Poll: Which Star Will Improve Most From Olympics?
The 2012 Summer Olympics in London are underway and USA Basketball is off to a strong start thanks to a 98-71 victory over France. Strong play from Kevin Durant and a host of other players led the way for the convincing victory as Team USA begins its quest for another gold medal. International play has had a history of improving the skills of young players as they return from overseas to return to their NBA teams.
With young players such as Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis being afforded the opportunity to play in the Olympics for the first time, the question becomes how will the experience impact them during the 2012/13 season and beyond.
Cavs Notes: Kevin Jones, Alonzo Gee, C.J. Miles
With the start of the 2012/13 season mere months away, the Cavs have been relatively quiet this offseason in terms of free agent signings and trades. From signing Luke Harangody to a qualifying offer to acquiring Jeremy Pargo in a trade with Memphis, Cleveland has yet to make a true splash this summer. Let's check in with Bob Finnan of The News-Herald to catch up on the latest news and headlines surrounding the Cavs…
- The Cavs remain interested in fully committing to power forward Kevin Jones even though the team already has five players on the roster who play his position. The undrafted rookie from West Virginia suffered a bone bruise in his ankle but is expected to be ready for training camp if Cleveland ends up signing him. Jones, 22, averaged 19.9 PPG and 10.9 RPG during his senior year with the Mountaineers.
- Cleveland has yet to decide on what to do with small forward Alonzo Gee, a restricted free agent. Gee is hoping that the Cavs offer him a long-term deal instead of just a qualifying offer. If Gee isn't offered the type of deal that he desires, he can simply sign the qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
- If the Cavs aren't able to come to terms on a deal with Gee, they will turn their attention to signing unrestricted free agent C.J. Miles. The former Jazz guard averaged 9.1 PPG and 2.1 RPG during the 2011/12 season. Finnan suggests that there is a small chance the Cavs sign both Gee and Miles.
Brigham On Williams, Thomas, USA Basketball
Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld's latest column checks in on Lou Williams' move to the Hawks in the post-Joe Johnson era, Malcolm Thomas' attempt to crack the Bulls training camp roster and a quick check-in on USA Basketball. Here are the highlights…
- Williams didn't want to leave the Sixers, but the team let him walk when it realized Nick Young could be signed to a short-term deal. After trading Johnson to the Nets, the Hawks were in search of a shooting guard and Williams proved to be a strong fit who had grown up in the area. “I’m excited to be home. I’m excited to be an Atlanta Hawk,” Williams said. “This is a good opportunity for me, and I’m blessed to be able to continue my career in my hometown.”
- With his strong rebounding ability and high energy defense, Thomas impressed many people at the Las Vegas Summer League. After spending most of last season in the D-League, Thomas is looking to get an invitation to training camp with the Bulls, who could use a few inexpensive parts to round out their roster, with hopes of making the team. “I just want to play basketball,” Thomas said. “I want to play hard for a team. I want to make a team.”
- Team USA is currently taking on France in the squad's first Olympic action in London. While USA was favored by 25 points, Brigham successfully predicted that the game would be a good test for LeBron James and friends. As of writing, Team USA is up nearly 20 points as the third quarter winds down.
Amico On Latest Dwight Howard Rumors
Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio has the latest news and rumors on Dwight Howard as the saga drags on with the calendar set to turn to August on Wednesday. Here are the highlights…
- Several sources told FOX Sports Ohio that Howard may be moved by the end of the week now that the Magic have named a head coach. The team presumably wants to create a less chaotic atmosphere for Jacque Vaughn, who was hired on Saturday after spending time coaching in the Spurs organization. The trade partners in a potential Howard deal remain the same as Orlando is expected to once again reach out to the Lakers, Cavs and Rockets.
- Andrew Bynum would still be the major piece in a deal with Los Angeles as sources close to the Lakers big man state that Bynum may be open to a trade. The issue with Bynum is that like Howard, he will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2012/13 season. It would seemingly be foolish for the Magic to acquire Bynum without first getting a pulse on whether he would sign a long-term deal with the team.
- While the Magic will attempt to move Howard before the season starts, some sources say that the team may wait until the February trade deadline to move the All-Star center. A deal halfway through the season would probably net Orlando a lesser package than it would receive now, but more trade partners may come to fruition and provide the Magic with a variety of options.
Bulls Sign Nazr Mohammed
FRIDAY, 12:05pm: The Bulls have officially signed Mohammed, the team announced today in a press release.
SUNDAY, 8:42am: Nazr Mohammed and the Bulls are close to reaching an agreement on a contract, reports Peter Vecsey of the New York Post (via Twitter). The center considered joining the Nets after spending the last two seasons with the Thunder, but reached the decision to play in Chicago late Saturday night. With the addition of Mohammed, Omer Asik's tenure with the Bulls has come to a close as Chicago will presumably not match his offer sheet from the Rockets.
Mohammed, 34, hails from Chicago and will provide the Bulls with size and a defensive boost off the bench. The 14-year veteran averaged 2.7 PPG and 2.7 RPG in 63 games with Oklahoma City during the 2011/12 season. If Asik heads to Houston as expected, the Bulls would enter the 2012/13 season with only Taj Gibson returning as a member of the team's bench from one year ago.
Odds & Ends: Celtics, Alonzo Gee, Randy Foye
The Celtics and Heat will kickoff the upcoming season as the NBA released the schedule for 2012/13 on Thursday. In another notable matchup, the Nets will host the Knicks on opening night in the inaugural basketball game at the Barclays Center. Among the highlights of the five Christmas Day contests include the Thunder taking on the Heat in Miami and the Knicks heading to the Staples Center to battle the Lakers. Here's the latest news and happenings from around the league…
- The Celtics may appear to have a complete roster as the calendar turns to August, but general manager Danny Ainge is always looking for another piece that may make his team better, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. "I'm always looking for ways to improve the team," Ainge said. "I like our team; I like our guys. But I'm always looking. You're never going to hear me say, 'I'm done.' Because you never know what may open up down the road or in the near future."
- Talks are slow but steady between the Cavaliers and Alonzo Gee, says Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal (Sulia link). Gee's agent, Andre Buck, won't rule out accepting the Cavs' qualifying offer if that's the best contract his client receives from Cleveland.
- The Jazz wanted Randy Foye more than any other team and that made the former Villanova star's decision easier when it came time to sign a contract, writes Jody Genessy of the Deseret News. "I felt," Foye said, "I could come in and contribute and help these guys."
- The Wizards have invited former Gonzaga guard Steven Gray to attend the team's training camp, reports HoopsHype (via Twitter). Gray spent the 2011/12 season in Europe playing for Latvian club BK Ventspils where he averaged 11.5 PPG and 2.9 RPG.
- The Lakers continue to have interest in Jodie Meeks as the two sides are in talks about a potential contract, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.
Brad Casper Resigns As Suns President
Suns president Brad Casper has resigned, reports Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic (via Twitter). Casper plans to focus his time on outside business ventures, including a Dallas-based sports nutrition company where he has served as executive chairman since March 2011.
"I enjoyed my time with the Suns," said Casper. "It was a wonderful opportunity for me, but ultimately serving the Suns while continuing to juggle a portfolio of other business interests became too much. I’m grateful to have worked with so many gifted professionals and I look forward to cheering on the team next season."
Chief Operating Officer Jason Rowley will assume the responsibility of overseeing the Suns' business operations, according to ABC15.com. Prior to being named COO in October 2011, Rowley served as the Suns' senior vice president and general counsel.
Rockets Sign Lamb, White, Jones
The Rockets have officially signed first-round picks Jeremy Lamb, Royce White and Terrence Jones to rookie contracts, according to a team release.
Lamb, 20, was selected 12th overall by Houston after starring at UConn in the backcourt. Named an NBA Summer League All-Star, Lamb led the Rockets in scoring with 20.0 PPG. After winning an NCAA championship with the Huskies during his freshman year, Lamb finished his career at UConn by being one of only six players to score 1000 points by the end of his sophomore year.
White, a 21-year-old forward from Iowa State, was drafted 16th overall by the Rockets. In his lone season with the Cyclones, White led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks and steals, making him the only player in the country to be able to claim such a distinction. The big man averaged 8.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG and 3.6 APG during the NBA Summer League.
Jones, 20, brings championship experience to Houston as he helped lead Kentucky to a title this past spring. The forward averaged 14.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG and 1.8 BPG in 76 games over his two seasons with the Wildcats. Jones is off to a strong start for the Rockets as he scored 18.2 PPG and grabbed 8.6 RPG during the 2012 NBA Summer League.
Nets Sign C.J. Watson
MONDAY, 3:06pm: The Nets have officially signed Watson, the team announced today in a press release.
SATURDAY, 8:12pm: The Nets have agreed to terms with point guard C.J. Watson on a two-year deal for the veteran's minimum, reports Peter Vecsey of the New York Post (via Twitter). The former Tennessee star became an unrestricted free agent on Friday after clearing waivers. Watson's second year of the contract will be a player option.
Watson, 28, averaged 9.7 PPG and 4.1 APG in 49 games for the Bulls during the 2011/12 season. He filled in admirably as the starting point guard at different points during the season as Derrick Rose battled various ailments until suffering a season-ending torn ACL during the first round of the playoffs against the Sixers. With the Nets, Watson will serve as the backup to All-Star Deron Williams.
Bulls Sign Kirk Hinrich
1:37pm: Hinrich's two-year deal will pay him roughly $8MM, says K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. In that case, Hinrich will receive more than $3.09MM in year one, meaning the Bulls are using their full mid-level exception, hard-capping their 2012/13 team salary at about $74.3MM.
JULY 23RD, 12:33pm: The Bulls have officially signed Hinrich, the team announced today in a press release. Since Chicago couldn't work out a sign-and-trade with Atlanta, the deal is expected to consume the team's full taxpayer mid-level exception.
JULY 8TH: The Bulls have reached a verbal agreement on a deal with free agent guard Kirk Hinrich, reports K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). While details are still being finalized, Hinrich is expected a receive a two-year, $6MM contract from the Bulls. Hinrich returns to the franchise that drafted him in 2003 after spending parts of the last two seasons with the Wizards and Hawks.
By adding Hinrich to their backcourt, the Bulls have given themselves more stability at the guard position with Derrick Rose on the shelf for at least a portion of the upcoming season. The former Kansas star averaged 6.6 PPG and 2.8 APG in 48 games during the 2011/12 season.