SH Blog: Full NBA schedule released, Heat and Celtics headline season opener

Around this time last season, the NBA was clouded with uncertainty due to the likelihood of a lockout – which of course, actually occurred and caused us to miss 16 games. The NBA released the upcoming season’s schedule today full of exciting and intriguing matchups such as the Miami Heat opening the season against the Boston Celtics. The best part of the release is knowing that every single game will happen no matter what David Stern and Billy Hunter wish to argue about. See the full schedule, along with today’s news below:

Full NBA season schedule can be found here.

The Associated Press details opening night, which is on Oct. 30: “Miami’s championship defense will begin where they won last season’s title, and the first game for the Brooklyn Nets will be at home against their now-crosstown rival. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Heat will raise their title banner at home on Oct. 30 against the Boston Celtics as part of an opening-night tripleheader, meaning Ray Allen’s first game with Miami will come against his former club and in a rematch of last season’s seven-game Eastern Conference finals. Also on opening night, Washington visits Cleveland (technically the season’s first game, starting an hour earlier than the Boston-Miami matchup) and Dallas plays at the Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash’s debut as Kobe Bryant’s teammate.”

Paul Coro details the Phoenix Suns’ schedule: “Suns fans won’t have to wait long to see their team by opening the season with two home games for the second consecutive year, but they will have to wait on Steve Nash’s return until Jan. 30. The Suns will face Nash as a Los Angeles Laker for the first time when the Suns travel to Los Angeles on Nov. 16, but much of the season will have passed before his ESPN-televised return to US Airways Center. The Suns open the season at home Oct. 31 against Golden State, with Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes joining Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and David Lee.”

It’s not much of a news at this point, but Dwight Howard still wants to be traded to the Lakers or the Nets down the road, from Adrian Wojnarowski: “As appealing trade scenarios for his franchise player shrink, Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan’s mission of beginning to build trust with All-Star center Dwight Howard was met with an unmistakable response in a Wednesday meeting: Howard continues to rule out a future with the Magic, and wants a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers before the start of the season, sources told Yahoo! Sports. “Dwight remained unchanged in his want to be traded,” a source with knowledge of the meeting said. “And he has no intention of signing another contract extension with Orlando.”

Ronny Turiaf has agreed to sign on with the Los Angeles Clippers, from Broderick Turner: “The Clippers and free-agent Ronny Turiaf have agreed to a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract worth $1.146 million, said NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Turiaf, a 6-10, 245-pounder, will be a backup power forward and center for the Clippers. He becomes the fifth big man for the Clippers – behind starters DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin and reserves Lamar Odom and Ryan Hollins – the 13th player on the roster.

Tim Duncan once again sacrificed for the good of his team, according to Mike Monroe: “Before even one game of the Spurs’ 2012-13 season is contested, Tim Duncan already has made a significant contribution to the team’s success. By accepting an $11.5 million cut from the $21.15 million salary he earned last season, Duncan enabled the club to re-sign its most coveted free-agent players, add 2009 draftee Nando De Colo and still drop below the NBA’s projected luxury-tax threshold for next season. According to contract figures that have been officially released to all NBA teams, Duncan will be paid $9.64 million in the first season of the three-year deal he signed July 11. After being the third-highest paid player in the league last season, behind only Lakers star Kobe Bryant ($25.24 million) and Boston’s Kevin Garnett ($21.25 million), Duncan next season will be the fourth-highest paid Spur.”

Shannon Brown will stay with the Suns for another two seasons, from The AP: “The Phoenix Suns have re-signed guard Shannon Brown. The contract is for two years with the second year partially guaranteed. Brown averaged 11 points and 2.7 rebounds in a career-high 23.7 minutes per game last season. He appeared in 59 games, 19 as a starter. He came to the Suns as a free agent in 2011, signing a one-year deal. Shooting guard is a position of need for the Suns, who had signed restricted free agent Eric Gordon to a contract but it was matched by New Orleans.”

The Cavaliers have acquired point guard Jeremy Pargo, from Sports Network: “The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired point guard Jeremy Pargo, a 2014 second-round draft pick and cash considerations from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for guard/forward D.J. Kennedy. “Our approach remains consistent as we try to bring in young talent, create future opportunity with draft picks as potential assets and maintain flexibility,” Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant said. “Jeremy adds depth to our backcourt. He is a young, aggressive, athletic guard who we feel fits well with our style of play, both defensively and offensively. We look forward to welcoming him to Cleveland.”

Fran Fraschilla explains why Spain is the top threat to Team USA: “Seven players on Spain’s roster have played in the NBA, and their success in the league makes it the top threat to unseat Team USA as the reigning Olympic champion. The brothers Gasol, Pau and Marc, are NBA All-Stars. Serge Ibaka, who’s 23 years old, played in the NBA finals and finished second in the voting for NBA defensive player of the year. Point guard Jose Calderon finished fourth in the NBA in assists this past season. Euroleague star Juan Carlos Navarro was a second-team all-rookie in his only NBA season. In addition to its talent, Spain has great continuity. The core of the team has been together for a while and is in the midst of a great run that includes a FIBA World Championship in 2006, an Olympic silver medal in 2008 and the past two European Championships.”

Nate Robinson was at a gun-shooting scene at Rucker Park basketball court, but did not get injured, according to the Daily News: “Five people were shot on a Harlem basketball court Wednesday night during an annual basketball tournament, officials and witnesses said. Gunfire erupted around 10 p.m. at the Holcombe Rucker Park court on Frederick Douglass Boulevard near W. 155th St. after a dispute during a game for the Entertainers Basketball Classic, witnesses said. “They started arguing, about a bad call or something like that,” said Rodney Harris, 47. “The guy was standing no more than five feet away from me. He pulled a gun out of his pocket and shot once. He then shot one more time. Everyone started running.” “He was real close to me,” Harris said. “I thought I got shot.” Nate Robinson, a former point guard for the Knicks, was at the game but escaped unscathed, witnesses said.”

Danny Ferry is not looking to trade Josh Smith, according to Jeff Schultz: “Smith, tired of being singled out for blame when things go wrong and yearning to compete for a championship, told the Hawks last year he wanted out. But much has changed since then. Ferry replaced Sund. He arrived with a “more objective view” of where the Hawks were. He was given autonomy to make needed changes. Ferry will tell you that he “didn’t come in looking to” trade Johnson, but the opportunity presented itself (and he pounced). But Smith is a different story. Ferry likes him — a lot. “He’s a really good player,” Ferry said. “I love his ability to pass the ball. I love his ability to make game-changing plays defensively. I love his competitiveness. If I was out there playing, I would want Josh on my team.”

Jeff Green will soon sign a four-year deal with the Celtics, according to Gary Washburn: “David Falk, the agent for Jeff Green, said Wednesday that his clients contract is still not done but he and the Celtics are working out “minor contract details” and that the deal is “imminent.” The two sides have agreed to the framework of a four-year, $36 million deal to return to the Celtics and Green participated in a press conference nearly two weeks ago, but Falk said they are still negotiating issues dealing with the new collective bargaining agreement. “I expect it will be done imminently,” he said. “Just some collective bargaining issues that changed. Just some details stuff, nothing serious.”