August 2010 – Page 11 – NBA Blog

2010-11 Wizards preseason schedule

The Washington Wizards announced their seven-game 2010 preseason schedule today, highlighted by two preseason games at Verizon Center. After playing at Dallas (Oct. 5), Cleveland (Oct. 7) and Chicago (Oct. 8) to open the preseason schedule, the Wizards will return home to host the Atlanta Hawks on October 12 and the Milwaukee Bucks on October 14 at Verizon Center. The Wizards will conclude 2010 preseason action with games in New York against the Knicks (Oct. 17) and versus Detroit in Toledo, OH (Oct. 19) before opening the regular season on Oct. 28 at Orlando.

“We are excited for the 2010-11 season to begin, and our preseason games will allow our fans a preview of what is ahead for our team,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “The anticipated debuts of our offseason additions and the return of our veteran players give us much to look forward to as we head into the upcoming season.”

The NBA announced last night that the Wizards will open the season at Orlando in a nationally-televised game on TNT. The entire 2010-11 regular season schedule will be announced on Tuesday, August 10.

Pistons re-sign Ben Wallace

Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the club has re-signed center Ben Wallace. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Wallace appeared in 69 games (67 starts) last season averaging 5.5 points, a team-high 8.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and a team-leading 1.2 blocks in 28.6 minutes per game.

The 14-year NBA veteran became the 17th player in NBA history to record 2,000 career blocks [at New Jersey (2/2/10)]. At 6-foot-9, he is the shortest player in league history to reach the 2,000-block plateau. Wallace also recorded his 1,200th career steal [at Phoenix (11/22/09)] to become one of only four players (Hakeem Olajuwon, Robert Parish, David Robinson) in NBA history to record 2,000 career blocks and 1,200 career steals.

Wallace, 35, has NBA career averages of 6.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 30.7 minutes in 972 games (852 starts) with Washington, Orlando, Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland.

During his first stint in Detroit (2000 to 2006) he was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year and an NBA All-Star four times. Wallace was an All-NBA Second Team selection three times (2003, 2004, 2006), All-NBA Third Team selection twice (2002 and 2005) and an NBA All-Defensive First Team selection five times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006).

The Pistons have made the playoffs in five of the seven years Wallace has played in Detroit, winning Eastern Conference Championships in 2004 and 2005 and the NBA Championship in 2004. Wallace is the franchise’s all-time leader in regular-season and playoff blocks (1,381 and 215, respectively) and ranks first among Pistons’ all-time playoff leaders in rebounds (1,237).

He holds franchise single-game records for blocks in a game (10 – twice), defensive rebounds in a quarter (10) and blocks in a quarter (6). During the 2006-07 season, he became just the fifth player in NBA history to record 100 blocks and 100 steals for seven consecutive seasons joining Hakeem Olajuwon (12 times), Julius Erving (seven times), Sam Lacey (seven times) and David Robinson (seven times). Wallace ranks fourth among active players in career blocks with 2,032 and led the NBA in blocks during the 2001-02 season (3.48 bpg).

Originally acquired by the Pistons along with Chucky Atkins in exchange for Grant Hill as part of a sign-and-trade deal with Orlando (8/3/00), Wallace signed with Chicago as a free agent on July 13, 2006. He was traded by Chicago to Cleveland as part of a three-team trade on February 21, 2008.

InsideHoops.com editor says: This move makes sense. Why not keep Big Ben around? He likely signed for the league minimum or something close, and is a good veteran presence, though at this point he’s best used in extremely limited minutes to grab some boards and slam into people.

NBA keeps growing in India

Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today reports:

The NBA’s goal is to make basketball the second-most popular sport in India behind cricket. Encouraging signs point to that possibility, especially with the growth of India’s middle class and an economy not hit hard by recession.

“It’s a very big priority for the NBA,” said Heidi Ueberroth, president of NBA International. “It is a long-term view, but we do expect rapid growth.”

The National Council of Applied Economic Research reports India’s high-income households will surpass the number of low-income households this year for the first time, with 62% considered middle class.

“Every single metric you look (at), people are looking for more entertainment options and sporting options,” Ueberroth said.

Making the most of this, she said, begins with infrastructure and grass-roots efforts — providing access to courts and creating chances to play organized ball.

Pondering Zach Randolph in Memphis

Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports:

Do the Grizzlies trust him enough to give him a rich, long-term deal? Especially when a new collective bargaining agreement could change all the rules? Why would the Grizzlies sign Randolph to a contract under the current collective bargaining agreement when the new one is almost certainly going to be harder on the players?

All of which means that owner Mike Heisley will likely offer Randolph considerably less than the max deal he’s been playing under the last few years. And it’ll be hard to blame Randolph if he declines.

Yes, Randolph seems to genuinely like Memphis. Yes, he’s gratified by the way he’s been welcomed. But he’s also the best and most dominant player on the team. Is he really going to play for substantially less than Rudy Gay?

At some point, it may become a point of pride for Randolph. He considers himself one of the elite power forwards in the league. Why should he settle for something less than those players make?

Craig Smith has right knee surgery

Los Angeles Clippers forward Craig Smith underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure today on his right knee. He is scheduled to be sidelined from four to six weeks.

Smith, who averaged 7.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 16.4 minutes in 75 games played with Los Angeles last season, was re-signed by the Clippers as a free agent on July 20th.

Heat sign Eddie House

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent guard Eddie House. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

House has appeared in 661 career games (30 starts) with nine teams over 10 seasons. During his career, he has averaged 7.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 17.3 minutes while shooting 41.0 percent from the field, 39.0 percent from three-point range and 84.1 percent from the foul line. During the 2009-10 season, House averaged 7.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 17.9 minutes, while shooting 38.0 percent from the field and 92.3 percent from the foul line in 68 games for the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.

House, who marks his second stint with the Heat, was originally drafted by Miami with the 37th pick in the 2000 NBA Draft. He spent three seasons with the Heat before signing with the L.A. Clippers as a free agent. He was traded by the Clippers after one season, and spent the following season with the Charlotte Bobcats, Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings. He then spent one year with the Phoenix Suns, and another with the New Jersey Nets. He played with the Boston Celtics for the following two seasons, where he won an NBA Championship in 2008. This past season, he spent time between the Celtics (50 games) and the New York Knicks (18 games).

Nuggets part ways with Rex Chapman and Mark Warkentien

The Denver Nuggets announced today that the contracts of executives Rex Chapman and Mark Warkentien will not be extended for the 2010-11 NBA season.

“Mark and Rex have played important roles in our success over the past several seasons,” KSE Executive Vice President Paul Andrews said. “However, after meeting with both individually in recent weeks, we decided it would be best for all parties to go their separate ways. We appreciate everything that each has done for the organization and wish them nothing but the very best in the future.

“We are in the process of evaluating and restructuring the Nuggets front office and have begun a search for possible replacements as we prepare for the upcoming season.”

Bucks 2010-11 preseason schedule

The Milwaukee Bucks will play three Wisconsin-based home games during the 2010 preseason, including two at the Bradley Center and one at the Resch Center in Green Bay, the team announced today.

Milwaukee returns to the Resch Center for the second consecutive season, this time playing Charlotte, coming off the Bobcats first postseason berth, on Saturday, October 9. Tickets for that game will be available at the Resch Center Box Office, TicketStarOnline.com or by calling (800) 895-0071.

The Bucks will make their first Bradley Center appearance of the preseason on Tuesday, October 5, when they host the Chicago Bulls with new coach Tom Thibodeau and recent acquisitions Carlos Boozer, and Kyle Korver. Milwaukee will close out their preseason games with the 34th Annual MACC Fund Game on Friday, October 22 vs. Minnesota. This annual event is the cornerstone of the Bucks 33-year commitment to the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer. Since the inaugural event in 1977, the annual MACC Fund Game has raised more than $1 million dollars for children’s cancer research at the Midwest Children’s Cancer Center in Milwaukee.

The Bucks tip-off their preseason road slate at Detroit on Friday, October 8. The other four road games include games at Washington on Thursday, October 14, at Memphis on Saturday, October 16, against the Timberwolves on Sunday, October 17 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and against Cleveland on Thursday, October 21 (Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio).

Magic re-sign Jason Williams

The Orlando Magic have re-signed free agent guard Jason Williams, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

“Jason (Williams) played very well for us last season,” said Smith. “He provides veteran leadership to our backcourt and knows what it takes to win. We are happy to have him back on our team.”

Williams (#44, 6’1”, 190, 11/18/75) played in all 82 games last season for the Magic, averaging 6.0 ppg., 3.6 apg. and 1.5 rpg. in 20.8 minpg., while shooting .380 (84-221) from three-point range. He started in 18 outings, averaging 8.6 ppg., 5.1 apg., 2.7 rpg. and 1.11 stlpg. in 29.6 minpg. during that span. Williams ranked seventh in the NBA in assists-to-turnover ratio (3.43, 298/87). He also appeared in all 14 playoff games, averaging 2.6 ppg. and 1.6 apg. in 13.7 minpg.

Originally selected in the first round (seventh overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft, Williams has played in 761 career NBA regular season games with Sacramento, Memphis, Miami and Orlando, averaging 10.8 ppg., 6.0 apg., 2.3 rpg. and 1.21 stlpg. in 30.1 minpg. He has also played in 67 career playoff contests, averaging 8.3 ppg., 3.3 apg. and 1.9 rpg. in 25.9 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.

Celtics sign Von Wafer

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed guard Von Wafer. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Wafer, a 6’5” guard, has posted NBA career averages of 6.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 13.3 minutes per game. Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 39th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, Wafer posted his best statistical season when he was with Houston for the 2008-09 campaign. He posted career-highs with 9.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game. He also shot a career-high 39.0% from three-point land. Wafer made 11 starts for the Rockets during that season and he averaged 16.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in those contests.