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Shannon Brown will stay with Lakers

The Los Angeles Times reports:

Lakers free agent guard Shannon Brown has agreed to a two-year contract worth about $4.6 million to stay with the team, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Thursday.

“Obviously, the process took a while, but Shannon wanted to be here and they wanted him,” Bartelstein said. “Shannon had a number of other opportunities out there, but he had been in L.A. for two years and they won two championships. The chance to go for a three-peat is very special to him.”

Bartelstein said Brown was in “serious talks” with about half a dozen teams throughout the summer, and that he could have made more money elsewhere, but that the allure of a third straight title was too much.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Shannon Brown fact — While the rest of the Lakers fly somewhere, Brown exercises by leaping alongside the plane. This also saves fuel costs.

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

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).

Lakers add Chuck Person to 2010-11 coaching staff

With the return of head coach Phil Jackson for the 2010-11 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have retained Jim Cleamons, Frank Hamblen and Brian Shaw as assistant coaches while adding Chuck Person to the staff, it was announced today by Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Person, who assisted the Lakers coaches and Jackson during their championship run last season, spent the previous four seasons as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings (2007-09) and Indiana Pacers (2005-07). Prior to that, he served two seasons as a special assistant to the CEO/president of basketball operations for Indiana, working with Pacers and Indiana Fever (WNBA) players, both on and off the court. Additionally, he spent one season with the Cleveland Cavaliers before joining the Pacers’ coaching staff.

An alumnus of Auburn University who concluded his collegiate basketball career as the Tigers’ all-time leading scorer, Person has been in the NBA for 25 years; 13 as a player and the last 12 in the front office or coaching.

A first round selection (fourth overall) by the Pacers in the 1986 NBA Draft, he averaged 18.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in his first season and was named NBA Rookie of the Year. He spent six seasons with Indiana and ranks 10th on the team’s all-time scoring list with 9,096 points. He recorded 34 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against New York on Feb. 20, 1986, becoming the first Pacers rookie in franchise history to record a triple-double. Person also played for Minnesota, San Antonio, Charlotte and Seattle over his 13-year NBA career. His career averages include 14.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

Andrew Bynum has right knee surgery

Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to repair a tear of the lateral meniscus in his right knee, it was announced today.

The surgery was performed in New York by Dr. David Altchek.

Bynum, who suffered the tear in Game 6 of the Lakers’ First Round series with Oklahoma City, started each of the team’s 23 postseason games despite the injury, averaging 8.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.57 blocks in 24.4 minutes.

In 65 regular season contests, Bynum averaged a career-best 15.0 points on .570 shooting from the field, 8.3 rebounds and 1.45 blocks in 30.4 minutes.

Bynum is expected to be available on a limited basis at the start of training camp and make a full recovery by the start of the regular season.

If you can`t intimidate Kobe, join him

Janis Carr of the Orange County Register reports:

Ron Artest messed with Kobe Bryant during a game and a year later he found himself playing alongside the Lakers star.

Now, Matt Barnes, the Orlando guard who tried to intimidate Bryant by shoving a ball in his face and generally got under his skin during a loss to Orlando last season, has joined the Lakers. What’s up with that?

In both cases, the players came at Kobe’s urging, because he wanted them on his side.

“He said, ‘Anyone crazy enough to mess with me is crazy enough to play with me,’ ” Barnes said with a laugh Tuesday.

Matt Barnes ecstatic to be a Laker

Janis Carr of the Orange County Register reports (via blog):

“This is a lifelong dream to be a Laker,” Matt Barnes said at his introductory news conference Tuesday. “Growing up in California in the 1980’s, you had no choice but to love Laker basketball. I grew up a huge Showtime fan … Magic, Worthy, Kareem, Byron Scott. It’s come full circle now. I’ve had a hell of a road to get here, but I’m very happy to be a Laker.

“I just felt this was the best situation for myself and my family to succeed … historic franchise, coming off two championships looking for the third, I just felt that this was a good fit.”

Coaching not in Kobe Bryant`s future

Reuters reports:

Although retirement is still a long way away for the 31-year-old guard, Kobe Bryant has clearly given thought to what he does not want to do when his playing days are over — coach.

“No. Absolutely not. No, no, no,” he said.

“Being a coach is too frustrating for me. I like coaching kids and holding training clinics for the kids. But to be a coach from the regular season to the playoffs … I have no interest at all.”

Hawks sign Josh Powell

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward/center Josh Powell to a contract, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Powell, a 6-9, 240-pound forward/center, joins the Hawks after two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he was a reserve player for the two-time World Champions. He tallied 3.4 points and 2.4 rebounds during his Lakers career (10.4 minutes per game), and connected on .409 of his field goal attempts.

“I look forward to joining a franchise I’m very familiar with,” said Powell. “The Hawks have done some great things over the past few years, and I think it’s great to come back home and play here. They’ve enjoyed success in the East, and while they have room to improve and grow, the nucleus is here to make that next step.

“Obviously, I followed the Hawks quite a bit growing up, and the excitement during the Dominique (Wilkins) years was a great thing to watch. We have to continue to get better and hopefully I can bring a little bit of what I’ve learned from my days with Lakers to the team.”

A five-year professional, Powell was a local product at Riverdale (GA) High School who played collegiately at North Carolina State. Undrafted in the 2003 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at NC State, he spent several seasons in Europe before joining the Dallas Mavericks in 2005.

After one season with the Mavericks (2005-06), Powell split the next season between the Golden State Warriors (30 games) and Indiana Pacers (seven games) before landing with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2007-08. He brings 37 games of playoff experience to Atlanta, averaging 5.6 minutes per game.

Powell finished with averages of 9.7 points and 4.5 rebounds over his two-year collegiate career at NC State, with a 12.4 scoring mark as a sophomore.

Poll results: Best teams in league

An InsideHoops.com poll started on July 17 asking readers to select the five best teams in the NBA gave some expected results.

The league champion Los Angeles Lakers, receiving 3,540 votes, got more support than any team, followed by the Miami Heat (3,151 votes), Orlando Magic (2,931) and Boston Celtics (2,900).

The other two teams to receive over 1,000 votes were the Chicago Bulls (1,426), who added Carlos Boozer this summer, and Oklahoma City Thunder (1,149), a talented young team featuring star Kevin Durant.

The Dallas Mavericks (873) also received support.

Kobe Bryant had right knee surgery

Kobe Bryant recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. The successful surgery was performed last week.

Bryant is currently undergoing rehab and is expected to be fully recovered prior to the start of the Lakers’ training camp on September 25.

There is no word on if Bryant plans to address lingering finger issues that he’s been playing with for quite some time.