Players announced for USA National Team mini-camp

Twenty-five top rising NBA players have accepted invitations from USA Basketball to participate in the 2009 USA Basketball Men’s National Team mini-camp that will be conducted July 22-25 in Las Vegas, Nev. The selections were announced by USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo.

The July USA Basketball Men’s National Team mini-camp will feature practice sessions on July 23 and July 24 at Valley High School, and the mini-camp will be capped by the USA Basketball Showcase, a Blue-White intra-squad game, on Saturday, July 25, 8 p.m. (PDT) at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV.

The player list is on the InsideHoops.com USA Basketball page.

Mavericks trade no.22 to Blazers for no.24, no.56, 2010 second rounder

The Portland Trail Blazers moved up two spots in the 2009 NBA Draft, acquiring the 22nd overall selection from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for the 24th pick, 56th pick, and a second-round pick in 2010, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

With Wednesday’s transaction, the Trail Blazers now hold the 22nd, 33rd, 38th and 55th overall selections in Thursday’s NBA Draft.

The 2010 second-round pick sent to Dallas will be the worse of the two picks Portland currently owns in next year’s NBA Draft, which are the team’s own selection and Chicago’s. The Trail Blazers acquired the Chicago pick in a three-way draft day trade in 2008.

“The depth of the second tier in this year’s draft has given us the opportunity to trade down, pick up two second round picks and not lose ground in terms of talent,” said Mavericks President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Donnie Nelson.  “This will give us added flexibility for the future.”

Terrence Williams feels big love from a team

Louisville forward Terrence Williams was the only top NBA draft prospect I spoke to on Wednesday who seems to know exactly where he’s going.

He’s not telling who, though.

I’m not going to dig up the exact quotes right now, but the entertaining, personable player made several statements that made it pretty clear a team has probably promised to take him. And he believes the team, whoever they are.

But Williams isn’t too worried about dropping. If it happens, fine. Williams knows that simply being invited to the NBA Draft ‘Green Room’ is a big victory, and unless something crazy happens the versatile player who works equally hard on both ends of the floor will go first round for sure, and probably higher than most.

After reporters were done speaking to the players, Williams pulled out a handheld and interviewed guard Johnny Flynn, his buddy and another top prospect.

In the fun interview of his friend, Williams asked Flynn if he knows where he’s going to be selected, and then said “I do!”

The 2009 Draft is Thursday night.

Left foot of Yao Ming not healing properly

Left foot of Yao Ming not healing properly

Rockets center Yao Ming underwent a medical evaluation by Rockets Team Physician Dr. Tom Clanton today which revealed that the hairline fracture in Yao’s left foot has not responded to the current treatment program.  A bone scan conducted Wednesday night at Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute revealed that the hairline fracture on the top of the foot has not yet healed.

Yao and the Rockets will consult with doctors who have previously participated in his care before proceeding with a new course of action.  No timeline has been set for his return to basketball activities.  There will be no further comment by the team until the best course of action has been determined.

“Yao is not experiencing any pain in his left foot, however, the results from the CT and bone scans we performed over the past two days indicate that the hairline fracture has not responded to the degree that we expected,” said Clanton.  “We will review a variety of treatment options before proceeding.”

The hairline fracture was discovered following the Rockets’ May 8th loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals.  The original treatment plan called for Yao to cease all physical training and to use a walking boot in order to immobilize the foot and promote healing.

Brandon Jennings played limited overseas minutes

The New Orleans Times-Picayune (Andrew Lopez) reports: The Oak Hill Academy product played in 43 games this season in Italian Lega A as well as in Euroleague, primarily as a backup point guard. When he did play, Jennings production was solid but not mind-blowing. He averaged 6.3 points and 2.0 assists in 17.8 minutes. Despite his production, Jennings feels he is a better basketball player because of the experience. “I’m more mature,” Jennings said after a recent workout with Golden State, who have the seventh pick in the draft. “I think more than the other guys because of the year I had in Europe, just not even playing. Going through that, tough times up and down, the challenges that I faced. So I think I have the upper hand against some of these guys.”

Bucks trade Richard Jefferson to Spurs for Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas; Spurs trade Oberto to Pistons

Bucks trade Richard Jefferson to Spurs for Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas

The Milwaukee Bucks have acquired guard/forward Bruce Bowen, forward/center Kurt Thomas and forward Amir Johnson in a three-team trade with San Antonio and Detroit, General Manager John Hammond announced today.  As part of the deal, the Bucks send forward Richard Jefferson to San Antonio, while the Spurs trade Fabricio Oberto to Detroit.

“The trade we made today provides us with much needed options in both the short and long-term planning for our franchise,” said Hammond.  “We acquired a young, long, athletic forward in Amir Johnson, along with two proven, tough-minded veterans in Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas.  The trade also provides us with additional opportunities, both now and in the future, to consider adding more pieces to our roster.”

Bowen (6-7, 200) spent the past eight seasons with the Spurs.  He appeared in 80 games for San Antonio last season, averaging 2.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 19.0 minutes per game.  It was his seventh consecutive season of playing in at least 80 games and the eighth of his career.  The 38-year-old has been named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Team eight times.  He went undrafted out of Cal State Fullerton and spent time in France and the CBA before signing with the Miami Heat during the 1996-97 season.  He has also spent time with Boston and Philadelphia and owns NBA career averages of 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists over 873 total games.

Thomas (6-9, 240) comes to Milwaukee having played for six teams over 14 NBA seasons.  Last season, he appeared in 79 games (10 starts) for San Antonio and averaged 4.3 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17.8 minutes.  Thomas, 36, was originally drafted by the Miami Heat with the 10th overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft.  He has played in 896 career NBA games with Miami, Dallas, New York, Phoenix, Seattle and San Antonio, and owns career averages of 9.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists.  He has appeared in 77 playoff games, including 20 during New York’s run to the NBA Finals in 1999.

Johnson (6-9, 210) was selected by Detroit in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft (56th overall) out of Westchester High School (CA).  Last season, the 22-year old, four-year pro appeared in 62 games with a career-best 24 starts.  He averaged 3.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in a career-high 14.7 minutes per game, while leading the Pistons in field goal percentage (.595).  In 135 career games, Johnson has averaged 3.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots in 13.6 minutes per game.

“Richard was a true professional during his time in Milwaukee,” Hammond remarked.  “He came ready to practice and play every day and always gave it his best effort.  We wish him well in San Antonio.”

Jefferson (6-7, 225) started in all 82 games during his lone season in Milwaukee.  He averaged 19.6 points (T-22nd in the NBA), 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting .439 from the field and .397 from three-point range.  He led the Bucks in scoring a team-best 35 times, including seven games of 30 or more.  He also scored the 10,000th point of his NBA career on April 4 against Memphis.  The 29-year-old Jefferson came to Milwaukee following seven seasons with the New Jersey Nets.  The Arizona product was originally drafted after his junior season by the Houston Rockets (13th overall) in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Report: Pistons to trade Amir Johnson to Bucks for Fabricio Oberto

Pistons to trade Amir Johnson to Bucks for Fabricio Oberto

Yahoo (Adrian Wojnarowski) reports: In an effort to clear more salary cap space, the Detroit Pistons have sent forward Amir Johnson to the Milwaukee Bucks for newly acquired Fabricio Oberto, a league executive told Yahoo! Sports. The Pistons plan to buy out Oberto’s deal and make him a free agent.

UPDATE: This was correct but actually part of the earlier deal involving Richard Jefferson. See the info.

Read basketball fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Wolves trade Randy Foye, Mike Miller to Wizards for pick no.5 plus three players

Wolves to trade Randy Foye, Mike Miller to Wizards for pick no.5 plus three players

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has acquired guard/forward Mike Miller and guard Randy Foye from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila, Oleksiy Pecherov and the fifth overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft.

“We are very excited to welcome two solid, proven veterans in Mike Miller and Randy Foye to Washington,” said Grunfeld.  “Mike is one of the NBA’s elite three-point shooters who can really stretch the defense and provide an all-around game, and Randy has shown the ability to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates while providing excellent perimeter defense.  Their skills complement our core very well and they will provide a boost as we re-establish ourselves as a contender in the Eastern Conference.”

A 29-year-old swingman, Miller has averaged 13.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game over nine professional seasons in Orlando, Memphis and Minnesota.  A former Rookie of the Year in 2000-01 and Sixth Man of the Year in 2005-06, Miller has connected on over 40 percent (1,173-2,926, .401) of his three-point field goal tries in his career.  Miller’s career best statistical season came in 2006-07 in Memphis when he averaged a career-high 18.5 points per game to go along with 5.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists while connecting on 202 of 498 (.406) three-point tries.  Miller averaged a career-high 6.7 rebounds the following season in Memphis, and recorded a career-best 4.5 assists per game last season in Minnesota.

Foye, a 25-year-old guard, had a breakout season for the Timberwolves in 2008-09 when he averaged 16.3 points and 4.3 assists per game.  He started 61 games for Minnesota, recording a career-high 36 points vs. Indiana on February 20 and recording a career-best 14-assists at Detroit on November 23.  Foye has seen his scoring average increase by at least three points in each of his three professional seasons after being selected seventh overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by Boston and acquired in a draft day trade by Minnesota via Portland.

Thomas averaged 6.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 373 career games for Washington, including 3.1 ppg and 2.5 rpg in 26 games last season.  Songaila appeared in 184 games for Washington over the last three seasons, and averaged 7.4 points and 2.9 rebounds last season (with a career-high 29 games started).

Pecherov, drafted by Washington with the 18th overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft, averaged 3.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 67 career games for the Wizards.

“We appreciate the contributions that Etan, Darius and Oleksiy made to the team and the community during their tenures in Washington,” said Grunfeld.  “We wish them the best and we’re pleased to have been able to accomplish a trade that benefited all parties involved.”

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Bobcats extend qualifying offer to Raymond Felton

Bobcats extend qualifying offer to Raymond Felton

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has made a qualifying offer to point guard Raymond Felton, making him a restricted free agent. The qualifying offer allows the Bobcats to match any offer he receives from another team.

Felton, who appeared in all 82 games for the first time in his career last season, averaged 14.2 points, 6.7 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 37.6 minutes. He ranked 11th in the NBA in steals, 13th in assists and tied for 15th in minutes played. In addition, Felton set single-season career highs in points (1,162), field goals made (442), rebounds (310), steals (126), blocked shots (30) and minutes played (3,086).

Originally drafted by Charlotte with the fifth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, Felton has appeared in 319 career NBA games with averages of 13.6 points, 6.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals. Felton is the Bobcats’ franchise leader with 2,127 career assists.

Philadelphia 76ers change back to older logo

Philadelphia 76ers change back to older logo

The Philadelphia 76ers have officially changed their primary logo and color scheme with a return to the traditional “76ers basketball” logo and the red, white and blue color scheme.  The basketball logo was last used during the 1996-97 season and consists of a color scheme that was originally established in 1963 and used during the Sixers’ two championship seasons in 1966-67 and 1982-83.

“By bringing back the old Sixers logo, we are connecting the past with the future,” said Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider. “This logo evokes memories of some of this franchise’s proudest moments. We also made this change because we understood how much this logo means to our fans, this franchise and to our city. The fans had a big input on this decision. We’re excited and we want the entire City of Philadelphia to be excited for Sixers basketball.”

“The 76ers logo is one of the more iconic in all of professional sports and we are sure fans will appreciate the Sixers returning to their core colors and ball icon,” said Christopher Arena, NBA Vice President Apparel, Sporting Goods & Basketball Partnerships.

This is the first major logo change for the Sixers since the 1997-98 season, when the logo was modernized to incorporate black, silver and gold into a stylized “76ers” wordmark that featured a predominant red and silver star to the left and a gold ball with blue stripes below.  From 1963 through 1997, the Sixers’ identity revolved around a “76” in red and royal blue and a star configuration above the number seven, which was an identity that defined the team through two NBA Championships.  The 76 and stars were utilized within a bell symbol from 1963-77 and then the “ers” was added to the “76” and contained in a ball.  The ball form of the logo is what is most recognized and most associated with the “Fo’, Fi’, Fo’” championship team of 82-83, one of the greatest teams in NBA history.  The only enhancement with the new logo will be a rectangular “court” shaped enclosure around the ball logo with the city name “PHILADELPHIA” grounded along the bottom and silver accent shaping the entire perimeter.

The Sixers will introduce a new secondary logo and wordmark at a later date.  Additionally, the team will unveil a new court design and uniforms later this summer.