July 2015 – Page 20 – NBA Blog

Wizards sign guard Gary Neal

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard Gary Neal.

“Gary is a proven veteran who will bring us perimeter shooting and experience,” said Grunfeld. “Adding him to our rotation makes our backcourt rotation deeper and more versatile.”

Neal (6-4, 210) holds career averages of 9.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting .381 from three-point range over 310 career games (including 29 starts), with San Antonio, Milwaukee, Charlotte and Minnesota. In 54 games with the Hornets and Timberwolves last season, he averaged 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting .305 from downtown. After being traded to Minnesota, Neal averaged 11.8 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting .355 from long distance. The Baltimore native has shot .355 or better from three-point range in four of his five NBA seasons.

After going undrafted out of Towson, Neal played internationally in Spain, Italy and Turkey before making his NBA debut with San Antonio in 2010. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2011 after averaging 9.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting .419 from three-point range in 80 games with the Spurs. In 45 career playoff games with San Antonio and Charlotte, he has averaged 7.5 points and 2.0 rebounds while shooting .345 from behind the arc. During San Antonio’s 2013 NBA Finals run, Neal averaged 6.8 points and 2.1 rebounds while shooting .348 from downtown in 21 games.

Trail Blazers sign guard Pat Connaughton

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed guard Pat Connaughton, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey.

“Pat’s character, competitive nature and ability to make shots will be a welcomed addition to our team,” said Olshey. “He is an excellent fit for our basketball system and our culture.”

Acquired in a draft day trade with Brooklyn, Connaughton (6-5, 215) was selected with the 41st overall pick in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft.

Connaughton, 22, averaged 10.5 points (45.0% FG, 38.6% 3-PT, 77.7% FT), 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in four seasons at Notre Dame.

An All-ACC Third Team selection in 2015, Connaughton posted averages of 12.5 points (42.3% 3-PT) and 7.4 rebounds his senior year for the Irish, who made an NCAA Tournament run to the Elite Eight.

Connaughton will make his Trail Blazers debut at the 2015 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Portland tips off its schedule on Saturday, July 11 vs. Boston at 5 p.m. (Pacific).

He will wear No. 5 for the Trail Blazers.

Nets sign Shane Larkin and Thomas Robinson

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Shane Larkin and forward Thomas Robinson to multi-year contracts, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

“We are excited to add both Thomas and Shane to our roster,” said King. “Thomas is an aggressive rebounder who will add a physical presence to our frontcourt, while Shane provides athleticism at the point. Both are good young players who reaffirm our commitment to add youth to our roster for the 2015-16 campaign.”

Larkin (5’11”, 176) joins the Nets after spending the 2014-15 season with the New York Knicks. In 76 games (22 starts) with New York, Larkin recorded averages of 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 24.5 minutes per game. The 22-year-old was previously acquired by the Knicks after playing for the Dallas Mavericks during his rookie season. Larkin saw action in 48 games in his lone season in Dallas, averaging 2.8 points and 1.5 assists in 10.2 minutes per game. Originally selected with the 18th pick of the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks, Larkin was traded on draft night to the Mavericks. Larkin spent two years at the University of Miami prior to entering the NBA. He was selected to the All-ACC Rookie team as a freshman and earned All-ACC First Team and All-ACC Defensive Team honors as a sophomore, helping to lead the Hurricanes to their first-ever regular season ACC championship and their first berth in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 in 13 years.

Robinson (6’10”, 237) has posted averages of 5.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game in 194 career games split between Sacramento, Houston, Portland and Philadelphia. During the 2014-15 season, Robinson appeared in 54 games with the Trail Blazers and 76ers, averaging 5.7 points and 5.6 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per game. In his final 22 games of the season with Philadelphia, the 24-year-old Robinson increased his averages to 8.8 points and 7.7 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game, registering seven double digit rebound games and three double-doubles. Robinson was originally selected with the fifth pick of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Kings after spending three years at Kansas. In his final season with the Jayhawks in 2011-12, the Washington D.C. native earned Associated Press First Team All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year honors.

Pelicans re-sign Alexis Ajinca, Omer Asik and Dante Cunningham

The New Orleans Pelicans have re-signed free agents Alexis Ajinca, Omer Asik and Dante Cunningham.

“The Pelicans are proud to welcome the return of Omer, Alexis and Dante to our team,” stated Pelicans General Manager Dell Demps. “All three players were key contributors on our team last season. We are happy all three players elected to return and continue our quest to become an elite team in the NBA.”

Ajinca is coming off his best season to date, appearing in a career-high 68 games (eight starts) in 2014-15, while averaging a career-best 6.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.8 blocks. The French native recorded five double-doubles, and scored in double figures 20 times, including a career-high 24 points against Miami on Feb. 27.

Originally selected 20th overall by Charlotte in the 2008 NBA Draft, Ajinca has appeared in 195 career games with Charlotte, Dallas, Toronto and New Orleans, averaging 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds. Ajinca, 7-0, 220, came to New Orleans on Dec. 20, 2013, signing as a free agent after spending the previous two seasons overseas. In 124 games (38 starts) with the Pelicans, Ajinca has averaged 6.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks.

Asik, 7-0, 255, who was acquired last off-season in a trade with Houston, appeared in 76 games for New Orleans (all starts) in 2014-15, averaging 7.3 points and 9.8 rebounds, good for 11th highest in the NBA. Additionally, Asik ranked third in the NBA in rebounding percentage at 21.3 percent. Asik led New Orleans in rebounding in 39 games, grabbing double-digit rebounds 36 times, and recorded 13 point-rebound double-doubles.

Originally selected 36th overall by Portland in the 2008 NBA Draft, Asik has appeared in 354 career games with Chicago, Houston and New Orleans, averaging 5.9 points and 7.7 rebounds.

Cunningham, 6-8, 230, was signed by the Pelicans as a free agent on December 4, 2015. In 66 games with New Orleans last season (27 starts), Cunningham averaged 5.2 points and 3.9 rebounds.

Originally selected by Portland with the 33rd overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Villanova product has appeared in 432 career games with Portland, Charlotte, Memphis, Minnesota and New Orleans.

Trail Blazers sign Al-Farouq Aminu

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free agent forward Al-Farouq Aminu, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey.

Aminu, 24, holds averages of 6.4 points (43.7% FG, 28.6% 3-PT, 72.6% FT), 5.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.96 steals in five seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans and Dallas.

“Farouq’s energy, athleticism and developing skillset will have a significant impact on our roster,” said Olshey. “His versatility on the defensive end is unique and will translate immediately. His ceiling as a player is very high and his best days as a player are still ahead of him.”

Playing for Dallas last season, Aminu posted averages of 11.2 points (54.8% FG, 63.6% 3-PT, 78.9% FT), 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 2.00 steals and 1.60 blocked shots in five games (two starts) vs. Houston in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

Originally selected by the Clippers with the eighth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft out of Wake Forest, the Atlanta native competed for Nigeria at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Aminu (6-9, 215) will wear No. 8 for the Trail Blazers.

Grizzlies sign Brandan Wright

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace announced today that the team has signed free agent forward/center Brandan Wright to a multi-year contract.

This gives the Grizzlies some nice depth in the frontcourt.

Wright (6-10, 210) averaged 7.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.25 blocks in 19.3 minutes in 75 games (seven starts) for the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns last season. He recorded 8.8 points on 74.8 percent shooting in 18.7 minutes in 27 games for the Mavericks to start the season before midseason trades from Dallas to Boston on Dec. 18 and from Boston to Phoenix on Jan. 9. The 27-year-old registered 3.11 blocks per 48 minutes last season, ranking 12th among players that qualified for the blocks per game leaderboard.

The eighth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft from the University of North Carolina, Wright owns career averages of 7.1 points on 60.6 percent shooting, 3.7 rebounds and 1.01 blocks in 16.4 minutes in 360 games (54 starts) over seven seasons for Golden State, New Jersey, Dallas, Boston and Phoenix.

Along with DeAndre Jordan, Wright is one of two players in NBA history to convert over 1,000 field goals and maintain a career shooting percentage of at least 60 percent. His 67.7 percent mark in 2013-14 as a member of the Mavericks led all players with at least 100 field goal attempts.

In his lone collegiate season, Wright averaged 14.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.76 blocks in 37 games (all starts) for the University of North Carolina, earning 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year and All-ACC Second Team honors. He was recognized as the MVP of the ACC Tournament, becoming just the fifth freshman in conference history to win the award. His 64.6 field goal percentage led the conference and was the best ever by an ACC freshman.

A native of Nashville, Tenn., Wright led Brentwood Academy to four consecutive Tennessee state championships, a first in Tennessee high school basketball history, and was a four-time MVP of the Tennessee Division II private school state championship tournament. He earned Tennessee’s Division II Mr. Basketball title in 2004, 2005 and 2006, becoming the first three-time recipient of the award on any level of Tennessee high school basketball.

Orlando Magic sign C.J. Watson

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard C.J. Watson, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

Watson (6’2”, 175, 4/17/84) played in 57 games last season with Indiana (21 starts), averaging 10.0 ppg., 3.6 apg., 2.9 rpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 24.9 minpg., while shooting .400 (70-175) from three-point range and .826 (138-167) from the free throw line. He led (or tied) the team in scoring three times, in rebounding once and in assists 16 times. Watson scored in double figures 29 times and had 20+ points four times, including a season-high 23 points three times, the last on Mar. 26 at Milwaukee. He also pulled down a career-high nine rebounds on Dec. 27 at Brooklyn.

After playing collegiately at the University of Tennessee, Watson was not selected during the 2006 NBA Draft. He played in Italy, Greece and the NBA Development League, before being signed to the first of two consecutive 10-day contracts by Golden State on Jan. 8, 2008. Watson has appeared in 505 career NBA regular season games (93 starts) with Golden State, Chicago, Brooklyn and Indiana, averaging 7.8 ppg., 2.5 apg. and 2.0 rpg. in 20.6 minpg., while shooting .383 (425-1,110) from three-point range and .806 (750-931) from the free throw line. He has also played in 48 career NBA playoff games (five starts), averaging 5.5 ppg., 2.0 apg. and 1.8 rpg. in 16.8 minpg.

Trail Blazers sign forward Ed Davis

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free agent forward Ed Davis, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey.

Davis, 26, has career NBA averages of 7.2 points (55.6% FG, 56.6% FT), 6.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.01 blocked shots in five seasons with Toronto, Memphis and the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Ed’s ability to impact the game from both the center and power forward positions will provide us with the opportunity to utilize his length, athleticism and rim protection from multiple areas of the floor, said Olshey.”

Shooting a career-best 60.1% (282-for-469) from the field last season with the Lakers, Davis also set new career highs of 8.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.24 blocked shots in 79 games (24 starts).

Davis was originally selected by Toronto with the 13th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft out of North Carolina.

Davis (6-10, 240) will wear No. 17 for the Trail Blazers.

Hawks waive Austin Daye

The Atlanta Hawks have requested waivers on forward Austin Daye, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.

Daye signed consecutive 10-day contracts with Atlanta (March 15 and March 25) last season before signing a multi-year contract on April 4. He saw action in eight games with the Hawks, averaging 3.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 9.5 minutes per game.

Pelicans sign Anthony Davis to contract extension

The New Orleans Pelicans today announced that at 12:01 p.m. local time in Hong Kong, China, All-Star forward Anthony Davis signed a contract extension with the club. According to multiple reports, it is a five-year, $145 million deal.

“Words cannot describe the excitement of the New Orleans Pelicans to have Anthony Davis as the cornerstone of our organization,” said Pelicans General Manager Dell Demps. “Anthony is a great person, a phenomenal player and the ideal representative of his family, the Pelicans and the New Orleans community.

“We are thrilled to have Anthony commit to the Pelicans as we continue to build our team to have sustained success.”

Davis has appeared in 199 games over his first three seasons in the NBA, all with New Orleans, posting career averages of 19.7 points while shooting .525 from the field, 9.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.5 blocks per game. The 6-10 forward currently ranks fifth in New Orleans franchise history in defensive rebounds (1,346) total rebounds (1,891) and steals (264), third in points (3,917), points per game and field goal percentage, second in rebounding average (9.5) and first in blocks (501).

“I am very excited to continue to play for the Pelicans and remain a proud resident of the City of New Orleans,” stated Davis. “I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Benson, Dell Demps, Coach Gentry, the entire Pelicans’ organization, my agent Thad Foucher, my family and, of course, all of the incredible fans for their unwavering support. I look forward to many great years together.”

Originally selected by New Orleans with the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, Davis earned All-Rookie First Team honors after appearing in 64 games and averaging 13.5 points on .516 shooting from the floor, 8.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. In 2013-14, the Chicago native appeared in 67 games, averaging 20.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and a league-best 2.8 blocks per game while being named to his first All-Star Game. This past season, 2014-15, Davis, 22, averaged a career-best 24.4 points on .535 shooting from the floor, 10.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game, ranking fourth, seventh, eighth, and first in the NBA in those respective statistical categories. Davis was selected to his second All-Star game, his first as a starter, while earning All-Defensive Second Team and All-NBA First Team honors, and helping New Orleans make their first playoff appearance since 2011. In four post-season games against the Golden State Warriors, Davis averaged 31.5 points on .540 shooting from the floor, 10.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks, becoming the first player in 41 years to average at least 30 points and 10 rebounds through their first four career playoff games.