This is painful.

I wouldn't be in a rush to honor Hardaway or Richmond.

Hardaway strikes me a slightly better pick than Richmond, both because Hardaway had more post TMC success (being the point guard for some good Heat teams) and because he's responsible for popularizing the crossover dribble.

Hardaway strikes me a slightly better pick than Richmond, both because Hardaway had more post TMC success (being the point guard for some good Heat teams) and because he's responsible for popularizing the crossover dribble.

don't forget the possibility that he'll be introduced by lil penny.

Making a dunk on your 5th+ attempt just isn't very impressive however good the dunk itself is. They should reduce it to 2 attempts at most.

don't forget the possibility that he'll be introduced by lil penny.

I'd be hoping for George Takei.

The NBA just set a record for size of trophy relative to importance of feat.

Evans dunking over a painting of himself dunking over a painting of himself might be the best NBA thing ever.

Five people from various committees (ABA, Early African American, Veteran, International, Contributor) already elected

The deputy commissioner? Seriously? ########.

In theory, if asked to compare the baseball and basketball Halls of Fame, I much prefer the more expansive and freewheeling definitions of the Basketball Hall. But the advantage the baseball Hall does have is that it's much easier to figure out who to vote for when the only question* is "value as a player on an American major league team." And the problem of too much subjectivity seems to have swamped the Basketball HOF, unfortunately.

* Barring the recent PED stuff, natch.

something tells me that Hunter wont have a leg to stand on in court when it comes to his firing. I will enjoy seeing him lose legal battle after legal battle.

really hire your family of related firms and think it wont go noticed? you must be dumber the 10 dogs...(or tommy lasorda)

Millsap for Eric Bledsoe being discussed?

I'm way too sentimental when it comes to my favorite players (Millsap is the longest tenured Jazzman and the last remnant of the 2007-2010 playoff teams), but I think I'd do this. Mainly cuz we desperately need a PG and we have two bigs coming off the bench that deserve more PT and could match Paul's production.

Millsap for Bledsoe strikes me as a no-brainer for the Jazz. I wouldn't be crazy about it if I was a Clippers fan, though.

I wouldn't be crazy about it if I was a Clippers fan, though.

I think it would be a good deal for them in the short term. If they're going all out to win a championship now (and possibly convince CP3 to stay in the meantime), it makes sense. With Paul (and Billups, if he ever plays), Bledsoe isn't really crucial to their success.

Why do all of these Bledsoe trades involve the Clippers getting a power forward back?

Well, Garnett has played as much or more at center this season than power forward, and as a director of the defense and a jump shooter on offense he would fit easily next to Griffin.

But I take your point when it comes to Millsap.

The only times when putting Millsap next to Griffin could create a problem for the Clippers are when the opposing center is too good offensively for Blake to handle. How often will that happen? (honest question, I haven't seen him anchor the defense enough to judge)

The only times when putting Millsap next to Griffin could create a problem for the Clippers are when the opposing center is too good offensively for Blake to handle. How often will that happen? (honest question, I haven't seen him anchor the defense enough to judge)

The much bigger problem is interior help defense, Griffin is fine as a man to man defender and defends the pick and roll ok, but his arms are kind of short and he doesn't provide the presence in the paint that Garnett or DeAndre Jordan or even Lamar Odom or Turiaf do. Griffin blocks about half as many shots as Eric Bledsoe.

The only times when putting Millsap next to Griffin could create a problem for the Clippers are when the opposing center is too good offensively for Blake to handle. How often will that happen? (honest question, I haven't seen him anchor the defense enough to judge)


I don't know. A center's defense is much more being able to cover the entire team than playing Samuel Dalembert straight up. With Millsap and Griffin, you're not getting much of that.

I still don't hate the deal for them, since they have Crawford coming off the bench. But they really should have another guard if they make this trade. Bledsoe is a great trade chip - a guy on his rookie contract that's probably a better than average starter, is young, versatile, athletic, and has room for improvement as a result.

The much bigger problem is interior help defense, Griffin is fine as a man to man defender and defends the pick and roll ok, but his arms are kind of short and he doesn't provide the presence in the paint that Garnett or DeAndre Jordan or even Lamar Odom or Turiaf do. Griffin blocks about half as many shots as Eric Bledsoe.

I don't stay up to watch a ton of west coast games anymore but, to my occasional eye, Griffin has made a recognizable effort to become an acceptable defender. Given the year he missed plus Kelvin Sampson coaching him from fear, directing Griffin that staying out of foul trouble was a greater priority than playing good defense, he's on the right track. Not entirely dissimilar to Durant (though Durant has superior physical attributes for a defender than Griffin), who got similar coaching from Rick Barnes during his year at Texas but has turned himself into a good defensive player.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I miss Andrew Bynum. Dwight Howard is just a whiney #######, at least with Bynum he fit the team better, and knew he wasn't going to win against full on raging ####### Kobe and would acquiescence enough to not cause issues. Even if Bynum was also an immature punk.

I assume that the Clippers would use Millsap some at the 3 if they made that deal. Millsap is good, but I wouldn't do that if I were LAC. I would do it ASAP if I were Utah.

I would trigger on the Garnett thing if I were the Clippers, although the asking price is high. But supposedly Garnett does not want to leave Boston.

Millsap might not be as valuable to many teams as Bledsoe, but he could very well be more valuable to the Clippers. They don't really need Bledsoe.

Obviously they'd be better off getting KG, but it doesn't sound like he's going anywhere.

Millsap might not be as valuable to many teams as Bledsoe, but he could very well be more valuable to the Clippers. They don't really need Bledsoe.


It seems like part of this is people talking about Billups. But he played very few minutes last year and basically none this year. So you're in a situation where you'd have no backup PG, and you're losing some other important guard minutes too. Bledsoe has played about 50% of the team's minutes, and with Jordan and Griffin in front of Millsap, I don't see Millsap's minutes being much different.

with Jordan and Griffin in front of Millsap, I don't see Millsap's minutes being much different.

Would Jordan definitely be ahead of Millsap in the rotation?

Would Jordan definitely be ahead of Millsap in the rotation?


Without a doubt, just from a protecting the rim perspective (though there'd likely be some Millsap/Griffin front court minutes). What you could also argue is that he would take some of Odom's and Caron Butler's minutes. Which are pretty available minutes, as it goes. I just see the minutes only slightly increasing, and the level of play staying the same. And the contract is much worse. This is to say nothing bad about Millsap. He's a good player, one of my favorite players, and he doesn't have a bad contract. I'd just want some sort of guard to get back in this deal - Bledsoe is a pretty valuable chip. Again, just my opinion but I don't buy the idea that Bledsoe isn't really valuable for the Clippers.

Would this even be a doable deal, or would someone else have to be in it? I don't know who has trade exceptions, but the salaries don't seem to match.

Are we sure Chris Bosh isn't letting his brother Joel get some run tonight?
Fun game so far. Sager went shopping at the Marvel Comics Superstore before the game.

As much as I love Millsap, I would do this deal from the Jazz' perspective. However, doesn't a deal centered around Jefferson for Bledsoe make much more sense for the Clippers? We've already talked about VDN not trusting Jordan late in games, so I'm sure he wouldn't mind having Jefferson at C, and I don't think Jordan would even have to lose many minutes since Jefferson could take almost all of Turiaf, Hollins, and Odom's minutes.

Millsap might not be as valuable to many teams as Bledsoe, but he could very well be more valuable to the Clippers. They don't really need Bledsoe.

They probably need Millsap even less, especially if he's being brought in as a backup, if they want someone to be a star backup player it might as well be Bledsoe and keep whatever other rotation player would need to be included to make the trade work as well. It's not like Bledsoe isn't playing, his production is very important to them this year, he's a big reason they are the best team in the league at forcing turnovers and their defense is much better this year, even if VDN is too dense not play him more (Bledsoe has a 25 PER at SG this year, that is a little better than Willie Green).

Millsap's contract is expiring as well and with Griffin's extension starting next year, if Millsap wants a raise it could cause some ugly cap/tax issues.

As much as I love Millsap, I would do this deal from the Jazz' perspective. However, doesn't a deal centered around Jefferson for Bledsoe make much more sense for the Clippers? We've already talked about VDN not trusting Jordan late in games, so I'm sure he wouldn't mind having Jefferson at C, and I don't think Jordan would even have to lose many minutes since Jefferson could take almost all of Turiaf, Hollins, and Odom's minutes.

I'm sure VDN would like it, but I think the Clippers front office values Bledsoe more than VDN. Jefferson is another guy who doesn't fit with Griffin, probably even more than Millsap. He's bigger, but still a weak defender and he's a much less efficient scorer than Griffin that needs to take a ton of shots and space close the basket, that would be better given to Griffin. Jefferson would also require multiple other players to be included to match salaries and he's also expiring which could be an issue.

Bledsoe is good for how little he is paid, even if he's only playing 20 minutes, he's still a great value this year and next,so it doesn't make sense to trade him unless it's for someone like Garnett who is an obvious upgrade to one of their starters. He'd be even more valuable with a better coach.

DK: nothing says All Star game to me more than Bosh getting clowned and shooting air balls.

This sideline interview with Dwight is like the most awkward thing ever.

It's hard to see the Clippers picking up somebody who's obviously useful for them for Bledsoe. Maybe Paul George (but I don't know why the Pacers would make that trade.) Maybe a random Dallas Maverick (but I'm not sure which one.)

Honestly, thinking about it, I see the logic behind a Garnett pickup (and Paul Pierce wouldn't be a bad fit for them either), but obviously that ship has mostly flown.

Are we sure Chris Bosh isn't letting his brother Joel get some run tonight?

Seriously, I can remember a bunch of great performances in all Star games but not bad ones. Chris Bosh has been so bad that its going to be memorable.

I can't be the only one who caught Reggie saying his darkhorse in the East is Memphis, right?

I can't be the only one who caught Reggie saying his darkhorse in the East is Memphis, right?

Nope, caught that too. Worse thing about All Star games is his neverending blather.

Kobe's putting in work on the defensive end right now with Lebron.

CP3's line: 20 points, 15 assists, no boards. That's such a perfectly cartoonish ASG statline.

Kobe's putting in work on the defensive end right now with Lebron.

I loved this.

Who wins Bledsoe plus filler for granger?

Who wins Bledsoe plus filler for granger?

Oh, I like this suggestion for both teams.

Maybe Paul George

Ha. Puh-leaze.

I'm sure VDN would like it, but I think the Clippers front office values Bledsoe more than VDN. Jefferson is another guy who doesn't fit with Griffin, probably even more than Millsap. He's bigger, but still a weak defender and he's a much less efficient scorer than Griffin that needs to take a ton of shots and space close the basket, that would be better given to Griffin. Jefferson would also require multiple other players to be included to match salaries and he's also expiring which could be an issue.

I disagree that he's a worse fit for Griffin/Clippers than Millsap. Jefferson has actually developed a good mid-range/long 2 jump shot (42%, which is above average, on 5.6FGA compared to 33% on 2.8FGA for Millsap). He shoots more often from 3-9 feet than Millsap (3.5FGAA to 1.9FGA) but a bit less at the basket. Deandre Jordan, FWIW, shoots about 75% of his shots from within 3 feet of the basket. If Griffin can thrive with him, he should be even better off with Jefferson. Furthermore, Jefferson, if he is allowed to go one on one in the post, is a beast. On a team with Griffin and Paul, teams won't be able to double Jefferson often, otherwise Griffin and the Clippers' shooters will destroy them.

I also think that Griffin and Jefferson both playing in position will be stronger defensively than Millsap and Griffin, since Paul would either be at the 3 or Griffin would be at the 5. That's not saying much, but again, this all assumes the Clippers are interested in Millsap for Bledsoe.

But now that I say all this, your point about salary is right on. I thought he and Millsap were much closer together in salary, but Jefferson makes $15M and Millsap only $8.6M. Even throwing in Odom and the Clippers' trade exceptions with Bledsoe, the Clippers would still have to shed another $2.5M.

This Version works.

I can't be the only one who caught Reggie saying his darkhorse in the East is Memphis, right?

I probably think as much of Memphis's chances in the playoffs as anybody does, but I'll admit I'll be pretty surprised if they win the East.

Is Al Jefferson still one of the worst defensive centers in the league?

How about a 3-team deal where the Clippers get Gortat and Dudley, the Jazz get Bledsoe, Butler, and Jermaine O'Neal, and the Suns get Al Jefferson and Alec Burks?

Gortat would split time with Jordan and finish games, while Dudley's a younger, cheaper, and better version of Butler. Utah's upgrade to Bledsoe at pg is much larger than the downgrade from Jefferson to extended minutes for Favors and Kanter plus O'Neal, and they'd also save money this year (even if the Clippers sent them Willie Green to stay under the tax). The Suns would blow up a bad team by adding talent and getting younger. If they can't re-sign Jefferson, they'd have cap room available for someone else. Also, since the Jazz have an extra 1st round pick from the Warriors, they could send it over to Phoenix to sweeten the deal in exchange for a couple of the Suns' three 2nd rounders.

I probably think as much of Memphis's chances in the playoffs as anybody does, but I'll admit I'll be pretty surprised if they win the East.

hater.

if you were a true diehard fan like i am, you'd believe in your team regardless of those pesky little things like whether they actually play a given sport, or are in a given league, or have a certain set of genitalia. as far as i'm concerned, the sixers are overwhelming favorites to win the daytona 500, the stanley cup, the kentucky derby, the CBA, the KHL, the XFL, the WNBA and the hollywood upstairs medical college's intramural modern pentathalon (though, incidentally, i still think they'd be 3:1 underdogs against john cena at wrestlemania).



i mean, really, you gotta support the team.

Miller also credited Wright Thompson's Grantland Jordan piece to the Bleacher Report, which made me laugh when I heard it (as did the Memphis bit). TNT has since apologized.

RIP Jerry Buss. It's too bad his final team had to be so dysfunctional.

I think it's more that this team is so awful, it literally killed him. Sigh. RIP, Dr. Buss.

I think it's more that this team is so awful, it literally killed him. Sigh. RIP, Dr. Buss.

How on earth has Dolan managed to stay alive, then?

Because Dolan feeds on Knicks fans pain.

I know Steve Nash never liked the Lakers. But to join the team just to kill the owner with disappointment...*ouch* that's cold.

Who wins Bledsoe plus filler for granger?

Oh, I like this suggestion for both teams.

Probably thhe Pacers because Granger's contract is kind of ugly and health track record isn't great and the Pacers seem to be doing fine without him.

The Clippers I'm sure would like to a get a guy like Granger for Bledsoe, but some many good but great wings have outrageous contracts these days (guys like Granger, Gay, Iguodala).

I disagree that he's a worse fit for Griffin/Clippers than Millsap. Jefferson has actually developed a good mid-range/long 2 jump shot (42%, which is above average, on 5.6FGA compared to 33% on 2.8FGA for Millsap). He shoots more often from 3-9 feet than Millsap (3.5FGAA to 1.9FGA) but a bit less at the basket. Deandre Jordan, FWIW, shoots about 75% of his shots from within 3 feet of the basket. If Griffin can thrive with him, he should be even better off with Jefferson. Furthermore, Jefferson, if he is allowed to go one on one in the post, is a beast. On a team with Griffin and Paul, teams won't be able to double Jefferson often, otherwise Griffin and the Clippers' shooters will destroy them.

I just don't see the Clippers as needing a high volume, low efficiency scorer. Griffin has a TS% of .574 with a higher usage than Jefferson, Jefferson is only at 52%, almost any play run for Jefferson would be better run for Griffin. Even Jamal Crawford can chuck shots more efficiently than Jefferson if they need a scorer when Griffin isn't playing. If Jefferson was as good an offensive rebounder as he is a defensive rebounder he'd more interesting, but as is, he's a worse offensive rebounder than Millsap and much worse than Jordan. He may be better for the Clipper than Millsap, but not when his contract is considered, but neither would probably help the Clipper too much, when you consider what they would need to give up. If Hayward came in the deal with Millsap, it would be a little more interesting though.