Day: July 10, 2008

Warriors sign Ronny Turiaf to offer sheet

The Golden State Warriors have signed restricted free agent forward Ronny Turiaf to an offer sheet, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the offer sheet were not announced.  Under the rules of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, the Los Angeles Lakers have seven days (through Thursday, July 17) to match the Warriors’ offer.

Turiaf, 25, appeared in 78 games (21 starts) last season with the Lakers, averaging 6.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.38 blocks in 18.7 minutes per contest.  In the 35 contests in which he played 20-or-more minutes last season, he averaged 10.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.14 blocks.

A native of the French Caribbean island of Martinique, Turiaf ranked fifth in the NBA in blocked shots per 48 minutes played (3.56) and ranked 22nd in the league in blocked shots overall despite limited playing time.

A three-year NBA veteran, Turiaf owns career averages of 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.13 blocks and 15.6 minutes in 173 regular-season games with the Lakers.  The 6’10’’ 250-pound graduate of Gonzaga University has shot 50.4% (350-695 FG) from the field and 70.3% (244-347 FT) from the free throw line during his career.

NBA suspends JamesOn Curry one game

 JamesOn Curry of the Chicago Bulls has been suspended  without  pay  for one  game for pleading guilty to resisting or obstructing  an  officer  and public urination, in violation of the laws of State of Idaho and City of Boise, respectively, the NBA announced today.

Curry  will  be suspended  for  the first game of the 2008-09 NBA regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.

NBA suspends Brad Miller five games

The NBA announced today that Brad Miller of the Sacramento  Kings  has been  suspended  without  pay  for  five games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.  Miller’s suspension will  begin with the first game of the 2008-09 NBA regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.

Wizards sign Dee Brown to offer sheet

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed restricted free agent point guard Dee Brown to an offer sheet.  Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.  The Utah Jazz will now have seven days to match the Wizards’ offer under the terms of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“Dee is a player who can bring quickness and energy to our team” said Grunfeld. “We like that he gives us depth and a different look at the point guard position.”

Brown (6-0, 185) played last season for Galatasaray Café Crown in Turkey, where he averaged 12.3 points per game.  He was originally drafted by Utah with the 46th overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft and averaged 1.9 points and 1.7 assists in 49 games for the Jazz during the 2006-07 season.  Brown is a product of the University of Illinois, where he finished his four-year career as the winningest player in school history (114 games, 114-23 overall record) and helped lead the Illini to the NCAA Championship Game as a junior in 2005.

Clippers renounce rights to five players

The Los Angeles Clippers today renounced their rights to free agents Dan Dickau, Shaun Livingston, Boniface Ndong, Smush Parker and James Singleton.

Per the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, a renounced player no longer counts toward team salary, so teams use renouncement to gain additional cap room.  After renouncing a player, the team is still permitted to re-sign such player, but the team must either have enough salary cap room to fit the salary, or sign the player using the Minimum Salary exception.  After renouncing a player, a team can still trade the player in a sign-and-trade agreement.

Warriors sign Corey Maggette

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent forward Corey Maggette to a contract, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.

Maggette, 28, appeared in 70 games (65 starts) last season with the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 22.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.01 steals in 35.7 minutes per contest.  He ranked 11th in the NBA in scoring, fourth in free throws made and sixth in free throws attempted, while shooting 45.8% (458-1,000 FG) from the field, 38.4% (78-203 3FG) from three-point range and 81.2% (553-681 FT) from the line.  Maggette, who established a new career high in three-point percentage last season, scored 30-or-more points eight times and tallied 20-or-more points 43 times – including in 38 of his final 44 games played.

“We are really excited to add a player of Corey’s ability to our team,” said Mullin.  “He’s been one of the most productive players in our league for the last several years and provides us with additional versatility and veteran leadership.”

A nine-year NBA veteran who has spent the last eight seasons with the Clippers, Maggette owns career averages of 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 29.1 minutes in 589 games with Orlando and Los Angeles.  The 6’6’’ 225-pound Maggette, who has averaged more than 20 points per game and led the Clippers in scoring three times in the last five seasons, had his finest NBA campaign in 2004-05, establishing career highs in scoring (22.2 ppg), rebounding (6.0 rpg) and assists (3.4 apg).  A career 81.9% shooter from the free throw line, the Duke University product has shot better than 80% from the stripe in each of the last seven seasons, while also ranking in the NBA’s top-five in free throws made and top-10 in free throws attempted in four of the last five seasons.

Maggette will wear uniform #50.

Magic sign Mickael Pietrus

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard-forward Mickael Pietrus (MY-kel PEET-rus), General Manager Otis Smith announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

“Mickael brings versatility and athleticism to our roster,” said Smith.  “He is a solid defender who will fit in very well with our team.  We are excited to add Mickael and feel he can help us reach our ultimate goal.”

Pietrus (6”6”, 215, 2/7/82) played in 66 games (16 starts) last season with Golden State, averaging 7.2 ppg., 3.7 rpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 20.0 minpg.  He also shot .361 (66-183) from three-point range.  Pietrus scored in double figures 22 times, including a season-high 23 points on Feb. 29 vs. Philadelphia, and recorded three double-doubles.

Selected in the first round (11th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft by Golden State, Pietrus has appeared in 310 career NBA regular season games, all with the Warriors, averaging 8.6 ppg. and 3.4 rpg. in 21.0 minpg.  He has also played in 11 career playoff games, averaging 6.0 ppg. and 3.8 rpg. in 19.0 minpg.

Prior to competing in the NBA, Pietrus played professionally in France for four seasons with Pau Orthez (PO OR-tez), making his pro debut at the age of 17.  He played in 130 career games in both the French Pro-A League and the Euroleague, he averaged 8.6 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 1.7 apg.  Pietrus played for the French National Team at the 2006 FIBA World Championships.

Nets move to Brooklyn taking forever

The New York Daily News (Julian Garcia) reports: The Nets are still scheduled to move to Brooklyn. But as for exactly when that will happen, not even owner Bruce Ratner can say. At the press conference to introduce new players Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons Wednesday, Ratner acknowledged that the move, which in recent months had been pushed back to the start of the 2010-2011 season, may not occur until that season is already underway. Ratner said that the move could occur late in the year. Ratner’s spokesperson, Barry Baum, clarified the remarks, saying that the team has acknowledged for awhile that the move may not occur until the 2010 “calendar year” as opposed to before that season. “When (Ratner) says late in the year, he means late in 2010,” Baum said.