Inside Hoops – Page 1372 – NBA Blog

Rasheed Wallace retires from basketball

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced forward/center Rasheed Wallace has retired from playing professional basketball.

“Rasheed has given this team everything he had,” Head Coach Mike Woodson said. “He is a winner, true professional and leader on and off the court. Due to his injury, he will not be available to play for us during the playoffs. We owe this season’s success to veterans like Rasheed.”

According to the Associated Press, “Wallace ended a two-year retirement this season to join the Knicks and was a key player off the bench during their strong start. But he hadn’t played since December before returning Monday against Charlotte, but he exited after 4 minutes because of continued soreness.”

Wallace, 6-11, 245-pounds, averaged 7.0 points, on 38.7-percent shooting, and 4.0 rebounds over 14.1 minutes in 21 games this season. In his 15th NBA season Wallace missed 60 games due to an injured left foot. On Feb. 27, new X-rays showed progression to a fractured left fifth metatarsal and he had surgery on Feb. 28.

“Both teams played hard.”

“Ball don’t lie.”

And so goes Sheed.

With the NBA regular season ending tonight, the Knicks, who clinched the No. 2 seed in the Eastern conference, may soon add another veteran to aid them in the playoffs, which begin Saturday, April 20.

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LeBron James misses Heat practice due to personal matter

LeBron James was not with the Miami Heat for their final regular-season shootaround on Wednesday morning. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the league’s reigning MVP was tending to a personal matter.

James was not expected to play Wednesday against the Orlando Magic. He has spent part of the past couple weeks dealing with a right hamstring strain.

The Heat have home-court advantage for as long as they remain in this season’s NBA playoffs.

— Reported by the Associated Press

James McAdoo not entering 2013 NBA Draft

Sophomore forward James Michael McAdoo will return to the University of North Carolina for his junior season in 2013-14. McAdoo earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after leading the Tar Heels in rebounding and steals and finishing second in scoring in 2012-13.

The Norfolk, Va., native averaged 14.4 points and 7.3 rebounds and made 54 steals in leading UNC to a 25-11 record and the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

“Coach (Williams) and I have been talking about this since the end of the season and today my parents joined Coach and me in those discussions,” says McAdoo. “I have decided to stay in school at North Carolina and play another season for the Tar Heels.

“I love this school and my teammates and I love being a North Carolina basketball player. There will certainly be a time when I want to play in the NBA, but right now I truly enjoy college life and I want to continue doing that for another season.”

McAdoo scored in double figures a team-high 32 times, posted nine double-doubles and scored 20 or more points five times. He was fourth in the ACC in steals, ninth in rebounding and 12th in scoring. He has averaged 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds in 74 games as a Tar Heel.

“I am ecstatic about having the opportunity to coach James Michael for another season,” says Roy Williams. “He’s an incredible young man who did some really nice things this year. He’s going to be an even better player in the future. Coaching young people like James Michael is what makes me enjoy coaching so much.

“James Michael’s decision says a lot about the University of North Carolina and his teammates. He truly enjoys the entire collegiate experience. It’s the reason he came to this decision.”

Last week, rising junior guard P.J. Hairston said he was returning next year. Earlier today, junior forward Reggie Bullock announced that he was entering his name into the 2013 NBA Draft.

“I’m certainly looking forward to coaching P.J. and James Michael again,” says Williams. “They have grown a lot as young men in their first two years at Carolina and I expect them to be fantastic leaders for us next season.”

— Via North Carolina Men’s Basketball

Marcus Smart not entering 2013 NBA Draft

Marcus Smart’s decision: making memories over making money.

At least for one more year.

Oklahoma State has called a press conference for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Student Union in Stillwater where Smart will announce he’s returning for a sophomore season with the Cowboys, a source with knowledge of the situation told The Oklahoman.

The Big 12 Player of the Year and the national Freshman of the Year as the winner of the Wayman Tisdale Award, Smart’s return establishes OSU as a Big 12 favorite and a national contender.

Markel Brown and LeBryan Nash also are expected to announce they are returning next season.

— Reported by John Helsley of the Oklahoman

San Antonio Spurs sign Tracy McGrady

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed forward Tracy McGrady.

T-Mac is playoff-eligible for the 58-23 Spurs, who have the second best record in the Western conference.

In 938 career NBA games, McGrady has averaged 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.21 steals in 32.7 minutes. The 6-8, 225-pound forward has suited up in 44 career playoffs games, averaging 25.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.16 steals in 38.5 minutes.

McGrady was named All-NBA First Team in 2002 and 2003, All-NBA Second Team in 2001, 2004 and 2007, and All-NBA Third Team in 2005 and 2008. He led the NBA in scoring in 2002-03 after averaging a career-high 32.1 points and again in 2003-04 with 28.0 ppg.

The seven-time NBA All-Star was drafted by the Toronto Raptors with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft. He has also suited up for the Orlando Magic (2000-04), Houston Rockets (2004-10), New York Knicks (2010), Detroit Pistons (2010-11) and the Atlanta Hawks (2011-12).

The 33-year old spent the 2012-13 season playing for Qingdao of the Chinese Basketball League. In 29 games he averaged 25.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.55 steals in 31.6 minutes.

McGrady will wear No. 1 for the Spurs.

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Kyrie Irving apologizes for skipping fan event

Cavaliers All-Star guard Kyrie Irving apologized for skipping a postgame ceremony for fans following Cleveland’s final home game on Monday against Miami.

Irving was stripped of the ball by Norris Cole in the closing seconds of the 96-95 loss to the Heat, who rested LeBron James and most of their stars. Irving immediately ran off the floor and to the locker room instead of participating in a jersey giveaway on ”Fan Appreciation Night.” All the Cavs players handed out their game-worn jerseys and sneakers.

Irving, the league’s reigning Rookie of the Year, posted an apology on his Twitter account for missing the event.

”I want to personally apologize to all the Cavs fans for my actions yesterday,” Irving wrote. ”It was truly unfair to you guys. I’m very appreciative for all of you guys. Your love and passion for the organization and city is what pushes me to be great.”

— Reported by Tom Withers of the Associated Press

Tony Mitchell named 2013 D-League Rookie of Year

Fort Wayne Mad Ants rookie Tony Mitchell today was named the 2013 NBA Development League Rookie of the year as voted on by the League’s 16 head coaches. The award recognizes a first-year professional who most significantly contributed to his team’s success during the course of the season.

Mitchell (6-6, 216, Alabama) played in 48 regular season games, 45 as a starter, for the Mad Ants, averaging a team-high 21.9 points to go with 6.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 35.3 minutes while shooting 42 percent from the floor and 32 percent from behind the three-point line. His 21.9 points per game was good for second in the NBA D-League.

He led the team in scoring 21 times and was the leading rebounder in five contests. A 2013 NBA D-League All-Star, Mitchell was the only player in the NBA D-League to record two 40-plus point games during the regular season when he scored 47 against the Austin Toros on March 22 and 49 against the Sioux Falls Skyforce on April 5.

“Tony is a talented player and he had a standout first season in Fort Wayne,” said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League. “His impressive ability to score, as well as his selection to the 2013 NBA D-League All-Star Game, solidified his position as a top young prospect in our league. I congratulate him on a terrific start to his professional career and look forward to watching him to continue to develop into an NBA-caliber player.”

A two-time NBA D-League Performer of the Week selection and March’s NBA D-League Co-Player of the Month, Mitchell helped the Mad Ants to the team’s first postseason appearance, where he played in two games, averaging 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 39.5 minutes before the team fell to the Santa Cruz Warriors.

Knicks bring back Quentin Richardson

The playoff-bound New York Knicks have brought a familiar face back onto the squad.

Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed guard/forward Quentin Richardson for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs.

Richardson, 6-6, 220-pounds, holds career averages of 10.3 points, on 39.8-percent shooting from the field and 35.5-percent shooting from three-point range, with 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists over 26.5 minutes in 782 games (486 starts) over 12 seasons with the L.A. Clippers, Phoenix, New York, Miami and Orlando. He has appeared in 31 postseason games (21 starts), averaging 8.5 points and 4.3 rebounds over 28.5 minutes.

The Chicago, IL-native, last played in the NBA for Orlando during the 2011-12 season, averaging 4.5 points and 2.6 rebounds over 18 minutes in 48 games (three starts). He returns to New York after spending four seasons with the Knicks (2005-09), averaging 9.7 points and 5.0 rebounds over 28.2 minutes in 241 games (206 starts).

The Knicks, who clinched the No. 2 seed in the Eastern conference, have suffered multiple injuries recently, but expect to have some healthy big bodies back for the playoffs. Q-Rich adds depth at the wing spot.

The team recently waived Kurt Thomas, signed and then waived Solomon Jones, before signing Richardson.

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Shabazz Muhammad declares for 2013 NBA Draft

UCLA men’s basketball freshman Shabazz Muhammad has elected to forego his remaining collegiate eligibility and enter the 2013 NBA Draft. He is projected as a lottery pick by InsideHoops.com.

Muhammad led the Bruins with 17.9 points per game as a freshman in 2012-13, securing first-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors in addition to being named Pac-12 Co-Freshman of the Year. The 6-foot-6 guard/forward from Las Vegas helped lead UCLA to a 25-10 record, the Pac-12 regular-season title, a runner-up finish in the Pac-12 Tournament and an NCAA Tournament berth.

“I am so thankful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at UCLA and will always be proud to be a Bruin,” Muhammad said. “From a young age, I have dreamed of playing in the NBA, and I believe that this is the right time for me to move to the next level.

“I have had an unbelievable experience at UCLA and am eternally grateful to my teammates, my coaches and the program’s support staff for helping me become a better person and basketball player during my time in Westwood. It has been an honor and a privilege to play for coach Ben Howland.”

Muhammad had a decorated freshman campaign, scoring in double figures in 31 of 32 games. He scored at least 20 points in 14 games, guiding UCLA to a 12-2 record in those contests. He was one of eight finalists for the Freshman of the Year Award presented by the U.S. Basketball Writers’ Association (Integris Wayman Tisdale Award) and secured USBWA Freshman All-America honors in addition to being named a first-team NABC All-District 20 selection.

On the court, Muhammad emerged as one of the Pac-12’s most talented three-point shooters, finishing the season ranked 12th in the conference in three-point field goal percentage and fourth in scoring (17.9 ppg). Muhammad and Travis Wear tied for second on the team in rebounds per game (5.2 rpg).

The 2013 NBA Draft will begin at 4 p.m. (PT) on June 27 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

— Via UCLA Bruins

Bulls playoff opponent still undecided

By beating Orlando on Monday, the Bulls ensured their first-round playoff opponent will remain a mystery until Wednesday night.

The Bulls are a half-game behind Atlanta for fifth place in the Eastern Conference, but won the season series 2-1 and therefore own the tiebreaker against the Hawks.

Atlanta hosts Toronto on Tuesday night. As the Bulls discovered twice last week, the Raptors seem intent on finishing the season strong, so a Hawks win may not be a foregone conclusion.

An Atlanta loss to Toronto would put the Bulls in the driver’s seat. They could claim the No. 5 spot by beating Washington, regardless of what the Hawks do in their final game at New York on Wednesday.

— Reported by Mike McGraw of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald (Blog)