October 2012 – Page 3 – NBA Blog

Ty Lawson getting closer to contract extension with Nuggets

Ty Lawson getting closer to extension with Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are getting closer to making a deal with guard Ty Lawson on a contract extension before Wednesday’s deadline for 2009 Draft picks, according to a league source.

There is not a deal in place, but with the clock ticking, hopes are increasing that a deal can be made. The Nuggets and Lawson have been working on an extension for the past few weeks, and the fourth-year guard has been one of the few members of his Draft class that was given a decent chance to get something done. Lawson, who will turn 25 later this week, has become one of the league’s most dynamic point guards. He averaged 16.4 points and 6.6 assists last season, and his PER of 19.43 rated ninth among point guards. With Lawson pushing the ball, Denver became a lethal transition team and the Nuggets have hopes they can be even more efficient after acquiring forward Andre Iguodala from Philadelphia in August as part of the four-team trade that sent center Andrew Bynum from the Lakers to the 76ers.

— Reported by David Aldridge of TNT/NBA.com

Portland Trail Blazers name Chris McGowan President and CEO

The Portland Trail Blazers announced today that Los Angeles sports executive Chris McGowan will be the Trail Blazers’ new President and Chief Executive Officer. McGowan joins the Trail Blazers from his position as Chief Operating Officer of AEG Sports, where he has played prominent leadership roles in the reigning NHL champion Los Angeles Kings and the MLS’ Los Angeles Galaxy.

“It is a great day for the Portland Trail Blazers as we welcome Chris to the Northwest,” said Trail Blazers Owner Paul Allen. “With his demonstrated leadership with the Kings and Galaxy, I am confident he will find ways to improve the Blazers’ business performance, which is key to the team’s overall success.”

McGowan replaces Larry Miller, who resigned as the team’s president in July to return to Nike, and joins General Manager Neil Olshey and Head Coach Terry Stotts, who were both hired earlier this year. He will assume his new position on November 12.

“With Chris now onboard, the Blazers’ new leadership team is complete,” Allen said.

“I am honored to take on this role,” said McGowan. “I have always admired the strength of the Trail Blazers’ brand and the passion of their fan base and am eager to join the staff as we continue building an organization the city can be proud of.”

McGowan will manage all business operations of the team and the Rose Garden. He will report to Peter McLoughlin, currently president of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and MLS’ Seattle Sounders FC, who is assuming the role of CEO of Vulcan Sports and Entertainment (VSE). VSE oversees the business operations of Allen’s sports franchises and facilities. McLoughlin will continue in his roles with the Seattle franchises as well as with First and Goal, Inc., which manages CenturyLink Field.

Olshey will continue to manage all basketball operations. He will report directly to Allen on basketball operations and collaborate with McGowan on budget and financial matters.

“I’m excited to work with Chris,” said Olshey. “I’m impressed with his leadership abilities and look forward to a successful collaborative effort.”

McGowan earned his degree in International Relations from the University of Delaware and began his career with AEG in 1996. His success in sales and his strong organizational and team-building skills propelled him up the ranks of AEG. In 2007, he was named Chief Operating Officer of the Kings, where he oversaw the team’s business operations and led the team to increased revenue from ticketing, sponsorships, concessions and other areas.

Earlier this year, McGowan was named COO of the newly formed sports division, AEG Sports. In addition to overseeing the Kings and the Los Angeles Galaxy, McGowan assisted with the operations for all of AEG’s sports teams around the world.

OKC Thunder exercise third-year option on guard Reggie Jackson

The Oklahoma City Thunder exercised its third-year option on guard Reggie Jackson, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Jackson (6-3, 208), who was the 24th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, averaged 3.1 points, 1.6 assists, 1.2 rebounds and 11.1 minutes in 45 games during his rookie campaign. This past summer, the Boston College product was named to the All-Summer League Second Team at the AirTran Airways Pro Summer League in Orlando after averaging 15.3 points, a team-leading 3.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 26.4 minutes in four games (all starts).

Eddy Curry expected to be Mavs starting center for season opener

Eddy Curry, who was waived by the Spurs last Tuesday and picked up by the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, is expected to be the Mavs’ starting center in their regular-season opener against the Lakers on Tuesday, according to multiple media reports.

The 7-foot Curry is being pushed into service because Chris Kaman is still out with a calf injury, and the Mavs need some size in the middle to go against Lakers center Dwight Howard.

Curry, the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2001, has been a major disappointment in the pros.

— Reported by the Sports Xchange

Rockets waive Shaun Livingston, Jon Brockman, Gary Forbes, Lazar Hayward, JaJuan Johnson

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has waived forward Jon Brockman, guard/forward Gary Forbes, guard/forward Lazar Hayward, forward JaJuan Johnson and guard Shaun Livingston. Each of these players were parts of trades involving players or picks coming back to the Rockets, all which aided in the recent trade with Oklahoma City to acquire guard James Harden.

Brockman (6-7, 255, Washington) and Livingston (6-7, 175, Peoria Central High School) were both acquired by the Rockets in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks on June 27, 2012, helping Houston move up to the 12th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft which was used to select Jeremy Lamb.

Forbes (6-7, 220, Massachusetts) came to Houston via trade with Toronto on July 11, 2012, to acquire a future lottery pick from the Raptors.

Hayward (6-6, 225, Marquette) was part of the recent trade with the Thunder.

Johnson (6-10, 221, Purdue) was acquired by the Rockets from the Boston Celtics as part of the Courtney Lee sign-and-trade on July 20, 2012, which also netted Charlotte’s 2013 second-round pick.

The Rockets roster now stands at 15 players.

Dallas Mavericks waive guard Delonte West

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have requested waivers on guard Delonte West. West was originally signed as a free agent by the Mavericks on Dec. 13, 2011 and then re-signed on July 26, 2012.

West (6-3, 180) averaged 9.6 points, 3.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 24.1 minutes in 44 games (33 starts) last season despite suffering a fractured and dislocated right ring finger on Feb. 15 against the Denver Nuggets. The injury forced West out of 21 games, but he returned to start the final 13 games of the regular season.

West saw action in seven games this preseason and averaged 5.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 17.6 minutes per game.

The Mavericks’ roster now stands at 15 players.

Wizards waive Brian Cook and Shelvin Mack

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived center/forward Brian Cook and guard Shelvin Mack.

Cook was originally traded to Washington along with Nene on March 15, 2012 as part of a three-team deal that sent JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf to Denver and Nick Young to the Los Angeles Clippers. He was re-signed by Washington on September 17, 2012. In 16 games with the Wizards last season, Cook averaged 3.1 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting .408 from the field. He averaged 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in seven games during the 2012 preseason.

Mack was originally selected by Washington with the 34th overall pick in 2011 NBA Draft. In 64 games during his rookie campaign, he averaged 3.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 12.2 minutes per contest. Mack averaged 4.1 points in eight games during the 2012 preseason.

The Wizards’ roster now stands at 15.

Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich limited in practice

Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich, who has missed time with a strained groin, did some light shooting Sunday afternoon but his status for Wednesday night’s regular season opener against the Sacramento Kings remains uncertain.

“(He’s) day to day,” Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said Sunday. “He’s improving.”

Thibodeau did not want to guess at Hinrich’s status for Wednesday, but he sounded optimistic that if Hinrich is able to practice the next couple days he would be able to play.

— Reported by Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago

James Harden plans to sign long-term extension with Rockets

James Harden plans to sign a long-term extension with the Houston Rockets before the regular season begins.

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year joined his new team Sunday after he was traded to the Rockets from Oklahoma City late Saturday. The Thunder acquired guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-round pick in the surprising deal. Oklahoma City also sent center Cole Aldrich and forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward to Houston.

“It happened so fast, it happened very fast,” Harden said. “But this is the position I’m in in now. Just have to make the best out of it. I’m with Houston now. I just have to come in here and play hard and win games.”

Thunder general manager Sam Presti said Houston was able to offer Harden a contract that Oklahoma City could not.

“Quite honestly, the value of the trade was greater based on the fact that the Rockets could offer him the contract that he was seeking,” Presti said.

— Reported by the Associated Press

After signing in China, Tracy McGrady says he is retired from NBA

McGrady, who played alongside Yao Ming for the Houston Rockets for six years from 2004-10, will reportedly become the biggest earner in the CBA on an estimated $800,000 per year.

The seven-times All-Star has already impressed his new employers with his work ethic and professionalism in practice and maintained he was fully committed to the Eagles.

“I am not going back to the NBA,” said the 33-year-old McGrady, coming off a career-low season averaging 5.3 points in just 16 minutes with the Atlanta Hawks.

“I retired from the NBA. CBA is it. It’s a process you have to go through before you make a decision like this.

“Your family has to be comfortable with your decision, because it’s going to be a long season and I will not be able to be there with them.”

— Reported by Alastair Himmer of Reuters