Loading ...Howard Beck of The New York Times: “Donnie Walsh, the team president, appointed Gabriel as the director of pro scouting and free agency, a newly created position. Gabriel’s primary duty will be evaluating current N.B.A. players, with an eye toward future trades and free-agent signings. Gabriel is well versed in the art of rebuilding. He was the Magic’s general manager from 1996 to 2004, a period in which the franchise lost Shaquille O’Neal to free agency and traded Penny Hardaway, but restocked by obtaining Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady. Gabriel was named executive of the year in 1999-2000 after orchestrating 37 transactions that netted nine first-round draft picks and created the salary-cap space to sign Hill and McGrady.”
NESW Sports: Shaq with Dick Vitalle at the 1989 McDonald’s All American game
Tim MacMahon of The Dallas Morning News: “Cuban made no secret of his displeasure with Mark Bartelstein after George blocked the original Jason Kidd trade based on his advice. That’s why George coming back to Dallas is a surprise. However, Rick Carlisle wanted George. And Cuban is more concerned with putting his new coach in position to succeed than carrying out a grudge against an agent. “I don’t hold grudges, too often,” Cuban wrote in an e-mail. “New coach, new environment. The team comes first.” Bartelstein said he and Cuban needed a “period of time to clear the air” before working on getting this deal done. “At the end of the day, both sides wanted the same thing, which was for Devean to be back,” Bartelstein said. Whether MFFLs wanted George or not, you have to be pleased that Cuban’s commitment to giving Carlisle the best team possible is more important than his ego.”
David Gladow of NOLA.com: Takes a look at the Hornets new logos
The Associated Press: “The city of Seattle and Clay Bennett’s ownership group have divvied up the artifacts of the NBA’s past in the Pacific Northwest, with the details outlined in a settlement obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press. The agreement calls for Bennett’s Professional Basketball Club to leave any banners, trophies and retired jerseys. Those will be placed in a curatorship at Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry, although the new Oklahoma City franchise would be allowed to borrow them to put on display periodically and make copies. The franchise is also leaving some KeyArena furniture and equipment in Seattle, noting it will take 150 courtside seats, 24 office chairs, three televisions and other equipment that is still being used by the WNBA team.”
Greg Johns of The Seattle Post-Intelligencer: “Things get even fuzzier when it comes down to exactly what history will remain attached to the new Oklahoma City squad and what remains the property of Seattle. The PBC agreed not to use the Sonics’ nickname, logos or colors and will transfer the rights to all such “intellectual property” at no cost to any new NBA team to be located in Seattle and that plays its games in a renovated KeyArena. If the NBA awards an expansion team to Seattle that plays in a renovated KeyArena in the next five years, the agreement states that the owner of that team and the PBC are “each free to use and refer to the Sonics’ history” in terms of statistics, records and player histories.”
Flip Bondy of The New York Daily News: “It happens sometimes, these cyclical ups and downs. Just think of the rest of the world as the NBA Eastern Conference about five years ago, and you won’t be far off. The Americans still haven’t faced Argentina or Lithuania, so there may yet be some pockets of resistance out there. But I doubt it. From the looks of the preliminaries and the quarterfinal victory over the Aussies, 116-85, this will be a one-note parade to the top of the podium. While the Americans were busy building chemistry and resolve these past three years, the other nations unraveled a bit through assimilation, injury and age.”
Kelly Whiteside of USA TODAY: “Earlier this year, Nike China launched a Bryant reality TV show called Kobe Mentu or “Kobe’s Disciples.” Finalists chosen from hundreds of applicants in China were selected and traveled to the USA to become “Kobe Disciples.” Their experience learning about basketball from Bryant became a six-episode documentary. “I guess what I’d say is he’s invested,” says U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski. “What Kobe has given China before this (the Olympics) is a sign of respect. As if saying, ‘You’re good enough so I’m going to keep coming here.’ He has showed them respect over the last few years and it’s been reciprocated at a very high level. It’s unbelievable really.” During the opening ceremony, when Bryant’s image flashed across the video screen, the stadium erupted. The only other athlete who received a louder ovation was Chinese basketball star Yao Ming.”
Indy Cornrows: Larry Bird talks about the ‘Dream Team’ vs. the ‘Redeem Team’ and whether or not he would have considered playing in the Euroleague (MUST LISTEN)
Kelly Dwyer of Ball Don’t Lie: “Instead, the real growth is coming in Team USA’s ability to pay incredibly strict attention to its own man. In doing that, and not looking for every steal or to put a massive two-hand block on every poor non-NBA talent that dares waltz into the lane (even the guards were thinking that, early on), Team USA is discovering how to defend international basketball. And the leader is Kobe Bean Bryant. He hasn’t been the best Team USA defender in terms of sheer output (that distinction would go to Chris Bosh, who has been able to live up to his potential and cover huge gobs of hardwood at a time, especially in screen/roll situations), but he is saying the right things to his teammates, getting the point across, and keeping a clear mind.”
Bill Livingston of The Cleveland Plain Dealer: “What has happened at the Beijing Olympics is the beginning of James’ Most Valuable Player campaign for 2008-09. He always could pass. He always could attack the basket more relentlessly than anyone. The Cavaliers forward’s emergence as a devastating defender completes the picture. Kobe Bryant is still the top lockdown defender on what seems to be an unbeatable American team. But Bryant’s forced shots on offense and poor 3-point shooting keep him from being more than the third-best player on the team so far, behind James and Dwyane Wade. (All you Kobephiles, please take your place for the official protest in the line to the left, the one that appears to contain the population of China.) James’ defense has been a surprise only if you were not paying attention last season, when he routinely took the opposition’s best player in crunch time.”
NBCOlympics.com: Streaming video of Team USA vs. Australia
NBCOlympics.com: Streaming video of Argentina vs. Greece
