SH Blog: Linsanity did not make sense to Carmelo Anthony

Today was a sobering day, as some maniac decided to go on a shooting spree at a theater to hurt and take away unsuspecting innocent lives early Friday morning. Thoughts and condolences go out to the victims and their families.

Here is Friday’s basketball news:

• Boston Celtics have acquired Courtney Lee in a sign and trade deal involving three teams: “The Boston Celtics announced today that they have acquired guard Courtney Lee from the Houston Rockets as part of a sign and trade agreement. In the three team trade also featuring the Portland Trail Blazers, the Houston Rockets have acquired JaJuan Johnson, E’Twaun Moore, Sean Williams and a future second round pick. Portland has acquired guard Sasha Pavlovic, two future second round picks and cash considerations. “We are very excited that we were able to acquire Courtney Lee,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “Courtney brings a vast set of tools on both ends of the court and will be a great fit on our roster.”

• Omer Asik has come to terms with the Houston Rockets, and the offer sheet looks awfully familiar, from Ken Berger:

• Shannon Brown has agreed to re-sign with the Phoenix Suns, from Paul Coro:

• Jordan Hill has agreed to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski:

• The Magic are complicating matters for a possible three-team deal involving Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum and Anderson Varejao, from Sam Amico:

• Howard’s agent refuted reports that his client would sign an extension with any team, from Ric Bucher: “The agent for Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard refuted reports that his client has decided he will sign an extension with the Los Angeles Lakers — if traded to them. “Dwight’s position has remained unchanged since the end of this past season,” said Dan Fegan of LaGardere Unlimited. “He fully intends to explore free agency at the end of next season, regardless of what team trades for him, including Brooklyn.”

• Will the Golden State Warriors make the playoffs in the upcoming season? Matt Steinmetz has the answer: “As long as Dallas has Dirk Nowitzki, I think they’re going to make the playoffs, particularly because I think they did enough to maintain this offseason. So, that leaves two openings and teams such as the Warriors, Denver, Houston, Portland, Utah, Phoenix and Minnesota. Can the Warriors compete with that group? Yes, assuming they’re healthy. And, really, that’s what so much of this comes down to. Can Stephen Curry and Andrew Bogut play full seasons or relatively close to full seasons? That will, in many ways, dictate the Warriors’ season.”

• Kevin Love was apparently not so fond of some of the members on his team from last season, from Brian Murphy. Any guesses on who it could have been?: “If we get everybody back healthy, with Ricky back healthy, if Roy comes in healthy, and if we can get off to a good start, we’re going to be good. But we really have to add as many as pieces as we possibly can, veteran guys,” he said. “There was some bad blood in that locker room we were able to get out of there and smooth things out. That should help us out going forward.” Asked to elaborate, Love responded: “Just what I said. We had bad blood in the locker room. We got that out.” Forwards Michael Beasley and Anthony Randolph, guard Martell Webster and center Darko Milicic were the most notable players Minnesota jettisoned this offseason.”

• Some links for Jeremy Lin related material: Check out Lin training at SPARTA, just as he did last season, and see his full press conference with the Rockets.

• Henry Abbott explained why Carmelo Anthony didn’t appreciate all the attention Lin received: “Into the middle of all that, while Anthony was out with an injury last winter, stepped Jeremy Lin. From Anthony’s point of view, according to sources with firsthand knowledge of his thinking, the Lin phenomenon made little sense. To his thinking, Lin had a few good games, the team surprised everyone with a little winning streak … and then everybody went bananas. Anthony had already gone all-in for the long haul, attempting to paint a multiyear Knicks masterpiece that would make New York proud. He saw himself as the selfless leader, expanding his game, recruiting teammates and creating something that would leave a real imprint on the city. Linsanity didn’t fit the blueprint. For a superstar of Anthony’s caliber, it didn’t make sense that a backup point guard who turned the ball over a lot, didn’t mesh especially well with Melo’s talents, played Hero Ball in crunch time, hit some lucky shots and couldn’t sustain more than a few weeks without injuring himself had become the city’s folk hero.”

• Here’s a video of Anthony congratulating Lin, then turning into the dead guy from “Weekend at Bernie’s“.

• Amare Stoudemire has a lofty goal set for next season, from Roderick Boone: “Amar’e Stoudemire said the only thing that’s going to cut it next season is a title. “Anything less than a championship,” the power forward said on MSG Thursday during Knicks’ Summer League broadcast from Las Vegas, “is a waste of a season.” Stoudemire, looking leaner, said he’s down to 245 pounds and has been training two times a day since May. He said he’s strong, healthy and ready to go, and is thrilled with the trade for Raymond Felton. The two worked well in their short time together before Felton was dealt to Denver as part of the Carmelo Anthony trade.”

• Kendrick Perkins went under the knife for the second time this off-season: “Thunder center Kendrick Perkins has had a second surgical procedure this offseason. The club announced Thursday that Perkins underwent a successful procedure to repair a ligament tear in his left wrist. Perkins suffered the injury in the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. On July 12, the Thunder announced Perkins underwent a successful procedure on his right groin, which he initially injured during Game 4 in the opening round of the playoffs against the defending champion Dallas Mavericks.”

• Jason Kidd apologized for his drunk antics last weekend: “New York Knicks point guard Jason Kidd took to Twitter on Friday to apologize for his recent arrest on a charge of driving while intoxicated. “I regret any disruption my accident last weekend may have caused members of the community and want to thank the local authorities,” Kidd tweeted. He followed up with, “I’d also like to thank my family and friends for their support.” Kidd, 39, was charged with a misdemeanor after a single-car accident in the Hamptons. At around 2 a.m. Sunday, his 2010 Cadillac Escalade struck a telephone pole and went into the woods in Water Mill, a hamlet of the Town of Southampton, N.Y. He was treated for minor injuries at Southampton Hospital.”

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