The majority of offseason moves this summer have been completed, and the general landscape of the NBA has settled as everyone prepares for the new season to start. For the most part, the traditional powers remain — Miami, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Chicago — while a few franchises will look to make the leap into elite contention — Indiana, Houston, Golden State, Brooklyn, New York, Los Angeles (Clippers). Once upon a time, the Dallas Mavericks were a part of this class. [Read
Even from the iron shores of Montego Bay and the congested streets of Kingston, Jamaica, New York City remains on my mind. As I journeyed from the West end of the island of Jamaica over to the East, and as I have interacted with members of Jamaica’s basketball community and chatted up fans of the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets—yes, they are down here in Jamaica, too—I look forward to what promises to be an exciting NBA season for the
As July turns to August and the few remaining free agents scuttle to find homes for the 2013-’14 season, the Detroit Pistons have capitalized again. Joe Dumars struck a favorable deal with one of the NBA’s top free-agents earlier this month, Josh Smith, when they signed the All-Star forward to a four-year, $54 million deal. While still a considerable contract in terms of dollars, they were able to land Smith for less than a max-deal when Smith had made it clear
With little-to-no big name free-agents left on the board, the NBA has shifted into the dog days of summer. These next two months are when the superstar players take their time out of the limelight, relax, and hopefully improve their games for next season. Not a lot of action for the superstar players (unless you’re playing in the Drew League in L.A. or trying out for Team USA in Vegas) means a chance for the undrafted or unsigned players to put
As the NBA transitions out of free agency and into its dead period, rumors about the 2013-’14 season (and beyond) are already starting to swirl. Namely around two of the games upcoming superstars: Indiana’s Paul George and Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving. Word has already begun to float around that Irving — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft — and George — No. 10 overall in 2010 — are considering leaving their respective teams for greener pastures. In Irving’s case, these
In today’s NBA, in order to evolve, you have to understand your weaknesses. Avoid stretching into a place where you’re just not very strong. Focus on what you do well and fill in the blanks. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets are a few prime examples of this theory in action. Big market or small market, they’ve each had sustained levels of success —
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
Andrew Bynum, with his inclusion of the Cleveland Cavaliers as a “serious” candidate to land the two-time NBA champion center, has started what’s referred to as the “Bynum Safari” on the popular Cavs forum, RealCavsFans.com. The term Bynum Safari stems from the legendary “Amar’e Safari” thread on RealCavsFans. The Amar’e Safari became the most popular thread in RealCavsFans history a few years back in 2009, when the Cavaliers were flirting with the opportunity to trade for Amar’e Stoudemire to pair with