A NEW BEGINNING FOR GILBERT ARENAS

It was a mutual feeling and he long waited for this time to come. The Washington Wizards and Gilbert Arenas has finally parted ways when the former sent the latter to the Orlando Magic for Rashard Lewis in a straight-up trade during the weekend. Arenas, who is projected to be the sixth man in his new team, says he is ecstatic in joining the Magic because he was a big fan of Penny Hardaway during his childhood days, according to NBA Fanhouse.

“I was at the gym (in Washington) when they told me. I grabbed two pairs of shoes, bought my own plane ticket and got here as quickly as I could. By halftime, I was here working out (on the practice court).

“I grew up a Magic fan. Penny Hardaway was my favorite player. I've spent my summers here. I'm ecstatic about this. We haven't discussed it (his role) yet, but I was coming off the bench in Washington (for seven of his 21 games). I can do it here. I'm here to score and make plays for others. It's easy. If you have an open shot, you take it. If not, pass it to Dwight (Howard). 

“This is a new beginning for me, a true new beginning, a new city a new team and new teammates. I get a fresh start. I've watched these guys play every year. They know how to play. They know how to win. I've never played with a big guy like Dwight, who dominates a game. I'm looking forward to this chance.”

TRADE AFTERMATH: A YOUNGER AND MORE ATHLETIC ORLANDO MAGIC

No, there is no truth that the Orlando Magic is in a panic mode. According to Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy, it was a bizarre coup that Orlando General Manager Otis Smith had pulled off during the weekend which addressed the immediate needs of the team. Van Gundy says giving up Rashard Lewis to the Washington Wizards for Gilbert Arenas and Vince Carter, Mickael Pietrus and Marcin Gortat to the Phoenix Suns for Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark has suddenly transform the Magic into a younger and more athletic squad, according to Hoopsworld.

“It hasn't gone on a long time. It's all been pretty quick for me in the last two days. We've talked about some of the players before because people were out there and we talked about what our team needed. I think what this deal does is we're a little bit younger, more athletic, but the thing we really wanted to do was add some offensive and guys that we felt could create off of the dribble. I think we were on the same page as far as what our needs were as a team, there's no question about that. I think Otis accomplished that in both of these deals.”

THE NEW FRANCHISE MAN

The Washington Wizards has finally got rid of perennial headache Gilbert Arenas that signals the start of a new dawn for the once-troubled franchise. The Wizards traded Arenas to the Orlando Magic for forward Rashard Lewis. Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld and head coach Flip Saunders says it is time for top rookie John Wall to step up his game and continue his development as the team’s short and long term investment, according to ESPN.

Ernie Grunfeld: “The opportunity presented itself this week and opportunities don't come along that often in the NBA. We looked at it, we studied it and we felt like it was the right time to make this move in the best interest of the team short term and long term. This fits into our rebuilding. It helps us both short and long term.”

Flip Saunders: “The critics who thought [Arenas] would hinder John's development, that is not going to be brought up anymore. He won't ever have to defer to Gilbert and it will facilitate his learning process.”

NO LOCKOUT – ANTHONY PARKER

As most NBA players start to think of their options if ever the lockout pushes through next season, one player remains optimistic that there will be a 2011-12 season. Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Anthony Parker, who is a Euro League veteran himself, believes that something can be done to avert such, according to The News-Herald. A decision is expected to be announced by the league during the All-Star break in February if there will be a work stoppage next season.

“I'm still optimistic and hopeful we can get something done, while preparing for the worse. That's speculation. Honestly, it doesn't seem like much is happening now. Negotiations are like that. Nothing happens until the last minute.”

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HOWARD SHOUTS DEFENSE

(AP Photo).

Just like the Marvel hero Incredible Hulk, you would not like him when he is angry. Orlando Magic star center Dwight Howard is mad, make that very angry and he wants his team to play strong defense. The 6-11 mastodon is getting frustrated lately because of the Magic’s anemic performance wherein they won only once in their last five games and is now two games behind the Miami Heat in the Southeast Division ladder. Howard says everybody in the Magic team has to play defense especially in the wing spots to make a stop, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

“We’ve got to play defense, that’s it. It’s got to be everybody. Our wings got to do a better job not allowing their man just to get to the rim every play. It puts a lot of pressure on the bigs. It’s hard for the big guys to really help like we want when a guy takes one dribble and he’s at the rim. It’s very tough.”

Video: MJ SON MARCUS ON THE RISE

He is finally stepping out of the G.O.A.T.’s (Greatest Of All Time) shadow. Meet Marcus Jordan of the University of Central Florida Knights, son of the legendary Michael Jordan. Marcus, a 6-3 shooting guard, has been on the headlines lately as he led the Knights to a surprising 8-0 start which includes a big win over 16th-ranked Florida Gators. He is averaging a team-best 16.3 points per game and .484 from three-point distance. His father Michael is often seen during Marcus games. Marcus says being the son of “His Airness” is difficult and he never tried to be like him but it made him worked harder, according to McClatchy Newspapers. 

“When I was young, it was really tough because people would put me down and I thought I’ll never be as good as my dad, but it made me play harder. Either you like my game, or you don’t, but I’m not trying to be my dad. Watching Jeff go through it first really helped. 

“I have been around the game at a very high level for my whole life, so I tend to know how to react in different situations, as does my brother. No one in Chicago had really heard of UCF, but I knew it was a diamond in the rough. I liked that I could get immediate playing time and be part of something brand new. Beating Florida was huge. They mentioned it on ESPN and all over the place. But we have much bigger goals. We want to win our conference and go to the NCAA Tournament. By the end of this season, people will know who we are.”

JAMES WISH CAVS WELL

Despite the animosities which filled the air when he left for South Beach, LeBron James of the Miami Heat still has a soft spot in his heart for his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Akron, Ohio native was selected the top pick over-all by the Cavaliers in the 2003 rookie draft out of St. Vincent–St. Mary High School and spent his first seven pro seasons in Cleveland. James says he only hopes the best for the Cavaliers in their present predicament and knowing the players he had played with, that they do not want to lose, according to The Plain Dealer.

“I know what type of competitors the guys that I played with are, they don't like to lose. When we were together we didn't like to lose. It is definitely tough. It is a tough situation going on in Cleveland. I wish those guys the best.”

USA BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

For his outstanding performance in Team USA’s title run in the recently-concluded FIBA World Basketball Championship in Turkey, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder was named as Player of the Year by USA Basketball. Durant led Team USA to a 9-0 sweep of the quadrennial meet and submitted norms of 22.8 points per game. Durant says he played to the best of his ability during the tournament and was humbled by the said honor, according to The Oklahoman.

“It means a lot. My goal was to represent my country to the best of my ability. I really appreciate all of the coaches and players that I got to share that experience with. I am very humbled by this honor.”

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SPOELSTRA’S REWARD SYSTEM PAYS OFF FOR THE REVITALIZED HEAT

Now it can be told. Nine straight wins and counting for the rejuvenated Miami Heat. Many wondered on the sudden turn-around of fortunes for the South Beach outfit following a dismal 9-8 win-loss start. The coaching genius in Erik Spoelstra has finally surfaced. The Fil-American mentor implemented a reward system on his players and the whole team responded well to the scheme. The reward system means a free lance or open court offensive attack after an accomplished defensive play or rebound. LeBron James says the system work wonders for the Heat and he is very comfortable with it, according to the Miami Herald.

“Our job is to defend and then we get rewarded with what we want to do on offense. We start with defense and if we get stops, then it's open court for us. We just try to put pressure on the opposing defenses also when we get stops. I think I'm getting more comfortable. 

“I had seven years of the same thing, knowing what to expect in Cleveland. I knew every night I went onto the basketball court I had to be great to give us an opportunity to win. This is a different situation for me and I'm still getting comfortable but I'm feeling good.”

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NOT FOR THE MONEY

(Getty Images)

Antoine Walker’s comeback into the game has made everybody thinking of one good reason behind it: money. It is an open secret that the 12-year NBA veteran is in dire straits. Walker has just signed up with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA D-League and hopes to make it a springboard for a future NBA comeback. But the 6-8 member of the 2006 NBA champion Miami Heat says he is back but not for the money. Walker, 34, believes he still has the game to make it back to the NBA, according to the Boston Herald. Walker has career averages of 17.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 3.5 apg in 893 total games with the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves. The former Kentucky Wildcats star was the 6th pick over-all by the Celtics in the 1996 rookie draft.

“Obviously I’m not here for the money. I’m just trying to play ball, and if a (general manager) gets interested in me, great. Obviously I have to reconstruct. But I feel blessed. I’m not going to go jump off a bridge. I still feel I can play and compete.”

READY TO CHALLENGE

(AP Photo)

Nobody gave the Dallas Mavericks a serious look in the pre-season rankings. Now the Mavericks are proving them all wrong. Dallas is the hottest NBA team at the moment. With their latest victory over the tough Utah Jazz, 103-97, the Mavericks has padded their winning streak to 12 games and moved just a game behind the league-leading San Antonio Spurs (20-3) for the best record over-all. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle says they have to maintain their game at a high level but also admit that they have still a long way to go, according to NBA.com.

“Yeah, but we've got a ways to go. We're going to get healthier as time goes on. In the meantime we've got to make this thing work at a high level and, heck, we're on a 12-game winning streak and we're in second place in our division. No one is getting too giddy around here.”

KEEPING THE HORNETS AT ALL COST IN NEW ORLEANS

Even with the purchase of the financially-troubled New Orleans Hornets franchise by the NBA, plans of keeping the team in the "Big Easy" remains alive. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has created an inter-agency task force to work on the possibility of the Hornets staying in New Orleans. Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater says there are current discussions with the league and potential buyers of the Hornets with the hopes of keeping the team in New Orleans, according to CBS Sports.

“We've been talking to the team, and we've been talking to the NBA and potential buyers for some time now about keeping the Hornets (in New Orleans). We've discussed some creative ideas to keep them here in Louisiana.”

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SPOELSTRA’S COACHING IMPRESSES SLOAN

This is great news for Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. After getting criticized left and right during the early 9-8 struggle of the celebrated Heat squad, the youthful Filipino-American mentor has turned around things in South Beach. The Heat has won six straight games and the feat did not escaped the eyes of the well-respected Jerry Sloan, the veteran coach of the Utah Jazz. Sloan was impressed by Spoelstra’s coaching style, both in offensive execution and defensive plays. He thinks Spoelstra has done a terrific job so far with the Heat, according to the Palm Beach Post.

“They execute very well, what they’re trying to do. Defensively, they’re very very sound and strong. I think he does a terrific job for a young coach or an old coach either, it doesn’t make any difference. I think he’s done a great job. It’s sad to have to listen to all the B.S. about this and that with his coaching.”

GETTING BETTER

Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott is a man rich in NBA experience, both as a player and a mentor. And he very well knows if he has seen a great talent. Scott sees it in Chicago Bulls rising star Derrick Rose. Rose, who is having a career-season with averages of 25.1 ppg, 8.2 apg and 4.3 rpg in 19 games so far with the Bulls, was the top pick over-all in the 2008 rookie draft. He has won the rookie of the year in 2009 and played a vital role in Team USA’s regaining of the FIBA World Championship in Turkey last summer. Scott say what he likes most about Rose is that the latter keeps getting better every year, a trademark of a great player and future Hall-of-Famer, according to ESPN.

“I think he can be a Hall of Famer. I don't know if he'll be considered one of the greatest that ever played the game because you've got so many guys [like] Magic [Johnson] and John Stockton, Isiah [Thomas], Tiny Archibald and all these guys. But he's got a great chance to be a Hall of Famer if he stays healthy, number one, and if he continues to improve on his game. He's just a helluva basketball player ... I enjoyed watching when he was at Memphis, I enjoy watching him now as a pro. It seems each year that he has gotten better and that's the sign of a guy that's a professional and works at his craft.”

WINNING STREAK KEEPS HEAT UNIFIED

(Getty Images)

If there is anything good which the six-game winning streak has brought to the Miami Heat, it is unity. Slowly but surely, the team chemistry desired by head coach Erik Spoelstra is getting into its proper place. The Heat, which is coming off from a very impressive road win against the tough Utah Jazz, has bounced back into contention after falling earlier to a mediocre 9-8 win-loss mark. Now, the South Beach outfit is on top of the Southeast Division tied with the Atlanta Hawks at 15-8 card. Spoelstra says dealing with adversity has helped the team come together, according to FOX Sports.

“You can prepare for it as much as you want in the summer, but until you’re actually under the microscope, in the fishbowl, you don’t really know what it’s like. Dealing with a lot of adversity, dealing with such extreme pressure and expectations and speculation – when we weren’t winning we had one of two choices, to either crumble or figure it out together.”

RUDE AWAKENING

The NBA D-League has become a reality check for some NBA players. Take New Jersey Nets forward Terrence Williams. The 6-6, former Louisville standout was assigned by the Nets to the Springfield Armor and played three games thereat. It was part of the penalty imposed by the Nets to Williams due to the latter’s habitual tardiness in various team functions. Williams is scheduled to return to the Nets in their next road game against the Dallas Mavericks. Williams, the 11th pick over-all in last year’s rookie draft, is currently posting norms of 6.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg in eight games so far with the Nets. He says his stint in the D-League woke him to reality and appreciates Nets coach Avery Johnson’s move to assign him in the minor league, according to the Star-Ledger.

“There definitely was an awakening. It woke me up a lot. I’m not going to sit here and give you the typical answers – everybody that goes to the D-League and comes back says, 'Yeah, I understood my lesson.' When I say I understood my lesson, I truly mean that, in the most sincere way, that I really understood going down there and it definitely woke me up, and hopefully helps my career in the long run. I definitely understood what Avery did and I appreciate it.”

DO NOT FEEL SORRY

(AP Photo)

Players from the Cleveland Cavaliers are starting to pout and feel sorry about themselves as they occupy the cellar in the Central Division with a record that is eight games below .500. However, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott is not throwing out the towel yet and instead, encourage his team to stop feeling sorry for themselves. Scott continues to find the right combination that will ignite the team back into respectability, according to ESPN. 

“I'm not ready to do that. [General manager] Chris Grant and [owner] Dan Gilbert aren't, either. I'm not anywhere near there right now. As I've told the players, I still have a lot of faith and a lot of trust in them. The biggest thing is they've got to stop feeling sorry for themselves. They've got to go out and play basketball. I want more than what they've shown so far. Maybe this is the way to get some guys' attention.”