October 2012 – Page 33 – NBA Blog

76ers will keep Andrew Bynum out three weeks

Center Andrew Bynum had a full share of injury issues during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers. Will the trend continue now that he’s on the Philadelphia 76ers?

The 76ers announced today that the team will take precautionary measures with Bynum and will withhold him from basketball activities for the next three weeks in order to maximize the therapeutic effects of the Orthokine therapy he received earlier this month.

Bynum was examined by Dr. Jack McPhilemy of Main Line Health and was diagnosed with a bone bruise of the medial femoral chondyle of his right knee. During the aforementioned time frame, Bynum will continue participate in low impact conditioning drills.

The team will provide additional updates as they are available and appropriate.

Thunder add guard Walker Russell to training camp

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed guard Walker Russell to a contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. We presume it’s just a training camp deal.

Russell (6-0, 170 pounds), appeared in 28 games last season as a member of the Detroit Pistons where he averaged 3.0 points and 2.1 assists in 12.8 minutes per game.

After playing collegiately at Jacksonville State University, Russell spent five seasons in the NBA D-League where he amassed averages of 15.1 points, 8.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 132 contests.

During the past six years, Russell has spent time playing professionally in the Dominican Republic (2011), China (2011), Germany (2010-11), Puerto Rico (2010), Bulgaria (2009-10), Madrid (2008) and the Czech Republic (2006-07).

The Oklahoma City Thunder roster now stands at 19.

Raymond Felton reportedly in good shape for Knicks

Point guard Raymond Felton has been an active participant in workouts.

Felton’s conditioning is considered a key for the Knicks this year.

Felton is coming off a sub-par year in Portland for the Blazers, where he reportedly entered the season out of shape.

So the Knicks are hoping that Felton can bounce back in New York.

According to multiple sources at the training facility, Felton is in solid shape and motivated for his second act in a Knicks uniform.

“He looks great,” one observer said. “He looks like 2010 Ray.”

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Wizards sign guard Jannero Pargo

With point guard John Wall injured and likely out of action for around eight weeks, the Washington Wizards have added some PG depth.

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Jannero Pargo.

“Jannero brings us veteran leadership and added depth to our backcourt,” said Grunfeld. “He is a hard-nosed competitor and proven outside shooter that will fit well with the mix of veterans and young players on our roster.”

Pargo (6-1, 185) holds career averages of 6.5 points, 2.0 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game while shooting .354 from three-point range in 429 games (18 starts). Originally undrafted out of the University of Arkansas, Pargo began his career in 2002 with the Los Angeles Lakers. He has also spent time with the Raptors, Bulls, Hornets and Hawks.

Pargo comes to Washington after spending the 2011-12 season with the Atlanta Hawks where he averaged 5.6 points, 1.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds while shooting .384 from three-point range in 50 games. The eight-year pro enjoyed his best season in 2006-07 with the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets when he appeared in all 82 games and averaged a career-high 9.2 points per contest. He has averaged 5.8 points and 1.5 assists in 40 career playoff games with the Lakers, Bulls, Hornets and Hawks.

Rockets open camp in atmosphere of uncertainty

With an average of two years of NBA experience on their roster, the Rockets will head to training camp Tuesday with more than the usual work to do.

Coach Kevin McHale will have less than a month to evaluate the hand he has been dealt and how to best play it. There is little that can be considered a certainty.

General manager Daryl Morey said last week that only two players on his 20-man roster are known commodities. That did not include his top free-agent additions, guard Jeremy Lin and center Omer Asik. Of the 20 players heading to McAllen, only two — forward/center Patrick Patterson and forward Chandler Parsons — finished last season in the rotation. Only one, guard Kevin Martin, went through the bulk of last season’s abbreviated training camp.

Finally, they will begin to work through the uncertainty. But after a nearly complete offseason overhaul of the roster, the summer of their reinvent sends them to camp with more questions than answers.

— Reported by Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle Blog

Dave Benz is new Timberwolves TV play-by-play announcer

In conjunction with Fox Sports North, the Minnesota Timberwolves today named Dave Benz as the team’s television play-by-play announcer. Benz will team up this season with color analyst Jim Petersen to call 75 Wolves games this season on Fox Sports North and WFTC MY29.

Benz, a graduate of Oswego State University (Oswego, NY,) brings a wealth of experience and versatility to Minnesota with over 20 years in the sports industry. His television and radio play-by-play experience includes college basketball for FOX Sports, the mtn. and Comcast Sportsnet where he covered a number of men’s and women’s programs in the Mountain West, Pac-12, Big-12, WCC, Big West and Sun Belt conferences. He has also been behind the mic for Major League Baseball Cactus League games as well as Arena Football League and CHSAA High School Football games. Most recently he was the radio “Voice of the Sabercats” for San Jose’s AFL team.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be the new television voice of the Timberwolves. It has been my lifelong dream to be an NBA play-by-play announcer,” said Dave Benz. “I look forward to calling many Timberwolves wins this season alongside Jim Petersen, who is one of the best in the business. I also look forward to meeting Timberwolves fans and sharing in their passion for this organization.”

Benz comes to the Twin Cities from the San Francisco Bay Area where he worked as host, anchor and reporter for Comcast Sportsnet Bay Area. There he had the opportunity to cover the Giants 2010 World Series title and the 49ers run to the NFC Championship game as a pre and postgame show host. His lengthy career has afforded him the opportunity to regularly cover a number of NBA teams including roles as pre and postgame host for the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors. He has also had roles covering the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets.

“After a nationwide search, we were captivated by Dave’s call of a game and how he captures the moment,” said Ted Johnson, Wolves Sr. Vice President of Marketing/Communications & Chief Marketing Officer. “Dave has experience covering many teams in different leagues and we feel he will be a great fit for our emerging team.”

“We’re pleased to welcome Dave to our FOX Sports North family, we’re confident he’ll bring energy and enthusiasm to our Timberwolves telecasts,” said Tony Tortorici, executive producer for FOX Sports North. “His knowledge of the sports scene will complement Petersen, Hanneman, Lynch and the rest of the TV team very well.”

Joe Johnson fighting jewelry-related lawsuit

Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson insists … he’s no jewel thief — and now, he’s lashing back against a lawsuit that says he stole $125,000 worth of bling from an Atlanta diamond dealer.

Aydin & Company filed a lawsuit against Johnson earlier this month, claiming the NBA star entered into a purchase agreement back in October 2010 for $125,500 worth of jewelry.

The items in question — a white gold watch with diamonds, diamond beaded bracelet, black diamond stud earrings and a white gold bezel set rosary.

— Reported by TMZ.com

Stephane Lasme signs to play in Greece

Panathinaikos Athens found a stopper to reign in the paint by signing [forward] Stephane Lasme, who returns to the Euroleague after two years away. Lasme (2.03 meters, 29 years old) finished among the top vote-getters for the 2010 Best Defender Award after his last season with Maccabi Electra. He averaged 6.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and was third in the league with 1.4 blocks per game in a reserve role for Maccabi that season. He helped Partizan Belgrade and Maccabi to playoff appearances in both of his two previous Euroleague campaigns. Lasme is ranked second all-time with 1.46 blocks over his 39 career Euroleague games. Last season he played for Obradoiro CAB in the Spanish League, where he was worth 10.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 34 games.

— Reported by Euroleague.net

Elton Brand expects to be Mavs enforcer

The Mavericks need somebody willing to do the dirty work in the paint. It doesn’t take a Duke education to figure that out.

Elton Brand, a first overall pick out of Duke and former All-Star, basically announced himself as willing and able to play the enforcer role.

“I’m definitely going to have to anchor the defense, bring toughness,” the 6-foot-9, 254-pound Brand said. “I’m not proud of it, but I think I led the league in flagrant fouls last year. You’ve got to bring that. In order to win, you’ve got to do those kind of things, protect that paint.”

Actually, Brand led the league in flagrant fouls in 2010-11, but you get his point.

— Reported by Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas

Detroit Pistons add Terrence Williams and Jonny Flynn to training camp

The Detroit Pistons announced today the addition of guards Terrence Williams and Jonny Flynn to the 2012-13 training camp roster.

Williams was drafted 11th overall by the New Jersey Nets in the 2009 NBA Draft. He’s played in 129 career NBA games with the Nets, Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings, averaging 7.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Williams was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in April 2010 while with the Nets where he averaged 8.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 22.6 minutes while recording eight double-doubles as a rookie.

Flynn was drafted sixth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2009 NBA Draft. In 163 NBA games (90 starts) with Minnesota, Houston and Portland, the 2010 NBA All-Rookie second team member has averaged 9.2 points, 3.9 assists and 1.9 rebounds. With the Timberwolves in 2009-10, Flynn ranked fifth among rookies in scoring (13.5 ppg), fourth in free throw accuracy (82.6% FT), fifth in assists (4.4 apg) and seventh in steals (1.01 spg).