Day: June 25, 2009

Warriors make operation staff moves

The Golden State Warriors announced several moves within the team’s basketball operations staff today.

Travis Schlenk, 35, has been named the team’s Director of Player Personnel.  Schlenk has spent the last five seasons with the Warriors, serving as an assistant coach for the last four seasons after joining the team as a video scout prior to the 2004-05 campaign.

Scott Pruneau, 43, has been named the team’s Director of Scouting.  Pruneau, who has worked for the Warriors organization in various capacities for the past 26 seasons, had served as a college scout for the past five years.  He also previously spent three seasons at the team’s advance scout.

Larry Harris, 46, will serve in a new capacity as a Consultant/Scout after joining the Warriors as an assistant coach in November of 2008.

Lee Mayberry, 39, joins the Warriors organization as a Scout.  A veteran of seven NBA seasons as a player from 1992-93 thru 1998-99, Mayberry joins Golden State’s scouting staff that includes Pruneau, Harris, Jim Mitchell and Kosta Jankov.

Trail Blazers trade Sergio Rodriguez, Jon Brockman to Kings for Jeff Pendergraph

The Portland Trail Blazers acquired the draft rights to forward Jeff Pendergraph (31st overall pick) from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for guard Sergio Rodriguez, the draft rights to forward Jon Brockman (38th overall pick) and cash considerations, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

“Sergio was a big part of our turnaround and we’d like to thank him for his contributions to the Trail Blazers over the last three years. We wish him all the best going forward,” said Pritchard. “We’re excited to add a player like Jeff, who is a four-year starter, hard worker and has a strong athletic presence inside. We feel he can help this team.”

Pendergraph, 22, played four seasons at Arizona State, where he finished with career averages of 12.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.04 blocked shots and a 58.0 percent shooting percentage.

The 6-9, 240-pound forward set school records for games played (126) and started (120) and his 1,588 points are sixth best all-time.

As a senior, Pendergraph averaged 14.5 points and was named to the Pac-10’s First Team. His 66.0 percent shooting percentage led the nation.

Rodriguez, 23, averaged 3.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 12.4 minutes over three seasons with the Trail Blazers. Portland originally acquired the draft rights to the Spanish guard from Phoenix for cash considerations in a 2006 draft day trade.

Wizards trade Jermaine Taylor to Rockets for cash

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the Washington Wizards have received cash considerations from the Houston Rockets in exchange for the draft rights to Jermaine Taylor.  Taylor was initially selected by Washington with the 32nd overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

“Yesterday we added two solid, proven veterans in Mike Miller and Randy Foye to our roster,” said Grunfeld.  “We already had a great week, and by trading the rights to our second-round pick we were able to add to our flexibility going forward.”

Timberwolves trade Ty Lawson to Nuggets for future pick

The Denver Nuggets have acquired the draft rights to G Ty Lawson, the 18th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for a future protected first round draft pick of the Charlotte Bobcats, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today.

Lawson, 5-11, 195, averaged 13.1 ppg, 5.8 apg, 2.9 rpg and 1.8 spg in 105 career games in three seasons at the University of North Carolina. Lawson was named to the All-Tournament Team after helping lead the Tarheels to the 2009 NCAA Championship. An early entry candidate for the 2009 NBA Draft, Lawson was the winner of the 2009 Bob Cousy Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate point guard. He was also selected as the ACC Player of the Year after his junior season. He finished his college career ranked seventh in UNC history with 608 assists, while his 2.78 career assist-to-turnover ratio marks the second-best in ACC history.

The Nuggets acquired the future protected first-round pick of the Bobcats last summer on June 25, 2008 in exchange for the Nuggets’ 2008 first round draft pick.

Grizzlies trade Darko Milicic to Knicks for Quentin Richardson, cash

The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that center Darko Milicic has been acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for guard/forward Quentin Richardson and cash considerations.

“When building a team, it is invaluable to have a skilled big man such as Darko,” Walsh said. “He is the type of player with strong high-post play that will complement Eddy Curry’s low-post game. He will thrive in Coach D’Antoni’s system.

“It is very tough to lose such a great veteran like Quentin who has meant so much to this team,” Walsh added. “We thank him for all of his efforts over the past four seasons.”

Milicic, 7-0, 275-pounds, was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the second overall selection in the 2003 NBA Draft. The Serbian center has career averages of 5.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.20 blocks in 337 career games (98 starts) over six NBA seasons with Detroit, Orlando and Memphis. Milicic averaged 5.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in 61 games for the Grizzlies during the 2008-09 campaign.

“I am very excited about the possibilities with Darko. He has great size and the skills to really help us.” Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He can run the floor really well, shoot and has a load of talent.”

Richardson, 6-6, 235-pounds, was acquired by New York from Phoenix along with the draft rights to Nate Robinson on June 28, 2005 and averaged 9.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in 241 games (206 starts) in four seasons with the Knicks. Originally selected by the L.A. Clippers out of DePaul with the 18th overall selection in the 2000 NBA Draft, Richardson has career averages of 11.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in 601 career games (389 starts) with L.A. Clippers, Phoenix and New York. The Chicago, IL-native averaged 10.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in 72 games last season.

Lakers trade Toney Douglas to Knicks

The New York Knickerbockers have acquired the draft rights to Toney Douglas from  the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a 2011 second-round draft choice and cash considerations. The forward was selected as the 29th overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Douglas, 6-1, 225-pounds, averaged 21.5 points for Florida State University in his senior year and was the runner-up as the ACC Player of the Year. The Tampa. FL-native was an All-ACC First Team selection and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Thunder trade Rodrigue Beaubois, future 2nd rounder to Mavericks for BJ Mullens

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have acquired guard Rodrigue Beaubois and a future second round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the Mavericks’ 24th overall selection B.J. Mullens. Beaubois (6-2, 182) was selected with the 25th overall pick.

The Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe native appeared in 29 French Pro A games in 2008-09 and averaged 10.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 22.3 minutes per game. Beaubois showed marked improvement from his 2007-08 campaign when he averaged 5.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 15.1 minutes per contest.

The 21-year-old (2/24/88) point guard has participated as a member of France’s junior national team and was discovered at a basketball camp by current Orlando Magic guard Mickael Pietrus.

“We could not be happier with the addition of Rodrigue,” President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson said. “His dynamic athleticism will add versatility and energy to our backcourt. He was one of the highest-rated athletes this draft.”

Nets trade Vince Carter to Magic

Nets to trade Vince Carter to Magic

The Orlando Magic have acquired eight-time NBA All-Star guard Vince Carter and forward Ryan Anderson from the New Jersey Nets in exchange for guard Rafer Alston, forward-center Tony Battie and guard Courtney Lee, General Manager Otis Smith announced this evening.

“Vince (Carter) gives us a veteran, go-to scoring presence, especially at the end of games,” Smith said.  “Our goal remains the same – to win a championship.  Any time you can add an All-Star to help you reach your goals, you have to do it.  Vince has been a bonafide scorer in this league for 11 seasons and we are excited to add both him and Ryan (Anderson) to our team.  We thank Rafer, Tony and Courtney for their efforts and wish them success in the future.”

Carter (6’6”, 220, 1/26/77) played in 80 games last season for New Jersey, averaging 20.8 ppg., 5.1 rpg., 4.7 apg. and 1.03 stlpg. in 36.8 minpg.  He scored in double figures 71 times, had 20+ points 44 times, scored 30+ points 13 times and had 40+ points once, a season-high 41 points on Mar. 15 at L.A. Clippers.  Carter led (or tied) the Nets in scoring 35 times, in rebounding 17 times and in assists 23 times.  He recorded eight double-doubles and one triple-double last season.  Carter ranked 16th in the NBA in scoring, tied for 26th in minutes played and tied for 30th in assists.

This is an interesting trade. It helps the Nets save some money, as they were going to say goodbye to Carter in the future anyway and aren’t winning much with him. Out with the old, in with the new. The team is basically building around Devin Harris and youth.

As for the Magic, with a healthy Jameer Nelson, Alston would have come off the bench and played limited minutes. Tony Battie is replaceable. But losing Courtney Lee’s hustle may actually hurt. Vince won’t bring that. But the Magic must feel that the scoring and defensive attention Carter draws adds more to their team than what they’re giving up.

More on this tonight. Hit our board to discuss it.

Warriors trade Jamal Crawford to Hawks for Acie Law, Speedy Claxton

Warriors trade Jamal Crawford to Hawks for Acie Law, Speedy Claxton

The Golden State Warriors have acquired guards Acie Law and Speedy Claxton from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for guard Jamal Crawford, the team announced today.

Law, 24, has appeared in 111 regular-season games over two NBA seasons, averaging 3.6 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.8 assists in 12.8 minutes per contest.  Originally selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft out of Texas A&M, Law averaged 2.9 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 55 contests this past season.  A native of Dallas, TX, he has also appeared in 13 playoff games.

Claxton, 31, has appeared in 334 regular-season games over eight seasons with Philadelphia, San Antonio, Golden State, New Orleans and Atlanta, averaging 9.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.51 steals in 25.6 minutes per contest.  The Hempstead, NY, native has been slowed by a left knee injury over the past two seasons – missing all of the 2007-08 campaign and playing in just the final two regular-season contests of 2008-09 and one game in the 2009 NBA Playoffs in April.  Claxton spent one-plus seasons with Golden State (2003-04 and part of 2004-05), averaging 11.7 points and 5.2 assists in 106 games before being traded, along with Dale Davis, to New Orleans in exchange for Baron Davis on February 24, 2005.

Crawford, 29, averaged 19.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 54 games with Golden State last season after being acquired from New York on November 21 in exchange for Al Harrington.  A nine-year NBA veteran, Crawford owns career averages of 15.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.04 steals and 32.6 minutes in 597 regular-season games with Chicago, New York and Golden State.