Inside Hoops – Page 1281 – NBA Blog

Heat draft pick James Ennis likely to play overseas this season

Miami Heat 2013 second-round NBA Draft pick James Ennis likely will spend the coming season overseas, with the Heat maintaining his draft rights, agent Scott Nichols on Monday told the Sun Sentinel.

Nichols cited the Heat’s glut of veteran wings, the team’s position hard against the NBA luxury tax and the Heat’s number of expiring contracts after the coming season as reasons why a 2014-15 NBA debut with the team might make more sense for the swingman out of Long Beach State who was acquired in a draft-night trade with the Atlanta Hawks.

“It comes down to a numbers game and a tax game,” Nichols said, with a decision on his client’s 2013-14 playing status expected to be finalized later this week.

Reported by Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Sacramento Kings ask fans and businesses for opinions on new arena

Stepping up efforts to design and market a downtown arena, the Sacramento Kings have emailed an online survey to some 60,000 residents and businesses asking for opinions – and testing the waters for potential upscale ticket buyers.

Team President Chris Granger said the team and city officials have not yet decided on basic arena elements, such as how many seats it will have, and is looking for clues from the public.

“I want to hear what other people think about the venue,” Granger said about the survey and other upcoming community outreach efforts.

Initial estimates had put seating at 18,500, which is 1,200 more than at the current Sleep Train Arena in Natomas. Granger recently said that number may be too high. He said the facility has to have enough seats to attract most major concerts but should be intimate enough to boost crowd noise and excitement at Kings games.

Reported by Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee

Gerald Henderson happy that Bobcats got help down low

Henderson, who averaged a career-high 15.5 points per game last season, is particularly excited about the addition of big men Al Jefferson and Cody Zeller, who he said will not only help the team, but should also free up open looks for him and the team’s other guards.

“I think with more attention on guys down low it frees up the perimeter a bunch,” Henderson said. “Any team with a good big man, you will see the guards get more freedom and have more open shots. With Al, teams are going to have to double team him so you have more chances for open shots.”

Henderson is eager to cash in.

He improved his 3-point shooting from 23.4 percent in 2011-12 to 33 percent last year, giving the Bobcats hope that he can develop into a legitimate shooting guard.

Reported by the Associated Press

In interview, Mark Madsen describes Kobe Bryant as a great leader

New Los Angeles Lakers player development coach Mark Madsen speaks with Lakers.com

Mike Trudell: How do you reflect back on your time with Bryant?

Mark Madsen: I’m grateful to have had Kobe as a teammate, because he helped me grow. There were times when he put his arm around me after a tough loss, and other times where he pushed me to be the best I could be. I think he has a nice combination of knowing when to pat somebody on the back, and when to get after somebody. I was a better player because of Kobe. His talent speaks for itself as one of the best to ever play basketball, but I think his leadership is extremely strong. You don’t win the five championships he’s won without being a great leader. He leads vocally and by example. You’re going to find very few players out there as great as Kobe is who also study film, who study opponents, who study other team’s sets. When he’s on the court, he has scripted ways he can take advantage of other team’s sets.

MT: Kobe has taken some criticism for how he was with his teammates particularly early in his career, when you played with him, but what you just said implies you didn’t see it that way?

Madsen: No matter who you are when you’re at the top of your profession like Kobe is and has been, there are going to be people who will put forth their opinions about you. But as a teammate, I’m grateful for Kobe’s influence on my game and how he helped me. He really helped me a lot on and off the court.

MT: A dedicated, hard worker is a teammate he’ll always like. Now, if a player isn’t willing to give it his all…

Madsen: Kobe has a goal to win an NBA championship every year. One thing I like about Kobe is that’s not an individual goal — that’s a team goal towards which he puts forward his best, and expects everyone on the team, coaching staff and in the organization to give their best.

Reported by Mike Trudell of Lakers.com

Blazers guard Terrel Harris suspended 5 games for drug violation

The NBA announced today that Terrel Harris of the Portland Trail Blazers has been suspended without pay for five games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.

Harris’ suspension will begin with the first game of the next NBA regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.

According to the Associated Press, “Harris was acquired by the Blazers from the Pelicans in July as part of a three-way trade that brought Robin Lopez to Portland and sent guard Tyreke Evans went to the Pelicans and guard Greivis Vasquez to the Kings. Harris, a three-year veteran, has played for Miami and New Orleans, averaging 2.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 42 games.”

Interviews for 76ers coaching job continue

Like the waves crashing on the beach down the shore, the 76ers’ coaching searching appears endless. It was April 18 when Doug Collins announced he wouldn’t be coming back for his fourth season, and since then, there have been rumors and reports and speculation as to who may become the team’s eighth head coach in the past 11 seasons.

Yesterday, a report by Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski said the Sixers would bring back assistant coaches Kenny Atkinson (Atlanta), Brett Brown (San Antonio), Adrian Griffin (Chicago) and Jay Larranaga (Boston) for second interviews. The report also said Portland assistant David Vanderpool might get a second sit-down.

Reported by Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News

Rajon Rondo trade rumors may linger

Rajon Rondo trade rumors may have long shelf life

As Rajon Rondo continues to rehab from a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in late January, trade speculation involving the All-Star point guard will continue to have a life — possibly up to the trade deadline next year.

The Celtics are rebuilding after the departures of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry. Coach Doc Rivers left to coach the Los Angeles Clippers.

Rondo’s future in Boston depends on his health and relationship with rookie coach Brad Stevens.

The former Butler coach hoped to build a bond with Rondo to keep his interest in the organization. However, there will be many suitors for Rondo, who averaged 13.7 points, 11.1 assists and 1.8 steals, if he wants out. The Pistons could be one of the teams interested in acquiring him even after acquiring Brandon Jennings.

Reported by Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press

Kobe Bryant ahead of schedule in recovery

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant said he is way ahead of schedule in recovering from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon.

The scheduled time timetable for recovery is typically six to nine months. Bryant, who was injured in April against the Golden State Warriors, suggested that he could be ready in time for training camp in September.

“The surgical procedure was different … and because of that the recovery has been different,” Bryant said while recently on tour in China, according to NBA.com. “The normal timetable for recovery from an Achilles, we’ve shattered that.”

Reported by the Sports Xchange

Former NBA player Chris Gatling pleads guilty to theft, forgery

A former NBA All-Star accused of squatting at a Paradise Valley home and then trying to list the house for rent on Craigslist has pleaded guilty to theft and forgery charges.

Chris Gatling entered the guilty pleas to one count of theft and one count of forgery on Thursday in Maricopa County Superior Court.

His sentencing is set for Oct. 4.

Gatling was accused of breaking in the key box at the home and living there for about a year.

Reported by the Associated Press

Note from InsideHoops.com: Gatling did make an All-Star team, but was generally a supporting-cast talent, and not an All-Star level player.

Detroit Pistons sign second round draft pick Peyton Siva

Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the club has signed draft selection Peyton Siva to a contract.

Siva was drafted by Detroit with the 56th pick in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 10.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists as a senior last season while leading the University of Louisville to the NCAA Championship. He scored in double figures in 23-of-40 games last year, including 18 points and five assists in the championship game. A native of Seattle, Wa., Siva was named to the All-Big East Third team and the Final Four All-Tournament Team as a senior. He finished his collegiate career as Louisville’s second all-time assist leader with 677 assists.

According to the Detroit Free Press, “A roster spot opened for Siva when the Pistons traded Brandon Knight, Slava Kravtsov and Khris Middleton for Brandon Jennings last month. The Pistons already signed their other draft picks, guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and forward Tony Mitchell.”