The “Rocky Mountain News” reported Monday that veteran free agent point Anthony Carter will most likely accept a one year deal that has been offered to him from the Denver Nuggets. The deal reportedly will pay Carter $1.262 million for the season. Carter told reporters that his agent Mark Warkentien informed him that because the Nuggets are over the salary cap, the one year deal will be the most they can offer him. Carter will most likely sign the pact on Wednesday the first day deals can be signed by players.
Michael Beasley has shown me a lot on the court over the last year, now he has shown me something that has impressed me even more. He gets it ! Beasley and the Miami Heat will play their first game of the 2008 NBA Summer League against the Chicago Bulls on Monday. The Bulls of course drafted Derrick Rose with the first pick of last month’s NBA Draft, the Heat took Beasley with the second selection. The NBA in another one of their misguided marketing schemes are trying to market the game as Rose vs. Beasley. But the “Associated Press“ is reporting that the game has nothing to do with Rose against himself. Beasley told reporters “I don’t feel that every time you mention Derrick Rose’s name, you’ve got to mention mine, or vice versa. If people want to, they can. But I’ve got my career to look after. He’s got his. If you want to make it a Mike Beasley and Derrick Rose show, go ahead. But that’s not how it’s going to be”
Michael, I could not agree with you more. Rose is a point guard Beasley is a power forward, if they enjd up guarding each other it means somebody’s defensive assignement broke down. Thank you Mike, for not buying into the hype! You keep your head on straight like it is you will have along and prosperous career in the Association.
The “Boston Globe” reported that the Boston Celtics brought in veteran free agent Darius Miles and that Miles had what is being labeled as an impressive workout. If Miles is healthy and can play for Boston or any other team that would not be good news for the Portland Trail Blazers or their General Manager Kevin Pritchard. Right now Miles salary that is due to him does not count against the Trail Blazers salary cap. D-Miles missed all of last season as he was recovering from surgery on his right knee. The Blazers released him, and as of this moment will not have the salary that is due to him count against Portland’s cap. However if Miles were then to return to any other team within the next two seasons, and play ten games in one season his salary would be back on the Portland ledger. Back in April Pritchard said he was ?optimistic? that the physicians would rule that Miles is physically unable to play, and his NBA career would be over. (Pritchard ?Optimistic? Miles Can No Longer Play.) Frankly the statement made my skin crawl! I would like nothing better than to see Darius play 11 games, just to stick it to Pritchard. Kevin, Karma will get you every time!
If you want to play one day and have a long and successful career in the NBA, learn to shoot the outside shot, especially the trey. Many players in the Association who could not create their own shot to save their life have played many years and made lots of money by being deadly accurate from the outside. And it could even lead to you eventually becoming a NBA General Manager, just ask Steve Kerr! Brent Barry is 36 years old, and just completed his 13th season in the Association. The “San Antonio Express-News” is reporting that Barry has already been contacted by the Lakers, Houston, Phoenix, as well as the team he has played the last few seasons with the San Antonio Spurs about next season. Barry who came into the NBA in 1995 has a career shooting percentage of 46.1% from the field, and 40.7% from outside the arc. Barry has been with San Antonio since 2004.
The “Boston Globe” has reported that free agent small forward Corey Maggette has spoken with Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers about him becoming a member of the NBA Champions. Maggette opted out of the final year of his contract last week with the Los Angeles Clippers making him an unrestricted free agent. The Celtics as well as last year’s Association Champions the San Antonio Spurs are know to have contacted Maggette since July 1.
There are other teams such as Philadelphia, and possibly Golden State who have more money to pay Maggette to play next season. The most that Boston or San Antonio would be able to pay the small forward who just completed his ninth season in the NBA would be the mid-level exception. But unlike teams where he could earn more money, Maggette would have a far better shot at getting a ring with the Spurs or the Celtics. Maggette was excited by being contacted by Boston, he told reporters. He said that he would let the Celtics know his intentions as soon as possible. Maggette said “I don’t want to hold the Celtics up or Danny Ainge. I’m not going to hold them up. I know they are still looking at James Posey. But I’m still weighing my options.” If the Celtics sign Maggette James Posey who is also a free agent would not be retained.
Now the bricks lay on Grand Street
Where the neon madmen climb.
They all fall there so perfectly,
It all seems so well timed.
An’ here I sit so patiently
Waiting to find out what price
You have to pay to get out of
Going through all these things twice.
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again.
Stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again Music & Lyrics Bob Dylan
Earlier this week when Seattle SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett reached an agreement with the city of Seattle, the dollar figure that was bandied about in the media was $75 million. That was what the city settled for to allow the team formerly known as the Sonics to escape their lease with the Key Arena, and head to Oklahoma City for the start of next season.
ESPN NBA reporter Ric Bucher however has discovered that there is another part of the deal that did not get reported on at the time of the deal. The city of Seattle will be owed an additional $30 million if they do not have a new NBA franchise in five years. Bucher believes that the NBA Board of Governors do not want to put another expansion team in the Association. So that would mean a current team would have to move it’s local. Bucher believes that the Memphis Grizzlies could be the team to fill the vacuum. The Grizzlies have already located once in their brief existence, coming from their original home in Vancouver. It is widely believed that team owner Michael Heisley wants to sell the team, and the fan base has not ever really been totally supportive.
Once piece of advice to all concerned if this comes to pass. Change the name, to something new. Do not call them the SuperSonics, because they will always be compared with the original. Get rid of the name Grizzlies also, the team has had it through two different cities without much success. Let it be a fresh start for all involved, and in the end everyone will be much happier.
The “New York Post” is reporting that the New York Knicks have reached a verbal agreement with guard Chris Duhon, on a 2 year deal said to be worth $6.5 million per season. Duhon who has played for the Chicago Bulls since coming into the Association in 2004, will reportedly become the New York starter. The move will most likely mean that controversial guard Stephon Marbury’s days as a Knick have come to an end. Duhon had been in contact with both New York and the Orlando Magic, but reports are that the Magic never made Duhon an offer. The agreement with Duhon will be the first for the new Knicks regime of Team President Donnie Walsh, and head coach Mike D’Antoni.
The “Associated Press” has reported that Chicago Bulls rookie head coach Vinny Del Negro will have tons of experience with him on the bench. The Bulls announced that they are bringing former head coaches Bernie Bickerstaff, Del Harris, and former Minnesota assistant coach Bob Ociepka. Del Negro has no head coaching experince what so ever, so these men will be valuable
