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Philadelphia 76ers announce assistant coaches

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that Head Coach Eddie Jordan has named Mike O’Koren as Associate Head Coach and will retain Jim Lynam and Aaron McKie as assistant coaches for the upcoming season. Jordan was named the Sixers head coach on June 1, 2009.

O’Koren and McKie will represent the Sixers on the sideline as part of their joint Orlando Summer League team with the New Jersey Nets.

“I am excited to be joined on the bench by three coaches with a wealth of basketball knowledge and for whom I have a tremendous amount of respect,” Jordan said. “My staff has a common vision for this team and how we will play, and I truly look forward to working with them to achieve our goals.”

O’Koren begins his first season as the Sixers Associate Head Coach after spending five full seasons with Coach Jordan in the same capacity with the Washington Wizards. The former North Carolina All-American joined the Wizards staff after serving as an assistant coach alongside Coach Jordan on the New Jersey Nets bench from 1999-2003, where they helped guide the Nets to back-to-back Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference Championships in 2002 and 2003.

After a stand-out college career at North Carolina – where he was a three-time All-American and a four-year starter – O’Koren was drafted by the Nets with the sixth overall selection in the 1980 NBA Draft. He averaged 8.5 points in his seven NBA seasons with the Nets, including a career-high 11.4 points per game during the 1981-82 season.

Lynam, a veteran of more than 23 years in the NBA coaching ranks, returns to the sidelines in 2009-10. With an NBA resume that includes 10 seasons as a head coach with three different teams – San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers (1983-85), Philadelphia 76ers (1987-92) and Washington Bullets (1995-97) – Lynam has compiled 328 wins. In his four-plus seasons as head coach of the Sixers, he led them to a 194-173 record and was runner-up for NBA Coach of the Year during the 1989-90 season.

McKie returns for his second season as an assistant coach after originally joining the coaching staff on Oct. 3, 2007. Since he never officially retired as a player, his rights still belonged to the Los Angeles Lakers, who signed McKie to a contract in order to package him in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for Pau Gasol on Feb. 1, 2008. Although he did not appear in a game, McKie spent the remainder of the season on the Grizzlies roster before being waived on May 9, 2008. He returned to the Sixers on September 30, 2008.

In 793 career games with 287 starts, McKie averaged 7.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.15 steals in 24.2 minutes per game. He enjoyed his best season as a Sixer in 2000-01, taking home Sixth Man of the Year honors while helping Philadelphia reach the NBA Finals. That same season, he recorded back-to-back triple-doubles at Sacramento on Dec. 30, 2000 (19 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds) and vs. Atlanta on Jan. 3, 2001 (11 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists).

Chicago Bulls hire Randy Brown as Director of Player Development

The Chicago Bulls announced today that Randy Brown has been hired as Director of Player Development. In accordance with club policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

“We are excited to have Randy back in the Bulls organization in his role as Director of Player Development,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “In this new role, Randy will work with players before and after practice, overseeing on-court skills development. As a former player and coach in our league, I feel Randy’s experience will be of great benefit to our young players in numerous areas of their development.”

Brown, 41, joins the Bulls after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings. A 12-year veteran of the NBA, Brown played for the Sacramento Kings (1991-1995), Chicago Bulls (1995-2000), Boston Celtics (2000-02), and Phoenix Suns (2002-03). During his five seasons as a member of the Bulls, the Chicago native was a member of three NBA Championship teams (1996, 1997, 1998), including the 1996 squad that won an NBA-record 72 games during the regular season.

“It’s great to be back with the Bulls, and come home to Chicago once again. The Bulls are one of the best organizations in the NBA, one that I have always had a fondness for,” said Brown. “I look forward to getting started, and working with our players to help them advance and strengthen their skills.”

Originally drafted by the Kings in the second round (31st overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft, Brown appeared in 655 contests and finished his career with averages of 4.8 ppg, 2.2 apg and 1.8 rpg in 17.6 mpg.

Lance Stephenson commits to Cincinnati Bearcats

University of Cincinnati head men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin announced today that Lance Stephenson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Abraham Lincoln), a 6-6 forward and a 2009 McDonald’s High School All-American, has signed a financial aid agreement with the Bearcats and will join the team for the 2009-10 season.

“We are very excited about Lance’s decision to become a Bearcat,” said Cronin. “Lance has terrific talent as a basketball player, and is also a fierce competitor on the court. His desire to win will help us compete for a BIG EAST Championship.

“As a big guard, Lance brings playmaking ability and versatility to our team, along with his talent for scoring. We look forward to getting Lance here for summer school and building our team for the upcoming season.”

Stephenson joins the Bearcats after a highly-decorated prep career at Lincoln, where he averaged 28.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists to earn Class AA New York State Sports Writers Association (NYSSWA) Player of the Year honors his senior year. He graduated high school as the all-time leading scorer in the history of the state of New York with 2,946 points, passing fellow Lincoln High grad Sebastian Telfair, who was the 13th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft and now plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In 2008-09, Stephenson led Lincoln to an overall record of 22-11 and an unprecedented fourth consecutive Public School Athletic League (PSAL) Class AA championship. He scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 78-56 victory over John F. Kennedy in the league championship game. Stephenson, a three-time NYSSWA first-team selection, led the Railsplitters to state semifinals appearances his final three seasons, including Federation Tournament championships in 2007 and 2008.

Selected to play in the 2009 McDonald’s All-American Game, Stephenson finished his high school career with 12 points, six assists and three steals as his East squad knocked off the West, 113-110, in the annual high school all-star showcase.

Stephenson joins fellow incoming freshmen Sean Kilpatrick and Jaquon Parker to complete Cronin’s fourth recruiting class at UC. Also joining the first-year newcomers will be Ibrahima Thomas and Eddie Tyree, who both sat out last year after transferring. Tyree is eligible at the start of the season, while Thomas will sit out until the completion of the first quarter since he transferred following the first quarter last year. Finally, redshirt freshman Cashmere Wright, a nationally-ranked point guard, rounds out the five incoming players after missing last season with a knee injury.

For the fourth straight year, the Bearcats look to improve their win total from the year before, climbing from 11 victories in Cronin’s first year in 2006-07 to 13 in 2007-08 to 18 2008-09. This season, Cincinnati returns its most experienced squad since Cronin’s arrival, including two-time all-BIG EAST Conference guard Deonta Vaughn (15.3 ppg and 4.7 apg in 2008-09) and 2009 BIG EAST all-Rookie honoree Yancy Gates (10.6 ppg and 6.1 rpg).

Utah Jazz sign first round draft pick Eric Maynor

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has signed guard Eric Maynor, the Jazz’s first-round pick (20th overall) in the 2009 NBA Draft. Per team policy, financial terms were not released.

Maynor is expected to participate in the Jazz’s mini-camp in preparation for the 2009 Orlando Pro Summer League. Camp is scheduled to open today at RDV SportsPlex in Maitland, Fla., and will run through Sunday, July 5. Maynor will then make his professional debut when the Jazz opens its Orlando Pro Summer League schedule vs. Boston at 5 p.m. MT on July 6.

Maynor (6-3, 175, Virginia Commonwealth) was named the 2008-09 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year, taking home the award for the second straight season. The 22-year-old point guard also received Sports Illustrated All-America Second Team and Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America honors and was named VaSID State Player of the Year and Richmond Times Dispatch State Player of the Year. A finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, Maynor led the CAA for the third consecutive season in assists per game (6.2) while also leading the league as a senior in scoring per game (22.4).

Maynor concluded his four-year collegiate career as VCU’s all-time leading scorer (1,953) and assist-man (674). VCU retired Maynor’s No. 3 during his final home game as a Ram. The native of Raeford, N.C., attended Westover High School and led the Wolverines to the state championship game as a senior.

Maynor is the first-ever Jazz draft selection from VCU and he also became the first player drafted from the school since the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Sherron Mills with the 29th pick in 1993. He is the first VCU Ram ever taken in the first round of the NBA Draft and the first player from the CAA selected since 1999.

Mehmet Okur staying with Utah Jazz for 2009-10 NBA season

Utah Jazz center Mehmet Okur announced today he has elected to remain with the franchise for the 2009-10 season, and is declining to exercise his early termination option.

“We are looking forward to Memo’s return,” said Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor. “He has clearly been an integral part of our success since his arrival and we are hopeful that he will continue to perform at such a high level in the future.”

Okur (6-11, 263, Turkey), appeared in 72 games (all starts) for the Jazz in 2008-09, averaging 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 33.5 minutes per game. A seven-year NBA veteran, Okur finished the season second on the Jazz in points and second in total rebounds.

Originally signed by the Jazz as a free-agent on July 27, 2004, Okur has appeared in 388 out of a possible 410 regular season games with the Jazz over the past five seasons, averaging 16.0 points and 7.9 rebounds in 32.8 minutes per game. A 2007 NBA All-Star, Okur owns the single-season Jazz record for most three-pointers made and attempted (129-336) in a season (2006-07), and ranks fourth on the franchise’s all-time list for three-pointers attempted (1129) and fifth for three-pointers made (430).

JR Smith sentenced to 90 days in jail

The AP reports: A judge sentenced Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith to 90 days in jail Tuesday night for causing an auto accident that killed his friend, though Smith will likely end up serving only 30. Municipal Judge Debra J. Gelson suspended 60 days of the sentence providing Smith performs 500 hours of community service consisting of visiting sick children at hospitals.

InsideHoops.com adds: This incident took place in June of 2007 in New Jersey. Smith drove an SUV through a stop sign.

The following is a statement from Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien on J.R. Smith.

“We are fully aware of the legal proceedings involving J.R. Smith today and the judges’ decision. J.R. Smith took responsibility for his role in this tragic accident that occurred in June 2007. The legal statutes mandate that J.R. serve time for driving recklessly and he is grateful that the statutory sentence was reduced from 90 days to 30.

We will continue to support J.R. during this difficult period and will have no further comment at this time.”

Suns exercise option to keep Louis Amundson

The Phoenix Suns today exercised the second-year team option on the contract of forward Louis Amundson, the club has announced.

The 6-9, 238-pound Amundson became a fan favorite in his first season with the Suns in 2008-09 while posting career highs in nearly every statistical category. Voted the winner of the 2009 Majerle Hustle Award by fans and Suns staff for his signature style of play, Amundson saw action in a career-high 76 games, including the final 61 consecutive contests (Dec. 9-April 15) and all 31 contests under head coach Alvin Gentry.

The UNLV product averaged 4.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 13.7 minutes in 2008-09 and posted six double-digit scoring efforts after entering the season with a career-best of eight points. The third-year NBA performer enjoyed a career game on Feb. 27 vs. Toronto, exploding for a career-high 20 points, 10 rebounds and a career-best tying four blocks in recording his first career double-double and the first 20-10 game by a Suns reserve since the 2005-06 season.

Amundson was signed by the Suns on August 14, 2008.

Carlos Boozer stays with Jazz for 2009-10

Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer announced today that he is exercising his player option for 2009-10 and will be returning for his sixth season with the organization.

“We are excited that Carlos has decided to remain with the Jazz,” said Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor. “We are hopeful he can continue to play at an All-Star level and will have an injury-free season.”

Boozer (6-9, 266, Duke), appeared in 37 games (all starts) for the Jazz in 2008-09, averaging 16.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 32 minutes per game. The seven-year NBA veteran had 20 double-doubles and 15 games of 20 or more points, leading the Jazz to the team’s third straight playoff appearance.

Originally signed by the Jazz as a free agent on July 14, 2004, Boozer has appeared in 276 regular season games with the Jazz over the past five seasons, averaging 19.2 points and 10.3 rebounds in 34 minutes per game. A two-time NBA All-Star (2007, 2008) Boozer was also selected to the 2008 All-NBA Third Team. The seven-year NBA veteran is a two-time member of the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Olympic Team, wining a gold medal in Athens in 2008 and bronze medal in Athens in 2004.

Corey Maggette has right wrist surgery

Golden State Warriors forward Corey Maggette underwent successful surgery on his right wrist yesterday (Monday, June 29), the team announced today.

The surgery, which was performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Roy Meals of UCLA, will require minimal rehabilitation and Maggette will be able to resume normal basketball activities within 3-4 weeks. The purpose of the procedure was to relieve pain in Maggette’s right wrist, a condition that had bothered him intermittently throughout this past season.

Bobby Brown exercises option to stay with Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that guard Bobby Brown has exercised the player option on his contract for the 2009-10 season.

After going undrafted out of Cal State Fullerton in 2008, Brown was signed as a free agent by the Sacramento Kings prior to the 2008-09 season. He was subsequently acquired by the Wolves along with Shelden Williams in exchange for Calvin Booth and Rashad McCants on Feb. 19, 2009. In 68 total games split between the Kings and Wolves during his rookie season, Brown averaged 5.3 points and 1.7 assists in 13.7 minutes per game.