July 2017 – Page 14 – NBA Blog

Spurs sign Rudy Gay

The San Antonio Spurs announced yesterday that they have signed forward Rudy Gay.

According to the San Antonio Express-News, “the deal is for two years and about $17 million, league sources said.”

Gay, 6-8/230, holds career averages of 18.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.34 steals in 35.6 minutes while shooting .452 from the field and .345 from three-point range in 753 total appearances. He is one of four players in the NBA to average at least 15.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in each of the last 10 seasons, along with Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge.

Last season with Sacramento, Gay averaged 18.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.47 steals in 33.8 minutes while shooting .455 (201-442) from the floor and .372 (42-113) from beyond the arc in 30 games. The 11-year veteran has spent the last three-plus years with the Kings, including the 2014-15 campaign when he averaged a career-high 21.1 points.

More from the Express-News: “The Spurs used their full mid-level exception on Gay, who will provide scoring relief for do-everything All-Star Kawhi Leonard.”

The former University of Connecticut forward was originally drafted by Houston in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft (8th overall) before being dealt to Memphis on July 12, 2006. After spending his first six-plus seasons with the Grizzlies, Gay was traded to Toronto on Jan. 30, 2013. Playing parts of two seasons with the Raptors, he was moved on Dec. 9, 2013 to Sacramento.

Gay is one of three players in the NBA, along with James and Russell Westbrook, to record at least 13,000 points, 4,000 rebounds and 1,000 steals since 2006.

Mavericks re-sign Dirk Nowitzki

The Dallas Mavericks have re-signed 13-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki.

Nowitzki (7-0, 245) will return for his 20th season with the Mavericks in 2017-18, joining Kobe Bryant (Lakers) as the sole members of the NBA’s 20-year, only one-team club.

During his 19-year career in Dallas, Nowitzki has guided the Mavericks to many of the franchise’s greatest achievements. Nowitzki led Dallas to its first-ever 60 win season in 2002-03, its first NBA Finals appearance in 2006, a franchise-high 67 wins in 2006-07 and the organization’s first NBA championship in 2011. He also led the Mavericks to the playoffs 15 times in a 16-year span (from 2001 to 2016).

Nowitzki, who has scored 30,260 points in his illustrious career, is the NBA’s top foreign-born scorer of all-time, the league’s active leading scorer and the longest tenured player with one team.

In addition to appearing in a franchise-record 13 NBA All-Star Games, Nowitzki earned 12 consecutive All-NBA Team selections (2000-12), was named Most Valuable Player of the 2006-07 season and voted MVP of the 2011 NBA Finals. He is a six-time Western Conference Player of the Month, a 17-time Western Conference Player of the Week and has competed in the All-Star Saturday Night Three-Point Contest four times. Nowitzki was also the recipient of the 2014 Magic Johnson Award and the 2017 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award.

The career Maverick holds averages of 21.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 34.9 minutes in 1,394 career games (1,363 starts). He is the franchise leader in several different categories including points (30,260), rebounds (10,893), field goals made (10,688), 3-pointers made (1,780), free throws made (7,104), games played (1,394), games started (1,363) and minutes played (48,673).

In the NBA Playoffs, Nowitzki’s game elevates to averages of 25.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 40.6 minutes in 145 postseason contests (all starts). He has led the Mavericks to three Western Conference Finals appearances and two NBA Finals berths while moving into first place on several of the franchise’s postseason categories including points (3,663), rebounds (1,446), assists (360), blocks (129), steals (149), field goals made (1,220), free throws made (1,074) and games played (145).

Last season, Nowitzki became the sixth player in NBA history and the first international player to reach the 30,000-point plateau against the L.A. Lakers on March 7. He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928), Bryant (33,643), Michael Jordan (32,292) and Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) in the NBA’s exclusive 30,000-point club. Nowitzki also became just the third player in league history to score 30,000 points with one franchise, joining Malone (Jazz) and Bryant (Lakers).

Nowitzki has also served as a pioneer for European players, becoming the first European-born player to earn First Team All-NBA honors (2004-05), start an All-Star Game (2007, Las Vegas) and be named MVP (2006-07).

The Wurzburg, Germany, native was the ninth overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft and was acquired through a draft day trade with the Milwaukee Bucks. Nowitzki re-signed with the Mavericks on Oct. 22, 2001. He then signed a contract extension with Dallas on Sept. 26, 2006, re-signed on July 9, 2010, re-signed again on July 15, 2014 and re-signed once more on July 27, 2016.

Pelicans re-sign Jrue Holiday

The New Orleans Pelicans have re-signed guard Jrue Holiday.

Since being acquired in the summer of 2013 from Philadelphia, Holiday has appeared in 206 regular season games with the Pelicans, averaging 15.5 points, 6.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 31.4 minutes per contest. The 2013 NBA All-Star ranks second all-time in Pelicans franchise history in assists (1,421) and fourth in steals (307).

Drafted 17th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft out of UCLA by Philadelphia, Holiday has appeared in 504 career regular season games with the 76ers and Pelicans, holding averages of 14.3 points, 6.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals over his eight-year NBA career.

Rockets re-sign Nene

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has re-signed free agent center Nene.

“The Rockets bring out the best in me,” said Nenê. “I love the entire organization from my teammates and coaches, to management and ownership. We have great leader in James Harden and will continue to work hard to bring another championship to Houston.”

“Nenê was a big part of our success last season, especially in the playoffs,” said Morey. “He is a true professional and we are fortunate to have him remain a Rocket.”

In his first season as a Rocket, Nenê appeared in 67 games with eight starts, while averaging 9.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game. Dating back to 1979-80, he was one of three players with at least 40 games played to have averaged at least 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in fewer than 18.0 minutes per game in a single season.

Over his final 27 games played, Nenê averaged 11.4 points on 63.9% shooting after averaging 7.5 ppg on 59.5% shooting his first 40 games played. He also averaged 5.2 rebounds over his final 21 games played, up from 3.7 rpg his first 46 games played.

Nenê has the seventh-highest field goal percentage (.548) among active players and would have ranked fifth in the NBA in 2016-17 had he qualified (.617). During the 2017 playoffs, he shot 70.6%, including 12-of-12 from the floor in Game 4 of the First Round series vs. Oklahoma City. That tied the NBA playoff record for the most field goal attempts without a miss.

Three-team trade sends Danilo Gallinari to Clippers, Jamal Crawford to Hawks

The L.A. Clippers announced today the team has acquired forward Danilo Gallinari from the Denver Nuggets as part of a three-team trade that sends Jamal Crawford, Diamond Stone and L.A.’s 2018 protected first round draft pick (via Houston) to Atlanta and a 2019 second round draft pick from Atlanta (via Washington) to Denver.

Gallinari, 28, averaged 18.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 63 games (all starts) last season with the Nuggets. An eight year NBA veteran, Gallinari has appeared in 460 career games (390 starts) with Denver and the New York Knicks, and owns career averages of 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds 2.0 assists. The Sant’Angelo Lodigiano native was originally selected by the Knicks with the 6th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft after spending four-plus years playing internationally in Italy.

“Since we acquired Danilo in 2011, he has exemplified every positive aspect of the organization we are continuing to build,” said Nuggets President and Governor Josh Kroenke. “His hard work, professionalism, and efforts in the Denver community during his time with us will forever make him a fan favorite. On behalf of Nuggets fans everywhere and our entire organization, I would like to thank him for everything he did during his time with us and wish him nothing but the best in the future both in life and in basketball.”

“Danilo has been a special player for the Nuggets organization as well as a prominent figure in the Denver community for the last six years,” stated Connelly. “He was a consummate professional throughout his time with us and we want to wish him all the best as he begins this new chapter.”

Stone, 20, was a second-round pick of the New Orleans Pelicans (40th overall) in the 2016 NBA Draft, and was traded to the Clippers on draft night. Last season, he played in seven contests with the Clippers, spending much of the year in the NBA G League with Santa Cruz Warriors and Salt Lake City Stars. In 13 games (two starts) in the G League, the 6’11 center averaged 16.2 points and 7.0 rebounds in 21.7 minutes (.491 FG%, .826 FT%).

The Milwaukee, WI native played his freshman season at the University of Maryland, averaging 12.5 points and 5.4 rebounds in 22.6 minutes (.568 FG%, .761 FT%) before declaring for the 2016 Draft.

Crawford, who has won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award a record three times (including with Atlanta), played from 2009-11 with the Hawks, and has also seen action with the Chicago Bulls (2000-04), the New York Knicks (2004-08), Golden State Warriors (2008-09), Portland Trail Blazers (2011-12) and the Clippers (2012-17).

In 17 NBA seasons, the 6’5 guard holds career averages of 15.3 points, 3.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 30.6 minutes (1182 games, 433 starts). He was originally the eighth overall pick of the 2000 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers after playing one season collegiately at Michigan.

Bucks sign Bronson Koenig and JeQuan Lewis

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed undrafted rookie Bronson Koenig from the University of Wisconsin to a Two-Way contract. Additionally, the Bucks have signed undrafted rookie JeQuan Lewis from Virginia Commonwealth University to a free agent contract.

Koenig played four years at the University of Wisconsin, appearing in 148 games (94 starts), while making the Final Four twice (2014, 2015) and the National Championship game in 2015. As a senior, he played 36 games (35 starts), led the Badgers in scoring (14.5 ppg) and made a single-season, school record 103 3-pointers. He finished his collegiate career with the school record for 3-pointers made (270). A La Crosse, Wis., native, Koenig earned All-Big Ten Second Team and the Big Ten All-Tournament Team accolades following his senior campaign.

NBA rules permit teams to have two Two-Way players on their roster at any given time, in addition to their 15-man regular season roster. A Two-Way player for the Bucks will provide services primarily for the team’s G League affiliate – the Wisconsin Herd – but can spend up to 45 days with Milwaukee, not including any time prior to the start of the Herd’s training camp and at the conclusion of his season.

Lewis averaged 15.2 points, 4.5 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 35 games (all starts) as a senior at VCU and earned All-Atlantic 10 First Team and All-Atlantic 10 Tournament Team honors. A 6-0 guard, he is the only player in VCU annals to record 1,400 points, 500 assists and 200 steals during his career. He ranks fifth in program history in steals (203) and sixth in assists (503).

Koenig and Lewis are both set to compete for the Bucks entry in the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Spurs sign rookie Derrick White

The San Antonio Spurs have signed first round draft pick Derrick White to his rookie contract.

White, 6-4/190, was selected by the Spurs in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft (29th overall). Currently playing with San Antonio in the 2017 Utah Jazz Summer League, the rookie is averaging 11.5 points, 2.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 21.8 minutes in his first two appearances.

The Parker, Colorado native spent the 2016-17 season at the University of Colorado, where he was named to the All-Conference First Team in the Pac-12, as well as the All-Defensive Team and All-Tournament Team.

In his lone season in Boulder, he averaged 18.1 points, 4.4 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.44 blocks and 1.24 steals in 32.8 minutes while shooting .507 (205-404) from the floor, .396 (57-144) from three-point range and .813 (148-182) from the free throw line. White became one of three players in the last 20 seasons to average at least 18.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.00 blocks for a season in Division I college basketball, along with Chicago’s Dwyane Wade and the first overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, Philadelphia’s Markelle Fultz.

Prior to joining the Buffalos, White played three seasons at Division II University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, where he is the school’s all-time leader in career points (1,912) and assists (343). He earned All-America honors in his final season, averaging 25.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists. White averaged 22.0 points in his three-year career at UCCS, helping the team to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.

Suns sign second round draft pick Davon Reed

The Phoenix Suns have signed guard Davon Reed, the team’s selection with the 32nd overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Reed, who the Suns describe as “a sweet-shooting wing who plays with intensity on both ends of the floor,” was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team for his senior season at the University of Miami in 2016-17. The 22-year-old also earned All-ACC Third Team honors after averaging career-highs of 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals in 33 games for the Hurricanes. At 6-6 and 208 pounds with a 7-1 wingspan, Reed ranked sixth in ACC play by shooting 85.7 percent from the free throw line and 10th by shooting 40.4 percent from three-point range in 2016-17.

Overall, Reed finished his four-year career at Miami ranked fourth in school history in games played (131), fifth in minutes played (3,679), seventh in three-point makes (202) and 16th in scoring (1,343). In addition to many other academic honors throughout his college career, he won the ACC’s Skip Prosser Award in 2017, presented annually to the conference’s top scholar-athlete in men’s basketball. A native of Ewing, New Jersey, Reed was a star prep player at Princeton Day School.

Reed will make his professional debut as a member of the Summer Suns at NBA Summer League 2017 in Las Vegas.

Bucks sign rookie D.J. Wilson

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed first-round draft pick D.J. Wilson to a rookie scale contract.

Wilson, a 6-foot-10 forward, was selected by the Bucks with the 17th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. The Sacramento-native averaged 11.0 points and a team-high 5.3 rebounds per game as a junior with the University of Michigan in 2016-17. He led the team in blocks with 57 and shot 53.8 percent from the field with a 37.3 percent mark from 3-point range. Wilson helped Michigan to a Big Ten Tournament championship and an appearance in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament in 2017 after averaging a combined 15.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks over seven games in both tournaments.

Wilson, 21, is currently competing at the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Pistons sign Eric Moreland

The Detroit Pistons have signed free agent center Eric Moreland.

Moreland, 25, appeared in 44 games (41 starts) with the Canton Charge of the NBA’s G League last season, averaging 12.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.7 blocks, 1.7 steals and 33.4 minutes. He was named a NBA G League All-Star, named to the All-NBA G League Third Team and to the NBA G League All-Defensive Team last season.

The 6-10, 238-pound forward/center last appeared in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings during the 2015-16 season. He averaged 1.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.5 blocks and 6.0 minutes in eight games. For his NBA career, Moreland has appeared in 11 games, averaging 0.9 points, 1.1 rebounds, 0.4 blocks and 4.5 minutes with the Kings. The Houston, TX native went undrafted out of Oregon State in the 2014 NBA Draft. During his final season with the Beavers as a junior, Moreland averaged 8.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.4 assists and 29.4 minutes in games. He finished his college career as Oregon State’s all-time leader in blocked shots (184).