The stage is all set for an Anthony Davis takeover. However, a lot of dominos must first fall, both for him and the New Orleans Pelicans, before he can rise to the top echelon of NBA players, the neighborhood populated by the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Only 21 1/2 years old (at his tender age you still count the “halves”), Davis will be expected to lead a talented but inexperienced USA squad to the gold medal and a flawless record
Kevin Durant, Mike Krzyzewski, Jerry Colangelo and Kevin Love at a USA Basketball announcement in 2013. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) The World Cup just ended, right? I’m sure of it. I watched it. Germany beat Argentina one-to-nil in extra time, thus ending two months of highly anticipated, very engrossing fútbol (spelled as such so as to not confuse it with American football). Well, it is and it isn’t over. FIFA has had its fun,
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 2015-16 Offseason Additions: F Alonzo Gee, C Kendrick Perkins, G Toney Douglas 2015 Draft Picks: None Draft Picks Coming: 2016 second round (Denver); 2017 second round (Philadelphia) Draft Picks Going: 2016 second round (to Milwaukee, protected 56-60); 2017 second round (to Minnesota, 31-55); 2018 second round (to Miami, TBA) Cap Exceptions: Bi-annual ($2,140,000); partial mid-level ($770,000) Trade Exceptions: None Over/Under: Over the cap, under the tax Amnesty Provision: Unavailable PLAYER 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 Eric Gordon $15,510,000 Tyreke Evans $10,730,000 $10,200,000 Jrue Holiday $10,600,000 $11,290,000 Omer Asik $9,210,000 $9,900,000 $10,600,000 $11,290,000 $11,980,000 Ryan Anderson $8,500,000 Anthony Davis $7,070,000 $20,950,000 $22,520,000 $24,090,000 $25,660,000 $27,230,000 Alex Ajinca $4,390,000 $4,710,000 $5,040,000 $5,360,000 Quincy Pondexter $3,380,000 $3,620,000 $3,850,000 Norris Cole $3,040,000 D. Cunningham $2,850,000 $2,980,000 $3,110,000 Kendrick Perkins $1,500,000 Alonzo Gee $1,320,000 $1,380,000 Luke Babbitt $1,100,000 $1,230,000 Toney Douglas $1,100,000 Jarnell Stokes $850,000 Bryce DeJean $230,000 $870,000 $1,010,000 Tim Frazier $140,000 Jordan Hamilton $120,000 Orlando Johnson $60,000 James Ennis $80,000 Jimmer Fredette $50,000 Nate Robinson $30,000 TOTAL SALARY $81,880,000 $66,930,000 $46,130,000 $40,740,000 $37,640,000 $27,230,000 Player Option Team
2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah led all vote getters for the NBA All-Defensive First Team. The NBA released the 2014 All-Defensive teams Monday afternoon. Leading the charge was the 2014 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah, who led all vote getters. He was the only player to get triple-digit votes for the First Team, tallying 105 such votes as well as another 13 Second Team votes
With much of the national discourse centering on Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, the reality of the matter is that a lifetime ban and a $2.5 million fine is the limit to what NBA commissioner Adam Silver is capable of doing. The rest falls on the shoulders of 29 team owners, as they—according to the NBA’s Constitution and By-Laws—must vote with a 3/4’s majority to force the sale of the team. Players, media pundits and people all across the nation
Transparency is a two-way street. For years, NBA media members – echoing the sentiments of its passionate fan base – wanted more transparency from Commissioner David Stern and his executive staff. Whether it was a lottery drawing, a suspension in the playoffs or a referee scandal, folks felt like they were entitled to an explanation. And they were. Stern grudgingly came around. He arranged for the media to meet with referees prior to the season about rules changes. He allowed the media
James Hellwig, known as the Ultimate Warrior, seen at the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. This past weekend was a momentous one for any who would call themselves professional wrestling fans. WrestleMania XXX, a week-long extravaganza often considered the Super Bowl of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), occurred Sunday evening, opposite the premiere of Game of Thrones fourth season and a slew of NBA basketball games. Among the highlights of the weekend, Saturday night featured the 2014 WWE Hall
As the sun fades into the North Texas sky (not sure why we can’t call it Arlington) on Saturday evening, college basketball will take center stage on the American sports landscape. Everyone except Chris Bernucca will settle in for the Final Four, where some of the NBA’s future stars will duke it out in a titanic stadium not meant for basketball with everything on the line. It is a spectacle that deserves America’s attention. And that is why we’ve decided to lend