July 2016 – Page 19 – NBA Blog

Mavericks sign Harrison Barnes to offer sheet

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed forward Harrison Barnes to an offer sheet. Golden State has declined its right of first refusal to match the offer sheet.

The deal is reportedly for 4 years, $94 million.

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.

Nets trade Thaddeus Young to Pacers

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired the draft rights to Caris LeVert, the 20th pick in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft, along with a future second round pick, from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for forward Thaddeus Young.

LeVert (6’7”, 205) played four seasons at Michigan and helped the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the National Championship game in 2013 and the Elite Eight in 2014. In 103 career games (70 starts) for the Wolverines, LeVert averaged 10.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 26.4 minutes per game. As a senior, the Columbus, Ohio, native posted averages of 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 30.9 minutes per game while shooting .506 from the field and .446 from 3-point range in 15 games (14 starts) during an injury-shortened season. He earned 2014 All-Big Ten second-team and 2014 NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament team honors following his sophomore season, when he averaged 12.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 34.0 minutes per game in 37 games.

Young played in 101 games (93 starts) with the Nets after joining the team via trade from Minnesota on February 19, 2015, averaging 14.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 32.0 minutes per game. A nine-year NBA veteran, Young has appeared in 665 career games with Philadelphia, Minnesota and Brooklyn, holding averages of 13.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals in 30.6 minutes per game.

Magic sign Bismack Biyombo

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent center Bismack Biyombo (bis-MOCK bee-OM-bo), General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. The deal was reported to be 4 years, $72 million.

“Bismack (Biyombo) is a tremendous competitor and athlete who excels on the defensive end of the floor,” said Hennigan. “He proved during the playoffs that he can rebound and protect the rim at an elite level, and he will bring toughness and winning fiber to our frontcourt. We are confident that his best basketball is ahead of him and we’re extremely excited to welcome him to the Orlando Magic family.”

Biyombo (6’9”, 255, 8/28/92) played in all 82 regular season games with Toronto last season (22 starts), averaging 5.5 ppg., a career-high 8.0 rpg. and a team-high 1.62 blkpg. in 22.0 minpg., while shooting .542 (156-288) from the floor. He ranked 13th in the NBA in blocked shots. Biyombo led (or tied) the Raptors in rebounding 32 times. He scored in double figures 17 times, including a career-high 16 points on Mar. 17 @ Indiana. Biyombo had nine double-doubles, recorded 10+ rebounds 23 times and pulled down 20+ rebounds twice, including a career-high and franchise-record 25 rebounds on Mar. 17 @ Indiana. He tied a career-high with seven blocked shots on Dec. 17 @ Charlotte.

During the 2016 NBA Playoffs, Biyombo appeared in all 20 games (10 starts), averaging 6.2 ppg., 9.4 rpg. and a team-high 1.35 blkpg. in 25.3 minpg., helping the Raptors reach the Eastern Conference Finals. He scored in double figures five times and had 10+ rebounds eight times during the postseason, including a franchise-playoff-record and career-playoff-high 26 rebounds in Game #3 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. Cleveland on May 19.

Originally selected by Sacramento in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft, Biyombo has appeared in 366 career NBA regular season games (158 starts) with Charlotte and Toronto, averaging 4.6 ppg., 6.5 rpg. and 1.57 blkpg. in 21.2 minpg., while shooting .507 (630-1,242) from the floor. He has also played in 23 career NBA playoff contests (11 starts), averaging 5.7 ppg., 8.6 rpg. and 1.26 blkpg. in 24.1 minpg.

Warriors trade Andrew Bogut to Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have acquired center Andrew Bogut along with a future second-round pick from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for a future conditional second-round pick.

“Andrew played a vital role in our success as a team the last several seasons,” said Warriors General Manager Bob Myers. “His unique skill set on both ends of the floor enabled our team — and his teammates in particular — to thrive. We thank him for his contributions and wish him the best of luck in Dallas.”

According to the Dallas Morning News, “the Mavericks had enough cap space to absorb Bogut’s $11 million salary. He will be a free agent next summer, meaning he won’t clog up cap room. To facilitate the arrival of star free agent Kevin Durant, the Warriors had to shed Bogut’s contract. Durant announced early Monday that he was bolting from Oklahoma City to sign a two-year, $54 million deal with the Warriors.”

Bogut (7-0, 260) is an 11-year veteran with career averages of 10.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.6 blocks and 29.4 minutes per game in 644 games (630 starts) with Milwaukee and Golden State. He earned All-NBA Third Team honors with the Bucks in 2009-10 and was named NBA All-Defensive Second Team with the Warriors in 2014-15. He was also a member of the Warriors’ 2015 NBA championship team.

A native of Melbourne, Australia, Bogut was selected by Milwaukee with the first overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. He became the first Australian ever taken with the top pick. Bogut appeared in all 82 games for the Bucks in 2005-06, earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors after finishing the season with averages of 9.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. He averaged a double-double in three consecutive seasons with Milwaukee from 2008-11. In 2009-10, Bogut averaged a career-high 15.9 points to go along with 10.2 rebounds per game en route to being named All-NBA Third Team.

Bogut was traded along with Stephen Jackson to the Warriors in exchange for Monta Ellis, Kwame Brown and Ekpe Udoh on March 13, 2012. He made his debut with the team the following season (2012-13), and the Warriors went on to reach the postseason in each of the next four years (2013-16). After winning a title with Golden State in 2014-15, Bogut helped the Warriors win an NBA-record 73 games in 2015-16 and reach the Finals for the second straight year. Bogut suffered a left knee injury in Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals and was forced to miss the remainder of the series.

Bogut played collegiately at Utah, where he was named the Naismith College Player of the Year and won the John R. Wooden Award as a sophomore in 2004-05. The 7-footer declared for the NBA Draft following his sophomore season.

Kings trade Marco Belinelli to Hornets for Malachi Richardson

The Charlotte Hornets have acquired guard/forward Marco Belinelli from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for the draft rights to guard Malachi Richardson, who was selected with the 22nd overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

“We are excited to be adding a high-caliber player in Marco Belinelli to our roster,” said Hornets General Manager Rich Cho. “Marco is a solid outside shooter and has proven he can score and create for others in a variety of ways over the course of his nine-year NBA career. He brings veteran leadership to our locker room and we think he’ll mesh with our core group well.”

The 18th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Belinelli is entering his 10th NBA season. He has played in 570 career games (216 starts) for Golden State, Toronto, New Orleans, Chicago, San Antonio and Sacramento, winning an NBA Championship with the Spurs in 2014. Belinelli owns career averages of 9.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 23.0 minutes per game, while shooting .424 from the field (1940-4576), .379 from beyond the three-point line (751-1979) and .821 from the free throw line (798-972). In 2014, Belinelli won the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest at All-Star weekend in New Orleans. He began his career in the Italian SerieA League, playing there for five seasons from 2002-07.

The San Giovanni in Persiceto, Italy native played in 68 games (seven starts) for Sacramento in 2015-16, averaging 10.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 24.6 minutes per game. Belinelli had 31 double-figure scoring outings in 2015-16, including four 20-plus point games, and hit multiple three-point field goals in 29 contests.

Belinelli has been a member of the Italian National Team since 2006, competing in the FIBA World Championship in 2006 and in the FIBA European Championship in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. He is currently representing his country in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Deyonta Davis out with foot injury

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the following medical update for Grizzlies center Deyonta Davis:

While participating in individual workouts in Memphis, Davis developed plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He is expected to miss the first three games at the 2016 Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and will be re-evaluated daily.

Davis (6-11, 239) was selected by Boston in the second round (31st overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft following his freshman season at Michigan State University. His draft rights were subsequently traded to Memphis on draft night.

Blazers sign rookie Jake Layman

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Jake Layman, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

Acquired in a draft day trade with Orlando, Layman (6-9, 220) was selected with the 47th overall pick in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft.

Layman, 22, posted career averages of 10.2 points (44.5% FG, 36.2% 3-PT, 75.9% FT), 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in four seasons at Maryland.

An Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection his senior year, Layman led Maryland to 114 wins over his four seasons and is one of just 12 players in school history to record 1,400 points (1,436) and 600 rebounds (674). He guided Maryland to its first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 2003 last season, and ranks 18th in school history in points (1,436) and 18th in rebounds (674).

Layman will make his Trail Blazers debut at the 2016 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Portland tips off its schedule on Saturday, July 9 vs. Phoenix at 1 p.m. (Pacific).

He will wear No. 10 for the Trail Blazers.

Trail Blazers sign Evan Turner

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free agent guard/forward Evan Turner, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey. We’ll post contract details here Thursday morning.

Turner, 27, joins the Trail Blazers from the Boston Celtics, where he netted averages of 10.5 points (45.6% FG, 24.1% 3PT, 82.7% FT), 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.99 steals and 28.0 minutes in 81 games (12 starts) last season.

“Evan’s skill set on the court and character off the court are ideal additions to our team and the culture we are working to build in Portland,” said Olshey. “We expect him to be an impact player on both sides of the ball and are very pleased he chose our organization as his home for the next four years.”

The second overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Turner holds career averages of 10.7 points (43.2% FG, 30.5% 3PT, 77.7% FT), 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 28.6 minutes over six seasons with Philadelphia, Indiana and Boston.

Turner (6-7, 216) has playoff experience in five of his six seasons, and averaged 13.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.33 steals and 1.00 blocked shot in six games for the Celtics during the 2016 NBA Playoffs.

Lakers hire new athletic trainer

The Los Angeles Lakers announced today the hiring of Marco Nuñez as the team’s new Athletic Trainer, replacing long-time Athletic Trainer Gary Vitti, who recently retired after 32 seasons with the organization. The team also promoted Nina Hsieh to Assistant Athletic Trainer and renewed the contract of Strength and Conditioning Coach Tim DiFrancesco.

Nuñez, who originally joined the Lakers as Assistant Athletic Trainer during the 2008-09 season, will expand his responsibilities working hand-in-hand with the training staff, coaching staff, and front office to ensure the highest level of on-court performance. In his new position, the Los Angeles native is charged with year-round oversight of the care, prevention, and treatment of injuries to the players on the roster, and is also chiefly responsible for player rehabilitation programs and emergency on-court procedures.

Prior to joining the Lakers, Nuñez spent two seasons as Athletic Trainer for the Lakers’ NBA D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, beginning with their inaugural season in 2006-07. While working in the D-League, Nuñez served simultaneously as Athletic Trainer for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, and was solely affiliated with the Sparks for the 2005-06 season. An Assistant Trainer for the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League from 1999-2003, he also spent one season as Head Athletic Trainer for the Carolina Cobras of the AFL in 2004 prior to joining the Sparks.

In the summer and fall of that same year, Nuñez worked as a trainer for the movie “The Longest Yard,” attending to the actors, stuntmen, and athletes on set. In addition to winning NBA championships in his first two seasons with the Lakers (2009 and 2010), Nunez also served as the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the 2011 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles. He graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a B.S. in Kinesiology and emphasis in Sports Medicine, and went on to receive his M.S. in Biomechanics from A.T. Still University. In addition, he is an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and holds Corrective Exercise Specialist and Performance Enhancement Specialist certifications from the NASM.

Hsieh transitions to the Lakers training staff after serving as Head Athletic Trainer for the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the Lakers’ NBA D-League affiliate, beginning with the 2008-09 season, highlighted by D-League Finals appearances in 2012 and 2016. In her role with the D-Fenders, Hsieh oversaw all aspects of player health, including strength and conditioning, in addition to handling the team’s equipment and assisting with team travel. The Huntington Beach native is no stranger to NBA training rooms, as she joined the Lakers for both Summer League in Las Vegas and training camp each of the last four seasons.

Warriors hire Mike Brown as assistant coach

The Golden State Warriors have named Mike Brown an assistant coach on Steve Kerr’s coaching staff, the team announced today. Brown, who was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2008-09, replaces Luke Walton on the team’s coaching staff.

“We’re fortunate to add someone with the pedigree and track record of Mike Brown to our coaching staff,” said Kerr. “I had the good opportunity to play under him and Coach Popovich in San Antonio at the end of my career. The wealth of knowledge and experience that he brings will be invaluable to our staff and our players. He’s a terrific fit and we’re thrilled to have him.”

Brown, 46, joins the Warriors after previously holding head coaching duties with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2005-10, 2013-14) and Los Angeles Lakers (2011-12). He owns a career record of 347-216 (.616) over eight seasons, which ranks as the 10th best winning percentage in NBA history among coaches who have registered at least 500 games at the helm. In his first stint with Cleveland, Brown led the Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA Finals appearance in 2007 and was named the NBA Coach of the Year in 2008-09 after guiding the Cavaliers to a franchise-record 66 wins. Cleveland won at least 50 games in four of Brown’s first five seasons with the club, including back-to-back 60-win campaigns in 2008-09 and 2009-10 (61).

Following a five-year run with the Cavs, Brown spent the 2010-11 season as an analyst for ESPN before returning to the bench as head coach of the Lakers in 2011-12, leading the club to a Pacific Division title and a 41-25 (.621) record during the lockout shortened season. Brown returned as head coach of the Cavaliers for the 2013-14 season, where he eclipsed Lenny Wilkins’ mark for most combined regular season and playoff victories in the franchise’s history (347). As a head coach, Brown’s teams qualified for the playoffs in six of his seven full seasons, advancing past the First Round in each appearance.