Month: August 2009

Renaldo Balkman arrested for suspicion of DUI

The Denver Post reports: Nuggets forward Renaldo Balkman was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a police report on the Hillsborough (Fla.) County Sheriff’s Office website. The 25-year-old Balkman was arrested by Temple Terrace, Fla., police at 4 a.m. Saturday, after he refused a blood-alcohol content test.

The following is a statement from Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien regarding Renaldo Balkman: “We are aware of a traffic violation involving Renaldo Balkman early Saturday morning in Tampa. As is team policy and out of respect for the legal process, we will have no further comment.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: Uh, pay for a cab. Or pay a sober buddy to drive you home in your car and then give that dude cab money to get himself home. Or stay in a hotel. Or sleep in your car. Or something. It’s really not that hard to avoid ever driving under the influence, especially if you make thousands of dollars per day.

Alex Acker signs in Italy

Euroleague.net reports: Armani Jeans Milano has kept adding to its firepower with the signing this weekend of swingman Alex Acker, a former top-ten scorer in the Euroleague. Acker (195, 26) has spent two years in the Euroleague and finished the first, with Olympiacos in 2006-07, as the Euroleague’s ninth-best scorer, with an average of 14.3 points in 33 minutes per game. Acker was ranked that season’s 12th overall player according to performance index rating while leading the Reds to within a victory of the Final Four.

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Trail Blazers sign rookie Dante Cunningham

The Portland Trail Blazers signed rookie forward Dante Cunningham to a multi-year contract, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.  Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“We are really excited about the versatility and determination Dante brings to our team,” said Pritchard. “Dante had a great summer league and we believe he has the potential to become a very good player in this league.”

Selected by the Trail Blazers with the 33rd overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Cunningham led Portland’s 2009 NBA Summer League entry with 18.3 points to go with a team second-best 5.8 rebounds and 1.50 steals in four games (all starts).

“I am so grateful and happy to be a Trail Blazer,” said Cunningham.  “This is a dream come true and I can’t wait to get to work with my teammates.  I’m looking forward to moving to Portland and helping this team in any way that I can.”

Cunningham, 22, played in a school-record 139 games during his four-year career at Villanova and is one of six players in school history to reach 1,300 points and 800 rebounds. The 6-8, 230-pound Maryland native finished his collegiate career with averages of 9.6 points (52.4% FG), 5.9 rebounds and 1.17 steals.

As a senior, Cunningham was named the Big East’s Most Improved Player and was a member of the All-Big East Second Team after leading the Wildcats with collegiate highs of 16.1 points and 7.5 boards.

The signing of Cunningham boosts the Trail Blazers’ current roster to 12 players. He will wear jersey number 33.

University of Memphis basketball career of Derrick Rose erased from record books

Michael O’Brien of the Chicago Sun-Times reports: Bulls guard Derrick Rose’s college career at Memphis officially was erased from the record books Thursday. The NCAA Committee on Infractions concluded that a player on the 2007-08 team was ineligible to compete because of an invalidated SAT score. According to the NCAA, the athlete played for the Tigers only in the 2007-08 season and the 2008 NCAA tournament. Only one player — Rose — fits that description. The committee also found that Memphis provided a player’s brother with $1,713.85 in impermissible benefits. That person is believed to be Rose’s older brother Reggie. As a result of the infractions, Memphis will forfeit all 38 victories and its Final Four appearance. The school is on probation until Aug. 19, 2012, and must return all the money it received from appearing in the NCAA tournament. “I know I didn’t do anything wrong,” Rose said two weeks ago at his basketball camp in Deerfield.

Shannon Ryan of the Chicago Tribune reports: The Educational Testing Service’s cancellation of the player’s test score fit into the NCAA’s “strict liability” category and the infractions committee did not need to investigate further because it meant Rose already was ineligible before the season began. The NCAA attempted to contact Rose twice to attain proof he took the exam, according to the report, but he didn’t respond. The Memphis men’s basketball team also received punishment for failure to monitor itself because a player’s relative — thought to be Rose’s brother Reggie — received free accommodations and travel on several occasions. Memphis lost in the national championship game to Kansas and the Bulls made Rose the first overall pick in the NBA draft in 2008 after his freshman season. He was named the NBA’s rookie of the year.

Assault charge against Jayson Williams dropped

The AP reports: An assault charge against former NBA star Jayson Williams stemming from a fight outside a North Carolina nightclub has been dismissed. Multiple media outlets reported Wednesday that Wake County Assistant District Attorney Phillip Cowan dismissed the charge at the request of Ahmad Sulimon Nazari of Cary.

InsideHoops.com editor says: I still remember Williams as a player, cutting down the middle of the paint, catching lobs and slamming them home. Those were the good days, before a million different legal problems and the “accidently shooting a guy” thing.

Thunder will not keep Desmond Mason

Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman reports: Would Oklahoma City re-sign Desmond Mason? The long-awaited verdict finally came down Wednesday, 126 days after the season finale and 50 days into this summer’s free agency period. The Thunder will not bring back the former Oklahoma State standout and fan favorite. It’s a decision that brings an end to a relationship that spanned four years in Stillwater with the Cowboys and improbable stints with two different NBA franchises in Oklahoma City over the past four seasons.

More from the Oklahoman: “We value and appreciate Desmond’s contributions to the Thunder,” said Thunder general manager Sam Presti. “However, at this time it is important for us to retain flexibility with our roster as we move into training camp. This was a difficult decision, certainly not the last one we will be faced with. But at this point in time we wanted to make sure we communicated with Desmond on our thought process so he could focus on other opportunities.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: Mason makes any team better. But the Thunder are a young squad of the future. Whether he stays or goes really doesn’t matter too much in the big picture. Someone else will sign him.

Orlando Magic sign Jason Williams

Orlando Magic sign Jason Williams

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Jason Williams, General Manager Otis Smith announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed. We’ll post contract info later today. We’re guessing it’s a very short deal for the league minimum or something close.

“Jason (Williams) provides depth and leadership to our backcourt,” said Smith.  “He is a veteran point guard that knows what it takes to help us reach our ultimate goal.  We are excited to add him to our team.”

Williams (6’1”, 190, 11/18/75) did not play during the 2008-09 season after announcing his retirement on Sept. 26, 2008.  He last played in 67 games during the 2007-08 campaign with Miami, averaging 8.8 ppg., 4.6 apg., 1.9 rpg. and 1.24 stlpg. in 28.1 minpg.

Originally selected in the first round (seventh overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft, Williams has played in 679 career NBA regular season games with Sacramento, Memphis and Miami, averaging 11.4 ppg., 6.3 apg., 2.4 rpg. and 1.28 stlpg. in 31.2 minpg.  He has also played in 53 career playoff contests, averaging 9.8 ppg., 3.7 apg. and 2.2 rpg. in 29.1 minpg.  Williams was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1998-99, currently stands as Memphis’ all-time leader in assists (2,041) and helped Miami capture the 2005-06 NBA Championship.

InsideHoops.com editor says: J-Will, aka “White Chocolate,” is back! Well, sort of. He’s old now and will add bench depth at the point guard spot. Tough to say how good he’ll actually be if forced to ever play real minutes. Usually when a team seeks an old veteran they want a tough, smart, high basketball-IQ player. Williams was talented but not a defensive stopper and a fun, wild player. Still, he can probably still keep defenders on their toes in limited minutes. Though, he’ll be 34 in November. But, maybe he’s spent his time getting into incredible shape or something. We’ll have to wait and see.

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Charlotte Bobcats still for sale

The Charlotte Bobcats continue to be for sale, and it sounds like the current owner can’t wait to part ways with the team. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports:

Bob Johnson and Houston’s George Postolos continue negotiations on a deal that could shift control of the Charlotte Bobcats, multiple sources told the Observer Monday.

Whether a deal is imminent is anyone’s guess.

Johnson, who owns about 70 percent of the franchise, put the team up for sale months ago. Postolos, formerly president of the Houston Rockets, has assembled a group of investors. It’s unclear whether other bidders are still pursuing a purchase.

Sounds like a fantastic investment!

The Observer continues:

The team is heavily in debt – in excess of $100 million – and any buyer would have to take on that burden as part of the purchase… Johnson has told his minority partners to anticipate tens of millions in losses over the next two years.

Nate Robinson arrested for driving without license

The New York Daily News reports: Pint-size Knicks star Nate Robinson was slam-dunked in the Bronx Tuesday for driving without a license. The high-octane guard, whose driver’s license has been suspended since June for an outstanding summons, was booked Tuesday night at the 52nd Precinct stationhouse. He held a magazine to shield his face as he hopped into a waiting car after receiving a summons.

The New York Post reports: “According to DMV records, Robinson’s license has been suspended five times in 14 months. Robinson, an instigator in the infamous Denver brawl three seasons ago, still treated the latest pullover as it was a joke, showing he doesn’t learn from mistakes.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: Nate should have simply jumped the entire distance of where he wanted to go. As for the Knicks, they’re hesitant to add any long term contracts at all, with an eye on top superstars possibly available in 2010. Robinson is a very good scorer and entertainer but the Knicks aren’t big fans of other aspects of his game.

August 25 Update: The issue has been cleared up. Nate can drive again.