Charlotte Hornets Blog – Page 38 – NBA Blog

Bobcats name Patrick Ewing, Bob Beyer, Stephen Silas, Bob Weiss, Mark Price as assistant coaches

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has named Patrick Ewing Associate Head Coach and Bob Beyer, Stephen Silas, Bob Weiss and Mark Price Assistant Coaches on the staff of new Head Coach Steve Clifford.

“I am extremely pleased with the staff we’ve put together,” said Clifford. “These are all guys that I have a comfort level with and that I feel share my philosophies about the NBA and the game of basketball. This group has tremendous experience in this league, both as coaches and players, and has great knowledge of all aspects of the game. I’ve worked with Patrick, Bob Beyer and Mark before and have seen first-hand what they are capable of, and I look forward to adding Stephen and Bob Weiss to that group as we work together to build this team.”

Clifford, Ewing and Beyer worked together as assistant coaches with the Orlando Magic from 2007-12, where they were joined by Price in 2011-12. During five seasons on Stan Van Gundy’s staff, the trio helped the Magic to a 259-135 record (.657) and five straight playoff appearances, advancing to the 2009 NBA Finals.

A 17-year NBA veteran and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player, Ewing brings eight years of NBA assistant coaching experience to the Bobcats. He has previously been an assistant coach with the Wizards (2003-04), Rockets (2004-06) and Magic, serving alongside Clifford in both Houston and Orlando. Ewing was the first overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. His achievements as a player include the 1985-86 NBA Rookie of the Year award, 11 NBA All-Star Game appearances, First Team All-NBA honors in 1989-90 and Second Team All-NBA honors six additional times, and three All-Defensive Second Team selections. Ewing also owns two Olympic gold medals, having played for the U.S. men’s national team in 1984 and 1992.

Beyer, who spent the 2012-13 season as an assistant with the Warriors, brings 27 years of coaching experience at the NBA and college levels. Along with the Warriors and Magic, he also spent two years with the Raptors, serving as an assistant coach in 2003-04 and an advance scout in 2004-05. Beyer spent three years as head coach at Siena College from 1994-97. His college career also includes assistant coaching stints at Albany (1985-89), Siena (1989-93), Wisconsin (1993-94), Northwestern (1997-2000), Texas Tech (2001-03) and Dayton (2005-07).

Silas remains with the Bobcats, having spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach for the team. His 12 years of coaching experience also includes three seasons with the Hornets (2000-03), two seasons with the Cavaliers (2003-05) and four and a half seasons with the Warriors (2006-10). Silas also served as an advance and college scout for the Hornets in 1999-2000 and an advance scout for the Wizards in 2005-06. When he was hired as an assistant coach with the Hornets in 2000, he was the youngest assistant in the NBA at the age of 27.

Weiss has spent 29 of his 32 years as a coach in the NBA, including seven seasons as a head coach for the Spurs (1986-88), Hawks (1990-93), Clippers (1993-94) and SuperSonics (2005-06). His tenure as an assistant coach includes stops with the Clippers (1977-80), Mavericks (1980-86), Magic (1989-90), SuperSonics (1994-2005) and Hawks (2012-13). Weiss was also the first former NBA head coach to be a head coach in China, leading the Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons from 2008-10 and the Shandong Lions in 2010-11. The 22nd overall pick in the 1965 NBA Draft, Weiss played in the NBA for 12 seasons, averaging 7.6 points and 3.7 assists in 783 career games and winning the 1967 NBA Championship with the 76ers.

One of the greatest shooters in NBA history, Price has previously served as a player development coach for the Magic in 2011-12, a shooting coach with the Warriors in 2010-11 and a shooting consultant for the Grizzlies (2007-08) and Hawks (2008-10). The four-time NBA All-Star ranks second in league history in career free-throw percentage (.904) and 29th in career three-point percentage (.402). He was named First Team All-NBA in 1992-93 and earned Third Team All-NBA honors three more times during his 12-year career. Price, who was the 25th overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft, averaged 15.2 points and 6.7 assists in 722 career games played.

Bobcats extend qualifying offer to Gerald Henderson

One of the few bright spots of the Charlotte Bobcats last season was solid production from their backcourt. And today, the team is making a move to hold on to a key contributor at the guard spot.

Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has extended a qualifying offer to guard Gerald Henderson, making him a restricted free agent. The qualifying offer allows the Bobcats to match any offer he receives from another team.

Henderson was initially selected by the Bobcats with the 12th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. He played in 68 games during the 2012-13 season, averaging a career-high 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, a career-high 2.6 assists and 1.0 steal in 31.4 minutes per game. In his four NBA seasons, Henderson has played in 234 career games, averaging 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 25.6 minutes.

Bobcats select Cody Zeller with No. 4 pick in NBA Draft

The Charlotte Bobcats have selected Indiana center Cody Zeller with the No. 4 pick in the NBA draft.

Bobcats general manager Rich Cho said earlier in the week the Bobcats needed a big man and the 7-foot, 240-pound Zeller should provide help on the boards.

Zeller averaged 16.5 points and 8.1 rebounds last season as a sophomore for the Hoosiers. He finished as Indiana’s career record holder in field goal percentage, shooting 59.1 percent from the floor.

Two Hoosiers were picked in the top four in the draft. Victor Oladipo was selected second overall by Orlando.

Reported by Steve Reed of the Associated Press

Charlotte Bobcats may try to trade for Chris Bosh this summer

The Charlotte Bobcats are looking to make a splash this summer and are open to trading their first-round pick in a package for an All-Star-caliber player. There are rumors the Heat will be looking to deal Chris Bosh, and the Bobcats, who are under the salary cap and could accept Bosh’s near-maximum deal, could be a prime candidate. As much as Charlotte would love to build through the draft, team officials understand they have to start winning and need a player to be the face of the franchise. Bosh could serve that purpose.

Reported by Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe

Steve Clifford gets Charlotte Bobcats head coaching job

Michael Jordan felt he needed a head coach with a little more NBA experience this time around to improve his struggling Charlotte Bobcats.

The former NBA superstar and current owner believes he’s found one in Steve Clifford.

Clifford, a long-time NBA assistant, has been hired away from the Los Angeles Lakers by the Bobcats before the Milwaukee Bucks could make a play for him.

The decision comes after Jordan’s experiment with former St. John’s assistant Mike Dunlap failed miserably this past season. Jordan fired Dunlap in April after one season with a 21-61 record.

Two people familiar with the situation said Monday that Clifford had agreed to a three-year contact. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not been made public.

Reported by the Associated Press

Mike Krzyzewski returning as coach of USA Olympic basketball team

Mike Krzyzewski had decided to remain coach of the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team.

Krzyzewski will try to lead the Americans to a third straight gold medal, a person with knowledge of the decision said Wednesday. Originally expected to step down, Krzyzewski will hold a press conference to confirm his return Thursday at Duke, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made.

The Hall of Fame coach has led the Americans since 2005, winning gold at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and the 2010 world basketball championship. His return was first reported by Sports Illustrated.

Reported by the Associated Press

Bobcats are interviewing Cavs assistant Nate Tibbetts

The Charlotte Bobcats asked for and received permission to interview Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Nate Tibbetts for their head coaching job, the Cavs confirmed Tuesday.

Tibbetts, 35, was retained by the Cavaliers after they fired head coach Byron Scott and replaced him with Mike Brown last week. Tibbetts also interviewed with the Bobcats last spring before they hired Mike Dunlap.

Dunlap lasted a single 21-61 season in Charlotte before the Bobcats fired him last week.

Before joining Scott’s staff, Tibbetts was a successful development-league coach.

— Reported by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer (Blog)

Charlotte Bobcats fire coach Mike Dunlap

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has relieved Mike Dunlap of his duties as head coach. The search for his successor will begin immediately.

“Rich Cho and I conducted our season-ending review and met with Coach Dunlap to reflect on this season. As an organization, it was decided that we needed to make a change with the head coach position,” Higgins said. “We want to thank Mike for his contribution and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Dunlap was hired as the fifth head coach in franchise history on June 20, 2012 and posted an overall record of 21-61.

According to the Charlotte Observer, “Dunlap’s strength was player development and his greatest success was probably the improvement of point guard Kemba Walker. But he appeared to have friction at times with some of the veterans, including a verbal altercation with guard Ben Gordon during a shootaround. Players were asked in their exit interviews last week for a review of Dunlap’s coaching style. It’s unclear how much that factored in the decision to let him go. In a post-season interview with the Observer Friday, Dunlap said he had evolved as a coach this season. He noted that he had backed off on managing every aspect of games from the sideline and had shortened practices.”

Bobcats finish above Magic in final standings

Combine the Charlotte Bobcats’ 105-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers with the Orlando Magic’s loss to the Miami Heat, and the Bobcats top the Magic by a game in the standings.

Small potatoes, maybe. But after going 7-59 last season – worst record in NBA history – 21-61 felt OK Wednesday night.

“Absolutely we wanted to avoid that worst record. It was definitely one of our small goals down the stretch,” said Bobcats co-captain Gerald Henderson (15 points and six assists). “Obviously things didn’t go as well as we hoped, but we played hard.”

“Coming down the stretch, we played as pros.”

True enough. They won six of their last 15, and in doing so might have saved their rookie coach’s job. Nothing has been decided one way or the other, but the relatively strong finish spruces up Dunlap’s short-term resume a bit.

— Reported by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer

James McAdoo not entering 2013 NBA Draft

Sophomore forward James Michael McAdoo will return to the University of North Carolina for his junior season in 2013-14. McAdoo earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after leading the Tar Heels in rebounding and steals and finishing second in scoring in 2012-13.

The Norfolk, Va., native averaged 14.4 points and 7.3 rebounds and made 54 steals in leading UNC to a 25-11 record and the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

“Coach (Williams) and I have been talking about this since the end of the season and today my parents joined Coach and me in those discussions,” says McAdoo. “I have decided to stay in school at North Carolina and play another season for the Tar Heels.

“I love this school and my teammates and I love being a North Carolina basketball player. There will certainly be a time when I want to play in the NBA, but right now I truly enjoy college life and I want to continue doing that for another season.”

McAdoo scored in double figures a team-high 32 times, posted nine double-doubles and scored 20 or more points five times. He was fourth in the ACC in steals, ninth in rebounding and 12th in scoring. He has averaged 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds in 74 games as a Tar Heel.

“I am ecstatic about having the opportunity to coach James Michael for another season,” says Roy Williams. “He’s an incredible young man who did some really nice things this year. He’s going to be an even better player in the future. Coaching young people like James Michael is what makes me enjoy coaching so much.

“James Michael’s decision says a lot about the University of North Carolina and his teammates. He truly enjoys the entire collegiate experience. It’s the reason he came to this decision.”

Last week, rising junior guard P.J. Hairston said he was returning next year. Earlier today, junior forward Reggie Bullock announced that he was entering his name into the 2013 NBA Draft.

“I’m certainly looking forward to coaching P.J. and James Michael again,” says Williams. “They have grown a lot as young men in their first two years at Carolina and I expect them to be fantastic leaders for us next season.”

— Via North Carolina Men’s Basketball