The Best and Worst of The Past Ten NBA Drafts
By Kevin Duffy NBADraft.net 5/28/07 On the eve of the 2007 NBA Draft Camp in Orlando, FL, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on past drafts. Maybe taking a look at how teams have drafted in the past ten years will help explain the mysteries of the NBA draft, like why…
State of the Cap: Dallas Mavericks
By Josh Redetzke 5/25/07 2007/08 Dallas Mavericks Payroll: $81.5 million 2007/08 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $55 million Roughly: $26.5 million over cap The Good: Despite the now famous choke job in the playoffs, Dirk Nowitzki still had an incredible season, capped off with an MVP trophy. After signing an extension, Dirk is owed a lot…
Tim Shea Interview
By Aran Smith NBADraft.net 5/24/07 The following is another chapter in what’s becoming our annual conversation with Tim Shea (in his fourth year as Director of International scouting for the Charlotte Bobcats). Q) How’s everything in Lugo, Spain? A) It’s National Leagues Playoff time in Europe and in Spain that means Spring, Basketball and Bullfighting…
State of the Cap: Washington Wizards
By Josh Redetzke 5/23/07 2007/08 Washington Wizards Payroll: $58.6 million 2007/08 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $55 million Roughly: $3.6 million over cap The Good: The Wizard’s three-headed monster provided headaches to opposing teams this season. Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, and Caron Butler are one of the top trios you’ll find on any team in the…2007 Top 10 Prospects Lists
By Aran Smith Updated 6/27/07 Point Guards Comments 1. Mike Conley 6-1 180 PG Ohio St. Fr. Quickness is phenominal, but must add shooting consistency. 2. Javaris Crittenton 6-4 195 PG Ga. Tech Fr. PG with considerable upside. Leaving early could hurt his long term development. 3. Acie Law 6-3 185 PG Texas A&M…
State of the Cap: Orlando Magic
By Josh Redetzke 5/19/07 2007/08 Orlando Magic Payroll: $39.1 million 2007/08 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $55 million Roughly: $15.9 million under cap The Good: What’s one of the scariest thoughts concerning the Eastern Conference right now? The idea that Dwight Howard is only going to get better. The 22-year-old has already racked up monster stats…
Draft Buzz – Should I Stay or Should I Go?
By Aran Smith 5/18/07 The decision of when to leave for the NBA can make or break a players career. For some the pressure to leave forces them in too early before their stock is truly in the first round and before their skills are developed to make their way in the NBA. Others end…
State of the Cap: Miami Heat
By Josh Redetzke 5/17/07 2007/08 Miami Heat Payroll: $64.5 million 2007/08 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $55 million Roughly: $9.5 million over cap The Good: During a disappointing year for the Heat, one of their success stories was the breakout season of shooter Jason Kapono. The UCLA alumnus scored in double digits for the first time…
State of the Cap: Charlotte Bobcats
By Josh Redetzke 5/16/07 2007/08 Charlotte Bobcats Payroll: $27.6 million 2007/08 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $55 million Roughly: $27.4 million under cap The Good: Power forward Emeka Okafor returned from last year’s injury-shortened season in a big way. Okafor had career highs in rebounds (11.3) and blocks (2.6) per game as well as field goal…
State of the Cap: Atlanta Hawks
By Josh Redetzke 5/15/07 2007/08 Atlanta Hawks Payroll: $48.4 million 2007/08 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $55 million Roughly: $6.6 million under cap The Good: In a disappointing, injury-filled season for the Atlanta Hawks, they can at least find some encouragement in the improved play of Joe Johnson. Their highly-paid star missed twenty-five games with an…
State of the Cap: Milwaukee Bucks
By Josh Redetzke 5/13/07 2007/08 Milwaukee Bucks Payroll: $41.7 million 2007/08 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $55 million Roughly: $13.3 million under cap The Good: Many of the Bucks were bitten by the injury bug during this disappointing season and Andrew Bogut was one of them, missing 16 games at the end of the year. However,…
State of the Cap: Indiana Pacers
By Josh Redetzke 5/12/07 2007/08 Indiana Pacers Payroll: $62.8 million 2007/08 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $55 million Roughly: $7.2 million over cap The Good: After such a dismal season, is there really anything good for Pacer fans to look at? Not really, but a few positives do exist. For one, Jamaal Tinsley was relatively healthy,…
State of the Cap: Detroit Pistons
By Josh Redetzke 5/11/07 2007/08 Detroit Pistons Payroll: $57.6 million 2007/08 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $55 million Roughly: $2.6 million over cap The Good: Rip Hamilton continues to shoulder the scoring load for the Detroit Pistons. The energetic guard kept his average near 20 points a game and shot a decent percentage from the field.…
State of the Cap: Cleveland Cavaliers
By Josh Redetzke 5/9/07 2007/08 Cleveland Cavaliers Payroll: $64.3 million 2007/08 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $55 million Roughly: $11.3 million over cap The Good: For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the good news begins with their star player. Sure, LeBron’s numbers were down slightly from the year before, but not that much. He is still the superstar…
2007 Euro Final Four: Top Junior Prospects
By Aran Smith Athens, Greece 5/8/07 Zalgiris Kaunas of Lithuania defeated FMP Belgrade in the Nike Euroleague Junior Championship 78-74. The Final Four junior tournament consisted of Panathinaikos, CSKA Moscow, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Cibona Zagreb, Zalgiris Kaunas, Montepaschi Siena, BC FMP, Olympiacos Piraeus, and Prokom Trelf Sopot. Missing from the championships were the Spanish junior…
State of the Cap: Chicago Bulls
By Josh Redetzke 5/8/07 2007/08 Chicago Bulls Payroll: $46.7 million 2007/08 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $55 million Roughly: $8.3 million under cap The Good: The Baby Bulls aren’t babies anymore and they are reaping the benefits in a big way. First on the list is Ben Gordon. If there is a star on the Bulls,…
2007 Euro Final Four: Panathinaikos Champs, Recap
By Aran Smith Athens, Greece 5/7/07 Behind an insanely passionate home crowd, Panathinaikos Athens was able to outlast last year’s Euroleague champs, CSKA Moscow, 93-91 to take home the 2007 Euroleague Championship on Sunday night. Fan favorite Dimos Diamantidis took home the Final Four MVP, but the true MVPs were the Panathinaikos fans who chanted…
State of the Cap: Toronto Raptors
By Josh Redetzke 5/6/07 2007/08 Toronto Raptors Payroll: $51 million 2007/08 Estimated NBA Salary Cap: $55 million Roughly: $4 million under cap The Good: The Raptors were the feel-good hit of the NBA season and most of their good feelings came from Chris Bosh, the franchise’s centerpiece. Bosh has rightfully etched his name alongside LeBron,…