If you take a quick look at the contract extensions given to the 2012 NBA draft class, nothing seems extraordinary. Eight eligible players received extensions. While collusion conspiracy theorists might point out that it’s two less than the 2011 class, it also is one more than the 2010 class and the same number as the 2009 class. As in previous seasons, the top pick got a five-year max deal and at least one other lottery pick also received a max deal of
The silence following Jonas Valanciunas’ contract extension was deafening. When the Toronto Raptors gave a reported $64 million over four years to Valanciunas, there were no proclamations from pundits that the NBA’s financial sky was falling. Owners didn’t start forming plans of collusion. No one drew comparisons to Jim McIlvaine. On the other side, there have been no whispers that Raptors GM Masai Ujiri engineered another steal. Virtually no one has suggested that Valanciunas got fleeced. Agent Leon Rose – who days
Years ago, Tony Wroten was one of the top high school players attending a basketball camp hosted by star point guard Deron Williams. This week, Wroten was guarding Deron Williams. “It’s crazy because, I remember when I was younger, I went to his camp and he told me pointers, and now I’m in the league going against him,” Wroten told Sheridan Hoops. As crazy as it may have sounded years ago, it seemed just as crazy months ago, when Wroten couldn’t get off
Last season, our Rookie Rankings were a Who’s Who. This season, it’s more like a Who’s That? Just two weeks into the season, we are startled by the number of lower picks who have played their way into the rankings – or, more accurately, the number of high picks on the outside looking in. Just to make sure our imagination wasn’t playing tricks on us, we went back to the second week of the 2012-13 rankings to see the breakdown of low picks
Tuesday the two-time defending NBA champions added two young players to their numbers. The team announced the official signings of both Eric Griffin and Justin Hamilton. [Read more…]
Word is that some members of the 2012 NBA Champion Miami Heat are still a bit hung over—literally—after defeating the Oklahoma City for the NBA’s crown just one week ago today. The Heat selected Arnett Moultrie, a 6’11” Power Forward from Mississippi State with their 27th overall pick in the draft, but they traded his rights to the Philadelphia 76ers for the 45th overall pick, Justin Hamilton, and a future first round pick. Moultrie is a long, athletic big that could probably
Draftniks, rejoice! Yesterday we posted Adam Zagoria’s Top 5 picks at each position. In the next 10 days, we will be posting Tommy Dee’s sleeper picks and his list of the 10 Worst Draft picks of the past 10 years. You want top-notch draft preview coverage? We’ve got it for you. And if you are new to the site, or if you missed these posts, check out A.J. Mitnick’s column on the Top International Early-Entry Prospects, along with Dee’s Top 10 early-entry American
16. Houston Rockets – Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina The Rockets struggles to replace Yao Ming have been well documented. Having swung for the fences with their previous pick, Houston can play it safe and take Zeller. The 7-footer moves well for his size and has good hands and is efficient in the post but lacks the high-end upside to be an elite starter at his position. 17. Dallas Mavericks – Terrence Ross, SG, Washington The Mavericks need to infuse youthful talent on