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The Indiana Pacers will trade guard Brandon Rush to the Golden State Warriors for forward Louis Amundson.
The Bay Area News Group first reported the deal. Mark Bartelstein, the agent for both players, confirmed the move on Sunday.
“This is a great fit for both guys,” Bartelstein said.
Rush averaged 8.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in three seasons for the Pacers.
— Reported by Cliff Brunt of the Associated Press
The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have re-signed center-forward Jason Smith. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released. We’ll post details of the deal this evening.
“We are excited to have Jason back on our team this season,” Hornets General Manager Dell Demps said. “He provided us with solid play last season both off the bench and when he was called upon to start. He gives us depth in the frontcourt with his ability to play the center and power forward positions.”
Smith (7-0, 240) averaged 4.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.4 blocks with the Hornets last season in 77 games (six starts). In those six starts during the 2010-11 season, Smith averaged 9.3 points on 61 percent shooting and 3.7 rebounds over 21.8 minutes. Entering his fourth season in the NBA, Smith has career averages of 4.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.5 blocks over 209 games (nine starts). The Colorado State product was originally acquired by the Hornets along with Willie Green on September 23, 2010 from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Darius Songaila and Craig Brackens.
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The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have re-signed forward Carl Landry. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released. We’ll post contract details this evening.
“Carl was a huge part of our success in making the playoffs last season and we couldn’t be more excited to have him back,” said Hornets GM Dell Demps. “Carl is a high character person that adds a scoring punch to our front court. We look forward to him being a huge part of our organization both on and off the court.”
Landry (6-9, 248), averaged 11.8 points on 53 percent shooting and 4.1 rebounds in 26.2 minutes of play over 23 games (10 starts) with the Hornets last season. The Purdue product was acquired by the Hornets in a mid-season trade with the Sacramento Kings for Marcus Thornton on February 23, 2011. Landry started the last 10 regular season games for the Hornets last season, averaging 14.9 points and 5.6 rebounds. Prior to the trade, he averaged 11.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 53 games (16 starts) for the Kings in the 2010-11 season.
Originally drafted in the second round (31st overall) by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2007 NBA Draft and then traded on draft night to the Houston Rockets, Landry played two and a half seasons for the Rockets before being dealt to the Rockets midway through the 2009-10 season in a three-team, nine-player deal that sent Kevin Martin to the Rockets. Landry’s best season came in 2009-10, when he averaged career-highs of 16.8 points on 54 percent shooting, 5.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 30.9 minutes in 80 games (29 starts).
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Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the team has re-signed guard Rodney Stuckey. According to the Detroit News, the deal is for three years and $25 million.
“We are pleased to re-sign Rodney Stuckey,” said Joe Dumars, Pistons President of Basketball Operations. “Rodney led our team in scoring and assists last season and he’s part of the young core group of players that we are building around. We look forward to watching his continued growth within our organization.”
Last season Stuckey appeared in 70 games (54 starts), leading Pistons in scoring (15.5 ppg) and assists (career-high 5.2 apg). He also shot a career-high-tying 43.9% from the field and averaged 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 32.1 minutes per game. Among NBA leaders, Stuckey ranked T-25 in assists and also shot a career-high 87 percent from the free-throw line (14th in the NBA). He recorded his third consecutive 1,000-point season and dished out a career-high 14 assists twice, including a game vs. Toronto (3/16), when he became the first Piston to record 10 assists before attempting a field goal.
Stuckey, the 15th overall pick by the Pistons in the 2007 NBA Draft, owns career averages of 13.6 points (.423 FG), 3.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 29.7 minutes in 279 games. In 73 games during the 2009-10 season, he averaged a career-high 16.6 points and led the team in total points (1,215). Among NBA league leaders, Stuckey has ranked in the top-30 in assists per game each of the last three seasons and has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Week twice [(12/29/08-1/4/09) and (12/7/09-12/13/09)]. He scored a career-high 40 points vs. Chicago (12/23/08) and participated in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge at NBA All-Star 2009 as part of the Sophomore Team. Stuckey was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2008 and became only the third Pistons rookie to start a playoff game [at Orlando (5/10/08)] joining Joe Dumars and Tayshaun Prince.
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The Detroit Pistons have retained Rodney Stuckey with a $25 million, three-year contract.
A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press on Saturday that the restricted free agent has signed the contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the transaction had not been announced.
— Reported by the Associated Press
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The Boston Celtics announced today that forward Jeff Green will undergo surgery on Monday January 9, 2012 at the Cleveland Clinic and will miss the 2011-12 season.
A team of leading cardiac specialists who consulted with Green and the Celtics indicated that surgery should completely repair Green’s condition and that he can expect to resume his NBA career next season.
During his team physical Friday, December 9th, an aortic aneurysm was detected. As a precautionary measure, Green underwent extensive additional testing, after which doctors recommended surgery.
“While we are saddened that Jeff will not be able to play this season, the most important thing is his health, and we were fortunate to have access to an amazing team of specialists to evaluate Jeff’s case,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “The entire Celtics family supports Jeff during this difficult time in his career.”
At Jeff’s request, neither Jeff nor the Celtics will have any additional comment at this time.
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The Washington Wizards announced today that they have re-signed guard/forward Maurice Evans.
“Mo was a very good midseason addition to the team last season and we are excited to have him back with us,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “In addition to the versatility and athleticism he brings to the lineup, he gives us another solid veteran presence along with Rashard Lewis, Roger Mason and Ronny Turiaf that balances nicely with our core of young players.”
Evans averaged 9.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 26 games for the Wizards last season. He was originally acquired along with Jordan Crawford, Mike Bibby and a first round pick from Atlanta in exchange for Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong on Feb. 23, 2011. Evans holds career averages of 6.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in eight seasons with Minnesota, Sacramento, Detroit, L.A. Lakers, Orlando, Atlanta and Washington.
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Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry and David Lee were named Warriors’ tri-captains on Friday. Warriors coach Mark Jackson said the team voted on captains at practice on Thursday, and that threesome got the nod.
“I expect those guys to be an extension of me on the floor and it starts with point guard (Curry),” Jackson said. “As a player I took tremendous pride in being a captain, especially if the players voted. Because a coach can be biased, a coach can take his best players. The players are saying, ‘We believe in you.’”
— Reported by Matt Steinmetz of CSN Bay Area
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The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has waived guard Jannero Pargo.
Pargo (6-1, 185) signed with the Bulls last season (03/20/11) and did not appear in a game following his arrival. He spent 14 games on Chicago’s Inactive List.
In 379 regular season contests in the NBA, Pargo has averaged 6.6 ppg, 2.0 apg and 1.5 rpg in 15.7 mpg.
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The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has waived guard Keith Bogans.
Bogans (6-5, 215) started all 82 games for Chicago last season and posted averages of 4.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.2 apg in 17.8 mpg. He also shot .404 from the field, .380 from downtown and .656 from the line.
With the addition of shooting guard Rip Hamilton, the Bulls obviously felt that Bogans’ services were no longer required.