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Pre-NBA Jason Kidd basketball success

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on new Bucks head coach Jason Kidd, with a look back at his pre-NBA days:

Kidd has been making basketball headlines since he played for Bay area youth teams and starred for St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda, Calif., in the early 1990s.

Frank LaPorte, Kidd’s high school coach, told the San Francisco Chronicle in 1991: “As an eighth-grader, Jason Kidd was the talk of the town.”

In his senior season, Kidd led his team to a second straight state championship, averaging 25 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and seven steals. He was named the Parade, USA Today and Naismith prep player of the year in 1992. In January 2012, he was selected as one of the 35 greatest McDonald’s All-American high school players.

Kidd was recruited by the top college programs in the country, including Kansas when Roy Williams was coach there.

“Jason was one of the three best high school guards I have seen in my 15 years in coaching,” Williams said in 1993. “Derek Harper, Kenny Anderson and Jason.”

But Kidd, who was born in San Francisco, turned away from the giants and signed with the University of California.

As a freshman, he averaged 13.0 points, 7.7 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 3.8 steals. He was chosen national college freshman of the year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and made the 10-player All-Pac-10 team. His 110 steals set an NCAA record for a freshman.

Cal made the NCAA Tournament field and beat Duke on the way to the Sweet 16 before losing to Kansas. Midway through that season, Cal coach Lou Campanelli was fired and replaced by assistant Todd Bozeman. Kidd reportedly was among the Cal players who complained about Campanelli’s sometimes abrasive style. Cal athletic director Bob Bockrath fired him with 10 games left in the 1992-’93 season.

As a sophomore, Kidd averaged 16.7 points, 9.1 assists, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 steals. He led the nation in assists with 272. He was chosen as a first-team All-American and Pac-10 player of the year.

Grant Jerrett injured, will not play in Summer League for OKC

Here’s the Oklahoman reporting on the Thunder:

The Oklahoma City Thunder will be without forward Grant Jerrett for the Orlando Summer League.

Jerrett sustained an ankle injury that will keep him out of Orlando, as reported by Darnell Mayberry. The 6-foot-10 Jerrett was a revelation in the Summer League for the Thunder last season, shooting 50 percent from 3-point range while averaging 10.8 points per game.

Mavs hope to keep Devin Harris

Here’s ESPN Dallas reporting on the Mas, who are still fond of veteran guard Devin Harris and don’t mind having him around:

Mavericks sources remain confident that they’ll figure out a way to keep Devin Harris.

The team’s point guard Plan A is just likely to cost the Mavs a little more than they anticipated.

Golden State gave Shaun Livingston a three-year, $16 million deal, using the full midlevel exception. Sacramento will sign Darren Collison to an identical deal. Harris is certainly in their class, so it’s reasonable for him to expect to be paid in the $5 million-per-year range. That’s a nice bump from the deal worth a little more than $3 million per year that Harris originally agreed to with the Mavs last summer, only to settle for the veteran’s minimum after the discovery that he needed complicated toe surgery.

Lots of interest in free agent Paul Pierce

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on veteran Nets free agent forward Paul Pierce, who presumably has another good season or two left of basketball in him:

The Brooklyn Nets, you would think, need Paul Pierce more than he needs them.

So it certainly came as a surprise Thursday, when Brooklyn GM Billy King, during an interview on ESPN New York 98.7 FM’s “The Michael Kay Show,” said the Nets would, all of a sudden, become fiscally responsible in their negotiations with the unrestricted free-agent forward.

Pierce has already drawn interest from several contenders, including the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies, sources told ESPN.com’s Marc Stein.

Those are some extremely attractive options — especially L.A., where Pierce could be reunited with former coach Doc Rivers and get to play with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, two of the most dominant players in the league.

Chris Kaman talks about why he is signing with Blazers

Here’s the Oregonian reporting on center Chris Kaman, who is reportedly set to sign with the Portland Trail Blazers:

Chris Kaman discusses joining the Blazers

An array of reasons led Kaman’s to choose the Blazers, including his close relationship with general manager Neil Olshey and assistant coach Kim Hughes. Kaman played for the Los Angeles Clippers for eight seasons and both men were instrumental in his development when they were involved in the organization. After enduring what he described as a “rough couple of years” with the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers over the last two seasons, he wanted to be around people he trusted.

But an even bigger draw to Portland was winning. Kaman has played 11 NBA seasons and been a part of a winning team just once — in 2005-06 with the Clippers. The only other time he sniffed .500 was with the Mavericks in 2012-13.

“I want to be back in playoffs and help the team get back to wining the title,” Kaman said. “I think the Trail Blazers are right at that level.”

Back to the last two seasons … Kaman said his stint with the Mavericks just “didn’t pan out.” He signed with Dallas excited about the chance to play alongside All-Star Dirk Nowitzki and eager to “get a serious opportunity to win.” But Nowitzki was injured early in the season and played just 53 games. As a byproduct, the Mavericks did not make the playoffs for the first time in 12 seasons. All the while, Kaman’s relationship with coach Rick Carlisle soured.

Knicks, Lakers among teams that want Carmelo Anthony

Here’s the Associated Press, via Philly.com, reporting the latest on veteran star forward Carmelo Anthony:

The Knicks went coast to coast to let Carmelo Anthony know they want him to stay in New York.

Team officials traveled to Los Angeles on Thursday night to meet with the free agent and offered him the maximum contract allowable, a person with knowledge of the details said.

Team President Phil Jackson and general manager Steve Mills were part of the meeting but not Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan, an official with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details of the meeting were to remain private.

The meeting was first reported by ESPN.

Anthony was in Los Angeles to meet with the Lakers, who are among the teams hoping to convince the All-Star forward to leave New York. Anthony already visited Chicago, Houston and Dallas this week.

Chris Kaman to join Trail Blazers

Here’s the Columbian reporting on the Portland Trail Blazers:

While the biggest dominos in the NBA landscape have yet to fall, the Portland Trail Blazers have reportedly used their biggest free agent bargaining chip.

The Blazers have agreed to a two-year $10 million deal with former Lakers big man and 11-year veteran center Chris Kaman.

Yahoo! Sports first reported the news. Multiple reports indicate the second year of the contract is only partially guaranteed.

Kaman played in 39 games for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2013-14, averaging 18.9 minutes per game, 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds on 50.9 percent shooting.

Orlando Magic waive Jason Maxiell

The Orlando Magic have waived forward Jason Maxiell, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

Maxiell played in 34 games (13 starts) last season with the Magic, averaging 3.2 ppg. and 2.5 rpg. in 14.4 minpg. He scored in double figures three times, including a season-high 12 points on Nov. 9 @ Atlanta and Dec. 3 @ Philadelphia.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Maxiell’s salary of $2.5 million for the 2014-15 season was fully unguaranteed if the team (or a team that had acquired him via trade) had waived him on or before July 10. By waiving him now, Maxiell’s salary is erased from the Magic’s cap figure for the upcoming season. Maxiell started Orlando’s first 10 games last season, but his playing time diminished once Glen Davis returned from an injury.”

Originally selected by Detroit in the first round (26th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft by Detroit, Maxiell appeared in 557 career NBA regular season games (188 starts) with Detroit and Orlando, averaging 5.9 ppg. and 4.3 rpg. in 18.9 minpg., while shooting .501 (1,317-2,631) from the floor. He was signed as a free agent by Orlando on Jul. 18, 2013.

Trail Blazers promote Joe Cronin to Director of Player Personnel

The Portland Trail Blazers have promoted Joe Cronin to the position of Director of Player Personnel, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey.

Cronin, now entering his ninth season with Portland, most recently served as the team’s Pro Scout/Salary Cap Analyst, a position he’s held since 2010.

In his new role, Cronin will manage all aspects of the NBA Salary Cap for the team, college and international scouting in preparation for the NBA Draft, and NBA scouting for free agency and trades.

“Joe possesses a unique skill set that is critical to the success of our organization,” said Olshey. “His expertise and contributions in multiple areas make him an invaluable member of our front office staff.”

Cronin joined the Trail Blazers as a Basketball Operations Intern in 2006 after finishing graduate school at the University of Denver, where he earned his master’s degree and served as the Graduate Assistant for the men’s basketball team. A Denver native, Cronin played college basketball at Regis University and the University of Northern Colorado.

Magic need Victor Oladipo to handle leadership role

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting on the young, rebuilding Magic:

The Orlando Magic didn’t need Victor Oladipo to be a team leader last season. Veteran Jameer Nelson served as the team’s leader.

But, lately, the expectations for Oladipo have changed. The team has waived Nelson and traded away 28-year-old Arron Afflalo. Those moves, along with the decision to cut 31-year-old Ronnie Price, have left a leadership vacuum on the Magic roster.

Oladipo may have to fill that void even though he’s only 22 years old and entering his second NBA season. He’s the face of the franchise, and if he isn’t the Magic’s unquestioned leader, he’s definitely one of the primary leaders.

“It’s just something I need to learn,” Oladipo said Thursday. “I want to be a leader of this team, and I want to help this team win. So it’s something I need to work on. So what better way to do that than start now?”