Kenyon Martin will return for the New York Knicks, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports: “Free-agent forward Kenyon Martin has reached agreement on a one-year deal to return to the New York Knicks, a league source told Yahoo! Sports. Martin will make the veteran’s minimum of $1.4 million. Martin, 35, made a strong impression on the Knicks’ front office and coaching staffs to earn his return to New York. After signing with the Knicks late last season, Martin played an integral role in the frontcourt in the final month of the regular season and playoffs. He averaged 7.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in nearly 24 minutes in the regular season, including 11 starts. Martin played 12 playoff games for the Knicks and averaged nearly six points in 21 minutes.”
- Bernard James tweeted his agreement with the Dallas Mavericks, from Dwain Price of Star Telegram: “Bernard James actually used his Twitter account to announce to the world that he has signed a new contract with the Dallas Mavericks. “Thanks for the encouraging words over the weekend,” the second-year center tweeted. “Glad to be with the MAVS another year!” The Mavs reluctantly waived James this past weekend so they could use his salary to help free up cap space which enabled them to sign free agent shooting guard Monta Ellis. Dallas then re-signed James after he cleared the NBA’s 48-hour waiver period. As a rookie last season, James averaged 2.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in 9.9 minutes per game. The Mavs believe the wiry 6-10 pivotman potentially has a great upside as soon as he develops some sort of shot around the basket.
LeBron James may already have played in his last competition for the gold, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports: “LeBron James’ days of playing for Team USA have likely ended. James, 28, will not play for USA Basketball during the 2013 world championships in Spain and is doubtful to participate in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, a source close to the Miami Heat forward told Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday. USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo also confirmed to Yahoo! Sports he doesn’t expect James to play next summer – and doesn’t plan to ask him. James has already won two Olympic gold medals and a bronze in three Olympic appearances that began in 2004… “LeBron is going to be three years older during the next Olympics. He will have two older boys. He has a lot to endure with his family,” the source told Y! Sports. “He played in three Olympics. Everyone that knows LeBron knows it’s always based on a decision at that moment. But if the moment was today, the answer would be no.”
Kevin Durant and Kevin Love will still play for the U.S., according to The A.P.: “Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant and Minnesota Timberwolves center Kevin Love say Wednesday they will be returning to play for Team USA. The two NBA stars were on hand for the national team’s minicamp practice, and made the announcement in an impromptu news conference alongside team managing director Jerry Colangelo and head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Durant said he made the commitment to Krzyzewski late Tuesday night, while Love officially made his announcement during the news conference. Both were members of the United States men’s national basketball team that won the gold medal in the 2010 world championships and last year in the London Olympics.
Greg Monroe is not concerned with trade rumors and said it’s mostly foolish, from Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated: “I have a very close relationship, as do most players who play for the Pistons, with the front office,” Monroe said. “They communicate with us very well. … There’s always going to be speculation, people are going to make up stuff, they’re going to hear stuff, they’re going to write it. I don’t worry about it. I’m very happy being a Piston and I hope they’re very happy with me. As far as I know, they like me…. “I think neither of us want a change,” Monroe said of his standing with the Pistons. “People are going to write stuff. I just laugh at it most of the time, because it’s foolish. That’s how people get paid nowadays. Guys like us have to live with it because we can’t comment on it. It’s going to happen. As long as I know the truth, I’m fine with it.”
Mark Cuban resents the idea of people forgetting about Dirk Nowitzki, from Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas: “If there’s one missing piece between what everyone is saying and what we’re doing, everybody, I think, has dismissed Dirk — like Dirk is done and he’s on the downside and he can’t play anymore and he’s not the type of contributor that he was,” Cuban said during an appearance on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM’s Galloway and Company. “If you look at the mess that we had in terms of our guard play and basketball IQ, when Dirk came back and really got into gear, we beat a lot of good teams. I think we were at a 48- or 50-win clip. You put a much better set of players around him, and Dirk is in a situation where he doesn’t have to rush back. He’s had all summer to prepare his body and get ready.”… “Knock on wood, if we stay healthy, I think people are just missing Dirk in ways they shouldn’t,” Cuban said. “Like I’ve been telling him, Karl Malone won an MVP at 35 and there’s no reason why he can’t be considered in an MVP conversation at 35.
