News briefs: T-Wolves sign Livingston as Brandon insurance
SportsLine.com wire reports
MINNEAPOLIS -- Concerned with the status of point guard Terrell Brandon, the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday signed Randy Livingston and inked Marcus Taylor, a second-round pick in the 2002 draft.
Recurring knee problems will probably shelve Brandon for most of the preseason and the Timberwolves recently signed point guard Troy Hudson, a backup with the Orlando Magic last season.
A six-year NBA veteran, Livingston averaged 3.2 points in 13 games with the Seattle SuperSonics last season. He saw his most extensive action with the Phoenix Suns in 1999-00, averaging 4.8 points and 2.2 assists in 79 games. Full story
Jackson would consider coaching in Olympics
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson would consider coaching the United States at the 2004 Olympics.
Jackson spoke about the Olympics after Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal said a day earlier he would play only if Jackson coached the U.S. team.
"That puts me in a tickly spot, wouldn't it? The Olympics are a different matter," Jackson said.
"The NBA has picked good coaches in the past, guys that have had track records in this league that have had success," he added. "A lot of it has to do with the players learning how to play together."
Nuggets get White from Pistons
DENVER -- Rodney White isn't disappointed about being traded to one of the league's worst teams of the past few years. He sees it as an opportunity to finally show that he can play in the NBA.
The Detroit Pistons sent White to the Denver Nuggets for a conditional first-round draft choice, forward Don Reid and Chinese center Menk Bateer.
"You look at last year and I really didn't get a chance to show what I could do at all," White said. "I believe (Nuggets GM) Kiki Vandeweghe believes in my skills and it's almost a breath of fresh air to know that this team expects big things out of me."
Wizards get Simmons back
WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Bobby Simmons is back with the Washington Wizards.
Less than three weeks after they traded Simmons to the Detroit Pistons, the Wizards signed the small forward.
Terms were not disclosed.
Simmons was sent to the Pistons along with Richard Hamilton and Hubert Davis in a blockbuster trade that brought Jerry Stackhouse to Washington on September 11. Simmons was waived by the Pistons last Tuesday.
"We are excited to have Bobby Simmons back with us at training camp," Wizards general manager Wes Unseld said. "He is a hard-working young man who we're obviously very familiar with."
Simmons played in 30 games for the Wizards last season, averaging 3.7 points.
