Thanks to Ball Don’t Lie for finding a bit of NBA news. Looks like Minnesota, Sacramento and possibly Orlando are switching over to new jerseys for the 2008-09 season. I have no qualms with the Kings’ decision asthetically since it’s just an update on the old model, but didn’t they just change uniforms about five years ago? It’s not really like it’s some “new era” for them either. Their top draft pick was Jason Thompson for crying out loud. There’s something to be said for giving your fans a little consistency, even if you just recently condemned them to 4-to-5 [...]

…Watch it.
That’s all I have to say.

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that Ron Artest has been traded to the Houston Rockets for Bobby Jackson, a future 1st Rounder and a mystery player to be named. The paper speculates that the mystery player is Donte Greene, since the deal will not be announced until Aug. 14, the day Greene is eligible to be traded.
While Artest and Shane Battier have somewhat repetitive skillsets, they are skills that a team can never have enough of: shooting (or scoring for Artest), defense and toughness. If Artest stays under control, the trade could officially move Houston into the West’s elite. But [...]

Any Blazers fans that were hoping to see the Summer of Cap Space in ‘09 bring Luol Deng to Portland, like those who wished the same for Chris Paul and Deron Williams, must now turn their attention elsewhere, as Deng is close to agreeing on a six-year, $70+ million dollar deal with the Chicago Bulls.
While Deng was by no means a need for the Blazers, he would have been a nice talent to use our chunk of salary on next summer just for the sake of gathering more assets. Don’t forget, if that cap space doesn’t get used, that will [...]

The man to my left…Bobby Jones. Scrappy defender who can make an open shot. Graduated from the University of Washington as a sidekick to B-Roy. #20 on their All-Time Scoring List.
Why am I talking about him today? Because he’s on his way to becoming the ultimate journeyman in NBA history.
Earlier this year Jones made history by becoming the first player to play for five teams in one season. In two years in the NBA he played with 6 teams.
After today you can make it 7. He was involved in the trade between Denver and New York as he and Taurean [...]

I figured since I talked about Biedrins I had to talk about Okafor.
ESPN.com reports that Okafor and the Bobcats have agreed on a deal. It’s a six-year contract worth around $72 million. Now the fact that Andrew Bogut is getting just about the same money means I can’t really rip the Bobcats that much. Despite being slightly undersized and injury-prone, you can’t argue with Okafor’s stats. 4 straight years of averaging double-doubles will get you the money. That and being a defensive presence. If Oden can do what Okafor does that Blazer fans should be smiling. Now what Charlotte really [...]

Chad Ford released an updated list of the top remaining free agents today and on the Restricted Free Agent section there was this little nugget:
4. Luol Deng, Bulls: Everyone loves Deng’s talent, including the Bulls. At least they used to. Injuries and a poor season have hurt his value around the league. Still, it’s hard to see the Bulls not matching any offer Deng gets next summer. He declined a $57.5 million extension in October, so if he makes more than that, he’ll come out ahead. It will be interesting to see whether the budget-conscious Bulls will take advantage of [...]

Over on the Oregon Live blog, Jason Quick and Bruce Ely have begun a 10-part series on the Blazers entitled Rip City Revival. To be honest I don’t think it could have come at a better time with the complacency and spoiled…ness setting in to the minds of some Blazer fans. There’s a six minute video feature on B-Roy along with 10 mini blog posts. Just a must-read for a Blazer fan. If you’ve ever wondered why we tend to have man-crushes on B-Roy, today you’ll find out.
All of the bases are covered, from B-Roy strapping on a bike helmet [...]

….or as I like to call it ‘Chris Mullin is secretly doing crack’.
ESPN.com is reporting that Biedrins and the Warriors have agreed on a deal. A six-year contract worth…get this…nearly $63 million dollars.
I’m sure Golden State fans feel great the man they once called the ‘One Minute Man’ is now the ‘10 Million Dollar Man’
Now I’m not a math whiz, correct me if I’m wrong but that sounds like just over 10 million a year. That’s more than Oden and LaMarcus will make next year combined. Three times more than All-Star Brandon Roy is going to make next year. Is [...]

We’re a day late on this, but the O-Live blog has a bunch of listening options, including Greg Oden, Nate McMillan and John Canzano grilling a Comcast executive on the absent cable-dish deal for getting Blazers games to dish subscribers.
You know its the dog days of summer when select Blazer fans are actually getting on GO for not talking to his teammates since last season and, get this, sounding disinterested. Of course, the people who overreact to little things are typically the people who don’t both to listen to an entire interview or simply go off of someone else’s opinion [...]