Suns hire Mehmet Okur and Jason Hervey

Suns hire Mehmet Okur and Jason Hervey

The Suns on Tuesday added Mehmet Okur as a player development coach and Jason Hervey as an advance scout.

Okur, a 2007 NBA All-Star, will specialize in the skills development of the Suns’ post players. A former 10-year pro in the NBA, Okur averaged 13.5 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 37.5 percent from three-point territory as a 6-11 forward/center in 634 games with the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz and New Jersey Nets. Okur played most his career with the Jazz, averaging 15.3 points and 7.6 rebounds over seven seasons with the team (2004-11), earning an All-Star nod in 2007 to become the first native of Turkey to be named an NBA All-Star. In Okur’s final season with the Jazz in 2010-11, he was a teammate of Suns Head Coach Earl Watson and they played for current Suns assistant coach Tyrone Corbin.

Originally the 37th overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft by Detroit, Okur played his first two seasons with the Pistons (2002-04) and was a member of their 2004 NBA Championship team. Since his playing career came to an end, Okur has worked as a team ambassador for Utah where he was a fan favorite nicknamed “The Money Man” for his clutch shooting.

Hervey joins the Suns after spending the past two seasons as an NBA and college personnel scout with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Prior to his time with the Timberwolves, Hervey spent two seasons as director of basketball operations for the Pistons and held positions of advance scout and video coordinator with the Washington Wizards from 2009-12. His NBA career began as the assistant video coordinator for the Pistons from 2005-09.

Mitch McGary gets more suspension time

Mitch McGary gets more suspension time

The NBA announced today that Thunder forward Mitch McGary has been suspended without pay for a minimum of ten games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.

His ten-game suspension will begin when he has completed serving his five-game suspension under the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program, which was announced on July 8, 2016.

According to the Vertical, the reason for the 10 games were added to the original five-game suspension is “non-compliance with the league’s drug policy, league sources said.”

According to ESPN.com, “McGary’s contract is guaranteed for next season ($1.52 million), but the Thunder could trade him, or buy him out of his remaining deal.”

Los Angeles D-Fenders name Coby Karl head coach

The Los Angeles D-Fenders on Monday have named Coby Karl as head coach. He replaces Casey Owens, who takes over as an assistant coach and advance scout on the Los Angeles Lakers staff.

“We are excited to welcome Coby back to the D-Fenders family as our new head coach,” Buss said. “His extensive experience as both a player and coach in this league is something we’re very happy to bring to the organization as we look to build on a season of success.”

“It is an honor to be back with the Lakers organization, the team that gave me my first job and allowed me to realize my dream of playing in the NBA,” Karl said. “My goal going forward will be to foster an environment and culture that permits our players and staff to fulfill their dreams. Our pursuit will focus on excellence, both as individuals and as members of the Los Angeles D-Fenders organization.”

Karl returns to the D-Fenders organization after appearing in 17 games for the team during the 2007-08 season while on assignment from the Lakers. On February 19, 2008, Karl became the second player in NBA Development League history to play in an NBADL and NBA game in the same day, following former Lakers guard Jordan Farmar. As a player, Karl saw action with the Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors of the NBA, as well as with the D-Fenders, Reno Bighorns, and Idaho Stampede of the NBADL. He most recently served as an assistant coach on the Westchester Knicks staff during the 2015-16 season at the conclusion of his playing career.

Karl, the son of NBA veteran coach George Karl, began his coaching career by spending last season as an assistant coach with the Westchester Knicks. While in the Empire State, he helped the Knicks earn their first playoff berth in franchise history as Westchester improved from 10-40 in 2014-15 to 28-22 during the 2015-16 campaign.

Undrafted in 2007, Karl was invited to participate in training camp with the Lakers, making the Opening Day 15-man roster as a free agent. Karl would go on to play professionally for eight seasons before retiring in 2015.

Along with his domestic experience, Karl also knows the international game, having played professionally in Spain, Italy, and Germany.

Bucks sign Xavier Henry to training camp roster

Bucks sign Xavier Henry to training camp roster

The Bucks on Monday signed free agent guard/forward Xavier Henry to their training camp roster.

Henry, 25, most recently spent time in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers, appearing in nine games during the 2014-15 season, averaging 2.2 points in 9.6 minutes per contest. In 2015-16, Henry played in nine games with Santa Cruz of the NBA D-League where he averaged 15.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per game.

Originally from Gent, Belgium, the 6-6 guard/forward was drafted out of Kansas by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 12th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and has played in 185 career games (23 starts) over five seasons with Memphis, New Orleans and Los Angeles. He is averaging 5.7 points and 1.9 rebounds per game for his career.

Dwight Howard reportedly hospitalized, should be fine

It’s always scary when a health issue causes a hospital visit, but it sounds like Dwight Howard should be absolutely fine. Here’s the Atlanta Journal Constitution reporting:

Dwight Howard reportedly hospitalized, should be fine

Dwight Howard was taken to a hospital late Sunday night after feeling ill on a plane flight to Atlanta, according to several people familiar with the situation. It is believed that the Hawks center suffered from dehydration. He is being treated and is expected to be released from the hospital early Monday morning.

Howard, 30, has recently been in China on a 10-day promotional tour with shoe manufacturer Peak. Last week, the Chinese company and Howard unveiled his DH2 shoe which features the colors of the Hawks. It also has ‘Be Gr8’ embroidered on the tongue. Howard changed his number to eight after signing with the Hawks this summer and has worn the slogan on apparel.

D-League: Jerry Stackhouse hired as Raptors 905 head coach

D-League: Jerry Stackhouse hired as Raptors 905 head coach

The Raptors have announced that former NBA All-Star Jerry Stackhouse is the new head coach of their NBA D-League affiliate, Raptors 905. Stackhouse served as an assistant coach with the Raptors last season. He replaces Jesse Mermuys, who was named to the Los Angeles Lakers’ coaching staff.

“We are very excited to name Jerry Stackhouse our new head coach,” said Raptors 905 General Manager, Dan Tolzman. “The basketball pedigree that he brings to the 905 bench is as good as it gets in the D-League. We believe that his experience as a successful NBA player along with his year spent learning under Coach Casey on the Raptors staff will go a long way in helping teach the young players within our system what it takes to thrive at the next level.”

“I am honoured to have the opportunity and challenge to lead our D-League team,” said Stackhouse. “I appreciate the confidence Masai (Raptors President Masai Ujiri) and Dan have shown in me to continue the development of our younger players.”

Stackhouse played 18 seasons in the NBA, averaging 16.9 points, 3.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 31.2 minutes in 970 regular season games (564 starts). He also appeared in 75 playoffs contests and reached the NBA Finals in 2006 with Dallas.

Iman Shumpert was arrested for DUI in August

Turns out Iman Shumpert got into some trouble in August that is just coming out now. Here’s the Akron Beacon Journal reporting:

Iman Shumpert was arrested for DUI in August

Cavs guard Iman Shumpert could be facing a suspension following his arrest near Atlanta for driving under the influence of marijuana.

Shumpert was arrested around 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 10 by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and charged with DUI, possession of marijuana (less than an ounce) and failure to maintain lane after an officer spotted the taillights on his rental car weren’t working and observed him swerving. The Cavs announced Shumpert’s arrest on Friday. No court date has been set…

Shumpert was alone in the vehicle and driving to the airport to pick up his father, according to the arrest report. He had bloodshot eyes and the car smelled of marijuana. Shumpert was given a series of field sobriety tests and acknowledged to the arresting officer he had been smoking marijuana just prior to driving. It was also found in the trunk of his rental car.

Hornets arenas has fancy new scoreboard

The Hornets unveiled their new main arena scoreboard, four corner-hung auxiliary boards and double-ring LED ribbon boards.

The new center-hung scoreboard, which is one of the biggest in the NBA, consists entirely of high definition electronic LED panels, with the screen forming the entire face of the scoreboard. The two sideline boards are the tallest in the NBA at 25.2’ high x 42.8’ wide, while the two baseline boards are 18’ high x 31.3’ wide. In terms of square footage, the sideline boards are 180% larger and the baseline boards are 50% larger than the screens on the previous scoreboard, providing Hornets fans with an enhanced game experience. The panels on the previous center-hung scoreboard each measured 16’ high x 24’ wide.

Additionally, the new scoreboard has two underbelly screens measuring 9.8’ high x 16.5’ wide to provide a better view for those fans sitting in courtside and lower-level club seats. The underbelly screens are the largest in the NBA.

The new 1080p high-definition video displays boast a 70% increase in resolution from the former scoreboard, making the new scoreboard one of the highest-quality displays in the NBA.

Shaq discusses the current Lakers

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the basketball legends being inducted into the Hall of Fame Friday. But here’s what he had to say about the current Lakers squad, as reported by the Orange County Register:

Shaq discusses the current Lakers

“They’re definitely going to be exciting,” O’Neal said during a Hall of Fame news conference Thursday, “but I don’t see them being a contender for a while. I mean, they’ve still got to go up against Golden State in the West, they’ve got to go up against OKC, still got to go up against Cleveland, the Rockets. So they have a long way to go to be a contender.

“Every now and then they’ll make some noise and get the people in the Staples Center excited.” …

O’Neal acknowledged no being “really familiar with the talent” on the Lakers roster, but did say that he has high expectations for rookie Brandon Ingram, the No. 2 pick in June’s draft.

“I like Ingram,” O’Neal said. “Think he needs to get a little bit stronger, but I think Luke is going to come to some type of system where’s he’s going to be out on the perimeter, doesn’t need to post up that much.”