Swedish national team helps Jonas Jerebko stay versatile

You name it, Jonas Jerebko did it for the Swedish national team this summer.

Point guard, both forward spots, center, fetch Gatorade, sell tickets — whatever was needed, Jerebko did it in leading the Swedes to a 4-4 record in Eurobasket 2013 qualifying.

“All the jokes aside, it was a great experience for me because coach and my teammates let me do a little bit of everything,” Jerebko said Saturday after the Pistons’ open scrimmage at Oakland University.

Entering his fourth season, Jerebko sometimes can be a forgotten man, especially when it comes to media attention given to frontcourt newcomers Andre Drummond and Slava Kravtsov. And his story might not be as compelling as Charlie Villanueva and Austin Daye trying to salvage careers.

— Reported by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press

Nets want D-Will or Joe Johnson on court at all times

deron williams

“Brooklyn’s Backcourt” is so good, Avery Johnson thinks at least half of it always needs to be on the floor.

The Nets coach made sure his All-Star backcourt of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson played together in Friday night’s scrimmage. But he’s also trying to figure out how he’s going to deploy both of them in games this season with the idea of always having at least one of them on the court.

“We’ve made a concerted effort to have them playing together in practice, drills, scrimmages, and then we have to figure out which one of those guys we want to lead our second team — because we’re not going to play a true second team this year,” Johnson said after yesterday’s practice. “We don’t think we can have Deron and Joe out of the game at the same time, so that’s something else we’re trying to develop.”

— Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post

Mavs guard Roddy Beaubois suffers sprained ankle

Mavericks’ guard Roddy Beaubois had to be helped off the court with 1:16 to go in the third quarter Saturday after injuring his left ankle.

Beaubois hit the floor and quickly grabbed his left ankle. He could not put any weight on his left foot as Maverick personnel on each side helped him limp off the court to the locker room.

The injury was diagnosed as a sprain, team officials said.

— Reported by Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News

Grizzlies waive D.J. Kennedy and Jarrid Famous

The Memphis Grizzlies waived forward/center Jarrid Famous and guard/forward D.J. Kennedy, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Neither player appeared last night in Memphis’ first preseason game, a 105-93 victory over Real Madrid.

Famous (6-11, 240) played in Slovakia, the NBA Development League and the Philippines last season following a four-year collegiate career at the University of South Florida.  The 24-year-old averaged 13.9 points and 9.8 rebounds in 29.4 minutes in 16 D-League games with Iowa and Fort Wayne.

Kennedy (6-6, 215) averaged 6.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in 29.5 minutes in two games last season as a rookie for the Cleveland Cavaliers.  The 22-year-old also posted 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 37.3 minutes in 44 D-League games with Erie last season.

Both players originally signed as free agents on Sept. 29, 2012.

Memphis’ current roster stands at 18.

Clippers waive Courtney Fortson and Chris Johnson

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today that they have waived guard Courtney Fortson and forward Chris Johnson.

The Clippers roster now stands at 18 players.

NBA preseason began on Friday. The Clippers opened preseason on Saturday with a loss to the Denver Nuggets. Guard Eric Bledsoe led Los Angeles with 12-of-15 shooting for 25 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals. Clippers guard Chris Paul did not play.

Tyreke Evans working to improve his jumpshot

Tyreke Evans working to improve his jumpshot

Evans shot 60 percent (295 of 492) within five feet of the rim last season and 27.7 percent (113 of 408) from beyond. He won the 2010 Rookie of the Year award based on his driving ability.

It looked too easy. Then injuries and collapsing defenses dared Evans to rely on an unreliable jump shot.

“People just started looking at film and started trying to keep me from going to the basket,” he said. “This year, I’m going to have to go to the pull-up (jump shot). I’m still going to go in there, no matter what, but I want to go to the pull-up too.”

Smart believes Evans’ work isn’t motivated by the prospect of a new contract. The deadline for Evans to receive an extension is Oct. 31. The coach says Evans is simply growing up.

— Reported by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee

Rasheed Wallace is out of shape

Rasheed Wallace is out of shape

As promised, Woodson has been big on conditioning and running in the first few days of camp. The coach is starting to back off and said today’s session will be light. There have been no two-a-days — just one three-hour session.

It is unknown whether Wallace will scrimmage before the Washington game. The 38-year-old has been on the side doing core exercises. The Knicks are treating him like fine china following a two-year absence.

“He’s not ready yet,’’ said Woodson, who hasn’t guaranteed Wallace a roster spot. “It’s conditioning. He’s just not there where you want him to be. He’ll get there eventually. We’re doing things to get him in shape. It’s not always running up and down the floor to get in shape. Other things you can do as well.”

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Knicks center Marcus Camby out with calf strain

Marcus Camby

Marcus Camby has picked up where he left off during his first Knicks stint.

Fears this graybeard team would be susceptible to health woes already are being realized as the Knicks announced Camby will miss seven to 10 days with a left calf strain after an MRI exam.

In addition, Amar’e Stoudemire missed practice yesterday with a sore ankle after being held out of Friday’s scrimmage. To boot, Rasheed Wallace has not been cleared to scrimmage, deemed not in good enough shape.

Camby, 38, has called the Knicks frontcourt the deepest in the NBA, and all that depth may be needed. The average age of their top 13 players is a league-record-high 32.8 years old.

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

James Harden still coming off Thunder bench

James Harden still coming off Thunder bench

It comes as no surprise, but after four days of training camp James Harden continues to practice with the second team despite starter Thabo Sefolosha nursing a leg injury.

Harden, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, is expected to remain in his role this season once the Thunder returns to full strength. Harden, however, took his assignment in stride when told he just can’t seem to crack the first unit.

“Can’t,” Harden said, laughing. “Can’t do it. Them my guys. Me and Nick Collison, that’s my guy.”

Harden then said players have just filled in for starters Sefolosha and Kendrick Perkins (wrist) and the second unit has remained largely intact.

— Reported by Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman