July 2016 – Page 15 – NBA Blog

Utah Jazz sign Joe Johnson

The Utah Jazz have signed free-agent guard/forward Joe Johnson.

Johnson’s deal is reportedly a $22 million dollar contract over two years.

Johnson (6-7, 240, Arkansas) is a 15-year veteran and seven-time NBA All-Star who owns career averages of 16.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting .372 from three-point range in 36.0 minutes over 1,143 career games (1,073 starts) with Boston, Phoenix, Atlanta, Brooklyn and Miami. This past season with the Nets and Heat, he averaged 12.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Johnson recorded 10 games of 20-plus points, three double-doubles and 13 games with three-or more three-point field goals made. Johnson has made the playoffs in 11 of his 15 seasons, appearing in 101 career playoff games (95 starts), averaging 16.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

Originally selected in the first round (10th overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft by Boston, Johnson earned All-NBA Third Team honors in 2010 and was selected as an NBA All-Star from 2007-12 as well as in 2014. He has appeared in 79-plus regular season games in 10 different seasons, including all 82 games five times, and ranks ninth on the NBA’s all-time list for both three-pointers made (1,832) and attempted (4,928).

Prior to the NBA, Johnson played two seasons at the University of Arkansas from 1999-01. He averaged 15.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 30.3 minutes and was All-SEC Second Team selection by the conference coaches in 2001.

Born in Little Rock, Ark., Johnson played high school basketball at Little Rock Central and was named 1999 Arkansas Mr. Basketball following his senior season. He also won a bronze medal with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup 2006.

He will wear jersey #6 for the Jazz.

Knicks sign center Marshall Plumlee

The Knicks have signed center Marshall Plumlee.

It is likely that Plumlee will play very limited minutes.

Plumlee, 7-0, 250-pounds, went undrafted by an NBA franchise after completing a four-year college career at Duke University (2012-16) with averages of 3.4 points, on 66.5-percent shooting, and 3.8 rebounds over 14.3 minutes in 124 games (36 starts). He played in 13 NCAA Tournament games and was a member of the 2015 National Championship squad. The West Lafayette, IN-native had his most productive season as a senior, averaging 8.3 points, on 68.8-percent shooting, 8.6 rebounds and 1.61 blocks over 30.5 minutes in 36 games (all starts). His 119 offensive rebounds rank sixth on Duke’s all-time single-season list. He joins his brothers – Miles and Mason – in the NBA, who currently play for Milwaukee and Portland, respectively.

In four starts for New York’s entry in the 2016 Orlando Pro Summer League, Plumlee has averaged 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds.

Timberwolves sign Brandon Rush

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed guard/forward Brandon Rush.

Rush, 31, shot 41.4 percent (65-for-157) from three-point range while averaging 4.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 14.7 minutes in 72 games last season for the Golden State Warriors. Rush started 25 games for the Warriors last year, averaging 7.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 21.0 minutes per game while shooting 50 percent from the field, including 49.4 percent from three-point range.

The 6-6 guard/forward has career averages of 7.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in eight NBA seasons with Golden State, Utah and Indiana. Rush is a career 40.3 percent (478-for-1186) shooter from beyond the arc, making him one of just 11 active players to own a career 40 percent mark from three-point range in at least 1,000 career attempts.

Rush was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 13th pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft and traded the following month to the Indiana Pacers. He played three seasons with Indiana. In 2009-10, Rush played in all 82 games (64 starts) and averaged 9.4 points and a career-high 4.2 rebounds. On Dec. 19, 2011, he was traded to Golden State where he averaged a career-best 9.8 points per game while appearing in 65 games in that shortened season. Rush was traded to Utah in the summer of 2013 and played the 2013-14 season with the Jazz before signing as a free agent with Golden State in the summer of 2014.

Mitch McGary suspended for drug violation

OKC Thunder power forward Mitch McGary was suspended without pay by the NBA for five games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.

McGary’s suspension will begin with the next NBA regular season game that he is eligible and physically able to play.

McGary played 15.2 minutes per game as a rookie, averaging 6.3 points and an impressive 5.2 rebounds. But last season, his second in the league, he was mostly an observer, playing just 3.6 minutes in 20 games.

Knicks sign Courtney Lee

The Knicks have signed guard Courtney Lee.

Lee’s deal is reportedly a $50 million dollar contract over four years.

They team today added center Joakim Noah and guard Brandon Jennings, and recent traded for guard Derrick Rose.

“As a coaching staff, we are all excited to fill out our roster with this caliber of player,” Head Coach Jeff Hornacek said. “We believe that the players we have will give us a good mix of versatility and flexibility on both sides of the ball. This will help us get to the level we want to achieve.”

Lee, 6-5, 200-pounds, has averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.02 steals over 27.3 minutes in 600 career games over eight seasons with Orlando, New Jersey, Houston, Boston, Memphis and Charlotte. He has appeared in 50 career playoff games, including a trip to the 2009 NBA Finals with the Magic.

Last season, the Indianapolis, IN-native, averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.08 steals over 79 games with the Grizzlies and Hornets. He was originally selected by Orlando with the 22nd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, following four seasons at Western Kentucky University.

Knicks sign Brandon Jennings

The Knicks have signed guard Brandon Jennings.

Jennings’ deal is reportedly a $5 million dollar contract for one season.

Jennings, 6-1, 170-pounds, has averaged 15.5 points, 5.9 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.31 steals over 32.3 minutes in 460 career games over seven seasons with Milwaukee, Detroit and Orlando. The Compton, CA-native, was originally selected by the Bucks with the 10th overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, following one professional season in Italy (Lottomatica Roma), after finishing his high school career at Oak Hill Academy (VA). He appeared in 48 games last season for Detroit and Orlando, averaging 6.9 points and 3.5 assists over 18.1 minutes.

Jennings was named to the 2010 NBA All-Rookie First Team after winning four Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month awards and also took home three Eastern Conference Player of the Week awards. In 2009, the then-20-year-old scored 55 points on Nov. 14 against Golden State, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score at least 50 in a game. He has appeared in 11 post-season games, averaging 16.7 points, 3.7 assists and 1.55 steals over 34.7 minutes.

Jennings’ shooting ability is limited. His career shooting percentage is just 39%, and he shot below that last season.

Knicks sign Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah defends, passes and rebounds well but must stay healthy

The Knicks have signed center Joakim Noah. The deal is reportedly a $72 million dollar contract over four years.

“Acquiring Derrick Rose through a trade and securing Joakim Noah through free agency has given us a great ability to choose players that complement the incumbents Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis,” Knicks President Phil Jackson said. “As an organization, we look towards our next challenge of blending the skills of this talented group.”

Noah’s 2015-16 season was limited due to an injured left shoulder, appearing in just 29 games and averaging 4.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.00 block in 21.9 minutes per outing. He came off the bench for 27 of the 29 games that he did play last season.

After nine seasons in Chicago, Noah comes home to New York, bringing with him a highly decorated playing career, highlighted by winning the 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, while finishing fourth in the Most Valuable Player voting. At 6-11, 230-pounds, the center appeared in two consecutive NBA All-Star Games (2013, 2014), was named to the All-NBA First Team (2014) and three NBA All-Defensive Teams (2011-second, 2013-first, 2014-first) and garnered the 2015 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

In 572 career games, Noah has averaged 9.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.40 blocks in the regular season, and has appeared in 60 NBA Playoff games to average 9.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.77 blocks. He has recorded at least 250 assists in three consecutive seasons (2012-13 through 2014-15), becoming just the third center in the last 20 years to accomplish the feat (Vlade Divac, Hakeem Olajuwon). Noah has recorded seven career triple-doubles, including four during the 2013-14 season, joining the ranks of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and David Robinson as the only centers in league history with at least four point-rebound-assist triple-doubles in a single season.

Noah was originally selected by Chicago with the ninth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, following three seasons at the University of Florida where he was a member of two NCAA Championship teams. He played high school basketball at United Nations International School (Manhattan), Poly Prep Country Day School (Brooklyn) and Lawrenceville School (NJ). He was born in Manhattan to tennis star Yannick Noah and Cecilia Rodhe, Miss Sweden 1978.

Bulls issue statement praising Joakim Noah

Veteran center Joakim Noah has said goodbye to the Bulls and signed as a free agent with the Knicks. Chicago Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson and General Manager Gar Forman issued the following statements following Noah’s departure:

JERRY REINSDORF: “You cannot measure the impact Joakim made on our team and the City of Chicago over the last nine years. His concern, commitment and compassion were always on display. He is loved by all in our organization and he will always be a Bull. We want to thank Joakim for his countless contributions to our organization and the city of Chicago, both on and off the court, and we wish him nothing but the best as he begins a new chapter.”

JOHN PAXSON: “When we drafted Joakim in 2007, we knew that we were getting a kid with a strong spirit, was a hard worker and was a proven winner. What we didn’t know was the impact that he would make on our organization and the City of Chicago. He worked incredibly hard and eventually became the pulse of our team. Joakim has not only meant a lot to our entire organization and our city, but also to me personally. In this day and age in the NBA, it is rare where you come across a player as genuine, compassionate and real as Jo. The time and energy that he and his family put into his Foundation while he was here in Chicago speaks to the type of human being that he is. On behalf of the Chicago Bulls, I want to thank Joakim for everything that he did for us and I wish him the best as he moves on.”

GAR FORMAN: “I have always thought highly of Joakim, not only because of his efforts on the court and in the locker room, but also for his heartfelt work and dedication in the community. These are the tough decisions in this job that nobody likes to make, but unfortunately it comes with the territory. Joakim has meant so much to so many different people on so many different levels. I want to thank him for everything that he has done for our organization over the last nine years and I wish him all my best.”

Victor Oladipo added to 2016 USA Select Team

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo was named to the 2016 USA Men’s Select Team.

Members of the USA Select Team will train daily with the USA National Team from July 18-21 at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center.

Oladipo was named to the 2015-16 USA Basketball National Team and participated in the 2015 USA Basketball Showcase where he recorded 25 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals in 23 minutes of action for the USA Blue Team. Named a member of the 2014 USA Select Team, Oladipo trained with and against the 2014 USA National Team that was preparing for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Originally the second overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Oladipo averaged 16.0 points, a career-high 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, a team-high 1.61 steals and 33.0 minutes in 72 games (52 starts) with Orlando this past season. The third-year guard has appeared in 224 games (167 starts) with Orlando, averaging 15.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.63 steals in 33.2 minutes per game. The Indiana University product was named to the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Oladipo was acquired by the Thunder on draft night last month from the Orlando Magic along with forward Ersan Ilyasova and the draft rights to forward Domantas Sabonis.

Pistons sign Ish Smith and Jon Leuer

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Ish Smith and free agent forward Jon Leuer to multi-year contracts.

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

Leuer’s deal is reportedly a $42 million dollar contract over four years.

Smith, 27, appeared in 77 games (53 starts) with Philadelphia and New Orleans last season, averaging career highs in points (12.6 ppg), assists (6.5 apg), rebounds (4.0 rpg) and minutes (29.1 mpg). He started the season with New Orleans where he averaged 8.9 points, 5.7 assists, 3.4 assists and 22.9 minutes in 27 games before being traded to Philadelphia on December 24, 2015. In the 50 games following the trade, Smith averaged 14.7 points, a team-high 7.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 32.4 minutes with Philadelphia. He set new single-game career-highs in points [28 vs. Toronto (1/9/16)], assists [16 at New York (1/18/16)] and rebounds [14 at Portland (3/26/16)] a year ago. Smith scored 10-plus points 49 times, 20-plus points 15 times and dished out 10-plus assists 14 times last season.

The 6-0, 175-pound guard has tallied career NBA averages of 5.8 points, 3.3 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 16.3 minutes in 323 games with Houston, Memphis, Golden State, Orlando, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, New Orleans and Philadelphia. The Pistons will be the 10th team Smith has played for, joining Louis Amundson and Drew Gooden as the only active NBA players to play for 10 different NBA teams. The Charlotte, N.C. native was undrafted out of Wake Forest in the 2010 NBA Draft. At Wake Forest, Smith averaged 13.2 points, 6.0 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals as a senior. He finished his college career with the Deacons as the only player in school history to record 1,000 points, 600 assists and 500 rebounds in a career and ranks second all-time in assists (612).

“We’re pleased to welcome both Ish Smith and Jon Leuer to the organization,” said Stan Van Gundy, Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach. “Ish is a player that will give us quality depth at the point guard position. He’s efficient scoring the basketball, posted career-high numbers in assists per game a year ago and rebounds well for his size. Jon is a player that adds size and versatility to our roster. His outside shooting ability gives us offensive flexibility and his ability to guard the post will help from a defensive standpoint. We look forward to integrating both their talents into our system.”

Leuer, 27, appeared in a career-high 67 games (27 starts) with Phoenix last season, averaging 8.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 18.7 minutes per game. He recorded a career-high 10 double-doubles, scored 10-plus points 26 times, 20-plus points three times and grabbed 10-plus rebounds 10 times. In 26 starts, Leuer averaged 11.5 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 51.4 percent from the field, 40.4 percent from behind the arch and 81.8 percent from the free-throw line. He recorded his best offensive stretch of the season from December 2-14, scoring in double-figures eight straight games. The 6-10, 228-pound forward recorded 16 points and a career-high-tying 14 rebounds in 20 minutes vs. L.A. Clippers (4/13/16), marking the first time since 1983-84 that an NBA player posted at least 16 points and 14 rebounds in 20 minutes or fewer.

The five-year pro has tallied career NBA averages of 5.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 13.7 minutes in 253 games (45 starts) with Milwaukee, Cleveland, Memphis and Phoenix. Leuer was drafted 40th overall by Milwaukee in the 2011 NBA Draft. The Minnesota native played four collegiate seasons at Wisconsin where he averaged 11.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 123 games. He finished his career with the Badgers ranked 12th in total points (1,376), 10th in blocks (85) and was one of eight players in program history to record at least 1,300 points and 500 rebounds.