Inside Hoops – Page 1056 – NBA Blog

Detroit Pistons signing of Jodie Meeks becomes official

The Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Stan Van Gundy announced today that the club has signed free agent guard Jodie Meeks to a multi-year contract.

According to the Detroit Free Press, “Meeks, who signed a three-year deal worth around $19.5 million, comes to Detroit with a shooting arm locked and loaded.”

“We’re pleased to welcome Jodie Meeks to the Pistons organization,” said Jeff Bower, General Manager for the Detroit Pistons. “Jodie’s approach to the game fits the style of basketball we want to play and his ability to shoot the ball from the outside is a skill that will help our team moving forward.”

The 6-4, 208-pound guard has career averages of 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 24.3 minutes in 355 games (194 starts) with the L.A. Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks. He joins the Pistons after spending the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers where he averaged 11.8 points (.435 FG%, .381 3FG%, .867 FT%), 2.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 27.2 minutes.

The 26-year-old native of Nashville, TN, had a career-year with the Lakers last season, averaging career-highs in points (15.7 ppg), field goal percentage (.463 FG), 3-point field goal percentage (.401 3FG), rebounds (2.5 rpg), assists (1.8 apg) and minutes (33.2 mpg) in 77 games (70 starts). Meeks connected on a career-high 162 3-point field goals last season (T-17th in the NBA) and was one of 21 NBA players to shoot over 40% from 3-point range (40.1% – T-19th in the NBA). He scored a career-high 42 points (11-18 FG, 14-14 FT) in a 114-110 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder (3/9).

Meeks, a second round draft selection of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2009, spent three years at the University of Kentucky where he averaged 15.4 points (.368 3FG), 3.0 rebounds and set a single-season school record for 3-point field goals made (117). He averaged 23.7 points and 40.6% from 3-point range as a junior while setting Wildcat records for most points in a single-game (career-high 54) and most 3-pointers made in a single-game (10) during a 90-72 win over Tennessee (1/13/09). Meeks recorded the nation’s top three college regular-season scoring efforts during the 2008-09 season (54, 46 and 45 points, respectively).

Miami Heat re-sign Mario Chalmers

The Miami Heat have LeBron James in free agency, but they did manage to keep Chris Bosh, and now the team today announced that they have re-signed guard Mario Chalmers.

“It’s great to have Mario back,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “We’re happy that he wants to continue his career in Miami, he’s one of our core players, and I believe he will have a great season.”

Chalmers, who has spent his entire six-year NBA career with the Heat, has appeared in 439 career games (346 starts) and has averaged 8.6 points, 3.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 1.51 steals and 27.5 minutes while shooting 42.7 percent from the field, 37.3 percent from three-point range and 77.5 percent from the foul line. He ranks among the Heat’s all-time leaders in steals (3rd), three-point field goals made (4th), three-point field goals attempted (4th), assists (5th), games played (8th), starts (9th), minutes played (9th), free throw percentage (11th), field goals attempted (13th), points scored (14th), field goals made (15th), double-figure scoring efforts (15th), three-point field goal percentage (15th) and defensive rebounds (15th). He also owns the Heat single-game record for steals (9 vs. Philadelphia on Nov. 5, 2008) and shares the franchise single-game record for three-point field goals made (10 at Sacramento on Jan. 12, 2013).

The 6’2”, 190-pound guard started each of the 73 games in which he appeared last season and averaged 9.8 points, 4.9 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.63 steals and 29.8 minutes while shooting 45.4 percent from the floor, 38.5 percent from three-point range and 74.2 percent from the free throw line. Chalmers, who set single-season career highs in field goal percentage, offensive rebounds and blocked shots during the 2013-14 season, ranked among the NBA leaders in steals per game (13th), assists per game (29th) and three-point field goal percentage (38th). He led the Heat in three-point field goal percentage and steals per game and ranked second on the team in assists and total steals.

Additionally, Chalmers has appeared in 99 postseason games (73 starts) for Miami and has averaged 8.8 points, 3.2 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 1.19 steals and 29.1 minutes while shooting 42.9 percent from the floor, 35.7 percent from three-point range and 74.2 percent from the foul line. He currently ranks among the Heat’s postseason all-time leaders in three-point field goals made (2nd), three-point field goals attempted (2nd), games played (3rd), assists (3rd), steals (3rd), minutes played (4th), field goals attempted (4th), points scored (5th), starts (5th), free throws made (6th), double-figure scoring games (tied-6th), field goals made (7th), free throws attempted (7th), defensive rebounds (7th) and total rebounds (8th).

Thunder forward Perry Jones undergoes knee surgery

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Perry Jones underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, the team announced today.

This past season, Jones appeared in 62 games and averaged 3.5 points and 1.8 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game.

Jones is expected to miss 4-6 weeks before returning to normal offseason activities.

Hornets trade Scotty Hopson to Pelicans

Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has traded guard Scotty Hopson to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for cash considerations.

Hopson (6-7, 204) appeared in two games for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2013-14 season prior to being traded to Charlotte. The University of Tennessee product played 12 games for the Anadolu Efes in the Turkish Basketball League in 2013-14 and averaged 7.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per game. He also appeared in 11 Euroleague games for the Anadolu Efes, where he averaged 15.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 28.2 minutes per game.

Originally an undrafted free agent in the 2011 NBA Draft, Hopson spent the 2011-12 season in the Greek League with the Kolossos Rodou and the 2012-13 season with Hapo el Eilat of the Isreali League.

Kings happy to land Darren Collison

Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting on teh Kings, who recently signed guard Darren Collison:

The Kings officially signed Collison to a three-year, $16 million contract Saturday to take over as the team’s starting point guard on the same day their trade of Isaiah Thomas to Phoenix became official.

Thomas is a more accomplished offensive player, but the Kings believe Collison’s speed and athleticism will allow the team to defend fullcourt more and get out in transition more on offense.

“Darren had a real appeal in terms of pace of play, his speed and his ability to increase our pace of play,” said Kings general manager Pete D’Alessandro. “It’s what we talked about as a staff as a goal in the offseason, just to try to be a team that gets up and down the floor a little more quickly.”

The Kings ranked 14th in the NBA in pace at 96.75 possessions per 48 minutes last season. They were tied for 20th in offensive rating at 102.9. Offensive rating is the number of points scored per 100 possessions.

Lakers sign first round draft pick Julius Randle

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed Julius Randle, the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. Randle will be available to play in today’s NBA Summer League game in Las Vegas against the New Orleans Pelicans at 1:30 p.m.

In his lone season at Kentucky, Randle appeared in 40 games (all starts) for the Wildcats, averaging 15.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.8 blocks in 30.8 minutes per game en route to being named the SEC Freshman of the Year in addition to being a First Team All-SEC, SEC All-Freshman and SEC All-Tournament Team selection.

The Dallas, TX native led the nation with 24 double-doubles and had seven games of scoring 20+ points in 2013-14. The 19-year-old led Kentucky to the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship game with consecutive double-doubles in Sweet 16 and Elite Eight victories before scoring 16 points with five rebounds against Wisconsin in the Final Four and notching 10 points with six rebounds and four assists in the final.

Carmelo Anthony will stick with Knicks

Here’s ESPN.com reporting that Melo will stick with the Knicks:

Carmelo Anthony has reached a deal to remain with the New York Knicks.

The team announced Sunday that it had re-signed Anthony, but did not disclose terms.

The contract will be for more than $122 million but less than the five-year, $129 million max figure, a source told ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard on Saturday.

“After three months of questions around Carmelo Anthony’s return to the New York Knicks we are now happy to know that we have the cornerstone of what we envision as a ‘team of excellence,'” Knicks president Phil Jackson said in a statement. “… [Knicks general manager] Steve Mills and I have assured Carmelo through our conversations, that we share the vision and the determination to build this team.”

Paul Pierce set to join Wizards

Here’s ESPN.com reporting that Paul Pierce is leaving the Brooklyn Nets and linking up with John Wall and the Washington Wizards:

After a short stay in Brooklyn, Paul Pierce is heading to the Washington Wizards.

Sources close to the process told ESPN.com on Saturday that Pierce has committed to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Wizards, who moved swiftly to find a title-tested replacement for Trevor Ariza after Ariza struck an agreement earlier in the day to join the Houston Rockets.

The contract, sources said, has a player option after this season that will allow Pierce, 36, to return to free agency next summer if he chooses.

The short-term nature of the deal, meanwhile, could help Washington preserve some flexibility for its dream scenario of pursuing DC native Kevin Durant when the current Oklahoma City Thunder star is scheduled to be a free agent in the summer of 2016.

Kings hire Tyrone Corbin as assistant coach

The Sacramento Kings today hired Tyrone Corbin as an assistant coach on Head Coach Michael Malone’s staff, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

Corbin enjoyed two successful stints with the Kings in 1995-96 and 1999-00, teaming with current assistant coach Corliss Williamson during both seasons and played under Kings Assistant General Manager Mike Bratz, who served as an assistant coach during the 1995-96 season.

Before joining the Kings, Corbin served as head coach of the Utah Jazz for four seasons, compiling a 112-146 (.434) record. Named head coach on February 10, 2011 following Jerry Sloan’s resignation, Corbin guided the Jazz to a winning record in two of his three full seasons at the helm and a playoff appearance in 2011. Prior to his promotion to head coach, Corbin was an assistant coach for the Jazz under Sloan from 2004-2011. Corbin joined the Jazz after spending the 2003-04 season as manager of player development for the New York Knicks and two seasons as a player mentor for the North Charleston Lowgators of the NBA D-League.

A native of Columbia, S.C., Corbin played for nine NBA teams during a 16-year NBA career (1985-2001), averaging 9.2 points (.456 FG%, .299 3pt%, .791 FT%), 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 26.0 minutes per game in 1,065 career games, 458 of which he started. Originally drafted by San Antonio in the second round (35th pick overall) of the 1985 NBA Draft out of DePaul University, his career included stops with the Spurs, Cleveland, Phoenix, Minnesota, Utah, Atlanta, Sacramento, Miami and Toronto.

Hornets set to sign Marvin Williams

After losing out on Gordon Hayward, the Charlotte Hornets landed one of his former teammates with the Utah Jazz.

The Hornets agreed to a $14 million, two-year contract with free-agent forward Marvin Williams, according to a person familiar with the deal.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been made public. The person says it will be signed next week.

The 6-foot-9, 237-pound Williams has played nine seasons in the NBA with the Jazz and Atlanta Hawks. He averaged 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 66 games for Utah last season, including 50 starts.

— Associated Press