This summer, the Brooklyn Nets transformed themselves from pretenders to contenders. However, the transformation came at a steep price. Owner Mikhail Prokhorov has the NBA’s only nine-figure team payroll, which translates to an $87 million luxury tax bill. (He can afford it. He is the NBA’s George Steinbrenner). Nets GM Billy King also mortgaged the future by trading first-round draft picks in 2014, 2016 and 2018 with the right to swap first-round picks in 2017 as part of a trade with Boston
Not everyone in the NBA shares all their thoughts about important or relevant matters going on around the league, but it appears some – at the very least – are aware of them. Earlier in the past week, Shabazz Muhammad was sent home from the NBA rookie transition program for having a female in his bedroom – a violation of the rules. Other than Matt Barnes, not many had much to say about the rookie’s lapse in judgment. Brooklyn Nets point
Like three to make two, the 10-second violation and low-top sneakers, the $30 million NBA player may become a thing of the past. A handful of stars have approached and even crossed the magical monetary mountaintop, which is something when you consider that the collective bargaining agreement has a maximum salary restraint. Michael Jordan – who else? – was the first player to make $30 million in one season, negotiating about an 800 percent raise after the 1995-96 season. That was Jordan’s
BROOKLYN — Two significant things about today’s Brooklyn Nets news conference — what was said, and what wasn’t said. First, the latter: The word “Knicks” was not mentioned one single time. It would have been like being at a wine-tasting, and uttering the word “Thunderbird.” No bigger sign of disrespect than treating an adversary as though it does not exist. Because in the new world of the Nets, the only other team that merits mention, the only other team that is in
After two full weeks of NBA free agency, the big names and big dollars continue to dwindle. Just ask SheridanHoops’ Mighty Moke — his free agent rankings have atrophied from 50 to 25, and have just turned to 24 as the Mavericks have come to terms with No. 2 on Moke’s list, Monta Ellis. According to ESPN Dallas: Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said in an email Saturday that Ellis has agreed to a three-year deal worth at least $25 million, according to
After a practice at the Team USA training camp in Las Vegas before the 2008 Olympics, Jason Kidd sat in the first row of the bleachers and talked about Chris Paul and Deron Williams, who were sitting on the opposite side of the court. At age 35, Kidd knew he would get limited playing time in the Olympics because of Paul (23 at the time) and Williams (24), who were extraordinarily talented although each still had much to learn. Kidd played the
It might seem like a decade ago, but it happened. Jeff Teague, a seldom used second-year point guard at the time, outplayed Derrick Rose for the first few games during the second round of the 2010-11 Eastern Conference playoffs: [Read more…]
Remember when we all speculated a few seasons ago that the reason for Jerry Sloan’s sudden urge to quit as the long-time head coach of the Utah Jazz was tied to the behavior of Deron Williams? Williams will deny to this day that he was the reason Sloan decided to abruptly hang it up back in the 2010-2011 season. There were never official reports or claims explaining why blame would fall on the shoulders of the former Jazz point guard. Jazz