Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Doc Rivers downplays possibility of leaving Celtics after season

Julian Benbow of the Boston Globe reports:

Doc Rivers downplays possibility of leaving Celtics

Celtics coach Doc Rivers downplayed the report that he was considering leaving the team at season’s end. He said he evaluates his future with the team each summer, taking into consideration his family more than anything else. He acknowledged, however, that this year has been a difficult one, challenging him to find ways to motivate a team plagued by injuries and inconsistency.

“I would say what I’ve said for the last three years,” Rivers said. “This is old news. I don’t think about it to be honest.”

Bulls issue statement on Del Negro, Paxson incident

STATEMENT FROM GAR FORMAN

The Chicago Bulls are focusing all of our energies into the remainder of this season and, as such, were disappointed at the recent stories that may have distracted from that.  Reports of a recent internal disagreement between a Bulls executive and the Bulls head coach were the result of each expressing their passion about the health and well being of their players and the desire to win basketball games.

The event occurred in Coach Del Negro’s office, not in the locker room and not in front of the players, as some wrongly have reported. This disagreement, while not communicated well by either party in the heat of the moment and in the immediate aftermath of a tough loss, was a result of conflicting views, but all based on the fine balance required to ensure both the immediate and long-term success of the team and the health of its players.  The fans well know that the Bulls are dedicated to the team’s day-to-day success, but first and foremost want to protect the health and well being of its players.

The Bulls have a full and complete understanding of what took place, but, as requested by all parties, will address the attendant issues with the participants after the season is over. At this point, everyone intends to keep focused on the remaining games.  

Celtics sign Tony Gaffney and Oliver Lafayette

The Boston Celtics announced today that the club has signed free agent forward Tony Gaffney and free agent guard Oliver Lafayette to contracts.  Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

“We believe that both of these players have good potential to help us in the future and we are looking forward to evaluating them during the summer,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.

Gaffney, a 6’8”, 205 lbs forward, most recently played for Altshuler Saham Galil Galboa in Israel and appeared in one game scoring two points and grabbing two rebounds before his season ended prematurely due to a foot injury. The former UMass Minuteman and Massachusetts native averaged 11.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game as a senior in college.  He was named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year that season (2008-09) and was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Second Team and Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team.

Lafayette, a 6’2”, 190 lbs guard, appeared in 48 games for Fort Wayne of the NBA Development League this season and posted averages of 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 38% from three-point range and 80% from the free throw line. Lafayette ranked 10th in the Development League in steals per game and ranked ninth in assists per game this past season. He recently was named an NBA Development League Co-Performer of the Week for the last week of the D-League season, and averaged 26.4 points, 8.0 assists and 6.4 rebounds over his last seven games.

NBA will discuss issue of players resting

The AP reports:

David Stern says the issue of players resting at the end of the regular season will be discussed among NBA executives, though he doesn’t see anything coming of it.

The commissioner says he is “troubled by it, because it would be our preference that healthy players play,” but says the decision is one that has always been left up to the teams.

InsideHoops.com Says:

I totally understand NBA teams about to enter the playoffs wanting to make sure their key players are healthy for the post-season. But of course, fans who are paying big ticket prices for games want to see good action, and not the bench guys playing while star players barely break a sweat or sit out entirely. But that’s just how it is. Fans going to the last few games of the regular season simply need to know that depending on a team’s situation, a key star or two may not be out there.

Don Nelson to continue coaching Warriors in 2010-11

ESPN reports:

Don Nelson to continue coaching Warriors in 2010-11

Don Nelson will be back on the Golden State bench next season.

Nelson reiterated before Tuesday night’s final home game against the Jazz he would return next season to fulfill the final year of his contract for the Warriors, and general manager Larry Riley said that would be the case barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Last week in Minnesota, Nelson earned his 1,333rd victory to move him past Lenny Wilkens for the top spot on the NBA’s wins list.

So, why come back at all for one more year? Nelson, who turns 70 on May 15, likes his young players and wants to keep helping them develop.

Timberwolves sign Greg Stiemsma

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed 6-11 center Greg Stiemsma for the remainder of the 2009-10 season and for the 2010-11 season. Per team policy, terms of the contract offer were not disclosed.

Stiemsma, 24, played with the NBADL’s Sioux Falls Skyforce this past season, averaging 8.8 points (.541 shooting), 7.1 rebounds and a league-leading 3.6 blocks in 45 games (44 starts). In three playoffs games for Sioux Falls, Stiemsma averaged 15.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks. He played in one game for Sioux Falls during the 2008-09 season.

Stiemsma played at the University of Wisconsin from 2004 through 2008, averaging 2.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 95 games. He finished fifth on Wisconsin’s all-time blocked shots list with 96.

Rockets assign Mike Harris to D-League

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has assigned forward Mike Harris to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Harris, who earned his third Call-Up of the season from Rio Grande Valley on Mar. 24, will join the Vipers for their decisive Quarterfinals Game Three against the Reno Bighorns.

Harris (6-6, 235, Rice) averaged a league-leading 27.1 points (.582, 363-624 FG), 10.5 rebounds (third in D-League), 1.9 assists and 1.18 steals in 34 games (31 starts) with the Vipers. He also finished eighth in the D-League with 18 double-doubles. Harris earned NBA D-League Player of the Month for Jan. 2010 and was named the NBA D-League Performer of the Week two times this season (Jan. 11-17 and Mar. 8-14). He was also named to the D-League’s 2010 Western Conference All-Star Team. Harris scored a career-high 48 points (second-highest total in Vipers history) with a career-best 24 rebounds (tied a Vipers franchise record) at Dakota (1/17/10).

In eight games with Houston, Harris averaged 3.1 points and 2.5 rebounds. Harris led the Rockets with a career-best eight rebounds at Oklahoma City (3/24/10), adding seven points (3-9 FG), a career-high-tying two steals, one assist and one block in 26:12 of action off the bench.

Kobe Bryant sitting out last two regular season games

Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times reports:

The text message arrived on Phil Jackson’s cellphone Sunday at 8 p.m., a few hours after the Lakers’ latest loss.

Kobe Bryant wanted to sit out the last two regular-season games.

It was somewhat surprising, seeing how Bryant had just told reporters he wanted to continue playing because “you can’t rest too much … you get rusty,” but then came the text, eventually followed by the Lakers’ official announcement Monday afternoon that Bryant won’t play another game until the playoff opener because of his broken right index finger.

Texas D-League team has name: The Legends

The sporting world can now add an entire roster of Texas Legends to the history books: The newest NBA D-League franchise has a team name!

The Texas Legends begin play this November at their home in the Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas.  Team owners, Donnie Nelson and Evan Wyly, revealed their team name during a “Birthday Party” press conference just prior to the Harlem Globetrotters game on Saturday evening.

“Texas Legends is a tribute to the men and women who helped make our great state what it is today!” Nelson commented.  “From early pioneers of freedom to modern day heroes, we celebrate those who’ve sacrificed greatly and achieved the honorable.”

The team is “Legendary”  even prior to drafting players.  Nelson and Wyly made history by hiring Nancy Lieberman as the Texas Legends’ head coach.  Lieberman is the first female head coach in NBA and NBA D-League history.  In addition to Lieberman, 1986 Slam Dunk Champion, “Spud” Webb is the team’s President of Basketball Operations, and NBA coaching legend Del Harris is the team’s General Manager.

“Our team name, Texas Legends, is a great fit because the NBA Development League is where future NBA legends are born!” Wyly added.

Thousands of name submissions came from the Metroplex, all corners of the United States, and even as far away as Europe, China, and Australia.  Fans sent in name choices which were then narrowed down to 40, and then a final three candidates.

“We’ve got a Legendary staff, and we will have a Legendary franchise,” Webb commented.  “Anytime a new franchise announces its team name it is a historic day, but to have such a unique name makes it even more exciting.  We’ve gotten off to a great start the past few months, and now with a team name it’s going to be a slam dunk.”

The Texas Legends is the 17th team in the NBA D-League franchise.

“The Texas Legends will be a franchise that is a tremendous opportunity for any player.” Harris concluded.  “This is the purpose of the NBA Development League – developing players both on and off the court – and preparing them for an NBA opportunity.  As a Texas Legend, you get the opportunity to become an NBA legend.”