Make it happen, basketball gods.
From HoopsWorld:
Does anyone believe Erick Dampier is actually going to be in Dallas on opening night? While it sounds nice to say Shawn Marion and Josh Howard could play together on the wings in Dallas . . . and they might just be able to . . . it seems more likely the Mavs continue to shop Erick Dampier. Second, the Detroit Pistons are currently without a center and are shopping guard Richard Hamilton. Rip’s number also matches up with Dampier’s, and again, the Pistons have seen both of their centers sign with other teams over the last few days.
You don’t see that very often: a trade that would clearly help two teams.
Dampier isn’t exactly a force in the middle, but he’s a substantial upgrade over Kwame Brown. Dampier is an offensive buffoon — not including his occasionally preternatural ability to suck in offensive boards — but at least the man can rebound.
Were the Mavericks to hold on to Dampier’s large contrat, Josh Howard would be part of a ridiculously potent (if streaky) 2-4 offensive line-up alongside Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon. And the Howard-Hamilton salaries match.
Rip seems just right for the Mavericks, who are desperate for a consistent outside threat. The fact he’s a 30+ veteran with a fat, long-term contract would seamlessly slot into the Cuban way of doing things, financially.
Posted By: Anton
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Categories: Trade Talk
Tagged: Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Mark Cuban, Rip Hamilton
No doubt you’ve heard about what is sure to be (irritatingly) dubbed Dunkgate.
If you haven’t, a quick catch-up: LeBron James was dunked on by a 19-year old college baller during a scrimmage. Some dude filmed it. LeBron had Nike representatives seize the tape, presumably to destroy it.
Understandably, most basketball fans want to see this now-famous jam. Not necessarily for the content; if you’re protecting the rim, occasionally you’re going to get dunked on, and such an occurrence is hardly earth-shattering. No, the punters want to see it because they’re not allowed to.
Except for the fans in Ohio. They’re a little too sissy to cop footage of their sensitive superstar having a ball stuffed in his face:
From ESPN:
Dear Ohio: you're a pack of babies.
Let us hope the tape never sees the light of day, lest the delicate sensibilities of Ohio natives everywhere be offended.
Posted By: Anton
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Categories: Off The Court
Tagged: Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James, Nike
Stay with me here.
Professional basketball players work hard. Not quite ‘digging in a mine shaft’ hard, but they’re not given their stacks of cash for nothing. Very late nights, constant scrutiny and insult, tough practice sessions, tedious media engagements. Not to mention the thousands of shots put up in practice before making the league, the cumulative months spent on playground courts honing the game.
But for most ballers, there is an overwhelming element of luck involved in their success. For some, it’s almost all luck.
These are the tall and unskilled of the NBA; the players blessed by genetics, their arms long, their legs able to move quickly. They are paid for their length and height, not their jumpshot or court vision. They are paid for their genetic make-up.
They are congratulated financially and socially for having the right parents.
In other words, they have a big cock.
(more…)
Categories: Sport Count Feature
Tagged: Castro Supreme, Chris Mullin, Kobe Bryant, Tyrus Thomas
Perhaps Daryl Morey has been spending too much time at Marcin Gortat’s house.
With Morey looking for tall men to man the middle with Yao Ming potentially facing a career-ending injury, the signing of Ron Artest appears to have been neglected. Artest looks to be leaving Houston for greener pastures, and a shot at a championship.
In an apparent farewell message, Ron thanks the city of Houston.
His brother, Daniel Artest, also seems sure Ron won’t be re-signing with the Rockets, urging him to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers:
Regardless of how much sway Daniel has with Ron, it appears the short-lived Artest era is over in Houston.
Most pundits expected Artest to re-sign with Houston, citing the weak economy and the perception of Artest as a locker room liability as the key factors weakening interest in the defensively talented forward.
Both the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers have their full mid-level exceptions on offer. Other teams with more cap space on offer, like the Grizzlies or Thunder, are not expected to make offers to Artest.
Posted By: Anton
Update: Ron has signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Categories: Signings & Firings
Tagged: Cleveland Cavaliers, Daniel Artest, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma Thunder, Ron Artest
