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Three Cavs invited to participate in Team USA camp

June 12, 2013 – 2:27 pm

Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving, shooting guard Dion Waiters and center Tyler Zeller are among the 27 players who have been invited to participate in the 2013 USA national team mini-camp, USA Basketball officials announced Wednesday.

Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski, Irving’s coach at Duke University, will direct the camp. It is scheduled for July 22-25 in Las Vegas.

Krzyzewski will be assisted by Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, Pelicans coach Monty Williams and Syracuse University coach Jim Boeheim.

Team USA’s next competition is at the World Championships in Spain in 2014.

The list of invitees:

Ryan Anderson (New Orleans Pelicans)
Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors)
Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)
Mike Conley (Memphis Grizzlies)
DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings)
Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans)
DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors)
Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons)
Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets)
Derrick Favors (Utah Jazz)
Paul George (Indiana Pacers)
Taj Gibson (Chicago Bulls)
Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz)
Jrue Holiday (Philadelphia 76ers)
Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers)
DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers)
Ty Lawson(Denver Nuggets)
Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs)
Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons)
Chandler Parsons (Houston Rockets)
Larry Sanders(Milwaukee Bucks)
Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors)
Dion Waiters (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats)
John Wall (Washington Wizards)
Tyler Zeller (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Tickets for the 2013 USA Basketball Showcase on July 25 go on sale June 13. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased by calling 702-739-FANS or at UNLVtickets.com.

By Sam Amico | Also posted in Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, NBA, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic |

EuroCamp tipping off with all 30 NBA teams represented

June 4, 2013 – 3:26 pm

The 2013 adidas EuroCamp tips off Saturday in Italy, and when it comes to the NBA Draft, this event is almost as significant as last month’s combine.

It is at EuroCamp that scouts aim to locate the next Danilo Gallinari, Serge Iabaka, Nicolas Batum or Omer Asik — all past participants.

This year, top names at the camp include potential first-round picks Rudy Gobert (France), Lucas Nogueira (Brazil) and Livio Jean-Charles (France).

All 30 NBA teams will be represented, with assistants Kenny Atkinson (Hawks), Armond Hill (Celtics), Melvin Hunt (Nuggets) and Kelvin Sampson (Rockets) among those handling coaching duties.

Timberwolves assistant Bill Bayno is this year’s coaching director.

Also, Ibaka of the Thunder, Omri Casspi of the Cavaliers and Kenneth Faried of the Nuggets will be present to share their NBA experiences with the campers.

Click here to visit the official EuroCamp website.

By Sam Amico | Also posted in Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Draft, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic |

NBA Notes: Cavs hire another assistant, report says

June 3, 2013 – 4:49 pm

A few notes from around the NBA:

• Cavaliers coach Mike Brown is adding a one-time Cavs big man to his staff. According to a report by Yahoo! Sports, the Cavs are in the process of hiring Vitaly Potapenko as an assistant coach. Potapenko was drafted by the Cavs and played for them from 1996-99.

• Potapenko hails from the Ukraine and also spent time as a center with the Celtics, SuperSonics and Kings. He has been an assistant coach with the Celtics and in the D-League.

• The Cavs have now added Phil Handy from the Lakers, Igor Kokoskov from the Suns and now Potapenko to Brown’s staff. Brown is expected to retain Jamahl Mosley from Byron Scott’s staff, as Brown and Mosley share an agent and Mosely has been credited with a role in the development of Cavs forward Tristan Thompson.

• Kent State forward Chris Evans is among the NBA Draft prospects working out for the Kings, who own the Nos. 7 and 36 picks. Others working out for the Kings include: French center Rudy Gobert, Montana guard Will Cherry and Syracuse guard Brandon Triche.

• Ohio guard D.J. Cooper has worked out for the Trail Blazers.

• Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. has worked out for the Bucks and Timberwolves.

• Akron center Zeke Marshall worked out for the Bulls and Pacers.

• The Jazz worked out Indiana power forward/center Cody Zeller on Monday. They own the Nos. 14, 21 and 46 picks in the draft.

By Sam Amico | Also posted in Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Draft, NCAA Basketball, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic |

NBA lottery stacks odds against worst of worst

May 21, 2013 – 2:03 pm

The Orlando Magic possess the best chance of winning the NBA Draft lottery, which of course means they probably won’t.

That’s just the way the lottery typically works. You lose all season long — then you lose again.

It’s actually a good system, as the league doesn’t reward a team for stinking. You can be awful, the NBA seems to say, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get the first overall pick in the draft. You just can’t do worse than third.

Sounds fair.

Unless you’re the Magic, who could really use the No. 1 pick. But history shows that the inception of the lottery in 1985, the team with the worst record has won just four times.

That’s four times … in 27 years.

On the bright side, the Magic were one of those teams, in 2004, when they drafted Dwight Howard.

Coming in with the second-worst record are the Charlotte Bobcats, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

What makes this particularly lottery so interesting is, even if you win it, there’s no clear-cut top prospect. A lot of folks are saying it will come down to Kentucky center Nerlens Noel or Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore.

But Noel tore his ACL in February and McLeMore bombed late in the season and at the draft combine. Still, the draft is all about upside these days, and those two are viewed as the two guys with the most.

If the Magic win the lottery, they’re seem more likely to take McLemore. Same with the Bobcats. If the Cavs or Phoenix Suns (fourth-worst record), they’re more likely to go with Noel.

But that’s just a theory, and most of what happens between now and the June 27 draft will be determined by how well prospects perform when teams bring them in for individual workouts.

If those don’t go well, teams will consider trading their pick. If there ever were a year to do it, league executives have hinted, this is it.

Either way, by the end of the night, the NBA Draft will become very interesting. It just might be as interesting as the team with the league’s worst record may like.

NBA scouting director calls draft ‘deepest in years’

May 20, 2013 – 10:38 pm

On the day before the NBA Draft Lottery, the NBA’s senior director of scouting operations says it’s officially time to get excited.

“We’ve got one of the deepest drafts in years,” Ryan Blake said in an interview with Andy Baskin and Jeff Phelps on 92.3 The Fan on Monday.

Now, before we go any further, know that Blake is saying pretty much the opposite of what we’ve heard. Most people have said this draft stinks — featuring no clear-cut choice at No. 1 and almost zero star power anywhere.

That may be true, Blake admitted. But that doesn’t mean this draft will be a total waste.

“What you have are a lot of different talented players and a lot of different positions,” he said. “A lot of teams will try to hit a home run, and find that franchise player.”

According to Blake, those players are out there — but it won’t happen overnight.

“You usually don’t know for sure about a guy until after three years,” Blake said. “Even Kobe (Byrant) and (Kevin) Garnett took some time. In this draft, there are so many good players who could develop into that first- or second-option guy.”

One way for rookies to get playing time is via defense, Blake said. In fact, without defense, it’ll be hard to stay on the floor as a first-year player.

And when it comes to defense, this draft has it.

“There are a lot of really good defenders, deep into the second round,” Blake said. “In fact, we’re gonna have a lot (undrafted rookie) free agents that, as soon as the draft is over, teams will be fighting over to get them on their summer team.”

Blake mentioned Kentucky center Nerlens Noel, Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore, Indiana shooting guard Victor Oladipo and Georgetown small forward Otto Porter as the best of the best.

Porter is one name that’s been linked to the Cavaliers should they hold their current spot and draft No. 3.

“I really like Otto,” Blake said. “He played well within the system. At 6-foot-8, he can shoot the ball from the perimeter, and if you’re at Georgetown, you have to show that you can pass. When you have that size from the perimeter, that’s hard to guard.”

NBA Draft combine invitees

May 13, 2013 – 5:27 pm

AKRON, Ohio – The first major step in the NBA Draft process takes place Thursday and Friday in Chicago, where prospects will perform a variety of drills in front of general managers and scouts.

This is officially known as the draft combine, which tests players’ agility, leaping ability and strength. Some combine invitees, such as Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel and Maryland’s Alex Len, will not participate because of injuries.

Here is a complete list of those expected to attend (name, college or club team):

Steven Adams, Pittsburgh; Vander Blue, Marquette; Lorenzo Brown, NC State; Reggie Bullock, North Carolina; Trey Burke, Michigan.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Georgia; Isaiah Canaan, Murray State; Jackie Carmichael, Illinois State; Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse; Will Clyburn, Iowa State.

Robert Covington, Tennessee State; Allen Crabbe, California; Seth Curry, Duke; Brandon Davies, BYU; Dewayne Dedmon, USC.

Gorgui Dieng, Louisville; James Ennis, Long Beach State; Carrick Felix, Arizona State; Jamaal Franklin, San Diego State; Rudy Gobert, Cholet (France).

Archie Goodwin, Kentucky; Erick Green, Virginia Tech; Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan; Solomon Hill, Arizona; Richard Howell, NC State.

Colton Iverson, Colorado State; Pierre Jackson, Baylor; Grant Jerrett, Arizona; Myck Kabongo, Texas; Kenny Kadji, Miami.

Ryan Kelly, Duke; Shane Larkin, Miami; Ricky Ledo, Providence; Alex Len, Maryland; C.J. Leslie, NC State.

Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota; Ray McCallum, Detroit; CJ McCollum, Lehigh; Ben McLemore, Kansas; Tony Mitchell, North Texas.

Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA; Erik Murphy, Florida; Mike Muscala, Bucknell; Nerlens Noel, Kentucky; Victor Oladipo, Indiana.

Kelly Olynyk, Gonzaga; Brandon Paul, Illinois; Norvel Pelle, Los Angeles College Preparatory Academy; Mason Plumlee, Duke; Otto Porter, Georgetown.

Phil Pressey, Missouri; Glen Rice Jr., Georgia Tech/ Rio Grande Valley (D-League); Andre Roberson, Colorado; Dennis Schroeder, New Yorker Phantoms (Germany); Peyton Siva, Louisville.

Tony Snell, New Mexico; James Southerland, Syracuse; Adonis Thomas, Memphis; Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State; Jeff Withey, Kansas.

Nate Wolters, South Dakota State; B.J. Young, Arkansas; Cody Zeller, Indiana.

For more pre-draft coverage, see my story, Camps signal start of NBA draft process.

D-League prospects take Chicago

May 13, 2013 – 4:43 pm

AKRON, Ohio – Top D-League prospects will be taking part in a mini-camp in front of NBA general managers and scouts Monday and Tuesday in Chicago. The camp will be directed by nine D-League coaches, who will put the players through a variety of drills and exercises.

Here are the prospects invited to attend (name, position, D-League team):

Zach Andrew, F, Los Angeles; Keith Benson, C, Erie; Christopher Cooper, C, Bakersfield; Nick Covington, G, Erie; Chris Daniels, C, Rio Grande Valley; Jarrid Famous, F/C, Iowa.

Augustus Gichrist, F, Iowa; Mickell Gladness, C, Santa Cruz; Lance Goulbourne, F, Santa Cruz; Reggie Hamilton, G, Idaho; Stefhon Hannah, G, Santa Cruz.

Justin Harper, PF, Idaho; Paul Harris, G/F, Iowa; Cory Higgins, G, Erie; Darrington Hobson, G, Santa Cruz; Ron Howard, G/F, Fort Wayne.

Lester Hudson, G, Austin; Justin Hurtt, G, Iowa; Chris Johnson, F, Rio Grande Valley; Cameron Jones, G, Santa Cruz; Tre Kelly, G, Austin.

James Mays, F, Sioux Falls; Toure Murry, F, Rio Grande Valley; James Nunnally, F, Bakersfield; Josh Owens, F, Idaho; Chris Roberts, G, Austin.

Jamarr Sanders, F, Austin; Carleton Scott, F, Springfield; Josh Selby, F, Maine; Tommy Smith, F, Fort Wayne; Dominique Sutton, G, Tulsa.

Jermaine Taylor, G, Maine; Tony Taylor, G, Tulsa; Hollis Thompson, F, Tulsa; Edwin Ubiles, G/F, Springfield; Kyle Weaver, G, Canton.

For more pre-draft coverage, see my story, Camps signal start of NBA draft process.

I’ll have full NBA Draft Combine rosters in this space before it tips off Thursday.

One NBA assistant GM’s list of top 30 draft prospects

April 11, 2013 – 8:11 pm

Here are the op 30 NBA draft prospects, according to one NBA assistant GM, who forwarded his “extremely early” list of top 30 prospects. He’s ranked them in terms of ability, not need. “This could drastically change between now and the (June 29) draft,” he said.

Note that not everyone on this list has officially declared for the draft:

1. Nerlens Noel, 6-11, fr., Kentucky

2. Ben McLemore, 6-4, SG, fr., Kansas

3. Marcus Smart, 6-4, PG, fr., Oklahoma State

4. Victor Oladipo, 6-5, SG/SF, jr., Indiana

5. Anthony Bennett, 6-7, F, fr., UNLV

6. Otto Porter, 6-8, SF, so., Georgetown

7. Cody Zeller, 7-0, C, so., Indiana

8. Alex Len, 7-1, C, so., Maryland

9. Rudy Gobert, 7-1, PF/C, 20 yrs old, France

10. Mile Plumlee, 6-11, C, sr., Duke

11. Kelly Olynyk, 7-0, C, jr., Gonzaga

12. Isaiah Austin, 7-1, C, fr., Baylor

13. Trey Burke, 6-0, PG, so., Michigan

14. C.J. McCullom, 6-3, G, sr., Lehigh

15. Glenn Robinson , 6-6, SF, fr., Michigan

16. Shabazz Muhammad, 6-6, SF, fr., UCLA

17. Mitch McGary, 6-10, C, fr., Michigan

18. Tony Mitchell, 6-8, PF, so., North Texas

19. Gorgui Dieng, 6-11, C, jr., Louisville

20. Steve Adams, 6-11, C, fr., Pittsburgh

21. Michael Carter-Williams, 6-5, PG, so., Syracuse

22. James McAdoo, 6-9, F, so., North Carolina

23. Erick Green, 6-3, G, sr., Virginia Tech

24. James Withey, 6-11, C, sr., Kansas

25. Colton Iverson, 6-11, C, sr., Colorado State

26. Deshaun Thomas, 6-7, F, jr., Ohio State

27. Doug McDermott, 6-8, F, jr. Creighton

28. LeBryan Nash, 6-7, SF, so., Oklahoma State

29. Andre Robinson, 6-7, F, jr., Colorado

30. Archie Goodwin, 6-5, SG, fr., Kentucky

Ohio’s Cooper, UD’s Dillard in NBA pre-draft invite

April 10, 2013 – 11:58 am

The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Virginia is the first (and usually least-exciting) step in the NBA draft process. The PIT consists of college seniors only, and has produced a few good ones since its inception in the 1950s.

Among those participating this year: Ohio’s D.J. Cooper, Kent State’s Chris Evans and Dayton’s Kevin Dillard. Below is a complete list of participants in the Portsmouth invite, which runs today through Saturday.

I’ll have plenty more on the PIT throughout the week.

O.D. Anosike, Siena
Kyle Barone, Idaho
Damen Bell-Holter Oral Roberts
Jared Berggren, Wisconsin
Devin Booker, Clemson
Kenny Boynton, Florida
Ryan Broekhoff, Valparaiso
Tyler Brown, Illinois State
Reginald Buckner, Mississippi
Keith Clanton, Central Florida
Ian Clark, Belmont
Rotnei Clarke, Butler
Will Clyburn, Iowa State
Jake Cohen Davidson
Jack Cooley, Notre Dame
D.J. Cooper, Ohio
Robert Covington, Tennessee State
Vincent Council, Providence
Ed Daniel, Murray State
Brandon Davies, BYU
A.J. Davis, James Madison
Dwayne Davis Southern Mississippi
Kevin Dillard, Dayton
Larry Drew II, UCLA
James Ennis, Long Beach State
Chris Evans Kent State
Kevin Foster, Santa Clara
Abdul Gaddy, Washington

Which NBA coaches are on hot seat?

March 30, 2013 – 2:13 am

Projecting the standing of all 30 NBA head coaches as we barrel toward the playoffs:

Atlantic Division

New York – Mike Woodson: Secure.

Brooklyn – P.J. Carlesimo (interim): No one with an interim tag is guaranteed. Check back after playoffs.

Boston – Doc Rivers: As usual, if he’s gone it’s because he wants to be.

Philadelphia – Doug Collins: He’s never coached any team for more than three seasons. This is his third with the Sixers. He and the team will part ways.

Toronto – Dwane Casey: It’s looking 50-50 that he returns.

Central Division

Indiana – Frank Vogel: Secure.

Chicago – Tom Thibodeau: Secure.

Milwaukee – Jim Boylan (interim): See above about interim coaches.

Detroit: Lawrence Frank: Probably 50-50 because of a number of factors, not just coaching.

Cleveland: Byron Scott – Three straight last-place finishes. His seat is getting red hot.

Southeast Division

Miami – Erik Spoelstra: Secure.

Atlanta – Larry Drew: Hawks have overachieved. Hard to make a case for anything but bringing him back. Then again, his contract is up.

Washington – Randy Wittman: Will probably get at least another half-season.

Orlando – Jacque Vaughn: Finishing first season. He’s secure.

Charlotte – Mike Dunlap: Also finishing first season. But these are the Bobcats. Still, sounds like he’ll be back.

Northwest Division

Oklahoma City – Scott Brooks: Secure.

Denver – George Karl: He’ll be back if he wants to be.

Utah – Tyrone Corbin: The Jazz don’t fire coaches. Secure.

Portland – Terry Stotts. Finishing first season. Secure.

Minnesota – Rick Adelman. Tough, tough year. Likely won’t return, mostly because of health of wife.

Pacific Division

L.A. Clippers – Vinny Del Negro: Seems secure, but check back after playoffs. His contract is also expiring.

Golden State – Mark Jackson: Coach of Year candidate. Secure.

L.A. Lakers – Mike D’Antoni: Lakers will give him another year. Even if it’s not what a very vocal contingent of their fans want.

Sacramento – Keith Smart: He’s a goner regardless of where the Kings play next year.

Phoenix – Lindsey Hunter (interim): Hasn’t done much to show he deserves job full-time. Then again, he doesn’t have much to work with. Still, doubtful.

Southwest Division

San Antonio – Gregg Popovich: Secure.

Memphis – Lionel Hollins: Another Coach of Year candidate. Secure.

Houston – Kevin McHale: Secure.

Dallas – Rick Carlisle: Interestingly, he’s not totally secure. Likely to return, but there is a shred of doubt.

New Orleans – Monty Williams. Sources say he’s safe. We’ll believe it when they’re the Pelicans.