July 2014 – Page 24 – NBA Blog

Orlando Magic waive Jason Maxiell

The Orlando Magic have waived forward Jason Maxiell, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

Maxiell played in 34 games (13 starts) last season with the Magic, averaging 3.2 ppg. and 2.5 rpg. in 14.4 minpg. He scored in double figures three times, including a season-high 12 points on Nov. 9 @ Atlanta and Dec. 3 @ Philadelphia.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Maxiell’s salary of $2.5 million for the 2014-15 season was fully unguaranteed if the team (or a team that had acquired him via trade) had waived him on or before July 10. By waiving him now, Maxiell’s salary is erased from the Magic’s cap figure for the upcoming season. Maxiell started Orlando’s first 10 games last season, but his playing time diminished once Glen Davis returned from an injury.”

Originally selected by Detroit in the first round (26th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft by Detroit, Maxiell appeared in 557 career NBA regular season games (188 starts) with Detroit and Orlando, averaging 5.9 ppg. and 4.3 rpg. in 18.9 minpg., while shooting .501 (1,317-2,631) from the floor. He was signed as a free agent by Orlando on Jul. 18, 2013.

Trail Blazers promote Joe Cronin to Director of Player Personnel

The Portland Trail Blazers have promoted Joe Cronin to the position of Director of Player Personnel, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey.

Cronin, now entering his ninth season with Portland, most recently served as the team’s Pro Scout/Salary Cap Analyst, a position he’s held since 2010.

In his new role, Cronin will manage all aspects of the NBA Salary Cap for the team, college and international scouting in preparation for the NBA Draft, and NBA scouting for free agency and trades.

“Joe possesses a unique skill set that is critical to the success of our organization,” said Olshey. “His expertise and contributions in multiple areas make him an invaluable member of our front office staff.”

Cronin joined the Trail Blazers as a Basketball Operations Intern in 2006 after finishing graduate school at the University of Denver, where he earned his master’s degree and served as the Graduate Assistant for the men’s basketball team. A Denver native, Cronin played college basketball at Regis University and the University of Northern Colorado.

Magic need Victor Oladipo to handle leadership role

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting on the young, rebuilding Magic:

The Orlando Magic didn’t need Victor Oladipo to be a team leader last season. Veteran Jameer Nelson served as the team’s leader.

But, lately, the expectations for Oladipo have changed. The team has waived Nelson and traded away 28-year-old Arron Afflalo. Those moves, along with the decision to cut 31-year-old Ronnie Price, have left a leadership vacuum on the Magic roster.

Oladipo may have to fill that void even though he’s only 22 years old and entering his second NBA season. He’s the face of the franchise, and if he isn’t the Magic’s unquestioned leader, he’s definitely one of the primary leaders.

“It’s just something I need to learn,” Oladipo said Thursday. “I want to be a leader of this team, and I want to help this team win. So it’s something I need to work on. So what better way to do that than start now?”

Sebastian Telfair to join Thunder

Here’s the Oklahoman reporting on the Thunder:

Looking to add depth and experience at the lead guard position following the departure of Derek Fisher, the Thunder has agreed to terms with veteran point guard Sebastian Telfair.

Telfair, 29, was the 13th overall pick in 2004. He’s played for seven teams in nine seasons but spent last season in China. In 548 career NBA games, Telfair has averaged 7.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 21.6 minutes.

The deal is a one-year contract at the veteran’s minimum, about $1.3 million.

Will Knicks bring back Kenyon Martin?

Here’s the New York Post reporting:

The Knicks still may shop at K-Mart this summer.

According to an NBA source, Kenyon Martin, a free agent, went through with his offseason left ankle surgery and is on schedule with his rehab to be ready for training camp.

The Knicks, pending what they do in their hunt for a big man with their $3.3 million mini midlevel exception, could have interest in Martin.

Martin played in 32 games last season, riddled with pain for his chronic ankle issue.

Shane Battier retires, moves into broadcasting

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting:

Shane Battier is going back to school. His NBA retirement is now official.

As expected, ESPN confirmed Wednesday that the former Miami Heat forward will be joining the network next season as a college basketball analyst.

Per the network, Battier, “will provide insights and analysis across ESPN’s extensive studio programming and on select games from various top conferences.”

ESPN said Battier’s specific assignments have yet to be determined.

Battier auditioned for ESPN a year ago, when he interviewed players selected at the 2013 NBA Draft.

Lionel Hollins is new Brooklyn Nets head coach

The Brooklyn Nets have reached an agreement in principle with Lionel Hollins to serve as the team’s new head coach, General Manager Billy King announced. Hollins will become the 19th head coach in the franchise’s NBA history.

“We are very excited to welcome Lionel as the new head coach of the Brooklyn Nets,” said King. “He is a proven winner who will provide the franchise with stability and leadership going forward.”

“I want to thank the Nets ownership and Billy for this opportunity,” said Hollins. “It has been a long process to get back into the league, and I believe that Billy and I will have a very successful working relationship. Brooklyn has firmly established itself as a franchise that is committed to winning, and I eagerly look forward to becoming part of that culture and building on the success of the past two playoff appearances.”

A veteran of over 20 years of NBA coaching experience, Hollins most recently served as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012-13, where he guided the team to a franchise record 56 wins and reached the Western Conference Finals. Hollins took the helm in Memphis midway through the 2008-09 season and led the Grizzlies to consecutive postseason appearances in his final three campaigns as coach. In his four-plus season stint as head coach, Hollins compiled a record of 196-155 (.558).

The Las Vegas native was an original member of the Vancouver franchise as an assistant coach, and was a staple on the sidelines for 10 of the club’s first 12 seasons (1995‐00, 2002‐07). Hollins twice served as the Grizzlies’ interim head coach, when he guided Vancouver to an 18‐42 finish (.300) in 1999‐00, and again took over for four games in 2004‐05, following the resignation of Hubie Brown. Overall, Hollins owns a career NBA coaching record of 214‐201 (.516). Prior to joining the Grizzlies, the Arizona State graduate spent seven years with the Phoenix Suns (1988‐95) as an assistant coach under Cotton Fitzsimmons and later Paul Westphal. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Arizona State in 1985 and served for part of the 2008-09 season as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Selected sixth overall in the first round of the 1975 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, the Arizona State product earned a spot on the 1976 All‐Rookie First Team and won an NBA Championship as a starter for the Trail Blazers in 1977. A year later, he was an NBA All‐Star while also being named to the NBA’s All‐Defensive First Team. Over 10 NBA seasons, Hollins averaged 11.6 points, 4.5 assists and 1.56 steals in 673 career games with the Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers, Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets.

Orlando Magic waive Ronnie Price

The Orlando Magic have waived guard Ronnie Price, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

Price played in 31 games (two starts) last season with the Magic, averaging 2.4 ppg., 2.1 apg. and 1.4 rpg. in 12.2 minpg. He led (or tied) the team in assists six times, including a career-high 11 assists on Apr. 14 @ Chicago.

Originally undrafted by an NBA franchise, Price has appeared in 425 career NBA regular season games (35 starts) with Sacramento, Utah, Phoenix, Portland and Orlando, averaging 3.4 ppg., 1.5 apg. and 1.1 rpg. in 11.7 minpg. He was signed as a free agent by Orlando on Jul. 25, 2013.

Bucks owners admit process in getting Jason Kidd could have been smoother

Here’s the Associated Press, via the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reporting on the Milwaukee Bucks:

New Bucks owners Marc Lasry and Wes Edens admitted Wednesday that there may have been errors in how Jason Kidd was lured to Milwaukee.

That doesn’t mean they aren’t happy to have him as the Bucks’ new head coach.

Kidd was formally introduced Wednesday at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Kidd said there were no hard feelings over his abrupt and surprising departure from Brooklyn, where he won 44 games and reached the second round of the playoffs as a first-year head coach but left after a failed bid for more front-office power.

His messy departure leaked to the media and Brooklyn agreed Monday to deal Kidd to Milwaukee for second-round draft picks in 2015 and 2019. The Bucks fired Larry Drew, who had no indication he wouldn’t be back for a second season.

Manu Ginobili out with injury

Here’s the San Antonio Express-News blog, on the Spurs:

Spurs guard Manu Ginobili played the NBA Finals with a slight stress fracture in his right fibula, an injury that now casts his availability for Argentina in this summer’s FIBA Basketball World Cup in doubt.

The fracture was discovered during a routine postseason physical, according to a league source, and began bothering the 36-year-old guard at some point during the Spurs’ run in Western Conference playoffs. By the end of the Spurs’ march to a championship, Ginobili could often be seen limping noticeably after games.

Yahoo! Sports first reported news of Ginobili’s condition.

Ginobili, who turns 37 later this month, will visit with a foot specialist for a second opinion on the injury, which otherwise could keep him off the court for up to two months.