Le Basketbawl

After six days of little activity in the National Basketball Association the action was fast and furious on Wednesday Free Agents announced where they were going, one young superstar got a contract extension and the last vacant coaching position in the NBA was filled. Announcements went literally from coast to coast as many questions about next season as well as the next few fell into place.

The biggest news of the day comes from the “Miami Herald” as they reported  Wednesday that Miami Heat All-Star guard Dwyane Wade announced that he was re-signing with the team. Former Toronto Raptors All-Star Chris Bosh also told members of the media that he will join D-Wade in Miami as he will also become a member of the team. Wade will get a six year contract for the NBA maximum which is $125 million. Bosh will either get a five year deal worth $96 million or if Miami can work out a sign and trade with Miami he would receive the same deal Wade is getting.

Wade had gotten an offer from his home-town team the Chicago Bulls and was tempted to take the deal. However the veteran guard told reporters “Eventually, it came down to Chris and his decision to want to be down here in Miami with me, and I couldn’t pass up on that. I’ve had an opportunity to play with (Shaquille O’Neal) and I get an opportunity to play with Chris right when he hits his prime, so right now, I’m one of the luckiest men in the NBA and the world. Today we wanted to let the Miami Heat fans know what they can look forward to for next year. It’s going to be a great time down here on South Beach. This decision is about winning and winning multiple championships.”

Although the Bulls lost out on acquiring Wade they had a pretty big signing of their own as the “Chicago Tribune” reported Wednesday that the team has locked up one of the most talented big men in the NBA. Chicago signed former Utah Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer to a reported five year deal said to be worth $76 million.

“ESPN” has come up with the title for their TV Special to air Thursday night at 9:00 pm when Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star forward LeBron James announces where he be playing for the next few years. They are calling it “The Decision” and at least one positive is coming out of this over the top moment. All money the show gets in advertising will be donated the “Boys And Girls Clubs Of America.”

As we move further west “The Oklahoman” reported Wednesday that the Oklahoma City Thunder have given their All-Star forward Kevin Durant a five year deal reported to be worth $85 million. Durant was a key factor in the Thunder making the NBA Western Conference Playoffs this past season.

Our final destination is “The City Of Angels” as the “Los Angeles Times” reported Wednesday that the Los Angeles Clippers have signed former Bulls bench boss Vinny Del Negro to be their next head head coach. Del Negro was the head coach with Chicago for the last two seasons as he went 82-82 and made the Playoffs in both seasons.

The Clippers had  a season of turmoil firing former General Manager and head coach Mike Dunleavy and going 29-53 for the season. Del Negro told reporters that he looked at his new job as a good choice for him. He said “The opportunities, when they present themselves, you have to jump on them sometimes. It’s the only one I really went after. I don’t look in the rear-view mirror, I just look forward. I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t feel I could make an impact. How it will all turn out, we’ll have to see. I can assure you the players will improve. If players are not going to perform the way I feel they should, they won’t be on the court. I have the support from management and ownership.”

To absolutely no one’s surprise two NBA teams that finished the season without making the NBA playoffs fired their bench bosses on Thursday. The first termination occurred in Philadelphia as the Sixers booted head coach Eddie Jordan after just one season on the bench according to the “Associated Press.” Philadelphia Team President Ed Stefanski told reporters “What I thought would happen did not occur. The decision was not the right one.”

There has been all sorts of talk that Stefanski could also soon find himself looking for a new gig as Team Owners did not like the fact that the team did not make the Post Season this year. Reports started circulating a few days ago that a man who is well known in the city of Philadelphia could soon be in charge of the club. Current Charlotte Bobcats head coach Larry Brown’s name has come up repeatedly as the man to take over control of the team. Brown has gotten the B-Cats to their first NBA Playoff appearance in team history.

The  ”Los Angeles Times“  reported Thursday afternoon that the Los Angeles Clippers have shown interim coach Kim Hughes the door as well.  Hughes was an assistant coach to former head coach and General Manager Mike Dunleavy who was fired last month. Los Angeles went 8-25 under Hughes and finished the season with a record of 29-53. The team played all season without the services of their first round pick in the NBA Draft Blake Griffin who was the number one selection overall. Griffin was injured at the end of training camp and never recovered.

A few years ago Baron Davis was a young star on the rise in the NBA; a very talented point guard with a winning personality. Baron had all the requirements to become a true “Superstar” both on the court and in his attitude; however it did not turn out that way. Davis was the leader of a Cinderella team; the 2007 Golden State Warriors who upset the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Playoffs that spring. Although the Warriors did not make the Western Conference Finals things looked bright heading into the following season; but they would not remain that way.

Davis and veteran head coach Don Nelson would have a falling out and the Warriors did not make the Post Season. The point guard opted out of the last year of his contract and signed a multi-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers where he would team with Elton Brand to give the other team in Los Angeles something to be concerned about. Problem was Brand got a better deal from the Philadelphia 76ers and Baron was left high and dry sitting with the Clippers. 

His two years in Los Angeles have probably felt like  about 20 since the Clippers have played like  Frickin Crapolla over the last two seasons. Even with the number one pick in last year’s NBA Draft the Clippers could not improve as rookie Blake Griffin missed the entire year due to injury.

As of Thursday morning the club was 27-51  and had lost their last six games; 2-8 in their last 10. Former General Manager and head coach Mike Dunleavy has been thrown to the curb; bounced out on his behind last month. As for Davis he has gone from averaging 21.8 points per game his last year with the Warriors to 15.2 points per game this season.

Davis spoke the “Los Angeles Times” about next season on Wednesday and told the paper that he would like to  be tthe leader of the band next year with the Clippers. Davis told reporters “I just don’t want this to be like a second-chance place. I want this to be a place where people want to come and play. If I’m allowed to lead this franchise and this organization the way I see fit, hopefully we’ll make a run. If I’m allowed to. Last year was kind of Dunleavy’s thing. This year was Kaman’s team, so hope that next year they’ll give me a chance to put my full thing on display.”

The veteran guard said a few years ago he would have wanted to extricate himself from the situation. Davis said “Yeah. I probably would have asked for a way out, looked for the easiest way out.”

Yo Baron; New York Vinnie has some news for you! The Clippers are not a “second chance place” they are Frickin Lower Slobovia! The only thing that makes your team any more attractive than the Frickin T-Wolves is the weather! And with you making $12, 100,000 this year there is no other team that is Frickin stupid enough to take you! You are now 30  years old and you have are playing in season number 11 in the NBA. You, My Man do not have a lot of options.

The team has talent there is no denying that; but it is up to YOU as the point guard to lead that talent on the floor. So far in two seasons you have failed to do that BIG TIME! Actions speak a lot louder than words as Zach  Randolph showed this season with the Memphis Grizzlies. Anybody can talk big Baron; the question becomes can you back it up?

The “Associated Press” reported Tuesday that the Los Angeles Clippers fired team General Manager Mike Dunleavy; just a little over a month since giving up his title as coach of the club. The Clippers have promoted assistant General Manager Neil Olshey to take over the position. On February 4, Los Angeles named assistant coach Kim Hughes as interim coach for the rest of the season.

The Clippers released a statement announcing the move. The team said “The team has simply not made sufficient progress during Dunleavy’s seven-year tenure. The Clippers want to win now. This transition, in conjunction with a full commitment to dedicate unlimited resources, is designed to accomplish that objective.”

The Clippers had a record of 25-38 through Monday March 8, and were 215-325 during Dunleavy’s stint as the club’s bench boss. Los Angeles made the Post Season just once while Dunleavy was coach and they have no shot at making it this season.

Rumors have already started to surface as to the candidates that may take over for the long term. Will the Clippers once again consolidate the duties as General Manager as they did this season with Dunleavy? Or will they hire a General Manager and a head coach; a situation that New York Vinnie believes would serve them much more effectively?

There are many reasons why New York Vinnie would favor any team hiring two people rather than giving all the power to one man. First and foremost as the old saying goes two heads are better than one; you have someone to bounce ideas off who may have a different perspective than you have. However in this day and age it is far too taxing for one person to be able to do both jobs effectively. The NBA has changed quite a bit since 1966; and there are no coaches on any team’s bench that will make any one forget Red Auerbach.

New York Vinnie believes that the perfect fit as coach for the Clippers is former Hornets head coach Byron Scott. Not only is Scott one of the sharpest young coaches available; there is already a very strong connection with the city of Los Angeles due to Scott being a key member of the “Showtime-Era Lakers.” There are not a whole bunch of situations in the NBA where a head coach can help you sell tickets.

The Clippers have been a bottom feeder in the NBA almost every year they have been in existence. They now have a chance to start out and bring in the right management team to finally turn their fortunes around. Will they be smart enough to do that? Only time will tell.

Well if the Phoenix Suns do trade big man Amar’e Stoudemire before the NBA Trade Dead Line of  Thursday at 3:00pm EST it will not be to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers and Phoenix have broken off talks that would have sent the All-Star to Cleveland in exchange for veteran Zydrunas Ilgauskas and second year big man J.J. Hickson. Thursday the “Washington Post“  reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired Washington Wizards veteran big man Antawn Jamison for the stretch run in a three team deal that also included the Los Angeles Clippers.

 Cleveland will send veteran center Zydrunas Ilgauskas and their first round pick in the 2010 NBA Draft to the Wizards. The Wizards will send Jamison to Cleveland and veteran forward Drew Gooden to the Clippers and Los Angeles will send forward Al Thornton to Washington and guard Sebastian Telfair to the Cavaliers to complete the deal.

Cleveland had been in discussions with the Suns for the last several days about the Cavaliers picking up Phoenix All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire before the NBA trade deadline. Cleveland reportedly had a deal on the table that would have sent Phoenix the veteran center Ilgauskas along with Hickson; a second year player that the Cavaliers really did not want to lose. The deal that they completed will still give the team an elite big man without having to lose Hickson a player the team believes has great upside. Instead Cleveland will give up their Number One pick in the upcoming NBA Draft a selection that should be at or near the end of the first round. 

The deal is the second major trade for the Wizards and the Clippers in less than a week. Saturday the Wizards completed a seven player deal with the Dallas Mavericks that sent Dallas forward Caron Butler, center Spencer Haywood and guard DeShawn Stevenson in return for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, James Singleton and Quinton Ross. Tuesday the Clippers sent veteran big man Marcus Camby to the Portland Trail Blazers to fill the pivot spot for them for the rest of the season. The Blazers traded guard Steve Blake and forward Travis Outlaw to the Clippers for the veteran who is the second leading rebounder in the NBA this year. Reports are also that the Trail-Blazers also sent Los Angeles $1.5 million and will pay Camby $2 million in incentives for the rest of the season.

The trade gives Cleveland a proven talent in Jamison that along with reigning NBA MVP LeBron James and veteran center Shaquille  O’Neal gives the club a very formidable front line. Jamison now in his twelfth season in the Association has averaged 20.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season for the Wizards. There is speculation that Washington could waive the veteran Ilgauskas which would then allow him 30 days after he clears waivers  to sign a deal with the Cavaliers for the rest of the season.

In many ways New York Vinnie sees this deal as a better fit for Cleveland than the trade with Phoenix would have been. The Cavaliers will have Jamison under contract for the next two seasons which should be enough to alleviate any lingering doubts that Cavaliers star LeBron James would have about signing an extension with Cleveland this Summer. They also get to hold onto a player they really like in Hickson and most likely will not be giving up a whole lot with the draft pick.

The deal gives James a veteran running mate for two seasons after this and if Jamison does decide that this is indeed his final contract it will open up  a salary slot that could bring in another quality player.

Most years as the NBA Trade Deadline approaches one starts to hear all sorts of rumors of deals that are on the verge of being completed. And most years that deadline goes by without those deals happening; in fact there are many years that it truly is a non-event. Well this season has been the exception to the rule with the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards completing a block-buster deal on Saturday. With the addition of Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood to the Mavericks they became a more formidable opponent.

Tuesday the “Associated Press” reported that the Portland Trail Blazers have responded with a big deal of their own as they have acquired veteran big man Marcus Camby from the Los Angeles Clippers to fill the pivot spot for them for the rest of the season. The Blazers traded guard Steve Blake and forward Travis Outlaw to the Clippers for the veteran who is the second leading rebounder in the NBA this year. Reports are also that the Trail-Blazers also sent Los Angeles $1.5 million and will pay Camby $2 million in incentives for the rest of the season.

Portland General Manager Kevin Pritchard told reporters “We are very excited to bring an experienced big man of Marcus’ caliber to the team and we feel he’ll help us a great deal down the stretch run. He’s a fierce competitor and has been one of the league’s best defensive players for quite some time.”

New York Vinnie sees this as a total win/win situation for the Blazers in this deal. They get a legitimate presence in the middle in the veteran Camby who on a bad Clippers team is averaging 12.1 rebounds along with 7.7 points per game this season. Camby can score more if Portland needs him to; but the reason they are picking him up is the way he cleans the Frickin glass. This is what Blazers coach Nate McMillen wanted from “MR. RICKETS” starting center Greg Oden before he was lost for the season due to injury.

It also gets rid of a controversy that has hung over this team all season; Andre Miller or Steve Blake as the starter at point guard. New York Vinnie has told you all season that Andre Miller was not brought in to sit on the Frickin bench. It is all well and good that Brandon Roy and Blake had good chemistry on the floor but Miller can take this team to a level that Blake is not capable of. This now rids the team of that problem and helps them in an area of need. You can not ask for more than that from a deal.

Once again the deck has been re-shuffled and this time it is Portland that seems to be at or near the top of the pile in the Western Conference. Will Camby put this team where New York Vinnie thought it could be at the beginning of Training Camp; a team that is battling for the Conference Finals? Or will yet another move be made to change things yet again? This season you can not rule anything out!

Now This Would Be Frickin Hilarious! However as much as New York Vinnie would love to see this take place not even Frickin Donald Sterling could be this much of a Frickin Half-Wit! A reporter for “FOXSports.com” senior college basketball writer Jeff Goodman is reporting that the Los Angeles Clippers are considering Isiah Thomas to  become the team’s new head coach and General Manager. Former head coach Mike Dunleavy gave up his bench duties on Thursday to according to him devote more of his attention to his front office duties. Clippers Team President Andy Roesser said that Dunleavy was replaced on the bench by assistant coach Kim Hughes because the team needed a “fresh voice.”

The Los Angeles Clippers and Zeke would be enough to possibly to  move the Clippers to Seattle! As bad as that team has been historically they would be shaken to the club’s very Frickin foundation were Thomas to be in charge. This would take Donald Sterling from being one of the worst Team Owners in the history of the NBA to Numero Uno! Even Frickin Sterling could not seriously entertain this as much of a Frickin Imbecile as he is!

Thomas who drove “MY BOYS”  the New York Knicks back to the stone age is currently the head coach of Florida International University in Miami. The team is 7-18 in its first season under Zeke’s guidance.