Category: General NBA insight

General NBA insight

Terrence Williams feels big love from a team

Louisville forward Terrence Williams was the only top NBA draft prospect I spoke to on Wednesday who seems to know exactly where he’s going.

He’s not telling who, though.

I’m not going to dig up the exact quotes right now, but the entertaining, personable player made several statements that made it pretty clear a team has probably promised to take him. And he believes the team, whoever they are.

But Williams isn’t too worried about dropping. If it happens, fine. Williams knows that simply being invited to the NBA Draft ‘Green Room’ is a big victory, and unless something crazy happens the versatile player who works equally hard on both ends of the floor will go first round for sure, and probably higher than most.

After reporters were done speaking to the players, Williams pulled out a handheld and interviewed guard Johnny Flynn, his buddy and another top prospect.

In the fun interview of his friend, Williams asked Flynn if he knows where he’s going to be selected, and then said “I do!”

The 2009 Draft is Thursday night.

Brandon Jennings played limited overseas minutes

The New Orleans Times-Picayune (Andrew Lopez) reports: The Oak Hill Academy product played in 43 games this season in Italian Lega A as well as in Euroleague, primarily as a backup point guard. When he did play, Jennings production was solid but not mind-blowing. He averaged 6.3 points and 2.0 assists in 17.8 minutes. Despite his production, Jennings feels he is a better basketball player because of the experience. “I’m more mature,” Jennings said after a recent workout with Golden State, who have the seventh pick in the draft. “I think more than the other guys because of the year I had in Europe, just not even playing. Going through that, tough times up and down, the challenges that I faced. So I think I have the upper hand against some of these guys.”

Dirk Nowitzki is heartbroken

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Eddie Sefko) reports: Dirk Nowitzki said in a German publication that he still wants to have a family, but that “it will not be easy to win my heart” after his relationship with former fiancée Cristal Taylor ended with a rocky, emotional split. Nowitzki spoke openly about his romance with Taylor for the first time to Bild Magazine. He covered numerous aspects of their time together, including how they met and their wedding plans, in question-and-answer format… “In the beginning, I was very down and disappointed, sad and furious,” Nowitzki said. “But I made a few steps forward and I think someday I will be over it totally.”

Suns in a complicated place

The East Valley Tribune (Scott Bordow) reports: The potential trade of Shaquille O’Neal — while big in stature — is not the most critical element. The Suns know they won’t get much for O’Neal in return. The best they can hope for is a late first-round draft pick or a young player. Either way, the franchise won’t be dependent on the return. No, it’s what Steve Kerr does with Amaré Stoudemire and Steve Nash these next few weeks — or months — that will determine the team’s future success and, to a large part, either restore Kerr’s reputation or destroy it completely. Somehow, Kerr has to convince Nash that the team can win as it gets younger and cheaper. If he’s successful and Nash signs an extension, the Suns will, at the very least, be competitive and entertaining.

Bobcats had nice finish to season

The Gaston Gazette (Richard Walker) reports: Assuming the team can reach a deal with free agent point guard Raymond Felton, Charlotte is expected to have each of the key players who helped the team finish the season 28-29 after a disappointing 7-18 start. The Bobcats finished four games out of what would’ve been a first-ever playoff appear-ance by the five-year-old franchise. Felton and Raja Bell were the most frequent starters at guards, Gerald Wallace and Boris Diaw at forwards and Emeka Okafor at center. Top reserves were guard D.J. Augustin, forward Vladimir Radmanovic and center DeSagana Diop. So, where do the Bobcats turn in this draft?Do they pursue a defensive-minded off-guard since Bell suffered nagging injuries late in the season? Do they add another athletic presence on the front line? Or do they simply go for the proverbial “best available talent?”

Reggie Evans brings toughness to Raptors

Reggie Evans brings toughness to Raptors

The Toronto Star (Doug Smith) reports: “The only way you’re going to succeed in this game is certain people have to bring certain things to the table,” Reggie Evans said yesterday after taking his physical at the Air Canada Centre, the final step to completing the deal for Jason Kapono. “Like Chris Bosh: We look to him to get buckets, rebounds, that’s what he (does). Everybody has their different roles on a team, mine are to rebound and play some of the tougher guys at my position. “I have fun doing that, I don’t mind doing that, I love doing that. It’s a perfect fit … it’s going to be fun.” And pity the lazy Raptor who takes things lightly. “If I feel like something ain’t right, I’m not going to look at a coach and (say), `Coach, can you tell him?'” Evans said during a brief session with the media. “I’ll voice it myself.

Jerry West had huge impact on current Lakers

The San Francisco Chronicle (Scott Ostler) reports: Jerry West’s fingerprints are all over this shiny championship trophy, just like they’re all over the other nine. West hired Phil Jackson as Lakers coach. In ’96, West traded for just-drafted Kobe Bryant, a high school kid bypassed by 12 teams, including the Warriors. West has remained Bryant’s friend, confidant and adviser through some very hard times for Kobe, personally and professionally. It’s possible Bryant would have left the Lakers had it not been for West’s voice-of-reason counsel and friendship. The Lakers got Pau Gasol from the Grizzlies in ’08. West was the Memphis general manager from 2002 to ’07, and I know he has enormous respect for Gasol. You can bet that before that trade went down, West filled Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak’s ear about Gasol.

Rashard Lewis must ignore contract talk

The AP reports during the NBA Finals on Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis: Lewis was Orlando’s best player through the first three games, the leading scorer on a team that on Tuesday won a finals game for the first time. And for $110 million, the Magic should expect Lewis to be their go-to guy. Except they signed him because they knew he didn’t need to be, and Lewis won’t change his demeanor or his style to justify his paycheck. ”The contract is there and it’s not going nowhere,” Lewis said. ”They can’t take it from me and all I can do now is go out there and play basketball and try to win ballgames for my team, not go out there and put up big numbers to show everybody that I’m worth this contract.”

2009 Mavericks free agent camp

The Dallas Mavericks free agent mini-camp will take place June 11 and 12, 2009.

Click that link to see more info and a list of the players involved.

There are 20 free agents playing at it. I would guess that the best player, or couple of players, will have a good shot at being invited onto the Mavericks summer league team. And if one guy really stands out, perhaps the team will offer him a contract; probably something short, like one year, maybe two at the most, probably nonguaranteed.

Most of the players on the list are known guys.

Kenny Gattison says Hornets pushed him out

The New Orleans Times-Picayune (Jimmy Smith) reports (via blog): The decision by the Hornets to part ways with lead assistant coach Kenny Gattison was anything but mutual, Gattison said Monday as he continued to search for another job. “This was not a mutual parting,” Gattison said via telephone. “In this economy, who would mutually agree to give up their job? Even though technically I only had a little over a month to go on my contract with the Hornets, given my years of service and contributions to the organization, I think some consideration should have been made toward my coaching career and my family. “If it’s something that they felt it was best to change, we played our last game over a month ago. The timing of it puts me in a very bad spot as far as going out and seeking employment.” The Hornets announced last Friday that the team and Gattison came to a collective understanding about Gattison’s departure so that he could seek other opportunities. Gattison said at a meeting last week he was told his services were no longer needed, and he has found many vacancies that were once open — on multiple basketball levels — have been filled.