China courted both Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis, and the NBA’s top dunkerHere's part of the report from NIUBBall.com:
According to the source, the team had entered negotiations with several NBA free-agent big men over the past two weeks, including Los Angeles Clippers center, DeAndre Jordan, and Boston Celtics forward, Glen Davis. Though there was enough interest on the player side to have back-and-forth talks, the two ultimately walked away from Guangsha due increased optimism back in the United States that there will be an NBA season this year.The Clippers can either offer him a qualifying offer of $1.1 million, incredibly cheap for his production, or they could let him explore the free-agent market and match whatever offer sheet he signs. Though Clippers owner Donald Sterling is well known for his miserly ways, the latter option might be in both the best interest of his team, and his pocketbook -- as Jordan can sign with any team that courts him for whatever price in 2012 if he signs the QO of $1.1 million. And with plenty of teams clearing cap space in 2012 for superstars, he will be a sought-after fallback option.
This is where the CBA and NBA could clash, though. Jordan is technically a free agent; but the CBA wants to do right by David Stern, hence the edict that no NBA player under contract can sign with a CBA team. For a non-free agent free agent like Jordan? It would be interesting to see just how cutthroat the CBA would let its teams, especially the proactive Zhejiang Guangsha squad, work under these hard and fast rules.
Kelly Dwyer, Yahoo! Sports
"King Of The Castle" Pits Knox Indy Pro-Am Vs. Rio All-Stars, Brings NBA Players To New Castle
Carlos Knox and the folks at Knox Indy Pro Am are putting on another exhibition game with plenty of NBA talent this Sunday, November 6th at 4:00PM. The Knox IPA All-Stars will take on the Rio All-Stars, a collection of NBA players put together by free agent (Miami Heat) guard Mario Chalmers.
The game is billed as the "King of the Castle" because it will be played at Chrysler Fieldhouse in New Castle, one of the classic high school gyms in the state, also considered the largest high school gym in the country. As we learned from the first game at UIndy, the players expected to play are subject to change, but the initial names would put on quite a show. From the press release, here is the info on those expected to participate.
Zach Hahn, former New Castle and Butler University standout, is scheduled to join the Knox Indy Pro Am All-Stars and former Bulldog teammates Gordon Hayward (Brownsburg High School, Utah Jazz) and Shelvin Mack (Washington Wizards) along with many other Indiana ties including Eric Gordon, Jr. (North Central High School, Indiana University, LA Clippers), George Hill (Broad Ripple High School, IUPUI, Indiana Pacers), JaJuan Johnson (Franklin Central High School, Purdue University, Boston Celtics), Zach Randolph (Marion High School, Memphis Grizzlies), Jeff Teague (Pike high School, Atlanta Hawks), D.J. White (Indiana University, Charlotte Bobcats), Paul George (Indiana Pacers), and Lance Stephenson (Indiana Pacers).
Expected to suit up for the Rio All-Stars include Mario Chalmers (Miami Heat), Josh Selby (Memphis Grizzlies), Darrell Arthur (Memphis Grizzlies), John Wall (Washington Wizards), Alec Burks (Utah Jazz), Brandon Rush (Indiana Pacers), Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons), Christian Eyenga (Cleveland Cavs), Cory Brewer (Dallas Mavericks), and Kansas twin standouts Marcus Morris (Houston Rockets), and Markieff Morris (Phoenix Suns).
Tom Lewis, Indy Cornrows
Surprise tidbit about coaches' L.A. session
Last week, I mentioned the NBA coaches' get-together that took place in Los Angeles early this month at the Clippers' practice facility. What I didn't know then was that it was a "Gurg camp," as in longtime assistant coach Tim Grgurich, universally respected by players and coaches alike around the league for his unquenchable desire to make players and the game better.
Normally, Gurg has a players' skills camp during the offseason that is one of the most desired tickets of the summer, drawing 60 or so players for a week of intense drilling and teaching from up-and-coming assistant coaches -- there are no media or agents allowed. Veterans beg for invites to the camp (that it is in Vegas surely doesn't hurt). But with the lockout in full bloom, that obviously wasn't possible this year.
So more than 50 coaches came together for three days, getting on the floor themselves to talk about enhancing offenses against zones, and vice versa. Rick Carlisle talked about the importance of "flow" in offense. Off the court, coaches talked about how they could improve their relationships with their general managers. Lunch was catered, as the coaches and staffs went for total basketball immersion.
"It was excellent," Carlisle texted Sunday night.
David Aldridge, NBA.com
