Having witnessed the hard work and ingenuity of NBA All-Star campaign videos for Rudy Gay and, well, the entire Knicks starting rotation this year, I am impressed at the lengths players and teams will go just to get their names out there. As an NBA fan, I truly applaud their efforts. Seeing players become starters relying solely on their “old hero” images – A.I. comes to mind – or nationality just doesn’t sit well with me. It isn’t fair to those players who are worthy, but get overlooked because of the market they play in or the name on the back of their jersey. With that said, here is an ode to the more memorable NBA All-Star campaigns videos that have helped players either make the squad, or at least show off their not-so-serious side. Read More »

You have to wonder if the Denver Nuggets had any idea how quickly this Carmelo Anthony thing would spiral out of their control. Back when the Nuggets got knocked out of the first round of the playoffs by Utah, it was bad, but you still figured the team had a bright future with ‘Melo (who’d already signed one extension in Denver and seemed content where he was) not too far removed from a Western Conference Finals berth, a few more years of quality Chauncey, some young talent in Ty Lawson and J.R. Smith, etc. Just a few months later, the odds are looking slim that Denver opens this season with ‘Melo on the roster. Did the Nuggets know ‘Melo had been growing frustrated? Read More »

Despite the fact Dirk Nowitzki signed a new four-year contract with the Mavericks this summer, the realistic oddsmaker knows Dallas’ championship window for the Dirk era only has a couple of years left — if it hasn’t been slammed shut already by the likes of Tim Duncan, Dwyane Wade and Baron Davis — before it’s officially rebuilding time. The Mavs took another hit this weekend, as rising star Rodrigue Beaubois broke his left foot while playing for Team France, a setback in the young guard’s development. Read More »

Let me warn you before you continue reading: The following list is not filled with future All-Stars or Hall of Famers. At this stage in the game, if you’re still a free agent, you’re most likely looking for an NBA roster spot before you have to settle for an overseas gig. But with that in mind, there are still some talented players – under the age of 25 – that are worth the minimal investment for the potential future payoff. I’m not saying sign them to a five-year, $34 million like the Raptors did with 23-year-old Amir Johnson, but you get the picture. Without further ado, here are the Top 5 NBA Free Agents Under 25 Years Old. Read More »

Last night, word broke that John Salmons was being shipped to Milwaukee in return for Kurt Thomas and Francisco Elson – a deal that saw the Bucks really giving up nothing to get a starter in Salmons. Today, the Associated Press is reporting that the Bucks have instead agreed in principle to a trade that would send Hakim Warrick and Joe Alexander to the Bulls for Salmons. This deal, I’m not that big a fan of. Read More »

The Cavs are locked and loaded for a solid run at the championship, a disgruntled former superstar finds a new home (and maybe another one before the day’s up), the Bulls are in an even better position to make a splash this summer and a perennial lump of dead weight now finds himself with 10,000 lakes to drown in. That pretty much sums up all the NBA trade action from Wednesday night into Thursday morning, in what has shaped up to be a trade season that has lived up to expectations so far. Here’s a quick rundown of the fantasy implications. Read More »

Perhaps his basketball career hasn’t gone as expected, but don’t give up on Joe Alexander just yet. Sure his contract option for next season was declined back in November – making him the highest-drafted rookie to ever have his rookie option declined – but Joe Alexander is back on the right track. Having injured his right hamstring back in October, he’s yet to play an NBA game this year. But starting today, the second-year forward will be playing for a new team: the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Read More »

Phil Jackson is the king of the smart-ass, “Did he just insult me?” sneaky insult; Stan Van Gundy is good for more blatantly throwing you under the bus and making it work; Gregg Popovich will scream at you in front of 20,000 people but never lose your respect; and Mike Brown will get himself ejected in a minute going to bat for you — so long as your name is LeBron James. But you have to love the way Jerry Sloan gets it done: No games, no tactics, just telling it like it is whether he’s in a closed locker room or in front of a crew of reporters … Watching the Nuggets spend all night at the free throw line (41-of-49 FT) in Sunday’s win over Utah, most coaches would blame the refs. Sloan wasn’t going there. Read More »

Having been given a few years in the League to develop—and for some, that was a few years too many—these once projected gems, have surely not helped their GM’s resumes. For each of these players, their expectations—either be when they entered the League or were given a generous contract—have been high at one point or another in their respective careers. But with failed production and diminished minutes, each has seen their stock plummet. Read More »

There’s no question that the class of 2008 is front-loaded with talent. And now that the rookie jitters are gone and contract extensions are in sight, how will they fare after a year in the League under their belts? The reality is, a case can be made for almost 30 guys to be on this list in some way. For instance, where do Danilo Gallinari and Roy Hibbert go with such strong coach-backing? It’s still too early to close the book on any of these guys, but so far here are my predictions. Read More »