'Nasty News - Traversing Time & Space' Vol:12

[nasty daddy]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/spo ... 31212.html

Rockets guard Steve Francis has been cleared for the non-contact portion of training camp, a step he said was significant in his comeback from his right knee surgery last February.

“It’s way more than I’ve been doing,” said Francis, adding that he dropped 15 pounds since last season. “Just being around the guys, I think, is going to mentally help. Plus, I forgot the plays. It’s going to be great for me.”

Rockets trainer Keith Jones said he believed Francis needs to test the knee with the additional work. “All he’s done is drill work and played pick-up ball,” Jones said. “But he has not done anything (organized) since last season. He needs this.”

[nasty daddy]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/spo ... 31212.html

Shane Battier mocked then blamed himself for his sore right foot, the result of his rehabilitation workouts after ankle surgery. But he also said he has been told he will fully recover, and if he has to miss time — expected to be as much as four weeks — this was a better time to be out than in months to come.

“I didn’t exercise the best patience. When I probably should have dialed it back a bit, I think I dialed up my workouts. Now I’m going to need a month to try to calm the swelling and get back to where I can play without pain.

“Any time you deal with joints that bear weight, there is some concern. At the same time, I’m optimistic that if I follow the doctors’ advice and exercise patience this is something we can deal with and move beyond. I’d much rather deal with this now than March.”

[nasty daddy]

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... esign.html

The Celtics announced Monday that they have officially re-signed point guard Sam Cassell. The team did not disclose terms of the deal.

Cassell was present during the team's Media Day this afternoon in Waltham, wearing his No. 28 jersey. He greeted coach Doc Rivers with a huge hug when he arrived at the Celtics practice facility. "It's going to take a lot to drag Sam Cassell away from the NBA," Rivers told reporters.

Cassell is a veteran of 15 NBA seasons. He averaged 7.6 points and 2.1 assists in 17 regular season games with the Celtics last season. Brought in as a veteran backup to Rajon Rondo, Cassell played his way out of Rivers' rotation during the playoffs. He played in just four games during the conference finals against Detroit and five games against the Lakers, averaging around 10 minutes per game. Cassell averaged 4.5 points per game during the playoffs, shooting 33 percent from the field and 21 percent from the three-point line. "Sam hasn't relied on his speed for a long time," said Rivers. "He's old. But he's such a smart player that he can still be effective despite losing some athleticism." Cassel has said that he would like to play one more season in Boston before joining the Celtics as an assistant coach.

[nasty daddy]

http://blogs.jsonline.com/bucks/archive ... bucks.aspx

Veteran guard Damon Jones will not join the Bucks when training camp opens Tuesday morning at the Cousins Center.

Jones has a $4.4 million expiring contract, and it's possible the Bucks could make a deal involving the guard at some point during the season.

The Bucks released a statement that said: "The Milwaukee Bucks and Damon Jones have mutually decided that he will not join the team. Damon will continue to work on his own in preparation to play in the NBA this season. Both parties will explore options for Damon to reach this goal."

[nasty daddy]

http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/knicks/a ... musin.html

#I love Allan Houston's confidence. I asked him if he's worried about whether he can handle a role as 12th man. He said if he can "physically help'', he won't have to worry about that. In other words, he doesn't see a shooting guard on the club who can match his skill level if he's healthy. Houston also talked about wanting to help the team in "a bigger picture'' way, teaching them the pride they should have donning the Knick jersey, instilling the culture from the 1990's. "I'm much more prepared (than last camp),'' Houston said. "This is where I belong.''

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1784

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have re-signed guard Sam Cassell. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. InsideHoops.com assumes it’s just a one-year deal. Cassell has made several statements in the past suggesting he’ll retire after the season and get into coaching.

Last season it didn’t look like Cassell had much left in the tank. He’ll probably be at the end of the Celtics bench in 2008-09.

Cassell, a 6’3”, 195 pound guard, is a veteran of 15 NBA seasons. Cassell won his third NBA title as a member of the Celtics last season after signing mid-season from the L.A. Clippers. Cassell averaged 7.6 points and 2.1 assists in 17 regular season games with the Celtics last season and finished the season with combined averages of 11.2 points and 3.9 assists per game. The 2003-04 All-Star scored 20 or more points 10 times last season including a season-high 35 points against the Indiana Pacers on November 7. He scored a high of 22 points with the Celtics against the Knicks on April 14.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2008/09 ... ged-kinda/

I’m baaaaaack. For a little while, anyway. Thought I’d get things going again with Monta’s first interview since rejoining the time.

Are your doctors telling you that you can fully recover?:It’s going to be 100 percent. It’s just going to be playing it by mouth.

Any idea what rehab will be like?:We haven’t gotten to that point yet, but whatever I need to do. I know its going to be hard. No one said it was going to be easy. But I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get back 100 percent to help this team win.

[nasty daddy]

http://blog.newsok.com/nbainokc/2008/09 ... day-notes/

* Swift also said he is likely to miss a portion of the preseason schedule with a fractured right hand. He said he should be healed in another week or two but will participate in drills with a protective brace for now.

* Derrick Byars, one of the team’s three training camp invitees, thinks he brings something the Thunder doesn’t have much of — perimeter shooting. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound guard/forward might be right. He averaged 17.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists as a senior at Vanderbilt. He made 79 of 212 3-pointers as a senior (37.3 percent) and 63 of 143 (44.1 percent) as a junior. He was drafted 42nd overall in 2007 but didn’t make the team. He played last season in France, and when I asked him about how hungry he is to get his first taste of NBA ball he said, “Hungry ain’t the word.” He really wants to make this team and stick in the NBA. He might be a guy to keep an eye on throughout the preseason.

[nasty daddy]

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/c ... _p_14.html

For the first time, the Spurs have been able to quantify the cost of Manu Ginobili's offseason ankle surgery.

The star guard has been ruled out for all of November, and could miss as many as 25 games to start the regular season, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Manu will be out 20 to 25 games -- until mid-December at the latest," Popovich said Monday, the day before the Spurs open training camp.

Ginobili, 31, initially injured a ligament in his left ankle during the playoffs last season, and re-aggravated the malady while playing for Argentina in last month's Olympic Games. He underwent arthroscopic surgery Sept. 3 to correct a posterior impingement in the ankle, and at the time gave a timetable of eight-to-12 weeks for recovery.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_10594701?source=rss

Veteran guard Chucky Atkins, who will miss six weeks after having knee surgery last week, says this recovery will be easier than the groin injury that caused him problems during last year's training camp.

"It's an easy recovery," Atkins said. "The main thing is getting the swelling down, getting the strength back in the leg, and I'll be fine."

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1785

The Sacramento Kings today signed swingman Francisco Garcia to a multi-year contract extension, it was announced by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Garcia, a three-year NBA veteran, amassed career averages of 8.1 points (.440 FGs, .357 3FGs, .792 FTs), 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game through 225 outings with the Kings. His best year, statistically, occurred during the 2007-08 campaign when he averaged 12.3 points (.462 FGs, .391 3FGs, .779 FTs), 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game over 79 contests. Garcia started in 20 games last season (2007-08), averaging 16.4 points (.448 FGs, .370 3FGs, .798 FTs), 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He recorded a career-high 31 points in 35 minutes at Phoenix on November 21, 2007.

Garcia was selected in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Kings as an undergraduate out of Louisville. He enjoyed a three-year career for the Cardinals, averaging 14.4 points (.448 FGs, .369 3FGs, .849 FTs), 3.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.48 steals per game through 98 outings, of which he started 80.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1786

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has exercised its fourth-year option on guard Ronnie Brewer for the 2009-10 season. Per team policy, financial terms were not released.

Originally selected by the Jazz in the first round (14th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft, Brewer (6-7, 218, Arkansas) has appeared in 132 games (90 starts) over his first two seasons and holds career averages of 8.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.26 steals in 20.9 minutes per game. In 2007-08, Brewer increased his numbers over his rookie year in every major statistical category, averaging 12.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.70 steals in 27.5 minutes while starting all 76 games in which he played. He led the NBA in steals-per-turnover ratio (1.87) and ranked seventh in field goal percentage (.558). Brewer led the Jazz in both steals and field goal percentage while scoring in double figures on 53 occasions, 46 times more than his rookie year. He was also selected to compete on the sophomore squad in the 2008 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1787

The New York Daily News (Frank Lombardi) reports: A legal setback could add six months to delays bedeviling the $4 billion Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn, its developer acknowledged Monday. But developer Bruce Ratner insisted the project - which is to include a new arena for the New Jersey Nets basketball franchise - “will go forward.” … The new delay is the result of a procedural ruling by the state Appellate Division in Brooklyn denying a motion to toss a lawsuit challenging the project’s use of state eminent domain to acquire private land.

InsideHoops.com editor says: At this rate, the first rookie to play for the Brooklyn Nets by the time they make their move will be C.J. Kidd (eventual grandson of T.J. Kidd, beloved son of former Net Jason Kidd).

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1788

The AP reports: The Houston Rockets, buzzing about the arrival of Ron Artest, already have injury concerns with Tracy McGrady. Houston’s leading scorer said Monday that his left shoulder is arthritic and will require surgery after this season. He also said his left knee is healing slower than expected from surgery in the spring. McGrady sprained his shoulder against Sacramento on March 24, and wore padding to protect it for the rest of the season. He had surgery in May to clear loose tissue in his shoulder and knee. He said his knee is “probably 75-80 percent” healthy and will take another two months to fully heal.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_10594701?source=rss

The Nuggets signed five players to their training camp roster, including forward Nick Fazekas, a former Ralston Valley High School star. In addition to Patterson, others signed were forward James Mays and guards Mateen Cleaves and Smush Parker.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1789

The Indianapolis Star reports: Danny Granger, the Indiana Pacers’ leading scorer last season, said he doesn’t see his contract situation being a distraction. Granger is entering his fourth year, and the Pacers have until Oct. 31 to sign him to a long-term deal or he becomes a restricted free agent, which means the Pacers have the right to match any offer he might receive next summer. “Whether I sign it now or after, it really doesn’t matter,” the 6-8 swingman said Monday as the team prepared for the start of training camp today. “That’s the way I approach it.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: Granger has proven himself worthy of a decent contract, so he has nothing to worry about. But a source that is only loosely plugged in to the situation tells me the Pacers may look to wait as long as possible to sign Granger for the long-term. Their future is uncertain, and while they do want Granger to be a part of it and fully intend to keep him, maintaining as much salary cap flexibility for as long as possible will help their rebuilding process. So, we’ll see.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/ ... 98509.html

McKie hired as assistant coach:While there was no official announcement and his name isn't listed in the preseason media guide, Aaron McKie has been hired as a full-time assistant coach.

The popular McKie played 7 1/2 seasons with the Sixers and earned the NBA Sixth Man Award in 2000-01.

McKie split last season between being a Sixers' volunteer assistant and playing with the Grizzlies after being included in the Pau Gasol trade.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1792

Michigan Live (A. Sherrod Blakely) reports: The announced signing of Alex Acker was interesting. The fact that Detroit signed the 6-foot-5 combo guard isn’t all that unexpected. This guy has been on the cusp of sticking with the team for years. But it is a bit surprising that they guaranteed his contract for the season considering most of his time will likely be spent on the inactive list. Usually teams keep that 15th spot open in case a talented player is unexpectedly waived, or as a cushion to absorb an extra body in a possible trade.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/ ... 98509.html

The Sixers added Cory Underwood to their camp roster, replacing Justin Reed.

The 6-10, 240-pounder averaged 6.0 points and 2.9 rebounds playing for current Sixers assistant Jeff Ruland with the NBDL's Albuquerque Thunderbirds last season.

He joins free agents Andre Emmett, Temple's Antywane Robinson, Philadelphia native Maureece Rice and Jared Reiner in competing for the 15th and final roster spot.

[nasty daddy]

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=1793

Michigan Live (A. Sherrod Blakely) reports: Rasheed Wallace is back to wearing jersey No. 30. He gave no particular reason for the change, other than to say that he always planned to return back to wearing the number at some point. A couple of media folks pointed out how Wallace looked to be in great shape. Flashback to the last couple of training camps, and you’ll see that Wallace usually comes to camp in pretty good shape. But maintaining it throughout the course of a season, now that’s another story.