Hawks re-sign Ivan Johnson for second season

Ivan Johnson averaged 6.4 points per game as a rookie for the Hawks.

Landov

ATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Hawks have re-signed forward Ivan Johnson, who made a surprise impact as an undrafted rookie last season.

The 28-year-old Johnson averaged 6.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 56 games. He led the team by making 51.3 percent of his shots from the field and ranked fourth in rebounds.

The 6-foot-8, 255-pound Johnson was the NBA's rookie of the month for April.

General manager Danny Ferry announced Johnson's new deal on Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/basketball/nba/09/19/hawks-sign-ivan-johnson.ap/index.html?xid=si_nba
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Company that owns L.A.'s Staples Center for sale

The sale of AEG would throw uncertainty into Los Angeles' attempt to obtain an NFL franchise.

Reuters

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Anschutz Entertainment Group, the owner of the Staples Center arena and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings, and the top contender to build a stadium and bring the NFL back to Los Angeles, is up for sale, its parent company said Tuesday.

The Denver-based Anschutz Co. said in a statement that it is "commencing a process" to sell the subsidiary known as AEG and had hired Blackstone Advisory Partners as an adviser.

It wasn't immediately clear how far along the company is in the sale process, or whether it has entertained any offers, but the price for AEG could be well into the billions.

The sale would mean a major ground shift in sports and entertainment in Los Angeles and around the world.

AEG's holdings also include pro soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy, part-ownership of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, and major entertainment and real estate holdings in downtown Los Angeles. Outside of L.A., AEG owns Major League Soccer's Houston Dynamo and New York's Barclay's Center, the new home of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets. It also owns arenas in Sweden, China and Australia.

The sale would also throw uncertainty into LA's nearly two-decade attempt to bring the NFL back to the city. The City Council is considering the approval of plans for Farmers Field, a downtown stadium proposed by AEG.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he has long known of the possibility of a sale, and both Denver billionaire Phillip Anschutz and AEG President Tim Leiweke have assured him the city's NFL hopes will remain the same.

"I have worked with both Phil Anschutz and Tim Leiweke for years to bring a football team to Los Angeles. I speak to both of them on a regular basis and I have known about this potential sale for some time," the mayor said in a statement Tuesday night. "I have the commitment from both of them that this won't affect plans for an NFL team to return to Los Angeles in the near future and so will not affect my support for moving ahead with Farmers Field."

Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose district includes the proposed stadium site, said she did not know about a pending sale but agreed that it wouldn't have adverse effects on courting an NFL team.

"The city has done a good job of protecting the taxpayer's interest in negotiating an agreement," Perry told The Associated Press, "so whoever steps into the shoes of Mr. Anschutz will have the same obligations."

Perry said the move "arguably is very positive" because she suspected it could lead to an enthusiastic new partner anxious to get in on the city's NFL prospects.

The potential sale was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

AEG transformed the Los Angeles landscape with the building of Staples Center and the later addition of the LA Live entertainment complex, helping to revitalize the city's long-neglected downtown and bring new energy and several championships to its sports teams.

Opening in 1999, the Staples Center is among the world's busiest arenas. It hosted six playoff games in four days for its main tenants - the NBA's Lakers and Clippers, and the NHL's Kings, who won their first Stanley Cup in June.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/09/18/aeg-for-sale.ap/index.html?xid=si_nba
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Jeremy Lin goes through first workout in Houston

Jeremy Lin signed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Rockets this offseason.

Pat Sullivan/AP

HOUSTON (AP) Jeremy Lin is finally getting his own bed.

The 6-foot-3 point guard who became an international phenomenon with the Knicks last season went through his first workout with the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.

Lin was waived by the Rockets last December, then picked up by the Knicks. He was hesitant to buy a home and slept on teammate Landry Fields' couch the night before his breakout game against New Jersey on Feb. 4.

Lin signed a three-year, $25 million contract with Houston over the summer. He arrived in Houston on Monday - but first asked teammate Chandler Parsons if he could "crash" on his couch until he bought furniture. He finally feels like he's found a home in Houston and one of his priorities is finding a comfortable bed.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/basketball/nba/09/18/jeremy-lin-rockets.ap/index.html?xid=si_nba
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Report: Despite interest, Martin won't take min.

Could Kenyon Martin be headed to the Knicks or Celtics? (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Clippers free agent forward Kenyon Martin is once again being linked to the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, but according to MSG's Alan Hahn, the snag in Martin joining any team is that the 34-year-old refuses to sign for the veterans minimum:

Kenyon Martin is the player so many continue to link to the Knicks, but K-Mart has remained steadfast in not wanting to accept a veteran's minimum.

Chris Andersen, Martin's teammate with the Denver Nuggets, is reportedly also linked to the Knicks, with Hahn saying the "Birdman" has been "pushing the idea, [b]ut the sentiment isn't mutual." Ditto for Tracy McGrady, who tried out with the Knicks but according to Hahn, "there doesn't appear to be great interest there."

Because of their salary cap, the Knicks would only be able to afford a player at the veterans minimum with their current roster.

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://tracking.si.com/2012/09/18/kenyon-martin-free-agent-knicks-celtics/?xid=si_nba
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Cream Of The Crop

(Unrestricted)

The 2012 free-agent market has been picked pretty clean. How does next summer's class shape up? SI.com concludes its countdown of the top potential 2013 free agents with Nos. 10-1.
Jefferson has been the centerpiece of the Jazz offense since they parted ways with Deron Williams in 2011, but his future with the team is anyone's guess. Utah has a talented backup big man in Derrick Favors and also has to deal with the status of fellow unrestricted free agent Paul Millsap, meaning Jefferson and his $15 million salary could be elsewhere in 2013-14. A talented scorer on the block, the 27-year-old would have teams lining up for his services even with his defensive deficiencies.

19 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1209/nba-free-agent-1-10/content.1.html?xid=si_nba
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Morrison eyes NBA return with Blazers

By Sam Amick, SI.com

Adam Morrison averaged 20 points and five rebounds in five games for the Clippers in the NBA's summer league.

Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

From the Gonzaga hype to NBA hell and back again, Adam Morrison isn't done just yet.

The 28-year-old, who was taken third in the 2006 draft, has accepted an invitation to Portland's training camp, according to his agent, Mark Bartelstein. Should Morrison take advantage of the void left by Blazers guard Elliot Williams' season-ending Achilles injury last week and impress enough to earn a roster spot, his deal will be for one year at the league's minimum salary.

This isn't the way it typically goes for top-five picks, especially players like Morrison who were so wildly celebrated as can't-miss prospects. But after coming up short in Charlotte, languishing with the Lakers and giving up on the game altogether before playing in Serbia and Turkey last year, Morrison -- who last played in an NBA game on April 27, 2010 -- will have another shot to show he belongs.

"I just think it'll be a great opportunity for him," Bartelstein said. "I don't know that there's ever been a guy who got less of an opportunity in the NBA who came out as highly drafted as Adam did. He had a really good rookie year, and then tore his ACL and really hasn't had a chance to play since then."

Considering the way this summer went for Morrison, this is likely his last NBA chance. Despite averaging 20 points and five rebounds for the Clippers in summer league, he mostly found apathy on the open market until landing the deal with the Blazers. Morrison had been hopeful that the Clippers would add him, but they opted to sign small forward Matt Barnes instead.

"What (Morrison) did this summer (with the Clippers) was tremendous,"

Bartelstein said. "He was as good as anybody in Las Vegas -- probably the best offensive player in Vegas. We've been looking around, trying to find the right opportunity."

With new general manager Neil Olshey and coach Terry Stotts having been added over the summer, the Blazers are in rebuilding mode. They have 15 guaranteed contracts as is, but Morrison's camp is confident he'll be able to secure a roster spot if he plays well enough in October.

"I just think it's a great opportunity for him and I think it has a chance to be a terrific story," Bartelstein said.

The Oregonian first reported the Morrison invite.

18 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/sam_amick/09/17/morrison-blazers/index.html?xid=si_nba
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World Peace says Lakers aiming for Bulls record

Lakers forward Metta World Peace said the team will go after the Chicago Bulls NBA record for most wins in a season. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace is making big boasts about the upcoming season, especially since the Lakers acquired talents such as Dwight Howard, two-time MVP Steve Nash.

Put those pieces with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol and World Peace says he has a certain record in mind: The Chicago Bulls record for most wins in a season. Last season, the Lakers went 41-25 in a lockout shortened season before being eliminated in five games by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals.

"We definitely want to beat the Bulls record and go 73-9, that's definitely something that I want to do," World Peace said via Sports Radio Interviews. "Whoever is out there at the beginning of the season then we gotta get it. It's as simple as that. We just have to go get it. I think people still have to go through the Lake Show. I think everything goes through the Lake Show."

World Peace said that the Bulls record of 72-10, set in the 1995-96 season, has been on his mind.

"No question. You try to snatch records before you leave this earth. You gotta try to do a lot of great things so it's definitely a goal," he said. "With Dwight Howard, (Steve) Nash, Kobe (Bryant), myself, Pau (Gasol) and then (Antawn) Jamison and a lot of great additions it's something that's possible."

18 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://tracking.si.com/2012/09/17/lakers-metta-world-peace-73-9-record/?xid=si_nba
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Miami signs former New York big man Harrellson

The Miami Heat have added a big body to their training camp roster, announcing the signing of free agent Josh Harrellson via Twitter.

Harrellson had reportedly flown to Miami for a workout at the beginning of September, and it appears that coach Erik Spoelstra and company like what they saw enough to offer a contract. Harrellson played 37 games with four starts for the New York Knicks last season. He averaged four points and four rebounds per game, but particularly excelled at long range shooting – connecting on 33% of his attempts from long range.

18 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://tracking.si.com/2012/09/17/josh-harrellson-signs-heat/?xid=si_nba
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Young And The Extension-Less

(Unrestricted)

The 2012 free-agent market has been picked pretty clean. How does next summer's class shape up? SI.com continues its countdown of the top potential 2013 free agents with Nos. 20-11.
West saw his numbers dip during his first season with Indiana, but the 32-year-old's steady mid-range game and defensive awareness should serve him well into his mid-30s. That said, he might be due for a pay cut, coming off a season where he earned $10 million.

18 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1209/nba-free-agent-11-20/content.1.html?xid=si_nba
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Report: McGrady auditions for both Spurs, Knicks

Tracy McGrady worked out with the Spurs and Knicks this week. (Scott Cunningham, Getty Images)

Forward Tracy McGrady worked out with both the Spurs and Knicks this week according to Yahoo! Sports. The 15-year NBA veteran had career lows with Atlanta last season averaging 5.3 points and 3 rebounds in 16 minutes per game.

"Time is running out for the 33-year-old McGrady to secure a guaranteed contract for the season. Sources say he will likely have to choose between accepting a 'make-good' training-camp invite or going overseas."

The Spurs have yet to decide on how McGrady would fit into the roster; the Knicks, who ranked 21st in 3-point percentage last year, discussed adding McGrady as a another perimeter scorer. McGrady played in 24 games for New York at the end of the 2009-10 season and has made seven All-Star Game appearances.

16 Sep, 2012

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Source: http://tracking.si.com/2012/09/13/tracy-mcgrady-san-antonio-spurs-new-york-knicks-workout/?xid=si_nba
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