Inside Hoops – Page 1239 – NBA Blog

Jae Crowder says he is 15 pounds lighter

Jae Crowder said at Mavericks media day on Monday that he’s 15 pounds lighter. A small of that portion might have to do with his hair.

Crowder shortened his dreadlocked pony tail on Sunday, cutting off what he estimates was an inch and a half of hair. It’s an annual tradition. Just before basketball season every year, he trims the nest.

“During the summer I just let it go, I don’t cut it at all,” Crowder said. “But during the season I keep it cut. This summer it got down to the middle of my back.”

Reported by Michael Florek of SportsDayDFW

Detroit Pistons starting SG job remains open

It is the Detroit Pistons’ only apparent open position in the starting lineup, largely because many of the potential shooting guards don’t fit the spot.

Chauncey Billups really doesn’t want the job.

Rodney Stuckey professed indifference, which he proved last year.

Kyle Singler started most of last season at the position. But he’s probably in a competition for backup small forward moreso than starting shooting guard.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope wants the job. But the rookie first-round draft pick has some proving to do first.

Of the several points of intrigue as the Pistons open training camp this morning, only one involves a starting role, with as many varied styles as candidates.

Reported by David Mayo of Michigan Live

Justin Brownlee and Josh Powell join Knicks training camp

The New York Knicks announced Monday that the team has signed forwards Justin Brownlee and Josh Powell. We assume they are non-guaranteed contracts that merely add the players to training camp.

Brownlee, 6-7, 219-pounds, was a member of New York’s entry in the NBA Summer League each of last two summers, and averaged 4.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.20 steals over 16.1 minutes in five games this past July in Las Vegas, NV. He played for San Diego of the ABA last season after playing for Maine (NBADL) and in Mexico (Nuevo Laredo) in 2011-12. He averaged 8.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists over 23.5 minutes in 50 games for Maine and 13.6 points and 6.0 rebounds in 10 games for Nuevo Laredo. The Tifton, GA-native played two seasons at St. John’s University, recording 9.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists over 24.5 minutes in 65 games. He began his collegiate career at Chipola Junior College (FL) and City College of San Francisco.

Powell, 6-9, 225-pounds, holds career averages of 3.9 points on 43.9-percent shooting, and 2.9 rebounds over 12.5 minutes in 315 games (28 starts) over six seasons with Dallas, Indiana, Golden State, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers and Atlanta. He spent the 2012-13 season playing in Greece (Olympiacos) and Puerto Rico (Brujos de Guayama), after playing in China (Liaoning) in 2011-12. He went to training camp with San Antonio last season before being waived on Oct. 26. A member of the 2009 NBA Champion L.A. Lakers, he last played in the NBA for Atlanta in 2010-11, averaging 4.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 54 games. The Charleston, SC-native went undrafted following two seasons at North Carolina State University. He began his professional career playing overseas for two seasons in Italy and Russia before signing with Dallas in 2005-06.

Dallas Mavericks add Renaldo Balkman to training camp

The Dallas Mavericks on Monday signed forward Renaldo Balkman. We assume it’s a non-guaranteed contract that merely brings Balkman to training camp.

Balkman (6-8, 208) was selected by the New York Knicks with the 20th overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 4.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 13.9 minutes in 221 career games with New York and Denver.

The Staten Island, N.Y., native is a Puerto Rican-American who most recently played professionally for Brujos de Guayama in Puerto Rico. Balkman played collegiately at South Carolina where he was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Tournament Team and National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Most Valuable Player in his final season with the Gamecocks.

With the signing, the Mavericks’ current roster stands at 20 players.

Utah Jazz add Brian Cook, Justin Holiday, Dwayne Jones to training camp

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed free-agent forward Brian Cook, guard/forward Justin Holiday and center Dwayne Jones II. All three players will join the Jazz prior to this week’s training camp at Zions Bank Basketball Center. Following the three additions, Utah’s roster now stands at 19 players.

Cook (6-9, 234, Illinois) has appeared in 421 career NBA games (74 starts) over nine seasons from 2003-12. He spent his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers before stints with the Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Washington Wizards and holds career averages of 5.5 points and 2.6 rebounds. The 32-year-old has also seen action in 31 career playoff games over four appearances with the Lakers and Rockets. In 2012-13, he appeared in two games for the Piratas de Quebradillas of Puerto Rico, averaging 9.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in 19.1 minutes. Cook was originally selected by the Lakers in the first round (24th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft.

Holiday (6-6, 185, Washington) split time between the NBA and NBA Development League as a rookie in 2012-13, playing 47 games for the Idaho Stampede after attending training camp with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He finished the season with the Philadelphia 76ers, appearing in nine games for the Sixers, averaging 4.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 15.8 minutes of play. He averaged 17.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 34.7 minutes during his time with the Stampede and was selected to the 2013 NBA Development League All-Defensive Second Team. This summer, the 24-year-old native Californian participated for Philadelphia in the Orlando Pro Summer League, appearing in four games and averaging 9.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.

Jones II (6-11, 250, Saint Joseph’s) has played in a total of 82 career games in the NBA, split between Boston, Cleveland, Charlotte, and Phoenix, owning career averages of 1.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 7.8 minutes of action. The 30-year-old appeared in 21 games (17 starts) for the Texas Legends of the D-League during the 2012-13 season, averaging 8.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 30.5 minutes. Jones II most recently participated in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas with the Golden State Warriors. A native of Morgantown, W. Va., Jones was previously selected to the 2010 All D-League First Team, and was the Atlantic-10 Defensive Player of the Year his final year at Saint Joseph’s.

Bobcats add Troy Daniels, Abdul Gaddy, Patrick O’Bryant to training camp

Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today the team has signed free agent guards Troy Daniels and Abdul Gaddy and center Patrick O’Bryant to its training camp roster.

A 7-0 center, O’Bryant was initially selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. He has appeared in 90 career NBA games over four seasons for the Warriors, Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors, averaging 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds in 5.8 minutes.

A 6-4 guard, Daniels went undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft. He appeared in five games for the Bobcats Summer League team in Las Vegas, averaging 5.4 points and 1.0 rebound in 14.3 minutes. As a senior at Virginia Commonwealth last season, he averaged 12.3 points and 3.1 rebounds, while setting a school single-season record for three-point field goals (124).

A 6-3 guard, Gaddy went undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft. He appeared in three games for the Bobcats Summer League team in Las Vegas, averaging 6.0 points and 2.7 assists in 14.0 minutes. As a senior at Washington last season, he averaged 10.9 points, 4.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds.

The training camp roster now stands at 18.

Atlanta Hawks fill up their training camp roster

The Atlanta Hawks today announced their 2013 training camp roster, which tips off Monday with Media Day activities at 3 p.m. on the Philips Arena practice court. With the additions of Eric Dawson, Royal Ivey, James Johnson, David Lighty, Adonis Thomas and Damien Wilkins, the team currently has a 20-man camp roster.

Dawson played this past season with the Meralco Bolts of the Philippine Basketball Association after seeing action in four games with the San Antonio Spurs in 2011-12. He has also played with the Austin Toros (2007-12) of the NBA Development League. Dawson was a member of the Hawks’ 2013 summer league team, appearing in four games.

Ivey owns averages of 3.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 12.6 minutes (.407 FG%, .362 3FG%, .706 FT%) in 490 games (114 starting assignments) over his nine-year career with Atlanta, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Oklahoma City. He was originally selected by the Hawks in the second round (37th overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft and spent his first three seasons (2004-07) with Atlanta.

A four-year NBA veteran after being a first round draft pick (16th overall) by Chicago in 2009, Johnson has averaged 6.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 blocks in 18.3 minutes (.443 FG%, .678 FT%) in 219 career games (87 starting assignments) with the Bulls, Toronto and Sacramento. Johnson also saw time with the NBA D-League’s Iowa Energy in 2011-12.

Lighty played with JSF Nanterre in France in 2012-13, helping the club to the French Pro A LNB championship, after spending his first professional campaign in Italy (2011-12) with Bennet Cantù and Vanoli Cremona. He averaged 14.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 31.9 minutes in 35 games (.494 FG%, .425 3FG%, .776 FT%) last year.

Thomas, a rookie, played collegiately at Memphis for two seasons, and in 2012-13, averaged 11.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 29.3 minutes (.405 FG%, .752 FT%). In 55 career games (44 starts) as a collegian, he tallied 10.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 27.5 minutes (.426 FG%, .325 3FG%, .745 FT%). The forward most recently played in three games for the Hawks during the 2013 Las Vegas NBA Summer League.

Through nine NBA seasons with Seattle/Oklahoma City, Minnesota, Atlanta, Detroit and Philadelphia, Wilkins has averaged 6.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 19.3 minutes (.427 FG%, .330 3FG%, .783 FT%) in 563 career games (149 starting assignments). The son of former NBA player Gerald Wilkins and nephew of Hawks Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins, he saw action in 52 contests off the bench for the Hawks in 2010-11, recording 3.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 13.0 minutes (.504 FG%, .714 FT%).

Timberwolves add A.J. Price to training camp roster

The Minnesota Timberwolves today finalized the team’s 2013-14 training camp roster by signing free agent A.J. Price. Today’s signing completes the Wolves training camp roster, which stands at 18 players. Minnesota’s training camp is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 1 – Friday, Oct. 4 at Bresnan Arena in the Taylor Center on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Price, 26, spent the 2012-13 season with the Washington Wizards where he averaged career-highs with 7.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 57 games (22 starts). He was drafted by Indiana in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft and played three seasons with the Pacers. In 2011-12, Price appeared in 44 games, averaging 3.9 points and 2.0 assists. He played in 50 games in 2010-11, averaging 6.5 points and 2.2 assists. In his rookie season, Price averaged 7.3 points and 1.9 assists in 56 games.

Price played three years at the University of Connecticut, compiling career averages of 13.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists. In 2007-08, Price started all 33 games at point guard and was UConn’s second leading scorer. He was named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s All-America Team, the First Team All-BIG EAST squad and also selected as USBWA District Player of the Year. In his final season with the Huskies, Price was the Huskies’ leading scorer with 14.7 ppg. In the 2009 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament he was named Most Outstanding Player in the West Region.

Price’s signing brings the Wolves training camp roster to 18 players. The Wolves will open training camp tomorrow at Bresnan Arena in the Taylor Center on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato.

DeShawn Sims, Damen Bell-Holter, Chris Babb, Kammron Taylor join Celtics training camp

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent forwards DeShawn Sims, Damen Bell-Holter and guards Chris Babb and Kammron Taylor. The contracts are likely all non-guaranteed and merely bring the players to training camp.

Sims, a 6’8” forward, played in 35 games for Sagesse in Lebanon last season where he averaged 22.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 33.3 minutes per game. Sims was previously named the 2011 NBA Development League Rookie of the Year when he posted 20.3 points (fourth in NBADL) and 7.7 rebounds (11th) for the Maine Red Claws. Sims also has played professionally in South Korea with KCC Egis, PAOK BC in Greece and for Piratas de Quebradillas in Puerto Rico.

Bell-Holter, a 6’9” forward, appeared in 35 games for Oral Roberts as a senior during the 2012-13 season when he averaged 15.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. The native of Hydaburg, Alaska recorded 17 double-digit rebound performances during Southland Conference play as well as 13 double-doubles.

Babb, a 6’5” guard, appeared in 33 games for Iowa State as a senior during the 2012-13 season and averaged 9.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals and shot 38.2 percent from three-point territory. Babb was also named to the Big 12 All-Defense Team for his defensive efforts.

Taylor, a 6’2” guard, appeared in 19 games for Ludwigsburg in Germany last season where he averaged 13.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 28.6 minutes per game. Taylor has also played professionally in the Ukraine, Cyprus, France, Hungary, Turkey and Spain. Taylor appeared in 119 games for the University of Wisconsin from 2003-07 and left with career averages of 10.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 26.1 minutes per game.

Knicks pick up option on coach Mike Woodson for 2014-15 season

New York Knicks President and General Manager Steve Mills announced today that the team has picked up the option on Head Coach Mike Woodson’s contract for the 2014-15 season.

Woodson, entering his second full season at the helm of the Knickerbockers after being named interim head coach on Mar. 14, 2012, led the franchise to a 54-28 (.659) mark last season and the franchise’s first Atlantic Division crown since 1993-94. He finished third in media balloting for the 2012-13 NBA Coach of the Year award and was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for April. His .679 (72-34) winning percentage is second-best in franchise history.

“I have long respected Mike and think he has done a remarkable job since becoming the head coach of the Knicks,” Mills said. “After spending time with him recently, it is clear that picking up his option is an easy decision.”

Woodson guided the Knicks to an 18-6 mark as interim head coach after beginning the 2011-12 season as an assistant coach under Mike D’Antoni. He served six seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Hawks (2004-05 through 2009-10), amassing a 206-286 (.419) record and improving the Hawks win total in each season.