The Weekside: Phoenix Suns continue to lose by treating players like assets

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Boston Celtics

Too much of a good thing? Who should the Celtics start at power forward: Amir Johnson, David Lee, Jared Sullinger, or Jonas Jerebko?

Charlotte Hornets

In the wake of Brandon Armstrong’s incredible NBA impressions, the inevitable is happening. And it’s worse than you could have imagined: Frank Kaminsky is trying to imitate the likes of James Harden.

Chicago Bulls

Same shot. Different angle. (via Complex)

Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron James, a 30-year-old alleged human, has already played more minutes in his career than many Hall of Famers. Though a lot of these guys had their playing days come to an end prematurely, James has already logged more time than Larry Bird (whose career ended due to back problems), Steve Nash (back problems), Magic Johnson (HIV), Isiah Thomas (Achilles’ tear), Clyde Drexler (male-pattern baldness), and Jerry West (caught a case of Eff Los Angeles, saying, “I could never have played for the Lakers again, and I wasn’t going to play for anybody else.”) (via HoopsHype)

Denver Nuggets

If you can look at Dikembe Mutombo’s smile and not smile yourself, then you and I should never have a conversation. (via Ball Don’t Lie)

Houston Rockets

After signing a $200 million sponsorship deal with adidas, James Harden will earn $16.8 million this year from the Rockets and (at least) $15.4 million from the sneaker company, per Darren Rovell of ESPN. I will be making less than that, barring me hitting certain incentives in my contract that I am not currently aware of.

Indiana Pacers

Paul George came, he saw, he left, per Uproxx. “Paul George, despite the gruesome leg injury he suffered while playing meaningless basketball for Team USA last year, still wants to be considered for the 2016 Olympics. To do so, he needed to fulfill Team USA boss Jerry Colangelo’s mandate that he show up at the Team USA minicamp in Vegas this week. He showed up, and according to ESPN’s Marc Stein, that’s all he had to do, so he left after attending a team meeting on Monday.”

Los Angeles Lakers

Stephen Jackson has accurate thoughts about Kobe’s rap skills and notes that “I only rock with Lou Williams, Damian Lillard, and Marquis Daniels,” who are objectively probably the only guys approaching decent on the mic in the league. Dame can legit spit. (via The Score)

Milwaukee Bucks

Greg Monroe is the rare player who is on a max contract but has never made the playoffs. And by having a career-long playoff drought, he joins an ignoble list led by DeMarcus Cousins, Tom Van Arsdale, Popeye Jones, Anthony Morrow, and Jason Thompson

Minnesota Timberwolves

Pick Number 1 vs. Pick Number 2 in each team’s opening game: tt doesn’t get much better than that. Those NBA schedulemakers/marketing wizards did a good job on this one.

New Orleans Pelicans

If James Harden is getting $200 million for a shoe deal, how is future-six-time-MVP Anthony Davis only getting $145 million? Weirder still, he doesn’t even have a signature shoe yet.

New York Knicks

Knicks fans and Carmelo Anthony are in this thing together. So said ‘Melo, anyway, to a critical New York supporter on Instagram. “First of all, thank you for not continuing to be fan of mine,” wrote the franchise player (via Business Insider). “Too bad I’m not gonna lose any sleep over this. Secondly, me not care, wow! That’s a shocker. Shows little you know about me. Staying in NY shows that I do care. If I would have left, what would you have said then? ‘Oh, Melo’s wack for leaving. He turned his back on NY. FOH. You are stuck with me, buddy. Deal with it.”

Also: This.

Oklahoma City Thunder

True or not, this is the best tale of the week, ending in a young Billy Donovan telling Jeff Van Gundy “That’s the best guard I’ve ever played against in my entire life.’”

Orlando Magic

Hail to the Victor, Oladipo,
Hail to the jumping hero,
Hail, hail to Orlando
Employers of this freak

(via Slam)

Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers had one of the worst offseasons of any team, losing LaMarcus Aldridge and Wes Matthews. But their signing of Al-Farouq Aminu was one the best underrated free-agent pickups of the summer, writes Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders.

Sacramento Kings

DeMarcus Cousins turned 25 this week. Happy Boogday, Boogie. He is hanging out with Team USA right now, preparing for future competitions and, as with everything everywhere everyday now, he was asked about the brutal injury Paul George suffered while training with his compatriots last summer.

“I honestly didn’t think about it until you said something about it,” Cousins told a reporter at News 10 Sacramento. “I think a freak accident can happen in regular season, it can happen at your house walking down the stairs. It’s just unfortunate it happened to PG and it happened here.”

Toronto Raptors

Most things about Raptors history are pretty sad, but turns out they also let the best player ever walk away for nothing. Oh, Canada.

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