Slam Dunk Central

Now the bricks lay on Grand Street
Where the neon madmen climb.
They all fall there so perfectly,
It all seems so well timed.
An’ here I sit so patiently
Waiting to find out what price
You have to pay to get out of
Going through all these things twice.
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again.

Stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again Music & Lyrics Bob Dylan

Earlier this week when Seattle SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett reached an agreement with the city of Seattle, the dollar figure that was bandied about in the media was $75 million. That was what the city settled for to allow the team formerly known as the Sonics to escape their lease with the Key Arena, and head to Oklahoma City for the start of next season.

ESPN NBA reporter Ric Bucher however has discovered that there is another part of the deal that did not get reported on at the time of the deal. The city of Seattle will be owed an additional $30 million if they do not have a new NBA franchise in five years. Bucher believes that the NBA Board of Governors do not want to put another expansion team in the Association. So that would mean a current team would have to move it’s local. Bucher believes that the Memphis Grizzlies could be the team to fill the vacuum. The Grizzlies have already located once in their brief existence, coming from their original home in Vancouver. It is widely believed that team owner Michael Heisley wants to sell the team, and the fan base has not ever really been totally supportive.

Once piece of advice to all concerned if this comes to pass. Change the name, to something new. Do not call them the SuperSonics, because they will always be compared with the original. Get rid of the name Grizzlies also, the team has had it through two different cities without much success. Let  it be a fresh start for all involved, and in the end everyone will be much happier.

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The “New York Post” is reporting that the New York Knicks have reached a verbal agreement with guard Chris Duhon, on a 2 year deal said to be worth $6.5 million per season. Duhon who has played for the Chicago Bulls since coming into the Association in 2004, will reportedly become the New York starter. The move will most likely mean that controversial guard Stephon Marbury’s days as a Knick have come to an end. Duhon had been in contact with both New York and the Orlando Magic, but reports are that the Magic never made Duhon an offer. The agreement with Duhon will be the first for the new Knicks regime of Team President Donnie Walsh, and head coach Mike D’Antoni.

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The “Associated Press” has reported that Chicago Bulls rookie head coach Vinny Del Negro will have tons of experience with him on the bench. The Bulls announced that they are bringing former head coaches Bernie Bickerstaff, Del Harris, and former Minnesota assistant coach Bob Ociepka. Del Negro has no head coaching experince what so ever, so these men will be valuable

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The “Associated Press” reported Thursday that Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas has reached terms with the team on a six year contract that is said to be worth $111 million. Arenas was offered a max-deal by the team which would have given him a deal worth $127 million, but would have hamstrung the team from making any further deals. “Agent Zero” told reporters that he was basically the team back $16 million. Earlier in the week the team came to terms with their other free agent Antawn Jamison. Now if they can only stay healthy for an entire season.

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The “Associated Press” reported on Thursday that the Dallas Mavericks have signed 22 year old small forward Gerald Green to a one year contract. Green is best known for his winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star weekend in 2007. He has played three seasons in the Association the first two with Boston before being traded to Minnesota in the deal that sent Kevin Garnett to the Celtics. Green had his best season in 2006-2007, when he averaged 10.4 points, and 2.5 rebounds per game. He has career averages of 8.1 points, and 2.2 rebounds per contest.

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Chicago Bulls (soon to be ex-Bull) guard Chris Duhon has a dilemma that most athletes in the NBA would love to have - you have a pair of suitors that want your services and you get to choose between one of them.  That is the current situation that Duhon faces today as according to Marc Berman of the New York Post, Duhon is expected to make a decision - as soon as today - as to whether he wants to suit up for the Orlando Magic or New York Knicks.

The Knicks have offered Duhon a two-year deal for slightly more than half of the mid-level exception (specifically, 2 years, $6 million); in the meantime, Duhon and his representation met with the Magic Wednesday, with Duhon hoping to obtain a longer deal.  The Knicks are looking to only offer a short-term deal for Duhon as they are trying to get under the salary cap for the 2010 season.  Orlando, on the other hand, is more amenable to re-signing Keyon Dooling or possibly sign free agent Corey Maggette - which would leave out Duhon.

Duhon will have to make a decision very soon as the Knicks have also talked to agent Andy Miller, who represents point guards Sebastian Telfair and Tyronn Lue; Knicks president Donnie Walsh has already had spoken with Mark Bartlestein, agent to guards Eddie House, Jennaro Pargo and Roger Mason, about their availability.  Duhon, should he sign with the Knicks, will have to compete for the starting point guard position with Stephon Marbury.

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