Month: September 2014

Lakers sign Wayne Ellington

Lakers sign Wayne Ellington

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed shooting guard Wayne Ellington, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

The five-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 6.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists over 312 games (35 starts) with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers, and most recently, the Dallas Mavericks. Last season in Dallas, Ellington shot career-bests from the field (.437) and three-point range (.424), appearing in the postseason for the first time in his career.

The 26-year-old Ellington played three seasons at the University of North Carolina (2006-09), leading the Tar Heels to the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship in 2009 while being named Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

Louis Amundson signing with Cleveland

Here’s the Akron Beacon Journal blog reporting on the Cavaliers:

Louis Amundson signing with Cleveland

Lou Amundson signed a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Cavaliers, a league source confirmed. Although the Cavs’ rebuilt roster is filling up fast, the veteran journeyman stands a decent chance at making the final cut.

Amundson, 31, has already played for eight teams in eight years, averaging 3.6 points and 3.5 rebounds. But he is a gritty defender and could bring a certain toughness to the post. He’s listed at 6-foot-9 and 225 pounds, but the Cavs believe he can block shots and use his athleticism to defend at the center position despite being undersized.

Amundson’s offensive limitations have forced him to bounce around the league, yet the Cavs certainly don’t need any more scorers.

Ramon Sessions headed to Sacramento

Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting on the Kings:

Ramon Sessions headed to Sacramento

The Kings have reached an agreement with veteran guard Ramon Sessions on a two-year deal worth $4.2 million, using the biannual exception because the team is over the salary cap.

Sacramento had been looking for a veteran to add to its young backcourt.

Sessions, 28, will be entering his eighth season after being a second-round pick out of Nevada by Milwaukee.

Timberwolves interested in Eric Bledsoe

Talented guard Eric Bledsoe is still unsigned, which comes as a surprise. But then you factor in his reported quest for a maximum-level NBA contract, and his availability becomes more understandable. Here’s ESPN.com with the latest:

Timberwolves interested in Eric Bledsoe

With just days before the start of training camp, the Minnesota Timberwolves are making a final push to acquire restricted free-agent guard Eric Bledsoe in a sign-and-trade with the Phoenix Suns, sources told ESPN.com.

The Wolves are offering Bledsoe the four-year, $63 million maximum level contract that he has been seeking, sources said, but because of cap restrictions, the only way he can join the team as currently constructed is through a sign-and-trade deal. Bledsoe and the Suns have been in a stalemate all summer after the team offered him a four-year, $48 million deal in July.

This is a renewal of talks that have stretched over the past several months. The teams had discussions involving a Kevin Love trade that would involve Bledsoe but never made serious traction on a deal.

Knicks owner says Phil Jackson really does run the team

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on the Knicks:

Knicks

Knicks owner James Dolan has insisted he won’t be involved with the day-to-day operations of the Knicks.

He reiterated that stance Tuesday in an interview with WFAN.

“I was much more involved than I wanted to be in the last couple of years. Now I got somebody who I think is the smartest mind in basketball. It’s great. Let him go,” Dolan said on WFAN Tuesday, reiterating comments he made last week to the New York Times.

Dolan has a history of getting involved in basketball decisions. One notable example came in 2011, when the owner orchestrated a trade to acquire Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets. The move was made against the wishes of GM Donnie Walsh.

Glenn Robinson III on board with Wolves

Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune reporting on Timberwolves rookie Glenn Robinson III:

Glenn Robinson III on board with Wolves

Robinson finally signed a partly guaranteed contract this week, and has been at Target Center with a group of players taking part in informal workouts. Wolves General Manager Milt Newton said Thursday that team officials felt it was important to let Robinson “know he’s in our plans,” before adding that “it’s a situation where he’s going to have to earn it.”

Robinson plays the No. 3, or wing, position that is the deepest spot on the Wolves’ roster. Veterans Corey Brewer, Chase Budinger, Shabazz Muhammad and Robbie Hummel are returning wings, and Wiggins, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, is a natural wing.

“I wouldn’t say it’s daunting,” Robinson said. “I’d definitely say, it is a lot of wings.”

Robinson said he thinks he has something in his favor in his quest to make the 15-man roster when training camp starts Sept. 29.

“I think it’s the little intangibles,” he said. “I’m a smart basketball player, I believe my IQ is pretty high … Even though I’m a rookie, it’s going to be playing like a veteran, trying to help guys out.”

Utah Jazz Finalize Idaho Stampede Basketball Staff

The Utah Jazz today announced that Andrae Patterson and Travis Walton have been named assistant coaches on Idaho Stampede Head Coach Dean Cooper’s staff. In addition, the Jazz announced that Brady Howe will serve as the head athletic trainer and strength-and-conditioning coach and Hans Steinbrenner as the director of basketball operations for the Stampede, the team’s NBA Development League affiliate.

“Both Andrae and Travis are talented young coaches with strong pedigrees and winning backgrounds,” said Stampede coach Dean Cooper. “I look forward to working closely with our staff and the Jazz to build a team that is both growth-oriented and competitive.”

Patterson arrives to Boise with domestic and international playing and coaching experience, most recently spending two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Texas at Arlington after two years as the school’s director of basketball operations/video coordinator and one as a student assistant. Prior to joining UT Arlington, Patterson enjoyed a successful professional playing career that began when he was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 46th overall pick of the 1998 NBA Draft, where he played from 1998-2001. Following his NBA career, he played nine seasons internationally for clubs in the top European leagues, including both CB Estudiantes (2001-05) and Bàsquet Manresa (2005-06) of the premier Spanish ACB League, as well as KK Zadar (Croatia-A1) and Panellinios BC (Greece-A1) in 2006, Ironi Ashkelon (Israel) in 2007, before finishing his playing career with Egaleo AO (Greece-A1) from 2007-09. As a collegian, the native of Abilene, Texas, played for Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight for four seasons at Indiana University (1994-98), where he was an All-American and four-time All-Big Ten selection and led the Hoosiers to four NCAA Tournament appearances while earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Walton brings NBA Development League experience, having played from 2011-12 for the Dakota Wizards, Fort Wayne Mad Ants as well as the Canton Charge, under then Charge head coach and current Jazz assistant Alex Jensen. Walton also played professionally for ratiopharm Ulm (Germany-1) from 2010-11 and Lugano Tigers (Switzerland) from 2009-10 following a four-year standout career playing for head coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State (2005-09). One of three three-year captains in Michigan State history, Walton finished his collegiate career as the Spartans all-time leader in games played (143), and ranking fourth in school history for steals (167) and sixth in assists (555). Selected as the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year his senior year, Walton led the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament all four seasons, including being selected to the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team en route to the Final Four and appearance in the 2009 National Championship Game. Walton served as a student assistant coach at Michigan State for the 2009-10 season while completing his bachelor’s degree in family child ecology, and has run his own basketball skill development and motivational speaking company, Team Walton, since 2012.

Howe previously served as head athletic trainer, strength coach and equipment manager for the Utah Flash (now the Delaware 87ers) of the NBA D-League from 2009-11, as well as the assistant athletic trainer/strength coach and clubhouse manager for the Ogden Raptors (Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate) of the Pioneer Baseball League from 2011-13. He has also worked as the head athletic trainer for basketball, head strength-and-conditioning coach for basketball and softball and an adjunct professor at Weber State University since 2011. Howe earned a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine and clinical athletic training from Weber State, and a master’s degree in sport performance and strength-and-conditioning from Southern Utah University.

A native of Boise, Idaho, Steinbrenner earned a bachelor’s degree in statistics at the University of Utah while serving for four seasons as student manager for the Utes’ men’s basketball program under former Stampede and Milwaukee Bucks head coach and ex-Jazz player Larry Krystkowiak.

The Jazz and Stampede have a single affiliation partnership that begins with the 2014-15 NBA D-League season. The partnership, also referred to as a “hybrid affiliation,” is the ninth of its kind in the NBA D-League and enables the Jazz to manage all aspects of the Stampede’s basketball operations, while the existing local ownership group headed by Bill Ilett maintains primary responsibility for the team’s off-the-court business operations and community initiatives.

Sacramento Kings sign Ryan Hollins

Sacramento Kings sign Ryan Hollins

The Sacramento Kings today signed free agent Ryan Hollins, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

A 7-foot center, Hollins was selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in the second round (50th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft. He has accrued career averages of 3.8 points (.576 FG%, .657 FT%) and 2.2 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game through 435 career contests in eight seasons with six teams – Charlotte (2006-07 – 2008-09), Dallas (2008-09), Minnesota (2009-10), Cleveland (2010-11 – 2011-12), Boston (2011-12) and L.A. Clippers (2012-13 – 2013-14).

In 61 contests as a reserve for the Clippers last season, the former UCLA Bruin posted 2.3 points (.736 FG%, .625 FT%), 1.5 rebounds and 7.9 minutes per game.

Timberwolves sign Kyrylo Fesenko, Brady Heslip

timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed center Kyrylo Fesenko and guard Brady Heslip.

Fesenko, 27, appeared in five games (three starts) for the Wolves entry in 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 8.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game. The 7-1 center’s best game came in Minnesota’s win over the Phoenix Suns, a 17-point, 8-rebound performance in 26 minutes. Fesenko, originally drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round (38th overall pick) of the 2007 NBA Draft, has averaged 2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds per game over his five-year NBA career.

Heslip, 24, appeared in five games (two starts) for the Wolves entry in the 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The 6-2 guard averaged 6.2 points per game in Vegas, including connecting on 61.1% of his shots and 70.0% from three-point range (7-for-10). As a senior with Baylor this past season, Heslip connected on 118 three-pointers (T-2nd in Big 12 history) at a 46.5% clip, the ninth-best single-season three-point percentage in Big 12 history. He finished his four-year career at Baylor first in school history in three-point percentage (.437) and second in made three-pointers (301).