Washington Wizards Blog – Page 35 – NBA Blog

DeJuan Blair ready to bring energy and toughness to Wizards

Here’s CSN Washington reporting on the Wizards:

How Randy Wittman intends on using his deep core of interior options remains uncertain. Granted, the start of training camp is still weeks away, though don’t expect many specifics out of the Washington Wizards head coach regardless.

As of Thursday, newly signed center DeJuan Blair had yet to get into details with Wittman about his role. No matter. Blair knows exactly how he will help.

“I plan on just bringing energy and toughness to the team,” Blair said during a teleconference with reporters on Thursday. “And being a veteran guy, helping the young guys do the right thing and just have fun at the same time.”

Anybody who watched Blair tangle with the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2014 NBA playoffs knows he’s not underselling the energy and toughness angle.

Kris Humphries feels great about joining Wizards

Here’s CSN Washington with an update on a new Wizard:

In 10 seasons, Kris Humphries only has been to the playoffs three times. He has never been past the first round either, but who would’ve thought coming to the Wizards could get him closer to his goal?

“There are sacrifices all the way around when you try to work for something greater,” Humphries said via conference call from Los Angeles on Wednesday. “From guys who are there to guys coming in, when you’re on a team like this — I feel blessed to be in this situation — everything you do is important and you feel important. … Whatever you do on a winning team is magnified. You feel better about doing stuff when you’re working toward something. It’s a little tougher when you’re playing the right way, making sacrifices and your team doesn’t have a chance to make the playoffs.”

A 6-9 forward, Humphries has been a role player for his entire career, averaging 6.8 points and 5.5 rebounds. While he has averaged a double-double twice, it came on Nets teams that won 24 and 22 games. The Wizards acquired him in a trade with the Boston Celtics in July on a three-year deal.

John Wall gives Sam Cassell some credit for his development

Here’s CSN Washington reporting on Wizards point guard John Wall:

John Wall’s development over his first four NBA seasons led to his first All-Star selection and a leading role in the Wizards’ run to the Eastern Conference semifinal playoff round. Having three-time NBA champion point guard turned assistant coach Sam Cassell to learn from helped the growth process.

“He was a big part of it,” Wall said. “Definitely helped me with my jump shot. Just being a mentor, somebody who was a point guard who knew the game very well. It was big.”

The key word used multiple time in that quote is “was.” Cassell left Washington for an assistant coaching job with the Los Angeles Clippers last week.

Al Harrington signs with team in China

Here’s the Washington Post Blog with an update on veteran forward Al Harrington:

Al Harrington signs with basketball team in China

Al Harrington spent some of his summer as a de facto assistant coach for the Wizards’ summer league outfit in Las Vegas, but will not be returning to the team in any capacity at least to start the upcoming season. The veteran forward announced on Instagram Sunday that he will play in China for the Fujian SBS Xunxing Sturgeons. Harrington signed a one-year deal, according to Bleacher Report.

“Looking forward to the Challenge at hand,” part of Harrington’s Instagram caption read. “To help my team reach the Playoffs and WIN once we get there. Secondly I wanna say THANK YOU to the Washington Wizards Organization…”

Wizards hire Roy Rogers as assistant coach

The Washington Wizards announced today that the team has named Roy Rogers as an assistant on the staff of Head Coach Randy Wittman.

Rogers comes to Washington after spending the 2013-14 season with the Brooklyn Nets. He began his NBA coaching career with the Nets, serving as an assistant coach from 2008-2010. He then served as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics as part of Doc Rivers’ staff in 2010-11 before joining the Detroit Pistons for two seasons (2011-2013) under head coach Lawrence Frank.

Prior to his first stint with the Nets, Rogers coached in the NBA Development League with the Austin Toros (2007-08), Tulsa 66ers (2005-07) and Huntsville Flight (2004-05). Selected 22nd overall in the 1996 NBA Draft out of the University of Alabama, Rogers spent three years in the NBA, averaging 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in his NBA career split between four teams (Vancouver, Boston, Toronto and Denver). He also played four seasons (2000-04) of professional basketball internationally with stops in Russia, Italy, Greece and Poland.

Rogers will join returning assistants Don Newman, Don Zierden and Pat Sullivan and newcomer David Adkins, who was hired earlier this summer, on the Wizards’ bench.

Video: Glen Rice Jr highlights from summer league

Enjoy these video highlights of Glen Rice Jr., as he prepares to begin his rookie season in the NBA with the Washington Wizards:

Sam Cassell likely joining Clippers staff

Here’s the Washington Post Blog with a report on assistant coach Sam Cassell:

Sam Cassell likely joining Clippers coaching staff

Sam Cassell is leaving the Washington Wizards after five seasons to take an assistant coaching position with the Los Angeles Clippers, people with knowledge of the situation confirmed Saturday.

Cassell joined the Wizards as a member of Flip Saunders’s staff in 2009, one year after winning a third championship in Boston with Doc Rivers, the current president and coach of the Clippers.

A reunion with Rivers has been rumored for several weeks, with the Clippers losing assistants Tyronn Lue (to Cleveland) and Alvin Gentry (to Golden State) this offseason.

Wizards re-sign Drew Gooden

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has re-signed forward Drew Gooden.

“The addition of Drew was a big part of our success late last season and we are excited to have him back with us,” said Grunfeld. “His skills will help to solidify our front court rotation and his experience will help us continue to grow as a team.”

Gooden appeared in 22 games for Washington last season, averaging 8.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per contest. The 12-year veteran originally signed a 10-day contract with the Wizards on Feb. 26, signed a second 10-day on March 8 and then signed for the remainder of the season on March 18. Gooden had 12 games of 10+ points, scored a season-high 21 vs. Brooklyn on 3/15 and pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds at the Los Angeles Lakers on 3/21.

In 10 playoff games last season, Gooden averaged 3.4 points 4.2 rebounds in 15 minutes of action. His best postseason outing came in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where he posted 12 points and 13 rebounds in Washington’s win at Indiana.

In 12 seasons with Memphis, Orlando, Cleveland, Chicago, Sacramento, San Antonio, Dallas, the Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee and Washington, the former Kansas Jayhawk has appeared in 709 career regular season games while averaging 11.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 26.7 minutes per game. In 54 career postseason games, he has averaged 9.2 points and 7.5 rebounds in 24.8 minutes per contest.

Wizards sign Paul Pierce

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed forward Paul Pierce.

“We are very happy to welcome Paul to our organization and add his championship experience and history of clutch play to our team,” said Grunfeld. “He will be a good fit alongside our young, dynamic backcourt while his presence and leadership will make a difference for us both on and off the court.”

Pierce, a 10-time NBA All-Star, joins the Wizards with career averages of 21.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting .447 from the field, .370 from three-point range and .807 from the line in 1,177 career games with Boston and Brooklyn. He currently ranks as the 18th leading scorer in NBA history (25,031 points) and ranks fourth among active players in NBA scoring history (behind only Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett). The 6-7 forward also ranks fifth all-time in NBA history in three-point field goals made (1,935) and fourth all-time in NBA history in three-point field goals attempted (5,228).

In addition to his regular season history, Pierce brings 148 games of postseason experience to Washington. He led Boston to the 2008 NBA Championship, earning Finals MVP honors after averaging 21.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, and helped them return to the 2010 Finals. Pierce holds career postseason averages of 20.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals. His 3,007 points ranks him 23rd in NBA playoff history (seventh among active players) while his 148 games ranks him ninth among active players.

Pierce was originally drafted by Boston with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft. He finished his Celtics career ranked among the storied franchise’s all-time leaders in several categories, including free throws made and attempted (first), points scored, points per game and field goals attempted (second), games played, minutes played and field goals made (third), assists (fourth) and rebounds (seventh). He stands with Larry Bird and John Havlicek as the only players in Celtics history to score 20,000 points.

Boston traded Pierce to Brooklyn as part of a nine-player deal on July 12, 2013. He averaged 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting .451 from the floor and .373 from three-point range in 75 games for the Nets last season.

Wizards land DeJuan Blair

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has acquired center DeJuan Blair from Dallas. Washington will send Dallas the rights to Emir Preldzic, a 2009 second round draft pick, who was acquired in the three-team Antawn Jamison trade in February of 2010.

“DeJuan gives us a tough inside presence who can score and rebound at both frontcourt positions,” said Grunfeld. “His addition makes our bench even deeper and will allow us to be flexible with our lineups.”

In five seasons with San Antonio and Dallas, Blair has appeared in 366 career regular season games (179 starts) while averaging 7.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in 18.2 minutes per game.
He has shot .529 from the field and has 36 career double-doubles. His most productive season was in 2010-11 when he averaged 8.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game. Last season with Dallas, Blair appeared in 78 games (13 starts) and averaged 6.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per game.

The former Pittsburgh standout has appeared in 42 career postseason games with San Antonio and Dallas. During the 2014 playoffs with the Mavericks, the 6-7 big averaged 6.7 points and 6.2 rebounds, helping Dallas force San Antonio to seven games in the first round. He holds career playoff averages of 4.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per contest. Blair signed with Dallas as a free agent on August 7, 2013. He was originally selected by San Antonio in the second round (37th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft.