Report Card Grades for the Top 2014 NBA Free-Agent Signings

Not every free-agent signing made during the NBA's frenetic off-season is a good one.

Then again, it sure seemed as though the league was getting smarter during the frenzy of the summer of 2014, as the overpays largely involved role players and shooters. Many of those even made sense given the relevant rosters and team options included in contracts.

Fear not, though. I'm not handing out straight A's, much as I'm sure the league's GMs would love my across-the-board approval.

Given the length and size of the contracts, as well as the fits of some of these players, not every marquee signing made sense this offseason. Some were excellent, the majority were quality deals and a select few stood out in a negative way.

That said, let's avoid discussing the order of this countdown. It's taken straight out of Bleacher Report's D.J. Foster's rankings of the top 50 free agents, with those who haven't signed removed from this particular article.

Indulge me, and let's have the focus center around the merits of each signing, or lack thereof, not the order in which these 20 players appear.

NBA's Howard makes decision, moves from LA - reports

The tug-of-war between five teams to sign Dwight Howard appeared to be over on Friday with multiple media outlets reporting that the seven-time All-Star center was heading to the Houston Rockets.

Howard, who joined the Los Angeles Lakers from the Orlando Magic in a blockbuster 12-player trade in August 2012, had been favouring a move to Houston, despite facing a substantial paycut by opting to leave the Lakers, reports said.

The 27-year-old, who had also been courted by the Dallas Mavericks, the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors, was eligible to sign for five years and $118 million with Los Angeles or four years and $88 million with any other team.

ESPN said on Friday that Howard had informed the Mavericks, the Hawks, the Warriors and the Lakers that he would not be signing with any of them, though the Lakers said they had not yet been given news about Howard's decision.

"He hasn't finalised his decision but we hope and expect him to make a decision today or tomorrow," Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, was quoted as saying by the Los Angeles Times.

Earlier in the day, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted: "While we are excited & cautiously optimistic @DwightHoward might choose Houston, we have not yet heard about his decision."

Free agent Howard, a three-time NBA defensive player of the year who is popularly known as 'Superman' because of his athletic prowess, consulted all five teams earlier this week.

The Lakers met up with Howard on Tuesday and their pitch focused on the future -- on how they would be able to embellish Howard's brand off the court while returning on-court greatness to a franchise that has piled up 16 NBA championship titles.

Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, played a key role in trying to woo Howard, telling him: "You need to learn how it's done first, and I can teach you here.

"I know how to do it and I've learned from the best - players who have won multiple times over and over."

However, Bryant and Howard did not always see eye-to-eye last season under the guidance of coach Mike D'Antoni before the Lakers were eliminated from the first round of the playoffs.

The prospect of being the kingpin on an ambitious Rockets team which also includes James Harden, Chandler Parsons, Jeremy Lin and promising center Omer Asik was always likely to be an alluring one for Howard.

His arrival in Houston would instantly make the Rockets genuine contenders for the Western Conference championship.

Original post @ http://tvnz.co.nz/basketball-news/nba-s-howard-makes-decision-moves-reports-5495997

NBA to change All-Star ballot, eliminating center

The NBA is finally doing something about the Duncan Dilemma.

The league will announce Wednesday a change to its All-Star ballot that will, for the first time, allow fans to vote for three undefined "frontcourt" players instead of having to vote for two forwards and a center. With more and more teams playing smaller than in the past, the definition of "center" was becoming increasingly difficult -- not to mention finding enough quality big men for whom to vote.

For years, for example, the Spurs have listed Tim Duncan as a power forward, even though everyone on earth knew he was their starting center. And so when it came to All-Star balloting, Duncan would take up a forward spot in a very crowded field of Western Conference stars instead of his logical spot in the middle. This was good for Duncan, who surely would have made his 13 All-Star teams anyway, but it often cost another forward a shot.

The league decided to make the change after the NBA's Competition Committee agreed to the move at its meeting last month, VP of Basketball Operations Stu Jackson said Tuesday evening.

"It makes sense," Jackson said. "It made sense to our Competition Committee. Having a center is the only specific position that was singled out on the ballot. It just seemed a little outdated and didn't represent the way our game has evolved. By the same token, it also affords the same opportunity, if you have two good centers in a given year, pick 'em both. They both can be selected. Which is impossible right now." That would be good news for players like Boston's Kevin Garnett and Miami's Chris Bosh, nominal forwards who are now playing center for their respective teams. Under the old rules, Garnett and Bosh would have been in the center category with the likes of Philadelphia's Andrew Bynum, Atlanta's Al Horford and Indiana's Roy Hibbert. Now, any of them can be selected as a "frontcourt" player.

"It was something that we originally thought made some sense, but we didn't want to make a decision in a vacuum, of course," Jackson said. "We ran it by the Competition Committee and they thought the idea made some sense ... it gives the fans some flexibility while keeping competitive balance."

The league will debut the 2013 All-Star ballot on Nov. 13. Players are selected for the ballot by a committee of national media who cover the NBA on a regular basis. The 2013 All-Star Game will be Feb. 17 at the Toyota Center in Houston.

For the original post visit http://www.nba.com/2012/news/10/23/all-star-centers-ballot/index.html

NBA Notes: Can OKC extend Harden?

The Sixers’ 2012-13 rotations are far from set after the team underwent a huge offseason makeover. Where does Lavoy Allen fit in after the additions of Andrew Bynum, Kwame Brown and Arnett Moultrie? Dei Lynam has the answer (see story).

Here’s a look at some other news from around the league on Monday:

Can OKC keep Harden?

The Thunder have quickly become a powerhouse in the Western Conference since moving from Seattle to Oklahoma City, improving in each of the last four seasons in both winning percentage and postseason progress.

Naturally, the franchise would like to keep its core group of young players together, but that might not be totally possible according to NBA.com’s David Aldridge.

After recently handing an extension to Serge Ibaka, the Thunder have secured Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Nick Collison, Kendrick Perkins and Ibaka for the long-term. But that could leave Sixth Man of the Year James Harden on the outside looking in.

To keep Harden, who could demand a maximum contract, the Thunder would have to go over the luxury tax, and that’s something the ownership has yet to do since its move to the NBA’s third-smallest market.

“James is somebody we value,” Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti told The Oklahoman last week. “We think he’s an important part to what we’re trying to do. “… By the same token, we’ve been very upfront and transparent with everybody that we have some inherent challenges that we face as an organization as a result of the new collective bargaining agreement.”

Rivers to C’s: Focus on Heat

In June, the Celtics came within one game of representing the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals, and even though the already-old squad is another season more mature, they’ll enter 2012-13 with a chance to go far again.

So when the Lakers — the Celtics’ long-time rival — added Dwight Howard and Steve Nash to instantly put themselves back into the fold in the West, the conversation naturally went the way of the two teams possibly meeting in the Finals. But that’s not what Boston coach Doc Rivers wants his players focused on, he told Boston sports columnist Bob Ryan, via the Celtics Blog.

“Honestly, I don’t care about the Lakers,” Rivers said. “I have my eye squarely on Miami. I come up to my players during the year … I bring up Miami every single day to them. I want them to hate them. I want them to beat them. That’s gotta be our focus.”

As ProBasketballTalk points out, Rivers quipped a few lines that could get Miami’s attention.

“I’m smart enough to know that if we get in a track meet with Miami, they’re probably going to win,” Rivers said. “But if we get in a thinking meet, we will win that game.”

Source: http://www.csnphilly.com/basketball-philadelphia-sixers/sixers-talk/NBA-Notes-Can-OKC-extend-Harden?blockID=774827&feedID=694

Chalmers; NBA exhibition game canceled

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A second NBA exhibition featuring Anchorage native Mario Chalmers scheduled for Alaska's largest city has been canceled this year.

The Mario V Chalmers Foundation NBA Game scheduled for Aug. 3 was canceled Tuesday. Sullivan Arena officials said Chalmers cited injuries, free agency and the Olympics as factors in not being able to fill out a roster.

Chalmers, an Anchorage Bartlett High School star who won an NBA title with the Miami Heat this year, previously tried to schedule an exhibition game last winter.

The December game was canceled when the league's lockout ended and players had to get back to their respective teams to report for training camp.

Source: http://www.sacbee.com/

NBA says foul called incorrectly

NEW YORK (AP)

The NBA says a foul against Boston with 3.1 seconds left in Atlanta's season-ending loss on Thursday should have been called sooner, which would have given the Hawks a free throw instead of just the ball out of bounds.

The Celtics' Marquis Daniels held the Hawks' Al Horford as Atlanta was inbounding the ball trailing 81-79. Referee Eric Lewis called a foul, but ruled it came after Marvin Williams had released the ball, meaning it was just a common foul that resulted in another throw-in.

However, replays showed the foul occurred before the ball was passed and should have been treated as an away-from-the-play foul, in which case Atlanta would have been awarded one free throw and retained possession of the ball.

Boston won 83-80 to take the series 4-2.

Source: http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/NBA-foul-called-incorrectly-Boston-Celtics-Atlanta-Hawks-playoff-Game-6-051112

NBA Power Rankings: Carmelo Anthony has Knicks rebounding up list

Carmelo Anthony must be loving this.

Amar'e Stoudemire isn't around to challenge for shots because he's got a bulging disk in his back and is out for perhaps the final 15 games of the regular-season. Jeremy Lin has been on the shelf, taking care of an injured knee.

The Knicks now are 'Melo's team, and at least for the time being, they're in great shape. By going 8-1 under Mike Woodson and with everything being centered around Anthony in recent games, they've rocketed back up the charts in our weekly rankings. They were 20th two weeks ago, but now they're a solid No. 11.

The Heat, meanwhile, has had some slippage, even with their big home win over Dallas on Thursday. Miami has slipped from No. 2 to No. 4.

Here's how we see the NBA, from top to bottom:

1. Chicago Bulls (Last Week: 1) We know they've been rolling merrily along without Derrick Rose, but we're hoping he can play in Sunday's showdown against Russell Westbrook and the Thunder, the one and only time these two powerhouses meet in the regular-season.

2. Oklahoma City (Last Week: 3) The Thunder started off a key stretch of statement games, against the Lakers, Bulls and Heat, with a solid win over Kobe Bryant and L.A. on the road.

3. San Antonio Spurs (Last Week: 4) The Spurs have had Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker all take the court in the same game for only 17 games this season, but they're 13-4 in those contests.

4. Miami Heat (Last Week: 2) Things have been falling apart since the All-Star Game, with the Heat going only 9-6 and talk that the Big Three is not happy with Erik Spoelstra's offense. Sounds like they're bored with the regular-season.

5. Orlando Magic (Last Week: 5) From what we saw in the Garden with the Magic's disgraceful lack of effort, Dwight Howard will be making a coaching change at season's end and Stan Van Gundy will be looking for a new job.

6. Los Angeles Lakers (Last Week: 6) When the Lakers couldn't stay with the Thunder, and lost their third recent game on their home floor, the West officially became a two-team race between Oklahoma City and San Antonio.

7. Memphis Grizzlies (Last Week: 7 ) As they embark on a three-game swing over next four days vs. Houston, Milwaukee and Oklahoma City, Grizzlies are 4-4 in road games in March, including a win over the Lakers in L.A.

8. L.A. Clippers (Last Week: 9) Despite the Clips losing 12 of 19 games, owner Donald Sterling says he's fine with coach Vinny Del Negro. But let's not forget: Del Negro is on the final year of his contract

9. Indiana Pacers (Last Week: 8) When the Pacers pounded the Heat this week by 15 points, it was their first big victory since winning in Dallas on Feb. 3. Then they went out and lost to the Nets, which kind of took the luster right off that win over Miami.

10. Atlanta Hawks (Last Week: 11) The Hawks welcomed Knicks coach Mike Woodson back Friday night in his first game since he was sent packing by Atlanta after the 2009-10 season.

11. The Knicks (Last Week: 20) If Mike D'Antoni had stepped down earlier, they might be leading the Atlantic Division by now, instead of still being in a fight to move out of the No. 8 spot in the East.

12. Boston Celtics (Last Week: 12) Sunday's game vs. the Heat kicks off a brutal seven-game stretch over 11 days, with other matchups vs. San Antonio, at Chicago, at Indiana, Philly, at Miami and Atlanta. There's not an easy game in the bunch for Doc Rivers' team.

13. Philadelphia (Last Week: 10) It can't be good for Doug Collins that Andre Iguodala has been KO'd by tendinitis in his left knee.

14. Dallas Mavericks (Last Week: 14) They scored only 32 points after halftime in their blowout loss Thursday to Miami, but Delonte West is back and soon they're going to have Brendan Haywood back in the middle.

15. Utah Jazz (Last Week: 17) The Jazz has been on a mini-run, winning 8 of 10 and still with a shot to finish as high as fourth in the West, incredibly enough.

16. Houston Rockets (Last Week: 16) The Rockets are hanging tough despite not having their starting backcourt of Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin over the last two weeks due injuries and illness.

17. Denver Nuggets (Last Week: 13) They didn't exactly build off their surprisingly easy win in Chicago by losing up in Toronto. But they're still 13-2 against the East, with their only other loss by a point to Cleveland.

18. Phoenix Suns (Last Week: 19) The Suns have been one of the hottest teams in the Western Conference in March, winning 11 of 17. Now the bad news: Four of their losses were to the NBA's top teams.

19. Minnesota Timberwolves (Last Week: 15) Including their loss at Memphis _ their 10th in their last 11 games vs. the Grizzlies _ thee Timberwolves ended a stretch of 19 straight games against Western Conference teams with an 8-11 record.

20. Portland Trailblazers (Last Week: 21) As long as long-time owner Paul Allen puts business over basketball, it's going to be tough to get this thing turned around.

21. Milwaukee Bucks (Last Week: 18) The Bucks have only two wins since Feb. 1 against teams with winning records (the Sixers and Hawks). For the season, they're just 6-18 against teams that are .500 or better, which means that even if they make the playoffs, they're going nowhere.

22. Golden State Warriors (Last Week: 22) Old Warrior coach Don Nelson has made the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. So celebrate the way Nellie will: Pop a beer and light up a cigar.

23. Toronto Raptors (Last Week: 26) Dwane Casey's team has had two big wins lately, against the Knicks and Nuggets. But they'll really start to turn heads if they can upend the Heat Friday night in Toronto.

24. Detroit Pistons (Last Week: 23) The Pistons broke a five-game losing streak, but this is a rebuilding team that should tank the rest of the way to help improve their chances of landing a top pick in the draft lottery.

25. The Nets (Last Week: 25) During a recent home loss to his old team, the Jazz, Deron Williams heard a fan yell that Dirk Nowitzki was waiting for his arrival in Dallas. Which is the one thing Williams still has going for him.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers (Last Week: 24) Losers of five straight games, they should keep losing and make sure they come away from the season with some good draft picks to help rookie phenom Kyrie Irving.

27. Sacramento Kings (Last Week: 27) Time to shore up the D, fellas: The Kings can't stop anybody, giving up 109 ppg in their last nine games.

28. New Orleans (Last Week: 28) Eric Gordon _ remember him, the one-time Clipper who was the key to the Chris Paul deal? _ expects to finally return off knee surgery in the coming days. He hasn't played since Jan. 4. 29. Washington Wizards (Last Week: 29) The Wizards started cleaning house at the trading deadline, getting rid of two of their headaches, by sending off JaVale McGee and Nick Young. But the next major changes have to come off the court, in the front office.

30. Charlotte Hornets (Last Week: 30) Michael Jordan recently told his GM, Rich Cho, to follow the Oklahoma City model for building a winner. Sounds like a plan, but the trick is going to be to find the next Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nba-power-rankings-carmelo-anthony-knicks-rebounding-list-article-1.1053400

UNC's Barnes, Henson, Marshall entering NBA draft

Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Kendall Marshall have decided now is the time for the NBA.

North Carolina said Thursday the three stars will enter the draft, ending a two-year run in which the Tar Heels made deep NCAA tournament runs only to fall a game short of the Final Four each time.

The school didn't state whether all three planned to hire an agent in its release announcing the departures, though it appears they're in the draft to stay.

"It's a great day for three youngsters who are taking another step toward their ultimate goal of playing professional basketball," coach Roy Williams said in a statement. "On a very small stage, it's a sad day for me because I won't get to coach them again. All Tar Heel fans will miss them greatly, as well."

Henson was a freshman during Williams' worst season as a head coach in 2010. Barnes arrived a year later as the nation's No. 1 recruit, though it wasn't until Marshall took over at point guard midway through that season that the Tar Heels took off.

UNC lost to Kentucky in a regional final that year, but Barnes, Henson and rising senior Tyler Zeller put off entering the draft for another shot at a championship despite being likely first-round picks.

The Tar Heels (32-6) were the preseason No. 1 and won the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship for a second straight year, but they fell in the NCAA regional final again amid a dizzying run of injuries - including wrist injuries to both Henson and Marshall.

"I wish we'd have been able to bring our fans a national championship, but it wasn't meant to be," Henson said in a statement. "I am proud of what we accomplished, especially the last two years."

Both Barnes and Henson said in their statements they planned to continue working to complete their undergraduate degrees. Barnes, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, averaged about 17 points to lead the team. Henson, a 6-11 junior, averaged about 14 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, and was a two-time ACC defensive player of the year. Both were all-ACC first-team picks.

Marshall, a 6-4 sophomore, won the Cousy Award presented to the nation's top college point guard earlier Thursday and set the ACC's single-season assists record. Throw in the graduating Zeller, a 7-footer who was ACC player of the year, and those four starters accounted for 66 percent of the team's scoring and 59 percent of its rebounding.

While Barnes and Henson have been considered bigger NBA prospects, Marshall's departure could be the biggest loss considering how he flawlessly ran Williams' fast-paced offense. The pass-first point guard also upped his scoring late in the year and reached double-figures in his last six games to improve his draft prospects.

"It's been the greatest two years of my life," Marshall said in a statement. "I have always put the team before myself and I am extremely proud of what we've accomplished. My lifelong dream has been to play basketball at the highest level possible and I feel now is my greatest opportunity to fulfill this goal."

Marshall's father, Dennis, said Thursday night the family planned to start looking for an agent in the next two weeks and Williams had told Marshall he should be "a solid first-round pick."

"I know it's been a lifelong dream of his to play in the NBA," Dennis Marshall said. "I think both of us were kind of shocked it happened this soon because coming into college, I always thought he'd be a four-year guard and he thought he'd be a four-year guard. His game evolved and he was able to do the things that people have been telling me all my life he'd be able to do at that point, so it just kind of happened that way."

Kendall Marshall's value was never more apparent than when he missed the Tar Heels' last two games after breaking his right wrist.

The Tar Heels barely beat 13th-seeded Ohio in overtime despite a season-high 24 turnovers - the program's most in an NCAA game in 24 years - in the round of 16. They didn't manage a field goal in the last 5 1/2 minutes and were outscored 12-0 to close the 80-67 loss to Kansas in Sunday's regional final.

As for Barnes, he entered each year as a preseason all-American, but for the most part, he never quite lived up to the lofty expectations.

Armed with a polished all-around game but no clear go-to move, he overcame a slow start to his freshman year with some clutch late-game shooting and a 40-point showing against Clemson in the ACC tournament. He seemed more prepared to handle the expectations as a sophomore, but was dominant only in stretches and faded badly late in the year.

Barnes averaged 14 points on 36 percent shooting in the last 10 games. He shot a combined 8-for-30 overall and 2 for 14 from 3-point range in his final two games without Marshall.

The departures mean Reggie Bullock will be the leading returning scorer at about nine points per game for what likely will be a guard-heavy lineup. Dexter Strickland and Leslie McDonald are both expected back from knee injuries along with P.J. Hairston, who struggled with his outside shot through his freshman year.

Ronnie McAdoo, the father of freshman forward James Michael McAdoo, said his son plans to return to school but will review his NBA options with the family this weekend.

North Carolina also has a recruiting class that includes likely Marshall successor Marcus Paige, a McDonald's All-American from Marion, Iowa.

Source: http://www.nba.com/2012/news/03/29/north-carolina-draft.ap/index.html

NBA announces D-League affiliation system for 2011-12 season

NEW YORK -- The National Basketball Association and the NBA Development League, the official minor league of the NBA, today announced the affiliation system for the 2011-12 season. An all-time high nine NBA teams will have single NBA D-League affiliates -- more than double last season's total of four -- including first-year partnerships between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Canton, the Golden State Warriors and Dakota Wizards, the New Jersey Nets and Springfield Armor and the New York Knicks and Erie BayHawks, along with the return of the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the Los Angeles Lakers' single affiliate.

For the seventh consecutive year, each NBA team has one NBA D-League team to which it may assign players. During the 2010-11 season, the NBA D-League saw all-time highs in NBA player assignments (56), individual players assigned (39) and NBA teams assigning a player (25), while last season marked the first time every NBA D-League team was assigned an NBA player.

"We're very excited that an all-time-high nine NBA teams will have exclusive, 'one-to-one' relationships with their NBA D-League affiliates this coming season," said NBA D-League President Dan Reed. "This clear trend of NBA teams buying into the NBA D-League is not only a testament to our past success, but also the sign of a very promising future."

The NBA D-League will again have 16 teams playing in 2011-12, including Canton, which will play its first year in Canton, Ohio, under the ownership of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Los Angeles D-Fenders, who resume operation under the ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers after taking a one-year hiatus.

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NHL, NBA Playoff and Michael Buble tickets on sale this weekend

NHL Playoff tickets and NBA Playoff tickets for certain teams, as well as tickets to several upcoming concert dates from Michael Buble are on sale throughout the weekend ending March 28 as compiled by TicketNews.

Starting off this weekend's onsales are tickets to the upcoming NHL and NBA playoff season. Tickets go on sale this morning for the upcoming first and possible second round Chicago Bulls playoff games. Currently in possession of first place in the NBA's Eastern Conference, the Bulls would clinch home court advantage should they maintain their position until the end of the regular season.

Also among today's onsales are tickets to the NHL's Dallas Stars first round home games, while Saturday morning offers tickets to first round Detroit Red Wings playoff games. While the Red Wings appear to be in a solid position to clinch a playoff spot, the Stars are currently one point shy of qualifying for a playoff spot.

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NBA: Warriors rout of Raptors 138-100

Oakland, CA - Monta Ellis scored 27 points and led seven Golden State players in double figures in a 138-100 rout of the Toronto Raptors.

The Warriors set an NBA season-high with 84 points in the first half. Dorell Wright tallied 26 points, Stephen Curry 23 and David Lee 21, including the first made three-pointer of his career.

Everything seemed to be falling for the Warriors. They scored 45 in the opening quarter, ended the game shooting 61.4 percent and snapped a six-game slide.

"I wanted to send a message to our team that we are building," Warriors head coach Keith Smart said. "This is a process. The way we have always done it at this time of year, to sit back and not play, you've got your better players on your team who want to play and will play, and that's a good thing."

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Nuggets would be foolish to ship out Carmelo Anthony

Suffer, sadly, the fools who, this very day, would throw Carmelo Anthony under the bus, to the curb, over the cliff and into the briar patch.

Can't we see how this plays out?

In Carmelo Anthony's seven seasons in Denver, the Nuggets have won 338 regular-season games, averaging just over 48 victories per season, finished first or second in the division 6 times, reached the playoffs in every season and advanced to the conference finals once (and, yes, lost in the first round all other years).

In the eight seasons prior to Carmelo Anthony's arrival, the Nuggets won 200 games, an average of 25 per season and NEVER made the playoffs.

Yet, because Carmelo hasn't made up his mind yet about accepting a three-year, $65 million contract extension offer, because some people made cute, champagne remarks at his wedding, because the Knicks were snubbed by LeBron James and look like the buffoons they are, because some people in New York and on talk radio claim to have sources who are friends of sources who drink on barstools next to sources, some people in Denver want to run the Nuggets' most accomplished NBA player, ever, out of town — immediately.

The rest of us must suffer the fools.

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NBA : Stephen Curry Hopes to Play Saturday

Though Stephen Curry said his left ankle was at just “80 percent” in yesterday’s practice, he’s looking to play this weekend as the US takes on Lithuania on Saturday and defending world champion Spain on Sunday: From Marcus Thompson: “Doctors told him there is no structural damage to the ligaments or tendons in his left ankle.

Curry’s sprained ankle, he promises, is really just a mild sprained ankle. So much so, he is going to continue his pursuit of making the national team for the World Championships. He said if he thought the injury would linger, he would leave Team USA to make sure he is healthy for the season.

He said he is hoping to play in Saturday’s game vs. Lithuania in Spain, though it all depends on how his ankle feels. He is presumed to be in a battle with Clippers guard Eric Gordon for the 12th and final roster spot for the World Championships, which starts Aug. 28 in Turkey.”

NBA : Chicago Bulls making their “moves”

This year’s trade market was one of the busiest as well as biggest in the NBA history. With big names like LeBron James and Chris Bosh moving to Miami Heat, NBA witnessed a lot of buzz lately. Some fans consider the move would be successful whereas others have opposite views. The Miami Heat has come up with big signings, with other teams following its footsteps.

Trying to recapture the days in which they were the only dominating force in the NBA, the Bulls intended to sign LeBron James, who is expected to bring the same royals as Michael Jordan once did. After failing to sign King James, the Chicago Bulls came up signing Carlos Boozer to further boost their talented squad that lacked experience. LeBron joined the Miami Heat that couldn’t manage to get past the first round playoffs. Not only did the Bulls sign Boozer but came up with another amazing signing that strengthens three scoring abilities by bagging Kyle Korver, a three-point specialist from the Utah Jazz.

Not only this, the Bulls also managed to trade away a few players from their squad so that they could rotate the players and every person in the team could play without any conflicts.

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Stephen Curry hoping for quick recovery from ankle injury

MADRID (AP) -- Stephen Curry is eager to overcome an ankle injury, hopeful it won't impact his chances of making the U.S. roster for the world championship.

Stephen Curry didn't practice Thursday after suffering a mild sprain to his left ankle a day earlier. The U.S. team said Curry's recovery was "progressing'' but he remained day to day.

With one player still to be cut from the 13-man squad -- and most likely a guard -- Stephen Curry looked slightly anxious after watching his teammates practice.

"It hurts. To miss a great practice like this with the scrimmaging and all -- it's never great to have an injury, especially in a pressure situation like this,'' Stephen Curry said at the Magic Box center on the outskirts of the Spanish capital. "I just have to make sure I get back this weekend.''

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NBA : Rudy Fernandez ignoring Portland Trail Blazers

MADRID, Spain -- Rudy Fernandez is not returning calls from Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan, and the NBA on Thursday was investigating whether Fernandez or his agent violated league rules by threatening a holdout.

With Team USA set to play Rudy Fernandez and the Spanish national team Sunday night, the latest developments regarding the disgruntled Rudy Fernandez and the trade speculation surrounding Carmelo Anthony added 2 more subplots to an NBA offseason that refuses to take a holiday.

"I have tried to contact Rudy, and he hasn't returned calls [since the season ended]," Nate McMillan told ESPN.com. "So we'll just have to see what happens. We are looking to improve our team at all times, but I don't know what's going to happen."

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NBA : Where will Carmelo Anthony land?

After what transpired this summer, with LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer and Amare Stoudemire changing addresses, it looks like Carmelo Anthony wants to get in on the fun.

As ESPN's Ric Bucher reported on Monday, Carmelo Anthony is ready to split with the Denver Nuggets, whether by trade or free agency. And if he doesn't sign an extension in the meantime, Carmelo will be the star of the 2011 free agent class.

Where will he end up? We posed that question to our 93 NBA experts.

Here are the results:

New York (60 votes)

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Karl Mallone and Scottie Pippen Join Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

Getting into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has been the dream of every basketball player. This prestigious recognition seems to be the ultimate achievement for a basketball player to have.

This year, two great basketball players have joined the group. Power forward Karl Malone and small forward Scottie Pippen were among the 10 inductees listed. Karl Malone has been nicknamed “The Mailman” way back his college years for his consistency and work in the post. It figuratively means “the mailman always delivers” and these has been Karl Malone been doing in his games. Proclaimed as two-time NBA’s Most Valuable Player and generally considered one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history, and has scored the second most points (36,928) in NBA history. Deserving enough to be included.

Scottie Pippen on the other has a lot of things to brag out. He was best remembered in Chicago Bulls wherein he has been a part of their record of 1996 season of having 72 wins. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team 8 times and the All-NBA First Team 3 times. He was a 7-time NBA All Star and was the NBA All Star Game MVP in 1994. He has been considered to be one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History during the 1996–97 NBA season.

Karl Malone has been emotional in the induction and has dedicated everything to his mom. Scottie Pippen on the other has given Micheal Jordan for being his best team mate. “MJ, you have touched so many people’s lives, but none quite like mine. Thank you for being the best team mate. I will always cherish that experience and I will cherish our relationship forever”, Scottie Pippen said.

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'The Mailman' Karl Malone always delivered

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame already has a former postmaster general. Now it has a Mailman.

Karl Malone, known as “The Mailman,” is part of the class of 2010. He earned his nickname because “he delivered.”

When he joins the Hall, Karl Malone will take his place among the game’s greats and contributors, including Springfield’s native son Larry O’Brien, who served as commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1975 to 1984 and was president John Kennedy’s postmaster general. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991, the year after he died.

Karl Malone, 47, was a Utah Jazz power forward and will also be enshrined as part of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team. Malone, a two-time NBA MVP, was an All-Star in 14 of his 19 seasons and led the Jazz to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998. The second-leading scorer in NBA history, Karl Malone finished his career in 2004 with 36,928 points.

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