NBA News Blog – Page 1506 – NBA Blog

Detroit Shock will move to Tulsa, Oklahoma

The Detroit Shock will relocate to Tulsa, Okla., and will be owned by a group of investors led by Oklahoma businessmen Bill Cameron and David Box, WNBA President Donna Orender announced today. The sale and move are pending WNBA Board of Governors approval.

Nolan Richardson will become the team’s general manager and head coach.

“We are thrilled to have a team in Tulsa with such a strong championship pedigree, and we look forward to continuing the tradition of success that has been its hallmark,” said Cameron, lead investor and chairman of Tulsa Pro Hoops, LLC. “We are confident this team will make Tulsa proud, both on the court and in the community.”

Cameron is the chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors of American Fidelity Assurance Co., one of the nation’s largest private, family-owned life and health insurance companies. Box is founder of The Box Talent Agency, the largest talent agency in Oklahoma.

“The WNBA congratulates Bill and David,” said Orender. “We are confident that with their business acumen, passion for the game and commitment to the community, the team will achieve great things in Tulsa. At the same time, we are grateful to the Davidson family, the Pistons organization and the great fans in Detroit for helping us grow the game of women’s basketball.”

“This decision was one of the toughest we have ever made; it was not reached easily,” said Tom Wilson, President, Palace Sports and Entertainment. “The Shock has been a true force in the WNBA, but the fact of the matter is that the economic realities have caused us to make this decision. We deeply appreciate what the Shock have meant to Detroit and want to publicly thank the players, coaches and the entire organization for their class, commitment and championships. They represented Detroit well and we are delighted that they have found a new and exciting home in Tulsa. We are sure the fans in Tulsa will quickly embrace these dedicated players.”

During the Shock’s tenure in Detroit, the team appeared in four WNBA Finals, capturing three championships (2003, 2006 and 2008). This past season, the team finished 18-16 and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Richardson, former head coach of the men’s programs at the University of Arkansas and the University of Tulsa, guided both schools to championships. At Arkansas, he led the Razorbacks to the NCAA title in 1994 and a national runner-up finish the following season. Prior to that, Richardson took the Tulsa Golden Hurricane to the National Invitation Tournament title in 1981. He won more than 500 games at Tulsa and Arkansas.

Orlando Magic practice jerseys have sponsor

In a new multi-year agreement, Amway and the Orlando Magic have entered a partnership in which Amway will be the presenting sponsor of the Orlando Magic’s training camp as well as the season sponsor of the team’s practice jerseys. The Orlando Magic and Amway represent one of the first partnerships of this kind in the NBA, as this is the first season in which teams were granted clearance to have a sponsorship presence on their practice jerseys.

Amway was founded in 1959 by Magic owner Rich DeVos and his best friend, Jay Van Andel. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Amway is one of the world’s leading direct selling companies and now operates in more than 80 countries and territories around the world.

Earlier this year it was announced that the Orlando Magic and Amway would continue to build their partnership through the naming rights agreement of the new Amway Center. Amway Center will open in the fall of 2010 and compete to host major national events, concerts and family shows, while serving as the home to the Orlando Magic.

“The Orlando Magic is excited to further extend our partnership with Amway,” said Orlando Magic Chief Operating Officer Alex Martins. “There is certainly great pride in this unique partnership and Amway’s international business aligns perfectly with the worldwide popularity of the Magic, the NBA and its athletes. We are proud to have the Amway name on our practice jerseys as we work toward our goal of winning a championship.”

“This unique opportunity builds pride in the Amway business around the world,” said Amway Chief Marketing Officer Candace Matthews. “We’re looking forward to extending our partnership with the Orlando Magic. Both Amway and the Magic have fans around the world, and in both organizations, we are committed to the hard work it takes to succeed.”

Mavericks trade Nathan Jawai to Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has acquired 6-10 forward Nathan Jawai and cash considerations from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for a conditional second-round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. The pick is protected through the 55th draft position.

“Nathan is a young project who likely will add depth to our roster at his position,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operation. “We were contemplating this trade prior to Kevin Love’s hand injury, so this move is not intended to replace Kevin in the short term by any means. That would not be fair to Nathan. Rather, this move provided us an opportunity to work with a young player with size, and later determine if he could be a fit for us.”

Jawai, a native of Sydney, Australia, was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 41st overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft, and was subsequently traded to Toronto as part of the deal that sent Jermaine O’Neal to the Raptors. Jawai appeared in six games during his rookie season, playing a total of 19 minutes. He also appeared in 14 games for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA D-League, averaging 11.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while shooting 52.6 percent from the field.

Prior to entering the NBA Draft, Jawai played one season in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL), where he averaged 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game for the Cairns Taipans. Jawai was the 2007-08 NBL Rookie of the Year, the 2007 NBL All-Star Game MVP and earned All-NBL Second Team honors.

Don Nelson to use Acie Law as small forward

The Golden State Warriors have lots of talented small and medium-sized players, and not a lot of good big dudes. Which is why they tend to play small-ball. But coach Don Nelson tends to take that concept to a whole other level.

Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle reports:

The Warriors were already planning on playing small for stretches, but no one saw this coming. Nelson said this week that 6-foot-3, 202-pound Acie Law would get the majority of his minutes at small forward.

“He’s a natural there. He’s just small,” Nelson said. “But I think that’s about the only spot I have unless there’s an injury or something.”

Law is one of five point guards under contract with the Warriors.

A 6-foot-3, 202-pound player at small forward? I am 6-3 and around 205 pounds, which means in Don Nelson’s system I might be a slightly undersized power forward and play alongside “center” Corey Maggette.

Kevin Love out six weeks with broken left hand

The AP reports: Minnesota forward Kevin Love fractured a bone in his left hand during the Timberwolves’ 94-90 preseason loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday night and will likely miss about six weeks.

InsideHoops.com editor says: The report says Love’s hand hit Oleksiy Pecherov’s elbow, causing the injury. This obviously hurts the Timberwolves, who rely on Love as one of their key young building blocks. It puts even more pressure on Al Jefferson, who already receives huge attention from defenders.

Trail Blazers exercise four player options

The Portland Trail Blazers exercised their fourth-year option on center Greg Oden and third-year options on the contracts of guard/forward Rudy Fernandez, forward Nicolas Batum and guard Jerryd Bayless.

The moves, announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard, keep all four players under contract through the 2010-11 season.

Portland selected Oden with the No. 1 overall pick and acquired Fernandez via trade in the 2007 NBA Draft.

The Trail Blazers acquired Batum and Bayless in 2008 draft day trades.

NBA fines Stan Van Gundy for public criticism of replacement refs

Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy has been fined $35,000 for publicly criticizing game officials, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Van Gundy was fined for comments he made that appeared on Thursday, October 15.

The Orlando Magic have also been fined $35,000 for Van Gundy’s actions.

Reggie Evans sprains left foot

Raptors forward Reggie Evans sustained a left mid-foot sprain during the second quarter of Wednesday’s game against Boston in Hartford, Connecticut. No timetable has been set for his return to game action, although it is likely that he misses the remainder of the preseason.

Evans has averaged 7.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 16.8 minutes in five preseason games. He had a high of 11 points October 9 at Minnesota and nine rebounds October 7 versus Philadelphia.

LeBron James has the flu

The AP reports: LeBron James didn’t get any sympathy from his teammates when he came back to work after spending two days sick in bed. They ran the other way. “You come back around and everyone is like, ‘Ugh, you got the cooties,'” James said Thursday. “They don’t want to be around you.” James and two Cleveland teammates have tested positive for Influenza A, and are being treated as if they have the H1N1 virus by the Cavaliers, who are being proactive in dealing with a flu bug that already has sickened six players.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Maybe LeBron is faking it because he was afraid of having to see DeShawn Stevenson’s crazy tattoos.

Flip Murray out for rest of preseason

The Charlotte Bobcats announced today that guard Ronald “Flip” Murray will miss the remainder of the team’s preseason games due to a left shin injury. Murray missed Monday’s preseason game at Atlanta with inflammation in that area. He was evaluated on Tuesday by team physician Dr. Glenn Perry, who concluded that Murray shows early signs of a stress reaction.

No timetable has been set for his return and the team will continue to monitor and limit his activity until the injury improves. During his senior season at Shaw University (2000), Murray suffered a stress fracture and had a steel rod placed in the tibia bone.

The Bobcats will travel to Los Angeles this weekend to take on the Lakers on Saturday, Oct. 17, and either the Clippers or Utah Jazz on Sunday, Oct. 18, at Staples Center.