Author: Inside Hoops

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Zoran Dragic signs in Russia

Here’s Euroleague.net reporting news on a player NBA fans will be familiar with:

Reigning Eurocup champion Khimki Moscow Region continued to bolster its roster ahead of its return to the Turkish Airlines Euroleague, signing a two-year deal with swingman Zoran Dragic, club announced on Thursday. Dragic (1.96 meters, 26 years old) has spent last season in the NBA, playing first part of the season with Phoenix before getting traded to Miami, but has appeared in a total of 16 games. He previously spent two seasons with Unicaja Malaga, and has played 44 Euroleague games during that time.

Will Kobe Bryant be on the 2016 U.S. Olympic team?

Will Kobe Bryant be on the 2016 U.S. Olympic team? Probably not. But that it’s even a distinct possibility is a fascinating discussion topic. So, don’t expect it, but at the same time, here’s ESPN Los Angeles reporting:

Will Kobe Bryant be on the 2016 U.S. Olympic team?

Could the lasting image to cap Kobe Bryant’s basketball career be of him donning a gold medal at the end of the 2016 Rio Olympics?

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo revealed Thursday at the conclusion of Team USA’s minicamp that he’s had a conversation with the Los Angeles Lakers guard about that very scenario and has not ruled out Bryant for the 12-man roster next summer.

“I was quoted on Kobe,” Colangelo said after USA Basketball’s intrasquad scrimmage at the Thomas & Mack Center. “In response to a question about him, I said it would be a great story if he did [play in Rio].

“And so, he also mentioned to me in a private conversation that if he had his druthers, he would love to ride off into the sunset playing one more time and winning the gold medal. And that would be the end. But he was very quick to say, ‘But, I don’t want a spot. I need to earn the spot. I need to be capable of playing at that level to be considered.’ And I said, ‘You got that. That’s always there for you, Kobe.'”

DeMarcus Cousins steps up in USA Basketball scrimmage

Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting on Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, who stepped up in Thursday’s Team USA exhibition game in Las Vegas. The squad isn’t involved in international competition this summer and is just focused on narrowing the roster down for the 2016 Olympics.

DeMarcus Cousins steps up in USA Basketball scrimmage

In a USA Basketball scrimmage that featured a couple of Kings, a number of players with little or no chance to make the 2016 U.S. Olympic team, and six “ringers” who filled in for their more high-profiled peers who sat out the voluntary event because of injury, fatigue or cautionary measures, DeMarcus Cousins produced the most prodigious stat line of the night.

Sacramento’s sixth-year center celebrated his 25th birthday Thursday with 24 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and three assists, including a nifty shovel pass to Blake Griffin for a jam.

Cousins also missed all six of his three-point attempts – yes, he hoisted six shots from beyond the arc – but who was counting? His White squad also defeated the Blue team 134-128, but again, who was counting?

Rudy Gay, playing for the Blues, scored nine points and collected three rebounds, but, well … no one was counting.

Michael Jordan cologne deal worked out great for Jordan

Here’s the Chicago Sun-Times reporting just how great it is to be Michael Jordan when it comes to business deals:

Michael Jordan reportedly made huge money off cologne deal

Jordan simply gave his permission to the fragrance company XEL to sell Michael Jordan cologne. A close adviser testified Thursday that Jordan did nothing else — but the company still paid him $10.6 million between 2002 and 2012.

Estee Portnoy, a long-time marketing manager for Jordan, also testified Thursday that a Japanese TV station hoping to produce a documentary about Jordan once offered him $100,000 to use footage of his days with the Chicago Bulls.

The footage belonged to the NBA, Portnoy said.

Draymond Green says he needs another ring

Here’s CSN Bay Area reporting on Warriors forward Draymond Green, who has declared that one championship ring isn’t enough and he needs another:

Draymond Green says he needs another ring

The Celtics won eight straight from 1959-66, the Lakers won in ’87 and ’88, the Pistons took home the crown in ’89 and ’90, the Bulls three-peated ’91-’93, the Rockets were champions in ’94 and ’95, the Bulls three-peated again ’96-’98 and the Lakers won three titles in a row from 2000-02.

There is a long history of repeat champions in the NBA, and Draymond wants more jewelry.

“I need to find a second ring,” he said. “That is enough motivation for me personally. I have plenty of things I want to do. I want to be great. I don’t just want to win a championship and sign this nice little contract and I’m done.

“I want to do some special things and if you want to be special, it doesn’t stop after you win one championship or sign a deal. It just starts. It’s just starting for me.”

Dallas Mavericks sign JaVale McGee

Dallas Mavericks sign JaVale McGee

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed free agent center JaVale McGee.

McGee (7-0, 270) is a seven-year veteran with career averages of 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 19.9 minutes per game in 382 games (158 starts) with Washington, Denver and Philadelphia. He has shot 54 percent from the field for his career.

Famous for making mistakes on the court, McGee has talent, especially on defense. It’s tough for a winning team to count on him as their primary center, but he’s still a good addition provided there isn’t too much pressure on him.

McGee appeared in 23 games for Denver and Philadelphia in 2014-15, averaging 4.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 11.1 minutes per contest.

A native of Flint, Mich., McGee spent two seasons at the University of Nevada. As a sophomore, he averaged 14.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. McGee declared for the NBA Draft following his sophomore season and was the 18th overall selection by the Washington Wizards in 2008.

McGee’s father, George Montgomery, was a second-round draft pick of the Portland Trail Blazers in 1985 and his mother, Pamela McGee, played in the WNBA for the Los Angeles Sparks and Sacramento Monarchs.

Lakers sign Jonathan Holmes

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Jonathan Holmes to a multi-year contract, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

In five games for the Celtics’ entry in the 2015 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Holmes averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.0 steals in 21.8 minutes per game, while shooting 55.6% from the field. The 6’9’’ Holmes also appeared in three games for Boston in the 2015 Utah Jazz Summer League, and in his eight games (seven starts) between the two competitions, shot a perfect 15-15 from the free throw line, and 13-28 (46.4%) from beyond-the-arc.

Undrafted after spending four seasons at the University of Texas (2011-15), Holmes averaged 9.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game over 127 contests with the Longhorns. The San Antonio native was named All-Big 12 Second Team and team MVP as a junior after averaging 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 50.5% shooting, and was an All-Big 12 Honorable mention as a senior with averages of 10.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game, while hitting 1.3 three-pointers per contest.