Toronto Raptors arena to be renamed as Scotiabank Arena in July, 2018

Today, Scotiabank and Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) announced an expanded sponsorship and philanthropic partnership which will see the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors transformed into the Scotiabank Arena in July, 2018.

This 20-year strategic partnership also includes new philanthropic opportunities with the MLSE Foundation, and a digital collaboration between MLSE and the Scotiabank Digital Factory.

“We have always sought new and innovative partnerships with the goal of building strong and enduring communities,” said Brian Porter, Scotiabank’s President and CEO. “Today’s announcement is an extension of Scotiabank’s unwavering love of sports and our commitment to help young people reach their full potential. We believe that MLSE is an ideal partner for Scotiabank to reach our objectives.”

Scotiabank supports more than 8,000 Canadian kids’ community hockey teams. This partnership will enrich that support in the Greater Toronto Area, and will help to expand community hockey programs for youth across the country. “Scotiabank is already a proud supporter of the MLSE Foundation and its LaunchPad program. Today’s announcement builds on our commitment to Canada’s young people,” said Brian Porter.

“For the past 18 years, Air Canada Centre has not only been home to the Maple Leafs and Raptors, it has also hosted hundreds of the most popular concerts and events in the industry, helping contribute to Toronto’s well-deserved reputation as one of the top sports and entertainment destinations in the world,” said Larry Tanenbaum, Chairman of the Board for MLSE. “We are grateful to Scotiabank for their continued support and this expanded partnership as we look ahead to what we expect to be 20 of the most exciting years in Toronto sports and entertainment history.”

“MLSE is proud to operate one of the top venues in sports and entertainment, in a world-renowned city backed by some of the best fans and partners in the industry,” said Michael Friisdahl, President and CEO of MLSE. “This expanded partnership with Scotiabank will not only support our pursuit of championships and delivering a world-class experience for our fans, but it will have a lasting impact on our community.”

As part of the transfer of the arena naming rights in 2018, MLSE and Air Canada have also reached an agreement on a long-term partnership renewal that will see the company continue as the official airline partner of both the Maple Leafs and Raptors.

“As Canada’s flag carrier and North America’s Best Airline as ranked by the Skytrax World Airline Awards, we are proud to continue our partnership with MLSE as the Official Airline of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors,” said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. “We congratulate MLSE and Scotiabank as they build on the legacy we helped establish in 1999 and look forward to celebrating with fans and customers during our final season as title sponsor of the Air Canada Centre. Air Canada supports professional and amateur sports throughout Canada and our global hub in Toronto connects that city to the world, driving both the economy and communities.”

“MLSE is extremely grateful to Air Canada for their support as a founding partner of the Raptors and Air Canada Centre and we look forward to our continued partnership,” said Tanenbaum.

“Air Canada has been an integral part of the success of this arena and our teams over the past 18 years, and with our renewal agreement, we look forward to continued success with our partnership in the years to come,” said Friisdahl.

Since opening in February, 1999, Air Canada Centre has hosted more than 50 million fans over 3,500 premiere events including the 2016 NBA All Star Weekend, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and many of the world’s most popular performing artists including U2, Justin Bieber and Drake. As one of the leading sports and entertainment venues in the world, Air Canada Centre was named last year as Canadian Venue of the Year by Canadian Music Week as well as the third busiest concert venue in North America and seventh-ranked facility in the world for concert attendance by Pollstar. The venue capacity is 19,800 for basketball and full-house concerts and 18,800 for hockey.

“We are thrilled that Scotiabank’s name will appear on the side of this iconic building for the next two decades, and are looking forward to all of the historic moments to come,” said Scotiabank’s

Elton Brand is now a GM in the G League

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo announced yesterday that Elton Brand has been named General Manager of the Delaware 87ers, the 76ers’ NBA G League affiliate.

“We are thrilled that Elton has agreed to take on the GM position of the Sevens, a natural next step given both his personal and professional skillset,” Colangelo said. “The transition from a terrific playing career to team management was something that we have been talking about for some time and this opportunity is both timely and appropriate. I look forward to working side-by-side with Elton as we continue to grow and develop our overall basketball program.”

Brand, a 17-year NBA veteran, spent parts of five seasons with the Sixers and appeared in 263 games (222 starts) with the team from 2008-12 and in 2015-16, reaching the postseason twice. For his career, Brand posted averages of 16 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks per game, while shooting 50 percent from the field and 74 percent from the free-throw line in 33 minutes per game. He played in 1,058 NBA contests (868) starts with Chicago, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Sixers, Dallas and Atlanta.

“I’m extremely excited to begin a new role as General Manager of the 87ers,” said Brand. “I want to thank Josh Harris, David Blitzer, Bryan Colangelo and staff for the opportunity to develop, cultivate and elevate talent in our program. I look forward to building upon the successes the Sevens have had both on the court and in the community in Delaware.”

A native of Peekskill, New York, the 6-foot-8 forward was originally selected by the Chicago Bulls with the first overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft following two seasons at Duke University. He was named 2000 Co-Rookie of the Year after averaging 20 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in his debut campaign. In 2005-06, Brand posted a career-high 25 points per game and was selected to one of his two All-Star Games. That season, he helped the Clippers reach the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Brand’s 1,828 career blocks place him 22nd all-time in NBA history.

On Oct. 20, 2016, following training camp with the 76ers, Brand announced his intent to retire from the NBA. Brand rejoined the team on Dec. 6 as a player development consultant, a role that he held until accepting the Sevens General Manager position.

In a related move, the Sevens promoted Matt Lilly to Director of Basketball Operations & Scouting. Lilly spent the past two seasons as Basketball Operations Assistant and Video Coordinator for the Sevens. The Towson University graduate enters his fifth season overall in the NBA G League, including two seasons with the Erie BayHawks from 2012-2014.

Mavericks re-sign Nerlens Noel

The Dallas Mavericks have re-signed center Nerlens Noel.

According to the Dallas Morning News, “restricted free agent center Nerlens Noel has ended a summer-long negotiations stalemate by signing a one-year qualifying offer of $4.1 million to return to Dallas for the 2017-18 season.”

Noel (6-11, 220), who was acquired by the Mavericks from the Philadelphia 76ers in a trade-deadline deal on Feb. 23, averaged 8.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.1 blocks and 21.9 minutes in 22 games (12 starts) with Dallas last year.

More from the Dallas Morning News: “The Mavericks source confirmed an earlier report by ESPN’s Chris Hayes. Saturday’s news comes less than a week after Noel replaced agent Happy Walters with Klutch Sports’ Rich Paul, who also represents LeBron James. It’s also a bold and risky move by Noel, who could have signed a more lucrative long-term deal with the Mavericks or another franchise before the regular-season begins on Oct. 17.”

For the 2016-17 season, Noel posted averages of 8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.3 steals, 1.0 block and 20.5 minutes in 51 games (19 starts) with Philadelphia and Dallas.

The three-year veteran out of Kentucky holds career averages of 10.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.5 blocks and 27.6 minutes in 193 games (152 starts) with the Sixers and the Mavericks. He has shot 51.1 percent from the floor for his career.

A native of Malden, Mass., Noel was originally selected by the New Orleans Pelicans with the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. His rights were later traded to Philadelphia along with a future first-round pick in exchange for Jrue Holiday and Pierre Jackson.

As a rookie in 2014-15, Noel averaged 9.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.9 blocks and 30.8 minutes per game in 75 games (71 starts) while garnering NBA All-Rookie First Team honors.

In his lone season at Kentucky (2012-13), Noel averaged 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.1 steals, 4.4 blocks and 31.9 minutes en route to earning First Team All-SEC, SEC Defensive Player of the Year and SEC Rookie of the Year honors. On Jan. 29, 2013, Noel set the UK single-game record with 12 blocked shots in a victory over No. 16 Ole Miss.

Noel suffered a torn ACL in a game against the Florida Gators on Feb. 12, 2013, ending his 2012-13 season. Despite the injury, Noel declared for the 2013 NBA Draft following his freshman year. He missed the entire 2013-14 NBA season recovering from knee surgery.

The 23-year-old was the top-rated player by both ESPNU recruiting and Scout.com coming out of high school and was rated the second-best prospect by Rivals.com

The Mavericks’ 2017-18 training camp roster is now set at 20 players.

Erie BayHawks open tryouts

The Erie BayHawks, NBA G League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, will hold its only open tryout on Sunday, September 24 at the Georgia State University Sports Arena (125 Decatur Street, Atlanta GA 30303). This will be a one-day tryout and will take place from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Staff members from both the Erie BayHawks and Atlanta Hawks will be on hand to evaluate all participants. Players will be taken through a series of skill work and live scrimmages. Prospects who participate in the open tryout will compete for an invitation to the BayHawks training camp.

There is a non-refundable registration fee of $150 and can be paid by money order or cashier’s check payable to the Erie BayHawks. Pre-registration is highly advised as space is limited and walk-up registrations the day of the event are subject to availability.

For more info, go to www.eriebayhawks.com/player-tryouts-17-18/

Salt Lake City Stars finalize coaching staff

The Salt Lake City Stars, the NBA G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, have finalized their coaching staff for the 2017-18 season. Bryan Bailey and Nathan Peavy will join new head coach Martin Schiller on the bench. Bailey and Peavy both played for Schiller with the Bundesliga’s Artland Dragons.

“I had the pleasure of coaching both Bryan Bailey and Nathan Peavy while I was an assistant with the Dragons and am very happy to add them to the Stars’ bench,” said Schiller. “They bring a diverse background in basketball from playing overseas to coaching in the NBA G League and I know they will be a tremendous asset to our team.”

Bailey joins the Stars after spending the 2016 season as an assistant coach for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League. Bailey spent 13 years playing professional basketball in Europe, including the Euroleague and Eurocup. He began his career with DJK s.Oliver Würzburg (2002-03). He’s also played for Landstede Zwolle (2003-04); two stints with the Artland Dragons (2004-07, 2010-12); KK Bosna (2007-08), where he won the Bosnian League championship as the starting point guard; PGE Turow (2008-09), where he reached the final four of the Polish Cup; EWE Baskets Oldenburg (2009); Keravnos (2010); Virtus Roma (2013); and Medi Bayreuth (2012-15), selected to the 2013 German All-Star Game.

The Hempstead, N.Y., native is the co-founder of DIME Athletics, which focuses on assisting competitive high school, collegiate and professional basketball players on improving their basketball skills, strength, conditioning and overall athleticism to reach their highest performance level. Bailey played four years at Bucknell University (1998-02) and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Peavy, who just completed the 2016-17 season playing for Cariduros de Fajardo of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league in Puerto Rico, has played professionally for eight seasons overseas. The 6-8 forward began his career in 2007 with the Uni Baskets Paderborn in the German Basketball Bundesliga League. He also played for the Artland Dragons (2009-12), Alba Berlin (2012-13), Atenienses de Manati (2015-16) and was member of the Puerto Rican National Team (2010-12). The Dayton, Ohio, native played four seasons at Miami (OH) from 2003-07.

Solomon Hill out 6-8 months after surgery

New Orleans Pelicans forward Solomon Hill has been diagnosed with a proximal hamstring tear in his left leg, it was determined following examination by Dr. Michael Gerhardt and consultation with Pelicans Director of Medical Services/Head Team Physician Dr. Misty Suri. The injury occurred while Hill was participating in a basketball workout in Los Angeles, CA.

Hill underwent successful surgery by Dr. Gerhardt in Santa Monica, CA and is expected to make a full recovery. An injury of this nature takes approximately 6-8 months to heal.

A timetable for his return will be determined at a later date.

Brandon Knight out for season after knee surgery

Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight today underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. The procedure was performed by Head Team Physician Dr. Tom Carter in Phoenix. Knight will remain out for the 2017-18 season.

For his career, Knight holds averages of 15.2 points, 4.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 382 games with Detroit, Milwaukee and the Suns. Knight averaged 11.0 points, 2.4 assists and 2.2 rebounds over 54 appearances in 2016-17, his sixth NBA season and third with the Suns after initially being acquired by the team in February of 2015.

Suns rookie Davon Reed out after knee surgery

Phoenix Suns guard Davon Reed yesterday underwent a meniscus repair of his left knee. The procedure was performed by Head Team Physician Dr. Tom Carter at Gateway Surgery Center in Phoenix.

Reed is expected to return to full basketball activity in approximately four to six months.

The team’s selection with the 32nd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Reed averaged 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals while appearing in all six of the Suns’ games at NBA Summer League 2017 in Las Vegas. Reed completed a four-year career at the University of Miami in 2017 by earning ACC All-Defensive Team and All-ACC Third Team honors, in addition to the ACC’s Skip Prosser Award, presented annually to the conference’s top scholar-athlete in men’s basketball.

Spurs re-sign Manu Ginobili

Spurs re-sign Manu Ginobili

Manu Ginobili is keeping it going. The San Antonio Spurs re-signed him today.

According to the San Antonio Express News, “the 40-year-old Argentine dynamo re-signed a two-year deal worth about $5 million, according to league sources.”

The upcoming season will mark Ginobili’s 16th campaign with the Silver and Black, which will make him the eighth player in NBA history to spend his entire career with one team and play at least 16 seasons, along with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, John Stockton, Reggie Miller and John Havlicek.

Over the course of his 15-year NBA career, Ginobili has appeared in 992 games, averaging 13.6 points, 3.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.36 steals in 25.8 minutes. He has shot .447 (4,383-9,799) from the field, .370 (1,431-3,863) from three-point range and .826 (3,270-3,958) from the free throw line.

The native of Argentina was drafted by the Spurs with the 57th overall pick in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft. Coming to San Antonio in 2002, he is the Spurs all-time NBA leader in three-pointers made (1,431), while ranking second in steals (1,349), third in games (992), fourth in free throws made (3,270), as well as fifth in total points (13,467) and assists (3,838). He has twice been named to the All-NBA Third Team (2008, 2011). The 2008 NBA Sixth Man of the Year and two-time All-Star (2008, 2011), He and Parker currently have 652 wins together, fourth-most of any teammates in NBA history. Trailing only Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Ginobili owns the third-best winning percentage in NBA history of any player that has played at least 500 games (.729, 723-269).

The four-time NBA champion has appeared in 213 career playoff games, averaging 14.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.34 steals in 28.0 minutes. Ginobili and LeBron James are the only two players in NBA postseason history with at least 3,000 points (3,009) and 300 three-pointers (318) in the playoffs. One of 10 players ever to appear in over 200 playoff games, he has come off the bench 160 times and is the all-time leader in NBA postseason history as a reserve in points (1,969), assists (560), total rebounds (620), steals (198), three-pointers made (220), field goals made (615) and free throws made (519). Ginobili and Parker have 131 playoff wins together, which is tied for the most of any duo in postseason history.

Ginobili has been a member of the Argentinian National Team since 1998. He led his home country to the gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and is one of only two players to have won a Euroleague title, an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal (Bill Bradley).

Palace of Auburn Hills will close after Bob Seger concert

Here’s Michigan Live reporting on the end of an era in the greater Detroit area:

The Palace of Auburn Hills is officially closing for business.

Palace Sports & Entertainment (PS&E) confirmed on Thursday, Aug. 24, that Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band’s sold-out concert will mark the final event on Sept. 23 at the former home to the Detroit Pistons.

Speculation has been flowing for months about the closure of the major sports and concert venue, and a potential transformation into a mixed-use development after the Pistons officially announced their move to the nearly complete Little Caesars Arena in Downtown Detroit.