It’s truly remarkable how quickly things change in our beloved NBA, and for some it’s tough adapting to the change.

Both Tracy McGrady and Shaquille O’Neal are struggling to find work, but for different reasons. McGrady is struggling to get a non-guaranteed contract and Shaq wants too much money. Both were top players at one time in this league, but both have fallen and fallen hard at that.

Once again, Shannon Brown has leapt into the air without knowing what he'll do or where he'll land. Could it be in New York? Although I'm a fan of him, below I explain why I hope not. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

According to CBS Sports.com’s Ken Berger, the Knicks have made an offer to Laker free agent Shannon Brown.  The Lakers have said they’d like to keep Brown, but because they’re far over the luxury cap, whatever they offer him they’ll have to pay exactly the same amount in luxury taxes.  Their projected salary for next year is more than $92.5 million, which’d leave them having to pay $22 million additional dollars in taxes for a total of over $114.5 million.  Them’s a lot of bones.

That of course doesn’t even count however much the new deal with coach Phil Jackson is (somewhere between $5-12 million).  Brown would’ve made $2.15 million this year if he hadn’t opted out of his contract, so presumably he wants a bump up to at least $2.5 million, which’d translate into $5 million for the Lakers.  Their hesitancy is understandable.  To save money (and thus feel okay about resigning Brown), the Lakers are trying to get rid of the $5.5 million contract of Sasha Vujacic.

How much the Knicks offered Brown are unknown, but according to the Berger article it seems like one of their selling points is that he could vie for the starting shooting guard spot (presumably having to beat out Wilson Chandler and newcomer Kelenna Azubuike).

Personally, I’m not sure how I feel about the signing.  Brown’s a good player, but do we need another supporting piece?  My issues:

As if things couldn’t get any worse for Curry a Chicago judge has issued an arrest warrant for Curry.

Turns out the World's Most Famous Arena is not The World's Most-Likely-To-Pass-A-Health-Inspection (source: Wayfaring.info)

I wish I was joking, but yes, Knicks & Ranger fans, watch out ‘cuz mouse crap was found at food stands in Madison Square Garden.  ESPN published a report on food vendors across the country, and they were all pretty scary.  Here’s specifically what they had to say about the Garden:

Madison Square Garden
New York Knicks, New York Rangers
Vendors with critical violations: 61%

Inspection report excerpt: At one stand, inspectors found “53 mouse excreta” (38 on top of a metal box underneath the cash registers in the front food-prep/service area and 15 on top of a carbonated-beverage dispensing unit).

If it’s on top of beverage dispensers, that means I’d be wary of even buying “foods” you don’t need to prepare like beer.  Next time you go to a game, I recommend you chow down and liquor up before you get there.

Sure, Rudy can juggle a basketball but he's still not 1st round pick worthy

In an odd new rumor it appears the Blazers front office appears to have forgotten who they’re shopping around the league. There have been new reports saying the Blazers want at least a 1st round pick for a guy who is coming off a season where he was given a chance to start and perform but failed miserably.

After I wrote the other day that the Hornets had to say Chris Paul wasn’t going anywhere, even if he told them the complete opposite, reports have indicated this is likely exactly what happened.  CBS Sports’ Ken Berger wrote:

Did the "injured" Chris Bosh sit out SIX more games after he was cleared to play? At least he looked engaged, cheering his team on from the bench. Oh wait... (Source: Yardbarker.com)

Some pretty damning comments from Raptors’ GM Bryan Colangelo about how Chris Bosh was healthy enough to play for the team during the final push for a playoff spot, but he bailed on them.  ESPN reports:

“Despite limited swelling and any excessive damage on an MRI, he felt like he needed to sit for six more games,” Colangelo said on 590 The Fan on Monday.

“I’m not even questioning Chris’ injury. I’m telling you he was cleared to play subject to tolerance on his part, and the tolerance just apparently wasn’t there and he chose not to play.”

Two summers ago Anthony Randolph was disappointed the Knicks took Danilo Gallinari instead of him. Now he's finally here to show his stuff. (Source: Yardbarker.com)

Here are some excerpts from our new young prodigy, Anthony Randolph, in a New York Times interview:

Q. Why do you feel like the Knicks and Mike D’Antoni are a good fit?

Chris Paul's following his boy LeBron's path: the Hornets have two years to prove they can be contenders or he might bolt (Source: Yardbarker.com)

Chris Paul met with the New Orleans Hornets’ team officials today and apparently did not ask to be traded elsewhere.  Rumors had circled the past several days that Paul wanted out and that he had a list of potential teams.  After the meeting, Paul issued a statement basically pledging loyalty to the Hornets, while new GM Dell Demps said that CP3 never even ended up requesting a trade during the talk.

That said…

How likely is it that Chris Paul could be traded to the Knicks? (Source: Yardbarker.com)

The last 24 hours have been swamped with intrigue over the news Chris Paul supposedly asked his team the New Orleans’ Hornets to trade him. Much like with Chris Bosh rumors earlier this summer, there apparently is even a list of potential places. New York is reputed to be on the list as well as the Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic and Portland Trailblazers. There are differing reports as to whether or not the Lakers are also on the list. So let’s look at this in two parts. First, how do the Knicks chances stack up compared to the other teams on the list? Second, with the Hornets set to meet with Paul on Monday, what’re the chances he even gets traded shortly. Note that the emphasis is on shortly because the rumor is he wants to be traded before the season begins. Down the road there are too many variables (new ownership, how the team does, future possible trades, Paul’s chemistry with the new coach and GM, etc.) to know how long things could last if New Orleans convinces CP3 to give ‘em one last chance.

Also, before we get into it, let’s set some things straight. Some fans and pundits have ripped Donnie Walsh for striking out with LeBron James and Dwayne Wade and “only” getting Amar’e Stoudemire. Let’s be honest: if Amar’e wasn’t on the team, no way Paul even lists the Knicks. I’ve heard others argue we should’ve kept Zach Randolph, Jamal Crawford & David Lee, and while that might’ve kept us as a 6-8 seed in the East these last few years, that ain’t a team that’s gonna excite a Chris Paul either. So let’s give some due first to Walsh for creating an excitement about the team that hasn’t been here since the days of Van Gundy.

Knicks, Mavs, Magic, Trailblazers or Lakers?