Lamar Odom gets Rolls-Royce from wife

As editor of InsideHoops.com, I am known for giving cars away as gifts. I toss them around like candy. But I can’t say I’ve given away more than 10 or 20 Rolls-Royces in the last year, so this story was a nice surprise:

WENN.com reports:

Khloe Kardashian gave her basketball player husband Lamar Odom a handsome reward for winning the NBA championship.

She bought him a brand-new Rolls Royce.

Odom helped the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Boston Celtics in the NBA Final last week, and his reality TV star partner purchased the $400,000 US luxury car to congratulate him.

Warriors belong to Stephen Curry

Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle reports:

Warriors belong to Stephen Curry

The Warriors are Stephen Curry’s team, and general manager Larry Riley will consider who best fits with the point guard when choosing a draft pick Thursday.

“It’s obvious and true that Curry is a guy who is going to have the ball in his hands a lot, and we’re going to play right through him a great deal,” Riley said. “He’s the point guard of this team, and Monta (Ellis) plays the two, and that’s the direction we’re going.

“You don’t build your team around a two-guard. You build around a point guard.”

Curry had a historic rookie season, averaging 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He is the only rookie in NBA history to shoot at least 45 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 85 percent from the free-throw line.

Robert Dozier breaks left foot

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

Robert Dozier might remain Mr. Irrelevant for another year.

Selected with the 60th and final selection of last year’s NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, the 6- foot-9 forward out of the University of Memphis broke his left foot while drilling last week at AmericanAirlines Arena.

After spending this past season with a second-tier team in the Greek League, Dozier had returned to South Florida recently to begin workouts in advance of the Heat’s participation in the July NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

But after breaking a bone in his foot during non-contact work, surgery was required, with the procedure handled by Heat team physician Harlan Selesnick leaving Dozier sidelined for 12 weeks.

Nuggets make qualifying offer to Linas Kleiza

Nuggets make qualifying offer to Linas Kleiza

The Denver Nuggets have made a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Linas Kleiza, Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today. Per team policy, terms of the offer were not released.

Kleiza, 6-8, 245, averaged 8.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg in 301 games with the Nuggets in four seasons (2005-2009) with the team since being acquired in a draft-night trade with Portland on June 28, 2005. During the 2008-09 season, his most recent season with the Nuggets, he posted averages of 9.9 ppg and 4.0 rpg in 22.2 mpg.

He spent the past season in Greece, helping Olympiakos reach the Euroleague Championship game while leading the Euroleague in scoring with an average of 17.1 ppg.

Warriors and Trail Blazers trade second round picks

The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired the 34th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for the 44th overall selection and cash considerations, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

The Trail Blazers now hold the 22nd and 34th overall picks in Thursday’s NBA Draft.

Suns pick up Alvin Gentry contract option

Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic reports:

Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver picked up the team option in coach Alvin Gentry’s contract for the 2011-12 season.

The performance of Gentry’s team to make the playoffs last season already had guaranteed a portion of that season’s salary. Picking up the team option guarantees another portion but half of his $2.15 million salary for that season remains subject to whether there is a lockout once the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement expires in July 2011…

Gentry still ranks among the lowest paid coaches for the coming season at $1.95 million, which is less than the $2.5 million Terry Porter will receive from Phoenix for being a fired coach. Suns GM Steve Kerr had advocated picking up Gentry’s option and adding a year to the contract.

Manute Bol dies at 47

The AP reports:

Manute Bol, a lithe 7-foot-7 shot-blocker from Sudan who spent 10 seasons in the NBA and was dedicated to humanitarian work in Africa, died Saturday. He was 47.

Bol died at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, where he was being treated for severe kidney trouble and a painful skin condition, Tom Prichard, executive director of the group Sudan Sunrise, said in an e-mail.

“Sudan and the world have lost a hero and an example for all of us,” Prichard said. “Manute, we’ll miss you. Our prayers and best wishes go out to all his family, and all who mourn his loss.”

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski, on the passing Manute Bol:

“On behalf of the entire Philadelphia 76ers organization, we would like to pass along our deepest and sincerest condolences to the family of Manute during this very difficult time.

“Manute’s impact on this city, our franchise and the game of basketball cannot be put into words. He was a person who was continually giving of himself through his generosity and humanitarian efforts in order to make the world around him a much better place, for which he will always be remembered.”

President Obama salutes Lakers

The Boston Herald reports:

President Barack Obama yesterday congratulated Lakers coach Phil Jackson and his team on winning the NBA championship for the second year in a row.

Obama also congratulated Jackson on winning his 11th championship as a head coach.

The White House said Obama told Jackson in a telephone call that the series between the Lakers and the Celtics  was great and worthy of the rivalry between the two teams. Obama said he looked forward to congratulating the players in person at the White House.

Heat exercise option on Mario Chalmers

Heat exercise option on Mario Chalmers

The Miami Heat announced today that they have exercised the Team Option on Mario Chalmers. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Chalmers, a 6’1”, 190-pound guard, has appeared in 155 regular season games (104 starts) averaging 8.6 points, 4.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.62 steals and 28.6 minutes. Last season, Chalmers finished 19th among NBA league leaders in steals-per-turnover (1.25) and 33rd in steals per game. During his rookie campaign, he became just the fifth player, and the first rookie, in franchise history to start in all 82 games while on his way to earning Second Team NBA All-Rookie honors. He currently ranks tied for 15th in three-point field goals made (189), 16th in assists (642) and 16th in steals (250) on the Heat’s all-time lists. Additionally, he has appeared in 12 postseason contests (seven starts) averaging 8.8 points, 3.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.92 steals and 30.2 minutes.

Chalmers was originally drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round (34th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft. His draft rights were acquired by the Heat in exchange for two 2009 second-round draft picks and cash considerations on draft night.

Key NBA Finals Game 7 statistic was offensive rebounds

Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times reports:

The most telling statistic in Game 7 was offensive rebounds.

Boston was simply overwhelmed in that category. The Lakers held a 23-8 edge, overall, and it was 15-2 after the first half.

“I thought our guys battled down there, but 23-8, you know, on offensive rebounds, and then the 37-17 discrepancy in free throws, that makes it almost impossible to overcome,” Rivers said.

In fact, the Lakers’ Pau Gasol had more offensive rebounds (nine) than the Celtics. Boston point guard Rajon Rondo had four offensive rebounds and Rasheed Wallace had two.

Obviously, the loss of a big body, in the form of center Kendrick Perkins, was a massive one for the Celtics. Perkins suffered two torn ligaments in his right knee early in Game 6, and Wallace did an admirable job in filling in.