September 2015 – Page 7 – NBA Blog

Al Jefferson changes diet, drops weight

Here’s the Charlotte Observer reporting on Hornets star center Al Jefferson, who should be even harder to guard this season now that he’s dropping weight and presumably adding quickness in the process:

Fried chicken: Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson craves it and he knows it’s off his menu in the effort to lose as much as 25 pounds.

So when a certain commercial comes on the television, Big Al grabs for the remote.

“Every Popeye’s commercial I see, I have to turn the TV off,” Jefferson said Thursday.

Jefferson will again be a big factor in how the Hornets do in the upcoming season. He discussed his summer and the Hornets’ prospects with Observer NBA writer Rick Bonnell:

Q: You said at last season’s conclusion it was important you lose 20 or more pounds in the off-season. How has that gone?

Jefferson: Great. 20-plus. One thing about losing weight: It becomes a lot easier once you become disciplined about what you’re eating. Cutting out the sugar and the starch. Taking care of your body. Once I got into a routine it became pretty easy. And I knew what I was doing it for – to take some of the weight off my knees and getting my body into better shape than last year.

Many Miami Heat players are in final year of contract

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on the Miami Heat, who have players that want to win like anyone else but also need to think about themselves and not just the team because many of them are in a contract year. It also presumably means the team could look very different in a year.

When the Miami Heat regroup for training camp in just over a week, a singular goal will be a return to the playoffs. But the question is whether other singular goals will be in play, as well.

For as much work as Pat Riley and his staff put into attempting to prevent a lottery repeat, there also was a forward-thinking approach with the roster, one that provides flexibility for what some expect to be a free-agency free-for-all next July, when the entire league will be flush with cap cash.

As a result, three-fifths of the Heat’s anticipated starting lineup will be playing in the final (or lone) year of their contracts, when counting Hassan Whiteside, Luol Deng and Dwyane Wade, with only Chris Bosh and Goran Dragic under contract beyond 2015-16.

Beyond that, prime reserves such as Amar’e Stoudemire, Gerald Green, Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen, and even Udonis Haslem and Tyler Johnson will be in the final seasons of their contracts.

That presents a roster that both wants to win . . . and wants to get paid.

Hornets coach Steve Clifford speaks

Here’s some of what Hornets head coach Steve Clifford said recently, as per the Charlotte Observer:

He said the Hornets played what has become the NBA’s go-to offense for most of the elite teams – “four-out,” which means four players outside the three-point line to begin the play and only one working in the paint – a modest 51 percent of the time last year. He indicated that number would be much higher in 2015-16, which means Cody Zeller sure better learn how to shoot the corner three under pressure.

He wants Kemba Walker, a career 32 percent shooter from 3-point range, to improve to 38 percent this season, and he believes it can happen because defense won’t be able to focus as much on Walker this season.

Nets sign Justin Harper

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Justin Harper, General Manager Billy King announced today.

We assume this is a non-guaranteed contract that merely brings Harper to Nets training camp.

Harper (6’10”, 225) joins the Nets after spending the 2014-15 season with S.S. Felice Scandone in Italy’s Serie A. Originally selected with the 32nd pick (second round) of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Harper was dealt to the Orlando Magic on draft night. He appeared in 14 games with the Magic during his rookie season, averaging 1.4 points and 0.9 rebounds in 6.0 minutes per game. He also saw action in one postseason game.

Following his rookie season, Harper competed for the D-League’s Idaho Stampede (2012-13) and Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League (2013-14) before landing in Italy.

Most recently, Harper was a member of the Phoenix Suns’ entry in the 2015 Las Vegas Summer League.

A four-year player at Richmond University, Harper’s collegiate career culminated in his selection to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team as a senior.

Timberwolves sign Kleon Penn and Nick Wiggins

Timberwolves sign Kleon Penn and Nick Wiggins

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed center Kleon Penn and guard Nick Wiggins.

We assume these are non-guaranteed contracts that merely bring these players to training camp.

Penn, 29, most recently played in 45 games with Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rico, averaging 4.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 18.4 minutes per game. Penn, a Virgin Islands native, recently won a gold medal in June with the Virgin Islands during the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championships, a team that interim head coach Sam Mitchell led. Penn finished his college career at McNeese State in 2009.

Wiggins, 24, appeared in three games for the Timberwolves 2015 NBA Las Vegas Summer League entry, averaging 4.0 points in 11.0 minutes per game. Wiggins, 6-6, spent parts of last season with the Idaho Stampede in the NBA D-League, averaging 9.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. Wiggins, the older brother of Andrew Wiggins, started the year in Germany playing with the Tigers Tubingen. Wiggins played two seasons at Wichita State University and went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Penn will wear No. 50 while Wiggins will don No. 6.

Atlanta Hawks announce basketball operations department additions and promotions

The Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club has announced several additions and promotions within the basketball operations department, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.

The Hawks have named Michael Blackstone as Assistant General Manager, John Treloar as Director of Player Personnel, Malik Rose as Manager of Basketball Operations, Dotun Akinwale as Manager of Scouting, Matt Elijah as Manager of Basketball Administration, Daniel Starkman as Coordinator of Basketball Operations and David Painter as Director of Basketball Facilities. Jeff Peterson has been promoted to Director of Scouting and Naya-Joi Martin to Manager of Player Programs, while Rick Sund (Senior Advisor, Basketball Operations) and Mike McNeive (Director of Basketball Operations) continue in their roles.

“Much like building our team on the floor, we seek to add and retain high-character individuals who work well as a group at every level of our basketball operations department,” Budenholzer said. “We believe in a collaborative approach in everything we do, and are excited to have these talented and hard-working individuals with us.”

Blackstone comes to the Hawks from the Shapiro Negotiations Institute in Baltimore, MD, where he was Executive Vice President/Sports Practice Director. He was formerly the Executive Director of Basketball Operations for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2010-13. Blackstone previously founded Humagination, a sales training and executive development firm.

A veteran of more than 30 years in pro and college basketball, Treloar spent the last five seasons with the Phoenix Suns, most recently as Director of Player Personnel. He was previously Head Coach of the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, in the Continental Basketball Association, and an Assistant Coach at Louisiana State University and Indiana University.

Rose, a 13-year NBA veteran, appeared in 813 regular season games with the Charlotte Hornets, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder. He also appeared in 82 playoff games, winning two NBA championships with the Spurs in 1999 and 2003. The native of Philadelphia, PA starred collegiately at Drexel University. Since retiring as a player, Rose has worked in broadcasting with the Knicks, 76ers, Austin Toros of the NBA D-League, NBA TV and NBA Radio.

Akinwale spent the last two seasons with the Orlando Magic – he was an intern in basketball operations in 2013-14 and last season was promoted to Basketball Operations Coordinator. He is a 2013 graduate of Thiel College.

Elijah most recently worked as an Associate at Alvarez & Marsal in San Francisco, CA. He is a graduate of University of California-Santa Barbara, the University of Notre Dame (M.B.A.) and University of California Hastings College of the Law (Juris Doctor).

Starkman worked as a student manager with the University of Florida for the last four years, and earned a degree in Business Administration.

Painter has been the Practice Facility Manager at Cleveland Clinic Courts for the Cleveland Cavaliers since it opened in 2007. He previously worked as Associate Director of Recreation, as well as in admissions, at his alma mater, Baldwin-Wallace College. He also has a Master’s in Sports Management from Kent State.

Peterson was previously a Scout and Coordinator of Basketball Operations for the Hawks prior to his promotion. Peterson, who joined the Hawks as a seasonal assistant in 2012, finished his collegiate playing career at Florida State.

Martin spent last season as the Hawks’ Team Player Development Manager/Basketball Operations Coordinator. The native of Bronx, NY attended Williams College (B.A. in Psychology) and Emory’s Goizueta Business School (M.B.A.-Marketing). She previously worked as an intern in Public Relations for the New York Knicks and at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

With over 40 years of NBA experience, Sund is entering his fourth season as Senior Advisor and his eighth with the Hawks. He was the team’s Executive Vice President/General Manager from 2008-12, where under his leadership, the Hawks went 184-128, reaching the playoffs in all four seasons. Previously he worked in basketball leadership positions with the Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons and Seattle Sonics after starting his career with the Milwaukee Bucks.

McNeive is entering his 13th season with the Hawks and 10th in his current position. He was Atlanta’s Director of Pro Personnel from 2004-06 after originally joining the Hawks as an Assistant Coach in 2003-04. He previously worked with the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle Sonics and Orlando Magic.

Fort Wayne Mad Ants open tryouts

Fort Wayne Mad Ants open tryouts

The Fort Wayne Mad Ants announced today that they will hold open tryouts on Saturday, October 17th and Sunday, October 18th in Fort Wayne for the 2015-16 NBA Development League season. The open tryout will be held at the McMillen Park Community Center located at 3901 Abbott Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46806.

The first day of this Fort Wayne tryout will be Saturday, October 17th at the McMillen Park Community Center with check-in beginning at 9:00 a.m. and the tryout beginning promptly at 10:00 a.m. lasting until around 3:00 p.m. Players will receive an official Mad Ants tryout jersey upon registration.

Spectators are invited to attend tryouts for an entry fee of $2 for adults, with kids entering for free.

The Mad Ants local player tryouts offer athletes an opportunity to showcase their talents in front of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants’ coaching staff. Players will compete to earn an invitation to the team’s training camp, which will begin in early November.

Players who are interested in trying out for the Mad Ants on October 17th should submit the official registration and release forms, in addition to a $150 non-refundable fee to the Mad Ants office by Wednesday, October 14th. The registration fee is $200 for all forms received after Wednesday, October 14th (pre-registration is not required and athletes may register on the morning of the tryout). Payments must be made by money order or cashier’s check. Application forms are available on the Mad Ants’ website at www.fortwaynehoops.com.

Trevor Booker undergoes minor surgery

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz forward Trevor Booker:

Booker underwent a minor outpatient surgical procedure today to repair a nasal fracture, which he sustained in a recent pickup basketball game. The successful procedure was performed in Salt Lake City by Dr. Richard Orlandi of University of Utah Health Care.

Booker is expected to be ready for full basketball activity at the start of training camp.

Pelicans re-sign Norris Cole

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today the team has re-signed restricted free agent guard Norris Cole.

Cole, 6-2, 175, was acquired on Feb. 19, 2015, from Miami in a three-way trade involving Phoenix. In 28 regular season games with the Pelicans last season, Cole averaged 9.9 points and 3.2 assists per contest. Cole appeared in 75 total games during the 2014-15 season between New Orleans and Miami, averaging 7.6 points and 3.4 assists per game. Cole appeared in all four of New Orleans’ playoff games against Golden State in the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs, averaging 8.8 points and 1.8 assists.

Originally selected 28th overall out of Cleveland State in the 2011 NBA Draft by Chicago, Cole has appeared in 302 career regular season games, with averages of 6.6 points and 2.6 assists per game. Additionally, Cole has appeared in 64 career playoff games, holding averages of 4.5 points and 1.5 assists, winning championships with Miami in 2012 and 2013.

Suns sign Deonte Burton, Kyle Casey, Cory Jefferson, Henry Sims, Terrico White

The Phoenix Suns today announced they have signed guard Deonte Burton, forward Kyle Casey, forward Cory Jefferson, center Henry Sims and guard Terrico White, bringing the club’s roster to 18 players.

Burton, a 6-1, 190-pound guard, played with Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany last season following a standout four-year career at the University of Nevada, Reno. Burton left Nevada second in Wolfpack history in career scoring (2,102) and assists (515), earning WAC Player of the Year and AP Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2012. Since going undrafted in 2014, Burton spent training camp in 2014 with the Sacramento Kings and has played at NBA Summer League with the Washington Wizards (2014) and Philadelphia 76ers (2015).

Casey, a 6-7, 225-pound forward, played last season with KK Helios Suns Domzale in Slovenia after going undrafted out of Harvard University in 2014. In 32 games with Helios, Casey averaged 12.4 points and 7.1 rebounds, shooting 52.8 percent from the field. In four seasons at Harvard, Casey averaged 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 118 games, earning First Team All-Ivy League distinction in 2012. Casey played with the Brooklyn Nets at NBA Summer League 2014.

Jefferson, a 6-9, 218-pound forward, played in 50 games (one start) with the Nets last season after being selected with the 60th overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft. Jefferson averaged 3.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 10.6 minutes in 2014-15, twice scoring in double-digits including his first career double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds against the Suns on March 6. A four-year performer at Baylor University, Jefferson averaged 13.7 points and 8.2 rebounds as a senior in 2013-14, helping the Bears to a Sweet 16 appearance.

Sims, a 6-10, 248-pound center, is a three-year NBA veteran who averaged 8.0 points on 47.4 percent shooting and 4.9 rebounds in 73 games (32 starts) with the 76ers last season. For his career, Sims has averaged 7.8 points and 4.9 rebounds in 121 contests (57 starts), mostly with Philadelphia (99 games from 2013-15) though he also played in 20 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2013-14 and in two games with the New Orleans Hornets as a rookie in 2012-13. Sims went undrafted in 2012 following a four-year career at Georgetown University where he posted 114 assists as a senior in 2011-12, the second-most in a season for a center in Hoyas history.

White, a 6-5, 215-pound guard, played last season with Yenisey Krasnoyarsk in Russia, averaging 11.6 points in 41 games. Drafted 36th overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2010 NBA Draft, White was on the Pistons’ roster for the entire 2010-11 season but did not appear in a game due to a foot injury. White posted 13.1 points with the NBA D-League’s Idaho Stampede in 2011-12 and has since played professionally in Serbia, Turkey, and Israel, in addition to Russia. Prior to being drafted, White played two seasons at the University of Mississippi, averaging 14.5 points for his career.