Month: July 2008

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.

Spurs to sign Roger Mason

The Washington Times (Mike Jones) reports: Roger Mason Jr. is cashing in on his career year with the Washington Wizards, signing a two-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs, Mason said in a phone conversation just a few minutes ago. Mason had been wooed by the Spurs last summer, but instead chose to sign a one-year $770,610 with the beleif that he could benefit from the continuity he had with the Wizards.

Bucks sign Luc Richard Mbah a Moute

The Milwaukee Bucks signed Luc Richard Mbah a Moute to a multi-year contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Mbah a Moute (6-8, 230 lbs) was the 37th overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft and will participate in the 2008 Las Vegas Summer League with the Bucks (July 12-20).

A native of Yaounde, Cameroon, Mbah a Moute played three seasons for the UCLA Bruins and left the school as the 15th leading rebounder with 775. In 107 games (106 starts) with the Bruins, Mbah a Moute averaged 8.7 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 50.3 percent from the field. As a junior he was named Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 and Honorable Mention All-Defensive Team as he produced 8.8 points and 6.0 rebounds (T-11th in the Pac-10). He has been a part of UCLA teams that reached the Final Four three consecutive years (2006-2008).

Mbah a Moute, pronounced Bah – ah – Moo-tay, will join Bucks first round draft pick Joe Alexander along with Ramon Sessions and Awvee Storey on the Bucks Summer League team. The five-game schedule kicks of Saturday against Memphis and includes games against Detroit (July 15), Denver (July 17), Minnesota (July 19) and Cleveland (July 20). Bucks.com will cover the all of Milwaukee’s Summer League action.

Heat sign Mario Chalmers

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed guard Mario Chalmers, the 34th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Chalmers, an early entry candidate after spending three seasons at the University of Kansas, was acquired by the HEAT in a draft day trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for two 2009 second round picks and cash considerations.

Chalmers was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 NCAA Tournament Final Four, and is a three-time Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection. He earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors in his junior season, and as a sophomore, was named Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and earned Third Team All-Conference honors.

During his three seasons as a Jayhawk, he averaged 12.2 points, 3.8 assists and 2.57 steals, while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from three-point range. He led the Big 12 in steals in all three of his seasons and currently ranks as the second all-time leader in Kansas history with 283 steals. He holds the single-season mark for steals in a season with 97, set during both his sophomore and junior seasons and also ranks sixth all-time in three-point field goals made (180), 12th in assists (420) and 24th in scoring (1,341).

Chalmers was born in Anchorage, Alaska and attended Bartlett High School. His cousin, Lionel Chalmers, played in the NBA with the L.A. Clippers. His other cousin, Chris Smith, played with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Nets sign Chris Douglas-Roberts

The New Jersey Nets have signed their second round selection in the 2008 NBA Draft, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

Douglas-Roberts, selected by the Nets in the second round with the 40th overall pick, was named Conference USA Player-of-the-Year and averaged 18.1 points and 4.1 rebounds during his junior year to help lead Memphis to the national championship game against Kansas.  The 6-7 guard was also named First Team All-American for the 2007-08 season.  In three seasons at Memphis, Douglas-Roberts averaged 14.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in 109 career games.

Bucks will sign Andrew Bogut to extension

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (Charles F. Gardner) reports: The Bucks are making a serious commitment to center Andrew Bogut, who will sign a five-year extension with salary and bonuses worth up to $72.5 million, according to agent David Bauman. Today is the first day for NBA free agents and players seeking extensions to sign contracts. The extension does not affect the $6.9 million he is owed for the coming season, the final year of his rookie contract. Sources indicated the guaranteed money in the extension is $60 million.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Bogut emerged last season as a quality center, though I think the Bucks are overpaying by around $10 or $20 million. He’s a good player but I haven’t seen him be a real difference-maker yet. Of course, his teammates didn’t help much in that department last season. Everyone that matters on the Bucks, including guards Mo Williams and Michael Redd, were disappointing. So it’s not Bogut’s fault that his stats mostly came by way of losses. Anyway, even if they’re paying a bit more than they should, the Bucks are making the right move. But let’s see if Bogut keeps improving once he signs the contract. Lots of guys, by total coincidence, seem to level off the season after they suddenly become zillionaires.

Steve and Barry`s chain declares for bankruptcy

Business Journal of Milwaukee reports: The men’s and women’s clothing store chain Steve & Barry’s will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to a release from the company Wednesday. The Port Washington, N.Y.-based Steve & Barry’s has more than 270 stores across the nation, including nine in Massachusetts. It has one local store at Southridge Mall in Greendale. The company said a number of factors went into the decision, including a liquidity shortfall as a result of credit market volatility and general economic conditions, which, in turn, have impacted the company’s store opening plans and borrowing capacity.

InsideHoops.com editor says: In case you forgot, that’s the chain that sold the Starbury sneakers. Everything at Steve and Barry’s costs around $5-$20 or something like that.  I’ve only been in their stores once, for the Marbury launch party back a few years ago which was held in their midtown Manhattan location, pretty close to Madison Square Garden. Seemed like a good store. I guess the prices were too low.

Zillions of NBA transactions today

WEDNESDAY NBA BASKETBALL NEWS AND FEATURES

Kings sign their second rounders
Grizzlies sign Marc Gasol
Kings re-sign Beno Udrih
Raptors re-sign Jose Calderon		 Mavericks sign DeSagana Diop
Heat sign James Jones
Knicks sign Chris Duhon
Updated NBA depth charts

Hornets sign Chris Paul to contract extension
Pacers trade Jermaine O’Neal to Raptors for T.J. Ford in six-player deal
Blazers trade J.Jack, J.McRoberts, B.Rush to Pacers for J.Bayless, I.Diogu
76ers trade Calvin Booth, Rodney Carney to Timberwolves
WNBA basketball: Taurasi hits 3,000 quicker than any other WNBA’er

Orlando summer league Day 2: The good: Brook Lopez, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, Kevin Durant, Courtney Lee, Mario Chalmers. The bad: Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose

Kings sign their second rounders

The Sacramento Kings today signed second round picks Sean Singletary and Patrick Ewing, Jr. to contracts, it was announced by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Singletary, a 6-0, 185-pound guard out of Virginia, was the Kings’ 42nd overall selection while Ewing, Jr., a 6-8, 240-pound forward from Georgetown, was Sacramento’s 43rd overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft.