Joe Prunty is new Blazers assistant

The Portland Trail Blazers named Joe Prunty an assistant coach, it was announced today by general manager Kevin Pritchard.

Prunty spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks. Prior to his time in Dallas, he served for nine seasons with the San Antonio Spurs as assistant video coordinator, video coordinator, advance scout and most recently, assistant coach. During his time with the Spurs, the team won three NBA Championships.

More info on Prunty is here.

The big story about the Blazers going into next season is that they expect to have the full services of center Greg Oden. Hopefully that serious surgery he had doesn’t have a permanent effect. It could prevent him from being 100 percent for a full season. Or two. Or forever.

Acie Law working hard

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Sekou Smith) reports: Save for a two week break, Acie Law’s been working out relentlessly since the Hawks’ playoff run ended. He said he’s hungry as ever and will not let up come mini-camp and summer league (next week in Atlanta for mini-camp and the following week and a half in Salt Lake City for mini-camp). Coach Mike Woodson was all smiles seeing Law on the floor so early and already having worked up a ferocious sweat while working on his shot and an assortment of other things during his early morning workout. Law retired to the weight room (allowing me a few minutes to trade questions and answers with Woodson for an upcoming piece on Law) and when he finished with that part of his routine he headed out the door for a therapy session for his injured wrist that caused him problems during his rookie season (he said the wrist feels fine and that the therapy three days a week has done wonders).

Rumors Talk: Maggette should join a contender

July 7: If Corey Maggette has to forget about getting more than the mid-level exception and is going to take a long contract that lasts for years, he might as well do it on a team that can compete for a championship. He’d make a nice scoring option off the bench for the Celtics, though defensively he has a lot to learn. He’d also help the Pistons or Spurs… Chris Duhon is a real point guard who is limited by his athletic ability. Keyon Dooling is super-athletic but not a real point guard… The Heat cut some dude named Jonny Reibel. I’d have cut him just because of the spelling of his first name. Remember Ralph Sampson? If his name was spelled “Ralfie” or something, I’d have sent him packing… I understand teams like the Knicks and Nets focusing on 2010 free agency, but it’s kind of a bad message to send to fans: ‘We plan on being lousy in the hope that two years from now, of two or three really great players out there, one of them agrees to sign with us.’ … The Nuggets may keep Anthony Carter? That’s like the Celtics getting Kevin Garnett. Similar impact. Give or take… So will Elton Brand stick with his Clippers team or bail on them and head to the Warriors for a lot more money? Must be an extremely tough decision… The Celtics should really give James Posey a mid-level exception deal if that’s what he wants… I still don’t know what Al Harrington’s ideal NBA position is. Do you? … NBA summer league games are good for seeing your favorite rookies. Other than that, they don’t bring much to the table. Fortunately, every team has at least two or three guys worth watching.

This commentary is in response to today’s NBA rumors… Go Inside Hoops every day… Talk with other fans on the InsideHoops basketball message board.

Earl Watson has right thumb surgery

General Manager Sam Presti announced today that guard Earl Watson underwent successful surgery yesterday in Los Angeles for a fracture of the right thumb. Watson suffered the injury on Monday while preparing for the upcoming season in a basketball game in Los Angeles. Watson is expected to make a full recovery and be available for the start of the 2008-09 season.

Last season, Watson averaged career highs in points (10.7), assists (6.8), rebounds (2.9) and minutes (29.1). Over his seven-year NBA career, Watson has averaged 7.4 ppg, 4.5 apg and 2.2 rpg in 529 games.

InsideHoops.com says: Either Watson or Luke Ridnour (probably Ridnour) may be traded by the time next season starts.

Gilbert Arenas agrees to new Wizards deal

The Washington Times (Mike Jones) reports: Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas has informed Wizards team president Ernie Grunfeld he will agree to a six-year deal worth $111 million, in his words, giving back roughly $16 million of the max, $127 million deal the team offered him Tuesday morning. “This is in line with what I’ve been saying the whole time,” Arenas said Thursday evening in a telephone conversation from China. “You see players take max deals and they financially bind their teams. I don’t wanna be one of those players and three years down the road your team is strapped and can’t do anything about it.”

Sonics move to OKC. New name soon

The Sonics are officially moving to Oklahoma City (see the news), but the team name will remain with the city of Seattle. I just spoke with an Oklahoma City-based representative of the team, and was told that they will reveal the new name “soon.” I was told they haven’t actually decided on a final new name yet, and that OKC ownership is working with the league and accepting their suggestions while making the final selection.

– Jeff

Kendrick Perkins and Bill Walker have surgery

The Boston Celtics announced today that center Kendrick Perkins and second round draft pick Bill Walker both had successful surgical procedures today at New England Baptist Hospital.  Perkins underwent arthroscopic left shoulder surgery while Walker underwent arthroscopic right knee surgery.  Both surgeries were preformed by Team Physician Dr. Brian McKeon and was assisted by Dr. Alan Curtis and Dr. John Richmond.  No timetable has been set for their return.

Danny Granger wants extension

The Indianapolis Star reports: Danny Granger’s long-range future with the Indiana Pacers could be settled later this summer. The 6-9 swingman, who was the Pacers’ leading scorer last season in his third year in the NBA, is eligible for a long-term extension. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, said he’ll likely begin talks with the Pacers in a few weeks… Granger is scheduled to make $2.3 million next season, after which he becomes a restricted free agent. The Pacers must at least make a qualifying offer of $3.3 million for 2009-10 to retain the right to match any free agent offer he receives.

Knicks want Chris Duhon

The New York Post (Marc Berman) reports:  Bulls backup point guard Chris Duhon, during a visit to the Knicks’ Westchester campus on Day 1 of free agency yesterday, met with coach Mike D’Antoni and was offered a two-year contract believed to be more than $7 million, according to league sources. Duhon was mulling the offer last night and could accept as soon as today.  The Knicks have proclaimed they do not want to go beyond two years on any signing so as not to compromise their chances of getting under the salary cap in 2010. That amount is a good chunk of the annual $5.5 million mid-level exception.