How some of the mighty have fallen. A former All-Star and integral part of some of the Dallas Mavericks’ recent playoff runs, passed over for much of free agency as an injured head case, Josh Howard finally has a team.

Yahoo! Sports Marc Spears tweeted that Howard will return to the Washington Wizards for just one year. The deal is believed to be worth around $4 million with bonuses. Read More »

Recently, New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said in a magazine interview that the Nets would be worth $1 billion by 2015. Two Dime writers argue whether Prokhorov is crazy or clairvoyant:

NETS PROFIT I don’t think the Nets will be worth $1 billion in 2015 — that’s a huge stretch, considering the highest-valued NBA franchise (L.A. Lakers) are worth about $607 million — but I do believe the Nets will be the most valuable franchise in the League by that time. Here’s why: Read More »

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal, posted about an hour ago:

Police are en route to a wooded area at Hacks Cross and Winchester in southeast Memphis where a body has been found.

Officers can’t yet confm the identity of the victim, but two police sources say they are investigating whether it may be the body of missing basketball star Lorenzen Wright. Police sources have confirmed they are investigating a 911 hangup call from Wright’s cellphone left Monday morning — the day he disappeared. Read More »

O.J. Mayo. Tyreke Evans. Gerald Wallace. JaVale McGee. Those are the four names that were cut from Team USA in a media teleconference earlier today. This afternoon, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and head coach Mike Krzyzewski announced the 15-man roster that will make the trip to New York City once training commences on August 10.

Colangelo said he met with players this weekend and on Monday and Tuesday to reaffirm their total commitment to the team. Read More »

No college basketball rivalry can touch Duke vs. North Carolina, but with the defending national champion Blue Devils a notch above the ACC right now, there is a less talked-about Tobacco Road rivalry that should be wildly entertaining, fiercely competitive, and could grow to approach that Duke/UNC bitterness in due time:

That would be North Carolina vs. NC State. Read More »

I was on the NBA Store’s official website the other day looking for some Nets gear. While there, I got drawn to the clearance section looking for bargains. Just like the clearance rack at any store, there were some hidden gems, but also some things that were plain ridiculous. I came across some funny items skimming through the clearances, and here are the five funniest: Read More »

Forget diplomacy. Al Jefferson has been letting the world know he’s happier to get out of Minnesota than Mel Gibson would be to get out of the Apollo Theater.

A couple weeks after he said, “The basketball gods were thinking about me” when he was traded to the Utah Jazz, Jefferson again big-upped his new team while simultaneously throwing his old team under the bus. Read More »

If first impressions are as invaluable as everyone says they are, then Jermaine Wright has it all figured out. When the 37-year-old showed up to Harlem’s Lincoln Playground sporting a bright yellow headband and crazy purple shorts, it was clear he wanted the attention of the crowd. But by the end of Saturday’s Red Bull 2-on-2 Revolution Tour stop in New York City, Wright had fans talking more about his game on the court than his getup.

“We’re just two cats trying to bring our energy and our intensity and see if we can make it happen,” Wright said after registering “Heart of the Bronx” into the tournament with teammate Tyshaun Valentine. Read More »

Contrary to recent reports, Yao Ming will be ready for the beginning of training camp, at least according to Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey.

Morey spoke the day after Yao suggested in an interview with a Chinese newspaper that he would retire if his surgically-repaired foot doesn’t properly heal.

“Yao is on schedule to be available the first day of training camp,” Morey told the Houston Chronicle. Read More »

Nothing Ron Artest does should surprise anyone anymore…