July 2016 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Bucks sign rookies Thon Maker and Malcolm Brogdon

The Bucks have signed 2016 draft picks Thon Maker (10th overall) and Malcolm Brogdon (36th overall).

Maker played two seasons for the Athlete Institute Academy in Mono, Ontario, which plays in the seven-team Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association. Maker was selected League MVP, Finals MVP and First-Team All-Star following the 2015-16 season. He led the Canada Elite AAU team to the title game of the Under Armour 17-and-under league after averaging 16.5 points and 11.8 rebounds during the finals in 2015. The 19-year-old also represented the World Select Team at the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit.

Originally from South Sudan, Maker emigrated to Australia with his family when he was eight years old before moving to the United States as a teen to play high school basketball for Carlisle High School in Martinsville, Va., where he averaged 21.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game and was named Gatorade Virginia Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 2013-14.

In five NBA Summer League games, Maker averaged 14.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game which earned him All-NBA Summer League Second Team honors.

Brogdon played four years of college basketball at Virginia and averaged 18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game as a senior in 2015-16. He was named the 2016 ACC Player of the Year and ACC Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in conference history to earn both honors in the same season. The 23-year-old was also a unanimous First Team All-American selection in 2016. He was also named to the All-ACC First Team as a junior (2015) and sophomore (2014). Brogdon concluded his Virginia career ranked ninth all-time in school history with 1,809 points scored. The Virginia product is a native of Atlanta, Ga., and played high school basketball at Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross, Ga.).

In five NBA Summer League games, Brogdon averaged 10.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He was one of 25 players chosen – including teammate Jabari Parker – for the 2016 USA Men’s Select Team that trained with the 2016 USA Basketball Men’s National Team during its training camp in Las Vegas, Nev.

Cavaliers waive Dahntay Jones

The Cavaliers have waived guard/forward Dahntay Jones, it was announced today by Cavs General Manager David Griffin.

According to the Akron Beacon Journal, today marked “two days before his $1.5 million contract for this season would have become guaranteed.”

Jones was signed by the Cavaliers on April 13, 2016, He had a very limited role on the team and was mostly an observer, appearing in one regular season game and 15 postseason games this past season.

Rockets sign Pablo Prigioni

The Rockets are limited at the point guard position, with Patrick Beverley and little else. Today they added depth to the spot with the signing of free agent guard Pablo Prigioni (pronunciation: pri-gee-OH-nee).

The team is still weak at the PG spot, especially with many of the NBA’s elite point guards residing in the Western conference. Though, shooting guard James Harden creates a lot of the team’s offense.

The 6-3, 185-pound Prigioni has appeared in 270 games with 51 starts across four NBA seasons while posting an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.98. Dating back to 2012-13, he is one of 10 players with at least 270 games played to have more steals than turnovers, joining teammates Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer. Prigioni spent the second half of the 2014-15 season with the Rockets and helped the team advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1996-97.

A native of Argentina, Prigioni has been playing professionally since he was 18 years old.

He will wear #9 for the Rockets.

Spurs sign Patricio Garino

The Spurs have signed forward Patricio Garino.

Until we hear otherwise, we’ll assume this is a non-guaranteed contract that just brings Garino to training camp.

Garino, 6-6/210, spent the past four seasons at George Washington University. In his final season, he helped guide the Colonials to the 2016 NIT Championship and was named to the All-Tournament Team. He earned Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team and the All-Conference Second Team honors after averaging 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.37 steals in 32.0 minutes, while shooting .510 (203-398) from the field and .430 (58-135) from three-point range.

Garino was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team in each of his final three seasons. For his collegiate career he averaged 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.71 steals in 30.1 minutes while shooting .508 (567-1,1167) from the field and .364 (102-280) from long range. He ranks third in school history on George Washington’s career steals list (219) and is 11th all-time in scoring (1,536 points).

A native of Mar del Plata, Argentina, Garino is a member of the Argentinian National Team and is a currently preparing for the 2016 Rio Olympics. He represented Argentina at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship where the team won the silver medal.

Garino played on the Orlando Magic’s 2016 NBA Summer League team, where he averaged 12.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.00 steals in 30.7 minutes over three games.

Cavaliers re-sign Richard Jefferson

That whole Richard Jefferson retirement thing didn’t work out

Richard Jefferson’s alleged retirement was short-lived. He’s back for more run with the champs. The Cavaliers re-signed veteran Jefferson today.

“RJ’s versatility on the court and leadership off it were core parts of our identity and success last year,” said Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin. “In many respects, his impact was greater as the stakes got higher. His NBA Finals performance is a testament to his dedicated, steady approach and his presence in our locker room throughout the year and postseason cannot be overstated. We’re very thankful he decided to continue his career and we know that his teammates appreciate what he brings to this team at a very deep level.”

Jefferson (6-7, 233) appeared in 74 games (five starts) during the 2015-16 regular season, averaging 5.5 points on .458 shooting from the field and 1.7 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game. Over his 15-year career, he has played in 1,082 games (796 starts) with New Jersey (currently Brooklyn), Milwaukee, San Antonio, Golden State, Utah, Dallas and Cleveland, averaging 13.3 points on .464 shooting from the field, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 30.1 minutes per game.

Kristaps Porzingis finds apartment rental in midtown Manhattan

It’s always interesting finding out which NYC neighborhood Knicks or Nets players choose to live in. Why, you ask? The Nets’ practice facility is now in Brooklyn, same as their arena. So at this point it’s pretty obvious that Brooklyn is convenient for Nets players. But the Knicks play in midtown Manhattan while practicing at a facility up in Westchester. Big separation there. If a Knicks player wants a house and some space, Westchester is usually the place. But if he wants to walk outside and have NYC action and Madison Square Garden right outside their door (or fairly close), Manhattan is the spot.

As for Kristaps Porzingis, here’s the New York Post reporting:

Kristaps Porzingis finds apartment rental in midtown Manhattan

The 7-foot-3-inch player has leased a corner penthouse that was asking $8,000 a month at Sky, the mammoth rental tower at 605 W. 42nd St.

He also nabbed another two high-floor units for his two brothers, Martins and Janis, because “they are close and like to be near each other,” a source said…

Porzingis’ units have city skyline and river views, floor-to-ceiling windows, chef’s kitchen and spa-like bathrooms.

Salt Lake City Stars name head coach

The Salt Lake City Stars, the NBA Development League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, announced today that Dean Cooper will return as head coach for the team’s inaugural 2016-17 season in Salt Lake City.

Cooper enters his third season as the head coach for the Jazz’s D-League affiliate. Before joining the organization in 2014, Cooper spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets on Kevin McHale’s staff. He began his NBA career with the Rockets in 1999 as a video coordinator, eventually becoming an assistant coach to Rudy Tomjanovich. When Jeff Van Gundy succeeded Tomjanovich, Cooper transitioned to the front office as a personnel scout for one season before eventually becoming the Director of Scouting (2004-07) and Vice President of Player Personnel (2007-08).

He spent the 2008-09 season as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves when McHale was the interim coach. Following a one-year stint as a regional scout for the Timberwolves (2009-10), Cooper became Director of Player Development for the Portland Trail Blazers under Nate McMillan.

Prior to the NBA, Cooper coached four years at the collegiate level.

The Salt Lake City Stars, the NBA D-League team owned and operated by the Utah Jazz, will play their inaugural season in Utah in 2016-17. The Utah Jazz relocated the Boise-based Idaho Stampede in April 2016 after purchasing the team in March 2015 following a single affiliation agreement for the 2014 season.

Wizards re-sign Marcus Thornton

The Wizards have re-signed guard Marcus Thornton.

“Marcus is a proven veteran who gives us experience and scoring off the bench and will add depth at the two-guard position,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld.

Starting for the Wizards in the backcourt are John Wall at point guard and Bradley Beal at shooting guard.

Thornton averaged 8.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 16.0 minutes per game in 14 contests with the Wizards last season after being signed as a free agent on March 9. He scored 10+ points on five different occasions and led the team in scoring twice. The 6-4 LSU product holds career averages of 12.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting .426 from the field and .359 from three-point range in 450 career games (134 starts) over seven seasons with New Orleans, Sacramento, Brooklyn, Boston, Phoenix, Houston and Washington.

Thornton averaged 14.7 points over his first four NBA seasons, including a career-best 18.7 points per game for the Kings in 2011-12, and has averaged at least 9.7 ppg in six of his seven full NBA seasons. He was drafted 43rd overall by the Heat in 2009 after playing two seasons at LSU and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 14.5 points in his first season (09-10).

Mavericks sign Keith Hornsby and Jameel Warney

The Mavericks on Wednesday signed free agent guard Keith Hornsby and free agent forward Jameel Warney.

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume these signings merely bring these players to training camp, where they will then try to earn a regular season contract.

Hornsby (6-4, 210) went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft after a 1,000-point collegiate career at the University of North Carolina-Asheville and Louisiana State University. After graduating from prep power Oak Hill Academy, Hornsby began his collegiate career at UNC-Asheville before transferring to LSU for his junior and senior seasons.

In two years at LSU, the Williamsburg, Va., native played in 53 games (52 starts) and finished with averages of 13.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 33.6 minutes. As a senior, Hornsby averaged 13.1 points, second on the team to 2016 NBA Draft first overall pick Ben Simmons, before his year was cut short by a season-ending abdominal injury that required surgery.

Warney (6-8, 260) played in all six games for the Mavericks at the Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He averaged 6.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.0 block in 16.5 minutes per contest. He led Dallas in field goal percentage, shooting .593 from the floor while making .875 from the foul line.

The native of New Brunswick, N.J., went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft after four successful seasons at Stony Brook University where he averaged 15.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.0 blocks and 30.7 minutes in 135 career collegiate games. In his senior season with the Seawolves, Warney averaged 19.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 3.0 blocks in 33 games on his way to earning America East Player and Defensive Player of the Year. He finished his career at Stony Brook as the school’s all-time leader in points (2,132), rebounds (1,275), blocks (275) and games (135).

Trail Blazers sign CJ McCollum to contract extension

The Trail Blazers today signed guard CJ McCollum to a contract extension to bring him under contract through the 2020-21 season, president of basketball operations Neil Olshey announced.

It is reportedly a four-year extension, worth $106 million total.

The reigning winner of the Most Improved Player Award, McCollum averaged 20.8 points (44.8% FG, 41.7% 3PT, 82.7% FT), 3.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.21 steals and 34.8 minutes in 80 games (all starts) last season.

“I’m ecstatic to be able to extend my career in Portland and grateful for the trust and the opportunity the organization has provided for me,” said McCollum. “Since I arrived in Oregon I’ve considered it home and look forward to building something special, not only on the court, but in the community as well.”

Portland selected McCollum, 24, with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft out of Lehigh University.

“CJ is a foundational player and an essential member of the core of this team,” said Olshey. “We are excited about his long term commitment to our organization”

In three seasons with the Trail Blazers, McCollum holds averages of 12.7 points (44.3% FG, 40.8% 3PT, 78.4% FT), 2.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.86 steals and 23.5 minutes in 180 career games (83 starts).

McCollum increased his scoring average by 14.0 points from the 2014-15 season last year and finished ninth in the NBA with 197 3-pointers, the fourth-most by a Trail Blazer in a single season and the most by a Trail Blazer while shooting at least 40% from the three-point line.