i just finished watching the 2008 NBA draft preview show. i thought it was the actual thing but ill have to wait until tomorrow morning to see it live. honestly, when it comes to presentation, the Americans are 2nd to none, this was just the preview for the actual draft and they had interviews, expert panel analysis and all these other features. its probably just another casual experience for you guys that are used to it, but it was a thrill for me and im not even a massive fan of the NBA.

they had a neat spotlight on this Italian kid from the euroleague that might get picked in the first round. The Knicks are the most likely team to snap him up apparently because of the coach and his links with the player's father and old team. something like that.

I have never really understood that whole draft and buy system of the NBA.

Apparently you can't buy a player from another team, you need to trade him if im right. And there is a sort of draw, and whoever comes out on top gets the best player from the draft pick.
I just doesn't really make any sense to me, you as a player cannot pick for which team you want to play?

And say your team wants a very good player, they need to trade to get him. Say you are one of the guys that needs to get traded, the club you play for just decides that. Or do you get some say in it?

I have no idea how the NBA draft works, but from my knowledge of the AFL draft system I might be able to answer a few of your questions.

No, you can't buy a player from another team. You either trade for him, or when his contract runs out, you get him as a free agent. I'm not sure if this is right for the NBA, but for most sports, the team that does the worst in the previous year gets higher draft picks (and vice versa) to make it more even. Again, I'm not sure if this is how it works in the NBA, but in some sports all teams have a salary cap which means that they can only pay so much money in salaries to players. This makes it fairer so the club with the most money can't just buy all the good players, get all the good young players, and pay them shitloads of money to get them to play for their team.

That is pretty close. The only difference is that the NBA has this funny thing called the lottery. So the teams with the 14 worst records enter a lottery, and they draw balls to determine who picks when. The teams with the worst records have a better chance of getting the first pick but it doesn't always work out that. Its kind of complicated and unnecessary.

Derrick Rose went first in the draft to Chicago.
Michael Beasley went to Miami.
OJ Mayo to Minnesota.

For the first three picks. No surprises there.

Washington State stand out Kyle Weaver went to the Bobcats with the 38th pick.

And the Lakers used their only pick on Joe Crawford from Kentucky.

Interesting, I like that idea. In AFL (the sport that I was explaining the draft in the post above) teams that probably won't make the final series have a tendancy of going worse than they should, not by deliberately losing on the players end, but the coaches picking younger players/experimenting with new tactics to get better draft picks. This lottery idea would surely discourage that, or is there another reason for having it?

Danilo Gallinari, the talented Italian went to the Knicks like it was widely predicted.

whats Bargnini been like since he got chosen no.1 for the Raptors a couple years back

Okay, I am really furious right now.

About thirty seconds ago I found out that my favourite team traded Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee Bucks.

WORST TRADE EVER.

That is pretty much the idea. So teams are competitive until the end.


I don't think it was that bad of a trade to be honest with you. They got back Yi and Bobby Simmons. Jefferson was coming off a career year, he wasn't going to get any higher value for them. And they thought they couldn't make the playoffs with the team they had.

They picked up a couple of big men yesterday and should be able to compete in the east with that front court.

Now the worst trade ever would be anyone that Memphis partakes in.

OJ Mayo plus scrubs for Kevin Love and Mike Miller. I don't know what Memphis is thinking there. They just traded up two spots for Mike Miller. They could have gotten so much more for him.

Mucho Lucho: Bargnani is a decent player. He plays about 25 minutes a game and averages around 10 points. Solid but not all-star level.

Danilo was boo'd by the Knicks fans. Typical.

As a Knicks fan I can only say that we need PF. But anyway it's all about European players who show up and turn into Dirk or disappear and just look at the Knicks history of drafting foreign players and all becomes clear.
Many people talk about Gallinari without a any knowledge of this player and yeah, it's normal nowadays. But he is good prospect and maybe something more.
Moreover everbody is waiting for a big move here and Walsh still has to clear out a cap space and give James, Paul or Wade a reason to come to NY. So Italian boy has to develop into a good player if we want a big star here.

Gallinari could give a lot of satisfactions, imho... but the start seems crappy, supporters welcome wasn't the best...

the big luck is he knows the coach, he was his father teammate...


give him time, he's still too much young (in italian standards, of course)...

wait, wait, wait, wait, wait...

youre from MONTREAL!!!! I am too btw. FFs, first time i realised you were from here.

Anyways, i would have the same feelings as you mate, except i support Man utd, lo! So the habs, lakeshow and impact misdemeanors (oh and portugal) so far this season, has a minimal effect on my moral.


Nothing lol.

Actually he just needs to grow some ball.s It seems to be most europeans playing in the NBA's problem. They dont drive enough, too many jumpshots.

Gallinari will get booed more, no doubt. NY are really impatient and pessimistic about their draft picks. Cant believe Lee has actually come out of his rookie season a fan favourite, thats a bloody miracle. But even he was booed on draft night. Plus, Gallinari wont become anything impressive in the next two years, you can quote me on that.


The nets did VERY WELL last night. Got Lopez as a COMPLETE STEAL at #10 was it? And a point guard that shouldve been in the first round really. Plus another good big man.

Basically, get some nice cover to replace Kidd, get the best big men in the draft, and maybe from the last couple of years aswell, and another good big man.

Without Kidd, all these wingmen were a waste really. What NJ needed was size, and playmaking, and they got it. A+.

I was looking at the overview, and I don't get one thing. What does it mean when a team gets the 'rights' to a player? What's the difference between the trading and getting the rights to a player?

for Gallo, first years will be difficult, he's very young... but supporters help would be important and he has spurs to do great things...

on draft day the players havent signed for their new clubs. So when they trade players whove been drafted, they get the "rights" to that player, namingly for an nba contract. If youre a first rounder, nba contracts are guaranteed.


thats the problem tho. He wont get the support in NY. Theyve been shite for too long, and they want bonafied performers all the time. The thing is that theyre shitty talent judges, and get it wrong often.

the curious thing is NY is a city where there are a lot of people with italian origins, so this lack of faith becomes a lot suspect ...

Yeah, but theyre Italian american now. Not italian.

it seems they are only american ...

Sonics headed to OKC for $45 million settlement
article taken from the Seattle Post Intelligencer

Clay Bennett will take his basketball franchise to Oklahoma City next season in exchange for $45 million and an agreement to leave the Sonics' name and history behind in Seattle for a future NBA team.

The Sonics chairman will owe the city an additional $30 million in 2013 if the state Legislature approves funding for a new arena or a KeyArena renovation next year and the city does not get a replacement NBA team in the next five years.

If the Legislature fails in its funding in the upcoming session, or the city fails to land a replacement team in the next five years, the $30 million payment will be canceled.

Bennett and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels signed the binding agreement Wednesday.

The situation is clouded by the Howard Schultz lawsuit, which remains intact. Bennett called Schultz's suit "baseless," but said if the team ultimately is forced to return to Seattle, the $45 million would be refunded to his ownership group.

If the Professional Basketball Club is prevented from playing home games in Oklahoma City in either of the next two seasons as a result of the Schultz suit, the city will repay Bennett's group $22.5 million for each season.

In addition, if PBC is required to play in KeyArena in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons as a result of the Schultz suit, PBC is released from its obligation to make the $30 million contingent payment.

"The transition and move of this team begins tomorrow morning," Bennett said in Oklahoma City.

The agreement was announced Wednesday evening by Nickels after U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman filed an order saying the two parties had reached a settlement agreement on their KeyArena lawsuit prior to Pechman's expected 4 p.m. ruling.

A source told the P-I the NBA was part of the settlement process.

Nickels, flanked at a City Hall press conference by city council members, said the agreement was part of a realization that the team would only stay at most for two more years even if it had won its case.

"The first $45 million makes us whole for the next two years and pays off the debt at KeyArena," Nickels said. "I hope we don't get the final $30 million. I hope we get a new basketball team in Seattle."

City attorney Tom Carr said the settlement does not interfere with Schultz's suit, but was the best deal for the city.

City council president Richard Conlin acknowledged this was a "sad day" for Sonics fans, but said the economic realities forced the decision.

Gov. Chris Gregoire released a statement saying it was up the Legislature now to get a new team in return.

"Like all Sonics fans, I am very disappointed that the team is leaving Seattle," Gregoire said. "While it is a sad day for the city and region, I am pleased that the agreement keeps the Sonics history and brand in Seattle, and leaves open the possibility of an NBA team locating in the city.

"I am heartened by the news that the NBA is committed to helping the local ownership group led by Steve Ballmer bring a basketball team to Seattle, and that it believes the KeyArena is a viable stadium for that team. Now it's time for the state Legislature to get to work," Gregoire said.

Bennett said season tickets in Oklahoma City would go on sale immediately.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/369313_trial03.html

Terrible news. I feel bad for Seattle. Bennett really stole the team from them. $45 million hardly seems worth it to lose an NBA team from your city.

I think the quote is out there but Stern said that Seattle won't be getting another team if the Sonics leave. Now I guess technically, the Sonics aren't leaving. But I don't see Seattle getting a new team anytime soon.

This is completely outrageous. Clay Bennett (owner of the Sonics) ought to be ashamed of himself.

I believe that Seattle is the third team that has relocated since the year 2000. The previous two were Vancouver Grizzlies (2001) and Charlotte Hornets (2002).

Absolutely ridiculous.

imho this relocating thing is a crappy thing, the owner abandon the supporters, hoping to have new ones... only for a matter of money...

I think it has less to do with money and more to do with Clay Bennett being from that area and wanting a team there.

The funny thing is he is going to lose money in the deal because there is no way a market 1/3 the size of Seattle will be able to financially support the team the same as Seattle.

That's weird.

At least the Seattle fans will have a MLS team coming their way to ease their suffering.

if the Sonics fans become Sounders, the MLS team can do a revolution........... a real revolution...........

from a fellow Montrealer

Atleast you got 1 team doing something right!

Josh Childress signs with Olympiakos


I can't recall the last time a born-and-raised American NBA player left the Association and moved to Europe in his prime. Well, maybe Anthony Parker of the Raptors, but he wasn't a noticeable player in his first go-around with the NBA. But either way, he got a big offer from what is supposed to be one of the best teams in European basketball, so I reckon it's a good move for him.

This could start a trend of American players opting to play in Europe, too. The nation's best high school player last year, Brandon Jennings, recently chose to sign with a European club (whose name I can't recall) instead of taking a more conventional, almost normal, route of heading into college basketball. With the age limit rule they have in the NBA, it could lead to other up-and-coming high school players to consider playing abroad.

As far as the Hawks are concerned, losing him is going to hurt them quite a bit, although certainly not as much as it would to lose Josh Smith.

Oh, noes! The fro goes!


Now i have two and you have 1. Impact in Concacaf mate.

Sadly I think the Jennings thing could become a trend. Why would these kids spend a year starting a degree they know they''ll never finish when they can hop overseas, make some very good money, and play at a fairly high level before coming back and being drafted. I love college basketball but I'm fearing dark days as even with the one-year requirement(which I hate) the top players are finding ways out of NCAA hoops.

there are lot of young former NBA here, but of course they aren't top players...

Yup, Shammond Williams and the likes... possibly JJ Redick in a couple years too.

well, they aren't crappy if they play here, italian basket NT won the Dream Team 4 years ago...

yea i mean why spend a year soemwhere knowing youre gona be gone afetr that year when you can play against soem good talent that the ncaa cannot give you

JJ Redick is an absolute joke. Demanding a trade? Just be happy you're still in th eleague pal.


And don't hate on Shammond, he came from the finest program in the country.

I wish we would just dump him off to Memphis or something, to be honest. He's one of the best shooters on the team, maybe the entire league -- but what good is that when he's just going to allow whoever he's guarding make every shot he takes? Just because he was one of the greatest offensive college players ever doesn't necessarily mean that he's going to become a useful player in the Association.

I don't get why he's such a popular figure among Magic fans, he's a one trick pony who might never prove himself capable of sustaining an NBA career.

NBA = Nationwide Basketball Society

well as everybody knows the Sonics moved to OKC, the team name has not yet been released (though the league has been doing a shitty job of concealing it, its "Thunder") and it, along with the logos and junk will be released on september 3rd. Well apparently someone has already leaked it, from OKCNBAFANS.COM:



well I'm dissapointed. First of all I hate singular names, like Heat, Magic and Wild, and that logo? wtf is it supposed to be?

Lame.

Kind of sad the Sonics went out like that

Aaaaaaahhh, the Glove and Kemp days... Viva nostalgia!

The Glove and Rainman. AAAh good times. Michael still made mincemeat of them tho. But it is sad indeed. How will they fill up the stadium in OKC??? Ridiculas.

I hope they lose every game. That name sucks. And Clay Bennett is a douche bag.

Yea, it sucks that they made such a fit that the city said that they could leave. Also, what is up with everyone leaving to go to Greece or Russia?

I still love the Chicago Bulls, even if they're a lil' bad now but I've always been a fan of them and so I'm gonna stay a fan!
But I really like the Denver Nuggets, too and Allen Iverson is my alltime favorite player!

Likewise, I've always had a bit of affection for the Bulls, they may not be the best team right now, but I feel like there's an element to the team, they are going to be very good, very soon.

Watch this space.

they need to address the post which they have not done. they should have drafted beasley

You know which team is totally insane? The Timberwolves!! Getting rid of a draft pick like that for Mike Miller?!? WHAT!? I mean, yes, I hear about how wonderful he is from my library teacher because he was the library aide at the same school as him, but what is so great about him? Honestly? I really don't know. What is cool though is that he played the in the same gym I had my Recreational Activites class in.

Pre-season is near! Cannot wait. Grabbed last year's NBA Live for PS2 today for real cheap... never got into the b-ball video games before but am looking to gear myself up for the new season.

Pretty cool man. The whole Mike Miller thing is insane though. Never found him a good player whatsoever.

On another note, how do you guys all see the Mavs' chances this year?

I really hope that they do good. Dirk is my boy! I have loved the Mavs since 03 when they still had Nash. It was kind of dumb though to get rid of him. Cuban should have given him the money he wanted and went on winning. Oh well. It is in the past. I really want a team from the west to win this year, but not the Lakers or Spurs. I want someone totally out of the blue to win the title....maybe someone like the Wolves. You know? Totally off the radar. (I was giving the Wolves as an example, I honestly think that they are still shite and are still "rebuilding") So, who do you all think will be this years Celtics?


Pre Season Results:

ATL 118 ORL 101

MIN 117 MIL 79

Tonight's Pre Season:

TOR-> CLE

MEM -> HOU

UTA -> LAL

WSH -> DAL

SAC -> POR

Was just wondering, been a Mavs fan ever since I got involved with bball, so I was looking for other opinions. The whole Nash situation was weird, but the Harris-Kidd deal disappointed me even more. How the hell do you get rid of a future PG prospect, that had the ability to become one of the top 10 PGs in the league for a guy whos in the twilight of his career....

But the last couple of years have been painful as a Mavs fan. Loosing the Finals being 2-0 up, crashing out as the 1st seed, (1st seed!) against Golden State and then dropping last season to 7th seed. Don't have a lot of confidence in next season to be honest.

Out of the blue, I say the Hornets will grab the title this year. They'll surprise the Celtics in the finals. Watch.

simple answer to Kristen's question: The Celtics. The Celts will dominate the East again.

I am also a Mavs fan, and I agree that the last couple of years have been pretty wack. Kidd is over the hill, and Harris is almost to the top. But I am going to stick with them. I hope Dirk can get a championship with the Mavs before his time in the NBA is up.

I also like the Supersonics, mainly because of Durant. I hope they will get more wins than last year, can't expect much more than that. Does anyone know who they picked up in this years draft?

And by the way, I predict The Celts win it all again.