Category: NBA Draft (Page 30 of 55)

      Steve Nash wants to stay in Phoenix

      April 13, 2009 /

      Eliminated from the playoffs, it’s time for the Phoenix Suns to look forward to next season. For his part, Steve Nash says that he would like to stay…

      After missing the playoffs, Nash could decline an extension if he is unhappy with the offer or the off-season plan. He wants to play four more seasons.

      “My first priority is to sit down and listen to Steve and (Suns Managing Partner) Robert (Sarver) and hear what their wish is and what their plan is for the team,” Nash said. “I can be a part of us revamping here.

      “I’m under the impression they want to talk an extension, and I do, too. Hopefully we can find ourselves in a position where we can revamp and be back in the playoffs and hopefully be a contender. Hopefully I’ll be a part of the plan.”

      Nash, 35, still is a special offensive player. If he maintains his fifth consecutive 50 percent field-goal shooting season in the final two games, Nash would become the first player in NBA history to record three seasons in which he shot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the free-throw line. Nash went from averaging 13.8 points under Porter to 19.1 once interim Alvin Gentry restored the team’s Nash-and-dash style. Nash’s assist-to-turnover ratio went from 2.6 -to 1 to 3.7 -to 1.

      I have been critical of the Suns’ brass — namely Steve Kerr — all season long.

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      NBA, NBA Draft, NBA Finals, Rumors & Gossip

      Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2010 NBA Playoffs?

      April 11, 2009 /

      Kevin DurantRic Bucher penned this story in the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine on how the 22-57 Oklahoma City Thunder could make it to next year’s NBA Playoffs.

      It seems a bit of a stretch, but not altogether ridiculous given the tremendous talent they’ve been stockpiling over the past couple of years. They’re likely to get a top 5 pick in this year’s NBA draft, and while I don’t see them quite making the postseason next year, the 2011 playoffs are starting to look like a sure thing.

      Can you imagine them adding Blake Griffin to their Kevin Durant-Jeff Green-Russell Westbrook core? Scary. Either Hasheem Thabeet or Jordan Hill would help on the inside. Or maybe they go after Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio.

      For a 22-57 team, things don’t look too bad for the Thunder. Anybody else seeing these guys making a Celtics-like jump next year?

      College Basketball, NBA, NBA Draft

      Five things that need to change about college basketball

      April 9, 2009 /

      Despite the rather lackluster 2009 NCAA tournament, March Madness is – historically speaking – the most exciting sporting event in the country. Still, as I watched the games this year, I noticed that a few things need changing. Here are my top five gripes about college basketball:

      1. No more one-and-dones.
      I understand why the NBA wants an age limit, but the one-year-out-of-high-school rule is hurting the college game. Amongst the major programs, there is little continuity season to season and it has thrown blue-chip recruiting on its head. Some of the best coaches in the college ranks are reluctant to recruit the top players because they know they’re just going to have a hole to fill the following summer.

      Players should be able to declare for the draft directly out of high school. But if they decide to enroll in college, they must stay a minimum of two seasons. Typically, high schoolers that are good enough to be drafted are good enough to stick in the league. If a high schooler enters the draft (but doesn’t hire an agent), he can always pull out and enroll in school if it doesn’t look like he’s going to be drafted in the first round. This is the same rule that college players have to follow. (And yes, I realize that this is the NBA’s fault, but it’s still a problem for college basketball.)

      Roy, back up three feet. Your guys will be able to hear you just fine.

      2. Get the coaches off the court.
      One thing that drives me nuts about college basketball is the leeway that the officials give head coaches. They’re allowed to stomp around the sidelines like petulant children, throwing hissy fits anytime a call doesn’t go their way. Okay, so maybe the refs are instructed to give the coaches some slack on the proverbial leash, but that doesn’t mean that head coaches should be running onto the court to shout instructions to their teams. It seems like every game there is a near-collision between an official running downcourt and a head coach that is stepping on the sideline (or is on the court all together). I’d like to see the official call an automatic technical if he sees the coach step on the sideline – that would clean this up really quickly.

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      College Basketball, NBA, NBA Draft

      Early entries keep coming

      April 9, 2009 /

      Arizona junior Jordan Hill will skip his final year and enter the NBA draft. Hill averaged 18.1 points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats and the 6’10” power forward is projected to be a top 5 pick. His teammate, Chase Budinger, already declared for the draft…Wake Forest sophomore Jeff Teague will make himself eligible for the draft but won’t hire an agent, so there’s a good chance that he’ll return for his junior season…USC junior guard Daniel Hackett will enter the draft and hire an agent, ending his career at Southern Cal.

      Mock drafts: NBADraft.net, DraftExpress

      College Basketball, March Madness, NBA, NBA Draft

      Blake Griffin is turning pro

      April 7, 2009 /

      Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin, who collected a bunch of Player of the Year awards for his fantastic 2008-09 season, has announced that he will enter the NBA Draft.

      “It’s tough to walk away from something like this but at the same time, it’s a big opportunity and I felt like I was ready for it this year,” Griffin said.

      After declaring last year that he would stay at Oklahoma for at least one more season, Griffin said he wanted to be able to contribute immediately in the NBA before he would turn pro.

      “This is the right decision. In my mind, it’s a no-brainer,” [Oklahoma head coach Jeff] Capel said. “It wasn’t a decision to really debate because it’s the right one, and it’s the best thing for Blake.”

      This isn’t a surprise. Generally, when a player is in line to be the #1 overall pick, he goes pro. There is just too much at stake for him to play another year at the college level. Plus, he needs to get while the getting’s good. There’s no telling when this tough economy is going to force the league and the Player’s Association back to the bargaining table — reduced rookie salaries might be a part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

      From what I’ve seen of Griffin, I think he’ll make an excellent pro. He has ideal height and length for a power forward and can jump out of the gym. His face up game needs some work, but he’s strong in the post and is already a terrific rebounder.

      College Basketball, NBA, NBA Draft, News

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