ESPN: Friday Roundup (Courtney to Kings) [10/1/04]

#1
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1892859

Friday, October 1, 2004

Former Net brings playoff experience

Associated Press

Cleveland Cavaliers: Lucious Harris signed Friday with the Cavs, who hope the New Jersey Nets veteran can strengthen a backcourt weakened by injuries last season.

Harris is being counted on as a backup for shooting guard Eric Snow and point guard Jeff McInnis. The two were hurt late last season, and the backups did not play well in the Cavaliers' unsuccessful bid for a playoff spot.

"Signing Lucious continues our goal of adding quality, veteran players with playoff experience to our team," general manager Jim Paxson said.

Harris, 33, played in 69 games last season with the Nets, averaging 6.9 points and 2.0 assists in 21.8 minutes. In his 11-year career, he has played in 54 playoff games, including trips to the finals with the Nets in 2002 and 2003.

On Tuesday, the Cavaliers signed Scott Williams to a one-year contract to back up center Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers hired four assistants to work under new coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who retained Frank Hamblen from former coach Phil Jackson's staff.

Hamblen spent the past five seasons as a Jackson assistant, helping guide the Lakers to NBA titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He also worked under Jackson in Chicago, when the Bulls won titles in 1997 and '98. Hamblen is in his 35th season as a coach.

Larry Smith, who spent last season as an Hawks assistant, was part of Tomjanovich's staff in Houston for 10 years. He played 13 seasons in the NBA.

Mike Wells and Melvin Hunt were hired after spending last season with the Rockets. Wells was video coordinator for the team, while Hunt was a scout last season.

Chris Bodaken was promoted to the coaching staff after serving as the Lakers video coordinator for 11 seasons.

Tomjanovich was hired in July to replace Jackson. The Lakers open training camp Monday.


Sacramento Kings: Guard Courtney Alexander signed a one-year contract shortly before the start of training camp.

Alexander scored 7.9 points per game as a reserve with the Hornets last season.

Alexander was drafted 13th overall in the 2000 draft by the Mavericks. After a trade to Washington midway through his rookie season, he averaged 17.0 points over the last 27 games.


New York Knicks: Team president Isiah Thomas made two things perfectly clear: He can't stand Shandon Anderson, and he can't find a way to get rid of him.

"I've tried to trade him, and I will continue to try to trade him," Thomas said. "If I would have been lucky, it would have happened. But no."

Anderson, an eight-year veteran small forward, will join the team next week when training camp opens in Charleston, S.C.

But Thomas is trying to find a taker for a player owed $24 million over the next three seasons -- a steep price for a player who hasn't averaged more than 8.7 points over the past four seasons.

Anderson was angered last season when coach Lenny Wilkens kept him on the bench against the Hawks in late January, ending his streak of 543 consecutive games played. Anderson had purchased several dozen tickets for family and friends at that game in his hometown of Atlanta.

Anderson sat out the following game because of a migraine headache, then refused a request by the Knicks to go on the injured list.

Anderson is behind Tim Thomas on the Knicks' depth chart at small forward. Penny Hardaway and rookie Trevor Ariza also play that position, and newly acquired Jerome Williams could fill in there if necessary.


Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks have signed former Hampton University guard Tommy Adams. Terms were not disclosed.


Six-foot-3 Adams most recently played for the Jiangsu Dragons in China, and he spent 10 games last season with the Yakima Sun Kings in the Continental Basketball Association.

Adams finished his collegiate career seventh on Hampton's all-time scoring list with 1,597 points.