Rockets reveal first alternate uniform ever

The Houston Rockets introduced “We Are Red Nation” as its new marketing campaign for the 2009-10 season during the team’s annual Tip-Off Party at Toyota Center this evening.  The team also introduced their first-ever alternate uniforms.

In an effort to tie the team’s current look to its storied past, the new uniform features elements which are both new and old.  The familiar “ketchup and mustard” color scheme used during the team’s back-to-back championship seasons has returned — along with the name “Houston” on the front of the jerseys.  The font used for the letters and numbers is the same that is used on the current home and away uniforms, which were introduced prior to the 2003-04 season.  Additionally, the team’s familiar “R” logo appears on the front collar as well as centered above the player name on the back of the jersey and on both side panels of the game shorts.  The red jersey also features yellow piping that extends all the way to the shorts.

alternate houston rockets jersey

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Timberwolves and Mark Blount to part ways

Timberwolves and Mark Blount to part ways

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that they have mutually agreed to allow center Mark Blount to not join the team for training camp and the preseason, and have provided permission for Blount’s agent to seek a roster spot with a different team. Blount will remain at his home in Miami while his agent Mark Bartelstein looks for a better opportunity for playing time.

“I want to thank Mark for being understanding of our situation of having such a young team, and in particular many young big men that need playing time for their development,” said Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn. “Given these circumstances, it would be extremely difficult to find a significant role for Mark, and he deserves the opportunity to be a part of someone’s rotation for the upcoming season.

“Mark has been a true professional in understanding the current makeup of our roster and the difficulty in ensuring him consistent minutes. We wish him the very best. I’m sure that this will work out the best for everyone.”

Acquired in a trade with Miami on Aug. 13, Blount, a 7-0 center, has appeared in 605 career games over his nine-year career, including stops in Boston, Denver, Minnesota and Miami. Originally selected by Seattle with the 54th overall pick of the 1997 NBA Draft, Blount owns career averages of 8.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Blount’s face probably hurts from laughing at the fact that people give him millions of dollars to play ineffective basketball.

Maurice Lucas to resume coaching

Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Maurice Lucas, who underwent successful bladder cancer surgery in April, has resumed coaching duties and will be with the team when training camp begins on Tuesday, September 29.

Lucas, 57, has elected to adopt a schedule that will allow him to continue player development responsibilities at the Trail Blazers practice facility and at home games. At this point, he plans to travel only occasionally with the team to road games.

“I feel great,” Lucas said. “I have been listening to my doctors, getting my rest, and I’m very excited about being back. I am fortunate to have the support of an organization and a head coach that have allowed me to continue to contribute, and grateful to have had the support and encouragement of a lot of great fans during the past six months.”

A 14-year NBA/ABA veteran and five-time All-Star, Lucas was a starting forward on the Trail Blazers 1977 NBA Championship team. He joined the Trail Blazers coaching staff in 2005 at the request of Head Coach Nate McMillan, a former teammate of Lucas when both were in Seattle during the 1986-87 season.

“We are glad to have Luke back, healthy, and working with our big men again,” McMillan said. “He is a very important part of our family and we all missed having him here during the stretch run last year.”

Mayor Kevin Johnson fears Sacramento could someday lose Kings

The Sacramento Kings have wanted a new arena for quite some time, and now former NBA star and current mayor Kevin Johnson is adding his voice to the mix.  The Sacramento Bee reports:

After learning that Arco Arena is considered unsuitable to host a major college basketball tournament, Mayor Kevin Johnson said Tuesday that Sacramento could lose the Kings if efforts for a new arena aren’t stepped up.

“If we don’t have a clear path to an arena in the not too distant future, then we as Sacramentans need to know that (the Kings) very well may look elsewhere,” Johnson said.

The mayor made his statements after finding out the NCAA had bypassed Sacramento’s bid to host the regional round of the men’s basketball tournament. Arco Arena has hosted the money-making event four times since 1994.

That was one loud arena back in the days of good Kings basketball. A scary place for opponents. But that’s old news. For years now it’s just been considered a problem. Sad.

Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov will buy Nets

The New Jersey Nets struggle to attract fans and face many issues as they attempt to build a new basketball arena in Brooklyn and relocate the team. And now the AP reports:

Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov says in his personal blog that he has made an offer to buy the New Jersey Nets.

Prokhorov, considered Russia’s richest man, said Tuesday on his blog that he sent team shareholders an offer over the weekend. Under the proposal, Prokhorov’s holding company Onexim would obtain a controlling share in the Nets in return for loaning the money to build a new arena.

If the team is going to be sold I expect it would happen relatively sooner rather than later.

Bulls re-sign Aaron Gray

Bulls re-sign Aaron Gray

The Chicago Bulls today re-signed center Aaron Gray. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Chicago drafted the 7-0, 270-pound center with the 49th selection in NBA Draft 2007.  During his two seasons with the Bulls, he has appeared in 117 games (19 starts), and averaged 3.9 ppg and 3.3 rpg in 11.4 mpg.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Big backup center who can fall into people, take up space, raise his arms, etc.

Timberwolves waive Chucky Atkins

Timberwolves waive Chucky Atkins

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has waived guard Chucky Atkins. The Timberwolves acquired Atkins as part of a trade with Oklahoma City on July 27.

A 10-year NBA veteran, Atkins went undrafted out of the University of South Florida before signing with Orlando in 1999. In 655 career games with Orlando, Detroit, Boston, L.A. Lakers, Washington, Memphis, Denver and Oklahoma City, Atkins has averaged 10.2 points and 3.5 assists per game. Atkins was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 1999 and also played on the gold-medal-winning U.S. National Team at the 1995 World University Games.

Rockets trade James White to Nuggets for Axel Hervelle

The Denver Nuggets have acquired G/F James White from the Houston Rockets in exchange for the draft rights to F Axel Hervelle, Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today.

White, 6-7, 200, has averaged 5.7 ppg and 2.0 rpg in 10 career games (two starts) with San Antonio and Houston. He was originally drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round (No. 31 overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft before having his rights traded to Indiana in a draft night deal. After being released by the Pacers prior to the 2006-07 season, White was signed by the Spurs and spent the remainder of his rookie season between San Antonio and its D-League affiliate, the Austin Toros. He played overseas with Fenerbahçe (Turkey) during the 2007-08 season.

This previous year, White played 34 games (33 starts) with the Anaheim Arsenal of the NBA Development League before being called up by the Rockets on Mar. 3. He averaged 1.8 ppg in four regular season games for Houston, as well as 1.4 ppg in five postseason appearances during the Rockets run to the Western Conference Semifinals. In his time with the Arsenal, White averaged a league-high-tying 25.9 ppg to go along with 5.0 rpg and 2.5 apg while shooting .549 from the field.

Hervelle, 6-8, 230, was selected by the Nuggets in the second round (No. 52 overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft. Hervelle, who had yet to play for Denver, posted averages of 8.1 ppg and 4.5 rpg in 35 contests for Real Madrid (Spain) last season.

InsideHoops.com editor says: White is famous for being an amazing dunker. Hervelle is basically unknown.

Spurs sign Keith Bogans

Spurs to sign Keith Bogans

Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports: Keith Bogans, the 29-year-old journeyman guard who spent the final 29 games of last season playing with Jefferson in Milwaukee, has agreed to a one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum of $1.03 million to join the Spurs. Bogans, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, has averaged 7.5 points over a five-year career that includes stints with seven teams. He averaged 5.6 points in 65 games last season, split between the Magic and the Bucks. Like Bowen before him, however, Bogans has built his professional reputation on the defensive end.

SEPTEMBER 24 UPDATE

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have signed guard Keith Bogans. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed. The San Antonio Express-News reports that it is “a guaranteed one-year deal worth the league minimum of $1.03 million.”

Bogans, 6-5, 215 pounds, split last season between the Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks. He started the season with the Magic before being traded to the Bucks on Feb. 5 in exchange for Tyronn Lue. In 36 games with the Magic, he averaged 5.3 points and 3.1 rebounds in 21.9 minutes. Bogans appeared in 29 games for Milwaukee, averaging 6.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 16.7 minutes. For the season he appeared in 65 games, averaging 5.6 points and 3.1 rebounds in 19.6 minutes.

Originally drafted by Milwaukee in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft (43rd overall), Bogans was traded to Orlando on draft night for cash considerations. A six-year NBA veteran, Bogans has spent time with Orlando, Charlotte, Houston and Milwaukee. His best season came in 2004-05 with the Charlotte Bobcats when he averaged 9.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 24.2 minutes per game. During the 2007-08 season Bogans appeared in all 82 games with the Magic and averaged 8.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists. In 425 career games, he has averaged 7.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 23.4 minutes.

Heat to extend contract of coach Erik Spoelstra

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports:  The Heat has extended coach Erik Spoelstra’s contract in the wake of Spoelstra and all the employees in basketball operations, including president Pat Riley, accepting voluntary pay cuts to eliminate the need for layoffs. Spoelstra also confirmed that forward Michael Beasley — who left a Houston rehabilitation facility Sunday — was at AmericanAirlines Arena on Monday, where players are working out informally, and has improved his game significantly this summer.