Inside Hoops – Page 1601 – NBA Blog

Sixers may want Mike Zarren for GM job

The Sixers may have just swung a deal for Andrew Bynum, but they’re still looking for a new general manager.

Boston Celtics assistant GM Mike Zarren has emerged as a candidate for the job, a source confirms to CSNPhilly.com’s John Finger.

Zarren’s involvement was first reported by Sports Illustrated’s Sam Amick, who described Zarren as “an intriguing addition to the field of prospects; a widely-respected purveyor of advanced player statistics in the NBA who is one of the least-known yet most-influential members of the Celtics’ front office group,” and the “right-hand man of [Celtics GM] Danny Ainge.”

— Reported by CSN Philly

Suns may have shot at someday landing James Harden

News that Serge Ibaka reached agreement on a four-year contract with Oklahoma City should catch the attention of Suns fans.

The amount of the deal, $48 million, will make it trickier for the Thunder to secure James Harden, who could command a maximum contract as a restricted free agent after the 2012-13 season. That could open the door for the Suns, who have maintained $15 million in cap space for next summer’s free-agency period and who have expressed interest in Harden behind the scenes.

Much will hinge on what becomes important to Harden. No one could fault him for chasing the money if a max deal (roughly $60 million over four years) is offered. But would the appeal of sticking it out with his Thunder teammates make him willing to stay for say, $52 million?

— Reported by Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic

OKC Thunder sign Serge Ibaka to contract extension

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed forward Serge Ibaka to a multi-year extension, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. According to Yahoo Sports, the deal is for four years, $48 million.

“We are very excited that Serge will continue as a core member of the Thunder for years to come,” said Presti. “His passion for our organization, our community and for continuing to build on the foundation that he and his teammates have established was pivotal to making this possible. Serge personifies many of the traits that we value as an organization; he is a tireless and disciplined worker, an elite competitor and someone who treats his profession with the utmost focus, which in addition to his character, will all be integral to his continued improvement.”

In three seasons with Oklahoma City, Ibaka has appeared in 221 games (110 starts) and registered averages of 8.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.43 blocks in 24.1 minutes per contest. During the past two seasons, the forward has blocked 439 shots which are the most in the NBA during that period.

Last season, Ibaka was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team after pacing the league in blocks (3.65 bpg). He blocked 10-or-more shots three times and became the first player in franchise history to record a triple-double which included blocked shots after recording 14 points, 15 rebounds and 11 blocks vs. Denver (2/19).

Originally selected with the 24th overall selection of the 2008 NBA Draft, the Thunder has qualified for the postseason in each of his three seasons in Oklahoma City. The Brazzaville, Republic of Congo native has recorded averages of 9.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.86 blocks and 28.2 minutes in 43 postseason contests.

This summer, Ibaka earned a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Games in London. He helped guide the Spanish national team to a 5-3 record while averaging 8.0 points, 4.4. rebounds and 1.25 blocks in 15.1 minutes per game.

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Wade says best is yet to come for LeBron

All LeBron James has done so far this year is win the NBA’s MVP award for the third time, an NBA Finals MVP trophy to go along with that one, his elusive first championship and a second Olympic gold medal.

Dwyane Wade thinks his Miami Heat teammate is just getting started.

With the start of Heat training camp now just six weeks away, Wade said on Friday that he expects James to be even better this coming season now that the will-he-ever-win-a-championship question has been forever put to rest.

“That monkey is off his back and now he’s just playing basketball,” Wade said while taking a break from his annual fantasy camp, where fans pay up to $12,500 to get a four-day luxury taste of NBA life. “I think we’ll see a better LeBron James – scary to say, three-time MVP – than we’ve seen. And it’s because all he has to do is play basketball now. He doesn’t have to worry about what he hasn’t done. It’ll always be something, but he’s got the biggest one off his back.”

— Reported by the Associated Press

Trail Blazers hire Jay Triano, David Vanterpool, Kim Hughes as assistant coaches

Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Terry Stotts has added Jay Triano, David Vanterpool and Kim Hughes to his coaching staff, the team announced today.

“Jay, David and Kim bring a wealth of experience as coaches, players and front office personnel,” said Stotts. “I have always had a lot of respect for their basketball knowledge and they will be very valuable additions to our staff.”

Triano, 53, joins the Trail Blazers from the Toronto Raptors, where he most recently held the position of Vice President of Pro Scouting after serving as the team’s head coach from 2008-11 (87-142, .380). The first Canadian born head coach in the NBA, Triano was previously an assistant in Toronto from 2002-08.

A native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Triano served as the head coach for the Canadian men’s national team from 1998-2004 (52-42, .553) and later as an assistant for USA Basketball. A former captain of Team Canada who played collegiately at Simon Fraser University, Triano competed in three Olympics for his home country.

Vanterpool, 39, joins the Trail Blazers bench after spending the past two seasons as a pro scout with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played for European power CSKA Moscow from 2005-07, winning a Euroleague title there before becoming an assistant coach with the club upon retirement. Vanterpool was also a member of the Trail Blazers’ 2010 NBA Summer League coaching staff.

Appearing in 22 games for the Washington Wizards in 2000-01, Vanterpool played collegiately at St. Bonaventure.

An assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers for seven seasons (2003-10), Hughes, 60, finished the final 33 games of the 2009-10 season as interim head coach. He spent the previous five seasons with the Denver Nuggets, where he served as director of scouting, director of player personnel and assistant coach. The Freeport, Ill., native and Wisconsin alum was also a scout for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Hughes is a six-year veteran of the ABA and NBA, playing for the New York/New Jersey Nets, Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers before finishing his career in Italy.

Triano, Vanterpool and Hughes join Kaleb Canales as assistants on Stotts’ staff.

Info on upcoming Andrew Bynum knee treatment

Info on knee treatment Andrew Bynum will have

While 76ers center Andrew Bynum has chosen to have the creator of the noninvasive, nonsurgical procedure administer the injections to his knees that he hopes will extend his career next month in Dusseldorf, Germany, the procedure – known as regenokine treatment – has been administered in the United States for almost a decade.

“Regenokine is the most effective treatment for joint problems caused by osteoarthritis,” said Chris Renna, a specialist in preventative medicine. “It is corroborated by independent studies published in 2003 in the Journal of Osteoarthritis and Orthopedics.”

The treatment was first cleared for widespread use in Germany in 2003. More recently, medical boards in the United States have cleared the procedure in states such as California, Texas, and New York, among others.

— Reported by John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Andre Iguodala open to ending career in Denver

The team held an introductory news conference Thursday for the former 76er acquired by Denver this month. The 28-year-old Iguodala is under contract for 2012-13 (around $14.7 million) and has a player option for 2013-14. But both he and Denver executive Masai Ujiri said they want to negotiate a long-term contract in the coming season, in efforts to lock down the shooting guard like he locks down helpless ball-handlers.

“We are definitely looking ahead, looking to see how we can go forward so this isn’t a quick stop for me,” said the 6-foot-6 Iguodala, who averages 15.3 points per game, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists for his career. “Knowing that this is a great organization, I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from a lot of different guys, former players, current players, even other trainers about the organization, (telling me) this would be a great place for me to have some great years — and possibly ending my career here.”

— Reported by Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post

Charles Oakley says Knicks must define their roles

Former Knick Charles Oakley says that Carmelo and Co. need to understand where they fit in on the team if they have any hopes of winning a championship this season.

“I think it’s all about how you view your team and everybody knowing what their roles are,” Oakley told The Post. “You look at Miami, the first year together, they made the Finals, but the second year they won it. They had a better understanding of their roles together. I think that’s what the Knicks need to do and players need to understand if they’re the first option, second option or third option. When a team is paying you $100 million you shouldn’t be arguing over who is first.” …

“It’s up to Coach [Woodson] to decide how he wants to coach the offense,” Oakley said while promoting Moore Training resistance bands. “I think the problem with the Knicks is that their best two guys don’t make the people around them better. You see it with the Miami’s, the Oklahoma City’s, the Bulls, their top guys make others better. If that’s the case, I’m going to make sure that my top two guys have the ball at all times.”

— Reported by Anthony Sulla-Heffinger of the New York Post

Iman Shumpert rehab progressing on schedule

Knicks guard Iman Shumpert is biding his time until he can get back into a regular workout routine.

The second-year pro, who tore the ACL in his left knee in Game 1 of the Knicks’ first-round playoff series against the Heat in April, admitted it’s “frustrating” watching other players work out…

Eight months was the original timetable, according to Shumpert, and he said he’s taking the proper time to make sure he stays on his rehab schedule.

“It’s getting better . . . Everything’s been good so far,” Shumpert said. “I haven’t had any bad days. I’m happy about that. I’ll be going to a MRI soon and see if we can pick up the intensity of my rehab.”

— Reported by Marcus Henry of New York Newsday

Miami Heat draft pick Justin Hamilton to play in Europe

As predicted by Pat Riley, Heat draft pick Justin Hamilton will soon be stashed away in Europe.

It sounds better than being banished.

Riley mentioned “stashing” Hamilton in Europe after the draft and on Wednesday the second-round pick signed to play in Croatia with Cibonia Zagreb of the Adriatic League. A 7-foot center, Hamilton started two games for the Heat’s summer league team in Las Vegas after being drafted with the 45th pick of the second round. He was expected to make the team.

— Reported by Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald