Each weekday morning, BDL serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your BQM.
Eddie Sefko, The Dallas Morning News: "Josh Howard's exit from the Mavericks went from amicable to a bit testy after he made his debut in Washington on Wednesday night. Howard said after his first game as a Wizard that he looks forward to being able to 'stick it to the Mavs' regarding the trade after six-plus seasons in Dallas. The Mavericks took the high road, with owner Mark Cuban saying only, 'I wish Josh nothing but the best.' The juicy piece of irony is that Howard ended up in Washington, which may well have been the site where he had the beginning of the end, according to several Maverick sources. They say Howard had a long night of partying on Jan. 19, the night after the Mavericks had won in Boston and less than 24 hours before playing the Wizards. The team officially said he missed the game against Washington on Jan. 20 with a stomach illness. But sources said team officials could not deny that it was a self-inflicted game off."
Bryan Chu, NBA.com: "Asked Rajon Rondo(notes) about his thoughts on the trade, he first declined, seemingly frustrated. 'I don't know, I don't know,' said Rondo on whether the team needed to make a trade. 'I hope it's for the best. Eddie House(notes) can drop 20, 30 [points off the bench] too. But [the players] don't make decision, we just play the game.' As for his relationship with Robinson: 'We compete. We don't really see each other, we speak, but I try to kill him every time I play him and I'm sure that's probably his mentality.' He did say that Robinson brings 'energy and he can definitely score the ball in a million different ways. He's a good defender.' [...] Ray Allen(notes) didn't feel a trade was necessary. 'I didn't think we were bad,' said Allen on the bench production. 'We were good.' As for his thoughts on Robinson: 'We have to incorporate Nate as quickly as we can,' Allen said. 'He's a young player in the league, a very up-tempo player, great defender on the ball and he can shoot the ball.'"
Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post: "The game froze. Overtime. Tie game. Six seconds left. Carmelo Anthony(notes). LeBron James(notes). 'I knew I wanted the ball,' Denver's Anthony said. 'I was going to get the ball, my teammates knew I was going to get the ball — and I made the shot.' It was the shot of the season. In the Nuggets' 118-116 win Thursday night at Cleveland, the cold-blooded Anthony swished a 20-footer in James' face with 1.9 seconds left in overtime. James, of course, took the final shot on the other end. But his 3-point attempt clanked off the rim, and Cleveland's 13-game winning streak was history. Down in New Orleans, Team USA point guard Chris Paul(notes) tweeted: 'That game wit Bron vs Melo jus now was the best head 2 head matchup so far this season ... best part was that they BOTH guarded each other!'"
Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle: "The term 'Rick Adelman offense' was always a euphemism for 'Rick Adelman's Sacramento offense.' It really did not describe his offense with the Trail Blazers. It certainly did not cover his offense with the Rockets when Yao Ming(notes) played. Even now, with Yao out, there are some similarities, but loads of differences, too from the offense he ran with the Kings. If anything, Adelman prides himself for an ability to adapt to the talent on hand, from the Clyde Drexler-Buck Williams Blazers, to the Chris Webber(notes)-Mike Bibby Kings and the Yao Ming-Tracy McGrady(notes) Rockets. There are some things, however, that Adelman wants from any offense. Just as Jeff Van Gundy would believe after any loss that the Rockets could have played harder, Adelman will always want better movement of players and the ball. His offense, however, has been based on his players. But with all that said, euphemistically speaking, Kevin Martin(notes) loves 'the Rick Adelman offense,' and it loves him."
Mike Wells, Indianapolis Star: "Team president Larry Bird, who declined to go into the specifics about proposals involving [T.J.] Ford or Troy Murphy(notes), said they had conversations with 'about 20 different teams.' 'We looked at what we were going to do in the future,' Bird said, 'and if it didn't make sense, we weren't going to do it.' The Pacers are pointing toward the summer of 2011, when they will have more than $40 million to spend on free agents, and weren't willing to make a deal to jeopardize that. Bird and general manager David Morway made no secret they wanted draft picks, expiring contracts or young players. Cleveland was interested in Murphy but traded for Washington's Antawn Jamison(notes). The Pacers had preliminary talks with Sacramento about Murphy. Milwaukee also was an option. The Pacers wanted multiple expiring contracts, but the Bucks wanted the Pacers to take guard Charlie Bell(notes), who has two more years on his contract after this season."
Dave Hyde, South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "We don't know what [Pat] Riley knows when it comes to this coming summer. And it's his job to know something. Some wink-wink from an agent. Some measured word from the right person. Something that doesn't guarantee anything but tempers the involved risk. It's his career's final swing at stake. It's four wasted years of this franchise if this doesn't work out. There are no illusions after Thursday's trade deadline, either. Riley can deliver heaven or hell to the Heat next year. That's what makes this so gutsy (if it works out) or foolhardy (if it doesn't). Either way, it's fascinating to watch unfold. There's probably never been a front-office tightwire act like this in sports, a team president capable of delivering a championship next season or the worst team in the league. Until Thursday at 3 p.m., Riley could have veered to Plan B. He could hedged his hopes by trading for Amare Stoudemire or Carlos Boozer(notes). He could have dealt some collected poker chips for the lesser names that changed teams. Instead, the Heat was one of the few teams with plenty in play that did nothing. And you know what? I'm fine with that by this point. There's no turning back now."
Fred Kerber, New York Post: "It's official. The Nets will play in Newark for the next two seasons after New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced yesterday an agreement allowing the team to complete its lease at the Prudential Center. [...] 'I'm pleased to announce a mutually agreeable resolution with the Nets that moves the sports industry forward, while protecting the public's interest and the future of professional basketball in ... New Jersey,' Christie said. 'The Nets will remain in New Jersey for the next two years and play in a state-of-the-art facility, while taxpayers will see revenue from the agreement.'"
Chris Iott, MLive.com: "Go ahead. Trash Joe Dumars. Curse the day he sent Chauncey Billups(notes) packing. Drag the underachieving corpse of Darko Milicic(notes) out of the closet one more time. Wonder why Dumars hired Michael Curry or traded for Allen Iverson(notes). Give one more lashing to whichever dead horse you choose. But don't give Dumars, the Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations, a hard time for not making a deal at the trade deadline. He doesn't deserve it. Dumars stood pat Thursday, letting the deadline pass with Richard Hamilton(notes), Tayshaun Prince(notes), et al still on the roster, for one reason: All his phone dialing failed to lead to any deals he thought would make the Pistons better in the long run. 'We communicated with teams throughout the league,' Dumars said in a one-sentence statement released by the team, 'but at the end of the day, we were not presented with anything we thought was beneficial to us at this point.'"
Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune: "It wasn't a deal to end all deals, it wasn't a deal to bring something back for Carlos Boozer, it wasn't a deal to bolster a championship run, it was a deal to cut the Jazz's luxury-tax penalty in half. That's the half of it, anyway. The other half: to breathe air into a crowded spot where Wesley Matthews(notes), Kyle Korver(notes), and C.J. Miles(notes) are left to pick up the minutes Ronnie Brewer(notes) would have gone on taking without the trade. And to get a decent future draft pick in return that costs the Jazz nothing for the time being. Which was the more significant half? Kevin O'Connor says it was the asset-in-return part, not the assets-in-the-bank part. 'There was some duplication [at shooting guard],' he says. 'And we were able to get an asset. ... [The money] was something that was addressed, but it was not the driving force.' Believe what you will. Brewer himself isn't sure."
Ronald Tillery, Memphis Commercial Appeal: "In Brewer, the Griz picked up a versatile guard-forward who can handle the ball, generate offense and defend. He is a proven player who will be a clear upgrade from the young, raw talent residing on the Grizzlies' bench at the shooting guard and small forward positions. 'He'll start out off the bench.' coach Lionel Hollins said. 'But he'll get significant minutes. He'll give us flexibility and versatility.' Brewer will be paid $2.7 million this season and will be a restricted free agent this summer. A qualifying offer would cost $3.7 million. But the Grizzlies, who have the right to match any offer sheet Brewer receives in free agency, intend to retain his services long term. 'I gave up a first-round draft pick so obviously I think he can play for us,' Griz owner Michael Heisley said. 'He's experienced and he's young. He'll really boost our second team.'"
Brian T. Smith, The Columbian: "Marcus Camby as a Trail Blazer: It already looks and feels right. If the sight of Camby trading jokes with fellow ageless wonder Juwan Howard(notes) wasn't enough, the beaming smile on the face of Blazers coach Nate McMillan said it all. So did the view of Camby and Howard playfully teasing rookie Jeff Pendergraph(notes) as the trio traded shots at the team's practice facility in Tualatin, Ore. Thursday was Day One for Camby in black and red. He aced it. Professional, polished and pristine, Camby fit in as only a widely respected, often-praised 14-year NBA veteran can. Brandon Roy(notes), Portland's $80-million man with a $2 hamstring, said Camby was a natural. Funny thing: That's the same name Roy was given not too long ago."
