Wikipedia:WikiProject National Basketball Association/Newsletter/Newsroom

This is the newsroom for the newsletter of the NBA WikiProject. If you would like to write for the newsletter, please contact Basketball110.

Writers

 * 1) 'Basketball110'   Talk
 * 2) Thisisborin9 talk/contribs
 * 3)  Trance addict - Tiesto - Above and Beyond
 * 4) Noble Story (talk)

News
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 * May 13, 2008 - Mike D'Antoni parts ways with the Phoenix Suns, the team he coached for 4½ seasons, for the New York Knicks. He is introduced to the Knicks franchise by Donnie Walsh. Story.


 * May 14, 2008 - Rick Carlisle becomes the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, filling in the coaching void left by Avery Johnson. Story.


 * May 20, 2008 - The NBA holds its annual draft lottery. The Chicago Bulls claim the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, despite their 1.7 % probability of getting the pick. The Miami Heat, with the NBA's worst record for the 07-08 season, receive the second pick and the Minnesota Timberwolves get the third choice. Story.


 * May 29, 2008 - The Lakers dispatch the Spurs 100 to 92, winning the series 4-1 and the Western Conference Championship, the Laker's first since 2004. San Antonio is unable to win back-to-back championships again. Story.


 * May 30, 2008 - The Celtics earn a trip to the 2008 NBA Finals, their first since 1987, by dismantling the Pistons in Detroit. The Celts also win the Eastern Conference championship. The Celts will face the Lakers in a highly anticipated matchup between the two longtime rival franchises. Story.


 * June 3, 2008 - After losing three straight Eastern Conference Finals series, the Pistons relieve Flip Saunders of his coaching duties. Story.


 * June 7, 2008 - Former Pistons assistant coach Terry Porter becomes the head coach of the Suns, filling the vacancy left by Mike D'Antoni. Story.


 * June 9, 2008 - The Pistons name Michael Curry as head coach of the ballclub, replacing the outgoing Flip Saunders. Story.


 * June 11, 2008
 * The Bulls name Vinny Del Negro, former assistant general manager of the Suns, as the head coach of the team. Story.
 * Fomer NBA referee Tim Donaghy launches explosive allegations against other referees in the league, claiming that they too were involved in the NBA betting scandal. In his letter, Donaghy states that one or two out of the three referees (Bob Delaney, Dick Bavetta and Ted Bernhardt) who worked Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals, between the Lakers and Kings, altered the game in order to force a Game 7. The NBA commissioner, David Stern, responds by saying these claims are "baseless". Story.


 * June 17, 2008 - Final NBA Playoff standings.


 * June 26, 2008
 * The Pacers trade All-star forward Jermaine O'Neal to the Raptors in exchange for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and two draft picks. Story.
 * The Bucks trade rookie Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons to the Nets in exchange for Richard Jefferson, the Net's top-scorer for the 2007-08 season. The trade was done hours before the 2008 NBA draft, but no draft picks were involved. The trade is expected to benefit both teams in the future. Story.
 * The NBA holds the 2008 NBA Draft in New York City. The top three picks are listed below:
 * Bulls: Derrick Rose
 * Heat: Michael Beasley
 * Timberwolves: O.J. Mayo (then traded to the Grizzlies)
 * Full draft details: Round 1 (Picks 1-30) and Round 2 (Picks 31-60).


 * July 1, 2008 - Baron Davis stuns the Golden State Warriors franchise by stating that he plans to opt out of his final year of his contract with the team. He plans to sign a five year, USD $65 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers on July 9. Story.


 * July 3, 2008 - Clay Bennett and his basketball franchise (formerly the Sonics) reach a deal with the city of Seattle to relocate to Oklahoma City. The basketball club paid USD $75 million towards the city in order to settle the relocation dispute. USD $45 million will be paid immediately to the city and another USD $30 million may come later in 2013. As a result of this deal, the Seattle Supersonics become a defunct franchise, after 41 active years in Seattle. The city is allowed to retain the Sonics' name and logo in case a replacement team is created. The successor to the Sonics team is the still-unnamed Oklahoma City National Basketball Association team, which will play in the Ford Center, Oklahoma City for the 08-09 NBA Season. The 08-09 season will be the team's first year in the new arena and in the NBA. Story.


 * As of July 8, the NBA's WikiProject has 110 members, listed here.