Bouncin' Around: Grgurich's Camp Going on Quietly in Las Vegas

Bouncin' Around is NBA FanHouse's weekly insider notebook.

NBA assistant coach Tim Grgurich is holding his annual summer camp in Las Vegas this week. And believe it, what happens at that camp is going to stay at that camp.

It's Grgurich's way.

About 60 NBA players -- from soon-to-be rookies to veterans -- are taking part in the camp, which is held in a high school gym. The camp also has become a showcase for rising assistant coaches, who just like players, are hoping to catch the eye of a GM or front office type. And there are plenty of them there.

Some of the players who have shown up so far this week: veterans Baron Davis, Kevin Love, Anthony Morrow, C.J. Watson, Eric Gordon and Javaris Crittenton; and recent draftees Brandon Jennings, Hasheem Thabeet, James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, Jonny Flynn and Austin Daye.

As always, there are no media or agents allowed at Grgurich's camp. The reason, according to most: Grgurich wants the camp's focus to be solely basketball. Grgurich, who just completed his fourth season as Nuggets assistant, hasn't spoken to the media in years.

Invariably, when discussing Grgurich's camp with any player, coach or executive familiar with it, you always seem to get a: "Don't use my name." Grgurich's unwillingness to talk to the media is known and respected by colleagues.

Grgurich has been an NBA assistant coach for 18 seasons, including 12 of them under George Karl

A quick history: Grgurich's Vegas camp began in the mid-1990s, when Grgurich used to head there in the summers to work out with Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp and Eric Snow. At the time, Grgurich was an assistant for the Sonics.

But the camp is said to have its roots in Oakland in the early 1990s, when Grgurich used to conduct individual workouts for Payton in the player's hometown. From there, Chris Mullin, Kemp and Tim Hardaway joined in.

One reason Grgurich's camp has become a destination for assistants is that many of them get an opportunity to perform "head coach" duties with pro players, and they get to do it in front of general managers and team presidents.

Mike Brown, Terry Stotts, Dwane Casey, Marc Iavaroni, John Kuester, among others, worked Grgurich's camp in the past as assistants.

Unlucky No. 5

Forward Shelden Williams is going to the Boston Celtics for the veteran's minimum of $1.3 million. It's a signing that serves as a reminder of just how bad the Williams' pick was for the Atlanta Hawks in 2006.

Williams, little more than a dirty work guy, was selected with the No. 5 pick by then-GM Billy Knight, immediately preceding Brandon Roy and Rudy Gay. Yes, there were some questionable picks after Williams (Patrick O'Bryant at No. 9 by the Warriors and Saer Sene at No. 10 by the Sonics), but No. 5 is No. 5.

And there were also plenty of players who could have helped much more than Williams ever did, later in the first, such as Kyle Lowry, Rajon Rondo and Jordan Farmar to name a few.

Plenty of backups in NY

The Knicks are in the middle of sorting out their point guard situation for the upcoming season. On Tuesday, they worked out the un-retired Jason Williams, hoping the 33-year-old still has something left.

The Knicks are also considering signing restricted free agent Ramon Sessions to an offer sheet. There's their own restricted free agent Nate Robinson. And, of course, there's Chris Duhon.

That's a lot of PGs but not a true starter in the bunch.

Three years and then some

Minnesota Timberwolves general manager David Kahn said a decision on the next coach likely won't come now until next week. Mark Jackson is considered the favorite, with Elston Turner and Kurt Rambis figuring in there somewhere.

Whoever wants that job might want to get three years on his deal because not much figures to change in Minnesota before then.

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz