Ron Artest is petitioning to change his name to ?Metta World Peace?

It's not the coolest name change in sports history, World B. Free has him beat there, and it's not exactly a novel idea when Chad Ochocinco beats you to the punch a few years before, but Ron Artest's pending name change to -- get ready -- "Metta World Peace" is a real thing. An all-too real thing.

Apparently, Lakers radio reporter John Ireland broke the news on his show earlier Thursday, and TMZ picked it up from there. AP confirmed the madness is true. Metta World Peace, with "Metta" apparently a word derived from the Buddhist religion and the Sanskrit language meaning "friendliness," "benevolence" and all manner of other heartwarming descriptions.

It's the latest move from the kindler, gentler Ron -- er, Metta World Peace. In the 6 1/2 years since he charged into the stands in Detroit to confront someone who had thrown a drink at him, Peace has rebuilt his image through his play with three other teams, won a championship in Los Angeles, auctioned off his championship ring to raise money for mental health research and care, all while staying incident free. He tended to clang quite a few jumpers as the Lakers disappointed and fell in the second round of the playoffs last month, but how can you get angry at a guy with "Peace" on the back of his jersey?

The change is up to you, Los Angeles Superior Court. Give Peace a chance.

(Sorry, you know I had to.)

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Casey Anthony prosecutor?s terribly misguided plea to Dwight Howard

It's hard to imagine any trial -- from the most benign of traffic offenses -- which would be appropriate for a prosecutor to attend while wearing a tie begging a potential NBA free agent to stay with the hometown team when his contract ends.

And though I've purposely stayed unaware of most of the details behind the Casey Anthony trial, just a quick read-through of what we've already learned is sad at best and completely and utterly depressing at worst. This trial is no time for levity, much less statements on a player who won't even be a free agent until 2012. And yet lead prosecutor Jeff Ashton, who is seeking the death penalty for Anthony, wore a "Stay Dwight" tie on Tuesday to the courtroom, with the implication being that he would like Dwight Howard to remain a member of the Orlando Magic beyond 2012.

And that's about as shocking a lapse in taste and tact as one can imagine. Holy cow, Jeff Ashton. Come on, man.

And holy cow, StayDwight.com. Because it wasn't as if Ashton just bought the tie from its website to wear to this trial without its knowledge.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Ashton's son got in touch with Ryan Totka, the founder of the Stay Dwight campaign, and asked him to design a tie because his father enjoys wearing "unusual ties." Which wouldn't be a problem, if Jeff Ashton wasn't about to begin his work as prosecutor in one of the more prominent trials in the area's history. At the absolute least, nobody working this or any other trial should be serving as a sort of billboard for a player who is more concerned with this lame "planking" trend and making fun of LeBron James' receding hairline than he is thinking about where he'll go over a year from now as a free agent.

Totka has done well to align himself with Howard's charity, as he's raised funds through local businesses to contribute to that charity, but someone needed to be the voice of reason, here. And that voice never spoke up.

If you think this is an overreaction by myself and the person who first noticed this, Brian Schmitz at the Orlando Sentinel, then you're more than entitled to that take. But also consider what it must feel like, as a family member on either side of the trial, to see perhaps the person with the most influence in a life-changing murder trial such as this to be wearing something so flip, and needless.

(Photo courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel)

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Mike Brown listened to Vanessa Bryant?s housing tips

New Lakers coach Mike Brown is a blue-collar kind of man, someone who earned his head coaching job with the Cleveland Cavaliers at a very young age and turned them into a defensive-minded outfit of hard-working tough guys. He'll try to do the same in Los Angeles, but it'll be tough in the city of Showtime and Jack Nicholson.

Simply put, Brown needs to get a better sense of the city's culture before we can mold the team in his image. As such, he needs a permanent home. What better place than Orange County, the land where dreams flourish? Based on the recommendation of Vanessa Bryant, wife of Kobe, Brown seems to have settled on The OC as his preferred place of residence. From Kevin Ding for the Orange County Register:

New Lakers coach Mike Brown was definitely listening when Vanessa Bryant was breaking down the ins and outs of Orange County for him.

Brown and his star player Kobe Bryant will be fellow Orange County residents. Brown is buying a house in Anaheim Hills ? and it's a lot of house at 9,500 square feet ? and will brave the commute from the intersection of the 91 and 55 freeways to El Segundo for practice and downtown Los Angeles for games.

According to Google Maps, that'll be 45 minutes to practice without traffic (but an hour and 20 minutes with traffic) and 43 minutes to Staples without traffic (but an hour and 40 minutes with traffic.)

Those traffic estimates are very optimistic, because it once took me roughly four days to drive from downtown to Anaheim for an Angels game. I drank motor oil to stay hydrated and ate a blanket I keep in the trunk for park visits.

Ding notes that Brown likely wants to live in The OC so that his teenaged sons Elijah and Cameron can play for SoCal sports powerhouse Mater Dei High School. That's as good a reason as any, I suppose, but it seems that the Browns may have chosen their new hometown without fully investigating the surrounding area. With that in mind, here are a few interesting tidbits about Orange County:

1. Mickey Mouse is mayor, although it is mostly a ceremonial position. The majority of civic decisions are made by treasurer Colin Hanks, star of the hit film "Orange County."

2. After the Angels changed their full name to the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim," the city changed its official name to "Los Angeles of Anaheim." Only transplants call it that, though.

3. August 5 is a county holiday in honor of the 2003 premiere of the FOX series "The OC." No one works, instead choosing to attend a parade featuring stars like Peter Gallagher and Melinda Clarke. Olivia Wilde is invited and never shows up. Rachel Bilson has been banned after saying she "never liked that show much anyway" in 2006.

4. The county fruit is the strawberry, surprisingly enough.

5. When you enter county lines, the temperature immediately jumps 20 degrees.

You're going to love it, Mike! There's a reason they call it "the Cleveland of the West."

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Video: Jan Vesely wins the 2011 NBA Draft

I read scouting reports on Jan Vesely. Really, I did. I knew that he's a 6-foot-11 Czech forward who can jump out of the gym and is considered an excellent finisher on the break, that he's been a dismal free-throw shooter, and that he's also considered a capable defender, both on the perimeter and on the block. I'd read that he played with some style.

And yet, I wasn't prepared for him to style so hard on Thursday night. But he did. As soon as the Washington Wizards made him the sixth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Jan Vesely styled all over all of our faces, via his attractive ladyfriend styling all over his. It was wonderful, unexpected and legitimate-laugh-inducing. It was all that we hope the Washington Wizards can be.

Hey, Jan? How do very public displays of affection with your lovely lady in Newark, N.J., make you feel?

Happy, huh? Who can blame him?

Original video and image courtesy of the NBA.

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C-a-C: That?s some good diplomacy, Greivis Vasquez

Let me see if I understand the metaphor ...

The ball being repeatedly tossed back and forth? That's the tenuous sociopolitical relationship between Venezuela and the United States. And the hands passing the ball back and forth are the�diplomatic efforts undertaken by the likes of native Venezuelan Greivis Vasquez, former NBA player Darvin Ham and WNBA player Kayte Christiansen to help thaw the icy relations and guide the two nations back to amicable discourse.

The chopping legs swinging up and down, endangering the ball's free flight, are the vicissitudes of the international economy in which the two nations participate as key trade partners. Of course,�that makes the blacktop on which Vasquez lies Venezuela's rich oil reserves, on which the U.S. is heavily dependent.

Vasquez has a look of determined concentration on his face because, as he said last week, "I want kids to understand that with hard work, everything is possible." But he's also lying on his back because, as he said last week, "I'm an athlete. I don't have any connection with the politics at all ... The political side I can't control."

Did I get it?

... Oh. Just a neat little exhibition of dribbling tricks and stuff for some kids and cameras, huh? Dangit.

Wait, the nonplussed kid in the No. 9 jersey does represent how bored Tony Allen gets when he can't ruin some poor opposing swingman's night, right? OK, good. Thought I was starting to lose it all together.

Best caption wins another, different kind of little kicks from the ones Greivis is using. Good luck.

In our last adventure: As kids, Carmelo Anthony and Al Harrington always loved "Club MTV." Now, they're vacationing there. One more item off their shared bucket list.

Winner, Nicholas: These guys were hired to guard that stage waaaaay back there. But we all know how they feel about guarding.

Runner-up, Russell S: Al Harrington is down with Carmelo's "I Love the 80's" retro look, until 'Melo turns around and reveals his jean jacket is BeDazzled.

Second runner-up, JD: 'Melo turned around shamefacedly, shoulders slumped, bulky jacket and sunglasses on, ashamed not at being caught looking at a girl stripping but instead at being photographed with a man who once played for the Golden State Warriors.

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Video: Dirk Nowitzki gets his own personal parade in Germany

After finally winning an NBA championship, Dirk Nowitzki is on top of the NBA world. But for all the attention he's getting in America, Dirk is not surprisingly much more popular in his homeland of Germany. If Dirk is just a basketball superstar hero here, then he's a national hero there. Or at least as much of one as can exist in a country that has a complicated relationship with nationalist fervor.

So, upon his return to his hometown of Wurzburg, Dirk was feted with a citywide parade and celebration. He rode around in a convertible, waved to the fans, and even addressed the crowd on a balcony like some kind of basketballular pope. Oh, and he also didn't wear sleeves, because they restrict the arms of a champion.

Nowitzki's public speech allowed him one more chance to try singing "We Are the Champions," an event that has potentially become the most ridiculous post-championship tradition since Hakeem Olajuwon started inventing new Taco Bell products in the mid-'90s. For Dirk, the fourth time was not the charm.

(Video via TBJ)

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How to properly treat and care for a 7-footer

Good news, American citizens who stand over 7-feet tall. While annoying (and often downright rude) gawkers may enervate you on a daily basis, you might be shocked to know that you have a 17 percent chance of playing in the NBA. Seventeen. That speaks to how surprisingly few American males between the age of 20 and 70 walk among us, and just how many actually make the NBA. Counter that with the percentage of American males who stand between 6-6 and 6-8 and their probability at making the NBA: .07 percent.

All this comes from a fascinating feature on 7-footers penned by Sports Illustrated's Pablo Torre this week. �This isn't a documentation of once-millionaire 7-footers wingeing about their height and how people treat them, rather, it's just a study on how they get by. And how a 7-2 center might not look all that different when working amongst 6-10 power forwards, but they certainly do warrant a second look walking past you and your girlfriend at Whole Foods.

Here's a snippet of the must-read:

Finding footwear that fits can be an even more painful pursuit. "People won't stock shoes over size 15," says Bruce Teilhaber, the owner of Friedman's Shoes in downtown Atlanta. "We have more 17s than 8s, so the biggest guys are all mine. And I don't know what I'd do without them." Nor they him. Former Pacers center Rik Smits, who stands 7'4", wore such tight shoes at home in the Netherlands as a teenager that he developed excruciating nerve damage in his feet. In 1962, as an impoverished 12-year-old in Chipley, Fla., [Artis] Gilmore was so outsized, he says, that he went barefoot for an entire year. Today, both Smits (size 20) and Gilmore (18) are customers at Friedman's?as is every retired player quoted in this story. (As Teilhaber exclaimed on a recent afternoon, "I just sent [7'2" former Jazz center] Luther Wright three pairs of 20s!")

But no matter how many niche businesses emerge to serve big men, complications of fit are guaranteed. "Nothing is ergonomically correct for a 7-footer," says 7'2" James Donaldson, who played center for five teams over 14 years and now runs the Donaldson Clinic, a physical therapy center in Mill Creek, Wash. "I would love, just once, to fill up a hotel bathtub with bubbles and soak in it like a normal-sized person can." But that will never happen. More frustrating?not to mention dangerous?are doorways, which have long been standardized at 6'8", along with ceiling fans, exit signs and steel emergency sprinklers, lying in wait like caltrops. "With those things, you're talking about scalping an individual," says Gilmore. Rare is the pivotman who has emerged unscathed.

Yikes. Consider that Smits' career ended far earlier than it should have due to foot problems created by those shoddy shoes.

I can't get over the rarity inherent in these men. That 17 percent probability rate blows me away, and it's certainly something to think about the next time we rank our team's 6-11 center as "undersized."

Also, would it kill you to politely ask a former NBA center before whirring (you think) surreptitiously to position yourself in frame to take a picture with one? They can see you down there, you know.

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How to properly treat and care for a 7-footer

Good news, American citizens who stand over 7-feet tall. While annoying (and often downright rude) gawkers may enervate you on a daily basis, you might be shocked to know that you have a 17 percent chance of playing in the NBA. Seventeen. That speaks to how surprisingly few American males between the age of 20 and 70 walk among us, and just how many actually make the NBA. Counter that with the percentage of American males who stand between 6-6 and 6-8 and their probability at making the NBA: .07 percent.

All this comes from a fascinating feature on 7-footers penned by Sports Illustrated's Pablo Torre this week. �This isn't a documentation of once-millionaire 7-footers wingeing about their height and how people treat them, rather, it's just a study on how they get by. And how a 7-2 center might not look all that different when working amongst 6-10 power forwards, but they certainly do warrant a second look walking past you and your girlfriend at Whole Foods.

Here's a snippet of the must-read:

Finding footwear that fits can be an even more painful pursuit. "People won't stock shoes over size 15," says Bruce Teilhaber, the owner of Friedman's Shoes in downtown Atlanta. "We have more 17s than 8s, so the biggest guys are all mine. And I don't know what I'd do without them." Nor they him. Former Pacers center Rik Smits, who stands 7'4", wore such tight shoes at home in the Netherlands as a teenager that he developed excruciating nerve damage in his feet. In 1962, as an impoverished 12-year-old in Chipley, Fla., [Artis] Gilmore was so outsized, he says, that he went barefoot for an entire year. Today, both Smits (size 20) and Gilmore (18) are customers at Friedman's?as is every retired player quoted in this story. (As Teilhaber exclaimed on a recent afternoon, "I just sent [7'2" former Jazz center] Luther Wright three pairs of 20s!")

But no matter how many niche businesses emerge to serve big men, complications of fit are guaranteed. "Nothing is ergonomically correct for a 7-footer," says 7'2" James Donaldson, who played center for five teams over 14 years and now runs the Donaldson Clinic, a physical therapy center in Mill Creek, Wash. "I would love, just once, to fill up a hotel bathtub with bubbles and soak in it like a normal-sized person can." But that will never happen. More frustrating?not to mention dangerous?are doorways, which have long been standardized at 6'8", along with ceiling fans, exit signs and steel emergency sprinklers, lying in wait like caltrops. "With those things, you're talking about scalping an individual," says Gilmore. Rare is the pivotman who has emerged unscathed.

Yikes. Consider that Smits' career ended far earlier than it should have due to foot problems created by those shoddy shoes.

I can't get over the rarity inherent in these men. That 17 percent probability rate blows me away, and it's certainly something to think about the next time we rank our team's 6-11 center as "undersized."

Also, would it kill you to politely ask a former NBA center before whirring (you think) surreptitiously to position yourself in frame to take a picture with one? They can see you down there, you know.

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Portland has a decision to make with Greg Oden

We understand why the Portland Trail Blazers might hedge before extending a qualifying offer for the 2011-12 season to oft-injured and currently rehabbing center Greg Oden. This is a man who might very well make it to the 2012 calendar year, regardless of a lockout, with just 82 games under his belt in 4 1/2 combined seasons. On top of that, the qualifying offer (which Portland has until midnight on Thursday to send his way) is worth a whopping $8.8 million, crazy money for a rookie deal, but par for the course amongst top draft picks.

The money wouldn't be spent on Oden the player, though. This would be an attempt to cling to Oden the asset. Not that Portland is going to trade him to another team, NBA cap bylaws make that very complicated when dealing with players working under their QO years, but because it gives Portland a better chance to hang onto Oden should he ever find a way to make it to one start to an end of a season without breaking anything. If that sounds cruel and cynical, well, welcome to the NBA.

Dwight Jaynes, longtime Portland scribe, thinks that the extended offer is a no-brainer, and even while we accept that it's not our money to spend, and don't really think "a teetering Marcus Camby" is a problem in the middle (my man, 25 NBA teams have a "problem in the middle"), the rest of his reasoning is sound.

From CSNNW.com, via Sekou Smith's Hangtime blog:

Funny thing, though. As dependent as the Trail Blazers are going to be on Oden next season for any real improvement, a long lockout may be just what the doctor ordered. All indications are that Oden won't be fully recovered and ready to play until January. That may be right about the time the NBA players come to their senses and accept the whipping they're going to take at the bargaining table.

A 50-game season would be the perfect prescription for Oden. The last time the league went to one of those abbreviated seasons, of course, it had to jam three-games-in-three-nights situations into the schedule and Oden would probably have to sit out the middle of those games, but no matter.

Call me a teetering optimist, but I see this as a necessary transaction regardless of the lockout, and any truncated season.

This sounds like a bad joke, but Oden has built up a close relationship with the training staff in Portland, and to send him on his way this summer would just be as cruel as it gets. Locked out players are not supposed to be in contact with team officials of any capacity during a lockout, but to know that Oden wouldn't be hooking back up with the Trail Blazers' staff that have given so much to him at the end of the lockout's particular tunnel? Harsh work, Portland.

That's assuming they decline the offer, which even in these tough economic times, and even as the league opens itself up to criticism for overpaying players, just seems like a ridiculous notion.

I mean, they have to extend an offer to Oden, right? Right?

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BDL Hump Day Chat!

Sigh.

At least we'll have a chat. 3 p.m., Eastern, just click the jump to take part.

Sigh.

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The Cavs have to work with LeBron?s crew again

When LeBron James left the Cavaliers, owner Dan Gilbert and assorted other Cleveland officials and luminaries bemoaned how they had to accommodate and put up with the Chosen One's entourage. Pleasing LeBron wasn't just a matter of winning games and fulfilling his desires: They also had to please his friends, too. And as those friends became James' business associates, the entire relationship became more complicated and difficult to take.

Still, LeBron's friends are now a fairly important marketing firm for athletes, LRMR. Superstars and rookies alike are employing them to manage their brands. So it should come as little surprise that, even though Gilbert talked smack about the people who run LRMR in the past, he now finds his franchise having to work with them once again.

New Cavs big man Tristan Thompson, the fourth pick overall in last Thursday's draft, has hired LRMR as his marketing agency. Rich Paul (the "R" in the company's name) spoke to Cleveland blog Waiting for Next Year about the relationship (via PBT):

"It's like I never left," Paul tells WFNY on a day where the Cleveland media and select public were introduced to the two newest members of the Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson.� A friend of LeBron James, a member of the infamous four hoursemen, and one of the R's in LRMR -�the marketing agency that will forever be linked with all things evil when it comes to Cleveland sports and fandom -�Paul now finds himself as the player representative for Thompson, marking the first time the James confidant has been back with the team since the night of The Decision. [...]

Shortly after the selection of Thompson and the dissemination of who his representation was, a negative reaction permeated Twitter; the stench of all things LRMR was rampant as trade requests and James-related quips were thrown about. Like many players their age, both Irving and Thompson said they look up to James as a player.� Thompson went as far as to refer to James as�a "big brother" in an interview on draft night.

But if one thing was made clear by Paul, he's making a valient attempt at keeping the line between business and personal definitely drawn ? a distinction that is often difficult to delineate when it comes to sports.� He understands that there is a lot of ill will still festering in Cleveland as The Decision was less than one year ago, but he also knows that there is very little ? if anything ? that he can do to make that better.� What he can do is�represent one of the players who will hopefully help the Cavaliers get back to the same level of prominence they had when he walked the halls of the Cleveland Clinic Courts many years prior.

The interview paints Paul as a businessman and representative trying to move beyond the past and do right by Thompson as he tries to bring the Cavs back to relevance in the East. He also seems to be the member of LRMR with the best relationship with the Cavs, so it makes sense that he would represent the team's newest player.

While this new relationship doesn't directly involve LeBron James, it does help show why Gilbert's previous comments about his entourage were misguided. As LRMR takes on more clients, the Cavs will naturally have to deal with them more and more often. It's in his best interest to end relationships amicably and not hold grudges, because doing otherwise could brand the Cavs as a franchise that only thinks of loyalty as a one-way proposition.

To Gilbert's credit, Cleveland appears to be on the right path with Thompson. It got another chance and seems to be taking advantage of it.

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Create-a-Caption: Shooting on ’21 Jumper Street’ is going great

I'll admit, I was skeptical about this project at first, but after Carmelo Anthony came in on the first day of shooting with that jean jacket blarin' and ready to go, I knew he was serious about giving a respectful reboot to Johnny Depp's turn as Officer Tom Hanson. And if this goes as well as we're all expecting it to, I think the "Booker" spinoff sequel has worlds of potential. Seriously: Al Harrington is Grieco as HELL.

Best caption wins 10 minutes of figuring out who'll play the Peter DeLuise role it's Josh McRoberts, move along. Good luck.

In our last adventure: I will buy every WWE pay-per-view for the next 10 years if that organization unites Jesse Ventura and Kevin Garnett as a tag team called either The Totally Normal Brothers or Obvs Besties Duh-Point-0.

Winner, Duh Digga: Jesse Ventura and Kevin Garnett trade stories about the good old days. Most of the stories are about guys they elbowed in the head when the ref wasn't looking.

Runner-up, Jones6: Kevin Garnett is all smiles after his recent Viagra endorsement deal.

NOTE: Don't be like KG and Larry David, gentlemen. Be aware of the bunch so you can AVOID the bunch.

Second runner-up, FunmiT: Garnett: "Thirty more seconds of smiling, then we Glen Davis this Bruno Mars wannabe."

Ventura:"Let's do it, big man."

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NBA team websites could get boring during a lockout

To its credit, the NBA has always been near the forefront of using the Internet to reach out to fans. Whereas leagues like the NFL and MLB have done everything possible to keep highlights from popping up on YouTube, the NBA freely disseminates videos. They've also embraced Twitter and encouraged players to use it as a positive marketing tool.

Unfortunately, a lockout would put much of the league's web activity on hold. Kevin Arnovitz explains at TrueHoop:

But for the guys who are in charge of those team websites and NBA.com, the pending deadline is a huge deal.

That's because the moment the clock strikes midnight on the current CBA, all those images and videos of NBA players have to disappear off NBA-owned digital properties. Depending on how you interpret "fair use," the prohibition could include the mere mention of a player's name on an NBA-owned site, though different teams have different interpretations of this particular stipulation.

Over the past few weeks, NBA website administrators and support staff have endured two-hour conference calls and countless planning sessions to figure out how to eliminate all these photos, highlights, articles and promotional features from the sites.

As Arnovitz describes it, most team websites are about to turn into desolate wastelands (imagined here by Trey Kerby at TBJ). They'll be populated mostly by mascots and dancers, and any exciting player videos will be replaced by dispatches from charity events. So, Clippers fans, do you like Blake Griffin dunks? Because pretty soon your visits to clippers.com will be met with an interview featuring Clips superfan Frankie Muniz.

It's a tough break for NBA teams as they try to make their players more marketable. There's not much NBA news during the summer, but it's still an important time for teams to introduce new players to their fans and help build up the reputations of their budding stars. Without official Internet outreach, many of these players will hit their home courts for the first time next season with the home fans knowing little about them. It's a lose-lose-lose proposition for teams, players and fans.

Of course, dull websites are just one of many things that will make the league less interesting to follow during a lockout. It's going to be rough, guys. Enjoy the league while you still can.

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Fifty NBA players show solidarity with ‘STAND’ T-shirts

As league's newest players bask in the afterglow of Thursday night's draft selections, it's important to recognize that we have no clear idea when they'll first step on an NBA court. With a lockout looming and no Summer League, they might not even get to start working with coaches and staff until the fall. The NBA's top story from now until its resolution is the labor battle between the players' union and the owners.

As such, players are showing a measure of unity across team lines. In fact, 50 players in attendance at Friday morning labor talks showed their solidarity with a basic decision to wear the same clothing. From Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com:

About 50 NBA players arrived at collective bargaining talks Friday morning wearing matching T-shirts with the word "STAND" written in large block letters, perhaps sending a signal that the union is taking a harder stance after its $500 million giveback was dismissed by commissioner David Stern as "modest." [...]

Only the players' bargaining committee was expected at Friday's negotiations across the street from league headquarters, but dozens of men in matching dark gray shirts, many of them very tall, exited single-file from a bus and strode past wide-eyed tourists as they entered the meeting site.

"I was informed late last night that they had met among themselves and decided that they were all going to show up at the session," union director Billy Hunter said. "The message is just solidarity. We have to stand together, be unified and address whatever the circumstance is -- and address it together."

Increased attendance and T-shirts are ultimately cosmetic decisions unlikely to have direct substantive effect on labor talks, but that doesn't mean they should be dismissed. David Stern and the NBA owners have put some ridiculous proposals on the table that should prove to the union that it's in for a long fight to work out a reasonable proposal. It'll be a tough process, and in order to be successful it'll need to prove to the league that it won't buckle and accept an inferior offer. The shirts don't prove that by themselves, but they don't hurt, either.

Plus, maybe moves like this will help sway public opinion to its side. NBA players sometimes get a bad rap for being selfish, but in this case they are doing something for the greater good (although a very specific kind of greater good that affects their particular interest group). It's nice to see NBA athletes standing up for greater principles and not just the league's profits.

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Video: Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony take in Milan’s fashion week

When you wear sunglasses indoors, sweaters everywhere, and the finest threads that your budget will allow, I think it's only right that you take in Milan in June, no matter when your team went out in the playoff bracket.

That's just what Miami's Dwyane Wade and New York's Carmelo Anthony did this week:

(Sad Norm MacDonald voice, starting now ...)

Now I'm no fashion maven. But sunglasses indoors? Holy lord.

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Dirk Nowitzki’s 2011 partying has nothing on his 2006 partying

Amongst NBA circles, Dirk Nowitzki's trip to the relative wilderness of the Australian outback in 2007 is the stuff of legend. Reeling off a first-round exit at the hands of the Golden State Warriors in the spring of that year, Dirk jetted to Australia, camping and living out of a modified truck with his personal hoops guru Holger Geschwindner. The two talked basketball -- how could they not? -- but they also got away from the game in a way that allowed Dirk to find a personal focus that has sustained to this day. It was needed, following an MVP season that went horribly awry in just a week's time against Golden State.

So, what happened the offseason before? When Dirk and his teammates lost four straight games to lose the 2006 Finals? Something a little less noble, though probably just as fun. Before the morning after, at least.

They partied. And much harder than the hard-partying we saw earlier this month, when the Mavs actually won the title. From the Dallas Morning News (via CBSSports.com):

"That's the funny thing, I am older now than I was then. I actually think we partied harder in '06 when we lost just to forget about it than we did now. Yeah, we've had some good nights so far, my birthday was in there. In '06, [Jason Terry] picked me up for the party bus almost every day, and we went somewhere just to make us forget and have a good time. We ended up in Vegas after three hard weeks. This year, we've had a couple of good nights, but I'm 33. My body can't recover, so you have to party one day, and the next day you have to be off. You can't go back to back when you're that old. Partying once in a while gets old."

Sounds like somebody's got a case of the "make it go aways."

I can't blame them. That Finals was tough, it was no way to go out, and Dirk and company certainly had the means and luckily the safety net (hiring a driver) to help the rest of June go away in a haze.

Just a reminder to you kids, out there. You're only allowed to do this if you lose four straight games in the NBA Finals, and Jason Terry is your friend. Everything else gets you a glass of warm seltzer water and an early bedtime.

Elvin Hayes Magic Johnson Sam Jones Michael Jordan Jerry Lucas

Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Ricky Rubio is lonely in Minnesota

At this point, seemingly half the NBA is on Twitter. It's a wild world of training updates, questions as to which movies they should go see, and explanations of their Call of Duty prowess. Every so often, though, you also get a picture into the more interesting aspects of NBA life. This feature is your window into that world.

Rick Fox: Did some Jaywalking today with my fellow Scotish/Italian http://twitpic.com/5fsxzl

Paul George: Just watched the 2010 draft.. Still get emotional off it! #Blessed

D.J. White: I'm addicted to watches

Ricky Rubio: Hey man. When u come to MN? @kevinlove u have to show where I can go over here.

Gilbert Arenas: Espn is so bored they had a section on my twit..tell them the Green Lantern is coming out they can do a whole special on the green rings

You can also follow Eric Freeman on Twitter at @freemaneric.

Earl Monroe Shaquille O Neal Hakeem Olajuwon Robert Parish Bob Pettit

Thunder pick up options on 5 players (AP)

The Oklahoma City Thunder have picked up the option year on the contracts of Serge Ibaka, James Harden, Eric Maynor, Byron Mullens and Cole Aldrich, keeping them all with the franchise for two more seasons. General manager Sam Presti announced the moves Tuesday, extending the contracts through the 2012-13 season.

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Dallas’ Dominique Jones is the latest to tattoo his neck

Dominique Jones of the Dallas Mavericks has decided to cash in on his triumphant turn as an NBA champion, commemorating his team's Finals triumph with a neck tattoo featuring the Lawrence O'Brien trophy. Also, Dominique Jones is on the Dallas Mavericks. We swear.

He didn't play in the playoffs, much less the Finals, and he only managed 136 minutes in his injury-plagued rookie season. But, sure -- tat it up, guy with plenty of money and time on his hands. Let's make this thing indelible!

(I'm sure that last line was what he said when he strolled into the tattoo parlor, and using "parlor" as a way to describe a building or basement where you get tattoos remains the funniest thing since B.J. and the Bear. As if they're drinking sherry and sporting formal wear.)

Jones has his influences. Teammate Jason Terry, bravely, decided to get a tattoo along the same lines before the season started, as a personal reminder that it was on him to push this team over the top. And though JET had his struggles at times in the postseason, he was a huge part of the team's championship run, even on both ends of the court. And DeShawn Stevenson? Well, he gets neck tattoos.

Put the two together, and you have Jones. Minus all the minutes and name recognition but complete with a Larry O'Brien trophy tattooed to his ruddy neck.

Best realization? We now know what Dominique Jones' neck looks like, far clearer than we remember what Dominique Jones' face looks like.

Shaquille O Neal Hakeem Olajuwon Robert Parish Bob Pettit Scottie Pippen

Kurt Rambis is being let go in a manner that suits David Kahn

It has been proven, through the course of 201 career games, that Kurt Rambis is not someone who should be a head coach at the NBA level.

His rotation choices have been poor. He doesn't properly match his rosters with offensive or defensive sets that suit their skills. He can be frequently seen standing still or saying nothing at all when an opposing offense makes an offensive breakthrough, where most other coaches would stomp and clap and point to the open guy who is leaking out to the corner. In two different stops, he hadn't had the full respect of his players. And whether his team is led by Kobe and Shaq, or Kevin Love and Jonny Flynn, the guy hasn't won. As of this writing, he's still the coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and though it's cruel to be as direct as this, he probably doesn't deserve that job.

But he also certainly doesn't deserve to be treated this way.

Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that Timberwolves GM David Kahn will fire Rambis after Thursday's draft, which is the right course of events done completely the wrong way. As it sits, Rambis will either have to sit through his team's draft (Minnesota has the second overall pick, and thanks to Kahn they're involved in more trade rumors than any other team) and possibly even meet the media to explain why the Wolves went in the direction they went in with the selection and/or trade. Then he'll get the axe. All after being strung along in the nine weeks following the season, all because Kahn was too chicken-[shark!] to do what had to be done the proper way.

Rambis needed to be let go the day after the season ended, or even midway through 2010-11 in order to possibly find some forward thrust for the Wolves as they closed out the year while seeking out a potential long-term replacement. He didn't need to be asked to file some pathetic sort of team report to Kahn, as Kahn demanded, about his hopes and expectations for the terrible roster that Kahn provided him. He didn't deserve to be ignored by Kahn following season's end, in a way that was as unprecedented as it was tactless. And if Kahn is going to fire the guy, then do it now, rather than later. Don't make Rambis, who clearly isn't suited for a head coaching gig, wait yet another event out.

We make fun of Kahn when he puts his foot in his mouth, and we make fun of his moves with the Timberwolves. A lot of it is good fun, most of it is shooting fish in a barrel, and nearly all of it is done with a muted heavy heart. Mainly because Minnesota deserves better than this guy. Those are all jokes, though. Rip jobs, ha-ha turns meant to drive yet another column and/or blog post.

But this? This is just wrong. Rambis performed poorly with the Timberwolves, there's no denying that. He should not be back for 2011-12, and if money was no consideration (and I was in charge) he wouldn't have been back for 2010-11. But if anyone else were in charge, Rambis would have been dealt with properly. With the respect and professional courtesy that he, and any other employee at any level, deserves. And Kahn has failed not only as Timberwolves GM, but in the most basic, human terms. It's one thing to blow a draft pick, or a trade. It's another to treat another person being this way.

Just count the days, Minnesota. For all we know Kahn could pull off a masterpiece of a trade on Thursday, or take in a fantastic player in Derrick Williams. And your team should improve with a new and different coach. Things will be better. But things won't be great, until David Kahn has moved on. Deservedly, in as unceremonious and disrespectful a way as he's handled his working relationship with Kurt Rambis.

Earl Monroe Shaquille O Neal Hakeem Olajuwon Robert Parish Bob Pettit

Dallas’ Dominique Jones is the latest to tattoo his neck

Dominique Jones of the Dallas Mavericks has decided to cash in on his triumphant turn as an NBA champion, commemorating his team's Finals triumph with a neck tattoo featuring the Lawrence O'Brien trophy. Also, Dominique Jones is on the Dallas Mavericks. We swear.

He didn't play in the playoffs, much less the Finals, and he only managed 136 minutes in his injury-plagued rookie season. But, sure -- tat it up, guy with plenty of money and time on his hands. Let's make this thing indelible!

(I'm sure that last line was what he said when he strolled into the tattoo parlor, and using "parlor" as a way to describe a building or basement where you get tattoos remains the funniest thing since B.J. and the Bear. As if they're drinking sherry and sporting formal wear.)

Jones has his influences. Teammate Jason Terry, bravely, decided to get a tattoo along the same lines before the season started, as a personal reminder that it was on him to push this team over the top. And though JET had his struggles at times in the postseason, he was a huge part of the team's championship run, even on both ends of the court. And DeShawn Stevenson? Well, he gets neck tattoos.

Put the two together, and you have Jones. Minus all the minutes and name recognition but complete with a Larry O'Brien trophy tattooed to his ruddy neck.

Best realization? We now know what Dominique Jones' neck looks like, far clearer than we remember what Dominique Jones' face looks like.

Elvin Hayes Magic Johnson Sam Jones Michael Jordan Jerry Lucas

Brian Shaw to interview for Pacers assistant job

It's been an odd year for Los Angeles Lakers assistant Brian Shaw. After L.A. won the championship last season, Shaw declined to be considered for several head-coaching jobs because he was set to be the next coach of the Lakers as soon as Phil Jackson retired. With the franchise coming off three consecutive Finals appearances, two consecutive championships, and looking to challenge in 2010-11, as well, it was a no-brainer decision. No smart coach would go to the decimated Cavaliers when a job running the Lakers was right around the corner.

A year later, Shaw finds himself in a very different situation. After the Lakers' ignominious end in this year's playoffs against the Mavericks, Mitch Kupchak, Jim Buss and Co. felt the team needed a sharp change of direction and elected to bring in Mike Brown as head coach instead of promoting from within. Shaw is now a man without a clear home, lacking his previous status as a hot assistant but also without a clear career path with the Lakers.

It might be time for him to move on. With that in mind, he's looking to interview with the Indiana Pacers. Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star tweeted (via PBT):

Brian Shaw will interview with Frank Vogel and Larry Bird this week for the Pacers lead assistant coach position, according to a source.

In a basic sense, this would be a lateral move for Shaw, although the drop from the Lakers to the Pacers makes it seem like a bit of a demotion. However, in the greater context of his career, it's the right move. With Brown now in Los Angeles, Shaw was likely to take on a less significant role on the bench, if he were even to stay at all. With Indiana, he has a chance to play a huge role in the making of a team that looks to improve significantly in its first full season under Vogel.

It remains to be seen if Shaw will end up with the Pacers. Either way, though, the path of his career over the past year stands as a reminder that the idea of a coach-in-waiting, or really any assumption about who will run a team in the future, is fundamentally silly when the fortunes of a team can change in a matter of weeks. A few months ago, the Lakers looked like West favorites and a championship contender. A surprising sweep at the hands of the Mavs changed all that.

That's why Shaw can't look at his change in status as a cruel twist of fate. It's just the way things work in his chosen profession.

Nate Archibald Paul Arizin Charles Barkley Rick Barry Elgin Baylor

Is Jonas Valanciunas worth waiting for?

You may not have heard of him a month ago -- heck, I hadn't heard of him a week ago -- but Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas has become a bit of hot commodity. He's got a top-five pick of a game (at least in this draft), hops for days, and has room to grow. The issue is his availability. The buyout issues following the 19-year-old center have some mock drafts pushing him nearly out of the lottery. After all, why select someone that you might not see until the 2012-13 season, at best?

Then again, with a player with Valanciunas' athleticism, skills and drive in question, why not wait until 2012? Especially when there might not be much of a 2011-12 season. And especially if you're a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers, finally fully committed to rebuilding, and possessing two of the top four picks in Thursday's draft? With the first, sure, they're taking Kyrie Irving. They'd be Kahn-ish not to. But with the fourth, in a limited draft like this? With Enes Kanter an odd thing to bank on? With Jan Veesly not really offering immediate answers? With Brandon Knight all Brandon Knight-ish?

Why not go with Jonas? Even if you have to wait a year?

Cavs the Blog's John Krolik wants to go with Jonas. And John agrees with my personal draft sage, who handed me his mock draft the other night, which in turn has me agreeing with John when he writes this:

Here's my justification: Do I think that Valanciunas will be a better player in the 2012-13 season than Kanter or any other non-point guard player who will be available at the #4 spot? I do. Do I believe the Cavs are ready to make a serious playoff run in 2011-12? I do not. Given those two conclusions, I think it makes sense to take the best player, wait the year, and not settle on a lesser player because of impatience.

The trick behind that is that you have to sell your fans, your angry and rabid fans, on a player that they might not see for a year. But that uneasiness will last for, what, two days' worth of a news cycle? All while you're introducing the clear top player in this draft? All before you potentially close up shop for months as we head into a lockout? Take a chance on the big. Especially if the buyout works, and he ends up in Cleveland, throwing down dunks on the break with Irving leading the way.

UPDATE: Mark Deeks of ShamSports.com, who is as about as respected as they come in terms of international scouting, has a Twitter reply to the headline above:

Short answer: yes.

(Photo credit: Associated Press)

Hal Greer John Havlicek Elvin Hayes Magic Johnson Sam Jones

Mavs G Beaubois undergoes foot surgery (AP)

Dallas Mavericks guard Roddy Beaubois (boo-BWAH') has undergone surgery for the second time since fracturing his left foot while training with the French national team last summer. Beaubois had the procedure Monday. The team didn't offer a time frame for what it said would be a full recovery. The injury cost Beaubois most of his second season, when he was expected to be a key component for...

Dolph Schayes Bill Sharman John Stockton Isiah Thomas Nate Thurmond

Dallas’ Dominique Jones is the latest to tattoo his neck

Dominique Jones of the Dallas Mavericks has decided to cash in on his triumphant turn as an NBA champion, commemorating his team's Finals triumph with a neck tattoo featuring the Lawrence O'Brien trophy. Also, Dominique Jones is on the Dallas Mavericks. We swear.

He didn't play in the playoffs, much less the Finals, and he only managed 136 minutes in his injury-plagued rookie season. But, sure -- tat it up, guy with plenty of money and time on his hands. Let's make this thing indelible!

(I'm sure that last line was what he said when he strolled into the tattoo parlor, and using "parlor" as a way to describe a building or basement where you get tattoos remains the funniest thing since B.J. and the Bear. As if they're drinking sherry and sporting formal wear.)

Jones has his influences. Teammate Jason Terry, bravely, decided to get a tattoo along the same lines before the season started, as a personal reminder that it was on him to push this team over the top. And though JET had his struggles at times in the postseason, he was a huge part of the team's championship run, even on both ends of the court. And DeShawn Stevenson? Well, he gets neck tattoos.

Put the two together, and you have Jones. Minus all the minutes and name recognition but complete with a Larry O'Brien trophy tattooed to his ruddy neck.

Best realization? We now know what Dominique Jones' neck looks like, far clearer than we remember what Dominique Jones' face looks like.

Willis Reed Oscar Robertson David Robinson Bill Russell Dolph Schayes

Klay Thompson is not necessarily a Monta Ellis replacement

When the Warriors drafted Washington State guard Klay Thompson with the 11th selection in Thursday night's draft, the pick was both praised for value and questioned for fit. Thompson is a well-regarded player, one of the best shooters available, and the kind of guy who could have a long, if not star-like, NBA career. On the other hand, the Warriors don't exactly need more scoring. Thompson is a good player, but he might not make much sense for the Warriors.

Unless, that is, they pull the trigger on any one of the much-rumored trades involving star scoring guard Monta Ellis. Golden State brass have claimed in recent days that they're not trading Ellis, but the many deals reported by various outlets in the past few weeks suggest that's not the case. Nevertheless, general manager Larry Riley repeated these claims in a press conference following the Thompson pick. From Diamond Leung for TrueHoop (via PBT):

If the Golden State Warriors are indeed exploring trade possibilities for Monta Ellis, their backcourt just got more crowded after the selection of Washington State's Klay Thompson with the No. 11 overall draft pick.

But Warriors general manager Larry Riley downplayed reading too much into the team adding Thompson, who was considered one of the top shooters in the draft after leading the Pac-10 in scoring last season.

"We feel Klay is a player who can play the 3 and 2," Riley said. "We're going to have room for a backup 3 and that may be a way for Klay Thompson to get more minutes. This in no way affects our motivation to trade any player."

At a skinny 6-foot-7, Thompson projects as more of a shooting guard than small forward, so it's understandable that most people would look at his suggestion and assume Ellis was on the way out. However, the Warriors need depth in every aspect of the game, to the point where Thompson could play a reserve role at both positions and play around 20 minutes as a rookie. Ellis led the league in minutes per game (40.3) last year and starting forward Dorell Wright finished an unreasonable seventh (38.4), so it's not as if there aren't plenty of reserve minutes to go around. Depth is a huge need for Golden State regardless of position, and Thompson can help in that area.

Thompson may eventually become a starter-quality NBA player, but he's not there yet. Trading Ellis just because of the presence of a late-lottery pick would be an overreaction and only exacerbate the team's depth problem, especially if another young player comes back in the deal.

The Warriors need to get better on defense, but they also need an infusion of depth. If they can trade Ellis and improve both areas, then it's a good deal. It's just that Thompson does little to clarify Ellis' status on this roster. He fills a need, but he's far from a replacement.

Robert Parish Bob Pettit Scottie Pippen Willis Reed Oscar Robertson

Create-a-Caption: Shooting on ’21 Jumper Street’ is going great

I'll admit, I was skeptical about this project at first, but after Carmelo Anthony came in on the first day of shooting with that jean jacket blarin' and ready to go, I knew he was serious about giving a respectful reboot to Johnny Depp's turn as Officer Tom Hanson. And if this goes as well as we're all expecting it to, I think the "Booker" spinoff sequel has worlds of potential. Seriously: Al Harrington is Grieco as HELL.

Best caption wins 10 minutes of figuring out who'll play the Peter DeLuise role it's Josh McRoberts, move along. Good luck.

In our last adventure: I will buy every WWE pay-per-view for the next 10 years if that organization unites Jesse Ventura and Kevin Garnett as a tag team called either The Totally Normal Brothers or Obvs Besties Duh-Point-0.

Winner, Duh Digga: Jesse Ventura and Kevin Garnett trade stories about the good old days. Most of the stories are about guys they elbowed in the head when the ref wasn't looking.

Runner-up, Jones6: Kevin Garnett is all smiles after his recent Viagra endorsement deal.

NOTE: Don't be like KG and Larry David, gentlemen. Be aware of the bunch so you can AVOID the bunch.

Second runner-up, FunmiT: Garnett: "Thirty more seconds of smiling, then we Glen Davis this Bruno Mars wannabe."

Ventura:"Let's do it, big man."

Dave Cowens Billy Cunningham Dave DeBusschere Clyde Drexler Julius Erving

Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Brandon Jennings finds his perfect movie

At this point, seemingly half the NBA is on Twitter. It's a wild world of training updates, questions as to which movies they should go see, and explanations of their Call of Duty prowess. Every so often, though, you also get a picture into the more interesting aspects of NBA life. This feature is your window into that world.

Marcin Gortat: Big congrats to Dirk and Mavs for winning. Sounds crazy i almost end up in dallas. Its less painfull because im with suns army and i love it

Dwyane Wade: I'm truly honored to be receiving the National Fatherhood award. Nothing in life is more important than my 2 boys..lam Zaire&Zion dad 1st..

JaVale McGee: so on basketball wives they jus talk to each other and gossip? is that the point of the show?

Dirk Nowitzki: Wow. That parade was insane. Best day of my life. Speechless. Mavs fans r the best in the world. Thanks everyone. We r the champions

Brandon Jennings: Watching "Weekend At Bernie's"

You can also follow Eric Freeman on Twitter at @freemaneric.

Moses Malone Pete Maravich Kevin McHale George Mikan Earl Monroe

Bismack Biyombo is full of nicknames and intrigue and dunks

I liked it last week when Eric Freeman inadvertently created a new nickname for Congolese draft prospect Bismack Biyombo, when he labeled him a "boom-bust" sort of player. Considering his initials, his relatively raw game, and uneasiness regarding his correct age (Biyombo continues to insist that he's 18 years old, though some dispute that), I think that scans quite well.

But Bismack won't have it. "Boom-Bust" isn't good enough for him. And from Grantland and via The Basketball Jones, comes this brilliant interview that features Biyombo moving far, far past "Boom-Bust" and into altogether more unsettling and more hilarious areas of nicknamedom.

Davy Rothbart initiated the back and forth:

Grantland: The first thing you need when you enter the NBA is the perfect nickname. Do you already have any in mind? Or do you need the hookup?

Biyombo: [Laughing.] I have a lot of nicknames. Growing up my friends, my brothers, and my cousins always called me "Master." They were being sarcastic, I think, because I am always bossing them around. So, when I first step in the League in Congo, my teammates hear my brothers call me that, and they start to call me "Young Master." Then I keep growing, and they take the "Young" away, so I'm just "Master" again. Now when I go home and show up at the court, they still call me Master.

In Spain, one day when I was walking to the gym, [former teammate Esteban] Batista called me
"'La Pantera" ? "The Black Panther." He just made it up that second but the name stuck. At my agent's office, I walk down the hallway and everyone says, "La Pantera, La Pantera." I like it ? "The Black Panther" ? that's my favorite.

Then in Portland at the Hoops Summit, my teammates were calling me all kinds of nicknames! They called me "Big Mac" and I was like, "What? What is this, Big Mac?" Then one guy was like, "We want to call you 'Big Smack.'" So I said, "OK, you can call me 'Big Smack.' I can roll with that." They had all kinds of nicknames for me, a different one every day. Kevin Pangos, the Canadian, one time he said during practice, "Dude, you're the [expletive] 'Business,' man. That's your new name." I asked why. He said, "Dude, when you're on the floor, you're all business. We're gonna call you 'The Business.'" Soon everyone was calling me "The Business." It's amazing how fast you can get a nickname. When I'm in the League, I think I'll have no choice. People will call me something, and I'll just have to go with it.

OK, if you don't want "La Pantera," I'll take it. I have many black shirts, black jeans, black shoes and black sport coats. Sure, my skin tone is a whiter shade of pale, but I can make it work. Also, if you even sniff at becoming a fantastic, All-Star level player, I will call you "La Pantera" at every possible opportunity.

What Young (Or, Potentially, Older) Master can also make work is the high-percentage shot, as documented by the Sporting News' Chris Littman:

That's no small feat. Teams like to ask prospects to dunk in quickness drills that often see them stuffing until they get stuffed by the rim and collapse in a heap due to the exertion caused by having to try to dunk a series of basketballs on a 10-foot goal in no time at all. So for him to toss in 75 straight, after weeks' worth of workouts, is pretty impressive.

Even if Littman relays that Tristan Thompson and Nikola Vucevic (!) dunked over a hundred in a row during their workouts:

Consider me officially interested in Thursday's draft.

John Stockton Isiah Thomas Nate Thurmond Wes Unseld Bill Walton