Ricky Davis joins the Clippers

At the beginning of the offseason, it seemed like the Clippers were headed to the bottom half of the standings because of the decisions of Corey Maggette and Elton Brand. Two of the team’s star players decided to opt out of their contracts. But now, the Clippers have found new life with the addition of Baron Davis, Marcus Camby, Marcus Williams and now Ricky Davis.

Ricky Davis has reportedly signed a contract with the L.A. Clippers. Ricky Davis spent the previous season with the Miami Heat. He had season averages of 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 82 games. He was already one of the scoring leaders for the last place Heat.

Ricky Davis is a very versatile and athletic swingman. He is able to pull the defense out with his ability of hitting the long bombs. He also has the ability of slashing and taking it strong to the hoop.

It will be interesting to see the new-look Clippers this season. They have almost totally rebuilt their lineup and their past player rotation. Baron Davis, Marcus Camby, Cuttino Mobley, Chris Kaman, and either Al Thornton or Ricky Davis will start for the Clippers this coming season. We will have to wait and see if the Clippers will now be a contender.

2008 USA Team Will Not Strike Gold

Despite their numerous claims, I am still sticking to my previous belief that they will not be successful for their quest for gold. Sorry to LeBron James whom I have high regards but the team is simply full of stars and egos.

Kobe Bryant, the acclaimed star of the NBA is there but rather than being a savior, will be adding more towards the woes. This is not one on one basketball folks. It is a team game and most of the players like Bryant are not team players. They are trying hard team players and that is obvious as we saw in the last NBA finals where the Boston Celtics defeated the Lakers.

When you say NBA stars, they are used to being favored. In this case, how can you do that with 12 stars always hogging the limelight? Who will step back and play the dirty role backup? No one.

We saw it happening. The first USA Dream Team got the gold because they stuck to the basics. Add to that the fact of most countries not yet ready for the transition on the use of professional players.

But it has been years now and we have seen the development of other countries that can win championships with one or two stars. You don’t need to win by 30 to become champion each game. One point will make the difference.

This lineup will not do. Perhaps the presence of role players like James Posey or even Bruce Bowen can make a difference. But with a team full of superstars who play for money, it is a bomb waiting to explode.

Even the Big Girls Brawl in the WNBA!

This is a historic first in the world of the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball League). It brings me back to 2004 when Ron Artest and then Ben Wallace went at it that escalated into a riot.

Perhaps I was expecting it to occur again but not in the Women’s league. For the ones who missed it, here is the video on what happened that day. The match was between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shocks. The ones who started it were Candace Parker and Plennete Pierson.

Remember those names as they will now be in the record books. Ugly remembrance though.

If you want to see what happened, here is a video from Youtube.

Josh Childress leaves the NBA

Josh Childress will no longer be wearing a Hawks jersey next season. He will not be sporting any other NBA team’s jersey as well. Josh Childress has decided to leave the NBA to join Greek club Olympiacos, a team in the Euroleague.

Josh Childress took the opportunity to make more money compared to his contract as a restricted free agent. Reports have said that he will be making $20 million in a span of 3 years. He will be allowed to opt out of his contract after each year. His offer from Greek club Olympiacos is reportedly the biggest contract any player has been offered in Euroleague history. Reports also said that Josh Childress chose to sign with the Greek club Olympiacos because of the lack of urgency of the Atlanta Hawks organization.

The Hawks were then reportedly said to have had an offer of nearly $36 million. He would've been making $5.6 million this season.

Josh Childress averaged 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds last season for the Hawks. He will be leaving a big hole in the Hawks rotation because he is known to be their standout sixth man. He brought a lot of athleticism and energy into the Hawks offense.

The Olympiacos believes that Josh Childress will be able to help them reach their goal of winning the championship. Last year, they won only runner-up to Panathinaikos. The Olympiacos have made big moves this offseason by signing Josh Childres and also signing one of Greece’s star players, Theodoros Papaloukas.

Matt Barnes inks deal with Phoenix Suns

Matt Barnes, a former Golden State Warrior, has just reportedly signed a one-year contract with the Phoenix Suns.

Matt Barnes has been with six teams since being drafted in the second round by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2003. He has played for the L.A. Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and most recently, the Golden State Warriors.

In his two seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Matt Barnes averaged 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. His career averages of 43.8% field goals and 32.4% from beyond the three point line are quite impressive.

Matt Barnes will bring more firepower to the Phoenix Suns. The Suns’ run and gun style of play will be fit for Matt Barnes’ style of play. Matt Barnes will also bring athleticism on both ends on the floor. He will also be able to bring playoff experience to the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns could find Matt Barnes as a possible replacement for the departing Shawn Marion. They have similar styles of playing. Matt Barnes will most likely be coming off the bench. He will be a solid replacement for the 2 or 3 spot.

He will be teaming up with the likes of 2-time MVP Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Shaquille O’Neal, Leandro Barbosa, and Raja Bell.

James Posey joins the Hornets

James Posey, a two-time NBA Champion, has decided to leave the Boston Celtics as an unrestricted free agent. He has chosen to sign with the New Orleans Hornets. James Posey won a championship with the Miami Heat and last season’s champions, the Boston Celtics.

James Posey would be a big addition to the New Orleans Hornets. He will bring with him championship experience. He can also consistently hit from three. He has impeccable defense that harasses the opposing team’s star player. He is great in positioning to draw the charge and unafraid to sacrifice his body. He is also a player who waits for the offense to come to him. He doesn’t force things.

He only averaged 6.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last season. This may seem like a mediocre contribution from a player. But what he brought to the table were the intangibles that others are not able to contribute.

James Posey is also unafraid to take shots in the clutch moments of a game. He is always a threat because of his long-range shooting. He also displayed a clutch performance in the most recent Eastern Conference Finals. This wasn’t on the offensive end of the floor though. He made a crucial steal in the 4th quarter against the Detroit Pistons. This was the turning point that helped the Celtics win the game.

James Posey will most likely be joining Chris Paul, David West, Tyson Chandler, and Peja Stojakovic in the Hornets’ starting lineup.

Rookie Watch: Jerryd Bayless

Jerryd Bayless, a standout from the University of Virginia, was drafted 11th overall by the Indiana Pacers and was then traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. It seems like the Blazers made a good decision with that acquisition.

Jerryd Bayless, after three games, averaged a stellar 27.3 points, 5.3 boards, and 1.3 assists per game. He finished the Summer League with 29.8 points per game. He also scored 36 points in one game and made a game-winning shot in another. He has absurd athleticism and a lightning-quick first step. He has shown that he has potential to be a solid force in the NBA. To top off his incredible performance, Bayless was awarded the T-Mobile NBA Summer League Top Rookie.

Although Bayless has impressed a lot of people in his Summer League performance, the Blazers are still wondering if Bayless could play the Point Guard position. This position is what the Blazers were looking for when they traded for him. Bayless had a 1:3 assist to turnover ratio. This is opposite to the expected 3:1 ratio for point guards.

Bayless claims that there is nothing to worry about. He says that he is also capable of playing the point guard position with ease. The transition of being a scorer to an orchestrator would not be a problem.

Jerryd Bayless is someone to watch out for this upcoming season. Is he as good as rookies Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley? Or will he be better?

Deron Williams signs contract extension

The incoming 4th year guard of the Utah Jazz has just agreed to sign a multi-year extension with his team. Terms of the contract were not released.

Deron was drafted 3rd overall in the 2005 NBA Draft. Utah decided to pick him over fellow draftee, Chris Paul, who eventually won the Rookie of the Year Award. The Utah Jazz, obviously, do not regret taking Deron over Chris. Deron fits perfectly in Coach Sloan’s system.

Deron is a pass-first point guard who is also capable of taking over the scoring load. He is reliable from three-point range. He is also a tremendous competitor and a good floor leader. He averaged 18.8 points, 10.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds in his campaign last season. He earned a trip to the All-Star game in his breakout season. He was also named to the 2008 USA Team that will compete in the Beijing Olympics.

In Deron’s 3-year basketball campaign, he has already achieved a lot of things. As said earlier, he has been named to the All-Star team and the USA National Team. He has also climbed up to 4th in Utah’s all-time assist leaders only in his 3rd year. He has won the 2008 NBA PlayStation Skills Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend. He has also shown that he can stay healthy. He has only missed 4 games out of a possible 246.

Though he has already achieved so much, he has yet to win a championship. The Utah Jazz believes that Deron will be the cornerstone of their team who will lead them to that NBA Championship.

Trade Talks: Ron Artest

Ron Artest has been getting a lot of attention around the league lately. He has been one of the more popular players on the trading block.

Reports say that the Dallas Mavericks were offering Brandon Bass and Jerry Stackhouse for Ron Artest. The Sacramento Kings asked Dallas to include Josh Howard in the trade. This triggered an end to trade talks between the Kings and Mavericks. Obviously, the Mavs are not interested in letting go of Josh Howard.

Hypothetically, if the Mavs were able to acquire Artest without having to let go of Howard, they would’ve had All-Star starters except for the Center position. But now, rumors of this trade happening has been shut down.

There has also been speculation of a Lakers-Kings deal. The Lakers would trade Lamar Odom for Ron Artest. This trade rumor has also been taken out of the radar. Reports say that the Spurs and Suns are also interested in Artest.

Ron Artest is one of the premiere defenders in the NBA. He has already won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in the 03-04 season. His tremendous defense is the main reason why a lot of teams are interested in acquiring him. He is not afraid to defend any position. He has great toughness and speed to match any player. He also has reliable back-to-the-basket moves, penetrating ability and steady shooting. He can comfortably connect from three-point country.

Who will the All-Star guard/forward be playing for this season? Only time will tell.

Marcus Camby joins the Clippers

So the Clippers lost Elton Brand. Now they have Marcus Camby. Though he isn’t as productive offensively as Elton Brand, Marcus Camby is still a force on the court. The improvement of Kaman’s low post game last season has made the loss of Elton Brand less noticeable; even more because of the addition of Marcus Camby.

Marcus Camby was traded by the Denver Nuggets to the Clippers for a future second-round pick switch option in 2010. People may think that the Nuggets just gave away Camby for nothing. But in doing so, the Nuggets will have cap room to sign an all-star in the up and coming seasons. They also have a $10-million trade exception that can be used until one-year after the trade has been made.

Marcus Camby is a solid defensive force in the shaded lane. He has led the league in blocks three seasons in a row now. Last season, he averaged 9.1 points, 13.1 rebounds and 3.6 blocks. This shows that he is also excellent in crashing the boards. Taking into consideration his defensive capabilities, his 9.1 points per game last season is a big bonus.

Marcus Camby will now be playing with the likes of Baron Davis, Al Thornton, Chris Kaman, and Cuttino Mobley.

The Los Angeles Clippers have also signed rookies DeAndre Jordan and Mike Taylor.

Joe Johnson wants Josh and Josh back

Joe Johnson spoke publicly about restricted free agents Josh Smith and Josh Childress. Joe Johnson said that the signing of these two players would be essential for the Atlanta Hawks organization. He sees the potential in last season’s Atlanta team. They were able to push the Celtics to 7 games before losing in the first round. This was something to take note of.

Josh Smith is a very versatile player. He could play either power forward or small forward position. He has great athleticism and incredible timing. He is capable of defending any position because of his length and speed. He led his team in blocks last season with 2.8 per game. He was also second in points and rebounds averaging 17.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He has shown a lot of improvement from his rookie season. He was one of the last few players drafted straight out of high school.

Josh Childress will also be a big help for the Atlanta Hawks. Josh Childress is a steady force off the bench. He usually plays either the small forward or shooting guard position. He is an exceptional athlete who can take the ball strong to the hoop.

These two players are probably getting calls left and right. They are both talented with bright futures ahead of them. They have to make a decision whether to stay with their team or to part ways.

Gilbert Arenas, officially back with the Wizards

The Washington Wizards have done well this offseason. Although they were not able to acquire new all-stars like Elton Brand and Baron Davis, they managed to retain both Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison.

Antawn Jamison has long been sure of re-signing with the Washington Wizards. It was Gilbert Arenas who seemed unsure.

Other teams who were potential contenders for signing Gilbert Arenas would be the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers and the Golden State Warriors. The Los Angeles Clippers were able to get a hold of Baron Davis. The Philadelphia 76ers signed Corey Maggette. The Golden State Warriors inked Elton Brand to long-term contract.

The free agent signing of those other teams probably cut down their cap space tremendously. They wouldn’t have been able to satisfy the salary that Gilbert Arenas would be asking for. This probably left the Washington Wizards, who isn’t actually a bad choice for Gilbert, left on the list.

Gilbert Arenas will hopefully stay healthy this upcoming season. He will be able to contribute well to the Wizards’ offense. He has good range, extending to way out of the three point line, respectable driving ability and most importantly, leadership.

Gilbert Arenas will again be teaming up with premiere teammates Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler, veterans Deshawn Stevenson, Antonio Daniels and Brendan Haywood.

Gilbert Arenas believes that their present roster will be capable of competing with any other teams in the league. This remark is arguable because of long-time playoff failures but still, the Washington Wizards is a team that should not be counted out of the top 8 in the Eastern Conference. Anything could happen.

Brent Barry will suit up for the Rockets

After spending a few seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Brent Barry has decided to move on. Brent Barry has signed with the Houston Rockets. His contract will be good for two seasons.

Brent Barry, the Houston Rockets believe, would be a great addition to their team. Though this will be a risk because he is already 36 years old, they still believe that he will be able to contribute.

Brent Barry can play point guard, shooting guard or small forward positions. He is a very versatile player with clutch shooting. He is almost a sure-fire when left open from three-point country. He also brings with him experience that will help the Rockets team if they continue on to the postseason. Brent Barry has great passing skills which qualifies him to be a point guard. He can be a leader on and off the court.

Houston believes that Barry is one of the pieces they need in order to get past the 1st or 2nd round of the playoffs. Though he isn’t the type who will take over games, he is still always a threat.

A lot of teams tried to get a hold on Brent Barry but no other team achieved in doing so. Brent has followed the path of his hall of fame father, Rick Barry and his brother Jon Barry who both ended their careers in Houston.

Corey Maggette to sign with Golden State

Corey Maggette has said to have agreed to join the Golden State Warriors. He will be signing an estimated $50-million five year deal. Again, these contracts could not be finalized until the start of the free agent signing.
Corey Maggette will join the Golden State Warriors who will not have a returning Baron Davis in their lineup. Baron Davis has reportedly agreed to sign with the Clippers.

Corey Maggette will be joining Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington this coming season as well as incoming second year players Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli. Monta Ellis and Andreis Biedrins, according to Chris Mullin, will return to their place in Golden State. Both, right now, are restricted free agents.

Corey Maggette averaged 22.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists last season for the Clippers. He is an athletic small forward who has good range in his shooting. But his greatest contribution would be his slashing ability. He will be a good fit to Don Nelson’s system.

Baron Davis’ departure from the Warriors gave the team room to sign Corey Maggette. Other teams offered Maggette a contract as well but none could really offer as much as the Warriors could. Maggette had teams like Boston, San Antonio, Detroit, Utah and Orlando interested.

Will Elton Brand join the 76ers?

Reports say that Elton Brand has reached a verbal agreement with the 76ers. It is said that he has been offered an 82 million dollar deal for five years. The Clippers could increase their bid for Brand beyond an estimated 75 million dollars for five years as well. Elton will have to think it out very well.

Elton Brand will have an option to join Baron Davis in L.A. This is the biggest advantage the Clippers have in signing Elton Brand. On the other hand, Philadelphia is an Eastern Conference team. The obstacles they will have to face to get to the playoffs would be less than those in the Western Conference.

Elton Brand, if he signs with the 76ers, would team up with Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, Louis Williams, Thaddeus Young and fellow bigman Samuel Dalembert. This would form one of the strongest lineups in the Eastern Conference.

Brand was slowed down by an injury in the previous season. But when healthy, he is an all-star caliber player. He has excellent post moves and good range with his jumpshot. He also has above-par defense and good shot-blocking ability. He is also terrific on the boards. He will be a great addition to any team in the league.

Elton Brand has been chased by 3 teams this offseason namely, Golden State, Philadelphia, and the L.A. Clippers. Reports say that the Golden State Warriors had the biggest offer but it seems like Elton is not interested. He will be choosing between the Clippers or the 76ers.

New look Nets

The New Jersey Nets will start this season with a new look compared to the start of last season. They have added onto their roster Brook Lopez, Bobby Simmons, and Yi Jianlian.

Brook Lopez was New Jersey’s first round pick. They added an inside presence to their lineup. Brook has great touch from 15-feet away. He will be able to stretch the defense and open up the lane for other teammates like Vince Carter and Devin Harris who enjoy taking it to the rim. Brook Lopez has good strength and a variety of post moves. He is an inside presence in both ends of the floor. Drafting Brook Lopez had people wondering because of the development of Nenad Kristic.

Bobby Simmons along with Yi Jianlian was acquired from a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. They sent Richard Jefferson in exchange of these two players. Was this a good move? This is probably to free up cap space for the most awaited 2010 offseason.

Bobby Simmons was once a Most Improved Player of the Year awardee. He has been bothered with a knee injury. This will make his contribution to the Nets questionable. But if he is healthy, he could stretch the opponent’s defense. He has good touch from three-point country. He is also a decent defender with good athleticism.

Yi Jianlian was a first-round draft choice by the Bucks in the 2007 Draft. This guy is questionable for the NBA game. He may seem a bit unfit as of last season. We have to wait and see this season if his game has elevated. He has great potential as a player. Though he doesn’t have many back to the basket moves, he has excellent perimeter shooting. He will be able to stretch the defense as well.

Many people are not impressed with what the New Jersey Nets did to their lineup. I believe that they weren’t going anywhere with Richard Jefferson and the addition of these players will be beneficial for them in the long run.

Chris Duhon will sign with the New York Knicks

Chris Duhon has made a verbal agreement to sign with the New York Knicks. He will no longer be suiting up for his former team, the Chicago Bulls. He will most likely have trouble finding playing time in Chicago. They are overloaded with talented guards and plus a new addition, their first overall pick, Derrick Rose who plays the same position as Chris Duhon.

Chris Duhon was offered the starting job in the Knicks’ lineup. This was something he couldn’t pass on. He is a player with potential and he will only be able to show this if he is given enough playing time.
The Orlando Magic tried to invite Duhon to join their organization as well. But they didn’t really offer any contract. Though there have been reports of a 3-year 10 million dollar deal, nothing is certain.

Duhon being taken by the Knicks is probably a sign that Stephon Marbury’s days as a New York Knick are soon over. The point guard duties will be given mainly to Chris Duhon and Nate Robinson.

Chris Duhon averaged 5.8 points and 4 assists per game last season. He is averaging 6.9 points and 4.5 assists per game in his career. His stint with the New York Knicks will be an opportunity to raise his averages and exhibit his true potential. He is a Point Guard who is capable of distributing the ball and orchestrating the offense. He also has good range with his jump shot. He will be another piece in the Knicks’ rebuilding process.

Baron Davis Possibly Joining a More Inferior Team

As far as the NBA trades going on right now, there are a lot of questions in the air. But the most celebrated and much monitored players today include Golden States’ Baron Davis and Los Angeles Clipper Elton Brand. Both are big names in the basketball world today and apparently they have one thing in common; both have opted for an early exit from their contracts.

The last report showed that Baron Davis was keen on signing up with the LA Clippers, choosing to abandon ship rather than become the 12th highest paid player in the NBA. So what could possibly be better than that? A championship?

That may be a wise move. But that was before Elton Brand and Corey Magette decided to follow Davis’ footsteps in opting out of their contracts. So if Davis lands in LA, who will he be with? Chris Kaman?

The understanding was Davis would be joining a talented team in LA and he could be the final piece of the puzzle. But now that two starting players are potentially leaving it seems he would have been better of sticking it out with the Warriors to which Brand has been reportedly heading.

They say he may want to go home to his homeland. But apparently it seems that Davis may regret leaving Warriors in the end. He seems to be headed for a team that may very well end up worst than his former team, the Golden State Warriors.

Baron Davis started out his career with the Charlotte (now New Orleans) Hornets in 1999. He was traded in 2005 for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis to Golden State and has since become a two-time NBA All-Star. He was likewise a member of the 2001 NBA Dream Team that won the gold medal.

*photo taken from NBA.com

Josh Smith will meet with 76ers

Reports say that Josh Smith, the phenomenal Atlanta Hawk forward, will be meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers organization today. Let’s look into the facts; Josh Smith is one of the most athletic players in the NBA today. On top of that, he has size and length. He is very versatile; he is capable of playing the small forward or power forward position. He is only the third player in NBA History to average 17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2.8 blocks and 1.5 steals in a single season. The other two players who were able to achieve this all-around accomplishments were David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon; two hall-of-fame members.

Now, let’s ponder on what could be. If the 76ers offer Josh Smith a qualifying offer and the Hawks are not able to match this, Philadelphia would be a matchup nightmare for other teams. Imagine having both Josh Smith and Andre Iguodala on the same team? They are both athletic, both tremendous defenders and both capable of scoring. The better case for them is that they don’t play the same position which means they will be able to play together.

Josh Smith will be a great addition to a young and talented athletic team. He will be playing with the likes of, as already mentioned, Andre Iguodala, as well as, Andre Miller, Samuel Dalembert, Rodney Carney and Louis Williams. Josh Smith will easily fit in to this lineup.

But the question is, is this the better team for him? Or should he just remain with the Hawks?

If the 76ers are able to grab Smith, this will be a big stepping stone for them. But since Josh Smith is a restricted free agent, the Hawks should be smart enough to match any offer the 76ers throw at him.