Hooped Up

Turkoglu Signs With The Blazers

Hooped Up — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:55:51 +0000

If you’re Rudy Fernandez, then look away! The Trail Blazers have reportedly struck a deal with Hedo Turkoglu.

Hedo Turkoglu has reached an agreement in principle to join the Portland Trail Blazers, according to sources.

Although a verbal commitment may be announced sooner, the terms of the contract cannot be finalized until Wednesday when the NBA informs teams what the 2009-10 salary cap will be. The Orlando Magic’s recent trade for Vince Carter, who has a large salary and plays small forward — which is Turkoglu’s position — made it highly unlikely Turkoglu would be back in Orlando.

This signing won’t put the Blazers over the top in the west, but it will make for a very deep and youthful team. Then again, the Blazers already kinda had that going on without Turkoglu too.

Via ESPN

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Iverson Interested In The Grizzlies

Hooped Up — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:34:11 +0000

All-Star guard Allen Iverson has through representatives told the Grizzlies he would like to play in Memphis, an NBA source said Thursday.

The high-scoring veteran is a free agent for the first time in his professional career. Iverson, 34, reportedly has only had mild discussions with the Miami Heat since the free agency period began Wednesday.The Grizzlies had no comment about Iverson’s inquiry.

While no deal is imminent and conversations have been only exploratory, Griz brass are said to be weighing the pros and cons of adding Iverson to the team’s youth movement.

Iverson would certainly have to take a major pay cut from the $21 million he earned last season with Detroit. It is believed that the Griz would only entertain Iverson at what they’d deem a reasonable price, and if the 13-year veteran agreed to play off the bench.

Commercial Appeal

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The Cavs Introuduce Shaq To The Media

Hooped Up — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:25:16 +0000

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Technically Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t really need an introduction anywhere, but yesterday the Cavaliers did their civic media duty and allowed the Big Freeze Diesel to re-introduce himself. Cavs GM Danny Ferry, coach Mike Brown and owner Dan Gilbert were also in attendance and were kind enough to give Shaq a pair of rubber boot sandals and a shovel for those cold Cleveland winters.

Shaq also spoke about a potential nickname he could use in Cleveland, ripped on Danny Ferry and unveiled his new motto, “Win a ring for the King”.

Do yourself a favor and check out the entire press conference below, you won’t regret it. Shaq is in rare comedic form.

The entire press conference after the jump.

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Trevor Ariza Joins The Rockets

Hooped Up — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:30:54 +0000

The same day the Rockets lost Ron Artest to the Lakers, they found his replacement from the Lakers in Trevor Ariza.

“Ariza accepted the Rockets’ offer of a five-year, mid-level exception deal late Thursday, expected to be worth roughly $33 million, an individual with knowledge of the deal said. Players may sign free agent contracts beginning July 8.

The Lakers on Wednesday offered Ariza, 24, a contract similar to the mid-level exception he accepted from the Rockets, but well short of the deal he reportedly was seeking. Ariza, a 6-8 forward, averaged 8.9 points and 4.3 rebounds last season, his fifth season after one season at UCLA.”

How Trevor Ariza is worth as much as Ron Artest I’ll never understand, but if young Ariza can have a break out season with a guaranteed increase of minutes in Houston. This could be a good gamble for a team that just needs a break.

Via Houston Chronicle

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Ron Artest Signs With The Lakers

Hooped Up — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:20:31 +0000

Holy free agency Batman! Ron Artest has signed a reported three-year deal worth $18 million to join the Los Angeles Lakers.

“I’m definitely going to L.A. — to sign, yeah,” Artest said in a phone interview. “Lakers, Lakers, Lakers. I’m in L.A. right now.”

Artest said he met with Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss Thursday and previously had spoken with Lakers coach Phil Jackson. He was en route to his financial manager’s office, where he planned to huddle on the phone with his agent, David Bauman, to finalize details. ”I don’t really care about the money,” Artest said. “I’ll play there for nothing. … L.A. was very interested in me, and they got me.”

In about 3 months, the Rockets went from being the second best team in the west to being on the edge of the NBA lottery. Yao Ming is already done for next season, Tacy McGrady wants out and now Ron Artest is headed to the Lakers.

What else will go wrong in Houston I ask?

Via CBS Sports

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Marbury Rejects The Celtics Offer

Hooped Up — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:00:33 +0000

Celtics free agent guard Stephon Marbury said to The Globe early Friday morning that he doesn’t expect to be returning to Boston after receiving a disappointing one-year contract paying $1.3 million using the veteran’s minimum. Marbury said his representative, National Basketball Players Association deputy counsel Hal Biagas, called to tell him about the Celtics offer on Thursday night. The 32-year-old said three other teams, which he would not disclose, are currently interested. The two-time All-Star signed with the Celtics on Feb. 27 for the rest of the season after working out a buyout of his contract with the Knicks that paid $21.8 million after dealing with a soap opera-like situation that kept him sidelined over a year. Marbury averaged 3.8 points and 3.3 assists in 18 minutes per game during 23 contests last season with Boston.

Boston Globe

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The Distraction: Eva Mendes

Hooped Up — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:01:13 +0000

Eva Mendes is an actor / model from Miami, Florida.

[Show as slideshow]

Bonus Eva Mendes after the jump.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtVo0cKLr18[youtube]

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The Distraction: Catalina White Catalina White is a model from Miami, Florida. [Show...
The Distraction: Daphne Joy Daphne Joy is a video vixen / model /...

Ricky Rubio Will Sell You Razors He Can’t Use

Hooped Up — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:50:23 +0000

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Gillette hooking up with baby faced Ricky Rubio for a razor commercial means Rubio madness is getting out of hand. Why? Well I’m pretty sure consumers that are buying a product endorsed by Rubio, want to know that he has actually used it before. This is on par with a lactose intolerant athlete endorsing Milk.

Marketing execs at Gillette, you’re better than that!

Via Ball Don’t Lie

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Celtics Have A Need For Sheed

Hooped Up — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:48:25 +0000

The Celtics need to improve their thin front line desperately at a reasonable price point and Rasheed Wallace would be a perfect addition.

Among Danny Ainge’s first calls was to Bill Strickland, agent for center-forward Rasheed Wallace. The Celtics’ interest in Wallace is not for the long term, though. Wallace, 34, might be the most intriguing of free agent candidates, his relationship with Celtics forward Kevin Garnett a possible advantage. Charlotte, Cleveland, Orlando, and San Antonio have also shown interest in Wallace.

If Ainge can get Wallace to sign, this might be the second best off-season acquisition in the east besides Shaq. That’s right, I said it Vince.

Via Boston Globe

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Ariza Leaning Toward Leaving LA

Hooped Up — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:45:53 +0000

Everybody else wants to pay Trevor Ariza more money than he’s worth, except for his current team the LA Lakers.

The Lakers remained far apart on negotiations Wednesday with their two main free-agent pieces, forwards Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza. In particular, Ariza and his agent weren’t thrilled by the Lakers’ annual offer of $5.6 million over an unspecified number of years. Ariza, 24, was hoping for $7 million to $8 million a year. Odom, 29, is believed to be seeking $10 million a year, though it was unclear what the Lakers offered him. Ariza is drawing interest from Portland, Houston, Cleveland, Toronto and the Clippers. Of those teams, only Portland and Toronto have enough salary-cap room to offer more than the Lakers’ current offer.

Ariza was huge for the Lakers this season after Odom was injured and he had a great playoff run too. That being said, he is nowhere near worth $8 million a year and the Lakers would be better off letting somebody else over pay Ariza for services.

Call me crazy.

Via Los Angeles Times

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