Tony Allen said playing behind Paul Pierce prevented him from showcasing his abilities, from Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman: “He’s 31 and settled, at the perfect place in his career, recently signed to a four-year, $20 million extension with the Grizzlies. It was a well-earned payday that comes on the heels of his second consecutive All-Defensive First Team nod, an award he gladly gloats about. “Been a long time coming,” Allen said. “I felt my first six years in the league, I played behind Paul Pierce. I wasn’t really able to let the world see my attributes that I bring to the table. But I’ve just been working and now I’m in a great situation, as far as my team, as far as my contract, my life and all I could do now is eat, sleep and work on defense. So it’s fun to me, any time I get an award like that.”
Andrei Kirilenko explained why he gave up so much money to join the Brooklyn Nets and says he has no regrets, from Stefan Bondy of Daily News: “Why’d you give up so much money? I opted out not because I wanted to sign with the Nets. At that time, I wanted to be in Minnesota for a long time. But there was a change in Minnesota. I respect Flip Saunders decision, but he decided not to sign me for a long time. I can’t do anything about that. Regrets about opting out? No, I don’t have any regrets… But all the details, which is –coach, roster, money, goals, city. You kind of combine all those things together and you try to find the optimal option for me, for my family. At this point, the Brooklyn Nets was the best option possible if you combined all those things. …I understand the money is not that great, it’s not what I could have made… But it’s a great chance and it’s the first time in my career where I’m basically starting the season when I know we have a chance to win the whole thing.”
Seth Curry would love to play for the Charlotte Bobcats, from DeAntae Prince of Sporting News: “For Seth Curry, son of a former Hornets sharpshooter, nothing would be better than to stay in Charlotte and play for the hometown Bobcats. “It’s my home,” Curry said. “This is where I grew up. I would love to come back here and play.” Although his preference is obvious, there is no certainty Curry will end up with the Bobcats, who will become the Hornets again in 2014-15. Curry is set to workout for the Bobcats in August, after passing up their Summer League offer and missing draft workouts because of a stress fracture in his right shin that required surgery. He already has training camp invites from the Wolves, Spurs and Warriors… “They have a lot of guys who can slash and create,” Curry said of the Bobcats. “They have a few shooters, guys who can not down shots consistently, but I think they need more shooters. I can fill that role and be a guard who comes off the bench and scores.”
Antawn Jamison said he rushed into making the decision to join the Los Angeles Lakers last season, from Prince of Sporting News: “I think last year, getting the opportunity to play for the Lakers and their organization, I really jumped into it,” Jamison said. “Didn’t really view my options, but this year I really want to make sure I’m going to the right situation, where I have a good rapport with the coaching staff and also with management I’m able to communicate and get an understanding of what they want from me. “Because it looks good on paper doesn’t mean it’s the perfect fit, so I really want to make sure the next team I go to, whether it’s a one- or two-year deal, that it’s a really good fit and we have a understanding with each other as well. That’s why you really have to take your time and key into what’s best not just for me but for my family as well.”… “It was fun,” Jamison said. “There was just a lot of unnecessary nonsense that really prevented us from accomplishing what we could have accomplished. Of course you can’t do anything with injuries and the coaches being fired…”
- Here are a list of teams interested in signing Jamison: “As he did when he chose to sign a one-year veteran’s minimum deal with the Lakers last summer, Jamison has suitors. The Bulls, Clippers, Grizzlies and Bobcats have all showed interest in the 37-year-old free agent, who believes he has a couple more years left of competing at a high level.”
Greg Oden will pick his new team by Friday, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports: “Free-agent center Greg Oden will decide Friday where he will play next season, a league source toldYahoo! Sports. Oden has met with the Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings,Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics. He worked out for the Heat, Pelicans and Kings in his hometown of Indianapolis on July 23. Oden was most intrigued by the Heat and the Pelicans, a league source said. The Celtics, who recently signed free agent Brazilian center Vitor Faverani, are no longer interested in adding Oden.”
- An NBA executive was impressed with what he saw from Greg Oden during a recent workout, from Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld: “He’s moving very well,” the executive said of Oden. “He’s definitely coming along. You can tell that he has worked very hard to get to this point.” The executive spoke on condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the workout. Teams in the mix for Oden understand that he will have to be eased back into the NBA, playing some reserve minutes here and there before taking on an increased workload. Even if Oden is a shell of his former self in his reserve minutes, the hope is that a limited Oden is still better than many reserve big men in the league.”
- Will Bynum had 50 points in the Chi League Pro Am:
James Park is the chief blogger of Sheridan Hoops. You can find him on twitter @SheridanBlog.