion policy as it applies to star rookie Anthony Davis, who suffered a “mild” concussion in Friday night’s game against the Utah Jazz. From Andrew Seligman for the Associated Press (and first reported by Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com ):

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Tracy McGrady writes heartfelt goodbye letter to fans as he heads off to China (Ball Don’t Lie)

 Atlanta  No Responses »
Oct 102012
 

When news broke last week that Tracy McGrady was considering a move to the Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association , it seemed reasonable enough, if a little sad. An offseason spent searching for a new NBA home had turned up precious little, with September workouts with the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs failing to result in a guaranteed deal and few stateside opportunities on the horizon following three straight years of fringe-average-or-worse play.
After a quiet turn for the Atlanta Hawks in which McGrady averaged career lows in points (5.3) and minutes (16.1) per game, no team seemed eager to assure the seven-time All-Star of a roster spot, so his choices were to seek training-camp invites and fight his way onto a roster or look overseas. And given McGrady’s status as a recognizable and still-marketable star in China thanks to the years he spent playing with Yao Ming on the Houston Rockets, it seemed a safe bet that Chinese fans (and, as a result, teams) would have the greatest interest in T-Mac, even in a form vastly diminished by lower back, shoulder and multiple knee injuries.
All that reason turned into reality on Tuesday, as Yahoo! Sports NBA columnist Adrian Wojnarowski reported that McGrady had agreed to a one-year deal with Qingdao worth an as-yet undisclosed amount of money (though Chinese outlets are reporting it is more than $1 million, according to the Associated Press ) and was making plans to travel to China within the next two weeks. Before he hits the tarmac, though, McGrady wanted to reach out to his fans, penning a salutatory piece that, for fans of a certain age — late-20s to late-30s seems like a solid ballpark — might be a bit tough to read.
From McGrady’s blog (and cross-posted on his Facebook page ):
There are times in life that a new road presents itself and it appears this time has come for me now. I am so proud of what I have accomplished these past 15 years playing in the NBA. It was a dream entering the league as I just turned 18 years old. I worked hard and poured my heart and soul into this game. I consider myself a student of the game as I have watched, studied and played with and against the best players in the world. The NBA was my University and I learned so much. The gratitude I feel is really immeasurable. I have experienced the best moments a player can experience and have had some dark ones too. Both equally important in helping shape me into the man I am today.

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Why Philadelphia 76ers Shouldn’t Consider Andrew Bynum a Flight Risk

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Oct 042012
 

When the Philadelphia 76ers acquired Andrew Bynum this summer, it was unclear whether he would be willing to commit to the franchise long term.

While it wasn’t clear that the Sixers would emerge as the front runners for Bynum’s services in the long run, the tables quickly turned.

In what can be called an endearing first date with the Philadelphia media and fans, Bynum made his intentions quite clear, according to Dan Gelston of the Associated Press, noting, ”My first experiences here have been so great,” Bynum said, ”I’m really leaning toward making this my home.”

The reasons for Bynum’s happiness appear crystal clear. The guy is going to be treated like an absolute prince in the city, evident through the massive welcome party he was greeted with at his introductory press conference.

Aside from assuming the role of a basketball savior, Bynum will be the centerpiece of an offense that has been constructed to play to his strengths. In Philly you’ve got a young point guard who’s brimming with confidence now that he’s got a dominant center to play off of, a host of wing players and a potential sidekick in the making in Evan Turner.

Now that Dwight Howard is soaking in all of the purple and gold that wasn’t so kind to Bynum, there’s the real possibility that Bynum will emerge as the conference’s most dominant center. In one of the country’s largest media markets, Bynum sees a chance to mold his legacy in a way he never thought was possible.

All of this would feel like enough to make one guy happy, but we’ve omitted the primary factor that drives all decisions in today’s NBA. Bynum is entering the final year of his current contract, and will absorb a max contract from someone in the summer of 2013. Will that team be the Sixers? The answer appears to be pointing towards the affirmative.

As Kurt Helin of ProBasketballTalk points out, the new collective bargaining agreement is tailored in such a way that Bynum will be able to rake in extra dollars from the Sixers that no other team will be able to offer:

As of Feb. 10 (six months after they traded for him) Bynum could sign a max extension, which is three years at just shy of $60 million. However, thanks to the quirks of the new CBA, if Bynum becomes a free agent in July (just five months later) he can re-sign with the Sixers for five years, a little over $100 million. Wait five months, get $40 million more guaranteed. Not much of a decision there. (Bynum could leave as a free agent at that point, but other teams can only offer four years, closer to $80 million. And Bynum is motivated by money.)

It’s pessimistic to say that Bynum would depart were the Sixers not able to offer more money than any other team, but it’s likely the truth. All NBA players are looking to capitalize on their peak market value, and Bynum, who will be 25 years old entering the prime of his career, will do just that.

Barring some unforeseen circumstances, Bynum will likely ink the five-year, $100 million extension he craves, and all will be right with the basketball universe in Philadelphia. However, what will really decide the future of the franchise are the moves that the front office will need to make once Bynum is in tow long term.

The real test for Bynum will be withstanding the barrage of attention he’s going to receive on the court, and tailoring his game to Doug Collins’ revised system. Collins has vowed to play through the post, which will undoubtedly make Bynum a happy camper, but the pressure that accompanies his new role is going to be tough to handle at times.

Collins also has a reputation as a bit of a nitpicker, and for a player whose maturity was questioned in Los Angeles, Bynum may find himself frustrated with how Collins operates.

There are more than a few reasons as to why Bynum could grow unhappy in Philadelphia, but in the end, there are more positives than negatives that accompany a long stay in the City of Brotherly Love.

Monetary incentives will ultimately drive Bynum to make Philadelphia his home, and however disastrous his debut season in Philadelphia could end up being, it likely won’t curb him from committing to the franchise long term.

Read more Philadelphia 76ers news on BleacherReport.com

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Philadelphia 76ers: 5 Reasons Why Signing Nick Young Helps Immensely

 Rumors  No Responses »
Jul 062012
 

Nick Young has signed a one-year contract in the $6 million range, according to the Associated Press (via Yahoo! Sports). 

Young averaged 14.2 points last season, splitting time between the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers, but shot barely over 40% from the field. 

At the same time, he has never shot below 35.3% from three-point range, and had two seasons where he shot at or over 40% from three-point range. 

Listed at 6’7”, 210 pounds and with the ability to play both shooting guard and small forward, Nick Young is perfect to replace the undersized and limited Jodie Meeks, who is only 6′ 4” and couldn’t keep his starting job under wraps for an entire season. 

While he had some immaturity issues in the past due to a toxic locker room situation in Washington, Young showed his ability to make clutch shots against the Memphis Grizzlies in the Clippers’ first-round series victory. 

Despite some great moves that added young pieces to the 76ers’ roster this offseason, Philadelphia looks like the fourth-best team in the Atlantic Division right now.

That being said, here are five reasons how the addition of Nick Young can still make the Philadelphia 76ers immensely better next season.

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NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Must Commit Themselves to Keeping Pau Gasol

 Rumors  No Responses »
Jul 052012
 

The rumors are still circulating that a Pau Gasol trade to Minnesota might actually happen, but if the Lakers learned anything from last season’s plight, they need to put a stop to the chatter here and now.

After they acquired Steve Nash in a sign-and-trade deal with the Suns, the Lakers have become early frontrunners in the Western Conference.

As it stands, they have one of the most complete and talented teams in the league, and trading Gasol before they get a chance to see how this roster plays out will be a mistake. They need him—offensively and defensively—to maintain the core of this team and to compete for a title.

There are still rumors that the Timberwolves are one of the teams interested in acquiring Gasol from L.A., and according to the Associated Press, they could be willing to part with some of their most promising young prospects in exchange for the chance to see if Gasol can turn this Minnesota team into a legitimate contender.

But as it stands, the Lakers should no longer have any intention of trading Gasol. They made him available prior to the NBA draft, it didn’t work out, they went in a different direction and they are now in the best position to compete for a title since the last time they won one in 2010.

So why jeopardize that by shopping one of the most crucial components of your frontcourt? Especially when that player was so rattled by trade rumors one season ago that it compromised the chemistry of the entire team?

When rumors began circulating last winter that the Lakers were interested in trading Gasol, it almost led to the implosion of the entire team. Gasol became sulky and difficult, the team started underperforming and Kobe Bryant famously called out the front office for its waffling. In February, Bryant told the Los Angeles Times‘ Mike Bresnahan:

It’s just tough for a player to give his all when you don’t know if you’re going to be here tomorrow. I’d rather them not trade him at all, but if they’re going to do something, I wish they would just…do it.

The Lakers should know better than to make the same mistake twice.

Right now, L.A. has the chance to totally redeem itself. It has made perhaps the best overall signing during this year’s free-agency period, and the Lakers are now in a position to become the most exciting team in the NBA in the 2012-13 season. They’re so close to rebounding from two straight seasons of mediocrity.

All they have to do is put the trade rumors to rest and commit themselves to this roster, with Gasol. Then they can move on toward the future and toward another ring.

Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com

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Oklahoma City Thunder: A Little Justice in the World, Scott Brooks to Stay

 Rumors  No Responses »
Jul 032012
 

It was surprising to many that Scott Brooks’ contract was allowed to expire following the NBA Finals. During a relatively short voyage, he has steered his ship from the bottom of the cellar to one step away from the top of the mountain.  

As one might have expected, however, his status as a free agent didn’t last long.

Moving past rumors that he might be replaced by Phil Jackson or Jeff Van Gundy, Brooks held a news conference to happily announce a new contract, according to reports from the Associated Press.  

It seems no one is more deserving than Brooks, who took the team to the playoffs just one year after a 23-59 season, followed by a trip to the Western Conference finals in 2010-11 and then the NBA Finals this past season.

While recent and current NBA champions like the Celtics and the Heat have assembled a “Big 3″ trio of superstars to ascend to the pinnacle of the NBA, Sam Presti and Co. have managed to assemble a triumvirate of their own in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.

The three are not only All-Star level players, but are also exceptionally young.  Anything can happen in the NBA, but these three have unprecedented potential to continuing improving together.

Since Brooks has been a part of that process since Day One, there is little question that management is giving credit where credit is due.  

With the team only one step away from a ring and a young, athletic and talented core, OKC is poised to be a championship contender for a long time, which will in turn make it an attractive destination for free agents.  

That may leave a few people sleepless in Seattle, but in Oklahoma City, they may rest easy for the foreseeable future. 

Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com

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Oklahoma City Thunder Agree to 4-Year Deal with Head Coach Scott Brooks

 Rumors  No Responses »
Jun 302012
 

After a ton of wheeling and dealing on the part of both sides, the Oklahoma City Thunder have reached an agreement in regards to a contract extension for their head coach, Scott Brooks.

According to TNT analyst David Aldridge, per NBA.com, OKC has inked Brooks to a four-year extension which will be worth over $4 million annually. The final salary numbers will be about double what the Thunder head coach made last season when he brought his team to the NBA Finals.

Aldridge points out that a deal had been agreed upon a few weeks ago, though Brooks and the Thunder were still working on the numbers. Brooks used the fact that the Thunder had progressed under him each year he was at the helm as his lobbying point.

Not to mention winning 50 games twice and being named Coach of the Year in 2010.

Under Brooks the past three seasons, the Thunder have made it to the conference semifinals, the conference finals and this past season, the NBA Finals.

Shortly after the Thunder lost the NBA Finals to the Miami Heat, rumors surfaced about OKC’s possible interest in 11-time champion, Phil Jackson, according to Marc Stein of ESPN. That was when it was thought the hold up in contract talks between Brooks and the Thunder were a result of years, not money.

But rumors of such a move to bring in the Zen Master were denied by OKC general manager, Sam Presti, according to the Associated Press, per SI.com.

This roller coaster ride that started the second the NBA season was officially over has come to an end with the correct conclusion. Brooks has done a great job with the Thunder, helping move this team move up from dangerous team to elite in the tough Western Conference.

Not to mention, the team’s best players, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, both vouched for their coach. Considering those two are the future for this franchise, that made it even more vital the Thunder lock up their coach for the long term.

With their coach in place and a ton of mistakes to learn from, the Thunder are ready to make yet another run at the NBA Finals in 2013.

Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com

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