NBA news changes every day, but the Spin format is consistent. If one item has a huge fantasy impact, it leads. Then we look at the previous night’s games for anything (positive or negative) that might help you prepare for a draft or manage your team. Next is a preview of tonight’s NBA games, in a speculative mode, pointing out what to watch for. That segment becomes even more important when the games count; it will include a few tips. Finally, we mention
At some point, we’d like to – and eventually will – have a headline that isn’t focused on the drama surrounding Dwight Howard or Jeremy Lin. That some point will not be today, however, as the two once again dominated the story lines. Lin’s situation, in particular, was discussed by a countless number of writers, as you will see below, along with other relevant news of the day: J.R. Smith had some things to say about Jeremy Lin’s situation, from Sam
We told you restricted free agency is tricky. Well, it’s so tricky that the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves decided not to participate in it. This week, the Grizzlies decided against making a $7.4 million qualifying offer to guard O.J. Mayo while making cheaper QO’s to forwards Marreese Speights and Darrell Arthur. The Timberwolves made the same decision on their $8.2 million qualifying offer to Michael Beasley. Those decisions make Mayo and Beasley unrestricted free agents – and remove them from our
Yesterday, we ran down the top 20 unrestricted free agents. Today, we look at the top 10 restricted free agents, which is a little trickier. By and large, restricted free agents are all on their rookie contract, which provides guaranteed money that can establish the starting point for negotiations. And that’s where it gets tricky. JaVale McGee made $2.46 million this season and has a qualifying offer for $3.49 million next season. Both figures are well below what starting centers receive. But how
BEIJING — The championship that eluded Stephon Marbury in the United States did not elude him in China. After scoring 41 points with seven assists, Marbury was in tears yet again Friday night with the outcome of the game still in doubt. How many times did he cry this season? How many tears had been shed? Even Marbury couldn’t give an accurate count. When he cried for first time Friday night, Game 5 of the CBA Finals was still going on, but Marbury
BEIJING — After his tears had dried up, Stephon Marbury was the star of Game 1 of the Chinese Basketball Association finals. Marbury scored a game-high 36 points with five assists, five rebounds and one altercation as the Beijing Ducks went 1-0 up in their best-of-seven CBA finals against the defending champions Guangdong Southern Tigers with a 108-101 victory Wednesday night. Prior to the series, when the Ducks qualified to play the defending champions (who now have Aaron Brooks in their arsenal), the 35-year-old
BEIJING — When the NBA’s nuclear winter ended, Wilson Chandler was sitting in his bed, playing video games by himself. He opened his Twitter account and saw someone tweeting “the lockout ended!” But he didn’t believe it at first, “because there were rumors every day about it, I thought it just another one.” A phone call from his agent Chris Luchey came in later, Luchey told Chandler, “This time it’s true, the lockout ended. The NBA season will begin on Christmas day.” Chandler
By Chris Bernucca We all remember last year’s free agency extravapalooza – LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh heating up South Beach, Amar’e Stoudemire making the Knicks relevant, Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce making career commitments to their teams and Joe Johnson landing the biggest contract of them all. Next year could be a quality sequel, with a star-studded cast that includes Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Ray Allen, Jason Terry, possibly Jameer Nelson and Gerald Wallace, and oldies but goodies Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Steve