NBA News Blog – Page 1247 – NBA Blog

Atlanta Hawks exercise option on Jeff Teague

The Atlanta Hawks have exercised the contract option for the 2012-13 season on guard Jeff Teague, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Rick Sund. Per team policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

Teague, the 19th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft out of Wake Forest, has seen action in 141 career regular season games for the Hawks averaging 4.2 ppg, 1.8 apg and 1.2 rpg (.420 FG%, .808 FT%).

He has also played in 17 career postseason contests, putting up 6.5 ppg, 1.9 apg and 1.1 rpg (.473 FG%, .826 FT%).

In last season’s Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the Bulls, Teague tallied 14.8 ppg, 4.2 apg and 2.8 rpg (.537 FG%, .842 FT%), starting all six games.

Spurs deny shopping Tony Parker

If the phone rings, you answer it. And assuming the voice on the other end of the phone is familiar, you say hello, and you listen to what the person says to you.

And that’s all the San Antonio Spurs say they’re doing in regard to star point guard Tony Parker.

Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News (blog) reports:

Responding to an internet report about discussions the Spurs have had regarding potential trades, Spurs general manager R.C. Buford on Wednesday denied that the club actively is seeking a trade that would involve All-Star point guard Tony Parker.

“We’re not shopping anyone,” Buford said, via text message. “We’ve received calls on a lot of our guys and we’ve answered the phone.”

YahooSports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Spurs had been “in discussions” with with Raptors and Kings for a deal involving Parker.

An executive of a team not involved in the discussions said he had no knowledge that the Spurs were seeking deals for Parker, but confirmed the belief they were “gauging the interest” of teams that called about him.

With Tim Duncan looking old and the Spurs championship window probably closing, I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Spurs scrap their team and rebuild. Though it’s still amazing how the team enjoyed a fantastic regular season, only to get upset by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.

Suns say they will not trade Steve Nash

Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic reports:

Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby had an emphatic response to a Wednesday morning espn.com report that the Suns have discussed trading Nash to Minnesota in a package for the No. 2 pick in Thursday’s draft. It came on the heels of denying another espn.com report that the Suns explored sending Marcin Gortat to Minnesota.

“We are not trading Marcin Gortat. Period. End of sentence,” Babby said Wednesday morning. “We are not trading Steve Nash. Period. Exclamation point.”

The espn.com article did note how doubtful it is that Nash would be dealt to Minnesota, a 17-65 team last season, based on the presumption that Nash would want to play for a contender if he asked for a trade and that the Suns would abide.

Bobcats forward Boris Diaw picks up $9 million option

The AP reports:

Charlotte Bobcats forward Boris Diaw has exercised his player option for next season that will pay him $9 million.

Agent Doug Neustadt said Tuesday they informed the Bobcats of the decision earlier this week.

Diaw said after the season that with the potential labor uncertainty this summer, it was a “no-brainer” to pick up the option and avoid becoming a free agent until 2012.

Dirk Nowitzki may join German national team this summer

The Dallas Morning News reports:

Dirk Nowitzki is considering joining the German national team this summer to help their chances of qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Nowitzki told ESPN 103.3 FM on Tuesday that he would decide within a few weeks.

Germany must finish among the top six of the 24 teams at the EuroBasket tournament to be eligible to qualify for the next Olympics.

David Kahn says no to any Kevin Love or Ricky Rubio trade

Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports:

“Absolutely not, no ifs ands or buts,” Kahn said. “Kevin will be on this team next year and I expect Kevin, as I’ve said numerous times, to be on this team for many, many years. I see him as being a very important part of our future.”

He took the same stance on Rubio, even though it’s conceivable Cleveland could take Arizona’s Derrick Williams first in Thursday’s NBA draft. That would leave Duke point guard Kyrie Irving available two days after the Wolves welcomed Rubio to the franchise.

“Ricky Rubio will not be traded by the Timberwolves,” Kahn said. “You can go to sleep on it. He’s here for a long, long time.”

Grizzlies rejecting offers for Rudy Gay

Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports:

The Griz are reluctant to part with players in their rotation, according to a source with knowledge of Heisley’s thinking. Heisley has swiftly rejected any trade offers for Gay. He’s also panned deals for O.J. Mayo because they haven’t presented a significant upgrade over the third-year guard.

Heisley is said to have informed the Grizzlies’ front office that he will no longer sign off on any deals he perceives as cheap, like the failed February transaction that would have sent Mayo to Indiana for forward Josh McRoberts and a first-round pick.

However, the Griz have gauged interest in Mayo, and he appears to be the player most likely to be moved this summer if offers for him improve.

Rumor: Bucks discussing a Ersan Ilyasova trade

Gery Woelfel of the Journal Times reports:

For the last several days, there have been rumors the Bucks were seriously exploring the possibility of moving back from their No. 10 position in Thursday night’s NBA draft.

Bucks general manager John Hammond conceded he’s had on-going discussions with several teams but declined to go into details. There has been widespread speculation the Bucks have had in-depth talks with the Houston Rockets, who have two first-round picks — Nos. 24 and 23 — and are desperately trying to move up in an attempt to select a much-needed center.

But it appears discussions between the Bucks and Rockets involve more than just exchanging picks. The scuttlebutt is both teams are receptive to swapping players as well.

The teams have tossed around different trade scenarios with Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova being prominently mentioned.

Spero Dedes to become Knicks broadcaster

Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register reports:

Spero Dedes had hoped in April a deal would work out for him to move from radio to the Lakers’ TV job. But things changed during negotiations that included Dedes wanting to continue periodic work for CBS on the NFL and college basketball and other national jobs — and Dedes is instead headed to be a radio and TV play-by-play man for the New York Knicks, who will allow him to do some national work.

“We had a verbal agreement with Spero to be our new TV play-by-play announcer,” Lakers spokesman John Black said. “However, prior to getting a finalized contract, he had a change of heart and decided to pursue another job.”

Golden State Warriors president Robert Rowell leaves organization

Joe Lacob, co-Executive Chairman and CEO of the Golden State Warriors, announced today that President Robert Rowell has elected to step down from his position as top executive of the club’s business operations to pursue other business endeavors. The 2010-11 NBA season marked Rowell’s eighth season as the team’s president, and 16th overall with the NBA franchise.

As part of the mutual agreement Rowell will remain on an interim basis to assist Lacob and co-owner Peter Guber in their transition, as an executive search for his replacement will begin immediately.

“Peter and I felt that this was really the right time to mutually come to this decision,” Lacob said. “Bob Rowell has done a good job running the business side of this organization for many years. He has been extremely professional and diligent since the first day that we met him in the acquisition process. We spent a lot of time evaluating this decision and believe that now is the appropriate time for the new ownership team to put our complete stamp on the entire organization.

I want to personally thank Bob for 16 years of commitment to this organization. We believe that previous ownership really put him in a publicly challenging position over the past few years and I have a great deal of respect for how he has conducted himself as a professional.”

“I am thankful for the opportunity to have worked with the best, brightest and most dedicated staff in professional sports,” Rowell said. “Together we were able to achieve many of our business objectives and goals, and laid the framework for some of the future success of this franchise. I also want to thank the many great Warriors fans, as well as the many Bay Area business and community partners, for their unconditional support of Warriors Basketball.

I wish Joe and Peter all the best in their quest to raise the next banner at Oracle Arena, and know that great things lay ahead for this franchise under their commitment and leadership.”