Golden State beat writerSan Jose Mercury News columnist Tim Kawakami tells Golden State of Mind that Andris Biedrens is a great interview: "Best story with Andris is when I asked him a couple years ago if the Warriors should pay Tskitishvili to stick around. 'Yes!' Biedrins said immediately. Why? 'Because he's COOL!' Biedrins said. That's worth what? I said. 'Millions,' Biedrins said. 'Come on, being cool is worth a couple million.' And damn, he almost convinced me. Didn't convince the Warriors, though." Kawakami also has an interesting theory--that of all the Warriors, Baron Davis might be the least excited about Don Nelson's arrival, because "He owned Montgomery. He knew it, Monty knew it. Baron might not have loved playing for him, and I know Montgomery disliked coaching him, but Davis was the king of the Warriors. Now with Nelson, I doubt it'll be that clear cut."- A video tribute to Joe Dumars.
- Aaron J. Lopez reports that nad-grabber Reggie Evans, after seeking some bigger money on the open market, will likely rejoin the Nuggets for a smallish contract. In June all the free agents talk big, but September is when those left on the market start crawling home with their tails between their legs. See "Wells, Bonzi."
- The most interesting part of Denver's front office shakeup is the fact that financial advisor to the stars Bret Bearup--long a confidant of Denver owner Stan Kroenke--now has an official team title. The Associated Press quotes new VP of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentein: ""I’ll stack our advisor with anybody,' said Warkentien, who’s known Bearup since Bearup was in high school. 'You take any successful businessman, they’ve all had guys they can lean on for advice. He’s as influential as anyone in the sport. My guy has played ball and knows ball. He’s got a sharp eye for talent.'" Everyone says he's so influential. But exactly how has long been a mystery. TrueHoop reader Dave suggests this article from the archives. (FIXED LINK)
- Patrick O'Bryant broke his foot.
- Ernie Grunfeld and Abe Pollin encouraged Wizard Coach Eddie Jordan to hire an assistant coach who was a defensive expert. Jordan chose Bill Berry.
- The Dominique Wilkins RV trip to the Hall of Fame rolls on, with tales of the clever ways that violent gangsters get players like Wilkins to feel indebted to them for life. Sekou Smith quotes Wilkins: "When I was growing up around here, this was the area with the highest crime rate in America. But I had a free pass. There was an order on the street that I wasn't to be messed with. If you did, you were going to have a problem. That was the code. Because I played basketball and the guys that ran the streets believed I had the talent to make it out of there. I could go to any court on any block and it was no problems. And I'll never forget those guys for what they did for me. They taught me how to play the game. They taught me to respect the game." Too bad "the code" can't extend a little further, like to all innocent people.
- Matt Watson of Detroit Bad Boys: "If ESPN's Ken Shouler could go back in time and draft tonight's inductees, he'd take Barkley first, Wilkins second and Dumars third. That's okay: if I could draft ESPN's staff of basketball writers, I'd take Chad Ford first, John Hollinger second, Marc Stein third, Chris Sheridan fourth, Chris Broussard fifth…"
- Highlights of Sergio Rodriguez from the World Championships (lower right). He made plenty of nice shots and passes, but you know he didn't play super long minutes when the "highlights" include him making a free throw. Via Eric Marentette.
- Playground basketball is a phenomenon far beyond U.S. Borders. Watching this video of youngsters on the playground (Where are they? My hypothesis is Argentina) not even bothering to dribbleas they approach the super-low dunk rim, and converting a low percentage of lay-ups, I can't help but have two feelings #1 I'm glad they're having as much fun playing basketball as I did when I was a kid and #2 if kids around the world continue to be more interested in making highlight reels than being teammates, then it's only a matter of time before the U.S. isn't the only country where everyone's complaining about a lack of fundamentals.
- Mark Cuban knows how NBA officials spend their offseasons.
- Two good videos: Allen Iverson makes David Wesley fall over, and even with help form Yao Ming and Dikembe Mutombo, Tracy McGrady can not learn how to use chopsticks.
- Somewhat related: Yao Ming has been campaigning against eating shark fin soup--it's hell on threatened shark species--and right in the middle of the whole thing, Tracy McGrady goes to Hong Kong and raves about the shark fin soup. Globetrotter has links to the two key stories.
- Brian McCormick: "Since all players must attend college for at least a year, the NBDL consists mainly of players who tried and failed to make the NBA, not players developing toward a future NBA career, like with minor league baseball. Imagine the difference in the NBDL if it featured players like Greg Oden, Taylor Hansborough, OJ Mayo, Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, Joakim Noah and others. Imagine if NBA teams were responsible for the development of such players. And, imagine if an NBA team retained the rights to such a player if he developed through their youth system."
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