NBA Teams – Page 1351 – NBA Blog

Fight to keep Kings in Sacramento continues

Billionaire Ron Burkle and Bay Area investor Mark Mastrov are in serious discussions to team up on a bid to buy the Sacramento Kings and partner with the city of Sacramento on a plan to help finance a new downtown sports arena, The Bee has learned.

A source familiar with the negotiations told The Bee that Burkle and Mastrov are both committed to keeping the team in Sacramento and building the Kings into a contender. The teaming of Burkle and Mastrov is seen by city officials as a “dream team” counter offer to the group that this week agreed to buy the Kings and move the franchise to Seattle, the source said.

Burkle, who owns the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, has been mentioned by both Mayor Kevin Johnson and NBA Commissioner David Stern as a potential suitor of the Kings. Mastrov, the founder of the 24 Hour Fitness chain, made an unsuccessful bid to buy the Golden State Warriors in 2010 and until now had been the only person to publicly express interest in buying the Kings and keeping them here.

— Reported by Ryan Lillis of the Sacramento Bee (Blog)

Ray Allen unsure when he will retire

The old saying, “Once a shooter, always a shooter” definitely applies to Ray Allen.

Even at the tender age of 37, Allen remains unequivocally one of the elite shooter in the game. Just check his 3-point shooting percentage this season: It’s .432 — the seventh-best in the league.

Yet, while it appears Allen still has more than fumes in his tank, the Miami Heat reserve guard acknowledges he may be closer to his career finish line than people think.

“I don’t know when I’ll retire,” said Allen, who began his pro career in Milwaukee in 1996 and spent six-plus productive seasons with the Bucks before being dealt to Seattle. “I’d like to get through the year first. I feel great; my body feels good. I just got to get through.

“I’m at a point where I’ve been pretty successful and I’ve gotten to the point where I really understand the game and how to play it.

“But I’m not going to be that guy who just hangs on. At some point, I can let it go.”

— Reported by Gery Woelfel of the Journal Times

Grizzlies sign Chris Johnson to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies signed free agent guard/forward Chris Johnson of the NBA Development League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers to a 10-day contract, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Johnson (6-6, 201) joins the Grizzlies after averaging 12.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.81 steals on .439 shooting (.419 3FG shooting) in 29.0 minutes in 21 games (nine starts) for Rio Grande Valley this season.

The 22-year-old ranks fourth in the D-League in three-pointers made (54) and is tied for sixth in steals (38). Among qualifying D-League players, he places sixth in three-point field goal percentage, 12th in steals per game and tied for fourth in steal-to-turnover ratio (1.58).

Johnson enjoyed a four-year collegiate career at Dayton University (2008-12), where he averaged 10.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in a school-record 138 games. The Orlando native helped guide the Flyers to the 2010 NIT Championship and captured tournament MVP honors.

After going undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft, Johnson played for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Orlando Magic during the preseason.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 12 players.

Los Angeles Clippers agree to 10-year extension of Staples Center lease

The Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to a 10-year extension of their STAPLES Center lease it was jointly announced by Andy Roeser, President, Los Angeles Clippers and Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO, AEG, owner and operators of the Los Angeles arena.

“We are very excited about our present and our future at STAPLES Center. It is indeed an honor to benefit from the sustained stability that accompanies being part of the greatest venue in the NBA, and we are glad to provide this state of the art backdrop to our deserving and loyal fan base,” said Clippers’ President Andy Roeser.

The Clippers, one of the arena’s original anchor tenants, played its first regular season game at STAPLES Center on November 2, 1999 against the Seattle Supersonics. Under the new agreement, which becomes effective at end of the current 2012-13 season, the franchise will continue to call the arena their home thru June, 2024, a period of 25 years.

“Donald Sterling, Andy Roeser and the entire Clippers organization have been not just great partners but a huge part of the success of STAPLES Center,” said Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO, AEG. “Their contributions have served to make this unique three team anchor tenant relationship both mutually successful as well as mutually beneficial. We are happy for their many achievements and are proud to call them our partners and friends.”

Before games of Wednesday, January 22, the Los Angeles Clippers currently rank first in the NBA’s Pacific Division. The team’s record of 32-10 (.761) is second best in the NBA.

Donald T. Sterling enters his 32nd year as Owner and Chairman of the Board of the Clippers. He ranks among the longest-tenured NBA owners and is one of the few remaining sole owners of a professional sports franchise in any league.

Jordan Hill having hip surgery Wednesday

Lakers forward Jordan Hill was examined today in Nashville by Dr. Thomas Byrd, and has scheduled surgery for tomorrow morning on his left hip.

Hill, who suffered the injury on January 6th in a game against the Denver Nuggets, has appeared in 29 games this season, averaging 6.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in 15.8 minutes.

An update, including an estimate for Hill’s recovery time, will be issued following the surgery.

Brooklyn Nets re-assign Tornike Shengelia and Tyshawn Taylor to D-League

The Brooklyn Nets have assigned forward Tornike Shengelia and guard Tyshawn Taylor to the Springfield Armor of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Billy King.

This will be the second time this season that both Shengelia and Taylor have been assigned to the Armor. The first came on December 21 where in one game with the Armor, Taylor scored a game-high 32 points and Shengelia recorded a triple-double with 22 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds against the Erie Bayhawks.

Shengelia, acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers after being drafted 54th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft, has appeared in 13 games for the Nets this season, averaging 1.4 points, 0.8 steals and 0.7 rebounds per game.

Taylor, a rookie out of Kansas, has made 21 appearances for the Nets on the year, averaging 1.6 points, 0.2 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.

Both players will be in uniform when the Armor take on the Main Red Claws on Thursday January 24 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.

Grizzlies trade Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington, Josh Selby to Cavaliers

The Memphis Grizzlies acquired forward Jon Leuer (LOO-er) and a trade exception from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for forward/center Marreese Speights, guards Wayne Ellington and Josh Selby and a protected future first round draft pick, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

“Marreese will strengthen our front court, while Wayne and Josh will add depth to our back court. At the same time, we are adding a valuable asset with another future first round pick, while also maintaining our future flexibility,” said Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant. “We wish Jon and Jeremy the best as they move on with their careers and thank them for their time with us here in Cleveland.”

The Cavs will receive Memphis’s first round draft pick in the first available year (which is two years after Memphis has satisfied its current pick obligation to Minnesota). Starting in 2015 the pick could be conveyed to the Cavaliers. The pick is protected one-five and 15-30 in 2015 and 2016 (meaning the Cavaliers would acquire a 6-14 pick) and the pick is protected one-five in 2017 and 2018. If the pick has not been conveyed by 2018, it becomes unprotected in 2019.

Currently in his second professional season, Leuer (6-10, 228) recorded 19.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists on .512 shooting (.467 3FG) in 36.5 minutes in eight games (seven starts) for Cleveland’s exclusively-owned NBA Development League team, the Canton Charge. The 23-year-old also has made nine appearances for the Cavaliers this season, averaging 2.4 points in 10.1 minutes.

Leuer holds NBA career averages of 4.4 points and 2.4 rebounds on .489 shooting in 11.7 minutes in 55 games (12 starts) with the Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks. The Long Lake, Minn. native was drafted by Milwaukee in the second round (40th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft after a four-year career at the University of Wisconsin.

Speights (6-10, 255) averaged 6.6 points and 4.7 rebounds on .429 shooting in 14.5 minutes in 40 games (two starts) in his second season in Memphis. Drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round (16th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft, the 25-year-old owns career averages of 7.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists on .474 shooting in 16.2 minutes in 305 games (60 starts) over five seasons with the Grizzlies and 76ers.

Ellington (6-4, 200) posted 5.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists on .407 shooting in 16.9 minutes in 40 games (four starts) in his first season with the Grizzlies. Drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round (28th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft, the 25-year-old holds career averages of 6.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists on .411 shooting in 18.4 minutes in 229 games (17 starts) over four seasons with the Grizzlies and Timberwolves.

Selby (6-2, 183) made 10 appearances with the Grizzlies this season, averaging 2.0 points in 5.9 minutes. Drafted by Memphis in the second round (49th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft, the 21-year-old owns career averages of 2.2 points and 0.9 assists on .330 shooting in 7.8 minutes in 38 games over two seasons with the Grizzlies.

Metta World Peace hopes to stay with Lakers for rest of career

At least one person is excited about his future with the Lakers.

Metta World Peace could become a free agent in July by declining a player option for $7.7 million next season. He doesn’t plan on it.

“I want to stay here the rest of my career,” he said, and “get past this adversity. I want to finish as a Laker.”

The adversity would be the team’s 17-24 record after a 95-83 loss Monday against Chicago.

It makes sense that World Peace, 33, wants to stay. He’s almost surely not going to get more than that as a free agent next season.

But whether he finishes his career with the Lakers might not be up to him.

— Reported by Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times

Dan Majerle will not return as Phoenix Suns assistant coach

Suns Ring of Honor member Dan Majerle will not resume his role as assistant coach for the second half of the season.

Majerle was in his fifth season as a Suns assistant coach but had stopped working with the team Sunday when Lindsey Hunter was selected as the interim head coach in place of Alvin Gentry. Hunter was selected Sunday over lead assistant coach Elston Turner, assistant coach Igor Kokoskov and Majerle, who had been the suggestion of many Suns players to General Manager Lance Blanks during interviews Friday and Saturday.

When Blanks called Majerle to inform him of the decision Sunday morning before practice, Majerle left US Airways Center and did not participate in Sunday’s and Monday’s practices. Majerle had been willing to return to the staff if Turner was selected.

Majerle will receive his full salary for the season.

— Reported by Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic

Andrew Bynum still healing, has not tried lateral movement yet

Andrew Bynum continues to report progress with his injured knees, but a significant hurdle awaits.

“I still haven’t done lateral movement, and that will be the biggest test,” the 76ers center said before Monday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Wells Fargo Center. “Cutting is the last thing to do, and I think I am building up to that slowly but surely.”

Bynum said he still hopes to make his first appearance this season after the all-star break. He said the most positive development is that he is not feeling pain in his knees.

Bynum, whose only running has come on a treadmill, has been working on shooting and post moves.

— Reported by Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer