NBA Teams – Page 1433 – NBA Blog

Golden State Warriors announce digital upgrades to Oracle Arena

The Golden State Warriors announced today a variety of fan friendly digital upgrades to Oracle Arena, the Warriors ground for all home games, to significantly improve the game day experience for fans for the 2012-13 season.

“There has been more invested in Oracle Arena this summer than any other summer since the building was renovated in 1997,” said Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts. “Our job is to provide the best game day environment on a season-long basis and we know these enhancements, focused on improvements for fans and ways to make Oracle Arena and our team more digitally advanced, will improve the overall experience for our fans.”

During the offseason, the following additions and upgrades to Oracle Arena were created to provide fans with the best game day possible:

· StadiumVision – An advanced digital display platform developed by Cisco throughout the arena providing fans and partners with a best in class display system for scores, updates and latest sponsorship information.

· HD Scoreboard – A new, high-definition (HD) center-hung scoreboard enabling fans to clearly see the in-game action from the scoreboard, replays, updates and half-time and time-out performances. As part of the scoreboard assembly, eight JBL loudspeakers have been added inside the lower ring to provide the best sound possible for fans.

· LED Press Table Signage System – A state-of-the-art LED signage system directly in front of the press table providing fans the latest partner announcements and offers.

· Bypass Lane – Fans don’t have to miss a single minute of action on the court this year with the new Bypass Lane application at Oracle Arena. Bypass (available only in designated areas) allows fans to order and pay for food and beverage from the comfort of their seat on their mobile phone, available soon for iPhone and Android with the 2.0 version of the Warriors Mobile App. Orders are then delivered directly to their seats!

· Mobile Ticket Upgrades – Fans interested in upgrading their seat location on game day can now do so while already in the arena. The Warriors have partnered with Pogoseat to offer seat upgrades (subject to availability) to those inside the arena interested in upgrading their seat location via the Warriors Mobile App.

· iPad Kiosks – iPad kiosks will be located throughout the arena where fans can get information on upcoming game tickets and sign up for the latest Warriors offerings.

· Paper-less Ticketing – The Warriors are offering a select fan base paper-less ticketing for the 2012-13 season, via a paperless season ticket card, and look to move the entire arena to paper-less ticketing for the 2013-14 season.

7 percent of Sacramento Kings will be sold

A 7 percent share of the Sacramento Kings is about to head for the auction block.

The share held by bankrupt Sacramento developer Bob Cook is expected to be sold off, with the proceeds to be split among Cook’s creditors.

David Flemmer, the court-appointed trustee overseeing Cook’s bankruptcy, originally proposed auctioning the Kings’ stake in March.

But one of Cook’s creditors, an investment firm from Capitola called Omni Financial, blocked the sale. Omni said it was already the rightful owner of the 7 percent share after Cook defaulted on a loan.

Months of litigation ensued. Now a compromise has been worked out that would allow the sale to move forward and the proceeds to be split among three creditors. Omni would get 47 percent.

— Reported by Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee

David Stern reportedly hopes to get an NBA team back in Seattle

Between now and his departure, Stern is determined to get a franchise back into Seattle, league sources said. He has become a strong ally of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s group to bring back the NBA there. Ballmer’s group has been trying to get the Maloof family to sell the Sacramento Kings, so that the franchise can eventually play in a new arena in Seattle.

From the league office, pressure on the Maloofs to sell has been growing, sources said – just as hopes for a new Sacramento arena have been fading. Seattle Sonics fans will never forgive Stern for his complicit role in Clay Bennett’s deception to move that franchise to Oklahoma City, but make no mistake: Stern desperately wants to return the NBA to one of its great markets and wants it for his own measure of vindication before he leaves office.

As one source involved in the process said, “Stern has enough time to get a team back to Seattle, but he’ll let Silver deal with the crowd [booing] on opening night.”

— Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports

Dallas Mavericks sign center Eddy Curry via waiver claim

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have been awarded free agent center Eddy Curry on a waiver claim.

Curry (7-0, 295) was the fourth overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and has played in 525 games (411 starts) with Chicago, New York and Miami. He holds career averages of 13.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 24.9 minutes per game while shooting .545 from the field.

Curry spent training camp in San Antonio where he saw action in five games for the Spurs this preseason and averaged 8.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game.

“We are excited to bring Eddy Curry to Dallas,” President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson said. “He has worked extremely hard this offseason and can provide our front line with much needed depth.”

The former McDonald’s All-American and Illinois Mr. Basketball was an early entry candidate to the NBA Draft directly out of Thornwood High School in South Holland, Ill.

Curry is expected to be at Dallas’ shootaround tomorrow morning.

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Anderson Varejao is OK with new All-Star ballot

Cavaliers center/power forward Anderson Varejao had no reaction to the news that the NBA has opted to eliminate the center position from its All-Star ballots, instead listing frontcourt players and guards.

Varejao, who has been the team’s starting center since Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Shaquille O’Neal left, considers himself a power forward. Not that it matters.

“To me, it’s kind of the same,” Varejao said after practice on Thursday. “Playing power forward, you have to run around a bit more. Playing center, you have to be more physical against the big guys. I like to play both. I like to move around, and when I play center, I like being physical, to be down there to fight.”

— Reported by Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Bill Laimbeer named GM and head coach of NY Liberty

The New York Liberty announced today that Bill Laimbeer, a WNBA Coach of the Year and three-time WNBA Champion, has been hired as the team’s general manager and head coach.

It was also announced today that John Whisenant, who served as head coach and general manager, will be leaving the team. In two seasons with the Liberty (2011-12), Whisenant compiled a 34-34 record, guiding the squad to a pair of playoff berths.

“We’re excited to have Bill Laimbeer join the New York Liberty as our general manager and head coach. He has brought his winning pedigree and passion to the WNBA and I believe he will play a large role in bringing a championship to the Liberty,” said Allan Houston, the New York Knicks’ assistant GM, who also oversees Liberty basketball operations. “We appreciate Coach Whisenant’s dedication to our team and the organization, and wish him well in the future.”

“I am very excited to return to the WNBA, and for the opportunity to join the New York Liberty,” Laimbeer said. “I missed the competitive fire of players like Cappie Pondexter and Plenette Pierson, two hard-nosed competitors for the Liberty. The commitment of our fans and the City will be invaluable in our quest to bring a WNBA championship to New York. After all, that’s really all that counts.”

Laimbeer previously spent eight seasons from 2002-09 as general manager and head coach of the Detroit Shock (now Tulsa Shock), where he earned WNBA Coach of the Year honors in his first full season as head coach (2003). He took over a team that finished 9-23 in the previous year and led them to a league-best 25 wins the following season. The 16-win improvement was the largest in WNBA history. Laimbeer led the Shock to a 137-93 (.596) overall record, including six-straight playoff appearances as the squad won the WNBA Championship in 2003, 2006 and 2008.

A 14-year NBA veteran, Laimbeer was a four-time All-Star for the Detroit Pistons. As a member of the famed “Bad Boys,” Laimbeer totaled 13,790 points and 10,400 rebounds in his career, becoming just the 19th player in NBA history to eclipse 10,000 in both categories. A integral member of back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990, he had his jersey No. 40 retired by the franchise in 1995.

Warriors exercise third-year option on Klay Thompson

The Golden State Warriors announced today that the team has exercised the third-year contract option on guard Klay Thompson, which is for the 2013-14 NBA season.

Thompson, 22, appeared in all 66 games last season, averaging 12.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.4 minutes per contest, earning First Team All-Rookie honors. In 29 starts, he averaged 18.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.10 steals in 33.9 minutes. For the season, he led all rookies in three-point percentage (.414, 17th in NBA) and three-point field goals made (111), while ranking second among rookies in free throw percentage (.868) and fourth in scoring (12.5 points).

Under the terms of the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement, the first two years of a first round draft pick’s contract are guaranteed, while the third and fourth year of the contract are the team’s option. Thompson was selected by the Warriors with the eleventh overall selection in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Cavaliers sign guard D`Aundray Brown

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard D’Aundray Brown to a contract, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Brown, 24, played in 115 games (91 starts) at Cleveland State University, averaging 7.8 points on .487 shooting, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 28.4 minutes per game.

As a senior in 2011-12, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound native of Youngstown, OH, played in 26 games (25 starts) and averaged 10.8 points on .457 shooting to go along with 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.5 steals in 29.7 minutes per game.

Kyrie Irving has his four wisdom teeth removed

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving underwent successful oral surgery to remove his wisdom teeth (four) Wednesday. He will be re-evaluated daily and will return to court activity and play when cleared to do so in relation to his continued recovery process. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson was cleared to resume practice today. Gibson was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol process on Monday when he reported systems.

Cavaliers forward Luke Harangody continues to progress in the recovery process from his right knee sprain and participated in a partial practice today, while also continuing treatment. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Kyrie Irving has his four wisdom teeth removed

Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson was cleared to resume practice today. Gibson was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol process on Monday when he reported systems.