NBA Teams – Page 1254 – NBA Blog

Knicks uncertain about role of Amare Stoudemire

Amar’e Stoudemire will go into next season with $45 million left on his contract and no guarantee of a starting job.

He also could remain a reserve who plays restricted minutes.

Searching for ways to improve next season, the New York Knicks could use a reliable second scorer and dependable low-post option. They have no way of knowing if Stoudemire can provide either because of his knees.

“He’s a heck of a player and I think we all know that. The question is his health and how much he can play,” general manager Glen Grunwald said Tuesday. “So we’ve got our medical staff and training staff working with him to design an offseason program that will get him to full health, and we hope he’ll be able to play significant minutes for us next year. How much that will be, we don’t know at this time.”

Stoudemire was limited to just 29 games in the regular season and four brief appearances in the postseason because of a pair of knee surgeries.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Clippers not keeping coach Vinny Del Negro

Vinny Del Negro is out as the Los Angeles Clippers’ coach, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Chris Broussard.

Following one of the best seasons in franchise history, the Clippers opted not to offer a new contract to Del Negro, whose current deal will expire on June 30, sources told ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Ramona Shelburne.

Del Negro coached the Clippers to a franchise-record 56 wins this season and the Pacific Division title.

— Reported by ESPN.com

Jim Boeheim thinks Carmelo Anthony needs better supporting cast on Knicks

Knicks GM Glen Grunwald declined to fire back Tuesday at Jim Boeheim for the longtime Syracuse coach’s published comments eviscerating the team assembled around former Orange star Carmelo Anthony.

“Jim’s a great coach and he’s obviously very loyal to Melo,” Grunwald said. “So I understand where his comments came from.”

Boeheim, whose lone championship at Syracuse came with a freshman Anthony leading the way in 2003, took direct shots at Anthony’s coaches and supporting cast — including Tyson Chandler, Pablo Prigioni and Raymond Felton — in a story in the Syracuse Post-Standard.

Asked if he believes Anthony can win an NBA title with the current Knicks, Boeheim replied: “Not on that team. He did what he can do. He played very well the final game. Everybody’s killing him. … Carmelo gets turnovers and the announcers aren’t smart enough to even think, ‘Well, the guy should try to catch the ball.’

“Tyson Chandler claims he never gets the ball. He doesn’t try to get the ball. He had two points and Hibbert had (21).”

— Reported by Peter Botte of the New York Daily News

Detroit Pistons may favor Ben McLemore in NBA Draft

The Pistons are content with their young big men — third-year power forward Greg Monroe and rookie center Andre Drummond, who will represent the Pistons on stage tonight when the TV lights pop on at Times Square Studios.

So whom would the Pistons select if Drummond provides the luck needed to parlay a 3.6% chance into the No. 1 pick when the draft is held June 27?

Teams looking for perimeter help — like the Pistons — might turn to Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore.

McLemore, 20, who spoke to reporters at the NBA predraft combine last week, knows he is close to realizing a lifelong dream.

— Reported by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press

Kevin Durant donates $1 million to disaster relief efforts in Oklahoma

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant has a very good reputation, and his generous actions today only solidified that sentiment.

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013, Durant through his family foundation pledged $1 million to the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts in Oklahoma.

“The Red Cross relies on its donors to perform its mission in relieving human suffering following disasters,” said Janienne Bella, regional CEO. “Mr. Durant’s gift and support to Oklahoma comes at a time of great need and we’re forever thankful for his generosity.”

The Durant Family Foundation pledged the matching gift to inspire and challenge others to immediately do the same.

To donate to the Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Toronto Raptors keep Bryan Colangelo as president, will seek a general manager

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment President and CEO Tim Leiweke announced Tuesday that he has revamped the senior leadership of the Toronto Raptors in preparation for next season. Bryan Colangelo has had his contract extended as the team’s President and will report directly to Mr. Leiweke. The club has also created a new position of General Manager that will have final authority on all basketball-related decisions. At this time, with input from Colangelo, Leiweke is conducting a search to identify candidates and expects to name the new GM in the next 30 days.

“After thorough evaluation and considering all the options, we have concluded that these changes will be in the best interest of the organization,” said Leiweke. “By splitting the roles and having both men report directly to me, we are adding depth to the basketball operations group and giving the Toronto Raptors the best chance of competing for championships in the future. The new GM will inherit a great situation in Toronto, as all of my due diligence around the League indicates that we have a fine, young core and a few key moves will make us a playoff contender next season.”

While the General Manager will have autonomy over basketball decisions, Colangelo will continue to advise Leiweke on basketball-related matters while also broadening his involvement with the business side of the franchise. “The future of this team and this organization excites me more than ever, and I am looking forward to being part of our future success,” said Colangelo. “I will add whatever is necessary to help improve our basketball team while also expanding my efforts to increase brand awareness and influence growth of the game across this great country.”

“Bryan is skilled, knowledgeable and respected across the NBA and will be a resource that we count on to help build the Raptors into Canada’s team,” said Leiweke.

MLSE also announced that Leiweke would move up his official start date from July 1 to June 3 at the suggestion of the Board.

Kings have not gotten lucky in NBA Draft Lottery lately

In the last six lotteries, the Kings never improved their selection.

They had the worst record in 2008-09 but ended up with the worst possible pick, No. 4.

“You certainly can’t say the gods of chance have been smiling on us in that regard,” Petrie said.

The Kings had the fifth-worst record in 2011-12 and stayed in the fifth spot. That pick was used on Kansas forward Thomas Robinson, who was traded to Houston in February.

This year’s draft is considered to be lacking in potential superstars.

— Reported by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee

Milwaukee Bucks compete in a crowded NBA coach search

The Milwaukee Bucks are searching for a coach in a crowded marketplace.

Other NBA teams are in the hunt for a coach, too, and this summer it’s likely at least one-third of the league’s head coaching jobs will change hands.

One team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, already has hired a new coach. The Cavs moved quickly to hire Mike Brown, who coached Cleveland once before, from 2005-’10, before a brief stint leading the Los Angeles Lakers.

Coaching jobs are now open in Milwaukee, Detroit, Charlotte, Philadelphia and Brooklyn, and Phoenix is likely to replace interim coach Lindsey Hunter.

Atlanta Hawks coach Larry Drew was in Milwaukee on Monday to meet with Bucks officials. His contract with the Hawks runs out June 30, and he and general manager Danny Ferry have agreed that both parties can explore their options in the meantime. It is expected the Hawks will change coaches.

— Reported by Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Zach Randolph, Grizzlies on the rebound again

Zach Randolph’s miserable Western Conference finals debut led to a sleepless night and a long film session.

The All-Star power forward and his Memphis Grizzlies are hardly down and out, though. In both rounds of the playoffs so far, Memphis has lost Game 1 before rallying back to knock out the Los Angeles Clippers and then the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This time, Randolph had his worst game ever in the playoffs, managing two points in a 105-83 blowout. His only lower-scoring game in 40 playoff appearances was when he played 1 minute as a rookie for Portland in a 2002 game.

“It’s more frustrating than embarrassing,” said Randolph, who missed his first seven shots in Game 1. “It’s basketball. It happens to the best of them.

“Muhammad Ali, he got knocked down before. What made him the greatest fighter in the world is he always bounced back.”

It took the Grizzlies two games to get off the mat in the first round, when they suffered a 21-point blowout at Los Angeles and then lost on a Chris Paul buzzer-beater in Game 2. Memphis then won the next four.

— Reported by Jeff Latzke of the Associated Press

Magic try to follow Dwight Howard trade with NBA Draft Lottery luck

Pat Williams is pretty good at being lucky, and he’s got a hunch.

”I got a funny feeling that this could be another Magic year, here. For some reason, I’ve just got the feel,” Williams said.

Orlando sure could use it.

Following a difficult first season after trading Dwight Howard, the Magic are hoping Williams can bring them more lottery luck.

Armed with the best odds and their three-time winner back on stage, the Magic will try to jump-start the rebuilding process Tuesday night by landing the rights to the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

Williams has won four times, including victories in 1992, ’93 and 2004 with the Magic. They used the most recent one to draft Howard, and no team since has entered with the best odds and won the lottery.

The Magic were back in the lottery the next two years but were busy playing in the postseason every spring since until this one, when they finished an NBA-worst 20-62 after sending Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers last August in a four-team deal.

That gives them a 25 percent chance at winning the rights to choose first in a draft that appears uncertain. Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel is considered the top choice, though he could miss the first two months of the season while recovering from a torn ACL.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press