NBA Notes: Cavaliers' Isaiah Thomas to Miss Start of Season, Maybe Much Longer

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Isaiah Thomas beamed as he held up his new No. 3 Cavs jersey for the first time.

There's no telling when he'll wear it in a game.

Stunned by Boston's decision to trade him to Cleveland as part of a package for Kyrie Irving, Thomas chose not to share much information Thursday about a hip injury that ended his inspirational playoff run last season and will sideline him for the start of this season -- and probably a lot longer.

At his introductory news conference, Thomas quickly deferred specific questions about his hip to new Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman, who said the team has a rehab plan in place for the All-Star point guard.

"We're not going to rush it at all," said Altman, who quickly grew tired of questions about Thomas' health. "The goal is to bring him back at some point this year and be healthy and compete and get back to IT status. That's our goal and our responsibility to him. We're not going to comment on the injury and we're not going to comment on a timetable" (see full story).

NBA: Group seeking Seattle team says it would build 2 arenas
SEATTLE -- An investment group that wants to build a sports arena for professional basketball and possibly hockey has offered to also rebuild KeyArena, the former home of Seattle's departed NBA franchise.

The move Thursday by the group led by investor Chris Hansen is the latest in the long-running debate over building a new arena. Hansen wants to privately build a facility in an area that's home to venues for the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners.

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The City Council has so far refused to grant him use of a city street necessary for construction of the project.

Hansen's group says it would rebuild KeyArena after building the other facility, preserving it as a concert venue.

The council will review a proposal next week by another group for a privately financed renovation of city-owned KeyArena. Plans for the remodel would bring the building up to standards that could attract an NHL or NBA franchise once completed.

NBA: No contest plea entered in pie attack on Johnson
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A man accused of hitting Kevin Johnson in the face with a coconut cream pie when he was mayor of Sacramento, California, has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor disturbing the peace.

The Sacramento Bee reports that activist Sean Thompson was sentenced Thursday to two days' time already served in jail after prosecutors agreed to the lesser charge.

Thompson had been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery.

The pie attack occurred at a charity event a year ago. Johnson, a former NBA star, responded by punching Thompson.

Prosecutors initially charged Thompson with felony assault, but a judge declared a mistrial after jurors could not reach a verdict.

Johnson is no longer mayor.

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