March 16, 2012 – Page 2 – NBA Blog

Melo doesn’t want to be called a coach-killer

The day after receiving most of the blame for Mike D’Antoni’s resignation as Knicks coach, Carmelo Anthony tried to defend himself and his reputation.

Anthony said he did what D’Antoni asked of him and doesn’t want to be known as a coach-killer.

“That bothers me because I never want that label on me,” Anthony said Thursdayafter Mike Woodson’s first practice as Knicks interim coach. “I did everything in my power to try and communicate with coach Mike, talk with coach Mike, have a great relationship with coach Mike. Even right now, I feel we have a great relationship.”

Amar’e Stoudemire said D’Antoni left because he became “frustrated” that “everyone wasn’t buying into his system,” but Anthony denied that there was division in the locker room.

Anthony also became very defensive when a reporter said he proved not everyone can thrive in D’Antoni’s offense. The Knicks went 26-37, playoffs included, with Anthony in the lineup under D’Antoni. His defensive stance continued when he was asked to react to his ex-coach reportedly feeling he couldn’t get the best out of him.

— Reported by Al Iannazzone of New York Newsday

Lakers almost traded for Michael Beasley

The Lakers were seven minutes from acquiring Minnesota forward Michael Beasley, but Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor blocked an agreed-upon three-team trade right before the deadline that would have sent Fisher to Minnesota, not Houston, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The trade also would have involved Portland.

“It was whisker-close,” said the person, who did not want to be identified.

The Lakers responded by quickly sending Fisher to the Rockets, barely beating the noon deadline. They are not expected to re-sign Fisher if he takes a buyout with the Rockets.

Sessions, 25, is a quick penetrator with an unremarkable outside shot. He lost playing time to rookie Kyrie Irving, the top pick in last year’s draft, and was averaging 10.5 points and 5.2 assists but shooting only 39.8%.

— Reported by Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times

Cavs sign Donald Sloan for rest of season

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Donald Sloan from the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League for the remainder of the 2011-12 season, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today. The signing of Sloan marks the 34th GATORADE Call-Up of the 2011-12 season.

In eight games (all starts), Sloan has averaged 22.8 points on .496 shooting, 5.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 38.6 minutes per game with the BayHawks. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound guard from Texas A&M has appeared in eight NBA games this season, playing five games for the Atlanta Hawks and three games for the New Orleans Hornets. In eight NBA games, Sloan averaged 2.3 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.6 assists in 7.4 minutes per game.

The 24-year-old spent the 2010-11 season with the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League, playing in 49 games (33 starts) and posting averages of 10.7 points on .483 shooting, 3.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 27.7 minutes per game.

Spurs sign Eric Dawson to second 10-day contract

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed Eric Dawson from the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League to a second 10-day contract. Dawson signed his first 10-day contract with the Silver and Black on Feb. 20.

Dawson saw action in two games in his first stint with the Spurs, averaging 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 17.0 minutes.

A 6-9 forward, Dawson has appeared in 24 games with the Toros this season, averaging 16.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.71 blocks and 1.29 steals in 29.1 minutes while shooting .556 (165-297) from the field and .779 (74-95) from the foul line. Since returning to the Toros on March 1, Dawson has averaged 19.8 points and 11.3 rebounds in six games. In his most recent game he finished with 25 points (10-19 FG, 5-7 FT), a season-high 17 rebounds and 4 steals in 35 minutes vs. Rio Grande on March 14. Dawson has posted 18 double doubles (second in the D-League) and has scored 20-or-more six times.

Born and raised in San Antonio, Dawson attended Sam Houston High School and attended Midwestern State University. Dawson was named a Division II Second Team All-American in 2007 and earned Lone Star Conference First Team honors in 2006 and 2007. He is the Mustangs all-time leader in blocked shots with 170.

Jeremy Lin may have limited role under coach Mike Woodson

Jeremy Lin may be a global phenomenon, but he is no longer a Knicks phenomenon. Linsanity was the flavor of February, but he appears not to be new interim coach Mike Woodson’s favorite dish.

Woodson, calling Lin “in a learning stage,’’ said yesterday he is turning the focus of his new deliberate offense to his bread and butter: Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, the Knicks’ two stars who combine to make $37 million this season.

Lin is expected to remain the starting point guard for now, but Woodson indicated he’s all about veterans. That could mean backup point guard Baron Davis or even his former Hawks favorite Mike Bibby, who has been out of the rotation, could supplant Lin eventually as the starter.

In fact, the de-emphasis of Mike D’Antoni’s speedball system that relies heavily on a penetrating point guard could affect whether the Knicks want to spend all or part of their $5 million mid-level exception on keeping their cash cow, Lin, next season.

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Nets sign Jerry Smith to 10-day contract

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent guard Jerry Smith from the D-League’s Springfield Armor to a 10-day contract, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Smith, who is the Nets’ fifth D-League call-up to sign with the team this season, has played 32 games with the Armor in 2011-12. He is averaging 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 35 minutes per game.

The 6-2 point guard from Louisville was signed to the Nets’ 2011-12 training camp roster, and he participated in one of the team’s two preseason games, scoring one point in three minutes against the Knicks. Smith took part in the 2012 D-League All-Star Game, where he scored 14 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out six assists in 23 minutes.

He was named D-League Player of the Month for February, leading the Armor to a perfect 8-0 record while averaging 22.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 35.4 minutes. Smith scored in double figures in all eight games, recording back-to-back double-doubles on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 and finished with more than 20 points in five contests. In 78 career D-League games, Smith holds averages of 15.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.