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01
Each weekday morning, Ball Don’t Lie serves up a handful of
NBA-related stories to digest with your shirred eggs.
Phil Jasner, Philadelphia Daily News: "If Andre Miller’s tenure with the 76ers wasn’t already over, it is seemingly another step closer. A source familiar with the situation said the Sixers have withdrawn their 1-year offer to the veteran point guard. The Sixers made that move because they believe Miller does not want to return on a 1-year contract. There have been multiple reports in recent days about interest from the New York Knicks and the Portland Trail Blazers, and both the Sixers and Miller’s agent, Andy Miller, are open to the possibility of a sign-and-trade. Sixers president/general manager Ed Stefanski, who declined comment, is in Las Vegas watching Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young perform in the U.S. national team’s minicamp."
Kevin Tatum, Philadelphia Inquirer:
"Among the guards the Sixers are interested in, Miami Heat free agent
Luther Head is intriguing, especially if Andre Miller leaves.
Yesterday, talks between Miller and the New York Knicks were said to be
heating up, and a league source said Portland also was going after the
free-agent point guard. At 6-3, Head can play both guard positions, and
he is a tough defender. The Illinois product has averaged 8.6 points
per game over his five-year career, with a high of 10.9 in 2006-07.
Head’s agent said he would be a good fit for the Princeton Offense the
Sixers will run under first-year coach Eddie Jordan. ‘They ran similar
stuff at Illinois,’ agent Mark Bartlestein said. ‘We’re having ongoing
conversations with the Sixers. They’re involved with Andre Miller, so
we’ll see what happens in the coming days.’"
Steve Carp, Las Vegas Review-Journal: "Kevin Durant had no reason to feel uptight on the first day of USA Basketball’s three-day minicamp. After nearly making the U.S. Olympic roster last summer, the 6-foot-9-inch forward from the Oklahoma City Thunder played with ease and confidence throughout a two-hour workout observed by coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff. The 20-year-old was the best player on the floor. ‘I’ve been through this before, so I kinda know what to expect,’ Kevin Durant said. Having barely missed the Beijing Olympics, in which Team USA won the gold medal, Durant said he is highly motivated to make the roster that will play in the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Turkey and 2012 London Olympics. ‘Definitely,’ Durant said. ‘I’m watching (the Olympics) and I’m thinking, ‘Man, I would love to be there with those guys.’ So this camp is important in trying to establish myself for the next Olympics. It starts right now.’"
Rob Miech, Las Vegas Sun: "Anthony Randolph Jr. got the call to serve his country the other day and quickly called his parents. Anthony Sr. and Crystal served in the U.S. Army. ‘They both cried,’ said Junior, who parlayed a blistering NBA Summer League performance into a spot on the U.S. national basketball team. ‘That I’m able to serve my country, even in a little way, is great.’ Wednesday night, after a team meeting, Randolph went to his room in the Wynn and, with a Team USA trainer at his side, tried on his official No. 62 jersey. ‘It’s crazy,’ he said. ‘I looked in the mirror and just started smiling. It’s real special to be here and be considered to represent my country.’"
Ailene Voisin, Sacramento Bee: "Spencer Hawes plopped onto the couch in the lobby of the Kings’ practice facility, his 7-foot frame dominating the decor. A bag of ice encased his right knee. His gray T-shirt was soaked with sweat. His arms draped the back of the furniture, a cell phone clutched in his right hand. No, he never made it to Las Vegas. He says he’s sorry about that. ‘The biggest thing was poor communication on my end,’ explained Hawes on Thursday, almost two weeks after abruptly canceling his participation in the annual summer league. ‘I definitely could have handled it better. If I (ticked) people off, I apologize. I couldn’t be there for the first few days because of another commitment, but I planned on coming after that. Then when it all blew up, I just would have been a distraction. I have to take responsibility for that. But the key is I’ve spoken with the coaches and Geoff (Petrie, the Kings’ basketball president), and we put it behind us.’ Partly to make amends for skipping Vegas, but also to reassure the organization he hasn’t suddenly lost his lusty work ethic, Hawes flew in from Seattle and spent the past several days working out with his new coaches."
Mike Monroe, S.A. Express-News: "The
Spurs have gotten younger and more athletic this summer, but their
latest addition proves they still value veteran players who can defend,
even as their athleticism has begun to wane. Spurs general manager R.C.
Buford confirmed Thursday that Theo Ratliff, a 36-year-old center who
averaged 3.6 blocks per game in 2003-04, has agreed to terms of a
contract for the 2009-10 season. ‘Theo has always been a very good
defender and shot-blocker,’ Buford said. ‘Looking to next season, we
thought that shot-blocking and rim protection was an important piece we
needed to fill.’"
Jay Drew, The Salt Lake Tribune: "When he pulled on the blue practice jersey with the letters USA across the front, Jazz forward Paul Millsap knew he had made the right decision to participate in the USA Basketball team mini-camp this weekend, despite some initial concerns. ‘This is a big deal to me,’ said Millsap, who signed a new four-year contract with the Jazz recently. ‘It is an honor. You hear stories, and it just makes you feel good if you can do something like this. It would be a dream come true to make [Team USA]. The team that won the gold [medal] made it cool again to be a part of this.’ The same could be said of Jazz guards Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer, who were also at the first session of mini-camp Thursday afternoon at Valley High School, along with assistant coach Tyrone Corbin, part of the coaching staff directed by Jay Triano of the Toronto Raptors. Jazz guard Deron Williams and Walt Perrin, Director of Player Personnel for the Jazz, watched from the stands. ‘To say the Jazz are well-represented here would be an understatement,’ Korver said. ‘Hopefully, Ty can settle us in a little more and Paul and Ronnie can pass me the ball a little bit.’"
Jonathan Abrams, The New York Times: "Spurned by the veterans Jason Kidd and Grant Hill, who chose to stay with teams that offered better odds of reaching the playoffs, the Knicks have focused on the Milwaukee Bucks point guard Ramon Sessions. But even signing Sessions is unlikely because of its implications on the Knicks’ payroll during next off-season’s free agency. Sessions is also a restricted free agent, so the Bucks can match any offer sheet. The Knicks have not presented a formal offer to Sessions, said his agent, James Wells. The Los Angeles Clippers are also interested in Sessions […] ‘Nothing’s changed,’ Wells said Thursday. ‘We’re still talking to teams, and the Knicks are one of them. We’re trying to get something done sooner rather than later and go from there.’ The Clippers may cease being a suitor for Sessions if they cannot move the recently acquired Sebastian Telfair. That move also stopped their early pursuit of the free-agent point guard Allen Iverson, according to a team executive who was not allowed to publicly discuss the team’s dealings."
Michael Hunt, Journal Sentinel: "The Bucks didn’t so much lose [Charlie] Villanueva as they chose not to make him the qualifying offer of somewhere around $4.65 million a season for fear he would bounce back to them in a depressed free-agent market. Because having Villanueva back on a bloated payroll would’ve exposed the Bucks to the NBA’s luxury tax — an insane notion for a team that wasn’t going to make the playoffs with him — they simply did not want him for financial reasons. And that’s beyond the fact that, at 6 feet 11 inches, he stood on the perimeter shooting threes and didn’t play defense. Who knew he would get $7 million from the Pistons? But know what? Good for Charlie V. He’s a great guy and a terrific teammate. I’m happy he got paid. But because of past mismanagement, it just couldn’t be here. Sessions is the kind of player you’d want in your locker room, too, but let’s be honest here: The Bucks, for good or ill, have cast their lot with Brandon Jennings. He is their point guard moving forward and will start, barring unforeseen circumstances, from Day 1. They prefer their first-round pick’s upside. They like the fact Jennings is quicker and much more spontaneous with his open-floor decision-making."
Wendell Maxey, HOOPSWORLD: "You can now add one more name to the list of point guards Portland has spoken to this offseason. HOOPSWORLD has learned the Trail Blazers engaged in discussions with Carlos Arroyo and his agent late last week in Las Vegas according to a league executive. Arroyo — who played overseas last season for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel — and his agent Leon Rose want Carlos to return to the NBA in a starting role and are asking for two-year deal, but the source believes Portland doesn’t see Arroyo as a fit for the Blazers in that capacity."
Jodie Valade, Cleveland Plain Dealer: "The Cavaliers’ first-round draft pick, the raw-shooting guard Christian Eyenga, will play in Spain next season instead of coming to Cleveland, his agent confirmed Thursday. However, the three-year deal he signed with DKV Joventut this week has enough flexibility that Eyenga can join the Cavaliers after each season of preparation spent abroad. Andy Miller, Eyenga’s New Jersey-based agent, said the agreement will allow the 20-year-old native of Congo to develop as he continues to play with the Spanish club where he spent the past two seasons. ‘This has nothing to do with money. It was not a shakedown of any sort,’ Miller said. ‘This has everything to do with allowing Christian to gain confidence as a pro and develop as a player.’"
Dave D’Alessandro, The Star-Ledger: "Bruce Ratner’s gift for salesmanship is matched only by his determination, as over the past five years he has sold his vision of pro basketball in Brooklyn to countless politicians, sponsors, community groups, and even some economists. Now the Nets’ owner is trying to sell off the most tangible asset he has — the team, or at least a sizable portion of it. So far, nobody’s buying. But according to numerous officials throughout the organization, Ratner may soon find someone to help alleviate the team’s crushing debt load and facilitate the construction of the Atlantic Yards project, and the candidates range from the former CEO of Yahoo to a billionaire industrialist from Russia — each of whom would still move the team from New Jersey. ‘I would be surprised if it doesn’t happen fairly soon,’ said a high-ranking Nets official, who requested anonymity so as not to jeopardize Ratner’s plans. ‘Bruce has looked into several options. He’s had offers, he’s made counteroffers, and at some point in time — probably by the time the season gets under way — something will transpire.’"
