NBA Franchise Notes: Heat Ban Social Media Use At Arena

Heat Players Not Allowed To Use Twitter During Practices, Games

The AP's Tim Reynolds reported Heat players "can no longer participate in social networking while at the arena, home or away." Many Heat players are "accomplished tweeters, often sending messages to each other at all hours of the day and night," but at practice or during games, it is "not allowed." Heat coach Erik Spoelstra: "That's the way we'll look at it when we're coming to practice, to shootarounds and to games. We're coming to work and we're coming to get a job done." Reynolds noted most Heat players who use Twitter said that they "expect to hit the send button less now anyway," as "two-a-day practices won't leave much time for anything" (AP, 9/28).

CULTURE CHANGE: In Boston, Gary Washburn noted T'Wolves GM David Kahn has "made a series of roster moves since taking over in May." Kahn: "I think what was kind of obvious to me after I was here for a few weeks, the team here, unfortunately I felt, had almost become irrelevant, which is worse than being bad." Washburn noted though the T'Wolves did not work out a deal for draft pick G Ricky Rubio, who instead signed with Spanish club Regal FC Barcelona "for at least two seasons, Kahn thinks they have changed the direction of the franchise." Kahn: "I think what we’re trying to establish is a brand-new culture of being incredibly hard-working, organized, and prepared" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/27).

PRO BONO WORK: In San Jose, Tim Kawakami noted Warriors coach Don Nelson, after working this and next season for $6M apiece, said that he will "work for free in 2011-12, if Chris Cohan remains the Warriors' owner and still wants Nelson around by then." Nelson: "Whatever it is, if it's coaching, I'll do that; if it's carrying bags, whatever, it doesn't matter. But I would give one year at the end of this just to kind of say thanks" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/26).

BOTTOM-LINE BOOST: Jazz President Randy Rigby said that the team is "investigating the possibility" of signing a practice jersey sponsor. In Salt Lake City, Ross Siler noted given the Jazz' "luxury-tax situation, you have to figure the team is exploring any and all potential options to increase revenue," and a practice jersey sponsor "can be worth six to seven figures annually" (SLTRIB.com, 9/28).

FASHION POINTS: The Bobcats this season are using blue uniforms as their primary road jerseys, replacing the orange jerseys the team has used since they began play in ’04. Bobcats F Gerald Wallace said of the new uniforms, "I like them. I'm glad we shied away from the bright orange, loud orange. It's kind of hard to get shoes to match" (WSOC-ABC, 9/28).