March 2010 Basketball Wiretap

Josh Howard Excited To Be With Wizards After Inopportune Injury

Jul 31, 2010 3:59 PM

Josh Howard is glad to have signed a one-year deal with the Wizards after suffering an inopportune injury.

Coming off a knee injury, Howard wasn't offered a lot of money as a free agent. He received calls from Heat, Celtics, Bulls, Spurs, Cavaliers, Kings and Clippers.

"We expected that," Howard said. "It's what you expect. It's a business.

"I kept my options open, but I always stayed loyal to Washington. They gave me the opportunity to get out of Dallas and actually play free, which I took and I appreciate them for that. I had to stay loyal to them. They wanted me to play ball for them and I feel that's probably the best place for me to be at."

Heading into free agency with health concerns was tough enough. It didn't help that Howard's reputation had also taken several hits during his last few years in Dallas.

"My injury came at an unfortunate time, but I did enough to let people know that I still have game," he said. "I'm still going to be out there working hard and playing hard to get back out there for Washington."

NBA.com

Tags: Josh Howard, Washington Wizards, NBA

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Joey Graham Could Start For Cavaliers

Jul 31, 2010 3:46 PM

Joey Graham signed a two-year, $2.1 million deal with the Cavaliers and could be in for a bigger role than in the past.

"Joining Cleveland marks an exciting, brand new start for me," Graham said. "This is a great opportunity and I'm excited to come in and help the team as much as possible."

Graham could conceivably replace James in Cleveland's starting lineup at small forward.

"He adds a tough, veteran presence on the perimeter that will complement the pieces we have in place," general manager Chris Grant said in a prepared statement. "With his strong work ethic and discipline, we feel he is a great match with the culture we have built and continue to build."

News-Herald

Tags: Joey Graham, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA

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Howard Believes Shaq Would Be Good Fit For Hawks

Jul 31, 2010 3:43 PM

Dwight Howard still believes Shaquille O'Neal can be a fit for an NBA team as the legendary center approaches the end of his career.

"He's still a big body. He's different than he was back in the day but he's still big. He can be a great fit for a team to help them win," Howard said of O'Neal

"I think his presence in the locker room will be needed more than anything at this point in his career. If he would embrace whatever team he's on, he has a lot of knowledge and he could help a team grow."

Howard was also asked by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution whether he felt O'Neal was a good fit for the Hawks.

"I don't know," he said. "I like their lineup now. I know a lot of people get mad and say they're not big on the inside, but they're a big team. They've got big guards. They've got big forwards. They've got a flying forward [Josh Smith]. So it doesn't really matter about having a seven-footer."

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tags: Shaquille O'Neal, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, NBA

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Jazz Still Negotiating With Fesenko

Jul 31, 2010 9:28 AM

The Jazz remain in talks with restricted free-agent center Kyrylo Fesenko, who received a qualifying offer from the team earlier this offseason.

Deseret News

Tags: Kyrylo Fesenko, Utah Jazz, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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NBA To Reveal Marquee Games Tuesday

Jul 31, 2010 9:22 AM

The NBA will release its opening week and Christmas Day schedules during an television special Tuesday.

NBATV officials said Friday their network will host a program that will unveil the slate of games for "Tip-off '10," plus the Christmas and Martin Luther King Jr. holidays.

The full NBA schedule will be released on Aug. 10.

Yahoo! Sports

Tags: NBA

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Nesterovic Agrees With Olympiacos

Jul 31, 2010 9:18 AM

Rasho Nesterovic is returning to Europe after 12 seasons in the NBA.

Nesterovic has agreed to a deal with Olympiacos.

TalkBasket.net

Tags: Rasho Nesterovic, Euroleague, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, International, International Signing Rumor, International League

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Pacers Will Invite Rolle To Camp

Jul 31, 2010 9:15 AM

The Pacers haven't signed rookie big man Magnum Rolle to a contract, but they are expected to do so before training camp begins on September 28.

"He will be invited to training camp. I anticipate he will be signed before camp. We like how he played in the rookie camp and also what he showed in the Summer League. He is here in Indianapolis, working out on his own. There is a reasonable chance he will be with us when the season opens," said team spokesman David Benner.

Freeport News

Tags: Magnum Rolle, Indiana Pacers, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Knicks Remain In Talks With Shannon Brown

Jul 31, 2010 9:12 AM

The Knicks have had "ongoing discussions" with the representatives for free-agent guard Shannon Brown, according to agent Mark Bartelstein.

"It's been something Donnie [Walsh, Knicks president] and I have talked about throughout the summer," Bartelstein said. "Mike [D'Antoni, Knicks coach] and Donnie and I have had conversations."

New York Post

Tags: Shannon Brown, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Official Transaction

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Wizards Sign Seraphin To Rookie Deal

Jul 31, 2010 9:07 AM

The Wizards have signed rookie Kevin Seraphin, the seventeenth overall pick in June's NBA Draft.

Washington acquired Seraphin in a draft-day trade with Chicago.

Seraphin, who hails from French Guyana, spent the past four years playing for Cholet Basket.

The French club signed him to a three-year contract in August, and he had to negotiate a buyout in order to join the Wizards.

ESPN

Tags: Kevin Seraphin, Washington Wizards, NBA, NBA Official Signing

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Cavaliers Sign Joey Graham

Jul 30, 2010 9:22 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard/forward Joey Graham to a contract, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today. Per league and team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

Graham, 28, played in 63 games (18 starts) during the 2009-10 season with the Denver Nuggets, averaging 4.2 points on a career-high .520 shooting and 2.0 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game.  In his 18 starts, he averaged 7.4 points on .473 shooting and 3.3 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game.  

"We're excited to add Joey to our roster. He adds a tough, veteran presence on the perimeter that will complement the pieces we have in place," said Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant. "With his strong work ethic and discipline, we feel he is a great match with the culture we have built and continue to build."

Press Release

Tags: Joey Graham, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Official Signing, NBA Misc Rumor

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Miami Dismisses Approximately 30 Staff Members Who Sold Season Tickets

Miami Herald

Bulls Haven't Ruled Out McGrady

Marc Stein/ESPN

Raptors Could Sign Bobby Brown

Marc Stein/ESPN

Celtics Still Looking At Shaq, Kwame Brown

Marc Stein/ESPN

Cavaliers Agree To Terms With Joey Graham

Brian Windhorst/Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter)

Wizards Renounce Rights To Singleton

Michael Lee/Washington Post

Stoudemire Exploring His 'Hebrew Roots'

ESPN

Attorney Says Armed Men Were Looking For Wright

ESPN

Oklahoma City Waives Kyle Weaver

Press Release

Porter Could Join Chicago's Coaching Staff

K.C. Johnson/Chicago Tribune (via Twitter)

Cavaliers Will Remain 'Disciplined' With Moves

News-Herald

Mike James Wants To Play For Jazz

Chris Sheridan/ESPN (via Twitter)

Bargnani Views Bosh's Departure As An Opportunity

Jorge Sierra/HoopsHype

Rose Not Disappointed By Decision To Pass On McGrady

Chicago Sun-Times

Suns Don't Have Frontrunner For GM Job

Arizona Republic

Bosh Claims Decision To Leave Toronto Came Late

ESPN

Kings Hire Cousins' High School Coach

NBA.com

Spurs Release Malik Hairston From Contract

NBA.com

Prokhorov Expresses Support Of LeBron's Decision In Open Letter

USA Today

Lance Blanks Emerges As Frontrunner For Suns GM Job

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports