Magic Hire Unseld, Profit, Stuckey As Assistants
AUGUST 30TH, 11:53am: The Magic have hired Laron Profit and Luke Stuckey as assistants, filling out the team's coaching staff, tweets Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel. Profit and Stuckey join Unseld Jr., James Borrego, and Brett Gunning on head coach Jacque Vaughn's staff.
AUGUST 24TH, 5:25pm: Wes Unseld Jr., son of Hall of Fame player Wes Unseld, will move from the Warriors to the Magic, where he'll assume an assistant coach position on Jacque Vaughn's new staff, reports CSNBayArea.com. Unseld spent last season in Golden State, and the previous 13 on the Wizards bench.
Warriors GM Bob Myers indicated that the team would replace Unseld Jr. by either promoting someone from within the organization, or hiring a new name from the outside. Earlier this week, Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel tweeted that Unseld Jr. was a candidate for an assistant coaching position on the Magic staff.
Wizards Sign Martell Webster
AUGUST 29, 11:01am: The Wizards have confirmed the signing via the team's website. Webster's addition brings the roster to 14 players.
AUGUST 23, 8:08pm: A source has told SI.com's Sam Amick that Webster's contract would be for one year and $1.6MM. (Twitter link)
6:51pm: The Wizards have signed free agent forward Martell Webster, reports ESPN.com's Marc Stein. Webster was waived by the Timberwolves earlier this summer and auditioned for Washington earlier this week. In seven NBA seasons, Webster has averaged just 8.4 PPG in 394 career contests for the Trail Blazers and Timberwolves.
As our Luke Adams wrote yesterday, Webster is still just 25 years old and could really help Washington's depth at shooting guard and small forward. The Wizards still have their entire $5MM mid-level exception, but it's unlikely they use it all with this signing.
Bobcats Hire Liebovitz, Winters As Assistants
MONDAY, 1:32pm: The Bobcats have officially named Winters as an assistant coach, in addition to Leibovitz, the team announced today in a press release. The pair will join Stephen Silas and Rick Brunson as assistants on head coach Mike Dunlap's staff.
THURSDAY, 4:59pm: The Bobcats have officially announced the addition of Dan Leibovitz to their bench as an assistant coach, tweets The Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell. Formerly an assistant coach with the University of Pennsylvania, Leibovitz will assume the role of player development coach on a team that has made that area a priority. He spent the last two seasons at the University of Pennsylvania, but before that served as the head coach at the University of Hartford, and the lead assistant at Temple.
The team is also expected to round out their bench by adding Brian Winters as another assistant coach shortly, tweets Bonnell. Winters brings veteran experience as a former head coach in the NBA, leading the Vancouver Grizzlies when they were an expansion team in 1995, and also being an assistant with the Cavaliers, Hawks, Nuggets, and Warriors.
Poll: Who Wins Rookie Of The Year?
With the upcoming rookie class looking to have a major impact on the 2012/13 season, we at Hoops Rumors are wondering who you think will win Rookie of the Year?
Week In Review: 8/20/12 – 8/26/12
Here's a look at the latest news from around the league this past week.
- The Rockets officially signed Carlos Delfino.
- Morris Almond signed with a team in Serbia.
- The Spurs waived Derrick Byars.
- The Celtics finally signed Jeff Green.
- Rumors of Virginia Beach being a possible destination for the Kings organization were created.
- The Nets signed Donte Greene.
- Grizzlies owner Robert Pera reached an agreement with local investors that will likely keep the team in Memphis.
- The Wizards agreed to terms with Martell Webster.
- The Bobcats hired Dan Lebovitz as an assistant coach.
- Wes Unseld Jr. will become an assistant coach for the Magic.
- Michael Finley joined the Mavericks front office.
- Eduardo Najera retired as a player, and will become a head coach in the D-League.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 8/20/12 – 8/26/12
Here's a quick look at all the original content produced by our team of writers this past week.
- Zach Links gave us his weekly Hoops Links feature.
- In our extension candidate series, Zach Links takes a look at Eric Maynor.
- In a poll question, we wonder how many games the Thunder will win this season.
- Chuck Myron writes about Gerald Henderson in our extension candidate series.
- Here's a look at how last year's 10-day signees are doing.
- I ask which NBA team is the best "on paper?"
- A transcript of our weekly Hoops Rumors chat.
- A look at the largest pay cuts from last season to this offseason.
- A list of all players expected to become free agents in 2014/15.
- How restricted free agents made out this summer.
- Chuck Myron inspects Jeff Teague in our extension candidate series.
- Here's a list of the highest paid players in the league, by team.
- A detailed exploration into how wins and high pay rolls correlate to spending.
- An updated list of 2013/14 free agents.
- Luke Adams asks if the Mavericks are better off without Deron Williams.
- A look at free agent spending by division.
Odds & Ends: Anderson, Bosh, Bryant, Najera
According to a tweet from Spurs guard Danny Green, James Anderson may have reached an agreement with the Hawks. Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News says the possible signing would make sense, being that current Atlanta GM Danny Ferry worked in San Antonio last season, where Anderson played.
On this Friday night, here's a look around at some other NBA related news circulating around the league.
- When asked who he felt was the favorite heading into next season, Heat forward Chris Boshdeclared the Lakers to be the NBA's best team, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "The Lakers, I think, right now, I mean on paper, they probably have the best team in the West and probably the league right now," he said. "On paper. I'm saying on paper. But it's a lot, a lot, it's a long season. And the best team always isn't the one who starts out the season as the best team."
- ESPNLA.com's Brian Kamenetzky wonders what the Lakers should reasonably expect from Kobe Bryant this year. The future Hall of Famer turned 34 earlier this week.
- Hoopsworld.com's Bill Ingram takes a look at five veterans who he believes need to step up this season. Four of them are centers.
- Earlier today it was announced that Eduardo Najera was officially retiring as a player to become the head coach in the D-League. ESPNDallas.com's Jeff Caplan discusses how Najera could open up the league's relationship with Mexico.
- Steve Aschburner of NBA.com looks at the Timberwolves heading into next season.
Poll: Which Team Is The Best “On Paper?”
Earlier today we pointed out an interesting quote from Chris Bosh, where the forward stated that the Lakers, and not his reigning champion Heat, were the best team “on paper” heading into next season. Is he right?
Panathinaikos Interested In Amundson
Free agent center Louis Amundson has drawn interest from Greece's Panathinaikos, according to SI.com's Sam Amick. (Sulia link) Amundson continues to seek an offer from an NBA team, and is confident his career will continue in the United States, but is weighing all his options.
Last season as Indiana's backup center, the 6'9" Amundson played in 60 games, averaging 3.6PPG and 3.7RPG. Next season would be his seventh in the league, and as a reserve big man capable of defending in the post and doing his team's dirty work, Amundson should still hold some measured value.
Carmelo Anthony Speaks About Knicks Roster
Carmelo Anthony discussed several issues with reporters today, including his views on how the Atlantic Division has shaped itself out on paper, roster moves the Knicks made over the past few months, and what position he sees himself playing this season. ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begely broke down what Anthony had to say here.
On the Atlantic Division: Anthony recognized that almost every team besides Toronto made drastic additions to improve themselves, but he's more focused on what the Knicks are doing than any outside opponent. "It makes it that much more fun. Brooklyn got better. Philly got better with Bynum. Boston is Boston. We'll see what happens. We're worrying about ourselves."
On the Knicks new roster: Anthony appears more than pleased with the veteran names New York acquired this offseason, including Kurt Thomas, Jason Kidd, and Marcus Camby. "Guys that already know how to play the game, that have been through wars, that know how to win. So it's just a matter of putting it all together."
On what position he'd play: Coming off a season where Anthony saw great success at the power forward position, many analysts believe that in the looming small ball era it should be his main focus going forward to learn the four and play it more often. But judging from his words, Anthony sees things differently. "I'm a wingman and everyone knows that. But it's an extra incentive that I can play the four position. It gives us more weapons and more flexibility."