Category: In the News

Cory Joseph joins Canadian team for FIBA championships

Spurs No. 1 draft pick and former Texas standout point guard Cory Joseph will join the Canadian National Team for the FIBA Americas tournament in Argentina. 

The Toronto Star reports that in the second phase of its training, which will begin Friday at Ryerson University in Toronto.

“It’s an honor to play for your country and I’m excited to get on the floor and represent Canada as best as I can,” Joseph told the Star. “I know we have a young, great group, with Joel (Anthony), (Carl) English and (Andy) Rautins coming in.

“Hopefully we come back with the gold, but if not, qualify for the Olympics.”

Joseph, who averaged 10.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists for Texas last season as a freshman. He was a surprise choice for the second of two Spurs No. 1 draft picks at No. 29 after being pegged by most draft analysts as a likely second-round selection.

The Canadian team will begin its competition with two exhibition games against Belgium later this week. 

The international play can only help Joseph, who will benefit from playing against the international level of talent he will face at the FIBAs. That work should also help him develop as he attempts to earn playing time as a rookie behind Tony Parker at point guard for the Spurs once the lockout ends.

The Spurs need somebody to fill in behind Parker. The trade of George Hill and Chris Quinn’s decision to play in Russia have left them with a void.

Joseph will have a chance for playing time in his rookie season if he’s ready for it.

Spurs’ Green headed abroad

Danny Green, the second-year swingman who finished last season with the Spurs, is headed to Europe.

Joining a swelling parade of NBA players poised to spend the lockout abroad, Green has agreed to a contract with Slovenian basketball league champion Union Olimpija.

The deal is believed to include an opt-out clause that would allow Green to return to the NBA after the lockout is over, where he would be a free agent. Green, 24, appeared in eight games over two stints with the Spurs last season, and also made four postseason appearances.

In May, before the lockout began, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich spoke of Green as a player the team was eager to bring to training camp.

“I like his willingness to let it fly,” Popovich said then. “I put him in some games here and there towards the end of the season and, bam, he didn’t have any problem. He showed a little bit of head for the game. I like what I saw.”

Green is the second player off the Spurs’ 2010-11 roster to flee overseas, joining Chris Quinn, the backup point guard who last month signed a deal to play in Russia.

Stern reportedly not accepting massive salary during lockout

After undergoing heavy criticism over the last several days about his multi-million dollar salary, NBA commissioner David Stern reportedly will not be paid during the lockout.

ESPN.com reports that during the lockout that has been estimated up to $23 million per year. His contract reportedly rivals that of almost all of his players.

That massive salary earned a rebuke from Philadelphia center Spencer Hawes, who wondered in a tweet how while his players are locked out.

Stern earlier hinted that he wouldn’t accept a salary if there was a lockout.

Responding to a question at the time about whether he would drop his salary to $1 as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell did during the NFL’s lockout, Stern said: “I would say that last time (during the NBA’s 1998-99 lockout) I didn’t take a salary. I think a dollar would be too high in the event of a work stoppage.”

In the battle of public perception, leaking the fact that Stern will not be paid is good public relations for the league.

But the fact that he is paid a yearly salary commensurate with the very best players in the league makes some of the owners’ claims of poverty in the negotiations ring a little hollow.