The Hawks learn how to shoot, Hedo is hitting the market, and Baron Davis wants discipline
Josh Smith (photo. adidas)The East is good again; starting at the top with the champs in Boston and bolstered by solid contenders in Detroit, Cleveland, Orlando, Philly, Miami, Washington and Toronto. So where does that leave the Hawks? We examined Joe Johnson and Co. yesterday in the latest of our ongoing team-by-team season previews, and if ATL wants to stay in the playoff picture, they’ll at least need to improve on last year’s 37-win record. Similar to the C’s and the Heat, Atlanta is building around two wings and a big — Johnson, Josh Smith (not a traditional three, but not a traditional four; and perhaps not the best dunker in Atlanta) and Al Horford — but the X-factors reside in getting solid play at point guard (Mike Bibby) and from the other bigs (namely Zaza Pachulia, who should be waking up from that KG blind pick any day now) … On area in which the Hawks should be better is shooting the ball. The team has hired Mark Price as its “shooting consultant,” which could do wonders for Smith’s game … While we wait for Ben Gordon, Robert Horry and Dikembe Mutombo to land somewhere, let’s start looking ahead to the 2009 free agent class. The big dogs who will definitely be unrestricted on the market (barring a surprise contract extension) are Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Ron Artest, Rasheed Wallace and Lamar Odom; then there’s potential restricteds from the ’05 Draft (again, barring an extension) like Andrew Bynum, Ray Felton, David Lee and Danny Granger; and finally, big names who could opt out of the current deals next summer, i.e. Kobe, Carlos Boozer, Rip Hamilton and Jermaine O’Neal. From the last group, Hedo Turkoglu announced yesterday that he will opt out in ’09 and be a free agent. “I would love to stay in Orlando, but this is a business,” Hedo told the Orlando Sentinel. “My business is to play my game. If you don’t play your game, you can’t get a deal anywhere. Hopefully, Orlando will agree and we will sign, but we’ll wait and see. It’s hard to tell if I’m staying or leaving.” If Orlando wants to stay in the mix, they have to break off Hedo and keep him around. Think they’re regretting throwing all that unnecessary extra money at Rashard Lewis now? … One remaining ’08 free agent who can make an impact somewhere is Carl Landry. He just signed an offer sheet with the Bobcats, reportedly for three years at $9 million. Although the Rockets had been offering Landry a little less than $7 million over three years, they’re expected to match Charlotte’s offer … One day after the Magic unveiled their new uniforms, the Bucks dropped their new joints, which have a whole new color scheme and don’t include any animals in sweaters … As much hype as Derrick Rose and Mike Beasley will have going into the season, the sneaker companies and other endorsements aren’t nearly as hot on them as they were on, say, Kevin Durant and Greg Oden. Rose and Beasley both quietly signed with adidas recently, and neither rookie got anywhere near the high eight-figure deal Durant inked with Nike last year. For these first few seasons — considering the combo of on-court ability and off-court marketability — which ’08 draft pick do you think will become the biggest mainstream star? And don’t limit it to the top three. A couple years ago, who would have pegged Brandon Roy as the standout star of the ’06 class? … You have to give Baron Davis props for (1) not just thinking outside the typical athlete box and joining Jenny Craig to get his weight down, but for (2) admitting it publicly. “In the off-season, it’s kind of hard to maintain day-to-day,” Baron told People magazine. “I don’t want to get up and cook. And when I pig out, I’m the type of person where there’s no limit to what I can do.” Asked what his food weaknesses are, Boom Dizzle said, “Definitely Mexican. I go to Pinches Tacos in L.A., start with a carne asada burrito, and work my way down the menu.” Somewhere, Mike Sweetney is nodding and wiping salsa and sour cream from the corner of his mouth … Sooner or later, during a scrimmage at Knicks training camp, Jamal Crawford is going to do something disgusting and downright disrespectful to elders with the ball to a defending Allan Houston. When that happens, will everyone hang their head and not acknowledge it? We know Nate Robinson will have the urge to clown … Would you want David Harrison on your team? He’s got a little too much Michael Olowokandi/Bison Dele about him for our taste, but the Wolves, Bulls and Spurs are said to be at least somewhat interested … Your pre-training camp Injury-Prone Superstar update: Vince Carter is showing no ill effects from his offseason ankle surgery, and T-Mac has some “lingering pain” in his surgically-repaired shoulder and knee … We caught a little of “College Football Live” yesterday, where Doug Flutie was one of the studio hosts. The regular host of course introduced Flutie as the ’84 Heisman trophy winner and spent the first few minutes going over the Heisman and the Hail Mary. It kind of reminded us of that SNL skit where Joe Piscopo played Flutie, who was at the end of his rope from always talking about the Hail Mary, and Eddie Murphy (as Desmond Tutu) accidentally broke the Heisman … We’re out like T-Mac playing a full 82 …
-->
September 25th, 2008 at 6:34 am
Kim Jong Il says:
FIRST!
September 25th, 2008 at 6:37 am
j from la says:
allen houston was so overrated its not even funny. y is he playing wasnt he on espn jus 4 months ago. ur bout to lose 2 jobs buddy. orlando is one bad contract away from making the conference finals. vince n tmac both r not trustworthy with the health and baron need to stop eatin those burritos cuz that shit goes straight to the gut. atleast hes not eatin roscoes everyday. out like the mets playoffs chances sorry ass choke artists.
September 25th, 2008 at 6:40 am
YOUNGFED says:
@Dime
1St- Yall are hyping the Heat up a lil too much too early how are they better than ATL all of a sudden?
2nd- How is Josh Smith NOT
September 25th, 2008 at 6:42 am
khalfani says:
Derrick rose iz whack…beasley is rookie of the year and mayo iz just nice
September 25th, 2008 at 6:44 am
YOUNGFED says:
@Dime
1St- Yall are hyping the Heat up a lil too much too early how are they better than ATL all of a sudden?
2nd- How is Josh Smith NOT the best dunker in ATL.
3rd- Big ups for crediting Boom Dizzle for coming out.
4th- Yall Nukka’s late I get too work at 6am eatern time, and expect my Dime on Time!
5th- I’m a MuthaFukin’ P.I.M.P. Just puttin’ that out there. lol
September 25th, 2008 at 7:04 am
alf (from melmak) says:
agree with the above postings. how the heck did miami, all of a sudden, became a legit playoff team? i am betting my meal allowance for next week they would fall flat on their face. think 35 win scenario at best.
the rashard contract was one big mistake for the magic and it is biting them now.
i am out wishing utah could trade ak for marion before the season starts. it is the last piece to a championship puzzle.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:16 am
the_don_mega says:
FED is PIMPIN!!!
September 25th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Ansonious says:
Monta crashes on moped ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha that’s seriously the funniest shit I’ve heard in a while. 100 miles to the gallon but you look like a fag. I’m out like trading AK for Marion peace!
September 25th, 2008 at 8:48 am
bamba says:
Beasley to the 3 stripes?! what happened to all the Jordan deal rumors
September 25th, 2008 at 8:57 am
shake&bake says:
I think Milwaukee was going for the look that says our uniforms are as boring as our team and state.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Kobeef says:
New comments from Starbury….and why the buyout rumours were unclear earlier this week
“There won’t be no negotiation . . . They’re going to give me all my money.” – Marbury
September 25th, 2008 at 9:07 am
justice says:
Beasley, and Mayo are the most marketable right now, but mayo is in memphis which may kill him unless they get good fast, and rose simply doesn’t have that type of game or personality or look for that matter..So i would have to say b-easy and if love is even close too good they will shove him in our face a la keith van horn
September 25th, 2008 at 9:43 am
YOUNGFED says:
BANGER OF THE DAY: Alchemist, Snoop, Jada, and Pusha-T
http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=24718
YOU KNOW IT’S FIRE!!!! Let me know what yall think??
What up MEGA! Where you been bruh?
September 25th, 2008 at 10:00 am
TBone says:
Hey J from LA
Houston overrated?
You’re OUT OF YOUR MIND. You must not have seen him play in his day.
Overpaid? Sure.
Overrated? NOT A CHANCE
September 25th, 2008 at 10:01 am
TBone says:
Allan Houston btw, for eveyone who thought I mean the Rockets.
You don’t get the name H20 just because your last name starts with H and your jersey number is 20. Dude was WET
September 25th, 2008 at 10:10 am
isotope says:
If given PT, Donte Green could ruin the ROY party.
I’m a huge Rockets fan and loved what Landry did last year but I dont think he’s worth 3 mil per. Won’t be mad if the Rockets paid him but i dont see him being as good this year.
AI better get out of Denver.
Kidd needs to go to a team where he doesnt have to play most of the game.
Marion should wait and see what the Heat look like this year.
Same with Artest and the Rockets.
‘Sheed will propably get traded mid-season
Lamar Odom needs to stay his butt in LA.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:13 am
BALLZ says:
Allan Houston was a helluva lot better player than JC ever dreamed of bein. I’d like to see what he’s got left. How are JC & Nate gonna react when they get the wet jumper of H20 in they mouths? Especially considerin dude is “old,” “over the hill,” and “retired.”
September 25th, 2008 at 10:27 am
MoxWestCoastRep says:
@Fed-That track was sick…
None of those unrestricted ’09s should get anything more than a mid-level 3 yr deal, cause they are all on the downside of prime(especially Kidd and AI). I’m sure Matrix thinks he should get another max deal tho.
September 25th, 2008 at 10:36 am
the_don_mega says:
been out hustlin’ FED…
September 25th, 2008 at 11:19 am
TD says:
Heat, Wizards… Contenders?!?!? First of all the wizards haven’t gotten out of the first round in as long as I can remember, and they’re bringing back the same squad that Lebron pimp slapped last year (yes I’m talking to you deshawn stevenson), and the heat didn’t even win 20 games last year… it’s a lil early to be calling either one of those two contenders…
September 25th, 2008 at 11:25 am
YOUNGFED says:
@Mega
You do know that I’m really a FED, don’t you. lol
@Mox
Hottest track I’ve heard all year.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:39 am
schoops says:
@isotope…Donte Green is nice, but he’ll need a few years in the league to discover what a “bad shot” is. I love SU and I can tell you that man has not seen a forced 3 he did not like. But the dude was a steal with that much talent that late in the draft.
H20 Was wayyy over paid, but not overrated. One of the best shooters in the late 90s/early 00s.
@Anson…Don’t hate on Mopeds. Some of the new ones are niccce.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Kudabeen says:
Marbury Interview yesterday or today:
http://video.wnbc.com/player/?id=695222
September 25th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Kudabeen says:
The article I was referring to about Marbury’s mentor dying that I referenced yesterday when talking about the whole Marbury abandoning the team thing:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/2007/11/17/2007-11-17_mentor_to_marbury_is_mourned_in_brooklyn.html
September 25th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
lee says:
Can someone tell me why the magic had Lewis for $80 mill/5 years and then did a sign and trade for $120/6 years .. it’s not like the guy was 23 or top 5 in the league.
You know why mopeds are like fat girls .. they’re both good rides untill your friends see you on them .. or they injure you’re dumb ass !!!
September 25th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Buffalo Brave says:
“Somewhere, Mike Sweetney is nodding and wiping salsa and sour cream from the corner of his mouth ”
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 25th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Kudabeen says:
@LEE
Funny as hell!! LMBAO…
September 25th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
the_don_mega says:
@ FED…LOL!!!
September 25th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
vinny says:
j from la- I’m with t-bone on this 1. Houston was overpaid but he could play and was no way overrated!!! Remember those 53 he pit on Kobe??
September 25th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
vinny says:
put not pit
September 25th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
heavy d says:
Red for Milwaukee? Is that to appear like the wax cover on some gouda? Outside of that I’m not getting the drastic departure from the traditional green. Well other than the Wisconsin Badgers are red.
Should have rocked the plaid and really been an alternate jersey.
September 25th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
23/33 says:
I had no idea a moped could go fast enough to cause a serious injury! I have no idea what the Magic were thinking with the R Lewis signing at 100 mil +! They were bidding against themselves..who else was even trying to sign him. Congratulations on giving your 3rd best player a max deal!
September 25th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
sans says:
Houston wanted him, but not for the Max. Also, Shard was the only FA of note that year. The sign-and-trade didn;t make sense to me…didn’t they trade Keyon Dooling, who the Sonics (r.i.p) waived immediately in order for him to return to Orlando? That was D U M B, plain and simple.
September 25th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
sans says:
YOUNGFED…u really a federal agent? I laugh at shit too; but only when I’m real serious.
Yo DIME, I just saw your Rucker Park advertisement 16 times in 3 YouTube clips–nice location!