Day: September 25, 2008

Hawks hire Mark Price and Duane Ferrell

The Atlanta Hawks today named four-time NBA All-Star and Georgia Tech legend Mark Price as a Shooting Consultant, and former Hawk and Yellow Jacket star Duane Ferrell as Player Relations and Programs Manager, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Rick Sund. Price joins the Hawks after spending last season as the Memphis Grizzlies’ Shooting Coach, while Ferrell served in a player development role for the Washington Wizards from 2001-04.

“Coach Woodson thought it was important that we add a shooting specialist to the staff,” Sund said. ”Mark is recognized as one of the premier shooters in the history of the league, and is a welcome addition to our coaching staff. We’re also pleased to enhance our basketball operations area with Duane’s experience. His work with the Wizards, coupled with his time as a player, adds another valuable asset to assist our guys with their development off the court.”

Price enjoyed an outstanding 12-year playing career, spending time with Cleveland, Washington, Golden State and Orlando from 1986-98, and averaged 15.2 ppg and 6.7 apg (.472 FG%, .402 3FG%, .904 FT%) in 772 games. He holds the NBA record for highest career free throw percentage in both the regular season (.904) and postseason (.944). The Cavaliers’ all-time leader in assists (4,206), he also ranks 19th in NBA history with a .402 career three-point percentage.

Price appeared in four NBA All-Star games, was named All-NBA First Team in 1992-93, All-NBA Third Team three times and led the league in free throw percentage five times. In addition to having his number retired in both Cleveland and at Georgia Tech (where he played from 1983-86), the basketball arena in his hometown of Enid, Oklahoma is named after him.

“We’re happy to have Mark on our staff, and we feel like he’s a great fit,” Woodson said. “As a player, he was one of the purest shooters to ever play the game, so we look forward to him working with our guys to improve their consistency from everywhere on the floor.”

“I’m very excited and honored to accept this new position with the Hawks,” Price said. “I’m thrilled to join Coach Woodson and his staff and look forward to working with such a promising organization filled with incredibly talented and exciting players.”

Ferrell played 11 NBA seasons for the Hawks (1988-94), Indiana Pacers (1994-97) and Golden State Warriors (1997-99). His best pro season came in 1991-92, when he averaged 12.7 ppg and 3.2 rpg, appearing in 66 games with the Hawks. In 583 career games, he put up 6.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg (.480 FG%, .750 FT%).

He is Georgia Tech’s ninth all-time leading scorer (1,818), where he played from 1985-88.

“It’s a dream situation for me to return to the organization where I saw my most success as a pro,” Ferrell said. “I played here for six years, and have been proud to call Atlanta my home since 1984. I want to do anything I can to help the players, coaches and franchise to reach their ultimate success, and I think this group is headed in that direction.”

Spurs sign Salim Stoudamire

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have signed guard Salim Stoudamire.  Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Stoudamire, 6-1, 175 lbs., has spent his entire three-year NBA career with the Atlanta Hawks.  Last year he appeared in 35 games, averaging 5.7 points in 11.5 minutes.  He scored in double figures in nine games including a season-high 18 points vs. Golden State on 2/22.  Stoudamire enjoyed his best season in 2005-06 when he played in 61 games, averaging 9.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.3 minutes.  For his career, he has appeared in 157 games, averaging 8.0 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 17.0 minutes per game.

Originally selected by Atlanta with the 31st pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, Stoudamire played four seasons at the University of Arizona where he played in 129 games, averaging 15.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists.  Stoudamire finished his collegiate career in ninth place in NCAA history in career three-point field goal percentage (.458, 342-747) and tied for 18th in career three-point field goals made.  As a senior he led the nation in three-point shooting (.504, 120-238) and ranked fourth nationally in free throw percentage (.910, 122-134).

The roster now stands at 19.

Lakers re-sign DJ Mbenga

The Los Angeles Lakers have re-signed free agent center Didier “DJ” Ilunga-Mbenga, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Mbenga, a 7-foot, 255 pound native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, signed a pair of 10-day contracts with the Lakers last season on January 21 and February 1 before signing for the remainder of the year on February 11.

In 26 games with the Lakers, Mbenga averaged 2.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.62 blocked shots in 7.8 minutes while totaling four points and five rebounds in 10 minutes over seven postseason games.

Earlier in the season, Mbenga signed with the Golden State Warriors on November 17 after spending three seasons with the Dallas Mavericks prior to their request for waivers on him October 30. In 16 games with the Warriors prior to his release January 6, Mbenga averaged 1.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.63 blocked shots in 8.1 minutes.

After signing with Dallas as a rookie free agent in 2004, Mbenga, 27, played 79 games over three seasons with the Mavericks, totaling 106 points, 75 rebounds and 35 blocked shots in 374 minutes. In his rookie year of 2004-05, he averaged 4.10 blocks per 48 minutes played while improving to 5.00 blocks per 48 minutes in 2005-06. In 2006-07 he was limited to just 21 games after missing the first 16 games of the year with a left foot tendon strain and suffering a torn right ACL 2/7/07 vs. Memphis.

In 121 career games including two starts, Mbenga is averaging 1.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.50 blocked shots in 5.8 minutes.

The Lakers preseason roster now stands at 19.

Chucky Atkins out 6 weeks after knee surgery

Denver Nuggets guard Chucky Atkins underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee today.  The surgery, performed by Nuggets orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Steve Traina, repaired torn cartilage and cleaned out loose bodies.

Atkins began experiencing discomfort in the knee two weeks ago while playing pick-up games in preparation for the season.  An MRI was performed on Monday and revealed surgery was necessary.

Atkins will be sidelined for approximately six weeks.

Bobcats sign Carl Landry to offer sheet

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has extended an offer sheet to restricted free agent Carl Landry. Per team policy, terms were not disclosed.

In accordance with the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, Landry’s current team, the Houston Rockets, will have seven days to decide whether to match the offer.

Word is, the deal is for around 3 seasons and $3 million per season. If that’s true, the Rockets are likely to match the offer.

“Landry is an emerging NBA talent, as evidenced by his play over the final 42 regular-season games and into the Rockets first-round playoff appearance,” Higgins said.  “His ability to play both the power forward and center position will complement our post play.”

In his rookie season with Houston, Landry (6-9, 248 pounds) averaged 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in 42 games. He also shot .616 (135-219) from the field and was named All-Rookie Second Team. He scored a career-high 22 points at Indiana on Feb. 1 and tied his career high with 11 rebounds at New Orleans on Feb. 22. Landry also recorded his first career double-double, scoring 15 points and pulling down 11 rebounds against Minnesota on Jan. 11. He appeared in six playoff games with the Rockets last season and averaged 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 17.7 minutes.

Originally drafted by Seattle in the second round (31st overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, Houston obtained his draft rights in exchange for a future second-round selection and cash considerations on June 28, 2007.

Landry finished his collegiate career at Purdue after playing his first two seasons at Vincennes University. In 64 career games for the Boilermakers, he averaged 18.4 points and 7.1 rebounds. As a senior he was named First-Team All-Big Ten by the league’s coaches.