NBA News Blog – Page 985 – NBA Blog

Luol Deng may delay or skip wrist surgery

In his strongest implication yet that he either will forego surgery on the torn ligament in his left wrist altogether or postpone it until after the 2012-13 season, Deng said he planned to start camp on time.

“Did I look like I needed (surgery)?” Deng said Monday evening. “I’m fine right now. I feel great. There are a lot of things I want to improve in my game that I want to focus on now. I want to be a better player than I was last year.

“I have time to make decisions and be healthy by the time we start (training camp).”

With Bulls’ camp roughly two months away, it’d be impossible for Deng to have surgery now and be ready for its start. He has told friends and associates he plans to avoid surgery. And coach Tom Thibodeau said last month he is under that impression as well.

— Reported by K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune

Knicks, Bulls, Pacers may want Donte Greene

Donte Greene says he is on the Knicks’ radar.

The former Sacramento Kings forward and current free agent said in a recent radio interview that the Knicks are among three teams who have expressed interest in signing him.

Greene told TheCDNetworks.com, a Sacramento internet radio show, that he is in talks with Chicago, New York and Indiana. He called the trio his “top three” possible free-agent destinations.

“Anybody could pop up at any time,” Greene told the radio show on Friday. “But those are the three that we’re focusing on and trying to work out and get a deal done.”

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Center Joel Przybilla likely returning to Bucks

Joel Przybilla is coming back to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The veteran 7-1 center, who had discussions with the Bucks last season, agreed to a one-year deal with Milwaukee on Monday night, according to a league source.

Przybilla, 32, gives the Bucks some depth at center and is expected to serve as the backup to Samuel Dalembert, acquired in a trade with Houston earlier this summer.

Przybilla, a former Monticello and Gophers star, was limited to 36 games during the 2010-’11 season (31 with Portland and five with Charlotte) after recovering from two surgeries on his right patella tendon.

— Reported by Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Dwight Howard will reportedly not attend his own youth basketball camp in Orlando

According to an official at his annual basketball day camp for children, Dwight Howard will not attend this year, and families who paid the camp’s $199 registration fee were sent e-mail messages Monday to inform them Howard will remain in Southern California in order to continue rehabilitating his back.

Originally, Howard was scheduled to be back in Orlando a few days after having out-patient back surgery, but he hasn’t been seen by the Magic in Orlando in more than three months. He has, however, attended at least two Los Angeles Dodgers games and a portion of the adidas Nations basketball tournament in L.A.

Howard’s annual camp originally was scheduled for July 1-2 at UCF, and Howard was supposed to attend both days. But it was postponed and rescheduled for Aug. 13-14 at Orlando Volleyball Academy.

— Reported by Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel (Blog)

NCAA and pro sports leagues file federal lawsuit against New Jersey state officials to stop sports gambling

The NCAA and the four major professional sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL and the NHL) today filed a complaint against New Jersey state officials in federal court in Trenton, NJ seeking to stop the state from implementing sports betting on pro and college games.

The leagues and the NCAA assert that the state’s recently announced decision to offer sports betting violates long-standing federal law. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (“PASPA”) became law in 1992 and prohibits states from operating a lottery or betting scheme based on pro or college games. This law is also known as the “Bradley Act” for its proponent, then New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley.

The law provided a one-year window, from January 1, 1993 to January 1, 1994, during which New Jersey was afforded the opportunity to authorize sports betting. The state declined that opportunity and has been barred by federal law from conducting sports gambling.

— PRESS RELEASE

Sacramento Kings extend contract of coach Keith Smart

The Sacramento Kings today extended the contract of Head Coach Keith Smart for the 2013-14 season, it was announced by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

“Keith’s extension gives us the stability we need to continue the development of our team,” Petrie said. “He has the commitment, energy and vision necessary to succeed in building a winning team. We are all looking forward to working with him as we pursue an exciting and productive future.”

According to Jason Jone of the Sacramento Bee, “Smart took over as coach after Paul Westphal was fired Jan. 5 amid a feud with center DeMarcus Cousins and other players openly questioned his direction. Even though Smart won over players and improved the team offensively by starting Isaiah Thomas at point guard and moving Tyreke Evans to the wing, the Kings went 20-39 after he was promoted from assistant coach and missed the playoffs for the sixth straight season. Smart has said his focus for this season is to improve one of the NBA’s worst defenses while emphasizing a fast-paced offense that shares the ball.”

Smart was named Sacramento’s head coach on January 5, 2012, becoming the franchise’s 24th head coach. In his first season with the Kings, Smart compiled a 20-39 coaching mark. He has a lifetime record of 65-116 (.359) in three seasons with the Sacramento Kings (2011-12), Golden State Warriors (2010-11), and Cleveland Cavaliers (2002-03).

“I’m excited to continue this process with the Kings,” Smart said. “We’re trying to get our franchise moving in the right direction. The goal is to keep moving in that positive direction, and I’m glad that I get that opportunity. It’s been great working with Geoff and his staff and communicating with the Maloofs in this process.”

Danny Granger says Heat deserved to win championship

Like everybody else in the Pacers organization, Granger is eager for the season to start after they were eliminated by Miami in six games in the second round of the playoffs last season.

“Still not over it,” Granger said laughing about losing to the Heat. “I’m over it. It happens. They were the better team. I think they deserved to win the championship. That’s the way it goes. We have to get better.”

The Eastern Conference will be better next season.

Brooklyn, Boston, New York and the Pacers are expected to be in the mix for seeds 2-4 in the East.

— Reported by Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star (Blog)

A bit of the Kevin Durant and father story

Father of Kevin Durant quit on family when Kevin was 1

When [Wayne] Pratt was 23 years old, he was already a father of two. He says he wasn’t ready for the responsibilities. Around Durant’s first birthday, Pratt deserted the family, leaving behind his wife, Wanda, and sons Kevin and Tony.

“I felt like I was immature, selfish, I was young. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” said Pratt, now 46. “But my sons helped me realize how important it was to be in their lives by always wanting me to be around.”

Wanda Durant (her maiden name) sits courtside at most Oklahoma City Thunder games and is regularly interviewed by major media outlets. Meantime, Pratt is a lesser known figure who said he’s happy with the simple life he lives.

It took Pratt nearly a decade to seek forgiveness from his two sons and worked out a decent relationship with his now ex-wife. He said Wanda was always a positive person and strong enough to raise two sons.

— Reported by Matt Breen of the Washington Post

J.R. Smith says Knicks can win championship

In an interview with ESPNNewYork.com this weekend, Smith said he thinks that the Knicks, on paper, have the talent to win a championship, something the franchise hasn’t done in 40 years.

“Right now with the talent we have, what it says on paper is championship all day. But it’s a matter of us going out there and doing it,” Smith said after appearing at an event in Harlem at Nike’s House of Hoops to promote/give away some Nike sneakers to children.

Smith says he goes into every season with a “championship or bust” mentality.

But that’s particularly true this season.

Smith believes the moves the Knicks made in the offseason give them enough talent to “compete with anybody.”

“It’s just a matter of us being smart with our talents and making the right plays,” Smith said.

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Scott Brooks says he must keep improving as a coach

He owns a .582 winning percentage, a Coach of the Year award and has captained his team to the NBA Finals.

Yet Scott Brooks will be the first to tell you he needs to improve.

“My job is to get better,” the Oklahoma City Thunder coach said shortly after signing a four-year contract extension last month. “I’m not going to stand up here and say that I’m great. I feel like I have a lot of room to improve.”

At this point, the continued improvement of the defending Western Conference champions is largely dependent on Brooks’ progression.

— Reported by Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman