July 2016 – Page 2 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Anderson Varejao will miss Olympics with back injury

Warriors center Anderson Varejao was examined earlier in the week week by Dr. Robert Watkins at the Marina Spine Center in Marina Del Rey, CA, and was diagnosed with a small lower back disc herniation. He is expected to be ready for the start of training camp, but will be forced to miss the 2016 Summer Olympics due to the injury. He is from Brazil, who is this year’s Olympic host country.

Varejao recently experienced back pain while participating with the Brazilian National Team and returned to California to be examined by Dr. Watkins, a renowned spine specialist.

Suns coaching staff announced

The Suns have announced Head Coach Earl Watson’s coaching staff, naming Jay Triano associate head coach, Tyrone Corbin and Nate Bjorkgren assistant coaches, Marlon Garnett assistant coach/player development coordinator, and Scott Duncan and Jason Fraser player development coaches.

“As a family we are excited with the additions we have made into our program,” said Watson. “Each coach possesses a unique passion to teach, and the chemistry of our staff is as important as the structure of our roster. We are very lucky to have this creative group assembled.”

Triano comes to the Suns following four seasons as an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers including in Watson’s final season as a player in 2013-14. Formerly the head coach of the Toronto Raptors from 2008-11, Triano was the first Canadian-born head coach in NBA history. Prior to his three seasons as head coach of the Raptors, he was an assistant coach with the team for six seasons from 2002-08.

In addition to his NBA coaching experience, Triano is head coach of the men’s national team for Canada Basketball, named to the position in 2012. For Triano, who led Canada to a silver medal finish at the 2015 Pan American Games, this is his second time as the head coach of the Canadian men’s national team after also holding the position from 1999-2004. In 1999, Triano led Canada to silver at the Tournament of the Americas to qualify for the 2000 Sydney Olympics where the nation placed seventh.

Between his tenures with Canada Basketball, Triano worked with USA Basketball as an assistant coach on the 2010 USA National Team that won gold in the FIBA World Championship over host country Turkey. Triano also served as an assistant coach for USA Select teams that trained against the national teams in 2007 and 2008, and as head coach of the Select Team in 2012. Triano has also served as a coach with Basketball Without Borders in Istanbul (2008), Senegal (2010), Slovenia (2011) and Australia (2011).

Triano, who played collegiately at Simon Fraser University where he was later head coach, played for the Canadian national team for 11 years from 1978-88 and was team captain from 1981-88. A native of Tillsonburg, Ontario, he represented Canada as a player in two Olympic Games (1984 and 1988), serving as captain in each. Following his playing career at Simon Fraser, Triano was selected in the eighth round of the 1981 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Corbin returns to Phoenix where he played in 107 games and averaged 8.1 points over two seasons with the Suns as a player from 1987-89. Combining nearly 30 years of experience as an NBA player and coach, Corbin spent parts of five seasons as a head coach with the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach with the Kings before being promoted to interim head coach for 28 games in the 2014-15 season.

Prior to his time as a coach in Sacramento, Corbin spent four seasons as head coach of the Jazz, finishing with a winning record in two of his three full seasons at the helm. He led the Jazz to the playoffs in 2011-12 just missed the postseason in 2012-13 despite posting a 43-39 record. Joining Utah’s coaching staff in 2004, he spent seven seasons as an assistant before succeeding Jerry Sloan as the team’s head coach in the 2010-11 season. Corbin served as either an assistant or head coach for all of Watson’s three seasons as a player with the Jazz from 2010-13.

A 16-season NBA veteran as a player, Corbin averaged 9.2 points and 4.7 rebounds over 1,065 career games with nine teams. The DePaul product and Columbia, S.C., native was initially selected with the 35th overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs. His best statistical season came in 1990-91 when he averaged a career-high 18.0 points as well as 7.2 rebounds in 82 games with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Corbin originally joined the Suns along with Kevin Johnson and Mark West as part of trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers at the trade deadline in 1988. After playing parts of two seasons with Phoenix, he was selected by the Timberwolves in the NBA expansion draft.

Bjorkgren remains with the Suns after spending last season as assistant coach/player development coordinator with the team. He has also served as head coach of the Suns’ teams at NBA Summer League in each of the past two years, going 9-4 overall after a runner-up finish in 2015 and a semifinal appearance in 2016. Bjorkgren joined the Suns after four seasons as a head coach in the NBA Development League, leading the Bakersfield Jam, then the Suns’ affiliate, to a 34-16 record and Western Conference Semifinals appearance in 2014-15. Overall, he registered a 126-74 (.630) record as a head coach in the D-League.

A native of Storm Lake, Iowa, Bjorkgren played collegiately at Buena Vista University where he led the Beavers to their first conference title in 21 years in 1997. Bjorkgren’s ties to Arizona predate his time with the Suns as early in his coaching career he served as the head coach of Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek from 2004-07. The recipient of Arizona state high school coach of the year honors in 2005-06 and regional coach of the year honors in 2004-05 and 2005-06, Bjorkgren led the Falcons to the Class 4A state tournament in each of his three seasons with the school.

Garnett joins the Suns after most recently working in video and player development with the San Antonio Spurs. A former NBA player who appeared in 24 games with the Boston Celtics during the 1998-99 season, Garnett continued his professional career with clubs in Turkey, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Iran, Puerto Rico and Slovakia before his playing career came to an end in 2013.

Originally from Los Angeles, Calif., Garnett had a noteworthy collegiate career at Santa Clara where he spent three seasons as a teammate of two-time NBA MVP and Suns Ring of Honor member Steve Nash. Garnett teamed with Nash to help the Broncos to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 1995 and 1996. Following Nash’s departure, Garnett averaged 17.4 points as a senior in 1996-97 to earn West Coast Conference Player of the Year honors and give a Santa Clara player the award for the third straight year after Nash had won it the previous two seasons.

Duncan joins the Suns after spending the past six seasons as associate head coach at the University of Wyoming. With more than 35 total years of experience as a college basketball assistant coach, he has worked with programs that have advanced to postseason play in 22 of the last 29 seasons. In addition to his most recent tenure at Wyoming where he helped the Cowboys to a Mountain West tournament title and NCAA tournament berth in 2014-15, Duncan has worked as an assistant coach at UCLA, Oregon, Clemson, Washington State, Northern Illinois, Fresno State, New Mexico and Cleveland State.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Duncan graduated from the College of Wooster where he lettered two seasons as a basketball player with the Fighting Scots.

Fraser remains a player development coach with Phoenix after joining the organization in this position prior to last season. Before joining the Suns, he spent the 2014-15 season as an assistant coach alongside Watson with the Austin Spurs of the NBA D-League.

A standout player at Villanova from 2002-06, Fraser left the school ranked fifth on the all-time blocked shots list (172) and 22nd on the all-time rebounding list (637). As a junior in 2004-05, he helped the Wildcats to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 1988, then as a senior in 2005-06 contributed to Villanova’s Big East regular season championship and Elite Eight run in the NCAA tournament. After his collegiate career, Fraser played professionally overseas and for the Harlem Globetrotters before returning to Villanova as director of student-athlete development. The native of Amityville, N.Y., was named a McDonald’s All-American in 2002.

The Suns have also retained Chris Darnell as video coordinator and added Jason Tilton and Julian Mills as assistant video coordinators. Darnell, a former player at William & Mary, has spent the past four seasons working in video, player development and basketball operations with the Suns. Tilton joins the Suns after two seasons as director of basketball operations at Long Beach State, and brings experience on the staffs at St. John’s and Cal State Fullerton as well as a video coordinator with the Los Angeles Clippers. A graduate of UCLA, Tilton worked as a team manager with the Bruins during Watson’s playing career at the school. Mills most recently spent the 2015-16 season as a video intern with the Golden State Warriors. A former player at Baker University, he has also gained experience working with the San Antonio Spurs and USA Basketball.

In addition to the team’s coaching staff, the Suns have added Quinton Sawyer as assistant athletic trainer/sports science coordinator. Sawyer joins the Suns following five seasons as athletic trainer for the men’s basketball team at Michigan State. A native of Camden, N.C., and graduate of the University of North Carolina, Sawyer also possesses experience as a college athletic trainer at Campbell, Southeastern Louisiana and with the Tar Heels.

Celtics sign Tyler Zeller, Gerald Green, Jaylen Brown, Demetrius Jackson, Ben Bentil

The Celtics on Wednesday re-signed center Tyler Zeller and signed free agent guard/forward Gerald Green and 2016 draft picks forward Jaylen Brown, guard Demetrius Jackson and forward Ben Bentil.

Green, a 6’7” guard/forward, spent last season with the Miami Heat and averaged 8.9 points and 2.4 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game. Originally drafted by the Celtics with the 18th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, Green has appeared in 497 games during his nine year NBA career posting averages of 10.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist while shooting 36.1 percent from the three-point line. During the 2013-14 season with Phoenix, he posted his highest scoring output with 15.8 points per game while shooting 40.0 percent from three and finished fourth in the voting for the league’s Most Improved Player.

Zeller, a 7’0” center, averaged 6.1 points and 3.0 rebounds in 11.8 minutes per game last season for the Celtics. The 17th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Zeller holds career averages of 7.6 points and 3.1 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per contest. Zeller tied his career-high with 26 points against Milwaukee on April 8, 2016 to go along with a career-high-tying four blocks.

Brown was selected with the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. He appeared in six games this summer for the Celtics split between the Utah and Samsung Summer Leagues in Las Vegas, averaging 16.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.3 steals in 29.0 minutes per game. He also attempted 10.2 free throws per game. Brown was named to the Samsung All-NBA Summer League Second Team in Las Vegas. The 6’7” forward from the University of California was selected to the five-player USBWA Freshman All-America team, was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and was the lone freshman this season to make the All-Pac 12 First Team.

Jackson, a 6’1” guard from the University of Notre Dame, was selected with the 45th overall pick in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft. He appeared in five contests for the Celtics during Las Vegas Summer League where he averaged 4.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 15.8 minutes per game. Jackson also played in three matchups for the Celtics during the Utah Summer League and averaged 7.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.3 steals in 18.0 minutes per game. As a junior at Notre Dame, he was named to the 2016 NCAA East Region All-Tournament Team and to the Second Team All-ACC. Jackson, a two-time Notre Dame Outstanding Playmaker Award winner, tallied 16.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals, while shooting 46.3 percent from the field in 36.1 minutes per game during the 2015-16 season. For his career, he shot 38.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Bentil, a 6’9” forward, was selected with the 51st overall pick in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft. He played in five matchups for the Celtics during Las Vegas Summer League where he averaged 1.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game. Bentil also appeared in three contests for the team during the Utah Summer League and averaged 8.7 points on .533 shooting from the field and 4.3 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game. An Honorable Mention AP All-America, he led the Big East in scoring with 21.1 points per game, finished fourth in the league in rebounding (7.7 rpg) and shot 46.2 percent from the field during the 2015-16 season at Providence College. Bentil was also named Big East Most Improved Player and First-Team All-Big East in 2016.

Trail Blazers re-sign Maurice Harkless

The Trail Blazers on Wednesday re-signed forward Maurice Harkless.

According to the Oregonian, it is a four-year deal worth “upwards of $42 million.”

“Moe is an impact player with a bright future and a high upside,” said president of basketball operations Neil Olshey. “We look forward to his continued growth and are pleased he chose to make a long term commitment to the Trail Blazers.”

Harkless, 23, averaged 6.4 points (47.4% FG, 27.9% 3-PT, 62.2% FT), 3.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.62 steals and 18.7 minutes in 78 games (14 starts) with the Trail Blazers last season.

“I’m excited to be back with the Blazers, ready to continue to grow as a team with this group of incredible guys and coaches, and build on what we accomplished last season,” said Harkless. “Portland has become a city I’ve grown to love and I’m happy to say that I’ll be here for the next four years. I’m grateful to Mr. Allen and the organization for the belief they’ve shown in me and this opportunity they have provided for me.”

In 2015-16, his first season with the Trail Blazers, Harkless scored in double figures 23 times, eight of which came in the final 10 games of the season. He averaged 11.9 points on 50.0% shooting, and hauled in 6.6 rebounds in his 14 starts.

In four NBA seasons with Orlando and Portland, Harkless holds career averages of 6.7 points (45.9% FG, 30.0% 3-PT, 58.9% FT), 3.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.95 steals and 21.7 minutes in 279 games (118 starts).

Originally selected by Orlando with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft out of St. John’s, Portland acquired Harkless on July 14, 2015 in exchange for a 2020 second round pick.

Mavericks re-sign Dirk Nowitzki

The Mavericks on Wednesday re-signed 13-time NBA All-Star Dirk Nowitzki.

Dirk is past his prime, but still a serious player and scorer. He can’t be counted on to carry a team anymore, but he’s still a starter-worthy player with a lifetime experience of winning.

The Mavs this upcoming season are built around PG Deron Williams, SG Wesley Matthews, new well-paid SF Harrison Barnes, Dirk at PF, and new C Andrew Bogut.

During his 18-year tenure in Dallas, Nowitzki has guided the Mavericks toward many of the franchise’s greatest achievements. Nowitzki led Dallas to its first-ever 60 win season in 2002-03, first NBA Finals appearance in 2006, a franchise-high 67 wins in 2006-07 and to the organization’s first World Championship when the Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals. He is currently the longest-tenured player in the NBA with one team.

Nowitzki (7-0, 245), the most decorated Dallas Maverick in franchise history, is a 13-time NBA All-Star, earned All-NBA Team honors 12 consecutive years (2000-12), was named Most Valuable Player of the 2006-07 season and was MVP of the 2011 NBA Finals. He is a six-time Western Conference Player of the Month, a 17-time Western Conference Player of the Week, has competed in the All-Star Saturday Night Three-Point Contest four times and was the 2014 Magic Johnson Award recipient.

The career Maverick holds averages of 22.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 35.3 minutes in 1,340 career games (1,309 starts) and holds the franchise’s top-spot in several categories including points, rebounds, field goals, three-point field goals, free throws, games, starts and minutes.

In the NBA Playoffs, Nowitzki’s game elevates to average 25.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 40.6 minutes in 145 postseason games (145 starts). He has led the Mavericks to three Western Conference Finals and two NBA Finals while moving into first place in several of the franchise’s postseason categories including points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, field goals, free throws and games.

No international play for Dennis Schroder this summer

Here’s the Atlanta Journal Constitution with an update on point guard Dennis Schroder, who will have a huge role on the Hawks next season since Jeff Teague was traded to the Pacers:

Dennis Schroder will not compete for Germany’s national team this summer, the German Basketball Federation announced Wednesday.

Germany was to begin qualification play for next year’s EuroBasket 2017 tournament in August. The team made the announcement of Schroder’s withdrawal on social media.

Schroder will assume the starting point guard position for the Hawks next season after the team traded Jeff Teague this summer.

Cavs, Tyronn Lue agree to new contract

The Cavaliers and head coach Tyronn Lue have agreed to a new, multi-year contract, the team announced today.

“Ty took over our team under very trying circumstances and his calm, confident approach was invaluable as we found our way to success,” said General Manager David Griffin. “His vision, leadership and tactical acumen were fundamental to us reaching our goals. We couldn’t be happier to have Ty continue to lead our group into the future.”

According to The Vertical, it’s a five-year deal worth $35 million.

“The opportunity to continue coaching the Cavaliers and this very special group of players is tremendous,” said Lue. “I am extremely appreciative of the effort and commitment that Dan Gilbert, Jeff Cohen, Nate Forbes, and David Griffin showed in extending my contract. Cleveland fans are the best in sports and I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this very special community. I am focused on helping this organization continue to grow and look forward to more success for our team and our fans.”

According to ESPN.com, “Lue did not sign a new contract when he was promoted from associate head coach to take over for David Blatt in January, sources previously told ESPN.”

Lue was promoted from associate head coach to head coach on January 22, 2016, thus becoming the 20th head coach in franchise history. The Cavs went on to finish the 2015-16 season with the best record in the Eastern Conference (57-25) and the franchise’s first ever NBA Championship.

During the 2016 Playoffs, Lue became the first head coach in league history to win his first 10 postseason games, as Cleveland would go on to finish a franchise-best 16-5 in their title run. After the Cavaliers defeated Golden State 4-3 in the 2016 NBA Finals, Lue became the fourth-youngest head coach to win an NBA title and just the third coach to win a championship after taking over a team mid-season, joining Pat Riley (2006 and 1982) and Paul Westhead (1980). The Cavaliers also became the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in Finals history and the fourth team to win an NBA Finals Game 7 on the road.

Hornets sign Treveon Graham

The Hornets have signed guard/forward Treveon Graham.

“We were impressed by Treveon’s play last season in the D-League and followed him closely during his four-year career at VCU,” said Hornets General Manager Rich Cho. “We are excited to add someone with Treveon’s ability on both sides of the ball to our training camp roster.”

The Hornets have Nic Batum at shooting guard, Marco Belinelli as a backup, and the often-injured Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at small forward.

The 6-5 Graham appeared in 46 games (20 starts) for the Idaho Stampede in the NBA D-League last season, averaging 15.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 30.4 minutes per contest. He recorded four double-doubles and tallied 11 games with 20-plus points, including four games with 30-or-more. Graham most recently competed with the Utah Jazz at the 2016 Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and with the Orlando Magic at the 2016 Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League, earning 2016 All-Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League honors.

The Washington, D.C. native spent four seasons at Virginia Commonwealth (2011-15), where he posted career averages of 13.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 25.4 minutes per game. Graham earned consecutive All-Atlantic 10 First Team accolades in 2014-15 and 2013-14, while also being named the 2015 Atlantic 10 Tournament MVP. He was also selected to the 2013 All-Atlantic 10 Second Team as a sophomore. He left VCU ranked fifth all-time in scoring with 1,667 career points.

Pistons sign Ray McCallum Jr

The Pistons on Tuesday signed free-agent guard Ray McCallum Jr.

McCallum, 25, played 41 games last season with the Spurs and the Grizzlies, averaging 3.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 11.6 minutes per game. The 36th overall pick in the 2013 Draft by Sacramento, McCallum spent his first two seasons with the Kings where he averaged 6.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 20.6 minutes in 113 games (40 starts).

In 2014-15, he averaged 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 21.1 minutes in 68 games (30 starts) – all career highs.

Hawks sign forward Matt Costello

The Hawks on Tuesday signed free agent forward Matt Costello.

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume this deal merely brings Costello to Hawks training camp.

Costello, a four-year player at Michigan State, was an All-Big Ten selection as a senior after averaging 10.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 blocks in 22.9 minutes in 35 games (.561 FG%, .752 FT%). He played in 138 career games for the Spartans (2012-16) and is the school’s all-time leader in blocked shots with 146.

The 6’9 Costello was a member of the Hawks’ 2016 Summer League in Las Vegas, where he averaged 5.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists while playing in all six games.