Month: June 2012

Kings draft Thomas Robinson 5th overall

The Sacramento Kings selected Kansas forward Thomas Robinson with the fifth pick in the NBA draft on Thursday night.

Robinson was considered perhaps the most NBA-ready player in the draft and the Kings need plenty of immediate help after missing the playoffs for a sixth straight season.

Robinson, the first unanimous first-team All-American since Blake Griffin, led the Jayhawks to the national championship game against Kentucky, where they lost 67-59. He averaged 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in 31.8 minutes in his junior season and led the nation with 27 double-doubles.

Robinson broke down and hugged his 9-year-old sister, Jayla, after Commissioner David Stern announced the Kings had drafted him in an emotional scene.

— Reported by Josh Dubow of the Associated Press

Cavs draft Dion Waiters with No. 4 pick

The Cleveland Cavaliers have selected Syracuse guard Dion Waiters with the No. 4 overall pick in the NBA draft.

The Cavs envision Waiters as a perimeter scorer and backcourt running mate for point guard Kyrie Irving, last year’s No. 1 overall pick who didn’t disappoint this season and was named rookie of the year.

Waiters didn’t start a single game last season for the Orange, averaging 12.6 points in 37 games. At 6-foot-4, 221 pounds, he’s not afraid to drive to the basket and many feel he’s got a pro-ready game.

— Reported by Tom Withers of the Associated Press

Wizards select Bradley Beal 3rd in Draft

The Washington Wizards have chosen Bradley Beal of Florida with the No. 3 pick in the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-4 freshman guard averaged 14.8 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Gators last season. Beal, who turned 19 on Thursday, joins a backcourt headlined by John Wall, the first selection in the 2010 draft.

The Wizards finished were 20-46 last season. Washington closed the season on a six-game winning streak, but missed the playoffs for a fourth straight campaign.

Odom going from Mavs to Clippers, Mo Williams to Jazz

Lamar Odom is headed back to Los Angeles for a second chance with the Clippers and Mo Williams will be reunited with the Utah Jazz, a person with knowledge of the deal said Thursday night.

That person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because a three-team deal between the Dallas Mavericks, Clippers and Jazz is contingent on Williams exercising his $8.5 million player option for next season. That person said that was expected to happen by Friday.

Williams was drafted by the Jazz in 2003, and played 57 games as a rookie before going to Milwaukee, Cleveland and then the Clippers.

— Reported by Stephen Hawkins of the Associated Press

Bobcats select Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 2nd overall in NBA Draft

Michael Jordan’s Charlotte Bobcats have selected Kentucky small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the second overall pick in the NBA draft, marking the first time two players from the same school have gone first and second overall.

The Bobcats had been in trade talks with several teams regarding the No. 2 pick before making Kidd-Gilchrist their highest draft pick in franchise history since selecting Connecticut center Omeka Okafor second overall in 2004.

— Reported by Steve Reed of the Associated Press

Hornets select Anthony Davis first in NBA Draft

The New Orleans Hornets have selected Kentucky forward Anthony Davis with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

Davis will begin his pro career in the same city where he ended it with a national title. College basketball’s player of the year as a freshman was the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four despite shooting just 1 for 10 from the field in the championship game, grabbing 16 rebounds and blocking six shots in the victory over Kansas.

The 6-foot-10 Davis averaged 14.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.7 blocks, becoming a dominant defender after growing 7 inches from the start of his junior year of high school.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Kings forward Tyler Honeycutt injures right foot

Sacramento Kings’ forward Tyler Honeycutt had X-rays taken today at the UC Davis Sports Medicine Clinic, which revealed a stress fracture in the head of the second metatarsal on his right foot. He will use a walking boot for the next three weeks and be out of action for approximately four to six weeks overall.

Honeycutt finished his rookie campaign (2011-12) averaging 1.3 points (.333 FGs,.333 3FGs,.600 FTs) in 15 games off the bench for the Kings.

Dwyane Wade needs knee surgery, will miss Olympics

dwyane wade

Dwyane Wade needs surgery on his ailing left knee and will not play in next month’s London Olympics.

The Miami Heat guard called USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski on Thursday to break the news, which was not totally unexpected after Wade played through pain in the postseason. He appeared in all 23 Heat playoff games despite the knee problems, averaging 22.6 points during Miami’s five-game win over Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals.

”I’ve decided to listen to my doctors and get the procedure I need on my knee,” Wade told The Associated Press on Thursday. ”USA Basketball said I had to what was best for me. They want me to be obviously as healthy as possible so I can continue to play this game at a high level. They were very supportive and told me if I ever want to come around the team, I’m welcome and that I’m part of the family.”

Wade and his doctors are in the process of scheduling the surgery. Wade has been told it will be basically a ”cleanup” procedure and should have him on crutches for only about a day afterward.

If all goes according to plan, Wade will be ready for the start of training camp with the Heat this fall.

— Reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press

Mark Jackson was victim of an extortion scheme

STATEMENT FROM GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

In response to media inquiries, Golden State Warriors Head Coach Mark Jackson today confirmed that he and his family were the victims of an extortion scheme attempting to blackmail them in exchange for money. The suspects were arrested on June 25 by the FBI.

Jackson informed the Warriors of the extortion scheme in late April – three weeks after his first encounter with the extortionist – and solicited help from the organization.  At that point, Jackson and the Warriors immediately contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Although not condoning his previous actions that led to the extortion attempt, the Warriors fully support Coach Jackson during this time and thank law enforcement authorities and the FBI for their prompt assistance in helping Coach Jackson and his family.

Due to the fact that this is an ongoing legal matter, the Warriors will have no further comment at this time.

Suns extend qualifying offers to Robin Lopez and Aaron Brooks

robin lopez

The Phoenix Suns today extended qualifying offers to center Robin Lopez and guard Aaron Brooks, making both players restricted free agents, the club has announced.

Originally selected by the Suns with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft, the 7-0, 255-pound Lopez has spent all four of his professional seasons with Phoenix, compiling averages of 5.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 14.4 minutes in 242 games (94 starts).  Lopez is a career 51.7-percent shooter from the field who enjoyed his best statistical campaign in 2009-10 when he averaged career highs of 8.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.00 blocks in 51 games (31 starts) and helped lead the Suns to the Western Conference Finals.

A two-year collegiate standout at Stanford, both Robin and twin brother Brook were 2008 NBA first-round picks; Brook was selected 10th overall by the Brooklyn Nets.

The 2009-10 NBA Most Improved Player, Brooks was acquired by the Suns from the Houston Rockets at the 2011 trade deadline and appeared in 25 games with Phoenix, averaging 9.6 points and 4.2 assists in 18.9 minutes.  The 6-0, 160-pound guard spent the 2011-12 season with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association, leading his team to the 2012 CBA Finals and earning a berth in the league’s All-Star game.

Brooks owns career NBA averages of 12.5 points and 3.6 assists in 272 games and is a career 36.3-percent shooter from three-point range.  His best statistical season came in his decorated 2009-10 campaign in which he averaged 19.6 points and 5.3 assists in 82 games.

In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, in order for a team to retain its right of first refusal with respect to a restricted free agent, the team must tender the player a qualifying offer prior to June 30. A restricted free agent may sign an offer sheet with any team, but is subject to a right of first refusal with the team for which the player last played.