NBA News Blog – Page 1124 – NBA Blog

Pau Gasol wants ball more in low post

“I would like to get a little more inside, myself,” Gasol told reporters after the game. “‘I always like to have different looks and be able to attack from different angles. The second half, I didn’t have one chance to attack from the post, so I was more of a facilitator.

“I got two jumpers, open, that I missed, and that was all the opportunities that I had.”

In this new offense (i.e. not the triangle), Andrew Bynum sits in the low post and Gasol further away from the basket and his job is to facilitate plays. All of which is fine for the soft-spoken Spaniard, but he wants a few more touches inside the paint.

— Reported by Janis Carr of the Orange County Register Blog

Suns may let Robin Lopez become free agent

When the Suns selected Robin Lopez 15th overall in the 2008 draft, he was considered the franchise’s center of the future.

His future with the Suns now appears it will be left to July free agency. The Suns have until Wednesday to come to a contract extension with Lopez but that appears unlikely. Lopez would then become a restricted free agent on July 1, meaning the Suns still could match any other team’s offer sheet to him.

Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said he has had several discussions with Lopez’s agent, Arn Tellem, to inquire about an extension.

“We have talked to see if there was any common ground worth pursuing and I’d say it’s unlikely at this time,” Babby said. “It’s been a completely amicable process. There really isn’t any basis for doing a deal and we’ll look at it again in the summer.”

— Reported by Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic

Timberwolves, Kevin Love still negotiating contract extension

We’re now not much more than a day away and counting on the NBA deadline for the Wolves to sign Kevin Love and the Wolves have yet to reach a deal on a contract extension with him.

One team source told me tonight that the Wolves are closing in on a five-year maximum contract deal that would pay him more than $78 million and despite such a forthcoming deal, David Kahn hasn’t won any brownie points with Love in this negotiation.

Another said that as of Monday afternoon, the team still hadn’t moved off its four-year, $61 million offer.

I still believe the Wolves will reach a deal with Love by 11 p.m. Wednesday and it will be that five-year “designated player” deal with Love.

— Reported by Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune Blog

Eric Gordon waiting for extension offer from Hornets

New Orleans Hornets guard Eric Gordon said he is waiting to learn whether NBA commissioner David Stern will grant him a contract extension before Wednesday’s deadline.

Gordon’s agent, Rob Pelinka, has engaged in recent contract talks with the Hornets’ front office, but hasn’t received an official offer. Gordon told Yahoo! Sports on Monday night he was informed by Hornets general manager Dell Demps that Stern must decide whether to extend an offer. The NBA owns the Hornets. Gordon wants to re-sign with New Orleans, but is uncertain if or when Stern will reach out to him or Pelinka.

“In terms of my contract extension, Dell Demps indicated that it’s out of his control and NBA commissioner David Stern has the last determination on the contract extension,” said Gordon, who will be a restricted free agent this summer if he doesn’t sign an extension.

— Reported by Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports

Spurs to retire Bruce Bowen’s jersey

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they will retire Bruce Bowen’s No. 12 jersey on Wednesday, March 21 when the Spurs host the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bowen’s No. 12 jersey will join James Silas’ No. 13, George Gervin’s No. 44, Johnny Moore’s No. 00, David Robinson’s No. 50, Sean Elliott’s No. 32 and Avery Johnson’s No. 6 in the rafters in the AT&T Center.

“Bruce Bowen was the premier perimeter defender in the NBA for close to a decade,” said Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich. “His success is proof that hard work and determination do, in fact, pay off. Statistics are meaningless when talking about his importance to this franchise. The simple fact is the Spurs don’t win NBA Championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007 without Bruce Bowen.”

Bowen joined the Spurs on July 31, 2001. He spent nine seasons (2001-09) in San Antonio and appeared in 630 games, one of just eight players to appear in 600-plus games with the Spurs. Bowen started in every game he played in for the Silver and Black, averaging 6.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 31.2 minutes.

The 6-7 guard out of Cal State Fullerton earned a spot on the NBA’s All-Defensive Team in eight of his nine seasons with the Spurs (was a second team selection in 2001, 2002 and 2003 before earning first team honors in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008). Bowen is one of five swingmen in NBA history to earn All-Defensive Team honors in eight-or-more straight seasons joining Scottie Pippen (10 straight from 1991-00), Bobby Jones (nine straight from 1977-85), John Havlicek (eight straight from 1969-76) and Michael Cooper (eight straight from 1981-88).

On Feb. 22, 2002, Bowen started a streak of 500 consecutive games played and started which lasted until March 14, 2008. The streak was the longest in the NBA at the time and is the longest in Spurs franchise history, surpassing Avery Johnson’s mark of 296 consecutive games.

Bowen ranks second on the Spurs all-time leaders list in three-pointers made (661) and attempted (1,632). He shot 40.5 percent from downtown during his nine seasons with the Silver and Black which ranks seventh all-time. In 2003-04 Bowen led the NBA in three-point shooting with a .441 (101-229) mark from downtown.

Bowen was a part of three NBA Championship teams with the Spurs. He appeared in 122 playoff games, averaging 6.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists. His .438 (161-368) shooting percentage from three-point range ranks second among Spurs all-time playoff leaders.

A leader on and off the court, Bowen earned the NBA’s Community Assist Award twice (March 2005 and January 2006) for his efforts in the San Antonio community. In 2004 Bowen launched GET FIT with Bruce and Buddy, a comprehensive program aimed towards fighting childhood obesity in San Antonio. Nearly 15,000 boys and girls participated in the program.

In 13 NBA seasons Bowen appeared in 873 regular season games, averaging 6.1 points, 2.8 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 27.6 minutes. After playing several seasons in France and the Continental Basketball Association, he made his NBA debut in 1996-97 with the Miami Heat. Bowen also saw action with the Boston Celtics (1997-99), Philadelphia 76ers (1999-2000) and made a return trip to Miami (2000-01) before eventually making his mark in San Antonio.

Cavs recall Christian Eyenga from D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have recalled guard/forward Christian Eyenga from the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today.

Eyenga was assigned to Canton on Jan. 4th and played in nine games (eight starts) with the Charge, averaging 8.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24.6 minutes per game. Eyenga has appeared in one game with the Cavaliers during the regular season, playing one minute against Charlotte on January 3.

B.J. Armstrong named to Chicago Park District Board

Former Bulls player B.J. Armstrong has a new gig — on the Chicago Park District Board.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel picked Armstrong to replace Bob Pickens, who played for the Chicago Bears in the 1960s.

Emanuel says Armstrong’s passion for sports and experience as an executive make him a good choice to serve on the board and help manage the district’s 580 parks.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Mavericks recall guard Dominique Jones from D-League

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have recalled guard Dominique Jones from the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League.

Jones (6-5, 215) has seen action in nine games for the Mavericks and was assigned to the Legends on Jan. 15. He played in three games while in Frisco and averaged 13.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 21.7 minutes per game.

Jones will join the team tonight when the Mavericks take on the Suns at 7:30 pm CT at the American Airlines Center.

Knicks recall Jerome Jordan and Jeremy Lin from D-League

New York Knickerbockers Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has recalled center Jerome Jordan and guard Jeremy Lin from the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League.

Jordan, 7-0, 240-pounds, appeared in two games for Erie, averaging 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.00 blocks over 32.5 minutes. For the Knicks, he has scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds over 29 minutes in six games.

Lin, 6-3, 200-pounds, posted a triple-double in his lone game with Erie, recording 28 points, 12 assists, 11 rebounds and two steals over 44 minutes in the Jan. 20 win at Maine. For the Knicks, he has recorded nine points, recorded two assists and two rebounds over 16 minutes in five games.

Josh McRoberts feels insulted that Pacers didn’t want to keep him

Josh McRoberts knew the odds were not good that his hometown team, the Indiana Pacers, would re-sign him during the offseason.

At the same time, McRoberts, who spent three seasons with the Pacers, felt “insulted” that they didn’t reach out to him or his agent once free agency started.

“I definitely felt insulted,” the Los Angeles Lakers forward said before Sunday’s game against the Pacers. “I knew they were going to try and make an improvement at the position. But in the meetings they told me they were going to try and bring me back if they could. If you’re going to say that, at least make a call.

“That made it harder on me because other teams were thinking what was wrong with me and how come the Pacers didn’t want me back. I feel like I gave a lot to the team.”

McRoberts averaged a career-high 7.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 72 games, including 51 starts, last season with the Pacers.

— Reported by Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star