April 2012 Basketball Wiretap

Spoelstra Believes Heat Will Need To 'Reinvent' Themselves To Repeat

Jul 31, 2012 11:26 PM

Erik Spoelstra wants to make sure history doesn't repeat itself.

"If we learned one thing from the 2006 title, it was that you need to continue to reinvent yourself and improve as a basketball team," Spoelstra said. "That year we brought the exact the same team back, we thought it would be the same path and same journey. It never is.

"It's always going to be different. And we ended up losing the first round and we were swept in four games. Another year later, we only won 15 games and we were the worst team in basketball and that's how fragile this game can be."

Miami signed Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis to add depth and three-point shooting to a rotation that includes Shane Battier, Mike Miller and James Jones.

Ira Winderman/South Florida Sun Sentinel

Tags: Miami Heat, NBA, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Sixers Sign Maalik Wayns To One-Year Deal

Jul 31, 2012 10:42 PM

Maalik Wayns has signed a one-year contract with the Sixers.

“It’s going to be a great experience for me, I’m just so happy and excited that things worked out the way they did,” said Wayns, who went undrafted in June. “I was confident that I was going to catch on with somebody. I knew I was going to play in the NBA. I just didn’t know where.”

Wayns averaged 11.7 points, 5.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds during the Orlando Summer League.

“I thought I played well in Orlando and there were rumors going around that a team or two were looking to sign me,” said Wayns. “But nothing happened. Still I never lost confidence that things would work out. The Sixers talked to my agent (Andy Miller) and we got a contract. I was thinking the whole time of just going to training camp and trying to make a team, really without any security. This is an added bonus.”

Bob Cooney/Philadelphia Daily News

Tags: Maalik Wayns, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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C.J. Miles Could Sign With Lakers

Jul 31, 2012 10:38 PM

C.J. Miles, according to a source, is drawing serious interest from the Lakers.

Miles, who has already met with the Mavericks and Cavaliers, could make a decision within the next 2-3 days.

The Lakers still have the $3 million mini mid-level exception available to sign an incoming free agent.

Brian T. Smith/Salt Lake Tribune

Tags: C.J. Miles, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Jamar Smith Signs With Celtics

Jul 31, 2012 9:50 PM

The Boston Celtics have signed Jamar Smith.

Smith, a 6’3” guard, appeared in 44 games last season for BK Prostov in the Czech Republic and averaged 14.8 points and 2.5 assists while shooting 39.3% from three-point territory during league games.

Smith also appeared in two games during EuroCup qualifications and in six games of the EuroChallenge. Smith played for the Celtics during the 2012 Orlando Summer League and averaged 9.2 points while shooting 45.0% from three. Smith was previously with the Celtics during training camp prior to the start of the 2010-11 season. Smith previously played for the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League. He played collegiately for the University of Illinois and the University of Southern Indiana.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Jamar Smith, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Official Signing, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, International

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Dionte Christmas Signs With Celtics

Jul 31, 2012 9:49 PM

The Celtics have signed Dionte Christmas.

Christmas, a 6’5” guard, appeared in 26 games during the 2011-12 season for AGO Rethymno Aegean in Greece and averaged 18.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He shot 36.0% from three point territory and 46.3% from the field overall. He was an Honorable Mention All-American at Temple during his senior year (2008-09) and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Christmas played for the Celtics during their 2012 Summer League teams in Orlando and Las Vegas.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Dionte Christmas, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Official Signing, NBA Misc Rumor

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Jason Collins Signs With Celtics

Jul 31, 2012 9:37 PM

The Boston Celtics have signed free agent center Jason Collins. 

“Jason’s ability to defend in the post will be a great addition to this team,” said Danny Ainge.

Collins, a 7’0” center, averaged 1.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game last season with the Atlanta Hawks.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Jason Collins, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Nate Robinson Signs With Bulls

Jul 31, 2012 9:33 PM

The Bulls officially signed Nate Robinson.

Last season with the Warriors, Robinson appeared in 51 games (nine starts) and averaged 11.2 ppg, 4.5 apg, 2.0 rpg, and 1.16 spg in 23.4 mpg. 

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Nate Robinson, Chicago Bulls, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Official Signing, NBA Misc Rumor

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Brandon Rush Agrees To $8M Deal With Warriors

Jul 31, 2012 2:04 PM

Brandon Rush and the Warriors have agreed upon a two-year, $8 million contract. Rush was a restricted free agent.

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Brandon Rush, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Dario Saric Near Four-Year Deal With Bizkaia Bilbao

Jul 31, 2012 10:58 AM

Dario Saric is close to finalizing a four-year deal with Bizkaia Bilbao.

Saric, a 6-foot-10 small forward out of Croatia, previously played for KK Zagreb.

Saric was projected by some as a mid-first round pick in the 2013 draft.

Eurobasket.com

Tags: Dario Saric, Bilbao Basket, NBA, International, International Signing Rumor, International Teams, International Misc Rumor

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Lakers Intend To Switch To Princeton Offense Next Season

Jul 31, 2012 10:56 AM

At the suggestion of Kobe Bryant, the Lakers will run the Princeton offense next season.

"It's a great offense," Bryant said. "It's exactly what we need. It takes us back to being able to play by making reads and reacting to defenses. It takes a great deal of communication, but that's where we're at our best: Reading and reacting as opposed to just coming down and calling sets. Calling sets make you vulnerable.

"There's so many threats, so many options, it's very tough to defend. Against the type of defenses that teams play nowadays, they load up on one side and are constantly coming with help from the weak side. The Princeton offense makes it very, very tough to lock in on one particular player.

"From my experience, those types of principles – ball movement, changing sides on the floor, everybody being involved – those are championship principles. That's championship DNA."

The Lakers are close to adding Eddie Jordan as an assistant coach.

Jordan learned the Princeton offense under Pete Carril and implemented it as an assistant and head coach with the Nets, Wizards and Sixers.

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA

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Valanciunas Benched Because Of Foul Trouble, Defensive Effort Against Argentina

Jeff Blair/Globe and Mail

Wiggins Nearing Decision On Whether To Jump To Class Of 2013

Ben Roberts/Lexington Herald-Leader

Bulls Close To Signing Nate Robinson

Sam Amick/Sports Illustrated

Mavericks, Magic Had Exploratory Talks Regarding Dwight Howard

Mike Fisher/FOXSportsSouthwest

Clippers Acquire Willie Green In Sign-And-Trade

RealGM Staff Report

Carl Landry Signs Two-Year, $8M Deal With Warriors

Marcus Thompson II/Contra Costa Times (via Twitter)

Draymond Green Agrees To Three-Year Deal With Warriors

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter)

Self Identifies McLemore As Best NBA Prospect On Kansas Roster

Andy Katz/ESPN

Deng Played Nearly Every Minute Of Great Britain's Olympic Opener Against Russia

K.C. Johnson/Chicago Tribune

Kirilenko Sees Timberwolves Incorporating European Style Of Play

Associated Press

Josh Howard Narrows List To Five, Near Free Agent Decision

Brian T. Smith/Salt Lake Tribune

Rockets Acquiring Young Players In Anticipation Of Blockbuster Trade

Peter May/New York Times

Batum Dealing With Tweaked Back

FIBA

Bryant Won't Chase Sixth Championship

Mike Wise/Washington Post

Kirilenko Feels Renewed After Season Overseas

Ian Thomsen/Sports Illustrated

Durant, LeBron Lead USA To 98-71 Win Over France

RealGM Staff Report

Krzyzewski Will Continue To Be Involved With USA Basketball After London

Steve Wiseman/Durham Herald Sun

Pablo Prigioni Will Look To Distribute As Knicks PG

Frank Isola/New York Daily News

Bojan Bogdanovic Removed From Croatian National Team

Nets Daily

Bucks Pursuing Joel Przybilla, Jodie Meeks

Gery Woelfel/Racine Journal Times