Crazy weeks in Las Vegas aren’t limited to bachelor trips — the NBA is getting in on the fun as well.Players, general managers and NBA owners have spent the past week in the desert, acclimating to this year’s summer league and navigating the volatile free agency market.”It’s always interesting when a bunch of different teams get together,” said Aran Smith, NBADraft.net analyst. “A lot of people are in the same vicinity talking and trying to work out deals.”Several blockbuster moves have already been made, such as Cleveland’s acquisition of Shaquille O’Neal and Toronto stealing Hedo Turkoglu away from Portland.”I’m not even much of a basketball fan, but that Shaq trade perked up my interest,” said Beau Killingsworth, finance senior. “A tag-team like LeBron and Shaq sparks interest … You never know what could happen with that.”One free agent still available could swing the fortunes of several hopeful contenders when he decides to accept a contract.Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom is the talk of the free-agent market after apparently spurning a three-year, $30 million offer to remain with the Lakers.The Lakers pulled the offer off the table, and Odom now has the interest of a number of franchises, including the Dallas Mavericks.”The Mavericks lost out on [Orlando center] Marcin Gortat, and now they’re after Odom,” Smith said. “If he goes back to L.A., they’re the favorites [for this year’s title]. I don’t think signing Odom necessarily makes Dallas a contender, but it lessens the Lakers and boosts a bunch of teams into contender status.”A story line particularly interesting to LSU students is the lack of movement surrounding the Hornets.There was expectation New Orleans would trade center Tyson Chandler this summer after a botched physical nullified a trade to Oklahoma City during the season.”They sold their first-round draft pick in 2008, and they might have been hoping to deal Tyson and save more money,” Smith said.Smith said part of teams’ hesitation could be the projected drop in salary cap of anywhere from $5 to $10 million for the 2010-11 season.”Every team has to be more frugal,” he said. “They’re looking to the future. A lot of players are looking for [shorter contracts], and a lot of teams are looking to offer less money.”A possible move that could excite fans would be the Hornets signing former LSU star Glen Davis.Several rumors have circulated referencing New Orleans as a possible landing spot for the Boston Celtics’ restricted free-agent.”He could do the same thing for New Orleans,” said Eric Shrock, finance senior. “It’d be huge to have him only 60 miles away..”Smith said Davis could use a trade as a spring board to a big payout if he opted to leave Boston.”He may not be making as much money, so a one-year contract and a huge season somewhere else could be big for him. But I haven’t heard anything,” he said.
HORNETS DRAFTEES RAISING EYEBROWS Smith spent some time at the Las Vegas Summer League and came away impressed with New Orleans’ 2009 draft picks, Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton.Collison is averaging 21 points and five assists per game after two summer games, while Thornton is averaging 20.5 points per game and shooting 36 percent from 3-point range.”Thornton is impressive because he’s got the one skill that everybody in the NBA wants — he can shoot,” Smith said.—-Contact David Helman at [email protected]