July 2014 – Page 20 – NBA Blog

Clippers sign Jordan Farmar, Spencer Hawes

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today that they have signed free agent guard Jordan Farmar and center Spencer Hawes. We’ll add contract details to this page later on Thursday.

Hawes, 26, averaged 13.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 80 games (28 starts) with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2013-14 season. The seven-year NBA veteran brings career averages of 9.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.9 minutes in 500 games (346 starts) with the Sacramento Kings, Cavaliers and 76ers.

The Seattle native was originally drafted by the Kings with the 10th pick in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft. The 7-foot-1 Hawes played one season at the University of Washington where he averaged 14.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in a total of 31 games. A star at Seattle Preparatory School in Washington, Hawes was a member of the 2006 McDonald’s All-American Team.

Farmar, 27, joins the Clippers after spending the 2013-14 season with the Lakers, where he averaged 10.1 points, 4.9 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 41 games (five starts). The seven-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 7.9 points, 3.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 19.8 minutes in 454 games (30 starts) with the Lakers and New Jersey Nets. He won an NBA Championship in 2009 and 2010 with the Lakers.

The Los Angeles native was originally drafted by the by the Lakers with the 26th pick in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft. Farmar attended UCLA for two seasons, averaging 13.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in a total of 66 games. The guard excelled at Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California, averaging 27.5 points and 6.5 assists during his senior year. Farmar led Taft to the school’s first Los Angeles City title and went on to be a 2004 McDonald’s All-American.

Harrison Barnes might have shot at starting job for Warriors

Here’s the Bay Area News Group Blog reporting on the Golden State Warriors:

Warriors forward Harrison Barnes struggled last season to adjust to a bench role following the signing of Andre Iguodala, and he doesn’t deny that the whole situation bothered him.

“I got caught up in that last year,” Barnes said Wednesday after voluntarily practicing with the Warriors’ summer league team even though he isn’t on the roster. “I’m not really worried about that this year.”

New Warriors coach Steve Kerr appears to be wiping the slate clean, saying that the 22-year-old Barnes “absolutely” has a chance to earn a starting job in training camp after getting in the lineup in only 24 games last season.

“Andre was the starter last year, and he very well may be this year,” Kerr said of Iguodala, who made the NBA All-Defensive first team while his numbers on offense were down.

Steven Adams working on low-post game

Here’s the Oklahoman with an update on young Thunder big-man Steven Adams:

But between trips to the foul line, Adams also will spend ample time down on the low block.

The Thunder throughout this week in Orlando has been working on Adams’ back-to-the-basket game, and if for whatever reason Pau Gasol passes up the Thunder, the team could turn to Adams to solve its longtime search for a low-post scoring threat.

“That’s exactly what we’re working on,” said Thunder assistant/summer league coach Darko Rajakovic. “We want to see Steven be able to get the ball on the low post more and create from there.”

Adams has all the tools to be successful.

At 7-feet, 250 pounds, he has ideal size and mixes that with strength, timing and footwork. He put all that and more on display throughout Wednesday’s game.

Mavericks will reportedly sign Chandler Parsons to offer sheet

Here’s the Associated Press via the Star Tribune reporting on versatile small forward Chandler Parsons and the Mavs:

The Dallas Mavericks have made a move at small forward, agreeing with restricted free agent Chandler Parsons on a three-year offer sheet worth more than $45 million.

Houston will now have to decide whether to match the offer.

Two people with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday night that Parsons agreed to the offer sheet with the Mavericks, while a third person confirmed the terms. The people commented to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the offer sheet can’t be officially signed until Thursday, when the NBA’s moratorium on signing free agents ends.

No Carmelo Anthony free agency decision yet

Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News Blog with an update on Knicks free agent star forward Carmelo Anthony:

When will Carmelo Anthony decide where he will play?

As of Wednesday night, a source close to Anthony insisted “there is no decision yet.” The source then added it is “still up in the air.”

Neither the Lakers nor the Knicks have been informed on where Anthony will play. But a New York Daily News report quoted an unnamed friend who said Anthony plans is expected to announce announce on Thursday that he re-signing with the Knicks.

Cody Zeller hopes Hornets do land Gordon Hayward

Here’s the Charlotte Observer reporting on the Hornets. That’s right, the Hornets. There aren’t Bobcats around anymore. Not in NBA basketball, at least. Get used to it. The Hornets. Charlotte Hornets. Anyway, here:

Would free-agent forward-guard Gordon Hayward be a good fit with the Charlotte Hornets?

No, Hornets forward Cody Zeller replied Wednesday; Hayward would be a “perfect” fit.

“I love his game. He plays really fundamental basketball, creates a lot for his teammates,” Zeller said following summer-league practice.

“(Passing is) one of his talents. And he shoots really well and he’s big for a guard. I think he’d be perfect for us.”

Hayward, 6-foot-8, who played his first four seasons with the Utah Jazz, has agreed to sign a four-year, $63 million offer sheet with the Hornets once the NBA’s moratorium on signings ends Thursday. The Observer reported the Hornets’ agreement with Hayward early Wednesday morning.

Jazz center Rudy Gobert adds muscle

Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune reporting on young Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert:

“You look taller,” somebody said.

“I’m just bigger,” Rudy Gobert responded with a smile.

The Jazz’s young center still stands at 7 feet, 2 inches Wednesday as he spoke with reporters following the team’s second day of summer league practices.

But entering his second season Gobert has packed on some extra muscle — and looks to be ready for a bigger role.

As a rookie last year, Gobert made 45 appearances, averaging 2.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and roughly one block in nine minutes a game.

Bucks sign first round draft pick Jabari Parker

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed first round draft pick Jabari Parker, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

All first round draft picks are guaranteed to receive a contract, assuming they want to begin their NBA career right away. Therefore, this signing is standard operating procedure, and was expected.

The second overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, Parker played one collegiate season at Duke University, where he was a consensus First Team All-America selection. While with the Blue Devils, Parker also earned honors as a First Team All-ACC member, ACC Rookie of the Year and USBWA National Freshman of the Year. His 19.1 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game were both Top-50 in the nation, with the points per game average marking the fourth-highest effort ever by an ACC freshman. He is the fourth freshman in ACC history to lead the league in rebounding.

With 670 points and 306 rebounds, Parker became the 14th player in Duke history to record 600+ points and 300+ rebounds in the same season, and he is just the sixth ACC freshman to ever reach the 600-point plateau. He is also the first Duke freshman to lead the team in both scoring and rebounding. Parker posted a career-high 30 points (10-of-17, .588) to go along with 11 boards in a win vs. UNC on March 8. The 30-point effort was the most by a Duke freshman in the 238 games played in series history against the rival Tar Heels.

Additionally, Parker received First Team All-America honors from The Associated Press, NABC, USBWA, Sporting News and Sports Illustrated. Parker was a finalist for the Naismith Trophy, Oscar Robertson Trophy and John R. Wooden Award, and he was honored as the top freshman in the country through the Integris Wayman Tisdale Award by the USBWA. He was named ACC Rookie of the Week a record 10 times and was on the All-ACC Academic Team.

A native of Chicago, Parker attended Simeon Career Academy, where he led Simeon to four IHSA Class 4A state championships and averaged 18.4 points and 10.4 rebounds as a senior. He was named the 2013 Jordan Brand Classic Co-MVP, is a two-time Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year and Illinois Mr. Basketball winner, and was named National Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior. Parker has also played for USA Basketball, earning gold medals at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship and the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.

Raptors sign first round draft pick Bruno Caboclo

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have signed forward Bruno Caboclo (cuh-BO-clo) to his rookie scale contract. He is under contract through the 2015-16 season, with two team option years to follow. The Raptors selected the 18-year-old Brazilian with the 20th overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft.

All first round NBA draft picks are guaranteed to receive a contract, assuming they wish to come to the NBA right away. Therefore, this signing is standard operating procedure, and was expected.

Caboclo, 6-foot-9, 205 pounds, was the Most Valuable Player at the 2013 Basketball Without Borders Americas. He played in 16 games this past season with Pinheiros (Sao Paulo) where he contributed 4.9 points and 3.1 rebounds. In three Liga Americas contests, he averaged 8.0 points shooting .714 from the field and .667 from three-point range.

Caboclo and the Raptors open their preliminary round in the 2014 Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas on Friday, July 11 versus the Los Angeles Lakers at 3 p.m. (6 p.m. ET).

Jarred Shaw added to Hornets summer league roster

Here’s the Deseret News reporting on the Jazz summer league squad:

Former Utah State men’s basketball player Jarred Shaw will be a member of the Charlotte Hornets NBA Summer League roster.

The NBA Summer League will be held July 11-21 in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Thomas and Mack Center and COX Pavilion on the UNLV campus. Each team will play no fewer than five games, including three preliminary games before beginning the seeded tournament on July 16.