Last year around this time, we were dissecting the James Harden trade, and mostly slamming the Thunder for being cheap. This year’s dying days of the offseason trade is less exciting: the Suns shipping Marcin Gortat to Washington in exchange for a first-round pick and an expiring contract. Not a bad deal, honestly, for either side. A lot less flashy than the Rockets suddenly becoming relevant thanks to Harden, but Gortat could be the difference between tenth and eighth in the East. And for the Wizards, even the eighth seed would have to be welcome.
On Sheridan Hoops today, we’ve got our preseason prediction spectacular – some people even didn’t pick the Heat! Click through to find out who!
Now, as always, I’ve got the latest NBA news for you right here:
- Marcus Camby’s career could be over, writes Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle: “The Rockets will waive center Marcus Camby on Monday, a person with knowledge of the decision said Sunday. Camby had been unable to come back from a torn plantar fascia tissue which has kept him out throughout the preseason. Camby’s agent, Rick Kaplan, confirmed the decision and said Camby does not intend to retire. According to another person with knowledge of discussions between Camby and the team, Camby will consider remaining with the team to work with the Rockets’ big men. “I wouldn’t be surprised if that happens,” that individual said. “He definitely could stay.””
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Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee has a really good story up on DeMarcus Cousins as a future leader of the Kings: “Sometimes change can be sincere – especially when you don’t even realize you’re changing. Consider Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, for example. “(Cousins) thought I was joking around, but I told him, ‘Man you had a really great attitude this game,’ ” Kings guard Isaiah Thomas said following a rather uneventful performance by Cousins in a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas. “Times you didn’t get the ball, times you got fouled, that’s how you’ve got to be.” Not even a shot to the jaw from Lakers center Chris Kaman could unnerve Cousins. “He was hurt, and usually he’d be back cussing the ref out right there (pointing to the opposite end of the floor) instead of getting back on defense,” Thomas said. “Instead he was like, ‘OK, let me get back on defense.’ ” If it all comes that naturally for Cousins this season, the Kings could be on the right track to respectability – with Cousins as a leader.”-
On extension front, I’m told the notion of Ed Davis & Grizzlies striking a deal before the Thursday deadline is, at the moment. a long shot.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) October 27, 2013
- Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer explains what Sam Hinkie is doing with the Sixers: “There’s a thought that veterans Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, and Thaddeus Young could get traded this season. Turner and Hawes are in the final years of their contracts. The Sixers have until Thursday to offer them extensions. “We are open to anything,” Hinkie said of roster moves. One thing is for sure: The 14 players on the roster after Saturday’s cut won’t be the same 14 players on the team all year. “Look at our players and you look at our contracts alone and realize some of the decisions we are making for now,” Hinkie said, “but that we’ll continue to evaluate people in our pipeline.” “
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One thing that likely slowed Jazz-Hayward extension talks: No way Utah anticipated Pacers’ Paul George to get a $90M deal.
— Steve Luhm (@sluhm) October 27, 2013
Good news for the marquee opening night matchup, from Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com: “Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah says he is “100 percent” ready to play against the Miami Heat in Tuesday’s regular season opener. Noah, who has been battling a groin injury throughout the preseason, said earlier in the week it was possible that he would miss the opener but now appears confident he will be able to play. He went through all of Sunday’s practice without any limitations. “I feel pretty good,” Noah said. “[Practice is] different than a game but I feel good and I’m really excited about Tuesday.” Noah said he really didn’t consider actually sitting out against the Heat. “I think if my groin was still bothering me we’d have to talk about it because I didn’t want it to linger on all season,” he said. “It would have been really tough to sit out a game that I’ve been waiting for all summer. I’ve been training for this game all summer. So it would have been tough but we got to think big picture.””
