NEWS:Sixers waive Elton Brand, who is retiring

Philadelphia 76ers forward Elton Brand previously announced his intention to retire following the team’s final preseason game at Miami on Friday evening. Accordingly, as a matter of procedure, the Sixers have requested waivers on Brand.

Over 17 NBA seasons, Brand appeared in 1,058 career games with 868 starts for Chicago, the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia, Dallas and Atlanta. The 6’ 8” Brand posted career averages of 16 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks per game. His 1,828 blocks rank him 20th all-time in NBA history. He played 34,910 career minutes, which ranks him 67th all-time. Brand was also the recipient of the 2005-06 Joe Dumars Trophy, presented each season to the player who exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court.

Source:insidehoops.com

KERR SEES SHADES OF IGUODALA, LIVINGSTON IN ROOKIE MCCAW

While Kevin Durant is understandably the talk of the Warriors after shaking up the NBA landscape in his free agency decision, the player garnering the closest amount of hype going in the regular season was bought with the No. 38 pick in this year's draft.

"The young kid Patrick McCaw, who's a second-round pick from Vegas, he's picked up everything so easy," head coach Steve Kerr said on KNBR's Tolbert & Lund on Friday.

"He reminds me a lot of Andre (Iguodala) and Shaun Livingston, and not only with his build, but with his feel for the game."

The Warriors used $2.4 million to buy the Milwaukee Bucks' second-round pick and make McCaw their new diamond in the rough, just three picks later than Draymond Green in the 2012 draft.

For McCaw, there can't be a much higher compliment from Kerr with himeself being such a big fan of Livingston.

"Definitely I watch a lot of Shaun Livingston too, a big point guard who can make plays with the ball, can defend, and that's just where I see my game going," McCaw said at his introductory press conference for the Warriors in June.

From summer league through the preseason, McCaw only continues to impress

Shining in the Las Vegas Summer League, the versatile McCaw averaged 15.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.0 steals over 33.8 minutes per game. Playing in all seven of the Warriors' preseason games, the 20-year-old guard poured in 8.4 points, 2.1 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game while averaging 20.1 minutes

Source:CSN.com

WARRIORS TO EXERCISE LOONEY'S THIRD-YEAR OPTION

With less than 10 days to make a decision on Kevon Looney's contract for the 2017-18 season, it appears the Warriors are set to exercise his third-year option.

According to ESPN, the the Warriors will pick up the option, thus keeping Looney from becoming an unrestricted free agent following the upcoming 2016-17 season.

Taken with the No. 30 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Looney dealt with a hip injury during his rookie season and played in just five games. In 21 total minutes, he scored nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

In six preseason games, Looney averaged 12.2 minutes, 3.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest.

Looney made $1,131,960 last season. This season, he's scheduled to make $1,182,840. His option for the 2017-18 season is slated to be $1,233,840.

Limited minutes won't affect MVP bid-LeBron James

Even with his coach vowing to limit his minutes during the regular season, LeBron James thinks he can win a fifth MVP this year and only has to look to the guy that beat him out for the award the past two seasons, Stephen Curry, for evidence.

LeBron James has finished third in NBA MVP voting the past two seasons despite playing more minutes per game than Stephen Curry, who has won the award for two straight years. 

“No,” James said Saturday when asked if he was concerned that planned rest could affect his MVP case. “Because Steph played 31 minutes a game and he won the MVP.”

James was a little off in his stats -- Curry averaged 32.7 minutes per game in 2014-15 and 34.2 minutes last season en route to back-to-back MVPs -- but his point was clear: Even at age 31 and playing his 14^th season, with Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue hoping to keep him fresh for the postseason, it’s possible to add another MVP award to his collection.

James is tied with Wilt Chamberlain for the third-most MVPs in league history with four.
A reporter suggested that James could enter into even more elite company with a fifth.

“So, I’m not elite?” James quipped.

Another reporter gave it back to James, arguing that of course he knows the names of the people who have won five.

“I do,” James admitted.

Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Michael Jordan (five) and Bill Russell (five) have won more MVPs than the Cavs superstar.

While Lue wouldn’t target a specific number of minutes for James after he averaged a career-low 35.6 minutes per game last year -- “I’m not telling you,” Lue said -- he admitted that he and James have discussed how they can juggle rest with still being able to sufficiently showcase his abilities during the regular season.

“We’ve talked about it,” Lue said. “He understands that we want to keep his minutes down, and when there’s games where it makes sense to take off, we’re going to take those games off. We’re being smart about the situation. We have one goal in mind, and that’s winning a championship. So, accolades, personal accolades, they come later.”

James -- who finished third in MVP voting each of the past two seasons -- echoed Lue’s stance, stressing that he is prioritizing the Cavs’ team success over anything else.

“Well, I’ve never set into a season saying I want to win MVP,” he said. “I’ve always thought of the season saying I want to be MVP for my team and it’s resulted in me getting four of them. So I’ve been available, for the most part, every night and I’ve been available on both sides of the floor. I’ve been healthy.

“So the simple fact that I’ve been able to win four has been an honor, and it’s been a tribute to what I’ve been able to accomplish in my career, but more importantly being able to be on the floor with my teammates. So, it will be great if I’m able to accomplish another one by doing what I need to do to help this team win. Because we got to win to get one. No matter how great your individual numbers are or your play is, your team has to be successful, and I’ve been able to be a part of some successful teams so far.”

There is also the question of how James’ MVP chances affect Kyrie Irving’s. The sixth-year guard said Saturday he “absolutely” has thought about winning the award, but isn’t sure if it will come as a teammate of James.

“Following that path of the greats that have come before me, putting myself in a great position to be up for that award would be a tremendous honor,” Irving said. “But I’m obviously realistic. I’m obviously living in a moment when we have the best player playing the game right now, and as well as other great pieces around us. So, whatever my role is here on this team, then I’m willing to do.

Whatever I need to do in order to raise the level of my play as well as my teammates around me, I will do as well. And the rest will follow. Good things will happen when you do and you just prepare and give everything to this game, and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”

It was James, a reporter reminded Irving, who just last season said that the point guard was destined to win a MVP in his career. So doesn’t that make the chance of him winning it alongside James more realistic than he’s letting on?

“You never know what can happen,” Irving said. “You never know. Like I said, I’m just going to continue to put the work in.”

While not looking for any of his players to win individual accolades, Lue said that an MVP campaign from James would be evidence of his team at its best.

“If he wins an MVP, that means we’re winning,” Lue said. “So, I’ll take that.”

Source: ESPN.com

NEWS:Miami Heat waive FIVE!!!

The Miami HEAT have waived Vashil Fernandez, Luis Montero, Beno Udrih, Brianté Weber and Okaro White.

Fernandez, who was signed as a free on October 17, appeared in two preseason games with the HEAT totaling three points, one rebound and a steal in 14:38 minutes of action.

Montero, who was signed as a free agent on October 18, appeared in two preseason games with Miami, totaling nine points, three rebounds, three steals, one assist and one block in 18:48 minutes of action.

Udrih, who re-signed with the HEAT as a free agent on August 17, appeared in four preseason games (one start), and averaged 3.3 points and 2.0 assists in 13.6 minutes per game. He also played in 36 games (five starts) for the HEAT last season.

Weber, a free agent who signed with the HEAT on April 10, played in all eight of the HEAT’s preseason games (one start), and averaged 3.1 points, 2.9 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.3 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per game.

White, who played on the HEAT’s summer league team this year and was signed as a free agent on July 15, appeared in six preseason games with Miami and averaged 5.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 9.5 minutes while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the foul line.
The HEAT’s roster now stands at 15.

Source:insidehoops.com

NEWS:Spurs exercise contract option on Kyle Anderson

Kyle Anderson

The San Antonio Spurs yesterday (Saturday) exercised their fourth-year option on forward Kyle Anderson for the 2017-18 season.

Anderson is entering his third season with the Spurs after being selected by San Antonio in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft (30th overall). Last season, Anderson averaged 4.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 16.0 minutes over 78 games, including 11 starts. In 111 career games with the Silver and Black, the former UCLA Bruin is averaging 3.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 14.4 minutes.

Source:insidehoops.com

NEWS:DeMarcus Cousins' younger brother waived by Mavericks

he Dallas Mavericks waived Jaleel Cousins, the younger brother of Sacramento All-Star DeMarcus Cousins, and four others Saturday to get their roster to the regular-season limit of 15.

Kyle Collinsworth, Keith Hornsby, Jonathan Gibson and CJ Williams also were waived.

Cousins didn't appear in a preseason game after signing Monday. The 6-foot-11 center was undrafted out of South Florida.

Gibson, a guard, played in all seven preseason games, averaging 7.1 points and 3.0 assists. Williams averaged 3.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in five games, and Hornsby scored 3.2 points per game in five appearances.

Collinsworth averaged 1.2 points and 1.4 assists in five games.

Source:CSN.com

NEWS:Pistons sign Mamadou N`Diaye

The Detroit Pistons have signed center Mamadou N’Diaye to a contract.

Our guess is that N’Diaye probably won’t wind up playing for the Pistons, but for their D-League team, the Grand Rapids Drive. At first, at least.

N’Diaye, at 7-foot-6 and 300 pounds, averaged 12.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks during the 2015-16 season at UC Irvine. Following three years of collegiate basketball with the Anteaters, the Dakar, Senegal native went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft. N’Diaye played summer league basketball this past July with the Golden State Warriors.

NEWS:Derrick Rose rejoins Knicks, "I'm very confident"

Rose was with the team for the first time since Oct. 4, when he left for his trial in Los Angeles after a preseason game in Houston.

Derick Rose

Rose and two friends were found not liable in a civil lawsuit that accused them of gang-raping Rose's ex-girlfriend when she was incapacitated from drugs or alcohol. Rose and his friends were being sued for $21.5 million.

"The issue was a huge issue. I took it very serious," Rose said after Saturday's practice. "I'm a grown man. I put myself in this situation and I had to get myself out. I was focused the entire time.
"Out of all of this, the only thing that really hurt me was missing my son's birthday party, missing his birthday. Those were the two things that I was worried about the most. Not being there with my family ... it hurt. And being there for my son. That was the only thing."

Rose was asked whether he felt vindicated after maintaining his innocence.

"A little bit," he said. "But at the same time, there was another person that was involved in this. So, if anything, I've just been praying for myself and praying for her because the issue is very big in the States and everywhere. So just praying for everyone that was involved and knowing that all this is out of my control.
"The only thing I could work on is being a better person, being a better dad, brother, cousin, uncle. Being the best I could be so I could help others."

Saying it felt "like heaven" to be back on the basketball court, Rose enters his first season with the Knicks motivated and excited about a fresh start, both on and off the court.

"It would change anyone," Rose said of the civil lawsuit. "But I spoke on it and this is all behind me now. The only thing I can focus on is worrying about the future. I love being around my teammates. I love the way that we are coming together as a team."

Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said Rose looked good physically and did not have trouble with the team's schemes.

"He did his homework," said Hornacek, who sent Rose plays to study during the two-week trial and went over some of the offense with his point guard Friday.

Hornacek said "we'll find out," when asked whether Rose can play starter's minutes during Tuesday's season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"He looks in pretty good shape," Hornacek said. "It may be a situation where we put him in. If he looks like he's tired, we'll get him out and then get him back quickly. Maybe the rotation is a little different as he first comes back."

Rose says he's refocused after being traded from Chicago this summer. The former MVP is entering the final year of his contract and says he wants to prove he is healthy after having three knee surgeries.

"I'm very confident, man," Rose said. "I really believe this why I'm here, to hoop. I still have a lot of confidence in my ability. The confidence never left. If anything [the trial] made me focus a little more, like having time to myself in the gym and just working on things that I think I need to work on.
"We didn't make the playoffs last year. I'm still chasing something right now. I just want to hoop and just let my game speak for itself."

NEWS:Wizards release Jarell Eddie, Casper Ware and Johnny O’Bryant

The Washington Wizards announced today that the team has waived guards Jarell Eddie and Casper Ware and forward Johnny O’Bryant. The Wizards’ roster now stands at 15 players.

Eddie tallied three points in three appearances during the 2016 preseason, while Ware played in one game and scored eight points and O’Bryant averaged 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in four contests.

NEWS:Chicago Bulls waive Spencer Dinwiddie

The Chicago Bulls waived guard Spencer Dinwiddie today.

Dinwiddie (6-6, 200) appeared in five preseason games and averaged 6.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 14.9 minutes. He was originally acquired in a trade with the Detroit Pistons on June 17, 2016, was waived on July 7, and signed a contract with the Bulls on July 28.

Dinwiddie was also a member of the Bulls’ 2016 NBA Summer League squad, and he averaged 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 24.6 minutes through seven games during the team’s successful tournament run in Las Vegas.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 14,

This is why no other player has been named an NBA MVP since 2013

If that was the preseason, there’s no telling how wild a ride the regular season will be. The Dubs closed out their exhibition slate with a 107-96 thrill-a-minute victory over the visiting Trail Blazers on Friday, and the packed house at Oracle Arena loved every minute of it.

Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant offered plenty of evidence defending why no other player has been named an NBA MVP since 2013, and the result was a showcase of highlights that can be looped over and over on Vine.

Curry owned the first half, particularly the second quarter when he knocked down four of his eight 3-pointers. The Dubs guard tallied 35 points in 28 minutes on the night, and Durant took over where Curry left off in the third quarter. The first-year Warriors forward connected on 14 of his 28 points in the third period

NBA.com

NEWS:Danny Green out 3 weeks

Danny Green will miss Friday's preseason finale at home against the Houston Rockets because of a strained left quadriceps that is expected to keep him out of the lineup for three weeks, including Tuesday's season opener at Golden State.

Danny Green

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Green's latest setback is the same injury to his high thigh that he suffered during pickup games before the start of training camp.

"Knowing Pop, it won't affect them at all," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. "He will figure it out."

Coming off a 2015-16 campaign in which he finished with the second-lowest 3-point shooting percentage of his career (33.2), Green missed the first week of training camp and the club's exhibition opener against the Phoenix Suns because of the injury.

Green said he reinjured the thigh in Tuesday's scrimmage, and he underwent an MRI afterward, which revealed the injury. He also said he hopes to return before the team's official timetable of approximately three weeks.

Source:ESPN.com

NEWS:Rockets' Patrick Beverley to miss 20 games

Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said he expects guard Patrick Beverley to miss the first 20 games of the season with a left knee injury.

Beverley has played in just one preseason game before he suffered irritation in the knee. Beverley is still undergoing tests to determine if surgery is necessary.

Losing Beverley is a blow to the Rockets hopes to start him alongside James Harden. But now Eric Gordon most likely will take over as the shooting guard.

Based on the Rockets schedule, the earliest Beverley could return is the first week of December.

D'Antoni and his staff have to make decisions on whether to keep an extra guard on the roster. Pablo Prigioni is the backup point guard to Harden but if Beverley is healthy there might not be a need to keep another guard.

D'Antoni is looking at Tyler Ennis, whom the Rockets acquired in a trade with Milwaukee in September, and Bobby Brown as the extra guard. D'Antoni could also go with a power forward and Kyle Wiltjer seems to be the favorite unless the Rockets claim another player off waivers.

"It complicates things, I hate it for Pat because he works so hard to get ready," D'Antoni said after the Rockets lost their final preseason game, 114-99, to the Spurs. "His weight was great and so on one hand I hate it for him and on the other hand, I hate it for us a lot.

The first 20 games is tough, and it would be nice to have him. He'll be back, so you just make sure he's healthy."

NEWS:Nerlens Noel(76ers) to have knee surgery

The Philadelphia 76ers said forward Nerlens Noel will need surgery on his left knee. It is the latest in a long line of injuries for a team that is trying to turn things around.

The Sixers announced Friday that Noel elected to have surgery after consulting with several specialists.

Noel missed his entire rookie season while recovering from surgery on his left knee, but this latest procedure is arthroscopic and considered minor. The Sixers have not announced a timetable for his return.

Coach Brett Brown also told reporters Friday that he was tempering statements he made earlier about hoping for a January return for No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons. Brown said he got overly excited when he talked about Simmons' recovery from surgery on his right foot.

The Sixers said Simmons recently had sutures removed and is continuing to rehab.

Sorce:ESPN

NEWS: Metta World Peace to be lakers assistant coach?

The odds are against Metta World Peace making the Los Angeles Lakers' opening night roster, but the Lakers have interest in keeping the veteran forward around as an assistant coach if they can't make room for him as an active player, according to league sources.

Sources told that World Peace's impact as a mentor to young players last season was a big reason they invited him to training camp again under new coach Luke Walton.

This time, though, competition is much stiffer for the Lakers' 15th and final roster spot, thanks to the post-Olympics signing of China star Yi Jianlian and the strong play of camp invitee Thomas Robinson.

Sources say World Peace's preference, at age 36, is to continue his playing career, even if the Lakers ultimately decide they won't keep him and that forces him to look elsewhere. L.A.'s decision must be made by Monday at 5 p.m., when all NBA teams are required to get down to 15 players in advance of the first night of the regular season.

Yi, who can operate as a backup center as well as a floor-stretching forward, is regarded as the favorite to win the duel for the Lakers' last roster spot, after L.A. signed him to a one-year, $8 million deal to lure the former Milwaukee Bucks lottery pick away from his native China and back to the NBA. But because of the unique way the contract is structured, only $250,000 of that total is guaranteed, with Yi required to earn $6.8 million in what the league deems "likely" bonuses to collect the full amount.

Robinson, another former high lottery pick and a dogged offensive rebounder, has complicated‎ the decision for the Lakers by playing well this month in exhibition games.

The 25-year-old has already played for five NBA teams (Sacramento, Houston, Portland, Philadelphia and Brooklyn) since the Kings selected Robinson with the No. 5 overall pick in 2012.

Veteran guard Nick Young has been another October surprise, impressing the Lakers after a rocky 2015-16 season to entice L.A. to keep him for Young's ability to score.

Walton said earlier this week that Young is "playing as well as anyone our team, if not the best on our team honestly."

Source:ESPN.com

NEWS:Under Armour latest shoe in Stephen Curry collection

Under Armour has unveiled its latest version of a shoe endorsed by its most important spokesman Stephen Curry

The first color way of the shoe, called the Dub Nation Heritage, in Warriors blue and yellow, will be on sale on Tuesday for $140.

The shoe is made with material found in parachutes that the company is calling Threadborne, a term Under Armour filed to trademark this summer.

As Curry has performed on the court, with back-to-back MVPs and two Finals appearances, one resulting in a championship, Under Armour has gained more confidence in what consumers are willing to pay.

The first Curry shoe, which came out in February 2015, cost $120 a pair. The Curry Two, which hit in October last year, was raised to $130. The Curry 2.5, released in May, reached $135.

Through Curry, Under Armour finally hit its stride in Year 10 of its footwear division, as shoes now make up a quarter of its $5 billion in annual sales.

If Under Armour executives learned any lesson from being in the footwear space, it was that every shoe counts. A white low cut version of the Curry Two "Chef" shoes that came out this summer was ripped for its plainness and trended on social media.

NEWS: The Champs release three!!!

The Cavaliers waived guard Markel Brown, forward Jonathan Holmes and forward Cory Jefferson today.

Brown appeared in six preseason games for the Cavs, averaging 4.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game.

Holmes appeared in six preseason games for the Cavs, averaging 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game.

Jefferson appeared in six preseason games for the Cavs, averaging 7.7 points and 5.2 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game.

Source:insidehoops.com

NEWS:The Indiana Pacers exercise option on Turner's contract!!!

The Indiana Pacers exercised their team option on center Myles Turner’s contract for the 2017-18 season.

This was an expected move. Turner is one of the team’s main young building blocks.

The 6-foot-11, 243-pound Turner averaged 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game last season as a rookie.

NEWS:Grizzlies sign Matt Costello and Kellen Dunham

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced the team has signed center Matt Costello and guard Kellen Dunham. The deals are likely non-guaranteed and only for preseason, which ends in a few days.

Costello (6-9, 245) most recently was a member of the Atlanta Hawks’ preseason roster, coming off the bench in two games and averaging 4.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in 9.0 minutes. The 23-year-old Linwood, Mich. native went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at Michigan State University, where he was named Second Team All-Big Ten by the media and Third Team All-Big Ten by the coaches as a senior.

Dunham (6-6, 205) last played for the Grizzlies at the 2016 Summer League in Las Vegas, making four reserve appearances and averaging 2.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in 8.9 minutes. The 23-year-old Pendleton, Ind. native was unselected in the 2016 NBA Draft after a four-year collegiate career at Butler University, where he was named First Team All-Big East as a junior.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 20 players.

Source:Insidehoops.com

NEWS:Grizzlies waive Chris Crawford and Vince Hunter

The Memphis Grizzlies waived guard Chris Crawford and forward Vince Hunter today.

Crawford (6-4, 222), originally signed on Sept. 23, made four preseason appearances (zero starts) for the Grizzlies and averaged 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 16.3 minutes.

Hunter (6-8, 208), who was signed on Oct. 9, competed in four preseason games (zero starts) for Memphis and averaged 8.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 19.4 minutes.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 18 players.

NEWS:Celtics waive Damion Lee, Jalen Jones and Marcus Georges-Hunt

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have waived Marcus Georges-Hunt, Damion Lee and Jalen Jones.

The Celtics roster now stands at 17.

The Celtics this season are built around Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder and Al Horford, plus Marcus Smart, Gerald Green and rookie Jaylen Brown, among others.

NEWS:Hornets release Andrew Andrews

harlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has waived guard Andrew Andrews.

Andrews (6-2, 200, Washington) signed with the Hornets on Sept. 7 and appeared in three games, averaging 4.0 points on .429 percent from the field, 1.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 10.4 minutes per contest.

The team’s roster now stands at 18.

NEWS:Brandon Ingram plays his best preseason game

The movement looked so natural as Brandon Ingram navigated his way around the court.

He sank shots with balance as he set his feet and squared up in triple threat position. He scanned the court and found open teammates both in half-court and transition. He slid his deceptively thin frame into the lane to pluck rebounds off the rim as if they were apples on a tree.

The Lakers fell in love with Ingram when he perfected all those qualities during his lone season at Duke. After seeing him experience some hiccups in summer league and training camp, the Lakers saw Ingram flash signs of promising growth in their 123-112 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday at Valley View Casino Center.

Ingram led the Lakers in points (21), in shooting efficiency (7 of 10) and rebounds (seven). He occasionally took care of ball handling duties both to tap into his versatility and take advantage of Golden State’s matchups that calls for positions to become interchangeable. And he put together a performance that made Lakers coach Luke Walton feel fuzzy about the team’s No. 2 draft pick.

Source:insidehoops

NEWS:Hawks waive former WARRIORS point guard .

Jarrett Jack is reportedly looking for a new team.

The Hawks waived the veteran point guard on Thursday, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Jack signed with Atlanta in July after he was released by the Nets in late June.

The soon-to-be 33-year old appeared in 79 games for the Warriors during the 2012-13 season, averaging 12.9 points and 5.6 assists over 29.7 minutes per contest.

He was even better in the 2013 playoffs, racking up 17.2 points and 4.7 assists in 12 games.

Jack made 32 appearances last year before he tore the ACL in his right knee in early January.

He was the 22nd overall pick in the 2005 draft.

NEWS:Former No. 1 pick Elton Brand announces retirement

Philadelphia 76ers forward Elton Brand is retiring, the NBA veteran announced Thursday.

The Chicago Bulls selected the Duke standout with the No. 1 pick of the 1999 NBA draft. Brand shared Rookie of the Year honors with Steve Francis for the 1999-2000 season. He played 17 seasons in the NBA and was in his second stint with the 76ers when he announced his decision to retire.

He averaged 15.9 points and 8.5 rebounds in 1,058 games with the Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks and Sixers.

Brand was a two-time All-Star when he spurned better offers and signed an $82 million, five-year free-agent contract in 2008 with Philadelphia.

He made the announcement Thursday at the Sixers' training complex in Camden, New Jersey. Brand said playing in the NBA has been "a wonderful journey. It's been an honor and a privilege."
Brand had not played in the preseason. He will still collect $1 million from the Sixers.

Source:ESPN.com

NEWS: Golden State Warriors waive three players!!!

The Warriors waived guards Cameron Jones, Phil Pressey and Elliot Williams, the team announced on Thursday.

Jones appeared in five preseason games, averaging 5.0 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 11.5 minutes.

Pressey also appeared in five games, averaging 2.4 points and 1.0 assist in 10.7 minutes.

Williams missed all six preseason games due to right knee surgery.

All three players were originally signed on Sept. 16, 2016.

The roster now stands at 15 players.

Source:CSN.com

Jazz face Clippers in first NBA Sundays clash

October has come and is almost gone – ready to usher in the 2016/17 NBA season. This year promises to be more entertaining and intriguing than the last with the offseason trades and contract signings that had heads spinning and mouths gasping. We look ahead to one of the feature games on the NBA calendar with NBA Sundays coming back with a bang. The first clash on Kwese Free Sports is the showdown between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers.

 

LA Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers or “Lob City” are sometimes seen as one of the most polarizing teams in the NBA. Lead by well decorated coach Doc Rivers they have managed to put together a well-balanced team with experience and skill. They have been a playoff contender for the last six years but are yet to win a championship, and their fan base seems to be close to breaking point waiting for a title. They want a ring and they want it now.

The Clippers can claim the number two spot in the Western Conference with a team compromising All-Stars Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, JJ Redick and Paul Pierce. They are a projected top five offense because of their ability to shoot the ball and shoot it well. They were ranked fifth in total offense last year and sixth in offensive efficiency (106.5). Notable players like Jamal Crawford the current NBA sixth man of the year, Brandon Bass and Brice Johnson are part of their deep bench which is productive.

The Clippers still need to get better at defense - especially in a conference with offensive powerhouses like the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder. They falter when it comes to rebounding the ball and getting stops.

But it seems that the only thing that gets in the way of the Clippers is the Clippers. They have a run of good games and then have a string of really bad games. The really bad games often happen at the time they need to win the most.

Their home opener will be against the Utah Jazz.

Utah Jazz
They are a much younger team in comparison to the Clippers but they have the potential to finish strong in the Northwest division and make the playoffs despite Gordon Hayward’s injury which will have him on the sidelines for the next 20 games of the regular season.

Utah’s strength lies in their wing depth and their top-notch perimeter defenders. This team could be defensive powerhouses especially with the Derrick Favors-Rudy Gobert duo that can dominate teams on the glass.

They upgraded the point guard position with the arrival of George Hill. Hill joins the starting lineup that now consists of Rodney Hood, Derrick Favors and the French superstar Gobert.

There is still a lot of uncertainty around the team though. Utah has not proved that they’re offense can match the best of the best and they are fairly inexperienced. Secondly the Jazz have been rocked by the injury of their starting centers Favors and Hayward. Favors has not taken part in a pre-season game so far.


An interesting matchup awaits us on the Sunday the 30th of October with the Clippers expected to edge out the Jazz.

By TheWeeklyLayUp

NEW:Sacramento Kings buy Reno Bighorns

The NBA Development League and the Sacramento Kings today announced that the team has acquired a controlling interest in the NBA D-League’s Reno Bighorns. With the purchase, the Kings become the 15th NBA team to own and operate its NBA D-League affiliate.

“With today’s purchase, half of NBA teams now own and operate their NBA D-League affiliate – an important milestone that proves how essential developing top young NBA talent has become,” said NBA D-League President Malcolm Turner. “I’m thrilled to welcome Vivek Ranadivé and the Sacramento Kings’ ownership group to the NBA D-League family and want to thank Herb Santos for his integral role in Bighorns basketball.”

Longstanding partners, the Bighorns and Kings have been affiliated since the 2008-09 season, Reno’s inaugural NBA D-League campaign. Prior to the 2013-14 season, the teams entered into a single-affiliation partnership, with the NBA franchise managing basketball operations for the NBA D-League club. With today’s purchase, the Kings will now assume all business operations of the Bighorns.

“We’re excited to deepen our relationship with the Bighorns and the Reno/Tahoe community,” said Kings owner and chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “This is an incredible opportunity to develop players, front-office staff and future business executives for the Sacramento Kings, while simultaneously contributing meaningfully to the Reno entertainment, commercial and non-profit ecosystem.”
Five current Kings have NBA D-League experience. Additionally, head coach Dave Joerger and assistant coaches Bryan Gates and Duane Ticknor all made the jump to the NBA coaching ranks following stints on NBA D-League benches.

Since the team’s inception, more than 10 Bighorns have earned GATORADE Call-Ups to the NBA, including San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green. Additionally, 16 NBA players have spent time on assignment in Reno, including current NBA players Jeremy Lin and Hassan Whiteside.
“It has been a tremendous honor and privilege to grow basketball and provide family-friendly entertainment in the Reno community over the past five years,” said Bighorns minority owner Herb Santos. “I cannot thank everyone enough for the years of support and look forward to continuing to cheer for the Bighorns alongside each of you.”

On Nov. 2, the Kings will join the Bighorns for a Celebration Day featuring Kings talent in order to give fans in Reno an opportunity to connect directly with the Sacramento organization. Those interested in purchasing a season-ticket membership can sign up on the priority list at RenoBighorns.com/membership or by calling 888-91-KINGS to have first shot at securing seats before they go on sale to the public on Nov. 2.

Launched in 2001, the NBA D-League has expanded from an eight-team league to a record 22 teams for the 2016-17 season, all of which will be singly affiliated with an NBA parent club. The NBA D-League will tip off its 16th season on Nov. 11.

NEWS:Will Anthony Davis return for season opener?

The New Orleans Pelicans believe star forward Anthony Davis will be ready to return from an ankle injury in time for opening night on Oct. 26, according to league sources.

Anthony Davis reacts in pain after hurting his right ankle

On Wednesday afternoon, after Davis practiced with the team in Orlando, New Orleans upgrade Davis' status from "out" to "probable" for Thursday night's exhibition finale on the road against the Magic.

Davis, sources said, went through a practice Wednesday in Orlando without any issues.

The three-time All-Star suffered a sprained right ankle during the Pelicans' recent preseason trip to China. Davis has averaged 20.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots through his first four NBA seasons.

Source:ESPN.com

NEWS:Derick Rose can now focus on basketball

Rose and two friends were found not liable Wednesday in a $21.5 million civil lawsuit that accused them of raping his ex-girlfriend in August 2013, with jurors in Los Angeles needing less than four hours to reach their decision. Rose has been away from the team while dealing with the trial, and the Knicks are ready to welcome him back with open arms.

"It's a tough thing he went through," Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said in Boston on Wednesday night, before New York beat the Celtics 121-96 in a preseason matchup. "But now it's over. Now he can focus on basketball. I know that's what Derrick wants ... We're just all glad it's done with, and now he can get back here and focus on basketball."

Hornacek said he did not expect Rose to play in the preseason finale in Brooklyn on Thursday, though he did not completely rule it out. Rose and the Knicks open the season in Cleveland on Tuesday, when the Cavaliers will get their championship rings -- and at the same time, next door at Progressive Field, the Indians will host Game 1 of the World Series.

Teams traditionally don't practice coming off a back-to-back, so that would suggest the Knicks might have only three practices with their point guard before the opener. Rose played in one preseason game.

"We have to get him up to speed on some of the things we've put in," Hornacek said.
Hornacek is adding elements of the triangle to his offense. Rose said in training camp that learning the triangle sets was challenging, so his absence from practices and games over the past two weeks certainly hasn't been ideal.

"It would've been nice if he was here and played and got in a rhythm with guys," Hornacek said. "We do have some days of practice before the first game. Even after the Cleveland game, we'll have time to do things."

Information from The Associated Press and ESPN's Ian Begley was used in this report.

Source:ESPN.com

NEWS:Bucks exercise contract option on Jabari Parker

The Milwaukee Bucks have exercised the fourth-year contract option on Jabari Parker, General Manager John Hammond announced today. This is not a surprise. Parker is one of the team’s key young building blocks.

Parker, 21, has appeared in 101 games (97 starts) in his first two NBA seasons and holds career averages of 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 31.1 minutes per game. He was selected to participate in the 2016 BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge as part of the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto, where he suited up for the U.S. Team. The 6-8 forward was named to the 2016 USA Men’s Select Team and earned the opportunity to train with the 2016 USA Basketball Men’s National Team during its training camp in Las Vegas in July. Parker is averaging a team-best 16.8 points to go along with 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals in five preseason matchups in 2016.

Under the terms of the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement, the first two years of a first round draft pick’s contract are guaranteed, while the third and fourth year of the contract are the team’s option.

Source:insidehoops.com

NEWS:Paul returns to Clippers' lineup vs. Kings

Chris Paul returned to the Clippers lineup Tuesday night in Sacramento, confirming the initial diagnosis that the sprained left thumb was a minor injury and that the All-Star point guard missed a practice and a game strictly out of preseason precaution.

Paul hurt the thumb in practice Saturday. He was held out of the workout the next day and also sat Monday against the Jazz in Salt Lake City, with coach Doc Rivers saying all along the sprain would not threaten Paul’s availability for the Oct. 27 opener at Portland.

The plan from the start was for Paul to play one of the final two exhibition games, against the Jazz or Kings. That came true when he took the court as part of the opening lineup Tuesday at Golden 1 Center.

NEWS:Heat,Kings discuss guard trade!!!

Sacramento Kings guard Rudy Gay has seemingly been in trade talks for years now. That isn't letting up anytime soon, it seems, as BasketballInsiders.com's Michael Scotto reports that the Kings and Miami Heat are discussing a swap that would send Gay to the Heat for guard Goran Dragic:

The Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat have discussed a trade of Rudy Gay and Darren Collison for Goran Dragic, league sources told Basketball Insiders.
“Sacramento has to trade Gay,” an Eastern Conference executive told Basketball Insiders. “He’s already informed them he doesn’t like it there. They can’t let him walk for nothing.”
Gay can become an unrestricted free agent after this season since he has a $14,263,566 player option for next season. With that in mind, sources indicated that the Kings are ideally looking for a starting-caliber point guard in any trade proposal involving Gay.
At this time, Sacramento and Miami are kicking the tires on the potential trade. The trade, as it has been discussed, has various benefits for both teams should it ultimately happen.
...
Gay would help replace the scoring void left by forward Chris Bosh. Gay is owed$13.3 million this season with a $14.3 million player option for the following season. At 30 years old, and with the salary cap rising again this summer, Gay should surpass that $14.3 million option salary on the open market. Even if he was dealt to Miami and liked the organization, he would still be expected to opt out of the deal for those economic reasons.
By potentially shedding Dragic’s $17 million salary for next season, along with Bosh’s $25.3 million salary, Miami would clear a total of $42.3 million in cap space and have room to sign multiple free agents to max contracts this offseason.
Pat Riley has a proven track record of landing elite talent on the free agent market with salary cap space and South Beach at his disposal.
...
After giving up a protected 2017 first-round pick and an unprotected 2021 first-round pick to land Dragic from Phoenix, Miami would likely want more than a possible one-year rental in Gay and a backup point guard in Collison in return for the veteran point guard.
The biggest issue for Sacramento is the organization doesn’t have much leverage when it comes to trading Gay. He’s leaving and everyone knows it. The question is when?
“Sacramento can’t move Gay fast enough,” another Eastern Conference executive told Basketball Insiders.
The clock continues to tick for Sacramento.

Source:NBA.com

NEWS:“I’d rebrand it so it’s not seen as a punishment.”-Carmelo Anthony

The NBA Development League has been around since the 2001-02 season and has gone through a variety of changes since then. As well, many players called up from the NBA D-League — from Los Angeles Lakers guard Lou Williams to Dallas Mavericks guard Seth Curry — have gone on to success in the NBA. Current New York Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony is vice president NBPA and told ESPN.com’s Ramona Shelburne he has ideas about what the D-League should do next:

Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony thinks the NBA should “rebrand” the D-League and invest more in “developing our own players” in the next collective bargaining agreement.

“If I had it my way, I’d rebrand the whole D-League,” Anthony told ESPN. “I’d rebrand it so it’s not seen as a punishment.”

As vice president of the National Basketball Players Association, Anthony said he has been pushing for a major investment in and overhaul of the D-League to create more jobs for young players and strengthen the NBA’s player development system.

…

Anthony said a major issue he has been emphasizing in collective bargaining talks is increasing the number of “two-way contracts” that allow players to play for both D-League and NBA teams, thereby creating 44-60 more jobs. He said he also has been addressing increasing pay for D-League players to make it as lucrative to play domestically as abroad, and language that will encourage all 30 NBA teams to have a D-League affiliate.

The D-League will grow from 19 to 22 teams this year, but the players eventually would like to see all 30 teams with their own affiliate, Anthony said.

“I’m a big advocate of developing our own players. If you look at soccer, for example, a lot of those clubs have top-notch academies,” said Anthony, who co-owns a professional team in Puerto Rico.
 “By me being in soccer now, I’ve started to understand the dynamics of developing your own players. We’ve got to keep our players here. We don’t want them to have to go overseas.”

Source:NBA.com

NEWS:Patrick Beverley might have knee surgery!!!

Patrick Beverley

Houston Rockets starting shooting guard Patrick Beverley might have surgery on his left knee, according to a source.

Beverley has missed the past four preseason games with knee irritation.

Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters Tuesday that he is not counting on Beverley for the season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 26.

Beverley will undergo further evaluations this week before a final determination is made.

D'Antoni had plans to start Beverley alongside James Harden in the backcourt this season.
With Beverley sidelined, D'Antoni has used K.J. McDaniels and Eric Gordon in the backcourt with Harden.

Source:ESPN.com

NEWS:Aaron Gordon dealing with sore ankles

Magic SF Aaron Gordon is dealing with soreness in both ankles and sat out Tuesday night’s game against the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Gordon, though, said he expected to play Thursday night against the New Orleans Pelicans at Amway Center, Orlando’s final preseason game of 2016-17.

Gordon severely sprained his left ankle weeks before training camp, but in compensating for that injury, he has experienced some soreness in the right one now, too.

Gordon said his left ankle was hurting “so I compensated on my right one. They’re just sore.”

NEWS:Tobias Harris suffers broken nose

Pistons forward Tobias Harris averaged 13.7 points and 7.0 rebounds for the 49 games he played for the Magic before his midseason trade to the Pistons, for whom he averaged 16.6 points and 6.2 rebounds in 27 games. Entering 2016-17, he’s a key Piston. Here’s the Detroit News with an update:

Add forward Tobias Harris to the growing Pistons injury list.

Stan Van Gundy said Harris suffered a non-displaced fracture of his nose in Monday’s exhibition victory over the Bucks.

“It’s not as bad as it could’ve been, but he needs to get fitted for a mask,” Van Gundy said Tuesday. “He’s seeing a specialist and should be ready to go (tonight).”

Van Gundy also said backup center Aron Baynes, who missed last weekend’s exhibition against the 76ers with back spasms and was a game-time decision against the Bucks, took an inadvertent shot to the face from rookie Henry Ellenson early during practice and had to leave.

Source:insidehoops

NESW:Miami Heat sign Luis Montero, waive Keith Benson

The Miami HEAT have signed guard Luis Montero and waived Keith Benson.

Montero appeared in 12 games with the Portland Trail Blazers last season totaling 14 points, four rebounds and an assist in 42 minutes of action. He also appeared in six postseason games with Portland totaling eight points on a perfect 3-of-3 from the field, 2-of-2 from three-point range and 1-of-1 from the foul line. While on NBA Development League assignment with the Santa Cruz Warriors last season, Montero appeared in four games (all starts) and averaged 16.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.75 blocks, 1.50 steals and 28.3 minutes while shooting 41.2 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from three-point range and 78.3 percent from the foul line.

Montero will wear number 44.

Benson, who was signed by the HEAT on September 23, appeared in three preseason games with Miami averaging 7.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 10.9 minutes of action.

Source:insidehoops

NEWS:Knicks re-sign Cleanthony Early

The Knicks today re-signed forward Cleanthony Early. He will likely begin the season playing in the D-League.

Early, 6-8, 210-pounds, averaged 1.8 points in 17 games for New York during his second NBA season in 2015-16, a year shortened by a right knee injury. He was assigned to the NBA D-League’s Westchester Knicks on four separate occasions, averaging 15.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in seven appearances.

The Bronx, NY-native was originally drafted by New York in the second round (34th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft

NEWS:The Celtics expressed interest in Blake Griffin-Kevin O'Connor

Blake griffin

Blake Griffin and Chris Paul could be playing their final seasons as Los Angeles Clippers in 2016-17. Both have early termination options that could make them free agents this coming summer. And if the Clips fall short of the Western Conference Finals for a sixth straight season, the temptation to start over could be strong.

Enter Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics, who always seem to be players in trade and free-agency talks.

"The Celtics also expressed interest in Blake Griffin this summer," Kevin O'Connor wrote in a profile on Ainge for The Ringer. "So it’s conceivable they’d have interest when he hits free agency."

That connection makes sense. The Celtics are good, deep and well-coached. But with apologies to Isaiah Thomas and AlHorford, they don't have a legitimate superstar to drive them into the title picture.

A potential frontcourt pairing of Horford and Griffin might be the most skilled in the league. Each has the vision andplaymaking ability of a wing or guard. And either can play inside or out in high-low sets.

That kind of versatility, in concert with Griffin's explosive scoring ability, would make the Celtics a real threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Eastern Conference supremacy.

NEWS:Brooklyn Nets waive four, cut roster down to 16 players!!!

The Brooklyn Nets announced that they have waived four players, cutting the roster down from 20 to 16. Those players are Beau Beech, Chase Budinger, Jorge Gutierrez and Egidijus Mockevicius. 

No real surprises here, as the Nets needed to cut five players before the start of the season, and none of the aforementioned players seemed to have factored into their future plans. 

Beech played in just 8 minutes through the first 5 preseason games. While he was certainly a fan favorite, he wasn’t able to crack the preseason rotation. Mockevici

us also played just 9 minutes of action, in one game.

Gutierrez played in three games, averaging just over 9 minutes per game, while Budinger played in four games, averaging 10.4 minutes per. 

The Nets now have to cut their roster down to 15 before the start of the season. They have one preseason game remaining, which is this Thursday, at home, against the New York Knicks.

Source:netsdaily.com

NEWS:Celtics can 'make some legitimate noise'-Isaiah Thomas

Quiet, at least by last season's All-Star standard, through the Boston Celtics' first five games of the preseason, Isaiah Thomas put together a near-perfect first half on Monday night against the Brooklyn Nets and promptly declared himself ready for real basketball to start.

Isaiah Thomas against the Nets.

Thomas, who made all six shots he took while putting up 19 first-half points, passed time in the second half by excitedly cheering big moments for Boston's youngest players, sitting in the front row with fans trying to get on the JumboTron, and grooving when "Gino Time" rolled toward the end of a breezy 120-99 triumph at TD Garden.

After displaying the sort of basket-attacking aggression that distinguished his play last season and after another excellent showing for Boston's starting group, Thomas was asked to assess the prospects for the 2016-17 Celtics.

"We have a pretty good team -- a team that can make some legitimate noise," Thomas said. "And if we put it together and play the right way, we can make a lot happen this season. We don’t ever want to put a ceiling on it, but we have a really good team. I know that."

There's a lot to be optimistic about in Boston -- and that's before you even factor in the potential struggles of a Nets squad whose draft position the Celtics have the right to swap with in June. The two teams meet again here on opening night on Oct. 26.

Source:ESPN.com

NEWS:Lakers Look to Sharpen Up Before Rematch With Warriors

Jordan Clarkson’s first foray into starting this preseason came at an inopportune time for him, as he matched up against the top starting five in the league during the Lakers’ meeting with Golden State on Saturday.

Jordan Clarkson shoots during practice

The Lakers’ starters fell behind big by halftime, as the Warriors grabbed a 74-47 lead, and head coach Luke Walton wasn’t blown away by the lineup change at Monday’s practice.

“It didn’t go so great, but like I said that was a small sample size,” Walton said. “I don’t think it was anything JC did. I don’t think he got as many looks as he has with the other group. That’s something that we’ll figure out if we want to try it again next game.”

Walton praised Clarkson for his scoring, energy and 3-point shooting, but allowed that the Warriors’ talent — featuring Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson — puts them on a tough-to-reach pedestal.

The Lakers will get another chance at the championship favorites on Wednesday when they meet for a rematch in San Diego.

“They’re probably the most talented team in the world,” Walton said. “If you let a team like that just freely move the ball without challenging them, trying to get them out of their offense — it’s gonna be a long night.”

Walton has also consistently praised Clarkson’s defense through training camp and preseason, but it was Nick Young whom he highlighted from the matchup with the Warriors.

“Nick was probably our best defender against Golden State,” Walton said. “He was tagging cutters. He was following the defensive game plan, keeping side pick-and-rolls down.”

With the regular season starting up in nine days, Walton will also have to cut two more players in order to meet the maximum of 15.

He anticipates it will be a “very tough decision” to make.

“Honestly, I have no idea right now who those two will be,” Walton said. “Everyone’s worked very hard and has been great, done everything we’ve asked.”

Source:NBA.com

NEWS:Pacers waive Alex Poythress, Nick Zeisloft

The Indiana Pacers waived forward Alex Poythress and guard Nick Zeisloft on Monday.

Both were undrafted rookies who had not seen much action during the preseason.
The 6-foot-7 Poythress appeared in two games and scored one point. Zeisloft, a 6-5 Indiana alum, played in one game and did not score.

Indiana opens the regular season Oct. 26 at home against Dallas. 

Source:NBA.com

NEWS:Thunder sign former Warriors guard.

Reggie Williams

 The Thunder signed Reggie Williams on Monday, the team announced.

The 30-year old played his first two NBA seasons with the Warriors.

Over 24 games (10 starts) in 2009-10, he averaged 15.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest.

Across 80 games (nine starts) in 2010-11, he averaged 9.2 points and 2.7 rebounds.

Williams played the next two campaigns with Charlotte, appeared in three games with Oklahoma City in 2013-14, and saw action in 20 games with the Spurs in 2014-15.

He played in Russia last year.

Source:CSN

NEWS:Detroit Pistons waive Nikola Jovanovic

The Detroit Pistons have requested waivers on forward Nikola Jovanovic. He saw action in one preseason game (at Philadelphia on 10/15) with Detroit.

Jovanovic, who was signed as a free agent on September 26, played three years at the University of Southern California and averaged 10.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 98 games for the Trojans. He averaged 12-plus points and 7.0 rebounds in both his sophomore and junior years and shot better than 50% from the field in all three of his collegiate years. A native of Belgrade, Serbia, Jovanovic became the 36th player in USC history to record 1,000-plus points.

Source:insidehoops

NEWS:Dallas Mavericks sign Jaleel Cousins

The Dallas Mavericks have signed free agent center Jaleel Cousins. It’s probably a non-guaranteed deal.

Jaleel is the brother of Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins.
 
Cousins (6-11, 255), a native of Mobile, Alabama, went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft after averaging 8.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 25.0 minutes per contest while appearing in all 33 games his senior season at South Florida. Prior to his transfer to South Florida, he spent one season at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas.

Cousins played in all five games for the Mavericks at the 2016 Orlando Pro Summer League. He averaged 5.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per contest.

He will wear number 32 for the Mavericks.

NEWS:Pelicans sign Quincy Ford

The New Orleans Pelicans today signed guard/forward Quincy Ford.


Ford, 6-8, 225, was a member of the Utah Jazz’s summer league team, appearing in eight games, averaging 5.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists. Undrafted in 2016 out of Northeastern University, Ford appeared in 130 games for the Huskies, averaging 12.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists during his collegiate career.

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 20.

NEWS:Heat waive Stefan Jankovic, sign Vashil Fernandez

The Miami HEAT today waived Stefan Jankovic and signed center Vashil Fernandez.

Fernandez, the all-time leading shot blocker at Valparaiso University, played all four seasons with the Crusaders appearing in 131 games (85 starts) and averaged 4.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.21 blocks and 19.8 minutes while shooting 54.8 percent from the field. As a senior, he led the NCAA in blocks per game (3.31) and was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. He finished his career with 289 blocks, surpassing the previous school record of 228 held by Raitis Grafs from 1999-2003, including 119 during his senior campaign, setting the school’s single-season block record, a record he held the previous season with 98 rejections.

Fernandez will wear number 14.

Janković appeared in one preseason game with the HEAT, totaling 3:40 minutes of action.

Source:insidehoops

NEWS:Atlanta Hawks waive Matt Costello

The Atlanta Hawks have waived forward Matt Costello, it was announced today by General Manager Wes Wilcox.
The Hawks frontcourt has some nice depth to it. It was always going to be tough for Costello to make this team.
The roster stands at 19.

NEWS:"I’ve never really received this much praise"-Patrick McCaw

The praise is coming in waves at Warriors rookie Patrick McCaw. It’s coming from teammates and coaches and opponents. It’s enough to make the soft-spoken 20-year-old believe he’s worthy of a maximum contract.

Acclaim finds those who enter the NBA with the game of a baller and the composure of a veteran, and when they do things beyond what could reasonably be expected of someone who was drafted in the second round.

 Patrick McCaw

“I’ve never really received this much praise,” McCaw says.

There is, however, a voice that keeps him grounded. It is that of his father, Jeff McCaw Sr.

Patrick and his father talk after games, with dad offering both advice and critique. It doesn’t matter if his son gets four steals, as Patrick did in his preseason debut on Oct. 1, or hits the game-tying shot in regulation and the game-winner in overtime, as he did in his fourth game, last Friday in Denver.

“It’s great to always have him in my ear, giving his final thought after I hear things from KD (Kevin Durant) and Zaza (Pachulia) and Steph (Curry) and Klay (Thompson),” Patrick says. “And he still has that one thing that they might have missed out on.”

That’s what dads are for, particularly when they have a background in the game. Jeff McCaw was a high school point guard who later turned to coaching at the high school level in greater St. Louis.
Though he didn’t create Patrick in a factory, Jeff instilled much of the principles that define his son’s game, best described as “find a way to make a positive impact at both ends.”

McCaw’s defense is solid, his anticipation top-notch. He shoots well, though not exceptionally. He has a good handle and he sees the court exceedingly well. Being around the game almost since he could walk, Patrick always seems comfortable on the court, no matter the situation.

“He’s definitely an NBA player,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr says.

“He’s a smart player; he knows how to play the game,” Warriors teammate Andre Iguodala says of McCaw. “He’s going to play.”

That’s the kind of praise McCaw has been hearing since July, when the UNLV product shined during Summer League in Las Vegas. It hasn’t stopped.

“I’m still kind of a fan of myself, and I really don’t take any of the accolades or things like that to my head,” he says. “Even the buzzer-beater (against the Nuggets) . . . I just looked at it like another game.”

They all look like just another game, though the real games begin until next week. And Patrick expects Jeff McCaw will be on the line, having watched the game in person or on TV before relaying his postgame analysis.

Patrick is accustomed to it. He seems to embrace it, marveling at tips he believes can enhance his development.

“He can remember almost every play,” Patrick says of his dad. “If it was a missed steal or anything, he knows it. It’s kind of crazy, it’s kind of weird, getting that call from him and knowing he’s going to tell me exactly what I did wrong or right.”

Source:csnbayarea.com

NEWS:Giant LeBron James banner being replaced to reflect title

The new banner is expected to be installed by Friday. The Cavs open their season against the New York Knicks on Oct. 25, when the players will receive their championship rings and a title banner will be unveiled in the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena.

The giant LeBron James banner in Cleveland will come down and be replaced with a photo of James representing the Cavs' title. Cleveland City Planning Commission

James' likeness towers over the city, and the black-and-white image of the superstar, his muscular arms outstretched, has become a tourist stop and symbol of civic pride.

Sherwin-Williams considered temporarily removing the giant James banner this summer during the Republican National Convention but changed its mind after a public backlash. The company ended up making a $150,000 donation to the LeBron James Family Foundation.

An original banner of James was taken down after he signed with the Miami Heat in 2010. The new one was installed in October 2014, a few months after the three-time champion re-signed with Cleveland.

The golden upgrade comes as the Indians, who play at Progressive Field next door to the Cavs' arena, are leading the AL Championship Series 2-0 over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Indians are trying to end a World Series drought dating to 1948.

Source:ESPN.com

NEWS:Gordon Embracing New Role In Orlando

Aaron Gordon

A surplus of bodies at one position in Orlando will be alleviated this season by the move of Aaron Gordon to small forward, a role the young jumping jack is embracing. Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel has more on Gordon’s potentially career-altering shift:

Aaron Gordon dislikes comparisons to other basketball players.

But even he felt encouraged when he learned Frank Vogel will position him at small forward and use him the same way Vogel used perennial All-Star Paul George with the Indiana Pacers. Vogel wants to put the ball in Gordon’s hands.
 
“It’s definitely a compliment,” Gordon said.

“I’m going to be myself and I’m going to play my game, and that’s ultimately going to be the most beneficial for us if I play how I play, not try and play like anybody else. I love the idea of being more of a playmaker and taking on a bigger scoring role. That’s something that I’m going to have to do for us to be successful and I’m ready for that.”
 
How well Gordon will handle his new, more demanding role is one of the most intriguing questions the Orlando Magic face. As one of the NBA’s most athletic players, he shouldn’t have many problems chasing opposing wings all over the court.

Whether he can produce offensively is up for debate, however. Skeptics cite the subpar outside shooting numbers of his first two seasons. He made only 27.1 percent of his 3-pointers as a rookie and just 29.6 percent of his 3s last season.

If the Magic had only one or two quality big men instead of Serge Ibaka and Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo, then Gordon probably would be playing a lot of power forward.

But with Ibaka and Biyombo joining Vucevic at the big-man spots, the best way to put Gordon on the floor is to play him at small forward. Vogel loves the frontcourt’s size with Gordon at the three.
 
“We’re going to ask him to do it all,” Vogel said. “We’re going to give him a lot of responsibility.”

“It’s going to be a process with him. He’s not used to playing the three, but that’s going to come. He’s got the skills and the ability to do it, or I wouldn’t be putting him in that spot. It’s going to be ugly at times. But, hopefully, more times than not it’s going to be pretty impressive. And I’m excited about that.”

Source:NBA.com

NEWS:Bucks, Bulls agree to exchange Michael Carter-Williams for Tony Snell

The Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls have agreed to swap guard Michael Carter-Williams for swingman Tony Snell, league sources told ESPN's Jeff Goodman.

A source close to Carter-Williams told Goodman that the guard was informed he was being traded to Chicago late Saturday night.

The deal was first reported by ESPN's Zach Lowe and Marc Stein.
Sources said the Bucks, who have been openly looking for more shooting and defense on the perimeter in the wake of a long-term injury suffered by starter Khris Middleton just days before training camp, have targeted Snell to give them some much-needed help on the wing.

When the deal becomes official, it would be the second trade Milwaukee has swung since losing Middleton, following the Bucks' acquisition of Michael Beasley from the Houston Rockets in September.

The Bucks and Bulls met Saturday night in Chicago in a preseason game, but neither Williams nor Snell played.

Both Carter-Williams and Snell are 2013 first-round picks eligible for extensions ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline, although neither seemed likely to land an extension before these trade talks.
Carter-Williams lost his starting spot in Milwaukee this past winter before undergoing hip surgery. Snell had likewise fallen out of favor in Chicago and would have struggled for playing time on the wing with the Bulls behind Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler and Doug McDermott.

Source:ESPN.com

NEWS:Magic to cut Branden Dawson, Cliff Alexander and Kevin Murphy!!!

The Orlando Magic waived forwards Cliff Alexander and Branden Dawson and guard Kevin Murphy today, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced tonight following their preseason game vs. Atlanta.

Alexander (6’8”, 245, 11/16/95) played in two preseason games with Orlando, averaging 1.0 ppg. in 5.1 minpg. Dawson (6’6”, 225, 2/1/93) appeared in two preseason outings with the Magic, averaging 3.0 ppg. and 2.0 rpg. in 6.6 minpg. Murphy (6’5”, 185, 3/6/90) played in two preseason contests with Orlando, averaging 2.5 ppg. in 6.6 minpg.

All three players were originally signed as free agents on September 8.
The Magic roster now stands at 16 players.

NEWS:Rockets to cut P.J. Hairston

The Rockets have 18 players on the roster after waiving Taylor. P.J. Hairston, who like Taylor did not travel with the Rockets on the trip to China, is also unlikely to make the final roster. Signed on Sept. 30, the Rockets could be keeping Hairston on the roster longer to have him on the roster long enough to make sure they would have his NBA Development rights.

That could leave Tyler Ennis, Gary Payton II and Bobby Brown vying for a roster spot as a third point guard.

NEWS:CP3 suffers hand injury

Seeing Chris Paul in running shoes and sweatpants before a Clippers practice certainly isn’t good news. And, seeing Paul, the Clippers’ star point guard, standing in running shows and sweats with a hand wrapped, well that means the news is certainly worse.

Chris Paul

Luckily for the Clippers, appearances can sometime be deceiving.
While Paul didn’t practice Sunday because of his hand injury, he’s not expected to miss any real time. Paul’s officially being called “day-to-day” with a sprained left thumb, and injury he likely would be able to play with if the Clippers were in the regular season.

“He’ll play in definitely one of the two (remaining preseason games), and that tells you it’s not that serious,” Doc Rivers said.