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Los Angeles Clippers forward Craig Smith underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure today on his right knee. He is scheduled to be sidelined from four to six weeks.
Smith, who averaged 7.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 16.4 minutes in 75 games played with Los Angeles last season, was re-signed by the Clippers as a free agent on July 20th.
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The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent guard Eddie House. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
House has appeared in 661 career games (30 starts) with nine teams over 10 seasons. During his career, he has averaged 7.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 17.3 minutes while shooting 41.0 percent from the field, 39.0 percent from three-point range and 84.1 percent from the foul line. During the 2009-10 season, House averaged 7.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 17.9 minutes, while shooting 38.0 percent from the field and 92.3 percent from the foul line in 68 games for the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.
House, who marks his second stint with the Heat, was originally drafted by Miami with the 37th pick in the 2000 NBA Draft. He spent three seasons with the Heat before signing with the L.A. Clippers as a free agent. He was traded by the Clippers after one season, and spent the following season with the Charlotte Bobcats, Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings. He then spent one year with the Phoenix Suns, and another with the New Jersey Nets. He played with the Boston Celtics for the following two seasons, where he won an NBA Championship in 2008. This past season, he spent time between the Celtics (50 games) and the New York Knicks (18 games).
The Denver Nuggets announced today that the contracts of executives Rex Chapman and Mark Warkentien will not be extended for the 2010-11 NBA season.
“Mark and Rex have played important roles in our success over the past several seasons,” KSE Executive Vice President Paul Andrews said. “However, after meeting with both individually in recent weeks, we decided it would be best for all parties to go their separate ways. We appreciate everything that each has done for the organization and wish them nothing but the very best in the future.
“We are in the process of evaluating and restructuring the Nuggets front office and have begun a search for possible replacements as we prepare for the upcoming season.”
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The Orlando Magic have re-signed free agent guard Jason Williams, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.
“Jason (Williams) played very well for us last season,” said Smith. “He provides veteran leadership to our backcourt and knows what it takes to win. We are happy to have him back on our team.”
Williams (#44, 6’1”, 190, 11/18/75) played in all 82 games last season for the Magic, averaging 6.0 ppg., 3.6 apg. and 1.5 rpg. in 20.8 minpg., while shooting .380 (84-221) from three-point range. He started in 18 outings, averaging 8.6 ppg., 5.1 apg., 2.7 rpg. and 1.11 stlpg. in 29.6 minpg. during that span. Williams ranked seventh in the NBA in assists-to-turnover ratio (3.43, 298/87). He also appeared in all 14 playoff games, averaging 2.6 ppg. and 1.6 apg. in 13.7 minpg.
Originally selected in the first round (seventh overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft, Williams has played in 761 career NBA regular season games with Sacramento, Memphis, Miami and Orlando, averaging 10.8 ppg., 6.0 apg., 2.3 rpg. and 1.21 stlpg. in 30.1 minpg. He has also played in 67 career playoff contests, averaging 8.3 ppg., 3.3 apg. and 1.9 rpg. in 25.9 minpg. Williams was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1998-99, currently stands as Memphis’ all-time leader in assists (2,041) and helped Miami capture the 2005-06 NBA Championship.
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The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed guard Von Wafer. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Wafer, a 6’5” guard, has posted NBA career averages of 6.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 13.3 minutes per game. Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 39th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, Wafer posted his best statistical season when he was with Houston for the 2008-09 campaign. He posted career-highs with 9.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game. He also shot a career-high 39.0% from three-point land. Wafer made 11 starts for the Rockets during that season and he averaged 16.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in those contests.
Brian McIntyre, who has directed the NBA Communications Department and later the Basketball Communications Department, since 1981, is stepping down from daily oversight to become Senior Communications Advisor to Commissioner David Stern, the NBA announced today.
A 32-year NBA veteran, McIntyre joined the NBA office under then-Commissioner Larry O’Brien and is the longest-serving league office executive hired by Stern.
“Brian has made numerous and invaluable contributions to the growth and success of the NBA, the WNBA, the NBA Development League and USA Basketball over his distinguished career,” said Stern. “Although he will be stepping down from his broad responsibilities, I am pleased that he has agreed to continue to make his skills and experience available to the NBA, albeit on a less intensive basis.”
“It has been a privilege and an honor to have worked in the NBA the last 30-plus years,” said McIntyre. “I’ve enjoyed immensely working with our teams and media and have had the incredible fortune to have worked with so many talented and dedicated individuals. I want to thank David and so many others for the incredible journey, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to the NBA and the game of basketball in my new role.”
The NBA also announced that Tim Frank, a 16-year NBA veteran – the last seven at the NBA as Vice President, Basketball Communications – has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Basketball Communications and will now oversee NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League basketball communications efforts, while Mike Bass, Senior Vice President, Marketing Communications, will continue to oversee all business and marketing communications for the NBA, WNBA, and NBA Development League and related initiatives.
“Tim is one of the best communications executives in any business,” said McIntyre. “He has great people skills, great instincts and a love of the profession and the game. This promotion is a great recognition of what he has done, and will continue to do, for the NBA.”
McIntyre was hired by the NBA in November 1981 as Director of Public Relations after three and a half years as Director of Marketing and Media Information for the Chicago Bulls. He was promoted to Vice President, Public Relations in March 1989. Under McIntyre, the Public Relations Department expanded to become the Communications Group, and he was named Senior Vice President in November 1997.
He has overseen public relations activities for every major NBA event since 1982, including The Finals, NBA All-Star, the NBA Draft Lottery, the McDonald’s Open and other events. He was involved in the launch of both the WNBA and the NBA D-League. He developed and implemented many of the communications policies and procedures currently in place for all three leagues. McIntyre also created numerous awards, including the Defensive Player of the Year award, the Sixth Man award and the Most Improved Player award. He was responsible for initiating White House visits by NBA Championship teams, creating a media training program for players, instituting the use of satellite postgame feeds at major events, and a host of other initiatives. In conjunction with USA Basketball, McIntyre has been actively involved in public relations planning, activities and onsite execution of the 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics and the 1994, 2002 and 2006 World Championships of Basketball.
A graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, McIntyre has served as a member of the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) News Council and the USA Basketball Media Advisory Committee. He was inducted into the Loyola (IL) Academy Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999 and was honored with a Merit Award by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) in 2009. The Professional Basketball Writers Association (PBWA) honored McIntyre in 2010 when the organization named its annual team media relations tribute the Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award. McIntyre serves on the Board of Advisors for Loyola University’s School of Communications.
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The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has waived guard Delonte West.
As a result of this move, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune the Wolves now only have to pay $500,000 of his $4.6 million contract.
West was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers along with Sebastian Telfair in exchange for Ryan Hollins and Ramon Sessions on July 26.
Last season for the Cavs, West averaged 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.
For his career, he averages 10.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals.
Despite personal and legal issues, West is still expected to find a new NBA job in the near future.
Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.
The New Jersey Nets have unveiled a new alignment of their scouting department for the 2010-11 season, General Manager Billy King announced today. According to King, Gregg Polinsky will remain in his position as director of player personnel, with former assistant coach Roy Rogers tabbed as advance scout. Jordan Cohn, Maury Hanks and Khalid Green will remain with the team as scouts, and will be joined by Bob Ferry and Frank Zanin. Danko Cvjeticanin was named as the team’s new international scouting coordinator.
Gregg Polinsky (Director of Player Personnel): Gregg Polinsky returns for his third season as director of player personnel and 12th overall with the Nets. Polinsky joined the Nets as a scout in 1999 and was promoted as the team’s director of scouting in 2005.
Roy Rogers (Advance Scout): Roy Rogers will begin his first season as the team’s advance scout, following two seasons on the Nets bench as an assistant coach. In his new role, Rogers will be responsible for scouting the team’s upcoming opponents throughout the season and working closely with the coaching staff to develop a game plan.
Maury Hanks (Scout): Maury Hanks returns for his 13th season as a scout for the Nets. Prior to joining the Nets, Hanks served as an assistant coach for seven years at UC Santa Barbara, Clemson, San Diego State and Drake.
Jordan Cohn (Pro Scout): Jordan Cohn returns for his seventh season as a scout for the Nets. Cohn previously served as director of pro player personnel for the NY Knicks and coordinator of basketball information and technology for the Miami Heat. He authored eight volumes of ‘Rick Barry’s Pro Basketball Scouting Report’ and started his own scouting service, charting individual player tendencies, which was used by several NBA teams in the 90’s.
Bob Ferry (Scout): Bob Ferry joins the Nets after most recently serving as a scout for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Following a 10 year NBA playing career, Ferry worked as an assistant coach and then general manager for the Washington Bullets from 1973-1990, twice being named NBA Executive of the Year.
Frank Zanin (Pro Scout): Frank Zanin brings 11 years of NBA experience to the Nets, spending nine seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers from 1999-2008. During his time with Philadelphia, Zanin served in a number of capacities, including video coordinator, assistant coach/advance scout and personnel scout.
Khalid Green (Scout): Khalid Green will enter his third season as a scout for the Nets. Prior to joining the Nets, Green served as the head coach of Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn, NY.
Danko Cvjeticanin (International Scouting Coordinator): Danko Cvjeticanin comes to the Nets after serving as the European scouting coordinator for the Philadelphia 76ers. As a player, Cvjeticanin won two Olympic silver medals, representing the Yugoslavian (1988) and Croatian (1992) national teams.
KREM 2 Sports reports:
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Former Washington State star Kyle Weaver will continue his basketball career in Israel.
Weaver, who was waived by Oklahoma City on Friday, signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv on Monday. The terms of the contract were not released.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:
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Two days after Zydrunas Ilgauskas took out an ad in The Plain Dealer to thank the fans of Cleveland for their support, LeBron James placed a similar ad in the Beacon-Journal in Akron.
The ad, which runs on the back of the paper’s front section, also features photos of James from Akron events…
While James praised his hometown of Akron, he made no mention of Cleveland, where he played at Quicken Loans Arena for seven years as a member of the Cavs.