Day: July 15, 2014

Heat not ready to write off Mario Chalmers

Here’s the Miami Herald discussing the recent news that the Heat decided to re-sign guard Mario Chalmers:

Heat not ready to write off Mario Chalmers

LeBron James barked at Mario Chalmers for four years. Then, in the end, Chalmers was sent to the bench with James’ blessing.

In other words, you can count one guy, at least, who has already gotten over the news of James’ move back to Cleveland.

Chalmers is probably the only one, of course.

Heat president Pat Riley said all along that Chalmers would be back for next season, but there was a strong assumption that if James returned to the Heat, then Chalmers would be searching for another team. With James now long gone, the Heat announced officially on Monday that it had re-signed Chalmers. Reports put the deal at two years.

“It’s great to have Mario back,” Heat president Pat Riley said in a statement. “We’re happy that he wants to continue his career in Miami, he’s one of our core players, and I believe he will have a great season.”

Phil Jackson says Andrea Bargnani can step up for Knicks

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting some optimistic thinking from Phil Jackson:

Phil Jackson says Andrea Bargnani can step up for Knicks

Unable to move the expiring contract of Andrea Bargnani so far this summer, Phil Jackson instead attempted to talk up the No. 1 overall pick from 2006 during a televised interview on Monday.

“He’s overlooked. We think he’s going to really do well in the system we have,” Jackson said of Bargnani on MSG Network during the second quarter of the Knicks’ 95-72 Summer League victory over Charlotte. “We have a couple of guards he likes to play with, Jose (Calderon) and Pablo (Prigioni), and I think he’s going to be a surprise and a pleasant one for our fans.”

Bargnani, obtained from Toronto last summer, averaged 13.3 points over 42 games with the Knicks last season before suffering a season-ending elbow injury in January. The seven-foot Italian is owed $12 million in the final year of his contract.

Yes, new Knicks coach Derek Fisher thinks team can make playoffs

Yes, any coach of an NBA team pretty much has to say that his team is a playoff squad. Still, it’s fun to see the exact response to such a question. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

derek fisher

With Carmelo Anthony officially on board, Knicks rookie coach Derek Fisher guaranteed the Knicks will be a playoff team this season, and will eventually compete for a championship with Anthony as the “anchor.’’

The Knicks missed the playoffs during a miserable 37-45 campaign last season that nearly led Anthony out the door. Anthony had told confidants he didn’t want to ever experience a season like that again.

“My opinion is, based on our roster and who we’re going to become, we can compete for playing in the playoffs and playing for a championship in the Eastern Conference,’’ Fisher said Monday after the Knicks’ summer-league victory over Charlotte, in his first remarks since Anthony’s signing became official. “When that happens, putting dates on it, that’s not my job.’’