The NBA Offseason Thread

[Gert T 0]

So what do you guys want to see tomorrow? I have no rooting interest so I would like to see The Team of Two Cities win that first pick!

 

Who is their rep? Hoping its Durant or Green so ESPN could grill them if they do win.

 

 

[Brett Favre 0]

Mike D'Antoni for the Knicks.

[Fökai 0]

A host of the usual suspects will be present to be the face of the team on stage with some franchises sending players (Memphis - Rudy Gay, Miami - Dwayne Wade, Seattle - Kevin Durrant) and big names attached to the franchise (Indiana - President Larry Bird, Charlotte - GM Rod Higgins, L.A. Clippers - coach Mike Dunleavy, New York - new coach Mike D'Antoni, Milwaukee - new GM John Hammond, New Jersey - new GM Kiki Vandeweghe, and Minnesota - assistant GM Fred Hoiberg). But the Sacramento Kings are sending Margie Darilo a long time season seat holder who has lucky roots.

 

By the way, as a late replacement, MTV is stating that th new Nets rep will be Jay-Z.

 

Go Bulls, but I'm rooting for anyone 'cept Milwaukee or Miami. I can't think of two more undeserving teams.

[Damaramu 0]

NEW YORK -- Disgraced basketball referee Tim Donaghy told investigators in the NBA betting probe that relationships among officials, coaches and players "affected the outcome of games," his attorney said. The league said the charges were unfounded.

 

Donaghy's attorney made the assertions in a letter filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn on Monday, in which he argued that his client should be sentenced to probation because he fully cooperated with prosecutors and has been undergoing treatment for his gambling addiction.

 

The attorney also suggested that Donaghy told investigators about the gambling activities of other NBA officials and about a referee that passed "confidential" information to an unidentified coach.

 

The attorney, John F. Lauro, wrote that the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District agreed to plea agreements with other defendants in the case, even though his client told investigators about NBA matters outside of the government's initial investigation. Lauro said the disparity in treatment could not be fully explained because prosecutors have "surrounded this case with a cone of silence."

 

In a footnote, attorney John F. Lauro suggested that the NBA might have "pressured" the attorney's office "into shutting down this prosecution to avoid the disclosure of information unrelated to Tim's conduct."

The U.S. attorney's office said Tuesday it has no comment.

 

In a footnote, the attorney suggested that the NBA might have "pressured" the attorney's office "into shutting down this prosecution to avoid the disclosure of information unrelated to Tim's conduct."

 

"The letter filed today on Mr. Donaghy's behalf contains an assortment of lies, unfounded allegations, and facts that have been previously acknowledged, such as the fact that certain NBA referees engaged in casino gambling in violation of NBA rules," said Joel Litvin, the NBA president for league and basketball operations, in a statement. "The letter is the desperate act of a convicted felon who is hoping to avoid prison time."

 

The 42-year-old veteran referee pleaded guilty last August to felony charges for taking cash payoffs from gamblers and betting on games he officiated. Donaghy's sentencing was pushed back to July 14 on Monday; by law, he faces up to 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine, though the term could be much lower under sentencing guidelines.

 

While citing Donaghy's commitment to his family, charitable activities and positive feedback for his career as a referee prior to his "tragic fall from grace," his attorney said that his client's "aberrant conduct" can only be understood in the context of his gambling addiction, a "crippling disease, which prevented him from exercising complete rational self control."

 

Lauro wrote that Donaghy is taking steps to get treatment for his condition, including therapy with a gambling counselor and attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings.

 

"Without a doubt, Tim made significant errors in judgment, but he also tried to right the wrongs of his conduct by assisting the government and seeking treatment for his disorder," Lauro wrote.

 

Hmmmm...it's probably just the crazy ramblings of a guy desperate to get out of prison, but I know a lot of the people that think the NBA is rigged will love this. I've heard it suggested before by other people in the know that officials shy away from allowing stars to pick up a 5th and 6th foul.

[Ripper 0]

I like the part about the NBA pressuring the US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE to drop a case.

 

Because the NBA has that kind of pull.

 

This is just the case of one asshole wanting to drag whoever he can down with him to get less prision time.

 

[Guest Desensitized]

A host of the usual suspects will be present to be the face of the team on stage with some franchises sending players (Memphis - Rudy Gay, Miami - Dwayne Wade, Seattle - Kevin Durrant) and big names attached to the franchise (Indiana - President Larry Bird, Charlotte - GM Rod Higgins, L.A. Clippers - coach Mike Dunleavy, New York - new coach Mike D'Antoni, Milwaukee - new GM John Hammond, New Jersey - new GM Kiki Vandeweghe, and Minnesota - assistant GM Fred Hoiberg). But the Sacramento Kings are sending Margie Darilo a long time season seat holder who has lucky roots.

 

By the way, as a late replacement, MTV is stating that th new Nets rep will be Jay-Z.

 

Go Bulls, but I'm rooting for anyone 'cept Milwaukee or Miami. I can't think of two more undeserving teams.

The Bulls have a, what, 3% chance of winning, compred to Miami's 25%? As if the Heat are eight times as not in the playoffs as the Bulls are. This lottery system is so retarded.

[Jorge Gorgeous 0]

Well, Miami is WAY more not in the playoffs than Portland or Golden State... but yeah, it is a flawed system.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

If Miami wins the lottery then it's 1997 all over again. A team with a lot of talent that had an off-year for whatever reason gets lucky and gets better while the scrub teams stay the same.

[Ripper 0]

Dwayne Wade = Alot of talent?

 

They don't have any other position filled except haslim at the 4 and argubaly Dorell Wright at the 3. Thats it. They have nothing right now.

 

The Bulls have alot of talent. The heat have one guy and a bunch of other guys.

[PUT THAT DICK IN MY MOUTH! 0]

Did you just totally forget about Marion or are you operating under the assumption that he's definitely going to opt out?

[Ripper 0]

I believe he will definately opt out. If he doesn't then that is a good start with him Wade and haslim, but I just don't see marion not opting out and I doubt they would extend him at the money he wants.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

Dwayne Wade = Alot of talent?

 

They don't have any other position filled except haslim at the 4 and argubaly Dorell Wright at the 3. Thats it. They have nothing right now.

 

The Bulls have alot of talent. The heat have one guy and a bunch of other guys.

I was under the assumption Marion sticks around. If he does, you can have a starting 5 of Rose/Wade/Marion/Haslim/???. That's a playoff team in the East without a doubt.

 

The Bulls fall under this category too but they don't have one of the high percentages so it doesn't apply to them as much.

[bob_barron 0]

I think they should lottery off every pick, instead of just the top three

[Maztinho 0]

Actually the system they have now is the best so if you are a 20-62 team at worst you are getting a 4.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Where's Marion going to go? I wonder if he's going to need a place where he can be #1 after all the Phoenix crap, or if he'll happily take 5 years and $50-60 million more to be a #2 or #3 guy.

[Ripper 0]

It depends. Elton Brand might opt out too, so he could end up in LA if Philly gets him. But since I think LA would match, I think he could end up in Philly.

[Brett Favre 0]

So unfair for Chicago my ass.

[bob_barron 0]

A host of the usual suspects will be present to be the face of the team on stage with some franchises sending players (Memphis - Rudy Gay, Miami - Dwayne Wade, Seattle - Kevin Durrant) and big names attached to the franchise (Indiana - President Larry Bird, Charlotte - GM Rod Higgins, L.A. Clippers - coach Mike Dunleavy, New York - new coach Mike D'Antoni, Milwaukee - new GM John Hammond, New Jersey - new GM Kiki Vandeweghe, and Minnesota - assistant GM Fred Hoiberg). But the Sacramento Kings are sending Margie Darilo a long time season seat holder who has lucky roots.

 

By the way, as a late replacement, MTV is stating that th new Nets rep will be Jay-Z.

 

Go Bulls, but I'm rooting for anyone 'cept Milwaukee or Miami. I can't think of two more undeserving teams.

The Bulls have a, what, 3% chance of winning, compred to Miami's 25%? As if the Heat are eight times as not in the playoffs as the Bulls are. This lottery system is so retarded.

 

Happy now?

[Brett Favre 0]

Number 1 pick. Fuck this.

[bob_barron 0]

Haha, seriously Czech what the fuck.

 

They have to pick D-Rose now

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

Damn, how fucking short is that dude, and/or how tall is Doris Burke?

[Ripper 0]

Oh comeon, the last thing the Knicks needed was a top 3 pick. Now they can trade the pick like they should do to get some talent so they can win now.

[The Electrifyer 0]

Nice! Bulls get number 1 pick! That wasn't rigged at all...

[Brett Favre 0]

Oh comeon, the last thing the Knicks needed was a top 3 pick. Now they can trade the pick like they should do to get some talent so they can win now.

 

Why the hell do we need to win now? I was hoping for at least a top 5 pick and have a shot at Beasley, Rose, Mayo, or Bayless and we're going to get stuck with Gallineri or some shit.

 

The Bulls are taking Michael Beasley. They need a low post scorer.

[Craig Th 0]

Wait, how the hell did the Bulls get the #1 pick? After the Bobcats got #9, the guy said this puts the Bulls in the top 3.

 

How'd that work out?

[Ripper 0]

Beasley is about as much of a low post scorer in the NBA as I am.

 

They should be trading up, taking Lopez, and using the number one pick to pick up someone else that can contribute.

 

And the Knicks need to win now because cap space means nothing when you have won 60 games in 3 years. You need free agents to WANT to come there.

[Brett Favre 0]

Well getting Derrick Rose or Beasley would've jump started the process.

 

Beasley ain't a low post scorer? That's all he did in college. You barely saw his jumper, which is pretty good.

[Jorge Gorgeous 0]

Wait, how the hell did the Bulls get the #1 pick? After the Bobcats got #9, the guy said this puts the Bulls in the top 3.

 

How'd that work out?

 

Um... I THINK that they finished with the 9th worst record, and they only lottery off the top three picks, so once you didn't see Chicago at nine, you knew they had one of those lottery'd picks.

[Guest Desensitized]

Pax knows he can't draft Tyler Hansbrough, right?

 

I will not renege my stance that this whole system of 1000 number permutations with weighted probabilities taking place in a secret conference room is stupid, and they should just draw index cards out of a sombrero in plain view.

[Ripper 0]

Well getting Derrick Rose or Beasley would've jump started the process.

 

Beasley ain't a low post scorer? That's all he did in college. You barely saw his jumper, which is pretty good.

 

 

So did Glenn Robinson.

 

1st, my ass he is 6'10. He is a 6'9" small forward sized dude. When he adds some bulk he will be able to score down there, but he is going to have to be a face up guy to be effective his rookie year. he is just too small right now.

 

I don;t doubt that he won't be a damn good scorer in the league, but for his height, he isn't freakishly long like some guys that come in the league a little undersized and can still score on the block.