September 1, 2012 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Spurs making Scott Layden their new assistant general manager

Scott Layden, the Utah assistant coach and former general manager who the Spurs interviewed early this week, has agreed to become the team’s new assistant general manager. Yahoo Sports! first reported the move, which has not yet been formally announced.

Layden was the Jazz general manager from 1992-99, helping to orchestrate two NBA finalist appearances in Utah. He also served as the GM in New York from 1999-2003, but enjoyed considerably less success there.

— Reported by Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News

Blake Ahearn expected to sign with Indiana Pacers

Former Utah Jazz reserve point guard Blake Ahearn is expected to sign a partially guaranteed contract with the Indiana Pacers, a league source informed The Salt Lake Tribune on Saturday.

Ahearn was signed by the Jazz via a 10-day contract last season. He remained on Utah’s roster throughout the playoffs and was a member of the Jazz’s Summer League team.

— Reported by Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune

Nets may want Andray Blatche

The Nets’ ongoing search for frontcourt depth has led them to Houston, and a meeting with Andray Blatche, who was cut this summer by the Washington Wizards.

Blatche, 26, has been working out in Houston with a number of other N.B.A. players, under the guidance of John Lucas. He was set to meet with Nets Coach Avery Johnson sometime this weekend, according to two people with knowledge of the meeting. It was not clear whether the Nets were prepared to make Blatche an immediate offer or were simply exploring their options.

— Reported by Howard Beck of the New York Times (Blog)

Knicks may want Sean Williams

A source familiar with the Knicks’ free-agency plans told ESPNNewYork.com that the team is considering signing forward-center Sean Williams, who was waived by the Rockets this week.

There has been some speculation that the Knicks are interested in unrestricted free agent Josh Howard, but according to the source, they are not into him. Instead, the team wants to add a big man — likely to serve as a backup to Amare Stoudemire on the depth chart. Currently, they don’t have one.

There are more attractive bigs on the market, like Kenyon Martin, Andray Blatche, Louis Amundson, Chris Andersen and D.J. White. But those players have been looking for more than the veteran’s minimum, which is all the Knicks can offer.

— Reported by Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York

Mickael Gelabale signs in Croatia

Turkish Airlines Euroleague newcomer Cedevita Zagreb of Croatia has added veteran depth at forward in the person of Mickael Gelabale, who has played two previous seasons in the competition. Gelabale (2.01 meters, 29 years old) won the Eurocup title last season with Khimki Moscow Region of Russia. His Euroleague career so far has consisted of two seasons with Real Madrid of Spain between 2004 and 2006 during which he put up 8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Gelabale started his career with Cholet of France, a team he returned to after spending three NBA seasons in the mid-2000s with Seattle and the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2010-11, Gelabale averaged a career-high 14.2 points for Asvel Basket of France, including 12.2 per game in six Eurocup appearances.

— Reported by Euroleague.net