San Antonio Spurs Blog – Page 71 – NBA Blog

Spurs hire Danny Ferry as VP of basketball operations

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that Danny Ferry has been named the team’s Vice President of Basketball Operations. This is his second stint with the Spurs. Ferry played for the Spurs from 2000-03 and served as the team’s Director of Basketball Operations from 2003-05. During his tenure in San Antonio, Ferry captured an NBA Championship as a player (2003) and as a member of the front office (2005).

“We are thrilled that Danny has decided to rejoin the Spurs organization,” said Spurs General Manager RC Buford. “He has a great basketball mind and brings a vast amount of NBA experience and expertise to our program. It is a true pleasure to be able to welcome Danny and his wonderful family back to South Texas.”

Ferry was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the second overall pick in the 1989 NBA Draft. On November 16, 1989, he was traded by the Clippers to the Cavaliers. After playing the 1989-90 season in Italy, Ferry spent 10 seasons with Cleveland before signing with the Spurs, as a free agent, on August 10, 2000. Ferry spent his final three NBA seasons with the Spurs before retiring in the summer of 2003. In his 13-year NBA career, Ferry averaged 7.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 19.8 minutes in 917 regular season games.

After retiring, Ferry moved into the Spurs front office as the team’s Director of Basketball Operations. On June 27, 2005, Ferry was named the Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager. During his five seasons in Cleveland, the team posted a 272-138 (.663) record. Cleveland advanced to the 2007 NBA Finals, marking the franchise’s first, and only, trip to the NBA Finals. Ferry left his post with the Cavaliers on June 4, 2010.

Danny Ferry returning to Spurs front office

Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News reports:

Danny Ferry, who earned championship rings both as a Spurs player and a member of the team’s basketball operations department, will return to the franchise to try and help the club position for another title run.

Ferry, who resigned as general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of LeBron James’ free agency defection in July, officially will be announced as a member of the Spurs’ front office by week’s end…

Ferry will re-join R.C. Buford, president of sports franchises for Spurs Sports and Entertainment, and vice-president and assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey in the club’s front office. Lindsey was hired in 2007 after Sam Presti left the club to become general manager of the then-Seattle SuperSonics.

InsideHoops.com editor quick-take: The Spurs front office almost always makes perfect decisions. That they want Ferry back says a lot about Ferry.

Full 2010 preseason schedule

The NBA today released its 2010 preseason schedule, which is highlighted by a comprehensive international slate of games that includes seven contests in China, Europe and Mexico. The preseason slate tips off on Oct. 3, when the New York Knicks visit Armani Jeans Milano – the former team of Knicks forward Danillo Gallinari and head coach Mike D’Antoni – in Milan, Italy, and the New Jersey Nets host Maccabi Haifa.

As is the case these days, the action starts overseas, with a few NBA squads heading to Europe.

I’ve always had mixed feelings about teams playing preseason ball overseas. Because generally it’s just a warmup. I think if NBA fans overseas are going to get a rare taste of live NBA action, it should be the best basketball possible, and we usually don’t see that before the regular season begins.

See the complete 2010-11 NBA preseason schedule.

WNBA: Chamique Holdsclaw out with torn Achilles tendon

San Antonio Silver Stars forward Chamique Holdsclaw suffered an injury during the Stars game at Minnesota on Sunday, Aug. 15; after further evaluation, an MRI revealed a torn right Achilles tendon.

Holdsclaw will miss the remainder of the 2010 season. She is expected to have surgery, but a date has not yet been set.

For the season, Holdsclaw was averaging 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. It’s the lowest scoring average of her career.

Knicks sign Roger Mason

New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that the team has signed guard Roger Mason, Jr. as a free agent. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Mason Jr., 6-5, 212-pounds, has career averages of 7.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 19.2 minutes in 346 games (88 starts) over six NBA seasons with Chicago, Toronto, Washington and San Antonio. The Washington, D.C. native averaged 6.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 19.2 minutes in 79 games (five starts) with San Antonio during the 2009-10 season. Originally selected by Chicago in the second round (31st overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft, following his junior season at University of Virginia, Mason averaged career-highs of 11.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 30.4 minutes while playing in all 82 games (71 starts) with the Spurs during the 2008-09 campaign.

Mar. 29, 2010 - East Rutherford, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES - epa02098167 The Spurs' Roger Mason (L) drives past the Nets' Terrence Williams (R) during the first half of the game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New Jersey Nets at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, on 29 March 2010.

Dennis Rodman OK after car flips on highway

The AP reports:

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman walked away unhurt after riding in an SUV that flipped over on an interstate in South Florida.

Sgt. Mark Wysocky of the Florida Highway Patrol said Rodman and another passenger weren’t injured in the single-vehicle crash on Saturday on Interstate 95 near Fort Lauderdale. The driver was taken to a hospital.

Wysocky said the Land Rover flipped over after having a tire problem. No charges are expected…

Rodman had just returned to the U.S. from the Caribbean island of St. Tropez, where he had a disc-jockey gig.

Spurs release Malik Hairston

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that, per his request, the team has released Malik Hairston from his contract.

The guard is reportedly set to sign in Italy.

“We’ve enjoyed having Malik in our organization,” said Spurs General Manager RC Buford. “He is a hard-worker, a talented basketball player and an outstanding young man. After Malik approached us we were happy to honor his request as it will, after he clears waivers, allow him to pursue an excellent overseas basketball opportunity.”

Hairston was selected by the Phoenix Suns, with the 48th overall pick, in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft. In a draft night deal he was then traded to San Antonio – along with a 2009 second round pick – in exchange for the draft rights to Goran Dragic.

In two seasons with the Spurs, Hairston appeared in a total of 62 games, averaging 2.4 points in 7.6 minutes. During each of his two seasons with San Antonio he also saw action with the Austin Toros (the Spurs NBA Development League team). With the Toros he averaged 24.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in a total of 45 regular season games.

Spurs sign rookie James Anderson

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have signed James Anderson. The Spurs drafted Anderson with 20th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed. Since he’s a first round selection, Anderson was guaranteed a contract from the Spurs if he wanted to play in the NBA immediately.

Anderson, an early entry candidate, spent the past three years playing at Oklahoma State University before declaring for the NBA Draft. Last season the 6-6 guard was named the Big 12 Player of the Year and a Second Team All-American by the Associated Press. Anderson ranked sixth in the nation and led the Big 12 in scoring (22.3 ppg) and averaged 5.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 33 games. He scored in double figures in all 33 games, including 20 or more points in 22 games and 30-plus in five games.

As a sophomore Anderson was named Second Team All-Big 12. He led the Cowboys in scoring (18.2 ppg), three-point percentage (.408, 84-206) and free throw percentage (.829, 136-164). He posted a career-high 37 points at Oklahoma on March 7, 2009. Anderson was named to the Big 12 All-Rookie Team in 2008 and earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention during his freshman season.

For his career Anderson started in 99 of 101 games for the Cowboys, averaging 17.9 points (second all-time in OSU history), 5.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.11 steals while shooting .460 (583-1,268) from the field, .375 (222-600) from three-point range and .797 (420-527) from the foul line.

Spurs began liking Gary Neal in June

Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports:

The team’s infatuation with Neal, a 25-year-old shooting guard who has spent the duration of his three-year career overseas, began at a free-agent minicamp in June.

“Coming into the offseason, we knew we needed to improve our shooting,” general manager R.C. Buford said. “He came into our gym and was one of the best shooters there. He shot the ball beautifully.”

That shooting beauty carried over to last week’s Las Vegas Summer League, where the 6-foot-4 Neal led an undermanned Spurs squad in scoring at 16 points per game, made 50 percent of his 3-pointers (17 of 34) and walked away with an NBA contract.

Neal sealed his deal with a 25-point game in Sunday’s finale against Memphis, in which he buried 6 of 10 from 3-point range.

Buford wouldn’t go so far as to say the addition of Neal signals an end to the Spurs’ summerlong search for a shooter, but it might.

Spurs sign Gary Neal

The San Antonio Spurs announced today they have signed guard Gary Neal. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Neal, 6-4, 210 lbs., played on the Spurs 2010 summer league team in Las Vegas where he led the team in scoring. He averaged 16.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in 25.8 minutes while shooting .500 (30-60) from the field and .500 (17-34) from beyond the arc in five games.

Last season Neal split time playing for Benetton Treviso in Italy and Unicaja Malaga in Spain. In Italian League play he appeared in 22 games, averaging 19.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals in 32.9 minutes while shooting .628 (108-172) from two-point range, .371 (49-132) from three-point range and .800 (64-80) from the foul line. Neal saw action in 11 Eurocup games, averaging 19.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.1 steals in 32.2 minutes. He also played in four Euroleague games for Treviso, averaging 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 29.3 minutes. Neal completed the season playing in 10 games for Unicaja Malaga in the ACB League where he averaged 12.6 points and 2.3 rebounds in 19.9 minutes while shooting .571 (28-49) from two-point range, .408 (20-49) from three-point range and .588 (10-17) from the foul line.

After going undrafted in the 2007 NBA Draft, Neal has spent the past three years playing in Europe. He’s spent the past two seasons in Italy playing for Benetton Treviso. Prior to that Neal spent the 2007-08 in Spain playing for Barcelona in the ACB League.

Neal started his college career at La Salle before transferring to Towson for his final two years. As a senior he averaged 25.3 points (fourth in the nation), 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 32 games earning All-CAA First Team honors.