Enjoy these video highlights of the top LeBron James plays of the 2013-14 season:
Magic add Willie Green, off waivers
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The Orlando Magic have claimed guard Willie Green off of waivers, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. Green was waived by the Los Angeles Clippers on June 29.
Green (6’3”, 205, 7/28/81) played in 55 games (nine starts) last season with the Clippers, averaging 5.0 ppg. and 1.4 rpg. in 15.8 minpg. He scored in double figures nine times, including a season-high 13 points twice, the last time on Mar. 12 vs. Golden State.
Originally selected by Seattle in the second round (41st overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft, Green has appeared in 679 career NBA regular season games (295 starts) during his 11-year career with Philadelphia, New Orleans, Atlanta and the L.A. Clippers, averaging 8.5 ppg., 1.8 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 20.4 minpg. He also played in 36 career playoff games (12 starts), averaging 5.2 ppg. and 1.3 rpg. in 14.9 minpg.
Orlando Magic waive Jameer Nelson
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The Jameer Nelson era in Orlando is over.
The Magic waived Nelson today, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced. The veteran point guard will become an unrestricted free agent.
“Jameer (Nelson) is the ultimate professional,” said Hennigan. “We truly thank him for his contributions to the organization, both on the court and in the community, during the last decade. He will always be a member of the Magic family.”
“I appreciate the opportunity the Orlando Magic has afforded me and my family over the past ten years,” said Nelson. “I’d like to thank the DeVos family, team management, and all the coaches that have provided me guidance, mentoring, and the ability to play the game that I love in the town that I love.”
“I’d also like to give sincere and special thanks to the great Magic fans. You have loyally supported me since my first day in Orlando and have always been there for me and my family. You made it easy for us to adopt Orlando as our second home and we will miss you.”
“All good things must come to an end, however, and it’s time to move on. I look forward to continuing my career as an NBA player and will never take for granted my time in Orlando.”
Nelson was originally selected by Denver in the first round (20th overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft, but was acquired by Orlando in exchange for a future first round pick on draft night. He played in 651 career NBA regular season games (556 starts), all with Orlando, averaging 12.6 ppg., 5.4 apg. and 3.1 rpg. in 29.2 minpg., while shooting .374 (874-2,335) from three-point range and .817 (1,092-1,337) from the free throw line. He also appeared in 44 career playoff games, averaging 15.0 ppg., 4.6 apg. and 3.5 rpg. in 32.5 minpg.
Nelson stands as the franchise’s all-time leader in assists with 3,501. He also ranks second in games played (651) and field goals attempted (7,033), third in minutes played (19,038), three-pointers made (874) and three-pointers attempted (2,335), fourth in scoring (8,184 points) and field goals made (3,109) and fifth in steals (619). He was named an NBA All-Star in 2009 and earned the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week honor twice (periods ending Dec. 21, 2008, Jan. 18, 2009). Nelson was also named to the 2004-05 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Saunders sees a relatively quiet free agency period for Timberwolves
Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune reporting on the Timberwolves:
This time last year, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Flip Saunders flew out to Los Angeles for separate late-night rendezvous with free agents J.J. Redick and O.J. Mayo.
It was the start of several frenetic days in which he began a $120 million summertime spending spree by first signing Kevin Martin, Chase Budinger and Corey Brewer instead.
This time around, the NBA’s annual free-agency period begins at 11 p.m. Monday and Saunders plans to stay home to work the phones while many other NBA teams woo free agents LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.
This time around, Saunders predicts he’ll be relatively quiet — and certainly more frugal — than a year ago.
That’s because the Wolves soon will have 14 players under guaranteed contracts and because he believes he has better balanced a roster that once was lopsided with point guards and big men.
Timberwolves do not extend qualifying offers to Robbie Hummel or Othyus Jeffers
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The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team will not extended qualifying offers to forwards Robbie Hummel and Othyus Jeffers. With Minnesota not extending qualifying offers to Hummel and Jeffers by today’s deadline, both players will become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
Hummel, a 6-8 forward, appeared in 53 games (five starts) for Minnesota last season averaging 3.4 ppg and 2.5 rpg in 12.4 mpg. The Wolves originally drafted Hummel with the 58th overall selection (second round) of the 2012 NBA Draft.
Jeffers, a 6-5 guard, appeared in two games with Minnesota last season totaling two points and three rebounds. The Wolves signed Jeffers on April 8, 2014.
Avery Bradley hopes to stay with Celtics
Here’s ESPN Boston reporting on the Celtics and guard Avery Bradley:
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On the eve of restricted free agency, Avery Bradley reaffirmed a desire to be back with the Boston Celtics, but said his offseason focus remains on simply improving as a player and letting his future take care of itself.
The Celtics formally extended a $3.6 million qualifying offer on Monday that gives them the chance to match any outside offer that Bradley receives when free agency opens at midnight. The two sides failed to reach an agreement on an extension to his rookie pact before a late-October deadline, but talks should resume now with outside interest likely to play a part in Bradley’s final price tag.
“I haven’t been worried about [free agency],” said Bradley, wearing a Celtics cap and colors as he instructed campers on the final day of his Avery Bradley Skills academy at UMass-Boston. “I’ve been worried about getting better. I try not to think about anything I can’t control. All I can do is continue to try to get better every single day, and I know everything else will work out.”
Asked about talks with Boston, Bradley added, “We really haven’t [spoke about] any numbers or anything. Obviously, I want to be here. And I let those guy know that. When the time comes, we’ll just see what happens, and see if we come to an agreement.”
Orlando Magic waive Doron Lamb
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The Orlando Magic have waived guard Doron Lamb, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.
Lamb played in 53 games last season with the Magic, averaging 3.6 ppg. in 13.1 minpg., while shooting .400 (36-90) from three-point range. He scored in double figures six times, including a season-high 14 points on Apr. 2 vs. Cleveland
Originally selected by Milwaukee in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft by Milwaukee, Lamb appeared in 100 career NBA regular season games with Milwaukee and Orlando, averaging 3.5 ppg. in 12.7 minpg., while shooting .394 (50-127) from three-point range. He was acquired by Orlando along with Tobias Harris and Beno Udrih from Milwaukee in exchange for J.J. Redick, Gustavo Ayon and Ish Smith on Feb. 21, 2013.
Celtics extend qualifying offer to Avery Bradley
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The Boston Celtics announced today that they have extended a qualifying offer to guard Avery Bradley.
Bradley, a 6’2 guard, is coming off a breakout 2013-14 season where he recorded career-highs in points per game (14.9), rebounds per game (3.8), points (891), rebounds (226), minutes (1855), field goals made (361), three-pointers made (79) and free throws made (90). Bradley tied a career-high for points in a game when he notched 28 points against Brooklyn on March 21. He recorded his first career double-double when he recorded 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds against New York on December 8. Selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Bradley recorded his 1,000th career points in the opening game of the season against Toronto on October 30. He led the Celtics in scoring in 17 games and recorded 20 or more points in 16 contests.
Jason Kidd leaving Nets to coach Bucks
Well, this escalated quickly. Here’s ESPN.com reporting:
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The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to send two second-round draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets to secure the coaching rights to Jason Kidd, sources tell ESPN.com.
The Bucks had been offering one second-round pick, but the Nets initially wanted a 2015 first-round pick in exchange, a negotiating chip the Bucks originally dismissed.
A source told ESPN.com’s Andy Katz that the Bucks have only talked to Kidd about being the coach, not any kind of administrative position running basketball operations. The source said the negotiation was supposed to be between the owners, not involving any basketball personnel, before the story was leaked out by the New York Post. But the source said the negotiations are now being handled by Bucks general manager John Hammond and Nets GM Billy King.
Pat Riley statement on Chris Bosh, who is opting out of Heat contract
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The following statement by Pat Riley was released today by the Miami Heat:
“Today we were notified of Chris’ intentions to opt-out of his contract. Chris is one of the most versatile and dynamic big men in this league, and he has been an instrumental key to our championship success over the last four seasons. We look forward to meeting with Chris and his agent in the coming days to discuss keeping him in Miami for many years to come.”