July 2017 – Page 7 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Spurs sign Joffrey Lauvergne

The Spurs have signed forward/center Joffrey Lauvergne.

Lauvergne, 6-11/260, has played three seasons in the NBA with career averages of 6.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in 15.0 minutes in 153 total games. Originally selected by the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft (55th overall) he was part of a draft night trade that sent him to Denver, where he spent his first two seasons in the league and averaged 6.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 15.8 minutes. On Aug. 30, 2016, Lauvergne was dealt to Oklahoma City, where he averaged 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 14.8 minutes over 50 games before being sent to Chicago on Feb. 23, 2017. In 20 games for the Bulls he averaged 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 12.1 minutes.

A native of France, Lauvergne has played alongside Spurs guard Tony Parker for the French Senior National Team since 2013 in events including EuroBasket in 2013 and 2015, as well as the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio where he averaged 9.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 17.5 minutes. The Mulhouse native has been a professional since 2011, playing overseas from 2011-14 for Chalon-Sur-Saone, Valencia Basket, KK Partizan and Khimki.

Raptors sign C.J. Miles

The Raptors have signed guard-forward C.J. Miles to a multi-year contract.

“C.J. is an exceptional shooter and adds versatility to our perimeter game,” said Raptors President and General Manager Masai Ujiri. “We are excited to add a player with experience level to our core group.”

Miles, 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, holds career averages of 9.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 715 games through 12 NBA seasons with Indiana, Cleveland and Utah. He is a career .316 (1,008-for-2,795) three-point shooter and has made at least 100 three-point field goals in five of the last seven seasons (2010-17), including each of the last three.

Miles spent the 2016-17 campaign with the Pacers, averaging 10.7 points and 3.0 rebounds. He shot a career-best .413 (169-for-409) from three-point range. His 169 three-pointers made in 76 games ranked were a single-season career-high and ranked seventh among Eastern Conference players.

Miles played three seasons (2014-17) for Indiana averaging 12.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 210 games. He averaged a career-best 13.5 points during the 2014-15 campaign. Prior to joining the Pacers, he averaged 10.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 116 games over two seasons (2012-14) with Cleveland. Miles spent the first seven years of his NBA career (2005-12) with the Jazz, averaging 8.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 389 appearances.

A native of Dallas, Texas, Miles was selected 34th overall by Utah in the 2005 NBA Draft following a standout career at Skyline High School. He was named All-Dallas Area Player of the Year by the Dallas Morning News and was a 2005 McDonald’s High School All-American.

Raptors sign Kennedy Meeks

The Raptors have signed forward Kennedy Meeks to a contract.

Meeks, 6-foot-10, 277 pounds, recently participated with the Raptors’ entry in NBA Summer League 2017 in Las Vegas, averaging 11.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 15.5 minutes in four games.

Meeks played four seasons at North Carolina (2013-17), averaging 10.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 21.3 minutes in 144 games. He ranks fifth all-time in school history in rebounds (1,052). As a senior, Meeks helped the Tar heels win the national championship. He averaged career highs in points (12.5), rebounds (9.5) and minutes (24.3) in 40 games. His 152 offensive rebounds were most by a North Carolina player in a single-season since the school starting recording the stat in 1995-96.

In the NCAA Tournament, Meeks averaged 12.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 26.2 minutes in six games. He earned All-Final Four honours after recording a career high-tying 25 points and 14 rebounds in the semifinals versus Oregon. Meeks finished with 69 rebounds in the tournament, the most in any one NCAA Tournament by a Tar Heel.

Celtics sign Semi Ojeleye

The Celtics have signed rookie forward Semi Ojeleye.

Taken by the Celtics in the second round (37th overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft out of Southern Methodist University, Ojeleye, 22, averaged 18.9 points (48.8% FG, 42.4% 3-PT, 78.5% FT), 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 34.1 minutes in 35 games in his lone season at SMU. The 2016-17 American Atlantic Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-AAC selection made at least three 3-pointers on 12 occasions this season, shooting at least 50.0% from beyond the arc in 10 of those contests and finishing third in the conference in three-point shooting percentage.

Ojeleye (6-7, 241 lbs), who was also named Honorable Mention All-American by the Associated Press this past season, spent his first two collegiate years at Duke University before transferring to SMU. He averaged 12.2 points (48.0% FG, 41.5% 3-PT, 78.5% FT), 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 assist in three total seasons at the NCAA level.

Since being drafted last month, Ojeleye participated on the Celtics summer league team in both the Utah Jazz Summer League and the MGM Resorts Summer League in Las Vegas.

Home and Away NBA uniform system is changing

Nike News — There’s a big development in the NBA uniform world, starting in 2017-18

Coinciding with the introduction of the new uniforms, the NBA is eliminating its “Home” and “Road” uniform designations. Beginning with the 2017-18 season, home teams will pick which of their uniforms will be worn at all home games and visiting teams will choose a contrasting uniform within their own assortment.

Because of this change, Nike and the NBA worked together to create four core uniforms for each team, classified as “editions,” which draw from the rich heritage of the NBA and its respective franchises.

The first two editions of the NBA uniforms, which will be introduced by teams this summer and will make their on-court debut at the start of the season, are the Association and Icon editions. The two remaining core uniforms, inspired by the mindset of the NBA athlete and the communities that support their teams through thick and thin, respectively, will be revealed in the coming months.

The Association Edition, the traditional home white uniform that all 30 teams will have in their assortment, links them as members of the most exclusive basketball club in the world. It represents an achievement that most athletes have worked their entire lives to reach.

The Icon Edition, previously known as the road uniform, represents the rich heritage and iconic identity that exists within each franchise. This edition utilizes the team’s primary color, a color that dominates the closets of the most diehard fans.

Also this season, eight NBA teams will have a Classic Edition uniform that will be available in the fall. The Classic Edition celebrates some of the most iconic uniforms in league history and can be worn at each team’s discretion.

Cavaliers sign forward Cedi Osman

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Cedi Osman (pronounced JED-e AUS-min), the team announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Osman (6-8, 215) has spent the last five seasons with Anadolu Efes in the Turkish Basketball League first division. In 2016-17, he played in 35 games (28 starts) and averaged 13.2 points on .496 shooting, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 25.7 minutes per game. He also competed in 35 Euroleague contests (34 starts) this past season, averaging 7.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in 18.6 minutes. Osman spent his first two professional seasons with Pertevniyal Istanbul in the Turkish second division from 2011-2013. A BSL All-Star in each of his last three seasons (2015-17), he won the 2015 Turkish Cup and 2015 Turkish Supercup with Anadolu Efes.

A native of Ohrid, Macedonia, Osman was originally selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 31st overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft before having his draft rights acquired by the Cavaliers that night. The 6-8 forward has been a member of the Turkish National Team at the 2014 FIBA World Cup, FIBA EuroBasket 2015 and the 2016 Manila FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament. He was also selected as FIBA Europe U20 Championship MVP after leading Turkey to a gold medal in 2014.

Grizzlies sign forward Rade Zagorac

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced that the team signed forward Rade Zagorac (RAH-day ZAH-go-rahtz).

Zagorac (6-9, 205), who has played professionally in his native Serbia since 2011, appeared in 26 games (23 starts) for KK Mega Leks in the Liga ABA and averaged 15.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.38 steals in 29.4 minutes last season. He also competed in 12 games (11 starts) in Serbian BCL play and averaged 12.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.83 steals in 29.5 minutes.

Born in Belgrade, Serbia, the 21-year-old was selected by the Boston Celtics in the second round (35th overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft after he was named the 2015-16 Liga ABA MVP with KK Mega Leks. His draft rights were traded by the Celtics on draft night along with the draft rights to Deyonta Davis (31st overall) to Memphis for a 2019 first round draft pick.

Jazz sign Jonas Jerebko

The Utah Jazz have signed forward Jonas Jerebko (pronounced JO-ness Jeh-REB-ko) to a multi-year contract.

Jerebko (6-10, 231, Sweden) appeared in 78 games (six starts) for the Boston Celtics this past season, averaging 3.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 15.8 minutes of action for a team that finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference and advanced to the Conference Finals.

Originally selected in the second round (39th overall selection) of the 2009 NBA Draft by Detroit, the 30-year-old has appeared in 488 career games (94 starts) over seven NBA seasons with Detroit and Boston. He owns career averages of 6.2 points and 4.1 rebounds while hitting 35.2 percent from three-point range in 18.4 minutes. He has shot 40 percent or better from three-point range in three different seasons, including two of his last three.

Jerebko has seen action in a total of 22 postseason games (four starts), all with the Celtics, averaging 5.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 10.7 minutes per game. This past season, he appeared in 12 playoff games during the Celtics’ run for the Eastern Conference Finals, including a 10-point performance on 4-of-4 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 from three in Boston’s Game 3 win at Cleveland.

In his rookie season with Detroit, Jerebko earned 2009-10 All-Rookie Second Team honors as well as Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February and compete in the Rookie Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend.

The son of a former professional European basketball player, Jerebko is a native of Kinna, Sweden, and represented his home country at the 2013 Eurobasket Championships, posting 16.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in five games.

He joins what was already the most international team in the NBA in 2016-17. The seven players on the current Jazz roster born outside the United States hail from Australia (two), France, Brazil, Spain, Switzerland and the Ukraine.

Jerebko is also owner of a professional eSports team, Renegades CS:GO.

He will wear jersey No. 8 for the Jazz.

Paul Pierce retiring from NBA as a Celtic

Paul Pierce retiring from NBA as a Boston Celtic

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed 10-time NBA All-Star and 19-year veteran Paul Pierce to a contract, enabling him to retire as a member of the organization with which he spent his first 15 NBA seasons.

“We’re honored that Paul has chosen to retire as a Celtic. He is among the very best Celtics – a champion on and off the court,” said Celtics governor and managing partner Wyc Grousbeck. “We congratulate Paul on a Hall of Fame career, and look forward to seeing his number raised to the rafters of TD Garden.”

“It’s an honor to have this opportunity to once again call myself a Boston Celtic,” Pierce said. “The organization and city took me in and made me one of their own, and I couldn’t imagine ending my career any other way. I’m a Celtic for life.”

Drafted by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick of the 1998 NBA Draft, Pierce’s 15 seasons in Boston from 1998-99 to 2012-13 trails only John Havlicek (16) for the most ever spent in a Celtics uniform. He produced 21.8 points (44.7% FG, 37.0% 3-PT, 80.6% FT), 6.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.44 steals and 36.6 minutes in 1,102 career games (1,099 starts) in the green and white.

Pierce’s name will forever be a constant throughout the Celtics’ all-time leaderboards. The California native tops the franchise lists in three-point field goals (1,823), free throws (6,434) and steals (1,583), while also placing as the Celtics’ second all-time leading scorer with 24,021 career points.

Earning his iconic nickname “The Truth” during his third NBA season in 2000-01, Pierce also retires in the organization’s top-10 lists in games played (3rd – 1 ,102), minutes played (3rd – 40,360), field goals (3rd – 7,882), field goal attempts (2nd – 17,630), three-point field goal attempts (1st – 4,928), free throw attempts (1st – 7,979), offensive rebounds (8th – 1,008), rebounds (7th – 6,651), assists (5th – 4,305) and blocked shots (4th – 668).

Pierce’s knack for postseason success further cements his legendary status in a Celtics uniform. Boston qualified for the playoffs in 10 of Pierce’s 15 seasons with the team, ranking him seventh on the franchise’s all-time playoff leaderboard with 136 postseason games played. The crafty forward averaged 20.9 points (41.9% FG, 33.9% 3-PT, 83.4% FT), 6.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.32 steals in 39.8 minutes in his Celtics playoff career. Pierce – who owns the fifth most playoff points in franchise history at 2,843 – averaged north of 20.0 points in six separate postseason runs, including a playoff career-high 27.1 points over 10 games in just his second career playoff appearance in 2002-03.

One of Pierce’s greatest postseason accomplishments coincides with the Celtics’ most recent NBA title in 2008. Making his first career NBA Finals appearance, Pierce followed up a 22-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers in a Game 1 victory with 28 more points on 9-of-16 shooting (4-4 3-PT) and eight assists in Boston’s Game 2 triumph. His 38 points in Game 5 of those Finals represented his second-highest scoring total in 26 postseason games that year. Pierce produced 21.8 points (43.2% FG, 39.3% 3-PT, 83.0% FT), 4.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.08 steals and 38.8 minutes in that six-game series, helping the Celtics raise their NBA-record 17th championship banner and their first since 1986. Named the Most Valuable Player of that 2008 clash, Pierce became the third Celtic ever to earn MVP honors in his first NBA Finals Appearance (Jo Jo White – 1974, Cedric Maxwell – 1981).

Spanning over his 19-year NBA career, Pierce averaged 19.7 points (44.5% FG, 36.8% 3-PT, 80.6% FT), 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.31 steals and 34.2 minutes in 1,343 games (1,285 starts) with Boston, Brooklyn, Washington and the LA Clippers. He ended the 2016-17 season as the only active NBA player with at least 25,000 career points, 7,000 rebounds and 4,500 assists.

Houston Rockets team is for sale

Announcement from the Rockets

Today, Houston Rockets Chief Executive Officer Tad Brown announced owner Leslie Alexander’s intentions to sell the franchise. Alexander has placed Brown in charge of coordinating the sales process in conjunction with the NBA league office.

“It’s been my great joy and honor to own the Houston Rockets for the past 24 years,” said Alexander. “I’ve had the incredible opportunity to witness true greatness through the players and coaches who have won championships for the city, been named to All-Star and All-NBA teams, enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, and done so much for our franchise and our fans. And the Houston community has been home to me; I will continue to support the charities I have made commitments to throughout the years. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the fans, partners, city officials and employees who care so deeply for this team. I’ve made this decision after much deliberation with my family and friends, and do so knowing the franchise is in great shape with the players, coaches and management team in place. CEO Tad Brown will oversee the sales process with the league office, supported by my management team.”

Alexander assumed ownership of the Rockets on July 30, 1993 and the team went onto win back-to-back championships in 1993-94 and 1994-95. Over his 24 seasons as owner, the Rockets posted the fifth-highest winning percentage (.569) in the NBA. The Rockets also registered the second-most winning seasons of any team in the league over that span.

In 1995, Alexander established the Clutch City Foundation with the goal of providing help, hope and inspiration to those who might otherwise be forgotten. The Clutch City Foundation funds and operates comprehensive programs benefiting thousands of children each year, as well as serving as the umbrella organization for all Rockets community initiatives.

Throughout his years as owner, Alexander and the Clutch City Foundation contributed more than $35 million to hundreds of charities throughout Houston. Most recently in March of 2017, Alexander pledged $4 million to a group of 20 local charitable organizations. In April of 2016, he donated $500,000 to Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Greater Houston Storm Relief Fund after the city was ravaged by severe rain resulting in flooding.