Gordon Hayward Expects Jazz to Improve

Hayward has high hopes for the Jazz. He believes his personal progression mirrors the Jazz’s improvement trajectory — in part because of how many solid players are loaded into each position.
“I expect us to do better than we did last year,” he said, reflecting back on a better-than-expected 36-30 record and first-round playoff appearance in the lockout-shortened campaign.
“I think as a player you kind of want to improve both as a team and individually from year to year,” Hayward added. “I’ve done that from my rookie to sophomore year. Hopefully I’ll do that again this year. Same goes for the team. We missed playoffs first year (39-43 in 2010-11), made it barely the second year, so this year needs to be better than that.”

NBA Returning to Seattle?

The Seattle City Council is expected to approve a deal Monday that would help build an arena to bring NBA and NHL teams to the city.
Members of the council have indicated they’re ready to sign off on investor Chris Hansen’s plan to build a $490 million arena near the Seahawks and Mariners stadiums in the SoDo area, south of downtown. The plan calls for $200 million in public investment.
Changes in the plan still must be approved by the King County Council, and it must pass an environmental review. But, Hansen says city approval will allow him to start looking for a team that would replace the Sonics. After four decades in Seattle, the Sonics were moved to Oklahoma City in 2008 and became the Thunder.

Trail Blazers’ Invite Adam Morrison to Camp

Six years after “Draft the Stache,”Adam Morrison finally will be given the chance to play for the Trail Blazers.

Morrison will attend the Blazers’ training camp as a nonroster invite, according to an NBA source, and will be given the chance to fight for a regular season roster spot with the team. The one-time college star and No. 3 overall pick of the 2006 NBA draft will highlight an unannounced list of nonroster invites when camp opens Oct. 2.

Morrison, 28, has not played in an NBA game since appearing in the playoffs with the Los Angeles Lakers on April 27, 2010. He was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats with much fanfare out of Gonzaga, but his collegiate success never transferred to the NBA, in part because he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee.

The Blazers’ roster features 15 players — the maximum allowed by the NBA — but not all 15 have guaranteed contracts. If Morrison shows new GM Neil Olshey and new coach Terry Stotts he still has some NBA game left, it’s possible Morrison could make the Blazers’ regular season roster.

Brooklyn Nets sign Josh Childress

The Nets, for the second straight day, announced an addition to their frontcourt. General manager Billy King, through a statement released by the club, said Josh Childress, a 6-8 forward, has signed. Terms of the contract were not released.
Childress played 34 games last season for the Phoenix Suns last season, averaging 2.9 points and 2.8 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game.

NBA BEATS -  Can not believe this guy still has a job in the NBA. I live in the Phoenix area. So I saw him a  play for the Suns whenever he got on the court. Which was not often. Was not impressed at all. Happy to see him go.

McGrady Works Out For Spurs, Knicks

Still searching for an NBA franchise willing to guarantee a contract for next season, seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady worked out for the San Antonio Spurs this week at the team’s practice facility, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Next up for McGrady on Thursday is a workout for the New York Knicks, league sources said.
Time is running out for the 33-year-old McGrady to secure a guaranteed contract for the season. Sources say he will likely have to choose between accepting a “make-good” training-camp invite or going overseas – perhaps to China.
The Spurs have brought several players to San Antonio to evaluate over recent weeks, and have yet to make a decision on whether McGrady could possibly fit into the team’s plans this season. The Knicks have discussed the possibility of adding another perimeter scoring threat, and want to evaluate McGrady for a possible return. McGrady played 24 games in 2010 with the Knicks

Derrick Rose Begins Shooting, Jumping

Roughly four months after doctors repaired the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, Derrick Rose said he started jumping “a couple of days ago” and remains encouraged by his rehabilitation process.
“Recovery has been good,” Rose said Thursday at a promotional event for Adidas. “I’m rehabbing five times a week. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we do lower and upper body and bike workouts. I’m starting to shoot now. I’m starting to jump a little. I’m seeing improvement every week.”

Knicks Add Shurna, Three Others to Camp

The Knicks signed four players Tuesday – guard Oscar Bellfield, forwards John Shurna and Mychel Thompson and center Henry Sims – to help round out their training camp roster.
The biggest name among the four is Shurna, who starred for four years at Northwestern, finishing with a school record 2,038 points and averaging 20.0 points per game as a senior. The Post reported in Tuesday’s paper that Shurna’s deal is partially guaranteed.