Cleveland Cavaliers Blog – Page 86 – NBA Blog

Danny Ferry returning to Spurs front office

Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News reports:

Danny Ferry, who earned championship rings both as a Spurs player and a member of the team’s basketball operations department, will return to the franchise to try and help the club position for another title run.

Ferry, who resigned as general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of LeBron James’ free agency defection in July, officially will be announced as a member of the Spurs’ front office by week’s end…

Ferry will re-join R.C. Buford, president of sports franchises for Spurs Sports and Entertainment, and vice-president and assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey in the club’s front office. Lindsey was hired in 2007 after Sam Presti left the club to become general manager of the then-Seattle SuperSonics.

InsideHoops.com editor quick-take: The Spurs front office almost always makes perfect decisions. That they want Ferry back says a lot about Ferry.

Is Shaq marrying Hoopz from the VH1 Flavor of Love show?

I will assume this gossip story is NOT TRUE until proven otherwise, but check out what some blogs are reporting about Shaq and Nicole “Hoopz” Alexander:

The Clutch Blog on MTV.com reports:

Is Shaq marrying Hoopz from Flava of Love?

Remember Hoopz, the girl who won Flava Flav’s heart on the first season of “Flava of Love”? Apparently she’s marrying Shaq! We knew they were dating, but the St. Louis Post Dispatch says that things are about to get much more serious. According to the paper, they were together at a St. Louis restaurant when Shaq “brought a chair into the middle of the dance floor and he put a ring on her finger.” Sounds like a proposal to us.

And Blog.VH1.com reports:

Adding fuel to these (very speculative!) fires is a story on the (pretty reputable) sports website Sports By Brooks that says, and we quote, the site “has also been informed that O’Neal has spent much of his summer in Alexander’s hometown of Maryville, TN. In fact, the current Celtic now has a home with Alexander in Maryville’s Royal Oaks golf community.”

UPDATE: Mike Wise (Washington Post) wrote the following on Twitter (thanks to Howard Beck of the New York Times for spotting this): “The Daddy not engaged to Hoops. Shaquille O’Neal’s text message reply to my congrats: “What engagement dnt believe dat.”

Celebs enjoy the festivities during the gala opening of the Casino Club At The Greenbrier in West Sulfur Springs, West Virginia on July 2, 2010. Restriction applies: NO NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS Fame Pictures, Inc

NBA suspends Delonte West 10 games

Delonte West, who played last season for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has been suspended without pay for ten games for pleading guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and wearing, carrying, and transporting a handgun, in violation of the law of the State of Maryland, the NBA announced today.

West is currently a free agent. If he signs a contract to play again in the NBA, West’s suspension will begin with the first game of the NBA regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Despite his personal issues, I still think West eventually will get signed, though probably to a short and possibly non-guaranteed contract. He’s too good a player to fall out of the league.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 16: Hells Angels bikies leave after the funeral for Melbourne crime figure Macchour Chaouk at Preston Mosque on August 16, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. 61-year old Chaouk was gunned down in the backyard of his Melbourne home on Friday. A man from the rival Haddara family has been questioned by police over the shooting but released without charge. Chaouk will be buried next to his son Mohammed Ali Chaouk who was shot dead by police in a home raid in 2005. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

Anderson Varejao OK after ankle sprain

The AP reports:

Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao is not expected to miss any time after spraining his right ankle while playing in an exhibition game for Brazil’s national team.

Varejao hurt his ankle in a collision during a game on Wednesday in Logrono, Spain. A spokeswoman for Brazil’s team said an MRI exam after the game was normal.

Full 2010 preseason schedule

The NBA today released its 2010 preseason schedule, which is highlighted by a comprehensive international slate of games that includes seven contests in China, Europe and Mexico. The preseason slate tips off on Oct. 3, when the New York Knicks visit Armani Jeans Milano – the former team of Knicks forward Danillo Gallinari and head coach Mike D’Antoni – in Milan, Italy, and the New Jersey Nets host Maccabi Haifa.

As is the case these days, the action starts overseas, with a few NBA squads heading to Europe.

I’ve always had mixed feelings about teams playing preseason ball overseas. Because generally it’s just a warmup. I think if NBA fans overseas are going to get a rare taste of live NBA action, it should be the best basketball possible, and we usually don’t see that before the regular season begins.

See the complete 2010-11 NBA preseason schedule.

Cavalier sign Samardo Samuels

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Samardo (sa-MAR-doe) Samuels to a contract, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today. Per league and team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

Samuels, 21, played two seasons at Louisville before declaring for the 2010 NBA Draft, averaging 13.5 points on .549 shooting and 5.9 rebounds in 27.1 minutes in 70 games (all starts). In his sophomore and final season with the Cardinals, he led the team in scoring (15.3) and rebounding (7.0) in 29.3 minutes per game.

The 6-foot-9, 260-pound rookie played in five games (three starts) with the Chicago Bulls in the 2010 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and averaged 12.6 points on .571 shooting and 7.4 rebounds per game.

March 10 2010: Louisville's forward Samardo Samuels (15) makes a pass in the first half during a semi-final Big East Tournament game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Cincinnati Bearcats at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Cincinnati defeats Louisville 69-66.

Celtics sign Shaquille O’Neal

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent center Shaquille O’Neal. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“It is not every day that you can add a player of Shaquille’s caliber to your team,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “His past experience speaks for itself and we believe that he is a great fit for our roster.”

O’Neal, a 7’1” center, posted averages of 12.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and shot 56.6% from the field last season in 53 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The former Louisiana State Tiger is a three-time NBA Finals MVP (2000, 2001, 2002) and former NBA MVP (2000). He has been named to 15 All Star games and also has been named All-Star Game MVP three times. His 15 All-Star appearances are the second most all-time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 17. He is a member of four NBA Championship teams (3, Los Angeles Lakers, 2000, 2001, 2002; 1, Miami Heat, 2006). One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history (he was youngest member of this team, at the age of 24, when it was named in 1996), O’Neal also is one of just three players in NBA history to be named league MVP, All-Star Game MVP and Finals MVP in the same season (1999-2000).

“I am honored to be joining the Celtics,” said O’Neal. “I have played against Paul, Ray, Kevin, Rajon, and Jermaine for many years and it will be great to be able to call them my teammates. I cannot wait to get to Boston to get started in pursuit of another championship.”

The first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft by Orlando, O’Neal has posted career averages of 24.1 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He also has appeared in 214 career playoff games with averages of 24.5 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. O’Neal is the fifth leading scorer in NBA history (28,255 points) and is 14th in NBA history in total rebounds (12,921).

Timberwolves waive Delonte West

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has waived guard Delonte West.

As a result of this move, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune the Wolves now only have to pay $500,000 of his $4.6 million contract.

West was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers along with Sebastian Telfair in exchange for Ryan Hollins and Ramon Sessions on July 26.

Last season for the Cavs, West averaged 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

For his career, he averages 10.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals.

Despite personal and legal issues, West is still expected to find a new NBA job in the near future.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

LeBron James takes out newspaper ad to thank Akron

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:

Two days after Zydrunas Ilgauskas took out an ad in The Plain Dealer to thank the fans of Cleveland for their support, LeBron James placed a similar ad in the Beacon-Journal in Akron.

The ad, which runs on the back of the paper’s front section, also features photos of James from Akron events…

While James praised his hometown of Akron, he made no mention of Cleveland, where he played at Quicken Loans Arena for seven years as a member of the Cavs.

Cavaliers sign Joey Graham

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard/forward Joey Graham to a contract, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today. Per league and team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

Graham, 28, played in 63 games (18 starts) during the 2009-10 season with the Denver Nuggets, averaging 4.2 points on a career-high .520 shooting and 2.0 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game. In his 18 starts, he averaged 7.4 points on .473 shooting and 3.3 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game.

“We’re excited to add Joey to our roster. He adds a tough, veteran presence on the perimeter that will complement the pieces we have in place,” said Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant. “With his strong work ethic and discipline, we feel he is a great match with the culture we have built and continue to build.”

Prior to joining the Nuggets, the 6-foot-7 guard/forward played four seasons with the Toronto Raptors. In the 2008-09 season, Graham posted career highs of 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 19.8 minutes over 78 games (10 starts). In the 10 starts, he averaged 11.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in 28.3 minutes.

“Joining Cleveland marks an exciting, brand new start for me,” said Graham. “This is a great opportunity and I’m excited to come in and help the team as much as possible.”

In his career, the five-year veteran has played in 338 games, including 76 starts, and averaged 6.0 points and 2.9 rebounds. He has shot .815 from the free-throw line and .485 from the field.