- As Rockets fans, much of the chicanery of the modern NBA, particularly that which was related to this summer, seems to have transpired at a distance, allowing fans to cry foul at the mismanagement of organizations seen as weak or submissive to players’ wills and damn the superstars with the power and volition to cause such cowardly displays among owners and upper management. Rockets fans, meet William Wesley. The NBA’s most enigmatic figure and new CAA agent has, alongside Anthony’s agent Leon Rose ( who represents some people you probably don’t like), formally demanded Anthony be traded to one of four teams, including the Houston Rockets. While it should be carefully noted that Adrian Wojnarowski mentions both the Clippers and Nets as slightly more likely destinations for Mr. LaLa Vasquez, it seems as if the Rockets will suddenly be caught in the macabre carnival that is kissing the nebulous ring of Wesley. The Rockets will be asking a player currently under contract and his bullying representatives exactly what they want and need from the organization, unless Daryl Morey has no interest in kowtowing to a man who he isn’t even entirely sure has the right to be selling him on anything. While that seems in line with Rockets fans’ notion of Morey as some sort of Batman/mad genius hybrid, given Morey’s previous statements about the Rockets’ pursuit of a superstar, I’d expect to see some unsure and unseemly groveling from the Rockets in upcoming months.
- The Atlanta Hawks, despite two embarrassing playoff exits, have made a significant amount of progress in the last two years; however, it finds itself dropping precariously down most NBA experts’ predicted Eastern Conference standings, thanks to beefed up rosters in Miami, Milwaukee and Chicago. After a few years with an exceptionally and uniquely talented core, though, shouldn’t the Hawks just get better? Can internal growth be expected from players well into their primes, particularly the center of the offense who is coming off of receiving the most ridiculous, rest-on-one’s-laurels-inducing contracts in sports history? This particular team may be a bad example given the new coach and change in offensive schemes, but I find this concept interesting given the Rockets’ constant tinkering, which may lead to a slight lack of continuity.
- Dwight Howard and Tim Duncan are very good at finding their respective ways out of double teams, according to Sebastian Pruiti of NBA Playbook. The Rockets’ current roster does not find itself particularly rich in athletic cutters or fantastic entry passers, though Richard Jefferson is noted twice in these videos and I wasn’t aware he was any of those things I just mentioned. While Yao Ming may take a while to truly recover to his pre-surgery form, it seems a given he will still encounter double coverage for a significant portion of his time on the court. Can the kind of team chemistry exhibited in these double-team-breaking plays be exhibited by a roster that mostly hasn’t ever been on a court with our biggest and best player?
- Nuggets implosion watch, day 1,145: today’s update regards the news that the Nuggets are still, per usual, in disarray. Ball Don’t Lie’s Trey Kirby succinctly describes the Nuggets’ incoming front office’s specific predicament: “All in all, great first couple of days for new Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri. Not only does he have to deal with the dreaded list of approved trade partners that Carmelo Anthony’s agents provided the team, he also gets to try to figure out how to trade a player who choked a D-Leaguer, and if that player will even be eligible to play this year. This is a Southwest Airlines commercial waiting to happen.”
- When insurance concerns caused the New York Knicks to recall their new 100 million dollar prize from playing in this year’s World Championships, Amar’e Stoudemire did not make much noise (probably because of all of the delicious matzo balls stuffed in his mouth). Mel Gibson’s favorite NBA player may not be so perturbed about his new team’s decision that he is better suited staying at home, but the Philadelphia 76ers’ new wing Andres Nocioni was understandably in tears over his team’s decision to withdraw him from the tournament thanks to an ankle injury incurred in practicing with his native team of Argentina. While a familiar face will still hold down the fort for the Argentines, Nocioni’s reaction produces a question of how much of a man a team really owns through a contract. Nocioni isn’t likely to be a major player in the 76ers’ plan for the future, yet the team still pulled rank and protected its investment. There’s nothing close to legally wrong with this situation, but after seeing a man as broken up as Nocioni obviously was about not representing his homeland, it’s hard to see this from a purely legal perspective.
- According to Kelly Dwyer, Yao Ming will be the 11th best center in the 2010-2011 NBA season. I’m assuming Carmelo Anthony doesn’t anticipate the same learning curve. And I’m hoping Worldwide Wes doesn’t.