Basketball Blog

The NBA Rumors for 9-14-07

ESPN.com reports, “Prosecutors decided not to file marijuana possession charges against Pacers forward Shawne Williams on Thursday following his arrest this week, but the team suspended him for three games for poor judgment.”

After a disappointing season, the Hornets are looking to bounce back. The Times Picayune reports, the New Orleans Hornets signed veteran forward/center Melvin Ely to a two-year contract to improve their frontcourt, which includes inexperienced second-year players Hilton Armstrong and Cedric Simmons. Financial terms were not released.

Brown, a former Utah 2nd round pick, may have to look for a new home. “I don’t think he’s going to be back with us,” said Deron Williams, who played with Brown at Illinois. “I mean, we have three point guards.”He said there’s not much incentive for Brown to sign Utah’s offer. “He doesn’t have nothing guaranteed,” Williams told the Deseret Morning News. “It means they could cut him after two weeks and he gets nothing, and it’s too late to go overseas. That’s just a gamble.”

The AP reports, “Boston Celtics great Bill Russell and former North Carolina coach Dean Smith were among 20 former players, coaches and technicians inducted into FIBA’s Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Russell, winner of 11 NBA championships and an Olympic gold medal, led a list of 12 players from 10 different countries, while Smith headlined the four coaches.”

Back for more? According to the San Jose Mercury News, Don Nelson has agreed to a new multi-year deal with the Warriors. Nelson said he alerted team leaders Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson to his return. The news was celebrated by recently re-signed forward Matt Barnes, who produced career-best numbers under Nelson last season.

Its sad to see such a good guy get hurt. In fact, Oden apologized over 20 times about having his surgery which the Trail Blazers only authorized after having 3 separate opinions from specialists according to team officials who spoke to the Oregonian.