The Philadelphia Daily News reports: To commemorate 28 seasons that included an NBA championship, the Sixers will bid a fond farewell to the Wachovia Spectrum with one last game. Yesterday, the team released its schedule for the upcoming 2008-09 campaign with plans to face the Chicago Bulls in the hallowed arena on March 13. “In this, the last year of the Spectrum, we’re thrilled to bring the Sixers back home to play one more time in the Spectrum,” said Comcast-Spectacor chairman Ed Snider. “This night is designed for our fans to relive the great Sixers memories there and for those fans who were never able to see them play at the Spectrum.”
Category: NBA Teams
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Pistons sign Walter Sharpe
Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the team has signed second round draft choice Walter Sharpe.
“We are pleased to add Walter Sharpe to our roster,” said Dumars. “Walter is a young athletic small forward with good size and intriguing skills. We look forward to seeing him grow and mature as a player in our system.”
Sharpe was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the No. 32 pick in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft. The 6-9, 245-pound forward from the University of Alabama Birmingham, played 12 games last season averaging 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. He shot 52% from the field and had a career game against University of Rhode Island when he recorded career-highs in points (26) and rebounds (17). Sharpe averaged 9.3 points and 5.0 rebounds during the 2005-06 season for Mississippi State and sat out the 2006-07 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Knicks hire Kenny Atkinson as assistant coach
I look forward to seeing how the Knicks, who are the same team as last year plus an Italian forward I haven’t seen enough of to have a firm grasp of how well he’ll do, under new coach Mike D’Antoni. Can he take the same roster Isiah Thomas had, twist around what the players do, and make these guys a winner? We’ll see. Anyway, today they added some coaching staff help. Here’s the news:
The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that Kenny Atkinson has been hired as an assistant coach. As per club policy, terms of the contract will not be disclosed.
Atkinson joins the Knicks after spending the 2007-08 season as the Director of Player Development with the Houston Rockets where he was responsible for improving player performance through on-court, one-on-one skill development and the use of video analysis.
Atkinson joined the Rockets after three years serving as the Director of Player Development/Assistant Coach with the Paris Basket Racing Club in France from 2004-06. While in Europe, Atkinson also was a Reebok EuroCamp Coach in Treviso, Italy during the summers of 2005 and 2007. He spent the 2006 summer as the Director of Player Development for the national team of the Republic of Georgia.
Following a standout collegiate career at the University of Richmond where he led the Spiders to a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the Northport, NY-native and St. Anthony’s HS (South Huntington) graduate played professionally in Italy, France, Holland, Germany and Spain from 1991-2004.
Rockets trade Steve Novak to Clippers
Steve Novak is a tall guy who shoots really well from outside. I’m not too sure what else he’s good at yet, but the kid is a real gunner. Also, he’s tall, if I didn’t mention that yet. A tall guy. Who shoots. That’s my in-depth scouting report on him. Anyway, Tracy McGrady seemed to like him, as did the Rockets, but the Clippers wanted his services, and now their dreams have come true. Here’s the Steve Novak trade news:
The Los Angeles Clippers today acquired forward Steve Novak from the Houston Rockets, Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor announced. In return, Houston will have the option to exchange second round picks with the Clippers in 2011.
The two-year NBA sharpshooter averaged 3.9 points while connecting on 34-71 three-pointers (.479) and 49-102 FG (.480) in 35 games played for the Rockets last season. Over the final five games of the 2007-08 campaign, Novak connected on 15-25 (.600) three-pointers en route to averaging 9.8 points per game during that stretch.
“Steve is a terrific perimeter shooter who will definitely help open the floor and create more opportunities for our post players,” stated Baylor. “We are happy to bring him to Los Angeles.”
Over his career, Novak has averaged 2.7 points and 6.5 minutes per game, while connecting on 67-152 FG (.441) and 47-110 3FG (.427). Novak also spent nine games last season with the Rio Grande Vipers, the Rockets’ NBA D-League affiliate, where he tallied 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
“We are pleased to add Steve to our roster,” said head coach Mike Dunleavy. “He is an excellent shooter who will help us space the floor and keep defenses honest.”
Originally drafted in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft, Novak enjoyed a record-setting four-year collegiate career at Marquette. Novak established new school records for career three-pointers made (354) and career free throw percentage (.931) while finishing 10th on the all-time Marquette list for career points (1,567). He also became the sixth player in school history to reach career marks of 1,500 points and 500 rebounds (524).
The Clippers new-look roster now stands at 13 players as Los Angeles has revamped its roster by adding a total of nine new faces for the 2008-09 season.
Heat sign Bobby Jones
The Miami HEAT announced Tuesday that they have claimed forward Bobby Jones off waivers.
Jones, a 6’7”, 215-pound forward, appeared in 47 NBA games (two starts) last season with five different teams, including Miami. He averaged 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 11.3 minutes per game while shooting 42.9 percent from the field. He played in 25 games for the Denver Nuggets, nine for the Memphis Grizzlies, six for the HEAT, four for the Houston Rockets and three for the San Antonio Spurs.
Jones signed with the HEAT as a free agent on March 12, 2008 and appeared in six games. In that span, he averaged 8.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 23.8 minutes per game, while shooting 53.1 percent from the field. He led the HEAT in scoring on March 21 vs. Washington with 15 points.
During the 2006-07 season, Jones appeared in 44 games (five starts) with the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 2.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 7.7 minutes per game.
Jones was originally drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 37th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. His rights were then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and cash considerations. Jones played four seasons at the University of Washington appearing in 125 career games (106 starts) and averaged 9.8 points and 4.9 rebounds. He earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 honors as a senior and finished as the 20th all-time leading scorer in Washington history with 1,226 points while also ranking fourth all-time with 134 career steals.
Rumors Talk: LeBron would go overseas
Would LeBron James play in Greece, Russia or some other European country if it meant making dozens of millions per season? Why not? I doubt he, Kobe Bryant or any other star would leave the NBA for years, picking their entire life up and going to another continent for a long time. But for a season or two? Sounds possible.
What if LeBron, in a couple of seasons, finds himself a free agent, and the select few NBA teams with salary cap space to sign him at the time, are losing teams that offer him no real shot at a championship anytime soon. And then he has a chance to see a new part of the world. Why not consider it? LeBron could probably bring a bunch of his friends for company. They work for him, so that’s no problem. Teams in Europe play fewer games than NBA teams, so it’s less “work.”
Again, I don’t see it being a long-term thing. I doubt Kobe, LeBron or any top star would agree to go overseas for more than a season. If the deal was longer, they’d surely want an opt-out option at the end of each season, like Josh Childress reportedly received.
You’d go vacation in Greece for a year, right? What if you could work there for a year, at double your current pay? You’d consider it. So would anyone else.
– Jeff
Talk bball on the InsideHoops basketball message board.
Pistons exercise options on Stuckey and Afflalo
Rodney Stuckey looks like a future starting point guard, and Arron Afflalo is a somewhat decent backup, so today the Pistons did the obvious. Here’s the news:
Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the team exercised its team option on the contracts of guards Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo. Both contracts are now extended through the 2009-10 NBA season.
“We are pleased to have both Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo signed through the 2009-10 season,” said Dumars. “Both players will continue to grow and mature within our system and we look forward to the contributions they will bring this season and beyond.”
Stuckey, 22, appeared in 57 games (two starts) last season, averaging 7.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 19.0 minutes per game. In two starts (Pistons 2-0 in those games) he averaged 18.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 28.5 minutes per game. Stuckey saw action in 17 playoff games (2 starts), averaging 8.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 22.4 minutes per game. Filling in for an injured Chauncey Billups, he averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 assists in two playoff games as a starter, recording playoff career-highs in points (19) and minutes (34) at Orlando (5/7) in the second round. He missed the first 25 games of the season after suffering a broken left hand in the club’s final preseason game vs. Washington (10/24).
Afflalo, 22, appeared in 75 games (nine starts) last season, averaging 3.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 12.9 minutes per game…In nine starts (Pistons 6-3 in those games) he averaged 7.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 21.1 minutes per game. Afflalo became the first Pistons rookie since Grant Hill (1994-95) to start a season opener at Miami (11/1) when he played in place of Richard Hamilton who missed the game tending to the birth of his son. He scored 10-plus points seven times and led the team in scoring twice during the year. He also recorded a career-high 15 points twice [at Miami (3/27) and at Cleveland (4/16)], grabbed a career-high eight rebounds and dished out a career-high four assists at Cleveland (4/16).
Serge Ibaka signs in Spain
The Oklahoman (Darnell Mayberry) reports: Serge Ibaka, the No. 24 overall pick in this year’s draft, has signed a three-year contract with a professional team in Spain. Ibaka’s contract with Ricoh Manresa has NBA buyout clauses at the end of each season that could allow him to join Oklahoma City’s franchise before the deal expires. Financial terms of the contract and buyout clauses are unknown, but under NBA rules teams can pay up to $500,000 to buy out a player from a foreign team.
Sixers re-sign Lou Williams
The 76ers re-signed guard Lou Williams, who I think is more talented than many people realize. I’m not positive he’ll ever be a really good starting point guard in the league, but at the very least he’ll be a terrific backup, and the way he seems to be progressing it’s quite possible he winds up a full-time starter in the future.
Here’s the news:
Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced Monday that the team has re-signed restricted free-agent guard Lou Williams. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“We are very excited that we have reached an agreement with Lou Williams,” Stefanski said. “He is not only a very talented player who exemplifies our up-tempo style of play, but he is also a young man who exhibits great character and qualities off-the-court, as well. We look forward to having him in a Sixers uniform for many years to come.”
“We’re happy that Lou is back, as he has proven to be an integral part of the team,” Head Coach Maurice Cheeks said. “He’s made great strides as a player and we’re very confident he’ll continue to excel with us for years to come.”
Originally the 45th overall pick by the Sixers in the 2005 NBA Draft, Williams (6-2, 175) has appeared in 171 games, averaging 7.2 points, 2.2 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game. For his career, he has shot 42.9% from the floor, 34.7% from 3-point range and 75.7% from the line.
The 21-year-old enjoyed breakout success last season, averaging career-highs in scoring (11.5 ppg), assists (3.2 apg), rebounding (2.0 rpg) and steals (1.01 spg). Williams had the fifth highest point/rebound/assist total for any player coming off the bench last season and received votes for both the Most Improved Player and Sixth Man of the Year awards. He scored the fourth most points of any reserve last season, had the second-most assists, tallied the most steals and recorded the third-most free throw attempts.
After hitting a total of 14 three-pointers in his first two seasons, Williams was second on the team with 55 3-point FGM in 2007-08 while shooting a team-high 35.9% from behind-the-arc. Williams was also the Sixers second leading scorer in fourth quarters last season, with 42.3% of his season point total coming in the fourth.
In the summer of 2007, Williams finished second in MVP voting at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and was also named to the All-Rocky Mountain Revue Team. He led both leagues in scoring, averaging a combined 24.7 points per game. In late November of 2006, Williams was assigned to the D-League for three games and averaged 26.0 points on 71.1% shooting from the floor and 62.5% shooting from 3-point range.
Williams attended South Gwinnett High School in Atlanta and was the winner of the 2005 Naismith Award, signifying the nation’s top high school player. He tallied 3,338 points during his career at South Gwinnett and was a four-time All-State selection as well as being named Mr. Basketball in Georgia his junior and senior seasons.
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Nets move to Brooklyn may not be until 2011
What will happen first: The Nets move to Brooklyn, or TJ Kidd’s grandchildren get college basketball scholarships? Tough call. The NJ Nets, who will eventually leave Eastern New Jersey and land right in the heart of Brooklyn, NJ, have been optimistic for years now that the move is only a few years away from happening, but delays keep popping up, and now it sounds like the most realistic optimistic estimate is 2011. But to me – and I care a lot about this story because I’m a NYer but don’t actually follow it closely other than the bottom-line details – even that sounds tough to pull off. I’m guessing it doesn’t happen until 2012 or even 2013, and I’m not basing that on any real info, so feel free to toss that prediction aside.
As for the news, the New York Daily News (Julian Garcia) reports:
If the Nets do manage to sign potential free agent LeBron James before the start of the 2010-11 season, it’s possible their fans in New Jersey could get the first look at him, as opposed to those in Brooklyn. The company that plans to build the team’s new home in Brooklyn acknowledged Monday that the arena may not be open until the 2010-11 season is well underway. While saying the plan remains to move the team to Brooklyn in “calendar year 2010,” a representative of Forest City Ratner – Nets owner Bruce Ratner’s company – admitted that schedule “is in fact very aggressive.
I look forward to the eventual move, because taking the subway to and from games is much easier than always having to go specifically to the Port Authority to take the bus, which is the only public transportation option to get to current Nets games.