Month: July 2013

Dallas Mavericks sign second round draft pick Ricky Ledo

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed second round pick Ricky Ledo.

The Mavericks acquired the draft rights to 43rd overall pick from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a 2014 second round pick that was originally sent to the Mavericks from Boston (via Brooklyn) in a deal that also included the draft rights to 16th overall pick Lucas Nogueira.

Ledo (6-7, 195) attended Providence University where he was ruled ineligible by the NCAA, but continued to practice with the Friars.

Before arriving in Providence, Ledo was a Jordan All-American at South Kent (Conn.) High School where he averaged 23.4 points and 6.2 rebounds in his senior season. Scout.com ranked him as the No. 5 shooting guard and No. 17 overall prospect after his senior season of high school.

Miami Heat, other teams watch Greg Oden workout

Miami Heat, other teams watch Greg Oden workout

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra met with Greg Oden and watched him work out Tuesday in Indianapolis, as Miami continued to explore signing the seven-foot center whose career has been sidetracked by knee injuries.

Chet Kammerer, the Heat’s vice president/player personnel, joined Spoelstra at the workout, which was also attended by officials from the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans.

Bill Duffy, one of Oden’s agents, said Oden likely will pick a team next week and that every team that has shown interest “remains under strong consideration.”

Besides the Heat, Kings and Pelicans, that list also includes the Mavericks and Spurs — who met with Oden previously — and the Atlanta Hawks, who will watch him work out Thursday.

Another of Oden’s agents, Mike Conley Sr., said last week the Heat has as good a chance of any team but stopped short of calling Miami the front-runner.

Reported by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald

Cavs happy to have landed Sergey Karasev

One of the things David Griffin, Cavaliers vice president of basketball operations, said he loves about the organization is that the team’s ownership is “willing to invest in the process.”

It’s what allowed the Cavs to take time and to send multiple scouts to Europe to watch Sergey Karasev from St. Petersburg, Russia, play on junior national teams and in All-Star events on the international stage. That due diligence eventually led to the team targeting and then taking Karasev with the 19th pick in the first round of the NBA Draft.

“Throughout that process, what we were really excited about was his skill-set,” Griffin said Tuesday at Cleveland Clinic Courts. “His basketball IQ is excellent. He’s a very accomplished young player. To lead the Russian league in scoring at the age he did is unprecedented. He’s somebody, with his skill-set, [who] really spoke to us.”

Karasev, a 6-foot-7 left-hander with a good shooting stroke, according to many scouting reports, also has good court presence and is able to score with his right or left hand. That ambidexterity came about as Karasev shot with his left hand but off the court often lived as a righty.

Reported by Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal

Nick Young says Mavs and Kings had interest in him

Nick Young says Mavs and Kings had interest in him

He said he had sparked interest from both the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings. But Young viewed Dallas’ eventual acquisition in guard Monta Ellis and Sacramento’s reported interest in him as signals that neither partnership would work.

“I didn’t want to sit around and wait on what was going to happen,” Young said. “I felt like this would be a good opportunity.”

He has plenty of good reasons to feel that way.

The Lakers hope Young’s scoring mentality will help absorb Kobe Bryant’s possible absence to open the season stemmed from his torn left Achilles tendon. On a team full of veteran-laden players with little speed, Young’s freakish athleticism and age (28) suddenly makes this team more capable of running Mike D’Antoni’s system at a faster pace. And Young said he “definitely” saw the Lakers waiving Metta World Peace through the amnesty provision as a clear sign they want him to have a significant role.

Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News (Blog)

DeMarcus Cousins pledges loyalty to Kings

DeMarcus Cousins pledges loyalty to Kings

DeMarcus Cousins has never wanted to be a player who demands a trade and has no intention of doing so.

His first three seasons in Sacramento have been long on drama and short on wins. And with the Kings under new ownership and management, Cousins would like to be a part of that change.

“I’m loyal to my city,” he said. “That’s one thing I am. I’m loyal. That’s the biggest thing. I’m not going to give up on it.”

Following practice Monday at Team USA’s minicamp at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center, Cousins spoke in detail to reporters for the first time since Vivek Ranadive became the principal owner of the Kings, Pete D’Alessandro the general manager and Michael Malone the coach.

Reported by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee

Larry Sanders gets first look with USA Basketball

Larry Sanders gets first look with USA Basketball

Larry Sanders put on his No. 43 USA practice jersey and went to work Monday.

The Bucks center, who admitted he never dreamed of having such an opportunity, was part of a group of eight young big men being evaluated by U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski and the rest of his staff. A four-day USA Basketball national team minicamp opened Monday at Mendenhall Center on the University of Nevada-Las Vegas campus.

“It was an exciting first day,” Sanders said. “A little jittery, a little jumpy, extra active. But my motor was going so it was good.”

The camp brought together 26 NBA players and two top collegians – Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart and Creighton’s Doug McDermott – in the opening step of preparations for the 2014 World Cup in Spain and the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

“The goal is just to perform as best I can and let them worry about the rest,” Sanders said. “They’re waiting for that new wave to come through. It was a good experience, a good start.”

Reported by Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Paul George hopes to stay with Pacers

Paul George hopes to stay with Pacers

We present to you “Exhibit A” on why the Lakers’ well-intentioned plans to clear up cap space for the 2014 offseason won’t automatically restore the Lakers’ championship fortunes.

Indiana forward Paul George basically confirmed he won’t be among one of those attractive free agents the Lakers wish they could sign next season. Instead, it appears George and the Pacers are going to ink a max extension well before the Oct. 31 deadline for players from the 2010 draft class.

“I’m happy, man. I’m happy in Indiana,” George told ESPN.com. “It’s overwhelming (to hear) that they would want a player like me to come play for their team. But right now I’m focused on Indiana. I’m happy to be in Indiana. Our future is bright in Indiana. I wouldn’t want to leave something great.”

Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News (Blog)

Get to know new Celtic Vitor Faverani

Get to know new Celtics Vitor Faverani

He played last year for Valencia Basket Club of the Spanish ACB League, averaging 9.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 17 minutes in 23 games.

Also, Faverani was eligible for the 2009 NBA draft but was not selected.

“He was not drafted because he was very immature and did not take the game seriously,” said an Eastern Conference scout who said he spent considerable time scouting Faverani.

“He could not be trusted. He has done a lot of growing up, both on and off the floor, and has turned the corner, so to speak.”

In terms of how Faverani fits in with the Celtics, the scout said, “I can see him as a pick-and-pop big, offensively. Where he fits defensively and being a consistent rebounder will be the key.”

Reported by Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe (Blog)

Philadelphia 76ers introduce first-round pick Nerlens Noel

The Philadelphia 76ers officially introduced Nerlens Noel, acquired in the draft-day trade that sent All-Star Jrue Holiday to the New Orleans Pelicans, Tuesday afternoon at the Philadelphia College of Orthopedic Medicine.

Noel was joined on-stage by Sixers GM Sam Hinkie. A head coach was noticeably absent.

Before addressing the addition of the 6-foot-11 center from the University of Kentucky, Hinkie discussed the departure of all-star point guard Jrue Holiday.

“To lose [Jrue] is not easy,” he began. “We wish him nothing but the best in New Orleans, and for the rest of his career.”

“With that being said, we’re very excited,” Hinkie continued. “To acquire Nerlens and the [2014 lottery] pick that came with him, we think is a very big step for us.”

Reported by Michael Kaskey-Blomain of Philly.com