Eric Musselman’s Basketball Notebook: “I love watching receivers and QBs connect on timing routes — pass patterns when the QB releases the ball before his receiver has made his break. What if passers in basketball focused on delivering the ball to a shooter off a screen the same way a QB does with his receivers? What if it’s something a point guard practiced “timing routes” with his team’s primary shooters/scorers the way a QB and receiver practice their timing? How much better would a shooter be if the ball was delivered at just the right moment? Is it worth an extra 2-3 points a game?”
Travis Heath of HOOPSWORLD: “If Denver opts not to use the exception, the team could let the season play out and then let Iverson’s $20.84 million come off the books next summer. This would help the Nuggets create all kinds of salary cap room for 2010, which seems to be a trend these days. The Nuggets could also wait to use the exception until next summer around draft time. However, Denver could look to trade for an impact player or two and make a serious run this coming season. If Denver opts to go in that direction, here’s a look at some possibilities the Nuggets might consider between now and October.”
Brian Spencer of Empty the Bench: “I’m scratching my head just as much as you are, Josh. I mean, you’re a restricted free agent and your options are limited, right? The Hawks front office has a chance to break their moribund streak of poor decision-making by bringing you back. If they wanted to lock you up, Josh, a guy with All-Star games in his future and at least a few Defensive Player of the Year awards, all they’d have to do is pay you what you rightfully deserve. Is $12+ million/per over the next five or six years too much to ask for a man of your up-and-down skill set? No. I don’t think it is either, Josh.”
Sekou Smith of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “With no salary cap for European teams, Olympiakos can offer whatever they’d like to entice Childress to leave the NBA for a stint in the international game. The Hawks also lose the right to match any offers made to Childress, a condition of his restricted free agency, because they wouldn’t be competing against another NBA team. But if Childress were to sign a contract with Olympiakos the Hawks would retain his NBA rights for the next two years, provided they make him a qualifying offer upon his return.”
Jeff of CelticsBlog: “Finally, it isn’t just the price, of course, but the length of the deals signed. Ainge achieved his goal of future flexibility by signing both Allen and House to two year deals. We now have Ray Allen, Brian Scalabrine, Patrick O’Bryant, Eddie House, and Tony Allen all lined up to have their contracts expire in 2010. I think that window of opportunity for this team has officially been defined. If they can win together now, great. If not, they’ll still be well positioned to retool or rebuild, depending on what the future brings. Many a Championship team sold its future down the drain for a chance to repeat that wasn’t worth the cost they paid.”
K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune: “Deng turned down a five-year, $57.5 million extension offer last October. Three-year deals are currently being discussed. If no extension is reached, Deng’s camp could offer the Bulls a window to execute a sign-and-trade so as not to lose their former lottery acquisition for nothing. The Charlotte Observer reported Monday that talks broke off between restricted free agent Emeka Okafor and the Bobcats, who could pursue sign-and-trade options. In lieu of that, Deng would sign a one-year tender offer for $4.45 million, become an unrestricted free agent in 2009 and not negotiate with the Bulls.”
Sam Smith of HoopsHype.com: “One factor is the U.S. is at or near recession – with the euro growing more valuable in comparison, making it more lucrative in earnings than the dollar. More so has been an economic explosion in European sports with money pouring in from a variety of sources. There is no European league like the NBA, so teams used to be run like operations for civic pride and responsibility. Now, in addition to rich owners buying teams in several places, they are being run more like businesses with substantial naming rights deals, signage and advertising. The result is perhaps a dozen teams with budgets to compete with NBA teams, the main ones in Russia, Greece, Spain and Italy.”
