Toronto Raptors Exercise Option on DeMar DeRozan

September 30, 2010 – THD Rumor Patrol

The Toronto Raptors exercised the third-year team option on swingman DeMar DeRozan’s rookie scale contract Thursday.

DeRozan’s deal is now guaranteed through the 2011-12 season. The Raptors had until Oct. 31 to exercise the option.
DeRozan averaged 8.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 77 games last season. The 6-foot-7, 220-pounder was selected by the Raptors with the ninth overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft.

J-Will Out Four Weeks with Knee Surgery

September 30, 2010 – THD Rumor Patrol

Jason Williams, aka ‘White Chocolate’, aka ‘J-Will’ will be out of the lineup for the start of the Orlando Magic season due to knee surgery he has opted to have. Probably a good move rather than labor through the year with pain and swelling. With point guard starter Jameer Nelson, back and healthy for the start of season the Magic should be able to survive…

Orlando Magic point guard Jason Williams will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Thursday and will miss about four weeks.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy says Williams’ knee has been problematic for weeks and was injured again during training camp this week. An MRI showed loose cartilage but no tear. Williams could be back in time for the Oct. 28 regular-season opener.

Williams was Orlando’s No. 2 point guard backup last season, starting 18 games while starter Jameer Nelson was injured. But Williams was expected to have a smaller role this season after the Magic signed free agent Chris Duhon to be Nelson’s primary backup.

Williams has averaged 10.8 points and six rebounds per game in 11 NBA seasons. He also helped the Miami Heat to the 2006 NBA title.

THD Interview With NBA Hall of Famer, Senator Bill Bradley

September 30, 2010 – Kevin Burke

In case you couldn’t tell, we here at The Hoop Doctors love all things basketball. But it’s also good to see when people go on to further heights when their playing days are over. NBA great, Hall of Famer and former US Presidential candidate, Senator Bill Bradley, fits this mold perfectly. Senator Bradley is participating in Beyond Sport which is an initiative that brings together sports-led social innovators with global leaders to address sports’ role in driving positive social change.

We had the chance to chat for a few minutes with Senator Bradley about this initiative as well as his thoughts about the differences in the NBA now versus when he played, the additions that his former team, the New York Knicks, made and if he thinks he could beat President Obama 1-0n-1.

Kevin Burke: Hello, Senator Bradley. Kevin from The Hoop Doctors here. I really appreciate you making yourself available for a few minutes.

Senator Bill Bradley: My pleasure. Not a problem. Are you really a doctor?

Kevin Burke: (laughs) Well, when it comes to basketball I’d like to think so. But, let’s first talk about what you’re doing in Chicago, as part of Beyond Sport. Can you talk about that initiative and your involvement in it?

Senator Bill Bradley: Sure, well Beyond Sport is an organization that develops sports programs to create social change in communities around the world. It recognizes people who make the most of their involvement with sports, and people from all over the world are here today. It’s a great initiative and I’m happy to be a part of it.

Kevin Burke: Now, you’re a Hall of Famer and you played in the NBA when, perhaps, things were much simpler. What is the biggest difference that you’ve notice in the NBA then versus now.

Senator Bill Bradley: Well, when I played the game was about finesse. Now it’s about strength and upper body. Back then, it was about footwork and you would make more movements to get the best shot. The three point line has obviously also changed the game, and they don’t call fouls as much now as they did back then.

Kevin Burke: To that point, the NBA just announced a new mandate that will crack down on arguing calls.

Senator Bill Bradley: Yes, that is true which should have an impact, but I was thinking about the physicality. There wasn’t sumo wrestling going on back then to the extent that you see it now.

Kevin Burke: Transitioning to the team that you played for, the New York Knicks. They tried to get LeBron James this summer but as you know, that didn’t happen. But what do you make of the changes that they made to the roster? Especially their biggest acquisition, Amar’e Stoudemire?

Senator Bill Bradley: I like Stoudemire. I love his game. I love the way he approaches the game and he seems like a hard worker. He obviously can play a very good Poward Forward and would also be a good Center if they needed him to be.

Kevin Burke: What about your adoptive state of New Jersey? The Nets have been rumored for quite a while to be moving to Brooklyn. What do you think about that potential move for the team?

Senator Bill Bradley: Well, at the end of the day they’re going to have to play basketball games regardless of where it is. They are going to do what will be in the best interest for team, but again, they’re going to play games regardless and that’s what matters.

Kevin Burke: What provided more enjoyment for you in your life? Your days playing basketball professionally, or your political endeavors once you retired?

Senator Bill Bradley: You know, it’s really tough to compare the two. I mean, how do you compare winning two NBA championships with being a 3-term senator? It’s nearly impossible to compare the two. But with each came lot of hard work and very long hours. I’ll put it this way: winning NBA championships gave me the biggest thrill and being a Senator was the biggest honor.

Kevin Burke: Lastly, Senator Bradley, it’s no secret that our President is a huge sports fan and has a particular fondness towards basketball. If you two laced them up today, who would win 1-on-1? Yourself or President Obama?

Senator Bradley: I’ll be discrete with this one. I’ll go with youth over age (graciously eluding to President Obama).

Kevin Burke: Good enough. It was a pleasure speaking with you. Thanks once again for the time.

Senator Bradley: My pleasure.

If you’re looking for your everyday, predictable basketball talk, then go somewhere else, because Kevin Burke of The Kevin Burke Project brings provocative, thought provoking content about basketball as only he can. Kevin also hosts The Hoop Doctors weekly podcast show, which you can subscribe to for free on iTunes. Follow Kevin on Twitter and Facebook

3 Bold Predictions for the 2010-11 NBA Season

September 30, 2010 – Joshua Sexton

1. The Thunder are not as ready to contend for a title as many people believe

Make no mistake about it, Kevin Durant has established himself as a top 3 NBA player over the past calendar year. After last year’s scoring title and this summer’s FIBA domination, it is safe to say the Durantula is the future of the NBA. With a solid young supporting cast, anchored by Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green, the Thunder went from 23 wins in 2008-09, to 50 wins in 2009-2010, and they put quite a scare into the Lakers in the first round (they were a Pau Gasol miss away from forcing a game 7). However, before we appoint the Thunder heir to the Laker throne in the Western Conference, let’s look at some flaws.

The Thunder starting five experienced almost a completely injury free 2009-10 campaign. Their starting 5 unit (Westbrook, Durant, Green, Krstic, and Sefolosha) missed a combined 6 games last year, and all of them were missed by Krstic. Don’t expect the injury bug to be as kind to the Thunder this year.

The Thunder have no threat on the post at all. Not one of their top 3 post players (Collison, Krstic, and Ibaka) averaged over 8 points a game last year. Only Ibaka shows any true defensive presence. The Thunder did draft Cole Aldrich out of Kansas but, as a rookie, he is naturally unproven. To truly contend for a title, the Thunder will eventually have to find at least one truly formidable post player. When was the last time a team won or even truly contended for a title without a formidable post game?

How will the Thunder react to having expectations this year? Last year they had nothing to lose coming in after 23 wins the year before. Once they got to the first round against the defending world champions, they had nothing to lose. I am curious to see how they react to their first true season with expectations. How will they react to the pressure of potentially being favored in a first round series?

With all of this being said, the Thunder should still win between 45-50 games this season. However, they are still a couple of years away from being a true contender for a championship.

2. Al Jefferson is going to have a breakout, all pro year with the Utah Jazz

While Jefferson’s numbers the last three years in Minnesota have been nothing to sneeze at, accruing 20.4 points and 10.5 rebounds a game, Jefferson has been playing in basketball futility in Minnesota, battling seasons with 60 plus losses the last three years. However, this year is different for Mr. Jefferson. He is now playing along side, arguably the best point guard in the game, Deron Williams. This pairing bodes well for a statistical incline. Combine this with playing on a perennial playoff contender, Jefferson is due for a breakout, put-me-on-the-map performance for the 20010-10 season. I equate his current situation to when Pau Gasol left Memphis to come to the Lakers. This instantly made Gasol more relevant, all around better player. This season, Jefferson will make his first all star team, and he will crack the All NBA third team.

3. LeBron James will have one of the most statistically impressive seasons in NBA history, along with winning his third straight MVP Award.

With all of the backlash LeBron has received this summer over his decision to take his talents to South Beach, people seem to have forgotten James is a great player in the prime of his career. For the first time, we may see LeBron playing with a chip on his shoulder because of all the negative comments made this summer by the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Charles Barkley. Naturally, his scoring numbers will probably dip a little bit playing along side other stars like Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, but his all around statistics will improve. I expect this season to be the closest thing we will see to a player averaging a triple double since Oscar Robertson did in 1961-62. If King James puts up the numbers, I think he will win his third straight MVP award, possibly unanimously. Don’t get too excited Heat fans; they will lose to the Lakers in seven games in the finals.

Joshua Sexton is a lifelong basketball fanatic, who watches as many games as possible. In addition, He has played and coached the game at the high school level. He has recently started writing about the game of basketball.

Top 10 Uncommitted HS Recruits in the 2011 Class

September 30, 2010 – Allen Moll

While the usual game-plan for top tier nationally ranked high school hoops recruits is to chose a college destination prior to their senior seasons in high school, this year is different, with a number of Top 100 ranked recruits taking their time in committing to a school. The usual sentiment is that players that commit early free themselves from any distractions and can then focus on getting their grades up, while also doing their best to help their high school teammates advance as far as they can in state playoffs. The downside is that college coaches don’t like to wait for anything, and sometimes move on to the next best player in the rankings, just to have next season’s roster set as soon as possible.

While a number of top tier ballers and instant impact players like Mike Gilchrist(Kentucky), Myck Kabongo(Texas), and Rakeem Christmas(Syracuse) have already chosen where they will be playing their college ball during the ’11-’12 season, some truly game-changing talent is still on the board like #1 overall ranked Austin Rivers. It should be an interesting Winter on the recruiting front.

Here are my Top Ten Still Uncommitted Players in the 2011 HS Class:

1) Austin Rivers(6’4 189 lbs) – Winter Park HS, Florida

#1 Overall – #1 Shooting Guard

As the unquestioned most prolific and potent offensive force among incoming HS seniors, Rivers is the prize of the 2011 Class. Possessing an already NBA ready arsenal of moves, he can either blow by defenders, show off his long range shooting, or make defenders look stupid by showcasing his highly potent jab-step and pull-up. Rivers is a capable defender but is considered a gambler, which sometimes gets him into foul trouble. His story is much publicized: NBA coach’s son who committed to Florida as a freshman, then de-committed as a junior and is now considering Duke, UNC, and Kansas. The month of October should get interesting since he has visits scheduled with all 3 schools in his final choices. Rivers is considered a Duke lean, but insists his recruitment is still wide open.

2) Quincy Miller(6‘9 210 lbs) – Westchester Country Day School

#4 Overall – #2 Power Forward

After transferring to Westchester to play alongside high profile teammates Deuce Bello and Ike Nwamu for the upcoming season, Miller will look to use his unique all-around skill-set to make Westchester a national powerhouse. His game has drawn comparisons to anyone from Kevin Durant to Rudy Gay, and even NCAA legend Danny Manning at Kansas. Although he is listed as a PF, what makes Miller one of the most coveted players in the class is his abilities to both drive and shoot the basketball, ala Durant. Possessing above average range out to the 3 point arc, and can be a good rebounder and shot-blocker if he puts his mind to it. Once considered a Kentucky lean, Miller has now turned his attention to SEC rival Louisville, obviously upset at Calipari getting a commit from another Top 5 recruit Anthony Davis. Any school must consider him a package deal with teammate and friend Bello. He lists his final 5 schools as Louisville, Kentucky, Duke, Baylor, and Texas. I suspect he will wind up in Louisville, but don’t rule out the Wildcats, or the suddenly recruiting upstart Baylor Bears.

3) LeBryan Nash(6‘7 230 lbs) – Lincoln HS, Texas

#10 Overall – #3 SF

As one of the most physically gifted players in the class, and unlike most HS seniors, Nash takes pride in his imposing defensive abilities. Even though his defense is ahead of his offense to this point, he excels in transition and has the body to withstand punishment on his way to the rim. He has an improves perimeter game with range out to the arc. He reminds me both in stature and demeanor to that of NBA bad-boy Ron Artest. College coaches have already taken a cautious path in his recruitment because of a perceived bad attitude and body language at times(ala Artest). In fact, the University of Arizona recently canceled an upcoming visit altogether. Nash has been a top ranked prospect for a number of years because of his physical stature but still needs time to mature as a young man. Nash can make an immediate impact to a college program, and has possible one-and-done potential. His Top 5 schools are OK State, Baylor, Kansas, Arizona, and St. John’s. He reportedly will announce his future plans on ESPN on October 21. In my opinion, after his official visit to Kansas on Oct 15th, he will select the Jayhawks.

4) Adonis Thomas(6‘6 210 lbs) – Melrose HS, Tennessee

#9 Overall – #2 Small Forward

Despite not having overwhelming size, Thomas is a match-up nightmare with his unique combination of athleticism, quickness, and basketball IQ. He’s too quick for bigger PF’s and too skilled as a backcourt player for opposing wings to contain. His stock has sky-rocketed this Summer over a much improved mid-range game and an innate ability to rebound as well as any SF in the class. Thomas has a motor that doesn’t quit and has potential as a high volume scorer. With that being said, he still needs to improve ball-handling and 3 point shooting, which is a must in today’s game. As evidence of his starring in an upcoming MTV reality series, he exudes star power and should make an immediate impact in college. Thomas’ top choices include Memphis, Tennessee, Arkansas, UCLA, and Florida. It’s hard to belive that any 5 star prospect would chose Tennessee amidst all their recent recruiting violations, so look for him to stay in state and play for Josh Pastner at Memphis.

5) Johnny O’Bryant(6‘10 245 lbs) – East Side HS, Mississippi

#13 Overall – #1 Center

Sporting his now trademark dreads, similar to that of the one’s Chris Bosh used to proudly wear, O’Bryant also has a game akin to that of the NBA All Star. He uses his immense size and strength to overpower opposing bigs on the block, and armed with a deft left handed jump hook, is nearly unstoppable inside the paint. He needs to play with more consistency but has the total package as the #1 Center in the class. He is an excellent rebounder and must improve his range outside of the painted area but has been known to knock down an occasional trey. He is a bit of a mystery outside of his home-state but he has all the tools to be a dominating big man in college. Rumor has it that he only wants to play close to home and lists Miss St, LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, Miami(Fl), and Maryland as possible destinations.

6) Ben McLemore(6‘5 185 lbs) – Oak Hill Academy

#17 Overall – #7 Small Forward

Mclemore’s stock has sky-rocketed after making the transition from a big as an under-classmen to a wing player as a senior. This Summer he has shown the ability to take over games with tremendous scoring abilities that extend to the 3 point arc. As one of the ‘11 Class’s best finishers, he is an instant crowd favorite and has the potential to be one of the game’s best high flyers as a freshman in college. Unlike most other top prospects, Ben also is a lock-down defender and will relish the assignment of guarding the opposing team’s best player. Because of his former proficiency as a froncourt player, he is an excellent rebounder on both sides of the floor. Adding an additional 10-15 lbs would help against bigger collegiate players, but NCAA weight rooms figure to be a quick fix. Playing alongside an elite level PG in Quinn Cook this year at Oak Hill Academy will do wonders for his senior stats. Considering he has an early October official visit to Kansas, the Jayhawks are his #1 choice, followed by Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, and Ohio State.

7) Quinn Cook(6‘1 180 lbs) – Oak Hill Academy

#34 Overall – #5 Point Guard

Quinn is one of the most highly sought after point men still on the board as he is arguably the fastest player in the class when it comes to handling the rock. Similar to Josh Selby in the ’10 Class, he is as determined and every bit as acrobatic on his attacks on the rim as anyone in the class. Although at times streaky, he can be deadly from the perimeter and is a one man press-breaker if need be. He has a knack for nailing the big shot but must improve shot selection like all young players and despite not having overwhelming size, is not a liability on defense, thanks to a surprising 73“ inch wingspan. Quinn is currently re-habbing a devastating knee injury sustained in the Boost Mobile Game, but all signs point to him making a full recovery to finish his senior year. Quinn has become the favorite fall-back recruit of many schools like Kansas, UCLA, Georgetown, UNC, and St. John’s who missed out on players like Marquis Teague, Myck Kabongo, and Josiah Turner.

8 ) Cody Zeller(6‘11 215 lbs) – Washington HS, Indiana

#20 Overall – #3 Center

As the younger brother of Luke at Notre Dame, and Tyler at Carolina, the youngest Zeller now gets his turn on the recruiting circuit. Ranked only behind Johnny O’Bryant and Rakeem Christmas among Center prospects, Cody is an extremely mobile big man, who projects as an elite level rebounder and defensive force. He has arguably the best hands among any of the bigs in the class and is above average offensively in the low post with a variety of drop steps and jump hooks. But where Cody really excels is in the open floor on the break after getting it started with a key block or rebound. With improved strength and bulk, he could become a premier big man in college, with a future destination in the NBA. Cody has a preference of staying close to home in the “Hoosier State” and is considering Indiana, Butler, along with playing alongside brother Tyler at North Carolina.

9) Tony Wroten Jr(6‘4 205 lbs) – Garfield HS, Washington

#31 Overall – #4 Point Guard

We here at the Hoopdoctors, have written extensively about Wroten, who is one of the more intriguing prospects in the class. True he has a tremendous amount of athleticism and could be the next John Wall, but has had a history of injuries and eligibility issues. After overcoming a knee injury playing football his junior season, Wroten is reportedly back at full strength and ready to dominate once again as a HS senior. Some scouts worry about a lack of explosion no doubt because of the ailing knee, but Wroten squashed those rumors with his stellar play this Summer on the U17 USA Basketball squad. He just finished up an official visit to Louisville, but is considering Kentucky, Villanova, Washington, and Connecticut.

10) DeAndre Daniels(6‘8 190 lbs) – IMG Academy

#23 Overall – #6 Small Forward

Daniels skill as an elite level scorer are unquestioned. He has a variety of moves either off the dribble or as an above average 3 point shooter, with a seemingly effortless release on his jumper. Daniels, despite a slender frame has been a good rebounder at the HS level. Originally in the 2010 Class, Daniels decided to take an extra year in prep school(IMG) over academic ineligibility issues. He committed to Texas in July of ‘09, but de-committed this Summer and is currently considering UNLV, Kentucky, USC, UCLA, and Washington. Daniels remains an elite level talent despite seemingly constant eligibility issues(He has played at 5 schools in last 5 years and was ineligible for ‘08-’09 season). When and if he ever winds up on a college campus, Daniels has the potential to be a star.

Others:

Deuce Bello(#50 Overall – #18 SG), Jabari Brown(#22 Overall – #7 SG), Nick Faust(#25 Overall -#9 SG), Ky Madden(#46 Overall – #16 SG), and Ryan Boatright(#36 Overall – #6 PG)

Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.

Wizards Owner Leonsis Fined $100K by NBA

September 29, 2010 – THD Rumor Patrol

The National Basketball Association (NBA) fined Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis $100,000 on Wednesday for making unauthorized public comments regarding the league’s collective bargaining negotiations.

The Wizards owner told a business audience earlier on Wednesday that the NBA, which is working on a new labor deal, will soon have a hard salary cap similar to the model used by the National Hockey League (NHL).

NBA teams are currently allowed to exceed the salary cap as long as they pay a luxury tax penalty. The league’s collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on June 30.

Read more details via Reuters on NYTimes.com

The Knicks Send a Clear Message to Their Returning Players

September 29, 2010 – Kevin Burke

As the decision was made earlier in the week by the team, The Hoop Doctors Rumor Patrol reported to you that the New York Knicks just named Amar’e Stoudemire and Raymond Felton as the team’s co-captains. But there was a subliminal message sent in that decision that needs to be pointed out. Needless to say, the Knicks haven’t had a whole lot to be excited about over the past decade, and this move sends a clear message to their returning players. That message is that the team doesn’t think much of them.

Amar’e Stoudemire and Raymond Felton are proven NBA players. Amar’e has been a household name for quite a while now, and Felton, while not quite a superstar, is very solid. On the heels of the disappointment that the organization felt by not being able to sign the coveted LeBron James this off-season, the team still planned on overhauling their roster in an attempt to inject new life into the squad and Madison Square Garden. The team has apparently made the concerted effort to transform the Knicks back in a winning franchise.

However, Amar’e and Raymond are two of the newest player on the team and it is somewhat of a brash move to name these guys co-captains prior to them even playing a preseason game for the club yet. By naming them co-captains, head coach Mike D’Antoni is telling Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler (probably the two best players on the team that still remain from last year) that they don’t quite cut it. Although they are still young players, Gallinari and Chandler are two of the most tenured Knicks players on the roster.

Prior to this summer, the Knicks subconsciously, and perhaps inadvertently, made Gallinari out to be the future of the franchise. He was drafted a few years ago based on his skillset and partially because of nepotism since his father and Mike D’Antoni played professionally together as teammates in Italy. For that reason, it almost felt as if he was a member of the team before he got there. After missing games his rookie season due to a bad back, Gallinari has come on of late to become a fan favorite.

When the dust settled from the frantic off-season moves this summer and Gallinari was still on the squad, I thought he would be named captain for the aforementioned reasons. I’m not as surprised that Chandler wasn’t named a captain, but Gallinari does surprise me some. Knowing D’Antoni, there is probably a method to this. He’s probably trying to use that as motivation for Gallinari, but at the very least, naming Gallinari as a tri-captain probably would’ve made more sense than him not being named at all.

The other way of looking at all of this is that the organization is trying to completely erase everyone’s memory of anything that has happened prior to today, because under the Donnie Walsh regime, they were planning for this summer so in essence, everything starts now. Perhaps by not naming any returning players as captains, it gives the fans a new perspective and outlook on the team. It will be interesting to see how Gallinari responds to this on the court.

The Hoop Doctors Exclusive: Tyreke Evans, ‘Rookie of the Year’

September 29, 2010 – The Hoop Doctors

Tyreke Evans, the NBA’s reigning ‘Rookie of the Year’ and star point guard for the Sacramento Kings, took some time away from his training to chat with The Hoop Doctors Kevin Burke at an EA Sports event in NYC this past weekend. We didn’t get a lot of time with Evans, as he was on a fast paced schedule, but we did get enough time to ask him not only about his offense, but his more underrated lock down defense…

6th Grade Phenom Jaylin Fleming Schools Reggie Miller on George Lopez Show

September 29, 2010 – Allen Moll

I think we can officially say that Chicago based, 6th grade hoops prodigy Jaylin Fleming is, to quote hip-hop superstar J. Cole, “About to Blow Up.” After we first showed you his now famous mixtape video back in April of this year, Jaylin has moved on to the 6th grade and has gained national exposure after doing countless interviews with ABC, Fox News, and MSNBC just to name a few.

He also has been holding his own against some of the best streetballers in the world like Baby Shaq, Helicopter, and White Chocolate on the 2010 Team Up Tour. He recently had fans jumping out of their seats at an event at a local high school in the Chicago area, upon witnessing his self described “mad handles.” Because of his newfound fame, Jaylin has gotten to meet a ton of NBA players like most noticably Chi-town native Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, and John Wall.

There’s no doubting that noted recruiting genius John Calipari at Kentucky already has him on his radar, especially since there has been some unsubstantiated reports floating around that coach Cal has been seen in person at Jaylin’s Summer games. Just kidding, but surely Cal will soon have some encounter with Fleming before he graduates in 2017.

Also this Summer, Jaylin’s legend and fame got a boost when he made an appearanace on TBS’s George Lopez Show. NBA Hall of Famer Reggie Miller was also on hand for the appearance even though the pint sized basketball dynamo had already previously met the legendary “Knick Killer.”

After asking Jaylin to put on an exhibition, showing off his tremendous talents dribbling the basketball, the former comedian turned late night talk show host just couldn’t resist orchestrating a friendly game of one-on-one between Miller and Fleming in front of the live audience.

Watch as Jaylin makes Reggie look like a statue as he repeatedly goes right around the Hall of Famer and knocked down a long range jumper to win a year’s supply of DiGiornio Pizza:

AP Source: “Carmelo Anthony to the Nets Deal is Dead”

September 28, 2010 – THD Rumor Patrol

A four-way deal that would have sent Carmelo Anthony to New Jersey is “dead,” a person with knowledge of the discussions said Tuesday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the trade.

Anthony took the court with his Nuggets teammates on the first day of training camp Tuesday. But his days in Denver could very well be numbered even after the four-team deal that also would have included Charlotte and Utah collapsed.

The Nuggets could still listen to offers.

Anthony said after practice that the basketball court has become his “safe haven,” a place where he doesn’t have to “deal with all the other stuff.”

“Every time I get in the gym my mind just focuses on working out, getting better, not thinking about too much,” Anthony said.

Following the more than two-hour workout, Nuggets coach George Karl gave Anthony an “A” for his effort, saying he thought his star was “very professional, very mature.”

Karl remains hopeful that Anthony will stick around.

Anthony has yet to sign off on a three-year, $65 million extension that’s been on the table since June, leading the Nuggets to explore trade options. The potential deal involving the New Jersey Nets hit a road block over the weekend and then withered Tuesday.

“The perfect storm in my mind is to keep Melo, convince him that this is the best place for him, that this is where he has to win a championship,” Karl said.