When you make it to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat, you are an elite team. Period. But that does not mean you are a legitimate championship contending team. And if the Indiana Pacers are going to take that next step, they need to upgrade their backcourt in some way. George Hill and Lance Stephenson are nice players … but that’s the nicest thing you can say about them. When one of the other, or both, had
Some would say the Golden State Warriors are giving up a lot — three players, two unprotected first-round draft picks, and two second round draft picks — in the deal with Utah that created the cap space for them to sign free agent Andre Iguodala. A would agree to a point — yes, they are giving up a lot. A lot of garbage. [Read more…]
As the entire basketball world had their eyes on Dwight Howard with free agency opening, the biggest move of Night One was made by new Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri — the same guy who fleeced the Knicks of half their roster in the Carmelo Anthony trade. Ujuri dumped Andrea Bargnani on the Knicks in exchange for Steve Novak, Marcus Camby, a first-round draft pick in 2016 (which the Nuggets have first dibs on in a pick-swap agreement) and two
My snap judgement on the 2013 NBA draft? David Stern emerged a winner, because the crowd embraced him. The Utah Jazz were big winners, because they got the best point guard in the draft, Trey Burke, and added a Frenchman with a 7-foot-9 wingspan. Biggest losers? The Celtics, maybe — although those three first-round draft picks could become valuable assets if the Nets go into the tank after 2-3 years of trying to win old, which didn’t work for the Knicks. A final
BROOKLYN — You know that scene in the Exorcist where Linda Blair’s head spins completely around? That was what it was like to be at the 2013 NBA draft. David Stern got booed, then cheered heartily. Nerlens Noel sat slumped in his chair as the second, third, fourth and fifth picks were called — and his name was not attached. [Read more…]
WWCD: What will Cleveland Do? Or what Will Chris Do? Chris being Chris Grant, the GM of the Cleveland Cavaliers as they head into the 2013 draft with the No. 1 pick. The Cavs are working the phones trying to trade the pick, but their asking price sems to high. So if they keep the pick, what will they do? We have been saying for 10 days at SheridanHoops that they will select Alex Len of Maryland. Here is an explanation why he
I had the pleasure of going on the air in Charlotte this morning on WFNZ immediately after general manager Rich Cho came on the program. An excerpt of Cho’s interview was played, and wait until you listen to his nervous laughter before saying he is not “shopping” Michael Kidd-Gilchrist but is listening to offers. That, folks, is semantics. “Shopping” is a loaded word. “Listening to offers” is a more soothing statement. I went on to defend the story we posted yesterday about Kidd-Gilchrist,
Victor Oladipo reminds me of Dwyane Wade, which is one of the reasons why I believe the Orlando Magic will take him with the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft Thursday night. Even if Nerlens Noel is available (our draft guru, Joe Kotoch, has Alex Len going No. 1 overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers in his latest Mock), the Magic have no need for Noel because they already have Nikola Vucevic, who may just become the best center in the