Hooped Up

For the record, I still really want Brandon Jennings to win Rookie of the Year with Tyreke Evans finishing a close second. However Stephen Curry’s mad increase in numbers has got me thinking twice.

I bet Stephen was using this move on his dad Dell Curry since high school — still works apparently.

Golden State Warriors rout Sacramento Kings as C.J. Watson scores career-high 40 points
The win, just No. 15 on the season, was comfortably in hand. Yet just before the Warriors’ 130-98 win over the Sacramento Kings was complete, every player on the bench — including all of the injured players, even guard Raja Bell — was on his feet intensely watching.

And when guard C.J. Watson’s circus left-hand layup rolled in, giving him a career-high 40 points, they went bananas. It was a moment that encapsulated why these players are happy the team is unlikely to make a trade by today’s noon deadline.

“Things are feeling good,” said rookie guard Stephen Curry. “You can tell. Everybody’s smiling, having fun. … Hopefully this whole unit’s going to be back next year.”
Contra Costa Times

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Rick Pitino wants to be the next coach of the New Jersey Nets according to a report Thursday, but the team does not appear as enthusiastic about the idea.

Sources close to Pitino told the New York Daily News that the Louisville coach reached out to Nets executives recently to make himself a candidate for the job.

Both men attended the funeral of Knicks Hall of Famer Dick McGuire, but the sources said Pitino, 57, used intermediaries to contact Nets president Rod Thorn.

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Another van glorious season of NBA basketball is about to begin and Hooped Up does a quick and dirty preview of all 30 clubs.

Since Baron Davis signed with the Clippers, the the Warriors have been awful and jinxed. The upside to being awful is high draft picks, but there is definitely no upside to being jinxed? Read More »

Monta Ellis is not fond of the idea of him and rookie Stephen Curry in the Warriors backcourt and by the sound of it. Ellis would rather do donuts on his tricked out moped in the rain before he could envision a Curry-Ellis guard pairing this season.

Here’s what Eliis had to say when he was asked ”Do you envision yourself playing together in the backcourt?”. Read More »

The Warriors on Wednesday signed No. 7 overall pick Stephen Curry to a contract that will pay in the neighborhood of $12.7 million over a four-year period if the team picks up its options on the final two seasons

The NBA rookie pay scale slots the seventh pick’s salary at about $2.26 million, but teams may pay 120 percent of that requirement making the first year worth $2.71 million. There is a bump each year with the possible fourth season at about $3.96 million.

San Francisco Chronicle

The Suns could have landed their man in Thursday night’s draft before their pick ever came up. Golden State’s selection of Davidson point guard Stephen Curry at No. 7 was likely made for the Suns as part of an Amare Stoudemire trade that can’t be completed until Wednesday. That is because Phoenix would be acquiring Warriors center Andris Biedrins, a base-year compensation player, as part of a Stoudemire deal that would include more Warriors players, possibly power forwardBrandan Wright and/or shooting guard Marco Belinelli.

Arizona Republic

The Knicks have not given up hope on Ricky Rubio and are still trying to interview the 18-year-old Spanish point guard phenom this week before Thursday’s NBA Draft, according to a source. Rubio will be in New York for the draft but hasn’t worked out for teams. Rumors are circulating that Rubio could fall because of the complexity of his $6 million buyout and the Kings are no lock to take him at No. 4. Rubio has sued his Spanish club and a court hearing is scheduled for tomorrow. A Spanish source said he would not be surprised if Rubio starts the preseason in Spain. If the Kings pass, Rubio, some people in the league predict, could fall as low as eight to the Knicks, who are trying to trade up for Stephen Curry or the Spaniard.

New York Post

Spain’s Ricky Rubio was not among the group working out at the Reebok camp in Treviso. New York is a destination very high on the 18-year-old Spaniard’s list, but it is unlikely he will fall to the Knicks at No. 8.

Now it seems even Stephen Curry might not be there, either. The Davidson star, who has been quite open about his interest in becoming a Knick, has seen his stock rise to the point that he could wind up being taken by a team that trades up to a spot ahead of the Knicks. The Trail Blazers and Bobcats are said to be enamored of what Curry can bring.

The Knicks will get a close-up look at Curry on Wednesday when he visits the MSG Training Center in Greenburgh for his predraft workout. Curry will be joined by UCLA guard Jrue Holiday, in whom the Knicks also are very interested.

Newsday