July 2016 – Page 11 – NBA Blog

Steve Novak hoping for return to Bucks

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on outside-shooting veteran big man Steve Novak:

The 33-year-old has been working out in Las Vegas this week with Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams, and both of them have showed up to support the team’s entry in the NBA Summer League.

But at this point Novak has no guarantees he will return. The 6-foot-10 forward and former Marquette star is a free agent and is waiting to see how the Bucks will fill out their 15-man roster…

The Bucks already have made two big moves in free agency, signing forward Mirza Teletovic to a three-year, $30 million contract and point guard Matthew Dellavedova to a four-year, $38 million deal.

Twelve of the team’s 15 roster spots are filled. Restricted free agent center Miles Plumlee could return, which would leave just two spots. The Bucks likely will be looking for another wing player in addition to the possibility of bringing Novak back.

Grizzlies sign Andrew Harrison

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced that the Grizzlies signed rookie guard Andrew Harrison to a multi-year contract.

Harrison (6-6, 213) spent last season playing for the Grizzlies’ NBA Development League affiliate, the Iowa Energy, where he appeared in 46 games (42 starts) and averaged 18.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.46 steals in 35.3 minutes while shooting 43.7 percent from the field, 36.5 percent from three-point range and 78.3 percent from the free throw line. Harrison scored in double figures 41 games, netting 20-or-more points 17 times and 30-or-more points on six occasions. The 21-year-old posted a D-League career-high 36 points on Feb. 16 vs. Canton.

The San Antonio, Tex. native was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the second round (44th overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft following a two-year collegiate career at the University of Kentucky, where he helped lead the Wildcats to consecutive NCAA Final Fours and was a member of the first team in men’s college basketball history to begin a season with a 38-0 record. Phoenix traded his draft rights to Memphis on draft night for Jon Leuer.

Pistons sign Boban Marjanovic

The Detroit Pistons have signed free agent center Boban Marjanovic (BO-bahn Mar-YAWN-oh-vich) to a multi-year contract.

Marjanovic’s deal is reportedly a $21 million dollar contract, over three years.

In very limited minutes with the Spurs, the giant-sized center showed big flashes of potential. It’s best to never read too much into limited-minute stats, but there’s legit reason to be excited to see what he can do with more time. Though on the Pistons he’ll still be a backup, playing behind center Andre Drummond.

Marjanovic, 27, appeared in 54 games as a rookie last season with the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 5.5 points (60.3% FG, 76.3% FT) and 3.5 rebounds in 9.4 minutes. He scored in double-figures 12 times, including a career-high 22 points (7-9 FG, 8-8 FT) at Dallas (4/13). Marjanovic also notched three double-doubles, grabbed 10-plus rebounds four times and became the first Spurs player in franchise history to record at least 12 rebounds in 15 minutes-or-less when he grabbed 12 rebounds in 15 minutes vs. Phoenix (12/30).

The 7-3, 290-pound center began playing professionally in Europe in 2006 and most recently played with Crvena Zvezda Telekom Beograd of the Adriatic League from 2013-15. Marjanovic helped Crvena Zvezda win both the Adriatic League and Serbian League Championships in 2015, was named to the 2015 All-Euroleague First Team and was named the All-Serbian League and All-Adriatic League Player of the Year. A native of Zajecar, Serbia, Marjanovic has also played professionally for Hemo-farm Vrsac (2006-10), CSKA Moskow (2010-11), Nizhny Novgorod (2011-12) and Mega Vizura (2012-13).

Grizzlies waive Tony Wroten

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced that the Grizzlies waived guard Tony Wroten.

Wroten (6-6, 205) was claimed off waivers by Memphis after he was waived by the New York Knicks on June 22. The 23-year-old has appeared in 145 regular season career games (34 starts) in his four-year NBA career with the Grizzlies and Philadelphia 76ers and averaged 8.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 18.0 minutes while shooting 41.3 percent from the field, 23.1 percent from three-point range and 64.7 percent from the free throw line.

The Seattle, Wash. native was originally drafted by Memphis in the first round (25th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft following his freshman season at the University of Washington.

Clippers sign rookie Brice Johnson

The Clippers have signed rookie forward Brice Johnson.

All players selected in the first round of the draft are guaranteed to receive a contract, assuming they want to begin their NBA career right away. So, this signing is standard and was expected.

Johnson, selected with the 25th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, was a consensus First Team All-American at the University of North Carolina his senior season. The 6-foot-10 inch Johnson averaged 17.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 40 games (all starts), helping lead the Tar Heels to the NCAA National Championship Game. He led the ACC and was fifth in the nation with a UNC-record 23 double-doubles. Johnson had career averages of 11.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 148 career games (80 starts) in his four years in Chapel Hill.

The South Carolina native averaged 15.4 points and 6.8 rebounds for the Clippers Summer League team in Orlando over five games.

Clippers sign Marreese Speights

The Clippers have signed free agent center/power forward Marreese Speights.

Nicknamed “Mo Buckets,” Speights is useful as a scorer in limited minutes.

Speights, 28, averaged 7.1 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11.6 minutes of play over 72 games for the Golden State Warriors while connecting on a career-high 24 three-pointers last season. Speights was a key member of the Warriors’ 2014-15 NBA Championship team, averaging a career-high 10.4 points and 4.3 rebounds. The former 16th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers has career averages of 7.8 points and 4.1 rebounds over 571 games (73 starts) with Philadelphia, Memphis, Cleveland and Golden State.

Speights, 6-foot-10 inches, spent two years at the University of Florida, helping lead the Gators to the 2007-08 NCAA Championship. The St. Petersburg, Florida native is one of 42 players in basketball history to win both an NCAA Championship and an NBA Championship.

Warriors sign center Zaza Pachulia

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent center Zaza Pachulia, the team announced today.

Pachulia’s deal is reportedly just a $2.9 million dollar contract for one year. A relative bargain by this summer’s signing standards.

With Andrew Bogut traded away to Dallas, Pachulia should get some minutes. He’s a very good rebounder, but not as good a defender as Bogut. And Pachulia rarely blocks any shots. But, the team did need center depth, and he certainly provides that. This is overall an excellent signing.

Pachulia, 32, averaged 8.6 points and a career-high 9.4 rebounds to go with 1.7 assists and 26.4 minutes in 76 regular-season games (69 starts) with the Dallas Mavericks in 2015-16. The 6-11 center ranked 14th in the league in rebounding and posted a career-high 26 double-doubles in his lone season with the Mavericks. In five playoff games (four starts), Pachulia averaged 6.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 22.4 minutes.

A 13-year NBA veteran, Pachulia owns career averages of 7.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 21.5 minutes in 891 regular-season games (386 starts) with the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks. Originally selected by the Magic in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft, the Georgian-born center spent a season with the Magic before being selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2004 NBA Expansion Draft and subsequently traded to Milwaukee. After a year with the Bucks, Pachulia enjoyed an eight-year run with the Hawks that included four postseason appearances. Pachulia has appeared in the postseason six times in his career, tallying averages of 5.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 18.9 minutes in 51 career playoff games (11 starts) with the Hawks, Bucks and Mavericks.

Pachulia will wear #27 for the Warriors.

Nets sign center Justin Hamilton

The Brooklyn Nets signed free agent center Justin Hamilton to a multi-year contract today.

“Justin is an energetic big with the ability to stretch the floor,” said Nets’ General Manager Sean Marks. “He is coming off a successful season in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues and will add depth to our frontcourt rotation.”

Hamilton (7’0, 260) joins the Nets after spending last season with Valencia in Liga ACB, Spain’s top division, where he earned All-ACB first-team honors after averaging 14.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in 22.5 minutes per game in 40 games with the club. Prior to heading to Spain, the 26-year-old appeared in 49 games in parts of two NBA seasons with Charlotte, Miami and Minnesota (2013-15), registering averages of 5.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 16.0 minutes per game. In the 2014-15 season, Hamilton appeared in 41 games split between Miami and Minnesota, averaging 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game. He also saw action in 39 games with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D-League during the 2013-14 season, posting averages of 19.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 35.6 minutes per game en route to D-League All-Star, All-NBA D-League first-team and NBA D-League All-Defensive first-team recognition. Hamilton began his professional career with stints in Croatia and Latvia during the 2012-13 season. The Alpine, Utah native was originally selected with the 45th overall pick in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and was traded to Miami on draft night before being waived by the Heat in advance of the 2012-13 season. Prior to beginning his pro career, Hamilton spent his first two collegiate seasons at Iowa State and his third and final season at LSU, where he earned All-SEC second-team honors.

Jared Sullinger to join Raptors

The Raptors are adding some rebounding. Here’s the Toronto Star reporting:

In another low-risk, high-reward gamble, Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri has dipped into the NBA freeagent pool.

Jared Sullinger, an intriguing big man with conditioning and health issues but talent that makes him an interesting addition to a team needing a power forward, announced his own signing with the Raptors on Monday afternoon.

The six-foot-nine, 260-pound big man, cut adrift Sunday by the Boston Celtics, will join Toronto on a one-year deal worth slightly under $6 million, a relatively cheap contract in this summer’s NBA free agent market.

Rudy Gobert to play in Olympics for France

Rudy Gobert isn’t waiting until training camp to team up with new Jazzman Boris Diaw.

After sitting out France’s Olympic qualifying games this past week in the Philippines, Gobert announced on Twitter that he intended to play for his country next month at the Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Gobert averaged 9.1 points and 11 rebounds a game last season for the Utah Jazz. The 24-year-old is eligible to begin contract extensions with the club through Oct. 31.

— Salt Lake Tribune blog