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Miami Heat sign Luol Deng

Miami Heat sign Luol Deng

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed forward Luol Deng.

According to multiple reports, the deal may be for two years, $20 million.

“Signing Luol Deng is one of the most important free agent signings that we have ever had in the history of the franchise,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He is a proven All-Star and quintessential team player, both as a scorer, as well as an All-NBA defender. He brings the attitude of a warrior and competes every single night against the very, very best. We are thrilled to welcome him to the HEAT family.”

Deng, a 10-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 677 career NBA regular season games (631 starts) and averaged 16.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 35.8 minutes while shooting 45.7 percent from the field, 32.9 percent from three-point range and 77.3 percent from the foul line. Among Chicago’s all-time franchise leaders, he ranks fourth in points, fifth in field goals made, sixth in games played and three-point field goals made and eighth in free throws made and offensive rebounds. The 2011-12 NBA All-Defensive Second Team honoree also ranks among the Bulls all-time franchise defensive leaders, including fifth in defensive rebounds and steals, ninth in total rebounds and 10th in blocks.

The two-time NBA All-Star split the 2013-14 season between the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, appearing in 63 total games (all starts) and averaged 16.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 35.1 minutes while shooting 43.1 percent from the field, 30.2 percent from three-point range and 79.1 percent from the foul line. Prior to his trade to Cleveland on January 7, Deng was averaging a career-high 19.0 points per game and a career-best 3.7 assists per game. Additionally, he has appeared in 48 career postseason games (42 starts) and averaged 16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 40.3 minutes while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 74.9 percent from the foul line.

In addition to his accomplishments on the court, Deng is also involved in numerous charities, including the Luol Deng Foundation. For his philanthropic efforts, he earned the NBA’s 2013-14 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, was named the UN Refugee Agency’s 2008 Humanitarian of the Year and selected as the 2006-07 Golden Icon Best Sports Role Model. He also served as ambassador for the London 2012 Olympic Games and won the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award in 2007.

Deng, who was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, was originally selected in the first round (7th overall) by the Phoenix Suns in the 2004 NBA Draft.

Mavericks officially add Chandler Parsons as Rockets decline to match offer

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The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed forward Chandler Parsons.

According to multiple reports, the deal is for three years, $46 million.

Parsons (6-9, 227) was a restricted free agent who played the first three years of his career with the Houston Rockets. As a Rocket, he averaged 14.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 34.5 minutes in 213 games (207 starts).

Last season, Parsons started all 74 games in which he played averaging 16.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 37.6 minutes while shooting .472 from the field, .370 from three-point range and .742 the foul line.

Recently, Parsons was added to the 2014 USA Basketball Men’s National Team roster and will participate in the team’s training camp beginning July 28 in Las Vegas.

The Casselberry, Fla., native was a standout at the University of Florida. As a senior, Parsons was named the 2011 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and Associated Press honorable mention All-America. He was drafted by Houston with the 38th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Phoenix Suns waive Ish Smith

The Phoenix Suns have waived guard Ish Smith, the team announced today.

“We thank Ish Smith for his contributions to the Suns,” said President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby. “He played with an infectious joy. We wish him well.”

Initially acquired by the Suns from the Milwaukee Bucks in a trade on Aug. 29, 2013, Smith averaged 3.7 points, 2.6 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 14.4 minutes in 70 games in his one season with the Suns.

Nets re-sign Alan Anderson

Nets re-sign Alan Anderson

The Brooklyn Nets have re-signed guard Alan Anderson to a multi-year contract, General Manager Billy King announced today.

“Alan’s versatility was a big part of our success last season,” said King. “We look forward to Alan’s continued leadership on and off the court this season.”

Last season, Anderson set single-season career highs for games played (78), games started (26) and minutes played (1,773), while averaging 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 22.7 minutes per game. He shot .400 (194-485) from the field and .339 (84-248) from three-point range. Anderson scored in double figures 26 times, including a season-high 26 points in a season-high 46 minutes on December 20 at Philadelphia. He made his first career playoff appearance with Brooklyn this season, appearing in 12 games (two starts) versus Toronto and Miami, averaging 5.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 21.8 minutes per game.

The Michigan State product recently completed his fifth NBA season and first season with the Nets. In 213 career games, Anderson holds NBA averages of 8.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game. Anderson, who initially signed with Brooklyn on July 30, 2013, went undrafted in the 2005 NBA Draft.

San Antonio Spurs hire Etorre Messina as an assistant coach

San Antonio Spurs hire Etorre Messina as an assistant coach

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have hired Ettore Messina as an assistant coach. A four-time Euroleague Champion and a two-time Euroleague Coach of the Year, Messina brings over 25 years of coaching experience to the bench.

“I am honored to have such an accomplished individual join our program,” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said. “Coach Messina is an exceptional coach, a great leader and someone we can all learn from.”

Messina joins the Spurs after spending the last two years as the head coach of the CSKA Moscow in the Russian League, his second stint with the team. Before returning to CSKA Moscow, Messina served as a coaching consultant for the L.A. Lakers in 2011-12. Prior to making the move to the NBA, Messina spent four seasons (2005-2009) at the helm of CSKA Moscow where he led the team to two Euroleague Championships (2006, 2008) and four Russian SuperLeague titles (2006-2009).

Before coaching in the Russian League, Messina served as a coach in the Italian League for over 15 years. He earned two Euroleague Championships (1998 and 2001) as well as several Italian championships with Virtus Bologna, where he had two stints as head coach (1989-1993, 1997-2002). After leaving Bologna, Messina went on to coach Benetton Treviso from 2002-2005, guiding the team to an Italian championship in 2003.

Named one of the Euroleague’s 10 Greatest All-Time Coaches in 2008, Messina has earned numerous coaching accolades throughout his career including European Coach of the Year in 1998, Euroleague Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2008, and Italian Coach of the Year in 1990, 1993, 1998, 2001 and 2005.

A native of Catania, Italy, Messina also served as head coach of the senior men’s Italian national basketball team (1993-1997), where he led Italy to the silver medal at the 1997 European Championship.

Bulls use amnesty clause on Carlos Boozer

Bulls use amnesty clause on Carlos Boozer

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has amnestied forward Carlos Boozer.

“Carlos epitomized professionalism in everything he did for the Bulls both on the court, and in the community, during his time here in Chicago,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “Over the last four seasons, Carlos’ productivity helped elevate our team to another level. I have nothing but respect for Carlos, and certainly wish him the best as he moves forward.”

According to ESPN.com, “The Bulls will still owe Boozer the $16.8 million left on his salary this season but it will not count on their salary cap. Combined with their trade of Anthony Randolph to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday, the Bulls will clear about $12 million in cap space. Gasol is expected to sign a three-year deal worth more than $22 million and Mirotic is expected to sign for $18 million over three years with the Bulls permitted to give him $600,000 to help pay off his buyout from Real Madrid, sources said.”

In four seasons with the Bulls, Boozer appeared in 280 games (all starts) and averaged 15.5 ppg, 9.0 rpg and 2.0 apg in 30.4 mpg and shot .491 from the field.

Pistons sign Caron Butler

Pistons sign Caron Butler

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club has signed free agent forward Caron Butler to a contract.

The two-time NBA All-Star holds career averages of 15.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 33.8 minutes in 786 games with the Miami HEAT, L.A. Lakers, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, L.A. Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder. Butler split time last season between Milwaukee and Oklahoma City, averaging 10.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 25.3 minutes in 56 games.

Butler has appeared in 65 postseason games during his 12-year career, averaging 11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 31.4 minutes. He’s scored 20-plus points in a playoff game eight times, recorded 10-plus rebounds six times, has five career playoff double-doubles and was a part of the Dallas Mavericks’ 2011 NBA Championship team despite not competing due to injury. During the 2013-14 playoffs with Oklahoma City, Butler averaged 6.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 23.3 minutes in 18 appearances. He scored a playoff-high-tying 15 points in the Thunder’s Game 7 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round (120-109), helping Oklahoma City advance to the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

Pistons sign D.J. Augustin

Pistons sign D.J. Augustin

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club has signed free agent guard D.J. Augustin to a multi-year contract.

The 6-0, 183-pound guard had a resurgent year last season after signing with the Chicago Bulls and helping replace an injured Derrick Rose. He averaged 14.9 points, 5.0 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 30.4 minutes in 61 games with the Bulls, after appearing in 10 games to start the season with the Toronto Raptors.

Among NBA leaders, the 26-year-old Augustin ranked fifth in free throw percentage (.885) and tied for 19th in 3-point field goal percentage (.401). He posted a career-high 33 points (10-14 FG, 3-4 3FG, 10-10 FT) in 31 minutes during a 107-102 win at Boston (3/30). Augustin helped the Bulls claim the No. 4 seed in the NBA Playoffs and continued his strong play by averaging 13.2 points, 4.8 assists, 1.6 rebounds and 28.2 minutes in five postseason games. In Game 4 of the first round against the Washington Wizards, a 101-99 loss, he scored a team-high 25 points and dished out seven assists.