tear DROP

THE UNOFFICIAL NBA MAGAZINE

AUGUST 2009 UK ISSUE 1A

Blank Screen Publishing Publication

Kobe

Vince

Griffi n

Can Bryant make Can Bryant make it two in a row for it two in a row for

the Lakers?the Lakers?

RasheedIsIs Wallace Wallace Is Wallace IsIs Wallace Is Wallace

the missing link the missing link for the Celtics?for the Celtics?

PLUS

What impact will What impact will Carter have on Carter have on the Magic?the Magic?

Will rookie Blake Will rookie Blake be as good as be as good as advertised? advertised?

Iverson • Marion Iverson • Marion • 2009 Finals• 2009 Finals

CONTENTS

tear DROPTHE UNOFFICIAL NBA MAGAZINE

NEWSAll the good stuff page 4

DRAFT PICKSGriffi n, Harden and Flynn page 6

SUMMER LEAGUEBenchwarmers get ready page 8

NBA FINALS 2009LA versus the Magic page 10

FLASHBACKKobe in fl ight page 32

RASHEED WALLACEWallace goes to Boston page 14

VINCE CARTERCarter goes to Orlando page 16

SHAQUILLE O’NEALO’Neal goes to Cleveland page 18

SHAWN MARIONMarion goes to Dallas page 20

HEDO TURKOGLUTurkoglu goes to Toronto page 22

LA LAKERSCan they repeat success? page 14

FREE AGENT TRACKERWho’s going where? page 24

ALLEN IVERSON’S WOESWhat team wants him? page 28

EUROBASKET 2009Can GB top Spain? page 30

TEAM SNAPSHOTSThe talkers of 2009 page 31

02 TEAR DROP MAGAZINE

tear DROP is published by Blank Screen Publishing. For further information, please email: [email protected].

tear DROP is an original brand and publication that takes every care to ensure all content is accurate, fair and objective. Th e publisher regrets that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions that may occur. Th e copyright of images and articles featured remain with their orginators. Note: no money was made during the production of this, so keep your lawyers away!

Images/ copy: © NBA/Getty Images

Kobe Bryant will be biting more than his jersey if he

doesn’t reach the Finals next year in his quest to

top his idol: Michael Jordan - can he

do it?

With Ron Artest at the

Lakers and Trevor Ariza gone to the Rockets,

will Kobe and co be looking at another shot

at a potential title?

NEWS LA LAKERSRASHEED WALLACE LA LAKERSLA LAKERS

NEWS / EVENTS THE PLAYERS TEAMS / BUSINESSTEAMS / BUSINESS

03

The battle for next season is already hotting up...It’s pick and roll for teams GMs going to work vying to grab the best free agents available

There are no myths in

There are no myths in

Tbasketball: the best Tbasketball: the best Tplayers win the titles and Tplayers win the titles and Tall the coveted awards Tall the coveted awards Tand such. It’s that simple. Tand such. It’s that simple. TYou got skills - you shall TYou got skills - you shall Tbe rewarded. And teams know this as well. They will pay a nifty buck for this.

So while we determine which player may be the best value for money on the market this summer, it’s easy - the best players are. All the headliners from Shaq to Vince to Hedo and Ron are moving home and with the teams who fell second, third and last place last season desperate to get some of that action or they’ll lose their jobs, well, it’s time to knuckle down and start luring those big bad boys to the cabin of fame and fortune - and NBA rings, of course.

The job of recruitment is more than looking at a player’s CV. It’s a position of knowing if that player is right for the organisation. He may not be the best player (and this will not help anybody’s recruiting) but he must fi t in within the team’s rebuilidng strategy and unfortunately for

all the best players in the world, this form of logic precedes at all levels of the game. It’s not the smartest logic, because as time shows that even the best players will learn and develop team-sharing abilities, but most teams will ignore this outlook.

Many GMs convince their owners that a team is what will get people on their bums on seats to watch games on a regular basis, but fans are fans for a reason - they don’t care about teamwork. They want to see wins. If a player scores 50 a night and their teams every night then it will be a real treat to watch other teams trying to shut down this hot shooter every game.

Of course, hyotheticals don’t win games, but the best players do - and until GMs realise this. The NBA will struggle to spread its brand of unique basketball across the world. I mean, look at Allen Iverson now - once the best player in the world: and he can barely get a job offer - sad.

Editor

EDITORIAL

“The job of recruitment is more than looking at a player’s CV. It’s knowing if that player is right for the organisation

TEAR DROP MAGAZINE

Th is summer it’s been all the

trades – with Rasheed and Garnett teaming up; Ron and Kobe; Dwight and Vince - and your

laptop for a new iPhone!

NEWS

Ricky Rubio doesn’t plan to return to Spanish club teamRicky Rubio plans to part ways with Spanish club DKV Joventut even if the Minnesota Timberwolves cannot reach a deal to bring their fi rst-round draft pick to the NBA.

Timberwolves president David Kahn was in Spain this week to try and help the fi fth overall pick negotiate a buyout of his contract with Joventut. Rubio is at odds with his boyhood club over a buyout clause that could cost the 18-year-old point guard as much as $6.6 million. The NBA’s collective bargaining rules limit the Timberwolves’ contribution to $500,000.

Regardless of whether Rubio makes the trip across the Atlantic next season, he won’t be playing at Joventut.

“I want to continue with the club but, after everything that’s happened, I don’t think they’re too comfortable having me in their squad,” Rubio said on Wednesday. “I want to play in a winning team, on a team that can achieve many things.”

Rubio signed with Joventut at 14 years old, becoming the youngest player ever to play in a Spanish ACB League game. He rose to prominence over the next few years, playing for Spain’s silver medal-winning team in the Beijing Olympics at 17 and becoming a popular player thanks to his fl ashy passes and fl oppy hair.

Minnesota drafted him fi fth overall in June and holds his NBA rights for as long as Rubio is playing basketball professionally. But it is not exactly clear what ramifi cations, if any, Rubio’s

parting with Joventut has on the Timberwolves’ chances of bringing the popular point guard to the United States this season.

Rubio has two years remaining on his deal with Joventut. The enormity of the buyout has a player who made less than $100,000 last season thinking twice about coming to the NBA right away.

That’s what prompted Kahn to fl y to Spain on Monday. He met with Joventut offi cials to see if he could help resolve the issue, but declined to comment -- both on the news that Rubio will leave Joventut and the trip in general -- when reached by The Associated

Press on Wednesday.Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona

are both interested in signing Rubio if he cannot make it to the NBA this season. Unlike the Timberwolves, they are not subject to the collective bargaining rules of the NBA and could pay the entire buyout fee to get him.

Kahn has said in the past that the rebuilding Timberwolves are willing to wait a year, or even two, for Rubio to come to Minnesota. But the sooner Rubio can get there, the better for a franchise that has struggled to fi ll seats at Target Center since trading Kevin Garnett to Boston two years ago.


Swingman Anthony Parker to help shore up defensive woes in Cleveland’s backcourt, and be a spark off bench

Danny Ferry fi nally reached agreements with a pair of players on Wednesday, bringing back Anderson Varejao with a six-year contract worth $50 million, and bringing in Anthony Parker, as reported by The Cleveland Plain-Dealer.While the Cavs swung and missed with Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza, they’re still -- on paper -- a better team than the one that won 66 games last season. They acquired Shaquille O’Neal for Ben

Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic, neither of whom made much of an impact last season or will be playing much next season in Phoenix. And now, they’ve added Parker.Parker, at 6-foot-6, can play the two or the three and defend any wing the Cavs may face. He’s a clear defensive upgrade from Wally Szczerbiak and can help 6-foot-3 guard Delonte West guard bigger players.

Will Rubio save Minnesota

from its misfortunes and get them into playoff contention? Or will the Spaniard remain distant

and wait til he grows a beard?

Ricky Rubio doesn’t plan to return to Spanish club team

05

NEWS

TEAR DROP MAGAZINE

The Indiana Pacers suddenly ended their year-long banishment of Jamaal Tinsley on Wednesday, agreeing to buy the 31-year-old point guard out of the fi nal two years of his contract after not allowing him to play during the entire 2008-09 season. A league source said that the Pacers will give Tinsley approximately $11 million of the $14.7 million that remained on his deal. Tinsley is now an unrestricted free agent and able to sign with any team in a week.

Tinsley has not played since January 2008, after missing the fi nal three months of the 2007-08 season with a knee injury, and after numerous run-ins and suspensions that had soured both local fans and the organization. After that season, Pacers president Larry Bird said that Tinsley wasn’t in the team’s future plans and that it would try to trade him, and told him to stay away from the team’s practice facility and arena. However, other than a near-deal with the Denver Nuggets at the beginning of last season, Indiana came up with nothing, and Tinsley sat home in Atlanta all season.

He fi led a grievance against the Pacers last spring, looking to either be bought out or released. The arbitration hearing was scheduled to be heard next week, but the Pacers headed that off by quickly coming to terms on the buyout.

“I asked Jamaal to call Larry Bird and (general manager) David Morway tonight,

and apologize, and thank them,” his agent, Raymond Brothers, said Wednesday evening. “He called both of them up and thanked them for the opportunity. There’s no bad feelings, he’s not bitter. He’s just looking forward to playing again.”

The buyout provides Tinsley with what will likely be a fi nal chance to get his career back on track after years of incidents, injuries and on-court fi ts and starts. With several teams still looking for a quality starter or backup, someone is sure to take a look at the 2001 fi rst-round pick who was once one of the league’s up-and-coming young talents.

He averaged 9.4 points and 8.1 assists as a rookie. Then he helped the Pacers claim

the league’s best record in 2003-04, and the team was 34-9 in his regular-season starts after he came off the injured list.

Tinsley was the last player remaining on Indiana’s roster who was on the team when its fortunes fell through the fl oor with the 2004 brawl in Auburn Hills, when Pacers players went into the stands to confront fans after an on-court tussle between Ron Artest and then-Piston Ben Wallace. Tinsley was not involved in either altercation and was one of the Pacers not suspended by the league after the fi ght, and averaged a career-best 15.4 points per game that season, but he didn’t avoid other trouble several times during the next few years.

Pacers buy out Tinsley, avoid arbitration hearing

Krzyzewski returns to coach the impressive US basketball team, and looks forward to the 2012 Olympics in London

Mike Krzyzewski could have left international basketball on top, having returned the United States to its longtime position as the world’s best.That’s not what coaches like Krzyzewski do.“It was very easy to walk away, but I just don’t think people who are accustomed to competing or high achievers walk away,” USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said. “You just keep competing.”

So that’s what Krzyzewski plans, right on through the 2012 Olympics.USA Basketball announced that Krzyzewski will return to lead the United States in next summer’s world championships and when it defends its gold medal in London.The Americans won the championship last year in Beijing and will bring the leadership of that team back for another run. Krzyzewski’s entire staff of assistants also will return.

Tinsley has lived a life. He

gets a nice payout, but almost gets shot, is

arrested and a whole lot of mess that should never

happen to an NBA player

DRAFT PICKS


Griffi n aims to turn the Clippers around

“Who will be the fi rst out of the gate to prove that they’re the most dominant, most clutch

Blake Griffi n was the number

one selection in June, but can he make the

Clippers into a franchise worth reckoning with - we doubt it, but he

will do okay

03

A solid selection of primetime players were picked at the NBA Draft in June, but only a few will have any impact

Aplayer comes, a

Aplayer comes, a

Aplayer goes. Who Aplayer goes. Who Ais the one to turn Ais the one to turn Athe NBA into Athe NBA into Asomething special Asomething special Athis upcoming Athis upcoming Aseason? Blake Griffi n or James Harden - maybe. Well, with Oklahoma and the Clippers desperately needed some franchise quality players to take them into the playoffs, it come be their fi nal time to shine.

Admittedly, the talent from the draft is few and far between, with Griffi n dominating the power forward position in college and likely to be a Michael Beasley-clone in the NBA: but not coming off the bench. Griffi n will average around 15 a game with solid numbers elsewhere, but it’s obvious he’s no shining star that possesses Wade, James or Anthony qualities. Players like that are truly

hard to fi nd. But the left-handed Harden is one to watch, also. He has strong leaership abilities that his games exerts regularly, and can fl y down the middle for a rousing dunk that will catch the veterans sleeping in their mid-30s paces and static foot movement.

Jonny Flynn is a point guard will super skills and will run rings around the opposition. But it’s possible that he’ll also run rings around himself, trying to establish his ability as credible. There’s many point guards - as America leans to breeding good ballers, streetballers with a knack for fl air and the dramatic. But basic understanding and fundamentals in a team sport will not go unnoticed by NBA fans, soon bored by highlight reels and lack of team chemistry. Flynn must learn to develop his full court awareness, but with NBA players around him, his University of Syracuse days are

behind him and his need to be a one-man show will no longer be necessary.

So with money and fame soon upon our latest arrivals to the league, it’s become a question of who will be the fi rst out of the gate to prove that they’re the most dominant, most clutch, the most appeasing to their team and coach - and of course, the player that manages to get its team into the playoffs.

DRAFT PICKS

TEAR DROP MAGAZINETEAR DROP MAGAZINE

Harden and Flynn are two

players to watch out for this season. But will they get rookie fever and lose

control before they’ve even started?

to their team and coach - and of course, the player that manages to get its team into the playoffs.

SUMMER LEAGUE

Rookies get a schooling from prosTalent is never a question, but team play sometimes is, as young guns look for contracts

10 days in Las Vegas for most in attendance, the NBA Summer League has fi nally come to a conclusion. On the fi nal day, the stands were empty, many of the top players took the

day off, and the quality of basketball was a bit down. NBA personnel could be seen jettisoning immediately after their team concluded their play, if they already hadn’t skipped out. We made it ‘til the end, and here is the recap of the fi nal day’s games.

James Johnson was the star of this game, capping off his up and down summer league performance with a great all around game. His 18-point, 7-rebound, 4-assist showing was evidence of the mismatch problems that he can cause... if he decides to play hard. Talent has never been a question throughout Johnson’s career. Effort has. With his size, he can play both forward spots, stretch the defense, and create buckets for others. The Bulls’ staff will go through some growing pains with Johnson, but if they can keep him motivated, they’ve got themselves a good one.

The NBA’s Rookie of The Month for July, Jonny Flynn, had his worst game of the summer league. He just never really seemed like he got in a groove after star ting the game off of the bench. Flynn did have some pretty penetrate and kick plays en route to his 7-assist outing. The bright spot for Flynn was having top dunk of the day: A windmill in transition to end the game.

Third year forward Corey Brewer is looking nearly completely recovered, after suffering a knee injury last season. His jumper was on point from both mid-range and three, probably because of the countless hours that he spends honing it at the Target Center. The ex-Florida Gator put the clamps on people defensively and played his best game of the summer in our eyes.

DeMarcus Nelson made his best case to show that he should be in the League next year with the effort that he put on display on both ends of the fl oor. Not

a great shooter from deep, he knocked down a couple of

Mid-range jumpers, converted in the paint, and had one monster of a dunk in traffi c. Like normal, he played great D and played harder then just about everyone else out there.

Deserving a blurb is Timberwolves 7-0 center Garrett Siler. After attending a music academy in high school and averaging less then 2 ppg, he landed at Augusta State in Georgia. Playing D-II ball didn’t get him much love. Siler has had his chance to shine now and is making the

most of it. He’s a straight monster in the paint who looks to dunk everything, and usually he can because of his massive size at 300 pounds. Sure he’s not the most skilled guy and struggles defending the perimeter. You just can’t ignore 7-footers who play hard and offer that kind of potential. Siler would be a great guy to stash in Europe or the D-League for a couple of years and see how he develops.

Hint hint?

SAN ANTONIO SPURS VS. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Hasheem Thabeet ended his dismal summer league with yet another poor outing. He had a forgettable fi rst half with a

below average second half performance. The Tanzanian native just simply looked like he didn’t care in the fi rst half, allowing Ian Mahinmi to score 8 points on him in the game’s fi rst few minutes. To his defense, the 2nd pick in the Draft was much more aggressive in the second half and put up the bulk of his numbers in that stanza. It just doesn’t sit right with me when your 7-3 shot blocker doesn’t even average 1 block a game over the summer league (he averaged 0.8) and had 2 games with 0 blocks.


“ Hasheem Thabeet ended his dismal summer league with yet another poor outing... simply looked like he didn’t care

09TEAR DROP MAGAZINE

Tip, tip and away. Th e balls

were rolling for the summer action but

despite the razzle-dazzle of it all, players will be on the bench or look-

ing for jobs

NBA FINALS 2009

Los Angles Lakers beat Orlando Magic 4-1

TEAR DROP MAGAZINE

KOBE and his team did the predictable:they closed down the Orlando Magic. Why? Because the Magic didn’t anyone going to the hole on a regular basis. Yep, even Dwight Howard. For all his aggression and amazing leaping ability, Howard never boleaping ability, Howard never boleaping ability thered the inside play of the Lakers and so, the Lakers dominated inside and proved they were the smart opposition.

A few stolen moments in the contest could have the series been a tad more tigher, but the Magic’s insexperience killed them before they even started. Game 1 was a blow out for the Lakers. Game 2 - the Magic were unable to put away their chances. Game 3 for the Magic was a desperation win, while in Game 4, Jameer Nelson committed the All-star sin: listen to

your coach. Game 5 was the conclusion and by then,

the Magic’s energies were tied away in a post-playoff holiday trip in St Tropaz or somewhere else where Puff Daddy hangs out.

Trades and player movement soon became the talk ot the town, but really the skill of Kobe Bryant, the athleticism of Odom and the calm demeanour of Gasol held the Lakers together and with this unit, we should see them this time next year with another trophy. So, goodbye the Magic - it’s been nice, but the whole world predicts you’ll make the playoffs and stumble trip again. With Phil Jackson claiming another title, it’s the consistent and almost sickening play of the best players and coaches that prove team relies on execution and nothing else.

See you all next year, folks! Peace!

10

See you all next year, folks! Peace!

11TEAR DROP MAGAZINE

Th e Lakers destroyed the

inexperienced Magic, and proved that with a lit-tle teamwork and a some

clutch play, you can make good things

happen.

LAKERS


Gasol is the quiet leader on the

Lakers with a gangly, unique style but the silent

ability to take on the fi nest centres and still come on out on top.

1teamwork

2offence

The secrets to Laker success

Ron Artest will give L.A. a little bit of toughness and

someone to watch the MVP’s (Kobe Bryant) back

1313

After so much lip

After so much lip

A service given A service given A their desire to A their desire to A keep the roster A keep the roster A of the 2009 NBA A of the 2009 NBA A champs together, A champs together, Ait didn’t take long for L.A. to hold the door open for Trevor Ariza’s exit. Does any of that matter when the Lakers still have Kobe Bryant? The short answer is: No.

Los Angeles LakersGained -- Ron ArtestLost -- Trevor ArizaUp in the air -- Early projection for

2009-10 season: What was essentially a swap of Ariza for Ron Artest might seem like an even-up deal on the surface. But while the Lakers were concerned about the possibility of overpaying if they met Ariza’s original demands did they underestimate the potential of Ron Artest’s prickly personality down the line? Artest will give L.A. a toughness and someone to watch Kobe Bryant’s back. But he will still be the third option in the offense, also behind Pau Gasol, and that’s something that could test even the Zen serenity of Phil Jackson. With Kobe and Ron Ron as a 1-2 punch, the Lakers will be right in the thick of things in the Western Conference. But if they take the fl oor on Opening Night missing both Ariza and Odom, the defending champs will slip back to being

another team in a hunt, not the lead dogs.It’s usually not easy to like a team that

is coming off a 19-63 season. But it’s hard not to feel upbeat about a summer that saw the Clippers get the real deal with No. 1 draft pick Blake Griffi n and unload the big contract and me-me-me play of Zach Randolph. They got Quentin Richardson’s expiring contract in return and that should give the perennial doormats even more fl exibility in the future. Things already look promising with a core built around Griffi n that includes Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, Marcus Camby and Kaman. The

bottom half of the Western Conference playoff bracket is ripe for the taking if the Clippers don’t fi nd a way to shoot themselves in the foot again.

-- Now that The Big Cactus is gone, the Suns are saying they want to go back to being the up-tempo, run-and-gun-and-fun circus that made them a perennial Western Conference contender under Mike D’Antoni. Of course, that was before GM Steve Kerr came on the scene to -- what? re-mold? rebuild? destroy? -- some of the best chemistry outside

of a laboratory. Now the Suns have to come to grips with Stoudemire’s contract demands while re-signing 36-year-old forward Grant Hill and looking to extend the deal of 35-year-old point guard Steve Nash. On the youthful side of the roster, Channing Frye is a nice pickup whose outside shooting touch will help space the fl oor and draft pick Earl Clark is long and athletic with good upside. If Stoudemire’s head is in the game, the Suns could hope to squeeze in at the bottom of the Playoffs. But mostly next season is about team owner Robert Sarver saving money.

Can the Warriors get anyone to take Corey Maggette off their hands? Or Brandan Wright? Or Andres Biedrins? Heck, can Chris Cohan get anyone to take the entire franchise off his hands? In the early summer there have already been handfuls of rumors that Cohan has had enough suffering and is ready to pull the plug on his stewardship.

Cohan denies he’s looking to sell. But why not, since the Warriors look like they’ve only got more of the same old stuff to peddle on the court. Curry should make an interesting, if undersized, backcourt fi t with Monta Ellis that will keep the scoreboard fl ickering once more at the Oracle. Mix in Anthony Randolph with the sharpshooting Anthony Morrow and the always revved-up Stephen Jackson and you’ve got the same bunch that can be highly entertaining on some nights and yet underachieve over a full season.

LAKERS

“Does any of that matter when the Lakers still have

Kobe Bryant? The short answer is: No

TEAR DROP MAGAZINETEAR DROP MAGAZINE

Three straight Finals trips for Lakers?

3defence

The secrets to Laker success

BIG TRADES

rasheed wallaceThe goal of adding Wallace, the newest No.

30 to don Celtic green, to the mix is to bring

home the franchise’s 18th championship

W

TEAR DROP MAGAZINE14

T.he Celtics’ shrewd move for ‘Sheed tops summer’s best buys.

Five familiar faces of the Celtics’ basketball family took

the stage today to introduce their newest member, four-time All-Star forward/center Rasheed Wallace.

With President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge, Head Coach Doc Rivers and his new running mates, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett by his side,

Wallace met the Boston press for the fi rst time.

Throughout the press conference, it was hard to ignore what was sitting over Wallace’s

left shoulder, raised high on the back wall of the practice court. It’s the scoreboard -- a scoreboard that will serve as an indicator throughout the season to he and his teammates of what’s taking place on the court during practice. Today it was an indicator, too.

The time of that scoreboard read “20:10”, the score was all knotted up at “18”, and the player section showed “30”.

Translation: The goal of adding Wallace, the newest No. 30 to don Celtic green, to the mix is to bring home the franchise’s 18th championship banner in the year 2010.

Wallace’s main goal this offseason was to join a team that had legit championship aspirations, and that goal was evident by his initial list of possible destinations: San Antonio, Dallas, Boston, Cleveland and Orlando.

Boston was on that list, but that wasn’t good enough. When the Big Three made the decision that they couldn’t allow Wallace and his family to call anywhere

other than Boston their home, they decided to take it into their own hands.

Ainge, Rivers and owner Wyc

Grousbeck took a recruiting trip to Detroit

to try and woo Wallace into joining their team.

Their arrival was expected, but what Wallace didn’t see coming was three future Hall of Famers fl ying to Detroit to recruit him as well.

“As soon as I came around the corner and into the little conference room, and to see [Garnett, Pierce and Allen] there, that I wasn’t expecting,” said Wallace.

“That showed a lot. That showed me that they really want me to be a part of this team, that they’d open their arms for me and my family to be a part of the Boston Celtics now.”

That recruiting tool worked, and now Wallace bolsters a frontline that Pierce called “arguably the best frontline in the NBA.”The arrival of ‘Sheed in Boston has a lot of fans giddy, but the statements coming out of the Big Three today shows that they’re pretty energized themselves.

“I’m just overly excited,” said Garnett. “... I don’t really chase too many people. I don’t really go out and seek guys or try to manipulate, but this was totally worth it. This was my chance to play with another great big, another person who’s not only as passionate but also as intense, and is [very] versatile skill wise.”

Pierce chimed in to say, “It gives you an extra boost of energy. The last few weeks, it’s hard for me to stay out of the gym.”

Every person on the stage indicated that this marriage was one that was on the radar from the very last day of the Celtics’ regular season. Allen spoke about how he, Pierce and Garnett held a meeting after their fi nal game and decided that Wallace was the one piece of the puzzle that they needed to add this offseason. Rivers agreed with that idea wholeheartedly.

“Right when the season ended, you looked at the free-agent list and there was one name that popped out right away, and it was Rasheed’s,” he said. “Obviously we didn’t know if we could get him or not, but we knew that’s who we wanted.”

his family to call anywhere other than Boston their

home, they decided to take it into their own hands.

and owner Wyc Grousbeck took a

recruiting trip to Detroit to try and woo Wallace

Rasheed is from the old

school where hard work gets it done. He pushed around Allen

Iverson but wasn’t quick enough for LeBron

- but in Boston

15

BIG TRADES

“Wallace’s main goal was to join a main goal was to join a main goalteam that had legit championship aspirations: San Antonio, Dallas, San Antonio, Dallas, San AntonioBoston, Cleveland and Orlando.

TEAR DROP MAGAZINE

W

Wallace is getting old, but his

experience is unquestioned. Th at three-

point shot will confuse players and his strength

on D is sure to win fans over

BIG TRADES

C an a team knock off the MVP of the league, take down the club with the best regular-season record and

advance all the way to the NBA Finals and still wind up being overlooked?

Say hello to the Orlando Magic.Of course, being unappreciated and

unloved was a strong motivator and worked out for Orlando last season. So maybe the inhabitants of the Magic kingdom will be happy to sit in the back seat again while rejuvenated Boston and re-armed Cleveland get all of the headlines in the Eastern Conference.

CARTER FOR TURKGLUNot that the reigning Eastern champs sat idly themselves. By essentially trading Hedo Turkoglu for Vince Car ter, the Magic kept their offensive zing and saved money in the long run. They forked over the cash to keep Marcin Gortat in the middle and reeled in Brandon Bass to make them even longer up front.

In Miami, the chicken-and-egg dance between the Heat and Dwyane Wade over who’ll commit first continues, while there’s been a definite upgrade to the backcour t scoring punch in Atlanta with Jamal Crawford joining a re-signed Mike Bibby.

If Gilber t Arenas is healthy and back to his old form, the Wizards under new coach Flip Saunders might be ready for one of the most dramatic liftoffs outside of Cape Canaveral. Year Two for Larry Brown in Charlotte will either

see the Bobcats claw their way into a first-ever playoff spot or the peripatetic leader to begin looking for the door.

Orlando Magic

Gained -- Vince Car ter, Ryan Anderson, Brandon Bass

Lost -- Rafer Alston, Tony Battier, Cour tney Lee, Hedo Turkoglu

Up in the air -- After saying that $34 million over five years was too much to spend on a backup center, Magic GM Otis Smith matched the Dallas Mavericks’ offer sheet to Marcin Gortat. Of course, that doesn’t mean he’ll still be on the roster come Christmas day. The Magic have only nine players under contract and the free-agent pool is beginning to thin out considerably.

PROJECTIONSEarly projection for 2009-10 season -- It was a bold move for a team that advanced to the NBA Finals to allow key player Hedo Turkoglu out the door. But the Magic made the best of the situation by making the first move and

dealing for Vince Car ter and Ryan Anderson. They also picked up a trade exception worth $8 million to $9 million in the Turkoglu deal. The $53 million over five years to keep Turkoglu would have been a steep price and there’s every reason to think that Car ter can fill that slot -- if not improve it -- with only two years left on his contract. It keeps the team dynamic yet flexible in the near future. The signing of Brandon Bass to a 4-year, $18-million deal gives the Magic a young, active power forward, who allows Rashard Lewis to return to a more comfor table spot at small forward. If they hold onto Gortat, they’ve got plenty of size up front. With Boston healthy and Cleveland reloaded, the Magic will be overlooked but dangerous again in the East.


vince carterBy trading Hedo Turkoglu for Vince Carter,

the Magic kept their offensive zing and

saved money in the long runsaved money in the long run

Th e former dunk champion

is getting on a bit, so whether his shot is as reliable as his dunks were, Vince better hope his

knees are in working order now...

17

BIG TRADESBIG TRADESBIG TRADESBIG TRADESBIG TRADESBIG TRADES

“The $53 million to keep Turkoglu would have been a steep price and there’s every reason to think that Carter can Carter can Carterfi ll that slot

TEAR DROP MAGAZINE

If Vince can still dunk like he

does here, Orlando will be smiling all the way to the Finals, but if he can’t then forget it. He’ll be a

poor replacement for Hedo

BIG TRADES

S o what do you do after you’ve already lapped the fi eld in the division last season by 25 games, have the reigning MVP

in your lineup and yet that nagging loss to Orlando in the Eastern Conference Finals sticking in your craw?

If you’re the Cavaliers, you bring in Shaquille O’Neal, of course, and send the basketball world scrambling for another set of nicknames for the itinerant center. Remake by the Lake? Shaqalier? The Big O’hio? Ring Bearer? O’Neal will be allowed to call himself anything he wants in Cleveland if he gets LeBron James over the hump and hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy at precisely the time next June when he becomes a free agent.

The Bulls bid farewell to Ben Gordon, but are counting on Derrick Rose and maybe a few other late summer moves to take them up a notch. Meanwhile Gordon and fellow free agent Charlie Villanueva have taken up residence as centerpieces in Joe Dumars’ reconstruction plan in Detroit.

Tyler Hansbrough gives the Pacers the kind of hard-nosed, scrappy player with whom Larry Bird can identify and

the Bucks are hoping that a season not plagued by injuries can get them up off the fl oor.

Cleveland CavaliersGained -- Shaquille O’Neal, Anthony

Parker, Anderson Varejao, Daniel Green, Christian Eyenga

Lost -- Sasha Pavlovic, Ben Wallace Up in the air -- After locking down

forward Anderson Varejao with a six-year contract worth almost $50 million with incentives and getting Anthony Parker fEarly projection for 2009-10 season -- The Cavs defi nitely made the biggest splash in the pool this summer when Shaq did a cannon ball into their laps. They only gave up Sasha Pavlovic and Ben Wallace and now Shaq is promising to win a ring for the King. Shaq seems to be on hand to deal with Dwight Howard in another series with Orlando. But does he lift them past a rejuvenated Boston bunch? Was it telling in any way that Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza and

Charlie Villanueva all passed up a chance to join Shaq and LeBron? After Mo Williams’ offense was eventually shut down

by the Magic, Anthony Parker’s outside shooting touch will be welcomed. They likely overpaid for Varejao, but need his active body on the frontline if they’re going to get back to the Finals. But one season after they fi nished with the best record in the East, the Cavs might have slipped back behind Boston again.


shaquille o’nealO’Neal will be allowed to call himself

anything he wants in Cleveland if he gets

LeBron James over the hump

“The Cavs defi nitely made the biggest splash in the pool this summer when Shaq did a cannon ball into their laps

Shaq may be slightly rusty and

a shadow of his former self, but he can stil put it down. If James gives up the ball every now and then, the Cavs could

go all the way

BIG TRADES

TEAR DROP MAGAZINE 19

Don;t let the smile foll you.

Shaq is one mean cook-ie. And you know that he really wants to show the LEague that he’s worth

every penny.

BIG TRADES

Since hearing about Hedo Turkoglu’s intention to play for the Raptors this upcoming

season, Toronto fans (myself included) have been worried about what the move would mean for their team’s chances of improving their depth this off-season. Now, it seems Bryan Colangelo has pulled off a four-team deal that will allow Shawn Marion to be paid more than an average salary in Dallas and give the Toronto Raptors the ability to inject some more talent into a roster that, as presently constructed, is very thin.

Some of us doubted that this would be possible, as multi-team trades are very diffi cult to pull off in the NBA and it seemed that there was no reason for the Orlando Magic to help the Raptors out by including Turkoglu a sign-and-trade scenario. However, after hours of number crunching and phone calls, the Raptors and Mavericks, with the help of the Memphis Grizzlies, have facilitated a deal that Orlando couldn’t turn down. When this trade is offi cially completed, the Magic will receive a trade exception worth an estimated $7 million that will allow for them to acquire additional talent. This is exactly how GM Otis Smith was able to land Rafer Alston for virtually

nothing at last season’s trade deadline, a move that opened the door for them to make the NBA Finals with their all-star point guard Jameer Nelson unavailable.

Where does this leave the Raptors? Well, fi rstly, they have acquired Devean George and Antoine Wright in this deal, players who address their shallow wing depth and whose contracts come off the books at the end of the upcoming season. Additionally, they have the mid-level exception. Some players that have been signed at MLE-value this summer include Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza, and Marcin Gortat. The Raptors can use this to sign a player who can come in and contribute right away. They also have the bi-annual exception, which many people believe will be used on serviceable center Rasho Nesterovic. There are rumblings that this puts the team in a position to bring back guard Carlos Delfi no even before delving into either of

those two exceptions. I’m not sure the truth of that last point, but, regardless, the opportunity exists to add some key pieces to the rotation before the start of the season.

Whilst I still quite strongly disagree with the idea that

Hedo Turkoglu is worth his enormous multi-year deal, Bryan Colangelo has given his franchise more options than it seemed to have yesterday. The team is not limited to fi lling out the roster with minimum-salary level players. Essentially, this means the Raptors might have more than four good players on the team next season. This is what we were hoping for in Toronto, and for this, Mr. Colangelo should be applauded.

However... Toronto, you’ve just signed a 30 year old,

not particularly athletic shooter for over $50 MILLION DOLLARS.

Are you planning ahead, and already rubbing your hands in delight when you trade him in four years to a team that needs some cap space, or something? I’m just hearing on ESPN now, from Rick Bucher, that Toronto had the inside pole on Portland, too--his wife likes Toronto, it’s


hedo turkogluToronto, you’ve just signed a 30 year old,

not particularly athletic shooter for over

$50 MILLION DOLLARS - hmmm....

those two exceptions.

Hedo is a strange entity. We

know he can shoot and has great court

awareness, but he fades too much.He

can’t rely on Howard anymore.

21

“Turkoglu and his wife, Bana, arrived in Toronto to offi cially sign a fi ve-year contract worth about $53 million

TEAR DROP MAGAZINE

BIG TRADES

Jameer Belson can’t suke

to Hedo anymore. Th e Turk has gone to Toronto

and looks like he may have a home there. Hope his

wife likes the criiba

BIG TRADES

T eam president Donnie Nelson has seen his priorities shift during his stay in Las Vegas. Nelson had hoped to watch

more basketball, especially promising fi rst-round pick and potential Kidd successor Roddy Beaubois. Nelson also wanted to check out the other teams here, and with mingle with fellow league executives, agents and coaches in the relaxed atmosphere of the stands.

Instead, he’s spent most of the week holed up in his hotel burning up the phone lines while $5.8 million burns a hole in his pocket.

“We’re good to go with what we have,” Nelson said, “but we’ll keep poking around.”

Free agent Lamar Odom is on Dallas’

radar, though team insiders believe he’s headed back to Los Angeles. The Lakers have hardly stood pat, swapping out promising Trevor Ariza for proven Ron Artest. The other contenders in the conference have taken a more low-key approach. After their trip to the West fi nals, the Nuggets seem content to let their roster ferment for another season with Chauncey Billups in the fold from Day 1. The Blazers have been busy

courting Hedo Turkoglu and Paul Millsap, and have neither to show for it. Retaining players is more of a priority than adding in places like New Orleans and Utah.

“Denver had a great year and extended the Lakers,” Buford said. “Houston has had a tough summer athletically, but I think they’ve added some good pieces. Dallas is going to be signifi cantly different with Marion and that athleticism is never easy to match up to.”

Carlisle has already begun studying the personnel combinations for a roster that includes Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jason Kidd, Kidd and Marion. After winning a Playoff series for the fi rst time in three years, the Mavs could be poised for a return into the West’s top four.

“Right now it’s about who we surround Dirk with and who we put out there with

Kidd,” Carlisle said. “We have to make sure Kidd has enough weapons and we have to make sure Dirk has the right guys around him.

“Marion is one of the really unique players of the last decade. He can do so many things defensively. He can do so many things offensively. He plays multiple positions. He runs, he rebounds and he’s just a terrifi c basketball player. For us it’s like putting methane in the gas tank. It juices up our team.”

It took a change of heart in the Pacifi c Northwest for Marion to land in North Texas. Turkoglu’s decision to spurn Portland in favor of Toronto started the chain of events. “If Hedo doesn’t go to Toronto, we’re not looking at any opportunity to get Shawn,” Carlisle said. “We could have seen a situation where Portland adds an All-Star caliber guy at forward and Marion stays in the East. There are a lot of things that operate in a fragile way with respect to each other.

“If you work hard enough, you fall into some breaks.”

And maybe catch the Lakers.“They’re the best, but there are fi ve or

six other teams in the West that are just as good as each other,” Popovich said. “Evbody is trying to gear up for the Lakers, so I think it could be one of the best seasons ever. And we’ve had some good ones for the fans the last four or fi ve years. There are so many good teams that I think i could be a great year for fans watching the NBA.”


shawnmarionDallas is going to be signifi cantly different

with Marion and that athleticism is never

easy to match up toMarion is

going to be traded again. His lack of a

shooting touch and low post game is still bother-ing teams, but as long as

he can jump, he may fi nd a team

23

BIG TRADES

TEAR DROP MAGAZINE

“Marion is one of the

really unique players of the

last decade. He can do so many things defensively.

Marion can dunk and rebound

with the best of them, but his qbility to fl oat

on an off ence is cause for concern. If Jason Kidd can throw alley-oops

he’ll be fi ne

BIG TRADES

PLAYER POS AGE EXP TYPE OLD TEAM NEW TEAM CONTRACT

ALLEN, MALIK F 30 9YRS UFA* MIL MIL ---

AMUNDSON, LOUIS F 26 3YRS UFA*** PHX PHX 1

ANDERSEN, CHRIS F 30 6YRS UFA DEN DEN 5

ANTHONY, JOEL C 26 2YRS RFA MIA --- ---

ARIZA, TREVOR F 23 5YRS UFA LAL HOU 5

ARTEST, RON F 29 10YRS UFA HOU LAL 5

BARNES, MATT F 29 7YRS UFA PHX ORL 2

BASS, BRANDON F 24 4YRS UFA DAL ORL 4

BIBBY, MIKE G 31 11YRS UFA ATL ATL 3

BOOZER, CARLOS F-C 27 7YRS UFA* UTA UTA 1

BOWEN, RYAN F 33 9YRS UFA NOH --- ---

BROWN, BOBBY G 24 1YRS RFA* MIN MIN 1

BROWN, DEVIN G 30 7YRS UFA* NOH NOH 1

BROWN, SHANNON G 23 3YRS UFA LAL LAL 2

BRYANT, KOBE G 30 13YRS UFA*** LAL LAL 2


Ron Artest signed with the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, the team he wanted to join for years.

Artest, who played for the Houston Rockets last season, received a fi ve-year deal worth about $33 million, according to his agent, David Bauman.

Seated next to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, Artest professed that he has wanted to be a Laker for several years, but the timing was never right.

“This was a long time coming,” Artest said. “As I started to compete against the Lakers and against Kobe [Bryant], I had respect for him and I always wanted to be a teammate of his.”

During the Playoffs, Artest could be seen

courtside at Lakers games and was in attendance

during the NBA Finals last season, when Los Angeles lost to Boston. After the Celtics clinched the championship in Game 6, Artest approached Bryant in the locker room and told him he wanted to help him out.

“I just wanted to make that connection,” Artest said. “I wanted to let him know that he played tough and he played great and I can’t wait to be a teammate of his.”

Artest agreed to a deal last week, but couldn’t sign it until Wednesday. The Lakers also re-signed guard Shannon Brown.

ronartest

free agent tracker list

couldn’t sign it until Wednesday. The Lakers

No more beef in LA. Artest is

now a Laker. Th anks to Odom, who helped push

Ron-Ron over the edge anf get that deal signed asap.

Nice work, LA.

25

FREE AGENT NEWS

TEAR DROP MAGAZINE

BYNUM, WILL G 26 2YRS RFA** DET --- ---

CARNEY, RODNEY F 25 3YRS UFA MIN --- ---

CRAWFORD, JAMAL G 29 9YRS UFA* GSW ATL 2

CURRY, EDDY C 26 8YRS UFA*** NYK --- ---

DANIELS, MARQUIS F-G 28 6YRS UFA*** IND --- ---

DAVIS, GLEN F 23 2YRS RFA BOS --- ---

DAVIS, RICKY G 29 11YRS UFA* LAC LAC 1

DIAWARA, YAKHOUBA^ F 26 3YRS UFA* MIA --- ---

FELTON, RAYMOND G 24 4YRS RFA CHA --- ---

FESENKO, KYRYLO C 22 2YRS RFA** UTA UTA 1

FINLEY, MICHAEL F-G 36 14YRS UFA* SAS SAS 1

FOYLE, ADONAL C 34 12YRS UFA ORL --- ---

FRYE, CHANNING F-C 26 4YRS RFA POR PHX 2

GARDNER, THOMAS G 24 2YRS UFA ATL --- ---

GEORGE, DEVEAN F-G 31 10YRS UFA* DAL --- ---

GOODEN, DREW F 27 7YRS UFA SAS DAL ---

GORDON, BEN G 26 5YRS UFA CHI DET 5

GORTAT, MARCIN F 25 2YRS RFA ORL ORL 5

HAYES, JARVIS F 27 6YRS UFA*** NJN NJN 1

HEAD, LUTHER G 26 4YRS UFA MIA --- ---

HERRMANN, WALTER F 29 3YRS RFA DET --- ---

HILL, GRANT F 36 15YRS UFA PHX PHX 2

HOUSE, EDDIE G 31 9YRS UFA* BOS --- ---

HOWARD, JUWAN F 36 15YRS UFA CHA --- ---

HUNTER, LINDSEY G 38 16YRS UFA CHI CHI ---

ILGAUSKAS, ZYDRUNAS C 34 13YRS UFA*** CLE --- ---

IVERSON, ALLEN G 34 13YRS UFA DET --- ---

IVEY, ROYAL G 27 5YRS UFA* PHI --- ---

JACK, JARRETT G 25 4YRS RFA IND TOR 4

FREE AGENT NEWS


JONES, DAHNTAY G 28 6YRS UFA DEN IND 4

KIDD, JASON G 36 15YRS UFA DAL DAL 3

KORVER, KYLE F 28 6YRS UFA*** UTA UTA 1

MAGLOIRE, JAMAAL C 31 9YRS UFA MIA MIA ---

MARBURY, STEPHON G 32 13YRS UFA BOS --- ---

MARION, SHAWN F 31 10YRS UFA TOR DAL 5

MCCANTS, RASHAD G 24 4YRS RFA SAC --- ---

MCDYESS, ANTONIO F-C 34 13YRS UFA DET SAS ---

MCROBERTS, JOSH F 22 2YRS RFA IND IND ---

MENSAH-BONSU, POPS F 25 2YRS RFA TOR --- ---

MILLER, ANDRE G 33 10YRS UFA PHI POR ---

MILLSAP, PAUL F 24 3YRS RFA UTA UTA 4

MOON, JAMARIO F 28 2YRS RFA MIA CLE ---

NESTEROVIC, RASHO C 33 11YRS UFA IND MIL ---

ODOM, LAMAR F 29 10YRS UFA LAL LAL ---

OKUR, MEHMET F-C 30 7YRS UFA*** UTA UTA 1

OLLIE, KEVIN G 36 13YRS UFA MIN MIL ---

PACHULIA, ZAZA C 25 6YRS UFA ATL ATL HHH4

PARGO, JANNERO G 29 6YRS UFA --- CHI 1

PARKER, ANTHONY G 33 6YRS UFA TOR CLE 2

PETRO, JOHAN C 23 4YRS RFA DEN --- ---

POWE, LEON F 25 3YRS RFA BOS --- ---

PRICE, RONNIE G 25 4YRS UFA UTA UTA ---

RICHARDSON, QUENTIN G 29 9YRS RFA*** NYK --- ---

ROBINSON, NATE G 25 4YRS RFA NYK --- ---

ROSS, QUINTON G 26 6YRS UFA MEM DAL 2

TURKOGLU, HEDO F 39 9YRS UFA*** ORL TOR 5

VAREJAO, ANDERSON F 28 5YRS UFA* CLE CLE 6

VAUGHN, JACQUE G 34 12YRS UFA SAS --- ---

27

FREE AGENT NEWS

TEAR DROP MAGAZINE

VILLANUEVA, CHARLIE F 24 4YRS UFA MIL DET 5

WAFER, VON G 23 4YRS UFA HOU ---

WALLACE, RASHEED F-C 34 14YRS UFA DET BOS 2

WARRICK, HAKIM F 26 4YRS RFA MEM MEM ---

WILCOX, CHRIS F 26 7YRS UFA NYK DET 2

WILKINS, DAMIEN F 29 5YRS UFA*** OKC --- ---

WILLIAMS, MARVIN F 22 4YRS RFA ATL --- ---

WRIGHT, LORENZEN F-C 33 13YRS UFA CLE --- ---

Gregg Popovich feels the pressure of winning a title. Well, kinda.

“If we don’t win it, I should probably be fi red,” San Antonio’s coach quipped Thursday. “Without a doubt.”

The Spurs emerged from their fi rst-round loss to Dallas knowing they needed more. The Mavericks felt the same way after they were ousted. Now they’ve each gone out to get it, undergoing the most radical roster updates in the Western Conference with an eye on the champs.

“We’re all gunning for the Lakers,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said.

San Antonio’s haul, at least on paper, appears more impressive of the two Texas rivals. Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess, a pair with plenty of postseason skins, were added without comprising the Tim Duncan-Tony Parker-Manu Ginobili nucleus.

The Spurs followed their uncharacteristic fi rst-round loss (to Dallas) with a spree that puts them, in the minds of many, back in their usual spot again with the Lakers at the top of the conference heap. Jefferson adds a scorer and potentially takes pressure off Ginobili, who has grown more injury prone in recent years. Duncan needed more bangers down low and he’s getting a couple

in McDyess and second-round steal DeJuan Blair.

“We couldn’t have painted it any better,” Popovich said during his brief stop at the NBA Summer League. “For us getting healthy is the most important thing, to make sure Timmy and Manu are straight, obviously. You have to have your horses to get it done these days.

“The part that you can try to control, as much as you can, is the Draft and free-agent signings and trades. We’ve done a little bit of each. We were able to make a good trade, we were able to make a signing and we had a good Draft, so all three came forward and presented an opportunity this summer and we were able to take advantage. That doesn’t happen every often to get something in all three areas. With that I’m thrilled.”

So is George Hill, the second-year backup to Parker who’s back at Summer League to work on his game.

“Pop and [general manager R.C. Buford] do a great job in the front offi ce,” Hill

said. “They’re bringing in a lot of talent and great guys. I can’t

wait to get out there and put all the chips together and compete for a championship.”

richardjefferson

great job in the front offi ce,” Hill

Jeff erson can dunk on a few

players but his career needs n uplift. San Anto-nio won’t be the team for him, but it may help him

reach All-Star status. Maybe?

ALLEN IVERSONALLEN IVERSON

Iverson would like to play for a contending team, but he’s given no indication yet he’d be willing to be a

Yes, the Los Angeles Clippers are


Yhaving talks with Allen Iverson. Yhaving talks with Allen Iverson. YBut a signing does not appear YBut a signing does not appear Yimminent, because Iverson Yimminent, because Iverson Yis still chafi ng at the idea of Yis still chafi ng at the idea of Ycoming off the bench. Ycoming off the bench. YSources confi rmed the Los Angeles Times’ report Y

Sources confi rmed the Los Angeles Times’ report Ythat the team has offered Iverson a one-year deal

Ythat the team has offered Iverson a one-year deal

Yat the mid-level exception of $5.8 million for next season. But, those sources said, Iverson remains reluctant to take a reserve role, which would be behind incumbent Baron Davis at the point or Eric Gordon at the two, just as he chafed in Detroit this past season playing behind Rip Hamilton. Even though Iverson would like to play in a big city, or, at the least, for a contending team, he’s given no indication yet that he’d be any more willing to be a bench player in Los Angeles than he would be elsewhere.

One source with knowledge of the team’s intentions said that Iverson was not the only player the Clippers were approaching. They also spoke with representatives for Milwaukee guard Ramon Sessions, as well as Indiana’s Jarrett Jack, before Jack signed an offer sheet with the Toronto Raptors, in their pursuit of a backup point. Another source said that Coach Mike Dunleavy needed some assurances from Iverson’s camp that he could accept a reserve role before getting completely behind the pursuit of Iverson.

In the interim, Iverson is still being pursued by Miami, Memphis and Charlotte.

However, the Clippers do remain a strong possibility for Iverson. Los Angeles could provide all

kinds of ancillary income opportunities for Iverson. And the Clippers could have signifi cant room under the cap after this season, which would give Iverson a chance to recoup some income if he were to accept the one-year offer at the mid-level.

MEMPHIS, PERHAPS?Free agent Allen Iverson is in talks with the Memphis Grizzlies about a new contract, but owner Michael Heisley said Wednesday that talks between the team and the 10-time All-Star are only in the preliminary stages.

On the same day that he agreed to let his team take part in the three-team deal that sent forward Shawn Marion to the Mavericks in a sign-and-trade deal, with his Grizzlies taking the contract of guard Jerry Stackhouse, Heisley acknowledged in a telephone interview that the Grizzlies had had discussions with Iverson’s agent, Leon Rose, and he said he would like to meet with Iverson in the coming days assess Iverson’s desire to come to Memphis.

“It’s something we’ve talked to his agent about,” Heisley said. “We have not come to anything close to an understanding. We’re just exploring.”

The 34-year-old Iverson is looking for a new home after last year’s trade from


he said he would like to meet with Iverson in the coming days to assess Iverson’s desire to

anything close to an understanding. We’re just

The 34-year-old Iverson is looking for a new home after last year’s trade from

bench player



Ykinds of ancillary income opportunities for Iverson.

29

ALLEN IVERSONALLEN IVERSON

TEAR DROP MAGAZINE

Iverson just needs to fi nish a

few layups and he’ll be the man again. Even at

his age, teams should not sleep on his ability to change the conplex-

ion of a game

Denver to Detroit ended disastrously, with Iverson chafi ng at coming off the bench for then-coach Michael Curry and saying he’d rather retire than be a reserve. Citing a back injury, Iverson and the Pistons agreed that he would be left off the team’s postseason roster, and the team moved quickly to use the $20 million in cap room created by not giving Iverson an extension, agreeing to deals with Bulls guard Ben Gordon and Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva.

In this economic climate, no team is going to give Iverson anything close to the money he used to make as one of the NBA’s true superstars in Philadelphia. And it may even be diffi cult for Iverson to fi nd a team willing to give him the full mid-level

exception for next season, starting at $5.854 million. But Iverson has been linked by various reports to both the Grizzlies and Miami Heat, and the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported Wednesday that

Heisley was giving serious consideration to giving Iverson a one-year, $5 million deal.

Heisley didn’t say that

the Grizzlies wouldn’t ultimately sign Iverson only that such a decision has yet to be made.

“More or less, we’re going to have discussions initially with his agent,” Heisley said. “But it’s very, very early. I don’t want people to think there’s more to it than that. It’s very, very early and it’s nothing more than exploratory.”

“It may even be diffi cult for Iverson to fi nd a team willing to give him the full mid-level exception for next season

EURO BASKET 2009


Europe gets set for basketball

Great Britain have been

Great Britain have been

G drawn against reigning G drawn against reigning Gworld champions Spain Gworld champions Spain G in EuroBasket fi nals in G in EuroBasket fi nals in G Poland.G Poland.GGB will also face GGB will also face Gformer Yugoslav nations Serbia and Gformer Yugoslav nations Serbia and GSlovenia in a tough opening group in

GSlovenia in a tough opening group in

GWarsaw.

“They need to show consistency at the top European level to convince world governing body Fiba they are worthy of a host’s spot in the 2012 Olympics. It’s going to be diffi cult but there’s no reason to be scared of anybody,” said coach Chris Finch.

But the draw in Warsaw, in which GB were e of the fourth seeds, did them few favours in their quest to establish themselves among the European elite.

World champions Spain are arguably the best team in Europe at the moment. They reached the last EuroBasket fi nal two years ago and won an Olympic silver medal in Beijing.

Slovenia regularly qualify for the European

fi nals and came close to securing their fi rst Olympic berth earlier this year.Third seeds Serbia were world champions in 2002 and won the European title fi ve times from 1989-2001.

“They’ve been down but they’re on the rise again a bit,” noted Finch. “They seem to be going in the right direction. It’s going to be diffi cult but there’s no reason to be scared of anybody.”

EUROBASKET CAMPAIGNGreat Britain have received a pretty decent draw and could even qualify from their group if they get some luck. Great Britain will open their EuroBasket campaign in Warsaw against Slovenia on 7 September and will play Spain and then Serbia in the next two days.

If they make the top three in Group C, they will qualify for the second phase in Lodz against the three best teams from Group D.

The fi nal phase of the tournament - the last eight - will be played in Katowice from

18-20 September.If Great Britain can reach the second

phase, they will stand a good chance of making the 2010 World Championships, by vir tue of either a qualifying spot or as one of four other teams Fiba will invite.

EuroBasket 2009

GroupA GroupB GroupC GroupD

Croatia Russia Spain Poland

Greece Germany G Britain Turkey

Macedonia Latvia Serbia Lithaunia

Israel France Slovenia Bulgaria

Deng and Gasol are on a

mission this summer to prove who will be the best team in Europe. We a;ll know that Spain has

it locked donw!!!

31

SNAP SHOTS

TEAR DROP MAGAZINETEAR DROP MAGAZINE 31TEAR DROP MAGAZINE

We look for-ward to a new year, and look forward

to a new season. Which players will grab the headlines this year>

tear DROPteartear DROP

“START as you mean to FINISH!

FLASHBACK

Kobe serves up a facial way back in high school!

THE UNOFFICIAL THE UNOFFICIAL NBA MAGAZINE

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