ESPN NBA

Posted by Kevin Arnovitz

• Jeff Teague is now officially an Atlanta Hawk, as Sekou Smith writes in the AJC. The article touches on why a team like the Hawks might be at a disadvantage having not fielded a Summer League team.
• Michael Schwartz of Valley of the Suns on Steve Nash's contract extension: "The Suns now have a solid mix of youth and veterans, as outside of Hill, Nash, and Richardson (28), everyone on the roster is 26 or younger. Nash finally has the chance to play Seven Seconds or Less with no Shaq or Terry Porter ruining his mojo. The Suns finally get a full season under Alvin Gentry, a full season with J-Rich, and hopefully a full season with a healthy Amare Stoudemire." ESPN's Eric Neel tweets: "Is Nash's the first deal where player looks ahead to future cap/tax limits and decides testing the waters isn't worth it?"
• Brian Kamenetzky draws you in with the lowest-hanging of fruit -- a picture of a kitten -- then reports on the Lamar Odom buzz from Vegas: "Nobody I spoke with, from coaches to agents to other members of the media, expects Odom to leave the Lakers, though one Western Conference GM said with a laugh that a lot of his brethren wish he would."
• The unthinkable may come to Detroit: Smallball.
• Prior to last season, John Hollinger asked of Amir Johnson, "Remind me again why this guy didn't play more?" The efficient big man still couldn't find minutes last season in Detroit's dysfunctional rotation, but looked solid in Las Vegas last week for the Bucks. Johnson might not be such a lousy consolation prize for Milwaukee after the departure of Charlie Villanueva.
  
• Jason Friedman questions the myth of Allen Iverson and ticket sales: "I know AI is a fan favorite, but does he really still sell tickets? I'm legitimately curious. If published reports are to be believed, Iverson's box office appeal is the primary reason behind the Clippers' and Grizzlies' interest in him. But I have to admit,  I have a hard time believing AI can provoke much more than a short-term spike in ticket sales at this point." Anyone have rock-solid data that support the notion the Clips or Grizz would see a sizable bump at the box office? 
• Is David Andersen -- Yao's nominal replacement -- the new Luis Scola?
  
• Ira Winderman wonders if Pat Riley is overestimating the Summer of 2010. One guy who'd like to be in Miami tomorrow? Carlos Boozer.
• Jared Wade of Hardwood Paroxysm asks if the Lakers and Orlando have gotten better ... or just different. 
• Reggie Theus, champion of the rural sports blogger, irritated by most others. [Hat Tip: Marcel] 
• Want to look svelte in your swimwear this summer? Gather eight friends and spend the afternoon performing X's & O's of Basketball's "No Babies Allowed" rebounding drill. The exercise is almost certain to induce dry heaving, but X's & O's adds yet another wrinkle: "... Have another coach with a ball around midcourt fire chest passes to players running laps, to keep them sharp ..."