NBA News 2013: Andre Iguodala a priority

Andre Iguodala on November 23, 2010 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New Denver Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly says re-signing free agent shooting guard Andre Iguodala is his No. 1 priority.

Connelly was formally introduced on Thursday by team president Josh Kroenke.

"The last guy we talked to before coming in for this press conference was Andre," Connelly told reporters. "He's such a pro that he's out there (on the court) working out."

The Nuggets' top defender, Iguodala recently opted out of the final year of his contract after averaging 13 points a game last season.

His situation is just one of several Connelly will have to deal with as he tries to help the Nuggets become a genuine playoff contender.

The 36-year-old Connelly comes to the Nuggets from New Orleans, where he served as assistant general manager under Dell Demps. He replaces NBA Executive of the Year Masai Ujiri, who took the GM job with the Toronto Raptors last week.

Considered a rising front-office talent, Connelly inherits a team that won a franchise-most 57 games during the regular season only to bow out in the first round of the playoffs again, this time to Golden State.

Besides the potential loss of Igoudala, the Nuggets will be without Danilo Gallinari for the start of next season as the Italian forward recovers from an ACL injury.

And Connelly, with Kroenke, also will have to find a replacement for NBA Coach of the Year George Karl, who was let go on June 6 after the early payoff exit.

The Nuggets interviewed former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins on Wednesday and have also interviewed Indiana Pacers assistant coach Brian Shaw, but have not set a specific deadline for hiring a coach.

"I don't think we want to put a concrete timeline on anything," Connelly said. "There's the potential to talk to additional candidates, and we've talked to two great candidates. The two guys we've interviewed are tremendous, and I look forward to going into Josh's office and seeing where we are in that process."

Finding the right personality fit for the coaching job is most important to Connelly, who said he won't dictate a style or philosophy with the new coach.

"I would never try to impose any strategic restraints on a coach," Connelly said. "I'm looking for a good guy who's excited to have the job and build off where we are presently."

Kroenke, who offered Connelly the job during a Saturday night dinner, was bullish about his new hire.

"I'm really excited to have Tim here, and it's going to be a lot of fun moving forward," Kroenke said. "I hope Nuggets fans are as excited as I am. I've known Tim the last several years, and we've stayed in loose contact.

"It became a very easy decision to hire him and bring him here after a couple dominoes started to fall."

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9407778/tim-connelly-introduced-new-gm-denver-nuggets

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NBA News 2012: Is Mike Brown's Job on the Line in Game Seven?

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 25: Head coach Mike Brown talks with Metta World Peace #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game against the Chicago Bulls at Staples Center on December 25, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)Mike Brown's future with the Lakers could well depend on his ability to find solutions by Saturday night. I don't think the front office would make a coaching change even if they lose Game Seven. Brown is owed a lot of money under the deal he signed last summer, and for an organization already in cost-cutting mode, having to pay a second head coach while Brown's still on the payroll is an unattractive option. But I'll assure you of this: if the Lakers do fall in Game Seven, some nasty shit is going to come raining down. Bynum might demand a trade. Kobe might demand to be amnestied. Either guy might point to Brown and say, "It's him or me." If the Lakers don't advance, one of the Brown-Bynum-Kobe threesome will be gone next year. Maybe more than one. There's way too much talent making way too much money for a first-round exit, and how much more of Kobe's amazing career are people willing to see go to waste?

Making Brown's job easier in some respects but harder in others will be the return to action of Metta World Peace. He's done his time for clobbering James Harden. Now he returns to the lineup to replace the out-of-his-depth Devin Ebanks. MWP will finally give the Lakers someone to check Danilo Gallinari, who's been killing them on isolation plays. He'll have the freshest legs on the floor. And along with Kobe, he'll give Mike Brown a second player he can count on to compete with fire. But Metta hasn't seen game action in a couple weeks, and he's such a flaky dude you can easily imagine him looking totally out of sorts in his first game back. I can see him infusing the Lakers with much-needed defensive backbone. I can also see him shooting 1-for-7 with four turnovers.

All season long it's been impossible to get a read on this Lakers squad. At times they're the best team in the league. But just when you start believing in them, they become an unfathomable mess. Which version will show up Saturday? Your guess is as good as mine, and probably Mike Brown's as well.

http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2012/5/10/3013625/is-mike-browns-job-on-the-line-in-game-seven

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NBA News 2010: What Role Will Anthony Randolph Play on the Knicks This Season?

Image via Wikipedia

Anthony Randolph, the Knicks' most heralded acquisition besides Amare Stoudemire this summer, will enter training camp unsure of his role. Will he start or provide that spark off the bench?

The Knicks haven't figured it out yet.

Assuming that Randolph is still a member of the Knicks when training camp begins (the Knicks’ desperate desire for Rudy Fernandez has dragged Randolph’s name into the rampant rumors), he will be battling Ronny Turiaf for a spot in the starting lineup.

While the question may not be who the better player is, Randolph will have to prove he is a better fit next to Stoudemire out the gate, as opposed to the defensive-minded Turiaf.

Randolph already has a lot to live up to. Many have been forecasting him as the NBA’s breakout star this season. Whether or not he can live up to his potential in front of the critical New York City media (not to mention dealing with the tremendous pressure of helping the Knicks return to the playoffs) remains to be seen.

Randolph’s lengthy figure does help him guard different body types on defense,. However, that same lengthy figure would force Amare Stoudemire to play center, a move that weakens the Knicks defensively.

Randolph would add more firepower to Coach D’Antoni’s offensive punch, but with Stoudemire already starting next to the likes of Raymond Felton and Danilo Gallinari, that added firepower may be better suited leading the second unit off the bench.

Although Randolph’s offense would undoubtedly be a boost off the bench, so would Turiaf’s intense defense. As Turiaf stands to receive anywhere from 20-30 minutes per game regardless, the Knicks may be better off firing from all cylinders on offense (with Randolph starting) to begin the game in order to get ahead quickly.

If Randolph can find his niche and elevates his game like expected under D’Antoni, the minutes (and perhaps a starting spot) will certainly come his way.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/454118-what-role-will-anthony-randolph-play-on-the-new-york-knicks-this-season

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NBA News 2010: Will the Knicks Take a Step Towards Respectability?

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The Knicks spent years systematically destroying their roster for the opportunity to free more cap space for the summer of 2010, so they could take their best shot at landing LeBron James. While they couldn't snag LeBron, they did end up signing Amar'e Stoudemire away from the Suns, Raymond Felton from the Bobcats and sign-and-traded David Lee for Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and Kelenna Azibuike. 

If Stoudemire can remain healthy, the Knicks do have some serious scoring options, from STAT to Randolph to long-range marksman Danilo Gallinari and Stoudemire does already have experience in Mike D'Antoni's high-octane offense. That's a big if when you're talking about Amar'e, though.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/441970-nba-2010-11-the-100-biggest-questions-facing-the-nba-this-season#page/16

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NBA News 2010: Danilo Gallinari: the Most Important Man in New York Sports

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Never was this more evident than at the 2008 NBA Draft.

With the sixth pick in that season's draft—their first lottery pick since 2005 because of horrible trades—the Knicks selected Italian forward Danilo Gallinari.

Knick fans booed. They wanted Eric Gordon, they wanted Brook Lopez, they wanted anybody but "the Rooster."

They never gave the 6'10" sharpshooting Italian a chance. The Garden erupted with boos from the second he was drafted, even after he insisted in an interview right after being selected that he valued nothing but winning and hard work.

In his first season as a pro in 2008, Gallinari suffered from back injuries and only appeared in 28 games for limited time.

The next season, Gallinari was able to stay healthy as he averaged a very solid 15 points per game while shooting 38 percent from deep.

It was then that Knicks fans realized how talented this guy was.

They of course brought in their superstar in Amar'e Stoudemire, but they also added Raymond Felton, Roger Mason, Timofey Mozgov, Anthony Randolph, Kelenna Azubuike, and Ronny Turiaf.

So that raises the question, what makes Danilo Gallinari the most important man on the Knicks, let alone New York sports?

If Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, or Deron Williams are going to take their talents East, they're going to need to see something better than what the Knicks have right now.

Gallinari's development could be that something better.

If Danilo can turn into a go-to scorer (I'm talking 20 a game, and ability to score at will) and play halfway decent defense, a core of him and Amar'e should not only get the Knicks into the playoffs for the first time in half a decade, but it could also entice more stars to join forces with them on the suddenly cap friendly Knicks, in hopes of beating Miami Thrice.

How will Danilo Gallinari fare next season?

However, if Gallinari remains where he is now talent-wise, not only will the Knicks struggle to win 35 games, but the city that was once known as the "Mecca of Basketball" will continue to move closer towards being a basketball Siberia.

Yes, Gallinari is that important.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/445784-danilo-gallinari-the-most-important-man-in-new-york-sports

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