Months ago, I previewed the 2006 free agent market. Since then, all of the prospective free agents, except Drew Gooden, have reportedly made their decisions. Where are they now?
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Category: NBA
NBA
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The Fab Fifteen
The fifteen finalists continuing on to represent Team USA in the World Championship have been chosen.
Your Fab Fifteen finalists include:
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U.S. puzzle missing pieces
Has USA Basketball’s selective process created holes in its roster?
After experiencing a quick reversal following the second retirement of Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls resurfaced, making the playoffs in three consecutive years. The numerous talented first round picks have led to this resurgence. Kirk Hinrich is the team’s point guard of the future, and Ben Gordon (Ben Jordan?) won the Sixth Man of the Year Award. The new generation of players has created a new image of baby Bulls who scrap and grind out their games.
Having gone a full year without longtime superstar icon Vince Carter, the Toronto Raptors officially entered the franchise’s next generation. Led by all-star power forward Chris Bosh, the Raptors are looking to once again enter the playoff picture. Management has been very active in the offseason looking for proper pieces to fit around their growing all-star. Careful decision planning must be made as they wish to avoid a Kevin Garnett situation, the player who in my opinion is very similar to Bosh in that both men are dominant forwards yet have skinny slender frames. Without a deep team, Bosh could spend the majority of his career producing excellent numbers, rarely seeing postseason glory, and being blamed for it.
After another mediocre season, the Raptors’ only silver lining was Mike James’ breakout season in which he doubled his scoring and assists average. However, even James recognized his growth and was very adamant about his search for a big contract and his willingness to leave Toronto should that wish be unfulfilled. The main concern this offseason was addressing their point guard situation.
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Flint Star: "All We Do Is Ball"
A copy of Marcus G. Davenport’s Flint Star DVD has been on my computer desk for some time. A documentary depicting the life of individuals attempting to leave the ghetto through basketball, I already had a few preconceived notions about the film. I have never lived in what people would deem a “rough” neighborhood rife with crime, guns, and drugs, so it might be an alarming yet insightful experience to be an outside observer. However, in my opinion, the subject matter appears to be overdone. Eminem’s 8 Mile chronicled the life of a rapper who wanted to “get a record,” leave his decrepit slum of a hometown, and live the rich life. Even the less glorified, less Hollywood, and more street Through the Fire detailed the life of numerous athletes, mainly Sebastian Telfair, from their time in the streets to the NBA…if they got that far. Yes, most hit the wall as one man interviewed in Through the Fire stated, “There comes a time when you realize that you won’t get paid for this [playing basketball].”
I do not have issues with people wanting to be professional athletes or any other type of famous icon; however, I have issue with those that feel that there is no other way to be successful. The Flint residents are blinded. They see basketball as the only key to success and place absolutely no value on education which to them is merely an obstacle. Mateen Cleaves, one of the successful Flint athletes, mentions how he went to school just to make whatever grade needed to keep him eligible to play basketball.
Attack me for not understanding the Flint culture, but the following explains why I think Flint has more options than playing ball:
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The WNBA Lifestyle?
The league’s problem is not that it lacks an identity or relevance, to the point where the predominant post-commentary on the All-Star game was an impromptu dunk contest, where most of the players failed to get it in. If lack of interest for such an exhibition game was the death knell to a league, then the NFL would be in great peril, as probably would MLB.
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No Time to Panic
After their worst season in 11 years the Minnesota Timberwolves might seem like a team on the brink of being located at or near the bottom of the league for years to come, but an extreme makeover is about to occur and it has nothing to do with the trading of a certain superstar.
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The Next Generation
It’s a funny world we live in when players like Mark Madsen, Beno Udrih, and Darvin Ham have NBA finals rings, and Karl Malone, John Stockton, Reggie Miller, and Charles Barkley don’t. Of course those first names are the typical 10-12 men on championship rosters who also deserve rings, but there is something to be said for the greats who never win championships. Charles Barkley has said that he doesn’t believe that him never winning a championship diminishes his career any, nor does it to Karl, John, or Reggie. He may be right, but why did he go to Houston? Why did Karl go to L.A.? To win a championship, right? This year actually saw two great players win that elusive championship, Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton. Two players who in their prime may have been one of the top ten players at their respective positions ever. Did anyone really predict 10 years ago that Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning would take bench roles in order to win a championship?
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One Last Shot
The New York Knicks are wandering in NBA incognito, and the key to winning again may lie 2600 miles away in a desert scorching for more reasons than just the heat.