August 2012 – Page 9 – NBA Blog

Andre Iguodala open to ending career in Denver

The team held an introductory news conference Thursday for the former 76er acquired by Denver this month. The 28-year-old Iguodala is under contract for 2012-13 (around $14.7 million) and has a player option for 2013-14. But both he and Denver executive Masai Ujiri said they want to negotiate a long-term contract in the coming season, in efforts to lock down the shooting guard like he locks down helpless ball-handlers.

“We are definitely looking ahead, looking to see how we can go forward so this isn’t a quick stop for me,” said the 6-foot-6 Iguodala, who averages 15.3 points per game, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists for his career. “Knowing that this is a great organization, I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from a lot of different guys, former players, current players, even other trainers about the organization, (telling me) this would be a great place for me to have some great years — and possibly ending my career here.”

— Reported by Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post

Charles Oakley says Knicks must define their roles

Former Knick Charles Oakley says that Carmelo and Co. need to understand where they fit in on the team if they have any hopes of winning a championship this season.

“I think it’s all about how you view your team and everybody knowing what their roles are,” Oakley told The Post. “You look at Miami, the first year together, they made the Finals, but the second year they won it. They had a better understanding of their roles together. I think that’s what the Knicks need to do and players need to understand if they’re the first option, second option or third option. When a team is paying you $100 million you shouldn’t be arguing over who is first.” …

“It’s up to Coach [Woodson] to decide how he wants to coach the offense,” Oakley said while promoting Moore Training resistance bands. “I think the problem with the Knicks is that their best two guys don’t make the people around them better. You see it with the Miami’s, the Oklahoma City’s, the Bulls, their top guys make others better. If that’s the case, I’m going to make sure that my top two guys have the ball at all times.”

— Reported by Anthony Sulla-Heffinger of the New York Post

Iman Shumpert rehab progressing on schedule

Knicks guard Iman Shumpert is biding his time until he can get back into a regular workout routine.

The second-year pro, who tore the ACL in his left knee in Game 1 of the Knicks’ first-round playoff series against the Heat in April, admitted it’s “frustrating” watching other players work out…

Eight months was the original timetable, according to Shumpert, and he said he’s taking the proper time to make sure he stays on his rehab schedule.

“It’s getting better . . . Everything’s been good so far,” Shumpert said. “I haven’t had any bad days. I’m happy about that. I’ll be going to a MRI soon and see if we can pick up the intensity of my rehab.”

— Reported by Marcus Henry of New York Newsday

Miami Heat draft pick Justin Hamilton to play in Europe

As predicted by Pat Riley, Heat draft pick Justin Hamilton will soon be stashed away in Europe.

It sounds better than being banished.

Riley mentioned “stashing” Hamilton in Europe after the draft and on Wednesday the second-round pick signed to play in Croatia with Cibonia Zagreb of the Adriatic League. A 7-foot center, Hamilton started two games for the Heat’s summer league team in Las Vegas after being drafted with the 45th pick of the second round. He was expected to make the team.

— Reported by Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald

Knicks cannot sign Josh Harrellson anytime soon

Because the Knicks traded Harrellson away, however, he can’t come back to them. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, teams that trade away players cannot re-sign them for a year after the trade – ending the previous common practice of a team trading away a player, only to see that player get bought out of his contract or waived and re-sign with the team that traded him 30 days after the deal was done.

The Rockets cut Harrellson after signing veteran swingman Carlos Delfino this week. Now, among the four players the Knicks sent to Houston in the Camby deal, only Toney Douglas remains on their roster, after the Rockets had cut Jordan last month.

— Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post (Blog)

Spanish national basketball team has some aging stars

In 2016, when the Games are held in Rio de Janeiro, both Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro will be 36 years of age.

Both have been, and continue to be, extraordinary players.

But can they keep it going for another four years and if so, would they be as potent then as they are now?

Felipe Reyes, who was in the same junior teams as Gasol and Navarro, played his last game for Spain on Sunday.

Marc Gasol, who has blossomed into one of the best centers in the world and is still in his prime, knows Pau and Navarro well.

— Reported by FIBA.com

EMU basketball coach Rob Murphy hopes to work for Orlando Magic

As the Eastern Michigan men’s basketball program sits in limbo, coach Rob Murphy’s contract is an issue.

Murphy, who reportedly wants to leave the Eagles for a job with the Orlando Magic, would be required to pay the university $210,000 to break his contract.

That is equivalent to one year’s salary and would need to be paid in a lump sum or in monthly payments over the remaining term of the five-year contract, which is four more years.

— Reported by Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press

Arron Afflalo excited to join Magic

Afflalo will be competing for the starting shooting guard with veteran J.J. Redick. He has become one of the league’s steadier defenders, a role he embraced in Denver.

He said last season, “I developed more confidence (offensively), hit some big shots. It’s an opportunity for me to continue to grow.”

Afflalo, originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 2007, averaged 15.2 points and 2.4 assists last season.

— Reported by Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel

Dallas Mavericks still look good

The Mavericks will go into next season with a pretty good team. No, not a championship-contending team, but at least a club that will compete for the playoffs and should make the playoffs because Rick Carlisle is a good coach.

Plus, the quick overhaul is not just about now. There are possibilities for the future with a rebuilt backcourt of guards O.J Mayo and Darren Collison. Granted, they are both here because they were out of favor elsewhere, but if there is talent involved, there’s hope for a career jump start.

The new center is Chris Kaman. He can score. He’s OK if he stays healthy.

Kaman may not be long range, but he’s a good pickup for now.

And then veteran Elton Brand is the new front-line swingman, and is a do-it-all welcome for any club, plus has the “great guy” reputation.

Add that to Dirk and Marion, then add the re-signing of Delonte West (a personal favorite) for the backcourt, and I’ve got to admit the quick remake of the roster went far beyond where I thought it would go.

— Reported by Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Suns center Jermaine O`Neal feels young again

For a man who has missed 39 percent of his teams’ games over the past eight seasons, any presumption of improved health is taken with great caution, but O’Neal said he feels five years younger.

He credits Boston doctors for a surgery that healed his left wrist. After getting a testimonial last year from Kobe Bryant, O’Neal went to Germany after the season to undergo Regenokine treatment on both knees, with the left being his primary concern.

The Suns have that visit and former captain Grant Hill to thank for landing O’Neal. Hill, now with the Los Angeles Clippers, was getting the treatment simultaneously and told O’Neal how he should consider the Suns because of the athletic trainers. They have performed wonders on 30-something players with health issues such as Hill, Steve Nash, Shaquille O’Neal and Antonio McDyess.

“I always knew the training staff was phenomenal,” O’Neal said. “That’s the word around the league among players. They really take the body and put three, four years on it by the things they do to the body.”

— Reported by Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic