The Golden State Warriors have signed first round draft pick Klay Thompson and draft-night acquisition Jeremy Tyler to contracts, the team announced today. Per team policy, terms were not announced. Additionally, the Warriors have signed free agent forward/center Julian Khazzouh, free agent guards Tommy Mitchell and Tim Pickett, as well as free agent forward Tommy Smith to contracts. All six players will participate in Warriors practice today.
Thompson, 21, was selected by the Warriors with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft after playing three collegiate seasons at Washington State. A two-time All-Pac-10 First Team selection following his sophomore and junior campaigns, Thompson appeared in 98 games during his three-year career, averaging 17.9 points, 4.8 rebounds 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 34.4 minutes per contest. Last season, the 6’7” guard averaged 21.6 points per game, which led the Pac-10 and ranked 11th in the nation.
Tyler, 20, was originally selected with the 39th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats and acquired by the Warriors for cash considerations. A 6’10” forward/center, Tyler played the 2010-11 season with the Tokyo Apache of the Basketball Japan League, averaging 9.9 points and 6.4 rebounds in 33 games. In 2009-10 he appeared in 10 games with Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli League after leaving high school following his junior year to play professionally overseas.
Khazzouh, 25, began this season with the Sydney Kings of the NBL in Australia, where he was averaging 18.6 points and 11.0 rebounds through 13 games. A 6’10’’ forward/center, Khazzouh was named All-NBL First Team in 2010-11 while playing for the Sydney Kings and finished second in the league’s MVP voting. In addition to his Australian career, which began in 2004, Khazzouh spent one season (2009-10) in Israel.
Mitchell, 29, played last season for the Quebec Kebs of the NBL in Canada, averaging 11.8 points in 12 games. A 6’3’’ guard, Mitchell played four seasons at Siena from 2001-05.
Pickett, 31, has played professionally since 2005, appearing in France, Italy, China, Bulgaria, Puerto Rico, China and Israel. The 6’4” guard was originally selected by the New Orleans Hornets with the 44th overall pick out of Florida State, but never played in the NBA.
Smith, 31, has played overseas since 2003-04, making stops in Croatia, Germany, Syria and, most recently, China. The 6’10” forward was originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 53rd overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft out of Arizona State, but never played in the NBA.
