Author: John Paulsen (Page 650 of 937)

      2008 NBA Preview: #26 Memphis Grizzlies

      October 15, 2008 /

      Offseason Movement: The team acquired Antoine Walker and Marko Jaric as part of the deal that brought O.J. Mayo to Memphis in exchange for Kevin Love and some loose change. Walker is in the last year of his contract, while Jaric has three years and $21 million remaining on his deal. Neither player is likely to figure into the team’s long-term plans.
      Keep Your Eye On: O.J. Mayo, G
      Mayo is a highly touted combo guard. He showed some serious ability in college, but has struggled over his career with his maturity. However, he has more recently earned a reputation for being an extremely hard worker, which is one of the key components to NBA stardom.
      The Big Question: Have the Grizzlies turned the corner?
      Believe it or not, the 2007-08 season might have been the franchise’s low point. In addition to Mayo, the Grizzlies can now boast about a talented group of youngsters that includes Rudy Gay, Mike Conley and Hakim Warrick. The team also has Kyle Lowry, Javaris Crittenton and Darrell Arthur on the roster. Memphis projects to have a load of salary cap room over the next two summers, so if they can find a star power forward and/or center to run with Conley, Mayo and Gay, the Grizzlies may be a team to be reckoned with in two or three years.
      Outlook: 2007-08 will be known as the season that the Grizzlies gave away Pau Gasol. In the short term, the move hurts the team’s chances to win games, but in the long term, it looks like it will help the Grizzlies get back to the land of respectability. Gasol’s contract runs through the 2010-11 season, so it is unlikely that the team would have had the cap space in the summer of 2010 to make a run at a star player. Now the team has a young core to build around and if they’re able to develop and add a couple of star/superstar veterans over the next two seasons, the Grizzlies will be back on track. One problem with that plan is the ownership situation, which continues to be in flux. In order to become a viable contender in the West, the team needs an owner willing to invest in its payroll.

      Check out our NBA Preview page for a look at every team. We’ll be posting three previews per business day, which will take us up to the start of the season on Tuesday, October 28th.

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      Romo to be re-evaluated, may play?

      October 15, 2008 /

      This isn’t the most concrete of sources (you’ll see the uncertainty in the quote), but the Dallas Morning News blog says that Romo could be re-evaluated this week and potentially play sooner rather than later.

      Wade Phillips said Romo would throw in practice today and his status could be re-evaluated. At least that is what I think Phillips said while dodging most of the questions, supplying non-answers. He’s really good at that.

      If true, this is obviously huge news. We’ll wait for confirmation.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      2008 NBA Preview: #27 New Jersey Nets

      October 15, 2008 /

      Offseason Movement: The team traded Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons, and both players figure to play a prominent role this season. The Nets are rebuilding with an eye on the summer of 2010 when LeBron James (and a few other stars) might be hitting the free agent market. Last summer, the team elected to re-sign Vince Carter, a decision they’re certainly regretting now.
      Keep Your Eye On: Devin Harris, Yi Jianlian, Brook Lopez
      The team is trying to put together a young and inexpensive core that will attract a big-name free agent in the summer of 2010. Harris is no Chris Paul or Deron Williams, but he’s a great young point guard with a lot of potential. Potential is all that Jianlian has right now, though he played pretty well in spurts for the Bucks last season before injuries started to take their toll. Brook Lopez slipped to the Nets in the draft and they’re happy to have him. He’s a big body who can score in the post. If everything pans out for this trio, the Nets will have their point guard, power forward and center locked up. Now all they need is a couple of wing players and Vince Carter is signed through 2011…hmmm…
      The Big Question: Does the team really have a viable chance to land LeBron?
      One thing about making a long-term plan like the Nets have is that there really aren’t any pressing issues since the team isn’t really built to win right now. They want to see their youngsters develop, they want to acquire draft picks and they want to avoid spending any serious money. In an ideal situation, LeBron would join a Nets team that has a dynamic All-Star caliber point guard (Harris), a veteran off guard (Carter) an up-and-coming versatile power forward (Jianlian) and a double-double guy in the middle (Lopez). Two things need to happen: 1) the youngsters must develop and 2) LeBron must agree to play in Brooklyn. If you build it, he will come…
      Outlook: Nets fans shouldn’t expect a playoff berth this season. Carter is still there to put butts in the seats, though he’s not as dynamic as he used to be. The Nets are just too young to compete with the best in the East, but the opportunity for growth is certainly there.

      Check out our NBA Preview page for a look at every team. We’ll be posting three previews per business day, which will take us up to the start of the season on Tuesday, October 28th.

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      Roy Williams traded to Cowboys

      October 14, 2008 /

      Jerry Jones has said all along that he wanted to get a playmaker opposite Terrell Owens. Well, now he’s got one.

      The Lions have traded WR Roy Williams to the Cowboys for a first, third and sixth round pick. The Cowboys also receive a seventh-round pick from the Lions in 2009.

      This is an obvious downgrade for Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin, who now move to WR3 and WR4, respectively. It also may be a downgrade for Jason Witten, who will likely see fewer balls thrown his way.

      Update: Anthony Stalter comments on the trade.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Pacman Jones suspended at least four games

      October 14, 2008 /

      So much for the rehabilitation of Pacman Jones.

      Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones has been suspended for at least four games for his most recent violation of the league’s personal conduct policy, the NFL announced Tuesday.

      In announcing his decision, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Jones’ “disturbing pattern of behavior was clearly inconsistent with the conditions I set for your continued participation in the NFL.”

      Goodell will determine the final length of Jones’ suspension following the Cowboys’ Week 11 game against Washington on Nov. 16, the league said.

      In his latest transgression, Jones was involved in an alcohol-related physical altercation at a Dallas hotel on Oct. 8 that resulted in hotel employees calling the police.

      Anyone who watched HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” which followed the Cowboys through their training camp, probably thought that Jones had turned a corner in his life. We witnessed Jones’ happiness when he got the news that Goodell had reinstated him, but now the honeymoon is over and Jones is acting like his old self.

      Buyer beware.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑