Hakeem Olajuwon has made quite a name for himself as a mentor to players that wish to improve their games in the paint over the past few years. In particular, he worked with Amare Stoudemire over the summer to refine the post moves of the power forward, and the Knicks were evidently impressed with the results because they plan on hiring the legend to teach a few things to all the big men on the team next week. See what Olajuwon had to say about the combination of Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony below, along with other important news from Friday:
Hakeem Olajuwon could work with the Knicks frontcourt next week for several days. Here’s what “The Dream” had to say about Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire’s need to complement each, from Chris Broussard of ESPN: “They both have to realize that the most important thing is not how great you are individually,” Olajuwon said. “You’re remembered for how many games you win. So to get to play with another great offensive player should help you. It should make your job easier. You have to work well together. You can’t be competitors with one another.” While Olajuwon has taught Stoudemire back-to-the-basket post moves, he said the Knicks’ game plan should not be simply to post up Stoudemire while Anthony dominates the perimeter. “It shouldn’t be Amare just staying in the post because he can be a scorer in the paint and outside,” Olajuwon said. “It’s the same thing for Carmelo. He can score in the post and outside. So if Carmelo is in the post, Amare can be at the foul line and he can make that shot. If Amare’s in the post, Carmelo can make the shot from the free-throw line, too. They shouldn’t be competing against each other; they should be complementing each other. They need each other to win.”
Tracy McGrady worked out for the Knicks, according to Ian Begley of ESPN New York: “The Knicks brought in veteran Tracy McGrady for a workout, a team source confirmed. The source said McGrady appeared to be in good health but it doesn’t appear that a signing is imminent. McGrady, who played 24 games for the Knicks in 2009-10, is among several players the team is monitoring as training camp approaches. The Knicks currently have 19 players under contract, 13 of whom are signed to guaranteed deals.”
Upon hearing the McGrady news, J.R. Smith gave his full endorsement on the possible signing, from Tim Bontemps of New York Post: “Count J.R. Smith among those who think Tracy McGrady still has something left to give. “Definitely,” Smith told The Post when asked if McGrady could help the Knicks after Yahoo! Sports reported Thursday McGrady has worked out for the team. “T-Mac has always been an elite player in this league. “We need all the help we can get in every area. … So whenever a big name comes up that can help our team, we’ve got to get him.”
- The Knicks are very interested in acquiring Kenyon Martin, but will he play for the veteran’s minimum? Marc Stein of ESPN has the update:
Free-agent rumble: Knicks continue to rate Kenyon Martin as vet free agent they like best but NYK, to date, haven't sold him on vet minimum
@ESPNSteinLine
Marc Stein
Is Brandon Roy ready to dominate the league again? He appears to believe so, from Ray Richardson of Pioneer Press: “Roy, signed by the Timberwolves as a free agent July 31 after sitting out all of last season, conceded the coaching staff has tried to “hold me back.” Roy, who averaged 19.0 points per game in five seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, is determined to prove he still can play. He has had six surgeries on his knees, but he underwent platelet-rich plasma therapy in 2011 and believes that will resurrect his career. “I want to come in and make an impact right away,” Roy said. “I want to be ready to deliver. A lot of people think I’m going to be limited. I tell them, ‘Go ahead and think that way.’ I’m not cautious about anything. I’m confident everything will go well.”
Chris Bosh is getting used to the idea of playing the center position, according to Justin Verrier of ESPN: “When Chris Bosh joined the Miami Heat in the summer of 2010, he told himself his days of playing center were finished. But after manning the 5 often in the Heat’s run to the title last season, Bosh is willing to reconsider. When Miami opens the 2012-13 season against the Boston Celtics on Oct. 30, Bosh said he expects to be listed as the starting center. “It’s becoming natural to me,” Bosh told ESPN.com on Thursday. “I have a very unique opportunity to do something very special for myself and my team. I think all the time that you have to evolve and get better. This is me evolving as a player.”
O.J. Mayo signed with the Mavericks over the summer, and the team may have Chauncey Billups to thank for it, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas: “O.J. Mayo reached out to Chauncey Billups, one of his favorite players in the league, while researching potential destinations this summer. Billups strongly recommended that Mayo play for Rick Carlisle, who played a significant role in Billups achieving his potential. “He said (Carlisle) is a great coach for me to help expand my game,” Mayo said. Billups, like Mayo now, was a No. 3 overall pick in his mid-20s who hadn’t lived up high-lottery expectations when he signed with the Carlisle-coached Pistons in the summer of 2002.”
Dwyane Wade told Maxim that the fashion contest between the Heat and Thunder was no contest: “During the finals, it seemed like you and LeBron were having a style contest with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook of the Thunder. Who do you think won? It wasn’t even close. We’re way better dressers than they are. I dunno. Even LeBron seemed to think those “Dwayne Wayne” glasses went a bit far. I was holding that in my back pocket for a while. I’ve been called Dwayne Wayne so many times over the years, and we were all going heavy with the glasses, so I thought I would really shut it down.”
- Ivan “The Terrible” Johnson will play for the Hawks for another season, according to Chris Haynes of CSNNW: “Power forward Ivan Johnson has agreed to re-sign with the Atlanta Hawks, CSNNW.com has learned. The undrafted forward who played one season at the University of Oregon before transferring to Cal State-San Bernardino, has accepted the Hawks’ offer of one-year, $962,195. The Hawks extended a qualifying offer to Johnson in early July giving them the right to match an offer sheet signed by Johnson and the Hawks would have had three days to match.”
- Matt Barnes has officially joined the Clippers, according to Ken Berger of CBS Sports:
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Andrew Bynum of the Philadelphia 76ers
Doug Collins is not at all concerned about maturity issues with Andrew Bynum, from Bob Cooney of Daily News: “Q: What is your concern level with the things that have been said about Bynum’s sometimes lack of maturity? DC: I have zero concern. One thing is I never judge a man from a distance. Sometimes people want to pull out one or two things . . . but you could pull out things on all the great players in the NBA. Andrew is an incredibly well-spoken young guy. He’s articulate, he’s bright, he’s smart and he knows the game. I think he’s happy to be home. He just got a place in the suburbs here and said he loves being here on the East Coast. I think he views this as a great opportunity to be viewed as a central figure on a team every single night that’s going to count on him. I think he views this as a step in his career where he really has a chance to show what he’s all about. He’s got a good sense of humor. I feel really good about him.”
Chandler Parsons talked about his already-close relationship with Jeremy Lin, from Jason Friedman of NBA.com: “JCF: Jeremy Lin is a guy you really seemed to connect with right away – I know you both have had crazy summers but have you been able to stay in touch with him at all over the last couple months? CP: Definitely. We’ve been talking back and forth, especially about living arrangements – we’re trying to figure that out right now. We’ve stayed in touch and talked about all sorts of different things – how he’s doing, how I’m doing – and just talking about everything from a team standpoint in terms of how we can get better.”
MarShon Brooks is looking to win the Sixth Man of the Year Award, according to Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York: “For Brooks, that means being the first man off the bench. In fact, his personal goal is to win the Sixth Man Award. Some of his motivation comes from the Thunder’s James Harden, who won the award last season and then helped lead his team to the Finals. “I feel like the sixth man is a much more important role these days. It’s used a lot of different,” Brooks said. “I wouldn’t say there’s anything wrong with the Thunder’s perspective. I think with James Harden coming off the bench, they could run their offense through him — and that’s what I can do. I’m just going to provide that spark for the team in any way possible. I’m going to look to create opportunities for my teammates as well as score the ball.”
Jeff Green is fully ready to go after taking a year off, from Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston: “”Fully recovered, part of the team, cleared for everything,” Green said Friday afternoon… Green knows he’ll be peppered with health questions, but having not played an NBA game in nearly 16 months, it’s clear his focus now is on what lies ahead. Which is why when he’s asked about the toughest hurdle in getting back on the floor, he smiles and declares, “Nothing.” To be certain, there is rust to shake. “Getting in a groove, getting in a rhythm — but it’ll come,” said Green. “We still have two months until the beginning of the regular season. That stuff will come. I’ve really been able to do everything — contact, my movements, my shot is there, my lift is there. Everything is coming along.”
James Harden and Thunder far part on deal
Kendrick Perkins said the Thunder and Harden are getting close on a deal