Inside Hoops – Page 1246 – NBA Blog

2015 NBA All-Star weekend will be split between Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center

The 2015 NBA All-Star weekend will be split between two New York arenas, with Madison Square Garden to host the game, two people with knowledge of the plans said Tuesday.

Barclays Center in Brooklyn will host the Saturday skills events, the people confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the plans were to be announced at a press conference Wednesday.

Commissioner David Stern, Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will attend the press conference, along with officials from Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center…

MSG is one of the most famous arenas in sports and has undergone a three-year renovation project. The $1 billion Barclays Center opened a year ago and has quickly landed many top entertainment events.

Reported by the Associated Press

New Milwaukee Bucks court design

Tonight at the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Bucks unveiled a new design for their new state-of-the-art playing surface at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

A renowned pop artist famous for his “LOVE” artwork, Indiana created the design for the Bucks court that was used at the MECCA Arena from 1977-87. Indiana’s original floor, with bright colors and a giant “M” flanking each side of the midcourt line, is recognized as one of the largest pieces of pop art ever produced and brought international recognition to Milwaukee as a progressive, forward-thinking city that appreciates art as much as it does sport.

The Bucks’ brand new home court at the BMO Harris Bradley Center takes inspiration from Indiana’s original pop art design, reproducing the world-famous “M’s” bracketing the midcourt line – this time in two shades of hand-stained Wisconsin hard maple – along with the simple, yet unmistakable “Milwaukee” adorning each baseline, just as in Indiana’s iconic work of original art. At center court is the Bucks logo, stripped down to the aggressive image of the eight-point white tail buck head that represents the powerful and focused approach of the team. Painted surfaces of the court are almost exclusively green, tying together all eras of the Bucks’ 46-year history.

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Miami Heat training camp location: The Bahamas

Miami Heat holding training camp in the Bahamas

For the second time in the four seasons that LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have played as teammates, the Miami Heat will hold their training camp away from South Florida.

After holding camp at the Hurlburt Field Air Force installation in the Florida panhandle in 2010 in the wake of the signing of the Big Three, the Heat returned to AmericanAirlines Arena for camp the past two years.

But now, as they prepare to defend a second consecutive NBA title, the Heat again are attempting to escape the expected media crush by moving their camp to The Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, Bahamas.

Reported by Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel

Prosecutors pursue assault case against Jared Sullinger

Prosecutors say they intend to pursue domestic assault charges against Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger even though his accuser wants to drop the case.

The 21-year-old Sullinger appeared in Waltham District Court on Monday to face charges of assault and battery, destruction of property and witness intimidation in connection with the Aug. 31 confrontation with his girlfriend. She accused Sullinger of pinning her to a bed and the floor at his Waltham home.

His lawyer, Charles Rankin, says the girlfriend does not want to continue the case and is not afraid of Sullinger.

Reported by the Associated Press

Philadelphia 76ers sign rookies Nerlens Noel and Michael Carter-Williams

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they have signed rookies Nerlens Noel and Michael Carter-Williams. They were both first-round draft picks, and therefore were guaranteed to receive contracts. So, this move is standard and was expected.

Carter-Williams (6-6, 185) was the 11th overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2013 NBA Draft. As a sophomore at Syracuse last season, the 21-year-old averaged 12 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals en route to earning All-Big East Second Team honors. Back in July, Carter-Williams averaged 14 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals for the Sixers in the Orlando Pro Summer League.

Noel (6-11, 228) was originally the sixth overall pick by New Orleans in the 2013 NBA Draft. The Sixers acquired his rights along with a 2014 first round pick from the Pelicans in exchange for Jrue Holiday and the 42nd pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. As a freshman at Kentucky last season, the 19-year-old averaged 11 points, 10 rebounds and two steals while leading the NCAA with nearly four and a half blocks. Noel was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-SEC.

Carter-Williams and Noel were teammates in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball during high school.

D-League news: Ken McDonald named head coach of Austin Toros

Spurs Sports & Entertainment today announced that they have named Ken McDonald as head coach of the Austin Toros.

McDonald served as an assistant last season for the Toros under head coach Taylor Jenkins, where he helped lead the team to a 27-23 overall record and to the semifinals of the 2013 NBA D-League Playoffs.

Prior to the Toros, McDonald served as head coach at Western Kentucky University from 2008-12 where he accumulated a 67-48 overall record. In his first season with the Hilltoppers, McDonald guided the school to the Sun Belt regular season and tournament championships, and to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Rhode Island native served as an assistant coach for the University of Texas (2004-08) where he helped guide the Longhorns to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. During his four seasons on the Texas bench the Longhorns posted a 106-35 (.752) record. The 106 wins are still the most victories in a four-year period in school history. Texas captured Big 12 Conference regular-season championships in both 2005-06 and 2007-08 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament “Elite Eight” in both of those years as well.

McDonald also served as an assistant coach at the University of Georgia (2003-04), Western Kentucky University (1998-2003) and Clemson University (1994-98).

A Providence College graduate, McDonald played two seasons with the Friars before playing professionally for the St. Paul Revelles in Killarney, Ireland from 1993-94. Before transferring to Providence he played two seasons at the Community College of Rhode Island, where he was a first-team junior college All-American, setting school records for single season scoring as well as three-pointers made in a game, season and career.

The Toros are scheduled to open the 2013-14 NBA D-League season on the road Nov. 22 when they visit the Santa Cruz Warriors. The team will open its home slate on Dec. 1 against the Delaware 87ers at 3 p.m. inside Cedar Park Center.

New York Knicks sign center Cole Aldrich

New York Knicks Executive Vice President and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed center Cole Aldrich. We assume this is a non-guaranteed contract that merely brings Aldrich to training camp, where he will then try to earn a regular season contract. He may have potential to be a decent NBA backup, though so far, early in his career, he’s been more of an end-of-the-bench type of player.

Aldrich, 6-11, 245-pounds, holds career averages of 2.0 points, on 54.-percent shooting, with 2.3 rebounds over 7.9 minutes in 89 games over three seasons with Oklahoma City, Houston and Sacramento. Last season, he averaged 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds over 8.6 minutes in 45 games for the Rockets and Kings.

The Burnsville, MN native was originally selected by New Orleans in the first round (11th pick overall) of 2010 NBA Draft following his junior season at the University of Kansas, and then, had his draft rights traded to Oklahoma City. He was a member of the 2008 NCAA Championship team and finished his collegiate career with averages of 9.4 points and 7.7 rebounds.

Toronto will likely host 2016 NBA All-Star weekend

The basketball world is coming to Toronto in early 2016.

Multiple sources told the Toronto Sun Tuesday that the Raptors are on the verge of landing the 2016 NBA all-star weekend.

An official announcement is expected shortly that will reveal further details of how one of the sport’s biggest weekends will tie in to the Toronto Raptors’ 20th-anniversary season.

Tim Leiweke, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president and CEO, made it clear upon taking over the company that landing the prestigious event was one of his early goals.

Reported by Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun

2015 NBA All-Star weekend expected to be in New York City

The decision to bring the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend to New York, an event that will be hosted jointly by the Knicks and Nets, will be announced this week, possibly as soon as Wednesday, multiple sources told The Post.

Plans to split the activities between the two teams were proposed openly last February, but the arrangements under which the Sunday All-Star Game would be staged at Madison Square Garden and other festivities — such as the dunk contest, 3-point shootout and skills competitions — would land at Barclays Center have not yet been publicly announced.

Reported by Fred Kerber of the New York Post

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Warriors add Dewayne Dedmon, Cameron Jones to training camp

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent center Dewayne Dedmon and free agent guard Cameron Jones to contracts, the team announced today.

Dedmon, 24, played the last two seasons at USC, averaging 7.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.67 blocks over 51 games (49 starts). In 31 games (29 starts) this past season as a redshirt junior, the 7’0” center averaged 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.13 blocks and 1.10 steals in 22.3 minutes per contest. Dedmon did not play organized basketball until his senior year of high school due to religious reasons and played one season at Antelope Valley College in his hometown of Lancaster, CA, before transferring to USC. He will wear uniform #21.

Jones, 24, played last season for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, averaging 12.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.26 steals in 27.0 minutes per contest. The 6’4” guard also played for the Warriors Summer League squad in Las Vegas this past July, averaging 11.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in seven games. Prior to playing his rookie season with the D-League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants in 2011-12, Jones played four seasons at Northern Arizona University and ended his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer. He will wear uniform #6.

The Warriors now have 16 players under contract.