SH Blog: The latest news and rumors from around the NBA

A fantastic column from Phil Taylor on the still jobless Jason Collins: “NBA training camps open in less than three weeks, many rosters are all but set, and Collins, a 7-foot free-agent center who never had much trouble finding a team for each of the last 12 seasons, is still unemployed. Why? A number of reasons have been quietly offered by NBA personnel people: He’s too old (34), too limited offensively (he averaged just 1.1 points for the Celtics and Wizards last season) and too expensive. The minimum for a player with his experience is $1.4 million, a big salary for someone likely to play a few minutes per game at most. But being an aging, low-scoring center didn’t keep Collins from being signed last year, or the year before that. He has long been a typical end-of-the-bench veteran, valued as much for his professionalism and positive influence on teammates as for his toughness on the court. There is only one thing teams know about him now that they haven’t always known—that he’s gay. Is that why he’s still working out at home in Los Angeles, waiting for the phone to ring? It’s impossible to know for sure, but it’s also impossible to ignore the obvious question.”

Ex-Thunder guard, DeAndre Liggins, has been arraigned on charges: “Former Oklahoma City Thunder player DeAndre Liggins has been formally arraigned on numerous felony domestic violence charges. Defense attorney Tony Coleman says not guilty pleas were entered on Liggins’ behalf in Oklahoma County District Court on Friday. Liggins faces two counts of kidnapping, two counts of domestic assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, three counts of domestic abuse in the presence of a minor and one count of violating a protective order. Liggins is free on bond. Liggins was arrested Aug. 31 after his girlfriend told police he attacked her in front of their 2-year-old son. The Thunder waived the 24-year-old former Kentucky player on Sept. 6. He said after Friday’s hearing he ”loves Oklahoma fans” and the state of Oklahoma.”

Steve Clifford hopes that one of the bright spots for the Bobcats this year is their depth, including Cody Zeller: “Clifford says Jefferson instantly becomes the Bobcats’ best offensive weapon, a scoring big man teams will have no choice but to double-team in the post. The Bobcats haven’t had that type and quality of scorer before, and it’s Clifford’s job to find efficient ways to get him the ball. It’s also the coach’s charge to teach the other Bobcats how best to play off Jefferson, to punish defenses for helping on Jefferson. Clifford is excited both by Jefferson’s track record and Zeller’s potential. And he sees a breakthrough season for second-year pro Jeff Taylor.”

“He has a lot of physical ability, his basketball IQ is through the roof, he has great intangibles and he’s young. I don’t want to limit him in any way but I want him to progress at his own rate. I don’t want to put demands on him, because he’s so team-oriented he’d feel undue pressure. I’m going to watch him, let him be comfortable and see how he goes. For us to be good, he’s got to be a really big part of it. But he’s a young guy and I don’t think he needs undue demands.”

If you missed it earlier in the week, check out SheridanHoops’ preview of NBA Futures Market: “The dust has settled and the NBA offseason has officially hit its conclusion when it comes to the futures market. Before we start with a bit of analysis on how we got here and some of the changes that lead us to this point, let’s show you the complete changes between the NBA futures market on June 21st and the market on September 11th. For reference sake, NBA free agency did not begin until 12:01 a.m. July 1st.”

The T-Wolves are trying to get ahead of the game, and are already holding pre-camp workouts: “Chase Budinger, Dante Cunningham, Ronny Turiaf, Shabazz Muhammad, Gorgui Dieng, Lorenzo Brown and Robbie Hummel were all on hand Friday and participating in a 5-on-5 scrimmage. The chance to come in early allows rookies like Muhammad, Dieng and Brown to get familiar with the facilities and some of the training regimens prior to Training Camp. For guys like Budinger and Cunningham, it’s a way to get re-acquainted with the day-to-day grind. After a summer in all areas of the country, it’s their chance to come together and work out prior to heading down to Mankato. Some have been here for extended time. Dieng, for instance, has been in Minnesota for three weeks working out. After Summer League in July, he made stops in Senegal and Louisville before coming up to Minnesota for training. Others, like Turiaf, came into town this week and are getting their first workouts in here with the club.”

The Philadelphia 76ers are looking at former Cavaliers assistant and Pistons head coach John Kuester for an assistant role: “According to a report from Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski, ex-Sixers assistant and ex-Detroit Pistons head coach John Kuester “is the leading candidate to join Brett Brown’s staff as top assistant [with] the 76ers.” Kuester was formerly a Sixers assistant under Larry Brown from 1997-03 and rejoined the franchise for a season in 2005-06, Mo Cheeks’ first season in charge. After a college career at North Carolina, Kuester spent three seasons in the NBA from 1977-80 before moving into the coaching ranks at Richmond and later serving as an assistant to Rick Pitino at Boston University. He made the jump to the NBA in 1990 when the joined Brown’s Boston Celtics staff before following Brown to Philadelphia and later Detroit. Kuester, after spending two seasons working for Mike Brown with the Cavaliers, was hired as head coach by the Pistons in 2009 to replace — go figure — Doug Collins’ former assistant Michael Curry. But Kuester failed to turn around the franchise in two seasons, compiling a combined record of 57-107.”

JaVale McGee has a new website, this has to be good: “So what, you ask? Most celebrities do, anyways. Well, this one is notable for who it represents. It (re)launched today, and does not disappoint. Worth a solid ten-minute break from your workday, no question. Do you know JaVale’s height and weight at birth? Do you know his high school GPA? Did you know he feeds over 1,000 families at his annual Thanksgiving Day JaVale McGee Turkey Giveaway? No? Well, now you do! Conspicuously absent from the site, however, are the reasons for which JaVale is perhaps most well-known. The man is a human highlight reel with a (seemingly) ten-foot wingspan who plays as a conscience-void reincarnation of NBA Jam. If your name is George Karl or Brian Shaw, he’s frustratingly inconsistent – but if your name is Joe Fan, JaVale McGee is the most entertaining sideshow in the league.”