Month: September 2014

Tyreke Evans out 3-5 weeks with hamstring injury

Tyreke Evans out 3-5 weeks with hamstring injury

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that guard Tyreke Evans is expected to miss 3-5 weeks with a strained right hamstring.

“Tyreke injured his hamstring playing pickup basketball out of town last week,” stated General Manager Dell Demps. “He is back in New Orleans rehabbing with our medical staff. Hopefully, he will be cleared to play before the season-opener.”

Evans appeared in 72 games for the Pelicans last season and averaged 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 28.2 minutes per game.

Cavs trade Keith Bogans to 76ers

Cavs trade Keith Bogans to 76ers

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired Philadelphia’s 2015 second round pick (protected) in exchange for  guard Keith Bogans and the Cavs 2018 second round pick in a trade with the 76ers, General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

As a result of the trade, the Cavs will receive a trade exception of approximately $5.3 million.

The 76ers pick acquired in the trade is 31-50 and 56-60 protected, if such pick is not conveyed to the Boston Celtics to satisfy a prior trade between Philadelphia and Boston.

Bogans, an 11-year veteran, has played in 671 career games (333 starts) with averages of 6.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 21.6 minutes for Orlando, Charlotte, Houston, Milwaukee, San Antonio, Chicago, Brooklyn and Boston. The 6-5 guard is also a career .353 shooter from the three-point line and .716 from the charity stripe. He has played in 36 postseason games with career averages of 4.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per game.

New coach Steve Kerr set to lead Warriors

Here’s the San Francisco Chronicle reporting on the Warriors, who begin a new journey under head coach Steve Kerr:

Kerr said he’ll use elements of the triangle offense from Chicago, the ball movement that distinguishes San Antonio, the fast pace Phoenix used when Kerr was GM and assistant coach Alvin Gentry was leading the show and even plays from last year’s Warriors team that were successful.

The common idea will be to push the ball ahead to the wings in an effort to attack a retreating defense. If there’s no shot there, the ball will cycle around the court and back into point guard Stephen Curry’s hands – where a designed play will commence. Finally, Curry can go back to the old pick-and-roll if it gets late in the shot clock.

Through it all, Kerr will focus on ball movement.

Ball movement has “always been my philosophy,” Kerr said. “That’s always been a part of my basketball DNA and my belief system.”

Rondo falls at home, suffers broken hand

rajon rondo

This is not the way the Boston Celtics wanted to start 2014-15 training camp, which begins soon.

Once again, Celtics star point guard Rajon Rondo is injured. According to the team, Rondo fell at home, and broke his hand in the process. After surgery today, he’s expected out 6-8 weeks.

A silver lining here is that the Celtics are a rebuilding team, and have plenty of young players to develop. Some of them should benefit from increased minutes due to Rondo being out, namely rookie guard Marcus Smart.

Also, the team may trade Rondo sometime this season. If he can come back, play well and look good, his trade value should remain the same.

More info on the Rondo injury is here:

http://www.insidehoops.com/rajon-rondo-hand-surgery-092614.shtml

Pelicans fill training camp roster

The New Orleans Pelicans today added Kevin Jones, Dionte Christmas and Vernon Macklin to their training camp roster.

The vast majority of players given non-guaranteed contracts bringing them to training camp won’t make the roster, and tend to wind up playing overseas.

As for the Pelicans’ camp, here’s more info:

http://www.insidehoops.com/training-camp-pelicans-092614.shtml

Charlotte Hornets release statement on Jeff Taylor arrest situation

The Charlotte Hornets released the following statement regarding Jeffery Taylor:

“We have informed Jeffery Taylor that effective immediately he will not be participating in any team-related activities while the NBA is investigating his conduct in this matter. As an organization, we understand and appreciate the seriousness of this matter, and will assist the NBA and law enforcement in any way we can until this comes to an acceptable resolution. We have spoken with Jeffery and his representatives and they fully understand our position.”

Josh Davis, John Holland in Spurs camp

Josh Davis, John Holland in Spurs camp

The San Antonio Spurs have been great for years now at finding hidden basketball gems and working them into the mix. So even if players have very little chance of actually making the regular season roster, it’s always noteworthy seeing which guys get invited to their training camp.

Here’s info on the latest Spurs camp additions:

http://www.insidehoops.com/spurs-davis-holland-092614.shtml

Spurs keep the band together, retain Aron Baynes

Spurs keep the band together, retain Aron Baynes

The San Antonio Spurs had great total team chemistry as they won the NBA championship last season, and they’ve done everything possible to keep the band together for another run at the crown. Right down to the end of the bench.

Here’s more info on the Spurs keeping Aron Baynes:

http://www.insidehoops.com/spurs-re-sign-aron-baynes-092614.shtml

Michael Carter-Williams will start slowly as he recovers from surgery

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting on the 76ers, whose bright spot in the backcourt, young Michael Carter-Williams, is still recovering from surgery:

michael carter-williams

On Oct. 30, 2013, Michael Carter-Williams torched the Miami Heat for 22 points, 12 assists, 9 steals, and 7 rebounds in his inaugural regular-season game.

There’s a chance that the 76ers’ second-year point guard won’t get a chance to duplicate the feat in his second season opener.

“I don’t know,” coach Brett Brown said Thursday regarding Carter-Williams’ availability for the start of the regular season. “But at the start of our preseason games, I expect to give Tony [Wroten] the ball” at point guard.

Carter-Williams, last season’s rookie of the year, had surgery May 6 to repair the labrum in his right shoulder. He will not be a full participant at training camp, which begins Tuesday at Richard Stockton College in Galloway Township, N.J.