Month: September 2014

Warriors, Jerry West reach new deal

Here’s the San Jose Mercury News reporting on the Golden State Warriors. Apparently a legend will stick around as an executive:

Warriors, Jerry West reach new deal

Warriors executive board member Jerry West has agreed to a two-year extension with the team through the 2016-17 season, an NBA source confirmed to this newspaper Wednesday.

West had one year remaining on his original deal with the team, and this new deal will be tacked on for a total of a three-year commitment from this point.

This move, coupled with the new deal for general manager Bob Myers through the 2017-18 season, puts a bow on co-owner Joe Lacob’s desire to keep his front office together for the long term as the team gets set to move into a San Francisco arena by 2018.

West, 76, had told associates recently that he was thinking about retiring for good, especially after the chaos of the Warriors’ 51-win season and subsequent firing of coach Mark Jackson.

Nets sign center Jerome Jordan

Nets sign center Jerome Jordan

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent center Jerome Jordan, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. We assume this is just a training camp signing, and that Jordan must still work to try to earn a regular season contract.

Jordan spent last season with Virtus Bologna in the Italian League, after the 7’0” center split the 2012-13 season playing in the NBA Development League for the Reno Bighorns (24 games) and the Los Angeles D-Fenders (18 games). Jordan was named to the 2013 All-NBA D-League Third Team after averaging 12.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 42 games (36 starts). During the 2011-12 season, Jordan played 21 games, along with one playoff game, for the New York Knicks, averaging 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 5.1 minutes of NBA play. Additionally, Jordan spent part of the 2011-12 season with the D-League’s Erie BayHawks, where he appeared in eight games. Selected out of Tulsa with the 44th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, Jordan was traded to the Knicks on July 8, 2010, before pursuing his career abroad with KK Hemofarm in Serbia (2010-11) and BC Krka in Slovenia (2011).

Warriors sign Leandro Barbosa

Warriors sign Leandro Barbosa

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent guard Leandro Barbosa to a contract, the team announced today.

Barbosa, 31, appeared in 20 games with the Phoenix Suns last season, averaging 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 18.4 minutes per contest. The Sao Paulo, Brazil, native spent the first part of the year with Sao Paulo-based Pinheiros/Sky, tallying averages of 15.9 points and 3.1 assists in eight Brazilian League games.

An 11-year NBA veteran, Barbosa owns career marks of 11.9 points, 2.3 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 23.7 minutes in 649 games (111 starts) with the Suns, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics. The 6’3” guard, who ranks 23rd among active players in three-point percentage (.390), has made postseason berths in six of his 11 campaigns (five with Phoenix, one with Indiana), helping the Suns to Western Conference Finals appearances in 2005, 2006 and 2010. In 2006-07, Barbosa earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award after posting career highs of 18.1 points and 4.0 assists to go with 2.7 rebounds and 1.20 steals in 80 games (12 starts) with the Suns, converting on 43.4 percent of his three-point attempts (7th in the NBA).

Originally selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round (28th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft, Barbosa played professionally in Brazil from 1999-2003, making his professional debut with Palmeiras in Brazil’s second division in 1999-2000 and earning Brazilian League Rookie of the Year honors with Baura Tilibra in 2001-02. He recently competed with the Brazilian National Team in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, averaging 11.9 points in seven games and helping Brazil advance to the quarterfinals.

The Warriors roster currently stands at 18 players.

Knicks sign Langston Galloway, Travis Wear

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed guard Langston Galloway and forward Travis Wear.

We assume that these are nonguaranteed deals that merely bring Galloway and Wear to Knicks training camp, giving them a chance to compete for a regular season contract.

Galloway, 6-2, 202-pounds, is an undrafted rookie out Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. After four seasons, the Baton Rouge, LA native finished his collegiate career as the Hawks’ second all-time leading scorer with 1,991 points and the school’s all-time leader on three-point field goals with 343. For New York’s entry at the 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas this past July, he averaged 5.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists over 13.8 minutes in four games

Wear, 6-10, 230-pounds, is an undrafted rookie out of the University of California, Los Angeles. After three seasons, the Huntington Beach, CA native averaged 9.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 96 games for the Bruins after transferring after his freshman year with the University of North Carolina. For New York’s entry at the 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas this past July, he averaged 2.7 points over 5.7 minutes in three games.

Marvin `Bad News` Barnes dead at 62

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting that Marvin Barnes has passed away:

Marvin Barnes, whose NBA career was derailed by substance abuse after leading Providence to the Final Four in 1973, has died, according to the college. He was 62.

Nicknamed Bad News and Marvin the Magnificent, Barnes was a 6-foot-9 center who teamed with fellow stars Kevin Stacom and Ernie DiGregorio to lead Dave Gavitt’s Friars to a 28-4 record in 1972-73, ending with a loss to Memphis State in the NCAA semifinals.

“Marvin will always be remembered as one of the greatest Friars of all-time,” Providence A.D. Bob Driscoll said in a statement.

Barnes was a consensus All-American during the 1973-74 campaign, leading the NCAA in rebounding with 18.7 per game. He was drafted No. 2 overall in the 1974 by Philadelphia, but instead signed to play with the Spirits of St. Louis in the ABA.

Charlotte Hornets arena will receive upgrade

Here’s the Charlotte Observer with good news about the Hornets arena:

Charlotte City Council members on Monday approved spending $33.5 million over 10 years on improvements to Time Warner Cable Arena, money that the city said it was contractually obligated to spend.

The Charlotte Hornets will use the money to renovate restaurants and bathrooms, add lower bowl seating, improve lighting and replace the scoreboard, among other improvements.

The team and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority had originally asked for nearly $50 million in public money.

Some council members Monday lauded the city for spending less than was requested, while others said they felt they were giving the NBA team a free ride.

Orlando Magic hire Jay Hernandez

The Orlando Magic have named Jay Hernandez assistant coach/player development, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

“We are extremely excited to add Jay (Hernandez) and his family to the Orlando Magic,” said Head Coach Jacque Vaughn. “Jay will bring a tireless work ethic and dedication to development to our coaching staff.”

Hernandez established Pro Hoops, Inc. in 2004, a basketball training service based in New York for teams and individuals seeking to improve their performance.

Hernandez played one season at the University of New Hampshire (1996-97) and three seasons at Hofstra University (1998-2001). He helped Hofstra to a berth in the NIT in 1999, then back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2000 and 2001. Hernandez went on to play professionally in Puerto Rico for three seasons.