Sacremento Kings finally deals RON ARTEST to the HOUSTON ROCKETS for Bobby Jackson and more!!

Ron Artest is moving to a Western Conference contender: The Houston Rockets. NBA sources confirmed Tuesday night that the Kings have agreed to deal Artest to the Rockets for Bobby Jackson, a No. 1 draft pick in 2009 and Donnie Greene!!

Now the Celtics have another three to deal with: McGrady, YAO and Artest ! ! !

Bring on the new Rockets!!!

[Sacramento was just unhappy to load Artest and his contract!!]

Los Angeles Clippers trade for Denver Nuggets Marcus Camby to replace Elton Brand

The L.A. Clippers on Tuesday night pulled off a trade to get Denver Nuggets center Marcus Camby as their Brand replacement for the very small cost of giving Denver the option to swap second-round picks in 2010, capitalizing on the Nuggets' need to shed salary to create their own financial flexibility.

"We felt like we needed to shake things up and do something a little bit radical to be able to create flexibility going forward," Nuggets vice president of player personnel Rex Chapman said in a conference call. Using the salary-cap space saved for re-signing Elton Brand before his free-agent departure to the Philadelphia 76ers, L.A. was able to absorb Marcus Camby's contract ($10 million for each of the next two seasons) without surrendering anything of consequence, although Denver did create a trade exception worth $10.1 million that expires one year from Tuesday.

Marcus Camby

Center
Denver Nuggets

2008 Season Stats

GM	PPG	RPG	APG	FG%	FT%
79	9.1	13.1	3.3	.450	.708

Philadelphia 76ers land Clippers Elton Brand to a 5 year deal worth $82 Million!!

The highly anticipated Hollywood marriage hooking up Elton Brand and Baron Davis is over before it started.

The Philadelphia 76ers swiftly and stunningly managed to break it up after a week of bliss in theory only by convincing Brand to jump to the Eastern Conference and spurn what was widely presumed to be his slam-dunk return to the Los Angeles Clippers to play alongside Davis.

NBA front-office sources said that Brand has verbally agreed to sign a five-year deal worth an estimated $82 million with the Sixers, who feared as recently as late last week that they wouldn't be able to compete financially for Brand with the Clippers and Golden State Warriors.

But Philadelphia first reached an agreement in principle Monday with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a trade that, according to sources, will send Sixers forward Rodney Carney, center Calvin Booth and a future first-round pick to the Wolves without Philadelphia having to take back any salary. It's a trade that will shave nearly $3 million off the Sixers' payroll next season and increase what was already substantial salary-cap space, positioning Philadelphia to secure a verbal commitment from Brand on a five-year agreement believed to be starting in the $14-to-15 million range.

Plus Brand's former teammate, Corey Maggette agrees to terms with Warriors!

The Golden State Warriors on Tuesday conceded defeat in the chase for Elton Brand's signature by quickly moving on to new targets and reaching a faster-than-expected verbal agreement to sign unrestricted free agent Corey Maggette.

Sources told The Associated Press that the deal is for five years and worth around $50 million.

I guess that Baron Davis going to the Clippers started this entire turn of events!

Sixers will be better but Elton Brand is not enough for them to get by the NBA CHAMPION BOSTON CELTICS with their BIG 3!

Seattle SuperSonics move to Oklahoma City and got their new uniforms in time but not yet a nickname!!

The uniforms arrived in time, black mesh with white stripes along the sides, the words "Oklahoma City" across the front of the jersey and atop a simple NBA logo.

Around the bench, there was barely any SuperSonics green or gold in sight.

And with that, Oklahoma City's latest NBA storyline got off to a simple start.

Russell Westbrook, left, the Sonics' 2008 No. 1 draft pick, and Oklahoma City lost to the Pacers in their first summer league game.

A week ago, these players would have been called the Seattle SuperSonics. Now, they're from Oklahoma City, nickname to be announced. And on Monday, in the first game of the Orlando summer league, the former Sonics franchise took its first steps along the road of relocation, in a glorified scrimmage for rookies and other young pros.

"It's all happened so fast," Oklahoma City rookie point guard Russell Westbrook said. "It's something you have to live with. It happened so fast. I'm very excited to be in the position I am now."

Oklahoma City lost its summer league opener to the Indiana Pacers 95-78. Earl Calloway scored 16 points and Andre Emmett had 15 for the Pacers, who scored the game's first eight points and never trailed.

Richard Jefferson now happy he got traded to the Milwaukee Bucks!

He's smiling now but will he be smiling come the first week of the season?

The second-leading scorer in Nets history was surprised by the trade.

"I didn't know anything was going on and then the next thing I know my phone didn't stop ringing for about a week," he said. "When this happened I was upset, but after calming down and evaluating everything I became excited."

New York Knicks get Chris Duhon, ex Chicago Bull...Marbury done as a Knick?

Chris Duhon has reached a verbal agreement with the New York Knicks on a 2 year contract.

Duhon

"The chance for Chris to be a starter was too much to pass up," Duhon's agent, Kevin Bradbury.

Duhon had also been talking with the Orlando Magic. Bradbury said the Magic never offered Duhon a contract.

Bradbury said the Knicks have made it clear that Duhon could start, which could mean that Stephon Marbury's days with the Knicks are numbered. Marbury is in the final year of his contract.

Stephon Marbury's days of being amazing are well behind him and maybe a non all-star in Duhon might be what the Knicks need...a team full of non stars might win more games?!?

Dallas Mavericks sign Former Slam Dunk Champ, Gerlad Green

Former slam dunk champion Gerald Green signed a one-year, minimum-salary contract with the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

The 6-foot-8, 200-pound swingman is known mostly for his exploits in the last two dunk contests, winning it in 2007 and finishing second to Dwight Howard this year. In games that count, he has career averages of 8.1 points and 2.2 rebounds. He's played for Boston, Minnesota and Houston in his three-year career since being drafted 18th overall coming out of high school.

The Mavericks are hoping that pairing Green -- who is still only 22 -- with Jason Kidd will bring out the best in the former teen prodigy.

Jason Kidd needs big men help like he had awhile back with Kenyon Martin in New Jersey!

This move could work well but the Mavs will always have trouble with the LAKERS!!

Gilbert Arenas agrees to less money by signing a 6 year deal worth $111 Million to help struggling Washington Wizards

The unpredictable three-time All-Star point guard, in vintage Agent Zero fashion, told the Post and the Washington Times on Thursday that he has agreed to re-sign for $111 million over six years, considerably less than the maximum deal he said the Wizards offered him when the free agency period began on Tuesday.
Like the earlier Chris Paul signing, Arenas is an important part of his squad. Now if someone can figure out what players will actually help the New York Knicks win some games?!?

New Orleans Hornets Chris Paul Agrees to a 4 year, 68 Million Dollar Deak

Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets reached a contract agreement Thursday that could keep the All-Star point guard with the team for at least the next four seasons.

He is by far and away their most important player and in the top 5 players in the league!
This was a MUST and an excellent move - had to be done!