Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was fined $35,000 for kicking the basketball during the Mavs’ loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
Note to Coach Carlisle: you’re doing it wrong. If you’re going to pay $35 grand for the privilege of kicking a basketball, at least get your money’s worth. Next time, I want to see something more like this:
Let’s say you’re one of many fantasy owners left without a center due to DeMarcus Cousins’ temper tantrum. (And as an aside, wouldn’t it be awesome if the box scores listed Cousins as DNP – knucklehead or something similar?)
Don’t fret. There are productive fantasy center options popping up every day, in the least likely places. The D-League, for example. One time D-League defensive player of the year Greg Stiemsma stepped into the Celtics’ starting lineup on Monday, in place of an injured Jermaine O’Neal, and racked up 13 points, seven boards, two blocks and two assists in just 21 minutes against the Wizards. With O’Neal’s injury history, one could make a pretty compelling case that Stiemsma will log a lot of minutes in that spot, and possibly take the starting job before too long. On that potential alone, he should probably be owned in more than, uh, zero percent of all Yahoo! leagues and 1.1 percent on ESPN.
Another surprisingly-productive big man – New York’s Josh Harrellson – arrived as a largely unheralded second-round pick out of Kentucky. But when Amar’e Stoudemire went down with an ankle injury, Harrellson got an opportunity and, against the Kings on New Year’s Eve posted his first career double-double in his first career start 14 points, 12 boards, 4-8 3pt. A three-point shooter on the offensive end and a banger on defense, Harrellson could emerge as a poor man’s Troy Murphy as the season progresses. And though he won’t be in the starting lineup for long – Stoudemire should be back this week – there will be plenty of minutes available in New York’s frontcourt; both Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler have extensive injury histories.
Dallas’ Ian Mahinmi is also worth a look in some leagues, as it seems Rick Carlisle is splitting playing time between him and Brendan Haywood more or less evenly this season. Mahinmi has logged 20 or more minutes in four straight games and just missed a double-double 10 points, 9 boards against Oklahoma City on Monday.
Full article and this week’s waiver recommendations here: Working the Wire: NBA Waiver Recommendations – RotoWire.com.
The sign-and-trade bringing Tyson Chandler to the Knicks actually turned out to be a three-way deal involving Ronny Turiaf and the Washington Wizards. The official details, from Wizards PR:
The Washington Wizards announced today that they have acquired forward/center Ronny Turiaf, a 2013 second round pick and cash considerations from the New York Knicks along with a 2012 second round pick from the Dallas Mavericks. The three-team deal also sends Tyson Chandler, the rights to Ahmad Nivins and the rights to Giorgos Printezis from Dallas to New York while the Mavericks will receive Andy Rautins from the Knicks and a 2012 protected second round pick from the Wizards.
“Ronny brings us a tough, inside presence and we’re looking forward to adding his defense and tenacity to our frontline,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “This trade brings another solid veteran to our team along with additional assets in the form of draft picks and allows us to maintain our financial flexibility moving forward.”
Nivins was the 56th overall pick in the 2009 draft, a power forward out of St. Joseph’s who has been playing in Spain. Printezis was drafted 58th overall by the Spurs back in 2007, and has already been traded from San Antonio to Toronto and Toronto to Dallas. Seems safe to assume he’ll get about as much run at Madison Square Garden as I do.
The Knicks also sent a 2013 second-round pick to Washington. Washington sent a 2012 second-rounder to Dallas.
Just yesterday, in the context of a Twitter discussion about Dirk Nowitzki, I was idly wondering what Robert “Tractor” Traylor was doing.
Less than 24 hours later, I heard the news. Traylor has been found dead in his Puerto Rico apartment. He has been playing for a professional team on the island this season, appearing in 10 games for the Vaqueros de Bayamon, and was in the process of working his way back from an injury. According to Internet reports, Traylor suffered a massive heart attack.
He was just 34 years old.
Traylor was the 6th overall pick of the Dallas Mavericks in the 1998 NBA Draft, and shipped to Milwaukee in exchange for 9th overall pick Dirk Nowitzki. He played seven seasons in the NBA, most recently for the Cavaliers in 2004-05.
The latest Laker dynasty ended with a resounding “thud.” Or maybe that was just the sound of JJ Barea hitting the deck after being laid out by Laker center Andrew Bynum – one of several classless fouls committed by Los Angeles long after the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Bynum and Lamar Odom were both ejected from the Lakers’ 122-86 for unnecessary and embarrassing frustration fouls on Barea and Dirk Nowitzki – Bynum in particular should expect to hear from the league and seems likely to miss some games whenever the 2011-12 season begins.
The source of their frustration was obvious – the Lakers were absolutely blown out by a Dallas offense that was clicking from the opening tip. Jason Terry was particularly locked in, tying an NBA playoff record with nine made threes. And the Jet needed just ten attempts to get there. The Dallas bench absolutely destroyed their Laker counterparts – Terry, Peja Stojakovic and Barea combined to score 75 points.
To say the Lakers reacted poorly to adversity would be a fairly massive understatement. As the Mavs’ lead increased, Kobe Bryant and company retreated into one-on-one play. The Mavs actually tallied more assists in the game (32) than the Lakers had field goals.
