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Friday, August 29

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Frederic Weis, whom the Knicks drafted nine years ago to eventually replace Patrick Ewing, got traded Friday to Houston. For Patrick Ewing Jr. Officially it's Weis' draft rights (and the French flop isn't expected to suddenly hop a boat and sail over to back up Yao Ming), which means Houston essentially gave the Knicks the son of their Hall of Fame center for nothing (in lieu of cutting him). Bergen Record

Which is a whole lot to say about a buy who averaged 6.1 points at Georgetown last year _ albeit as the Big East's Sixth Man of the Year. But as team prez Donnie Walsh called him on draft night, "He's a glue guy," the kind of player who can defend, do the little things as a fringe rotation player _ if he makes it. Walsh wanted to deal for a late-first/early-second round pick to take him, but couldn't get it done before the Kings beat him to the punch. Bergen Record

Publicly, the Nets are saying they're going to be OK. But there are some doubts privately. One source said they probably will struggle because of their youth, but added they're not done making changes. A potential good sign for the Nets is that Carter and Harris orchestrated a team workout last week – they may have been prodded - in an effort to build chemistry, familiarity and an us-against-the-world mentality. Bergen Record

Josh Childress turned heads when he spurned the Hawks and the NBA by opting to sign with Greek's Olympiakos. Wilkins made it clear that he loves Childress, but he fears the young man is making a major mistake. "I think it's risky, and especially during this time in his career. I played in Greece, I know the system and how things work. They throw a lot of money at you, but if you don't play well or the team starts losing they start looking for ways to get rid of you and they don't pay you. The contract may say guaranteed, but it's not always guaranteed. I wish him luck because I love Josh Childress, but if it were me at his stage of life and career, I wouldn't make that kind of move." HoopsWorld.com

The Cavs' coaching staff is very high on Hickson, but should Ben Wallace continue to regress, they will be faced with the possibility of a rookie playing significant minutes at power forward. For almost four years, Drew Gooden was a staple at the four spot, but when the Cavs acquired Wallace they made the decision to try to win now. The 33-year-old Wallace has never been much of an offensive threat, and the wear and tear of playing center for much of his career has taken away some of his defensive abilities. Hickson was explosive in the Las Vegas summer league -- several coaches told me they thought he was the best player at the camp -- but he is a year or two away from being a regular NBA player. Cleveland may have to throw him into the fire before he is ready. SI.com

After posing for pictures in the Hornets' newly redesigned purple, blue and gold uniforms, Paul clutched his medal while talking about what he hopes will be another chance to wear red, white and blue at the 2012 Games in London. "We want to defend it," Paul said. "It was so much fun. All of us were talking in the locker room afterward about (how) we've got to get back together in 2012." Sun-Herald

Like millions of Americans, Karl Malone pulled for Team USA and watched proudly as it marched to the gold medal during the just-completed Olympics. Asked if "that team" could have beaten the original Dream Team, however, Malone smiled and said, "Beat us? What team? . . . What team are you talking about?" When it was suggested the speed and finesse "Redeem Team" would have been unable to stop the Dream Team inside, Malone quickly added, "Or outside." Salt Lake Tribune

Expect an official announcement from British Basketball on Friday morning but Basketball 24/7 can tell you - Deng is back! After two crazy weeks of lobbying and tireless work negotiating with insurance companies, BB have come up with the premium - understood to be around £250,000 - that allows Luol Deng to play in this summer's European Championship qualifiers. The Chicago Bulls ace was on a Transatlantic flight late Thursday, heading to London, although time will not allow him to join up with the GB squad on their current visit to Turkey. Basketball247

However, Chicago have given their verbal commitment to release Deng and their signature to the agreement should be a routine matter. GB also, of course, have to lodge the money with the insurance company's bank and wait for it to clear, which could add another day to the process. But all parties appear optimistic that there is no danger of Deng missing the opening tip in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, even if he will not have had chance to practise with the team. Basketball247

What do you take away from working with Gerald Wallace? Sam Vincent: I think Gerald Wallace is a very talented basketball player. I think he has unique skills that afford him the ability to really help the team. But I think Gerald Wallace, he decides how effective he is going to be. If he accepts the role, and understands that that role can make the team a whole lot better, he's going to become even better. But it's when he steps out of that box, he decides to do a little too much and it sometimes hurts the team. Last year, we went out to LA, beat the Lakers, he had a great game, he had three games on that roadtrip where he was phenomenal and we won all three. When we had Gerald in that kind of role and Jason doing his thing, we were a pretty good team. We just didn't have the chemistry to do that for a whole year, and part of that was I was learning the guys and they were learning me. RidiculousUpside.com

But a lot of the reports of the relationships with the players being strained and we couldn't get along, that was just false reporting. I'm a coach that will discipline his guys, because I believe that's part of coaching. But I never lacked any respect for those guys or showed any excessive discipline for them. I just tried to do the best job I could. RidiculousUpside.com

The NBA officially handed over the Seattle franchise to Oklahoma City about two months ago, and three trucks arrived downtown at headquarters on Friday. The first thing to roll off the truck was a basketball with the NBA logo. "It was a nice touch, wasn't it?" said Pete Winemiller, a team vice president for guest relations who helped oversee the move. ESPN.com

At this point we had to take a moment away from talking about the NBA and talk very frankly about what's at stake in America today. Dominique Wilkins was starting to sound very much like a man who I have enormous respect for and I pray will be the next President of the United States. So I asked him if he was paying attention to politics. "I think Barack Obama is great," said Wilkins. "I've known him for years and I've done events with him. I'm endorsing him. We've done some things together here in Atlanta for his campaign. I've been a friend of his for a long time and actually did some things with him before I even knew he was thinking about running for President. I know him well and he's just a great guy. I understand that there's more to life than just basketball. I'm a part of it and I live it every day." HoopsWorld.com

"There's not a set date for the surgery; I don't know which doctor will do it, but there's one thing sure and it's that I have to do it," Manu Ginobili said. "Today my ankle doesn't hurt when I walk, but it does when I try to jump or run. In these cases, the recovery period is 6-8 weeks." INFOBAE.com

"I would still make the same decision about Beijing. I understand the frustration, I understand it's possible that I miss a few games. But taking part in the Olympic Games is very important for any athlete." INFOBAE.com

Blazers center Greg Oden participated in his first 5-on-5, full-court scrimmages since last September's microfracture knee surgery, and the reports were positive. In fact, it was such a big deal that team owner Paul Allen came to town to watch the scrimmages. McMillan said Oden has not experienced any swelling, soreness or other setbacks. The team is making him sit out every other day in order to protect the knee. "The one thing he did that put a big smile on my face is he asked coach Monty (Williams) to come in at night and work with him," McMillan said. "So, he was doing two-a-days, working with Dean (Demopoulos) in the morning and Monty at night. And he did it himself. He would come back at night and work on his footwork with Monty, and for me, that's good. That's great. He is on schedule where Jay Jensen and the trainers want him to be." Oregonian

Andrew Bynum is running on the track. He’s hitting the weights. He’s doing basketball drills. More importantly, the young Lakers center shows no signs of any lingering problems from his knee surgery. Bynum has spent the past month down south, working on his conditioning following surgery in June to repair a partially dislocated left kneecap he suffered Jan. 13. He was cleared to begin drills after a month of rehabilitation, and is expected to be 100 percent for time training camp in October. “Andrew has dedicated another summer to getting into the best possible shape,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said. “A month ago he was cleared from the knee surgery he had and at that point he began working on conditioning and getting into shape and I thought he looked like he has made progress.” Orange County Register

Kupchak didn’t rely on second-hand reports. He traveled to Atlanta earlier this week to check on the fourth-year player from New Jersey and said he liked what he saw. “I could see improvement in his body, his conditioning and mobility,” Kupchak said. “I didn’t see any signs of effects from the surgery.” Orange County Register

Houston Rockets forward Chuck Hayes had surgery Thursday to repair a broken nose. The 6-foot-6 Hayes, Houston's third-leading rebounder last season at 5.4 per game, was hurt during a morning workout. ESPN.com

Hayes, the Rockets’ starting power forward at the start of last season, could be cleared in time for the opening of the Rockets’ training camp Sept. 29 at Toyota Center, but could miss all of the workouts leading up to the start of the preseason schedule, which arrives on Oct. 7 against the Memphis Grizzlies. Houston Chronicle

Travis Diener: My foot's getting closer and closer to 100 percent. It's actually taken a little longer than I would've liked for it to get back to where I want it. There's still some pain and soreness in there but in the next month or so it should be ready to go. So I'm getting ready for camp, getting in the gym, getting shots up, lifting, things of that sort. I plan on being ready for training camp. I get physical therapy two or three times a week to get the mobility back in my toe and I'm trying to work on my ankle so the pain can go away by loosening that up. I'm doing everything I can to get the pain and the soreness out of there. From everything I've heard, there's going to be soreness, it's just a matter of dealing with it. I don't have a problem with that. I can deal with soreness. I want the pain to go away. If I feel it's hindering my game it'll be a problem but right now I'm working hard and trying to get that back to 100 percent. NBA.com

Landry, a restricted free agent, and veteran center Dikembe Mutombo are still unsigned, though the Rockets have indicated that their intention remains to re-sign both. Houston Chronicle

Patriley Speaking with reporters for the first time since days after the June draft, Riley said Thursday he expects to enter training camp with the team's nucleus intact. To be certain he heard my question correctly, Riley not only repeated, but placed an emphasis on the phrase "training camp." What that likely means is a Heat roster than includes Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion, Udonis Haslem and Michael Beasley would get at least a test run to see how well that core might mesh. Otherwise, that blockbuster deal many of us in the media - and you in blognation - have been expecting might take shape. "Anything can happen," Riley said after unveiling an Olympic banner in honor of gold-medal winning Heat guard Dwyane Wade at AmericanAirlines Arena. "But I think this nucleus probably will go into training camp." Miami Herald

Mark Tyndale has beaten the deadline and is clear to play tomorrow night in the NBL pre-season game against Wollongong at Pasadena Sports Centre. Tyndale, 23 and 196cm, only arrived in Adelaide on Monday after work-outs in the U.S. with the NBA's Miami Heat. News.com.au

The Grizzlies have completed the much-anticipated signing of Iranian center Hamed Haddadi, who led all 2008 Olympians in rebounding and blocks during pool play. The 7-2, 254-pound big man was a free agent and was cleared to play for the NBA after U.S. government officials resolved immigration issues. Memphis Commercial Appeal

The Lakers recently exercised a fourth-year contract option on Bynum, but his agent, David Lee, is seeking a maximum five-year, $80 million extension. Kupchak had said that he wanted to wait and see how well Bynum was well he would rebound from his surgery before offering an extension. Orange County Register

Stoudemire seems more than happy to pass off some or all of the blame for his team's mediocre defense, however, to the departed coaching staff of Mike D'Antoni. He was asked about his new coach. "I love Terry Porter," Stoudemire says to the camera. "His method. His way of coaching is going to be great for us. You know, he's extremely focused on the defensive end, something that we haven't practiced at all in the previous three years, and now we're definitely practicing and improving on the defensive end." ESPN.com

Once the interview starts, Stoudemire announces a story that promises to get some major run in the blogosphere as the season unfolds. He has been taking piano lessons. "Strictly for the ladies," he explains. " Just to kind of serenade the ladies a little bit with the piano. See how that goes." ESPN.com

"What do you think of (general manager) Steve Kerr's plan to limit you to 70 games next season?" Steve Nash gives me that "you're-not-going-to-get-much-out-of-me smile" and then proceeds to, well, not give me much. "We'll see how it goes," he says. "Those are great intentions, but is it realistic? We'll see." "I feel like you can always use the rest," Nash says. "If you can get to the postseason well rested, it's perfect. But you can't always afford to do that." East Valley Tribune

Williams said winning the Olympics was “by far” better than making the Western Conference Finals with the Jazz in 2007 or taking Illinois to the NCAA championship game in 2005. He also said that U.S. teammate Dwyane Wade told him he valued his Olympic gold medal over the NBA championship he won with the Miami Heat a few years ago. Representing his country and getting the U.S. back on top of the world meant that much to him. Now Williams wants to be able to make that comparison. “Hopefully," he said, "I can get an NBA championship and then I can really tell ya (which is better)." Deseret Morning News

Williams believes his Olympic experience will help him help the Jazz this season. “It couldn't do anything but help -- any time you get the chance to play with the type of players I played with every day, practice against them...” He also felt like it helped him bond with Boozer. “It was great for me and Carlos and to go through this experience together. It makes us stronger as teammates for the season,” he said. “It just gives us a chance to spend more time together and get to know each other better.” Deseret Morning News

Williams got a kick out of how his 2-year-old daughter became a fan of swimming phenom Michael Phelps. She recognized him in a picture that Williams had taken with the recent winner of eight gold medals and fellow point guard Chris Paul. “She has a dog she calls Michael Phelps because she swims with him,” Williams said with a smile. His 5-year-old daughter also stayed home while Williams and his wife were in China. Deseret Morning News

McMillan said the experience was rewarding, and a relief, because so much pressure was put on the team to win gold. He said the coaches often stayed up until 4 a.m. watching film, and were at practice by 11 a.m. In the end, he said it was all worth it. "It was mission accomplished," McMillan said. "And to me, it's very similar to what we have tried to do here in Portland. You know, USA had a bad reputation. We were a country that was arrogant, cocky, maybe overconfident, and we didn't have good character in the last Olympics. "All of that needed to change. And it happened. We were respected, we showed some pride. We showed we weren't different, that we weren't above anyone. We played the game the right way, and we bring home the gold." Oregonian

Here they come: Most of the Blazers have reported to Portland, fulfilling McMillan's informal request to have the team in town by Aug. 25. Training camp opens Sept. 30. The only players who have not reported are Travis Outlaw, Joel Przybilla, Raef LaFrentz, Ike Diogu and Rudy Fernandez. McMillan said he told Fernandez to take at least a couple weeks off before getting to Portland. Outlaw is expected to arrive early next week. "For us to have that many guys at this time is good," McMillan said. "They don't have to be here. So that's good." Oregonian

The high-energy shooting guard for Spain, who will join the Blazers this month, excelled during the Olympics, which included a team-high 22 points in the gold medal loss to the Americans. And after getting a front-row view for many of Spain's games, McMillan said Fernandez, 23, is so talented that he will "definitely" play, and play a lot, for the Blazers. "I'm sitting there (in the gold medal game) with a straight face, trying not to smile," McMillan said. "(Spain) are the guys we have to beat, but I'm caught. That's my player and I want to (he claps his hands twice) but I gotta (he makes a serious face) because we are going up against him." Oregonian

McMillan said that early in the Olympics, after watching Spain's second game, he had a fitful night of sleep. "I was so impressed with him that it was to the point where after the second time I saw him, I didn't sleep that night because I was moving my rotations around," McMillan said. "I swear I did not sleep. I could not sleep thinking about him. Because I'm saying, 'We can put him here, do this with him, do that with him and Brandon (Roy), and do this . . .' So he's playing for us. Oh yeah. I see that right now." Oregonian

McMillan said he envisions Fernandez playing in the second unit with Jerryd Bayless and Travis Outlaw, with the scoring focus centered on Outlaw and Fernandez. He also guaranteed Fernandez and Roy will play together, most likely with Roy as point and Fernandez at shooting guard, but he also didn't rule out Roy playing small forward alongside Fernandez at shooting guard. Oregonian

Bobby Jackson, who was reunited with the Kings a few weeks ago, returns as a 35-year-old whose body recovers reluctantly from injuries, clings to the final five or six pounds of unwanted weight, and causes him to pause before high-diving into the stands for loose balls. "I'm not Superman anymore," he cautions. Yet Sacramento's one-time superhero – one of few Kings not intimidated by the Lakers in Game 7 of the 2002 Western Conference finals – longs for the days when he wore the cape. If he possessed otherworldly powers right now, Jackson says, he would do two things. Sacramento Bee

Three months ago – and only five years since the two reconciled – Bobby Jackson Sr. was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He is hospitalized in Washington, D.C. "My dad smoked for 30 years," the younger Jackson said matter-of-factly. "He got lung disease a long time ago, before the cancer. One of his lungs just collapsed. He's not doing well." Sacramento Bee

"My dad left when I was a little kid," Jackson related the other day. "I probably saw him four or five times until I became a senior in college. My mom tried to initiate a (reconciliation) with him, but I didn't want anything to do with that. Then when she died in 2003, I started to realize that you only have two parents. I asked myself, 'Do I want to get to know him? To let him get to know my kids? Can I forgive?' I decided he needs to be there." Sacramento Bee

Jackson, who is married with four children and remains extremely close to his twin sister in North Carolina, said his initial overture to his father led to awkward, uncomfortable moments. There was anger. There were accusations. There were pregnant pauses. "Like I told him," Jackson said, " 'What you did, how our relationship was, you messed up. You can't call me for stuff. You can't ask me for anything. You didn't take care of me and my sister. My mom did.' I had to get over that." Sacramento Bee

The man who opened the door for Pat Riley's Hall of Fame coaching career and the player who helped lead him to immediate championship success have been selected by the Heat president to introduce him for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Jerry West, who in 1981 turned down the opportunity to coach the Los Angeles Lakers and agreed only to serve as an assistant to Riley, will introduce Riley at the Sept. 5 enshrinement in Springfield, Mass. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Here’s a little news flash for everyone. It looks like The Orlando Magic have decided to cleverly name their half-season ticket plan the “Half Howard Plan.” Why is this a news flash? Because included in this package is a December 5th game against a team that doesn’t exist: the Thunder. TheLostOgle.com

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Thursday, August 28

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Luol Deng was on flight for Europe on Thursday night after Great Britain Basketball chiefs apparently won their battle to free him to play for the national team. The 23-year-old Chicago Bulls star had been sidelined after being put on an exclusion list by the NBA's insurance company. Basketball247.co.uk

But GB bosses have managed to find the £250,000 needed to take out additional insurance on an old back injury and Deng was heading to GB training camp in Turkey last night. The GB star still has to complete formalities but the Bulls are understood to have agreed to his release - the biggest potential stumbling block left in winning his release. Basketball247.co.uk

Kupchak wouldn’t comment on the MiamiHerald.com report that the Lakers have offered the big man a minimum-level deal that would keep him on the roster. The Miami Heat brought in Mbenga for a workout last week and according to the Herald, he was waiting for a “sweeter offer” from the Heat. “I thought he did a good job last season for us and under the right circumstances we might be interested in keeping him,” Kupchak said. Orange County Register

Riley said the team continues to negotiate with free-agent point guard Chris Quinn. Considering the team has extended a qualifying offer of nearly $1 million to Quinn, it essentially has no other choice. Quinn retains the right to take the qualifying offer any time before the start of camp. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

"The only player that we didn't get in free agency that we wanted was Roger Mason and we couldn't. It was going to be either/or, really," Riley said shortly after a ceremony at AmericanAirlines Arena that saluted Dwyane Wade's gold-medal success at the Beijing Olympics. "We tried to convince one of them to take the $1.9 (million low-level salary-cap exception). But everybody else we wanted, we got." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

And what of his own future on the court? Shirley’s said he hopes to publish a novel eventually, but is uncertain as always of whether he’ll return to basketball. “No, I haven’t decided,” Shirley said. “I’m in Kansas City right now, partly because I have a house here and also to see what condition my body is in. The first goal is to see if it’s possible to continue, then to see if anybody wants me to play.” GoCyclones.com

The Hornets have addressed a need to beef up their bench inside the paint with the announcement of the signing of power forward/center Sean Marks. Marks played in 19 games with the Phoenix Suns last season and averaged 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds while playing a little less than seven minutes per game. New Orleans Times-Picayune

While Bryant's USA team-mates didn't win many friends on the way to winning the gold medal at Beijing, Saville said the famous Los Angeles Lakers guard left a lasting impression for all the right reasons. "Without a shadow of a doubt, Kobe carried himself way above every other person on that team," he said. "I'd heard and read stuff about him in the past, but he was a class act all the way through, even going back to when we played them at the pre-Olympic tournament in Shanghai. Illawarra Mercury

"Most of the other guys on that team just acted like prima donnas. They just carried on like pork chops," he added. Illawarra Mercury

Matched against the Americans in the quarter-final, Saville lined up a three-pointer and was fouled hard by Wade when the gold medal favourites were comfortably ahead late in the game. The pair exchanged words, with the Wollongong Hawks forward letting Wade know he wasn't happy about the unnecessary cheap shot. "He didn't make a play at the ball, he just ran straight at my legs," the 32-year-old said. "He said 'You got the foul', and I just asked him would he have liked it if I'd done the same thing to him. "You kind of want to say more, but it's hard to talk trash when you're down 30." Illawarra Mercury

Lakers center Andrew Bynum, sidelined since January because of a knee injury and subsequent surgery, will head back to Los Angeles mid-September to continue his comeback. Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, who met with Bynum this week in Atlanta, said Wednesday that the player expressed an eagerness to begin full-court work when he arrives on the West Coast. He will participate in drills and games either at the Lakers facility in El Segundo or in pick-up games at UCLA. Orange County Register

Shirley’s most recent stop was in Menorca, an island off the coast of Spain, where, for the first time, he stayed with a single team for a complete season. This summer he wrote a series of columns for the Spanish newspaper “El Pais,” offering commentary on Olympic basketball. “It’s been fun because I’ve seen a couple places where what I’ve written, which was then translated into Spanish, has been translated back in to English, and it’s completely different from what I originally wrote,” he said. “I have a feeling my tone does not come across well in the Spanish translation.” GoCyclones.com

Paul, who helped guide the United States to its first Olympic gold in basketball since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, said he is still riding a high since hearing the United States' national anthem during the medal presentation. "Words can't describe that feeling," Paul said at Thursday's press conference at the New Orleans Arena. "I don't know, it's crazy. It still feels like it hasn't happened. I still have to look at the pictures and the videos to realize I was actually there in that moment, in that time. It's something that I think we will share for ever." New Orleans Times-Picayune

Also amazing to Howard was how Team USA's players were adored and idolized among the Chinese people at the Olympics. "China treated us like rock stars, like The Beatles," Howard said. "One person would recognize us on a van and then all of a sudden like a hundred people would be taking pictures of us through the windows. It was wild." Florida Today

During his conference call with local media today, Chris Mullin (answering a question from my man Tim Kawakami) told reporters the Warriors will be going to look at Shaun Livingston in Chicago tomorrow. He said the workout was scheduled long before the Warriors learned starting point guard Monta Ellis would be out for three months after today’s knee surgery. Certainly, they will be looking on with much more intensity. Contra Costa Times

Mullin said as of this point, Marcus Williams is the starter. Which means C.J. Watson, who is non-guaranteed and needs to make the roster, is the No. 2. That’s music to Watson’s ears. “I’m ready for the opportunity,” Watson said in a phone interview Wednesday. “I’m kinda sad that Monta got hurt. But this gives me an opportunity to prove myself to the coaches.” Contra Costa Times

Joe Crawford, the Lakers’ lone draft pick this season, signed a one-year non-guaranteed contract Tuesday with the club. Crawford, the No. 58 overall pick in this summer’s NBA Draft, played four seasons at University of Kentucky, averaging 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists. He ranked fourth in the Southeastern Conference in scoring with 17.9 points a game. Crawford’s agent, Noah Croom, said the guard is “excited to be a part of the Lakers and have the opportunity to show what he can do for them.” Orange County Register

Portland, already considered a rising power in the West with Greg Oden set to join Brandon Roy this season, is expected to have some significant cap room next summer. They could have even more in the summer of 2010 when some marquee free agents such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are expected to become available. Obviously, Portland would lose a big chunk of that space if Miles' salary has to go back on its cap. As one Eastern Conference executive said recently: "There are a lot of teams out there hoping [Miles] plays those 10 games." SI.com

Before you get too excited about the notion of Ben Gordon heading to Utah, Jazz sources shot down the idea via early morning text message almost immediately. Funny what "NO CHANCE" looks like in a text reply? That did not stop The Salt Lake Tribune from answering an e-mail question from a fan asking is "there any way the Jazz could work something out." HoopsWorld

Theus is quickly gaining a sense of Bobby Jackson's popularity within the community. Virtually everywhere he goes, people approach and express their excitement about the veteran guard's return. "Bobby Jackson, Bobby Jackson, Bobby Jackson," Theus said. "I say, 'guys, that was eight years ago. He can still play. But that was a long time ago.' The good thing is, I've talked to Bobby, and explained to him how important his presence is going to be in the locker room. It's going to be enormous. It's important to mentor the young guys the right way, and a lot of our success is going to depend on how quickly the young guys develop." Sacramento Bee

Alba Berlin completed its roster for its Euroleague comeback this season on Thursday with the addition of American forward Casey Jacobsen (198, 27) for the next campaign. Jacobsen arrives from the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA where last season he averaged 2.0 points and 1.2 rebounds in 53 appearances. Jacobsen played college ball in Stanford with which he played the NCAA Final Eight in 2001. He finished his play there becoming the college third best scorer ever. He was drafted in 2002 by the Phoenix Suns. Euroleague.net

Taurean Green doesn't speak much Spanish, and that may be a problem. The former UF point guard confirmed Wednesday that he has agreed to play for the Spanish club CAI Zaragoza. Green is in the process of negotiating what is believed to be a one-year deal with the team. He would not confirm the specifics of the contract. “I feel like this is the best move for me right now,” he said in a phone interview. Green said he is excited to spend some time overseas and that he views the move as a positive step for his career. “The competition is tough. The guys playing in this league are good players,” he said. The Independent Florida Alligator

That initial act of kindness has blossomed into a full-fledged entrepreneurial venture for the former Pacers forward. He owns an investment company that seeks community re-investment opportunities; a construction company that restores flood-ravaged housing; a property management company that leases those properties, targeting displaced residents looking to return to the New Orleans area; and a realty company to help facilitate the sale of those properties to qualified families. You've heard of a one-man wrecking crew? Bender has become a one-man rebuilding team. "It wasn't charity, it was a real crisis," Bender said, reflecting on those tense days in the aftermath of Katrina. "I hadn't spoken to my grandmother in weeks and when I finally talked to her they were stuck. I finally went to my house and it was just crazy. It was tough to get the normal stuff everybody else has like water or gas. When I went to Indiana and did it I wasn't thinking of anything other than trying to help as much as I could. Pacers.com

He described his philosophy simply but eloquently: "Each one teach one." "For me, it’s not just about putting someone in a house," he said. "It’s about showing someone how to fish so they can eat for a lifetime, as the old proverb says. It's about treating others the way you want to be treated. Educating people on many levels -- how to establish their credit, maintain their credit, how to get a home, keep a home, financial planning, opening a business, wealth-building and management and so much more." Pacers.com

"I’m not in the habit of looking back but if I must, the injuries took me through a tremendous mental test that taught me incredible patience," he said. "It taught me how to cope with adversity, how to create my own world. I developed razor-sharp focus that helped to block out the harsh criticism and negativity that was being said and written. It helped me to be stronger, to think deeper, knowing that everything happens for a reason. Pacers.com

Warriors guard Monta Ellis had surgery for a torn deltoid ligament Wednesday morning after sustaining a severe high ankle sprain working out, and will be sidelined for at least 3 months. Ellis, who a month ago signed a six-year, $66 million contract extension, injured himself working out last week in his hometown of Jackson, Miss. The ankle will be immobilzed for six weeks and then Ellis will spend six weeks undergoing off-court rehabilitation before he will even step on the court -- meaning he will miss at least one month of the regular season and possibly two. San Francisco Chronicle

Now that Coach K. has helped restore the U.S. to its rightful place atop the world basketball throne, who will be his replacement? Don't you think it should be an NBA coach this time around? It's too early to say right now. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and Jazz coach Jerry Sloan are two prominent names you will hear in the coming days. Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni, an assistant on Coach K.'s staff this year and an experienced hand in international play, also could be in the mix. Either way, I think it will be an NBA coach. I don't see another Coach K. out there on the college landscape right now who could step in and handle a team full of NBA egos. SI.com

When asked if he would coach the national team again, Krzyzewski said that it's too early for any decisions. He simply said: "I'll help in some capacity in consulting, in whatever they need to do." ESPN.com

Krzyzewski said Wednesday by phone from Durham, N.C., that he will continue to be involved in helping USA Basketball with the model that national team managing director Jerry Colangelo organized three years ago. A three-year commitment from players and coaches is being praised for creating a winning atmosphere around the national team. Currently, the lower levels of USA Basketball, notably the junior national teams in tournaments at the under-20 and under-18 levels, have yearly turnover of players and coaches. ESPN.com

Krzyzewski said that the NBA, NCAA and USA Basketball will convene sometime this fall to help restructure the national programs. He said the plan is in place to set a four-year schedule for the various teams. The national team must make other decisions as well, like how to refresh the current pool of players, prepare for the 2010 World Championships in Turkey and get ready for the 2012 Olympics in London. "It's a critical time to use the momentum we've gained over the past three years to make us even stronger in basketball," Krzyzewski said. He said that once the "gold dust" settles there will be movement on this topic. ESPN.com

"I know they're not LeBron James and Kobe Bryant,'' Krzyzewski said. But he said star players' mindset showed it can be done at any level. Krzyzewski mentioned the unselfishness of players who gave up scoring to help the greater team goal, another easy point to transfer to his Duke players. Defending the flex offense and ball screens will certainly be tweaked at Duke, too, after doing it in an international tournament. "I"m so proud, so happy, I loved my guys,'' Krzyzewski said. "They represented themselves and their country. It wasn't anything the coaches did. The players went to all the venues, spoke and acted well. They were genuine. I'm proud of them and it was an honor to coach them.'' ESPN.com

Julius Hodge: Recently I’ve been in contact with some urban clothing company and I thought about doing ad modeling. When I told my mom about this, she said, “You will not do any underwear modelling, right? And remember that you have to focus on your jump shot to make the Nets’ roster.” Good advice, mom! I’m feeling good, really good about my chances to make the Nets roster. I’ve been talking with the coaching staff and the managers as well and they agree that I’ve improved my shooting, my defense and leadership on the court. HoopsHype.com

Julius Hodge: I’ve also had the chance to play with the rookies. Man, they are good. Brook Lopez is a force down low, Ryan Anderson can shoot it from outside and CDR (Chris Douglas-Roberts) is a tough wing player to defend. The intensity was high at the Nets facility. I was trying to get a rebound when I was double-hit hard: in the back and in one bone of my left arm. It hurt, but I decided to make sure I got the call so I started to act a little bit, screaming more than Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson at the Oscars… Coach Frank Lawrence ran my way and asked, “Are you alright?” “Coach, I didn’t know you cared so much about me,” I replied, and everybody started laughing. HoopsHype.com

Julius Hodge: I talked about the slalom kayaking in my last post. Well, I do like the sport although I can only remember who won the silver medal: France. I also liked swimming a lot. Not only because Michael Phelps, but also the amazing 4×100 freestyle victory trailing from behind. Back to my routine, right now I live ten minutes away from NYC, and I really mean it when I say, “I’ve been training all summer.” I say from Monday to Sunday. 24/7. After practicing, I go to a gym and do yoga and Pilates classes. Compared to the beginning of the summer, my legs are much stronger now and I can easily dunk with both hands. As I said, offseason work is paying off and I’m feeling more comfortable on the court. HoopsHype.com

Australian point guard Patrick Mills says he is yet to be approached by NBA clubs despite an impressive performances at the Beijing Olympics. Mills was the Boomers' highest pointscorer in Beijing, and finished in the top 10 in the tournament for the most steals. His skills attracted praise from American commentators who said he had the talent to play in the world's premier basketball competition, the NBA. But the 20-year-old starlet says playing college basketball in the United States limits his opportunities for now. "Me being at college kind of limits the contact you're allowed to have with NBA scouts, agents, managers that sort of thing so not yet," he said. ABC.net.au

"Any team in the NBA would be great but I would probably go with the Chicago Bulls," he said. ABC.net.au

The future of ex-Arkansas guard Patrick Beverley finally has gotten a little clearer. Both the player and his new agent have confirmed to Sporting News that Beverley is on the brink of signing with a European team, in Germany or Turkey, perhaps as early as Friday. "The big thing is to get Patrick hooked in with a team that he can play right away for," said his agent, Bernie Lee of Lee Sport Management in Toronto. "Patrick is very thrilled about playing in Europe, but ultimately, he wants to come back and be ready for the NBA predraft camp in Orlando." SportingNews

It was announced early this month that Beverley, 20, would not be back with the Razorbacks next year. NBA evaluators generally agreed that Beverley was not quite ready for the league -- he would have been, at best, a second-round pick in 2008 -- but a year abroad among pros could change that. SportingNews

Oklahoma City's NBA franchise has finally set a date to announce a name and colors. The club announced Wednesday that it would unveil the name and team colors simultaneously on its Web site and at a downtown event Sept. 3. Clay Bennett's ownership group has applied for trademarks for six names: Thunder, Energy, Wind, Marshalls, Barons and Bison. Tulsa World

Oklahoma City's NBA team is expected to announce Thunder as its nickname at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The franchise will announce the team name, its mark, the four team colors and logo at a press conference at Leadership Square. Team officials would neither confirm nor deny whether Thunder is the nickname. Oklahoman

And don't put any credence into uniform designs that have appeared on the Internet with Thunder logos. All designs have been speculative and have no affiliation with the NBA or Oklahoma City's franchise. Oklahoman

Thunder.net communications in July extended domain name rights through 2011. In a question and answer segment on the Web site, it was asked if the thunder domain names could be purchased. The answer: "In case you thought you're the first to ask, you're 14 years too late. The answer has always been, no. They're not for sale. The domains are in use.” A follow question suggested everyone has a price. The answer was: "You'd have a real challenge trying to convince an unmotivated party to sell. Sale prices in recent years indicate prime dictionary-based domain names are worth many millions, so your initial offer would have to break records for domain name sales prices.” Oklahoman

Yes getting subpoenad really is that glamorous. I got hit yesterday sitting in a meeting with my insurance company when a guy in a bright yellow shirt started hanging out, and eventually knocking on my conference room door. Right in the middle of the meeting I got the handoff and the “You’ve been served.” line. At least my insurance agent is a Sonics fan. Better than being hit by some random employee complaint. SOS has nothing to hide. We’ll cooperate fully but I have a lot of documentation to assemble and as usual I want to thank Brad Keller for being extraordinarilly low class in this process. SonicsCentral.com

The subpoena relates to ongoing litigation that is already reported. It does not represent any new litigation or personal actions against me. Sorry about the confusion. Getting subpoenaed is not the same as getting sued. Thanks for your concern… SOS has nothing to hide. We'll cooperate fully but I have a lot of documentation to assemble over the next few weeks." HoopsWorld

There is a back story to Brian's involvement in this issue, when Brian left HOOPSWORLD he was heavily involved in Clay Bennett's push to get a new arena, often dropping us notes and e-mails giving us the very latest from inside Clay's inner circle. When Clay decided to end pursuit of an arena and possible relocation, Brian changed from supporter to activist and founded Save Our Sonics and led a very public push to keep the team in Seattle. Sources close to the situation believe if Seattle is awarded a new NBA franchise at some point in the future, Brian may be heavily involved, possibly as a minority owner. HoopsWorld

The Suns made the promotions of Todd Quinter to director of player personnel and Noel Gillespie to advance scout official today. For many fans, these are unfamiliar, behind-the-scenes names because Quinter has spent the bulk of his career on the scouting side and Gillespie was in video. But they are significant as voices which Steve Kerr has quickly grown to trust entering his second year as general manager. Rather than bring in someone to fill Vinny Del Negro's vacated assistant GM job, Kerr rewarded people in-house and saved the club some payroll. Arizona Republic

Before training camp opens at the end of September, Theus plans to go dove hunting in New Mexico with his 14-year-old son, Reggie. Think bows and arrows, not shotguns. We keep hearing that Reggie is quite the archer. But he's hoping that his namesake - who already stands 6-foot-4 - is more inclined to develops his basketball skills. "His feet are huge," said Theus, laughing. "I want him to keep playing." Sacramento Bee

Oregon officials say an autopsy shows former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth died when his enlarged heart failed. Duckworth died Monday at 44 on the Oregon coast, where he was on a goodwill tour for the team. The Oregon State Police said Wednesday the autopsy was done by Dr. Larry Lewman, a state medical examiner who concluded that Duckworth died of "hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure." AP

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