2008-09 NBA Rookie Class: Top 50 By David Thorpe, Scouts Inc.

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for the rest 20-50 click the link

Phoenix 114* vs. New Jersey 86 (National Basketball Association)

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National Basketball Association

Phoenix 114
New Jersey 86

Top 10 Rookies

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1. Greg Oden, Trail Blazers Oden has played just OK in the preseason, which is to be expected due to his long layoff and the type of knee surgery he's coming back from. But if the NBA's Most Improved Player award was based on in-season play as opposed to play from one season to the next, I think Oden would be the favorite. When his mind and body catch up to the speed of the game, he should be a monster every night. 2. Michael Beasley, Heat Scoring has always been easy for Beasley, and I suspect it always will be. He has the best combination of feel, skills and body in this rookie class. As his effort and awareness on defense grow, so, too, will his minutes. He's the favorite for Rookie of the Year, without a doubt. 3. Marc Gasol, Grizzlies A stat stuffer, Gasol should get as many starts as any rookie playing in the frontcourt. He can score inside and rebound. He has quick hands and an active mind. I also love his passing ability and craftiness on defense. His experience playing high-level basketball in Spain is an advantage, too. 4. O.J. Mayo, Grizzlies Of all the rookies who are expected to play a lot of minutes this season, I think Mayo will experience the biggest roller-coaster ride. He is a dynamic player on both sides of the court, but because he relies so much on his jumper on offense, he will surely endure some very low points totals to go along with some huge scoring nights. If he learns to change speeds better and earns more trips to the free-throw line, he'll jump a level from very good to great. 5. Kevin Love, Timberwolves Love was acquired by the Wolves based more on talent and less on fit, so it's going to take time to create a good situation for him in Minnesota, which is loaded with beefy inside players. His strong hands will enable him to grab rebounds and score effectively inside. However, he has not been much of an enforcer, defensively. Still, I like his upside on D, where he can learn to use his excellent feel -- and, hopefully, a soon-to-be-leaner body -- to cover ground more quickly. 6. Derrick Rose, Bulls The logjam at the guard position in Chicago suggests that, in the short term, Rose might not see huge minutes. But he has shown improvement at handling ball screens (on offense), and his body control on at-the-rim finishes is already at a high level. He looks to score more than I expected, but should be very effective in that role. He can really be a punishing point guard due to his size and strength. 7. Rudy Fernandez, Trail Blazers In just his second NBA preseason game, Fernandez tallied 15 points, five rebounds, seven assists, six steals and six turnovers. Assuming he comes off the bench this season, that's the definition of an energy guy. And with Martell Webster out for an extended period of time, Fernandez has the chance to play a lot more, and maybe even start. He is a do-it-all type of pro that will be a difference-maker on offense and defense. 8. Russell Westbrook, Thunder Westbrook figures to get serious playing time right away, despite a far-from-ready offensive game. He was drafted because of his defensive talents and his ability to complement Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. And because he's a winner. Although he will suffer through some real struggles, especially as a shooter, the Thunder want him to develop into a future starter, so playing time is mandatory. 9. Eric Gordon, Clippers The Clippers will utilize this scoring dynamo off the bench. He looks similar to Ben Gordon, not just in size and position but in how he can impact games. While he often looks to shoot -- he is far from knowledgeable about the term "good shot" -- it is his slashing talent that could earn him a future Sixth Man Award. He is tough to stay in front of, and has the strength to finish at the rim amid contact. 10. Brook Lopez, Nets Lopez has the game to make an impact on several fronts. He has shown he can rebound in this league, and has always been a scorer. He has also made some plays on defense in the preseason. With New Jersey's questionable frontcourt (due to injuries and such), Lopez may earn solid time off the bench

Power Rankings: Best and worst over past six seasons

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1 San Antonio Spurs 59 23 .720 1 10 3.17 High: Wk 18, 2007-08 (most recent of 36) | Low: Wk 7, 2002-03 (most recent of 2) | Rankings archive Surely this outcome doesn't surprise you. The Spurs wound up halting the Lakers' three-peat run and winning the championship in the first season that the committee (of one) presided over these rankings and won two more titles after that. Then they've got a string of nine consecutive 50-win seasons going and generally rank as the franchise, from top to bottom, every other team wishes it could emulate. Who else could occupy this perch? 2 Dallas Mavericks 58 24 .707 1 15 4.23 High: Wk 12, 2006-07 (most recent of 30) | Low: Wk 22, 2007-08 | Rankings archive Snicker all you want about the Mavs' playoff exploits since the 6:30 mark of the fourth quarter in Game 3 of the 2006 NBA Finals. None of that considerable misery can change the fact that these rankings are a regular-season enterprise, which has made it impossible not to notice that Dallas has posted an average record of 58-24 over the past six seasons … and thus impossible not to rank these tortured souls accordingly. 3 Detroit Pistons 56 26 .683 1 13 5.15 High: Wk 16, 2007-08 (most recent of 25) | Low: Wk 2, 2006-07 | Rankings archive Hard to imagine that anyone would claim that Detroit hasn't fully deserved its regular spot in our top five. Frustrated as Pistons fans might be to come away from six consecutive trips to the East finals with only one championship, there's been only one source of positive consistency emanating from the Leastern Conference since Michael Jordan's retirement … and this team is it. 4 Phoenix Suns 51 31 .622 1 27 8.59 High: Wk 4, 2007-08 (most recent of 15) | Low: Wk 16, 2003-04 (most recent of 2) | Rankings archive Yet another illustration of Steve Nash's impact in his second stint as a Sun has been playing out right here in our domain. Even though Nash has been back on Planet Orange for just four of the past six seasons -- and even though the two seasons before his return were mostly forgettable -- Phoenix has nonetheless crashed the top five comfortably.

Gimme your Top 10 favorite heroes in sports as a kid

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just an idea i had please help me out and post embeds and comments and video responses thanks very much.

Source: LeBron would consider European offer of $50 million a year or more

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Jay-Z and the New Jersey Nets? Mike D'Antoni and the New York Knicks? Heck, the Cleveland Cavaliers' strongest competition for LeBron James' long-term services could be the deep-pocketed new kid on the block -- Europe. James A person close to James said Tuesday that the Cavaliers' superstar would strongly consider playing overseas if he was offered a salary of "around $50 million a year." James' current contract expires after the 2009-10 season, and while several NBA teams are working to create salary cap space for his impending free agency, none could offer a contract beginning at even $20 million a year. The Russian team CSKA Moscow and the Greek team Olympiacos, which recently gave Josh Childress a contract approaching $30 million over three years, have already contacted James, according to the person close to him. The person added, however, that no monetary or contractual discussions have taken place. While $50 million a year seems outlandish, it is within the realm of possibility, considering the $250 million contract David Beckham received two years ago to join the MLS, the $33 million Michael Jordan was paid by the Chicago Bulls in 1997-1998, the strength of the euro in comparison to the dollar, and the fact that European clubs are not bound by a salary cap. While several NBA players have left the league this summer for more lucrative contracts in Europe, no stars have done so -- or even considered it. Joel Litvin, the NBA's president of league and basketball operations, said the league is not concerned about this developing trend. "I don't want to say it's much ado about nothing, but we think it's overblown a bit," Litvin said. "It's not something we're losing sleep over. " But losing a player of James' magnitude would be nothing short of a nightmare for the NBA. "For the most part, the league considers the players to be fungible products," an official from the National Basketball Players Association said. "But LeBron is one of the three or four players the league would definitely hate to lose. If a team lost him or Kobe [Bryant] to Europe, it would lose its mind. It would be devastating." But both Litvin and the NBPA official said they don't foresee anything -- even the loss of a superstar -- leading the NBA to eliminate the salary cap and thereby compete financially with the European teams. "It would be disappointing to lose one of our star players, but I have no concern at all about the best players playing anywhere but in the NBA for a long time to come," Litvin said. "I'd be surprised if one of our top players chose to go to Europe but if it did happen, there are many players who would step up and fill the void." The source close to James said he would play in Europe only for a year or two before returning to the NBA. He said James would view it as an opportunity to popularize the game and himself overseas. He added that James would not consider himself to be playing in the "minor leagues." "Not at all," the person said. "He believes those guys are pros also." The entire scenario falls in line with James' stated goals of becoming a billionaire and "global icon." But the representative from the players' association will have to see James in a European uniform before he believes it. "First of all, we don't know that there's going to be a $50 million offer," the official said. "And secondly, he wouldn't be able to accomplish over there the things that he wants to do over here, which are to win NBA championships, MVP awards, etc." But he would be filthy rich and a global icon.

'Chemistry really good' as U.S. team arrives in China, LeBron says

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MACAU, China -- The U.S. men's basketball team is striving to be confident heading into the Beijing Games while avoiding the complacency that has sabotaged it in recent Olympics. That was the message from coach Mike Krzyzewski after he and the star-studded team arrived Monday in this southern Chinese casino enclave for its final preparations for the Beijing Games. [+] EnlargeAP Photo/Kin Cheung The U.S. Olympic basketball team runs its first practice Monday after arriving in Macau, China. The team is "trying to be very confident, but that doesn't mean overconfident," Krzyzewski said. "We don't have nothing to be complacent about," he said. "We haven't accomplished anything yet. We're in the midst of trying to accomplish." One of the Americans' most confident stars, the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, joined the team's first practice in Macau on Monday. His right ankle was taped as a precaution after he sat out the Americans' first tuneup against Canada on Friday with a sprain. "Every time we step onto the court, we know we have the talent and we know we have the strength to go out and be the best team on the court," said James, who was quoted in the recent issue of Time magazine as saying he guarantees gold for the team at Beijing. "The chemistry right now is really good," he said. James said he will play in upcoming exhibition games in Macau and Shanghai. Despite its NBA star power, the U.S. has underachieved in international competition during the past eight years. It finished sixth in the 2002 world championships and won bronze at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and at the 2006 world championships. Krzyzew skipredicted the Beijing basketball tournament will be the best ever because "world basketball has gotten to another level." "Many of the teams we face ... some will have a starting five of five NBA players," he said. "World basketball is terrific and it'll be a tough challenge for us." In its opening game at the Olympics on Aug. 10, the U.S. will face host China, which has a lineup that includes Houston Rockets center Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian, who was recently traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the New Jersey Nets. [+] EnlargeAP Photo/Kin Cheung Dwyane Wade and LeBron James get their first taste of the media Monday before practice. Asked about other contenders for the Olympic title, the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade noted defending Olympic champions Argentina and reigning world champion Spain, but said, "I'm not going to say anyone else [other than the U.S.] is a favorite to win." The current squad is largely similar to the U.S. team for the 2006 world championships -- but has added Kobe Bryant and veteran Jason Kidd. U.S. team managing director Jerry Colangelo said the Americans are aware that an ad hoc team of NBA stars doesn't cut any more and noted the current squad was assembled in 2006. "The core players have been together for the last three years. In the past, all-star teams were selected," Colangelo said. "That was good enough, but that's not the case any more." Team spokesman Craig Miller said Wade, who is recovering from left knee surgery, and the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard, recovering from a stress fracture to his sternum, are both healthy. Wade scored 20 points in the U.S.' 120-65 rout of Canada. In Macau, the U.S. will play Turkey on Thursday and Lithuania on Friday before moving on to Shanghai, where they will play Russia on Aug. 3 and Australia on Aug. 5

After evaluating trade, Jefferson 'excited' about being with Bucks

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Breaking down the key questions surrounding Team USA

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the defending world champion, with a deep roster of NBA players or soon-to-be NBA players, including Paul and Marc Gasol, Rudy Fernandez, Jose Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro and Jorge Garbajosa. Point guard sensation Ricky Rubio, 17, is also expected to compete for Spain. Russia, which upset Spain in the final match of Eurobasket '07, is led by Utah's Andrei Kirilenko and American point guard J.R. Holden (of CSKA Moscow), and Lithuania is always a solid contender led by former NBA guard Sarunas Jasikevicius and 2-guard Ramunas Siskauskas, who filled in admirably at the point last summer when Jasikevicius was injured during Eurobasket. Greece should qualify, too, and should not be taken lightly despite significant changes to its roster. The Americans looked past the Greeks two years ago at the World Championship in Japan, and Greece pulled off the upset of that tournament by defeating the United States in the semifinals. Q: China doesn't make that group of contenders? A: No. As strong as China is up front, its weak spot continues to be its guards. And until the Chinese guards can master the act of breaking the press, they can't crack the top half-dozen teams in the world. Q: How big of a favorite is Team USA? A: Most international sports books are listing Team USA as the 1-3 favorite, followed by Spain at 7-2 and Argentina at 8-1, Russia at 15-1 and Lithuania at 20-1. Looking for the ultimate long shot? Iran's odds of winning the gold are 2,500-1. Q: And you, Sheridan, who you picking? A: Too soon to say. I expect Team USA to cruise through the first round, but the quarters, semifinals and gold-medal match (should the Americans make it) will bring an entirely different level of competition. I want to see how they perform in their friendlies against the big squads from Russian and Lithuania before committing to a pick. My pick will also be impacted by whether they're able to find a way to get Chandler onto the active roster. So you can expect to see my pick, and read my explanations for it, a day or two before the tournament starts.

LeBron aware that Nets, Knicks looking to snag All-Star in future

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YORK -- All that LeBron James-to-the-Knicks speculation might be focused on the right city but the wrong team. It appears, judging from James' comments Monday, that the Nets might be James' preferred destination if he opts out of his contract in the summer of 2010 and becomes an unrestricted free agent. James listed New York as his favorite city Monday (his hometown of Akron, Ohio came in fifth behind Washington D.C., Dallas, and Los Angeles) as he took part in a one-day USA Basketball media blitz, and he also gave an answer to a follow-up question that'll make Knicks president Donnie Walsh and head coach Mike D'Antoni cringe. "My favorite borough? Brooklyn," James said, choosing the proposed future home of the New Jersey Nets over the borough of Manhattan, where the Knicks play their home games. "Brooklyn is definitely a great place here in New York City, and some of my best friends are from Brooklyn, so I stick up for them." James is personal friends with the performer Jay-Z, who owns a small piece of the Nets, but James said that relationship would play no role in whether he decides to leave Cleveland -- either when his contract expires in 2011, or if he exercises his opt-out in 2010. The Nets made a major financial move on draft night to position themselves to make a maximum offer to James in the summer of 2010, shedding Richard Jefferson's contract when they dealt him to Milwaukee for Bobby Simmons and Yi Jianlian. If New Jersey chooses to trade Vince Carter for a player or players whose contracts expire before the summer of 2010, they'll have more than enough room to offer James a maximum salary. [+] EnlargeDavid Dow/NBAE/Getty Images LeBron James and Team USA were in New York Monday for photo shoots and a team pep rally at Rockefeller Center. The Knicks have also made clear that their No. 1 priority is to clear cap space for the summer of 2010 when James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade can all become unrestricted free agents. But they'll have to move Zach Randolph and at least one other player already under contract through 2010-11 -- Jamal Crawford, Eddy Curry and Jared Jeffries -- in order to get far enough below the cap to make James a max offer. If James waits until 2011 to become a free agent, the Knicks are positioned to have enough room to make a max offer. James is a frequent visitor to New York, and he constantly hears pleas from Knicks fans -- and a few Nets fans -- to relocate to the nation's media capital two summers down the road. The Nets plan to relocate from East Rutherford to Brooklyn in 2010 if owner Bruce Ratner is able to clear the final hurdles that have delayed the building of his massive Atlantic Yards project in central Brooklyn, which will have the Nets' new arena as its centerpiece. "They have a right to dream about it, and I can't take that away from them. My friendship was way before Jay was part-owner of the Nets, and I loved the Garden way before I got to the NBA," James said. "For some reason when I get to the Garden I always play well, so they want me to do it 41 games instead of just two nights a year." Knicks fans were in abundant supply at midday Monday as James and the rest of Team USA were introduced at a Nike press conference at Rockefeller Center, and James played to the crowd like a true showman -- sprinting with a wide smile and open arms into bleacher seats erected at both ends of a temporary court, embracing dozens of youngsters clad in blue "United We Rise" T-shirts. Earlier, James waved demonstrably at a boatful of tourists from the deck of a ship the team chartered for a photo shoot in New York Harbor with the Statue of Liberty as the backdrop. "I never thought about doing it, but once you get out there & I'm a big kid personally, I got two young sons at home and I know what they like, so anytime I get around a group of kids it's like a kid in the candy store for me. So, I'm happy I was able to put smiles on those kids faces," James said. "It made my day, totally." The crowd ate up his act, as did his teammates. "Was that New York-driven? No, I think it was James-driven. That's who he is," Jason Kidd said. "He's a kid, he's full of energy, he has a lot of personality ... LeBron just has a lot of personality -- you see it in the commercials -- and that's him, and for him to interact with the kids, it might put a little stress on security, but for the kids to be able to touch him and see him in that light, you can't ask anything more than that."

The Best Available Free Agents

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Iguodala 1. Andre Iguodala, Sixers: Iguodala's decision to turn down a $57 million deal last summer is tough to justify. At the time, the Sixers appeared to be the only team with significant cap room; I'm not sure where he thought his next paycheck would come from. He had a great regular season, but a woeful postseason has put his stock back in check. He's coveted by the Grizzlies, but the chances of them prying him away from Philly look very slim. 2. Josh Smith, Hawks: On talent and potential, Smith should be on top of this list. He's a freakish athlete who can score, rebound and block shots. What holds him back is a questionable attitude. Nonetheless it appears the Hawks have to re-sign him. Given the Hawks' ownership woes, Smith is one of the few restricted free agents a team with cap space may try to pluck away -- the same way the Hawks did with Joe Johnson a few years ago. I could see the Sixers making a run at him. Okafor 3. Emeka Okafor, Bobcats: Okafor turned down $13 million per season to hit free agency this summer. He's not the best player on this list, but he's the best young center on the market. Still, there's no guarantee he'll get more money from another team. I'm sure the Grizzlies will be interested, but they know the Bobcats will match. I don't see him going anywhere, but a sign-and-trade isn't out of the question here if the negotiations go on too long. 4. Jose Calderon, Raptors: Calderon played at an All-Star level this past season. When T.J. Ford went down with injuries, he became the leader of the Raptors and proved to be the best true point guard on the free-agent market. The Raptors say they'll match any offer for Calderon and I believe them -- especially now that they've agreed to a trade with the Pacers that will ship T.J. Ford to Indiana. As it stands now, he's their only point guard. Still, don't be shocked if the Sixers make a big offer to him. They need a long-term replacement for Andre Miller and I hear Sixers GM Ed Stefanski is a big fan. Deng 5. Luol Deng, Bulls: Everyone loves Deng's talent, but so do the Bulls. At least they used to. Injuries and a poor season have hurt his value around the league. Still, it's hard to see the Bulls not matching any offer Deng gets next summer. He declined a $57.5 million extension in October, so if he makes more than that he'll come out ahead. It will be interesting to see if the budget-conscious Bulls will take advantage of the market conditions and offer him much less. 6. Andris Biedrins, Warriors: Biedrins didn't get the lucrative contract offer that several others did. He was looking for something in the five-year, $50 million range and got an offer that was reportedly substantially lower. Biedrins falls a little bit into the Anderson Varejao category -- energetic big man whose stats don't tell the whole story in terms of on-court contributions. Given that he continues to improve and he's only 21 years old, it's hard to believe the Warriors wouldn't match an offer. Ellis 7. Monta Ellis, Warriors: He's young and he can score. But his restricted status is going to hurt him. No team has the money to offer him more than the midlevel, and he probably feels as though he's worth considerably more than that. He's a player who may be better off taking the one-year tender from the Warriors so that he can be an unrestricted free agent in 2009. 8. Josh Childress, Hawks: Childress doesn't get nearly the respect or hype of many of his teammates in Atlanta, but he's been a devastatingly effective sixth man and who might still be expendable given all of Atlanta's wing talent. He probably can't get more than a midlevel deal on this market, but he'd be a bargain at that price. Gordon 9. Ben Gordon, Bulls: Of all the players who turned down lucrative contract extensions last summer, Gordon made the most mind-boggling decision. He turned down a five-year, $50 million deal that seemed above market value on a down season. For him to recoup that money this summer seems almost impossible … and now that the Bulls have added Larry Hughes to the mix, it's no longer clear where Gordon fits into the picture. There isn't a huge market for undersized 2-guards with streaky jump shots. Gordon is most likely to be the top restricted free agent not to have his offer matched, but he's going to struggle to get a huge offer from anyone. Gordon may be better off taking the Bulls' one-year tender offer. 10. Nenad Krstic, Nets: Before his knee injury last season, Krstic looked like he'd be locked up by the Nets. Now the uncertainty over his health could hurt his value. Philadelphia is one team to watch for. Sixers GM Ed Stefanski was a fan while he was back in New Jersey. A sign-and-trade is another possibility for the Nets.

Will LeBron go to Brooklyn in 09 to the Nets? Or will he remain a Cavalier forever?

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Who made the best NBA draft day aquisitions?

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What team will be most improved after the NBA draft

Da Truth Speaks: PJ Breaks down the NBA 09 season!

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Jefferson-for-Yi deal all about LeBron and Nets

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Nets agree to trade Jefferson to Bucks for Yi, Simmons

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The New Jersey Nets and Milwaukee Bucks are on the verge of a trade that will send Richard Jefferson to the Bucks for forwards Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons, according to NBA front-office sources. Yi Jefferson Simmons Sources told ESPN.com that the deal has been agreed to and submitted for league approval in advance of Thursday night's draft. No draft picks are involved in the trade, sources said. Such a swap would create an estimated $10-plus million in long-term savings for the Nets as they continue to re-shape their team after trading another mainstay -- point guard Jason Kidd -- to Dallas in February. The trade would also enable Yi to make a move to the larger media market he was hoping for this time last year, when Milwaukee drafted him out of China with the sixth overall pick. Kiki Vandeweghe, New Jersey's new general manager alongside team president Rod Thorn, is a longstanding Yi fan who has frequently likened the 7-footer's perimeter skills and potential to Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki. The Bucks, meanwhile, would be supplying new coach Scott Skiles with a veteran player coming off his best season to fill a problem position. Jefferson averaged 22.7 points per game last season and played all 82 games after an injury-plagued 2006-07 season.

TLock21's Mock NBA Draft

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Carmelo's agent assured forward will not be traded

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Is Carmelo Anthony Headed To Detroit?

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Anthony's representatives, Nuggets' brass to address trade rumors

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