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Al Jefferson breaks into a wide, giddy smile and anxiously rubs his large hands together when he thinks about what he and the Charlotte Hornets might to able to accomplish this season.
As the Hornets opened training Tuesday in Asheville, N.C., Jefferson praised owner Michael Jordan and the team's front office for landing Lance Stephenson and Marvin Williams in free agency and drafting P.J. Hairston and Noah Vonleh — moves he feels will greatly benefit a team that went 43-39 last season but was swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Heat.
"They got the weapons we needed," Jefferson said.
Weapons the 6-foot-10, 289-pound center believes will help free him up from double teams in the low post — and give the team more scoring options if he kicks the ball back outside.
"I mean, I'm so happy about it I don't even want to talk about it because I feel like I might jinx it," Jefferson said. "I had a lot of fun last year once we got healthy — and I got healthy — and started rolling. This year I think it's going to be ten times better."It's hard to imagine the 29-year-old Jefferson being much better than last season — his first after leaving the Utah Jazz for a free-agent deal. After overcoming a sprained ankle in the preseason, Jefferson got better as the season went on earning Eastern Conference Player of the Month in March and April before an untimely foot injury limited him in the playoffs.
Jefferson finished with one of the most dominating seasons of his 10-year NBA career, averaging 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game — the only player in the East to average more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Wizards-Cavaliers rivalry heats up
Dormant for years, the rivalry between the Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers may be back.
After Wizards guard Bradley Beal proclaimed that he and John Wall were the best backcourt in the NBA, Cavs guard Dion Waiters voiced his opinion, saying he and Kyrie Irving were better.
"That's nonsense," Waiters said after practice on Tuesday. "He's supposed to say that, but I know deep down they're not messing with me and Ky. I think me and Ky are the best young backcourt."
It didn't take long for Wall to respond.
"They haven't seen a playoff game yet, so when they make one, they can start talking," Wall said, adding that Waiters hasn't been a starter.
There's a history between the Wizards and Cavs, who met in the playoffs from 2006-08. Cleveland won each series, but there was hostility between LeBron James and DeShawn Stevenson. Wizards center Brendan Haywood — now with the Cavs — was ejected for shoving James, and even rappers Jay-Z and Soulja Boy were involved.
Cleveland visits Washington on Nov. 21 and hosts the Wizards five days later.
Heat center has heart procedure
Miami Heat center Justin Hamilton is expected to be sidelined for about a month after undergoing a procedure to repair a common abnormal heart rhythm.
The team says a full recovery is expected.
Hamilton had a procedure Monday to repair what was diagnosed as an atrial flutter. The team says he will be sidelined for a few days, then go through about three weeks of non-contact exercise before returning.
He felt light-headed during a training camp practice and was evaluated, where the heart rhythm was detected.
Hamilton averaged 3.3 points in eight NBA games last season, seven of those coming with the Heat.