The “Palm Beach Post” reported Thursday that Miami Heat Team President Pat Riley told reporters that his team would not be signing any free agents. Riley said the reason was that Miami had only $415,000 to spend to reach the NBA salary cap. Speculation had been growing that the Heat who truly need a starting point guard, would have interest in either Jamaal Tinsley or Stephon Marbury if they were released from their current teams. Riley told reporters “Right now we’re not in the market for anybody, because we can’t afford to sign anybody because we are that close to the tax.”
The New York Knicks announced Thursday that they have signed two familiar names for the upcoming season. Team President Donnie Walsh announced the signing of former New York Knicks guard Allan Houston, who will attempt another come back to the Association. Walsh announced “Knicks/Grunfeld-The Sequel” as New York has signed free agent swing man Dan Grunfeld to a contract. Grunfeld is the son of former Knicks player and General Manager Ernie Grunfeld. The senior Grunfeld is now Team President of the Washington Wizards.
The 37 year old former All-Star has been working out all Summer, and has contacted New York Knicks Team President Donnie Walsh. Houston who attempted a comeback last year with New York, wants to give it one more shot. Houston last played in the Association in 2005 when chronic pain in his knees forced him to retire. Grunfeld was not drafted, and has spent the last two seasons playing overseas. Terms of the contracts have not been released.
The “New York Daily News” reported Thursday that New York Knicks first round draft pick Danilo Gallinari may not be ready to practice at the start of camp Tuesday because of a sore lower back. The Italian native was not received well on the night of the NBA Draft by Knicks fans, who greeted him with a chorus of boos. The “Rooster” was star in the Euro-League where the 6′8″ forward was a fan favorite. Gallinari told reporters he was not sure if his back would allow him to practice Tuesday when the Knicks have their first practice in Sarasota Springs, Florida. Gallinari said “It’s a difficult question. I don’t know. I cannot say that I will be ready, I will not be ready. I don’t know. We’ll see in these days.”
The Orlando Magic, according to their team website, have signed a trio of players to their squad - forward/center Dwyane Jones, swingman Jeremy Richardson and guard Mike Wilks; with the signings, the Magic have a squad of 16 players. The Magic will also hold their annual Media Day this coming Monday from 2-4 PM (EST) at the RDV Sportsplex.
Reports out of New York Tuesday were that the New York Knicks were going to waive veteran point guard Stephon Marbury by the end of the week. The reports were that after the Knicks waived Marbury they would work out a settlement on the $21.9 million that he is owed for the upcoming season. Wednesday the “New York Post” reported that New York could waive him if they choose to, but Starbury will not entertain any ideas of a settlement. Marbury told reporters “There wouldn’t be no negotiation. They’re going to give me all my money. If they want to waive me and give me all my money, fine. If not, I’ll try to help this organization win the championship. They told me to come to camp in the best shape of my life and I did that. But I don’t want to be in a place I’m not wanted.” Marbury reportedly is down to less than 200 pounds.
The San Antonio Spurs announced Wednesday that they have added two more players to their roster for the upcoming season. The Spurs signed free agent guard Salim Stoudamire, as well as rookie guard George Hill. Terms of the two deals were not disclosed. Hill was the Spurs first round draft pick taken with selection number 26 in the 2008 NBA Draft. Hill impressed team officials with his play in the Las Vegas Summer League, and the Rocky Mountain Revue. Stoudamire has spent three seasons in the Association all with the Atlanta Hawks. He has averaged 8.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists per game in his NBA career.
Remember that song from the ”Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer” Christmas Special “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year“? Well right now the NBA should be singing that song every day of the year. The Association is coming off of an incredible season, which culminated in a NBA Finals Series between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. It had the best TV ratings in years, this after a bunch of great playoff series that proceeded it.
Reigning NBA MVP Kobe Bryant while in China with Team USA, was so popular that he could have run for Prime Minister and probably won. The Association is filled with young superstars that barring injury should be on the hardwood for at least the next decade. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, as well as countless others, will put fannies in the seats, and sell merchandise for a long time.
Although “The Team Formerly Known As The Seattle SuperSonics” are now the Oklahoma City Thunder, other former NBA waste lands are doing quite well. Cleveland a city that until a few years ago was a place that you could not give away tickets to get people into the arena to watch the Cavaliers, is now a robust market. The New Orleans Hornets have helped revive a city. Even Atlanta made the post season last year, and actually drew fans.
With all the positives that I just mentioned NBA Commissioner David Stern should be salivating as NBA training camps open next week. Unfortunately all those positives are being balanced out right now by the 2500 pound elephant in the room. It’s the gift that keeps on giving; former NBA referee Tim Donaghy.
The “Associated Press” reported Tuesday that Donaghy began his 15 month sentence at Saufley Field a minimum security federal prison in Pensacola, Florida. Back in July Donaghy had admitted to providing inside information to associates as well as betting on games himself. He was sentenced to 15 months jail time, and 3 years of supervised release. Donaghy’s attorney asked the judge in the New York courtroom to give his client probation, instead of prison time. He said his client needed treatment not punishment. Judge Carol Amon instead gave Donaghy a 15 month sentence, much shorter than the maximum sentence for the crime which is 33 months.
Commissioner Stern is saying that Donaghy was just one bad seed, that the rest of the NBA referees are all beyond reproach. The problem is that Stern right now does not have a lot of credibility on the issue stemming from his actions during the Summer of 2007.
Up until last Summer, NBA referees lived their lives under a set of very stringent rules. Game Officials were to have no contact what so ever with gambling, not even going to the track or a casino was allowed under the old system. If a referee was found to be in violation of those rules, they according to the Association’s guide lines were to be immediately terminated.
After the Donaghy situation surfaced last year, Stern instigated an investigation into other officials transgressions. The information that came back to the Commissioner, was that a very large segment of NBA referees were guilty in one way shape or form. So instead of firing the officials or fining them, Stern swept the information under the rug. Then he changed the rules, so that the former transgressions were now allowed.
Needless to say this did nothing to restore the credibility of the NBA. Stern had the chance last Summer to rectify this situation, and forever take that cloud of doubt that has hung over the Association away forever. He failed miserably!
More doubt surfaced during the NBA Finals. Donaghy’s attorney released a statement during that series, that took the spotlight off of the games, and back into the courtroom. According to Donaghy without specifically naming the teams, he claimed through his attorney that game six of the 2002 NBA playoff series between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers had the outcome determined by the officiating crew.
Donaghy claimed that the Association wanted the series to go seven games, if the Kings had won the game the series would have ended in six. According to Donaghy, the officials called the game with a bias towards the Lakers, assuring them the win. The Lakers would win the series and the NBA Championship. Former Kings’ center Scott Pollard said he was not surprised by the news, that he had suspected all along the game’s outcome was determined by the officials.
Stern vehemently denied the accusations, and said that Donaghy had zero credibility. He claimed that Donaghy was just trying to implicate others in exchange for a lighter sentence. As of this writing there has been no further information released on the situation.
You may remember that the Commissioner named a “Gambling Czar” a former federal prosecutor named Lawrence Pedowitz. Pedowitz has been conducting an independent investigation into officiating in the Association. He will release a report with his findings reportedly before the beginning of the season, on October 28.
This situation is not going to die, the fans and the media simply will not let it. During the Finals ESPN commentator Michael Wilbon echoed a sentiment that I have written many times on these pages. There has been a deep rooted perception in the minds of many NBA fans that the Association is somehow fixed. These feelings surfaced long before Donaghy’s crimes were discovered.
As I have written before, for years, intelligent knowledgeable sports fans, as well as some of my peers in the media, have asked me if I thought the NBA was “on the up and up“. I have never been asked that about the officiating in MLB, or the NFL. My response has always been, that if I did not believe in the integrity of the NBA, I could never cover it, at that point it’s the WWE.
The Commissioner can play ostrich and keep his head buried in the sand for only so long. If the Pedowitz Report comes back and says there have been no other violations by other officials, it will be looked at as a coverup by a majority of the fans, and the media. And for that David Stern has only himself to blame.
Looks like time may be growing short for veteran point guard Stephon Marbury in NYC. “Newsday” reported Tuesday that “Starbury” could be put on waivers by the New York Knicks by the end of this week. Once the veteran clears waivers, the Knicks then would negotiate a buy-out for the last year of his contract. Marbury’s stint in New York has been engulfed in controversy thoughout his time with the Knicks. Marbury had issues with both of his former coaches in New York, Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas. Last season, was especially tough for the point guard as he was injured for most of the year, and lost his father, who he was extremely close to. Marbury is reportedly owed $21.9 million for the upcoming season. There has been speculation he could end up signing a deal with the Miami Heat, who need help in their back court.
Monday “Newsday” reported that the Memphis Grizzlies had decided that they were going to pass on the deal that would have brought New York Knicks forward Zach Randolph to Memphis. Earlier this month there were reports of a proposed deal that would have sent Randolph to Memphis in exchange for Darko Milicic and Marko Jaric. The Grizzlies were also asking for the Knicks selection in the first round of the NBA Draft. New York Team President Donnie Walsh reportedly did not want to give up the draft pick. Whether that is what tabled the deal or Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace had a change of heart but the reports are that Memphis has decided not to make the trade. Randolph came to the Knicks on the night of the 2007 NBA Draft, in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers.
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