HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

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

LYNCH GETS HIS WISH: At the start of training camp George Lynch made it clear to the Hornets, he did not want to be part of a rebuilding effort and urged/demanded the team trade him or release him – the Hornets did just that, cutting Lynch from the team this week, ironically just as Lynch was cleared to resume practice. The Knicks are one of several teams to have inquired about George in trade, its expected that the Knicks will make a pass at Lynch as a free agent when he clears waivers on Tuesday. The Lakers are also another team mentioned by sources close to Lynch as a desirable destination. Lynch is expected to sign for the NBA minimum. ¿0a

LAKERS MADE THE TRADE: Well, not quite the significant move many had hoped for, but the Lakers did trigger a deal this week sending Jumaine Jones to the Bobcats for a 2nd round draft pick. The move was designed to reduce the roster count, but more importantly a league source say it continues to give the Lakers flexibility to make a mid-season trade, something sources near the Lakers say is more likely than not as the Lakers gear up for a playoff run. Its believed the Lakers will got through November with the roster they have and see how the team comes together, if it’s a rough start, expect the Lakers to make a big move mid-season.¿0a

SPREE STILL UNEMPLOYED: Surely no one is surprised Latrell Sprewell has not landed a job yet – word is his people contacted the Wolves to see if there was a spot for him, or a willingness to facilitate a sign and trade – Sprees camp was rebuffed. One league scout this week mentioned, that Latrell will end up playing this season – its evitable that an injury to a core player will push a GM to signing him – despite his reputation, he is viewed as solid player and a good teammate, he’s just un-coachable says the scout.¿0a

D-MILES TO NY?: There is one thing for sure, and you can take this to the bank, the Blazers will be making a mid-season trade, there are four players who likely will not be Blazers beyond this season – Theo Ratliff leads the class, followed closely by Ruben Patterson and Darius Miles – Zach Randolph has too many years and dollars associated to bring any real value, but the Blazers may have to cut their losses on Zach if he and new head coach Nate McMillan can’t find a common ground. Word from Blazers land is Nate can not believe how unfocused and lazy his players are, Nate has told media that he knows his guys can play, but its everything else that worries him – it’s a young team with bad habits and he’s playing the change the mentality game, and his players are not interested in participating. The word around the league is New York is serious about landing Darius Miles and has offered a number of different packages, seems like its only a matter of time before Portland gets the offer they want.¿0a

MILWAUKEE: You gotta to hand it to the Milwaukee Bucks, they want to win and win now… going from top pick in the draft to arguably number 2 in the Central Division, is a solid off-season’s work. The trade of Desmond Mason, while took Des Mase by surprise was not a stretch, he was overpaid to be a bench player and expendable the day they got him. The addition of Jamal Magloire was a coup for Larry Harris, it cost him nothing he needed, and got him exactly what he was missing. Look for Milwaukee to be a playoff team, and depending on how quickly this team comes together (and stays healthy) they could be very scary for Detroit.¿0a

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THE HEAT AND THE PACERS

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We can talk all day about how good Detroit is, or Milwaukee could be or the new improved Knicks, or the happy and healthy New Jersey Nets – but at the end of the day there are only two teams that matter in the East, and everyone else is gonna have to prove they are better than the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers. The HEAT are the media darlings, they have Shaq and D-Wade, J-Will and Employee #8 – its Pat Riley and Stan Van Gundy and its everything the media drools over… Indiana on the other hand is less glamorous, but more potent – it’s Larry Bird basketball – Jermaine O’Neal is healthy, Ron Artest is nasty, Stephen Jackson is hitting big shots, and Jamal Tinsley is not broken yet – adding a bench that includes Euro sensation Sarunas Jasikevicius, and highly underrated draft pick Danny Granger – the Pacers bring back basically the same core group of guys under the same guidance. While the HEAT will have to learn to play together, the Pacers are already on the same page. The Knicks are a nice looking team. New Jersey could be a dangerous team, Milwaukee and Detroit have the talent to compete, but at the end of the day – when everything is counted and weighed – the Eastern Conference is the Heat and the Pacers and everyone else is playing for third place.¿0a

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THE SEASON OF THE BEN

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Detroit has reason to be concerned, not because of Flip Saunders or the changes he’ll make offensively, but because the anchor for Detroit is looking for a sizable pay raise – Ben Wallace is in the final year of his contract and looks to headline the free agent class of 2006. Detroit got Ben “on the cheap” [$6.5 million] they nabbed him before he was the defensive player of the year, a NBA All-Star and one of the elite big men in the game – this summer – someone is gonna pay him for it. The Pistons obviously have the upper hand as they can max Ben out and keep him, but the problem becomes with all the money paid to Rasheed Wallace, Rip Hamilton and soon to Tayshaun Prince – will the Pistons have the desire to ink a $100 million deal with Ben, knowing full well they will have to pay Chauncey Billups after Ben. The Pistons refuse to engage in that discussion now, but its coming, and whether the Pistons want to admit it or not the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks have eyes and dollars ear marked for Big Ben, and the Pistons are gonna have to deal with the media asking every night if Ben is staying in Detroit. Ben is gonna have to bring the offense out of the closet this season to justify the money he’ll be seeking – look for Big Ben to be huge this season, and even bigger next summer, toting around $100 million dollars.

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THE LOST ART OF READING

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Last week a chart appeared in this space, depicting some playoff projections… while this chart apparently got a lot of attention – based on the flurry of e-mails it generated – one thing it did not get is read… This trend is surfacing more and more, and maybe it’s because of our desire for instant gratification that we have stopped consuming entire concepts, rather opting for those parts that are easily underlined and linked to. To be clear, last weeks chart is simply an opinion – like everything else written in this space it’s done for your amusement and enjoyment – it’s like the penny in the cup mentality – take one of you need it; if you don’t like it. Sorry to have wasted your time. No one is going to agree with everything someone says – its not gonna happen, and honestly it shouldn’t happen. You should disagree with me. I am not the Amazing Creskin, I don’t see the future. So to those of you who sent such eloquent prose last week – relax, my exclusion of the Rockets was not a crime against the Rockets nation – simply an opinion, and more importantly praise for the accomplishments of others.

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SOME SHOTS

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Here are some of the random stories from the week…

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• COACH WARD: As expected the Houston Rockets announced the addition of Charlie Ward to the coaching staff. Charlie was bought out of his player contract with the Rockets in October, and will now be a part of the coaching staff this season.

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• NO LUCK: Dallas center Pavel Podkolzin could miss up to four months after a stress fracture was discovered in his right foot. Pavel has not had much luck with injuries, this latest injury will likely cost him the entire season.

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• PICKING UP THE OPTIONS: Its no surprise the flurry of teams picking up fourth year options on promising young players. This week the Denver Nuggets picked up the 4th year on Carmelo Anthony, and the Bucks picked up the 4th year on TJ Ford. The Pistons and Cavaliers have already announced options on Darko Milicic and LeBron James. The Heat has exercised their 4th year on Dwayne Wade as well.

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