Month: July 2018

Hornets officially sign Tony Parker

The Charlotte Hornets’ signing of veteran point guard Tony Parker became official today.

According to the Charlotte Observer, “ESPN reported Parker is guaranteed $5 million for next season, with the 2019-20 season a team option at $5.25 million. The Spurs expressed some interest in re-signing him and the Denver Nuggets also were interested.”

“We are thrilled to add a player of Tony’s caliber and experience to our roster,” said Kupchak, “We believe his track record of success and playoff resume will add backcourt depth to our roster and veteran leadership to our group. Parker’s experience with Head Coach James Borrego will be an invaluable asset to us moving forward as well. We are excited to welcome Tony to Charlotte and for him to continue his Hall-of-Fame career with the Hornets.”

Parker, who turned 36 years old this past May, is past his best days as a basketball player. He’ll likely come off the bench in Charlotte, playing backup to starter Kemba Walker.

More from the Charlotte Observer: “Parker’s relationship with Batum could be constructive, with Batum looking to bounce back from a sub-standard season. Batum is still owed about $75 million remaining on a 5-year, $120 million contract he signed in the summer of 2016.”

Parker appeared in 55 games with San Antonio during the 2017-18 season, averaging 7.7 points and 3.5 assists in 19.5 minutes per game. The French native joins Charlotte after spending the past 17 seasons in San Antonio where he was originally drafted 28th overall in the 2001 NBA Draft. Parker holds career averages of 15.8 points, 5.7 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game in 1,198 regular-season contests. The 6-2 guard has received All-NBA honors four times in his career (2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014) and has been named an NBA All-Star six times (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014). Parker is the Spurs all-time leader in assists and ranks third among active players in the NBA with 6,829 career assists.

The 17-year NBA veteran ranks sixth in NBA history in playoff games played at 226 (second among active players: LeBron James, 239) and ranks fifth in NBA Playoffs history in total assists with 1,143 (second among active players: LeBron James: 1,687). Parker was a member of four NBA Championship teams in San Antonio (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014) and was named the 2007 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. Parker joins the Hornets as one of only four players in NBA history to total 4,000 or more points and 1,000 or more assists in the postseason (Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James).

Parker has enjoyed a decorated international career. He played in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics for Team France and won a 2013 FIBA Eurobasket Gold Medal alongside fellow Charlotte teammate Nicolas Batum.

Orlando Magic announce new flagship radio station home

In Florida NBA radio news, FM 96.9 The Game will serve as the new flagship home for the Orlando Magic Radio Network.

Every preseason, regular season and postseason Magic game is broadcast on the Magic Radio Network, with radio affiliates across the state of Florida. FM 96.9 The Game will serve as the flagship station in Orlando, where you can also listen on AM 740.

“We are extremely excited to continue our relationship with iHeartMedia and expand upon it by naming FM 96.9 The Game our new flagship station for the Magic Radio Network,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. “iHeartMedia and FM 96.9 The Game will bring our product to our fans and stakeholders in a first-class manner. We thank ESPN 580 Orlando for 27 excellent years of serving as the radio home of the Magic.”

Dennis Neumann will provide the play-by-play for every game, Richie Adubato takes on the color analyst duties for all home games, while Brandon Kravitz serves as pregame, halftime and postgame host for all games, and will provide sideline reports for all home contests.

“We are thrilled about this expansion of our partnership with the Orlando Magic and iHeartMedia,” iHeartMedia Division President Linda Byrd said. “This is an exciting time to be a Magic fan and an exciting time for FM 96.9 The Game. Adding Orlando Magic games to our programming lineup truly solidifies our radio station’s position as Orlando’s Sports Leader!”

In addition, “Magic Drive Time,” hosted by Dante Marchitelli, will return for its eighth season and air Monday-Friday from 6-6:30 p.m. on FM 96.9 The Game, AM 740 and the iHeartRADIO app throughout the NBA season. Each day, Marchitelli will be joined by a different co-host, including a rotation of Head Coach Steve Clifford, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman, General Manager John Hammond, Magic players, broadcasters and front office personnel. Fans will hear all the latest Magic and NBA news from people in the know. Marchitelli enters his 20th season with the Orlando Magic and also serves as pregame host/sideline reporter for FOX Sports Florida.

Mavs re-sign Dirk Nowitzki, who enters his 21st season

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

Per multiple reports, the Mavs legend will make $5 million for the season.

Nowitzki is now set to begin his 21st season with the Mavericks, which will be an NBA record for a player to suit up for a single franchise (previously tied at 20 seasons with Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers).

He has guided the Mavericks toward many of the team’s greatest achievements. Nowitzki led Dallas to its first-ever 60-win season in 2002-03, first NBA Finals appearance in 2006, a franchise-high 67 wins in 2006-07 and to the organization’s first World Championship when the Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.

Nowitzki (7-0, 245), the most decorated Maverick in franchise history, is a 13-time NBA All-Star, earned All-NBA Team honors 12 consecutive years (2000-12), was named Most Valuable Player of the 2006-07 season and was MVP of the 2011 NBA Finals. He is a six-time Western Conference Player of the Month, a 16-time Western Conference Player of the Week, has competed in the All-Star Saturday Night Three-Point Contest four times, was the 2014 Magic Johnson Award recipient and was named the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year in 2017.

The career Maverick holds averages of 21.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 34.4 minutes in 1,471 games (1,440 starts) and holds the franchise’s top-spot in several categories including points, rebounds, field goals, three-point field goals, free throws, blocks, games, starts and minutes.

In the NBA Playoffs, Nowitzki’s game elevates to average 25.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 40.6 minutes in 145 postseason games (145 starts). He has led the Mavericks to three Western Conference Finals and two NBA Finals while moving into first place in several of the franchise’s postseason categories including points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, field goals, free throws and games.

On March 17, 2017, Nowitzki became just the sixth player in NBA history and first international player to register 30,000 career points. He currently sits at 31,187 career points, just 232 points behind the great Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) for fifth place on the all-time scoring list. Among other all-time NBA lists, he ranks 27th in rebounds, eighth in field goals, 11th in three-point field goals, sixth in free throws, fifth in games and third in minutes.

Nowitzki has also served as a pioneer for European players becoming the first European-born player to earn First Team All-NBA (04-05), start an All-Star Game (2007, Las Vegas) and be named the MVP (06-07).

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, re-signed again on July 27, 2016 and re-signed once more on July 6, 2017.

Miami Heat make a front office move

The Miami Heat made a shift in their front office today. Vice President, Player Personnel Chet Kammerer will reduce his role and become Senior Advisor of Basketball Operations/Basketball. Adam Simon is now promoted to Vice President, Player Personnel/Assistant General Manager.

In his new role, Kammerer will continue to be a scout and will be an advisor to President Pat Riley and Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations/General Manager Andy Elisburg as well as a coaching consultant for Head Coach Erik Spoelstra. Kammerer has been with the HEAT organization for 22 years, including 14 as Vice President, Player Personnel.

Adam Simon has been the Assistant General Manager of the HEAT as well as the General Manager of the Sioux Falls Skyforce for the last five years. In his new capacity, he will continue to assist Andy Elisburg in all areas of the basketball operations department, but will now be responsible for Miami’s pro, college, G League and international scouting.

Lakers sign Johnathan Williams

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Johnathan Williams today.

We assume that this is a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings Williams to training camp.

Williams played in seven Vegas Summer League games for the Lakers, and averaged 4.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game.

In college playing for Gonzaga last season, Williams averaged 13.4 points (.563 FG%), 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 blocks in 29.2 minutes and was a First Team All-WCC honoree.

Williams also made the 2017 All-WCC First Team. He also represented Team USA in the FIBA U16 and U17 World Championships in 2011 and 2012, winning two gold medals.

Hawks waive Antonius Cleveland

The Atlanta Hawks have requested waivers on guard Antonius Cleveland.

Cleveland saw action in four games with the Hawks last season, averaging 3.3 points and 1.0 rebounds in 10.4 minutes (.571 FG%, 3-3 3FGs, 2-2 FTs). He was signed to a multi-year contract on Mar. 14 after signing consecutive 10-day contracts on Feb. 22 and Mar. 4.

Bulls sign Antonio Blakeney

The Chicago Bulls on Thursday signed guard Antonio Blakeney.

Blakeney (6-4, 197) went undrafted out of LSU in 2017 but was tabbed for the Bulls MGM Resorts Summer League roster last year. After leading that squad with 16.8 points per game, he earned a Two-Way contract from Chicago. In 2017-18, he was named the NBA G League Rookie of the Year after averaging 32.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.22 steals per game for the Windy City Bulls. With the NBA Bulls, Blakeney averaged 7.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 16.5 minutes through 19 games. In this year’s Summer League action, Blakeney again led the team with 21.0 points per game, along with averaging 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists in five games.

Spurs sign Dante Cunningham

The San Antonio Spurs signed forward Dante Cunningham today.

Cunningham, 6-8/230, spent last season with New Orleans and Brooklyn, averaging 5.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in 21.4 minutes over 73 total games. Starting the year with the Pelicans for the first 51 games, he averaged 5.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in 21.9 minutes before being dealt on Feb. 8 to the Nets, where he appeared in 22 contests and posted 7.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 20.3 minutes.

A nine-year NBA veteran, Cunningham holds career averages of 6.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 651 total games played. After being drafted by Portland in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft (33rd overall), the former Villanova Wildcat spent his rookie year with the Trail Blazers before being sent to Charlotte in the middle of his second season on Feb. 24, 2011. The forward signed as a free agent with Memphis after the season, where he spent one year before being traded to Minnesota in the summer of 2012. After playing two years for the Timberwolves, Cunningham signed with New Orleans on Dec. 4, 2014 and spent three-plus years with the Pelicans before being dealt to Brooklyn last season.

Grizzlies waive Myke Henry

The Grizzlies waived guard/forward Myke Henry today.

Henry (6-6, 226) came off the bench in 20 games as a rookie for the Grizzlies last season and averaged 5.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.55 steals in 18.9 minutes after being signed to a two-way contract on January 13. The 25-year-old also competed in the NBA G League for the Oklahoma City Blue and Memphis Hustle, seeing action in 38 games (one start) and averaging 16.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.55 steals in 28.3 minutes.

A native of Chicago, Henry went undrafted in the 2009 NBA Draft following his senior season at DePaul.

Thunder and Magic trade Rodney Purvis, Dakari Johnson

The Oklahoma City Thunder has acquired guard Rodney Purvis from the Orlando Magic in exchange for center Dakari Johnson and cash considerations, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Purvis (6-4, 205) played in 16 games (two starts) last season and averaged 6.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 18.1 minutes per game.

Johnson, originally selected by Oklahoma City with the 48th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, appeared in 31 games (six starts) during the 2017-18 campaign, averaging 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds in 5.2 minutes per contest.