Plus LA fans are bandwagon fans and Kobe only has at most 2 years of relevance left in the tank

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

rpb is wrong. Phil McCracken is useful.

RPB is right. You suck.

Source: Tracy McGrady, Hawks agree

Tracy McGrady has agreed to a 1-year, veteran-minimum deal with the Atlanta Hawks, a source close to the situation told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith.

McGrady, a 6-foot-8 shooting guard, played for the Detroit Pistons last season. He averaged 8.0 points and 23.4 minutes per game for the Pistons, appearing in 72 gmaes and starting 39.

Once one of the league's most prolific scorers, McGrady, now a 15-year-veteran, has been hampered by injuries over the past few seasons.

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

Bagels just put in his jersey pre-order:

rpb is wrong. Phil McCracken is useful.

RPB is right. You suck.

Comeback player of the year

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

Shane Battier to sign with Heat

MIAMI -- Needing to upgrade their bench, the Miami Heat have landed a significant addition in veteran Shane Battier.

Battier announced on his Twitter account Thursday that he plans to sign with the Heat when free agency opens on Friday afternoon. A number of contending teams had been courting Battier over the last few days, including the Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs.

The Heat made Battier a priority and met with him in the first hours of Monday, when teams were allowed to speak with players. Battier, who has had a relationship with Heat CEO Mick Arison since he was the team manager while Battier played at Duke, was attracted to the Heat's potential for winning a title.

"The lockout gave me lots of time to consider what was important to me at this stage of my life and career," Battier wrote on Twitter. "Over the last week, I've played out every scenario in my head over and over. It always came back to one thing for me: a winning role."

Battier, 33, averaged 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds for the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies last season. Mostly, the Heat were interested in Battier's ability to defend perimeter players and make spot-up 3-pointers that playing with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will create. Battier shot 45 percent on 3-pointers last season and is a career 44 percent shooter from long range.

According to league executives, Battier was seeking a multi-year contract at a significant portion of the $5 million mid-level exception. It is unclear what his addition means for Mike Miller, who the Heat are considering releasing with their amnesty clause. Miller currently is sidelined after having hernia surgery.

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

Agreed. The Chandler contract thing reminds me of a rich man's version of Jerome James getting paid after a few good playoff games. At least Chandler won a title though.

Awesome.

Well, you did say arguably.......but Tyson that second best center in the league?

Chandler wasn't just good in the playoffs but of course his stock did go up based on his play. He's been fairly consistent over the past 4 or 5 years. Considering that he's arguably the 2nd best center in a league full of bad centers teams will overpay.

This is all silly. In no sort of way is Chandler worth over $10 million/year.

rpb is wrong. Phil McCracken is useful.

RPB is right. You suck.

Sources: Eddy Curry to join Heat

MIAMI -- Eddy Curry is getting another chance.

The Miami Heat will sign Curry on Friday in time for training camp, sources told ESPN.com.

The Heat, who are in the market for help at the center position, have been monitoring Curry for months and considered signing him at one point last season. Curry has maintained a relationship with LeBron James for several years and has been focused on getting ready for Heat training camp all summer and fall, sources said.

Curry has only played 10 games over the last three years, as he's battled various injuries and weight issues. He did not play in the league last season, though he was traded from the New York Knicks to the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the Carmelo Anthony trade.

In his last full season, 2007-08, Curry averaged 13.2 points and 4.7 rebounds in 59 games for the Knicks. He's been a controversial player because of his struggles after signing a $60 million deal with New York in 2005.

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

Greg Oden to accept Blazers' offer

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Center Greg Oden's agent says the often-injured former No. 1 draft pick will sign the Portland Trail Blazers' $8.9 million qualifying offer on Friday.

Agent Bill Duffy confirmed that Oden would sign the one-year deal on Friday, when the team opens training camp.

The deal means that Oden will become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Oden is coming off of microfracture surgery on his left knee. An earlier microfracture surgery on his right knee postponed his rookie season after the Blazers took the 7-foot center with the first pick of the 2007 NBA draft.

The Trail Blazers did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter. The deal cannot formally be announced until Friday.

The Blazers made the qualifying offer on June 29. Oden could either accept the offer, or wait to see if other teams were interested in him. The Blazers would have three days to match any other offers.

But Oden, who was in Colorado having his knee examined on Thursday, opted to remain with the team that drafted him.

Because of various injuries, the former Ohio State star has played in only 82 games over parts of two seasons, averaging 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds. In addition to the two season-ending microfracture surgeries, Oden broke his left kneecap and sat out much of the 2009-10 season.

It is not expected that Oden will play right away.

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

rpb is wrong. Phil McCracken is useful.

RPB is right. You suck.

rpb is wrong. Phil McCracken is useful.

RPB is right. You suck.

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

He's a really good page of all free agents, and where they are headed, or will be headed. It's updated very frequently too.

http://www.nba.com/freeagents/2011/

rpb is wrong. Phil McCracken is useful.

RPB is right. You suck.

This is all silly. In no sort of way is Chandler worth over $10 million/year.

Awesome.

Awesome.

Awesome.

There's all kinds of crazy talk going on. Billups amnesty possibility. Billups and/or even Amare traded. Things are getting crazy.
Chandler appears to be on the verge of getting roughly $13 million/yr.

rpb is wrong. Phil McCracken is useful.

RPB is right. You suck.

Trading Amare to make room for Tyson Chandler???

Awesome.

I can't remember if we talked about this....Nas's Guy!

Awesome.

Sounds crazy, but if I had Anthony and Paul, Chandler would be a better fit. The big question is; why would any team want Amare and that contract?

Use the same "going rate" argument you had for Chandler. There's a ton of shitty contracts, his isn't close to the worst. Bosh and Joe Johnson just from last summer are worse.

Awesome.

If you hate Laurence, then don't listen - don't comment. When he co-hosts the B&B show, take that day off ... listen to an old podcast of a Bernstein solo show and jerk off all day.

Yep. Right above Dwight Howard. Right, HOVA?

Awesome.