July 2013 – Page 19 – NBA Blog

Dwight Howard happy for fresh start with Rockets

Dwight Howard says he’s looking forward to a “fresh start” with the Rockets.

The center was formally introduced in Houston on Saturday after spurning the Lakers to sign with the Rockets, and he was greeted by some of the brightest stars in team history.

Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon and Yao Ming were among those on hand to celebrate Howard’s signing.

“This is a great opportunity, a great feeling to be here, to have a fresh start,” Howard said, according to the Houston Chronicle. “… I made this decision for me. I want to be happy. If you can’t be happy when you’re playing, it’s not fun. I want to get back to being that guy who was playing and having fun but at the same time dominating.

“If we dedicate ourselves and sacrifice everything we’ve got for a championship, at the end of the season we should be holding up a trophy.”

Reported by ESPN.com News Services

On the importance of summer league

One NBA executive marveled to me about how much stock people put into summer league. It is, he said, just a chance to see the guys apply the things they’ve done separately at their workouts. At the same time, Celtics assistant coach (and head coach for the summer league team) Jay Larranaga often mentioned how some of these guys are showcasing themselves for other teams, even while wearing green.

That’s part of the deal teams make with some of these guys. Darius Johnson-Odom played three games for the Celtics, made his case for those seated at the Magic’s practice court, and then left to join the Nuggets summer league team in Las Vegas (the Celtics are not participating in the Las Vegas league). Many others are also double-dipping. That’s part of trying to make the show. It’s part of the struggle.

The payoff, if there is one, is gigantic. You can see the stress that puts on some guys. Sometimes you see it on the court. Sometimes you catch it when they step into the media dining area to get some food.

Reported by John Karalis of WEEI.com

Atlanta Hawks match Milwaukee Bucks offer sheet for Jeff Teague

The Atlanta Hawks have matched the offer sheet extended by the Milwaukee Bucks to Jeff Teague, President of Basketball Operations/GM Danny Ferry announced today.

According to multiple reports, the offer sheet was for four years and $32 million.

“We are happy to bring Jeff back to our team. He has improved each year of his career and continues to get better,” Ferry said. “At 25, he’s already been a key contributor on a playoff team and we look forward to seeing him develop into even more of a leader on our team.”

Teague increased his scoring and assist averages for the third consecutive year, posting career highs with 14.6 points and 7.2 assists in 32.9 minutes per game in 80 games (78 starts) during the 2012-13 season. His 7.2 assists per game ranked 12th in the NBA last season and he shot .881 from the free throw line, the eighth-highest percentage in the league. He is one of just 10 players in the NBA to increase their scoring average in each of the past three seasons.

The four-year veteran from Wake Forest posted 10 games with at least 20 points and 10 assists, tied for the fourth-most in the league last season with Stephen Curry (Golden State) and behind only LeBron James (Miami, 13), Tony Parker (San Antonio, 12), Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 11) and Deron Williams (Brooklyn, 11) . The Hawks posted an 8-2 record in those games.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to coach Jeff. He has a high level of talent. Keeping him with our group allows us to continue to build and improve going forward,” Head Coach Mike Budenholzer said.

The 19th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Hawks, Teague has career averages of 9.0 points on .451 shooting and 4.0 assists in 22.6 minutes per game in 287 games (154 starts). He has also played in 29 postseason games (18 starts) and has averages of 9.4 points on .409 shooting and 3.0 assists in 25.3 minutes per game.

San Antonio Spurs re-sign Tiago Splitter

The San Antonio Spurs today announced they have re-signed Tiago Splitter.

Last season, he posted career-bests, appearing in 81 games and averaging 10.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.7 minutes, while shooting .560 (315-563) from the field and .730 (208-285) from the free throw line.

Splitter was selected by the Spurs with the 28th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and was signed by the team on July 12, 2010. In 200 career games with the Silver and Black, Splitter has averaged 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19.3 minutes. He has appeared in 19 games in the playoffs, averaging 6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 17.3 minutes.

“Tiago is a great fit in our system and we are delighted that he has elected to sign a long-term contract to remain with the Spurs,” said Spurs general manager R.C. Buford. “Thanks to his work ethic and basketball IQ we have seen him improve each season in San Antonio. He was a key reason for our success during the 2012-13 season and we look forward to his future contributions.”

Prior to joining the Spurs, the 6-11, 235-pound center played for Caja Laboral Vitoria in the ACB League from 2003-10. Splitter helped lead Caja Laboral to four Spanish League regular season titles (2003-04, 2004-05, 2006-07 and 2008-09) and two Spanish League championships (2007-08 and 2009-10). In seven Spanish League seasons with the team, Splitter averaged 11.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 233 games while shooting .616 (969-1,573) from the floor.

During the 2009-10 ACB season Splitter was named the Spanish League regular season MVP and the Spanish League Finals MVP. He earned All-Euroleague honors three straight seasons from 2007-10, including First Team in 2008 and Second Team in both the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

Originally signed by Caja Laboral in April of 2000 at the age of 15, Splitter played on loan with Araba Gorago Alava in 2000-01, Basket Bilbao Berri in 2001-02 and 2002-03 before joining Caja Laboral for the 2003-04 season.

Born and raised in Brazil, Splitter has played for the Brazilian National Team since 2002. In international play, Splitter helped lead Brazil to gold medals at the 2003 South American Championship, the 2003 Pan American Games, the 2005 Americas Championship and the 2009 Americas Championship. Splitter also represented Brazil at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Milwaukee Bucks sign guard O.J. Mayo

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free-agent guard O.J. Mayo (6-4, 210), General Manager John Hammond announced today. According to the Associated Press, the Bucks agreed to terms on a three-year, $24 million contract with Mayo last week.

With Bucks guard Brandon Jennings exploring free agency and Monta Ellis agreeing to sign with the Dallas Mavericks, a guard like Mayo was a much-needed addition for Milwaukee.

Mayo, 25, spent the 2012-13 season with the Dallas Mavericks, where he averaged 15.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 35.5 minutes per game. He finished the season shooting 44.9 percent from the field and a career-best 40.7 percent from beyond the arc (26th in the NBA). Mayo scored in double figures on 63 occasions last season, including a career-high-tying 40 points in a win at Houston on Dec. 8.

Originally selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the third overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Mayo was dealt to Memphis on draft night and played his first four seasons with the Grizzlies before signing with Dallas as a free agent prior to the 2012-13 campaign. The USC product has appeared in 383 games in his five-year career, averaging 15.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.1 steals per contest. Mayo’s 383 games played are the fifth-most in the league since the start of the 2008-09 season, and he’s avoided missing a single game in four of his five seasons thus far.

Rockets trade Royce White to 76ers

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has traded forward Royce White, the draft rights to Turkish forward Furkan Aldemir (four-KAHN ahl-DEE-meer) and cash considerations to the Philadelphia 76ers for future draft considerations.

White (6-8, 260, Iowa State) was selected by Houston with the 16th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. While not seeing action with the Rockets in 2012-13, White averaged 11.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 16 games (eight starts) with the D-League Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

So far, the start of White’s NBA career has revolved more around his anxiety problem and his difficulty with flying in airplanes and other issues than his actual ability to play basketball. Due to his disorder, his future in the league remains unclear at this time.

Aldemir (6-10, 230, Turkey), who was originally selected by the L.A. Clippers in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2012 NBA Draft, had his draft rights acquired by Houston as part of a four-team trade on June 29, 2012.

Miami Heat remain interested in Greg Oden

Pat Riley said the Heat remain interested in free-agent center Greg Oden, who is expected to defer his decision until next month as he works his way back from career-long knee issues.

“We do have interest in him and we will track him,” he said.

Riley said the Heat were not in contact with center Andrew Bynum, who ultimately took a free-agent deal from the Cleveland Cavaliers larger than the Heat could have offered.

As for spending more on coach Erik Spoelstra, whose contract is approaching its end, Riley said, “He’s one of the family here and as soon as that is broached, I’m sure it will be broached in a very positive manner.”

Under the new formula that goes into effect starting this coming season, the Heat, by currently standing $16 million over the $71,748,000 luxury-tax threshold set Tuesday by the NBA, would have to write a tax check to the league of $33.6 million at season’s end.

Reported by Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Raptors adding Bill Bayno to coaching staff

The Toronto Raptors continue to add to their coaching staff. Bill Bayno, who has worked under Rick Adelman in Minnesota since 2011, is joining Dwane Casey’s staff. Bayno, 51, has also been an assistant with Portland, and has an extensive history in college as both an assistant and head coach, including a brief stint at UNLV.

Bayno will have significant input on the team’s defence, although that remains the strength of Casey as a coach. Nonetheless, the Raptors’ defence slipped to 22nd in the league last year, so some adjustments will surely take place. Bayno joins Nick Nurse on the staff. Nurse, formerly of Rio Grande of the D-League, is thought to be a top up-and-coming offensive coach. Former Houston assistant Jesse Mermuys is also expected to join the Raptors’ staff. The Raptors have not confirmed the additions of Bayno or Mermuys.

Reported by Eric Koreen of the National Post

Devin Harris to Mavs deal may be off

The Dallas Mavericks have been forced to amend their plan to bring back former Mavericks stalwart Devin Harris after X-rays unexpectedly revealed that Harris has a dislocated toe on his left foot, according to sources close to the situation.

The Mavericks remain interested in signing Harris, sources said, but the parties have mutually agreed to shelve the three-year deal worth in excess of $9 million that Harris agreed to over the weekend and was poised to sign this week.

Sources told ESPN.com that Harris is now likely to have surgery on the toe by month’s end to put him in line for a return to the court by the start of the NBA’s regular season.

Upon learning of Harris’ need for surgery, Dallas reached terms Friday on a three-year deal worth at least $25 million to sign Milwaukee Bucks free agent Monta Ellis.

Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

Bucks trade Luc Richard Mbah a Moute to Kings

The Milwaukee Bucks have traded forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (6-8, 230) to the Sacramento Kings, General Manager John Hammond announced today. The Bucks will receive the more favorable of two 2016 second round draft picks (Sacramento’s own pick or one acquired from New Orleans) and future considerations from the Kings in the transaction.

A five-year NBA veteran, Mbah a Moute appeared in 58 games (45 starts) last season and averaged 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest. Drafted by Milwaukee in the second round (37th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft, the 26-year old native of Cameroon has played in 335 career games for Milwaukee with averages of 6.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists, while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 67.9 percent from the free throw line.