Dallas Mavericks Blog – Page 94 – NBA Blog

Avery Johnson to be new Nets coach

The AP reports:

Avery Johnson says he has agreed to become the coach of the New Jersey Nets, the NBA’s worst team.

In a text message to the Associated Press on Wednesday, Johnson said he thinks the Nets will announce the deal today.

Nets president and general manager Rod Thorn did not immediately respond when asked to comment on Johnson’s text. In an earlier e-mail to the AP, he said he “will have something to say” today.

The current ESPN analyst coached Dallas for three-plus seasons, going 194-70 in the regular season and 23-24 in the playoffs. He guided the Mavs to the NBA Finals in 2006 but was fired after a first-round playoff series loss to New Orleans in 2008.

He was the starting point guard for the Spurs during the 1999 championship run. He played for the Spurs in 1991, 1992-93 and 1994-2001.

DeShawn Stevenson staying with Mavericks

Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News reports (via blog):

Guard DeShawn Stevenson will return to the Mavericks next season after exercising his player option to do so last week, his agent Mark Bartelstein said Monday.

Bartelstein said it was the right move for Stevenson after considering the free agent market this summer and after playing limited minutes for Dallas last season.

NBA fines Mark Cuban, Steve Kerr for violating anti-tampering rules

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been fined $100,000 for public comments made in violation of the NBA’s anti-tampering rules, it was announced today by Joel Litvin, NBA President of League and Basketball Operations. Cuban’s comments were made during an online interview that ran on May 18.

Phoenix Suns President of Basketball Operations Steve Kerr has been fined $10,000, also for public comments made in violation of the anti-tampering rules. Kerr’s comments were made on a radio show on May 14.

Dwane Casey in demand

Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News reports:

Assistant coach Dwane Casey is with the Mavericks’ management crew in Chicago and will meet with Atlanta Hawks officials about their coaching vacancy.

Casey is on the list of virtually every team looking for a coach, but several of those teams don’t seem to be in a hurry to make a hire.

New Orleans has interviewed Casey and Philadelphia, also with an opening, interviewed Casey last year. The Clippers have not yet asked for permission to interview Casey, but the Mavericks have been told there is interest.

Nelson said the Mavericks are bracing for the possibility Casey could be moving.

“We love Dwane and we’d hate to lose him,” Nelson said. “But he’s popular for a reason right now.”

Cavs-Celtics Game 6 had huge TV rating

The AP reports:

The Boston Celtics’ series-clinching victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals is the second-most watched basketball game ever aired on ESPN.

The broadcast Thursday night drew a 6.6 rating on the cable network and averaged 6,552,000 households and 8,983,000 viewers. Only Game 4 of last year’s Western Conference finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets did better on ESPN, earning a 6.9 rating.

InsideHoops.com Says: It was the biggest game of the entire year, in both the regular season and playoffs.

Roddy Beaubois to play for French national team

Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News reports:

Roddy Beaubois’ education will move into the accelerated program this summer when he will play for the French national team in the FIBA world championships.

With the blessing of Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and president Donnie Nelson – and with countryman Tony Parker withdrawing from the team – Beaubois has been offered a spot on the national team and has accepted, Nelson confirmed Friday.

The 6-1 guard is coming off a promising rookie season and figures prominently into the Mavericks’ future.

InsideHoops.com Says: This dude looks legit. I think he has a bright future in the NBA. His role, whether on the Mavs or elsewhere, will keep increasing.

Boston man who threatens Juwan Howard locked up

The Boston Herald reports:

A “psychotic” Boston man is accused of threatening to kill NBA star Juwan Howard and his family as well as attempting to extort $1 million from the Portland Trail Blazers forward, prosecutors and police said.

“He has been doing this for years, and he’s never actually spoken to my husband, he’s never even met him, but he’s obsessed with him,” said Jenine Howard in a phone interview after the arrest of Rahmal W. Stinson, 30, of Dorchester. “He’s showed up at games, and mailed gifts and leaves obscene messages. We’ve gotten additional security and we feel pretty safe. But he makes me nervous.”

Stinson, who was arrested Tuesday, was determined to be psychotic and is locked up in Bridgewater State Hospital, where he is undergoing a 20-day evaluation, according to Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley’s office.

Stinson’s 12-year-old child is the daughter of Jenine Howard’s sister and occasionally stays at the Howards’ Houston home, according to the family. Stinson frequently calls the home, and on March 20 allegedly threatened to kill the entire household, police said.

Tim Duncan shooting bricks from foul line

Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News reports:

Down 3-0 to the Suns in their Western Conference semifinals series after a horrid showing at the line contributed heavily to Friday’s Game 3 loss at AT&T Center, the Spurs no longer are laughing about missed foul shots.

Tim Duncan shooting bricks from foul line

Tim Duncan missed 7 of 12 free throws in Friday’s loss. He is 13 for 27 from the line in the series, the primary offender on a team that has made only 65.4 percent of its 81 foul shots in the series.

After making 271 of 374 free throws during the regular season, a respectable 72.5 percent, Duncan has made only 30 of 62 foul shots in nine playoff games, a 48 percent figure that is embarrassing to him.

76ers meet with Avery Johnson

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski met today with Avery Johnson in Houston, TX regarding the Sixers vacant head coaching position.

Joining Stefanski at the meeting with Johnson were Sixers Sr. Vice President and Assistant General Manager Tony DiLeo and Sixers consultant Gene Shue.

“We had an informative meeting and open dialogue with Avery today regarding our head coaching position,” Stefanski said. “His reputation as a motivator and accomplishments as a head coach in the NBA are well-known and I certainly want to thank him for taking the time to meet with us.”

J.J. Barea to play for Puerto Rico in World Championship

Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News reports:

The Mavericks will have at least one player participating in the FIBA World Championship this summer.

J.J. Barea said before heading to his home country this weekend that he will join the Puerto Rican national team in Turkey for the event from Aug. 28 to Sept. 12, he said before heading to his home country this weekend.

It remains unknown whether Dirk Nowitzki will play for Germany in the tournament and if his contract status could play a role in that decision.