NBA News Blog – Page 1384 – NBA Blog

Timberwolves sign Nikola Pekovic

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed center Nikola Pekovic. Per team policy, terms of the contract offer were not disclosed.

“We are excited to have Nikola join the Minnesota Timberwolves,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “Nikola has been regarded as the best center in Europe for the past few seasons and will be a tremendous addition to our club. He is a tough, hard-nosed player who brings an added dimension of physicality to our team. We look forward to him bringing his talents to the United States and the NBA.”

Pekovic, 24, has played for Panathinaikos Athens for the past two seasons. This past year, the 6-11 center from Serbia averaged 14.8 points on 60.7% shooting from the field, 3.5 rebounds and 16.8 minutes in 13 games in the Euroleague. In 26 games for Panathinaikos in the Greek League in 2009-10, Pekovic averaged 12.9 points on 72.5% shooting, 3.8 rebounds and 21.9 minutes. He helped lead Panathinaikos to the Euroleague championship in 2009, the Greek League championship in 2009 and 2010 and the Greek Basketball Cup in 2009. Pekovic was named to the All-Euroleague First Team in 2009.

The 31st overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by Minnesota, Pekovic has played professionally overseas for five seasons. Prior to playing for Panathinaikos, he was with Partizan Belgrade from 2005-08. Pekovic helped lead Partizan to three Serbian League championships (2006, 2007, 2008), two Adriatic League championships (2007, 2008) and the Serbian Cup in 2008. He was the Adriatic League Final Four MVP in 2008.

Heat re-sign Kenny Hasbrouck

The Miami Heat announced today that they have re-signed guard Kenny Hasbrouck. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hasbrouck played in five games (five starts) for the Heat’s 2010 summer league squad, averaging 13.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 28.6 minutes, while shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 45.0 percent from three-point range.

Hasbrouck was previously signed by the Heat to a 10-day contract on March 16, 2010 and then was signed to a second 10-day contract on March 26, 2010. He re-signed for the remainder of the season on April 5, 2010, but did not appear in a game for the team last season. Before signing with Miami, he appeared in 10 games (nine starts) with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League averaging 16.9 points, 2.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.60 steals in 32.3 minutes of action, leading the team to a 7-3 record, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three-point range and 80.6 percent from the free throw line.

Blazers trying to trade Rudy Fernandez

Jason Quick of The Oregonian reports:

At the urging of Rudy Fernandez and his agent, the Trail Blazers have engaged in accelerated trade discussions to deal the disgruntled, once-popular shooting guard to one of three Eastern Conference teams.

Boston, Chicago and New York are all in the running to land the 6-foot-6 Spaniard, who set an NBA rookie record two seasons ago by making 159 three-pointers.

Fernandez, 25, is unhappy in Portland because of limited playing time behind All-Star Brandon Roy and because of the playing style of coach Nate McMillan, who primarily used Fernandez as an outside shooter, not the playmaker Fernandez believes he can be in the NBA.

Fernandez has two years remaining on his contract, which will pay him $1.25 million next season. The Blazers acquired Fernandez, along with James Jones, from Phoenix for cash considerations on draft night 2007. Fernandez signed with Portland in July 2008, ending his seven-year career in the Spanish ACB League.

Jonny Flynn out 3-4 months

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jonny Flynn underwent successful surgery this morning for a labral tear repair and removal of extra bone to his left hip. The procedure was performed by Dr. Marc Philippon of The Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo. The typical recovery time for this type of injury is three to four months.

“We expect Jonny to make a full recovery from this procedure,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “In the meantime, Dr. Philippon and our medical staff will work together to provide Jonny all the resources necessary to make his recovery as speedy as possible.”

In his 81 appearances during the 2009-10 NBA season, Flynn averaged 13.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.

Matt Barnes ecstatic to be a Laker

Janis Carr of the Orange County Register reports (via blog):

“This is a lifelong dream to be a Laker,” Matt Barnes said at his introductory news conference Tuesday. “Growing up in California in the 1980’s, you had no choice but to love Laker basketball. I grew up a huge Showtime fan … Magic, Worthy, Kareem, Byron Scott. It’s come full circle now. I’ve had a hell of a road to get here, but I’m very happy to be a Laker.

“I just felt this was the best situation for myself and my family to succeed … historic franchise, coming off two championships looking for the third, I just felt that this was a good fit.”

Reports of Chris Paul courtship draws memo from NBA

ESPN.com reports:

The NBA issued an unexpected, leaguewide memorandum to its teams Tuesday to remind them about tampering regulations and specifically warn them about illegal contact with Chris Paul.

ESPN.com learned that the memo spells out that “no team should be having communications with Chris Paul or his agent or representative about a potential trade for Paul that have not been authorized in advance by the New Orleans Hornets.” …

The memo, sources said, also threatens penalties for any such communications that could potentially include “suspension of the offending person, prohibition of the offending team from hiring the person being tampered with, forfeiture of draft picks and individual and/or team fines of up to $5 million.”

Rockets expect Yao Ming to be ready for training camp

The following statement was released today by Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey regarding Yao Ming’s return from foot surgery:

“Yao Ming is working diligently on his return and has consistently received positive feedback at each of his scheduled medical checkups. He is currently participating in on-court basketball workouts and we continue to expect him to be ready for the start of training camp which begins on September 25th.”

Heat re-sign Shavlik Randolph

The Miami Heat announced today that they have re-signed free agent forward Shavlik Randolph. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Randolph has appeared in 95 career NBA games (seven starts), averaging 2.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 8.3 minutes while shooting 44.7 percent from the field. He appeared in six games for the Heat and Portland Trail Blazers during the 2009-10 season, and averaged 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 8.8 minutes.

The Duke University alum was previously signed by the Heat as a free agent on September 28, 2009 and after appearing in two games, was later waived on December 14, 2009. He was then signed by Portland on December 30, 2009, appearing in three games for the Trail Blazers and was waived on January 6, 2010. Portland then signed Randolph to a 10-day contract on January 8. He re-signed with the Heat on April 6, 2010.

76ers arena now named Wells Fargo Center

Comcast-Spectacor, owner and operator of the Wachovia Center, is changing the name of the 21,000-seat home of the Philadelphia Flyers and 76ers, to the Wells Fargo Center, effective immediately, to reflect the name change in the financial institution, it was announced today by Comcast-Spectacor President Peter Luukko.

“As the owner and operator of the arena, Comcast-Spectacor is honoring the contract as it was agreed upon with the bank that the successor shall keep the naming rights of the facility,” said Luukko. “Therefore, we will change the name of the arena to reflect the name change from Wachovia to Wells Fargo and continue to operate the arena as the world class facility which it has become.”

Workers will begin removing the Wachovia Center sign from the arena on Tuesday, July 27. The transition from Wachovia Center to Wells Fargo Center, which includes replacing all signs, is expected to be completed by Tuesday, September 14, when Lady Gaga performs the first of two sold out shows at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Wells Fargo Center will host the NCAA Wrestling Championships in March of 2011, as well as the 2013 NCAA Men’s First and Second Round Basketball Games, and the 2014 NCAA Frozen Four.

Since its opening on August 31, l996, the Wells Fargo Center has put Philadelphia on the map by hosting major national attractions such as the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, the 1997 and 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Finals, the 1998 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the 1999 American Hockey League All-Star Weekend, the 2000 Women’s NCAA Final Four, the 2000 Republican National Convention, the 2001 NCAA Men’s East Regional, 2001 NBA Finals, the 2001 and 2002 X-Games, the 2002 NBA All-Star Weekend, the 2005 AHL Calder Cup Finals, the 2006 and 2009 NCAA Men’s First and Second Round Basketball Games.

Coaching not in Kobe Bryant`s future

Reuters reports:

Although retirement is still a long way away for the 31-year-old guard, Kobe Bryant has clearly given thought to what he does not want to do when his playing days are over — coach.

“No. Absolutely not. No, no, no,” he said.

“Being a coach is too frustrating for me. I like coaching kids and holding training clinics for the kids. But to be a coach from the regular season to the playoffs … I have no interest at all.”