FanHouse http://www.fanhouse.com FanHouse http://www.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif FanHouse http://www.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Report: Portland Lands Hedo http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/03/report-portland-lands-hedo/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/03/report-portland-lands-hedo/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/03/report-portland-lands-hedo/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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Update: Hedo may not be headed to Portland after all -- reports now suggest he ended negotiations abruptly and will sign with the Raptors.

Henry Abbott of TrueHoop is reporting that the Blazers have landed top free agent Hedo Turkoglu for the princely sum of $50 million (or more) over five years. Hedo had been the expected target of Portland's largess before the Magic acquired Vince Carter. That move made this move rather logical from every perspective.

... well, except the perspective that it's unclear exactly why Portland needs a ball-dominant small forward. After all, the Blazers do have one Brandon Roy, eternal All-Star, under contract. And with Roy dominating the ball this season, the Blazers finished with the league's finest offense. In terms of offense, this is a bit like the Lakers adding Ron Artest: sounds good on the surface, but when you look at the details, you get a bit worried.

 

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]]> Brandon RoyBrandonRoyHedo TurkogluHedoTurkogluVince CarterVinceCarter Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-07-03T16:41:00 00:00 Artest in L.A. Could Most Hurt Gasol http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/artest-in-l-a-could-most-hurt-gasol/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/artest-in-l-a-could-most-hurt-gasol/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/artest-in-l-a-could-most-hurt-gasol/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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Pau Gasol and Ron ArtestAs we all attempt to grok Ron Artest: Los Angeles Laker, much will (rightfully) be made of the strange relationship Kobe Bryant and our antihero Artest enjoy. Off the court, the stars claim to be best friends. On the floor, there has been some serious (and recent!) bad blood.

But in real basketball results, Pau Gasol might be the most endangered Laker in all of this. Kobe ain't giving up shots to Ron-Ron ... but someone will have to, unless you think Artest -- who has in the past placed himself in the same league as Kobe and LeBron James -- will shave half his offense to become Trevor Ariza II. I sincerely doubt our protagonist will be so generous. So the Laker attacker who requires the ball to be fed -- Pau -- figures to suffer.

 

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]]> Kobe BryantKobeBryantPau GasolPauGasolRon ArtestRonArtestTrevor ArizaTrevorAriza Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-07-02T20:37:00 00:00 Josh Childress Returns to Visit Bucks http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/josh-childress-returns-to-visit-bucks/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/josh-childress-returns-to-visit-bucks/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/josh-childress-returns-to-visit-bucks/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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There were various reasons to believe Josh Childress might be spending only one season in Greece. The forward, who signed with Olympiakos last summer after reaching an impasse with the rights-holding Hawks, is a quality player who belongs in the best league in the world, the NBA. He reportedly got the yips when the Greek league championship game fell victim to an assault of explosives thrown by fans. And all told, he didn't really set Europe on fire as hoped.

So that Childress is back in America talking turkey is not a big surprise. But the particular team he will first visit with -- the Milwaukee Bucks -- registers as a stunner.

 

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]]> Josh ChildressJoshChildress Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-07-02T11:15:00 00:00 Ricky Rubio, Coming to a Commercial Break Near You http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/ricky-rubio-coming-to-a-commercial-break-near-you/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/ricky-rubio-coming-to-a-commercial-break-near-you/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/02/ricky-rubio-coming-to-a-commercial-break-near-you/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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He may not be willing to lace up his sneakers for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but Spanish point guard prodigy Ricky Rubio won't hesistate to become an American pitchman. Via Canis Hoopus, the young Mr. Rubio appears in what would appear to be his first stateside ad campaign, joining the likes of Derek Jeter, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer in a spot for Gillette.

 

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]]> Derek JeterDerekJeterRicky RubioRickyRubioRoger FedererRogerFedererTiger WoodsTigerWoods Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-07-02T08:10:00 00:00 Hedo Leaves Trail of Fire in Portland http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/hedo-leaves-trail-of-fire-in-portland-toronto/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/hedo-leaves-trail-of-fire-in-portland-toronto/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/hedo-leaves-trail-of-fire-in-portland-toronto/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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Despite Marcin Gortat's best efforts, magical Hedo Turkoglu has taken the 2009 free agency period by the sensitive bits. Five teams reportedly called Hedo's agent Lon Babby on Wednesday morning, inquiring about or begging for the Turk's services. The Blazers top the list, having dispatched coach Nate McMillan for a Wednesday evening rendezvous in Orlando. But don't count out the Raptors(!), who will reportedly offer Hedo $60 million over five years.

But it ain't all rose petals and champagne amid the Hedo saga. According to ESPN's Chris Sheridan, the Portland courtship of Turkoglu has left one Mr. Rudy Fernandez feeling a bit ... hurt. Hurt to the point he is allegedly attempting to quit the Blazers.

 

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]]> Hedo TurkogluHedoTurkogluRudy FernandezRudyFernandez Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-07-01T17:48:00 00:00 Ben Gordon, Villanueva Visit Detroit http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/ben-gordon-charlie-villanueva-visit-detroit/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/ben-gordon-charlie-villanueva-visit-detroit/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/ben-gordon-charlie-villanueva-visit-detroit/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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Ben GordonThe Pistons have been tied to Bulls gunner Ben Gordon for ages, it seems, with pundits constantly bickering about how little or much sense a pairing made. Detroit, after all, traded All-World champ Chauncey Billups precisely to free up time for buckin' Rodney Stuckey while also inking former All-Star Rip Hamilton to an extension.

The assumed pursuit of Charlie Villanueva -- now confirmed by Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski -- makes more immediate sense. Rasheed Wallace is gone, Amir Johnson will vie for Villanueva's old job in Milwaukee, Antonio McDyess can probably find greener pastures.

But regardless of how it looks now, these are two pursuits that make bundles of sense together.

 

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]]> Ben GordonBenGordonCharlie VillanuevaCharlieVillanuevaChris BoshChrisBoshJoe DumarsJoeDumars Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-07-01T11:50:00 00:00 Leon Powe Will Prove the Celtics Wrong http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/leon-powe-will-prove-the-celtics-wrong/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/leon-powe-will-prove-the-celtics-wrong/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/leon-powe-will-prove-the-celtics-wrong/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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Celtics forward Leon Powe tore his ACL in Game 2 of Boston's playoff series against the Bulls. A hard-working fellow who, in two seasons, had put himself in position to get a decent contract in restricted free agency, Powe had suffered another in a long line of amazing disappointments. Powe grew up in a broken family, spending time in foster care. His mom died while he was in high school. He tore his ACL twice, once in high school and once at Cal.

Every challenge life has thrown out Powe has been defeated. This latest ACL tear has killed his chance of getting a big lucrative contract this summer. Even worse, it might leave Powe completely unsigned -- completely unemployed -- as the Celtics have decided to not make Powe a qualifying offer.

 

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]]> Leon PoweLeonPowe Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-07-01T08:55:00 00:00 Blazers Chase Hedo as Expected http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/blazers-chase-hedo-as-expected/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/blazers-chase-hedo-as-expected/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/blazers-chase-hedo-as-expected/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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Jason Quick of the The Oregonian reports Portland bosses Kevin Pritchard and Tom Penn made a play for Orlando free agent Hedo Turkoglu early Wednesday morning, just as Orlando's other major free agent -- Marcin Gortat -- was getting flowers from the Rockets. Two Western contenders pilfering the Kings of the East, how quaint.

Portland is one of two teams (outside of Orlando) that makes perfect sense for Turkoglu from all angles. While the Blazers have a nice collection of small forwards, none offer the ball-handling skill that a team with shooter Steve Blake at point guard requires. Further, though Brandon Roy has shown to be a good leader, there's a real lack of veteran guardianship on the roster. As they say, Hedo has been there, done that.

 

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]]> Hedo TurkogluHedoTurkogluJason KiddJasonKiddKevin PritchardKevinPritchard Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-07-01T08:17:00 00:00 Rockets Make Full Court Press 2.0 For Marcin Gortat http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/rockets-make-full-court-press-2-0-for-marcin-gortat/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/rockets-make-full-court-press-2-0-for-marcin-gortat/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/07/01/rockets-make-full-court-press-2-0-for-marcin-gortat/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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The Rockets have targeted Orlando center Marcin Gortat as a desirable pick-up. Whether this had been the plan all along, or whether Yao Ming's injury has forced management's hand(s), it doesn't matter. It only matters that the Rockets are seriously serious about landing Gortat, who caddied for Dwight Howard this season.

How serious? Right around midnight, Houston GM Daryl Morey posted a message on Facebook and Twitter imploring Rockets fans to tell Gortat how much they love him.

 

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]]> Daryl MoreyDarylMoreyMarcin GortatMarcinGortat Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-07-01T01:09:00 00:00 Carlos Boozer Stays in Utah, Which May Not Be Good for the Jazz http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/30/carlos-boozer-stays-in-utah-which-may-not-be-good-for-the-jazz/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/30/carlos-boozer-stays-in-utah-which-may-not-be-good-for-the-jazz/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/30/carlos-boozer-stays-in-utah-which-may-not-be-good-for-the-jazz/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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Could it be any other way with Carlos Boozer and the Jazz? Everything is so complicated, from late owner Larry Miller's combative stance on Boozer's injuries to Boozer's renewed sense of self-worth to the constant conflict between stardom and also-ran status. Boozer surprisingly picked up his 2009-10 team option Tuesday, putting Utah on the hook for $12.3 million.

Boozer is well worth the cash, so this development should be a clear win for Utah, right? Well, it's complicated. Boozer's commitment puts the status of back-up power forward Paul Millsap and starting center Mehmet Okur into question. By casting his lot with Utah for one more year, Boozer may very well have cast his buddies out.

 

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]]> Carlos BoozerCarlosBoozerMehmet OkurMehmetOkurPaul MillsapPaulMillsap Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-06-30T19:15:00 00:00 Kidd Will Open Free Agency in New York http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/30/kidd-will-open-free-agency-in-new-york/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/30/kidd-will-open-free-agency-in-new-york/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/30/kidd-will-open-free-agency-in-new-york/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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Matt Moore set the table on Jason Kidd's impending free agency -- Dallas, New York, Cleveland and Portland figure to be the best options. Though Kidd has publicly said he'd give the Mavericks dibs, you'll be interested to know Kidd will spend Wednesday, the first day of the free agency period, in New York City chatting with the Knicks.

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports that Kidd will meet with Knicks president Donnie Walsh early Wednesday, hoping to get a commitment. NY cannot offer more than the mid-level exception (a starting salary of less than $6 million) unless Walsh works out a sign-and-trade with Dallas, which holds Kidd's Bird rights. But the Knicks certainly have a hole at the point. Chris Duhon, ahem, ain't getting it done.

 

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]]> Donnie WalshDonnieWalshJason KiddJasonKidd Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-06-30T09:14:00 00:00 Rockets Doctor Confirms Foot Injury Could End Yao Ming's Career http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/29/rockets-doctor-confirms-foot-injury-could-end-yao-mings-career/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/29/rockets-doctor-confirms-foot-injury-could-end-yao-mings-career/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/29/rockets-doctor-confirms-foot-injury-could-end-yao-mings-career/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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Yao MingThe bad gets worse. Rockets team doctor Tom Clanton confirmed to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen that Yao Ming's broken foot is so serious it could end the center's career. Earlier Monday, Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that outside general managers had gotten the sense in dealings with Houston's Daryl Morey that Yao's injury is much worse than anyone had thought, to the point the Rockets could be without their talisman for the entire 2009-10 season.

But the coda from Clanton -- marking this fracture as the most serious injury in Yao's accursed reign -- bodes more doom than one more lost season. As you well know, the Rockets without Yao is like a jazz quartet without the bass or piano. He's not just the face of the franchise. He's the spine, the legs and the arms, too.

 

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]]> Yao MingYaoMing Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-06-29T19:00:00 00:00 What, Exactly, Do We Want From Brandon Jennings? http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/29/what-do-we-want-from-brandon-jennings/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/29/what-do-we-want-from-brandon-jennings/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/29/what-do-we-want-from-brandon-jennings/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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The weekend Brandon Jennings saga will only gain steam this week as talking heads give us the holy word on how a 19-year-old professional athlete should act. (Because 40-year-old white men know best, right?) In case you missed it, in a phone conversation with rapper Joe Budden, Jennings disparaged the Knicks, Chris Duhon, Ricky Rubio and (depending how you look at it) Luke Ridnour. Budden streamed the conversation on his Web site (apparently unbeknownst to Jennings). In the aftermath, Jennings erased his entire Twitter account and Budden sought to remove an unauthorized recording of his stream that had popped up on YouTube. (The video has popped back up, by the way.)

Responses from the blogosphere have been nuanced -- the FreeDarko sermon is particularly on target (and interesting, considering FD's Shoals helped break the story for The Baseline). But we have been through enough of these episodes before to know that the prevailing sanity will not last. Before the storm, allow me a question. (I think I've killed whatever suspense that line could illicit by posing the question in this post's headline.)

 

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]]> Bill SimmonsBillSimmonsBrandon JenningsBrandonJennings Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-06-29T15:58:00 00:00 Report: Yao Ming Could Miss Full Season With Broken Foot, or Worse http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/29/report-yao-could-miss-a-full-season-or-worse/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/29/report-yao-could-miss-a-full-season-or-worse/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/29/report-yao-could-miss-a-full-season-or-worse/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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Yao MingUPDATE: Rockets doctor Tom Clanton confirms report.

Dire news out of Houston, if reputable Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! has the right information. The Rockets announced last week that Yao Ming would remain out "indefinitely" -- in other words, the broken foot suffered in the playoffs that was set to be healed by now has not healed. But there's plenty of time until opening night, right?

Maybe not enough time. Woj reports the prognosis could have Yao on the bench for all of 2009-10, and there's a chance his basketball career is completely finished. The info comes from general managers who have talked trade with Houston GM Daryl Morey over the past weeks.

 

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]]> Daryl MoreyDarylMoreyYao MingYaoMing Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-06-29T15:02:00 00:00 Paul Millsap to Oklahoma City? http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/29/paul-millsap-to-oklahoma-city/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/29/paul-millsap-to-oklahoma-city/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/29/paul-millsap-to-oklahoma-city/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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The market for restricted free agent Paul Millsap was expected to be robust in theory, if not in actuality. This is to say Millsap is a highly desired fellow, given his proclivity to rebound like a champ, score efficiently, and defend his tail off at the power forward position. However, as always, a limited pool of clubs will head into July with cap space for next season.

The Thunder is one team with space to sign a free agent like Millsap. The team currently falls about $15 million under the cap, and Millsap has been pegged to pull a starting salary around $7-8 million. Oklahoma City can certainly afford to get into that ballpark, should Sam Presti desire to. Ross Siler of the Salt Lake Tribune seems to believe OKC, in fact, desires Millsap.

 

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]]> Jeff GreenJeffGreenNenad KrsticNenadKrsticNick CollisonNickCollisonPaul MillsapPaulMillsapSam PrestiSamPresti Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-06-29T08:55:00 00:00 Zach Randolph Almost Landed in Memphis on Draft Night? http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/27/zach-randolph-almost-landed-in-memphis/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/27/zach-randolph-almost-landed-in-memphis/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/27/zach-randolph-almost-landed-in-memphis/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal emptied his notebook on the paper's Grizzlies blog. The most incredible (if not uncredible) rumor had Clippers owner Donald Sterling nixing a trade which would have sent troubled/troubling Zach Randolph to Memphis for Darko Milicic and Greg Buckner. Darko instead went to the Knicks for Quentin Richardson and cash. Z-Bo remains directly in Blake Griffin's path and peripheral vision.

I have absolutely no clue why Sterling would nix a deal like this. The Clippers had nearly a full season to realize Randolph isn't worth it. He scores frequently but inefficiently, which is spyspeak for "he takes way too many shots." He's a great rebounder ... but so are Marcus Camby, Chris Kaman and Griffin. Randolph will make more than $33 million over the next two seasons, while Darko (a far better defender than Z-Bo) has a $7.5-million contract which expires after 2009-10 and Buckner's contract can be bought out for about $2 million.

 

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]]> Blake GriffinBlakeGriffinDarko MilicicDarkoMilicicDonald SterlingDonaldSterlingZach RandolphZachRandolph Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-06-27T11:30:00 00:00 Pacers to Cut Marquis Daniels Free http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/27/pacers-to-cut-marquis-daniels-free/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/27/pacers-to-cut-marquis-daniels-free/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/27/pacers-to-cut-marquis-daniels-free/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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In a no-brainer move, the Pacers will decline the $7.5-million option the team held for Marquis Daniels' services in 2009-10, reports the Indianapolis Star. The news betrays the success Daniels had in Indiana last year: he started 43 games for the Pacers as Mike Dunleavy Jr. struggled with injury, and scored more than 13 points a game.

But $7.5 million is obviously a lot for an emergency stand-in who doesn't fit the system and has basically exhausted his potential. Daniels, once a scoring tornado for the Mavericks, is already 28. He's an awful three-point shooter on a team predicated on hitting lots of threes. But Indy has a big hole at the two. Dunleavy will miss the first few months of the season, and Brandon Rush and Travis Diener register as the only natural shooting guards on the roster, unless Jim O'Brien changes course and plays a huge line-up with star combo forward Danny Granger in the backcourt.

 

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]]> Brandon RushBrandonRushMarquis DanielsMarquisDanielsMike Dunleavy JrTravis DienerTravisDiener Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-06-27T10:56:00 00:00 Omri Casspi Set to Become First Israeli NBA Player http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/26/omri-casspi-set-to-become-first-israeli-nba-player/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/26/omri-casspi-set-to-become-first-israeli-nba-player/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/26/omri-casspi-set-to-become-first-israeli-nba-player/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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Omri CasspiThree prospects from basketball-crazed Israel -- Doron Shefer, Lior Eliyahu and Yotam Halperin -- have been drafted by NBA teams in the past. But all were second-round picks, and none of the three made the league. But Omri Casspi took a major step for Israeli basketball by making into the first round, where the Kings picked him at No. 23.

There had been fears Casspi would be selected by a team seeking to "stash" him in Europe for a year or two, keeping his salary off the books but preventing another team from grabbing the talented forward. That won't be the case with Sacramento. The Kings need a talent infusion now. After speaking with team officials, Casspi told media he would be in the NBA in 2009-10.

Casspi will be competing for minutes with Donté Greene, an electric forward acquired in last year's Ron Artest trade. Andres Nocioni seems to be the de facto starter at the position, but there have been suggestions he'll be traded this offseason. Francisco Garcia also spends some time at the three, and begins a five-year deal this season.

 

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]]> Andres NocioniAndresNocionidonte greeneDonteGreeneFrancisco GarciaFranciscoGarciaOmri CasspiOmriCasspi Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-06-26T00:39:00 00:00 DeJuan Blair Amazingly Falls to Spurs http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/25/dejuan-blair-amazingly-falls-to-the-spurs-at-no-37/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/25/dejuan-blair-amazingly-falls-to-the-spurs-at-no-37/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/25/dejuan-blair-amazingly-falls-to-the-spurs-at-no-37/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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DeJuan Blair was one of the toughest players in the NCAA this year. He broke all sort of unofficial rebounding marks, manhandled No. 2 pick Hasheem Thabeet in front of the entire NBA, and gave some of the best interviews you've ever seen. His wingspan measured well in Chicago, and he dropped a ton of weight between the end of Pitt's season and the combine. He's an absolute beast.

But a bad MRI has been going around, and Blair -- who was considered a potential lottery pick this morning -- fell all the way out of the first round. And he kept falling. Past Portland for a third time, past Washington, past Memphis, past Detroit ... all the way to the Spurs at No. 37. It's the vogue thing to say Blair will now proceed to destroy the NBA. But it's also the accurate thing to say. Blair will now proceed to destroy the NBA.

 

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]]> DeJuan BlairDejuanBlair Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-06-25T23:10:00 00:00 Darko Traded to Knicks, Will Become Marketing Superstar in NYC http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/25/darko-traded-to-knicks-will-become-marketing-superstar-in-nyc/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/25/darko-traded-to-knicks-will-become-marketing-superstar-in-nyc/ http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/25/darko-traded-to-knicks-will-become-marketing-superstar-in-nyc/#comments Tom Zillerby Tom Ziller

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A potential trade sending Darko Milicic to New York in exchange for Quentin Richardson has been rumored for a couple days now. Adam Silver announced it has been consummated. The Darko Knicks jersey immediately becomes the greatest shirt in the history of synthetic garmentry.

One big takeaway from this deal is that Memphis will apparently take back $2 million in extra salary, unless New York is forking over some dough not yet reported. Darko's flight opens up the frontcourt for Hasheem Thabeet, who (I assume) will turn Marc Gasol into a power forward. We'll see how that works out -- Gasol isn't exactly fleet, and 7-foot-3 centers typically lack lane agility. Luckily, Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo are fantastic defenders on the perimeter. Oh, wait ...

 

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]]> Darko MilicicDarkoMilicicHasheem ThabeetHasheemThabeetMarc GasolMarcGasolQuentin RichardsonQuentinRichardson Tom Ziller tom-ziller 2009-06-25T22:37:00 00:00