Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried rebounds with authority

Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried rebounds with authority

The 6-foot-8, 228-pound Faried appears to have all the attributes to become one of the NBA’s best overall rebounders. Maybe of his generation. Consider that he set the NCAA career record for rebounds at Morehead State. Then, he didn’t have a summer league or a normal-length training camp due to the lockout a year ago, so he missed weeks of training from Denver’s coaches about the NBA nuances of board-crashing. Oh, and he didn’t play much in the first third of the season as he tried to catch up.

So now, the 22-year old Faried is coming off a productive summer and flourishing during the preseason, soaring and scoring.

“High energy and has a big-time motor, which you can’t teach, and he has skill to go with it,” said Warriors coach Mark Jackson, who watched Faried torch his team for 27 points and 17 boards — in just 24 minutes, last spring. “He’s a weapon that George uses extremely well. He’s definitely a guy who you want to match his motor, or you’re going to have a problem all night long.

— Reported by Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post

NBA already warning players about flopping

Golden State guard Jarrett Jack said the league warned him about flopping in a preseason game. “So I’ve been warned for flopping hahaha,” Jack tweeted.

A league source told Grantland.com that NBA officials warned “about 10” players for flopping, but the league refused to release the names.

“Flops have no place in our game — they either fool referees into calling undeserved fouls or fool fans into thinking the referees missed a foul call,” NBA vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson said in a statement. “Accordingly, both the Board of Governors and the competition committee felt strongly that any player who the league determines, following video review, to have committed a flop should — after a warning — be given an automatic penalty.”

Any player guilty of flopping will be subject to a warning, followed by a $5,000 fine for a second violation, $10,000 for the third and $15,000 for the fourth. The fifth flop will result in a $30,000 fine. Six or more violations will lead to an increased fine and/or suspension.

— Reported by John Rohde of the Oklahoman

Lakers waive Ronnie Aguilar and Reeves Nelson

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived Ronnie Aguilar and Reeves Nelson, it was announced today.

Aguilar, a 7-1, 250 pound center, played two seasons at Colorado State University before transferring to California State University, Dominguez Hills, where he also played two seasons.  Aguilar played in six games for the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League during the 2011-12 season, averaging 2.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 11.5 minutes.  In four preseason games with the Lakers, Aguilar averaged 0.8 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.50 blocks in 7.8 minutes.

Nelson, a 6-8 forward out of UCLA, was also a member of the 2012 Lakers Summer League team, where he averaged 4.0 points and 5.3 rebounds in 16.3 minutes. Named to the All-PAC 10 First Team following his sophomore year, Nelson played in 68 games for the Bruins averaging 12.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 27.0 minutes.  In three preseason games with the Lakers, Nelson averaged 1.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 11.0 minutes.

The Lakers training camp roster now stands at 18 players.

Landry Fields happy for fresh start with Raptors

Landry Fields happy for fresh start with Raptors

The Knicks had 18.7 million reasons not to bring back Landry Fields. But Fields had his own reasons for not wanting to return.

Fields, now a Toronto Raptor, said he needed a change and that he lost his confidence and comfort level after Carmelo Anthony was acquired.

“It was a fresh start,” Fields said before Friday night’s Knicks-Raptors preseason game at the Bell Centre. “I think I needed that. It couldn’t have come at a better time for me.

“It was an accumulation of things. I probably lost some confidence in myself. I couldn’t really adjust as well as I’d like to. Don’t want to put the blame on anybody else. It really was me; just couldn’t get it done.”

— Reported by Al Iannazzone of New York Newsday

Corey Maggette day-to-day after straining calf

corey maggette

Corey Maggette’s availability is day-to-day after he strained his left calf muscle, Detroit Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said Friday.

Maggette, the Pistons elder statesman in terms of age (32) and experience (13 seasons), was injured with 2:44 left in the first quarter of Thursday’s 105-78 loss in Miami.

Maggette had played just 2:07 when he landed awkwardly after attempting a shot. He was assisted off the floor and did not return.

“The good thing is he went off the arena on crutches and today there was no crutches,” Frank said. “So that’s a positive. It’s one of those things we’ll evaluate on a day-to-day basis.”

— Reported by Brendan Savage of Michigan Live

Nene remains uncertain when he will return for Wizards

Nene

Nene is trying to stay optimistic but remains uncertain about when he will be able to return because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

Sidelined since he aggravated the injury while representing Brazil in the London Olympics last August, Nene visited a foot specialist in Baltimore this week and received electric stimulation treatment for the nagging problem.

“I was a little behind, than I thought,” Nene said, when explaining the reason for the treatment. “It’s still inflamed. I just want to take care of it the right way. But all the exercises, I’ve been doing fine. I’ve been listening. I’ve been obedient.”

— Reported by Michael Lee of the Washington Post (Blog)

Nets exercise MarShon Brooks option

Nets exercise MarShon Brooks option

The Brooklyn Nets have exercised the third-year contract option on MarShon Brooks, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Brooks is now signed through the 2013-14 season.

Brooks was selected 25 th overall by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft, and then traded to the Nets for the rights to the 27 th pick, JuJuan Johnson, and the Nets’ 2014 second round pick. Last season the 6-5 guard appeared in 56 games, with 47 starts, averaging 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 29 minutes per game. Brooks shot .428 (274-640) from the field and .764 (113-148) from the line. The Providence alum scored a career-high 24 points twice last season, vs. Orlando (2/2/12) and Miami (4/16/12). Brooks participated in the Rookie/Sophomore game during All-Star Weekend and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Cavaliers exercise options on Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson

Kyrie Irving

The Cleveland Cavaliers have exercised the third-year contract options on guard Kyrie Irving and forward/center Tristan Thompson, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

“Kyrie and Tristan exemplify what we want to be as a team and franchise, both as players and as people,” said Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant. “They are dedicated, hard-working, talented individuals and we’re looking forward to their continued growth and success here in Cleveland as Cavaliers.”

The reigning Rookie of the Year, Irving, appeared in 51 games (all starts) in 2011-12, averaging 18.5 points on .469 shooting, 3.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 30.5 minutes per game.

Thompson played in 60 games (25 starts) and averaged 8.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 block in 23.7 minutes per game on his way to being named to the All-Rookie Second Team.

Landry Fields no longer has the couch Jeremy Lin slept on

Landry Fields

Everything has changed for Landry Fields as he took his fledgling career across the border. He now wears his black Raptors jersey proudly, changing from “6” to his college No. 2.

Worse, Fields no longer even has the famous couch that former Knicks teammate Jeremy Lin slept on in his apartment the night before his initial bust-out game vs. the Nets on Feb. 4 that spawned Linsanity.

“It was a rental couch,’’ Fields said at the morning shootaround before facing the Knicks Friday night at the Bell Centre. “I had to give it back. I wonder if they even know (the history). It’s probably boxed up.’’

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post (Blog)