NBA Teams – Page 1623 – NBA Blog

Thunder sign Russell Westbrook to contract extension

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard Russell Westbrook to a multi-year extension, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Multiple reports say the deal is for five years and $78 million.

“We are thrilled to solidify Russell’s future with the Thunder,” said Presti. “Since we arrived in Oklahoma City, Russell’s work ethic, persistence, character, and involvement in our community have helped us establish the standards that we are committed to on a day-to-day basis. He is a valued member of our organization and we look forward to his continued contributions on and off the floor.”

In three-plus seasons as a member of the Thunder, Westbrook has appeared in 261 games (244 starts) and registered averages of 17.9 points, 7.0 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 33.8 minutes per contest. At the end of the 2010-11 season Westbrook became one of only five players in league history (LeBron James, Chris Paul, Anfernee Hardaway and Oscar Robertson) to record 4,000 points, 1,500 assists and 1,000 rebounds through his first three NBA seasons.

Last season, Westbrook was awarded All-NBA Second Team honors after averaging 21.9 points (13th in the NBA), 8.2 assists (9th in the NBA), 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals (4th in NBA) in 34.7 minutes. During the 2010-11 season Westbrook received his first-career All-Star nomination before helping lead the Thunder to a spot in the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.

During the Thunder’s 2011 postseason match-up versus the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference Semi-Finals, Westbrook propelled the Thunder past Memphis after becoming just the fifth player in NBA history (Scottie Pippen, James Worthy, Larry Bird and Jerry West) to record a triple-double in a Game 7 of a playoff series.

After being named to the NBA’s All-Rookie team after the 2008-09 season, Westbrook proceeded to increase his scoring and assists totals in each of his next two full seasons with Oklahoma City.

This past week Westbrook was named among the 20 finalists for the 2012 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team. During the summer of 2010, Westbrook won a gold medal as a member of Team USA in Istanbul, Turkey, after the United States team posted a perfect 9-0 record.

“We are very excited that Russell will continue to be a part of the Thunder organization,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Clay Bennett. “He has demonstrated high personal character, a strong commitment to his teammates and a remarkable dedication to the development of his performance as a player. We especially value his role in the community as he has consistently represented “Oklahoma City Basketball” with pride and integrity.”

Through 15 games this season, Westbrook has helped lead the Thunder to the best record in the Western Conference (12-3) while recording averages of 20.5 points, 5.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 33.3 minutes. Westbrook joins Kobe Bryant and LeBron James as the only other players in the NBA to average 20-plus points, five-plus assists and five-plus rebounds this season.

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Chris Paul remains day-to-day

Before the Clippers’ game Wednesday night at Staples Center, Chris Paul was on the court working out.

Paul still did not play against the Dallas Mavericks, sitting out his third straight game because of a strained left hamstring.

Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said there was no timetable for Paul to return, just that the All-Star point guard still was listed as day-to-day.

“He’s feeling better,” Del Negro said. “He’s doing all his therapy, headed in the right direction. But we just want to make sure that we get him some work [Thursday] and then see how he feels for Friday and then go from there. It’s day-to-day for him right now, but there’s a process involved that the doctors and trainers have. We’ll abide by that and see how he feels every day.”

— Reported by Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times

Trail Blazers have players-only meeting to discuss issues

Raymond Felton can’t shoot. Gerald Wallace isn’t consistent. LaMarcus Aldridge is fading down the stretch. Jamal Crawford has tied his mind into a pretzel. And Marcus Camby is injured.

But the Trail Blazers’ biggest problem?

They are too nice.

The players said so Wednesday night after the Blazers lost 92-89 in Atlanta, their fourth loss in five games.

That character flaw was addressed, some players said, during a players-only meeting following the game. It was organized before coach Nate McMillan came into the dressing area of the locker room and aired his disappointment about the team’s effort. When the coach left out a side door to address the media, where he told the cameras and microphones that “we’ve got to play harder,” the players turned their chairs to face each other. LaMarcus Aldridge then informed a Blazers spokesperson to keep the media out.

Players-only meetings are common throughout sports for struggling teams. The Blazers had one last season during their winless four-game trip in early December. The benefits are debatable. Usually it’s to air grievances about a coach, or the attitude of a certain clique, or to just generally gripe.

— Reported by Jason Quick of The Oregonian

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Steve Nash could join Knicks this summer

Steve Nash could be the answer to the Knicks point guard troubles.

That is, if they’re willing to wait until next season to get him and Nash wants to play out his final years chasing a title in New York.

Nash refused to discuss his pending free agency but he reiterated his fondness for New York City and Madison Square Garden.

“It’s no secret,” Nash said after scoring 26 points with 11 assists in the Suns 91-88 victory over the Knicks on Wednesday. “This is the basketball capital of the world. I live here in the summer. I have a lot of friends here. My former coach (Mike D’Antoni) and teammate (Amar’e Stoudemire) play here so it’s a homecoming in some ways for me. It’s always fun to play here.”

Nash, who will turn 38 next month, believes he still has plenty of good years left in his body. He keeps himself in top condition and still has the burning desire to play.

— Reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News

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Timberwolves may offer Kevin Love a maximum-salary contract

Six days before the league deadline, the Timberwolves are prepared to pay All-Star forward Kevin Love a maximum-salary contract, a league source said Wednesday.

Unresolved is whether it will be a four-year contract approaching $61 million or a maximum five-year “designated player” deal surpassing $78 million.

The NBA’s new labor agreement allows every team one designated player — a player ending his rookie contract who receives a five-year maximum-salary contract extension — on their roster.

The Wolves prefer to save that designated-player slot for the future — to re-sign Ricky Rubio in three years, perhaps — but their negotiations with agent Jeff Schwartz might depend on what deals Oklahoma City reaches with Russell Westbrook and New Orleans reaches with Eric Gordon.

— Reported by Jerry Zgoda and Kent Youngblood of the Minneapolis Star Tribune

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Roy Hibbert not expecting new Pacers deal until summer

With the deadline for teams to negotiate contract extensions approaching in less than a week, Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert said he thinks he won’t get a new deal by next Wednesday.

“My personal gut feeling is that we’ll do something in the summer, because the max guys are the ones that get extensions right away,” Hibbert said. “I’m just going to follow my agent’s lead.”

Hibbert, who is having his best season, will become a restricted free agent, which means the Pacers can match any offer made to him this summer if the deadline passes.

Hibbert, however, said no one should dwell on his becoming a free agent.

He prefers to remain a Pacer.

— Reported by Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star

Mavs assistant Darrell Armstrong arrested in California

Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials say an assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks basketball team has been arrested on an outstanding warrant from Las Vegas.

Sgt. James Brown says Darrell Armstrong was arrested and booked Tuesday in a case involving non-sufficient funds. Details about the case weren’t immediately available.

Armstrong’s bail was set at $40,000, and someone posted it Wednesday morning.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Milwaukee Bucks assign guard Darington Hobson to D-League

The Milwaukee Bucks have assigned rookie guard Darington Hobson (6-7, 210) to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Hobson, 24, has appeared in five games for the Bucks this season and averaged 1.2 assists and 0.8 points in 7.8 minutes per contest.

Originally assigned to the Mad Ants on December 29, Hobson averaged 11.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in three games for Fort Wayne earlier this season. He was recalled back to Milwaukee on January 4.

Eric Maynor had surgery, out for rest of season

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Eric Maynor underwent successful surgery this morning to repair a torn right Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), the team announced today.

Maynor suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Oklahoma City’s game at Houston on January 7. Prior to his injury, the third year guard was averaging 4.2 points, 2.4 assists, 1.4 rebounds and 15.2 minutes in nine games.

Maynor is expected to be ready for the 2012-13 Training Camp.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas joins Cleveland Cavaliers front office

The Cleveland Cavaliers today announced that Zydrunas Ilgauskas is joining the team’s front office as Special Assistant to the General Manager. The announcement was made today by Cavs General Manager Chris Grant. In his role as Special Assistant to the General Manager, Ilgauskas will be involved with front office responsibilities, including evaluation of amateur and professional prospects.

“We are very pleased to have Z begin the next phase of his basketball career with the Cavaliers and I am looking forward to working closely with him. Z has always had a great desire to learn and succeed and he already has a deep understanding and appreciation of the game and the NBA. We are extremely happy to welcome him back as part of our franchise,” said Grant.

Ilgauskas was originally drafted by the Cavaliers with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft. The Lithuanian made his home in Cleveland, playing the first 12 years of his 13-season career with the Cavaliers. The Cavs all-time leader in games played (771), Z also tops the Cavaliers record books in offensive rebounds (2,336), total rebounds (5,904) and blocks (1,269) while ranking second in points (10,616).

“I am really excited to come back to the Cavaliers, a team that I have so much history with and contributing to our future success,” said Ilgauskas. “I’m also looking forward to learning more about this game that I love so much and working with Chris Grant and the rest of the organization in every way that I can.”

A two-time all-star (2003, 2005), Ilgauskas finished his career with averages of 13.0 points on .476 shooting, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 27.2 minutes in 843 games (724 starts). The 7-foot-3 center played in six postseasons with the Cavaliers, including playing a major role on the Cavaliers teams that reached at least the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs in five consecutive seasons (2006-2010) and made the franchise’s first appearance in the NBA Finals in 2007.