Bulldog

Nene $10m per year, even Wilcox and Gooden have got around $9m per year in their big deals... but Harrington who averaged 18.6, 6.9 and 3.1 plus over a steal a game and basically improved his game every year of his 8 years in the league and the best he can get is a four-year contract worth $35.3 million at under $9m per year??? I dont get it.

agreed - the only one of the champs that he could even compete against is Maskaev. Lyakhovich is too fast and strong, Valuev has too much power and if he faced Klitschko I would seriously worry about him. He wouldnt have the power to rock Wladimir (which is his achilles heel), and Wlad has serious power in return. Holy would be too slow to get out of the way. I hope the former Soviets have a tourney to unite the belts.

I was pleased to see Holyfield looking good in his 2nd round TKO victory this weekend. But I still hope he feels he can now retire on a victory. There is no way he wins a version of the title now, and he is only going to do himself damage. Whatever happens the Real Deal will be remembered as a true warrior of the fight game, so I would prefer him to let it go now, before suffering another bad loss against one of the top 10 guys.

In this day and age it is so refreshing to hear of a guy using his money to help others in this way. Dikembe is a great man - I salute you. Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital to open in Congo Aug. 14, 2006 CBS SportsLine.com wire reports NEW YORK -- Dikembe Mutombo will fulfill a lifelong dream soon, opening a hospital in the Congo named for his late mother. The Houston Rockets center, who donated $15 million to the project, will open the doors to the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center on Sept. 2. The 300-bed hospital will provide health care to people in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Mutombo was born.

my guess is Garnett would only leave Minnesota to an immediate title contender - probably Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, Miami, New Jersey, Detroit... thats about it.

George McGinnis - In 11 seasons, McGinnis scored 19,162 points and pulled down 10,461 rebounds

anyone think Tim Hardaway is always overlooked for these things..? for his career over 13 years (including some lean years to finish he averaged 17.7 ppg, 8.2 apg, 3.3rpg, 1.65 spg and was a great team leader. He had 22 assists in a game once...

1. Best chance to win - The Suns edge the Heat. The Chemistry is great in Miami and they all appear to be coming back, but the Suns very nearly made the finals last year and now they can add Amare to the mix. They will be very good this year. 2. Most improved - Bulls. Ben Wallace, Tyrus Thomas, Thebalosha, Khryapa, PJ and there may be more to come in a JR swap thay might give them a little cap room down the road and some draft picks. Also figure in that PJ will come off the books after this year too, giving them cap room next summer too (when they also could still land Oden in the draft via the Knicks). A great off-season.

I think it is a good move myself. They needed more quality at PG. Foye will be a combo guard anyway and they have now solidified their backcourt with a 20/5 guy who can get Garnett the ball and make some shots, like Cassell when he had a great year there. I think they will trade Jaric anyway, but this was a relatively inexpensive way to improve their backcourt fairly significantly.

20 and 10 might be a stretch for Wilcox. They hoped for that with Kurt Thomas and that didnt work. Nor did Brian Grant whose game Wilcox resembles. anyway 20 and 10 is what Marion brings, plus blocks, assists, steals, a great attitude... why trade him? I know they want to resign Diaw but Marion is too good to trade.

The Suns have apparently asked the Sonics about Chris Wilcox who said that they would need to trade Shawn Marion in return. Wilcox has Ike Austin written all over him. The guy has done precious little until he put together a decent 25 game run to end last season. But that warrants nowhere near the $60m he is asking for... I just dont get this one. Wilcox is a fairly decent player. Probably a 25 minute per game backup on a title contender... so $60m..???? I think he should bite the hands off the Sonics for their $42m offer. A year ago he was looking at getting employment from any team. As for trading for Shawn Marion...please. The Suns should keep their group together and go for the title.

Bargnani started with 20 points on 7 of 11 shooting including 2 threes. Nice start.

I dont really understand the trade from the Bulls point of view. Chandler is still very young, is over 7 foot tall and has proved that he can be a shot blocking and rebounding monster. He just needs to bulk up and avoid injuries, and then he can be Mutombo-lite. If he adds some offense, we are talking a perennial all-star... if.... Lots of teams were therefore interested in him. I just think that Chicago could have got more back for him, and certainly more of a veteran scorer. PJ will come off the books after next year and I see that it will give great cap flexibility, but Ben Wallace is over 30 and that move must mean they want to win now, so why didnt they try for someone like Rashard Lewis, Corey Maggette, or package him with Deng for Marion all of which can put the ball in the hole... That would have meant the defense is good with Wallace, and they would have a scorer to light it up. For the Hornets I think it is a risk, but a calculate one that could really pay off.

I dont really understand the trade from the Bulls point of view. Chandler is still very young, is over 7 foot tall and has proved that he can be a shot blocking and rebounding monster. He just needs to bulk up and avoid injuries, and then he can be Mutombo-lite. If he adds some offense, we are talking a perennial all-star... if.... Lots of teams were therefore interested in him. I just think that Chicago could have got more back for him, and certainly more of a veteran scorer. PJ will come off the books after next year and I see that it will give great cap flexibility, but Ben Wallace is over 30 and that move must mean they want to win now, so why didnt they try for someone like Rashard Lewis, Corey Maggette, or package him with Deng for Marion all of which can put the ball in the hole... That would have meant the defense is good with Wallace, and they would have a scorer to light it up. For the Hornets I think it is a risk, but a calculate one that could really pay off.

Well it looks like Ford was available after all... He has been traded for Villanueva... So the trade I suggested might have been a good one I think. Looks like Bargnani is taking Charlie V's spot with TJ at point.

I mean - he needs to practice his stroke this offseason, but that's just ridiculous...

1. Renaldo Balkman to the Knicks at #20 - big shock here. Could have taken Rondo or Williams and packaged them in a trade or taken Josh Boone... not a lot of people know Balkman, but I hope for Isiah's sake that he does... 2. Rudy Gay slipping to 8 AND then getting traded for Battier... I was surprised Houston made the trade after landing Gay who seemed perfect for them. They obviously feel with Battier, Ming and McGrady they can win now. 3. Marcus Williams slipping to 22..??? The best pg in the draft and he slips a long way. I thought he would go 10 to Seattle as they do not seem sold on Luke Ridnour there. Instead the Sonics take another project at Center. It hasnt worked for them in the past, might not again. 4. Leon Powe slipping to 49. Some mocks had Dallas taking him at 28. he will have a good opportunity to show his skills in Boston.

The realgm mock draft suggests that after Toronto draft Bargnani, Toronto will try to trade Charlie Villanueva. The suggestion is to Atlanta for Josh Smith. Charlie V has great potential and had a very good year last year. Would you be happy with this trade?

so who should the Mavs go for - Mike James? Sam Cassell? or trade for a distributor type ?

Zo does a lot more for charity than most players in the league. He has given back after enjoying huge success. Given that and the effort he so obviously brings every night, I am happy for him that he got a ring in the end. Well done, Zo.

Wade has some thinking to do. Every team in the league will want him and who does he have around him...? Shaq is ageing, Zo and Payton will probably retire. So that leaves J-Will, Posey and Walker. Good players, but is it enough to make him stay? You can bet the big 3 markets - Chicago, NYC, and LA - are working out how they can make an offer for him. I hope Wade stays in Miami. It is good for the league when stars show loyalty.

5 blocks and massive intensity as ever... you have to respect him for what he gives on the court. He was a massive factor.

1. Shaq - if you picked one center to play one season next year, it would still be Shaq Daddy. 2. Yao - at the end of the year he was sensational. He has really improved 3. Jermaine Oneal - fills up the stat box but sometimes doesnt show up when it matters 4. Ben Wallace - Seemed to slow down this playoffs but is a difference maker on defense. 5. Boris Diaw - he finishes playing C, but difficult to categorise. Terrorised every team Phoenix played in the playoffs and can do it all. 6. Marcus Camby - Fantastic defensively but fragile. 7. Chris Kaman - worst haircut in the league, but really announced himself on both ends of the floor this year. 8. Brad Miller - good all round game. 9. Ilgauskas - Solid but slowing down. 10. Mourning - I would still have him here above others. Still a scary man.

http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1341 Draft express is reporting that trade talk is gaining momentum on a trade that would send Garnett to Sacramento for #19 pick, Brad Miller, Kenny Thomas and a newly signed and traded Bonzi Wells. If that went down as well as the rumoured Ricky Davis for Jammal Tinsley trade then the Wolves might have a starting 5 of Tinsley, Brandon Roy? (#5) Miller, Bonzi Wells and Thomas. Is that an upgrade team-wise. Not necessarily and a lot would rest on Their 5 pick. The Kings would then have Garnett, Bibby and Artest which would be pretty scary...

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives...edick_arrested/ J.J. Redick Arrested 13th June, 2006 - 11:12 am Potential lottery pick J.J. Redick was arrested for driving while impaired early Tuesday morning, according to a report by Eyewitness News. According to the police report obtained by Eyewitness News, the arrest occurred at 1:03 a.m. in the 100-block of McQueen Drive in Durham. The police report indicates Redick made an illegal U-turn to avoid a license checkpoint. Redick bonded out of the Durham County Jail around 4 a.m. on a $1000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in court in Durham on July 17th. Is this going to hurt his stock? It remains to be seen...