Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Pacers want a new training facility

Here’s the Indianapolis Star reporting on the Indiana Pacers, who finished last season with a 38-44 record. The team is currently built around George Hill, Rodney Stuckey, new addition Monta Ellis, with star Paul George returning from injury. Also, Jordan Hill is on board, and the team welcomes rookie Myles Turner into the mix. And as for where they hope to practice:

Pacers Sports & Entertainment is asking the city’s Capital Improvement Board to let it build a new training facility with offices and a major tenant on a sliver of land across the street from Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The parent of the Indiana Pacers uses that land just east of the fieldhouse for employee parking. If the CIB revises the current lease agreement and approves a new use for the land, Pacers Sports & Entertainment would build the facility with private financing, according to a statement released Friday evening by David Benner, director of media relations for the Pacers.

At the conclusion of the agreement, the Pacers would give the facility to the CIB, according to the statement.

Heat sign Corey Hawkins

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed guard Corey Hawkins.

Hawkins, who played three seasons at University of California, Davis after transferring from Arizona State University, appeared in 86 games (84 starts) for the Aggies and averaged 19.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.45 steals while shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 41.3 percent from three-point range and 80.4 percent from the foul line.

Last season, he became the first UC Davis player to be named Big West Player of the Year, averaging 20.9 points per game and was the conference’s scoring champion for the second time in three seasons. Ranking No. 1 in the NCAA in three-point field goal percentage (.488) and seventh in points per game, he helped lead the Aggies to its first Big West regular season title. He ranks second on the UC Davis career scoring list with 1,623 points in just three seasons.

Some Pistons players will train with UFC fighters

Here’s the Detroit Free Press reporting on the Pistons, who will soon reportedly get tougher and meaner:

A contingent of Detroit Pistons will travel to Las Vegas on Aug. 31, but it won’t be fun and games.

Members of the team are going to train with some UFC trainers. It’s a team bonding event put together by the players with Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond being the leaders.

Two weeks ago, some UFC fighters came to the team’s practice facility to cross train with the Pistons. Now the players are returning the favor, but will be working with the UFC trainers and coaches.

The players will be in Vegas for about a week.

Spencer Dinwiddie didn’t know who all would be attending, but he’ll be one of them.

Kevon Looney undergoes hip surgery

Kevon Looney undergoes hip surgery

Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney underwent a successful right hip arthroscopy this morning to repair a torn labrum, the team announced today. The procedure was performed by renowned Steadman Clinic orthopaedic surgeon and hip specialist Dr. Marc Philippon at the Vail Valley Surgery Center in Vail, Colorado.

Looney will begin rehabilitation from the surgery immediately and is expected to be out a minimum of four-to-six months before returning to basketball activity.

“Kevon has his entire NBA career ahead of him and we felt that, in consultation with our medical staff, Kevon and his representatives, it was best to address the issue now,” said Warriors General Manager Bob Myers. “He will have our complete support throughout the rehabilitation process and we are confident he will make a full recovery.”

Looney, 19, was selected by the Warriors with the 30th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. In one season at UCLA in 2014-15, he posted averages of 11.6 points, 9.2 rebounds (second in the Pac-12), 1.4 assists and 1.28 steals in 30.9 minutes over 36 games, earning Second Team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Freshman Team accolades. In six games with the Warriors 2015 NBA Summer League team in Las Vegas in July, the 6’9” forward averaged 9.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per contest.

Al-Farouq Aminu steps up for Nigeria at AfroBasket

This summer, basketball teams around the world are trying to lock down spots in the 2016 Olympics. Here’s the Oregonian reporting on a new member of the Portland Trail Blazers:

Al-Farouq Aminu steps up for Nigeria at AfroBasket

Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu helped Nigeria get one step close to qualifying for the 2016 Olympics on Wednesday. Aminu led his home country to an 88-63 win over the Central African Republic at the AfroBasket, a FIBA tournament held in Tunisia in which the winner earns an automatic bid to the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil.

Aminu scored a team-high 15 points to go with eight rebounds and three assists in just over 20 minutes of playing time. He hit 6 of 8 shots and added an impressive dunk in the opening minutes of the game when he finished a half court alley-oop lob from teammate Olaseni Lawal.

Pelicans sign Bryce Dejean-Jones

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today the team has signed free agent rookie guard Bryce Dejean-Jones.

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, “his signing officially brings the Pelicans to 13 guaranteed contracts while New Orleans’ pursuit of point guard Norris Cole is still ongoing.”

Dejean-Jones, 6-6, 209, was a member of the Pelicans summer league team in Las Vegas after going unselected in the 2015 NBA Draft. In six games, Dejean-Jones averaged 12.8 points on .619 shooting from the field, including .500 from three point range, to go along with 1.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.2 assists in 21.7 minutes per game.

During his senior season at Iowa State University, Dejean-Jones averaged 10.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals, helping the Cyclones win the 2015 Big 12 Tournament.

Influence of Jason Kidd helped bring Copeland to Milwaukee

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on Chris Copeland, who became a member of the Bucks this summer:

Influence of Jason Kidd helped bring Copeland to Milwaukee

Chris Copeland said his relationship with Bucks coach Jason Kidd played a big role as the the 31-year-old forward signed a one-year deal with Milwaukee last month.

Copeland is expected to play a key role off the bench and his ability to space the floor should complement the Bucks young forward duo of Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“Jason Kidd has been a top reason,” Copeland said of choosing the Bucks after spending the last two years with the Indiana Pacers. “It was a blessing playing with him when we were in New York (during the 2012-’13 season). I learned a lot from him behind the scenes.

“I watched him in a short period of time show his capabilities as a coach. I just look forward to the opportunity. When they reached out, it was a no-brainer.”

Utah Jazz promote Mark McKown and Isaiah Wright

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has promoted Mark McKown to director of sports science/assistant coach and Isaiah Wright to head strength and conditioning coach.

McKown will enter his 19th season with the Jazz in 2015-16 and became the team’s first full-time strength-and-conditioning coach upon his arrival 1997. McKown, in conjunction with Wright, has helped the Jazz become one of the league’s most progressive franchises in the implementation of applied sports science. The Gaffney, S.C. native graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and physical education from the University of South Carolina Upstate as well as a master’s in sports science from the United States Sports Academy.

Wright will enter his third season with the Jazz strength and conditioning staff after spending 2012-13 as a strength and conditioning intern. The Salt Lake City native previously spent seven years with the franchise working with the team’s equipment staff as a team attendant. Wright graduated with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science from the University of Utah.