Enjoy these video highlights of Glen Rice Jr., as he prepares to begin his rookie season in the NBA with the Washington Wizards:
Month: August 2014
NBPA makes history with hiring of Michele Roberts
Here’s the Boston Globe reporting on the National Basketball Players Association and their recent news:
History was quietly made this week by an organization that desperately needs positive publicity, with Michele Roberts working feverishly to ensure the NBA Players Association improves its reputation.
Roberts was named the first women to lead a men’s professional sports union last week after the NBPA went more than a year without an executive director. Countless times over the past six months, commissioner Adam Silver referred to the players’ lack of leadership as a reason major issues were being tabled.
Roberts was elected by 32 of the 36 player representatives, making her a barrier-breaker and also a neophyte in what has been a contentious relationship over the past several years. The NBA has sustained two major work stoppages over the past 16 years, including a 66-game lockout-marred season in 2011-12.
With those issues on her mind, Roberts said she hasn’t had time to reflect on her groundbreaking position. And she won’t. She said she’ll be too busy preparing herself for the task of representing the league’s players entering a critical financial phase in which salaries could rise significantly with a new television contract.
“I have continued professionally to reinvent myself,” said Roberts, who is a Washington-based lawyer in the firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom. “At one point I thought I was going to die a criminal defense attorney. And I haven’t done any criminal work in 10 years. I cannot recall being this excited in my life as I am right now. I quite frankly wish I could start tomorrow.”
Paul George injury badly hurts Pacers
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George’s loss comes on the heels of Lance Stephenson’s departure to Charlotte in free agency, leaving Indiana without its two most versatile players. The Pacers had the Eastern Conference’s best record last season at 56-26 and could have been the favorite to reach the NBA Finals after LeBron James’ departure from Miami if they could have brought their core back.
Now, they could struggle just to stay in the playoff picture in the toughened-up East. James’ arrival in Cleveland, with Kevin Love perhaps still to come, could make the Cavaliers the team to beat. Or it could be Chicago, with Derrick Rose looking back in form after another surgery while playing for the Americans this week and with Pau Gasol joining the Bulls next season.
Washington and Toronto figure to keep building after their playoff appearances last season, Miami rebounded well after losing James to keep a competitive team together, and the Pacers without George might not be as good as any of them.
— Associated Press
Timberwolves likely to trade Kevin Love, possibly in late August
Here’s the St. Paul Pioneer Press reporting on the Minnesota Timberwolves:
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The Timberwolves say now that they expect to trade disgruntled all-star Kevin Love and that a deal is expected Aug. 23 or Aug. 24.
“I’m saying it’s most likely because Kevin has made it pretty clear that that’s what he wants to do,” Wolves owner Glen Taylor told the Pioneer Press.
Taylor’s preference, though, is that Love remain in Minnesota. The August dates for a trade are because that’s when the Cleveland Cavaliers officially can deal their first-round draft pick, Andrew Wiggins, to the Wolves.
Cleveland remains the strong bet for Love to join LeBron James. But the Wolves continue to listen to offers from Chicago and Golden State, with Philadelphia expected to be part of a three-team deal.
Sam Cassell likely joining Clippers staff
Here’s the Washington Post Blog with a report on assistant coach Sam Cassell:
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Sam Cassell is leaving the Washington Wizards after five seasons to take an assistant coaching position with the Los Angeles Clippers, people with knowledge of the situation confirmed Saturday.
Cassell joined the Wizards as a member of Flip Saunders’s staff in 2009, one year after winning a third championship in Boston with Doc Rivers, the current president and coach of the Clippers.
A reunion with Rivers has been rumored for several weeks, with the Clippers losing assistants Tyronn Lue (to Cleveland) and Alvin Gentry (to Golden State) this offseason.
Statement from Larry Bird on Paul George after serious leg injury
Updated statement from Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird regarding Paul George:
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“Our first thoughts are with Paul and his family. It is way too early to speculate on his return as the No. 1 priority for everyone will be his recovery. Our initial discussions with our doctors and the doctors in Las Vegas have us very optimistic. We are hopeful at some point next week Paul will return to Indianapolis to continue his recovery.
“There is no question about the impact on our team but our goal is to be as strong-willed and determined as Paul will be in coming back. Our franchise has had setbacks in its history but has demonstrated the abilities to recover. Paul will provide the example of that off the court and it is up to the rest of us to provide that example on the court. Any discussion regarding the future of our team would be inappropriate at this time. Our focus is solely on Paul and doing whatever we can to help.
”We still support USA Basketball and believe in the NBA’s goals of exposing our game, our teams and players worldwide. This is an extremely unfortunate injury that occurred on a highly-visible stage, but could also have occurred anytime, anywhere.
“Finally, the Pacers would like to thank our fans and the NBA community for their outreach of support in the brief amount of time since the injury occurred. It has been overwhelming and it is what makes Indiana and the NBA special.”
Paul George suffers horrible leg injury
Here’s ESPN.com reporting on a very nasty Paul George injury from Friday:
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Indiana Pacers star Paul George suffered a gruesome lower right leg injury during the U.S. national team’s intrasquad scrimmage at UNLV and underwent surgery late Friday night.
The Indianapolis Star reported George suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula, had a pin placed in his leg and is expected to remain hospitalized for two to three days. A USA Basketball spokesman who confirmed George was in surgery said the organization would not have any other information until the operation was complete and officials spoke with the doctor. Dr. Riley Williams, a Team USA orthopedist who also works with the Brooklyn Nets, was with George.
George’s leg landed and then buckled at the base of the basket stanchion after he fouled James Harden on a drive to the basket just 27 seconds into the fourth quarter.
Nearby teammates immediately reacted, with Harden doubling over as George recoiled on the baseline.
Medics, U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski and members of George’s family who were at the game rushed to his side.
His right leg was put in an air cast, and he was taken to a Las Vegas hospital after being treated for about 15 minutes on the court. His family members accompanied him there.
Knicks sign second round draft pick Cleanthony Early
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New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed forward Cleanthony Early to a contract.
Early, 6-8, 219-pounds, was selected by New York in second round (34th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft following his senior season at Wichita State University. The Bronx, NY-native led the Shockers to an undefeated regular season (34-0), with averages of 16.4 points on 48.6-percent shooting and 5.9 rebounds. He averaged 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds, over 27.9 minutes, in four games for New York’s entry in the 2014 NBA Summer League at Las Vegas, NV.
Spurs sign Tony Parker to contract extension
The San Antonio Spurs today announced guard Tony Parker has signed a multi-year contract extension. According to Yahoo Sports, it is a three year, $43.3 million extension
Parker has spent his entire 13-year NBA career with the Spurs after being selected by San Antonio with the 28th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft. The 32-year-old Parker is one of the most decorated players in Spurs history, being named to four All-NBA Teams (second team in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and third team in 2009) while earning six All-Star appearances (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014). The Spurs have captured four NBA Championships during Parker’s tenure in San Antonio.
During the 2013-14 season Parker averaged 16.7 points, 5.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 29.4 minutes. It marked the fourth consecutive season that Parker has led the Spurs in scoring. He earned All-NBA Second Team honors and was the Spurs lone representative in the 2014 NBA All-Star Game.
In his career, Parker has appeared in 940 regular season games averaging 17.1 points, 6.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 32.6 minutes. He has seen action in 196 playoff games averaging 18.9 points, 5.3 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 35.7 minutes.
Only two active NBA players, Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant, have appeared in more postseason games than Parker. Among all-time NBA Playoff career leaders he ranks 12th in points (with 3,705), eighth in assists (1,034) and eighth in games (196).
Parker, who was the MVP of the 2007 NBA Finals, is the Spurs all-time NBA career leader in assists in both regular season and playoff action.
Miami Heat sign Shawne Williams
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The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed forward Shawne Williams.
Williams, a six-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 251 career regular season games (36 starts) averaging 5.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 17.1 minutes while shooting 40.3 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point range and 73.3 percent from the foul line. He has appeared in four career postseason games and averaged 8.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.00 steals, 1.00 blocks and 25.3 minutes while shooting 41.7 percent (10-of-24) from the field, 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from three-point range and 75 percent (6-of-8) from the foul line.
He split the 2013-14 season between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League. Williams appeared in 36 games (13 starts) with the Lakers last season and averaged 5.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 20.9 minutes. He also appeared in 23 games (21 starts) with the L.A. D-Fenders and averaged 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.09 blocks, 1.7 assists and 31.5 minutes while shooting 45.6 percent from the field, 41.8 percent from three-point range and 80.6 percent from the foul line. He was named the NBA D-League Performer of the Week on March 17 after averaging 26.3 points, including a 34-point game at Canton on March 15 while helping the team to a perfect 3-0 week. Additionally, he appeared in two postseason games with the D-Fenders, totaling 22 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block.
Williams was originally drafted in the first round (17th overall) by Indiana in the 2006 NBA Draft.