Hello friends! Welcome to another edition of Big Sports News. Today, I will be going into the NBA section of the Big Sports News series. This is my first NBA section of Big Sports News so I might not have everything you are looking for but I got my best, especially to those two sneaky ones at the title. So grab a bag of chips, actually don't (get fit!), and read away!
Rafer Alston According to the Orlando Sentinel, Rafer Alston (who has subbed in for Jameer Nelson since Feburary) that he wants to stay with the Magic, who are leading 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Alston was traded from the Rockets and has been a big help off the trade. But Alston does know he will be backing up Nelson next year, and might be making $5.5M if he gets re-signed. All the luck to Alston and his Magic, who look to make the NBA Finals.
Amare Stoudemire
Stoudemire has been crazy right now, well, that's what I think. On ESPN New York Radio, he has confirmed he wants to play for Mike D'Antoni in 2010 and says he is better than number four: Chris Bosh.
Here is New York and Washington Post's take on this:
"When asked Stoudemire if he's better than Bosh, the Suns forward said, "Oooh man, are you kidding me? Ask Chris Bosh that question."
So that's a yes?
"No doubt about it, I'm better than Chris Bosh"
"How serious will you consider the New York Knicks in 2010"?
"I will be totally serious about that, I spent a lot of my childhood there, I have a connection with the state, and I also love the entire coaching staff.
" I think Coach D'Antoni's doing a phenomenal job with the Knicks, NY's a great city, I follow them closely."
"Um, I love D.C., quote, end quote," Stoudemire said, eliciting oohs and ahhs and a follow-up question about how he sounded interested by this prospect. His answer?
"I love D.C, quote, end quote," he repeated.
"I'm going into my eighth year in the NBA, and it's time for a
championship," he said moments later. Joking aside, he was asked how far away the Wiz were from contending for one of them trophy things. "You might just be a No. 1 jersey away," he said." Hhmm.
Jannero Pargo
Pargo, a free agent, has confirmed that he and his agent are talking to the Hornets about Pargo making a possible return to them.
Here are some quotes from The Times Picayune:
"Jeff (Bower, Hornets general manager) and I spoke (Tuesday) about a bunch of things and Jannero was something we discussed and we'll take it a step at a time and see where it goes," Mark Bartelstein said. "There's nothing new to talk about now, but we'll
look at it and see what happens. "I think you could say there's mutual interest. That's fair to say." "I think there's a lot of people interested," Bartelstein said. "He's healthy now;
had the surgery about 10 days ago. He feels great and is now 100 percent healthy. We're just going to take a deep breath and digest everything and figure out what's best.
"Olympiacos has also expressed interest that they'd want him back. We've talked about that. There are a lot of things for him to consider."
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers have been very interested in point guards for the NBA Draft, as Indy holds the 13th pick, a pretty good spot to stand at.
Right now, the word is coming that the Pacers are interested in these five prospects: Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Eric Maynor, Stephen Curry, and recently, Tyreke Evans.
Indiana has said they are interested in Evans the most. But after looking deep into the Indy Star, they have dug up some stuff from Maynor and Lawson, who may be the real guys for Indy.
"They talked to my agent and they said they need a point guard to come in," Lawson said. "They've got T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack, but I don't know if they're happy with them. They said they need one to come in."
"I've already got a workout set up with Indiana," Maynor said. "They are looking at taking a point guard. I haven't really had much contact with them, but my agent talked to them."
Stephen Curry
The Oklahoma City Thunder has announced that they are very interested in Davidson point guard, Stephen Curry, the New York Post says.
The Thunder, who hold the third pick in the Draft, are eying three players now for the 2009 NBA Draft: Hasheem Thabeet, Ricky Rubio, and, of course, our very own Stephen Curry, of who we just mentioned right now in this little tidbit.
"Like they had season tickets," Curry said.
Like they do.
Steve Blake
According to The Oregonian, Blazers guard Steve Blake will undergo arthroscopic shoulder surgery on Friday.
He is expected to come back and practice with Portland in between six to eight weeks.
That'll be before training camp, of course.
Let's see how he does.
Hasheem Thabeet
Well, this is the moment you guys have literally have been waiting for. You have passed over 860 words just to get here. What an accomplishment for you, good job (not). Thabeet, to me, has made the biggest news flash here on Big Sports News.
The Knicks have said they are the most interested in big man, Hasheem Thabeet, from UConn. The Knicks, although they do have Eddy Curry, they need a guy who won't get injured and only play three games like Curry did last year, but only due to injury.
People have also been saying that they might trade Curry or someone else for a higher draft pick to steal Thabeet. The Knicks are also scared that he might fall to Memphis or Oklahoma City. Maybe even L.A. at number one!
With Al Harrington and Eddy Curry, Thabeet be a guy to help them out, and quick.
Thank you for reading Big Sports News! Will the Pacers draft Eric Maynor? Who will get Stephen Curry? Will the Knicks get a shot for Thabeet? Find out and it may be in the next edition of Big Sports News: NBA edition!
