July 12, 2005 ...I will attempt to touch on each NBA team in the days leading up to the opening of the 2005-06 season. My first team to look at is the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs lost in the conference semi-finals to Phoenix—playing all the way until May 20th, 2005. Shawn Bradley retired. The point guard spot is held down solidly by Jason Terry. Devin Harris is a good young back up. Marquis Daniels can play point or shooting guard. The Mavs are deep at the TWO with Jerry Stackhouse, Josh Howard, and Michael Finley all able to play the position. Stack house is showing some signs of age, and so is Finley. Howard has to be looked at as a two for the Mavs to be effective. He just doesn’t shoot the three-ball well enough (29% career). Stackhouse is a better shooter  than Howard but not much better. I was surprised to see his career three point numbers at just 30%. So here is the Mavs trouble; they are shooting guard central. As constituted, only Finley and Dirk Nowitzki shoot it well enough to be effective THREES. That leaves Daniels, Stackhouse, and Howard to fight for shooting guard minutes. That is one too many. Dirk is obviously a premier player. I think to keep defenses honest Dirk and Finley have to be on the floor at the same time. Keith Van Horn backs up Dirk at the FOUR, and Erick Dampier is the starting Center. The Mavs lack a quality backup Center. I am not yet sold on Pavel Podkolzin, their 2004 draft pick. Darrell Armstrong is a free agent. I would let him walk. Ditto for Alan Henderson. I would try to trade a shooting guard, and get a BIG in return. I have no idea what their salary cap looks like but if there was any way to acquire Tyson Chandler—they should pursue it.

 

July 11, 2005 - ...Greetings. I read a good piece of work by Ira Winderman in the Orlando Sentinel. Dig it here. ...I have to be on the record as saying the Bucks paying max money to Michael Redd is a mistake. I like Michael Redd—but not that much. He is also coming off a year that was subpar for him. Here is a list of all the guys that can play the TWO and had higher efficieny ratings than Redd did in 2004-05; Josh Howard, Mike James, Darius Miles, Fred Hoiberg, Mike Miller, Josh Smith, Carmelo Anthony, Richard Jefferson, Chauncey Billups, Ray Allen, Jason Terry, Jason Richardson, Bobby Jackson, Sam Cassell, Gilbert Arenas, Cory Maggette, Grant Hill, Steve Francis, Stephon Marbury, Larry Hughes, Tracy McGrady, Manu Ginobili, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Ron Artest, Paul Pierce, and Lebron James.

 

July 2, 2005 ...News is trickling in about the various destinations for Summer League players. I am happy to see the Kings will have Washington’s Tre Simmons on their summer team. The smooth shooting 2-3 improved every year of his collegiate career. ...I read in the Tucson newspaper that Luke Walton is going to consider all options before next season. He referred to the Lakers as “they” in his interview. ...After ranking the free agents—I think the Kings should be looking at Josh Davis, and Mamadou N’Diaye as bargains that are good enough to stick. ... Ian Mahinmi who was selected by the Spurs was not even listed in the NBA Draft guide. We had him listed! ...Our poster guy for 2005—Michael Harris from Rice was signed by the Dallas Mavericks within one hour of the draft being over. He went undrafted. ...Our next best available player not drafted was Spencer Nelson of Utah State. The Jazz have invited him to play summer ball. ...Mindaugas Katelynas and last year’s poster child Ricky Minard were invited to Phoenix Suns Summer camp. 11 of the 17 invitees will make the Suns summer roster. ...Taylor Coppenrath will get a summer league shot with the Boston Celtics. Danny Ainge also smartly added Jeremiah Massey of Kansas St. to his summer team. ...Eddie Basden will be on the Bulls summer roster. Chicago also signed Omar Thomas of UTEP—who I feel has first round talent. ...Darren Brooks - who we had ranked as a second round pick—went undrafted. He will play for the Dallas Mavs summer team. Dallas also snagged the unflappable Filiberto Rivera. ...Brandon Gay, and Jawad Williams will run on the Golden State Warriors summer team. They too were players we thought should have been drafted. ...Florida’s Matt Walsh will play on Summer teams for Miami, and Seattle. ...Anthony Roberson will play for the Hawks, and Nets this Summer. ...John Gilchrist (Maryland), and Keleena Azubuike (Kentucky) will ball for the Cavs Summer team. ...South Carolina’s Carlos Powell signed to play Summer hoops with the Lakers. Ditto Lakers deal for Will Conroy. ...Mike Wilkinson of Wisconsin will be on the Utah summer team.

 

July 1, 2005 ...Please check out the NBA Free Agent rankings here.