Archives › Kurt Helin
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UPDATE: 1:54 p.m.: Multiple reports now have this as a deal all four teams have signed off on, and it has gotten league approval. This trade happened. 1:33 p.m.: In the early morning hours in Hawaii — while the rest of the state was sleeping or surfing — ESPN’s Chad Ford got up and dropped…
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Report: Lorenzen Wright's ex-wife said player had drugs, guns on him
Aug 11, 2010, 12:58 PM EDT
The sad ending of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright’s life just keeps on getting sadder and uglier. The Memphis Commercial Appeal obtained the statement Sherra Wright gave to police five days after Wright had been reported missing. He was found shot to death in the woods outside of Memphis one day later. In that sworn…
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Every Summer League we watch Coby Karl just make smart plays and knock down shots, then we wonder why he can’t stick on an NBA roster. Well, the sad trend appears ready to continue. If Karl is not waived by the Denver Nuggets by Sunday (before Aug. 15) his contract for next year becomes guaranteed…
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Sorry conspiracy theorists, one former NBA referee says stars don't get enough calls
Aug 11, 2010, 11:07 AM EDT
reNBA referee conspiracy theories rank right up there with JFK, Area 51 and Tupac is alive in American mythology. It’s an almost unquestioned belief that NBA superstars get the calls. Kobe Bryant and LeBron James get calls when they drive that Caron Butler or Jonny Flynn would not. Particularly late in games or during the…
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The New Jersey Nets are about to go the way of the Buffalo Braves and the Syracuse Nationals. Not only is the team moving, but also this week they officially filed paperwork with the league to change the name of the franchise, according to the New York Daily News. Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said he…
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Danny Ferry is no Pat Riley. Ferry spent years in Cleveland trying to build a team around LeBron James that would make the superstar happy. He built some very good teams — teams with the best record in the NBA the last two years — but not ones that could win it all. So Cavaliers…
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Coach K says he'll pass on an Isiah Thomas-like consultant job
Aug 11, 2010, 9:29 AM EDT
Only one person’s opinion on the current college coach Isiah Thomas’ consulting contract with the Knicks really matters — David Stern. However, even if Stern and the NBA lawyers do say that the contract is legal, don’t expect Mike Krzyzewski to jump on that bandwagon, as he told the Associated Press. “I would decline to…
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King LeBron knows who's been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake
Aug 11, 2010, 8:35 AM EDT
Ever since his announcement that he was taking his talents to South Beach, LeBron James has taken a lot of criticism. And he’s been making a list and checking it twice, of who has been naughty and nice, as he announced on his twitter account. Don’t think for one min that I haven’t been taking…
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Carmelo Anthony will take Manhattan. Maybe. That or the money.
Aug 10, 2010, 10:15 PM EDT
Sitting in front of Carmelo Anthony is a three-year, $65 million extension to stay in Denver. But like a high school student with his algebra homework in front of him, Anthony is dreaming of a far off place. New York, according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. Anthony, an ideal fit for the Knicks, already has…
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No trade. No return. Both teams played hard, my man. Both teams played hard. But Rasheed Wallace is done. This afternoon the Boston Celtics waived Rasheed Wallace, clearing the way for his retirement. Sheed was drafted by the Washington Bullets with the No. 4 pick overall out of North Carolina in 1995. Over 15 NBA…
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Orlando Magic getting together, working out this summer — without their coaches
Aug 10, 2010, 8:06 PM EDT
You want to know what kind of dedication it takes to compete for a title? How about getting together as a team in the middle of the offseason and working out — not because a coach told you, but because one of the players invites everybody just shows up. No coaches, just a few days…
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Danny Granger is too often overlooked — he was eighth in the NBA in scoring last year — a very good player lost on a struggling team. He could use a breakout forum, like Team USA at the World Championships. Except that is now up in the air. Granger thinks he dislocated the ring finger…
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Video: Shaq's introduction in Boston — he's all about the winning
Aug 10, 2010, 4:04 PM EDT
Some highlights from the Big Shamrock’s introduction to the Boston faithful. Not everyone can pull off a bowtie, for the record.
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LeBron James pays six figures to a rabbi to sit in on business meetings
Aug 10, 2010, 3:32 PM EDT
Rabbi Yishayahu Yosef Pinto is the rabbi to the financial stars in New York, the guy New York’s Jewish real estate experts, financial wizards and the like consult for advice. Apparently LeBron James hired him for spiritual guidance for a recent series of high-level marketing meetings, according to TMZ (so take with salt). And paid…
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Some season schedule notes — Miami gets no easy start, but you'll see them a lot
Aug 10, 2010, 2:59 PM EDT
The NBA released the full schedule today, and here are a few thoughts from a first glance at it. * Teams are allowed a total of 34 national television appearances per season (ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBATV combined). The Miami Heat are already at 29 and that will jump to 34 as NBATV again is letting…
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Isiah Thomas takes part in ad campaign opposing gay marriage ban in California
Aug 10, 2010, 2:20 PM EDT
Isiah Thomas wasn’t making enough headlines, so he has jumped into the gay marriage debate in California. Thomas appears in a photo as part of the NOH8, a campaign against the gay marriage ban in California. Like everyone in the photographic campaign — from the famous to folks on the street who support the cause…
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Don Nelson sits in Maui, collecting the $6 million he is owed, and waiting for a phone call from Warriors incoming owner Joe Lacob. And more and more, it seems like that call may say, “Hey, come on back and coach the team a little longer.” That’s what the San Jose Mercury News columnist Tim…
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Shaq says he just wants to win, will come off the bench to do it
Aug 10, 2010, 12:36 PM EDT
There was nothing crazy from Shaquille O’Neal at his introductory press conference as a Celtic. Wearing a bow tie was about the only unexpected thing he did at the event. Every word out of his mouth was what you want to hear if you’re a Celtics fan. Like, would he be willing to come off…
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During Summer League, when John Wall would get out in transition and finish with a lob to JaVale McGee, it was easy to imagine how much fun Wall and Andray Blatche would be together. It was a Wizards fan dream. Blatche told the official Wizards Web site he is dreaming of playing with Wall, too,…
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Apparently Detroit is done thinking it over and is good with it. Detroit has reached a one-year, $1.3 million deal with Tracy McGrady, according to multiple reports. He worked out for Detroit last week and told Detroit coaches he was willing to play whatever role he was offered (a contrast in tone from what he…
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Former NBA coach Eric Musselman to coach Reno of the D-League
Aug 10, 2010, 9:56 AM EDT
Talk to former NBA coach Eric Musselman and this much becomes clear — he loves basketball. Loves talking about it. Loves coaching it. And he’s going to get to do what he loves in the D-League next season with the Reno Bighorns, according to Scott Schroeder of FanHouse. Reno just a short drive from Lake…
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Joakim Noah missed 18 games last season, primarily due to the foot injury plantar fasciitis. But even with a summer off for treatment and rest he is not feeling 100 percent about it, as he told ESPNChicago.com in an interview. “I’m very confident, but it’s still something that … it’s no joke and [the injury]…
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The rest of the NBA schedule will come out later on Tuesday but this much we have learned (via Kevin Ding at the Orange County Register): Lakers vs. Heat round two will be March 10 in Miami, a Thursday night game covered by TNT. The first Lakers/Heat game will be Christmas Day at Staples Center.…
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Don't forget, Karl Malone and John Stockton were good. Very good.
Aug 10, 2010, 8:04 AM EDT
Friday night Karl Malone gets inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Twice, actually. Once as a member of the 1992 Dream Team. But the other was for the role he was better known for, as one half of the best inside/outside, pick-and-roll duos ever. Malone and John Stockton were amazing together. The video is…
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Roddy Beaubois needs foot surgery, will be out two to three months
Aug 9, 2010, 11:02 PM EDT
Surgery to put a pin in the foot of your speedy young guard does not sound good. That’s what lies ahead for Roddy Beaubois, but Dallas Mavericks General Manager Donnie Nelson told ESPNDallas.com things were not that bad. “His prognosis is really good,” Nelson said. “He’ll miss some time, but he’ll be back healthy as…
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