NBA News Blog – Page 1011 – NBA Blog

Danny Green will stay with Spurs

When word began to leak Monday that Spurs guard Danny Green had agreed to terms of the first guaranteed, long-term contract of his NBA career, his cell phone blew up with calls that interrupted the very reason he was offered such security.

“I’m at the gym, trying to work out,” Green said when another phone call imposed. “Got to get stronger and sharpen my skills.”

Bill Duffy, the agent for the hard-working 25-year-old swingman, confirmed Monday that Green will sign a contract with the Spurs worth $12 million, fully guaranteed, over a three-year span.

His first opportunity to sign the deal will be Wednesday, when the NBA-imposed ban on free-agent signings is lifted.

— Reported by Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News

Monty Williams helped sell Ryan Anderson on trade to Hornets

As New Orleans Hornets General Manager Dell Demps pushed to work out the specifics of a contract offer last week, Coach Monty Williams talked extensively with Orlando Magic restricted free-agent power forward Ryan Anderson to convince him to join New Orleans. Impressed with Williams’ plans, Anderson initially accepted the Hornets’ four-year, $36 million offer sheet before the Magic stepped in to facilitate a sign-and-trade agreement with New Orleans on Sunday.

As part of the deal, the Hornets agreed to trade forward Gustavo Ayon to Orlando. The trade will be finalized Wednesday, when the league’s trade moratorium on player transactions ends.

“What he likes about New Orleans, I say first and foremost is Monty,” Anderson’s agent, Chris Emens, said Monday. “He thinks Monty is a great basketball mind, really a great communicator, and I think they have a common bond. They talked extensively during this process.

“I think one of the things that certainly helps make Monty a standout among NBA coaches is that he’s very invested in his players, not just professionally but personally. I think players feel that.”

— Reported by John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune

Nenad Krstic continues playing in Russia

One of the best big men in the 2011-12 Turkish Airlines Euroleague is set to stay put, as CSKA Moscow announced a new agreement with center Nenad Krstic, who extended his contract until the end of the 2013-14 season. CSKA keeps an option to keep Krstic for one more year, through 2014-15. Krstic (2.12 meters, 28 years old) was chosen to the All-Euroleague first team last season, averaging 14.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22 games. He named the 2011-12 Euroleague bwin MVP for November and earned weekly bwin MVP honors twice – in regular season Game 9 and in Top 16 Game 3. Krstic was second in accumulated performance index ranking (405) and points (312) and third in rebounds (121) and fouls drawn (104), leading the 2011-12 Euroleague in two-pointers made (178) with a 62.9% shooting percentage, in which was his first Euroleague season in seven years.

— Reported by Euroleague.net

Pacers expected to keep Roy Hibbert

The starting five will return intact. Now the Indiana Pacers turn their attention to upgrading the bench.

The suspense surrounding Roy Hibbert’s future ended Monday when the Pacers decided they wouldn’t let the center get away to Portland, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

The Trail Blazers made a four-year, $58-million offer to Hibbert soon after the free agency period began July 1.

The Pacers aren’t technically matching Portland’s offer. Instead, they’re giving Hibbert the same four-year, $58-million deal to avoid going through the process of having him sign the Trail Blazers’ offer sheet, submitting it to the NBA and then having to match it.

— Reported by Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star

Miami Heat meet with Rashard Lewis

The Heat, meanwhile, continued to await a decision from Rashard Lewis, who met with team officials Sunday in Miami. Lewis also plans to meet with Atlanta (which could offer him more money) and potentially the Knicks before deciding.

“It went well,” agent Tony Dutt said of Lewis’ meeting with the Heat. “We’re talking to a couple more teams and will make a decision later in the week.”

Lewis is making $13.7 million in a buyout next season, which makes the Heat cautiously optimistic that he would be willing to take a deal for the $1.3 million minimum.

The Heat remains alive in the competition for Marcus Camby, but only if Miami and Houston can work out a sign-and-trade. Discussions are ongoing. Camby has made no firm plans to visit but has spoken with Heat president Pat Riley. The Knicks, Nets and Clippers also remain in the mix.

— Reported by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald

Wizards hire Don Newman as assistant coach

The Washington Wizards announced today that Don Newman will join Randy Wittman’s staff as an assistant coach.

Newman brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to the Wizards’ staff, including the past seven seasons as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs. During his successful tenure with the Spurs, Newman worked under Gregg Popovich and helped lead San Antonio to a pair of NBA Championships (2005 and 2007), a pair of Western Conference championships (2005 and 2007) and five Division titles (2005, 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2012). In each of Newman’s seven seasons on the bench, the Spurs won 50 or more games, including a 50-16 mark last season en route to a Southwest Division title.

“Don is an outstanding coach and a great addition to our staff,” said Wizards Head Coach Randy Wittman. “He brings championship experience from his time with the Spurs and has been very successful in every stop of his career.”

Newman originally joined the NBA as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1999. In his four seasons with the Bucks, Milwaukee made three playoff appearances and won the Central Division title in the 2000-01 season. Newman served as an assistant with the New Jersey during the 2003-04 season, in which the Nets captured the Atlantic Division title and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. He also served as an assistant for USA Basketball during the 2002 World Championships.

Newman spent 10 years in college basketball prior to his time in the NBA. He served as a head coach with Sacramento State (1992-97) and was named the interim head coach at Arizona State in 1997, leading the Sun Devils to an 18-14 record and a trip to the NIT Tournament. Newman also had stints as an assistant coach with Oregon and Washington State.

Newman played three seasons of basketball at the University of Idaho (after spending his freshman year at LSU) and was originally drafted by two NBA teams. After being selected by Indiana in the fourth round of the 1979 Draft (as a junior eligible selection), he was selected by Boston in the third round of the 1980 Draft. He played three seasons in the CBA (for the Montana Golden Nuggets where George Karl was his head coach) and also played seven seasons in the CFL. He was invited to training camp with both the Seattle Seahawks and the New York Jets.

Dwyane Wade undergoes left knee surgery

The Miami Heat announced today that guard Dwyane Wade underwent successful left knee surgery this morning. The 20-minute procedure was performed by Heat team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick at Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables. Wade can begin therapy immediately and is expected to be ready for training camp.

An eight-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, Wade appeared in 49 regular season games for the NBA Champion Heat in 2011-12 and averaged 22.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.67 steals, 1.29 blocks and 33.2 minutes. He also appeared in all 23 postseason games for Miami and averaged 22.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.70 steals, 1.30 blocks and 39.4 minutes.

Acie Law continues playing in Europe

Reigning Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion Olympiacos BC Piraeus kept building its roster for the upcoming season by re-signing point guard Acie Law for an extra year, the club announced Saturday. Law (1.90 meters, 27 years old) arrived to Olympiacos before the start of the Top 16, averaging 5.5 points in 12 games with the Reds last season. He boosted his numbers up to 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the playoffs series against Montepaschi Siena, which allowed Olympiacos to make it to the Final Four and eventually win the Euroleague title. Law also helped Olympiacos to win the Greek League last season.

— Reported by Euroleague.net

Miami Heat have interest in John Lucas III

While they work on ways to secure help in their frontcourt by courting Marcus Camby and Rashard Lewis, the Miami Heat are also looking at making a possible addition to their backcourt.

The Heat have been in contact with Chicago Bulls free agent point guard John Lucas III, sources told ESPN.com.

Lucas averaged 7.5 points and 2.2 assists in 49 games with the Bulls last season including a 24-point game against the Heat in March in a Bulls victory. It was the best season of his winding career that’s taken him in and out of the NBA dating back to 2005.

The Heat will still have three open roster spots after signing Ray Allen this week and Lucas is under consideration for one of them.

— Reported by Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com

Heat and Knicks want Marcus Camby

Highly sought-after unrestricted free agent big man Marcus Camby postponed his meeting with the Miami Heat on Saturday, according to a source with knowledge of his plans.

It was done to allow the team to work on a potential sign-and-trade with the Houston Rockets, but the Rockets aren’t currently interested in dealing with the Heat.

The Rockets, according to sources, are more interested in a sign-and-trade with the New York Knicks. Sources told ESPN.com that the Knicks have had discussions with the Rockets about Camby, as well as the Dallas Mavericks about a sign-and-trade for free agent Jason Kidd, who agreed to join the Knicks earlier this week.

The Knicks are hoping to make a sign-and-trade deal for one of them and use their $3.09 million mid-level exception to sign the other.

A source close to Camby would be “shocked” if he signs anywhere for the veteran’s minimum of $1.4 million, which is what the Heat only have available after Ray Allen agreed to their mid-level exception of $3.09 million on Friday.

— Reported by Jared Zwerling and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com