Orlando Magic GM Rob Hennigan gets contract extension

Orlando Magic GM Rob Hennigan gets contract extension

The Orlando Magic have extended the contract of General Manager Rob Hennigan, Chief Executive Officer Alex Martins announced today. Hennigan’s contract has been extended through the 2017-18 season. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

“Under the leadership of Rob (Hennigan), we feel that we are positioning ourselves to be able to contend in a long-term, sustainable fashion,” said Martins. “We are proud of the work that Rob and our basketball operations department has done to this point and we look forward to taking the next steps in the process.”

Hennigan was named general manager of the Magic on June 20, 2012. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the team’s basketball operations, including day-to-day business, roster management and development, player acquisitions, salary cap management, analytical systems, and process development throughout the department. Before joining the Magic, Hennigan spent the previous four seasons (2008-12) with Oklahoma City, including his last two seasons as the Thunder’s assistant general manager/player personnel.

“It’s an honor to be a member of this organization and a privilege to work for the DeVos Family under Dan and Alex’s leadership,” said Hennigan. “I am extremely grateful for the unwavering trust and support that our entire organization demonstrates as we continue building our team for competitive longevity and one in which all of Central Florida can be proud.”

Prior to joining the Thunder, Hennigan spent four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. He was named director of basketball operations in September of 2007. Hennigan began as an intern during the 2004-05 season and was later named the team’s basketball operations assistant during the summer of 2005. The Spurs won the NBA World Championship in 2004-05 and 2006-07.

Kevin Love out 4-6 months after shoulder surgery

Kevin Love injury leaves Cavs with frontcourt hole

Kevin Love out 4-6 months after shoulder surgery

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love underwent successful surgery this afternoon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City to repair his dislocated left shoulder. The surgery was performed by Dr. David W. Altchek.

Continuing treatment and rehabilitation at Cleveland Clinic Courts and Cleveland Clinic Sports Health will be conducted by the Cavaliers’ medical staff and Head Team Physician Dr. Richard D. Parker.

Love’s projected recovery time is four to six months.

Mavs players decline to share playoff money with Rondo

Mavs players decline to share playoff money with Rondo

If Rajon Rondo wasn’t going to share his heart or talent with the Dallas Mavericks, the Mavs players apparently didn’t want to share their playoff bonus with him. Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporting:

During their exit interview with the media Wednesday, the Dallas Mavericks players made all of the politically correct comments when asked about wayward point guard Rajon Rondo.

But when it came time for the 14 players to vote on whether or not to give Rondo a share of the pool of money they earned for qualifying for the playoffs, the Mavs players voted not to give him a share, according to multiple sources.

For participating in the first round of the playoffs, the Mavs earned a total of $208,940. Shared equally among the other 14 players, that’s an estimated $14,924 per player.

Doc Rivers fined for public criticism of officiating

Doc Rivers fined for public criticism of officiating

Doc Rivers fined for public criticism of officiating

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers has been fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

Rivers made his comments following the Clippers’ 111-107 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, April 28, at Staples Center.

Bucks trying to make sure that actual Bucks fans attend their next home game

Bucks trying to make sure that actual Bucks fans attend their next home game

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on the Bucks, whose Chicago-based first round playoff opponent is practically another local team:

Bucks trying to make sure that actual Bucks fans attend the next Bucks home game

The first two home playoff games for the Bucks were sellouts last week, with the crowds nearly evenly divided between Milwaukee and Chicago fans.

But Game 6 on Thursday might be a bit different.

Plenty of Bulls fans will be in the stands as always, but the Bucks have tried to make sure more of their fans are holding tickets. The team is having a pre-sale of tickets until noon Wednesday, limited to fans with Wisconsin zip codes.

“There certainly will be Bulls fans here, and that’s fine,” said Bucks vice president of marketing Dustin Godsey. “Our goal is to give local fans the opportunity to get tickets.”

Jimmy Butler wants to step up his defense against Bucks

Jimmy Butler admitted after the Chicago Bulls’ 94-88 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Monday night that he believes he has been focused too much on offense and not enough on defense.

The Bulls still lead the series 3-2, but after dropping two straight games, the group’s confidence has taken a hit. Butler acknowledged that as a leader of this team, he has tried to speak to teammates in order to get the group back on the same page.

“I have,” Butler said. “I’ll stay on us about it. I’m supposed to be the prime-time defensive guy, and I haven’t been guarding a soul. I’ve been worried about offense too much, and I need to change that quickly or it’s going to be my fault.”

— ESPN Chicago

Carmelo Anthony wants Baltimore riots to stop

Knicks star forward Carmelo Anthony is technically a New York native, but he spent much of his childhood in Baltimore.

He’s watched the city fall apart in recent days with riots and looting, so he decided to speak out in an Instagram message to Baltimore that’s been liked over 57,000 times and has 1,500 comments as of Tuesday morning.

“We need to protect our city, not destroy it,” he wrote in the message below. “What happens when we get the answers that we want, and the media attention is not there anymore? We go back to being the same ol Baltimore City again.”

— NJ Advance Media

Chandler Parsons may need very serious knee surgery

There are different levels of knee surgery. Some are relatively minor, while others can really mess an athlete up for a season or two, or much longer. Here’s the Dallas Morning News reporting:

Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons said he’s delaying surgical work on his right knee until after the Mavericks are finished with their playoff run and that he and doctors won’t know exactly what’s wrong with the knee until he has the procedure.

Parsons has been getting multiple medical opinions on his injured knee, which kept him out of the final six games of the regular season and ended his playoff run after one game.

He also has been with the Mavericks for all of their playoff games, and that won’t change.

“There’s a lot of opinions and a lot of different things out there, but really the doctors won’t know anything until they open me up,” Parsons said at the Mavericks’ shootaround Tuesday morning. “So I’m not going to say something is going to happen or not happen and then be wrong. I really won’t know until they open me up.

Tyson Chandler denies throwing a punch at Dwight Howard

Tyson Chandler denies throwing a punch at Dwight Howard

Here’s the Houston Chronicle clearing up something you may have heard about but probably didn’t because it didn’t actually happen. Not the Chronicle’s fault. They’re simply clarifying what’s up. Here is the report:

Tyson Chandler denies throwing a punch at Dwight Howard

Dallas center Tyson Chandler said he had no idea there were rumors that he might face suspension for an altercation between he and Rockets center Dwight Howard in Game 4 on Sunday.

On Monday, a video of a play where Chandler and Howard were tangled up and both called for technical fouls floated around social media. In some angles, it looked like Chandler might have thrown a punch, which according to NBA rules would have left him with a one-game suspension.

Chandler said he hadn’t heard any of that speculation until shoot around before Game 5 on Tuesday.

“That is the first time I heard that,” Chandler said. “I didn’t throw any punches. I wouldn’t throw a punch at Dwight.”

Kevin Love injury update: Out for second round, perhaps longer

Kevin Love injury update: Out for second round, perhaps longer

nba blog

Cavaliers forward Kevin Love sustained a left shoulder dislocation during the first quarter of yesterday’s game in Boston vs. the Celtics. His shoulder was assessed, reduced in the locker room, immobilized and he did not return to the game. X-rays and a MRI have been performed, as well as further evaluation at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health today by Cavaliers head team physician Dr. Richard D. Parker and Dr. Mark Schickendantz.

Evaluation and imaging have defined the extent of the injury: an acute anterior inferior glenohumeral dislocation with the corresponding ligament/labrum tearing and humeral head bone bruising. Currently, Love is undergoing training room treatments while additional opinions are being obtained and treatment options being explored.

Love will be unavailable for the Cavaliers’ upcoming Conference Semifinal playoff series and an update regarding his status beyond that will be determined over the next several days.