While we already knew that Michael Jordan would be the cover athlete for NBA 2K11, 2K Sports unveiled their official box art for the game today. It features a patently tongue-wagging, slashing Jordan in a Bulls uniform (sorry, Washington hopefuls), with a red theme to complement the Chicago colors. And for those who have any reservations about Jordan’s dominance and overall impact on the game (or are perhaps too young to truly remember) 2K spells it out clearly with the caption “The Greatest of All-Time”.

This cover is similar to that of NBA ELITE 11’s in that they are both heavy on creating a sense of movement with graphical additions. Does this cover get you amped up for the release of NBA 2K11?

John Wall is expected to go to the Washington Wizards with the first pick of the NBA Draft today. But even before he has signed on the dotted line with his new team, Reebok has unveiled his signature shoe: the Reebok ZigTech Slash. They are also expected to air this commercial for the shoe during the NBA Draft.

The ZigTech Slash is unlike any basketball shoe I’ve ever seen.  The most noticeable part of the shoe is the squiggly blue “ZigTech” sole – you’ve probably seen the commercials for the running shoes with the same form factor which Reebok has coined as “an energy drink for your feet”. Reebok clearly understands the magnitude of this partnership, and has done well for themselves by plastering the Reebok logo prominantly on the outside of the shoe. While this is good for brand awareness, I’m not sure that it does the shoes any favors aesthetically.

What’s your first reaction after seeing Wall’s new kicks?

Former NBA fan-favorite Manute Bol died today in a Virginia hospital, where he was being treated for severe kidney trouble and a skin condition known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. He was 47 years old.

Bol, one of the tallest NBA players ever at 7′7″, was as widely known for his charisma as his shot-blocking prowess. In his ten-year career Bol played for Washington, Golden State, Philadelphia and Miami, and amassed over 2,000 blocked shots over his career. I’ll never forget this iconic picture of him standing alongside Mugsy Bogues, the shortest player in NBA history.

After his 10-year career in the NBA, Bol dedicated his life to serving as an activist for numerous causes for his war-ravaged nation of birth, Sudan. He eventually founded Sudan Sunrise, a humanitarian group that promotes reconciliation in an attempt to end violence in Sudan. On the Sudan Sunrise website, Executive Director Tom Prichard posted a note about Bol’s death saying “Sudan and the world have lost a hero and an example for all of us.”

What will you remember most about Manute Bol?

While the lowly New Jersey Nets had a 25% chance of winning tonight’s NBA Draft Lottery, their luck continues to fall short. You would think an abysmal 12-70 record would get you something. While the Nets will be able to improve with the third pick in the upcoming draft, the top pick went to a team who was equally in need of an infusion of hope.

After Gilbert Arenas was suspended for the majority of the season for bringing guns into the locker room, the Wizards team was unraveled as they shipped out their two remaining best players (Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison) for what amounted to salary cap flexibility. The Washington Wizards ended up landing the top pick for the upcoming NBA Draft, giving them the chance to pick the consensus top player in the draft – Kentucky’s John Wall.

While it’s fair to wonder how Wall, a point guard, would fit in with the Wizards with Arenas still on the roster – the Wizards would be silly to pass up on such a talent. Any time you have the opportunity to add a franchise-type player to your roster, you do it. As one of the most exciting and athletic guards in college basketball last year, Wall’s game has been compared to names like Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo (or a hybrid of their talents). Wall will have to refine the range on his shot and his consistency, but he is killer on the pick and role, is a dynamic playmaker, and has the ability to be a one-man fast break.

If nothing else, the Wizards should pick Wall and see how they can re-shape their roster through trades, as Wall’s stock is too valuable to dismiss. How do you think adding Wall will affect the Wizards?

See below for the full lottery results for the upcoming NBA Draft, going down on June 24, 2010 at 7 p.m. ET.

While I haven’t been able to get a close look at all of the recently traded players on the floor with their new teams, I did get to see a few of these notable players in action tonight and pass my first judgment. Of course, any statistician would tell you that the sample-size we’re looking at is too small (as these players have only played one or two games with their respective teams), but for the most part we can see how they will be integrated within their new teams’ lineup.

One of the biggest trades made before the deadline was the swap that brought Antawn Jamison to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs have every expectation that Jamison will develop into the best sidekick that LeBron James has had, and hope that their shared successes this season will help to sway James’ decision to stay in Cleveland after his contract is up. Jamison’s debut performance with the Cavs came tonight against the Bobcats, and it was without question his worst game of the year. He came off the bench for the Cavs, missed every one of his 12 shot attempts, and only got in the books with two free-throws late in the game. While it’s hard for any player to get rolling after they have missed their first several shots, it was probably even more difficult for Jamison as he was also trying to feel his way through the game with a new system and new teammates. Still you could see how Jamison could fit in…if he was any semblance of his Wizards self.

On several occasions Jamison was able to get spot-up threes, a trend that should continue as long as James forces defenses to collapse (read: always). The Cavs also had Jamison in for an early stretch when James was on the bench. Once Jamison gets a bit more comfortable, he will be a fantastic scoring option that can keep the momentum going while James needs a breather.

After the game Jamison said, “It was just one of those nights. It won’t happen again. I promise you that.”

It was a completely different story for the new players on the Bobcats. Tyrus Thomas and Theo Ratliff looked right at home in the Charlotte pinstriped whites. Thomas had a fantastic game for the Bobcats, hustling for rebounds and leaping for blocked shots. It seemed as though whenever Thomas was in the game he was very much in the mix. In just 25 minutes of play, Thomas grabbed 12 rebounds, blocked six shots, and pitched in six points as well. We also saw Larry Brown go with a small lineup involving Thomas, Gerald Wallace and Boris Diaw at the frontcourt spots. The athleticism and tenacity of that group demonstrated that they can give even the best teams fits. Ratliff was also productive in his limited minutes, grabbing five boards and blocking two shots. While the Bobcats can’t expect this kind of production every night from these two, they have to love getting eight blocks from their two new players off of the bench.  They’ll live with that.

How about Josh Howard and Al Thornton? They are already getting settled as g0-to scorers for a Wizards team that has done away with their star players and uprooted their identity. Together they led the charge tonight in a spirited effort, resulting in a win at home against the Denver Nuggets (who were just coming off their big win against the Cavs). Thornton repeatedly took it right at Carmelo Anthony and ended up with a team-high 21 points. Howard also had a highly efficient 20 points on 8-11 shooting. Because the Wizards now find themselves without a marquee scorer, Howard and Thornton will likely continue to be leaned upon heavily to put points on the board for Washington. While both players had been experiencing reduced roles with their previous teams, the trade to Washington will certainly give them a real opportunity to be offensive focal points and put their skills on display.

Marcus Camby’s first appearance in a Blazers uniform left a lot to be desired, but one has to wonder how much of his mediocre play had to do with the overall abysmal performance by Portland tonight. The Celtics dominated nearly the entire game, and Portland was never able to get into a consistent rhythm. I hoped that Camby would come out as a man possessed, swatting any shot that was foolishly attempted in the paint and becoming a human magnet for all shots that didn’t drop. Unfortunately, Camby was more or less a non-factor in the game. While he did start the game, he just seemed to blend in and go about his business quietly. He ended up with a sub-par line of 2 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks (two on Glen Davis) and 5 turnovers. Still, with as bad as the Blazers played tonight, Camby provided them with a legitimate defensive presence in the middle. After making due with Juwan Howard and Jeff Pendergraph holding down the center spot, having Camby on the floor is a real luxury for the Blazers. As he gets comfortable with the team and his role, I think that Camby will develop into a major contributor for this team.

Since LeBron James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, they have been in search of a perfect sidekick. Despite always being a threat in the East, Larry Hughes, Luke Jackson and Wally Szczerbiak could never provide the ideal complement to James’ game. The additions of Mo Williams and Shaquille O’Neal have bolstered James’ supporting cast, but he’s never had another forward that could be a reliable scorer and truly keep defenses honest.  They’ve needed another wing player who is both capable of scoring in one-on-one situations, but also be be a consistent outside shooter that James can kick to when defenses collapse. A three team trade involving Cleveland, Washington and the Los Angeles Clippers may have landed the Cavs the player they’ve been waiting for.

The Cavaliers came away with the crown jewel of this trade in Antawn Jamison, who is averaging 20.5 ppg and nearly 9 rpg this season. He is also a legitimate outside shooting threat at 35% from behind the arc. James has to be ecstatic about the arrival of Jamison, whose presence on the court should only stretch defenses and make things easier for himself. To bring Jamison to Cleveland, they had to trade franchise cornerstone Zydrunas Ilgauskas  and a first round pick. There are also rumblings that Ilgauskas will seek a buyout with the Wizards, which means he potentially could return to the Cavs (after 30 days). The Cavs also didn’t have to give up their up-and-coming forward, J.J. Hickson, who had been rumored to be part of any deal involving Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire, so this is a big win for the Cavs and their fans.

While it won’t make much difference on the court, the Cavs also took on the contract of Los Angeles’ Sebastian Telfair as part of the deal. While he likely won’t see significant time behind Mo Williams, Delonte West and Daniel Gibson, we can all reminisce about the reuniting of these high-school phenoms whose career progressions have been remarkably different.

The Wizards sent the recently acquired Drew Gooden to the Clippers as part of the deal, and received Al Thornton from Los Angeles. Along with Ilgauskas (and his $11.5 million expiring contract), the Cavs also provided the Wizards with a 2010 first-round draft pick and the rights to Emir Preldzic. Both the Clippers and the Wizards gain more salary cap flexibility to go after big name free agents this summer…and it is fair to say that both squads have given up on trying to be competitive this year.

Amidst the All-Star action going on tonight, the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks were wheeling and dealing. The result of their efforts was a power-shifting seven-player trade. The Wizards have agreed to send Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to the Mavericks in exchange for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross and James Singleton.

This trade should improve the Mavericks substantially, as both Butler and Haywood should prove to be upgrades over  Howard and Gooden. While Howard has been a key component of the Mavs’ core over the years, his ankle troubles have limited his effectiveness and forced him to miss a substantial amount of games. However, in my mind, Butler is simply the better all-around player. He will give the Mavs yet another versatile, high-octane wing player that will more than fill the void left by Howard. It will be interesting to see how he fits into the Dallas lineup, but he could potentially start alongside Shawn Marion on the wings to give the Mavericks a tall and tenacious duo capable of shutting down opposing scorers. If nothing else, the Mavs will have one of the best sixth-men in the league if they have to bring Butler or Marion off the bench.

Haywood is certainly more than a throw-in for the Mavericks, and should also help bolster their front line in a conference that ebbs and flows on the shoulders of dominant big men. If the Mavericks hope to compete with the likes of the Lakers and Spurs down the playoff stretch, they will need as many big bodies as possible. The addition of Haywood came at the right time for Dallas, as the aging Erick Dampier has missed several games due to knee issues and other ailments. At 30-years-old, Haywood is at the prime of his career, and is averaging more rebounds this season (10.4 rpg) than at any other point in his career.

Washington certainly didn’t get better in the short-term, but there was meaning to their madness. At first glance, the trade seemed like an act of lunacy from the Wizards’ brass. But, as many trades are these days, this was a financial move for Washington that could pay big dividends for them in the future. The first thing to consider is that at 17-33 this season, with Gilbert Arenas suspended for the year, and no signs of improvement in sight – this season is a wash for them. The acquisition of Howard gives them a serviceable replacement for Butler this season, but more importantly gives them what amounts to a major expiring contract. Next year is a team-option year for Howard, but the Wizards are unlikely to pick up his contract given that he’s due more than $11 million next season. Additionally, they get rid of the seldom-utilized DeShawn Stevenson who will be overpaid next year with a $4.1 million player option. This will give Washington some luxury-tax relief and put them in a position to rebuild their fledgling franchise through the coveted 2010 free-agent market. It’s not a sexy trade for the Wizards, but it just might help them out in the long run.

Gooden will also get some serious run in Washington, who is now glaringly undersized up front. They now have no true centers, and will rely on a collection of marginal power forwards to man the middle. They’ll need to get more consistent play from Andray Blatche as well, who should see a significant boost in playing time given Haywood’s departure.

Who do you think got the best end of today’s big deal? Will the Wizards’ salary-savvy moves be worth the drop in talent? Let me know what you think.

Are the fortunes changing for the “other” team in Los Angeles? Baron Davis on his disappointment with the Elton Brand situation and his changed mindset (from L.A. Times)

“It’s hard for me even to remember that much because that wasn’t even a glimpse of myself..I just vowed to come into this season and not be that person and get back to being the hard-working individual and the leader that I am. Once we got around that point where they were talking about Coach (Dunleavy) getting fired…I think everybody just kind of banded together, like we’re not going to lose the season at this point.”

The papers haven’t been served yet, but the writing’s on the wall. Adidas on their relationship with Gilbert Arenas (from Wizards Insider):

“We are evaluating our relationship with Gilbert Arenas based on his recent conduct and subsequent suspension from the NBA. We echo the Commissioner’s concern for such a serious incident and will continue to follow the investigation by the league and law enforcement.”

Before you start taking the blame for your teams woes, you may want to have a career scoring average higher than 6.2 ppg. Ben Wallace (wrongfully, in my opinion) taking the blame for Detroit’s 12-game losing streak (from Pistons Blog):

“Most of this has been on me. I haven’t been playing the way I know I’m capable of playing…I call myself the leader of this team and if you’re leader of the team and things not going well, then it falls on you.”

Please, David Stern and NBA decision-makers, make my year. Mark Cuban on center Erick Dampier’s decision to shoot a 3-pointer with 5.4 seconds left in the fourth quarter of Friday’s 112-103 victory in San Antonio (from Dallas Mavericks Blog)

“I asked the commissioner to put him in the 3-point shooting contest. We’ll see what happens.”

Now that he’s got the passion for the game down, he should be able to turn his concentration to shaving that ratty beard. Chris Bosh on Andrea Bargnani’s newfound fire (from Court Surfing):

“It’s good. It’s real good. It’s always good to play with a little emotion, a little fire, at least, that’s what people tell me. When he’s into the game like that I think it’s good for us and it gives us confidence in him. It shows how important it is. I think everyone likes to win, so that increases the emotion a little bit. We’ve got to keep him inspired to keep doing it.”

Nate Robinson on his feelings of being asked to enter the game after being benched for the past 14. Oh, and then he went on to drop 41 points…ridiculous. (from AP)

“I got nervous. Butterflies. I don’t know. I felt kind of sick. I was just real, real nervous. I was just going to do everything he asked me to do.”

Nets forward Jarvis Hayes (also a 4-year teammate of Gilbert Arenas) on the Arenas and Javaris Crittenton gun incident (from NJ.com)

“It was surprising — Gilbert is a playful guy…I didn’t think he would bring a gun to the locker room. When I first heard it, I thought he might have been playing. But he wasn’t playing, apparently. It was one of those things where emotions got a little too high.”

Usher, part-owner of the Cavs, on his thoughts on LeBron James staying in Cleveland (from New York Daily News):

“I don’t know. I don’t think any of us can answer that question. Only he can answer that. I think he’s just having fun; 25 is a very relaxing year. I remember 25 — I kind of came into my own. LeBron is an anomaly. He’s a unique talent. As you come into your space, you find your home and you become more confident. So, hopefully, he’ll stay home. Or, at least, he’ll make it his home for business.”

Kings coach Paul Westphal after his team falls victim to a Kobe Bryant buzzer-beater. (from AP)

“I am so proud of our team—but at the same time, it’s disappointing,” Sacramento coach Paul Westphal said. “We’ve played well enough to beat those guys twice, but they have a knack at the end of games. We got everything we needed, performance-wise, from everybody that played, and we couldn’t close it out. That’s one of the things that makes the Lakers so good. Kobe is an unbelievable player, no question about it.”