September 12, 2011 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

NBA reportedly fines Michael Jordan 100K

Chris Broussard of ESPN reports:

The NBA fined Michael Jordan $100,000 for public comments he made last month about the lockout and one of the league’s players, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank confirmed that Jordan had been fined, but said the league would not comment on the total.

In an Aug. 19 interview with The Herald Sun, a newspaper in Australia, the Charlotte Bobcats owner spoke extensively about the need for revenue sharing and mentioned Milwaukee Bucks’ Australian center Andrew Bogut.

That violated the league’s policy that bars team owners and employees from discussing the lockout or any players during the work stoppage. The NBA sent out a league-wide memo just before the lockout began on July 1 stating that anyone who broke the rules could be fined up to $1 million.

Cavs forward Luke Harangody may go overseas if lockout lingers

Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:

Cavaliers forward Luke Harangody is weighing the option of playing overseas if the NBA lockout continues.

His agent, Mark Bartelstein, said he’s spoken to multiple European teams about the 6-foot-7 Notre Dame product, but stressed there is no deal imminent.

“If we feel it’s the right fit we would have to consider it,” Bartelstein said.

Harangody averaged 3.9. points and 2.9 rebounds in 49 games during his rookie season, split between the Cavs and Boston Celtics.

Timberwolves will reportedly make Rick Adelman their new head coach

The AP reports:

The Minnesota Timberwolves are bringing in Rick Adelman to try and turn around one of the NBA’s most downtrodden franchises.

Two people with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Monday that the team and the 65-year-old Adelman have agreed on terms and a contract is expected to be signed soon. The people requested anonymity because an official announcement has not been made.

Adelman replaces Kurt Rambis, who lasted just two seasons on the job.

“Houston, we have a coach,” All-Star forward Kevin Love tweeted earlier Monday, kicking off the welcoming festivities for an accomplished coach who will be expected to bring credibility and intensity back to a team that has severely lacked both in recent seasons.

Adelman is 945-616 in 20 seasons as a head coach of the Trail Blazers, Kings, Warriors and Rockets. He parted ways with the Rockets in April.

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Utah Jazz add Rich Sheubrooks to Basketball Operations Staff

Utah Jazz General Manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that Rich Sheubrooks has been hired by the franchise as its Executive Director of Global and Pro Scouting. In this newly created position, Sheubrooks will focus on the scouting of international prospects as well as the professional leagues.

“We feel fortunate to be able to bring someone in with as much international experience as Rich has,” said Kevin O’Connor. “Rich’s knowledge and background can be a real asset to the Jazz organization in what has clearly become a global game.”

Sheubrooks joins the Jazz after spending the previous four seasons as the Director of Global Scouting for the Charlotte Bobcats. Sheubrooks is well known on the international basketball scene for his role as a Global Basketball Consultant for Nike where he has played a key role in organizing the Nike Hoop Summit the past 14 years. The annual game features the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Select Team playing against a World Select Team, comprised of top players 19-years-old or younger from around the world. Sheubrooks has a long history with the sports apparel brand, working as European Sports Marketing Manager from 1997-99 and Basketball Grassroots & Events Manager from 1990-1994.

Prior to his work with the Bobcats, Sheubrooks spent six seasons in the same role with the Memphis Grizzlies. He has also served as the Director of the Michael Jordan Euro Tour (2007) and as the Executive Director of the Charlotte Sports Commission (1994-97). Sheubrooks has also worked as an NBA Analyst for Sky TV in the United Kingdom since 2004. In addition, he has collegiate coaching experience having spent three seasons as head coach at Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M Kingsville) from 1976-79, following two seasons each as an assistant at both Texas A&I and Midwestern State.

Sheubrooks earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M Corpus Christi and his master’s degree from Texas A&M Kingsville.

Future of Dirk Nowitzki on Team Germany star is uncertain

Mark Woods, special to ESPN.com, reports:

Dirk Nowitzki, as proud a German as he is a Maverick, will listen to his gut but also to his body. This summer has underlined his physical limits. He will rest up now to prepare for the NBA season, when it comes. The defense of the title will take top priority.

There is no urgent rush to confirm or reject Bauermann’s prediction. Germany, already grateful, will give him all the time he needs to decide on whether this really was the end of the road.

“I don’t know,” Nowitzki admitted after the game. “I’ll just have to wait and see what the future brings. The fans have been great. I’ve met so many great people over the years. The journalists have been great to me.

“Basketball’s given me a lot of great memories.”

Ones which will live long in the mind in Germany and beyond.

Jimmer Fredette Utah exhibition games consolidated into one Provo game

Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune blog reports:

A two-game exhibition series hosted by former Brigham Young standout Jimmer Fredette has been consolidated into a single contest scheduled Sept. 22 at the Marriott Center in Provo. As a result, a previously announced game Sept. 21 at the Maverik Center in Salt Lake City has been cancelled. Tickets purchased for the SLC event can either be refunded or exchanged for a comparable Provo ticket.

Fredette (Sacramento), Kemba Walker (Charlotte), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio), Nolan Smith (Portland) and Jackson Emery (ex-BYU) are still scheduled to appear at the Provo game. More athletes will be announced Monday, but no Jazz players are expected.

Evan Turner wants a better jumpshot

Kate Fagan of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

One thing is clear: Evan Turner would like the basketball.

The 76ers sophomore guard has spent this summer splitting time among three places, but has also spent a good deal of his summer working with Hall of Famer and Philadelphia University coach Herb Magee, who has been tweaking Turner’s shot.

“I knew I had a hitch in my shot,” said Turner, who was in Chicago. “I just wanted to get it together. I didn’t want to shoot any balls short. I wanted to understand the basic principle of jump-shooting, all of that, what to look for. Coach Magee has been helping me out a lot.”

During his rookie season, Turner averaged 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 23.0 minutes a game, disappointing numbers for the No. 2 overall selection in the 2010 NBA draft. Crucial in his offseason development was improvement on the perimeter, where he only occasionally looked comfortable.

“I’ve been working on my game a lot, playing a lot of basketball,” Turner said. “I’m pretty happy with the results I’ve been getting, I feel like I’m back to my old self. I feel like my new shot is smoother. I have a lot of confidence in it. It’s going well.”

Team Philly vs Team Melo game set for Philadelphia Sept. 25

Ryan Feldman of CSN Philly reports:

There may or may not be an NBA season this year, but that won’t stop the NBA from coming to Philadelphia.

Team Philly, a team made up of basketball stars from the Philly area, will take on Team Melo, a team led by Carmelo Anthony, on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. at The Palestra.

Team Philly will include Hakim Warrick (Phoenix Suns), Markieff Morris (Phoenix Suns), Marcus Morris (Houston Rockets), Lou Williams (Sixers), Kyle Lowry (Houston Rockets), John Salmons (Sacramento Kings), Wayne Ellington (Minnesota Timberwolves), Jason Thompson (Sacramento Kings), former NBA player Flip Murray and Philly street ball legend Aaron “AO” Owens.

Team Melo, comprised of players from the Baltimore area, will include Anthony, Josh Selby (Memphis Grizzlies), Donte Greene (Sacramento Kings), Gary Neal (San Antonio Spurs), Eric Bledsoe (Los Angeles Clippers) and “more suprise (sp.) guests,” according to Rahim Thompson’s Twitter account @RTChosenleague.

Thompson, the commissioner of a basketball league in Philly called The Chosen League, organized the game and announced the details via Twitter.

Celtics to land huge 20-year TV deal

The Los Angeles Lakers have a $900 gazillion trillion billion (give or take) television deal, and their historic competitors, the Boston Celtics, will eventually announce a deal of their own.

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reports:

The Celtics are waiting for the lockout to end before they announce a lucrative 20-year deal with Comcast, and the deal may have softened ownership’s stern stance on the labor situation. With the Comcast deal, the Celtics should remain financially healthy for the near future.

The Celtics and Lakers have two of the most loyal fan-bases in the league. And they’re almost always good teams. So it’s fitting that they have landed big TV deals.

Kemba Walker insists he is a point guard

Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reports:

Scouts questioned whether Walker was a pure point guard or just an undersized shooting guard. That is not an issue with him.

“I’m a 1 – there’s no question that I am a point guard,’’ said Walker, who averaged 24.6 points last season, primarily as a shooting guard. “I can just score the basketball, that’s it.

“Why can’t I do both? Why can’t I do everything? Pass, score, rebound. That’s what I have been doing my whole life. I’m an all-around player.’’

The Bobcats are in desperate need of a signature player. They traded Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace last season, leaving the opportunity for Walker and 19-year-old rebounding menace Bismack Biyombo to become cornerstones.