Knicks sell out season-ticket allotment

Howard Beck of the New York Times reports (via blog):

LeBron James did not choose to take his talents to New York, but as a consolation prize he gave the Knicks a fantastic boost at the box office. The team has sold out its season-ticket allotment for the first time in nine years.

According to a Madison Square Garden spokesperson, the Knicks have sold more than 4,000 new season-ticket plans and have started a waiting list for interested buyers. The team is also reporting a 90 percent renewal rate among season-ticket holders from last season. (The team would not disclose the precise number.)

Single-game tickets, group plans and partial season-ticket plans will go on sale sometime in mid-September.

Heat re-sign Joel Anthony

Heat re-sign Joel Anthony

The Miami Heat announced today that they have re-signed center Joel Anthony. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“This contract with Joel Anthony is a testament to the man who is second to none; who has worked hard and deserved this,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “We felt that what he has done over the last couple of years in developing his game, his body and his knowledge warrants this reward. If other NBA non-drafted free agents want a prototype to follow, Joel Anthony is that man”

Anthony has appeared in 169 career games (45 starts) for the Heat. During his three-year NBA career, all with Miami, he has averaged 2.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.38 blocks and 17.0 minutes, while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 66.8 percent from the foul line. In his 45 career starts, he has averaged 3.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.58 blocks in 22.5 minutes. Anthony currently ranks tied for ninth place on the Heat’s all-time blocked shots list with 233. He has also led the Heat in blocks on 66 occasions.

During the 2009-10 season, Anthony appeared in 80 games (16 starts) and averaged 2.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.36 blocks and 16.5 minutes, while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 71.7 percent from the foul line. He ranked tied for 15th place in the NBA in total blocks (109) and 18th in blocks per game. He also recorded season-highs in games played, minutes played (1,322), points (218), field goals made (76) and attempted (159), free throws made (66) and attempted (92), offensive rebounds (123), defensive rebounds (126), total rebounds (249) and blocks, and led the Heat in blocks on 30 occasions.

Anthony originally signed with the Heat as a free agent on July 3, 2007, then re-signed with the club on July 20, 2009.

Heat sign second round rookie Dexter Pittman

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed second round draft selection Dexter Pittman. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“One of our priorities in the draft was to make sure that we could augment the depleted center position with the loss of Jermaine O’Neal,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “Dexter has the size and agility to be a very productive player for us in the long run, and there is no better place for him to improve than in the Miami Heat system.”

Pittman, a 6’10”, 290-pound center, played all four seasons at the University of Texas appearing in 134 games (59 starts) and averaged 6.6 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 62.3 percent from the field and 60.1 percent from the foul line. He finished his senior season leading the team in both field goal percentage (.654) and blocks (63) while earning the team’s Most Improved Player honor as both a freshman and junior.

Pittman was selected by the Heat with the 32nd pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Heat sign Mike Miller

Heat sign Mike Miller

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent guard Mike Miller. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“From the first moment that we met Mike on July 1, it seemed like it would be a match made in heaven,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “We consider him to be the finest perimeter shooter in the NBA. But also he is a multi-faceted player who can rebound, handle the ball and make plays. We expect big things from him.”

Miller has appeared in 692 career games (528 starts) with four teams over 10 seasons. During his career, he has averaged 13.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 32.4 minutes while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from three-point range. He was selected as the NBA’s Rookie of the Year following the 2000-01 season, and was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year following the 2005-06 season.

During the 2009-10 season, Miller averaged 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists, while shooting 50.1 percent from the field in 54 games (50 starts) for the Washington Wizards. He led the Wizards in three-pointers made with 82, and his 48.0 percent shooting from three-point range ranked second in the NBA.

Miller, who will wear #13 for the Heat, was originally drafted with the fifth pick in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2002-03 season, and then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves prior to the 2008-09 season. He was then acquired by the Washington Wizards prior to the start of the 2009-10 season, and spent one season playing for the Wizards before signing as a free agent with the Heat.

Magic match Bulls offer, retain J.J. Redick

Magic match Bulls offer, retain J.J. Redick

The Orlando Magic have exercised its right of first refusal and retained restricted free agent guard J.J. Redick, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed. Orlando had seven days to match an offer sheet made to Redick by Chicago on July 9.

“J.J. (Redick) is a valuable part of our organization, both on the court and in our community,” said Smith. “He has worked extremely hard during his four seasons with us and improved every year. We’re happy that J.J. will be back to help us reach our ultimate goal.”

Redick (#7, 6’4”, 190, 6/24/84) played in all 82 games last season with Orlando, averaging a career-high 9.6 ppg., 1.9 rpg. and 1.9 apg. in 22.0 minpg. He made nine starts, averaging 13.0 ppg., 2.9 apg. and 2.7 rpg. in 35.1 minpg. during that span. Redick led the Magic in both three-point shooting (.405, 111-274) and free throw shooting (.860, 191-222), ranking 17th in the NBA in both categories. He also appeared in all 14 playoff games, averaging 7.5 ppg., 1.7 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 19.2 minpg.

Originally selected in the first round (11th overall) by Orlando in the 2006 NBA Draft, Redick has appeared in 222 career NBA regular season games, all with the Magic, averaging 7.0 ppg., 1.5 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 17.2 minpg. He has shot .392 (233-594) from three-point range and .863 (353-409) from the free throw line. Redick has also played in 33 career playoff outings, averaging 6.2 ppg., 1.6 apg. and 1.3 rpg. in 18.7 minpg.

Wade still shocked Heat landed LeBron

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports:

“I hit up LeBron [on Tuesday] night and I told him I’m looking at ESPN and I see his name scroll on the bottom and it says ‘Miami Heat forward LeBron James.’

“I just said, ‘Man, it’s crazy.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I just saw the same thing.’ ”

Behind his cool countenance, Wade feels every bit as exhilarated as the most fanatical of Heat fans. And he’s intoxicated by the possibilities of what this threesome can achieve.

“It’s beyond exciting,” he said. “I don’t think we even really know how excited we’re going to be.”

Suns invite Scottie Reynolds to training camp

Zach Buchanan of the Arizona Republic reports:

Scottie Reynolds’ entire career at Villanova – 139 games – was not enough to get him drafted in June.

But a three-game, injury-shortened stint on the Suns summer-league squad was enough to secure him an invite to training camp. Reynolds has already been asked to camp, a source said, although he is considering offers from a few other teams.

Reynolds averaged 10.3 points and 4.7 assists in the Suns’ final three games of summer-league play after missing the first two with an Achilles injury. His worst game came Thursday in Phoenix’s 86-76 wrap-up loss to the Golden State Warriors, contributing only seven points and two assists in 26 minutes.