In The News: October 31, 2007 (NBA Edition)

The Sacramento Kings may be speeding like a runaway Mack truck right into a rebuilding phase. With Mike Bibby likely out for a couple of months, Ron Artest starting the season with a suspension and prized rookie Spencer Hawes out of commission for the year, GM Geoff Petrie acknowledged that the rebuilding in Sac-town could begin now. "At some point, you start to re-evaluate the situation," Petrie told the Sacramento Bee. "We were moving into that (rebuilding) mode anyway. But you go into the season with an open mind." It’s about time anyway, although talented, the disparate pieces on the Kings roster don’t fit together at all.

Juwan Howard didn’t stay unemployed for too long, did he? A day after being cut by the Minnesota Timberwolves, the former member of the Michigan fab-five, agreed in principle to sign with the Dallas Mavericks. Howard, who at 34, is a shell of his former self, may still be able to help a Mavericks squad that is somewhat weak along the front-line. Howard though sure has fallen a long way, with the likely high point being those McDonalds commercials he did with Scottie Pippen and Grant Hill (remember, “Juwan-na get Chicken McNuggets?”) – Oh, and the $105 million contract Howard signed with the then Washington Bullets is probably a high point for him as well.

No Deng, no deal – or so says Magic Johnson. On TNT last night, during the Lakers game against the Rockets, Johnson said, ''A deal can't get done because [the Bulls] won't include [Luol] Deng. And without Deng, a deal can't get done.'' Magic also hinted that there are still trade discussions where Kobe wouldn’t leave town at all, and a player like Jermaine O’Neal could actually join KB24 on the Lakers roster.

New York Knicks owner James Dolan has had it with team coach Isiah Thomas and he’s not taking it anymore! (maybe). Despite all that Isiah has put the organization through and given his decided lack of success, Dolan surprisingly will stick with the beleaguered coach if the team is able to, even slightly, improve their record over last year. Can the combination of Eddie Curry, Zach Randolph and Stephon Marbury lead the Knicks into the Eastern Conference playoffs? Our Magic 8-ball says, “Outlook not so good”. Fear not Knicks fans, Magic 8-ball are stupid kids toys anyway…yeah.

This is why the Atlanta Hawks will always be the Atlanta Hawks. The team actually elected not to sign up-and-coming star Josh Smith to a contract extension, ensuring that he will become a restricted free-agent at the end of the season. Folks around the league are stunned, judging from what an anonymous NBA point guard told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.