Month: July 2014

Nets re-sign Alan Anderson

Nets re-sign Alan Anderson

The Brooklyn Nets have re-signed guard Alan Anderson to a multi-year contract, General Manager Billy King announced today.

“Alan’s versatility was a big part of our success last season,” said King. “We look forward to Alan’s continued leadership on and off the court this season.”

Last season, Anderson set single-season career highs for games played (78), games started (26) and minutes played (1,773), while averaging 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 22.7 minutes per game. He shot .400 (194-485) from the field and .339 (84-248) from three-point range. Anderson scored in double figures 26 times, including a season-high 26 points in a season-high 46 minutes on December 20 at Philadelphia. He made his first career playoff appearance with Brooklyn this season, appearing in 12 games (two starts) versus Toronto and Miami, averaging 5.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 21.8 minutes per game.

The Michigan State product recently completed his fifth NBA season and first season with the Nets. In 213 career games, Anderson holds NBA averages of 8.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game. Anderson, who initially signed with Brooklyn on July 30, 2013, went undrafted in the 2005 NBA Draft.

San Antonio Spurs hire Etorre Messina as an assistant coach

San Antonio Spurs hire Etorre Messina as an assistant coach

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have hired Ettore Messina as an assistant coach. A four-time Euroleague Champion and a two-time Euroleague Coach of the Year, Messina brings over 25 years of coaching experience to the bench.

“I am honored to have such an accomplished individual join our program,” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said. “Coach Messina is an exceptional coach, a great leader and someone we can all learn from.”

Messina joins the Spurs after spending the last two years as the head coach of the CSKA Moscow in the Russian League, his second stint with the team. Before returning to CSKA Moscow, Messina served as a coaching consultant for the L.A. Lakers in 2011-12. Prior to making the move to the NBA, Messina spent four seasons (2005-2009) at the helm of CSKA Moscow where he led the team to two Euroleague Championships (2006, 2008) and four Russian SuperLeague titles (2006-2009).

Before coaching in the Russian League, Messina served as a coach in the Italian League for over 15 years. He earned two Euroleague Championships (1998 and 2001) as well as several Italian championships with Virtus Bologna, where he had two stints as head coach (1989-1993, 1997-2002). After leaving Bologna, Messina went on to coach Benetton Treviso from 2002-2005, guiding the team to an Italian championship in 2003.

Named one of the Euroleague’s 10 Greatest All-Time Coaches in 2008, Messina has earned numerous coaching accolades throughout his career including European Coach of the Year in 1998, Euroleague Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2008, and Italian Coach of the Year in 1990, 1993, 1998, 2001 and 2005.

A native of Catania, Italy, Messina also served as head coach of the senior men’s Italian national basketball team (1993-1997), where he led Italy to the silver medal at the 1997 European Championship.

Bulls use amnesty clause on Carlos Boozer

Bulls use amnesty clause on Carlos Boozer

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has amnestied forward Carlos Boozer.

“Carlos epitomized professionalism in everything he did for the Bulls both on the court, and in the community, during his time here in Chicago,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “Over the last four seasons, Carlos’ productivity helped elevate our team to another level. I have nothing but respect for Carlos, and certainly wish him the best as he moves forward.”

According to ESPN.com, “The Bulls will still owe Boozer the $16.8 million left on his salary this season but it will not count on their salary cap. Combined with their trade of Anthony Randolph to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, the Bulls will clear about $12 million in cap space. Gasol is expected to sign a three-year deal worth more than $22 million and Mirotic is expected to sign for $18 million over three years with the Bulls permitted to give him $600,000 to help pay off his buyout from Real Madrid, sources said.”

In four seasons with the Bulls, Boozer appeared in 280 games (all starts) and averaged 15.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg and 2.0 apg in 30.4 mpg and shot .491 from the field.

Pistons sign Caron Butler

Pistons sign Caron Butler

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club has signed free agent forward Caron Butler to a contract.

The two-time NBA All-Star holds career averages of 15.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 33.8 minutes in 786 games with the Miami HEAT, L.A. Lakers, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, L.A. Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder. Butler split time last season between Milwaukee and Oklahoma City, averaging 10.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 25.3 minutes in 56 games.

Butler has appeared in 65 postseason games during his 12-year career, averaging 11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 31.4 minutes. He’s scored 20-plus points in a playoff game eight times, recorded 10-plus rebounds six times, has five career playoff double-doubles and was a part of the Dallas Mavericks’ 2011 NBA Championship team despite not competing due to injury. During the 2013-14 playoffs with Oklahoma City, Butler averaged 6.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 23.3 minutes in 18 appearances. He scored a playoff-high-tying 15 points in the Thunder’s Game 7 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round (120-109), helping Oklahoma City advance to the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

Pistons sign D.J. Augustin

Pistons sign D.J. Augustin

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club has signed free agent guard D.J. Augustin to a multi-year contract.

The 6-0, 183-pound guard had a resurgent year last season after signing with the Chicago Bulls and helping replace an injured Derrick Rose. He averaged 14.9 points, 5.0 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 30.4 minutes in 61 games with the Bulls, after appearing in 10 games to start the season with the Toronto Raptors.

Among NBA leaders, the 26-year-old Augustin ranked fifth in free throw percentage (.885) and tied for 19th in 3-point field goal percentage (.401). He posted a career-high 33 points (10-14 FG, 3-4 3FG, 10-10 FT) in 31 minutes during a 107-102 win at Boston (3/30). Augustin helped the Bulls claim the No. 4 seed in the NBA Playoffs and continued his strong play by averaging 13.2 points, 4.8 assists, 1.6 rebounds and 28.2 minutes in five postseason games. In Game 4 of the first round against the Washington Wizards, a 101-99 loss, he scored a team-high 25 points and dished out seven assists.

Memphis Grizzlies re-sign Beno Udrih

Memphis Grizzlies re-sign Beno Udrih

The Memphis Grizzlies re-signed guard Beno Udrih (BEHN-oh OO-dreeh) to a multi-year contract, the team announced today.

Udrih (6-3, 205) averaged 4.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists on .438 shooting in 15.7 minutes in 41 games (12 starts) for the New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies last season. He appeared in 10 regular season contests for the Grizzlies after being awarded to Memphis off waivers on Feb. 27, 2014.

The 31-year-old posted 7.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists on .467 shooting in 16.4 minutes in Memphis’ 2014 opening round playoff series with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He posted the three highest scoring totals of his playoff career during that seven-game series, netting a postseason career-high 14 points in Game 2 and recording 12 points in Game 3 and Game 7.

Udrih owns NBA career averages of 8.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists on .461 shooting in 23.1 minutes in 669 games (255 starts) in 10 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies.

A two-time NBA champion with San Antonio (2005, 2007), Udrih holds career postseason averages of 3.7 points, 0.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 43 playoff games (zero starts) for the Spurs and Grizzlies.

The Celje, Slovenia native was drafted by San Antonio in the first round (28th overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft. Prior to his NBA career, he played professionally in Slovenia (1998-2002), Israel (2002-03), Italy (2003-04) and Russia (2003-04).

Dallas Mavericks re-sign Dirk Nowitzki

Dallas Mavericks re-sign Dirk Nowitzki

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have re-signed 12-time NBA All-Star Dirk Nowitzki.

According to several reports, the deal may be for $3 years, $25 million.

During his 16-year tenure in Dallas, Nowitzki has guided the Mavericks toward many of the franchise’s greatest achievements. Nowitzki led Dallas to its first-ever 60 win season in 2002-03, first NBA Finals appearance in 2006, a franchise-high 67 wins in 2006-07 and to the organization’s first World Championship when the Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.

Nowitzki (7-0, 245), the most decorated Dallas Maverick in franchise history, is a 12-time NBA All-Star, earned All-NBA Team honors 12 consecutive years (2000-12), was named Most Valuable Player of the 2006-07 season and was MVP of the 2011 NBA Finals. He is a six-time Western Conference Player of the Month, a 17-time Western Conference Player of the Week and has competed in the All-Star Saturday Night Three-Point Contest four times.

The career Maverick holds averages of 22.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 35.9 minutes in 1188 career games (1157 starts) and holds the franchise’s top-spot in several categories including points, rebounds, field goals, three-point field goals, free throws, games, starts and minutes.

In the NBA Playoffs, Nowitzki’s game elevates to average 25.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 41.1 minutes in 135 postseason games (135 starts). He has led the Mavericks to three Western Conference Finals and two NBA Finals while moving into first place in several of the franchise’s postseason categories including points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, field goals, free throws and games.

Last season, Nowitzki shot his way into the record books by moving into the Top 10 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list by passing the likes of Oscar Robertson, Dominique Wilkins, Alex English, Reggie Miller and Jerry West. He has

also served as a pioneer for European players becoming the first European-born player to earn First Team All-NBA (04-05), start an All-Star Game (2007, Las Vegas) and be named the MVP (06-07).

The Wurzburg, Germany native was the ninth overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft and was originally acquired through a draft day trade with the Milwaukee Bucks. He re-signed with the Mavericks on Oct. 22, 2001, signed a contract extension on Sept. 26, 2006 and then re-signed again on July 9, 2010.

Three-team trade sends Omer Asik to Pelicans, Trevor Ariza to Rockets

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has acquired Omer Asik, Omri Casspi and cash considerations from the Houston Rockets in a three-team trade that sends Alonzo Gee, Scotty Hopson and the Pelicans’ protected first round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft to the Rockets and Melvin Ely to the Washington Wizards. As part of the three-team trade, the Rockets have acquired Trevor Ariza from the Wizards.

Ariza (6-8 220, UCLA), ranks in the top five NBA players at his position in three-pointers made, three-point percentage, steals, and effective field goal percentage. He spent the last two seasons in Washington averaged 14.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season. Ariza had a career-high 40 points on March 1, 2014 including eight made 3-pointers in a 122-103 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. He improved his three-point shooting to 40.7% in the 2013-14 season, ranking him the 16th best three-point shooter in the league. Ariza had 126 steals last season, which ranks 13th in the NBA and is ranked 12th in effective field goal percentage with 56.2%. In his first stint with Houston, Ariza averaged 14.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in 77 games with the Rockets during the 2009-10 season. During that season, he registered his first triple-double of his career with 26 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds vs New Orleans on April 14, 2010.

Gee (6-6, 225, Alabama) spent the past three seasons in Cleveland, averaging 7.9 points and 3.6 rebounds over the course of his five year NBA career. He went undrafted in the 2009 NBA draft and began his career in the D-League with the Austin Toros.

Hopson (6-7, 204, Tennessee) went undrafted in the 2011 NBA Draft. He spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons overseas playing in Israel and Turkey. He signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 31, 2014 and spent time with the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers D-League affiliate.

Asik (7-0, 255) was originally drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round (36th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft before having his draft rights traded to the Chicago Bulls. The four-year veteran has appeared in 278 games (103 starts) with the Bulls and Rockets and holds career averages of 5.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game.

In 2013-14, Asik appeared in 48 games (19 starts) and averaged 5.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 20.2 minutes per game. He started all 82 regular season contests for the Rockets in the 2012-13 season, posting career-high averages of 10.1 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 30.0 minutes per game.

Appearing in 33 career playoff contests over his four NBA seasons, Asik holds postseason averages of 4.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 block per game.

Prior to the NBA, the Turkey native played for Fenerbahçe S.K. Istanbul from 2005-10.

Casspi has appeared in 327 games (96 starts) over the course of five NBA seasons with Sacramento, Cleveland and Houston, holding career averages of 7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 20.7 minutes per game.