NBA Roundup: Buss says Howard never a Laker
Los Angeles Lakers co-owner Jim Buss told the Hollywood Reporter that former center Dwight Howard never fit in with the team.
The Lakers attempted to re-sign Howard in July, but he decided to sign a free agent deal with the Houston Rockets instead. Some in Howard's camp and Lakers co-owner Jeanie Buss believe that the Lakers could have re-signed Howard. Jeanie Buss has said her father, Dr. Jerry Buss, who died in February, would have convinced Howard to stay if he were still alive.
"He was never really a Laker," Jim Buss said. "He was just passing through."
---The Memphis Grizzlies acquired center Fab Melo from the Boston Celtics for forward Donte Greene on Thursday.
Melo, a 7-footer, averaged 1.2 points in six games last season. In 33 NBA D-League games, he averaged 9.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and a league-high 3.1 blocks in 26.2 minutes per game for the Maine Red Claws. He was drafted No. 22 overall by the Celtics in 2012 out of Syracuse.
Greene signed with Memphis in April. He missed most of last season while recovering from a fractured ankle. He spent his first four seasons with the Sacramento Kings, averaging 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 253 career games.
---The NBA released its 2013 preseason schedule Thursday, which kicks off Oct. 5 in Istanbul.
Part of the 2013-14 NBA Global Games, eight teams will play eight preseason contests in eight cities as part of the 116-game preseason schedule.
The Oklahoma City Thunder play Fenerbahce Ulker of Turkey at Ulker Sports Arena in Istanbul in the opener.
Other preseason games will be played in: Beijing and Shanghai, China; Bilbao, Spain; Manchester, England; Manila, Philippines; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Taipei.
All eight international games will be televised on NBA TV.
