In this edition of the NBA PM: So far so good for DeMar DeRozan…Miami HEAT sign Carlos Arroyo…Mark Cuban makes a point…The suspended list…Legal action on Olympiacos?…HOOPSWORLD chats.
DeRozan Fast Learner: Toronto Raptors head coach Jay Triano really likes what he's seeing from rookie swingman DeMar DeRozan. He's athletic, he hustles, he works on defense, and – perhaps most importantly – you only have to tell him something once. Triano discussed DeRozan's play with Doug Smith of the Toronto Star, using a snapshot from a preseason game as an example.
"We told him (once), the previous possessions that he was stuck in the corner and he either has to get back or go to the glass, he can't just stay there because we had a fast break on us going the other way," said Triano.
"The next time he decides to go to the glass, which he has the option to do, and he gets a slam dunk.
"The kid listens to you and he's a great learner and I think that's what's going to make him a great basketball player."
Here are the key stats for DeRozan in each of the Raptors' first four games:
Game 1: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3-7 shooting
Game 2: 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assists, 2 steals, 4-10 shooting
Game 3: 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3-8 shooting
Game 4: 19 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block, 5-12 shooting, 9-10 free throws
All four of those games have been starts for DeRozan – the first two losses and the second two wins. The Raptors would still like to see him concentrate more on the floor and work on getting on the glass, but so far it looks like the team is very pleased with their lottery pick.
HEAT Sign Arroyo: The Miami HEAT signed free agent point guard Carlos Arroyo to a one-year, veteran's minimum, non-guaranteed contract today. The team hasn't been all that thrilled with their point guard play and wanted not only depth but someone to push second-year guard and incumbent starter Mario Chalmers.
Arroyo has played seven seasons in the NBA, most recently with the Orlando Magic in 2007-08 before choosing to play the 2008-09 season abroad. He has also played for the Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, and Detroit Pistons. At his experience level a minimum contract is worth $1.1 million.
The veteran guard boasts career averages of 7.0 points, 3.3 assists, and 32% shooting from three-point range. His best season came in 2003-04 with the Jazz when he started 71 games, averaging 12.6 points and 5.0 assists. Arroyo was also huge in Puerto Rico's upset of the United States at the World Basketball Championships that prompted the drastic revision of USA Basketball.
"The opportunity kind of came quick," Arroyo told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "Ever since I was in college, I always wanted to be a part of the Heat. I went to school here. My wife's from here."
The HEAT also has Chris Quinn as another point guard under contract and John Lucas. Lucas probably won't survive training camp, but Quinn's contract is guaranteed. For Arroyo to make the team and become part of the rotation he has to share the ball, keep the turnovers to a minimum, and hit open shots when the opportunity arises within the flow of the offense. That last little tidbit is something he has had trouble with in the past.
Cuban Calls Out ESPN: Just for fun I'd like to call your attention to this blog post Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban made on his very popular blog, Blog Maverick.
Cuban absolutely makes a good argument about why the Dallas Morning News has a current edge over ESPN Dallas when it comes to the Mavericks – it's hard to get the stories when you aren't there. However, it should be pointed out ESPN's Marc Stein – one of the most respected names in the hoops media game – is based out of Dallas. Stein isn't tasked with just covering the Mavericks on an everyday basis, while ESPN Dallas claims to cover all things Dallas.
This local idea is a great one if it's done right. Fox Sports really missed the boat on it when they first introduced their regional networks many years ago; they should have created web presences to go along with the regions and followed through on them with great detail, but it didn't work that way. To really be an all-inclusive presence in an area like ESPN's local sites (Chicago and Boston as well) you have to cover all the major sports.
Who thinks ESPN makes sure they get someone at every Dallas game that only covers the Mavs pretty soon? Yep, me too.
By the way, HOOPSWORLD is at almost every Dallas Mavericks game in the form of Bill Ingram – that's our shameless plug of the day.
The Suspended List: With the season starting in just a couple weeks, there are a surprising number of players who won't be in the building on opening night, or longer. If you threw these guys out on the floor you might actually win a couple games, but this is the current Suspended List.
Austin Daye, Detroit – 1 game
Jonas Jerebko, Detroit – 1 game
Carlos Delfino, Milwauke - 1 game
Stephen Jackson, Golden State – 2 games (preseason games)
Jamaal Magloire, Miami – 2 games
Jason Richardson, Phoenix – 2 games
J.R. Smith, Denver – 7 games
Rashard Lewis, Orlando – 10 games
Interesting Read: Alan Hahn of Newsday wrote an interesting piece yesterday about the Greek team Olympiacos and what could potentially happen to them here in the States. They play the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight in Cleveland.
An agent, Tom McLaughlin, has filed a civil suit against the team for apparently not paying some of his clients, and he wants to do whatever he can to get it back.
"This isn't about just this one civil suit," McLaughlin said. "What we're trying to do is get NBA players who have played overseas who have had their contracts breached . . . This has been going on for 40 to 50 years, both men and women players, and nobody has done anything to stop it."
McLaughlin is trying to get about $410k in unpaid monies. Stay tuned.
HOOPSWORLD Chats: Alex Raskin is next on the chat schedule here at HOOPSWORLD Tuesday at 10am Eastern Time. With preseason in full swing I'm sure you have plenty of questions about depth charts, rumors and prognostications. Remember - get your questions in early for the best shot at getting them answered! Alex Kennedy took your questions earlier today – click here for the chat wrap! So did Bill Ingram.
