Poll: Who’s Most Likely To Get Traded?
With the trade deadline not so far away, here are a few big names that could finish the season in different jerseys. Who do you think is most likely to get traded?
Northwest Notes: Martin, Karl, Freeland
Thunder guard Kevin Martin is enjoying a "perfect opportunity" in Oklahoma City, after getting traded from Houston in the offseason, writes The Sacramento Bees' Jason Jones.
- On the recent news that the Grizzlies have hired ESPN.com's John Hollinger to join their front office, Nuggets head coach George Karl believes within a few years every team will have a statistician on board, writes the Denver Post's Adrian Dater.
- Responding to words from Joel Freeland's agent, in response to his supposed disappointment about being assigned to the Trail Blazers D-League affiliate Idaho Stampede, CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes spoke with Portland general manager Neil Olshey, who believes Freeland and Victor Claver were actually excited to get a playing opportunity.
Odds & Ends: Varejao, Terry, Turner, Marshall
Anderson Varejao leads the NBA in rebounding and is playing at an All-Star level through the season's first month, which makes the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto wonder whether the Cavaliers could max out on his value in a deal before the trade deadline.
- Jason Terry started slow with the Celtics this season, but appears to have finally found a suitable role with the team, writes CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely.
- The Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson details how Sixers forward Evan Turner has improved in his three years in the league.
- The Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell believes Kendall Marshall's recent demotion to the D-League shouldn't be observed as a demotion, but an opportunity.
Western Notes: Gasol, Jamison, Shved, Casspi
Since taking over as head coach of the Lakers, Mike D'Antoni has had difficulty utilizing Pau Gasol. The primary reason is because he wants to stretch the floor for Dwight Howard, writes the Los Angeles Times' Eric Pincus.
- Also from Pincus, Antawn Jamison is beginning to look comfortable with his new team.
- The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer takes a look at Timberwolves rookie point guard Alexey Shved.
- Cavaliers forward Omri Casspi is playing pretty good basketball of late, and it's all the more impressive when you take into account what he's dealing with in his personal life, writes the New York Times' Hillel Kuttler.
Southwest Notes: Popovich, Fisher, Murphy
Some notes from around the NBA's Southwest Division.
- In his first public statement since his team was fined $250K by the league, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said he was "disappointed" with the NBA's decision, according to the Associated Press.
- Mark Cuban said waiving Troy Murphy wasn't because Murphy wasn't playing well, according to a tweet from NBA.com's Earl K. Sneed.
- Star-Telegram.com's Dwain Price writes that Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle will find a way to use Derek Fisher.
Atlantic Notes: Raptors, Knicks, Blatche
A few notes from around the NBA's Atlantic Division.
- CBSSports.com's Zach Harper takes a long look at Nets center Andray Blatche, a big, talented player who nearly found himself out of the league after getting amnestied by the Wizards just a few months ago.
- Newsday's Al Iannazzone believes the Knicks will be an even better basketball team once Amare Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert return from their injuries.
- The Toronto Sun's Ryan Wolstat credits the Raptors bench for producing in increased roles.
Notes On Dwight Howard
On the eve of Dwight Howard's first game against his former team, the Orlando Magic, several teammates, coaches, and Howard himself have weighed in on the controversial past and mysterious future of basketball's best center.
ESPNLA.com's Ramona Shelburne has a story with quotes from people on the Lakers side (including head coach Mike D'Antoni, Chris Duhon, and Howard), and the Orlando Sentinel's Brian Schmitz has quotes from the Magic side (including Glen Davis, J.J. Redick, Arron Afflalo, Jameer Nelson, general manager Rob Hennigan, and head coach Jacque Vaughn.
Odds & Ends: Ginobili, Bogut, Cavaliers, Bobcats
After a startling slow start to the 2012/13 season, Manu Ginobili is beginning to break out and play like the future Hall of Famer we're accustomed to seeing, writes the San Antonio Express-News' Jeff McDonald.
- According to Yahoo! Sports reporter Marc J. Spears, Warriors center Andrew Bogut will return to the lineup on Saturday, December 1st against the Pacers.
- In a mailbag from her readers, the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer discusses whether or not the Cavaliers would have any interest in acquiring Sixers swingman Evan Turner.
- Charlotte Observer reporter Rick Bonnell gives five reasons why the Bobcats are different this season than they were last year.
- With all their injuries in the front court, the Spurs are thankful to have re-signed Boris Diaw in the offseason, writes the San Antonio Express-News' Jeff McDonald.
- Magic center Nikola Vucevic is beginning to receive playing time down the stretch of close games, writes the Orlando Sentinel's Josh Robbins. He could develop into a major asset for the team sooner than later.
Western Notes: Lopez, Gasol, Mavericks
Robin Lopez admits that the Suns gave him a fair contract offer this offseason, but decided to sign with the Hornets because he needed a "fresh start," writes AZCentral.com's Paul Coro.
- CBSSports.com's NBA writer Zach Harper writes that Pau Gasol's shooting trend is worrisome; more jump shots and less action in the paint. This only supports the theory that Gasol might be on his way out of Los Angeles before this season ends.
- Dallas Morning News reporter Eddie Sefko writes about Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle's "dog house," in regards to his inconsistent rotations so far this season.
Poll: Most Improved Player So Far?
Now that we’re almost a month into the season, it’s time we look at a few guys who’ve shown serious improvements in their game so far. Who do you think has come the farthest?