July 2015 – Page 6 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Pistons sign Adonis Thomas

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has signed guard/forward Adonis Thomas.

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “Thomas, a D-League All-Star for the Detroit Pistons-affiliated Grand Rapids Drive last season, will sign a two-year partially guaranteed deal with the Pistons today, his agent, Travis King, told the Commercial Appeal. Thomas, who averaged 8.6 points and 4 rebounds for the Pistons’ summer league team this month in Orlando, is one of five players who will be vying for two spots on the Pistons’ opening-day roster.”

Thomas, 6-7, 240, spent last season with the Grand Rapids Drive, the Pistons’ NBA Development League affiliate, where he averaged a team-high 18.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.6 assist and 36.0 minutes in 51 games. In two seasons in the D-League, Thomas averaged 18.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 85 games with Grand Rapids and the Springfield Armor. He’s seen action in six career NBA games with Orlando and Philadelphia during the 2013-14 season and averaged 2.3 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists.

A native of Memphis, TN., Thomas played collegiately at the University of Memphis and averaged 10.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in two seasons with the Tigers. As a sophomore, he averaged 11.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 36 games and was named to the 2013 All-Conference USA third team. Thomas was a member of the 2010 USA Basketball U17 gold medal World Championship Team and the 2009 USA U16 National Team that captured gold at the FIBA Americas championship.

Raptors sign Michale Kyser and Axel Toupane

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have signed forward Michale (Michael) Kyser and guard-forward Axel Toupane (Too-PON).

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume these are non-guaranteed deals that merely bring these two players to training camp.

Kyser, 6-foot-9, 205 pounds, recently participated on the Raptors’ entry in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where he averaged 3.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 14.6 minutes in four games. He recorded 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in 28 minutes in his lone start July 17 versus Portland.

Kyser averaged 8.6 points, a team-high 6.6 rebounds and 28.4 minutes in 36 games (35 starts) in 2014-15 as a senior at Louisiana Tech. He blocked 102 shots, fifth most in the NCAA, and was named to the Conference USA All-Defensive team for the second straight year. He finished as school’s all-time leader in blocked shots with 363, the most by any player in college basketball over the past four years.

Toupane, 6-foot-7, 197 pounds, was also part of the Raptors’ 2015 Summer League squad and averaged 4.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 11.0 minutes in three contests. He played for Strasbourg (France) in the French ProA League last season and helped his team earn back-to-back regular-season championships (2014 and 2015). Toupane averaged 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 18.4 minutes in 42 games last season.

Roy Hibbert says he will dominate defensively for Lakers

Here’s the Orange County Register reporting on new Lakers center Roy Hibbert, who the Indiana Pacers basically traded to Los Angeles for nothing:

To Larry Bird and others in charge in Indiana, Roy Hibbert was a lost cause. A lumbering center with little offensive game and a disinterested temperament, they were happy pawning him off for nothing more than a future second-round draft pick.

The Lakers, however, view Hibbert as a player who can not only regain his standing as an All-Star big man, but anchor their anemic defense, which last year ranked second-worst in the NBA.

“I expect to play at an All-Star defensive level, and everything else will come,” Hibbert said Wednesday.

Hibbert, 28, was introduced at the Lakers facility along with free agents Lou Williams and Brandon Bass, a clutch of veterans expected to help ease the burden on the team’s young core.

Baron Davis is making an NBA comeback attempt

Baron Davis was an awesome, explosive, fun, excellent point guard in his day. Then injuries and age kicked in as they tend to do, and he wasn’t B-Diddy anymore. But now in 2015, Baron reportedly good enough to give the NBA another shot. The odds are against him. But we’re rooting for him. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

“This is the first time I’m going to put myself out there,” Davis said on Sirius XM NBA Radio. “I’m going to try out for some teams.”

The two-time All-Star last played a competitive game on May 6, 2012, in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, helping the Knicks secure their first playoff victory since 2001.

Nevertheless, Davis wasn’t be able to revel in the Knicks’ success, falling to the court late in the game after suffering a partial tear of the patella tendon in his right knee along with complete tears of his right MCL and ACL.

Hornets sign Tyler Hansbrough

Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced Wednesday that the team has signed free agent forward Tyler Hansbrough.

“Tyler Hansbrough is a solid NBA player who can contribute to our team,” Cho said. “He brings energy and physicality every time he steps on the floor. We are glad to have him.”

Hansbrough is — and we mean this in a good way — an irritant to the other team. Nicknamed “Psycho T,” the rugged power forward always goes the extra mile in the hustle department and is worthy of being in a pretty good team’s rotation as a backup.

A six-year NBA veteran, the 6-9 Hansbrough was initially selected with the 13th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. He has played in 384 NBA games for the Pacers and Raptors, with career averages of 7.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17.9 minutes. He has shot .439 from the field (915-2085) and .746 from the free-throw line (946-1268). Hansbrough has also seen action in 42 playoff games, averaging 4.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 15.4 minutes.

Hansbrough spent the 2014-15 season with the Raptors, where he played in 74 games and averaged 3.6 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14.3 minutes, while shooting a career-high .521 from the field (86-165).

Prior to entering the NBA, Hansbrough played four years at the University of North Carolina, where he averaged 20.2 points and 8.6 rebounds in 142 career games and shot .536 from the field (939-1752) and .791 from the free-throw line (982-1241). As a junior in 2007-08, his accolades included Consensus National Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, ACC Athlete of the Year, ACC Tournament MVP and a record eight ACC Player of the Week awards. One of only two players in NCAA history to earn First Team All-American honors in each of his four seasons, Hansbrough was selected First Team All-ACC all four years and to the ACC All-Tournament Team three times. He led the Tar Heels in scoring and rebounding in each of his four seasons, helping the team to the 2009 NCAA Championship.

Hansbrough, who had his No. 50 jersey retired, remains UNC’s career leader in scoring (2872), rebounding (1219) double-figure scoring games (133), 20-point games (78), field goals (939), field goal attempts (1752), free throws (982) and free throw attempts (1241). He is also the ACC’s all-time leader in scoring, double-figure scoring games, 20-point games, free throws and free throw attempts.

New Lakers have not heard from Kobe yet

Here’s ESPN Los Angeles reporting on the Lakers, a team in serious transition, still kind-of built around old Kobe Bryant. Sort of. Money-wise, at least. Off-court communication-wise, maybe not so much right now.

When a new player joins the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s almost custom to ask whether he’s heard from the franchise’s longtime star Kobe Bryant and what — if any — advice, wisdom or expectations the veteran guard shared.

That question was posed Wednesday to forward Brandon Bass, guard Lou Williams and center Roy Hibbert, all of whom the Lakers acquired this offseason, the first two through free agency and the last through a trade with the Indiana Pacers.

And all three players, who were introduced at the team’s practice facility, offered the same answer: silence.

They looked at one another; Hibbert shook his head “no,” and they sat there. Bass smiled.

Kings sign Seth Curry, Quincy Acy and Duje Dukan

The Sacramento Kings today signed free agent guard Seth Curry and forwards Quincy Acy and Duje Dukan (DOO-yay DOOK-in) to contracts, according to Kings Vice President of Basketball and Franchise Operations Vlade Divac.

Selected by Toronto in the second round (37th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft, Acy is averaging 4.3 points (.475 FG%, .299 3pt%, .755 FT%), 3.7 rebounds and 15.5 minutes per game in 160 career contests in three seasons with three teams: Toronto (2012-13, 2013-14), Sacramento (2013-14) and New York (2014-15). This is Acy’s second stint with the Kings after averaging 2.7 points (.472 FG%, .200 3pt%, .667 FT) and 3.6 rebounds in 14.0 minutes per game in 56 games off the bench in 2013-14. Last season with the Knicks, the 6-7, 240-pound forward averaged career-highs in points (5.9 ppg), rebounds (4.4 rpg), assists (1.0 apg), minutes (18.9 mpg) and games played (68) and starts (22).

Playing for the New Orleans 2015 Summer League squad, Curry averaged a league-leading 24.3 points (.459 FG%, .222 3pt%, .878 FT%), 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 3.2 steals and 33.2 minutes per game in starting all six contests. He scored 20 or more points in each of the six contests, beginning with a 30-point performance (9-17 FG, 2-7 3pt, 10-11 FT) in a 101-89 win over Milwaukee.

The 6-2, 185-pound guard has played in four NBA games in two seasons with three teams: Memphis (2013-14), Cleveland (2013-14) and Phoenix (2014-15). In the D-League, Curry has career averages of 21.9 points (.462 FG%, .425 3pt%, .896 FT%), 3.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 35.9 minutes per game in 81 career contests with the Santa Cruz Warriors (2013-14) and Erie BayHawks (2014-15). Curry was named to the 2014-15 NBA D-League First Team after averaging 23.2 points (.484 FG%, .467 3pt%, a league-leading .926 FT%), 3.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 37.0 minutes per game in 43 games for Erie. The former Duke guard led the D-League in three-point field goals (156) and ranked second in three-point field goal percentage and points scored (1,024) in 2014-15.

Dukan averaged 9.2 points (.438 FG%, a team-high .417 3pt%, .800 FT%) and 2.4 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per game in five contests for the Kings’ 2015 NBA Summer League team. Dukan scored in double-figures in four games. His best performance came in a 90-71 win over Golden State on July 13 when he recorded 13 points (5-8 FG, 2-4 3pt, 1-2 FT) and six rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.

The 6-10, 218-pound forward completed his senior season in 2014-15 with an NCAA championship, averaging 4.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 15.9 minutes per game in 38 games for the Wisconsin Badgers. In four seasons at Wisconsin (2010-11 – 2014-15), he averaged 3.1 points (.427 FG%, .328 3pt%, .656 FT%), 1.8 rebounds and 10.2 minutes per game in 97 career games.

Spurs sign Jimmer Fredette

The San Antonio Spurs have signed guard Jimmer Fredette.

Fredette, 6-2/195, spent last season playing for the New Orleans Pelicans. He appeared in 50 games, averaging 3.6 points and 1.4 assists in 10.2 minutes.

After a celebrated college career, Fredette hasn’t made his mark in the NBA yet. Even as a reserve, he hasn’t solidified himself as a definite rotation player. In San Antonio, minutes will continue to be limited. He’ll need to make the most of every second of court time.

A four-year NBA veteran, Fredette was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft. He was dealt to the Sacramento Kings in a draft night trade where he spent two-plus seasons. In March 2014 he signed with the Chicago Bulls where he played out the remainder of the 2013-14 season. In 229 NBA career games, Fredette is averaging 6.1 points, 1.4 assists and 1.0 rebounds in 13.7 minutes while shooting .412 (514-1,248) from the field, .381 (192-504) from beyond the arc and .878 (187-213) from the foul line.

Fredette enjoyed a four-year career (2007-11) at Brigham Young University where he led all Division I players in scoring (28.9 ppg) as a senior. In his final season with the Cougars, he won nearly every National Player of the Year honor including the Naismith, Wooden and Associated Press awards. The New York native finished his career averaging 18.7 points, 3.7 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in 139 outings for the Cougars, and set BYU career records for points (2,599), three-pointers (296), games played (139) and total wins (112).

Spurs sign Jonathon Simmons

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed shooting guard Jonathon Simmons.

Simmons, 6-6/195, played on the Spurs 2015 Summer League team in Las Vegas where he helped lead the team to the Summer League Championship, averaging 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.71 steals in 24.6 minutes while shooting .519 (41-79) from the field and .700 (35-50) from the foul line in seven games. He was named MVP of the championship game, finishing with a team-high 23 points (7-14 FG, 9-12 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 24 minutes.

The 25-year-old Simmons has spent the past two seasons playing for the Austin Spurs, the NBA D-League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs. The Texas native made the team after attending an open tryout in Austin in 2013. Last season Simmons was named to the NBA D-League All-Defensive Third Team while appearing in all 50 games, averaging 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.00 steals in 33.8 minutes. Simmons shot .494 (277-561) from the field, .398 (51-128) from three-point range and .750 (153-204) from the charity stripe.

During his two years with Austin, Simmons appeared in 94 games, averaging 12.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.00 blocks in 28.8 minutes while shooting .506 (446-882) from the field, .352 (76-216) from beyond the arc and .736 (22-303) from the foul line.

Prior to turning pro Simmons played one season (2011-12) at the University of Houston. The former Cougar appeared in all 30 games as a redshirt junior, averaging 14.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 30.1 minutes. Before transferring to Houston, Simmons played his sophomore season (2009-10) at Midland Junior College and his freshman season (2008-09) at Paris Junior College.

Stanley Johnson signs rookie contract

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has signed first-round draft pick Stanley Johnson to a contract.

All players selected in the first round of the draft are guaranteed to receive a contract, assuming they wish to enter the league right away. Therefore, this is a standard signing and was expected.

Johnson, the eighth overall pick by the Pistons in the 2015 NBA Draft, averaged a team-high 16.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks while shooting 57.7% from the field at the recently concluded NBA Orlando Summer League.

A native of Los Angeles, Calif., the 6-foot-7 forward from the University of Arizona, averaged a team-high 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 28.4 minutes in 38 games. The 2015 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year was the lone freshman named to the All-Pac-12 or NABC All-District 20 First team. He was also named to the Pac-12 Tournament All-Tournament Team and was one of five finalists for the inaugural Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. Johnson led all freshmen in the Pac-12 in scoring (13.8 ppg), steals (1.5 spg), free throws made and free throw attempts and was one of just two freshmen in major college basketball conferences to average at least 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds (Jahlil Okafor). He scored in double-figures in 30 of 38 games and ranked second on the team in rebounds and steals.

Johnson has won three gold medals with Team USA, (2011 U-16, 2012 U-17, 2014 U-18 FIBA Americas Championships) earning MVP honors in the 2014 U-18 FIBA Americas Championships after averaging team-highs of 14.0 points and 2.2 steals. At Mater Dei High School, Johnson became the first player in California to win four-straight upper-division state titles. He participated in the 2014 Jordan Classic, the 2013 Under Armour Elite 24 Games and the 2013 Nike Global Games. Johnson was named a McDonalds All-American, MaxPreps National Player of the Year, a Parade All-American, was named to the USA Today All-USA first team and was one of three national finalists for the Naismith Trophy High Schools Player of the Year.