If Nash can improve then surely Marbury could under D’Antoni’s system…what’s the worst that can happen?  Marbury plays well and you can finally move his contract mid-season. Duhon is a back up to Marbury and a Robinson is a not a point guard at all.  What are the Knicks doing? 

Chris Duhon has agreed to a two-year deal with the Knicks, paving the way for the franchise to cut ties with Stephon Marbury, their troublesome starting point guard.

 

Whether Marbury will be traded, bought out of his contract or simply waived is yet to be determined. But people with close ties to Donnie Walsh, the team president, and Coach Mike D’Antoni consider Marbury’s departure a near certainty.

New York Times

 

Arenas reportedly took less than first offered in order to give the club some flexibility to sign other players.

“[They] offered me the max, and I’m basically giving back $16 million,” Arenas said to the Washington Times from China where he’s doing a promotional tour for a shoe company.

“This is line with what I’ve been saying the whole time. You see players take max deals, and they financially bind their teams.

“I don’t want to be one of those players and three years down the road your team is strapped and can’t do anything about it.”

CBC

Lance Young, Paul’s agent, had travelled earlier this week to New Orleans in hopes of working out a deal quickly, and Thursday he announced the agreement had been reached.

Paul will get a total of $68 million US during the life of the deal, one that includes a fourth season at the team’s option.

The guard, who has one year remaining on his current deal, was outstanding last season, leading the NBA in assists (11.6 a game) and steals (2.7), while finishing as the Hornets’ top scorer with a 21.1 average.

CBC

Knicks president Donnie Walsh and Mullin are close, so Walsh won’t act unless Mullin is ready to deal. The source said the potential of an Ellis- Jamal Crawford backcourt “would be dynamic” in the Mike D’Antoni system. Both players averaged 20 points per game this past .season. A person close to Ellis said the lightning-quick guard “would be very interested in the Knicks” and especially playing for D’Antoni.

Newsday

Amber Lee Ettinger better known as Obama Girl  is an actor / model from Hazleton, Pennsylvania who went viral after her appearance in the ”I Got a Crush… on Obama” video.  Ever since then, she has been everywhere from Saturday Night Live to Geraldo at Large.  Smart, hot and distracting!  

Happy Independence Day!

[Show as slideshow]

Kaman, a 7-footer who played three seasons at Central Michigan, averaged 15.7 points and 12.7 rebounds last season for the Clippers but sat out the month of April because of an ankle injury.

“We’ll be stronger under the baskets with Chris,” Nowitzki told the Associated Press.

Kaman, whose great-grandparents were German, first talked about possibly playing for Germany during the winter.

He will try to help Germany’s basketball team to its first Olympic appearance since the 1992 games in Barcelona, Spain. The Germany team will head to Athens to participate in a qualifying event July 14 to July 20, where 12 teams will compete for three Olympic berths.

LA Times

The Celtics have had an interest in Andersen since he was reinstated by the NBA March 4 after serving a two-year ban for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The athletic, 6-foot-11-inch, 228-pounder returned to the Hornets and played in five games. Andersen, who has also played for the Nuggets, has averaged 5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks over his six-year career.

“He’s a guy we’ve always wanted,” Ainge said. “We just want to sit down and talk to Chris and see where he is at with his desire to play in Boston and to see if we think he is a fit.”

The Boston Globe

To be a Clippers fan you gotta be dedicated…super dedicated.  So when an all-star guard decides to play for your team what do you do?  Make a song up about it of course.

Starring: Duane Martin, Leon, Tupac Shakur, Marlon Wayans, Bernie Mac
Director: Jeff Pollack

The basketball action was way to scripted although good and the story of inner-city youth using sports to escape the ghetto…kinda old. However, Tupac’s potrayal as the local kingpin is too real and the soundtrack is easliy the best on the list.Plus you, you know you were trying to bring Kyle Watson’s game to the park back in the day after watching this flick.

Memorable Quotes: Birdie - “I’m the one! Shit has changed! It’s a new day, bro. If you can’t clean up your act,I suggest you raise the f*ck up and get the hell out of Dodge… or get caught up.”

The rest of the best after the jump

4. Through The Fire (2005)

Starring: Sebastian Telfair
Director: Jonathan Hock

Easily the basketball movie with the most action on the list.  Sebastian Telfair was an absolute nightmare in high school as an opponet and created enough buzz to be the shortest straigh from high school player selected 13th overall by the Portland Trailblazers in the 2004 NBA draft.

Memorable Quote: Sebastian Telfair - “Most people wake up every morning to go to work. I wake up every morning so I can go to school so I can play basketball. ”

3. He Got Game (1998)

Starring: Denzel Washington, Ray Allen, Milla Jovovich, Rosario Dawson, John Turturro
Director: Spike Lee

A basketball movie, made by a basketball super fan.  Spike Lee delivers a straight up classic!  Ray Allen holds his own in his debut as and Denzel Washington as his father is great as usual. The dynamics of the father-son relationship, and the moral dilemma of choosing between material gain and the ‘right’ thing to do. This movie is by far the most watchable basketball film to non-basketball fans also.

Memorable Quote: Jesus Shuttlesworth - “God ain’t shit!”

2.White Men Can’t Jump (1992)

Starring: Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Rosie Perez
Director: Ron Shelton

Maybe Woody Harrelson can’t dunk but, Billy Hoyle sure can. The one movie on this list that instantly makes me want to play ball after watching it  for money of course! Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson are a near perfect comedy team and the basketball  is real enough to know that Woody and Wesley can ball in real life. Plus Rosie Perez was really doin’ it in 1992!  

Memorable Quote: Sidney Deane - “You see Billy it’s like this, you either smoke or you get smoked. And you got smoked.”

1. Hoop Dreams (1994)

Starring: William Gates, Arthur Agee
Director: Steve James

The first basketball documentary ever. Plus, the first basketball movie that let aspiring ballers understand, it takes more than talent to play in the NBA or Division I basketball. On a grander sacle, this movie changed the rules of how the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences hands out Academy Awards for Documentary work.

Memorable Quote: William Gates - “It became more of a job than a sport to play.”

Bennett agreed to settle a lawsuit with the city of Seattle, bringing an end to a contentious relationship that resulted in a trial in which the judge was due to issue her ruling Wednesday.

“We believe this is a fair and appropriate resolution to the litigation involving the Sonics and the City of Seattle,” Bennett said. “We are pleased that the uncertainty is lifted for our players, staff and Oklahoma City fans who can now make plans for the immediate future.”

Bennett announced that the settlement calls for a payment of $45 million immediately, and would include another $30 million paid to Seattle in 2013 unless the state Legislature in Washington authorizes at least $75 million in public funding to renovate KeyArena by the end of 2009 or Seattle obtains an NBA franchise of its own within the next five years.

Press Release

Two seasons after the Spurs unsuccessfully tried to trade for Corey Maggette, they appear to be trying to recruit him. According to two NBA sources, one in the Western Conference and one in the East, the Spurs are preparing to make an offer to Maggette, who became an unrestricted free agent Tuesday when he opted out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. 

The San Antonio Express-News

Now Golden State is hoping to return the favor.

Flush with cap space after Davis’ sudden exit, the Warriors have offered free agent Elton Brand a five-year deal worth between $85 and $90 million, according to league source.

Brand, like Davis, opted out of the final year of his contract just before Monday’s deadline, giving up a guaranteed $16.4 million for next season

SF Gate

Duhon was mulling the offer last night and could accept as soon as today.

The Knicks have proclaimed they do not want to go beyond two years on any signing so as not to compromise their chances of getting under the salary cap in 2010. That amount is a good chunk of the annual $5.5 million mid-level exception.

New York Post

“I called [Posey] and just talked to him and told him how much we wanted him back,” Ainge said. “I told his agent and we had a conversation. So we’re still having conversations. After James, yeah, I called a lot of guys just to say that we had interest. But I can’t discuss names.”

Maggette, however, confirmed yesterday he was one of those names.

“I was very surprised they called. They just came off a championship,” said Maggette in a phone interview.

Boston Globe

Philadelphia Daily News