There is a ton of money available in NBA free agency next summer, and everyone knows it – especially players in the final year of their contracts. Across all sports, the contract year phenomenon occurs when an athlete performs at his highest level with millions of dollars on the line in a contract season. As a result, players naturally put in extra work in the gym and focus more clearly with their financial future hanging in the balance. Some players use these
Last week at the Las Vegas summer league, a 19-year-old, seven-foot rim protector averaged 17.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. It was not Kristaps Porzingis, but Noah Vonleh, who has somehow become Portland’s summer afterthought in spite of his overwhelming potential. After excelling in Vegas, all Vonleh has to do is try and fill LaMarcus Aldridge’s shoes as the Blazers— who acquired Vonleh and Gerald Henderson from Charlotte in exchange for Nicolas Batum on the night before June’s draft— begin
The NBA Draft was overshadowed today when news broke that LeBron James will be opting out of his contract with the Miami Heat. The four-time MVP had been rumored to be leaning towards opting out, but today his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Management, confirmed that LeBron informed the Heat of his decision. Unlike four years ago, LeBron no longer shares an agency with Chris Bosh or Dwyane Wade. Today LeBron James is his own entity, and having endured a
Before we begin our journey up to the 2013 NBA Draft, I personally believe it is very important to get a brief history lesson when it comes to previous drafts. Here were a few proposition bets prior to last years NBA Draft for a decent brief comparison: Anthony Davis was the unanimous selection to go number one in the draft, which was made obvious by the fact that you had to lay almost $5,000 to win $100. When it came to the
Southwest Division Fantasy Preview Part II For the introduction to this article and our comments on the Mavericks and Grizzlies, see Part I. Houston Rockets Who are these guys? After juggling their roster and contracts in a fruitless bid to make room for Dwight Howard, the Rockets must regroup. They have a completely new look and a wide-open battle for jobs. Fantasy owners who buy low on the right players will be rewarded. Best to Own Kevin Martin would like to forget last season. A combination
Today marks the beginning of NBA free agency, and folks need a primer on which teams will be the biggest players in the open market. It all depends on how far below the salary cap they can get, and we are here to break those numbers down for you. Chris Bernucca has done a great job of ranking the NBA’s top 2012 unrestricted free-agents and the league’s top 2012 restricted free-agents, but in addition to checking out either those pieces, it’d be
The NBA announced Wednesday that the 2012 draft will be held for the second straight year at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. This year’s draft is June 28. By that time, Newark and the Prudential Center no longer will be home to an NBA team. The Prudential Center also hosted last year’s draft. Currently, the building known as “The Rock” is home to the New Jersey Nets. However, the Nets are moving to Brooklyn after this season, leaving the Newark facility without
By Chris Bernucca This NBA lockout is a 12-inch stupid sandwich. The owners have been stupid in believing they could get back in one negotiation everything they have given away over the last 12 years. The players have been stupid in underestimating the backlash from a fickle fan base hit hard by a nationwide economic malaise. And both sides have been extremely stupid in coming close enough to shake hands, then refusing to with the childish insistence of “You first!” It is another in