Inside Hoops – Page 903 – NBA Blog

Cartier Martin elects to stay with Pistons

Cartier Martin elects to stay with Pistons

Here’s the Detroit News reporting on a member of the Pistons bench who has a limited role on the team. Cartier Martin last season averaged 1.6 points in 8.6 minute per game, and shot just 28% from the field:

Pistons forward Cartier Martin swallowed his pride and took the money.

He complained about his playing time with the Pistons last season but that did not stop him from exercising a player option which will pay him the veteran’s minimum of $1.27 million next season.

Martin, 30, signed a two-year deal with the Pistons last August. He made $1,145,000 last season and was used sparingly.

He appeared in just 23 games, his fewest since the 2011-2012 season with the Washington Wizards. Martin averaged a career low 1.6 points per game.

Warriors guard Klay Thompson expects to play in Game 1

As expected, Klay Thompson should be ready for NBA Finals

Here’s the San Francisco Chronicle reporting good news on the Warriors front:

Warriors guard Thompson expects to play in Game 1

Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson returned to practice Monday and expects to complete the NBA’s concussion protocol in the next couple of days, which would make him eligible to play Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

“I knew it wouldn’t take me more than a few days to get back to normal,” said Thompson, who said a concussion he had as a freshman in high school was much worse than the one he endured last week. “To me, I think this one was mild, not really severe. It was perfect, because I got a week off to get fully healthy.”

Thompson went down in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ Western Conference finals-clinching victory over Houston on Wednesday, when a leaping Trevor Ariza hit him with a knee to the side of the head in Game 5.

Expect Klay Thompson to be ready for NBA Finals Game 1

Expect Klay Thompson to be ready for NBA Finals Game 1

Everyone expects Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (concussion) to be ready for NBA Finals Game 1 on Thursday. Head coach Steve Kerr feels the same way. Here’s CSN Bay Area reporting:

Eight years after the Warriors snapped a long playoff drought and pulled a shocking first-round upset under the “We Believe” banner, there is a new cause in which they believe.

Shooting guard Klay Thompson, who sustained a concussion in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday, will be fit to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals next Thursday – or so coach Steve Kerr believes.

“I expect him to be there,” Kerr said after Saturday’s practice, in which Thompson did not participate.

Glancing at Utah Jazz free agency

Glancing at Utah Jazz free agency

Here’s the Deseret News reporting on the Utah Jazz, who played well towards the end of the regular season and must now figure out how to get their squad to the next level:

Before the recently-concluded season ended, most experts figured the Utah Jazz would be signing a free agent or two for next year because of all the extra money they have to spend.

However, after the Jazz played so well down the stretch, going 19-10 after the All-Star break and finishing 38-44, the question became: Should the Jazz basically stand pat with their current young roster and not worry about pursuing any free agents?

Like several other NBA teams, the Jazz are well under the current NBA salary cap of $63 million-plus with an expected payroll of a little over $50 million for next year with their current players. Next year’s cap is expected to be around $67 million before making a major jump the following year when the new TV contracts kick in.

With a few dozen top players around the league available as free agents, either restricted or unrestricted, the Jazz have an opportunity to add a player or two for next season to give their young squad some experience.

Tyler Haws scheduled to work out for Jazz today

Tyler Haws scheduled to work out for Jazz today

Here’s the Deseret News reporting on Utah Jazz pre-draft workouts:

BYU basketball’s all-time leading scorer is getting his chance to audition for the hometown team.

Guard Tyler Haws, an Alpine native, is one of six players the Utah Jazz have invited to a pre-draft workout for the team Monday at Zions Bank Basketball Center.

The news leaked a day before the Jazz made their announcement Sunday, as Haws told KSL Newsradio’s “Cougar Sports Saturday” program he will be working out for the Jazz on Monday morning. He also told the radio program he has upcoming workouts with the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies.

Once Finals end, Alvin Gentry set to lead Pelicans

Once Finals end, Alvin Gentry set to lead Pelicans

Here’s the New Orleans Times Picayune reporting on the Pelicans, who have found their new head coach. Alvin Gentry, currently the top assistant with the Golden State Warriors, will begin with the Pelicans after the conclusion of the upcoming Warriors-Cavaliers NBA Finals series.

When the New Orleans Pelicans initiated their extensive coaching search, sources confirmed the franchise was willing to spend up to $4 to $5 million for Monty Williams’ replacement.

But the Pelicans hired Golden State Warriors lead assistant Alvin Gentry at a bargain price after he agreed to a four year, $13.7 million contract on Saturday, a league source confirmed Sunday.

Yahoo sports was the first to report Gentry’s contract terms with the Pelicans on Saturday night.

Gentry’s salary will average $3.4 million a season, which includes a $4 million team option in the final year of the deal. Gentry’s deal is higher than Williams’ $2.7 million per season salary he earned after signing a four-year, $11 million extension in 2012.

Donatas Motiejunas expects to be healthy by training camp

Donatas Motiejunas expects to be healthy by training camp

Here’s the Houston Chronicle with an update on Rockets forward Donatas Motiejunas:

The first week of the postseason, Rockets forward Donatas Motiejunas watched his team play as he laid in a bed, unable to get around after having back surgery.

As the Rockets continued to play through the playoffs – beating the Mavericks in the first round, then spurring an historic comeback against the Clippers in the semifinals and eventually falling to the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals, Motiejunas watched from the sidelines, wishing he could be on the floor with them.

Just before the Rockets made the best playoff run they’ve had in recent history, Motiejunas had lumbar microdisectomy surgery, ending his season.

Motiejunas is slowly recovering and said he will be cleared to play by the time training camp starts in the fall. And the forward, who started 62 games for the Rockets this season, can’t wait to be back on the court. “I will just keep working to get better and be better,” Motiejunas said. “No question about it. I will be ready for training camp.”

Fred Hoiberg may become next Bulls coach

Fred Hoiberg may become next Bulls coach

The Chicago Bulls need a new coach now that they’ve decided that Tom Thibodeau, despite his success, isn’t the man for the job. Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on Saturday that Fred Hoiberg is expected to land the position:

While the Chicago Bulls were going to great lengths on Thursday to tell everyone that they are the model franchise when it comes to trust, they apparently forgot to mention cutting backroom deals behind Tom Thibodeau’s back.

According to a source, Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg already has a deal in place to become the Bulls’ next head coach. The parameters of the deal were discussed while Thibodeau was still employed by the Bulls.

Hoiberg’s deal is believed to be in the $25 million range over five years. Hoiberg, who recently needed a second heart surgery, is merely waiting to be cleared by doctors before officially accepting the job.

For now, Kevin Love expects to be with Cavs next season

For now, Kevin Love expects to be with Cavs next season

Love can opt out of the one year remaining on his contract by June 30 and either negotiate for a new deal with the Cavs or test the market as an unrestricted free agent. And has been the case all season, the three-time All-Star, whose future has been the subject of speculation almost since the day he was traded to the Cavaliers, indicated he has no plans to leave.

“I expect to be suiting up by Game 1 of next year,” he said.

For the Cavs?

“Yes, sir,” he said.

Noticeably thinner after losing 15 pounds during his recovery, Love said not being on the floor with his teammates has been emotionally difficult. After six seasons in Minnesota, he was finally in the playoffs and appearing to hit his stride after a season in which his role transformed, when Olynyk’s aggressive play ended Love’s season in Game 4.

— Associated Press

Chris Gatling arrested, suspected of running credit card scam

Chris Gatling arrested, suspected of running credit card scam

Here’s the Los Angeles Times reporting on some suspected shady activity:

Former NBA player Chris Gatling was arrested in Arizona on Thursday on suspicion of running a nationwide online scam.

Scottsdale, Ariz., police confirmed the arrest to the Associated Press and said Gatling was released a short time after he was booked. Gatling, who last played in the NBA in 2002, faces charges of fraud, aggravated identity theft and forgery.

Police allege Gatling was operating a scheme that involved multiple online businesses being used to gather credit card numbers. Gatling then allegedly ran the numbers through other businesses for services never authorized by the cardholders. Police claim the operation was being run out of a Scottsdale call center, and it included stolen credit card numbers from people across the U.S.