Basketball

Atlanta Hawks general manager declined to comment on the team's summer free agency plans and specifically whether or not the team would issue qualifying offers to restricted free agents Jeff Teague and Ivan Johnson when asked by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Ferry's response of "Nothing to really say about it", is not very surprising considering how tight lipped the Hawks have been this summer when it came to their coaching search and their draft preparations.Ferry indicated that the team was focused on the draft currently and would shift into free agency after it was completed. The Hawks will have from the end of the NBA Finals through June 30 to decide whether or not to issue qualifying offers to Teague and Johnson. Once those offers are submitted, the Hawks will have the right of first refusal to any offer made to Teague or Johnson. Teague figures to be one of the top point guards in free agency and could garner interest from several teams. He made 78 starts at point guard for Atlanta last season and responded with career highs in points (14.6) and assists (7.2). Issuing a qualifying offer to Teague wouldn't effect the Hawks' potential pursuit of Chris Paul free agency. Atlanta could pull the qualifying offer and clear cap space provided it is done so before July 23. Per Larry Coon's Salary Cap FAQ: A team may relinquish its right of first refusal, making the player an unrestricted free agent. If a qualifying offer is outstanding, the team can withdraw it unilaterally through July 23. It can be withdrawn after July 23 if the player consents, in which case the player is also renounced as a free agent4 (see question number 40). If a qualifying offer is not outstanding, then a team can relinquish its right of first refusal at any time by providing written notice. I struggle to find a scenario where Teague doesn't get a qualifying offer from Atlanta who can still woo the free agents they want while Teague is out looking for a contract for himself. Ivan Johnson is in a little different situation than Teague and his qualifying offer might not be as much of a slam dunk but it seems likely since the offer can be pulled after free agency opens. Johnson averaged 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds and certainly fits Mike Budenholzer's description of the type of competitor that he wants to fill his roster with. However, Johnson has a long history of behavior issues and was sent home during a road trip by the team in 2012. It will be interesting to see if the Hawks see Johnson as a piece of the puzzle and what kind of interest he garners in free agency.

That was as great a fourth quarter, as great an NBA Finals fame as you are likely to see. Miami started the quarter down 10 but LeBron James goes on a tear after getting his headband knocked off. The Heat come all the way back to take the lead, then Tony Parker drains a three…

A lot of people on here post what the Blazers should do this offseason to address the bench, center, and also trading players so I decided to come up with one of my own that I believe would address all of this! First: Trades! - Involves POR, BOS, ORL, HOU! http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=mx2w6oa PDX GETS: Aaron Brooks, Terrence Jones, Tobias Harris, Greg Smith, & Terrence Williams!BOS GETS: Nic Batum, Thomas RobinsonORL GETS: Jeff Green, Will Barton + Pick #10HOU GETS: Glen Davis, Victor Claver + Blazers 3 2nd Rds. PDX Verdict: Portland would do this because in Brooks we get a backup PG who cost the same as Maynor but he is also more proven and he played college ball at Oregon so im sure he wouldn't mind to come back! Also Terrence Jones is a SF/PF who can score, rebound, and play defense! He would probably be the 7th of 8th man. Terrence would like this because he is from Portland so it would be nice to reunite him here plus he is inexpensive but talented. Tobias Harris really came into his own when he got traded to Orlando and actually got a shot. Harris would fill the SF void that would be caused by Batum being traded. Also he is 10x cheaper than Batum and still young. Greg Smith is 6'11 250 lbs and 22 yrs old. This yr he averaged 16 mins with HOU while averaging 6 pts and 5 rbs. While also avg .6 blocks! Anyone who actually watched him play would agree he is a hell of a bargain for not even 800k a year! Smith could actually also fill our C void. He is a big body and plays good defense and can protect the rim. Terrence Williams is a SG/SF from Seattle who is versatile. Williams can score rebound and pass. Essentially Williams is lesser Batum who comes way cheaper. BOS Verdict: I believe boston would do this because Paul Pierce is getting older and they would be getting Batum to take over for him. Essentially they re-signed Green to take over Pierces void when he leaves but he is more of a PF than a SF. Also Batum has more potential and plays better defense while also being younger. Boston would also receive Thomas Robinson in this deal! Receiving T-Rob would be huge for BOS even though they drafted Sullinger due to the fact nobody knows how effective Sullinger will be because of his back issues. Also T-Rob is better than Sullinger I don't think that's questionable! ORL Verdict: Orlando receiving Green would be huge for their organization. With green barely signing a new contract he would be around for a while and could arguably be the new face of the organization. Also he is more proven than Tobias Harris so its a step up. Also he is versatile and can play the 3 and 4. Will Barton would be a nice piece for the Magic because he looked better than their backup 2's last year by a long shot! Super athletic and can score while grab boards. A bit raw but he will be good. Also they will receive the 10th pick from Portland to grab some more talent in the draft! I believe they would be ALL in for this. HOU Verdict: No arguing this.. Big Baby is a upgrade over everything they give up. Although it wouldn't clear up cap space for them to sign Dwight it would still be good for them because Glen is certainly capable of playing the PF and Asik at C would be a beast front court that is BIG! Plus they would get our 3 2nd round picks so if they REALLY wanted to get Dwight they could move the picks and Big baby to clear space. --------------------------------------------------------------------- If this were to happen Portland would clear up more cap space. Blazers in FA could sign Chris Copeland for fairly cheap and Jermaine O'Neal for cheap to! Portlands roster could look like... PG: Damian Lillard/Aaron Brooks/Eric MaynorSG: Terrence Williams/Wes Matthews/Elliot WilliamsSF: Tobias Harris/Chris Copeland/Terrence JonesPF: LaMarcus Aldridge/Terrence Jones/Jermaine O'Neal/Copeland?(Stretch 4)C: Greg Smith/Meyers Leonard/ Jermaine O'NealA lot of people on here post what the Blazers should do this offseason to address th

April 09, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors bench of starters stand up for the final seconds of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-89 to clinch a playoff berth. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports At the risk of prematurity, I am going to predict the Western Conference’s final playoff standings. I will be basing these standings on both the teams’ 2013-14 regular season performance, their playoff performance (if they made it) and the possibility of free agents. Let’s take a look at where these teams will be this April:

Dorell Wright: 27 yrs, 6-9", 205 lb, 6-11 ½" wing-span. Dorell spent one year behind 2010 #2 pick over-all Evan Turner, in a system where his numbers dropped. His stats for the two yrs prior to that at Warriors where he started in an average of 70 games/yr in a system more like Stott’s. Stats '10-'11 82gms 38.4min 5.9fg .423% 2.4three .376% 2.2ft .789% 5.3reb 3.0ast 0.8blk 1.5stl 1.6to 16.4p '11-'12 61 27.0 3.6 .422 1.7 .360 1.3 .816 4.6 1.5 0.4 1.0 0.8 10.3 Contract: Dorell is a UFA after his last year with 76ers where he earned $4.1 mill/yr. The 76ers have a payroll next yr of $44 mill, before offering to Andrew Bynum, if they to intend? Have fun watching these D-Wright consolidated game highlights: Dorell Wright: 27 yrs, 6-9", 205 lb, 6-11 ½" wing-span. Dorell spent one year behind 2010 #2 pick over-all Evan Turner, in a system where his numbers dropped. His stats for the two yrs prior to that at Warriors where he started in an average of 70 games/yr in a system more like Stott’s. Stats '10-'11 82gms 38.4min 5.9fg .423% 2.4three .376% 2.2ft .789% 5.3reb 3.0ast 0.8blk 1.5stl 1.6to 16.4p '11-'12 61 27.0 3.6 .422 1.7 .360 1.3 .816 4.6 1.5 0.4 1.0 0.8 10.3 Contract: Dorell is a UFA after his last year with 76ers where he earned $4.1 mill/yr. The 76ers have a payroll next yr of $44 mill, before offering to Andrew Bynum, if they to intend? Have fun watching these D-Wright consolidated game highlights: Poll Please use your GM spidey sense and vote: Tyreke (is that Greek?) ~$11.5 mill/ yr RFA (last yr paid $5.2) OJ Condiment ~$5.5 mill UFA ($4.2 last yr) JJ one-D ~$6.5 mill UFA ($6.2 last yr) one-R two-L Wright ~$4.5 mill/yr UFA ($4.2 Last yr) 0 votes | Results

Interview Link: Petrie Interview on CBS 10 Some interesting stuff here, although it is important to note that Geoff has always been a wordsmith and understands perception management. A few comments: Geoff was significantly let down by Maloofs during and after the Adelman firing, and it appeared he is still somewhat miffed about their lack of confidence in him to transition the team under Adelman's watch when the team was still semi-competitive after the CWebb and Peja trades. He looked like a new person in this interview, the most animated I have seen him in perhaps 6 or 7 years. Whether that speaks to his own personal fatigue or the wear-and-tear of dealing with the Maloofs and their garbage logic can be your own personal call, but it does appear he was at ease with this. In the interview close out, Large reports that Petrie actually attempted to put in his resignation at least once in the aftermath of the reported sale to Seattle. It appears, at least from my interpretation, that he was going to check out no matter what happened or who was brought in as owners. Petrie shares glowing remarks on the effort to keep the Kings, and calls what KJ and company did "...the best fourth quarter comeback he has ever seen". Nice words from a man just let go after 19 years or so with the company. It appears he and his wife were preparing to go to a rodeo, if the attire he is sporting is any hint. In the final evaluation, I respect what Petrie did here in what had been an otherwise aimless front office environment for a franchise that had not sniffed at sustained success any time before his arrival. With all truth, the transformation he presided over between 1997-98 until 2003 or so has to be one of the most unbelievable and rapid improvements and facelifts any team (and, for that matter, market) has ever undergone. It was what happened after, really, Musselman or during that time that made me lose some confidence and belief in him. The whole flirtation with Whisenant can now be interpreted as the Maloofs' threat to Petrie following what must have been his own anger and insubordination after they let his closest peer and friend go following stratospheric heights. I appreciate the guy's commitment, and I really do believe he stuck it out the past 3 years running on nothing but pure guile and, perhaps, fear of what those idiots would do without him. For all his failings, Petrie was a quintessential basketball guy that helped add stability in a time we crucially needed it. But the league changed, both in the evolution of analytics and the thought calculus behind small market competitive models (in truth, somewhat initiated by Petrie himself), and we need to evolve with it or risk being trampled underfoot. Thanks Geoff, best of luck, and now onwards and upwards under the new regime and roll on Petey D... Interview Link: Petrie Interview on CBS 10 Some interesting stuff here, although it is important to note that Geoff has always been a wordsmith and understands perception management. A few comments: Geoff was significantly let down by Maloofs during and after the Adelman firing, and it appeared he is still somewhat miffed about their lack of confidence in him to transition the team under Adelman's watch when the team was still semi-competitive after the CWebb and Peja trades. He looked like a new person in this interview, the most animated I have seen him in perhaps 6 or 7 years. Whether that speaks to his own personal fatigue or the wear-and-tear of dealing with the Maloofs and their garbage logic can be your own personal call, but it does appear he was at ease with this. In the interview close out, Large reports that Petrie actually attempted to put in his resignation at least once in the aftermath of the reported sale to Seattle. It appears, at least from my interpretation, that he was going to check out no matter what happened or who was brought in as owners. Petrie shares glowing remarks on the effo

"Our world's out of order. All I see is missed opportunity."--Hall & Oates, "Missed Opportunity"The San Antonio Spurs are renowned for their crisp execution and praised for their championship pedigree but in game six of the NBA Finals they squandered a golden opportunity to win the fifth championship of the Tim Duncan era--and now the Miami Heat are one victory away from claiming the second championship of the Big Three era. The Spurs led 94-89 with :28 left in regulation after Manu Ginobili split a pair of free throws, a time/score situation that simply requires making free throws, not giving the opposing team extra possessions via turnovers/offensive rebounds and not giving up open three pointers; if the Spurs had executed those basic fundamentals for less than 30 seconds then they would have won the 2013 NBA championship. Instead, the Spurs gave up an offensive rebound that led to a LeBron James three pointer, Kawhi Leonard split a pair of free throws, the Spurs gave up an offensive rebound that led to a Ray Allen three pointer and the game went to overtime after Tony Parker missed a tough, low percentage fadeaway jumper as time expired in regulation. The Spurs scored first in overtime and eventually took a three point lead but then they missed three straight shots and suffered a shot clock violation; the Heat finished the game with a 6-0 run and emerged with a 103-100 win. Game to game momentum has been non-existent in this series as the teams have alternated victories but this is a devastating loss for the Spurs and the last time a road team won game seven of the NBA Finals Jimmy Carter was President (Washington 105, Seattle 98 in 1978), so on Thursday the Spurs will face a daunting task.LeBron James authored yet another Finals performance that will baffle both his critics and his admirers; he scored 14 points on 3-12 field goal shooting in the first three quarters and he seemed to be on pace for one of the worst performances by a reigning MVP in a possible elimination game--but then he took over the game in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 points on 7-11 field goal shooting as the Heat rallied from a 75-65 deficit. James finished with 32 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds and three steals while shooting 11-26 from the field. He is just the fourth player in NBA Finals history to post a 30-10-10 triple double, joining Jerry West, James Worthy and Charles Barkley. Without James' poor shooting and tentative play in the first three quarters the Heat probably would not have trailed by as many as 13 points but without his forceful, determined and skillful play in the fourth quarter the Heat would not have been able to come back. So what should we make of James? He is a tremendously talented player who has had many great playoff performances, who sometimes becomes passive in the biggest games and who learned last year how to snap out of that passivity to reassert the aggressiveness that makes him unstoppable; no player and no defensive scheme can stop James when he attacks the hoop with force--period. Anyone who thinks that James did not quit versus Dallas during the 2011 NBA Finals and versus Boston in the 2010 NBA playoffs should watch the fourth quarter of game six of the 2013 NBA Finals: that is what LeBron James looks like when he is playing hard, when he is fully engaged mentally, physically and emotionally--and that kind of effort (not necessarily those numbers but that energy level, that kind of relentless determination to attack the defense) should be expected of James all the time, because that is what Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant--the two wing players who led teams to multiple championships in the past 20 years--delivered. If LeBron James wants to be mentioned in the same breath with those players then that is the standard--not statistics, not awards but rather a consistently high effort level that uplifts his teammates and deflates the opposing team. Prior to the game, NBA TV's Greg Anthony said, "Everyone says how well

This week on The Doctor is In with Phdsteve, we explore the options for the Raptors in the upcoming draft…oh wait- the team does not own a pick and GM Masai Ujiri has fired all his scouts. Not to worry, I’ve assembled the worldwide roundtable! After losing his internet access, my brother Mike (who knows college basketball) is left voiceless in the streets of Nigeria, but that’s okay, really, as Greg Mason (our resident American and the brain from the south) from the State of Florida, and The Fifth Quarter Blog’s Blair Miller (@TFQuarter), join me to discuss: The NBA Finals and Manu Ginobli’s time machine! How has this finals shaped Lebron’s legacy and the definition of the Spurs dynasty How Danny Green defies the analytics of the myth of the hot hand A pick-less draft for the Raps but rumours have several picks being available in the first (Dal at 13, Atl at 18, Clev at 19) and second rounds. Should the Raps target a pick here? And if so who do you like? Any “sneaky plays” a la John Wall to be made with the teams in the lottery? Who are some guys to watch for in the draft that would be smart targets forthe Raptors Predictions for the top 5 in the upcoming draft Grab the iTunes feed or the plain old feed. You can also download the file (50:49, 48 MB). Or just listen below:

The Heat changed the course of NBA history. Here was San Antonio, on the brink of another Tim Duncan era championship and these strong, sure Spurs crumpled to the court. They had the Heat, had them done, and let it all slip away.

[New York Times] Column: Spurs’ Collapse Starts at the Top With Pop (Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:29:31 GMT) The sly smile on Erik Spoelstra’s lips said it all. If only this once, the Miami coach couldn’t wait to field questions.     [New York Times] 5 Things Learned From Game 6 of NBA Finals (Wed, 19 Jun [...]