Hill signing boosts Lakers bench

Jordan Hill has decided to stay in Los Angeles. The 6-foot-9 forward recently reached a two-year agreement (worth $8 million) to stay with the Lakers despite being seriously recruited by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Hill was acquired by the Lakers in the trade that sent a first-round pick and Derek Fisher to the Rockets last season. … [Read more…]

JAMISON PICKS L.A. OVER CHARLOTTE

Antawn Jamison has reportedly agreed to a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, reuniting him with his former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown. Jamison’s deal with the Lakers was a bit of a surprise since many thought he would choose the Charlotte Bobcats because he is from North … [Read more…]

HORNETS PEG RIVERS TO BE THEIR POINT

Learning on the job is part of the culture in the NBA. Austin Rivers knows this very well because his father, Glen “Doc”  Rivers, went through the same thing 30 years ago. But even though 19-year-old Austin has been groomed and prepped for life in the Association, it’s still a painful process — literally. In … [Read more…]

OBAMA: WE SHOULD BRING HOME GOLD

The U.S. men’s basketball team looked a little bit out of sync in its Olympic tuneup Monday night against Brazil in Washington, D.C., and with good reason. The Brazilians certainly had a hand in forcing Team USA out of its comfort zone, but the more likely excuse was the added pressure of having to perform … [Read more…]

IT’S HOWARD OR BUST FOR ROCKETS

Many people around the NBA have to be wondering what the Houston Rockets are doing. This is a team that just barely missed out on making the playoffs in the final weeks of the season. But, they seem intent on blowing it up and starting over. They have traded Kyle Lowry (understandable since he said … [Read more…]

One Man’s opinion: Five best dunks of 2012

Because of the lockout, the 2011-12 NBA season was one nonstop frenetic highlight reel. Games were fast and furious, and so were the slam dunks. There were several jaw-dropping dunks that drew attention from NBA TV, TNT, and SportsCenter, but only five ultimately stood above from the rest. Who could forget Blake Griffin’s tomahawk over … [Read more…]

SOLID DEBUTS FOR JONES, SULLINGER

Jared Sullinger and Perry Jones III gave a sneak preview of what they could do at the pro level with solid first games at the Orlando Summer League. Jones, the 28th overall selection in the 2012 NBA draft, looked very comfortable at power forward for Oklahoma City’s summer league squad that also featured Cole Aldrich, … [Read more…]

LEBRON: WE WON’T TAKE EASY WAY OUT

LeBron James looks around the room at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas where USA Basketball is holding its Olympics press conference and he likes what he sees. It doesn’t matter that his Miami Heat buddies Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are not a part of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team because of injuries, and … [Read more…]

SUMMER LEAGUE HITS LAS VEGAS

After taking a year off because of the lockout, the NBA Summer Pro League returns to Las Vegas. A record 24 teams are competing in a 60-game schedule July 13-22 at the Thomas & Mack Center and the Cox Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. The summer league will showcase … [Read more…]