T-Wolves owner: Rick Adelman didn't want Darko Milicic
Much of the cast that supported Aldridge in past seasons is now gone. Blazers starters Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby were traded away. Brandon Roy retired, but has come back this season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Center Joel Przybilla signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Aldridge, 27, is starting his seventh season with the Blazers. He's averaging 17.8 points and 7.5 rebounds for his career, but last season he averaged 21.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting a career-high 51.2 percent. And he made his first All-Star team.
Yeah it seemed pretty obvious that Adelman was making those moves when you consider Kahn's history of blunders.
And after reading about Oden's conflicts as well as a trainer with Oden's story about how terrible the Portland medical staff is, it's not surprising to see Roy want out, and Paul Allen has really turned things in a 180 for them (not in a good way).
Granted, Portland has had awful luck with injuries, but some of those can be attributed to their med staff.
However, if Evans doesn’t sign another contract, he’s satisfied with everything he has accomplished throughout the course of his career. Not only has he played for seven teams and exceeded everyone’s expectations as an undrafted player, he has emerged as a leader for the league’s players and put himself in position to succeed after his playing career comes to an end.
“I like to play fast, really fast and so I think this is a great place for me,” Dragic told HOOPSWORLD. “We’re trying to play fast and I just want to involve all of my players, try to be dangerous for both baskets and assists. If I can do that, it’s going to be much easier for the team.”
“It hasn’t been too bad, actually,” Beal said. “I still have a lot room for improvement. I still have to get better, bigger, and stronger. I use my legs more because it’s a further distance, so, just being conscious of where I am on the floor, and just work my way towards the three-point line, not just come out and start bombing threes.”
It’s easy to laugh now, but this season should still prove to be a challenging one even with some added talent and another year of growth from Irving. There’s a lot of youth on this team—and there could be even more should Anderson Varejao end up getting traded at some point as expected—so expectations for the Cavs are still understandably tempered.
“I was never formally offered a job in management with the Wizards,” Evans said. “I expressed interest in wanting to help the organization continue to grow, but I wanted to do that as a player. At that time, Ernie made a decision to go younger. I understand this is a business. I respect him as a GM and wish him and the entire organization nothing but the best.”
Aldridge, 27, is starting his seventh season with the Blazers. He's averaging 17.8 points and 7.5 rebounds for his career, but last season he averaged 21.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting a career-high 51.2 percent. And he made his first All-Star team.
“Goran is a special player,” Beasley told HOOPSWORLD. “I wouldn’t compare him to Steve Nash. He does some things better than Steve Nash and some things worse, but overall he’s a good point guard and he’s got a lot of desire just like we all do. As long as he’s aggressive, his shot opens up and our shots open up. It’s easier.”
''My first time, it was much more dramatic. It was a team that was trying to change its image. It was a team that had won 21 games in the regular season,'' Aldridge said. ''So that time was a lot different than this one. This time we really have some good pieces, and I think guys are actually better this time. ''
The Blazers open the regular season on Halloween night at home against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Oh, and as for that new locker room, the Blazers unveiled it before the Nuggets game on Wednesday night. It includes a hydrotherapy room and a smoothie bar.
Former NBA veteran and third-year assistant coach at UConn Kevin Ollie has widely been reported as Calhoun’s successor. However, Ollie’s agent, Bill Neff, cautioned HOOPSWORLD late Wednesday night that nothing was agreed to or in writing and that the way things were being written by other outlets were not how they were actually occurring.
A solid deep threat in college, Ross has NBA three-point range and a smooth stroke with a high release. Casey had specifically requested that the Raptors add more shooters this summer. Unfortunately for Ross, Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo honored Casey’s request in spades. The Raptors added several players who can knock down threes including Kyle Lowry, John Lucas III and Landry Fields
Much of the cast that supported Aldridge in past seasons is now gone. Blazers starters Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby were traded away. Brandon Roy retired, but has come back this season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Center Joel Przybilla signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Much of the cast that supported Aldridge in past seasons is now gone. Blazers starters Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby were traded away. Brandon Roy retired, but has come back this season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Center Joel Przybilla signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor confirmed that it was coach Rick Adelman who no longer wanted center Darko Milicic on the roster and who pushed for new forward Andrei Kirilenko and new guard Alexey Shved. And that it was team President David Kahn who sought guard Brandon Roy. Taylor also said the Wolves were willing to overpay for restricted free agent small forward Nicolas Batum, who ended up with Portland after the Trail Blazers matched their $45 million, four-year offer sheet. "That's behind us," Taylor said.