Timberwolves talking three-way Garnett deal

NEW YORK – Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett is close to going to the Phoenix Suns in a monumental three-way trade that would send Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire to the Atlanta Hawks, league sources said Wednesday.

Atlanta would move the Nos. 3 and 11 picks in Thursday's draft, as well as Zaza Pachulia and Anthony Johnson, to Minnesota.

Minnesota owner Glen Taylor has delivered a mandate to his basketball executives to get a deal done, one league executive said.

Yahoo! Sports has learned that the trade would also save the Hawks from an emerging showdown between the front office and coaching staff over whom to draft with the third pick. The front office and coaching staff had settled on Florida power forward Al Horford, but a faction of the Atlanta Spirit ownership group, with business interests in China, is pushing them to take Yi Jianlian.

The deal hinges on Atlanta general manager Billy Knight saying yes, as well as Hawks ownership, which is mired in lawsuits, being willing to increase payroll. It is believed that star Hawks guard Joe Johnson talked to his former Suns teammate on Wednesday and that the 24-year-old Stoudemire, a first-team All-NBA choice, told him that he'd welcome the trade.
Source: Yahoo! sports

Yao Ming is Getting Married!

SHANGHAI (AFP) - China's All Star NBA centre Yao Ming will wed his teenage sweetheart from Shanghai in August, after an eight-year courtship, state press reported Monday.

Yao, who has kept his love life closely guarded from the media, will marry Ye Li in a private family ceremony possibly in Shanghai, the eastern metropolis where they were born, met and began dating, the Titan Sports Weekly said.

"This is a match based on pure love," the paper said.

The 2.26 metre (seven-foot-six-inch) centre first met Ye in 1999 when he was playing for the Shanghai Sharks men's team and the 1.9 metre Ye was with the club's women's team.

Ye has since gone on to play for the national side, but has been plagued with injuries in recent years.

The two were seen walking hand-in-hand at the closing ceremony of the 2004 Athens Olympics, when their courtship first became public.

According to Titan Sports, Ye, 25, has been a regular at Yao's home in Texas where he stars for the Houston Rockets. She has also studied English at the University of Houston.

Yao, 27, is expected to return to China in July to train and will play matches with the national team in September.

The paper played down widespread rumors on the Internet and in the Chinese media that Yao's wedding would be broadcast live on television, with China's Olympic gold medal-winning hurdler Liu Xiang acting as the master-of-ceremonies.

"On that day there will be no media, basically it will only be relatives from both sides attending," the paper said.

"Yao Ming and Ye Li are doing what they can to protect themselves. They do not want to see any outside factors interfering."

Source: yahoo! spoorts

Yao Ming is Getting Married!

SHANGHAI (AFP) - China's All Star NBA centre Yao Ming will wed his teenage sweetheart from Shanghai in August, after an eight-year courtship, state press reported Monday.

Yao, who has kept his love life closely guarded from the media, will marry Ye Li in a private family ceremony possibly in Shanghai, the eastern metropolis where they were born, met and began dating, the Titan Sports Weekly said.

"This is a match based on pure love," the paper said.

The 2.26 metre (seven-foot-six-inch) centre first met Ye in 1999 when he was playing for the Shanghai Sharks men's team and the 1.9 metre Ye was with the club's women's team.

Ye has since gone on to play for the national side, but has been plagued with injuries in recent years.

The two were seen walking hand-in-hand at the closing ceremony of the 2004 Athens Olympics, when their courtship first became public.

According to Titan Sports, Ye, 25, has been a regular at Yao's home in Texas where he stars for the Houston Rockets. She has also studied English at the University of Houston.

Yao, 27, is expected to return to China in July to train and will play matches with the national team in September.

The paper played down widespread rumors on the Internet and in the Chinese media that Yao's wedding would be broadcast live on television, with China's Olympic gold medal-winning hurdler Liu Xiang acting as the master-of-ceremonies.

"On that day there will be no media, basically it will only be relatives from both sides attending," the paper said.

"Yao Ming and Ye Li are doing what they can to protect themselves. They do not want to see any outside factors interfering."

Source: yahoo! spoorts

New Jersey Nets Will Likely Re-sign Vince Carter, Looking At Dealing Richard Jefferson For Zach Randolph

Mitch Lawrence, a writer with the New York Daily News, reports on some developments in New Jersey:

Once the Nets get Vince Carter’s signature on a four-year, $60 million contract, insiders say they’ll investigate making a move for Portland’s Zach Randolph. It’s no surprise that they’re leery of Randolph’s off-court issues and the fact he has around $60 million left on his contract. But they’ve seen that Carter can only get them so far in the playoffs. Randolph’s post presence would give them an attractive alternative, while his board work is something they definitely could use. To get him, they’d have to send a big package to the Blazers, starting with Richard Jefferson, whose development is being hindered by Carter’s presence.

My Quick Take: It’s no surprise Carter will re-sign with the Nets. Both the player and organization are comfortable with each other. I think it’s a bit too much money for an inconsistent scorer. But the Nets have to overpay VC to prevent him from exercising his option and becoming a free agent. It’s the cost of doing business.

However, I’m surprised New Jersey wants to move Jefferson. I’m even more surprised they’re interested in Zach Randolph from Portland.

Jefferson is slightly overpaid, pulling in a max salary. However, he’s extremely versatile and usually comes up big in the postseason. The small forward had several strong games against Toronto in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

I don’t believe Jefferson’s development is being blocked by Carter. These two are different players and complement each other quite well.

Randolph is a risk. Sure, the Nets need low post scoring. But at what cost? Z-Bo is talented; however, he holds the ball for too long on offense. His individual style doesn’t fit with Brick City’s free-wheeling, pass-first approach.

There’s another complication. Randolph was put on the trading block because everyone assumed Portland would draft center Greg Oden with the first overall pick.

But the Trail Blazers were disappointed with Oden’s pre-draft workout. He looked out of shape. The center even apologized to Portland’s coaching staff and front office for his sub-par performance.

Kevin Durant, the athletic wing, blew Rip City away with his workout. The Blazers’ staff said it was one of the best pre-draft showcases they had ever seen.

Oden is no longer a lock to go to Portland. Right or wrong, fair or not, he may have slipped with his poor workout. If the Blazers select Durant, they’ll need a center and will take Randolph off the trading block.

After all, there would be no room for Jefferson with Brandon Roy and Kevin Durant at shooting guard and small forward.
source:hoops-vibe.com Oly Sandor

Jermaine O’Neal Unlikely To Join Kobe Bryant & Los Angeles Lakers


June 22 07
Mike Wells, a writer with the Indianapolis Star, reports on the Pacers keeping Jermaine O’Neal:

Jim O’Brien isn’t a gambler. But the new Indiana Pacers coach said he believes the odds favor All-Star forward Jermaine O’Neal wearing a Pacers uniform next season.

"I’ve sat down and talked at length with Jermaine and where he sees his career going," O’Brien said from his office Thursday afternoon. "If I’m his coach next year, which I expect to be and want to be, my job and Jermaine’s job as leaders is to be on the same page, which I think we will be, and we both need to be examples for the team."

O’Neal, along with Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant, are the marquee names being discussed in trade rumors.

O’Neal has said he doesn’t want to stay if the Pacers rebuild.

"I know trades are hard to make when you’re talking about a big trade involving somebody like Jermaine O’Neal or Kevin Garnett because they are extremely important to the future of your franchise, and you cannot make a mistake, nor will we make a mistake about that," O’Brien said. "I have a sense that the odds are against the fact that Jermaine O’Neal will be traded. It’s just reality. . . . With that in mind, I’m playing the odds. I’m planning on coaching him."

My Quick Take: The sports world has been buzzing with Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant trade rumors.

However, hoop heads have slept on O’Neal, forgetting this all-star four-man was available and could be had for the right price.

But his availability has changed-he now seems unavailable. Indiana coach, Jim O’Brien, believes O’Neal will be staying with the club.

This news is important for both Pacer and Laker fans. First, O’Neal was a legit MVP candidate as recently as three years ago. But he’s struggled with a number of injuries and a declining supporting cast.

If O’Neal heals up and gets a couple of new teammates, then Indiana makes the playoffs. Anything, and I do mean anything, can happen in the Eastern Conference.

Indiana’s front office realize they’re better off rebuilding around O’Neal instead of starting over without him.

Second, this does further damage to Bryant’s slim chances of returning to the Lakers. The all-world guard has been telling everybody, including two random guys outside of a California restaurant, that the purple-and-gold must upgrade his supporting cast if they want to keep him.

Bryant had been hoping for Jason Kidd. This deal first fell apart at the trade deadline. And New Jersey recently took their Hall of Fame point guard off the trading block.

Over the last few weeks, the Lakers had been trying to appease Bryant by acquiring O’Neal. Indiana wanted Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. L.A. refused, feeling the price was too high.

I’m sure this botched deal contributed to Kobe’s recent trade demand in Spain. And with O’Neal probably staying in Indiana, Bryant will continue to be unhappy and push for a trade.
Source: oly sandor

NBA Rumor: Garnett--- Unlikely to join Celtics in the next season.

Despite apparent momentum in talks between the Celtics [team stats] and Timberwolves for a trade involving Kevin Garnett, the man responsible for keeping the Minnesota All-Star happy doesn’t believe he has a future in Boston.
“At this point I don’t believe it will go anywhere,” agent Andy Miller said yesterday. “It won’t happen in Boston as far as my side of the equation is concerned.”
Miller declined to indicate whether Garnett is against the idea of playing in Boston, saying, “There are a variety of reasons I don’t want to get into.” Many believe Garnett would like to join Steve Nash in Phoenix, nd Miller is trying to make that happen now with his tough stance. The most prohibitive aspect of a Garnett trade would involve his contract - the most expensive in the league.
An Eastern Conference official who had looked into a trade for Garnett earlier this season said yesterday that the 7-footer has a contract clause under which his salary increases by 15 percent if he’s traded, with
additional costs that come into play when contracts turn over on July 1. Teams are reportedly pushing for a trade now, before next Thursday’s draft, to avoid the additional expense.
Garnett, scheduled to make $22 million next season without the trade kicker, can opt out prior to the 2008-09 season - a huge risk for any team, like the Celtics, that makes a trade without securing a commitment from the big power forward.
Miller declined to get specific, but said, “He has a number of provisions that would make it very unrealistic - downright suicidal — for any team to trade for Kevin Garnett without him wanting to go there.”
Miller, who has been highly complimentary of Danny Ainge’s treatment of another of his clients, deposed point guard Sebastian Telfair [stats], isn’t talking out of animosity towards the Celtics organization.
Ainge, who acknowledged to the Herald last Monday that he has talked with Minnesota about a Garnett trade, yesterday sounded like he agreed with Miller’s assessment when he said that the most likely scenario for the Celtics remains to hold onto the fifth pick in the draft.
“That’s what is most likely going to happen,” he said.
But word across the league is that the Celtics are one of two or three teams most likely to pull the trigger on a deal for Garnett.
“We’ve talked to both teams, and (Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations) Kevin (McHale) acted like he was not trading Garnett, but yesterday we started to hear that it was real,” the EasternConference personnel chief said yesterday. “Kevin is actually trying to trade him.”
A second personnel boss, also in the Eastern Conference, agreed.
“I heard that Minnesota has been initiating these calls,” he said.
“I know the Celtics are part of it, but they’re not the only team that is now involved in this. There’s a couple besides them who could make this happen.” Two of the other organizations engaged in talks with Minnesota are believed to be Phoenix and Chicago - the former the subject of considerable speculation about Shawn Marion, and the latter location long considered a potential Garnett destination.
One rumor last week had the Celtics [team stats], Timberwolves and Suns combining in a three-way deal that would send Marion to Boston, Garnett to Phoenix and Al Jefferson [stats] and the No. 5 pick to Minnesota.
Ainge laughed at that scenario yesterday, calling it merely another example of how outlandish rumors get at this time of year.
“I’ve had conversations with about a third of the league about our pick, and at this stage there is more of a chance that we’re going to hold onto it,” he said. “So few of these actually go through - that’s generally what happens. You get maybe one deal for every 200 conversations.”
Source: bostonherald.com

Williams, Menk and Yap likely to join national team

SMC-Pilipinas is beefing up its pool of players with the addition of Kelly Williams, Eric Menk (199-F-74, college: L.Superior) and James Yap, and has set the Jones Cup competition as the final cutoff date to determine the players to be sent to the FIBA-Asia Olympic qualifier next month in Japan.

Williams personally talked to PBA commissioner Noli Eala Wednesday, giving his commitment to play for the team even if he's to forego his planned US vacation.

Menk and Yap have also been invited to join the training upon the team's return from its training trip in Belgrade, Serbia.

"I'm very happy with these developments specially with Kelly's decision to forego his vacation. It speaks volumes of the man. Kelly showed true sign of commitment to help the cause of the RP team," said Eala.

"I'm also thankful for Menk who manifested excitement and willingness to join the training without guarantee from coach Chot Reyes that he will make the Tokushima competition. Hopefully, James also accepts the invitation to join the training," Eala added.

Eala said Williams, Menk and Yap would likely be tapped for the Jones Cup, giving coach Reyes 14 players at his disposal in the tiring nine-day competition. Tony de la Cruz is likely to be relegated as reserve because of his injury.

"At this time, the Tokushima lineup is still an open field. Players already in the team definitely have the inside track. But at the end of the day, the players in best shape and who could best contribute for the team in Japan are likely to make it," said Eala.

"We're beefing up the team. Hopefully, this adjustment works for the betterment of the team as the Tokushima trip nears," Eala added.

The PBA commissioner expressed satisfaction on the team's Belgrade trip although it caused injuries to De la Cruz, Danny Seigle and Dondon Hontiveros.

Eala said Reyes is planning to use Seigle sparingly in the Jones Cup to preserve him for the 4-Nation Manila Invitational Championship. Seigle is nursing a hamstring pull.

Fil-Am player Gabe Norwood is also proceeding to the Jones Cup although his lawyer has yet to submit complete documents that will certify his Filipino citizenship.

"His papers are lacking but we'll do this properly. We'll not cheat our way to getting someone who's not qualified," Eala said.
Source:asia basket