Month: August 2015

Hawks sign Jason Richardson

Hawks sign Jason Richardson

You forgot about Jason Richardson. But he still exists and still plays basketball. And now he adds depth to the bench of a very good Eastern conference squad.

The Atlanta Hawks have signed Richardson, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.

A 13-year NBA veteran, Richardson has played in 857 career regular season games (842 starts) with Golden State, Phoenix, Orlando, Charlotte and Philadelphia, averaging 17.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 34.1 minutes. In 37 postseason games, he has put in 17.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 34.1 minutes.

In 19 games last season with the 76ers, Richardson averaged 9.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 21.9 minutes.

NBA promotes Kiki VanDeWeghe to Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations

NBA promotes Kiki VanDeWeghe

The NBA announced today that Kiki VanDeWeghe has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. VanDeWeghe, who has been serving as Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations, will lead the Basketball Operations department effective immediately.

The league also will hire a new President, League Operations. VanDeWeghe and Mike Bantom, Executive Vice President, Referee Operations, will both report to that person.

The moves come as two top executives depart the league office. President, Basketball Operations Rod Thorn retired this month after more than 50 years as a player, coach, and executive in professional basketball. In addition, President, League Operations Joel Litvin will be stepping down effective Sept. 1 after a 27-year career in the league office.

“Kiki is one of the sharpest basketball minds in the NBA,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “In addition to his storied UCLA and NBA playing career plus his extensive experience as a general manager, coach, and TV analyst, he has most recently helped drive innovations in analytics that are reshaping the league in areas such as scheduling, game statistics, and player health.”
VanDeWeghe joined the league office in April 2013 as Vice President, Basketball Operations and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations later the same year. He has been involved in a broad range of basketball matters, including the development of playing rules and interpretations, game analytics, and policies and procedures relating to the operation of NBA games.

Before his time with the league office, VanDeWeghe served as the general manager of the New Jersey Nets from 2008 to 2010 and the general manager of the Denver Nuggets from 2001 to 2006. His tenure in New Jersey included a stint as interim head coach during the 2009-10 season. He also worked as an NBA analyst for ESPN and Fox Sports.

VanDeWeghe’s NBA playing career spanned 13 years, with the Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers, during which he averaged 19.7 points per game, made two All-Star appearances, and helped his teams reach the playoffs 12 times.

Bantom, an NBA executive for 26 years, has overseen the league’s officiating program since 2012. He was hired by the NBA in 1989 after a 16-year professional playing career. Bantom averaged 12.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in nine NBA seasons before playing seven more seasons in Italy.

Andrew Bogut fights through back pain for Australia

Here’s CSN Bay Area reporting on Warriors center Andrew Bogut, who is currently helping represent Australia on the court:

Andrew Bogut fights through back pain for Australia

On Tuesday in Wellington, New Zealand, Bogut performed at a level that suggests he still has game.

The 7-foot center finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots to lead Australia to an 89-79 win over New Zealand in a FIBA Oceana qualifying game that clinched the Aussies’ bid for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

And Bogut did this while fighting through same nagging back soreness that might be making the Warriors a bit nervous.

“The body felt good,” Bogut told reporters. “I was battling a few little things but if you take enough pills and things you end up getting there. It worked out all right. I felt pretty good out there. Tomorrow morning won’t be as good but we got the job done and we’re going to the Olympics.”

Cavs may sign center Sasha Kaun

According to the Northeast Ohio Media Group, the Cleveland Cavaliers may soon add depth at the center spot:

Veteran Russian center Sasha Kaun embarked on a mini-tour of Cleveland on Monday, league sources informed Northeast Ohio Media Group.

His visit was for the purpose of house hunting, among other things, sources said.

Kaun, 30, and the Cavaliers have yet to reach an agreement. However, “it’s only a matter of time” before a deal is struck, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The Cavaliers’ main focus is on locking up a longtime pact with restricted free agent Tristan Thompson.

Dorell Wright to play in China

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on Dorell Wright, who will reportedly take his talents to the other side of the world:

Dorell Wright to play in China

Although he had expressed interest in a reunion with the Miami Heat as early as a month ago, free-agent forward Dorell Wright on Monday agreed to play the coming season in China.

Wright confirmed on his Twitter account the one-year contract with the Chongqing Soaring Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association.

Wright, 29, was drafted by the Heat with the No. 19 pick in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft, spending his first six NBA seasons with the team. He spent the past two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, utilized primarily for his 3-point shooting.

Bucks sign forward Marcus Landry

Bucks sign forward Marcus Landry

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free agent forward Marcus Landry, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Bucks blog, “Landry’s contract is not guaranteed, but it gives him the opportunity to demonstrate his skill and compete for a roster spot during training camp. Earning a roster spot may be difficult — but not impossible — as the Bucks are currently carrying 15 guaranteed contracts. NBA teams can invite up to 20 players to training camp, but are only allowed 15 rosters spots during the regular season.”

Landry, 29, was undrafted after a four-year collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin. A Milwaukee native, Landry has played professionally in the NBA, the NBA D-League and internationally since wearing the Badgers uniform from 2005-09.

Last season, Landry played 49 games for CAI Zaragoza in Spain where he averaged 10.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists. He played parts of the 2013-14 and 2011-12 seasons in Spain, as well as stints internationally in Puerto Rico, China and Venezuela.

Landry began his professional career with the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics in 2009. He also played for the Maine Red Claws and Reno Bighorns in the D-League. He was named to the Futures All-Star roster for the 2013 NBA D-League All-Star game and won the Three-Point Shootout.

A look at Miami Heat ticket price tiers

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on Miami Heat ticket pricing, which takes into account the fact that some teams are bigger draws than others:

With Monday’s release of the Miami Heat’s partial-season ticket plans came the release of pricing tiers for 2015-16 opponents.

When it comes to the top tier of the five pricing ranges, one team stands alone: James’ Cleveland Cavaliers. Not only are the Cavaliers’ two visits to AmericanAirlines Arena listed in the “Inferno” pricing range, but they are the only two 2015-16 home games priced on the plan in that highest-tiered range…

Beyond the Cavaliers’ two visits, the next-highest pricing range is listed as “Blazing,” which includes the Christmas Day game against the New Orleans Pelicans, the New Year’s Day game against the Dallas Mavericks, as well as the lone visit of the season by the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

Utah Jazz sign Treveon Graham

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed free agent guard/forward Treveon Graham (TRAY-vee-on).

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume this is a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings Graham to training camp.

Graham (6-6, 220, VCU) played four seasons at Virginia Commonwealth University, serving as team captain and averaging 16.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists during his senior campaign. He was also named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team for the second-straight year (2014, 2015). He ranked eighth in the conference in scoring during the 2014-15 season and logged 28 games of 10-or-more points. Graham also led VCU to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2012-15). In 2013, he competed for Team USA at the 2013 University World Games in Kazan, Russia.

A native of Temple Hills, Md., Graham played high school basketball at St. Mary’s Ryken High School in Leonardtown, Md.