Amateur Video Is Latest in Bryant Drama - New York Times

Amateur Video Is Latest in Bryant Drama - New York Times: "The video’s owners played the clip over the telephone for a Times reporter. The voice is clearly Bryant’s, speaking in a high, agitated tone.

“It’s not the camera Kobe,” said a spokesman for the amateur videographers, who, like his friends, wanted to remain anonymous. He said the footage was shot in a shopping center parking lot in Newport Coast, Calif., where Bryant lives. The spokesman said his friends, all in their early 20s, were chatting with Bryant when one of them decided to take a photograph and some video for posterity, but that they did not believe that Bryant was aware that they were filming. The Lakers passed on a chance to obtain the Nets’ Jason Kidd in February because they would not part with Bynum.

“Are you kidding me?” Bryant says in the video. He goes on to say, with a number of profanities mixed in, that the Lakers should “ship out” Bynum.

“We’re talking about Jason Kidd,” Bryant says. He also speaks in a derisive tone about General Manager Mitch Kupchak before the video abruptly ends."

Celtics, Wolves discuss Garnett - Boston Celtics - BostonHerald.com

Celtics, Wolves discuss Garnett - Boston Celtics - BostonHerald.com: "Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge acknowledged yesterday that he has talked with the Minnesota Timberwolves about a potential trade for Kevin Garnett.
However, Ainge refused to comment about a published report that had the Celts shipping Al Jefferson [stats], Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair [stats], Theo Ratliff [stats] and the fifth pick in next week’s NBA draft for the All-Star forward.
A league source confirmed the teams have talked but are not close to a deal. "

Swingman Delfino likes Raptors' style

Swingman Delfino likes Raptors' style: "In Toronto, Delfino is a low-risk gamble at US$1.8-million this season, especially if he can crack coach Sam Mitchell's rotation."

Injury could force Bosh off Team USA

Injury could force Bosh off Team USA: "A nagging foot injury could keep Chris Bosh off the U.S. national team this summer.

Bosh said that the plantar fasciitis in his left heel -- an injury he had played through last season -- is healing well. But if it is not 100% when Team USA begins training next month, he would give up his spot.

'My foot is not healed but it's making progress,' he told the National Post, while in Toronto for Sunday's MuchMusic Video Awards."

globesports.com: Delfino gets a shot with Toronto

globesports.com: Delfino gets a shot with Toronto: "Delfino has been in Toronto only to play games, but he is already happy to be moving here. 'Nothing against Detroit, but Toronto seems more lively,' Delfino said. 'There's more people walking around.'

If the Raptors opened their season today, Delfino would likely play small forward alongside Calderon and Juan Dixon as part of the second unit. He'll have to compete with Luke Jackson for those minutes. The Raptors will also hope he can keep the pressure on Joey Graham, the projected starter at small forward. All those roles could change if the Raptors sign a free-agent wing player this summer.

At the very least the club is accumulating its share of short-term contracts. Delfino, Dixon, Calderon, Kris Humphries, Jackson and Graham (unless the Raptors extend his contract this summer) are all potential free agents next year. The result is the Raptors could have some room under the salary cap heading into the 2008-09 season.

They also have a number of low-risk pieces they can package in a trade to a team looking for some cap space of its own."

TheStar.com - Sports - Delfino a better fit with Raptors than he was with mighty Pistons

TheStar.com - Sports - Delfino a better fit with Raptors than he was with mighty Pistons: "Delfino's status is unique, however, in the style that he's used to playing and the style the Raptors are trying to employ. A veteran of the Argentine national team for the past five seasons and a four-year veteran of the Italian league, he's used to the international flavour that dominates the Raptors.

That's one of the reasons he wasn't sorry to leave Detroit.

'A couple of teams are playing a little more FIBA style and the Raptors are one of those teams,' he said."

Dell Curry on the bench...

TorontoSun.com - Basketball - L.A. high on Kobe: "The Charlotte Bobcats have hired former Raptor Dell Curry as an assistant coach."

TorontoSun.com - Basketball - Busy summer for Raptors

TorontoSun.com - Basketball - Busy summer for Raptors: "The newest member of the squad, shooting guard/small forward Carlos Delfino, said yesterday that he plans to play at the FIBA Americas championship this August in Las Vegas, which is a qualifying event for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

That makes a total of eight Raptors who plan to compete in regional Olympic qualifying tournaments this summer."

What ya gonna do?

TSN : NBA - Canada's Sports Leader: "Based on the seriously flawed Cleveland Cavaliers winning the Eastern Conference, the Raptors have to enter next season with the expectation that they will be be competing for the conference title."

Look to future, not to Kobe on ChicagoSports.com

Look to future, not to Kobe on ChicagoSports.com: "In the new-era media exclusive, Pau Gasol's Web site, www.paugasol.com, scooped everyone with these comments: 'If they really want to keep me, then they have to make the necessary effort to get players around me that can compete at the maximum level. I want to be on a winning team that has ambition and fights for everything with stronger players.'

Not likely with just the No. 4 draft pick and a team filled with youngsters. Gasol has made it clear he's no fan of the city, either, so with a new coach and GM and declining attendance (they come to see Kobe in L.A.; they don't come to see Pau in Memphis), it seems like it would be a perfect time for the Grizzlies to cash in.

And a perfect time for the Bulls to pull off that deal rumored at last season's trade deadline."

Annus horribilis

Annus horribilis: "But we ask you today to strike the 2006-07 NBA season from the record, as it was among the most disastrous in the 61-year history of the Association. It was a debacle, beginning to end."

Kobe's web comments suggest he wants out

TorontoSun.com - Basketball - Kobe's web comments suggest he wants out: "'When you love something as much as I love the Lakers its hard to even imagine thinking about being elsewhere. But, the ONE THING I will never sacrifice when it comes to basketball is WINNING,' the two-time scoring champion wrote.

'The more I thought about the future, the more I became convinced that the Lakers and me just have two different visions for the future.'"

JS Online: It's official: Todd's back

JS Online: It's official: Todd's back: "Todd was grateful to the Bucks for providing him yet another opportunity with the team.

'Milwaukee is where I started my NBA career, and in many ways I consider it home,' he said. 'I look forward to continuing to help our players improve and to assisting Coach K in the development of a winning team.'

Said Krystkowiak: 'Jim is someone who loves Milwaukee as much as I do. He helped his team in Toronto win a division title and that's definitely a goal for us. I'm eager for his input.'"

DREW SHARP: Delfino: He's dud and gone

DREW SHARP: Delfino: He's dud and gone: "Delfino was sacrificed because Dumars must clear roster space. It didn't matter what he got back from the Raptors -- and what he got was two future second-round picks. What he sought more than anything was Delfino's roster space.

The Pistons must find room in their nine-man rotation for big man Amir Johnson, whom they're looking upon as a bonus lottery pick. Had Johnson honored his college commitment and played two years at Louisville, he might have been a top-five selection in the draft.

They're just getting started in not only changing some of the faces, but, more important, erasing a tone of complacency that basically killed their title chances the past two years."

Stephen A. Smith | NBA is in dire need of change | Inquirer | 06/16/2007

Stephen A. Smith | NBA is in dire need of change | Inquirer | 06/16/2007: "No, these NBA Finals were about a few other things.

Mainly, awful basketball.

And the alarming level of apathy it generated."

Kobe again wants trade

Kobe again wants trade: "Bryant met Friday in Barcelona with Lakers owner Jerry Buss and reiterated his demand to be traded, according to the Los Angeles Times and The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, Calif. That could signal good news for the Knicks, who have Bryant on their wish list and pursued him in 2004 when he was a free agent. But the Knicks would have stiff competition from the Chicago Bulls, another team Bryant reportedly would be interested in playing for if he is traded.

Bryant's contract includes a no-trade clause and has $88.6 million left, but he can opt out and become a free agent after next season. He was on vacation in Spain; Buss arrived after a two-week trip to China."

Pistons Trade Carlos Delfino to the Raptors - Sports Blog - The FanHouse

Pistons Trade Carlos Delfino to the Raptors - Sports Blog - The FanHouse

globesports.com: LSU to make three-game pre-season trip to Ontario

globesports.com: LSU to make three-game pre-season trip to Ontario: "A three-game pre-season trip to southern Ontario will give Lousiana State University basketball coaches and fans an early look at a revamped roster.

The Tigers' exhibition games will be September 1 at the University of Guelph; September 2 at York University in Toronto and September 3 at the University of Toronto.

A recently instituted NCAA rule lets college teams take off-season trips outside the U.S. — and get an extra 10 days of practice for them.

Coach John Brady says that will mean ten days of work with the veterans, and some extra work as well for the new players. He says it will give the team a chance to introduce newcomers to the team's basics, but he says the biggest advantage is a chance to travel together and build team chemistry."

TheStar.com - Sports - Raptors add Delfino to roster

TheStar.com - Sports - Raptors add Delfino to roster: "'He (Delfino) hasn't been the guy everyone thought he would be so far but he's going to be a good fit for our system,' said Colangelo."

TorontoSun.com - Basketball - Raps acquire Delfino

TorontoSun.com - Basketball - Raps acquire Delfino: "'Delfino is a bona fide NBA talent who has shown real flashes of playing at a high level,' Raps general manager Bryan Colangelo said last night. 'He should fit right into our system with his style of play and his versatility.'

Colangelo said the acquisition of Delfino gives the Raptors some insurance at the shooting guard/small forward positions in case the club loses Morris Peterson to free agency. Peterson made $4.5 million US last season. Delfino, who plays a similar game, is slated to earn $1.9 million this season. "

JS Online: Bucks to bring back assistant coach Todd

JS Online: Bucks to bring back assistant coach Todd: "'Jim was in a good place in Toronto last year,' Krystkowiak said. 'They're getting to where we want to be. So I wanted a piece of that and was glad we were able to do so.'"

James returns to Rockets with offense in mind | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

James returns to Rockets with offense in mind | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "'I think one of the things the team does need is somebody that can break people down and get to the basket,' said Adelman, who replaced Jeff Van Gundy on May 23. 'We're going to create opportunities for that, because (James') history is doing that.'

James, who averaged 10.1 points and 3.6 assists last season, made it known he is ready to compete with incumbent Rafer Alston for the Rockets' starting job at point guard.

'I'm no good sitting on the bench,' said James, a Rockets starter toward the end of the 2004-05 season.

Adelman likely will give both players a chance to make a case for playing the point during preseason, but he likes what the addition of James means for the depth of his backcourt."

Alston, who averaged 10.1 points and five assists last season, said he's at the point in his career where winning matters most.

"No one's called me and said where this leaves me or what direction the team is trying to go by having two starting point guards," said Alston, a childhood friend of James'. "I'll be 31. Mike will be 32. At this point in your career, you're (trying) to win a title."

Yardbarker: Greg Oden's Blog:

Yardbarker: Greg Oden's Blog:

Is it Teamwork? A History Lesson � The Wages of Wins Journal

Is it Teamwork? A History Lesson � The Wages of Wins Journal

The Blazers might have thought that teamwork and coaching was the key to their lone NBA title. The data, though, suggests that the key was Bill Walton. The Blazers had Walton, the most productive player on the court in the 1977 Finals. The 76ers had flashier players, but no one who could match the production of Walton. Consequently it was not a surprise that the Blazers won.

Walton was hurt in 1978, and missed the 1978-79 season and most of the next. In fact, he only played 259 more regular season games before calling it a career in 1987. When we look at Walton’s Win Score per-minute, we see that he was never quite the same player after 1978. Yes, he was still a key reason why the Celtics were able to win a title in 1986 (their last as a franchise), but he was never quite as dominant.

Howard's howling now

TorontoSun.com - Basketball - Howard's howling now

Finally, Howard is in the Twin Cities. In the first of what could be several moves to shake up its roster, Minnesota shipped disgruntled point guard Mike James and swingman Justin Reed to the Rockets for Howard, and the 34-year-old veteran can't wait to get here to help Kevin Garnett.