NBA News 2011: Howard critical of coach’s use of Arenas

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Magic center Dwight Howard has been traveling across Europe for the last few weeks on a promotional tour with adidas. Howard spent this weekend in Madrid, where, as in previous stops, he charmed fans and media with his outgoing personality.

The All-Star center had some praise Saturday for teammate Gilbert Arenas and was critical of the use the coaching staff made of him in Orlando.

“I don’t think our coach used him the right way, but I think he can do a lot of great things for our team,” Howard said. “He promised me this summer he was going to get better, physically and mentally, so he can come back and have an awesome year. I’m looking forward to that.

“I just felt like he didn’t get the opportunity to play his style but also play with me. I think he needed to. I think he got a couple of opportunities to do it in the playoffs, but it was kind of too late. So I think he will be great for us.”

http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/sierra/2011/06/19/howard-critical-of-coachs-use-of-arenas/

NBA News 2010: Nash stays afloat in Suns’ sea of change

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Less than seven months after the Phoenix Suns came within two wins of reaching the NBA Finals, the franchise’s roster has been overturned so thoroughly that only six players from that title-contending team remain. Even the general manager has left town, not to mention the All-Star forward.

And after the Suns completed a six-player trade with the Orlando Magic on Saturday – exchanging Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark for Vince Carter, Marcin Gortat and Mickael Pietrus – one question hung over the desert:

Will Steve Nash become the next to go?

The answer, according to the Suns, is no.

“We have no intention of trading Steve,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry told Yahoo! Sports. “The guy is one of the top point guards in the league. I don’t know why we’d consider trading him. The chances of that happening are slim and none.”

Nash’s agent, Bill Duffy, also said Suns owner Robert Sarver told him the team doesn’t have any intention of dealing its All-Star point guard. Nash has one year left on his contract after this season at a reasonable $11.7 million.

“He’s a treasure to the fans there,” Duffy said. “He’s revered there. There is enough of a relationship between Steve Nash and the Suns that if something were to transpire we’d be sure Steve would be involved in the process. Sarver has called me to tell me that nothing is going on with Steve.

“He’s everything. He’s the identity of the organization.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AmbECBbvSpeJ2uyhtD9vlgm8vLYF?slug=mc-sunstrade121810

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NBA News 2010: Magic blockbuster

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Orlando Magic

Entering the season, some of the biggest question marks for the Orlando Magic were shot creation and perimeter scoring. After a 16-9 start to the year, in which the Magic's offense ranked 14th in offensive efficiency, an inconvenient truth had been realized -- Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis weren't cutting it anymore.

Insert Gilbert Arenas, Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson into the equation. The expectation, when it comes down to it, is that Arenas, Turkoglu and Richardson address some glaring weaknesses for Orlando. The shot creation and perimeter scoring is there; now the Magic have to address their lack of frontcourt depth and size with the purge of Lewis and Marcin Gortat. Needless to say, it's likely that Magic president Otis Smith isn't done shaking up the roster. Will the changes be enough to overtake the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference? That remains to be seen. Van Gundy has a lot of work to do to assimilate Arenas, Turkoglu, and Richardson into Orlando's schemes collectively. Then there's the issue of figuring out whether or not the Magic sacrificed too much defense with these trades. The next couple of months should be real interesting.


Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns accomplished two major goals in Saturday’s trade with the Orlando Magic by adding much-needed quality size in Marcin Gortat and dumping the long-term contract of a piece that didn’t fit the system in Hedo Turkoglu. That’s certainly worth the lateral swap of Jason Richardson for Vince Carter at the 2-guard spot and losing a seldom-used project in Earl Clark, especially when the Suns get a 2011 first-rounder to boot.


Washington Wizards

But for Grunfeld, the exchange was all about his personal perfect storm. Moving on past the Gilbert Arenas saga? Check. Save a little money? Check to the tune of at least $24 million. Get a player presumed to be a better fit with John Wall as a stretch four who can open up the court? Check, theoretically.

http://espn.go.com/blog/TrueHoop/post/_/id/22934/truehoop-views-on-magic-blockbuster

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NBA News 2010: Magic discussing deal for Arenas

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Orlando and Washington are engaged in serious discussions for a trade that would send Gilbert Arenas(notes) to the Magic, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Arenas has privately told people for days that he believes a deal will soon send him to Orlando, where he’ll be reunited with Magic general manager Otis Smith, a friend and mentor from Arenas’ days with the Golden State Warriors. Sources said Orlando has escalated its pursuit of a deal in recent days. After losing five of their past six games, the Magic have shown more urgency to find a perimeter scorer who can help them stay a viable contender in the Eastern Conference.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AjqknrPybS3az94mCbCrgdG8vLYF?slug=aw-magictradetalks121710

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NBA News 2010: Bobcats invite Javaris Crittenton

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats will bring Javaris Crittenton to training camp with a non-guaranteed contract, giving the ex-Washington Wizards point guard a chance to return to the NBA following his infamous gun altercation with Gilbert Arenas.

Crittenton didn't play last season because of an ankle injury and then served a 38-game suspension after he and Arenas acknowledged bringing guns into the locker room following a dispute stemming from a card game on a team flight.

Agent Mark Bartelstein said Wednesday he's had discussions with Bobcats coach Larry Brown and general manager Rod Higgins throughout the summer about the 6-foot-5 Crittenton, who has recovered following left ankle surgery.

"He had surgery to remove a bone spur and he's completely healthy now," Bartelstein said. "He's excited about the opportunity."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5603128

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NBA News 2010: Gilbert Arenas: Disgraced Star To Lead Washington Wizards to Playoffs?

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The 2009-10 NBA season was a nightmare for Gilbert Arenas. 

During card games played on flights during road trips, Gil and teammate Javaris Crittenton became involved in a dispute regarding a gambling debt.

So if Gil is able to return to the level at which he performed in 2006-07 (he has only played in 37 games during the past three seasons due to injuries and suspension), the coupling of him and the All-American Wall should make for a dynamic duo.

Should their young guns grow to succeed sooner, rather than later, Arenas' return to an elite level could be the final piece to the playoff puzzle.

And who knows?  The Wizards could turn into this year's version of the 2009-10 Oklahoma City Thunder—a young, talented team which exceeded expectations, made the playoffs, and almost knocked off the eventual champion LA Lakers. 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/443521-gilbert-arenas-disgraced-star-to-lead-washington-wizards-to-playoffs

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