July 2016 – Page 7 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Heat sign Okaro White

The Miami Heat have signed Okaro White.

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume this is a non-guaranteed contract.

White, a 6’8”, 204-pound forward, is currently playing on Miami’s Summer League team in Las Vegas where he has appeared in five games averaging 8.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.00 steals. He has scored in double-figures three times, including a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double against Phoenix on July 12. Prior to that he competed in the Orlando Pro Summer League with the Magic, appearing in five games (two starts) and averaged 8.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.20 steals and 17.2 minutes while shooting 51.9 percent from the field. He led the team in rebounds (30) and finished second in blocks (4) and free throws made (12).

White spent last season with Aris B.C. of the Greek Basketball League appearing in 35 games (32 starts) and averaged 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.57 steals and 26.8 minutes while shooting 49.1 percent from the field. He was selected as the Greek Basketball Player of the Year and named to the All-Greek A1 League First Team, All-Defensive Team and All-Imports Team. He posted six double-doubles and led the team in rebounds (255), steals (55) and free throws made (114). He spent the 2014-15 season in Italy with Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna averaging 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.00 blocks in 33 games (32 starts).

White played all four seasons at Florida State University appearing in 139 career games (94 starts).

Hawks sign Kris Humphries, Jarrett Jack, Malcolm Delaney

The Hawks have re-signed forward Kris Humphries, and signed guards Jarrett Jack and Malcolm Delaney, team President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer announced today.

All three players will likely come off the bench and play very limited minutes.

Humphries saw action in 21 games for the Hawks last year (Atlanta was 15-6), averaging 6.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 14.0 minutes (.465 FG%), after signing as a free agent on Mar. 1. For the season, he tallied 6.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 15.8 minutes in 53 combined games (17 starting assignments) between Washington, Phoenix and Atlanta.

“We’re thrilled to be able to bring Kris back to Atlanta,” Budenholzer said. “He quickly fit in with our team last season and played an important role on the court and in the locker room.”

The 12-year veteran has averaged 6.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 18.2 minutes (.466 FG%) in 744 career games (199 starts). Humphries, 31, has also appeared in 21 career postseason contests.

Jack, 32, owns averages of 11.1 points, 4.5 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 28.1 minutes (.440 FG%, .856 FT%) in 803 games (343 starting assignments) over his 11-year career. Last season with Brooklyn, he recorded 12.8 points, 7.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 32.1 minutes in 32 games (all starts).

“Jarrett brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our backcourt,” Budenholzer said. “His leadership and versatility will be important to our team.”

The 6’3 guard has also appeared in 24 playoff games (four starts), and averaged 13.1 points, 4.0 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 28.8 minutes (.488 FG%, .870 FT%).

The former Georgia Tech standout will wear uniform No. 3.

Delaney has played internationally the last five seasons after a four-year career at Virginia Tech, where he was twice First-Team All-ACC. During the 2015-16 season, the 6’3” guard appeared in 59 games for the Russian team Lokomotiv Kuban and recorded averages of 14.6 points, 4.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds in 31.0 minutes. The former Hokie was named to the All-Euroleague First Team as he helped lead Lokomotiv Kuban to the Euroleague Final Four.

In his five seasons overseas, Delaney has played in 301 contests and has posted career averages of 14.0 points, 4.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 30.3 minutes. In 2014, Delaney’s team FC Bayern Munich was the German Bundesliga champion and he was awarded German Bundesliga MVP and Finals MVP. In 2013, Delaney played for BC Budivelnyk, the Ukrainain SuperLeague champion, as he was named to the All-Eurocup First Team and was awarded Ukrainian SuperLeague MVP.

“Malcolm is a player we’ve watched closely and built a relationship with over the last few years,” said Hawks General Manager Wes Wilcox. “He’s played at the highest level internationally and won with every team he’s played for. We are excited to welcome Malcolm to the Hawks family.”

Delaney will wear uniform No. 5.

Sixers sign Dario Saric

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed forward Dario Saric.

This signing was a long time in the making.

“We are thrilled to finally announce the highly anticipated signing of Dario Saric to an NBA player contract with the Philadelphia 76ers,” said Sixers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo. “Our basketball team stands to benefit from both the on-court development and physical maturation of Dario as a professional player in Croatia and Turkey over the last few years.”

The Sixers acquired the rights to Saric in a 2014 draft-night trade with Orlando after the Magic selected him with the 12th overall pick. Since being drafted, Saric has spent two seasons with Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketball Super League. In 2015-16, he averaged 11 points and six rebounds over 37 games while shooting 48 percent from the floor and helped lead Anadolu Efes to an appearance in the Turkish BSL Finals. Saric improved his three-point field goal percentage to 41 percent in 2015-16 after shooting 34 percent the previous season.

Saric is a two-time recipient of the FIBA Europe Young Men’s Player of the Year Award (2014, 2013). Jonas Valanciunas and Ricky Rubio are the only other players to win the award multiple times.

Recently, the 22 year-old Saric was named MVP of the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament after averaging 14 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists for his native Croatia. He tallied 18 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and two steals in an 84-78 overtime win over Italy in the tournament final on July 9.

Mavericks sign Jonathan Gibson

The Mavericks signed guard Jonathan Gibson today.

Gibson (6-2, 185) is currently playing on the Mavericks Summer League team in Las Vegas. In five games, he has averaged 18.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 28.0 minutes while shooting 50.7 percent (35-69 FGs) from the field, 46.9 percent (15-32 3FGs) from 3-point range and 81.8 percent (9-11 FTs) from the free throw line.

Gibson has played internationally for the last six years in four different countries (Turkey, Israel, Italy and China). Most recently, he played 36 games for Qingdao DoubleStar Eagles (China) and averaged 42.0 points (2nd in the league), 6.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.1 steals. He shot 50.9% from the field, 41.3% from 3-point range and 86.1% from the FT line.

He went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft after playing four years at New Mexico State. As a senior, he averaged 17.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 34 games while shooting 44.7% (197-441 FGs) from the field, 40.6% (106-261 3FGs) from 3-point range and 84.8% (95-112 FTs) from the line. He was named All-WAC Second Team and led the WAC in 3-pointers made, ranked second in 3FG%, fifth in scoring average, fourth in FT%, eighth in FG% and seventh in steals per game.

Hawks sign rookies Taurean Prince and DeAndre` Bembry

The Atlanta Hawks have signed rookie forwards Taurean Prince and DeAndre’ Bembry.

Prince, the 12th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, was traded to the Hawks in a three-team deal that involved the Pacers. The four-year letterman at Baylor, averaged 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 34 games as a senior while garnering First Team All-Big 12 honors. The 6’8 forward was also named Second Team All-Big 12 as junior as well as the league’s Sixth Man of the Year after recording 13.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 assists in 33 contests. Prince owns career averages of 10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting .460 from the field, .376 from three-point range and .718 from the free throw line in 129 games.

Bembry, the 21st overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Hawks, was a three-year letterman at St. Joseph’s averaging 15.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals (.457 FG%) in 36.1 minutes in 101 career games. As a junior, he tallied 17.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.4 steals (.479 FG%) in 37.3 minutes over 36 contests, while being named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and garnering All-League, All-Defensive Team and All-Tournament honors for the conference.

The rookies are teammates on the Hawks’ 2016 Las Vegas Summer League squad. Prince has appeared in three games and is averaging 13.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 1.7 assists in 26.4 minutes, while Bembry has played in five contests and is recording 10.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals in 26.8 minutes.

Mavericks sign Nicolas Brussino

The Dallas Mavericks have signed guard-forward Nicolas Brussino.

According to SportsDayDFW, it’s a three-year deal.

Brussino (6-7, 195) is an Argentinian swingman who spent the 2015-16 season with Penarol Mar del Plata, averaging 14.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game in 59 games. He shot 55.6 percent from the field, 39.4 percent from 3-point range and 72.1 percent from the foul line last season.

Brussino has represented the Argentinian National Team since 2012. He went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Kings add Lamar Patterson off waivers

The Kings have claimed guard/forward Lamar Patterson off waivers, team Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Vlade Divac announced today.

Patterson (6-5, 225 pounds) averaged 2.4 points (.350 FG%, 12-49 3pt, .727 FT%), 1.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 11.3 minutes per game in his first NBA season with the Hawks, appearing in 35 contests. He made his NBA debut against the Pistons (10/27/15), finishing with five points, two assists and one rebound in 18 minutes.

Patterson also appeared in the NBA D-League last season with the Canton Charge and Austin Spurs, accruing averages of 12.8 points (.432 FG%, .783 FT%), 4.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 19 games.

Originally selected by Milwaukee with the 48th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, the Pennsylvania native played the 2014-15 season for Toras Bursa of the Turkish Basketball League, averaging 11.3 points (.435 FG%, .343 3FG%, .730 FT%), 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 28.2 minutes in 35 games (started 31). In six contests during EuroChallenge play, he posted 12.0 points (.563 FG%, .714 FT%), 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 28.8 minutes per game.

Patterson enjoyed a five-year career (granted medical hardship waiver as a true freshman) at the University of Pittsburgh, appearing in 148 games (106 starts), finishing with career averages of 9.5 points (.435 FG%, .369 3FG%, .723 FT%), 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals in 24.5 minutes per game. As a senior in 2013-14, he started all 36 games and logged 17.1 points (.441 FG%, .388 3FG%, .754 FT%), 4.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.4 steals in 32.6 minutes, earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference Second Team and Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American accolades.

Nets sign Randy Foye

The Nets have signed free agent guard Randy Foye.

Foye (6’4”, 213) joins the Nets after splitting the 2015-16 season with the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder. In 81 games, Foye averaged 5.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 20.3 minutes per game. He also appeared in 16 games in the Thunder’s run to the Western Conference Finals.

“We are pleased to welcome Randy to Brooklyn,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “He is a veteran guard who will provide us with additional scoring and depth in our backcourt.”

The 32-year-old has seen action in 683 career games (393 starts) in 10 seasons with Minnesota (2006-09), Washington (2009-10), Los Angeles Clippers (2010-12), Utah (2012-13), Denver (2013-16) and Oklahoma City (2016), owning averages of 10.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 26.3 minutes per game. He’s also seen action in 27 postseason games.

Foye finished in the top 10 in the league in three-pointers made in three consecutive seasons (2011-14) and is a career .369 shooter from three-point range.

The Newark, N.J. native was originally selected with the seventh pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by Boston and began his career with the Timberwolves after a draft-night trade.

Pistons re-sign Andre Drummond

The Pistons officially re-signed young star center Andre Drummond to a multi-year contract today.

The deal is reportedly a $130 million dollar contract, over five years.

According to the Detroit Free Press, “the agreement was reached July 1 – the first day of the NBA’s free agency moratorium. But delaying the signing allowed the Pistons use cap space to sign three players to add depth, with Drummond’s signing putting them over the $94 million salary cap, which was exactly how Drummond and the organization planned it out back in October when he decided to wait on the extension.”

Drummond, 22, appeared in 81 games (all starts) last season, averaging a career-high 16.2 points (.521 FG), a career-high 14.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks in career-high 32.9 minutes per game. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team and was selected to the NBA All-Star team, becoming the first Piston since Allen Iverson (2009) and first Piston draft pick since Grant Hill (2000) to be named an all-star. Drummond also helped Detroit reach the post-season for the first time since 2009, posting averages of 16.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 32.8 minutes in his first playoff appearance.

Pistons Owner Tom Gores praised Drummond’s development as a player and as a representative of the franchise.

“It’s been a pleasure to watch Andre from the time he first came into the league to where he is today, having matured into this incredible talent. Beyond his evolution as a basketball player, it’s been equally rewarding watching him mature as a young man,” said Gores. “Andre has the character and dedication to help our franchise achieve greatness. I’m proud of him and his family, the way they’ve embraced Detroit and the way Detroit has embraced them. I’m excited for all of us about the years to come.”

Among NBA leaders last season, the 6-11, 279-pound center ranked first in rebounding (14.8 rpg), first in total rebounds (1,198), first in offensive rebounding (4.9 orpg), first in total offensive rebounds (395) and first in double-doubles (career-high 66). Only Pistons Legend and Hall of Famer Bob Lanier recorded more double-doubles in a single season (69 in 1972-73) with Detroit. Drummond also led the NBA in 20-plus rebound games (9) and 15-plus point and 15-plus rebound games (30). He became just the third Piston to lead the NBA in rebounding (Dennis Rodman and Ben Wallace) and notched his third consecutive season with 1,000-plus points, 1,000-plus rebounds and 100-plus blocks.

“Re-signing Andre was a top priority for us this offseason,” said President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Stan Van Gundy. “The offensive and defensive numbers speak for themselves, but more importantly, his commitment to the organization has allowed us to put together a young group of players that will grow together and continue to move the franchise forward.”

The Mount Vernon, N.Y. native started the 2015-16 season on record pace by averaging 18-plus points and 18-plus rebounds through the first 10 games, becoming the first NBA player to do so since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975-76. Drummond collected 376 rebounds during the first 20 games of the season, becoming the youngest player (22 years and 116 days) in NBA history to accomplish that feat. He scored a career-high 33 points (14-25 FG) and grabbed 21 rebounds at Chicago (12/18), marking his first career 30/20 game and the first 30/20 game by a Piston since Dennis Rodman recorded 34 points and 23 rebounds vs. Denver (1/2/91). He also grabbed a career-high 29 rebounds vs. Indiana (11/3) and blocked a season-high five shots twice [vs. Miami (11/25) and vs. Denver (2/10)].

Originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the ninth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Drummond holds career averages of 13.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 1.2 steals and 29.7 minutes in 304 career games. During his sophomore season he averaged 13.2 rebounds, the highest average in NBA history by a player 20 years or younger and was named MVP of the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star 2014. Drummond also became the youngest player in NBA history to record 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 100 blocks and 100 steals while shooting better than 60% from the field. During his rookie campaign, he earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors.

Spurs sign Ryan Arcidiacono

The San Antonio Spurs yesterday (Thursday) signed guard Ryan Arcidiacono.

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume this is a non-guaranteed contract that merely brings Arcidiacono to training camp.

Arcidiacono, 6-3/188, played four seasons at Villanova University. In his final season, he helped guide the Wildcats to the 2016 NCAA Championship and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2016 NCAA Final Four after scoring 16 points and setting up the game-winning three-pointer in the championship game. He was named Second Team All-BIG EAST after averaging 12.5 points, 4.2 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 32.1 minutes while shooting .445 (165-371) from the field, .394 (76-193) from three-point range and .836 (92-110) from the foul line. He leaves Villanova as the only player in school history to record 1,500-plus points and 500-plus assists, while guiding the Wildcats to a 117-27 (.813) record over the course of his four-year career.

As a junior, Arcidiacono was named the 2015 BIG EAST Player of the Year co-recipient (Providence’s Kris Dunn). For his collegiate career he averaged 11.1 points, 3.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 31.9 minutes while shooting .397 (487-1,228) from the field, .358 (261-729) from long range and .800 (369-461) from the free throw line.

Arcidiacono is currently playing on the Spurs 2016 NBA Summer League team, where he’s averaging 2.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 19.4 minutes in seven total games between Las Vegas and Utah.