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Wednesday, September 23

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Mikhail Prokhorov bought a majority share of the New Jersey Nets and a stake in the project to build their new arena in Brooklyn in a deal that makes him the first Russian owner of a major U.S. professional sports team. Prokhorov, a 6-foot-7 basketball fan who is listed by Forbes magazine as his country’s richest person, agreed to buy 80 percent of the National Basketball Association team and 45 percent of the Barclays Center from Bruce Ratner, both said in a news release. Bloomberg

The $200 million deal comes three months before the deadline for Ratner to break ground on the arena or lose financing through tax-exempt New York State bonds. Barclays Plc also had the right to pull out of its 20-year, $400 million naming-rights deal for the arena if construction hasn’t started by that date. “This partnership will ensure the successful completion of a world-class entertainment venue in Brooklyn, the relocation of the NBA Nets basketball team and the economic and housing benefits of the Atlantic Yards Project,” according to the statement from Forest City Ratner Cos., Nets Sports & Entertainment and Onexim Group, Prokhorov’s company. Bloomberg

Nate Robinson will be signed to a one-year contract today and, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, Robinson, who was a restricted free agent who earlier this summer told the Knicks he had no interest in playing anywhere else, will get more than his $2.9M qualifying offer. There are also performance bonuses included in the deal. Newsday

Alan Hahn: Curiously, Knicks-Nate deal suddenly not getting officially done today. But from what I know, deal is done. Twitter.com

Raymond Felton has signed Charlotte's one-year, $5.5 million qualifying offer after talks for a long-term contract broke down. The move means the Bobcats starting point guard will report on time to training camp next week, then become an unrestricted free agent next summer. ESPN.com

"Everybody understands the (economic) climate. – what the Bobcats are going through right now,'' Bradbury told the Observer. "He wants to be part of something – he believes the team had good momentum from last season and can be a playoff team. He’s purely focused on his loyalty to the Bobcats and to coach Larry Brown.'' Charlotte Observer

Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard has lured one NBA veteran to Portland for a training camp audition and is diligently working to bring in three or four more. Pritchard on Wednesday confirmed published reports that former Utah Jazz center Jarron Collins has accepted a training camp invitation from the Blazers and will compete for the 15th and final spot on the roster. “We wanted an experienced big and (Collins) has great experience and a wealth of knowledge for the game,” Pritchard said. “He will have a chance to make our team.” Oregonian

Free agent guard Thomas Gardner will sign a one-year non-guaranteed contract with the Memphis Grizzlies and compete for a roster spot with them at training camp, the agency Mark Termini Associates Inc informed HoopsHype.com. HoopsHype.com

The roster is all set, but the Pistons will be bringing former Michigan forward/center Maceo Baston to training camp as a spare body. Detroit News

The Miami Heat appears on the verge of completing its training-camp roster, with plans to sign 6-foot-9 forward Andre Brown to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract. Brown, who appeared in four games early last season with the Charlotte Bobcats, after playing for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2007-08 and Seattle SuperSonics in 2006-07, worked out for the Heat for two weeks earlier this summer. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Free agent guard Dan Dickau decided to pass on an invitation to the Celtics training camp, choosing to attend Phoenix's instead. The decision could bode well for Lester Hudson, the point guard taken by the Celtics with the 58th pick in this summer's draft. Boston Globe

Also expect veteran center Mark Blount -- and his $7.96 million expiring contract -- to be waived soon. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Another fellow on his way to camp: point guard Lanny Smith. Like Davidson, Smith played under Bryan Gates at Idaho of the D-League. A product of the University of Houston, the 24-year-old Smith suffered a catastrophic foot injury during his original senior season in 2006-07 -- doctors told him he may never play again. He came back, though, and played 20 minutes a game for UH in 2007-08 before making his way to Idaho, where he played mostly as a back-up. SactownRoyalty.com

The Rockets reworked their collection of guards to compete for roster spots, sending James White to the Denver Nuggets and signing Will Conroy and Garrett Temple. Houston Chronicle

J.E. Skeets: Chris Bosh put on 15 pounds of muscle over the summer at the urging of the coaching staff. Twitter.com

J.E. Skeets: B.C. says Jack looks amazing and Bargs had a major blow-up with his coach in Italy this summer. Twitter.com

Dave McMenamin: The Washington Times story about Gilbert Arenas last week used quotes made by Gilbert in June and passed them off as him saying them in Sept. Twitter.com

Boris Diaw will be out two weeks due to injury. BasketUSA.com

Maybe the Nets won't be that great this season. But team president Rod Thorn insists they won't be that bad, either. Then next year, watch out. "We definitely want to be a team that can compete for the championship. We certainly would like to be in a position where it's not even a possibility we won't be in the playoffs," Thorn said yesterday. "We will be in position at the end of the year to be in the free-agent market to be competitive for virtually anybody," Thorn added, perhaps with visions of LeBron or Amare or Bosh dancing in his head. New York Post

The Heat is poised to go to training camp with at least 15 veterans, with power forward Shavlik Randolph and point guard John Lucas III working with the team and expected to be extended contracts. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Chris Mannix: Ray Felton's agent, Kevin Bradbury, just confirmed Felton signing qualifier. One year, $5.5 mill. Gonna try to cash in as UFA next summer. Twitter.com

All indications, meanwhile, are that Harpring will not be able to play this season on account of his continued ankle and knee problems. Salt Lake Tribune

Collins said Tuesday that he's heading to training camp with Portland after spending eight seasons in Utah. Salt Lake Tribune

In this tough economy, any job for a player these days is a good one. And there is talk the Thunder, with 14 guaranteed contracts and no worries about the luxury tax, might be a rare team that has no problem with a 15-man roster. That's why veteran forwards Michael Ruffin and Ryan Bowen will be heading to the Thunder camp on nonguaranteed contracts, looking to earn a job. "I think I've got a chance," said Ruffin, a nine-year veteran played last season with Portland. FanHouse.com

The Oklahoman also has learned that Tre Kelley and Michael Harris are among at least two other players who are expected to join Ruffin and Bowen in training camp. Oklahoman

Among other free agents going to camp trying to earn jobs, guard Morris Almond is heading to Orlando, guard Kareem Rush to the Los Angeles Clippers, center Earl Barron to New Orleans, forward Maceo Baston to Detroit, center Courtney Sims to Atlanta and guard Mario West, a restricted free agent, is returning to the Hawks. FanHouse.com

Former Marquette University point guard Dominic James has been added to the Bucks' training camp roster, general manager John Hammond said. James impressed Bucks officials with his play during a summer league camp in July, and he would have been on the club's Las Vegas summer league team if he had not picked up an injury. James suffered a second-degree sprain of his right knee while diving for a loose ball during a scrimmage, forcing him to stay home. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Suddenly, that Nuggets preseason game against Partizan Belgrade is a little more enticing. The Nuggets have acquired James "Flight" White, a skywalking, YouTube dunking sensation — who might have the versatility to make the team's roster. "Looking at the roster, they have 12 guys now, so I figure that I have a good chance making the team if I go out there and work," White said by phone. Denver Post

"I'm definitely excited, and excited that the Nuggets were looking at me and inquiring about me," the 6-foot-7 White said. "I'm just a guy who likes to make plays on both ends of the court. I like to get out in transition, run the floor, make plays like that. And on the defensive end, get steals and try to defend the best guy that's out there." White said he has a nonguaranteed contract and will try to make the team, which begins practice Saturday. Denver Post

Jason Friedman: Rockets sign Garrett Temple and Will Conroy to training camp roster. Twitter.com

The NBA doesn't allow teams to trade first-round picks in consecutive seasons, so some of the Warriors' potential offseason trades have been hamstrung by the possibility that their 2011 selection could have gone to the Nets. By regaining that pick, the Warriors can use the 2010 choice as a chip in going after a franchise-changer or moving the contract of Stephen Jackson, who demanded a trade last month but hasn't spoken publicly since. "We pushed that first-round pick back a year, because we had no flexibility" this year, general manager Larry Riley said. "Whether or not we use it is up to us. Flexibility is what it was all about." San Francisco Chronicle

That kind of price makes one wonder if the Warriors need something to entice other teams to consider Jackson's remaining contract - four years, $35 million. Riley discounted that theory and said the trade isn't necessarily about an immediate move. "I know where that's going," he said. "As soon as people hear about the trade, they'll say, 'Let's dig around and see what they're doing.' I've worked on trying to make deals, and that first-round pick may or may not come into play in some of those deals. San Francisco Chronicle

The NBA last week locked out its regular referees after failing to negotiate a new contract with their union, turning instead to replacements that will begin training camp Thursday in New York. "This is a far different situation than it was the last time,'' Litvin told FanHouse. "Frankly, this is not the easiest situation to be in, but we've got the structure in place to make it a smoother transition.'' FanHouse.com

NBA officials also are scrutinized much closer today than ever before. For every game now, there is an NBA observer in the stands rating the officials. And every game has video being reviewed by the league office, something that didn't exist in 1995. "We'll know right away. It will let us identify sooner rather than later if a referee is not performing,'' he said. "And game assignments can be adjusted.'' FanHouse.com

The referees union has issued warnings about what lies ahead: more whistles but less control of the game. More fights, more injuries, more confusion. “The integrity of the game will be questioned, because these folks don’t know the rules,” said Lamell McMorris, the union’s chief negotiator. “This is not going to be a pretty scene for fans and players.” New York Times

League officials say they will have a full complement of 60 referees this time, allowing them to deploy three-man crews. The replacements are coming primarily from the N.B.A.’s own pipeline: the Development League and the W.N.B.A. They have been trained by N.B.A. personnel for years, learning N.B.A. mechanics and play-calling expectations, said Joel Litvin, the league’s president for league and basketball operations. “We will have a much stronger replacement staff this time than in ’95,” Litvin said. New York Times

For comparison, the league compiled statistics from the last two months of the 1995-96 season, when the regular referees were in control. Players were suspended for 24 games in that span, Litvin said, and none for leaving the bench. Based on that sample, Litvin said: “There’s no evidence at all that the games were rougher. In fact, there’s evidence to the contrary.” Robert Horry, who played for the Houston Rockets in 1995, said he the replacement referees were “decent, but not at the level we’re used to.” New York Times

Sometimes, the replacements turn out to be pretty good. In fact, 17 of the N.B.A.’s current referees began as replacements. That group that includes some of the league’s most respected referees, as well as some of its most controversial. Joey Crawford joined the N.B.A. during a strike in 1977. Danny Crawford, Ken Mauer, Eddie F. Rush and Derrick Stafford got their start during a lockout in 1983. Twelve others, including Bill Kennedy and Leon Wood, broke into the N.B.A. during the 1995 lockout. New York Times

Litvin also said he was surprised to see the referees union criticize the league for inviting Michael Henderson and Robbie Robinson to the training camp. Both were NBA officials from 2004-2007, but were released because of poor job performance. "They are among the few officials in the world who have real NBA experience,'' he said. "Why wouldn't we bring them back?'' FanHouse.com

"I, along with the NBPA Executive Committee, unanimously endorse the quickest possible resolution to the negotiations between the National Basketball Referees Association and the NBA," Fisher, the Lakers' point guard, said in a statement released by the players' union. "Our referees are the best in the world at what they do and they deserve to be treated fairly. "Players throughout the league are concerned that the use of replacement referees could compromise the integrity of our games," Fisher said. "Our fans deserve the best product that we can put on the court and that includes having the best referees. Anything less is unacceptable to our union and our members." CBSSports.com

Asked if Jackson needed to clear the air Monday when each Warriors player will be made available to the media, Riley said he will leave that up to the player. "I don't want to get into a position where I'm speaking for somebody else," Riley said. "I haven't talked to him about that. I probably will. "But I want whatever he says to come from Stephen Jackson. I don't want it to be the organization got a hold of him and told him to say this, or this is what you have to do. ... I'm going to let him be Stephen Jackson, and sometimes that's volatile." San Jose Mercury-News

All Saunders knows is Arenas is an obvious talent - averaging 27.7 points a game from 2004 to 2007 - who appears healthy enough to resume such production. Saunders also knows if the teacher can effectively communicate to the pupil his "core covenant beliefs" and expectations, all will be well with the Wizards. "I give a lot of responsibility to the point guard, and I expect him to think like I think," Saunders said Tuesday at Verizon Center. "I'm going to be harder on him than anyone else because I have higher expectations. He's the quarterback on the team. He's got to get guys in the right spots, and if they're not, he's the guy that's going to look bad as far as running the team." Washington Times

Saunders has spoken with his players often this summer, but he has communicated with Arenas the most. He talked with him for 45 minutes the day he was hired in April. He traveled to Chicago to visit the guard while he was working out with renowned trainer Tim Grover. And he has continued to speak and text with Arenas on a daily basis to ensure they are on the same page. Washington Times

"I think he's understanding," Saunders said. "He understands that he's going to have the ball in his hands a lot of the time and he's going to have to make decisions, he's going to have to understand matchup situations. He's going to understand a lot more next week. ... He's been playing a lot this summer, but this will be in a structured type of situation where he'll be challenging himself physically and mentally." Washington Times

Heat center Jermaine O'Neal returned Tuesday to South Florida, the last of the team's players under contract to check in. The team began taking physicals Tuesday, with camp to open Monday at AmericanAirlines Arena. Coach Erik Spoelstra is hopeful that a rigorous offseason workout program will allow O'Neal to overcome the leg issues that limited his impact after his arrival at last season's trading deadline. "I went and saw him two weeks ago in Chicago and he's moving around great," Spoelstra said. "You aren't going to be able to find out until you actually see him playing, but he's moving around fine. The key is he's as strong as he's ever been. He's done all the weightlifting and strength training. It's been strictly monitored. He did seven weeks with us and then another eight weeks with Tim Grover." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Most of it, though, is based on who Durant is, a person with a quiet sense of humor and a demeanor so modest that it is as if he is a star who does not quite realize he is one. The car arrives at the airport as Durant drops off a friend. In midday, the airport is nearly empty. A couple of people look curiously at the wiry, tall young man. That is the extent of their intrusion. “Most people look at me because I’m tall,” Durant says. “Then some ask if I play basketball. Then I say yes and they think it’s for the college. I don’t know — I guess we need more of an identity.” New York Times

“This game isn’t easy, and it kind of stuck on me that whatever you do, to always stay grounded and always stay humble,” Durant says. “It can be taken at any time.” New York Times

Wallace, who signed a three-year contract with the Celtics, has been involved in similar reading activities in other cities. “I’ve been doing it pretty much my whole career, with and without the NBA,’’ Wallace said. “It’s nothing new. It’s actually fun for me, to interact with kids - that’s my Achilles’ heel. I’m real big on kids and doing things with them. “I know how it is. Every kid likes to be read to, or just even have an adult play with them, no matter if it’s little girls with a tea party or boys playing in the dirt, it’s all part of being a kid. It’s something we all went through. Boston Globe

Wallace has been training with the Celtics in Waltham. But on this day, he was going for the full immersion tour of Boston, joining the youngsters on a Duck Boat ride. “I don’t know too much about the city, I don’t know the best restaurants and all that stuff yet,’’ Wallace said. “But I’m pretty sure the guys on the team will tell me about that. “I have no complaints. Everyone here has treated me with open arms. It’s been a good experience, and as far as the guys in the locker room, we can’t wait to get started.’’ Boston Globe

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When the Bucks open camp on Tuesday morning at the Cousins Center, they will have seven new players acquired in free agency, via trades or in the draft. "We just need guys to step up and play minutes they normally would not have played," Redd said. "We're very young. It will be interesting to see how we turn out." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Collins, in particular, could laugh at himself. When the Kings left behind a scouting report after a preseason game in Albuquerque, N.M., two years ago, Collins took stock of what was written about him and conceded, "It's all true." Reflecting on his eight seasons with the Jazz, Collins joked that the team had never sold a replica No. 31 jersey in all those years. The Jazz sold John Amaechi, Kris Humphries, Gordan Giricek and Dee Brown jerseys, but never a Jarron Collins jersey. Salt Lake Tribune

Acie Law, a reserve point guard, was expected to be released from an East Bay hospital late Tuesday after sustaining a head injury in a 3-on-3 game at the Warriors' Oakland facility. Law took an inadvertent elbow to the head and was transferred to the hospital via ambulance. San Francisco Chronicle

After learning that Arco Arena is considered unsuitable to host a major college basketball tournament, Mayor Kevin Johnson said Tuesday that Sacramento could lose the Kings if efforts for a new arena aren't stepped up. "If we don't have a clear path to an arena in the not too distant future, then we as Sacramentans need to know that (the Kings) very well may look elsewhere," Johnson said. Sacramento Bee

On Tuesday, however, he expressed a greater sense of urgency, and a desire to look for other sites and ideas for getting a new arena built. "I don't have all the answers right now, but I will tell you this: When you look at Cal Expo as an option, the clock is ticking," he said. "I've got to be more aggressive, and I've got to move the timeline up in terms of the arena," he added. "The timeline has to include an Option B, an Option C, and I haven't quite determined what we're going to do." Sacramento Bee

The owner of the Utah Jazz's NBA Development League team wants to see Michael Jordan go 1-on-1 against Bryon Russell one more time. Brandt Andersen is offering a $100,000 donation to the charity of the winner's choice if he can get Jordan and Russell to play a game of 21. ESPN.com

Andersen says he has spoken to Russell and left a message for Jordan through a mutual friend. Andersen's suggestion: Jordan vs. Russell during halftime of the Utah Flash's home opener. ESPN.com

Some fans of Shaquille O'Neal might just write him a letter asking for his autograph, but Ron Doi took things to a whole new level in order to support the Niagara Peninsula Children's Centre. Doi, who is the manager of the Boston Pizza at the Pen Centre, created a Facebook group devoted to gaining enough members to attract the attention of one of basketball's biggest stars. He has also been posting references to the campaign and the group on the Boston Pizza Twitter page. Brockpress.com

Burks says what happened on July 20, 2009. has forced him to wake up and grow up. “I’ve got three kids and I got to be strong for them.” The former NBA star was shot during a dice game behind an abandoned home in South Memphis. “Wrong place, wrong time. Going to an area where I know a lot of people, even though they were doing the wrong things at the time. I know I’m not supposed to be there. I had second regrets before I went,” says Burks. MyEyeWitnessNews.com

Doctors say those days will likely turn into months before Burks is able to play ball again. When asked about the gunman, Burks says he has no ill feelings towards him. Loved ones just hope the 29 year-old takes full advantage of this new opportunity, whether on the court or on the sidelines. Burks’ girlfriend Renadda Wiggins says this is now the start of a new chapter for Burks. “I hope he takes life seriously. I hope he knows what he got as far as his gifts and talents. I hope he looks at life and know you’re here today, you could be gone tomorrow.” MyEyeWitnessNews.com

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