March 2006 Basketball Wiretap

Garnett Wins 2005-2006 Citizenship Award

Oct 31, 2006 8:34 PM

On Tuesday, Garnett was selected as the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winner for his outstanding community work in 2005-06, highlighted by his donation of 1.2 million dollars towards building one home a month for two years for Hurricane Katrina victims.

The Star Tribune's Steve Aschburner, president of the Pro Basketball Writers Association, presented the award to KG in a ceremony on the Target Center's main floor. Past winners of the award include Julius "Dr. J" Irving, Magic Johnson and David Robinson.

"From the many awards that I've won, I'd have to say that this is probably the most gratifying, just because of what comes out of it," said Garnett. "If anything, I'd like to be an example in helping others give also."

NBA.com

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA

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Suns, Pistons And Heat Become Rose's Frontrunners

Oct 31, 2006 8:30 PM

According to league sources, the Suns, Pistons and Heat are the early frontrunners to sign the recently waived Jalen Rose.

If Rose signs for the veteran minimum salary, he'd earn $1,178,348 million from his new team for the season, with that team obligated to pay only $744,551 of that amount. The league picks up the difference.

ESPN

Tags: Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, NBA

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George Hospitalized With Stomach Ailment

Oct 31, 2006 8:19 PM

On Tuesday, Devean George was hospitalized with a stomach ailment that could knock him out of the opener.

"We think it's a food deal, but he's had this problem before," coach Avery Johnson said. "Now it's kind of come back again, and this time it's even worse than the first time. So we'll have to evaluate it."

Star-Telegram

Tags: Dallas Mavericks, NBA

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Kobe To Sit Versus Phoenix

Oct 31, 2006 8:11 PM

Kobe Bryant will not be available in the Lakers' opening night game versus the Phoenix Suns.

He made an announcement on his website.

"The excitement of tonight was beginning to cloud my judgment of playing, I want to play, BUT I am not there yet," wrote Bryant. "I am rounding 3rd base and will be home SOON."

KB24.com

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, NBA

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Sura Hopes To Return In A Month

Oct 31, 2006 8:02 PM

Bob Sura still hasn't participated in a full practice, but he repeated his desire to return to the hardwood this season following Tuesday's workout.

The Rockets point guard, who is recovering from a knee injury that sidelined through all of the 2005-06 season, was on the court shooting jumpers with the team after practice for the first time since training camp opened earlier this month.

Sura is hoping to return next month.

"I'm trying to get myself back into playing shape so I can play in a few weeks," Sura said. "I shouldn't say a few weeks. Five or six weeks is probably more like it."

NBA.com

Tags: Houston Rockets, NBA

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Morrison To Begin Season On Bobcats Bench

Oct 31, 2006 4:49 PM

Charlotte Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff said Tuesday that veteran Brevin Knight will start at shooting guard ahead of Morrison, the No. 3 pick in the draft, in Wednesday's season opener against Indiana.

Morrison started four of the Bobcats' eight preseason games, averaging 11.6 points and 36-percent shooting. Bickerstaff said coming off the bench will help his transition to the NBA.

"He's done well, but he's still a rookie," Bickerstaff said. "This is a different level, but I think Adam will be just fine. He's a good basketball player, but he has to navigate his way through being an NBA player."

AP

Tags: Charlotte Hornets, NBA

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Songaila Undergoes Surgery For Herniated Disc, Out 10-12 Weeks

Oct 31, 2006 3:04 PM

Washington Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld announced today that forward Darius Songaila will undergo surgery to repair a herniated disc, and will be out for 10-12 weeks.  

Songaila originally sustained the injury while playing in the World Championship Games for the Lithuanian National Team this past summer.  

?I am very disappointed that I will not be out there with my new teammates," said Songaila.  "I plan to work hard and look forward to getting back on the court.  Unfortunately, surgery is my best option at this time.?

Press Release

Tags: Washington Wizards, NBA

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Stern, Russell Attend Auerbach's Burial Ceremony

Oct 31, 2006 1:19 PM

Bill Russell and David Stern were amongst 150 people attending a simple burial ceremony in honor of Red Auerbach on Tuesday morning.

"The utter simplicity was fitting for Red," Stern said. "Even the simplicity was more than what he would have wanted."

Psalm 23 was chanted by mourners and then they stood in silence as Auerbach's casket was lowered, then chanted the Mourner's Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead. Stern was among those who took part in the tradition of shoveling dirt onto the grave.

Globe And Mail

Tags: Boston Celtics, NBA

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Two Good Practices Have Amare Feeling Optimistic

Oct 31, 2006 12:25 PM

Amare Stoudemire's last two practices have him and the Suns feeling optimistic about the strength of his microfracture surgery.

"I think that's the nature of an injury to be up and down," D'Antoni said Monday. "It's just when you're potentially one of the better players in the league you get a lot of attention when you have an off day. It's 'Oh, he can't do it.'

"I'm sure there's a lot of people hoping he can't do it, but I'm thinking he can. He looked good the last couple of days."

"I feel great," he said Monday. "Today was another great day, it was better than yesterday, so tomorrow I should feel even better."

Globe And Mail

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Hinrich Agrees To Extension

Oct 31, 2006 11:21 AM

Kirk Hinrich had a big decision to make and chose security.

League sources said that Hinrich and the Bulls have agreed to a deal that is worth $47.5 million and starts in the 2007-08 season at roughly $7.8 million.

The deal will pay Hinrich approximately $11.42 million during its final season in 2011-2012.

Hinrich initially sought a deal similar to Tony Parker's, who averages $11 million annually, but in a recent interview, he said he might eventually take what he described in another more casual conversation as "more money than I'll ever need in my lifetime."

"I'm comfortable financially right now," he said. "I don't spend a lot. ... And when you're talking numbers like we're talking, it's almost surreal."

Chicago Tribune

Tags: Chicago Bulls, NBA

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Lakers Waive Devin Green

Los Angeles Daily News

Ridnour's Extension Worth $18 Million

Seattle PI

Skiles Doesn't Want To See Heat's Party

Chicago Sun-Times

Ford Extension With Raptors Should Be Announced Today

Toronto Star

Lawyer Threatened To Embarrass Arenas

Mercury News

Cuban Pulls Plug On Radio Show To Protest League's 'Hypocrisy'

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Riley Showing Interest In Jalen Rose?

Miami Herald

Jazz Exercise Third-Year Option On Williams

nba.com

Celtics To Wear Black Clover Leaf In Honor Of Auerbach

ESPN

Heat Ready To Get Rings, Championship Banner

AP

Bird, Cousy, Thompsons Pay Their Respects To Auerbach

Yahoo!

Nets Waive Darvin Ham

Press Release

Parker Suffers Ankle Sprain

San Antonio Express-News

Knicks And Brown Resolve Dispute

Press Release

Source: Ford Extension

CBC Sports

Sonics Announce Ridnour Extension

Press Release

Sonics And Ridnour Agree On Extension

Press Release

Source: West Will Ink Five-Year Extension

DraftExpress

Bogut Cleared To Return

USA Today

Fan Who Directed Racial Slur At Mutombo Banned For One Year

Press Release