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Sacramento Kings hire Robert Schaefer as Director of Athletic Performance

The Sacramento Kings today announced Robert “Chip” Schaefer as Director of Athletic Performance, according to General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

A veteran in the athletic training and sports performance field with more than 25 seasons of basketball experience to his credit, Schaefer’s career includes contributions to 11 NBA Championship teams.

Prior to joining the Kings, Schaefer served the last two years as Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Performance at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His change to the collegiate ranks followed 12 seasons (1999 – 2011) with the Los Angeles Lakers organization working as Director of Athletic Performance, where he was part of five title teams after helping Chicago win six championships during his eight seasons as head trainer for the Bulls (1990 – 1998).

In addition to his NBA experience, Schaefer was on-staff at the renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, where he worked with many of the nation’s elite professional and amateur athletes. He also served as head athletic trainer at Pete Newell’s Big Man Camps after a three-season stint as head trainer at Loyola Marymount University (1987-1990).

Schaefer’s role with Sacramento includes design and implementation of all strength and conditioning programs aimed at maximizing core strength, explosiveness, speed and endurance. He will also assist Director of Sports Medicine Pete Youngman and Head Athletic Trainer Manny Romero with injury prevention and health maintenance.

Schaefer is a member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is also recognized by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) as a specialist in performance enhancement, corrective exercise and fitness nutrition.

A native of Deerfield, Ill., Schaefer received his B.A. in physical education and sports medicine from the University of Utah in 1983. He later earned his master’s degree in counseling from Loyola Marymount. During the interim, he acted as head trainer for the U.S. Men’s Ski Team from 1984-86.

Miami Heat sign Michael Beasley

While a growing number of teams have felt that Michael Beasley’s on and off-court decisions aren’t what they’re looking for, the defending NBA champions apparently feel differently.

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed Beasley. According to Yahoo Sports, it’s just a training camp contract, and Beasley must still compete to make the roster to earn his one-year, minimum contract deal of $1 million.

“Michael had the best years of his career with us,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “We feel that he can help us.”

According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, “Beasley becomes the 17th player on the Heat’s training-camp roster, one of four invited to camp without guaranteed contracts. Teams may carry between 13 and 15 players during the regular season, but up to 20 in training camp. While Beasley will receive the five-year veteran minimum of $1,027,424, the Heat’s actual salary-cap hit will be only $788,872, under the NBA’s minimum-salary policy. In addition, Beasley is still collecting on the final two seasons of his bought-out Suns contract.”

According to the Miami Herald, “Beasley agreed to a one-year, nonguaranteed deal with Miami after recently being released by the Phoenix Suns. He was arrested for possession of marijuana in Scottsdale, Ariz., in August. Beasley, now 24 years old, has been linked to marijuana at every stop in his NBA career and his colorful history with the Heat is well documented. But at such a bargain, the team decided giving the inconsistent forward one more shot couldn’t hurt. With the league’s highly punitive luxury-tax system kicking in after this season, the Heat has gone with reclamation projects to fill out its roster and add depth.”

Beasley, a five-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 354 NBA games (197 starts) and averaged 14.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 26.4 minutes while shooting 44.7 percent from the field. Last season, he averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 20.7 minutes of action while shooting 40.5 percent from the field with the Phoenix Suns.

Beasley, who was originally drafted by Miami in the first round (2nd overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft, appeared in 159 games (97 starts) with the HEAT and averaged 14.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 27.3 minutes while shooting 46.1 percent from the field. In his two seasons in Miami, Beasley helped guide the HEAT to two consecutive postseason berths, appearing in 12 playoff games (four starts) and averaging 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 40.9 percent from the field.

Knicks sign Toure Murry and Chris Smith

Training camp rosters around the NBA are slowly starting to fill up.

New York Knicks Executive Vice President and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed guards Toure’ Murry and Chris Smith. These are likely just non-guaranteed deals that will bring the players to training camp.

Murry, 6-5, 190-pounds, averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.20 steals over 20.8 minutes in five games for New York’s entry at the 2013 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV. He helped lead Rio Grande to the NBA D-League Championship last season, averaging 8.3 points, on 45.6-percent shooting, with 2.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.61 steals over 23.5 minutes in 46 regular season games (30 starts). He played four seasons at Wichita State University, averaging 12.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists over 29.3 minutes his senior season in 2011-12.

Smith, 6-2, 195-pounds, averaged 5.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists over 19.9 minutes in five games for New York’s entry at the 2013 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV. He originally signed with New York on Aug. 1, 2012, but was waived on Oct. 26. The Millstone, NJ native, played two seasons at the University of Louisville, averaging 9.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists over 27.5 minutes in 40 games (38 starts), and helped lead the Cardinals to the NCAA Final Four during his senior season in 2011-12. He is the younger brother of Knicks guard and reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith.

Dallas Mavericks sign Fab Melo, D.J. Kennedy and Richard McConnell

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed Fab Melo, D.J. Kennedy and Richard McConnell to expand the current roster to 17 players. We assume that the contracts are non-guaranteed and the players have merely landed spots in Mavs training camp, for now.

Melo (7-0, 255) is a former Syracuse University standout and Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He was originally the 22nd overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. He played only six games for the Celtics and spent a majority of the season assigned to the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League where was named NBA D-League All-Rookie First Team and All-Defensive First Team. On August 15, 2013, Melo was traded to Memphis in exchange for Donte Green. He was waived by Memphis on August 30.

Kennedy (6-6, 215) is a 2013 NBA D-League All-Star who helped the Rio Grande Valley Vipers win the D-League Championship in 2013. He played in two career games with Cleveland and scored a career-high 12 points for the Cavaliers in his NBA debut on April 25, 2012. The Pittsburgh native played his college ball at St. John’s University.

McConnell (6-0, 189) finished as one of the top all-around players in St. Mary’s history (2007-11). He ranks among the top 10 career leaders in 3-point field goals made (3rd) and attempted (6th), 3-point percentage (2nd), free throw percentage (5th), assists (2nd), assists average (7th), steals (tied for 6th) and games played (4th). As a senior, he was named WCC Player of the Year and honorable mention All-America by the Associated Press. Last season, he played for Tezenis VE in Italy and averaged 13.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 32 games. He was named Eurobasket.com All-Italian Lega2 Honorable Mention.

Miami Heat sign Eric Griffin and Justin Hamilton

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed forward Eric Griffin and center Justin Hamilton. We assume these are non-guaranteed deals for training camp, and neither player is assured of making the regular season Heat roster just yet.

Griffin appeared in 10 games (seven starts) for the Heat’s 2013 Summer League team and averaged 6.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.25 steals and 19.0 minutes while shooting 57.4 percent from the field. He appeared in 28 games with Fileni BPA Jesi of the Italian Lega2 last season and averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.82 steals, 1.29 blocks, 1.2 assists and 32.0 minutes while shooting 55.6 percent from the field. The Campbell University product finished with the school’s highest career field goal percentage (.559) and ranks third on the school’s all-time blocks list with 134 rejections.

Hamilton, who was drafted in the second round (45th overall) by Philadelphia in the 2012 NBA Draft, was acquired by the Heat on draft night, along with a future first round draft pick, in exchange for Arnett Moultrie (27th overall). He split last season with VEF Riga (Latvia) of the VTB United League and Cibona (Croatia) of the Adriatic League appearing in 30 total games and averaging 10.5 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 60.2 percent from the field. Additionally, Hamilton appeared in three 2012 Summer League games with the Heat totaling 27 points and 12 rebounds in 56:43 minutes of action while shooting 8-of-17 from the field and a perfect 11-of-11 from the foul line.

Pacers sign Ron Howard and Darnell Jackson

The Indiana Pacers announced Tuesday the signing of free agents Ron Howard and Darnell Jackson. We assume (but have not confirmed) that these are nonguaranteed deals for training camp, merely giving the players a chance to make the regular season roster.

Howard is a 6-5 guard/forward who played with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League last season.

Jackson is a 6-8 forward who played with the Reno Bighorns of the D-League last season. He has played with Cleveland, Milwaukee and Sacramento in the NBA.

Bulls and Luol Deng not yet able to reach extension agreement

Negotiations between the Bulls and Luol Deng’s camp surrounding a long-term contract extension have stalled, CSNChicago.com has learned.

Yahoo! Sports reported that initial discussions had been taken place between the two parties in separate late-June and early-July meetings regarding keeping the All-Star small forward in Chicago beyond this season, the final year of his current deal. But when the talks were revisited, the Bulls opted to put those plans on hold for the time being and risk the team’s longest-tenured player becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.

“We were optimistic,” the source said of the mentality Deng’s camp had heading into the late August meeting, approximately two weeks ago. “Our goal was to get an extension done this summer. If that’s not what they want to do, so be it.

“We’re not upset, Luol isn’t upset. We’re just looking forward to this season and next summer,” continued the individual, who acknowledged that Bulls management expressed how much they value the two-time All-Star, even stating their desire to see him retire in a Bulls uniform.

Reported by Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago

Dennis Rodman planning exhibition games with former NBA players in North Korea

Former Detroit Pistons Bad Boy Dennis Rodman is going back to North Korea and bringing a team of former NBA players with him.

Days after returning from his second trip to visit Kim Jong Un — in which he said he became the first foreigner to hold the leader’s newborn daughter — Rodman announced plans today to stage two exhibition games in North Korea in January.

The first will be Jan. 8 — Kim’s birthday — with another to follow two days later.

Rodman’s friendship with the autocratic leader has been criticized — and led to a couple of testy exchanges during his Manhattan news conference. But Rodman insists Kim is a good person, wants to have better relations with the United States and that he’s the one who can help make it happen with his plan for “basketball diplomacy.”

“Why North Korea? It’ll open doors,” Rodman said.

Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Shane Battier not declaring a retirement date just yet

Shane Battier isn’t sure he’s the retiring type, but considering the Miami Heat forward turned 35 Monday, he appreciates the end could be near.

Last week during a Twitter question-and-answer session, Battier was asked about his inspiration for a potential third consecutive championship. He replied, “Go out on top, if this is it.”

Monday, before a motivational appearance with the students at St. Mark’s Episcopal School, he said with his three-year contract expiring at season’s end, it only makes sense to take stock.

“I’m realistic to where I am at this point in my life,” he said, after playing most of last season as a reserve and seeing limited action for an extended stretch of the playoffs. “I’d like to finish my contract strong with the Miami Heat, and then we’ll see where we go.”

Reported by Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel

Timberwolves promote David Adelman, hire Bobby Jackson

The Minnesota Timberwolves today promoted David Adelman to assistant coach and hired Bobby Jackson as player development coach.

“David is a bright young coach and has demonstrated the past two years that he is ready to take on additional responsibilities,” said Flip Saunders, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “In Bobby Jackson, we are bringing a Minnesota basketball icon back to our state. Bobby has the respect of players around our league and did a great job working with the young Kings players this past season. Both Rick Adelman and I are very familiar with Bobby and are excited to have him on our coaching staff.”

Adelman spent the past two seasons as the Wolves’ player development coach where he was responsible for assisting in all of the team’s player development initiatives. This past summer he served as head coach of the Timberwolves Summer League entry and was co-head coach of the team in the summer of 2012.

Prior to joining the Wolves, Adelman went 83-53 in five seasons as head basketball coach at Lincoln High School in Portland, Ore. He led the Cardinals to Portland Interscholastic District Championships in the 2006-07, 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, while also reaching the Oregon Class 6A state championship final in 2009.

Prior to coaching at Lincoln, Adelman was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Jesuit High School in Portland, from 2001-06, helping the team win a state title in 2005.

Jackson returns to Minnesota after serving as assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings the past two seasons. Prior to that, Jackson worked in a regional scout/player development capacity in 2010-11 and was the team’s first-ever Ambassador in 2009-10.

Jackson finished his 12-year NBA career in 2009 after playing for six teams: Denver, (1997-98), Minnesota (1998–00), Sacramento (2001-05, 2008-09), Memphis (2005-06), New Orleans (2006-08), and Houston (2007-08). In his two seasons with the Wolves, Jackson averaged 5.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 123 games (10 starts). He won the NBA’s Sixth Man award in 2002-03 while playing for the Kings.

Jackson starred at the University of Minnesota where he led the Golden Gophers to the 1997 Final Four. During that season he averaged 15.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists, and scored 36 points in an NCAA Tournament double-overtime win against Clemson.

A Salisbury, N.C. native, Jackson and his wife, Dona, are parents of Breann (19), Kendrick (17), Skyy (13), Sarah (10), and Sebella (4).