July 2013 – Page 6 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Some of Toronto Raptors training camp will again be in Halifax

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday that Head Coach Dwane Casey and his team will conduct a portion of training camp in Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 4 and 5, featuring an intra-squad game Saturday, October 5 at noon at the Halifax Metro Centre. The team also held part of their 2012 camp in Halifax.

“We are excited to return to Halifax after our great experience last year,” said Casey. “The city offers us state of the art facilities and the opportunity to continue to grow the game of basketball across the country.”

The intra-squad game will provide fans the first opportunity to preview the team for the upcoming season and will include appearances from The Raptor and the Foot Locker Raptors Dance Pak. Last year’s scrimmage attracted more than 8,700 fans and raised $56,000 for local charities.

“We are proud of our continued partnership with the Toronto Raptors and are excited to welcome them to the Halifax Metro Centre for a second year in a row,” said Scott Ferguson, president and CEO of Trade Centre Limited, the provincial Crown corporation that manages the Halifax Metro Centre. “The Raptors have a huge fan base in our community and when an opportunity like this comes along to engage fans and support local charitable organizations at the same time, it is a win for everyone.”

Dallas Mavericks re-sign Brandan Wright

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have re-signed forward/center Brandan Wright.

Wright has not done much in the NBA yet and is considered backup material to come off the bench and provide frontcourt depth.

Wright (6-10, 210) joined the Mavericks via free agency on December 9, 2011. In two seasons with Dallas, Wright has played in 113 games and elevated his game in 2012-13 when he averaged 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 18.0 minutes per game while shooting .597 from the field.

Wright was an early-entry candidate into the 2007 NBA Draft and was the eighth overall pick by the Charlotte Bobcats. Wright was acquired by Golden State in a draft-day trade in exchange for Jason Richardson and the draft rights to Jermareo Davidson. He has played in 277 games (47 starts) with Golden State, New Jersey and Dallas and holds career averages of 6.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 block and 14.9 minutes per game.

Wright was a standout at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he started all 37 games as a freshman and was named Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year and All-ACC Second Team.

A native of Nashville, Tenn., Wright was a two-time Parade All-American and was the first athlete in the state to ever earn “Mr. Tennessee” honors three times. He also led Brentwood Academy to four consecutive state championships.

Orlando Magic sign guard Ronnie Price

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Ronnie Price, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

Price is generally considered to be a backup, and is generally expected to come off the bench and play limited minutes.

Last season, Price (6’2”, 190, 6/21/83) played in 39 games with Portland, averaging 2.7 ppg., 1.9 apg. and 1.1 rpg. in 13.1 minpg. He led the Blazers in assists once and scored a season-high 10 points on Nov. 18 vs. Chicago. Price was waived by Portland on Feb. 21, 2013.

“We’re excited to welcome Ronnie (Price) and his family to the Magic organization,” said Hennigan. “We believe Ronnie’s toughness and competitive spirit, along with the varied experiences he’s gained throughout his career, will impact the development of our team in a positive way.”

Not drafted by an NBA franchise, Price was originally signed as a free agent by Sacramento in 2005. He has appeared in 394 career games (33 starts) with Sacramento, Utah, Phoenix and Portland, averaging 3.5 ppg., 1.4 apg. and 1.1 rpg. in 11.6 minpg. Price has also appeared in 28 career playoff outings, averaging 2.2 ppg. and 1.1 apg. in 6.5 minpg.

Before turning pro, Price played three seasons at Utah Valley State, averaging 19.7 ppg., 3.9 rpg., 2.7 apg. and 1.63 stlpg in 89 career games. He was named the 2005 NCAA Division I Independents Player of the Year, earned USBWA All-District 8 honors and led the Wolverines in scoring in all but five games as a senior in 2004-05. Price transferred to Utah Valley State after playing his freshman campaign at Nicholls State.

John Wall, Washington Wizards working on contract extension

If the Washington Wizards have their way, star guard John Wall will not be going anywhere anytime soon.

Citing “sources close to the process,” ESPN.com’s Marc Stein reported that the Wizards are in “advanced talks” to sign Wall to a five-year, $80 million contract extension. The same report claimed both the team and Wall hope to have an agreement completed and signed by August 1.

Wall, 22, must sign an extension by Oct. 31 declaring him a designated franchise player. Otherwise, he’d become a restricted free agent on July 1, 2014.

Reported by the Sports Xchange

Mike Miller is signing with Memphis Grizzlies

Mike Miller is going back to a former home, agreeing to a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Miller confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on Wednesday, about a week after the Miami Heat designated him as their amnesty player after three seasons with the team. Miller will still collect more than $12 million in salary from the Heat over the next two seasons, but will not count against their salary cap or luxury tax.

Reported by the Associated Press

Kevin Durant and Kevin Love will keep playing for Team USA Basketball

USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo and USA Basketball Men’s National Team head coach Mike Krzyzewski (Duke University) announced at the conclusion of today’s National Team mini-camp in Las Vegas, Nev., that Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves), winners of gold medals at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2012 London Olympics, had confirmed they planned to be part of the USA Basketball National Team program through 2016 and will participate in next year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup that will be held Aug. 30-Sept. 14, 2014, in Spain.

“Kevin Durant and Kevin Love have officially announced that they will be a part of our future going forward, including the World Cup next summer, and it means a great deal to us because of how committed they are to our program and we are very appreciative of their early commitment,” said Colangelo when speaking to media following Wednesday’s USA National Team mini-camp practice. “We think it will certainly send a message to some of our other guys, who have indicated they are interested, and so we are very excited.”

“To represent your country, you can’t really take that for granted, so I knew last summer I was going to commit and play this next World Cup,” said Durant, who averaged a U.S. team high 19.5 points per game at the 2012 Olympics and who was named MVP of the 2010 World Championship after posting 22.8 points a game. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity, man, playing against the best in the world with the best in the world, so it should be fun.”

The 6’10” Love, who averaged 11.6 points and a team leading 7.6 rebounds per game during the 2012 Olympics, echoed Durant’s comments, stating, “K.D. mentioned it, just being a part of USA Basketball has meant a lot for my career. I’ve been a part of the World Championship team in 2010 and the 2012 Olympic Team in London, just coming off of last summer and then heading forward, just being a part of the family. Jerry and Coach keep mentioning being part of the USA Basketball family, and heading forward we are looking for bigger and brighter things.”

“It’s an exciting day and no more appropriate time to do it than when we are also adding this influx of new, young talent,” said USA and Duke University mentor Krzyzewski. “For these veterans, although they are not old guys yet, for these veterans to make that commitment is a huge step. You have gold medal winners in two events. Both of them were 21-year-old guys when we won in Istanbul (2010 FIBA World Championship) and then at 23 they won gold medals (in the 2012 London Olympic Games). They now are the leadership. They are part of the leadership of our program, and they’ve been committed. Kevin (Durant), this is the first camp that we’ve been involved in that he hasn’t been a participant. So, he started when we as 17. He (Kevin Love) started when we was young. It’s the program that Jerry has started since he took over, and it’s paying a lot of dividends. So, it’s an exciting day for USA Basketball; a big day.”

The announcement came in Las Vegas following the final USA National Team mini-camp practice session. The mini-camp, which opened July 22, will close with the 2013 USA Basketball Showcase, a blue-white intra-squad game on Thursday, July 25, 6 p.m. PDT at the Thomas & Mack Arena on the campus of UNLV.

Derek Fisher returns to the OKC Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed guard Derek Fisher, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

“Derek has proven to be a valuable member of our team and we are excited to have him back,” Presti said. “He has such a positive impact on his teammates and the organization.”

Fisher has appeared in 44 regular season games with Oklahoma City during the past two seasons, averaging 4.5 points, 1.0 assist and 1.2 rebounds in 17.1 minutes per game. In 31 playoff games with the Thunder, he averaged 7.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 22.8 minutes per game.

A five-time NBA champion, Fisher has appeared in 240 career playoff games (158 starts) averaging 8.6 points, 2.4 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 27.3 minutes per contest.

Kenyon Martin is re-signing with Knicks

The Knicks’ final major free-agent domino has fallen.

Kenyon Martin reached an agreement with New York on Wednesday afternoon, agent Andy Miller said.

The Knicks now have eight rotation players back from last season’s roster.

Mike Woodson may have his hands full trying to define roles for all those players along with newcomers Metta World Peace and Andrea Bargnani.

But Martin’s role is to be well-defined: protect the paint, defend the rim and rebound…

Outside of Martin, Tyson Chandler and World Peace, the Knicks don’t have many players who can defend the paint. Depending on their remaining signings, Martin’s health could be crucial for the Knicks in 2013-14.

Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Atlanta Hawks will sign Pero Antic

According to the agent for Pero Antic, the European power forward/center has agreed to a two-year contract with the Hawks. Misko Raznatovic stated the news Wednesday on Twitter.

The Hawks have not announced the signing as there likely are details that must be finalized. According to Raznatovic, the second year of the deal is an option.

Antic, 6-foot-11, 260 pounds, played in the Greek League the past two seasons. He helped Olympiacos to consecutive Euroleague championships.

Reported by Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Warriors waive Dwayne Jones, Scott Machado and Kevin Murphy

The Golden State Warriors have waived forward/center Dwayne Jones, guard Scott Machado and guard Kevin Murphy, the team announced today.

Jones was signed by Golden State as a free agent on the final day of the 2012-13 regular season (April 17, 2013) and appeared briefly in two playoffs games with the Warriors. Prior to signing with the Warriors, he had appeared in 21 games for the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League, averaging 8.8 points, 12.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contests.

Machado was originally signed by Golden State as a free agent call-up from the Santa Cruz Warriors on April 7, 2013, and appeared briefly in five playoff games with the Warriors. He also appeared in six games with the Houston Rockets last season and spent significant time in the D-League, averaging 8.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game in 28 contests combined between Santa Cruz and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Murphy was acquired from the Utah Jazz on July 10, 2013, as part of the three-team trade highlighted by the acquisition of Andre Iguodala. As a rookie last season with the Jazz, Murphy appeared in 17 games and averaged 0.9 points in 3.1 minutes per contest. He also appeared in 14 games with the D-League’s Reno Bighorns, averaging 13.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 28.6 minutes per contest.

Golden State’s roster currently stands at 13 players.