| Jumps to Europe not as likely as you think | Wednesday 8/27, 11:00 PM CT |
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While recent news of players moving to Europe for big dollars has stoked the flames of rumor, claiming it is just a matter of time before the elite of the NBA are facing gigantic financial offers to leave the states and move overseas, the economics of the current situation suggest no such offer is likely to be coming any time soon for players like LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, according to ESPN.
Our View: In an article offering realistic analysis of the situation by Ian Whittell, the recent contract for $20 million signed by Josh Childress is described as a exception to the rule rather than the start of a trend. Whittell notes only three or four European teams are owned by folks that could even consider such an expense. Budgets in the Euroleague last season ranged from $50 million (champions CSKA Moscow) to $3.12 million (Red Star Belgrade) with only six clubs operating at over the $30 million mark. And those figures are for total budgetary expenditure -- not just players' salaries. Olympiacos spent $35.8 million in 2007-08, indicating how much of a jump the near $11 million (pre-tax) the team will pay Childress this year represents. As Whittell asks, is it reasonable to believe a team would pay James $80 million when the entire budget of the biggest spenders in Euroleague was $50 million last year? |
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| Weaver signs with OKC | Wednesday 8/27, 8:05 PM CT |
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Guard Kyle Weaver, a 2nd-round draft pick for the Charlotte Bobcats that was then sent to Oklahoma City, signed a multi-year contract on Wednesday with the NBA's newest franchise, according to SLAM Sports.
Our View: Weaver was selected 38th in June by Charlotte but didn't sign with the Bobcats before being traded to Oklahoma City earlier this month for a second-round choice in next year's draft. Weaver averaged 12.2 points last season as a senior at Washington State. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. |
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| Lakers make Mbenga offer | Wednesday 8/27, 7:05 PM CT |
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Following a recent workout with the Miami Heat, the LA Lakers have reached out and offered D.J. Mbenga a minimum-level offer to return to the team, according to Miami Herald.
Our View: Mbenga expects to hear from Pat Riley and the Heat as early as Wednesday, and if they offer anything better than the minimum, he's likely to jump. We'll keep you posted despite the obvious lack of fantasy value. |
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| NBA may Deng British roster spot in 2012 Olympics | Wednesday 8/27, 7:01 PM CT |
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Great Britain Basketball [GBB] officials fear that the insurance problems that are preventing Luol Deng , the Chicago Bulls forward, from playing for his country will rule him out of the 2012 Olympic Games in London and even put Britain's involvement in the tournament in doubt, according to Times Online.
Our View: The root of the problem lies with MetLife, the NBA's insurer, which covers the top 150 salaries in the American league on a group policy. Under the terms of its agreement with the NBA, MetLife has the right to exclude 14 high-risk players every year, a decision based on the individual's injury history and the amount of money remaining on his contract. Deng could be one of those players, and as such the NBA would not grant him permission to play for the Olympic squad of his homeland. |
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| Lakers sign Crawford | Wednesday 8/27, 4:54 PM CT |
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The Lakers signed rookie shooting guard Joe Crawford, according to the AP. Terms of the deal were not released.
Our View: Crawford, the 58th overall pick, averaged 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in four years at Kentucky, where he played in 127 games. |
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| Tatum lands deal in Portland | Wednesday 8/27, 4:37 PM CT |
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The Portland Trail Blazers signed guard Jamaal Tatum, according to NBA.com. Terms of the deal were not released.
Our View: Tatum played four seasons at Southern Illinois, averaging 12.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.21 steals in 131 games. |
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| Portland signs Hill | Wednesday 8/27, 4:30 PM CT |
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The Portland Trail Blazers signed center Steven Hill, according to NBA.com. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Our View: A member of the Trail Blazers’ 2008 NBA Summer League team, Hill averaged 3.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in five games. |
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| Blazers ink Jackson | Wednesday 8/27, 4:24 PM CT |
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The Portland Trail Blazers signed forward Luke Jackson, according to NBA.com. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Our View: Ah, home sweet home. Jackson was born in Eugene and was a star for the Ducks. He was the 10th overall pick in 2004 and hasn't worked out at the NBA level, partially due to injuries. Jackson has no fantasy value, but we're sure it will be a nice local story. |
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| Cavaliers not interested in Randolph | Wednesday 8/27, 3:42 PM CT |
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Despite having kicked the tires with the Knicks on forward Zach Randolph, the Cavaliers are not said to be interested in acquiring him, according to the Northern Ohio News-Herald.
Our View: Randolph can certainly bring the numbers, which would help the Cavaliers cause, but they don't need Randolph's attitude infecting LeBron James and the team's locker room. |
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| Ellis out at least three months | Wednesday 8/27, 2:06 PM CT |
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Golden State guard Monta Ellis needs surgery and will miss three to four months because of a torn deltoid ligament in his foot, according to ESPN.com. He said he injured it working out, and will need to immobilize the foot for at least a month and a half following surgery.
Our View: Losing Ellis, who signed a $66 million contract with the team in the offseason, is a devastating blow to the Warriors playoff chances. It also severely impacts his fantasy value, as he could be out until December. |
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| Bucks will play in China | Wednesday 8/27, 1:52 PM CT |
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The Milwaukee Bucks will head to China to play two exhibition games against the Golden State Warriors in the fall, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Our View: As the Olympics proved, China has a large number of NBA fans, and this is yet another step in marketing their product to the East. |
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| Bogut suffers ankle sprain | Wednesday 8/27, 10:29 AM CT |
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Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut underwent an MRI on his ankle, and is was determined that it was just a sprain, and not a torn ligament, as he had feared, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Our View: Bogut will need to rest for a couple weeks before beginning rehab, but indications are that he will be fine once the NBA season gets underway. |
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| Tisdale loses part of leg | Wednesday 8/27, 10:27 AM CT |
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Unfortunately, former NBA player Wayman Tisdale had to have part of his right leg amputated because of bone cancer, according to the AP.
Our View: Tisdale had a cancerous cyst below his knee, and the best way to ensure it was gone was to remove the leg. Tisdale should be okay, and is now an accomplished jazz musician. |
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| Jacobsen heads to Germany | Wednesday 8/27, 10:22 AM CT |
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Former Grizzlies guard Casey Jacobsen has signed with German team Alba Berlin, according to the AP.
Our View: Jacobsen averaged just 10 minutes and two points per game for the Grizzlies, so his absence will not affect fantasy basketball in any way. |
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| Chalmers not necessarily the starter | Wednesday 8/27, 8:42 AM CT |
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Mario Chalmers was endorsed by Dwaye Wade as the starting point guard for the Heat next year, but that is not a foregone conclusion, as he will have to battle it out with Marcus Banks for the job, according to the Miami Herald.
Our View: Chalmers, who hit the late shot against Memphis that gave Kansas the NCAA Championship, could have potential fantasy value should he wind up winning the starting job, but it's likely he'll share a good amount of minutes with Banks no matter what. |
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