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G League: Joe Wolf named head coach of Greensboro Swarm

The Charlotte Hornets have named Joe Wolf head coach of their G League team, the Greensboro Swarm. Wolf becomes the second head coach in franchise history.

“We are excited to have Coach Wolf join our organization,” Kupchak said. “Joe has a wealth of experience at the collegiate and professional level and knows what it takes to develop young players. Coach Wolf will be an integral part of the program we are building. He is familiar with the region’s passion for basketball and we are excited for him to lead the Swarm in Greensboro.”

Wolf, 53, joins the Swarm after being an assistant coach at UNC Wilmington under C.B. McGrath. Prior to UNCW, Wolf was an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets (2014-17) and Milwaukee Bucks (2008-13). In total, Wolf brings over 14-years coaching experience to the job.

“I am thrilled to be the head coach of the Greensboro Swarm and join the Hornets organization,” Wolf said. “I want to thank Michael Jordan, the Jordan family, Mitch Kupchak, Buzz Peterson and James Borrego for giving me this opportunity in the G League. I am looking forward to developing young players, implementing Coach Borrego’s system and playing an exciting brand of basketball. I cannot wait to get to work.”

A native of Kohler, Wisconsin, began his coaching career after playing professionally for 11 seasons in 2003-04 at William & Mary. Wolf was the head coach for the Idaho Stampede of the Continental Basketball Association from 2004-06 before becoming the head coach/general manager of the Colorado 14ers in the NBA Development League (2006-08). During his tenure with Idaho and Colorado, 17 players were called up to the NBA. At the international level, Wolf served as an assistant coach the Ukrainian National Team, helping the court qualify for the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

Wolf played for seven franchises since being drafted as the No. 13 overall selection in the 1987 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. Including two stints with the Hornets, he played for the Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks. He also played one season in Spain’s top league, the ACB, with Leon.

Heat re-sign Udonis Haslem

The Miami Heat have re-signed forward Udonis Haslem.

“It’s great to have our captain back,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “We’re looking forward to having UD back for his 16th season with the HEAT.”

Haslem, a three-time NBA Champion, has played his entire 15-year NBA career with the HEAT and currently holds the second-longest streak by any active player with only one team in the league. He has appeared in 844 career regular season games (498 starts) averaging 7.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 25.4 minutes while shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 75.5 percent from the foul line. The Miami native is the franchise all-time leader in offensive, defensive and total rebounds and also ranks among the HEAT’s all-time leaders in games played (2nd), starts (2nd), minutes (2nd), double-doubles (4th), field goals made (5th), field goals attempted (6th), points (7th), field goal percentage (7th), free throws made (8th), free throws attempted (8th), double-figure scoring efforts (8th), blocks (9th), steals (10th), assists (16th) and free throw percentage (18th). Additionally, he is the only undrafted player in NBA history to lead a franchise in total rebounds and has served as captain of the HEAT in each of the past 11 seasons, the longest tenure in team history.

Haslem has also seen action in 147 postseason games (84 starts) as a member of the HEAT and has averaged 5.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 21.7 minutes while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 71.3 percent from the foul line. In addition to being the HEAT’s all-time leader in offensive rebounds in postseason play he also ranks among Miami’s all-time postseason leaders in games played (2nd), total rebounds (2nd), games started (3rd), minutes (3rd), defensive rebounds (3rd), double-doubles (4th), field goals made (5th), field goals attempted (5th), free throws made (5th), steals (5th), dunks (5th), points (6th), free throws attempted (6th), double-figure scoring efforts (tied-6th), blocked shots (7th) and assists (10th).

Cavs re-sign Rodney Hood

LeBron James is gone from Cleveland, but at least Rodney Hood is back.

That’s not really the same thing. But it’s the offseason, and now is the time to type silly things.

The Cavaliers re-signed Hood today, after originally extending a qualifying offer to him way back on June 29, 2018.

Hood is a solid contributor. A good member of a supporting cast, and a player who can do more than he showed last season in Cleveland. But the Cavs are in rebuilding mode. That’s what happens when LeBron leaves a team. Kevin Love can put up points and rebounds but isn’t about to carry a squad. This is a team in transition, and it will take multiple seasons to transform.

In 21 games (11 starts) with Cleveland last season, Hood averaged 10.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in 25.3 minutes per game. He was acquired by the Cavaliers from the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team trade on Feb. 8, 2018. On the season in 2017-18, Hood averaged 14.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 26.9 minutes per game over 60 contests (23 starts) with Utah and Cleveland. Hood also appeared in 17 playoff games (one start) during the Cavaliers’ 2018 NBA Finals run, averaging 5.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per contest.

The 6-8 guard out of Duke was originally selected by the Jazz with the 23rd overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He owns career averages of 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 27.5 minutes per game over 248 total contests (178 starts). He has appeared in the playoffs in two seasons, averaging 6.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game over 28 postseason contests (one start) with Utah and Cleveland.

Devin Booker undergoes hand surgery

The Suns signed young star scoring guard Devin Booker to a big extension this summer. But he reportedly has something important to take care of before starting the 2018-19 NBA season. Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting:

The Phoenix Suns will likely start training camp without Devin Booker, whose injured hand is inflamed and may require surgery, a source close the Republic reports.

Booker, the Suns’ leading scorer and highest paid player, was bothered by the right-hand injury throughout the closing months of last season, missing the last 12 games.

At the time, Booker and the Suns took criticism, with some suggesting it was a tactic to improve the team’s position in the draft.

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UPDATE: Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker today underwent successful surgery to repair an injury to the fifth metacarpophalangeal joint in his right hand. The surgery was performed by Dr. Steven Shin at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. Booker’s expected recovery time is approximately six weeks.

Cavs sign guard David Nwaba

The Cleveland Cavaliers signed guard David Nwaba today.

Nwaba (6-4, 219) spent last season with the Chicago Bulls, playing in 70 games (21 starts) and averaging 7.9 points on .478 shooting and 4.7 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per contest. He scored in double figures in 32 games and recorded three double-doubles on the season.

The 6-4 guard out of Cal Poly, who went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, holds career averages of 7.5 points on .494 shooting and 4.3 rebounds in 22.7 minutes per game during 90 games (23 starts) over two NBA seasons with Chicago and the Los Angeles Lakers. Nwaba also played in 40 games (31 starts) with the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League in 2016-17, averaging 14.1 points on .647 shooting, 6.9 rebounds, 1.35 steals and 1.15 blocks in 28.7 minutes per contest while earning NBA G League All-Defensive Team and NBA G League All-Rookie Team honors.

Nwaba will wear jersey number 12 with the Cavaliers.

Hawks reportedly signing Cole Aldrich

Here’s the latest on center Cole Aldrich, who must work hard to solidify his place in the league beyond the training camp signing reported below by the St Paul Pioneer Press:

Cole Aldrich is signing a training camp deal with the Atlanta Hawks, he told the Pioneer Press on Thursday.

In a cost-cutting move, the Timberwolves waived the veteran center earlier this offseason after inking Aldrich to a three-year, $21 million deal in 2016. The Bloomington Jefferson standout ended up on the end of the bench last season, playing in just 21 games.

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WNBA: Storm take 1-0 Finals lead vs Mystics

The 2018 WNBA Finals have begun. Here’s NBC Sports Washington on the results of Game 1:

Game 1 of the biggest stage in women’s basketball took place Friday night in Seattle.

Using a healthy 48-32 halftime lead, the Storm cruised to take a 1-0 series hold in the 2018 WNBA Finals defeating the Washington Mystics, 89-76.

Breanna Stewart, Natasha Howard and Jewell Loyd combined to score 60 of the team’s 89 points. The team shot a sizzling 54 percent from the floor.

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And here’s ESPNW.com:

The rim seemed huge for guard Jewell Loyd, who struggled a bit during the semifinals, and center Natasha Howard. And they took advantage of that, going a combined 17 of 21 from the field. Loyd led Seattle in scoring with 23 points. As good as the Mystics’ defense can be — even though we didn’t see it Friday — it’s still a bit of a relief for Loyd that she’s not still facing a defender as pesky as Phoenix’s Briann January…

Howard had 19 points, and MVP Breanna Stewart had 22…

The Storm led by as much as 27 in the third quarter. If this wasn’t their best offensive game on display, it was — at the very least — indicative of how potent a team Seattle is when things are working. Which has been the case most of this season.

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Anthony Davis reportedly parts ways with agent

Anthony Davis is one of the league’s top stars, though his Pelicans squad needs more talent for their win totals to turn anyone’s heads. But on an individual level, Davis has decided to make a change. Here’s ESPN.com reporting:

New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis has parted ways with longtime agent Thad Foucher, sources told ESPN.

To officially change agents, players are required to file paperwork with the players’ union and then wait 15 days. Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, who represents LeBron James among others, is a leading contender to represent Davis, sources said.

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Celtics guard Jabari Bird arrested

Here’s Boston.com with an update on new Celtics backup guard Jabari Bird, who probably will receive very few minutes this coming season, but right now has something far bigger to worry about:

Celtics shooting guard Jabari Bird is under arrest and facing charges for an alleged domestic violence incident that took place Friday night in Brighton.

According to the Boston Police Department (BPD), Bird is “currently being guarded” at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. A BPD spokesman said in a statement Saturday morning that the victim involved in the incident was transported to a separate hospital for “treatment of injuries sustained.” Complaints will be sought against Bird for assault and battery 209A, strangulation, and kidnapping.

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Hawks sign R.J. Hunter

The Atlanta Hawks yesterday (Friday) signed guard R.J. Hunter.

Hunter has played in 44 career regular season games (one start) in three seasons with Boston, Chicago and Houston, averaging 2.6 points and 1.0 rebounds in 8.4 minutes.

Last season, he appeared in five contests on a two-way contract for the Rockets, starting one, averaging 3.8 points and 1.0 rebounds in 9.0 minutes. In 45 games (28 starts) with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League, he put up 20.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 30.8 minutes (.443 FG%, .377 3FG%, .803 FT%).

Hunter was originally selected in the first round (28th overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Celtics as an early-entry candidate. He was a two-time Sun Belt Player of the Year at Georgia State, where he played under his father, head coach Ron Hunter. He is the Panthers’ all-time scoring leader (1,819) in three seasons.

Hunter is a native of Indianapolis, IN (Pike High School).