Nowitzki stays a Mav…Dirk Diggler was already was signed for the upcoming season and had a $16 million-plus option for 2007-08 under the maximum contract he signed in 2001, but he signed a new deal that guarantees that season, plus tacks on three more….He'll turn 33 the summer his new contract expires. Terms of the deal were not released, but with basic raises the extension is likely worth around $60 million.
Speaking of contracts, erarlier this month, the New York Islanders inked Rick DiPietro to a 15-year contract, the longest in NHL history. The 25-year-old goalie will rake in $67.5 million over the course of the deal…am I the only one who thinks this is nuts? This may be the most un-tradable contract in sports history…
Former University of Iowa basketball star and “could-have-been” NBA 1st round pick Pierre Pierce is a free man., who spent the past 11 months in the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility after he was convicted last fall of assaulting and terrorizing his girlfriend, was released Sunday. Pierce will remain on probation for four years and a month, said Fred Scaletta, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Corrections…expect to see him on an NBA roster soon…
You have to play this…it’s so fun…http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/quiz?event_id=2461&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos2
1) Mike Kahn of Foxsports.com with his 10 things:
10 things we learned this week
Incredibly enough, training for the 2006-07 NBA season begins next week, with the regular season commencing just four weeks later. And yet, even with everything about to coagulate for the 30 teams, there are still many issues to be resolved, some major; some minor; and they keep manifesting in a variety of forms on a weekly basis.
1. Item: Following a summer of getting twisted in the wind, things are getting serious for free agent shooting guard Bonzi Wells. Actually, things are always serious when it comes to Wells, which has always been a part of the problem. What this really means: Every year somebody badly miscalculates their value on the free agent market and certainly Wells was this year's poster child — turning down the five-year, $36 million contract to stay with the Kings. But that's in the rear-view mirror now. The Rockets have shown extreme interest, as have the Nuggets and the Heat and the Bobcats have the most money of all. Maybe there will be a sign-and-trade involved for him to get money more to his liking, or in the case of the Rockets, maybe he'll take a one-year deal to prove himself — then get a multi-year deal next season. The real question is how much will a team trust him? Why would the Bobcats, a young and rapidly improving team, spend long-term money on a 30-year-old shooting guard with a mercurial personality on and off the floor? Yes, they need scoring and he'll be happy to oblige, but they're much better off sticking with young players more likely to stay on the same page — not with a veteran leader writing his own book on a daily basis. Wells will only work well at this point of his career on a veteran team with superstars to keep him in line like Miami and Houston. Or maybe he'd just rather go to the Nuggets where he knows management (general manager Mark Warkentien) and they like him. Regardless of where he lands this season, his future is all over the map — literally and figuratively.
2. Item: After two years of turmoil and constant disappointment, the Indiana Pacers are back on track and it's only fitting that coach Rick Carlisle get a contract extension as opposed to beginning 2006-07 as a lame duck. What this really means: The Pacers are still working to regain the stability they lost with two insane seasons of the Ron Artest saga and Peja Stojakovic surprisingly bolting without warning as a free agent. But Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley are claiming to be healthy for a change, Stephen Jackson is always capable of big-time plays at both ends of the floor, they finally re-acquired Al Harrington after much hand-wringing and they're excited about young Danny Granger and rookie Shawne Williams. All of this bodes well for Carlisle and the future. People forget what a great job he did turning around the Pistons, and then after a personality clash joined the Pacers and his former teammate Larry Bird. Only injuries prevented them from upending the Pistons in 2004. Now they've been through the wringer of the nightmare brawl at Auburn Hills, incessant injuries, internal turmoil and inevitable disappointment, but they've awakened as a certain contender at some level in the East. Just how far they go could be how flexible Carlisle proves to be with a team built for speed — and for it all to work, everybody has to be willing to bend a little to be taken seriously.
3. Item: Now that his star glitters as bright as ever, LeBron James and his management team have taken off the gloves. What this really means: At 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, everybody has continued to marvel at James' all-around ability on the floor and maturity, particularly after leading the Cavaliers to a near second-round upset of the Pistons last season. But what everyone has always been even more impressed with has been his poise under pressure from the game and media exposure. We haven't known, however, what kind of personality and how he can deal in the public sector as a man of his immense popularity. Since he's only 21, perhaps the decision now is official we're going to get to know him. Last week he was on the "David Letterman Show" shooting 3-pointers with Dave, lunched with billionaire Warren Buffett, and this figures to be only the start. Unlike the carefully coiffed personality Michael Jordan was taught, James is an original — right out of high school. But how he handles this personality-wise and grows intellectually with his fame figures to be every bit as intriguing as what he does on the hardwood.
4. Item: The drama continues for Hornets owner George Shinn and the fans of both Oklahoma City and New Orleans. This past week, he made contentions of loyalty in both cities — making you wonder if perhaps he was interested in splitting the team in half as the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, however dreadful that three-year experiment proved to be. What this really means: In the wake of taking out an option for a third year next season in Oklahoma City to play there, storm clouds appeared again for New Orleans. But realistically, it was only logical should there be stumbling blocks returning to the Big Easy. And while the city is big, there will be nothing easy about a transition back. Shinn deserves credit for aggressively rebuilding the Hornets around Chris Paul with huge financial commitments by trading for Stojakovic and Tyson Chandler. Nobody is comfortable about the long-term prospects of the NBA in New Orleans, if only because the locals had already cooled on the Hornets before Katrina — with little or no corporate involvement. So how can this work long-range? It can't. But for the first time, it seems Shinn is doing things the right way. He's been inoffensive and committed to a good product. Has he really changed that much from a guy that Charlotte kicked out of town and caused the NBA office to cringe every time his name came up? It's doubtful. At least now he understands the ropes. What we don't know is what he will do as the plot thickens over the next few years. It could be they'll stay in Oklahoma City, go to New Orleans, or go to Seattle. Keep in mind the new Sonics ownership group from Oklahoma City could move the Sonics to Oklahoma City. Or maybe a swap of franchises is coming. One of these cities will be left out in the cold, and with Shinn holding most of the cards, that's never a comforting prospect — despite what he's showing today.
5. Item: In many ways, it's a stunning revelation that Grant Hill is 34. Even more amazing is it was six years ago that he agreed to a seven-year, $93 million contract with the Orlando Magic. What this really means: Unfortunately, he's played in only 135 games out of a possible 496 games — and one of the great talents in sports athletically and intellectually has been a portrait of frustration. After six ankle surgeries with a left ankle that now looks and operates like a telephone pole, he tore the abdominal wall last season perhaps as compensation. Now he's back from spending a good portion of his summer in Vancouver, B.C. with a fitness guru claiming he can galvanize any body part into steel. Indeed, this has been an endless climb and the Magic need him. An optimist would say if they can get a full season with moderate minutes out of Hill to lead capable but erratic Hedo Turkoglu, plus young talents Dwight Howard (20), Darko Milicic (21), Jameer Nelson (24) and rookie J.J. Redick, they've got a chance to compete for the playoffs. If it were anyone else, this story would be tiresome already, but not the charismatic and unassuming Hill. Professional sports need guys like him to set the tone on and off the field of play — and maybe youngsters like James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony can learn from the dignity with which carries himself. If nothing else, he deserves one good year to prove this was all worth it.
6. Item: Speedy Claxton, the free agent point guard handed the ball by the Atlanta Hawks to lead them out of the lottery and into the playoffs, broke a bone in his left hand last week and will be out 5-6 weeks. What this really means: Never mind he is 5-11, 165 pounds and a career 42 percent shooter, this is precisely why Claxton hasn't been handed the ball by any other teams until the Hawks signed him to a four-year $25 million deal this summer. Now 28, and entering his sixth season since being drafted in the first round out of Hofstra by the Philadelphia 76ers, Claxton has played in just 219 out of a possible 410 games in his career. It can't be said Claxton isn't talented enough to play more. He just hasn't been able to. He missed his entire rookie year with a knee injury, played in 67 games his second season and hasn't missed less than 20 games ever since. This is not good for a veteran player, let alone a young one whom you want to be the future floor leader of your club. That's not to say Claxton isn't an exceptional guy with floor skills and a great attitude. He just happens to fit into a long line of professional athletes who never do raise their game and team to the next level because they can't stay on the basketball court. Relatively speaking for this season, this is a minor injury to his off hand, and he'll be ready to go about the time the regular season begins. But in the big picture for the Hawks with Claxton as their point guard, the frame is already cracked.
7. Item: As if things haven't been contentious enough between the Maloof family and the city of Sacramento as they struggle to come up with the money for a new downtown arena to appease everybody, president of NBA basketball operations Joel Litvin issued a memorandum imploring the city and the owners to reach an detailed agreement before it hits the voters for a $535 million arena or else ... What this really means: Or else what? Well, we're not sure. Or else it will be a bloody mess like it is in Seattle where the Sonics appear headed to Oklahoma City considering there hasn't been a peep about a new building despite new ownership's willingness to listen. Gavin and Joe Maloof continue to insist they don't want to move the team and by all accounts, they're being truthful — just frustrated. The latest disagreement is over the 8,000 parking spaces that seemed to vanish from the original plan at the railyard in downtown Sacramento. They've contended that money from those parking spaces is paramount for them to sign off on the proposal before the Nov. 7 election. Yes, this is exhaustive and the NBA doesn't help matters, even though new venues have indeed taken the league into the 21st century. But they never guarantee anything. The rabid Kings fans deserve better than this because they were there when the team was awful for more than a decade and never wavered. Leave it to the politicians and the voters to sort this out. Once the NBA gets involved, it only exacerbates issues with ultimatums. It happened in Seattle and it can happen in Sac-town too if they're not careful. And that's not a healthy situation for any league.
8. Item: And speaking of the Sonics, stars Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis grabbed headlines last week when they led the way to help refurbish the impoverished Cleveland High School basketball team's facility and equipment after it was ravaged by burglaries. What this really means: The kids of the inner-city still sorely need these guys to show they care. The sad part is the kids and the parents were preoccupied by the prospect of the Sonics moving after this season than the realization that the players are focused on this season — the 40th in Sonics history. And that's an organizational issue that won't go away since Howard Schultz, Wally Walker and the rest of the ownership not only sold the team to Oklahoma City's Clay Bennett and his five partners, they sold tradition of the Sonics down the river. People forget the Sonics were the first professional sports franchise of the Pacific Northwest and thus have the deepest roots. It's particularly true in the inner-city, where the interaction is needed most. Unfortunately, greed and lack of perspective has cost this city dearly and unless something unexpected occurs over the next six months, random acts of kindness from the likes of Allen and Lewis will become less prevalent. And as always, it's the kids who lose the most while the rich guys just get another tax break.
9. Item: While we're still somewhat in construction mode, let's get into an old character slipping into a new mode ... and we'll call him the "Big Donald." What this really means: None other than Shaquille O'Neal now is dead serious about helping big skyscrapers in downtown Miami far bigger than himself and literally becoming South Florida's biggest real estate mogul. "The O'Neal Group" is becoming involved with a $1 billion project that will feature the tallest building south of New York, a five-star hotel, a Whole Foods Market, a 24-Hour Fitness franchise, office space, condominiums and restaurants. Although O'Neal contends he will always make Orlando his primary home, he intends to make a mark on South Florida far greater than just bringing the Heat their first World Championship. He is one of the great characters of sport, most successful financially, and he realizes the positive impact he can make. Between making money for his family, he can also continue the revitalization of what was a horrendous downtown area into a renaissance trumping the problems of decades. Or, at least that's what this particular Big Donald has in mind.
10. Item: Finally, Dajuan Wagner has landed and we hope this time he's back in the NBA for good. What this really means: The Golden State Warriors signed the 6-1 guard to a guaranteed one-year contract based on what appears to be a spectacular comeback from not only a series of knee and ankle problems, but a frightening surgery during which he had his colon removed. He lost 30 pounds during the ordeal, but reportedly has gained it all back and actually scored 80 points in an organized league game against other NBA players. The all-time leading scorer in New Jersey high school history, he has 100 points in a prep game and had a superb freshman year at Memphis before the Cavaliers drafted him sixth overall in the 2002 draft. He averaged 13.7 his rookie year, but it was all downhill after that. A combo guard, he's a natural scorer — obviously — and could fit very well within the new system brought in by Don Nelson. Wagner figures to be the fourth guard in the backcourt with Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, and second-year combo guard Monta Ellis. Still only 23, it would have been very easy for him to crash and burn along with some of his old buddies in Camden. Instead, he fought his way back and got a contract. He's a natural scorer, and if he can get some quality time for a couple of years playing for Nelson without injury or sickness, Wagner may yet prove he was worthy of being a lottery pick.
2) Marty Burns of SI.com has a burning sensation:
Camp preview: Southeast division - Each team's burning questions as they head to camp
A chill is in the air. The days are getting shorter. The leaves on the trees are starting to change colors. Yes, it's that time of the year again. Autumn has arrived. For NBA players, that means summer vacation is over and it's time to lace up the sneakers and begin the quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. With training camps set to open next Tuesday, it's a good time to consider the major questions facing each of the NBA's 30 teams. In the next six weekdays leading up to camp, we'll take a look at a different division, starting with the Southeast, home to the current NBA champs. (Teams listed in order of last season's finish):
Miami Heat (52-30)
1. Can they avoid complacency? After winning the NBA title in '06, it will be interesting to see if Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, Gary Payton and the rest of Pat Riley's veteran-laden crew leave their golf clubs at home when they show up in South Beach to begin the process of defending their crown.
2. Will Riley ease up? Famous for his grueling training camps, the hard-driving coach might have to alter his approach with so many older bodies. But if he does decide to go slow, he runs the risk of encouraging that laissez-faire attitude that he so despises.
3. What kind of shape will Shaq be in? The big guy has a recent history of coming into camp in less than optimal condition, and after winning the NBA title last summer ... Then again, he played in just 59 games last season and still got the ring, so maybe it doesn't matter.
Washington Wizards (42-40)
1. Is Jarvis Hayes back? The 6-8 swingman says he's healthy and ready to go after sitting out the final 61 games with a fractured kneecap. The Wizards desperately need him to shore up their perimeter depth, especially with Jared Jeffries moving to New York.
2. Is Andray Blatche ready? The 6-11 second-year forward showed flashes of his tremendous shooting and ball-handling skills during summer league, but it's not clear yet if he's ready for prime time. If he can emerge as a legit player and find a niche, he could be an X-factor off the bench.
3. Can the coaches instill a defensive mentality? After losing three games at the buzzer in the playoffs, the Wizards should realize they need to be able to make stops. Coach Eddie Jordan hopes free-agent signee DeShawn Stevenson and new veteran assistant Bill Berry can help bring a defensive edge, starting in training camp.
Orlando Magic (36-46)
1. Is Grant Hill finally healthy? With Stevenson having bolted to the Wizards, Orlando is hoping Hill can fill the role of starting shooting guard alongside Hedo Turkoglu. But Hill played just 21 games last season with a sports hernia, and his history of ankle problems once again make the soon-to-be 34-year-old former All-Star a major question mark.
2. Has Darko Milicic turned the corner? Once regarded as a draft bust in Detroit, the 7-foot former No. 2 overall draft pick showed signs of life after arriving in Orlando in a midseason trade. Playing 20 minutes per game, he averaged 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.07 blocks in 30 games. If he can build on it, the Magic could be one of the NBA's most improved teams in '06-07.
3. Can Dwight Howard dominate? Howard finished second in the NBA in rebounding (12.5 per game) while averaging 15.8 points last season. The third-year forward hopes to use camp to develop a more consistent low-post scoring move while also learning how to better defend centers.
Atlanta Hawks (26-56)
1. How much can Shelden Williams contribute? The Hawks used their fifth overall pick on this 6-9 Duke standout in hopes he could help shore up their paper-thin interior defense. If he can step in and contribute immediately, it would help make up for the loss of Al Harrington.
2. Have the Young Guns improved? Josh Smith averaged 15.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in the last 25 games a year ago. Marvin Williams is coming off an MVP performance at the Rocky Mountain Revue. Josh Childress has been steady. Now they need to build on their improved play and show they're ready to give Joe Johnson the help he needs.
3. Can they find a reliable point guard? The Hawks signed Speedy Claxton to a four-year $25 million deal in hopes he could fill their gaping hole at point guard, but the veteran broke his hand and will likely miss all of training camp. Tyronn Lue is a capable backup, but Claxton's absence could set them back early.
Charlotte Bobcats (26-56)
1. Are Sean May and Emeka Okafor ready? Okafor, the '05 Rookie of the Year, says he's fully recovered from the left ankle injury that kept him out of 56 games a year ago. Ditto for May, who dazzled in summer league play after missing 59 games because of an injured right knee. If they return to form, the Bobcats could boast one of the NBA's best young power forward duos.
2. How good is the 'Stache? Rookie forward Adam Morrison has that cheesy Larry Bird-like mustache, but will he resembles Larry Legend in any other way? The former Gonzaga sharpshooter led the Orlando summer league in scoring (24.6 points), but he'll need to show it against NBA competition.
3. Where's the MASH unit? Last year the Bobcats lost 257 man-games to injury, second-most to Houston. Okafor, May, Gerald Wallace and Brevin Knight all missed significant time, forcing coach Bernie Bickerstaff to use 28 different starting lineups. If they can get through camp healthy, it'll be a success.
Speaking of contracts, erarlier this month, the New York Islanders inked Rick DiPietro to a 15-year contract, the longest in NHL history. The 25-year-old goalie will rake in $67.5 million over the course of the deal…am I the only one who thinks this is nuts? This may be the most un-tradable contract in sports history…
Former University of Iowa basketball star and “could-have-been” NBA 1st round pick Pierre Pierce is a free man., who spent the past 11 months in the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility after he was convicted last fall of assaulting and terrorizing his girlfriend, was released Sunday. Pierce will remain on probation for four years and a month, said Fred Scaletta, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Corrections…expect to see him on an NBA roster soon…
You have to play this…it’s so fun…http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/quiz?event_id=2461&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos2
1) Mike Kahn of Foxsports.com with his 10 things:
10 things we learned this week
Incredibly enough, training for the 2006-07 NBA season begins next week, with the regular season commencing just four weeks later. And yet, even with everything about to coagulate for the 30 teams, there are still many issues to be resolved, some major; some minor; and they keep manifesting in a variety of forms on a weekly basis.
1. Item: Following a summer of getting twisted in the wind, things are getting serious for free agent shooting guard Bonzi Wells. Actually, things are always serious when it comes to Wells, which has always been a part of the problem. What this really means: Every year somebody badly miscalculates their value on the free agent market and certainly Wells was this year's poster child — turning down the five-year, $36 million contract to stay with the Kings. But that's in the rear-view mirror now. The Rockets have shown extreme interest, as have the Nuggets and the Heat and the Bobcats have the most money of all. Maybe there will be a sign-and-trade involved for him to get money more to his liking, or in the case of the Rockets, maybe he'll take a one-year deal to prove himself — then get a multi-year deal next season. The real question is how much will a team trust him? Why would the Bobcats, a young and rapidly improving team, spend long-term money on a 30-year-old shooting guard with a mercurial personality on and off the floor? Yes, they need scoring and he'll be happy to oblige, but they're much better off sticking with young players more likely to stay on the same page — not with a veteran leader writing his own book on a daily basis. Wells will only work well at this point of his career on a veteran team with superstars to keep him in line like Miami and Houston. Or maybe he'd just rather go to the Nuggets where he knows management (general manager Mark Warkentien) and they like him. Regardless of where he lands this season, his future is all over the map — literally and figuratively.
2. Item: After two years of turmoil and constant disappointment, the Indiana Pacers are back on track and it's only fitting that coach Rick Carlisle get a contract extension as opposed to beginning 2006-07 as a lame duck. What this really means: The Pacers are still working to regain the stability they lost with two insane seasons of the Ron Artest saga and Peja Stojakovic surprisingly bolting without warning as a free agent. But Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley are claiming to be healthy for a change, Stephen Jackson is always capable of big-time plays at both ends of the floor, they finally re-acquired Al Harrington after much hand-wringing and they're excited about young Danny Granger and rookie Shawne Williams. All of this bodes well for Carlisle and the future. People forget what a great job he did turning around the Pistons, and then after a personality clash joined the Pacers and his former teammate Larry Bird. Only injuries prevented them from upending the Pistons in 2004. Now they've been through the wringer of the nightmare brawl at Auburn Hills, incessant injuries, internal turmoil and inevitable disappointment, but they've awakened as a certain contender at some level in the East. Just how far they go could be how flexible Carlisle proves to be with a team built for speed — and for it all to work, everybody has to be willing to bend a little to be taken seriously.
3. Item: Now that his star glitters as bright as ever, LeBron James and his management team have taken off the gloves. What this really means: At 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, everybody has continued to marvel at James' all-around ability on the floor and maturity, particularly after leading the Cavaliers to a near second-round upset of the Pistons last season. But what everyone has always been even more impressed with has been his poise under pressure from the game and media exposure. We haven't known, however, what kind of personality and how he can deal in the public sector as a man of his immense popularity. Since he's only 21, perhaps the decision now is official we're going to get to know him. Last week he was on the "David Letterman Show" shooting 3-pointers with Dave, lunched with billionaire Warren Buffett, and this figures to be only the start. Unlike the carefully coiffed personality Michael Jordan was taught, James is an original — right out of high school. But how he handles this personality-wise and grows intellectually with his fame figures to be every bit as intriguing as what he does on the hardwood.
4. Item: The drama continues for Hornets owner George Shinn and the fans of both Oklahoma City and New Orleans. This past week, he made contentions of loyalty in both cities — making you wonder if perhaps he was interested in splitting the team in half as the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, however dreadful that three-year experiment proved to be. What this really means: In the wake of taking out an option for a third year next season in Oklahoma City to play there, storm clouds appeared again for New Orleans. But realistically, it was only logical should there be stumbling blocks returning to the Big Easy. And while the city is big, there will be nothing easy about a transition back. Shinn deserves credit for aggressively rebuilding the Hornets around Chris Paul with huge financial commitments by trading for Stojakovic and Tyson Chandler. Nobody is comfortable about the long-term prospects of the NBA in New Orleans, if only because the locals had already cooled on the Hornets before Katrina — with little or no corporate involvement. So how can this work long-range? It can't. But for the first time, it seems Shinn is doing things the right way. He's been inoffensive and committed to a good product. Has he really changed that much from a guy that Charlotte kicked out of town and caused the NBA office to cringe every time his name came up? It's doubtful. At least now he understands the ropes. What we don't know is what he will do as the plot thickens over the next few years. It could be they'll stay in Oklahoma City, go to New Orleans, or go to Seattle. Keep in mind the new Sonics ownership group from Oklahoma City could move the Sonics to Oklahoma City. Or maybe a swap of franchises is coming. One of these cities will be left out in the cold, and with Shinn holding most of the cards, that's never a comforting prospect — despite what he's showing today.
5. Item: In many ways, it's a stunning revelation that Grant Hill is 34. Even more amazing is it was six years ago that he agreed to a seven-year, $93 million contract with the Orlando Magic. What this really means: Unfortunately, he's played in only 135 games out of a possible 496 games — and one of the great talents in sports athletically and intellectually has been a portrait of frustration. After six ankle surgeries with a left ankle that now looks and operates like a telephone pole, he tore the abdominal wall last season perhaps as compensation. Now he's back from spending a good portion of his summer in Vancouver, B.C. with a fitness guru claiming he can galvanize any body part into steel. Indeed, this has been an endless climb and the Magic need him. An optimist would say if they can get a full season with moderate minutes out of Hill to lead capable but erratic Hedo Turkoglu, plus young talents Dwight Howard (20), Darko Milicic (21), Jameer Nelson (24) and rookie J.J. Redick, they've got a chance to compete for the playoffs. If it were anyone else, this story would be tiresome already, but not the charismatic and unassuming Hill. Professional sports need guys like him to set the tone on and off the field of play — and maybe youngsters like James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony can learn from the dignity with which carries himself. If nothing else, he deserves one good year to prove this was all worth it.
6. Item: Speedy Claxton, the free agent point guard handed the ball by the Atlanta Hawks to lead them out of the lottery and into the playoffs, broke a bone in his left hand last week and will be out 5-6 weeks. What this really means: Never mind he is 5-11, 165 pounds and a career 42 percent shooter, this is precisely why Claxton hasn't been handed the ball by any other teams until the Hawks signed him to a four-year $25 million deal this summer. Now 28, and entering his sixth season since being drafted in the first round out of Hofstra by the Philadelphia 76ers, Claxton has played in just 219 out of a possible 410 games in his career. It can't be said Claxton isn't talented enough to play more. He just hasn't been able to. He missed his entire rookie year with a knee injury, played in 67 games his second season and hasn't missed less than 20 games ever since. This is not good for a veteran player, let alone a young one whom you want to be the future floor leader of your club. That's not to say Claxton isn't an exceptional guy with floor skills and a great attitude. He just happens to fit into a long line of professional athletes who never do raise their game and team to the next level because they can't stay on the basketball court. Relatively speaking for this season, this is a minor injury to his off hand, and he'll be ready to go about the time the regular season begins. But in the big picture for the Hawks with Claxton as their point guard, the frame is already cracked.
7. Item: As if things haven't been contentious enough between the Maloof family and the city of Sacramento as they struggle to come up with the money for a new downtown arena to appease everybody, president of NBA basketball operations Joel Litvin issued a memorandum imploring the city and the owners to reach an detailed agreement before it hits the voters for a $535 million arena or else ... What this really means: Or else what? Well, we're not sure. Or else it will be a bloody mess like it is in Seattle where the Sonics appear headed to Oklahoma City considering there hasn't been a peep about a new building despite new ownership's willingness to listen. Gavin and Joe Maloof continue to insist they don't want to move the team and by all accounts, they're being truthful — just frustrated. The latest disagreement is over the 8,000 parking spaces that seemed to vanish from the original plan at the railyard in downtown Sacramento. They've contended that money from those parking spaces is paramount for them to sign off on the proposal before the Nov. 7 election. Yes, this is exhaustive and the NBA doesn't help matters, even though new venues have indeed taken the league into the 21st century. But they never guarantee anything. The rabid Kings fans deserve better than this because they were there when the team was awful for more than a decade and never wavered. Leave it to the politicians and the voters to sort this out. Once the NBA gets involved, it only exacerbates issues with ultimatums. It happened in Seattle and it can happen in Sac-town too if they're not careful. And that's not a healthy situation for any league.
8. Item: And speaking of the Sonics, stars Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis grabbed headlines last week when they led the way to help refurbish the impoverished Cleveland High School basketball team's facility and equipment after it was ravaged by burglaries. What this really means: The kids of the inner-city still sorely need these guys to show they care. The sad part is the kids and the parents were preoccupied by the prospect of the Sonics moving after this season than the realization that the players are focused on this season — the 40th in Sonics history. And that's an organizational issue that won't go away since Howard Schultz, Wally Walker and the rest of the ownership not only sold the team to Oklahoma City's Clay Bennett and his five partners, they sold tradition of the Sonics down the river. People forget the Sonics were the first professional sports franchise of the Pacific Northwest and thus have the deepest roots. It's particularly true in the inner-city, where the interaction is needed most. Unfortunately, greed and lack of perspective has cost this city dearly and unless something unexpected occurs over the next six months, random acts of kindness from the likes of Allen and Lewis will become less prevalent. And as always, it's the kids who lose the most while the rich guys just get another tax break.
9. Item: While we're still somewhat in construction mode, let's get into an old character slipping into a new mode ... and we'll call him the "Big Donald." What this really means: None other than Shaquille O'Neal now is dead serious about helping big skyscrapers in downtown Miami far bigger than himself and literally becoming South Florida's biggest real estate mogul. "The O'Neal Group" is becoming involved with a $1 billion project that will feature the tallest building south of New York, a five-star hotel, a Whole Foods Market, a 24-Hour Fitness franchise, office space, condominiums and restaurants. Although O'Neal contends he will always make Orlando his primary home, he intends to make a mark on South Florida far greater than just bringing the Heat their first World Championship. He is one of the great characters of sport, most successful financially, and he realizes the positive impact he can make. Between making money for his family, he can also continue the revitalization of what was a horrendous downtown area into a renaissance trumping the problems of decades. Or, at least that's what this particular Big Donald has in mind.
10. Item: Finally, Dajuan Wagner has landed and we hope this time he's back in the NBA for good. What this really means: The Golden State Warriors signed the 6-1 guard to a guaranteed one-year contract based on what appears to be a spectacular comeback from not only a series of knee and ankle problems, but a frightening surgery during which he had his colon removed. He lost 30 pounds during the ordeal, but reportedly has gained it all back and actually scored 80 points in an organized league game against other NBA players. The all-time leading scorer in New Jersey high school history, he has 100 points in a prep game and had a superb freshman year at Memphis before the Cavaliers drafted him sixth overall in the 2002 draft. He averaged 13.7 his rookie year, but it was all downhill after that. A combo guard, he's a natural scorer — obviously — and could fit very well within the new system brought in by Don Nelson. Wagner figures to be the fourth guard in the backcourt with Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, and second-year combo guard Monta Ellis. Still only 23, it would have been very easy for him to crash and burn along with some of his old buddies in Camden. Instead, he fought his way back and got a contract. He's a natural scorer, and if he can get some quality time for a couple of years playing for Nelson without injury or sickness, Wagner may yet prove he was worthy of being a lottery pick.
2) Marty Burns of SI.com has a burning sensation:
Camp preview: Southeast division - Each team's burning questions as they head to camp
A chill is in the air. The days are getting shorter. The leaves on the trees are starting to change colors. Yes, it's that time of the year again. Autumn has arrived. For NBA players, that means summer vacation is over and it's time to lace up the sneakers and begin the quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. With training camps set to open next Tuesday, it's a good time to consider the major questions facing each of the NBA's 30 teams. In the next six weekdays leading up to camp, we'll take a look at a different division, starting with the Southeast, home to the current NBA champs. (Teams listed in order of last season's finish):
Miami Heat (52-30)
1. Can they avoid complacency? After winning the NBA title in '06, it will be interesting to see if Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, Gary Payton and the rest of Pat Riley's veteran-laden crew leave their golf clubs at home when they show up in South Beach to begin the process of defending their crown.
2. Will Riley ease up? Famous for his grueling training camps, the hard-driving coach might have to alter his approach with so many older bodies. But if he does decide to go slow, he runs the risk of encouraging that laissez-faire attitude that he so despises.
3. What kind of shape will Shaq be in? The big guy has a recent history of coming into camp in less than optimal condition, and after winning the NBA title last summer ... Then again, he played in just 59 games last season and still got the ring, so maybe it doesn't matter.
Washington Wizards (42-40)
1. Is Jarvis Hayes back? The 6-8 swingman says he's healthy and ready to go after sitting out the final 61 games with a fractured kneecap. The Wizards desperately need him to shore up their perimeter depth, especially with Jared Jeffries moving to New York.
2. Is Andray Blatche ready? The 6-11 second-year forward showed flashes of his tremendous shooting and ball-handling skills during summer league, but it's not clear yet if he's ready for prime time. If he can emerge as a legit player and find a niche, he could be an X-factor off the bench.
3. Can the coaches instill a defensive mentality? After losing three games at the buzzer in the playoffs, the Wizards should realize they need to be able to make stops. Coach Eddie Jordan hopes free-agent signee DeShawn Stevenson and new veteran assistant Bill Berry can help bring a defensive edge, starting in training camp.
Orlando Magic (36-46)
1. Is Grant Hill finally healthy? With Stevenson having bolted to the Wizards, Orlando is hoping Hill can fill the role of starting shooting guard alongside Hedo Turkoglu. But Hill played just 21 games last season with a sports hernia, and his history of ankle problems once again make the soon-to-be 34-year-old former All-Star a major question mark.
2. Has Darko Milicic turned the corner? Once regarded as a draft bust in Detroit, the 7-foot former No. 2 overall draft pick showed signs of life after arriving in Orlando in a midseason trade. Playing 20 minutes per game, he averaged 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.07 blocks in 30 games. If he can build on it, the Magic could be one of the NBA's most improved teams in '06-07.
3. Can Dwight Howard dominate? Howard finished second in the NBA in rebounding (12.5 per game) while averaging 15.8 points last season. The third-year forward hopes to use camp to develop a more consistent low-post scoring move while also learning how to better defend centers.
Atlanta Hawks (26-56)
1. How much can Shelden Williams contribute? The Hawks used their fifth overall pick on this 6-9 Duke standout in hopes he could help shore up their paper-thin interior defense. If he can step in and contribute immediately, it would help make up for the loss of Al Harrington.
2. Have the Young Guns improved? Josh Smith averaged 15.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in the last 25 games a year ago. Marvin Williams is coming off an MVP performance at the Rocky Mountain Revue. Josh Childress has been steady. Now they need to build on their improved play and show they're ready to give Joe Johnson the help he needs.
3. Can they find a reliable point guard? The Hawks signed Speedy Claxton to a four-year $25 million deal in hopes he could fill their gaping hole at point guard, but the veteran broke his hand and will likely miss all of training camp. Tyronn Lue is a capable backup, but Claxton's absence could set them back early.
Charlotte Bobcats (26-56)
1. Are Sean May and Emeka Okafor ready? Okafor, the '05 Rookie of the Year, says he's fully recovered from the left ankle injury that kept him out of 56 games a year ago. Ditto for May, who dazzled in summer league play after missing 59 games because of an injured right knee. If they return to form, the Bobcats could boast one of the NBA's best young power forward duos.
2. How good is the 'Stache? Rookie forward Adam Morrison has that cheesy Larry Bird-like mustache, but will he resembles Larry Legend in any other way? The former Gonzaga sharpshooter led the Orlando summer league in scoring (24.6 points), but he'll need to show it against NBA competition.
3. Where's the MASH unit? Last year the Bobcats lost 257 man-games to injury, second-most to Houston. Okafor, May, Gerald Wallace and Brevin Knight all missed significant time, forcing coach Bernie Bickerstaff to use 28 different starting lineups. If they can get through camp healthy, it'll be a success.
posted by Cornback at
10:16 a.m.
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