Here’s how easy it looked to hit home runs at Great American Ball Park on Sunday: Todd Frazier lost his grip on the bat during a swing. The ball wound up in the seats anyway.INDIANAPOLIS – David West is fine with the late start to the NBA season.
Indiana’s new forward is one of the few players who benefited from the lockout. Last season, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a victory at Utah on March 24. The 31-year-old West had surgery April 12 and was told he’d need six to nine months to recover.
Thanks to the extended break, he will be ready in time for the start of the season.
“For a guy like me, it helped me,” the two-time All-Star said. “It would have been a lot of time missed. I just attacked my rehab and knew this lockout was looming.”
West agreed to a two-year deal with the Pacers on Sunday that his agent, Lance Young, said was worth $20 million.
The two-time All-Star was drafted 18th overall by New Orleans in 2003 and he started 70 games for the Hornets last season.
West, who trained in Raleigh, N.C., said it was a challenge rehabbing without the help of a team. He said he is ready to show he can produce like last season, when he averaged 18.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
Pistons center gets probation
Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace was sentenced to a year of probation but avoided jail time on drunken driving and gun possession charges that stemmed from a September traffic stop in suburban Detroit. Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Shalina Kumar also sentenced Wallace to 30 hours of community service.
Nuggets hang on to to center
Denver re-signed Nene to a five-year deal, keeping the unrestricted free agent through 2015-16. The Denver Post first reported that the Brazilian center agreed to a contract that could be worth up to $67 million.
Around the league
Free agent center Kwame Brown agreed to terms on a one-year, $7 million contract with Golden State. … Phoenix waived guard Zabian Dowdell, signed guard Ronnie Price and added forward Marcus Landry. … New Jersey signed free agent forward Shelden Williams. … Milwaukee re-signed free agent Luc Richard Mbah a Moute to a multiyear contract. … A person with knowledge of the situation said Utah officials are meeting with free-agent small forward Josh Howard in North Carolina. … The Los Angeles Lakers signed veteran guard Gerald Green and rookie free-agent forward Malcolm Thomas. … Minnesota traded forward Lazar Hayward to Oklahoma City for two conditional second-round draft picks and guard Robert Vaden. … Denver acquired Rudy Fernandez and Corey Brewer from Dallas for a future second-round pick.
