March 2004 Basketball Wiretap

Nailon Back With Hornets... For Now

Sep 30, 2004 10:16 PM

Lee Nailon, a suprise player for the Charlotte Hornets in 2001/02, is back with the Hornets.

Nailon and guard Junior Harrington both signed contracts with New Orleans, giving the duo a home for training camp with a chance of earning something more.  

The signings bring the Hornets' preseason roster to 19 players. Only 12 make the active roster, with three others kept on injured reserve.

ESPN

Tags: New Orleans Pelicans, NBA

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Swift Inks One Year Deal With Grizzlies

Sep 30, 2004 9:45 PM

ESPN is reporting that the Memphis Grizzlies have signed free agent forward Stromile Swift to a one year deal.  Swift, who now becomes a one year bird player, will not be able a tradeable commodity for Memphis during the next season.

Grizzlies president Jerry West said negotiations with Swift's agent were difficult, and the pressure is on the four-year veteran to prove he is worthy of a long-term deal.

"Obviously, this is a very important year for Stromile," West said. "We expect Stromile to go out and have a great year, and pressure us to sign him to the type of contract he is seeking. Even though he will be an unrestricted free agent next year, we can bid on him and we definitely want Stromile to remain a Grizzlie."

Swift was selected by the Grizzlies out of LSU as the second overall pick in the 2000 draft.

ESPN

Tags: Memphis Grizzlies, NBA

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Wilkens Happy With Knicks Depth

Sep 30, 2004 9:39 PM

With additional talent comes additional worries, which is a lesson that Knicks coach Lenny Wilkens may be learning first hand if his entire backcourt is healthy and he has problems finding minutes for newcomer Jamal Crawford.  Wilkens, however, is prepared for such a situation and accordingly can placate their playing time concerns by telling them a quarter century-old success story.

"I had Gus Williams and Dennis Johnson and Fred Brown," Wilkens recalled Thursday of the Seattle SuperSonics team he coached in 1978-79. "We won a championship, and everybody was happy with their minutes."

Crawford is a combo guard capable of playing the point or shooting guard, but Stephon Marbury is the incumbent playmaker and Allan Houston is the team's best outside shooting threat.

If Houston's achy knees are healthy enough to allow him to play by the time the season begins Nov. 3, Crawford will find himself in the same unhappy position he was in last season with the Bulls - coming off the bench.

"It'll all work itself out," said Wilkens.  "I think we have a whole lot more depth now, and it should pay off. Right now, we're approaching camp in a real positive mode. We're excited about it."

MSG Network

Tags: New York Knicks, NBA

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One Last Shot For Rodman?

Sep 30, 2004 5:25 PM

Vowing that he has changed his ways, the Denver Nuggets are giving NBA bad boy Dennis Rodman a tryout today to see if the 43 year old still has what it takes to play in the league.  Rodman, who last played in the 1999/00 season, vows that his attempts to get back into the league are so he can end his career in a positive light rather than being for more fame, money and attention.

"I just want my career to end on a good note," Rodman said. "I'm not coming back for the money. The money has nothing to do with it. I want to come back another year, maybe two, and show people that the game is still fun. I want to bring some entertainment back into the league."

He has gone so far, Rodman's agent Darrin Price says, that he gave up alcohol around a year ago.

"I have a job to do today," he said. "And once I do it, there will be no excuses."

Denver Post

Tags: Denver Nuggets, NBA

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Celtics' Fox Hunting for New Gig After Retiring

Sep 30, 2004 4:52 PM

After 13 seasons which included three Championships as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, veteran forward Rick Fox has retired from the NBA.

The Boston Celtics requested waivers on the veteran forward Thursday, his spokeswoman Staci Wolfe announced, to facilitate his retirement.

Fox has spent the entire summer rehabilitating assorted injuries he accrued over the course of the 2003-04 season before his Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the NBA Finals at the hands of the Detroit Pistons.

Fox, originally drafted 21st overall in the 1991 draft by the Celtics, returned to his original team earlier this summer in the trade that brought Gary Payton to the Celtics from Los Angeles and sent Chucky Atkins, Jumaine Jones and Chris Mihm west.  He was never expected to suit up.

"We were aware of Rick's medical situation when we made the trade," said Celtics Executive Director of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. "He has been a true professional and will always be a member of the Celtics family, especially considering this is where he started his career. We wish him well and are confident he will be successful in whatever he chooses to pursue next."

Fox played with the Celtics from 1991-97, signing with the Lakers as an unrestricted free agent. Fox enjoyed a solid NBA career, posting career averages of 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, as well as winning three NBA Championships while a Laker.

L.A. Times

Tags: Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA

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Avery Johnson Signs with the Mavs

Sep 30, 2004 3:35 PM

Veteran point guard Avery Johnson signed with the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.  

Although terms were not disclosed for Johnson, 39, he had to receive no less than the 10-year veteran's minimum of $1.1 million. He averaged 4.6 points and 2.4 assists in 46 games for Golden State last season, his 16th in the NBA.

The 5-11 Johnson also played for Dallas from midway through the 2001-02 season and the 2002-03 campaign before being traded to Golden State in the Antawn Jamison deal. He has averaged 8.4 points and 5.5 assists in 1,054 career games with Dallas, Golden State, San Antonio, Seattle, Houston and Denver.

Johnson will essentially be a player-coach and is ear marked to eventually become head coach of the Mavericks.

Yahoo!

Tags: Dallas Mavericks, NBA

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AC Green:"I went into the NBA as a virgin..I left the NBA as a virgin"

Sep 30, 2004 2:09 PM

Former Laker Star, AC Green now 40 years of age, recently gave speeches at two local high schools, Victor Valley Christian School and Hesperia Christian School.  He spoke diligently about his Christian faith and abstinence.  

AC Green, the only man to make it through 1,192 consecutive NBA games and also maintain his virginity, has stayed strong to his convictions since becoming a Christian 22 years ago, preached that he was merely following God?s direction for how he uses his body.  "God says you can only have sex with your husband or wife," Green said.

The message was direct and unambiguous, and it is not clear how some students are taking to Mr. Green?s word.  However, some students are hopeful that can maintain the same convictions.

"I think it will just stay in my head now," said Jake Hastey, 14, a student at Victor Valley Christian School.

The Daily Press

Tags: NBA

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New Orleans Fills Roster

Sep 30, 2004 1:55 PM

The Hornets have topped off their training camp roster with the signing of four low-level free agents.

Sean Finn, Tremaine Fowlkes, Britton Johnsen and Nate Williams all signed contracts this week to compete in the New Orleans training camp that starts this upcoming Tuesday.

The Sun Herald

Tags: New Orleans Pelicans, NBA

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Pistons to Pick up Option on Prince

Sep 30, 2004 12:11 PM

The Detroit Pistons are planning on picking up their fourth year option on small forward Tayshaun Prince.  He's going into the third year of a three-year deal, worth $3.5 million.

Prince came into his own all of last year, and became one of the most promising young players in the NBA with his heady play in the playoffs.

Detroit Free Press

Tags: Detroit Pistons, NBA

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Kidd Trade Talk Premature Because of Injury

Sep 30, 2004 12:07 PM

Jason Kidd underwent significant knee surgery in the offseason and NBA GM's do not overlook that fact.  Kidd is in his 30s now and may not be that same player that led the Nets to the Finals two consecutive seasons.

And for this reason no trade involving Kidd is imminent, as GM's will want to see how he has recovered from the surgery in actual play before giving up a few quality players and/or draft picks for Kidd and his massive contract.

The Bergen Record

Tags: Brooklyn Nets, NBA

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Don't Write Nets Off Yet Says Frank

Newark Star-Ledger

Big Ben Not Yet Cleared For Practice

Detroit Free Press

Heat Turn Attention To Chris Porter

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Starks back with the Knicks

New York Post

Shaq Fires Back at Kobe

Miami Herald

Clippers knew of Kittles Situation Before Trade

ESPN

Ainge and Rivers Expect the Glove at Training Camp

Sportsline.com

Allan Houston's Knee Will be Ready

Sportsline.com

Artest Quickly Becoming one of the NBA's Most Marketable Players

The Indy Star

Allen and Schultz Sit Down at WNBA Playoff Game

The Seattle Times

Bryant Claims O'Neal Paid Woman for Silence

Los Angeles Times

Kittles to Miss Start of Clippers Camp

L.A. Times

Knicks Still Adding Size

New York Post

Howard Signs Adidas Contract

St. Petersburg Times

Yao Tactful about Del Harris? Ideas for Chinese Team's Improvement

St. Petersburg Times

Pacers Bring Camp Roster to 18

The IndyStar

Rodman to Play in Mexico

San Antonio Express-News

The NBA Poised to Gain More Fans with the NHL Lockout

The Detroit News

Hubert Davis Returns to Mavs as Coach

Dallas Morning News