NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Ben Gordon decides a one year contract is like having a birthday

Ben Gordon has signed an offer he said he would never sign.

”I’m definitely not taking it,” Gordon told New York media Aug. 15. ”I’ve already expressed that to them. I mean, that’s not an option.”

It turned out to be Gordon’s only option. His agent, Raymond Brothers, failed to find a sign-and-trade deal or offer sheet from another team after Gordon became a restricted free agent July 1, and negotiations with the Bulls never came close to a long-term deal.

Some signs suggested trade talks with the Miami Heat were revisited the last few days. But by Wednesday, the Bulls had pulled what was believed to be a six-year contract worth about $58 million that Gordon had shunned since July.
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It appears Gordon is rolling the dice on this one. He turns down a multi-year 50 million dollar deal to stay with the Bulls, which is the team he says he wants to play for and instead takes a one year deal for 6.4 million bucks.

After the one year, Ben Gordon is an unrestricted free agent. In the meantime, he cannot even be traded without his permission.

So fast forward a year when Ben is on the open market. Hmm, he scores a lot, but is kind of small for a shooting guard and not really a point guard and can’t really check most guards, so who is going to want him? Yeah, he did lead the Bulls in scoring for 3 straight years, but that is because their guards struggle to score.

Now the Bulls are bringing in Derrick Rose to share time with Kirk Hinrich and Larry Hughes. That means fewer shots for Ben and that means…well, you take it from there. 50 million bucks, wow!

Photo source Newscom

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Gilbert Arenas can often beat you with just one finger

Gilbert Arenas is a big hoop star in the NBA.

Like a lot of big hoop stars, Gilbert can put the ball in the hoop. In fact, there are times he can put the ball in the hoop from almost anywhere on the court once he passes half court. Yes, on offense he is that good.

Unfortunately like a lot of big hoop stars there is not room for ‘team’. How do you let some other player do something when you can do it better?

That did not bother Ernie Grunfeld, the General Manager of the Washington Wizards. Maybe he looked at Gilbert and thought he would put a lot of butts in the seats, who knows?

Anyway they gave Gilbert Arenas a 111 million dollar contract. Ouch.

The surgery is the third on the knee in 17 months. Arenas missed 69 regular-season games last season and had to shut himself down during the playoffs. Still, Grunfeld expressed no regret about the decision to give Arenas a six-year, $111 million contract after the point guard opted for free agency during the offseason.

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At times, when Gilbert was out, the Wizards played great ball and that put doubt about the signing in all of our minds.

Again, who knows, Gilbert Arenas is only 26 years old and may have his best basketball ahead of him. The question remains if he can become the team player that produces championships and not just stats.

Photo source newscom

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Andrew Bynum is ready and running

Andrew Bynum has been working out and his knee is fine.

This is a big year for Bynum. A contract year.

“I can’t wait, man,” Bynum said. “I think I’m the only guy who wants the season to start, like, tomorrow, you know what I mean? But I just can’t wait to play with the fellows. I haven’t done it in (nine) months, so I’m excited.”

Bynum is eligible for a contract extension that could pay him up to $80 million for five seasons, but he said he’s not thinking about anything but a successful return to the court.

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How is it the Lakers can go to the NBA finals and then get back a 7 foot center.

Like me, have you been trying to figure out how good this team can be with both Gasol and Bynum up front and Kobe Bryant in the backcourt?

source for photo newscom

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Six years and 111 million bucks.

But Gilbert Arenas took less.

The Wizards offered Arenas a max contract — $127 million over six years — leaving it up to the unpredictable Agent Zero to decide whether he would live up to his previous statement that he would take a lesser amount if it would help the team sign other players and improve the prospects of contending for an NBA title. Arenas negotiated the deal without an agent while traveling in China on a promotional tour for a shoe company.

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The Wizards have resigned Antawn Jamison and now have enough money to add one more player.

Could it be Gilbert Arenas wants to win? Even more than posting stats?

Check out this YouTube on Arenas and what he has been thinking.

Now that you know his thoughts, watch his scoring ability in this mix.

Gilbert just seems to be able to walk right through defenses for layup after layup.

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The masked man, Andrew Bogut, gets a lot of dough

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It is a big pile of money. Bigger than you will see in your lifetime of slaving at a regular job.

Andrew Bogut will sign a 5 year extension for 72 million bucks.

The signing should also silence critics who feel the team hasn’t shown a commitment to winning, Bauman said. The hiring of Scott Skiles as coach and the trade for Richard Jefferson demonstrated to Bogut that the team was making a push to be competitive.

“These moves show Andrew this team is committed to winning now,” Bauman said.

The extension does not affect the nearly $7 million Bogut is owed for the upcoming season, the final year of his rookie contract.

Despite the Bucks’ struggles in the past two seasons, Bogut indicated he wanted to stay with the team.

He played in 78 games last season, averaging 14.3 points and 9.8 rebounds.
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Ordinarily, you would find me critical of a signing like this, but this is not the ordinary. John Hammond helped Joe Dumars build the Pistons and now he is trying to do the same with the Bucks. Think it over; they now have Michael Redd at shooting guard, Andrew Bogut at center, and Richard Jefferson at small forward. That is a pretty powerful nucleus. Throw in Scott Skiles at coach and this team is ready to move up the ladder!

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Gilbert Arenas is thinking “Ok, got the money, now how to get the NBA title?”

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Ok, so it is a bad pun in the title. Who are we kidding here? Agent Zero should not be this expensive.

The unpredictable three-time All-Star point guard, in vintage Agent Zero fashion, told the Post and the Washington Times on Thursday that he has agreed to re-sign for $111 million over six years, considerably less than the maximum deal he said the Wizards offered him when the free agency period began on Tuesday.

Arenas negotiated the deal from China, where is traveling as part of promotional tour for a shoe company, and did so without an agent.

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Let’s see, the Washington Wizards with Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas will win how many titles with this twosome? Maybe that is what the Zero represents in his nickname.

Forgive me, but Gilbert is exciting to watch, but that does not always translate to victories.

Arenas has averaged 22.8 points, 5.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds in his seven-season NBA career. He was known as much for his tantrums as for on-court play when he came to Washington from Golden State in 2003, but he began to display more maturity as he developed into a take-over-the-game player with a knack for hitting buzzer-beating shots. Although he still has his many quirks— yelling “Hibachi!” after making a big shot is just one of many—he has helped the Wizards became a playoff regular.

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Chris Paul magically floats the ball, while on his back

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The NBA is set up for guards to be able to dominate. There is no hand checking on the outside, so even forwards are handling the ball on the outside like guards.

Quick guards like Chris Paul are very valuable.

If you saw the Hornets play at all last year, you saw Chris Paul rule the hardwood. He had one year left on his contract, so New Orleans wanted to get him resigned before the next season started.

Lance Young, Paul’s agent, said Paul agreed to a three-year extension with a player’s option for a fourth year. The total value of the deal is $68 million.
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In case you are wondering if this is a good contract…

The Hornets will pay Paul the maximum allowable under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, starting at 25 percent of the salary cap for the first year of the extension, with 10 percent raises thereafter.

Chris had a fabulous year last year.

Last season, Paul led the NBA with averages of 11.6 assists and 2.7 steals. He was the Hornets’ second-leading scorer, averaging 21.1 points in helping the Hornets reach a franchise-record 56 regular season victories.

Watch for Chris to lead the Olympic team as well!

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NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Jason Kidd not going anywhere right now!

Wow!

In what looked like another blockbuster trade of an Eastern Conference team to a Western Conference team, did not happen.

Whether this trade gets done or not is up in the air right now.

There appears to be a contract snag with one of the players to be traded, Devean George.

Dallas Wins

Dallas went out and beat Portland anyway.

George started because of an injury to Josh Howard — and went 0-for-11. He had no points, four rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes.
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Dallas also was without starting point guard Devin Harris (ankle) and key reserve Jerry Stackhouse (hamstring). A bigger distraction was talk that Harris and Stackhouse were part of a deal that would bring Kidd from New Jersey in a deal that also would include George and reserves DeSagana Diop and Maurice Ager. source

The contract of Devean George has a no trade clause and his agent, Mark Bartelstein is meeting with George to discuss it.

George was supposed to be among the players headed from Dallas to New Jersey, but he blocked it because of a virtual no-trade clause as part of a contract status called “early Bird rights.”

After Dallas beat Portland on Wednesday night, Mavs coach Avery Johnson said there was “zero” chance the deal would get done, but added that was “as of now.” source

The trade deadline is Feb 21st. Read more

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

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Ben Gordon shooting the lights out!

The NBA draft class of 2004 has their contracts coming up for renewal.

In the NBA, this is the first of the great Promises, like a strong spring breeze after a long cold winter; it brings with it many new riches.

This time period, 3 years after your initial contract, is the reason that so many undernourished, undereducated, immature lanky, talented basketball players leave College early to go to the Pros.

You see, it is not the NBA come calling, it is the after 3 years free agent or renegotiate that they hear so loudly.

The class of 2004, including Ben Gordon, may face Read more

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Visit my companion blog on the NFL at Squibkick.com

Isiah looks on in disbelief as the Knicks crumble

How does this guy keep his job?

Oh, this has nothing to do with the harassment suit.

(And how does he get out of any fines on that one?)

Isiah has sunk the Knicks to new depths of despair, but there is more to this story.

Enter James Dolan

The owner of the Knicks may be more of a problem than Isiah. Jim Dolan is the guy that hired Isiah and keeps him on the job. Jim Dolan is the guy Read more