Good morning. Let’s basketball.
Things are just swell for the Mavericks. But enough about their knees.
Good morning. We explain that and more in Monday’s NBA newsletter.
DAL-LOSSES: It turns out that mysterious knee procedure Chandler Parsons had back in May after being too hurt to play most of the first round of the playoffs was ... microfracture surgery! To be more specific, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas, it was a “minor hybrid” microfracture. Like microfracture for fuel-efficient teenagers? Regardless, neither he nor Wesley Matthews are cleared for action. Training camp begins, uh, Tuesday.
’I LEARNED PEOPLE CAN FLY’: An oral history of Vince Carter’s G.O.A.T. dunk over Frederic Weis, 15 years after it happened. Written by Michael Wallace and my friend Rob Peterson. SO GOOD.
WORRIES, I’VE GOT A FEW: Paul George expressed some concern over playing power forward for the Pacers. Tim Cato explains why those concerns are fair.
I’M GOING GOING BACK BACK TO CANADA CANADA: Anthony Bennett cleared waivers and ... signed with his hometown Toronto Raptors! T-Dot finally landed that elusive big-time free agent!
PIPPEN AIN’T EASY: Why yes that is Scottie Pippen on Blog-a-Bull’s The Bulls Show podcast!
UGH: Back surgery for Mike Dunleavy. The dirtiest player in the game will miss 8-10 weeks. My Bulls optimism wanes accordingly.
LOLOL: DeAndre Jordan thinks the Clippers’ Nov. 11 game in Dallas will be “like any other road game.” Boy, he’s never gonna know what hit him.
PERO’S PARTING SHOT: Pero Antic, who had charges dropped in the bizarre NYPD incident this summer and went back to Europe in free agency, shares some thoughts on American policing with Chris Vivlamore. He also refers to Al Horford as El Capitano, which ... yes. Yes. One thousand times yes.
GERALD WALLACE IS AVAILABLE: If, you know, anyone wants him. Otherwise, here’s to retirement.
MIKE MILLER, TOO: The Blazers have reached a buyout with Miller. Shams Charania says Denver (?!) is interested, because Denver is f’n weird, man.
THE SUB IN MINNY: Sam Mitchell talks about wanting to help the Wolves without trying to replace Flip Saunders.
TRUTH HURTS: Paul Pierce joked about how Kobe is old but hasn’t adjusted his game. Countdown to Mamba’s tweets about five rings in 3 ... 2 ...
AHEM: Phil Jackson suggests Kobe may not finish his career with the Lakers. KOBE TO NEW YORK 2016 CONFIRMED.
AND YOUR FINAL KOBE LINK OF THE MORNING: This is Kobe intercepting a high-five not meant for him in NBA 2K16 because KOBE.
WELP: Jared Sullinger needed an intervention to get in shape this offseason. That’s not exactly promising, especially considering his bosses had already called him out on his fitness level. He knows he’s a free agent in 2016, right?
THE MORRII JUST DON’T STOP: Marcus Morris, exiled to Detroit, is now saying that Suns coach Jeff Hornacek ought to have started him over P.J. Tucker at small forward. This is humorous because Marcus’ twin Markieff started at power forward despite being far more SFish than Marcus because a) Kieff is better and b) the league is moving toward more Kieffs and Tuckers and fewer Marcuses. So what Marcus is really bemoaning here is that his brother was blocking him at Marcus’ traditional position by playing a non-traditional position for him. Being on the same team as a twin is hard.
HELLO THUNDER ALTERNATE JERSEYS: They sure are orange!
Happy Monday. Happy Media Day. See you next time.
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