Basketball Blog

The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent guard Donell Williams. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

A Los Angeles native who starred at Fairfax High School and West Los Angeles Community College from 2001-2003, Williams enjoyed a successful college career at Fayetteville State University. At Fayetteville State, the 27 year old averaged 15.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists as a senior. As a junior, Williams averaged 17.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists.  Prior to attending Fayetteville State, Williams averaged 29.6 points and 7.7 rebounds in 2002-03 at West Los Angeles Community College.

Williams played in the JBL Pro-Am League in 2006 and averaged 27 points. Williams also played in the Southern California Pro League in 2005 and averaged 22.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per contest.

The Golden State Warriors have hired five-time NBA All-Star Sidney Moncrief as the team’s shooting coach, it was announced today by Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin.  Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

Moncrief, 50, had a successful 11-year NBA career from 1979-80 thru 1990-91, appearing in 767 regular-season games and averaging 15.6 points per contest, while shooting 50.2% from the field and 83.1% from the free throw line.  The Little Rock, AR, native played his first 10 seasons in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks, the first eight of which (1979-80 thru 1986-87) he played under current Warriors’ Head Coach Don Nelson.  During that time, Moncrief enjoyed a five-year stretch from 1981-82 thru 1985-86 in which he averaged more than 19 points per game and earned a spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star squad and was named All-NBA each season.  Additionally, he was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in both 1983 and 1984.  Originally selected by Milwaukee with the fifth overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft, Moncrief also averaged 16.0 points in 93 career playoff games.  On January 6, 1990, his #4 jersey was retired by the Bucks.

This past season Moncrief served as head coach of the NBA Development League’s Fort Worth Flyers, leading the team to a 29-21 record (.580).  He owns three years of NBA coaching experience, having served as an assistant coach for Nelson with the Dallas Mavericks from 2000-01 thru 2002-03, during which time the team posted seasons of 53, 57 and 60 wins.  Moncrief began his coaching career as the head coach at University of Arkansas-Little Rock in 1999.

Washington Mystics General Manager Linda Hargrove announced today that Wayne “Tree” Rollins has been named the team’s Head Coach. Rollins was named the Interim Head Coach on June 1, 2007 and led the team to a 15-14 record.  Per company policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We felt that Tree took over our team during a tough situation, and our players responded to his coaching style,” said Hargrove. “We think that he has earned the opportunity to coach our team and lead us to a Championship.”

Rollins joined the team in 2006 as an Assistant Coach and was instrumental in helping the Mystics achieve its best finish (18-16) in franchise history. Under his leadership, Mystics players Alana Beard and DeLisha Milton-Jones were named to the 2007 WNBA All-Star team. Rollins has been an assistant coach in the NBA with the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and the Orlando Magic. He was also the Head Coach with the Greenville Groove of the National Basketball Developmental League. Most recently, Rollins held the job of President and General Manager of the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association (ABA).

“I am elated to be the coach of the Washington Mystics,” said Rollins. “I think that with the talent and leadership that we have returning to our team, we should be able to be one of the most competitive teams in the WNBA.”

Rollins spent 18 seasons in the NBA, playing with the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Detroit Pistons before ending his career with the Orlando Magic. During his career, he was considered a defensive force, accumulating 2,542 blocks, 6,249 points and 6,750 rebounds. In fifteen of his 18 seasons, his teams advanced to the Playoffs. In the playoffs, Rollins averaged 3.9 points per game, 1.44 blocks per game and 4.6 rebounds per game. Rollins will be inducted in the Georgia Hall of Fame in February, 2008.

“Tree has been a quiet giant within our Mystics organization. His work ethic and dedication to the game makes him the best fit for our team,” said President and Managing Partner, Sheila C. Johnson.  “It gives me great pleasure to present our new head coach, Tree Rollins.”

When you’re as big as Glen Davis, getting hit by a car isn’t always a big deal.

Here’s Glen Davis from his Boston Herald diary:

When you’re in Rome, watch the cars. They will knock you out.

I was walking to go meet the guys to get something to eat and — this is no lie — a car really hit me. I was crossing the street, and then guy slows down to come around a corner and — boom. The guy was like, “Oh, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.’’ I swear it happened.

But the car was so small. He kind of hit me on the thigh, but it didn’t even hurt at all. I mean, it was one of those small cars that just fits two people. You see them all over here.

I know the feeling. Mike Tyson, back in his prime, used to jab me in the face, and I barely noticed. It drove him crazy.

– Jeff, InsideHoops.com

InsideHoops.com NewsWire: The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent forward Yaroslav Korolev. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

Originally drafted by the Clippers in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft, Korolev has appeared in a total of 34 games over two seasons for Los Angeles, averaging 1.1 points and 0.5 rebounds per game in his NBA career.

The 20-year old Russian native will join the Clippers at training camp in Santa Barbara.

InsideHoops.com Newswire: Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that during a routine team physical, Wizards Center Etan Thomas had a cardiac test that revealed an irregularity.  Thomas has not been cleared to play, and will have further tests before his status is determined.

The Phoenix Suns today announced that center Amaré Stoudemire underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee this morning.

Team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Thomas Carter performed the surgery at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.  As expected, a loose body was removed from Stoudemire’s right knee.  The two-time All-Star is expected to resume basketball activities in 2-3 weeks.

2007 Phoenix Suns training camp runs Oct. 2-7 at McKale Center on the campus of the University of Arizona.

Fans can get an early look at the 2007-08 Nets when the team hosts a free open practice for fans at the Rothman Center at Fairleigh Dickinson University, 100 University Plaza Drive, in Hackensack, NJ on Saturday, October 6 from Noon -1:30 p.m. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Free tickets are available at www.njnets.com, or at the door until capacity is reached.

The Nets encourage all patrons who attend the open practice to bring non-perishable nutritious food items. The food drive is in partnership with Action Against Hunger, which feeds those in need in northern NJ.

Everyone who brings a canned food item will receive a ticket to either a pre-season game or to opening night on Wednesday, October 31 vs. the Chicago Bulls.

The open practice will be an interactive experience, which will include fan shooting contests. Fans will also receive t-shirts and posters. The Nets Dancers and team mascot Sly will be part of the event.

New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Isiah Thomas announced today that guard Dan Dickau has been waived. Dickau was acquired on Jun. 28, 2007 along with Zach Randolph and Fred Jones, in exchange for Steve Francis and Channing Frye.

Dickau, 6-0, 180-pounds, averaged 3.3 points and 1.4 assists in 50 games for Portland last season. A five-year NBA veteran, the Portland, OR native has averaged 6.0 points and 2.5 assists in 233 career games for six NBA teams.

The Golden State Warriors have re-signed restricted free agent Mickael Pietrus, it was announced today by Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin.  Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

“We’re pleased that we were able to re-sign Mickael,” said Mullin.  “We’ve stated all along this off-season that we like Mickael and what he brings to our team.  We look forward to him building on last season and continuing to improve along with the rest of our team.”

Pietrus, 25, appeared in a career-high 72 games (38 starts) in 2006-07, posting career-high averages in points (11.1), rebounds (4.5) and minutes (26.9), while also setting new personal-bests in field goal percentage (.488) and three-point percentage (.388).  He also appeared in all 11 of Golden State’s games in the 2007 NBA Playoffs, averaging 6.0 points in 19.0 minutes per contest.

Originally drafted by the Warriors with the 11th overall selection in the 2003 NBA Draft, the 6-6 guard/forward has appeared in 244 regular-season games, averaging 9.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 21.3 minutes per game.