June 2015 – Page 5 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Blazers trade Nicolas Batum to Hornets

The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired forward Noah Vonleh and guard Gerald Henderson from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for forward Nicolas Batum, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey.

Vonleh (6-10, 240) enters his second NBA season in 2015-16 after Charlotte selected the Indiana standout with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft. In 25 career games with the Hornets, Vonleh, 19, is averaging 3.3 points (39.5% FG, 38.5% 3-PT, 69.2% FT), 3.4 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 10.4 minutes.

In his lone season at Indiana, Vonleh averaged 11.3 points and led the Big 10 in rebounding (9.0 rpg) on his way to Big 10 Freshman of the Year and All-Big 10 Third Team honors.

An NBA veteran, Henderson (6-5, 215) holds career averages of 12.0 points (44.3% FG, 30.9% 3-PT, 79.4% FT), 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 27.5 minutes in six seasons with Charlotte. Selected with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft out of Duke, Henderson, 27, ranked 26th in the NBA in free throw percentage last season (84.8%), while leading the Hornets in scoring 17 times.

“Nic Batum was a key contributor to all of our recent success,” said Olshey. “He will truly be missed as a person and a player. We wish Nic all the best for the future.”

In 481 career games (428 starts) with the Trail Blazers, Batum posted averages of 11.2 points (44.6% FG, 36.3% 3-PT, 83.4% FT), 5.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 30.8 minutes. Acquired in a 2008 draft day trade with Houston, Batum’s 751 career 3-pointers are the third-most in franchise history.

Nets may trade Mason Plumlee soon

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on the Nets:

Probably the most pressing question facing the Nets on Thursday is not who they draft, but what’s the worth of future cornerstone Mason Plumlee.

As the Daily News reported last week, Plumlee is being shopped around by Brooklyn in its hopes of climbing into lottery territory to nab a point guard. The Nets were rejected by Indiana in a bid to land the 11th pick, and there is league-wide skepticism that Plumlee – who was shut out of the playoff rotation for two straight years – is enough to move the Nets dramatically from their current spot at 29th. According to sources, the Nets are particularly high on Kentucky’s Devin Booker and Murray State’s Cameron Payne, who are both probable lottery picks.

“I think it’s pretty talented through 10 (in the draft),” Nets director of scouting Gregg Polinsky said. “And then if some of those guys we think are from six or seven get to 12, I think we’d say it was a pretty good draft through the lottery. So, I think up at the top it is pretty talented, really talented. I think you have a chance at some franchise-type players, some All-Stars. And that generally makes for a pretty good draft. Obviously, when you get out of the lottery, how strong is it? Time will tell. But just with all the guys going back to school, it makes it a tougher pick at 29.”

Jazz name Brian Zettler head athletic trainer

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has named Brian Zettler as the fourth head athletic trainer in franchise history. In addition, Nick Asay has been promoted to assistant trainer and Adam Klauke has been named the team’s equipment manager.

Zettler recently completed his 19th season in professional basketball and his 12th season with the Jazz, having served as the assistant trainer/equipment manager since the 2004-05 season. Prior to joining the Jazz, Zettler spent three seasons as the head athletic trainer with the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League. He concurrently spent four seasons assisting the Dallas Cowboys athletic training department. Zettler also worked with the Dallas Mavericks athletic training staff from 1997 until his departure to Utah. Before working in professional sports, he spent three years as the head athletic trainer at the Southwestern Assemblies of God University where he founded the school’s sports medicine program.

The Waxahachie, Texas native earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from Texas A&M in 1993 and a dual master’s degrees in science and education from the University of North Texas in 1998 and 1999. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Consultant (NCSA), a Performance Enhancement Specialist and Corrective Exercise Specialist (NASM). He was co-founder and elected inaugural president of the National Basketball Equipment Managers Association (NBAEMA) in 2013.

Zettler replaces longtime Jazz head athletic Trainer, Gary Briggs, who retired following the 2014-15 season after 33 NBA seasons, including 15 with Utah.

Asay spent the last two seasons assisting the Jazz athletic training staff and has worked for the franchise for six years total. In his new role, he will be a traveling member of the team’s training staff while continuing to work closely with the University of Utah Health Care, the official Jazz healthcare provider. Asay previously spent four seasons working for the University of Utah Health Care, serving as their head athletic trainer at Herriman High School from 2011-14.

The Salt Lake Valley native completed his undergraduate degree in athletic training and also received his master’s degree in sports psychology at the University of Utah. Asay served as the head athletic trainer for former Jazz NBA Development League affiliate, Utah Flash, from 2007-09. He previously worked as an athletic trainer for the University of Utah baseball team from 2004-06 and the Washington Nationals’ minor league affiliate, the Vermont Lake Monsters, from 2006-07.

Klauke has been with the Jazz for 16 years in various capacities in basketball operations, serving as the team’s assistant equipment manager and Zions Bank Basketball Center facility coordinator for the past three seasons. In addition to his time with the Jazz, Klauke spent 12 seasons with the Salt Lake Bees. Beginning as a program seller and bat boy, he served as assistant clubhouse manager for eight years.

A 2009 graduate of the University of Utah, Klauke earned a bachelor’s degree in health promotion and education.

Flip Saunders says Karl-Anthony Towns is underrated offensively

Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune quoting Timberwolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders on the value of top NBA draft prospect Karl-Anthony Towns:

Most expect the Wolves to take Karl-Anthony Towns with the first pick. And while Flip wasn’t saying who he’s taking, he did extol Towns’ virtues when asked about the Kentucky center.

Here’s what he had to say when asked about Towns’ best attributes: “Everyone talks about his versatility,” Saunders said. “He’s known right now [as] more of a defensive player. He’s very much underrated offensively, I think, because of playing [in Kentucky coach John Calipari’s] situation. By far, he’s the best pick-and-roll defensive big man in the draft. If you base things on it analytically, he’s the top analytical player, everything he’s done, on a per-minute basis. There’s a reason that people are looking at him as being one of the top players in the draft.’’

Expect faster Pelicans play under new coach Alvin Gentry

Alvin Gentry-led teams tend to move fast

The New Orleans Pelicans finished last season with a 45-37 record, and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors, who went on to win the 2015 NBA championship. Here’s the New Orleans Times-Picayune reporting on how the team may change under new head coach Alvin Gentry:

In the last five years Gentry has finished a season with a team – as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns in 2009-12 and as the associate head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers (2013-14) and Golden State Warriors (2014-15) – his team’s have never ranked lower than 8th in pace and finished first with the Warriors in their NBA title run.

Last year’s Pelicans’ squad finished 16th in the league in scoring averaging 99.4 points per game – the highest mark of Williams’ tenure. Gentry’s teams have led the league in scoring three times in the last six seasons with the Warriors averaging 111.0 points per game a season ago.

One of the things that impressed Pelicans general manager Dell Demps about Gentry was Gentry’s understanding of the Pelicans roster and the willingness to play with a different style in order to succeed in an ever-changing NBA.

“We interviewed a number of candidates, but Alvin talked about all of our players,” Demps said in Monday’s introductory press conference. “He had a great understanding of our team. He had an understanding of how he wanted this team to play. He talked about defense first and how that would make our defense better. I felt like we had a shared vision.

Monta Ellis to enter free agency

Mavs guard Monta Ellis to enter free agency

Monta Ellis is an excellent scorer but it remains to be seen if he can help raise a team to a higher level of winning basketball. Here’s ESPN.com with an update on the Dallas Mavericks backcourt:

Shooting guard Monta Ellis has decided to opt out of the final season of his contract with the Dallas Mavericks, agent Jeff Fried said.

“This decision was made because it’s in the best interest of Monta,” Fried said. “It was more about him taking his future into his own hands.”

The Mavericks do not intend to attempt to re-sign Ellis despite the fact he averaged 18.9 points last season to become the first player other than Dirk Nowitzki to lead them in scoring since 1999-2000…

Ellis, 29, had a Wednesday deadline to determine whether he wanted to make $8.7 million in the final season of a three-year, $25 million offer or test the free-agent market. If Ellis had opted in, the Mavs would have attempted to trade him for a first-round pick to clear cap space, sources told ESPN.com.

Arron Afflalo becomes free agent

Here’s the Oregonian with a Portland Trail Blazers update:

Arron Afflalo is officially a free agent.

The Trail Blazers’ shooting guard had until the end of the day Monday to exercise a $7.75 million player option for the 2015-16 season and remain in Portland one more year. But he did not opt in and is now an unrestricted free agent.

The move, which was expected, leaves the Blazers with two shooting guards on their roster — CJ McCollum and Allen Crabbe — who have started a combined 12 regular season games in their careers.

In addition to Afflalo, starting shooting guard Wesley Matthews is also an unrestricted free agent.

Charlotte will host NBA All-Star 2017

The NBA announced today that Charlotte has been selected to host NBA All-Star 2017. The 66th annual game will take place at Time Warner Cable Arena, home of the Hornets, on Sunday, Feb. 19. The 2017 game will mark the second NBA All-Star celebration in Charlotte, which hosted the event in 1991.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made the announcement this morning during a press conference at Time Warner Cable Arena, where he was joined by Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, Mecklenburg County Commission Chairman Trevor Fuller, Hornets President & COO Fred Whitfield, and Hornets Chairman Michael Jordan, who was the leading scorer of the 1991 NBA All-Star Game at the Charlotte Coliseum.

“As a thriving city with a proud basketball tradition and a deep passion for the game, the city of Charlotte is a terrific All-Star destination,” said Silver. “We thank Michael Jordan, the Hornets organization and the Charlotte community for their support and congratulate them on bringing our All-Star festivities back to North Carolina.”

“It is an honor to bring NBA All-Star back to Charlotte,” Jordan said. “I remember the excitement of playing in the 1991 All-Star Game, the first one held in my home state, and I take pride in being able to host NBA All-Star 2017 as the owner of the Hornets. This is a great moment for our fans, our city, and our franchise. We are excited to welcome the world to Charlotte and Time Warner Cable Arena in 2017.”

Raymond Felton exercises player option, will remain with Mavs

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that guard Raymond Felton has exercised his player option for the 2015-16 season.

Felton (6-1, 205) played in 29 games (three starts) with the Mavericks last season and averaged 3.7 points and 1.4 assists in 9.7 minutes.

Drafted by Charlotte in the first round (fifth overall pick) of the 2005 NBA Draft, Felton holds career averages of 12.7 points, 6.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 33.3 minutes in 696 career games (615 starts) with Charlotte, New York, Denver, Portland and Dallas.

Players invited to 2015 NBA Draft Green Room

These are the players invited to the 2015 NBA draft “Green Room.” The NBA invites players to attend the event that are expected to be selected fairly high up in the draft. There are always exceptions, surprises and disappointments, no matter which means are or are not listed.

· Devin Booker (Kentucky)
· Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky)
· Sam Dekker (Wisconsin)
· Jerian Grant (Notre Dame)
· Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Arizona)
· Stanley Johnson (Arizona)
· Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin)
· Kevon Looney (UCLA)
· Trey Lyles (Kentucky)
· Emmanuel Mudiay (Democratic Republic of Congo)
· Jahlil Okafor (Duke)
· Kelly Oubre, Jr. (Kansas)
· Cameron Payne (Murray State)
· Bobby Portis (Arkansas)
· Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia)
· D’Angelo Russell (Ohio State)
· Karl-Anthony Towns (Kentucky)
· Myles Turner (Texas)
· Justise Winslow (Duke)