Inside Hoops – Page 1027 – NBA Blog

Andre Dawkins added to Heat camp roster

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on the Heat:

The Miami Heat’s Duke replenishment program continues.

In the wake of losing forward Shane Battier to retirement and ESPN’s broadcast booth, the Heat have added a third former Blue Devil to their training-camp roster, with a recent workout by undrafted Duke guard Andre Dawkins cementing an invitation.

Dawkins joins former Duke players Luol Deng and Josh McRoberts as ex-Blue Devils who have been added this offseason.

“He had about 12 or 13 teams who had expressed interest,” agent John Spencer said Tuesday of Dawkins, “but we had already agreed a while back that he was going to be with them come training camp.”

Roy Hibbert donates $1 million to Georgetown

Here’s the Indianapolis Star reporting on some goodwill:

Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert donated $1 million to Georgetown University on Tuesday. Hibbert, who played for the Hoyas from 2004-08, made the donation to the John R. Thompson Jr. Intercollegiate Athletics Center in honor of the school’s hall of fame basketball coach.

“I am deeply indebted to Georgetown University and the basketball program for all they have done for me,” Hibbert said in a press release. “I put in a lot of hard work to get where I am, but I was given a tremendous amount of guidance both on and off the floor from coach Thompson III and I wouldn’t be here without him.”

Steve Nash will remain on Lakers roster

Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News blog with an update on the Lakers and old point guard Steve Nash:

Despite a tumultuous two-year stretch in which he has taken more visits to the trainer’s room than the basketball court, Steve Nash will remain on the Lakers’ roster. The deadline for the Lakers to use the so-called stretch provision passed over the weekend, ensuring that Nash will finish out the final year of his contract worth $9.7 million.

This development is hardly surprising. The Lakers leaned toward retaining Nash ever since last season, mindful that waiving him would compromise the team’s financial flexibility since it would owe a third of his salary for the following three seasons. The Lakers would have only gone down this route had they acquired LeBron James and/or Carmelo Anthony and would need to clear up immediate cap space.

Video: Russell Westbrook 2013-14 season highlights

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook averaged 21.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game last season. Enjoy this video showcasing some of his top highlights:

Heat reassign longtime assistants McAdoo, Rothstein

Here’s the Miami Herald reporting on the Heat coaching staff:

Two longtime assistant coaches for the Heat will no longer be regular contributors to the day-to-day operations of the team.

Hall of Famer Bob McAdoo and Heat coaching legend Ron Rothstein have been reassigned by the team, the Miami Herald confirmed Monday. McAdoo and Rothstein were both originally hired as assistants by Heat president Pat Riley. Yahoo Sports first reported the story.

With McAdoo and Rothstein likely off the bench, assistants David Fizdale, Dan Craig and Juwan Howard are expected to assume more prominent roles.

Hornets rookie Noah Vonleh out 6-8 weeks after surgery

Charlotte Hornets forward Noah Vonleh underwent successful surgery today to repair a sports hernia suffered in a recent workout. The surgery was performed in Charlotte by Dr. B. Todd Henneford. Vonleh is expected to miss approximately 6-8 weeks.

The ninth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Vonleh was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Third Team All-Big Ten in 2013-14 at Indiana University after averaging 11.3 points, a Big Ten-high 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 26.5 minutes per game.

Warriors sign Aaron Craft, James Michael McAdoo and Mitchell Watt

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent guard Aaron Craft, along with free agent forwards James Michael McAdoo and Mitchell Watt to contracts, the team announced today.

All three rookies played for the Warriors at the 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Craft, 23, played four seasons collegiately at Ohio State, where he earned the NABC and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year awards this past season as a senior. The 6’2” guard amassed career averages of 8.9 points, 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals in 148 games (second most in school history) and was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team in each of his four seasons. With the Warriors Summer League squad, the Findlay, OH, native averaged 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.60 steals and 22.2 minutes off the bench over five games. He led the team in assists and steals during the Summer League.

McAdoo, 21, played three seasons at the University of North Carolina, amassing career averages of 11.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.22 steals in 24.9 minutes over 108 games. Last season, as a junior, the 6’9” forward earned Second Team All-ACC honors after averaging 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.32 steals in 34 contests. In five games with the Warriors Summer League team (all starts), the Norfolk, VA, native averaged 9.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.00 steal and 1.20 blocks in a team-leading 29.0 minutes per game. McAdoo’s father, Ronnie, is a member of Old Dominion University’s Hall of Fame and played professionally in France, Spain and Japan.

Watt, 24, has played professionally the last two seasons in Israel, averaging 13.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 blocks in 34 games last season with Ironi Nes Ziona. Prior to making his professional debut with Galil Gilboa in 2012-13, Watt played collegiately for four seasons at the University of Buffalo. As a senior in 2011-12, the 6’10” forward averaged 16.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.2 blocks over 31 games en route to earning MAC Player of the Year honors and All-MAC First Team recognition.

Craft will wear uniform #2, McAdoo #20 and Watt #21. The Warriors roster currently stands at 16 players.

Thaddeus Young happy for new start with Timberwolves

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer blog reporting on Thaddeus Young, whose time on the 76ers is over as he starts fresh with the young Minnesota Timberwolves:

Young, who will earn $9.1 million this season and has a $9.7 million player option for the 2015-2016 season, can’t wait to get started in his new setting.

“It feels great,” Young said. “They came after me and they sent two guys and a pick over to get me so that says a lot about what the organization wanted and they went and got me. I’m very happy, very excited.”

Young, who averaged 17.9 points and 6.0 rebounds, is expected to be one of the Wolves leaders. He is just 26 years old but is entering his eighth NBA season.

“It’s a great thing for the younger guys, it’s a great thing for me,” Young said. “I can step into a situation were I already kind of know some of the concepts and I can help the young guys get better.”

Derrick Rose feeling fine as World Cup action continues

Here’s ESPN.com reporting on Team USA and Bulls guard Derrick Rose:

Rose has seemed more at ease since the squad left the United States for Europe. He’s facing all the questions about his knees from nosy reporters head-on, even after Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski told ESPN.com last week that he sensed “a part of [Rose] that’s like, ‘Quit asking me how I feel, I’m good.'”

“I’m just trying to put that behind me,” Rose said of any trepidation he’s feeling as he ramps up his comeback from the two devastating injuries that limited him to 10 games over the past two seasons with the Bulls.

“I know the questions are going to come and they’re going to be there the whole year. So I can’t get tired of it. I’m feeling good right now.

“Just trying to get in better shape, get in better condition, so that when I do need to score the ball, then it’ll be there.”

Before the tournament started, Rose likened the prospect of five games in the first six days of the World Cup to an “AAU-type schedule.”

Petteri Koponen aims to enter NBA in 2015

Here’s ESPN.com with an update on a talented international player:

Finnish point guard Petteri Koponen hopes to be playing in the NBA by the 2015-16 season.

Here at the 2014 FIBA World Cup, Koponen told ESPN.com he intends to make the jump to the NBA after completing the final season on his contract with BC Khimki in Russia.

“I always said my dream is to play in the NBA,” Koponen said. “Every summer we talk a little bit with Dallas to see what the situation is and what they think. I’ve got one more year left on my contract in Russia and then of course I would like to come over. I hope I get some options to go there and show I can play at that level.”

The Mavericks acquired Koponen’s NBA rights in 2011 in a draft-night trade trade with Portland. He was selected by Philadelphia on behalf of the Blazers with the last pick of the first round in 2007, having played in the Nike Hoop Summit that year against a future MVP named Derrick Rose.