Blake Griffin to work out for Clippers Saturday

Blake Griffin to work out for Clippers Saturday

College star forward Blake Griffin will work out for the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday afternoon.

Griffin is widely considered the best player in the upcoming 2009 NBA draft, and the Clippers have the #1 selection in the first round.

They are expected to select Griffin, but it’s still standard for the player to work out for the team, meet his future employers, let the two sides get to know each other a little better, talk about their favorite colors, etc.

And, seeing Griffin on the basketball court having him do whatever they tell him to will help the Clippers get an even better read about what he’s good at, which helps make roster decisions. Par for the course.

There are some rumblings that the Clippers are open to trading the first pick, but nothing serious. And frankly, every team in the draft is always “open” to trading any player or pick, if the price is right.

Hornets guard Devin Brown exercises player option

Hornets guard Devin Brown exercises player option

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that guard Devin Brown has exercised his player option for the 2009-10 season. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

Brown (6-5, 210) averaged 5.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in 13.8 minutes off the bench for New Orleans during the 2008-09 season after being signed as a free agent on August 22, 2008. He has appeared in 415 career games (90 starts), averaging 7.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 19.2 minutes per game during his seven-year career.

The undrafted product of the University of Texas-San Antonio had his best season as a pro with the Hornets during the 2006-07 season, averaging a career-high 11.6 points in 58 games (49 starts). He also had career-highs in minutes per game (28.7), rebounds (4.3) and assists (2.6).

Brown was a member of the 2004-05 NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs and has appeared in 32 career playoff games with Cleveland, New Orleans and San Antonio.

Kevin Garnett guarantees next two championships

The Boston Globe reports: Kevin Garnett’s recovery from right knee surgery apparently is going well. Garnett expressed optimism in a recent conversation with team owner Wyc Grousbeck, who spoke yesterday at a corporate sponsorship event at the Boston Harbor Hotel. “I talked to [Garnett] and he guaranteed the championship in 2010 and in 2011,” Grousbeck said. “He was as fired up as he’s ever been.” Doctors removed bone spurs from Garnett’s knee May 26. He is expected to be ready for training camp in late September.

InsideHoops.com editor says: I have as much faith in Kevin Garnett and his awesome talent and fire as the next super good-looking, witty, famous pro basketball analyst, but such “guarantees” shouldn’t really be taken seriously. It’s fun to talk about, though. And on a side note, I guarantee I’m about to dominate this glass of chocolate milk.

Celtics consider streaming games on web

The Boston Herald (Thomas Grillo) reports: Boston Celtics fans could soon have another way to watch their team play – online. The NBA franchise is in talks with Comcast to stream games live, and free, on the Web next season. “There’s a generation of fans that want that second-screen experience,” Celtics president Rich Gotham told the Herald yesterday. “They want the big screen hi-def, but they also want a computer open in front of them to delve into stats and chat with fans in real time.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: Watching a game on TV will always be better quality than watching online. If there are cool online features (like the InsideHoops.com message board, Twitter, chats, etc.) you can always keep that stuff open, while still watching on a beautiful television screen. But if you’re in a place where you can’t see the game on TV, seeing it on the web is obviously better than missing it.

Kobe Bryant is NBA 2k10 cover player

When the basketball video game NBA 2k10 comes out, the player on the cover will be Kobe Bryant.

Fans will be able to vote for their favorite cover. There will be four different pictures posted of Bryant on the web. Three will feature Kobe in a Lakers uniform, and one will have Bryant in a Knicks uniform – but the latter is web fun and will be there as a joke, to stir people up.

Kobe definitely deserves the honor!

– InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner

Madison Square Garden renovations put on hold

New York Newsday (Arthur Staple) reports: Madison Square Garden’s renovation won’t be completed until 2012, a slightly altered timeline announced Tuesday than the one Garden executives put forth a year ago in introducing a $500-million overhaul of the arena. “We made sure to get the planning right, because we don’t want to change it midway through,” said MSG and Cablevision vice chairman Hank Ratner, who Tuesday showed off to reporters the Garden’s Presentation Center, a state-of-the-art area near the Seventh Avenue entrance that will open this summer to give fans a preview of the renovations. Work has not yet begun on the renovation, though roughly 150 MSG Network and Garden facilities employees will move across the street to 11 Penn Plaza so that their offices can be converted into concourse space in the revamped arena.

The New York Daily News (Owen Moritz) reports: Madison Square Garden will undergo a $500 million top-to-bottom renovation that will feature wider concourses and more bathrooms in addition to a giant “supersuite” and lavish corporate boxes. There will even be a party deck and two 10th-floor bridges running the length of the arena with overhead views of the playing surface. The renovation will include 20 courtside “event-level suites” complete with kitchens and lounges. One top-of-the-line suite will even have a working fireplace.

LeBron James has surgery to remove benign growth near right jaw

LeBron James has surgery to remove growth near right jaw

LeBron James underwent successful surgery today at the Cleveland Clinic. He had a right benign parotid growth (near the right jaw) removed by Dr. Frank Papay in a five-hour procedure.

LeBron and his family have been aware of this medical issue for several months but, with the clearance of the treating doctors and medical staff, decided to wait until the conclusion of the Cavaliers season to undergo the removal procedure.

LeBron is recovering comfortably at the Cleveland Clinic and will soon be returning home to his family.

The doctors are pleased with the outcome of the procedure, and at this time, are confident that no further treatment will be needed as LeBron is expected to make a full and complete recovery.

Post comments or read opinions from other fans in this forum topic.

Coach Del Harris retires

del harris retired

The Chicago Bulls announced today, that after 50 years of coaching, assistant coach Del Harris has elected to retire from basketball.

“I would like to thank Del Harris for all of his hard work and dedication this past season,” said Gar Forman, Chicago Bulls General Manager.  “He has had a terrific career and we wish him the best in his retirement.”

Harris, 71, just completed his first season with the Bulls as an assistant on head coach Vinny Del Negro’s staff.  He enjoyed success at every level in 50 years of coaching, including the NBA, collegiate, international and high school ranks.

Harris began his NBA coaching career as an assistant with the Houston Rockets in 1976, and was a coach or scout/consultant in the NBA for 29 seasons – including 27 trips to the NBA Playoffs.  His stints include: Houston (1976-83), Milwaukee (1983-91), L.A. Lakers (1994-98), Dallas (2000-08) and Chicago (2008-09).  In 12 full seasons as a head coach, Harris compiled a 556-457 (.549) overall record with three different teams (L.A. Lakers – 1994-98, Milwaukee – 1987-91, Houston – 1979-83).

Overall, he coached in 202 career playoff games (88 as a head coach), including an NBA Finals appearance in 1981 with the Rockets.

Harris was the recipient of the 1995 NBA Coach of the Year Award with the Lakers, and joins Pat Riley and Phil Jackson as the only coaches in Los Angeles franchise history to register three consecutive 50-plus win seasons.

“I was very fortunate to have Del by my side this past season. His knowledge and understanding of the game were an incredible benefit and help,” said Vinny Del Negro, Chicago Bulls Head Coach.  “He has had a tremendous and successful coaching career that is quite remarkable. In his 50 years of coaching, he has had such a positive impact on so many people’s lives on and off the court. I was truly thankful for his support and encouragement throughout last season. I can only wish Del and his family all the best.”

Prior to coaching in the NBA, Harris spent seven seasons in Puerto Rico (1969-75), posting a 176-61 record.  He guided Puerto Rico to a gold medal at the 1974 Central American Games, and a silver and bronze medal at the 1973 and 1974 World Club Championships with Club Bayamon (Puerto Rico).  Collegiately, Harris spent nine years at Earlham College (Indiana) where he led the team to a school-record 176 victories, and the first three conference championships in school history.  The Plainfield, Ind. native is a member of both the state of Indiana Hall of Fame and the NAIA Hall of Fame.

Lamar Odom loves candy

The Los Angeles Daily News (Elliot Teaford) reports: Lamar Odom’s sweet tooth is legendary in NBA locker rooms. He brings bags full of treats to games at home and away, a cause of only minor concern for Jackson and the Lakers’ coaching staff. “Well, Halloween is one of the worst nights of the year,” Jackson said. “I’ve gotten several calls and e-mails and texts from doctors who want to tell me that the sugar blues are one of the toughest things to fight, especially with kids. Lamar, as we know, is not a kid anymore. (But) he really doesn’t do that much sugar, he really doesn’t.”

Carlos Arroyo helps Maccabi Electra win Israeli championship

LatinoSports reports: Former NBA star and current Puerto Rican National team player Carlos Arroyo recently led his new team, Maccabi Electra of Tel Aviv, to the Israeli Championship and a place in next year’s Euroleague Championships. Arroyo, who left the Orlando Magic after the 2007-2008 season to join Maccabi Electra after signing a three year, $2.5 million per year contract, was named MVP of the Israeli Championships after scoring 22 points and adding 6 rebounds as Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Haifa Heat 85-72 in the final.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Arroyo was not a “star” in the NBA. But he was a very good backup point guard for stretches of time. And an extremely good international player.