Weekend Wonder: Derrick Rose averaged 31.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2.5 blocks and 2.5 threes in two games over the weekend. He shot 48 percent from the field, 92 percent from the line and averaged 2.5 turnovers. Rose will have a hard time matching his stellar December, but no one’s complaining. Read More »

Ready or not for the NFL, Cam Newton might as well go pro after tonight’s BCS National Championship Game. Not only will his draft stock never be higher, but sticking around the University of Auburn next season means Newton won’t be able to buy a McChicken sandwich without somebody investigating where he got the 99 cents.

When Newton was spotted at Phoenix’s U.S. Airways Center during the Suns/Lakers game on Jan. 5 — looking like an unsigned power forward at 6-6, 250 pounds — it turned into more than just a celebrity sighting at an NBA game. Read More »

Apparently the Timberwolves are to the Spurs what the Bobcats were to the Celtics a couple years ago. Remember when the ‘Cats were generally bad, but somehow managed to always give the Big Three C’s a hard time? Last night’s Spurs/Wolves game was the third time in three matchups this year that the game went down to the wire, and the third time San Antonio walked out with a close win … Read More »

There were a couple of sharks in the water in Charlotte last night, and neither one of them played for the home team. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James smelled blood in the arena, and almost immediately went about splurging with some devastating results. Miami ran away from the Bobcats in the second half en route to a 14-point win led by James (38 points) and Wade (31 points). Throw in the 11 points from the third leg of the tripod, Chris Bosh, and they were just one bucket away from beating Charlotte by themselves … Read More »

As the Lakers/Nets/Rockets trade yesterday opened the door for another round of Carmelo Anthony rumors and scenarios, it also inevitably led to further discussion on the future of J.R. Smith.

The perception has long been held that, if Denver has to reluctantly give up ‘Melo, they’ll try to unload the sometimes-problematic Smith at the same time, whether as part of the seemingly inevitably ‘Melo deal or in a separate move to continue the rebuilding process. Read More »

The Minnesota Timberwolves are in 14th place in the Western Conference. Only one team (the Clippers) has fewer wins than the four W’s the Wolves have accumulated. And yet, they’re still better than a lot of analysts predicted during the preseason.

The Wolves have been competitive. They came within a few overtime possessions of snapping San Antonio’s early-season win streak when it was up to 11. They hung around with the Lakers before losing by five. They upset the Bucks in the second game of the season before the reigning Eastern Conference 6-seed began its current tailspin. Read More »

Despite a solid win last night in Sacramento, the 2-7 Timberwolves need point guard help. Fast. After offseason hip surgery, Jonny Flynn has yet to play a game and is still one to three weeks away from returning. Luke Ridnour is out at least a week with a hamstring injury. And that leaves Sebastian Telfair as the only healthy PG on the roster. Yes, Bassy did look good last night, but the T-Wolves are looking to bring in some replacements. Read More »

For certain sports franchises, players are not so much developed as they are born. Randy Moss was born to be a Raider (he just got there at the wrong time). Derek Jeter is a natural Yankee. Jon Scheyer couldn’t have played anywhere but Duke. Kevin Nash was the perfect fit for the New World Order.

The Lakers are one of those iconic franchises for which certain players appear destined to play. It may not happen on Draft Night — it may not even happen within the first 10 years of their career — but one way or another, he will eventually suit up for the purple and gold, and don the Sunday whites. Read More »

As the NBA regular season approaches, we preview the upcoming campaign with the “Highs and Lows” system — predicting the respective ceiling and basement for each team.

Added: Michael Beasley, Wesley Johnson, Luke Ridnour, Martell Webster, Anthony Tolliver, Nikola Pekovic, Kosta Koufos, Sebastian Telfair, Lazar Hayward

Lost: Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Ramon Sessions, Ryan Hollins, Damien Wilkins, Sasha Pavlovic Read More »

It has become a running joke to poke fun at Minnesota Timberwolves GM David Kahn’s mistakes: drafting too many point guards, trading away Al Jefferson for cheap and gambling big money on Darko Milicic. But one decision that definitely wasn’t a mistake was taking Jonny Flynn in the Lottery of the 2009 NBA Draft. Read More »