NBA RUMOR MILL – Engaging The Middle
The Rumor Mill is updated every week, and covers the latest NBA trade rumors, NBA news and commentary from in and around the National Basketball Association.¿0a¿0a
RUMOR HAS IT
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In this weeks section geared exclusively towards the latest rumors floating around… “Rumor Has It…” ¿0a
Antonio Davis: Despite what amounted to $275,000 in fines, Antonio Davis did report to the New York Knicks, bringing along his family from Chicago – leading many to believe AD would be staying with New York as the Knicks had hoped to convince him to do. Head coach Larry Brown was asked by media in Dallas if Antonio had secured the starting power forward spot, and Larry dodged the question – saying things would work themselves out, hinting that the Knicks had too many players at that position. It continues to be speculated that New York will buyout Davis’s final year and release him, at which point he’d return to Chicago as a free agent. The Knicks continue to deny interest in that scenario, but a well placed Knicks source tells media, if AD were to take a massive discount, a deal could be made.¿0a
Dr. Buss And The Lakers: Dr. Jerry Buss fueled the fires in Southern California this week when he suggested in a radio interview that a “significant” roster move was likely coming. He did not get into details, but the rank and file believes it’s the acquisition of Latrell Sprewell. A Lakers source commented that nothing was pending with the Lakers, and that it would be unlikely that Phil Jackson would green light a trade until after preseason, and warned would Phil actually play a player who did not go through his training camp?¿0a
Trading Theo: The speculation that Theo Ratliff’s days in Portland are numbered, may be somewhat exaggerated – there is truth that Theo’s remaining 3 years and $34 million would gladly be parted with, more over there is not a lot of love for Theo among the ownership and management in Portland. If the right deal were to present itself, Blazers sources say Theo can and would be dealt, and it would be surprising if he was not dealt at the trade deadline. The rumor that had made its way around was Theo to the Knicks for Penny Hardaway’s ending contract – Blazers sources say there would have to be more added to the deal by the Knicks to get any real consideration. The real concern for Blazers fans is will Zach Randolph and Nate McMillan find common ground? He may be the first Blazers traded if he can not find a place in Nate’s rotation, Nate is reportedly unhappy with Zach’s lack of passion.¿0a
Latrell Sprewell: What happened to Spree? Part of it is ego, the other part is chemistry. The common thought is Latrell is a gifted basketball player, but what does he do to your image in the press and with advertisers? Will he push fans and ticket buyers away, and what will he do to your locker room? Latrell is a liked guy by his teammates, but the word is he has a tendency to fracture a locker room, which is why most teams have passed on Spree. There continues to be speculation that Spree will join the Lakers in a sign and trade deal with the Timberwolves. The Wolves say their roster is full and are not interested in a deal with Spree, so unless something has radically changed in Minnesota, Spree may sit this one out until a key injury hits, or finds the right situation to tag along with at the NBA minimum.¿0a
Melo’s MAX Deal?: A report came out of Denver that Calvin Andrew’s said he expects Carmelo Anthony to be a maximum contract player next summer – I’d add, what else is Carmelo’s agent supposed to say? The truth of the matter is Melo will likely get a maximum contract, if he stays healthy. Melo sells tickets and jerseys and gives the Nuggets a very marketable face, and that’s half the battle. Nuggets Coach George Karl sees Melo as a franchise player, but has harped on defense and rebounding with Melo, if he adds those things to his game this year and has finally shaken that Olympic funk – he will be a top 15 player in the NBA and that’s good enough to demand max money.¿0a
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THE D-LEAGUE
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If you ask around, most NBA Player Personnel guys are split on the value of the D-League, most teams are gonna pass on using the D-League this year, despite the press the D-League has gotten this week. The Lakers may send down a player, it may not be Andrew Bynum more like Sasha Vujacic. The Celtics may send down a guard, it does not look like it will be Orien Greene, more likely is Will Bynum. The rank and file in the NBA believes the D-League will have tremendous value for developing younger players – down the road – but the single biggest concern is too many team associations, and lack of a clear playing time formula. One assistant coach commented that he was unsure how the D-League would benefit a NBA player, if he was sent down and did not get minutes. There are currently no guarantees a player sent down would get better coaching or more playing time, and until the D-League expands enough to guarantee minutes and a coaching system, it may damage a player to be sent down. The NBA’s goal is to have 15 D-League teams, with two NBA clubs associated with each team – at that point a NBA team could have influence over how the minor league team is operated, but considering the complex systems NBA coaches operate, the only solution would be for NBA teams to assign an assistant coach to the D-League team and insure their interests are being met – further complicating the D-League process. Expect a handful of players to be the guinea pigs on the D-League this year, but don’t expect a mass exodus to the D-League.
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ENGAGING THE MIDDLE
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Has the Dress Code commentary gotten stupid enough? Racially motivated? Please, that’s about the dumbest comment yet… This has nothing to do with race or culture; it has everything to do with image and business. The NBA has lost “The Middle” and they have to have “The Middle” in order to grow. The NBA’s image is one of “thug ball” – Allen Iverson’s image has transformed the image of the league, at least in the eyes of main stream Middle America. The NBA is trying to get them back, and having guys look the part is simply one aspect of the overall goal of introducing basketball back into “The Middle”. What’s missing for NBA TV ratings, “The Middle”. What’s missing from NBA games? “The Middle”. This has nothing to do with life-style, because how many of you in Corporate America, are permitted to wear a throwback to work? Not many. When closing a multi-million deal, how many CEO’s wear their platinum crosses to the meeting? Not many. What you wear when you go home is your business, but at work there are minimum standards and the NBA is adopting the same philosophy, and the philosophy is about engaging “The Middle”. The NBA does not care what race or cultural background a player hails from, all they care about is ratings, ad dollars and ticket sales, and if it takes putting players in clown suits with frizzy wigs on to make that happen – the NBA will do it. It’s business. The majority of NBA players have dressed in a manner compliant with the NBA mandate for years; it’s the handful of super egos that have forced this policy and those are the ones complaining about it. The NBA is not requiring suits, a sports coat at most. Really a polo shirt, nice jeans, a dress shoe and a jacket is not too much to ask, no matter what your size or income level. The NBA needs “The Middle” back and this will be just one of many changes the NBA makes to improve its image and try to lure back “The Middle”, the ones that left the game with Michael Jordan.
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THE PLAYOFF TEAMS
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With opening day less than 10 days away here are the most likely playoff teams in each conference – keep in mind the top three seeds go to division winners, despite their records. The East has gotten substantially better – Philadelphia, New York and Orlando could all content for the last three spots in the East. Out West – Houston, Memphis and Seattle could easily slide into the bottom of the playoff bracket.
¿0aEASTERN CONFERENCE¿0a
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¿0aWESTERN CONFERENCE¿0a
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SOME SHOTS
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Here are some of the random stories from the week…
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- HOUSTON’s RETIREMENT: You gotta hand it to Isiah Thomas, in choosing to release Jerome Williams during the summer makes a whole lot more sense now that Allan Houston has taken medical retirement. Houston’s decision to go out for medical reasons means insurance will cover 80 percent of his remaining salary, or $32 million over the next two seasons. The Knicks will pay the other $8 million; in addition they will likely avoid luxury tax on Houston’s deal, meaning they got two for one in the luxury tax department, making the total savings roughly $72 million, not a bad days work for Isiah, who as all of sudden looked like a genius nabbing Eddy Curry for castoffs, drafting Channing Frye, David Lee and Nate Robinson (Isiah told Phoenix which player to draft to complete the Kurt Thomas/Quentin Richardson trade)¿0a
- NDUDI EBI: From the taken out of context file – Ndudi Ebi made the news this week when word leaked that the Minnesota Timberwolves were “seeking” an exception to allow them to send Ebi to the NBDL for extended playing time. Ebi responded negatively to media about the situation saying he was a NBA Player, and was not going to the NBDL – Ebi has since changed his tone slightly, saying he’d do what’s best for the team. It appears what really occurred was Kevin McHale contacted Stu Jackson to inquire about the idea, and that’s what had gotten around. The Timberwolves are still trying to decide whether to keep Ebi on the roster or cut his $900,000 roster spot.
- TONY ALLEN: A lot is being made about Tony Allen being arrested in Chicago this week, the short and fat or the story is Tony is not cooperating with Police who are investigating a shooting, Tony was given the chance to avoid the arrest in naming names and giving a full account of the altercation this summer – he choose not to so the Police charged him to prove a point, ultimately Tony will either have to cooperate or go before a judge, and face assault charges. The Celtics are saying they will wait for the legal process to run its course before handing out their own disciplinary action.
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