Inside Hoops – Page 1242 – NBA Blog

Rebuilding Celtics still have some fun storylines

It will be interesting to see how first-time NBA coach Brad Stevens adapts to his new digs and how well he establishes a working relationship with players who won’t have to sit out a year if they transfer.

It will be beyond interesting to see how Rajon Rondo adjusts both physically and sociologically to playing without Pierce and Garnett.

How much of what we saw from rookie Kelly Olynyk in July was the product of summer-league competition? Is Jeff Green ready to exhibit his considerable talent on a more consistent basis? Who among the Brooklyn refugees is here for more than a cup of chowder?

The Celtics are wise to be patient as they seek to repackage their roster and multiple first-round draft picks into a worthy entity. But they are still on the clock as regards Rondo, who can be a free agent in two years. Before then, the Celts must show they are close enough to being good to make him want to stay, or, failing that, find the right trade for Rondo before he abdicates.

Reported by Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald

DeMarcus Cousins and Kings make long-term commitment

It’s not easy earning DeMarcus Cousins’ trust. By nature, he’s skeptical of new people and situations.

So over the summer, new Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadive and his front office and coaching staff began connecting with Cousins, their talented but sometimes ornery center who they expected to be the centerpiece of the team’s rebuilding project.

During that process, Cousins found Ranadive to be a man of his word, and Cousins convinced the Kings’ management team he was committed to the franchise and wanted to become a leader.

The sides liked each other enough to agree on a four-year contract extension worth $62 million that will be finalized in time for today’s 10 a.m. news conference.

“What I’ve learned about (Ranadive) so far is he has a strong passion, and when he puts his mind to something he wants to get it done,” Cousins said. “That alone makes me very confident with him being our leader. I’m excited about this group, I’m extremely confident with them, and I think we’re going to do a lot of things.”

Reported by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee

James Anderson could get his chance with Sixers

James Anderson didn’t know what to expect when the 76ers plucked him off the waiver wire back in July.

Two months later, the San Antonio Spurs’ 2010 first-round pick finally has a chance to become a full-time starter.

The 6-foot-6 swingman has started alongside Michael Carter-Williams, Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young, and Spencer Hawes during the first two days of the Sixers training camp at St. Joseph’s.

“He finds ways to score,” Turner said after Sunday’s morning practice. “He’s really calm. He knows how to play.”

Reported by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Format for NBA Finals may change

The NBA Finals could return to a 2-2-1-1-1 format.

The league’s Competition Committee has voted unanimously to recommend the change from the current 2-3-2 system and owners will vote on it next month at their meetings.

“The idea was raised at the Competition Committee and was well-received and the committee ultimately unanimously voted to recommend the change in format,” NBA spokesman Tim Frank said yesterday.

If approved, it hasn’t been decided if the change would begin with the 2014 Finals…

The format was switched beginning in 1985, a recommendation commissioner David Stern has said came in part from former Celtics boss Red Auerbach to reduce the cross-country trips between Boston and Los Angeles.

Reported by the Philadelphia Daily News wire

Miami Heat reward coach Erik Spoelstra with contract extension

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra signed a multiyear extension to his contract Sunday, the team announced.

Spoelstra was entering the last season of his contract after leading the Heat to three consecutive NBA Finals, including back-to-back titles. The Heat begins work for its three-peat bid Tuesday with the start of training camp. The first four days of camp are being held at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

With the Heat’s core of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all facing contract decisions after this season, solidifying Spoelstra’s future was a significant first step toward bringing stability to the equation.

James, Wade and Bosh can all opt out of their contracts after this season.

Reported by Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald

Sixers owner says team is staying in Philly

Managing owner Josh Harris reiterated Sunday that the 76ers are not moving to North Jersey.

“My answer to the fans is I love the Sixers in Philly. I’m committed to it,” Harris said during his state-of-the-Sixers news conference.

Harris’ keeping the franchise in Philadelphia isn’t a surprise to people who know the billionaire businessman. They will tell you the surprising thing is that he’s on board with the Sixers’ tanking this season.

“I want immediate results and immediate upside,” he said. “But I think that the reality of professional sports is that things don’t change overnight.”

Reported by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Channing Frye will return to Phoenix Suns after heart illness

Channing Frye will return to Suns after heart illness

Forward Channing Frye says he will be back with the Phoenix Suns in training camp after sitting out last season with heart-related issues.

Frye made the announcement via Twitter on Sunday, saying he is ”happy to be healthy and have an opportunity” to keep playing.

Frye has said that he has been cleared medically by several doctors but the Suns have not officially said he will be back.

Reported by the Associated Press

Phoenix Suns add James Nunnally to training camp

The Phoenix Suns today announced they have signed guard/forward James Nunnally, bringing the club’s roster to 18 players.

Nunnally, 23, excelled for the Miami Heat during the 2013 Las Vegas Summer League, leading the team with 13.0 points per game while shooting 57.7 percent from the field and 63.0 percent beyond the three-point arc. His best performance came in Miami’s final contest against the Suns as Nunnally made 5-of-6 three-pointers and scored 21 of his 24 points in the second half to help erase a 20-point deficit in a game Phoenix held on to win 91-89.

Last season, the 6-7, 205-pound Nunnally played for the Suns’ D-League affiliate, the Bakersfield Jam, and averaged 10.3 points while connecting on 40.6 percent of his three-point attempts. He first gained NBA experience with the Sacramento Kings at the 2012 Las Vegas Summer League, following a standout four-year career at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Nunnally was named to an All-Big West team three times at UCSB and helped the Gauchos to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances for the first time in the program’s history. For his collegiate career, Nunnally averaged 13.7 points and 5.2 rebounds.

Al Jefferson looking to turn Bobcats around

Thursday morning 15 or so players were in the practice gym doing 3-on-3 drills with the new coaching staff.

Center Al Jefferson, the most significant off-season acquisition, says he’s never seen anything like this in nine previous NBA seasons.

“A lot of veterans might choose not to, but they’re here. We’re getting together and getting to know one another,” Jefferson said.

“I told Kemba (Walker) when I first signed that I’m not coming here to lose. I’m coming here to turn things around,” Jefferson added. “I think (the seriousness of purpose) started with me. If I’m here in September, everyone should be. If Ben Gordon is here, same thing. If Brendan Haywood, a guy who already won a championship (with the Dallas Mavericks) is here, everybody should be here. That’s the way we look at it.”

Reported by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer

Pau Gasol at full health, but will be limited in training camp

Pau Gasol has seemingly showed he has nine lives with the Lakers, staying on the franchise he loves despite demoted roles and endless trade rumors.

But even if Gasol arrived to Lakers’ media day on Saturday full of good spirits in having a chance to complete his fifth season donning purple and gold, there remains yet another hurdle he will have to climb.

He reported at full health after having a procedures this offseason to treat the painful tendons in both of his knees, but Gasol has yet to complete basketball-related drills.

“I’m getting there,” Gasol said. “Now training camp is going to be important with how we manage practices and how the knee reacts to the load of work.”

Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News (Blog)