NBA Teams – Page 1195 – NBA Blog

Kobe Bryant ahead of schedule in recovery

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant said he is way ahead of schedule in recovering from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon.

The scheduled time timetable for recovery is typically six to nine months. Bryant, who was injured in April against the Golden State Warriors, suggested that he could be ready in time for training camp in September.

“The surgical procedure was different … and because of that the recovery has been different,” Bryant said while recently on tour in China, according to NBA.com. “The normal timetable for recovery from an Achilles, we’ve shattered that.”

Reported by the Sports Xchange

Detroit Pistons sign second round draft pick Peyton Siva

Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the club has signed draft selection Peyton Siva to a contract.

Siva was drafted by Detroit with the 56th pick in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 10.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 5.7 assists as a senior last season while leading the University of Louisville to the NCAA Championship. He scored in double figures in 23-of-40 games last year, including 18 points and five assists in the championship game. A native of Seattle, Wa., Siva was named to the All-Big East Third team and the Final Four All-Tournament Team as a senior. He finished his collegiate career as Louisville’s second all-time assist leader with 677 assists.

According to the Detroit Free Press, “A roster spot opened for Siva when the Pistons traded Brandon Knight, Slava Kravtsov and Khris Middleton for Brandon Jennings last month. The Pistons already signed their other draft picks, guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and forward Tony Mitchell.”

LeBron James would like some space

His September wedding in San Diego is the stuff of TMZ and People Magazine. His free agency next summer could eclipse the attention of when he previously entered the market in 2010.

But, for now, LeBron James is asking for a little space.

Please.

At least that’s the message from his Facebook and Twitter posts overnight.

On his Facebook page, as Sunday turned to Monday, the Heat forward posted:

“Man it’s hard to go out and have a good time these days! It’s cool though, it’s part of my life. Wouldn’t change anything(just saying). Been in the spotlight since I was 15. Sometimes u just wanna STOP!! But I refuse cause I have a commitment to the youth to inspire them!! That will keep me pushing forward and focused alone.”

Reported by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Delonte West wants an NBA contract

Badly misunderstood in certain instances, having made heinous mistakes in others, Delonte West has run the gamut of experiences in his NBA career. He’s 30 now, married and a new father, and he’s looking to return to the NBA, hoping teams can overlook his past troubles and provide him with a sliver of an opportunity.

West, who last played for the Mavericks, said he will accept a nonguaranteed deal, just hoping to impress a coach and make a roster. He was waived by Dallas last October after a dispute with coach Rick Carlisle, then played briefly in the Development League.

West, who has had a pair of stints with the Celtics, said the time away has been rewarding and therapeutic.

“This, in a way, has been the biggest blessing of my life,” he said. “This has given me time to grow. I’m just looking for answers, and all of the things I have been searching for, as a man, not as an athlete, to complete me. In that time period I met my wife and have had a beautiful son, and it’s like everything is falling in place.

“Back in December or January, I stopped trying to trust in man and fight these battles by myself. I just handed the keys to the man upstairs and let him drive. It’s been the biggest blessing of my life. I have so much to be grateful for, thankful for, and I have a lot to play for now.”

Reported by Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe

Suns center Marcin Gortat still experiencing foot pain

Alex Len isn’t the only Phoenix Suns center struggling with foot problems.

Suns starting center Marcin Gortat returned to the U.S. on Thursday to undergo medical tests on his right foot, according to EuroBasket 2013’s website. Gortat had been working out with Poland’s national team as they prepare for the EuroBasket 2013 tournament, which starts Sept. 4 in Slovenia.

The six-year NBA veteran took a leave of three weeks from the Polish team. He is expected to return in time for the tournament to start.

Reported by Andrew Gilstrap of Arizona Sports

LeBron James may run for president of Players Association

LeBron James is seriously considering running for president of the National Basketball Players Association, multiple sources told ESPN.

James is giving a run “some very heavy thought,” one source said.

The biggest consideration for James will be the time commitment being the union president would require. James has limited time to give because of sponsorship and charity commitments in addition to playing. Deep playoff runs with the Miami Heat the past three seasons have also been taxing.

Still, James has been investigating the issue with advisers and fellow players this summer.

“It’s a very important position for where things are going,” a source close to James said.

Reported by Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com

Greg Oden is a nice addition for Miami Heat

The Miami Heat did it again.

They won the competition for Greg Oden, another free agent multiple teams were chasing. And they got him to take less money than was being offered elsewhere. This has happened time and time again over the past four summers and it’s a central reason they’re two-time champs who are the oddsmakers’ favorite to do it again.

Because they got Oden at their price and on their terms — assuring Oden that he’ll be brought along slowly with an eye toward the playoffs, above all else — the Heat have set this up as an all-reward, no-risk transaction.

Oden’s story is well known. The five knee surgeries, the no games since December of 2009, a grand total of 82 games since being drafted No. 1 in 2007. Because of all that there is hardly any meaningful way to project what Oden will be for the Heat this season.

In an effort to put some sort of perspective on him, stories about Oden’s return have recently included what his player efficiency rating was for a 21-game stretch in 2009. This, of course, has virtually no value now. Even the workouts Oden had for various teams recently, which were controlled by him and done at relative low speed, hold little predictive value.

Reported by Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com

Melo happy to have Bargnani, World Peace on Knicks

Carmelo Anthony hopes newly acquired Knick Andrea Bargnani comes into the season with a new attitude and renewed fire.

Speaking at his basketball camp at Queens College Saturday, Anthony lamented losing key teammates from last season’s 54-28 squad but said getting Bargnani was a “steal.” He’s convinced the Knicks will be better.

“I hate to lose [Steve] Novak and [Marcus] Camby,” he said, “but when you get someone like [Bargnani] in return, it’s kind of a win-win situation.”

The 7-foot forward, the No. 1 overall pick of the Toronto Raptors in 2006, averaged 12.7 points and 3.7 rebounds last season. It was his lowest point total since he averaged 10.2 points per game in 2007-08. “Hopefully, Bargnani will want to come in and prove something, come in with a chip on his shoulder and be ready to rock,” Anthony said.

He also was pleased with the acquisition of veteran forward Metta World Peace. Anthony joked that he still can’t get used to calling him Metta, but he’s happy to be his teammate. “To have him on our team right now brings some more toughness to our team and another defensive presence,” Anthony said.

Reported by Marcus Henry of New York Newsday

Carmelo Anthony says his shoulder is no longer an issue

Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony says the small shoulder tear he suffered late last season is no longer an issue.

“I’m good. My shoulder feels good,” he said Saturday at his annual youth camp at Queens College.

An MRI taken shortly after the season showed that Anthony had suffered a small tear in his left shoulder. He said the injury affected him in the playoffs.

“I was surprised that I was able to get through it the way that I did,” Anthony said Saturday. “When it happened, I knew something was wrong with it, and I was kind of being a little bit naive and trying to fight it and toughen it out. But to feel the difference now … it’s night and day.”

Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Craig Ehlo released from jail

Former NBA player Craig Ehlo was released from jail Friday and ordered to stay away from family members and his rural Spokane County home.

Superior Court Judge James Triplet set Ehlo’s arraignment for Aug. 14 on a charge of first-degree reckless burning, a Class C felony, the Spokesman-Review reported.

Ehlo also was ordered to stay away from fire-starting materials and remain in Washington state.

His lawyer’s name wasn’t immediately available Friday night.

Reported by the Associated Press