Wed, Jul 4th 2007, 13:29
Hey everyone out there, happy 4th of July! I hope everyone has a great day. Today will be pretty low key for me. I just got back from the gym/lunch and am just going to chill the rest of the afternoon with my mom and little sister. My little sister, Abby, is in town for the 17 and under AAU Nationals down at Disney. Hopefully, I’ll get some time away from my busy schedule and get to see her play. I saw her play once this past high school season. She had a Christmas tournament in Northern Virginia and I just happened to be in town at the same time to play the Washington Wizards.
It looks like we are going to sign Rashard Lewis (I don’t want to say anything definitive though after the what happened with Billy Donovan and then Reyshawn Terry on draft night). He’s going to be a great addition to our team. For one, he’s an all-star caliber player who can really score the ball- something we lacked at times last year. And two, his signing gives us some momentum going into next season. We landed arguably the top free agent of the summer (although Chauncey and Vince are pretty darn good). I don’t know how much his signing will effect me directly, but if anything I think it will have a positive effect. We don’t play the same position but Rashard gives us a go-to player and another shooter to play with Dwight. Our team could be really good next year. As for any inside information on other offseason moves, I have none. It’s kind of an unwritten rule that players do their jobs (play) and management does their jobs (manage). I don’t know what’s going to happen with Grant and Darko, but it’d be nice to have them both back.
We start summer league practice on Friday morning. It’s going to be a busy week and a half with two-a-day practices this weekend and then games every day next week. I’m definitely excited about it though- I love playing the game and summer league will give me an opportunity to be out on the court a lot. Not playing during the summer last year hurt me. I didn’t get to develop as a player and it was frustrating to sit and watch. I’m healthy now going into this weekend (it’s been a goal of mine all summer to stay healthy haha).
FYI for all the Duke fans out there, I played pickup ball with the current team on Saturday and Sunday night. I flew into NC specifically to play with those guys and compete a little bit before the start of summer league. Greg and Gerald were not there the two days I play but everyone else on the current team was. Just to give you a couple of observatons from my perspective:
-the 2007-2008 Duke team will be very talented. We are extremely deep at almost every position. Hopefully, guys will push each other in practice and in the preseason as they fight for a spot in the rotation. I can remember when I played with Daniel Ewing- we would go at each other in pick up games. There were some classic battles and we both got better because of it. Obviously, we loved playing together for Duke but during the offseason we would push each other to improve. That’s what respect is. Hopefully, guys on this year’s team will do that because they have a chance to have a great year
-Taylor King can REALLY shoot the ball. Enough said.
-Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler are both very talented.
as for the older guys they all looked like they’ve improved in some way. Still, they have another two months of the summer to get better. That’s got to be exciting.
It’s always nice to go back to Duke- it still feels like home to me. I have so many amazing memories mostly because of how great the people at Duke are. I loved seeing the coaches, my former teammates, the staff, and all my friends that are still in Durham. That place will always be a haven for me.
Ok then, here’s the deal- I’m going to enjoy the rest of my holiday and I hope everyone else does the same.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be discouraged, do not be dismayed. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”- Joshua 1:9