September 2010 – Page 9 – NBA Blog

Former employee suing Shaq

QMI Agency reports:

Shaquille O’Neal is being sued by a former employee who accuses the NBA superstar of trying to plant child pornography on his computer.

Shawn Darling, who worked for O’Neal as an IT consultant from 2007-09, is taking the Celtics big man to court in Florida for “intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and civil R.I.C.O (a racketeering charge).”

According to the lawsuit, Darling was ordered to delete information from a computer and email account that would have exposed multiple affairs O’Neal was having while he was still married. After the information was deleted, Shaq allegedly tried to plant child pornography on Darling’s computer to frame the employee and keep him from releasing any of the incriminating evidence.

UPDATE: The Boston Herald reports:

In a lengthy statement released by his representatives yesterday, O’Neal called Darling “an ex-con” with a lengthy record. He portrayed the suit as a brazen cash-grab by a man who previously tried to extort him for $12 million by threatening to expose O’Neal’s personal communications and e-mails.

“Mr. O’Neal has made it crystal clear that he will never respond to these outrageous tactics,” Shaq’s representatives said in a statement. “As a result, Darling filed a lawsuit which seeks only to embarrass, harass and extract money from Mr. O’Neal.”

Utah Jazz sign Francisco Elson

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has signed free-agent center Francisco Elson. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

Elson (7-0, 240, California) owns career averages of 3.9 points and 3.8 rebounds over seven NBA seasons with Denver, San Antonio, Seattle, Milwaukee and Philadelphia. Elson has also appeared in 30 playoff games (10 starts), averaging 2.9 points and 2.8 rebounds. Elson’s best statistical season came in 2006-07 with San Antonio, when he appeared in 70 games (41 starts), averaging 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in 19.0 minutes.

NJ Nets name Robby Hoenshel assistant trainer and director of sports rehabilitation

The New Jersey Nets have named Robby Hoenshel assistant trainer and director of sports rehabilitation, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Hoenshel comes to the Nets after working at the Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute where he served as a physical therapist. His duties included evaluation and treatment of sports and orthopedic injuries. Prior to working at Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute, the University of North Florida alum and Jacksonville native worked as a manager and physical therapist at Heartland Rehab in his hometown.

Hoenshel resides in New Jersey with his wife Jenny.

NJ Nets name Doug Overton player development coach

The New Jersey Nets have named Doug Overton player development coach, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Overton takes on a new role in player development after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach. He will be assisting the players with individual skills on the court. Before coming to the Nets, Overton served as an assistant coach on Phil Martelli’s staff at Saint Joseph’s during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 campaigns. Prior to his stint at Saint Joseph’s, the Philadelphia native spent the 2005-06 season as the Director of Player Development for the Philadelphia 76ers, where he assisted the coaching and scouting staffs and worked with the team’s community outreach programs.

An 11-year NBA veteran, Overton spent three different stints with the Nets (1998-99, 2000-01 and 2003-04) averaging 6.0 points and 2.8 assists in 26 games. In 499 career games with seven teams (Washington, Denver, Orlando, New Jersey, Boston, Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia) Overton averaged 4.5 points and 2.1 points.

New Jersey Nets sign Stephen Graham

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

Graham, 6’6”/215, is a five-year NBA veteran with career averages of 4.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 10.9 minutes in 180 career games with Cleveland, Chicago, Houston, Portland, Indiana and Charlotte. He has shot .458 (297-648) from the field and .754 (126-167) from the line. The Oklahoma State alum went undrafted in 2005 and made his NBA debut as a member of the Houston Rockets on December 11 at Portland. The best season of his career came during the 2008-09 campaign with Indiana, when he appeared in 52 games, six starts, averaging a career-best 5.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in a career-high 13.2 minutes per contest. Last season in Charlotte, Graham appeared in a career-high 70 games, eight starts, averaging 4.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in 11.5 minutes. Graham appeared in two playoff contests last season in Charlotte.

Phoenix Suns name John Treloar director of player personnel

The Phoenix Suns named 30-year basketball veteran John Treloar the club’s director of player personnel.

In his new role, Treloar will assist President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby and General Manager Lance Blanks in all personnel decisions and will lead the club’s draft scouting process.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for John and his knowledge of the game,” said Blanks. “His longstanding track record of consistency and success are admirable. He is a perfect fit for what we are trying to do.”

Treloar, 53, joins the Suns following the last two seasons as the head coach of the NBA Development League’s Erie BayHawks, an affiliate of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, where he was also responsible for all personnel decisions. Treloar joined the expansion franchise in 2008, and both assembled the squad and led it to a playoff berth in club’s inaugural season.

“We are excited to add John Treloar to our basketball operations department,” said Babby. “He brings a wealth of experience and will enhance our ability to evaluate players from all sources.”

A 30-year veteran of basketball as both a coach and general manager, Treloar enjoyed success as an assistant coach at Louisiana State University (2004-08) and Indiana University (1997-2004) under Bob Knight and Mike Davis, helping to guide the Hoosiers to six NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2002 Final Four.

At the professional level, Treloar’s head coaching experience was established over eight seasons in the CBA with the Wichita Falls Texans (1990-94), Chicago Rockers (1994-95) and Connecticut Pride (1996-97). His teams made seven playoff appearances in eight seasons and in 1991 Treloar became just the second coach in league history to win a championship in his first season on the bench. Prior to becoming a coach, Treloar served as general manager for both the Mississippi Jets (1987-88) and Texans (1988-89).

A native of Clinton, Miss., Treloar and wife, Debra, have two children, Taylor and Trey. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bellhaven College and a master’s degree in behavioral studies from the University of Alabama.

Atlanta Hawks sign Pape Sy

Atlanta Hawks Executive Vice President and General Manager Rick Sund has announced this afternoon that the team has signed guard/forward Pape Sy to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

Sy (pronounced SEE), the Hawks’ second round pick from France in the 2010 NBA Draft, was selected 53rd overall after spending time with team STB Le Havre of the French Pro A League. He appeared in 38 games over three seasons, with the majority of those contests coming a year ago, as he averaged 5.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists (.505 FG%, .414 3FG% and .710 FT%). Sy tallied a season-high 17 against Poitiers this past February.

“Our European scout (Loize Milosavljevic) did a great job in recommending Pape to us and once he participated in our pre-draft workouts, our scouts and coaches were very impressed with his abilities,” said Sund. “Although he was hampered by an Achillies injury during summer league workouts, we were encouraged with his ability, athleticism and competitiveness.”

Sy, who is listed at 6-7 and is from Loudeac, France, will be on the floor with the rest of his new teammates when they opening training camp September 28 on the practice court at Philips Arena.

“He is a talented 6-7 backcourt player who can play multiple positions,” said Assistant General Manager Dave Pendergraft, who worked throughout the process to get Sy here in time for training camp. “Sy’s an interesting prospect who is determined to play in the NBA.”

Examining Bulls forward Taj Gibson

Nick Friedell of ESPN reports:

Taj Gibson will be a jack of all trades for Tom Thibodeau this season. After starting most of last year under Vinny Del Negro, Gibson continued to show improvement as the year progressed, averaging nine points and almost eight rebounds a game while playing in all 82 regular-season contests. He proved to be one of the biggest steals of the draft at No. 26, earning an invitation to play in the Rookie/Sophomore Game during All Star Weekend. Unlike most rookies, the USC alum embraced the concept of defense, and he became a Del Negro favorite because of his team-first attitude. At 25, he is more mature than most young players who come into the league.

With the addition of Carlos Boozer, Gibson will come off the bench this season, but he still is expected to get plenty of minutes as one of the better sixth men in the league. He can play both forward positions and will most likely be used as a defensive presence late in games. After struggling to find his offense in the beginning of last year, Gibson has spent a lot of time in the gym working on his jumper, and he should be able to expand his range.

Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson handles the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison defends during the first quarter of game 3 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at the United Center in Chicago on April 22, 2010. UPI/Brian Kersey Photo via Newscom

Tim Thomas will not return to Mavericks

Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News reports (via blog):

Tim Thomas has decided not to return to the Mavericks because of the situation with his ailing wife.

Her condition, which Thomas and his family prefers to keep private, forced the 6-10 forward to stay with her much of last season.

He played with the Mavericks for the first half of the season, averaging 7.5 points and 2.3 rebounds in 18 games. But he left the team in January – with the Mavericks’ blessing – to care for his wife.

Charlotte Bobcats waive Erick Dampier

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has waived center Erick Dampier.

“We explored several trade possibilities involving Erick, but ultimately we have been unable to find a viable option that we felt made our team better,” Higgins said. “Out of respect to Erick, we have decided to release him at this time so he may pursue opportunities with other teams prior to training camp.”

The Bobcats acquired Dampier, along with guard Matt Carroll and forward Eduardo Najera, on July 13, 2010, in exchange for centers Tyson Chandler and Alexis Ajinca.

In 14 NBA seasons, Dampier has played in 921 games for Indiana, Golden State and Dallas, with career averages of 7.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. In 55 games with Dallas last season, Dampier averaged 6.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.

The Charlotte Bobcats, who became the NBA’s 30th team when they joined the league in 2004-05, finished the 2009-10 season with a franchise-best 44-38 overall record (31-10 at home) and first-ever playoff appearance.