Golden State Intrested in Dwight Howard
Stephen Curry and Dwight Howard could make the Warriors a threat in the Western Conference for a decade, but how would Golden State get Howard to town?
Ladies and gentlemen, the Dwight Howard sweepstakes have reached a critical point in their level of annoyingness: even teams without cap space are now rumored to be destinations.
That latest team to throw its proverbial hat into the ring — or at least into the rumor mill — is the Golden State Warriors, a destination that looks far more attractive after its playoff run this spring and with its abundance of young talent. That said, the Warriors’ salary for next season is over $75 million, and thus over the luxury tax threshold, so it would take some maneuvering in the form of a sign-and-trade for the team to get its hands on Howard.
So what does this all mean? Certainly not that fans in the Bay Area should be ordering up their D12 jerseys just yet. No, rather, this is just the beginning, just the end of May, and it’s a reminder that this crusade to land the Lakers’ big man is only going to get more complicated in the weeks to come
A-Rod Real Estate Mogul??
Injured Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez already rakes in more dough than any player in baseball, earning $30 million a year for playing — or, this year, not playing — like a shell of his former self. And as it turns out, A-Rod also has a pretty good real estate racket going, too.
According to TMZ, the 37-year-old Rodriguez, who has been on the disabled list all season following January hip surgery, recently sold his nearly-20,000 square foot Miami mansion for a whopping $30 million, netting himself a profit of $15 million.
Rodriguez reportedly purchased the sprawling estate for $7.4 million in 2010. Then after putting in $7.6 million into renovating it, Rodriguez listed the nine-bedroom, 11-bath palace for $38 million in August. (It’s a shame he had to settle for such a lowball offer.)
Here are a few photos, via TMZ, of what you could have gotten for the equivalent of one year of A-Rod’s salary:
It’s currently not known who the buyer is — TMZ says it’s a celebrity from Palm Beach — but according to the New York Daily News, Rodriguez had been renting the home for more than $125,000 a month before settling on the $30 million purchase offer.
All NBA First Team
LeBron James was a unanimous pick for the All-NBA team and Kobe Bryant earned his record-tying 11th first-team selection.
James received all 119 votes for the first team from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the U.S. and Canada. Joining the league’s MVP and Bryant on the first team Thursday were Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, San Antonio center Tim Duncan and Clippers guard Chris Paul.
Bryant tied Utah Hall of Famer Karl Malone with his 11th first-team nod.
NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony led the second team, joined by guards Russell Westbrook and Tony Parker, center Marc Gasol and forward Blake Griffin.
The third team was Houston’s James Harden, Miami’s Dwyane Wade, Lakers center Dwight Howard and forwards Paul George of Indiana and David Lee of Golden State.
Heat Escape Pacers in OT.
LeBron James caught the inbounds pass, changed direction and immediately attacked the rim.
There was no one in his way.
There was no stopping him, either.
James made a layup as time expired in overtime, capping a 30-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist effort as the Miami Heat found a way to outlast the Indiana Pacers 103-102 in a wildly back-and-forth Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night. There were 18 ties and 17 lead changes, the last two of those coming in the final 2.2 seconds.
”Two teams fought hard,” James said. ”We were able to make one more play.”
If this is how this series is going to go, then get ready for a classic between teams that absolutely wanted to face the other with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.
Paul George saved the Pacers at the end of regulation with a 32-footer with 0.7 seconds left, and then made three free throws with 2.2 ticks left in overtime to give Indiana a one-point lead. George pumped his fist gently after the third free throw, then extended his index finger skyward as the teams retreated to their benches to get ready for the final play.
He just left James too much time, and the Pacers left their best shot-blocking option on the bench. Roy Hibbert wasn’t on the floor for the final play, and without a 7-foot-2 barrier to contest him, James made the winner look easy.
”Two great teams just throwing punch for punch,” Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. ”Our spirit is very high, very confident. We know we can play with this basketball team.”
Vogel said he left Hibbert off the floor for the final play out of concern of what defending champion Miami would do with Chris Bosh in that scenario. Afterward, he acknowledged he might have different thinking next time.
”I would say we would probably have him in next time,” Vogel said.
Game 2 is Friday night in Miami.
Carmelo Needs Surgery
His final numbers may not have indicated it, but New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony played injured throughout the NBA playoffs, according to reports on Thursday.
The New York Daily News reports that an MRI revealed that Anthony has a torn labrum in his left shoulder that could require surgery. He reportedly suffered the injury late in the regular season but still played in all 12 playoff games.
Anthony initially suffered the injury on April 14 in a game against the Indiana Pacers but re-injured it during the team’s first-round series against the Boston Celtics.
If surgery is required, Anthony could reportedly miss three to five months. According to a report on ESPN.com, the team is hopeful that the star will not need surgery.
The Knicks beat the Celtics in six games in the first round but fell to the Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Anthony still averaged 28.8 points per game in the postseason.
A Picture is Worth $1 Million Words
The Oklahoma City Thunder are giving $1 million for tornado relief, matching a $1 million pledge by star player Kevin Durant.
The Thunder announced Tuesday that they’ll give $1 million to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and other disaster relief organizations helping after Monday’s disaster in suburban Oklahoma City. Earlier in the day, Durant pledged $1 million to the Red Cross from his Durant Family Foundation intended to match other donations and be an incentive for more people to give.
Red Cross’ regional CEO Janienne Bella said the organization was thankful for Durant’s ”generosity.”
The Red Cross is accepting $10 pledges from people who text ”REDCROSS” to 90999. People can also donate at the organization’s website.
On Monday, Durant sent a message to his 4.1 million Twitter followers with Red Cross donation information.
Fried Chicken Remarks Towards Tiger Woods?
Sergio Garcia apologized for saying he would ”serve fried chicken” while making a joke about having Tiger Woods over for dinner.
Tiger clearly didn’t find it funny.
British newspaper The Guardian reported Garcia was asked in jest while on stage at the European Tour’s awards dinner Tuesday night if he would invite Woods to dinner during the U.S. Open.
The Guardian reported Garcia said: ”We will have him round every night. We will serve fried chicken.”
The newspaper said Garcia released a statement through the European Tour: ”I apologise for any offence that may have been caused by my comment on stage during The European Tour Players’ Awards dinner. I answered a question that was clearly made towards me as a joke with a silly remark, but in no way was the comment meant in a racist manner.”
Tiger addressed the comment on Wednesday morning with a series of tweets.
The comment that was made wasn’t silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate…
– Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) May 22, 2013 I’m confident that there is real regret that the remark was made.
– Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) May 22, 2013 The Players ended nearly two weeks ago and it’s long past time to move on and talk about golf.
– Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) May 22, 2013 Speaking Wednesday morning, Garcia apologized again.
”I want to send an unreserved apology. I did not want to offend anyone,” Garcia said. ”My answer was totally stupid and out of place.”
Garcia held an impromptu news conference at the BMW PGA Championship to elaborate on a statement he sent out Tuesday night through the European Tour.
Crabtree Tears Achilles
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree won’t get another shot to win a Super Bowl this season.
The former first-round pick suffered a torn Achilles tendon during Organized Team Activities on Tuesday, according to USA Today.
Crabtree is reportedly having more tests done on the Achilles to confirm the injury.
While the injury is usually considered to be a season-ending one, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Da’Quan Bowers returned last season after tearing their Achilles earlier in the year.
Crabtree, 25, had a break-out season in 2012 for the NFC champion 49ers, tallying 85 receptions for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 28 receptions for 285 yards and three touchdowns in the postseason.
The 49ers will look to veterans Anquan Boldin, Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams to fill the void left by Crabree. The team also selected rookie receiver Quinton Patton in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Cavs get #1 Pick..Again
What’s not to like? Being in the lottery every year.
Nick Gilbert expects the Cleveland Cavaliers are through with it, and if so he sent them out a winner again.
The Cavaliers and their owner’s son beat the odds for the second time in three years, winning the lottery Tuesday night to give them the No. 1 pick for the June 27 NBA draft.
Two years after charming viewers by responding to a question about being on stage by saying: ”What’s not to like?” the bowtie-wearing son of Dan Gilbert wore a stern look before this one. He said he expected he was done coming here and that he believed the Cavs would be in the playoffs next season.
Then they got a great jump on that goal, earning the first pick even though they had only the third-best odds to do so.
And 16-year-old Nick Gilbert delivered it, just as he did in 2011, when the Cavs used the pick to take eventual Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving.
”Kyrie is a hell of a player … but this also felt almost as good,” Nick Gilbert said. ”That was the first time. This is the second time, but man does it feel good to get the first pick this last time. Get that last player to give us a push.”
The Orlando Magic fell back one spot to No. 2, while the Washington Wizards vaulted from the No. 8 spot to third.
Ten years after winning the lottery that landed them LeBron James, the Cavaliers picked up another opportunity to help speed up the rebuilding process since his departure to Miami in 2010.
James’ exit shook a franchise that had become a perennial contender with the Ohio native, but the Cavs aren’t thinking about that now.
