NBA News Blog – Page 976 – NBA Blog

Dwyane Wade begins book tour

It won’t be difficult to play “Where’s Wade?” this week. Dwyane Wade is about to hit New York like a cyclone with the start of his book tour.

“A Father First: How my life became bigger than basketball” will be released Tuesday, which also is when the Miami Heat’s All-Star guard will storm Manhattan.

From Letterman to Calvin Klein, from ESPN to CNN, Wade is about to enter a whirlwind week that culminates with three South Florida book signings this coming weekend.

Two weeks after that, training camp will open.

For Wade, it starts Tuesday on ABC Radio, continues with two segments alongside Barbara Walters, Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar on “The View,” then a book signing on 5th Avenue, a mid-afternoon media session at the NBA Store, a late-afternoon taping of “The Late Show with David Letterman” and an ESPN fashion panel followed by an ESPN book party at Lincoln Center.

And that’s just Tuesday.

— Reported by Ira WInderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Dwight Howard expresses love for Orlando in newspaper ad

Dwight Howard is professing his love for the city of Orlando and its fans.

Howard purchased a full-page ad in today’s Orlando Sentinel to convey the message.

In that ad, which appears on Page C7, Howard said, “To play the game of basketball in the NBA is a blessing and to have had the opportunity to play before the Orlando fans for eight years was truly a privilege and an honor.”

— Reported by Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel (And, link to Dwight’s ad)

Blake Ahearn expected to sign with Indiana Pacers

Former Utah Jazz reserve point guard Blake Ahearn is expected to sign a partially guaranteed contract with the Indiana Pacers, a league source informed The Salt Lake Tribune on Saturday.

Ahearn was signed by the Jazz via a 10-day contract last season. He remained on Utah’s roster throughout the playoffs and was a member of the Jazz’s Summer League team.

— Reported by Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune

Nets may want Andray Blatche

The Nets’ ongoing search for frontcourt depth has led them to Houston, and a meeting with Andray Blatche, who was cut this summer by the Washington Wizards.

Blatche, 26, has been working out in Houston with a number of other N.B.A. players, under the guidance of John Lucas. He was set to meet with Nets Coach Avery Johnson sometime this weekend, according to two people with knowledge of the meeting. It was not clear whether the Nets were prepared to make Blatche an immediate offer or were simply exploring their options.

— Reported by Howard Beck of the New York Times (Blog)

Knicks may want Sean Williams

A source familiar with the Knicks’ free-agency plans told ESPNNewYork.com that the team is considering signing forward-center Sean Williams, who was waived by the Rockets this week.

There has been some speculation that the Knicks are interested in unrestricted free agent Josh Howard, but according to the source, they are not into him. Instead, the team wants to add a big man — likely to serve as a backup to Amare Stoudemire on the depth chart. Currently, they don’t have one.

There are more attractive bigs on the market, like Kenyon Martin, Andray Blatche, Louis Amundson, Chris Andersen and D.J. White. But those players have been looking for more than the veteran’s minimum, which is all the Knicks can offer.

— Reported by Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York

Mickael Gelabale signs in Croatia

Turkish Airlines Euroleague newcomer Cedevita Zagreb of Croatia has added veteran depth at forward in the person of Mickael Gelabale, who has played two previous seasons in the competition. Gelabale (2.01 meters, 29 years old) won the Eurocup title last season with Khimki Moscow Region of Russia. His Euroleague career so far has consisted of two seasons with Real Madrid of Spain between 2004 and 2006 during which he put up 8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Gelabale started his career with Cholet of France, a team he returned to after spending three NBA seasons in the mid-2000s with Seattle and the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2010-11, Gelabale averaged a career-high 14.2 points for Asvel Basket of France, including 12.2 per game in six Eurocup appearances.

— Reported by Euroleague.net

Hilton Armstrong signs in Greece

Panathinaikos Athens fortified its frontline by signing center Hilton Armstrong, who will make his Turkish Airlines Euroleague debut this season with the Greens. Armstrong (2.08 meters, 27 years old) arrives from Asvel Basket Lyon Villeurbanne, with whom he played his first season in Europe last year. He averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and was fifth in the Eurocup with 1.3 blocks in 11 Eurocup games last season, including a pair of impressive outings against Greek side Aris Thessaloniki. In fact, Armstrong earned Eurocup Last 16, Game 4 MVP honors after posting an 18-point, 8-rebound effort against Aris.

— Reported by Euroleague.net

Gregg Popovich sees big future for Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard, future star?

Fan Question: What kind of season do you see Kawhi Leonard having next season? Also, where do you see him in five years?

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich: I think he’s going to be a star. And as time goes on, he’ll be the face of the Spurs I think. At both ends of the court, he is really a special player. And what makes me be so confident about him is that he wants it so badly. He wants to be a good player, I mean a great player. He comes early, he stays late, and he’s coachable, he’s just like a sponge. When you consider he’s only had one year of college and no training camp yet, you can see that he’s going to be something else.

— Reported by Spurs.com

Jacob Pullen signs to play in Israel

According to Sportando, “Jacob Pullen won’t play in the Euroleague next season with Serbian Partizan Belgrade but in Israel with EuroCup regular Hapoel Jerusalem, as reported by David Pick. The ex-Kansas State combo guard who spent his pro rookie season in Italy’s Seria A with Angelico Biella, agreed to join Jerusalem over a tempting offer from Euroleague’s Partizan. The Chicago native will enjoy Jerusalem’s two games per week schedule, competing both in the Israeli Domestic League and the EuroCup competition.”

Bobcats working out Josh Howard

Former Wake Forest forward Josh Howard is doing some workouts with the Charlotte Bobcats this week, president of basketball operations Rod Higgins confirmed.

The Bobcats’ interest in Howard is still exploratory, as they consider ways to fill out their roster. The Bobcats would like to have another power forward, and have previously considered Antawn Jamison, Kris Humphries, and Carl Landry, who all signed elsewhere. Howard, 6-7, has played both power and small forward.

— Reported by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer