Brooklyn Nets Blog – Page 107 – NBA Blog

New Jersey Nets sign Stephen Graham

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent forward Stephen Graham, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

Graham, 6’6”/215, is a five-year NBA veteran with career averages of 4.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 10.9 minutes in 180 career games with Cleveland, Chicago, Houston, Portland, Indiana and Charlotte. He has shot .458 (297-648) from the field and .754 (126-167) from the line. The Oklahoma State alum went undrafted in 2005 and made his NBA debut as a member of the Houston Rockets on December 11 at Portland. The best season of his career came during the 2008-09 campaign with Indiana, when he appeared in 52 games, six starts, averaging a career-best 5.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in a career-high 13.2 minutes per contest. Last season in Charlotte, Graham appeared in a career-high 70 games, eight starts, averaging 4.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in 11.5 minutes. Graham appeared in two playoff contests last season in Charlotte.

Nets sign Joe Smith

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent forward Joe Smith, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

Smith, 6’10”/225, is a 15-year NBA veteran with career averages of 11.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists over 1,014 games with Golden State, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Detroit, Milwaukee, Denver, Cleveland, Chicago, Oklahoma City and Atlanta. He has shot .455 (4,322-9,496) from the field and .790 (2,526-3,198) from the line.

The Norfolk, VA native was the first overall selection in the 1995 NBA Draft by Golden State.

The best season of his career came during the 1996-97 campaign with Golden State, when he appeared and started in 80 games and averaged a career-best 18.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 blocks in 38.6 minutes. In 57 career postseason contests, Smith holds averages of 5.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per game.

Last season in Atlanta, Smith appeared in 64 games, one start, averaging 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per contest.

InsideHoops.com says: Joe first entered the NBA in the 1400’s, when the game was played via candlelight, and the United States did not yet exist. He’s a smart, crafty veteran who will help the Nets bench.

Nets hire Milton Lee as director of basketball operations

The New Jersey Nets have named Milton Lee as director of basketball operations, General Manager Billy King announced today.

In his new role, Lee will oversee the Nets statistical and analytical efforts, as well as assist General Manager Billy King and Assistant General Manager Bobby Marks on player personnel matters.

Prior to joining the Nets, Lee started his own basketball services company where he worked in various capacities with the NBA, teams and players. Lee personally worked as a skills coach with several NBA players, including current Net, Troy Murphy. Previously, Lee served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers summer league team in 2008 and 2009, and has been a consultant to the NBA at the past five Pre-Draft Combines. Earlier in his career, Lee worked as a proprietary trader on Wall Street for ING Barings and SAC Capital. Lee interned for the NBA at three consecutive Olympic Games, including 1992, for the original “Dream Team.”

A native of Bergen County, New Jersey, Lee is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a member of the junior varsity basketball team.

Angel McCoughtry scores WNBA playoff record 42 points

The AP reports:

Angel McCoughtry scored a WNBA playoff record 42 points to win a high-scoring duel with Cappie Pondexter as the Liberty fell to the Atlanta Dream, 105-93, Tuesday night.

With the win, the Dream completed an unlikely march to the league finals.

Pondexter led the Liberty with 36 points, her postseason high, and nine assists.

The Dream, the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, swept Washington in the first round before also winning two straight over the Liberty in the conference finals.

Nets waive Sean May

The New Jersey Nets have requested waivers on forward Sean May, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

“During a basketball workout last week, in preparation for the upcoming training camp and season, Sean May suffered a stress fracture to his left foot,” said King. “This injury has a four-eight week rehab period, which would not provide Sean a legitimate chance to make our team.”

May, who signed with the Nets on August 9, 2010, is a four-year NBA veteran with career averages of 6.9 points and 4.0 rebounds over 119 career games with Charlotte and Sacramento.

Due to MSG renovations, NY Liberty playing next three seasons in Newark

The New York Liberty announced today that the team will play the next three seasons at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey during the Madison Square Garden transformation. Madison Square Garden is currently undergoing a $775 – $850 million transformation that will turn “The World’s Most Famous Arena” into the world’s most state-of-the-art arena. The building will close for the next three summers for work on the transformation to be completed. The Liberty will be temporarily relocated to the Prudential Center during the 2011, 2012, and 2013 seasons. Prudential Center is a convenient 15 minutes away from The Garden by train.

“The Rock is the best possible location for the Liberty to play during the next three summers of the MSG transformation,” said Scott O’Neil, president, MSG Sports. “The venue will allow our fans and partners the opportunity to continue to support the team at an arena that is a short 15 minute train ride from The Garden. It isn’t just a coincidence that New Jersey is called the Garden State and we are fortunate to have a strong fan base there for the Knicks, Rangers and Liberty. We see this as an exciting opportunity to broaden the Liberty’s New York metropolitan presence.”

“The entire City of Newark is excited about the news that the WNBA’S New York Liberty will be playing its next three seasons at the state-of-the-art Prudential Center. From the WNBA to the NBA to the New Jersey Devils and the NFL Alumni Association, Newark, New Jersey is emerging as one of our country’s biggest sports towns. This is another slam dunk for the Brick City,” said Mayor Booker.

The interim relocation to Prudential Center will provide a homecoming for New Jersey native Essence Carson and her former Rutgers teammates Cappie Pondexter and Kia Vaughn. A rich history of women’s basketball in New Jersey, both at the high school and collegiate level, makes the State a fitting home to the WNBA. The Liberty will host numerous community events during the offseason in Newark and throughout New Jersey leading up to the 2011 WNBA season.

“We are excited to embrace the Newark community during our next three seasons at the Prudential Center,” said Carol Blazejowski, president & general manager, New York Liberty. “The Liberty will continue to provide a fun, affordable and interactive game day experience for our loyal and passionate fans as we compete for the WNBA Championship. We look forward to welcoming our great fans back to The Garden when the transformation is complete.”

Added Jeff Vanderbeek, chairman and managing partner of the Prudential Center: “We are so pleased the New York Liberty will call the Prudential Center home for the next three seasons. To have the WNBA’s best known team add their name to the list of professional sports franchises now home at “the Rock” is great for our arena, Newark and New Jersey. We look forward to showcasing our Major League City and welcoming WNBA fans to Newark.”

“The move for the Liberty to the Prudential Center will provide an amazing venue for the team’s dedicated and loyal fanbase, while providing an opportunity for new fans to experience the excitement of the WNBA,” said Donna Orender, WNBA President.

Located in the heart of downtown Newark, just blocks from Newark Penn Station, Prudential Center is accessible via New Jersey Transit, PATH, Newark Light Rail service and Amtrak and situated at the crossroads of six major highway access routes including the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, Route 280, Route 78, Routes 1 & 9 and Route 21.

Prudential Center boasts some of the most advanced technology in arena and in-game entertainment in the country. With over 700 flat screen TV’s located throughout the building, fans are guaranteed to not miss any of the action. An exterior marquee measuring over 52 feet high, as well as 100 50’ plasma screens, will make the Liberty in-game experience at Prudential Center first class.

Madison Square Garden is currently undergoing a comprehensive, top-to-bottom transformation that will provide a significantly enhanced experience for customers, athletes, entertainers, fans, suite holders and partners. It will provide the best of both worlds for customers, a new state-of-the-art building within the iconic exterior of The Garden, while also maintaining the famous ceiling. The lower level transformation is expected to be open by Fall 2011, the upper level transformation to follow by Fall 2012, and the addition of new signature bridges and a brand new 7th Avenue entrance by Fall 2013.

NBA stars, celebs bowl for charity in NYC tonight

NBA stars Al Harrington (Denver Nuggets) and Dahntay Jones (Indiana Pacers) have teamed up to host their First Annual Celebrity Charity Bowling Event, Friday, August 27, at Lucky Strike in Manhattan, New York from 8:00 p.m.- 1:00 a.m.

Jones and Harrington will host an event that will bring together top NBA, NFL, and MLB players along with entertainment notables to bowl for a cause. All proceeds from the event will equally be distributed amongst the Dahntay Jones Foundation and the Al Harrington Foundation. Information on each charity can be requested.

The star studded event will have sounds on the turn-tables from New York’s very own, DJ Clue, as confirmed guests Devin Harris, CC Sabathia, Wilson Chandler, Carlos Beltran, Solomon Jones, Justin Tuck, Darrelle Revis, Braylon Edwards, Speedy Claxton, Stephen Jackson, Troy Murphy, Sebastian Telfair, Anthony Morrow, Tyronn Lue, Allan Houston, John Starks, Amare Stoudemire, Ben Gordon, Earl Watson, Tracy McGrady, Michael Strahan, Kelenna Azubuike, Leon Washington, Herb Williams, Toney Douglas, Howard Eisley, Juelz Santana, and Cappie Pondexter-all come together for a, fun-filled, competitive night of bowling to benefit at risk communities across the nation.

InsideHoops.com will be at the event. You can be there too! Tickets are available. Please visit www.ckstrategies.eventbrite.com/ for more information regarding specific event details as well as VIP and general admission ticket sales.

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.

Statement from Pacers president Larry Bird on arrest of Lance Stephenson

Statement from Indiana Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird:

The news of Lance Stephenson’s arrest is very disappointing to the Pacers franchise and to me personally. We have worked very hard to bring in players that are excellent representatives of our franchise, community and state both on and off the court. Our commitment to this goal is too strong to permit the actions of one individual to reverse all of the positive strides that have been made as a franchise over the last couple of years or to hurt the image of the rest of the players on our team. Everyone in the Pacers organization remains strongly committed to our players representing Indianapolis and the state of Indiana in a positive way and will not condone behavior that reflects poorly on this franchise and community.

We are continuing to gather all of the facts regarding Lance’s arrest but regardless of the outcome of the investigation, Lance should not have put himself in the position he was in early Sunday morning. We have consistently emphasized to our players the importance of not putting themselves in situations where bad things can happen. Once all the facts are known we will deal appropriately with Lance so that he, the team and the entire Pacers community understands that this message cannot be ignored.

Lance Stephenson charged with assault

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports:

Just days after feeling good about making what they think is their best trade in years, the Pacers were knocked down Sunday when rookie guard Lance Stephenson was arrested and charged with third-degree assault after he allegedly pushed his girlfriend down a flight of stairs in Brooklyn, N.Y., early Sunday.

“We have been made aware of a situation involving Lance Stephenson early Sunday morning in Brooklyn,” Pacers president Larry Bird said in a statement released from the team. “We are currently in the process of gathering information and will have further comments as we learn more facts.” …

Stephenson was charged with sexual abuse for allegedly groping a girl at a bus stop near his high school in New York his senior year. The charge was dismissed and he ended up pleading to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct.

John Lauinger of the New York Daily News reports:

Stephenson, 19, a legendary player at Brooklyn’s Abraham Lincoln High School, roughed up Jasmine Williams, 21, at her Brooklyn apartment building about 5 a.m., police said.

The 6-foot-5 rookie point guard’s cowardly shove sent Williams – the mother of Stephenson’s child – tumbling headfirst down 10 steps, requiring her to be treated at a hospital for injuries to her head and neck, cops said…

He was also booked on charges of third-degree assault, harassment and menacing. Prosecutors added a charge of criminal possession of a weapon, but a spokesman could not specify what the weapon was.

March 09 2010: Cincinnati's guard Lance Stephenson (33) pushes the ball up court in the second half of first round Big East Tournament games between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Cincinnati Bearcats at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Cincinnati defeated Rutgers 69-68.