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On this date in 1965, Celtics big man Bill Russell signed a contract making him the NBA's highest paid player.  The pact was for $100,001, one dollar more than rival Wilt Chamberlain.  The Big Dipper had just inked a three-year, $300K deal with the 76ers, prompting Russell to tell the Celtics that he would retire unless he topped that salary.  Russell's threat of retirement likely didn't have much behind it as he continued to play through the 1968/69 season after capturing his eleventh NBA title.

If you have a great blog piece that you think we should feature in Hoops Links, then send it to me at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the blogosphere..

• The NBA Geek reminds us how important James Harden is to the Thunder.
• The Basketball Post looks at some familiar names joining Unicaja Malaga.
• Canis Hoopus fondly remembers the summer of Sam and Spree.
• Sactown Royalty has a plan for the Maloofs to shut down the rumor mill.
• Nets Are Scorching checks the pulse in Brooklyn.
• At The Hive wonders if Monty Williams is the right coach for the Hornets.
• SLC Dunk takes stock of the Jazz's blocking ability.
• Celtics Green talks near death experiences.
• RealGM reflects on four high school prospects that didn't live up to the hype.
• Basketbawful previews the Clippers in 2012/13.
• The Hoop Doctors applaud the Grizzlies' new owner.
• Blazer's Edge weighs in on women's hoops.
• Bucksketball plans on setting the bar low for Milwaukee.
• Stepien Rules had Ireland's biggest Cavs fan weigh in on the offseason.
• Ballin Europe breaks down some recent comments from a prominent European coach.
• Red94 wants to see LaMarcus Aldridge in Houston.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.

On this date in 1992, Larry Bird announced his retirement from the NBA after 13 incredible seasons.  Larry Legend went out on the highest note possible after he and the Dream Team captured the gold medal in Barcelona, Spain.  The forward played with toughness and grit until the very end of his NBA career but was severely hampered by back issues in his later years and, clearly, had nothing left to prove.  The Hall of Famer finished his career with 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 6.3 APG with 49.6% shooting from the floor.  Bird also accumulated more accolades than the space in this post will allow: three NBA titles, three MVP awards, two Finals MVP awards, twelve All-Star nominations, and much, much more. 

If you have a great blog piece that you think we should feature in Hoops Links, then send it to me at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the blogosphere..

• Hardwood Paroxysm isn't all that high on the Knicks' offseason.
• Nets Are Scorching celebrates Joe Johnson week.
• Red94 tackles the Kevin Martin dilemma.
• SecretRival has an updated list of summer league players that have hooked on overseas.
• Basketball Prospectus ranks the recruiting classes of the last ten years.
• Wages Of Wins has compiled projections for every team, as built, for the next five seasons.
• Raptors Republic liked the play of Jonas Valanciunas in London.
• Bucksketball didn't see Carlos Delfino as a great fit for the Rockets.
• Hoops Addict makes the case for Ante Tomic.
• Bright Side Of The Sun recaps Jared Dudley's summer on Twitter.
• Swish Appeal breaks down the women's team phenomenal defense against France.
• Truth About It believes that Nene Hilario's play in the Olympics will change how he's used this year.
• NBA 24 7 365 doesn't like the Dwight Howard trade for the Magic.
• The Basketball Post looks at potential lottery pick Alec Brown.
• Pounding The Rock isn't so sure that the Howard deal will work out for the Lakers.
• The NBA Geek dispels the fallacy of small ball.
• Buckets Over Broadway marvels at the spending in the Atlantic Division.
• RealGM says that the Bulls never really had a chance with D12.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.

On this week in 1949, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the NBA.  The BAA included the Boston Celtics, Minneapolis Lakers, New York Knicks, Philadelphia Warriors (later Golden State Warriors), and the Rochester Royals (later Sacramento Kings).  The NBL, meanwhile, featured the Syracuse Nationals (later Philadelphia 76ers) and the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (later Atlanta Hawks).

If you have a great blog piece that you think we should feature in Hoops Links, then send it to me at  HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the blogosphere..

• The Basketball Post believes that the Cavs are getting close to playoff contention.
• The Painted Area runs down the 2012 Olympic field.
• Buckets Over Broadway isn't sure what to make of Carmelo Anthony's brilliant game.
• NJNets101 will be looking to draft MarShon Brooks this fall in fantasy.
• Celtics Blog talks Jeff Green and more in this week's mailbag.
• Hot Hot Hoops reviews the 2012 Heat NBA Champions DVD.
• Hardwood Paroxysm introduces us to Nando De Colo.
• Out of Bounds writes why you should be extremely jealous of the Hornets fanbase. 
• Bucksketball has ten reasons to like Tobias Harris.
• Bleacher Report: Los Angeles looks at how Chris Paul could wind up in New York next year.
• 82Games.com looks at draft performance by year.
• The NBA Geek lists the ten worst signings of the offseason.
• Canis Hoopus examines the Brandon Roy saga.
• Celtics Green likes Kevin Garnett over Chris Bosh.
• Saving The Skyhook reminisces about the 2011 Mavericks.
• NBA 24 7 365 remembers one of Allen Iverson's finest moments.
• Fear The Sword has noticed Samardo Samules' new look.
• Blazer's Edge has the goods on Trail Blazers in the Olympics.
• Nets Are Scorching looks at how basketball might fit in Brooklyn.
• At The Hive is in favor of Roger Mason Jr. joining the Hornets.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.

Twenty-four years ago, the Hawks became the first NBA team to play in the Soviet Union when they topped the Soviet Georgia All-Stars 85-84 in an exhibition game.  The event helped to promote the game in Eastern Europe and disproved the long-standing theory that in Soviet Russia, basketball plays you.

If you have a great blog piece that you think we should feature in Hoops Links, then send it to me at  HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the blogosphere..

• Hinton's Sports Highlights looks at the Dwight Howard saga.
• Blazer's Edge wouldn't say that Portland is giving up this year.
• Basketball Prospectus looks at the best teams since 1992.
• Red94 delivers the epilogue of Goran Dragic vs. Kyle Lowry.
• Hardwood Paroxysm takes a trip to Dwyane Wade's world.
• Fear The Sword is impatiently waiting to see the Alonzo Gee situation resolved.
• Golden State Of Mind is high on Harrison Barnes.
• Celtics Blog writes that Jason Terry isn't a perfect replacement for Ray Allen.
• SLC Dunk reflects on the work of Jeff Hornacek.
• Bucksketball goes around the horn to preview the 2012/13 season.
  
• Pounding The Rock talks Las Vegas.
• Waiting For Next Year breaks down the Cavs' upcoming season schedule.
• Rufus On Fire is looking forward to watching Michael Kidd-Gilchrist this year.
• Bullets Forever gets to know A.J. Price.
• Liberty Ballers asks if the 76ers are playoff bound.
• The Basketball Post previews the 2012 Olympics.
• NBA 24 7 365 has ten games that they suggest skipping.
• Swish Appeal looks at Great Britain's women's team.
• The Hoop Doctors talk Nate Robinson.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.

Twelve years ago this week, Isiah Thomas was named as head coach of the Pacers, replacing Larry Bird.  As with Bird, the job in Indiana was his very first experience as head coach.  Bird had the more successful coaching debut between the two: Larry Legend was named the Coach of the Year in 1997/98 after leading the club to 58 wins while Thomas led the Pacers to a .500 record in his first season.

If you have a great blog piece that you think we should feature in Hoops Links, you can send it to me at  HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the basketball blogosphere..

• Secret Rival offers up a list of American players heading overseas for the upcoming season.
• Hardwood Paroxysm praises the Celtics for their acquisition of Courtney Lee.
• Nets Are Scorching talks about the team's move across the river.
• The Basketball Post gets us caught up with Fran Vazquez.
• RealGM feels bad for Knicks fans after the club parted ways with Jeremy Lin.
• Basketbawful takes a closer look at the Dwight Howard saga.
• Basketball Prospectus loves Kyle Lowry's contract.
• NBA 24 7 365 isn't thrilled about the prospect of seeing advertisements on jerseys next year.
• A Wolf Among Wolves reflects on Nicolas Batum's flirtation with Minnesota through music.
• Know Hitter doesn't like the 2012 USA team's chances against the Dream Team.
• Project Spurs points out that San Antonio is stacked in the backcourt.
• Bright Side Of The Sun is happy to see Goran Dragic back in Phoenix.
• Pounding The Rock has their eye on Corey Joseph.
• Brew Hoop believes that Larry Sanders is better than his summer league play indicates.
• Piston Powered stands up for Glen Rice.
• Swish Appeal believes that the USA Women's team has some issues to deal with.
• Sactown Royalty gives Kings fans the skinny on Aaron Brooks.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.

We're at the midway point of summer and – surprise, surprise – our long national Dwightmare continues.  The Rockets and Magic have had some serious dialogue about a trade, but the two sides still have a long way to go.  This week's installment of Hoops Links has a couple of items on Dwight Howard but a healthy dose of non-DH blog pieces as well.

If you have a blog item that you feel should be a part of Hoops Links for next week, send me an email at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the web..

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Here at Hoops Rumors, we've been enjoying the start of an action-packed NBA offseason that will only get more intense as time goes on.  However, on this date in 1978, a transaction took place that you're not likely to see replicated on our site.  The NBA signed off on a franchise swap in which Buffalo Braves owner John Y. Brown and Harry Mangurian acquired the Celtics, while the Celtics owner Irv Levin got the Braves, who would be moved to San Diego to become the Clippers.

If you have a piece that you feel should be a part of Hoops Links for next week, send me an email at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the web..

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On this date in 1969, Bill Russell announced his retirement from the Celtics after a remarkable 13-year career that included eleven NBA Championships.  In 1980, Russell was named the “Greatest Player in the History of the NBA” by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America.  In 2009, the league announced that the NBA Finals MVP trophy would be named after the legendary big man.

If you have a great blog piece that you think we should feature in Hoops Links, then send it to me at  HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the blogosphere..

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One of the most lopsided trades in NBA history was completed on this date in 1972.  The Rockets traded future Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes to the Baltimore Bullets for forward Jack Marin and future considerations.  Hayes would go on to score 15,551 of his 27,313 career points in a Bullets uniform, averaging 21.2 PPG and 12.7 RPG over nine seasons with the Bullets.  Marin, meanwhile, lasted just a year and change with Houston before being shipped to the Buffalo Braves in 1974. 

If you have a great piece that you think we should feature in next week's edition of Hoops Links, send me an email at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the basketball blogosphere..

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On this date 11 years ago (boy do I feel old), the Lakers defeated 76ers 108-96 in Game 5 of the 2001 NBA Finals, capping off the most dominating playoff run in NBA history.  The Lakers went 15-1 through the 2001 playoffs and Shaquille O’Neal was named NBA Finals MVP for the second consecutive season, joining Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to do so.  

Many of this week's links pertain to this year's Finals, which figure to be slightly more competitive.  Do you have a great blog piece that should be a part of Hoops Links?  Then what are you waiting for?  Send me an email at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.  Here's this week's look around the blogosphere..

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