March 2016 – Page 14 – NBA Blog

Raptors sign Jason Thompson, release Anthony Bennett

The Toronto Raptors have signed NBA veteran power forward Jason Thompson.

To make room on the roster the Raptors released forward Anthony Bennett. Bennett appeared in 19 games, totaling 28 points, 23 rebounds and 84 minutes.

Thompson, 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, is in his eighth season. He has appeared in 569 career regular season games, averaging 9.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 25.5 minutes.

“We are pleased to add a player like Jason who has logged quality minutes in more than 500 career games,” said Raptors President and General Manager Masai Ujiri.

A first-round selection (12th overall) by Sacramento in 2008, Thompson spent seven seasons with the Kings before joining Golden State this season. His best statistical campaign came in 2009-10 when he averaged 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 31.4 minutes.

“We thank Anthony for his professionalism and for his service to our team and community,” said Ujiri. “We know he’s on his way to becoming an excellent NBA player but as we approach the end of the season Jason will provide us with a veteran presence that we need.”

Suns sign Phil Pressey to second 10-day contract

The Phoenix Suns today signed point guard Phil Pressey to a second 10-day contract. Pressey initially signed with the Suns on Feb. 20.

In four games with the Suns, Pressey has averaged 5.0 points, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steals, with one double-digit scoring performance (10 points vs. Brooklyn on Feb. 25) and one double-digit assist performance (10 assists at the L.A. Clippers on Feb. 22). An NBA veteran in his third season, he played in 14 games with the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this season before averaging 13.0 points and 6.4 assists in 25 games with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League.

A 5-11, 175-pound guard, Pressey played in 139 NBA games (11 starts) with Boston and Philadelphia before joining the Suns. The 25-year-old played his first two seasons with the Celtics, averaging 3.1 points and 2.9 assists in 13.9 minutes in 125 games over 2013-14 and 2014-15. After going undrafted in 2013, Pressey recorded four double-digit scoring games as a rookie with Boston, including a career-high 20 points at Washington on Jan. 22, 2014. Pressey twice recorded his career-high of 13 assists in the 2013-14 season.

Originally the first GATORADE Call-Up in the NBA this season when he signed with Philadelphia on Nov. 4, Pressey averaged 13.0 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 25 games with Idaho after being waived by the 76ers on Dec. 4. His averages in assists and steals ranked fifth and 11th, respectively, among D-League leaders at the time he first signed with the Suns.

Hornets sign Jorge Gutierrez to second 10-day contract

Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has signed guard Jorge Gutierrez to a second 10-day contract. Gutierrez signed his first 10-day contract with Charlotte on Feb. 20 and has appeared in one game, tallying four points, two assists and one steal vs. Cleveland on Feb. 24.

The 6-3 Gutierrez appeared in 22 games (20 starts) for the Canton Charge in the NBA Development League this season, averaging 11.3 points, 5.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 27.8 minutes per game. Gutierrez scored in double figures in 13 games and has handed out 10-or-more assists twice. He recorded his first D-League triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists on Jan. 9 vs. the Los Angeles D-Fenders at the NBA D-League Showcase.

Prior to his time with Charlotte, the Chihuahua, Mexico, native appeared in 35 career NBA games (three starts) over two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 3.3 points, 1.5 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 12.0 minutes. He saw action in 15 games with the Nets in 2013-14 and played in 10 games each for the Nets and Bucks last season. Gutierrez began the 2015-16 season as a member of the Bucks preseason roster, but was waived on Oct. 21.

After a four-year career at the University of California, Gutierrez initially joined the Charge in 2012-13. Since then, he has played in 122 games (103 starts) for the team, with career averages of 12.0 points, 5.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 30.9 minutes per game. In 2013-14, while playing for current Hornets assistant coach Steve Hetzel, he earned First Team All-Defensive and Second Team All-D-League honors after averaging career highs of 13.9 points, 6.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 32.7 minutes played.