NBA Teams – Page 1482 – NBA Blog

Magic sign second round pick Kyle O’Quinn

The Orlando Magic have signed rookie forward Kyle O’Quinn, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

O’Quinn was selected in the second round (49th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft. He averaged 8.8 ppg. and 6.2 rpg. in 21.4 minpg. during last month’s AirTran Airways Orlando Pro Summer League.

O’Quinn (#9, 6’10”, 240, 3/26/90) appeared in 129 career games at Norfolk State University, averaging 12.5 ppg., 8.5 rpg. and 2.2 blkpg. in 27.3 minpg. and shot .553 (610-1,104) from the field during his collegiate career. He was the 2012 Lou Henson recipient as the nation’s top mid-major player. O’Quinn was the 2011-12 MEAC Player of the Year and a two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year (2010-11, 2011-12). He was also named MVP of the 2012 Portsmouth Invitational, averaging 11.7 ppg., 11.7 rpg. and 3.7 blkpg. in three games.

As a senior (2011-12), O’Quinn played in 36 games, averaging 15.9 ppg., 10.3 rpg., 1.4 apg. and 2.7 blkpg. in 31.3 minpg. He helped the #15-seed Spartans to a historic upset of #2-seed Missouri in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament with 26 points and 14 rebounds. O’Quinn, an All-MEAC First Team selection and MVP of the 2012 MEAC Tournament, led the conference and tied for fifth in the nation with 20 double-doubles. He also ranked 14th in the country in field goal percentage (.573, 205-358), 15th in blocked shots and 16th in rebounding.

During his junior year (2010-11), O’Quinn appeared in 32 games, averaging 16.4 ppg., 11.1 rpg. and 3.44 blkpg. in 32.8 minpg. He ranked in the top 10 in the nation in blocked shots (fourth), rebounds (fifth) and double-doubles (eighth, 19). O’Quinn led the MEAC in blocked shots and rebounding, while ranking second in field goal percentage (.556) and fifth in scoring. He set single-season school records (Division I era) with 110 blocked shots and 355 rebounds. O’Quinn was named MEAC Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week four times, and was voted to the MEAC All-Tournament Team.

As a sophomore (2009-10), O’Quinn appeared in 30 games, averaging 11.5 ppg., 8.7 rpg. and 1.7 blkpg. in 28.3 minpg., while shooting a conference-best .549 from the floor. He was named to the All-MEAC Second Team. During his freshman season (2008-09), he averaged 5.3 ppg. and 3.4 rpg. in 16.2 minpg.

Cavaliers sign C.J. Miles

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard/forward C.J. Miles to a contract, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

“C.J. brings solid NBA experience to the team, yet is still just entering his prime at 25,” said General Manager Chris Grant. “His ability to play multiple positions adds depth and flexibility to our roster.”

Miles, 25, averaged 9.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.5 minutes per game in 56 games (14 starts) for the Utah Jazz last season. He scored a season-high 27 points on 10-16 (.625) shooting in 27 minutes off the bench against Houston on Feb. 29th and has a career high of 40 points, which he scored on Mar. 16th, 2011 against Minnesota.

The 6-foot-6, 222-pound Miles was drafted out of Skyline High School in Dallas, Texas by the Jazz with the fourth pick of the second round (34th overall pick) of the 2005 NBA Draft and has played all seven seasons of his NBA career with Utah. He has career averages of 8.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 19.3 minutes in 389 games (159 starts).

Pistons will probably have ads on jerseys soon

Palace Sports & Entertainment president Dennis Mannion said Detroit Pistons jerseys “most probably” will have small sponsorship patches in the future.

The NBA signaled last month that — pending formal league approval — it will allow small patches on the upper left part of jerseys. It’s not exactly going the NASCAR route, but it’s a significant move as the league ponders another revenue stream.

Mannion said Tuesday there have been discussions about offering the space as part of a package with a high-end sponsor.

— Reported by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press

Roy Hibbert to visit struggling young fan

Lee Eddins had hoped he would be able to watch his idol, center Roy Hibbert, play in person when the Indiana Pacers visit Sacramento, Calif., for a game against the Kings in late November.

But Lee, 12, is not expected to live that long.

Diagnosed with stage four leukemia six months ago, Lee has been told he might only have a couple of weeks left to live.

So Hibbert has planned a special surprise. Later this week, he is flying to Sacramento to meet Lee.

“Once I heard he had a dying wish, I knew I had to do something more than send him presents and Skype with him on the computer,” Hibbert said.

— Reported by Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star

Memphis Grizzlies to play Real Madrid in preseason

The Memphis Grizzlies will open the 2012 preseason Oct. 6 against Real Madrid Baloncesto at FedExForum at 7 p.m.

With 30 Spanish League championships, Real Madrid is one of the most successful professional basketball teams in Europe and an affiliate of the soccer powerhouse of the same name. In addition to the Grizzlies, Real Madrid will also match up against the Toronto Raptors during the preseason.

— Reported by Michael Sheffield of Memphis Business Journal

Kenyon Martin might want to join Lakers, Nets

The 12-year veteran was a key reserve for the Clippers, his impact going way beyond his marginal numbers (5.2 points, 4.3 rebounds) for a team that reached the second round of the playoffs for the second time in franchise history. But sources said the 34-year-old power forward is holding up this later stage of the hiring process for frontcourt free agents, with the Lakers and the Nets among the teams he’s considering and negotiation leverage seemingly gone because so many of his colleagues seem willing to take minimum deals.

Golden State was interested in Martin before last week signing power forward Carl Landry to a two-year, $8 million deal that, by comparison, looks lucrative. Veterans of varying pedigrees like Leandro Barbosa, Jermaine O’Neal, Matt Barnes, Mickael Pietrus, Josh Howard, Michael Redd, Louis Amundson, Joel Przybilla and Anthony Tolliver are among the players waiting longer than normal for a job. Przybilla was expected to pick between Milwaukee, Portland and Dallas over the weekend, according to a source close to him, but there’s no word just yet.

Agent Mark Bartelstein, who represents a lot of the league’s middle-class players, is navigating this changed landscape but refuted the notion that the money is all gone at this point.

— Reported by Sam Amick of SI.com

Knicks, Bobcats interested in Lou Amundson

Lou Amundson’s agent has had an ongoing dialogue with the Knicks about bringing the bruising center to New York.

Several teams, including some with more money to offer than the Knicks, have also expressed interest in Amundson.

According to Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida, Amundson has drawn interest from Charlotte, which can offer the $2.5 non tax-payer exception.

The Knicks can offer only the veteran’s minimum to Amundson.

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Sacramento Kings arena may be renamed

Power Balance Pavilion could get renamed yet again – and Sleep Train is one of the candidates.

Sleep Train Mattress Centers said Tuesday it’s negotiating with the Sacramento Kings for naming rights to the team’s arena. The Rocklin-based retailer is one of several companies talking to the Kings about naming rights.

Kings co-owner Joe Maloof confirmed the team is in negotiations for a replacement for Power Balance. He said the Kings’ marketing staff is handling the talks and he had no information about which companies are in the running. The team declined to comment further.

The Kings began looking for a new naming-rights partner after their year-old deal with Power Balance was cut short abruptly. The sports-wristband company left the team high and dry after filing for bankruptcy protection last fall. Power Balance paid the Kings just $700,000 before cutting off payments, according to court records.

— Reported by Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee

Utah Jazz name Dennis Lindsey new General Manager

Utah Jazz president Randy Rigby announced today that the team is adding to its front office staff by bringing on Dennis Lindsey as the team’s General Manager while Kevin O’Connor will remain as Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations.

“I am honored that we have one of the league’s preeminent basketball minds in Kevin O’Connor working as our Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. The addition of Dennis to the Jazz front office staff further demonstrates the Miller family’s commitment to this franchise,” said Utah Jazz president Randy Rigby. “He will be a key element of our basketball operations staff that we already believe is the best in the league. In addition, he brings with him valuable experience from two championship-level organizations and we appreciate the Spurs allowing us the opportunity to interview him.”

Lindsey spent the past five seasons with San Antonio as the Spurs’ vice president and assistant general manager. Lindsey’s responsibilities with the Spurs included directing all of the team’s player personnel matters, leading all draft-related efforts, managing the Spurs’ professional, college and international scouting aspects and overseeing the team’s analytical department, as well as handling the day-to-day management of basketball operations including salary cap management and interfacing with the NBA, coaches and player agents.

During Lindsey’s tenure, San Antonio compiled a 271-123 (.688) regular season record, third-best in the NBA during that span. The Spurs won 50-plus games and advanced to the NBA Playoffs all five seasons, winning three Southwest Division titles, twice finishing with the best record in the Western Conference, and reaching two Western Conference Finals (2008, 2012).

“The addition of Dennis improves the Jazz not only for the upcoming season, but for many years to come,” said Greg Miller, CEO of the Utah Jazz. “Dennis is an outstanding fit for the Jazz family as well as our community.”

Prior to joining the Spurs, Lindsey spent 11 seasons with the Houston Rockets, serving as the team’s vice president of basketball operations and player personnel from 2002-07. Lindsey originally joined the Rockets as video coordinator/scout in 1996, later serving as director of basketball development and then director of player personnel. Before joining the Rockets, Lindsey worked as an assistant coach at Fort Worth Southwest High School and Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College.

“Dennis is a proven talent evaluator whose experience will be a real asset to the Jazz organization,” said Kevin O’Connor, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. “He is a high-character individual who is well respected around the league and I look forward to working with him on a daily basis.”

A native of Freeport, Texas, Lindsey earned his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University in 1992 and a graduate degree in sports management from the U.S. Sports Academy in 1994. Lindsey played guard on the Baylor basketball team for four seasons (1988-92), teaming with future NBA players David Wesley and Micheal Williams to lead the Bears to the 1988 NCAA Tournament.

Wizards not worried about Nene injury

Nene sat out the final game of pool play for Brazil on Monday with soreness in his left foot, but the Wizards have been monitoring the injury and remain optimistic that it will not be a problem when training camp begins on Oct. 2, according to a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking.

Nene is expected to be available on Wednesday when Brazil (4-1) plays Argentina in the quarterfinals. Brazilian Coach Ruben Magnano rested Nene against Spain, but his team still won, 88-82, in a game that it didn’t need to win and possibly set up a more difficult path for a medal. Brazil is seeking its first Olympic medal since 1964.

— Reported by Michael Lee of the Washington Post (Blog)