NBA Capsules: Spurs sign guard Gary Neal
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs have signed guard Gary Neal to a contract.
A team statement issued Thursday says terms aren't being disclosed.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Neal led the Spurs' summer league team in scoring with 16 points in 25.8 minutes per game in five games. He was 30 of 60 from the field and 17 of 34 from beyond the 3-point line in Las Vegas.
He went undrafted in the 2007 NBA draft after playing college ball at La Salle and Towson. Since then, he has played one season of pro basketball in Spain and two in Italy.
Heat soaring in off-court business moves as well
MIAMI (AP) — Eric Woolworth has worn button-down shirts to work for the last two weeks, instead of short-sleeve polos, with good reason.
Those polos say "Miami Heat."
"I can't wear them because I can't go out without getting accosted," said Woolworth, the Heat president of business operations. "You can't go out to eat or to a supermarket. You know, everybody wants to talk to you about what's going on. It's crazy."
Don't misunderstand. This is a problem the Heat are thrilled to have.
When Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade made simultaneous announcements on July 7 that they would be teammates in Miami, followed by LeBron James' decision that lured 10 million television viewers and worldwide attention one night later, Heatmania became an instant phenomenon in the sports business world.
The waiting list for Miami season tickets is growing rapidly, fans willing to pay a nonrefundable $100 fee to join. The NBA says the Heat are tops in merchandise sales, with James, Wade and Bosh having three of the five best-selling jerseys. Businesses all over South Florida are trying to cash in on the act, with everything from a LeBron Burger to a "Heat Suite" replete with a Ferrari rental now available.
To think, the season is still more than three months away.
"We are playing in a different sandbox now," Woolworth said.
Indeed, the impact — social and financial, on-court and off-court — James, Wade and Bosh may end up having together in their newly formed supertrio is already becoming apparent. Some estimate their collective financial impact on South Florida could exceed $1 billion, not even taking into account the $329 million in playing contracts they have with Miami through 2016.
"What this is going to bring to the city of Miami, what winning brings period, what excitement brings, is togetherness," Wade said. "Everyone wants to be together. Everyone wants to be a part of it. People are going to come. They're going to flock to Miami."
And when they do, they'll need something to eat, things to do and places to work and sleep.
Ideas in those fronts are coming in bunches.
Hungry? The LeBron Burger has been added to the menu at OneBurger in Coral Gables. It starts with Kobe beef (a nod to Los Angeles Lakers' star Kobe Bryant, the leader of the two-time reigning NBA champions), with Swiss cheese, an onion ring (think championship ring) and jalapenos (for heat, er, the Heat).
Stressed? Get the "LeBroyal Treatment" for $149 at Seven Seas Aveda Spa & Salon at the Newport Beachside Hotel, a collection of six items, an homage to James' new jersey. It features a massage, manicure, personal training session, jet-ski rental, gift package and to top it off, a six-pack of beer.
Busy? Squeeze some work in before a Heat game at the Latitude One International Business Center, which will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week near AmericanAirlines Arena with hopes of "luring corporate ticket buyers, out-of-town executives and media" looking for places to get some business tasks completed before tip-off.
Sleepy? For $2,500 a night, high-end guests can enjoy the "Heat Suite" at The Gansevoort Hotel in Miami Beach, including a rental of a Ferrari F430, private cabana access, some of James' favorite snacks and an iPod with his favorite tunes. The Hotel Victor will offer its $10,000-a-night penthouse to a randomly selected Facebook fan for $163, the Heat trio jersey numbers. Downtown Miami's Epic hotel is offering season-ticket holders discounts, while the Mandarin Oriental will have "Live Like LeBron" weekends, including basketball-shaped cookies.
And those are just a few promotions. There's countless others.
"Our phones are ringing a little bit and our team is actually really excited to sell it," said Brett Orlando, the Gansevoort's general manager. "We actually have a little competition going on for our staff here. The first person who books it, they get a prize, too. But the reaction has been pretty incredible. I think we were one of the first out of the gate with something this fun and exciting for the city."
The epicenter of Heatmania, of course, is the team's downtown arena.
By the time James chose Miami, the entire available allotment of Heat season tickets was gone (some corporate plans remain, as do seats held back for single-game and other plans). Phone banks at the arena were overloaded by callers, the team website saw a giant surge in traffic, people stop by daily at the ticket windows asking for information on when single-game tickets will be available, and even the Summer Groove charity series of events hosted by Wade and Alonzo Mourning saw a huge spike in sales, undoubtedly because of all the Heat buzz.
"At the beginning of July, while Wimbledon is going on and the World Cup is going on and baseball season's in full swing, the NBA is dominating headlines around the world," Woolworth said. "And in a city like Miami, it absolutely takes over everything. The news, the business news, the local news, the front page, the back page, the lifestyles section, everything is now about the Miami Heat."
It's similar to what hit Miami in 2004, when the Heat acquired Shaquille O'Neal. Two years later, Miami won its lone NBA championship.
The building was sold out every night back then as well, just as it will be this year. But the Heat will do things a bit differently this time around, Woolworth said. Through partial-season plans, single-game offerings and other initiatives, the Heat hope to attract a different crowd for each of their 41 regular-season home contests, instead of the same 19,600 faces every night.
"We know the interest is clearly out there," Woolworth said.
While Miami is saying hello, Toronto and Cleveland are saying some liquid good-byes to Bosh and James as well.
In Cleveland, the Great Lakes Brewing Co. quickly went through 30 gallons of specially made "Quitness," a dry hopped India pale ale that leaves a bitter aftertaste, perfectly describing the mood of Cavaliers fans after James' decision. And in Toronto, Bosh's farewell is being marked by a champagne cocktail drummed up by Senior Sommelier William Predhomme of Canoe Restaurant and Bar which features sparkling wine, Ice wine, syrup, lemon, black cherries and a mint sprig.
"We're keenly aware of the fact that not everybody is enjoying this as much as we are," Woolworth said. "But here in Miami, there's nothing but love."
That's what Wade wants to see and hear.
He's had celebrity status in Miami just about from the moment he got to town in 2003, but what he's experienced in the last two weeks, he said, doesn't even compare to the glitz and glamour that followed the NBA title in 2006.
And he's quick to say this isn't a one-summer deal.
James, Wade and Bosh plan to be together for years.
"It's good to be part of it, to know you've done something else for the city and that it's not just about winning championships," Wade said. "You know what, we know that people are going to come down to Miami. There's people that are going to move to Miami. People are going to be part of this community. It's going to shine a light on Miami even more."
-- Tim Reynolds
AP source: Hornets' Paul requests to be traded
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Chris Paul has requested to be traded and the New Orleans Hornets have scheduled a meeting with the star guard on Monday, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Paul will sit down with new head coach Monty Williams, new general manager Dell Demps and team president Hugh Weber in New Orleans, the person told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not made plans to meet with Paul public, and because Paul has not publicly demanded a trade.
The person also said that Paul, through his representatives, has told the Hornets he would prefer to be dealt to one of only a handful of teams, including the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic.
Paul, 25, cannot opt out of his contract for two years. However, he said at a recent charity golf tournament that he will be unhappy playing for the Hornets if they fail to demonstrate a commitment to winning immediately.
The only free-agency move the Hornets have made this offseason so far is resigning reserve center Aaron Gray.
The Hornets also have made it clear they have no intention of trading Paul.
Weber said earlier this month, while attending a community service event with Paul, that there was "no question" Paul would be in a Hornets uniform when next season opened. As recently as Tuesday, Weber also said that an exchange of text messages gave him the impression that Paul approved of the recent hirings of Williams and Demps.
After the Hornets came within one game of advancing to the 2008 Western Conference finals, Paul agreed to a four-year, $68 million extension that went into effect last season includes a player's option for the fourth year.
Since then, however, the Hornets have traded center Tyson Chandler and fired coach Byron Scott, who both were close with Paul, all while the club's performance went into steady decline.
The Hornets were bounced from the first round of the 2008-09 playoffs, then missed the playoffs entirely last season, during which Paul missed 37 games with three separate injuries.
Earlier this month, Paul cut ties with his basketball and marketing agents at Octagon and joined LRMR Marketing, an agency founded by his close friend and NBA superstar LeBron James.
Meanwhile, the Hornets have made several key changes since June, starting with the hiring of Williams, a former NBA player and first-time head coach. Williams has said Paul's presence on the Hornets' roster was one of the main reasons he wanted to start his head coaching career in New Orleans.
On Wednesday, New Orleans hired Demps, a first-time general manager who was a front-office executive for the past five years at San Antonio. Demps replaced Jeff Bower, who served as both coach and general manager last season after Scott was fired.
-- Brett Martel
Nate Robinson back for full season with Celtics
BOSTON (AP) — Nate Robinson joined the Boston Celtics at the trade deadline last season and didn't really do much until the playoffs.
Now he's getting a head start.
Robinson re-signed with Boston on a two-year deal reportedly worth $4 million, giving him a chance to learn the system in training camp instead of picking things up on the go.
"I think it will be a good start for me to come in and start from scratch," Robinson said in a conference call with reporters on Thursday, about a week after he announced his new deal on Twitter. "I know most of the plays now. I'll be way more comfortable because I know every set."
The NBA's only three-time Slam Dunk Contest champion, Robinson had been languishing with the woeful New York Knicks last season when he was traded to Boston in February and because the Celtics needed a backup point guard for their playoff run. Although he had fallen out of the rotation by the end of the season, he re-emerged in the playoffs with a key contribution in the Eastern Conference finals clincher against Orlando.
Along with Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Robinson also led the second unit that helped the Celtics pull away from the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the finals.
The Lakers eventually won the series in seven games.
But Robinson, who had never appeared in the postseason before, was sold.
"They're a great, winning organization with a lot of history. I think I fit in well with the guys, so I was like, 'Why not?'" he said. "Playing for the Celtics is definitely a blessing. It is awesome to be able to play for a team with great history behind it."
Robinson said he isn't ready to concede the East to Miami yet, even though the Heat added LeBron James and Chris Bosh and re-signed Dwyane Wade.
"They're not the only team that's good. It's everybody," Robinson said.
And that includes the Celtics.
"We're going to be one of those teams that are going to be ready to play," he said. "Teams better watch out for us."
-- Jimmy Golen
Lakers sign free-agent forward Matt Barnes
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Matt Barnes is going back to Los Angeles, this time to join the two-time defending NBA champion Lakers.
The Lakers announced Thursday they had signed the free-agent forward. Terms were not disclosed.
Barnes, a UCLA product who started 58 games last season for Orlando, said earlier this week on his Twitter page that he was headed to Toronto. But the deal fell through, and the Lakers moved in to grab the seven-year veteran.
The well-traveled swingman will be joining his eighth NBA team. He has averaged 7.3 points, with a career high of 10.2 for Phoenix during the 2008-09 season.
Lakers sign veteran C Theo Ratliff
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Veteran center Theo Ratliff has agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Ratliff said Thursday he'll join the two-time defending NBA champions as a backup to 7-foot stars Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.
The 15-year pro played 49 games last season with San Antonio and Charlotte, averaging 3.6 points and 3.2 rebounds. He revived his career while starting 26 games with the Bobcats, averaging 5.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.54 blocked shots.
The Lakers will be the 37-year-old Ratliff's ninth NBA team. The defensive specialist had his most productive seasons with Philadelphia, averaging a career-best 12.4 points in 2000-01.
AP Source: Thomas agrees to contract with Bulls
CHICAGO (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says veteran forward Kurt Thomas has agreed to a one-year contract with the Chicago Bulls.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized. Several outlets reported late Thursday that Thomas was headed to Chicago.
The 37-year-old Thomas gives the Bulls a strong defender and rebounder in the frontcourt to go with Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.
Thomas has averaged 8.8 points and 7.0 rebounds for seven teams in his 15-year career, including a seven-season run with the New York Knicks.
He averaged only 3.0 points and 4.2 rebounds with Milwaukee last season, but was effective in the playoffs, contributing 7.9 rebounds as the Bucks pushed Atlanta to seven games.
Bulls acquire Watson in sign-and-trade deal
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls have finalized a sign-and-trade deal with the Golden State Warriors for backup guard C.J. Watson.
The Warriors will get a 2011 second-round pick in the deal, which was agreed to earlier this week.
Watson can play both guard spots, though his primary role with the Bulls would likely be to back up All-Star Derrick Rose at the point. He has averaged 8.7 points in 23 minutes per game over three seasons.
The move is the latest in a busy offseason for the Bulls, who have also acquired two-time All-Star forward Carlos Boozer, sharpshooter Kyle Korver and shooting guard Ronnie Brewer — who all played together in Utah.
Arroyo returns to Heat, will vie to be starter
MIAMI (AP) — Carlos Arroyo has finalized his deal to return to the Miami Heat.
Arroyo appeared in 72 games and made 35 starts at point guard for Miami last season, then decided to return to the club after a brief stint as a free agent. He averaged 6.1 points and 3.1 assists, plus had a stellar 4.17 assist-to-turnover ratio.
The team announced his signing on Thursday, giving Arroyo the chance to vie for a championship alongside Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.
"By re-signing Carlos, we feel we have accomplished another big step in adding to this team," Heat president Pat Riley said. "Carlos showed last season that he was one of the most competitive and efficient point guards in the NBA, and we are happy to have him back."
Arroyo, who turns 31 later this month, played college basketball in Miami at Florida International.
He becomes the 13th player under contract with Miami for the 2010-11 season and just the second true point guard, joining fellow returnee Mario Chalmers.
Pistons 1st-round pick Monroe has surgery on toe
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Detroit Pistons draft pick Greg Monroe will miss about a month of basketball workouts this summer after having toe surgery.
The team confirmed Monroe had surgery on his right foot Thursday morning.
Monroe is expected to recover before training camp begins.
The 6-foot-11 center was drafted No. 7 overall last month in the NBA draft. He played for the Pistons recently on their summer-league team after signing a four-year contract.
Monroe, who is from New Orleans, averaged 16 points, about 10 rebounds and more than one block per game last season at Georgetown.
Pacers sign 2nd round draft pick Lance Stephenson
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers have signed second-round draft pick Lance Stephenson to a multiyear contract.
The Pacers made the announcement Thursday, but did not disclose the terms of the deal.
Stephenson was the 2010 Big East Rookie of the Year at Cincinnati this past season. The 6-foot-5 guard was the Pacers' second-leading scorer in the Orlando Summer League at nearly 15 points per game, and led the league in field goal percentage at 73 percent.
The Pacers have said Stephenson could play both guard spots. Team president Larry Bird said he was surprised the talented guard was available at the 40th pick.
The Pacers already had signed first-round pick Paul George.
Presti signs extension with Thunder
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Sam Presti has agreed to a multiyear contract extension to remain the general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Team chairman Clay Bennett announced the deal Thursday but did not reveal terms.
Presti finished second in the voting for the NBA's executive of the year award last season after the Thunder had a league-best 27-win improvement. The team made the playoffs for the first time since the franchise relocated from Seattle.
After taking over as GM in June 2007, Presti traded veterans Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis and started building one of the league's best young teams. He recently signed NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant to a five-year, $85 million contract extension.
The new contract comes three days after Presti's assistant, Rich Cho, was hired as Portland's new GM.
