Chris Paul, Dime #23Do you remember when your team became legit? How about when they hit the level right above that? For the Celtics, getting Ray Allen on draft night brought legitimacy; getting KG a month later took them to the next level. For the Cavs, winning the LeBron Lottery in ‘03 made them legit, while LeBron’s 48-point postseason manslaughter of the Pistons marked the next level. The Hornets? Three summers after Chris Paul fell into their laps, they’ve hit that next level. Yesterday’s James Posey signing was bigger than his career role-player status would have you believe. Posey is the kind of guy who makes really good team into great teams. We don’t want to overvalue him, but anyone who watched the Finals knows what the Hornets are getting. It’s also a good indicator that players want to play for the Hornets now; they’re becoming a destination team because they’re going to contend for the foreseeable future, and everyone wants to play with CP … Apparently what swung the deal to the Hornets over Boston was length of contract. The C’s offered Posey three years; New Orleans offered four (at $25 million). Even if you think that’s too long for Posey, who’s 31, remember that the Hornets just made a huge investment in CP, so they’re gonna do what it takes to surround him with the right pieces … Is Marcus Camby a locker room cancer? We were listening to a media member who covers the Nuggets on the radio yesterday, and he said Camby often complained about not getting the ball enough (Really? Even playing with ‘Melo and Iverson?), and in a game against the Suns this year, Camby got up off the bench with about three minutes remaining and took off. But according to the reporter, you never heard anything bad about Camby’s attitude because he was always great with the media. The locker-room stuff, along with Camby’s age (34) and salary, ultimately made him expendable to the Nuggets … Here’s what we don’t get, though: If Denver was so set on dumping Camby and his salary that they would take a second-round pick for him, why not trade him to the Nets? It had been reported for weeks that NJ wanted Camby, and we’re sure they had plenty of second-round picks to offer. Instead, the Nuggets decided to make an up-and-coming Western Conference team better by sending him to L.A. … T-Mac wouldn’t be opposed to going to Detroit — no surprise seeing as he needs to get out of the first round and the Pistons go at least three rounds deep every year — but the latest Detroit rumor has them talking to Golden State about a Chauncey Billups-for-Andris Biedrins sign-and-trade. That doesn’t make sense for the Pistons. As good as Rodney Stuckey is, you don’t trade a proven winner like Billups who’s still nasty for a not-even-All-Star with no offensive game. Supposedly the Warriors initially offered Al Harrington, which had to draw a laugh from Joe Dumars … We’re doing a little summer cleaning around the Dime office, so for the next week or so we’ll be looking to give some of this stuff (sneakers, jerseys, Dime t-shirts, Dime hoodies, signed basketballs and magazines) away to you guys. We’ll be putting items on DimeMag.com, so keep checking back and see what you can win … Danilo Gallinari (back) didn’t play yesterday, and he might not play for the remainder of the Knicks’ run in Vegas. That’s just great for NY fans: They get one look at Gallo, who just seemed to get his rhythm in the second half of his debut, and now they might not see him again until the preseason … Meanwhile, the Knicks signed Anthony Roberson to a two-year deal that was announced hours before they got demo’d by San Antonio in summer-league ball. So was it the no-passing/all-shooting style Roberson unleashed in Vegas that convinced NY he was their guy? They might as well have spent a little more money and gone after Carlos Arroyo if they wanted just any ol’ point guard … JaVale McGee had his moments during Wizards/Sixers, but one time he tried to pull off some kind of 360 layup with his off-hand, leading to this exchange: Rick Kamla: “Doesn’t he remind you of Tyson Chandler?” Snapper Jones: “No.” Later in the game, Snapper was talking about how McGee needs to slow down and let the game come to him, and compared him to Spencer Hawes in that regard. That’s the first time anyone ever accused Hawes of moving too fast … Marreesse Speights was a beast, putting up 24 points and 13 boards in Philly’s win. And Jason Smith wasn’t far behind, going for 24 and 11. Our man Dawan “Doc” Robinson played pretty good, scoring 6 points and getting 2 steals in seven minutes … Still think Kevin Love can’t hack it in the NBA? He pulled down 17 boards against the Lakers to go along with 18 points. Yeah, it’s “just summer league,” but the numbers aren’t meaningless. The kid will be alright once the games start to count … O.J. Mayo hit for 20 points, 5 dimes and 3 steals against the Clippers, but the Grizz somehow lost despite L.A. point guard Mike Taylor committing 10 turnovers. Has a team ever won a game on any level after high school when their starting PG coughed it up that many times? … Brandon Jennings is headed to Italy. After auditioning for teams from Russia, Israel, Spain and Greece, BJ signed with Pallacanestro Virtus Roma. Among his teammates: Allan Ray, David Hawkins (used to get grown-man buckets at Temple), Christian Drejer (coincidentally made news when he left Florida early to play pro in Europe) and Ibrahim Jaaber (Ivy League P.O.Y. at Penn). If nothing else, Jennings will get tested in practice, as Jaaber will lock his man down on the defensive end and Ray will shoot your eyes out … The Jennings case again brings to light the debate of college athletes getting paid. The reality is that it’s never gonna happen where the NCAA and/or the universities get into the business of paying athletes over the table, so what’s the best alternative? Austin has a solution … And in drastically less-significant Euroleague news, Loren Woods signed with a team in Lithuania. We’re sure he’ll pop up in the NBA again, though; he’s like a 7-foot cockroach … Would you rather play on a Lottery team or sit on a winning team? Before Jarvis Hayes signed with the Nets, he said two of the teams he was considering were the Hornets and Spurs. “At the end of the day,” Jarvis told the Bergen Record, “the opportunity to come to a team and have the opportunity to play for me I couldn’t pass up.” If you were in Jarvis’ shoes and the money was the same, would you go after the ring or the burn? … We’re out like Brandon …
July 17th, 2008 at 3:00 am
D.H. says:
first
July 17th, 2008 at 3:14 am
Coach T-sun says:
well NO got better but not championship better they are too one-dimensonal like the cavs with all shooters, hornets with the exception of david west chandler is useless on the offensive end without paul’s alley-oop i mean how many times can he do that in a game? peja just shoots/injury prone not clutch, mo-pete just shoots their bench still needs tinkering cause posey what does he do? oh right he just shoots he was very dangerous when the emphasis was DEFENSE and the team had 3 super-stars that can create for themselves. I would say Clippers is a playoff team but knowing their luck they’ll reverse baron and camby’s injury prone ways.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:14 am
the real marcus says:
well dime, i think you overloved james posey in the 1st part… man, it’s just that he fits the h-nuts biggest hole: outside shooting / decent d from the 2/3 spot…
…but compared to acquiring KG & drafting lebron? that’s…
we’re out like exaggeration…
July 17th, 2008 at 3:24 am
BxBaller says:
That Camby ish is puzzling. I never heard anything bad about dude in the media, especially when he played here in NY. The only negative thing the media put on him was that he was Spree’s best friend.
Damn NO got a perimeter defender in Posey, and then they still got Chandler blocking shots and getting rebounds. I’m picking a NO/LAL Western Conference Finals right now. Unless Utah makes a move, they’ve been quiet all summer long.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:27 am
JOB33 says:
Go for the burn bay-bay!!
For those that love the game know it’s not a spectator sport for them. Leave the bench-warming-on-a-contender for the vets looking for a ring..sorry ET but at least you gotta ring whilst watchin Rondo(n’t) gettin all the PT
July 17th, 2008 at 3:28 am
Tha Boddy says:
I watched the Wizards/Sixers game and JaVale McGee looked nice but the problem I see with the Wizards is that Nick Young has looked passive to the extreme…any1 else notice that???
July 17th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Soopa says:
Sadly, Drejer doesnt play anymore. His ankles were the cause of career ending injuries. He is only 25 and the best Danish basketball prospect ever. He averaged 32ppg in the best Danish league. And yeah, im Danish
Last i heard he’s gonna do some assitant coaching with our national team.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:15 am
bill says:
8 is the new first ha ha
I so hope clippers trade Kaman or Camby. I HATE it when a team makes a great trade for a player but then does not move them on and you get a glut (see phoenix point guards (nash, kidd, Johnson)
July 17th, 2008 at 4:20 am
bordado says:
i think the nuggets can’t do the deal with the nets since they will have to take some salary back as the nets do not have cap room…
July 17th, 2008 at 4:23 am
iain. says:
“and Ray will shoot your eyes out”
Was that intentional?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1GV34UbjFMY
July 17th, 2008 at 5:12 am
Borgs says:
Posey’s very useful defensively but, offensively, almost a duplicate of Mo Peterson and a less accurate Peja Stojakovic. In terms of challenging for the title, I think the Hornets are basically the same team, with a slightly improved defense. They’re still not beating LA Lakers, Utah or a healthy San Antonio in a seven game series.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:30 am
Sonics RIP says:
I go for the ring over the burn. It’a all about the W(s).
Also, if you have true confidence in yourself as a player than you shouldn’t be intimidated to compete for PT in practice with other top-notch players. I guess Jarvis doesn’t have that type of confidence in his abilities.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Foges says:
hey - how about sending some of that summer clean-up stuff out to the international readers ? Those hoodies work well where its winter now !
Go Sixers !
July 17th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Sonics RIP says:
@Bill
I forgot about that PHX point guard trio of Kidd, (old)KJ, & (young)Nash. I would have loved to watch those practices.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:05 am
shake&bake says:
I wouldn’t be able to handle sitting on the bench all year. I think I got for the PT and try to make the team better.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Dave says:
1st
July 17th, 2008 at 8:13 am
kobeef says:
I think the Hornets could move someone now that they have Posey. With Peja, Wright, Posey they have 3 SF’s capable of starting. Peja was not great last year….
Speights is the steal of the draft. A more athletic Al Jefferson.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Bruce says:
Kevin “Cecil Turtle” Love played great but I still don’t think he can play NBA ball.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Ashlov says:
OJ Mayo doesn’t play for the Wolves!
July 17th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Bruce says:
So it gonna be the the Blazers, Hornets, Lakers, and Spurs.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Kermit The Washington says:
Looks like the Lakers gotta play a little catch-up….Dang you, Ron-Ron! Stupid premature contract signing! Now we gotta give up L.O.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:46 am
nerditry says:
Camby probably is going to be thrilled and a positive wherever he ends up playing next season. Anyone with his experience and attitude is going to get pissed off playing with selfish teammates. Especially when that selfish style defines the rest of the team’s play and you fall off the playoff hunt.
**Austin** : Any old HoopsTV gear still lying around?
July 17th, 2008 at 8:49 am
YOUNGFED says:
The Pistons need to make a move ASAP. WTF!!! Also whats with the Chauncey Billups trade, In Joe Dumars we trust but DAMN…..Are you serious.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:51 am
92021SpurMD says:
I’m with Dime, though the overhype wasn’t necessary. Huge pick-up for the Hornets. He’s not gonna affect chemistry, and his D takes LOADS off everyone else. I think people are diminishing the importance of D. Here’s an example of how big an addition he is… imagine if the Spurs had picked him up, is ANYONE scoring 80 on them all year? The Hornets’ opp PPG numbers will drop by 4-8 points this year.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:54 am
rangerjohn says:
1st i dont think posey made the hornets THAT much better, he is still a role player no mater how much dime talks him up. and he has had what 1-2 good seasons as a role player?
as for camby, i could see him as a “cancer”, a friend of mine went to college with him, and said he was a REAL ASSHOLE, you could be as nice and friendly with him as anyone has, and he was still an asshole no mater how you slice it. not to mention that mustache he wears makes me think of a gay pornstar lol
July 17th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Imperial-Mel says:
Any finals predictions yet….anybody???
July 17th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
I think its a little premature to say the Hornets have hit the “next level” as you define it but they are headed in the right direction. Maybe one more good move can do it. They now seem to have a glut at small forward with peja, posey, j wright, mo peete, and bonzi (if he’s still on the team). Maybe they could swing a trade for a tough back up big man or a true shooting guard.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Kobe says:
Wow I think people are overrating James Posey after ONE playoff series
July 17th, 2008 at 9:53 am
schoops says:
First, posey is a role player, a very good one, but still a role player. I don’t see him putting the hornets over the top, but he definately gives them another legit player who can handle crunch time minutes and makes it so their bench becomes a little stronger (with mo or posey coming off the bench with jannero “gunner” parker). The Hornets will be more competitive and a bigger threat come playoff time, but this isn’t a move like the KG deal what so ever.
If I were Hayes I’d go for the PT. Dude hasn’t established himself as a career NBA player at this point, and while gettign a ring is greater, PT allows him to showcase himself more and ock up a nice big contract that’ll keep him in the L for awhile.
NYKs in 2020 woo woo.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:56 am
ticktock6 says:
If you consider that the Hornets were a good team that was in the #1 spot in the West most of the spring, and yet kept getting screwed over by their utter lack of a bench, then yes, one solid bench player does put them over the edge. That plus the emergence of Julian Wright late last season. The only downside is this will take away from Wright’s minutes. But it will also add insurance in case Peja gets injured. I don’t think they ever meant him to play the minutes he did last year, but there were times when Byron Scott actually called the bench out in the paper saying he couldn’t trust them.
The Hornets were in the strange position where one or two bench players COULD put them on the next level. They like all the pieces they have in the starting five.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Bron42 had springs before slamball says:
@kobe,
Um posey had the same effect on effect on the heat, so it wasn’t just based on one series, hence his two rings. One less than kobe.
By gettin posey, if he really is the defensive stopper people act like he is, that easily puts them on a higher level. They have enough scorers but other than chandler they couldnt really shut people down which is why the spurs where able to score enought to cancel out chris paul later on.
Katz, you better hook me up with some gear lol And I’m pretty sure if allen ray is holding his own overseas, brandon will do fine for at least a year. I gotta ask knick fans though, with the signing of a role player as your starter and a journey man as his potential back up, with a international player as your #1 pick, are you all excited about this year or already considering it a lost cause compared to how excited everyone was for like a day when they first got Z-bo last year?
July 17th, 2008 at 10:24 am
that's whats up says:
@ Post #1
Does D.H. stand for Dick Head?
…of course it does
July 17th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Big V says:
Since when is Cleveland a “next-level” team??
July 17th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
It has been reported that Brandon Jennings contract overseas is for 3 years so it seems we won’t see him in the NBA anytime soon.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Bron42 had springs before slamball says:
@34,
If hes a lotto pic, he’d make millions. His contract over there is what, like $300,000? he could easily buy out his own way out and come to the nba if hes drafted high.
@33,
Umm..since they resigned Bobbie? i dunno, only cavs fans seem to know that.
Hey Dime….No love for shelden williams skippin last nights game to watch his “fiancée” (ya wtf is up with that) at the espys? between him and JJ, that hyped duke team is lookin kinda assed out
July 17th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
If you’re a vet on the way out and you have no rings ride the pine. If you’re a young cat trying to make a name for yourself take the burn. I think that’s pretty obvious.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:45 am
OKC Hicks says:
@Bron
According to Vaccaro, his advisor, his deal is a “three-year multi-million dollar deal” with a buyout after the first year incase he is ready to go to the NBA. Not saying that your wrong I’m just saying that’s not bad dough.
Ha forget just Shelden and JJ, how about any Dukie that comes to the NBA? Maggette is probably the best player in the League right now from Duke (considering Elton Brand is coming back from surgery), Grant Hill had so much potential, and other than those two I can’t really think of anyone else. Coach K is a great college coach, but he obviously relies on the team concept too much cause when a dude gets in the League, I realized they can’t carry a team.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Good point Bron42 about Jennings being able to buy out his contract.
I haven’t been impressed with any of the Duke draft picks since Boozer. For a team who consistently recruits top high school talent and has good teams their players haven’t been panning out in the L. But then again I’m more of a UNC fan so what do I know.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:56 am
chrisGO says:
“Ray will shoot your eyes out” lol
July 17th, 2008 at 11:24 am
that's whats up says:
@ ranger
it don’t take much for you to think of gay pornstars, does it sweety???
lol-jk-spurs-r-fukked-:-(
July 17th, 2008 at 11:32 am
J-McG says:
kamla & snapper are the future of broadcasting, it is that easy…anyway the jennings signing in Italy with allen ray, david hawkins and ibby is NICE..yes i am a philly guy (and Temple grad) and always knew “hawk” had game, he is just about 6′4 and cannot hang with the longer athletes he needs to guard….lets give love to philly summer league as well…ed stefanski brought back a lot of philly local players (pat carroll, d-rob and others) either to play in the summer league or for try-outs to showcase to other teams and as respect to the local programs. That is why the 76ers will coach em up this year and sneak in the 4th spot in the East…culture change.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Bron42 had springs before slamball says:
@hicks
I didn’t say it was bad dough either way. All i said was he could easily get out of the deal if he wanted. If he shows up as a potential top 3 pick, hes makin what? $4,000,000 a year at least? So if he really wants to play in the league he could easily bounce at any point. And i really doubt he would do like the euro bums do and enter the draft, and then stay in euro for the next 4 years anyway. I don’t think it will be long before other guys follow his path just go get paid for the one year and then enter the NBA.
@spliff
Ya but even boozer was only a second round pick and no one expectd much out of him from college. Not to mention his own “jerk” issues with cleveland (once again showing people don’t wanna be #3 option behind lebron and his ego). Just look at all the hype guys like gerald henderson and greg paulus got coming into their freshmen years.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:50 am
92021SpurMD says:
Seriously Bron,
I think Greg Paulus is gonna be alot better in the NBA than he is with Duke right now, just got that good feeling about him. I HATE him, especially since i’m a tarheel, but dude can ball, and the NBA’s trademark PG is a spot made for this dude.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:50 am
92021SpurMD says:
Bron - I think Greg Paulus is gonna be alot better in the NBA than he is with Duke right now, just got that good feeling about him. I HATE him, especially since i’m a tarheel, but dude can ball, and the NBA’s trademark PG is a spot made for this dude.
July 17th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
isotope says:
doesnt mean much but the rockets are like 21-1 in the past 4 or 5 years of Summer League. Donte Greene came down to earth last night but still lead all players.
Dorsey doing what he does best, 13 rebounds and 0 for 6 from the FT line. yikes!
July 17th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
JC says:
Brandon Jennings is getting his Euros. He’s coming out on top! I’m a little iffy on how badly I want him to succeed overseas, however. I think American ball players have enough trouble staying on track and avoiding falling off in the US. If Brandon Jennings goes overseas, plays well, then gets bought out and drafted in the top 5, it will likely open up the floodgates for players who wanna get theirs ASAP. I feel like it’s one thing to get stuck at home or in your home country with no dough and empty hoop dreams, but when you hear about some of the things that go wrong with “more mature” players overseas (mustafa shakur suffered a minor injury in poland then got cut but wasn’t allowed to leave), I shudder to think what might happen with 17-19 year olds just outta high school. (a little soapboxy, maybe…)
Posey is a real contributor, but he’s more of the “oh yeah and they also have James Posey,” not the “OMG James Posey is going to take this team to the promise land.”
lololol wait, will Roberson even suit up for the Knicks? I smell the D-League! Loving all the Gators in the column. Speights, Drejer (f*ck him and his ankles for leaving early tho), Roberson. I was half expecting to hear about Matt Walsh running with the Kings summer league squad!
DAMN Camby is 34???? I guess his legs are still fresh cuz he never played anywhere close to a full season til he was like 31 lol!
July 17th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Big V says:
That was foul, JC. Foul.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
nick says:
posey is a huge reason why the celts won the chip this yr. He shut down kobe as much as a player can, take a look at kobe’s shooting percentage. However not sure exactly how much different it would have been if he didn’t have kg for the weakside help.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
OKC Hicks says:
To add on to the point of someone not wanting him (Brandon Jennings) to succeed overseas, I agree. IF he does succeed and other young phenoms think “Hmm, maybe I should go overseas, make some pocket money, then get paid in the NBA” then who are the losers? All college basketball fans. I don’t wanna see it get to the point where the Euroleague Finals are more fun to watch than March Madness. I might be over-exaggerating but I’m just saying this has got to be a headache for David “NAZI” Stern.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
OKC Hicks says:
And btw…
Isn’t it crazy that Posey’s one championship season with the Celtics elevated his status to a level where he will make more a year than Corey Maggette? Just something to chew on…
July 17th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
doc says:
Teah fella Marrese the real deal.I had a good 1rst half yesterday but didnt get no burn in the 2nd half.I aint mad at themIm still happy to be here.An dPosey good and all but without KG playing help D I got Kobe averaging 50 on him next season.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
OKC Hicks says:
Yo Doc,
I was watching the game and I gotta say you did your thing and handled your own against Dee Brown, or at least that’s what I thought. I was telling my friends that I had no idea Javel McGee (I think that’s how you spell it?) could move like that being a 7-footer. I think he’s like a three-year-away kinda player. But for real, I meant to ask you Doc, how good do you think Thaddeus Young is cause I keep telling people to look out for him this coming season? Keep doing big things man…
July 17th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
GEE...WHO YA WIT! says:
Preshate all who wished a happy B-Day yesterday and um let the games begin!
July 19th, 2008 at 12:39 am
ML says:
Wow Dime y’all cold. You guy’s mad that im telling the truth about #40 in the Sixer’s Summer Leauge Squad. But Gee Happy Birthday My Dude. These people at dime or wack.