Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Jazz owner Greg Miller completes 3-year expedition

Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune blog reporting on a fascinating journey:

In all, the longest trek of Greg Miller’s life took three years.

He completed 58,196 miles over 33 countries and all seven continents. He literally drove the world in his Toyota Land Cruiser.

It took Miller 218 days, and required a significant financial commitment. 47 different individuals, and five different photographers chronicled the journey of Miller, the principal owner of the Utah Jazz.

The trip was draining. It was exhilerating. He made friends that he’ll keep for life. He visited significant worldly landmarks. When he thought of the trip over a random breakfast with his good friend Scott Brady in 2011, Miller never dreamed that it would turn out so taxing, yet so rewarding.

Andre Drummond glad that Greg Monroe is back with Pistons

Here’s the Detroit Free Press reporting on the Pistons, who have Greg Monroe back next season — though his future in Detroit beyond that is in doubt:

Andre Drummond glad that Greg Monroe is back with Pistons

Reacting to the Pistons’ reported signing of teammate Greg Monroe for the 2014-15 season, Drummond said he felt relieved to hear the news on Saturday.

“I was very excited knowing we got Greg back for another season,” he said. “The tandem we have is something we’ve been working on for the past two years. Going at it again, it’s going to be fun.”

Though he denied any involvement in Monroe’s decision-making process, Drummond suggested he had inside information on his counterpart’s final decision.

“I knew he was coming back,” Drummond said. “It was just a matter of time.”

Bojan Bogdanovic scores 27 in loss to France

Here’s ESPN New York with a World Cup update that Brooklyn Nets fans should care about:

Well, this should get Nets fans pretty excited.

Bojan Bogdanovic, the European sharpshooter who signed a three-year, $10 million contract with the Nets in the offseason, had a game-high 27 points for Croatia on Saturday in the team’s 69-64 elimination loss to France in the round of 16 at the FIBA World Cup in Spain.

Bogdanovic had 14 of his points in the fourth quarter as Croatia nearly rallied back from a 16-point deficit. He hit a 3-pointer with just more than a minute left to bring his team within two, but he missed a long triple out of an isolation set 28 seconds later that could’ve given Croatia a 67-66 lead.

Bogdanovic scored nine points in the first quarter, but he was held to just four in the next two quarters as he stopped getting touches before erupting in the fourth. His offensive talent was on full display, and he showed that he can get hot in stretches and isn’t afraid to take the big shot.

Adam Silver has no problem with LeBron return to Cleveland

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting some insight from NBA commissioner Adam Silver:

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver isn’t denying Miami as a sexy market, but in his recent interview with Bloomberg Television he clearly did not have an issue with LeBron James’ return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, citing NFL-style parity. “And so we want to build to be at that same point where 30 teams are all competing for championships,” he said in the wake of the Heat’s four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals. “If, for example, in the NFL, when Green Bay’s playing Pittsburgh, the reaction isn’t, oh, that ‘they’re small markets,’ it’s that, ‘they’re storied franchises,’ ” he said. “And I think we’re beginning to see that in the league with teams like Oklahoma City, with the San Antonio Spurs, now, with the return of LeBron to Cleveland. And that’s what you want if you’re a commissioner. You want all of your teams to be competitive and you want them ultimately to succeed based on management, not who’s got the deepest pocket or what market is the most attractive.” Of course, it’s one thing for LeBron to return home to Cleveland, another for a top-tier free agent to aggressively pursue a future in Sacramento, Utah or Milwaukee.

Sacramento Kings waive Jeremy Tyler

Sacramento Kings waive Jeremy Tyler

The Sacramento Kings today waived forward-center Jeremy Tyler, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

Tyler was acquired from New York on August 6, 2014, along with guard Wayne Ellington and the unencumbered rights to the Knicks’ 2016 second-round draft selection in exchange for forwards Quincy Acy and Travis Outlaw.

Tyler has accrued averages of 3.6 points (.450 FG%, .557 FT%) and 2.6 rebounds per contest in 80 career NBA games in three seasons with three teams – Golden State (2011-12 – 2012-13), Atlanta (2012-13) and New York (2013-14).

Jared Sullinger looks ready for Celtics season

Here’s ESPN Boston reporting on a key young Celtic:

Jared Sullinger looks ready for Celtics season

Jared Sullinger smiled wide, but wouldn’t bite when asked if he’d dropped any weight this offseason.

“Maybe,” a trimmer-looking Sullinger playfully offered Friday at the Hennigan Elementary School after leading some students through an afternoon hoops clinic as members of the Celtics organization joined more than 150 volunteers from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and City Year to revitalize the school’s grounds. “I can’t tell you everything, but maybe.”

The eye tests seems to suggest a more fit Sullinger, but the coy player only acknowledged that he’s in a better place now further removed from the back surgery that stunted his rookie season and erased the offseason before his sophomore campaign.

Earlier this offseason, Sullinger expressed a desire to improve his conditioning with the goal of maintaining his production in the fourth quarter of games. But he’s realistic when asked if he thinks that will happen this season.

Pistons, Greg Monroe together for another season

Here’s the Detroit News with an update on a key Piston that will be around for another season but is likely to hit the road after that:

Pistons, Greg Monroe together for another season

Greg Monroe has officially agreed to a one-year qualifying offer with the Pistons, according to a source.

Monroe, a restricted free agent, will be paid $5.5 million this season after not being able to agree to terms with the Pistons on a long-term contract. He’ll become an unrestricted free agent next July, free to sign with any team.

Pistons president and coach Stan Van Gundy has said Monroe was his first priority since taking over basketball operations this spring, and all indications were the Pistons were prepared to match any prospective offer sheet a suitor would’ve signed Monroe to, even a max contract.

Celtics president Rich Gotham preaches optimism

Here’s ESPN Boston reporting on the Celtics, who continue in their transitional period. They’re rebuilding. Winning isn’t expected. Nevertheless, the team president, as he’d be expected to do, shared optimism:

celtics

Gotham, a pair of gardening gloves sprouting from his back pocket after he joined members of the Celtics’ organization, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and City Year to revitalize the grounds at Hennigan Elementary School in Jamaica Plain on Friday, thinks this season’s team is ready to roll up its sleeves and do the dirty work necessary to take the next step in its development.

“I think the expectation for this year’s team is that the future will come a little bit more into focus,” said Gotham. “Some of the guys who showed promise last year, guys that took a step last year like Jared [Sullinger] and Avery [Bradley] and [Olynyk], I think their continued development is a great reason to be optimistic. The addition of Tyler Zeller helps us a lot as we have a pure center on the roster now. I think a healthy [Rajon] Rondo is a huge difference-maker for us. And so I think, while we were very competitive last year, in a lot of these games … I think we have a better shot to take some of those games that come down to the last two minutes. Guys will have another year in [coach] Brad [Stevens’] system, I think we have great depth on this team, we have quality depth. We just look forward to taking the next step in our progression.”