Hello and welcome to another edition of Big Sports News. We’ll be going to the NBA section of BSN Network! A lot today and it can help you with your fantasy needs! So let’s just get a move on, because we got some good stuff in for us! Let’s go!
Anderson Varejao
The Plain Dailer reports that Anderson Varejao will likely opt out in the final year of his contract.
No one found out about this until this source was said.
With Varejao gone, it will leave $6.2M for the Cavs in cap, according to ESPN.
Last year, was his best year statistically as he set a career-high in starts (42), points (8.6), and field goal percentage (.536).
Let’s see how Varejao does.
Samuel Dalembert
Dalembert has heard this so many times that he is the problem for the 76ers. He needs to be out and a new center needs to be in.
The Philadelphia Daily News takes care of it:
“Nothing but action can prove anything to me,” Dalembert was saying
after learning that Eddie Jordan had been hired to coach the Sixers. “I
don’t think I have to be moved, but [the talk] is the way it is, the
way it’s going to be.
“I’m not somebody who causes trouble; I’m not somebody not trying my
best. When coaches are consistent with me, you can expect the numbers I
can give. But it has to go both ways; if they don’t think I can do what
they need in the time they give me, good luck finding somebody else.
“I like it here,” said Dalembert, who arrived in the 2001 draft. “The
reality is, I can’t stand the inconsistency. When we play defense, we
win. I’m not going to take the blame for a lack of defense; it’s
supposed to be a five-man defense. I’m not mad at anybody. It’s just
the nature of the business.”
Jim O’Brien
That photo was taken in 2002 but O’Brien looks much more different than that to the left.
He has been improving Indiana throughout his two-year time with the team. He is 72-92 with the Pacers and looks to improve them forward.
The Pacers almost made the playoffs last year, being stuck at the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, one seed behind to lead them to their first playoffs since the 2005-2006 season.
Here are some quotes, provided by Indy Star:
“It’s not something that I’ve really thought about a lot,” he said.
“(It) doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not a factor, but it’s not
something within my control.
“I think I was brought here to help grow a team in the direction of a champion. I think that we’re doing a good job of that.”
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Unlike Varajao, Ilgauskas will not opt out in his final year of his contract. He will play next year and will be making $11.5M during it.
Zydrunas doesn’t plan on opting out and let’s hope Cleveland keeps the tall center.
“There are no greener pastures for me,” Ilgauskas told The Plain Dealer. “I’ve been a Cavalier and I’ll always be a Cavalier.
New Orleans Hornets
The Hornets have announced that they will keep their 21st draft pick this year, unlike last year when they traded their 27th pick.
The Hornets don’t really need to worry about anything. They get to keep Chris Paul (left) until 2012 when he goes into free agency, unless New Orleans re-sign him, in which they obviously might will.
They also might save as much cap room as possible for one of the biggest free agency ever with these star players: LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, and Yao Ming.
Now why would you want to trade a draft pick when you can get THAT!
Jameer Nelson
It was reported that he also had an MRI and participated in some contact drills.
Here are some quotes from the Sentinel:
“It’s up in the air. We’ll see how Jameer looks the next few days,”
Smith said. “There’s a few more things we have to get comfortable with.
We’re looking at the pros and cons. Doctors will have to talk to
doctors. If we’re at a place where Jameer can help us accomplish our
goals, then maybe he can play and give us some more punch.
“There’s a litany of tests he’ll have to pass. His health is the main thing. We’re not going to mortgage his future.”
LeBron James
According to ESPN.com, Cavs’ superstar, LeBron James, will not be fined after blowing off reporters right after Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals in a loss to the Magic to lead them to the NBA Finals.
James just ran out of the arena and didn’t congrat any player on the Orlando squad, including a good friend of his: Superman (Dwight Howard).
ESPN says he did send an email to Howard.
“It’s hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to
them,” he told ESPN and AP. “I’m a winner. It’s not being a poor sport or anything
like that. If somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate
them. That doesn’t make sense to me. I’m a competitor. That’s what I
do. It doesn’t make sense for me to go over and shake somebody’s hand.”
Del Harris
According to ESPN.com, Chicago Bulls’ assistant coach, Del Harris, looks to retire. Harris looks to turn 72 and was a great coach for the NBA, by have been doing it for 50 years! 50 years of all-around basketball coaching, not all NBA! That’ll be crazy. He was 556-457 in his twelve NBA seasons as coach. He was the NBA Coach of the Year in the 1994-1995 season with L.A. He also lead Houston to the NBA Finals in 1981.
Eddie Jordan
Eddie Jordan has just been signed by the 76ers as head coach, ESPN reports. Jordan was in contact since December with the Sixers and finally got the job.
According to SportsCenter, with Jordan’s signing, the 76ers have signed the most coaches since the 2002-2003 seasons with seven, tying the Memphis Grizzlies.
Here’s a little tidbit from the ESPN story:
Eddie Jordan
| Career as NBA Head Coach | |
|---|---|
| W-L | 230-288 |
| Win percentage | .444 |
| Playoff appearances | 4 |
| Playoff record | 8-18 |
| Series won | 1* |
“It is not an issue that would keep him longer than the other rehab,”
Morey told the newspaper. “They cleaned up the shoulder. It is
something we talked about for awhile and they had some time now.”
Let’s see how Tracy does so he can get back to his superstar status with the Houston Rockets.
Ben Wallace
Ok guys, we are almost done. I know you are sweating and you are thinking you are reading a 700-paged book because we have gone way over 1,000 words (over 1,274 words!), but hang in there. We are almost here!
According to ESPN.com, Cavs’ Ben Wallace looks to retire after the 4-2 series loss to the Orlando Magic, which costs them the NBA Finals for the second straight time.
“I’m going to sit down and talk with my family, weigh my options and
come up with a decision,” Wallace told ESPN. “Nothing’s definite, but there’s a strong
possibility that this was my last season.”
Let’s see how it goes.
Carlos Boozer
You guys are finally here! It took you over 1,362 words to get here. This is the biggest news flash for BSN Network: NBA Edition and let’s hope you enjoy it. It’s pretty exciting so let’s just freaking get to it.
The New York Post reports that Carlos Boozer told his friends that he wants to play for either the New Jersey Nets or the Detroit Pistons. Boozer is now a free agent and shined after his second season in the NBA.
But remember last time when Boozer was a free agent? The Cavaliers almost got him but never did. The Nets have the best chance of getting Boozer, ESPN Insider says and let’s see if they do. It’ll be real exciting if that happens. And now my Big Sports News senses are tingling!
Will Ben Wallace retire? Will Eddie Jordan be successful? Will Shannon Brown get sued? Will Jameer Nelson have a chance to play in the NBA Finals? Will Carlos Boozer fall to the Nets or Pistons? Find out soon on another edition of Big Sports News: NBA Edition!
