December 2011 – Page 9 – NBA Blog

Denver Nuggets re-sign guard Arron Afflalo

The Denver Nuggets have re-signed guard Arron Afflalo to a multiyear contract, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri announced today. Per team policy, financial terms were not disclosed. We’ll post contract details here later today.

Afflalo, 6-5, 215, set career-highs in several statistical categories in 2010-11, including points (12.6), rebounds (3.6) and assists (2.4). The 26-year-old also finished fifth among NBA guards with a .498 shooting percentage, and he shot .423 from three-point range, which tied for eighth among the overall league leaders.

“Arron is a tremendous young player who is only going to get better,” Ujiri said. “Not only has he become one of our best offensive players, but he is an excellent defender and a great leader in the locker room. He is a big part of our future, and we are glad to have him back on our roster.”

Drafted by the Detroit Pistons 27th overall out of UCLA in 2007, Afflalo played limited minutes in his first two NBA seasons before the Nuggets acquired him in exchange for a future second-round pick on July 13, 2009.

After earning a spot in Denver’s starting lineup less than two weeks into the 2009-10 season, Afflalo never relinquished the job. He averaged 8.8 points and 3.1 assists in his first year with the Nuggets and finished eighth in the NBA in three-point percentage (.434).

Afflalo enjoyed another banner season in 2010-11, highlighted by a career-high 31 points against the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 11 and a 24-point game against the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 10. In the Dallas game, he scored 19 points in the fourth-quarter and hit the winning jumper as time expired.

Vanessa Bryant divorce settlement may be over $75 million

The apparent lack of a prenuptial agreement — coupled with 10 years of marriage — will likely significantly increase the size of Vanessa Bryant’s divorce settlement with Kobe Bryant, legal experts said.

Vanessa Bryant’s mother told The Times several years ago that the couple did not sign a prenuptial agreement when they tied the knot in 2001. If true, that would entitle Vanessa to half of their community property…

Some estimates put Kobe Bryant’s net worth at $150 million. Legal experts said Vanessa Bryant will probably receive at least $75 million in addition to ongoing spousal and child support.

— Reported by the Los Angeles Times “L.A. Now” Blog

Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur will miss entire 2011-12 season

Memphis Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which revealed a torn right Achilles tendon, the team announced today.

Arthur (6-9, 235), who suffered the injury on Dec. 18, is scheduled to have surgery to repair the injury within one week and expected to be ready for the start of the 2012-13 season.

The 23-year-old averaged career highs in points (9.1), field goal percentage (.497), blocks (0.79) and minutes (20.1) in 80 games last season in his third NBA campaign. He posted 7.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 15.5 minutes during Memphis’ 13-game run in the 2011 Playoffs.

Selected by the New Orleans Hornets in the first round (27th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft, the Dallas native owns career averages of 6.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.69 blocks on .468 shooting in 18.8 minutes in 188 games (73 starts), all with the Grizzlies.

Rip Hamilton in starting lineup for Bulls tonight

Not only will Richard Hamilton makes his Bulls debut Tuesday, he’ll be a starter.

Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau ended the speculation after the team’s Tuesday-morning shootaround.

“He’s going to play,” said Thibodeau. “We’re going to change up [the starting lineup. Rip’s going to start tonight; Ronnie [Brewer is] going to be with the second unit.”

“We’ll see when [Hamilton] gets out there, what he can handle, he added. “I just want to see improvement from our last game…I’d like to see us take better care of the ball, I’d like to see us finish our defense better, so those are two of the primary things.”

— Reported by Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago

Atlanta Hawks sign guard Jannero Pargo

The Atlanta Hawks today signed guard Jannero Pargo, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund. Per team policy, terms were not disclosed.

Pargo signed with the Bulls on March 20, 2011, but didn’t appear in a contest last season. In 2009-10 with Chicago, the seven-year veteran played in 63 games (starting five), averaging 5.5 ppg, 1.4 apg and 1.2 rpg in 13.2 mpg. He’s also spent time with the Lakers, Raptors and Hornets. In 379 career contests, he’s put in 6.6 ppg, 2.0 apg and 1.5 rpg in 15.7 mpg.

The Hawks’ updated 2011-12 training camp roster is attached.

Atlanta hosts Charlotte on Thursday at Philips Arena in the Hawks’ only home preseason contest (7:30 p.m.). Tickets are free to all kids under the age of 16 at the Philips Arena box office (up to four free tickets per paid adult).

The Hawks’ first regular season home game is Wednesday, December 28 against John Wall and the Washington Wizards (7:30 p.m.).

Paul Allen says he is not selling the Blazers

Paul Allen was emphatic: He’s not selling the Portland Trail Blazers.

In a rare and wide-ranging discussion with reporters on Monday night, the billionaire owner shot down recent talk that he wants to put the Blazers on the market in the near future.

“I have no plans to sell the team,” he declared.

Allen would not, however, say how long he expects to keep the Blazers. He says numerous factors would play into that decision, including his health. The co-founder of Microsoft was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy in 2009, but was declared cancer-free late last year.

Allen was optimistic that the NBA’s new labor agreement would help smaller-market teams like his that have been losing money. He corrected one reporter about his losses saying they were in the “hundreds of millions, let’s be clear.”

— Reported by Anne M. Peterson of the Associated Press

San Antonio Spurs waive Steve Novak and Antonio McDyess

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that forward Steve Novak has been placed on waivers. He originally signed with the Spurs on March 4, 2011. In 23 games in San Antonio, during the 2010-11 season, he averaged 4.0 points in 8.6 minutes. Novak re-signed with the Spurs on December 15, 2011.

At the same time the team announced that, due to the structure of his contract, Antonio McDyess has also been placed on waivers. McDyess signed with the Spurs on July 10, 2009. He spent the last two NBA seasons in San Antonio and, in April, McDyess announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2010-11 campaign.

“Antonio McDyess is the ultimate pro,” said Spurs General Manager RC Buford. “It was truly a pleasure to have him in San Antonio the last two seasons. Antonio and his wife, Liara, are an important part of the Spurs family and will always be welcome.”

Bobcats sign rookie forward Bismack Biyombo

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed rookie forward Bismack Biyombo. He was a first round draft pick, so his salary is according to rookie scale.

The seventh overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Bobcats acquired Biyombo’s rights from the Sacramento Kings as part of three-team trade on June 23, 2011, in which the Bobcats also acquired Corey Maggette from the Milwaukee Bucks and sent Stephen Jackson, Shaun Livingston and the draft rights to Tobias Harris to Milwaukee.

The 6-9 Biyombo spent the last two seasons playing professionally in Spain. He split the 2010-11 season between C.B. Illescas in LEB Silver and Baloncesto Fuenlabrada in the ACB. Biyombo started the season with C.B. Illescas, averaging 9.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 21.9 minutes over 14 games played. He later moved to Fuenlabrada, appearing in 14 contests with averages of 6.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 17.1 minutes

As a member of the World Select Team at the 2011 Nike Hoop Summit on April 9, Biyombo recorded the first triple-double in the history of the event, tallying 12 points, 11 rebounds and a Hoop Summit-record 10 blocked shots.

Chuck Hayes fails physical; Sacramento Kings void his contract

STATEMENT FROM STATEMENT FROM GEOFF PETRIE REGARDING CHUCK HAYES

“This morning, in one of the most heartbreaking moments of my professional or personal life, Chuck Hayes was notified that he failed his physical exam with the Sacramento Kings. Subsequent to that, the contract signed on December 9th has been voided. At Chuck’s request, we will have no further comment at this time.”

—–

UPDATE: According to Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated, Hayes’ deal was for four years and $21 million, and in the past tests showed an abnormality in Hayes’ heart. We assume that the failed physical is heart-related, but don’t know that for sure. Whatever the case, we wish Chuck the best. As a person, he’s a player worth rooting for.

Bismack Biyombo to pay $1.5 million buyout, can join Bobcats

Forward Bismack Biyombo is free to join the Charlotte Bobcats after agreeing to pay a buyout clause to release him from his contract with Spanish club Fuenlabrada.

He will not play in Monday night’s preseason opener against the Hawks because he hasn’t had a chance to practice with the team, coach Paul Silas said.

Silas said Biyombo would begin to practice Tuesday and would play in Thursday night’s game at Atlanta.

Fuenlabrada said on Monday that Biyombo had agreed to pay the $1.5 million clause that will free him from the remaining two years of his contract.

— Reported by the Associated Press