Inside Hoops – Page 1880 – NBA Blog

Other sports came first for young Derrick Williams

Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports on Minnesota Timberwolves rookie forward Derrick Williams:

Before high school, Williams mostly played soccer, baseball and football in La Mirada’s city parks league. He didn’t take basketball seriously until his freshman year.

And when he did, it showed.

“I used to get calls at home at night from school staff people wondering why the gym lights were on after 9 o’clock and who was in there,” said former La Mirada boys basketball coach Larry Kaupang, who coached Williams during his varsity career. “It was Derrick. He and my assistant, Charlie Torres, used to sneak in there sometimes late at night to put in some work. And Derrick worked at it.”

Only 5-9 in eighth grade, Williams grew to 6-5 by the end of his freshman year. He had become too tall to play guard and needed to get used to playing closer to the basket. He also was playing for La Mirada, a small, unheralded school 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles. It took an in-the-right-place moment during Williams’ sophomore year to remove him from relative obscurity.

La Mirada had a game against Compton on Feb. 23, 2007. Compton, a traditional power in the Los Angeles area, featured guard-forward DeMar DeRozan, now a two-year pro with the Toronto Raptors.

Most of the college coaches in attendance were there to see DeRozan, a McDonald’s All-America selection. Williams wasn’t even in the starting lineup. Kaupang put Williams in the game, and he ended up with 23 points, 12 rebounds, four blocked shots and three assists.

Cavaliers acquire New Mexico Thunderbirds, who move to Canton, Ohio

The Cleveland Cavaliers will own and operate their new NBA Development League franchise in Canton, Ohio. The announcement was made today by NBA Development League President Dan Reed, Cavaliers/Quicken Loans Arena President Len Komoroski, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant and Canton Mayor William J. Healy II. The Cavaliers acquired the former New Mexico Thunderbirds franchise, which has ceased operations, and will now become the 5th NBA team to currently own and operate their own NBA D-League affiliate, joining Golden State, the Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City and San Antonio. As owner/operators, the Cavaliers will have exclusive control over all basketball and business elements for the franchise.

“Having the ability to own and operate a D-League franchise in Canton once again illustrates our ownership’s outstanding commitment to creating a culture of success,” said Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant. “Player development is at the core of our process and being able to operate our own franchise so close to home will place us in the most strategic position to take an active part in the player development process.”

Jeff Lenchiner, the editor of InsideHoops.com, sees this as a positive move for the Cavs.

Entering its 11th season, the NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league. Canton becomes the 16th team in the league and will begin play in the upcoming 2011-12 season at the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

“We are thrilled to be the home of minor league basketball for the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is an incredible opportunity for the citizens of Canton to experience professional basketball in their hometown, and I am grateful that the Cavaliers recognized Canton as an ideal market for their next generation of basketball operations,” said Mayor Healy. “Thanks to the hard work of the Cavaliers, the NBADL, SMG, and the City of Canton, I believe that the Cavaliers have secured a fan base that is hungry to support minor league basketball for years to come.”

Last season, the Erie BayHawks were the Cavaliers’ D-League affiliate and that affiliation was shared with the Toronto Raptors. The New Mexico Thunderbirds served as the affiliate for the New Orleans Hornets and Orlando Magic.

“We’re very excited to welcome the Cleveland Cavaliers to a rapidly-expanding group of NBA teams realizing the advantages of an exclusive relationship with their NBA D-League affiliate,” said NBA D-League President Dan Reed. “The combination of supportive city leadership and an outstanding organization in the Cavs leads us to believe the future of the team in Canton is very bright.”

Leading the new Canton team’s local business operations as senior vice president and chief operating officer will be Scott Woodruff. Woodruff is a veteran of the Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena organization and spent the past two seasons with the American Hockey League’s Lake Erie Monsters as the vice president of ticket and corporate sales. The Monsters are part of the Dan Gilbert family of sports and entertainment interests. Business offices for the franchise will also be located in the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

“We are very excited and looking forward to a great partnership with the City of Canton, fans and the surrounding community,” said Cavaliers President Len Komoroski. “We have a strong connection with the Canton regional market and we are excited to further engage our fans with a first-class basketball and entertainment experience. We will be active in the community and will work hard to earn support from our fans here.”

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Deron Williams may play in Turkey

The New York Daily News reports:

With seemingly no end to the lockout, Nets guard Deron Williams has agreed in principal to a contract to play in Turkey, a source confirmed to the Daily News.

The signing was first reported by a Turkish TV station. The contract would pay the Nets star on a monthly basis.

The team, Besiktas, also signed Allen Iverson to a two-year, $4 million deal in October of last year.

“We are in talks with Williams. He is a bigger star than Iverson and would be the best player in Europe. We are close to an agreement,” the coach of Besiktas told Turkish TV.

Williams has an out clause in the event the NBA kicks off on time in late October, according to the Turkish TV report. Earlier this week, Dallas’ Rudy Fernandez considered playing in Spain, but decided not to go overseas, at this point.

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Indiana Pacers to hire Brian Shaw

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports:

Three of the pieces are in place, now all Frank Vogel has to do is find his final assistant to complete his coaching staff.

Vogel was introduced as coach of the Pacers on Wednesday during a press conference that didn’t reveal a lot since team officials are not permitted to talk about players due to the current NBA lockout.

Vogel and Larry Bird both said they hope to be able to announce the rest of the coaching staff next week. Brian Shaw will be the associate head coach and long time assistant Dan Burke will be on Vogel’s staff.

Vogel interviewed former University of Utah coach and NBA assistant Jim Boylen for the final assistant job earlier this week.

Maciej Lampe signs in Spain

Euroleague.net reports:

One day after its starting center transferred elsewhere, Caja Laboral reacted with a big signing of its own by grabbing Maciej Lampe for two seasons. Lampe (2.10 meters, 26 years old) arrives from Eurocup champion Unics Kazan, where he spent the past two seasons. Lampe averaged 15.6 points and a competition best 8.1 rebounds last season as he was named to the All- Eurocup First Team. For the season, Lampe ranked second in the Eurocup in average performance index rating at 19.6 per game.

David Lighty to play basketball in Italy

Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:

Former Ohio State and Villa Angela-St. Joseph star David Lighty apparently will sign a two-year contract to play with Cantu, Italy, in the Euroleague next season, according to various sources.

The deal is believed to be worth $300,000 for the two seasons. It would also not allow him to return to the NBA this season, one NBA source said.

Lighty and his agent, Joel Bell, did not return phone calls to The Plain Dealer on Wednesday, but Lighty’s mother, Emily, confirmed that Lighty probably would sign with Cantu this week.

“We’re not giving up,” she said of her son’s dream to play in the NBA. “But it’s the Lord’s plan for him to take a different route. Everything happens for a reason.”

Cavs to buy a D-League team

Duane Rankin of the Erie Times-News reports:

The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to announce Thursday afternoon a single-affiliation partnership with a D-League team that will play in Canton, Ohio, for the 2011-12 season.

The Cavs e-mailed a news release tonight stating there will be a news conference Thursday at noon at the Canton Civic Center. It’s expected the Cavs have bought the New Mexico Thunderbirds and will move them to Canton.

The Erie BayHawks were affiliated with the Cleveland Cavaliers in their first three seasons in the D-League before establishing three-year hybrid partnership deal with the New York Knicks last month.

The BayHawks were also affiliated with the Philadelphia 76ers during their expansion 2008-09 season and the Toronto Raptors the past two D-League seasons.

UPDATE: The deal is done. Full info is here.

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Michael Beasley cited for marijuana possession

The AP reports:

Michael Beasley’s first season in Minnesota was quiet off the court, an encouraging sign for the Timberwolves as they hoped to see him mature and emerge as a go-to player for a franchise that desperately needs one.

His first full offseason here isn’t off to a good start.

Beasley was ticketed for possessing marijuana and speeding in the Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka last week, police said on Wednesday.

Capt. Scott Boerboom said that an officer stopped Beasley around 3 a.m. on June 26 on Interstate 394 after clocking him going 84 mph in a 65 mph zone. He said the officer smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car.

The officer allegedly found 16.2 grams of the drug in a plastic bag under the front passenger seat of Beasley’s car. Beasley told police the marijuana was not his, but belonged to a friend whom he had just dropped off. According to the report, Beasley cursed when an officer pulled out the bag.

The possession charge is a petty misdemeanor that carries a fine of $128.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports:

In February, Beasley was cited in Hennepin County for driving 70 mph in a 55 mph zone. He paid a $117 fine in that case.

In July 2010, after Beasley’s trade to Minnesota from Miami, Timberwolves basketball boss David Kahn said in a radio interview that one of his new player’s problems in Florida was that he “smoked too much marijuana.” The NBA responded by fining Kahn and the team $50,000 each. The league called the comments “inappropriate.”

Kahn, also in the interview on 1500ESPN, suggested that Beasley would be a changed man once he arrives in Minnesota.

“He’s a very young and immature kid who smoked too much marijuana and has told me that he’s not smoking anymore,” Kahn said, “and I told him that I would trust him as long as that was the case.”

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Former NBA forward Armen Gilliam dies

WTAE Pittsburgh reports:

Armen Gilliam, a 6-foot-9 forward from Bethel Park who was known as “The Hammer” for his physical style of basketball, died Wednesday night. He was 47.

Police said Gilliam had a heart attack and collapsed while playing basketball at LA Fitness in Collier Township. He was rushed to St. Clair Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

In college, Gilliam starred on the No. 1-ranked UNLV Runnin’ Rebels team that won a record 38 games and went to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament in 1987.

The Phoenix Suns chose Gilliam with the No. 2 overall pick in the first round of the NBA Draft in 1987. He also played for the Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Utah Jazz before retiring in 2000.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Wow, this is tragic. Armen was an EXTREMELY nice guy. He and I met February in Los Angeles during 2011 NBA All-Star weekend. He had just called me recently, looking to reach out and see what’s up. Earlier today, when I heard the news, I texted him, really hoping to not receive silence in return… But, he’s gone… I’m sorry, and wish all the best to his friends and family.

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Indiana Pacers name Frank Vogel head coach

The Indiana Pacers announced Wednesday that Frank Vogel has been named head coach. Per club policy, terms of Vogel’s contract are not released.

The 38-year-old Vogel compiled a 20-18 record as an interim coach at the end of the 2010-11 season after replacing Jim O’Brien, Jan. 30. Vogel helped lead the Pacers to their first playoff appearance since 2006 where they lost to the Chicago Bulls, 4-1, in a competitive best-of-seven series.

“We’re very happy to have Frank as our coach,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “As I stated after the season, I was in no hurry regarding the coach, mainly because I knew I had a good candidate in Frank. But we wanted to get through the draft and I wanted to have numerous conversations with Frank about a staff that will cover all areas. I feel strongly he is doing that and this coaching staff, as a whole, will help this franchise continue to move forward.”

“I’m very grateful to (team owner) Herb Simon, Larry Bird and (general manager) David Morway for giving me this opportunity,” said Vogel. “Our team last year finished strong with a positive playoff showing and it’s something we all can definitely build on. This is a challenge I embrace and look forward to.”

Vogel came to the Pacers as an assistant coach when O’Brien was named head coach in 2007. He will be entering his 15th NBA season with his previous experience as an assistant coach (nine years), scout and video coordinator.

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