basketball

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/sam_amick/07/01/roy-hibbert-trail-blazers-pacers-free-agency/index.html 

I like Roy Hibbert.  He's a very good player and very much a helpful piece to any center-less team wanting to contend for a title.  I'd love him on my tema.  That said, Roy Hibbert will now have a max contract, whether it be with the Blazers or the Pacers, if they choose to match. 

My main question is:  How must the league's actual superstars -  the guys who change games, not just impact them (e.g. Durant, Bryant, James, etc.) - feel when they can't earn more money than a solid but hardly star-worthy guy like Hibbert?  Is this just another example of owners sabotaging the intent of their own CBA by handing out big deals to guys they were not originally intended for?  Or am I wrong thinking that Hibbert doesn't have the same impact on a team as a Kobe Bryant or Lebron James? 

PIckerington is honoring Michigan recruits Taco Charlton, Caris Lavert, and the rest of the State Basketball champions as the Grand Marshals of annual 4th of July Parade.  Link.  Sorry that only Chris Wormley gets mentioned as a Michigan recruit in the article, but that's small town journalism for you (along with being unable to reach the coach for a quote).

Get here early for a prime seat along the parade route.  You can also see every emergency vehicle owned by the local police and fire departments, and some fine floats...

Awards will be given to the "best looking" parade float in both commercial and non-commercial categories.

Hmm, I wonder if the awards will also have air quotes around their accomplishments?

EDIT: title un-cuted.  No, Wormley is not in parade or from Pickerington, but he is the only specific basketball player mentioned in the article.

http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/whitlock-dream-team-isiah-thomas-shaquille-oneal-snubbed-for-john-stockton-chris-mullin-because-of-race-062712

I happen to like Whitlock's iconoclastic nature, but I don't always agree with him.  Until someone gives me a better explanation for the odd inclusions of Mullin, Stockton, and Laettner over far better and more accomplished players, this one is worth bringing up for discussion.   

I definitely agree that basketball reasons hold no weight. Better and more accomplished alternatives were available for the skill sets these three brought. 

If it was purely present basketball ability, Bird stays home because he was as good as done at that point. Piston fans will recall that Isiah torched Stockton at the Palace for around 40 after the snubbing proving he still was great to elite in the latter stages of his career.

No "Chuck Daly picked the team" either. Because he didn't and the documentary proved that with the promise to Jordan to exclude Isiah.   

Mitch McGary ‏@MitchMcGary4

@MikeLask0 yeah I'm #4. @GRob_1 is #1. @SpikeAlbrecht is #2. @NStauskas11 is #11. @clevert_23 Is #23. #GoBlue

Per the Michigan Basketball Facebook page, Stu Douglass is heading to Europe:

For all of you Wolverine fans wondering what Stu Douglass’ plans for the fall will be – he is headed to Pamplona, Spain for a little professional basketball and maybe a little running with the bulls!

He'll join a few other former Wolverines playing in Spain, including Josh Asselin and Jerod Ward.

I can only assume that at least some of you are full-flush with NBA Draft Fever*.  Here are my non-expert thoughts:

There is Anthony Davis, and then there is everyone else.  I wouldn't trade Davis for the next ten picks in the draft.  I'm not totally convinced that he'll be a great player, but I'm convinced that he'll at least be very good, especially as an anchor to a defense.  His eyebrow alone will block a shot a game. 

After Davis, I'd take...ugh.  Robinson is solid.  I think he'll solidly be solid.  He'll rebound solidly - maybe even better than that - and he'll be a solid scorer.  What I'm trying to say is that I think he'll be solid.  And I went to Kansas, so I have nothing against the guy.

I like Kidd-Gilchrist the best after Davis.  He's a hard-nosed player and a leader, as far as I've seen, so I don't think he'll let his potential go to waste.  He doesn't strike me as a future superstar, but I think he'll be a guy who can help turn your team into a winner (Luol Deng comes to mind as an example of the kind of player I'm thinking of). 

I don't understand the apparent love of the kid from Florida, Bradley Beal.  He's 6'4", and he shot 32% (or something like that) from three. 

Barnes was a guy for me who I liked less and less the more I watched him.  He's very talented, but he just doesn't put it all together.   He seems to force the action at times and then disappear at others.  He also floundered against Kansas when UNC needed him the most.  I don't hold that last point against him too much, but you should do better than that if you want to be a top 5 pick in the draft.

Anyway, I do not pretend that I have accurately assessed the above players or predicted the future.  I am not capable of predicting the future when it comes to the NBA*.  So, what do you think?  Who do you want your team to draft? 

*The cure: avocados, xanax, and the love of a good woman. 

*Harness racing is another matter.