FreshHoops.com
The latest and freshest news from the world of the NBA.
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Chuck Person will be returning to the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant coach, according to Sam Amick.
Person was an assistant with the Lakers for the last two seasons, primarily brought in to help mentor his friend Ron Artest. He has since become somewhat of a defensive specialist on the team, and will be expected to continue that role for new head coach Mike Brown.
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The Phoenix Suns made a qualifying offer to Aaron Brooks. However, it seems that the Sacramento Kings are also interested in his services and may be making a pitch to him to convince him to join the team, according to New York Daily News.
The Kings are in need a of a point guard now that Beno Udrih has been traded and they see Brooks as a player capable of being able to fill that void.
Don’t be surprised if other teams come out and make offers to Brooks too. It would make sense for the Los Angeles Lakers to make him an offer as they are currently in need of a quicker, younger point guard to replace Derek Fisher in the starting line-up who can also shoot the three. Brooks ticks all the boxes there and could probably be had for all or part of the MLE (as long as the MLE still exists after the new CBA) - the lure of being a starter for the Lakers would also have to be interesting for Brooks.
He had a fairly quiet season last year after being traded from the Houston Rockets to the Phoenix Suns. He spent most of the year on the bench too. The year before however he had career numbers of 19.6 ppg and 5.6 apg as a starter.
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Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) signs with basketball team in Finland?
Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) has signed with a basketball team in Finland? Apparently so, according to a Finnish newspaper report:
“Finland’s top league Korisliiga will witness some serious NBA talent in September 2011, when Los Angeles Lakers forward/multipersonality Ron Artest will join league newcomer LoKoKo Loimaa.
“The 31-year old Artest has three years left in his Lakers contract, but that doesn’t seem to bother LoKoKo sports director Aleksi Valavuori, who backs up the rumor in Tuesday’s Ilta-Sanomat newspaper.
“We have sorted things out and I can happily confirm that Artest will arrive in Finland,” Valavuori states in the Ilta-Sanomat interview.
Thanks for IamaGM.com for the heads up on this one.
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Shannon Brown has officially opted-out of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers to become a free agent, Lakers.com confirms.
This was expected after Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak told reporters on the night of the draft that he thought Brown would opt-out. The move by Brown is most likely so he can get more money in a new contract. It is thought that a return to the Lakers in unlikely.
Brown will be able to explore free agency once the lockout is over. It is currently unclear how long the lockout will last.
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British boxer and current WBA World super lightweight champion Amir Khan said on Twitter that Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum “has the ability to be a heavyweight champ”. Bynum has been training with world famous boxing trainer Freddie Roach to stay in shape during the off-season.
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Kobe Bryant performs a regular two-handed dunk in Manila and the crowd reacts like he did a 720 reverse through-the-legs from the three point line line dunk.
The latest and freshest news from the world of the NBA.
