NBA Capsules: Ex-Cavs GM Ferry returns to Spurs front office
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Danny Ferry is returning to the San Antonio Spurs.
The former general manager for the Cavaliers will be vice president of basketball operations for the Spurs. He will be reunited with coach Gregg Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford after leaving for Cleveland in 2005.
Ferry led the Cavs through the most successful period in their history. But he left this summer after five years in Cleveland, about a month before LeBron James took off for Miami.
Ferry has a long history in San Antonio. He won a championship as a player in 2003 before retiring and becoming director of basketball operations.
Hurricanes get a surprise visit from LeBron
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — LeBron James went back to school Thursday, working out against the Miami Hurricanes.
The NBA's two-time reigning MVP and some of his new Miami Heat teammates made a surprise stop at the university's basketball facility for some informal scrimmaging against the Hurricanes. James, Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller, Patrick Beverley and New Orleans guard Chris Paul — a close friend of James — played pickup for more than an hour.
"Just left 'The U' hooping with the team ... Great runs! Needed that," James posted on Twitter after the workout session.
Some of Miami's players hadn't been told beforehand that James and his crew would be popping in for a workout. James and the NBA players, including injured Heat guard Mario Chalmers, stayed afterward to pose for pictures.
It's not uncommon to see NBA players working out on Miami's campus, especially those who maintain offseason homes in South Florida. As far as the Hurricanes know, Thursday marked the first time James came for a visit since joining the Heat nearly two months ago.
"No question, it's great having those guys here," Miami coach Frank Haith said. "It's a great influence for our players. They're some of the greatest players in the NBA, so it's obviously great for our guys and our program."
James had a variety of eye-popping dunks during the pickup games, which were played without an audience — and with no video.
The Hurricanes hope to see plenty more of James, who has also been invited to see a Miami football game from its sideline anytime he wants — even if that happens to be Sept. 11, when the nation's No. 13 team travels back to James' homeland to face No. 2 Ohio State.
And if he wants to see a Miami football practice, that's fine with the Hurricanes as well.
James created a buzz in Cleveland last season after saying he could be "really good" if he committed to playing football, and Browns coach Eric Mangini make a half-serious offer for the 6-foot-8, 260-pound forward to "come on down" to work out with the NFL club.
"You need to come out to the football field and show ur skills for us," Hurricanes defensive back DeMarcus Van Dyke wrote to James on Twitter as news spread of the MVP's visit to campus.
-- Tim Reynolds
Police investigating Denver Nuggets J.R. Smith
DENVER (AP) — Police are investigating an alleged altercation between Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith and another person at the team's practice facility.
Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said Thursday that officers went to the facility Aug. 13 after a report of an altercation involving Smith and another player in a pickup game. The other player, whose name wasn't available, isn't in the NBA.
The district attorney previously declined to pursue the complaint against Smith, but the investigation has been reopened because another witness came forward, Jackson said.
"We just want to evaluate it," Jackson said of the new information.
The Nuggets didn't immediately return a message to The Associated Press.
Smith, acquired by the Nuggets in July 2006 in a trade with Chicago, spent time in Denver coach George Karl's doghouse this season as he struggled with his slumping performance and reduced playing time. He averaged 15.4 points per game.
His off-court woes have included serving 24 days in a New Jersey correctional facility last year after pleading guilty to reckless driving in a car crash that killed a friend. Smith was drafted out of high school by the New Orleans Hornets in 2004.
Cavs deal with Chinese investors falls apart
CLEVELAND (AP) — A deal to sell a Chinese investment group a minority share of the Cleveland Cavaliers has collapsed.
The partnership between the group headed by Chinese businessman Kenny Huang and the Cavs never materialized, a team spokesman confirmed Thursday.
The sale had been expected to be completed last year, pending approval by the NBA's board of governors. But in May, commissioner David Stern said there were no plans for a league vote and the deal quickly dissolved.
The Cavaliers will maintain a relationship with Huang's company for business development in China.
A spokeswoman for Huang referred to an April news release that said the company has no stake in the Cavs and has decided to focus on China's domestic league.
"QSL is committed to bringing more international elements into the Chinese basketball league as well as focusing on supporting the domestic players," the release said.
76ers advise Nocioni skip world championship
KAYSERI, Turkey (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers forward Andres Nocioni won't play for Argentina at the world championships because of a left ankle injury.
The 76ers advised Nocioni to skip the tournament, and Nocioni confirmed Thursday he won't play. Nocioni tells reporters that the team "exercised an option in my contract that when I get injured during national team activities they can prevent me from playing."
After an MRI, a team doctor recommended that Nocioni stay off the court until the start of training camp at the end of September.
The 6-foot-7 forward was acquired from Sacramento this summer as part of the trade that sent Sam Dalembert to the Kings. Argentina opens Saturday against Germany.
Thunder ends contract with Oklahoma Ford dealers
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder says it has begun the process of negotiating with potential new naming rights partners for the Ford Center arena.
Officials said in a statement Thursday the original naming rights contract allowed the team to terminate the existing agreement should an NBA franchise come to Oklahoma City.
The Thunder said it had discussions with the current naming rights partner, the Oklahoma Ford Dealers, but a new agreement couldn't be reached.
As a result, the Thunder have officially terminated the existing naming rights agreement and the team is negotiating with other potential partners.
Officials declined additional comment.
International
No trace of Beijing for US basketball in Turkey
ISTANBUL (AP) — Kobe Bryant towers over a city street as he dribbles a basketball in the cover photo of a pamphlet distributed earlier this year to promote the world championships.
After offseason knee surgery, Bryant isn't doing much dribbling at all this summer.
Even before announcing he was leaving Cleveland for South Beach, it was obvious LeBron James wouldn't be going to Turkey.
Nor did any other players who helped the United States win the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics. In their place is what's been called the "B Team," a group of second choices who are here only because the guys with bigger names had better things to do.
And they're aware of what's being said about them.
"We love to compete. We're professionals," forward Lamar Odom said. "One of the best things about playing sports is being competitive. When someone says you can't, it makes you more motivated."
Now the B Team will try to do what the A-listers couldn't four years ago: win the world's biggest basketball tournament.
The Americans dominate the Olympics but can't seem to get the world championships right. They've won the tournament just three times, none since 1994, and left Japan in 2006 with a bronze medal despite a team that was loaded with stars such as James, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony.
The team that remains may still be good enough to be considered the favorite, but is vulnerable enough to make this event more wide open than the Olympics two years ago.
Spain and Greece, who met in the championship game in 2006, plus Argentina head the list of other contenders for the Naismith trophy and the automatic berth into the 2012 Olympics in London.
The tournament starts Saturday in four cities in Turkey. Group A is in Kayseri, Group B in Istanbul, Group C in the capital city of Ankara, where the hosts will play, and Group D in Izmir. Six teams are in each group, and four will survive pool play to advance to the single-elimination round starting Sept. 4 in Istanbul.
The championship game is scheduled for Sept. 12, and the Americans expect to be playing in it for the first time in 16 years.
"We just want to go out there and win," forward Andre Iguodala said. "I think we're really hungry and we're really excited to have the opportunity to play for the USA and we want to bring back home the gold."
So does Spain, a veteran team that returns much of its core as it goes for a repeat. Greece, which stunned the U.S. four years ago in the semifinals, has a deep collection of physical players — and will need to rely on it after Antonis Fotsis and Sofoklis Schortsanitis were each suspended two games by FIBA on Thursday for their part in last week's brawl in an exhibition game against Serbia.
The Americans beat both the Spaniards and Greeks on the road in warm-up games, sending them to Turkey with confidence soaring after some struggles in their first two outings.
"We passed the other tests and now we are just ready to get into it," forward Rudy Gay said.
But there are still concerns for a team with a lack of size and experience. The 6-foot-10 Odom is now the starting center on a squad with only one 7-footer and with six players age 22 or younger.
Chauncey Billups, the veteran of the team at 33, was asked what still concerned the coaches the most.
"More than anything, I think it's still rebounding the ball and going at a high level," Billups said. "Still knowing that we are a small team, rebounding, and sometimes we get a little wacky and turn the ball over a little too much. Those are our main two concerns. But those are the things that we can get a little better control of after playing more and more together, knowing each other more."
The U.S. isn't the only team that arrived in Turkey without its best players. Pau Gasol, the MVP of the 2006 tournament, is resting after three straight trips to the NBA finals with the Los Angeles Lakers. Argentina is missing Manu Ginobili, who stayed home with newborn twins. Theo Papaloukas, the point guard who quarterbacked the upset over the Americans, is no longer suiting up for the Greeks.
Even non-contenders such as Germany (Dirk Nowitzki), France (Tony Parker) and Australia (Andrew Bogut) are without top NBA players this summer.
The Americans seem best equipped to handle the withdrawals, fielding the most athletic squad in the 24-team tournament. They will look to overcome any size disadvantage with their pressure defense, trying to create turnovers that get Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose out on fast breaks.
Teams that can control the pace and get the ball inside can hurt the Americans. Greece managed it for a half Wednesday before the Americans ran away in the second of their 87-59 victory. Argentina, with Luis Scola and Fabricio Oberto, and Group B opponent Brazil, with Anderson Varejao and Tiago Splitter, have front lines that will be tough for the U.S. to match.
But if the Americans are able to get out and run, they're confident they won't stop until they've reached the gold medal platform.
"From top to bottom everybody can play and score the ball and I think we're really defending well," guard Stephen Curry said. "We have our leaders, our go-to guys with K.D. and Derrick Rose, those kinds of guys who are definitely getting us going out of the gate. Then the backup lineup coming in and not missing a step. I think we have everything covered."
-- Brian Mahoney
Greece coach Kazlauskas slams FIBA punishment
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — FIBA's decision to suspend Antonis Fotsis and Sofoklis Schortsanitis for their part in last week's brawl in an exhibition game against Serbia was "something unbelievable," Greece coach Jonas Kazlauskas said Friday.
FIBA's decision altered Kazlauskas' plans ahead of Saturday's opening game against China at the world basketball championships in Turkey. Both Fotsis and Schortsanitis will also be sitting on the bench during Sunday's game against Puerto Rico.
"It is a disappointment," Kazlauskas said at Ankara Arena after practice. "This is something unbelievable."
Both Fotsis and Schortsanitis, however, said they expected to be punished.
"This is the decision. We can't change it," Fotsis said. "It was very difficult not to punish us. We accept this punishment."
Schortsanitis said he would be ready to help the team when his suspension is over.
"I am not angry," said the Greece center, who is known as Baby Shaq. "We expected it."
The fight broke out during the last game of the Acropolis Tournament, which was abandoned with 2:40 remaining and Greece leading by one point. The players from both teams exchanged punches and kicks on the floor and in the tunnels leading to the dressing rooms.
It began when former NBA player Fotsis moved threateningly against Serbia guard Milos Teodosic, who had fouled him. Nenad Krstic, a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder, then grabbed Fotsis by the throat and threw a chair toward Schortsanitis, who was pursuing him. The chair hit Yannis Bouroussis, who had not played because of a hand injury, and left him with a bloody wound on the side of his head.
The teams were finally separated after they had carried the fray off the court.
Greece, the runner-up at the previous worlds in 2006, is in Group C with China, the Ivory Coast, Puerto Rico, Russia and Turkey.
-- Selcan Hacaoglu
Serbia coach Ivkovic devastated by suspensions
KAYSERI, Turkey (AP) — Serbia coach Dusan Ivkovic says his team has been devastated by the suspensions of its two top players for the start of the world basketball championships.
Ivkovic blasted FIBA for waiting until less than 48 hours before the start of the championship to suspend center Nenad Krstic and guard Milos Teodosic for their roles in a brawl in Greece.
Krstic will miss the first three games and Teodosic the first two.
Ivkovic says Serbia has lost "two key players" for the games against Angola, Germany and Jordan. The coach also cut center Miroslav Raduljica from the final 12-man squad.
-- Nesha Starcevic
Serbia's Nenad Krstic banned 3 games after brawl
ISTANBUL (AP) — Nenad Krstic of the Oklahoma City Thunder has been suspended for Serbia's next three games for throwing a chair during last week's brawl with Greece.
Basketball's governing body said Thursday that three other players will miss two games. FIBA also fined both national federations.
Serbia's Milos Teodosic is banned two games. His fight with Greece's Antonis Fotsis started the melee.
Greece will be without Fotsis and Sofoklis Schortsanitis for its first two games of the world championships, which start Saturday in four cities in Turkey.
FIBA had promised strong action after the brawl and says all parties have the right to an appeal.
