NBA Capsules: Mavericks G Beaubois undergoes second foot surgery
DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks guard Roddy Beaubois (boo-BWAH') has undergone surgery for the second time since fracturing his left foot while training with the French national team last summer.
Beaubois had the procedure Monday. The team didn't offer a time frame for what it said would be a full recovery.
The injury cost Beaubois most of his second season, when he was expected to be a key component for the Mavericks. Dallas won the NBA title without him playing in the postseason.
Beaubois re-injured the foot while trying to get ready for the season, then aggravated it again in the final game of the regular season. He averaged 8.4 points and 2.3 assists in 28 games.
League Capsules
Revenue sharing still a dispute in NBA labor talks
NEW YORK (AP) — Commissioner David Stern agrees with his players: NBA teams need to do a better job sharing revenues. They disagree over when that should happen, and what input the players should have in the system.
Players contend that a revenue sharing plan belongs in the new collective bargaining agreement. Owners say the plan is coming, but only after the CBA is settled.
"We're of the opinion that any shortfalls that they're suffering, that they can be rectified through revenue sharing," players' association executive director Billy Hunter said last week. "And while we've had some discussions about revenue sharing, they have not disclosed to us an iota of what their proposed revenue sharing plan might look like, what the contribution would be coming from the owners of the respective teams, et cetera."
Owners will be briefed on both collective bargaining and revenue sharing Tuesday during a Board of Governors meeting in Dallas, with the CBA set to expire at the end of Thursday. Owners and players then plan to meet Wednesday and/or Thursday, perhaps giving them one final chance to avoid a lockout.
The union would surely like details of the board's revenue sharing discussion, but isn't likely to get much.
"Whether or not that would precipitate a move by us beforehand or whatever has yet to be seen," Hunter said. "But, yeah, we would definitely like to know and see it. We'd like to not only see it, but to incorporate it as far as the collective bargaining. It should be incorporated in the CBA."
Not so, says Stern.
"We can't make the final push on revenue sharing until we know what the yield or not of the labor deal is," he said.
Stern has previously said the CBA and revenue sharing were on separate tracks, one needing to be completed before the other. Owners want to see what their savings will look like from the players before they commit to how much additional money would go to each other, but players want to be assured revenue sharing won't be a tool to control salaries, such as by making teams stay below a certain spending limit to qualify for it.
The league has projected losses of about $300 million this season. Players believe the number is lower and could be addressed if teams making money help those who aren't, and called for expanded revenue sharing in their initial proposal for a new CBA.
"When this whole process started, the first theme that we tried to agree on was that this needed to be a partnership. So if this is a partnership, we're working from that concept, then you have to be willing to discuss all of these pieces, including revenue sharing," Lakers guard and union president Derek Fisher said. "If they are reporting losses, if you're trying to get to a certain point on the page, revenue sharing can help you in some way, even just a little bit."
Owners say it can't, because the current system guarantees they will lose money and thus have nothing to share.
"As we've said repeatedly, if we lose money on an aggregate basis, we can't possibly revenue share our way to profitability," Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said.
NBA teams share money from the national TV contracts and the funds collected from teams that exceed the luxury tax. Contrast that with the NFL, which shares about 80 percent of all revenue from media deals, national sponsorships and merchandise sales, and 34 percent of ticket sales after the home team has collected its 66 percent of the gate.
Wealthy teams such as the Lakers and Knicks then have a much greater advantage than ones without good season-ticket bases or lucrative TV deals, and the little guys have already asked Stern for help. Eight owners sent Stern a letter in September 2006 stressing the need for better revenue sharing — and Hunter hinted at a divide that exists among ownership.
"Now it all comes back into play, and by that I mean it was three, four years ago when you had those eight owners in the small market who sent a letter to David saying we need a much more, a vibrant revenue sharing system. That we could resolve our issues and problems if we had revenue sharing and I know that that's still the theme that's going on," he said.
Stern and Silver insist owners are on the same page, noting the labor relations committee consists of owners from both large and small markets.
They had been scheduled for a conference call to discuss revenue sharing Friday that was delayed, likely to Monday, after a long bargaining session with the players. And they deny keeping the union in the dark about their plans.
"The answer is that we've had a full discussion with the players about everything and we're prepared to discuss everything with them," Stern said.
-- Brian Mahoney
Team Capsules
Pacers' Hill hopes to follow in Reggie's footsteps
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — George Hill knows as well as anyone what it means to be the shooting guard for the Indiana Pacers.
Hill grew up in Indianapolis watching Reggie Miller make clutch shots while helping the Pacers become one of the league's most formidable teams. Now, six years after Miller retired, Hill has his hero's old job.
"It means a lot," he said. "That's some big shoes to fill."
Hill told Pacers fans his dreams had come true when his hometown team picked him up in a draft-night trade with San Antonio. Indiana reintroduced the former IUPUI star to local fans during a gathering at Conseco Fieldhouse. His smile beamed as he held his No. 3 Pacers jersey.
"Something that I've been dreaming of my whole life is to have a Pacers jersey with my name and number on the back," he said.
Now, he has a chance to help the Pacers regain some of their lost glory.
"I think we're back on the right track of getting quality people in here and people who want to win and get better," he said.
Hill said he was "super excited" to be with the team, and his family members didn't even believe him at first when he told them the news.
The only person as happy as Hill might be Pacers president Larry Bird, who has been interested in Hill for the past two years but couldn't pry him away from the Spurs. Now, he'll be a key element in Bird's rebuilding project.
"We said three years ago we'll get as many core players here as we possibly can, guys that want to be here," Bird said. "We'll continue to build this. Once we get some financial relief, we'll have an opportunity to hand pick some players we want to finish it off with."
The Spurs took Hill in the first round of the 2008 draft. He played three years in San Antonio and emerged as a solid player. Bird said he was impressed with Hill when he was a college player, and he watched him in several workouts leading up to the draft. He said Hill is even better than he envisioned. Bird used words such as smooth and smart to describe Hill's game. Hill averaged 11.6 points and 2.5 assists last season.
"He's improved every year," Bird said. "He played with an experienced team with a lot of established players, and now he's on a younger team where we'll get to see him do more with the ball. It will be interesting to see how far he can take us."
Hill wants to be an all-around player.
"I want to bring a defensive mind to the game and an offensive spark," he said. "Kind of like that (Tyler) Hansbrough attitude where I'm just being aggressive and letting the chips fall where they might."
Bird says that though Hill is young, he expects him to bring the young Pacers some of the leadership skills he gained while playing with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in San Antonio.
"All our young kids will look up to him and they'll follow his lead, and it will be a major plus for us," he said.
Facing Parker in practice was a grind.
"It was a learning experience," he said. "Three years guarding one of the best point guards in the NBA can only help you."
-- Cliff Brunt
Purdue's Johnson, Moore stay together with Celts
BOSTON (AP) — They played against each other in high school, teamed up in college and were acquired by the same team in the NBA.
The familiarity between JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore should ease their transition from Purdue to the Boston Celtics. But that partnership also can end before they play their first pro game.
"It's kind of individual," Moore said Monday. "You can't go as two at a time every time."
And Johnson is the one. As college freshmen, the 6-foot-4 Moore was a better player than the 6-10 Johnson. The guard from East Chicago, Ind., led Purdue in scoring in each of their first three seasons. But as seniors, Johnson, an Indianapolis native, piled up the honors — first team All-American and player of the year and defensive player of the year in the Big Ten.
Both considered entering the draft after their junior seasons but decided against it.
"It was a great choice for both of us," Johnson said. "It gave us an extra year to just really develop our game, mature more. We won our senior year and that's important, too."
The Boilermakers were 26-8 last season, finishing second in the Big Ten. Johnson and Moore won 107 games in their careers and at least 25 games in each of their four seasons.
"JaJuan has definitely grown a whole lot confidence-wise and on the court and off the court being more vocal and being more of a leader," Moore said. "I was glad last year when he decided to come back to school because I almost thought I was going to lose him, but he definitely came back better than ever."
Johnson improved his dribbling, defense and mid-range jumper. While Moore may be a longshot to stick with the Celtics, he did improve as a senior. He scored a career-high 38 points against then-No. 2 Ohio State in a 76-63 win on Feb. 20.
"It definitely helped me a lot when it came to draft time," Moore said. "Teams could see I played well in big games."
They showed their new Celtics jerseys at a news conference. Johnson chose No. 12, the number his mother wore in high school. Moore, a fan of the flashy playmaking of point guard Jason Williams, went with the number Williams once wore, 55. Williams, a star at Florida, is retiring after 12 NBA seasons, winding up with Memphis this year.
"We definitely can both motivate each other and push each other through hard times," Johnson said, "so it's definitely great we both got chosen to the same team and, hopefully, we can both come and be successful."
Johnson has a much better chance.
At 220 pounds, he needs to put on weight but already is a solid all-around player. As a senior, he averaged 20.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.
"He's gotten a lot better," Moore said. "Each year, his scoring went up. Defensively, he's definitely gotten better and I don't see why it would stop now."
The Celtics have just six players under contract — starters Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo and Jermaine O'Neal and 2010 draft pick guard Avery Bradley. General manager Danny Ainge said he would make a qualifying offer this week to Jeff Green, meaning the Celtics would have the right to match any offer he receives.
Gilbert Brown, undrafted after a senior season as a swingman for Pittsburgh, was to work out for the Celtics on Monday, Ainge said.
With three guards signed, there could be a spot for Moore.
"It seems like time in and time out, he was the one to hit those big shots for us," Johnson said. "Him playing at a high level since our freshman year helped me to really bring my game up to where his was."
Both are 22 years old — Johnson was born 17 days before Moore in 1989 — and their maturity was one factor that impressed the Celtics.
"They've played in a lot of big games in a lot of hostile environments and they've been ranked very high at times of their college career and been the ones that have been expected to win," Ainge said. "So they've been through a lot and I think that that can only help as they're getting ready for the NBA."
They may have to prepare for a while without coach Doc Rivers and his staff. The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire at the end of Thursday with a lockout possible after that.
"I'm not too concerned," Johnson said, "Pretty much you can only focus on the things we can control and that's really, right now, just working out and continue to get better as a player."
In high school, Johnson, Moore and Robbie Hummel, a native of Valparaiso, Ind., discussed going to Purdue together. Hummel will be entering his senior year.
Johnson and Moore were so good as seniors that they have a shot to remain teammates in the NBA.
But Ainge said it was just a coincidence that he drafted two players from the same college.
"How ironic it was," Moore said. "What's the chances of that happening?"
-- Howard Ulman
Former high school phenom gets shot with Warriors
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Jeremy Tyler was in Israel two years ago when the moment came that made him realize his unprecedented experiment wasn't quite going to work out as planned.
During the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days of the year, he was at home at night watching a movie. The noise was blaring on his speakers, and the lights were on in his house — all a big no-no in a place where life revolves around religion.
Neighbors came knocking on his door, screaming. The commotion created such an uproar that even the police were called. In just one night, the first American-born player to drop out of high school for a professional basketball career overseas had offended what felt like an entire country.
"I didn't know. It was a complete culture shock," Tyler said Monday when he was introduced by the Golden State Warriors after being selected 39th overall in the NBA draft. "It was a big wake-up call."
There have been many of those on Tyler's journey.
A former high school phenom in San Diego, the 6-foot-10 power forward/center was considered perhaps the best big man in his class. But he wasn't happy at his school and wanted to transfer ahead of his senior season, only he couldn't because of district rules.
Along with offers from almost every major college, a few international leagues called. After watching Brandon Jennings opt for Europe instead of college, Tyler and his family decided to take an even bigger risk.
All of 18 years old, he left high school after his junior year and signed a $140,000 deal with Israeli team Maccabi Haifa. Life would never be the same.
"There were two roads to take. I took the harder road," Tyler, now 20, said.
Nothing went as he'd hoped.
Tyler's father, James, spent the first three weeks with him in Israel. Then only a cousin stayed. Tyler was stuck on a team with three big men, and he was raw and unpolished, up against grown men for the first time in his life who could match his muscle. He eventually quit after a disappointing start.
"That's a tough position for a teenager. But he wanted it, so I supported his decision," his mother, Martin, said. "He had to grow up really fast."
While Jennings went on to a stellar young career with the Milwaukee Bucks after only one season abroad, Tyler still had another year before he could meet the NBA's rules of being a year removed from his senior season in high school.
Former shoe company executive Sonny Vaccaro, an adviser to Tyler and his family, told The Associated Press after Tyler left Israel in 2009 that the experience there was "more embarrassing than detrimental" and that Tyler wasn't ready to grow up.
Tyler still had another chance to prove he made the right choice.
On his second go-round, he decided to travel across the Pacific to Japan. Tyler signed a deal with Tokyo Apache, and by all accounts, was starting to grow into the player many thought he could become.
Mother Nature had other plans.
In the middle of an online video chat with his mother in March, everything started to shake — not an uncommon feeling in Japan or for a kid from Southern California used to earthquakes. This one was different.
"He said, 'Mom, it's not stopping! It's not stopping! Everything is shaking!'" she said. "We were very scared. But the one thing we were able to do was Skype with him. Later on, when we saw how big the devastation was around Japan with the tsunamis and everything, I didn't want to tell him. He was in Tokyo, and there was no TV or anything there for him.
"I figured he had been through enough."
With all the chances Tyler has taken, perhaps it's only fitting that the franchise that drafted him would also gamble.
The Warriors paid Charlotte $2 million in a surprising decision to move up in the second round and select Tyler. Golden State needs a big man desperately and believes Tyler can eventually become that missing piece.
There was still some debate about whether to make that kind of financial commitment on an unproven talent whose work ethic and maturity have been questioned. In a crowded room on draft night last week, new Warriors assistant general manager Bob Myers spoke up.
Myers had known Tyler since Tyler was in middle school and kept in touch through his connections from his previous job at the Wasserman Media Group, where he was a sports agent. Myers let his voice be heard one last time by posing a question to new coach Mark Jackson in front of the basketball operations staff.
"I told Mark, 'You've got to coach this guy,'" Myers said. "He said, 'Let's get him.'"
The Warriors will try to be patient with Tyler and aren't expecting major contributions immediately.
They have a stellar backcourt with Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis and first-round pick Klay Thompson. But Golden State has little size up front, a big reason the Warriors have been one of the worst defensive teams for most of the last decade.
Tyler doesn't consider himself a "long-term project," just another rookie who needs time to transition. Jackson views him the same way and said he will give the promising prospect a chance next season.
While he may have lost money on his rookie contract by slipping in the draft, Tyler believes his tumultuous path has made him stronger. Even if it didn't always seem that way.
"There were times I was like, 'Man, this is really hard.' But there was never a time where I regretted my decision," Tyler said. "I'm happy with it. I'm in the NBA. I have a chance. That's all I ever wanted."
-- Antonio Gonzalez
Butler joins Bulls, hangs with D-Rose
DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Jimmy Butler was at the airport in Houston on his way to Chicago when he got the text message from Derrick Rose.
A few hours later, they were hanging out and watching the BET Awards on Sunday. How soon it will be before the Bulls' MVP and their first-round draft pick are on the court together remains to be seen.
With the collective bargaining agreement about to expire and a lockout looming, a huge cloud of uncertainty is hovering over the NBA.
General manager Gar Forman insisted it's business as usual for now and on Monday, that meant introducing Butler.
Taken 30th overall last week, the former Marquette standout joins a Bulls team that won a league-leading 62 games and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals before losing to the Miami Heat in five games. It's another big turn in the dramatic story of a player who was homeless for a while after being kicked out by his mother when he was 13.
With his father out of the picture since he was a baby, Butler bounced between friends' houses before finally settling in with the family of friend Jordan Leslie and his mom, Michelle Lambert, going into his senior year of high school in Tomball, Texas.
On Sunday, he got quite a welcome to the NBA when he was at the airport.
Rose's text message was quick and to the point: "Congratulations. Welcome. Come by tonight and just chill out a little bit, get to know each other."
Turns out, Butler played with Rose's friend and Simeon Career Academy teammate Randall Hampton at Tyler Junior College. All three got a chance to reminisce Sunday night.
It's crazy to know I used to watch him on TV," Butler said of Rose. "Now, I'm a teammate. I try not to let that show too much, to tell you the truth. He's a good dude. He's just like me for the most part. He just wants to win."
It would help if the Bulls added an outside shooter, something they were sorely lacking last season, particularly in the playoffs. Butler's strength is his defense, and although that should make him a good fit for coach Tom Thibodeau, he vowed to extend his jump-shooting range.
The Bulls believe he can do just that after hitting 36 of 94 3-pointers in his three seasons with Marquette. He averaged 15.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals as a senior and was honorable-mention, all-Big East for the second straight year.
"We felt he had all the attributes that we feel are important to help the team become successful," Thibodeau said. "I think he showed great progress through his career."
Considering his story, that's hardly a surprise. Now, look at him.
There was Butler holding up his No. 21 jersey while posing with Forman and Thibodeau at the end of the news conference. Off to the side was Lambert, the woman he calls "mom," unable to contain herself.
She'll probably be grinning, too, when he gets his communications degree in a few weeks.
"It's been a long road," she said. "As you can see, I can't stop crying. But it's amazing."
Butler's hard-scrabble story has been one of most compelling of the NBA draft. He said last week that he was glad to get it out, to discuss it, and that he "wouldn't change anything for the world."
"It was hard, but I had friends that helped me cope with that," he said. "Then, I finally met the Lamberts and they accepted me for who I was and gave me a chance at life, turned me into a better person, taught me a lot of things that I didn't know growing up. They supported me and always believed in me through the ups and through the downs."
Lambert has seen him grow from a shy teen to a confident young adult, and she simply marvels at it.
Butler's life turned one summer day when Leslie, who's three years younger, challenged him to a shooting contest, and they quickly struck up a bond. He started staying over, and it soon became a more permanent arrangement even though there already was a full house.
Lambert had three kids with her late first husband. She then married Michael Lambert, who had three from a previous marriage, and they had one child together.
That didn't stop them from taking in Butler, and pretty soon, he was calling Michelle "mom."
"I saw that my kids — we had to share anyway because there were so many — that they were willing to share," she said. "Jordan wanted to give up his Christmas presents to go to Jimmy. ... I knew that my kids loved him."
NOTE: Forman called 6-foot-10 F Nikola Mirotic, the 23rd pick, a "lottery-type talent." The Bulls acquired his rights through a draft-night trade with Minnesota. Mirotic is under contract with Real Madrid for four more years.
-- Andrew Seligman
Another Ohioan joins the Heat
MIAMI (AP) — Cleveland State guard Norris Cole says fans there are happy he was taken in the first round of the NBA draft, even if he's joining the despised Miami Heat.
"They know it wasn't really my choice," Cole said with a smile Monday.
Cole was in Miami for an introductory visit after being drafted 28th overall Thursday night, then traded by Minnesota to the Heat for the rights to guard Bojan Bogdanovic, a second-round pick in 2014 and cash.
Cleveland fans have been rooting against the Heat ever since LeBron James chose them over the Cavaliers last summer, but Cole said his new team's unpopularity back in Ohio doesn't bother him.
"I've liked the Heat anyway," he said. "I was cheering for them. Some people didn't like the fact I was cheering for them, but they're happy for me and my success. Some people have bad comments to say about LeBron, but I ignore them."
A native of Dayton, Cole said he doesn't know James, and since the draft he hasn't heard from the Heat's so-called "Big 3" — James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
He'll meet the trio eventually, but perhaps not for a while. With the NBA's collective bargaining agreement set to expire Thursday, a lockout looms, which could mean the postponement of summer sessions designed to speed the development of rookies.
Cole said he'll work out in the Midwest while waiting out the labor dispute.
"I'm going to control what I can control, and that's getting better on the court," he said. "When I get the call saying I can be back down here, I'm going to be back down here."
Heat president Pat Riley chuckled while acknowledging his reputation for being wary of relying on rookies like Cole.
"That's not true," Riley said. "If he's a player who can play, he's going to be on the court. We can't wait to get started working with Norris."
Riley said Cole possesses the speed to change the pace of a game, which may lead the Heat to play a more uptempo style next season.
As a senior Cole averaged 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists for a team that finished with a 27-9 record. As a sophomore he scored 22 points to lead the Vikings past 12th-ranked Wake Forest in the first round of the NCAA tournament on the Heat's home court.
He was watching the draft at home in Dayton with 80 friends and relatives when he learned he was heading back to Miami.
"We were all gathered around watching TV," he said. "When everyone heard my name called, it went crazy and the house started shaking. It was a great feeling."
As for what kind of support Cole will get from Clevelanders now that he's with Miami, he makes no predictions.
"If they want to cheer for us, that's fine," he said. "If not, that's fine."
-- Steven Wine
Miller happy to be back in Denver
DENVER (AP) — Andre Miller left Denver with hard feelings. He's back now, and with a renewed sense of optimism.
When the Nuggets traded Miller for Allen Iverson in December 2006 the buzz focused on Denver adding a superstar to the roster. For Miller, leaving a team he liked, a coach he loved playing for and a place he called home was tough.
But 4½ years later he is back with the Nuggets and put his disappointment behind.
"Honestly, I took it personal, the trade, and that was my motivation every time we came here to play," Miller said Monday. "It was just how it went down. I understand it was part of the business. It was just how it went down."
Miller played for the Nuggets from 2003-06 before he was shipped to Philadelphia. He returned to the team on a draft-day deal that also included Jordan Hamilton, the 26th pick in Thursday's draft, and a future second-round pick for point guard Raymond Felton.
Hamilton, along with Denver's first-round pick, Kenneth Faried, and Chukwudiebere Maduabum, a second-round pick acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers, were introduced at Pepsi Center.
The young players are embarking on their NBA careers while Miller comes in as a 12-year veteran. Denver is his fifth NBA city and the sixth stop in his career, but this trade is easier because he makes his offseason home in the area.
"It's more of a comfortable move for me because I have my house here and I get to sleep in my own bed again," he said.
Having established roots here made the trade to Philadelphia tougher, but he's happy to be playing for coach George Karl again.
"I've been knowing George since I was 18 years old when he came out to Utah when I was a freshman. We've had maybe one disagreement, and that was the trade, but for the most part it's a respectful relationship," Miller said. "He understands me as a player and I understand him as a coach and he knows I'm not going to cause any problems, I'm here to work, help guys get better and be a veteran leader."
When Miller signed with Denver eight years ago, the Nuggets had just drafted Carmelo Anthony out of Syracuse and were building a team around the young star. With Anthony now in New York, the roster lacks a big name but has talent. After trading Anthony to the Knicks in February the Nuggets went 18-7 and made the playoffs for the eighth straight season.
Miller is looking forward to being a mentor for the younger players.
"There are some hungry players," he said. "That's the main thing, being around some players that are hungry, still proving themselves in this league and earning respect. You've got a couple of good veterans here. Hopefully they'll be able to come back with Kenyon (Martin) and J.R. (Smith), but for the most part you have some hungry, hard workers.
"Coming back to an offense where George lets you play, make a few mistakes and then he'll pull the reins in. For the most part, there's a lot of talent here, inside and outside, a lot of hustlers and I'm happy to be around that."
Hamilton and Faried said Monday they are eager to learn from the coaching staff and their new teammates. Faried is known for his defense and rebounding and Hamilton was a scorer and a rebounder in his two years at Texas.
Hamilton says his game will be a good fit with a point guard like Miller.
"He's a great passer, he facilitates and he gets his wings the ball," he said. "He'll definitely get his assists up."
Miller averaged 14 points and 7.3 assists in 269 games in his first tour with Denver, but those numbers came as a starter. Ty Lawson has taken over the starting point guard role, and Miller is happy to come off the bench if that's his role.
"I'm not going to get caught up in the who's starting and who's not," he said. "At this point in my career, it'll burn you out."
Miller has been a durable player in his 12 years. He has missed just six games in his career and played every game in a season eight times. He is 35 and feels he can play five more years at a high level.
"I have a lot in me. I get a little irritated at times when people throw the age factor out there and they never throw it out there with the (Jason) Kidds and the (Steve) Nashes," he said. "I'm one of the more durable players in the league. I feel young, no bumps no bruises, and I'm going to continue to do the same thing."
Felton looking to stick with Trail Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — During the summer of 2010, the Portland Trail Blazers took a long look at free agent point guard Raymond Felton before deciding he didn't fit on the roster financially.
One year later, Felton has joined the Blazers after a draft-day trade with Denver. Felton, who was introduced Monday during a news conference in Portland, said he's looking to make the Blazers his team for years to come.
"I want something long term here and I definitely look forward to that situation," Felton said. "But I've got one year left on my deal, and that's all I'm worried about."
The 6-foot-1 Felton has played for three teams during his six-year NBA tenure, including five with Charlotte. He signed last summer with New York before being dealt to the Nuggets in the Carmelo Anthony trade.
Felton, 27, is viewed as a point guard with an ability to jump-start a running game in Portland, a team he described as "a slow-paced, half-court team."
That's not to say the Blazers can't change, or that Felton can't change his game.
"I'm a point guard that is able to push the ball up the court, but I can also run a half-court team," he said. "Playing with coach Larry Brown for two years definitely made me that type of player."
Felton was the fifth pick of the 2005 NBA draft. The two picks prior to Felton, Deron Williams (No. 3 to Utah) and Chris Paul (No. 4 to New Orleans), became NBA stars.
"They went into situations where they were given the ball right away. I wasn't given the ball until maybe three years later," Felton said. "If I'm put in that situation here, that would be great. If it happens, I'll do my best to take the team as far as it can."
Joining Felton during the news conference were Blazers draft picks Nolan Smith, a 6-2 guard from Duke taken at No. 21, and Jon Diebler, a 6-6 guard from Ohio State taken in the second round.
The Blazers hope they have solidified the point guard position for the future with the additions of Felton and Smith, who started 96 games for the Blue Devils and starred on the 2010 national championship team.
"I want to be a friendly face, and just be a great teammate," Smith said. "On the court I'm going to give my all and help make this team better."
Monday's news conference was the beginning of what is likely to be a busy week for the Blazers.
Thursday is the deadline for Portland to decide on several players' contracts, the most prominent being center Greg Oden.
The Blazers must tender Oden, the No. 1 pick of the 2007 draft, a qualifying offer by Thursday in order to make him a restricted free agent. As a restricted free agent, Oden can sign the offer, or seek a deal with another team. The Blazers would then have seven days to match the offer.
Oden can also sign a one-year offer from the Blazers and become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Portland interim general manager Chad Buchanan would only say that the Blazers will address Oden's situation this week, as well as discuss similar contract situations with guards Patty Mills, Elliot Williams and forward Nicolas Batum.
Brooks glad to be back in New Jersey
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — It was a bit of a homecoming Monday for MarShon Brooks, as the former Providence College guard was introduced to the media as the top draft-day acquisition of the New Jersey Nets.
Although Brooks spent most of his adolescent years in Georgia, he was born in nearby Long Branch, N.J., and has fond memories of his days in the Garden State.
"I always visited my grandmother in Long Branch and remember playing basketball at Monmouth (University) when I was young," Brooks said. "So, I'm a Jersey boy at heart."
The 6-foot-5 Brooks, who was the Big East's leading scorer and was No. 2 overall in the country, averaging 24.6 points per contest, was taken by the Boston Celtics with the No. 25 pick of the first round. He was then shipped to the Nets in exchange for New Jersey's first-round pick, JaJuan Johnson of Purdue, and a 2013 second-round selection.
Brooks had no problem going from the Celtics to the Nets in a matter of minutes during last Thursday night's NBA draft.
"I'm excited to be here and I know I'm going to get a chance to play right away," Brooks said. "I can provide energy, because I have a lot of energy and I can score. I'm a scorer who can shoot. I get to the rim better than most. (But) I need to improve my shooting."
Brooks said that when he first thought of getting taken by the Nets, his eyes lit up with the idea of playing with an NBA All-Star point guard like Deron Williams.
"He's going to make life easier for me," Brooks said. "I look forward to getting on the floor with him."
Brooks will get that chance Tuesday, as he plans to workout with Williams at a training facility in California.
The teams can't conduct official workouts due to the pending lockout situation in the NBA, but Williams agreed to work with both Brooks and one of the Nets' second-round selections, forward Jordan Williams of Maryland.
"We're going to give them a workout plan to follow over the summer," Nets general manager Billy King said. "This will give us a chance to see where they are strength-wise."
Brooks believes that he can handle the ball better than most shooting guards and admits that he needs to work on his defensive side.
"But I've played mostly against small forwards in college," he said. "I'm looking forward to facing guys my own size. I know I have to be ready to go, because no one knows when the current situation will be over. Right now, I'm a little scared, because I don't know how I'm going to handle going up against NBA guys in NBA workouts."
Bojan Bogdanovic, a 6-foot-7 shooting guard/small forward from Croatia acquired in a deal with Minnesota after he was taken No. 31, was also in attendance Monday, but it may be a while before he's seen in a Nets uniform.
Bogdanovic, who averaged 18 points per game for Cibona in the Adriatic and Croatian Leagues last year, just signed a deal to play for Fenerbache Istanbul of the Turkish League.
"I didn't expect to be drafted, because I signed the three-year contract before the draft," Bogdanovic said. "It's good for me to play in the high-level Euro league. It's going to be a great experience for me. Like all young players, I have a lot to improve on."
The Nets can try to buy out Bogdanovic's contract after the first year of the deal, but it could be longer before he joins the NBA.
They have more immediate plans for the 6-10 Jordan Williams, who isn't the first power forward taken by the Nets out of Maryland.
Buck Williams, also a former Terrapin, was the Nets' first pick of the 1981 draft, and spent nine seasons in New Jersey. He is still the franchise's all-time leading scorer (10,440 points) and rebounder (7,576 rebounds).
"I'm going to try to do what he did," said the younger Williams, who averaged 16.9 points and 11.8 rebounds for Maryland last season. "I'm very familiar with what Buck Williams did. He was an incredible player and a great influence on my game. I couldn't be happier being here and getting a chance to do what he did. I'm excited that they wanted a rebounder and I'm going to get a shot to prove myself.
"I couldn't ask for much better than this."
Wizards introduce first-round pick Jan Vesely
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jan Vesely is right where he wanted to be all along. The 6-foot-11 forward from the Czech Republic was the sixth overall pick by Washington in the NBA draft last Thursday — and he couldn't have been more thrilled during an introductory news conference.
"I'm happy to be here," Vesely said Monday. "I hoped that Washington picked me."
He sure showed it, too on draft night. Vesely made some headlines when his name was announced and he passionately kissed his girlfriend Eva on television.
"All the news, nobody knows about the picks on draft night," said Vesely, who wasn't embarrassed by the attention the smooch got. "It was all about the kiss."
With Eva looking on Monday, the 21-year old Vesely was flanked on the dais by Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, coach Flip Saunders and general manager Ernie Grunfeld. Vesely and the Wizards knew a lot about each other because Washington had scouted him for several years.
"This is a very exciting day for us," said Grunfeld, who envisions Vesely as being an ideal fast-break complement for speedy point guard John Wall. "(Jan) fits the mold of the type of players we're looking for. We're looking for players that play hard, that compete, that are team players. He also has a lot of experience."
Vesely averaged 10.3 points and 4.3 rebounds for Partizan in 26 games in the Adriatic League. In Partizan's 15 games in the Euroleague, "The Flying Czech" — the nickname Vesely said was given to him while playing in Serbia — averaged 10.1 points and 3.6 rebounds.
Though he made 71 percent of his shots from the field in Adriatic League games, Vesely said improving his shooting before playing in the NBA was his top priority. Only a 55 percent shooter from the foul line, perhaps Vesely will be able to draw inspiration from another big man: Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki — the NBA finals MVP whom he grew up studying.
"When I was kid, I was watching Dirk, his game," Vesely said. "Now, I'm still watching Dirk."
One season after selecting Wall with the No. 1 overall pick and adding first-round picks Trevor Booker, Kevin Seraphin and Jordan Crawford, the Wizards drafted Vesely and Chris Singleton in the opening round last week. Former Butler guard Shelvin Mack was selected early in the second round.
"We promised that we would quickly rebuild the team using the draft as a platform for that change," Leonsis said. "That's our goal, to build a core of young players who go through the process of rebuilding together. I think the culture of the team will be dictated by these young players."
Hornets' David West will test free agency
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — David West is uncertain whether his NBA future lies in New Orleans or elsewhere. What the Hornets' leading scorer knew for sure on Monday was that he wasn't going to allow recent reconstructive surgery on his left knee to scare him away from free agency.
"It's about making the best decision right now for my family," West said in a phone interview in which he explained his decision to opt out of the final year of his contract.
"It's not taking New Orleans out of the equation, just an opportunity to sign a better deal, and an opportunity to make sure the decision I make for the next three to four years puts me in the best possible situation to win — not just winning and making the playoffs, but legitimately having a chance to compete for championships."
West, a two-time All-Star who was drafted 18th overall by New Orleans in 2003, started 70 games last season, averaging 18.9 points to go with 7.6 rebounds before tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament during a victory at Utah on March 24.
While the injury could undermine his value on the open market, West, whose offseason hobbies include boxing, said he was not inclined to succumb to fear of the unknown.
After gauging the progress of his rehabilitation and mulling options with his agent, Lance Young, West walked away from the $7.5 million he would have made to play in New Orleans next season.
Hornets general manager Dell Demps said he still hoped to bring West back.
"We have had open communication with David this entire season about his option and knew with either decision that our intention is to pursue David so he can finish his career as a Hornet," Demps said.
West had surgery April 12 and his rehabilitation is expected to take six to eight months, but he said he already is jogging on a treadmill, keeping up his weight training and even doing some low-impact work on the basketball court, such as set shots.
"Two days after surgery I dove headfirst into rehab. I haven't let up. I'm going six days a week," said West, who'll be 31 on Aug. 29. "I'm really attacking it and I feel good. I haven't had any pain."
It is not clear when free agency will begin because the NBA's collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of this month and a lockout is widely expected to follow. However, West said he was confident that "players and owners are going to get something worked out, whether sooner or later, that's fair on both sides."
Even if the lockout drags on, that could help West by giving him more time to recover before free agency begins.
West's decision means the Hornets must find a starting power forward through free agency, whether that means bringing back West with a new deal, re-signing fellow free agent Carl Landry, or finding someone else.
New Orleans did not add to its roster during last week's draft. Because of past trades, the Hornets did not have a first-round pick and only one pick in the middle of the second round, which they sold to the New York Knicks for about $750,000.
After West went down last season, Landry, who had been acquired in a trade that sent Marcus Thornton to Sacramento in February, moved into West's starting power forward spot. The Hornets won five of their last 10 regular season games to finish at 46-36, good enough for the seventh playoff seed in the Western Conference.
If Landry also chooses to go elsewhere, that would leave the Hornets thin at power forward.
New Orleans currently has only five players under contract: guards Chris Paul and Jarrett Jack; center Emeka Okafor; small forward Trevor Ariza; and second-year swingman Quincy Pondexter. Center Aaron Gray also opted out of the last year of his contract on Monday, while shooting guard Marco Belinelli and forward Jason Smith are both restricted free agents whose future with the Hornets remains uncertain.
West said he spoke to Paul on Monday morning about his decision and that Paul, who has played with West his whole career, took it well.
"He understands what's going on," West said. "I'm not leaning any particular way or anything. It's just an opportunity to see what's out there, and a chance to play on that (championship) stage late in the year."
If New Orleans is unable to lure West back or otherwise put together a competitive roster by next season, the club could be more inclined to see what they can get in a trade for Paul. The Hornets have so far rebuffed trade offers for Paul, a four-time All-Star and 2008 Olympic gold medalist who is the face of the franchise. But Paul will have the right to opt out of his contract after next season, meaning the Hornets would lose him without getting anything in return if they failed to either trade him or sign him to an extension.
The direction the Hornets go on that front may depend on who owns the team by then. Currently, the NBA owns the club, but the league wants to find new owners who are committed to keeping the Hornets in New Orleans.
In order to assure prospective buyers that the franchise will be able to financially stay afloat on the bayou, the club has called on the community to help them reach a season ticket base of 10,000. The Hornets have sold about 8,300 season tickets so far, but it remains to be seen how tough of a sell season tickets will become now that one of their best players has confirmed his decision to enter free agency.
West was popular in New Orleans not only for his steady production on the court but his charitable work in the region. He often spoke of being moved by his interaction with people who suffered during Hurricane Katrina, particularly children, and took part in numerous activities to promote the city's recovery.
"I've enjoyed my time in New Orleans," West said. "Off the court, my wife, myself, my family, we tried to be as productive in the community as we could. It was important to us."
West also stressed that he liked playing for Monty Williams, who in his first year as an NBA head coach led the Hornets back into the playoffs this past season.
"In terms of my production last season, I felt like he was a really big part of that because of the way his basketball mind is, his approach to the game and his approach to work," West said. "He knows where I am in terms of wanting to win and wanting to make sure that the team is going in the right direction."
-- Brett Martel
Bobcats make qualifying offer to F Cunningham
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Bobcats made a one-year qualifying offer worth nearly $1 million to Dante Cunningham on Monday that makes the reserve forward a restricted free agent.
The move came less than two months after Cunningham was charged with possession of marijuana following a traffic stop in suburban Philadelphia in which police said they also found a pellet gun in violation of a local ordinance.
Charlotte acquired the former Villanova player from Portland in a February trade that sent forward Gerald Wallace to the Trail Blazers. The Bobcats moved the 6-foot-8 Cunningham from power forward to small forward and he thrived, averaging 9 points and 4 rebounds in 22 games while showing a consistent mid-range jumper.
Before the final game of the season, owner Michael Jordan said they wanted to re-sign the 2009 second-round pick. But the franchise became more cautious following his arrest.
Radnor Township Police Superintendent William Colarulo said officers responding to a reckless driving complaint stopped Cunningham. He said officers smelled marijuana and recovered a suspicious substance after Cunningham consented to a search.
Cunningham was arraigned and released on bail.
President of basketball operations Rod Higgins said last week that they would wait until after the draft to decide on Cunningham's future. Then Charlotte swung a draft-night deal that sent top scorer Stephen Jackson to Milwaukee and left the Bobcats extremely thin at small forward.
The qualifying offer means the Bobcats can match any offer another team makes to Cunningham.
Higgins didn't immediately reply to a phone message Monday night seeking comment. But coach Paul Silas said last month showed support for Cunningham, who has participated in offseason workouts recently at the Bobcats' practice facility.
"Things happen and I just hope he learned from it and that certainly that will never happen again. At least that's my hope," Silas said. "Everybody makes mistakes and if he learns from his mistakes he'll be OK."
-- Mike Cranston
Thunder give Cook qualifying offer
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Reserve guard Daequan Cook has received a qualifying offer from the Oklahoma City Thunder, making him a restricted free agent this offseason.
After Monday's move, the Thunder will now have the chance to match any contract offers Cook receives from other teams.
Cook joined Oklahoma City in a trade last year with the Miami Heat, then earned a role in the Thunder's rotation midway through the season.
Cook didn't play in 34 straight games early in the season, then averaged 6.4 points and shot 45 percent from 3-point range after getting into the rotation.
Cook said last week that he loves it in Oklahoma City and feels "pretty good" about having the chance to return for a second season.
Gray opts out of final season with Hornets
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Hornets reserve center Aaron Gray is opting out of the final season of his contract. Gray had until Thursday to decide whether to exercise an option for one more season with New Orleans at $1.1 million.
Instead, he joined David West as the second Hornets player to opt for free agency on Monday. However, Gray's agent, Andy Miller, says the 7-foot, 270-pound center remains open to returning to New Orleans.
The 26-year-old Gray averaged 3.1 points in 13 minutes per game during the regular season. His size helped the Hornets defend some of the NBA's bigger and more physical centers.
Gray's best game of the season came in the Hornets' victorious playoff opener against the Los Angeles Lakers, when he scored 12 points.
Grizzlies pick up contract option on Young
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies have exercised their third-year contract option on guard-forward Sam Young. The team said in a news release Monday that Young's contract is now guaranteed through the 2011-12 season.
Young averaged 7.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 78 games, 46 of them starts, last season. His career averages are 7.4 points and 2.5 rebounds.
WNBA
Sparks' Parker to miss about six weeks
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sparks forward Candace Parker will be out for about six weeks due to a torn meniscus in her right knee.
Parker, limited to 10 games last year because of a shoulder injury, had an MRI on Monday after she was hurt during a road loss to the New York Liberty the previous day.
Parker, averaging 17.7 points and 9.9 rebounds in seven games this season, went down after grabbing a defensive rebound with 5:56 left in the third quarter and making contact with New York's Quanitra Hollingsworth. After staying down for a few minutes, she limped off the court, went to the locker room, and didn't return.
The Sparks (4-3), winless in three road games, have dropped the first two of a seven-game swing that will continue at Connecticut on Tuesday night.
