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Apparently the dogs and ponies are at the starting gate. And, apparently, retaining free agents has come down to a civic duty. Last week, lost in the speculation he created by opening the door on a possible coaching return, Heat President Pat Riley addressed free-agency recruiting and all the silliness that might ensue. “We’re going…
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Winderman: NBA teams already talking with each other about 2010 free agents. Legally.
May 7, 2010, 4:57 PM EDT
The widely accepted notion is that 2010 free agency won’t begin until just after the stroke of midnight July 1, that any mention of a pending free agent who did not finish the season on your roster would bring a swift rebuke from the league office. Uh, not quite. The chatter already has begun among…
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Having read Rob Mahoney’s post in this space earlier, and having caught up on Howard Beck’s screed on the New York Times’ “Off the Dribble” blog, it is time to weigh in on the NBA’s dirty little secret, and why so many seemingly out-of-bounds ballots are cast in the polling for the league’s postseason awards.…
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Winderman: Hammond as Executive of the Year because less is more
Apr 24, 2010, 9:43 PM EDT
The press release from the NBA that accompanied Saturday’s announcement of Bucks General Manager John Hammond as Executive of the Year was noteworthy for what it didn’t mention. In announcing Hammond as winner of the award, the release cited the drafting of Brandon Jennings, the selection of coach Scott Skiles, the addition of veterans Carlos…
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Amid the Heat’s epic struggle in its first-round series against the Celtics, and amid Michael Beasley’s no-show against both Kevin Garnett and Glen “Big Baby” Davis in the opening two games, arrives the debate of where Beasley’s trade value stands. Granted, two years is hardly is the best evaluation period for a 21-year-old power forward…
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Winderman: Why Pat Riley is a big Toronto Raptors fan right now
Apr 13, 2010, 12:15 PM EDT
Based on the standings, it is understandable that the Heat is paying attention to the Bucks, Hawks and Celtics over the close of the regular season. With Milwaukee, there is the matter of the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. With Atlanta and Boston, there is the matter of determining its opening-round playoff opponent.…
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The only way the snub could have been more cutting is if the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame selection committee came out Monday and announced why it did not select those snubbed from this year’s class. As it is, basketball’s Hall has the most anonymous selection process of any of the major sports. But…
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As NBA teams jockey for playoff position these final two weeks of the season, expect some sort of formal protest from the Bucks, Bobcats and the other teams jostling for position in the second tier of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Somehow, the Heat is being allowed to close out its season in the D-League.…
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As the field of 65 shrinks, expect the field of 60, namely the June 26 NBA Draft, to significantly expand. While the preliminary results still favor the college game, with Greg Monroe vowing to return to Georgetown and Derrick Favors still undecided on another season at Georgia Tech, figure on plenty of influence from agents…
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Even those not familiar with advance stats have been quick to notice how Michael Jordan has flourished over the years with OPM. Now, with Wednesday’s ownership approval from the NBA’s Board of Governors, that figures to change. Jordan’s success with other people’s money, be it Jerry Reinsdorf’s, Abe Pollin’s or even Bob Johnson’s, no longer…
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Hold on. No, seriously, hold on. Because all is not as it appears when it comes to the heavy hitters and free agency this summer. With the passing of the trading deadline and now the passing of this week’s waiver deadline for postseason eligibility, we have a much better read on where teams stand entering…
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Monday Monday, so good to me,Monday Monday, it was all I hoped it would beOh Monday morning, Monday morning couldn’t guaranteeThat Monday evening you would still be here with me. This year, the Mamas and the Papas will resonate throughout the NBA as much, perhaps even more, than the Moreys and Popovichs. Monday is March…
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The signs have already been constructed just outside of LaGuardia, O’Hare and LAX, the ones with the picture of Dwyane Wade and the word: “Welcome!” Because of that, the Heat will utilize JFK, Midway and Burbank the balance of the season. Make no mistake, Dwyane Wade has become the ultimate bull’s eye of 2010 free…
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If LeBron James bolts Cleveland in the offseason, it won’t be for a lack of effort by Danny Ferry. First Mo Williams. Then Shaquille O’Neal. Now Antawn Jamison. There simply is not much more the Cavaliers could have done for LeBron, a-damn-the-expense approach that has constructed a supporting cast that now rivals what Kobe is…
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Considering the way Josh Howard had fallen out of favor and how Drew Gooden has never been more than a flavor of the month at any of his NBA stops, an argument could be made that Dallas made its move for Caron Butler and Brandan Haywood with the present in mind. Arguably, the Mavericks are…
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Editor’s note: From time to time, Ira Winderman will jump in with longer analysis of some bigger issues. These “Quick Takes” appeared previously as stories on NBCSports.com and will now appear within ProBasketballTalk instead. This had better be one of those rest-of-the-story stories, where we find out after the fact that David Lee received his…
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Editor’s note: From time to time, Ira Winderman will jump in with longer analysis of some bigger issues. These “Quick Takes” appeared previously as stories on NBCSports.com and will now appear within ProBasketballTalk instead. There is a ritual in NBA locker rooms when it comes to electing union reps. That’s when the veterans scramble for…
