And-Ones: Dorsey, Skiles, D-League

Former Rockets and Nuggets power forward Joey Dorsey has had issues with Galatasaray coach Ergin Ataman, but he remains committed to the Turkish team, international journalist David Pick writes for Sportando. Dorsey, who inked a one-year pact with Galatasaray in August after reaching a buyout arrangement with Denver, has been heavily recruited by the Greek club Olympiacos, but he intends to stay in Turkey, Pick notes. “Dorsey was almost out of the team, but his last couple of games have been great. He is more committed,” a Galatasaray insider said to Pick.

Regarding his decision to remain with Galatasaray, Dorsey said, “‘Where is the old Dorsey At?’ This is what they been saying all over the news and in the newspaper here overseas. I’m overweight and out of shape and lazy in practice. It hurt me so bad when I heard this, first of all I wanted to leave the team ’cause it was problems and guys being selfish, and after talking to coach nothing changed, so I said [expletitve] it, but after talking to [Vassilis] Spanoulis [who plays for Olympiacos], it wasn’t professional to let my fans down and not play good so I’m dedicating this year to the fans of Galatasaray.”

Here’s more from around pro basketball:

• The Hawks have assigned Tim Hardaway Jr. and Edy Tavares to the D-League, Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports (via Twitter). This will be Hardaway’s first trip to the D-League of the season and Tavares’ second. Both players will be assigned to the Canton Charge, the Cavs‘ affiliate, since Atlanta does not have its own D-League team, Vivlamore adds.
• A third key players union executive hired since executive director Michele Roberts came aboard has resigned, reports Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (Twitter links). Evie Goldstein, the director of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, is the latest to depart, according to Berger, joining former COO Domonique Foxworth and former communications director Tara Greco.
• Magic coach Scott Skiles was hired to improve the team’s discipline and defense, but he’s made a significant impact on Orlando’s offense thus far, Brett Koremenos of RealGM writes. With the team’s personnel largely unchanged from 2014/15, much of the credit should go to Skiles, who has improved the Magic’s execution, resulting in more efficient possessions on the offensive end, Koremenos notes.