Inside Hoops – Page 1642 – NBA Blog

OKC Thunder sign coach Scott Brooks to multi-year contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed Head Coach Scott Brooks to a multi-year contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager, Sam Presti. We’ll post details of the contract in this spot on this page later today.

This past season, Brooks guided the Thunder to a second consecutive Northwest Division title and a trip to the NBA Finals. Under Brooks, the Thunder has claimed the second most victories (152) in the NBA during the past three seasons.

“Continuing with Scott as our head coach is extremely significant for the future of our organization,” said Presti. “As we have continually communicated, he has been integral to our success and we have a deep appreciation for his tireless dedication to our players’ development. His experiences and core values are invaluable to our players as they continue to grow and improve and we are thrilled to continue our partnership.”

Oklahoma City has qualified for the postseason in each of the last three seasons and since taking over as Thunder Head Coach on November 22, 2009, Oklahoma City registered a mark of 174-125 (.582).

“I would like to thank Clay Bennett and Sam Presti for the opportunity to continue with the Thunder,” said Brooks. “Oklahoma City is a special place and I’m eager to build upon the foundation and culture of this franchise for years to come.”

After guiding the Thunder to the best record in the Western Conference at the midway point of this past season, Brooks and his staff represented the Thunder by coaching the Western Conference All-Stars in Orlando. Led by Brooks, the Western Conference All-Stars captured a 152-149 victory over the Eastern Conference.

Brooks, the 16th head coach in franchise history, received the 2009-10 Red Auerbach NBA Coach of the Year award after his second season on the Thunder sideline. During his first full year at the helm of the Thunder, Brooks oversaw one of the biggest turnarounds in NBA history. A year after winning 23 games, the Thunder concluded the 2009-10 season with a record of 50-32 (.610). The 27-win improvement was tied for the eighth largest in NBA history.

Brooks enjoyed an 11-year (1988-99) playing career in the NBA, appearing in 680 regular season games with Philadelphia, Minnesota, Houston, Dallas, New York, Cleveland and the Los Angeles Clippers. Brooks’ teams advanced to the postseason six of his 11 NBA seasons, and in 1994, he was a member of the NBA Champion Houston Rockets. Brooks holds career averages of 4.9 points and 2.4 assists per game.

A native of Lathrop, California, Brooks began his collegiate career at Texas Christian University, where he played one season. He then transferred to San Joaquin Delta College for his sophomore season, before spending his final two years at UC Irvine, where he averaged 23.8 points per game as a senior.

Cavaliers waive guard Manny Harris

The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived guard Manny Harris, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Harris, 22, averaged 6.7 points on .400 shooting, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17.5 minutes per game in 26 games (five starts) during the 2011-12 season and has career averages of 6.2 points on .383 shooting, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 17.3 minutes per game in 80 games (20 starts).

Darius Morris signs qualifying offer from Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers guard Darius Morris, who was tendered a qualifying offer from the team on June 29, signed the qualifying offer today.

Morris, who was selected by the Lakers with the 41st pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, averaged 2.4 points, 0.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19 games last season.

He recorded a career high 9 points, career high 5 assists and career high-tying 3 rebounds on April 26 at Sacramento.

Sixers reach agreement with Lavoy Allen

The 76ers reached agreement in principle on a two-year, $6 million contract extension with Lavoy Allen on Sunday, the first day of free agency, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

The deal cannot be officially signed until the moratorium on signings is lifted on July 11.

Allen, a 23-year-old forward-center from Temple, was the 50th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft.

— Reported by John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Pistons will sign Ukranian center Vyacheslav Kravtsov

The Detroit Pistons have struck a verbal agreement to sign Ukranian center Vyacheslav Kravtsov to a multiyear deal, according to his agent.

“Vyacheslav intends to sign a player contract with the Pistons when the moratorium period ends,” Kravtsov’s representative, Jeff Schwartz, said Sunday night.

Pistons president Joe Dumars confirmed the negotiations in a statement Monday.

“We are engaged in negotiations with Vyacheslav Kravtsov and will enter into a player contract when the moratorium period ends,” he said in the statement.

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

Michael Jordan’s son Marcus arrested

Omaha police arrested the youngest son of NBA legend Michael Jordan early Sunday after being called to the Embassy Suites in the Old Market for a disturbance.

Officer Jacob Bettin, a police spokesman, said Marcus J. Jordan, 21, of Chicago, was booked in the Douglas County Department of Corrections for resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and obstructing. A staff member at the jail said Sunday afternoon that Jordan was no longer in custody.

Bettin said a uniformed off-duty police officer approached Jordan outside the hotel at 555 S. 10th St. about 2:10 a.m. The officer, who was working as security for the hotel, reported that Jordan was arguing with two females in the driveway of the hotel and appeared to be very intoxicated.

— Reported by Kevin Cole of the Omaha World-Herald

Celtics hope to keep Ray Allen

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers made his first phone call on Sunday, the official opening of free agency in the NBA, to Ray Allen. He said he does not think the call was in vain, despite a variety of reports that have the Celtics’ guard ticketed for Miami, Memphis or ABB (Anywhere But Boston.)

“It’s a stretch for me to see him go somewhere else,” Rivers said after completing a morning round of golf in the Boston area.

As for fellow Celtics free agent Jeff Green, Rivers said, “We’re going after Jeff. We’re going to get Jeff. I believe that, yes.”

Green missed all of last season after needing heart surgery.

So with the re-signing of Kevin Garnett and the potential re-signings of Allen and Green, the 2012-13 Celtics are going to look a lot like the 2011-12 Celtics?

“We want to add players and we’re going after a couple of free agents who I can’t name,” Rivers said.

— Reported by Peter May of ESPN Boston

Clippers look to land a shooting guard

Chauncey Billups, who played in 20 of the 66 games before suffering a season-ending left Achilles’ tendon injury, remains the Clippers’ top target. Billups’ agent and the Clippers are working on a one-year deal.

Billups, a 14-year veteran who turns 36 in September, has said he plans on being back playing no later than December.

The Clippers also have talked to Jamal Crawford’s agent. Crawford, who opted out of his $5.2-million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, probably will seek the mid-level exception that starts at $5 million for the first two years of a four-year deal.

The length of the contract with Crawford is something the Clippers have to sort out.

The Clippers also have interest in bringing back free-agent guards Randy Foye and Nick Young. The Lakers also have an interest in Young.

— Reported by Broderick Turner by the Los Angeles Times

Timberwolves plan to be aggressive in free agent market

When the Timberwolves’ once-promising season came to a disappointing end, coach Rick Adelman said the team had to be aggressive with free agency and trades to bring in skilled veterans who could change the culture in Minnesota.

It would be difficult to find another word to describe their activity when the free-agent market opened on Sunday.

The Timberwolves hosted Boston Celtics free-agent Greg Stiemsma and were working hard to bring in Portland restricted free-agent Nicolas Batum for a visit, two days after visiting Brandon Roy in Seattle. The Celtics and Blazers have the right to match any offer that Stiemsma and Batum, respectively, receive. Roy is free to sign with any team, and was expected to meet with Dallas and Chicago, among others as the week progressed.

The Wolves have also expressed interest in unrestricted free agent shooting guard Jamal Crawford and, according to a report from Yahoo Sports, scheduled a visit with forward Jordan Hill for Monday.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Gerald Wallace to re-sign with Nets

The Brooklyn Nets reached a verbal commitment with swingman Gerald Wallace on a four-year deal worth $40 million, according to sources close to the process.

The Nets have been openly confident in their ability to re-sign Wallace, who opted out of the final year of his contract last month with the intent of staying with the Nets.

No new contracts in the NBA can be officially signed until July 11, but sources told ESPN.com that Wallace — originally expected to land a three-year deal worth $24 million — will instead land the four-year deal.

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

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