October 2013 – Page 33 – NBA Blog

Detroit Pistons starting SG job remains open

It is the Detroit Pistons’ only apparent open position in the starting lineup, largely because many of the potential shooting guards don’t fit the spot.

Chauncey Billups really doesn’t want the job.

Rodney Stuckey professed indifference, which he proved last year.

Kyle Singler started most of last season at the position. But he’s probably in a competition for backup small forward moreso than starting shooting guard.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope wants the job. But the rookie first-round draft pick has some proving to do first.

Of the several points of intrigue as the Pistons open training camp this morning, only one involves a starting role, with as many varied styles as candidates.

Reported by David Mayo of Michigan Live

Justin Brownlee and Josh Powell join Knicks training camp

The New York Knicks announced Monday that the team has signed forwards Justin Brownlee and Josh Powell. We assume they are non-guaranteed contracts that merely add the players to training camp.

Brownlee, 6-7, 219-pounds, was a member of New York’s entry in the NBA Summer League each of last two summers, and averaged 4.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.20 steals over 16.1 minutes in five games this past July in Las Vegas, NV. He played for San Diego of the ABA last season after playing for Maine (NBADL) and in Mexico (Nuevo Laredo) in 2011-12. He averaged 8.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists over 23.5 minutes in 50 games for Maine and 13.6 points and 6.0 rebounds in 10 games for Nuevo Laredo. The Tifton, GA-native played two seasons at St. John’s University, recording 9.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists over 24.5 minutes in 65 games. He began his collegiate career at Chipola Junior College (FL) and City College of San Francisco.

Powell, 6-9, 225-pounds, holds career averages of 3.9 points on 43.9-percent shooting, and 2.9 rebounds over 12.5 minutes in 315 games (28 starts) over six seasons with Dallas, Indiana, Golden State, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers and Atlanta. He spent the 2012-13 season playing in Greece (Olympiacos) and Puerto Rico (Brujos de Guayama), after playing in China (Liaoning) in 2011-12. He went to training camp with San Antonio last season before being waived on Oct. 26. A member of the 2009 NBA Champion L.A. Lakers, he last played in the NBA for Atlanta in 2010-11, averaging 4.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 54 games. The Charleston, SC-native went undrafted following two seasons at North Carolina State University. He began his professional career playing overseas for two seasons in Italy and Russia before signing with Dallas in 2005-06.

Dallas Mavericks add Renaldo Balkman to training camp

The Dallas Mavericks on Monday signed forward Renaldo Balkman. We assume it’s a non-guaranteed contract that merely brings Balkman to training camp.

Balkman (6-8, 208) was selected by the New York Knicks with the 20th overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 4.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 13.9 minutes in 221 career games with New York and Denver.

The Staten Island, N.Y., native is a Puerto Rican-American who most recently played professionally for Brujos de Guayama in Puerto Rico. Balkman played collegiately at South Carolina where he was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Tournament Team and National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Most Valuable Player in his final season with the Gamecocks.

With the signing, the Mavericks’ current roster stands at 20 players.

Utah Jazz add Brian Cook, Justin Holiday, Dwayne Jones to training camp

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed free-agent forward Brian Cook, guard/forward Justin Holiday and center Dwayne Jones II. All three players will join the Jazz prior to this week’s training camp at Zions Bank Basketball Center. Following the three additions, Utah’s roster now stands at 19 players.

Cook (6-9, 234, Illinois) has appeared in 421 career NBA games (74 starts) over nine seasons from 2003-12. He spent his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers before stints with the Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Washington Wizards and holds career averages of 5.5 points and 2.6 rebounds. The 32-year-old has also seen action in 31 career playoff games over four appearances with the Lakers and Rockets. In 2012-13, he appeared in two games for the Piratas de Quebradillas of Puerto Rico, averaging 9.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in 19.1 minutes. Cook was originally selected by the Lakers in the first round (24th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft.

Holiday (6-6, 185, Washington) split time between the NBA and NBA Development League as a rookie in 2012-13, playing 47 games for the Idaho Stampede after attending training camp with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He finished the season with the Philadelphia 76ers, appearing in nine games for the Sixers, averaging 4.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 15.8 minutes of play. He averaged 17.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 34.7 minutes during his time with the Stampede and was selected to the 2013 NBA Development League All-Defensive Second Team. This summer, the 24-year-old native Californian participated for Philadelphia in the Orlando Pro Summer League, appearing in four games and averaging 9.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.

Jones II (6-11, 250, Saint Joseph’s) has played in a total of 82 career games in the NBA, split between Boston, Cleveland, Charlotte, and Phoenix, owning career averages of 1.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 7.8 minutes of action. The 30-year-old appeared in 21 games (17 starts) for the Texas Legends of the D-League during the 2012-13 season, averaging 8.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 30.5 minutes. Jones II most recently participated in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas with the Golden State Warriors. A native of Morgantown, W. Va., Jones was previously selected to the 2010 All D-League First Team, and was the Atlantic-10 Defensive Player of the Year his final year at Saint Joseph’s.