Inside Hoops – Page 739 – NBA Blog

Blazers sign rookie Jake Layman

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Jake Layman, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

Acquired in a draft day trade with Orlando, Layman (6-9, 220) was selected with the 47th overall pick in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft.

Layman, 22, posted career averages of 10.2 points (44.5% FG, 36.2% 3-PT, 75.9% FT), 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in four seasons at Maryland.

An Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection his senior year, Layman led Maryland to 114 wins over his four seasons and is one of just 12 players in school history to record 1,400 points (1,436) and 600 rebounds (674). He guided Maryland to its first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 2003 last season, and ranks 18th in school history in points (1,436) and 18th in rebounds (674).

Layman will make his Trail Blazers debut at the 2016 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Portland tips off its schedule on Saturday, July 9 vs. Phoenix at 1 p.m. (Pacific).

He will wear No. 10 for the Trail Blazers.

Trail Blazers sign Evan Turner

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free agent guard/forward Evan Turner, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey. We’ll post contract details here Thursday morning.

Turner, 27, joins the Trail Blazers from the Boston Celtics, where he netted averages of 10.5 points (45.6% FG, 24.1% 3PT, 82.7% FT), 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.99 steals and 28.0 minutes in 81 games (12 starts) last season.

“Evan’s skill set on the court and character off the court are ideal additions to our team and the culture we are working to build in Portland,” said Olshey. “We expect him to be an impact player on both sides of the ball and are very pleased he chose our organization as his home for the next four years.”

The second overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Turner holds career averages of 10.7 points (43.2% FG, 30.5% 3PT, 77.7% FT), 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 28.6 minutes over six seasons with Philadelphia, Indiana and Boston.

Turner (6-7, 216) has playoff experience in five of his six seasons, and averaged 13.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.33 steals and 1.00 blocked shot in six games for the Celtics during the 2016 NBA Playoffs.

Lakers hire new athletic trainer

The Los Angeles Lakers announced today the hiring of Marco Nuñez as the team’s new Athletic Trainer, replacing long-time Athletic Trainer Gary Vitti, who recently retired after 32 seasons with the organization. The team also promoted Nina Hsieh to Assistant Athletic Trainer and renewed the contract of Strength and Conditioning Coach Tim DiFrancesco.

Nuñez, who originally joined the Lakers as Assistant Athletic Trainer during the 2008-09 season, will expand his responsibilities working hand-in-hand with the training staff, coaching staff, and front office to ensure the highest level of on-court performance. In his new position, the Los Angeles native is charged with year-round oversight of the care, prevention, and treatment of injuries to the players on the roster, and is also chiefly responsible for player rehabilitation programs and emergency on-court procedures.

Prior to joining the Lakers, Nuñez spent two seasons as Athletic Trainer for the Lakers’ NBA D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, beginning with their inaugural season in 2006-07. While working in the D-League, Nuñez served simultaneously as Athletic Trainer for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, and was solely affiliated with the Sparks for the 2005-06 season. An Assistant Trainer for the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League from 1999-2003, he also spent one season as Head Athletic Trainer for the Carolina Cobras of the AFL in 2004 prior to joining the Sparks.

In the summer and fall of that same year, Nuñez worked as a trainer for the movie “The Longest Yard,” attending to the actors, stuntmen, and athletes on set. In addition to winning NBA championships in his first two seasons with the Lakers (2009 and 2010), Nunez also served as the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the 2011 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles. He graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a B.S. in Kinesiology and emphasis in Sports Medicine, and went on to receive his M.S. in Biomechanics from A.T. Still University. In addition, he is an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and holds Corrective Exercise Specialist and Performance Enhancement Specialist certifications from the NASM.

Hsieh transitions to the Lakers training staff after serving as Head Athletic Trainer for the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the Lakers’ NBA D-League affiliate, beginning with the 2008-09 season, highlighted by D-League Finals appearances in 2012 and 2016. In her role with the D-Fenders, Hsieh oversaw all aspects of player health, including strength and conditioning, in addition to handling the team’s equipment and assisting with team travel. The Huntington Beach native is no stranger to NBA training rooms, as she joined the Lakers for both Summer League in Las Vegas and training camp each of the last four seasons.

Warriors hire Mike Brown as assistant coach

The Golden State Warriors have named Mike Brown an assistant coach on Steve Kerr’s coaching staff, the team announced today. Brown, who was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2008-09, replaces Luke Walton on the team’s coaching staff.

“We’re fortunate to add someone with the pedigree and track record of Mike Brown to our coaching staff,” said Kerr. “I had the good opportunity to play under him and Coach Popovich in San Antonio at the end of my career. The wealth of knowledge and experience that he brings will be invaluable to our staff and our players. He’s a terrific fit and we’re thrilled to have him.”

Brown, 46, joins the Warriors after previously holding head coaching duties with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2005-10, 2013-14) and Los Angeles Lakers (2011-12). He owns a career record of 347-216 (.616) over eight seasons, which ranks as the 10th best winning percentage in NBA history among coaches who have registered at least 500 games at the helm. In his first stint with Cleveland, Brown led the Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA Finals appearance in 2007 and was named the NBA Coach of the Year in 2008-09 after guiding the Cavaliers to a franchise-record 66 wins. Cleveland won at least 50 games in four of Brown’s first five seasons with the club, including back-to-back 60-win campaigns in 2008-09 and 2009-10 (61).

Following a five-year run with the Cavs, Brown spent the 2010-11 season as an analyst for ESPN before returning to the bench as head coach of the Lakers in 2011-12, leading the club to a Pacific Division title and a 41-25 (.621) record during the lockout shortened season. Brown returned as head coach of the Cavaliers for the 2013-14 season, where he eclipsed Lenny Wilkins’ mark for most combined regular season and playoff victories in the franchise’s history (347). As a head coach, Brown’s teams qualified for the playoffs in six of his seven full seasons, advancing past the First Round in each appearance.

Brandon Rush to join Timberwolves

Looks like Brandon Rush and Cole Aldrich will have a bit of a reunion this fall.

Wednesday the Timberwolves agreed with Rush — the three-point specialist who spent four of the last five seasons with Golden State — on a one-year, $3.5 million contract. In the process the Wolves nabbed their second free agent of the NBA’s bargaining period — and both Rush and Aldrich were on Kansas’ 2008 NCAA championship team.

Contracts cannot be signed or announced until Thursday.

— Minneapolis Star Tribune

Brian Roberts will join Hornets

Looking to fine-tune their upcoming roster, the Charlotte Hornets came to terms with Brian Roberts Wednesday to be the team’s third point guard.

A source familiar with the deal said Roberts will be paid the veteran minimum salary.

The Hornets start Kemba Walker at the point and have agreed to a two-year, $12.3 milllion deal with Ramon Sessions to be Walker’s backup.

— Charlotte Observer

Sixers sign rookies Ben Simmons and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot

The Philadelphia 76ers announced on Sunday, July 3 that they signed Ben Simmons and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who were selected by the Sixers with the first and 24th overall picks, respectively, in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Both players will join the Sixers Summer League team and are expected to participate in both the Utah Jazz Summer League and the Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

In his lone collegiate season at LSU, Simmons averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block in 35 minutes per game, each of which led the Tigers. Simmons was the consensus National Freshman of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year and was the only freshman named to the 2016 Consensus All-America Team.

The Sixers selected French forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot with the No. 24 overall pick, who most recently played for KK Mega Leks in the ABA League JTD. The 21-year-old averaged 14 points, five rebounds and three assists in 33 contests during the 2015-16 season. Luwawu-Cabarrot represented France in the 2015 U-20 European Championship where he averaged 12 points, five rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes per game.

Grizzlies hire Keith Smart and Adam Mazarei as assistant coaches

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace yesterday announced that the organization has hired Keith Smart and Adam Mazarei as assistant coaches on head coach David Fizdale’s staff.

Smart comes to Memphis with over 25 years of professional basketball experience as either a player or coach, spending the last two seasons (2014-16) working with Fizdale as an assistant coach for the Miami Heat, assisting in game management. Smart has served as head coach for three different NBA franchises, guiding the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, and has worked as an assistant coach for those same organizations. Before starting his NBA coaching career with Cleveland, he spent three seasons as head coach of the Continental Basketball Association’s (CBA) Fort Wayne Fury, guiding the team to the first back-to-back winning seasons (1997-99) in franchise history.

A graduate of Indiana University, Smart helped lead the Hoosiers to the 1987 NCAA National Championship and was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Final Four after hitting the game-winning shot with five seconds remaining in the title game against Syracuse. Selected in the second round (41st overall) of the 1988 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, Smart spent part of his nine-year professional career with the San Antonio Spurs (1988) before playing in the Philippines (1989), World Basketball League (1989-91), CBA (1992, 1995-97), Venezuela (1993) and France (1994).

Mazarei joins Fizdale’s staff after serving as a player development assistant for the Grizzlies for the past three seasons, during which time he assisted with advance and pro personnel scouting. Last summer, he attended the prestigious Grgurich camp, led by respected veteran NBA assistant coach Tim Grgurich, in Las Vegas. Before coming to Memphis, he served as an assistant and associate head coach for three years (2010-13) at Moorpark College in California where his responsibilities included assisting and organizing all scouting, recruiting, practice and game plans as well as player development.

In addition, Mazarei served as a player development coach at the IMPACT Basketball Academy in Las Vegas (2009-13) where he helped train current NBA veterans such as Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry and Terrence Ross in addition to pre-draft rookies. He holds a master’s degree in athletic administration and coaching from Concordia University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Redlands, where he led the SCIAC Conference in assists per game and paced the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio (5:1) as a senior.

Nets hire assistant coaches

The Brooklyn Nets have announced Head Coach Kenny Atkinson’s coaching staff, naming Jacque Vaughn, Chris Fleming and Bret Brielmaier assistant coaches, Adam Harrington assistant coach and director of player development, Jordan Ott assistant coach and manager of advance scouting and Mike Batiste player development assistant.

Vaughn spent two-plus seasons as head coach of the Orlando Magic (2012-15), and previously served as an assistant coach for two seasons with the San Antonio Spurs (2010-12). Most recently, Vaughn spent the 2015-16 season as a pro scout with the Spurs. Prior to beginning his coaching career, the Altadena, Calif. native enjoyed a 12-year playing career in the NBA after being selected with the 27th pick in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. In 776 career games with Utah, Atlanta, Orlando, New Jersey and San Antonio, Vaughn averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 assists in 16.3 minutes per game. The Kansas grad made nine playoff appearances in his 12 seasons in the league, and was a member of the 2007 NBA champion Spurs.

Fleming begins his first season with the Nets after spending last season as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets. Prior to joining the Nuggets, the Forked River, N.J. native served as a head coach in Germany for 14 years, first with QTSV Quakenbrϋck/Artland Dragons for eight seasons (2000-08) and then with Brose Baskets Bamberg for six seasons (2008-14). Fleming led Brose Baskets to four German League championships and was named the German League Coach of the Year in 2011. The University of Richmond alum also had a six-year stint with QTSV/Artland as a player (1994-2000). Fleming is currently the head coach of the German national team, a position he has held since November 2014.

Brielmaier spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers prior to joining the Nets. A native of Mankato, Minn., Brielmaier also worked for four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs (2009-13), beginning his career as a player development assistant before becoming the team’s video coordinator for his final three seasons in San Antonio. Brielmaier played collegiately at the University of Arizona and he began his coaching career as an undergraduate assistant coach under Hall of Fame head coach Lute Olsen during the 2008-09 season.

Harrington joins the Nets after most recently serving as a shooting coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2014-15 season. Harrington also founded With Purpose Training, working with NBA and NCAA players. The Bernardston, Mass. native competed collegiately at North Carolina State and Auburn before embarking on an eight-year pro career (2002-10) that included stints with the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets during the 2002-03 NBA season. Harrington also spent time with teams in the NBA D-League, China, Spain, Israel, Germany, Croatia, France and Poland.

Ott joins the Nets from the Atlanta Hawks, where he spent the past three seasons as the team’s video coordinator. Prior to his stint with the Hawks, Ott served in the same capacity with the Michigan State men’s basketball program for five years (2008-13). The McConnellsburg, Pa. native received his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Penn State in 2006 and earned his master’s degree in athletic administration from Michigan State in 2008 while serving as a graduate assistant with the Spartans. Ott also worked as an assistant coach with the Dominican Republic national team in last summer’s FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City.

Batiste begins his first season in Brooklyn after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the Canton Charge of the NBA D-League. Prior to beginning his coaching career, Batiste played professionally for 14 years, including one season with the Memphis Grizzlies (2002-03). He spent 10 years with Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League, helping to lead the club to eight consecutive league championships and earning the league’s MVP award in 2010, as well as stints with clubs in Belgium, Italy and Turkey. A native of Long Beach, Calif., Batiste played collegiately for three years at Arizona State, earning first-team All-Pac 10 honors in his final year (1999).

Warriors sign rookie Patrick McCaw

The Golden State Warriors have signed guard Patrick McCaw to a contract, the team announced today.

McCaw, 20, was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 38th overall selection in last month’s NBA Draft and was acquired by the Warriors that same night (June 23) in exchange for cash consideration. In two seasons at UNLV, he averaged 12.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.98 steals and 31.7 minutes in 65 games, garnering Second Team All-Mountain West Conference honors as a sophomore this past season. The 6’7” guard was also named to the Mountain West All-Defensive Team in his sophomore season, averaging 14.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.45 steals (second in the nation) and 33.7 minutes in 33 games.