Hoops Links News & Rumors

On this date in 1975, the Bucks traded Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and reserve center Walt Wesley to the Lakers for center Elmore Smith, forward David Meyers, guard Brian Winters and swingman Junior Bridgeman.  While Abdul-Jabbar appreciated the fans in Milwaukee, he was much more of a city guy and had requested a deal to either New York or Los Angeles.  

Got a fantastic basketball blog piece that you want featured on Hoops Rumors?  Send your submissions to HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the web..

• Bobcats Baseline asks if Charlotte should trade for DeMarcus Cousins.
• Bright Side Of The Sun celebrates Father's Day, Suns style.
• Red94 delved further into the Dwight Howard–Chris Paul idea.
• Silver Screen And Roll looks at the relationship between Dwight Howard and Mike D'Antoni.
• Hoops Addict marvels at the Chris Bosh disappearing act.
• Pounding The Rock talks games 4 and 5 for the Spurs.
• Blog A Bull likes Tony Mitchell for the Bulls in this year's draft.
• 3SOB weighed in on Lionel Hollins.
• Hardwood Paroxysm goes one-on-one with Rick Barry.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.

Twenty years ago this week, tragedy struck on the Autobahn when a car crash took the life of rising star Drazen Petrovic.  Beloved from Zagreb to East Rutherford for his willingness to shoot from anywhere on the court and infectious enthusiasm, Petrovic's premature death shook the basketball world to its core.  

Since it has been two decades since his passing, there are some readers of this website who were not old enough to remember Draz's glory days in New Jersey and his impact on the game around the world.  A good place to start for those of you who want to learn more about the Hall of Famer would be a viewing of the 30 for 30 production Once Brothers, which profiles the relationship between the Petro and Vlade Divac.  Before you start watching it on YouTube, take a look at the best stuff from around the basketball blogosphere this week..

• All Ball shared a highlight reel of No. 3's greatest moments.
• Meadowlands Matters remembered Willis Reed's reaction to Draz's passing.
• Deutsche Welle reflected on the touching story of Petrovic and Divac.
• Pounding The Rock says Kawhi Leonard is taking after his coach.
• Hot Hot Hoops wondered what Shane Battier's problem is.
• Peachtree Hoops reviewed the season that was for Al Horford.
• Hardwood Paroxysm talks team offensive rebounds.
• Rufus On Fire broke down Charlotte's offseason needs.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.

On this date in 2000, the Nets announced that they hired Rod Thorn as the team’s new president.  Thorn, who previously worked under commissioner David Stern as the NBA’s Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, would go on to change everything New Jersey.  One year later, Thorn managed to send a package centered around Stephon Marbury to the Suns for Jason Kidd.  Along with sophomore Kenyon Martin, rookie Richard Jefferson, and longtime Nets Keith Van Horn and Kerry Kittles, the Nets went to their first NBA Finals in 2002.

Got a fantastic basketball blog piece that you want featured on Hoops Rumors?  Send your submissions to HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the web..

• Blog A Bull asks how bright the future is for the Bulls.
• Hardwood Paroxysm talks renewal in Sacramento.
• Celtics Life scouts out Jeff Withey.
• 3SOB remembers the ones that got away.
• Bucksketball gives us a crash course on Larry Drew.
• Pounding The Rock has a retrospective on the last six seasons in San Antonio.
• Bright Side Of The Sun breaks down Ryan McDonough's plan in Phoenix.
• Silver Screen And Roll isn't thrilled with Phil Jackson. 
• Red94 talks South Beach.
• Hoops Addict breaks down the Grizzlies season.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.

On this date in 1999, Raptors star Vince Carter took home the 1998/99 Rookie of the Year trophy with 95.8% of the votes.  The high-flyer averaged 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.54 blocked shots, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 45% from the field.  Carter won the hearts of Toronto fans and was beloved north of the border.  Today?  Not so much.

Got a fantastic basketball blog piece that you want featured on Hoops Rumors?  Send your submissions to HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the web..

• Kingdome Of Seattle Sports has 25 thoughts on the NBA-Seattle situation.
• Singh Sports News gives advice for the Cavs, Magic, Wizards, and other lottery teams.
• Yahoo Sports talks Jason Terry and the season that should have been.
• Blog A Bull says there's no reason for Chicago to trade Luol Deng.
• Hardwood Paroxysm breaks down the Tim Duncan/Manu Ginobili pick-and-roll.
• Celtics Life looks at centers in the draft that could interest the C's.
• Bright Side Of The Sun delivers a blast from the past.
• Pounding The Rock previews the Silver Stars' upcoming season.
• 3SOB held a debate on Tayshaun Prince.
• Bucksketball delves into the Monta Ellis/Larry Sanders dispute in their latest podcast.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.

Thirteen years ago, tragedy struck as Malik Sealy of the Timberwolves died in a car accident at the age of 30. Sealy was on his way back from a birthday party for Kevin Garnett when he was struck by a drunk driver traveling the wrong way down the highway.  Sealy is fondly remembered in NBA circles for being an exemplary teammate and has a special place in New York basketball history after starring at Tolentine High School in the Bronx and attending St. John's University.  As a member of the Redmen, Sealy put together career numbers that were bested only by Chris Mullen.

Got a fantastic basketball blog piece that you want featured on Hoops Rumors?  Send your submissions to HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the web..

• CLNS Radio explores the trade options the Celtics have for Paul Pierce.
• Dime Magazine pits Stephen Curry against Kyrie Irving.
• Fansided breaks down the way the Spurs disrupted the Warriors' offense.
• Singh Sports News asks if Miami has the most fake fans or most haters.
• Silver Screen And Roll wonders how unlikely a Dwight Howard–Chris Paul pairing is.
• The Basketball Post sees a difficult summer ahead for the Nets.
• Red94 is ready for another summer of Dwight madness.
• Forum Blue And Gold did some thinking about DH's next deal.
• Hoops Addict says the Warriors were better sans David Lee.

Hoops Links typically runs on Sunday afternoon and will resume doing so next week.  If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here. 

On this date in 1985, the Knicks won the NBA Draft Lottery, allowing them to take Georgetown standout Patrick Ewing.  The Knicks' good fortune gave way to the biggest conspiracy theory since the release of the Zapruder film as some fans believed that the league's marquee franchise was handed the No. 1 pick.  

Got a fantastic basketball blog piece that you want featured on Hoops Rumors?  Send your submissions to HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the web..

• Yahoo Sports says the Celtics' faults start at the top with Danny Ainge.
• The Basketball Post sees a difficult offseason ahead for the Nets.
• Hoops Addict says the speculation on Derrick Rose needs to end.
• Red94 believes that this is the start of great things for the Rockets.
• The Brooklyn Game grades Kris Humphries' difficult season.
• Bright Side Of The Sun says a lot of the pieces currently in Phoenix don't fit the club's vision.
• Hardwood Paroxysm looks at how the Warriors turned the Spurs upside-down.
• Blog A Bull isn't surprised by how Game 2 went.
• Rufus On Fire had some fun with the Bobcats coaching search.
• Celtics Life asks if you would swap Rajon Rondo for Stephen Curry.
• SB Nation makes the case for Alex Len over Nerlens Noel.
• Pounding The Rock looks at the Tony Parker conundrum.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.

On this date in 1981, Celtics star Larry Bird made one of the greatest on-the-fly adjustments we've ever seen in basketball.  Anticipating that his jumper from the right of the key during Game 1 of the Finals against Houston was going to be off target, he raced to the right baseline, grabbed the rebound with his right hand, switched the ball into his left hand as his momentum was taking him out of bounds, and somehow laid it in the basket. Red Auerbach called it the greatest play he had ever seen, both for Bird’s physical ability to make the shot and his basketball instinct to get into position for the rebound. The Celtics won the game 98-95, and went on to take the series in six games.

Got a fantastic basketball blog piece that you want featured on Hoops Rumors?  Send your submissions to HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the web..

• Soaring Down South looks ahead to a new beginning for the Hawks.
• Singh Sports News says big playoff minutes are affecting players, including Carmelo Anthony.
• Red94 thanks the Rockets for the memories.  Cue that Green Day song.
• The Basketball Post looks at the decisions that the Bucks have to make.
• Hoops Addict thinks the Thunder now appear to be mortal.
• 3SOB is excorcising the demons of playoffs past.
• Forum Blue And Gold has four questions from the Lakers exit interviews.
• Silver Screen And Roll says the Lakers have to maintain future cap space.
• Pounding The Rock talks about the perils of smallball.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.

On this date in 1966, Red Auerbach retired as Boston’s coach after guiding the Celtics to a 95-93 triumph over the Lakers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.  Auerbach coached Boston to nine NBA Championships–including eight straight titles from 1959-66–more than any other coach.

Got a fantastic basketball blog piece that you want featured on Hoops Rumors?  Send your submissions to HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the web..

• Dime Magazine gives the most disappointing players out of the East in 2012/13.
• Kingdome Of Seattle Sports looked at potential Sonics coaches.
• Singh Sports News was less-than-thrilled with Austin Rivers and other rookies this year.
• Hardwood Paroxysm hosted the first annual Fringe awards.
• Red94 implores you not to give up on Jeremy Lin.
• Forum Blue & Gold hopes that the Lakers go out on their shield.
• The Brooklyn Game looked back at the Nets' playoff overtime history.
• Blog A Bull reflected on the Bulls' amazing Game 3 win and how they got it done.
• The Basketball Post examined a Euroleague clash.
• Pounding The Rock knows the importance of ownership.
• Bright Side Of The Sun looks at Phoenix's GM search.
• Hoops Addict turns in their 2013 mock draft.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.

Earlier today, the Spurs got the best of the Lakers in Game 1 as they cruised to a 91-79 victory.  Those of you who watched the game while checking your timeline on Twitter probably caught wind of Coach Vino – née Kobe Bryant – giving advice to coach Mike D'Antoni as he watched at home.  D'Antoni was asked after the game about his thoughts on Bryant's e-coaching and he rolled his eyes back far enough to see the front of his brain.  "He's a fan. Just a fan right now," the actual Lakers coach quipped.

Bravo to D'Antoni for treating Kobe's tweets exactly how they should be treated: more unsolicited commentary from armchair observers.  Bryant's basketball IQ is legendary, but he isn't the man charged with moving the Lakers' chess pieces at this time.  If No. 24 wants to make a run at coaching after his playing days are through, then you can bet there will be more than one team interested in his services.  However, we're (thankfully) at least a couple of years away from seeing Bryant retire.  We all look forward to seeing Black Mamba on the court again, but we can do without Coach Vino on the keyboard.

Got a fantastic basketball blog piece that you want featured on Hoops Rumors?  Send your submissions to HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the web..

• Dime Magazine looked at the most clutch players in the playoffs, including J.R. Smith.
• The Basketball Post says Nuggets-Warriors is the most fun of any first round series.
• The Brooklyn Game gets you up to speed on the Nets' season.
• Pounding The Rock isn't optimistic about the Spurs' chances.
• Hardwood Paroxysm reflects on the season that was.
• Blog A Bull reflected on Chicago's rough Game 1.
• Red94 explores what is as stake for the Rockets.
• 3SOB works the numbers.
• SLC Dunk previewed the best one guards in the draft.
• Rufus On Fire looks back at the highs and lows of the Bobcats' year.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.

On this date in 1962 , Elgin Baylor of the Lakers scored 62 points, breaking Bob Pettit's record of 50 points in an NBA Finals game.  The odds were already against the Lakers making another trip to the Finals in 2013, but they really plummeted this past week with Kobe Bryant's Achilles tendon tear.

Got a fantastic basketball blog piece that you want featured on Hoops Rumors?  Send your submissions to HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the web..

• Forum Blue And Gold doesn't blame Mike D'Antoni for Kobe's injury.
• Silver Screen And Roll says Kobe's martyrdom deserved a better cause.
• Pounding The Rock tries to make sense of the Stephen Jackson situation.
• The Brooklyn Game talks Raptors and Rudy Gay.
• Blog A Bull asks if Joakim Noah should shut it down until the playoffs.
• Hardwood Paroxysm believes that Brittney Griner deserves your attention.
• The Basketball Post looks at the tough draw assigned to Maccabi Tel Aviv.
• A Wolf Among Wolves hopes things get better for Kevin Love going forward.
• Bright Side Of The Sun continues their lottery watch.
• Orlando Pinstriped Post says Arron Afflalo isn't overpaid.
• Bucksketball reminds Milwaukee fans not be mad about the Tobias Harris trade.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.