September 2013 – Page 15 – NBA Blog

Carmelo Anthony says he has no interest in leaving Knicks

Carmelo Anthony can become a free agent after the upcoming season, but he gave the strongest indication yet that his plan is to re-sign with the Knicks.

“I’m not going nowhere,” Anthony said during an interview Tuesday with Bloomberg Television’s “Market Markers.”

Anthony is due to make $23.3 million in the 2014-15 season. If he were to opt out, the Lakers likely would pursue him, but the Knicks can offer him significantly more. Under the collective bargaining agreement, the most the Lakers could offer is four years and roughly $96 million. Anthony could get a maximum five-year contract worth about $129 million from the Knicks, who can start negotiating with him in February.

Money aside, Anthony pushed for the February 2011 trade from Denver to be in the spotlight and try to help the Knicks win their first championship since 1973. He led them to 54 wins last season and their first Atlantic Division title in 19 years, but they lost to Indiana in the second round.

Reported by Al Iannazzone of New York Newsday

Nets vs Knicks trash talk is starting early

Non-stop rhetoric has ping-ponged back and forth across both boroughs, the playful woofing even coming in the simple form of that three-letter phrase used so much in social media circles.

Nets forward Reggie Evans types in a simple “lol” on his Twitter page, this after the Knicks’ J.R. Smith responded to Paul Pierce’s chatter about hating the Knicks by proclaiming the Knicks were going to win the 2013-14 NBA crown. Jason Terry, never one to back down from tossing verbal barbs, chimed in the other day, cracking that maybe Smith instead meant the Knicks were destined to win a streetball title.

Jason Kidd doesn’t mind it all, probably because he’s well aware his team features a handful of trash-talking players who have no problem taking turns behind the wheel of their proverbial garbage trucks.

“That’s who my guys are,” the Nets coach told Newsday Wednesday at Lincoln Center, where he was promoting Reel Code Media’s application at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. “They have to be who they are. Some like to talk, some don’t. So you probably won’t hear Brook [Lopez] get involved in that.

“But Paul Pierce and Jason Terry, that’s the makeup of what they like to do. It’s all in fun. The game isn’t won in the newspapers; it’s won on the court. You still have to play the game.”

Reported by Roderick Boone of New York Newsday

Minnesota Timberwolves announce athletic training staff hires

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the hiring of Koichi Sato as the team’s Director of Sports Performance and Mark Kyger as Director of Athletic Therapy. Both Sato and Kyger will report to Timberwolves Head Athletic Trainer Gregg Farnam.

“We are pleased to welcome Koichi and Mark to our training staff,” Farnam said. “They both have many years of experience in working with athletes and will help us achieve the highest standard possible in the physical preparation and maintenance of our players.”

Sato will be responsible for overseeing all areas relating to performance enhancement. He comes to the Wolves from the Washington Wizards where he was the team’s Rehabilitation Coordinator/Assistant Athletic Trainer since 2008. Prior to that, Sato was an Assistant Athletic Trainer/Performance Specialist for Athletes’ Performance in Los Angeles for one year. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tokyo International University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University. Sato received his Master’s degree in Exercise Science/Physical Education from Arizona State in 2001. From 2000 to 2006, Sato was an Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Sun Devils. He has been a speaker and instructor on different areas of training for the last 10 years.

Kyger will play an integral role in the health care of the Timberwolves players. He comes to the Wolves from Arizona State University where he was the Sun Devils’ Rehabilitation Coordinator, providing physical therapy and athletic training for athletes in the school’s 21 varsity sports since 2007. Prior to that, Kyger was employed by Physiotherapy Associates in Tempe, Ariz., from 2005-07 where he specialized in sports therapy. Kyger received an undergraduate degree in Human Performance and Wellness from Mesa State College and received a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Regis University Ruekert-Hartman School for Health Care Professions. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and National Strength and Conditioning Association. Kyger played college basketball at Mesa State, earning four letters and serving as the team’s co-captain in 2000-01.

Effort to build new Sacramento NBA arena still faces roadblocks

A fresh fight broke out Wednesday over the proposed public subsidy for Sacramento’s new NBA arena, this time over an allegation that opponents of the subsidy are illegally using voter-registration information for commercial purposes.

In a complaint to the California secretary of state’s elections fraud unit, the pro-arena group DowntownArena.org accused its opponents of using voter lists to pitch the services of a for-profit energy company. “Voter registration information shall not be used for any commercial purpose,” reads the letter from DowntownArena.org.

But John Hyde, a spokesman for the anti-subsidy group STOP, for Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork, called the charge “absolutely false.”

The exchange was the latest flare-up between DowntownArena and STOP, which is working on a ballot initiative to force a public vote on the city’s proposed $258 million subsidy for the arena. Last month, DowntownArena filed a complaint with the state Fair Political Practices Commission that resulted in the dramatic disclosure that a portion of the signature-gathering effort was secretly financed by Chris Hansen, the investor who tried to buy the Kings earlier this year and move them to Seattle.

Reported by Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee

Denver Nuggets arena is adding metal detectors

The managers of the Pepsi Center in Denver are installing permanent metal detectors to boost security at major sports and entertainment events.

Kroenke Sports & Entertainment says all patrons entering the multipurpose arena will be required to undergo a security check beginning later this month.

The facility is home to the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche, and often serves as a concert venue.

Reported by the Associated Press

Sacramento Kings hire Robert Schaefer as Director of Athletic Performance

The Sacramento Kings today announced Robert “Chip” Schaefer as Director of Athletic Performance, according to General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

A veteran in the athletic training and sports performance field with more than 25 seasons of basketball experience to his credit, Schaefer’s career includes contributions to 11 NBA Championship teams.

Prior to joining the Kings, Schaefer served the last two years as Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Performance at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His change to the collegiate ranks followed 12 seasons (1999 – 2011) with the Los Angeles Lakers organization working as Director of Athletic Performance, where he was part of five title teams after helping Chicago win six championships during his eight seasons as head trainer for the Bulls (1990 – 1998).

In addition to his NBA experience, Schaefer was on-staff at the renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, where he worked with many of the nation’s elite professional and amateur athletes. He also served as head athletic trainer at Pete Newell’s Big Man Camps after a three-season stint as head trainer at Loyola Marymount University (1987-1990).

Schaefer’s role with Sacramento includes design and implementation of all strength and conditioning programs aimed at maximizing core strength, explosiveness, speed and endurance. He will also assist Director of Sports Medicine Pete Youngman and Head Athletic Trainer Manny Romero with injury prevention and health maintenance.

Schaefer is a member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is also recognized by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) as a specialist in performance enhancement, corrective exercise and fitness nutrition.

A native of Deerfield, Ill., Schaefer received his B.A. in physical education and sports medicine from the University of Utah in 1983. He later earned his master’s degree in counseling from Loyola Marymount. During the interim, he acted as head trainer for the U.S. Men’s Ski Team from 1984-86.

Miami Heat sign Michael Beasley

While a growing number of teams have felt that Michael Beasley’s on and off-court decisions aren’t what they’re looking for, the defending NBA champions apparently feel differently.

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed Beasley. According to Yahoo Sports, it’s just a training camp contract, and Beasley must still compete to make the roster to earn his one-year, minimum contract deal of $1 million.

“Michael had the best years of his career with us,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “We feel that he can help us.”

According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, “Beasley becomes the 17th player on the Heat’s training-camp roster, one of four invited to camp without guaranteed contracts. Teams may carry between 13 and 15 players during the regular season, but up to 20 in training camp. While Beasley will receive the five-year veteran minimum of $1,027,424, the Heat’s actual salary-cap hit will be only $788,872, under the NBA’s minimum-salary policy. In addition, Beasley is still collecting on the final two seasons of his bought-out Suns contract.”

According to the Miami Herald, “Beasley agreed to a one-year, nonguaranteed deal with Miami after recently being released by the Phoenix Suns. He was arrested for possession of marijuana in Scottsdale, Ariz., in August. Beasley, now 24 years old, has been linked to marijuana at every stop in his NBA career and his colorful history with the Heat is well documented. But at such a bargain, the team decided giving the inconsistent forward one more shot couldn’t hurt. With the league’s highly punitive luxury-tax system kicking in after this season, the Heat has gone with reclamation projects to fill out its roster and add depth.”

Beasley, a five-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 354 NBA games (197 starts) and averaged 14.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 26.4 minutes while shooting 44.7 percent from the field. Last season, he averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 20.7 minutes of action while shooting 40.5 percent from the field with the Phoenix Suns.

Beasley, who was originally drafted by Miami in the first round (2nd overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft, appeared in 159 games (97 starts) with the HEAT and averaged 14.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 27.3 minutes while shooting 46.1 percent from the field. In his two seasons in Miami, Beasley helped guide the HEAT to two consecutive postseason berths, appearing in 12 playoff games (four starts) and averaging 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 40.9 percent from the field.

Knicks sign Toure Murry and Chris Smith

Training camp rosters around the NBA are slowly starting to fill up.

New York Knicks Executive Vice President and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed guards Toure’ Murry and Chris Smith. These are likely just non-guaranteed deals that will bring the players to training camp.

Murry, 6-5, 190-pounds, averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.20 steals over 20.8 minutes in five games for New York’s entry at the 2013 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV. He helped lead Rio Grande to the NBA D-League Championship last season, averaging 8.3 points, on 45.6-percent shooting, with 2.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.61 steals over 23.5 minutes in 46 regular season games (30 starts). He played four seasons at Wichita State University, averaging 12.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists over 29.3 minutes his senior season in 2011-12.

Smith, 6-2, 195-pounds, averaged 5.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists over 19.9 minutes in five games for New York’s entry at the 2013 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV. He originally signed with New York on Aug. 1, 2012, but was waived on Oct. 26. The Millstone, NJ native, played two seasons at the University of Louisville, averaging 9.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists over 27.5 minutes in 40 games (38 starts), and helped lead the Cardinals to the NCAA Final Four during his senior season in 2011-12. He is the younger brother of Knicks guard and reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith.

Dallas Mavericks sign Fab Melo, D.J. Kennedy and Richard McConnell

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed Fab Melo, D.J. Kennedy and Richard McConnell to expand the current roster to 17 players. We assume that the contracts are non-guaranteed and the players have merely landed spots in Mavs training camp, for now.

Melo (7-0, 255) is a former Syracuse University standout and Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He was originally the 22nd overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. He played only six games for the Celtics and spent a majority of the season assigned to the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League where was named NBA D-League All-Rookie First Team and All-Defensive First Team. On August 15, 2013, Melo was traded to Memphis in exchange for Donte Green. He was waived by Memphis on August 30.

Kennedy (6-6, 215) is a 2013 NBA D-League All-Star who helped the Rio Grande Valley Vipers win the D-League Championship in 2013. He played in two career games with Cleveland and scored a career-high 12 points for the Cavaliers in his NBA debut on April 25, 2012. The Pittsburgh native played his college ball at St. John’s University.

McConnell (6-0, 189) finished as one of the top all-around players in St. Mary’s history (2007-11). He ranks among the top 10 career leaders in 3-point field goals made (3rd) and attempted (6th), 3-point percentage (2nd), free throw percentage (5th), assists (2nd), assists average (7th), steals (tied for 6th) and games played (4th). As a senior, he was named WCC Player of the Year and honorable mention All-America by the Associated Press. Last season, he played for Tezenis VE in Italy and averaged 13.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 32 games. He was named Eurobasket.com All-Italian Lega2 Honorable Mention.

Miami Heat sign Eric Griffin and Justin Hamilton

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed forward Eric Griffin and center Justin Hamilton. We assume these are non-guaranteed deals for training camp, and neither player is assured of making the regular season Heat roster just yet.

Griffin appeared in 10 games (seven starts) for the Heat’s 2013 Summer League team and averaged 6.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.25 steals and 19.0 minutes while shooting 57.4 percent from the field. He appeared in 28 games with Fileni BPA Jesi of the Italian Lega2 last season and averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.82 steals, 1.29 blocks, 1.2 assists and 32.0 minutes while shooting 55.6 percent from the field. The Campbell University product finished with the school’s highest career field goal percentage (.559) and ranks third on the school’s all-time blocks list with 134 rejections.

Hamilton, who was drafted in the second round (45th overall) by Philadelphia in the 2012 NBA Draft, was acquired by the Heat on draft night, along with a future first round draft pick, in exchange for Arnett Moultrie (27th overall). He split last season with VEF Riga (Latvia) of the VTB United League and Cibona (Croatia) of the Adriatic League appearing in 30 total games and averaging 10.5 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 60.2 percent from the field. Additionally, Hamilton appeared in three 2012 Summer League games with the Heat totaling 27 points and 12 rebounds in 56:43 minutes of action while shooting 8-of-17 from the field and a perfect 11-of-11 from the foul line.