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There was a ton of NBA signings today. Most of the moves were training camp deals, on non-guaranteed, very small contracts. The vast majority of players signed to such deals will not make the regular season roster, and will likely being playing overseas next season.
We posted every transaction, but in our main articles section today, not this blog section. To see what went down, hit our front page.
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The Detroit Pistons announced today that Aaron Gray will miss training camp while rehabbing from a cardiac episode suffered following a voluntary workout in late August.
The 7-0, 270-pound center has undergone a full evaluation and is currently seeking additional medical assessments from cardiac specialists to determine a timetable for a return to action.
Gray is a backup, and not likely to play a big role on the Pistons this season. As for his health, hopefully doctors figure out the problem — if there is one — and Aaron turns out to be fine and can play soon.
The Orlando Magic have signed free agents Kadeem Batts, Drew Crawford, Seth Curry and Peyton Siva, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.
These are likely all non-guaranteed deals that bring the players to Magic training camp.
Orlando’s roster now stands at 19 players. NBA regular season rosters have a maximum of 15 players.
Training camp for the Magic begins on Tuesday, September 30.
The Golden State Warriors alternate uniforms for the 2014-15 season were unveiled tonight.
The Warriors 2014-15 alternate uniforms feature a new color for the NBA, Slate, which is being added to the team’s identity for the 2014-15 season. Slate represents not only the technology and innovation synonymous with the Bay Area, but also the body armor for the team on the court.
The Warriors will debut the Slate Alternate Uniforms when the team faces the Charlotte Hornets at home on Saturday, November 15, and continue to wear the Slate Alternate Uniforms on Saturday games throughout the 2014-15 regular season (Does not include Opening Night).
Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich are two of the best at their respective NBA jobs, and it’s a pleasure seeing them operate. Getting Popovich to explain himself in press conferences isn’t quite as enjoyable, but of course that takes nothing away from his coaching. Here’s the San Antonio Express-News blog with more as the 2014-15 NBA season approaches:
They first joined forces in 1997, Tim Duncan as the fresh-faced franchise savior, Gregg Popovich as the not-so-fresh-faced usurper still trying to prove his worth as an NBA head coach.
Seventeen seasons and five championships later, they’re still going strong, both bound for the Hall of Fame and eager to embark on what could be, with Duncan’s contract set to expire next summer, their final campaign together. The sheer weight of that partnership gave Popovich pause as the Spurs opened training camp on Saturday, the first official day of their championship defense.
“I asked Timmy before (practice), what camp is this?” he said. “He said, ‘This is the 18th camp in a row.’ I said, ‘My gosh. What do you think the first drill is going to be?’ He said, ‘Is it going to be the same stupid one we do every year?’ I said, ‘Yeah, we’re going to start at the beginning.’”
“So some of this stuff is boring. But it’s all about starting at the beginning every year, not skipping steps. You’ve heard me say it a million times, but it really is true. You have to build it all over again. You can’t assume you’re going to start where you left off. Luckily, I have a group that understands that.”
Here’s the Charlotte Observer with a long look at new Hornet Lance Stephenson. Much more on the original article page link:
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As a Coney Island teenager given the nickname “Born Ready,” he became New York City’s best high school basketball player. After a quick stop in college, he has toiled in relative obscurity in the Midwest up until last season with the Indiana Pacers.
Now, Stephenson, the Charlotte Hornets’ big free-agent signing this offseason, is poised for a breakout with his new team. But his talent has always been belied by his outbursts.
Reserved away from the court, Stephenson displays a passion on the floor that results in triple doubles and ankle-breaking moves – but also technical fouls and head-shaking antics.
More than basketball, he also wants to make movies and music. He just released a music video for his new rap song, a remake of the popular rap song, “Hot N—a.” He has ambitions of doing more songs.
Here’s the Deseret News reporting on the Utah Jazz, who in the 2014-15 season will be led by new head coach Quin Snyder:
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Not only did Snyder replace Tyrone Corbin, who was contract-not-renewed the week after the season ended following his 3 1/2-year stint. But a couple of guys got promotions and multiple new faces were also added to Utah’s bench to help the former Duke point guard in his first NBA head coaching gig.
After advancing to become one of four finalists for the coaching vacancy, Jazz assistant coach Brad Jones was retained by the organization and moved up to be Snyder’s right-hand man. Former Ute star and player development coach Alex Jensen was also promoted as an assistant to join Jones on the bench.
Ex-Duke big man Antonio Lang, who had been coaching in Japan, was tabbed as the third bench coach. Also, the Jazz retained former Utah point guard Johnnie Bryant and hired Mike Wells as their player development coaches. Wells has years of NBA experience with the Rockets, Lakers and Spurs.
The Brooklyn Nets 2014-15 roster looks weaker than last year’s edition. They need everybody healthy, and that includes Andrei Kirilenko, who may play an increased role from now on. But he’s not ready to go just yet, reports ESPN New York:
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Brooklyn Nets small forward Andrei Kirilenko, who was working with the starters on the first day of training camp, has tightness in his lower back, which he believes could keep him out for the next 7-10 days.
Kirilenko missed 25 straight games early last season due to back spasms. Overall, he missed 37 games in 2013-14 due to injury.
“I mean I’m trying to be positive,” Kirilenko, who worked with the training staff to strengthen his back in the offseason, said Sunday.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Chris Crawford and forward Shane Edwards, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.
Crawford played in 140 games (84 starts) over his four-year career at The University of Memphis with averages of 8.7 points, 3.3 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 27.9 minutes per game. His 242 three-pointers made are tied for third in school history, while he also ranks fourth in total steals (223) and sixth in games played. The 6-4 guard went undrafted in this year’s NBA Draft and appeared in five contests for the Houston Rockets summer league team in Orlando with averages of 10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 24.4 minutes per game.
Edwards signed a 10-day contract with Cleveland in 2013-14 when he played in two games with the Cavaliers after spending most of the season with the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers’ D-League affiliate. In 46 games (38 starts) with the Charge, he averaged 14.2 points on .551 shooting, 5.4 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 28.8 minutes per game.
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Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has signed free agent forward Jason Maxiell. The training camp roster now stands at 18.
The 6-7 Maxiell spent last season with the Orlando Magic, averaging 3.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 14.4 minutes in 34 games. Originally selected with the 26th overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft by Detroit, Maxiell spent his first eight seasons with the Pistons, appearing in 523 career games (175 starts), with averages of 6.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in 19.1 minutes.
Over his nine-year career, Maxiell has appeared in 557 games (188 starts), averaging 5.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 18.9 minutes, while shooting .501 (204-457) from the field.
Collegiately, he averaged 12.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 129 career games for Cincinnati. While with the Bearcats, he was named Second Team All-Conference USA twice (2004 and 2005), Conference USA All-Tournament (2004), Conference USA Sixth Man of the Year (2002) and Conference USA All-Freshman Team (2002). Maxiell played in 129 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in school history, and started the last 77 contests he played.