September 2010 – Page 10 – NBA Blog

Manager confirms Allen Iverson is considering a deal to play in China

The AP reports:

Manager confirms Allen Iverson may play in China

Gary Moore, Allen Iverson’s personal manager, said Iverson has not been contacted by any NBA team with training camps set to open in less than two weeks. Moore said there is “legitimate interest” between Iverson and a team in China to work out a deal. Moore did not know the team’s name and was vague on details.

“We’re very astonished, to say the least, that not one team has contacted us with any interest,” Moore said. “I just don’t understand it.”

Iverson played three games for Memphis last season before he returned for a second stint with the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 13.9 points for the Sixers before he took a leave of absence in March because of family issues.

January 27, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. Bradley Center.. Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson makes a fast break for the hoop..Milwaukee Bucks won over the Philadelphia 76ers 91-88. Mike McGinnis/CSM.

Golden State Warriors sign Louis Amundson

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent forward Louis Amundson to a contract, the team announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

Amundson, 27, appeared in 79 regular-season games last season for the Phoenix Suns, averaging 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per contest – all of which were career bests. A key member of the Suns rotation who came off the bench in all 79 games, Amundson played 20-or-more minutes in 14 regular-season games last year, averaging 9.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.14 blocks and 22.1 minutes in those contests. The 6’9’’ forward also appeared in all 16 of Phoenix’s postseason games, averaging 2.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game as the Suns advanced to the Western Conference Finals.

“We feel very fortunate to add a player like Lou to our roster as we approach the beginning of training camp,” said General Manager Larry Riley. “We’ve had our eyes on him for several weeks now and are confident that his presence will add depth to our front line. Lou is a player who will provide us with many of the intangibles that help teams win basketball games. He’s a high-energy guy who can rebound, run the floor, defend and get to the all-important loose balls. He played a big role for the Suns last season in their run to the Western Conference Finals and that success can only benefit him and his new teammates as we move forward.”

Overall, Amundson has appeared in 182 regular-season games over four seasons with Philadelphia, Utah and Phoenix, posting career averages of 4.0 points, 3.6 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per contest. After going undrafted in the 2006 NBA Draft out of UNLV, Amundson began his professional career with the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League, where he was named D-League Rookie of the Year despite being called up to the NBA in February and splitting the remainder of the 2006-07 season between the Utah Jazz (one game) and Philadelphia 76ers (10 games). After spending the 2007-08 season with the 76ers, the Ventura, CA, native played for the Warriors entry in the 2008 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and has played the last two NBA seasons with the Suns.

Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum is blocked by Phoenix Suns center Louis Amundson (R) in the first half during Game 6 of the NBA Western Conference finals in Phoenix, Arizona May 29, 2010. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Chicago Bulls hire Ed Pinckney as assistant coach

The Chicago Bulls announced today that Ed Pinckney has been hired as an assistant coach on Tom Thibodeau’s coaching staff. In accordance with club policy, terms of the contracts were not announced.

Pinckney, 47, spent last season as the television analyst for the Philadelphia 76ers. Prior to that, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves (2007-2009) and four seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, Villanova University (2003-2007). He also served as a member of the Miami Heat radio and television broadcasting team after his retirement in 1997.

A first-round draft choice of the Phoenix Suns in 1985, Pinckney spent 12 seasons in the NBA as a player with Phoenix, Sacramento, Boston, Milwaukee, Toronto, Philadelphia and Miami. As a collegian, he was one of the finest players in Villanova history. He helped lead the Wildcats to the 1985 NCAA National Championship over Georgetown and was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.

Pinckney will join Ron Adams, Andy Greer, Adrian Griffin and Rick Brunson on Tom Thibodeau’s coaching staff.

Chicago Bulls name Michael Reinsdorf President and COO

The Chicago Bulls today named Michael Reinsdorf President and Chief Operating Officer. In the newly created position, Michael will oversee all business operations for the team and report to Jerry Reinsdorf, who will remain in his position as Chairman of the Board. General Manager Gar Forman and all of Basketball Operations will continue to report to Jerry Reinsdorf.

“Naming Michael President and COO reflects a natural progression of his growing role in the Bulls business organization, and publicly recognizes his contributions to the team,” said Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. “I am proud of his accomplishments with the team, and in his own sports ventures, and believe his knowledge and experience will only strengthen what is an already solid management team.”

Michael has been involved in NBA league matters on behalf of the Bulls since 2001 and has served as an NBA Alternate Governor for the last three years. He is a founding partner for the International Facilities Group, a consulting company specializing in the development of sports and entertainment facilities across the country. He also serves as Chairman of the Harrisburg Senators (AA, Washington Nationals), where he oversaw $40 million in ballpark renovations and watched the team break several single-day and season-long attendance records in 2010.

Michael is a former owner of the Stockton Thunder, one of the premier franchises in the ECHL professional hockey league. During his five years of ownership, he saw the Thunder lead the league in attendance four of the last five seasons, while the Thunder made four straight appearances in the Kelly Cup championships.

“The Bulls winning tradition on and off the court is a part of my DNA,” Michael Reinsdorf said. “I know how much the team means to Chicago, to the NBA, and to fans all over the world. I am looking forward to being a more active, daily participant.”

A graduate of the University of Arizona, Michael lives in Glencoe with his wife and three children, and is a member of the Children’s Memorial Foundation Board of Directors.

New Orlando Magic arena aims to wow fans with high-tech

Mark Schlueb of the Orlando Sentinel reports:

Since the $480 million arena’s conception, Magic and city officials have made technology an integral part of the project, from the 1,100 flat-panel video screens throughout the building to an advanced telecommunications network not much different from the one that controls America’s air traffic.

The state-of-the-art technology means more flash for fans, who will be bombarded with images and sound before they even walk in the door. And just as important for the team’s owner, it also means more advertising cash for the Magic.

“The Magic and the city have the ability now to generate dramatically more revenue than they ever have before,” said Karl Williams, a vice president for Harris Corp., the company responsible for much of the technology.

Perhaps the best example is the video screens, so many that they’ll be unavoidable. They will be hooked to a sophisticated IPTV — Internet Protocol Television — feed that will allow the Magic and the city to control what’s seen on the screens to an extraordinary degree.

If there were a need, technicians in a sophisticated behind-the-scenes control room could make every screen in the building display a different image. More than that, each screen can display multiple different feeds — a sort of picture-in-picture on steroids, with a mosaic of images, video, animation and text.

NBA makes sponsorship deal with Spanish bank BBVA

Ken Belson of the New York Times reports:

The N.B.A. has agreed to a four-year sponsorship worth more than $100 million with BBVA, the Spanish financial giant. BBVA will become the official bank of the league, the W.N.B.A. and the N.B.A. Development League.

The bank, which has more than 700 branches in the United States, will dovetail its marketing efforts in the United States with its sports sponsorships in Spain to take advantage of the growing popularity of the N.B.A. in Europe.

The deal is the latest effort by the N.B.A. to raise its profile overseas and attract international investors. The league has made deep inroads in China and last week announced plans to open an office in Moscow. This year, N.B.A. teams will play preseason games in Spain and China, and regular-season games in London. About 20 percent of the players in the N.B.A. were born overseas.

WNBA commissioner hopes for San Francisco-area team

The AP reports:

WNBA commissioner Donna Orender said the league remains interested in putting a franchise in the San Francisco area, but will not rush the process.

Speaking to reporters prior to Sunday’s first game of the WNBA finals between the Seattle Storm and the Atlanta Dream, Orender said the league will be taking a closer look at that region during the upcoming offseason.

“There’s lots of discussion _ I would call it quiet discussion _ in the Bay Area,” Orender said. “There are several interested ownership groups. I think we’ve made the decision to take it slow and let them find their way and put together their funding and put together how they want to do business on their own time frame at this point.”

Kevin Durant leads USA to first World championship since 1994

Reuters reports:

World championship favorites the United States ended a long wait by beating Turkey 81-64 in the final Sunday to win their first title in 16 years thanks to inspirational forward Kevin Durant.

Still only 21 and coming off his third professional season, the Oklahoma Thunder prodigy won the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award with a series of majestic performances.

Easing past his markers to score from a wide range of positions, Durant racked up 28 points in the final, including 20 in the first half after the hosts had taken an early 17-14 lead.

Durant buried one three-pointer after another to give the U.S. a 42-32 lead at halftime and his Oklahoma team mate Russel Westbrook provided excellent support with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.

The AP reports:

Lamar Odom added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Americans, who won gold in the worlds for only the fourth time, doing so with a team that was no sure thing after coming to Turkey without the superstars from its Olympic gold medal team…

Hedo Turkoglu of the Phoenix Suns scored 16 points for the Turks, who were bidding for their first title and were boosted by huge crowd support, with fans in red filling most of the 15,000-seat Sinan Erdem Dome…

The whistling was so loud when U.S. players were introduced that it was hard to make out the names. There were more whistles and boos every time the Americans had the ball in the early going, and the building was at its loudest when Turkoglu made consecutive 3-pointers to give Turkey its first lead at 15-14 with 4:07 remaining in the first quarter.

Kevin Durant of U.S. (C) is surrounded by team mates as they celebrate their victory against Turkey after their FIBA Basketball World Championship final game in Istanbul, September 12, 2010. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Miami Heat dancer Nancy Lopez-Ruiz killed in auto accident

Carol Rosenberg of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

A Miami Heat dancer on a motorcycle was killed Friday night in a collision with a Mercedes in Fort Lauderdale and police on Saturday were appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Nancy Lopez-Ruiz, 22, of Plantation was riding her 2003 Suzuki GSX R in the westbound right-hand lane of East Sunrise Boulevard when the 9:30 p.m. crash occurred.

Mario Careaga, of Fort Lauderdale, had been driving his 2009 Mercedes behind Lopez-Ruiz. The Mercedes hit the median at the curve of North Federal Highway, then struck the motorcycle, knocking the young woman off her bike. She was pronounced dead on the scene.

See a photo of Nancy here.

Nets sign Joe Smith

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent forward Joe Smith, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

Smith, 6’10”/225, is a 15-year NBA veteran with career averages of 11.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists over 1,014 games with Golden State, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Detroit, Milwaukee, Denver, Cleveland, Chicago, Oklahoma City and Atlanta. He has shot .455 (4,322-9,496) from the field and .790 (2,526-3,198) from the line.

The Norfolk, VA native was the first overall selection in the 1995 NBA Draft by Golden State.

The best season of his career came during the 1996-97 campaign with Golden State, when he appeared and started in 80 games and averaged a career-best 18.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 blocks in 38.6 minutes. In 57 career postseason contests, Smith holds averages of 5.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per game.

Last season in Atlanta, Smith appeared in 64 games, one start, averaging 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per contest.

InsideHoops.com says: Joe first entered the NBA in the 1400’s, when the game was played via candlelight, and the United States did not yet exist. He’s a smart, crafty veteran who will help the Nets bench.