Instant update - wild cap speculation

2008-07-23T15:05:45Z

What does this report of Josh Childress going to Greece mean? It means that Josh Smith may have just become easier to trade. I think. I don't have exact cap figures - I usually check somewhat reliable online sources like this. But you have to consider the variable that these are innacurate. however... The dreaded BYC status only applies to players when they are signed by team's that are over the cap. Depending on how quickly Josh Childress' cap hold is removed from their cap number and how accurate these numbers are, The Hawks will be under the cap and Smith won't receive BYC status in a S&T. I'm bad at math and reading documents - so please allow me some margin for error. But that's how I read it. That'd open up some pretty interesting scenarios if I'm reading this right.

Of Smith and Artest

2008-07-23T14:59:03Z

Chris Broussard had this blog entry yesterday, which included nuggets about two forwards yearning for new homes who both seem to be on every Mavs fan's wish list. It ain't about the Mavs, but we can dream can't we?

Bert don't play

2008-07-23T02:11:17Z

Remember the Bert is Evil phenomenon? If you don't, you really should spend at least 90 seconds reading this. And if you wear glasses, read this one too. Bert has now apparently convinced Ernie to get in the game. Peep this fine work by some Interwebdood, who has miraculously synced Bert & Ernie up to M.O.P. Brownsville!!! Well played, Internet. Well played.

The Dark Knight music composers

2008-07-22T21:47:47Z

The Dub's CJ Miles levitates

2008-07-22T15:59:21Z

CJ Miles (Skyline) signed a deal with the OKC Bad Weathers last Friday (peep the connections in this link) and the Jazz have until Friday to match. Everyone's assuming they won't. Here's a nice piece analyzing the loss for Utah. While I liked the idea of Utah one day having a ridiculous, all-DFW backcourt, at least we'll get to see the Durant/Miles combo that dreamers wish could have been at UT.

I love you, oh sweet, precious YouTube

2008-07-22T03:35:00Z

I was zoning out while eating tonight, when suddenly the Marvin Gaye tune "I Want You" started bouncing around my dome. That's actually a pretty common occurrence. It's easily one of my favorite songs - never get sick of it. I remembered that somewhere along the line I had seen a documentary that had a clip of him laying on a couch and singing it while rehearsing with his band, trying to figure out the arrangement. I remember being pretty blown away at how cool the rehearsal sounded and hearing the song stripped down without the lush strings and brass that were so integral to the version that ended up on the album of the same name. "I bet I could find that on YouTube," I said to myself, while ignoring my family and picking a piece of roast beef out of my teeth. It took me all of ten seconds to find it once I got on my computer. So frickin' cool. I love you, oh Lord of technology and interstrong. You also make porn completely feasible, if that's indeed the way someone wishes to spend their time. Enjoy!

If you are a Peruvian guinea pig, read this

2008-07-22T03:12:47Z

Attention. Danger. Do not, under any circumstances, wear fancy clothes. Or any clothes at all. Even if you are presented with a delicious peanut or a gummy bear of any color. It is a trick! Your master wants to cook and eat you so that he can receive glorious prizes and adulation. Danger. Atención. Peligro. No hacer, bajo ninguna circunstancias, usar la ropa de lujo. O cualquie ropa en absoluto. Incluso si te presentan con un cacahuete delicioso o gomoso llevar de cualquier color. Es un truco! Tu amo quiere cocinarte y comer de modo que él pueda recibir premios y la adulación gloriosos. Peligro. Disgusting, yet strangely hilarious photo gallery: link

Here's a "I'd-do-it-in-a-heartbeat" rumor

2008-07-21T04:57:29Z

When folks would hit me up about trading for Josh Smith, I'd dismiss it as "surely the Hawks won't "f" that up." Then again, they are The Hawks. Check out this interesting gem in Stein's last report from Vegas.]]> Josh Smith's increasing reluctance to return to the Atlanta Hawks has little to do with Mike Woodson, despite repeated media suggestions that Smith is eager to play for a new coach. Smith and Woodson are fine, one confidante insists. Smith's frustration with the Hawks is the slow-moving state of negotiations, with Smith apparently still waiting for a serious contract proposal nearly three weeks into free agency. Not that this is a grand surprise given the Hawks' rep for spending or a quandary exclusive to Smith. The only team in the league with salary-cap space to throw at premier restricteds such as Smith, Charlotte's Emeka Okafor and Chicago's Luol Deng is the Memphis Grizzlies, who have no plans to make their money available this summer, preferring to focus on trade possibilities. So the Hawks, Bobcats and Bulls are naturally proceeding slowly and conservatively, figuring that their prized assets have limited leverage. Which is true. Threatening to sign a one-year qualifying offer that would lead to unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2009 is pretty much the only way Smith can apply pressure on the Hawks now. Yet I suspect the sign-and-trade chatter will begin to pick up, maybe in all three cases, with Smith said to be especially eager to move on. I wonder, for example, if my coaching pal who asked me why the Dallas Mavericks aren't trying to assemble a deal that features former ACC player of the year Josh Howard going to Atlanta in some sort of package for Smith isn't onto something. Smith has long been said to be a knucklehead - which probably explains the Hawks hesitation here. But at 22, that's a knucklehead I'd be willing to break the bank for. His game is such a perfect fit for playing alongside Dirk. And he has yet to play with a truly stud point in the NBA - can you imagine what kind of mojo he'd generate with Kidd? As for the Hawks thinking, just because a guy is a RFA doesn't mean you don't get him locked up. If you believe in him - you get it done. There is zero benefit for them to wait around with Smith if they believe he is a cornerstone. You can dilly-dally around with Josh Childress if you want - he's a role player (albeit a great one). But Josh Smith's physical gifts make him a potential top 20 player in this league. This still seems really long-shotish to me, and there'd be BYC considerations once you S&T Smith. But I'd be willing to go all-in to make this happen. Dude is just too gifted. If all in means JoHo and perhaps your remaining Stackhouse chip and then taking on perpetually hurt Speedy Claxton's contract - show me where to sign. I couldn't do it fast enough. I'd also be more willing to part with Bass since Smith could easily soak up the four minutes Dirk doesn't play. I'd also feel more comfortable with JET at the 2 since there would be two monster shot-blockers behind him (Diop and Smith), though it'd be less than ideal. But getting Smith would be too good to be true.

Kevin Love out to prove the doubters wrong

2008-07-19T17:13:33Z

After having a rough first half in his debut versus the Mavs, Twolves rookie Kevin Love has put in some impressive work during summer league play. His coaches feel that his bball IQ is NBA ready and his floor game (even if it's summer league) has improved with each outing. K-Love will have to continue this type of play during the regular season to prove the naysayers wrong. Love stats vs Blazers: 26pts & 15 rebs Love stats vs Lakers: 18pts & 17 rebs Love stats vs Mavs: 18pts & 13 rebs

WATCHMEN Trailer

2008-07-19T05:49:15Z

It's a tough thing

2008-07-18T04:52:56Z

I've been too swamped to blog this week. Thanks to 'Lano for holding it down. Back on the grind hardcore next week - I'll make up for it. Until then, gotta admit this nugget sent to me by my homie Mario has got the wheels turning...

NBA Summer League: Mavs vs Kings 93-71 plus trade rumors

2008-07-17T21:15:24Z

The Mavs defeated the Sacramento Kings 93-71 in last night's summer league game. Gerald Green had his best outing so far with 18 pts and 7 rebs. Check out a game interview with Green here, where he discusses his development as an NBA player. In other Mavs/Kings love-making news, there was possibly a trade offered of Brandon Bass and Stackhouse for Ron Artest. The buzz is that the Kings will entertain deals that include Josh Howard. Would you make a play for Ron Arteezy?

Put the crack down and give Dallas its props

2008-07-16T03:41:53Z

ESPN did some bit where they determined the prep basketball hotbeds since 1998 and somehow the Dub ain't on the list of the top 8. Wait until you see the lists for Philly and NY. What a joke. Maybe they're not considering the suburbs as part of the city - though they don't say that. And with all due repsect to our brothers to the south - a definite hoops hotbed in Houston - they ain't touchin' what the metroplex has churned out in the last decade. Want names from the last ten years? C Bosh, Deron Williams, Anthony Randolph, Kenyon Martin, CJ Miles, Quinton Ross, Darrell Arthur, Sean Williams, hell - throw a Sasser brother in there for all I care. That's with no research - I'm probably forgetting a badass. (12:41 AM edit - I forgot two badasses, I was so mad lotto picks Acie Law and LaMarcus Aldridge slipped my mind) By comparison, NY is starting Smush Parker, Sebastian Telfair and Julius frickin' Hodge? I'm not joking. And the other two dudes (Ben Gordon and Chuck Villanueva) ain't on the Olympic team like Bosh and Williams. What a load of crap! You suck ESPN. I'm surprised Bristol didn't make the Top 8. Why do I let garbage like this get under my skin? Infuriating. Straight disrecpect. "F" 'em. F' The whole east coast. F' everyone. I'm fittin' to torch the internet!

"Everybody" - Fonzworth Bentley ft. André 3000, Kanye & Sa-Ra

2008-07-16T01:47:10Z

VIDEO GOLD: Fans in the stands perspective of Josh Hamilton's Smashparty

2008-07-15T19:04:31Z

"Our media seating is in the second tier in right field, below the "short porch," so we had a perfect view of the bleachers. And much to our surprise, the typical "Bleacher Bums" were out in full force. Here's a sample of them going crazy for Josh" *language warning*

The Boogie Spot