Month: December 2011

Mavericks sign forward Brandan Wright

Brandan Wright

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed free agent forward Brandan Wright. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Wright (6-10, 210) is a former first round draft pick (eighth overall) and joins the Mavericks as a free agent from the New Jersey Nets. Wright was traded to New Jersey last February from the Golden State Warriors, where he began his career in 2007. He holds career averages of 5.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 12.6 minutes in 114 career games with 31 starts.

Wright was a standout at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he started all 37 games as a freshman and was named Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year and All-ACC Second Team. He was an early-entry candidate into the 2007 NBA Draft and was the eighth overall pick by the Charlotte Bobcats. Wright was acquired by Golden State in a draft-day trade in exchange for Jason Richardson and the draft rights to Jermareo Davidson.

A native of Nashville, Tenn., Wright was a two-time Parade All-American and was the first athlete in the state ever to earn “Mr. Tennessee” honors three times. He also led Brentwood Academy to four consecutive state championships.

Nets sign rookies MarShon Brooks and Jordan Williams

The New Jersey Nets have signed first round draft pick MarShon Brooks and second round draft pick Jordan Williams, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released.

Brooks (6’5”/200), was drafted by Boston in the first round (25th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft and then traded to New Jersey in exchange for the rights to the 27th pick, JuJuan Johnson, and the Nets’ 2014 second round pick on June 23, 2011. As a senior at Providence College, Brooks was named Third Team AP All-America and was a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award. He was also a First Team All-Big East selection and scored a Big East record 52 points vs. No. 9 Notre Dame, converting a league-record 20 field goals. The 52 points tied Jimmer Fredette’s performance vs. New Mexico for the most in Division I in 2010-11. Brooks averaged 24.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks in 32 contests for the Friars.

Williams (6’10”/260) was drafted by New Jersey in the second round (36th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft. As a sophomore at Maryland, he led the ACC in rebounding (11.8 rpg), ranking third nationally, and was second in Division I with 25 double-doubles, establishing a school record. A First-Team All-ACC pick and an AP All-America Honorable Mention choice, Williams was a midseason candidate for the Wooden and Naismith awards and was named to the ACC All-Rookie Team as a freshman. He is only the third Terp freshman in history with 250 points and 250 boards (Joe Smith, Buck Williams).

Nets sign three players to training camp roster

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agents JamesOn Curry, Dennis Horner, and Jerry Smith, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the agreements were not released.  All three players come from the Springfield Armor, the Nets D-League affiliate, after appearing in the Armor’s first three games of the season.  The Nets training camp roster stands at 14 players.

Curry, a 6’4” guard, has spent the previous four seasons in the D-League with Iowa and Springfield.  After being selected in the second round, 51st overall, by the Chicago Bulls in the 2007 NBA Draft, Curry spent time with Iowa on assignment during the 2007-08 season and rejoined the team during the 2008-09 campaign.  The Oklahoma State alum was taken 14th overall in the first round of the 2009 NBA D-League Draft as the first selection in Springfield Armor history.  Curry played in one game with the Los Angeles Clippers in January of 2010 after earning a 10-day contract.  In three seasons with Springfield, Curry has appeared in 74 games and averaged 15.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 36.3 minutes.  He is the Armor’s franchise leader in points, assists, steals and games played.  In three contests in 2011-12, all starts, Curry has averaged 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 assists in 38 minutes.

Horner, a 6’9” forward, is a New Jersey native who spent four years at N.C. State.  After leaving school following the 2009-10 campaign, Horner joined VOO Verviers-Pepinster in Belgium’s First Division before moving to Hasapis Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus’ Division A.  During the 2010-11 season, he averaged 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 13 games with Hasapis Omonia Nicosia.  Horner was selected by the Springfield Armor in the third round (47th overall) in the 2011 NBA Development League Draft.  In three games with the Armor this season, all starts, he averaged 15.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 30 minutes.

Smith, a 6’2” guard,  played four years at Louisville before being selected by Springfield in the fifth round, 69th overall, in the 2010 NBA D-League Draft.  Entering the 2011-12 campaign, Smith is ranked in the Armor’s top five all-time in points, assists, steals, and minutes played.  In 49 career games with the Armor, Smith has averaged 13.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 25 minutes.  In three contests this season, he has averaged 20.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 34 minutes.

Orlando Magic hire Mark Price as player development coach

The Orlando Magic have named Mark Price player development coach, President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Otis Smith officially announced today.

Price was a shooting coach with Golden State during the 2010-11 campaign. Price was also a shooting consultant with Atlanta for two seasons (2008-10) and with Memphis (2007-08).

Price appeared in 772 regular season games with Cleveland, Washington, Golden State and Orlando during his 12-year career in the NBA, averaging 15.2 ppg. and 6.7 apg., while shooting .472 from the field, .402 from three-point range and .904 from the free throw line. A four-time NBA All-Star, he was named to the All-NBA First Team in 1992-93 and earned All-NBA Third Team honors three times.

The NBA’s all-time leader in free throw percentage in the regular season (.904) and in the postseason (.944), Price led the league in free throw percentage three times during his career, finished in the top-10 in free throw shooting seven times and shot better than 90% from the foul line in seven of his 12 seasons. In 1993, he made 77 consecutive free throw attempts, which was one shy of the NBA record at the time. The Cavaliers’ all-time leader in assists (4,206), he also ranks 19th in NBA history for career three-point percentage (.402) and was a two-time winner of the NBA’s three-point shootout (1993, 1994).

Prior to joining the NBA, Price starred at Georgia Tech where he was a three-time All-American and was named First Team All-ACC three times. He was the Associated Press ACC Player of the Year in 1984-85. In addition to having his number retired in both Cleveland and at Georgia Tech, the basketball arena in his hometown of Enid, Oklahoma is named after him.

Since retiring as a player, Price has also worked as an assistant coach at his alma mater (under Bobby Cremins), served as a community coach for Duluth High School and was head coach at Whitefield Academy in Smyrn, GA. In 2006, Price opened the Mark Price Basketball Academy and Shooting Lab at the Suwanee (GA) Sports Academy.

Blazers guard Brandon Roy plans to retire

Brandon Roy

The seemingly never-ending saga surrounding Trail Blazers star Brandon Roy and his balky knees has reached a stunning conclusion.

Two sources with knowledge of Roy’s decision told The Oregonian Friday morning that Roy  plans to retire because of degenerative knees, confirming a story first reported by ESPN.

Roy made this decision, one of the sources said, after meeting with doctors on Thursday. After evaluating Roy’s knees, which have been operated on six times and no longer have any cartilage, the doctor flatly told Roy he should no longer play.

Trail Blazers Brandon Roy’s Game 4 heroics against Dallas Mavericks (video)

Brandon Roy has given Portland a mountain of memories but none more dramatic than last season’s monumental comeback against Dallas in the NBA Playoffs. Roy brought his team back from a 23-point deficit to level the series at 2-2. The all-star guard scored 18 fourth quarter points in one of the greatest comebacks in NBA history.

“You can’t do this,” the doctor told Roy, according to one of the sources. “You might end up not walking.” …

One of the sources described Roy as very “emotional” and said he needed “time to rest” and come to grips with his situation. It’s unclear when Roy will be prepared to publicly address his retirement.

— Reported by Joe Freeman of the Oregonian

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Orlando Magic waive Gilbert Arenas via NBA amnesty clause

Gilbert Arenas

The Orlando Magic have waived guard Gilbert Arenas and designated him as the team’s amnesty player, President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Otis Smith announced today.

Arenas (6’4”, 215, 1/6/82) played in 70 games with both Washington and Orlando last season, averaging 10.8 ppg., 3.9 apg., 2.7 rpg. and 1.06 stlpg. in 25.7 minpg. He was acquired by the Magic on December 28, 2010 from Washington in exchange for Rashard Lewis. In 49 games with Orlando, Arenas averaged 8.0 ppg., 3.2 apg. and 2.4 rpg. in 21.8 minpg.

Arenas has appeared in 535 career NBA regular season games with Golden State, Washington and Orlando, averaging 21.2 ppg., 5.4 apg., 4.0 rpg. and 1.63 stlpg. in 35.8 minpg.

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Girlfriend of Jazz center Al Jefferson arrested for bite attack

Al Jefferson

Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson’s girlfriend has been arrested on suspicion of domestic assault after authorities say she bit him during an evening attack at their home.

Cottonwood Heights police say Shirley Lewis was arrested Thursday and booked into the Salt Lake County jail. She was later released.

Authorities say Jefferson’s 38-year-old live-in girlfriend faces a charge of domestic violence in the presence of a child.

— Reported by the Associated Press

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Odom late for first day of Lakers training camp

Lamar Odom

Pau Gasol reported for the first day of training camp but fellow Lakers forward Lamar Odom did not, according to a team official Friday.

Odom hinted he would not appear at camp in an interview Thursday with The Times, saying, “Maybe I’ll see you there, but I doubt it. You don’t want to go to no place you’re not wanted.”

Odom and Gasol were involved in a trade Thursday for New Orleans guard Chris Paul that was blocked by the NBA. It is unknown how long Odom will be away from the team.

— Reported by Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times Blog

UPDATE: Reports say Odom did wind up going to camp, about 1.5 hours late, and only stayed around 15 minutes.

Charlie Bell shows up drunk at court for a drunk driving hearing

Charlie Bell

Warriors reserve guard Charlie Bell spent hours in custody Thursday after showing up to court legally drunk for a hearing on his drunken driving case, according to the ABC affiliate in Flint, Mich.

Bell was held, in a district court holding cell, on a bond violation until he sobered up. He’s expected back in court Friday, which marks the start of Warriors training camp for the rest of his teammates.

— Reported by Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle Blog