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NBA Blog: The NBA basketball news blog section of Inside Hoops
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Looks like Brandon Rush and Cole Aldrich will have a bit of a reunion this fall.
Wednesday the Timberwolves agreed with Rush — the three-point specialist who spent four of the last five seasons with Golden State — on a one-year, $3.5 million contract. In the process the Wolves nabbed their second free agent of the NBA’s bargaining period — and both Rush and Aldrich were on Kansas’ 2008 NCAA championship team.
Contracts cannot be signed or announced until Thursday.
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Looking to fine-tune their upcoming roster, the Charlotte Hornets came to terms with Brian Roberts Wednesday to be the team’s third point guard.
A source familiar with the deal said Roberts will be paid the veteran minimum salary.
The Hornets start Kemba Walker at the point and have agreed to a two-year, $12.3 milllion deal with Ramon Sessions to be Walker’s backup.
The Philadelphia 76ers announced on Sunday, July 3 that they signed Ben Simmons and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who were selected by the Sixers with the first and 24th overall picks, respectively, in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Both players will join the Sixers Summer League team and are expected to participate in both the Utah Jazz Summer League and the Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
In his lone collegiate season at LSU, Simmons averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block in 35 minutes per game, each of which led the Tigers. Simmons was the consensus National Freshman of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year and was the only freshman named to the 2016 Consensus All-America Team.
The Sixers selected French forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot with the No. 24 overall pick, who most recently played for KK Mega Leks in the ABA League JTD. The 21-year-old averaged 14 points, five rebounds and three assists in 33 contests during the 2015-16 season. Luwawu-Cabarrot represented France in the 2015 U-20 European Championship where he averaged 12 points, five rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes per game.
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Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace yesterday announced that the organization has hired Keith Smart and Adam Mazarei as assistant coaches on head coach David Fizdale’s staff.
Smart comes to Memphis with over 25 years of professional basketball experience as either a player or coach, spending the last two seasons (2014-16) working with Fizdale as an assistant coach for the Miami Heat, assisting in game management. Smart has served as head coach for three different NBA franchises, guiding the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, and has worked as an assistant coach for those same organizations. Before starting his NBA coaching career with Cleveland, he spent three seasons as head coach of the Continental Basketball Association’s (CBA) Fort Wayne Fury, guiding the team to the first back-to-back winning seasons (1997-99) in franchise history.
A graduate of Indiana University, Smart helped lead the Hoosiers to the 1987 NCAA National Championship and was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Final Four after hitting the game-winning shot with five seconds remaining in the title game against Syracuse. Selected in the second round (41st overall) of the 1988 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, Smart spent part of his nine-year professional career with the San Antonio Spurs (1988) before playing in the Philippines (1989), World Basketball League (1989-91), CBA (1992, 1995-97), Venezuela (1993) and France (1994).
Mazarei joins Fizdale’s staff after serving as a player development assistant for the Grizzlies for the past three seasons, during which time he assisted with advance and pro personnel scouting. Last summer, he attended the prestigious Grgurich camp, led by respected veteran NBA assistant coach Tim Grgurich, in Las Vegas. Before coming to Memphis, he served as an assistant and associate head coach for three years (2010-13) at Moorpark College in California where his responsibilities included assisting and organizing all scouting, recruiting, practice and game plans as well as player development.
In addition, Mazarei served as a player development coach at the IMPACT Basketball Academy in Las Vegas (2009-13) where he helped train current NBA veterans such as Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry and Terrence Ross in addition to pre-draft rookies. He holds a master’s degree in athletic administration and coaching from Concordia University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Redlands, where he led the SCIAC Conference in assists per game and paced the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio (5:1) as a senior.
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The Brooklyn Nets have announced Head Coach Kenny Atkinson’s coaching staff, naming Jacque Vaughn, Chris Fleming and Bret Brielmaier assistant coaches, Adam Harrington assistant coach and director of player development, Jordan Ott assistant coach and manager of advance scouting and Mike Batiste player development assistant.
Vaughn spent two-plus seasons as head coach of the Orlando Magic (2012-15), and previously served as an assistant coach for two seasons with the San Antonio Spurs (2010-12). Most recently, Vaughn spent the 2015-16 season as a pro scout with the Spurs. Prior to beginning his coaching career, the Altadena, Calif. native enjoyed a 12-year playing career in the NBA after being selected with the 27th pick in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. In 776 career games with Utah, Atlanta, Orlando, New Jersey and San Antonio, Vaughn averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 assists in 16.3 minutes per game. The Kansas grad made nine playoff appearances in his 12 seasons in the league, and was a member of the 2007 NBA champion Spurs.
Fleming begins his first season with the Nets after spending last season as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets. Prior to joining the Nuggets, the Forked River, N.J. native served as a head coach in Germany for 14 years, first with QTSV Quakenbrϋck/Artland Dragons for eight seasons (2000-08) and then with Brose Baskets Bamberg for six seasons (2008-14). Fleming led Brose Baskets to four German League championships and was named the German League Coach of the Year in 2011. The University of Richmond alum also had a six-year stint with QTSV/Artland as a player (1994-2000). Fleming is currently the head coach of the German national team, a position he has held since November 2014.
Brielmaier spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers prior to joining the Nets. A native of Mankato, Minn., Brielmaier also worked for four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs (2009-13), beginning his career as a player development assistant before becoming the team’s video coordinator for his final three seasons in San Antonio. Brielmaier played collegiately at the University of Arizona and he began his coaching career as an undergraduate assistant coach under Hall of Fame head coach Lute Olsen during the 2008-09 season.
Harrington joins the Nets after most recently serving as a shooting coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2014-15 season. Harrington also founded With Purpose Training, working with NBA and NCAA players. The Bernardston, Mass. native competed collegiately at North Carolina State and Auburn before embarking on an eight-year pro career (2002-10) that included stints with the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets during the 2002-03 NBA season. Harrington also spent time with teams in the NBA D-League, China, Spain, Israel, Germany, Croatia, France and Poland.
Ott joins the Nets from the Atlanta Hawks, where he spent the past three seasons as the team’s video coordinator. Prior to his stint with the Hawks, Ott served in the same capacity with the Michigan State men’s basketball program for five years (2008-13). The McConnellsburg, Pa. native received his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Penn State in 2006 and earned his master’s degree in athletic administration from Michigan State in 2008 while serving as a graduate assistant with the Spartans. Ott also worked as an assistant coach with the Dominican Republic national team in last summer’s FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City.
Batiste begins his first season in Brooklyn after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the Canton Charge of the NBA D-League. Prior to beginning his coaching career, Batiste played professionally for 14 years, including one season with the Memphis Grizzlies (2002-03). He spent 10 years with Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League, helping to lead the club to eight consecutive league championships and earning the league’s MVP award in 2010, as well as stints with clubs in Belgium, Italy and Turkey. A native of Long Beach, Calif., Batiste played collegiately for three years at Arizona State, earning first-team All-Pac 10 honors in his final year (1999).
The Golden State Warriors have signed guard Patrick McCaw to a contract, the team announced today.
McCaw, 20, was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 38th overall selection in last month’s NBA Draft and was acquired by the Warriors that same night (June 23) in exchange for cash consideration. In two seasons at UNLV, he averaged 12.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.98 steals and 31.7 minutes in 65 games, garnering Second Team All-Mountain West Conference honors as a sophomore this past season. The 6’7” guard was also named to the Mountain West All-Defensive Team in his sophomore season, averaging 14.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.45 steals (second in the nation) and 33.7 minutes in 33 games.
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The Washington Wizards announced today that the team has named Tony Brown, Sidney Lowe, Chad Iske, Mike Terpstra and Maz Trakh as assistants on Head Coach Scott Brooks’ staff. Eric Sebastian, director of coaching operations, and Kamran Sufi, advance scout, were also named by the team while David Adkins will remain as the team’s director of player development.
“The staff we have put together here in Washington is an impressive group of basketball minds with extensive coaching experience and knowledge of the game,” said Brooks. “I look forward to working alongside this versatile group every day in our quest to bring the best out of our players.”
Brown joins the Wizards as Brooks’ top assistant after spending the last two seasons with Brooklyn. He was an assistant on Lionel Hollins’ staff before taking over as interim head coach on January 11 (finishing 11-34). The Chicago native has also served as an assistant coach with Dallas, the Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee, Boston, Toronto, Detroit and Portland. Brown played seven seasons in the NBA after being selected with the 82nd pick in the fourth round of the 1982 Draft.
Lowe comes home to Washington after serving as an assistant with Minnesota for the last two seasons. The former DeMatha star has spent eight years as a head coach and 12 years as an assistant coach in the NBA and NCAA. Prior to his time in Minnesota, Lowe served three seasons (2011-14) as an assistant with the Utah Jazz after previously serving as the head coach at North Carolina State University (2006-11). Following five seasons as an assistant with Cleveland (1994-99) and one season with Minnesota (1999-2000), Lowe was named head coach of the Vancouver Grizzlies in June of 2000, eventually moving with the team to Memphis before stepping down shortly into the 2002-03 campaign. Lowe was originally selected by the Chicago Bulls with the first pick of the second round (25th overall) in the 1983 NBA Draft.
Iske joins Brooks after spending the 2015-16 campaign as associate head coach for the Sacramento Kings. He was also an assistant coach for two seasons (2013-15) with the Philadelphia 76ers. Prior to his time with the Sixers, Iske spent 14 seasons with the Denver Nuggets as the team’s scouting coordinator, video coordinator and as an advance scout before being promoted to an assistant coach in 2008.
Terpstra enters his first season with Washington after spending the 2015-16 season with the men’s basketball program at Boise State. He served as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2013-15 and brings over 20 years of coaching experience after working in various capacities at the college, junior college and high school levels, with additional experience in the NBA Development League and the CBA. Following his college playing career at Northwest Nazarene, Terpstra played professionally in Turkey and England.
Trakh served as the west coast advance scout for Golden State during the 2015-16 and brings more than 20 years of coaching experience in varying capacities to the Wizards. Prior to his time with the Warriors, he served as an assistant coach with the Thunder from 2010-2012 and was a member of Maurice Cheeks’ staff in Detroit during the 2013-14 season. After playing at Southern Utah University, Trakh served as an assistant coach at Long Beach State, Riverside Community College and UC Irvine before being named head coach at Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA.
Sebastian returns to the NBA for his 16th season. He spent the last seven seasons as the director of basketball operations at the University of Memphis, where he helped the Tigers make four NCAA Tournaments and develop five future NBA players. He assisted Head Coach Josh Pastner with all aspects of the program, including on-campus recruiting, statistical analysis, game scheduling, team travel, practice facility upgrades and in-game management. Sebastian began his career with the Denver Nuggets where he worked 15 seasons (1994-2009), the last six as Director of Media Relations.
Sufi spent 2015-16 season as a regional advance scout with the Golden State Warriors, the 2014-15 season as advance scout for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the 2013-14 season as advance scout with the Detroit Pistons. Before his time in Detroit, he worked a season each with the Shanghai Sharks, Shandong Lions and Xinjiang Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Adkins returns for his third season with Washington. He is known as an elite developer of talent, helping to hone the skills of numerous NBA players. In addition to his five years of the University of Maryland, the DMV native has coached at DeMatha Catholic, Montrose Christian, Herndon and Washington-Lee. He has helped more than 50 players earn college scholarships, including 41 Division I scholarships, in his 20+ years on the sidelines.
Mbah a Moute started a lot yet played few minutes last season
Forward Luc Mbah a Moute played five season for the Bucks, then played for the Timberwolves, Kings, Sixers, then the Clippers last season. He started 61 of the 75 games he played for LAC, but that’s deceptive — he played a mere 17.0 minutes per game, averaging 3.1 points an 2.3 rebounds. Still, the Clippers like him enough to bring him back for 2016-17. Here’s the OC Register:
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The Clippers and free agent Luc Mbah a Moute have agreed to a deal to bring back the versatile, veteran forward for the next two seasons.
According to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the deal is worth $4.5 million with Mbah a Moute having an option for the second year. The Clippers were able to keep him by using their bi-annual exception.
Four days into free agency and the Clippers seem to be mostly wrapped up, with a replacement for departed center Cole Aldrich the only glaring item on the agenda.
The Warriors are going to sign Kevin Durant. That’s the biggest news of the summer, and it’ll remain that way, unless LeBron James decides to leave the Cavs. Which is definitely not likely. Here’s ESPN.com reporting:
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The Dallas Mavericks will be adding a pair of Golden State Warriors — forward Harrison Barnes and center Andrew Bogut — in the wake of Kevin Durant’s decision, according to league sources.
The Warriors and Mavs have agreed to a trade that will send Bogut into Dallas’ cap space, according to league sources. The Mavs also reached a verbal agreement on a four-year, $94 million maximum deal with Barnes.
Sources told ESPN that the Warriors will renounce their rights to Barnes as a restricted free agent with Durant heading to Golden State, meaning there will be no three-day waiting period while his previous team ponders whether to match the offer.
Kevin Durant is leaving the Thunder in free agency and signing with the Warriors. Here are statements on Durant’s decision from the OKC Thunder:
Thunder Chairman Clayton I. Bennett:
“Kevin’s contributions to our organization during his nine years were profound, on and off the court. He helped the Thunder grow and succeed in immeasurable ways and impacted the community just the same. We thank him for his leadership, his play, and how he represented Oklahoma City and the entire state of Oklahoma.”
Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti:
“Kevin made an indelible mark on the Thunder organization and the state of Oklahoma as a founding father of this franchise. We can’t adequately articulate what he meant to the foundation of this franchise and our success. While clearly disappointing that he has chosen to move on, the core values that he helped establish only lead to us thanking him for the many tangible and intangible ways that he helped our program.”