This off-season’s most overpaid players
The free-agency period produced nine seriously overpaid players, Mike Kahn says. See who’s laughing all the way to the bank.NBA/~4/383395348″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Ewing hoping his son can make it big with Knicks

So, will the son also rise in New York? Patrick Ewing hopes so, though he stresses there are many differences between himself, a newly-minted Hall of Fame center, and his 24-year-old son, Patrick, Jr., who was …

Olajuwon: One of NBA’s four best pivots
Mike Kahn looks at the latest Hall of Fame class and says no one had a better or more improbable career than Hakeem Olajuwon.NBA/~4/386017113″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Lakers’ Bynum declares himself completely healthy
Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum says he is completely healthy eight months after suffering a left knee injury that ended his 2007-08 season.NBA/~4/385022552″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Olajuwon, Ewing headline Hall of Fame enshrinement (PA SportsTicker)
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts (Ticker) — A pair of giants went into the Hall of Fame together. For Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing that seems appropriate.

Ewing, Olajuwon linked again, this time in Hall
Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing and Pat Riley were enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night, but it was inductee Dick Vitale who, as expected, stole the show. Others in the class, which also included Adrian Dantley, Detroit Pistons and Shock owner Bill Davidson and former Immaculata University coach Cathy Rush, gave speeches. But the ESPN commentator held court, preaching with passion for almost 30 minutes about everything from basketball to broadcasting to family.NBA/~4/384752957″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Cavs lock up rookie forward Jackson
The Cleveland Cavaliers signed forward Darnell Jackson on Saturday. The Cavaliers acquired the rights to Jackson, 22, from Miami during this year’s NBA draft in exchange for one of Cleveland’s two second round picks in 2009. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The 6-foot-8, 250-pound forward averaged 11.2 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds in 40 games during his senior year at Kansas. He played a key role in the Jayhawks‘ run to the NCAA championship earlier this year.NBA/~4/385414939″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Report: New York Knicks looking to trade forward Zach Randolph

Bulky power forward Zach Randolph apparently isn’t a good fit for new coach Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo offense, so the Knicks are looking to make a deal.

Knicks Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

In a deal that had a fair amount of sentimental value, the Knicks acquired Patrick Ewing Jr. from the Houston Rockets.

And they erased a bad memory in the process.

Ewing Jr. is the son of a franchise legend and was drafted in the second round in June by the Sacramento Kings and sent to Houston in the Ron Artest trade. To get him, Knicks president Donnie Walsh only had to give up the draft rights to Frederic Weis. Remember him?

Weis is the oversized French center the Knicks drafted with the 15th overall pick in 1999. He showed up for summer league, and returned home when it became clear his lack of skill might prove embarrassing.

“Coming to the Knicks, and hopefully being able to contribute, means a lot to me,” Ewing Jr.

If Celtics can’t repeat, it’s their own fault
How much will James Posey be missed? The chances of a Celtics repeat probably left at the same time he did, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/384347362″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

PHOTOS: Hall of Fame Class of 2008
Two centers, two coaches, a broadcaster, an owner and a great scorer were inducted Friday into the Basketball Hall of Fame.NBA/~4/384681330″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Ewing, Olajuwon linked again, this time in Hall
Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing and Pat Riley were enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night, but it was inductee Dick Vitale who, as expected, stole the show. Others in the class, which also included Adrian Dantley, Detroit Pistons and Shock owner Bill Davidson and former Immaculata University coach Cathy Rush, gave speeches. But the ESPN commentator held court, preaching with passion for almost 30 minutes about everything from basketball to broadcasting to family.NBA/~4/384752957″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Ewing, Olajuwon linked again, this time in Hall (AP)
Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing and Pat Riley were enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night, but it was inductee Dick Vitale who, as expected, stole the show. Others in the class, which also included Adrian Dantley, Detroit Pistons and Shock owner Bill Davidson and former Immaculata University coach Cathy Rush, gave speeches.

Olajuwon, Ewing headline Hall of Fame enshrinement (PA SportsTicker)
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts (Ticker) — A pair of giants went into the Hall of Fame together. For Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing that seems appropriate.

Cavaliers sign veteran center Wright
The Cavaliers signed center Lorenzen Wright on Friday to help offset the loss up front of forward Joe Smith. Cleveland has been looking for some frontcourt size since Smith was traded as part of the three-team deal with Memphis and Milwaukee that brought guard Mo Williams to Cleveland. The 6-foot-11, 255-pound Wright played 12 games for Atlanta and five for Sacramento last season, averaging less than a point and 2.1 rebounds. Wright has averaged 8.1 points 6.5 rebounds in 761 career games.NBA/~4/384460079″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Chalmers issues apology, denies marijuana use
A contrite Mario Chalmers spoke out about his banishment from the NBA’s rookie symposium Friday, acknowledging that he made an error in judgment but denying numerous reports that he was using marijuana.NBA/~4/384664840″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Which NBA coaches make biggest impact?
When Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich call it quits, young Nate McMillan will stand as the best coach in the game, Charley Rosen says.NBA/~4/382479798″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Vitale becomes 1 of Hall’s diaper dandies (AP)
Pat Riley, Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon are the biggest names being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Friday. When the speeches are given, though, they may see their spotlight stolen by a man who was fired after less than two years as an NBA coach. Dick Vitale is being inducted, not for what he did with a basketball, but what he does with a microphone.

Oklahoma City team’s nickname will be Thunder
As Oklahoma City’s NBA team prepared to reveal its name and logo, the NBA’s Web site showed “Thunder” as the name and the color scheme as blue, yellow and orange. The franchise planned to formally reveal the team’s nickname, colors and logo at 5 p.m. CDT. Earlier this week, a handful of NBA team Web sites, including that of the Orlando Magic, offered tickets for games against “the Thunder.NBA/~4/382703928″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

This off-season’s most overpaid players
The free-agency period produced nine seriously overpaid players, says Mike Kahn. See who’s laughing all the way to the bank.NBA/~4/383395348″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

New York Knicks’ Patrick Ewing looks back on Hall of Fame career

As a high school student in Cambridge, Patrick Ewing used to go on field trips to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.

New blog: Knicks guard Jamal Crawford

So you think I’m a loser… What’s up Knicks fans? It’s been a busy offseason with some positive steps taken by our team.

Knicks Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

In a deal that had a fair amount of sentimental value, the Knicks acquired Patrick Ewing Jr. from the Houston Rockets.

And they erased a bad memory in the process.

Ewing Jr. is the son of a franchise legend and was drafted in the second round in June by the Sacramento Kings and sent to Houston in the Ron Artest trade. To get him, Knicks president Donnie Walsh only had to give up the draft rights to Frederic Weis. Remember him?

Weis is the oversized French center the Knicks drafted with the 15th overall pick in 1999. He showed up for summer league, and returned home when it became clear his lack of skill might prove embarrassing.

“Coming to the Knicks, and hopefully being able to contribute, means a lot to me,” Ewing Jr.

Sixers sign sharpshooting forward Marshall
Donyell Marshall and the Philadelphia 76ers agreed to a one-year contract on Tuesday, the latest free-agent to join a team poised to make a run in the Eastern Conference. The 6-foot-9 Marshall averaged 11.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 11 seasons and tied the NBA record for 3-pointers in a game with 12 against the Sixers in 2005. “Donyell Marshall has proven time and time again his value as a player in this league,” 76ers president Ed Stefanski said.NBA/~4/381673086″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

LeBron to be featured in new documentary
LeBron James has gone from the gold-medal stand to the silver screen. The Cavaliers‘ megastar, fresh off helping the U.S. basketball team win gold at the Beijing Olympics, will be at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend for the debut of “More Than A Game,” a documentary chronicling his rise to stardom and how he and four childhood friends overcame long odds to win a national championship in high school. Combining footage taken during James’ career at St. Vincent-St.NBA/~4/381759954″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Heat sign ‘big body’ Magloire
The Heat signed former All-Star center Jamaal Magloire on Tuesday, four days after agreeing to basic terms with the nine-year veteran. The 6-foot-11, 265-pound Magloire has averaged 8.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in his career. He spent his first five seasons with the Charlotte and New Orleans Hornets, and has now been with five teams since the start of the 2005-06 season - Milwaukee, Portland, New Jersey, Dallas and now Miami.NBA/~4/381622555″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Hornets get good news about practice site, arena
The New Orleans Hornets are looking forward to getting back to the Big Easy after receiving reports that their suburban training center survived both Hurricane Gustav and a reported tornado nearby Tuesday evening, general manager Jeff Bower said. “We’re happy the reports are all favorable on the practice site and look forward to resuming operations,” said Bower, who expanded a Labor Day weekend vacation with family in Las Vegas because of the storm.NBA/~4/381894037″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

First Cup: Tuesday

September 2, 2008 10:24 AM Mike McGraw of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald: “The NBA’s summer began with seven significant restricted free agents sitting around waiting for some action.

First Cup: Tuesday

September 2, 2008 10:24 AM Mike McGraw of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald: “The NBA’s summer began with seven significant restricted free agents sitting around waiting for some action.

Offseason moves won’t help Warriors’ playoff bid
A year after springing a huge playoff upset, Mike Kahn says the Warriors have returned to their old habits. That is to say, bad ones.NBA/~4/380630552″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Ginobili says he needs ankle surgery
San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili says he needs arthroscopic surgery to repair a ligament injury in his left heel after playing for Argentina in the Beijing Olympics. “They’re going to operate on me,” Ginobili was quoted as saying by Argentina’s La Nacion newspaper Friday. Ginobili, who helped lead Argentina to a bronze medal in Beijing, said a subsequent MRI exam of his injured ankle showed no improvement. “It’s the same as it was two months ago, when they did the first exam,” he said.NBA/~4/378536240″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Q&A: Spurs are in tough spot with Ginobili
The Spurs aren’t young and Manu Ginobili isn’t healthy. Is it time to retool in San Antonio? Charley Rosen has the answer.NBA/~4/379812684″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

NAMIC to Celebrate 15th Anniversary of L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program at 22nd Annual Conference

NEW YORK, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ — The National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications will celebrate the 15th anniversary of its L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program at a special luncheon scheduled …

Q&A: Spurs are in tough spot with Ginobili
The Spurs aren’t young and Manu Ginobili isn’t healthy. Is it time to retool in San Antonio? Charley Rosen has the answer.NBA/~4/379812684″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Bulls’ Deng to play for Great Britain
Luol Deng will play in Great Britain’s European Championship qualifying games after the national association bumped up the insurance to cover his lucrative NBA contract. Deng signed a new deal with the Chicago Bulls last month reportedly worth up to $80 million. British Basketball had been struggling to pay the insurance for the 23-year-old Sudanese-born player, who moved to London as a child to escape the conflict in his homeland.NBA/~4/378947542″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

NAMIC to Celebrate 15th Anniversary of L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program at 22nd Annual Conference

NEW YORK, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ — The National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications will celebrate the 15th anniversary of its L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program at a special luncheon scheduled …

Favorite Son: Knicks trade for Ewing Jr. (AP)
Talk about pressure. Patrick Ewing Jr. is following in the footsteps of his famous father again. The New York Knicks acquired the younger Ewing from the Houston Rockets on Friday in exchange for the draft rights to center Frederic Weis, one of the most widely panned picks in franchise history. “Coming to the Knicks, and hopefully being able to contribute, means a lot to me,” Ewing Jr.

NBA players union suspends agent
The National Basketball Players Association suspended player agent Calvin Andrews for one year Friday for alleged recruiting improprieties regarding former Southern California star O.J. Mayo. The union said its Disciplinary Committee has reserved the right to take further action against Andrews. Mayo and Andrews, of Bill Duffy Associates, parted ways in May. Mayo, who played one season at USC and was drafted third overall by the Memphis Grizzlies, has denied receiving improper funds.NBA/~4/378560394″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Bulls’ Deng to play for Great Britain
Luol Deng will play in Great Britain’s European Championship qualifying games after the national association bumped up the insurance to cover his lucrative NBA contract. Deng signed a new deal with the Chicago Bulls last month reportedly worth up to $80 million. British Basketball had been struggling to pay the insurance for the 23-year-old Sudanese-born player, who moved to London as a child to escape the conflict in his homeland.NBA/~4/378947542″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Letting go: Former Seattle owner ends lawsuit
Former Seattle SuperSonics owner Howard Schultz says he’s dropping his lawsuit against new team owner Clay Bennett, ending an attempt to regain ownership of the team that has moved to Oklahoma City. The Starbucks Corp. CEO filed a motion for dismissal Friday in federal court in Seattle. In a letter to former members of his ownership group. Schultz says two recent rulings in his lawsuit have convinced him it’s unlikely to succeed.NBA/~4/378518189″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Kahn: 10 most likely to improve
After meeting in the NBA Finals, Jordan Farmar and Rajon Rondo should be even better. Mike Kahn lists 10 players likely to improve.NBA/~4/378338308″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

USA Basketball could have bright future ahead
They came home from Beijing with a gold medal, but what does the future hold for USA Basketball? Randy Hill takes a closer look.NBA/~4/377336464″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Favorite Son: Knicks trade for Ewing Jr. (AP)
Talk about pressure. Patrick Ewing Jr. is following in the footsteps of his famous father again. The New York Knicks acquired the younger Ewing from the Houston Rockets on Friday in exchange for the draft rights to center Frederic Weis, one of the most widely panned picks in franchise history. “Coming to the Knicks, and hopefully being able to contribute, means a lot to me,” Ewing Jr.

Knicks Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Only a limited audience will be able to watch the Knicks working to be competitive this season.

They were nowhere to be seen on the national broadcast schedule released on Aug. 7 by the league. Of course, there might be some changes down the road in order to get competitive matchups, but it shows by the networks think about the organization right now.

The lack of national coverage is not sitting well with the Knicks‘ brass. After suffering through a 23-59 season, the Knicks brought in Donnie Walsh to oversee the latest rebuild and Mike D’Antoni to restore credibility on the court. Nobody from the organization has spoken up, though.

The latest new era begins Oct. 29 when the Knicks host Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.

Kahn: 10 most likely to improve
After meeting in the NBA Finals, Jordan Farmar and Rajon Rondo should be even better. Mike Kahn lists 10 players likely to improve.NBA/~4/378338308″ height=”1″ width=”1″/>

Knicks acquire F Patrick Ewing Jr. (PA SportsTicker)
Like father, like son.