Daily Basketball
NBA and NCAA blogging on an occasionally daily basis
Archive for June, 2006
June 30, 2006 at 2:35 pm · Filed under NBA
The new ball, manufactured by Spalding, features a new design and a new material that together offer better grip, feel, and consistency than the current leather ball. This marks the first change to the ball in over 35 years and only the second in 60 seasons.
The ball is made with just two interlocking panels, called ‘CrossTraxxion’ by Spalding, and also features a moisture management system which distributes the moisture to speed up evaporation when the ball gets wet.
Read more information about the ball on the NBA’s website. A limited number of this new ball was sold at the NBA store on draft day. The ball won’t hit stores until October 31st when the 2006-2007 NBA season begins but can be preordered for $99.99.
June 30, 2006 at 8:26 am · Filed under NBA, NCAA
At midnight tonight teams can begin negotiating with free agents. The Dallas Mavericks will look to resign Jason Terry and give Dirk Nowitzki a contract extension. Several other teams are looking to resign key players, but don’t be surprised to see some of the big names traded in sign-and-trade deals that didn’t happen during the NBA Draft.
The Detroit Pistons traded off Maurice Evans because he wouldn’t be getting enough minutes to satisfy him this season, but the main motive behind the trade is resigning Ben Wallace. The 31-year old All-Star center will receive several intriguing offers but look for him to stay with the Pistons as long as they remain championship contenders.
Paul Pierce may get his star player after all. The Boston Celtics seem ready to acquire Allen Iverson and are just waiting for the Sixers to make sure no better offers come up. Iverson isn’t so sure, and seems to want to spend the last days of his career throwing alley-oops to Josh Smith in Atlanta.
The Milwaukee Bucks will be trading Jamaal Magliore, once they find a decent player or group of players in return. The team who currently seems to be pushing hardest to acquire the center is the Washington Wizards.
Isiah Thomas says he doesn’t plan to make any big trade involving the New York Knicks. He somehow believes that with Larry Brown out the door, an improved attitude is all that’s needed before the team has success.
It was announced that the NCAA will not be expanded to 128 teams, because there is no need to do so. “There is no enthusiasm on the part of the committee to expand the tournament at this time,” said Craig Littlepage, chairman of the men’s basketball committee.
June 29, 2006 at 11:59 am · Filed under NBA
For the complete list of all players taken in the 2006 NBA Draft, please visit our forums.
Though Carlos Boozer, Allen Iverson, and Kevin Garnett were not among the players traded during the NBA Draft, there was plenty of trades going on — led mostly by the Portland Trailblazers, Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics.
The Trailblazers were able to acquire LaMarcus Aldridge from the Chicago Bulls by trading their #4 pick (which was Tyrus Thomas) and Viktor Khryapa. Then, after a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Boston Celtics, the team also ended up with Brandon Roy. The Trailblazers also bought the rights to Sergio Rodriguez from the Phoenix Suns, traded second-rounder James White for Alexander Johnson and apparently may not be done dealing yet. If that didn’t make any since, and want a summary of the team’s confusing deals, visit the team’s website.
The Philadelphia Sixers traded the rights of Thabo Sefolosha to the Chicago Bulls for the rights to Rodney Carney, a second-round pick, and cash.
The Phoenix Suns traded the rights to Rajon Rondo and injured forward Brian Grant to the Celtics for a future pick.
Detroit traded shooting guard Maurice Evans to the Lakers for their second round pick. The team decided they didn’t have enough playing time for the backup shooting guard.
Larry Brown officially filed his grievances for the $40 million he won’t be receiving from the New York Knicks.
Speaking of the Knicks, Isiah Thomas was asking to be fired when he took little-known foreigner Renaldo Balkman over UConn point guard Marcus Williams, who was a projected top-10 pick. Though Balkman was a possibility for the Suns to draft a few picks later, he was most likely a mid-second round pick. Not that the Knicks need any more bad PR…
June 28, 2006 at 8:26 am · Filed under NBA
First of all, the mysterious black box being presented in just a few minutes is apparently a new basketball made by Spalding that will be the new official basketball of the NBA. The basketball was used at the NBA predraft camps and workouts, and is made of a composite material instead of the traditional leather. The ball is said to have better grip, but will decrease shooting percentage. Not sure what the NBA is thinking…
Andy Katz of ESPN is reporting that the Boston Celtics and Portland Trailblazers are discussing a trade of Sebastian Telfair for the #7 pick and Dan Dickau. Apparently Telfair has been dropped from the rotation after being considered the next Stephon Marbury when he was drafted out of high school a couple years ago.
J.J. Redick told ESPN that he has a herniated disk in his back, but with a shot he has been pain-free. He says he plans to play in the summer league and for the USA basketball team.
The Celtics seem to be in front of the line to trade for Allen Iverson.
You can read the CenterCourt Hoops NBA mock draft here. It’s posted on the forums, and will be updated several times before the draft. Be sure to check back to the blog throughout the day for the latest news.
June 27, 2006 at 11:04 am · Filed under NBA
Jerry Colangelo and the Toronto Raptors had a press conference announcing that they did not plan to trade the #1 overall pick, and that they have two prospects that are considering. While Colangelo did not tell who they were, the two players are most likely Andrea Bargnani and LaMarcus Aldridge.
One of the ridiculous moves proposed by Larry Brown before he was fired by the Knicks — waive Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Jerome James, Jalen Rose, and Maurice Taylor. That group should have made a excellent starting five, at least talent-wise. If for some reason the Knicks had carried out the move, they would wasted over $150 million.
Isiah Thomas has one year to fix the Knicks into a presentable team before he too becomes a dead man. Team owner James Dolan has come out and said if the team isn’t successful this year, Thomas will lose his job. Somehow I have a hard time seeing Thomas last until the All-Star break.
There are several teams who will try to pick up Allen Iverson in a trade in the next day or two. The Sixers have said that they are in talks with a lot of teams, but that not all of them include their veteran shooting guard. Still, don’t be surprised when Iverson is traded this summer.
David Stern and the NBA have a surprise prepared for the fans of the league. On NBA.com, it was announced, “On June 28, … David Stern will introduce the NBA’s newest employees, as he announces the Class of 2006. Before that, however, he will unveil the contents of the black box … — sure to change the way you see the game. Check back Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. ET to see what’s in the black box.”
Check the CenterCourt Hoops blog tomorrow morning, and will have news of the ‘mysterious black box’ along with whatever discussion is needed.
June 26, 2006 at 7:17 am · Filed under NBA, NCAA
By the time you read this, the next version of our Mock Draft will be up online. While you’re looking at my picks for this week’s draft, please take 15 seconds and join our forums! Feel free to leave your own feedback or comments, or post your own mock draft.
Our friends over at DraftExpress say they have been told by numerous sources that there will be a trade between the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets, where Atlanta will draft Brandon Roy for the Rockets if he is still available and the Rockets will draft Shelden Williams (who received a promise by the Hawks) and also throw in Luther Head.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the Minnesota Timberwolves may also be working on a deal with the Denver Nuggets that would join Kenyon Martin with Kevin Garnett. The Nuggets would receive Marko Jaric, and another player to match the salaries.
Both Carlos Boozer and Allen Iverson have been rumored to be traded from their current teams for a while now, there’s a rumor which would give both players new homes. While you won’t see Iverson in a Utah Jazz jersey anytime soon, there could be a trade where Iverson is sent to the Boston Celtics, Carlos Boozer goes to the Philadelphia 76ers, and Wally Szcerbiak would go over to the Jazz.
The Seattle Sonics may trade Rashard Lewis and pick #10 for the Suns‘ Shawn Marion and one of their first-round draft picks. There would be multiple other players also involved, to make the trade work out.
The Toronto Raptors are willing to take Jamal Magloire from the Milwaukee Bucks for Charlie Villanueva, who has been expendable now that the team will draft either LaMarcus Aldridge or Andrea Bargnani. The Raptors also want to get T.J. Ford, which may be too high of a price.
Coaches are trying to add another round to the NCAA’s March Madness. At an upcoming conference, head coaches and team representatives will try to get the field of teams expanded to 128, increasing the chances there will be a George Mason-type team every year.
Next entries »
