July 2010 – Page 9 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Bobcats sign Shaun Livingston

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Shaun Livingston. The five-year NBA veteran averaged 6.9 points, 3.6 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 22.0 minutes in 36 games last season with Oklahoma City and Washington. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We’re excited to add a talented young player like Shaun to our team,” Higgins said. “He is a long, athletic point guard who we anticipate being a significant part of our rotation.”

The 6-7 Livingston was originally selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. He has career averages of 7.2 points, 4.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 196 games with the Clippers, Heat, Thunder and Wizards. He has scored in double figures 57 times and tallied double-figure assists in 12 games in his career.

Livingston signed with the Wizards on February 26, 2010 and saw action in 26 of the team’s final 27 games of the season, averaging 9.2 points, 4.4 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 25.6 minutes, while shooting .535 from the field. Livingston started the season’s final 18 games, averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 30.7 minutes. He scored in double figures in eight of the last nine games, including a career-high 25 points on April 9 at Boston, and recorded seven or more assists in seven of the final nine games.

Livingston averaged career highs of 9.3 points, 5.1 assists and 3.4 rebounds for the Clippers in 2006-07 before suffering tears to the ACL, MCL, PCL and lateral meniscus in his left knee, as well as patella and tibia/femoral dislocations, on Feb. 26 against the Bobcats that caused him to miss the final 26 games of the season and all of 2007-08. He later played four games with Miami in 2008-09 and 18 games with Oklahoma City during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons before signing with Washington.

The Charlotte Bobcats, who became the NBA’s 30th team when they joined the league in 2004-05, finished the 2009-10 season with a franchise-best 44-38 overall record (31-10 at home) and first-ever playoff appearance.

Shaq TV dispute settled

WENN.COM reports:

Executives behind basketball ace-turned-reality TV star Shaquille O’Neal’s hit show SHAQ VS. have reached a settlement with a disgruntled author who alleged they stole his concept for the programme.

Writer Todd Gallagher filed suit against O’Neal’s talent representatives at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment in October (09), claiming they had agreed to turn his book, Andy Roddick Beat Me with a Frying Pan, into a TV series in 2008…

The court case has now been dismissed after the two parties reached a deal. The details of the settlement have not been released to the press but is said to be in the six-figures, according to TMZ.com.

Matt Barnes may join Raptors

The AP reports:

Free-agent forward Matt Barnes says he is headed for Toronto.

Barnes wrote on his Twitter page Monday that he has decided to play for the Raptors next season. He also thanked fans in Orlando, where he played last season.

Yahoo reports:

Even after Matt Barnes announced himself as a Toronto Raptor on his Twitter account, the sign-and-trade deal that would’ve sent him to the team with a two-year, $9 million contract has fallen apart, a league source told Yahoo! Sports.

“The sign-and-trade is dead,” the source flatly said.

Craig Smith staying with Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers and free agent Craig Smith today reached an agreement that will enable the power forward to return to the team for 2010-11.

Smith, who averaged 7.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 16.4 minutes in 75 games played with Los Angeles last season, also connected on 57 percent of his field goals on the year. He was originally acquired by the Clippers, along with Sebastian Telfair and Mark Madsen from Minnesota, on July 20, 2009 in exchange for Quentin Richardson.

An Inglewood native and former Fairfax High School star, Smith averaged a career-high 10.1 points to go with 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 19.7 minutes in 74 games played for Minnesota during the 2008-09 season. Smith, a career 56 percent shooter from the field, has appeared in 308 career NBA games.

Smith was drafted by Minnesota with the 36th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft after a standout career at Boston College that saw him average 18.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 steals in 130 games from 2002-2006. Smith finished his Eagles career as the school’s all-time leading rebounder (1,114) and second in points (2,349) and was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference first Team in 2005-06.

Mavericks re-sign Dirk Nowitzki

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have re-signed forward Dirk Nowitzki. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Nowitzki (7-0, 245) remains with the Mavericks, the team that acquired his draft rights on June 28, 1998. While in Dallas, Nowitzki has been a nine-time All-Star (starting twice), named to the All-NBA Team each of the past nine seasons and was honored as the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2006-07 season when he led the Mavericks to a franchise-high 67 wins.

The Wurzburg, Germany native became the Mavericks’ all-time scoring leader on March 8, 2008 when he scored his 16,644th point to surpass Rolando Blackman. Nowitzki also holds the franchise’s top-spot in several other categories, including rebounds (7,802), field goals (7,348), 3-point field goals (7,348), free throws (5,284), free throw percentage (.876), starts (895), games (920) and minutes (33,732).

On January 13, 2010, Nowitzki became the 34th player in NBA history to hit the 20,000-point plateau and currently ranks 27th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He has been named Western Conference Player of the Month six times and Player of the Week 14 times, including four times during the 2009-10 season. Nowitzki has competed in All-Star Saturday Night’s three-point contest four times, winning the shootout in 2006, and won the 2010 Haier Shooting Star contest along with former Houston Rocket Kenny Smith and San Antonio Silver Star Becky Hammon.

Nowitzki, a 12-year pro, holds career averages of 22.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 blocks and 36.7 minutes in 920 career games with the Mavericks. Additionally, Nowitzki has played in 97 postseason contests and averages 25.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks in Playoff games.

Bucks sign Keyon Dooling

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed guard Keyon Dooling (6-3, 195) to a contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

A 10-year NBA veteran, Dooling averaged 6.9 points, 2.5 assists and 1.0 rebound in 53 games (eight starts) for the New Jersey Nets last season. He enjoyed his best statistical season in 2008-09 when he averaged 9.7 points, 3.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 77 games for the Nets.

Selected by Orlando with the 10th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, Dooling was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers where he played the first four years of his NBA career. After one season with the Miami Heat (2004-05), he signed as a free agent with Orlando and played three seasons (2005-08) with the Magic. Prior to the 2008-09 season, Orlando traded Dooling to the Nets for cash considerations.

Dooling, 30, has played in 595 career NBA games (62 starts) and holds averages of 7.2 points, 2.2 assists and 1.4 rebounds per contest.

Jazz sign Raja Bell

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed guard Raja Bell to a multi-year free agent contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

“Raja has proven to be an excellent three-point shooter over a number of years and is a good defender who brings a toughness on the perimeter,” said Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor. “He knows Coach Sloan’s system and what he expects of him. Raja had a lot of choices and we’re happy he chose the Jazz.”

Bell (6-5, 215, Florida International) owns career averages of 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 604 career games (383 starts) over 10 NBA seasons with Philadelphia, Dallas, Utah, Phoenix, Charlotte and Golden State since entering the league on a 10-day contract in April 2001. Bell has also appeared in 68 career playoff games (40 starts), averaging 8.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 25.9 minutes with Philadelphia, Dallas and Phoenix.

Twice named to the NBA All-Defensive Team (First Team in 2006-07 and Second Team in 2007-08), Bell will enter the 2010-11 season ranked 11th in NBA history in career three-point field goal percentage (.411), minimum 250 made, and is fifth on that list among active players. Bell has shot at least .400 from beyond the arc in each of the last six seasons, hitting 100+ three-pointers in five of the last six campaigns.

In two seasons during his first stint with the Jazz (2003-05), Bell appeared in 145 games (36 starts) and averaged 11.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 26.3 minutes. He currently ranks fifth in Jazz history in three-point accuracy (.387, minimum 50 made).

Bell’s best statistical season came in 2005-06 with Phoenix, when Bell appeared in 79 games (all starts) and registered career-high averages of 14.7 points and 2.6 assists to go with 3.2 rebounds in a career-high 37.4 minutes per game.

In 2009-10, Bell appeared in six games with Charlotte and Golden State before missing the remainder of the season following left wrist surgery. Bell saw action in five games for Charlotte (all starts) before being traded to Golden State on November 16, 2009, playing one game for the Warriors prior to the season-ending surgery. Bell averaged a combined 11.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 30.0 minutes between the two teams.

A native of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Bell was undrafted out of Florida International in 1999 and played in the USBL, CBA and IBL before the Philadelphia 76ers signed him to a 10-day contract on April 6, 2001.

Bulls sign Ronnie Brewer

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed free agent guard Ronnie Brewer. In accordance with team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

“We’re very happy to add a player of Ronnie’s ability to our team. He brings great versatility on both ends of the floor and will be an excellent addition to our backcourt,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman.

Brewer (6-7, 236), a four-year NBA veteran, comes to the Bulls after spending last season with both the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies. Drafted out of Arkansas in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft (14th overall) by the Utah Jazz, Brewer spent three-plus seasons with the Jazz before being dealt to the Grizzlies at last season’s trade deadline.

Last season with the Jazz, Brewer appeared in 53 games (all starts) and averaged 9.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.8 apg and 1.60 spg in 31.4 mpg. He shot .495 from the field and .633 from the line. He was limited to only five games with the Grizzlies due to a partially torn right hamstring.

A native of Fayetteville, Ark., the 25-year old Brewer has played in a career 271 regular season games (223 starts) and posted averages of 10.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.46 spg, 26.2 mpg, .521 field goal shooting, .234 three-point shooting and .707 from the line. During the 2008-09 campaign, he posted career highs in points per game (13.7) and rebounds per game (3.7), while ranking first in the NBA in steals-per-turnover ratio (1.87) and seventh in field goal percentage (.558). He also ranked in the NBA’s Top 10 in total steals during the 2008-09 and 2007-08 seasons. In his four seasons in the NBA, his teams have advanced to the playoffs three times, where he has appeared in 25 games (17 starts) and averaged 7.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.4 apg, 20.1 mpg and shot .490 from the field and .685 from the line.

Heat re-sign James Jones

The Miami Heat announced today that they have re-signed forward James Jones. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are happy to bring back James Jones, whose abilities on and off the court epitomize what the Heat organization stands for,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “He is a consummate professional and a proven three-point threat that will help stretch the floor. As our roster fills out, his ability to shoot the ball will be a valuable asset to our team.”

Jones has appeared in 366 career games (65 starts) over seven seasons. During his NBA career, with four different teams, he has averaged 6.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 18.9 minutes, while shooting 39.8 percent from the field, 39.5 percent from three-point range, and 86.1 percent from the foul line. He has scored in double-figures on 101 occasions, and has shot at least 82.0 percent from the foul line every season of his career.

During the last two seasons with the Heat, Jones appeared in 76 games (seven starts), averaging 4.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 14.9 minutes, while shooting 36.6 percent from the field, 37.6 percent from three-point range and 83.1 percent from the foul line.

Jones originally signed with the Heat as a free agent on July 9, 2008. He was waived by the club on June 29, 2010.

Trail Blazers hire Rich Cho as general manager

The Portland Trail Blazers have named Rich Cho as the team’s new general manager, Trail Blazers President Larry Miller announced today. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed.

“Rich is the perfect fit for our organization,” said Miller. “He has the right balance of basketball knowledge, business acumen and tremendous people skills. Everyone I spoke to about Rich commented not just on his qualifications but on who he is as a person. He is well known for his ability to connect genuinely with people. Rich will be a great fit for our organization and for Portland. He is an executive on the rise and we’re thrilled to have him as a Trail Blazer.”

Cho, who becomes the ninth general manager in Trail Blazers history, joins the Trail Blazers after spending the past nine seasons as assistant general manager of the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder.

“I am extremely humbled and grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything I can to help this great team get even better,” said Rich Cho. “When I met with Mr. Allen, Larry Miller, and coach McMillan, it was immediately apparent to me that this organization has an incredible commitment to winning. As someone who grew up in the northwest, I’m aware of the unbelievable passion and support that Trail Blazers fans have, and I’m excited to be a part of this rich tradition.”