July 2016 – Page 13 – NBA Blog

Kings sign Arron Afflalo, Garrett Temple, Matt Barnes and Anthony Tolliver

The Sacramento Kings today signed free agent guards Arron Afflalo and Garrett Temple and forwards Matt Barnes and Anthony Tolliver, according to Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Vlade Divac.

“Adding these skilled veterans shores up our depth and experience at several positions,” said Divac. “We’re excited to welcome each of them to the Kings family.”

Entering his tenth NBA campaign, Afflalo has accrued career averages of 11.6 points (.452 FG%, .385 3pt%, .820 FT%), 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 28.7 minutes per game in 648 contests (489 starts) with the Detroit Pistons (2007-08 – 2008-09), Denver Nuggets (2009-10 – 2011-12 & 53 games in 2014-15), Orlando Magic (2012-13 – 2013-14), Portland Trail Blazers (25 games in 2014-15) and New York Knicks (2015-16). He has shot 40 percent or better from beyond the arc in five seasons and at least 38 percent in eight, earning the reputation as a reliable shooter. The UCLA alum enjoyed his finest statistical output in 2013-14, posting 18.2 points (.459 FG%, .427 3pt%, .815 FT%), 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 35 minutes per game, finishing eighth in the league in three point shooting.

As a Bruin, Afflalo finished his career in Westwood as one the program’s best players in recent memory, helping guide UCLA to the NCAA tournament in each of his three seasons, culminating in PAC-10 Conference Player of the Year honors as a junior in 2006-07.

Barnes returns to the Kings as a 13-year NBA veteran after spending the 2015-16 season with the Memphis Grizzlies. As a reserve, he registered career highs in field goal attempts per game (9.1), free throw percentage (.804) and tied a career-best with 5.5 rebounds per contest. The Sacramento native rejoins his hometown team after donning a Kings jersey during the 2004-05 campaign. In 855 NBA contests, Barnes has accrued averages of 8.3 points (.440 FG%, .335 3pt%, .742 FT%,), 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 23.6 minutes per game with the Los Angeles Clippers (2003-04 and 2012-13– 2014-15), Sacramento (2004-05), New York Knicks (six games in 2005-06), Philadelphia 76ers (50 games in 2005-06), Golden State Warriors (2006-07 – 2007-08), Phoenix Suns (2008-09), Orlando Magic (2009-10) and Los Angeles Lakers (2010-11 – 2011-12).

Also a former Bruin standout (1998-2002), all four of Barnes’ seasons in Westwood ended in NCAA Tournament berths, including Sweet 16 appearances in his last three years.

Tolliver, a 10-year league veteran and a former NBA D-League All-Star, joins the Kings after appearing in a career-high 72 contests for Detroit last season. Known as a hard-working, tough competitor, Tolliver went undrafted as a senior out of Creighton University in 2007 before parlaying stellar play in the D-League and German Bundesliga into a contract with San Antonio in 2008.

The Springfield, Missouri native has accrued career averages of 6.0 points (.409 FG%, .357 3PT%, .770 FT%), 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 19.6 minutes per game in 455 contests with San Antonio (2008-09), Portland (2009-10), Golden State (2009-10), Minnesota (2010-11 – 2011-12), Atlanta (2012-13), Charlotte (2013-14), Phoenix (2014-15) and Detroit (2014-15 – 2015-16). He registered his best three-point shooting percentage in 2013-14 when he shot .413 from beyond the arc.

Tolliver enjoyed a four-year career at Creighton, where he earned first-team all Missouri Valley Conference honors as a senior (2006-07), helping guide the Blue Jays to a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the second time during his collegiate career.

Temple arrives in Sacramento after spending the previous four seasons (2012-13 – 2015-16) with the Washington Wizards, where he posted 4.6 points (.396 FG%, .338 3PT%, .719 FT%), 1.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 17.4 minutes per game in 258 contests. He amassed career highs last season in several key categories, including scoring average (7.3 points per game), games played (80), games started (43), rebounds (2.7), and assists (1.8). For his career, the LSU product has averaged 4.5 points (.393 FG%, .335 3pt%, .700 FT%), 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 16.3 minutes per game in 309 career contests with the Houston Rockets (2009-10), Sacramento (2009-10), San Antonio Spurs (2009-10 – 2010-11), Milwaukee Bucks (2010-11), Charlotte Hornets (2010-11) and Washington (2012-13 – 2015-16).

A Baton Rouge, Louisiana native, Temple became LSU’s all-time leader in minutes played (4,432), breaking a record set by Howard Carter in 1983. He also earned All-SEC Defensive team honors and was named to the coaches All-SEC second team, posting 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game in 35 contests as a senior.

Nuggets re-sign Darrell Arthur

The Denver Nuggets have re-signed free agent forward Darrell Arthur to a multi-year contract, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Arthur, 6-9, 225, appeared in 70 games (16 starts) for Denver in 2015-16, averaging 7.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in a career-high 21.7 minutes per game. He made a career-high 45 three-pointers while shooting a career-best 38.5% from beyond the arc as well.

The 27-year-old forward has spent the last three years of his career with the Denver Nuggets, appearing in 196 total games (21 starts) while posting averages of 6.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.

“Darrell embodies all of the values and characteristics that we look for in a player,” said Connelly. “D.A.’s commitment to our team, organization and city has always been evident and we were thrilled that he chose to stay in Denver and continue being an integral part of what we are building here.”

Raptors sign rookies Jakob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam

The Toronto Raptors announced Saturday they have signed center Jakob Poeltl (YAH-cub PUHR-tuhl) and forward Pascal Siakam (Pass-CAL See-AH-kum) to rookie scale contracts. Both players are under contract through the 2017-18 season, with two team option years to follow. The Raptors selected Poeltl with the ninth pick and Siakam with the 27th selection in the 2016 NBA Draft.

All players selected in the first round of the draft are guaranteed to receive a contract, assuming they wish to start their NBA career right away. So, these signings are standard and were expected.

Poeltl, 7-foot, 248 pounds, played two seasons at Utah and one season (2013-14) for the Arkadia Traiskirchen Lions in his native Austria. He was the 2016 Pac-12 Player of the Year, an Associated Press second-team All-America and the recipient of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award for the nation’s top centre. Poeltl averaged 17.2 points (second in the Pac-12), 9.1 rebounds (fourth in the conference) and 1.6 blocks (eighth in the Pac-12) in 36 games this past season. He ranked first in the Pac-12 and seventh in the nation in field goal percentage (.646). As a freshman, he contributed 9.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 34 contests. He earned Pac-12 All-Freshman team honours and was named to the CBSSports.com Freshman All-American team. He led the conference and ranked fourth in the nation in field goal percentage (.681).

Siakam, 6-foot-9, 230 pounds, played two seasons at New Mexico State. He averaged 20.3 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 34 games in 2015-16 en route to unanimous Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year honours. He led the nation with 27 double-doubles. The native of Cameroon was the 2015 WAC Freshman of the Year, averaging 12.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 34 outings. He paced the conference in field goal percentage (.572) and blocked shots.

Knicks sign Mindaugas Kuzminskas

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas.

You don’t know who he is. So, here:

Kuzminskas, 6-9, 215-pounds, has averaged 8.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 221 career games over seven seasons with Siauliai (Lithuania), Zalgris (Lithuania) and Malaga (Spain). He is a four-time Lithuanian All-Star (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), three-time Lithuanian National champion (2011, 2012, 2013), two-time winner of the Lithuanian National Cup (2011, 2012), two-time Baltic League champion (2011, 2012) and winner of the 2012 Lithuanian Super Cup.

The 26-year-old posted 12.0 points, on 48.6-percent shooting and 3.4 rebounds in 23 games for Malaga last season. The Vinius, Lithuania-native represented his country in the 2013 and 2015 EuroCup, winning Silver medals at both.

Pacers sign Al Jefferson

The Indiana Pacers have signed veteran free agent center Al Jefferson to a multi-year contract.

Jefferson’s deal is reportedly a $30 million dollar contract over three years.

This will be an interesting fit, as the Pacers were looking to play more up-tempo basketball, while Jefferson is best when the offense gets slowed down and he’s able to operate in the post.

The 6-10, 289-pound Jefferson spent the last three seasons of his 12-year NBA career with Charlotte. Drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2004 (first round, 15th overall) out of Prentiss (Mississippi) High School, Jefferson was with Boston three seasons before being traded to Minnesota. He spent three years there before being traded to Utah, where he played for three seasons. He then signed as a free agent with Charlotte in 2013.

“We want to welcome Al to the Indiana Pacers,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “Al is a good, solid, veteran player. We know what he brings to our team, scoring, rebounding and he’s a handful down in the post. Not only do we think he’ll help us a lot on the court, we think he will be a good mentor for Myles Turner. He’s a proven player in this league and we are very confident he will help us in many ways.”

Jefferson has career averages of 16.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He averaged a career best of 23.1 in points in 2008-09 and a career best 11.1 rebounds in 2007-08. In 2014, he was a third team All-NBA selection.

Mavericks sign Harrison Barnes

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed forward Harrison Barnes. He was a restricted free agent, and his former team, the Warriors, declined to match the Mavs’ offer sheet.

Barnes’ deal is reportedly a $94 million dollar contract over four years.

Barnes has shown flashes of big-time talent, but his role on the Warriors was mostly that of a role player. Which is understandable, considering how great some of his Golden State teammates were. Still, it remains to be seen if Barnes can emerge as a leading man himself.

Barnes (6-8, 225) played his first four NBA seasons with the Golden State Warriors (2012-16) and was a restricted free agent with the club. He holds career averages of 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 28.1 minutes in 307 games (246 starts) while shooting 44.6 percent (295-of-633) from the field, 37.6 percent (287-of-764) from 3-point range and 73.9 percent (484-of-655) from the line. He was a member of the Warriors’ 2015 NBA championship team.

The Warriors selected Barnes with the seventh overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. As a rookie in 2012-13, he appeared in 81 games (all starts) and averaged 9.2 points and 4.1 rebounds en route to earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors.

In 2014-15, Barnes started all 82 regular-season games for the eventual NBA champion Warriors. He averaged 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds while posting career highs in field goal percentage (.482) and 3-point field goal percentage (.405). The following season (2015-16), Barnes averaged 11.7 and 4.9 rebounds while helping the Warriors win an NBA-record 73 games.

Barnes increased his scoring average in each of his first four seasons. After drafting Barnes in 2012, Golden State went on to reach the playoffs in each of the next four years. What’s more, when Barnes helped the Warriors reach the playoffs as a rookie in 2012-13, it was just their second playoff appearance in the last 19 years and their first since 2006-07.

The Ames, Iowa, native played two seasons at the University of North Carolina, earning First Team All-ACC honors as a sophomore in 2011-12. He declared for the NBA Draft following his sophomore season.

Celtics sign Al Horford

The Boston Celtics signed free agent forward/center and four-time NBA All-Star Al Horford today.

“I am extremely excited to be joining the Boston Celtics family,” said Horford. “I look forward to working with Coach Stevens and the rest of our team towards our goal of bringing a championship back to Boston.”

Horford’s deal is reportedly a $113 million dollar contract over four years.

“We are very glad to welcome Al Horford and his family to the Celtics,” said Celtics Co-Owner and Managing Partner Wyc Grousbeck. “His burning desire to play basketball the right way reminds me of the great Celtics of the past. He is a four-time All-Star, a gifted shooter, playmaker and defender, and an outstanding person. He believes in Celtic Pride and we believe in him.”

In years to come, I feel like this will open the doors for many other big free agents,” Horford said Friday, according to Boston.com.

The 6’10” Horford appeared in a career-high 82 games (all starts) for the Atlanta Hawks last season where he averaged 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 blocks (17th in NBA) while shooting 50.5 percent from the floor and 34.4 percent from beyond the arc. Horford was one of three players in the NBA last season to record at least 1,200 points, 575 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 blocks. He is also one of 13 active players to record at least 8,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 1,500 assists and 675 blocks in their career.

“Al is a significant addition to our team and will make an immediate impact on both ends of the floor,” said President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “He is a proven veteran and leader, on and off the court, and we look forward to welcoming Al and his family to Boston and the Celtics organization.”

Selected with the third overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by Atlanta, Horford has career averages of 14.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. The nine year NBA veteran has been an All-Star four times (2015-16, 2014-15, 2010-11 and 2009-10). He was named to the 2007-08 NBA All-Rookie First Team and also was named to the 2010-11 All-NBA Third Team when he averaged 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 block per game. Born in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, Horford led the Hawks to nine consecutive playoff appearances to start his career.

Warriors re-sign Ian Clark

The Golden State Warriors have re-signed free agent guard Ian Clark.

Clark, 25, appeared in 66 regular-season games with the Warriors last season (one start), averaging 3.6 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.0 assist in 8.8 minutes per contest. In 16 postseason games, the 6-3 guard averaged 4.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 9.6 minutes.

A three-year NBA veteran, Clark owns career averages of 3.0 points and 7.9 minutes in 119 regular-season games with the Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors.

Nets sign rookie Isaiah Whitehead

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Isaiah Whitehead to a multi-year contract.

Selected with the 42nd pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Whitehead’s rights were acquired by Brooklyn in a draft-night trade with the Utah Jazz in exchange for the draft rights to guard Marcus Paige, the 55th overall selection, and cash considerations.

Whitehead (6’4”, 210) played two years at Seton Hall, most recently leading the Pirates to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006. The Brooklyn native averaged 18.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 32.3 minutes per game in 34 games (33 starts) as a sophomore, earning unanimous All-Big East first-team honors and an Associated Press All-America honorable mention. He was also named the 2016 Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player after averaging 23.3 points and 5.7 assists in the Big East Tournament, where the Pirates claimed their first conference tournament title since 1993. As a freshman, Whitehead averaged 12.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 27.8 minutes per game in 22 games (19 starts) en route to Big East All-Rookie Team honors. A product of Abraham Lincoln High School and Coney Island, Whitehead was a McDonald’s All American and named Mr. New York Basketball by the state’s Basketball Coaches Association in 2014.

Clippers re-sign Jamal Crawford, Wesley Johnson, Luc Mbah A Moute and Austin Rivers

The L.A. Clippers have re-signed free agents Jamal Crawford, Wesley Johnson, Luc Mbah A Moute and Austin Rivers.

Crawford’s deal is reportedly a $42 million dollar contract over three years.

Johnson’s deal is reportedly an $18 million dollar contract over three years.

Crawford, the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year, averaged 14.2 points and 2.3 assists last season for the Clippers in 79 games (five starts). In his fourth season with the Clippers, he ranked second in the NBA in free throw shooting (.904) and scored in double figures 58 times. One of the most explosive bench scorers in NBA history and the only three-time winner of the Sixth Man of the Year award, Crawford ranks 89th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list (17,076 points) and is 7th on the NBA’s all-time three-pointers list (1,933 three-pointers). Crawford, 36, has averaged 15.5 points and 3.6 assists in 1,100 career games (432 starts) with Chicago, New York, Golden State, Atlanta, Portland and the Clippers.