Month: June 2012

Rockets trade Chase Budinger to Timberwolves

chase budinger

The Minnesota Timberwolves today acquired 6-7 guard/forward Chase Budinger and the draft rights to 6-9 forward Lior Eliyahu from the Houston Rockets in exchange for the 18th overall pick in Thursday’s draft.

“We’re excited to add a player like Chase who is a proven shot-maker and also has an excellent all-around game,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “Chase knows Rick Adelman’s system well after playing for him in Houston, and he will be a good fit on our team.”

“Chase was an integral part of our team in Houston my last two years as coach there,” Adelman said. “He will help our perimeter game with his athleticism and shooting ability. Chase’s game has improved in each of his first three seasons in the NBA and we look forward to that continuing here in Minnesota.”

The 24-year-old Budinger played three seasons in Houston and has career averages of 9.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 210 games (35 starts). The 44th overall selection by the Detroit Pistons in the 2009 NBA Draft, Budinger was traded on draft night to the Rockets for a future second-round pick and cash. In 2011-12, Budinger established career highs in field goal percentage (.442) and three-point field goal percentage (.402). He also owns a career free throw percentage of .810.

An Encinitas, Calif., native, Budinger played three years at the University of Arizona where he averaged 17.0 points and 5.8 rebounds in 100 games for the Wildcats.

Eliyahu, a native of Israel, has played the past two seasons for Maccabi Tel Aviv, and averaged 11.3 points, on .579 shooting, and 4.1 rebounds in 69 games (56 starts) in 2011-12. The 26-year-old is a member of the Israeli national basketball team. Eliyahu was drafted with the 44th overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2006 NBA Draft and his rights were traded to Houston for cash considerations.

Magic fire Director of Player Development Adonal Foyle

adonal foyle

The Orlando Magic continued their front-office housecleaning Monday, firing Adonal Foyle after two seasons as the team’s director of player development.

“Today was my last day with the Orlando Magic as I was let go,” Foyle wrote on his Facebook page. “Thank you to the people of Orlando for your incredible support. I’m looking forward to my next adventure.”

Foyle, 37, played two seasons for the Magic and also was injured for the entire 2009-10 season.

— Reported by Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel

Bobcats, Pistons trade Corey Maggette, Ben Gordon

ben gordon

Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the club has acquired forward Corey Maggette from the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for guard Ben Gordon and a future first-round draft choice.

“We welcome Corey Maggette to our organization in a transaction that provides us with a veteran scorer and defender in addition to increased roster flexibility moving forward,” said Joe Dumars, President of Basketball Operations. “We thank Ben Gordon for his commitment to our organization over the last three years and wish him the best in the future.”

Maggette, a 6-6, 225-pound forward, averaged 15.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 32 games with the Charlotte Bobcats last season. In 809 career games, the 13-year NBA veteran has averaged 16.2 points (.454 FG, .325 3FG, .823 FT), 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Maggette averaged a career-high 22.2 points in 2004-05 as a member of the L.A. Clippers and has averaged 20-plus points three times and 15-plus points nine times during his career. Drafted 13 th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Seattle Supersonics, his draft rights were then traded to Orlando where he played one year before being traded to the Clippers where he played eight seasons (2000-08). Maggette also played two seasons with the Golden State Warriors (2008-10) and one with the Milwaukee Bucks (2010-11).

Gordon, 29, averaged 12.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 26.9 minutes in 52 games last season (21 starts). He scored a season-high 45 points at Denver (3/21), tying his own NBA record with nine consecutive three-point field goals made without a miss. He also made a franchise-record seven three-pointers in the second quarter vs. Philadelphia (4/26) and tied the franchise record for three-pointers in a half (7). In three seasons with the Pistons, the former Connecticut product averaged 12.4 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 26.8 minutes in 196 games. After tallying 15-plus points per game during five seasons in Chicago, where he was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2004-05, Gordon’s best year with Detroit came during the 2009-10 campaign when he averaged 13.8 points and 2.7 assists in 62 games.

David Morway resigns as GM of Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers announced Tuesday that David Morway has resigned as General Manager of the franchise.

Morway was originally hired in January, 1999, as Vice President of Basketball Administration and was promoted to General Manager in April, 2008. When Morway was hired as General Manager of the Pacers, the franchise initiated a rebuilding plan that culminated this year with a 42-24 record and an appearance in the second round of the playoffs against the Miami Heat.

“I’ve had a terrific 13-plus years with the franchise,” said Morway. “The performance of this year’s team both on and off the court was incredibly rewarding. To experience Bankers Life Fieldhouse full to the rafters again, with an energy reminiscent of the late 90s, and to see our fan base re-engaged and proud made it all worthwhile.

“While I deeply care about this franchise, sometimes change is important for everyone concerned. For the past year I have carefully and thoughtfully considered my personal, family and professional goals. After discussing all of these issues with our owner, Herb Simon, and Larry (Bird, President of Basketball Operations), I believe this is the right time to step away.

“I want to thank Mr. Simon, Larry, (former team president) Donnie Walsh and (team president) Jim Morris for the opportunity they gave me and the friendship and mentorship they provided. I also want to thank everyone associated with the franchise, including all of the players, our coaches and our terrific staff as well as the Indianapolis community and all of our fans for giving me and my family the opportunity to be part of Pacers’ basketball for the last 13-plus years”

“We are very appreciative of David’s efforts the entire time he has been here,” said Simon. “His work ethic and dedication to making this franchise better was unwavering through many good times and some difficult times. Whatever direction his professional future takes him, I’m certain he will have success and a positive impact.”

Larry Bird will leave the Indiana Pacers

larry bird

Larry Bird has decided to call it quits as president of the Indiana Pacers.

Bird is “100 percent sure” he will not return as president of the team, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Star on Monday.

Bird, 55, is expected to meet with owner Herb Simon today to finalize his departure.

Bird’s departure will end what had become annual speculation about his future. He and Simon operated under a yearly handshake agreement because Bird was not interested in a long-term commitment.

— Reported by Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star

Bobcats open to trading no.2 pick

New Charlotte coach Mike Dunlap says the idea of trading down from the No. 2 spot in the NBA draft to acquire extra picks “makes a lot of sense” for a young team like the Bobcats.

After finishing 7-59 and with the worst winning percentage (.106) in NBA history, the Bobcats have a variety of holes to fill this offseason.

Dunlap recognizes that.

That’s one of the reasons he said the Bobcats are taking a “hybrid thinking” approach to Thursday night’s draft, which means evaluating the talent available at No. 2 while simultaneously looking into the feasibility of moving down and picking up an additional first-round draft pick.

He said the option of trading down “is on the board.”

— Reported by the Associated Press

Bulls have considered trading Luol Deng

luol deng

The Bulls have considered the possibility of trading Deng for a high pick in this year’s draft. The reason has nothing to do with how much they appreciate Deng or any disappointment that he’s planning to postpone wrist surgery to play in the Olympics. It’s more about creating some financial flexibility on a team with four high-salaried players – Deng, Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah.

So far, it looks like there aren’t any takers. It’s very possible no team wants to take on that much salary ($27 million over the next two years) for a guy who’s likely to miss the start of next season recovering from wrist surgery.

There was talk that Golden State, with the No. 7 pick, was interested. But that makes no sense because the Warriors already have a bloated payroll featuring Andrew Bogut, David Lee, Richard Jefferson and Andris Biedrins – not to mention a pending extension for Stephen Curry.

— Reported by Mike McGraw of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald

Donnie Walsh taking job with Indiana Pacers

Ex-Knicks president Donnie Walsh, ousted by Garden chairman Jim Dolan last June after he was offered a 40% pay cut, is returning to the Indiana Pacers.

Walsh, the long-time Indiana CEO before he came to New York to rebuild the Knicks, will be leading the Pacers in their efforts to land free agents starting when the period opens Sunday, league sources said Monday. The team’s No. 1 priority is to re-sign point guard George Hill, a restricted free agent, and sources said Walsh will be spearheading the team’s efforts to keep Hill.

Walsh, 71, has a close relationship with Pacers owner Herb Simon and has been attending the team’s pre-draft workouts in recent weeks.

— Reported by Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News

Trail Blazers extend qualifying offer to Nicolas Batum

Nicolas Batum

The Portland Trail Blazers have extended a qualifying offer to forward Nicolas Batum, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey.

Batum will become a restricted free agent on July 1, ensuring that the Trail Blazers will have right of first refusal should another team try to sign him. The move gives Portland the right to match any contract offer he will receive.

Batum, 23, holds averages of 10.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 26.2 minutes in 255 games (202 starts) with the Trail Blazers over four NBA seasons. A native of Lisieux, France, Batum was acquired by Portland in a draft day trade with Houston in June 2008.