Month: August 2010

Pistons sign Tracy McGrady

Pistons sign Tracy McGrady

Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the club has signed free agent guard/forward Tracy McGrady.  Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

McGrady, 31, played 30 games last season with the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks averaging 8.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 22.4 minutes per game.  He scored a season-high 26 points (10-17 FG) vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder (2/20) and recorded 21 points (6-12 FG, 2-2 3FG) and season-high-tying eight assists against the Pistons (3/3).

A seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA scoring champion, McGrady holds career averages of 21.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 814 games.  He led the NBA in scoring in 2002-03 (32.1 ppg) and 2003-04 (28.0 ppg) and averaged 24-plus points in seven consecutive seasons from 2000-01 to 2006-07.  He’s been named to the All-NBA First Team twice (2002, 2003), All-NBA Second Team three times (2001, 2004, 2007) and All-NBA Third Team twice (2005, 2008).  McGrady was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2000-01 when he averaged 26.8 points with the Orlando Magic, an improvement from 15.4 points the previous season.  He’s recorded 2,000-plus points in a season twice (2000-01, 2002-03) and has scored 1,000-plus points in nine of his 13 seasons.  McGrady scored a career-high 62 points against the Washington Wizards (3/10/04) and has scored 40-plus points 45 times in his NBA career.  He ranks 10th amongst active players in career points (17,534) and has appeared in 38 career playoff games, averaging 28.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists.

The 6-8, 223-pound native of Bartow, FL, was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in the first round (ninth overall) of the 1997 NBA Draft.  Drafted out of Mount Zion Christian Academy High School (NC), McGrady was honored earlier in his career as one of the “Good Guys in Sports” by The Sporting News for his community relations efforts.


Mar. 19, 2010 - New York - (100320) -- NEW YORK, March 20, 2010 (Xinhua) -- Tracy McGrady(R) of New York Knicks dribbles during an NBA game against Philadelphia 76ers in New York, United States of America, March 19, 2010. New York Knicks won 92-88.. (Xinhua/Shen Hong.

Magic sign rookie Stanley Robinson

The Orlando Magic have signed forward Stanley Robinson, President of Basketball Operations Otis Smith announced today.

Robinson was originally selected by Orlando during the second round (59th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Robinson played on the Magic’s summer league team in the 2010 AirTran Airways Pro Summer League, where he averaged 5.4 points and 5.2 rebounds and shot 50 percent from the floor.

Robinson (6’9”, 210, 7/14/88) appeared in 126 career games (103 starts) at the University of Connecticut, averaging 9.8 ppg., 6.2 rpg., 1.0 apg. and 1.03 blkpg. during his four-year collegiate career. As a senior (2009-10), he averaged 14.5 ppg., a team-high 7.6 rpg., 1.0 apg. and 1.21 blkpg. for the Huskies. Robinson helped UConn reach the NCAA Final Four in 2009.

Lance Stephenson charged with assault

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports:

Lance Stephenson charged with assault

Just days after feeling good about making what they think is their best trade in years, the Pacers were knocked down Sunday when rookie guard Lance Stephenson was arrested and charged with third-degree assault after he allegedly pushed his girlfriend down a flight of stairs in Brooklyn, N.Y., early Sunday.

“We have been made aware of a situation involving Lance Stephenson early Sunday morning in Brooklyn,” Pacers president Larry Bird said in a statement released from the team. “We are currently in the process of gathering information and will have further comments as we learn more facts.” …

Stephenson was charged with sexual abuse for allegedly groping a girl at a bus stop near his high school in New York his senior year. The charge was dismissed and he ended up pleading to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct.

John Lauinger of the New York Daily News reports:

Stephenson, 19, a legendary player at Brooklyn’s Abraham Lincoln High School, roughed up Jasmine Williams, 21, at her Brooklyn apartment building about 5 a.m., police said.

The 6-foot-5 rookie point guard’s cowardly shove sent Williams – the mother of Stephenson’s child – tumbling headfirst down 10 steps, requiring her to be treated at a hospital for injuries to her head and neck, cops said…

He was also booked on charges of third-degree assault, harassment and menacing. Prosecutors added a charge of criminal possession of a weapon, but a spokesman could not specify what the weapon was.


March 09 2010: Cincinnati's guard Lance Stephenson (33) pushes the ball up court in the second half of first round Big East Tournament games between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Cincinnati Bearcats at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Cincinnati defeated Rutgers 69-68.

Nuggets waive Brian Butch, Coby Karl

The Denver Nuggets have waived C Brian Butch and G Coby Karl, the team announced today.

Both players were signed by the Nuggets on April 11 but did not appear in any games during the 2009-10 regular season or the playoffs.

Karl averaged 14.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in four games with Denver’s summer league team in Las Vegas. Butch appeared in two summer-league games, averaging 7.0 points and 6.0 rebounds.

Udonis Haslem charged with drug possession

Luisa Yanez of the Miami Herald reports:

Udonis Haslem charged with drug possession

Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem was stopped by the Florida Highway Patrol Sunday and drugs were found by a trooper, FHP has confirmed.

The incident began as a traffic stop somewhere in Miami, said FHP spokesman Lt. Mark Wysocky. Details were sketchy Sunday. It’s unclear where Haslem was stopped or what type of drugs were found.

TMZ reports:

Haslem was pulled over by Florida Highway Patrol officers for, we’re told by sources, having tinted windows. We’re told there were three other guys in the car with Haslem.

According to sources, officers searched the car three times for drugs — an initial search and then a search with drug dogs yielded nothing. We’re told when officers searched the car a third time, they discovered less than 20 grams of marijuana.

August 16 update:

Miami Heat President Pat Riley released the following statement today concerning the incident involving Udonis Haslem yesterday afternoon. “We are aware of the incident involving Udonis Haslem yesterday afternoon, and while we fully support our players, since this is a pending legal matter we will have no further comment at this time.”

Another August 16 update:

Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem released the following statement today. “First and foremost, I’d like to thank the Arison family, Coach Riley, Coach Spoelstra, the HEAT organization and fans who have shown me their support during this incident. I am confident that once the judicial process runs its course, I will be cleared.”

Getting Trevor Ariza helps Hornets

Jim Eichenhofer of Hornets.com reports:

Getting Trevor Ariza helps Hornets

Ariza’s ability to contribute in multiple ways, on both ends of the floor. New Orleans has given significant minutes to several somewhat one-dimensional players at the wing positions over the past few seasons, but Ariza is regarded as an above-average defender and is an improving offensive player (career-best 14.9 scoring average in 2009-10).

As frequent jump shooters, neither Peja Stojakovic nor James Posey – the Hornets who’ve logged the bulk of the playing time at small forward – finish well at the rim on fast breaks, but that’s an area where Ariza has excelled. Monty Williams also envisions the 6-foot-8, long-armed and athletic Ariza giving New Orleans the ability to throw a few varied looks at opposing offenses.

Williams: “He brings some things to the table that we just didn’t have. He’s a guy I can use in transition, he’s become a better shooter throughout his career and he’s a guy who’s going to allow me to put in a 3-2 zone and put him at the top of the zone, and put him in a number of spots. He’s a guy that can switch on pick-and-rolls (due to his combination of size and athletic ability), and guard some of the power forwards in this league. He can rebound.”


April 12, 2010: Trevor Ariza of the Houston Rockets during the game between the Sacramento Kings and the Houston Rockets at Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA. Ben Munn/CSM.

Kevin Durant a huge part of Team USA

With several of the NBA’s top stars unavailable for this year’s edition of Team USA, another group of guys have been handed the reigns. And as the team that scores the most points is the one who wins, super-scorer Kevin Durant plays a huge role on the squad.

Pete Thamel of the New York Times reports:

Kevin Durant a huge part of Team USA

Durant, 21, became the youngest N.B.A. scoring champion last season, and the world championship offers him a platform to move into the elite constellation of N.B.A. stars. His supple jump shot and freakish athleticism will be on display Sunday at Madison Square Garden, where the United States plays France before heading to Europe.

And Durant, a player hallmarked by loyalty and humility, will get a forum on the world stage at a time when James’s off-season free-agency spectacle prompted eye rolls.

So with no players from the 2008 Olympic Redeem Team representing the United States this summer, the coalescence of Durant’s talent and image could not be a better one.

“He’s the whole package,” said Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball’s managing director. “This is his opportunity to come forth on an international stage.”

It’ll be interesting to see how Durant gets his points. What moves he makes to generate offense and how they will differ in international spacing vs NBA play.


Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant of the 2010 USA Men's World Championship team reacts after a shot during practice in Tarrytown, New York August 13, 2010. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Lakers sign Derrick Caracter

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Derrick Caracter, it was announced today.  Per team policy terms of the agreement were not released.

Caracter, a 22 year-old early entry candidate selected by the Lakers with the 58th pick in  the 2010 NBA draft, played two seasons at Louisville before transferring to the University of Texas at El Paso, where he averaged 14.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 27 games as a junior with the Miners. Named Second Team All-Conference USA last season, the 6’9” forward ranked second in the conference and 16th nationally in field goal percentage (.567).

Ranked as the best player in the country by some recruiting services heading into his senior year of high school, Caracter averaged 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in 53 games (14 starts) over two seasons at Louisville. For his college career, Caracter averaged 10.2 points (.560 FG%) and 5.6 rebounds in 80 games (36 starts).

Most recently, Caracter started all five games for the Lakers 2010 Summer League entry in Las Vegas, averaging 15.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 33.3 minutes.

Pistons sign Terrico White

Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the club has signed its second round draft selection Terrico White to a contract.  Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

White was drafted 36th overall in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft.  A 6-foot-5 guard from University of Mississippi, he ranked second on the team in scoring with 15.1 points and averaged 4.6 rebounds a game last season.  He scored in double figures in 26 of 35 games and scored 20-plus points six times.  White scored a career-high-tying 29 points (11-18 FG) against Jacksonville State (12/29/09) and scored 27 points (11-20 FG) vs. Troy (3/17/10) in the NIT Tournament.

A native of Memphis, TN, White earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors in 2009 when he averaged 13.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.  He averaged 18.4 points in SEC play and scored 20-plus points nine times, including a career-high 29 points on 9-of-16 shooting against Arkansas (3/4/09).  White was a member of the gold-medal winning United States under 19 National Team in the FIBA World Championship in the summer of 2009.