July 2009 – Page 15 – NBA Blog

Milwaukee Bucks sign second round draft pick Jodie Meeks

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed Jodie Meeks to a multi-year contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Meeks (6-4, 208) was the 41st overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft and will participate in the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas with the Bucks (July 10-16).

A junior selected out of the University of Kentucky, Meeks averaged 15.4 points in 81 games over three college seasons. He holds the school’s single-season record for three-pointers made (117) and is 33rd on the school’s all-time scoring list (1,246). In his junior season he averaged 23.7 points (sixth in the nation) on 46.3 percent shooting from the field and 40.6 percent from three-point range. Following the season, Meeks was an All-SEC First Team selection as well as an All-America Second Team selection by the Associated Press, Sporting News and USBWA. He was also USBWA District Player of the Year and First Team All-District by USBWA and NABC. Meeks was the first player in league history to earn four SEC Player of the Week honors in one season.

Meeks will be joined on Milwaukee’s Summer League team by 2009 first round pick Brandon Jennings, along with 2008 draft picks Joe Alexander and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. The five-game schedule tips-off Friday (July 10) with a game against Dallas. The other four games are against Cleveland (July 12), Sacramento (July 13), Chicago (July 15) and Toronto (July 16). Bucks.com will cover all of Milwaukee’s summer league action.

Dallas Mavericks sign Quinton Ross

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed Quinton Ross. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ross (6-6, 193) joins the Mavericks after spending the 2008-09 season with Memphis. He averaged 3.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 17.1 minutes in 68 games (seven starts) with the Grizzlies. The five-year NBA veteran, who began his career as a rookie free agent with the L.A. Clippers, owns career averages of 4.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 20.4 minutes in 370 games (158 starts).

“Quinton has been part of the Dallas basketball fabric for many years,” President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson said. “He played his high school ball under Royce Johnson at Kimball before attending Southern Methodist University. We are happy and proud to bring him home. His athleticism, defensive versatility and experience will add depth to our backcourt.”

A native of Dallas, Ross averaged 14.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 119 games at SMU. He finished his four-year career as the school’s fourth all-time scoring leader (1,763 points).

InsideHoops.com editor says: Perfectly good backup to play limited minutes off the bench as a 9th – 12th man.

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Atlanta Hawks re-sign Mike Bibby and Zaza Pachulia

The Atlanta Hawks on July 13 signed unrestricted free agents Mike Bibby and Zaza Pachulia to new contracts, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

“We are very pleased to keep Mike as part of our team,” Sund said. “His consistent production and leadership over the last year-and-a-half have been major components to the team’s success. In all of our postseason meetings and discussions, Coach Woodson stressed the importance of keeping him on board. Mike’s own desire to return to our team speaks to the confidence he has in the direction of the franchise, and in his teammates and coaches.”

Last year, Bibby became one of the league’s most dangerous long-range threats in his first full season in Atlanta, finishing 8th in the NBA with 167 3FGM (the sixth-most in a season in Hawks history), hitting .390, the third-best percentage of his career. He concluded the season averaging 14.9 ppg, 5.0 apg, 3.5 rpg and 1.2 spg in 34.7 mpg (.435 FG%, .789 FT%) in 79 starts.

Bibby came to the Hawks from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue, Shelden Williams, Lorenzen Wright and a 2008 second-round draft pick on February 16, 2008. He has played in 802 career regular season games and 69 playoff contests, including all 11 during the Hawks’ run into the second round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs.

“Zaza is a valuable piece of our frontcourt rotation,” Sund added. “In addition to his rebounding ability and scoring touch, his hustle and passionate play have connected with his teammates and the fans. He has excelled off the court as well, becoming a fixture in the Atlanta community.”

Pachulia appeared in 77 games last season (26 starts), and averaged 6.2 ppg and 5.7 rpg (career-high .497 FG%, .709 FT%). He also tied for 30th in the NBA in offensive rpg (2.2). Pachulia played in all 11 postseason games (one starting assignment), and put in 6.9 ppg and 6.9 rpg, including 18 rebounds in the First Round game four win in Miami.

The Republic of Georgia native originally signed with the Hawks as a restricted free agent on August 11, 2005. He was selected in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic.

Mike Krzyzewski to continue coaching USA Basketball’s national team

The Boston Globe (Marc J. Spears) reports (via blog): Two sources close to the situation told The Boston Globe today that Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will be back for another tour coaching USA Basketball’s national team. The announcement is expected to be made in a press conference Las Vegas prior to a USA Basketball mini-camp featuring young prospects for the national team on July 22-25.

Raptors sign Andrea Bargnani to contract extension

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have signed forward-centre Andrea Bargnani to a multi-year contract extension. The Raptors tipped-off a busy off-season for the club when Bargnani signed the contract at 12:01 a.m. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed. A few media outlets reported that the deal is for around 5 years and at least $50 million. This has not yet been confirmed.

“Andrea has worked very hard to establish himself as a top-flight, multi-dimensional big man in the NBA,” said Bryan Colangelo, Raptors President and General Manager. “He overcame a rough start last season to emerge as a primary scorer for us, and we anticipate quite a bit more from him in the future.”

Bargnani averaged career highs of 15.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.24 blocked shots and 31.4 minutes in 78 games in the 2008-09 season. He made 59 starts, averaging 17.7 points and 5.9 rebounds. He topped 20 or more points a career-best 23 times. He also scored in double figures in 41 of his final 45 starts, with 20 or more points in 24 of those contests.

Bargnani recorded a career-high 31 points January 14, 2009 versus Chicago. He also set an NBA record last season for the longest streak of consecutive games with two or more three-pointers by a starting centre with 10 consecutive games (December 31 – January 16).

The 7-foot native of Rome, Italy has posted career averages of 12.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 221 NBA regular season games. He has shot .831 (221-266) from the charity stripe in his three NBA seasons.

Bargnani became the first European-born player selected with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft when he was taken by the Raptors on June 28, 2006. During his first season in the NBA, Bargnani averaged 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 65 games. He was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team and captured T-Mobile Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honours in January and February.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Bargnani is young and promising, but there’s no way he’s earned a contract of this size yet. Assuming he signs this, I hope he works hard to keep improving, rather than relaxing and failing to live up to expectations.

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Denver Nuggets re-sign Chris Andersen

Chris Andersen to re-sign with Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets have re-signed F/C Chris Andersen to a multi-year contract, Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released. The Denver Post had reported the deal would possibly be for five years and up to $26 million.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring Chris back,” said Warkentien. “He was a big part of our success last season and we believe he will be a big part of our future success as well. We love his energy and hustle and we know Nuggets fans echo that sentiment.”

Andersen, 31, has career averages of 5.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg and 1.59 bpg in 329 regular season games with the Nuggets (two stints) and New Orleans. He began his NBA career with the Nuggets in 2001 as the first-ever “call-up” from the NBA Development League.

This past season, Andersen helped the Nuggets advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since the 1984-85 season, posting 6.4 ppg and career high averages of 6.2 rpg and 2.46 bpg. His 2.46 bpg ranked second in the entire NBA, despite averaging just 20.6 minutes per contest off the bench. He also led the NBA with 5.76 blocks per 48 minutes.

Andersen was signed as a free agent last summer, returning to the Nuggets on July, 24, 2008.
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Dallas Mavericks sign first round draft pick Rodrigue Beaubois

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed rookie Rodrigue Beaubois. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Beaubois (6-2, 182) was selected with the 25th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. He was acquired, along with a second round pick, from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the Mavericks’ 24th overall selection B.J. Mullens.

The Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe native appeared in 29 French Pro A games in 2008-09 and averaged 10.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 22.3 minutes per game. Beaubois showed marked improvement from his 2007-08 campaign when he averaged 5.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 15.1 minutes per contest.

Beaubois is a member of the Mavericks Summer League Team. Dallas will play in the 2009 NBA Summer League presented by EA Sports. The squad will see its first action on Friday, July 10 when they take on the Milwaukee Bucks at COX Pavilion in Las Vegas.

Hedo Turkoglu to sign with Raptors

The Toronto Star (Doug Smith) reports: To the mercenary professional athletes who ply their trades here, Toronto’s cozy ethnic neighbourhoods may as well be on Mars and “living” in the city means going from condo to arena to airport to an off-season home. To the newest Raptor, the city’s charm is the attraction. Hedo Turkoglu and his wife, Banu, who grew up high school sweethearts in their native Istanbul, should arrive here this week to officially sign a five-year contract worth about $53 million (U.S.) and – in a departure from the norm – it wasn’t the money that attracted them. It was the city and what it had to offer… The Portland Trail Blazers originally thought they were going to get Turkoglu on a five-year, $50 million contract, but the couple reconsidered the offer overnight Thursday and turned it down late Friday.

Boston Celtics sign Rasheed Wallace

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent center/forward Rasheed Wallace. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Multiple media outlets had reported that the deal would be for two years and the mid-level exception (around $5.7 million per year).

“We are ecstatic to be able to add a player the caliber of Rasheed Wallace to our team,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations, Danny Ainge. “It is not every day that you can add a four-time All-Star and a player with championship experience.”

Wallace, a 6’11”, 230lbs center/forward, has averaged 15.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 33.9 minutes per game over his 14-year career. The former UNC Tar Heel has recorded 14 straight seasons of averaging 10 or more points, a tie for second most among active players along with new teammate Kevin Garnett and behind only Shaquille O’Neal. Wallace is one of 13 players in NBA history to make 13 consecutive appearances in the playoffs along with the likes of Kevin McHale, Bob Cousy, Robert Parish and Bill Russell. Wallace also is one of only three players in NBA history to have recorded 150 three-point field goals, 150 blocks and 100 steals in his postseason career joining Scottie Pippen and Robert Horry.

The fourth overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft has made four All-Star teams in his career (2000, 2001, 2006, 2008). Wallace has made two trips to the NBA Finals with the Detroit Pistons (2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons) winning the NBA Championship in the 2003-04 season. Wallace joins Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan as the only four active players that have posted 15,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 1,500 assists and 1,000 blocks in their careers.

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Shannon Brown re-signs with Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent guard Shannon Brown, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

Brown, who was acquired by the Lakers on February 7, 2009 as part of a trade with the Charlotte Bobcats, appeared in 18 regular season games with Los Angeles, averaging 3.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.6 minutes. In six games in April, however, Brown nearly doubled his averages with 6.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14.5 minutes.

In the postseason, Brown appeared in 21 games, averaging 4.9 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 13.1 minutes while posting three double-figure scoring games and converting 12-of-25 three-point field goals (.480).

Originally selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 25th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, Brown, a 6’4” guard out of Michigan State, has appeared in 92 games over three NBA seasons, averaging 4.2 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 10.0 minutes.