Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 100 – NBA Blog

Kim Kardashian engaged to Kris Humphries

US Magazine reports:

Sorry, fellas: Kim Kardashian is officially off the market!

The reality superstar and mogul is engaged to basketball beau Kris Humphries, her rep confirms to Us Weekly.

Kim Kardashian engaged to Kris Humphries

Kardashian, 30, and New Jersey Nets forward Humprhies, 26, began dating in December, and the duo quickly became serious.

Indeed, last month, a Kardashian insider told Us that the E! star planned to move to NYC in order to be closer to her man. “This is it for her,” the source said. “I foresee an engagement this summer.”

People magazine reports:

It was a dream come true for Kim Kardashian when she walked into her Beverly Hills home May 18. Her boyfriend of six months, New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries, was waiting in her bedroom on bended knee with four words written in red rose petals: “WILL YOU MARRY ME?”

“I didn’t expect this at all,” Kardashian, 30, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview (out Friday) of the romantic, surprise proposal. “I was in such shock. I never thought it would happen at home, and I never thought now.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: As someone who dates Kim Kardashian lookalikes on a regular basis, I know how Humphries is feeling right now. Good for him!

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

Nets owner to head Russian political party

The AP reports:

Russian tycoon and New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov says his decision to head a pro-Kremlin political party was an “uneasy” one.

Prokhorov said Monday he would head the Just Cause party – what he later called in televised remarks “an uneasy and somewhat surprising decision.”

Just Cause hopes to win legislature seats in December parliamentary elections.

Reuters reports:

A Russian billionaire declared on Monday he sought to lead a party backing a second term for President Dmitry Medvedev, a move that could undermine an unwritten rule that tycoons stay out of politics.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, expected by many to run for president again in elections next year, cracked down on powerful “oligarchs” during his eight years in the Kremlin. Oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky was stripped of his fortune and imprisoned. Others have left the country.

Mikhail Prokhorov, one of those who has made his peace with the Kremlin, said on Monday he hoped to lead Right Cause, a party with a mainly middle-class constituency which supports a liberal free market economy. It has no seats in parliament and was formed only two years ago.

For sale: Seats from Madison Square Garden

Over the next few summers, Madison Square Garden is renovating. It’ll look pretty different next Knicks season, and vastly different a year later. So naturally there’s plenty of stuff in MSG worth collecting (or throwing out, depending on how big a fan you are). Here’s the info:

The Madison Square Garden Company and Steiner Sports Collectibles announced today that they are partnering to offer collectors and avid fans the chance to own a piece of The World’s Most Famous Arena. MSG-Steiner Collectibles which already offers fans rare and unique artifacts, memorabilia and hand-signed items for the Knicks, Rangers, and Liberty, will now be offering fans a variety of unique exclusive Madison Square Garden memorabilia as a result of The Garden Transformation. The first items that will be available beginning today are authentic seats from The Garden. The announcement was made by Steiner chairman Brandon Steiner and Scott O’Neil, president of MSG Sports.

“While construction crews work around the clock to transform The World’s Most Famous Arena into the world’s most spectacular arena, we were intent on preserving some history for our best and most loyal fans. We have the seat you sat in for the ’94 Stanley Cup run and Larry Johnson’s 4-point play, and the seat you stood next to when you went to see Elton John or Billy Joel for the fifth time,” said O’Neil. “MSG-Steiner Collectibles is offering these seats as well as other one-of-a-kind pieces that represent not just Madison Square Garden’s history, but New Yorkers and visitors from around the world’s history at Madison Square Garden.”

“What a showcase item,” said Steiner. “It will be a kick to watch a game televised on MSG Network at home, sitting in a Garden chair.”

Madison Square Garden is currently undergoing a comprehensive top-to-bottom transformation that will make the Arena a state-of-the-art building. During the current Knicks and Rangers offseason the arena is shut down to complete work on the lower bowl. When the building opens for the 2011-12 seasons it will include all new lower bowl seating area, expanded Madison Concourse (lower concourse) with city views and additional food and beverage offerings, all new Event Level Suites and club spaces. The current Madison Square Garden opened in 1968; this is the fourth location for the Arena. Additional memorabilia from The Garden will be available through MSG-Steiner Collectibles at a later date.

The Madison Square Garden seats are priced at $899.99 for a pair and $549.99 for an individual seat, and are available in two colors, fuchsia and teal. To order call 800-759-SCORE or log onto www.PieceofTheGarden.com.

Nets center Brook Lopez has right arm surgery

New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez underwent successful surgery on his right upper arm today, May 4, at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, Nets General Manager Billy King announced.

The surgery, performed by Nets team orthopedic Dr. Riley Williams III and Dr. Andrew Weiland, involved the removal of bone mass and calcium deposits from Lopez’s right upper arm.

“Brook was bothered this year by a bony lump that developed after he was hit in the arm early this year,” said Dr. Williams. “The mass was successfully removed today. A full recovery is expected, and Brook should be able to return to basketball activities in approximately six weeks.”

Lopez will wear a sling for approximately one week and begin rehabilitation in two weeks. He is expected to fully participate in training camp for the 2011-12 NBA season.

Lopez, who has never missed a game due to injury in his three-year career, averaged a team-high 20.4 points along with 6.0 rebounds per game throughout the 2010-11 season.

Fan reaction to the minor news is in this forum topic.

In case of lockout, Deron Williams looks into playing overseas

The potential lockout coming to the NBA has resulted in plenty of players considering alternatives should the world’s best basketball league take a break for a while so the millionaires and billionaires can figure out how to better divide their money.

It makes sense for players to glance at the idea of playing overseas. Can’t hurt. Any contract that an NBA star signed to play in Europe or elsewhere would surely have an immediate out clause the second the NBA resumed operations.

New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams is doing what’s logical. Jared Zwerling of ESPN The Magazine reports:

Although the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement expires in nearly two months — July 1, to be exact — New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams is already considering taking his talents abroad.

“I’m already looking into playing overseas,” said Williams, who was in Santa Monica, Calif., Tuesday taking part in an event featuring his favorite video game series, Call of Duty. “I haven’t looked anywhere in general; I’m just looking into the possibility of playing over there. But I’m not going to make a decision until after the CBA.”

Beyond that, D-Will had nothing more to say about the labor negotiations between the NBA owners and players.

“I’m not even going to talk about it,” Williams said. “I’m going to let that work itself out. I think a lot of people open their mouths and shouldn’t be talking about the CBA. Let the people handle it that need to handle it. I don’t know enough about it to be running off at the mouth.”

I still hope this all works out, and soon.

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

Nets begin single affiliation with Springfield Armor D-League team

The New Jersey Nets today began their single affiliation with their NBA Development League affiliate, the Springfield Armor, assuming full control of the Armor’s basketball operations. The Nets become the second NBA team, along with the Houston Rockets (Rio Grande Valley Vipers), with such a partnership, also known as a ‘hybrid affiliation,’ and are now the fifth NBA team with a single-affiliated NBA D-League team.

“This is an exciting time for The Nets as we head into this new partnership,” said Nets General Manager Billy King.

In a structure similar to other minor leagues, this model allows for NBA teams to secure control over and cover the expenses related to the basketball operations of an NBA D-League team, while partnering with existing local ownership, which maintains responsibility for the team’s off-the-court business operations.

“The Nets now become the fifth NBA team to have a ‘one-to-one’ relationship with their NBA Development League affiliate for next season, which reflects our importance and success as a development engine for the NBA,” said NBA D-League President Dan Reed. “It’s a great time for the NBA Development League, and we’re looking forward to a very successful future for the Springfield Armor.”

After entering into a hybrid affiliation with the Houston Rockets prior to the 2009-10 season, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers have led the NBA D-League in Call-Ups the last two seasons, sending eight different players to the NBA 13 times. The other NBA teams that were solely affiliated with an NBA D-League team during the 2010-11 season were the Dallas Mavericks (Texas Legends), Oklahoma City Thunder (Tulsa 66ers) and San Antonio Spurs (Austin Toros). Both the Thunder and the Spurs fully own and operate their affiliates, while the Legends are owned by Mavericks General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson.

The Nets shared their affiliation with the Armor this season with the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks. The Sixers’ and Knicks’ new NBA D-League affiliations will be announced at a later date.

Nets make progress, have direction

Al Iannazzone of the YES Network blog reports:

It’s been a frustrating year, but it hasn’t been dysfunctional, and these things are certain: the Nets have direction, unlike last year, and many of their players want to stick around.

At this point last year, no one really knew if Rod Thorn would be back. It was well known Kiki Vandeweghe wouldn’t. So the Nets were going to need a coach and probably a general manager. They were undergoing an ownership change. They were praying they would win the draft lottery and get John Wall. They were formulating a plan of attack to use all the money they had to try to attract LeBron James and other members of the super free-agent class of 2010, believing Mikhail Prokhorov, Jay-Z and the eventual move to Brooklyn would be the ultimate appeals. There were so many ifs and so many unknowns coming off a 12-70 season.

Things didn’t go the way the Nets hoped. Thorn left. The Nets got the No. 3 pick and wound up spending about $70 million on Travis Outlaw, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar and Johan Petro.

But the Nets have much more of a foundation now than last year, with Prokhorov in charge of the team and Johnson and King running the basketball departments. You see where this team is headed.

Deron Williams has wrist surgery

New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams underwent successful wrist surgery today, April 11, at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

The surgery, performed by hand specialist Dr. Andrew Weiland and Nets team orthopedic Dr. Riley Williams III, involved the removal of loose bodies (three bony fragments) and scar tissue from William’s right wrist.

“The bony fragments and scar tissue taken from Deron’s wrist today were interfering with this ability to flex his wrist,” said Dr. Williams. “We expect a full recovery and a return to basketball-related activities in approximately 6-8 weeks.”

Williams’ wrist will be encased in a soft splint for two weeks, after which time he will begin rehabilitation. He is expected to fully participate in training camp for the 2011-12 NBA season.

The two-time NBA All-Star was acquired from the Utah Jazz on February 23 in exchange for guard Devin Harris, forward Derrick Favors, two first round draft picks (Nets 2011, Golden State 2012) and cash considerations.

Williams played in 12 games for the Nets, averaging 15.0 points and 12.8 assists.

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

Nets sign Mario West for remainder of season

The New Jersey Nets have signed guard Mario West for the remainder of the season, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

The fourth-year veteran out of Georgia Tech has appeared in five games, three starts, for the Nets while averaging 4.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 20 minutes. He tallied a career-high 13 points in his Nets debut on 4/1/11 at Philadelphia.

West has appeared in 161 career NBA games, including nine starts.

Nets sign Mario West to 10-day contract

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent guard Mario West to a 10-day contract, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

West, 6’5”/ 210, is a fourth-year NBA veteran with career averages of 0.8 points and 0.8 rebounds in 156 games with Atlanta. The Georgia Tech product went undrafted in 2007 and signed with Atlanta as a free agent on October 1, 2007.

West has appeared in 42 games, all starts, with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League this season. He averaged 13.7 points, 2.9 assists and 5.3 rebounds while shooting .526 from the field and .365 from 3-point range. Last season with the Hawks, West appeared in 39 games, including one start, while averaging 0.8 points and 0.7 rebounds in 3.6 minutes per contest.

West will wear No. 6 with the Nets.

Read fan reaction or share your own opinion in this forum topic.