Inside Hoops – Page 1279 – NBA Blog

Bobcats to re-sign Jannero Pargo; Anthony Tolliver could be next

The Charlotte Bobcats are bringing back Jannero Pargo to serve as their third point guard and could soon add forward Anthony Tolliver.

Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins told the Observer the team has come to terms with Pargo and has offered Tolliver a one-year, veteran-minimum contract.

Pargo was with the Bobcats their last 17 games last season, filling in after backup point guard Ramon Sessions suffered a season-ending knee sprain. A nine-season NBA veteran, Pargo averaged 8.6 points, 1.9 assists and just over 16 minutes. He was particularly helpful as a 3-point shooter, making 38 percent of his attempts for a team that was 27th among 30 teams in that statistic.

Reported by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer (Blog)

Kings owners ask city to possibly use eminent domain threat in arena site talks

After months of negotiations, the new Sacramento Kings ownership group has been unable to close the deal on buying the remaining parcel at Downtown Plaza seen as vital to the development of a new arena.

Now, to remain on track to open the facility by 2016, the team is asking City Hall to assist in the talks and provide its threat of eminent domain as a potential negotiating tactic.

Kings officials said Thursday that they anticipated seeking the city’s help in negotiating a purchase of the building that houses a Macy’s men’s clothing and furniture store from a New York-based real estate firm that took control of the property in foreclosure last year. Under an agreement scheduled for a vote before the City Council on Tuesday, the Kings would reimburse the city for all costs incurred in the process.

Macy’s, which is the building’s tenant, said Thursday it plans to vacate the property this fall and move the men’s and furniture operations to the women’s store at the other end of the mall.

Reported by Ryan Lillis and Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee

Paul Pierce dislikes the Knicks even more now

If you think Paul Pierce had no use for the Knicks when he played in Boston, just wait till he puts on his Brooklyn Nets uniform.

Actually, Pierce admitted in his media tour of New York on Thursday that he’s already working up a fresh dose of hate for Carmelo Anthony and Co., well in advance of their first meeting of the season, on Dec. 5 in Brooklyn.

“My dislike for the Knicks is more now because it’s right across the river,” Pierce said during an interview on the Michael Kay Show on ESPN Radio. “The rivalry is going to go to a new level.”

Just to make sure the Knicks heard him, Pierce added, “It’s time for the Nets to start running this city.”

Reported by Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News

Paul Pierce hopes to create new legacy for Nets

The franchise, basically forgotten by the NBA during its final few seasons in New Jersey, suddenly has become a force — something new Net Paul Pierce, is still trying to come to grips with.

“You’re definitely surprised, because since I’ve been in the NBA, when you’ve looked at the Nets, you always looked at them as bottom-dwellers,” Pierce said Thursday. “They have only put a couple of winning teams out in the last 10-15 years since I’ve been in the league, [and] nobody really respected them.

“Now they’ve got new owners, now they’ve got a new building, now they’ve got a new attitude. … You can definitely see a change in what’s going on, and I can see this organization really rising to the ranks of the respectability of the Lakers, of the Knicks, of the Celtics. That’s what they’re trying to build, but in order to do that you have to have the players, you have to have great management and you have to have great owners, and that’s what I see in place here in Brooklyn.”

Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post

Larry Sanders hopes for Bucks extension

Larry Sanders hopes stay with Milwaukee Bucks

Bucks center Larry Sanders is eligible to sign a contract extension before Oct. 31 and there were indications Thursday that the process is moving along.

Sanders sent out two tweets hinting at the talks. The first said: “Well let’s get it done then! #Buck4Life

And the second followed: “I love the city of Milwaukee and I will stay as long as you’ll have me.”

Sanders is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie-scale contract and will be paid about $3 million next season. He is eligible to sign a four-year extension that would run through the 2017-’18 season.

Reported by Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Blog)

New York Knicks sign Beno Udrih

New York Knicks Executive Vice President and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed guard Beno Udrih. According to New York Newsday, the contract is a one-year deal worth the $1.272 million league minimum.

“Beno is a solid addition to our backcourt where he will give us more depth and flexibility,” Grunwald said. “He is a talented and experienced floor general who brings championship experience to our locker room.”

According to the New York Post, “the 6-foot-3 Slovenian point guard signed with the Knicks for less money, agreeing to his veterans minimum of $1.27 million as the Knicks put a solid capper to their summer maneuverings. They were desperate for a third point guard because they like to pair Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni together in the backcourt. After seasons with the Kings, Bucks and Magic, Udrih wanted to win again. His agent, Marc Cornstein, said Udrih had “many offers,’’ including at least one for more than the minimum.”

Udrih, 6-3, 205-pounds, holds career averages of 9.1 points, on 46.2-percent shooting, 3.6 assists and 2.2 rebounds over 23.5 minutes in 628 games (243 starts) over nine seasons with San Antonio, Sacramento, Milwaukee and Orlando. The two-time NBA champion (with the Spurs – 2005, 2007), recorded 8.2 points, 4.6 assists, 2.1 rebounds and a 2.80 assists-per-turnover ratio (13th best in NBA) over 66 games (nine starts) with the Bucks and Magic last season.

The native of Slovenia was selected by San Antonio in the first round (28th overall) of 2004 NBA Draft. Prior to the NBA, he played internationally in Slovenia (1998-2002), Israel (2002-03), Italy (2003-04) and Russia (2003-04).

J.R. Smith says the Knicks are still the marquee team in New York

J.R. Smith isn’t too worried about his knee, but he might be a bit concerned about the Nets.

The Knicks shooting guard addressed the media at a charity golf tournament in Lakewood, NJ on Thursday, seeming pleased with his progress since his knee surgery and eager to get back on the court, especially after Brooklyn’s offseason push to win the battle for New York.

“It’s an unbelievable move for J Kidd to have a team like that to start off with in his first year. I think they’ve got a great chance to compete for a title, but I think we’re still the marquee team in New York,” Smith said. “A lot of people are counting us out just like they did last year. We’ve got a lot to prove. I think we’re going to come out with a lot of edge and hopefully put it to positive use on the court.”

Reported by Stephen Lorenzo of the New York Daily News

Some Wizards salary and roster notes

The Wizards already have close to $70 million committed to 14 players and would only be able to sign a player on a minimum salary to stay below the luxury tax line. Owner Ted Leonsis said he is “willing to spend” but would probably want to have a contending team before making the Wizards a tax-paying team for the first time in franchise history — especially with the organization still on the hook for about $7 million to Andray Blatche.

If they look to make trades, Ariza and Okafor are both in the final year of their respective deals and Chris Singleton and/or Jan Vesely could also become expiring contracts if the Wizards decline the fourth-year option on either player. Ariza already believes the Wizards have had an eventful summer after closing out the season by winning 24 of their final 49 games.

Reported by Michael Lee of the Washington Post (Blog)

LeBron James reports for jury duty

LeBron James plays the part of superhero on a basketball court, seemingly from October through June.

But he is a regular human being in the offseason, as those in an Akron, Ohio, courthouse were reminded Thursday morning when the Heat star forward reported for jury duty — just like everybody else has to.

“Jury duty time. Time to serve my civic duty” James tweeted.

Reported by the Miami Herald

James drew a buzz at the county courthouse in downtown Akron but was not seated on a jury for trial and left the building at 10:30 a.m., according to the Akron Beacon Journal.

He has been spending time in his hometown and working out for the past several weeks since returning from a promotional tour to the Philippines and China. This weekend James is hosting several charity events in the city.

Reported by Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com

Brooklyn Nets are spending big money to compete in 2013-14

During negotiations to create its current collective bargaining agreement, the NBA did its best to limit the amount of money its teams would be able and willing to spend on their rosters by implementing a much more punitive luxury tax system, one that officially goes into effect this season.

But that more punitive system wasn’t enough to prevent the Nets from shelling out millions of billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov’s personal fortune this offseason.

Between completing their blockbuster draft night trade with the Celtics, re-signing Andray Blatche and signing Andrei Kirilenko, Shaun Livingston and Alan Anderson, the Nets sent their payroll soaring to more than $100 million for the coming season, which means they’ve also committed to paying a massive luxury tax bill of roughly $87 million next year.

“I would say it’s no secret that we went into collective bargaining seeking a hard cap,” NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver — one of the main architects of the current CBA and who will replace David Stern as commissioner when Stern steps down Feb. 1 — told The Post Wednesday after speaking at the league’s Rookie Transition Program in Florham Park.

Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post