?QuestionMark?

No one. Even if a guy is healthy he'd get suspended before they get close to the record.

Clearly there isn't a good faith in this negotiations. The owners are using the purchase of franchises and posting that in their losses as a way to justify the need to overhaul the CBA. This despite higher ratings, higher attendance, and overall higher revenue.

It's like asking would you rather be tossed in a cage with a hungry lion or in a tank with a hungry shark. Both options suck. Magic tried coaching and was a disaster. Barkley....yeah Barkley would be worse. He'd be turrble. He'd probably miss practice waiting for the fresh batch of Krispy Kreme donuts.

From what I've been reading, this seems like it is the beginning of the Jim Buss era and the dude is power hungry. - Went with the cheap hire that is Mike Brown. - Brian Shaw symbolized the old triangle (which it seems Buss hates) so he's gone despite having Bryant and Fisher as big supporters for him. - He interviewed Mike Brown without Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupchak (per LA Times so who knows if its true). - He just fired Ronnie Lester, their head of the scouting department after 23 years with the Lakers. This is a new era of Lakers basketball. It may not be a good thing.

I'm high on Burks, I think he may be the 6th or 7th best prospect. I think is drop in numbers had a lot to do with him just doing to much and putting to much of a load on his shoulders. But I think he has all the tools to be an excellent NBA player. I read a comparison of him to Eddie Jones and I think that's pretty fair. Maybe not as good defensively but will be a solid two-way player.

Before all the Lakers fans slit their wrists, look at the bright side.....it's not Mike Dunleavy. Although, the Lakers just wrestled away a coach that wanted to coach the Warriors. Sleep on that and try not to have nightmares. What's the over/under before Mike gets fired? Let's set the line at 2.5 years.

Well that explains it. Buss is going with the cheap hire.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-wojnarowski_lakers_coach_mike_brown052411 Amazing defensive coach, but I've seen 6th grade teams run better offensive sets. If they do hire Brown, I hope maybe they keep Shaw to keep running the tri. Or at least get an assistant that'll run an offense besides Brown's Give-It-To-Kobe-And-Get-Out-Of-The-Way offensive set.

Is Paul Allen becoming as senile as Al Davis?

What do you call not getting paid for performing a job someone else is willing to pay you and the only reason you can't get paid is age despite being an adult? A free education is great, if you want it. But for these guys who are one and done they might as well get paid in skittles. it's meaningless. They're just there because they feel forced to be there since the other options probably feel worse.

Maybe they meant the guard from Pennsylvania. http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/player/pennsylvania/23-michael-jordan http://chronicle.augusta.com/images/headlines/013197/spo_mike.jpg

Josh Smith, as great an athlete as he is, is the epitome of a tweener. No post game to really play the 4, and not enough perimeter skills to play the 3. He's still a good player, but in a half-court game, which the playoffs usually become, he's not as effective as he needs to be considering his salary. Clips could be a nice trade parter. Kaman was outplayed by Jordan, who will possibly re-sign for a lot less than Kaman is making and LAC needs a SF. Smith would fit their up-tempo offense.

The NBA's reasoning (if that really is their reasoning) for the difference in the fines is ridiculous. If they want to say that they fined Kobe more because of his salary, that's fine and I'd agree. But in essence the NBA just told all the fans that the referees are more important than the paying customer. Can't say anything to a ref, but to a fan-- eh that's ok. I wonder how long before they just stop doing close ups on a player when he's clearly pissed on the bench. Can the FCC fine a network for someone mouthing a four letter word even if no one hears it?

Since the owners want a new hard cap for 45 million, I want to see what is the best team $45 million can get you. Here's the rules: 1. Must select 12 players 2. Cap is 45 million 3. No rounding off salaries. Use the salaries for the 2011 season. Use this for player's salaries http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-player-salaries/ 4. Here's the catch: NO ROOKIE CONTRACTS. That means anyone from the 2007 draft til now still on a rookie contract can't be on your roster. This includes 2nd rounders still on a rookie contract. Here's my roster: Starters C: Kendrick Perkins $6,696,720 PF: Carl Landry $3,000,000 SF: LeBron James $14,500,000 SG: Anthony Morrow $4,000,000 PG: Ramon Sessions $3,964,320 Bench: C: Kwam Brown $1,229,255 PF: Kris Humpries $4,000,000 SF: Shawne Williams $885,120 SG: Tony Allen $3,000,000 PG: JJ Barea $1,815,000 SG: Damien Wilkins $824,151 C: Shelden Williams $915,852 Total Salary: $44,830,418 Hmm. Looks pretty bad. One star and a bunch of role players. This seems what owners want the league to look like.

To win a ring you need a superstar (Pistons in 04 are the exception), and the Spurs no longer have one. Duncan used to be that guy, but he's just another player now incapable of carrying a team. Parker and Manu are All-Star players too but they can't carry the team to a ring either. They've done well by drafting Hill and Blair, and finding Neal, but the team may need a makeover.

That's a major get for the Warriors. He's one of the brightest minds in basketball. He helped turn the Grizzlies into a respectable team back when they were absolutely horrible. Even helped set the foundation for the current Grizz. Drafted Conley and traded for Gay.

They need to dump this age limit. They're adults (legally) and are responsible for their actions. If they want to risk going undrafted, busting, and being a 34 year old playing in South Korea chasing a final paycheck...that's on them. Fact is there are A LOT of HS players that succeed. And by succeed I mean get paid. Those that go undrafted or are 2nd round burn outs, too bad. You can't punish guys like Dwight Howard and LeBron James because Korleone Young and Taj McDavid were too dumb or got bad advice. The alternatives for players aren't really fair for players that are ready to make the jump. Either A) Go to college, be an indentured servant and risk injury; B) Go to a minor league and get paid at most 14K while playing against inferior talent and risk injury; C) Go overseas where you'll likely sit on the bench since they have a hierarchical system where vets play and young guys dont; or D) Sit out a year and get rusty. You can always go back to college, but you may only get one shot at the NBA.

Here's what I'd do. 1st pick: Kyrie Irving Trade Antawn Jamison and 4th pick and 2nd round pick (32nd overall) to Philly for Igoudala and 16th pick. 16th pick: Tristan Thompson or Donatas Motiejunas or Kenneth Faried. (or whoever BPA is if someone slips). MLE on a young player: Afflalo, Glen Davis, Nick Young, Jonas Jerebko, CDR, Kris Humphries, Daequan Cook , or Carl Landry. Trade Anderson Varejao to Miami for Mike Miller and Eddie House. Bad contract for bad contract. But Miami need size and Miller makes less per season and provides shooting next to Iggy. Showcase him as a starter, inflate his stats, make him look good, and dump him at the deadline. Fill out roster with some cheap vets: eg Damien Wilkens, Roger Mason, etc. The goal is to accumulate as many tradeable role players so you can flip them for SOME value. Cash, a pick, a young prospect, a trade x, taking a contract off their hands, ANYTHING.

Here's a question: Does Cleveland take Irving at no. 1 and one of the Euro Bigs at 4? Or do they take Williams at 1 and Knight or Walker at 4? Which is better?

Chris Kaman is available if they need a center. Has a decent post game to compliment Love's outside shooting. Minny's biggest problem is they don't have a true player to build around. Love doesn't count. They have a lot of great complimentary players but they need that one player to take them to the next level.

Trade doesn't come close to working. Allen and Mayo are a better duo than Gordon and Rip at this point. Plus with Gay coming back they probably don't need more scoring. Memphis can get a player comparable to Charlie via FA if they want. Detroit pretty much shot themselves in the foot with the Gordon and Charlie deals. Not a good sitation in Motown. They just have to grind out the next few years and just make good draft selections and smart trades.

Seriously...Stern, if you hate conspiracy theorists, stop giving them fuel to the fire. How hard is it just to just make the Lotto selection live just to show there's no funny business going on. Only reason to door it closed doors is because something IS going on back there. At least that's the perception. Anyways, congrats to the Cavs. And to the Clips...HAHA. Anytime something bad happens to Sterling it makes me happy.

Yeah but dude, they live in CLEVELAND. If the Cavs can't be good what else do they have to look forward to in the fall? The Browns?. I'm surprised Cleveland doesn't have the highest suicide rate in the country. Plus it's like cheering for the girl that got dumped on national TV.

Cheering for the Cavs. The fans deserve a break.

I apologize if anyone got offended, I thought it was harmless. I could have said something a lot more cruel. Like how after Steve Nash, this guys the best ball-handler in the Suns organization.