Tag: the NBA

Bynum-Howard trade comes closest to making sense for Magic

Most obervers believe it’s only a matter of time before All-Star center Dwight Howard opts to leave Orlando for  a better financial situation in his next contract.

It’s already sparked much attention across the NBA, particularly the chances of Howard joining Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers when his contract with Orlando expires after the 2011-12 season.

The Magic are only two years removed from a trip to the NBA Finals. But several bad contracts for other players have provided a situation where they don’t have much salary cap space.

The Basketball Prospectus.com’s Kevin Pelton writes at  ESPN.com that there’s only one way for the Magic to attempt to get approximate value for Howard. That would be by rather than waiting for a sign-and-trade after next season.

And Pelton writes that the best  location would be the Lakers in a package including Los Angeles center Andrew Bynum.

The Magic would gain some youth by obtaining the 23-year-old Bynum. While he’s not nearly as accomplished offensively as Howard and a lot more injury prone, Bynum might have a chance to emerge with the Magic when not battling for touches with experienced inside offensive threats like Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom.

Pelton provides a lot of statistical evidence that proves the Magic wouldn’t suffer much of a decline if they plugged Bynum into their team in place of Howard.

What to do with Howard will be the major question facing the Magic. Orlando had the fifth-best point differential in the NBA last season and posted a 52-30 record last season that was eighth-best in the NBA. 

Whenver the lockout ends, Howard’s future with the Magic will become one of  the most intriguing stories in the NBA.

It could happen next month or it might be next year. But Howard’s future playing status could affect the balance of powers in the league for several seasons afterwards.

P.J. could join A.J. with the Nets

P.J. Carlesimo’s career with the Spurs as an assistant coach never intersected with Avery Johnson’s when he played with the team.

But the power of Gregg Popovich’s coaching philosophy apparently has a couple of mutual adherents and kindred spirits in Carlesimo and Johnson.

Yahoo Sports reports that Carlesimo, formerly the lead assistant with the Toronto Raptors,to join Johnson’s coaching staff with the New Jersey Nets.

It’s a move that would make sense on a number of levels. The coaching philosophies of Johnson and Carlesimo are intertwined after their work with the Spurs.

And Carlesimo, a former head coach at Seton Hall, is a beloved and legendary figure in the New York City area. His arrival could help the Nets immensely as they transition into their upcoming move to Brooklyn with the completion of the Barclays Center in September 2012.

Carlesimo’s tenure with the Raptors ended when Dwane Casey took over the team. He still has one more year left on his contract with the team, but would like to come back to the NBA for the right situation.

Returning to the Nets to work with Johnson could be a dream matchup for both of them.

Stern reportedly not accepting massive salary during lockout

After undergoing heavy criticism over the last several days about his multi-million dollar salary, NBA commissioner David Stern reportedly will not be paid during the lockout.

ESPN.com reports that during the lockout that has been estimated up to $23 million per year. His contract reportedly rivals that of almost all of his players.

That massive salary earned a rebuke from Philadelphia center Spencer Hawes, who wondered in a tweet how while his players are locked out.

Stern earlier hinted that he wouldn’t accept a salary if there was a lockout.

Responding to a question at the time about whether he would drop his salary to $1 as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell did during the NFL’s lockout, Stern said: “I would say that last time (during the NBA’s 1998-99 lockout) I didn’t take a salary. I think a dollar would be too high in the event of a work stoppage.”

In the battle of public perception, leaking the fact that Stern will not be paid is good public relations for the league.

But the fact that he is paid a yearly salary commensurate with the very best players in the league makes some of the owners’ claims of poverty in the negotiations ring a little hollow.