More photos » by Tony Dejak - AP

All eyes on you Shaq. Now what?

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Some interesting takes from Ken Berger of CBS.

What we know so far - CBSSports.com

* It's too early to panic about the Cavs' 0-2 record. But with their offense reverting once again to LeBron Against the World, and with coach Mike Brown searching desperately for the right combinations, you can definitely see how things could unravel pretty quickly. The Cavs miss John Kuester, who left his post as Brown's de factor offensive coordinator to coach the Pistons. The Cavs have zero identity as an offensive team, and they're not digging in defensively, either -- especially when Brown goes big with Shaq and Zydrunas Ilgauskas on the floor together. Let's scrap that look, shall we?

* More on the Cavs: As the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Brian Windhorst pointed out, the most alarming stat from Wednesday night's loss in Toronto: Shaq's plus-minus was minus-25.

*And one more thing: Kuester's role of drawing up offensive sets has fallen to assistant Mike Malone, the brother of Magic assistant Brendan Malone. The Cavs believe the younger Malone is going to be an excellent tactician, but the Cavs are going to need strong leadership to get through the early part of the season. That has to come from the head coach. 

SBNation has more (lots more) on the Cavs struggles.

by Mark Duncan - AP

There is an I in Iverson.

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Stein: Allen Iverson has Monday meeting scheduled with the Memphis Grizz - ESPN

Allen Iverson has dropped his strongest hint yet that he will soon be joining the Memphis Grizzlies, announcing via his Twitter account Sunday night that he has a face-to-face meeting scheduled Monday with Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley and other club officials. "I want to help them develop a winner," Iverson wrote.

Reached later Sunday by ESPN.com, Heisley confirmed that the meeting will take place Monday in Atlanta, where Iverson has been working out in preparation for next season.

The Griz have no chance to give Iverson the Championship he says he wants, but they appear to be the only ones willing to shell out more than a minimum contract to get him.  Plus he has a pretty good shot at starting.  

Memphis gets a guy that might generate a little interest and ticket sales.  Combining him with Zach Randolph should make for an interesting team.  I'll just leave it at that.

by Jason DeCrow - AP

There's a reason you can't see a logo on his hat.

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Outside of old pal Zeke, has an NBA GM make such an egregious mistake as Kahn just did with Rubio?   The final chapter of the Ricky Rubio saga has come into public view, and wow.  Just wow.  

"On Saturday night, an agreement was reached between Dan Fegan, the agent for Ricky Rubio, Jordi Villacampa, the president of Joventut Badalona, and myself on behalf of the Minnesota Timberwolves to buy out the last two years of Ricky´s contract with Joventut so that he could play in the NBA next season.

While the term sheet was being finalized Monday night, Ricky informed me that, despite considering us his first option the previous weekend - and, admittedly, after some back and forth throughout the summer -- he preferred to stay at home to play for FC Barcelona, which earlier this summer had made a buyout offer to Joventut. He also reaffirmed that it was his intention to join us in Minnesota two years from now when he will be 20.

This morning I met with Ricky and his parents and told them that I understood Ricky´s decision. It was clear to me yesterday and in this morning´s meeting that the pressure surrounding Ricky and his family to remain in Spain for at least two more years had only intensified as the summer wore on and was weighing heavily on them.

The NBA is the best basketball league in the world, by far. As an 18-year-old man, Ricky would have been challenged on a nightly basis to a degree he has never experienced. In order for Ricky to meet this challenge fully, I believe it is important that his family and other people important to him were comfortable with the move to the NBA and fully supportive.

I also agreed with Ricky´s position that two more years of competition in Spain and the Euroleague will only aid his development and that he will be much more ready for the NBA when he joins us.

 

Kahn traded Mike Miller and Randy Foye to the Wizards for Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov (who?) plus a player option for Rubio in two years.   By saying: "Ricky would have been challenged on a nightly basis to a degree he has never experienced," Kahn just admitted that Rubio, the all-world point guard isn't ready for the big time anyway, even if he was in uniform.   Epic Fail D.Kahn.  

Doesn't this quote from Ricky also make you warm and fuzzy about his desire to join the T-Wolves in two years?

The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to be my first option and I wish to play with them in the near future."

Faaan-tastic.  The Wolves are your first option!  Hooray!  Or Ricky can force a trade, which will be for pennies on the dollar as the Wolves now have ZERO leverage.  Or maybe Ricky will just wait it out and go back in the draft once the Wolves' claim lapses (I think this is the case, I'm sure some rule guru will tell me I'm wrong though).  

David Kahn just destroyed a huge opportunity to bring the Wolves back into anything resembling a relevant basketball team.  

I feel terrible for Wolves fans and for Big Al and Ryan.  You all deserve better than this pure incompetence from your organization.  

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

New Jersey Nets' Brook Lopez

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Devin Harris, Courtney Lee help give Nets promising future - Scott Howard-Cooper - SI.com

The Nets are set at point guard and center, and those are the toughest spots to fill. They have reason to be encouraged at shooting guard and small forward. The obvious reality check is that Harris is the only elite player at his position right now. Stars win games, and stars especially win playoff games, but the current roster is mostly complementary pieces.

That's where the cap space comes into play. The Nets are projected to have about $25 million in spending power next summer, depending how far south the economy drives the salary cap and, internally, their decisions on a few contract options. That money can buy a star, either next offseason in free agency or any time in a blockbuster that allows New Jersey to make a deal for an expensive, proven veteran without having to match salaries.

The Nets have more reason to be hopeful than a year ago at this time, and that's saying something in a youth movement. They have construction.

What do you think?  Could the Nets be on the track to becoming really good in a few years?  As we've discussed before, I think the Thunder are also building a solid foundation.  The Bobcats and Griz?  Not so much.  Who else could be good in a few years?  (remember when we were one of those teams?  wasn't that long ago)

More photos » by Ann Heisenfelt - AP

Big Al isn't sure he likes what he's seeing.

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There's not a lot going on with Celtics news, so I'm trying to pop around the league and check in with teams as they get written about.  That's why you've seen me link to articles on the Hawks and the Thunder recently.  Expect more of these as I try (in vain) to add back some of the NBA-wide flair that Steve Weinman provided.

The Celtics and TWolves have been linked for years.  First there was Kevin McHale running the show, then there was the Ricky Davis, Mark Blount trade, then there was the KG trade.  They still have Big Al and Ryan Gomes, but not much else is left on that team now that new GM David Kahn has taken over.  TrueHoop takes a look at the team and where they are headed.

Ripping the Timberwolves Down to the Studs - TrueHoop By Henry Abbott - ESPN

Thirteen of the players, a head coach or two, and the face and brain trust of the team through its first two decades -- Kevin McHale: All gone.

In their place: One of the most profound and rapid rebuilds the NBA has ever seen, highlighted by the frenetic activity of hardworking new president of basketball operations David Kahn. He has ushered in new young players like Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio, a new coach in Kurt Rambis, a small collection of returning players highlighted by Al Jefferson and Kevin Love ... and a thousand questions.

Kahn goes on to give a timetable:

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More photos » by John Amis - AP

Nice D Rondo

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Remember the Atlanta Hawks?  That team that took us to 7 games before all those other teams took us to 7 games in the playoffs?  They are still out there, hoping to take that next step to being contenders.  They worked their way into the 4 seed and won a first round series, but they were swept by the Cavs and they entered this offseason with a lot of uncertainty.  They answered the call by locking up their own free agents and added more pieces to the puzzle.  Via Fanhouse:

After re-signing free agents Mike Bibby, Marvin Williams and Zaza Pachulia – their own free agents -- earlier this summer, the Hawks improved their depth considerably by adding Jamal Crawford to the backcourt and now Smith to the frontcourt.

But will that be enough to catch up with the big boys?

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More photos » by Sue Ogrocki - AP

KD looks like the next big thing.

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I still remember thinking and writing that I would have picked Greg Oden over Kevin Durant with the 1st pick.  Their career paths are far from being determined, but all signs point to the fact that I would have picked poorly.  It is only fair to point out that Ainge likely would have picked Durant.

SLAM Online has a long article on Durant.  Here's the intro.

The signs keep coming. They probably started as soon as he came out of the womb, but it was too soon for anyone to know. Then, the world saw him in high school. They took notice in college. They were put on notice his rookie year. And anyone who wasn't convinced by the end of his sophomore campaign in the league needs some help. Kevin Durant is the real deal. He's continued to build his resume this summer-impressing at Team USA tryouts, dropping more than half a hundred in summer ball, and getting his rap career off the ground in a recent Nike ad. But don't expect him to celebrate these early accomplishments like we are. If his steady improvement is any sign, he has no desire to. On top of that, though, even if he wanted to celebrate, Durant still wouldn't (or, at least, shouldn't) be let into a bar. Now that's just frightening.

You know, the Thunder have the worst logo, bad uniforms, and I have no love for the way they left Seattle in a lurch.  But you know what?  They are building a nice nucleus around KD and that team could be very fun to watch in years to come (assuming they find a way to re-sign him after his rookie contract is up).

From Celticsblog author, moderator, and all-around good guy Steve Weinman comes this interesting look at the NBA rookie photoshoot from NBA.com:

The rookies speak in virtual unison about the mood change from draft night to the photo shoot: They know where they will be come autumn.

"Everybody has their jersey on, everybody pretty much has their preference of where they're going to be at," Darren Collison (New Orleans Hornets) tells me. "There's no reason to be miserable. This is somewhere you want to be happy."

Jitters about falling out of the first round or making it into the draft at all fail to appear. Smiles, trick shots, happy munching on burgers, cookies and juice boxes (juice boxes!) and even an impromptu break-dancing contest do, but no worries.

Jrue Holiday (Philadelphia 76ers) gives me his best Kevin Garnett: "I'm on top of the world, and I'm not comin' down soon."

Everybody check it out.  And congrats, Steve, for hitting the big time.