Heat promote Chad Kammerer to assistant coach

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have promoted Chad Kammerer to the role of assistant coach. Among his responsibilities in his new role he will be assisting in the areas of game planning, scouting, player development  and other duties assigned by Head Coach Erik Spolestra.

“Chad is a valuable addition to our coaching staff,” said Spoelstra. “He has a great basketball mind and comes from a family that has been around the game for years. He has worked hard for this organization the last seven years in our scouting department and has a great knowledge of the NBA.”

Kammerer, who originally joined the organization on a part-time basis during the 2001-02 season, has spent the past six years as the HEAT’s full-time advance scout. In addition to providing scouting reports and player evaluations to assist the HEAT coaching staff in their game preparations, Kammerer has also served as an assistant coach for the HEAT’s summer league team the past four years.

Prior to joining the HEAT, Kammerer served as an assistant coach at Valparasio University, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Concordia University (CA) and the University of Mississippi.

Kammerer graduated from Westmont College in 1990 with a degree in physical education and later went on to earn his masters degree at the University of Mississippi in 1993. He was born in Indiana and raised in California and is the son of HEAT Vice President, Player Personnel Chet Kammerer.

Bobcats re-sign Ryan Hollins

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has re-signed restricted free agent center Ryan Hollins. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 50th overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft, Hollins appeared in 60 games with one start last season, averaging 2.5 points and 1.8 rebounds in 8.9 minutes.

The 7-0, 230-pound Hollins has appeared in 87 career games for the Bobcats, averaging 2.4 points and 1.6 rebounds. Hollins was assigned to the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA Development League from November 22, 2006 to December 19, 2006, averaging 12.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in six games.

Bobcats Sports & Entertainment owns and operates the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA) and operates the widely-acclaimed Time Warner Cable Arena, which opened in the fall of 2005.

Kings sign Bobby Brown

The Sacramento Kings today signed point guard Bobby Brown to a contract, it was announced by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.“We’re really excited to be able to sign Bobby Brown,” said Petrie. “He matured as a player in Europe last season and had an exceptional Summer League in Las Vegas. It gives us some additional depth and athleticism at the point. I think he’ll be a great complement to the rest of our roster as we go into training camp. We’re all looking forward to watching him play.”

At  6-2 and 175 pounds, Brown averaged 15.2 points (.424 FGs, .750 FTs), 6.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 35.0 minutes per game through six contests, all of which he started for the New Orleans Hornets during the 2008 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He tallied double-figures in each game, including a 20-point effort versus Charlotte (7/13) and recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists against Portland (7/20).

After not being drafted in the 2007 NBA Draft, Brown helped Alba Berlin win the German club championship last season, averaging 14.5 points (.433 FGs, .319 3FGs, .810 FTs), 4.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game over 16 outings. He averaged 17.4 points (.444 FGs, .404 3FGs, .857 FTs), 4.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game through nine contests in the UELB Cup.

Brown enjoyed a four-year career at Cal State Fullerton where he averaged 16.9 points (.428 FGs, .377 3FGs, .789 FTs), 4.4 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.31 steals per game in 116 outings, of which he started 103 (2003-04 – 2007-08). He finished his career as the school’s leading scorer with 1,961 points (ninth in Big West history). As a senior, Brown was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, presented to nation’s top point guard after averaging a career-best 20.2 points (.468 FGs, .388 3FGs, .789 FTs), 5.1 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.30 steals per game while starting in all 27 contests for the Titans. He was a two-time First Team All-Big West selection during his junior and senior seasons and ranks first in three-point field goals made (307) and third in assists (516) on the school’s all-time list. Brown scored a career-high and school record 47 points (17-20 FG, 11-13 3pt, 2-2 FT) against Bethune-Cookman (12/16/06). His 11 treys set a school record and matched the Big West Conference mark. Brown was named Big West Freshman of the Year in 2003-04.

Warriors re-sign Monta Ellis

The Golden State Warriors have re-signed guard Monta Ellis to a multi-year contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin.  Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Monta under contract for the next several years,” said Mullin. “He has been one of the top young players in the NBA for the last two years and enjoyed a tremendous season last year.  The growth that he has demonstrated at such a young age is incredible and we look forward to him playing a big part in our future success.”

Ellis, 22, averaged a career-high 20.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.53 steals in 37.9 minutes in 81 games last season.   He ranked 14th in the NBA in field goal percentage (.531, 3rd among all guards), 15th in steals and 25th in scoring.  He became only the ninth guard in NBA history to shoot 60% from the floor for an entire month in February (.602).  The 6’3” Ellis scored a career-high 39 points on January 24 vs. New Jersey and scored 30-plus points on 12 occasions overall.

Originally selected (out of high school) in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft by Golden State (#40 overall), Ellis was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player following the 2006-07 campaign, when his scoring average increased by nearly 10 points per game from the previous season (6.8 to 16.5).  The Jackson, Mississippi native has averaged 15.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists overall in 207 NBA games during his three-year career.  Additionally, his field goal percentage has increased by nearly 6% in each of his three campaigns (.415, .475, 531).