Summer Time in the NBA

By giveandgo Saturday July 24, 2010

Here’s the top buzz through July, in case you’ve missed the happenings in the offseason..

10. Free Agent shuffle. This is the exciting part of the 2010 summer, seeing where all the big players land. Fantasy players get a little extra rise out of this one.
See who’s gone where: NBA player movement

9. Let it rain. Is it just me or are NBA players getting PAID? Boozer – 5 years for $80 million. Rudy Gay – 5 years for $84 million. Amar’e 5 years for $100 million. Joe Johnson – 6 years for $120 million. Apparently that’s the going rate. Minus LeBron who of course signed for less, to play alongside two strong players. Way to take one for the team.

8. Jeremy Lin > John Wall (In summer league anyway), but that’s still something to be said for this now-signed Golden State Warrior. He’s garnered some attention, referred to as this summer’s sensation and cult figure, an Asian-American kid who brought his A-game to make some headlines. This Nor Cal native, 6’3 200LB guard out of Harvard chose to play for the team he grew up cheering for, GSW. Yao who? I kid.

7. Wait, Wall is by no means in anyone’s shadow. Prepare for John Wall, people. We are def excited to embrace the next best phenom.

6. Andrew Bynum to get knee surgery. Maybe this isn’t news to most. OK that pesky knee has always been troublesome for Bynum to be at full strength on the court, Laker fans, if you’re hoping for a 3peat, send him your get well wishes. With Phil back for another year, Laker fans are still optimistic that yet another back-to-back-to-back championship may be in their cards. Agree or beg to differ? Captions on Slam, check it out.

5. Kobe ties Tiger Woods for favorite sports star. You know when you see those signs hanging in restaurant windows that say VOTED BEST STEAK OF THE YEAR or whatever? Yeah, my reply to that is always, according to who? So it turns out 2,227 people polled online from June 14-June 21 courtesy of Harris Interactive say Kobe and Tiger are the cream of the crop when it comes to popularity in sports. Not too far behind are: Derek Jeter, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

4. #TheDECISION If you haven’t heard this news, what’s it like under that rock? LeBron leaves Cleveland to go to Miami to form the new big three with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Whether you’re sad to see him go, sorry Cleveland, we sympathize, or disappointed because it’s something you never would’ve done if it was you as Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley would frown upon with disdain, or you’re happy to see him pursue his new quest with some fellow high-caliber players, this was THE buzz of the summer.

3. Is comic sans the most hated font in the world? Well, is it? No insult to the developer of comic sans, since it is almost as famous as Times New Roman, and since it was the chosen one by Cavs owner Dan Gilbert (or at least the cavs site developer) to express his blatant feelings on the whole matter. Of course, Dan Gilbert would get slapped with a nice $100,000 fine by the Commish, not for using comic sans, but for his quick-to-fire remarks. Ah, and don’t forget Reverend Jesse Jackson adding fuel to the fire, with his comeback comparing Gilbert’s words to “personifying a slave master mentality”. Now who’s putting whose foot in whose mouth? [Read the full letter here]

2. Chris Paul wants out. Will there be a #DecisionPart2? Magic? Knicks? Lakers? Mavs? Blazers? Not if Commissioner Stern can help it. He’s been a little busy lately. Gotta keep Kahn in check for publicly speaking about Beasley’s former marijuana use.

1. Go USA! We still have a few months ’til the regular season kicks off. The end of October can’t come soon enough. Til’ then, USA Basketball and FIBA will do. Here’s a schedule in case you’re interested.