Ainge getting a head start for next season

Basketball Betting Lines

03/21/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The only thing the Boston Celtics have left to play for is pride, and that may be a stretch for this abysmal squad.

Boston is still the second-worst team in the NBA with a dreadful 20-47 mark (Memphis - 17-51) and will certainly gain many chances for a top pick in the upcoming lottery draft. Apparently Celtics general manager Danny Ainge can't wait until that happens after the franchise was reportedly fined $30,000 for excessive contact with a possible draft prospect.

Ainge sat next to the mother of Texas freshman sensation Kevin Durant during the NCAA Big 12 tournament for an excessive amount of time, a violation of NBA rules. According to the league, contact must be kept to a minimum between team executives and possible NBA draft picks. The fact that Durant hasn't even declared for the NBA Draft was even more of a black eye to the NBA.

Now Ainge is back in China to learn more on NBA prospect Yi Jianlian.

Any team executive, though, would be drooling if they had a chance to take arguably the best college basketball player in the country. It was reported months ago, however, that Durant will stay at Texas for another year instead of opting for millions at the next level. It would be a great boost of confidence for the Celtics if they could have Durant suiting up with star forward Paul Pierce on a daily basis.

Teaming up with Al Jefferson isn't a bad idea either. Jefferson was inserted into the starting lineup back on December 6 and is averaging 16.6 points and 11.8 rebounds ever since. Jefferson owns 19.6 ppg and 12.2 rpg since the All- Star break in mid-February, including nine double-doubles. The Celtics are 11-8 when 'Big Al' scores 20 or more points, but 7-34 when he nets 19 or less.

After Boston finally put the brakes on a franchise-record 18-game losing streak, it has gone 8-9 over the last 17 games with losses in four of the last six games. On an uplifting note, the Celtics finally ended a lengthy, 18-game losing streak to San Antonio with a 91-85 triumph on Saturday. Pierce led the way with 30 points for Boston, which last defeated the Spurs on January 8, 1997. The Celtics also collected its first road win in the series against the Spurs since February 14, 1990.

The Celtics will now open a four-game homestand on Wednesday against Charlotte, Dallas, Toronto and Orlando. They are an NBA-worst 9-23 at the friendly confines of TD Banknorth Garden this season.

Reoma Basketball Betting News

<< Hard Spun big name in Lane's End Stakes
Florence, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Highly regarded Hard Spun ships in from Oaklawn Park to head a field of 12 Kentucky Derby contenders for Saturday's $500,000 Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park. The 1 1/8 race for three-year-olds takes p

<< Report: Texans acquire QB Schaub from Falcons
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Texans are reportedly set to acquire quarterback Matt Schaub from the Atlanta Falcons. According to the Houston Chronicle, two NFL executives confirmed the deal. Details of the trade appare

<< Titans agree to terms with S Scott
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tennessee Titans Wednesday agreed to terms on a contract with unrestricted free agent safety Bryan Scott. After spending his first three pro seasons in Atlanta, Scott registered nine tackles in nin

<< Reds release Paul Wilson
Sarasota, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds have released pitcher Paul Wilson. The veteran right-hander has been trying to recover from shoulder surgery performed in June 2005. He had appeared in five games this spring, allowing

<< Mauresmo sidelined after appendectomy
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Amelie Mauresmo will be out of action for about a month after undergoing an appendectomy. According to the French star's website, Mauresmo had been suffering from a stomach ache for a few days and underwent a

Housley next up for Dallas' Modano >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boy, did Dallas Stars center Mike Modano have a good week. The five-day span from March 13-17 was indeed a memorable one for the Livonia, Michigan native. Modano put some of the finishing touches on his playing career that

Drake's Davis retires as son takes over hoop's program >>
Des Moines, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Drake University announced on Wednesday that head men's basketball coach Dr. Tom Davis has retired, and his son Keno will take over the program. The 68-year-old Tom Davis, who will remain with the unive

Drake's Davis retires as son takes over hoops program >>
Des Moines, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Drake University announced on Wednesday that head men's basketball coach Dr. Tom Davis has retired, and his son Keno will take over the program. The 68-year-old Tom Davis, who will remain with the unive

Redskins ink Stoutmire >>
Ashburn, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Redskins signed safety Omar Stoutmire on Wednesday. Stoutmire started nine games with the Saints last season, registering 56 tackles and two interceptions. An 11-year veteran, Sto

Eagles' coach Reid to return Friday >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Wednesday that head coach Andy Reid will return from his leave of absence on Friday. Reid stepped away last month to deal with the recent legal troubles involv

FOOTBALL BETTING : Crabtree's base deal: six years, $32 million

Football Betting

In the wake of the news that the 49ers have signed receiver Michael Crabtree after an extended holdout, there has been not a hint of the dollars to be paid to Crabtree.

And since this means that his agent hasn't leaked the numbers, it means that his agent feels no specific motivation to do so.

Possibly because his agent isn't all that thrilled to have his name on the deal.

So the numbers will come from sources other than Crabtree's agent. And we've gotten our mitts into them.

Per a league source, Crabtree has signed a six-year, $32 million contract. (The total includes guaranteed money, base salaries, and the one-time incentive based on achieving minimum playing time.)

The deal also includes $17 million in guaranteed money.

As reported elsewhere, the deal can void to five years based on performance triggers, wiping out a final year base salary of $4 million. But they won't be easily reached.

The source tells us that, in his first four seasons (including 2009), Crabtree must either qualify for two Pro Bowls, or he must qualify for one Pro Bowl in one year and he must participate in 80 percent of the offensive snaps in a separate year in which the team makes the playoffs.

In other words, if in 2010 he qualifies for the Pro Bowl and the team makes the playoffs and he participates in 80 percent of the snaps, he'll still need to make it to the Pro Bowl or achieve the 80-percent/playoffs in another season.

Since the chances of Crabtree making the Pro Bowl or participating in 80 percent of the offensive snaps this year is roughly zero percent, he'll have three years to get it done.

And it won't be easy. Frankly, he'll be hard pressed to make it to one Pro Bowl in three years with the likes of Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, Anquan Boldin, Steve Smith, the other Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, DeSean Jackson, Johnny Knox, Percy Harvin, Greg Jennings, Roddy White, T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the same conference for sportsbook betting.

So, by all appearances, it's a six-year deal. And at $17 million in guaranteed money, the per-year guarantee is a tepid $2.83 million per year.

There's another problem with the deal -- it has no mid-tier incentive package. Instead, the additional $8 million that Crabtree can earn (pushing the max value to six years, $40 million) requires the kind of unrealistic, mega-star performances that no rookie is likely to ever achieve.

So while the contract paid to Packers defensive tackle B.J. Raji covers five years and pays $22.5 million, he has the ability (if he's a solid player) to make up the difference between his base deal and Crabtree's five-year, $28 million haul via the mid-tier incentive package in Raji's deal.

And unless Crabtree meets the performance thresholds necessary to void the sixth year, he'll be stuck under contract for another year at a base salary of only $4 million.

There's one other area of concern with the deal. Crabtree, per the source, received no option bonus. Instead, he has significant money tied to a fairly new device known as a "discretionary salary advance," which unlike an opition bonus is subject to forfeiture if Crabtree decides in a year or two that he wants to hold out for a better deal. (We're also told that the 49ers have included language that would make certain escalators subject to forfeiture, too.)

Meanwhile, the deal falls well short of the mark for which Crabtree and agent Eugene Parker were aiming -- the five-year, $38.25 million contract paid by the Raiders to receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, the seventh overall pick in the draft.

Even if Crabtree successfully voids the final year, he'll make more than $2 million per year less on average than Heyward-Bey.

Thus, as we explained earlier in the day, this is a deal that Crabtree could have done in July, which would have given him a much better chance of making a contribution to the 49ers during his rookie year.

So while the final outcome can be described as win-win, the broader view suggests that it's really a lose-lose situation.

NFL Betting Lines

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.

Super Bowl XLIV Odds

Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.

That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.

Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.

After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.

The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).

To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.

NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV

New England Patriots 8/1

Dallas Cowboys 9/1

New York Giants 10/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1

Indianapolis Colts 12/1

San Diego Chargers 12/1

Baltimore Ravens 14/1

Tennessee Titans 16/1

Carolina Panthers 18/1

Philadelphia Eagles 18/1

New Orleans Saints 20/1

Atlanta Falcons 25/1

Denver Broncos 25/1

Green Bay Packers 25/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1

Minnesota Vikings 25/1

New York Jets 25/1

Arizona Cardinals 30/1

Chicago BearS 30/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1

Buffalo Bills 35/1

Houston TexaNS 35/1

Miami Dolphins 35/1

Washington Redskins 35/1

Seattle SeahawkS 50/1

Cleveland Browns 55/1

Cincinnati Bengals 60/1

San Francisco 49ers 60/1

Oakland Raiders 75/1

St. Louis Rams 75/1

Detroit Lions 100/1

Kansas City Chiefs 100/1

Odds as of: 2/2/09

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.