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Heat sign Briante Weber, waive Corey Hawkins

Heat sign Briante Weber, waive Corey Hawkins

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed guard Briante Weber and waived guard Corey Hawkins.

Weber played all four seasons at Virginia Commonwealth, appearing in 127 games (65 starts) and averaged 6.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.94 steals and 23.4 minutes while shooting 42.6 percent from the field. He finished as VCU’s all-time career steals leader (374), shattering the previous 29-year old record by 117, capping his career third on the NCAA’s steals list, just 12 shy from becoming the all-time career leader before missing the final 10 games of his senior season due to injury. He became the first player in conference history to be named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons, including his senior, junior and sophomore seasons, and also set a program record with a recorded 45.5-inch vertical leap.

As a senior, Weber appeared in 20 games (19 starts) and averaged 8.1 points, 4.3 assists, 3.90 steals, 3.7 rebounds and 26.5 minutes while shooting 40.1 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from three-point range. Despite missing the last 10 games of the season, he led the team in steals (78) and finished second in assists (85). Additionally, he dished out a career-high 10 assists against Oregon on November 25 and recorded a season-high nine steals vs. Toledo on November 18.

Weber will wear number 25.

Hawkins appeared in two games with the HEAT this preseason totaling six points, two rebounds and an assist in 14 minutes of action.

No timetable for return of JaVale McGee

Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram blog reporting on new Mavericks center JaVale McGee, who isn’t ready to contribute just yet:

No timetable for return of JaVale McGee

The Dallas Mavericks knew they were taking a roll of the dice when they signed JaVale McGee over the summer.

The erstwhile center had been recuperating from a stress fracture in his left tibia when the Mavs acquired him. And three weeks into training camp, McGee is still dealing with those same issues.

Thus, with the regular season set to start in nine days, the Mavs are unsure whether McGee will be ready for the opening tipoff against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 28.

“If you’re asking for a timetable (on McGee’s return), I don’t know,’’ coach Rick Carlisle said after Monday’s shootaround at Quicken Loans Arena. “If you’re asking whether he’s making progress, the answer is yes.

“Significant progress.’’

Knicks enjoying preseason

The Knicks are enjoying preseason and probably don’t want it to end. But it will. And then the regular season will begin. And reality will set in. But for now, things are good. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

Optimism is building out of the Knicks’ 4-1 preseason because Phil Jackson’s team doesn’t look to be as dependent on the rookie production of Kristaps Porzingis as expected. Maybe the Knicks, who went 17-65 last season, will find themselves in a race for the eighth seed in late March and early April.

The Knicks look deep in the frontcourt, and have had excellent preseasons from forwards Kyle O’Quinn, Derrick Williams, last season’s rookie bust Cleanthony Early and, of course, a supremely healthy and defensive-minded Carmelo Anthony.

Nevertheless, Fisher wants Porzingis to be the starting power forward opening night, even if he was shaky Saturday at Charlotte. Rusty from sitting out a week with a quad strain, the 7-foot-3 Latvian shot poorly (3-for-11) from the floor, got blocked by Cody Zeller on a dunk attempt and was pushed around by Hornets post man Al Jefferson, who backed Porzingis in easily for a couple of hoops in the second quarter. Patrick Ewing told The Post that Porzingis’ weight shouldn’t be that big an issue, but it looked like one Saturday.

Health of Lamar Odom is improving

Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News reporting good news on Lamar Odom:

The conversations surrounding Lamar Odom have taken a swift departure.

No longer do they contain dire predictions about Odom’s slim chances of survival. That seemed understandable, given the former Lakers and Clippers forward was rushed to a Las Vegas hospital last week after falling unconscious at a local brothel.

Instead, Odom has shown enough steady improvement in recent days at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center that he has started physical therapy, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

Odom has not experienced any setbacks after breathing without the help of a ventilator in the past three days. He showing marked improvement with his breathing, vision and the ability to have simple conversations, sources said.

Alec Burks looking good in preseason for Jazz

It’s just preseason, but here’s the Salt Lake Tribune blog reporting good news on a key member of the Utah Jazz:

Alec Burks looking good in preseason for Jazz

You don’t want to get too excited, because it’s preseason and there have been plenty of NBA preseason superstars. But Alec Burks just simply looks like a better player than he has at any point in his career. His passing is better. His ball-handling is better. His shooting is better. He’s more athletic, more explosive. He’s showing signs of being a great rebounder for a guard. Everything….is just better. Tonight, he had 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 17 minutes. He’s getting anywhere off the dribble at almost anytime he wants. Again, you don’t want to get too excited. But, if this new and improved Burks translates to the regular-season, he has the potential to have a breakout season.

Celtics lineup notes

Here’s the Boston Herald reporting on the Celtics, who boast an interesting squad that isn’t particularly strong yet appears deep, and should be competitive:

While some try to speculate on which group of five the Celtics will be starting when the regular season begins a week from Wednesday, Brad Stevens is looking at how smaller groups harmonize.

The coach has already spoken of how well Isaiah Thomas works with someone like Jonas Jerebko, who spreads the floor, and now you can add Amir Johnson to the reciprocal complementary society.

“I think that’s been a good combination from Day 1,” Stevens said yesterday at the team’s practice facility.

The 6-foot-9 Johnson and 5-9 Thomas may appear to be an odd coupling when they walk down a street, but playing well together has come naturally.

Blazers should be fun to watch this season

The Portland Trail Blazers in 2015-16 look nothing like last season’s edition. A lot of key players left, and they’re going to take wins along with them. But as the Oregonian says — and we agree — this year’s Blazers should still be plenty of fun to watch:

Blazers should be fun to watch this season

The latest and perhaps most dramatic example of this came in an exhibition game Sunday night, when the Blazers overcame a 21-point deficit to beat the Utah Jazz in overtime, 116-111, before 16,532 at the Moda Center.

Never mind that three Jazz starters didn’t play. Or that most of Utah’s key rotation players rested for the bulk of the fourth quarter and overtime after building that sizeable lead. The young-and-hungry Blazers refused to end the night without putting on a show, riding the hot hand of CJ McCollum, the prolific scoring of Damian Lillard and the impressive defense of Ed Davis to outscore Utah 50-27 over the final 17 minutes.

“This is a young team, athletic and we have an All-Star point guard, so every night we’re going to be in games,” Davis said. “We’re going to fight, it’s going to be a long season, it’s going to be a lot of up and downs. But every night we’re going to fight and give it our best effort.”

For much of the night, it looked like it would be one of those nights where the effort wasn’t enough. Instead, with more than one memorable highlight and plenty of late-game drama, the effort and success went hand-in-hand.

Austin Rivers still recovering from hard elbow to mouth

Here’s the Los Angeles Times reporting on Clippers guard Austin Rivers, who took a very hard elbow to the mouth that continues to affect him:

Austin Rivers still recovering from hard elbow to mouth

Clippers backup guard Austin Rivers has been to the dentist four times, including getting a root canal Saturday, to repair three teeth that were loosened and one that was knocked out by a wayward elbow from teammate Branden Dawson during a practice in China on Oct. 9.

“As long as they make it look good, that’s all I care about,” Rivers joked before the team practiced Sunday.

The contact happened when Rivers tried to block a layup attempted by Dawson. Rivers said he had never taken a worse blow to his mouth.

“They were kind of just hanging there,” Rivers said of his teeth. “And I had to stick my teeth back in my mouth.”

Reggie Bullock making good impression on Pistons

Here’s the Detroit Free Press reporting on a player who is trying to solidify himself in the league, and currently making the most of preseason:

Barring something unforeseen, Reggie Bullock will be on the Detroit Pistons’ opening-night roster.

Bullock has scored a knockout against the competition in the fight for a roster spot.

He has played so well that he could be part of the team’s plans past this season.

The Pistons face a Nov. 2 deadline to pick up Bullock’s $2.2-million option for the 2016-17 season, and a person with firsthand knowledge of the team’s thought process told the Free Press this past week the move is under serious consideration.