July 2013 – Page 30 – NBA Blog

San Antonio Spurs will sign Marco Belinelli

Any time the San Antonio Spurs sign a player, I immediately assume that the player is at least slightly better than everyone previously realized. Because most players just seem to do better as they are placed in the Spurs machine. With that:

The San Antonio Spurs have reached agreement with free-agent guard Marco Belinelli on a two-year, $6 million contract, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Belinelli, 27, averaged 9.6 points in 73 games for the Chicago Bulls last season. He is a 38.7 percent 3-point shooter in six NBA seasons. The Spurs will be his fifth team.

Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports

Knicks to keep J.R. Smith and Pablo Prigioni

The New York Knicks are keeping J.R. Smith and Pablo Prigioni, two key members of their first Atlantic Division championship team since 1994.

Both players agreed to new deals Thursday, their agents confirmed.

Smith, the Sixth Man of the Year, gets a four-year contract worth around $25 million.

Reported by the Associated Press

Al Jefferson to join Charlotte Bobcats

The Charlotte Bobcats have been trying to put themselves on the NBA map for a long time. For far too long, they’ve been a doormat, suffering big loss after big loss. And apparently they’ve had enough. And will now overpay a bit to get a big guy who can score and rebound in a Charlotte jersey.

Free-agent big man Al Jefferson is headed to the Charlotte Bobcats, according to sources close to the process.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Utah Jazz center, after a two-day visit with the Bobcats, has verbally agreed to a three-year contract with Charlotte worth an estimated $41 million.

The deal contains a player option in Jefferson’s contract after the second year, sources said.

Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

Kyle Korver agrees to multiyear deal with Atlanta Hawks

Every team that actually wants to win — and that’s most of them — needs shooters. Guys that don’t necessarily create their own shot, but can stretch the floor, catch a pass, fire it up and hit nothing but net. Kyle Korver is one such player. And therefore was in demand. But despite being pursued by multiple teams, Korver will be staying where he was last season.

The Hawks landed their first free agent Wednesday night — and it was one of their own.

Kyle Korver reached an agreement to re-sign with the Hawks on a multiyear deal, according to a person familiar with the situation. Per NBA rules, the contract cannot be signed until July 10.

The sharp-shooting Korver was a hot commodity during free agency and sought by several teams. The Hawks met with Korver this week in California, where he makes his offseason home, while in Los Angeles to speak to free-agent center Dwight Howard.

Even with Korver’s contract, the Hawks still have enough room to sign Howard to a maximum deal.

Reported by Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Boston Celtics name Brad Stevens as next head coach

In a fairly shocking move, the Boston Celtics announced today that they have come to an agreement with Brad Stevens to be the 17th head coach of the team.

Stevens, age 36, has served for the past six years as the head coach of Butler University men’s basketball team, never winning fewer than 22 games and leading the Bulldogs to two national championship games against Duke and Connecticut. His career win percentage is .772, including a 33-5 season in 2009-10. He was also the youngest coach to reach the Final Four since Bob Knight in 1973.

A native of Zionsville, Indiana, Stevens was a three-time academic All-America nominee while earning four varsity letters at DePauw University, before graduating with a degree in economics. He later joined the Butler University program as the coordinator of basketball operations under then-coach Thad Matta, before being named head coach in 2007.

“Brad and I share a lot of the same values,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “Though he is young, I see Brad as a great leader who leads with impeccable character and a strong work ethic. His teams always play hard and execute on both ends of the court. Brad is a coach who has already enjoyed lots of success, and I look forward to working with him towards Banner 18.”

Stevens and his wife Tracy, along with their children Brady and Kinsley, will be introduced to the media at 11:00am on Friday at the Celtics Training Center at Healthpoint.

Read NBA fan reaction and share your opinion at this basketball forum topic.

David West will stick with Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers wanted David West to stick around and lead a championship run. The 32-year-old power forward never planned on leaving town.

West agreed to a three-year contract with Indiana on the second day of free agency, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations. The person requested anonymity because NBA rules prohibit teams from announcing signings until July 10. The deal is reportedly worth $36 million.

For the Pacers, Tuesday’s announcement may turn out to be their biggest move of the entire offseason.

”Obviously, our No. 1 priority is to get David West signed,” president of basketball operations Larry Bird said Monday, reiterating the point his predecessor Donnie Walsh and general manager Kevin Pritchard made two weeks earlier at an end-of-the-season news conference.

Reported by Michael Marot of the Associated Press

Tony Allen will stay with Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies have re-signed Tony Allen to a four-year contract worth $20 million, a person familiar with the agreement said Tuesday.

Allen is one of the league’s best perimeter defenders and a key to the Grizzlies’ run to the Western Conference finals last season. He drew interest from other teams but decided to stick with a Memphis team coming off the best season in franchise history.

”Memphis stand up!!!!” Allen wrote on his Twitter page.

”Thank you Lord for all that you’ve done and all that (you’re) doing in my life. I am so grateful and humbled.”

Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Dallas Mavericks are signing Israeli point guard Gal Mekel

The Dallas Mavericks are set to add Israeli point guard Gal Mekel in free agency.

Mekel’s agent, Sam Porter, says the 6-foot-3 Mekel has agreed to join the Mavericks on a three-year deal with $2.3 million guaranteed. Free agents can’t sign until July 10.

The Mavericks added Mekel after getting Miami point guard Shane Larkin in the NBA draft last week. Mekel and the son of Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin are expected to battle for the backup job.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Martell Webster agrees to stay with Wizards

Martell Webster has agreed to a four-year deal to stay with the Washington Wizards.

Webster reached terms with the team Tuesday. The contract can’t be signed until July 10 under NBA free agency rules.

Bringing back Webster was a top priority for the Wizards. The eight-year veteran swingman averaged a career-high 11.4 points last season and was a respected locker room leader. He could also serve as a mentor for Otto Porter, chosen No. 3 overall by Washington last month in the draft.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Three-team trade moves J.J. Redick, Eric Bledsoe, Jared Dudley, Caron Butler

A three-team trade between the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks was made Tuesday that included Eric Bledsoe and J.J. Redick, Yahoo! Sports reported.

Redick and Jared Dudley ended up with the the Clippers, Bledsoe and Caron Butler went to the Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks received two second-round draft picks, according to the report.

The Clippers’ deal for Redick was part of a sign-and-trade in exchange for the draft picks. According to Yahoo, Redick agreed to terms on a four-year, $27 million contract.

— Reported by the Sports Xchange