Morning Jolt: Nets' nightmare: D-Will ends up with Knicks
Thursday, February 24
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Nets' nightmare: D-Will to Knicks
The pitch begins from New Jersey's front office to Deron Williams. Williams initially expressed considerable dismay at this deal. His current pact expires at the close of the 2011-12 season. This adventure will take one of two divergent paths, and the fork in the road arrives on July 18, or whenever the new NBA collective bargaining agreement is sealed. ... D-Will he or D-Won't he sign on? Those of us who have followed this endearing, snake-bitten franchise in Jersey over the decades grimace a bit at one possibility: The Nets are unable to sign Williams to a contract extension over the summer and then the rumors immediately start that he is headed to the Knicks at the end of next season. (New York Daily News)Comment
Kevin Millwood, an opening day starter only a year ago, is now in California hoping for a call and working out in the meantime. For the past week, Millwood, 36, has been training at a Southern California facility run by his agent, Scott Boras. ... The Orioles had lukewarm interest in re-signing Millwood this winter, but used their available funds in other areas. The New York Yankees have been linked to Millwood, but the sides have not been able to work out a deal. At various points in the offseason, Millwood drew interest from the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals and Colorado Rockies, among others. One team that could be a potential fit is the St. Louis Cardinals, which may have lost ace Adam Wainwright for an extended period due to an injury on Monday. (Baltimore Sun)Comment
Combine could push Miller to top five
Von Miller is already considered an early first-rounder, but his combine performance may vault him into the top five. Instead of a top ten pick, we could be talking about the A&M linebacker as a top five player in this April's draft. We can all have opinions of the testing process in Indianapolis and what type of weight it carries in the overall draft process. But for players like Miller at the OLB position, the stopwatch is important. The NFL wants to see him run, change direction, show quickness in his lateral ability and explode out of his cuts on the field. The 40-yard dash, short shuttle and 3-cone drill will be watched closely. (National Football Post)Comment
Must-See Photo
John Mayberry Jr. of the Philadelphia Phillies runs the bases during spring training on Wednesday. (AP)
Must-See Video
Mario Gomez's 90th-minute winner lifted Bayern Munich to a crucial 1-0 victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro in Thursday's opening leg of their Champions League tie.
Game To Watch
Heat at Bulls, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
SI Vault: More Wayne Gretzky
This Day in Sports
- 1980 -- The United States Olympic hockey team defeats Finland, 4-2, to win the gold medal.
- 1982 -- Wayne Gretzky scores his 77th goal of the season to break the NHL record of 76 held by Phil Esposito.
- 1987 -- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers hits his first career three-point shot.
