Milwaukee Bucks to attempt Guinness World Records

Everybody has heard of the Guinness Book of World Records, a legendary book that contains the unprecedented achievements of people from around the globe. But few have ever made an attempt to add their name to the book’s famous pages and even fewer have actually succeeded in doing so. On Saturday night, the Bucks are giving all fans in attendance the chance to both witness history AND – even better – a guarantee that they will be a part of history by helping to set two Guinness records.

On Saturday, December 20, when they host the Los Angeles Clippers, the Bucks Game Operations Department will attempt to set nine separate Guinness World Records. An official judge from Guinness will be at the game to legitimize any and all record-setting attempts. The records that could be broken are:

- Longest time to spin a basketball on one finger, using one hand (current record: 37.46 seconds)

- Most basketball half-court shots in one minute (current record: 4)

- Highest forward flip trampoline slam dunk (current record: 10 feet, 9 inches)

- Most slam dunk bounce passes in 30 seconds (current record: 21)

- Furthest forward flip trampoline slam dunk (current record: 19 feet, 2 inches)

- Most basketball forward flip slam dunks in 30 seconds (current record: 17)

* Both records currently held by the Milwaukee Bucks Rim Rockers, set on February 14, 2008, at the NBA All-Star Jam Session in New Orleans, LA.

In addition to the six records listed above, the Bucks will also attempt to set three records that have never before been recorded. A member of the dunk team will attempt to complete the first-ever double front flip dunk on record during halftime. The final two record attempts will not be disclosed until Saturday night, but there are currently no official records on file for either one, meaning that any fan in attendance at Saturday’s game will be a part of the crowd that sets the original marks for two Guinness World Records.

[source: insidehoops dot com]

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McGrady came back

McGrady came back, the Rockets led by as much as 22, and even with a few tense moments in the fourth quarter, they had little trouble holding off the Golden State Warriors, 119-108 before 19,276 on Friday at Oracle Arena.

In his first game back after missing seven to rest his sore left knee, McGrady had his season highs for assists (nine) and rebounds (10), and scored 24 points, playing 34 minutes without showing any difficulty with the knee.

Yao Ming and Luis Scola each had 19 points, with Carl Landry adding 18, as the Rockets led all but a few seconds of the game.

This did not quite match their previous meeting with Golden State, largely because when the Rockets built their 22-point fourth-quarter lead, the Warriors rallied back.

Not quite like last week

When the Rockets met the Warriors a week earlier, the Rockets set or matched season bests for points (131), margin of victory (19), points in a first half (62), points in either half (69), assists (23), 3-pointers (13), 3-point shooting percentage (61.9), free throws (36) and free throws attempted (40).

The Warriors got the hint and decided to change things up. They shifted from the double-teams on Yao that worked so poorly in the loss at Toyota Center, to a fronting defense, with Andris Biedrins working to deny Yao the ball. That did not work much better, and when their next plan was to shift to a small, lineup of guards around Biedrins, the defense somehow became even worse.

With Stephen Jackson playing power forward, the Rockets got the ball to Scola let him go to work the way Yao had in the fourth quarter a week before.

Scola scored 10 points in the first 41/2 minutes of the second half, taking the lead to 17. When Rafer Alston swished a 3 from 28 feet out to beat the shot clock, the Rockets had their largest lead at 76-56.

They eventually pushed it to as much as 22, and it seemed that with most of the fourth quarter to go, the Rockets might be tempted to send McGrady and Yao to Los Angeles early. But the Rockets began to coast too early, the Warriors cut the lead to 17, and with eight minutes left, Yao and McGrady were back on the floor.

McGrady scored on a layup. Yao took a pass from Scola for a dunk.

They returned the lead to 20, enough to spend the rest of the game biding time before moving on to the second half of the back-to-back.

The Warriors threw a run at them, cutting the lead to 11, but the Rockets needed only an occasional basket to close out the win.

The Rockets did have other accomplishments to mark the occasion.

They had their planned starting lineup together for the first time this season. Though Ron Artest was out, resting his sprained right ankle, McGrady and Shane Battier were healthy at the same time, giving the Rockets their seventh starting lineup this season.

Playing for the first time since Nov. 24, McGrady got off to a rapid start, hitting his first shot (a 3-pointer) and getting seven points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in his first eight minutes on the floor, as the Rockets took a 22-15 lead.

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Magic Move to Second Round

The 22-year-old All-Star, usually the team's biggest jokester, suddenly got serious. So did his already-impressive numbers.

Howard had 21 points, 21 rebounds and three blocks -- his third 20-20 game in the series -- and the Magic advanced to second round for the first time in 12 years by beating the Toronto Raptors 102-92 in Game 5 on Monday night.

Howard's game said it all. And with Orlando's usually steady 3-point shooting on the fritz, his inside power was enough to pull them through.

Nelson scored 19 points for Orlando and Rashard Lewis had 18 points and 13 rebounds. Hedo Turkoglu just missed a triple-double with 12 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, while Maurice Evans scored 12 points and Bogans added 11.

Bosh, who posted career playoff highs of 39 points and 15 rebounds at Toronto on Saturday, had 16 points and nine rebounds Monday. Howard frustrated him down low into 7-of-19 shooting, and Bosh picked up a third-quarter technical foul after the Magic star muscled past him for a layup.

T.J. Ford and Carlos Delfino both scored 14 points for the Raptors, while Jason Kapono had 13 and Jose Calderon 12. Delfino added seven rebounds and Ford had five assists.

The Magic will play the winner of the Detroit-Philadelphia series, which is tied 2-2, in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

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Lakers Sweep Nuggets!

No surrender on this night. No frustration fouls filling up the fourth quarter of another blowout.

No matter. The Lakers dispatched the tempestuous Nuggets anyway.

Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 31 points over the final 5 1/2 minutes Monday night, leading the Lakers to a 107-101 victory and a sweep of their first-round series.

Pau Gasol added 21 points in the Lakers' first sweep of a playoff series since whitewashing New Jersey in the 2002 NBA finals, the last time they won it all.

The Nuggets won 50 games this season for the first time in two decades, and they did it in the power-packed Western Conference. But they were no match for the top-seeded Lakers, who are 25-5 with Gasol in the lineup.

Gasol led the way early, scoring 18 first-half points, and Bryant took over in the waning minutes, scoring nine straight points in every way -- a turnaround jumper, a 3-pointer, a driving layup and a 15-foot floater -- to give the Lakers a 97-96 lead.

Anthony accused his team of quitting in Game 3 and he insisted he wasn't going to let that happen Monday night. He was right. The Nuggets didn't lay down, even when they fell behind by 13 points in the first half. They stormed back to make it a seesaw game in the second half.

But again, Los Angeles had the answers and sent the Nuggets to their first-ever sweep in a seven-game series.

[source: NBA dot com]

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Oden practices with Blazers

Good news for Blazers' fans. Greg Oden practiced with the Portland Trail Blazers for the first time since right knee surgery ended the No. 1 draft pick's debut season before it started six months ago.

Oden, the 7-foot center from Ohio State taken with the top selection in last year's draft, surprised his teammates Wednesday when he participated in offensive drills and even dunked during 45 minutes of half-speed work. The Blazers were in Sacramento for Thursday night's game against the Kings.

Only coach Nate McMillan and athletic trainer Jay Jensen knew Oden would be in practice Wednesday for the first time since undergoing microfracture surgery in September.

The Blazers have stayed in contention for a playoff berth without their future franchise center. Led by All-Star Brandon Roy, Portland is in 10th place in the Western Conference.

Oden said he felt no discomfort in his knee after the workout. The Blazers still have no intention of allowing him to play this season, however.

Roy said Oden's surprise participation in practice gave the Blazers a lift and a look ahead to next season.

After going through plays and drills with his teammates, Oden worked out one-on-one with Blazers assistant Maurice Lucas.

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Rockets Get Back to Winning

Tracy McGrady had 26 points while running the offense, Jackson hit two key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and the Rockets got back to playing like they did during their 22-game winning streak in a 109-106 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night.

The Rockets had been blown out in back-to-back games to bring an end to the second-longest winning streak in NBA history, failing to reach 75 points in either loss. So coach Rick Adelman matched Golden State's small lineup and ran much of the offense through McGrady in the post. McGrady responded with eight assists to go along with his big scoring night.

The power-packed Western Conference gave the Rockets little cushion and a third straight loss would have dropped them into a tie for sixth place with San Antonio in the conference. Instead, they moved within percentage points of New Orleans for the lead in the Southwest Division.

Carl Landry returned from a seven-game absence from a knee injury to score 17 points for the Rockets, who started their 22-game winning streak with a victory over Golden State on Jan. 29. Jackson scored 16 off the bench.

Dikembe Mutombo, who had started all 12 games since Yao Ming went down with a season-ending foot injury late last month, did not play at all against the smaller Warriors.

[source:nba dot com]

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Phoenix Suns beat the Memphis Grizzlies for the eighth time in a row

Amare Stoudemire scored 29 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in 30 minutes, and the Suns beat the Memphis Grizzlies for the eighth time in a row, 132-111 on Tuesday night.

The Suns, who shot 60 percent, led by as many as 32 in the first half and 39 in the second to win consecutive games for the first time since Shaquille O'Neal joined the lineup 11 games ago.

The Suns improved to 5-6 since O'Neal came to the team, with two of those victories against Memphis. O'Neal had two points and eight rebounds and six assists in 17 minutes. His only shot was a rebound basket with 7:45 to go in the third quarter.

Memphis, opening a three-game road trip, lost its 15th straight away from home and 17th in its last 19 overall.

Rudy Gay, who scored a career-best 36 when the teams met in Memphis on Feb. 26, led the Grizzlies with 20.

Memphis, opening a three-game road trip, lost its 15th straight away from home and 17th in its last 19 overall.

Memphis hasn't beaten Phoenix since Dec. 17, 2005. The Suns last lost at home to the Grizzlies a month earlier, on Nov. 16, 2005. ... Phoenix has two other active eight-game winning streaks against opponents - against Toronto and Charlotte. ... O'Neal had assists on four of the Suns' first six baskets. ... The Suns are 2-1 with Golden State and Sacramento remaining on a five-game home stand.

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Yao Ming out for season!

Rockets All-Star center Yao Ming has been lost for the remainder of the 2007-08 NBA season due to a stress fracture in his left foot. Yao underwent a series of MRI and CT scans yesterday afternoon after noting persistent swelling and pain in his ankle. The tests, which were administered at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, confirmed a stress fracture in the tarsal navicular bone in his left foot.

A medical course of action has not yet been determined. While no timeline has been set for his return, Yao will miss the remainder of the 2007-08 NBA season.

This is obviously a very disappointing day for Yao and his team because the team has been playing at an exceptional level and Yao has been a major factor in that success.

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Bulls sent Ben Wallace to Cleveland

Bulls sent high-priced center Ben Wallace to Cleveland. Forward Joe Smith is also going to the Cavs, while the Bulls will receive guard Larry Hughes, power forward Drew Gooden, second-year power forward Cedric Simmons and second-year guard Shannon Brown.

Seattle is also reportedly involved in the trade and Bulls forward Adrian Griffin will go to the Sonics, along with Cleveland's Donyell Marshall and Ira Newble.

In addition to Wallace and Smith, the Cavaliers will get a second-round pick from the Bulls, along with sharpshooter Wally Szczerbiak and guard Delonte West from Seattle.

The Bulls are hoping to accelerate the progress of young big men Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah by moving Wallace.

The 6-foot-5 Hughes, who has two years remaining on his contract at $26 million, gives the Bulls another big guard and insurance in case they can't re-sign Ben Gordon this summer. Hughes averaged 12.3 points for the Cavs this season.

Gooden, a college teammate of Kirk Hinrich at Kansas, averaged 11.3 points and 8.3 rebounds for the Cavs. Brown, a Proviso East High School product, played in just 15 games for Cleveland this year, while Simmons appeared in seven games.

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Durant will likely start as the '2' for Sonics

Kevin Durant grabbed outlet passes. He stepped out and fed post players who were running down the middle of the floor.

When he did go inside, he soared to the baseline for a rebound over Wally Szczerbiak, the veteran small forward who at six-foot-seven is two inches shorter but far more bulky than the teenager with the body of a greyhound.

The one time he was in the middle during a fast-break drill that ended the 90-minute session, Durant rose above the rim with both hands clutching the ball. Yet instead of dunking, he simply and smoothly dropped the ball through the hoop.

The second overall pick in June's draft was on the outside looking in during the first practice of his NBA life. He was a shooting guard.

It seemed to fit.

For now, he's in the same "2" spot that all-star Ray Allen held in Seattle from 2003 until he was traded to Boston for Szczerbiak, Delonte West and fifth overall choice Jeff Green, moments after the Sonics drafted Durant.

The other conclusion from Seattle's first practice, a month before the season gets real at Denver for a team that finished 31-51 last season: Forget that he was running with the second team Tuesday. Durant will be starting from Game 1.

Carlesimo all but declared that.

Last season at Texas, as Durant became the first freshman to be national player of the year, he often dropped into the low post when a smaller defender dared to guard him. But mostly he stayed outside as a big guard or small forward.

Durant, 6-9, said he's comfortable as a guard in the running-when-available style that Carlesimo, a defensive mind, has hired assistant Paul Westhead to install.

It's not going to be the warp-speed offence that Westhead, who last month won the WNBA championship with Phoenix, famously ran at Loyola Marymount in the early 1990s. Not that Durant would know.

He'd never heard of Westhead's style until last week. Durant looked puzzled at the mention of Hank Gathers' death on the court and LMU's magical run deep into the 1990 NCAA tournament that followed it.

No wonder. Durant was 18 months old when that happened.

Carlesimo sees talent as much as he sees a kid who turned 19 Saturday and is living with his mom in a rented house in the Seattle suburbs.

Carlesimo compared Durant's physical development to that of a player who entered the NBA skinny and did OK: Michael Jordan.

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Marion to Utah?

The Suns and Utah Jazz tossed around the idea of has trade sending Shawn Marion to Utah for Andrei Kirilenko last month goal did not move past the changeable training course of talks and the discussion of swapping forwards has been tabled for weeks.

Marion, 29, frequently comes up in trade talks because the Suns are over the tax threshold with contracts that will pay to their big three - Steve Nash, Amaré Stoudemire and Marion - $41.6 million for the coming season and $45.1 million in 2008-09.

Marion is the signal-paid Suns player At $16,440,000 this season and $17,810,000 in 2008-09, his contract' S final year.

Acquiring Kirilenko would only delay the Suns' payroll strain.

Kirilenko, 26, will Be paid $63.1 million over the next furnace let us seasons. He was year All-Star in 2004 drank struggled last season and complained of his reduced role to the not of crying in year interview during the playoffs.

Like Marion, Kirilenko has been among league leaders in blocks and steals during his career. At 6 feet 9, the Russian runs the floor well goal has has suspect perimeter shot. Last season, Kirilenko started 70 games, hit 21 bore of his three-pointers and averaged 8.3 points and 4.7 rebounds for has division field. His contract runs through 2010-11, when Stoudemire' S contract closed with has $17.9 million salary and Nash could start has new deal.

Phoenix has been looking to move Marcus Banks, goal Utah has three not guards.

The Suns would get some payroll relief and tax savings ($5.35 million combined this year) while Utah would cuts the end of Marion' S deal lined up with when Deron Williams' first big contract would start.

General Suns Manager Steve Kerr declined to how.

[source]

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Damir Markota waived by Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on forward Damir Markota (6-10, 225), General Manager Larry Harris announced today.

Selected by San Antonio with the 59th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, Markota was traded to the Bucks on June 28, 2006 for the better of Milwaukee’s two second round picks in the 2007 NBA Draft (33rd overall).

[source]

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Yi has signed with Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks announced today that 2007 first round draft pick Yi Jianlian has signed a multi-year contract. The Bucks 6th overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft, Yi Jianlian signed his contract in Hong Kong following a negotiating session with Mr. Chen Haitao, owner of the Guangdong Tigers. Bucks owner and team president Senator Herb Kohl, General Manager Larry Harris and Bucks Vice President Ron Walter were able to meet with Mr. Chen, as well as Yi and his family, as part of the process.

Yi expected that he will joins the team for training camp that begins on Monday, October 1 at the Bucks Training Center in St. Francis, WI.

Yi is a skilful and changeable young man whom we saw playing of many times during these last years including this summer in the NBA Summer League.

NBA Commissioner David J. Stern commented, “We are happy that Yi will be playing with the Bucks to further develop his skill and his contribution to both the Chinese National Team and the NBA. This is another great example of cooperation between the CBA and the NBA and I want to congratulate the CBA, Mr. Chen, the Guangdong Tigers and the Milwaukee Bucks.”

Yi competed for the Chinese National Team at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.

[source: nba.com]

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Kevin Durant and Jeff Green

Green and Durant have known each other as acquaintances for the past three years, but in the past two months, they have spent nearly as much time together as apart. The Maryland natives became teammates June 28 when the Seattle SuperSonics selected Durant with the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft then made a trade with the Boston Celtics to acquire the former Georgetown star Green, the fifth pick.

Since then, they've played on the SuperSonics' summer league team and spent the past week participating in Team USA's preparations for the FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which begins Wednesday at Thomas & Mack Center. The United States needs to finish first or second to qualify for Beijing.

Green and Durant are in Las Vegas for different reasons -- Green was invited as a member of a 10-man select team of young NBA players to scrimmage with members of the men's senior national team while Durant was on the bubble for the official 12-man roster before being cut with Nick Collison late Monday night -- but they have breakfast together each morning and have eaten dinner together a few times, since both players are too young to partake in all that Las Vegas has to offer.

Both players appear to have remained grounded and humble despite the drastic changes in their basketball lives and bank accounts in recent weeks. They became millionaires when they signed NBA contracts last month, and Durant hit the jackpot when he signed a seven-year, $60 million shoe deal -- which included a $10 million signing bonus -- with Nike. "I'm the same person I was before I got drafted," Durant said. "When I really put that Sonics jersey on and play my first game, I'm going to feel a little different."

Green turns 21 next week, so he has stayed clear of the casinos and the clubs in Sin City -- "I don't go out and party anyway," he said, but he hasn't even tried to watch any of the elaborate shows. "Too expensive," Green said. "I can't live the lavish life yet. I haven't done anything yet, to make a name for myself. I'm not trying to get too far ahead of myself."

Green said his only indulgence was purchasing a car. "It's something I need," he said, declining to name the make and model.

Green and Houston's Aaron Brooks were the only rookies to be chosen for the select team, and Green viewed it as more affirmation of his decision to leave Georgetown after his junior season. Matching up with superstars such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony the past week in practice has been "the highlight of my NBA life so far," Green said.

Green finished his service to the country after the final practice Monday and planned to go to Seattle to find a place to stay. He hasn't decided whether to buy a house or rent an apartment, with the SuperSonics' future in the city still in limbo. Durant is in the process of closing on a home in the Seattle area.

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Heat's Rookie, Daequan Cook

The rookie of Miami, Daquean Cook, attended the camp of shooting, the former player Pro Price Mark close to Atlanta, with its young fellow-members of Heats, Jeremy Richardson, Marcus Slaughter and Devin Green.

Daequan Cook was drafted by the Miami Heat largely for his shooting ability. That doesn't mean the NBA rookie is done learning that kraft drank.

Since the draft, Cook has played summer league ball, bought his mother a house and trained with new teammate Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway.

Cook attended the rookie trading card photo shoot and signed about 3,000 cards.

Cook said he and ex-Dunbar and OSU standout Mark Baker will train for a couple weeks and put on a basketball skills clinic Sept. 1 before Cook leaves for Miami on Sept. 3.

When that camp is over, Cook will get ready for the Heat's training camp Oct. 1.

Though basketball is now his job, Cook still enjoys it: "If you love the game, you're going to have fun."

On Nov. 1, games begin.

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The Forgotten Star?

A lot has been said and written about the additions of Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups to Team USA this summer. Amare Stoudemire is also a big (literally and figuratively) addition, as he's fully healthy this time around. And there's always hype surrounding LeBron James, who is coming off his first trip to the NBA Finals.

But let us not overlook the man who was Team USA's best player when they won the bronze medal at last year's World Championships.

While Kidd is the leader and floor general, Bryant is the go-to scorer down the stretch and LeBron is the runaway train on the break, Carmelo Anthony's role might be as or more important than all of them.

Throughout the first three practices of this second session of training camp, Coach Mike Krzyzewski has had a primary lineup of Kidd, Bryant, James, Anthony and Stoudemire. He has said that it won't be his only starting lineup, but it's safe to say that Anthony will spend a lot of time playing the power forward position.

That means that he will be asked to bang with the big guys, rebound and defend the paint. It's not the same role that he plays on the Nuggets for sure, when he plays alongside Marcus Camby and Nenê. Bryant though, believes that Anthony can handle the role just fine.

Full Story: NBA.COM

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Yao got married

NBA star Yao Ming is getting married at an upmarket Shanghai hotel Monday in front of 100 relatives, with an equal number of security guards expected to work the event, a sports newspaper reported.

After the ceremony and dinner at the five-star Shangri-La Hotel, the newlyweds and their guests will cruise the Huangpu River in a luxury houseboat, the Titan sports newspaper reported. The wedding cost about $130,000, the paper said.

No teammates, coaches or basketball officials will be at the nuptials, the Beijing Morning Post reported. However, 100 security guards would be on hand.

The 7-6 Houston Rockets center and his bride, Ye Li, received their official marriage certificate on Friday. Widely circulated photographs showed the couple in tuxedo and off-the-shoulder gown having their wedding portraits made at a scenic resort in eastern China last week.

Ye, 26, who is 6-2, plays on China's national women's basketball team.

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Recap of the Summer's Transactions

Here are the NBA transactions of the summer since July 1, team by team.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Bobcats: Sign Jason Richardson; Resign Gerald Wallace & Matt Carroll

Bucks: Resign Maurice Williams; Sign Desmond Mason & Jake Voskuhl

Bulldozers: Sign Joe Smith; Resign Andres Nocioni

Cavs: No transaction

Celtics: Sign Kevin Garnett, Eddie House, Jackie Manuel & Ray Allen

Hawks: No transaction

Heat: Sign Smush Parker

Knicks: Sign Fred Jones, daN Dickau & Zack Randolph

Nets: Resign Vince Carter; Sign Jamaal Magloire

Orlando: Sign Rashard Lewis; resign Dwight Howard (extension of contract)

Pacers: Sign Travis Diener & Kareem Rush

Pistons: Resign Chauncey Billups & Amir Johnson & Antonio McDyess (extension of contract)

Raptors: Sign Jason Kapono; Sign Maceo Baston

Sixers: No transaction

Wizards: Resign DeShawn Stevenson


WESTERN CONFERENCE

Blazers: Sign Steve Blake & James Jones; Resign Travis Outlaw

Clippers: Sign Brevin Knight; Resign Yaroslav Korolev

Grizzlies: Sign Darko Milicic, Andre Brown & Casey Jacobsen

Hornets: Sign Mo Peterson

Jazz: Sign Jason Hart; Sign Ronnie Price

Kings: Sign Mikki Moore; resign Justin Williams

Lakers: Resign Luke Walton & Chris Mihm; Sign Derek Fisher

Mavericks: Resign Jerry Stackhouse & Devean George; Sign Eddie Jones

Nuggets: Sign Chucky Atkins

Rockets: Sign Mike Harris, Mike James, Steve Francis, Jackie Butler & Luis Scola

Suns: Sign Grant Hill; Resign Sean Marks

Spurs: Resign Fabricio Oberto, Matt Bonner & Jacque Vaughn

Sonics: Sign Delonte West & Wally Szczerbiak & Kurt Thomas

Twolves: Sign Juwan Howard, Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastien Telfair, & Theo Ratliff

Warriors: Sign Austin Croshere; Resign Matt Barnes

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Starbury believes the Knicks should not be afraid of the new-look Celtics

Stephon Marbury said late last season he would love to reunite with Kevin Garnett. But Marbury feels no remorse Garnett is headed to Beantown and believes the Knicks should not be afraid of the new-look Celtics.

In an exclusive interview with The Post, Marbury also took shots at Minnesota GM Kevin McHale, expressing concern his cousin Sebastian Telfair, involved in the blockbuster, has to play for him.

McHale's trade has made Boston the East's team to beat in some circles. Marbury isn't granting the Celtics the Eastern title.

Isiah Thomas would've loved to snare Garnett, though Zach Randolph is a solid consolation prize.

Marbury's dislike for McHale stems from his Minnesota days. Marbury felt betrayed after he was dealt by Minnesota, and McHale leaked Marbury was jealous of Garnett.

"As far as my little cousin, I wish him all the best because he's got to deal with Kevin McHale," Marbury said. "I wouldn't want to play for Kevin McHale. When I left, all of a sudden I became a bad person from his standpoint. I became selfish and jealous of Kevin."

Marbury feels good for the other Kevin.

"I'm very happy for him," Marbury said. "He finally put them in a corner from what I hear. He said he wanted out. He was tired of losing. Nobody likes losing."

Marbury, working out this week at the Knicks facility, will resume his Starbury discount sneaker tour Aug. 18. Marbury will make appearances at Steve & Barrys in Albany, Rochester and Buffalo before appearing Aug. 21 in Manhattan with two 18-wheelers for a giveaway of sneakers, haircuts and food.

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KG sign with Celtics

Boston Celtic announced yesterday that they acquired the 10 times All Star Player and MVP 2004, Kevin Garnett of Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange of Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, a first pick of 2009 Draft. Minnesota receives also financial considerations in the exchange.

The deal of Kevin Garnett now concluded, the team and the league revealed the final version of its contract which, from now, will force Celtics to pay the luxury tax the next season.

By signing the deal with Garnett, the three years extension will cost a total of 60 million dollars.

The real extension totals 51 million dollars 14.6 M of $ for the season 2009-10, 17 million M of $ per 2010-2011 and 19.4 million M of $ per 2011-12.

But the wages of Garnett will increase by 1.8 million dollars each year during the five years of its contract, the repercussions of the trade and the premiums will be absorbed throughout the contract.

Consequently, Celtics will pay 105 million dollars with Garnett during the five next years (23.8 million dollars for the next season, 24.8 M of $ per 2008-09, 16.4 M of $ per 2009-10, 18.8 M of $ per 2010-11, $21.2 per 2011-12).

In Celtics, KG will not wear the number 21, because Celtics withdrew number 21 in 1966 to honour the Hall Famer, Bill Sharman. It seems that Garnett will carry number 5.

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