July 2012 – Page 10 – NBA Blog

Raymond Felton admits he was out of shape

Since leaving (New York), Felton hasn’t been the same. After finishing the 2011 season with Denver, he was dealt again before last season to Portland, where he slumped to a career-low 11.4 points to go along with 6.5 assists and admitted showing up to camp out of shape.

“I wasn’t at the weight I normally [am],” Felton said. “I am the first one to say, ‘I wasn’t in shape.’ I don’t make no excuses, I don’t blame anyone else.

“I am hearing from everybody, ‘He wasn’t in shape last year.’ I played in the league seven years, about to be eight, came in out of shape one year and that’s all everybody wants to talk about. … I look forward to this year and shutting up everybody’s mouth.”

— Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post

Kings might let Tony Mitchell stick around

Kings coach Keith Smart said as many as four noncontract summer-league players could be considered for invitations to training camp in the fall.

The player who seems most likely to be called back is Tony Mitchell, an athletic small forward who impressed with his athleticism and activity.

“Mitchell kind of separated himself a little bit,” Smart said. “He has the right size as a small forward. Obviously, we have a ton of players at that position that he plays, but nevertheless he’s not a guy you take off your radar because you see the size.

— Reported by the Sacramento Bee

Jeremy Lin excited to join Rockets

Lin, a 23-year-old undrafted point guard out of Harvard, became a Rocket again when the New York Knicks decided not to match Houston’s three-year, $25 million offer.

“It’s been an unbelievable ride,” Lin said. “Just a lot of things I didn’t expect to happen, in terms of just the way last season went. I still have to kind of remind myself that this is all actually happening, sometimes. But it’s a huge blessing. I can’t believe how it all shaped up, and for me to be here right now. I’m definitely excited and thankful.”

Lin said he expected to be re-signed by the Knicks after he electrified the Big Apple last season before he was sidelined by a knee injury. Shortly after the Knicks officially declined to match, Lin was quoted on SI.com as saying, “Honestly, I preferred New York.”

Lin said the question he answered was set in the context of before the start of the free agency period.

— Associated Press

Raymond Felton discusses being a competitor

Raymond Felton says he is a competitor, and better than Jeremy Lin

Raymond Felton plans on making Knicks fans forget all about Linsanity.

Moments after Jeremy Lin was being introduced by the Rockets in Houston, Felton was in Las Vegas talking with the MSG Network during a Knicks Summer League game.

“I am a competitor, I am a point guard just like he is, so do I think I am better? Of course, I am going to say that,” Felton said. “I think I am better than any point guard. That’s the way I am supposed to think. But at the same time it’s nothing personal between me and Jeremy. But people are going to make it about that. I am fine with that.”

Felton, who was traded from the Knicks to the Nuggets in the Carmelo Anthony trade, is expected to be the team’s starting point guard after coming over from Portland in a sign-and-trade. The 28-year-old seemed to be out of the Knicks plans after they acquired Jason Kidd in another sign-and-trade, but Felton said he was always in the mix to return even if the team matched Lin’s offer sheet from the Rockets. Something they ultimately decided not to do.

— Reported by Justin Terranova of the New York Post (Blog)

Kendrick Perkins undergoes wrist surgery

Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins underwent a successful procedure to repair a ligament tear in his left wrist, the team announced today.

Perkins suffered the injury during the 2012 Western Conference Finals. Following a scheduled postseason evaluation, it was determined a procedure was necessary. The nine-year NBA veteran is expected to be ready for the 2012-13 season.

Brooklyn Nets sign Keith Bogans

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Keith Bogans, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Bogans, (6-5, 215), appeared in five games, including one start, with the Nets in 2011-12. The nine-year NBA veteran suffered a season-ending ankle injury on February 8, 2012 vs. Detroit.

Prior to joining the Nets, the former Kentucky Wildcat started in all 82 games for the Chicago Bulls in 2010-11, averaging 4.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17.8 minutes per game. Originally drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 43rd overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, Bogans began his career in Orlando, before moving on to Charlotte, Houston, Orlando again, Milwaukee, San Antonio and Chicago. In 591 career NBA games, he holds averages of 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Bogans has appeared in 34 career playoff games, with averages of 4.7 points and 2.0 rebounds. He started in all 16 postseason contests for Chicago in 2011 while leading the league in postseason three-point shooting, hitting on 42.4% of his shots from behind the arc.

Dallas Mavericks sign O.J. Mayo

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed free agent guard O.J. Mayo.

Mayo (6-4, 210) was the first round draft pick (third overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mayo’s draft rights were later involved in a draft day trade that sent him, along with Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner, to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Brian Cardinal, Mike Miller, Jason Collins and the draft rights to Kevin Love.

The Huntington, W.Va., native has played in 301 career games (181 starts) with Memphis. He holds career averages of 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 32.8 minutes per game. Mayo has also proven to be durable playing in 301 of a possible 312 games throughout his four-year career.

Mayo was named NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2009 and runner-up to Derrick Rose for the 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 18.5 points and 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 38.0 minutes in 82 games (82 starts).

“We are thrilled to make O.J. Mayo a part of the Mavericks family,” President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson said. “O.J. is a young, dynamic player with tremendous upside. His ability to play both backcourt positions will give us depth and versatility. We are excited and welcome him to Dallas.”

Chicago Bulls sign Vladimir Radmanovic

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed free agent forward Vladimir Radmanovic (for those of you who enjoy pronouncing names correctly, it’s pronounced VLAD-uh-meer Rahd-MAHN-uh-vitch).

Radmanovic (6-10, 235), an 11-year NBA veteran, most recently played with the Atlanta Hawks during the 2011-12 campaign. Last year, he appeared in 49 games and averaged 4.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.1 apg in 15.4 mpg and shot .376 from the field, .370 from downtown and .759 from the line.

The Belgrade, Serbia, native has enjoyed stints with the Hawks (2011-12), Golden State Warriors (2010-11, 2009-10), Charlotte Bobcats (2009-10, 2008-09), L.A. Lakers (2006-09), L.A. Clippers (2005-06) and Seattle SuperSonics (2001-06). In 712 career games (213 starts), Radmanovic has posted averages of 8.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.4 apg in 22.5 mpg. He owns career shooting averages of .416 field goal shooting, .380 three-point shooting and .759 free throw shooting.

Originally selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round (12th overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft, the 31-year old Radmanovic has been a member of four playoff teams. In 46 playoff games (25 starts), he has averaged 7.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 1.2 apg in 21.2 mpg.

Celtics interested in Carlos Delfino

With O.J. Mayo off the board (he’ll sign with the Dallas Mavericks) and Courtney Lee looking more like he’ll be out of the Boston Celtics’ price range, the Celtics must start to dig a little bit deeper into the free-agent pool of wing players.

Among those still available?

Milwaukee Bucks swing man Carlos Delfino, a player the Celtics have expressed some interest in according to league sources.

Delfino doesn’t have the same kind of sizzle as a Mayo or Lee signing might have, but he would definitely fill a need.

— Reported by CSNNE.com

If traded to L.A., Dwight Howard now open to signing extension with Lakers

Dwight Howard open to signing extension with Lakers

Dwight Howard’s camp is leaking to the media that he’s now open to signing an extension with the Lakers, clearing a small hurdle on the path to a deal that always seemed to make the most sense.

Whether or not Howard will land in Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant – thereby killing Brooklyn’s aspiration of acquiring the All-Star center by February’s trade deadline – is still up to Orlando, which is in no rush. Howard had previously stated he’d only sign an extension with the Nets.

Magic GM Rob Hennigan is hesitant about the Lakers’ main trade chip, Andrew Bynum, because of a history of injuries and, most importantly, his contract expires after next season. The Magic don’t want to deal Howard for a one-season Bynum rental, so other teams are reportedly being recruited into joining a potential three-team blockbuster.

— Reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News