Who are the most valuable free agents this summer?

Baron Davis? Elton Brand? Gilbert Arenas?

Try Corey Maggette and James Posey.

Yes. That Corey Maggette. The one the Clippers basically gave up on once Boom Dizzle opted out of his contract with the Warriors.

Maggette can sign anywhere he wants. If he wants to get paid, he'll end up in Philly, Memphis or Golden State. All three teams have tons of cap room.

Or, he can take less money and be a major piece for a playoff contender.

The Spurs are very much interested in acquiring Maggette, who cures one of the Spurs' Achilles heels: scoring. Maggette can play 2 guard and small forward, get his own shot and is one of the best in the league at getting to the free-throw line. San Antonio struggled mightily on offense last season and could use a big-time scorer.

Continue reading "MAGGETTE AND POSEY ARE FREE AGENTS TO WATCH"

Jerry Colangelo and USA Basketball is painting this wonderful picture of how the 12-man U.S. men's national team was constructed but take a closer because the picture is revealing something else.

In a team photo, Dwight Howard - the Orlando Magic center who wears the adidas brand - is placed at the far left craddling a ball with his left hand conveniently covering the Nike logo on his shorts. Coach Mike Krzyzewski, the only one seated, has his left foot covering Howard's sneakers, which probably does not say Brand Jordan or Air Zoom.
It's not the first time an NBA player tried to hide a sponsor's logo in the Olympics.

Remember the 1992 Dream Team. To avoid being seen wearing anything but his beloved Nike gear, Michael Jordan draped himself with the American flag. Charles Barkley did the same thing.

Continue reading "TEAM NIKE GOING FOR GOLD IN BEIJING"

Friday night's exhibition game in Las Vegas was not much of a contest, which is how the U.S. senior men's basketball team wishes all their games would be this easy in the Olympics.

In preparation for the Beijing Olympics, Team USA has organized six "friendlies" against the rest of the world and Canada was the first victim. As expected, the United States rolled past Canada, 120-65, thanks to a ton of points in the paint against an overmatched team.

Let's be real. Canada is not a threat in international competition. Heck, Canada didn't even have its favorite son (Steve Nash) and adopted brother (Samuel Dalembert) in the lineup. Instead, the Canadians threw in Joel Anthony, Rowan Barrett, Andy Rautins, Olu Famutimi and Jesse Young into the Lion's Den.

Continue reading "TEAM USA STILL HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO"

Three years and $15 million is not much of a contract by NBA standards, but the Lakers should get their money's worth.

Sasha Vujacic, a key part in the team's playoff run and the Lakers' first-round pick in 2004, was rewarded with a new deal and will remain a Laker until Kobe Bryant feels no need for him.

Vujacic averaged a career-high 8.8 points per game during the 2007-08 regular season and converted 43% of his 3-point shots. But his value goes beyond the stat sheet.

He is the kind of player the Lakers need to make their triangle offense run smoothly. He's is a big guard (6-7) and Coach Phil Jackson loves big guards more than he loves his children. He has also proven that he's not afraid to take and make big shots in the playoffs. Vujacic's shooting range allows Bryant to work the middle of the defense and keeps double teams off Lakers big men Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

Continue reading "VUJACIC IS KEY PART TO LAKERS MACHINE"

This can't be good.

The Rooney brothers are in the middle of a family dispute regarding the financial future of the franchise.

Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu has not practiced because of a sore hamstring.

Left guard Chris Kemoeatu, the heir apparent to Alan Faneca (now with the Jets), was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list because of a biceps injury.

Pro Bowl nose guard Casey Hampton, out of shape and overweight, was unable to finish the running drills on the first day and Coach Mike Tomlin also placed him on the PUP list along with Polamalu and Kemoeatu.

Punter Daniel Sepulveda was lost for the season because of a torn ACL.

No. 1 tailback Willie Parker, starting defensive end Aaron Smith and starting free safety Ryan Clark are all coming back from season-ending injuries.

Continue reading "STEELERS ARE HURTING ON AND OFF THE FIELD"