Brian Windhorst of the Akron Beacon-Journal: "Most NBA teams right now aren't in spending mode. Contracts are getting shorter by average and fewer teams want to use all of their mid-level exceptions. The Cavs, however, seem like they are willing to spend and that gives them a massive advantage. In the previous blog, I explained how they can creatively reduce other teams' payrolls with their current roster. In the past, GM Danny Ferry has used owner Dan Gilbert's checkbook to make cap-reducing deals with Billy King, who is a close friend. Helping King get the 76ers under the luxury tax line two years ago got the Cavs Daniel Gibson when they made a cap-absorbing deal for a draft pick at the deadline. Well, two teams looking to reduce costs are the Suns and Sonics. They both have new general managers (Sam Presti and Steve Kerr, respectively) and Ferry won NBA title rings with both of them and has good relations with each. Also, both are in the other conference, making a big deal more likely. So when it comes to Lewis or Shawn Marion rumors or any other Sonics or Suns cash-dumping moves, expect that the Cavs could be very much involved."
A list of the worst starters on title teams in NBA history. Bruce Bowen is on the list, but I don't think he earned that. In Game 3 of the NBA Finals -- the biggest of all nails in Cleveland's coffin -- Bowen was one of the best all-around players on the floor. And, defense wins championships, right?
Brian Berger of Sports Business Radio on Greg Oden's workout in Portland yesterday: "The most memorable thing for me about Oden's workout was not what Oden did on the court. It was watching the expressions of current Trail Blazers players Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Zach Randolph and Dan Dickau during Oden's workout. Each of them sat very focused, almost in awe, of Oden's skills. And then at one point, they started slapping each other like giddy kids as if to say, 'Are you kidding me? We get to play with THIS guy??!! Woooohoooo!!!!' To say Oden impressed the Trail Blazers players in attendance today would be a gross understatement."
Percy Allen of the Seattle Times: "A few NBA insiders believe an impressive workout and interview by Oden or Durant might prompt the Sonics to try to move up to No. 1 or broker a trade with Portland to secure the player they want. Would the Sonics deal one of their point guards or agree to a sign-and-trade deal involving Rashard Lewis for either Oden or Durant? Or will they simply sit back and take whichever player Portland doesn't select?" Here's what I can't figure out: Portland is CERTAINLY muddying the water to make it unclear who they will pick. This is only a valuable tactic if you want to hear offers for the pick. Presumably they would only trade with Seattle, if Portland decides they want Kevin Durant. (Seattle, I'm assuming, would take Oden no matter what.) So then all the Portland posturing is an effort to get ... what from Seattle? What does Seattle have, that meets the rules of the collective bargaining agreement, that Portland might want? Next year's first-rounder? A signed-and-traded Rashard Lewis for ... what? One of the young big men?
Mike Conley, Jr. joins the blogging game: "On the way to the airport something crazy happend to me. I was listening to this song called 'Joke's on You' which is on the new cd by Fabolous, when out of nowhere it sounded like he said my name. I sat there for a minute and thought to myself that I didn't just hear what I thought I heard. So I rewinded it a couple of times to make sure and I found that he definately used my name in the song. I never thought that my name would ever be used in a song, especially not one by Fabolous. The first person that I called was Greg Oden so I could brag to him haha. He didn't believe me until he heard it for himself." You can listen to the song here (lyrics at your own risk). Dane Cook gets his name in there too. UPDATE: Not so fast, Mike.
Glen "Big Baby" Davis talks about his weight, as reported by the Associated Press: "I'll keep it off until I'm wealthy enough where I can have Big Baby Enterprises, so my kids' kids can be like Paris Hilton and them -- without jail."
In defense of Michael Jordan's cronyism. True enough, he didn't invent it, not by a long shot. But the case against cronyism is that the wider a net you cast, the greater your chances of getting a great fish. If you're only hiring from your friends, that's a pretty little net. Also, many of the history's greatest leaders have hired people who would challenge their assumptions -- the internal debate makes for more rigorous decision-making.
Watch Reggie Theus. I don't know much about the guy, but he has a certain air of assertiveness that I like. He used to have a lot of flair on the court, but his coaching colleagues say he's all business on the sidelines.
If a reporter finds a team's scouting report, should they publish it? A legal discussion based on a real example from baseball.
Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel on Miami's title a year ago: "Judging by comments in this space and elsewhere, it's as if the Heat sold its soul for that championship, now left to deal with the bloated contract of Antoine Walker, the chronic ailments of Jason Williams, the diminishing returns of Shaquille O'Neal, and a salary-cap situation that can be defined as bleak, at best. To some, it was a one-and-done instant, the culmination of a process that robbed much from the franchise's future." My take: a title is a title is a title. One out of thirty gets to win one each year. One of those is totally worth your future (especially if you still have South Beach and a young Dwyane Wade -- players will come). And it's not like everything was perfect before all the big contracts.
Sekou Smith of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on private team workouts: "Other than checking out a guy's true height and physical stature (and how much crap he's willing and able to put up with from your coaching staff during the workout), these things are more about putting on show than they are about anything else. Because if anyone involved in this entire process was serious about finding out who really wants to get after it, all the top prospects would be working out at the predraft camp in that kill or be killed meat market where the feeble are tossed aside and only the grimiest cats survive. It's just a thought, this idea of changing the process. But not something I expect to happen anytime soon, certainly not in my time dealing with the NBA, because the current system allows for the manipulation of the situation by all involved to serve their own interests. Still, how sweet would it be to have all the guys the Hawks have scheduled for workouts split up into two or three teams and working out over say two or three days in every way imaginable? You'd be able to make some well-informed decisions after watching guys in that setting."
David Berri of "The Wages of Wins" dissects the numbers of the Detroit Bad Boys teams: "What is interesting is that the two most productive players on these championship teams were not scorers. Unlike the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Rockets, and Spurs, the Bad Boys were led by Dennis Rodman and Bill Laimbeer."
Martin Johnson of the New York Sun has bad news for Isiah Thomas: "I don't think the Knicks will score one of the big name superstars on the trade market this summer; and for another I think that the Knicks' improvement will be muted by an uptick in the entire Atlantic Division." (Via Posting and Toasting)
UPDATE: A lot of people complain that today's players are too nice. Anyone needing to rehearse a death stare could learn a lot from this expert.
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