The Purpose Of Waiving Deron Washington Was....I Don't Know.

Yesterday, the Detroit Pistons waived 2008 second draft pick and flopper extraordinaire, Deron Washington. They had initially signed him back in August to be their 14th and last man, giving him a two year minimum salary deal with $250,000 guaranteed in the first season. Yet after bringing in Chucky Atkins on an unguaranteed one year deal for training camp (a move that they won't have foreseen prior to the Washington signing), the Pistons began to feel that Atkins was more deserving of the 14th man spot, and so they waived Washington to allow them to keep Chucky.

That's the official line, at least. It doesn't really make a lot of sense though.

Disregarding the respective talent levels and fits on the roster of the two players, the finances of the situation seemed to dictate that Deron stayed on. Washington's large amount of guaranteed money (over 50% of his overall contract for this year) meant that the Pistons could have kept him on until the league-wide contract guarantee date of January 10th, without having to pay him a single extra penny outside of meal stipends. Waive him yesterday, and he'll cost $250,000; waive him on January 6th, and he'll still only cost $250,000.

Therefore, why waive him?

The Pistons aren't pressed for cash - after a summer of cap room, they rock a payroll of only $58,597,137, 25th in the league. They've run out of cap room and exceptions, hence the need for all the minimum salary deals, but they'll spend what they can anyway. They can afford to swallow Washington (giggidy) without any repercussions coming from it; they'll lose very little from it. They've lost a player that wasn't in the rotation, and no extra money than what they had already committed. But they'll also gain absolutely nothing from it. Even if Washington only played about 14 minutes between now and the guarantee date, it's 14 minutes more than an empty roster spot will fill.

Yet for some reason, they really want that extra spot.

Detroit said from the start, even before bringing in Atkins, that they only wanted to keep 14 players on the roster this year. They signed Washington with that in mind, and signed Atkins more in hope than expectation. Yet after Atkins (seemingly) showed that he had enough left in the tank at age 35 to be a more worthwhile investment than the 23 year old athletic project, they switched the two while sticking to that plan of keeping 14.

Why they're so staunch about keeping the fifteenth spot clear remains a mystery; even if they're planning to accommodate a midseason pick-up at some point, they don't need the spot until they need it, and they don't need it right now. (They don't need Washington, either. But he's a free player. How bad can that be?) So what they've done is open a roster spot for a possible move that isn't even scheduled, without saving any money in doing so.

I don't see it. Even if you really need Chucky Atkins - and they don't - why not keep Washington as well?

The only risk to keeping Washington would be if he were to get seriously injured, at which point Detroit is bound to keep paying him until he's healthy again. This annoying if justified stipulation caught out Miami and Orlando last year, who became stuck with paying fully guaranteed contracts to Jason Richards and Mike Wilks respectively after they both suffered bad knee injuries in training camp. But that risk is minimal, and it's even smaller if you consider that Washington was only scheduled to be an inactive list talent.

Now, since Washington has been waived, he can't be traded. He can't play for the team. They no longer have any rights on him of any sort. And they still have to pay him $250,000.


Maybe this could be a similar situation to the one that the San Antonio Spurs have going on with Malik Hairston and Marcus E. Williams. (Wink wink.) Maybe it's a precursor to a two-for-one trade in the next few days, as unlikely as that seems. Maybe Washington asked for his release for some reason, and the Pistons were feeling remarkably generous. Or maybe it's just not something that's been thought through.

Detroit used a draft pick on Washington, stashed him for a year, let him develop, then gave him some guaranteed money, yet now they've cut him before they see a single minute's return on that. They've not cut him for a salary saving, and they've not even cut him for Chucky Atkins; they've cut him for a roster spot that they don't need yet, and may never need.

It may have only been a 59th pick and $250,000, but it's all now gone to waste. And it needn't have done. Just think of what Deron Washington could achieved between now and early January.



(As always, if there's some logic or crucial information point here that I've missed, do please let me know. But if there is, I don't see it right now.)

Where Are They Now: 2009 Summer League Teams Part 1

It's been roughly two months since summer league started, and most of the players involved have been rehomed now. The following is a list of where everybody currently is, or where they might be going.

This list gets a bit long, so if you want to just skip to your favoured team, you can do so. I'll allow that.



Boston Celtics

My initial summary


- Nick Fazekas: Fazekas has signed in Europe for next year, with Dijon of France. The longer this goes on, the more it looks like Fazekas is never going to get back into the NBA. Even though he led this Celtics summer league team in points and rebounds, the NBA doesn't seem to want to know. If that continues to happen, it'll be.....well, it'll be strange. Just plucking a name randomly out of my arse here, but is there a real reason for Taylor Griffin to be in the NBA but not Nick Fazekas? Not that I know of. Oh well. No biggy.

- J.R. Giddens: Giddens is still with the Celtics, as Boston tried valiantly to convince Indiana that they wanted him as a part of a Marquis Daniels sign and trade. The Pacers rightly refused.

- Lester Hudson: Hudson hasn't signed with the Celtics yet, but it's likely that he will do. The Celtics really should try and find a veteran backup option first, even if the pickings are pretty slim now. But if they were going to do that, they probably would have done it already.

- Coby Karl: Karl remains unsigned. He also played on the Nuggets' summer league team. The Nuggets are publicly in the market for a good shooting two guard. Coby Karl is a good shooting two guard. The Nuggets' head coach is George Karl. George Karl is Coby Karl's dad. It's going to write itself. You can just feel it.

- Chris Lofton: Lofton is unsigned, but won't be returning to Mersin, who have already replaced him with Richie Frahm and Jimmy Baron.

- Bryan Mullins: Southern Illinois's very own Bryan Mullins has signed with JL Bourg Basket, a team in France's second division. Going from the French second division to the NBA is only really possible if you're an athletic 18 year old French forward, so we may not hear from him again. PS: It turns out that Mullins has an Irish passport. This will help his European career greatly.

- Gabe Pruitt: The Celtics waived Pruitt last month, in spite of their need for a point guard, which isn't a glowing endorsement of Gabe's worth. He later worked out for the Grizzlies, but they decided on Marcus Williams instead, which also isn't a glowing endorsement of Pruitt.

- Kevin Rogers: Rogers has signed with Panionios in Greece. Quite a lot of players in this post have gone to Greece, you'll notice. It's the new CBA.

- Mike Sweetney: As genuinely overexcited as I was about Sweetney's return from two years out of the game, it kind of sucked. Sweetney may have lost 40lbs, but that's only because he weighed 360 in the first place. He's still heavier than Colin Farrell's eyebrows, and played only one game before coming down with the classic Sweetney injury of "strained hamstring," not playing again. It's a start, at least, but it's not been a very good one. I still believe, however.

- Robert Swift: Swift had more fouls than rebounds in summer league. He still hasn't done anything for three years, and the mobility has badly, badly gone wrong. Even Danny Ainge doesn't seem to want him any more. Swift is unsigned, and really needs to go to the D-League and start again.

- Bryce Taylor: Taylor has downgraded from Italy to Germany, signing with Telekom Baskets Bonn for this season.

- Bill Walker: Walker is still with the Celtics. He might have been with the Pacers right now, but Indiana decided that obtaining Bill Walker isn't worth being stuck with Tony Allen, J.R. Giggiddens, or both. I agree.

- Darius Washington: Macedonian passport in hand, Washington is back in Europe, playing for Galatasaray in Turkey.




Chicago Bulls

My initial summary


- James Augustine: Despite playing well for the Bulls, Augustine is staying in Spain to play a second season for Gran Canaria.

- Tyrell Biggs: Biggs signed in Greece with AS Trikalla, as have a couple of other people on this list that we'll get to later.

- Brandon Costner: Costner has signed in Belgium with Dexia Mons-Hainaut. There are 9 Americans on the team, which is a bit strange, although due to the wonders of nationalisation, at least three of them have European passports. (Including Kent State's very own Nate Reinking, one of Britain's best guards. Which is like being one of Operation Barbarossa's best tacticians.)

- Chris Davis: I have absolutely nothing to report. Partly because he hasn't signed anywhere that I can find, and partly because it's hard to Google information on someone with such a common name.

- Taj Gibson: Gibson is signed with the Bulls for next year, ready to wow us all. The last time a Bulls fanbase was so unanimously down on a draft pick, that player was Kirk Hinrich. And that worked out all right. Also, I recently watched USC versus Boston College, when Gibson passed like Vlade Divac and didn't miss a shot in a 24 point outing. I feel a bit better about him now.

- Taurean Green: Green has signed with AEK Athens in Greece. However, the team is said to be close to bankruptcy, so he might not stay long.

- Julius Hodge: Remains unsigned. Julius Hodge fact: Julius Hodge was named by his older brother after Julius Erving. It's kind of got that Denis Law/Dennis Bergkamp thing going on. Except in that example, BOTH of them were legends.

- James Johnson: So far in his time with the Bulls, Johnson has added to his kickboxing prowess with an awesome dancing ability. If he turns out to be any good at basketball as well, we'll have ourselves a number to retire.

- Linton Johnson: Johnson was under contract to the Bulls during summer league, signing unguaranteed through 2010 towards the end of last season. He was waived after summer league, though, and remains unsigned. The Sixers were said to be interested, but nothing has come of that. However, despite the Bulls waiving him three weeks prior, Linton still represented the Bulls at a recent charity golf outing, since no one else could be bothered to turn up. Nice man. I'd gladly take him back, if things were different. We just ran out of money and minutes.

- Nick Lewis: Lewis has spent the last two and a half years in the D-League. He's done well, but the D-League pays badly, so he's had to go to France to get this dollar and put work in. He's signed with Roanne to replace Taj Gray.

- Lorenzo Mata-Real: Unsigned. Here's a great quote about, though:

Even if he grew up in California, Lorenzo feels himself 100% Mexican.

If that's not worth a giggidy, then nothing is.

- Bryan Mullins: See Boston entry.

- DeMarcus Nelson: The Bulls waived Nelson when they waived Johnson, and he has since caught on with Air Avellino in Italy.

- Anthony Roberson: Roberson was a third player signed unguaranteed through 2010 who was waived after summer league concluded. My mate Doug reports the amusing story of how new Bulls GM Gar Forman was so visibly offended at how bad Roberson was in summer league, that he couldn't help but swear publicly about it. Good times. Also, he's a sexpest. (Anthony Roberson, that is. Not Gar Forman.)

- Josh Shipp: Shipp is signed in Turkey with Bornova Bld, alongside Kedrick Brown and Frank Elegar. They'll probably have fun highlight reels.

- A.D. Vassallo: Vassallo didn't play with the Bulls summer league team in the end as he'd sign in France with Paris-Levallois. This hasn't changed.

- Luke Zeller: Zeller has signed in Japan with a team called the Shiga Lakestars in the BJ League. (Giggidy.) If you're wondering if signing in Japan is anything like signing in China or Korea, it isn't.




Cleveland Cavaliers

My initial summary


- Christian Eyenga: Eyenga signed a three year extension with DKV Joventut Badalona, so we won't be seeing him in the NBA for a good long time yet. Would the Cavs prefer Dante Cunningham or DeJuan Blair or Jermaine Taylor with that pick right now? I'm going to go ahead and say yes.

- Jamont Gordon: Gordon has signed with Cibona Zagreb in Croatia.

- Danny Green: It took a while, but Green has now signed with the Cavaliers. Two year minimum salary contract; first year $140,000 guaranteed, second year $125,000 guaranteed becoming fully guaranteed if he makes the 2010/2011 opening day roster. You heard it all here first.

- David Harrison: Harrison is unsigned and I haven't heard a single rumour about a single team wanting him.

- Robert Hite: Hite is signed in Italy with the team formerly known as Premiata Montegranaro. They're now known as Sigma Coatings Montegranaro. Somewhere on the web, someone should make a list of the history of team's names, to help stave off the confusion. And inevitably, that person's going to end up being me, isn't it?

- Darnell Jackson: Jackson is still on the Cavs roster, but his contract is completely guaranteed. He might be all right, though, because the Cavs have only 14 under contract, even when you include him and Jawad Williams. It's not like they're having a particularly dynamic offseason and need all the roster spots they can get.

- Tarence Kinsey: Unlike Jackson and Williams, Kinsey DID get waived, probably because he had a contract guarantee date. He has since signed in Turkey with Fenerbahce; Kinsey signed a two year deal with a third option season, which might be the death knell for his NBA career.

- Leo Lyons: Lyons has signed with Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem, the Israeli team that has fallen from grace ever since Mario Austin left them. And Lyons is no Mario Austin.

- Maureece Rice: A man whose inability to spell his own first name is somewhat justified, Rice is unsigned, and might be a reasonable expectation to return to the D-League next year. To be honest, I've been meaning to look into how the D-League offseason works, but haven't done so yet. Anyone willing to assist can email me at the usual address.

- Jawad Williams: See; Jackson, Darnell.




Dallas Mavericks

My initial summary


- Alfred Aboya: "The Tribe" is unsigned, and Dallas probably won't be bringing him to camp after a 40 minute, 3 point, 5 rebound, 7 turnover, 9 foul summer league performance. (See what I did with the nickname there? I will now eat my own face out of shame.)

- Rodrigue Beaubois: In the early going - so early that we haven't played a game yet - Beaubois looks like being a steal in the late first round. Dallas hasn't had one of these for a while (in fact, their recent draft record overall is really qutie poor), but the last time they did get a steal, it was Josh Howard, the last first round pick in 2003. So when they hit, they really hit.

- Andre Brown: If Brown hasn't spent his whole summer at the free throw line, he's completely gotten his priorities wrong. He has some offensive talent, which is why he keeps getting back into the league, but his FT% is always roughly equal to his FG%. And the 18% from the line that he shot in summer league would suggest that nothing's changed. He remains unsigned.

- Nick Calathes: Calathes signed with Panathinaikos even before he was drafted, so there's no real news to report here.

- Henry Dugat: Dugat is unsigned. Not a whisper. Didn't even play for the Mavericks in summer league, after all that. Maybe he's dead.

- Shan Foster: Foster is unsigned. He shot the ball well in summer league, and he's a specialist shooter, so maybe he'll come to camp with the Mavericks. But they're out of room, with 17 players under contract already. So he probably shouldn't.

- Mickael Gelabale: Gelabale was involved in a little rum-do last month. He agreed to sign with Alicante Lucentum in Spain's ACB for 400,000 Euros, but when he turned up to sign the contract, he found that the agreement was for 50,000 Euros less than what he'd agreed to. So he refused to sign, fired his agent, and is now looking for an NBA gig. He has ruled out rejoining the D-League, apparently.

- Herbert Hill: Hill has parlayed a decent summer league outing into absolutely nothing at all. He remains unsigned.

- Quinton Hosley: Unknown. I'll report it when it happens.

- Luke Jackson: Jackson started every game for the Mavericks in summer league, but played badly, still not being able to shoot at the NBA level for no obvious reason. He has since signed with Carife Ferrara in Italy. Does that mark the end of Luke Jackson's NBA career. Probably.

- Nathan Jawai: Jawai is still with the Mavericks, but he's one of 17. He has the comparative insurance of a guaranteed contract, but the Mavericks have swallowed bigger ones than that before. The Mavericks need a centre, and Jawai is that, but other candidates to be cut (Greg Buckner, Shawne Williams, Kris Humphries) may all have their uses as trade assets. If a team out there wants to trade a good 8 figure salaried player to sale a hell of a lot of money, Dallas can be right there with a package of Buckner, Williams and Drew Gooden. That's what they're banking on, it looks like. If such a deal happens, Jawai might be all right. If it doesn't, he's probably cut.

- Curtis Jerrells: Jerrells has agreed to sign with the Pistons, but hasn't done it yet.

- Bryson McKenzie: Dear Bryson McKenzie's agent; I am really sorry that you don't think I was nice enough about your client the first time around. I'm sorry. Really. I'm so fucking sorry. And I can't WAIT until he tears up the IBL again.

- Aaron Miles: Unsigned. No stupid follow-up comment, either. Unless that one counts.

- Ahmad Nivins: Nivins is signed with Basquet Manresa in Spain, alongside Hawks draftee Sergiy Gladyr. Basquet Manresa used to be known as Ricoh Manresa. Add them to the name change list. (Also, I like the -qu instead of the -k. We might have to make that mandatory.)

- K.C. Rivers: Rivers, who didn't play for the Mavs, has signed with Associazione Basket Latina, an Italian second division team that I've never heard of.

- Damjan Rudez: Rudez was named as a very late addition to the Mavericks summer league roster, and apparently no one told him, because he didn't play a minute for them. He is signed for next year with Cedevita Zagreb, alongside absolutely nobody that you've heard of. Unless you've heard of Elzie Bibbs. (Former Washington General, apparently. That lucky man.)

- Moussa Seck: I have no news on Moussa Seck, who presumably is going back to the Montegranaro system for about 8 more years of development. But the Mavericks apparently really fell in love with him, so much so that they gave him 4 minutes of PT. Then again, this is the team that gave up a first round draft pick for Pavel Podkolzin. There's something about that 7'3 barrier that gets them unfortunately erect. (Great name for a racehorse, that.) By the way, that surrendered first rounder later became Linas Kleiza. Whoops.

- Trent Strickland: Strickland will be playing basquetball next season for AEK Larnacas in Cyprus. Presumably, Cyprus pays well.




Denver Nuggets

My initial summary


- Derrick Byars: Byars is unsigned, and looks to be a candidate for a return to the D-League, after being one of the better players in it last year. Might even get a training camp spot.

- Dontaye Draper: Unattatched and looking. Like me.

- Ronald Dupree: In his six year professional career, Ronald Dupree has never played outside of America. Seattle was as close as he got. This hasn't changed; he's not signed in Europe for next year, and looks like an inevitable training camp/D-League shoe-in. Good luck Doop.

- C.J. Giles: Giles has signed for next season with Smart Gilas in the Philippines. Smart Gilas are a weird team that aren't even really a club; check this for the details. As a part of the move, Giles will soon receive a Philippines passport.

- Richard Hendrix: Hendrix had a decent summer league for Denver, and a very good one for Orlando. Yet despite producing everywhere he's been (giggidy), Hendrix is not in the NBA. Instead he's in Spain with CB Granada. Shame.

- Coby Karl: I'm telling you. It's happening. The Nuggets reportedly really want Wally Szczerbiak, and Rashad McCants is having a workout with them later this week, but it's just a smokescreen. It's going to be Coby. It has to be. What's the point of having a dad as a coach if he can't get you the gig? My dad does my car insurance, after all. It's the way of the world.

- Tywon Lawson: I'm willing to back down a bit on my stance that Lawson is not greatly inferior to Jonny Flynn. But only a bit. Lawson's still good.

- Kareem Rush: After scoring 54 points on 58 shots last year, even worse than his already shocking career ratio of 1.012 points per shot, the league may have finally figured out that Rush isn't actually a good shooting role player after all. He remains unsigned.

- Cedric Simmons: Simmons, one of the worst first round draft picks of the decade, is out of the NBA. He is signed with Peristeri in Greece, a team that just got promoted to the first division.

- Sonny Weems: Weems has been traded twice this summer; first from Denver to Milwaukee, and then from Milwaukee to Toronto, where he will replace Joey Graham. (And in more ways than one, too; Weems looks more like Joey Graham than Stephen Graham does.) His contract guarantee date has now passed, so he'll be sticking around somewhere.




Detroit Pistons

My initial summary


- Michael Bramos: Bramos did exactly what a fringe NBA player with a Greek passport should do; he went to Greece. He signed a two year deal with DASH Peristeri Athens, just like Simmons above.

- Will Bynum: The Pistons have lots of faith in Will Bynum, so much so that they're probably not going to sign a third point guard (unless Curtis Jerrells shows something quickly). That might not seem like a big deal, but if you've seen Ben Gordon play point guard, it is.

- Austin Daye: Daye is signed, and actually signed waaaaaaaay before the press conference which said that he'd signed. It happens like that sometimes.

- Marquise Gray: Gray was a very late addition to the Pistons squad, getting the gig basically only because he was from Michigan State (for whom he averaged a hot and spicy 3/3 last year). He had 7 points and 6 fouls in his one summer league game, and is currently unsigned. Apparently he had offers from Israel, France and Germany, but nothing has come of any of them yet.

- Ibrahim Jaaber: Jaabar was a surprise inclusion on the Pistons summer league roster. Given his successful European career recently, he didn't seem to need to be here. Apparently he realised this as well, because he didn't turn up, and he'll stay with Lottomatica Roma for at least one more season.

- Jonas Jerebko: Jerebko is signed with the Pistons, to a two year minimum salary contract. First year guaranteed, second year 50% guaranteed.

- Dwayne Jones: Jones is unsigned. He often is around this time of year, and it's usually because he has a training camp gig lined up somewhere. But I haven't heard anything about that this time.

- Andre Owens: Bulgarian international Owens is signed in Turkey with Turk Telekom Ankara. Hurtling towards 30 and now owning a European passport, Owens' NBA career may be over with.

- Jeremy Pargo: Jeremy is signed with Altshuler Saham Galil Gilboa in Israel.

- Trent Plaisted: It was initially reported that Plaisted had signed with Reggio Emilia in Italy's second division, but he didn't. Instead, Plaisted is one of only two non-Croats signed next season with KK Zadar in Croatia. The other one.......we'll get to him later.

- Walter Sharpe: Sharpe is currently a member of the Bucks, after being traded salary dumped on Denver and then forwarded on as a part of the completely unnecessary Malik Allen trade. But his stay in Milwaukee might not last too long. While his guaranteed contract works in his favour, the depth chart is against him; Milwaukee already has Ersan Ilyasova, Joe Alexander, Cucumber A Moute and Hakim Warrick in the forward rotation, with others such as Carlos Delfino and Francisco Elson able to help out if necessary. Sharpe also played like arse gravy last year, which won't help his case. And the Bucks also have 16 players under contract right now. Walter's probably 16th.

- Sean Singletary: Singletary was a very late addition to the Pistons summer league roster. Will Bynum didn't play and Jaaber didn't turn up, so Singletary started all 5 games. He must have felt that he had the inside track on the Pistons' third point guard spot. But now it appears that he's lost out to Curtis Jerrells, who wasn't even with the Pistons SL team. Tough break. Singletary is unsigned.

- Dajuan Summers: Summers has also signed with the Pistons for the minimum. First year guaranteed, second year $500,000 guaranteed. Since $500,000 represents the majority of his second year salary, expect him to be around for both years.

- Clay Tucker: Tucker is signed with DKV Joventut Badalona. Ricky Rubio out, Clay Tucker in. A roughly equal trade-off there.

- Travis Walton: Like Gray, Walton was a late addition to the team solely off of his Michigan State experience. Unlike Gray, he didn't play at all. Walton has now signed in the basketball haven of Switzerland with the Lugano Tigers.

- Deron Washington: 2008 second rounder Washington has signed with the team, too, to a $250,000 guaranteed rookie minimum contract. He should be there until at least the deadline, and probably beyond.




Golden State Warriors

My initial summary


- Connor Atchley: Atchley totalled 25 points, 14 rebounds, 2 blocks and 17 fouls in 4 summer league games, which isn't a very Connor Atchley-type of performance. He is currently unsigned. He sure won't be a Warrior.

- Stephen Curry: I watched Davidson versus Butler last week. You know, the ESPN-televised game in which a still-gimpy Curry went about 6 for 48. I just thought I'd mention this in lieu of saying anything interesting. (By the way, Gordon Hayward = brilliant.)

- Jermareo Davidson: The Warriors waived Jermareo Davidson last month. The Warriors signed Mikki Moore last night. The two play relatively similarly, and both kind of suck. So why not have the younger guy? Is having Devean George and Mikki Moore really better than having Jermareo Davidson and Marco Belinelli? Well, OK. If you say so. Davidson is currently unsigned, by the way.

- Othello Hunter: Hunter has agreed to return to the Hawks for training camp this year. There's a good chance he makes it beyond then too.

- Lawrence Hill: Did you watch the Warriors in summer league and get endlessly confused between Lawrence Hill and Quan Prowell? Me too. If you did, Hill is the one that wanted to be remembered as a shooter. He is currently unsigned.

- Joe Ingles: Ingles has left Australia and signed with CB Granada in Spain.

- Jared Jordan: Jordan signed with Telekom Baskets Bonn in Germany. I read an interview somewhere where he said the NBA remained a dream, but he needs to start earning in the mean time. If that was just a more tactful way of saying "I'm probably not taking the optimal route to the NBA right here," he's right.

- Acie Law: There's 82 games left in Acie Law's NBA career. 55 of them may well be spent on the inactive list. This may well be it. Give them hell, Ace. For a change.

- Cartier Martin: Martin signed in Italy with Benetton Treviso last month. He appear so be having a bit of girl trouble, though.

- Anthony Morrow: Morrow averaged 25 points per game in summer league, second best in the entire competition. Strangely, it was also the second best on his team. There's absolutely no doubt that Morrow will be in the NBA, not only for this year but for a while yet; the only question is what kind of contract he gets next year.

- Quan Prowell: Prowell is signed with Paris-Levallois in France for next year. Hi Ann!

- Anthony Randolph: There are plenty of people who write plenty of pieces talking about the plenty of examples of the Warriors plentiful mismanagement these last two years. Here's just one example for the hell of it; Don Nelson told Anthony Randolph to seek a trade last year. Apparently the fact that he's everything the franchise needs was completely lost on Nellie, who seems to think HE is everything the franchise needs. Bad times.

- Lawrence Roberts: I got nothing. Nothing but love, anyway.

- Jamal Sampson: Sampson outplayed Atchley and Davidson in summer league, which sounds more impressive than the 3/4 he averaged. If he ever had a chance - and he probably didn't - then Mikki Moore just took it.




Houston Rockets

My initial summary


- Hassan Adams: Adams is unsigned. He also recently didn't turn up to an Arizona vs Arizona State charity game that he had committed to attend. He may have had an excuse, but we'll just assume he's evil.

- Rodrique Benson: Benson is also unsigned, but he is working on a mixtape right now. So that's a solid excuse.

- Chase Budinger: Budinger signed a four year, $3,332,457 contract with the Rocquettes, the first two years of which are fully guaranteed, and the final two years of which are fully unguaranteed. Why the tax threatened Rockets gave him such a big pay hike above the minimum in the first year is a little strange, considering Budinger's lack of leverage in the situation. I guess they're just nice.

- Will Conroy: Conroy is unsigned after his 26.5ppg/8.0apg season last year. He may be angling to go back to the D-League again. If he is, then I don't get why, because he's spent the best part of 4 years there. He needs to start getting paid. Maybe he has a camp invite out there somewhere.

- Marcus Cousin: Cousin was only on the roster because he's a University of Houston grad. He didn't play in a game for the Rockets and is now signed with Mersin in Turkey.

- Joey Dorsey: Dorsey finally showed something in summer league, averaging a prime Ben Wallace-like 14.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in only 31 minutes a game. The turnover and foul numbers were very high, but it's a start. There's plenty of minutes available for Dorsey this year, if he can earn them.

- Charles Gaines: Gaines is unsigned.

- Mike Green: Green won David Thorpe's heart in summer league, but not a training camp spot. He's now in Belgium with Belgacom Liege.

- Maarty Leunen: Leunen's never going to make the Rockets team, and I hope he knows that. This won't stop him from a good European career, though, and Leunen is signed with NGC Cantu for next year.

- Brad Newley: See above, pretty much, except Newley is in Turkey with Besiktas.

- Jermaine Taylor: See Budinger. Taylor signed exactly the same deal. Although that's more standard when you're picked 32nd than when you're picked 44th.

- Garrett Temple: The Rockets freaking love Temple, even in spite of his chronic inability to shoot over 40% (an inability that showed itself once again in summer league). Temple is unsigned, and if the Rockets brought him into training camp, I wouldn't be entirely surprised. But if he then makes the team, I'll be the most surprised I've been since Salma Hayek turned into a monster halfway through From Dusk Till Dawn. (It was a good film until that happened. And then it turned awful.)

- Darryl Watkins: Watkins is unsigned.

- James White: White is signed through next year, and has been for ages, but that doesn't really mean a whole lot. Essentially, he just signed for training camp really really early. The arrivals of Budinger and Taylor may have cost him a spot, although the Rockets are looking to salary dump Brent Barry which should give White one more chance.

Summer league round-up: Detroit Pistons

View the Pistons summer league roster.

- Michael Bramos: Bramos is a Greek shooting guard who recently finished his senior season at the University of Miami, Ohio. (It was news to me that there were two Miami's. Seems unnecessary.) On offense, he's largely an outside shooter since he can't dribble, but he's not a great shooter, shooting 40% from the field and 36% from the three point line in his senior season. He's pretty athletic and very strong for an off-guard (standing 6'5 and 221, which is pretty freaking heavy for a man that height), and he also has a hell of a wingspan. These reasons and more are why Europe is his inevitable destiny; that and the door-opening Greek passport, obviously.

- Will Bynum: Last year was a strange one for Will Bynum. Michael Curry played him and played him and played him and played him for three months, and he sucked. Then, in March, Bynum somehow broke out. He became able to get to the rim at will, and drained 21 footers like he'd never been able to do. Eventually he became a key contributor for the Pistons, had a 32 point 7 assist game versus Charlotte, and averaged nearly 12 points per game for Detroit in the playoffs. And now Pistons fans are grateful that Bynum's going to be on their roster and earning the minimum salary next year.

- Austin Daye: Detroit bailed out Daye's decision to declare way too early by picking him 15th overall this year, a pick with which I am not overly fond. They clearly see more in this athletic jump shooting specialist than I do. (This is a position that, in the long run, I am willing to modify. I admit that I didn't see a lot of Daye in his college career. But I also didn't see a lot in him, either. Yes, he might be the next poor man's Rudy Gay, but remember something; Rudy Gay isn't that good. And that's why Gay's ass is going to be traded at the deadline.)

(Hehe, "Gay's ass".)

- Ibrahim Jaaber: it's quite the surprise to see Jaaber on here, in amongst the undrafted talent and regurgitated D-League filth that so permeates summer league rosters. Jaaber has become a star in Europe recently; as a starting guard for Lottomatica Roma last season, Jaaber averaged 14.1 points, 2.6 points and 2.5 steals in the Italian league. But clearly the NBA is on his mind, or he wouldn't be going to down the summer league route. He is capable of a way bigger stage and way more money than this. Still, good luck to him. It's the American dream.

Ibrahim Jaaber fact: Ibrahim Jaaber, a Brooklyn native who has never played in Bulgaria, has a Bulgarian passport. So does Olympiakos and former Grizzlies forward Mike Batiste. And Chicago Bulls draft pick Mario Austin was offered one, but gallantly refused it. It all seems a bit illicit, doesn't it?

- Jonas Jerebko: Jerebko was one of twelve small forwards drafted by the Pistons this year, but since they're apparently going to sign Deron Washington to a guaranteed deal (which I'll believe when I see it), then it looks like there's no spot for Jerebko to come over this season, even if Walter Sharpe is dumped. Jerebko averaged 9.1 points and 5.5 rebounds for Angellico Biella last season, but still needs to improve his dribbling and his jumpshot. So keeping him overseas seems like the best thing to do. At least give Dajuan Summers the opportunity to flame out first.

- Dwayne Jones: Considering that the Pistons currently only have Kwame Brown at centre, and that Dwayne Jones is kind of NBA calibre-ish, then you have to think that he has a decent chance of making the roster at some point, unless he completely screws the pooch. Jones played 49 minutes with the Boobcats last year, totalling 12 points, 12 rebounds and 6 fouls, and also played 7 minutes in Turkey, totalling 1 point, 1 rebounds and 3 fouls for Efes Pilsen. He spent most of the season in the D-League, playing for three teams; the Iowa Energy (1 game, 1 point, 1 rebound, 4 fouls), the Idaho Stampede (12 games, averaging 14.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks) and the Austin Toros (22 games, 17.2 points, 13.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks). He's never significantly developed his offense, and is now 26, but he's a good enough player to be in the NBA, and he seems to have picked his summer league team wisely. Good chance here.

- Andre Owens: Owens is a former Jazz and Pacers guard who spent last year as one of the two American imports for Crvena Zvezda, the other one being Lawrence Roberts. Those two were also the two oldest players on the team, as the roster outside of them was made up almost exclusively of Serbian and Bosnian youngsters, most of whom will be draft candidates one day soon. (And some of them, including Nemanja Bjelica and Elmeden Kikanovic, are slated to be second rounders next year. But more on them later.) As the veteran star on the team, a role that he's never had anywhere before, Owens averaged 10.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in the Eurocup, doing a little bit of everything and shooting fairly well from outside the arc. But Detroit might not have the room for him.

- Trent Plaisted: Plaisted playsted with Jerebko at Angellico Biella last year, which may explain why Detroit zoned in on JJ so early. However, Trent only played in two games with the team - both in October - before being injured and missing the rest of the season. I don't know what his injury was, because I can't read Italian (although I do know that coglioni = bollocks), but the fact that he was sent overseas for a year and yet missed almost all of the year due to injury would imply that a second year abroad is on the cards.

- Walter Sharpe: Sharpe barely played for the Pistons last year, totalling 20 minutes, yet spent hardly any time in the D-League. When he did finally play in 4 games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, he kind of sucked, averaging only 10.8 points and 3.5 rebounds. The Pistons drafted three small forwards last year, which also can't bode well for Sharpe's chances. But his guaranteed contract for next year might be his saviour.

- Dajuan Summers: Pistons GM Joe Dumars almost picked Summers at 15, and was happily surprised when Summers fell to their second pick at #35. Not sure why, though, since the only thing the guy can do is shoot. It's nice to be athletic and strong, like he is, but if you can't/won't penetrate (giggidy), and if you can't/won't play defense, then that's worth a whole lot. Still, Summers has potential, and should make the roster.

- Clay Tucker: Tucker was on the Cavaliers team last year, where he was so keen to demonstrate his scoring ability that he didn't make one single pass. He started last year with BC Kyiv, but left when the team released all of its foreign players due to bankruptcy. He then closed out the year in Spain, where he averaged 17.5 points per game for Cajasol Sevilla. Despite now being 29 and having had several goes at it, Tucker has still never gotten an NBA contract, and this time might not work out either.

- Deron Washington: Washington, supposedly, has a guaranteed contract lined up for next season, which isn't something I'm prepared to believe right now. If he does, though, then that'll be something of a surprise. Washington played in Israel last year, averaging 14.1 points and 7.0 rebounds for Hapoel Holon, but he still can't shoot well, and, given their recent draft which I've kind of overrelied on lately, you can see how Detroit may have had other options at the small forward spot. And Arron Afflalo's presence negates any spot minutes that Washington might have gotten as a big two guard. And that's why I don't really believe it. But I'll report it if it happens.

KABLAMO

Woop!

February 10th: I predicted something.

Unless there are other Pistons moves made, Alex Acker gets moved to Memphis, Sacramento or the L.A. Clippers at the deadline. You heard it here first.

February 15th: That thing happened.

The Detroit Pistons will complete the trade of backup shooting guard Alex Acker to the Los Angeles Clippers today.

There's nothing quite like the buzz that you get from accurately predicting the bleeding obvious. Nothing like it. With that in mind, I'm going to start predicting things such as when unguaranteed players are going to get waived, when they're 72 hours short of their guarantee date. This is going to be the most accurately accurate NBA website in the world, and you're all going to be all like "wow! Everything he predicts is right!" This predictions game is EASY!

Good times. Definitely on an entirely unnecessary high from this right now. Once Amare is traded to the Bulls, I can once again claim to have predicted the bleedin' obvious. Yeehaw.

Yours ever,

An entirely unjustifiably proud ShamBulls.



Additional: I am sorry that the website is spasming during this, the one week where it's needed the most. I don't know why it's doing it. But it's nothing that I did. There's a downside to the cheapest hosting that money can buy.

The pages do, however, work eventually. Keep mashing refresh like a madman, and you will be rewarded.

Come Back, Baby Come Back

As you might presently yourself fully be aware of, my grammar sucks. Also, you might have noticed that nothing has happened around here lately. Well, it's OK, I'm here.

Thanks to those of you who showed genuine concern as to whether I was maimed, imprisoned, dead, or worse. You're very compassionate, kind-hearted and sincere, traits that will inevitably lead to a joyful existence on the heavenly half of the afterlife. Conversely, fuck off to those of you who showed anger and resentment at my lack of posting and/or site updates, as if I was in some way contractually obliged to do what you want, when you wanted it. May I remind you that this is a free website, with no adverts, greatly superior to every comparable website on the internet (particularly with regards to the colour scheme) run by a man who frankly you should spend a good 90 minutes of every day praising, rejoicing, and fellating. You'll get what you're given, as and when I choose to give it. You hell-destined bar stewards.

The actual answer to the age-old question of "where the hell were you?" is that I was on holiday. I went to the Costa Del Sol, in November, escaping the classic British grey of November time. So you can see why that was more fun than calculating Rob Kurz's salary for the remainder of the season.

Do you want to see my holiday photos? Ch'yeah you do! Here are some of my holiday photos!

The Sun. It was hot. I burnt.

My burn.

A fat woman whose arse seemed to have no seam. (Identity concealed, expertly.)

The mighty Grunkel television that kept us entertained with German versions of Remington Steele and soft core pornography all week long. No, I don't know why all Spanish television is German either.

A dog curling one out.

A dead fish.

Now that I've been sufficiently self-effacing and boring in equal measure, here are my thoughts on stuff, for all those who struggled to go a full week without my aggressive and misguided thoughts on stuff.

1: I didn't initially know who I liked the Denver/Detroit deal for most when it happened, if either. But in the week or so that I've spent lying on beaches not thinking about it, I've decided I like it for both teams. Detroit gets the better player and the best salary in Allen Iverson, which can never be a bad combination, while Denver switches up a core that was never going to work anyway, almost getting under the luxury tax in the process. (After Antonio McDyess's buyout, Denver is now no more than a small dollop over their eternal enemy, the luxury tax threshold. If they waft a pick Memphis's way, they should be able to dump Chucky Atkins, whose salary for next year is only $760,000 guaranteed, thus not affecting Memphis's 2009 cap space plan much. This move gets Denver under the tax, finally, and it need only cost them the pick that they got from Charlotte for Alexis Ajinca to do it. Also note that I'm just an ideas man, not a soothsayer. Houston would be sensible to do much the same with Steve Francis, who is entirely surplus to requirements in both Memphis and Houston, and whose salary is keeping the Rockets in the tax territory. But his expiring is tolerable for the Grizzlies with apt sweeteners. With those two deals, Memphis could gain two picks without changing their long or short term plans, while Houston and Denver save lots of money on players and picks that they don't need. To me, this makes sense. Does that mean it will happen? No. But, between now and February, I'd place a call. Boy, this bracket got a bit long.)

(Oh, by the way - the combined $34 million in expirings that Detroit can now offer up with Iverson and Rasheed Wallace makes that Kwame Brown deal look even worse. Whoops.)

2: I forgot to post my Houston and Phoenix previews before going away. If you want them, send an email. Enclose money.

3: I really can't stand Bob Ortegal. In the years that I've listened to him, I can't remember one single insightful or interesting comment. Now, history tells me that when you question a team's announcing duo, fans of that team will then try to kill you with words and insults, so I expect Dallas fans to now do much the same. But, seriously. Take a step back and reanalyse. He's awful. There's no chemistry, no humour, no insight and you know for a bloody fact that he's never watched a game that he hasn't commentated on. (For example, take Dallas's preseason game versus Chicago. Ortegal admits he's never seen Derrick Rose play before, concludes after two drives that Rose only goes to his left, and then spends the rest of the night finding excuses for every time Rose went right. That's so dumb, I should have said it.) There exists only a dull, repetitive retelling of what the replay he's "analysing" depicts. And any old bastard can do that. I just wanted to vent this.

4: The Bulls suck in a variety of ways, which is a shame. Good luck John. (By the way, last night I dreamt that Paxson unretired and filled the Bulls current backup point guard void, proof if it were needed that I didn't have any fleeting holiday romances. After having seen they signed Lindsey Hunter, I kind of wish it had come true.)

5: In keeping with this website's continued attempts to be better than everybody else, here's next year's free agents.

6: When it happened, I nearly wrote something in this blog about the Pau Gasol trade. In contrast to the opinions of everyone else in the world, I was keeping to leap in and defend the Grizzlies' end of the trade. But I didn't, because I couldn't be bothered. I've rued that laziness for a while, so let me go on the record now, despite it being a bit late since the secret of the awesomeness of Marc Gasol got out: Memphis did all right. When your mandate is to make a salary dump, and you wind up getting the second biggest expiring contract in the league, you're off to a good start. But in addition to that, the Grizzlies got good young talent that people don't acknowledge. As well as Kwame Brown's salary, the Grizzlies got back Javaris Crittenton (good young guard, with emphasis on the "young" - he's still only 20), and the rights to Marc Gasol (a starting calibre NBA centre, whether you knew of this in advance or not). The Grizzlies also two first round picks from the Lakers, one of which has become Darrell Arthur, their 20 year old starting power forward formerly thought to be a high lottery pick. They still have their other pick to come, along with almost double maximum cap room, while taking back not one bad contract or inconsequential player in the deal. That's a good return on a one-time-All-Star power forward, particularly when you only wanted to dump salary.

What we may have witnessed here is a win-win trade, where both teams get what they wanted and improved as a result. This should be the result of every trade, and we shouldn't try to find only one winner to the deal. The Lakers clearly benefitted greatly from the deal, but Memphis won too. Yes, such a conclusion is entirely possible.

There. The balance is redressed. Now take out the bits about Darrell Arthur, and pretend I wrote that in February.

Highlight of game 4

Coming back from commercials to start the fourth quarter, ESPN ran a Doc Rivers Totally Enthused Moments Montage. Firstly, to his team in a timeout:

"We got to keep fighting! We GOT to keep fighting!"

Secondly, to his team in a post-timeout huddle:

"Do you belieeeeeveeee???"

Thirdly, while smacking Kevin Garnett on the arse as he is subbed out of the game:

"Never stop believing, baby."

---

Immediately following this montage, ESPN cut to Michelle Tafoya interviewing Phil Jackson. The following slightly paraphrased exchange ensued, with Jackson using strangely slurred speech.

Tafoya: What happened back there in the third quarter?
Jackson: I don't know, what happened?

........

Tayofa: What did you do wrong in the third quarter, and what will you change to start the fourth?
Jackson: It was just momentum.

........

Tafoya: Do you think you can come back?
Jackson: It's momentum. It will change.

Strange times.

Jackson was wrong. It didn't change. You could argue that he handled the interview in a way that defines his calm, unflustered, and extremely experienced nature in situations such as this. But all it did was ooze complacency. And, as Detroit Pistons will tell you, complacency loses.

Say what you like about Doc Rivers as a coach. He has his flaws, and Bill Simmons will happily document them for you. But that clichéd motivational shit worked.


Other highlights include: Sam Cassell's contuned decline towards borderline insanity, P.J. Brown's airball/poster dunk dichotomy, everything Kobe Bryant did, the spectacularly bad fourth quarter play of Pau Gasol, and me feeling slightly vindicated about my earlier opinions on Trevor Ariza just to then watch as Jackson didn't go back to him in the fourth quarter.

Go Lakers.....maybe.