France's Joakim Noah Out for FIBA Worlds
by Tom Ziller
The French national team, poised to re-enter international competition in style this summer at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, has suffered a not entirely unexpected setback, with news that Bulls center Joakim Noah will not appear in the tournament.
Noah is eligible to sign a contract extension with the Bulls this summer, although the deal wouldn't take effect until 2011-12. Noah has reportedly been trying to get that deal in place ahead of training for the Worlds, but to no success. As such, instead of waiting on resolution any longer, French coach Vincent Collet has ruled out Noah for the tournament.
Noah would have been France's best big man, but rest assured that Les Bleus will manage, with Florent Pietrus, former French League MVP Alain Koffi, reigning French League MVP Ali Traore and Maverick prospect Ian Mahinmi, not to mention team captain Boris Diaw. But in missing Tony Parker, France could really use its top talent; no Noah will hurt against already superior Spain, as well as against teams like Greece, Argentina and Brazil.
Luckily, Nicolas Batum is in shape and ready to play. He'll reportedly play shooting guard for Collet, despite his long frame and experience at small forward. Depending on how France fares in the knockouts, Batum could be a real candidate for the all-tournament team.
by Chris Tomasson
LAS VEGAS -- It wasn't long ago Golden State had a full plate.
The Warriors had 14 players locked up to contracts next season or as restricted free agents with qualifying offers. So they decided not to extend the $1.025 million qualifying offer to forward Anthony Tolliver, coming off a season in which he averaged 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds. That made him an unrestricted rather than a restricted free agent.
But much has changed since then. The Warriors did a sign-and-trade with New York in which they received David Lee while giving up three players (Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and Kelanna Azubuike). They dispatched Anthony Morrow in a sign-and-trade with New Jersey and didn't get a player back. And they dealt restricted free-agent C.J. Watson to Chicago in a sign-and-trade and got no players back.
Throw in first-round pick Ekpe Udoh, and the Warriors were down to 11 players. It reached 12 Wednesday when they signed undrafted rookie point guard Jeremy Lin. 
The Miami Heat had cap space, and focused on landing the three biggest fish on the market, resigned to filling out the roster using a combination of brilliant salary cap trickery and the ever-important veteran's minimum contract.
The Chicago Bulls also had cap space, but instead of maxing out a triptych focusing on one big signing, and used the rest of the payroll to fill just about every need available. The Bulls signed major power forward Carlos Boozer a week into free agency, then went about adding to the team's shooting (Kyle Korver), perimeter defense and athleticism (Ronnie Brewer) and now to the backcourt depth behind star point guard Derrick Rose.
The Bulls landed C.J. Watson in a sign-and-trade with the Warriors, where the 26-year-old combo guard has played for three seasons. Watson will make a reported $6.5 million over the next two seasons to fill in at both guard spots off the bench. It's a rather fair deal for the Bulls, given the dearth of minutes-worthy point guards available this summer. The Warriors receive a 2011 second-round pick from Chicago. 
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Whenever Jerry Sloan reports to work at EnergySolutions Arena, he passes statues of Karl Malone and John Stockton.
There never will be a statue of Carlos Boozer in Salt Lake City. So it's apparent the Utah coach has bigger concerns than the star forward bolting earlier this week to Chicago as a free agent.
"Life goes on,'' Sloan said in an interview with FanHouse on Friday at the Air Tran Orlando Pro Summer League. "We've got to coach whomever. It doesn't make any difference. It happened before. We lost John Stockton and Karl Malone (after the 2002-03 season). We have to do our job, and coach the best that we can. You like your chances better with guys like (Boozer). But that's part of life. You go about your business.
"I'm not going to get emotionally involved. I loved coaching the guy and all that stuff. I have no control over (Boozer's departure). I just give him my best wishes and that's about it.'' 
by FanHouse TVLeBron James is in Miami and everyone else is on to Plan B.
While fans in South Beach are rejoicing, we wonder what's next for the Cavaliers, Knicks, Bulls and Nets -- four teams that fell short in the LeBron sweepstakes. FanHouse TV's Dan Graziano and Rob Peterson weigh in.
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