This and that around the League 20-21

You're funny!

Bob


.

Funny, but with his name I thought he was Jewish. Apparently not. Julian Edelman reached out to him in a truly gentlemanly way. I hope Meyers understands now how important it is to respect others.

Meyers is a Dick. Always has been.

Was Dick Meyers his given name?

worcester wrote:Funny, but with his name I thought he was Jewish. Apparently not. Julian Edelman reached out to him in a truly gentlemanly way. I hope Meyers understands now how important it is to respect others.

worcester,

If he was a Jewish comedian then Meyers Leonard might work (his real name would be Leonard Meyer), but nope, he's just confused.

You know me, you've spent a lot of time with me. Do I look Jewish? I can't tell you how many times I've sat there and listened to people making all kinds of anti-Semitic comments thinking I was one of them. Italian, Greek, Spanish, any Mediterranean type.

Anyway, enough talk about that putz.


Bob


.

Strange Bob, I always thought you were Native American.

worcester wrote:Strange Bob, I always thought you were Native American.

worcester,

Native New Yorker. That makes me an American. Other than that, no. I am, however, a member of a tribe. I just don't know which one of the 12.


Bob


.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31056445/sources-philadelphia-76ers-star-joel-embiid-no-structural-damage-knee



Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has bone bruise in knee, to be reevaluated in 2 weeks



Ramona ShelburneAdrian Wojnarowski



Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has a bone bruise on his left knee and will be reevaluated in two weeks, the team announced Saturday.

An MRI overnight revealed no structural damage to the knee that Embiid hyperextended in a victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night, sources said. Embiid underwent the MRI immediately after returning to Philadelphia late on Friday night, sources said.

Embiid's ACL and meniscus are fine, sources said, and there's significant relief within the Sixers that the injury isn't something much worse.

Embiid left Friday night's game when he hyperextended his left knee after landing with all his weight on his leg after a dunk in the third quarter.

Embiid was in the midst of the latest dominant performance of his MVP-caliber season, scoring 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting to go along with 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks in 20 minutes, when he caught a pass from Tobias Harris and flew in for a dunk to give Philadelphia an 80-60 lead with 6 minutes, 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter.


But as Embiid went down after the dunk, his full body weight landed on that left leg -- causing it to hyperextend, sending him falling to the court and causing him to writhe around in pain.

After staying down for a few minutes, Embiid eventually got to his feet and walked off under his own power -- though with a fairly pronounced limp -- as he went straight back to the visitors locker room inside Washington's Capital One Arena.

Embiid had a similarly scary situation last month when he hyperextended his right knee in an awkward fall against the Portland Trail Blazers after blocking an Enes Kanter layup. In that game, Embiid returned a few minutes later and dominated, scoring 31 first-half points in a matchup Philadelphia eventually lost.

The Sixers had just gotten Embiid back Friday night after both he and Ben Simmons missed Thursday's win in Chicago over the Bulls -- as well as Sunday's All-Star Game in Atlanta -- because of contact tracing stemming from a barber both stars visited before heading to Atlanta.


Bob


.

Knicks young wing RJ Barrett just had his first 30 point game, this kid is not as athletic as our 2 J’s, but has a knack for scoring inside and has a developing all around game....Knicks are right on our back and have a bunch of young legit pieces. They play defense hard every night.

worcester wrote:Was Dick Meyers his given name?

Yup. I gave it to him. LOL

Warriors on NBCS
@NBCSWarriors
The Warriors' bench after the air ball
https://twitter.com/i/status/1371666478081089538


Bob
MY NOTE:  A historically awful frito. Not even close in any direction.


.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/jazz-owner-utah-legislature-transgender-bill-nba-all-star-game-044745098.html



Report: Jazz owner warned Utah legislature its transgender bill could cost state the NBA All-Star Game


Jack Baer·Writer

Tue, March 16, 2021, 9:47 PM



A Utah bill that would have barred transgender students from competing on girls sports team stalled in a state senate committee last month. The state's local basketball team might have played a part in that.

Days before the bill's demise, Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith and team president Jim Olson took part in a backroom meeting discussing the bill with Rep. Kera Birkeland, the bill's sponsor, and a handful of other legislators and parties, according to Bryan Schott of The Salt Lake Tribune.

During the meeting, which Birkeland confirmed took place to the Tribune, Smith reportedly expressed concerns about the bill's impact on transgender youth and a backlash that could cost the state the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. The report did not indicate the meeting was contentious, just "very frank."

From The Tribune:

Smith was reportedly worried about the impact the legislation could have on transgender youth, stressing there are kids who don’t feel supported and the bill would not do anything to help with that perception. Smith also reportedly said he did not feel the proposal was ready for wide exposure.

Birkeland says Smith did raise those concerns but felt his main point was her proposal could cause a backlash that might result in the Jazz losing the opportunity to host the NBA All-Star Game in 2023.

“That was my biggest takeaway, that they had concerns about losing the All-Star game if this moved forward,” Birkeland said.

The Jazz were awarded the 2023 All-Star Game back in 2019 after a $125 million renovation of the Vivint Arena. Utah has not hosted an All-Star game since 1993.

The meeting also reportedly discussed the bill's potential impact on Salt Lake City's bit to host the 2030 or 2034 Winter Olympics.

The date of the meeting is not specified, though it is noted that the bill died in a state committee soon after the discussion. The bill, which was passed by the Utah house on Feb. 17, reportedly had to undergo multiple revisions after Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he was "not comfortable" with the ball as written. Subsequent meetings led to a bill the governor approved of, but Birkeland reportedly said she "just didn't feel good about it."

The senate committee adjourned on Feb. 24 without taking a vote, tabling the issue for now, per the Tribune.


NBA did something similar after North Carolina's bathroom bill

If all of this sounds familiar, it's because the NBA did almost the same exact thing in response to another bill affecting transgender rights in 2016.

After North Carolina passed its bathroom bill, which required transgender people to use restrooms corresponding to the gender on their birth certificate, the NBA opted to pull the 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte. The game was eventually relocated to New Orleans.

The NBA later allowed Charlotte to host the 2019 All-Star Game, but only after North Carolina partially repealed the bill in 2017. A lengthy legal battle eventually resulted in a federal judge approving a settlement that affirmed transgender people's right to use bathrooms matching their gender identity.

The league wasn't alone among large businesses in publicly opposing the bill and pulling business in retaliation. One economic analysis later found that North Carolina's bill ended up costing the state more than $3 billion in lost business over a dozen years.


Utah's bill one of many transgender sports bills

While Utah's bill is dead (perhaps just temporarily), several other bills banning transgender athletes from competing in school sports are being actively pushed, if not already passed.

Mississippi became the first state to pass such a bill last week, one of more than 20 around the country. The bills are a Republican response to President Joe Biden's executive order banning discrimination based on gender identity in schools and other areas.

Another bill banning transgender athletes from sports has been recently introduced in the Ohio state legislature. Next year's NBA All-Star game is scheduled to be held in Cleveland. Per ABC News, other states with NBA teams that are considering such bills include Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Georgia, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Florida.

While conservatives lawmakers have been eager to push these bills, one area in which they have been quiet is identifying actual examples where transgender athletes have been a problem. An Associated Press poll of two dozen state lawmakers found such cases to be essentially non-existent. The North Carolina bathroom bill had the same issue, with fact-checkers finding no instances of sexual predators using transgender protections to assault people in bathrooms.

Like many other bill sponsors, Birkeland reportedly claimed the bill was meant to be a proactive measure "before we have a 16-year-old child who's caught a headline, or school or community torn apart."


Bob


.

I do not know the specifics of the Utah bill, but faux transgender male athletes competing in female teams pose a very real threat to the integrity and viability of women's sports at all levels. I also don't know if this is an actual problem or a possible problem. What I do know is that males should not compete against females in sports, and the term transgender should not be loosely nor frivolously applied. My ex was among many thousands of women who got to attend college on a Title 9 athletic scholarship. Many would have been displaced if men taking hormone replacement drugs for just a year had been allowed to compete against them.

worcester wrote:I do not know the specifics of the Utah bill, but faux transgender male athletes competing in female teams pose a very real threat to the integrity and viability of women's sports at all levels. I also don't know if this is an actual problem or a possible problem. What I do know is that males should not compete against females in sports, and the term transgender should not be loosely nor frivolously applied. My ex was among many thousands of women who got to attend college on a Title 9 athletic scholarship. Many would have been displaced if men taking hormone replacement drugs for just a year had been allowed to compete against them.

Worcester,

Maybe she was post-op transgender but it was so new back then nobody caught it and that's why she got Title 9?


Bob


.

Bob, that may explain many of the problems we had in our marriage! BTW, she was the All American captain of the NCAA champion Penn State lacrosse team which lost only 1 game in 4 years.

worcester wrote:Bob, that may explain many of the problems we had in our marriage! BTW, she was the All American captain of the NCAA champion Penn State lacrosse team which lost only 1 game in 4 years.

worcester,

Can't beat that with a stick!


Bob


.

Yes and she used that stick on me during the divorce.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nba-knicks-fan-kicked-out-of-game-ban-james-dolan-t-shirt-144824207.html


Knicks fan kicked out of game for wearing 'Ban Dolan' t-shirt


Liz Roscher

Wed, March 24, 2021, 7:48 AM



It's been awhile since we've heard from New York Knicks and Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan, but with fans making their way back into MSG in limited numbers, it was only a matter of time before his legendary thin skin would land in the news again.

A Knicks fan attending the game against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night was apparently booted from the arena just five minutes into the game. His crime? Wearing a shirt that said "Ban Dolan." The fan posted a video of the interaction between him and MSG security, which was polite and dignified, but still resulted in him getting yeeted out of a basketball game.

ロドニー
@djnessnyc
·
14h
Just got kicked & escorted out of the Knicks game
@TheGarden
for wearing a t-shirt by the homie
@fwmj
that apparently James Dolan didn't like?! These tickets were too expensive fam to just get bounced 5 mins into the game with no refund?! How does this work
@NBA
?!
https://twitter.com/i/status/1374524761141821442


The fan later posted a picture of the shirt.

ロドニー
@djnessnyc
·
13h
Apologies for the delayed reply, was on the train this is the shirt in question



'Ban Dolan' is 'offensive information' at MSG

Thanks to the video, we actually got to hear MSG security explain why a "Ban Dolan" shirt isn't allowed. Because it's private arena, they get to decide what constitutes "offensive information."

"In this arena," the security guy said, the "Ban Dolan" shirt "would be offensive information."

The fan was given the choice to wear another shirt — which would be provided for free — over his "Ban Dolan" shirt, or leave. He ended up deciding to leave. We don't know if Dolan himself asked for the guy to be removed, or if security has a standing order to remove anyone who says or displays a message against their dear leader.

Regardless, it is a private arena, which means the owner gets to decide the rules — even if the rules are stupid and ill defined. A look at the MSG FAQ and code of conduct doesn't spell out what "offensive" means in that context, and it doesn't mention clothing at all. Though to be fair, adding a "fans shall not disparage the owner in any way" clause to the code of conduct would be ridiculous, and it would rob Dolan of his favorite activity: ejecting fans who think he's a terrible team owner.

The ejected fan made an important point on Twitter: You can love your team and hate the owner at the same time.


ロドニー
@djnessnyc
·
13h
Of note, there was never an ultimatum offered nor was ever given a chance to "cover up" the shirt with said coat. Coat wasn't even on during the interaction.
ロドニー
@djnessnyc
·
7h
As an OG Knicks fan, it's difficult not to critique ownership that doesn't even respect our living legends. We are fortunate to live where free speech is championed & protected. Rooting for a team & hating ownership are not mutually exclusive. Particularly when done politely
ロドニー
@djnessnyc
·
7h
Staff & I were cordial to 1 another the entire time. Bar staff was dope too. No one ever got belligerent with anyone. What for?! But to not get a warning that politely refusing to put on a random shirt would result in ejection is wild OD. Let me at least wear my coat fam

He also said he was treated well the entire time, but wished he'd been warned about his shirt first and given the opportunity to wear his coat over it.


Bob


.

That’s fair

Nuggets are going to be loaded going forward, 2 young multi skilled wings that are interchangeable at the 3 or 4, the Joker, a still ascending young star point and Bol Bol has a 3 point shot. They are set to be a big challenge to Lakers, Gordon’s physicality/athleticism really helps that frontline.

Why did Clips send out Williams for Rondo?! Was he going to ask for too much in the off-season?

db

In case you missed it Jeff Teague was signed by Milwaukee.


Bob


.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/report-dennis-schroder-rejected-four-191714273.html



Report: Dennis Schroder rejected four-year, $84M contract extension from Lakers


Dan Feldman
Tue, March 30, 2021, 12:17 PM


Dennis Schroder and the Lakers are reportedly far apart on a contract extension.

Schroder is eligible for a four-year extension with up to $83,328,000 in base salary. Because the bonus terms are in his current contract, an extension must contain incentives for:

Playing 65 regular-season games, playing 50% of playoff games and reaching NBA Finals ($230,000-$270,000 annually, as negotiated)

Playing 65 regular-season games, playing 50% of playoff games and winning championship ($230,000-$270,000 annually, as negotiated)

An extension would also include incentives for making an All-Star team and an All-Defensive team, but those are far less relevant.

So, Schroder’s largest-possible extension could be described as four years, $83,328,000. Or $91,968,000 if including all incentives. Or something between if including only some incentives.


Brian Windhorst of ESPN:

The maximum he can sign for is four years and 84 million if he totally maxes out what he’s able to do on an extension.

What I have been told – and this rumor is pretty widely out there, so I doubt that this is very surprising – is that the Lakers did indeed offer him that 84 million dollars over four years. Now, this is where we get into gray area. Was it fully guaranteed? Was it partially guaranteed?

As Windhorst said, the devil is in the details. A deal that looks favorable to Schroder wouldn’t necessarily be that way if it’s not fully guaranteed.

But if the Lakers offered Schroder the largest-possible extension fully guaranteed and he rejected it, that’d seemingly shut the door on an extension. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Schroder would enter 2021 free agency.

As a free agent, Schroder could sign for any salary up to the max. The aforementioned restrictions apply to only an extension. So, there’s an upside for Schroder in rejecting even the largest-possible extension.

There’s also risk.

Schroder probably isn’t worth $20 million annually in a vacuum. He’s a solid player, though a little too streaky. At 27, he has limited untapped upside.

But Schroder and the Lakers don’t exist in a vacuum.

If Schroder leaves, the Lakers would still be capped out. His departure might open the door for them to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (projected to be worth $9,535,740) rather than the taxpayer mid-level exception (projected to be worth $5,889,540). But that probably wouldn’t get them a player as good as Schroder.

The Lakers could also let Schroder walk and move Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma to open cap space. Los Angeles could chase trade-deadline target Kyle Lowry without sending Talen Horton-Tucker or a pick to the Raptors. But that route would require other teams and free agents to cooperate, which can never be taken for granted.

While their title window remains open with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers should maximize their roster. The simplest way to do that is paying Schroder whatever it takes to keep him. That gives Schroder leverage


Bob

.

bobheckler wrote:https://www.yahoo.com/sports/report-dennis-schroder-rejected-four-191714273.html



Report: Dennis Schroder rejected four-year, $84M contract extension from Lakers


Dan Feldman
Tue, March 30, 2021, 12:17 PM


Dennis Schroder and the Lakers are reportedly far apart on a contract extension.

Schroder is eligible for a four-year extension with up to $83,328,000 in base salary. Because the bonus terms are in his current contract, an extension must contain incentives for:

Playing 65 regular-season games, playing 50% of playoff games and reaching NBA Finals ($230,000-$270,000 annually, as negotiated)

Playing 65 regular-season games, playing 50% of playoff games and winning championship ($230,000-$270,000 annually, as negotiated)

An extension would also include incentives for making an All-Star team and an All-Defensive team, but those are far less relevant.

So, Schroder’s largest-possible extension could be described as four years, $83,328,000. Or $91,968,000 if including all incentives. Or something between if including only some incentives.


Brian Windhorst of ESPN:

The maximum he can sign for is four years and 84 million if he totally maxes out what he’s able to do on an extension.

What I have been told – and this rumor is pretty widely out there, so I doubt that this is very surprising – is that the Lakers did indeed offer him that 84 million dollars over four years. Now, this is where we get into gray area. Was it fully guaranteed? Was it partially guaranteed?

As Windhorst said, the devil is in the details. A deal that looks favorable to Schroder wouldn’t necessarily be that way if it’s not fully guaranteed.

But if the Lakers offered Schroder the largest-possible extension fully guaranteed and he rejected it, that’d seemingly shut the door on an extension. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Schroder would enter 2021 free agency.

As a free agent, Schroder could sign for any salary up to the max. The aforementioned restrictions apply to only an extension. So, there’s an upside for Schroder in rejecting even the largest-possible extension.

There’s also risk.

Schroder probably isn’t worth $20 million annually in a vacuum. He’s a solid player, though a little too streaky. At 27, he has limited untapped upside.

But Schroder and the Lakers don’t exist in a vacuum.

If Schroder leaves, the Lakers would still be capped out. His departure might open the door for them to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (projected to be worth $9,535,740) rather than the taxpayer mid-level exception (projected to be worth $5,889,540). But that probably wouldn’t get them a player as good as Schroder.

The Lakers could also let Schroder walk and move Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma to open cap space. Los Angeles could chase trade-deadline target Kyle Lowry without sending Talen Horton-Tucker or a pick to the Raptors. But that route would require other teams and free agents to cooperate, which can never be taken for granted.

While their title window remains open with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers should maximize their roster. The simplest way to do that is paying Schroder whatever it takes to keep him. That gives Schroder leverage


Bob

.

It seems like the Lakers have offered the maximum they can.
If Schroeder doesn’t want to sign early, that’s his decision.
If this goes until the offseason, there is a good chance that he could be signed and traded.
Hopefully Schroeder will resign along with Harrell, Caruso and THT who is a restricted free agent.