Month: September 2009

76ers sign Rodney Carney

76ers sign Rodney Carney

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that the team has signed free agent swingman Rodney Carney.

“Rodney Carney is a player that we feel will mesh extremely well with our current personnel and in the up-tempo style of play that Coach Jordan will continue to implement this season,” Stefanski said. “We think that Rodney is one of the most athletic players in the league who has the ability to stretch the floor and we are happy to have him back.”

A three-year veteran, Carney (6-7, 205) spent his first two seasons with the Sixers before being traded to Minnesota along with Calvin Booth, cash considerations and a future first round pick in exchange for a future second round pick on July 9, 2008.  The move helped Philadelphia sign free agent forward Elton Brand last summer.

In 67 games with six starts for the Timberwolves last season, Carney averaged a career-high 7.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game while shooting 41.6% from the floor and career-bests of 35.0% from 3-point range and 75.8% from the line.

Carney also had 45 steals to just 43 turnovers last season and would have ranked fifth in the NBA in steal-to-turnover ratio (1.05) had he qualified.  For his career, Carney has more steals (122) than turnovers (120).

The 25-year-old hit 79 3-pointers last season, after having just 63 3FGM his first two seasons combined.  Carney hit 2+ 3FGM 21 times last season, including a career-high 7 3FGM at Philadelphia on Mar. 25.

Last season, Philly ranked second-to-last in 3-pointers made (4.2 3FGM per) and last in 3-point percentage (31.8% 3FGs).  With the addition of Carney and Jason Kapono, who was acquired via trade back in June, the Sixers have obtained two players who shot a combined 38.9% from behind-the-arc last season.

Heat front-office take pay cuts

Times are tough these days economically for a lot of people. Myself included. I only had five or six hour-long full body massages these past two weeks as I vacation overseas. We’re all making sacrifices.

Anyway, the Miami Heat are cutting some payroll. Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports:

Economic problems have forced Heat president Pat Riley, coach Erik Spoelstra and several members of the team’s front-office to take pay cuts entering the season.

Spoelstra said recently that he expected to open his second season as coach with his entire staff of assistants intact. But financial problems that led to reductions of about 20 employees on the business staff earlier this year have apparently spilled over to basketball operations.

The Heat is already facing the prospect of having to pay about $3 million in NBA luxury tax fees for operating beyond the league’s $69.9 million threshold for excessive payrolls.

It needs to be said that the biggest waste of money in Miami these past few years was on former Heat center Mark Blount. He’s gone now, though, so things can only get brighter on South Beach.

InsideHoops talks to Brandon Jennings

Milwaukee Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings is a flashy, exciting point guard. And with Ramon Sessions gone, the kid has a great shot at being an immediate contributor.

Instead of spending one year on a college campus pretending to be a student, Jennings went overseas after high school and received limited minutes in Rome.

InsideHoops.com met with him in early August. Read the Brandon Jennings interview.

Suns buy out Sasha Pavlovic

The Phoenix Suns didn’t feel they had a need or use for Sasha Pavlovic, so the team and player have parted ways. Stefan Swiat of Suns.com reports:

Suns buy out Sasha Pavlovic

As expected, Sasha Pavlovic’s basketball career in Phoenix was finished before it ever even began. The Suns have agreed to buy out Pavlovic’s contract in a move that will allow the team greater salary cap flexibility moving forward.

Marc Cornstein, Pavlovic’s agent, approached the Suns recently to talk to the team about a prospective buyout. If Pavlovic would have remained with the Suns, there was a reasonable chance that he would have been waived in December, allowing the organization to pay much less of a luxury tax to the league.

The 6-7 guard/forward averaged just 4.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in 16.0 minutes per game last season.

Mavericks re-sign James Singleton

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have re-signed forward James Singleton. Per team policy, terms of the deal were undisclosed.  Several media outlets reported that the deal is a $1.03 million qualifying offer for next season.

“We are excited to bring James back into the fold for next season,” said President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Donnie Nelson.  “His tireless work ethic and lockerroom presence were a large part of our success last year. We couldn’t be happier to keep James in the Mavericks family.”

Last season, Singleton (6-8, 230) played in 62 games (starting six times) for Dallas and averaged career-highs in points (5.1), rebounds (4.0) and minutes (14.3).  He also shot a career-high 52.9% (117-221 FGs) from the field, 32.5% (13-40 3FGs) from 3-point range and 85.9% (67-78 FTs) from the line.

Originally signed by Dallas as a free agent on July 11, 2008, Singleton holds career averages of 3.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 11.6 minutes in 174 games (16 starts).

The Chicago native attended Murray State University after transferring from Pearl River Community College (Miss.).

In an additional transaction, the Mavericks requested waivers on veteran guard Greg Buckner. Dallas acquired Buckner in a four-team trade on July 9, 2009.

Buckner (6-4, 210) was originally a second-round draft choice of the Mavericks in 1998. The veteran guard has played two stints in Dallas and holds career averages of 5.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 570 games.

“We wish Buck nothing but the very best,” said Nelson.  “Given our depth at that position, coupled with the number of guaranteed contracts, there is simply no room on our roster. This early release will also afford him the chance to secure an opportunity elsewhere.”

Greg Ostertag attempting comeback

Greg Ostertag was a somewhat solid NBA center. Weak as a starter, but better than most of the league’s backups. He was big. He got dunked on by Shaquille O’Neal a lot. He had limited ability

The former Utah Jazzman is reportedly attempting a comeback. Jody Genessy of the Deseret News reports:

The former Jazz center is attempting an NBA comeback.

He even recently worked out for a team.

Last week, Ostertag participated in a scrimmage with the Portland Trail Blazers, who are reportedly auditioning big men, including perhaps Jarron Collins, the Oregonian reported.

Ostertag had some rocky moments in his relationship with Sloan, which is why the Hall-of-Fame shout-out was unexpected.

Now 36 years old, Ostertag hasn’t played in the NBA for more than three years, which is why his reported workout was eye-opening.

I’d say there’s a 95 percent chance no one signs him, and a 5 percent chance he lands a nonguaranteed minimum deal for a team’s training camp.

Dwyane Wade`s future up in air

Half the fun of talking about LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and other top stars isn’t just raving about what they do on a basketball court. Speculating about where they may play in the future is just as entertaining.

Mike McGraw of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald reports (via blog):

dwyane wade future team

Asked if the Bulls would be his No. 1 destination should he leave Miami next year, Wade replied, “If I disclose that kind of information, the articles this season aren’t as exciting anymore. Speculation is not the same. You guys ain’t going to have nothing to talk about me.”

Then asked what would keep him Miami, Wade provided this answer: “Well, first of all I love the organization. I love what it stands for, from the owner Mickey Arison on down. It’s a first class organization. We’ve had some good times in Miami. I love the weather. It’s become home for me for the past six years. Hey, it’s not my fault Miami drafted me at No. 5 (in 2003) and Chicago did not move up (from No. 7).”

While LeBron, Wade and other top stars probably do have a strong opinion about what team they may try to play for once their current contracts  run out, it’s safe to assume they really aren’t 100 percent sure. Things can happen. Rosters change. Teams that appear to be attractive can shake things up. So while the speculation will continue, it’s mostly all in fun, because no matter what sources a reporter may have, the players themselves are perfectly likely to change their mind in the future.

Jerry Krause Hall of Fame boycott continues

Jerry Krause is sticking to his principals on an issue he cares about.

Mike McGraw of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald reports:

Former Bulls general manager Jerry Krause says there’s a simple reason why he’s not in Springfield, Mass., this weekend for Michael Jordan’s enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Krause is sending a Tex message.

Years ago, Krause made a vow never to return to the Hall of Fame unless Winter – a longtime Bulls assistant and creator of the triangle offense – was voted in.

“I would be a heck of a hypocrite if I went back on my word not to walk into that building,” Krause said Friday on WSCR’s Danny Mac Show.

“Many years ago I was on the Hall of Fame committee for five years. I resigned in a very public manner for a reason. The reason was because Tex Winter was not on the ballot one year. The committee had no say in who was on the ballot. The committee had no meetings. It was all done by mail and you did not know who the other committee members were.”

I’d say Tex Winter definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame more than a few others who have been inducted over the last four or five years.

Michael Jordan Hall of Fame speech review

The AP reports: From the coach who cut him to the players who disrespected him, Michael Jordan never forgot a slight. Not even on the night he was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. Jordan’s thank you list went well beyond friends and family, including any doubters who provided him the inspiration to become a better player — perhaps the greatest one ever. “You guys, I must say thank you very much for giving me that motivation that I definitely needed,” Jordan said.

The AP continues: Jordan cried before beginning his acceptance speech, then entertained the crowd with memories of any slights that sent him on his way to basketball’s birthplace: –The coach who cut him from the varsity as a North Carolina schoolboy. “I wanted to make sure you understood: You made a mistake, dude.” …  –Isiah Thomas, who allegedly orchestrated a “freezeout” of Jordan in his first All-Star game. “I wanted to prove to you, Magic (Johnson), Larry (Bird), George (Gervin), everybody that I deserved (to be there) just as much as anybody else, and I hope over the period of my career I’ve done that without a doubt.” … –Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy — Jordan called him Pat Riley’s “little guy” — who accused Jordan of “conning” players by acting friendly toward them, then attacking them in games.

Yahoo reports: Jordan wandered through an unfocused and uninspired speech at Symphony Hall, disparaging people who had little to do with his career, like Jeff Van Gundy and Bryon Russell. He ignored people who had so much to do with it, like his personal trainer, Tim Grover. This had been a moving and inspirational night for the NBA – one of its best ceremonies ever – and five minutes into Jordan’s speech it began to spiral into something else. Something unworthy of Jordan’s stature, something beneath him. Jordan spent more time pointlessly admonishing Van Gundy and Russell for crossing him with taunts a dozen years ago than he did singling out his three children. When he finally acknowledged his family, Jordan blurted, in part, to them, “I wouldn’t want to be you guys.”

Yahoo continues: No one ever feels sorry for Isiah Thomas, but Jordan tsk-tsked him and George Gervin and Magic Johnson for the 1985 All-Star game “freeze-out.” Jordan was a rookie, and the older stars decided to isolate him. It was a long time ago, and he obliterated them all for six NBA championships and five MVP trophies. Isiah and the Ice Man looked stunned, as intimidated 50 feet from the stage, as they might have been on the basketball court. The cheering and laughter egged Jordan on, but this was no public service for him. Just because he was smiling didn’t mean this speech hadn’t dissolved into a downright vicious volley.