Rookie Orientation
Derrick RoseYou may or may not get to see Michael Beasley, but you can watch Derrick Rose on the court with the Bulls as early as tomorrow. If you need your basketball fix and can’t wait until the Olympics, here’s some good news: the Orlando Pro Summer League tips off Monday, and the games are available to watch on the Magic’s website. Six teams play in the league — Sonics, Nets, Pacers, Bulls, Magic and Heat — and the opening day schedule includes a possible Rose/Beasley head-to-head (not that they’d be guarding each other, but you get the idea). Although Beasley returned to practice over the weekend after that slight sternum fracture, he might not play Monday. Daquan Cook definitely won’t be playing for the Heat in the Orlando league, as he separated his shoulder last week … Some other names that popped up in the radar who will be playing in Orlando: Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, Brook Lopez, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Mario Chalmers and Magic first-round pick Courtney Lee, plus Julius Hodge (with the Nets) and other NBA hopefuls like Justin Gray (Wake Forest), Stephane Lasme (UMass), David Padgett (Louisville), B.J. Elder (Georgia Tech) and the infamous Yuta Tabuse … Welcome to New York, Chris Duhon. Now that he’s a Knick — and presumably the starting point guard, at that — Duhon is learning what it’s like to have the NY media all into your business. In the local papers we read about how Duhon used to sleep at Coach K’s house when he was at Duke so he couldn’t stay out late and break curfew. The article said the Knicks “know they have to keep a close eye” on Duhon. That’s what you want to hear about your new floor general … We also read that while making his decision on who to sign with (it came down to the Knicks and Magic), Duhon texted Steve Nash to ask him about what it’s like playing for Mike D’Antoni. Since when does Chris Duhon have Steve Nash’s cell? Did D’Antoni give it out to him? We can just picture Nash getting the text while getting ready to go for a skateboarding outing in Manhattan and looking at the screen like, “Who?” … With the Duhon signing making it all the more likely Stephon Marbury is done in NY, some of the stuff we’re hearing about where Steph could land is just crazy. NY Daily News‘ Frank Isola speculated that Marbury could end up as a backup with the Spurs or Celtics. We’ll clear that one up right now: There’s NO WAY Steph is gonna be cool backing up Rajon Rondo, and he might even grumble about backing up three-time champ and Finals MVP Tony Parker since TP is younger than him. And in what world do you see Gregg Popovich and Doc Rivers even wanting to deal with Steph when they have winning formulas in place? … According to the Bergen Record, the Nets have slowly gone about the process of removing pictures and other references to Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson littered around team facilities. That’s funny, because we remember going to Knicks games and they had gotten rid of any memories of Steph before the season was even over and he was still technically on the team. He wasn’t even in the video highlight packages they’d play during games … The Celtics and Heat both worked out Patrick O’Bryant recently, but Pat was reportedly given the business by ‘08 undrafted hopeful Brian Butch and some other no-names in his Boston workout and looked out of shape compared to everyone else there. Here we were certain that O’Bryant was gonna follow the lineage of being the next David Harrison — who is already the next Michael Olowokandi down to his looks and everything — and he might not even be in the League long enough to make it happen … Some other guys you’ll see in the summer leagues: Wayne Simien signed on with the Cavs, while Will Bynum is with the Pistons. Bynum has a high six-figure deal with a pro team in Spain, though, so don’t expect to see him in the NBA this year unless someone gives him a better offer … At the Supercup tournament in Bamberg, Germany — basically a prep course for the team’s playing in the Olympic qualifying tour later this month — Greece beat Puerto Rico in the championship. Ex-Rocket Vasilis Spanoulis scored 16 in the win and Sofoklis Schortsianities, a.k.a. “Baby Shaq,” had 14. Team PR didn’t have Carlos Arroyo, being led by Jose Juan Barea’s 32 points. Germany beat Slovenia in the third-place game, getting 14 from Dirk while Chris Kaman didn’t play … Did you know Doug Christie and his wife get re-married like every year? On Tuesday they’ll be exchanging vows for the 13th time. Whatever happened to their TV show? What about the book? And wasn’t there a radio show and a Jackie Christie blog? Does anyone give any of their stuff more than five minutes of attention? If you ever caught the TV show (and you’re willing to admit it), tell us what it was like … We’re out like Steph in San Antonio …
July 6th, 2008 at 9:56 am
for real says:
no politics today rangerbron
please
July 6th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Lee says:
After all the free agent talk .. can someone answer me why last year, Orlando had Lewis for $80 / 5 years as a free agent then decide to do $120 / 6 years. Why not just do the 5 years then instead of paying him $40 mil for the 6 year, pay him $5 mil as he’ll be well past his prime.
That never made any sence to me. Anyone else know ???
And was the Michael Olowokandi draft the worste, or Kwame’s !!
July 6th, 2008 at 9:57 am
for real says:
too bad doug christie and his wife don’t get divorced every year too
July 6th, 2008 at 10:16 am
JOB33 says:
@LEE
The Kwame Brown pick was way worse. My reasoning for this is that Michael Olowokandi’s name is funner to say. And he has a nickname. Therefore, he’s accomplished more. No one has ever done less in hoops to warrant a nickname.
July 6th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Damon says:
I think that whole lewis contract thing doesn’t make any sense. he isn’t a top 15 player in the league(maybe even less) and gets paid like a superstar. don#t know what the magic were thinking.
btw, big LOL @ for real…hhhhhaaaaaaaaaa
July 6th, 2008 at 10:34 am
for real says:
okay, I’ve looked over the roster and current situation of every NBA team and Stephon Marbury would not fit on any of them.
That about sums it up
July 6th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Three Stacks says:
Was is Marbury who said he planned to play in Europe after his NBA career is over? I guess that might happen sooner than he anticipated. It’d be hilarious if the team he went to immediately started to suck.
I hope D’antoni starts to makes Duhon sleep over at his house lol. In fact, he should have all the malcontents sleep at his house. Imagine a slumber party w/ Steph, Jerome James, Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph. That shit would get outta hand in a hurry. Probably more than a few trucks partying outside the house.
July 6th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Three Stacks says:
As far as the Christies tv show, I remember there was an episode where they had another wedding. I just recall Doug’s wife being a real bitch and complaing about a lotta shit. She also apparently believes that Bigfoot and Bloody Mary are real, but that owls are not. Yes, owls.
Also, Doug Christie cried like a little girl when his wife gave a speech during the ceremony.
And something I found online: Jackie Christie’s Haters list.
http://www.jackiechristie.com/haters.html
July 6th, 2008 at 11:45 am
YOUNGFED says:
@RangerJohn
Sorry I missed yesterday….”OBAMA 2008″
July 6th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Lee says:
Could Odom + Fisher (harsh I know but his kid can get treated in NY) work for Marbury. Think LA could use a shooting point with size to run the triangle. Ariza could step in for obom and they have Bynam coming back. One of the few teams I can think of that MIGHT have a place for Marbury.
And the NY sleepover is a reality show waiting to happen … trade for artest for HUGE viewing figures !!!
July 6th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Lee says:
Oh, and I’m depresed that the only TRUE Egnlish guys we’ve given you is Candiman and Amechie !!!
July 6th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Boston 3 Party says:
What’s up with the Cavs signing guys who can’t really shoot. Unless my memory is fudged, I’m pretty sure Simien can’t. But then again, the Cavs never really had a solid SF coming off the bench for LeBron…
Marbury is the perfect example of why teams shouldn’t sign players to a max contract for a long term deal. Now in order to trade the guy you have to give up a lot if your the other team, and the only way teams bring him in is when his contract starts to expire. Just my opinion though…
And please, dear God, let there not be any politics in here today. It’s enough changing the channels and listening to “Obama…Does he have faith?” or “McCain…In touch with today’s youth?” If I wanted to hear about why I should vote for someone or shouldn’t vote for someone, I certainly wouldn’t come to DIME of all places. Let’s keep it strictly basketball peeps…
July 6th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
greg poppo-bitch once wanted tony parker to be a combination of john stockton and stephon marbury. i saw it on camera.
thats how poppobitch thinks of marbury; very highly
July 6th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
jz_smoove says:
some team desperate for fans and sales will acquire steph. myself, i wont pay to see him. i’ll see a whole bunch down the list before i decide to see him.
July 6th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
Yeah I wasn’t a big fan of the political talk either but if every other person is gonna say “no more politics” It’s kind of the same thing.
Just saying.
July 6th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
hoopsguru says:
i can see steph playing for the mad scientist Don Nelson in GSW…..why all the hate on Steph, he is just a lil misunderstood
July 6th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
for real says:
During my 7 years in New York, I went to a lot of Knicks games and always watched them on tv. Marbury always played hard, hustled and I respected that. But, he comes across as selfish and nobody ever saw him smile, not even once. He could easily average 12-13 assists but he always wanted to be the man down the stretch, which usually ended with a close loss. He’d jack up bad shots with wide open teammates. It was just sad. He could give a little and get so much more in return, but he just don’t give a fuck.
July 6th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Bron42 had springs before slamball says:
lol you gotta admit, you’d rather talk politics than hear more shit about marbury.And I wasn’t even tryin to, i kinda got dragged into it lol. Anywayz, I could see marbury goin to GS though kind of as a poor mans baron davis. They both have similar styles. And as for duhon/nash, if you dont remember,a few times pics of nash and dirk in a crazy club scene have surfaced so maybe they know eachother from that. http://www.drunkathlete.com/2006/05/22/steve-nash-drunk.aspx
You think nate robinson is mad that they brought in duhon without even really thinking of letting him start? Wasn’t he supposed to be nice in D’antoni’s system before the suns traded his rights?
Orlando didn’t pay lewis less because lewis’s agent wasnt havin it and they had all the leverage. Orlando was still recovering from blowing a pic on vasquez and then trading their other pic (which turned into stucky) for bum as darko, so they needed lewis and his agent knew it.
@boston 3 party, actually simien can shoot, but hes injured 24/7 and can’t really do anything else at this point. Plus thats all the cavs really can do since Lebron has too much ego to play beside another tru superstar and other superstars aren’t excited about him gettin all the credit 24/7
July 6th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
Your right Bron I’m getting tired of the Marbury talk too although not much else is going on. But I think he’d be a nice fit for Golden State but what would GS give have to give to get him?
July 6th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Remy N says:
At Post #10 — No way. Odom AND Fisher for Marbury?
The Lakers fans will burn the house down if Fisher is traded for Marbury! Lakers are giving up too much!
Lakers fans has booed Shaq and even Kobe but they will never Fisher.
July 6th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Bron42 had springs before slamball says:
@miami, GS could give up a pick or sign and trade for pietrus and al harrington(a jersey guy) for marbury and zach or something along those lines. The knicks just signed duhon so I really doubt their standards are high and would take whatever they could getfor marbury. And when in doubt, trade his ass for artest. Or trade him to houston for Rafer Alston and someone else.
July 6th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Austin Burton says:
Marbury in Sacramento…in theory, a Steph/Kevin Martin backcourt would be good.
July 6th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
@ Bron
I have 2 problems with Steph to Houston for Alston
1. Rafer hasn’t done a bad job and he can really stroke it.
2.Do you really want to put him and Franchise on the same team again?
July 6th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Bron42 had springs before slamball says:
well I was looking for for the knicks point of view…They would get another hometown legend in Skip to my Lou AND he can play in D’antoni’s up tempo game. Houston would get another scorer for whenever yao or tmac go down. Plus me personally, I’ve always liked francis wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more than marbury and if healthy would prefer him over marbury, but in reality franchise hasn’t had a healthy knee in about 4 years (tahts what happens when your small with hops) so I don’t really see him and marbury having to compete for time.
July 6th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Damon says:
i know you dind’t mean anything by it, but could we agree to stop the nickname franchise. his career is over, as exciting as he was to watch
July 6th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
K Dizzle says:
That’s cold. Dude earned the nickname Franchise. You can’t start pullin back nicknames when dudes get past their prime.
Why do dudes talk like any team in the league wants to do the knycks a favor and give up their good players for Steph? He done way too much damage to his rep and his selfish perception for any team to give up key components for him. Bad thing about it is that most people loved Steph’s game comin into the l, then when he sold out on KG and started down the path he on now, he lost credibility…..
I can see dude in GS but only cuz they don’t have a point, but how is that gonna affect Ellis?
July 6th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
@ Bron
That would be a great trade for NY but it’s way too onesided. And I liked healthy Steve Francis(you’re welcome Damon) too I was surprised when Orlando traded him although he did have personality problems.
July 6th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
Also some one suggested a pretty good deal yesterdaythat works for both sides where the Knicks get Artest, Miller, Shareef and Kenny Thomas from the Kings for Steph and Z-Bo.
@K Dizzle
The way I see it GS getting Marbury helps Monta Ellis out because niether is really a pure point so Monta and Steph can split time running the point to ease the transition to playing point for Monta.
July 6th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Damon says:
I’m really surprised how quick guys like francis and steph were past their prime. they went downhill before they turned 30. stange thing if you look at a guy like baron who had a ton of injuries and doesn’t seem in top shape, yet he played probably the most consistent season of his career.
July 6th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Kobe says:
Can somebody please explain how the once 20-8 Marbury end up where he is today
July 6th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Just sayin' says:
In the right situation Marbury could still get 20 and 8 a night… for example stick him on the team formerly known as the Sonics or the Grizzlies and he’d get 20 and 8 for a mediocre team. He could do it with the Knicks, but everyone on that team needs the ball to be effective.
Someone should sit down with Steph and show him the player he was for the Olympic team and have him watch some Gary Payton Bucks and Lakers footage to show him how to be effective on the downside of his career.
July 6th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Austin Burton says:
The thing is, Steph is still good. This past season I went to a Knicks/Jazz game at MSG, and Steph was busting Deron Williams’ ass. Granted, Deron was giving it to him as much as he was getting it, but Steph looked like a premier PG on that night. The guy still has the talent, he just never seems to be in the right place mentally.
July 6th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
rangerjohn (im a racist because i dont trust obama) says:
well 1st
@#9 young you missed all the excitement, i guess you where right, i APPARENTLY know nothing about anything!
now @ 23/24
there is no way the rockets would take marburry. the money doesnt even come cose 1st, alston for marbury? considering alson makes less then half in the next 2 seasons as marbury makes this season so the rockets would have to add some other contracts just to make the money work. 2nd the rockets would stil be over the cap (they already will be anyway) so taking on MORE money is the opposite of what they want to do. 3rd the rockets could not relive the franchise starbury fiasco like the knicks, management is to smart for that.
and finally, i would give up the rights to my season tickets if the rockets took him, right along with half the other season ticket holders at the toyota center.
July 6th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
BxBaller says:
Steph could still easily get 20 & 8, But that ass clown Isiah made Curry and Z-Bo the primary scoring options so Steph had to take a backseat. Plus nobody’s giving Step a chance to play in this new system. Besides Steph didn’t play the entire season last year, so of course his numbers are going to be down. I still don’t understand all the hate on Steph. Believe me or not he still is a 10 PG in this league.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
@ rangerjohn
so you’re a Spurs fan with Rockets season tickets?
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say your not too fond of the Mavs.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
rangerjohn (im a racist because i dont trust obama) says:
miami LMAO yeah you got that right, the one team in texas i cant stand is the mavs (least fav behind the suns actually)
ok for the new guys, i live in houston, grew up in san antonio, i have rockets season tickets for business reasons, and i root for the rockets when they play any team except the spurs. i will be a spurs fan for life, and rockets are a DISTANT 2nd.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
for real says:
ranger, it’s just sad the Rockets play in a place called the toyota center.
I remember catching games at the Summit. The place was nice, low lighting and not a bad seat in the house. I liked it, and I was there for the Spurs road games.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
for real says:
yeah, and I really hate the Mavs too
July 6th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
daquest?on says:
goo pr
July 6th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
rangerjohn (im a racist because i dont trust obama) says:
yeah the toyota center is one big advertisement imo. everywhere you walk there is a damn toyota this or that for sale. they can really push you towards toyota. even the praking garage is “the tundra parking garage” but then i am sure it is that was with most arenas.
i liked the summit before it became the compac center too. same arena different vibe
July 7th, 2008 at 1:06 am
clement says:
did anyone find a link to find the games. i know it begins 4 et tmw but i can’t find where on the magic website you can watch it
July 7th, 2008 at 1:17 am
djKianoosh says:
FYI, NBATV is showing Spurs-Suns game 1, the OT thriller from the first game of these playoffs.
it’s amazing that this was a first round matchup. both teams looked good enough to beat the celtics on this night..
July 7th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
mavsgirl75 says:
Ranger john and for real (as if)..ya’ll hate the Mavs, how funny. I’m crushed, really.