Welcome to another edition of NBA Nation Australia’s Roundtable! This week we’ll be tackling more hot topics from around the league including George Karl, the MVP award, the free agent debate in LA, most improved teams, Derrick Rose and Kobe’s mum (only because it’s Mother’s Day). We also welcome back podcaster and blogger Jabari Davis from The OpinioNation (theopnation.com), Brent Veale formerly of That Basketball Show and Tom Read from the #BelieveTheHype podcast!
It’s been some time since our last roundtable, so this week we’ve decided to bring in a couple of new contributors as well as a familiar face or two to discuss some of the recent hot topics in the NBA. We’ll be looking at everything from the Warriors playoff hopes, the Thunder’s challenge without Westbrook, The Knicks chances of taking the East, the Boston Celtics troubles, injures and Jason Collins’ recent news. To kick things off we welcome back Tom Read from the #BelieveTheHype podcast, as well as SidelineAgenda.com contributor and all round sports nut Alex Young, and Houston Rockets/NBA social media commentator Terry Goldfain to the party along with regulars from NBA Nation Australia Nick Caro and Sam Monaghan. Lets go!
As per Adrian Wojnarowski of Y! Sports, Sacramento Kings rookie and 5th overall draftee Thomas Robinson has been traded to the Houston Rockets in a three-team trade involving 6 players. The Rockets will acquire Robinson from the Kings, as well as Francisco Garcia and Tyler Honeycutt and a 2nd round pick in exchange for Cole Aldridge, Toney Douglas and Patrick Patterson plus cash considerations. Also involved in the deal, the Phoenix Suns who receive Marcus Morris from Houston in exchange for a 2013 2nd round pick. The Kings have moved over $10 Million in salary while receiving only $6.5 in return leaving them a considerably larger amount of cap space than they already had.
Robinson, drafted 5th overall by the Kings in the 2012 draft has played just 51 games for Sacramento, and has shown considerable amounts of promise throughout his time in Sacramento. The trade deadline is less than 24 hours away, and ordinarily the world of basketball is crawling with potential trades and rumors however 2013 has proven to be quite the opposite with the Robinson trade being the single and only deal to go down.
Nick C.
It came as somewhat of a shock to many on Sunday. Oklahoma City, last year’s runner up and this year’s high hope trading their reigning Sixth Man of The Year and ultimate play maker off the bench. There were predictions of a trade involving said Sixth Man, but few saw it unfolding as dramatically as it did. In the dwindling hours of Sunday afternoon, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! sports broke the news of a trade that could ultimately change the course of the Western Conference and indeed the NBA as a whole. Fans, teams, officials and players have been left to ponder a decision which may impact the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Championship hopes for at least this year. Here, we take a look at the trade which has seen ‘The Beard’ himself, James Harden accept an offer to join Jeremy Lin at the Houston Rockets, and leave a title hopeful Thunder in his wake.
Welcome to Part 5 of our season previews! Today we’ll take a look at the Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat!
Enjoy!
The Boston Celtics have finally picked up Houston guard Courtney Lee.
The deal will include a sign & trade and currently Celtics forward JuJuan Johnson will be going the other way. It’s likely the deal will also include Sean Williams, and possibly E’Twaun Moore. Financial details are as yet unknown but with it being a sign & trade the deal will be at least three year deal (although the second and/or third seasons can be non-guaranteed.)
Continuing on from our update earlier, Mark Spears of ESPN has confirmed a Knicks spokesperson has told the media they have decided not to match Houston’s offer for Jeremy Lin.
The Rockets’ Kevin Martin has been quoted as saying “He can be just as exciting in here as he was in New York. Houston is going to embrace him and expect a lot from him”.
So Houston… you had better bring the noise, because Linsanity is coming!
The Nuggets are bobbing in and out of playoff contention. With their huge win today their chances firm . They sit at 7th in the West one game clear of 8th placed Houston and one game clear of facing the ferocious Thunder in Round 1. Denver has 6 games in 11 days before the playoffs begin, only 1 game against the East, so each game will be critical.
April 16 @ Houston
The Nuggets spanked the Rockets in Denver today by 15 points after leading by as many as 20 points. Faried dropped a double-double and is emerging as another great draft pick from the post-Anthony era. The Rockets don’t have anyone who matches up against his big body as well as an OKC or San Antonio. It’ll be a tight hard fought game but the Nuggets should eek out a win.
April 18 vs Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers lead the season series 2-1 and this is a crucial game for both teams. The Clippers will want to come to Denver and pick up a win away from home heading into the playoffs just to keep pace with the Lakers. Denver needs to protect home court. Paul could run wild and slice this Denver defence to shreds, even though he is only 26 he commands the Clipper offense like a veteran. Denver cant afford to drop a game against a Western conference opponent here. Continue reading
