Warrick agrees to 1-year deal with Bucks
July 31, 2009
MILWAUKEE (AP)—Forward Hakim Warrick(notes) has agreed to a one-year contract withthe Milwaukee Bucks.
His agent, Bill Duffy, announced the deal on Friday.
The former Syracuse star played the last four seasons with the MemphisGrizzlies, averaging 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 82 games last season.
Duffy said the Grizzlies’ decision to rescind a tender offer they made toWarrick as a restricted free agent is a sign of tough economic times for NBAteams.
Terms were not released because the deal has not been completed, but itsvalue is expected to exceed $3 million. The agreement was reported by theMilwaukee Journal Sentinel and yahoo.com earlier Friday.
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Nuggets acquire Malik Allen from Bucks
July 31, 2009
DENVER (AP)—The Denver Nuggets have acquired Malik Allen(notes) from the MilwaukeeBucks in exchange for Walter Sharpe(notes) and Sonny Weems(notes).
The Nuggets announced the deal Friday.
Allen played in 49 games for Milwaukee last season, averaging 3.2 points and2.1 rebounds.
In 409 games over an eight-year career, he has averaged 5.4 points and 3rebounds. He also played for Miami, Charlotte, Chicago, New Jersey and Dallas.
Sharpe came to the Nuggets in a July 13 trade after spending his rookieseason in Detroit, where he appeared in eight games and averaged 1 point.
Weems appeared in 12 games for the Nuggets last season, averaging 1.6points.
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Pacers F Hansbrough suffers shin injury
July 31, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)—Tyler Hansbrough(notes) could miss up to two months with a rightshin injury, but the Indiana Pacers believe their first-round draft pick will behealthy enough for the start of the season.
The Pacers did not provide details of the injury Friday other than to saythe 6-foot-9 forward is expected to miss six to eight weeks ahead of the season.The NBA regular season begins Oct. 27.
Indiana said Hansbrough hurt the shin last season, his final year at NorthCarolina.
The Pacers took Hansbrough at No. 13 overall in last month’s draft andsigned him to a three-year contract.
Hansbrough led the Tar Heels to the national championship last season andfinished his career as the ACC’s career scoring leader.
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Mavericks sign big man Gooden
July 31, 2009
DALLAS (AP)—The Dallas Mavericks signed Drew Gooden(notes) and expect him to back upDirk Nowitzki(notes) at power forward and play alongside him at center.
The deal, agreed to late last week, was announced Thursday.
Gooden is joining his seventh team, having also played for Memphis, Orlando,Cleveland, Chicago, Sacramento and San Antonio. Over his career, he averages12.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
“We are very pleased to add Drew to our front line for the upcomingseason,” team president Donnie Nelson said. “Drew is a veteran player with NBAfinals experience that is entering the prime of his career at 27 years old. Hewill provide valuable minutes at both the center and power forward positionswith his tenacity in the paint, rebounding and ability to knock down shots.”
The Mavericks this week also added the versatile Tim Thomas(notes) to theirfrontcourt rotation.
Thomas and Gooden should help make up for the loss of free agent BrandonBass(notes) to the Orlando Magic and the missed chance on center Marcin Gortat(notes), who wassigned to an offer sheet that was matched by the Magic.
The Mavericks also traded for Shawn Marion(notes) and re-signed Jason Kidd(notes) duringthe offseason.
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Bulls waive F Johnson III, G Nelson
July 30, 2009
CHICAGO (AP)—The Chicago Bulls have waived forward Linton Johnson(notes) III andguard DeMarcus Nelson(notes).
In his second stint with the Bulls, Johnson played in eight games andaveraged 1.1 points and 1.0 rebounds. He was signed to two 10-day contracts inMarch before getting a deal for the remainder of the season on April 7.
A former Duke star, Nelson was the Golden State Warriors’ starting pointguard on opening night, but he quickly fell out of favor with coach Don Nelsonand played in just 13 games before being waived. He signed with the Bulls onApril 4 but didn’t play for them.
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Pacers sign F Solomon Jones
July 30, 2009
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)—The Indiana Pacers have signed free-agent forward SolomonJones(notes) to a multiyear contract. He spent the past three seasons with Atlanta.
The deal was announced Thursday, and Pacers president Larry Bird says Jonescan help the team’s interior defense. Jones averaged 3.0 points and 2.3 reboundslast season and shot 60 percent.
Jones played at South Florida and was drafted by the Hawks in the secondround in 2006.
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Lakers keep F Odom with multiyear deal
July 30, 2009
LOS ANGELES (AP)—Lamar Odom(notes) is sticking with the NBA champs.
After a rocky free-agent courtship, Odom agreed on a multiyear contractThursday to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers, keeping intact most of the rosterthat won the club’s 15th NBA title this summer.
Lakers spokesman John Black confirmed an agreement, but wouldn’t discussspecifics. Odom still hasn’t signed the deal, but could do so as early asFriday.
The contract, which is expected to contain three guaranteed years and afourth-year option, maintains the Lakers’ core of Kobe Bryant(notes), Pau Gasol(notes), DerekFisher(notes) and Odom alongside new teammate Ron Artest(notes). Odom’s return means LosAngeles likely will be favored to win another Western Conference title—andthat’s what the 6-foot-10 Odom said he prized most during his eventful few weeksas a free agent.
Odom, a 10-year NBA veteran, proved his determination to win last seasonwhen he accepted and thrived in a reserve role for the Lakers, averaging 12.3points and 9.1 rebounds during the postseason.
Odom repeatedly said he preferred to stay with the Lakers, but apparentlycame close to leaving—either by choice or necessity. Los Angeles pulled aprevious contract offer from the table when Odom was slow to respond to it, andDwyane Wade(notes) heavily lobbied Odom to return to Miami, where they spent one seasontogether.
Portland also apparently made a bid for Odom’s versatile offensive game andpassing skills, but the New York City native always made it clear he preferredthe personal opportunities and lifestyle only found in Los Angeles, where hespent his first four NBA seasons with the Clippers and his last five with theLakers.
After playing extensively up front last season, Odom could move to thebackcourt for more playing time in the fall. Center Andrew Bynum(notes) will be healthyafter missing much of last season with a torn knee ligament, while Artest’sdefensive versatility allows him to guard much taller players—perhaps freeingup Odom to use his improved 3-point stroke from the perimeter.
Among the key players in last season’s run to the title, the Lakers lostonly forward Trevor Ariza(notes), who emerged as a dependable rotation player lastseason, particularly during the playoffs. Ariza joined the Houston Rockets afterLos Angeles signed Artest, the mercurial defensive specialist who finallyrealized his long-held dream to play with Bryant.
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Raptors add G Belinelli, C Nesterovic
July 30, 2009
TORONTO (AP)—The Toronto Raptors have added guard Marco Belinelli(notes) and centerRasho Nesterovic(notes) to the roster.
The team announced Thursday that it had acquired Belinelli from Golden Statein exchange for forward Devean George(notes) and cash considerations. Free-agentNesterovic signed a one-year, $2 million deal.
Belinelli was the 18th overall pick in 2007 and appeared in 42 games for theWarriors last season. The Italian averaged 8.9 points, 2.1 assists and 1.7rebounds.
Nesterovic rejoins the Raptors after spending a season in Indiana. The7-footer averaged 6.9 points and 4.6 rebounds while playing 151 games forToronto from 2006 to 2008.
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Carter just wants to fit in with Magic
July 30, 2009
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)—Vince Carter(notes) isn’t looking to replace DwightHoward(notes) as the face of the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic.
Not even close. The recently acquired Carter just wants to fit with his newteam and get the prize that has eluded him for a decade in the NBA—achampionship ring.
“I think we have a wonderful team,” Carter said of the Magic during abreak at his basketball camp. “On paper it’s pretty darn good. It’s thepreparation and work we put in, and not becoming complacent.”
Carter admitted on Wednesday that he was surprised by the June trade thatsent him and forward Ryan Anderson(notes) from the New Jersey Nets to the Magic forcenter Tony Battie(notes) and guards Courtney Lee(notes) and Rafer Alston(notes).
However, the thought of playing near his home and sharing the court withHoward, Rashard Lewis(notes) and Jameer Nelson(notes) has rekindled the championship hopesthat disappeared in New Jersey over the past two years with the trades thatshipped Jason Kidd(notes) to Dallas and Richard Jefferson(notes) to Milwaukee.
The acquisition of Carter gives the Magic a proven go-to player who hasaveraged 23.5 points in his 10 NBA seasons. He is also a versatile scorer whocan prevent opponents from focusing all their defensive efforts on stoppingHoward’s inside game.
The trade also gives Orlando, which lost to the Lakers in the NBA Finals infive games, an immediate replacement for Hedo Turkoglu(notes), who was shipped toToronto in a sign-and-trade deal.
The one thing Carter isn’t looking to do is to be the focal point of theMagic, something that he has been throughout his career in Toronto and NewJersey.
“If you think about it, I never really said ‘This is my team,”’ Cartersaid of his four-plus seasons in New Jersey. “I said, ‘I’m going to help thisteam win.’ When I first got here, it was Jason’s team. I just want to help make(Orlando) better. He (Howard) can be the face all he wants. My concern is moreso just getting wins. I kind of leave that for people to say or debate on. Ithink for me, it’s ‘Can Vince come in and do his part for the Orlando Magic?’That’s more so my goal.”
Carter conducted his camp at the Nets’ training facility on Wednesday. Hehad committed to the youth camp before the trade and the Nets allowed him tohold it.
But Carter enjoyed being back and seeing old friends. He talked to coachLawrence Frank, Nets president Rod Thorn and a couple of former teammates.
The only regret he had was not finishing the job he started, which was toget the Nets a title.
“I mean, I worked my butt off to gain the trust of each and every playerhere and every staff member and really to instill the mentality and belief thatwe could win,” Carter said. “I don’t think we were expected to win as manygames as we did. It was just creating a mentality and making it a habit.”
Carter was the player the Nets counted on for scoring and leadership inrecent years, and he said now it will probably fall to All-Star guard DevinHarris(notes) to fulfill the role.
“I mean, Devin can do it,” Carter said. “He has seen it done and he’sbeen around. It’s just if he wants it. He has definitely established himself inthe NBA as a player and that’s the next level for him.”
Carter spoke highly of the players the Nets acquired from Orlando, sayingLee was unbelievable, Battie was a proven veteran who has been to thechampionship round and that Alston is a great leader.
For the Nets to be successful next season, he said it will take a teameffort in a year where not much is expected.
Carter did not know how the Nets would fare in the 2010 free agency marketwhen LeBron James(notes), Chris Bosh(notes) and Dwyane Wade(notes) might all be available.
“It will be a great opportunity for somebody, maybe a guy who wants anopportunity to build a team around him and play with Devin,” Carter said. “Yougive them another guy or another stud, anything can happen. I think it’spossible. I really do.”
For now, all Carter is thinking about is the Magic, admitting he still feelsweird.
“It’s hard to say Vince Carter, Orlando Magic right now,” he said. “Itwon’t be once we start doing things as a team.”
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Hornets G Paul making trip to China
July 30, 2009
NEW ORLEANS (AP)—Chris Paul(notes) was so taken by basketball’s popularity inChina during the Beijing Olympics that he’s adding a Chinese flair to hissignature shoe and making a return trip for the first time since receiving hisgold medal.
Paul said he felt like a member of the Beatles while touring the countrywith Team USA last summer and that he continues to be amazed at China’s passionfor the sport.
“When you’re engulfed in something like that, I’m just taking it all in,realizing that it’s a dream to be able to travel to China and people want to seeyou play, they want to know what you’re doing,” Paul began. “It’s stillsomething I can’t totally grasp.”
Paul’s second trip back to the Far East in as many years will be among thehighlights of a busy offseason that saw him become a father, go back to collegeand add a little bulk to his physique.
The Hornets’ All-Star point guard and 2008 Olympic gold medal winner willarrive in Tianjin on Aug. 2 and move on to Guangzhou on Aug. 3-4, hostingbasketball clinics and dedicating an outdoor court on the grounds of a Guangzhouschool.
The trip will include the launch of the Jordan CP3 II China Editionbasketball shoe, which will be decorated with Chinese characters symbolic ofPaul’s life, such as the year he was born (1985), and the No. 61, which relatesto Paul scoring 61 points in a high-school game to honor his 61-year-old slaingrandfather. It also will include the No. 106, a nod to his NBA record forconsecutive games with a steal.
Though the shoe will be sold in the United States, Paul said it only makessense to also market it in China. He took in some youth-level basketball gameslast year and came away impressed.
“Man, they can really play. That’s the thing,” Paul said. “I’m excitedabout going back to see some of top point guards over there because you neverknow, these might be some of the guys I’m playing against in the WorldChampionships or even in the Olympics in 2012. … Everyone thinks we know allthe tricks here in the NBA, but you can learn some different things when youtravel because different players are doing different things.”
Paul spoke about his trip on Wednesday before wrapping up a three-daybasketball camp in New Orleans, during which his foundation donated about$55,000 to charities in the New Orleans area.
During breaks at the camp, Paul hovered over a baby carriage, attending tohis 2-month-old son, Christopher Emmanuel Paul II. The NBA star had the childwith Jada Crawley, his girlfriend since college at Wake Forest. Paul said heloves fatherhood and raves about his son’s prodigious appetite and playfulness,and posted a picture on Twitter.
Last weekend, Paul dedicated the second of three public courts he isrefurbishing in New Orleans.
Paul has begun most days this offseason with workouts aimed at improving hisstrength, and his new bulk was evident at his basketball camp. Last season, heoften logged close to 40 minutes a game and was worn out by the playoffs, whenNew Orleans appeared punchless in a lopsided first-round loss to Denver.
Paul estimated that he is now between 10 and 15 pounds heavier than he wasas a rookie in 2005-06.
“It’s to make sure I’m durable for the season, for the amount of minutes Iplay,” he said.
He has spent much of the summer in his hometown of Winston-Salem, N.C.,dining out with relatives and performing more charity work. He also took threesummer classes at Wake Forest, where he played for two seasons. Eventually, heintends to graduate with a degree in religion.
“I’m a Christian. I’m Baptist, and I think a lot of times people tend tobelieve what they believe because that’s what their parents told them,” Paulsaid. “I just wanted to find out more information about other religions, so Icould know why I believe what I believe.”
When the summer traveling is over, Paul looks forward to getting back in thefamiliar confines of New Orleans Arena, where he draws the loudest cheers whenhe is the last starter introduced.
“I really use that as energy to get ready for the game, to know they reallyhave that confidence in me,” Paul said. “I think a lot of times, people arethinking, ‘Man, that’s a lot of pressure.’ But I use it as fuel. I’m extremelygrateful.”
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