Daily Basketball
NBA and NCAA blogging on an occasionally daily basis
Archive for September, 2006
September 29, 2006 at 4:58 pm · Filed under NBA
Bonzi Wells has signed a contract to play for the Houston Rockets. After turning down a contract the re-sign with the Sacramento Kings, the two-year deal is worth $5 million and that’s more than what Latrell Sprewell has been offered to feed his family. Of course, this signing starts to downplay the trade of Rudy Gay and Stromile Swift for Shane Battier.
The New York Knicks have found themselves back in the news through a couple stories: Larry Brown is trying to convince the courts he is owed $40 million for failing to re-build the team, the team has hired Glen Grunwald, and released Maurice Taylor.
Teams are no longer pushing for a sign-and-trade to acquire Melvin Ely. The Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns have shown interest over the summer, but nothing seems imminent.
The Denver Nuggets announced two signings. Dermarr Johnson has decided to re-sign with the team. The deal is for more than the minimum but the terms of the deal were not announced. The Nuggets also signed Anthony Carter.
Kirk Hinrich needs to make decision on to whether sign an contract extension with the Chicago Bulls for either five or six years. The team wants to keep their point guard, and the big issue is whether Hinrich should wait one season to be eligible to sign a longer, more lucrative extension.
For the sake of Los Angeles Lakers‘ chemistry, head coach Phil Jackson will have hip replacement surgery on the same day the team opens training camp. A team spokesperson said the the winningest coach in NBA playoff history hoped to heal the hip through physical therapy (and zen?) but it sounds like the team will be without their coach for the beginning of training camp.
The Philadelphia Sixers had an easy choice to make by picking up the contract option on Andre Iguodala. The team’s second AI will at least be with the team for another season after the upcoming one.
September 27, 2006 at 8:00 pm · Filed under NBA
Dirk Nowitzki has signed an extension with the Dallas Mavericks which will keep him with the team through the 2010-11 season. Nowitzki will be 33 years when the deal ends and the extension is probably worth about $60 million for the three years added on after his other option is exercised.
The New Jersey Nets aren’t worried that Vince Carter hasn’t rushed to begin negotiations for a contract extension. After the upcoming season, Carter will have the option whether or not to stay with the team for another season.
Former Knicks‘ coach Larry Brown is trying to squeeze all of the money he can out of his former team. Brown is not only asking for the money which was left in the deal, but also almost $13 million in damages and court fees.
Dwight Howard turned some heads after saying that his team could contend for the NBA championship this season. Howard said the following, “I think our team has the chance to go all the way. We got all the tools.”
The Toronto Raptors front office has been keeping busy. The team is reporting a surge in ticket sales, both single-game and season tickets. The surge comes from the Raptors “earning” the #1 overall pick and improving their team overall. Meanwhile, veteran Darrick Martin signed a contract with the team for the bare minimum. Head coach Sam Mitchell will need to have an impressive season this year, because the end of his contract is coming up and the team has gotten minimal results.
Marquis Daniels isn’t expected to immediately contribute to the Indiana Pacers because of his toenail injury. The nail causing problems was removed, and Daniels has participated in a minimum of the workouts.
Amare Stoudemire is almost back to full health. The MRI showed no structural damage and reports are that is playing pain-free. It doesn’t seem like it’s been a fifteen months since he was leading the Phoenix Suns against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA playoffs…
September 26, 2006 at 2:09 pm · Filed under NBA
With the first NBA preseason games just a couple weeks away, teams are preparing for training camp. The Seattle Sonics have plans to sign Milt Palacio and will give Kareem Rush a spot in training camp. Doug Christie has been working out with the team, but team officials say he will not be on the training camp roster.
Jay Williams, the top-3 draft pick of 2002, has been invited to the New Jersey Nets‘ training camp. Williams has worked out with several teams trying to find a roster spot after he was forced to leave the Chicago Bulls after a motorcycle accident.
The Orlando Magic are hoping to earn a spot in the playoffs this year, led by up-and-coming star Dwight Howard. Coach Brian Hill said, “This group of guys will be playing with the pressure of expectations…That’s part of the growth process that a team goes through.”
After playing the point for a Team USA that earned a disappointing bronze medal in the world, the New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets won’t rush their future Isiah Thomas in Chris Paul. The team plans to keep Paul’s minutes down, but because the team didn’t make the playoffs they won’t have to be nearly as concerned as the Miami Heat should be with Dwyane Wade.
Yesterday, EA Sports released NBA Live 07. Denying rumors of a Sports Illustrated-like jinx, Dwyane Wade earned his first (of many to come) NBA championship and was also on the cover of the game last year. This year’s coverman is the oft-injured Tracy McGrady. Don’t hold your breath for the Houston Rockets to bring home the trophy in ‘07.
The Los Angeles Lakers signed one player you won’t see on the cover of NBA Live. Devin Green played in 27 games for the team and no terms were released to the media.
September 22, 2006 at 3:46 pm · Filed under NBA
Dajuan Wagner, the #6 pick in the 2002 draft, has signed a two-year contract to play for the Golden State Warriors. After being plagued with injuries during his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Warriors head coach Don Nelson is hoping that Wagner will be able to add another scorer to the team.
The New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets are requesting to play in Oklahoma for another season after 2006-2007. The team is constantly being linked to rumors that the team will stay in Oklahoma City permanently, and if the team gets the option to stay another year things will look even more grim in New Orleans.
The Washington Wizards appear to have made their decision on Oleksiy Pecherov. Pecherov will spend at least another season overseas, where he will continue to play for a Ukranian team.
Shane Battier signed an endorsement deal with the shoe provider PEAK, a company in teammate Yao Ming’s homecountry China. Asian clothing company have been signing the sidekicks to the NBA’s stars, including Damon Jones — who has played next to both LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal over the past two seasons.
The Sacramento Kings received a $2 million donation for the team to buy a new arena. The team has been struggling to receive support, but there are no immediate plans to relocate.
Bonzi Wells may likely decide by the end of next week where he’ll play next season. Wells has met with several teams, but the most likely options are the Nuggets, Heat, or Bobcats.
September 21, 2006 at 2:51 pm · Filed under NBA, Other
Los Angeles Lakers‘ fans were happy to hear that superstar Kobe Bryant is quickly strengthening his right knee that had required arthroscopic surgery. Bryant hasn’t been able to do much in the way of running yet, but expects to be ready for training camp within the next couple weeks.
Speedy Claxton fractured a bone in his hand while working out. The injury will keep Claxton off the court for the next five or six weeks. The Atlanta Hawks‘ GM Billy Knight expects a ” quick and full recovery”.
Bonzi Wells met with the Charlotte Bobcats to discuss possibly signing with the team. After an impressive playoff run against the Spurs, this offseason hasn’t been quite as lucrative as Wells hoped for. Wells and his agent also met with the Miami Heat, and there is a good chance he could sign with the defending champions.
Grant Hill is ready to make an another attempt at playing for the Orlando Magic. “I feel great now, and I want to stay healthy for an entire season.” Hill spent much of the summer in rehab.
For the first time in Duke Basketball’s history, there will be sophomore team captains. Sophomores Greg Paulus and Josh McRoberts were both named captains of the team, along with DeMarcus Nelson.
Though the NFL season has already begun, you still have the chance to join in on the Daily Basketball Fantasy Football league.
September 20, 2006 at 6:18 am · Filed under NBA, NCAA
Bonzi Wells recently talked to the Houston Rockets about play for the team. Meanwhile, the Charlotte Bobcats would also like to bring Wells in for a visit. Other teams Wells is considering are the Nuggets and Heat.
Shawn Kemp didn’t show up at his tryout for the Chicago Bulls. Kemp, 36, also missed a workout for the Dallas Mavericks. Kemp hasn’t played in the NBA since 2003.
The Portland Trailblazers and Charlotte Bobcats are desperate to improve. After the Blazers earned the worst record in the league last year, many members of the team decided to show up and have a pre-training camp workout. Meanwhile, Raymond Felton is predicting a playoff spot will be earned by the Bobcats this season.
The Toronto Raptors will wear a new variation of their jersey this season. The team decided to get rid of the purple on their uniforms. The home jersey will now be white with red trim and the away will be dominantly red.
Rick Carlisle is going to have the option to sign a contract extension as head coach of the Indiana Pacers. After having a mediocre season with a .500 record, the team wasn’t sure if they’d bring back the former Coach of the Year.
Marquette University is going to give Tom Crean a contract extension until 2016-2017. Crean will be entering into his seventh season with the team.
True Hoop reported that Andy Katz wrote an article for ESPN about Sonny Vaccaro and his plans for a basketball academy, where players would finish classes and afterward be on the court receiving basketball instruction. “I understand there will be players [who] don’t want to come, and that’s fine,” Vaccaro said. “But it will build up its reputation as a place to go. This will be like an arts and sciences type of place.”
Next entries »
