Golden State Warriors Blog – Page 79 – NBA Blog

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.

Raptors hire Scott Roth as assistant coach

The Toronto Raptors announced Monday the addition of Scott Roth as an assistant coach. Roth brings 25 years of experience as a player, scout and coach in the professional and international ranks to head coach Jay Triano’s staff.

“Scott and I have a long history dating back to playing professionally at the same time in Turkey,” said Triano. “He is a coach who brings to us experience from many different levels of basketball – International, D-League and the NBA.”

Roth comes to Toronto following one season as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors. Prior to that he was the head coach of the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA D-League in 2008-09 and guided the team to its first post-season appearance with a 26-24 record.

Roth has served seven seasons in the NBA as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks (1996-2000) and Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies (2000-02), and four seasons as a scout and advisor for the Milwaukee Bucks.

In 2000, Roth was the head coach of the Turkish National Team when they claimed a silver medal at the European Championships held in Istanbul. A year later he guided Turkey at the 2001 World Championships in Indianapolis. Most recently, he was the head coach of the Dominican Republic National Team in 2007 and 2008, earning a silver medal at the CBC Caribbean Championships in Puerto Rico.

Following a standout collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin, Roth was selected in the fourth round of the 1985 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs. He opted to begin his professional playing career overseas with Efes Pilsen in Turkey. He returned to North America in 1987 and appeared in 160 NBA games with the Utah Jazz (1987-88), San Antonio Spurs (1988-89) and Minnesota Timberwolves (1989-90) before returning to Europe to finish his career.

Timberwolves sign Anthony Tolliver

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed free-agent forward Anthony Tolliver. Per team policy, terms of the contract offer were not disclosed.

“Anthony is a talented and versatile player who will fit nicely with the young team we’re assembling,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “He made significant strides during his time in Golden State last season and we’re excited to see the continued growth of his game here in Minnesota.”

Tolliver, 25, appeared in 44 games for the Golden State Warriors last year after a midseason call-up from the NBA D-League. The 6-8 forward averaged 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for the Warriors, including career bests of 34 points (April 7 at Minnesota) and 21 rebounds (March 27 vs. Dallas). Tolliver scored in double figures in 29 of his 44 games with the Warriors and grabbed 10+ rebounds 13 times, including 12 double-doubles.

Despite going undrafted out of Creighton University during the 2007 NBA Draft, Tolliver has appeared in 65 career NBA games during stints with San Antonio, Portland and Golden State, and owns career averages of 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Tolliver has also appeared in 56 games in the D-League over the last three seasons, averaging 14.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. He averaged 21.4 points and 11.4 rebounds in 14 games for the Idaho Stampede last season before earning the call-up to the Warriors.

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

Warriors sign-and-trade CJ Watson to Bulls

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has acquired the signed-and-traded contract of guard C.J. Watson from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for a future second-round draft choice. Golden State will be receiving the lesser of Phoenix’s and Utah’s regular 2011 second-round draft choices, both of which are held by the Bulls.

Watson (6-2, 175) comes to the Bulls having played the last three seasons with the Warriors. Last year, the 26-year-old Watson appeared in 65 games (15 starts) and averaged 10.3 ppg, 2.8 apg, 2.6 rpg, 1.58 spg, 27.5 mpg, .468 from the field, .310 from behind the arc and .771 from the line. In his three years with Golden State, he appeared in 174 games (33 starts) and he owns career averages of 8.7 ppg, 2.4 apg, 2.3 rpg, 1.23 spg, 23.2 mpg, .459 shooting from the field, .351 shooting from downtown and .822 shooting from the line.

Following his collegiate career at the University of Tennessee, he went undrafted in the 2006 NBA Draft. From there, Watson split the 2006-07 season playing in Italy and Greece. He then played with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League in 2007-08 before his free agent call-up with the Warriors.

David Lee out six weeks with finger injury

Golden State Warriors forward David Lee, who suffered an injury to the middle (long) finger on his right hand during practice with USA Basketball yesterday in Las Vegas, was examined today by Dr. Bill Green in San Francisco.

The exam indicated that Lee suffered a “mallet finger” injury. He is expected to wear a splint for six (6) weeks and is expected to make a complete recovery prior to the start of training camp in late September.

Jazz sign Raja Bell

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed guard Raja Bell to a multi-year free agent contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

“Raja has proven to be an excellent three-point shooter over a number of years and is a good defender who brings a toughness on the perimeter,” said Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor. “He knows Coach Sloan’s system and what he expects of him. Raja had a lot of choices and we’re happy he chose the Jazz.”

Bell (6-5, 215, Florida International) owns career averages of 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 604 career games (383 starts) over 10 NBA seasons with Philadelphia, Dallas, Utah, Phoenix, Charlotte and Golden State since entering the league on a 10-day contract in April 2001. Bell has also appeared in 68 career playoff games (40 starts), averaging 8.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 25.9 minutes with Philadelphia, Dallas and Phoenix.

Twice named to the NBA All-Defensive Team (First Team in 2006-07 and Second Team in 2007-08), Bell will enter the 2010-11 season ranked 11th in NBA history in career three-point field goal percentage (.411), minimum 250 made, and is fifth on that list among active players. Bell has shot at least .400 from beyond the arc in each of the last six seasons, hitting 100+ three-pointers in five of the last six campaigns.

In two seasons during his first stint with the Jazz (2003-05), Bell appeared in 145 games (36 starts) and averaged 11.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 26.3 minutes. He currently ranks fifth in Jazz history in three-point accuracy (.387, minimum 50 made).

Bell’s best statistical season came in 2005-06 with Phoenix, when Bell appeared in 79 games (all starts) and registered career-high averages of 14.7 points and 2.6 assists to go with 3.2 rebounds in a career-high 37.4 minutes per game.

In 2009-10, Bell appeared in six games with Charlotte and Golden State before missing the remainder of the season following left wrist surgery. Bell saw action in five games for Charlotte (all starts) before being traded to Golden State on November 16, 2009, playing one game for the Warriors prior to the season-ending surgery. Bell averaged a combined 11.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 30.0 minutes between the two teams.

A native of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Bell was undrafted out of Florida International in 1999 and played in the USBL, CBA and IBL before the Philadelphia 76ers signed him to a 10-day contract on April 6, 2001.

Warriors sold for record $450 million

The AP reports:

Golden State Warriors owner Chris Cohan reached an agreement Thursday to sell the franchise for a record $450 million to Boston Celtics minority partner Joe Lacob and Mandalay Entertainment CEO Peter Guber.

“I am incredibly excited to have the opportunity to be the next steward of this storied NBA franchise. This is my dream come true,” said Lacob, who is also the managing partner with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. “Peter and I intend to do what we do best _ innovating and building. It is our passion to return the Warriors to greatness and build nothing short of a championship organization that will make all of us in the Bay Area proud.”

Lacob and Guber beat out Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, who had been considered the favorite to buy the team from Cohan. Ellison has a personal fortune of $28 billion, according to an annual survey by Forbes magazine, and is the sixth-richest man in the world.

Jazz reach agreement with swingman Raja Bell

Tim Buckley of the Deseret News reports:

The Jazz have reached an agreement with free agent Raja Bell, a veteran swingman who played previously in Utah and last was with the Golden State Warriors.

Details of the agreement, which the Jazz did not confirm, were not immediately known.

Bell is coming off recent wrist surgery that curtailed his 2009-10 season.

The deal is contingent on Bell passing a physical exam.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Good signing for both parties. Old Bell can still provide defense and veteran experience off the bench, plus he can trip opposing players with his cane.

Ekpe Udoh out 6 months

The AP reports:

The Golden State Warriors say top draft pick Ekpe Udoh will miss six months after undergoing surgery on his injured left wrist.

Udoh underwent the operation on Wednesday in San Francisco to repair a torn ligament in his wrist. He will have his wrist immobilized for about 10 weeks.

Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa News (blog) reports:

His wrist will be immobilized for 10 weeks, which means he will be just getting the cast off around the time camp starts. After that, starts rehab, which clearly the doctor thinks will take at least three months. That puts Udoh out until January, if everything goes according to plan. If recent history is any indicator (which it probably shouldn’t be because no one knows how well he heals), don’t expect Udoh back before the All-Star break.

Warriors trade Anthony Morrow to Nets

The New Jersey Nets have acquired guard Anthony Morrow from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for the Nets 2011 second round draft pick (protected 31-55), Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.

“We felt that outside shooting was a primary concern during this offseason,” said Thorn. “Anthony is one of the premier young shooters in the league and we are very pleased to add him to our roster.”

Morrow, 6’5”/210, is a two-year NBA veteran with career averages of 11.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in 26.0 minutes over 54 career games with the Golden State Warriors.

The four-year senior out of Georgia Tech, was not selected in the 2008 NBA Draft and later signed with the Warriors as a free agent. Morrow led the NBA in three-point field goal percentage in 2008-09, becoming the first Warrior and first rookie to lead the NBA in the category.

Last season, he appeared in 69 games, including 37 starts for Golden State, posting averages of 13.0 points on 46.8% shooting, including a 45.6% mark from downtown (fifth-best in the NBA) and 3.8 rebounds in 29.2 minutes per game.

Shooting .460 (226-491) from downtown in his two seasons, Morrow holds the highest three-point field goal percentage in the NBA among players with at least 200 three-pointers made.