NBA Capsules: League, players heads to CBA deadline day far apart
NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA is headed to deadline day, with perhaps one last chance to avoid a lockout. Negotiators for owners and players will meet Thursday, about 12 hours before the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement and seemingly nowhere close to a deal.
The sides remain far apart on just about every major issue, from salaries to the salary cap, revenues to revenue sharing.
After meeting twice a week for most of the month, this is the only session scheduled this week. The two sides could continue bargaining past the deadline, but that probably requires owners to see evidence of the gap narrowing Thursday.
Otherwise, they could lock out the players for the first time since the 1998-99 season was reduced to 50 games, though Commissioner David Stern has refused to say what would happen if a deal is not done Thursday.
"We're not going to negotiate in the media," he said Tuesday after meeting with owners. "We haven't before, we're not going to do it now. We're looking forward to having our discussion with the players."
There may not be much to discuss. Players declined to offer a new economic proposal in the most recent meeting Friday, and they may still feel their previous offer to reduce their salaries by $500 million over five years is going far enough.
Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said the league didn't know if the players would make another proposal.
Both sides have moved, but not nearly far enough for the other.
Players still consider the owners' proposal for a "flex" cap, where each team would be targeted to spend $62 million, a hard cap because there is an eventual unspecified level that can't be exceeded. And though the league said total player compensation would never dip below $2 billion over the life of its proposed 10-year deal, that would amount to a pay cut for the players, who were paid more than $2.1 billion this season in salaries and benefits.
Owners have dropped their insistence that no contracts could be fully guaranteed, an issue the players strongly opposed.
"In this league, teams can easily just say, 'We don't want this guy on our team anymore.'" I think the security of having that contract goes a long way because you're taking care of your family, you've got a lot of things you're doing and this is your way of living," All-Star Kevin Durant said.
"I think that's the biggest thing with us, having that security as a player, knowing coming in that you're guaranteed and you're straight. Hopefully we keep that."
Owners still want a reduction in the players' guarantee of 57 percent of basketball revenues. Players said their latest proposal would have taken them down to 54.3, but say the league's offer would have them down to around 40 percent.
The meeting Thursday will include just small groups from each side, after many players attended the last session. Without a deal, there will be no free agency starting Friday, and the summer league in Las Vegas has already been canceled.
Real games could be next to go. Stern has said the offers only get worse once a lockout has started, though there is still plenty of time even if nothing gets done Thursday.
"I don't see us missing any games. But I see it coming down to the wire, though," Milwaukee's Stephen Jackson said.
NBA suspends Warriors’ Bell, Hornets' Jack one game
NEW YORK (AP) — Charlie Bell of the Golden State Warriors and Jarrett Jack of the New Orleans Hornets have each been suspended one game without pay for violating the league’s conduct code.
The NBA announced Wednesday that Bell was suspended for pleading no contest to reckless driving in California. Jack was suspended for pleading no contest to reckless driving in Georgia. Bell and Jack each will be suspended for their team’s first game of the 2011-12 regular season for which they are eligible and physically able to play.
Player Capsules
Durant: NBA labor talks 'a little bit slow'
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — With time running out for the NBA to reach a new collective bargaining agreement with its players, scoring champion Kevin Durant seems to think a lockout is inevitable.
Repeatedly saying he was trying to stay positive, Durant's comments during his annual youth basketball camp in Oklahoma City reflected the increasing chances that a new deal won't get done before the current one expires at the end of the day Thursday.
"I just hope things go smooth, we're not locked out for as long as people think and we get back to what we're supposed to do," Durant said Wednesday.
Durant's week started with a stop in Chicago and he'll next head to Austin, Texas, for another camp Friday and Saturday. Before long, he'll be making a trip to China for the second straight summer.
All of that takes time away from his duties as Oklahoma City's union representative. He even said he "lost track of time" and didn't realize the CBA was set to run out so soon.
"With me being so wrapped up in this and doing the things I had to do this summer, I didn't have the chance to really go to the meetings and sit down and really know how things are going," Durant said.
Among the sticking points are that the players want to keep the security that comes with guaranteed contracts, while owners are seeking ways to cut payroll costs.
"You want to be locked in as much as possible. I think that's what guys really fight for in this league is years," said Durant, who signed a five-year, $85 million contract last summer. "Hopefully we stick with it."
Even just being prohibited from going to the team's practice facility would seem strange to Durant, who's often there with teammates. During recent offseasons, they've bounced between players' hometowns to work out together.
"I think it wouldn't affect our team because we're always around each other anyway," Durant said. "But us coming to the facility and working with our coaches and our strength coaches and just seeing them, I think that's going to be a change for all of us."
"We've got to lean on each other," he added. "We've got to come in and work as a group together and try to get ready for whenever we start the season back up."
Durant and the Thunder made it to the Western Conference finals last season before losing to eventual champion Dallas. All five starters and four top reserves are under contract for next season, after backup center Nazr Mohammed got a new deal Wednesday.
Daequan Cook, another bench player, received a qualified offer this week to make him a restricted free agent.
"Nobody expected us to be in the conference finals, but we accomplished that goal and it's time for us to move on and try to set bigger goals," Durant said. "I'm excited about this season, I'm excited about (first-round draft pick) Reggie Jackson, I'm excited about all my teammates getting better this summer. So, it should be fun.
"Hopefully we won't have to miss any games and we come back on a normal schedule, but we'll see how it happens."
About 450 kids were expected to attend Durant's sold-out camps in Oklahoma City, with more than 200 more on a waiting list, according to Gregg Darbyshire of ProCamps. His sessions in Austin were also sold out.
"That's what we started playing this game for is just to play," Durant said. "Of course, once you get to higher levels of basketball other things start to creep in and situations like this cost you your time on the basketball floor."
-- Jeff Latzke
Mohammed re-signs with Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Veteran center Nazr Mohammed is staying with the Oklahoma City Thunder, avoiding free agency with the possibility of an NBA lockout this offseason.
General manager Sam Presti announced Wednesday that Oklahoma City had signed Mohammed to an extension. Terms were not disclosed.
"We are pleased to be able to keep Nazr in the Thunder family," Presti said. "He is a valuable part of our organization both on and off the floor. His professionalism, experience, and on-court play have had a positive impact on our young and evolving roster."
A 13-year NBA veteran, Mohammed averaged 6.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 24 games after being acquired by the Thunder at the trade deadline. He played mostly as a backup behind starter Kendrick Perkins.
The Thunder now have nine of the 10 players from last season’s rotation under contract for next season. Only reserve Daequan Cook isn’t signed, and he got a qualifying offer from Oklahoma City this week to make him a restricted free agent and give the Thunder a chance to match any offers he gets from other teams.
Presti also locked up Serge Ibaka, James Harden, Eric Maynor, Byron Mullens and Cole Aldrich through the 2012-13 season by picking up options on their contracts this week.
Almost the entire roster is set for a return after last season’s run to the Western Conference finals.
"We like this team. We’re going to stick together and see what we can get out of this," All-Star forward Kevin Durant said. "The team last year, our chemistry was really good as the season went on. We didn’t end the way we wanted to but I think we were growing as a group throughout the playoffs and we wanted to stick that thing together.
"We wanted to stick it out. We don’t want to make any changes just because we lost 4-1 (to Dallas) in the playoffs."
-- Jeff Latzke
Maggette relishes joining Jordan's Bobcats
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Corey Maggette has played 12 seasons in the NBA and been to the playoffs only once. Now he's about to join a team that's never won a postseason game and has spent the past year getting rid of most of its veterans and scorers in a rebuilding movement.
But Maggette insists he was thrilled to be traded to Charlotte for three reasons: He's about to start again, play his natural position and, most importantly, suit up for Bobcats owner Michael Jordan.
"If you understand Michael Jordan's game — and I'm from Chicago — you know that he's a winner," Maggette said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters. "And eventually he's going to get to that point where he's winning."
As Jordan prepares for his sixth season in charge of the basketball operations in Charlotte and his second full year as majority owner, he'll lean on Maggette to provide immediate scoring and a much-needed veteran presence on what is now one of the NBA's most inexperienced teams.
"If you know Michael, he's definitely starting in this field as an owner and still understanding about the business of basketball," said Maggette, who got to know Jordan while growing up. "But he's an incredible winner. He knows how to win. He has incredible drive and that's something Michael will never let go."
Jordan last week sent another veteran packing in a deal he hopes gets the Bobcats closer to becoming a perennial playoff team, something he's been unable to attain as an executive with two teams.
Top scorer Stephen Jackson was shipped to Milwaukee in a three-team deal that netted the seventh overall pick in the draft from Sacramento. Included was Maggette, in large part because the $21 million he's owed over the next two seasons closely matched Jackson's contract.
But the Bobcats now need the 31-year-old Maggette to mentor a team that will feature two rookie draft picks in Bismack Biyombo and Kemba Walker, a shooting guard in Gerald Henderson who become a starter in February, and a point guard in D.J. Augustin who's been a starter for one year.
"We talked and let him know that we expect him to be a leader on and off the court," coach Paul Silas said. "He can score, but he's got to play defense. He's got to lead by example. I think he's all for it."
After a disappointing year in Milwaukee in which he was slow to recover from ankle surgery, was forced to play power forward and failed to be a factor in another non-playoff season, the 6-foot-6 Maggette has already been given the starting small forward job in Charlotte.
"He did not want to play the 4 spot. He wanted to play the 3 and that's what he's going to do," Silas said. "And he's going to start. He wasn't starting before so we're giving him everything he needs to be successful."
Maggette, who played one season at Duke before being the 13th pick in the 1999 draft, expects to be able to again become the player who three times averaged over 20 points a game when he played for the Los Angeles Clippers.
A career 82-percent free-throw shooter, Maggette averaged 19.8 points with Golden State in 2009-10 before sinking to 12 points in 21 minutes with the Bucks.
"Coming off ankle surgery, I didn't really get the momentum that I needed early on," Maggette said. "And definitely (coach) Scott Skiles kind of played with the guys he was accustomed to playing. So it was a different experience, but it was also an opportunity for me to grow and mature as a person."
Maggette was initially confused about the trade that brought him back to North Carolina.
On a flight to Chicago to attend a wedding, Maggette was awoken by a friend who told him only that he had been traded to Charlotte. Maggette immediately was happy because he thought he'd be reunited with Jackson, his friend and former teammate with the Warriors.
Maggette didn't know until after he got off the plane Jackson was headed to the Bucks in another shake up to Jordan's roster.
"Jack wasn't happy about it," Maggette said. "He was really happy about being in Charlotte and the fans there and the organization as well as Michael."
Now Maggette and Jordan are paired. A Duke guy will try to help a North Carolina guy during a transition period for a franchise that's been to the playoffs as many times as Maggette.
Yet Maggette is confident Jordan will soon attract free agents — "Who wouldn't want to play for Michael Jordan?" — and compared some of his struggles as an executive to Dallas owner Mark Cuban's resume.
"He pushed, he pushed and pushed and now he's got that opportunity where he got himself a championship," Maggette said. "So I know Michael is going to be in the same position where he's going to do that as well."
- Mike Cranston
Jackson hopes to add attitude to Bucks
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Stephen Jackson says he’s misunderstood, thanks to a steady stream of outbursts on the court and his involvement in the infamous 2004 Pacers-Pistons brawl.
That doesn’t mean he’s going soft. The veteran shooting guard promises to bring some attitude to the Bucks after a three-way draft day trade landed him in Milwaukee.
"There’s no time for being babies or being scared," Jackson said. "If you’re scared, go to church."
Jackson was both brash and charming during his introductory news conference Wednesday. At one point, he cracked up Bucks general manager John Hammond and coach Scott Skiles as he bragged about his exploits in a YMCA basketball game as a child.
Jackson said he’s happy to be with the Bucks, something that wasn’t quite clear as the trade came together last week — although he’s bound to raise a few eyebrows around town by mentioning that Milwaukee generally is considered a "boring city" by visiting players.
"The only perception that I’ve had from other teams is coming to a boring city," Jackson said. "That’s what they always say. But since I’ve been here, the weather’s been great. I didn’t expect the weather to be so great. When I come, there’s snow everywhere."
Jackson also said he isn’t bitter about being traded by Charlotte.
"I didn’t want to be on a team where they’re going younger and they want to win three years from now," Jackson said. "I’ll be at the end of my career. So winning now is important to me, and this is a great place to win now."
Jackson was confused as to why the Bobcats held him out with an injury toward the end of last season.
"The last 10 games, I could have played," Jackson said. "But they shut me down. The team shut me down. So I kind of assumed they didn’t want to make the playoffs."
Jackson has 6-foot-8 size and a shooting guard’s skill set, making him a matchup problem. He also can play small forward, although he wants to bulk up if the Bucks want to use him that way.
An 11-year NBA veteran, Jackson averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 67 games for Charlotte last season. He believes the Bucks are "one player away" — and believes he’s that player.
"I know what I can bring to this team, and I know what it takes to get to the playoffs," Jackson said.
Milwaukee continued making moves Wednesday, picking up contract options on Brandon Jennings and forward Larry Sanders.
Once the team hits the court, Jackson believes Skiles will give him some leeway to keep teammates motivated.
"For us to win, we have to be all on the same page," Jackson said. "And I’m pretty sure that coach is going to give me the room to police all that. If guys don’t want to play, you need to let us know that, because you’re not going to be a part of us. And I’m going to make that known."
After the trade, Jackson got text messages from Jennings and Andrew Bogut right away. He already knows Jennings pretty well.
"My job is just to push him," Jackson said. "I’m going to constantly let him know how good he is. I’m going to continue to push him, let him know this team will only go as far as he goes. I might be the oldest guy on the team with the most year, but he is the leader of this team."
Jackson had 15 technical fouls last season, tied for third-most in the league. He was ejected twice — including a Nov. 27 game against the Bucks, where he was kicked out less than five minutes into the game. He and Skiles laughed about that game during Wednesday’s news conference.
"Obviously, I’ve got to be smarter about it," Jackson said. "But I’m going to play with the same passion and desire every night, and nobody’s going to change that. Not referees. Nobody."
Skiles praised Jackson’s passion.
"No coach would want Stephen Jackson ejected, of course," Skiles said. "But I agree totally with what he just said. Given the choice of somebody playing with passion and on a rare occasion losing it a little bit, and guys that don’t bring that kind of passion, you always take the former."
That passion went way over the line during the Indiana-Detroit brawl, earning him a 30-game suspension. Jackson said he was trying to help a teammate, but knows he was wrong.
"Obviously, I regret the whole situation," Jackson said. "I regret it, because if I think about it, I would have never went in the stands."
Jackson said that incident gave people the wrong impression. He insists he’s pretty boring off the court, spending most of his time watching movies.
"I’m an assassin on the court," Jackson said. "And at home, I’m a nun."
-- Chris Jenkins
Nets’ Humphries quiet on upcoming free agency
HACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) — With the NBA on the eve of a potential lockout, New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries didn’t want to talk about his upcoming free agency.
Reality television. Fiancee Kim Kardashian. A change of agents. They also were out of bounds for the NBA’s fifth-leading rebounder this past season.
What Humphries wanted to talk about was his 45-minute visit with young patients Wednesday at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at the Hackensack University Medical Center.
"I think one thing that everyone has to know is that no one is beyond hospitals and that everyone is somehow connected to someone who is struggling," Humphries said. "I have had family members deal with cancer and all sorts of diseases and different things. So it’s something you have to know. It could very well be your kid in there someday."
Humphries smiled thinking about two unidentified children he met on his walk down the corridor of a pediatric unit.
"There was one kid up there who’s talking about when we score a lot of baskets and get on fire," he smile with a slight laugh. "It was exciting to hear that, so hopefully, he can come witness the Nets get on fire."
The other child was a little girl.
"I told her to tweet me," Humphries said. "I told her I was going to re-tweet her and wish her well on Twitter. Hopefully, she’ll do that. I had a lot of fun."
Humphries seemingly wanted nothing to do with sports during his five minutes with the media.
"I know you guys have a bunch of questions, but mostly I want to center it around my experience here and knowing that life isn’t all just about sports and free agency and stuff like that," he said. "It’s a lot about giving back. A lot of people are in need, so try to focus on that today."
Humphries, who is a Nets player representative, provided no information about the negotiating session he attended last week in New York with the owners.
"We have the lockout to deal with," he said. "Who knows if that’s going to go into effect or not? I was a part of the meetings and, so, we’ll have to see what happens with that before free agency. I think that that has to be taken care of, so there’s not a whole lot to say about free agency, because you know, there’s the first step first."
Humphries greatly enhanced his value with an outstanding season. Prior to the season, most expected him to be the backup to Derrick Favors, the No. 3 pick in the draft who was eventually traded in the deal for Deron Williams.
But Humphries, who earned $3.2 million in his walk year, averaged 10 points and 10.4 rebounds in 74 games, including 44 starts.
During the course of the year, he repeated several times that he wanted to return to the Nets. However, he would not address the topic Wednesday.
His new agent, Marc Cornstein, did not return a call from The Associated Press, seeking comment.
"We have to take care of the lockout first, and from there, my agent’s going to handle the process and lay everything out," Humphries said. "So it’s kind of real (and) it’s a little bit difficult to think about right now. I’m still kind of in a different mode, in terms of being here for the kids. And that’s really my focus.
"I don’t want to take away from that."
Humphries was not asked about his recent engagement. And the closest he came to talking about Kardashian was when he said the children definitely identified him as a basketball player and not a reality TV actor.
"I’m tall," the 6-foot-9, 26-year-old forward said. "We’re in Jersey. The kids love basketball and the Nets. One kid was talking about he goes to hockey games (Devils) and he goes to basketball games at the same place. So he’s in touch with what is going on."
-- Tom Canavan
Blazers offer C Oden qualifying offer
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Trail Blazers have offered former No. 1 draft pick Greg Oden an $8.8 million qualifying offer to stay in Portland.
The offer means the often-injured 7-foot center becomes a restricted free agent. The Blazers can match any other offer made for him.
Oden, 23, didn’t play this past season after microfracture surgery on his left knee. He missed his rookie season in 2007-08 after microfracture surgery on his right knee. Two seasons ago he broke his left kneecap.
Because of his injuries, the former Ohio State star has played in only 82 games over parts of two seasons, averaging 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.
"We’ve stood behind Greg Oden every day since he became a Trail Blazer and that continues with today’s announcement," Trail Blazers President Larry Miller said in a statement. "Despite the setbacks he’s experienced, he continues to be resilient in working tirelessly on his rehabilitation. We’re all very encouraged with not only his progress, but with his commitment and determination to return to the basketball court."
The Blazers had until Thursday night to make the qualifying offer. Before he was dismissed by the team last month, former Blazers general manager Rich Cho had long hinted that the Blazers would move to keep Oden. Cho was replaced in the interim by Chad Buchanan, the Blazers’ director of college scouting.
If no other teams make offers for Oden and he stays with the Blazers, he will become an unrestricted free agent for the 2012-13 season.
In the 2009-10 season, Oden was averaging 11.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks as a starter and he was playing with an authority that had previously eluded him. But he broke his right kneecap in December of that season.
It appeared he would return last season, but in November it was announced that he would require microfracture surgery on the right knee.
After the Blazers selected Oden with the top pick in the 2007 draft, choosing him over Kevin Durant, he was hailed as the future of the franchise as it emerged from the so-called Jail-Blazers era.
But Oden’s rookie season was postponed before it started when he had microfracture surgery on his left knee.
His numerous injuries have subjected him to endless comparisons to Sam Bowie, the frequently injured big man whom the Blazers infamously selected ahead of Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft.
Portland also extended a qualifying offer to Australian guard Patty Mills and exercised options on forward Luke Babbitt and guard Elliot Williams.
Mills, 22, has appeared in 74 games over two seasons in Portland, averaging 5.1 points, 0.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists. But he has also been a fan favorite, often flashing the team’s trademark "3-goggles" with his hands after Portland scores a 3-pointer.
-- Anne M. Peterson
Harper, Liggins use second round as motivation
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Minutes before walking into his introductory news conference, Orlando Magic guard DeAndre Liggins received some advice about being a second-round pick from his new teammate, Gilbert Arenas.
"Gilbert just told me in the locker room ... that he was a second round pick," Liggins said. "He said, 'Everybody's got to play on the same court, so it really don't matter.'"
Liggins says he was surprised that he lasted until pick No. 53 in this year's NBA Draft. But he's planning on using that as motivation as he prepares for his rookie season.
So does forward Justin Harper, who was selected No. 32 by Cleveland and traded to the Magic on draft night for a pair of future second-round picks.
"If you look at a lot of past drafts, a lot of great players get overlooked," Harper said. "They fall into the second round. I just kind of use that as motivation."
Unfortunately for both players, the NBA careers of the two players may be put on hold. Owners are expected to lock out players unless agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement can be reached before midnight Thursday.
Harper tried to look at the positive side of not being able to work out at the team facility, or play in the NBA summer league.
"It's not too bad when you think about it, because you get more time to work on your game," he said. "I just try to take it in stride and just use it as another opportunity."
The 6-foot-9, 225-pound Harper improved his draft stock tremendously with a senior season at the University of Richmond in which he averaged 17.9 points and 6.9 rebounds. His 179 3-pointers rank fifth in school history.
The 6-foot-6, 209-pound Liggins comes from Kentucky with a reputation of being a lockdown perimeter defender who will bring the kind of toughness the Magic are looking for.
"They've both played in great programs for great coaches," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "These guys have been taught and they're fundamentally sound. They've got a leg up. These aren't raw guys. They're as ready as guys coming out of college can be from what I've seen."
General manager Otis Smith said he was surprised both players fell as far as they did in the draft and that the Magic were "lucky" to add them to the franchise.
How much both players will be able to contribute as rookies remains to be seen. In the case of the Magic, this next season could shape the future of the franchise for years to come.
All-Star center Dwight Howard can opt out of his contract after this past season and has challenged the Magic to put a better collection of players around him.
Unless the Magic make another move once the collective bargaining agreement is finalized, though, will the addition of two second-round picks keep Howard happy?
"My job as the general manager of the Orlando Magic is to continue to put a team on the floor that's going to give us the best chance to win the NBA title ... regardless if somebody else is happy or not," Smith said. "I'd like to be happy, too."
AP Source: Woodson interviewing with Pistons again
DETROIT (AP) — Former Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson will interview for the Detroit Pistons’ job for a second time.
A person with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team isn’t commenting on the coaching search, said Woodson is set to interview again Thursday. Detroit fired coach John Kuester on June 5.
Woodson was an assistant for Larry Brown when the Pistons won the 2004 NBA title — on a staff that also included Kuester.
Detroit faces a more uncertain offseason than most teams. New owner Tom Gores officially took over at the beginning of June. The Pistons went 30-52 last season amid feuding between coaches and players.
Tayshaun Prince is a free agent and may not return. Ben Wallace says he’s leaning toward coming back, but he turns 37 in September and played only 54 games last season.
Wallace was asked earlier this month about the possibility of playing for Woodson.
"I think Mike would do a great job. I think he did a great job with Atlanta," Wallace said. "I think he took those guys as far as they were ready to go. I think he’d be a great fit for us."
Woodson was Atlanta’s coach from 2004-10. He went 206-286 in those six seasons and took the Hawks to the playoffs the last three years. Woodson was let go after Atlanta was swept in the second round by Orlando in 2010.
Boston Celtics assistant Lawrence Frank, Milwaukee Bucks assistant Kelvin Sampson, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Bill Laimbeer and Orlando assistant Patrick Ewing are other possible coaching candidates for Detroit.
Gores is the chairman and CEO of Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Platinum Equity. SCP Worldwide, a firm chaired by former New York Knicks executive Dave Checketts, has advised Platinum Equity on the acquisition.
-- Noah Trister
Timberwolves keep Johnson, Ellington, Hayward
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves have picked up contract options for swingman Wes Johnson, guard Wayne Ellington and forward Lazar Hayward.
The moves Wednesday include third-year options for Johnson and Hayward and the fourth year for Ellington.
Johnson averaged nine points, three rebounds and almost two assists as a rookie last year. The fourth overall pick set a franchise record for 3-pointers made by a rookie with 103. With the addition of forward Derrick Williams, Johnson is going to be counted on heavily at shooting guard.
Ellington was a first-round pick in 2009 and has been a versatile player off the bench in his first three seasons, while Hayward played sparingly as a rookie last year.
Jazz exercise option on Miles
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Jazz have exercised the option on guard-forward C.J. Miles that will keep him under contract through the 2011-12 season.
The team also said Wednesday that it had exercised the options for forwards Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward for the 2012-13 season.
Miles averaged career highs in points (12.8), rebounds (3.3) and assists (1.7) during the last season. Miles was originally selected by the Jazz in the second round of the 2005 NBA draft.
Hayward, the Jazz’s first-round pick in the 2010 draft, averaged 5.4 points and 1.9 rebounds per game during his rookie season.
Favors, also a rookie, averaged 6.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 78 games for the Jazz and the New Jersey Nets.
AP source: Heat’s Jones to become free agent
MIAMI (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says Miami Heat guard-forward James Jones has advised the team he won’t exercise his player option and will become a free agent.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the Heat had not confirmed Jones’ decision.
Jones is an eight-year veteran who spent the past three seasons with the Heat. He averaged 5.9 points in 81 games last season and shot 43-percent from 3-point range for the Eastern Conference champions.
Under his contract, Jones would have been paid $1.4 million next season.
-- Steven Wine
Warriors exercise options on Curry, Udoh
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Golden State Warriors have exercised the options on guard Stephen Curry and forward Ekpe Udoh that will keep them under contract through the 2012-2013 season. The moves announced Wednesday were mere formalities on Golden State’s promising young players.
Curry averaged 18.6 points, 5.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds in his second season. He is recovering from right ankle surgery but is expected to be ready if training camp starts on time in the fall.
Udoh averaged 4.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.48 blocks per contest in his rookie campaign.
Bucks exercise options on Jennings, Sanders
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks have exercised contract options on Brandon Jennings and forward Larry Sanders.
The team has announced that it picked up the fourth-year option on Jennings, who averaged 16.2 points, 4.8 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 63 games last season. Jennings was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2009 draft.
Milwaukee also exercised the third-year option on Sanders, who averaged 4.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 60 games last season. He recorded multiple blocks in 20 games.
Sanders was the No. 15 pick in 2010.
Lakers hire Kuester as assistant under Brown
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have hired John Kuester as an assistant under new coach Mike Brown, reuniting the duo who worked in Cleveland together.
Kuester spent the last two seasons as coach of the Detroit Pistons before being fired June 5.
Previously, he spent 14 years as an NBA assistant, working in Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, New Jersey, Orlando and Cleveland, where he worked under Brown.
Kuester coached 10 years at the collegiate level, including head coaching jobs at Boston University and George Washington.
Cavs exercise option on Eyenga
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers have exercised their third-year contract option on swingman Christian Eyenga.
Eyenga, who averaged 6.9 points as a rookie last season, is under contract with the Cavs through the 2012-13 season. In 44 games last season, the Congo native averaged 2.8 rebounds and 21.5 minutes in 44 games — 18 as a starter.
The Cavs selected the 6-foot-7 Eyenga with the 30th overall pick in the 2009 draft. The 22-year-old previously played for Joventut in Spain.
Bulls exercise option on Gibson
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls have exercised their fourth-year option on forward Taj Gibson for the 2012-13 season.
Taken with the 26th pick in the 2009 draft, Gibson has made 89 starts in his career and is averaging 8.0 points and 6.6 rebounds. Mainly a reserve last season, he was a key contributor on a team that won a league-leading 62 games and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, averaging 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds.
The Bulls announced the move on Wednesday.
WNBA
Seattle's Jackson to have surgery on hip
SEATTLE (AP) — Reigning WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson has decided to have surgery to repair the torn labrum in her left hip and will likely be out for eight to 12 weeks.
The Seattle Storm made the announcement on Wednesday. Jackson is scheduled to have the surgery Thursday at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo., performed by Dr. Marc Philippon.
Jackson said after talking with the doctors and her family, surgery was determined to be the best course of action and she hopes to be able to return before the end of the WNBA season. Seattle's regular season ends on Sept. 11 at home against Chicago.
The three-time league MVP hurt the hip last week in a victory over Tulsa. The initial plan was for Jackson to have three weeks of rest and physical therapy before deciding if surgery was needed.
Fever's January out for season with torn ACL
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Fever point guard Briann January will miss the rest of the season with a torn right knee ligament.
The Fever said Wednesday that an MRI exam revealed a torn ACL and that January would have surgery in four to six weeks, performed by team orthopedist Dr. Stephen Kollias.
January was hurt Tuesday during the fourth quarter of a 91-86 victory over Phoenix, the Fever's fourth straight win. The third-year pro from Arizona State was averaging 8.6 points and 5.0 assists for the Eastern Conference leaders.
