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CEO Jason Levien (who was on TrueHoop TV the other day enjoying his franchise's place atop ESPN the Magazine's Ultimate Standings list) talks about tweaks to the Grizzlies' roster, the team's style of play this season, coaching, finances and prospects.

Also ... some pointers on pickup ball with Grizzlies staffers.

 

Memphis Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien is delighted the Memphis Grizzlies topped ESPN the Magazine's Ultimate Standings list. And a tiny bit surprised.

 

It's a wonderful time for the NBA, with young stars all over the league, an impressive collection of contenders and fascinating storylines from coast to coast. The one real downer, however, is that the game-changing talent of the 2014 draft is expected to inspire any number of teams to lose as many games as possible this season, in the name of the best possible draft pick. In the first post of a series, ESPN.com's HoopIdea explores tanking and its effect on the NBA.

Here’s a nice HD YouTube video, cued up to the moment when the world’s finest sprinters are lining up for a big race.

Eight of the best athletes the world has ever known, shaking muscles loose and then crouching into the starting blocks, poised to explode. They spend years getting to this level -- running fast defines these competitors. Yet they do their best at it only a few seconds a year.

This is that time.

It's fun to watch, even though the commentary is in German and it's a sport hurting for both celebrity power and highlight-worthy artistry. In fact, it's surely the simplest sport: It starts here and ends right over there. No turning. Not even really any pacing. Eight athletes in a row, each bound and determined to run faster.

We appreciate this on a deep level. "Wanna race?" is an ancient question almost every human has asked or answered. This trips a trigger. The rare delight of sports, in these complicated times, is to see eight crystal-clear agendas, so nakedly, completely and devotedly all in.

That’s competition, and that's part of us.

Screwing up a beautiful thing
Now imagine this. You’re the runner in Lane 4, hands placed carefully, heart racing, waiting for the starter. Three sprinting wizards to your left, four to your right. Everyone has had this date circled on the calendar all year. You’ve got glory to earn and a family to feed.

And you know there’s:

• $100,000 for first place
• $50,000 for second place
• And … $100,000 for last place

What?

Takes a lot of the fun out of the race, doesn't it? Knowing the competition’s big prizes are not just for winning, but for winning or losing.

A little weird, eh?

Of course, that's not what happens in track. But, oddly, it is roughly what really happens in the NBA.

Picture 30 teams trying to win
This season, one NBA team will work incredibly hard, make one smart decision after another, please the basketball gods and enjoy an NBA title in June.

Another team will turn the ball over a ton, play the wrong players and endure heart-wrenching injuries as the basketball gods look the other way. That team will trick the rulebook into an incredibly high pick in the draft of a lifetime with a good shot at a player who will change things for that team for a decade or more.

It's tough to say which team wins the bigger prize.

In other words: Every team would do its darnedest to give fans what they want -- real long-term strategy and real all-in nightly competition -- if the league would take its thumb off the scale. Thirty general managers are hard-wired to pull their hair out to win now and forever just like those sprinters -- if only the NBA didn't muck things up by giving a whole lot of those competitive people strong arguments to cut their competitive juices with the tonic water of tanking.

It's not that the league is forcing teams to lose. And rest assured we still get amazing competition. But the NBA is needlessly confusing things. You know what exits stage left when the priorities get cloudy? The beauty of clear priorities.

Give the big prize to the runner in last place, and it's just too much to expect everyone's best race after race, year after year. The race gets a little less fun to watch.

Maybe it’s not the biggest deal in the world. Maybe the sport can thrive despite this -- clearly it has.

And let's be clear: What I'm not alleging is that coaches or players are throwing games. I'm not even chapped at the owners or GMs who pursue losses by deciding to cut costs, keep bad coaches around, trump up injuries, trade away efficient players, play inferior players or save cap space for another day. They all should do what they think is in the long-term best interests of their teams -- I can't really call the Spurs idiots for the pathetic show they put on to get the draft pick that became Tim Duncan. Everyone should pursue wins, and more or less I believe everyone does. This isn't an ethical issue.

What's messed up is that the league has confused matters. When this season is over and teams like the 76ers, Suns, Kings, Magic, Bobcats, Celtics and Jazz have miserable records, did we learn those teams are dumb, or smart?

Losing badly in the NBA is no condemnation of the team. Which is a profound condemnation of the league. Whoever dreamed up that prize scheme simply got it wrong. It’s a strategy where you can more or less count on some competitors dogging it every time out. In casual conversation, I've heard NBA GMs mocking front offices in places like Houston and Milwaukee for "foolishly" trying to win season after season. It's all backward.

You want to see the most intense competition? You want every game to matter? You want maximum excitement? Well, duh. Stop rewarding failure. Stop creating the problem.

It casts a shadow over the NBA schedule. Maybe a third of the games feature at least one team that no doubt has players and coaches who are dying to win, but who have been intentionally handicapped by front offices that value losses. I don’t know who’ll win that Grizzlies versus Sixers contest, but I know the Grizzlies -- all of them, from the point guard to the president -- want to.

Meanwhile, we could, quite simply, with a wave of the hand from the NBA Board of Governors, have a league where all 1,230 games feature two organizations with all the naked competitive ambition of the sprinters in that video.

That’s what we’re exploring.

Why can’t we have that?

• Zach Harper of CBS Sports takes you back in time. Why? Shawn Kemp. That’s why.

• Harrison Barnes talks with Jesse Taylor of WarriorsWorld about the latest "Breaking Bad" episode. Apparently, Barnes got to meet comedian Bill Burr, who plays Kuby on the show. “(Bill Burr) went off on how genius the writers are about everything. They really dig into proving the Internet naysayers wrong. Like the laying on the money scene with him and Huell. They went out, researched and measured exactly how big that pile would be for that exact amount of money. They didn’t just throw a pile of money in a storage room and say it was a certain amount. Also, how much time it would take a guy like Walt to dig a hole by himself to bury all that money.”

• Did Kobe Bryant jump into a pool? Maybe, as @netw3rk says, “He fell into it.”

• We know Kevin Garnett will have limited minutes with the Nets, but how limited? And where should we see the effects of extra rest? Brian Faith of Brooklyn’s Finest analyzes the situation: “Using data from NBA.com/stats, Garnett’s offensive and defensive impact can be measured based on how many days rest he had before playing. Somewhat surprisingly his offense didn’t seem to suffer at all. Garnett actually raised his scoring efficiency in games in which he had zero days rest. In the 17 games he played on zero days rest he shot 55.8% from the field, compared to 47.8% from the field in his other 51 games. Small sample sizes surely play a role, but it’s still a large difference in conversion rate. Garnett was most affected on the defensive end and on the glass in these short rest situations. His individual defensive rating rose slightly to 98.0 with zero days rest, but shot up to an eye-popping 108.6 in the February back-to-backs.”

• Marc Gasol is mean to the British.

• Tiago Splitter’s career, reviewed as though it’s an album.

• In an interview with The Sporting News, Warriors GM Bob Myers reveals that he’s banking on Andrew Bogut’s health: “At this point, you treat him like he is 100 percent healthy, that is what he is saying, that is what the medical staff is saying, so, you don’t treat him any other way. Maybe the question is, do you want to play him 35 minutes? But that is a question for any center. It is not due to anything with his injury. We’re approaching it like he is healthy.”

• Michael Pina of Celtics Hub is all for giving a contract extension to Avery Bradley. I mostly agree, but the caveat I’d add is that Bradley’s intense pressure style D could be unsustainable. It’s hard to envision a guy playing defense like that while staying healthy.

• Basketball writer and current Grantland writer Danny Chau is the future of food bloggery. Get on the bandwagon. Do it now.

• How was your summer, Minnesota Timberwolves?

Most agree the Miami Heat are the popular pick to win the 2014 title. But if you ask J.A. Adande and Bomani Jones to pick the Heat or the field, they don't agree.

 

• Doug Smith of the Toronto Star: I always found Allen Iverson to be a polarizing figure, he was self-confident to a level that some felt was off-putting but I think that’s what made him special in a lot of ways. I’m sure there was a rather substantial chip on his shoulder and he didn’t mind that everyone knew. He had a level of disdain for authority that was palpable at times, his clashes with Larry Brown were significant but those are two very strong-willed men so that shouldn’t come as too much a surprise. thing is that all the extraneous stuff — the posses, that legendary practice rant (and it was my dear friend Phil Jasner who started that, bless his soul), the tattoos, the “I’ve got to get mine” attitude — probably clouded judgement of him too much. And that’s his own fault, isn’t it? I’m not suggesting he — or anyone — should totally change the way they are just to get along or to present a false version of their character but at some point if you’re in a team sport, some bending for common good may be necessary.
• Tom Layman of the Boston Herald: Walter McCarty’s education as a coach came from a very unpopular voice here in Boston. But without it, the former Celtics reserve forward might not be answering questions as a new assistant for Brad Stevens. McCarty — who was hired by Stevens to fill out the Celtics coaching staff with Ron Adams and Micah Shrewsberry, along with holdovers Jamie Young and Jay Larranaga — spent three seasons, starting in 2007, as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville under his former C’s coach Rick Pitino. It was there where he learned the intricacies of what a coach does behind the scenes, and how to find a voice as an assistant from a guy who has brought three different programs to the Final Four. “Working for Rick Pitino taught me a lot. It really prepared me for how to prepare for opponents, how to scout games, how to teach and develop players, and how to speak and communicate with players, as well,” McCarty said from the Celtics practice facilities before a private basketball clinic with MarShon Brooks for YMCA of Greater Boston youth yesterday. “I think without those three years and that schooling, that education under Rick Pitino, I think this would have been a tough get.” … McCarty is the only assistant on Stevens’ staff with any NBA playing experience. He has one year under his belt as an assistant for Jim O’Brien with the Indiana Pacers in 2010-11, and he is hoping his 10-year resume as a player will benefit Stevens and the players in the Celtics locker room.
• Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times: As much as he (Doc Rivers) needs fresh scenery, the Clippers will need his strategizing and motivational skills to meet the high expectations they will face this season. With Blake Griffin in his prime and Chris Paul secured to a five-year, $107.3-million extension, winning a playoff round or two won't be enough for this team. Rivers must make the players' considerable individual talents add up to a cohesive whole, polish their many assets, and solidify their defense before they can be a championship contender in a rugged conference. "The expectations are great. I don't want us to shrink from that at all. I don't want us to run from that," he said. "But what we've got to get our guys to understand is expectations are one thing. Realization is a whole different thing, and just because you're expected to do anything doesn't mean you've arrived. We have not arrived. We didn't win a playoff series last year. So we have a lot of work to do as a group. We should expect to do that work. We have to expect that it's going to be much harder and we have to embrace it and do it."
• Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: LeBron James might be entitled to his opinion, but it doesn't mean Magic Johnson has to agree. Asked in a recent Fox Sports television interview to name his three greatest NBA players of all-time, the Miami Heat forward paused and then somewhat hastily went for Michael Jordan, Julius Erving and Larry Bird. Omitted and paying attention, former Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson replied Thursday on Twitter. Johnson first posted, "Lebron is entitled to his opinion, but I still think that he and I have a similar game and that's why I LOVE to watch him play!" That quickly was followed by, "NBA Championship rings are all that matter; Jordan 6, Me 5, Bird 3, LeBron 2 and Dr. J 1." … For the record, James did add that if he was asked for his top four, Johnson would have made that list. Somewhat surprised by the question asked during his charity event in Akron, Ohio, two weeks ago, James' first response was, "Michael Jordan, uh, wow . . . Michael Jordan . . . wow, this is tough . . . Michael Jordan, uh, Dr. J., Larry Bird. "You give me three? Oh my God. Three? Larry Bird, Dr. J. Michael Jordan." James said stopping at three was difficult. "I know," he said. "Can I get four? All right, Magic."
• Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer: The remaking of the 76ers continues. The team has acquired Tony Wroten from the Memphis Grizzlies Thursday for a protected second-round pick, a league source confirmed. This pick is based on where the Sixers, who are expected to struggle, finish in the standings. As a result, they basically surrendered nothing for Wroten, a 2012 first-round selection. “Just want to say thank you to ALL the Memphis Grizzlies fans, coaches, etc.,” Wroten tweeted Thursday. “I love the city of Memphis. Will always have love for you guys. GnG.” The 6-foot-5 point guard later tweeted ‘Where the homie @MeekMill at? LOL” before tweeting “Philly Philly Philly. City Of Brotherly Love. #215.” Robert Williams, better known as Meek Mill, is a rap artist from Philadelphia. The source said this move was about acquiring Wroten’s 1.1 million salary. Including his pay, the Sixers have around $41.2 million of salary guaranteed to 10 players for the upcoming season. NBA teams must have a minium payroll of $52.811 million. The Grizzlies needed to make this trade to shed salary and open up a roster spot.
• Kevin Nielson of Sportsnet.ca: Heading into the final year of his contract and with a new management team to answer to, Dwayne Casey’s tenuous future in Toronto will likely come down to the play of three wing players: Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan and Terrence Ross. Gay has seen his three-point shooting plummet from his career high (39.6 per cent) in 2010-11 to 32.3 per cent last season. The Raptors forward had off-season eye surgery to correct an astigmatism, and Casey is hoping this will help his star forward rediscover his outside shot. … Many believe that the outside combo of Gay and DeRozan is doomed to fail as neither has the ability to stretch the floor from long range. While Gay was bad from beyond the arc, DeRozan was terrible (28.3 percent), especially for a player whose position has the word ‘shoot’ in the title. … While Casey acknowledged Ross’ potential, the old-school coach will not reward him with minutes based on potential alone. The Raptors coach is looking for more consistency from the sophomore forward.
• Nat Newell of The Indianapolis Star: The Indiana Pacers always-engaging center Roy Hibbert is back at it on social media. After sending out a picture following a workout in San Antonio earlier in the week in which he dwarfed Tim Duncan, Hibbert put pictures of himself in an airplane bathroom on Instagram. The answer? He doesn't. He wrote with the photo, on his accountroyhibbert55,” “I'm not one to take selfies but I know y'all were wondering how I fit in an airplane bathroom and the answer is ... I don't. #crampedlife”
• Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News: The NBA could award the All-Star Game in 2015 to the Garden and have its All-Star weekend events leading up to the game held in Brooklyn, but there won’t be a decision on the specifics for another few weeks, according to well-placed league sources. The Garden and Barclays Center continue to be in discussions with the league, with each entity looking to host the weekend’s main event — the 64th All-Star Game. “It hasn't been finalized,” one source said Thursday night. The league plans on making a decision by mid- to late September. The idea of having the Knicks and Nets co-host the weekend has been known since last February. It’s also possible that the All-Star Game could return to New York before 2020, with the game hosted by the Nets and the Knicks having the Friday and Saturday night events. The 2014 NBA All-Star Weekend will be held in New Orleans.
• Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun: Canada dropped the opener of the Tutu Marchand Continental Cup to host Puerto Rico on Thursday night. The tournament is a tune-up for next week’s FIBA Americas Championship, where four berths will be earned for next year’s FIBA World Cup in Spain. Minnesota guard J.J. Barea lit up the Canadians with 23 points and eight assists, helping Puerto Rico to a 40-30 half-time edge by notching 15 through two quarters. Orlando forward Andrew Nicholson paced the visitors with 21 points and Cleveland big man Tristan Thompson was excellent with 10 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in 22 minutes of play. Canada closed within three heading into the final quarter, before a 10-2 run made the deficit too great to erase. Another tough opponent in Argentina awaits Canada on Friday.
• Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: It has been a busy offseason for Lou Williams. The Hawks guard has been rehabbing a torn ACL and hopes to be ready for the start of training camp. He also has been in a studio recording his recently released mixtape entitled 'Here Goes Nothin' under the name Lou Will. There are 16 tracks and the mixtape features other artists including 2 Chainz, Meek Mill, The Casey Boys from Jagged Edge, K. Michelle and Quez from Travis Porter. I listened to the tracks for language and content. Nothing major. I will leave the reviews to you and those far more qualified. Williams announced the release of the mixtape via Twitter Tuesday.

ESPN's Summer Forecast panel says the Thunder are the favorites to win the West, but Insider David Thorpe doesn't see it that way.

I recently watched "Doin' it in the Park," a love letter to New York City pickup ball in documentary form. The movie is enjoyable because its subjects wax charismatic on NYC's special brand of toughening. Zigzagging on gnarled black top makes you agile, accounting for crooked rims makes you resourceful, the threat of losing and sitting out hours makes you compete harder. Real New Yawk stuff.

It’s a compelling story. But lately, these conditions haven’t produced much in the way of NBA talent. It’s an open mystery why a town like Chicago churns out pro after pro while New York’s “Mecca” status ebbs towards distant memory.

The question on my mind is whether it's not just that city, but also "the park" that's falling behind.

A few of the league’s rising young players hail from a specific kind of background: They had a parent who played professional basketball. Kevin Love, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving all claim fathers who worked hard in passing their old vocation to the next generation.

The other common thread is that all these guys can shoot. In the case of Curry and Thompson, they might comprise the “greatest shooting backcourt in the history of the game." It’s no guarantee that NBA pedigree makes for a sweet jumper (Austin Rivers has certainly struggled), but it’s rare to see the second generation pro baller who flat can’t shoot. You wouldn’t want to leave Mike Dunleavy Jr., Wesley Matthews Jr., Jeffery Taylor, or even John Lucas III open behind the arc. Unfortunately for spacing-starved Memphis, you can let Terry Davis’ son Ed shoot.

Davis is also aberrational in that he’s a high-flying athlete. The NBA sons are a largely ground-bound lot, even if Stephen Curry was recently spotted reverse jamming. Setting aside my suspicion the Warriors hired a convincing Stephen stunt double, the lack of athleticism among second-gen players contradicts an easy “inherited” narrative, pervasive among League Pass announcers when they discuss these familially familiar talents. If it were as simple as “player receive genes,” one generation’s high leapers would raise the next generation’s high leapers.

Instead, junior is a highly skilled shooter, and such a skill can be helped along massively by one’s environment. Sure, Stephen Curry might have come out of the womb with father Dell’s jump shot. But you can also bet your life Dell Curry wouldn’t have just allowed his young son to keep shooting with, say, Rajon Rondo’s elbow-jutted form. NBA dads obviously have a facility with certain basketball abilities, often combined with the means and inclination make it manifest in their kids. They have access to great coaches, great camps, anything you need to turn your child into the optimal basketball robot.

Roughly one year ago, The New Yorker ran a story about a renowned “quarterback guru” and the thousands he charged for turning kids into promising prospects. Quarterbacking may never claim the high bar of entry that, say, becoming a concert violinist requires, but the article’s implication was that money goes a long way in determining a very specific kind of athletic success. The same rules could apply to the jump shot, merely one aspect of the NBA game -- but an increasingly essential one.

Much like swinging a golf club, a jump shot is a deceptively simple motion wherein a lot can go wrong. It follows that shooting skill is probably more easily developed when conditions are ideal (Read: Not in the parks of "Doin’ it in the Park.") It’s better to be in a gym, away from the wind and rain. It’s better to have an involved coach who subjects you to repetitive drills, correcting any mistakes. The guide hand, bent elbow, follow through -- these tend not to be intrinsic behaviors. Guidance begets the guide hand.

Ironic given his pedigree, the aforementioned Ed Davis was present for a dramatic demonstration on the importance of shooting in the modern NBA. His Grizzlies couldn’t shoot, so the Spurs squeezed off the paint until Memphis suffocated. Rule changes have led to a spread-out style, and teams are taking more 3-pointers than ever. Big men are less offensively involved than they used to be. A lack of perimeter shooting can make for a severe offensive disadvantage in a way it just didn't years ago. San Antonio’s sweep was the apotheosis of how spacing is dictating offense. The Grizzlies, rather than standing pat this offseason, giddily snapped up sweet-shooting Mike Miller after he was amnestied. It was a matter of survival.

So, if perimeter shooting is of growing importance in the NBA, there’s a decent chance it’s changing the league’s demographic landscape. The NBA, long known as an inner city beacon of hope, may draw an increasing number of players from the wealthier suburbs where parents spend thousands on obsessive basketball camps. If money talks, it can certainly tell you how to shoot better, in a sport that demands shooting. The park is a great place, but it’s not a given that it can reliably forge ever kind of NBA greatness.

This is mere supposition and could remain so for years given the small sample size we’re discussing and the vagaries of NBA player biographies (many basketball prospects move from school to school, searching for the best-fitting hoops program). I should also mention that a few current excellent shooters speak of humble city beginnings, most notably Kevin Durant. The NBA's just seen a surprising influx of dead-eye shooters born to former professional players. These players, many of whom had hoops in their backyards, year-round access to climate-controlled gyms and shooting coaches are looking at the park and lofting a jumper over it.

Back in March, during the height of the 2013 playoff chase, the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies were jockeying for the No. 3 seed in the West. The two teams already loathed one another, their feelings dating to their seven-game series in spring 2012. Things often can get stale in an NBA arena by mid-March, but when the Clippers and Grizzlies hooked up at Staples Center, the buzz was electric.

For the first quarter that night, the NBA was the product at its fullest. The appeal of the game was noted by the Clippers’ broadcast team, along press row and across Twitter. High-grade professional basketball.

The Clippers and Grizzlies are two of the league’s better teams, but neither play in a well-choreographed system that lends itself to hoops ballet. Yet in the first quarter that night, every player on the floor moved with purpose, and crisp decisions were made instantaneously. The ball popped around the floor and the game flowed freely. Oddly, there were no lead changes and the teams combined for only two fast-break possessions. Each team shot greater than 60 percent from the field, but that's not altogether unusual for a single quarter. It was something else:

Zero free throws attempted.

Time of quarter: 20 minutes.

There were no long red lights where the game came to a stop so we could watch nine guys stand around as one player goes through a rote skills challenge of hitting a standing set shot from a predetermined spot on the floor.

The mandatory timeout following the first stoppage after the 6-minute mark came inside of five minutes. The Clippers took an additional timeout a few minutes later to shuffle the deck after a string of sloppy possessions, but apart from that, the quarter zipped along. Blake Griffin was the best version of Blake Griffin, the big man who can beat you with both refined skills and brute force. Tayshaun Prince hopped into a time machine and beat the Clippers with his handle and down in the post. And after an exhilarating 20 minutes, the game was tied 24-24.
 

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An average NBA game features in the neighborhood of 43 free throw attempts -- 43 buzzkills that send our attention away from one of the greatest stages in the world toward our mobile devices, remote controls, refrigerators and toilets.

Why?

From "Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball’s Early Years" by Robert W. Peterson:
 

… At first field goals counted one point and there were no foul shots; offenders were penalized by temporary removal from the game. Then free throws were introduced as penalties for fouling, including such violations as running with the ball or kicking it. Free throws were shot from 20 feet until 1894-95 when the distance was reduced to 15 feet. The rule-makers tinkered with scoring too, setting the value of a field goal at three points and penalizing fouls by awarding a point to the opponents. Finally, for the 1895-96 season, they settled on two points for a field goal, one for a successful foul shot.

Just to clarify, we stop the action more than 20 times per game because the forefathers of basketball, nearly nine decades before the birth of LeBron James, decided that free throws were a good idea during the infancy of the game, a period during which basketball was far more a recreational endeavor than a spectator event. Entertainment value was the last thing on the minds of these men as they sought to codify basketball's legal system.

More than a century later, the free throw is still central to the game. But apart from timeouts, when the game is essentially suspended for other business, is there a moment during 2 1/2 hours that generates less drama (Ollie be damned), where players demonstrate less of what separates them from us, where the formulaic casts a darker shadow over the spontaneous?

Men like James Naismith and his successor, Luther Gulick, were unquestionably smart and innovative. Basketball wouldn’t have flourished globally if not for their vision and craftsmanship of the game. They realized early on that without a proper disincentive, players would hack each other with impunity. As Peterson documented, rule-makers experimented with awarding a point to a fouled team. If a player was fouled, points were awarded directly and we moved on.

There was no "earning it at the line,” because what did the recipient’s ability to hit a set shot have to do with the intent and consequence of the foul he received? As a general principle, “earning it at the line” is not a force of good in basketball. Earning it at the line results in potentially spectacular plays disintegrating into a flying collision, some of which result in injury rather than pyrotechnics. Earning it at the line is the equivalent of intentionally pulling the plugs on the speakers just as the party is getting good.

Since basketball’s formative years, leagues have continued to dabble in new ideas surrounding the free throw. In 1950, the NBA instituted a jump ball following free throws to provide a further deterrent to fouling, an idea that was short-lived. Three-to-make-two was introduced in 1954, then eliminated in 1981.

Tradition has played a prominent role in the evolution of the game, but it hasn’t been sacrosanct. That’s a good thing, because tradition shouldn’t act as the sole source of authority, especially for a game whose innovation in rules, style, schemes, form and presentation has propelled its popularity. The 3-point shot was first introduced as an experiment during preseason games in 1978. It’s been an essential ingredient in the league’s renaissance in the past three decades -- from non-existent to arguably the most exciting regular outcome of an NBA possession.

The scourge of the free throw is a far easier problem to diagnose than to treat because there are no simple antidotes. Could we just automatically award two points to a player when he gets fouled in the act of shooting or while his team is in the penalty? One or the other? Maybe two points for a shooting foul, but only one point and possession for a non-shooting foul in the bonus?

We could, as D-League president Dan Reed recently suggested on TrueHoop TV, make every shooting foul one-and-one. That would eliminate first attempts that produce dead balls and another 30 seconds of stasis, though it might also encourage more hacking because there would be an even better chance for opponents to get the ball back at no expense.

And if we did eliminate the free throw altogether, what could we provide in its place that would give trailing teams the opportunity to close the gap during the final few minutes of a game? We could eliminate consecutive timeouts, consequently forcing the leading team to get the ball in bounds on the first attempt. If they can’t -- and we see this all the time -- that would create a change of possession in five riveting seconds as the crowd explodes over a gritty defensive stand (or goes into shock as their team turns the ball over with no time expiring on the clock, all because they couldn’t get it in!).

Free throws are an entrenched feature of the game, so it’s difficult to imagine basketball without them -- but we do have reference points like those 20 minutes in March when the ball was live 60 percent of the time, and like any great piece of visual storytelling, you couldn't take your eyes off the action because you might miss something.
 

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JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Would basketball be better with fewer (or zero) free throws? You can give us your ideas and talk with us and other fans in the following places:

• Facebook: Go to our NBA on ESPN page and talk it over
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And for the truly ambitious: Shoot a short video of yourself explaining your HoopIdea, upload it to YouTube and share the link with us on Twitter or Google+.

Thanks to Curtis Harris for his help on the historical material in the post.

• Bruce Brothers of the Pioneer Press: Flip Saunders indicated that signing Pekovic provides Wolves coach Rick Adelman with a major piece for a team that acquired forwards Kevin Martin and Corey Brewer plus center Ronny Turiaf, re-signed guard Chase Budinger and signed draft picks Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng. "We were able, really, to address what we wanted to do," Saunders said. "But we've still got a lot of work to do." Saunders has been busy since taking over running the Timberwolves on May 3 but said his foremost job was securing Pekovic. "He's one of our big, key pieces," Saunders said of the 6-foot-11 Pekovic. "We came in in the offseason, and we labeled him our No. 1 priority." … Pekovic, forward Kevin Love and guard Ricky Rubio give the Wolves the tools to reach the playoffs and more after a nine-year absence, Saunders said.
• Jenny Dial Creech of the Houston Chronicle: It’s been a busy offseason for Rockets guard James Harden, who took the step up to NBA All-Star in his first season in Houston. There was recording a new commercial for Foot Locker, a trip to the Philippines as part of the NBA’s global basketball program, a stop with the Nike Drew League in Los Angeles and a surprise appearance in a summer game at Fonde. Harden also managed to find a few days to practice with his newest teammate, Dwight Howard, and get more time in the weight room. After all that? “I am ready to get back to work,” Harden said in a phone interview Wednesday. “I am really excited about what is coming up for our team.” … Harden said that heading into this season’s camp — set to kick off in late September — he is even more comfortable in his role with the Rockets. “Last year was great because it was a whole new experience,” he said. “I had a whole new role — a leadership role.” Playing on a team that is trying to become championship-caliber is something that came naturally for Harden, who reached the NBA Finals in his last year with the Thunder.
• Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times: Lakers owners/executives Jim and Jeanie Buss have different views on the exit of Dwight Howard. "He was never really a Laker," Jim said to Ric Bucher of The Hollywood Reporter. "He was just passing through." "It's disappointing that Dwight isn't here," Jeanie said. "I feel like we failed him." Howard, who was a free agent this off-season, signed a long-term deal with the Houston Rockets. The Lakers' longtime owner had been Dr. Jerry Buss, who died in February from cancer-related complications. His ownership was passed on to two of his six children, with Jim in charge of basketball operations and Jeanie in charge of business. "My brother ultimately makes the [basketball] decisions,” said Jeanie. “I defer and will continue to defer because that’s what my dad believed would be successful." She would like to be more involved with the Lakers' basketball decisions, but that's not the role within the organization. … Jeanie recently said she believes her father might have been able to convince Howard to stay.
• Bob Ford of The Philadelphia Inquirer: Trust can be earned, trust can be built, and trust can also become a quick necessity when the back door is locked and you have to go out the front together or not at all. Sam Hinkie and Brett Brown are going to pull this off as a team or it isn't going to happen for the new administration and staff. That's the reality of what the partnership announced Wednesday means, and nobody was sugarcoating the degree of difficulty involved. "We all know the pain of rebuilding is real. We've all experienced it," Brown said. "It's dangerous and . . . a bit scary at times." In finding his partner for the tightrope walk of trust across this gorge, the least-surprising thing is that Hinkie raided a San Antonio organization for which he has a respect that one league source familiar with the GM referred to as "man love." The organization built by R.C. Buford and Gregg Popovich has been an innovator in terms of team facilities, player development, and draft and free-agent strategies. The last time the Spurs didn't win at least 50 games in a full season was 1996-97, and along the way they have won four NBA titles and would have won a fifth but for an uncharacteristic last-minute collapse in Game 6 against the Heat in June. "If someone on my [Houston] staff came to me with an idea of something that maybe we should try or do differently, I'd tell them to go find out if San Antonio did it," Hinkie said. "If the answer was no, then they should go back and rethink what they had."
• Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman: In May, Kevin Durant wore a Seattle SuperSonics cap to a Thunder shootaround in Memphis. Over the weekend, Durant played a streetball game back in Seattle and turned all melancholy. “I love and miss Seattle…damn” he tweeted. To which I say, I hear you, KD. I love it myself, and I've only been a few times to the bluest skies you've ever seen. Durant's remembrance of things past is no cause for alarm in Oklahoma City, Durant's five-year NBA home. For one thing, who cares if Durant likes Seattle? Seattle doesn't have a franchise. If Durant hasn't gotten over his first love, he can buy a summer home. For another thing, who wouldn't like Seattle? Great city. Beautiful weather. Gorgeous scenery. Ivar's seafood, Pike Place Market. Seattle is one of my favorite cities. I'm not going to bust Durant if he feels the same. Of course, who knows how Durant really feels? Nothing against the gentle giant, but he's got a little politician in him. He likes to tell people what they want to hear. … Does Durant love Seattle? I don't know. Does Durant love Oklahoma City? I don't know. But so far, he's loved the basketball experience, which is more important than hills the greenest green.
• Fred Kerber of the New York Post: At the start of last season, the smart money was on the Boston Celtics in the Atlantic Division. Yeah, and smart money once thought “Ishtar” was going to be a hit. So the Knicks disproved all the smart money thinking, ran away from Boston and outdistanced the Nets by five games. Brooklyn’s upgrades will create a greater challenge, but the Knicks remain reigning division champs. And so they are the hunted. “It is what it is. We were able to win our division based on people telling us we were fourth or fifth in the East and we are able to jump from the seventh to the second seed,” coach Mike Woodson said at yesterday’s Garden of Dreams Foundation event for kids at the team’s Greenburgh training facility. “Anything is possible. But I think our players are hungry just like every team. We’ve just got to make sure that we handle our home court and ... we’ve got to figure out the road. That’s how you win your division, just like last season.”
• Jodie Valade of The Plain Dealer: When Tristan Thompson came to the Cavaliers at the end of last season and said he wanted to make the switch from shooting primarily with his left hand to primarily with his right, no one really bothered to investigate whether anyone else had ever accomplished such a feat in the NBA. Because the answer is that no one can remember it happening. Ever. Harvey Pollack is the director of statistical information for the Philadelphia 76ers and has been with the NBA since its inception in 1946. He was the game statistician for Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game, and he saw the frequently free-throw challenged player shoot those shots with his right hand, left hand and under-handed simply to find something that worked. But someone switching shooting everything from free throws to jumpers with the opposite hand? “If anyone ever did this, I’m not aware of it,” said the 91-year-old Pollack in an email reply. Thompson, for his part, claims it’s no big deal. He’s always thrown a baseball and a football right-handed. He just also always happened to golf and eat left-handed. And shoot a basketball left-handed.
• Tony Jones and Bill Oram of The Salt Lake Tribune: Player agent Justin Zanik is expected to join the Utah Jazz front office as an assistant general manager, sources confirmed to The Salt Lake Tribune. Hiring Zanik would represent the latest of a flurry of moves general manager Dennis Lindsey has made since joining the organization last summer. The hire was first reported by ESPN.com. Zanik, whose clients included Oklahoma City forward Serge Ibaka, worked for ASM Sports, the agency that represents Jazz guard Alec Burks. Zanik is considered a statistics and salary cap expert, areas the Jazz have looked to bolster under Lindsey. Zanik’s position would be a new one; they did not previously have an assistant GM. Lindsey declined to comment.
• Jason Quick of The Oregonian: Brandon Roy will still be the most recent Trail Blazer to wear No.7 in a regular season game. Newly signed free agent Mo Williams earlier this month created somewhat of a stir when he chose No. 7, the number that Roy wore for his five seasons in Portland. But on Wednesday Williams got his preferred jersey number: 25, which was previously taken by the also recently signed Earl Watson. A team source said there is nothing more to the jersey number change than Watson being a nice guy and giving Williams the number he wanted all along. Watson has not chosen his new number, but he told the team it won't be No.7. Roy, one of the most popular Blazers in recent years after winning the 2006-2007 Rookie of the Year and earning All-Star honors three times, left the Blazers in 2011 after his degenerative knees led the team to waive him under the NBA's Amnesty clause, which gave them salary cap relief.
• Buddy Collins of the Orlando Sentinel: Former Lake Howell and UF basketball standout Nick Calathes made it official Wednesday, signing an NBA contract with the Memphis Grizzlies that has been in the works for weeks. Calathes indicated his deal with the Western Conference runners-up guarantees one season. Memphis holds a team option to stretch the contract to a second season, which would bring the value to a reported $2 million. That suggests the 6-foot-6 point guard actually took a pay cut after four lucrative pro seasons in Europe to play at the game's highest level.
• Michael Pointer of The Indianapolis Star: George Hill doesn’t have any regrets when he looks back on how he handled his decision to skip the U.S. National Team’s minicamp last month. The Indiana Pacers guard accepted an invitation to attend but changed his mind at the last moment because of a conflict with his youth camp in San Antonio, where he played for the Spurs before being traded to his hometown Pacers two years ago. “I am not going to sacrifice that for something that doesn’t mean as much to me as kids mean to me,” Hill said after distributing toys to students at Riverside Elementary School on the west side as part of the Pacers’ Summer Christmas program Wednesday. “The kids mean the world to me. If I have to make a decision to cancel some things, I will do it as a man.” Hill downplayed suggestions that other considerations — such as being a long shot to make the team for next summer’s World Cup in Spain — played a role in his decision. He also declined to specify why he didn’t tell USABasketball officials he planned to miss the camp. He was on the camp roster until being a no-show on opening day on July 21.
• Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press: As hinted at Tuesday, the Detroit Pistons announced today the unveiling of a special uniform that will be worn during 10 games — including six Sunday home games — throughout the 2013-14 regular season. The navy blue and red uniforms feature “Motor City” across the front and mark the club’s first alternative look since the 2005-06 NBA season, according to a news release. The uniforms are the first of their kind, designed to celebrate the pride and character of metro Detroit while paying homage to the region’s automotive roots, the release added. … The team will wear the uniforms Nov. 3 against Boston, Nov. 17 at the Lakers, Nov. 29 against the Lakers, Dec. 1 against Philadelphia, Dec. 8 vs. Miami, Dec. 15 against Portland, Jan. 5 vs. Memphis, Jan. 26 at Dallas, March 9 at Boston, and April 13 against Toronto.

A sport can change dramatically just because one man decides to do something no one else thought of.

Bill Walsh pretty much invented short timing routes in pro football, for example. The concept of throwing to spaces before a receiver arrives seems obvious and intuitive to modern football fans, but it wasn’t always so. If your entire concept of quarterbacking had been based on “finding the open guy,” then it’s a powerful article of faith that a quarterback must wait for his receiver to be open first. Wait for the guy to get free then throw it. Chucking to the mere promise that the receiver gets somewhere? It sounded pretty risky until Walsh’s West Coast offense steamrolled the competition.

It’s difficult to break tradition and attempt something completely new in almost any profession. Perhaps it’s even harder in a profession where you’re asking groups of men to physically act out your wacky idea on a court or field. Imagine gathering a team together and selling it on a strategy it's never conducted or faced before. Tough sledding, even for a coach with steely charisma. There’s also the stigma that comes with bucking The Way Things Are Done.

Think of the grief Mike D’Antoni’s offensive methods get, years after much of the league adopted said methods. Most coaches, across sports, simply go with what they’ve known, never daring to dramatically experiment.

This means, not to sound all TED talkish, that creativity could be the ultimate market inefficiency. The NBA is headlong into this era of increasingly advanced stats. Teams will benefit from gathering better information, but the data can’t always reveal things people aren't doing yet but should. Let’s say no one had thought up the Eurostep before Manu Ginobili tried it one day. (Sarunas Marciulionis and Elgin Baylor predate Manu’s Eurostep, but this is a slight hypothetical.) I’m not certain there’s an analytical means for reaching the conclusion that, yes, you should definitely zigzag with your two steps toward the hoop. Today, the analytics can reveal the advantages of Eurostepping, but you need that first guy to try it out.

This could happen at any time.

Speaking of Manu, I wonder if the San Antonio Spurs have stumbled on a revolutionary way to play defense. After deciding not to guard Tony Allen in the Western Conference finals, they amplified the strange by treating LeBron James somewhat similarly in the Finals.

LeBron wasn’t guarded on the perimeter as he dribbled, despite coming off a regular season of shooting 40.6 percent behind the arc. Erik Spoelstra later expressed shock over seeing his superstar subjected to the "Rondo Rules,” a system of defense typically reserved for horrid shooters.

More shocking than the plan itself was that it worked, at least until Game 7, when James finally took advantage of open outside shots. Perhaps LeBron, a playmaker by nature, was thrown off by a defense that begged him to ignore his teammates and shoot early in the shot clock. Since the Finals, a popular fixation on Gregg Popovich’s Game 6 benching of Tim Duncan came to obscure the story of how San Antonio found great success this postseason in paradoxically not guarding people.

The biggest question on my mind as we enter another season is, “What, if anything, did the Spurs start?” Let’s not make this about LeBron, but instead expand San Antonio’s strategy to other opponents. Plenty of decent-shooting perimeter players aren’t so great at shooting off the dribble. Shooting off the catch is a bit like taking a golf swing from a stagnant, steady position, whereas shooting off the dribble is a bit like hopping up to the tee and hacking like Happy Gilmore. Setting aside how a sports-to-sports analogy might clarify very little, the point is that off the dribble can be tricky.

Despite this, it’s common for perimeter players to be closely guarded as they dribble, just in case they hoist. It’s possible that dribbling players are, in general, guarded far too tightly. It’s also possible that, and here’s where advanced stats can help, certain players actually shoot worse when wide open.

Can not guarding be the new guarding?

Even if this Spurs tactic was just a one-time gimmick, there’s some other sport-warping strategy out there, waiting to be discovered. There are so many possibilities with 10 moving parts constantly in flux. You could see an offense even more predicated on alley-oops than last season's Denver attack. You could see a team offense based mostly on a series of choreographed pass fakes. You could see, as Henry Abbott has covered, teams that just ditch the center position all together. Three-point hook shots? Everyone setting screens with their back like Tyson Chandler does?

Whatever finally does change the game will seem as obvious in retrospect as it was influential at the time.

• Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News: Yesterday, a source close to the situation confirmed to the Daily News that Brett Brown, who spent the past seven seasons on the bench as an assistant coach to Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, had reached an agreement in principle for a 4-year contract to become the eighth head coach in the past 11 seasons. "He's going to be a great coach, he's really knowledgeable, has great energy, great vision at both ends of the court and a great way with players," said Mike Budenholzer, who was an assistant with Brown in San Antonio before taking the Atlanta head coaching job in late May. "Players respect him. He's demanding but they love him. He's got a great sense of humor but he's a great competitor, too. The competitive nature for Brett may be with his good nature, but he's a tough, competitive dude and that's more important to him than anything. In that city he's a fit, because he's blue-collar and he's a tough dude. He's a competitive person in every way, shape and form at every moment. At this level everyone is a competitor, but Brett has that extra level of competitiveness." Brown met with Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie on Wednesday last week in New York. It wasn't the first meeting between the two as Hinkie, then an assistant GM with the Houston Rockets, met with Brown for a position with that team a couple years ago.
• K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: Kirk Hinrich played golf Monday, helping promote the PGA Tour's BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club Sept. 12-15 with a charity event that also included Northwestern coach Chris Collins. In two months, Hinrich's real sport will take center stage. A much-anticipated Bulls season will take place with the return of Derrick Rose. Fans aren't the only ones excited. "I’m very excited," Hinrich said. "We have most of our guys back. We had some great additions. The anticipation of Derrick coming back healthy and it sounds like he’s motivated. We think we have a very good chance." Hinrich and Rose spent the early portion of this offseason working out at the Berto Center.
• Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune: Newly signed Kevin Martin won’t play with the Timberwolves until October, but he reached out a veteran leader’s hand to first-round draft pick Shabazz Muhammad after the former UCLA star got kicked out of the NBA’s rookie orientation program for breaking the rules. Martin asked the Wolves for Muhammad’s phone number and called him for a chat. So, too, did Wolves President of Basketball Operations Flip Saunders after Muhammad was sent home after the first of four scheduled days to having a woman in his room. The program’s rules say no guests are allowed. “We talked,” Saunders said. “The biggest thing in any situation where there are rules and guidelines, you have to abide by them. That shows discipline. As I explained to him, part of being successful at our level is being disciplined, both on and off the court … He didn’t have much to say. He was very apologetic and just felt extremely disappointed in himself. We talked about his situation and his past, so you have to take what is a negative and turn it into a positive.” Muhammad likely will be fined by the league and will have to return next summer with the 2014 rookie class to complete the program. … Saunders said the team will not impose any punishment. “This is a league situation,” he said.
• John Brannen of the Houston Chronicle: Summer school has started for Dwight Howard. The reputation of his professors should draw the envy of every other big man in the NBA. Former Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon was hired by the team to mentor Howard shortly after the free agent signing. After some hijinks in Aspen, Colo., Howard has returned and is getting to work with the Hall of Famer. Jason Friedman of Rockets.com posted several pictures of Howard, coach Kevin McHale and Olajuwon during a workout Monday at Toyota Center.
• Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Hawks’ first-round draft pick Lucas Nogueira will remain in Spain next season to continue his development. The native of Brazil will play another year with Asefa Estudiantes Madrid while the Hawks maintain his rights. The seven-foot center, taken with the 16th overall selection in June’s NBA draft, was caught in a crowded frontcourt after a number of offseason moves that included the additions of Paul Millsap, Elton Brand, Pero Antic and Gustavo Ayon. The team’s frontcourt also includes Al Horford and Mike Scott. “We are very encouraged by what we’ve seen from Lucas this summer,” general manager Danny Ferry told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Monday. “Going back to Estudiantes will allow him to continue develop while also playing meaningful minutes against very good competition. We will closely monitor his progress as he works towards his goals as a basketball player.”
• Buddy Collings of the Orlando Sentinel: Former Lake Howell standout Nick Calathes flew to Memphis, Tenn., with his fiancee on Monday, prepared to finalize a two-year contract with the Grizzlies of the NBA. He texted the Sentinel on Monday night to say he will undergo a physical and sign a contract on Tuesday. Calathes' father, John, said his son is ready to live a lifelong dream of playing in the NBA after four pro seasons in Europe. "He's a Memphis Grizzly," the father said. "As far as Nick is concerned, it's a done deal, and as far as Memphis is concerned, it's a done deal. Nick is very much wanting to do this. He's a competitor, and this is what he's always dreamed of. He and Tiffany were supposed to fly up there on Sunday, but Nick was really sick over the weekend. They waited a day."
• Beckley Mason of The New York Times: In a basic sense, Udrih fills an obvious roster need. WithJason Kidd gone to coach the Nets and Pablo Prigioni, the incumbent backup point guard, well past his prime at 36, the Knicks sorely needed another ballhandler and shooter. Kidd’s final month as a Knick, in which he made only three shots in 12 playoff games, was memorable only for how badly he struggled. But Kidd was a key cog in the Knicks’ rotation throughout the regular season because he allowed Woodson to play three guards, and sometimes three point guards, at the same time. These small lineups fueled the Knicks’ fun and productive offensive style. Tyson Chandler and Carmelo Anthony are the Knicks’ two best and most important players, but neither is a great passer. To create an efficient offense that promotes good spacing and ball movement, Woodson often filled out the rest of the lineup with savvy passers adept at running the pick-and-roll. Udrih’s well-rounded offensive game makes him a natural for such a role.
• Bill Oram of The Salt Lake Tribune: With verification in hand, Lucas is still looking for validation. He backed up his strong two seasons in Chicago with a nondescript year in Toronto, averaging 5.3 points in 13.1 minutes per game. Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey had a bigger pool of information from which to draw, however. He knew Lucas since he was a child, and Lindsey worked for the Houston Rockets. Lucas II ran the tennis club where the Rockets practiced, and Lindsey became acquainted with his sons. And that’s part of the undeniable truth about John Lucas III, which is no different from any story about a son following his father’s footsteps into business. For all that Lucas III overcame on his own and accomplished through his own hard work and dedication, it was on a trail previously blazed by the men in his family. "It was a gift and a curse, too," Lucas said, "because people would be like, ‘He’s just there because his dad was in the NBA.’ But it’s not like that. I knew a lot of coaches’ kids and players’ kids who don’t have that shot." Lucas is known for being a fearless shooter, even to a fault. But that doesn’t necessarily equate to being selfish. "I know in Chicago all his teammates loved him," Thibodeau said. "I think his confidence comes from his work." And that is Lucas’ defining characteristic. "At the end of the day," he said, "I want people to know I worked hard. My dad didn’t pull any strings for me. He never did, he never would."
• Dan Steinberg of The Washington Post: When I first wrote about John Wall’s offseason tattoos, I included a warning that more ink was in the offing. “I think he’s gonna finish his back and probably get the rest of his chest done,” his tattoo artist, Randy Harris, told me then. “He’s going to get more before the season. Trust me. You’ll see me up in Washington.” Eventually, of course, we saw images of Wall’s “Great Wall” back tattoo. And also, a certain famous columnist was put off by the body art, not really because of the art, per se, but because of what it represented in some grander sense of growth and expectations and public statements and other things like that. Now, I love that certain famous columnist dearly. But in case he’s looking for a hot take on Wall’s newest body art, I do have a few suggestions: * “No time for sleep?” That seems like a poor pledge for an athlete, who would be better served treating his body as a temple, a temple that needs at least eight hours of sleep a night, plus mid-afternoon naps. Also, not sleeping is a poor example for today’s youth. The owl may be a symbol for wisdom and nocturnal efficiency in some lands, but “in Slavonic cultures, owls were believed to announce deaths and disasters,” according tothis article on The Owl Pages. Another story here says “in Czech folklore the owl, sýcek, is a bird of ill-omen.”
• Dwight Jaynes of CSNNW.com: I find myself in an unlikely position today. I'm not in any way a music reviewer or even an expert. I listen to a lot of stuff, some of it weird and some of it mainstream. But I know what I like. And by now, I think everyone knows I write -- and say -- what I think without a worry of offending anyone. I don't suck up to anybody, either, including the billionaire who owns the Portland Trail Blazers. And I am here to tell you today that I'm very much impressed with the music on Paul Allen's new album -- or more appropriately, the new album, "Everywhere at Once" by Paul Allen and the Underthinkers. … And if I may make a personal plea right now -- Paul, we really need a Rose Garden concert with this group of yours. I bought the album and I'd buy a ticket to a concert, too. And I can't think of any better endorsement than that.
• Doug Smith of the Toronto Star: It’s got to be a little bit like herding cats for Cory Joseph and other point guards trying to run the national men’s basketball team, getting players of wide-ranging skill levels and experience to put aside past learned behaviour and coalesce into some kind of smooth-running unit. There isn’t an abundance of time, about three weeks of practice and only a handful of games, and the stakes — a spot in next summer’s basketball World Cup — are huge. Joseph knows it’s a bit of a rush job and may not always look like it’s consistently successful right now but when the bright lights go on later this month in Venezuela, he’s confident all the kinks will have been worked out. “As a team we’re doing OK,” the San Antonio Spurs guard said Monday. “Obviously there are still some things we’re learning about each other but we’ll have it down pat before the tournament. “It’s keeping everyone together, making sure we’re all on the same page and taking advantage of everybody’s skills.” The point guard spot is providing one of the most intriguing battles for the team, which will join nine others at the qualification tournament in Caracas chasing four spots in next year’s World Cup in Spain.
• Michael Hunt of the Journal Sentinel: Seriously, I haven't been this enthused about seeing their product in at least a decade. It is encouraging that basketball decisions are finally being independently made by basketball people. The completely new direction of stripping down, going young, building around two talented big guys and reining in the payroll for the day when they might again become competitive has to be a welcomed change by anyone who understands the dynamics of small-market NBA realities. Think of it this way: Who would've imagined a year ago this time, as our Charles F. Gardner put it, that O.J. Mayo's pedestrian salary would be the team's highest?

Ethan Sherwood Strauss on who'll win the West, when the Lakers will be back in the Finals and which NBA player he'd pick to help decorate his home.

 

• Michael Hunt of the Journal Sentinel: I haven't been this excited about something so potentially bad since "Miami Vice" went into syndication. That's because the Bucks, at least for the short term, have finally gotten it right. Seriously, their ingeniousness is to be applauded. Not only have they accomplished something remarkably healthy by ridding themselves of Brandon Jennings' immaturity and inaccuracy, they have almost completely turned over the roster with fresh, happy faces in time for one of the NBA's all-time drafts. With a much-needed change in philosophy, general manager John Hammond has assembled a team of young, willing, hustling souls around Larry Sanders and John Henson that just might finish last in Central Division. But... There will be none of the ego-driven nonsense that destroyed the locker room last season and alienated the fan base during the grim march to another one-and-done playoff experience that added nothing to the Bucks' growth.
• Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN: NBA power agent Jeff Schwartz will have conversations with Minnesota Timberwolves president of operations Flip Saunders sometime in early 2015. Those talks will center around whether All-Star Kevin Love will opt-out of his 2015-16 contract and choose unrestricted free agency, or sign a more lucrative extension. In other words, Schwartz is someone the Wolves want to maintain a solid relationship with. But that could be compromised with Schwartz also representing Wolves restricted free agent center Nikola Pekovic. Saunders was in New York City earlier in the week to meet with Schwartz. Word is it was cordial gathering. But one central issue remains, according to sources: money. The Wolves are offering Pekovic a four-year, $48 million extension. Schwartz wants more. In fact, at least initially, a lot more. One league source said his opening asking price was in the vicinity of $15 million/year.
• Frank Isola of the New York Daily News: Carmelo Anthony admitted “my window is closing” and that he’s “trying to bring a championship to New York ASAP.” But the clock is ticking on Anthony’s career as well as his time in New York. The All-Star forward can become a free agent on July 1, and he will almost certainly opt out of his contract because it makes financial sense. The Knicks can offer Anthony the most money but the Los Angeles Lakers will be players in the free-agent market next summer and there has already been talk of Anthony joining Kobe Bryant, and even Anthony and LeBron James joining forces in the purple and gold. “As far as ruling anything out, I haven’t even, to be honest with you, thought about anything past today,” Anthony said on Saturday in Queens, where he was hosting a youth camp. “My mind is not even thinking about next season, next offseason right now. I’m just trying to do what I do this offseason to get right, work out, train and get right and prepare myself for this season. When that time comes, I’ll deal with that.”
• Roderick Boone of Newsday: Paul Pierce bled Celtics green, courtesy of playing 15 years with the franchise that plucked him out of Kansas with the 10th selection in the 1998 draft. He was attached to the Celtics, a part of the team's fabric. But the proverbial umbilical cord was cut when he was shipped to the Nets in the blockbuster trade that also brought Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry to Brooklyn last month. Although the emotional trauma won't be easy to get over for Pierce, Rivers thinks the move could rejuvenate the 35-year-old forward's career. "I think in some ways, it may give him more life," Rivers said Friday after being honored with a Sports Pioneer award at the National Association of Black Journalists convention. "But I just think it's tough for him personally. Like he said in the press conference, he wanted to stay and wasn't allowed to, and that's tough for him."
• Staff of The Dallas Morning News: This summer, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban once again failed to land the big fish. But he didn’t go down without fight. On his personal blog, Cuban posted why he decided to go all out for Howard and even revealed his pitch to superstar big man. Here is excerpt from his post and the video created to attract Howard to Dallas. Let me address here the inevitable question of Dwight vs Mavs culture. We saw it as somewhat of a risk, but felt like because Dwight by all appearances and checking we did, is a good guy and with our support systems we believed we could make it work. if not, he was obviously a very trade-able asset. But, as everyone knows, we didn’t sign him. He went to the Rockets. I do have to say the meeting with Dwight was very interesting. He is a smart guy. Much smarter than people give him credit for. He is also a very, very good listener. Unlike most people, he spent far more time listening than talking. And he had the best response to an opening question that I have ever heard from a player, or anyone for that matter. When we asked him what his goal was, his response was very specific ”I want to be Epic” . Which was a perfect lead in to the video we created for him. Although the video is pretty cool, it wasn’t enough to sway Howard to join an aging Dirk Nowitzki and questionable supporting cast. But Cuban says he doesn’t regret his go big or go home attitude as it relates to his pursuit of Howard:
• Andrew Gilstrap of ArizonaSports.com: Alex Len isn't the only Phoenix Suns center struggling with foot problems. Suns starting center Marcin Gortat returned to the U.S. on Thursday to undergo medical tests on his right foot according to EuroBasket 2013's website. Gortat had been working out with Poland's national team as they prepare for the EuroBasket 2013 tournament, which starts Sept. 4 in Slovenia. The six-year NBA veteran took a leave of three weeks from the Polish team. He is expected to return in time for the tournament to start. Gortat suffered an injury in the same foot in early March and didn't play the rest of the 2012-2013 season for the Suns.
• J. Michael of CSN Washington: A primary benefit of moving so fast in the off-season for the Wizards is that they have their ducks in a row almost two months before training camp begins. John Wall’s $80 million extension could've dragged on until Oct. 30, but they worked out a five-year deal with him in three weeks. Free agents Eric Maynor, Martell Webster and Garrett Temple were secured in the first three days of the signing period. Coach Randy Wittman couldn't be happier, and he let his feelings be known on what he thought president Ernie Grunfeld and CEO and majority owner Ted Leonsis should do -– and why. “I expressed to him my beliefs. I got to do that,” Wittman said of his conversations with Leonsis. “I've got to be willing to express my beliefs.”
• Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald: To appreciate what the Heat could be getting in new addition Greg Oden, consider that the last time he played (21 games in 2009), he had the NBA’s eighth-best efficiency rating and also had per-48 minute averages of 22.2 points, 17 rebounds and 4.6 blocks. "Heat fans have to be even more excited. Low risk, high reward," TNT’sReggie Miller tweeted. "He just has to clog the lane and block shots." With 13 guaranteed contracts and a looming $19 million tax bill, the Heat has told people it feels no urgency to make any other veteran pickups, though Mo Williams at the minimum cannot be ruled out. Some assuredly will lobby for a Heat roster spot, including guardDeShawn Stevenson, of all people. Stevenson, who once calledLeBron James overrated, tweeted Saturday night: "Miami Heat Where I Wanna Go!!! LeBron Make It Happen." Stevenson was waived by Atlanta this week.
• Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe: Badly misunderstood in certain instances, having made heinous mistakes in others, Delonte West has run the gamut of experiences in his NBA career. He’s 30 now, married and a new father, and he’s looking to return to the NBA, hoping teams can overlook his past troubles and provide him with a sliver of an opportunity. West, who last played for the Mavericks, said he will accept a nonguaranteed deal, just hoping to impress a coach and make a roster. He was waived by Dallas last October after a dispute with coach Rick Carlisle, then played briefly in the Development League. West, who has had a pair of stints with the Celtics, said the time away has been rewarding and therapeutic. “This, in a way, has been the biggest blessing of my life,” he said. “This has given me time to grow. I’m just looking for answers, and all of the things I have been searching for, as a man, not as an athlete, to complete me. In that time period I met my wife and have had a beautiful son, and it’s like everything is falling in place. Back in December or January, I stopped trying to trust in man and fight these battles by myself. I just handed the keys to the man upstairs and let him drive. It’s been the biggest blessing of my life. I have so much to be grateful for, thankful for, and I have a lot to play for now.” West said fatherhood has changed him.
• Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press: A year into what looks like a potentially long NBA career, Draymond Green already has given and taken away some strong impressions. Biggest trash talker? He gives the nod to Pistons free-agent pickup Josh Smith. Rival? Houston, after Green was tossed from a February game with the Rockets. He put a hard foul on Patrick Beverley to prevent Houston from setting a single-game three-pointer record, and jawing and the ejection ensued. “It is what it is now,” Green, a Saginaw native and former Michigan State All-America forward who is entering his second season with the Golden State Warriors, said Saturday after some pickup basketball at Lansing Everett High. “They hate me. I dislike them.” The difference between MSU coach Tom Izzo and Golden State coach Mark Jackson? Jackson is as low-key as Izzo is high-volume, Green said.
• Paul Jones of Sportsnet.ca: It didn’t end the way Damon Stoudamire wanted it to, and he wishes it had been different. Stoudamire, the first ever collegiate player selected by the Toronto Raptors has made it known every chance he has had since he left Toronto in a huff and was traded to Portland in February of 1998. It was turbulent time in Toronto for the neophyte franchise. Ownership of the team was in limbo thanks to a shotgun clause that was enacted forcing one of the two owners to either cede their share of ownership or put up the money to buyout the other side. Unfortunately for Mighty Mouse, he was on the side with minority owner Isiah Thomas who couldn’t put the cash together in time to buy the entire franchise. … But it’s history that the diminutive guard wishes would have taken a different course. “I was young,” said Stoudamire with a smile. “Basketball is a business and as you get older it’s more about building relationships and that’s more important than the selfishness in which I left here. For me, I wish I could have done that over again because it just wasn’t done the right way.”
• Chris Haynes CSNNW.com: Longtime NBA assistant Elston Turner has accepted a lead assistant position with the Memphis Grizzlies, a league source relayed to CSNNW.com. The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Turner was the No. 1 option for newly crowned Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger. Turner, 54, is considered to be one of the great defensive minded coaches in the profession. He also had talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves in regards to rejoining Rick Adelman's staff. Turner has been a top candidate for several head coaching vacancies over the last few years. He most recently interviewed for the Charlotte Bobcats this offseason before they eventually hired Steve Clifford.

• Charles Gardner of the Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Bucks general manager John Hammond is confident in the abilities of new point guard Brandon Knight. Brandon Jennings is off to Detroit after Tuesday's sign-and-trade deal, with another Brandon taking his place in the Bucks backcourt. "He still has tremendous growth ahead after two solid years in the NBA," Hammond said of the 21-year-old Knight. "He's a future building block to the organization because of the kind of player and person he is." The 6-foot-3 Knight has averaged 13.1 points and 3.9 assists while shooting 37.3% from beyond the three-point arc in his first two pro seasons. He has started 135 games in 141 appearances. "Let's make it perfectly clear. He's a starting point guard in the NBA," Hammond said. Knight and veteran Luke Ridnour, who started 82 games for Minnesota last season, give the Bucks an entirely different look at point guard.
• David Mayo of MLive.com: Poker-faced Joe Dumars knew when to fold. The most important element of the Detroit Pistons' sign-and-trade with the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday wasn't necessarily getting point guard Brandon Jennings, though that significantly shakes up the roster and rotations in its own right. It was the symbolism of Dumars tossing Brandon Knight into the right trade and tacitly acknowledging that their relationship never quite worked out how the Pistons hoped. Two years ago a No. 8 overall draft pick, until Tuesday a presumed starter in the 2013-14 backcourt, Knight is gone now. No matter how it's framed, Dumars decided that waiting on Knight to run half-court sets effectively either wouldn't happen within an appropriate time frame, or not at all. At the very least, Dumars decided three years of Jennings is a better option.
• Jason Whitlock of FoxSports.com: The NBA players association could be on the brink of a seismic power shift that goes well beyond the naming of a new executive director. LeBron James, the game’s best and most popular player, is mulling a bid for the union’s presidency. “It’s something he has talked about with a small group of people,” a source with close ties to James told FOXSports.com on Wednesday. “He was very vocal at the meeting during the All-Star Weekend about the need for the union to dramatically change. There is a new executive director coming in and new commissioner. He recognizes that this is the time for the union to change.” Derek Fisher’s term as president expired this summer. It’s unlikely that Fisher, who recently signed a new contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, would retain the presidency since he is facing a lawsuit from the union’s former executive director, Billy Hunter, and because Fisher is at the end of his career. Jerry Stackhouse, an 18-year veteran and the union's first vice president, has been the point man for union activities so far this offseason. The union could elect its new president as early as late August when it holds its summer meetings in Las Vegas. The source close to James cautioned that he thinks it’s “unlikely” the Miami Heat superstar will decide to seek the presidency.
• Michael Lee of The Washington Post: John Wall knew when he arrived at Verizon Center on Wednesday that he needed to sign a lucrative contract extension with the Washington Wizards, but he also didn’t want to lose sight of what it would take to make the franchise’s five-year, $80 million commitment rewarding for both sides. So before he put pen to paper, Wall worked out with teammates Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr. in the practice gym, putting up shots in an effort to get better. Later, with Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld standing next to him, Wall signed a deal that reinforces the Wizards’ rebuilding efforts since selecting the talented point guard with the first overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft. … Because Wall has never made an all-star team or all-NBA team and has won a total of 72 games in his first three seasons, the Wizards will be paying him mostly for what they hope he’ll become instead of what he already is. But his résumé has already revealed some promise: Wall is one of just four players in NBA history to average at least 16.5 points, 8.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals over his career, joining an exclusive list that includes all-star Chris Paul and Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson.
• Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News: Their pragmatism goes beyond the court. Professional sports is a realm of mercenaries, all but devoid of loyalty. But on a team like the Spurs, where players are expected to forfeit minutes, shots and money for the good of the whole, it has to go both ways or the team culture they’ve worked so hard to build falls apart. It’s the same reason Popovich has spoken about the need to develop a relationship with Parker off the court even as he was melting the young point guard’s face off with daily tirades. Otherwise, Popovich said, players are just chattel, and they won’t make the aforementioned sacrifices. Ginobili — who could have left long ago for a more expansive role elsewhere, like Harden did — deserved his extension for that reason alone, just as Parker will deserve the massive deal he’ll get next summer even with his mid-30s looming. Both gave in their own ways, so shouldn’t the Spurs? Again, not for sentimental reasons, but to maintain the cohesion and chemistry that has helped them perform beyond what the sum of their individual parts would suggest. In poker parlance, that’s what’s known as a smart play, eschewing the adrenaline of a big risk in favor of the percentages. Considering how well this approach has worked for the Spurs, why change now?
• Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman: The comments were lighthearted, as were the plays. But Tony Allen's ultracompetitive nature, in all situations, can't be masked in any environment. It's too ingrained in his personality and vital to his craft. And now, because of that relentless energy and work ethic, particularly on the defensive end, he returns for a week in his college town as a mature, wealthy and respected man, the perfect success story for local campers to model after. He's 31 and settled, at the perfect place in his career, recently signed to a four-year, $20 million extension with the Grizzlies. It was a well-earned payday that comes on the heels of his second consecutive All-Defensive First Team nod, an award he gladly gloats about. “Been a long time coming,” Allen said. “I felt my first six years in the league, I played behind Paul Pierce. I wasn't really able to let the world see my attributes that I bring to the table. But I've just been working and now I'm in a great situation, as far as my team, as far as my contract, my life and all I could do now is eat, sleep and work on defense. So it's fun to me, any time I get an award like that.”
• Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun: Dwight Buycks’ family helped make life comfortable for Junior Cadougan while they were at Marquette and Cadougan intends to return the favour for the new Raptors point guard. Buycks, a Milwaukee native, and Cadougan, from Toronto, were teammates for two seasons in Wisconsin, battling for playing time and bonding in the process. … Buycks averaged 8.8 points, 3.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds in his senior year as a Golden Eagle. Cadougan a former Eastern Commerce and AAU star in Toronto, who was among the first Canucks to head south for a bigger basketball challenge in high school, graduated two years later, averaging 8.5 points and 3.8 assists this past season. Cadougan said he has told Buycks a lot about Toronto and expects him to love it. “We were just talking about it, saying it’s crazy. I tell him it’s a great city, it’s very multicultural. You’ll always have a home at my home and you’ll always have my family there like how your family had me in Milwaukee, so, he’ll be good.” Cadougan said Buycks would bring “a hard-working mentality” in his fight to win the backup job behind Kyle Lowry and expects him to progress throughout the season.
• Kevin Nielsen of Sportsnet.ca: So heading into the season, they may still dump Richardson to add one more body but it seems unlikely that there will be any more significant moves. But that is just fine as it will give Masai Ujiri a chance to take a closer look at what he has to work with going forward. For the Raptors, the best-case scenario is that he likes some pieces on the roster and will look to build upon any success going forward. But if the season starts as poorly as the last one did, which seems improbable, the new Raptors boss could also begin to jettison bodies as well. Having signed a few bodies to low-budget, short-term contracts makes them easy to move but will also leave plenty of cap space for the Raptors next summer. If Ujiri needs to balance out any contracts in a potential deal, trade partners would be unlikely to scoff at the notion of adding someone they are not stuck with beyond next season. The only guaranteed contracts going into next summer are Landry Fields, DeRozan, Novak and Gay although the latter have the ability to opt out at season’s end. (Valanciunas and Ross will see their options picked up though.) Those six deals total around $46 million going forward — plenty of space for Ujiri to play with. While the Raptors general manager likely still isn’t a 100 per cent certain of the direction he is headed in with this roster, he has wisely done nothing to limit his options going forward.
• Kerry Eggers of The Portland Tribune: A major project for Chris McGowan in recent months has been seeking a naming rights sponsor for the Rose Garden — which, incidentally, is unlikely to carry the “Rose Garden” moniker when a deal is reached. Businesses want the most bang for their buck, and if the Rose Garden is part of the name, that’s what fans will call it. The Blazers have had talks with 250 companies about naming rights over the past six months and are in more serious negotiations with at least one business with local ties. “It’s an organizational priority,” McGowan says. “It’s my goal to have it done before the start of the season. For Paul and me, doing a deal isn’t the goal here. Doing the right deal is. I’m not going to do a bad deal, a deal with a brand that we don’t align with, that isn’t stable. It has to be with the right company. We don’t have to do it, but it’s too good of an opportunity to not do.” A naming rights contract will reap millions. The New York Mets have the most lucrative deal in pro sports, a 20-year, $400-million pact for Citi Field. In the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets get $10 million a year over 20 years for Barclays Center. More comparable to the Blazers are Memphis (22 years, $90 million), San Antonio (20 years, $41 million), Philadelphia (29 years, $40 million) and Orlando (10 years, $40 million). “They’re all over the map, from five years to indefinite,” McGowan says of the length of naming rights deals. “For us, I’d suggest it be a 10-year deal. Ten years would be great.”