Report: Marion to sign with Cavaliers

Posted Aug 17, 2014 3:19 PM

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Shawn Marion wanted another shot at an NBA title. He'll get it playing with LeBron James.

The free agent forward has agreed to a contract with the Cavaliers, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday. The 36-year-old Marion informed the Cavs this weekend that he will take a minimum deal and play for them next season, said the person who spoke condition of anonymity because the contract has not been finalized.

Marion also had interest in signing with the Indiana Pacers, who are looking for help after losing Paul George for the season with a broken leg.

ESPN.com first reported Marion's agreement with the Cavs.

The Cavs can only offer Marion a deal worth $1.4 million because they're out of room under the salary cap.

A four-time All-Star, Marion gives Cleveland another veteran with postseason experience to compliment James, who is returning to the Cavs intent on winning the city's first pro championship since 1964. The team has previously signed shooters Mike Miller and James Jones, who won two NBA titles with James in Miami.

Cleveland is also on the brink of adding All-Star forward Kevin Love, who is expected to come over from Minnesota in a trade on or after Aug. 23. While Love gives the Cavs size, another shooter and an excellent passer, he has never played in a postseason game as a pro.

Marion, on the other hand, has played in 103 NBA playoff games. He won a title as a role player with Dallas in 2011 and spent the past five seasons with the Mavericks.

Considered a strong defensive player, he's averaged 15.8 points and 9.0 rebounds during his career, which began with Phoenix in 1999. Marion was with the Suns for nine-plus seasons and worked with Cavs general manager David Griffin.

credits to:NBA.com

For Rose, new journey starts at home

Posted Aug 15, 2014 6:47 PM

CHICAGO (AP) -- For Derrick Rose, it is a new beginning. And it starts on his home court.

The Chicago Bulls' superstar will suit up for the first time at the United Center since his latest season-ending knee injury when the U.S. national team meets Brazil in a tuneup Saturday for the World Cup of Basketball.

It's a journey in which the former MVP point guard hopes he shows he still is a franchise player, one capable of leading a championship contender.

The Bulls are aiming high after a 48-win season in which Rose's long-awaited comeback got cut short. He drew high praise practicing with Team USA in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. But until he plays in a game, questions will linger.

This gives him an opportunity to knock off some of the rust that's built up after being sidelined most of the past two seasons. That's why the Bulls were so gung-ho about him playing with Team USA this offseason, and for Rose, the benefits are easy to see.

''You're actually out there competing,'' he said. ''There are so many elements of a basketball game and competing that it makes me feel like I'm a hooper again and I'm just happy that I get this opportunity to be here with these great players, great young players too, and really showcase my talent.''

Even with a long list of All-Stars withdrawing, including MVP Kevin Durant and the injured Paul George, the U.S. still has a deep team with Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, James Harden and Klay Thompson, among others. But on Saturday, all eyes will be on Rose.

After all, he's been limited to just 49 regular-season games plus one playoff appearance the past three years.

He sat out the 2012-13 season recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and just as he was working his way back last year, he wound up back on the shelf last November. A torn meniscus in his right knee cut off his long-awaited comeback at 10 games.

U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski had no doubt Rose would be able to play because Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said he would be. Krzyzewski didn't realize Rose would be playing as well as he has.

''I think he's outstanding,'' Krzyzewski said. ''Look, he's one of the best guys in the whole world. He's so easy to coach and wants to please. It's very neat to see how excited he is about being here. And his first game back to play in the United Center, as a Chicagoan I'm ecstatic about what him and Tom has done for the Bulls.''

Thibodeau, an assistant for the U.S., said this is the perfect environment for his star to work his way back.

''I like the idea of him coming back in this setting,'' Thibodeau said. ''The quality of depth is so strong, we're asking all these guys to sacrifice playing time and sacrifice some shots for the sake of the team, so he doesn't have the burden of having to score 25 points and play a lot of minutes. Just go out there and do your job.''

Rose said his confidence ''is high right now.'' He's in good shape and he believes he still is an elite player.

The Bulls are counting on him to do just that, particularly after they struck out trying to reel in Carmelo Anthony. They made a hard push, only to see him re-sign with the New York Knicks.

There were also talks with Minnesota about a Kevin Love trade, but he is headed to join LeBron James in Cleveland. The Bulls went the depth route, the most notable addition being Pau Gasol.

With a new big man and the arrival of Nikola Mirotic from Europe and Doug McDermott in the draft, Chicago believes it has the weapons to contend for the Eastern Conference championship. That still hinges largely on Rose.

''Physically, he looks like the Derrick Rose we're used to seeing before he got hurt,'' Curry said. ''Now, I'm sure for him, it's just about getting game reps and getting your rhythm back. You can go through drills and get your body right, but there's nothing like playing. I know he's excited about that opportunity starting tomorrow.''

credits:NBA.com

George still hopeful of returning this season

Posted Aug 15, 2014 3:31 PM - Updated Aug 15, 2014 5:58 PM

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Paul George beat the odds to become an NBA star. He'll have to do it all over again to play next season.

Two weeks after a gruesome compound fracture of his right leg, George said Friday he remains hopeful that he can make it back onto the court late next season even though it's a longshot. George called the injury a "freak accident."

"All I can do at this point is sleep, watch TV and lay down, so it's tough for me. I'm used to being active, lifting weights, being in the gym," George said as his mother and father watched his news conference from a few feet away. "At the same time, I want to be part of this team. The last thing I want to do is feel like I'm not part of this team because I'm out. I'm holding out hope, just personally, because I want to be back."

George has thrived in the underdog role, going from mostly overlooked prep recruit to Fresno State star. He was impressive enough in college to catch the attention of Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird, who took him No. 10 overall in 2010. After his third season in the league, George was named the NBA's Most Improved Player. He's led the Pacers in scoring, played in the All-Star Game and made the league's all-defensive team each of the past two seasons.

Paul was injured Aug. 1 during a U.S. national team scrimmage in Las Vegas when he his right leg collided with the basketball stanchion, snapping it in two.

"When I looked down and saw bone sticking out, I knew it was bad," George said, later describing the feeling as having his leg lit on fire. "I'd felt pain before, but I have never felt pain like that. So I knew it was bad."

George said he has watched the replay once and won't watch it again.

Doctors have told the 24-year-old star that he is likely to make a full recovery, though it will take a full year. Bird and coach Frank Vogel said earlier this week they did not plan to have George in 2014-15.

George said he thinks he can change those plans -- if he can avoid risking another injury.

George said doctors placed pins in his knee and ankle to stabilize a rod that was inserted into the injured leg, which was broken in two places. Three days later, he returned to his suburban Indianapolis home where is now recuperating in a cast and hobbling around on crutches.

While no firm timetable has been set for his return, George said he could begin strengthening his right knee as early as next week. That's little consolation to the workaholic.

"This was going to be a huge year for me, so for me not to be out there at the beginning, I do feel a little guilty about that," George said. "It hurts."

The immediate question that went through George's mind was whether he did something wrong on the play.

Some have questioned whether the NBA's highest-paid stars, such as George, should risk injury while representing their country or whether the stanchion was too close to the court. George didn't offer an opinion about the stanchion but did make one thing clear: He wants to play for the 2016 Olympic Team.

"I think it's real unfair, the criticism they are getting because it was a freak accident. No one's really been injured since USA Basketball has been here," George said. "It was a freak accident. Freak accidents happen."

George thanked the national team, players around the league, those within the Pacers organizations and fans for their outpouring of support. A small contingent of George's fan club waited outside Bankers Life Fieldhouse to catch a glimpse of him pulling into the arena's underground garage. A handful of teammates also showed up at the news conference.

George recently received clearance from the NBA to change his number from 24 to 13, giving him the much more marketable moniker of PG-13. To do that, he splurged for about 600 of his own jerseys, which he donated to his high school and a local Boys & Girls Club near his hometown of Palmdale, California.

Otherwise, he's not planning to change a thing.

"I never play the game with any hesitation, that's probably why I'm in this cast," George said, drawing laughter. "I'm not looking at this as something negative for my career. It's something I can overcome and it will be a great opportunity to sit back and watch and learn the game."

credits to: NBA.com

Earlier this week, it seemed like Carmelo Anthony had made up his mind and was returning to the Knicks. While Phil Jackson remained positive yesterday, he is still waiting for ‘Melo to reply to his texts. According to a report, the Bulls and Lakers are still very much in the race.

Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports there’s been an about-face from reports he was re-signing in New York because ‘Melo has not made up his mind yet about his three biggest suitors:

At Summer League in Las Vegas, Jackson told reporters that he’d texted Anthony since their free-agent meeting, but Anthony hasn’t responded. The team that has been viewed as the strongest suitor for Anthony, Chicago, hasn’t been apprised of his intentions, either — but a league source told CBSSports.com Thursday that the Bulls and the Lakers remain under consideration for the seven-time All-Star.

Just as James has bought Heat president Pat Riley 10 days to try to upgrade the roster — with minimal results — Anthony’s lack of commitment has given Jackson time (and applied pressure on him) to make roster upgrades. A person with knowledge of Anthony’s message in his free-agent meeting with Jackson said he expressed confidence in Jackson’s plan to revamp the roster after next season. But Anthony’s biggest concern, the person said, was avoiding a repeat in 2014-15 of the Knicks’ 37-win debacle last season — the first time in Anthony’s 11 seasons that he failed to make the playoffs.

Without other moves, signing Anthony would leave Jackson with only the taxpayer mid-level exception of $3.3 million and minimum deals to add quality players to the rotation. With the Bulls, Thunder, Lakers and Spurs in pursuit of Pau Gasol, that kind of salary hole isn’t going to be enough to land the Spaniard.

The Bulls are the only team out of the three suitors who can say they have a realistic shot at contending next year. If ‘Melo wants a four-year, $96 million max deal from the Bulls, they would have to amnesty Carlos Boozer but also find a way to trade Taj Gibson and Mike Dunleavy without taking back additional salary.

It’s the classic dilemma of a superstar wanting to go to another team for the max, but he can only do so if that particular team guts their roster partially, which defeats the purpose of the signing.

In this regard, the Knicks still hold the advantage, in terms of the amount of money they can offer, and the growing belief ‘Melo is buying into Jackson’s vision and ability to build a contender in New York. But unless they can shed Andrea Bargnani and Amar’e Stoudemire‘s expiring contracts, the Knicks will be restricted in what they can do until next summer.

‘Melo also has a very close relationship with Kobe Bryant, and — perhaps on the strength of their friendship alone, plus all the off-court opportunities Hollywood offers — he’s still considering the Lakers. Having been with the Knicks, ‘Melo understands the appeal of playing for a team in a big market, but he would be placing a lot of trust in the organization and in Kobe’s health if he’s expecting to win right away in Los Angeles.

There’s no clear front-runner in this race — despite the New York Daily News‘ report. All three teams have their own sets of questions which are being considered by ‘Melo as he nears a decision. Ultimately, he’ll have to place his trust in one of these franchises to come through on their promise of becoming a contender.

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