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#Post#: 576--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: November 12, 2012, 10:27 am
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Mike D'Antoni to be next coach of the Lakers
The former Knicks and Suns coach has signed a three-year,
$12-million deal after the team passed on the expensive demands
of Phil Jackson.
Mike Bresnahan/LA Times
November 12, 2012, 12:40 a.m.
Mike D'Antoni, not Phil Jackson, will be the next coach of the
Lakers.
"We signed Mike D'Antoni to a multi-year deal," Lakers spokesman
John Black said, mentioning the team's owner and top two
executives. "Dr. [Jerry] Buss, Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak were
unanimous that Mike D'Antoni was the best coach for the team at
this time."
D'Antoni, 61, coached the New York Knicks last season and the
Phoenix Suns before that. He will officially take over the
Lakers within a week or two, depending how quickly he recovers
from knee-replacement surgery.
The Lakers will introduce their new coach at a news conference
as early as Tuesday but more likely later in the week. Bernie
Bickerstaff will remain the team's interim coach for now.
D'Antoni signed a three-year deal for $12 million. The team
holds an option for a fourth year.
Jackson was the overwhelming favorite to return to the Lakers
until they heard his informal demands, which included a stake in
team ownership, according to a person familiar with the
situation.
"He was asking for the moon," said the person, who also declined
to be identified because they are not authorized to discuss the
situation.
The Lakers then moved quickly to sign D'Antoni. He replaces Mike
Brown, who was fired Friday after the Lakers began the season
1-4, their worst start since 1993.
Earlier Sunday, Lakers guard Steve Nash said it would "be a
coup" for the Lakers to bring back Jackson, but he also had kind
words for D'Antoni.
"Obviously, I think everyone knows how much I love Mike," said
Nash, who played four seasons and won two MVP awards under
D'Antoni in Phoenix. "If he were the coach, it would be seamless
and terrific for me, and I think the team as well.”
D’Antoni was most recently employed by the Knicks, when he was
forced to resign under pressure last season after an 18-24
start.
Kobe Bryant did not hide his excitement for the prospect of
Jackson returning but, like Nash, he was also on board with
D'Antoni.
"They know how I feel about Phil. They know how I feel about
D'Antoni," Bryant said Sunday. "I like them both."
D'Antoni's coaching staff with the Lakers likely will start with
two longtime assistants -- his brother, Dan D'Antoni, and Phil
Weber.
The new Lakers coach has a 388-339 coaching record in the NBA.
He led the Suns to the Western Conference finals in 2005 and
2006 with Nash running the show.
Bryant became familiar as a boy with D'Antoni, who was a star in
the Italian league in the 1980s, when Bryant's father also
played in Italy. D'Antoni helped Olimpia Milano win five league
titles and two European club titles. D'Antoni also worked with
Bryant on the U.S. national team as an assistant.
#Post#: 577--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: November 12, 2012, 10:52 am
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Survey finds support for a Hampton Roads NBA team
Newspaper reports meeting between team representative and local
officials
A recent survey of Hampton Roads residents has found signs of
fan support for a NBA basketball team locating in the area.
Virginia Beach is considering building a $350 million,
18,500-seat arena that could become the home of major-league
professional sports team.
The Virginian-Pilot reported Thursday that a representative from
an NBA team has had meetings in Richmond with Gov. Bob McDonnell
and Virginia Beach officials.
The Sacramento, Calif., Kings have been mentioned a possible
tenant for the Virginia Beach arena.
#Post#: 578--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: November 12, 2012, 10:55 am
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DeMarcus Cousins suspended for hostile confrontation
The NBA suspended Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins for
two games without pay for confronting San Antonio Spurs
announcer Sean Elliott in a hostile manner. The exchange
followed the Spurs' 97-86 victory in Sacramento on Friday night.
Cousins, who has a volatile past, will lose about $70,500 of his
$3.9 million salary. Cousins will sit out games at the Los
Angeles Lakers on Sunday and at home Tuesday against the
Portland Trail Blazers.
#Post#: 579--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: November 12, 2012, 10:56 am
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Phil Jackson Stunned by Lakers’ Decision?
A league source indicated late Sunday night that (Phil) Jackson
was “stunned” when the Lakers called to inform him they had
chosen (Mike) D’Antoni. He had been prepared to accept the job
Monday if negotiations between his agent and the Lakers went
well. Jackson’s agent Todd Musberger had been scheduled to fly
in to Los Angeles on Monday
Jackson and the Lakers had never spoken about a salary, the
source said, “but he knew coaches don’t make what he used to
make anymore.”
Jackson, the source said, never intended to miss any more road
games than he had in his previous stints with the Lakers.
#Post#: 580--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: November 12, 2012, 10:58 am
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Nets’ Joe Johnson Not Worried About Shot
Avery Johnson expects that every shot Joe Johnson takes will go
into the basket.
But through the first five games of the season, only 36.2
percent of them have.
Still, Joe Johnson remains confident in his abilities — and
expects that his shots will eventually start to fall.
“Definitely. It will come together soon,” the 31-year-old
shooting guard said after going 3-for-13 from the field in the
Brooklyn Nets’ 82-74 victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday
afternoon. “Sooner or later, it’s going to come.
#Post#: 581--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: November 12, 2012, 10:59 am
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Memphis Grizzlies’ ‘Zoo Crew’ No Fluke?
The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the defending-champion Miami Heat
on Sunday 104-86. They won because — are you ready for this? —
they hit everything from the outside.
They hit 14 3-pointers. (Wayne) Ellington had seven all by
himself.
The Grizzlies have gotten five straight superb performances from
their bench, and it doesn’t seem to be a fluke.
“I think everyone sees it,” said (Jerryd) Bayless. “We’ve got a
little thing going.”
At which point, Ellington revealed that the second group had
already given itself a nickname.
“The Zoo Crew,” he said. “Me and Mo just kind of made it up.”
#Post#: 615--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: January 20, 2013, 11:49 pm
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Sources: Maloofs have Kings deal
Marc Stein | ESPN.com
January 21, 2013, 12:20 AM ET
The Maloof family that owns the Sacramento Kings has reached a
purchase agreement to sell a 65 percent controlling interest in
the franchise to a Seattle group led by Chris Hansen and Steve
Ballmer, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that NBA teams were formally notified
Sunday night that the Kings have been valued at $525 million and
that the parties have executed a purchase agreement, which still
requires league approval.
The agreement to transfer the 65 percent majority stake in the
Kings to the Seattle group represents the 53 percent owned by
the Maloofs and an additional 12 percent from minority owner Bob
Hernreich. Sources said that there has not yet been an agreement
submitted on the remaining 35 percent of the franchise, which is
held by minority shareholders, not the Maloofs.
One source close to the process told ESPN.com's J.A. Adande that
the Maloof family, as it was hoping, will retain a "small piece"
of minority interest in the franchise after its expected
relocation to Seattle and renaming as the SuperSonics for next
season. It's believed, though, that the Maloofs will hold no
decision-making power once control of the franchise is
transferred.
The deal, according to sources familiar with the specifics,
calls for the Maloofs to receive a non-refundable $30 million
deposit from the Seattle group by Feb. 1. The NBA, furthermore,
is fully expecting Hansen to apply for relocation to Seattle in
time for the 2013-14 season by the league's March 1 deadline.
Miami Heat star LeBron James took umbrage at news of the deal,
tweeting, "So the Kings getting sold for 525M!! And the owners
ain't making no money huh? What the hell we have a (lockout)
for. Get the hell out of here."
Yahoo! Sports reported earlier this month that the Kings, upon
relocation, would play two seasons in the SuperSonics' old home
at KeyArena while construction is completed on a new building.
Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson said last week that he had
received approval from NBA commissioner David Stern to present a
counteroffer to the league from buyers who would keep the team
in Sacramento. Johnson had said the city is in a "six-week
sprint" to put together a proposal for the NBA's Board of
Governors to consider over a potential sale and relocation to
Seattle.
The sale price of $525 million, sources said, is regarded as an
overall valuation of the franchise and also includes relocation
fees.
Given the league's desire to bring a halt to the long-running
saga caused by the Kings' uncertain future in Sacramento, as
well as Stern's well-chronicled hopes of seeing NBA basketball
return to Seattle before his scheduled exit from the league
office in February 2014, approval of the move by the NBA
Relocation Committee is widely considered to be a formality.
The committee features several current NBA owners and is chaired
by Clay Bennett, who controversially moved the original Sonics
to Oklahoma City in 2008, but left behind the team's nickname
and logo. Plans for a new $500 million arena in Seattle were
approved in October.
#Post#: 616--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: AndyMacFAIL
Date: January 21, 2013, 1:46 pm
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HTML http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ap-sources-maloofs-agree-sell-051543331--nba.html
HTML http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ap-sources-maloofs-agree-sell-051543331--nba.html
Maloofs agree to sell NBA's Kings to Seattle group
By ANTONIO GONZALEZ (AP Sports Writer) | The Associated Press –
19 minutes ago
The only thing stopping the Sacramento Kings from a sale and
move to Seattle is approval by NBA owners.
The Maloof family has agreed to sell the Kings to a Seattle
group led by investor Chris Hansen, the league confirmed in a
statement Monday morning. The deal is still pending a vote by
the NBA Board of Governors.
A person familiar with the decision said that Hansen's group
will buy 65 percent of the franchise, which is valued at a total
price of $525 million, and move the team to Seattle and restore
the SuperSonics name. The deal will cost the Hansen group a
little more than $340 million. The Maloofs will have no stake in
the team.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of
anonymity because the deal was waiting approval.
The sale figure works off a total valuation of the franchise,
which includes relocation fees. Hansen's group also is hoping to
buy out other minority investors.
The Maloofs will get a $30 million non-refundable down payment
by Feb. 1, according to the deal, the person said. They will
still be allowed to receive other offers until the league
approves the sale.
The plan by Hansen's group is to have the team play at least the
next two seasons in KeyArena before moving into a new facility
in downtown Seattle. The deadline for teams to apply for a move
for next season is March 1.
''We have always appreciated and treasured our ownership of the
Kings and have had a great admiration for the fans and our team
members. We would also like to thank Chris Hansen for his
professionalism during our negotiation. Chris will be a great
steward for the franchise,'' Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof said in
a statement on behalf of the family.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson said last week he had received
permission from NBA Commissioner David Stern to present a
counteroffer to league owners from buyers who would keep the
Kings in Sacramento.
Johnson, himself a former All-Star point guard in the NBA, said
in a statement that the city remained undeterred.
''Sacramento has proven that it is a strong NBA market with a
fan base that year in and year out has demonstrated a commitment
to the Kings by selling out 19 of 27 seasons in a top 20 market
and owning two of the longest sellout streaks in NBA history,''
Johnson said.
''When it comes to keeping the team in our community, Sacramento
is playing to win. In particular, we have been focused like a
laser on identifying an ownership group that will both have the
financial resources desired by the NBA and the vision to make
the Kings the NBA equivalent of what the Green Bay Packers have
been in the NFL.''
The Kings were in New Orleans preparing for a matinee game
against the Hornets when news came down of the agreement.
''It's just a little weird (but) at the same time I love
Sacramento. I love everything about it. Love the fans; the
organization just brought me in with open arms. That's all I
really know in this league is Sacramento,'' said Kings guard
Isaiah Thomas, a Tacoma, Wash., native. ''But then I am from
that area back home. It's just kind of a different situation.
Whatever I say about Seattle, Sacramento fans might be mad at
me, and whatever I say about Sacramento, Seattle fans might be
mad at me. I just love both cities.''
Added Kings coach Keith Smart, ''For us, I'm going to get on the
floor and coach the game and players are going to get out there
and make shots, take shots, make mistakes, make great plays. And
then we'll deal with it as we do off the floor.''
In a saga that has dragged on for nearly three years, Johnson
and Sacramento appear to be facing their most daunting challenge
yet.
Hansen, a Seattle native and San Francisco-based investor,
reached agreement with local governments in Seattle last October
on plans to build a $490 million arena near the city's other
stadiums, CenturyLink Field and Safeco Field.
As part of the agreement, no construction will begin until all
environmental reviews are completed and a team has been secured.
The arena also faces a pair of lawsuits, including one from a
longshore workers union because the arena is being built close
to port and industrial operations.
Hansen's group is expected to pitch in $290 million in private
investment toward the arena, along with helping to pay for
transportation improvements in the area around the stadiums.
The plans also call for the arena to be able to handle a future
NHL franchise.
The remaining $200 million in public financing would be paid
back with rent money and admissions taxes from the arena, and if
that money falls short, Hansen would be responsible for making
up the rest.
Other investors in the proposed arena include Microsoft Chief
Executive Steve Ballmer and two members of the Nordstrom
department store family.
Hansen's goal has been to return the SuperSonics to the Puget
Sound after they were moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City in
2008.
The Kings' sale price would top the NBA-record $450 million the
Golden State Warriors sold for in July 2010.
''While we are not at liberty to discuss the terms of the
transaction or our plans for the franchise given the
confidential nature of the agreement and NBA regulations
regarding public comments during a pending transaction, we would
just like to extend our sincerest compliments and gratitude
toward the Maloof family,'' Hansen said in a statement. ''Our
negotiations with the family were handled with the utmost honor
and professionalism and we hope to continue their legacy and be
great stewards of this NBA franchise in the coming years and
decades.''
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn said: ''While there is more work
ahead, this is a major step toward bringing the Sonics home.''
Brothers Joe, Gavin and George Maloof bought controlling
interests in the franchise from Los Angeles-based developer Jim
Thomas in 1999. The Maloofs, who have long waited for an upgrade
to the team's outdated arena, backed out of a tentative $391
million deal for a new downtown venue with Sacramento last year,
reigniting fears the franchise could relocate.
Johnson and the Kings broke off all negotiations in the summer,
with the team's owners saying the deal didn't make financial
sense for the franchise.
In 2011, the Kings appeared determined to move to Anaheim before
Johnson convinced the NBA to give the city one last chance to
help finance an arena.
At one point, Johnson seemed so certain the team was gone he
called the process a ''slow death'' and compared the city's
efforts to keep the Kings a ''Hail Mary.''
Johnson made a pitch to the NBA Board of Governors in April
2011, promising league owners the city would find a way to help
finance a new arena to replace the team's current suburban
facility. That pitch bought the Kings time, before the brokered
deal between the city and the Maloofs fell apart last year.
---
AP Sports Writer Bernie Wilson contributed to this story.
---
Antonio Gonzalez can be reached at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP
#Post#: 628--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: February 12, 2013, 2:24 am
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Warriors to wear short sleeves
Associated Press
February 11, 2013, 6:29 PM ET
The Golden State Warriors have unveiled plans to wear the NBA's
"first modern short-sleeve jersey" for three of their remaining
home games this season.
The Warriors announced Monday that they will debut the alternate
uniforms at home against the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 22. The
team will also wear the jerseys for home games against Houston
on March 8 and Chicago on March 15.
Adidas, the uniform-provider of the NBA, says the jerseys
feature "the first-ever super lightweight stretch woven short
with maximum ventilation for player comfort. The jersey includes
armhole insets with 360-degree stretch fabric that facilitates
free range of motion for the arms and shoulders."
Adidas hopes to unveil similar short-sleeve jerseys for other
NBA teams next season.
[center]
HTML http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0211/nba_e_warriors_gb1_400.jpg[/center]
#Post#: 630--------------------------------------------------
Re: Around The NBA
DIR By: Phill23
Date: February 18, 2013, 12:25 pm
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Lakers owner Jerry Buss dies
HTML http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8959182/jerry-buss-los-angeles-lakers-owner-dies-80
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