Pity poor Paul Allen. He only came in at No. 20 on the Forbes list of the 400 Richest Americans. But at least he’ll have something to hold over the heads of the other owners when they convene next month for the Board of Governors meeting in New York (then again, Allen– worth 15 billion– may not attend. He usually sends someone in his place). The only owner who can flex muscles with him is Mikhail Prokhorov of the Brooklyn Nets, with $13.2
UNDER CONTRACT: F Danny Granger, C Roy Hibbert, F David West, G George Hill, F Tyler Hansbrough, G-F Paul George, F Gerald Green, C Ian Mahinmi, G D.J. Augustin, G Lance Stephenson, F Jeff Pendergraph, G Blake Ahearn, G Sundiata Gaines, G-F Sam Young DRAFT PICKS: F Miles Plumlee, G Orlando Johnson FREE AGENTS: G Leandro Barbosa MOVES: The Pacers had two of the more desirable restricted free agents and retained them both – at considerable cost and with decidedly different strategies. Indiana was
Remember when Blake Griffin suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee over the summer? We really haven’t heard too much about it since, but he is apparently just fine now and and would be ready to play if training camp opened today. He didn’t get to work with Hakeem Olajuwon as originally planned, but appears to have been working on his jump shot and free throws – some of his biggest struggles from last season. See the current mindset
Commissioner David Stern wanted to level the economic playing field and curb overspending by the NBA’s bigger markets with the new CBA. Some very useful players got squeezed this summer, while some not so deserving players cashed in major checks. Some guys such as O.J. Mayo and D.J. Augustin did it to themselves. Others such as Devin Harris and Mickael Pietrus were victims of their own circumstances. But at the end of the day, a win is a win, and a loss
ORLANDO — For one week in July, a small portion of the basketball universe converges upon central Florida to watch and participate in the Summer League. The Orlando event is always outshined by its Las Vegas counterpart, partly because there is no strip and partly because only eight NBA teams participate. The Orlando summer league is very intimate, and it is very common to see media, agents, and NBA executives conversing. The basketball is very opportunistic as players try to secure
NEW YORK — It pays to be a center, whether you are an All-Star or a promising young Turk. Also, there is a lot of interest in a 38-year-old two-time MVP. And, the main domino has not yet fallen, although Monday will be a key day in the life of Deron Williams, the Brooklyn Nets and the Dallas Mavericks. One more thing: For the first time ever, restricted free agents rather than unrestricted free agents ruled the day on Day One of the
Larry Bird stepped down as president of the Indiana Pacers today, announcing his decision at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where there was no shortage of smiles and laughter and jokes and platitudes. Boy, folks have a short memory nowadays. Or too long of one. Yes, the Pacers and Bird enjoyed a renaissance this season. The team reached the Eastern Conference semifinals and Bird was named Executive of the Year. It’s interesting how one solid season from an NBA legend obscured a track record
