James Borrego to Be Named Associate Head Coach of New Orleans Pelicans

James Borrego is reportedly headed to Louisiana…

The New Orleans Pelicans are hiring the 45-year-old Mexican American professional basketball coach as associate head coach, according to ESPN.

James BorregoBorrego, who was the head coach for the Charlotte Hornets from 2018 to 2022, turned down several other opportunities to be a top assistant to take the job with the Pelicans, sources said.

The Pelicans will also retain assistant coach Jarron Collins, who was head coach Willie Green‘s top assistant the past two seasons, sources said. Collins was one of the final candidates for the head-coaching vacancy for the Detroit Pistons.

New Orleans had an open position on the coaching staff after assistant Ryan Pannone left earlier this spring to take a spot on the Alabama men’s basketball coaching staff.

Borrego and Green, who just completed his second season as the Pelicans’ head coach, have history together. Borrego spent two seasons as an assistant coach in New Orleans, from 2010 to 2012, when the team was still known as the Hornets. Green played for New Orleans in the 2010-11 season.

Following his stint in New Orleans, Borrego went to Orlando, where he spent 2012 to 2015 as an assistant for the Magic. During the 2014-15 season, Borrego served as the interim head coach. That season was also Green’s only year playing for Orlando and his final season as a player.

The Pelicans are eager to incorporate Borrego’s offensive philosophy into a lineup that will feature Zion WilliamsonBrandon Ingram and CJ McCollum next season. While injuries played a major part, the Pelicans finished 20th in offensive rating last season and were second to last in 3-pointers attempted per game.

During his final season in Charlotte, Borrego’s Hornets were sixth in the league in 3s attempted, eighth in offensive rating and fifth in the league in pace.

Borrego led the Hornets to a 43-39 record in 2021-22 and back-to-back trips to the play-in tournament but was let go in April 2022.

Anderson Varejão Returning to Cleveland Cavaliers in Player Development Role

Anderson Varejão is heading back to Cleveland…

One of the most popular players in Cleveland Cavaliers’ history, the 40-year-old Brazilian former professional basketball player has been hired as a player development consultant and global ambassador for the team that he played with for 14 NBA seasons.

Anderson Varejão Known for his hustle and frizzy hair, Varejão, affectionately nicknamed “Wild Thing” for his rambunctious playing style, was with the Cavaliers from 2004 to 2015.

He spent two seasons with the Golden State Warriors before the center returned to Cleveland after a three-year break from the NBA.

He retired after playing five games in the 2020-21 season.

Varejão had stayed connected to the organization, making periodic appearances at practices and games.

In his new role, Varejão will help develop players on the floor while also working with coaches and front-office members during the season. The Brazil native will also travel to broaden the team’s global reach, especially in Latin America.

“Andy embodies all that the city of Cleveland stands for and beyond, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring his experience, leadership and character back into the Cleveland Cavaliers family,” said Koby Altman, the Cavaliers’ president of basketball operations. “His infectious work ethic and commitment to our community have earned him his rightful place in the fabric of this organization and all of Northeast Ohio, and his impact on the game internationally will benefit our global outreach.”

The Cavaliers plan to honor Varejão with a halftime presentation during their Jan. 21 game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

“I am thrilled and honored once again to be a formal part of the Cavaliers family,” Varejão said. “This is a unique opportunity to start a new chapter of my life with the team I love and in the city I love.”

Varejão was a key member on two 60-win teams in Cleveland. He averaged 7.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in 596 games for the Cavaliers, who acquired him in a 2004 trade with the Orlando Magic.

In 2012-13, Varejão averaged a career-best 14.4 rebounds per game, and he ranks in the top 10 in several offensive categories for the Cavaliers.

Juan Toscano-Anderson to Take Part in NBA’s AT&T Slam Dunk Contest

Juan Toscano-Anderson is preparing for a slammin’ time…

The 28-year-old Mexican-American professional basketball player and Golden State Warriors forward  has been selected to participate in the NBA’s 2022 AT&T Slam Dunk.

Juan Toscano-AndersonThe competition will take place on Saturday, February 19 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.

The AT&T Slam Dunk is part of State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, which also features the Taco Bell Skills Challenge and the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest.

All-Star Saturday Night will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio at 5:00 pm PT.

Toscano-Anderson is averaging 4.6 points on 49.2 percent from the field to go with 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 15.0 minutes over 52 games (five starts) this season.

The third-year forward is just the fourth player in franchise history to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest, joining Harrison Barnes (2014), Jason Richardson (2002-04) and Otis Smith (1988).

Richardson won the event in 2002 and 2003. Toscano-Anderson, who played four years at Marquette University from 2011-15, is set to become the fourth player not selected in the NBA Draft to compete in the AT&T Slam Dunk since 2000, joining Chris Andersen, Derrick Jones Jr. and Jamario Moon.

Joining Toscano-Anderson in the Dunk Contest are Cole Anthony (Orlando Magic), Jalen Green (Houston Rockets) and Obi Toppin (New York Knicks).

Arenas to Play Ball for the Shanghai Sharks

Gilbert Arenas is headed to The Middle Kingdom…

The 30-year-old part-Cuban American basketball star has signed on to play with the Chinese league’s Shanghai Sharks, whose owner and president is former NBA star Yao Ming.

Gilbert Arenas

Arenas, who previously played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards, has been negotiating with the Guangdong Southern Tigers but opted to sign with the Sharks, who nearly disappeared due to financial problems in 2009 and were saved by Yao.

Arenas’ signing adds quality to the league, which begins play on Saturday, and follows the signing of Tracy McGrady by the Qingdao Eagles.

McGrady, known as “T-Mac,” was a teammate of Yao’s with the Houston Rockets.

Arenas, known as “Agent Zero,” could make his debut in the opening tournament on Saturday, when the Sharks take on the defending champion Beijing Ducks, a team led by former NBA star Stephon Marbury.