Jeremy Lamb Leaving UConn for the NBA

Connecticut guard Jeremy Lamb will forgo his last two years of eligibility and make himself eligible for the 2012 NBA Draft.

Lamb's decision isn't much of a surprise. He projects as a top-ten draft pick this year - he's listed seventh in my most recent mock. And Connecticut will likely be banned from postseason play in 2013 due to poor performance in the NCAA's Academic Progress Ratings (APR).

The big question now is whether or not freshman center Andre Drummond - also a potential top-ten draft pick - will join Lamb in the green room on draft day.

• Lamb Declares Eligibility For NBA Draft - University of Connecticut Official Athletics Site
• 2012 NBA Draft - Early Entries

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Isiah Thomas Fired by Florida International

Isiah Thomas has been fired by Florida International after three seasons and? a thoroughly unimpressive record of 26-65. His Panthers went 8-21 last season.

Thomas spent much of his tenure at FIU campaigning for a return to the NBA. At one point, he planned to serve as a paid consultant to the Knicks while continuing to coach the Panthers; the NBA stepped in and blocked that move due to the obvious conflict of interest problems.

Thomas' departure will inevitably touch off a fresh round of rumors about a return to New York. He has maintained a close relationship with Knick owner James Dolan, and with the Knicks are currently being run by an interim front-office crew an an interim coach, there may not be a voice in the executive suite strong enough to talk Dolan out of a potentially catastrophic error.

Also worth noting: Knicks' interim general manager Glen Grunwald and interim coach Mike Woodson were both college teammates of Thomas at Indiana.

Still, I can't help but wonder... at what point do Thomas' obvious shortcomings as an executive disqualify him from getting another executive position?

via FIU dismisses Isiah Thomas as men's basketball coach - FIU - MiamiHerald.com.

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The NBA in Las Vegas?

David Stern's relationship with the city of Las Vegas has all the characteristics of one of those "will they or won't they" TV show romances. Stern and Sin City have been circling each other like Chandler and Monica or Jim and Pam for years.

The NBA even brought its marquee event -- All Star Weekend -- to Las Vegas in 2007, in what was generally seen as a "test run", and holds a summer league there every year.

Will these two crazy kids ever get together and settle down?

If You Build It, They Will Come

Conventional wisdom says that cities shouldn't build NBA-quality arenas unless they're home to an NBA team. But recent history shows that cities can be successful luring a team if they already have an arena in place.

The Ford Center in Oklahoma City first opened in 2002, playing host to college games, concerts and the like. When Hurricane Katrina left the Hornets looking for someplace to play in 2005, the Ford Center was available -- and the Hornets' success in drawing crowds while in Oklahoma City helped make the case that the market could sustain an NBA franchise.

Las Vegas seems to be following a similar model -- without the natural disaster. Mayor Oscar Goodman continues to push for a 20,000-seat arena as part of a plan to revitalize downtown Las Vegas -- and hopes to land an NBA franchise as its anchor tenant.

Beating the Book

For Goodman, the biggest obstacle to landing an NBA team is also his city's biggest selling point -- gambling. It is perfectly legal to gamble on NBA and other college and professional games in Las Vegas sports books, which has long been considered the reason why the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball have never set up shop there.

Given the NBA's hyper-sensitivity to gambling allegations in the wake of the Tim Donaghy scandal, that might be too big an obstacle to overcome.

Relocation Candidates

Assuming all those issues can be resolved -- the next obvious question would be, which team has the best chance to set up shop in Sin City? There are a few candidates:

• The Kings - Long considered the obvious choice, due to their Vegas connections -- owners Joe and Gavin Maloof are in the casino business -- and the fact that they play in a badly outdated arena. The owners have repeated said their priority is to stay in Northern California and to get a new arena built on the grounds of Cal Expo, but what happens if their arena plans fall through?
• The Bobcats - The Bobcats are up for sale, and they haven't exactly captured the imagination of the Charlotte market. Team president Michael Jordan -- reportedly considering a bid for the team -- is a legendary gambler.
• The Grizzlies - They traded for Zach Randolph -- they must be desperate.
• The Nets - If their long-discussed move to Brooklyn falls through, anything is possible.

Sizing Up the Competition

Of course, Las Vegas isn't the only city with NBA aspirations. Kansas City has an NBA-quality arena ready to go, and has been flirting with several pro basketball and hockey teams for years. And Seattle -- once an outstanding NBA market -- could very well get into the mix in the hopes of replacing the Sonics.

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2012 NBA Draft - Key Dates

Updated January 04, 2012

The 2012 NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, June 28th at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. But that's not the only date to remember. Here's a quick rundown:

December 31, 1993

Ever walked into a deli and seen a sign saying "You must have been born before this date to buy alcohol?" This is the NBA equivalent. In order to be eligible for the 2009 NBA Draft, a player turn 19 during the calendar year of the draft.

April 11-14, 2012

The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament will be held in Portsmouth, Virginia. A pre-draft camp for seniors, the Portsmouth Invitational has seriously declined in importance in recent years. Players at this year's camp are likely auditioning for jobs in Europe and the D-League.

April 29

Deadline for early entries to declare themselves eligible for the draft.

May 8

Deadline for NCAA players declaring early to withdraw from the draft.

May (Date TBD)

NBA Draft Lottery held, determines the selection order for the 2012 NBA Draft.

May (Date TBD)

NBA Draft Combine held in Chicago. A European version is held in early June.

June 18

Deadline for international players declaring early to withdraw from the draft.

June 28

2012 NBA Draft held at the Prudential Center.

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2012 NBA Mock Draft

The NBA Lockout robbed the 2011 Draft of some of its top talent, as superstar freshmen like Harrison Barnes, Jared Sullinger and Perry Jones all opted to stay in school for their sophomore seasons. As a result, the 2012 draft class looks like the deepest in years.

Here's a revised, post-March Madness look at the 2012 draft. But first, a couple of important notes:

PickTeamPlayer - Position, SchoolClassNotes1CharlotteAnthony Davis
PF - KentuckyFr.Has massive wingspan, and the frame to accommodate the extra pounds he'll need to play the low post at the next level.
Last mock:12New OrleansMichael Kidd-Gilchrist
SF - KentuckyFr.Tremendous defender can match up against most guards and forwards.
Last mock:103WashingtonThomas Robinson
SF/PF - KansasJr.No longer blocked by the Morris brothers, Robinson should shine this season. Excellent on the glass.
Last mock:74SacramentoAndre Drummond
PF/C - UConnFr.Outstanding physical tools, and his skill level is (gradually) catching up.
Last mock:25ClevelandBradley Beal
SG - FloridaFr.Solidly-built, athletic, and has an outstanding jump shot.
Last mock:86Utah (from Golden State)Jared Sullinger
PF - Ohio StateSo.Old-school big with an array of back-to-the-basket moves. Think Elton Brand or Luis Scola.
Last mock:47New JerseyHarrison Barnes
SF - North CarolinaSo.Not an elite-level athlete, but has a skill level that far exceeds his age and experience.
Last mock:38New Orleans (from Minnesota, via the Clippers)Jeremy Lamb
SG - UConnSo.Another great off-guard from Jim Calhoun's program; Lamb was highly impressive in last year's NCAA Championship run and with Team USA this summer.
Last mock:69TorontoDamian Lillard
PG - Weber St.Jr.One of the nation's most prolific scorers, but is he a shooting guard in a point guard's body? Fact that he didn't face truly elite competition is another worry.
Last mock:n/a10PortlandTyler Zeller
PF/C - North CarolinaSr.Not a superstar athlete, but a solid big man that moves well on defense.
Last mock:1611DetroitPerry Jones
SF/PF - BaylorSo.Didn't live up to the hype as a freshman, but has near-limitless potential. An off-the-charts athlete at either forward spot.
Last mock:512PhoenixKendall Marshall
PG - North CarolinaSo.Heady point guard that really solidified Carolina's backcourt after taking over last season. Not as quick as top NBA points.
Last mock:1713MilwaukeeJohn Henson
PF - North CarolinaJr.Has the wingspan of a pterodactyl - should be a defensive presence from day one, but needs to add bulk.
Last mock:914UtahAustin Rivers
SG - DukeFr.Son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers. Can play either guard spot, but shot selection occasionally raises eyebrows.
Last mock:1315Houston (from New York)Terrence Jones
SF - KentuckySo.Excellent face-up wing player with a point guard's handle.
Last mock:1216HoustonMeyers Leonard
C - IllinoisSo.Big disappointment as a freshman, but had a good summer with the U-19 team and could break out this year.
Last mock:1417PhiladelphiaArnett Moultrie
PF - Mississippi St.Jr.Could develop into a very good stretch four, but needs to bulk up and play more consistently.
Last mock:2018DenverJeff Taylor
SF - VanderbiltSr.Superior athlete that added a three-pointer to his repertoire last season.
Last mock:1919L.A. Lakers (from Dallas)Moe Harkless
SG/SF - St. John'sFr.Strong freshman season lost amist general chaos at St. John's. Harkless was second among first-year players in boards, sixth in scoring.
Last mock:n/a20AtlantaTony Wroten
PG/SG - WashingtonFr.Has lots of potential as a Tyreke Evans-style combo guard… but scouts worry that he's too reliant on his dominant hand.
Last mock:n/a21MemphisDion Waiters
SG - SyracuseSo.Syracuse's sixth man and second-leading scorer could develop into a poor man's Dwyane Wade
Last mock:n/a22OrlandoMarquis Teague
PG - KentuckyFr.Has the athleticism and first-step of top NBA points, but will need to get better at running an offense, particularly in the halfcourt.
Last mock:2823BostonMason Plumlee
PF - DukeJr.Good face-up big man and a better athlete than you might think.
Last mock:n/a24L.A. ClippersAndrew Nicholson
PF - St. BonaventureSr.Looks the part, but some question his work ethic. Started playing basketball later than most prospects, and it shows in his skill level.
Last mock:2625IndianaFab Melo
C - SyracuseSo.Became a force in the paint this year. Eligibility problems give him even more reason to declare for the draft.
Last mock:n/a26L.A. LakersDoron Lamb
SG - KentuckySo.Has all the tools to become a top two at the next level; can get lost on a star-studded Kentucky team at times.
Last mock:1827San AntonioDraymond Green
SF/PF - Michigan St.Sr.A do-everything power forward at the collegiate level, but lacks the size (6-6, 230) to play the four in the NBA.
Last mock:n/a28MiamiJohn Jenkins
SG - VanderbiltJr.Very good shooter, but just average size/athleticism.
Last mock:2729Oklahoma CityFestus Ezeli
C - VanderbiltSr.Remarkable physical specimen and very good shot-blocker - can he develop skills to match?
Last mock:2430ChicagoTerrence Ross
SG - WashingtonSo.Good blend of size, athleticism and skill, but needs to improve his defense.
Last mock:11

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Dwight Howard's Bad Back and the Eastern Conference Playoff Race

Dwight Howard could miss the remainder of the regular season with a herniated disk in his lower back. And that injury could have a major impact on the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Howard has been complaining of back pain since March 30, but the source was not discovered until yesterday. The team won't set a target for his return until they see how he responds to treatment.

For comparison, Amar'e Stoudemire of the Knicks has been dealing with a similar back problem and hasn't played since March 24; Stoudemire could be back next week.

Howard's absence could have a significant impact on the bottom half of the Eastern Conference playoff bracket. If the season ended today, the Magic would be the six seed in the East. But Orlando is 3-7 in their last ten games, three games ahead of the Knicks and Sixers. New York and Philly have identical 31-28 records, but the Knicks would be the seventh seed due to a tiebreaker.

Could the Knicks or Sixers make up that three-game deficit with seven games to play? It's certainly possible. But the Knicks have a very tough upcoming schedule; they'll play Miami on Sunday and Boston on Tuesday. If they win one or both of those games they'll be in excellent shape, as three of their remaining five opponents - the Nets, Cavs and Bobcats - aren't very good.

The Sixers are stumbling towards the finish line as well, with a 4-6 record in their last ten games, but they have an opportunity to make up ground on Orlando when they play the Magic on Monday night. Unfortunately for Doug Collins' team, the Magic game is the first of a three-games-in-three-nights stretch that includes games against the Pacers (currently the third seed in the East) and at the Cavaliers. The Sixers finish out their schedule with five straight road games... after the Cleveland game, they'll travel to Indiana, New Jersey, Milwaukee and Detroit.

Five of Orlando's last seven games are on the road: in Cleveland, Boston, Utah, Denver and Memphis. The remaining two are the head-to-head matchup with Philly, which is the second game of a back-to-back set, and what should be a gimme against the Bobcats.

I don't think the Magic will fall out of the playoffs - they're five games ahead of ninth-place Milwaukee with seven to go. But I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Howard-less Magic fall to eighth and a first-round matchup with the Bulls.

• Dwight Howard out indefinitely with a herniated disk in his lower back - Orlando Sentinel.
• NBA Playoff Format, Seeding and Tiebreakers

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Saints owner Tom Benson to Buy New Orleans Hornets

The New Orleans Saints have announced that their owner, Tom Benson, will buy the New Orleans Hornets from the NBA.

The team has been a ward of the NBA since December of 2010, when the league bought out George Shinn's stake in the team. That arrangement has led to several controversies, most notably Stern's veto of the trade that would have sent Chris Paul to the Lakers.

Benson's purchase should end any speculation about the team moving. National Football League rules allow owners to run multiple teams, but only as long as both teams are in the same market. Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke was forced to give up controlling interest in the team when he bought the St. Louis Rams; the Nuggets did remain in the family - he sold his stake to his son Josh.

Keeping the team in New Orleans will generate the only positive PR Benson has seen in a while, as the Saints have spent much of this spring dealing with revelations of Gregg Williams' bounty system and the subsequent suspensions of coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis.

That said, Benson was long rumored to be planning a move of the Saints - possibly to San Antonio, Texas, where his other businesses are based. But that talk died down considerably during and after the team's 2009 Super Bowl win.

• Saints owner Tom Benson to become sole owner of New Orleans Hornets - CBSSports.

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Stern: Nothing NBA can do to keep Kings in Sacramento

Remember that arena deal that was going to keep the Kings in Sacramento for the foreseeable future?

Scratch that.

The Maloof family effectively scuttled their handshake agreement with mayor (and ex-NBA player) Kevin Johnson, giving further ammunition to those who thought they never really wanted to work things out in the first place.

The Maloofs seem to be following the "Clay Bennett" model of arena negotiations. Bennett purchased the Seattle Supersonics from Howard Schultz, promising that he'd at least try to negotiate a new area deal with the city before moving the team. Most would agree Bennett didn't try particularly hard, and that his plan from the beginning was to move the team, which is now known as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

It seems likely that the team will have a new home before long, but where? They were reportedly close to a deal with the Honda Center in Anaheim - home of the NHL's Ducks - last season, but the other owners don't appear to have much enthusiasm for a third team in the greater Los Angeles television market.

The Maloofs have extensive ties to Las Vegas, but Vegas does not have an NBA-caliber arena or plans to build one any time soon. Seattle is a possibility, as talks to replace the Key Arena seem to be picking up steam. Kansas City and St. Louis could be dark horses in the race, and the Kings - who were based in KC from 1972 to 1985 - do have some historical ties to the Midwest.

An even darker horse? Newark, New Jersey. The Prudential Center - temporary home to the Nets - is considered one of the nicest arenas in the league. Several big names, including Newark native Shaquille O'Neal and mayor Cory Booker, have expressed interest in finding an NBA team to replace the Nets at "The Rock."

That said, I suspect any team attempting to move to New Jersey will face major opposition from the Knicks, Nets and Sixers.

• David Stern concludes there's 'nothing further' he can do to keep the Kings in Sacramento.

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