NBA Teams – Page 1479 – NBA Blog

Detroit Pistons sign second round pick Khris Middleton

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club has signed 2012 second-round draft selection Khris Middleton to a contract.

Middleton, who was selected as an early-entry candidate with the 39th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, played three seasons at Texas A&M averaging 11.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 87 career games. The a 6-7 forward posted averages of 13.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists last season for the Aggies as a junior, scoring 16.1 points per game over the season’s final seven games. Middleton averaged a career-high 14.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists as a sophomore and earned Second Team All-Big 12 and All-District selections. The Charleston, South Carolina native who is known as a creative scorer that excels in the mid-range game shot 36.1% from three-point range (39-108 3FG) during the 2010-11 season and 32.1% (92-287 3FG) for his collegiate career.

Celtics still expected to sign Jeff Green

Let’s start with the obvious here: Jeff Green (still) isn’t formally a member of the Boston Celtics. Yes, his deal has been termed imminent since early July and, yes, a month later, there’s still wrinkles to be ironed out.

What exactly those hurdles are isn’t clear, but those close to the situation have hinted that its simply contract language, something that’s slightly more difficult after Green missed all of last season due to a heart ailment.

That said, neither the Celtics nor Green’s camp have given any reason to believe that a deal won’t eventually be consummated — and neither seems in a particular rush to finish it up. Green attended an introductory press conference last month and hasn’t shied away from talking about his excitement to play for the Celtics next season.

But here’s one reason his contract is truly noteworthy: Whenever this deal is finalized, it’s expected to be the biggest total payday the Celtics hand out this offseason with a reported four-year pact at a value of upwards of $9 million per season. With a deal like that, Boston is essentially committing to Green as a core member of their future (a four-year deal would run longer than even the three years remaining on Rajon Rondo’s current deal).

— Reported by Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston

Jeremy Lin brings attention to Rockets

Lin was officially introduced to Houston on a makeshift stage that was set up on the Rockets’ practice court and greeted by a media throng that numbered in the hundreds, including many talking heads who probably needed a map and flashlight to locate the Toyota Center.

After three straight seasons of being the last team to miss the playoffs and carrying the best record — and longest odds — into the draft lottery, they were in need of an attraction that would make the masses remember that the Rockets were still operating an NBA franchise.

Never mind that they showed him the door back in December.

“It’s always difficult when you’ve obviously made an error,” Alexander said. “We made an error in letting him go. I think we rectified it now.

“I think the spotlight’s important. We’re gonna be on national TV now because of Jeremy and I think free agents want to be on teams that are in the national spotlight. So I think from a basketball standpoint we really improve our negotiations with many, many free agents.”

— Reported by Fran Blinebury of NBA.com

Another basketball court shooting, this time in Brooklyn

Four teens were wounded this evening at a Brooklyn basketball court in the city’s latest incident of gun violence, authorities said.

The victims — a 13-year-old girl, two 16-year-old boys and an 18-year-old man — were struck around 6:30 p.m. at Fish Playground on Fulton Street in Brownsville, cops said.

“There was a basketball game going on and there were a lot of people in the park,” said witness Tony Herbert, who identified himself as an advocate for the neighborhood.

“Two young guys came in , announced themselves with a gang code sound,… and began firing,” he said.

— Reported by Natasha Velez and Kevin Sheehan of the New York Post

Chicago Bulls hire Brian Hagen as assistant general manager

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has hired Brian Hagen to be the team’s Assistant General Manager.

“Brian is someone I have thought for quite a while is one of the best young scouts and executives in the league,” said Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “We are extremely pleased that he has decided to join the Chicago Bulls organization.”

Hagen spent the previous nine seasons with the New Orleans Hornets in a number of capacities with their Basketball Operations staff, most recently serving as the team’s Director of Player Personnel. In that role, he coordinated the team’s amateur and professional scouting operations and assisted in the evaluation of free agents and prospective trade acquisitions.

While with the Hornets, he also spent time as the team’s video coordinator, Director of Basketball Operations, Director of Scouting and Assistant to the General Manager.

Prior to joining New Orleans, he also was an Assistant Coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in 2002-03.

Hagen began his career at the collegiate level while at Iowa State as an Undergraduate Assistant (1996-2000). A native of Joice, Iowa, he graduated from Iowa State in 2000 with a degree in Management Information Systems.

Rockets set to add Carlos Delfino

A person with knowledge of the deal says the Houston Rockets have agreed to a one-year deal with Argentine forward Carlos Delfino.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been officially announced.

The 6-foot-6 Delfino played in the Olympics, where he helped Argentina finish fourth. Delfino averaged 15.3 points in London, where he was a teammate with former Rocket Luis Scola.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Amare Stoudemire happily working out with Hakeem Olajuwon

Six-time NBA All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire “can’t wait” to explore the moves he has learned from former Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon when he returns to play with the N.Y. Knicks.

Stoudemire has been in Houston for about a week working with the Hall of Fame center.

“It’s always room to improve as a player,” Stoudemire said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. “To want to be the best is always a common denominator for most players.

“So working with Hakeem, one of the best players to ever play the game, is a great opportunity for me. We are both very quick and athletic for our positions. So to learn from him will be a great advantage for me.”

Stoudemire said it is fantastic to work with a guy who has accomplished so much in the NBA.

— Reported by Mark Berman of My Fox Houston

Brian Scalabrine not ready to retire from NBA

“I’d be discouraged if I just quit,” said Scalabrine, who remains without an NBA team after being told by the Bulls he will not be invited to return. “Everyone keeps telling me it’s not quitting (taking an already offered TV job). But I want someone to tell me, ‘We don’t want you.’ I’ve always been a tough cut to make. I want someone to tell me I’m not good enough. I just want to see what happens.”

And so Scal—the White Mamba of the Bulls, Veal Scalabrine with the New Jersey Nets in two NBA Finals, the fan favorite of the Boston Celtics’ 2008 championship team—contemplates one of the most remarkable runs in pro sports history, 11 years in the NBA despite every guy in the park thinking they could take him.

They couldn’t, really, because Scal was there because he deserved to be there. He just never looked like he should or would or could. And maybe that’s why they chanted for him, “Scal-uh-Bree-Nee, Scal-uh-Bree-Nee.” Maybe because he was there it was like they could be also. They knew they couldn’t be Michael or Magic or LeBron. But, Scal, yeah, maybe. Sort of like the NBA version of Sandra Bullock. Yeah, I could date her…

— Reported by Sam Smith of Bulls.com

Lakers will keep Devin Ebanks

After taking his physical Monday at the Lakers’ training facility, forward Devin Ebanks will sign the Lakers’ qualifying offer that entails a one-year deal worth a little more than $1 million, according to his agent, David Bauman.

The deal doesn’t exactly elicit the same headlines as the Lakers’ acquiring Steve Nash or Dwight Howard this off-season. But it is yet another move the Lakers have made to shore up a bench that finished near the last in the league in scoring.

Ebanks, 23, averaged 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in his second season with the Lakers last year, and earned a few unexpected promotions. He started the season’s first four games at small forward. Ebanks started five games at shooting guard while Kobe Bryant nursed a left shin injury in the season. And Ebanks started in place of Metta World Peace during his seven-game suspension for elbowing Oklahoma City guard James Harden two games before the playoffs.

— Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times (Blog)

Quick look at the Wizards

Even though the Wizards added veteran forwards Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, and drafted shooting guard Bradley Beal in the first round of the draft, the Wizards’ success will rely heavily on former #1 pick John Wall. The speedy and electric point guard had a solid second season but he will have to elevate his game even further this season if the Wizards want to stay out of being in the lottery for the fifth straight season.

Wall had a very good rookie season, averaging 16 points and 8 assists but he had almost identical numbers his sophomore campaign. It was not the improvement that was envisioned when he was taken with the top selection in the 2010 NBA draft. By comparison, Chicago’s point guard Derrick Rose — taken #1 in 2008 — took huge leaps each season, especially in his second and third seasons in the league when his average went up from 16 points his rookie season to 25 by the end of year three.

Wall is going to have to score more this upcoming season and he has the potential to do so with his offensive explosiveness, but his jump shot must improve. Wall has been working on his jumper this summer and even hired a shooting specialist to help him find his touch.

— Reported by Frank Hanrahan of CSN Washington