Month: September 2010

Kings to introduce variable ticket pricing

Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee reports:

The Kings will announce today they will introduce variable pricing when individual game tickets go on sale Oct. 2.

That means ticket prices will be market-driven. So games likely to be in high demand – the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat – will be priced higher than games not so high in demand – the Los Angeles Clippers or New Jersey Nets.

The Kings sought out consumers’ opinions on how to bring them back to Arco, and variable pricing is the latest response to fans’ concerns.

“We’ve talked to our season-ticket holders at length, both in person and through a lot of surveys, and the NBA,” said Kings vice president of marketing and communications Mitch Germann. “A lot of NBA teams are going to do (variable pricing), too. I know in Major League Baseball some teams have been doing it for a while.”

Hornets sign DJ Strawberry and Darryl Watkins

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed free agent guard D.J. Strawberry and center Darryl Watkins.  Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released. The addition of Strawberry and Watkins puts the training camp roster at 14 thus far.

Strawberry (6-5, 205) was drafted in the second round (59th overall) in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. He appeared in 33 games for the Suns during the 2007-08 season, averaging 2.2 points in 8.2 minutes of play. He was sent down to the NBA D-League for five games by the Suns to play for the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. In five games, Strawberry averaged 31.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 41.4 minutes of play and was named the D-League performer of the week for his play. After being traded to the Houston Rockets prior to the 2008-09 season, Strawberry was cut before the regular season and signed with Fortitudo Bologna of the Italian League. In Italy, he averaged 11.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 19 games during the regular season and 14.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in six games during the Eurocup.

The son of former Major League Baseball player Darryl Strawberry, D.J. played for the Reno Bighorns of the D-League last season. In 26 games, he averaged 13.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 27.8 minutes of play. Most recently, the Mater Dei High School graduate (Santa Ana, Ca.) played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Summer League this past July in Las Vegas. In five games, he poured in 13.0 points and 2.2 assists in 26.2 minutes of play. Strawberry played four years at the University of Maryland, earning many honors including being elected second team All-ACC his senior season.

Watkins (6-11, 258) signed with the Sacramento Kings after being undrafted in the 2007 NBA Draft. Watkins appeared in nine games during the 2007-08 season with the Kings, averaging 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 7.9 minutes of play. The Patterson, NJ native was waived by the Kings in December of 2007 and split the rest of the season with the Los Angeles D-Fenders and the Iowa Energy of the NBA D-League. In Los Angeles, he appeared in 18 games (16 starts), averaging 4.9 points and 5.7 rebounds in 19.8 minutes. In 22 games (11 starts), Watkins put up 8.5 points and 5.9 rebounds in 20.3 minutes of play for the Energy.

Watkins played for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2008 Las Vegas Summer League and signed a two-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs in September of 2008. He was cut just before the 2008 season and signed with Tianjin of the Chinese Basketball League for the 2008-09 season. In China, he played in 43 games, averaging 20.7 points and 14.0 rebounds in 41.6 minutes of play. Last season, he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the preseason, but was cut just before the regular season. Most recently, he appeared for the Indiana Pacers in the Orlando Summer League and the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Summer League this past July. Watkins played four years at Syracuse University with career averages of 6.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game over 106 appearances (67 starts). He ranks fifth in Syracuse history with 263 career blocks.

Jon Brockman gets his own burger

Paul Imig, special to OnMilwaukee.com, reports:

Jon Brockman gets his own burger

It didn’t take long for Jon Brockman to make his mark in Milwaukee, and that was two weeks before even beginning his first training camp with the Bucks.

Brockman and AJ Bombers teamed up to create the Brockness Burger, with Milwaukee’s recently acquired power forward donating $10 to Special Olympics Wisconsin for every one of his signature burgers sold over the next week.

Despite moving to Milwaukee less than four weeks ago and still living out of a hotel, Brockman said he wanted to find a way to quickly become a part of the local community.

“The more stuff like this you do, it makes it more real and more fun,” Brockman said. “I knew I wanted to get plugged into something and be a part of something here in Milwaukee. I just decided to give this a try.”

See picture of the burger.

Popovich says Tim Duncan in great shape

The AP reports:

Popovich says Tim Duncan in great shape

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Thursday that Duncan returned this summer for his 14th season perhaps in even better shape than a year ago, when the perennial All-Star reported to training camp 15 pounds lighter.

“He’s trim and slim. I think he’s even slimmer than he was last year,” Popovich said. “He’s really serious about this. He knows his responsibilities. He wants to win again.”

Popovich met with reporters in San Antonio for the first time since Phoenix swept the Spurs from the Western Conference semifinals in May. He’ll open training camp Sept. 27 with Duncan, who turns 35 this season, leading what is a mostly unchanged Spurs roster.


San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan (L) collides with Phoenix Suns' Channing Frye (R) as he drives to the basket in the second half during Game 1 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final playoff series in Phoenix May 3, 2010. REUTERS/Joshua Lott (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Marijuana charges against Udonis Haslem are dropped

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports:

Marijuana charges against Udonis Haslem are dropped

Udonis Haslem will not face marijuana charges over his August traffic stop on the Gratigny Parkway in Miami-Dade County.

“Udonis Haslem has been vindicated,” Attorney Eric Schwartzreich told the Sun Sentinel after receiving word Thursday that the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s office had ruled the case a no-action.

According to the no-action memo from Assistant State Attorney Errol Portman all five counts against Haslem were dropped by reason of “cannot prove possession.”

The summary of the no-action memo reads, “while there was probable cause for the arrest of Udonis Haslem . . . the State could not prove Udonis Haslem’s knowledge or possession of the cannabis beyond a reasonable doubt.”


April 12, 2010: Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem (40) going up for the shot past Philadelphia 76ers forward Jason Kapono (72) and Philadelphia 76ers guard Lou Williams (23) during the NBA game between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Heat beat the 76ers, 107-105.

Raptors sign Ronald Dupree

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have signed forward Ronald Dupree. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed.

Dupree, 6-foot-7, 210 pounds participated with the Raptors’ entry in the 2010 Las Vegas Summer League. He averaged 10.0 points and 4.0 rebounds helping the club to a 5-0 mark. He had a team-high 24 points and added eight rebounds in a victory over New Orleans.

Dupree has played in 154 NBA games with Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota and Seattle, averaging 3.6 points and 2.2 rebounds. He spent last season in Germany with Telekom Baskets Bonn where he averaged 12.0 points in 33 outings.

The training camp roster now stands at 16.

Rockets will limit Yao Ming to 24 minutes per game

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports:

Rockets will limit Yao Ming to 24 minutes per game

There will be no negotiations, no gray areas. Unless Yao Ming’s surgeon changes his mind and the plan, on all matters involving Yao’s playing time this season, the Rockets will not need to hold further meetings or reach compromises.

Most of all, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey pledged that he and coach Rick Adelman will not come to blows over a star center’s playing time, something Bulls vice president John Paxson and former coach Vinny Del Negro did when limiting Joakim Noah’s minutes last season as the Rockets will Yao’s this season.

Yao will play no more than 24 minutes per game, Rockets vice president and athletic trainer Keith Jones said. There will be no exceptions. If Yao has played his 24 minutes and the Rockets have the ball and eight seconds on the clock to make up a one-point deficit, Yao will not play those eight seconds…

When Yao plays one night, he will skip much of the practice the next day, with the Rockets so determined to limit the demands on Yao that Jones and associate athletic trainer Jason Biles have already outlined Yao’s workout schedule from the start of camp Sept. 25 through the last game of the regular season.


04235371 date 14 08 2008 Copyright imago Xinhua Yao Ming China cheering PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN Vdig vertical Close cheering Highlight Olympic Games Beijing 2008 Summer Games National team international match National jersey Beijing happiness Enthusiasm Basketball OS Summer men Team Single optimistic Action shot Highlight Human Beings Photo via Newscom

David Robinson’s private equity firm targets property

Eben Novy-Williams of Bloomberg reports:

Admiral Capital Group, the private- equity firm of former San Antonio Spurs All-Star David Robinson, entered into a joint venture with United States Automobile Association Real Estate to invest in property.

San Antonio-based USAA’s $50 million investment will be matched by investors including Admiral Capital, Covenant Multifamily Offices and Spurs owner Peter Holt.

The group will make investments between $25 million and $100 million in office buildings, lodging, multifamily dwellings and retail properties.

Rockets offer Erick Dampier a contract

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports:

Rockets offer Erick Dampier a contract

Seeking additional center depth with Yao Ming on a strict playing time limit, the Rockets have offered free agent center Erick Dampier a two-year, $4 million contract, a person with knowledge of the offer said on Wednesday.

Dampier, who was waived by the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday, is also expected to consider a minimum contract offer from the Miami Heat and an offer from the Memphis Grizzlies.