The Contra Costa Times (Marcus Thompson II) reports: Warriors coach Don Nelson confirmed after Saturday’s practice that he has agreed to a contract extension. A team source said the agreement was for two years and $12 million, some of which is deferred money. The new agreement, which Nelson said he has yet to sign, locks him up for three seasons, making him all but a lock to become the winningest coach in NBA history while with the Warriors. Nelson is 52 wins shy of current career wins leader Lenny Wilkens (2,612). “It wasn’t my idea,” said the 68-year-old Nelson, while toking on a cigar. “It was fine with me to weigh it year-to-year. But they came to me and wanted me to commit to three years and, uh, I’m pretty excited about it. It’s quite an honor really to be wanted. At my age, you’re lucky if anybody wants you. Hopefully, your wife.”
InsideHoops.com editor says: This is good news for the media. Because Nelson gives some of the best, most honest, no-holds-barred interviews of any coach in the history of basketball. It’s also good news for Warriors fans, because Don’s teams tend to always overachieve. It’s also good news for fans who like watching fun, fast-paced basketball. Other than all that, this is awful.
The Portland Trail Blazers exercised fourth-year options on the contracts of forward/center LaMarcus Aldridge, guard Sergio Rodriguez and guard Brandon Roy, while exercising their third-year option on center Greg Oden.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Ira Winderman) reports: Marcus Banks, who has spent his career previous career stops with the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns almost exclusively at point guard, exited the Heat’s preseason schedule as a frontrunner to back up starting shooting guard Dwyane Wade, even with his uneven effort in Friday’s 96-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. “He’s a combo guard, in my mind,” coach Erik Spoelstra said of the 6-foot-2 sixth-year veteran. “I just look at him as a player. He’s a very good high-pick-and-roll player. He can create, get in the paint for us. “But he also can play some point guard for us.” … By moving Banks to shooting guard, it somewhat reduces the team’s need for second-year Daequan Cook.
The San Francisco Examiner (Matt Steinmetz) reports: We already know Chris Mullin isn’t coming back next year. But the fact is, he’s more likely to get fired this season than finish out the final year of his contract as executive vice president of basketball operations. That’s clearly the most logical thing to take away from the news that Don Nelson is negotiating a contract extension … probably a two-year job with an option for a third… Nelson and Mullin are both on the final years of their contracts. Nelson is negotiating an extension; Mullin isn’t.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune (John Reid) reports: The Hornets’ biggest questions remain at the backup power forward and center positions. Whether the team improves from last season will depend how Hilton Armstrong, Melvin Ely, Sean Marks and Ryan Bowen perform off the bench. Armstrong played adequately in the preseason, but he still looked tentative at times. Ely had a good camp and was a productive scorer, but he still must improve as a defender. It did not help Marks to miss all seven preseason games after suffering a strained calf muscle. However, the Hornets’ strongest positions are at shooting guard and small forward. Posey can play both of those positions, and Rasual Butler had a solid preseason at shooting guard. Butler has regained confidence after making 52 percent of his shots during the preseason. Last season, he shot 35 percent.