Mokrota.com - World Sports Information Blog http://www.mokrota.com Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:55:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 en Mike James traded back to Rockets http://www.mokrota.com/2007/06/14/mike-james-traded-back-to-rockets/ http://www.mokrota.com/2007/06/14/mike-james-traded-back-to-rockets/#comments Thu, 14 Jun 2007 05:50:21 +0000 admin http://www.mokrota.com/2007/06/14/mike-james-traded-back-to-rockets/ Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike James reportedly is headed to the Houston Rockets in return for forward Juwan Howard.

According to agent Bill Duffy, who represents James, the trade will be finalized Thursday.

Ironically, Houston was outbid for his services last summer by the Timberwolves, who signed James to a four-year, $23-million US contract.

“It is interesting how things work out,” Duffy said. “He is ecstatic.”

James joined the Timberwolves as a free agent following a fabulous season for the Toronto Raptors, in which he posted career-high averages in points (20.3), assists (5.8), rebounds (3.3) and minutes (37.0).

Although he played all 82 games last season, his numbers plunged to 10.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 rebounds and 25.3 minutes.

James, who turns 32 next Saturday, has averaged 11.5 points, 4.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 26.6 minutes in 409 NBA games (212 starts) with the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Rockets, Raptors and Timberwolves.

Howard, 34, started 38 of 80 games for Houston last season, averaging 9.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 26.6 minutes.

He has averaged 16.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 35.1 minutes in 951 games (869 starts) over 13 NBA seasons for the Washington Bullets/Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic and Rockets.

Howard was drafted fifth overall by Washington in 1994.

]]> http://www.mokrota.com/2007/06/14/mike-james-traded-back-to-rockets/feed/ NIT T-shirt not worthy of champions http://www.mokrota.com/2007/03/31/nit-t-shirt-not-worthy-of-champions/ http://www.mokrota.com/2007/03/31/nit-t-shirt-not-worthy-of-champions/#comments Sat, 31 Mar 2007 18:55:06 +0000 admin http://www.mokrota.com/2007/03/31/nit-t-shirt-not-worthy-of-champions/ CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia may have won the National Invitation Tournament, but the Mountaineers’ commemorative T-shirts are less than championship material.

They contain a misspelling.

The “West Virginia” printed on the shirts players wore after winning the NIT title with a 78-73 victory over Clemson on Thursday night is missing the last “i” in “Virginia.”

WVU sports information director Shelly Poe said the NIT printed the shirts.

Calls to tournament officials were not immediately returned Friday.

West Virginia coach John Beilein also could not be reached for comment. He and the team were on their way back to West Virginia on Friday after winning their first NIT title in 65 years.

]]> http://www.mokrota.com/2007/03/31/nit-t-shirt-not-worthy-of-champions/feed/ Van Gundy wants to open NBA lottery to all teams http://www.mokrota.com/2007/03/27/van-gundy-wants-to-open-nba-lottery-to-all-teams/ http://www.mokrota.com/2007/03/27/van-gundy-wants-to-open-nba-lottery-to-all-teams/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2007 16:49:00 +0000 admin http://www.mokrota.com/2007/03/27/van-gundy-wants-to-open-nba-lottery-to-all-teams/ The Dallas Mavericks with the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA draft? If Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy had his way, that could happen.

Van Gundy wants to open up the NBA draft lottery to all 30 NBA teams in an effort to keep teams from losing intentionally to hopefully secure the No. 1 pick.

“I think every team should have an equal chance at winning the lottery, from the best team all the way down,” Van Gundy told The Houston Chronicle. “I don’t want to accuse anyone of anything. I would say to take away any possible conflict of interest, everyone should have an equal chance at the top pick all the way down. That way there would be absolutely no question by anybody about anything.

“If it’s better for the game, they should do it. I never quite understood why losing is rewarded, other than [for] parity.”

According to The Chronicle, Van Gundy presented his proposal to the NBA, but wasn’t taken seriously.

Article Source: ESPN

Related Link: Lottery results - are you a winner?

]]> http://www.mokrota.com/2007/03/27/van-gundy-wants-to-open-nba-lottery-to-all-teams/feed/