July 2012 – Page 20 – NBA Blog

Mavericks hope to re-sign Delonte West

The Mavericks remain interested in re-signing Delonte West, a source said.

The Mavs still intend to add backcourt depth after acquiring point guard Darren Collison and shooting guard Dahntay Jones in a sign-and-trade deal with the Indiana Pacers. Dallas’ decision makers value West’s toughness and versatility and would like him to return to the Mavs after averaging 9.6 points, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals as a part-time starter last season.

As with every move the Mavs make this summer, West’s return would have to be at the right price, which is likely in the salary range of $2 million.

— Reported by Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas

Bobcats withdraw qualifying offer to D.J. Augustin

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has withdrawn its qualifying offer to D.J. Augustin. Augustin now becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Augustin was initially selected by the Bobcats with the ninth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. In four NBA seasons, he played in 282 total games for the Bobcats, with averages of 10.9 points, 4.4 assists and 2.0 rebounds. In 2011-12, he saw action in 48 games, averaging 11.1 points, 6.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds.

According to the Charlotte Observer, the Bobcats are expected to sign free agent guard Ramon Sessions.

Blake Griffin injury update: Left knee will be examined

Clippers forward Blake Griffin experienced some left knee discomfort after completing Wednesday’s practice as a member of Team USA in Las Vegas. He will travel to Los Angeles today and will not be available for Team USA’s game Thursday night in Las Vegas versus the Dominican Republic.

Upon arrival in Los Angeles, Griffin will undergo an MRI and be examined by the Clippers’ medical staff. On Sunday, he will also be examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.

An announcement concerning their joint conclusion and a further course of action will be made available by the Clippers, as soon as possible after that.

The USA National Team concludes its Las Vegas training tonight (July 12, 6:00 p.m. PDT) with the USA Basketball Showcase that features the USA facing the Dominican Republic at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center. The game is being televised live by ESPN.

Named on July 7 to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team were: Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Griffin; James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); LeBron James (Miami Heat); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); and Deron Williams (Brooklyn Nets).

The 2012 USA coaching staff is led by Duke University Hall of Fame mentor Mike Krzyzewski, who has led the USA Basketball Men’s National Team to gold medal finishes at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2008 Beijing Olympics. Assisting Krzyzewski is Syracuse University and Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, and former NBA head coaches Mike D’Antoni and Nate McMillan.

Knicks re-sign Steve Novak

New York Knickerbockers Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has re-signed forward Steve Novak. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Novak, 6-10, 240-pounds, averaged 8.8 points, on 47.8-percent shooting from the field (161-337) and 47.2-percent (133-282) from downtown, over 18.9 minutes in 54 games off the bench after being claimed off waivers on Dec. 21. He led the NBA in three-point field goal percentage (.472), becoming just the second Knick to accomplish the feat (Campy Russell, 1981-82). His three-point prowess included eight games with three triples, eight games of four treys, six five-triple games and a career-best eight three pointers during an Apr. 17 win versus Boston. The Milwaukee, WI native was originally selected by Houston in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft following a four-year career at Marquette University.

Knicks sign Jason Kidd

New York Knickerbockers Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed 10-time NBA All-Star free agent guard Jason Kidd. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Adding a veteran NBA All-Star to our already established team was an opportunity we could not pass up,” Grunwald said. “He has had a prolific career, with plenty of good basketball still ahead of him. Jason is a tremendous competitor and one of the best leaders the game has ever seen.”

“I am absolutely thrilled that we were able to add Jason Kidd to our roster,” Head Coach Mike Woodson said. “I consider him to be a great professional that will help our team both on and off the court.”

Kidd, 6-4, 212-pounds, holds career averages of 13.0 points, 9.0 assists. 6.4 rebounds and 1.95 steals over 36.6 minutes in 1,315 games (1.302 starts) over 18 seasons with Dallas, Phoenix and New Jersey. He appeared in 146 postseason games (all starts), averaging 13.9 points, 8.5 assists, 7.0 rebounds and 1.99 steals over 40.0 minutes. He led the Dallas Mavericks, along with teammate and current Knicks center Tyson Chandler, to the 2011 NBA Championship and won Gold Medals at the 2000 and 2008 Summer Olympics games in Sydney and Beijing, respectively. As a member of the New Jersey Nets, Kidd appeared in back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.

Kidd ranks second in NBA history in total assists (11,842) and total steals (2,559), third in three pointers (1,874) and eighth in assists per game (9.0). He is a 10-time All-Star (1996, 1998, 2000-04, 2007-08, 2010), including five starts (1996, 2000-02, 2008), a five-time All-NBA First-Team selection (1999-02, 2004) and earned All-NBA Second Team honors in 2003. He was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team four times (1999, 2001, 2002, 2006) and Second Team five times (2000, 2003-05, 2007) and was the 1995 Co-Rookie of the Year.

The San Francisco, CA-native, averaged 6.2 points, 5.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.71 steals over 28.7 minutes in 48 games (all starts) with Dallas during 2011-12. He was originally selected by Dallas following his sophomore season at the University of California in the first round (second overall pick) of the 1994 NBA Draft.

Pistons sign second round pick Kim English

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club has signed second round draft selection Kim English to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

English, who was selected with the 44th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, played four seasons at Missouri and averaged 14.1 points (.521 FG), 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists as a senior. He scored in double figures in 26-of-35 games a year ago, including seven games with 20-plus points. English shot 45.9% from beyond the arc last season and shot better than 36.0% from three-point range in each of his four years with the Tigers. He earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors as a senior and was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 Big 12 Tournament. English averaged 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 24.2 minutes in 141 games at Missouri, shooting 39.4% (239-606 3FG) from three-point range for his career.

Pacers will trade Darren Collison to Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks continued their recovery from disappointment in the Deron Williams sweepstakes, reaching terms on a trade with the Indiana Pacers to acquire point guard Darren Collison.

The Mavericks agreed to acquire Collison and swingman Dahntay Jones in a sign-and-trade deal that will send free-agent center Ian Mahinmi to the Pacers to serve as a backup for Roy Hibbert.

Jones’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed the trade Thursday. Both teams declined comment.

Collison is the second significant addition made Wednesday by the Mavericks, who also signed center Chris Kaman. Collison and Kaman will be playing on expiring contracts next season.

Collison has one year left on his contract at $2.3 million. ESPN.com reported earlier Wednesday the Mavs and Kaman agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $8 million.

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

Bucks re-sign forward Ersan Ilyasova

The Milwaukee Bucks have re-signed free-agent forward Ersan Ilyasova (6-10, 235) to a multi-year contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. We’ll post contract details here later today.

Ilyasova, 25, appeared in 60 games (41 starts) for the Bucks last season and averaged career-highs in points (13.0 ppg), rebounds (8.8 rpg; 18th in the NBA), assists (1.2 apg), field goal percentage (.492; 26th in the NBA), and three-point percentage (.455; 2nd in the NBA). He became the first player to average 12+ points and 8+ rebounds in fewer than 28 minutes per game since Arvydas Sabonis in 1995-96. Ilyasova erupted for 29 points and a career-best 25 rebounds in a 92-85 win at New Jersey (Feb. 19), becoming the third player in Bucks franchise history (along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Swen Nater) to record a 25/25 game. His 13 offensive rebounds in the game were the most by a Bucks player in over 25 years and just two shy of Nater’s franchise record. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week (Mar. 5-11) after averaging 25.0 points and 10.8 rebounds while shooting 63.8 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from the arc during a 3-1 week.

A four-year NBA veteran, Ilyasova has appeared in 267 games (120 starts) over his NBA career while averaging 9.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists. He was drafted by Milwaukee with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft and played his first season with Tulsa in the NBA Development League. Following the 2006-07 campaign with the Bucks, he played two seasons with Regal FC Barcelona of the Spanish League.

After two seasons overseas, Ilyasova returned to the Bucks for the 2009-10 campaign. He averaged a then-career-high 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in helping Milwaukee to the playoffs where he posted 12.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in the seven-game series with Atlanta.

Born in Eskisehir, Turkey, Ilyasova began playing professional basketball at the age of 15. He has represented Turkey in national team competition including the 2010 FIBA World Championships hosted in his home country.

Sixers waive Elton Brand via amnesty clause

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they have waived forward Elton Brand and have designated him as the team’s amnesty player.

“On behalf of the Philadelphia 76ers, I want to thank Elton for his contributions to our organization and city,” said Sixers President of Basketball Operations Rod Thorn. “Decisions of this nature are never easy, particularly when it involves a player of Elton’s talent and character. He worked tirelessly for the overall good of the team every time he put on a Sixers uniform and we wish him nothing but the best.”

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “Amnesty allows the Sixers to remove the final year of Brand’s contract – worth almost $18.2 million – from their salary cap. Teams below the salary cap ($58 million) are permitted to bid for Brand’s services. That team will pay Brand a determined amount and the Sixers will pay the remainder of the contract. The Sixers signed Brand to a five-year, $79 million deal on July 9, 2008. In four seasons with the team, Brand appeared in 246 games with 221 starts, averaging 13.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.33 block s and 1.01 steals in 31.5 minutes per game.”

Brand (6-9, 254) was signed as a free agent by the Sixers on July 9, 2008. In four seasons with the team, he appeared in 246 games with 221 starts, averaging 13.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.33 blocks and 1.01 steals in 31.5 minutes per game while shooting 49.0% from the floor and 74.4% from the line.

Blake Griffin hurts left knee at Team USA practice

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin hurt his left knee in a Team USA scrimmage Wednesday and is returning to Los Angeles to be examined by team doctors, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Griffin twisted the knee in a scrimmage, a source said. The severity of the injury is unclear. He’s expected to have an MRI, possibly as soon as Thursday.

Griffin injured the same knee in Game 5 of the Clippers’ first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies.

— Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports