Dave Joerger thinks Mike Miller is more than just a “hired gun”, from Chris Herrington of Memphis Flyer: “Perhaps most intriguing was the suggestion that this second go-round could last a little while. Joerger emphasized that Miller, in Memphis, would not be seen as merely a “hired gun,” but rather as a more meaningful part of the team and community. But the suggestion went further than that. Miller talked about “being a part of this for a long time to come.” Levien followed up by mentioning a “long relationship in Memphis going forward.” Miller signed a two-year deal with the Grizzlies with a player option in the second season, the idea being that Miller thinks he’s got one more significant contract left in him. Based on the team’s current salary projection, Miller might need to play out both years of his current contract to get a longer-term deal for above the vet minimum in Memphis. This will make next summer interesting. But that’s next summer.”
- Josh Howard is rehabbing and hoping to get back into the league:
Chauncey Billups said the only reason he agreed to play shooting guard in Los Angeles was to make sure he saw playing time. He may also be hoping to start for the Detroit Pistons, from Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports: “I definitely wasn’t disappointed,” Billups said. “I didn’t want to be a two-guard anyway. I did it there because it’s a way for me to get on the floor. You are playing behind the best point guard in the league in Chris. “I never saw myself as a shooting guard. I never wanted to play it.”… Although it would seem like a long shot with Jennings onboard, Billups plans to prove he deserves to be the starting point guard next season. Billups said his Achilles’ tendon, which has been medically cleared by the Pistons, “is fine” and his body feels as good as it has in years. Billups was asked before the Jennings deal if he thought he had could start at point guard for Detroit and said: “I would think that when I’m healthy I give us the best chance to win. I’m not sure. But I believe in me.”
- Check out Kyrie Irving and Nate Robinson going at each other at Nike Pro City:
- Al Harrington explained the “politics” side of basketball that he did not enjoy as a Magic in Orlando, from Sam Amick of USA Today: “Being in that situation in Orlando, you get a real good look at politics and stuff like that, the part of the game that’s not attractive — just the business side of it,” Harrington told USA TODAY Sports recently while training in Las Vegas. “One thing I realized is that it’s not about how much you can play or what you can do on the court anymore. The game has become about (financial) numbers and salaries and stuff like that. “It’s not what you can do anymore. It’s what you can do at that price. And everybody wants a deal, you know what I mean?”
Harrington also talked about the difficulties he suffered as a result of getting staph infection: “I had to use a PICC line (used for intravenous therapy) to give myself medicine twice a day, and stuff like that,” Harrington said of the infection. “It was a tough time. Probably the first week of it was the toughest, just not knowing really how sick you are and at that point you’re not worried about your knee. You’re worried about your life. “I was very scared, just seeing how it broke my body down so fast. I had lost like 30 pounds, had rings around my eyes. I was looking bad.” “It’s been hard work,” Harrington, who gained all of his weight back and more last season, said of his road back. “I started on April 26. That’s the day I got in the gym, and I’ve been in here ever since. I really had no time off, just been grinding and trying to lose the weight. I feel like the lighter I am the more pressure I take off my knee, you know what I mean? So that was the focus behind losing the weight, and then just being strong. “I’ve lost 27 pounds. I’m on my way down. I had to do it, and I’m focused. I’ve got a lot left in the tank.”
Brandon Jennings didn’t share a whole lot but did say he was happy to be traded to the Pistons, from Ryan Wolstat of Toronto Sun: “Brandon Jennings is pleased with his imminent move from Milwaukee to Detroit. The former Bucks point guard was in Toronto on Tuesday, the day word leaked he would be traded from his only NBA home to the Pistons, in exchange for Brandon Knight, Khris Middleton and Viacheslav Kravtsov. Jennings will be sign-and-traded and will ink a three-year, $25 million U.S. contract. The Compton, Cal. native was in town at the behest of good friend and fellow L.A. NBAer Amir Johnson, of the Raptors for the OVO Bounce Tournament at Ryerson’s Kerr Hall. Jennings declined to say much, saying he wants to “stay under the radar for now,” but did admit “I’m happy” about the trade. Jennings was a restricted free agent.”
