December 2011 – Page 21 – NBA Blog

Grizzlies sign guard Jeremy Pargo to multi-year contract

The Memphis Grizzlies signed free agent Jeremy Pargo to a multi-year contract, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Pargo, a 6-2, 219-pound guard, joins the Grizzlies after spending last season with Euroleague powerhouse Maccabi Tel-Aviv, where he was named to the 2011 All-Euroleague Second Team after recording 13.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists on .463 shooting in 30.0 minutes in 22 games.

Prior to his success with Maccabi, the 25-year-old helped guide Hapoel Gilboa Galil Elyon to the 2010 Israeli Basketball Super League Championship in his first season as a professional, averaging 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

The younger brother of NBA player Jannero Pargo, the Chicago native was named the 2008 West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Year after posting 12.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists as a junior at Gonzaga University. Pargo finished his four-year collegiate career with the Bulldogs with averages of 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 134 games.

Undrafted in the 2009 NBA Draft, Pargo has made summer league appearances in 2009 and 2010 with the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Bobcats and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Grizzlies sign second-round pick Josh Selby to multi-year deal

The Memphis Grizzlies signed 2011 second-round draft pick Josh Selby to a multi-year contract, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Selby, a 6-2, 183-pound guard, was selected 49th overall by the Grizzlies in the 2011 NBA Draft. As a true freshman last season with the Kansas Jayhawks, the 20-year-old averaged 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 26 games, earning Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors twice. In his collegiate debut, Selby netted a career-high 21 points and converted the go-ahead three-pointer in Kansas’ 70-68 victory over USC on Dec. 18, 2010.

Ranked as the Rivals.com No. 1 overall high school recruit for 2010, the Baltimore native was named a McDonald’s All-American as a senior at Lake Clifton High School. Selby, who now joins fellow Jayhawks Darrell Arthur and Xavier Henry on the Grizzlies’ roster, scored 13 points in the All-American game and won the 2010 Powerade Jam Fest slam dunk contest as part of the event’s festivities.

Ron Artest arrives at Lakers training camp out of shape

Without prompting, he admitted he entered the first day of training camp on Friday out of shape. He revealed he had an Achille’s tendon injury during last season’s playoffs and couldn’t fully heal it during the offseason because the lockout prevented visits to trainer Gary Vitti. And World Peace acknowledged taking a full two months off this summer, when he played very little basketball.

“When David Stern says there’s going to be a nuclear winter, I’m thinking the season isn’t starting anytime soon,” said World Peace, who will wear the No. 15 jersey number this season. “So a little more martinis in November and then, boom, David Stern says no nuclear winter and we have a season.”

— Reported by Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times (Blog)

Celtics re-sign forward Jeff Green

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have re-signed forward Jeff Green. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“It is great to have Jeff back with us,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “We love the versatility that he brings to our roster and we think he will be an important part of the success that this team will have this season.”

Green, a 6’9” forward, averaged 13.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 32.4 minutes per game last season split between Boston and Oklahoma City. The former Georgetown Hoya was acquired by the Celtics from the Oklahoma City Thunder along with Nenad Krstic and a future first round draft pick from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson on February 24, 2011. Green recorded a double-double in his first start as a Celtic against Washington on April 11 recording 20 points, a career-high-tying 15 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Green improved his field goal percentage after the trade to the Celtics, shooting 48.5 percent from the floor in 26 games with the C’s after shooting 43.7 percent with the Thunder. Green has posted career averages of 13.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 315 games. Green recorded a career-high 37 points against New Jersey last season on December 1, 2010.

Baron Davis misses second day of Cavs practice

Cavaliers guard Baron Davis received treatment on his sore back and sat out the second day of practice with the team. Davis has been rumored to be on his way out of Cleveland either via the amnesty clause or a buyout, although club officials have said they have not made a decision on his future with the team. He also could serve as a mentor to rookie point guard Kyrie Irving.

Center Semih Erden also didn’t practice because of his broken right thumb. In addition, rookie free agent forward J.P. Prince of Tennessee bumped knees with another player and sat out the last 15 or 20 minutes of practice.

— Reported by Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Raptors sign Gary Forbes to offer sheet. Nuggets can match.

The Toronto Raptors announced Saturday they have signed restricted free-agent forward Gary Forbes to an offer sheet. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed.

The Denver Nuggets are expected to receive the offer sheet today. Under the terms of the NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, beginning Sunday the Nuggets will have three days to match the Raptors’ offer.

Forbes averaged 5.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 12.6 minutes during his rookie campaign last season with the Nuggets. He started 11 contests, where he averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 22.8 minutes.

Forbes scored in double figures on 12 occasions, with a career-best 19 points at Phoenix on November 15, 2010. He also grabbed a season-best nine boards in the contest against the Suns. He had 15 points, six rebounds and two steals in a career high-tying 24 minutes on December 10 in Toronto.

Forbes played his junior and senior seasons at the University of Massachusetts. He averaged 16.3 points per game in his two campaigns with the Minutemen, joining Julius Erving as the only players in school history to score more than 1,000 points over two seasons.

A native of Panama, Forbes scored 39 points to lead his country to a victory over Canada in this summer’s FIBA Americas Championship tournament.

Indiana Pacers re-sign center Jeff Foster

The Indiana Pacers announced Saturday the re-signing of veteran forward/center Jeff Foster to a contract. The Pacers also announced the signing of free agent forward/center Jeff Pendergraph to a contract along with four NBA Development League players, Jarrid Famous, Tyren Johnson, Darnell Lazare and Matt Rogers. Per club policy no terms of the contracts.

The 6-11, 250-pound Foster, a free agent, has been with the Pacers his entire career. He has career averages of 4.9 points per game and 6.9 rebounds. Foster is among the Pacers’ top 10 in 11 different statistical categories.

“Jeff Foster has been and is the kind of player we want in our uniform,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “His work ethic, his competitiveness, his hustle, the spark he brings to a game and his locker room presence set an example for every player. We are elated to have him back.”

“This has been my home and I’m glad to be staying home,” said Foster. “Very few modern-day athletes have the opportunity to play their entire career in one city. I’m honored to have such a great opportunity in such a great city.”

Pendergraph, 6-9, 240 pounds out of Arizona State, was a second-round draft pick of the Sacramento Kings in the 2009 NBA Draft, but traded on draft night to Portland. As a rookie with the Blazers, he played 39 games with averages of 2.7 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. During the 2010 preseason, he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and was waived by the Blazers.

“We’re very happy to have Jeff on our team,” said Bird. “He’s got size, power and a competitiveness we’re looking for. After being out last season, he’s healthy, fit and ready to help us achieve our goals.”

Lazare comes from the Pacers’ D-League affiliate in Fort Wayne. The 6-8, 240-pound forward from Louisiana State has played in four games with averages of 19.2 points and 8 rebounds. Johnson, 6-8, 224, from Louisiana-Lafayette, appeared in seven games for Rio Grande with averages of 18.1 points and 6.1 rebounds. Famous is a 6-11, 240-center from South Florida, who played in six games for Iowa and was ninth in league scoring at 21 ppg and fourth in rebounding at 12.2. Rogers is a 6-11, 225-pound center who was in four games with Texas with averages of 9.3 ppg and 5.8 rpg.

Bucks sign Mike Dunleavy Jr

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free-agent forward/guard Mike Dunleavy, Jr. (6-9, 220) to a multi-year contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Dunleavy appeared in 61 games for the Pacers last season, his fourth in Indiana, and averaged 11.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest. He scored in double figures 38 times, with Indiana posting a 10-6 mark when he tallied 15+ points. His 102 three-pointers on the season marked the third time in his career that he eclipsed the century mark.

A nine-year NBA veteran, Dunleavy has appeared in 627 games over his career while averaging 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He’s averaged 10+ points per game in seven of his nine NBA seasons, including a career-best 19.1 scoring average during the 2007-08 campaign in which he appeared in all 82 games and shot a career-high 42.4 percent from behind the arc (12th in the NBA). For his career, Dunleavy is a 36.1 percent shooter from long distance.

Selected by Golden State with the 3rd overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, Dunleavy played four-plus seasons with the Warriors before a mid-season trade sent him and three teammates to Indiana in exchange for a package highlighted by new Bucks teammate Stephen Jackson.

Three-team trade brings center Tyson Chandler to Knicks

New York Knickerbockers Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has acquired center Tyson Chandler via sign-and-trade as part of a three-team trade. Ronny Turiaf, cash considerations and a 2013 second-round draft choice has been sent to the Washington Wizards and Andy Rautins has been sent to Dallas; Dallas sent a 2012 second-round draft choice to Washington and the draft rights to Ahmad Nivins and Giorgos Printezis to New York; Washington sent a conditional future second-round draft choice to Dallas.

“This is an important day for the New York Knicks,” Grunwald said. “Signing a player of Tyson’s caliber, with championship experience, to this roster, is an opportunity we could not pass up. His stellar play last season earned him league-wide recognition and helped lead his team to an NBA Championship.”

Chandler, 7-1, 225-pounds, holds career averages of 8.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.35 blocks and 27.6 minutes in 662 games (465 starts) over 10 NBA seasons with Chicago, New Orleans, Charlotte and Dallas. He played a pivotal role in leading the Mavericks to the franchise’s first ever NBA title last season, averaging 8.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 0.90 blocks in 21 postseason contests. In 74 regular season games (all starts), he averaged 10.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.08 blocks over 74 games (74 starts) en route to NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors.

“Tyson will be the anchor to our defense,” Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “The trio of Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson makes one of the most formidable frontlines in the entire league.”

The Hanford, CA-native was originally selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round (second overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft prior to having his draft rights traded to Chicago with Brian Skinner in exchange for Elton Brand. He appeared in 53 postseason games (37 starts) and holds averages of 7.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.10 blocks over 28.7 minutes. He also represented Team USA in both the 2007 and 2010 FIBA World Championships, winning Gold medals with both squads.

Rautins, 6-4, 205-pounds, averaged 1.6 points 4.8 minutes in five games during his rookie campaign. He was selected by New York in the second round (38th overall) of 2010 NBA Draft.

Nivins, 6-9, 242-pounds, was selected by Dallas out of Saint Joseph’s University in the second round (56th overall) of 2009 NBA Draft. He spent the past three seasons playing overseas with Assignia Manresa (Spain) and Dexia Mons-Hainaut (Belgium).

Printezis, 6-7, 202-pounds, was selected by San Antonio in the second round (58th overall) of 2007 NBA Draft. His draft rights were traded to Toronto before he was sent to Dallas in exchange for Alexis Ajinca, a second-round draft pick and cash considerations on Jan. 24, 2011.

“Ronny brings us a tough, inside presence and we’re looking forward to adding his defense and tenacity to our frontline,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “This trade brings another solid veteran to our team along with additional assets in the form of draft picks and allows us to maintain our financial flexibility moving forward.”

Turiaf comes to the Wizards with career averages of 5.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while shooting .528 from the floor over 358 games in six seasons with the Lakers, Warriors and Knicks. Originally selected by the Lakers with the 37th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, Turiaf had his best overall statistical season when he averaged 5.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks (ranking him fourth in the NBA) for the Warriors in 2008-09. He has finished in the top 30 in the NBA in blocked shots in three of the last four seasons. The 6-10 native of Martinique finished his collegiate career at Gonzaga as the school’s fourth all-time leading scorer and rebounder.

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Knicks waive Chauncey Billups via NBA amnesty clause

New York Knickerbockers Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has waived guard Chauncey Billups, designating him as the club’s amnesty player.

Billups, 6-3, 210-pounds, averaged 16.8 points on .427 shooting, 5.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds over 32.1 minutes in 72 games (72 starts) with Denver and New York last season. Acquired by the Knicks on Feb. 22, 2011, Billups he averaged 17.5 points on .403 shooting, 5.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds over 31.6 minutes in New York.

The Knicks liked Billups, but felt they needed to do this for salary cap reasons, as they are going to acquire center Tyson Chandler today.