Knicks basketball » Al Jefferson

USA Basketball Will Have to Stand Tall at Worlds With Small Lineup

Fanhouse NBA Blog - knicks — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 23:31:17 +0000

Filed under: Knicks, Warriors, FIBA, USA Basketball, FIBA World Championship

LAS VEGAS -- If this were a 6-foot-4 and under league, Team USA would be in great shape.

Take a look at the point guards on America's roster. Chauncey Billups, Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose combine for six NBA All-Star appearances. Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon and Stephen Curry aren't too shabby either. Neither is Tyreke Evans, although he wouldn't be eligible for a 6-4 and under league due to being 6-6.

As for post players, Team USA used to be deep, and that was even after all 12 Olympians from the gold-medal winning 2008 team were ruled out. But in the past week LaMarcus Aldridge, Al Jefferson, Amar'e Stoudemire, Robin Lopez and David Lee have all been eliminated from consideration for the World Championships, Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Turkey.

Golden State's Lee, hurt a tendon in his middle right finger on the first day of training camp here Tuesday. After flying back to California to see a Warriors doctor on Wednesday morning, he was ruled out of Team USA activities for the rest of the summer due to a what is termed a mallet finger.

The big blow for Team USA was Stoudemire, a five-time All-Star who would have been the most decorated player on the team. But Stoudemire was shelved just before the first practice after his New York Knicks couldn't get the proper insurance on him and pulled him out.

Stoudemire did acknowledge to FanHouse that "it's a little tough'' not being able to play. But he said the Knicks have told him not to discuss the situation.

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Knicks Turned Down Deals for Monta and Big Al for Lee

Top New York Knicks News, Videos, and Blogs - BallHype — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:21:56 +0000

	Cover your ears Knicks fans. Wouldn’t have Monta Ellis or Al Jefferson have looked good in Knickerbocker blue for the next 3-5 years? — full article at thehoopdoctors.com

David Lee to Wolves, Ellis to Knicks, Jefferson to Warriors three team trade rumor

Top New York Knicks News, Videos, and Blogs - BallHype — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 17:20:50 +0000

	“There are rumors of three-way trade discussions among Golden State, Minnesota and New York, in which Al Jefferson would be sent to the Warriors, Lee to the Timberwolves, and Monta Ellis to the Knicks. Lee visited Minnesota on Saturday but the team holds only $7 million of salary-cap space ... — full article at nbaprimetime.com

NEW YORK VINNIE’S PUD OF THE MONTH: Al Jefferson

Top New York Knicks News, Videos, and Blogs - BallHype — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:52:37 +0000

Introducing a new feature for our readers here at “ The House That New York Vinnie Built .” This will be the debut of “ NEW YORK VINNIE’S PUD OF THE MONTH ” a feature that unfortunately will have plenty of candidates every month in the current NBA. Even though ...

Cartman posted 22 hours ago from lebasketbawl.com

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Al’s Achilles still an issue with opener three days away

Top New York Knicks News, Videos, and Blogs - BallHype — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:03:40 +0000

Al Jefferson, feeling better after last week’s flu knocked him down, participated in some of today’s practice at Target Center, but he remains bothered by that sore Achilles tendon. He rode the exercise bike for the final portion of practice and did not scrimmage with his ...

TWolves Blog - Minnesota Timberwolves News and Articles found this 32 hours ago on blogs2.startribune.com

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Redd, Al Jefferson back on the court; sadly, so are the Knicks

Top New York Knicks News, Videos, and Blogs - BallHype — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:04:00 +0000

The Knicks rolled out what might be the worst NBA starting lineup you’ll see all year (Chris Duhon, Larry Hughes, Jared Jeffries, Al Harrington, David Lee), but they still managed to beat the Nets in yesterday’s preseason opener for both teams because, frankly, the Nets also have ...

LOY's PLACE a celtics green blog found this 23 hours ago on dimemag.com

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“Mozart” to the New York Knicks?

Patrick Mauro — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:30:09 +0000

Note: Also seen at Protect the Paint.

The Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves at an interesting fork in the road, and judging by June’s draft in which they took point guards with both the fifth and the sixth picks, one they anticipated all along.

If you haven’t heard, Spanish teen-ager Ricky Rubio (AKA “Mozart”) has signed a deal with Barcelona that could keep him in Spain and out of the NBA for the next two seasons.

He could wait a couple years for Rubio to join the squad, which might not be the worst thing in the world. He won’t turn 19 until late October. In a couple years with more experience under his belt, he’d likely be in a better spot both physically and in terms of maturity to live up to the hype.

If Rubio is destined to be an NBA star, the realization of that fate seems more likely later than now.

But is this more a question of better location (than the land of 10,000 lakes) leading to bigger dollars?

Prior to the draft, Rubio’s people opined the benefits of a major market, citing more money from endorsements and an easier process of coming up with the package to release him from the pricey buyout.

Kahn has done everything he possibly can to creatively raise the cash for the monster buyout and going so far as to promise exhibition games against DKV Joventut, what is now Rubio’s former Spanish team.

It didn’t work. That team turned down the offer, instead agreeing on the buyout from Barcelona, keeping the teenager in the “land of paella” for the foreseeable future.

But wait.

According to StarTribune.com, an NBA source claims the New York Knicks, who wanted Rubio to begin with (they offered their No. 8 pick and Wilson Chandler for the fifth pick back on draft day) are back in possible contention, or at least discussions, regarding the teen joining their team.

They don’t have an abundance of draft picks, meaning their only trade bait is un-signed David Lee, who has said he may not come to camp if a deal can’t be done.

Lee is a good player, but Al Jefferson (who says his knee will be ready for the season) and Kevin Love occupy the minutes at power forward. If the T-Wolves did acquire him, Lee might be used to acquire someone else from someplace else.

Could the best current European-American play the “three”? I’m kidding.

Is Lee worthy compensation for what could be a future HOFer? The possibility Rubio proves “all hype” has to figure into the decision. His trade value could be at its highest right now.

For Kahn and the organization, it comes down to not only whether they believe he is worth waiting for, but also realistically confronting the possibility that Rubio would rather play NBA hoops somewhere other than Minneapolis.

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A tale of Two Teams and Five Years with no Playoffs {W/Pics}

Top New York Knicks News, Videos, and Blogs - BallHype — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:02:44 +0000

The New York Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves have missed the playoffs since 2004, and we look at what happened and what can.

gerakis100 posted 15 minutes ago from sportige.com

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