All this talk about the Sonics buying out Kenny Anderson's $9.1 million contract isn't going to happen unless they buy out the whole thing. Anderson, 32 and on the last year of his contract, has rented a house for his family on suburban Mercer Island and says he'll just deal with playing minimal minutes behind Gary Payton and Brent Barry. "I'm not going to eat any money, that's one thing I know," Anderson said. "If they trade me or somebody agrees to pick up the rest of the contract, that's different. I'll just have to deal with this just like I've had to deal with different things in my career. But I've been a starter my whole career and I'll be a free agent at the end of the season ... I want to play."
OK, it's only two games, but the Celtics losing to the Bulls in Boston, then by 45 at Washington doesn't bode well for a return to the playoffs. The deal that sent Anderson and Vitaly Potapenko for Vin Baker and Shammond Williams could haunt them all season. Williams is a great shooter and will score, but won't get a team into the offense, and the 6-foot-11 Baker, with four years and $56 million left on his contract, has 15 points and two defensive rebounds in two games. On the other hand, Potapenko won't play until at least January, if at all, following major knee surgery, and Anderson had a terrible preseason in Seattle, has back problems and doesn't want to be a bit player. In this rare bird of a deal, you might say it hurt both teams.
After two games, it looks like the Wizards knew what they were doing after all taking Kwame Brown right out of high school with the first pick of the 2001 draft. Although he was clearly out of his element last season physically and emotionally, averaging 4.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and less than half a block in 57 games, the 6-11, 255-pounder came back in great condition and ready to prove he belongs. After a surprising 12 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks in the Wizards opening game loss to Toronto, he continued his strong upwardly mobile move with 20 points, six rebounds and six blocks in the Wizards' record-setting 114-69 win over Boston Thursday night.
It's all but a lock for the NBA to return to Charlotte for the 2004-2005 season, provided the city council approves a $200 million arena project on Nov. 11. Should that occur, as expected, that will raise the number of teams to the NBA to an even 30, prompting commissioner David Stern to tell reporters in New Orleans that they may well realign with three divisions in each conference similarly to the way the NFL has it now.
Two games into it, and the Magic are trying to remain calm over the 2-0 start, with Grant Hill averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds as the sidekick for Tracy McGrady. Three ankle surgeries in 20 months later, sources say Hill, 29, looks close to his All-NBA self for the first time since breaking the ankle in the 2000 playoffs with the Pistons.
Before the Blazers could get too excited about their easy win over the Lakers Wednesday night -- a Lakers team without Shaquille O'Neal, Rick Fox and one that had both Kobe Bryant and Devean George suffer sprained ankles -- they suffered a stunning 28-point loss at Sacramento Thursday night. Keep in mind the Kings played without Mike Bibby (fractured foot), Chris Webber (strained abdomen) and Doug Christie (second game of suspension for fight with Fox). Rumors continue to abound about the Blazers dealing Damon Stoudamire to New York for Latrell Sprewell, but that would also necessitate clearing out Antonio Daniels and perhaps Scottie Pippen because they are overloaded at that 2-3 spot.
And speaking of O'Neal, he did practice with the Lakers on Thursday, even scrimmaging for the first time since foot surgery on Sept. 12. Reports are he played five (game) minutes and felt fine. But since he's on the injured list, he can not be activated until five games are played, and it's still likely he won't play until the eighth game at home against Atlanta.
Although Halloween night was the deadline for extensions after this season, and Wally Szczerbiak, Ron Artest, and Jonathon Bender beat the deadline. Speedy Claxton and DerMarr Johnson (still recovering from that horrid car accident), did not. Szczerbiak, an All-Star last season, was particularly interesting because there was so much talk about the first-time All-Star wanting a maximum contract extension like Steve Francis, Shawn Marion and Baron Davis. Instead, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, he told agent Gary Wichard to forget about the maximum deal and they agreed to a reported six-year, $65 million extension, saying, "I like Minnesota, I like the fans here and I want stay here and play with Kevin Garnett." That's a far cry from all that blather about them hating each other and Szczerbiak wanting to play in New York or New Jersey. By the way, the Wolves are still talking to Garnett about his deal that ends in 2004. He has reportedly said he will take a cut in pay from his present deal that averages $21 million.
It was more than a little interesting in the way the Warriors stunned the Spurs 106-98 Wednesday night in Oakland. More than just the 36 points from Antawn Jamison or the 14 points, seven rebounds and six blocks from Adonal Foyle was the lack of appearance from Mike Dunleavy, the third pick overall in the draft. Considering they only had 10 players available -- Danny Fortson has been gone from the team since Oct. 19 due to the his father being gravely ill and ultimately dying Oct. 27 -- and Erick Dampier was in foul trouble and played only 11 minutes, it was stunning. He played less than a minute late in the second quarter. Coach Eric Musselman said it was no big deal and that he'll play plenty, but everything points to Dunleavy's preseason during which he shot 31.4 percent from the field and 20 percent from 3-point range.
Speaking of frighteningly unproductive ... in the Clippers surprising 98-96 home loss to the Cavaliers, All-Star forward Elton Brand played 27 minutes and was scoreless with three rebounds. Brand had knee surgery in September following the World Championship of Basketball, and participated sparingly in training camp.
As for the surprising Cavaliers, well, if Zydrunas Ilgauskas does stay healthy, their chances of landing the top lottery pick to get local prep superstar LeBron James are slim and none. Nevertheless, you might say general manager Jim Paxson deserves just as much credit for landing Darius Miles in a trade that brings them huge upside as Paxson's ability to unload Shawn Kemp's huge, uh, backside.
OK, it's only two games, but the Celtics losing to the Bulls in Boston, then by 45 at Washington doesn't bode well for a return to the playoffs. The deal that sent Anderson and Vitaly Potapenko for Vin Baker and Shammond Williams could haunt them all season. Williams is a great shooter and will score, but won't get a team into the offense, and the 6-foot-11 Baker, with four years and $56 million left on his contract, has 15 points and two defensive rebounds in two games. On the other hand, Potapenko won't play until at least January, if at all, following major knee surgery, and Anderson had a terrible preseason in Seattle, has back problems and doesn't want to be a bit player. In this rare bird of a deal, you might say it hurt both teams.
After two games, it looks like the Wizards knew what they were doing after all taking Kwame Brown right out of high school with the first pick of the 2001 draft. Although he was clearly out of his element last season physically and emotionally, averaging 4.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and less than half a block in 57 games, the 6-11, 255-pounder came back in great condition and ready to prove he belongs. After a surprising 12 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks in the Wizards opening game loss to Toronto, he continued his strong upwardly mobile move with 20 points, six rebounds and six blocks in the Wizards' record-setting 114-69 win over Boston Thursday night.
It's all but a lock for the NBA to return to Charlotte for the 2004-2005 season, provided the city council approves a $200 million arena project on Nov. 11. Should that occur, as expected, that will raise the number of teams to the NBA to an even 30, prompting commissioner David Stern to tell reporters in New Orleans that they may well realign with three divisions in each conference similarly to the way the NFL has it now.
Two games into it, and the Magic are trying to remain calm over the 2-0 start, with Grant Hill averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds as the sidekick for Tracy McGrady. Three ankle surgeries in 20 months later, sources say Hill, 29, looks close to his All-NBA self for the first time since breaking the ankle in the 2000 playoffs with the Pistons.
Before the Blazers could get too excited about their easy win over the Lakers Wednesday night -- a Lakers team without Shaquille O'Neal, Rick Fox and one that had both Kobe Bryant and Devean George suffer sprained ankles -- they suffered a stunning 28-point loss at Sacramento Thursday night. Keep in mind the Kings played without Mike Bibby (fractured foot), Chris Webber (strained abdomen) and Doug Christie (second game of suspension for fight with Fox). Rumors continue to abound about the Blazers dealing Damon Stoudamire to New York for Latrell Sprewell, but that would also necessitate clearing out Antonio Daniels and perhaps Scottie Pippen because they are overloaded at that 2-3 spot.
And speaking of O'Neal, he did practice with the Lakers on Thursday, even scrimmaging for the first time since foot surgery on Sept. 12. Reports are he played five (game) minutes and felt fine. But since he's on the injured list, he can not be activated until five games are played, and it's still likely he won't play until the eighth game at home against Atlanta.
Although Halloween night was the deadline for extensions after this season, and Wally Szczerbiak, Ron Artest, and Jonathon Bender beat the deadline. Speedy Claxton and DerMarr Johnson (still recovering from that horrid car accident), did not. Szczerbiak, an All-Star last season, was particularly interesting because there was so much talk about the first-time All-Star wanting a maximum contract extension like Steve Francis, Shawn Marion and Baron Davis. Instead, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, he told agent Gary Wichard to forget about the maximum deal and they agreed to a reported six-year, $65 million extension, saying, "I like Minnesota, I like the fans here and I want stay here and play with Kevin Garnett." That's a far cry from all that blather about them hating each other and Szczerbiak wanting to play in New York or New Jersey. By the way, the Wolves are still talking to Garnett about his deal that ends in 2004. He has reportedly said he will take a cut in pay from his present deal that averages $21 million.
It was more than a little interesting in the way the Warriors stunned the Spurs 106-98 Wednesday night in Oakland. More than just the 36 points from Antawn Jamison or the 14 points, seven rebounds and six blocks from Adonal Foyle was the lack of appearance from Mike Dunleavy, the third pick overall in the draft. Considering they only had 10 players available -- Danny Fortson has been gone from the team since Oct. 19 due to the his father being gravely ill and ultimately dying Oct. 27 -- and Erick Dampier was in foul trouble and played only 11 minutes, it was stunning. He played less than a minute late in the second quarter. Coach Eric Musselman said it was no big deal and that he'll play plenty, but everything points to Dunleavy's preseason during which he shot 31.4 percent from the field and 20 percent from 3-point range.
Speaking of frighteningly unproductive ... in the Clippers surprising 98-96 home loss to the Cavaliers, All-Star forward Elton Brand played 27 minutes and was scoreless with three rebounds. Brand had knee surgery in September following the World Championship of Basketball, and participated sparingly in training camp.
As for the surprising Cavaliers, well, if Zydrunas Ilgauskas does stay healthy, their chances of landing the top lottery pick to get local prep superstar LeBron James are slim and none. Nevertheless, you might say general manager Jim Paxson deserves just as much credit for landing Darius Miles in a trade that brings them huge upside as Paxson's ability to unload Shawn Kemp's huge, uh, backside.
