July 2015 – Page 25 – NBA Blog

Hornets hire Bruce Kreutzer as an assistant coach

The Charlotte Hornets announced today that the team has hired 38-year coaching veteran Bruce Kreutzer as an assistant coach on Head Coach Steve Clifford’s staff. Kreutzer, whose coaching experience includes stints at all levels of the sport from the professional ranks to high school, will focus much of his attention on working with the Hornets players’ shooting skills.

“I’m excited to add Bruce to our coaching staff,” said Clifford. “He is a veteran coach at all levels of the game and brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and teaching experience. He has a proven track record of helping players improve their shooting fundamentals, mechanics and ability.”

In 2006, Kreutzer joined former Hornets assistant coach and four-time NBA All-Star Mark Price to form the Mark Price Shooting Lab at the Suwanee Sports Academy, where he served as lead shooting instructor and player development coach. Kruetzer’s professional experience also includes serving as the head coach of the ABA’s Atlanta Vision (2006-2008), where the team won the Southern Division and made an Elite Eight appearance. He has also served as a shooting consultant for the NBA D-League (2008-2011) and the Philadelphia 76ers (2008-2010).

No stranger to the Charlotte area, Kreutzer served as an assistant coach at Queens University – reaching the NCAA Division II Final Four in 2003 – and UNC Charlotte, as well as head coach at Garinger High School. Garinger High School won the 4A Boys State High School Title in 1989 with Kreutzer at the helm. Kreutzer also served as head coach at Massanutten Military Academy (Woodstock, Va.), leading his team to a No. 9 ranking nationally in 2006 and developing more than 20 Division I college players during his tenure. In total, In total, Kreutzer has amassed more than 300 wins at the high school and prep levels.

Suns to add Tyson Chandler

Now this is big. Literally — because Tyson Chandler is really tall — and figuratively, because Chandler is good and as a defensive-minded center should bump the Suns up just enough to make more noise in the Western conference playoff race. The Suns still face a very uphill battle to qualify for the postseason in an incredibly difficult conference, but Chandler will be a very nice addition.

In this move, Phoenix is getting a nice, key piece. Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting:

The Suns wanted size, defense, rebounding and leadership and went for it in 32-year-old center Tyson Chandler.

The Suns kicked off free agency by setting on a five-year, $70 million contract with guard Brandon Knight, which matches Eric Bledsoe’s deal from September, and added Chandler to fortify their middle as they continued pursued of star free agent LaMarcus Aldridge.

Sources confirmed agreements for Knight and Chandler with ESPN.com reporting that Chandler’s deal will be worth $52 million over four years. The Suns entered free agency with $12 million of cap space but could create more space. They have $16.2 million in cap holds for Brandan Wright and Gerald Green and a $5.5 million trade exception from the Goran Dragic deal.

Chandler is a 14-year veteran who was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2011-12.

The Dallas Mavericks, meanwhile, are in serious transition and face a lot of difficult decisions as Dirk Nowitzki’s career starts to wind down.

Thunder will keep Kyle Singler

Again, a reminder: Backups and bench depth are important, too. Teams in free agency go after the big stars first, generally, but locking up the supporting cast is important as well. The Oklahoma City Thunder will keep Kyle Singler. Here’s the Oklahoman reporting:

On the opening day of free agency, the Thunder swiftly accomplished one of the two things it set out to do this summer.

The team agreed to re-sign restricted free agent Kyle Singler, coming to terms with the reserve forward on a five-year deal worth more than $24 million on Wednesday. The deal could keep Singler in Oklahoma City through the 2019-20 season, although the fifth year of the deal is a team option.

At first glance, the contract might appear to be a bit steep for a player who is projected to be the Thunder’s 11th man next season. But when compared to deals other players received around the league it begins to look more like fair market value.

Mike Dunleavy, for example, re-signed with Chicago for three years and nearly $15 million. Al-Farouq Aminu landed a four-year, $30 million deal with Portland. Danny Green re-signed in San Antonio for four years, $45 million.

Suns meet with LaMarcus Aldridge

Every NBA team in need of a big-man with serious game is interested in Portland Trail Blazers free agent powe forward LaMarcus Aldridge. The Phoenix Suns are included in that mix. Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting:

The Suns’ Wednesday meeting with free agent LaMarcus Aldridge might have closed some ground in their chase for a much-needed star.

With an intricate plan in place for the first day of free agency, the Suns showed Aldridge what type of team that they envision being before they even met with him. The Suns opened free agency by adding veteran center Tyson Chandler with a four-year, $52 million agreement and by coming to terms to keep guard Brandon Knight on a five-year, $70 million contract.

Those were important to do first because Chandler and Knight were along for the ride when the Suns brought an eight-man contingent for a two-hour meeting with Aldridge, who is believed to be mainly considering San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and Phoenix.

The meeting was broken into segments, starting with Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver meeting alone with Aldridge. President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby and General Manager Ryan McDonough had the next meeting.

We’re just one day into free agent negotiations and it’s already fascinating.

Clippers, Paul Pierce agree to deal

Now this is the kind of signing that is worth paying attention to. A move where a really good team that has a realistic eye on the NBA championship adds a key veteran who could mean the difference in a tightly-contested playoff battle against another really good team. Paul Pierce to the Clippers. Here’s the Los Angeles Times reporting:

The Clippers gained a giant lure in their pursuit of DeAndre Jordan on Wednesday, agreeing to terms with Paul Pierce on a three-year, $10.5-million contract that will reunite the veteran small forward with Coach Doc Rivers.

Pierce and Rivers won an NBA title together with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and will almost surely try to pitch Jordan on their collective potential with the Clippers, who will get the last word in the bidding for the free-agent center Thursday.

The Clippers will sign the former Inglewood High star with their so-called mini-midlevel exception, their primary financial tool in free agency, and will likely slot him into the starting small forward spot vacated by Matt Barnes, who was traded last month.

Pierce, who turns 38 in October, is a 10-time All-Star who gives the Clippers some championship experience in their starting lineup and a clutch presence who hit a game-winning shot in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season for the Washington Wizards.

I support pretty much any free agent move that shakes things up in an interesting way. This gives us one more thing to look forward to next season.

DeMarre Carroll will sign with Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are about to get better, while the Hawks take a step backward. Here’s the Atlanta Journal Constitution blog reporting that a key member of the Hawks is leaving as a free agent and headed North to sign with the Toronto:

The Junkyard Dog is headed north.

DeMarre Carroll announced via social media that he will play for the Toronto Raptors.

Carroll tweeted: “#WeThe North I will be playing for Toronto Raptors next year!!!! I’m Blessed for this Opportunity!”

Carroll will sign a four-year, $60 million deal as an unrestricted free agent.

In an Eastern conference where second place — behind the Cleveland Cavaliers — is wide open for the taking, this is a full-priced but still very nice move for Toronto.

And here’s the Toronto Star on the Carroll/Raptors news:

Carroll, 28, was a key member of the 60-win Hawks team last season, primarily because of the level of toughness and defence he brought. While a solid scorer — he averaged 12.6 points per game in the regular season and more than 17 per game in the playoffs — the six-foot-eight forward’s reputation is as a defender.

Does he consider himself tough?

“If you see me in a fight with a bear, you’d better help that bear,” he famously said last season.

Carroll broke the news of his own signing on social media, putting a note on his Twitter account that included an Instagram photo of him and family members beaming next to Ujiri, Casey and Toronto executive vice-president Jeff Weltman.

Nemanja Bjelica headed to Timberwolves

It’s always fun to see how players who have achieved success in the Euroleague wind up doing in the NBA. It’s an adjustment. And in general, even within the same league, a player’s role in one system isn’t nearly as successful in another.

As for the Timberwolves, here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune reporting

The Turkish team Fenerbahce Ulker overnight announced that Euroleague MVP Nemanja Bjelica has exercised an opt clause in his contract to leave for the NBA,

That clears the way for the Wolves to sign him, five years after David Kahn drafted him 35th overall in the 2010 NBA draft.

Expect Bjelica to sign a three-year deal worth at least $12 million, possibly more. The Wolves will use a good portion of their mid-level exception to sign him.

He was under contract with Fenerbahce until the clock struck midnight last night.

2015 Grizzlies summer league roster

The Memphis Grizzlies’ today announced that second-year players Jordan Adams, JaMychal Green, Russ Smith and Jarnell Stokes will join 2015 second round draft pick Andrew Harrison (No. 44 overall) in headlining the Grizzlies’ roster for the 2015 Orlando Pro Summer League.

Grizzlies assistant coach/advance scout Jason March will serve as head coach during the 2015 Orlando Pro Summer League with Grizzlies assistant coach Jeff Bzdelik, Grizzlies basketball operations assistant/scout Glynn Cyprien, Iowa Energy head coach Bob Donewald and Grizzlies video coordinator Dan Hartfield also coaching the summer league squad. In addition, Grizzlies assistant video coordinator Colin Schneider will serve as the lead video coordinator during the summer league.

Full roster is here: http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=381363

Jazz hire Igor Kokoskov as assistant coach

The Utah Jazz announced today that Igor Kokoskov (kuh-KOS-kov) was hired as assistant coach, joining Head Coach Quin Snyder’s staff. In addition, Andrae Patterson has been named as player personnel/player programs coordinator.

Kokoskov has spent 15 seasons as an assistant coach in the NBA, most recently with the Orlando Magic during the 2014-15 season. His previous NBA experience includes, one season with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2013-14), five seasons with the Phoenix Suns (2008-13), five seasons with the Detroit Pistons (2003-08) and three seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers (2000-03). He reached the Conference Finals in each campaign with Detroit and captured an NBA title in 2004, becoming the first non-American assistant to win an NBA championship and the first to serve on an NBA All-Star Game coaching staff.

As a member of Alvin Gentry’s Los Angeles Clippers staff in 2000, Kokoskov became the first full-time non-American assistant coach in NBA History.

Kokoskov rejoins Coach Snyder after having also served as an assistant to him at the University of Missouri during the 1999-00 season, where Kokoskov became the first European coach to hold a full-time position with an NCAA Division I school.

In 2004, Kokoskov served as an assistant with the Serbia National Team at the Athens Olympic Games under renowned European coach Zeljko Obradovic. He has also served as head coach of the Republic of Georgia National Team for seven summers (2008-14), qualifying for the European Championships twice for the first time in team history. In 2012, he earned the Order of Honour, Georgia’s highest civilian honor, for his success with the team.

A native, of Belgrade, Serbia, Kokoskov became a United States citizen in 2010.

Patterson joins the Jazz front office staff after serving as an assistant coach for the NBA Development League’s Idaho Stampede, the Jazz’s exclusively owned and operated D-League team, during the 2014-15 season. Prior to the Stampede, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Texas at Arlington after two years as the school’s director of basketball operations/video coordinator and one as a student assistant.

He enjoyed a successful professional playing career that began when he was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 46th overall pick of the 1998 NBA Draft, where he played from 1998-2001. Following his NBA career, he played nine seasons internationally for clubs in the top European leagues, including both CB Estudiantes (2001-05) and Bàsquet Manresa (2005-06) of the premier Spanish ACB League, as well as KK Zadar (Croatia-A1) and Panellinios BC (Greece-A1) in 2006, Ironi Ashkelon (Israel) in 2007, before finishing his playing career with Egaleo AO (Greece-A1) from 2007-09.

As a collegian, the Abilene, Texas, native played for Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight for four seasons at Indiana University (1994-98), where he was an All-American and four-time All-Big Ten selection and led the Hoosiers to four NCAA Tournament appearances while earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Report: Lakers will keep Robert Sacre

Look, people, Some free agent priorities are higher than others. And you need to remember, it isn’t all about the starters. Good bench guys at a cheap price are important, too. Every good team needs role players. Now, the Lakers aren’t actually a good team right now, but that’s not the point. If you can get an NBA player for under $1 million for the season, and he’s capable of tying his shoes, and he’s tall, then it’s probably a good deal for the dollar.

Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News blog reporting:

The Lakers exercised a $981,359 team option to retain center Robert Sacre for the 2015-16 season, according to league source familiar with the situation.

The Lakers did not formally decide until the deadline at midnight on Tuesday. Sacre’s contract now become guaranteed.

Though Sacre averaged only 4.6 points on 41.2 percent shooting and 3.5 rebounds as mostly a backup center, the Lakers still valued him for numerous reasons. The Lakers do not currently have any true centers on their roster, while they have a glut of power forwards, including Julius Randle, Larry Nance Jr. Tarik Black and Ryan Kelly.