July 2012 – Page 13 – NBA Blog

Timberwolves have interest in Greg Stiemsma

While the Minnesota Timberwolves have emerged as the front-runner for Greg Stiemsma, his agent tells CSNNE.com that the restricted free agent has yet to receive an offer sheet.

The Timberwolves are focused on acquiring Portland’s Nicolas Batum who signed a $46 million offer sheet with Minnesota.

“Until that’s worked out, a lot of players like Greg will just have to wait which is fine,” his agent Mike Naiditch, told CSNNE.com on Tuesday. “We understand that this is a process and will take time. We’re not in any kind of rush.”

— Reported by CSNNE.com

Wizards waive Andray Blatche as amnesty player

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived forward Andray Blatche and has designated him as the team’s amnesty player. Under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the amnesty provision allows the Wizards to remove the remainder of Blatche’s contract from the team’s salary cap.

“Andray did not figure into our future plans, and using the amnesty provision is a mutually beneficial opportunity for us to part ways,” said Grunfeld. “We will be able to continue to develop our core group of young players, blend in the solid veterans we have acquired and maintain financial flexibility while Andray will be able to get a fresh start with another team. We wish him the best moving forward.”

Blatche averaged 9.9 points and 5.4 rebounds in 409 career games with the Wizards. He was originally acquired as second round selection (49 th overall) in the 2005 NBA Draft.

Grant Hill to join Clippers

The Clippers continue to add veteran talent to their roster, as Grant Hill has reportedly agreed to sign with the Clippers. The means of the signing, whether it be the veteran’s minimum, the bi-annual exception or a sign-and-trade have not been finalized.

Hill, who will turn 40 in October, was said to be considering signing with the Lakers or the Knicks before the Clippers emerged as a player over the weekend.

After three healthy seasons in Phoenix, Hill played in 49 games last season for the Suns, averaging 10.2 points and 3.5 rebounds a game.

— Reported by Dain Woike of the OC Register

Royal Ivey will return to 76ers

Guard Royal Ivey has returned to the Sixers, coach Doug Collins told reporters today.

The 6-4 Ivey played in 71 games with the Sixers in 2008-09, averaging 3 points per game in 12.1 minutes as a reserve. Ivey appeared in 26 games the following season before he was traded to Milwaukee in the deal that brought Jodie Meeks.

He spent the last two seasons with Oklahoma City, playing in 25 games two years ago and 34 games last season. He also appeared in five playoff games as the Thunder reached the NBA Finals this past season.

— Reported by the Philadelphia Daily News

Fran Vazquez continues overseas career

If Fran Vázquez ever plays for the Orlando Magic, it won’t be before the 2014-15 season.

The Magic’s former first-round draft pick has decided to keep playing in Europe. Again.

In an interview Tuesday, Vázquez’s agent, José Cobelo, confirmed that Vázquez has agreed in principle to a new contract with Unicaja Málaga, a team in Spain’s top league.

Cobelo said the new deal is guaranteed for two seasons and does not include an out clause that would enable the 6-foot-10 big man to leave Spain for the NBA. The contract includes an option to extend the deal for a third year, the 2014-15 season.

“We haven’t had much communication with Orlando,” Cobelo said. “They didn’t have much interest, so they didn’t affect our situation.”

— Reported by the Orlando Sentinel

Kris Humphries to re-sign with Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have made an agreement in principle on a contract with forward Kris Humphries, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. According to multiple reports, it is a two-year deal worth $24 million.

“Kris has been a very consistent player for us over the past two years,” said King. “He has developed into one of the top rebounding forwards in the league, and we are very pleased to welcome him back.”

According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, “His pending signature gives the Nets a starting 5 certainly worthy of a playoff spot – PG Deron Williams, SG Joe Johnson, SF Gerald Wallace, PF Humphries and C Lopez – although the team’s total payroll is set to exceed $80 million, or about $10 million above the luxury tax threshold. “Kris is really excited to be playing for the new, cool team – the Brooklyn Nets,” Humphries’ agent, Dan Fegan, said. Humphries had been eager for a lucrative deal after consecutive years averaging a double-double, and he targeted Brooklyn — a team yearning for a rebounding power forward and capable of paying him more than any other team because they hold his Bird Rights.”

Humphries rejoins the Nets after a career-year in 2011-12 that saw the 6-9 forward average personal bests of 13.8 points and 11.0 rebounds, while shooting .481 (323-671) from the field in 62 games. He has now averaged a double-double in consecutive seasons, 2010-11 and 2011-12. The eight-year veteran out of Minnesota ranked 4th in the NBA in rebounds per game last season, tallied 29 double-doubles (10th in NBA) and scored 20+ points 12 times. He recorded a career-high 31 points vs. Milwaukee on March 12 and tallied a season-high 21 rebounds vs. Toronto on March 14.

Humphries originally came to the Nets as part of a mid-season trade in 2009-10. Selected 14th overall in the 2004 NBA Draft by Utah, he went on to play for Toronto and Dallas before joining the Nets. In 493 career NBA games, Humphries holds averages of 6.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

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Jonny Flynn works out for Cavaliers

Free-agent point guard Jonny Flynn worked out with for the Cavaliers on Monday, and there remains strong interest on both sides. Flynn has battled hip injuries in the past, but is healthy now and making a tour of NBA camps.

He has already worked out for the Cavs, Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks and has more teams on the schedule. He isn’t close to making a decision, according to a source close to Flynn.

The Cavs have held internal debates about whether or not it’s necessary to sign another point guard. Kyrie Irving and Donald Sloan are the only pure point guards on the roster, and Sloan is on a non-guaranteed contract.

Dion Waiters can certainly run the offense and Daniel Gibson, when healthy, can handle the point guard role in an emergency. But coach Byron Scott said he’d feel more comfortable with another true point guard, particularly in case Irving gets injured again.

— Reported by Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal

Blake Griffin injury update: Surgery on left knee complete

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin underwent successful arthroscopic surgery today to repair the medial meniscus tear of his left knee which he suffered during Team USA’s practice in Las Vegas on Wednesday, July 11th. The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.

Griffin experienced discomfort following Wednesday’s practice in Las Vegas. He underwent a magnetic resonance imaging examination on Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles which revealed the injury. MRI data was then analyzed by Clippers’ Team Physician, Dr. Steven Shimoyama, and Dr. ElAttrache.

Griffin is expected to be ready for the opening of training camp in the fall.

Blazers sign-and-trade Raymond Felton to Knicks

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has re-acquired guard Raymond Felton, via sign-and trade, and forward/center Kurt Thomas from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for forward Jared Jeffries, via sign-and-trade, center Dan Gadzuric, the draft rights to Kostas Papanikolaou and Giorgos Printezis and a protected future second-round draft pick.

Felton, 6-1, 205-pounds, averaged 11.4 points, 6.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.30 steals over 31.8 minutes in 60 games (56 starts) with the Trail Blazers last season. Originally selected by the Bobcats, following his junior season at the University of North Carolina, with the fifth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, the seven-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 13.4 points and 6.7 assists over 534 games with Charlotte, New York, Denver and Portland. During the 2010-11 season, Felton started all 54 games he appeared in for the Knicks to average 17.1 points and 9.0 assists over 38.4 minutes, before a trade sent him to the Nuggets on Feb. 22, 2011.

Thomas, 6-9, 235-pounds, averaged 3.0 points and 3.5 rebounds over 15.2 minutes in 53 games for the Trail Blazers last season. Originally selected by the Heat, out of Texas Christian University, with the 10th overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft, the 17-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 8.3 points and 6.8 rebounds over 1,071 games with Miami, Dallas, New York, Phoenix, Seattle, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Chicago and Portland.

For seven seasons from 1998-2005, Thomas donned the blue and orange and was a key contributor to the Knicks’ 1999 Eastern Conference Championship. He currently ranks 19th on the franchise’s all-time scoring list, eighth in rebounds, fourth in blocked shots and 11th in point-rebound double-doubles, and is one of only 17 players to have appeared in at least 500 games for New York.

Gadzuric, 6-11, 240-pounds, played 13 total minutes in two games for the Knicks last season after signing as a free agent on Apr. 20. The 10-year NBA veteran averaged 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds over 527 career games for Milwaukee, Golden State, New Jersey and New York.

Jeffries, 6-11, 240-pounds, averaged 4.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 39 games for the Knicks last season. The 10-year NBA veteran averaged 5.0 points and 4.2 rebounds over 591 career games for Washington, New York and Houston.

Sacramento Kings agree to sign guard Aaron Brooks

The Sacramento Kings and free agent guard Aaron Brooks today have agreed in principle to a contract, according to Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

“We’re really excited about the prospect of Aaron joining the team,” said Petrie. “The fact that he’s chosen to play for the Kings makes us feel good about what he’ll be able to provide to us on the court. Aaron’s another young player who brings a lot of speed, quickness, experience and scoring ability.”

Brooks, a four-year NBA veteran, led the Guandong Southern Tigers of the China Basketball Association to the Finals while leading the team in points (22.3), assists (4.8) and steals (1.9) per game this past season. Selected by the Houston Rockets in the first round (26th overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, Brooks has amassed NBA career averages of 12.5 points (.411 FGs, .363 3FGs, .850 FTs), 3.6 assists and 1.9 rebounds per game in 272 outings with Houston and Phoenix. His best statistical season occurred during the 2009-10 campaign when he averaged 19.6 points and 5.3 assists per game with the Rockets, which resulted in winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. Brooks was traded by Houston to the Suns on February 24, 2011.

A native of Seattle, Brooks enjoyed a four-year career at the University of Oregon, recording career averages of 13.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game in 115 contests.