NBA - ESPN Insider Writeups/Etc. (8 New Articles Added 10/17/06)

[Hache Man]

Updated: Aug. 8, 2006, 9:55 AM ET
ESPN.com's Intelligence Report: August 8

Editor's note: ESPN.com is waking up early in the morning and aggregating news from papers around the country to bring you the latest NBA talk. Previous Reports: July 31 | Aug. 1 | Aug. 2 | Aug. 3 | Aug. 4 | Aug. 7 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlanta Hawks | All Hawks sitelines Hawks Make The Wright Move Many of you have weighed in on this prior to my return from a weekend family reunion/theme park trip (that turned out to be 10 times more fun than planned) that was interrupted by the news of the Hawks agreeing to contract terms with Lorenzen Wright, but I'd love to explain why I love this move. Wright is the type of energetic and active big that this roster lacked last season. He's also the kind of impact big that wasn't available in the draft (so stop all the moaning about the ridiculousness of nabbing him after drafting Shelden Williams) and he's a guy who's played on a playoff team the past few years, so he's yet another guy (Joe Johnson, Tyronn Lue, etc.) who has experience in a winning environment, which is crucial for a team with so many inexperienced players. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution Boston Celtics | All Celtics sitelines Charlotte Bobcats | All Bobcats sitelines Chicago Bulls | All Bulls sitelines Cleveland Cavaliers | All Cavs sitelines Basketballs Not All Cavs Might Spin If those dead spots in the game aren't immediately identified and criticized as a stagnant lull but instead considered "supportive teammates subjugating their skill sets in the presence of a player sent from heaven." That just might be more positive spin than you were used to hearing from classy Michael Reghi. If on the occasion that Jones makes a 3 and is shown holding up a corresponding number of fingers as he backpedals down court, it is explained as a Three Musketeers signal -- all for one and one for all. That just might be an edict sent from above. Gilbert. Not heaven. The Cavaliers seem intent on replicating everything Pistons, the latest example of which was making an on-air change and bringing McLeod in from Detroit. The arena itself already had undergone the Motor City makeover. The Pistons have pyrotechnics that could melt a glacier. So The Q has pyrotechnics that could melt a glacier and turn everyone within 50 yards momentarily menopausal. Be on the lookout for the surest indication that this has all gone too far: Gilbert wanting to change the name of Lake Erie to "Lake Michigan, Too." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer LeBron Says Team Is Priority Team USA's star players will have to value teamwork if they are to return to their dominant heydays, according to LeBron James. "Each of us carry the flags of our respective NBA franchises but things are very different when playing for the national side," James said. "The priority of every Team USA member is to fit into a big picture and make personal sacrifices if needed." The Cleveland Cavaliers star has a seven-year US$90-million endorsement deal with Nike -- second only to golfer Tiger Woods, whose five-year deal is valued at US$100 million. In Guangzhou, the footwear giant enlisted James' services to unveil a local public basketball theme park. Despite his celebrity status, James said: "I wouldn't complain if the coach decides to bench me in any particular game." -- Shanghai Daily Dismissed Duncan Fires Back At Cavs First it was Michael Reghi. Now Ronnie Duncan. Who's next to get the ax from Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert? Duncan's contract wasn't renewed Monday by the Cavaliers for his position as public-address announcer. It came days after the team fired popular play-by-play television broadcaster Reghi. "Me, I can understand," Duncan said. "But for the life of me, I can't understand (firing) Reghi. He was unique. He was different. He was hip enough for the hip-hop generation. He had a solid command of the English language." Duncan, who also is a morning host on radio station WERE-AM 1300, lasted just one year as the team's PA announcer. He was controversial, and fans either loved him or hated him. He took some criticism this past season for calling Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson "Robinson," and he once referred to LeBron James' high school as St. Vincent-St. "Michael." -- Willoughby News-Herald Detroit Pistons | All Pistons sitelines Porter Could Become Pistons Assistant Soon Terry Porter, whose involvement in the pursuit of buying the Portland Trail Blazers ended last week, is expected to be named a Detroit Pistons assistant coach as early as today. Porter, who played three seasons (1995-1998) in Minnesota for current Pistons head coach Flip Saunders, was part of a group of investors interested in purchasing the Trail Blazers. That was before Portland owner Paul Allen announced last week that he was no longer trying to sell the team. Porter would fill the void left by the departure of Sidney Lowe, the former assistant who became the head coach at his alma mater, North Carolina State University after last season. -- Booth Newspapers Indiana Pacers | All Pacers sitelines Pacers Have Had Share Of Players Who Were MIA Some players, like Reggie Miller, make a career playing for one franchise, imbedding themselves in the community and becoming a fixture in the collective fan psyche. Others pass through like a midnight breeze, if they pass through at all, gone before they're noticed. It takes all kinds to make a professional sports franchise run, and the Indiana Pacers have had their share of "players" who were missing in action. They were non-Pacers, really, guys who were acquired by the franchise, perhaps drew a paycheck, and maybe put on a uniform, but never played in a game. The Pacers' trade of Peja Stojakovic and cash to the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets for a trade exception and Andrew Betts provided the latest example. -- Indianapolis Star Miami Heat | All Heat sitelines Milwaukee Bucks | All Bucks sitelines Skinner Glad To Be Back Brian Skinner took a winding and sometimes torturous road from Milwaukee to Philadelphia to Sacramento to Portland during the past three seasons. Now the veteran 6-foot-9 forward is back with the Bucks, playing in the final guaranteed year of a contract he signed with the 76ers in 2004. As the 30-year-old Skinner knows so well, such is life in the National Basketball Association. "I'm comfortable here," said Skinner, obtained along with Steve Blake and Ha Seung-Jin in the trade that sent center Jamaal Magloire to the Trail Blazers last week. "I don't have any expectations. Expectations tend to lead to failure and disappointments. I just go in and do what my job is, help this ballclub win games." The Bucks will pay Skinner $5.4 million this season under terms of his contract, which includes a team option for the 2007-'08 season. -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel New Jersey Nets | All Nets sitelines Settlement Reached With Planinic The Nets have reached a settlement on Zoran Planinic's contract. He will be bought out and waived later this week, pending his physical with Tau Ceramica. Planinic already has signed a multiyear contract with the Spanish power. The Nets then will work toward bringing over 7-2 Mile Ilic, who has to be bought out of his contract in Serbia. Ilic will get a multiyear deal, starting at $800,000 for this season. The Nets will have to dip into their midlevel exception to pay him. -- Bergen Record New York Knicks | All Knicks sitelines Jeffries Adds Youth, Size And More Salary Cap Woes The Knicks got bigger. They got younger. They got better defensively. And naturally, they made their payroll even more ridiculously bloated. The Washington Wizards chose not to match the five-year, $30 million offer sheet the Knicks gave 6-foot-11 forward Jared Jeffries. But Jeffries, a good defensive player who has averaged just 6.1 points in his four seasons, costs the Knicks twice that much. Because the Knicks, with roughly a $121 million payroll, are beyond the $65.42 million luxury tax trigger, they must pay a dollar-for-dollar tax. So Jeffries, who gets the full mid-level exception starting at $5.2 million, costs the Knicks $60 million total. They could, of course, get under the luxury tax during the course of Jeffries' deal. Pigs also could start flying tomorrow. The Knicks are one of five teams over the luxury tax threshold, joining the Nets, Mavericks, 76ers and Spurs. -- New York Post Knicks Add Adept Pillar to Budding Frontcourt Jared Jeffries officially joined the Knicks yesterday when his former team, the Washington Wizards, declined to match a five-year, $30 million offer sheet. Because Jeffries was a restricted free agent, the Wizards had the right to match any offer. Knicks officials declined to comment yesterday. Isiah Thomas, the coach and team president, will present Jeffries to the news media today at Madison Square Garden. That the Knicks are introducing a significant new player at all is something of a surprise. Thomas had said he did not expect to make a major roster move or use the team's midlevel salary-cap exception. Thomas ended up giving Jeffries the entire exception (a starting salary of $5.2 million). -- New York Times Houston's Camp Focuses On Family A hug and pat on the butt later, the duo headed back into the scrum of fathers and sons shooting baskets, diving on the floor and sweating profusely as part of the "Father Knows Best" basketball retreat sponsored by former New York Knicks star Allan Houston. Here, professional players and coaches share the court with weekend warriors and their sons, teaching them the proper jump-shooting technique, strategies for playing defense and the importance of eating right and staying fit. But at this three-day retreat, basketball is only the lure. Equal parts church revival, basketball camp and therapy session, the event is all about relationships: fathers with sons, mentors with mentees, individuals with Jesus Christ. -- Washington Post Orlando Magic | All Magic sitelines Philadelphia 76ers | All 76ers sitelines Sale Would Be Admission Of Failure The most pressing question in Philadelphia sports right now doesn't concern the Eagles' wide receivers or Pat Gillick's next move. It goes: Would you buy a used basketball team from these men? There have been some strange goings-on behind the moat and battlements around the Comcast Spectacor offices over the last few months. People disappear over there. Jobs go away. For a division of one of the most prodigious profit machines in American business, mighty Comcast, the company that owns the Flyers, Sixers, the arenas and Comcast SportsNet (among other holdings) has seemed awfully concerned about each nickel and dime. So when the news broke that the Sixers were probably, sorta, kinda, almost certainly for sale, things seemed both more cloudy and more clear all at once. Consider Allen Iverson's status. He was on the trade market and then he was suddenly and emphatically off the trade market. There was something odd about the whole thing. When you learn that the team is in play, the Iverson thing makes more sense. Or does it? -- Philadelphia Inquirer Busy Croce Keeping Options Open Pat Croce says he is not involved with any of the groups interested in buying the 76ers, but that does not mean he wouldn't listen if someone wanted to talk. Croce, who was president of the Sixers from April 1996 to July 2001, said yesterday in an e-mail response that he was not involved with any party inquiring into the possible sale of the team, nor did he plan to contact anyone. "I'm pretty busy with my projects," he said, "and so, no, I wouldn't contact any of the potential ownership groups. "But, on the flip side, you know that I always return all of my phone calls." Croce, nationally renowned as a motivational speaker, has enough to keep him busy. He is a part of Keystone Redevelopment Partners LLC, one of the local investors joining Donald Trump in attempting to secure a state license to open a slot-machine parlor in Philadelphia. -- Philadelphia Inquirer Toronto Raptors | All Raptors sitelines Washington Wizards | All Wizards sitelines Wizards Decline To Match Knicks Offer Jeffries was considered the Wizards' best defender last season and started 77 games, helping the team to a second straight playoff berth. The Wizards' decision not to match the offer was first reported by The Washington Times in yesterday's editions. Jeffries will receive an up-front payment of 80 percent of the more than $5.2million he will get in the first year of his contract. The Wizards now regard themselves as a team that, as front office executives of other teams have said, is building to reach the conference finals and the NBA Finals. The team made only one offer to Jeffries, a six-year contract worth $33 million. Had they signed him, the Wizards would have spent precious money they now say they might use instead for a big free agent signing in seasons to come. The team won't have much maneuverability under the salary cap next summer. However, the Wizards should have more money available to spend on free agents in the summer of 2008. The thinking now is to build rapidly around the team's cornerstone player, star guard Gilbert Arenas. -- Washington Times WESTERN CONFERENCE Dallas Mavericks | All Mavericks sitelines Denver Nuggets | All Nuggets sitelines Kleiza Ready For Matchup With Anthony The Nuggets forward admits to feeling some pressure representing the Baltic nation that is a basketball hotbed. Kleiza officially was chosen Monday to the Lithuanian team that will compete in the World Championship, Aug. 19 to Sept. 3 in Japan. The announcement was no surprise. Kleiza has been starting for the team in exhibition games and figures to do so again when Lithuania plays Team USA in an exhibition Sunday in Seoul, South Korea. "We'll both be going against each other at small forward," Kleiza said of facing Nuggets teammate Carmelo Anthony, a likely Team USA starter. "It's going to be a lot of fun. We've talked a lot of trash. I let him know that they lost to Lithuania in the Olympics (in the 2004 opening round). But he lets me know they got us (in the bronze medal game)." -- Rocky Mountain News Golden State Warriors | All Warriors sitelines Houston Rockets | All Rockets sitelines China Coach Pines For Bench-Warming Yao China coach Jonas Kazlauskas bemoaned Yao Ming's absence from the national team after the U.S. thrashed China by 46 points in a world championship warm-up match in Guangzhou, a the China Daily newspaper reported on Tuesday. "Yao is definitely what we need right now. We had some really tough games in Europe and back home. Without Yao, the team lost its confidence and leadership," Kazlauskas was quoted as saying. The 7ft-5in NBA All Star broke his left foot playing for the Houston Rockets in April, an injury that has clouded Team China's preparations for the world championships starting in Japan on August 19. -- China Daily Los Angeles Clippers | All Clippers sitelines Clippers Owner Accused of Housing Bias The Justice Department on Monday filed a discrimination suit against Los Angeles Clippers owner and real estate mogul Donald Sterling, accusing him of favoring Korean tenants while seeking to exclude African Americans and families with children from his apartment buildings in Los Angeles County. The suit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, charged Sterling with violating the Fair Housing Act, a part of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, by engaging in "discrimination on the basis of race, national origin and familial status." It also named Sterling's wife, Rochelle, and three Sterling companies and trusts. Sterling owns about 100 apartment buildings with thousands of rental units in the county. In a prepared statement, Sterling's lawyer, Greg Garbacz, called the charges baseless. -- Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Lakers | All Lakers sitelines Memphis Grizzlies | All Grizzlies sitelines Wright's 5-Year Hometown Stint Ends Lorenzen Wright is expected to rejoin the Atlanta Hawks this offseason. But the former Grizzly apparently is looking for an assist from someone who won't even be a teammate. Wright has agreed to sign a free-agent contract with the Hawks, whose first priority is to complete a sign-and-trade deal with forward Al Harrington. The Hawks want to remove Harrington's enormous salary-cap hold from their payroll, according to a source close to the deal. ... Wright, who is represented by Miller, plans to sign a two-year, $6 million pact with Atlanta once the Harrington business is resolved. It is believed that San Antonio, Minnesota and Cleveland were once options for Wright. Minnesota could still be in play for Wright's services should the Atlanta agreement fall apart. -- Memphis Commercial-Appeal Burks Weighing His Options Former Grizzly Antonio Burks sits, waits and counts. Burks, a Memphis native, says four NBA teams have expressed interest in him. He acknowledges that the NBA's development league and Europe are among three options. Yet the 6-foot point guard sounds convinced that he'll get a second chance to prove that his first NBA suitor was wrong. The Grizzlies chose not to re-sign Burks after two seasons. "But I know where I'm supposed to be," Burks said Monday. "I'll get back. I'm just waiting on those (other) teams to decide." -- Memphis Commercial-Appeal Minnesota Timberwolves | All Wolves sitelines New Orleans Hornets | All Hornets sitelines Hornets' N.O. Fans Homing In On 2007-08 It will be, in fact, pretty special that when the wrapping is peeled off and the box is ripped open for the first time in front of friendly faces and Chris Paul jerseys on Nov. 5, it'll be done at home. "As far as me being pleased, I'm really tickled," said team owner George Shinn, who made the proposal to the NBA. "It was my son (and team special assistant to the owner) Chad's idea, and (Shinn's New Orleans-based attorney) Bill Hines'. "I know why Bill Hines wanted to do it -- he's the Hornets' biggest fan in New Orleans. But when my son suggested it, it just makes all the sense in the world. It was just the right thing to do." Now, a look at the entire portrait might suggest the need for restraint. The home opener is just one of six home dates in New Orleans, joining a couple of December games (San Antonio and Dallas) and one in January (Sacramento), February (Seattle) and March (the Lakers). -- New Orleans Times-Picayune Phoenix Suns | All Suns sitelines Banks: I'm Faster Than Barbosa The controversy may not end until the middle of Suns training camp in October. Amaré Stoudemire's comeback? No. Boris Diaw's contract extension negotiations? No. Steve Nash's hair length? No. No, everyone is waiting to see whether newcomer Marcus Banks really is as fast or, gulp, faster with a basketball than Leandro Barbosa. Nash's new backup didn't back down when he arrived last month to sign his five-year, $21 million deal, saying, "I'm a competitor, so I'm going to say myself." When Barbosa rolled through town last week to sign his five-year extension worth at least $33 million, Republic NBA writer Paul Coro informed him Banks had laid down the gauntlet. Barbosa smiled and his eyes widened with that "We'll see about that" look. -- Arizona Republic Portland Trail Blazers | All Blazers sitelines Sacramento Kings | All Kings sitelines Wells Takes Hits Now That He's Gone He missed layups, turned the ball over too much, and the Kings will be all right without him. That's what you hear about Bonzi Wells now that the Kings basically have said they will not re-sign him. If money was his singular criterion during this free-agency summer, then unless he gets a better offer than the Kings', he and agent William Phillips misread the market. But last I checked, Wells still clearly was Sacramento's best player against San Antonio in the playoffs. And unless avoiding the luxury tax is more important than giving their all in an attempt to win the NBA title, the Kings also did a bit of misreading the market. -- Sacramento Bee San Antonio Spurs | All Spurs sitelines Manu Confident He Will Be Ready For Japan Manu Ginobili has shrugged off his "weak" performance in Argentina's 79-67 defeat to Spain in the final of the Madrid Tournament. The talismanic guard contributed just a solitary point to his side's total on Sunday but insists his displays in friendly competitions are of no concern as long as he is at the top of his game in Japan when the FIBA World Championship tips off in less than two weeks` time. "My performance in this game has been very weak, but I am not panicking too much," the 29-year-old said after the game. "A dangerous situation would be if I were to have these negative statistics in Japan at the World Championship." -- FIBA.com Seattle SuperSonics | All Sonics sitelines Sonics Set Meeting With Wilcox The fate of Chris Wilcox's long-term future in Seattle could be determined by a critical Thursday meeting between the power forward, his agent and Sonics general manager Rick Sund. It will be just the second time the sides have met face-to-face this summer and perhaps the final time they negotiate before Wilcox decides to accept the team's one-year, $3.7 million qualifying offer. Wilcox will meet with Sund for the first time since April. It could be one final effort to secure a three-year contract. The sides appear firm on their stance and are about $5 million apart, NBA sources said. -- Seattle Post-Intelligencer Utah Jazz | All Jazz sitelines Miscellaneous Wagner Preparing For Return To Pro Basketball Dajuan Wagner is aware that his agent Leon Rose is talking to some teams, including Maccabi Tel Aviv, based in Tel Aviv, Israel. Scouts from Maccabi as well as the NBA's Golden State Warriors have been to Cherry Hill to watch Wagner play, but he doesn't really care where he winds up. "We're just really happy that he's been really healthy and gotten back to where he wants to be," said Rose, who confirmed that Maccabi and Golden State have been to Cherry Hill. Back on track. Based on how he's done in summer league play at Drexel, where he recently scored 67 points, and the health and racquet club, Wagner is back on target. The player who once scored 100 points in a game, and set a state record with 3,462 career points, playing for Camden High School, hasn't lost his offensive touch. -- Cherry Hill Courier-Post After Surviving Crash, Cooke's Story Takes Right Turn In New York basketball parlance, the name Lenny Cooke has for years been a byword for flameout, a two-word cautionary tale. But on the courts of the Uptown League in Englewood, N.J., they know him by a different name these days. "They call me 'The Comeback Kid,'" a beaming Cooke told the Daily News. And for once, the people around Lenny Cooke aren't just blowing smoke. Cooke scored a game-high 35 points to lead his team, Uptown Haircutters, to a 101-91 win over Up The Hill on Sunday -- but his mere participation is the more remarkable part of the story. -- New York Daily News Smith Has His Suitors Abroad, But Seeks NBA The agent for former La Salle forward Steven Smith denied an Internet report yesterday that his client was close to signing with a team in Croatia. However, Steve Mountain added that a number of teams in Europe and Asia have made his client "magnificent offers," including organizations in Russia, Greece, Italy, Turkey and Korea. ... Still, the wish of the 6-foot-9 Smith, a Philadelphia native, is to play in the NBA, and Mountain is trying to fulfill that wish. "He doesn't want to go" overseas, Mountain said. "He wants to be in the NBA. These offers [from international teams] mean more money, but he wants to play in the NBA. That could change, but we hope this gets resolved." Mountain said he is trying to get as much guaranteed money as possible for his client with an NBA team. He said the 76ers remain one of several candidates for Smith's services. -- Philadelphia Inquirer

[Hache Man]

USA survives Brazil scare


posted: Tuesday, August 8, 2006 | Print Entry
filed under: NBA, Olympics

Let's call this one the 10 a.m. wakeup call.

That's the time it was on the East Coast of the United States when Team USA got it's first major scare of its pre-World Championship tour, defeating Brazil 90-86 in a game that should hammer home the notion that winning this tournament isn't going to be the cakewalk too many folks in the States expect it to be.

I've been trying to hit that point hard in my coverage of this team thus far, to such a degree that truehoop.com has started calling me "The Doubter" and one e-mailer has gone so far as to call me a traitor for daring to suggest that Coach K, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony should be prepared to run into a speed bump or two between now and Sept. 3.

But speed bump No. 1 was hit Tuesday, and the U.S. looked pretty vulnerable after losing Carmelo Anthony to a hyperextended knee (he was injured diving for a loose ball. "It's a little bit sore right now, but a couple of days of rest and I'll be back," Anthony said) and Dwyane Wade to his fifth and final foul early in the third quarter. Wade's fourth foul was an offensive foul, and when he argued, he got a technical, which under international rules counted as his fifth. And since you only get five fouls (in the NBA it's six), Wade was done.

With two of Team USA's best players suddenly sidelined, the game was back and forth throughout the fourth quarter before the Americans were on the receiving end of one of those hugely beneficial and highly controversial whistles that international refs specialize in. This also backs up one of my main tenets: When it comes to international basketball, expect the unexpected, and expect it to such a degree that you might see something you've never even dreamed of seeing before.

With the Americans down by one, Elton Brand absorbed a hard foul under the basket, and the referees whistled a technical foul for reasons that were not made clear by the NBA-TV broadcasters. Kirk Hinrich hit both technicals, Brand made one of two from the line, and the Americans got the ball back, too. Had they made all their free throws and a 3-pointer, it would have been a seven-point possession.

Ever see a seven-point possession opportunity in the NBA?

"You have to give a lot of credit to Brazil. They are an experienced team," coach Mike Krzyzewski said of the a team widely seen as the third best in the Western Hemisphere behind the U.S. and Argentina. "Welcome to international basketball. That's the way it is.

"I'm not sure you are going to blow out people. That's the thing we have to understand," Coach K said. "I think playing in a game like that helps us immensely.

Joe Johnson's late steal against Marcelo Machado kept Brazil from getting off a tying 3-point attempt, but for the most part Brazil had the speed and ballhandling skills to withstand the Americans' defensive pressure better than Puerto Rico and China had in the first two exhibition games. Brazil also had some size that kept them in the game on the boards, and the Americans still had trouble shooting over a zone.

They'll see more zone in their next tune-up Sunday in Seoul against Lithuania, an exceptionally well-drilled team that is big and can hit the 3. Lithuania is coming off a fourth-place finish in Athens after going bronze, bronze, bronze in their previous three tournaments, so they're after some redemption, too. It'll be a good tune-up for the Americans, a chance to test Anthony's knee and test themselves collectively against a team they'll see in Sapporo in the opening round.

This near-miss against Brazil, this should break them out of any slumber they developed by handling Puerto Rico and China so easily, and I think today's result will make a few more people in America realize this isn't going to be easy. The players are now realizing as much.
"We're not going to just blow every team out even though we want to," James said.

[Hache Man]

Updated: Aug. 8, 2006, 12:18 PM ET

Next summer's free-agent crop has difference makers




By John Hollinger
ESPN Insider
Archive

If you're looking for a silver lining to the most moribund NBA offseason in memory, try this: Next year ought to be better in the sense that, while the free-agent class of '06 was a relative dud, several top talents figure to be on the market. As many as six players worthy of max or near-max contracts could be available, while several others could add to that list with strong 2006-07 campaigns. The most notable ones all have one-year player options for 2007-08 that they would be unlikely to exercise, including Detroit's Chauncey Billups, Seattle's Rashard Lewis, Sacramento's Mike Bibby, Washington's Antawn Jamison and Charlotte's Gerald Wallace. Alas, that list doesn't include a few players who technically will be free agents in 2007 but are likely to sign extensions later this fall. Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki is the prominent case, but he's virtually certain to ink the same three-year extension that Paul Pierce signed with Boston. Additionally, several players on rookie contracts are likely to be locked up by this fall, including Dallas' Josh Howard, Chicago's Kirk Hinrich, New Orleans/Oklahoma City's David West, Phoenix's Boris Diaw, Boston's Kendrick Perkins, Toronto's T.J. Ford, and Seattle's Luke Ridnour and Nick Collison. And of course, the big names from the great 2003 draft already have extended their deals. On the other hand, players such as Chris Wilcox and Drew Gooden could end up being part of the free-agent class if they settle for one-year tenders from their current clubs. That possibility looks increasingly likely as the summer drags on. Because of the player options and extensions, we have to do a bit of reading tea leaves at this point to determine next summer's free-agent crop. Nonetheless, using a little bit of common sense we already can see the outlines of a very strong class. Here's how the market's top 25 players stand at the moment: (p) -- Has player option for 2007-08 (r) -- Has rookie contract that could be extended before season (t) -- Would have to sign one-year tender to be free agent next summer 1. Chauncey Billups (p) The Pistons inked Billups with their midlevel exception three years ago in one of the all-time great free-agent heists, but next summer it will be time to pay the piper. And yes, he's ahead of Carter in the pecking order right now. He's more durable, plays harder and was better in 2005-06. 2. Vince Carter (p) The Nets could give him a three-year extension for the maximum this summer, but neither side seems to be in any hurry to get it done. The delay is stoking fears that Carter will hit the market a year from now and return to North Carolina to play for the Bobcats, who will be flush with cap space. 3. Rashard Lewis (p) Joke of the week is that Lewis will ditch the Sonics next summer and sign with the Hornets -- that way maybe he won't have to leave Seattle. In all seriousness, the Sonics' financial position means that it's likely Lewis' last go-round in the Northwest, and he could be an intriguing piece of trade bait come February. 4. Gerald Wallace (p) The league's most underrated player, Wallace virtually was ignored as a free agent a year ago. Don't count on NBA GMs to repeat that mistake. With a strong 2006-07, the scandalously underpaid forward should finally get his due. 5. Darko Milicic (r) Because he's played so little, the Magic and Milicic already have more or less agreed to let him play out this season to determine his market value. Milicic is seven-feet tall and still only 21 years old, so if he plays as well as he did at the end of last season, he'll make himself a very wealthy man. 6. Drew Gooden (t) With negotiations with the Cavs at a standstill and the sign-and-trade market already saturated (just ask Al Harrington and Bonzi Wells), it seems like Gooden will have to settle for the one-year tender and try again next summer. 7. Mike Bibby (p) Bibby is a 50-50 proposition to opt out if he plays as well as he did last year. On the one hand, he probably won't make quite as much annually as he does on his current seven-year, $81 million deal. On the other hand, if he plays out the final two years and then tries to hit the free-agent market, he risks missing out on a big payday if his game declines. My guess is he takes the bird in hand and opts out. 8. Antawn Jamison (p) Jamison is in a position similar to Bibby's, except with only one year between his opt-out and the end of the contract. He's due to make the maximum in 2007-08, and without a strong campaign this year will fall far short of that in free agency. On the other hand, he could see next summer as his last shot for a big long-term deal and opt out anyway. 9. Chris Kaman (r) He's on a rookie contract and could get extended this fall, but word on the street is that the two sides are miles apart on what Kaman's market value is. My guess is that the $60 million deal Nene signed with Denver probably isn't helping to close the gap any, so Kaman might need to ink an offer sheet to get paid. 10. Anderson Varejao As a second-round pick, Varejao's contract doesn't come with the extension options that first-rounders have. Thus, the big-haired Brazilian will be a restricted free agent next summer and should attract plenty of attention. 11. Chris Wilcox (t) Much like Gooden, Wilcox probably will have to settle for the one-year tender. In his case, however, it might prove more costly. Wilcox was trying to cash in on the first sustained stretch of excellence in his four-year career and might not be able to give an encore performance. 12. Maurice Williams Now that the starting point guard job in Milwaukee is all his, Williams' price tag is likely to shoot northward. This is especially true since the Bucks should be better this year and Williams has improved every year in the league. 13. Grant Hill Anything involving Hill is always a major "if" because he's so injury-prone, but if he can stay healthy and play to his usual standard, he should be a very attractive commodity. 14. Andres Nocioni Thanks to his tenacity and ability to play multiple positions, the Wild Bull of the Pampas' next deal should double the $3.03 million per annum he's making now. 15. Antonio McDyess (p) Health problems used to be the biggest concerns with the Dice man, but he's gone two years without so much as a hangnail. If he has one more of those, he'll opt out of his deal and get what's likely to be his last long-term contract. 16. Primoz Brezec (p) Another foreign import on a bargain contract, the 7-2 Brezec had to look approvingly at the deals Joel Przybilla and Nazr Mohammed got this summer. And unlike those two, Brezec can score. 17. Chris Mihm Both Mihm and Brezec have to be hoping like crazy that Chris Kaman signs an extension, because it would leave those two as the only true centers available on the market, increasing the likelihood that at least one gets a completely insane contract. 18. Morris Peterson One of the few Raptors who can be bothered to play defense, Peterson's toughness and shooting would make him a great glue guy on a contending team. However, it's also possible Toronto will extend his deal before the season starts. 19. Jerry Stackhouse Stackhouse's name recognition and scoring ability might get him a big contract, especially for a team that's in need of bench scoring. On the other hand, he'll be 32, he shoots a low percentage, and he misses 25 games every year with bad hammies. 20. Earl Boykins (p) Another player who might as well opt out because his current contract pays so little, Boykins got shot-happy last year and will have to rein in his shoot-first tendencies a bit if he really wants to make an impression on his future employers. 21. Joe Smith A forgotten man after missing much of last season with an elbow injury, Smith could be changing addresses long before his contract expires. But he remains a solid player and should get some attention next summer. 22. Michael Sweetney Realistically, a year from now Sweetney will either be 20 pounds lighter and one of the top 12 players on this list, or 20 pounds heavier and off the list entirely. For now, we'll split the difference. 23. Theodoros Papaloukas The 6-7 Greek native won Euroleague MVP honors after leading CSKA Moscow to the title. I haven't heard his name come up much in NBA circles, possibly due to a poor 2004 Olympics, but he's a heck of a player. He's a big point guard with a great feel for the game -- reminiscent of how Marko Jaric would be if he (a) had a pulse and (b) looked a little bit like Cookie Monster. 24. Jamaal Magloire His performance has fallen a long, long way the past two years, which kind of goes without saying when a former All-Star is traded for Steve Blake and Brian Skinner. Fortunately for him, centers never go out of style. 25. Eddie Jones I'm not sure how much Jones has left in the tank, but if he has a strong year in Memphis he could get some attention next summer. Because he defends and can make outside shots, a lot of teams will see him as a missing piece to their puzzle. Best of the rest: Steve Blake, Ruben Patterson, Desmond Mason, Travis Outlaw (r), Matt Bonner, James Posey, Mickael Pietrus (r), Matt Carroll, Austin Croshere

[Hache Man]

Bleak outlook for '07 free agents


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Wait until next year! That's the mantra of a number of poor NBA teams that struck out in the free-agent market this summer. As loyal fans howl about the lack of improvement from their teams this offseason, promises of cap room and a much improved free-agent class are intermingled with a call for patience.

After yawning our way through this year's lackluster free-agency period, the big question is: Will things be much better next year?

The answer isn't going to be a popular one.

The bottom line is that very few teams will have the cash to make major upgrades to their rosters via free agency next summer.

As John Hollinger has laid out, the free-agent class of 2007 is better than this year's weak crop. There will be some solid unrestricted free agents (assuming they opt out of their current deals) such as Rashard Lewis, Mike Bibby and Vince Carter who may decide to try to finish their careers elsewhere.

The group of restricted free agents will be headlined by Boris Diaw, Josh Howard, Kirk Hinrich and, believe it or not, Darko Milicic. But as we've seen in almost every free-agent period, there aren't many decent restricted free agents you can wrest from the grasp of the teams that hold their rights.

That leads to a decent group of players such as Gerald Wallace, Desmond Mason, Jamaal Magloire, Mo Williams, Morris Peterson and Primoz Brezec who will be unrestricted and will look to go to the highest bidder.

But the question you really have to ask about members of any free-agent class is: Who's going to pay them?

If current cap positions hold true next summer, only one team, the Charlotte Bobcats, will have max cap room. As it stands right now, assuming a modest $2 million increase in the salary cap next season, the Bobcats could be staring at a whopping $27 million in cap room. The nice thing for Charlotte (assuming owner Bob Johnson, who's getting a rep for being cheap, spends it) is that it will have virtually no competition for the top talent in the class.

Several other teams will have some room, but not enough to lure the top free agents.

Of the other teams with cap room, the Grizzlies appear to be in the best shape. Eddie Jones' big contract comes off the books next summer, giving them some real cap flexibility for the first time in Jerry West's tenure. They could have roughly $10 million to $11 million in cap room. That's not enough for the Grizzlies to sign a player to a max contract, but it can get them close. Then again, Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley has been pushing West to cut payroll, so there's no guarantee he's going to hand out another huge contract next summer.

The Bulls, believe it or not, could be a whopping $20 million under the cap again next year despite the fact they inked Ben Wallace to a huge $60 million deal this summer. However, don't throw a big party just yet Bulls fans. Add in a high draft pick (the Bulls have the ability to swap their first-round pick with the Knicks next year) and new contracts for Kirk Hinrich and Andres Nocioni and the Bulls probably will have a little under $5 million in actual room.

The Sonics could also have around $20 million in cap room if they let all of their free agents walk away. But that seems pretty unlikely. Rashard Lewis is likely to opt out of his contract and Nick Collison and Luke Ridnour are both restricted free agents next summer. And none of that takes into account the status of Chris Wilcox.

If he signs a long-term deal this summer, Seattle will have to subtract his salary from the cap room. If Wilcox takes the Sonics' one-year tender, he's an unrestricted free agent next summer. If the Sonics sign all of their free agents, their cap room is totally gone.

The key will be Lewis. There are already rumblings out of Seattle that he's looking for a new home. As we've documented, there aren't many teams that have the room to get him without working out some sort of sign-and-trade with the Sonics. Still, I'd watch this one closely. He could be trade bait in February if the Sonics think they'll lose him for nothing.

The Magic could have up to $15 million in room next summer once Grant Hill's huge contract finally comes off the books. That could make them a major player in the free-agent market with one pretty large caveat -- Darko Milicic becomes a restricted free agent next summer.

It's just too early to predict what Milicic's asking price will be next year. If he has only moderate improvement he's still likely to garner an offer of at least the mid-level exception in the open market. Seven-footers have a way of doing that. If he shows rapid improvement, he could cost the Magic a lot of money. Nene Hilario got a $60 million deal for waving a towel last year. You can imagine what a 21-year-old, 7-foot-2 big guy could get if he has a big season.

All of that means it's still too early to tell whether the Magic will be big players in the open market. Two top free agents, Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis, have both expressed interest in playing there. But will the Magic have the cash to pay them? Right now it looks doubtful unless the Magic will be willing to let Darko walk away.

The Hornets have roughly $12 million to $13 million in cap room next year, but they too have several significant free agents to re-sign. Starting power forward David West will be a restricted free agent but could command a deal starting at $6 million to $7 million on the open market. Desmond Mason will be an unrestricted free agent, though he probably has mid-level value in next year's market.

The Bucks will also have between $12 million to $13 million in cap room, but they also have a significant free agent to re-sign -- Mo Williams. However, Williams is unlikely to command a starting salary of much more than $5 million to $6 million, giving the Bucks enough cap room to offer a free agent more than the mid-level exception.

The Hawks are looking at around $8 million to $10 million in cap room next summer. That's not enough money to lure a top free agent, let alone the elite point guard and center the team still lacks.

The Raptors are also eyeing around $8 million to $10 million next year, but they'll likely use much of it to re-sign unrestricted free agent Morris Peterson and restricted free agent T.J. Ford.

The bottom line is that for top free agents like Chauncey Billups, Bibby, Lewis and Carter to cash in, they have to get a team to offer them a huge chunk of cash the way the Bulls did to Ben Wallace and the Hornets did to Peja Stojakovic this summer. When you examine the situation of each NBA team, however, the Bobcats and possibly the Grizzlies are the only two teams that will have the flexibility to do this without some sort of sign-and-trade.

Given the budget-conscious philosophy of the Bobcats and where they are in the developmental cycle, it's hard to see them throwing $12 million to $14 million a year at Billups or Carter. The Grizzlies may be more willing to pull the trigger on a veteran big name, but they'll have money for only one guy.

The news isn't much better for the mid-level players. One thing that hasn't received much mention is the precarious cap situation of most teams in the league next year.

A stunning 21 teams will have payrolls exceeding $60 million next season. That means a full mid-level offer to a player would likely put those teams above the luxury tax threshold. A few teams, such as the Knicks, 76ers, Mavericks and Blazers, have shown a willingness to pay the tax. But most avoid it like the plague.

That could lead to very stagnant market of mid-level players in next year's free-agent market.
I don't want to be the one to rain on next year's free-agent parade, but unless some teams make major moves this summer to clear some cap space, it could be another blue, blue summer for teams looking to make a major jump in the standings next season.

[Hache Man]

Updated: Aug. 8, 2006, 12:18 PM ET
No family and friends on trip -- except for one 'Uncle'?




By Chris Sheridan
ESPN Insider
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LAS VEGAS -- Team USA went wheels up at 7 a.m. this morning, flying commercial instead of charter with friends and family left behind. Under a rule imposed by team czar Jerry Colangelo, wives, girlfriends, children and peeps were not welcome on this trip. Even the enigmatic "Worldwide Wes" -- whose job description might best be described as professional friend to most of America's top athletes -- was told his days of red-carpet treatment were being curtailed. It's a big change from two years ago, when the Team USA traveling party was swelled to a point where something had to be done. Back then, Wes was on the charter and on the boat -- the Queen Mary 2, which served as the U.S. team's Olympic housing in Athens -- an allowance that some felt was bending a little far to placate the wishes of Team USA's youngest players. "There was too much, in the past, from all the research I did; there were too many people around, entourages, etc. So when I did my interviews I made it clear we were on a mission, we have work to do, and families were welcome at training camp, but once we got on that plane, we were on our own personal mission," Colangelo told Insider. "We wanted this to be all of us in the foxhole together, and the way you try to control that is to eliminate people who like to hang around." The no-entourage rule did not sit all that well with a few of the players, though Colangelo said it was not driven by any one person. And in the case of Wes, whose full name is William Wesley and whose presence at every major U.S. sporting event has made him the Zelig of his time, it would be unfair to portray him as a hindrance or a troublemaker. Quite the contrary, in fact, according to Colangelo. "I didn't even know Wes til this year," Colangelo said. "We met in Phoenix and spoke, and I did some checking because I wanted to do my own due diligence, and I felt comfortable that he was welcome to be around. "He was actually someone who helped (in Athens), from what I was told. There were issues among the coaching staff and players, but he didn't separate, he brought things together." A Wikipedia entry on Wesley reads: "William "Wes" Wesley (Born August 14, 1964 in Camden, New Jersey) is a mysterious figure around the National Basketball Association. He is associated with many of the league's most prominent players, including Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James, though the substance of these relationships is murky. Wesley, who is also known as 'Worldwide Wes' or simply 'Wes' (no last name), is a longtime client of Iverson and James's agent, the Philadelphia attorney Leon Rose." The Detroit News spent six weeks investigating Wes in 2005 and failed to dig up much dirt, and ESPN.com's Scoop Jackson is among those who have called him "the most powerful man in sports." He was seated courtside next to Scottie Pippen on Thursday night as Team USA trounced Puerto Rico by 45 points in an exhibition game, and he's certain to reappear with Team USA once they get to Japan on Aug. 17 -- unless he somehow shows up ahead of that date. Wes is sort of always around, and there's really nothing stopping him from flying to Asia on his own. (Wesley, who has never given an on-the-record interview, declined to be quoted for this article.) "Uncle Wes is a guy who's very respected worldwide, and that's why that's his name," Dwyane Wade said. "He's a guy who gives support, but also a guy who's going to push you. It's always good to have someone who isn't scared to tell you you're doing wrong but also someone who will pat you on the back and say you're doing good, but you can do better." Said James: "The guy is support. He's been a great role model for myself, he helps me make decisions and things like that, and the support that he had for me (in Athens) when I was out there having those tough times was great." Whether or not Wes joins them, the Americans will play their next exhibition games Monday against China and Tuesday against Brazil in the southern China port city of Guangzhou. After that it's off to Hong Kong for three days of rest and relaxation (and practice) before making one more pre-Japan stop in Seoul, South Korea for exhibitions Aug. 13 against Lithuania and Aug. 15 against Korea. The serious stuff begins Aug. 19 in Sapporo, Japan, with the Americans' first-round opener at the World Championship against Puerto Rico, and they'll play four more times over the next five nights against China, Slovenia, Italy and Senegal. After that, the team travels to Tokyo for the medal round, and families and friends