Chalmers, Arthur fined $20,000 after rookie symposium incident

If you didn't already know former Kansas teammates Darrell Arthur (Memphis Grizzlies) and Mario Chalmers (Miami Heat) got caught smoking that marijuana stuff in their hotel room at the NBA rookie symposium even though no drugs or paraphernalia were found. They were still in trouble for having two women guests in their room which violated NBA policy. Well the result of all of this will be a $20,000.00 fine before they even get their first NBA check and they will have to the camp again next season with the new rookies.

All Im going to say is don't smoke in the hotel boys...

Sources: Chalmers, Arthur caught with marijuana at rookie camp

March Madness heroes Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur were thrown out of the NBA's rookie transition program on Wednesday morning after being caught in their hotel room with marijuana and women, according to several sources.

"They were sent home for violating program rules," NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said.

Sources said Chalmers and Arthur, who starred on the Kansas Jayhawks' 2008 NCAA championship team, were also fined $20,000 apiece and could start the regular season on the suspended list. But McIntyre would not confirm that.

"We're still looking into it," McIntyre said. "Once we have all the details, appropriate sanctions will be taken."

The players were caught by NBA security at the Doral Arrowwood resort in Rye Brook, N.Y., where 69 of the league's rookies arrived last night for the four-day seminar in which coaches, referees and former players speak about adapting to the league. Having visitors at the rookie transition program is not permitted

Chalmers, who sank the game-tying, buzzer-beating 3-pointer that forced overtime in Kansas' 75-68 championship victory over Memphis, was drafted 34th by Minnesota. He was quickly traded to Miami, where he is expected to vie for the starting point guard position after playing well during summer league. Chalmers played three seasons for the Jayhawks.

Arthur, also an early-entry candidate who played two years at Kansas, was a sympathetic figure on draft night. Roundly believed to have lottery-type talent, Arthur sank to the 27th spot after erroneous rumors of a health problem circulated throughout the league.

Then, after being selected by New Orleans, the 6-foot-9 forward was traded to Portland, then Houston, before finally settling in Memphis.

Per league policy, Chalmers and Arthur will have to attend the program again next season.

Chris Broussard is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.

VIA: ESPN

Hawks' Smith signs Grizzlies' 5-year, $58M offer sheet, report says

Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith has signed a five-year, $58 million offer sheet with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday.

SmithThe Hawks will have seven days to match the offer, which the report said was unexpected from the Grizzlies.

Atlanta has said it would match any offer for the 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward, despite offseason overtures from the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Clippers, neither of which panned out.

Smith quickly took advantage of his restricted free-agent status, spending July 2 visiting the 76ers, a day after teams could start negotiations with free agents.
The 22-year-old Smith toured the city and visited the Wachovia Center with team officials.
But the 76ers opted to sign restricted free-agent Elton Brand, and the Clippers made a trade with the Denver Nuggets for Marcus Camby.

Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. said shortly after the season he was committed to keeping Smith.

Smith's numbers have increased in each of his four NBA seasons since Atlanta made him a first-round pick out of high school in 2004. He averaged 17.2 points and 8.2 rebounds last year and helped the Hawks make the playoffs.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

VIA: ESPN