Bleacher Report - Articles by Chris Lucas

Team USA: Two Boston Celtics Decline Minicamp Invitations

Chris Lucas — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:36:30 -0400

Although secrecy revolves around those who received invitations to the Team USA Minicamps this June in Las Vegas, it has been confirmed that Kendrick Perkins, Glen "Big Baby" Davisand Rajon Rondo have all received invitations to participate.

While the status of Big Baby Davis is unknown, Perkins and Rondo have both declined to participate in the minicamps.

The reason?

Perkins is getting married on July 25 to his long time girlfriend in Houston, Texas. Rondo is one of his groomsmen.

While Jerry Colangelo boasts 19 confirmations to attend the minicamps, he has refused to reveal the full list of invitees or confirmations.

Leaked through other sources however, current confirmations are Trailblazers' Brandon Roy, Greg Oden,and LaMarcus Aldridge, Grizzlies' O.J. Mayo, and a pair of past Rookies of the Year in Thunder's Kevin Durant and Bulls' Derrick Rose.

Larry Bird stated recently that Pacers superstar Danny Granger had accepted an invitation to the camps.

The minicamps will consist of several days of team meetings, practices and end with a Blue versus White scrimmage on the final day.

Those NBA players that attend June 22-25 will compete for spots on the 2010 USA team that will compete in the World Championships in Turkey.

NBA Free Agency: How The Utah Jazz Should Spend Their Summer Cash

Chris Lucas — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:30:09 -0400

The Jazz fans in Utah are singing the Blues this off-season. After a short playoff series ended an enigmatic season in Utah, nine Jazz players (Yes, nine) hit free agency in the next weeks – Seven of which are unrestricted.

Unrestricted: Morris Almond, Carlos Boozer, Jarron Collins, Brevin Knight, Kyle Korver, Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Price

Restricted: Paul Millsap and Kyrylo Fesenko

Probably the most unsettling thing for Jazz ownership and fans is the fact that Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver and Mehmet Okur actually opted-out of their contracts to become unrestricted.

However, this might not be that bad. Okay, okay losing Okur really hurts. His 17 ppg and 7.6 rebounds per game will be sorely missed. But Korver has virtually been replaced by Ronnie Brewer… and remember how Boozer came to Utah?

That’s right, he convinced Cleveland to let him out of his contract and make him an unrestricted free agent and in return he would negotiate in good faith a longer extension.

What did Boozer actually do? Stabbed Cleveland in the back by throwing good faith out the window and he signed immediately with Utah. So maybe it’s not terrible to have him leave. Plus, Paul Millsap proved to be a more than serviceable replacement when Boozer was injured.

Who is remaining in Utah?

Start with the positives. The Jazz will return a solid nucleus of Deron Williams, Ronnie Brewer and Andre Kirilenko. The best part is that Deron Williams is still happy to play in Utah.

The departure of so many guys might give others a chance to take on more important roles in the system. Players like C.J. Miles and Kousta Koufos would get a chance to develop quickly and could turn into serious contributors.

Miles, for example, averaged 9.1 ppg last year and shot .356 from behind the arc in only 20 minutes of play a game.

If he’s given 10 more minutes a game, he could become a double digit scorer and fill the much needed gap in the outside shooting presence left by Korver.

Who should Utah re-sign?

For an initial note, I am operating under the assumption that Okur won’t resign here because he opted-out of his contract to become unrestricted.

Paul Millsap. Hands down. The Jazz have got to sign him to a long term deal. He’s young, talented and will blossom into a consistent Double-Double machine.

While it is definitely a stretch to call him Karl Malone, the budding combination of he and Deron Williams ought to add some excitement to Utah.

I would also resign Ronnie Price and Morris Almond, who are very young and haven’t been given much opportunity to contribute. Price is a lightening quick PG and could be a very serviceable back-up to D Williams.

The addition of these two to the back-court presence of Williams, Brewer and C.J. Miles should help fill the Jazz’s void for guard play.

How should Utah Draft?

Utah should draft for present needs, not for the future. With the amount of young players on their roster, they are poised for a bright future.

Utah has a gaping hole in the PF and C position. However, with a lack of serviceable big men in the draft, this concern might have to be addressed by signing outside free agents.

I would probably take the number 20 pick and draft someone with experience who can contribute immediately. Two names come to mind: UNC’s Tyler Hansbrough and Lousiville’s Terrence Williams.

Hansbrough would fit perfectly into the Jerry Sloan system and be a nice supplement to Millsap in the post. He’s had the experience in college to be able to step in on day 1 and contribute.

Plus, Hansbrough measured well in the Chicago Pre Draft Camp.

Terrence Williams reminds me a lot of Byron Russell – he’s incredibly athletic, has good size, and is a terrific defensive stopper. His ability to play the Point Forward would enable him to mesh well into the Sloan system also. He should contribute immediately

If he improves the consistency of his perimeter shot, he could be a steal this late in the draft. Williams would be the fifth serviceable guard on the Jazz roster and localize their needs in free agency to only C’s.

Any Additional Free Agent Needs?

Centers. If the Jazz can’t resign Okur, they need to hit the market. Kousta Koufos won’t cut it alone.

While there aren’t many great options, there are several Centers that would stop the bleeding.

Zaza Pachulia from the Hawks,

AndersonVarejaofrom the Cavs,

Jermaine O’neal from the Heat,

Marcin Gortat from the Magic,

Chris Anderson from the Nuggets.

NBA Free Agency: Best Value Free Agents Available in 2009

Chris Lucas — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:12:46 -0400

With all the hype surrounding The Summer of LeBron in 2010, this summer's free agency has been overlooked. Stars like Ben Gordon, Rasheed Wallace, Allen Iverson, Carlos Boozer, and Ron Artest all hit the market.

What else does this free agency contain?

Bargains.

For cheap GMs looking to save salary cap room but still acquire productive numbers and solidify a core unit, this free agency has what they are looking for.

C Chris Anderson, Unrestricted

The Bird Man is a nice addition to any team's defensive core. He was second in the NBA in blocks this season (behind Superman), and averaged almost seven rebounds in 20 minutes of action.

He would be a perfect pickup for a team like the Knicks, who were last in the league in blocks and are trying to save cap space for next year. If the Knicks could pick him up, they could avoid having to trade up in the draft for Hasheem Thabeet and could nab Stephen Curry. Plus Bird Man's extreme appearance might fit in well in the Big Apple.

BirdMan's previous contract was a only $797,581. Because of his still-recent drug suspension and the fact that he's turning 31, I would expect that a team wouldn't have to pay much more than $2 million for his services.

PF Brandon Bass, Unrestricted

Bass, who makes only $826,269, averaged 8.5 PPG and 4.5 rebounds in only 19 minutes of play per game this season. With the Mavericks first priority in resigning Jason Kidd, Bass is fair game.

Bass, listed as 6'8" 250 pounds, is a ferocious rebounder—and he's only 24. If he lands on a team where he is given 30-plus minutes a night he could easily develop into a 15-and-10 player. He's also a career 83 percent free-throw shooter. Not bad for a big.

If a team could nab him for the ballpark of $3 million to $5 million, they could get a nightly double-double machine and save cap space for next summer

C Marcin Gortat, Restricted

During the Orlando/Boston series, Gortat's strong play made GM's and scouts giddy. The 6'11", 25-year-old center has done nothing but help his NBA stock this postseason.

Sharing a position with Dwight Howard, Gortat only sees about 10 minutes of action a night. If he's picked up on a team that offers him more minutes, his production could easily double. I see him as pulling down eight or nine rebounds a night.

Because this is his first year actually playing in the NBA (stashed overseas for a few) he still hasn't proven himself enough to get a larger contract. Unless a GM drastically splurges on Gortat, he should be available in the $3 million to $4 million dollar range.

PF/C Ike Diogu, Restricted

Although he's paid almost $3 million a year, injuries and lack of playing time might keep down the necessary contract price for his services.

The former lottery pick only tallied 4.1 PPG and 1.9 rebounds in 7.4 minutes of action this season. The bright spot shines when you look at his last five games of the season.

When the Kings actually gave him significant minutes, Diogu responded averaging 20.3 PPG and 7.8 rebounds in 29.3 minutes of play. I know, its only five games. But that could keep his agent's asking price down.

SG/SF Dahntay Jones, Unrestricted

Jones is a tenacious defender and ridiculously athletic. Coming from Duke, he has an incredible basketball I.Q. and knows how to truly be a team member. Dahntay Jones resurfaced during the playoffs, and brought energy similar what Eddie House did for the Celtics last season.

He's bounced around the NBA and the D-League for years, and only makes $797, 581 for Denver. He's turning 29 and would be a very nice pickup for any team looking to up their defensive intensity. Id imagine he could be picked up for less than $3 million, depending on how seriously Denver tries to resign him.

PF Paul Millsap, Restricted

The big question revolves around whether the Jazz want to keep Carlos Boozer or Paul Millsap—because they won't have enough money to save them both.

When Boozer was injured, Millsap was incredible. Not only was he a catalyst to get the Jazz in the playoffs, he solidified himself as a centerpiece to any NBA team. Millsap averaged 13.5 PPG and 8.6 rebounds, while coming off the bench half the season.

It's not much of a secret that this guy is going to be great. If the Jazz stick with Boozer, Millsap is almost certainly to hit the market hard this summer. Although he gets paid less than $1 million from the Jazz, it might take a hefty contract to get him into your team's colors.

PF Glen Davis, Restricted

He must be the goofiest, most child-like player in the NBA. But he can flat-out play. He proved this in the playoffs, where he virtually carried the Celtics to the doorstep of the Eastern Conference finals, averaging 15.8 PPG, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

While playing most of the season behind Leon Powe and KG, Davis proved that more minutes equals more production. His expiring contract is for only $711, 517. If a team could get him away from the Celtics, they could get a lot of bang for their buck.

That IF is huge though. I don't see any way the Celtics let him skip away to another team. I also don't see any reason why Glen Davis would want to leave the Celtics organization.

The Best and Worst Of The NBA Draft Combine Measurements

Chris Lucas — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:39:49 -0400

While the NBA Chicago Draft Combine does not hold the importance of the NFL Draft Combine, the results are still extremely valuable in evaluating potential Lottery and First Round selections.

The Draft Combine involves two types of testings; Athletic Testings and Actual Measurements.

While the physical measurements involve measuring the height, weight, wing-span, etc. of players, the athletic testings examine players to determine their physical capabilities in tests such as vertical leap, bench press strength, agility runs etc.

Here's how the Players compared in Chicago:

Actual Measurements

Winners

Tyreke Evans stood out amongst the guards at camp with his incredible wingspan and standing reach. While Evans is only 6'6 in socks, he measured out a ridiculous 6'11 wingspan and an eight by eight standing reach.

To put this in prospective, Evans measured the same wingspan as 6'10 Blake Griffin.

For wingspan, the top three on record were Hasheem Thabeet at 7'6 1/4, Taj Gibson 7'4 and Derick Brownwith 7'2 1/2. While Thabeet's wingspan comes at no surprise, Taj Gibson and Derrick Brown have got to love the favorable measurements - - considering both measured shorter than 6'10.

Jonny Flynn's height measurement helped him gain ground on the other PG's in the Lottery. He was measured at 6'0 3/4, almost two inches taller than most scouts thought during the season.

As a bonus, he was measured taller than Patty Mills, Ty Lawson and Jack McClinton.

Dujuan Blair proved his drive and intensity by tipping the scales at 276. Although this was the heaviest at camp, he had lost over 20 pounds since the end of the season. Considering he was already an animal in the post, this weight loss should turn scouts heads and allow him more mobility in the paint.

Losers

Ty Lawson was not only the shortest person at the camp (6'0 1/2 in shoes) he also recorded the smallest wingspan (6'0 3'4) and smallest standing reach (7'10 1/2).

Austin Daye, although registered the second longest standing reach and a very solid 7'2 wingspan, weighed in at only 196 lbs. For a 6'11 frame, this is unbelievable.

Athletic Testing

Winners

Once again Jonny Flynn impressed the camp, registering the highest vert leap at 40 inches. DeMar DeRozan and Chase Buddingerput up impressive 38.5 inch vert leaps while Wayne Ellingtonalso put up a 38 inch vert.

During the 3/4 Court Sprint and Lane Agility Drills, Jack McClinton, Toney Douglas and Darren Collison were the fastest and quickest.

Damion Jamesalso impressed scouts, as he clocked the second fastest time in the 3/4 Court Sprint at 3.09. (Behind Jack McClinton)

Luke Harangody, Blake Griffin and Derrick Brown were the strongest players in the camp, bench pressing 185 lbs 23, 22 and 20 times respectively.

James Hardenwas one of the strongest guards, repping 185 17 times. To put this in perspective, he lifted it one less time than Wake Forest bruiser James Johnson

Losers

Austin Daye. Austin Daye. Austin Daye. Daye put up the second lowest vert jump (28 inches), last in the 3/4 court sprints (3.55 seconds), was in the bottom five in lane-agility tests and didn't manage to lift 185 pounds a single time.

Greivis Vasquezwas also a disappointment, posting the lowest vert jump (26.5 inches) and only managing to lift 185 one time which was second worst in the camp.

I expected more from Earl Clark and Terrence Williams on the strength test as they posted only 5 and 9 reps of 185 respectively. While 9 is decent, I felt Williams' athleticism and raw strength would have bulked his numbers.

DeMar DeRozanalso posted a bottom 5 time in the lane-agility drill, which seems uncommon considering how highly his "athleticism" is being viewed. However, he did post a sick vert leap (38 inches).

While these measurements won't make or break a player's draft stock or positioning, one would think it has to weight on the minds of scouts and team GMs.

Biggest Up: Jonny Flynn

Biggest Down: Austin Daye

The Roster For Dream Team 2012 (2.0)

Chris Lucas — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:55:03 -0400

Back in September, giddy from 2008 Redeem Team's Gold Metal performance, I tallied up a list of players I thought deserved to be a part of the 2012 Team USA.

Here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/70058-dream-team-2012-nope-not-too-early-to-start-selecting

Looking back, while I stand firm in some of my selections, I was dead wrong in others. Overwhelming reader support and comments on my previous article have led me to begin periodically updating my 2012 roster, adding and subtracting players as they evolve.

Just as an introductory note, my main dilemma revolves around whether LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony will return for a third Olympic appearance. Historically, Team USA members rarely play on more than two teams. But, recent talks between James, Anthony and Team USA guru Jerry Colangelo could be a sign that both will return.

Here's what we have for Dream Team 2012 (2.0)

PG - Chris Paul

SG - Brandon Roy

SF - LeBron James

PF - Carmelo Anthony

C - Dwight Howard

6 - Deron Williams

7 - Devin Harris

8 - Danny Granger

9 - Andre Iguodala

10 - Kevin Durant

11 - David Lee

12 - Brook Lopez

Toughest Decisions

1. Devin Harris over Derrick Rose - Previously I chose Harris over Monta Ellis and caught serious objections from readers... and this was before his 21.3 and 7.9 assists per output this past season.

I make this choice for two reasons: 1) maturity and 2) consistency in shooting ability. Don't get me wrong, Rose is dirty. His upside is incredible and in four years he will absolutely be one of the best two or three point guards in the league.

But Rose is raw. Devin Harris is polished. While both are lightening quick, Harris plays under control faster than anyone else in the league. Harris has a more consistent perimeter jump shot and is much more effective from the free throw line. As seen in the playoffs, while Rose can score in bunches, he struggles with free throws at the end of the game.

2. David Lee over Al Jefferson- Injury. That explains this pick for me. Jefferson is a bruiser down low and one of the great up and coming players. Who knows how he will recover after the knee injury?

With the Team USA being a four-year commitment, I'm not sure how willing and able Jefferson will be to devote the next four years to this when he has to rehab.

David Lee is also an incredible role player. He brings the intangibles to the table and has unmatchable intensity. A player like this would fit great on Team USA and help balance out the competitive egos and scoring mentalities.

Next Five In

Obviously if Dwayne Wade plays, he's in. Here are my next two or three players on the cusp of making the team.

- Derrick Rose

- Kevin Martin

- OJ Mayo

- Al Jefferson

- Troy Murphy

Reason I Like Troy Murphy: On a team dominated by guards, Murphy is a big body who can play the four or five. He can score, rebound, be a floor general, and he shoots lights out from three-point range.

Stat Line: 14.3 ppg, 11.1 rebounds, and .450 three-point percentage . The man is built for international play.

First Five Out From My Last List

- Greg Oden

- Tyson Chandler

- Mike Beasley

- David West

- Kevin Martin

Any comments? Good Picks? Dumb picks? Let me know! Until Dream Team 2012 (3.0)

The NBA's Top 10 Players Drafted in the Second Round

Chris Lucas — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:22:13 -0400

With so much attention paid to the "upside" of future Lottery and first round selections, second round selections are often taken for granted. Lets face it, after David Stern introduces the last pick in the first round, our attention disappears.

The second round is historically chock full of foreign names, unheard of high school players, and four-year best-of-the-rest college players.

But as an NBA GM looking at a thin first round draft class (like we have this year), I would focus my efforts on getting a solid pick or two or three in the second round.

Here are the top performers, from the past decade, that have been drafted in the second round.

(Not Included: Older generations with second round Picks like: Mark Price, Dennis Rodman and Jeff Hornacek.)

10. Louis Scola

Drafted 55th overall to the Spurs in 2002. This pick was in the height of the Spurs reign of pioneering the overseas scouting frontier. His impact was felt this year in the playoffs as he and Carl Landry physically owned the post play of the Lakers. For his career, this second rounder averages 11.5 ppg and 7.6 rpg and is a perennial starter/sixth man.

9. Mo Williams

Maurice was drafted 47th overall in 2003 out of Alabama (Drafted by Utah). Mo was underrated because of the lack of the Tide's success and because of other PG prospects in the SEC that year. Mo had a career year with Cleveland and was selected to his first All Star Game. Career Stats: 13.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 4.8 apg.

8. Mehmet Okur

Detroit took a chance on Okur with the 37th Selection in the 2001 draft. My main reason for ranking him eighth above Mo and Scola is because he won a ring with the Pistons. While I personally don't like the guy or his style of play, his numbers don't lie. Career Stats: 13.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.7 apg.

7. Monta Ellis

The self-proclaimed "fastest dude in the NBA" was selected out of high school in Jackson, Miss by Golden State with the 40th pick of the 2005 draft. Sure he's young and the scooter accident/injury was bad, but Ellis has an incredibly bright future. As a previous Most Improved Player, Ellis scores in bunches. The Four Year Career Stats: 16 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 3.5 apg.

6. Stephen Jackson

From Oak Hill Academy to Butler County Community College, Jackson was selected 42nd overall in the 1997 by Phoenix. Love him or hate him, Jackson plays with passion and is loved by his teammates. As a member of the Spurs' 2003 Championship Team Jackson's Career Numbers are: 15.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 3.2 apg.

5. Carlos Boozer

Taken by Cleveland as the 35th pick of the 2002 Draft. This bruiser is arguably the best Duke player in the NBA. Although he was injured this year, he hits free agency this off season and should draw swarms of potential buyers. Not to mention he's a member of the 2008 Gold Metal Redeem Team. Career Stats: 16.8 ppg, 10 rpg and 2.4 apg.

4. Rashard Lewis

Despite being recruited by Kansas and Florida State, Lewis declared for the 1998 draft out of high school and was selected 32nd Overall by Seattle. His size and athleticism have made him a tough defensive match up from day one in the league. This post season has highlighted his sweet stroke from behind the arc as well. Career Stats: 16.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 1.9 apg.

3. Michael Redd

Drafted 43th in 2000 by Milwaukee, Redd was heralded as a defensive stopper from Ohio State. Somewhere in the summer months of 2000, Redd fine-tuned his perimeter and offensive game. Redd is arguably one of the best three-point shooters in the league and was a solid contributor to the 2008 Gold Metal Redeem Team. Career Stats: 20.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 2.3 apg.

2. Manu Ginobili

Taken 57th (second to last) pick in the 1999 Draft by the Spurs. Another prime example of the Spurs overseas scouting capabilities, Manu has slashed defenses inside and out. While I personally don't like Manu, his game is well respected and his ability to get to the rim is unmatchable. Plus the string of championships he won with the Spurs. Career Stats: 14.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 3.6 apg.

1. Gilbert Arenas

Selected 30th by Golden State in 2001. Highly criticized for leaving Arizona after his sophomore year, Arenas overcame several years of inactivity with the Warriors to become a lethal game changer. Despite his injuries the past two seasons, his numbers can not be matched by anyone else drafted in the Second Round. With limitless range and over-the-top charisma, Agent Zero is supported by fans all across the country.

Honorable Mentions

Kyle Korver 51st pick 2003 NBA Draft

Juan Carlos Navaro 39th Pick 2002 NBA Draft

The Cardinal Sin: Thou Shall Not Overlook Earl Clark

Chris Lucas — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:31:42 -0400

It's no secret. This year's 2009 NBA Draft Class is one of the weakest, most puzzling (and unpredictable) draft classes of the decade. It is littered with ambiguous talent, bland lottery selections and team GM's trying to force a smile about their potential first round futures.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this class is a disaster or that not a single selectee will make an impact on his team or even become a league leader. I'm just stating that with a class as thin as this, I'd focus my pick on an experienced college player whose athleticism and college competition level would enable them to contribute.

They might not develop into the best player from the class, but they would provide immediate impact.

A player that fit the bill: Louisville's Earl Clark.

At 6'9 (6'10 in shoes) and 200 lbs. Earl Clark is a rare athletic specimen. He has the ability to play both SF and PF, and his wingspan could potentially allow him to see time at Center in a small lineup. See Houston's lineup against L.A. with Scola and Landry down low. Clark is quicker than both Landry and Scola, and more versatile.

Aside from mere physical build, his numbers are tough to hide. He averaged almost 14 points and nine rebounds in arguably the toughest conference in the nation, including averaging 18 points and eight rebounds in the NCAA tournament.

He proved he can shoot from the outside as well, hitting 34% of his threes during his Junior year campaign. I know it's going to be different shooting NBA threes, but if he works he should transition into it well.

Scouts and analysts have been comparing him to the next Shawn Marion, with the ability to run the court and score both in and out of the paint. To extend this metaphor, Earl Clark would be a nice pick up for the Suns at the #14 Pick.

Even the Knicks at the #8 Pick... I know the Knicks are high on Steph Curry, but either Curry or Clark would fit well into D'Antoni's run and gun style. Clark's experiences with Louisville indicate he has the lungs and the hustle to fit this style. With Earl Clark and David Lee in the post, the Knicks would fly on the transition break.

Another spot for Clark could be to the Bucks at the #10 pick. With the Bucks potentially (probably) losing Charlie Villanueva to free agency, they will need to fill the gap at PF.

I see Clark as the second best PF in the draft, behind Blake Griffin. While Jordan Hill boasts better numbers (18 points and 11 rebounds), he didn't play against the competition that Clark saw in the Big East. Also, Clark's Cardinals contained better talent from top to bottom. Put him in the NBA where he has more opportunity to display his personal skills and one-on-one ability to create, and his numbers will jump.

Hill, on the other hand, can't shoot from the outside and is limited to the PF by his weight and lack of mobility. Don't get me wrong, I think Hill is a very solid player with proven ability to score and rebound, but he just doesn't have the intangibles that Clark brings to the table.

Instead of trying to salvage a bad situation by picking for "the future", I would look to the versatility and mobility of the present - Earl Clark.

NCAA Alumni Playing Professional Basketball Overseas (Part Two)

Chris Lucas — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:29:47 -0500

With another solid College Basketball season approaching March Madness, it's a perfect time to update the ex-NCAA Division-I alumni playing basketball overseas.

Several weeks ago, I complied a list of ex college ballers with the last name A through P http://bleacherreport.com/articles/113160-ncaa-alumni-playing-professional-basketball-overseas-part-one

Now with out further delay, I give to you the second edition of my notable college players continuing their games overseas.

Name College Pro Team

Mustafa Shakur Arizona Panellinios (Greece)

Paul Shirley Iowa State Unicaja (Spain)

Wayne Simien Kansas Caceres (Spain)

JaJuan Smith Tennessee Pau (France)

Curtis Sumpter Villanova Roanne (France)

Patrick Sparks Kentucky Hoverla (Ukraine)

Tamar Slay Tennessee Air AV (Italy)

Scooter Sherrill NC State PGE Turow (Poland)

God Shammgod Providence Cedevita (Croatia)

Kenny Satterfield Cincinatti Bucaneros (Mexico)

Chevon Troutman Pittsburgh ASVEL (France)

Roberty Traylor Michigan Kepez Bid (Turkey)

Gary Trent Ohio Panellinios (Greece)

Marcus Toney-El Seton Hall Ballarat M. (Australia)

Sedale Threatt WVa Inst. of Tech. Melbourne (Australia)

Dijon Thompson UCLA Azovmash (Ukraine)

James Thomas Texas Erdemir (Turkey)

Reshawn Terry UNC La Fortezza (Italy)

Kammron Taylor Wisconsin Rosalia (Spain)

Jackson Vroman Iowa State Lietuvos (Lithuania)

Kyle Visser Wake Forest Phantoms (Germany)

Nick Vander Laan UVA Ricoh Man. (Spain)

Sharone Wright Clemson Eiff. Towers (Holland)

Bracey Wright Indiana Aris (Greece)

Qyntel Woods NE Miss. CC Asecco Prokom (Poland)

Reggie Williams VMI Dijon (France)

Shammod Williams UNC Pamesa V. (Spain)

Bonzi Wells Ball State Shanxi Zh. (China)

Travis Watson UVA Jerusalem (Isreal)

Deron Washington VT Hapoel Holon (Israel)

Jonathan Wallace Syracuse U. Olimpija (Slovenia)

Samaki Walker Louisville Sagesse (Lebanon)

DuJuan Wagner Memphis AseccoProkom (Poland)

NCAA Alumni Playing Professional Basketball Overseas (Part One)

Chris Lucas — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:06:39 -0500

Long before Josh Childress left for a bigger contract...

Prior to Brandon Jennings skipping college to get around the Draft Age Limit...

Overseas basketball was a place where many of our favorite four-year college basketball stars went to continue their dreams.

From Hungary to Italy, from Mexico to Israel, basketball leagues have sprouted up all over the world.

As an avid long-time college basketball fan, I get frustrated when I follow players for three and four years as they develop and after their last season, just because they aren't in the NBA...they are never to be heard from again.

Over the past few days, I have researched past college basketball standouts to find out where and if they are still playing basketball.

The results will be broken down into two articles. Here are the first findings.

Player College Professional Team / Country

Vin Baker Hartford Liaoning (China)

Sean Banks Memphis Darussafaka (Turkey)

T.J. Bannister UVA/Liberty Schalke (Germany)

Lonny Baxter Maryland Panionios (Greece)

Will Blalock Iowa State Art. Dragons (Germany)

Nik Caner-Medley Maryland Cajasol (Spain)

Omar Cooke St. John's Unicaja (Spain)

Ed Cota UNC Atlas Stal (Poland)

JamesOn Curry Ok. State Pau (France)

Ace Custis Virginia Tech Panasonic (Japan)

Taquan Dean Louisville CB Murcia (Spain)

Sean Dockery Duke Edmonton C (Canada)

Tyus Edney UCLA Cajasol (Spain)

Khalid El-Amin UConn Azovmash (Ukraine)

Andre Emmett Texas Tech Pau (France)

Daniel Ewing Duke Prokom (Poland)

Nick Fazekas Nevada Asvel (France)

Gerald Fitch Kentucky Kepez Bld (Turkey)

Marcus Fizer Iowa State Maccabi T-A (Israel)

Joseph Forte North Carolina Snaidero (Italy)

Torin Francis Notre Dame AEL (Greece)

Reece Gaines Louisville Angelico BI (Italy)

Mike Gansey West Virginia Bremerhaven (Germany)

Justin Gray Wake Forest Nymburk (Czech Republic)

Taurean Green Florida CAI Zaragoza (Spain)

Keith Langford Kansas La Fortezza (Italy)

Trajan Langdon Duke CSKA (Russia)

Chris Lofton Tennessee Mersin (Terkey)

Lorenzo Mata UCLA Halc. Xalpa (Mexico)

Terrell McIntyre Clemson Montepaschi (Italy)

Lee Melchionni Duke Ignis DN (Italy)

Terence Morris Maryland CSKA (Russia)

Mike Nardi Villanova Scavolini (Italy)

Drew Neitzel Mich. State Art. Dragons (Germany)

Darris Nichols West Virginia Atomeromu (Hungary)

The Infamous NBA Look-Alike Quiz

Chris Lucas — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:41:41 -0500

In a world where athletes and celebrities commonly interact , its often easy to overlook the similarities that are right under our noses. From TV stars, to actors to day time talk show hosts - our favorite NBA players resemble them all. While we all know that Ashton Kutcher and Kyle Korver of the Utah Jazz look alike, I have compiled a list of 8 NBA look alikes that may not be so widely known. Each of the 8 look alikes involves a question with a picture of an NBA player and the following slide entails the look alike answer and a picture of the answer. The questions and answers are not meant to be completely serious or dead on resemblences, but rather light hearted similarities. Please don't take offense if I make a casual reference about one of your favorite players that you do not take kindly too. Take out a pen and paper and keep track of how many you can guess correctly. Also, let me know of any other funny look alikes that I may not be aware of or that you want to bring to attention. Hope you enjoy the slides.

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ACC Sophomores Will Dictate Conference Play

Chris Lucas — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:33:13 -0500

While the number of impact freshman who bolted to the NBA is plentiful, the ACC boasts key returning sophomores that will determine their teams successes.

As conference play begins, ambiguity surrounds the ability level of several teams and where they will stack up when March is upon us.

Each year it seems that teams enter ACC conference play and everyone takes a beating. Night in, night out anybody can beat anybody else.

This year, UNC and Duke are locks for Dance Reservations in March and Wake is playing well also. However, the ACC, which historically sends four or five or even six teams to the NCAA Tourney, appears to be up for grabs.

Headed into conference play, the players filling up the statistical categories are sophomores.

The determination of what teams fill these tournament spots will rest upon the shoulders of these sophomores and how well then can perform in conference play.

F Mike Scott and G Sammy Zeglinski - Virginia Cavaliers

While the Cavs are lead by freshman Sylven Landesberg, he has yet to play a college game against any significant competition (other than an early season loss to Syracuse). The riggors of an ACC in conference schedule can be brutal, and experience is necessary.

Scott and Zeglinski are second and third on the team in scoring averaging 12 and 11 respectively.

Scott also averages just a shade under 10 rebounds a game—good enough for second in the ACC. While the Cavs field a smaller line up, Scott's athletic ability and mean streak under the glass will allow the Cavsto hang around in many games they should be blown out of.

Zeglinski also leads the Cavs in assists at 3.2 andshoots over 40% from behindthe three point line. With the attention on leading scorer Landesberg, Zeglingski's three point shooting ability will desperately be needed.

If the Cavs want to have any chance of surviving the Russian Roulet style ACC games, they need consistent leadership from Scott and Zeglinski.

F Gani Lawal - Georgia Tech

Lawal gained a lot of experience on a rebuilding Yellow Jacket team last year, and has responded well putting up 16.7 ppg and 10.2 rebounds—good for 10th and first in the ACC respectively.

Lawal's explosiveness and ability to score in spurts is by far his most impressive feature. In an early season game against Penn State Lawal shot 15 for 20 on his way to 34 points.

With a 6-8 216 frame, Lawel stays out of foul trouble fairly well. After 12 games he's gotten four fouls two times and fouled out none. For the Yellow Jackets to succeed, they will need Lawal's size and ability to produce while staying out of foul trouble.

GT is in the thick of the ambiguity, however Lawalcould help solidify their ground as a fourthor fifth ACC team to be selected.

G Jeff Teague and F James Johnson - Wake Forest

Wake Forest is a very dangerous team with several budding stars including freshman Al-Farouq Aminu.

Teague leads the team in scoring (18.8) and assists (4.2) while Johnson is second in rebounds (7.8) and first in blocks (1.3).

An inside out combo such as this should alleviate a lot of pressure from Al-Farouq and the other Deacons and end in a very balanced and multi pronged attack.

Teague doesn't shoot a ton of three pointers, howeverhe is shooting over 50% on the season. With defenders constantly worried about Johnson's size, the Deacons could look to Teague to shoot the team into success.

I look for Wake to be a solid tournament selection from the ACC and could be one of the few possibilities to hand UNC a loss on its regular season schedule.

G Malcolm Delaney and F Jeff Allen - Virginia Tech

For the past few seasons, its seemed that the Hokiesare destined to lose on last second shots.

For their luck to pick up, they will need continuous performances from Delaney and Allen. They are second and third on the team in scoring (16.7 and 13.9) and Allen gets almost 10 rebounds a game.

As said earlier, the battle in the post is a major key to winning in the grueling ACC schedule. If Allen plays as big as he has been, then the Hokies should pose a significant threat for opponent.

Delaney is first on the team in assists at 4.4 and is a main reason why PG and leading scorer AD Vasallois able to score as much as he does. With a two point guard starting line, Delaney is able to control the offense and dictate the Hokies speed.

If Delaney and Allen play well, the Hokies could turn into an ACC bubble team that pulls down an eight or nine seed in March.

LeBron James Rumors: Three New Possible Destinations for the King

Chris Lucas — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:06:48 -0500

Disclaimer: This is all just a thinking outside the box article, so no need to tell me that the ideas are dumb or that im an idiot for not thinking exactly like the ESPN crew wants me to. And i use the salary cap rules very roughly, but its the best of my knowledge, so thanks for reading and happy holidays.

We know the drill, we've heard the rumors and we know LeBron's options:

1. Sign a max deal with Cleveland.

2. Sign a max deal with New Jersey.

3. Sign a max deal with the New York.

But what if it doesn't have to be so set in stone? LeBron has stated consistently that he wants to go to a contender team that has another proven star in a big basketball market.

This being said, I've looked at the payrolls of the NBA teams and come up with three new places for LeBron in 2010—all of which will have sufficient cap space, stars on the roster, and in good NBA markets.

For those who are not familiar with the NBA salary cap rules and regulations, I'll briefly discuss a few regulations I am following when making my analysis.

The NBA salary cap for the 2008/2009 season is $58.68 million—so i'll use this number

Mid-Level Exception Player: Teams are allowed to sign one Mid-Level Exception Player even if it puts them over the salary cap limit. The Mid-Level exception is set at $5,585,000.

Rookie Exceptions: Teams are allowed to sign 1st round draft picks regardless if it puts them over the salary cap limit.

Larry Bird Exception:Teams are allowed to resign players who have played on their team for three consecutive teams regardless of salary cap limit. This promotes team concepts.

The highest paid player receives $24,751,934 , so I will use this number for LeBron's max deal.

1. Atlanta Hawks

Total Payroll in 2010: $22,485,701

Josh Smith - $11,600,000
Al Horford - $5,444,857 (team option)
Acie Law - $2,940,844 (team option)
Maurice Evans - $2,500,000 (player option)

Payroll left to work with: $36,194,299

Payroll left after signing LeBron: $11,442,365

The Good

Atlanta is a playoff team and when these guys develop and grow in the next season or two could easily be a contender team--exactly what LeBron wants to go to.

While $11 mill. isn't a lot of left over cash to fill up seven or eight extra roster spots, the exceptions could come into play in this situation.

Using the Larry Bird Exception, the Hawks could resign Joe Johnson without any penalty for going over the cap--adding another proven star to the roster.

Johnson's contract in 2009 is worth $14,976,754, which probably wouldn't increase too terribly much for the next season. Johnson has made it clear he likes the atmosphere in Atlanta, and adding LeBron to the roster would immediately push the Hawks out of the 7th or 8th seed in the East into the top spot.

Seriously, take a second to envision a starting line of Joe Johnson, LeBron James, Al Horford and Josh Smith !?!

Unreal.

You could use some of the remaining cash to resign Flip Murray at point, or take the Mid Level Player Exception and convince Delante West follow his back court mate to Atlanta.

The Bad

A move to the Hawks eliminates the chance for LeBron to play with Chris Bosh because Atlanta already has two young studs in the post (Horford and JSmith).

Another worry is that Joe Johnson left a great situation in Phoenix because he wasn't getting the amount of shots he deserves. I know LeBron spreads the love to his teammates, but know telling how Joe Johnson would react if his shots decreased.

With a team like this, they would need a point guard. The lack of excess spending budget would prevent them from picking up one of the bigger named PG in free agency in 2010 (Tony Parker, TJ Ford).

The City

Atlanta is arguably the biggest city in the south and is home to many celebrities, athletes and rappers.

For those that think LeBron would go to NJ because of Jay Z's influence, the hip hop scene glorifies ATL, and I think it could be a very enticing city for LeBron to spread his wings.

2. Miami Heat

Total Payroll in 2010: $34,520,339

Dwyane Wade - $17,149,243 (player option)
Michael Beasley - $4,962,240 (team option)
Marcus Banks - $4,752,000
James Jones - $4,640,000 (team option)
Daequan Cook - $2,169,856 (team option)
Mario Chalmers - $847,000 (team option)

Payroll left to work with: $24,159,661

Payroll left after signing LeBron: $0

The Good

Okay, so they are left with $0 cap space to work with, but as earlier, the exceptions will come into play.

My first move is to use the Larry Bird Exception to resign Udonis Haslem and Dorell Wright, putting the team number up to nine roster players.

Add in the 1st Round draft pick exception that's 10 players.

Next I would refuse to pick up the Team Option on James Jones contract and/or Daequan Cook's contract. Jones' $4.6 million dollar opening could easily be spread around to sign three or four younger guys to deals.

Realistically, you wouldn't need to sign anyone big during the free agency with this team, other than LeBron. Sign a few young guys to lower deals and let them get burn in the fourth quarter.

Let this starting line up sink in: 1. Mario Chalmers 2. Dwyane Wade 3. LeBron James 4. Michael Beasley 5. Udonis Haslem.

I think that LeBron and Wade (the way he played in the Olympics) would be reminiscent of the Jordan / Pippen era.

The make up of this team is strangely similar to the mid 90's Bulls squad.

Who could stop a team like this?!?

The Bad

The LeBron signing eats up the remainder of their cap space, which is a huge problem. If any of the things stated above don't go through, or players resign elsewhere, then the Heat could be looking at trouble.

Who knows if LeBron and DWade could even co-exist? They played well together in the Olympics, but Dwade could get very tired of sharing his throne with "The King."

The City

Miami is a big market.... just not necessarily the best for athletes. With distractions at every turn, it could pose some problems for LeBron or any member of that team.

However, Miami is another place frequently spoken about by Rappers. The night life, clubs, and constant barrage of celebrities would be a big draw for LeBron. The beach, boats, and 80's style strip are also bonuses.

Lil Wayne said it best, "Gangsters don't die...they get chubby and move to Miami."

If LeBron is looking for a place to "get chubby" and settle down with a few championships, Miami might be the place.

3. Detroit Pistons

Total Payroll in 2010: $15,875,463

Tayshaun Prince - $11,148,760
Rodney Stuckey - $2,767,126 (team option)
Arron Afflalo - $1,959,577 (team option)

Payroll left to work with: $42,804,537

Payroll left after signing LeBron: $18,052,603

The Good

Tons of leftover cap space to sign a big name. Chris Bosh is the first to come to mind, however his contract is around $15 mil and he would expect a higher contract—depleting the cap space completely.

The first move would be to re-sign Richard Hamilton and Amir Johnson using the Larry Bird Exception and not have it count against your cap room.

The starting line would look like: 1 Rodney Stuckey 2. Richard Hamilton 3. LeBron James 4. Tayshaun prince 5. Amir Johnson.

With a starting line like that, they might not need another block buster signing.

They could extend Jason Maxiell's contract through 2010, let Kwame Brown, Allen Iverson, and Rasheed Wallace walk into free agency in 2009.

The Pistons could use the $18 mil to snag players like Josh Howard ($10 mil) or Steve Nash if he would agree to a pay cut.

The Bad

LeBron to Detroit seems a little unreal. After the way he tore through the Pistons in the playoffs, It would be tough to imagine that none of the players or coaches on the Pistons don't have bad blood with LeBron.

It would also be tough to think LeBron would leave his home town team for an Eastern Conference rival.

There isn't enough money here to sign a big time free agent like Bosh, and that might now sit well with LeBron. He has said that he wants to sign with a contender and while the Pistons have performed well in the past, they are falling behind in the head of the East year by year.

The City

Detroit as a city is declining greatly due to the economic depression and the recent bailout talks for the auto industry. However, the support for basketball has been phenomenal in recent years.

Detroit is a title town, that cherishes its players. LeBron might enjoy this winning attitude and mindset of the town.

While Detroit doesn't have as many celebrity ties and as big of a market, its a city that knows how to win and has produced many great basketball players over the years.

Once again, thanks for reading. Any comments, I'd love to hear them.

Michigan Basketball's Fresh Presence Could Spell a Return to Dominance

Chris Lucas — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:47:19 -0500

Okay, so it's definitely not the Fab Five...or anything close. However, the freshman class at Michigan Basketball has been a big reason why the Wolverines are 8-2 (with huge top five victories over Duke and UCLA) and on the cusp of breaking into the Top 25.

The summer arrivals of freshmen Zack Novak, Stu Douglass, Ben Cronin, and Eric Puls have been combined with the recent eligibility granted to Arizona transfer freshman Laval Lucas-Perry to provide a stellar supporting cast for DeShawn Sims and Manny Harris.

Through the first 10 games, Novak and Douglass have seen consistent burn in the starting rotation (both averaging 20 min. a game) and average six and five PPG respectively.

More importantly, they are shooting .412 and .385 respectively from behind the three-point line. This sharp shooting has been a crucial addition to the inside work of Sims and the slashing ability of Harris.

In recent years, teams could double down on Michigan's lone scorer or scorers, and the inability of the supporting cast would lead to missed opportunities or turnovers.

In their two upsets this year, Douglass hit multiple threes against UCLA and Novak hit four against Duke.

Zona transfer Lucas-Perry will add another sharpshooter to the mix. Out of high school Lucas-Perry was Rival's No. 20 point guard. He played five games at Zona before deciding to transfer and alternated starting games with Zona's PG Jr. Nick Wise for a time.

In his first game as a Wolverine on Saturday, he nailed four threes on his way to 14 points in just 16 minutes.

While he is still unproven, this is an encouraging start to his career at Michigan, and he should definitely see an increase in minutes as he gets more familiar with the system.

7'0" freshman Ben Cronin and 6'10" freshman Eric Puls will provide a solid foundation on the block for the future. While they haven't played much yet, this could be a good sign. Any defense with two low block players over 6'10" is a force.

Nowadays, where players are good for only one or two seasons before bolting to the NBA, solid players with four-year experience are key to building and retaining a top 25 program.

(See Duke and UNC for examples, who have their foundations built on upperclassmen.)

While Harris is a viable candidate to jump to the NBA next season, these five freshmen are the type of players that will remain three and four years.

Their leadership could develop into the return of basketball dominance to Michigan.

The Impact Of ACC Point Guards in the NBA

Chris Lucas — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:59:22 -0500

The ACC is arguably one of the top college basketball conferences in the country and consistently puts first rounders into the NBA (Tim Duncan, Vince Carter, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, etc.)

The start of the basketball season this year was no different—there were 55 ACC alumni on NBA rosters.

Among those 55 ACC players, however, several young alumni are developing into starting point guard roles and/or playing significant minutes for their clubs.

While it isn't a historically uncommon occurrence for the ACC to field productive point guards in the NBA (Chris Paul, Steve Francis, Sam Cassell, etc.), this year several second round or undrafted alumni have taken steps to prove their worth.

Chris Duhon—Starting PG Knicks

Steve Blake—Starting PG Blazers

Anthony Morrow—G Warriors

Roger Mason Jr—PG Spurs

Jarrett Jack—PG Pacers

For players like Duhon and Blake, it seemed that all they needed was to be in the right situation. This season, Duhon is averaging a ridiculous 8.6 assists per contest, which is four more than his career average, and is arguably one of the front runners for NBA Most Improved Player (He had 22 assists in a game, which is a Knicks record.)

Blake's production of career high scoring is equally due to his placement on the Blazers. With so much emphasis on the plethora of the Blazers' budding stars, Blake has been free to navigate the perimeter, score, and set up his teammates.

For other guys like Morrow and Mason Jr., injuries and just plain hard work have been the key to their increased opportunities and performances.

With Tony Parker injured, Mason Jr. has doubled his career scoring average up to 13.4 (as well as doubling his rebounding and assist average) and is shooting .468 from behind the arc.

With these guys setting a trend, there are plenty more ACC late round point guards that could emerge as consistent contributors in the Association. Two of which were involved in trades earlier this week: Sean Singletary—PG Bobcats, Javaris Crittenton—PG Wizards.

Others: DeMarcus Nelson—PG Warriors, and DJ Strawberry

As a born and raised ACC fan, it doesn't matter how they get into the Association.

In a league full of 19-year old college freshman trying to side step the NBA age limit, it is refreshing to see these three and four year college guys making rosters and contributing.

First Semester Grades: How The Diaper Dandies Stack Up

Chris Lucas — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:03:19 -0500

I know college basketball is only a few weeks underway, but with most Colleges ending their semesters this week for Winter break it seemed like a pretty good time to evaluate the freshman class's performance so far.

Prior to the season I wrote an article predicting my top picks for the must-see freshman of the year: Devin Ebanks (WVa), Scotty Hopson (Tenn), Greg Monroe (GTown), Samardo Samuels (LVille), Tyreke Evans (Mem). I received plenty of feedback from the article where I went wrong and who I should watch out for. While I have some right picks, I have definitely have some wrong ones as well. Here's my updated list of top five performing freshman along with some freshman who haven't played up to their potential.

(Again I understand some teams have only played a hand full of games)

Dean's List Freshman (In No Particular Order)

5. Kemba Walker G Uconn

In my previous article, BleacherReport's Gregory Caldarella left me his prediction of Walker as the best freshman PG and so far this prediction has been right on. Walker, the No. 2 ranked point guard in the 2008 recruiting class, went relatively under the radar in the recruiting headlines. After eight games, Walker's stat line is solid: 12 ppg, three assists, and a hair under four rebounds per game. On top of that, Walker is shooting near .400 on from behind the arc.

He pulled down eight rebounds in a win over Wisconsin and has already had two 20-plus scoring performances. With the talent that surrounds him, Walker has jumped into the starting rotation and seems right at home. With the Huskies schedule getting tougher, expect to see Walker further define himself as one of the elites of this class.

4. Seth Curry G Liberty

That's right, you recognize the last name. Curry is the younger brother of Davidson star point guard Stephen Curry. Seth's story parallels Stephen's in more ways than one. Both put together productive senior years in high school, had moderate recruitment from big DI schools, but were unable to get scholarships and signed at a lower D1 school. The similarities don't stop there. Seth, just like Stephen, has been scorching his opponents and turning heads all over.

After seven games, including upset victories over ACC team Virginia and recent Final Four Cinderella George Mason, Seth is averaging 22 ppg, 4.8 rebounds and shooting .380 from behind the arc. Correct me if I am wrong, but these numbers are higher than his big brother's were his freshman year and he's already defeated some decent competition.

Although the Flames schedule is not overly competitive, look for Seth to score at will and end the season with Stephen-like numbers.

3. Sylven Landesberg G/F Virginia

The former McDonald's All-American is in a prime situation, and as of yet he hasn't disappointed. After six games with the Caveliers, Landesberg is putting up 19 points per game and 5 rebounds per game, including three 20-plus point games.

Virginia has an inexperienced team after the departures of Sean Singletery, JR Reynolds, and Adrian Joseph over the past two years. Landesberg has stepped right in, taking the position early on as the Cav's leader. While the UVA might not put much together on the court this year (already losing 3 games), the ACC competition provides Landesberg a prime spot to display his talent and earn a nice first round paycheck in the Association.

2. Willie Warren G Oklahoma

It's no secret the Sooners are led by the half-human, half-animal Blake Griffin. But right by his side, Willie Warren has proven to be an undeniable second option for the number six team in the country. After seven games, he's put up 13.1 points per game and 2 steals a game (most of the steals lead to oops to Griffin on the break). While he's only been hitting .285 from behind the arc, expect that number to rise. As a sharp shooter in high-school, its only a matter of time before he finds his stroke.

As with Landesberg, Warren is in another great situation with his squad. He's got the green light on pulling the trigger because of Griffin's rebounding ability and when Griffin makes the jump to the Association next year, Warren will inherit the team. Expect Warren's numbers to increase as he gets his legs under him behind the arc.

1. Samardo Samuels F Louisville

I'm happy to say, Samuels was my pre-season top performer pick. He hasn't disappointed. After four games, Samuels has put up almost 18 points per game and 6 boards a game. While the Western Kentucky game was a severe let down, expect Samuels to continue to produce big time numbers throughout the season.

In his first four games, he has proved to be not only strong, but agile in navigating the lane. With the talent surrounding him at Louisville, Samuels has stepped up as a vital contributor to the team's success. The 2009 class coming in for Louisville will compliment Samuels as well, if he elects to stay for his sophomore year.

Freshman on Academic Probation

DeMar DeRozan G/F USC

With all of the preseason hype, DeRozan is only the 4th leading scorer (9.8 ppg) on the 5-3 unranked Trojans. While his numbers are good for a freshman, DeRozan was depicted as a man-among-boys in the freshmen class. He was supposed to be an electric player with a Mayo-like ability to score.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying DeRozan is a flop, or that he isn't what he's hyped to be. I just expected more. Hopefully he will step it up after the holidays.

BJ Mullens C Ohio St.

Chad Ford reported in an October article that NBA GM's were confident BJ Mullens was a top-five talent and predicted him to be the 2009 #1 Pick overall into the Association. Only two months later, Mullens is putting up 5.5 ppg and 4 rebounds in only 15 minutes per game.

These bleak numbers immediately bring comparisons to lottery pick Robert Swift, currently on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Maybe he just hasn't matured into his 7'1 frame yet?

Rockets-Suns: Ron Artest's Best Play Comes from the Bench

Chris Lucas — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:10:49 -0500

An altercation late in the third quarter of the Rockets-Suns game resulted in the ejection of Matt Barnes and Rafer Alston.

With the Rockets riding a solid ten-point lead, Barnes responded in frustration to a Rafer Alston screen by throwing him an aggressive forearm check. That's when things began to deteriorate.

Alston got up in Barnes face.

McGrady went to separate the two.

Nash shoved Alston.

McGrady shoved Nash to the floor.

Shaq threw everyone on the court to the floor.

With the benches almost empty, I watched the mayhem that ensued. Things escalated quickly as Shaq's shove relocated the altercation to the court-side spectators. It was then I began to realize how many aggressive and volatile personalities were on the court.

Alston had been in the Queens Bar Stabbing over the summer. There was the Nash, Stoudemire, and Horry incident. Shaq had slapped Greg Ostertag. McGrady choked out his Mt. Zion coach. Matt Barnes flat-out looks scary.

And of course, Ron Artest.

But where was Artest? I followed the cameras as they weaved in and out of the shoving match and through the refs and coaches. I watched the replays and scanned the first few levels of the crowd. I couldn't find Ron Artest anywhere.

The proximity to the fans made me instantly picture the Detroit Mayhem and Artest was missing. As things settled down and the replays stopped, I spotted Ron Ron in the upper corner of one of the cameras.

Ron Artest sat calmly, with his hands in his laps and a towel on his shoulder. He wasn't angry, he wasn't emotional—he hadn't even left the bench. I'm not even sure if Artest was watching. He waited patiently for the madness to settle and returned to the court when play resumed.

While his past is checkered, and his every move is documented, Artest showed complete restraint.

He plays lock-down defense, is a consistent scorer, and has the heart of a "true warrior." But his decision to stay on the bench might just be his biggest impact to the Rockets.

With Artest's head on straight, the Rockets are a dangerous team.

A Fresh Impact: 5 Diaper Dandies To Watch

Chris Lucas — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:35:38 -0500

The impact of freshman in the college basketball season last year was unprecedented. Sure, we've seen players like Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant carve up the NCAA their freshman years, but never so many in one class: Michael Beasley, OJ Mayo, Jerryd Bayliss, Eric Gordon, Derrick Rose, Kevin Love, JJ Hickson... the list goes further.

While this class might not have the monumental influcence of last year, this year should still produce an exciting class of freshman who will earn a lot of burn on the hardwood.

5. Devin Ebanks SF, West Virginia

Upside

At 6'8 185, Ebanks is a big man with a serious athletic streak. He's not the prototypical big man to bang in the post, but his agility and foot speed ought to allow him to produce in an already talented Big East Conference.

Ebanks is the antithesis of returning leading scorer DeSean Butler who stands at 6'7 225. The two should work very well together in the post and Butler should draw teams more physical defenders, thus freeing up Ebanks for rebounds, offensive putbacks, and more than a few opportunities for dunks.

Downside

The Big East is loaded this year from top to bottom. Ebanks could get lost in the crowd and not receive as much media attention as he would in another conference.

Comparison : JJ Hickson

4. Tyreke Evans SG, Memphis

Upside

He's a silky-smooth shooter that gives off the "look how easy it is" vibe when you watch him play. He extends his range well beyond the three point arc, and isn't afraid to pull with distance.

Watching him play, I was surprised at how well he handles the ball and at 6'6 has the ability to split defenses and get to the lane. His ability to both score from the outside, and get to the rim will plague the C-USA defenses.

With Memphis riding high from the Derrick Rose Freshman Era, Evans will be given a solid opportunity to lead the Tigers.

Downside

The Tigers return Antonio Anderson, Willie Kemp, and Doneal Mack—all three are very talented uber-athletic guards averaging significant points and minutes. Memphis made the minutes spread last year, hopefully they can recreate the same luck this year.

Comparison: James Hardin

3. Scotty Hopson SG / SF Tennessee

Upside

His last name describes it all. This kid can jump out of the gym. Hopson is incredibly athletic and has knack for running the break and producing on the fly. He should fit in perfect with Bruce Pearl's run and gun Tennessee offense.

Hopson will run the opposite wing from Tyler Smith and the two should function well together creating a tandem that is tough for any SEC program to match up with.

Tennessee is the perfect place for a player like Hopson, who fits the stereotypical 6'7 6'8 agile build that Pearl has utilized the past three seasons. The dismissal of Duke Crews and Ramar Smith should secure Hopson more burn on the hardwood too.

Downside

Ramar Smith would have been the point guard of the team had he and Crews not violated the NCAA Substance Abuse Policy. The Vol's don't have a clear established point guard on the roster and this could obviously effect Hopson's touches.

Comparison

Athleticism of pre-knee surgery Bill Walker and the physical swagger of OJ Mayo.

2. Greg Monroe C Georgetown

Upside

First of all I couldn't stand Roy Hibbert and never respected his game. I am completely against glorifying mediocre players just because they are big. Monroe on the other hand is a true talent and I believe has a fundamentally solid low post scoring game.

His 6'11 225-pound frame ought to make him a nightly threat on the glass. With a nucleus of Dujuan Summers, Jessie Sapp and Austin Freeman, Monroe ought to make them a fierce starting line. The inside-out basketball that JT3 runs will flow nicely through Monroe. Also, Georgetown desperately needs a low post player with the absence of Roy Hibbert and Pattrick Ewing Jr.

Downside

Same as mentioned earlier, the Big East has so many talented teams and gifted low post players that not everyone can put up the numbers they are capable of.

Comparison

Lopez Twins

1. Samardo Samuels PF Louisville

Upside

Rick Patino has said Samuels is the hardest working player he's coached in a long time. After the Derrick Caracter disaster, its refreshing to see a player whose hard work has paid off so much. He's got a physical game that should make it tough for a SF to cover and incredible agility and foot speed that should be a nightmare for a PF to guard. Defensively, Samuels is a force. His wingspan is upwards of 7'0 and he has a knack for defending around the rim. As we know from Patino's past, if he doesn't like you... you aren't going to play. If he does like you, as he does with Samuels, you'll get plenty of opportunities to showcase your skills and take charge.

Downside

Louisville is a very talented team and it might be tough for Samuels to get as many touches as he would on another squad.

Comparison

Patrick Patterson, but more talented on a better team.

A True Man Of Steele Makes The Biggest Come Back of His Life

Chris Lucas — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:02:30 -0400

NCAA Basketball.

In April of 2004, Ronald Steele had everything going for him: a recent high school graduate enrolling in Alabama in the fall with a full athletic scholarship, two Alabama Mr. Basketball Awards, one 6A Alabama State Championship, one 6A State Player of the Year and a 6A State Finals MVP all under his belt.

By 2006, Steele's sophomore season, he was the starting point guard of a very capable Crimson Tide team. When Chuck Davis (the Tide's leading scorer) went down, it was Steele who single-handedly brought the Tide back from the basement. Steele dazzled opponents, announcers and fans by averaging 14.3 ppg and 4.6 assists a game on his way to a First-Team All-SEC and an Honorable Mention All-American campaign.

He turned down lucrative NBA offers and the almost-certain fact that he would be a first round Selection to return for his Jr. Season. Then things fell apart.

First an ankle injury.

Then another ankle injury.

Then tendinitus in his knee.

Steele underwent multiple MRI's throughout the season, but none could come up with the true source of his pain. Coaches knew he was going through excruciating pain, the fans could see it on his face, and Steele could feel it with every wincing step. They just couldn't find out what was wrong.

Steele regularly sat out practices just so the swelling would go down enough for him to be able to walk on game days.

Still, Steele played. He took the Tide on his shoulders, ailing knees and consistently aggravated ankles.

Things didn't stop here.

Then came the offseason. which brought about arthroscopic knee surgery to repair cartilage defects is BOTH of Steele's knees. While he expected to play in 2007-2008, Steele found himself, yet another time in his life, unable to walk.

He had gone from a preseason All-American candidate, to a bed ridden college senior with the knees of an AARP member.

Dana O'Neill from ESPN describes the situation best:

"The kid who taught himself to be a great ball handler by dribbling on roller skates couldn't even stand up."

Steele found himself confined to a hospital bed for weeks without playing, without shooting, without the game he loves. Steele related his situation by stating,

"There were days, sitting in that hospital bed that I didn't know if I'd get the opportunity to play again."

To catch you up to speed, its now fifteen months later... and Steele finds himself entering his final college basketball season with two new legs and a heart as passionate as ever.

The journey has been rough, and many skeptics have used Steele as an example of why freshman and sophomores should jump ship to the NBA.

Steele refuses to view his situation with regrets. He has stated many times how proud he is to graduate from Alabama, with his teammates.

Steele has seen what its like to have life without basketball, and he plans on using this season to reassure than he will never go without basketball again.

Whether you are an Alabama fan, a Florida fan, a Big East fan, a European basketball fan or even not a fan at all, you should appreciate Steele's passion and his desire to do what he loves in life.

Ronald Steele has given everything to the game of basketball, and as fans of basketball he has given his heart and soul to us.

Well Ronald, we are behind you every step of the way.

James Posey's Contribution Off the Bench?

Chris Lucas — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:38:24 -0400

Remember game four of the NBA Finals, when the Celtics trailed the Lakers heavily in LA? They had just lost the first game in LA and it appeared they were headed to a second defeat. KG was having trouble getting his opportunities, Shuttlesworth couldn't find his mark, and the Lakers were growing stronger by the minute.

To quote the commercial: The NBA...where James Posey happens.

Posey comes off the bench, hits four three-pointers, sinks all four free-throw attempts, and locks down per usual on the defensive side. His presence alone arguably changed the momentum of the crowd and the game. In the end, he went on to score 18 and lead the C's to their only win in LA.

While this year the C's nucleus is returning (KG, Ray, Rajon Rondo, Perk, and The Truth) they are missing the consistent lead-by-example style of play that Posey brings to the table.

To answer the question asked in the title of this article: A LOT.

His experience is invaluable: he plays lock down defense, consistently grabbed six or seven rebounds a game during the playoffs, hits difficult threes, and rejuvenates his teammates.

He is well liked by his teammates, stays out of trouble with the law (minus a minor DUI in 2007), and more importantly is respected by the entire Celtics organization. Seldom do you find a player who is fiercely respected by team mates, front office owners, and opponents at the same time.

Not to mention, his experience includes being a member of both the 2006 NBA Champion Miami Heat and 2008 Champion Boston Celtics.

The most impressive part about Posey, in my opinion, is that he does all of his work off of the bench. And he always has.

Remember back to his college days at Xavier. His award list included: the 1998 A10 Most Valuable Player, 1999 A-10 Defensive Player of the Year, two time A-10 Sixth Man, two time A-10 First Team, and he led Xavier to its first ever A-10 Championship.

He achieved all of that without EVER being a consistent starter on the team.

In many games, both college and pro, he was more talented than other players and often times the most talented on the floor. He chose to contribute from the bench. He chose the team over himself.

Never complaining. Never arguing. Posey comes off the bench when his team needs him, and he leaves his heart on the floor.

With the flash in the NBA now-a-days, its rare to find an athlete who is willing to devalue individual accolades and dedicate his entirety to the team.

With that being said, his presence makes the Hornets (who are already a scary team) an even bigger presence in the 2009 NBA Championship hunt.

Hats off to true team players like Posey.

Dream Team 2012: Nope, Not Too Early To Start Selecting

Chris Lucas — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:23:58 -0400

Early The "Redeem Team's" performance in Bejing was everything I could have expected. Every story line I wanted to see happened; Dwayne Wade made an incredible come-back, Deron Williams and Chris Paul played wonderfully together and Chris Bosh even put up numbers that made me re-watch his "Western Car-Dealership Vote for Me Commercial."

However, I still can not erase the taste of 2004's "NBA All 4th Team's" bronze medal from my mouth. I'm sure I'm not the only fan that feels this way.

Thinking about the bronze makes me cry like when I watch Pete Bell's "I've done the game wrong" speech after he coached Western to beat Indiana.

It makes me wince like I was a bystander watching Jesus Shuttlesworth easily beat his father Jake in 1-on-1 sending him back to prison.

Those memories even hurt me more than having to re-watch Tim Riggin's 30yr old girlfriend leave him for his older dead-beat brother.

This is why I am already crafting my picks for the 2012 US Olympic Team.

After doing a little research between the Dream Team (I and II), the Bronze team and the Redeem team, there are a few qualifications Im going to use to be able to more accurately predict the future four years.

1) The average age:

1992 Dream Team = 28

1996 Dream Team II = 29

2000 Team = 27

2004 Bronze Team = 23

2008 Redeem Team = 25.5

From these numbers, I will try to keep the team around 26 to 28. While I won't include or exclude players in order to make the average right, I'll exclude anyone who isn't in the NBA now and I will exclude any players over 32.

2) Veteran Presence:

1992 Dream Team = 4 (Jordan, Mullen, Ewing, Robinson

1996 Dream Team II = 6 (Pippen, Barkley, Richmond, Malone, Stockton, Robinson)

2000 Team = 1 (Payton)

2004 Bronze Team = 0

2008 Redeem Team = 5 (Anthony, Kidd, James, Wade, Boozer)

Very few players play in 3 Olympics (other than Robinson) especially not after winning a gold. It's been said by Shaq, Garnett, Allen, and many others that spots are given to players who don't have gold metals. I will exclude any players who haveplayed in two Olympics (Lebron, Carmello, DWade)

Here We go:

Guards:

Chris Paul - PG/SG No Brain-er. Starter PG

Deron Williams - PG/SGNo Brain-er. Starter SG

Brandon Roy - SG

Perfect team first mentality that Coach K implemented into these guys. He reminds me a lot of Scottie Pippen, who was a major contributor in both Dream Team performances. Doesn't have to get fifteen shots a game and his numbers are high when considering steals, assists, and rebounds as a primary guard. He can also hit the outside shot.

Kevin Martin- SG.

He can shoot the lights out. The savior in the 2000 Olympics was the shooting ability of Ray Allen, Allen Houston and Steve Smith. Without Lebron and Carmello, this team is similar to the 2000 squad in that it lacks concrete star power. Martin can shoot from anywhere, and is tall enough and quick enough to get to the rack. At 6'7 in international play, he should be tough to match up against. His height and quickness should also help him on the defensive end to contest euro shooters.

Devin Harris- PG/SG

I'm going withHarris over Monte Ellis, but barely. And I could easily regret this decision. The main point in this pick though is that the US team needs a lightening fast guard to change the pace of games.

Whether he plays five minutes or the whole second half we need an intangible to change the flow of the game and disrupt zone defenses. Harris and Ellis are the quickest guys in the league, probably the fastest guys in the country. Id love to see them square up against Willie Mays Hays in a race for the final slot on this team!

Forwards:

Andre Igoudala- SF Starter

Athleticism out of this world. I think he could play like D-Wade played this year. He was a major contributor in the US victory this year on the offensiveand defensive ends. AI needs to work on his shooting consistency to become the starting SF, but through a full season puts up decent numbers. His ability on the defensiveend easily makes up for any second guessing in his shooting. He is consistently on top of the league with steals and should contend for a major role in this team.

Kevin Durant- SF

Pure Scorer, and every team needs at least one of those. In four years, there is no doubt in my mind he will become a consistent three point shooter and be able to hit the Carmello mid range jumper as well. His lengthmakes him tough to cover and defend as well. He lacks defense, but can rebound. Should battle Igoudala for the starting spot.

Al Jefferson - PF Starter

He is by far the meanest player I have watched lately. He reminds me of Charles Oakley, but with a Five Star game. Id be amazed if anyone in the world can keep him from cleaning up a missed shot and dunking it home. On a more personal note, Id love to see some of these Euro "big men" try to flop when Al Jefferson physically dominates them.

David West- PF

He has such a smoothstroke. A big man witha jump shot is the prototype of an international player. He has a mean streak as well. Consistently puts up a double double and the way he made Dirk look like a 6th grade JV player, I would be honored for him to represent my country. Imagine trying to fight West and Jefferson off for a rebound? Wow.

Michael Beasley- SF/PF

The only reason why I select himover Al Horford is because the team needs to stay sleek. Beasley adds the ability to moveand run the floor and his height enables him to play boththe SF and the PF is foul trouble arises. A lot is unproven withhis NBA ability, but he is such an electric player its tough to see him not succeeding.

Centers:

Tyson Chandler

This time around is his year. With all the thick, physical forwards listed above, he should be able to move around the lane and protect the basket at will. He could play as more of a box-in-one defender and contest shots from all over. West, Beasley and Jefferson also allows Chandler to roam with out being boxed out to snag rebounds.

Andrew Bynum

Tough to see this kid not on the team. Withhis progress in the past season before his injury, he is a force to be reckoned with. Not too often you see a big man withhis size and physique with so much agility and lateral movement. Perfect for the international game.

Greg Oden

Did you really think I was going to leave him off? He's like Beasley, unproven. But how could he not be dominant withhis size and withthe supporting cast around him? He could play like D. Robinson or Pat Ewing of the old days. What a site.

Anybody I forgot? Any additions? Dump points? Let me know.

Olympics: Is the Team USA Still Our Dream Team?

Chris Lucas — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:18:18 -0400

It's 12:37 PM on Monday, June 30, and I’m spending my lunch break packed in Rockefeller with hundreds of others waiting to see the touring Team USA and the jerseys they would be supporting in Beijing. Nike representatives boast the jerseys have 18% less material and are 11% lighter.

But, as I look around at the faces in the crowd, I’m positive that the only reassurance we attended the media day for is that Team USA will be THE DREAM TEAM, and not the All-NBA fourth Team that casually showed up in '02 and '04.

"Coach K didn't select enough big-men. What are they going to do if Dwight Howard's hockey-style sternum injury doesn't heal? Was Tayshaun really the best pick? Is Jason Kidd too old? How will their best performer of the Olympic trials produce with so many legal situations? Europeans are much more fundamentally sound. Kobe's torn ligament...They are in trouble."

They-they-they are in trouble.

It's no secret there are plenty of concerns surrounding the team, and I'll admit that many of them are valid.

I would really like to see Tyson Chandler AND Tayshaun Prince on the team. Their speed, length, and ability to produce without the ball would turn the crowded European lane into a deserted early morning Piggly Wiggly produce isle. I think that an injured Dwight Howard changes the game plan immensely considering his back-up Chris Bosh plays a drastically different style game. And yes, I would be a lot more comfortable if the starting point guard wasn't one of the main reasons the Mav’s tanked in the playoffs.

All of that was before I witnessed The Team walk out, one by one, and everything fell in place in front of my eyes. I've been to countless sporting events, NBA Playoff Games, Majors Conference Tournaments, and even a Final Four, but I have never witnessed an atmosphere like the one produced by the 16 players and coaches who stood in front of me.

Jerry Colangelo was motionless, arms locked across his chest like Tony Soprano as the players were introduced. He was nodding his head in assertion, and I swear I almost heard him quote one of his Suns' players rap lyrics, "Rest of the world, how does my a** taste?"

Beside Colangelo, Coach K, and Jim Boeheim shared an embrace that looked powerful enough to need its own postal code. I’m not easily shaken, but I was completely in awe of these two coaching legends standing hand in hand, in complete agreement of the future.

They wasted no time introducing the artillery, bringing out Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, and then Lebron James...One, two, three. The only word that could describe the aura these guys displayed was "tenacious."

Lebron threw up the "Roc" sign and under his normal charisma I could feel it. The people around me could feel it. And smell it. It was raw determination.

It wasn't about Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks in 2010, and it wasn't about getting support for his next playoff run. It was about respect. It was about the soul of the game. It was about standing up for James Naismith, and for the people of Springfield, MA.

It wasn't until Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul were introduced almost back to back that I came out of my Lebron induced coma to understand a drastic realization—our entire team is stacked.

Our back-up point guard was almost the NBA MVP. Our back-up back-up point guard was also considered for the MVP. Our team has more than enough qualified three point shooters. Our leading scorer from the Olympic trials will be playing with college coach, and they won an NCAA Championship last time they were together.

Our twelfth man was a crucial, irreplaceable part of the 2004 World Champions. Our starting big man could average a double-double with a fractured sternum AND two plastic hips. Our starting wings are Lebron James and Kobe Bryant.

We are Team USA. We are the Dream Team. We play poker and drink until five in the morning, and still beat people by thirty points. We leave the Olympic Village without body guards because we know who we are (and, normally we have Charles Oakley).

Our-our-our Dream Team is back.

While walking back to work, I was in a haze. My palms were sweaty and I couldn't stop grinning. I felt like the head coach of Big State after Jesus Shuttlesworth signed his letter of intent.

Better yet, I felt like Pete Bell the first time he peered into the Louisiana Bayou gym to find teenage Neon BaDoe completely dominating full grown adults . Dumb analogies aside, I found myself repeating the same sentence I was thinking on my walk over.

They-they-they are in trouble!

Our Dream Team is back!