July 2012 – Page 25 – NBA Blog

Toronto Raptors sign rookie Terrence Ross

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday they have signed guard Terrence Ross from the University of Washington to his rookie scale contract. He is under contract through the 2013-14 season, with two team option years to follow. The Raptors selected Ross with the eighth overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft.

All players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft are guaranteed to receive a contract. So, this signing is standard.

Ross, 6-foot-7, 197 pounds, was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection last season as a sophomore. He averaged 16.4 points and 6.4 rebounds, and ranked among Pac-12 leaders in eight categories including: points (4th), rebounds (6th), three-pointers per game (2.1, 8th) and blocks (0.9, 13th). Ross averaged 25.0 points in four games during Washington’s run to the NIT semifinals. He shot a perfect 15-of-15 from the free throw line and led UW shooters from three point range, making 15-of-37 attempts (.405). He posted a career-high 32 points with eight rebounds versus Northwestern in the NIT.

As a freshman, Ross made his first career starts in the Pac-10 Tournament, averaging 15.3 points and 2.7 rebounds, and shooting 52.8 percent from the field to earn a spot on the five-man All-Pac-10 Tournament team. He tallied a team-high 19 points versus North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament.

The Raptors open their five-game NBA Summer League schedule on the campus of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas on Friday against the Houston Rockets.

Blake Griffin agrees to sign Clippers contract extension

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin has agreed to a five-year contract extension, a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPNLosAngeles.com.

Griffin could earn as much as $95 million dollars over the course of the five-year extension if he is voted an All-Star starter again or named to a second All-NBA team next season under the so-called “Derrick Rose Rule” in the new collective bargaining agreement.

Under another clause in the new CBA, rookies may extend their contracts by four years. However, a team may designate one player to sign a five-year extension.

Griffin was always going to be the Clippers’ designated player, according to sources within the organization. However, had Eric Gordon not been traded to the New Orleans Hornets last December as part of the Paul trade, it might have created a problem.

— Reported by Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles

Jerry Buss hospitalized for dehydration

Famed L.A. Lakers owner Jerry Buss was rushed to an L.A. hospital last night, where he was treated for severe dehydration — Buss family sources tell TMZ.

According to sources, 78-year-old Buss fell ill at his home around 9pm and someone inside the house called 911. The L.A. City Fire Department responded and paramedics rushed Jerry to a local L.A. hospital.

— Reported by TMZ

Update from Lakers: Lakers spokesman John Black issued the following statement this morning on behalf of the team: “In response to media inquiries and to dispel rumors and inaccurate reports, we’d like to state that Dr. Buss is in a local hospital where he is being treated for dehydration. He is recovering and is expected to be released soon.”

Bulls decline to pick up C.J. Watson option

The deadline for Bulls options on Ronnie Brewer’s $4.37 million and C.J. Watson’s $3.2 million salaries has arrived. A decision on Kyle Korver’s $5 million option is due by Sunday.

In the wake of Kirk Hinrich’s signing, Watson’s camp already has been told his option won’t be picked up. Brewer long has been considered the most expendable of the three because Jimmy Butler, last year’s first-round pick, will assume his role.

Because of his shooting specialty, Korver has a slim chance to return and hasn’t been told definitively either way. Sources said the Bulls are exploring sign-and-trade possibilities for all three players in an attempt to avoid losing assets for nothing.

— Reported by K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune

Magic seek more Dwight Howard trade bids

The Orlando Magic have re-opened negotiations with teams other than the Brooklyn Nets for Dwight Howard, a league source told ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher.

The Atlanta Hawks are one of the teams but “not the best option,” the source said.

The Nets have been trying to acquire the Magic’s star center but need other teams to help facilitate the blockbuster trade. Sources told ESPN.com on Monday that the Nets and Magic were cautiously optimistic that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers would help them facilitate a four-way trade to send Howard to Brooklyn.

In that proposed trade, according to sources, the Nets would receive Howard, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark. The Magic would get Brook Lopez, Luke Walton, Damion James, Shelden Williams, Armon Johnson and three first-round picks — two from the Nets and a lottery-protected first from the Clippers. The Cavs would get Kris Humphries, Quentin Richardson, Sundiata Gaines, a first-round pick from the Nets and $3 million in cash. The Clippers would receive MarShon Brooks.

— Reported by ESPN.com news services

J.R. Smith, Steve Novak staying with Knicks

The 3-point bombers will be back on Broadway.

Eight hours after shooting ace Steve Novak agreed to return to the Knicks on a four-year, $15 million contract, high-scoring sub J.R. Smith stopped fielding offers and accepted the standing proposal of a two-year deal starting at $2.8 million in the first season with a player option for the second. The deal is the maximum the Knicks were able to offer Smith — who may become the starting shooting guard if the Knicks decide not to match the $19 million offer sheet the Raptors extended to Landry Fields — under the rules of the CBA.

Smith’s agency CAA released a statement late last night on Smith’s behalf: “I just felt that, despite my other options, New York is the best situation for me. Coach Woodson showed a lot of faith and trust in me last season, as did Mr. Dolan and the organization. My teammates are great to play with and the New York fans are the best!”

Novak’s package was made possible by the union’s victory over the NBA in the early-Bird exception rights arbitration case.

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Sacramento Kings sign rookie Thomas Robinson

The Sacramento Kings today signed first-round draft pick Thomas Robinson to a contract, according to Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. Sacramento selected Robinson with the fifth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

All players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft are guaranteed to receive a contract. So, this signing was expected, and is standard.

Robinson, the Big 12 Player of the Year and First Team All-American, led the nation in double-doubles (27) and was second in rebounding in 2011-12.

Deron Williams and Dwight Howard discussed teaming up in past

Deron Williams and Dwight Howard talked about being NBA teammates four years ago during the Olympics. Now Williams knows there’s speculation that it could happen soon.

He’s aware of reports that Orlando and Brooklyn are trying to arrange a trade – possibly involving two other teams – but he’s not paying too much attention to that.

“There’s been a lot of rumors over the last year as far as he’s concerned, so early on I concerned myself with it, but lately just let it play out and whatever happens, happens,” Williams said Monday at training camp for the latest Olympic team. “I think we’ll have a good team without him, I think we’d have an even better team with him.”

— Reported by Philadelphia Inquirer news services

Danny Green will stay with Spurs

When word began to leak Monday that Spurs guard Danny Green had agreed to terms of the first guaranteed, long-term contract of his NBA career, his cell phone blew up with calls that interrupted the very reason he was offered such security.

“I’m at the gym, trying to work out,” Green said when another phone call imposed. “Got to get stronger and sharpen my skills.”

Bill Duffy, the agent for the hard-working 25-year-old swingman, confirmed Monday that Green will sign a contract with the Spurs worth $12 million, fully guaranteed, over a three-year span.

His first opportunity to sign the deal will be Wednesday, when the NBA-imposed ban on free-agent signings is lifted.

— Reported by Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News

Monty Williams helped sell Ryan Anderson on trade to Hornets

As New Orleans Hornets General Manager Dell Demps pushed to work out the specifics of a contract offer last week, Coach Monty Williams talked extensively with Orlando Magic restricted free-agent power forward Ryan Anderson to convince him to join New Orleans. Impressed with Williams’ plans, Anderson initially accepted the Hornets’ four-year, $36 million offer sheet before the Magic stepped in to facilitate a sign-and-trade agreement with New Orleans on Sunday.

As part of the deal, the Hornets agreed to trade forward Gustavo Ayon to Orlando. The trade will be finalized Wednesday, when the league’s trade moratorium on player transactions ends.

“What he likes about New Orleans, I say first and foremost is Monty,” Anderson’s agent, Chris Emens, said Monday. “He thinks Monty is a great basketball mind, really a great communicator, and I think they have a common bond. They talked extensively during this process.

“I think one of the things that certainly helps make Monty a standout among NBA coaches is that he’s very invested in his players, not just professionally but personally. I think players feel that.”

— Reported by John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune