Month: July 2017

Timberwolves sign rookie center Justin Patton

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed rookie center Justin Patton.

Earlier in the day, the team announced that Patton is out indefinitely after undergoing foot surgery.

The Wolves acquired the draft rights to Patton (selected 16th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft), along with Jimmy Butler, on June 22, 2017 from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the draft rights to Lauri Markkanen, the 7th overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Patton, 6-11, played in 35 contests over one season at Creighton, averaging 12.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals per game en route to earning Big East Freshman of the Year honors. Patton, 20, led the Big East and ranked second nationally with a field goal percentage of 67.6%, which stands as the highest field goal percentage of any freshman from a major conference in NCAA history. The Omaha native also shot 53.3% from the three-point during his line season as a Bluejay. Patton sat out the 2015-16 season as a redshirt.

NBA news: Miami Heat waive Chris Bosh

NBA news: Miami Heat waive Chris Bosh

The Miami Heat have officially waived forward Chris Bosh.

“Chris changed his life and basketball career when he came to Miami,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “And he changed our lives for the better, in a way we never would have imagined, when he joined the Miami HEAT. We will forever be indebted to CB for how he changed this team and led us to four trips to the NBA Finals and two NBA Championships. He is, without a doubt, one of the greatest players in the history of the franchise. The number “1” will never be worn by another player and we can’t wait to someday hang his jersey in the rafters. Today, we are both moving on but we wish Chris, Adrienne and their family nothing but the best. They will forever be part of the Miami HEAT family.”

Bosh was an NBA All-Star in each of his six seasons with the HEAT and has been an NBA All-Star 11 times in his 13-year NBA career. He was an integral part of two HEAT championships in 2012 and 2013, and the team’s four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals from 2011-2014. He famously grabbed an offensive rebound with 6.3 seconds remaining in regulation of Game 6 on June 18, 2013 and fed Ray Allen for his game-tying three-pointer, forcing overtime and eventually leading to the 2013 NBA Championship.

Bosh appeared in 384 games for the HEAT over six seasons, and averaged 18.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 34.2 minutes, while shooting 49.6 percent from the floor, 34.4 percent from three-point range and 80.5 percent from the foul line. He ranks among the HEAT’s all-time leaders in free throw percentage (3rd), double-figure scoring efforts (4th), points (5th), scoring average (5th), free throws made (5th), defensive rebounds (5th), field goal percentage (6th), field goals made (6th), free throws attempted (6th), total rebounds (6th), starts (6th), field goals attempted (7th), blocked shots (7th), minutes (10th), three-point field goals attempted (10th), double-doubles (11th), offensive rebounds (11th), games played (11th), steals (11th), three-point field goals made (tied-14th) and assists (20th).

Bosh appeared in 893 games during his NBA career and made 881 starts, averaging 19.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.04 blocks and 35.8 minutes, while shooting 49.4 percent from the floor, 33.5 percent from three-point range and 79.9 percent from the foul line. He scored in double-figures 815 times, grabbed double-figure rebounds on 332 occasions and was selected as the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week nine times and Player of the Month once throughout his career.

Timberwolves rookie Justin Patton undergoes foot surgery

Timberwolves rookie Justin Patton undergoes foot surgery

Minnesota Timberwolves rookie center Justin Patton underwent successful surgery to repair a broken fifth metatarsal in his left foot. The surgery was performed in New York by Dr. Martin O’Malley of the Hospital for Special Surgery in collaboration with Timberwolves Team Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Diane Dahm of Mayo Clinic.

Patton suffered the injury during a recent workout. He will not play in the upcoming NBA Summer League 2017 in Las Vegas and will be sidelined indefinitely. The Wolves acquired the draft rights to Patton (selected 16th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft), along with Jimmy Butler, on June 22, 2017 from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the draft rights to Lauri Markkanen, the 7th overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Patton, 6-11, played in 35 contests over one season at Creighton, averaging 12.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals per game en route to earning Big East Freshman of the Year honors. Patton, 20, led the Big East and ranked second nationally with a field goal percentage of 67.6%, which stands as the highest field goal percentage of any freshman from a major conference in NCAA history. The Riverdale, Georgia, native also shot 53.3% from the three-point during his line season as a Bluejay. Patton sat out the 2015-16 season as a redshirt.

Sixers sign Furkan Korkmaz

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo announced Tuesday that the team has signed guard-forward Furkan Korkmaz.

“We are happy to have Furkan Korkmaz join us in Philadelphia this year where we feel he will be best positioned to develop physically and acclimate to the NBA game,” Colangelo said. “Furkan is another talented young player that we are excited to have in our program.”

The Sixers selected Korkmaz with the 26th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Korkmaz spent the 2016-17 season with Banvit (Turkey) on loan from Anadolu Efes, helping Banvit win the team’s first Turkish Cup in February. In 21 games, the 19-year-old averaged 11 points and four rebounds while shooting 49 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “terms of the deal were not announced, but Korkmaz was slotted to make $1.2 million this season. However, the Sixers could have paid him 20 percent more than that, and might have done so considering Korkmaz ‘s buyout was for $2 million. NBA teams are permitted to contribute only $675,000 to buyouts.”

Korkmaz also helped Banvit reached its first Basketball Champions League Final. He was later named the Basketball Champions League “Best Young Player” after averaging 11 points and five rebounds while shooting 50 percent from three-point range in eight BCL games.

In 2015-16, Korkmaz played with current Sixers forward Dario Saric with Anadolu Efes. In 37 games, Korkmaz averaged five points while shooting 48 percent from the field.

A native of Istanbul, Korkmaz has been named a Turkish Basketball Super League All-Star three times and is a two-time Turkish Cup champion. He’s represented his home country of Turkey in international play in multiple competitions, earning a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and silver at the same event in 2015.

Nets reportedly ink Otto Porter to offer sheet

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on the Nets, who are ready to dish out massive money to talented young small forward Otto Porter:

Nets reportedly ink Otto Porter to offer sheet

The Brooklyn Nets made a splash in NBA free agency Tuesday night, signing restricted free agent Otto Porter to a four-year, $106 million max deal, according to multiple reports…

The Washington Wizards have until Saturday to match the deal.

Porter, a 6-foot-8 forward, had a career year for the Wiz, averaging 13.4 points and, 6.4 rebounds.

Utah Jazz issue statements on Gordon Hayward, who will sign with Celtics

Utah Jazz statements on Gordon Hayward

Utah Jazz free agent forward Gordon Hayward will reportedly be signing a deal with the Boston Celtics. Tonight, the Jazz issued some statements about his departure:

Gail Miller, Chairman of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies: “Gordon has been an important part of our Jazz family for the past seven years. While disappointed that he is moving on, we thank him for his contributions to the organization and wish Gordon, Robyn and their family well. We thank him for his play, his leadership and how well he represented the Jazz and the state of Utah.”

Steve Starks, President, Utah Jazz and Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment: “The Jazz made a compelling case for Gordon to stay and managed the process well. A foundation for success has been established here, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to bring a championship to Utah. From our renovated facilities to our dedicated ownership, we are building a winning culture that will make Jazz fans proud.”

Dennis Lindsey, General Manager, Utah Jazz: “We are proud of the player that Gordon developed into with the Jazz, and wish him and his family the best of luck. Despite his departure, we still have a tremendous coaching staff and very good young core of players in place as we move forward.”

Phoenix Suns sign guard Mike James

The Phoenix Suns have signed guard Mike James, an NBA rookie who has stood out playing professionally in Europe the past five seasons, most recently with Panathinaikos of the Greek Basketball League.

(This is not retired 42-year-old guard Mike James who played college ball at Duquesne and who did previously play in the NBA.)

James, an athletic guard at 6-1, 190 pounds, averaged 13.1 points, 3.0 assists and 0.9 steals in 25 Euroleague games with Panathinaikos in 2016-17, helping the team to the Euroleague playoffs where they lost to eventual champion Fenerbahce. He also posted 12.0 points, 2.8 assists and 0.9 steals in 24 Greek A1 League games as the team won both the Greek Basketball League and the Greek Cup. Since going undrafted out of Lamar University in 2012, James has had a successful professional career in Europe, playing with clubs in Croatia, Israel, Italy and Spain, in addition to Greece.

A member of the Suns’ entry at NBA Summer League 2017 in Las Vegas, James also played for the Suns at NBA Summer League in 2015, helping the team to a runner-up finish. He averaged 12.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists in seven games in 2015, including a 32-point performance in the championship against San Antonio, the highest-scoring game by any player at NBA Summer League 2015 in Las Vegas.

While at Lamar, James earned All-Southland First Team honors as a senior in 2011-12 and set a school record with a 52-point game which tied for the highest-scoring game by a Division I player in the 2010-11 NCAA season. The Portland, Oregon native began his collegiate career at Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, Arizona, posting the fourth-highest scoring average in NJCAA Division I in 2009-10 by averaging 26.0 points.

Trail Blazers sign rookie Caleb Swanigan

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Caleb Swanigan to his rookie contract, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

The Trail Blazers selected Swanigan with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Swanigan (6-9, 250), 20, posted averages of 14.4 points (50.1% FG, 37.6% 3-PT, 76.0% FT), 10.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in two seasons at Purdue.

A consensus All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year as a sophomore, Swanigan averaged 18.5 points (52.7% FG, 44.7% 3-PT, 78.1% FT), 12.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists in his second season with the Boilermakers. Swanigan ranked second in the nation in rebounding in 2016-17 and became the first player nationally since the 1985-86 season to have 640 points, 430 rebounds and 100 assists in a season.

His 28 double-doubles last season were the most in Big Ten history and the 13th-most in NCAA history. A finalist for the Wooden, Naismith and Oscar Robertson Player of the Year Awards, Swanigan became the first player since Tim Duncan of Wake Forest (1996-97) to average 18.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in a season.

Swanigan will make his Trail Blazers debut at the 2017 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Portland tips off its schedule on Saturday, July 8 vs. Utah at 3 p.m. (Pacific).

He will wear No. 50 for the Trail Blazers.

Trail Blazers sign rookie Zach Collins

Trail Blazers sign rookie Zach Collins

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed center Zach Collins to his rookie contract, it was announced yesterday by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

Acquired in a draft day trade with Sacramento, Collins (7-0, 230) was selected with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Collins (7-0, 230) posted averages of 10.0 points (65.2% FG, 47.6% 3-PT, 74.3% FT), 5.9 rebounds and 1.77 blocks in his lone season at Gonzaga.

In his freshman season, Collins, 19, led the West Coast Conference in field goal percentage and blocked shots (69), good for second-most in a season in Gonzaga history. A WCC All-Conference Second Team selection as well as a member of the WCC All-Freshman Team, Collins averaged 9.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.00 blocks during the 2017 NCAA Tournament while guiding Gonzaga to its first National Championship Game appearance.

In a Final Four matchup against South Carolina, Collins, a Las Vegas native, recorded 14 points (6-10 FG, 1-1 3-PT), 13 rebounds and six blocks.

Collins will make his Trail Blazers debut at the 2017 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Portland tips off its schedule on Saturday, July 8 vs. Utah at 3 p.m. (Pacific).

He will wear No. 33 for the Trail Blazers.