July 2017 – Page 3 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Hawks re-sign Mike Muscala

The Hawks have re-signed forward Mike Muscala.

Last season in 70 games (three starts) with the Hawks, Muscala averaged career-highs of 6.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 17.7 minutes (.504 FG%, .418 3FG%, .766 FT%). He scored in double figures 20 times, ranking second on the club in FG% and fifth in rpg.

“Mike is a valuable player for us and a great fit both on and off the floor,” Schlenk said. “He’s worked hard and improved each year, and we’re very happy he’ll continue his career with the Hawks.”

In 190 career contests (11 starting assignments) in four years with Atlanta, the 6’11 forward/center is averaging 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.3 minutes (.505 FG%, .385 3FG%, .817 FT%), also appearing in 27 postseason games.

Muscala was the recipient of the 2016 Jason Collier Memorial Trophy, presented to the player who best exemplifies the characteristics that Collier displayed off the court as a community ambassador.

Originally acquired by the Hawks on June 28, 2013, along with the draft rights to Lucas Nogueira and Jared Cunningham from Dallas, in exchange for the draft rights to Shane Larkin, Muscala was the 44th overall pick by the Mavericks in the 2013 NBA Draft. After playing in 20 games with Blusens Monbus Obradoiro of the Spanish ACB League in 2013-14, he signed with Atlanta on February 27, 2014. The Hawks exercised his 2016-17 contract option on June 29, 2016.

Magic sign rookie Wesley Iwundu

The Orlando Magic have signed rookie forward Wesley Iwundu (pronunciation: ih-WON-doo).

Iwundu (6’7”, 193, 12/20/94) was selected in the second round (33rd overall) of NBA Draft 2017. He played in 132 career games (124 starts) during four years at Kansas State University, averaging 9.5 ppg., 4.7 rpg. and 2.8 apg. in 28.2 minpg. Iwundu is the first player in school history to record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals during his career. He is one of only six Kansas State players during the Big 12 era to earn All-Big 12 First, Second or Third Team honors twice during his career, being named All-Big 12 Third Team as a junior (2015-16) and a senior (2016-17).

As a senior (2016-17), Iwundu played and started in all 35 games, averaging 13.0 ppg., 6.3 rpg., 3.5 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 31.4 minpg., while shooting .481 (151-314) from the floor and .376 (32-85) from three-point range. He led the team in scoring and rebounding and was named to the All-Big 12 Third Team by the league’s coaches. Iwundu joined Mitch Richmond (1987-88) as the only Wildcats to record at least 400 points, 200 rebounds and 100 assists in a season.

During his junior campaign (2015-16), Iwundu played and started all 33 games, averaging 11.9 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 3.7 apg. and 1.33 stlpg. in 32.4 minpg. He was named to the All-Big 12 Third Team and to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team by the league’s coaches, after leading the team in assists and minutes played, while ranking second in scoring and steals. Iwundu was the only player to start all 33 games for the Wildcats.

As a sophomore (2014-15), Iwundu appeared in 31 games (24 starts), averaging 5.8 ppg., 3.5 rpg. and 2.0 apg. in 25.2 minpg. During his freshman season (2013-14), he played in 33 outings (32 starts), averaging 6.7 ppg., 4.2 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 23.6 minpg.

Raptors sign Lorenzo Brown to two-way contract

The Raptors have signed guard Lorenzo Brown to a two-way contract. Which means he will likely spend most of the season playing in the G League.
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Brown, 6-foot-5, 189 pounds, is averaging 3.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 63 career NBA games with Philadelphia (2013-14), Minnesota (2014-15) and Phoenix (2015-16). He has also appeared in games for the Delaware 87ers (2013-14), Springfield Armor (2013-14) and Grand Rapids Drive (2014-17) of the NBA G League.

Brown split the 2016-17 season between the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and Grand Rapids. He averaged 24.0 points, while shooting .301 (37-for-123) from three-point range during 20 games with Zhejiang. Brown finished the season averaging 23.6 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting .353 (18-for-51) from three-point territory in 11 appearances for the Drive.

Brown, a native of Roswell, Georgia, was selected 52nd overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by Minnesota. He played three seasons at North Carolina State and was named Second Team All-ACC his junior year.

Jazz re-sign Joe Ingles

The Jazz have re-signed forward Joe Ingles to a multi-year contract.

Per multiple reports, the contract is a big one: four years, $52 million.

The 29-year-old Ingles (6-8, 226, Australia) is entering his fourth NBA campaign, all with the Jazz. He finished the 2016-17 averaging career-highs of 7.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists, while ranking third in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage (.441), in 24.1 minutes per game.

Ingles finished last season as the only Jazz player to appear in all 82 regular season games. He recorded the best three-point percentage (.441) by a Jazzman since Kyle Korver set an NBA record (.536) in 2009-10, and became the first Jazz player in franchise history to shoot at least .441 from beyond the arc with at least 270 attempts. The Jazz were 13-5 record when he made at least three three-pointers.

The versatile lefty also recorded a team-best 1.17 steals per game and led the team in assists 20 times, while recording 15 games with five-plus assists. Ingles concluded the season ranked in the top-20 in the NBA in defensive rating (104.7) and steal percentage (2.6), and among all NBA small forwards, he rated fourth in steal percentage, sixth in effective field goal percentage (.589) and 10th in assist percentage (17.2).

Ingles has appeared in a team-high 242 of a possible 246 career NBA games (60 starts) over his three seasons and owns career averages of 5.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 20.2 minutes. His career .399 three-point percentage ranks seventh in Jazz franchise history (min. 100 games and 50 attempts), and 44th in NBA history for all players with at least 250 makes.

The affable Aussie originally joined the Jazz after being claimed off waivers from the LA Clippers on Oct. 27, 2014, later signing a two-year deal to remain with the Jazz in July of 2015.

The native of Happy Valley, South Australia, has also been a member of the Australian National Team since 2008, representing the Boomers in three Olympic Games – 2008 (Beijing), 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio).

He has played professionally since the age of 18, beginning his career with the South Dragons of Australia’s National Basketball League (2006-09). He has also played for CB Granada in Spain (2009-10), three seasons for FC Barcelona (2010-13) of the Liga ACB, and spent the 2013-14 season with Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League, where he helped Maccabi to win the Euroleague Championship.

Pelicans waive Quinn Cook and Axel Toupane

The Pelicans have waived guard Quinn Cook and guard/forward Axel Toupane.

Cook, 6-2, 184, who was signed on March 19 after spending the 2016 training camp with the Pelicans, appeared in nine games last season with New Orleans, averaging 5.8 points and 1.6 assists in 12.3 minutes per game.

Toupane, 6-7, 210, was originally signed by New Orleans on April 10, appearing in two games at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season for the Pelicans, averaging 5.5 points in 20.5 minutes.

Hawks name Josh Longstaff head coach of Erie BayHawks

The Hawks have named Josh Longstaff as Head Coach of the Erie BayHawks, the organization’s NBA G League affiliate, it was announced today by BayHawks General Manager Malik Rose.

“Josh is a tremendous communicator and has shown the ability to build productive relationships with young players. His passion and knowledge of player development fits in perfectly with the program we are building in Erie as well as Atlanta,” Rose said. “We’re excited to be able to add a young coach of his caliber to the organization.”

Longstaff, 34, spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks after beginning his NBA coaching career with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2010-14), first serving as Player Personnel and Video Coordinator for one year before being promoted to Video Analyst and Player Development Coach. While a member of the Thunder staff, he helped Oklahoma City to four straight playoff appearances, including the 2011-12 Western Conference title as well as two conference finals appearances.

“This is an exciting opportunity for me and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of such a great organization,” Longstaff said. “I’m thrilled and humbled to be able to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a head coach on the professional level.”

A native of Portland, Maine, Longstaff was a four-year letterman at Bryant University in Rhode Island, graduating in 2005 with a degree in marketing. Following graduation, he coached high school basketball in his home state for five years.

Blazers trade Allen Crabbe to Nets

The Nets on Tuesday acquired guard/forward Allen Crabbe from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for forward Andrew Nicholson.

Crabbe joins the Nets after spending the first four seasons of his NBA career with Portland. In 226 games (24 starts), the 25-year-old Crabbe has registered averages of 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 22.8 minutes per game while shooting 45.6 percent from the field, 41.1 percent from 3-point range and 84.8 percent from the free-throw line. This past season, the Los Angeles native saw action in 79 games (seven starts), averaging a career-best 10.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 28.5 minutes per contest while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from 3-point range, good for the second-highest 3-point field goal percentage in the league among qualifying players. Crabbe has also appeared in the postseason with the Blazers in each of the last three seasons, averaging 8.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 25.5 minutes per game through 17 playoff contests.

Crabbe was originally selected with the 31st overall pick (second round) in the 2013 NBA Draft by Cleveland before being traded to Portland on draft night. Prior to beginning his NBA career, he spent three years (2010-13) at the University of California, where he was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, All-Pac-12 First Team as a sophomore and junior and Pac-12 Player of the Year in his third and final collegiate season.

Nicholson, 27, has averages of 6.0 points (46.7% FG, 32.1% 3-PT, 77.3% FT), 3.0 rebounds and 0.4 rebounds in 285 games (36 starts) over five seasons with Orlando, Washington and Brooklyn.

Selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft out of St. Bonaventure, Nicholson (6-9, 250) split the 2016-17 season with Washington and Brooklyn, posting averages of 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 9.0 minutes in 38 games.

Cavs hire Koby Altman as new general manager

The Cleveland Cavaliers have named Koby Altman the team’s new General Manager.

Altman has been a member of the Cavs basketball front office for the past five years, most recently serving as Assistant General Manager, having been promoted to that position in September 2016. He has been an essential part of a front office that formulated a roster and coaching staff that have been to three straight NBA Finals, including winning the NBA Championship in 2016. Altman has also led the team’s front office over the last five weeks.

“Over the past month, Koby Altman has led our front office group through this transition period, impressing many inside the franchise and outside the organization, as well. We are very excited that he will now be officially leading the basketball side of our franchise. Koby has the credentials, knowledge, experience and instincts to be an outstanding General Manager. In addition to these positive attributes and outstanding relationships around the league, Koby will inspire and impact the best possible culture throughout the organization. We are going to see a capable and passionate leader who will also cultivate new ideas and innovation,” said Cavaliers Chairman Dan Gilbert

“The speed of the game is ever faster on the court and in the front offices around our league. I am confident that Koby is equipped and prepared to lead and succeed in this dynamic environment.”

Other notable front office moves are expected soon.

“The past month or so has allowed the opportunity for several other talented and hard-working individuals on the basketball side of our business to demonstrate their deep knowledge and capability. We are looking forward to announcing additional restructuring involving these remarkable executives in the very near future,” concluded Gilbert.

Originally joining the Cavaliers in August of 2012 as pro personnel manager, Altman was promoted to director of pro player personnel in September 2013. In his role as assistant general manager, Altman was tasked with player evaluation across all levels of basketball, both domestically and abroad. Altman also oversaw the team’s NBA and G League scouting efforts and played a core role in all aspects of the team’s basketball operations, working closely with the team’s coaches, players and staff.

“I am incredibly grateful to Dan for the opportunity to become general manager of the Cavaliers. His confidence, support and strong commitment to achieving our collective goals is very clear to me and I look forward to continuing our efforts. I am also excited and proud to lead a front office team that will continue to be sharply focused on competing for championships. That challenge is what drives all of us,” said Altman. “Cleveland fans support the Cavs with passion, pride and loyalty. That’s something all of us here have a deep respect for and will never take for granted. We will always work hard and search for creative ideas that will impact our success on the court and in the community.”

Altman has extensive experience with the USA Basketball program as well. In the summer of 2010, he served as the Team Manager for USA Basketball’s Under-17 team at the inaugural FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Hamburg, Germany. That 17-and-under squad won the first gold medal to ever be awarded for that age group and featured three players selected among the top 10 in the 2012 NBA Draft. In 2009, he assisted Team USA’s 19-and-under team in the FIBA Under-19 World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand. That squad also won the gold, its first in that age group since 1991.
Prior to joining the Cavaliers, Altman served as an assistant coach at The Ivy League’s Columbia University for two seasons, where he also led Columbia’s developmental basketball program. Altman spent the 2009-10 season at Southern Illinois as a graduate assistant after earning his master’s degree in sport management at the University of Massachusetts. While earning his graduate degree at UMASS, he coached at nearby Amherst College for two seasons and helped guide the team to a 48-11 record. Altman, a Brooklyn, New York native, played collegiately at Middlebury College, where he was a three-year starter at point guard.

Heat sign guard Matt Williams

The Heat have signed guard Matt Williams.

Williams appeared in eight Summer League games (six starts) with the HEAT in Orlando and Las Vegas and averaged 9.9 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 38 percent from the field, 39 percent from three-point range and a perfect 2-of-2 from the foul line. He started all six games in Las Vegas with Miami and shot 45 percent from three-point range, leading the team in three-point field goals made four times, including a 5-of-8 performance from beyond the arc vs. Washington on July 10 and a 6-of-9 output from downtown vs. Memphis on July 15.

The University of Central Florida graduate finished his collegiate career as the school’s all-time leader in three-point field goals made (274) and became the 18th player in program history to score at least 1,000 points. He appeared in 36 games (all starts) as a senior and averaged 15.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 36.5 minutes while shooting 39.1 percent from the field, 38.4 percent from three-point range and 81.1 percent from the foul line. He set the single-season school and conference records for three-point field goals made (126) and set the Knights’ single-game three-point field goals made record after connecting on 11 against USF on January 17. He capped the season scoring the fifth-most points for a single-season in school history and earned the team’s MVP award.

Spurs re-sign Pau Gasol

The Spurs have re-signed forward/center Pau Gasol.

According to ESPN, it’s a three-year deal worth $48 million, with a partial guarantee on the third season.

During the 2016-17 season, Gasol appeared in 64 games in his first year with the Silver and Black, averaging 12.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.09 blocks in 25.4 minutes while shooting .502 (303-604) from the field, a career-best .538 (56-104) from beyond the arc and .707 (130-184) from the foul line. On April 12 at Utah he scored his 20,000th career point to become just the second European player to eclipse 20,000 points for their career, joining Dirk Nowitzki.

A 16-year NBA veteran, Gasol is a four-time All-NBA selection who has won two NBA Championships. The six-time All-Star was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2010-11 and 2014-15 while earning All-NBA Third Team honors in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

In 1,119 career NBA games (1,081 starts), Gasol has averaged 17.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.65 blocks while shooting .510 (7,651-15,008) from the floor and .754 (4,569-6,062) from the free throw line in 34.7 minutes. He has appeared in 131 career playoffs games, averaging 15.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.77 blocks in 36.1 minutes.

The 2002 Rookie of the Year was originally drafted with the third overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Hawks before being dealt on draft night to the Grizzlies, where he spent his first six-plus seasons (2001-2008) and averaged 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 476 games.

After being acquired in the middle of the 2007-08 season by the Lakers, Gasol spent the next six-plus seasons (2008-2014) with Los Angeles, where he won titles in 2009 and 2010. The NBA’s 2012 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winner averaged 17.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 429 games with the Lakers. Gasol then signed with the Bulls in the summer of 2014 and spent the last two seasons in Chicago (2014-16), where he averaged 17.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 150 total games.

Gasol is one of four players in NBA history to reach 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 3,500 assists and 1,500 blocks in his career, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan.

A native of Barcelona, Spain, Gasol has played for the Spanish Senior National Team since 2001, including appearances in the last four Summer Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016), helping Spain capture silver medals in both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics.