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The Atlanta Hawks offered Joe Johnson 6 years, and $119 million dollars. Joe Johnson vanished from the Hawks in the Playoffs last year, and lashed out at Hawks fans for their criticism of his poor play. Owners are quick to complain about player salaries, but are quick to deal out ridiculous contracts.

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It would appear the Milwaukee Bucks have some deep pockets, or a limited intelligence. Either way the Bucks are looking to expound on their success from last year:

Adrian Wojnawroski is reporting that Drew Gooden has signed a five-year, $32 million dollar deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.  WOW!

Bucks have also re-signed John Salmons for $39 million over five seasons.

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Los Angeles Lakers report the signing of a mega free agent Phil Jackson. “Count me in,” said Jackson. “After a couple weeks of deliberation, it is time to get back to the challenge of putting together a team that can defend its title in the 2010-11 season. It’ll be the last stand for me, and I hope a grand one.”

A member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Jackson established a new Lakers franchise record for regular season victories earlier this year, earning his 534th career victory with a win over the Charlotte Hornets on February 3. The fastest coach to 1,000 career victories, his total of 1,098 regular season wins ranks him fifth all-time while his .705 winning percentage is the best in league history. Additionally, Jackson ranks first all-time in NBA postseason history with a .697 winning percentage (225-98). His 225 playoff victories are also the highest postseason win total for any head coach in league history.

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Minnesota Timberwolves reach agreement in principle with Darko Milicic on a 4 year $20 million deal. In other words desperate times call for desperate measures. Darko must have the best agent in the world, or the Timberwolves are unaware who Darko is.

Twenty-two NBA teams, including 11 that appeared in the 2010 NBA Playoffs, will compete in this year’s NBA Summer League. For the second consecutive year, a team of NBA Development League Select players will also participate in the action taking place at the Thomas & Mack Center and the COX Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Marketing partners included in the event are adidas, EA SPORTS, Gatorade and T-Mobile.

This year’s event will feature the Washington Wizards, who won the top overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Other participating teams with top five selections in this year’s draft include the Minnesota Timberwolves(fourth overall pick) and the Sacramento Kings (fifth overall).

Additionally, 10 of the top 14 picks are expected to participate in Las Vegas this summer.

Joining the above-mentioned teams scheduled to appear in Vegas this summer are the Dallas Mavericks,Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers,Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards.

Tickets for the 2010 NBA Summer League are on sale and can be purchased by calling 702-739-FANS, through UNLVtickets.com or by visiting the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office and UNLV Ticket Outlets. All general admission tickets are $25 for the day; seniors and children (3-12) are $15 for the day; and children two years and under are admitted free of charge.

A complete broadcast schedule will be released at a later date.

Schedule after the jump.

2010 NBA Summer League Game Schedule:

Friday July 9

COX Pavilion

1 PM – Denver vs. Dallas

3 PM – Houston vs. Phoenix

5 PM – Detroit vs. LA Lakers

7 PM – Golden State vs. New Orleans

Saturday July 10

COX Pavilion

1 PM – Toronto vs. Phoenix

3 PM – LA Lakers vs. Denver

5 PM – Detroit vs. Golden State

7 PM – Dallas vs. Houston

Sunday July 11

COX Pavilion

1 PM – New York vs. Denver

3 PM – Portland vs. Houston

5 PM – Washington vs. Golden State

7 PM – Miami vs. New Orleans

Monday July 12

COX Pavilion

1 PM – LA Lakers vs. New York

3 PM – Sacramento vs. Detroit

5 PM – Dallas vs. Milwaukee

7 PM – Washington vs. LA Clippers

Thomas & Mack

3:30 PM – San Antonio vs. Minnesota

5:30 PM – Phoenix vs. NBA D-League

7:30 PM – Memphis vs. Atlanta

Tuesday July 13

COX Pavilion

1 PM – Denver vs. Chicago

3 PM – Cleveland vs. NBA D-League

5 PM – Milwaukee vs. Memphis

7 PM – Portland vs. New Orleans

Thomas & Mack

3:30 PM – Houston vs. Toronto

5:30 PM – Sacramento vs. LA Lakers

7:30 PM – Golden State vs. Miami

Wednesday July 14

COX Pavilion

1 PM – Denver vs. Houston

3 PM – New York vs. Toronto

5 PM – LA Clippers vs. Chicago

7 PM – Sacramento vs. Minnesota

Thomas & Mack

3:30 PM – Atlanta vs. San Antonio

5:30 PM – Cleveland vs. Phoenix

7:30 PM – Detroit vs. Miami

Thursday July 15

COX Pavilion

1 PM – LA Lakers vs. San Antonio

3 PM – Golden State vs. Phoenix

5 PM – Washington vs. Dallas

7 PM – LA Clippers vs. Portland

Thomas & Mack

5:30 PM – Atlanta vs. Milwaukee

7:30 PM – NBA D-League vs. Memphis

Friday July 16

COX Pavilion

1 PM – Detroit vs. New York

3 PM – Toronto vs. Sacramento

5 PM – Washington vs. New Orleans

7 PM – Memphis vs. Minnesota

Thomas & Mack

5:30 PM – Cleveland vs. Chicago

7:30 PM – Milwaukee vs. Miami

Saturday July 17

COX Pavilion

1 PM – New York vs. Washington

3 PM – Miami vs. Cleveland

5 PM – LA Clippers vs. San Antonio

7 PM – Minnesota vs. Portland

Thomas & Mack

3:30 PM – Toronto vs. New Orleans

5:30 PM – Sacramento vs. Chicago

7:30 PM – NBA D-League vs. Atlanta

Sunday July 18

COX Pavilion

1 PM – Cleveland vs. Milwaukee

3 PM – Chicago vs. Portland

5 PM – Dallas vs. Sacramento

Thomas & Mack

1:30 PM – San Antonio vs. Memphis

3:30 PM – Atlanta vs. Minnesota

5:30 PM – LA Clippers vs. NBA D-League

SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

All Times listed are local Las Vegas time.

It seems Hawks fans weren’t thrilled with Joe Johnson’s statement “We could care less if they show up” following Game 3 of the Hawks Eastern Conference Semi-Finals against the Orlando Magic. Putting him for sale on Craigslist like a old coach, or used bicycle is probably what Joe deserves for his words and above all his play. Getting Johnson for $20 million is a tad cheaper then what some NBA team will sign him for this summer, so if you have the funds jumping on this opportunity is wise.

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Magic defeated the Hawks by a combined 101 points en route to their second straight sweep this postseason beating the Atlanta Hawks 98-84. Vince Carter scored 22 points, Rashard Lewis scored 17 points, knocking down four 3-pointers. Mickael Pietrus scored 12 points all from deep. Orlando made 16 of 37 shots from beyond the arc.  The Magic shot 55 percent from the field and never trailed during either game in Atlanta.

Orlando became the third team in the past six years to sweep its first two best-of-seven series, joining Miami (2005) and Cleveland (2009), and the Magic have defeated the Hawks in 10 of their last 11 meetings.

Joe Johnson finished off a miserable series by scoring only 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting. He was booed by the home crowd at the start of the game and got the same treatment when he went to the bench with 3:51 to play. The fans were still miffed that he said didn’t care if they “showed up or not” after they heckled the team in a 30-point loss on Saturday. Josh Smith had 16 points, and Jamal Crawford scored 18 points.

Overall a sad, and disappointing performance for the Hawks in the 2nd Round. Joe Johnson is a free agent, head coach Mike Woodsen contract is up, and Mike Bibby had his remaining bit of skills completely sapped by Jameer Nelson.

Magic await the winner of Celtics-Cavs, which is tied 2-2. Orlando eliminated both teams in last years playoffs.

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

LAKERS BIG ~ utah small. For the 3rd year in a row the Lakers eliminate the Jazz from the Playoffs with a 111-96 victory, in a four game sweep. The Lakers curbed the Jazz’s hopes of extending the series by pulling ahead by 22 in the second quarter. Utah got within five in the third, but couldn’t sustain the comeback. Kobe Bryant finished with 32 points, the 5th straight playoff game in which Kobe’s scored at least 30. Pau Gasol had a season-high 33 points shooting 61% from the field in the series. Utah was swept for the first time in franchise history.

Deron Williams had 21 points and 9 dimes, but was 0-7 from beyond the arc. Paul Milsap had 21 points off the bench, and Carlos Boozer finshed with 10 points, and 13 boards. Boozer is a free agent and with Milsap scoring more then him in an elimination game, off the bench probably seals his fate in Utah.

The Lakers and Suns play Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Monday May, 17th in Los Angeles.

San Antonio Slaughter

The four-time champion San Antonio Spurs were eliminated from the NBA Playoffs last night in shocking fashion, being swept 4-0 by the Phoenix Suns. The Suns were able to finally avenge the countless playoff series losses to the Spurs throughout the past decade, winning the last two series games in San Antonio. It would appear the Spurs are officially heading towards the rebuilding stage. Tony Parker definitely has productive years left in him and Ginobili should be able to play at a high level for a couple more years, barring injury. But Timmy D looks to be slowing down and is definitely not the dominate force he used to be. Oh yeah, it’s safe to say that the Richard Jefferson experiment did not work out. Look for the Spurs not to re-sign him when his contract is up. Just not a good fit for the Spurs.

Rage on Rondo!

Can anyone on the Cavs stop Rajon Rondo? So far this series, the answer is a resounding NO. The long-armed PG has by far been the best Celtic in this series, in the playoffs in general.  There is no longer a Big 3 in Boston, it is the Big One. He is putting up numbers in this series that your Create-A-Player would have in the old school NBA Live games. Triple doubles are pretty much expected at this point. If the Cavs don’t find a way to stop Rondo from running circles around their defense, they will continue to be relegated to the moniker of “Regular Season Champions”.  They must attack him on offense and seriously think about putting LBJ on him. Anthony Parker and Mo Williams ain’t the answer!!!

Someone’s Goin Fishin Soon

The Atlanta Hawks were destroyed in Game 3 by the Orlando Magic, who are 7-0 in the playoffs. And, there is absolutely no indication that this series will not be a sweep. The Hawks are clearly unmatched and have no fight in them. And, this for the team that wants to be considered to be one of the elites for the East. This for a team that had to go to Game 7 to beat a depleted Milwaukee Bucks team in the first round. Personally, I don’t think Mike Woodson is a good coach. He doesn’t seem to be able to motivate these guys. They just don’t respond to him. If the Hawks have any shot of beating the Magic in Game 4, Joe Johnson has to step up.

Where Did He Come From?

Although the Lakers have a commanding 3-0 lead over the Utah Jazz and will win this series, I have been impressed with undrafted free agent Wesley Matthews. Honestly, I never heard of him in college, but this guy works hard and can play ball. He seems like he loves the challenge of guarding Kobe, is active around the basket, and has a nice stroke on the perimeter. His approach to the game fits in well in Jerry Sloan’s system. I guarantee that come contract time, there will be other teams trying to pry him away from Salt Lake City.

(AP Photo/Paul Abell)

The Orlando Magic had every reason to be concerned heading into Game 3 against the Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta had been blown out in the previous two games, it was their first home game, and Joe Johnson, and Josh Smith have yet to play at their normal level. All the concern for the Magic subsided early after being up  52-33 at the half. Rashard Lewis scored 22 points and the backups helped Orlando pull away early with Howard on the bench as the Magic romped to another playoff blowout, moving to the brink of their second straight sweep with a 105-75 win.

Howard had 21 points and 16 rebounds, on 6 of 8 shooting. He went 9-18 from the free throw line. Magic dominated the boards, finishing with a 51-34 rebounding edge. But their margin was largely piled up on all those Atlanta misses. Orlando had a 41-22 lead in defensive rebounds.and won each game by an average margin of 29 points.

Hawks shot only 35 percent (29 of 83), Joe Johnson made only 3 of 15 attempts to finish with eight points. Jamal Crawford led the Hawks with 22 points. The Hawks are now forced to play the “one game at a time” scenario, but it is painfully obvious this series is over. Magic lead series 3-0

(Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers have a multitude of weapons, one of them Ron Artest had been struggling from deep the entire playoffs. In Game 3 he demonstrated just how effective he can be scoring 20 points, making 4 of 7 threes as the Lakers won a nail-bitter 111-110, to take a 3-0 series lead over the Jazz.

Kobe Bryant had 35 points, 7 dimes, Pau Gasol had 14 points and 17 boards, and Derek Fisher scored 20 points in his best game offensively this entire postseason. Down the stretch the Lakers As expected the free throw disparity flipped in the Jazz favor 31 to 19.

The Jazz had two chances to win it in the final 4 seconds, but Deron Williams missed from the top of the key and Wesley Matthews’ tip just before the buzzer bounced off the rim. Williams scored 28 and Kyle Korver added a career playoff-high 23 points for the Jazz. “We kept fight and battling.” Coach of the Jazz Jerry Sloan said, “When your down, you just gonna quit, I hope our guys don’t, I would be disappointed with them as people if they didn’t come and play as hard as they can.” Lakers lead series 3-0.

Howard doesn't push up, he pushes the Earth down!

Atlanta had a lot of explaining to do following their 43 point beat-down in Game 1 by the Orlando Magic. Atlanta only scored 10 points in the second quarter of Game 1, they had 30 in Game 2, and the Magic had only 17. But the 4th quarter was similar to the play in Game 1 where the Hawks missed jumpers and Magic made everything leading to a  112-98 victory given the Magic a 2-0 lead. They outscored the Hawks 28-15 in the 4th.

Magic are 8-1 in the last nine games against the Hawks. Dwight Howard had a “monster” game 29 points and 17 rebounds on 7 of 8 shooting. Howard was amazingly 13 for 18 from the free throw line. Vince Carter went all 2001, finishing with 24 points, 20 of which came in the 2nd half. Four of the Magic starters had at least 20 points, shooting 60% in the second half.

Orlando has now won 6 straight in the playoffs and is the only team to still be undefeated.

Hawks head coach Mike Woodsen was confused about what was wrong with his team in Game 1.After Game 2 I’m sure he learned they appear to outmatched by the Magic. Al Horford lead all Hawks with 24 points, and Jamal Crawford finished with 23 points. Josh Smith, and Joe Johnson combined for 11-31, and were nonexistent down the stretch…paging Mike Bibby!! Game 3 is Saturday in Atlanta.

Magic lead the series 2-0

(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Game 2 between the Lakers and Jazz seemed identical to Game 1. Lakers dominate throughout but unable to silence the Jazz completely, letting them hang around the entire game.  Lakers won 111-103 making it 16 straight home victories against the Jazz. Kobe Bryant led all scores with 30 points and 8 dimes. The Lakers BIGS dominated inside out rebounded the Jazz 58-40 and had 13 blocks(Kobe had 3 of those). The Lakers free throw lead in the first two games will definitly decline heading to Utah. I myself cant wait to see how Ron Artest’s performs in front of the Jazz crowd.

Paul Milsap led all Jazz scorers with 26 points off the bench. Boozer and CJ Miles had 20 points each, but the 4 of 16 shooting from Deron Williams leading to 15 points is not the output the Jazz need from their best player. Lakers lead series 2-0

(Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Orlando had seven days to rest before the Hawks rolled into town. The Hawks are 48-hours removed from besting the Bucks in 7 games. It was OBVIOUS which team was prepared. Howard had 21 points and 12 rebounds in one of the most crushing playoff wins in Magic history, a 114-71 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal. This game was over at halftime when the Magic led 53-33.

Howard added five blocks and avoided the fouls and frustration that overwhelmed him in the first round, helping the Magic go ahead by as many as 46 points. Vince Carter finished with 20 points.

Josh Smith scored 14 points and Zaza Pachulia had 12 points. “It was an ugly game for us,” Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. “I wish I knew what happened.” The fewest points an opponent has ever scored against Orlando in a playoff game was 68. The 43-point win was the Magic’s second-largest margin of victory in a playoff game all-time and tied for the second-largest margin of victory in NBA history in Game 1 of a best-of-7 series. It was the Hawks’ second-worst loss in their postseason history (worst is 58-point loss to the Lakers in 1956). Orlando lead series 1-0

Jamal Crawford scored 22 points on 8 for 16 shooting. Horford worked hard at both ends of the court, finishing with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Mike Bibby, and Josh Smith both scored 15 points. Hawks leader Joe Johnson was held to 8 points on 4 of 14 shooting. Hawks out rebounded the Bucks 55 to 34.

Hawks now head to Orlando on Tuesday to face the Magic that have been waiting since last Monday.

(Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Milwaukee was an entirely diffrent team in the last two games compared to Game 2, 3, and 4. The short-handed Bucks made less than a third of their shots (28 of 86) and simply didn’t have enough weapons to cope with an Atlanta team that was into the game. Brandon Jennings led the way with just 15 points, and he needed 18 shots to score that many. Salmons finished with 11 points.

Still, it was a promising season for the Bucks, who made the playoffs for the first time since 2006 with a promising nucleus of Jennings, John Salmons and Andrew Bogut.

(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Lakers Jazz game was in a way, rudely interrupted by the presentation of the MVP trophy to LeBron James. Fortunately for those watching the MVP presentation all they missed was the usual Lakers game. Someone from the Lakers shoots followed by an offensive rebound from one of the Lakers bigs and a put-back similar to the end of the Lakers-Thunder series. Lakers blew a 14 point lead letting the Jazz back in it with 4 minutes to play in the game, but finish on a 15-6 leading to a 104-99  win in Game 1. The Lakers have now won 15 straight home games against the Jazz.

Kobe Bryant finished wih 31 points on 12 of 19 shooting, 13 of those points came in the 4th quarter. Pau Gasol had 25 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 blocks. Lakers BIGs Odom, Gasol, and Bynum combined for 34 rebounds, the entire Jazz team had 38 rebounds.

In order for the Jazz to win they will need tremendous play from Williams, Boozer, and the entire bench. Williams had 24 points and 8 assists, Boozer had 18 points and 12 boards, and Paul Milsap finished with 16 points and 9 boards. Lakers lead series 1-0

(AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Atlanta Hawks with a must win on the road played with more then they have all Playoffs. After a closely contested first half, the Hawks outscored the Bucks 29-11 in the third quarter and held on to win 83-69. Atlanta got 22 points from Joe Johnson and Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford finished with 24 points.“The bottom line today is we brought our hard hats and not our fishing caps,” Smith said. “We established ourselves early. They gave us a fight, but we were just hungry tonight. I haven’t seen us play like this the whole series.” Atlanta heads back to the Philips Center where the city will turn down Wacka Flocka Flame on the radio and tune into the Hawks game.

Milwaukee had a chance to finish off the Hawks at home and advance to the Eastern Conf. Semifinals, instead they left their offense in the locker room. Bucks shot 25 of 76 from the field for 32.9%, and 7 of 26 from deep. John Slamons and Brandon Jennings combined for 20 points on 6 of 28 shooting. Carlos Delfino had 20 and was the only player with more then 13 points. Bucks. Milwaukee may have to put the blame solely on Jerry Stackhouse for this:

Stackhouse said it was his fourth time singing the national anthem. “I’m a little disappointed that my mojo didn’t work,” he said. “I’m 3-1 now.”  Series tied 3-3.

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Once again the Lakers came out fired up, jumping out to a 13-4 lead, before the Thunder woke up to gain the lead 27-26 by the end of the first. After a back and fourth game, it came down to the final possession. Kobe missed a fade-away jumper and Pau Gasol was there to tip the ball in with .05 on the clock given the Lakers a1-point lead. Kobe lead all scorers with 32 points, and the only other Lakers in double figures were Derek Fisher, and Shannon Brown both with 11.

Ron Artest’s defense on Kevin Durant was the x-factor in this game and the series. Durant shot 5 of 23, for 26 points, which came mostly from the charity stripe where he went 14-15. Jeff Green had 16 in his best game of the series, and Russell Westbrook was solid with 21 points and 9 assists. Thunder were unable to execute with less then a minute left and the lead, allowing the Lakers multiple chances to win the game. Phil Jackson came up with an unexpected answer to a question about why visiting teams are generally more vulnerable. “You have to remember these men are out there in their underwear, in their shorts. These aren’t like the old days but they are pretty scantily clad, and they are, you know, in front of their fans. If you’re at all self-conscious, there you are.”

After a 50-win season and their first appearance in the playoffs, Oklahoma City gave the city and their fans an exciting and competitive series against the Lakers.

(Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

In the most disappointing series of this years playoffs, the Nuggets got completely embarrassed by the Utah Jazz. the above pic describes the awkwardness of this entire series. Denver was without its head coach George Karl as everyone in the world knows, and it had to affect the team in a major way. They seemed easily shook, and out of sorts on defense. Chauncey Billups led Denver with 30 points and Anthony finished with 20 points on 6 for 22 shooting.

After Carmelo’s explosion in Game 1 the Jazz won three straight and ended the series in Game 6 in front of their fans 112-104. 91 combined free throws were attempted…damn! Matthews went 13 for 15 from the free throw line.

Deron Williams had 14 points, and 10 dimes. Boozer had 22 points and 20 boards. Utah now heads to Los Angeles for a rematch of last years Round 1 matchup where the Jazz where dismissed in 5 games. Lakers were without Bynum, and the addition of Artest should be too much for the Jazz.