SH Blog: Wittman already frustrated with Wizards’ D; Ricky Davis returns to the D-League

I’m a diehard Baltimore Orioles fan. Before the last two years, we got about one week of the season to ponder contention before all speculation turned to who would be traded, what for, and when. For several NBA teams, it’s almost that time already.

If you think you know who will be traded, or you want to see who experts think need to do some apartment shopping, check out Evan Abrams’ latest column on the odds of players to get traded.

One thing about the NBA is that trades can and do happen at just about any time. It’s not like the NFL, where in-season trades are basically meaningless, or MLB, where all trades happen in July. So if the Magic get a good offer for Jameer Nelson, he could be on the move even though we’re not even a week into the season.

Also, the Sixers are 3-0. I don’t know what to make of that. Could they still move Evan Turner? Find out in today’s roundup of the latest from all over the NBA:

• The Celtics aren’t going to be a title contender this year, but if they can add a piece or two to their young core, it could be a small success anyway. Tom Layman of the Boston Herald reports on one guy who might be that new piece: “Vitor Faverani will have to serve as that sliver of good feelings in a gloomy locker room after the Celtics’ 105-98 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, where the look on Celtics coach Brad Stevens’ face couldn’t be described as positive. In last night’s home opener at the Garden, Faverani was the most consistent energy guy on the floor and most consistent player with 12 points, 18 rebounds and six blocked shots in just his second NBA game. Kris Humphries never saw the floor. Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk were eased into the rotation, all because of Faverani’s play. The 25-year-old joined Pervis Ellison and Dino Radja as the only Celtics to record a game with 15-plus rebounds and six-plus blocks.”
• Randy Wittman isn’t happy with the Wizards, writes Bullets Forever’s Thomas Pruitt: “Following the loss, head coach Randy Wittman took longer than normal to begin his post-game remarks. He didn’t even attempt to conceal his frustration and anger with the team. “Well, you tell me what you thought the problem was. You watched the game. Commitment to f****** playing defense. It’s what it is,” he said. It’s what it boils down to, all right? It’s a thing our guys haven’t learned and I’ve got to figure out a way.” He would go on to elaborate: “You see it coming out of the locker room. You’ve got to respect the game and your opponent. We came out in the first half and got after it. We created turnovers, held them to 40 percent shooting, and then in the second half, there was absolutely none,” he said. “And I’ve got to figure it out,” he said later. “That’s obviously the first question. I’ve got to figure out how to get these guys to play the right way for 48 minutes, that’s what it boils down to.””
• Dion Waiters is another person having trouble early in the season, according to Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon-Journal: “Dion Waiters, however, is not. Waiters was essentially benched for the second half last night, although he’s back in the starting lineup tonight. Mike Brown didn’t specify what exactly Waiters did he didn’t like, but Brown referenced a number of silly reach-in fouls and Waiters acknowledged he had a couple silly fouls. But he is struggling with his shot, too, and the Cavs received just 2 points out of their starting shooting guard and small forward. When asked if Brown was more unhappy with his offense or defense, Waiters said, “I think it was more the defensive end, but I don’t know why because I feel I was playing hard in the post. Had a couple silly fouls, but other than that I can’t tell you. Only he can.” I asked Waiters how he responds when he gets benched – anger, upset, reflection – but he said he wasn’t sure. “People handle things differently,” he said. “Was I happy I wasn’t out there? I was more upset than anything. But there’s nothing I can do at the end of the day.””

• Andray Blatche has been fined $15,000 for making an obscene gesture during the Nets’ 101-100 win over the Heat on Friday night.

  — Jared Zwerling (@JaredZwerling) November 2, 2013

   

• It’s the worst kept secret in the NBA that Evan Turner isn’t long for the Sixers. Here’s what Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer had to say about it: “The Sixers have until June 30 to make Turner a qualifying offer of $8.7 million. That would make him a restricted free agent and give the Sixers the right to match any deal offered by another team or let him walk. However, it is unlikely that Turner will remain a Sixer past this season, and he could be traded before the season is over. “I really don’t know, to tell you the truth,” Turner said. “Like I mean, you just traded Jrue. Jrue is like a walking legend. You know what I’m saying? Even Wilt Chamberlain got traded, right?” Turner has said that despite the uncertainty, he intends to remain a vocal leader of the Sixers. He and rookie coach Brett Brown have spoken openly about the situation. Brown said he doesn’t think Turner’s perception of not being wanted will cause problems.”

• Thanasis Antetokounmpo picked by Delaware 87ers with ninth overall pick in NBDL draft. Delaware is affiliated with the Philadelphia 76ers.

  — cfgardner (@cf_gardner) November 2, 2013

   

• Mentioned this yesterday, but it’s worth getting back to: Ricky Davis could be back getting buckets in American pro basketball. Via RealGM: “Ricky Davis was drafted in the sixth round of the NBA D-League draft by the Erie BayHawks. Erie is the D-League affiliate of the New York Knicks, who reportedly worked out Davis in the offseason. Davis played 12 seasons in the NBA, his last campaign coming in 2009-10.”

• #Magic PF Tobias Harris is still weeks away from returning. His ankle sprain 2 weeks ago was a severe one. Not even back practicing yet.

  — John Denton (@JohnDenton555) November 2, 2013

   

• I’m not sure how into Serbian politics the SheridanHoops readership is, but here’s a strange story: Darko Milicic supports the far-right Radical party and their leader, Vojislav Seselj, who has been indicted for war crimes. Via InSerbia.com: “Darko Milicic, former NBA basketball player, attended a meeting held by Serbian Radical Party in Novi Sad, where he expressed his support for The Hague indictee Vojislav Seselj. “What hurts me is that we Serbs, in our Serbia, cannot behave as Serbs. That is a problem. The man has been in The Hague for 10 years, and we can’t say his name here in Serbia. Our neighbours, with whom we had issues, welcome their ICTY indictees as heroes, they have billboards,” said Milicic. “Here in Serbia, we mention Seselj and get arrested. A lot of my friends ask me if I believe it was smart to come to the meeting of Radicals. And I said that I have never in my life though about whether something is smart, but I have always done as my heart told me to. From what I have seen on the TV in the trial to Seselj, I can only congratulate Vojislav on his posture and I hope we will soon see him here. Kosovo is Serbia. Cheers!” he added.”

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Dan Malone is in his fourth year as a journalism student at the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and spent this summer as a features intern at the Cape Cod Times. He blogs, edits and learns things on the fly for Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on Twitter.