Stephen A. smith and Skip Bayless on the trade block.

 I thought you meant ESPN was trading them both…oh Stephen…that hairline 

The HEAT didn’t exactly cash in on the steal either, but there is still hope. They flipped Thornton on draft night to the New Orleans Hornets for Jarvis Varnado and a second-round pick yet to be conveyed still. Thornton had a solid two years for the Hornets before they ended up shipping him to Sacramento for Carl Landry.
 

Omer Asik – Pick originally owned by the New York Knicks
In 2007 the Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers completed a monster deal that featured Zach Randolph going to the Big Apple with Steve Francis, who was almost immediately bought out, going to Portland. The swap also included a 2009 second-round pick of the Knicks going to Portland as well.

The Timberwolves traded him to Denver for Luke Babbitt, who they proceeded to pair with Ryan Gomes for Martell Webster. Webster struggled in Minnesota and is now a Washington Wizard. Meanwhile, Lawson is the starting point guard for the Nuggets and currently negotiating a sizable long-term extension.

Billups has been cleared to participate in limited team drills.

“All the training staff was gone with the team,” Horford said. “Obviously, they have to take care of the other guys so for me it was key for me to do my conditioning on my own. The cardio stuff and just little things like that I had to take care of like that. It was challenging, but we made it work. We figured out a way.”

When Howard was traded to the Lakers in August, O’Neal analyzed the situation this way: “You have to care to have a reaction. I’ve got businesses to run. I always tell people that in order to step in my shoes, you have big shoes to fill. For him, he’s going to have to at least win three to get people’s respect.”caf2332

But that doesn’t mean O’Neal has to keep bringing it up. Just sit back and relax, Shaq. You did yours, and we respect that. But nobody has to hate Howard to love you.xaf23

It’s too early to tell how good Waiters will be right away, but here’s what we think we know: He’s a streaky shooter from the perimeter, he can get to the basket practically at will, and as coach Byron Scott said, “he can go over the top” of defenders once there. Overall, he’s looking pretty good.vsaf3e3232

Again, it’s early, but that is the way it’s looking. Samuels and Leuer are both expected to back up second-year man Tristan Thompson at power forward. Samuels is more of an inside threat, Leuer is a big man who’s effective from the perimeter. So it’s a safe bet Scott will play each according to matchups.vsfy3443

“I’m trying to change my game around to not focus on offense as much and be a presence on defense,” Samuels said.bsgfvsaf

Scott has offered nothing but praise for the backup point guard, acquired in an offseason trade (with a second-round pick, for D.J. Kennedy).hfgh4t43324

With Leuer and Pargo seemingly shoe-ins, potential candidates to be released now include camp invitees Justin Holiday and Kevin Anderson, undrafted free agents Kevin Jones and Michael Eric, trade-day acquisition Kelenna Azubuike, returning forward Luke Harangody and Sloan.bgfgbsgf

Then again, Scott has already said it’s possible the Cavs keep both Pargo and Sloan, and Harangody just accepted the team’s qualifying offer over the summer. So keep in mind, all the names mentioned are pure speculation. And a few of them will make it.hfdg3434

The new Big-3 era was really only supposed to last three years. The Celtics were supposed to have a very short championship window and, when the three years were over, they would have to start anew around Rajon Rondo and whatever other draft picks may have matured into contributors along the way. Instead, they have now nearly doubled their life expectancy, entering this season as one of a handful of teams who should not be making any plans for June golf outings. Meanwhile, the success of the original Big-3 has spawned copycats around the league who saw Boston’s immediate, dramatic turnaround and want to experience it themselves.hfgh43443

Parker also expressed frustration that Bryant refused to talk to him during his two-year stint with the Lakers. “He tells me I need more accolades under my belt before I come talk to him,” Parker said. “He was dead serious.” Parker said the frustration wore on him so much that he refused to pass to Bryant.

Life as a professional basketball player hasn’t been easy for Indiana Pacers swingman Gerald Green. Most young men with his level of talent come into the NBA, either fail or succeed, and then move on with their lives. Green’s story, however, has been one of failure after failure, which is what makes his redemption with the New Jersey Nets last season all the more inspirational.