Posts by Matt Moore at FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

Baron Davis took the money. He just didn't take it and run, per say. After accepting an offer from a division rival, most players would make a quiet exit from the zipcode, giving a brief thanks in a released statement to the players and fans of his former employer. Davis took it a step further.

After extensively thanking the Bay in an interview with reporters, Davis stopped by the Warriors offices on Wednesday to collect his things and headed upstairs to say goodbye to the Warriors organization.

It was a classy move from a guy who Warriors fans have a right to feel betrayed by. Even though Davis acted in a perfectly acceptable manner regarding his contract, opt-out, and signing with the Clippers, there's always a feeling of rejection when someone says they prefer the company of others to your exclusive company. But Davis taking the time to thank the fans and organization in such a way does suggest a genuine appreciation for everything they've given them, and for the exhilarating time he had there. It's nice that for once, a player was able to switch jerseys without a prolonged sense of bitterness, if only for a few days.

Dwyane Wade has seen his career evolve to a constant state of duplicity. There are always mirror images of status as a superstar. For example, he's simultaneously a fearless aggressor who has an uncanny ability to get to the rim, and attacks with such determination he's almost impossible to stop, even if you foul him. On the other, he winds up spending more time on his back than that chick I dated in college whose nickname I later found out was "Easy McGee." On one hand, he's a spectacular combo guard who's best when he's creating something off the dribble, using his quickness and athleticism to create separation. On the other, he can be a turnover machine when he's in charge of getting the ball up the floor. Last season was a microcosm of those problems, as he missed a substantial time due to a variety of injuries, but still didn't shut it down until late in the season (Pat Riley, I'm raising an eyebrow at you), and his turnovers were at an all-time high.

It looks like Wade has turned a corner of sorts, though. In a recent report by Ira Winderman of the Miami Sun-Sentinel, Wade indicated that he would welcome help at the point position.

"Do I want to set up the offense every time? No, I don't want to do that," he said, as his basketball camp wound down at Florida International University. "I would love to get somebody else in that can handle the ball, as well, at times, and make plays."

So what exactly does this mean, given the scarcity of the free agent market?

Just the other day, I asked myself, "What do the Knicks need?" And of course the answer is "Another offensively shaky and underwhelming point guard!" Because you can never really have enough of those.

It is in that spirit that the Knicks today signed free agent point guard Chris Duhon to a two year, $6.5 million contract. The former Bull is expected to compete with Stephen Marbury for the starting point guard spot, according to the report by the New York Post today.

Duhon does have some potential. He scored 34 against Golden State this year (but then again, who didn't score against Golden State), and had 22 against Milwaukee. He also had a whole lot of the dreaded DNP-CDs. He's solid in some spots, brilliant occasionally, terrible in stretches, and mediocre a lot of the time. However, you have to wonder how much of that was the coaching in Chicago which was less than supportive of guard play. Compare that with D'Antoni's speed-first guard system, and this could turn out well.

The Magic were said to be heavily interested in Duhon as support for Jameer Nelson, but apparently their indecision on Duhon versus Keyon Dooling was enough to convince Duhon to head to New York, for what may have been less money. With Duhon off the books, it's likely that Dooling will resign with Orlando.

Chris Duhon, Jared Jeffries, Danilo Gallinari, and Zach Randolph. Let's get excited, Big Apple!

Several months after he was expected to be back to full speed, starting for the Lakers, Andrew Bynum has been cleared for conditioning. According to a report in the OC Register, Bynum is officially on track for his comeback. He's staying in New York two more weeks working on rehab, then heading down to Atlanta to train.

After every open field goal the Lakers allowed under the basket in the playoffs, and there were many, many of those, Lakers fans would note that the problem would be fixed next year with the return of Bynum beside Gasol and Odom. Getting Bynum clear of any complications with the knee well before training camp is a positive step in that direction. If the Lakers are going to bounce back from a fairly humiliating Finals, they need Bynum to be the unstoppable force in the middle that prevents easy baskets, lets Pau Gasol drift around the elbows, and does that whole rebounding thing the Lakers have so much trouble with.

Coming back from knee surgery has never been considered easy, but with the advances in medicine over the last ten years, it's easier than it ever has been. And if Bynum can manage to come back full strength, the Lakers will boost an already formidable position as the favorite to win the 2008-2009 NBA title.

Chris Paul is considered a member of that group of players that includes Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and others at the elite level, all of which had contracts set to expire after 2009/2010 through a variety of mechanisms. It would appear that at least one of them is happy where he's at.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune is reporting that Paul and the Hornets have agreed in principle to a three-year extension, with an option for a fourth year that brings the total value to $68 million dollars. The deal will keep him with the Hornets a while longer. It's a huge signing for the smaller market Hornets, and gives them a foundation for success for the next five years.

On a day where sadness seems to pervade the Internet regarding the Sonics departure from Seattle, its ironic that such a feel-good story as Paul signing a long term deal with what was a struggling franchise happens. Why? Because without the overwhelming and enthusiastic support of the citizens of Oklahoma City who did such a dastardly thing as "actually coming to the games," the Hornets might not have gotten enough support to even stay in New Orleans, where people are now actually coming to the games. Interesting. Of course, on the flip side, if it hadn't been for Paul's outstanding play, Oklahoma City may not have gotten so enthused about the NBA, which precipitated Clay Bennett's chicanery. It's the circle of life. Or at least greed, money, and marketability.

Lost in the dismal implosion of the Bobcats last season, which was neither a bang, nor a whimper, but a kind of depressing grunt, was the myriad of injuries they were forced to endure. The biggest of which was Sean May.

Now, May wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire before his succumbing to microfracture surgery last October on a knee that's been bothering him since he was drafted, but he is a valuable asset to the new Bobcats regime. On top of that North Carolina connection that the Cats are so fond of, May provides them with a scoring presence inside, which will help to ease the dismay held by Bobcats' fans after their selection of D.J. Augustin.

So it's good news then, that May is reported to be cleared for basketball activities, will be hanging around the team in Las Vegas for Summer League, and will "definitely be at camp in October." May may not be the key to unlocking the puzzle of the Bobcats' stagnant growth, but he could be a significant improvement for the team under new head coach Larry Brown.

Towards the end of an athlete's career, there's always a number of questions about whether it's noble that he or she continues to compete, or regrettable that they continue to cling to the remnants of their fading skills.

Such is the case with one Robert Horry, AKA, "Big Shot Bob." AKA "Cheap Shot Bob." AKA "Wily Pants McGee." Okay, I made the last one up.

Horry said in an interview yesterday that he plans to return to the NBA next season for his 17th season. He said that he would prefer to play for either the Spurs, whom he won championships with, or the Rockets ... whom he won championships with. So essentially there are two takes to have on this.

Take 1: "How noble, to play at his age (he turns 38 in August). To compete at this level at his age is truly heroic. And with his tenacious defense and clutch shooting, you can be sure that any team that picks him up will gain a major assett."

Take 2: "Now this is just sad. The guy can't rn with any of the elite athletes, he suffers in transition, his shooting is down, some blogs call him "the corpse of Robert Horry." And the only way he's able to stay relevant is by distributing cheap shots at his opponents."

Pick a side, and let's crank up Season 17!

The rumors had been fluttering for the past 24 hours, and it's apparently a done deal.

Jermaine O'Neal is headed to Toronto, in exchange for TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, and the #17 pick.

For O'Neal, this is the fresh start he's been waiting years for. He's still a capable big man, and working in tandem with Chris Bosh means he doesn't have to shoulder the load under a body riddled with injuries.

For Ford, this settles the question of whether the Raptors wanted him or Jose Calderon. Ford has still proven he can be capable, and he goes to a team rebuilding, again, but with a lot of talent, again. The Pacers are very quietly building a considerably deep backcourt. Now they just have to do something with it. There's a lot of talk about how this is a win-win situation, but that's only if O'Neal stays healthy. If he does, though, the Raptors will have a frontcourt that could destroy small worlds. Likewise, TJ Ford has to prove his neck is up to go full speed. So many questions, and we're not even to draft night yet. Hang on to your hats, folks. This one's about to get rocky.

Lost in the futility of the Grizzlies' season, the devastating trade of Pau Gasol for Kwame freaking Brown, and the emergence of Rudy Gay was the fact that the Grizzlies are not without any discernible talent. One such gem was Juan Carlos Navarro, the Spanish speaking combo guard who the Grizzlies' traded a protected pick to the Wizards for. Navarro made some nice strides, shooting the long ball relatively well for a rookie and showing signs that he could be a legit contributor.

Well, so much for that idea. in a continuing case of "nothing can ever go right for the Grizzlies," JCN has jumped ship back to his homeland of Spain. Today the Commercial Appeal reports that Navarro accepted a 4 year deal, reported to be worth between $20 and $24 million with FC Barcelona, effectively ending his tenure in the NBA.

While certainly no one can blame Navarro for heading back to more familiar and profitable pasteurs, it's still a shame. Navarro was an excellent three point shooter in his first year, and was part of a promising set of guards for the struggling franchise. I guess sometimes, home is where the heart is. And the gigantic piles of money.

From the AP comes news that both Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo will go tonight in Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Boston. What does this mean?

Well, Perkins is nursing a shoulder injury, which is not a best-case injury scenario when you're talking about a guy that's on the floor to provide a physical presence. Perkins' absence was noticeable in Game 5 as the Laker repeatedly, and finally, built an advantage on the offensive glass with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Perkins is playing to try and erase that deficit, but with Gasol's height advantage over, well, everyone, having a bum shoulder could cause issues.

Conversely, Rondo's suffering with a bum ankle, and that's equally as unfortunate for his skill set. His big advantage over Derek Fisher is his speed and athleticism, and if that's limited, he's just an awkward young point guard who has trouble shooting.

However, the gamble is definitely worth it if the two are really healthy enough to play, obviously. The real question comes if they aren't. Doc Rivers is notorious for his rotation issues, and will often leave guys in too long before making the necessary adjustment. Will he be able to pull the plug tonight if he needs to? Will he have to?