Post by Philadelphia 76ers on Aug 23, 2008 12:39:30 GMT -5
RUMOR MILL ARTICLES
Dec 24, 2007, 6:36pm
Christmas came early for the Orlando Magic when they acquired mega- talent LeBron James from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Apparently they didn't like their gift from Santa this year. Twenty-four hours after acquiring King James the Magic GM reportedly offered the Philadelphia 76ers a groundbreaking deal that would send James to the City of[ Brotherly Love for newly acquired Kevin Garnett. The only thing holding this trade up is the 76ers are running a background check on LeBron's heart, which was a lingering injury last season. The deal is expected to be announced in the next day or two.
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According to my sources close to the organization, the Denver Nuggets have put Carmelo Anthony on the block after an altercation with Dwight Howard at practice. After getting blocked hard by Howard, Melo slapped D12 and then hid behind JR Smith and Steve Francis. No word on whether Carmelo will be handed a fine by the team. On the trading front, Phoenix has offered the Nuggets a deal that would send Amare Stoudemire to Denver in exchange for Melo and a first rounder. No offers have been made for Dwight Howard as of yet. Stay tuned to see how things will resolve.
Detroit not done dealing?
After pulling the trigger numerous times on blockbuster deals in the offseason, the new Detroit Pistons GM not been finished believe it or not. Rumors are swirling that the Pistons are close to acquiring former scoring champion Tracy McGrady from the New Jersey Nets. The superstar has been struggling with his new squad this season, the New Jersey GM was quoted saying
"We are very dissapointed in Tmac's play this season, we are looking to move him ASAP"
The Nets are looking for a package that consists of 2 time dunk champion Jason Richardson and Jason Maxiell. Detroit has also offered the same package for Pau Gasol. Gasol averaged 27 pts for the Grizzlies in the prestigious Pre-Season Tourney.
There have been some unfounded rumors out of the Hawks front office that both Yi and Horford are being discussed in trades. At one point a three mile radius around the Hawks offices blacked out because of all the phones calls made inquiring about these players. One rumor is a deal for Jason Richardson and another for Josh Howard. The most surprising rumor and perhaps the most founded of all three is a deal for Amare Stoudemire. The Hawks GM was unavailable for comment but he released this statement: "When we drafted Horford and Yi we imagined them playing side by side for the next decade and many banners hanging from the rafters as a result. There will always be inquiries about players with great talent and greater potential. We have and will always field offers from teams for any of our players in case the right deal comes around. Even so, we do not envision the separation of Yi and Horford from the Hawks organization any time soon." The Hawks GM may not have been available for comment but the President had this to say, "I will always do what is in the best interest of the Atlanta Hawks organization and will ALWAYS make moves to mold this franchise into a winner."
Oden heading to Utah?
Sources close to the Utah Jazz organization have told me that Utah is close to landing super phenom Greg Oden from the Seattle Supersonics. The deal would send Oden and veteran point guard Andre Miller, young Swiss shooting guard Thabo Selfosha and a non protected first rounder to the Jazz in exchange for Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. When asked about the potential trade Seattle had this to say.
"Greg Oden is available as much as Shaq's weight loss program (We all know he doesn't have one). No chance Oden goes anywhere."
Could the Sonics GM be setting a smoke screen or does Shaq actually have a weight loss program somewhere down in Brazil?
Other rumors
The 76ers have been shopping Charlotte's first rounder (which could be a potential lottery pick) along with Kyle Korver. Word has it that he is looking for a star SF to complement Kevin Garnett. Teams that are interested are the Grizzlies (Rudy Gay), Utah Jazz (Luol Deng) and Boston Celtics (Lamar Odom).
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Jan 26, 2008, 10:38am
Lowballs are part of the NBA, but Miami has taken it to the next level when he offered the Magic a deal he would regret. Outspoken Orlando general manager "Mad Scientist" sounded off Friday on saying Miami's offer was "cowardly,." Sources close to me have revealed that the new Miami GM offered soon-to be retired Alonzo Mourning and Udonis Haslem for newly acquired Tyson Chandler and Marvin Williams. Heres the catch. Miami apparently lied about Mourning's rating saying he was an 80 when he is a 77.
"Miami offered a mostly useless player for one of the best defensive centers, and I think it's an act of desperation for a general manager who is fighting to keep his job," the Mad Scientist said.
The next day he was quoted as saying
"I have no problem with low ball offers," Orlando said, noting they are part of the NBA, "What I do have a problem with though is that he lied to my face about Alonzo Mourning's status."
Things are only getting nastier the past few days after Orlando gave Miami a nasty phone call. Orlando has sent a complaint to league offices and is expecting Miami to receive a fine. Sources within the organization say that they are embrassed by this latest fiasco by the new GM. Could their new GM be heading out after just 2 weeks?
Joe Johnson's short career in a Grizzlies uniform could be coming to an end in the next few days. After expressing unhappiness in Memphis, the Grizzlies immediately out him on the block. Sources tell me that up to 5 teams contacted the Grizz within the next 24 hours. With the Grizzlies lacking another bigman to pair with Gasol, the Celtics seem to be the frontrunner in the Joe Johnson sweepstakes. The package consists of MVP Candidate Lamar Odom who is having himself a breakout season with 21 pts, 10 rbs, 6 asts. Other teams in the running are the guard hungry Nuggets who are putting ROY candidate Greg Oden on the table. Grizzlies have also received an offer from the Lakers that would send Allen Iverson to Memphis, only thing holding these trades back are salary differentials.
Fan Favourite Wilcox part of blockbuster deal?
When asked before the season started about the chances of Chris Wilcox donning a new jersey, the Seattle GM said
"As long as I'm here, Chris Wilcox isn't going anywhere".
He kept his word for the first few months of the season when he turned down the likes of Josh Howard, Danny Granger and Elton Brand. Fast forward a month and Wilcox will most likely be donning a new jersey. After a disappointing start to the season by Wilcox, the Sonics GM has been actively shopping the 25 year old. He's been shopping a package of Wilcox and defensive stud Andrei Kirilenko for a scoring SF to take some scoring load off Michael Redd. Teams that have expressed interest are the Portland Trail Blazers, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers. Seattle has lots to choose from with packages that consists of Rashard Lewis and Travis Outlaw, and Kevin Garnett. With the recent injury to starting point guard Andre Miller, Seattle is also looking for a starting PG. Orlando has offered Jameer Nelson and Luol Deng for Wilcox and AK47. When asked about the trade rumors yesterday, the Sonics GM said
"Chris has been great for this city and franchise and we would love to keep him here. With that said, if a trade that can help our franchise comes along we would be crazy to turn it down"
This scene is all too familiar. It goes like this, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant have butted heads and both are demanding to be traded. All this after "making up" in the summer when they were re-united. Expectations were high as usual when the season started, the Lakers haven't gotten off to the best of start with a 9-10 record. O'Neal has been hampered with injuries this season. Finding a trading partner for Shaq and his big contract will be tough though. Of the teams that are interested in Shaq are the Celtics, New Jersey Nets and Utah Jazz. During a press conference yesterday Lakers GM said
"Yes, Shaq and Kobe have both requested a trade, we are trying to grant their request."
The completion of the deal is now awaiting physicals for O'Neal. The deal would send the expiring contracts of Theo Ratliff and Jason Williams to the Lakers in exchange for O'Neal. On the other hand the Detroit Piston have expressed a lot of interest for Kobe. Both teams discussed a possible deal for an hour yesterday and finally agreed that Detroit would send young superstar Dwight Howard and Ben Gordon for Kobe and Mardy Collins. Look for the deal to be announced in the next week. Will all these moves help bring LA to the next level? Only time will tell.
Quick Hits
Denver is actively shopping Greg Oden and have contacted the Bucks for a possible Yao- Oden swap. Another deal has him heading to Philly for Jamario Moon, Mike Miller and Leandro Barbosa. New Kings GM has received up to 10 offers for franchise cornerstone Caron Butler. He has made it very clear Butler is not going anywhere. Michael Finley is making it very clear that he wants to be moved to a contender. He said that "this team is a mess, I don't wanna be spending the rest of my career in Houston". Philly and Denver have contacted the Rockets for Finley but word is that the asking price is very high.
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Feb 21, 2008, 6:02pm
RJ misses team flight after a minor incident, is this the last straw?
There was much lighthearted banter from head coach Jerry Sloan and his players about Richard Jefferson's latest mishap, a minor car accident that caused him to miss the team's charter flight to Denver on Friday.
The problem for coach Sloan and the Jazz may be that it appeared Jefferson would have missed the flight even without the accident because he overslept.
"He went home [after Friday's practice] and I guess he had a little lunch, put his feet up and probably dozed off," Sloan said. "He lives alone. We've got to get an alarm clock for him I suppose, or get him in the habit of setting one."
Apparently Jefferson still had time to sign a few autographs after a chain-reaction crash on the Kingsway Friday afternoon.
Witnesses reported Mr. Jefferson was eastbound on Hwy. 401 near Carling Avenue in his white Hummer when it and another vehicle collided as he attempting to pass at about 3:15 p.m.
The second vehicle then crashed into a third, witnesses said. It did not appear anyone was injured in the fender-bender.
State police would not say whether any charges would be laid as a result of the collision. Police said they had received a traffic complaint from other drivers of a white Hummer driving at a "high rate of speed" prior to the collision. One of the drivers involved in the collision said Mr. Jefferson indicated he was in a hurry to get to the airport when the crash occurred.
Before climbing back into his Hummer and driving away, Mr. Jefferson took the time to hand out a few autographs to tow-truck drivers who had arrived at the scene.
This mishap comes after Jefferson was fined for missing practice. Jefferson showed up late for Utah's practice in Memphis on Monday. It was the third time this season he has been late for practice.
Jefferson told Sloan that he flew back to the Memphis area on Sunday evening after spending the weekend in Las Vegas. However, he went to FedExForum on Monday instead of the practice facility the Jazz had gathered at for their 4 p.m. practice.
“By the time he got there, he got into the rink at 4:03 and (head coach) Jerry(Sloan) wouldn't let him onto the court,” said the Jazz GM. “I met with him today and spent some time talking to him about it.
“He was apologetic, he said: ‘I don't want to put you guys in the spot I put you in.' ... For RJ, he was quite apologetic and concerned.”
The latest mishap spurred rumours of a possible trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andre Igoudala according to one Western Conference official. The deal is reportedly in the preliminary stages.
As for now RJ is still a Jazz but don't be surprised if he's gonna be donning a new jersey soon.
Cleveland currently boasts one of the top records in the East, that should be enough to keep the GM happy right? Not for the new Cavs GM apparently. He has made it clear he has not been happy with Andre Igoudala's production this season and Iggy has made it clear that he's not happy in Cleveland.
The 23 year old forward is putting up career low numbers for the Cavs this season and has requested a trade on numerous occasions. Igoudala almost had his request granted when the Cavaliers reportedly traded him to the Sacremento Kings only for the deal to be blocked by Kings forward Vladimir Radmonovic.
Trade talks have only heated up since the reported deal. According to one Eastern Conference official close to the situation the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz (see above) have all offered deals for Iggy.
The Magic are rumored to have offered the best deal as of yet. The reported trade would send newly acquired big man Al Jefferson, super scorer Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse and picks to the Cavs for Igoudala and soon to be FA Elton Brand. Miami has offered young superstar Dwayne Wade, Nenad Krstic and picks for Brand and Igoudala but talks have come to halt.
Looks like it's gonna be an ugly divorce for the once franchise cornerstone and the Cavaliers.
According to a top ranking Eastern Conference official the Magic and Sonics are in the finals stages of a trade that would see the two teams swapping defensive stalwarts. Heading to Seattle would be 25 year old DPOY candidate Tyson Chandler and going the other way is former DPOY winner Marcus Camby who was recently acquired for rookie standout Greg Oden.
Orlando is also rumored to looking for plenty of 2008 first rounders and is willing to part ways with Jameer Nelson in order to do so. A rumored deal has Orlando sending Nelson and Kwame Brown to New York in exchange for 3 first rounders and Bobby Simmons who is owed around 20 million in the next 2 seasons.
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Other Rumors Around the League
Portland has contacted the Sonics about a deal that would send Marcus Williams and Ryan Gomes to Portland in exchange for Thaddeus Young. Deal is in the final stages and should go down soon. Sharp Shooter JJ Reddick has requested a trade. Reddick has seen limited minutes with the Jazz this season. No teams have shown interest as of yet. Sacremento is actively shopping Shane Battier and Jamaal Tinsley for draft picks and expirings, both have generated little interest. Don't be surprised if they'll still be playing for the Kings after the deadline.
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Apr 20, 2008, 8:02pm
AP- Who would have thought, Kobe Bryant joining the team he once scored 81 pts against. That's right folks, your eyes are not fooling you. Kobe Bryant could be dawning a Raptors jersey before the NBA Legends trade deadline if all goes right.Talks started off about a possible three team deal that would send Shaq to Toronto and Houston's 2008 first rounder to LA, reports have indicated that those talks have since fell apart. Although the trade fell apart, the Lakers and Raptors continued to discuss about a possible blockbuster trade. According to sources close to the situation, he two clubs agreed to a trade in principle that would send the NBA mega-star and Canadian Samuel Dalembert to Toronto for rising superstar Carmelo Anthony, Kirk Hinrich and former 1st overall pick Andrea Bargnani.
This trade would make sense for both teams, the LAL big 3 haven't worked out as the Lakers GM would like, making this trade would give them a more complete starting five and inject some youth to a team composed mostly of 30+ aged players. Toronto would get a true center in Dalembert to replace Bargnani who was clearly out of position at center. Obviously, adding Kobe is a big addition to any team. This trade would give Toronto one of the top defences in the league with a starting composed of Dalembert-Jermaine O'Neal, Carlos Delfino, Kobe and Larry Hughes.
When asked about the possible deal, the Lakers GM had this to say:
"Obviously, moving a player of Kobe's magnitude would be a franchise changing move for any team, we won't deny that we've talked to the Raptors about a trade but what we've talked about is not gonna be revealed to the public."
I guess we'll just have to see if this deal falls through in the next 48 hours, what we do know though, is this defintiely won't be a boring deadline.
LeBron on the move again?!?
AP- LeBron could be packing his bags and be playing for a new team for the THIRD team this season. This time, he could be headed to the Bay Area. According to the Oakland Tribune, the Warriors have offered a package that would send sharpshooter Rashard Lewis, power forward Al Harrington and highflyer Desmond Mason to the Suns for King James. Officials on both sides have acknowledged that there have been talks surrounding a LeBron deal. Golden State isn't the only team interested in Jame's services, according to ESPN's Chad Ford, the San Antonio Spurs have entered the sweepstakes as early as yesterday morning. They have put together a package that would send Andre Igoudala and Monta Ellis for James. Look for either one of these trades to go down right before the deadline. Since LeBron was acquired from the Magic, the young superstar has put up measley stats, 14 pts and 7 rbs. Not numbers you'd expect from the next "MJ". Although LeBron is having an awful season, you'd think a team would have enough patience with him and hope he bounces back next season.
Youth Movement continues in Houston, Dwade next superstar to be acquired by Rockets?
AP- Yet another superstar from the star ladden 2004 NBA Draft could be on the move, rumors have LeBron James heading to the Bay Area, Chris Bosh was recently traded to Washington and Dwayne Wade was traded to the Indiana Pacers two days ago. Two days later, the Pacers are actively trying to move him before the deadline. Houston, who recently traded their first rounders for Josh Smith, has seems to be the front runners in the Wade sweepstakes. The new Rockets GM has let it be known that nobody is untouchable. So it's no surprise that he's offered up recently acquired Josh Smith and Andrew Bogut for Wade. Sources close to the Pacers organization say they are considering taking that package but are still fielding offers for Wade. The 26 year old guard has struggled for the Heat this season, averaging a career low 15 pts. Hopefully a change of scenery can get this young star's career back on track.
Boston, Atlanta blockbuster deal in the works?
Several league sources have told me that the Celtics' GM was working the phone lines just days before the Legend's trade deadline. Word has it, the Celtics and Hawks are discussing a deal that would send young stud Kevin Durant and Marco Bellnelli to the Hawks for franchise cornerstones Al Horford and Yi Jianlian. The deal is still in the preliminary stages according to the same sources. The Hawks have been recently scouting top ranked prospect Michael Beasley and plan on drafting him if the ping pong balls bounce their way. This would leave them with 3 PF's in the frontcourt, which is why acquiring Durant to play SF makes sense. If this deal doesn't fall through, the Hawks will probably make a run at Dwayne Wade with the same package.
ROOKIE POWER RANKINGS
Jan 29, 2008, 3:04pm
1. - Greg Oden [DEN]
15.6 ppg | 8.4 rpg | 1.94 bpg
November's West Rookie of the Month is having a nice season meeting pre-draft expectations. Oden is surprisingly scoring this season too, A move to Denver will only benefit Oden playing with All Star Chris Bosh. This frontcourt will dominate the paint for years to come. It should be no surprise if Oden wins the ROY this season. Word has it that the NBA have contacted Oden to enter the 3pt Contest with his amazing .186 percentage from downtown
2. - Brandon Wright [LAC]
15.6 ppg | 7.1 rpg | 1.40 spg | 1.05 bpg
Surprise surpirse? Wright has surpassed all expectations carrying the scoring load for the rebuilding Clippers, also chipping in on the boards grabbing 7.1 rpg. The future looks bright for Wright and the Clippers. If he keeps up these numbers he could steal the ROY from Oden
3. - Kevin Durant [BOS]
17.0 ppg | 3.1 rpg | 1.8 apg
A hip injury has limited KD to 16 games this season. When healthy KD has been putting up very impressive numbers on offence scoring 17 ppg for the Celtics leading all rookies. Other than that KD has dissapointed in other areas of his game. Improving other parts of his game should be no problem for the 19 year old rookie who will have plenty of time to improve for the rebuilding Celtics.
4. - Yi Jianlian [ATL]
13.9 ppg | 9 rpg | 2.2 apg
Yi has been a ray of light in for the re-building Hawks. He's done everything for the Hawks this season whether it be scoring in the paint, hitting a 3, cleaning the glass with a 10+ rebound game or passing out of double teams to an open teammate for a 3. Yi has also shown great poise down the stretch for the Hawks hitting a clutch shots then swatting away a shot on the other end in a recent win against Indiana. The future looks very bright for this man.
5. - Spencer Hawes [CHI]
12.8 ppg | 6.4 rpg | 2.4 apg | 1.71 bpg
The Utah GM is pulling out every last piece of his hair for trading this young stud. After his trade from Utah, Hawes has exploded for 14 ppg and 8 rpg for Chicago. It would be only be fitting for him to receive the first Eastern Conference Rookie of The Month for November. Hawes looks like a mainstay on Chicago's frontcourt and should develop into an integral part of the Bulls future.
6. - Al Horford [ATL]
12.0 ppg | 8.0 rpg | 1.64 bpg
Horford has been overshadowed by teammate Yi Jianlian for most of the season but has quietly put up very solid numbers. Horford has developed into Atlanta's best post defender and best rebounder having spurts of 8 rbs in a quarter against Indiana recently. Look for Yi-Horford to wreck havoc for years to come.
Honourable Mentions
- Corey Brewer : 11.6 ppg | 5.6 rpg | 3.2 apg
- Mike Conley Jr : 12.6 ppg | 4.3 rpg | 5.1 apg | 1.65 spg
- Al Thornton : 11.7 ppg | 4.4 rpg
- Jeff Green : 12.6 ppg | 5.9 rpg
Hope you guys enjoy my first rookie rankings, I might make more of these later on. Comments would be appreciated
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Mar 1, 2008, 4:11pm
1. - Kevin Durant [BOS]
15.9 PPG | 3.9 RPG | 2.1 APG |1.07 SPG | 47.1FG %
It's been an up and down season for Durant thus far, KD started off the season helping the Celtics sit atop the Atlantic Division, he then hit a cold streak where he went 6 consecutive games where he was held with 10 pts or less, then he got hit by the injury bug which sidelined him for 6 games. The Celtics went 1-5 without him in the lineup. KD struggled mightily when he returned to the line-up scoring only 16 pts in his first 5 games back. He is slowly turning the corner now and should be putting up the numbers he did before getting injured in no time.
2. - Brandon Wright [LAC]
15.5 PPG | 7.2 RPG | 1.25 SPG | .91 BPG | 44.4FG %
Brandon Wright has been having one of the most underrated seasons thus far. He has quietly put up ROY calibre numbers and has recently lead the Clippers to a rare 3 game winning streak. Playing alongside former 1st overall pick Andrew Bogut, Wright and Bogut have formed one of the top young frontcourts in the league and should a force to be reckoned with. Only area that Wright needs to improve on his his free throw shooting where he is shooting a woeful 55%. Don't be surprised if Wright ends up taking the ROY from Oden or Durant if he keeps up this pace.
3. - Greg Oden [MIL]
14.7 PPG| 8.2 RPG | 1.81 BPG | 43FG % | 9-49 3PM/A
It's been a crazy season for the 20 year old phenom out of Ohio State. Started off the season with Seattle where it looked like he would form one of the best frontcourts with Chris Wilcox for years to come. Seattle then shocked the basketball world when he dealt Oden to the Nuggets for aging Marcus Camby. His stay in Denver was short lived as Denver dealt Oden to Milwaukee for Yao Ming. It didn't get any easier from there. Oden got hit by a hip flexor which kept him out of the lineup for 9 games. Even after all this Oden has managed to stay in the thick of the ROY race combining a mix of low post scoring, deadly shooting from behind the arc and stellar post defence. With Emeka Okafor possibly bolting at the end of the season don't expect Oden to moved to another team anytime soon.
4. - Corey Brewer [SA]
12.9 PPG | 5.3 RPG | 3.5 APG | 1.50 SPG | 50.2FG %
Not much was expected of Corey Brewer heading into the 2008 NBA campaign. This was supposed to be the year where he was supposed develop his game, sit back and take it easy. With the recent trade that sent Ricky Davis and Shareef Abdur Rahim to the 76ers for Chris Webber, that has all changed. With Davis gone there was a huge scoring void left behind. Brewer stepped up his game in December averaging 15 pts (on 60 percent shooting, 6 rbs and 4 asts and grabbing Western Conference Rookie of the Month honours. The Spurs are now hoping Brewer can continue this type of play next season when the Spurs are expected to lose one of Josh Smith or Monta Ellis.
5. - Al Horford [ATL]
12.6 PPG | 9.3 RPG | 1.81 BPG | 39.1 FG%
Big E has picked up the slack with Yi struggling to re-gain his scoring touch. He has been a force on both ends of the court drawing double teams and overpowering defenders on the offensive end while swatting away shot after shot on D. Horford picked up Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honours for December, something long due since being snubbed for Spencer Hawes the previous month.
6. - Jeff Green[/size]
13.1 PPG | 5.9 RPG | 1.23 SPG | 1.03 BPG | 48.7FG%
Green has teamed up with the likes of Andrew Bynum and Al Thornton to form one of the best young frontcourts in the league. Green has brought versatility to the young Knicks squad this season whether it be stepping back and draining a 3 or grabbing a last second rebound to clinch a win.
Honourable Mentions
- Mike Conley 11.5 PPG | 3.9 RPG | 5.1 APG | 1.48 SPG
- Al Thornton 11.5 PPG | 5.5 RPG | 1.2 APG | 40.9 FG%
-Yi Jianlian 10.3 PPG | 9.5 RPG | 1.17 SPG | 1.13 BPG | 34.5 FG%
- Spencer Hawes 9.3 PPG | 6.4 RPG | 2.1 APG | 1.64 BPG | 35.8 FG %
- Sean Williams- Wasn't getting any PT in Philly with the likes of Ike Diogu and Kevin Garnett ahead of him on the depth chart. A fresh start in Los Angeles and a starting job should do wonder for Williams. Hasn't been the case so far, the transition into the triangle offence has been a tough one for Williams, which was evident in the countless games where he was held to 0 pts. But as long as he continues to bring energy on defence, a starting spot for Williams should be locked up.
- Acie Law IV- Another man's loss is another man's gain. With the recent injury to Wizard superstar Gilbert Arenas, Law is not penciled in as the starting point guard. With Agent 0 expiring at the end of the season Captain Clutch's future with the Wizards should be determined on how he plays in the next 7-8 weeks.
-Rodney Stuckey- Word out of the Cleveland camp is that they're uncomfortable with Keyon Dooling starting. That should give Stuckey ample opportunities to play the point for the Cavs. Don't be surprised if Stuckey is anchoring the Cav's offence once the playoffs come around
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PLAYOFF PREVIEWS
Jun 21, 2008, 11:02am
Rafer Alston
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Arenas: Agent 0 has had an injury plagued season. However, he has looked great with Philly down the stretch run and has given the Sixers someone who can score with the on the wire. Since joining Philly, Arenas has scored over 20 pts in all but 5 games. Look for him to extend his hot streak into the playoffs with the likes on Rafer Alston guarding him.
Alston: Picked up at the trade deadline to give the Nets a spark, Alston has done exactly that plus more. Skip to my Lou has been far and away the Net's best point guard this season. With the likes of Devin Harris and Randy Foye struggling to run the point, having a decent PG comes as a sigh of relief to Nets fans. Alston's playmaking ability and shooting touch has been crucial to a team filled with scorers. However, Alston is gonna have his hands full guarding Agent 0 in this series. He has to make sure he stays out of foul trouble because the Nets have no depth at PG and we all know you're not gonna do well without a PG.
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Josh Howard
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Mobley- The sharpshooting Mobley seems to be progressing as the games keep coming. Mobley started off cold as ice and was bench in favor for Ricky Davis. Once Gilbert Arenas returned from injury, Mobley was inserted into the lineup because he was a better outside shooter than Davis and would give Arenas and Garnett more room to manuever with. Since, he's played a lot better. Why? With Arenas in the lineup, there's less pressure for Mobley to score and more open oppurtunities with both KG and Arenas doubled. In this series, Cuttino should have his fair share of shots but it's on the defensive end that's worrying fans. Mobley is gonna have to guard a much bigger Josh Howard. If this doesn't work out, don't be surprised to see a more atheltic Ricky Davis inserted into the lineup to guard Howard.
Howard- Howard's transition from SF to SG has made the Net's coach look genius. For most part of the 2007-2008 campaign, the Nets were getting ZERO production from the SG position. They were desperate enough to use Harris at SG. Let's just say that didn't work out too well. Howard was then experimented at SG and he's ran away with the job and never looked back. J-Ho has provided the Nets some much needed perimeter offence and solid defence. Look for him to attack the basket whenever he gets the chance too this series with a smaller Mobley guarding him.
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Tayshaun Prince
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Walton- Walton has quietly had himself a breakout season. Since being acquired from the Lakers, Walton has provided some much needed defence at the SF position. His intangibles compliment Garnett and Arenas well. He's been a big reason for the Sixers turnaround from their early season meltdown.
Prince- It's been a roller coaster season for Tayshaun. He's gone from scoring 30 pts on a consistent basis to under 10 in 10 consecutive games. When the new Pacers GM came in, he immediately got rid of Prince claiming he was too inconsistent to be the face of the Pacers franchise. Although he's no longer putting up 30 PPG for the Nets, Prince has been a key component of the Nets defence which is fairly weak. He's also a great player in transition and his huge wingspan is key in the Nets defence. Look for him to be the X- Factor in this series for New Jersey.
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David West
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Garnett- KG has been hands down the MVP of the Philadelphia 76ers and single handedly returned respectability to Philly basketball. If the Sixers plan on making some noise in the post-season, KG is gonna have to continue posting the same numbers across the board. Look for the Big Ticket to put on a big show against a fairly soft New Jersey frontcourt (banged up David West and Mehmet Okur).
West- This matchup is one to definitely keep an eye on. West has been nothing short of exceptional since coming over from the Kings. However, he has had his fair share of struggles against KG and co. this season averaging only 10.2 PPG on 33% shooting. West is still not 100% after a late season injury and this could be a huge problem considering he can re-injure guarding the physical Garnett. How long will an injured David West be able to contain Kevin Garnett? We'll just have to wait and see.
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Mehmet Okur
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Mutombo- At 40 years of age, the "Cookie Monster" looks as if he never lost a step. Mutombo has been the perfect bigman to pair up next to KG. He doesn't demand shots, still one of the premiere shotblocking/defensive centers in the league and has a boatload of experience. Deke is going to have his habds full guarding Jersey's MVP, Mehmet Okur. If Mutombo, can keep Okur at bay, it should be smooth sailing for Philly.
Okur- The Turkish sharpshooter is coming off a career year in which he led the Nets in points, rebounds, assists and field goal %. Like what KG has done for Philly, he's been a huge part of the Net's turnaround. It's gonna be a tough task to put up similar numbers against a Philly front line that consists of Garnett and Mutombo.
Bench
Philly- Depth is one of the Sixer's biggest strenght, With the likes of Ricky Davis, Drew Gooden, Kyle Korver, Linas Kleiza, Chris Duhon, Juan Carlos Navvaro and Ike Diogu, Philly has arguably one of the top benches in teh league. There is a good mix of scoring (JCN, Davis, Korver, Kleiza), rebounding (Diogu, Gooden), and defence (Duhon). This should give Philly a big advantage over the Nets this series.
Jersey- I guess having a great starting lineup does have it's costs. In this case, it's a lack of depth for Jersey. New Jersey's pine is consists of mostly SG's (Q-Rich, Mccants, Murray) and retired players (Robinson, Mckie, Murray). One has to wonder how long a team can last the wind and grind of the playoffs without a bench they can rely on.
Philly X Factor
Dickembe Mutombo
New Jersey X Factor
Tayshaun Prince
17.4 PPG
6.9 RPG
2.7 APG[/size]
[/blockquote]
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Jun 28, 2008, 10:17pm
VS
First Round Recap:
(1) - Orlando Magic [4W-0L]- Orlando didn't even have to break a sweat in ther first round sweep of the Wizards. The Magic pretty much dominated every aspect of the game. Orlando's suffocating defence was better than ever (holding the Wizards to 83.3 point per game). However, Orlando's production offensively has got to be a slight concern. They only averaged 96.8 points per game on 40.5% shooting against the fairly weak Wizards defence. I wouldn't be too worried though, I mean a team with Jason Terry, Al Jefferson and Shawn Marion is capable of lighting it up anytime. If the offence can get going, look for the Magic to make quick business of this series. Look for the Magic to come out a little rusty after a 6 day break.
(5) - Philadelphia 76ers [4W-3L]- Momentum should be the Sixers side coming off a series clinching win against the Nets just 2 days ago. Philly's dynamic duo of KG and Agent 0 are in top form right now, the bench was as good as any in the first round and the defence was respectable against the Nets in the first round. However, the Sixers are gonna need more consistency from the other three starters (Mutombo, Walton and Mobley).
[/b]
Jameer Nelson
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Cuttino Mobley
Jason Terry
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Luke Walton
Shawn Marion
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Kevin Garnett
Al Jefferson
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Tyson Chandler
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Bench
Philly- Philly's bench was the deciding factor in their first round matchup against the Nets. Ricky Davis, Kyle Korver and Linas Kleiza were huge contributers providing the Sixers with some scoring punch off the pine.
Orlando- Orlando's bench is mediocre at best, Stevenson has provided some scoring, Stack has the odd double digit points game but his experience is what makes him valuable to this fairly inexperienced Magic squad. The Magic lack a quality big to rely on forcing Chandler and Jefferson to play heavy minutes. We'll see how this pays off as the playoffs go on.
Dec 24, 2007, 6:36pm
LeBron headed to Philly?
Christmas came early for the Orlando Magic when they acquired mega- talent LeBron James from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Apparently they didn't like their gift from Santa this year. Twenty-four hours after acquiring King James the Magic GM reportedly offered the Philadelphia 76ers a groundbreaking deal that would send James to the City of[ Brotherly Love for newly acquired Kevin Garnett. The only thing holding this trade up is the 76ers are running a background check on LeBron's heart, which was a lingering injury last season. The deal is expected to be announced in the next day or two.
-------> ?
Melo and Dwight Howard Unhappy In Denver?
[/size]According to my sources close to the organization, the Denver Nuggets have put Carmelo Anthony on the block after an altercation with Dwight Howard at practice. After getting blocked hard by Howard, Melo slapped D12 and then hid behind JR Smith and Steve Francis. No word on whether Carmelo will be handed a fine by the team. On the trading front, Phoenix has offered the Nuggets a deal that would send Amare Stoudemire to Denver in exchange for Melo and a first rounder. No offers have been made for Dwight Howard as of yet. Stay tuned to see how things will resolve.
Detroit not done dealing?
After pulling the trigger numerous times on blockbuster deals in the offseason, the new Detroit Pistons GM not been finished believe it or not. Rumors are swirling that the Pistons are close to acquiring former scoring champion Tracy McGrady from the New Jersey Nets. The superstar has been struggling with his new squad this season, the New Jersey GM was quoted saying
"We are very dissapointed in Tmac's play this season, we are looking to move him ASAP"
The Nets are looking for a package that consists of 2 time dunk champion Jason Richardson and Jason Maxiell. Detroit has also offered the same package for Pau Gasol. Gasol averaged 27 pts for the Grizzlies in the prestigious Pre-Season Tourney.
"Yi and Horford are staying put"
There have been some unfounded rumors out of the Hawks front office that both Yi and Horford are being discussed in trades. At one point a three mile radius around the Hawks offices blacked out because of all the phones calls made inquiring about these players. One rumor is a deal for Jason Richardson and another for Josh Howard. The most surprising rumor and perhaps the most founded of all three is a deal for Amare Stoudemire. The Hawks GM was unavailable for comment but he released this statement: "When we drafted Horford and Yi we imagined them playing side by side for the next decade and many banners hanging from the rafters as a result. There will always be inquiries about players with great talent and greater potential. We have and will always field offers from teams for any of our players in case the right deal comes around. Even so, we do not envision the separation of Yi and Horford from the Hawks organization any time soon." The Hawks GM may not have been available for comment but the President had this to say, "I will always do what is in the best interest of the Atlanta Hawks organization and will ALWAYS make moves to mold this franchise into a winner."
Oden heading to Utah?
Sources close to the Utah Jazz organization have told me that Utah is close to landing super phenom Greg Oden from the Seattle Supersonics. The deal would send Oden and veteran point guard Andre Miller, young Swiss shooting guard Thabo Selfosha and a non protected first rounder to the Jazz in exchange for Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. When asked about the potential trade Seattle had this to say.
"Greg Oden is available as much as Shaq's weight loss program (We all know he doesn't have one). No chance Oden goes anywhere."
Could the Sonics GM be setting a smoke screen or does Shaq actually have a weight loss program somewhere down in Brazil?
Other rumors
The 76ers have been shopping Charlotte's first rounder (which could be a potential lottery pick) along with Kyle Korver. Word has it that he is looking for a star SF to complement Kevin Garnett. Teams that are interested are the Grizzlies (Rudy Gay), Utah Jazz (Luol Deng) and Boston Celtics (Lamar Odom).
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Jan 26, 2008, 10:38am
Things "Heating" Up In Miami?
Lowballs are part of the NBA, but Miami has taken it to the next level when he offered the Magic a deal he would regret. Outspoken Orlando general manager "Mad Scientist" sounded off Friday on saying Miami's offer was "cowardly,." Sources close to me have revealed that the new Miami GM offered soon-to be retired Alonzo Mourning and Udonis Haslem for newly acquired Tyson Chandler and Marvin Williams. Heres the catch. Miami apparently lied about Mourning's rating saying he was an 80 when he is a 77.
"Miami offered a mostly useless player for one of the best defensive centers, and I think it's an act of desperation for a general manager who is fighting to keep his job," the Mad Scientist said.
The next day he was quoted as saying
"I have no problem with low ball offers," Orlando said, noting they are part of the NBA, "What I do have a problem with though is that he lied to my face about Alonzo Mourning's status."
Things are only getting nastier the past few days after Orlando gave Miami a nasty phone call. Orlando has sent a complaint to league offices and is expecting Miami to receive a fine. Sources within the organization say that they are embrassed by this latest fiasco by the new GM. Could their new GM be heading out after just 2 weeks?
Joe Johnson Trade Talks Heating Up
Joe Johnson's short career in a Grizzlies uniform could be coming to an end in the next few days. After expressing unhappiness in Memphis, the Grizzlies immediately out him on the block. Sources tell me that up to 5 teams contacted the Grizz within the next 24 hours. With the Grizzlies lacking another bigman to pair with Gasol, the Celtics seem to be the frontrunner in the Joe Johnson sweepstakes. The package consists of MVP Candidate Lamar Odom who is having himself a breakout season with 21 pts, 10 rbs, 6 asts. Other teams in the running are the guard hungry Nuggets who are putting ROY candidate Greg Oden on the table. Grizzlies have also received an offer from the Lakers that would send Allen Iverson to Memphis, only thing holding these trades back are salary differentials.
Fan Favourite Wilcox part of blockbuster deal?
When asked before the season started about the chances of Chris Wilcox donning a new jersey, the Seattle GM said
"As long as I'm here, Chris Wilcox isn't going anywhere".
He kept his word for the first few months of the season when he turned down the likes of Josh Howard, Danny Granger and Elton Brand. Fast forward a month and Wilcox will most likely be donning a new jersey. After a disappointing start to the season by Wilcox, the Sonics GM has been actively shopping the 25 year old. He's been shopping a package of Wilcox and defensive stud Andrei Kirilenko for a scoring SF to take some scoring load off Michael Redd. Teams that have expressed interest are the Portland Trail Blazers, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers. Seattle has lots to choose from with packages that consists of Rashard Lewis and Travis Outlaw, and Kevin Garnett. With the recent injury to starting point guard Andre Miller, Seattle is also looking for a starting PG. Orlando has offered Jameer Nelson and Luol Deng for Wilcox and AK47. When asked about the trade rumors yesterday, the Sonics GM said
"Chris has been great for this city and franchise and we would love to keep him here. With that said, if a trade that can help our franchise comes along we would be crazy to turn it down"
New Big 3 In LA?
This scene is all too familiar. It goes like this, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant have butted heads and both are demanding to be traded. All this after "making up" in the summer when they were re-united. Expectations were high as usual when the season started, the Lakers haven't gotten off to the best of start with a 9-10 record. O'Neal has been hampered with injuries this season. Finding a trading partner for Shaq and his big contract will be tough though. Of the teams that are interested in Shaq are the Celtics, New Jersey Nets and Utah Jazz. During a press conference yesterday Lakers GM said
"Yes, Shaq and Kobe have both requested a trade, we are trying to grant their request."
The completion of the deal is now awaiting physicals for O'Neal. The deal would send the expiring contracts of Theo Ratliff and Jason Williams to the Lakers in exchange for O'Neal. On the other hand the Detroit Piston have expressed a lot of interest for Kobe. Both teams discussed a possible deal for an hour yesterday and finally agreed that Detroit would send young superstar Dwight Howard and Ben Gordon for Kobe and Mardy Collins. Look for the deal to be announced in the next week. Will all these moves help bring LA to the next level? Only time will tell.
Quick Hits
Denver is actively shopping Greg Oden and have contacted the Bucks for a possible Yao- Oden swap. Another deal has him heading to Philly for Jamario Moon, Mike Miller and Leandro Barbosa. New Kings GM has received up to 10 offers for franchise cornerstone Caron Butler. He has made it very clear Butler is not going anywhere. Michael Finley is making it very clear that he wants to be moved to a contender. He said that "this team is a mess, I don't wanna be spending the rest of my career in Houston". Philly and Denver have contacted the Rockets for Finley but word is that the asking price is very high.
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Feb 21, 2008, 6:02pm
RJ misses team flight after a minor incident, is this the last straw?
There was much lighthearted banter from head coach Jerry Sloan and his players about Richard Jefferson's latest mishap, a minor car accident that caused him to miss the team's charter flight to Denver on Friday.
The problem for coach Sloan and the Jazz may be that it appeared Jefferson would have missed the flight even without the accident because he overslept.
"He went home [after Friday's practice] and I guess he had a little lunch, put his feet up and probably dozed off," Sloan said. "He lives alone. We've got to get an alarm clock for him I suppose, or get him in the habit of setting one."
Apparently Jefferson still had time to sign a few autographs after a chain-reaction crash on the Kingsway Friday afternoon.
Witnesses reported Mr. Jefferson was eastbound on Hwy. 401 near Carling Avenue in his white Hummer when it and another vehicle collided as he attempting to pass at about 3:15 p.m.
The second vehicle then crashed into a third, witnesses said. It did not appear anyone was injured in the fender-bender.
State police would not say whether any charges would be laid as a result of the collision. Police said they had received a traffic complaint from other drivers of a white Hummer driving at a "high rate of speed" prior to the collision. One of the drivers involved in the collision said Mr. Jefferson indicated he was in a hurry to get to the airport when the crash occurred.
Before climbing back into his Hummer and driving away, Mr. Jefferson took the time to hand out a few autographs to tow-truck drivers who had arrived at the scene.
This mishap comes after Jefferson was fined for missing practice. Jefferson showed up late for Utah's practice in Memphis on Monday. It was the third time this season he has been late for practice.
Jefferson told Sloan that he flew back to the Memphis area on Sunday evening after spending the weekend in Las Vegas. However, he went to FedExForum on Monday instead of the practice facility the Jazz had gathered at for their 4 p.m. practice.
“By the time he got there, he got into the rink at 4:03 and (head coach) Jerry(Sloan) wouldn't let him onto the court,” said the Jazz GM. “I met with him today and spent some time talking to him about it.
“He was apologetic, he said: ‘I don't want to put you guys in the spot I put you in.' ... For RJ, he was quite apologetic and concerned.”
The latest mishap spurred rumours of a possible trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andre Igoudala according to one Western Conference official. The deal is reportedly in the preliminary stages.
As for now RJ is still a Jazz but don't be surprised if he's gonna be donning a new jersey soon.
AI Sweep Stakes Heating up
Cleveland currently boasts one of the top records in the East, that should be enough to keep the GM happy right? Not for the new Cavs GM apparently. He has made it clear he has not been happy with Andre Igoudala's production this season and Iggy has made it clear that he's not happy in Cleveland.
The 23 year old forward is putting up career low numbers for the Cavs this season and has requested a trade on numerous occasions. Igoudala almost had his request granted when the Cavaliers reportedly traded him to the Sacremento Kings only for the deal to be blocked by Kings forward Vladimir Radmonovic.
Trade talks have only heated up since the reported deal. According to one Eastern Conference official close to the situation the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz (see above) have all offered deals for Iggy.
The Magic are rumored to have offered the best deal as of yet. The reported trade would send newly acquired big man Al Jefferson, super scorer Jason Terry, Jerry Stackhouse and picks to the Cavs for Igoudala and soon to be FA Elton Brand. Miami has offered young superstar Dwayne Wade, Nenad Krstic and picks for Brand and Igoudala but talks have come to halt.
Looks like it's gonna be an ugly divorce for the once franchise cornerstone and the Cavaliers.
Chandler- Camby swap in the works?
According to a top ranking Eastern Conference official the Magic and Sonics are in the finals stages of a trade that would see the two teams swapping defensive stalwarts. Heading to Seattle would be 25 year old DPOY candidate Tyson Chandler and going the other way is former DPOY winner Marcus Camby who was recently acquired for rookie standout Greg Oden.
Orlando is also rumored to looking for plenty of 2008 first rounders and is willing to part ways with Jameer Nelson in order to do so. A rumored deal has Orlando sending Nelson and Kwame Brown to New York in exchange for 3 first rounders and Bobby Simmons who is owed around 20 million in the next 2 seasons.
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Other Rumors Around the League
Portland has contacted the Sonics about a deal that would send Marcus Williams and Ryan Gomes to Portland in exchange for Thaddeus Young. Deal is in the final stages and should go down soon. Sharp Shooter JJ Reddick has requested a trade. Reddick has seen limited minutes with the Jazz this season. No teams have shown interest as of yet. Sacremento is actively shopping Shane Battier and Jamaal Tinsley for draft picks and expirings, both have generated little interest. Don't be surprised if they'll still be playing for the Kings after the deadline.
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Apr 20, 2008, 8:02pm
Kobe heading to the great white north?
AP- Who would have thought, Kobe Bryant joining the team he once scored 81 pts against. That's right folks, your eyes are not fooling you. Kobe Bryant could be dawning a Raptors jersey before the NBA Legends trade deadline if all goes right.Talks started off about a possible three team deal that would send Shaq to Toronto and Houston's 2008 first rounder to LA, reports have indicated that those talks have since fell apart. Although the trade fell apart, the Lakers and Raptors continued to discuss about a possible blockbuster trade. According to sources close to the situation, he two clubs agreed to a trade in principle that would send the NBA mega-star and Canadian Samuel Dalembert to Toronto for rising superstar Carmelo Anthony, Kirk Hinrich and former 1st overall pick Andrea Bargnani.
This trade would make sense for both teams, the LAL big 3 haven't worked out as the Lakers GM would like, making this trade would give them a more complete starting five and inject some youth to a team composed mostly of 30+ aged players. Toronto would get a true center in Dalembert to replace Bargnani who was clearly out of position at center. Obviously, adding Kobe is a big addition to any team. This trade would give Toronto one of the top defences in the league with a starting composed of Dalembert-Jermaine O'Neal, Carlos Delfino, Kobe and Larry Hughes.
When asked about the possible deal, the Lakers GM had this to say:
"Obviously, moving a player of Kobe's magnitude would be a franchise changing move for any team, we won't deny that we've talked to the Raptors about a trade but what we've talked about is not gonna be revealed to the public."
I guess we'll just have to see if this deal falls through in the next 48 hours, what we do know though, is this defintiely won't be a boring deadline.
LeBron on the move again?!?
AP- LeBron could be packing his bags and be playing for a new team for the THIRD team this season. This time, he could be headed to the Bay Area. According to the Oakland Tribune, the Warriors have offered a package that would send sharpshooter Rashard Lewis, power forward Al Harrington and highflyer Desmond Mason to the Suns for King James. Officials on both sides have acknowledged that there have been talks surrounding a LeBron deal. Golden State isn't the only team interested in Jame's services, according to ESPN's Chad Ford, the San Antonio Spurs have entered the sweepstakes as early as yesterday morning. They have put together a package that would send Andre Igoudala and Monta Ellis for James. Look for either one of these trades to go down right before the deadline. Since LeBron was acquired from the Magic, the young superstar has put up measley stats, 14 pts and 7 rbs. Not numbers you'd expect from the next "MJ". Although LeBron is having an awful season, you'd think a team would have enough patience with him and hope he bounces back next season.
Youth Movement continues in Houston, Dwade next superstar to be acquired by Rockets?
AP- Yet another superstar from the star ladden 2004 NBA Draft could be on the move, rumors have LeBron James heading to the Bay Area, Chris Bosh was recently traded to Washington and Dwayne Wade was traded to the Indiana Pacers two days ago. Two days later, the Pacers are actively trying to move him before the deadline. Houston, who recently traded their first rounders for Josh Smith, has seems to be the front runners in the Wade sweepstakes. The new Rockets GM has let it be known that nobody is untouchable. So it's no surprise that he's offered up recently acquired Josh Smith and Andrew Bogut for Wade. Sources close to the Pacers organization say they are considering taking that package but are still fielding offers for Wade. The 26 year old guard has struggled for the Heat this season, averaging a career low 15 pts. Hopefully a change of scenery can get this young star's career back on track.
Boston, Atlanta blockbuster deal in the works?
Several league sources have told me that the Celtics' GM was working the phone lines just days before the Legend's trade deadline. Word has it, the Celtics and Hawks are discussing a deal that would send young stud Kevin Durant and Marco Bellnelli to the Hawks for franchise cornerstones Al Horford and Yi Jianlian. The deal is still in the preliminary stages according to the same sources. The Hawks have been recently scouting top ranked prospect Michael Beasley and plan on drafting him if the ping pong balls bounce their way. This would leave them with 3 PF's in the frontcourt, which is why acquiring Durant to play SF makes sense. If this deal doesn't fall through, the Hawks will probably make a run at Dwayne Wade with the same package.
ROOKIE POWER RANKINGS
Jan 29, 2008, 3:04pm
Rookie Power Rankings
1. - Greg Oden [DEN]
15.6 ppg | 8.4 rpg | 1.94 bpg
November's West Rookie of the Month is having a nice season meeting pre-draft expectations. Oden is surprisingly scoring this season too, A move to Denver will only benefit Oden playing with All Star Chris Bosh. This frontcourt will dominate the paint for years to come. It should be no surprise if Oden wins the ROY this season. Word has it that the NBA have contacted Oden to enter the 3pt Contest with his amazing .186 percentage from downtown
2. - Brandon Wright [LAC]
15.6 ppg | 7.1 rpg | 1.40 spg | 1.05 bpg
Surprise surpirse? Wright has surpassed all expectations carrying the scoring load for the rebuilding Clippers, also chipping in on the boards grabbing 7.1 rpg. The future looks bright for Wright and the Clippers. If he keeps up these numbers he could steal the ROY from Oden
3. - Kevin Durant [BOS]
17.0 ppg | 3.1 rpg | 1.8 apg
A hip injury has limited KD to 16 games this season. When healthy KD has been putting up very impressive numbers on offence scoring 17 ppg for the Celtics leading all rookies. Other than that KD has dissapointed in other areas of his game. Improving other parts of his game should be no problem for the 19 year old rookie who will have plenty of time to improve for the rebuilding Celtics.
4. - Yi Jianlian [ATL]
13.9 ppg | 9 rpg | 2.2 apg
Yi has been a ray of light in for the re-building Hawks. He's done everything for the Hawks this season whether it be scoring in the paint, hitting a 3, cleaning the glass with a 10+ rebound game or passing out of double teams to an open teammate for a 3. Yi has also shown great poise down the stretch for the Hawks hitting a clutch shots then swatting away a shot on the other end in a recent win against Indiana. The future looks very bright for this man.
5. - Spencer Hawes [CHI]
12.8 ppg | 6.4 rpg | 2.4 apg | 1.71 bpg
The Utah GM is pulling out every last piece of his hair for trading this young stud. After his trade from Utah, Hawes has exploded for 14 ppg and 8 rpg for Chicago. It would be only be fitting for him to receive the first Eastern Conference Rookie of The Month for November. Hawes looks like a mainstay on Chicago's frontcourt and should develop into an integral part of the Bulls future.
6. - Al Horford [ATL]
12.0 ppg | 8.0 rpg | 1.64 bpg
Horford has been overshadowed by teammate Yi Jianlian for most of the season but has quietly put up very solid numbers. Horford has developed into Atlanta's best post defender and best rebounder having spurts of 8 rbs in a quarter against Indiana recently. Look for Yi-Horford to wreck havoc for years to come.
Honourable Mentions
- Corey Brewer : 11.6 ppg | 5.6 rpg | 3.2 apg
- Mike Conley Jr : 12.6 ppg | 4.3 rpg | 5.1 apg | 1.65 spg
- Al Thornton : 11.7 ppg | 4.4 rpg
- Jeff Green : 12.6 ppg | 5.9 rpg
Hope you guys enjoy my first rookie rankings, I might make more of these later on. Comments would be appreciated
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Mar 1, 2008, 4:11pm
Rookie Power Rankings
1. - Kevin Durant [BOS]
15.9 PPG | 3.9 RPG | 2.1 APG |1.07 SPG | 47.1FG %
It's been an up and down season for Durant thus far, KD started off the season helping the Celtics sit atop the Atlantic Division, he then hit a cold streak where he went 6 consecutive games where he was held with 10 pts or less, then he got hit by the injury bug which sidelined him for 6 games. The Celtics went 1-5 without him in the lineup. KD struggled mightily when he returned to the line-up scoring only 16 pts in his first 5 games back. He is slowly turning the corner now and should be putting up the numbers he did before getting injured in no time.
2. - Brandon Wright [LAC]
15.5 PPG | 7.2 RPG | 1.25 SPG | .91 BPG | 44.4FG %
Brandon Wright has been having one of the most underrated seasons thus far. He has quietly put up ROY calibre numbers and has recently lead the Clippers to a rare 3 game winning streak. Playing alongside former 1st overall pick Andrew Bogut, Wright and Bogut have formed one of the top young frontcourts in the league and should a force to be reckoned with. Only area that Wright needs to improve on his his free throw shooting where he is shooting a woeful 55%. Don't be surprised if Wright ends up taking the ROY from Oden or Durant if he keeps up this pace.
3. - Greg Oden [MIL]
14.7 PPG| 8.2 RPG | 1.81 BPG | 43FG % | 9-49 3PM/A
It's been a crazy season for the 20 year old phenom out of Ohio State. Started off the season with Seattle where it looked like he would form one of the best frontcourts with Chris Wilcox for years to come. Seattle then shocked the basketball world when he dealt Oden to the Nuggets for aging Marcus Camby. His stay in Denver was short lived as Denver dealt Oden to Milwaukee for Yao Ming. It didn't get any easier from there. Oden got hit by a hip flexor which kept him out of the lineup for 9 games. Even after all this Oden has managed to stay in the thick of the ROY race combining a mix of low post scoring, deadly shooting from behind the arc and stellar post defence. With Emeka Okafor possibly bolting at the end of the season don't expect Oden to moved to another team anytime soon.
4. - Corey Brewer [SA]
12.9 PPG | 5.3 RPG | 3.5 APG | 1.50 SPG | 50.2FG %
Not much was expected of Corey Brewer heading into the 2008 NBA campaign. This was supposed to be the year where he was supposed develop his game, sit back and take it easy. With the recent trade that sent Ricky Davis and Shareef Abdur Rahim to the 76ers for Chris Webber, that has all changed. With Davis gone there was a huge scoring void left behind. Brewer stepped up his game in December averaging 15 pts (on 60 percent shooting, 6 rbs and 4 asts and grabbing Western Conference Rookie of the Month honours. The Spurs are now hoping Brewer can continue this type of play next season when the Spurs are expected to lose one of Josh Smith or Monta Ellis.
5. - Al Horford [ATL]
12.6 PPG | 9.3 RPG | 1.81 BPG | 39.1 FG%
Big E has picked up the slack with Yi struggling to re-gain his scoring touch. He has been a force on both ends of the court drawing double teams and overpowering defenders on the offensive end while swatting away shot after shot on D. Horford picked up Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honours for December, something long due since being snubbed for Spencer Hawes the previous month.
6. - Jeff Green[/size]
13.1 PPG | 5.9 RPG | 1.23 SPG | 1.03 BPG | 48.7FG%
Green has teamed up with the likes of Andrew Bynum and Al Thornton to form one of the best young frontcourts in the league. Green has brought versatility to the young Knicks squad this season whether it be stepping back and draining a 3 or grabbing a last second rebound to clinch a win.
Honourable Mentions
- Mike Conley 11.5 PPG | 3.9 RPG | 5.1 APG | 1.48 SPG
- Al Thornton 11.5 PPG | 5.5 RPG | 1.2 APG | 40.9 FG%
-Yi Jianlian 10.3 PPG | 9.5 RPG | 1.17 SPG | 1.13 BPG | 34.5 FG%
- Spencer Hawes 9.3 PPG | 6.4 RPG | 2.1 APG | 1.64 BPG | 35.8 FG %
PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR
- Sean Williams- Wasn't getting any PT in Philly with the likes of Ike Diogu and Kevin Garnett ahead of him on the depth chart. A fresh start in Los Angeles and a starting job should do wonder for Williams. Hasn't been the case so far, the transition into the triangle offence has been a tough one for Williams, which was evident in the countless games where he was held to 0 pts. But as long as he continues to bring energy on defence, a starting spot for Williams should be locked up.
- Acie Law IV- Another man's loss is another man's gain. With the recent injury to Wizard superstar Gilbert Arenas, Law is not penciled in as the starting point guard. With Agent 0 expiring at the end of the season Captain Clutch's future with the Wizards should be determined on how he plays in the next 7-8 weeks.
-Rodney Stuckey- Word out of the Cleveland camp is that they're uncomfortable with Keyon Dooling starting. That should give Stuckey ample opportunities to play the point for the Cavs. Don't be surprised if Stuckey is anchoring the Cav's offence once the playoffs come around
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PLAYOFF PREVIEWS
Jun 21, 2008, 11:02am
[/b](4) Philadelphia 76ers vs (5) New Jersey Nets
VS
Team Player Leader Team Player
Kevin Garnett
21.0 PPG Points
Mehmet Okur
20.7 PPG
Kevin Garnett
11.1 RPG Rebounds
Mehmet Okur
9.7 RPG
Gilbert Arenas
5.9 APG Assists
Mehmet Okur
3.8 APG
Kevin Garnett
1.7 SPG Steals
Tayshaun Prince
1.65 SPG
Kevin Garnett
1.93 BPG Blocks
Tayshaun Prince
1.35 BPG
This series features the two top teams in the Atlantic who have been neck to neck for the Atlantic title since day 1. Both teams have helped the Atlantic division rid themselves of the title "Titanic division". Last season both teams combined for an abysmal 69-95 record, one year later and they combine for a 180 95-69 record. An improvement of 26 games! It's been an interesting road to the playoffs for both the Nets and Sixers.
Season Recap:
After a dissapointing 06/07 campaign the Sixers organization fired GM Muarice Cheeks before the playoffs. Owner Eugene Melnyk broguht in close friend Bryan Colangelo to take over the vacant GM position. Colangelo promised Philly that the Sixers would be back in the playoffs in no time. The off-season was one to remember in Philly. The first deal BC pulled out of his hat was when he dealt the team's coveted 3rd overall pick for highflyer Josh Smith. A few days later Philly surprisingly emerged as the front runners in the KG sweepstakes. After a few days to hammer out the details, Colangelo struck a deal to acquire the league MVP. Things were looking bright with a core of Mike Miller- Josh Smith and Kevin Garnett. However, the team still had some holes to fill. Without a PG and C, Colangelo managed to fill those holes by bringing in Mike Bibby and Chris Webber. When the season began, the Sixers struggled out of the gate falling to the bottom of the Atlantic. What went wrong? There were not enough shots to go around. Chemistry wasn't there between Webber and KG and things were heating up in the lockeroom. Alas, Colangelo dealt away Webber to the San Antonio Spurs for their leading scorer, Ricky Davis and Shareef Abdur Rahim who was later dealt to Cleveland for Drew Gooden. The next move he made was ridding himself of Kyle Korver and Sean Williams for Dickembe Mutombo. This move has possibly saved Philly's season. By bringing in Mutombo and Walton, Philly's defence was better than ever, plus KG got his touches again. At one point Philly was on a season high 10 game winning streak. However, it's been Jeckly and Hyde ever since. The final move BC made this season was as big as any other. Hours before the trade deadline, fan favourite Mike Miller, Mike Bibby and Leandro Barbosa were traded in a blockbuster 3 way deal that landed Philly superscorer Gilbert Arenas, Cuttino Mobley, Linas Kleiza and Korver. Arenas was injured for his first two weeks in Philly but since his return the Sixers have returned to their mid-season form. Their 4 consecutive losses heading into the playoffs is a big concern however. Regardless, it's been a great turnaround in the City of Brotherley Love.
Like Philly, the Nets were a team that struggled last season but has turned it around this season. Unlike the Sixers however, the Nets made it to the playoffs (albeit with a 40-42) last season in the then weak Eastern Conference. There were major changes in the off-season which saw the Nets say good-bye to defensive studs Ron Artest and Jason Kidd. Both were traded to the Bucks for Stephon Marbury and Tracy McGrady. This was only the first of many moves. The next move may turn out to be the most crucial the Nets success this season. On November 17th, the Utah Jazz and New Jersey reached a deal that sent Brad Miller to the Jazz in exchange for Mehmet Okur. I think it's safe to say New Jersey benefited the most from this trade. The lineup was set and the Nets started off fairly well sitting on top of the Atlantic for the first few months of the season. Since, the Nets and Sixers have been going neck to neck for the Atlantic crown until the Nets finally clinched it in dramatic fashion, on the last day of the season Philly and Jersey faced off for the last time for the division crown and home court advantage in the playoffs.
** Philadelphia 76ers ** ** Position ** ** New Jersey Nets ** Advantage
Gilbert Arenas15.5 PPG
3.9 RPG
5.5 APG PG
Rafer Alston
8.0 PPG
1.2 RPG
3.5 APG
1.2 RPG
3.5 APG
Arenas
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Arenas: Agent 0 has had an injury plagued season. However, he has looked great with Philly down the stretch run and has given the Sixers someone who can score with the on the wire. Since joining Philly, Arenas has scored over 20 pts in all but 5 games. Look for him to extend his hot streak into the playoffs with the likes on Rafer Alston guarding him.
Alston: Picked up at the trade deadline to give the Nets a spark, Alston has done exactly that plus more. Skip to my Lou has been far and away the Net's best point guard this season. With the likes of Devin Harris and Randy Foye struggling to run the point, having a decent PG comes as a sigh of relief to Nets fans. Alston's playmaking ability and shooting touch has been crucial to a team filled with scorers. However, Alston is gonna have his hands full guarding Agent 0 in this series. He has to make sure he stays out of foul trouble because the Nets have no depth at PG and we all know you're not gonna do well without a PG.
** Philadelphia 76ers ** | ** Position ** | ** New Jersey Nets ** | Advantage |
Cuttino Mobley 15.5 PPG 3.9 RPG 5.5 APG | SG |
Josh Howard
17.3 PPG
6.8 RPG
3.3 APG
6.8 RPG
3.3 APG
Josh Howard
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Mobley- The sharpshooting Mobley seems to be progressing as the games keep coming. Mobley started off cold as ice and was bench in favor for Ricky Davis. Once Gilbert Arenas returned from injury, Mobley was inserted into the lineup because he was a better outside shooter than Davis and would give Arenas and Garnett more room to manuever with. Since, he's played a lot better. Why? With Arenas in the lineup, there's less pressure for Mobley to score and more open oppurtunities with both KG and Arenas doubled. In this series, Cuttino should have his fair share of shots but it's on the defensive end that's worrying fans. Mobley is gonna have to guard a much bigger Josh Howard. If this doesn't work out, don't be surprised to see a more atheltic Ricky Davis inserted into the lineup to guard Howard.
Howard- Howard's transition from SF to SG has made the Net's coach look genius. For most part of the 2007-2008 campaign, the Nets were getting ZERO production from the SG position. They were desperate enough to use Harris at SG. Let's just say that didn't work out too well. Howard was then experimented at SG and he's ran away with the job and never looked back. J-Ho has provided the Nets some much needed perimeter offence and solid defence. Look for him to attack the basket whenever he gets the chance too this series with a smaller Mobley guarding him.
** Philadelphia 76ers ** | ** Position ** | ** New Jersey Nets ** | Advantage |
Luke Walton 13.2 PPG 5.4 RPG 4.7 APG | SF |
Tayshaun Prince
17.4 PPG
6.9 RPG
2.7 APG
6.9 RPG
2.7 APG
Tayshaun Prince
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Walton- Walton has quietly had himself a breakout season. Since being acquired from the Lakers, Walton has provided some much needed defence at the SF position. His intangibles compliment Garnett and Arenas well. He's been a big reason for the Sixers turnaround from their early season meltdown.
Prince- It's been a roller coaster season for Tayshaun. He's gone from scoring 30 pts on a consistent basis to under 10 in 10 consecutive games. When the new Pacers GM came in, he immediately got rid of Prince claiming he was too inconsistent to be the face of the Pacers franchise. Although he's no longer putting up 30 PPG for the Nets, Prince has been a key component of the Nets defence which is fairly weak. He's also a great player in transition and his huge wingspan is key in the Nets defence. Look for him to be the X- Factor in this series for New Jersey.
** Philadelphia 76ers ** | ** Position ** | ** New Jersey Nets ** | Advantage |
Kevin Garnett 21.0 PPG 11.1 RPG 4.2 APG | PF |
David West
17.5 PPG
9.5 RPG
2.5 APG
9.5 RPG
2.5 APG
Kevin Garnett
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Garnett- KG has been hands down the MVP of the Philadelphia 76ers and single handedly returned respectability to Philly basketball. If the Sixers plan on making some noise in the post-season, KG is gonna have to continue posting the same numbers across the board. Look for the Big Ticket to put on a big show against a fairly soft New Jersey frontcourt (banged up David West and Mehmet Okur).
West- This matchup is one to definitely keep an eye on. West has been nothing short of exceptional since coming over from the Kings. However, he has had his fair share of struggles against KG and co. this season averaging only 10.2 PPG on 33% shooting. West is still not 100% after a late season injury and this could be a huge problem considering he can re-injure guarding the physical Garnett. How long will an injured David West be able to contain Kevin Garnett? We'll just have to wait and see.
** Philadelphia 76ers ** | ** Position ** | ** New Jersey Nets ** | Advantage |
Dickembe Mutombo 10.8 PPG 8.1 RPG 1.43 BPG | C |
Mehmet Okur
20.7 PPG
9.7 RPG
3.8 APG
9.7 RPG
3.8 APG
Mehmet Okur
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Mutombo- At 40 years of age, the "Cookie Monster" looks as if he never lost a step. Mutombo has been the perfect bigman to pair up next to KG. He doesn't demand shots, still one of the premiere shotblocking/defensive centers in the league and has a boatload of experience. Deke is going to have his habds full guarding Jersey's MVP, Mehmet Okur. If Mutombo, can keep Okur at bay, it should be smooth sailing for Philly.
Okur- The Turkish sharpshooter is coming off a career year in which he led the Nets in points, rebounds, assists and field goal %. Like what KG has done for Philly, he's been a huge part of the Net's turnaround. It's gonna be a tough task to put up similar numbers against a Philly front line that consists of Garnett and Mutombo.
Bench
Philly- Depth is one of the Sixer's biggest strenght, With the likes of Ricky Davis, Drew Gooden, Kyle Korver, Linas Kleiza, Chris Duhon, Juan Carlos Navvaro and Ike Diogu, Philly has arguably one of the top benches in teh league. There is a good mix of scoring (JCN, Davis, Korver, Kleiza), rebounding (Diogu, Gooden), and defence (Duhon). This should give Philly a big advantage over the Nets this series.
Jersey- I guess having a great starting lineup does have it's costs. In this case, it's a lack of depth for Jersey. New Jersey's pine is consists of mostly SG's (Q-Rich, Mccants, Murray) and retired players (Robinson, Mckie, Murray). One has to wonder how long a team can last the wind and grind of the playoffs without a bench they can rely on.
Philly X Factor
Dickembe Mutombo
10.8 PPG
8.1 RPG
1.43 BPG
8.1 RPG
1.43 BPG
New Jersey X Factor
Tayshaun Prince
17.4 PPG
6.9 RPG
2.7 APG
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____________________________________________________________________________
Jun 28, 2008, 10:17pm
(1) Orlando Magic vs (5) Philadelphia 76ers
VS
Team | Player | Leader | Team | Player |
Kevin Garnett 21.0 PPG | Points | Jason Terry 23.0 PPG | ||
Kevin Garnett 11.1 RPG | Rebounds | Tyson Chandler 9.7 RPG | ||
Gilbert Arenas 5.9 APG | Assists | Jason Terry 7.6 APG | ||
Kevin Garnett 1.7 SPG | Steals | Jason Terry 2.36 SPG | ||
Kevin Garnett 1.93 BPG | Blocks | Tyson Chandler 2.32 BPG |
First Round Recap:
(1) - Orlando Magic [4W-0L]- Orlando didn't even have to break a sweat in ther first round sweep of the Wizards. The Magic pretty much dominated every aspect of the game. Orlando's suffocating defence was better than ever (holding the Wizards to 83.3 point per game). However, Orlando's production offensively has got to be a slight concern. They only averaged 96.8 points per game on 40.5% shooting against the fairly weak Wizards defence. I wouldn't be too worried though, I mean a team with Jason Terry, Al Jefferson and Shawn Marion is capable of lighting it up anytime. If the offence can get going, look for the Magic to make quick business of this series. Look for the Magic to come out a little rusty after a 6 day break.
(5) - Philadelphia 76ers [4W-3L]- Momentum should be the Sixers side coming off a series clinching win against the Nets just 2 days ago. Philly's dynamic duo of KG and Agent 0 are in top form right now, the bench was as good as any in the first round and the defence was respectable against the Nets in the first round. However, the Sixers are gonna need more consistency from the other three starters (Mutombo, Walton and Mobley).
** Philadelphia 76ers ** | ** Position ** | ** Orlando Magic** | Advantage |
Gilbert Arenas 15.5 PPG 3.9 RPG 5.5 APG | PG |
Jameer Nelson
16.9 PPG
2.5 RPG
6.3 APG
2.5 RPG
6.3 APG
Arenas
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[tr][td]
Cuttino Mobley
15.5 PPG
3.9 RPG
5.5 APG
[/td]3.9 RPG
5.5 APG
[td]
[/td][td][/b] SG
Jason Terry
23.0 PPG
2.8 RPG
7.6 APG
2.8 RPG
7.6 APG
Terry
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[tr][td]
Luke Walton
13.2 PPG
5.4 RPG
4.7 APG
[/td]5.4 RPG
4.7 APG
[td]
[/td][td][/b] SF
Shawn Marion
16.3 PPG
8.2 RPG
1.7 BPG
8.2 RPG
1.7 BPG
Marion
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[tr][td]
Kevin Garnett
21.0 PPG
11.1 RPG
4.2 APG
[/td]11.1 RPG
4.2 APG
[td]
[/td][td][/b] PF
Al Jefferson
14.5 PPG
8.7 RPG
1.8 BPG
8.7 RPG
1.8 BPG
Garnett
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Dickembe Mutombo 10.8 PPG 8.1 RPG 1.43 BPG | C |
Tyson Chandler
16.2 PPG
9.7 RPG
2.32 BPG
9.7 RPG
2.32 BPG
Chandler
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Bench
Philly- Philly's bench was the deciding factor in their first round matchup against the Nets. Ricky Davis, Kyle Korver and Linas Kleiza were huge contributers providing the Sixers with some scoring punch off the pine.
Orlando- Orlando's bench is mediocre at best, Stevenson has provided some scoring, Stack has the odd double digit points game but his experience is what makes him valuable to this fairly inexperienced Magic squad. The Magic lack a quality big to rely on forcing Chandler and Jefferson to play heavy minutes. We'll see how this pays off as the playoffs go on.