NBA News Blog – Page 972 – NBA Blog

Lakers sign rookie center Greg Somogyi and rookie forward Reeves Nelson

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed rookie center Greg Somogyi and rookie forward Reeves Nelson, it was announced today. The deals are likely just training camp contracts, so the players will still have to prove themselves to make the regular season roster.

Somogyi, a 7-3 center out of UC Santa Barbara, played all four years for the Gauchos where he posted career averages of 3.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 12.2 minutes. Somogyi most recently played for the 2012 Lakers Summer League team where he averaged 1.2 points, 1.6 rebounds in 7.2 minutes.

Nelson, a 6-8 forward out of UCLA, was also a member of the 2012 Lakers Summer League team where he averaged 4.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in 16.3 minutes of play. Named to the All- PAC 10 first team following his sophomore year, Nelson played in 68 games for the Bruins averaging 12.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 27.0 minutes.

Mike Bantom named Executive Vice President of NBA Referee Operations

Mike Bantom, a 23-year NBA executive and former NBA player, has been named Executive Vice President, Referee Operations, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced today.

Bantom will oversee the NBA’s officiating program, including the recruiting, training and development of all NBA officials. He will report to Joel Litvin, NBA President, League Operations and his new role will begin immediately.

“Mike has been an invaluable part of the NBA for over 20 years and has excelled in leadership positions across both our domestic and international businesses,” said Stern. “That experience, together with his considerable accomplishments on the court and his respect in the basketball community, make Mike an outstanding choice to lead the NBA’s officiating program.”

Since 1999, Bantom has served as the NBA’s Senior Vice President of Player Development in which he directed the league’s player programs including the Rookie Transition Program, the NBA Continuing Education Program, and the Player Substance Abuse Program. Under Bantom’s direction, the NBA established the first-ever Team Player Development Program under which each team created a new front office function devoted to working with the team’s players in managing all aspects of their off-court responsibilities.

Prior to heading up the league’s player development programs, Bantom served as Vice President of NBA Events and Attractions from 1997 to 1999, where he was responsible for major NBA interactive events, including NBA All-Star Jam Session. Bantom, who joined the NBA in 1989 as Licensing Manager for NBA International after a 16-year professional playing career in the NBA and in Europe, helped establish the NBA Europe headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, where he worked from 1994 to 1997. Integral to helping grow the sport globally, Bantom established the Converse/NBA 3-on-3 World Tour and from 1992 to 1994, managed the NBA Africa Tour and NBA Coaches Clinics Tour to Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and South America.

Bantom averaged 12.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in his nine-year NBA playing career. He made the NBA All-Rookie team after Phoenix drafted him with the eighth overall pick in the 1973 NBA Draft. Following his NBA career, Bantom competed seven more seasons in the Italian Professional League before retiring in 1989. The Philadelphia, Pa. native was a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic basketball team and collected All-American honors during his collegiate career at St. Joseph’s University.

Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos recuperating after stroke

Orlando Magic owner and Amway cofounder Rich DeVos is recuperating following what was described as a mild stroke last month.

Michigan-based direct-sales giant Amway said in a statement Wednesday that the 86-year-old DeVos was taken Aug. 19 to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids after having a stroke. The company says he was kept for tests and observation before being released Aug. 21.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Avery Johnson was not 100 percent certain that Nets could keep Deron Williams

At no point leading up to this summer’s crucial free agency period was Brooklyn coach Avery Johnson comfortable enough to believe that point guard Deron Williams was a lock to re-sign with the Nets.

Williams grew up in the Dallas suburb of The Colony and narrowed his free agent choices to the Dallas Mavericks and the Nets. Eventually, Williams signed a five-year, $98 million contract with the Nets after seriously considering returning home to play for the Mavericks.

Johnson, who spoke Tuesday at the Fort Worth Dunbar High School assembly, said he and Nets general manager Billy King were never overconfident about Williams’ desire to remain a part of the Nets.

“We felt we were going to be able to re-sign Deron,” Johnson said. “We felt it was like 80-90 percent, but it was the 10 percent that you were worried about.”

— Reported by Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Taj Gibson may have bigger role on Bulls

Entering his fourth season, Gibson said he and Thibodeau expect more of him this season. Gibson averaged 7.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 20.4 minutes last season.

“Thibs already told me he wants my role to change, be more of a leader now,” Gibson said. “I worked out with him a lot during the summer. I worked out with him before the (Team) USA camp. He just wanted me to work out this whole year, build confidence and get better. He thinks I can do a lot more on and off the court. I’m ready to take that next step.”

Gibson thought the next step was being more of an all-around player.

“Just playing more solid, just coming in knocking down some 15-footers, back-to-the-basket play, a lot of stuff like that I’ve been working on during the offseason, a lot of stuff like that in the USA camp,” Gibson said.

— Reported by Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago

Quincy Douby being sued for child support

A millionaire former Brooklyn hoops star who played in the NBA will be dragged into Family Court today in a bid to get him to cough up child support for his daughter.

Quincy Douby, 28 — a one-time guard for the Sacramento Kings who reportedly raked in $2 million last year playing in China — is being sued by ex Tanya Raymond, 28, for $15,000 a month in child support for their daughter, Quinn, 5, according to Brooklyn court papers and Raymond’s lawyer, Steven Gildin.

“Things are so bad that now my daughter is on Medicaid,” Raymond says in the suit. “That’s right — her father makes millions of dollars a year playing professional basketball . . . and she has public-funded health care!”

— Reported by Josh Saul of the New York Post

Reeves Nelson to be invited to Lakers training camp

Former UCLA forward Reeves Nelson will be invited to the Lakers training camp that begins in early October after he signs a one-year, non-guaranteed contract, potentially worth about $700,000 with the team, Nelson told The Times on Tuesday.

Nelson would probably be considered a long shot to make the Lakers. But he considers the training camp invitation to be a blessing, particularly because he was dismissed from UCLA in December of 2011, largely for his disruptive attitude.

“I’m very grateful,” Nelson said. “It’s nice because I’m pretty sure that virtually no one thought I could get this far, so it’s pretty gratifying.”

— Reported by Baxter Holmes of the Los Angeles Times

Rockets to sign former NCAA assist leader Scott Machado

Point guard Scott Machado, the NCAA assists leader last season who excelled in the Rockets’ final summer league games in July, will sign with the team this week, a person with knowledge of the deal said Tuesday.

Machado will sign a three-year, partially guaranteed deal, most likely on Thursday.

Machado, 22, averaged 9.9 assists for Iona last season, but went undrafted in June. After a slow start in Las Vegas, he finished strong, getting 10 assists in the third game and 20 points in the tournament finale, replacing Courtney Fortson as the starting point guard.

— Reported by Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (Blog)

Dwyane Wade ahead of schedule in recovery

Appearing on “The View” at the start of his book tour, Wade was asked by host Barbara Walters about the left knee that required July 9 arthroscopic surgery.

“I’m doing great,” he said. “I’m ahead of schedule. The knee’s OK, so I’m ahead of schedule.”

However, in an interview with a Houston radio station as part of his media tour, he spoke of easing into the post-surgery process.

“That’s my goal, to be full strength,” he said. “Obviously, coming off surgery, even in the beginning of the year, [the goal is] to continue to work your way into things and hopeful hit your stride some point midseason, where you feel your best.”

Wade began court work last week with assistant coach David Fizdale, posting a photo of that session on his Twitter account.

Clippers promote Gary Sacks to Vice President of Basketball Operations

The Los Angeles Clippers today announced that Gary Sacks has been promoted to the role of Vice President of Basketball Operations.

“Gary has been a valuable and loyal member of our organization for the past 18 years,” stated Clippers’ President Andy Roeser. “His recent role this very productive summer, as well as his many contributions during the course of his tenure made it clear that he is the right person to lead our Basketball Operations Department.”

Sacks is beginning his 19th season with the Clippers, serving in the role of Director of Player Personnel for the past two campaigns and as Director of Scouting/Assistant Director of Player Personnel for the prior five seasons.

“I’m excited to take on this new role with the organization,” said Sacks. “We have a very strong roster with great depth of talent. I look forward to helping to build on the success we had last season. I am very excited to see how far we can go this year, plus we are well-positioned for the future.”

Sacks continued, “I appreciate the confidence that that Mr. Sterling has placed in me, and I look forward to continuing to work with (Clippers’ Head Coach) Vinny (Del Negro) and Andy.”

The summer of 2012 saw one of the most productive offseasons in franchise history, with Sacks, Roeser and Del Negro teaming to re-sign two-time All-Star forward Blake Griffin and five-time All-Star guard Chauncey Billups. To further enhance this year’s roster, the trio also completed the free agent signings of Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill, Lamar Odom and Ryan Hollins, plus the acquisitions of guard Willie Green and forward Ronny Turiaf via separate trades.

In his previous role of Director of Player Personnel, Sacks oversaw the team’s overall scouting efforts as well as the compilation of information on players entering the NBA Draft and professional players throughout the world. He also assisted on all facets of the day-to-day direction of the basketball operations department including player trades and free agent acquisitions.

Throughout his career with the Clippers, Sacks has worked in various capacities within the basketball operations department assisting with draft and free agency information, video preparation, draft prospect and advance scouting reports, statistical analytics and NBA Salary Cap analysis.

A 1990 graduate with a degree in Economics from UCLA, Sacks, his wife Tiffany and their two sons reside in Westwood.