Some Pistons players will train with UFC fighters

Here’s the Detroit Free Press reporting on the Pistons, who will soon reportedly get tougher and meaner:

A contingent of Detroit Pistons will travel to Las Vegas on Aug. 31, but it won’t be fun and games.

Members of the team are going to train with some UFC trainers. It’s a team bonding event put together by the players with Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond being the leaders.

Two weeks ago, some UFC fighters came to the team’s practice facility to cross train with the Pistons. Now the players are returning the favor, but will be working with the UFC trainers and coaches.

The players will be in Vegas for about a week.

Spencer Dinwiddie didn’t know who all would be attending, but he’ll be one of them.

Kevon Looney undergoes hip surgery

Kevon Looney undergoes hip surgery

Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney underwent a successful right hip arthroscopy this morning to repair a torn labrum, the team announced today. The procedure was performed by renowned Steadman Clinic orthopaedic surgeon and hip specialist Dr. Marc Philippon at the Vail Valley Surgery Center in Vail, Colorado.

Looney will begin rehabilitation from the surgery immediately and is expected to be out a minimum of four-to-six months before returning to basketball activity.

“Kevon has his entire NBA career ahead of him and we felt that, in consultation with our medical staff, Kevon and his representatives, it was best to address the issue now,” said Warriors General Manager Bob Myers. “He will have our complete support throughout the rehabilitation process and we are confident he will make a full recovery.”

Looney, 19, was selected by the Warriors with the 30th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. In one season at UCLA in 2014-15, he posted averages of 11.6 points, 9.2 rebounds (second in the Pac-12), 1.4 assists and 1.28 steals in 30.9 minutes over 36 games, earning Second Team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Freshman Team accolades. In six games with the Warriors 2015 NBA Summer League team in Las Vegas in July, the 6’9” forward averaged 9.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per contest.

Al-Farouq Aminu steps up for Nigeria at AfroBasket

This summer, basketball teams around the world are trying to lock down spots in the 2016 Olympics. Here’s the Oregonian reporting on a new member of the Portland Trail Blazers:

Al-Farouq Aminu steps up for Nigeria at AfroBasket

Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu helped Nigeria get one step close to qualifying for the 2016 Olympics on Wednesday. Aminu led his home country to an 88-63 win over the Central African Republic at the AfroBasket, a FIBA tournament held in Tunisia in which the winner earns an automatic bid to the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil.

Aminu scored a team-high 15 points to go with eight rebounds and three assists in just over 20 minutes of playing time. He hit 6 of 8 shots and added an impressive dunk in the opening minutes of the game when he finished a half court alley-oop lob from teammate Olaseni Lawal.

Pelicans sign Bryce Dejean-Jones

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today the team has signed free agent rookie guard Bryce Dejean-Jones.

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, “his signing officially brings the Pelicans to 13 guaranteed contracts while New Orleans’ pursuit of point guard Norris Cole is still ongoing.”

Dejean-Jones, 6-6, 209, was a member of the Pelicans summer league team in Las Vegas after going unselected in the 2015 NBA Draft. In six games, Dejean-Jones averaged 12.8 points on .619 shooting from the field, including .500 from three point range, to go along with 1.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.2 assists in 21.7 minutes per game.

During his senior season at Iowa State University, Dejean-Jones averaged 10.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals, helping the Cyclones win the 2015 Big 12 Tournament.

Influence of Jason Kidd helped bring Copeland to Milwaukee

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on Chris Copeland, who became a member of the Bucks this summer:

Influence of Jason Kidd helped bring Copeland to Milwaukee

Chris Copeland said his relationship with Bucks coach Jason Kidd played a big role as the the 31-year-old forward signed a one-year deal with Milwaukee last month.

Copeland is expected to play a key role off the bench and his ability to space the floor should complement the Bucks young forward duo of Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“Jason Kidd has been a top reason,” Copeland said of choosing the Bucks after spending the last two years with the Indiana Pacers. “It was a blessing playing with him when we were in New York (during the 2012-’13 season). I learned a lot from him behind the scenes.

“I watched him in a short period of time show his capabilities as a coach. I just look forward to the opportunity. When they reached out, it was a no-brainer.”

Utah Jazz promote Mark McKown and Isaiah Wright

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has promoted Mark McKown to director of sports science/assistant coach and Isaiah Wright to head strength and conditioning coach.

McKown will enter his 19th season with the Jazz in 2015-16 and became the team’s first full-time strength-and-conditioning coach upon his arrival 1997. McKown, in conjunction with Wright, has helped the Jazz become one of the league’s most progressive franchises in the implementation of applied sports science. The Gaffney, S.C. native graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and physical education from the University of South Carolina Upstate as well as a master’s in sports science from the United States Sports Academy.

Wright will enter his third season with the Jazz strength and conditioning staff after spending 2012-13 as a strength and conditioning intern. The Salt Lake City native previously spent seven years with the franchise working with the team’s equipment staff as a team attendant. Wright graduated with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science from the University of Utah.

Raptors sign Jonas Valanciunas to contract extension

Raptors sign Jonas Valanciunas to contract extension

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have signed center Jonas Valanciunas to a multi-year contract extension.

According to Yahoo Sports it is a four-year, $64 million extension.

“Jonas’ contributions continue to improve with each season and we view him as a significant part of what we are building in Toronto,” said Raptors President and General Manager Masai Ujiri.

In his three seasons with the Raptors, the 23-year-old Valanciunas has averaged 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 26.3 minutes in 223 career games, including 218 as a starter. He has shot .553 (936-1,694) from the field. In the postseason, he owns averages of 11.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in 11 contests, with a .575 (50-87) field goal percentage.

Valanciunas, 7-foot, 270 pounds, averaged a career-best 12.0 points, with team highs of 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks, in 80 contests last season. He finished second in the NBA with a .572 (373-652) field goal percentage. He paced the Raptors in double-doubles (22), rebounds (693) and blocks (95). He posted averages of 11.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in four playoff outings.

Valanciunas appeared in 81 games in the 2013-14 season, where he averaged 11.3 points and a team-leading 8.8 rebounds. He shot .531 (359-676) from the field and paced the team in rebounds (714) and double-doubles (26). In seven playoff games, he shot .633 (31-49) from the floor and contributed averages of 10.9 points and a team-best 9.7 rebounds.

The native of Lithuania was selected fifth overall by the Raptors in the 2011 Draft. He averaged 8.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 23.9 minutes in 62 appearances in his rookie campaign. He ranked among the top-3 rookies for field goal percentage (.557), rebounds and blocks (1.3). He captured Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honours for March, averaging 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and shooting .620 from the field in 15 outings.

Timberwolves sign Tayshaun Prince

Timberwolves sign Tayshaun Prince

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed veteran forward Tayshaun Prince.

“We’re excited to add a veteran like Tayshaun,” said Timberwolves president of basketball operations and head coach Flip Saunders. “Having coached Tayshaun for three seasons in Detroit, I know that his experience and defensive mindset will benefit our younger players. He also has shown that he can shoot from long distance, which will help our ability to stretch the floor.”

Prince give the Wolves yet another highly experienced veteran to help teach the tricks of the trade to young building blocks like Andrew Wiggins.

Prince, a 6-9 forward, averaged 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 24.1 minutes per game over 58 contests between Memphis, Boston and Detroit last season. He began the season with the Grizzlies, appearing in 26 games before being acquired by Boston on Jan. 12 in a three-team trade. Prince played nine games with the Celtics before finishing the season in Detroit after a three-team deal on Feb. 19.

Prince spent the first 10-plus seasons of his 12-year career with the Pistons before being traded to Memphis on Jan. 30, 2013 in a three-team trade. He has career averages of 11.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 940 games. Prince’s played in all 82 games in six consecutive seasons (2003-04 – 2008-09), averaging a career-high 14.7 points on a career-best 48.7 percent from the field in 2004-05. He played under current Wolves head coach Flip Saunders from 2005-08.

Originally selected with the 23rd overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in the 2002 NBA Draft, Prince has appeared in 140 playoff games with Detroit and Memphis, averaging 11.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in 35.6 minutes. He averaged a career-high 16.4 points in 18 games for the Pistons in the 2006 NBA Playoffs and averaged 9.9 points and 6.0 rebounds as Detroit won the 2004 NBA Championship.