The Deseret News (Tim Buckley) reports: If the Jazz choose to wade into NBA luxury-tax territory — something they’ve said they’re willing to do if need be next season — they won’t be getting a bailout. League Commissioner David Stern told reporters covering the NBA Finals in Los Angeles this week that there are no plans to temporarily shelve the tax, even in light of the country’s current economic plight. “No,” Stern said when asked at his annual Finals news conference, “there’s no contemplation of eliminating or reducing luxury tax.” The tax — part of the current collective-bargaining agreement between the NBA and its players union — is levied upon teams that exceed the league’s maximum team-payroll threshold, which has not yet been determined for next season. It amounts to a fine of $1 for every dollar over the threshold, plus a ban from sharing with under-the-threshold teams in distribution of the taxes that are collected.
Category: OKC Thunder Blog
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Comcast, NBA Digital enter NBA TV-related deal
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), the nation’s leading provider of entertainment, information, and communications products and services, has entered into a long-term agreement with NBA Digital to expand its distribution of NBA TV, providing live games, original programming, and exciting video on demand (VOD) and broadband content to millions of customers.
Comcast will make NBA TV, the league’s 24-hour digital television network that offers more than 100 live NBA games, available to millions of Comcast’s Digital Classic customers before the 2009-10 NBA regular season. Additionally, these customers will have access to a wide array of NBA content On Demand, including Top 10 Plays of the Night, nightly game recaps, basketball news of the day, and NBA Entertainment-produced specials. Comcast will also offer NBA content on its online properties, including Comcast.net.
“We appreciate the commitment of our longtime and valued partner Comcast to expand NBA TV’s distribution and provide more of its customers with the network’s wall-to-wall NBA coverage and innovative programming,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Adam Silver. “Through this agreement, millions of additional fans will be able to experience NBA TV’s more than 100 live NBA games, its signature studio shows and Emmy award-winning on-air talent.”
“We are excited to bring more NBA action live, on demand, and online to our Digital Classic customers,” said Matt Bond, Executive Vice President of Content Acquisition at Comcast Cable. “Whether a fan of the hometown team or one of the NBA’s incredible players, our customers will have access to all of the great NBA moments in time for next season.”
Comcast will continue to offer NBA LEAGUE PASS, the league’s subscription package that provides subscribers with up to 40 out-of-market, live NBA games each week. As part of the package, subscribers will have access to NBA games online at no additional cost through NBA LEAGUE PASS BROADBAND.
“This is a perfect marriage of two multiplatform strategies,” said NBA Digital Senior Vice President and General Manager Bryan Perez. “Through this expanded agreement, NBA Digital and Comcast will deliver millions of fans the finest in NBA content via broadcast, VOD, and broadband distribution.”
Blake Griffin to work out for Clippers Saturday
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College star forward Blake Griffin will work out for the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday afternoon.
Griffin is widely considered the best player in the upcoming 2009 NBA draft, and the Clippers have the #1 selection in the first round.
They are expected to select Griffin, but it’s still standard for the player to work out for the team, meet his future employers, let the two sides get to know each other a little better, talk about their favorite colors, etc.
And, seeing Griffin on the basketball court having him do whatever they tell him to will help the Clippers get an even better read about what he’s good at, which helps make roster decisions. Par for the course.
There are some rumblings that the Clippers are open to trading the first pick, but nothing serious. And frankly, every team in the draft is always “open” to trading any player or pick, if the price is right.
OKC Thunder getting new scoreboard
Thunder Basketball fans in every seat will enjoy a significant upgrade to their game viewing experience with the addition of a brand new, high quality digital video scoreboard. Designs of the new Ford Center scoreboard were released today. It is scheduled to be in place before the start of the 2009-10 Thunder season. The new scoreboard is among the many improvements planned for the Ford Center over the next two years.
The scoreboard, manufactured by Daktronics, features a total of ten full-motion video panels as compared to the current four panel scoreboard configuration. This will provide fans with a significantly enhanced video and graphics presentation. The new 10mm video panels are almost three times the size of the main screens on the current 12mm scoreboard. The board also includes an LED ring to display video and text.
“Our goal is to take as many steps as possible to improve the game experience for our fans. The addition of this high quality scoreboard is just one of the many amenities we are improving to accomplish that goal,” said Brian Byrnes, the Thunder’s senior vice president for ticket sales and services. “The high quality video panels will provide higher resolution which means sharper, clearer images and enhanced viewing for every seat in the house.”
The bottom of the scoreboard will also feature two unique tilted 6mm video panels to provide a high quality, easy-to-view presentation for fans sitting courtside and in other lower seating areas. “This is a feature we requested and it was designed specifically for the Thunder. We feel it will greatly improve the viewing experience for our fans sitting close to the floor,” Byrnes said. Besides live and replayed game action, all ten video panels will be able to display video features, in-game activities, sponsor elements and, of course, the game score.
The 46,000 pound scoreboard will be 35 feet wide and 31 feet tall and will cost $3.9 million. The Thunder worked closely with the City of Oklahoma City to develop the design features.
Funding for the scoreboard and other renovations to the Ford Center comes from a one-cent sales tax approved by voters on March 4, 2008. The 15-month tax took effect on January 1, 2009 and will expire March 31, 2010.
WNBA teams selling advertising on their uniforms
The New York Times reports: The Phoenix Mercury’s new uniform no longer has the words Phoenix or Mercury. Instead, the W.N.B.A.’s Mercury appears to have been renamed LifeLock, with the 10-inch-by-4-inch name of the identity-theft protection company stretching across the team’s jerseys. A small Mercury logo (the planet, with an M) appears like a badge on the upper left of the jersey. Taking a cue from international sports, where displaying corporate names on jerseys is standard, the Mercury on Monday will announce a three-year deal with Tempe, Ariz.-based LifeLock that is worth at least $1 million annually… During an off-season when one franchise, the Houston Comets, folded and the remaining 13 cut their rosters to 11 players from 13, the W.N.B.A. authorized its teams to let companies place their names on the players’ jerseys as part of broad sponsorship agreements. At least one other team is close to a similar deal.
InsideHoops.com editor says: There isn’t anything surprising or shocking about this, though it’ll still be interesting to see with my own eyes for the first time. Because, while viewing it, I’ll be pondering the obvious: Will NBA teams do this, eventually?
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Clippers likely to draft Blake Griffin no.1
The Los Angeles Times (Lisa Dillman) reports: Danny Manning, Michael Olowokandi . . . and now Blake Griffin. The Clippers have twice had the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, and will get it again for a third time, having won the league’s draft lottery Tuesday night at Secaucus, N.J. “Clearly, we’re taking Blake Griffin,” Clippers General Manager and Coach Mike Dunleavy said in a telephone interview from Barcelona, Spain. “This guy is the No. 1 pick. We’re extremely excited. He’s the guy.” There wasn’t much of a question the Clippers would do anything other than take the dynamic, explosive forward from Oklahoma. Dunleavy, though, wasn’t about to be coy in the wee morning hours in Spain and erased any shred of doubt about the team’s intention in the draft June 25 in New York.
Danny Granger wins Most Improved Player
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Danny Granger of the Indiana Pacers is the winner of the 2008-09 NBA Most Improved Player Award, the NBA announced today. The annual award is presented to a player who has made a significant improvement from the previous season.
Granger received 364 of a possible 605 points, including 48 first-place votes, from a panel of 121 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The New Jersey Nets’ Devin Harris finished second with 339 points (43 first-place votes), followed by Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder with 83 points (six first-place votes). Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third place vote received.
In his fourth year, Granger was the league’s fifth leading scorer, averaging a career-high 25.8 points – 6.2 points higher than 2007-08 (19.6 ppg) and 9.4 points above his career average (16.4 ppg) – and becoming the first player in NBA history to raise his scoring average by at least five points in three consecutive seasons. Granger also averaged 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists. The 6-9 forward led the Pacers in scoring in 49 of the 67 games he played, including 13 of their final 14 games. In his last 14 games, Granger shot 43-of-96 (.448) from three-point range and his 182 three-pointers made this season rank third all time in Pacer’s history.
OKC Thunder May 8 pre-draft workouts
On Friday, May 8 the Oklahoma City Thunder will conduct pre-draft workouts with the following players hoping to be selected in the 2009 NBA Draft: Jerel McNeal (guard, Marquette), Jack McClinton (guard, Miami), Daniel Hackett (guard, USC), Paul Delaney (guard, UAB), Jermaine Taylor (guard, UCF), Garrett Temple (guard, LSU), Terrell Harris (guard, Oklahoma State), Courtney Fells (guard/forward, NC State), Josh Carter (guard/forward, Texas A&M), Joe Ingles (forward, Melbourne Dragons), Aaron Jackson (guard, Duquesne) and AJ Abrams (guard, Texas).
Spurs vs Thunder in preseason
The Oklahoma City Thunder announced today that they will host the San Antonio Spurs in an exhibition game at Austin, Texas, on October 20th at 7:30 PM.
The game, which will be played at the Frank Erwin Center, marks the first time Thunder forward Kevin Durant will play a game on the campus of the University of Texas since February 28, 2007. Durant spent one season with the Longhorns, earning consensus Player of the Year honors, before being drafted in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft (second overall) by the Oklahoma City Franchise.
The University of Texas retired Durant’s #35 jersey this past February in a special halftime ceremony during its contest with Texas A&M.
Derrick Rose wins Rookie of Year
Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls is the recipient of the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy as the 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year, the NBA announced today.
Rose received 111 first-place votes (574 points) from a panel of 120 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Memphis’ O.J. Mayo finished second with 246 points and New Jersey’s Brook Lopez finished third with 127 points. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.
Finishing fourth was Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City), fifth was Eric Gordon (L.A. Clippers), sixth was Kevin Love (Minnesota), and seventh was Michael Beasley (Miami).
Selected with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft 2008, Rose led first-year players in assists (6.3 apg) and was second among rookies in scoring (16.8 ppg), to go along with 3.9 rebounds in 37.0 minutes. Rose shot .475 from the field and .788 from the free throw line. He started 80 of 81 games (missed one game due to injury on March 24), and finished the season in the top three in several categories all-time among Bulls rookies, including total points (3rd, 1,361), scoring (3rd, 16.8 ppg) and assists (3rd, 6.3 apg).
A three-time Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month selection (Nov., Dec., March), Rose scored in double digits 71 times including 32 games of at least 20 points. Rose represented Chicago at All-Star Saturday Night in Phoenix, becoming the first rookie to win the PlayStation® Skills Challenge with a time of 35.3 seconds. A participant in the 2009 Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, Rose finished with four points and a team-high seven assists. Rose is the third Bulls rookie to win the award and the first since Elton Brand in 1999-00 (co-winner with Houston’s Steve Francis).
The Eddie Gottlieb Trophy is named in honor of Eddie Gottlieb, one of the NBA’s founders who coached the Philadelphia Warriors to the NBA championship in 1946-47.
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