Court rules in favor of eminent domain use for Nets Brooklyn project

Bruce Ratner, CEO and Chairman of Forest City Ratner Companies, issued the following statement today regarding the NYS Court of Appeals ruling in favor of the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn.

The Court’s ruling upholds the State’s right to use eminent domain given the public benefits associated with the Atlantic Yards Development in Brooklyn.

“Once again the courts have made it clear that this project represents a significant public benefit for the people of Brooklyn and the entire City,” Mr. Ratner said. “Our commitment to the entire project is as strong today as when we started six years ago. Today, however, this project is even more important given the need for jobs and economic development.”

Mr. Ratner said construction activity on the yards will continue, with the intent that the Nets will play ball in the Barclays Center in the 2011-2012 NBA Season.

In addition to Barclays, which has the exclusive naming rights, eight companies have signed on as founding partners for the arena.

The courts have ruled consistently in favor of the development. Mr. Ratner explained as well that the arena and larger development are expected to create 16,924 union construction jobs and over 8,000 permanent jobs. The tax revenues that will be generated for the City and State during the construction period are expected to exceed $240 million and after construction reach approximately $70 million a year.

Michael Redd returns tonight

Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:

michael redd

Michael Redd is ready to return in Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

Redd fared well in his first contact practice with some 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 work at Trinity University on Sunday, and he worked out again in the Bucks’ shootaround Monday morning at the AT&T Center.

Bucks coach Scott Skiles said he will bring Redd off the bench against San Antonio after the shooting guard missed nine games with a left patella tendon strain.

“He got through it well,” Skiles said of the contact work on Sunday. “We’ll bring him off the bench tonight and probably not play a lot of minutes or anything. Just get his feet back under him in a game and see how it goes.”

The Bucks have had great chemistry without Redd. Is it possible that his return will actually throw things off? It’s always hard to suggest such things about good players, but keep an eye on it.

Andrew Bynum putting up big stats

Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times reports:

Andrew Bynum putting up big stats

Bynum had 25 points on nine-for-11 shooting in the Lakers’ 101-85 victory Sunday over the Oklahoma City Thunder. He also had nine rebounds and made all seven of his free throws in almost 29 minutes.

Toronto forward-center Chris Bosh is the only player in the league averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds a game, though Bynum is close to being there too.

He is now averaging 19.9 points and 11.2 rebounds.

Are the All-Star voters paying attention?

“I hope to make it,” Bynum said. “That’s really a goal I had coming into this season. I think I’m playing at the level I need to be playing. All I can do is get votes now. I’ve got to keep it up.”

I still consider Bynum more of a product of a great team system (and great teammates) than a go-to center, but he’s winning me over regularly lately.

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Garnett game-winner leads Celtics over Knicks

An overtime thriller in Madison Square Garden ended on a Kevin Garnett game-winning, buzzer-beating jumper from the top of the key as the Boston Celtics beat the Knicks 107-105 in overtime Sunday in New York.

The packed Garden crowd, loaded with a celebrity roster including Will Ferrell, Brooke Shields, Mark Wahlberg, Rosie Perez and Spike Lee, was treated to the most thrilling Knicks game so far this short season.

“He’s that type of player,” said Celtics forward Paul Pierce about Garnett, who shot badly all game until it counted most. “You’re talking about a Hall of Fame player.”

paul pierce

Boston had six players score double-digits. Their star today was Pierce, who delivered 33 points (9-of-17, 6-of-7 three-pointers), nine rebounds and six assists.

Also for Boston, center Kendrick Perkins shot 6-of-7 for 16 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. Point guard Rajon Rondo was one rebound  short of a triple-double: 14 points (just 5-of-13), 9 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals.

Struggling today for the winners were Ray Allen (just 3-of-13 for 13 points) and Garnett (just 4-of-15 for 10 points).

Off the bench, Rasheed Wallace had more technical fouls (1) than points (0, on 0-of-6 shooting), though his defense was solid and he finished with four steals.

The Knicks were led in scoring for the third consecutive game by Al Harrington, who came off the bench to contribute 30 points and 9 rebounds. David Lee was terrific with 22 points and 15 rebounds, though he had five turnovers. Nate Robinson was huge as a bench scorer, scoring 19. And to the delight of Mike D’Antoni and Knicks observers, all his shots were at the right basket today.

The starting Knicks backcourt couldn’t throw a rock into the ocean today. Chris Duhon and Larry Hughes combined to shoot 3-of-17 for 7 points, with 10 assists.

Madison Square Garden recorded its fifth sellout in eight home games. They entered the game ranked fifth in the league in home attendance with an average of 19,626 fans per game.

Wizards struggling early

Despite the return of Gilbert Arenas this season, the Washington Wizards are off to a rocky start to the 2009-10 NBA season.

Mike Jones of the Washington Times reports:

Two road games, two dysfunctional performances and another new low for the Washington Wizards.

A night after getting run out of the gym by the Oklahoma City Thunder because of a sorry excuse for a defensive showing, the Wizards rode into San Antonio and actually did a decent job defending the hosting Spurs. But an ice cold offense crippled Washington in an 106-84 loss.

On Friday, the Wizards got a combined 69 points from Antawn Jamison, Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler. Saturday night, the trio combined for just 41 points to lead a squad that posted a season-worst .333 shooting clip from the field. The Wizards also got outrebounded 59-44.

Arenas had a team-high 18 points against the Spurs, but his 7-for-18 shooting performance was anything but effective, and his three turnovers were one more than his assist total for the night.

With a 3-0 record, the Wizards are tied with the Bobcats for last in the Southeast division, and have the same wins-losses as the Knicks. Only the Nets (0-13) have fewer wins in the East, and just one team (the Timberwolves) has fewer in the West.

Share your opinion on the InsideHoops Washington Wizards forum.

Thunder assign Byron Mullens, Kyle Weaver to D-League

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced that the team has assigned center Byron Mullens and guard Kyle Weaver to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

Weaver, who played two games for the 66ers last season, has appeared in two games for the Thunder this year averaging 5.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal in 8.0 minutes per contest.

Mullens, the 24th overall pick (selected by Dallas) in the 2009 NBA Draft, was acquired by the Thunder in a draft night trade. Mullens has not appeared in a game for the Thunder this season. The 7-0 center averaged 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in one season at The Ohio State University.

The Tulsa 66ers, who were purchased by the Professional Basketball Club LLC on July 31, 2008, are the minor league affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Celtics assign Bill Walker to D-League

The Boston Celtics announced today that forward Bill Walker has been assigned to the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League. Walker is the team’s first assignment to the NBA Development League this season.

Walker, a 6’6” forward, has appeared in one game for the Celtics this season and has logged two minutes of playing time.  The Kansas State product has posted career averages of 2.9 points and 1.0 rebound in 7.2 minutes per game over 30 games with the Celtics.

Report: ESPN Suspends Bill Simmons from Twitter

Similar to regular websites, blogs, Facebook, YouTube and other online destinations, Twitter is part of the Internet. The purpose of all of them is basically the same, to present online content.

So, if someone works for a company with rules dictating what type of content employees can post on the web, logically it applies to Twitter, too.

The rumor is that Bill Simmons is suspended from Twitter, except for posts involving his book tour.

Jay Yarow of Business Insider reports:

ESPN is suspending its hotshot writer Bill Simmons from Twitter for two weeks.

The reason: He started mouthing off at Boston sports station WEEI on Twitter. WEEI is an ESPN partner.

Steve Krakauer of MediaIte reports:

So here’s what did him in. On November 11, Simmons tweeted an angry message to Boston radio station WEEI: “Hey WEEI: You were wrong, I did a Boston interview today. With your competition. Rather give them ratings over deceitful scumbags like you.”

Harsh – and since WEEI and ESPN have a partnership, this apparently is a no-no when it comes to ESPN’s much-discussed social media guidelines.

Rob King of ESPN reports (via his blog):

While it’s unfortunate — and sometimes painful — that not everyone outside of ESPN chooses to play by such rules, we choose to hold ourselves to higher standards. Regardless of the provocation, Bill’s communication regarding WEEI fell short of those standards. So we’ve taken appropriate measures.

You have to follow your company’s rules. Even if you’re atop your field. Usually.

Warriors sign Chris Hunter

The Golden State Warriors have signed forward/center Chris Hunter to a contract, the team announced today.  Hunter, who is being called up from the NBA Development League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants, will be in uniform for tonight’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Oracle Arena.

Hunter, 25, was a D-League All-Star last season with Fort Wayne, where he averaged 19.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.19 blocks and 32.7 minutes per contest in 47 games.  The 6-11, 240-pound Hunter ranked fourth in the D-League in rebounding and ninth in scoring, while shooting 55.1% (353-641 FG) from the field and 81.1% (197-243 FT) from the line.  With his signing, Hunter becomes the first player to receive a Gatorade Call-Up from the D-League this season.

An All-NBA Development League Second Team selection last season, Hunter was signed by the New York Knicks on April 14, 2009, for their final regular season game, but did not play.  He also appeared in two games with the Knicks during the 2009-10 preseason.  Hunter played four seasons at the University of Michigan (2002-03 thru 2005-06) before beginning his professional career overseas in Poland and Belgium.

Golden State’s roster now stands at 16 players.  The Warriors are able to add Hunter to the roster under the NBA’s hardship rules, which allows a team that has 15 players on its Active and Inactive Lists and is unable to meet the minimum number of players requirement (8), the ability to sign an additional player.

Hunter will wear uniform #31.

Discuss your Warriors opinions on the InsideHoops Golden State Warriors forum.

Maloofs no longer operating Sacramento Monarchs; team looking to move

The WNBA is in active discussions with potential investors to relocate the Sacramento Monarchs to the Bay Area in time for the start of the 2010 WNBA season, league President Donna Orender announced today.  Going forward, Maloof Sports & Entertainment will no longer operate the Monarchs.

“The Bay Area has been a desirable market for the WNBA and the availability of the Monarchs provides an opportunity to move a well-known franchise and broaden its fan base within Northern California,” said Orender. “Maloof Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Monarchs, has deemed it essential to focus all of its resources on the Sacramento Kings at this time. We understand this decision was a difficult one for them and appreciate the vision, leadership, and support of the Maloof family over the past 10 years.

“The Maloofs have shown a passion for women’s basketball and seen the WNBA as great entertainment that has a positive impact on the way society views women and sports. They take great pride in the Monarchs’ players, both for their contributions on the court and in the Sacramento community.”

One of the league’s original eight teams in 1997, the Monarchs won the WNBA championship in 2005 and the Western Conference crown in 2006. Featuring former Stanford player and WNBA All-Star Nicole Powell, Olympic gold-medalist and WNBA All-Star Kara Lawson, and Piedmont, Calif. standout Courtney Paris, the team also holds the second pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft.

“We enjoyed our time with the WNBA and the Monarchs,” said co-owner Joe Maloof.  “We are extremely proud of an amazing run that included six straight playoff appearances and the 2005 WNBA Championship.  All of our resources are now dedicated to bringing the Sacramento Kings back to championship caliber form.”

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