Hornets hire Ed Lang as CFO

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have hired Ed Lang as the Chief Financial Officer for the team.  Lang comes to New Orleans following 13 years with the NHL’s Nashville Predators.

Lang will oversee financial operations, human resources, information technology, facility operations, and administrative components for the Hornets, including serving as the primary contact for the NBA in related matters.

“We’re excited to have Ed join our family as he brings a wealth of business knowledge from both the sports and non-sports industries,” said Hornets President Hugh Weber.  “He has an extensive background in finance and business functions, and we know he will be a tremendous asset to our team.”

Lang joined the Nashville Predators in 1997 as one of the team’s first employees, after having been instrumental in assisting former team owner Craig Leipold in securing the expansion franchise.  He began as the organization’s Vice President/CFO and was named Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration/CFO in 2005.  In 2007, he became President of Business Operations for the Predators taking on the responsibilities for the franchise’s business operations, which included ticket operations, sales, sponsorship sales, broadcasting, marketing, communications and development, administration and finances.

“This is a great opportunity to be a part of the Hornets family, and I am more than thrilled to now call New Orleans home,” said Lang.  “This team has such a bright future ahead, and I’m excited to help lead the charge in our business operations side.”

Prior to joining the Predators, Lang worked for S.C. Johnson and Son in Racine, Wis. for 12 years. He served in a variety of business and financial capacities, including venture manager for the office of the chairman, financial support manager, North America professional markets; and financial project manager, corporate financial analysis.

A Cincinnati, Ohio native, Lang is a 1985 Indiana University graduate with a B.S. in finance and received his MBA from Marquette University in 1992. He and his wife, Rita, have two sons, Eddie and Andrew. Lang is an outdoor enthusiast and has competed in numerous triathlons, marathons and cycling events and also enjoys skiing and mountain climbing.

Michael Jordan thinks Derrick Rose deserves 2010-11 NBA MVP

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports:

Michael Jordan thinks Derrick Rose deserves 2010-11 NBA MVP

Michael Jordan receives massive standing ovations whenever he returns to the United Center, as he will Saturday night for the 20th anniversary celebration of the Bulls’ first NBA championship in a ceremony with former broadcaster Jim Durham as host.

But there might be a few extra decibels involved given what His Airness said about Derrick Rose in a rare interview Wednesday night.

“MVP of the season,” the Bobcats owner said Wednesday night after the Bulls downed his team 101-84. “He deserves it. He’s playing that well, without a doubt.”

Then Jordan offered that sly smile.

“And if he doesn’t get it, now he will see how I felt a lot of those years,” the Bulls’ Hall of Famer said…

“I wish man,” Rose said. “It’s great that he said that. It’s an honor. I’m speechless. But I’m just trying to keep winning. The award will come if we keep winning. I’m just trying to play hard and aggressive and with an edge.”

Kevin Love passes Moses Malone with 52nd double-double in row

The AP reports:

Kevin Love passes Malone with 52nd double-double in row

The hardest part of what turned out to be a historic night for Kevin Love was deciding whether he was going to play at all.

With a bulky brace wrapped around his bruised and swollen left knee, the Minnesota Timberwolves star didn’t decide to give it a go until about 20 minutes before tipoff. Once he did, he made extending the longest double-double streak in 37 years look too easy.

Love recorded his 52nd double-double in a row to surpass Moses Malone for the longest such streak since the ABA and NBA merged in 1976 in the Timberwolves’ 101-75 over the free-falling Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.

Love put up 16 points and 21 rebounds in just 27 minutes to help the Timberwolves win for just the 16th time this season. Love didn’t waste any time extending the streak, reaching double figures in points and rebounds with just under seven minutes to play in the first half.

Nets sign Sundiata Gaines to second 10-day contract

The New Jersey Nets have signed guard Sundiata Gaines to a second 10-day contract, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

The 24-year old from the University of Georgia has appeared in three games for the Nets, averaging 5.7 points and 4.0 assists in 18.3 minutes.  In 17 games with New Jersey, Toronto and Minnesota this season, he has averaged 4.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 12.3 minutes per contest.

In 49 career NBA games, including 32 appearances with Utah in 2009-10, Gaines has averaged 3.7 points and 1.4 assists in 8.7 minutes while shooting .431 (66-153) from the field.

Rashad McCants rejoins Texas Legends of D-League

The Texas Legends announced today that guard Rashad McCants has reported back to the team and is expected to be active for tonight’s game, as the Legends host the Sioux Falls Skyforce at 7:00 PM at HP Court inside Dr Pepper Arena.

McCants, 26, was assigned to the Legends from the Dallas Mavericks training camp and played in three games with Texas, before exploring options overseas. He becomes one of four Legends players to have been drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft.

In his three games with the Legends earlier this season, McCants averaged 12.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists, including a season-high 20 points in his first game with the team against Austin.

Despite leaving the storied college program of the University of North Carolina after just three years, McCants ranks 14th all-time in scoring at the school and is tied for second with 221 career three-point field goals. He also helped lead the Tar Heels to the 2005 National Championship.

He was drafted in the first round (14th overall) in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. McCants played in parts of four seasons with the T-Wolves and later the Sacramento Kings. In 249 career NBA games, the guard has averaged 10.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.

Chris Roberts, a 22-year-old guard out of Bradley University, was also acquired via the available player pool. He played in one game at the start of the season with the Idaho Stampede, in which he scored four points and grabbed two rebounds. Roberts has appeared on ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 Plays five times, including his 75-foot buzzer beater to defeat Oakland in the 2009 Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament Quarterfinal. Roberts will also be active for tonight’s contest.

Raptors assign Solomon Alabi to D-League

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday rookie centre Solomon Alabi has been reassigned to the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League.

This will be Alabi’s third assignment to Erie. He has played a total of 11 games for the BayHawks where he has contributed averages of 8.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 22.1 minutes. Alabi has posted two double-doubles with Erie, his latest being January 9 versus the Maine Red Claws with 20 points (9-11 FG) and 11 rebounds in 31 minutes

Alabi has appeared in 10 games with the Raptors, totaling four points and nine rebounds in 40 minutes.

A native of Nigeria, Alabi, was named All-ACC Defensive Team in his two full seasons at FSU. He started all 67 games, leading the Seminoles to the NCAA Tournament twice and the ACC Tournament Championship Game as a redshirt freshman. He averaged a school record 2.1 blocked shots per game for his career. He also shot .534 per cent from the field in his two-plus seasons with the Seminoles.

The club acquired the draft rights to Alabi from the Dallas Mavericks on June 24. He was the 50th overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Baron Davis out due to death of grandmother

Baron Davis out due to death of grandmother

Cavaliers guard Baron Davis’ grandmother Lela “Madea” Nicholson passed away Monday in Los Angeles. Baron did not accompany the team to Milwaukee Tuesday night following the Cavaliers home game against the Warriors and he will now return home to L.A. to be with his family.

As many already know, Baron selected number 85 for his Cavaliers jersey number in tribute to Madea, as her house was on 85th Street.

No specific date for his return to the team has been established.

Hornets sign Jerel McNeal to 10-day contract

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed guard Jerel McNeal to a 10-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

McNeal has started all 40 games with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League, averaging 19.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds. He was a member on both the Charlotte Bobcats and Chicago Bulls’ Summer League rosters then joined the Houston Rockets for the preseason before joining the Vipers.

McNeal went to Belgium to begin his playing career with Dexia Mons-Hainaut after being undrafted in the 2009 NBA Draft.  In 14 Belgian league games with the team, McNeal averaged 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals in 28 minutes per game.

The Chicago native played four years for Marquette University. McNeal ranks first all-time for the Golden Eagles in points (1,985), steals (287) and games played (130). He was a First Team All-BIG EAST selection along with a Second Team All-America selection by the Associated Press his final season. McNeal averaged 19.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.0 steals in 35 minutes his senior season at Marquette.

The Hornets roster now stands at 15.

Jazz sign Marcus Cousin to 10-day contract

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has signed center Marcus Cousin (pronounced coo-ZON) of the NBA Development League’s Austin Toros to a 10-day contract.  Cousin becomes the NBA’s 14th D-League Call-Up and 12th different player promoted to the NBA this season.  Following the transaction, the Jazz roster now stands at 15 players.

Cousin will be available when the Jazz faces the Raptors tonight at 5 p.m. MT in Toronto (TV: FSN Utah, Radio: 1320 KFAN).

A 2011 D-League All-Star selection, Cousin (6-11, 255, Houston) was averaging 14.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.16 blocks while shooting .533 from the field through 38 games (all starts) for the Toros this season.  He leads the Toros in both scoring and rebounding, having reached double figures in scoring 30 times while registering 16 double-doubles.  The Toros are coached by former Jazz scout and ex-Utah Flash head coach Brad Jones.

Cousin attended training camp with the San Antonio Spurs prior to the 2010-11 season, appearing in five preseason games and averaging 5.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 15.8 minutes before being waived on October 21.

The 24-year-old Baltimore native played two collegiate seasons at Seton Hall (2004-06) before transferring to the University of Houston (2007-09).  Cousin was not selected in the 2009 NBA Draft and spent the 2009-10 season playing professionally in Turkey and Israel.

Cousin becomes the sixth D-League Call-Up in Jazz history, joining Rusty LaRue (2000-01), Mikki Moore (2003-04), Louis Amundson (2006-07), Sundiata Gaines (2010-11) and Othyus Jeffers (2010-11).

Heat lose fifth straight game

The AP reports:

LaMarcus Aldridge proved LeBron James right.

The Miami Heat could have done without that confirmation.

Shortly after James called Aldridge one of the top All-Star “snubs” in NBA history, he scored 26 points and led the Portland Trail Blazers to a 105-96 win over Miami—sending the Heat to their fifth straight loss.

Gerald Wallace scored 22 for Portland, which won its seventh straight on the road and fourth straight overall. Brandon Roy and Andre Miller each scored 14 for the Blazers, who got 11 from Nicolas Batum and 10 more from Wesley Matthews.

Dwyane Wade scored 38 points and LeBron James added 31 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Heat, who are the 12th team in NBA history to have a 12-game winning streak and five-game losing streak in the same season.