It finally happened: Dwight Howard is out of Orlando and into L.A., as a Laker. For reactions to the four-team blockbuster, check out James Park’s roundup of NBA players’ reactions as well as those of several NBA writers. Also check out Mark Heisler’s column on what Dwight means to the Lakers and Chris Sheridan’s take on who the winners and losers of the four-team deal are.
Meanwhile, there’s a gold medal game going down in London tomorrow, and, as many predicted, it’s between Spain and the US. The Americans are favored by 19 1/2, but check out Nick Gibson’s column for reasons why it’s certainly not a done deal.
And as always, scroll down for the latest news from all around the basketball world.
- In addition to Howard, a couple other big names changed teams in that four-team deal. First of all, we’ve got Andrew Bynum going from the Lakers to the Sixers, and Yannis Koutropis of HoopsWorld reports that Bynum is looking forward to being the go-to guy in Philadelphia: “In Philly things will run through him. He’ll finally have the opportunity to fully show what he can do and because of that he’s just as excited to be a 76er as they are to have him. ‘He’s totally excited about being back near home,’ Bynum’s agent David Lee said to HOOPSWORLD. ‘He’s excited about the opportunity there and the team there.'” Koutropis also writes that Bynum could extend with the Sixers, something the Magic and Cavaliers were scared he wouldn’t do: “The 76ers were willing to take a chance on Bynum despite the fact that he could leave at the end of the season as an unrestricted free agent without them getting anything in return. Bynum is eligible to sign a three-year $57.1 million extension any time before July 1. If he becomes a free agent, by virtue of having his bird rights, the 76ers could offer him a five-year contract worth $101.9 million. Other teams can only offer him a four years.”
- Meanwhile, Andre Iguodala went from the Sixers to the Nuggets, and he’s a little less thrilled with that proposition than Bynum appears to be, according to Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post: “It was painfully clear (Iguodala) was less than thrilled to have his next career move dictated by the whims of Howard. ‘You take ups and downs in life, period,’ Iguodala said. ‘That’s part of the game.’ Iguodala isn’t asking anybody to feel sorry for him. … the 28-year-old forward will be paid $14.7 million during his first season in Denver, which also could be his last. Iguodala can opt out of his contract in 2013 and seek a spot on one of those super teams that are all the rage. ‘I’m happy to be in the NBA. Happy to still have a job,’ said Iguodala … ‘It’s just a blessing, because only 400 guys get to play in the NBA. And I’m happy to be a player wanted by so many teams.’ His words were pure, 100 percent fake sugar. The smile on his face seemed to be applied by paint. Iguodala is no doubt an ultimate professional. But, I had to know, was he really happy to be joining the Nuggets? ‘I’m happy to play basketball,’ Iguodala replied, dryly. ‘I don’t care if I was playing in Alaska.’ “
- Now that the Howard saga appears to be over, it’s time to check in and see what some of the other teams that were in on Howard think. First, in a piece by Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Hawks GM Danny Ferry says that he wanted to bring Dwight to Atlanta, his hometown, but a deal never materialized: “He approached the Orlando Magic about a trade for Howard in early July but was turned down. He never had the opportunity to share his vision with Howard and try to convince him that the dysfunction that Howard (an Atlanta native) was familiar with was a thing of the past. It never even got as far as being in position to convince Howard to sign an extension. ‘We had discussions with Orlando about Dwight Howard,’ Ferry said. ‘They were apprehensive to trade him within the division.’”
- Second, here’s some quotes from Brooklyn PG Deron Williams, courtesy of Marc Berman at the New York Post: “‘We went down that road,’ the Nets’ franchise player said after Team USA made it to the gold-medal game by trouncing Argentina Friday night. ‘Mentally I wasn’t in the Dwight sweepstakes anymore. It just got kind of old. I’m happy for him. I know he wanted to get out of Orlando. He did that and he’s going to a great franchise and I wish him the best of luck.’ … ‘I think [that’s good],’ Williams said. ‘[General manager] Billy [King] did everything he could to try get a deal done. They didn’t want to deal with us. What can you do?’ “
- In other Nets news, here’s an interview with Billy King conducted by Andrew Goldman of the New York Times. The whole thing is a good read, but the highlight is probably this: “(Goldman:) ‘Do you ever hear from Jay-Z, who is a minority owner?’ (King:) ‘A lot of times he’ll shoot me an e-mail with questions. The first time I got an e-mail from him was pretty cool. Jay-Z sent you an e-mail.’ (Goldman:) ‘What does he typically want to know?’ (King:) ‘How he can help. When Deron Williams was making his decision, he was struggling for a place to live. Jay-Z goes, “Tell him I’ll call him tomorrow and I’ll help.” It’s a lot about being able to relate to being wealthy, being young, being African-American. He can relate to them where maybe I can’t or Mikhail can’t.’ “
- And finally, here’s some Olympic news. Mike Krzyzewski says the gold medal game will be his last as coach of Team USA, writes Tom Withers of the Associated Press: “As the American men’s team prepared to play Spain for the Olympic title, Krzyzewski told The Associated Press that the game will be his final one as national coach, a position he has held for seven years. Krzyzewski had left open the possibility of staying with the team beyond the London Games, but before practice on Saturday said these will be his last Olympics. When asked if he was sure, Krzyzewski didn’t hesitate before again saying, “yes,” this will be his last game.”
- Whoever the American coach is in 2016 in Brazil, it’s looking like they’ll have their pick of NBA players, as a 23-and-under age limit looks unlikely, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com: “FIBA chief Patrick Baumann, secretary general of the sport’s international governing body, said Saturday: ‘My feeling is that we will not be proposing a 23 age limit for the 2016 Olympic Games. The NBA has come up with the idea to go with under 23 and at the same time to promote younger athletes,’ Baumann said. ‘And also to make a (distinction) between the (new) World Cup and the Olympic Games (by making only the World Cup open to NBA players of all ages). From FIBA’s perspective, we understand the perspective from USA Basketball and the NBA,” Baumann continued. “I’m not sure (we) necessarily have the same idea, but we understand the owners’ concerns.'”
- And finally, here’s a piece from Chris Palmer of ESPN the Magazine that talks about Kevin Love and Tyson Chandler, who met when Love, then a sixth-grader, was the ball boy for Chandler’s high school team at a tournament in Portland: “‘I followed Tyson around the whole week,’ says Love. ‘I was this suburban, pudgy white kid thinking one day I could be as good as him.’ Love rebounded daily for Chandler in warmups and practice while studying his moves and squeezing in conversation whenever he could. Chandler signed several autographs for the kid. The pair became chummy, to the point that Love started dishing out smack talk. ‘I’m gonna be in the NBA one day,’ Love told the senior. ‘You’ll want my autograph someday. You’ll see.’ Chandler was amused. ‘He was just this little fat kid,’ he recalls, ‘but he was funny.’ ”