Boston Celtics sign center Jason Collins

Boston Celtics sign center Jason Collins

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent center Jason Collins.

“Jason’s ability to defend in the post will be a great addition to this team,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.

Collins, a 7’0” center, averaged 1.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game last season with the Atlanta Hawks. The 11-year veteran from Stanford University has posted career averages of 3.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game. Collins recorded season-highs of eight points, seven rebounds and four assists against the Celtics on April 20 last season. Collins was a member of the New Jersey Nets teams that appeared in the NBA Finals during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

Celtics re-sign guard Keyon Dooling

Celtics re-sign guard Keyon Dooling

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have re-signed guard Keyon Dooling.

“Keyon’s veteran leadership was a very welcome addition to our locker room last season,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “His infectious energy both on and off the court is a great asset for this team.”

Dooling, a 6’3” guard, averaged 4.0 points and 1.1 assist in 14.4 minutes per game for the Celtics last season. During the playoffs Dooling shot 39.3% from beyond the three-point line which was tops on the team. Dooling netted a season-high 18 points at Miami on December 27 which included four three-pointers. The 12-year vet out of the University of Missouri has career averages of 7.0 points and 2.2 assists in 19.5 minutes per game split between Boston, Milwaukee, New Jersey, Orlando, Miami and the LA Clippers.

Celtics sign Jamar Smith and Dionte Christmas

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent guards Jamar Smith and Dionte Christmas.

Smith, a 6’3” guard, appeared in 44 games last season for BK Prostov in the Czech Republic and averaged 14.8 points and 2.5 assists while shooting 39.3% from three-point territory during league games. Smith also appeared in two games during EuroCup qualifications and in six games of the EuroChallenge. Smith played for the Celtics during the 2012 Orlando Summer League and averaged 9.2 points while shooting 45.0% from three. Smith was previously with the Celtics during training camp prior to the start of the 2010-11 season.  Smith previously played for the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League. He played collegiately for the University of Illinois and the University of Southern Indiana.

Christmas, a 6’5” guard, appeared in 26 games during the 2011-12 season for AGO Rethymno Aegean in Greece and averaged 18.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He shot 36.0% from three point territory and 46.3% from the field overall. He was an Honorable Mention All-American at Temple during his senior year (2008-09) and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Christmas played for the Celtics during their 2012 Summer League teams in Orlando and Las Vegas.

Philadelphia 76ers sign guard Maalik Wayns

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they have signed rookie free agent guard Maalik Wayns.

Wayns (6-2, 200) was an early entry candidate for the 2012 NBA Draft following his junior season at Villanova.  He was named second team All-BIG EAST in 2011-12 after averaging team-highs of 17.6 points and 4.6 assists to go along with 3.8 rebounds per game.  Wayns ranked seventh in the nation in free throw shooting (89.2%) this past season.

As a member of the Orlando Magic in the 2012 Orlando Pro Summer League, Wayns appeared in three games, averaging 11.7 points, 5.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 2.33 steals in 26.7 minutes per game.  He was ranked second in the league in both assists and steals per game.

A native of Philadelphia, Wayns attended Roman Catholic High School and was a Parade and McDonald’s All-American.

Lakers switching to Princeton offense

Lakers switching to Princeton offense

Kobe Bryant has been searching for spacing and freedom and flow on offense, for a way to counter defenses bent on sagging and suffocating him on the floor. Even before the Los Angeles Lakers delivered him point guard Steve Nash, Bryant had raised an idea with coach Mike Brown about the possibility of employing a distant cousin to the triangle – the Princeton offense.

So there was Brown and Bryant in a side room in a Las Vegas gymnasium during Team USA’s training camp in early July, listening to Eddie Jordan detail the offense’s intricacies, laying out how Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum would benefit with and without the basketball. Here was an old-school Ivy League blueprint daring to be a solution for the Showtime Lakers’ issues.

Jordan happens to be the foremost Princeton authority in the NBA, the heir to architect Pete Carril, and that’s an immense part of why the Lakers are moving toward an agreement to hire Jordan as an assistant coach. Jordan sold his vision of the offense to a most willing subject, and ultimately Bryant departed for these Olympics convinced that the Lakers have a sound plan of action for the 2012-13 season.

— Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports

The Princeton is similar to the Triangle in some ways. And it may seem odd that the Lakers are switching to an offense that doesn’t utilize traditional point guard play just as they’re bringing on the best traditional point guard in the league.

But Jason Kidd and Chris Paul have been MVP candidates running the Princeton, and Nash is a better shooter than either of them. Pau Gasol‘s passing skills are also a perfect fit for the Princeton, where the big men are often handling the ball in the (high or low) post.

— Reported by John Schuhmann of NBA.com

New Magic coach Jacque Vaughn discusses his coaching style

New Magic coach Jacque Vaughn discusses his coaching style

“I don’t think I’ll pigeonhole myself into a certain style,” he answered. “I’ve been kind of inclusive about the different styles I’ve played against. Coach [Jerry] Sloan had a style that he used for 20 years. Pop [Gregg Popovich] has been extremely innovative. I watch the game of basketball internationally, and I love some of the things that they do.

“For me, it’s about putting guys in a position to make plays. I will not call a play every single time down the floor. My demeanor on the sideline is more calm, not garish at all, and I think players will be receptive to that and want to play. As long as I can teach them, and they’re receptive to teaching, then I’ll let them make plays.”

— Reported by Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel

WWE apologizes for Kobe Bryant Colorado hotel room joke

The WWE has issued an full apology after an on-air personality joked that one of the wrestlers was “like Kobe Bryant at a hotel room in Colorado … he’s unstoppable.”

It all went down during a live broadcast of “Monday Night Raw” … when a manager named Abraham Washington — who was wearing a live mic — was ringside for a match involving a wrestler named Titus O’Neil … and during the action, A.W. let the Kobe crack fly.

The comment is an obvious reference to Kobe’s 2003 sexual assault case — when he was accused of raping a woman in his hotel room in Eagle, Colorado. The accuser eventually reached a settlement with Kobe and dropped her case.

— Reported by TMZ.com

Matt Barnes arrested in California

NBA forward Matt Barnes was arrested tonight for an outstanding traffic warrant, and for allegedly mouthing off — BIGTIME — to the arresting officer, TMZ has learned.

According to law enforcement sources, Barnes was busted by police in Manhattan Beach, CA for a misdemeanor traffic warrant, and we’re told he also resisted the arresting officer.

Barnes is currently being booked by Manhattan Beach PD for the traffic violation, and for resisting an executive officer … a felony.

— Reported by TMZ.com

King County Council approves Seattle arena plan

One vote down and plenty more to go in the quest to build a new arena that could bring the NBA back to Seattle.

The Metropolitan King County Council took the initial step on Monday afternoon, approving the amended proposal from investor Chris Hansen by a 6-3 vote. After four hours of public testimony and statements from council members, the Hansen’s proposal – with a few tweaks – got the required number of votes to move forward.

Now the plan goes to the Seattle City Council, but if its actions earlier Monday are any indication, Hansen’s $490 million arena plan that includes nearly $300 million in private funds and $200 million in public contribution has plenty of adjustments and changes yet to come.

— Reported by Tim Booth of the Associated Press

Raja Bell reportedly refusing to accept Utah Jazz buyout offer

The Utah Jazz and veteran Raja Bell are generously providing fans with some off-season drama.

Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune reports:

The Salt Lake Tribune learned Monday that Bell has not accepted a buyout with the Jazz, despite the veteran guard saying July 8 a verbal agreement had been reached between the sides and only formalities remained.

“We’ve been given the greenlight by Utah to go ahead and find something that works for us. We’ve agreed to the terms,” Bell said in July. “So I think it’s safe to say now we are in the market again and we’re entertaining our options at this point.”

Jazz General Manager Kevin O’Connor would not discuss Bell’s buyout when recently asked about the situation during Summer League in Orlando, Fla. But a league source confirmed Monday the Jazz have officially offered Bell a buyout. He has refused to accept the deal, though, stalling an already long-delayed process.